Digital Fugue - Random Thots

Robusto Defined - Cohiba Robusto

Everything they say about the Cuban Cohiba is true. I kept mine in the humidor for almost 6 months, waiting for the perfect occassion to indulge it. That occasion was my birthday and the Cigar X Dinner.
Indeed it didn't dissapoint me.

The cigar was in perfect shape. The wrapper was smooth and slightly oily and the pinch test reveals a nice firm spongy feeling.

Lighting up was a breeze, and the first few puffs reveal a nice smooth mild smoke. After one inch, the cigar bloomed to medium strength. The smoke was generously volumnous and smooth. The taste was smooth and not at all bitter. I was practically enjoying every smoke molecule and every nano second is an absolute bliss.

The ash was dark grey and firm. Sharizal, who also smoked a Cohiba robusto managed to keep his ash up till 90% of the cigar!

It didnt give me a punch or a kick in the head, It just elevated me 33,000 feet above sea level and a freaking broad smile. Just as i like it. Right after I lay the stub in the ashtray, I bought another one! :)

The only way to know is to experience one. If you are expecting a big occassion to celebrate, make sure you have a cohiba robusto.

Appearance and Presentation: 19/20
Lighting & Burning Properties: 13/15
Construction: 28/30
Taste: 35/35
Total Score: 95/100

8th Cigar Dinner

The food was excellent!

Cigar Buffet!

We painted the town red!

FSS Shipment

I recieved my shipment from Famous Smoke today. It took about thirteen working days for the shipment to arrive. The postage stamp shows that the package was sent on January 23rd. A small marking on the box indicated KLIA release date stamp on Feb 3rd. I recieved the collection card on Feb 10. I guess if there were no public holidays in between, the shipment would have gotten into my hands earlier. When I got the box, the side was cut open. I guess the customs wanted to take a peek inside. Since all the cigars were in good condition and nothing was missing, I was not too worried about it.

I ordered the discontinued Avo No. 8 (5 1/2" x 40), the Puros Indios No. 4 and the Avo Puritos. The cigars will be featured at the 7th Cigar Meet. The Avo No. 8 will be selling at RM 30 while the Puros Indios No. 4 at RM 20 per stick.

6th Cigar Meet

The 6th Cigar Meet was held at Sobranie Classic. Close to 20 people attended this event, a few regulars missing in action but a few new faces poped up. I'd like to extend the welcome to the new comers. Like the old saying goes, "the more, the merrier!"

The food was great! The appetizer and the kalamansi shot was excellent. I had a hard time deciding on the main course before settling for the Chicken Duvell. Indeed it was an excellent choice. The course was well cooked and the meat tender. Coupled with the Apple Tart dessert, it was very filling!

The highlight of the day, the Montecristo No. 4. Going at an unbelievable tax free low price, i just have to snap a few. I even had to pass the other featured cigars on the counter: the Bahia, El credito and Montesino. Maybe I'll bag them at the next session.

It was indeed a great meet... Delicious food, great company and excellent cigar. In a way it was better than the last meet we had. As always, time was against us. We were still chatting happily when we realised we were the only people left in the restaurant.

To those interested, be sure to keep yourself updated on our next session via Aizuddin's My Cigar Blog.

More pictures here and here.

5th Cigar Meet

It all started humbly with just three cigar enthusiasts (Aizuddin, KaZ and Fahro). How time flies. Without knowing it we already had five cigar meets. The most successful cigar meet to date, the fifth cigar meet recorded the biggest attendence so far. 21 people packed the deep end of 18th-20th century on december 5th to attend the 5th cigar meet.
We met a lot of new faces and hopefully a lot more to come.

The event also mark the inaugural My Cigar Store membership. For the month of december, regular members each got their Cohiba Siglo II and H Upmann Petit Upmann, while Premium members each recieved their Cohiba Robusto and Partagas shorts.

Cigars were not only the highlight of the night. Afterall a good cigar is not complete without a good meal. The food at 18th-20th Century offers a brilliant companion for a good cigar. The set dinner we had at RM 65 was more than enough to tease our taste buds before we all indulge ourselves with our cigars. From appetizers right through desserts and coffee, everthing just melts in your mouth.

It was a marvellous night. we chatted as we smoke our premiums. Too bad the night have to come to an end. As the restaurant draws its curtains, we all went home with huge smiles on our faces as we anticipate next month's meet.

Cigar Rolling Demo

The Cigar rolling demonstration by master roller Jaime Paredes at Havana Club Concorde Hotel last thursday saw quite an impressive turnout form our little cigar community. Some of us took home a few sticks of freshly rolled cigars, to be aged in humidors for the next few months or even years.

Casa Del Fuga

After waiting anxiously for about three weeks, I finally recieved my first humidor! The nice little chest came with a bubinga finish, with a lovely scent of spanish ceder. For the past few days I have been calibrating the hygrometer, conditioning the humidor and charging the humidifier. Now it has become my precious...

Oh yeah, I have decided to name the humidor Casa Del Fuga.

4th Cigar Meet

To keep the tradition going, we succesfully organized the 4th cigar meet last friday at Starbucks, Plaza Mont Kiara. The meet was done in a relaxed manner as we anticipated less participation during the fasting month. I reached the venue a little late as it was raining cats and dogs that night. Aizuddin and Alex was already there, happily chatting away. Aiz got himself a Limited Edition Selection Robustos, which came in a nice package.

A few moments later Nur joined us. I was told that Fahroe was stuck in the rain and couldnt make it. We then ordered our drinks and all of us light up our cigars.

I brought a te Amo with me but i didnt smoke it. Instead, I bought a JL Piedra Cazadores from Aizuddin and smoked that instead. The cigar was in a very good condition and well humidified. Lighting up was easy and throughout the course it required about three relighting. The ash was dark but it managed to grow to about an inch before it crumbled on my Dockers. The taste was, however, a little harsh for my liking. It starts off cool, then the spiciness build up and towards the end, it becomes smooth little. The smoke however came in generous volume. I didn't quite finish it to the stub as lighting was quite difficult towards the end. It was definitely a Cuban but i wont put my money on it. It could pass as something you smoke on the go rather than something to chillout with (a quickie rather than a candlelight dinner thinggy).

Appearance and Presentation: 16/20
Lighting and Burning Properties: 13/15
Construction:19/30
Taste: 29/35
Total Score: 77/100

At around midnight, Sharizal came over with Nazrin. Sharizal lighted up the Arturo Fuentes and was rather intrigued by it (He was expecting it to taste like RyJ No.2 :)). We concluded that it was the wasabi he had for dinner earlier. Finally, after one and a half hour Nur finished his cigar with a happy smile, after which we all packed up and left the place. During the session we had brilliant discussion on the cigar co-op. I guess we just need a little tuning up before we could commence a trial run perhaps in a month or two.

Mystery Cigar

The main reason for the Cigar Taste Test conducted last tuesday night was to evaluate a certain cigar. The event was a success with about 14 participants attending in the Taste Test. We were given two unbanded cigars to test. The first one was a Corona and the second was a Churchill.

We had the Corona during our appetizer. Upon inspection the cigar was slightly veiny and hard. A hard pinch would crack the cigar. Cap construction was ok.
The corona started mild. Lighting was easy and burn rate was perfect and even. However that's not the case for all cigar. My mate, Roslan who was sitting on my table find it hard to draw. In terms of taste, the cigar start to give its medium bodie flavour at 50%. Slight strong/harsh taste was also detected.
Overall, i liked the cigar. It should be aged for a month or two before consuming.
However, although the cigar can be categorized as medium, the taste did not linger long enough. After the starter, we didn't notice the taste at all.

Here's my verdict on the Corona:
Appearance and Presentation: 15/20
Lighting and Burning Properties: 13/15
Construction:25/30
Taste: 32/35
Total Score: 85/100

We had the churchill right after the main course. Like the Corona, the Churchill was also hard. The cap constrction was good. Lighting up was easy, but this time all three cigars at my table had different characteristics. Mine didn't burn evenly and the ash was grey and crumbly, but the draw was excellent.
Nur find his Churchill hard to draw. The best cigar on the table was Roslan's. His cigar burned evenly and he was very happy with it. In terms of taste, the Churchill was mild-medium. We have come to terms that the cigar is a perfect companion when you have time to spare (perhaps while lounging at a pub/bar with lots of people). However it is not to be indulged-in/enjoyed alone by itself (eg. in a cigar bar).

And the Churchill:
Appearance and Presentation: 17/20
Lighting and Burning Properties: 12/15
Construction:27/30
Taste: 30/35
Total Score: 86/100

The verdict: I would say the cigars are well made despite a few inconsistencies. The construction is good and the taste is pleasant although i would say the corona is a bit strong and harsh at times. Give it a few more fine tune and it'll be perfect! Frankly speaking, it is better than a few European cigars i have tasted and even some dominican too (read: H. Uppman)! I don't mind giving it a second (or a third) try! :)
Definitely worth a try for both novice and afficionados alike.

Yeah, we're happy.

More pics at Aizuddin's!

After the test, the identity of the cigars were revealed. The cigars were actually Malaysian made under the brand De Kayang. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to talk to the gentlemen involved in the industry, and learn the process and the history of the cigar. They're one year old and going strong. Of course you cant compare them with decades old Habanos and Dominicans, but i would say it is definitely a bold start for the industry and for Malaysia. I wish them the best of luck and Malaysia Boleh!

La Flor De Cano Selectos

Aiz bought a box of the selectos through the internet and he offered us a few cigars at a relatively affordable price. I opted to trade my Mouton Cadet No. 6 with two of the selectos.

The cigar had a slight boxed pressed effect, which gives it a slight squarish feel to it. It has a few flaws, the construction near the cap was rather soft, indicating a loosely rolled cigar. I also noticed a few spots on the cigar. perhaps mildew or some sort of fungus. Since the cigar came in a sealed cello wrapper, it might have already been here even before it left the factory.