Monthly Recap – February and March 2014 – Jeremy Hensley Edition

By Jeremy Hensley | March 28, 2014

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At the start of 2014, I began tracking each and every cigar I have smoked. Well, I may have missed one or two. Based on discussions I’ve seen on Twitter and questions on this site and others, I decided to compile some information that I thought you might find interesting.

Since I decided to slack it last month on the my “Monthly Recap”, I bring to you a combined recap for February and March.

Monthly Recap – February and March

Number of Cigars Smoked: 57

Of those smoked:

• Purchased: 26 or 46%
• Samples Provided: 15 or 26%
• Gifted: 9 or 16%
• Traded for: 7 or 12%

Of those purchased:

• Brick & Mortar: 18 or 69%
• Online: 8 or 31%

Top Cigars Smoked by Quantity

#1. J. Fuego – Sangre De Toro (Original) – # Smoked = 7 :The J. Fuego Sangre De Toro Original has made both of my monthly recaps for highest quantity smoked for the month(s). Back in October, I picked up a brick (12 five-packs) of these sticks during Fox Cigar Bar’s Foxtoberfest. With the excellent price and flavors, I see this remaining on the list until I burn through them all.

#2. Oliva – Serie V (Churchill Extra) – # Smoked = 4: A local casino was offering some extreme discounts on their entire inventory of cigars and I was able to grab a box of 24 for $75. Now, that is one heck of a steal. While it is not in my go to size, the stick delivers in all other aspects. You will probably see this stick on a few more recaps as well.

Most Memorable Cigars Smoked

#1. Oliva – Master Blend 3: For Valentine’s Day, my wife and I decided to change things up a bit. Instead of joining the crowds for a romantic dinner, we headed down to Kipps Cheesesteak  in downtown El Paso. This had to be one of the most memorable Valentine dinners I have had with my wife of six years. After filling up on a delicious Green Chile Philly and nacho bacon fries, we took a scroll over to our local cigar lounge a few blocks away where I lit up a Master Blend 3. The cigar was the perfect close to a wonderful evening.

#2. Oliva – Serie V Melanio: On February 26th, the non-profit I have worked with for seven years held its inaugural fundraising event that was a great success. After the event, the CEO (a BOTL) and I made our way over to La Casa Del Puro and lit up a Serie V Melanio to celebrate the evening. Even in the smaller robusto size, the Melanio delivered a ton of flavors and just the right amount of strength to put me in a nice relaxed state.

Cigars Reviewed

Nestor Miranda – Casa Miranda Chapter Two 

If you enjoy deep, dark flavors and a good amount of spice, I recommend that you give the Chapter Two a try. And for the price, you won’t be breaking the bank.

Epicurean Cigars – AG Azul Vintage 2008

The performance of the AG Azul 2008 was exceptional, allowing me to sit back and relax for almost 2 hours. The cedar and pepper made up the core of the profile but the shifts in the intensity of the spice, sweetness, and cocoa finish made this an engaging ride.

Ezra Zion Cigar Company – Honor Series FHK

This cigar was an absolute treat! The flavors were bold, balanced, and quite complex. The performance was spot on with an even burn and firm ash. What more could you want in a cigar?

La Flor Dominicana – Foxtoberfest

While I am no leaf expert, I was able to easily distinguish the different roles the leaves played in the flavor profile. The Cameroon binder showed off a wonderful sweetness, while the Connecticut Broadleaf  contrasted it with its common tartness and savory meatiness. The first and second third delivered complexity and a mostly balanced profile.

VegaFina – Sumum Edicion Especial 2010 

The first and second third just did not do it for me, but at least the final third delivered some good, balanced flavors. It just wasn’t enough to redeem the cigar…. I would like to smoke through the other vitolas to see if I get a different experience before I recommend this cigar to others.

Veritas Cigar Company – Torch Habano

To my surprise, this was a cigar I found myself enjoying. The Torch offered a spicy profile on a backdrop of cedar with a wonderful long coffee and cocoa finish.