Summertime

THERE used to be a myriad of choices.

Back in the day, we would have been offering you Por Larranaga Petit Corona, El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme, Hoyo Double Coronas and perhaps a dainty Du Maire or Du Prince.

Sadly, those days have gone, never to return. A great swathe of the old, much-loved but indisputably niche vitolas (or shapes and sizes) which were a wonderful part of the rich tapestry of the Cuban cigar, have been, euphemistically, laid to rest.

Add to that the fact that the supply of Cuban cigars worldwide (excepting China) is now at an all-time low, and you will recognise that these days when we get asked about Summer cigar smoking, the landscape we gaze upon is a very different one to that which would have met us even five years ago.

With that in mind, it never hurts to re-evaluate and offer new and up-to-date recommendations and reports from the cigar world, which is many things, but never dull!

So, what cigars should you be looking at to enjoy once the sun finally decides to come out of hibernation? Many of us report that we feel less like smoking big, complicated cigars when it is hot. So perhaps it is best to concentrate your efforts on milder, lighter-bodied sticks with pleasing, refreshing flavours, rather than bold and beefy powerhouses which can be a lot to handle as the mercury rises.

If you have a lazy afternoon ahead of and you still desire a big cigar, you’ll do no better than La Flor Dominica’s Andalusian Bull, which is considered by many to be the pinnacle of New World cigar making. It has plenty going on – don’t be fooled into thinking this one is a pushover – but it won’t sit you on your backside either. It is a huge, figurado cigar, meaning shaped, and will compliment a shaded spot and a glass of something cool and intriguing beautifully. Expect a good two-hour smoke.

If you can find them, H Upmann cigars are also an excellent fair-weather friend, in particular their little tins of woody, pleasing Half Corona and, an old favourite, the Upmann No.2. This is one of the all-time classics yet is often overlooked. Biscuity, once again woody and with lovely mellow undertones, the No.2 is a once-tried, always-loved, sort of cigar.

Never forget to explore and experiment; take a joyride, for example, with Joya de Nicaragua, whose lines are worthy of further investigation. The Joya Red, for instance, is a nice medium-bodied everyday cigar redolent of warmer days. Or how about something tasty from the spice-laden palate of Mexico? Casa 1910 is a young company doing great things, and their cigars are flavoursome without being overpowering, and good value, to boot.

Let us know your thoughts on fantastic Summer smoking. We’re off to fire up an Epicure No.2…