by Tom M.  I recently returned from a relaxing trip to Bermuda (more on that in another post to come) and one of the many treasures to be had on this island paradise are Cuban cigars.  I have had several Cuban cigars in the past and always felt they were excellent but not necessary better than other premium cigars.  To all of you out there that I have upset in the past with my lack luster enthusiasm for these tropical beauties…  I was wrong.  I have seen the light.

The cigar that has quite possibly ruined all future cigars for me was the Manuel Lopez, Punch Habana.

The size I picked up was the Petit Coronas Del Punch which measures 5 1/8 inches in length and has ring gauge of 42. I usually go for robusto size cigars/ cigars with larger ring gauges but having read so much over the years about how event the smaller cigars produced in Cuba are rich in flavor and pack a punch I decided to give this smaller cigar a try.  What else can I say but “viva Cuba”!

The construction was flawless. The wrapper had the look if not the feel of a beautifully worn leather chair. Firm yet supple to touch. Smooth but not oily. I marveled at the triple cap construction which employed on nearly every Cuban cigar and more and more utilized by non Cuban owned rolling houses.  The wrapper smelled of strong cigar tobacco, earth and leather.

The first pre-lit draw was fairly acidic. Like the first sip of a bold red that might be a little young and was not allowed to breath for any amount of time before your first sip. The acidity vanished with the first post lit draw

Creamy. Leathery. Deep. Powerful.

Read each of these words again.

Now, again  but more slowly and deliberately like one rereads the prose penned by Hemingway.

The strength is considerable and commands that this masterpiece be enjoyed slowly. It commands that each puff of billowing smoke be savored.  The burn is so even and precise the ash looks like an illustration or maybe a doctored photo for an advertising piece but this is the real thing.

This cigar is high art worthy of bight praise.

I have enjoyed my fair share of cigars over the years and…

This is by far the best I have ever had.

I am blissfully at a loss of words.

Blissfully.