All in By Ken Gargett - 2020

Punch Regional Release Asia Pacific 8-9-8 2018 - Limefinger ‘The Learnings’ Riesling 2020

Punch Regional Release Asia Pacific 8-9-8 2018 - Limefinger ‘The Learnings’ Riesling 2020

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

One of the tough things about judging cigars is the extraordinary variation that bedevils attempts to do so. It is why that one should smoke as many examples of any particular cigar as possible before giving judgement. Of course, when Rob and I do our videos, we do exactly the opposite. We might, in some cases and more often Rob than myself, be able to bring past experience of a cigar to the table to provide a basis for comparison. But sometimes, it will be the first time either of us will have seen a cigar. Should we really be making definitive judgements based on that?

Well, yes. Otherwise, we would not get to spend our thoroughly enjoyable afternoons, together or zooming, discussing the world, solving problems, enjoying a drink and a smoke. But in reality, these reviews…

Cohiba Medio Siglo - Pyramid Valley Wines

Cohiba Medio Siglo - Pyramid Valley Wines

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Not often I go for a short, fat cigar but surely if anyone is going to do it well, that would be Cohiba. So, the Cohiba Medio Siglo. Honestly, if I may allow my prejudices to take over for a moment – and haven’t we seen enough of that from everyone this year – it looks more like a parody of a cigar than a real one. But I am always prepared to take one for the team.

The Medio Siglo was introduced in 2016 as part of the celebrations for Cohiba’s 50th anniversary. It was one of a trio, along with the ‘Cohiba 50 Aniversario’ and the ‘Cohiba Majestuosos 1966’. It was the first new vitola to join the Siglo series since 2002 when we saw the Siglo VI get on board. This one was dubbed No 19 in the Cigar Journal’s Top 25 from 2016. I'm sure that is very impressive.

The Medio gives a nod to two of the famous…

Partagas E2 – Seppeltsfield Barossa Savoury Allsorts Gin - Hennessey Master Blenders No 3. 

Partagas E2 – Seppeltsfield Barossa Savoury Allsorts Gin - Hennessey Master Blenders No 3. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Couple of very interesting matches here, one quite bizarre.

But first, as is traditional (when I remember), the cigar. The Partagas E2. The more I see Partagas, the more I love them. And I have seen a fair whack, so I love them a lot.

This Kenfession is from back just before Premier Pumpkin (very cruel to call her Princess Penelope, even if she is the spitting image) slammed the borders shut. Down at Hastings Point in NSW. Was down there for some quiet to get some work done, but also a bit of fishing, which went well. could not resist a few pics.

The Partagas E2 – surprised to learn that they…

The Fraser Island Mix - Part 2 (with photo gallery).

The Fraser Island Mix - Part 2 (with photo gallery).

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

We made the trip up the Island on the Saturday and the first real chance for a good cigar was back at the lodge on the Sunday. A Trinidad Fundadore. Anyone hoping for detailed and considered reviews of these cigars will have surely realised that this is not the column for that, at least not this time. Over the afternoon, as I continued with ‘Lords of the Fly’ and also the latest in the Sam Wyndham series by Abir Mukherjee, ‘Death in the East’ – cracking series for those who enjoy a good detective read. This is the fourth, and perhaps his best. Set in India back in the '30s. But the drinks for the Fundie – Domaine Chandon Blanc des Blancs 2015, Grant Burge Rose and a Stonier Chardy but the exact one escapes me – these are…

The Fraser Island Mix –  Part 1. 

The Fraser Island Mix –  Part 1. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

For decades, I've been making the annual sojourn to Fraser Island with the guys. Occasionally, get up there twice a year, but normally, 6 to 10 of us head up just the once. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The usual format, these days, is that we sort out vehicles etc, we have a treasurer and a quartermaster (although many is the year we have gone up with 25 different cheeses, 16 different olives etc etc, and forgotten the toilet paper). Most of us go to a mate’s fabulous house on a hill behind Cooroy for the Friday evening, a couple of hours north of Brizzy. A cigar overlooking the lake, dinner, drinks, and then we all crash and head up the next day. Another couple of hours to the tiny town of Rainbow Bay and on to Inskip Point, nothing more than a spit of sand, where we catch the car ferry to the bottom of the Island. The trip is only about 15 minutes and some years see queues of many, even hundreds, of cars on one side or both. The things you see waiting or while on the ferry can be spectacular and…

Bolivar Belicosos Finos – Shichida Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Bolivar Belicosos Finos – Shichida Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

nteresting combo this week. A popular and well known cigar with something a little more leftfield – a cracking sake.

The Belicosos. A pyramid, 52x140mm. A cigar which, according to Trev’s magnificent site, has been with us since pre-1960.

This example smoked very well. rich, chocolatey, dark fruits. It took a little time to get into stride but went well when it did. It was more Christmas cake than the typical earthiness one thinks of when one smokes Bolivar. This smoke had what seems to be referred to as ‘the elusive perfect draw” but what is that? Over to Ray, I think? Slightly tight is pretty close for me. And this was.

Overall, a long slow smoke. Always like that. Quite powerful as would…

Punch Punch 48 – Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz 2008. 

Punch Punch 48 – Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz 2008. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Right, I have no idea where this one came from, the Punch Punch 48. I suspect that it was leftover from a video Rob and I did a few years ago. Anyway, it seemed like a good thing to try with a style that I think works way better with cigars than ‘straight’ red wines.

Grand corona sized – ring gauge of 48 (no surprise there) X 140mm. Has the secondary band – the first to receive it, I believe – as a Habanos Specialist release. It certainly was in superb condition when I came to it. Looked a joy. Opened with lovely caramel notes. Good power here. Some woody notes. And then with a hint of chocolate emerging. The flavours were excellent throughout. Unfortunately, the burn raced…

Tres Hermanos Short Gordito (No. 4) – Ayala No 7 2007. 

Tres Hermanos Short Gordito (No. 4) – Ayala No 7 2007. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Some time ago, the very kind people at Tres Hermanos sent me some cigars. one has already appeared in Kenfessions and others will surely follow. Now, as a person known for a preference for the long and skinny, this might get awkward (is there a cigar equivalent for cacomorphobia?). Among their offerings is their No 4, Tres Hermanos Short Gordito (No. 4). Let me assure you that it does not resemble the Monte 4 in any way. But I am all for judging on merits, hence I was determined to do so with this cigar.

We are getting close to square cigars, but I do understand that people love the shorter fatter styles. And it does not get much shorter or fatter than this. A cigar ten centimetres in length and with a 70 ring gauge. Yes, that is not a misprint. I had to use a punch – I normally do, anyway – as no clipper is…

Trinidad Coloniales – Lola y Vera Gin. 

Trinidad Coloniales – Lola y Vera Gin. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

The Santamania ‘Lola y Vera’ Gin comes in a bottle which looks a bit like a cross between a bottle of kids’ medicine and a bottle of Malibu on acid. It was released a few years ago as a collaboration between the Spanish distillery, Santamania, and our own Four Pillars, though the latter rarely appears in any info on it. Spain is a huge consumer of gin and they do it extremely well.

‘Lola y Vera’ is a fine example. Named after their stills, it is described as a Madrid Dry, based on the juniper-flavoured London Dry with which most are more familiar. The Spanish spirit which Santamania contributed is based on Spanish Tempranillo. It was made in sadly limited quantities. Each distillery contributed gin which was blended. The result is terrific. I suspect it sold out ages ago.

It is clean, zesty and flavoursome with

Tres Hermanos Robusto (No. 3) – Taylors Vintage Port 1980 (half bottle).

Tres Hermanos Robusto (No. 3) – Taylors Vintage Port 1980 (half bottle).

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

I am the first to confess that my expertise, such as it is, is almost non-existent when it comes to non-Cubans. I honestly doubt that my total for NC’s smoked would make 1% of the cigars experienced.

And so when kindly presented with an array of NC’s for review – in this case from Tres Hermanos – I do what any ex-lawyer would do and completely fake it!

More seriously, this intriguing selection arrived recently and I am working my way through them, though a few have been, at first glimpse, a little daunting – a 70 ring gauge? That was only a 100mm cigar, but also awaiting is a 66 ring gauge in a 180mm cigar called ‘Big Hermano’. The mind boggles and I think I might need to leave half a day for that one. There is also a Salomones – 57mm ring gauge and 190mm in length. I'm looking forward to that one as I do believe that if…

The Corona Gorda Crush - Punch Punch (REG ENR19) – Seppeltsfield Barossa Shiraz 2020 Gin - Glenfarclas 15-Year-Old Malt Whisky. 

The Corona Gorda Crush - Punch Punch (REG ENR19) – Seppeltsfield Barossa Shiraz 2020 Gin - Glenfarclas 15-Year-Old Malt Whisky. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

The Punch Punch will surely be a cigar familiar to most, as we come towards the end of our little journey through the Corona Gorda world, as brief as it has been.

And what a joy it turned out to be. They come in good old-fashioned boxes of 25 (none of the ten or eight or whatever malarkey). 143 x 46mm.

Opened with a good draw. The construction looked fine, though obvious box press. A fine wrapper with plenty of those attractive russet notes. The opening flavours were dominated by a lovely walnut character. Some earthy tones, woody, spicy and perhaps even a smidge of vanilla. Some leather. Richly flavoured and sitting above medium-bodied. Earthy notes emerged more and more. This is a cigar which…

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 – Seppeltsfield Savoury Allsorts Gin -Navazos PX Gran Solera

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 – Seppeltsfield Savoury Allsorts Gin -Navazos PX Gran Solera

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

I really am living in the wrong era. If the equivalent to Mr Jordan for arrivals, not departures, could check his records and shift me to the appropriate century, I'd be grateful. Or even decade.

Technology. Isn't it supposed to make one’s life easier? I think it is simply compelling evidence the divinities have a sense of humour.

I decide to head down to the family beach shack in northern NSW. Need to get my nephew to do the permit as otherwise, the pumpkin that runs our State will not let me back across the border – 30,000 jammed together to protest is fine but a bloke, solo, in his car going from one place to the other without bothering anyone or even talking to anyone, and I need paperwork. George Orwell, come on down.

Anyway, plan on being here for a week. Supposed to do a zoom review with…

Romeo & Julieta Belicosos – Foursquare Rum 2004

Romeo & Julieta Belicosos – Foursquare Rum 2004

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

One of those days. Never rains… One thing after another.

I'm woken up by, of all things, a whopping great haemorrhoid. Yes, I said it. Not like I chose to inflict that particular joy on myself and I am sure I am not the first among us to be blessed in that manner. First one I have had for about a decade, so I really shouldn’t complain, but when it feels like someone parked the Queen Mary between the cheeks, I must say I am not feeling very charitable to the world.

Hobble, bow-legged, to the computer for the morning emails. Two of my very best, longest (known them both for more than forty years) mates and I have all shared very similar political views (no, I am not going to break the rules) for decades. I believe I have not changed, just that the world has shifted, and not for the better (but I suppose people have been saying that for centuries). The events of the last few years have caused me to reflect and perhaps adjust in certain ways that

The Corona Gorda Crush (the last of the line-up so no more struggling to get a better name) – Juan Lopez Seleccion No 1 (UTC May 19) – Pol Roger Blanc des Blancs 2012

The Corona Gorda Crush (the last of the line-up so no more struggling to get a better name) – Juan Lopez Seleccion No 1 (UTC May 19) – Pol Roger Blanc des Blancs 2012

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Another, indeed the final corona gorda in our mini line-up and another cigar that smoked very well. A fine example.

The Juan Lopez Seleccion No 1 is the same size as our previous CG (not surprisingly), with a ring gauge of 46 and length of 143 mm. Again, may the heavens resonate with the trumpets of glory for such sizes. Again, a slide lid box of 25.

Mine was perhaps in not quite the same condition as the previous CG, with one leaf doing its best to unravel, but it managed to hold together for our purposes. A nice earthy brown colour with hints of russet. Looked good. Firm with a perfect draw.

Started beautifully with…

The Corona Gorda Crush (still struggling with that name) – Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 (JUS OCT17) – Pol Roger 2012

The Corona Gorda Crush (still struggling with that name) – Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 (JUS OCT17) – Pol Roger 2012

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

For the last two cigars in the Corona Gorda reviews, I matched both with Pol Roger champagnes. I was doing a review of the 2012s, brilliant stuff, and so did not want to waste the bottles. Isolation had prevented the usual vultures descending to scoff my good stuff! So I made the sacrifice to slog through the bottles myself. As I write this, I'm forced to wade through some fabulous 2016 Barolos for the same reason (but the is cigar long finished).

The Epi 1, as the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 seems to be universally dubbed, is a 46 ring gauge (cue a crescendo of applause) and 143 mm in length, coming in slide lid boxes of 25.

My example was of superior construction, firm and yet with a good draw. Opening with some nice toasty notes, quite rich. A touch woody. Some coffee grinds. For me, this is all along the Hoyo DNA. Quite powerful throughout. Good strength. Richness prevailed throughout and then…

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