In my quest to attempt smoking every routinely manufactured hand-rolled Brazilian puro cigar, I was bound to run into the non-traditional at some point ... and there I have arrived. Not even a petite corona, but smaller still - let this picture tell you the story:
The Chaba Company makes what might be the smallest handmade puro in the world, the Don Pepe (not to be confused with Don Pepin, a Carribean brand.) half corona. For comparison on one side of the box in the photo, I have placed a standard-sized corona. And make no mistake, this is a genuine cigar. It’s not a cigarillo, gimmicked up infused result of floor-sweepings or some machine spun tube of tobacco. With the exception of its dimensions (small, but wholly proportional), everything about this cigar is as big as a Churchill; the huge richness of its evolving aromas/flavors, the great quantity of smoke it offers and the large amount of attention to construction (as witnessed by its double cap, the top one being not much bigger than this “O”.
The first time I smoked one of these, I made the mistake of using a guillotine to cut, which allowed too little resistence when drawing and also allowed flecks of tobacco to come to my tongue during smoking. This time I punched a hole in the cap about the size of a knitting needle and that turned out to be perfect from beginning to end. The pre-light draw was very similar to a juicy fruit gum suggestion while the Sumatra wrapped body – slightly softer than the firm gars I am normally used to – gave a maple-leaves-on-black-soil aroma. Lighting was easy with no need for toasting. The aromas around the shoulder was that of sweet molasses, while the foot smelled of a peppery gumbo stew.
.
Rests well and after about 30 seconds of writing notes, a single puff and it roared back to life. However, when leaving it unattended for about 2 minutes, there was not enough inner fire burning to keep it going and it had to be relit. Looking at this tiny stogie in my hand made me feel like a giant, and added to the irony of how easily it drew and the full-sized mouthfuls of smoke offered. No less than the biggest cigars I have experienced. The ash drops off rather quickly, much like that of a cigarette, not surprisingly.
The mouth taste actually evolved at the midpoint to something akin to shortcake, sweet and pleasant. The aroma around the cut was similar to that of fresh maple syrup – the subtle kind. The foot was evolving, as well, into a clam chowder; brothy and bold with pepper added for strength. If allowed to rest until nearly out, when the obviously sweeter filler is nearly burning alone, the foot loses this pepper and it is replaced by honey. Near the end the mouth taste is still dessert cake smooth – a bit tingly when allowed to pass through the nose in exhalation, but nothing unkind to an experienced smoker. The cut, when almost unholdable, gives the impression of Italian seasonings mix and the foot emits a hint of cumen. Handling this little nub between my fingers is not unlike that of a raisin – and the sweet fragrances do not call me a liar at the comparison!
What makes a cigar experience “good” or pleasurable? How much do appearances count? Now, I just spent 20 minutes with this little tart and described 3 evolving changes that took place during that time. Last night I smoked a Cuban – a Bolivar Exclusivo Francia – that was nearly 8 inches long with a 54 ring gauge. It was one of my most very expensive purchases ever from my B&M and I had been storing it for a long time in anticipation of the smoking experience. During what I guessed was 2 hours + of smoking this leg of horse, continuing to refill my scotch and soda glass to accompany the smoking time, I kept thinking, “Nothing much is changing here.” Oh, it tasted and smelled good, but it never evolved, never changed!. That may be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on one’s preferences for a good cigar smoking experience. But for me, today’s little 20 minute tease was fun, totally enjoyable. And last night, after I finally put the Bolivar (and my glass) down I thought, “If I had to review this monster” (which I did not) “one thing I could say for certain is, ‘It is a good cigar with which to get drunk.’”
I loved this little Chaba manufactured Don Pepe half corona; and will definitely buy more for those occasions when a 15-20 minute smoke is perfect timing.
The Chaba Company makes what might be the smallest handmade puro in the world, the Don Pepe (not to be confused with Don Pepin, a Carribean brand.) half corona. For comparison on one side of the box in the photo, I have placed a standard-sized corona. And make no mistake, this is a genuine cigar. It’s not a cigarillo, gimmicked up infused result of floor-sweepings or some machine spun tube of tobacco. With the exception of its dimensions (small, but wholly proportional), everything about this cigar is as big as a Churchill; the huge richness of its evolving aromas/flavors, the great quantity of smoke it offers and the large amount of attention to construction (as witnessed by its double cap, the top one being not much bigger than this “O”.
The first time I smoked one of these, I made the mistake of using a guillotine to cut, which allowed too little resistence when drawing and also allowed flecks of tobacco to come to my tongue during smoking. This time I punched a hole in the cap about the size of a knitting needle and that turned out to be perfect from beginning to end. The pre-light draw was very similar to a juicy fruit gum suggestion while the Sumatra wrapped body – slightly softer than the firm gars I am normally used to – gave a maple-leaves-on-black-soil aroma. Lighting was easy with no need for toasting. The aromas around the shoulder was that of sweet molasses, while the foot smelled of a peppery gumbo stew.
.
Rests well and after about 30 seconds of writing notes, a single puff and it roared back to life. However, when leaving it unattended for about 2 minutes, there was not enough inner fire burning to keep it going and it had to be relit. Looking at this tiny stogie in my hand made me feel like a giant, and added to the irony of how easily it drew and the full-sized mouthfuls of smoke offered. No less than the biggest cigars I have experienced. The ash drops off rather quickly, much like that of a cigarette, not surprisingly.
The mouth taste actually evolved at the midpoint to something akin to shortcake, sweet and pleasant. The aroma around the cut was similar to that of fresh maple syrup – the subtle kind. The foot was evolving, as well, into a clam chowder; brothy and bold with pepper added for strength. If allowed to rest until nearly out, when the obviously sweeter filler is nearly burning alone, the foot loses this pepper and it is replaced by honey. Near the end the mouth taste is still dessert cake smooth – a bit tingly when allowed to pass through the nose in exhalation, but nothing unkind to an experienced smoker. The cut, when almost unholdable, gives the impression of Italian seasonings mix and the foot emits a hint of cumen. Handling this little nub between my fingers is not unlike that of a raisin – and the sweet fragrances do not call me a liar at the comparison!
What makes a cigar experience “good” or pleasurable? How much do appearances count? Now, I just spent 20 minutes with this little tart and described 3 evolving changes that took place during that time. Last night I smoked a Cuban – a Bolivar Exclusivo Francia – that was nearly 8 inches long with a 54 ring gauge. It was one of my most very expensive purchases ever from my B&M and I had been storing it for a long time in anticipation of the smoking experience. During what I guessed was 2 hours + of smoking this leg of horse, continuing to refill my scotch and soda glass to accompany the smoking time, I kept thinking, “Nothing much is changing here.” Oh, it tasted and smelled good, but it never evolved, never changed!. That may be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on one’s preferences for a good cigar smoking experience. But for me, today’s little 20 minute tease was fun, totally enjoyable. And last night, after I finally put the Bolivar (and my glass) down I thought, “If I had to review this monster” (which I did not) “one thing I could say for certain is, ‘It is a good cigar with which to get drunk.’”
I loved this little Chaba manufactured Don Pepe half corona; and will definitely buy more for those occasions when a 15-20 minute smoke is perfect timing.
