Photography by Luke Alland
I love trying new things and visiting places I’ve never seen before. There’s something so fleeting about the time we have here, so it’s important to experience as much as one can before it’s too late. It’s these experiences that help guide you, and allow you to discover things you like and dislike. As you begin whittling down your preferences, you’ll organically be directed towards more of the things you enjoy, and experiences will only grow as you learn to appreciate and understand the processes behind them. Such experiences include trying beautiful wines or whiskies, travelling into the heart of the city and uncovering hidden gems, becoming one of the insiders and sharing knowledge and insight with newcomers and locals alike. The best things are experienced in good company, as you can help others on their respective journeys too. For those that are on their way to building an understanding of cigars, consider this a simple recommendation of sorts that will help you onwards, and form a small part of yours.
Rikesh setting fire to the Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe No. 3
Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe No. 3
I love petit coronas, as they’re small but mighty. When one thinks of smoking cigars, a petit corona can often look a little underwhelming to a layman: a case of ‘go big or go home’. However, I implore you to stick around, because the Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe No. 3 is the stuff of gold. A Marevas vitola and a weighty 42 ring gauge, the cigar is medium-bodied with beautiful chocolate, coffee and pepper notes. The good folks at EGM promise that the cigar that gets better with age, so keep it in good condition in your humidor and break it out for the perfect occasion.
Bolivar Petit Corona
If you read my previous article, Filter Coffees and Short Smokes, you’ll know that this cigar packs a pretty big punch for something so petite. It’s another one that gets better with age, so be sure to hang on to it for a little while. A Marevas vitola and 42 ring gauge combo once again, the cigar is incredibly rich, and given that the smoke time is around 30 to 45 minutes, it definitely crams a lot in a short space of time. It pairs well with coffee, or works equally well as a post-dinner aperitif.
The Petit Coronas format is perfect for a 30 minute smoke and fits nicely into one's breast pocket.
Montecristo No. 4
Another wonderful go-to for whenever the mood strikes, there’s a reason Montecristo cigars are so popular with novice and aficionado alike. The cigar has no weak spots and very few veins in the wrapper, essentially, it’s very well constructed and smokes brilliantly. It has a bold flavour profile but isn’t as intense as the Bolivar. I love smoking these when having dinner with friends, as an example, though they work pretty much across the board. The beauty of these petit coronas is that they won’t necessarily eat into your day, unless you have the time to make an actual occasion of it. Perfect on-the-go, and perfect for when the night is still young, a little really can go a long way.
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