We’re almost at that wonderful time of the year, and as we mentally prepare to wind down, there’s nothing like doing so with one of your favourite smokes. What’s even better is when they’re available for 12% off. It’s time to get down to the brass tacks, as we highlight ten top Black Friday picks you should add to your repertoire. First up, the Quai d’Orsay No. 50. Measuring at 110mm by a 50 ring gauge, the full-bodied smoke is full of flavour and will certainly be a core part of your collection. Fairly young, the brand was founded in 1973 with the aim of appealing to French smokers, and the cigars have proven popular for their Claro leaf wrappers which give the puros their gorgeous light tanned colour. They’re a great choice for those who are fans of Hoyo de Monterrey in particular.
A box of the Quai d'Orsay No. 50 cigars
Speaking of which, the two cigars we wanted to highlight as part of our Black Friday sale are the Hoyo de Monterrey le Hoyo de Río Seco and the Epicure de Luxe. The brand is considered a tremendous innovator through the introduction of the Petit Robusto vitola in 2005, which has now been adopted by other well-established cigar brands. Part of the Le Hoyo series, the spicy Río Seco features an elegant Armorosos vitola, and are totally handmade (totalmente a mano) with long filler Cuban tobacco from the finest fincas of Cuba. Meanwhile, the Epicure de Luxe is one of the cigars released exclusively for La Casa del Habanos stores. You can expect a light-bodied smoke with complex yet delicate flavours.
Every humidor should contain at least a couple Partagas cigars, but if you don’t know where to begin, we’d highly recommend the Serie D No. 4, and the Serie E No. 2. These cigars are instantly recognisable for their rich, aromatic flavour profiles: the Serie D No. 4 is powerful with earthy flavours, while the Serie E No. 2 sports a Duke vitola is a full-bodied smoke best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Another heavy hitter comes by the way of H. Upmann, and specifically their Magnum 50. Despite the build, the smoke is actually on the lighter side, delivering woody notes with hints of citrus through their specially selected tobacco leaves. It’s an interesting, intricate smoke that we’d highly suggest if you’ve not yet experienced it.
What's better than a Partagas Serie D No. 4 cigar after a long day?
The first cigar that sommelier Giuliano Santilli experienced was the Ramón Allones Specially Selected. Whilst admitting it’s not the ideal smoke for a first timer, the fact that it’s still one of his go-to smokes today should tell you everything you need to know. Staying true to the Ramón Allones DNA, the cigar is full-bodied, with notes of coffee, marzipan and citrus. In other words, a must-try. Another highly recommended cigars comes by way of Trinidad. Whilst the Trinidad repertoire on the whole is phenomenal, one of the stand out cigars is the Reyes. It’s cited as a great option for the modern day smoker, notably short of time but still appreciates the finer things. Its medium-bodied flavour and short smoking time is ideal for those on-the-go.
What's your favourite Ramón Allones cigar?
Another smoke on the shorter end is the Montecristo Petit No. 2, hence the name. A quintessential smoke that sports its own vitola, the cigar is bursting with rich and bold flavours. Significantly spicy with strong notes of cinnamon, it is balanced by its woody tones and is ideal for this time of year. We round up our top picks with the Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe, which comes as one of the Habanos LCDH editions. The burn and draw in these cigars are second to none, providing a faultless smoke. Wrapped in an aromatic cedar wrapper, the woody flavours truly shine through in this Romeo y Julieta. Light in colour, its caramel and milk chocolate wrapper is representative of the smooth and mild flavours provided by this Cuban cigar.
Our Black Friday sale begins on Friday 26th November, and ends Monday 29th November, 2021.