A trip in Russia?

After a day at the musée des Beaux-Arts in Ottawa to see the exhibit about Caravaggio, I was looking for something earthmoving. I searched throughout my almost dead stash and found a stick that scared me for the longest time. There was a time when I was avoiding strong stogies and the things a read about the El Cobre cigars were scaring meh. Not that it was a gorilla finger but rather that it was very full bodied. Today, I was in a mood for this.

The « bague » is inspiring, it makes the cigar glued in my hands and if I had any doubts about I smoked it or not are now gone. The foot is cracked slightly but I know it’ll be gone is soon as I « enflamme » it. The construction is not as good as I would like, it seems like the stick has gooseflesh. There is almost no veins at all along it’s length. The pre-light tasted of Cherry Blossom and light tobak. As I lit the foot, I could hear the sweet sound of « crépillement » the tobak makes as the fire starts consuming it. I could smell burnt mashmallows. First draw is fully throttled by the power of pepper! It stays in my « narines » for several seconds. It is followed by baked bread. The pepper goes to the « arrière scène » right away. The draw is slightly tight but agreable. Now here is the image that defines perfectly what I was experiencing : I am a cigar (yes I am), trapped in a spanish cedar humidor, my foot burried in freshly moved earth. A cedar forest surrounding me, enveloping me. A very poetic debut. The consumption is even atm. As I smoked throughout the first « tiers » I can see how white the ashes are. There is a good contrast between it and the darkness of the unburn wrapper. It is as if the cigar is transforming itself into a bone. This stick is full of images so far.

The second « tiers » starts off with a blast for strong that my eyes were watering. I could feel the pepper lingering in my nose. There is still a resillient ghost of wood but it is very faint. While I sailed the second third, I had the impression of playing « roulette russe ». One puff was mellow and woody and the next was pepper. By the end of it, the baked bread was back but I kept watching my back for Dr. Pepper.

The last « tiers » was as « imprévisible » as the second one. I started getting some burn problems but it was mainly caused by the humidity in Gatineau. With a bit more than an inch left, the El Cobre started to get bitter and I bedded it in my ashtray for it to die there. I was done.

Short story, the cigar was a « pure délice ». Always taking me to beautiful scenery. I definitely want more of these to smoke weekly. Try ‘em out, it is worth it.

Thanks again for reading me.