Rafael González Coronas Extra

Size: 46 x 143 (5.6")

Shape: Grand Corona

Filler: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

Box Date: February 2007

Beverage: an IPA (I don't remember which)

Rafael González is a little-known brand from Cuba that is now made up of only two vitolas: a short panatela and a petit corona. Prior to their discontinuation this year, the lineup had included two others: a small panatela and today's review, the Corona Extra. The line must not be particularly profitable for Habanos S.A., as they've discontinued a total of 6 vitolas since 2006. Nonetheless, we discovered a box of these at our local B&M with a date of 2007 on the bottom, so we thought to give them a shot.

The Rafael González Corona Extra reviewed for this week had a fine, light brown wrapper with no soft spots apparent. The draw was a bit tight but manageable, with pre-draw notes of tobacco and cedar. Lighting was easy and the cigar produced a decent amount of smoke. We both noticed abundant but very mild flavours of cedar and hay in the beginning, followed by notes of bread and honey. The cigar picked up in strength during the second third but remained in the mild range, with some toasted tobacco and herb notes lingering on the palate. The last third became a bit sour but I could detect some mint on the finish and more honey on the draw, which balanced out the unpleasantness of the sour notes. 

Although I couldn't put my finger on it, the Rafael González Corona Extra had a unique flavour that set it apart from other Cuban cigars, but had a similar (and somewhat common) profile of cedar and hay. Overall, I wasn't particularly impressed or disappointed by this corona gorda, and I'd probably smoke it again if it was offered to me. That's why it earns the decent rating of two and a half Fidels out of five.

- Carlton

Cuaba Salomones I

Size: 57 x 184 (7.2")

Shape: Double Perfecto

Filler: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

Box Date: Unknown

Beverage: Oban Single Malt

(The following is a guest review by Wayne, a fellow Lover of the Leaf)


With fall quickly setting in, I decided to escape the office an hour early and indulge in a smoke on the patio, taking full advantage of what will undoubtedly be one of the final few warm afternoons of the year.  On the drive home I remembered an almost forgotten stick in my humidor that seemed an appropriate choice for the stolen time.  With its grand size, the Cuaba Salomones is one to save for an occasion when serious puffing time is available.   Medium brown in colour with a classic Cuban wrapper, this figurado stands out because of its size but also because of its shape; falling somewhere between a presidente and a pyramid.  


Sliding the band off, I clipped off the tapered foot and the cap without issue.  In the hand, the feel was solid but light, and quite uniformly firm along the length.  A pre-light draw tasted of cedar and spice and was moderately tight but not overly so.  For the first few draws, I was bombarded with intense spice and herbal flavor.  This diminished very rapidly and the flavor settled into a light, slightly caramel tinted taste.  As I continued through the first half, moderate amounts of smoke were produced and the flavor ramped up a little into coffee and vanilla while a long solid grey ash formed and fell every half to one inch.  Flavours varied slightly throughout with small tastes of leather, honey on top of the initial herbal and coffee.  The burn was very consistent during the first half though I did have to touch it up twice in the second.  Admittedly, one of these was due to a few moments of neglect on my part.  With the exception of the last inch and a half, the body did not exceed medium.  Smoking time might be closer to two hours for most.  


Taking the last few puffs, I threw in the butt watching the sun set over yellowing leaves.  This was an enjoyable smoke and paired exceedingly well with the Oban.  Preferring fuller body, I rate this one at 3.5 SCHOOF (Smokin’ Castro Heads Out Of Five).  If you prefer a medium body in your smoke, this might be a good choice for a long sit on a sunny afternoon.

- Wayne

Diplomáticos No. 2

Size: 52 x 156 (6.1")

Shape: Pyramid

Filler: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

Box Date: Unknown

Beverage: Knobb Creek Kentucky Straight Burbon

The Diplomáticos No. 2 is one of the most popular Cuban Piramide's on the market.  Many have compared it to the iconic Monticristo No. 2 (which we reviewed here) and I have heard many cigar enthusiasts describe the Diplomáticos as better than the Monti No. 2.  The Diplomático is a relatively new Cuban brand with a limited number of vitolas.  In fact, aside from the Diplomático No.2, only the No. 4 and the No. 5 exist in the line.  I've read that the Diplomático was created as a cheap alternative to Monticristo, which would explain the use of numbers to describe the sizes rather than names.  I've always been a bit sceptical about the Diplomático and have wondered how it could possibly compare to the Monticristo No. 2 (perhaps my favourite cigar).  But we're always willing to give new cigars a try (even though this one has obviously been around for a long time), and so with great anticipation we clipped the cap of this well-known and loved Cuban.

My first impression of the Diplomático is that it did not have a pleasant aroma.  In fact, it kind of smelled like dirt (and not dirt in a good way - like how many Partagas have a nice "earthy" flavour and aroma).  Additionally, the pre-draw tasted a bit dusty.  So far the Diplomático No. 2 was batting 0 for 2.  However, my cynicism soon turned around during the first few puffs and I welcomed some pleasant notes of cream, honey, and dry oak.  The flavours were well balanced and the aroma was much improved with the addition of fire.  My main criticism of the Diplomático through the first half was that it actually did taste like a poor man's Monticristo No. 2 - similar flavours, but much lighter.  Balanced, but not quite as balanced as a Monticristo No. 2.  In the final half of the cigar it picked up in strength and I noticed some faint tobacco notes mixed in with chocolate and coffee.  However, overall I was not that impressed with the Diplomático No. 2.  I would rather pay the extra couple of dollars and smoke any of the other Cuban Piramide's on the market.  Therefore, I'm confident in my rating of two Castro heads out of five.

- Sean

Bolívar Bolivar B2 Canada Regional Edition 2010

Size: 52 x 156 (6.1")
Shape: Pyramid
Filler: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuba
Box Date: June 2010
Beverage: Appelton Estate Reserva Rum & Cola

As I write this, I'm surprised to note that we have not yet reviewed anything from the Bolívar line. In retrospect, I think that we've intended to review a few of them in the past but ended up choosing newer cigars instead. It seems that this hasn't changed, as today's review is of the new Bolivar B2 Canada Regional Edition 2010, another in the seemingly endless onslaught of 'special' editions that are released to 'select markets' every year. In reality, many of the regional editions from one market are widely available in others, as we regularly see REs from Asia Pacific and Switzerland for sale here in Canada.

The cigars smoked for this review had dark wrappers (characteristic of another Bolívar, the Belicoso Finos) that were expertly applied. The construction was excellent with no soft spots. Clipping revealed a perfect draw from both of our cigars, with pre-draw notes of wood and leather. The first few puffs were full of leather and earth with a clean finish. As I smoked through the first third, a light sweetness joined in from time to time, along with some nuts and more earth. There was a fair amount of nicotine at this point, and the body was decidedly medium. The second third gained in strength and body, and background notes of coffee could be detected. The last third became a bit metallic tasting, but still finished cleanly (I would expect this to change for the better with some time in the humidor).

This was a surprising and pleasant departure from most of the regional editions that are being released today, which seem more often than not to be bland and one-dimensional. The B2 tasted characteristically Bolívar with more sweetness and earth than, say, the Belicosos Finos, but the Bolivar B2 was not a drastic departure from other, less expensive cigars (such as the Bolívar Coronas Gigantes) that we enjoy at least as much. But for being the good cigar that it is, I give it three Fidels out of five.

- Carlton