TURMEAUS AWARDS 2017

So, we’re well on our way into 2018 by now (and miraculously I’m yet to accidentally write “2017” on anything so far!) I hope you all had a great Xmas and New Year’s! We had a great Xmas up in the North-western Turmeaus Squadron, with the shops fuller than ever before with us barely able to keep stock in before it got snapped up as a Christmas gift.

At this time of year, I always like to look back over the the last 12 months and pick out the smokes that have really stood out for me. So here we have the Turmeaus Awards 2017:

Best Newcomer – Por Larranaga Montecarlo

I was so amazed when I first saw this cigar was coming out. I’ve rambled on a lot in the past about how short, stubby cigars are seemingly the way for the future and long, thin, elegant cigars are dying out as a result. Then Por Larranaga have to go and completely buck the trend. However, I’m not complaining as this cigar is absolutely magnificent! Measuring up at 6 ¼” x 33rg, it really is a breath of fresh air. Beautifully mellow, but with a surprisingly complex taste that is delicately revealed across its considerable length. If you’re a fan of cigars like the Montecristo Especial or Trinidad Fundadores, this is a must-try. They’re already firmly in my rotation of “Day-to-Day smokes” along with many of my colleagues.  Singles are currently £8.59 online, which means they’re a bargain to boot (smoking time: roughly 30mins). My old faithful H. Upmann Majestic might have competition for the “Best Value Cigar!”

Best Returning Cigar – Partagas Maduro No.1

I’m so glad to have these bad boys back in stock! We briefly had them a few years ago, but if I recall correctly, we only had a few boxes, which got snapped up immediately and then they immediately fell off the map for several years, before finally resurfacing in 2017. Thankfully, they’re just as good as I remember. With Partagas’ unbeatably rich and sweet blend, dressed in a stunning Maduro wrapper. Smoking one of these is like Smoking a Serie D No.4, wrapped in a brandy snap, dipped in chocolate and then sprinkled with dreams. They’re just absolutely ridiculous. Can’t recommend enough!

Most Reliable Smoke (pipes tobacco) – Kendal Scotch Mixture

Traditional English/Scotch mixtures are often ten a penny in specialist pipe shops and to the uninitiated they can often seem very similar. Naturally that’s not the case, in the way some people think all whiskies taste the same. There is certainly a similarity between many of these blends – at least in the cold aroma – as they all tend to use at least a small amount of Latakia, which can dominate the aroma somewhat. However, some blends still stand head and shoulders above the rest and this mixture is one of those. We have regulars in Chester who literally buy this stuff by the Kilo! This is partly due to the unique blend of tobacco in the base mixture, (Zimbabwe, Malawi and Brazilian Virginia with a mixture of regular and sun-cured Malawi Burley) with the Latakia providing only 12.5% of the blend. Rather than just leaning on the Latakia for flavour, this blend has a rich and complex base, which really sets it apart from its more simplistic rivals. Cool burning too as an added bonus!

 

Most Reliable Smoke – Cigars: Montecristo No.4/Petit Tubos

This shouldn’t really come as a surprise, as the world-famous Montecristo No.4 (Or its tubed counterpart the Petit Tubo) are consistently at the top of the UK’s best-selling cigar. It’s easy to see why, as its rich, spicy and slightly sweet taste is seen by many as the “Classic” Cuban taste profile. If (for some bizarre reason) you’re only ever going to try one cigar, make it this one!

Best Gift – EMS “Seleccion” Packs

These things are just awesome and make a perfect gift at any time of year. Each set contains five cigars of the same vitola, with a card containing a little bit of info and space for you to make your own tasting notes. Putting the presentation, convenience and value aside, these are great for anyone who is looking to experiment with different blends. The fact that you get different blends in identical vitola makes these sets great for comparing blends side by side, as the taste is not affected by the subtle difference you get between different shapes and sizes. I’m especially fond of the Petit Robusto set, as it contains a few blends that you don’t usually see in the Petit Robusto format (such as Cohiba and H. Upmann) so they’re also a nice chance to try something new!

 

Honourable mention for next Christmas: Pickering’s Gin Baubles

I know it’s a little early to be thinking about next Christmas, but these were such a huge hit with us I just had to mention them! These are a set of plastic (ergo non-smashable) baubles, each of which contains a double measure of Pickering’s Gin. They’re an amazing gift, but also an excellent decoration for your own home.  They were one of our best-selling gifts this Christmas and I dare say they will be again for Xmas 2018, so keep your eyes peeled (Or get a set now while you still can!)

So those are my top picks for the last 12 months. I’m looking forward to finding my picks for the next 12! I hope you’ll be about to enjoy them with me in 12 month’s time!

Until next week: Put that in our pipe and smoke it!

Calum

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