85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

OK, so my 35th birthday was on Friday (5/27) and I had been gifted an El Producto cigar from 1926 by a friend (Thanks Nate!). Anyhow, I was going to save it for my 50th birthday but when Harold Camping assured us that the new end of the world would be October 21st 2011, I figured I'd smoke it on my 35th b-day and the cigar would be 85 at that point.

First, this is a machine rolled cigar and probably manufactured in Fl. The stick tastes like marvelous old cban tobacco (lots of upfront twang but a short finish). Not sure if the tobacco came from Cuba and it was made in the US but it was cello'ed which makes me believe this was not made in Cuba, I only know of a few that were cello'ed although I believe the tobacco to be Cuban.

The cello is almost brown on this thing and as I peel it back, the guys at the cigar shop are staring at me like I have a ***k growing out of my forehead. One that was done, I gave her a small clip and toasted up the end.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/x...0527012032.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/x...0527012055.jpg

The smoke was light bodied but full volume. Lots of smoke and a hay/musty flavor mixed with a twanginess that made me believe I was smoking the leaf of Havana (I have nothing to compare it to, it just was). The burn was great and the smoke was so mellow, I could retrohale an entire drag with no effect whatsoever and almost wondering if I took in any smoke at all.
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/x...0527012110.jpg

All in all, the flavors intesified a little bit but in the end, this was a mild mellow smoke and it should have been for it's age. I am glad to have had this experience and to share it with you. Yes I nubbed the thing the burn,flavor and experience was all very gratifying.
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/x...0527012140.jpg

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Nice review of a vintage cigar. It is always amazing to me that some of these are still around. Congrats on the experience and the birthday.

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Great review...Happy B-Day...and now what are you planning to smoke on your 50th?

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

cuban machine made cigars usually have cello.

the handmade ones do not.

im not sure how far back that tradition goes but its been there for at least 50 years.

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

From everything I have read, El Producto's were all handmade until the 50's. Particularly after Sam Grabosky died. He seems like the kind of man who would not have gone along with his cigars being mm.

There is a great article on the history of El Producto here: http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfe...Story_7552/p/1

Either way, good review on an old cigar!

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

None that are produced today. But in the past there have been exceptions. A few handmades that come to mind that came in cello are the Cohiba Coronas and H Upmann #3's.

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Oh yea the #3's:tu

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

No wonder George Burns aged so well, he was an El Producto smoker. The longevity of his cigars must have rubbed off on him.

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

I wasn't aware of this, thanks for the info. I thought they were MM.

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Not sure, might have to track another one of these down.:)

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Very cool...Happy Birthday Scott!

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Thanks for sharing Scott. :D

Happy B-Day!!

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

wow, 85yo thats crazy!

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Nice Review Scott! You just smoked a cigar of time.

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Nice brother...very cool when you get to smoke something older than you.

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

WOW!!! That is one nice gift & one very nice FRIEND... :tu

Re: 85 year old cigar for my birthday
 

Nice review. What a great gift....to have been able to experience an 85 yr old cigar. Happy Birthday!