A Quartet of Classic Cigars

(Cigar Aficionado) We found a quartet of classic cigars in this tasting, three of them Cuban, one Nicaraguan, and all four aged superbly. The oldest smokes scored highest, a 1959 Por Larrañaga (98 points) and a 1960 H. Upmann No. 1 (97 points). Each was fairly smooth, especially the Por Larrañaga, and each cigar showed how an exceptional smoke can remain delicious even after 50 years. A far younger cigar, the robusto-sized Romeo y Julieta Exhibición No. 4 from 1993, showcased the high quality of production from that year. The 96-point cigar remains full bodied with a reverberant finish. As the Exhibición No. 4 approaches its 19th birthday, it is perhaps in its smoking prime. The Padrón Millennium, a limited-edition Nicaraguan release from 2000, shows remarkable intensity and elegance. Continued