Quick Smoke: Handsome Jimmy Conde 109 (Cuban)

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

This was a gift from a friend and, as best I can tell, it’s a custom-rolled Cuban cigar with Mexican origins based on the Montecristo 109 Conte regional blend. (This isn’t the first time we’ve evaluated a custom Cuban cigar.) The cigar is 7.25 inches long with a ring gauge of 50 and a notably rounded cap and closed foot. It features a medium-brown wrapper with relatively few veins. It claims to be a Cuban puro, and I’m inclined to believe that. The profile is sweet earth, with hints of cedar and honey. It’s immaculately balanced and mild- to medium-bodied with flawless construction. It’s certainly hard to procure (I honestly wouldn’t know where to get it) but I can’t recommend it more.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys