While doing an inventory of my cigars, moving many of them from my coolerdor to my new cabinet, I came across a full box of HC Habana
2000 - 5 X 50. I purchased these during a JR madness sale for nearly nothing back in June 2004. I smoked one upon receiving them and the smoke left a lot to be desired. To the back/bottom of my coolerdor they went.

Well last night I opened the box which has aged a little over 13 months - looked at the yellowing of the wrapper - the evidence of bloom got my heart racing. so I brought one to work for my
lunch-time smoke. I know - I know these sticks don't have a lot of fans out there but - perhaps you should give them a second glance for the price.

Henry Clay Habana 2000 (5 X 50)
The core of this cigar is comprised of select black tobaccos from Nicaragua, Honduras and Peru punctuated by a glorious rosado Cuban-seed wrapper.

Appearance/Construction 21/25

A veiny semi-dark almost ruddy/carmel wrapper - somewhat toothy with a nicely constructed cap. Loaded with bloom.

Smoking Characteristics 22/25

As I warmed the foot to a cherry red I could smell a sweetness in the air and I was drooling before it touched my lips. The
draw was moderate with plummes of blue-gray smoke. The burn was even with the first drop of ash at the 1/2 mark 39 min. into the smoke. The ash was slightly flakey but stout, mottled gray, with
strong evidence of the veining. There was some evidence of filler
problems at the 2/3 mark about 56 min. into the smoke - but nothing that detracted from the smoking enjoyment. The second ash stayed till the end of the smoke with only a moderate uneveness to the burn 3/4 of the way through. Total smoking time was 1 hr. 18 min.

Flavor 23/25

Right from the start the Honduran/Nicaraguan flavors jump out at you with that typical bite that these tobaccos are noted for. It immediately mellowed into this creamy, nutty flavor that
smacked of fuit, I swear I tasted apricots throughout the whole smoke. At the half-way point the flavors became more complex and
stayed that way till I couldn't nub it anymore.

Overall 22/25

This smoke after aging has married wonderfully. It's flavors and
smoking pleasures are consistant and complex enough to hold most
medium bodied smokers entranced.

Reccomendations:

IMHO I would reccomend at least holding them at least to bloom then smoke.


I give it an 88

Sorry went back into my notes tonight and discovered it was the Habana 2000 and not the Hermoso - I was

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Diehardpuffer,

The one I had smoked for 1 hour 19 minutes. You must be smoking too fast.

Actually, I've never smoked a Henry Clay. Thanks for the detailed thorough review!

I'll slow it down next time..

Henry Clay Habana 2000 were a favorite smoke of mine. The Mirabelle and the pyramid were the best size. I think I have smoked all of mine but I'll have to check the coolerdor, there might be some lingering.

The problem with the H2000's was always burning. The wrapper was famous for burning uneven or not staying lit, so they would tunnel. The flavor was good, medium-full and I would recommend these a lot to noobs who wanted something a little fuller on a budget.

I have tried a couple of them before and liked them.

quote:

BinDerSmokDat
Member

Posted September 08, 2005 06:54 PM
Henry Clay Habana 2000 were a favorite smoke of mine. The Mirabelle and the pyramid were the best size. I think I have smoked all of mine but I'll have to check the coolerdor, there might be some lingering.

The problem with the H2000's was always burning. The wrapper was famous for burning uneven or not staying lit, so they would tunnel. The flavor was good, medium-full and I would recommend these a lot to noobs who wanted something a little fuller on a budget.

B.A.S.E #0001 <(O)>
C.L.A.S.P. #0001

BinDer - I had the burn problem @69% - dropped
my coolerdor to 64-66% - no more burn problems.
I find at higher the humidity - sticks were
prone to tunneling.