Got back from Vegas last night, tired but at the same time relaxed.
Here is where I went and what I smoked, first night, changed plans, since one of our friends gambles a lot and got a comped meal at Prime Steakhouse a the Bellagio.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, the service was great, ambiance was also very nice, the food well it was good but nothing extraordinary, just Ok, had the seafood cold plater, that was almost frozen, wife had the Kobe Fillet, said it was good but she only ordered it because our friend said to order it because the meal was comped.
I had the rib eye, like I said it was good but nothing wow.
Now for the Habano, we went to the lounge there at the Bellagio, the one with the piano next to the high roller tables, very nice, nice people, everyone was smoking cigars, great service.
I smoked an Hoyo de Monterrey Lusitania Coleccion 2003, from the Book Case. This Habanos was very nice, had a great draw, the taste was very nutty, and mellow, with hints of caramel, it was not strong at all, you could even taste some chocolate, but mostly like a creme brulee.
Had no draw issues, did not go out, and I would rate this a great Habano, 95 Rating.
Now for the second night, well we had tickets to see LOVE at the Mirage, LOVE is from Cirque de Sole with music from the Beatles, I was first skeptical about going, since I was not a big fan of Cirque de Sole, but this was one of the best shows I have been in years, if you like the music of the Beatles then this is the one to see, very well made, great music, stage, everything, the time just goes by so fast, if you go to Vegas and like the music of the Beatles then you have to see it.
After that we went to Delmonicos Steakhouse at the Venetian, what Meat again, well I have always like Delmonicos, had the Bone in Rib Eye, it was very good, sides were good as well, could not complain, we were not that hungry, made the mistake of having a Reuben for Lunch.
Then we looked for a place to smoke at the Venetian, and walked and walked and walked, and nothing, there is a bar that was playing very loud music, and that was it, went to the new Palazzo, and the could not find a nice bar to smoke, we also walked and walked, the ladies were getting mad because of the high hells.
Went to get a Taxi, the lines were like 1 hour long, and decided to go back to our hotel the Wynn, but we went walking again, big mistake, to many people walking, our ladies were complaining of their shoes, big mistake.
Finally we arrive at the Wynn, the lounge bar is very nice, great leather chairs, nice music, nice people, took our the Cohiba Serie A Gran Corona, now here is where the problem starts, first I had put this Habano in a wooden case from a Hoyo Particulares. So it had been sitting without any protection from the dry las vegas air for about 6 hours.
The moment I cut the cigars I could see it had dried out, and since I had kept this Habano at 62% RH for the past year, well 6 hours of about 10% RH just killed it, the rest I will not say, it just became a complete mess. I should have left it inside a ziplock bag from the humidor until the time of smoke. A complete waste of a very rare and great habano, not to mention the price, it was unsmokable. It looked like the cigar had exploded, and well I was so disappointed, but completely my fault. I should have take care of my habano, all that walking going in and out of places, once place cold another place hot, no humidity.
The Bar at the Wynn still was great, I recommend it to have a nice drink and a smoke.
Third night we had one of the best meals, at the Wynn, a Chinese Restaurant Winn Lei, had their specialty Singapore Style Chili Crab, and Ginger Lobster, the meal was great, the restaurant was very elegant, and the service great as well, they had exotic chili sauces, soy sauces, the noodles were hand made, everything was excellent, expensive but excellent.
I would recommend it to anyone that goes to Vegas and likes High end Chinese Food. Latter we went to the same Lounge Bar at the Wynn, since it was a Sunday, there were not that many people, I took out a Partagas Serie C Coleccion Habanos 2002, Book Case, even do I have kept it inside a small ziplock,it was a little dry, Vegas is just to dry, we need to come up with a formula, maybe it works for non cubans, since they are kept at RH over 70%, but I keep my Habanos at 62% RH, so not very much room to go down.
Well this Habanos was good, but just kept on going out after half way, taste was quite bland, nothing spectacular, the draw was good, but I can't say it was a great Habano, it might have been the very low humidity that affected this Habano, but I just did not like it, it was the first one that I smoked from this Book Collection, and I was quite disappointed, since it already has 6 years of age.
Then Again I will smoke one more in my house to see if they are just as bland, it went out at least 5 times, no taste changes, no nothing, tasted like a normal habano, not bad, but just to bland, kind of like a Fonseca Cosaco.
Never once did I taste a change, or the caramel taste I had with the Hoyo. If I had to rate the Partagas Serie C Book Collection I would give it an 88 Rating.
Just like with Gambling in Vegas, Food, and Habanos, sometimes you are in luck and sometimes you just can't pick a winner.
Still we had a great time.
