Juan López (Cuba) Selection No. 2

This was a somewhat bold smoke, full of dark flavors, (if that makes any sense). It was earthy with strong blasts of burnt caramel, black coffee and cocoa powder. Overall it was an enjoyable cigar, but it wasn't great. It’s definitely a second-tier robusto behind the better-known offerings from the ISOM.

SLB cab Oct. '06 TBO.
Reddish-brown wrapper, smooth and silky. Pre-light scent of jasmine.
Upon lighting - herbaceous tobacco flavor with a little toasty quality. 1/2 inch in it becomes warm and toasty. One inch in there is some pepper and nutmeg, very subtle. A definite rainforest, damp-earth feeling pervades this cigar. It's like taking a hike through the El Yunque forest in Puerto Rico. The flavor is exotic and rich.
Inch and a half, the speckled gray ash is hanging on and I'm feeling a slight buzz.
2nd half and this just gets more and more rich with musky tobacco fullness. I have a real affection for these cigars. Packed with Cuban tobacco depth.
This is not a complex cigar but the rich, heady taste makes me forget about anything else.

I was given a 25 cab as a gift(specifically asked for JL sel.#2 after reading reviews). I have never encountered(cigar smoker for more then 20 years)such sloppy, to say the least craftmanship. The cigars were just thrown randomly in the box regardless of colour,size and texture. The colour shade ranges from green to pale yellow and yellow/red with a couple of browns. In all honesty i NEVER imagined a cab could turn out like this . Also, some cigars are smooth,others are coarsely textured and out of curiosity a couple were 48 RG instead of 50, which makes it a hermoso if i am not mistaken. Since i requested it and was given the cab six months ago i couldn't return it, i said ok what is done is done and lit the first one(yellow/reddish shade,robusto size!) and guess? The smoke was good..Not exceptional but a damm good old fashioned cuban smoke,light to medium i would say, with a slight burn problem,leaving me wondering how the green will be like..

Some problems with burn and draw and the cigar came apart at the end. That being said, this has a moderately complex earthy woodsy, very light spice and great medium smoke aroma.

Started out with a woody, earthy taste but quickly tuned pleasantly sweet with kind of a vanilla like flavor. Draw was excellent but inexplicably got a tad tight (not badly) from time to time but then recovered. Started to burn uneven towards the last third. Very non cuban like white ash. Overall, extremely good.

Looks fine aside from a single water spot. Also had a soft spot about halfway down. Straight-forward tobacco flavor, medium body. A little earth and just hints of the grass noted by other reviewers. Not in the same class as a RASS, RC or even a VR Famoso, but a solid morning or afternoon habano at a fair price.

it's one of the less known cuban, costs the half of a cohiba robusto and never lets you down: what more?

Wonderful experience. The grassy, earthy, creamy flavor stayed with me for some time in a pleasant way. Not to be missed.

I agree with MisterLister: these seem a bit green. They open up with some cream and smoothness, like the best morning cigar ever. But but then fade into a grassy, twangy citrus profile that does not appeal to me. Will age

I cannot think of any cigar I would rather have a 11:00 A.M. then the Juan Lopez #2. Creamy and earthy, it does not disappoint. If you can follow this smooth and beautifully blended cigar with a Bolivar Royal Corona at 5:00 p.m., you will have reached cigar nirvana in one day.

There is a lot of snobbishness when it comes to choosing Cubans and this lesser known brand is often overlooked. However they keep a keen eye on quality which is second to none. This cigar in the UK has a real connoisseurs following and those 'in the know' seem to appreciate their unknown quality. Just so woody, leathery and complex, they get better with age, they need at least a year to reach perfection and then if a mid strength robusto is the order of the day - nothing can beat the Juan Lopez #2

I was not impressed with this as a cuban cigar. If it were not, I would give it an 8. That said, it is an average cuban and will get a rating as such from me. It was to fruity for a cuban and I swear it was infused with something that took away from the natural Cuban flavor that should have been there. Thumbs down for the cash.

Great tan color on the wrapper, with a perfect three seamed cap. Smoked very well. Had woody/leathery flavors that were smooth and savory. This cigar had some bite to it which I really liked. I smoke this cigar at a tailgate and people loved the aroma. Highly recomend.

I have a lot of experience with Havana sticks and they are superior most of the time to even the best the rest of the world has to offer. This one was priced well, but I did not care for the grassy flavor that was pervasive in this cigar. The locals tell me that they have been in a rush to meet demand with rumors that the mini-boom they have been experiencing may be reaching a peak. This one seems to have gone to market a bit early. I'm sure that it would have been better with a bit more aging, but I did not have the time.

This stick with box code POS MAR 06 comes in a rich Colorado wrapper with minimal veins. A familiar triple cap is present. Solid in the hand, the construction is spot on. Rich barnyard aroma. Easy light. Smooth draw. Fairly even burn without the need for relights or corrections. Gray-black ash. BOOM! Started with “in your face” tannins that made me feel like I was sucking on a teabag. This sucker was borderline harsh, with a strong tobacco taste. I certainly was not used to this kind of rawness! The first third saw flavors of burnt earth, raw tobacco, and nuts. The middle third saw a continuation of the earthiness and tobacco with a hint of dark chocolate and a slight floral/woodsy flavor. The last third was pretty much the same, with a slight herbal quality. All in all, this one hour 10 minute full-bodied, medium strength smoke was full of youth. The flavors were certainly not melded together, and the overall tannic quality took some getting used to, if I ever did. I'll have to revisit these in a year or so, but they certainly have potential.

I got a box of these for very little and they taste so good that I am tempted to eat them. An amazing complexity of flavors and smoothness form Cuba. Put me on the Juan Lopez bandwagon!

I recently bought a box of the JL#2 (SLB) JMZ 10/04. The flavors on this stick were somewhat similar to the older '01 reviewed below, but had noticeable differences worthy of a 2nd review. The minimally veined wrapper was smooth. Construction was on with no soft spots. The prelight aroma wafting up from the SLB was to die for, almost making you salivate like Pavlov's dogs! Easy light. Slightly firm draw. Even burn without the need for relights or corrections. The stick started immediately with spice, wood, and a tannic quality which revelaed its young age. The first third brought nuts and a floral/fruity quality that is difficult to describe, but noticeable. It also had a mild sweetness to it. The middle third displayed notes of charred leather, melon, and even a hint of yams, I believe. The last third held a tangy, woody quality and brought back the floral/herbal qualities present earlier. All in all, this one hour smoke was very enjoyable, and more aggressive in its flavors than its older sibling that I reviewed several months ago. Glad I bought a box!

This was a gift from a friend. He had a few left from a trip he had taken to Canada last spring. I agree with all of the reviews up to this point. It is simply a top of the line cigar with very minimal flaws that are hardly even flaws at all.

One thing I feel I should mention, is that I will never be able to get this cigar without traveling our of the US (the cuban version anyway). This cigar reminded me, a bit, of an inexpensive cigar I tried about a year ago from Don Kiki. It was a Green Label robusto. It was not AS good mind you, but close enough to warrant a look if you should care to.

🙂

This was from 04. Cuban earthiness and very woodsy leaving a pine sensation in the sinus and maybe some coffee.The wrapper had some sweetness to it Draw was perfect with just some minor flaws in burn. An outstanding cigar in every sense.

A very solid cigar. Light brown wrapper with minimal veining. Solid construction with some heft in the hand and no soft spots. Typical Cuban prelight aroma. Prelight draw reminisced of raisins and plums. Easy light. Even burn without the need for corrections or relights. Smooth draw. Flaky dirty gray ash. Started immediately with wood and tobacco flavors. The first third was predominantly woody notes - mainly oak and walnut. The second third saw the introduction of a mild cedar note which rotated with the oak and walnut, herbal flavors, and a hint of sweetness. In the last third, floral notes danced in and out and tangled with the faint taste of barnyard hay. All in all, this predominatly woody cigar was extremely enjoyable, delightfully smooth, and medium-bodied. Paired well with Pappy Van Winkle Familt Reserve 20 y.o. bourbon. Box code was CAV 3/01. Highly recommended one hour and 10 minute smoke.

Bought this cigar yesterday and lit it up right away it smoked it on drive home. I must say I came away from the experience with a real appreciation for the construction of these cigars. This puro felt solid and heavy in my hand, with a almost a cinamon light brown wrapper and a great pre light scent. It lit easily and burned like a champ even with the wind blowing in through the window as I drove. Cigar was medium bodied and a little weaker than I expected, with coffe notes and hints of cedar. I think I may have been a bit hasty to smoke this one so quick, some time in the humidor is a must for this stick, didnt get the "blown away" flavor I expected from the reviews.

Maybe the second nicest habano I have smoked. This one was a year old, had a nice draw with lots of smoke. Had to make a couple corrections but it didn't detract from the experience. Great flavor, top shelf smoke!

"CUBAN SHMOOBAN" is the phrase I see in the C.A.O. ads, but Juan Lopez Selection #2 is superior to any C.A.O. period! This is only the third Cuban I have ever smoked and I have to say that I think they are superior, at least in the flavor catagory. They are $$$$$ but I am getting addicted to them! Anyway, very mellow and perfectly balanced, spicey good! I think it was a bit wet, but could not wait to smoke. HIGHLY RECCOMEND!!!!!!! I think the size was 4 1/2 and not 4 7/8?

Shorter cigars are not usually my stick, but this one is an exception. The construction of this cigar was excellent. The large ring size help to make up for the lack of length. The burn was a little off, but the cigar self corrected in most cases. The flavors were there, it's just hard to say what they were. There was an obvious cedar flavor and some spicy tastes. The finish was great, plus it stays with you for awhile after you put the nub in the ashtray.

the best equilibrium of flavours in my palate

Loved what this cigar had to offer. A very flavorful and mellow smoke with a bit of kick to it. The burn issues were easily forgotten when tasting the rich earth, coffee, and cream flavors. It seemed like I smacked my lips after every puff. Flavor should be rated an 11. Definitely a cigar for serious smokers.

Nice cigar, Agree with recent reviews. Woodsy with spice. Earth, Cedar and maple flavors. Also some flavor I couldn't place, but still appealling. Smoked one while walking thru a park and seemed appropriate sounded woods. Burn was slightly off but could blame the breeze for that. After the first cm developed good smoke. Normally smoke Cohiba robusto, this was a good change-up.

there are so many great cuban robustos/hermoso 4s, and this is one of them that battles for the title of the best. depends on what you want in power and flavor. these can sneak up on you and kick you in the groin, but the taste is terrific. i need to get another box or cab. often overlooked and underservingly so.

The first words that came out of my mouth after the first puff of smoke were "usci s'lé bun". Don't try to understand, it's milanese and means it's f.... good. And really it is. One of the last without anilla, this #2 is definitely #1 for most of its features. Only the look isn't up to the rest, but construction is absolutely impeccable, with a very even combustion ring, and flavours, oh flavours, are all what you can expect from Cuba's best: strong, but very smooth, hints of cream and flowers, all in all, a great palatal pleasure. Value is not a meaningful concept for such a wonder, you get a lot, you pay a lot.

Robustos out there. For the price you can't beat them. You get cocoa and chocolate...that Cuban earthiness and believe it or not floral hints throughout. I haven't had a bad one yet, Ageing a Cab from 04....in a few years they will be awsome.

Have smoked 2 from the same 2001 box. Very tight draw, very little smoke could be drawn. Burn evenly and well, aromatic. Great flavor, pleasant after taste.

I bought a box of these and left them in the Hunidor for a while. The construction is only OK, but the smoke is rich and wonderful. one of the best Cuban Robustos for the price.

my experience with these has been great. construction is erratic, but the flavor, oh man, it's like some sweet dessert chocolate is melting in your mouth. underpriced and underrated by most. One knock might be if you're looking for an "epic" smoke, this isn't it. You get the same consistent flavor from pretty much the first puff to the last, it's not so much the sophisticated progression of flavors that some like.

Very hard to find cigar of the finest quality. Medium bodied with notes of cocoa and a bit of earthiness.
Don't be distracted when smoking. Pair with a shot of Mount Guy aged rum. Don't share..Mine came from Havana store

I have gone throught several boxs of these and not had a bad one yet.I wounderful smoke

More cream, more caramel, and more smooth cedar mark the JL 2. This is a very refined Habano with the legs to go the distance. Try it with a latte and enjoy the complimentary flavors.

I am trying to try almost every vitola and marquee, and I have only bought a box of the same cigars twice,....these are Partagas Shorts.
These Jl 2's are fabulous, and ooze with foresty and cedary flavors with a caramel undertone

Sourced in Switzerland .. thanks Robert! Cigar looks great, one small vein, nice cap. Punched it, not enough draw, cut it and it was fine. A lot of flavors here, leather, earth, chocolate, sweetness. Burned slow but perfectly. Great smooth smoke, no harshness, got more interesting on the way down. Complex flavors, creamy and smooth - just a great smoke.

Smooth and full of flavor (hard to describe, you just know)! Perfect burn, no bitterness (a fingerburner). I didn't want it to end. First time smoking one but I'm buying a box soon. Other reviewers say they're hard to get; not really 😉 Believe the reviews and try one. It made my top 5 cuban list.

Okay - I'm on the Juan Lopez bandwagon. I purchased a box based on some of the previous reviews and the reasonable price. I've smoked three so far, and this is just as good - if not better - as previous posts indicate. Incredibly deep and delicious, with a finish that made me want to start eating the cigar at times. Smooth to the finish, complex throughout. I hope they can maintain this level of quality in the future - I want more.

I am a little concerned about writing this review, since the more people who know about these may make it hard for me to get them! Top notch quality, and construction. The smoke seemingly wafts aimlessly on its own! The flavors: Cocoa, earth, sort of tangy sweet near the end, and finishes ultra smooth.

Hard to get in Cuba. It is stronger than the old Juan Lopez and absolutely the finest quality cigar made. Do anything to get one.

Hard to get in Europe. Constantly out of stock. Deep earthy flavors and well made, it is unmistakably Cuban. Find them if you can

Outstanding in all categories. Underrated. I had it with a Michelob, yum!! Attractive oily dark brown wrapper, great construction. Spicy and tangy to start, mellowing into cedar by the end of the 1st inch. Tangy throughout. Burn was 100% perfect. Medium bodied. Great smooth finish.

Smoked 2003-03. Thin but layered mid-brown wrapper leaf, slightly darker than the H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1. Good draw. Fairly even burn. Dryish woodiness, spring undergrowth and pecans. Between an Upmann and Montecristo in strength. Smooth to the non-bitter end. Very civilized and alluring.

A well made..medium bodied robusto..excellent balance and lots of rich smoke..creamy notes dominate...this one is smooth and can be enjoyed anytime of day or night.

With coffee was bitter and adequate sweet. Excellent and even ash, but not white.