My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petite Robusto

I have reviewed the My Father Le Bijou blend before, but I figured reviewing a different size couldn't hurt. I did the Toro last time (where I gave a little more info on the background of this cigar), and this round I am reviewing the Petite Robusto, which measures in at 4.5 X 50. This cigar is another one of Pepin's Nicaraguan Puros, with a Habano Oscuro wrapper. The wrapper is beautiful. Very dark and very attractive. Like usual, Pepin knows how to roll a cigar, and this looks impeccable. Being a smaller cigar, the 2 bands pretty much cover up the entire stick, which is just a little odd looking, but at least they are attractive bands.

The draw seems a little loose, and like the Toro, shows cedar and a little spice on the predraw. This cigar starts out with waves of thick, spicy smoke that tingles the nose. This certainly hits the ground running. After a few minutes the spice calms down just a little bit, and a hard wood and earthiness really start to take over as the dominant flavors. I don't remember the toro having such a woody flavor profile, but all of the other flavors I noted in the Toro review are here, along with that creamy porter characteristic. The burn has been pretty even, and the ash is very white and solid. I am always amazed at the construction is any cigars that come out of Pepin's factories.

This wasn't the first of the Petite Robusto's ive smoked, and it certainly won't be the last. I really like these when I want a premium cigar in a smaller format. These show a nice complexity with plenty of flavors to keep you interested. These are around $6.50-7 a piece, and are definitely worth the price. I would love to get a box of these in the near future. I did recently get a box of the regular My Father blend, in the belicoso size, which I will be reviewing soon as well, so look for that to compare to the Bijou line. I did a review of the My Father lancero a while back, but lanceros smoke very differently and I figured I better get a review up of another size of that blend. I think overall, I like the Bijou blend a bit more. I find them to be a more complex and richer smoke. These come in at a solid medium/full bodied cigar, where the regular My Fathers (at least to me) are a solid medium bodied smoke.

Here is a comparison shot of the My Father Belicoso (to be reviewed soon) and the Bijou blend. You can really see the difference in wrappers.

Tatuaje Boris (Frank out of Costume)

This year has been filled with special release Tatuajes, and thanks to one of my generous customers (Thanks Craig!) I get to try one of this year's Monster cigar releases. Last year Pete Johnson started the Monster series, with The Frank (which unfortunately I didn't get my hands on). This year, the main Monster release was called the Drac (which I hope to review in the near future), with a side release of The Boris. This is slightly shorter than The Frank, measuring in at 7 X 49, with an Ecuadorian Sumatra Rosado wrapper. The Frank was box pressed, this one is not. 1,000 boxes of 10 were released of The Boris, a smaller number than The Drac.

Visually, this is an ugly cigar; bumpy, veiny, and slightly on the dry side. That being said, this, just like the rest of Pete/Pepins cigars, is very well made. After a quick clip with my Palio, The Boris shows a slightly loose draw with flavors of earth and strait tobacco. There is definitely some spice to this cigar, but it isn't as potent as the normal release Tatuajes. This blend has a definite sweetness to it, and something that I almost want to call peppermint. The burn has been nice and even, and the ash held for just over an inch. The flavor of this cigar is very different for a Tatuaje. Some of the trademark flavors such as that up front spice are there, but the core flavor of The Boris is very different, at least to me. The room aroma is very pleasant, and reminds me of sweet cedar. (which I am starting to taste in this cigar as well)

Pete got a lot of heat about the monster releases this year because of how limited they were and how the release was handled. I don't care about that kind of stuff, I think the idea of doing a special and fun cigar for Halloween is fantastic! Would I like to be able to get these cigars easier? Sure, but to me the fun of the Monster series, and other limited Tatuaje's, is the hunt. I haven't gotten my hands on all of his limited releases, but thanks to some very generous friends, and a little hunting of my own, I have done ok. I like Pete's marketing ideas, they are original and a different take on limited release cigars. Innovators in any field often get some grief for their methods and ideas, and newer guys to the industry like Pete are mixing it up, which is always good to see. What it all boils down to though is the cigar. You can have all the flashy and original packaging ideas you want, but if the cigar doesn't perform well, then it is all for nothing. That is not the case with Pete's cigars. If the cigars Pete/Pepin are putting out came in plain boxes without bands, I would still buy them, because they are just damn good! To me, all the fun packaging and limited releases are just the icing on the cake. The cigars are what matters, and they do not disappoint.

The Boris was definitely a tasty cigar. While I enjoyed this one, it probably doesn't break into the list of my favorite Tatuajes. That being said, if you got your hands on The Boris, you will not be disappointed. The peppermint finish I noted really sets this apart from other Tatuaje blends. This was lighter than I expected, ending up being a solid medium bodied cigar. This was a balanced, complex cigar, yet another tasty treat from Tatuaje.

San Cristobal Seleccion Del Sol

Today's review is of a new addition to Ashton's San Cristobal line. This is the Seleccion Del Sol, and has a sungrown wrapper grown in Nicaragua by Don Pepin Garcia (who also blends and rolls this cigar for Ashton). This Nicaraguan Puro comes in three sizes, and today I am smoking the Robusto (5x52)

The wrapper on this particular stick seems a bit dry and rough, but Sun grown wrappers aren't always the prettiest. This one is a nice dark brown and a little mottled. This line features a band on the foot to distinguish it from the regular San Cristobal line. The construction overall looks very nice, with a perfectly applied triple cap. The predraw flavor shows just a touch of cedar and nicely aged tobacco.

This cigar starts out with a nice bit of spice that I tend to notice with a lot of Pepin's blends. Behind the spice there is a definite flavor of sweet cedar. The mix of sweetness and spice really works nicely together. This seems a bit dialed back compared to the original San Cristobals. It is not as full bodied or as rich, but it is still an enjoyable cigar. At the halfway point I would consider this to be at the low end of medium bodied. There is just a touch of citrus on the finish as well.

Overall, the new San Cristobal Seleccion Del Sol is a solid cigar. The construction and burnline are pretty much perfect. I didn't have to touch up the burn at all, which is always nice. I think I prefer the standard San Cristobal line over the new one though. I like the richness of the originals, as well as the dried cherry flavor combined with the spice that they offer. This one has some spice to it, but just a little. The sweet cedar flavor and slightly citrusy finish is very tasty on the new one. I was expecting a full bodied cigar, but this one lands at the low end of medium. The price of the robusto is around $8 if I'm not mistaken. These will be great to smoke when I want something medium bodied with a nice complexity to the flavor.

Liga Privada T52

Today's review is of Drew Estate's new Liga Privado T52. Drew Estates is known for its flavored/infused cigars, but have started doing more traditional cigars recently. The wrapper is grown/harvested in a new manner, called Stalk Cut. My buddy Matt did a really nice write up on this stick, including a history of what stalk cut means, so instead of rewriting it all here and if you are interested, check it out over at Matt's Cigar Journal. I am smoking the Robusto, which measures in at 5 X 52.

Visually this cigar is stunning. The wrapper is almost dripping with oils, and it is super smooth and very dark. The construction overall looks very impressive, down to the very well applied cap. The predraw shows a slightly open draw, with flavors of musty tobacco and just a touch of leather.

Right away this is a very flavorful cigar, and it is producing a ton of fragrant smoke. There is a definite flavor of black pepper, leather and a touch of sweetness I haven't quite identified yet as anything other than just a slightly sweet characteristic. After about an inch, the spice calmed down and the leather flavor and just a little bit of espresso come up to the front. The burnline is razor sharp. The construction on this cigar is just phenomenal.

This cigar was a pleasant surprise. Its nice to see Drew Estates doing something that's worth smoking, because I am definitely not a fan of their flavored cigars. After smoking the Nosotros, which was a team-up of Dion from Illusione and Drew Estates, I was excited to try this cigar. It certainly didn't disappoint. This cigar was full flavored, with loads of leather, espresso, and black pepper. I was expecting a full bodied cigar, but this one settled in to a solid medium bodied. These are a bit pricey, the robusto sells for around $10.50, so it isn't one I will be smoking frequently, but it is beautifully made and very flavorful. So, put your opinion of Drew Estates aside (if it was a negative one) and seek out this cigar. Yeah, its pricey, but definitely worth trying!

Tatuaje Verocu Tubo

Today's review is of the new Tatuaje Verocu Tubo, my first cigar of 2010! This, along with the Black Tubo I also reviewed are re-releases of blends that have been used before, but in a different size. This torpedo measures in at 6 1/8X52, and like all Tatuajes, is a Nicaraguan Puro. The very dark and oily wrapper on this cigar is flawless. Construction-wise this seems perfect, no soft spots and rolled with care. I love the way the red band looks against the dark wrapper, and the 2nd band that says Verocu Tubo is a nice touch. Just like the Black Tubo, I love the packaging on these. I can't decide which is cooler looking, the red or the black tubos!

The draw is perfect, and shows crisp tobacco and musty earth flavors. Even after just the first draw, I know I am going to enjoy this cigar. This tastes exactly how I expected it to, just like the other Verocu blends (the East and West coast editions released in 2007 and the current no.9 carried by Holts). This is showing plenty of complexity, with cedar, classic Tatuaje spice, leather and earth. The burnline is starting off a little wavy, and the ash is very white and solid, hanging out for about around an inch. I would say this is a solid medium bodied cigar. After a quick touch up with my torch, the burn got back on track without any further issues. My only complaint is that after I took off the bands, the wrapper swelled in that spot and cracked, but I was able to smoke through it without it falling apart on me.


Yet again, another great cigar from Pete Johnson/Pepin. The Verocu blend is fantastic, and the wrapper on this cigar is just stunning to look at (and it tastes damn good too!) This cigar is very smooth, with loads of cedar, earth, leather and of course some spice mingling around in there. These retail for $11 and are available in boxes of 10, and course they are limited like the Black Tubo. These are a few bucks cheaper than the Black Tubos, but you won't be let down by either of them! I have one of these left, and after smoking this one, I am going to need to get my hands on a few more.

Tatuaje Black Tubo

Its christmas (yeah, i know this review isn't posted on Christmas but that's when I sat down to review this stick) and its time to pull out something special for the holiday! Today's review is of the new Tatuaje Black Tubo. The black blend first showed up on the market under the radar in late 2007 as a Corona Gorda, and then was released in jars of 19 in 2008 in a very limited quantity. Well, Pete is at it again with another special release with the black blend in a 6 1/8 X 52 Torpedo.(this time not quite so limited, but still not nearly as available as most would like) The black blend is Pete's personal blend, as in these were originally made just for him to smoke before he started doing small releases of them. The blend is a big secret, but it contains Nicaraguan Tobacco.

Visually this is an ugly cigar, but purposefully so. Pete picks ugly, mottled wrappers to give this cigar the look he's after, and leaves it with a shaggy foot. I love the simple black Tatuaje band and the tubo's are probably the nicest I have ever seen.

The predraw shows a perfect draw and a nice earthy aged tobacco flavor. Upon lighting, WHAM! Loads of black pepper spice and earth. The first few draws are really interesting, because you are mostly just tasting the wrapper leaf from the shaggy foot. After getting a little more into this cigar, the spice drops into the background, and a woody flavor comes up front with the dank earth flavor that I am definitely enjoying. The burn isn't very even, but I think that is due to the fact that I didn't even give this a week in my humidor to settle. I know for a review you shouldn't have anything strong to drink with a cigar as it will effect the flavor, but I don't care! Its Christmas and Remy Martin VSOP it is! The sweetness of the Cognac works wonders with the spicy flavor of the Black Label. The burn ended up evening itself out at the halfway point with no other problems after that.

I really enjoy the Tatuaje Black blend. These have some of the hallmark Tatuaje flavors, such as black pepper and earth, but with something else in there that makes them very unique. This is a bold cigar, but not overwhelming. I would classify it as medium/full bodied. I love the very rustic look of this cigar. The shaggy foot is one of my favorite things about the Black label blends, it makes this cigar really stand apart visually from the rest of Pete's products. These are available in boxes of 10 for $140. Not cheap, but then again not very easy to come by so buy them up if you see them!

Favorites of 2009

Like every other cigar review site out there, I am coming up with a list of cigars that were my favorites of the year. A lot of sites only do cigars that came out this year, but not me. This list is of cigars I smoked this year that really wowed me, whether they were out this year or 3 years ago. I didn't include any special/limited releases in the list because I wanted this list to be comprised of cigars that are readily available for anyone to go out and try. What I will do is add a small list at the bottom here of limited release/hard to find cigars that I had this year and really enjoyed. These cigars are in no particular order (as I tend not to rate things like that). Here were my favorites of 2009!

First off is the only Cuban on the list, the H. Upmann Mag 50. This cigar started off as an Ediction Limitada in 2005, and was re-released as part of the standard lineup for H. Upmann in 2008. Of all the Cubans I have smoked over the last year, this is the one that really stood out. This is a velvety smooth, medium bodied cigar that is surprisingly complex given its youth.

Oliva V- This became one of my go to cigars over the last year. I always reached for this cigar when I wanted something full bodied and affordable. I have smoked countless Vs this year and was very rarely let down. (had 1 plugged one that I remember, but that was a really weird fluke I think) This is a cigar I could smoke almost everyday and not get tired of.

Illusione mj12- This was a new addition to the Illusione lineup this year, and a welcomed one for sure! Normally I am not fond of cigars with a ring gauge this large (54) but this is an exception. In fact, I might as well say that all of the Illusione line belongs on this list. Dion's cigars have definitely become of my favorites this year.

My Father Le Bijou 1922- This side addition to the My Father line was another home run by Don Pepin Garcia. I really enjoyed the My Fathers, and when the Le Bijou came out, they were even better! This cigar is very rich and full bodied, with a very nicely balanced blend that is good all the way down to the point where you are burning your fingers trying to hold onto it.

Alec Bradley Prensado-This was one of the new lines by AB this year, and within the first five minutes of smoking it, I was impressed. It's no secret that this year I have really become a fan of ABs cigars, and this blend really fit the profile I look for in a cigar. Prensado has the most complexity of any of Alec Bradley's many offerings, and is the fullest in body of anything they have put out so far.

Tatuaje Cojonu 2003-This cigar is always one that brings a smile to my face. This is definitely not a new cigar for the year, its been around for a while now. So far this is my favorite of all of Pete Johnson's cigars and when I want to spend a little more money for something really spicy and complex, this is the cigar I go with. Just looking at this cigar you can tell how much care goes into making it. The wrappers are always dark and attractive, with no visible flaws whatsoever. This will probably always be one of my favorites.



Special/limited release cigars that really stood out to me:
Tatuaje T110-This cigar was only released for a shop in Hawaii and is comprised of all Ligero tobacco. This was a very tasty, very full bodied cigar that I was fortunate enough to get a single of.

Nosotros preproduction-Dion gave me a sample of the Nosotros, which will be released early 2010. When you see these, buy them. You will definitely be pleased with this cigar.

Partagas Tres Petite Corona 1998-This cigar came from my buddy Dre, and was the oldest cigar I have had the pleasure of smoking. Its amazing what age can do to a great cigar like this. Fantastic.

There you have it people, of all the cigars I smoked this year, these were the few that really impressed me! There are plenty that I loved that aren't on this list (Tempus, San Cristobal, Tatuaje Verocu no.9 to name a few) that are great cigars as well, but the few listed above really stood out on top as my favorites. There are a few new cigars that came out this year that I had hoped to review, but just didn't get a chance to try yet, so look for those in the coming months if I can get my hands on them.

I look forward to what 2010 brings in the world of fine cigars!