Cigar in hand

Cigar in hand has moved!

2010-06-23T17:59:00.002-05:00

I figured it was time to get a real website going, so from now on I will be posting at www.cigarinhand.com I hope everyone likes the new site.

Viaje Skull and Bones Daisy Cutter

2010-06-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's review is the newest release from Viaje, the Skull and Bones Daisy Cutter. This is actually the first Viaje I have had the opportunity to smoke, thanks to one of the great guys over on the BOTL forum. This was a pretty limited release cigar, with 150 boxes of 25 made. So, unless you have a box already, these might be a little hard to come across. The Skull and Bones is a Nicaraguan Puro with a Sungrown Criollo wrapper. This is a small cigar, measuring in at 4 x 54. I love the pirate theme band. When I first heard about these, I thought the packaging might be a little cheesy, but it turned out perfect.

This is nice looking cigar, with an oily dark chocolate colored wrapper and a fairly firm feel to it overall. The cap is a little sloppy, but overall, a nicely made cigar. This has a great draw, with a nice amount of resistance. If a cigar this size has a loose draw it can burn hot very quickly and pretty much ruin the cigar. The predraw flavors show cocoa and leather, a promising start. Once lit, the Skull and Bones starts with a rich cocoa and coffee flavors, with some black pepper spice on the tongue. I am loving the creamy chocolate flavors and the small amount of spice mixed in. The burn is slow and even with a slightly dark gray ash.

After the first inch or so, the cigar seems to mellow just a little bit, and the spice recedes, and a light cedar flavor joins in with the chocolate flavor that was already present. There is a nice complexity to this cigar so far. At the halfway point I would put this down as a medium bodied cigar with a very rich flavor. I knocked off the ash at the halfway point so I could take the band off, but I could tell the ash would have held on much longer if I had tried. These are definitely well made cigars! For the last third of the Skull and Bones, the black pepper returns and this cigar moves into the full bodied category. I had a feeling this thing would amp up towards the end, and it certainly doesn't disappoint! The power isn't overwhelming at all, there is still a nice balance with the rich flavors. I never had to touch up the burn, which is always a great thing to see on a cigar.

This was a great cigar. Unfortunately Ill probably never get to smoke it again due to the limited release on these. I love the rich flavors of chocolate, black pepper and cedar. These sold for $9 a piece, so it isnt a cheap cigar, but I would definitely pay that price for this cigar if I ever found them. At first when I saw how much these were compared to the size, I was thinking they were a little overpriced, but after smoking one and seeing how slow they burn and how well they perform, they are worth it. I am interested in trying some of the other cigars Viaje makes after smoking this one.

La Aurora 107

2010-06-07T15:02:00.005-05:00

Today’s review is of the new La Aurora 107. This cigar is available in a Robusto, Belicoso, and the size I am reviewing today, a 5.5 X 54 Toro. Honestly, I do not smoke a lot of La Auroras, but I am always looking to try something new. I want my readers here to trust me, so I need to let everyone know that I received these cigars from La Aurora directly. They contacted me asking if I would be interested in reviewing this cigar, and I told them of course! However, I told them I would review this cigar honestly, and just because they sent them doesn’t guarantee a positive review!

Ok, now that I got that out of the way, onto the La Aurora 107! This cigar has a Dominican binder, Dominican and Nicaraguan filler, and an Ecuadorian wrapper. This wrapper has a slightly reddish hue, and is nice and smooth with a few veins. This is a large cigar at a 54 ring gauge, and has plenty of heft to it. The predraw shows an open draw with a definite cocoa flavor. After lighting this 107 up, it starts out with a light spice and clear leather notes. There is a really nice underlying honeycomb sweetness here as well. This cigar produces thick, chewy smoke, which I like. There is a slight tickle in the back of my throat during the first inch of this cigar; maybe it is a little young? The burn has been dead even and this is holding a very solid ash that doesn’t want to fall. Towards the end of the first third of this cigar, some cedar flavor shows up and a lot more of that honeycomb sweetness I noted earlier. Also, a citrus zest undertone joins the profile and really ties the cedar and honey flavor together.

At the halfway point, the honey and cedar flavors are in full force with very little spice present (except on the retrohale). The leather flavors that were present in the first inch or 2 have dissipated as well. This has become very smooth, and that tickle in the back of my throat has disappeared.

The La Aurora 107 was a nice surprise. This is probably my favorite thing I have smoked from La Aurora, and I would definitely smoke these again. This cigar ended up being a solid medium bodied smoke, and those cedar and honeycomb flavors were very tasty. I am not quite sure what the retail price on this cigar is, but after looking at a few places online it seems like the toro goes for about $8. For a cigar this size and with the flavor it delivers, that isn’t an unreasonable price. At that price point, there are a lot of cigars that I really like, but I could still see myself picking these up when I am in the mood for a change. I usually smoke a ton of spicy cigars, and knowing I can get that leather, cedar and honeycomb flavor out of this one is good to know.

La Reloba Seleccion Habano

2010-05-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's review is another new cigar by Don Pepin Garcia, the La Reloba. This cigar is available in two wrappers, a Sumatra, and the one reviewing today, the Habano. These are available in 4 basic sizes, a Robusto, Corona, Toro, and Torpedo. I am reviewing the Toro, which measures in at 6 X 52.

The La Reloba Habano has a fairly non descript brown wrapper with a silky smooth feel to it. Being made by Pepin, it is topped off with a nice triple cap. The predraw shows a slightly open (but not too open) draw with a dusty cocoa and slightly mustly flavor. This cigar starts out with typical Pepin spice with a hardwood undertone. After getting into this cigar a little more, a slight hay flavor shows up, but recedes quickly. The spice also recedes, leaving that hardwood/cedar flavor as the dominant characteristic to this cigar. This definitely tastes like a Pepin, almost like a lighter version of the Cuban Classic, but not as complex. The ash is nice and white, and just a little flaky. The burn is strait, even in the slightly breezy smoking conditions. A slightly vegetal undertone has shown up, but isnt necessarily unpleasant. There is also a slightly sweet flavor going on here.

This is a solid cigar, but doesn't quite "get there." It seems like something really good is just out of reach in the flavor profile. The flavors that are in the La Reloba aren't muted or anything, I just feel that some other component to the blend would have pushed this to the next level. It doesn't have that "wow" factor like some of the other newer Pepin cigars like the My Father Le Bijou or Jaime Garcia Reserva Selection. That being said, this is still a good medium bodied cigar. I picked this cigar up for right around $6, which seems fair for this cigar.

Side note: I smoked the La Reloba Sumatra at the Pepin event last week and liked it more than the Habano. That aspect to the blend I thought was missing seemed to be present in the Sumatra. It had a little more spice and complexity, so if you see either of these, definitely give the Sumatra a shot. I might grab another Sumatra to review in the future....

Have you had a chance to try either of the La Relobas?

Don Pepin Garcia cigar event

2010-05-27T13:46:00.003-05:00

Last night I had the honor of meeting up with one of the legends in the cigar industry, Don Pepin Garcia over at Burning Leaf in Plainfield. Anyone who reads this blog knows how big a fan I am of Pepin's cigars, including the My Father line, Cuban Classics, DPG Blue labels, the new Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial (ok, its his son, but it comes out of his factory)....the list goes on for a while. Not only does he make cigars under his own name, but for other companies such as Ashton, 601, and one of my favorites, Tatuaje. Speaking with Pepin (through a translator since he doesnt really speak any English) was really educational. He has been in this business for a very long time, and it shows. Because of the language barrier, he was a fairly quite and humble man, but you could tell he was enjoying himself and had a smile on his face the entire evening. He signed many boxes, shirts, humidors, even a bottle of rum, and seemed happy to do so for everyone who asked.

As for what we talked about, we started by talking about the new Jaime Garcia cigars we were smoking and how wonderful the new broadleaf wrappers are. He went on to discuss the special edition My Father cigar that will be released later this year. This cigar will be exclusively made by him and his son Jaime. Pepin will apply the wrapper to the filler/binder made up by Jaime. Only those two know about the blend of this cigar. 2,000 numbered boxes of 12 will be produced, making this a very limited release cigar. The projected price per cigar is around $20 before tax. I will definitely pick one up if given the opportunity, not only because Pepin/Jaime are making all of them themselves, but because of the unique tobacco being used; Pele De Oro, a tobacco that the Cuban government banned the use of many years ago because it is very susceptible to blue mold. Pepin acquired these seeds and planted a very small amount of this tobacco at his farms in Nicaragua. No one else is using this strain of tobacco, and from what I hear, it will be very good. This cigar will be a 6 1/2 X 52. I can't wait.
Another few tidbits of information that I picked up is that Pepin smokes around 15 cigars a day (WOW) and usually goes with the robusto. He is constantly taste testing his blends in the factory to make sure they are what they should be, hence the 15 cigars a day. I asked him if hes just smoking an inch of these 15 cigars, and he says he usually smokes half to two thirds of each to make sure they taste how they should.

I picked up a box of the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especials, which I reviewed this week. I also received a My Father shirt and 5 pack of Pepin cigars. If you ever get a chance to meet Don Pepin Garcia, I really recommend doing so. Having the opportunity to sit down and talk/smoke cigars with the man behind them is a real treat.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial

2010-05-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's review is of one of the new cigars out of the My Father factory in Nicaragua, but this one is not blended by Don Pepin Garcia, but by his son Jaime. The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial is available in 5 sizes, a Petite Robusto, Robusto, Toro, Belicoso, and Toro Gordo. The one I am reviewing today is the Robusto, measuring in at 5 1/4 X 52. This is a Nicaraguan Puro with a broadleaf wrapper.

Since this cigar is coming out of the My Father factory, its not surprising that this cigar looks and feels very well made. The wrapper is perfectly applied with a triple seam cap. This dark wrapper shows a little bit of oil and just the slightest amount of tooth and no major veins. I like the new band design. The Pepin family has been coming out with some great new bands for their cigars lately.

The predraw shows some dank earth and cocoa, and a little barnyard that I actually enjoy in a cigar. The aroma off the foot also shows that very nice barnyard characteristic. The draw is pretty close to perfect, with the right amount of resistance to it. After lighting, this cigar starts off with some clean woody flavors, and a very nice spiced meat flavor as well. There is plenty of spice through the nose as well. The spice isn't as up front as a lot of other cigars coming out of Pepin's factories, but its still there. Even after an inch into this cigar I can tell this is going to be a complex smoke. The burn has been very even and the nice white ash holds on for at least an inch. Again, another very well made cigar. At the halfway point the flavors have stayed very consistent, and very tasty. There is still a ton of that meaty flavor and a little less of the hard wood. There is a little bit of sweetness underneath the meatyness. I am really liking the balance of umami and sweetness. This is a solid medium/full bodied cigar.

Blending great cigars sure runs in the blood within the Pepin family. This offering from Jaime is excellent. It isn't any secret that I am a huge fan of most of the cigars coming out of Pepin's factory, and this is no exception. This is a little lighter than the My Father Le Bijou, but also showcases that meaty flavor I like. It has some of the hallmark flavors I expect from a Pepin cigar, but certainly stands on its own with a complex blend of premium tobaccos. I was pretty surprised to see the price point of this robusto, $6.50. This is definitely worth the price of admission. There have been some very good cigars coming out this year at a very approachable price point, and this is one of them that really stands out. These should start showing up in your local stores anytime now, as well as the other new Pepin release, La Reloba. (which I will be reviewing soon!)

Have you had a chance to try any of the new cigars coming out of the My Father factory?

Liga Privada "Dirty Rat"

2010-05-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's review is of a cigar I have really been looking forward to getting my hands on, the Dirty Rat by Drew Estate. This is an extension of the Liga Privada line, and will be released sometime this year from what I have heard. This is a pre-release, and not particularly easy to come by. They have been handed out at some Drew Estate events, or directly from some of the guys working for DE. I was very fortunate to get a few to review from one of the great guys working for Drew Estate. This Corona measures in at 5X44.

This is a very nice looking cigar. Like the other Liga Privadas, this is impeccably made with a very dark, oily and toothy wrapper. I am not exactly sure what the difference in the blend is compared to the Liga 9 or T52 is, but I am under the impression that the Dirty Rat is a unique blend among the Liga Privada line. The only thing I can pretty much assume is that these are Nicaraguan Puros. (I could be totally wrong about this, sorry!) The little flag-like pigtail cap is a nice touch to an already great looking cigar. Since this cigar hasn't even been released yet, they come with a plain white band with the words Dirty Rat in simple type. Its pretty safe to say this won't be the final packaging on this cigar when it gets released.

After a clean clip with my Palio, this cigar has a slightly open draw with plenty of spice even before lighting. After lighting...WHAM! Loads of black pepper spice pretty much assault your palate. This is one potent cigar! Just after the first 5 minutes of smoking the Rat I can tell that this is not a cigar for beginners. I think the amount of spice would be a major turnoff to someone who isn't used to spicy full flavored Nicaraguan tobacco. Even I was taken aback a little bit, and I would say that the majority of what I smoke IS Nicaraguan tobacco. After the first inch, the spice backs off just a little, letting flavors of leather and dark chocolate shine through. At the tail end of this cigar, the spice returns in full force! I am really enjoying the amazing amount of fresh cracked black pepper spice this cigar showcases.

The Dirty Rat is a spicy flavorbomb of a cigar! I am really looking forward to these being released. This will make a great addition to the Liga Privada line. When I say this cigar is spicy, I am not kidding. This has to be one of the spiciest cigars I have ever smoked. The nice thing is, even with the intense spice, this cigar never gets harsh. I have no idea what the price on this cigar will be when released, but I dont care. I will be picking up a few of these for sure! I can't wait to light one of these up again.

Pinar Del Rio Cubano Especial Maduro Robusto

2010-05-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's review is of the new cigar from Pinar Del Rio, the Cubano Especial Maduro. I picked up a few of these at the event at Burning Leaf, smoked one at the shop, and brought another home to review. There isn't a lot of info out on this cigar yet, and I think they will be hitting shops after the trade show in August. A few boxes will be trickling out before the show though. If memory serves me correctly, Abe Flores (the man behind the cigar) said these have a Brazilian Broadleaf wrapper and a mix of Nicaraguan/Dominican tobaccos making up the rest of the cigar. He mentioned something about a special leaf in the blend, but I couldn't drag the info on this special leaf out of Abe. This robusto measures in at 5 X 52.

The wrapper is very dark and shows very nice oils. This is a very nice looking cigar! The pigtail cap is a nice touch, and Abe mentioned that his rollers aren't too thrilled with him about doing the pigtail because of the extra time it takes. The cap is very flat under the pigtail, and you can tell that great care goes into the rolling of this cigar. The prelight draw is very flavorful, with loads of earth and leather.

After lighting, this cigar takes no time at all to get going by flooding the palate with rich earth, leather, coffee...lots of dark coffee flavor. You can definitely taste the Nicaraguan tobacco in this blend. The burn is very slow and absolutely dead even. Oddly, even with the slow burn, it produces a TON of resting smoke. The ash holds on very tightly for well over an inch. This is by far one of the better maduro's ive smoked in a while.
Having a cigar with Abe Flores. Sorry about the terrible picture, it was taken from my cell phone and the lighting was terrible!

Talking with Abe about this cigar and all of his other blends was a real treat. his love for cigars is very apparent and he really cares about getting a quality product into the hands of his customers. Having the opportunity to smoke cigars with the guy behind them is something you never forget.

at the half way point, there is still loads of earth and coffee with a faint floral undertone that completely took me by surprise, as well as a dried fruit.raisin flavor. When passing the smoke through the sinuses, I pick up a nice spice note, probably from the Nicaraguan tobacco in the filler.

This is a full flavored, medium/full bodied cigar that is perfectly balanced. The biggest surprise about this cigar is the price. Get ready for it....around $4.50! I can't believe how inexpensive this cigar is considering how perfectly it performs! Abe said that the price will probably go up just a little bit when they are finally released, and I have no problem with that at all. I wouldn't think twice about spending a few more bucks on this stick, and will be buying plenty more of these as they become more readily available. Of all the Pinar Del Rio's ive smoked, this is probably my favorite. Keep an eye out for these later on this year.

Tatuaje "The Frank"

2010-05-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's review is of the first cigar in the Tatuaje Monster series, The Frank. This was a very limited release in October of 2008 around Halloween, with a production of 666 Coffin shaped boxes of 13 cigars, and $13 a stick. This is a large, box-pressed cigar, measuring in at 7 5/8 X 49 (Double Corona). The Nicaraguan filler/binder is covered by a sun grown broadleaf wrapper, and has a very cool looking green Tatuaje band on it.

The wrapper is ugly, rough and veiny, exactly what a cigar named after Frankenstein's monster should look like! Like all Tatuaje's, The Frank is a solidly constructed cigar with a perfectly applied triple cap. This is a box pressed cigar, but only slightly. The predraw shows a perfect draw with a light earth and cedar flavor.

The Frank starts off with classic Tatuaje spice, earth and some cedar. This cigar is over a year old, and isn't showing any signs of youth. The flavors are very clean and crisp and very complex! The further into this cigar I get, more and more flavors are developing and building a very full flavored cigar. Black pepper, roasted nuts, a slight citrus zest flavor...there is no question about the complexity of this cigar. The wrapper leaves a slight sweet flavor on your lips which is quite pleasant. The burn is dead even and the ash seems to hold on for right around an inch. At the halfway point, a floral undertone shows up that I really didn't expect, but it works well with the flavors going on here. (wasn't there a scene in Frankenstein where he throws a girl picking flowers down a well?) By the end, this is a solid medium/full bodied cigar.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Frank! A very generous buddy of mine gifted me this one, and I can't thank him enough for the chance to smoke this very limited cigar. This was one of those cigars that I was excited about trying, but figured I wouldn't get my hands on. This cigar is going to age very well. The flavors are already quite complex, and I imagine that over even more time, they will continue to marry and develop. If you got yourself a coffin of these, count yourself lucky!

I will doing a review of the 2nd cigar in the Monster series from 2009 (The Drac) in the near future, so keep an eye out for that one!

El Cobre Churchill

2010-04-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's review is of the El Cobre Churchill. This is a private label cigar made by Oliva for a Empire Cigars in Raleigh, North Carolina. Matt from Matt's Cigar Journal sent me a few of these to try. I don't really know a lot about this particular cigar, but since its from Oliva, I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is a Nicaraguan Puro.

Visually, this is a rough looking cigar. The wrapper is very nice and oily, with a dark, mottled color with a slightly reddish hue to it. The wrapper also has a rough feel to it. Construction wise this is a well made cigar with no soft spots or any other construction problems from a visual inspection. The draw is pretty much perfect and shows a very earthy flavor on the predraw.

This is one of those cigars that delivers loads of flavor right from the first draw. This is a very earthy, leathery cigar with plenty of black coffee flavors mixed in. After getting a little further into this cigar, the same flavors remain pretty consistent. This is a very rich, dark cigar. The room aroma is very strong, but not unpleasant. That being said, if you were smoking this around someone who isn't very tolerant of cigars, this is one that would get you plenty of dirty looks because of the strong aroma. The burn was starting to get a little ragged, but after a quick touch up with my torch, it has stayed pretty even. This is a solid full bodied cigar, but not too strong.

Overall, the El Cobre was a very tasty cigar. If you enjoy strait forward full bodied cigars, then this is definitely one to try. This isn't an overly complex cigar, but the flavors presented are far from boring. The heavy earth and coffee flavors are very tasty. Here is the real kicker about this cigar though, this churchill sells for $4.75! At that price, I am really happy with what it brings to the table. After smoking a few of these, I would expect to pay at least 6-7 bucks for these. For the price they go for, they are quite the bargain. There aren't many cigars for under $5 that will perform as well as this one.

Epernay Le Monde

2010-04-19T09:00:00.001-05:00

Today's review is of the Epernay Le Monde from Illusione cigars. This is the newest addition to the Epernay series, and measures in at 6 1/4 X 52. The blend used in the Epernay line first showed up in 2008 ECCJ (European Cigar Cult Journal) limited release cigar. This cigar is made up of Criollo and Corojo tobacco with a Cafe Rosado wrapper. (Side note, the Epernay is named after the heart of France's Champagne region.)

This is a beautiful cigar to look at. The very smooth wrapper has a slightly reddish hue to it, and is much lighter in color compared to the Illusione line of cigars. Like all of Dion's cigars, these are very well made with perfectly applied caps. There are a few prominent veins in the wrapper, but even so it is still very nice.

The draw is perfect on this Epernay. After lighting, it starts out nice and woody and very creamy. The burn started out a little wavy, but evened itself out after the first inch. The ash on this cigar is very dark and stays on for about an inch. This is the second one of these I have smoked, and I have found these to be a very smooth cigar. There is very little spice to this blend, which is a nice change of pace compared to the Illusiones. If I remember right, there isn't any Ligero blended into this cigar, but I could be wrong. The further I get into this Le Monde, the more I am noticing a light leather flavor joining the woody characteristic. At the halfway point, a honeylike sweetness really shines through with a light floral undertone. This is a very complex cigar!

The Epernay is yet another great cigar from Dion Giolito. This medium/full bodied cigar is full flavored and performs like a champ. At $7.95, this cigar is worth every penny. I am beginning to wonder if Dion will ever make a cigar I don't love! One thing worth mentioning, is that across all of Dion's lines,Illusione, Epernay or Cruzado, I never have any issues with construction, draw or flavor. While the burnline might wander a little bit, I never have any complaints about his cigars. There are very few cigar manufacturers that I can say that about.

Liga Privada no.9 Flying Pig

2010-04-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Today's review is of the Drew Estates Liga Privada no.9 Flying Pig. This very uniquely shaped cigar measures in at 4 x 60. (60 ring measured at the middle) Apparently one of the guys at Drew Estates saw it in a picture of a 1895 size chart from a cigar salesman case and decided to put it into production with a slightly modified Liga Privada no.9 blend (Nicaraguan).

The Flying Pig is a very interesting cigar. This is not a ring size I really gravitate towards, but this one seemed very unique. Since I really enjoyed the other Liga Privadas, I figured it would be worth trying. The Connecticut Broadleaf Ligero wrapper is amazingly dark and oily, and reminds me of what fresh espresso beans look like when I open up a bag at work. The Pigtail cap on this cigar is one of the coolest I have ever seen. This one actually curls around like an actual pigs tail! This is a very attractive cigar, even with the larger ring gauge.

The predraw shows a nice draw with just the right amount of resistance I expect from a pefecto, and a leathery and cedar flavor. After lighting, there is an immediate array of flavors mingling around. Definite notes of toasted cedar, strong leather and mocha. After getting into this cigar a little more, some black cracked pepper joins in with all the other flavors. The burn was a little uneven at first, but sometimes perfectos can be a little wavy starting out. This is a full bodied cigar, but not overwhelmingly so at all. I am impressed with how well this stubby little thing is performing! The burn evened out and the construction is very solid. I bet if I really tried, I could get the ash to hold on for damn near the entire length of the cigar, but I don't feel like ending up with a lap full of ash so I won't be trying that today.

The Liga Privada Flying Pig is a very nice cigar. This is no gimmick, which I could see some people thinking because of the unique size. The Pig is full bodied and very full flavored. They are beautifully made and show a complex array of flavors of leather, mocha, cedar and spice. Drew Estates has really nailed it with this blend. Between this and the Liga Privada T52, I am impressed. The ring gauge is a little bit over the top for me, but I would definitely smoke this again given how it delivers on flavor. These are available in limited quantities, so If you see them, give it a shot! At $12 bucks, they aren't cheap, but It seems fair considering how hard these are to roll.

What have your experiences been with the Flying Pig?

Tatuaje RC 184

2010-04-05T10:13:00.002-05:00

Today's review is of the Tatuaje RC 184. RC stands for Retro Cuban, and 184 is for the length in mm. This perfecto is a monster of a cigar at 7 1/4 X 57. Like all other Tatuaje's, this is made by Don Pepin Garcia and is a Nicaraguan Puro. I love the presentation of this cigar, the foil and the old school looking band really sets this series apart from any other cigars available.

The wrapper is very nice looking like most Tatuaje's, and you can tell that great care goes into making this size cigar. There are a few prominent veins in the wrapper and there is a small crack above the band towards the head. (which didn't cause any issues) The predraw was fairly light with a little bit of leather and a dusty characteristic.

Once lit, this cigar starts out very smooth, yet powerful. A wave of leather and a flavor almost like spice cake really come through up front. The spice backs off after the first inch, but that cakey quality and leather flavor remain and are joined by a roasted nut/toasted bread flavor. Thankfully the burn is very even, as this can sometimes be a problem with a perfecto like this. The white ash holds on for over an inch, showing that this is a very well constructed cigar. That spice I noticed at the beginning of this cigar is still very apparent when passing smoke through the sinuses.

At the halfway point, this cigar is still very complex and has taken on a very creamy characteristic. That being said, the flavors have gotten somewhat darker if that makes any sense and just a little heavier. That leather flavor sticks around throughout the entire cigar and was quite pleasant.

This is a real finger burner that you just don't want to put down! That is really saying something with a cigar this size. For a cigar this big, it had better be fairly complex considering how long it takes to smoke. These are a little pricey, around $17 a piece, but you really get your money's worth. These are not an easy cigar to make, so I expect a little higher price tag for a unique shape like this. The RC 184 is a solid medium bodied cigar, a little different than the regular line Tatuaje's. If it were as full bodied as the rest of them, it would probably be a turnoff to most smokers given it takes nearly 2 hours to finish. So, next time your looking for a nice big cigar for the warmer weather, give this one a shot!

What do you guys think of the Tatuaje RC 184?

Johnny O Pigtail Short

2010-03-29T10:20:00.000-05:00

Today's review is of a cigar I just recently heard about called the Johnny O. There is very little information available about this elusive cigar, but from what I gathered, these are farmrolled cigars made up of Cuban tobacco and are not easy to come by. I believe they are made by one roller named Johnny O somewhere in the US. (obviously not an authorized product since Cuban tobacco is illegal to import into the United States) These are not for sale in any shop, but occasionally pop up randomly for sale if you know where to look. (I dont, but luckily a very nice BOTL I met at the shop does!) This cigar is called the Pigtail short, which measures in at 4.75 X 42. If I remember correctly, these cigars were rolled within the last month, making them very fresh. This is the first time this season it has been nice enough to sit outside, so I am finally back out on the balcony!

This seems to be a nicely constructed cigar, with a nice little pigtail cap neatly applied. The wrapper is a little splotchy and has some bump showing through from the binder, but it is very smooth and has a very nice aroma to it. The draw is a little tight and shows a little bit of dry cocoa and lots of earth on the predraw. After lighting, it starts off with a nice complex array of flavors ranging from a sweet almost honey like flavor, to a toasted nut/bready taste. There is also that classic barnyard earthy twang I associate with Cuban tobacco present here. The ash is nice and solid with a great white color to it. I think this cigar might still be a little wet, which is what I am attributing the tighter draw to. The burn is a little uneven at the start, but evens out nicely after the first inch or so.

The flavors remain pretty consistent throughout the cigar, and are very pleasant! Towards the end, there is a slightly youthful bite, but It wasn't unpleasant. This doesn't surprise me given how young of a cigar this is. I have one more of these left, and I am going to attempt to see what some time in the humidor will do to it. I have a feeling this cigar will age very well. I am not quite sure on the price of this cigar, but I think they are very affordable. If you ever come across these, give them a shot! Like I said before, these are not easy to find, so good luck! Johnny O makes these in a variety of different Vitolas, and I am curious to see what other sizes would taste like. Maybe ill come across these again in the future.

LFD Air Bender Matatan

2010-03-22T10:30:00.001-05:00

Today's review is of the new La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Matatan. (5X50 Robusto) The Air Bender is Litto Gomez's newest creation. This cigar has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper that can also be found on the LFD Salamon, and has a Dominican binder and filler. The wrapper is amazing to look at and to touch. It is silky and oily with minimal veins. One thing that's worth noting is how solid this cigar feels. It is hard as a rock! I have heard other people mention this about the Air Bender, and if I hadn't heard that before, I would have been a little worried about an overfilled cigar.

The draw seems perfect and doesn't show any signs of being overfilled. The predraw flavors are of leather, cocoa and definitely an earthy profile. This cigar starts out with plenty of earthy spice, as well as some cedar and a toasty characteristic. Like most of Litto's cigars, this one is VERY full flavored right from the start, but seems to be very balanced so far. The burn on this cigar is very slow, probably one of the slowest burning cigars that I can recall. The room aroma on this cigar reminds me of the very distinct (and quite pleasant) smell that the Opus X gives off. The burn has been very even so far, with the ash falling off at just over an inch.

At the halfway point, this cigar seems to have settled down a bit. The flavors have stayed pretty consistent with a chewy leather flavor showing up to the party, and are very balanced. One thing I have experienced with some of LFDs cigars is that they are all power and no balance. That is definitely not the case with the Air Bender at this point. This is a solid medium/full bodied cigar at the halfway point, but I have a feeling that this will end up being a solid full bodied smoke by the end.

The LFD Air Bender is a solid cigar. Very full flavored, and I was right about the strength amping up at the end. This is such a smooth cigar, that the strength really sneaks up on you! The strength never overshadows the flavors though, there is a nice balance to this cigar. The construction and burn on this stick is perfect, and the smoke is so thick its almost chewy. This size sells for about $6.50, and I would gladly pay that price again. This cigar is great if you want a full bodied cigar that really delivers on flavor. I definitely recommend eating a full meal before smoking this one, not a light lunch like I did...

My Father Belicoso

2010-03-15T10:55:00.001-05:00

As promised, here is the review for the My Father Belicoso, to compare to the Le Bijou 1922 review I did recently. This is the original blend of the My Father line, blended in secret by Jaime Garcia behind his fathers back as a tribute to him. This Nicaraguan Puro has a very nice looking Habano Rosado wrapper. I really like the nice rounded Belicoso shape to this cigar. Measuring in at 5.5 X 54, this is a short, fat cigar, but because of the tapered belicoso head, it doesn't seem overly large as far as ring gauge is concerned.

The draw is pretty much perfect, with a mix of cedar, earth and dried fruit flavors coming through before lighting. This cigar starts with spice like expected with a cigar coming out Pepins factory, along with plenty of sweet cedar and leather behind it. The spice backs off fairly quickly and this settles into a very nice medium bodied cigar. In June of last year I reviewed the My Father Lancero, and looking back on my notes, I am seeing just how different the same blend can be in two different sizes. It seems like the lancero is a more complex version of this blend, not that the belicoso isnt a nice complex cigar. The lancero just seemed to have more concentrated flavors.

The burn and draw on this cigar couldn't be any better. The Pepin's really know how to roll a cigar. The construction on their products is just top tier. As I reach the halfway point, the cakey flavor I noted in the Lancero has shown up, but it is not quite as pronounced.

The My Father line by Pepin is another great cigar. Medium bodied, complex and beautifully made. Most of Pepin's cigars are in the full bodied range, but its nice to see that they can blend something in medium category that still has a great complexity to it. This has become one of my favorite late afternoon cigars. The Le Bijou line is a little richer and fuller bodied, and while I tend to prefer a fuller cigar, the regular My Father line is not to be overlooked.

Casa Fuente Double Robusto

2010-03-08T10:30:00.001-06:00

Today's cigar review is of a rather hard to get cigar (depending on how close you live to Nevada), the Casa Fuente. This cigar isn't rare because of the quantities produced, but because you can only get them at one location, the Casa Fuente cigar bar in Las Vegas. One of my fantastic customers at Bull and Bear recently brought this back for me. The blend for this cigar is a big secret, but the general consensus is that it is a tweaked Opus X filler and binder, with a Cameroon wrapper. I have had a few of these in the past, and would agree that this tastes very similar to an Opus, but with the wrapper adding something something different to the flavor profile. The size I am smoking is a new one for me in the Casa Fuente line, the Double Robusto, which measures in at a hefty 5.75 X 52. This is the only Casa Fuente that comes in the cedar wrap if I am not mistaken. The bands on these cigars have to be one of the nicest, but flashiest out there, but then again these are from Vegas, so what do you expect?

The wrapper seems of high quality without any blemishes or major veins, but there is some wrapper lift near the not so neatly applied cap. I would expect a little more care taken with such a highly priced cigar.

The draw is perfect, and the dominant flavor on the predraw is light sweet cedar. After lighting, this cigar starts off VERY smooth with that classic Opus cinnamon spice and sweet cedar flavor. I think the wrapper on this really adds to the sweet flavor. The room aroma on this cigar is fantastic. When passing the smoke through the nose, the spice is definitely intensified, but not overwhelming at all. There is plenty of balance between the spicy and sweet flavors in this cigar.

After the first inch, the burn has gotten a little uneven, but I think that is mostly my fault. I just recently got this cigar from my friend, and being the impatient person I am (with very little self control when it comes to cigars like this) I didnt give this time to rest after its journey from Vegas. So, I will not blame the cigar on the uneven burn, but blame it on not giving it a chance to rest long enough in my humidor. The ash is very solid and holds on for an inch easily. The flavor has stayed pretty consistent, with loads of cinnamon spice and that sweet cedary flavor. There is a little bit of leather mixed in the flavor profile as well. I would put this right in the medium/full bodied category. I would really recommend pairing this with an aged rum like Ron Zacapa or Zaya.

The Casa Fuente is a very tasty cigar! While similar to the Opus X, changing up the wrapper to a Cameroon certainly mixes things up. I think the Cameroon really brings out a sweeter flavor from this cigar. While good now, I imagine this cigar would be even better with a few years humi time on it. This cigar will always remind me of my trip to Las Vegas with a bunch of the guys from Blowinsmoke.net. We closed down Casa Fuente's bar 2 nights in a row and had an amazing time smoking too many cigars and drinking a few too many of the house Mojitos.

As a side note, Visiting Casa Fuente cigar bar is an absolute must for any cigar smoker in las Vegas. The mojitos are the best I've ever had, and lets just say the waitstaff isnt too hard on the eyes. A word of warning though, dont be shocked when you see the prices. Other than the Casa Fuentes, they have every size Opus X, Forbidden X and a bunch of other rare Fuentes, just be prepared to pay through the nose for them. The Double Robusto Casa Fuente goes for around $22, and if I remember right the cheapest Casa Fuente is the Corona Gorda, for around $18. These aren't cheap, but again, this is Vegas we are talking about! Would I go to Casa Fuente looking to stock my humidor? Hell no! The prices are way too high, but I would definitely pick up a few more Casa Fuente's knowing that I couldn't get them anywhere else.

PS, guys, if you bring your significant other with you to Casa Fuente, don't let them catch you drooling over the waitresses!

El Triunfador No.4

2010-03-01T10:30:00.000-06:00

Today's review is of a cigar I have been waiting to get my hands on, and thanks to Craig (the same BOTL who hooked me up with the Boris) I have the opportunity to try the newest line from Pete Johnson of Tatuaje called El Triunfador. A few years ago, Pete released a cigar called El Triunfador in one size, a Lancero. That cigar is still being produced, but is a completely different cigar than the new one I am reviewing today. The new blend of El Triunfador is available in six different sizes, the one I am reviewing is the no.4, measuring in at 5 X 48. This is supposed to be a medium bodied cigar, with leaves from Don Pepin's La Estrella farm in Esteli, Nicaragua. This has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around the Nicaraguan filler and binder.

This cigar is very well made. The wrapper is seamless with no blemishes or major veins. The feel and look of the wrapper on this cigar really reminds me of the wrappers I have seen on the Cuban Ramon Allones Specially selected (robusto). A little rough looking, but not really rough to the touch.

The predraw shows a perfect draw, with a musty cinnamon flavor a little bit of cedar. After lighting, there is a touch of peppery spice that Pete likes in his cigars, but it fades back pretty quickly, letting a very nice cedary flavor come up to the front. After getting a little further into this cigar, a really pleasant floral and slightly sweet citrusy flavor join the mix of cedar and background spice. I feel cliche saying it, but this cigar really has a Cubanesque feel to it. The cedar, floral notes, and sweeter citrusy flavor really remind me of some classic Cuban flavors.

What a fantastic cigar. I really like the full bodied spicey cigars that usually come from Pete Johnson, and its nice to see he can really deliver a flavorbomb of a cigar in the mild/medium bodied category. I didn't have to touch up the burn at all on this stick, it was razor sharp all the way down. The flavors in this cigar are so clean and crisp and paired with perfect construction, I don't have a single negative thing to say about this cigar. A box of 25 of this size will be going for about $169, which puts singles around 7 bucks! Not bad at all for a cigar this well made with such clean flavors. While not the most complex, it certainly isn't boring. I can't wait to try this cigar in other sizes. These should start showing up in shops within the next month, and even if you tend to lean more towards full bodied cigars, give this one a try for sure.

Youve got your cigar, but what to drink with it?

2010-02-22T10:30:00.000-06:00

This weeks post isn't a review, mostly because I didn't have time over the last week to review something new! Choosing what you will have to drink (if anything) with your cigar is always a fun topic of discussion among cigar lovers. You need to keep in mind the body of the cigar, is it mild or full bodied? You don't want to choose a heavy stout or cognac when having something really mild, or you will completely cover up the flavor. What you are looking for is a drink/cigar pairing that will compliment each other.

Lets start with booze free choices. If I am having a cigar earlier in the day, I have found that a cup of black tea or chai works perfectly with a mild/medium bodied cigar. As I am not a coffee drinker I usually stick with tea, but most of my customers at Bull and Bear seem to really enjoy their cigars with some sort of coffee. In the summer months, a glass of sweet iced tea is another of my favorites to pair with an afternoon cigar. Some people don't like the sweetness, but I like the contrast it offers to a spicier cigar. My most common non alcoholic drink with a cigar is usually Pepsi or Root Beer. I like the carbonation and flavor combo. I tend to stay away from citrusy sodas though when it comes to pairing them with a cigar.

Now onto the fun drinks! Beer. Good Beer. Not that mass produced yellow water served all too frequently. Now, I am not a beer snob (ok, maybe a little bit) but I like to select a beer that actually has some flavor behind it! The style of beer I drink with a cigar tends to be seasonal. In the warmer months, I opt for an amber ale like Dead Guy Ale from Rogue Brewing Company or Bell's Amber, Fat Tire, and any number of Brown Ales. I tend to shy away from hoppier beer, but many of my friends really like a nice IPA or pale ale with their cigar. I enjoy these hoppy beers, but not always with a cigar. In the colder months, its all about the Porters and Stouts. (my favorite style of beer) This winter I have really been liking Left Hand Milk Stout, Founders Porter, and Bells Porter. The malty, chocolaty, roasty, coffee flavors of these beers are an amazing pairing with a nice robust cigar.

When it comes to liquor, I am not the traditional cigar smoker that likes Scotch. In fact, I dont like anything in the Whiskey family, whether it be Bourbon or single malt. I think I am in the minority when it comes to that though, as most cigar smokers seem to love the peaty flavor of a single malt with their cigar. My favorite spirits with a cigar are aged rums, Anejo Tequilas, and Cognacs. I never really liked Tequila until I started sampling different Anejos, my current favorite is Trago. (made in Las Vegas of all places) For Cognac, I usually go with the classic Remy Martin VSOP. It isn't super expensive, and really delivers in the flavor department. I tend to drink Cognac in the cooler months, it just doesn't feel like a summer drink to me. Finally, there are your aged rums. A nice aged rum pairs perfectly with a cigar in my opinion. My favorites being Pyrat XO, which is a little on the sweeter side, and Ron Zacapa 23. The Zacapa is probably one of the best liquors I have ever had with a cigar. It is amazingly smooth and goes down way too easy. Another that I really like, is the Havana Club Anejo 7 Anos. It isn't quite as sweet as the others. The problem here is that this is a Cuban rum, therefor you cannot get it legally in the USA... All of these different liquors I usually drink neat, but in the summer I occasionally drop an ice cube in my rum just to mix things up.

Wine is another option. I really enjoy wine, mostly reds, but don't often pair it with a cigar for some reason. When I do, I usually go for a nice full bodied cab or sirah. I have found that certain white wines, usually the dryer styles, work well with a cigar as well. I can't honestly remember what particular types of whites though, as I am not a big white wine drinker. Port however, I really love with a cigar. Some people don't like the sweetness of a good tawny with a cigar, but I sure do! Taylor Fladgate 10 and 20 year are my favorites, but usually the 1o year because of the price difference between the two.

I am not a big cocktail drinker, but when I do pair one with a cigar it is usually the classic Cuban Mojito. This is one of the few citrusy drinks I think works very well with a cigar. The mint flavor is really clean on the palate, and the lime provides a nice zing to cut through the sweetness of the drink. Those who don't like a sweet drink with their cigars will probably not like this pairing though, but it is definitely worth trying.

There you have it! My guide to what I like to pair with cigars. What are your favorites?

Tatuaje J21 Reserva

2010-02-15T09:46:00.000-06:00

Ahh yes, another cigar from Tatuaje! This time its the J21 Reserva, a robusto that measures in at 5 X50. This Nicaraguan Puro has a Corojo ligero wrapper, the same wrapper that is on my favorite Tatuaje, the Cojonu 03. Its not the prettiest, with some random veining throughout the wrapper. Ligero doesn't tend to be the prettiest though, since it gets the most sun of all the types of tobacco.

This is a very solidly build cigar, very firm with no soft spots. The wrapper, while slightly ugly, has a very even color and is just slightly rough to the touch. The draw has just the right amount of resistance, showing that it was rolled perfectly. The predraw flavors are earth and just a little cocoa. After lighting, this immediately tastes like i expect a Tatuaje to taste, with upfront spice, leather and an earthyness I really enjoy. The spice seems to taper off just a bit, and a hard wood flavor joins the party as I get a little further into this cigar. This seems slightly milder than the Cojonu, but still very bold in the flavor department. This is a very smooth cigar as well, with very clean pronounced flavors, not muddy at all.

This cigar started out burning very even, but got a little wavy at the halfway point, It has a nice white ash that is just a little on the flaky side. I knocked it off at just over an inch, but I think it would have held on a little longer if I had let it. (I didnt feel like ending up with ash on my floor tonight)

The Tatuaje J21 Reserva is another great offering by Pete Johnson/Pepin. It has a lot of the same flavors as the Cojonu, which I said earlier is my favorite Tatuaje, but with a little less strength and in a smaller format. This makes it a great option for when I don't Have time for the 03 Cojonu, or want something dialed back a bit as far as body goes. This is still a solid medium/full bodied cigar with a very nice complexity to the flavor. I love the rich, bold flavors that this cigar offers. These are between $10-11 a piece, so while not an everyday cigar, it is one to definitely keep in mind when you have a few extra bucks and want something very tasty.

As most of you know, I now work at a cigar shop in St. Charles called Bull and Bear, and yes, we have these in stock! That being said, just because I sell them, it doesn't have any impact on my review of this cigar. As I've said before, I give my honest opinion of the cigars I review here. No one is paying me to say anything about a particular stick, and I am not getting anything in return by saying good things about any of them. I only put in here that we carry them at Bull and Bear because I do what I can to support my local shops, and these aren't a cigar I see that often in shops in the area.

My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petite Robusto

2010-02-08T10:45:00.000-06:00

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)

2010-01-25T10:50:00.001-06:00

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

2010-01-18T10:50:00.001-06:00

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

2010-01-11T10:05:00.000-06:00

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

2010-01-01T19:00:00.007-06:00

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

2009-12-28T09:10:00.000-06:00

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

2009-12-21T10:45:00.000-06:00

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!

Alec Bradley Tempus Magistri Maduro

2009-12-14T10:31:00.000-06:00

Todays review is yet another cigar from Alec Bradley! This time it is the Tempus Maduro, which was released last month in very limited quantities. Only 20,000 cigars were made, released in boxes of 20. 1000 boxes is NOT alot in the cigar world, and it wouldn't surprise me if these are basically sold out (I am sure there are some here and there, but not at the shops I go to). The maduro is only available in the Magistri size, a 6.5 X 54 figurado. This cigar has the same makeup as the regualar Tempus line (a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan), but with an amazingly dark and oily maduro wrapper. This is probably one of the most attractive maduro wrappers I have seen in a long time.

The predraw flavors are of strong, sweet tobacco with just a touch of coffee. Immediately after lighting you can tell that the maduro wrapper is going to be a huge component in the flavor profile. The Tempus usually starts off with the classic woody Alec Bradley flavor profile, but with the maduro, it starts out with rich coffee, earth and a little bit of dark chocolate. Its always fun to try a cigar you like with a different wrapper. I am always amazed to see the difference it makes and how much flavor the wrapper adds to the blend. The burnline is a little uneven, but with cigars shaped like this, that tends to be the case until you get past the perfecto tip. This seemed to be a solid medium bodied cigar. This cigar just screamed for something nice to drink with it, so i grabbed a Goose Island Oatmeal Stout, and the coffee flavors in the beer really work nicely with those in the cigar.

The flavors remained very consistent throughout this cigar and were very nice! Loads of rich coffee, earth and dark chocolate on the finish. The maduro wrapper was very influential to the flavor of this cigar. I have smoked a ton of the regular Tempus, which all have the woody flavor I usually get with Alec Bradley's cigars, and it was not present with the maduro. This blend worked really nicely with this wrapper. I am normally not a very big maduro smoker, but this is definitely one I would like to smoke again. Too bad I didn't buy more when I had the chance because they are gone now! The burnline had to be touched up a few times, but I think that was due to the thicker and oilier maduro wrapper. If you are able to get your hands on these, definitely do so, but I am pretty sure they are sold out nationally at this point. I paid around $10 for this cigar, and for such a limited release, I didn't think this was a bad price.

Alec Bradley SCR

2009-12-07T10:43:00.000-06:00

Todays review is of the Alec Bradley Select Cabinet Reserve Robusto. This 5X50 cigar sports a huge band and a smaller one on the foot, which is a little overkill but I actually like the packaging on most of Alec Bradley's cigars. The wrapper is Honduran, the binder is Honduran/Indonesian, and the filler is a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco. I am always impressed with the blends Alec Bradley comes up with. This is a nice looking cigar, even with a slightly veiny wrapper. I found no soft spots and it seems to have a very even roll to it.

The predraw shows some cocoa mixed with musty tobacco flavors. The classic woody flavor I usually find at the core of Alec Bradley cigars is present right away, with a very prominent and pleasant leather note. There is also a light coffee flavor here, nothing too dark, but nice and creamy with just a little spice on the finish. This is a very smooth cigar, hovering right around medium bodied, but definitely full flavored. At the halfway point, a cinnamon/sugar cakey flavor shows up to the party, and was definitely welcome.

This was another tasty cigar by Alec Bradley. I bought this one at an event for around $6, and will definitely be picking up a few more. This a very smooth, flavorful cigar that probably won't wow you, but definitely won't disappoint. For me, this is another great afternoon cigar.

Alec Bradley Prensado

2009-11-30T12:50:00.000-06:00

Today's review is of Alec Bradley's new line for the year called Prensado. From what I've heard, this cigar has been in the work since 2007. I am smoking the Corona Gorda, which measures in at 5 5/8 X 46 (a favorite size of mine). This cigar is made up of a very dark 06' Honduran Corojo wrapper, a Nicaraguan Jalapa binder, and a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan filler. This cigar appears to be very nicely constructed, and falls into what I have been calling the rustic look. This meaning that its not the prettiest wrapper, showing a few veins, but is attractive in its own way. Alec Bradley seems to love big ornate bands, but they always seem to suit the cigar. They are vibrant, but not overdone.

This is a box pressed cigar,but it has a light box press compared to some with sharper edges from other cigar companies.

The predraw shows just a hint of sweetness and light tobacco flavor, . However, after lighting, this cigar is definitely not light on flavor. The woody flavor I have come to expect with AB's cigars is again at the core of this cigar, but with this one it's a deeper and darker flavor. The finish is a mix of sweetness and spice. This is starting off fuller in flavor and body that most of the Alec Bradley's I have smoked. There is definitely some leather and bitter cocoa flavors mingling in here as well. So far this is a nice and full flavored cigar, in the medium to medium full bodied category. The blend is nicely balanced, showing clean flavors that are working really well together. The burn and draw have been fantastic.

The Prensado is yet another home run by Alec Bradley. After smoking two of these, they have joined the Tempus as one of my favorite cigars by Alec Bradley. These are more full bodied than the Tempus, right up there in the medium/full range, and very full flavored. This line is a little more expensive than the Tempus, I think i paid $9 for this one. At that price I won't be smoking it nearly as much as the Tempus, but I can definitely see myself keeping some of these on hand. Alec Bradley is one of the company's i have really been impressed with over the last year, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Pinar Del Rio Habano Sun Grown

2009-11-23T10:00:00.000-06:00

Today's review is a new cigar to me, the Pinar Del Rio Habano Sun Grown. This cigar is made at La Fabrica Don Leoncio in Dominican Republic and is blended by Abraham Flores and Juan Rodriguez. This cigar is a tribute to the Pinar Del Rio region of Cuba, which is very well known for its tobacco. The filler is a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan, with a Habano Sun Grown wrapper. This is a standard robusto, measuring in at 5x50. It isn't the prettiest cigar, with some veining in the wrapper, but it seems to be very well constructed .

The predraw flavors show a musty, earthy flavor with just a touch of cocoa. After lighting, this cigar hits your palate with tongue tingling spice and leather, with a slightly earthy characteristic. After the first half inch, the spice really tones down and a nice cedar and slightly sweet caramel like flavor joins the mix of leather and musty earth. The burnline is wavy, and the ash fell at just over an inch, which is about what i expect for a nicely constructed cigar.

The Pinar Del Rio Habano Sun Grown was an enjoyable cigar. It wasn't the most exciting thing I've smoked, but one I will probably pick up again. I received this cigar from a really generous guy named Warren at Burning Leaf cigars. They sell for between $5-6, and are great for that price. This was a nicely constructed cigar with a great draw.I found it to be a solid medium-full bodied cigar with core flavors of leather, musty earth and a sweet finish. That blast of spice I tasted upfront never really returned, but it certainly grabs your attention at the start!

CAO La Traviata

2009-11-16T14:44:00.000-06:00

Todays review is of the new CAO La Traviata Radiante (toro). This chunky cigar measures in at 6x52. This cigar has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Cameroon Binder, and Nicaraguan/Dominican filler.

The slightly bumpy wrapper on this cigar feels really nice and oily, and the cap was applied a little sloppily. The predraw shows a slightly loose draw with flavors of leather and cedar. After lighting, I am definitely tasting that leather and cedar flavor I got on the predraw, but with an additional sweet creamy flavor. I am also getting just a hint of spice on the finish. This cigar might be a little young, which might explain why it is slightly harsh on the back of the throat.

Most of my friends in the cigar world know I used to smoke a ton of CAO, but pretty much gave up the brand a few years back. To be honest, I got tired of all of the companies effort going into marketing and the cigars being sub par. I don't mind if a company wants to do all kinds of flashy marketing to draw people in, but you better have a great cigar to stand behind all of the flash. I don't buy cigars because the boxes look cool, all i care about is the cigar inside! This is the first CAO I have purchased for a very long time, and it just so happens to be the simplest packaging they have done.

Ok, back to the cigar. The construction seems great, the ash is holding on nice and strong and the draw isnt as loose as I had originally thought. CAO's have let me down in the flavor department many times, but never in the construction, I have to give them credit there. The leather, cedar and the slightly syrupy sweet flavors seem to make up the dominant taste to this cigar.

The CAO La Traviata really surprised me. While it isn't going to become one of my favorites or a staple in my humidor, I will probably smoke it again. The biggest draw to this cigar is the pricepoint, its nice to see a cigar that smokes well and has some nice flavor for under $5. While in general I am still not a fan of CAO's cigars, this is the one to pick up if you want a CAO.

Alec Bradley Family Blend

2009-11-09T11:03:00.000-06:00

The Family Blend is one of Alec Bradley's new lines for the year. This cigar is only available in one size, a 5.5 X 50 Robusto with a Cuban style pig tail cap. These were originally made as a tribute to the fathers of the company's three principle executives, and were only available at Alec Bradley cigar events. They were so popular, they finally started selling them this year. This cigar has a Honduran Wrapper, Indonesian Binder, and Honduran/Nicaraguan filler.

This cigar seems to be very well constructed, with no soft spots, and I love the pigtail cap. There is a nice reddish hue to the wrapper as well. The predraw flavor has a woody and definite earthiness to it. The draw is pretty much ideal. After lighting, there are definite wood notes, a bit of sweetness and maybe just a little leather in there as well. This definitely tastes like an Alec Bradley. Their blenders really seem to love that hard wood characteristic. I have been smoking more and more Puros (cigars made up of tobacco from one country) these days, so its a nice change to mix it up with a cigar blended from a few different countries. The first half inch had a slightly uneven burn, and after dropping the ash for the first time, needed a little touch up.

The flavors remained pretty consistent through this cigar, mostly that nice woody characteristic, with some leather and a touch of sweetness. The smoke has a nice, creamy mouth feel. The burn had to be touched up a few times, but it never got out of hand. The woody flavor was a little overwhelming at a few points, but seemed to calm down the further I got into this cigar. This was a medium bodied cigar, that would work well for me as an early afternoon smoke. If you are a fan of Alec Bradley's, then you would probably enjoy this one. They are available for around $7 a piece. While I did enjoy the Family Blend, I think i prefer the Tempus if I am going to buy an Alec Bradley cigar.

Now working at Bull and Bear Tobacco shop!

2009-11-06T18:02:00.003-06:00

Its no secret that I have been wanting to work in the cigar business for quite some time now, and now I am! I will be working at one of my favorite cigar shops, Bull and Bear in St. Charles a few days a week starting this coming week. My schedule is going to be crazy now that I am working 2 jobs, but having this as a second job will be fantastic! I finally get to put my cigar knowledge and experience to some use! The group of people working at Bull and Bear are great, and I am really looking forward to joining the team they have there. So, anyone in the St. Charles area stop by for a few cigars in the lounge and keep an eye out for our upcoming events. Ill try to remember to post a blog for every event we are having. There is one coming up Friday, November 27th for the Punch Upper Cut, but I won't be there unfortunately.

1 W. Illinois Street - Fox Island Square - Saint Charles, Illinois
630.513.9345
http://www.bullandbearcigars.com/index.html

Cruzado Domenicos

2009-11-02T09:35:00.000-06:00

Todays review is of another cigar by Dion Giolito, the man behind Illusione. This is his second line of cigars, called Cruzado. I am smoking the corona gorda, a 5 5/8 X 46 cigar. This is a Nicaraguan Puro like the Illusione, and has a dark Criollo wrapper with a really nice looking pigtail cap. Dion said he toned these down by using Viso leaf instead of the stronger Ligero.Visually this is a great looking cigar with a much more ornate band than on the Illusiones. I really like the silver and black with the gold trim.

The predraw flavor is of dank earth. After lighting, there is definitely some spice to this blend, along with dark chocolate and something similar to citrus zest on the finish. After getting a little further into this cigar, a leathery flavor shows up and seems to be the flavor at the core of this cigar. That citrus zest disappeared quickly and a slight sweetness joins the mix. This is a very complex cigar with an amazing array of flavors that are constantly shifting around the leathery backbone of the blend. This is not a cigar you will get bored smoking with flavors that change after every few draws. The burnline is dead even and the ash isnt the strongest, falling off at a little under half an inch. I am blown away at how clean and crisp this cigar's flavors are.

Smoke this cigar. Find out if your local has them, if they dont, order them. I am a huge fan of the Illusione, and wasn't sure if this line would be able to live up to them, and it does. It is a very different smoke compared to the Illusione line, but definitely as good. It is a solid medium bodied cigar with a very full, complex flavor. The construction on these is flawless. Dion's cigars have become a definite favorite for me, right up there with Tatuaje. These aren't cheap, around 9 bucks a piece if i remember correctly, so I won't be smoking them everyday. Even saying that, I am definitely going to try to get a few more to have in my humidor.

Cain Maduro Torpedo

2009-10-26T16:43:00.000-05:00

I previously reviewed the Cain Habano torpedo, and todays review is of the Maduro Torpedo. This is the same size as the Habano, a 6x54. The Maduro wrapper on this cigar is very dark and nice and oily. The cigar feels very firm in hand, and the white band at the foot creates a nice visual of contrasting colors with the wrapper. I am not going to go into detail about the blend, as I already did that in spades with the Cain Habano review.

I had to cut a little more off than i prefer on a torpedo because the head was cracked from shipping. The predraw flavors are very similar to the Habano, with plenty of leather and earth, but with a slightly sweeter edge to it. Once lit, this cigar starts off nice and smooth with a sweeter flavor profile than the Habano. There are some definite semi-sweet chocolate flavors, mixed with a woodiness at the core of this smoke. Maduro wrappers tend to lend that rich, sweet characteristic to cigars in my opinion. (this isn't always the case, it depends on the blend they are wrapped around and how that flavor plays with the other leaf) There is a little bit of spice on the finish, along with a leathery and earthy flavor. The burn is slightly uneven, but a few passes of the torch fixed it right up.

After the first inch or so, this cigar settles down to a pretty typical maduro flavor, and is a solid full bodied smoke. To be honest, the flavor of this cigar is a little boring to me at this point. This is definitely not a very complex cigar, and I have already come to the conclusion that I prefer the Habano if I am going to smoke a Cain. These are really well constructed cigars though and have a very strong ash that holds on for well over an inch. This is one of those cigars I kind of wish I had smoked outside, the smoke is very heavy and a little on the acrid side.

If you like full bodied cigars and maduro wrappers, then you might like this one. Compared to the Habano, this cigar fell short in the flavor department, and wasn't as full bodied either. To be perfectly honest, this cigar didn't really do much for me. The Habano was a much better cigar as far as my palate goes. The flavor was on the one dimensional side with a typical maduro flavor, nothing special. The habano wasn't the most complex cigar, but it had more going for it than this one. The first inch of this cigar was promising, but after that it didn't really go anywhere. I may be a little bias though, as I definitely prefer a habano wrapper to maduros. Ill pass on this cigar in the future.

Here is a side by shot of both the Habano and Maduro to really show the difference in wrappers:

Cain Habano Torpedo

2009-10-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Cain is a new cigar for the year by Sam Leccia (maker of the Nub)/Oliva cigars. This cigar is supposedly a strait Ligero cigar, Ligero being the strongest/most full flavored of the different grades of leaf. Now, when I first heard this, i figured this would be unsmokable and way too powerful to even enjoy. The way they were able to make a strait ligero cigar was by triple fermenting the leaf. I copied this next paragraph from the Cain website to helps explain this process:

"Fermentation is where the real magic occurs. After curing, the tobacco leaves have all their potential locked inside. It is through patient and vigilant handling that the leaves are brought to the desired result. The tobacco leaves are placed into groups of 20-25 leaves called "Manos". The "Manos" are then stacked in large piles called, "Pilones". Inside these "Pilones" the tobacco can reach temperatures as high as 120 degrees. The inner most tobacco generates the most heat. The "Pilon" is rotated often to allow for even heat exposure. No automation is used in this critical process. It is the work a tobacco man and his instincts. Triple Fermentation is a process by which we bring the tobacco up to temperature three seperate times. This was imperative in making Cain because of the mission to make a Straight Ligero cigar. The Ligero tobacco can take sustained temperature as a result of its thicker character. Through this careful process we brought out all of the deepest richest flavors of the Ligeros. This also allowed us to smooth the jagged delivery of flavor into a very full body yet smooth curve."

As to the blend of this cigar, it has 3 types of Nicaraguan Ligero leaf (Ligero comes from the top leaves of the tobacco plant and receives more sunlight, which darkens and thickens the leaf). The first is Esteli Ligero, which is the strongest of all Ligeros. The second is Condega Ligero, grown north of Esteli Nicaragua and is supposed to be a little tamer and add a rich complexity. The third and final ligero is Jalapa and is grown in the northern most part of Nicaragua in a valley, so it receives less sunlight than the other 2. This ligero is supposed to be the smoothest with a very complex array of flavors. (after doing a little research, i found that this is technically not a 100% ligero cigar, but more like 82% because a strait ligero cigar would have major issues burning correctly)

I am reviewing the Habano (they also make a maduro) in the torpedo size, measuring in at 6x54. The construction on this cigar looks fantastic, with a nice toothy and oily Habano wrapper. This is a very solid cigar, just loaded with very rich smelling tobacco. I am expecting a very full bodied cigar, but am hoping, especially with Oliva behind this one, that it will not just be a one trick pony. A lot of these very full bodied cigars suffer from just being strong with no complexity or enjoyable flavors.

The prelight draw shows an earthy, leathery flavor, with no apparent spice. This lack of spice certainly isn't the case once you light it! Right away you get a very earthy, rustic flavor with plenty of spice to back it up. This has a deep, dark flavor, but is surprisingly very smooth to start. So far this is an enjoyable cigar, definitely full bodied but not overwhelmingly so. The smoke is so thick its as if you could almost chew it. The burn and draw are pretty much perfect at this point. I have a feeling that the strength of this is going to sneak up on me and smack me over the head...

After getting into this cigar a little further, a slightly sweet characteristic joins the flavor profile, as well as something similar to black cherry. It may just be that this cigar is a little youthful, but there is just a touch of roughness from it on the back of my throat. After about 2 inches, I am definitely starting to feel the strength of this cigar. While it is still smooth and tasty, It has me just a little jittery. This is not for the faint of heart. I am used to smoking full bodied cigars, but for someone who isn't, this would be a bit overwhelming.

Overall, the Cain Habano is a tasty cigar, but not an everyday smoke. All that ligero makes for one powerful cigar! This is not a cigar to have while doing anything other than sitting back and enjoying it after a big meal. If you are a fan of powerful cigars, but still want a heavy dose of flavor to go along with it (and dont mind losing control of minor motor skills while smoking it) than this is definitely one to try. This isn't the most complex cigar on the market, but doesn't suffer from all power and no flavor like some out there do. I don't know yet if this will become a regular in my rotation, but I will probably keep a couple on hand for when I feel like getting my ass handed to me by a cigar. (I have smoked 2 of these so far, the first being the one i reviewed. The 2nd Habano I smoked had a little less power and was a more enjoyable cigar. This shows a little inconsistency with this line, but I think it could be due to them pushing them out of the factory early and just needing some more time to rest)

As a side note, if the Cain isn't powerful enough for you (if its not, you have some serious issues) they make another called the Cain F, which stands for Fuerte. (strong in Spanish) This is the Cain on steroids and I definitely do not recommend it if you aren't a seasoned cigar smoker who enjoys full bodied cigars. They are VERY powerful.

Tatuaje T110

2009-10-06T19:27:00.004-05:00

Todays review is of one of the rarer Tatuajes. Pete has done a number of special releases for shops across the country, and this cigar was made for a shop in Hawaii. From what I read, there were only 200 boxes made. This short cigar measures in at 4.3 X 52. The T in the name stands for thermonuclear, and 110 is the size in mm. Supposedly this is another all Ligero cigar, and is called Thermonuclear for its intense strength. Apparently there was a larger cigar Pete made called the Thermonuclear as almost a joke, and it supposedly was so strong not many people could smoke it without getting sick. (sounds like a challenge to me!) This version, from what I hear, is a little toned down, but still VERY strong because of all the Ligero leaf. This is a Nicaraguan Puro, like the rest of Pete's cigars. I was gifted this cigar at the Illusione cigar event I attended a few weeks ago by one of the regular guys that hangs out at that shop, If I remember right his name was Justin. If you are reading this, thanks again for the cigar! He offered me one to try and I just couldn't turn down the chance to review this rare smoke from one of my top cigar makers.

visually this cigar looks great. The construction is top notch, as I would expect with a Tatuaje. The wrapper is much darker than the normal Tatuaje's and is very attractive on this little cigar. I love that Pete went with the RC (Retro Cuban) bands on these, i think they have a very classic look. The draw is a little on the loose side, which I am hoping doesnt make this one burn too hot. The predraw flavors are very light, not what I would expect from a cigar called the Thermonuclear.

After lighting, it has the trademark Tatuaje spicy flavor, just amped up a bit. The smoke immediately coats the palate, and I am glad I have something to drink near by. There is definitely a little bit of leather buried in the spice, with maybe just a sprinkle of dark chocolate and coffee bean in there as well. So far this is a very good cigar and nicely balanced for being so spicy due to the amount of Ligero present in the blend. This is certainly a full bodied cigar after even just an inch, but not overwhelmingly so. (not yet anyway). At this point the spice has mellowed just a little bit, and an earthy flavor joins the party. After all i heard about this cigar, I kind of expected it to be overly strong, but its not. It has power, but balance as well. If this is a strait Ligero cigar, it blows the Cain out of the water.

The Tatuaje T110 was a great cigar. Too bad I will never see another one again, and if you don't already have one (or have a very generous friend to get one from) it is unlikely you ever will due to the fact that so few were made and they sold out very quickly. I love a nice full bodied cigar like this that still has plenty of flavor and balance to it.

Nosotros sneak preview

2009-10-04T15:57:00.010-05:00

Today's review is a treat, especially for me! The Nosotros, made by Dion from Illusione in collaboration with Drew Estates (first time team up with those companies) and will be hitting the market sometime in the next few months. I mentioned this cigar in my write up of the Illusione event I went to. This is the one I got from Dion himself, and it is from a batch he had made when he finalized the blend before they went into production. The sample I got is the Churchill size, which measures in at 7 x 48. These will come with a banded when they are released. After searching around online a bit ,and confirming with Dion, I found out the blend consists of a Nicaraguan Corojo 99 for the wrapper, a Nicaraguan Filler, and a Connecticut Habano binder. These are made in the Drew Estates factory in Nicaragua.

The sample I received has a slightly rough looking wrapper, but is solidly constructed with a great oily feel to it. The predraw has a very nice toasty characteristic with some definite barnyard dry hay flavors. After lighting this big cigar up, there is a definite sweetness with a crisp, spicey finish. This is going to be one of those cigars that will be hard to really pinpoint distinct flavors, as already there is a vast medley of flavors coming out of this cigar. There is a definite woody characteristic, with something else...this is a very unique cigar. This is a solid medium/full bodied smoke.

Talking with Dion, I got a little more info on this cigar. I asked him how he came to team up with Drew Estates, a company known for flavored cigars (ick). They do make a few other decent cigars though, besides their flavored crap. He was visiting their factory, and liked what he saw, so he asked them to bring him a list of their best tobaccos. After going through the list and finding a few things that he hadn't had before, and a few that he knew and loved, he had them bring the individual components for him to smoke. After trying out a bunch of their tobaccos, and liking what he saw, he started working on the Nosotros. (Nosotros means "us")

Overall, the Nosotros is a cigar to keep an eye out for. They were supposed to be released in October, but apparently they need just a little more time before they will be out, so hopefully within the next month or two. These have a very unique flavor profile that really brings something different to the table when it comes to Nicaraguan cigars. These are super smooth, with a really nice sweet and spicy flavor, but really clean tasting, not muddled at all. Smoking a cigar handed to you from the owner of the company makes it that much more fun too! Dion told me this sample is the final blend, and if that's the case i can't wait to get my hands on more of them and try the different sizes coming out.

My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro

2009-09-27T19:55:00.006-05:00

Today's review is of one of the new cigars to come out this year, the My Father Le Bijou, from Don Pepin Garcia. Le Bijou means "the Jewel." This one is the Toro size, measuring in at 6 x 52. The original My Father was made by Pepin's two children in honor of him. Pepin must have really liked this idea because this edition of the My Father is to honor his father. This is a different blend of all Nicaraguan tobacco (though I am not sure of the exact difference) with a Habano Oscuro wrapper. This wrapper really sets it apart from the other My Father line. This one is very dark and toothy and very attractive. I have been waiting to try this cigar since I first heard word about it, and when i was at the Illusione event, I noticed they had a few boxes sitting behind the counter unopened. Later that night, Dion from Illusione cigars also noticed and asked if he could get one, so they opened up the box for him. This was my chance! I convinced them to figure out the price for a single and sell me one even though they hadn't even been entered into their system yet.

Like most of Pepin's cigars, the construction on this is impeccable, with a perfectly applied triple cap. The draw is pretty much perfect, with predraw flavors of cedar and classic spicy Nicaraguan tobacco that Pepin is fond of. After lighting, velvety rich smoke really coats my palate, with full earthy flavors and a spicy finish. Even after just a few minutes, i can tell this is going to be a complex, tasty cigar. There is a certain creamy characteristic to this cigar, but not like the light milky creamy flavor that I normally think of when I call a cigar creamy. This one is more like your favorite Stout or Porter beer, a dark creamy flavor with a dark chocolate bite to it.

After the first inch or so, I heard a cracking sound and looked down to see a crack forming in the wrapper right below the second band. This does not thrill me at all. Hopefully it remains small and doesnt unravel the cigar. Thankfully, I was able to smoke through it without it being too much of an issue, but still, i hate seeing that on a premium cigar. This is a solid medium/full bodied cigar with a full, rich flavor profile.
you can see the crack by my thumb

Overall, this is definitely a cigar to keep an eye out for! I really enjoy the original My Father line, and the Le Bijou is yet another Pepin cigar I really love. This has a richer flavor profile and is very complex. I don't know if I like it more than the other My Father line, but after smoking a few more I have a feeling i might! Even with the crack in the wrapper, which I am just assuming is a fluke, I definitely recommend this smoke. These aren't cheap, i think i paid about $10.50 for this cigar. At that price this won't be one I will smoke on a regular basis, but I would definitely like to get a few more to have in my humidor.

Illusione Event/meet up with Dion Giolito

2009-09-26T12:09:00.005-05:00

So thursday night, I happened to notice on Twitter that Dion, the man behind Illusione cigars was going to be in the Chicago area. Hmm...do I want to meet up with the guy behind one of my favorite cigar brand? I think you know the answer! I found out he was going to be at a shop about an hour from here called Burning Leaf Cigars. This was definitely not an opportunity to be missed!

After arriving at the shop, I was amazed. This was a brand new store, with an amazing selection and HUGE lounge, definitely worth the drive and I will be returning for sure. The event started at 5, which is about when I got there and it was already packed. There was an open bar (yes!) and catering from a fantastic BBQ place that I didn't catch the name of. The man of the night hadn't arrived yet, so I had a look around the shop and bought my cigars for the night. They were running a deal that if you bought 3 Illusiones, you got an MK free. I picked up an mj12, Cruzado Domenicos, and an 88. I started out smoking the mj12, and that's when Dion showed up. Dion has to be one of the nicest guys I've had the chance to talk to. As soon as we started talking he handed me a Cuchillos Habanos, a budget cigar he makes that is comprised of 60% long filler/40% short filler. He was extremely approachable and certainly knows his cigars! We talked about everything from cigars (surprise, i know) to beer to comparing tattoos. I was just about done smoking my mj12, when Dion hands another of his cigars, the Epernay La Ferme, which I promptly lit up and continued talking with Dion and all the other guys at the shop.

I got to talking to this guy, Justin i think? (i am terrible at remembering names) and after talking about different cigars, he goes to his locker and pulls out a Tatuaje T110, which was released only in Hawaii and hands it to me and tells me to take it home and review it! The locals at this shop were some great people!

My third and final cigar of the night was the mixed filler Cuchillos Habanos, which was pretty tasty for not being a 100% longfiller cigar. I would definitely pick up some of these for a good cigar when you want really nice flavor, but don't want to spend a ton (i think you can get 5 for around 18 bucks). This would be a great driving cigar. To finish off an already great night, Dion hands me a cigar I have been dying to get my hands on, the Nosotros. This is his new line that will be coming out in the next few months, and is a team up between him and Drew Estates. Now this particular cigar isn't just an unbanded Nosotros. When Dion was testing blends for this cigar, he had a batch made up of what ended up being the final blend, and this is from that batch. So, this is a pre production sample of a cigar that hasnt even been released yet!

Thanks again to the guys at Burning Leaf cigars for putting on a hell of an event, and of course, to the man, the myth, the legend, Dion Giolito!

Arturo Fuente Anejo no.77 (shark)

2009-09-18T21:53:00.003-05:00

Todays review is of another Fuente Anejo, this time the rare size nicknamed the Shark. This 55/8 x 54 ring gauge cigar has a very unique shape, the top half being round, and the bottom half being box pressed. I won't go into full detail about the Anejo blend, as iv'e already reviewed an Anejo before, you can go back and read about it here if you would like.

The wrapper on this cigar is very dark with a great oily sheen and plenty of tooth. I love the unique shape of this cigar. This is a hefty cigar and is very nicely constructed.

The predraw is strait up chocolate and nicely aged tobacco. The initial flavors upon lighting are of strong espresso and velvety dark chocolate. There are tons of deep, dark flavors in this smoke, and a definite leather note that reminds me a bit of the Ashton VSG (another cigar rolled by Fuente). The burn line is slightly wavy, but nothing that needed correcting. At the halfway point there is a slight dried fruit-like sweetness, somewhere between raisins and apricots. I think that the sweet character comes from the wrapper being aged in Cognac barrels. The ash on this thing is incredible! As you can see from the picture, these are so well constructed and solid that you can stand the cigar up on its ash.

This was by far the best Anejo I have smoked! This had about 2 years of age on it and I think that helped round out this flavorful blend of aged tobacco. The wrapper really makes this cigar what it is in my opinion, adding a really nice depth of flavor. I had a Left Hand Oktoberfest with this cigar and the malty beer really worked well with this cigar. These retail for $10.25, but like most premium Fuentes, are usually found with a fairly steep markup. If I am going to smoke an Anejo, I definitely prefer the Shark!

1998 Cuban Partagas Tres Petite Corona

2009-09-11T15:47:00.004-05:00

Todays review is of a special cigar, a 1998 Vintage Cuban Partagas Tres Petite Corona. This small cigar measures in at 4.6 x 40 ring gauge and was discontinued in 2001. The 2nd band saying 1998 was applied to mark the vintage. Hunters & Frankau, the two hundred year old exclusive UK distributors for Habanos, has selected certain cigars for a special ageing process. You pay a premium for aged stock like this, and H&F is one of the premier vendors for selling aged cigars. This was a gift from a great friend of mine and I have been waiting to smoke this cigar for some time now.

This cigar had a few water spots on the wrapper, but overall it was a very nice looking cigar. I was pleased to see a fair amount of oils still present on the wrapper considering its age. After clipping, the predraw flavor is light but of nice crisp toasty tobacco. The draw is absolutely perfect, which is a relief because I worry about the draw on small cigars like this.

After lighting, there is a ton of classic Partagas spice and cedar, its amazing how well these have aged! This cigar was so complex that I had a hard time really picking out different flavors at first. I exhaled through my nose, which I generally do not do as i don't like the way it tingles, but it brought even more flavorful spice and a really pleasant roasted peanut flavor that reminded me of creamy peanut butter.

At the halfway point this cigar mellowed out into a very solid medium bodied full flavored cigar. This had what i would consider to be a classic old school Partagas flavor.

Overall, it was a great experience to smoke an 11+ year old cigar. This is by far the oldest cigar I have had the opportunity to smoke and I was definitely not let down! It goes to show what aging can really do to a great cigar that has been stored in perfect conditions.

Bolivar Petite Corona

2009-09-01T16:59:00.005-05:00

The Cuban Bolivar Petite Corona measures in at 5.1 X 42 ring, which is the standard size for a Cuban PC. This cigar has a really firm feel, which sometimes worries me with smaller cigars because that can mean they are overfilled and will have a tight draw. Thankfully this wasn't the case with this one, it had a perfect Cuban style slightly firm draw. The wrapper was pale brown, and not very oily.There were some visible veins, but Cuban wrappers aren't always the prettiest.

The predraw had a mildly sweet and floral flavor, which was unexpected on a Bolivar. Upon lighting, I was greeted with classic Boli flavors of chocolate, coffee and that great earthy flavor that I expect with this brand. That classic Cuban "twang" flavor was really nice, and if you have had any experience with Cuban cigars, you will know what I am talking about. I forgot how good these smaller Bolivars can be! The flavor is very concentrated in a smaller vitola like this, and to those that don't think that smaller cigars are worth smoking....that leaves more for me!

After about 2 inches of this cigar, leather, a touch of spice, and cedar joined the already very complex smoke. The burnline was a little on the uneven side, but with flavors like this, who cares if you have to touch it up a few times! At the tail end of this great cigar, a nice graham cracker flavor joined the mix, adding a nice sweet characteristic to balance out the richness.

Overall, the Bolivar PC is a complete flavor bomb! Anyone looking for a smaller format, quicker smoke will absolutely love this one. Small ring gauge Cubans have such a concentrated flavor and this one is no different. If you know where to get them, (which I am not going into details about for obvious reasons) these can be had for around 5.50-6 bucks a piece, which is a steal for such a flavorful cigar. You can't go wrong with Bolivar!

Tatuaje Reserva Regios

2009-08-23T20:15:00.007-05:00

Todays review is of the Tatuaje Reserva Regios. This cigar measures in at 5.5 X 50, and like the other Tatuajes, is a Nicaraguan Puro. The wrapper for this cigar is different than the regular Tatuaje line, sporting a Sun Grown Broadleaf wrapper that is very dark, oily and a bit on the veiny side. Even with all the veins, it is a very attractive cigar. I picked this cigar up at Holts in Pennsylvania and have really been looking forward to trying this one.

The predraw flavors are nice toasty tobacco with just a touch of sweetness. After lighting, my first impression of this cigar is that it doesn't have the spice right up front like the other brown label Tatuajes. Instead it has a nice woody flavor with just a hint of spice i expect (very minimal though). This is a more refined and complex cigar, with a great cinnamon sweet flavor along with the woody notes. The aroma coming off of this cigar is intoxicating. This cigar has layers upon layers of complex flavors, and you can tell that great care went into blending this Reserva. After about an inch, a leather flavor joins the cinnamon sweetness and woody notes, what an amazing cigar! The draw and burn were absolutely perfect, not that i would expect anything less from a Pepin/Pete Johnson cigar. The ash has no problem staying on for at least an inch, which is a sign of great construction.

I paid $10 for this cigar, and while it is on the pricey side, it is completely worth it for a premium cigar. If you are already a fan of the Tatuaje's, then this one will definitely not disappoint, although it is a different flavor. You can really taste the Sun Grown wrapper on this cigar, and it perfectly compliments the blend. This cigar grabs your taste buds and doesn't let go from start to finish. This is one of those cigars you don't want to put down and if you are like me, you will practically burn your fingers finishing!

check out my friend Matts review of this cigar over at Matt's Cigar JournalWe definitely had similar experiences with this smoke.

601 Habano Toro

2009-08-20T12:34:00.005-05:00

Today's review is of the 601 Habano Toro (aka 601 Red), 6X50. This is yet again another cigar blended by Don Pepin Garcia, this time for United Tobacco. This is a Nicaraguan Puro with a very nice Nicaraguan Habano wrapper that has a reddish hue to it.

The predraw flavors are slightly muted, with a little bit of cocoa and a slightly mustly flavor. Once lit, this cigar throws loads of earthy spice, leather and a touch of coffee bean at your palate. To me this is a medium/full bodied cigar that showcases Pepin's signature Nicaraguan spicy flavor that I thoroughly enjoy. I keep my humidor at around 64-65% humidity, but I think this particular cigar would be even better stored at a slightly higher humidity. The wrapper feels just a touch on the dry side at this humidity level, but it still smokes nicely. The burn is slightly uneven on this cigar, but that was easily fixed with a quick pass of my torch.

If you are a fan of robust, full bodied Nicaraguan cigars than this is one I think you will enjoy. Anyone who is a fan of Pepin's blends should pick this one up. I smoked this one around noon, but I think the average cigar smoker would probably prefer this one later in the day due to its strength. My only complaint is that the gold on the cigar band is so shiny that its hard to photograph! The 601 is available in 4 different wrappers, the Habano, Habano Maduro, Habano Oscuro, and an Ecuador Connecticut. I have smoked all of them, and the Habano (red) is by far my favorite. I paid about 5 bucks for this cigar, but i think that is on the low side and they can usually be found in the 7-8 dollar range.

Illusione mj12

2009-08-03T19:23:00.005-05:00

Today's review is of the newest addition to the Illusione line of cigars, the mj12. This monster measures in at 6x54, and was added to the line as a replacement for the m7 Diadema size that was discontinued. (I heard it was discontinued because of the difficulty and price of making the diadema size) Like the rest of the Illusione's, this is a Nicaraguan puro with a Cafe Colorado wrapper anda triple cap. Dion, the owner of Illusione, likes to name his cigars in very unique ways. After looking around online, i found a response by Dion Giolito about the meaning behind the mj12; “The Majestic 12 were the individuals appointed by Truman to oversee the unidentified flying object issues that were extremely active in the 1940s." Interesting thing to name a cigar after.

This cigar comes individually wrapped in foil, which looks great and helps prevent wrapper damage in shipping/storage. (and its like unwrapping a present, who doesn't like that?) The only downside to this from a consumer standpoint is that you can't see if there is any wrapper damage or flaws since its wrapped up. Thankfully I haven't had any issues with Dion's cigars having wrapper problems, so I guess I will just have to trust that they aren't any issues!

The predraw shows loads of dark chocolate and leather and just begs to be lit. This is one of those cigars that hits the ground running as soon as you get it lit. The chocolate and leather flavors I tasted on the predraw coat my palate instantly, along with a bit of cinnamon spice and a slightly nutty finish. As I smoke this cigar, the flavors are constantly changing and shifting around with every draw. This has a very nice complexity and definitely keeps you interested throughout the lengthy smoke. I would classify this cigar as just over medium bodied and very full flavored. The burn line isn't perfect, but not uneven enough to mess with how the cigar smoked or really anything to complain about.

This is the 3rd mj12 i have smoked, and everyone has been fantastic. As I've said a hundred times, i don't prefer this huge ring gauge, but for this cigar's blend, it works really well. This is one of the few cigars with a ring gauge this big that i will definitely seek out. MSRP on these is $8.70, and for that price they are a steal! I paid 11 bucks for this at a shop in New Jersey, and while it is a bit over suggested retail price, it is completely worth it.

Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu No. 2 (Exclusivo Zona del Este)

2009-08-02T20:13:00.008-05:00

Todays review is of the Tatuaje Exclusivo Zona de Este. This cigar is an addition to the Havana VI line for Tatuaje, aka red band Tatuajes, and was released exclusively on the east coast. (if you hadnt gathered that by the name yet) There is a slightly larger version that was also released for the west coast. Pete Johnson took a page out of the Cuban marketing book for this cigar, this being his version of the Cuban regional edition cigars in my opinion. If i remember correctly, these were released in 2007 in boxes of 50, and were made in limited quantities. Unfortunately these aren't easy to come by now since they haven't been made for a while. I was gifted this cigar by my friend Rich while i was on vacation out east.

This is a Nicaraguan Puro, with a special Cafe Rosado Oscuro wrapper. The construction and wrapper look fantastic on this cigar, as I would expect with the Tatuaje name on it. This measures in at 5.5 inches x 54 ring gauge. This ring gauge is larger than i prefer, but I'm going to smoke it anyway! The other difference between this cigar and the regular Havana VI line (the first difference being the wrapper) is that there is additional Ligero leaf blended into this cigar to give it a bit more oomph.

The predraw shows a slightly loose draw, which doesn't surprise me with the ring gauge on this cigar. The flavor is lighter than i expected, with mainly clean tobacco and a little bit of cedar showing up before lighting. After lighting, this cigar is woody, with a bit of leather and earth, and a touch of spice I expect in Tatuaje's. After getting into this cigar a bit more, I am definitely picking up a slight honey like sweetness, and a bit of a floral characteristic that works really well with the dark, leathery core flavors. The body is medium/full, and very smooth.
Nice bunching!

Normally I am not a huge fan of Havana VI Tatuajes, but i really enjoy the Verocu series. Thankfully there is still one Verocu being made, but exclusively for Holts. I smoked a few of these after visiting Holts when i was out east, and they are pretty much the same as this smoke, just smaller. (which makes sense since its the same blend). If you happen upon these, which is doubtful, pick them up! You will have a cigar that not only tastes pretty damn good, but one that has become a collectors item for Tatuaje fans like myself.

La Flor Dominicana Coronado Double Corona

2009-08-01T19:08:00.006-05:00

Todays review is of the LFD Coronado Double Corona, which measures in at 7X50. I smoked one from the box this one is from (out of my buddy Carlos's humidor) when i was out in Jersey and was given another to take home with me to review. The Coronado has a Nicaraguan Sun Grown wrapper, which is very oily, supple and has a wonderfully spicey aroma to it. The filler is a blend of Dominican Sumatra and Piloto Cubano and the binder is a Dominican Corojo.(taken from the La Flor Dominicana website) The only negative thing i can see as far as construction goes, is that when i clipped off the cap, there is a fairly large stem present in the filler. (This ended up not being a big deal and didn't have any impact on how the cigar smoked) You can see the stem in the picture below, in the upper right hand side of the head (lighter color).

The predraw flavors show a dank, earthy flavor (this isnt a bad thing!) with a bit of leather and spice i expect from this cigar. Upon lighting, the predraw flavors are what im getting. This cigar has a ton of earthy, leathery spicy flavor, but is really smooth from the start. This is a very full bodied cigar, but is sneaky. It doesn't seem that powerful, until about halfway through when you suddenly realize that its probably a good idea to stay sitting down. After about an inch, there is a definite cinnamon note mixed in with the other flavors of this cigar. You can definitely taste the Nicaraguan wrapper on this cigar, as Nicaraguan tobacco has a very different taste than the rest of the Dominican tobacco this is made with. The burn started off a little uneven, but after about an inch it evened out nicely.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable, very full bodied cigar. This is one of those cigars that you definitely need to smoke after a nice big meal. If you don't eat before smoking this one, there is a very good chance it could have you feeling a bit green. This is not a cigar for beginners, and is something you need to work your way up to. For those of you that enjoy a full flavored, full bodied cigar though, this is definitely one to try. A lot of strong cigars like this one have the reputation of being harsh, but this is definitely not case with the Coronado. Litto Gomez from La Flor Dominicana certainly knew what he was doing when he blended these! I would say these are my favorite of all of Lito's cigars.

cubao no.6

2009-07-25T15:08:00.003-05:00

Ok, now that im back from my trip, its time to get back to reviewing cigars! Between what I bought and what I got from friends out east, I have a ton of new stuff to review. Todays review is of the Cubao no.6, which measures in at 5.5 inches by 52 ring gauge. This is yet again another cigar blended and rolled by Don Pepin Garcia, but this one is released by United Tobacco, who are known for their 601 line (another Pepin cigar). This cigar has an Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper (wow, thats a mouthful) and had a Nicaraguan binder and filler. The wrapper is very oily and thick, with a rustic and slightly veiny appearance. This is a chunky cigar and is very heavy in the hand, but not overfilled. The cap on this particular cigar looks a bit sloppy, especially for something coming out of Pepin's factory in Nicaragua. I really like the presentation for this cigar, with its simple brown band. The box these come in looks great as well, with a very rustic, worn look to it. I didnt get a box of these though, just a single at a shop in New Jersey.

The predraw is very nice, with flavors of earthy, clean Nicaraguan tobacco. Upon lighting, you are assaulted with tons of earth, leather, a bit of spice, and a slightly oakey finish. I started smoking this one outside,but it suddenly got really windy and the burn started going all over the place, so i ran inside quick to finish up this review. I can't take any points (not that i rate cigars by points) off for the ragged burn since they were caused by the wind, but it seems to be evening out now that im inside. After about an inch, this cigar settled down to a nice oakey, leathery medium to full bodied smoke. At the tail end of this cigar, a cocoa flavor make an appearance, but it was subtle.

Overall, i think anyone who is a fan of the cigars Pepin makes for United Tobacco, or just a fan of Pepin's cigars in general will like this cigar. I paid $9.25 for this cigar, but i think that the shop i picked it up at had them marked up quite a bit. Ive seen these go for around $7 a piece online, and at that price, you really can't go wrong. This is one of those cigars that you definitely want a beverage handy for, as the smoke really coats your mouth. This cigar is strong enough that you could really pair it up with just about anything as far as drinks go, i had a Pepsi and that seemed to work fine. Next time i smoke one of these im going to go with a Brown Ale, Porter, or even a glass of rum. For those of you who are scotch drinkers, I think you would find that a nice single malt would really bring out the oakey flavor in this cigar even more.

Massachusetts

2009-07-21T12:26:00.004-05:00

This was the 2nd part of my trip and i figured i would do a little write up on it as well, even though its not cigar related, haha.

Friday after leaving Carlos's house, i headed north to my Aunt and Uncles house in Massachusetts for the weekend. Saturday we were invited to a friend of my Uncles beach House. This house was in Road Island, and was insane. This was probably a 5 million dollar house, no joke. Theater room, Elevator, you name it, this house had it.

We arrived and were told that lunch was ready, and to go get our lobster and start eating! I couldnt believe it. They had probably 30 2lb lobsters for all the guests, i was in heaven. We spent the day boogie boarding in the ocean and just lounging on the beach. I could live like that!
My cousin Reed, me and my Uncle Rick
The rest of the time with my family was spent hanging around the house with my 3 cousins, playing ping pong and just relaxing. Monday i drove to Ohio and am here until wednesday, and then its time to get back to reality. Overall this was a great trip!
my cousin Emily and I

Trip part 2

2009-07-21T11:47:00.003-05:00

Tuesday-
We started off with a Cuban Fonseca Cosacos tuesday morning before our friend Rich showed up for a short visit. Once he arrived we headed to a cigar shop where we all smoked the new Alec Bradley SCR Robusto, which turned out to be a pretty decent cigar. For lunch we went to this little Cuban restaurant for Cuban sandwiches, which was a first for me (and hopefully not the last!) Rich left a little bit after lunch and Carlos and i decided to head down to his office for a cigar since it was a bit hot out. I had the 601 Habano Robusto (another great cigar by Pepin). For dinner we went to Rio 22, a Brazlilian style steak house, where i think i ate more than any person should ever eat. To finish off the day we lit up 6 year old Fuente Opus X Super Belicosos. The age really rounded this cigar out and was great after a heavy meal.

Wednesday-
Rich and I at Holts
We left around 9am and headed down towards Philly to meeet up with Rich again(had an El Rey De Los Habanos for the drive). We looked through his amazing humidor (aristocrat) and he sent me off with a fantastic array of cigars. After hanging out at his house for a while, we headed to Holts to do some cigar shopping and of course, have another cigar!(Tatuaje Verocu no.9) Our friend Steve was able to meet up with us at Holts (didnt get a chance to get a pic with him) and then since we were in Philly, we had to get Cheesesteaks! Steve brought me a few fantastic cigars as well. We parted ways and headed back to Jersey, Oliva V being the cigar for the drive this time. We ended a cigar filled day with 2 year old Tatuaje Unicos. Carlos had been holding onto this box for a while now and was waiting for the right time to crack it open, which apparently was me visiting!
Tatuaje verocu no.9 (holts Exclusive)
Thursday-
We started thursday afternoon with a nicely aged Hoyo De Monterrey Du Prince while grlling HUGE steaks for a late lunch. We then headed back to the cigar shop for a few cigars we had been waiting for them to get in all week. This was the Illusione mj12, the newest addition to the line. Of course then i had to try one and wasnt let down. For dinner we went back for more sushi, and then ended our week of insane cigar smoking with a La Flor Coronado. I took off friday morning for Massachusetts, but not before Carlos handed me a bag of cigars (because apparently he hadnt provided enough that week...) and a really nice bottle of port!
Illusione mj12

I cant thank Carlos and Eva enough for letting me stay with them for the week. I had a great time hanging out with them and their kids. Also, thanks again to Rich and Steve for the cigars!

Carlos and I enjoying a Coronado.

Trip to New Jersey! pt.1

2009-07-13T23:02:00.004-05:00

Sunday i drove the 14 hours to my friend Carlos's house, a good friend from the cigar community. The drive was pretty uneventful, other than the bear that ran out in front of my car, and getting pulled over literally 1 minute from Carlos's house (apparently you cant talk on your cell phone while driving in NJ? at least he didnt give me a ticket) He welcomed me late last night by handing me a Cohiba Siglo I that smoked wonderfully. Today we visited 2 cigar shops, where i smoked a La Aroma De Cuba Especial, followed by a very tasty Illusione 88 Robusto.

Carlos hadnt ever had Sushi before, which just isnt right, so we went to this little sushi place and had some pretty damn good food, which was followed up with some Brooklyn Lager and a Tatuaje Cojonu 09 that he gave me. The Tatuaje was really good, not quite as good as the 03, but damn close. To finish off the night, we had this cigar made by La Flor Dominica called the Cheroot (aka Crack stick). This cigar was ugly, and man do i mean ugly! From what ive heard (this may or may not be truth) this cigar was made on a dare to Lito Gomez, the owner of La Flor Dominica. It is 100% ligero leaf, which is the strongest grade of leaf out there and is the leaf blended into cigars to give it body and full flavor, but is usually accompanied by a few other grades of tobacco to make a balanced cigar. This is not the case with the crack stick. These things are like a kick to the face. Strong, flavorful, and did i mention strong? I expected it to be on the ulpleasant side, and was actually surprised at how tasty it was. There is no balance or finesse to this smoke, just strait up power. Definitely worth trying, that is if you can get them. They are made exclusively for a shop in Raleigh, NC.
Standing in front of the humidor Carlos built.
More later this week!

El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme

2009-07-08T19:57:00.003-05:00

Todays review is the Cuban El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme, which measures in at 5 inches by 48 ring gauge. This looks like your basic robusto as far as size goes, but is slightly thinner and considered a hermoso no.4 technically speaking.

This cigar doesnt have the prettiest wrapper for a Cuban, with a few big veins. There is a bit of a box press to this cigar and it has a really nice cinnamon spice and cedar aroma and flavor on the predraw. The draw is in the typical Cuban style, with a bit of resistance. The first few puffs on this cigar reveal that classic Cuban twang that i was hoping for. The flavors i am picking up on right away are cinnamon, cedar, and nutmeg, all wrapped up in silky smooth smoke. There is also a really nice toasty nutty flavor at the center of the flavor profile. This cigar is on the lower end of medium bodied, but is showing just how pleasant a lighter bodied cigar can be. The further i get into this cigar, i am noticing a really nice beany flavor and some floral notes as well. Somehow this unique flavor combo is working together quite nicely.

El Rey Del Mundo is not one of the Cuban brands that gets a lot of attention, but i am one to venture off the beaten path when i get the chance and am more often that not, happy with what i find. Ive had this cigar a handful of times, and i remember it always being a pleasant cigar to smoke. This isnt one of those cigars (at least for me) that really wows you, but it certainly doesnt disappoint. This cigar is one that i think most experienced cigar people would enjoy, as well those new to cigars. It is very approachable and would be an great after lunch cigar.

Ashton Cabinet Selection No. 6

2009-07-01T17:44:00.003-05:00

Todays review is of the Ashton Cabinet Selection No.6, which measures in at 5.5 inches by 52 ring gauge. This cigar has a Dominican binder an filler, with a Connecticut shade grown wrapper. The construction looks flawless, like most ashton products, and the wrapper is very smooth and silky. Apparently the filler has been aged at least 4-5 years before rolling.

The predraw is shows a nutty characteristic, and mild tobacco flavors. Right away upon lighting, this is a very creamy, cedary cigar with a definite roasted nut flavor. For an after dinner cigar, this is way too mild for my tastes. Starting out, the body is very light and mild, but pleasantly creamy. If i was going to light another one of these up, it would probably be earlier in the day, maybe after a light lunch or even before that. The burnline on this particluar cigar has been all over the place, which is a bit on the annoying side. When i have to constantly touch up the burn on a cigar to keep it from canoeing, it takes away from the relaxing part of the cigar experience. The flavor continues to be creamy with a touch of raisin, and thats about it. Im bored with this cigar at this point. There is also a slightly unpleasant papery quality to this cigar.

I know people who love this cigar, but it really doesnt do anything for me at this point. I think i have one more left in my humidor, and i will save it for a day i plan on smoking in the morning. I do not smoke a ton of mild cigars, but when i do, i want one with enough flavor to keep me interested. If the next one of these i light up canoes like this one did, i'm going to pitch it. I cant stand a cigar that burns up one side like this througout the entire cigar. Some cigars will correct themselves when they start to burn uneven, but i had to touch this one up every 5 minutes. Here is the real kick in the ass on this one for me, these go for about 10 bucks a piece! If i am going to pay 10 bucks for a cigar, i want it to burn evenly and come through a bit more in the flavor department. If all you want in a cigar is a mild creamy flavor, then this is definitely a cigar for you if you dont mind spending 10 bucks on it. The thing is, i know quite a few other cigars where i can get a very similar flavor profile out of for half the price, without the burn issues. For Ashtons, i think ill stick with VSGs, San Cristobals, and La Aroma De Cuba Edicion Especials.

24th Birthday cigar!

2009-06-23T16:45:00.002-05:00

After a great lunch of Sushi with laurie, its time for a cigar! I always like to save a special cigar for my birthday, and this years cigar is the Cuaba 2008 Edicion Limitada. This pyramide measures in at 6.1 inches by 52 ring gauge. I am not really going to do a full review on this one, as i just want to sit back, relax and enjoy this splendid cigar! What i will tell you though is that it has that rich dark flavor i have come to exect on most limited edition cubans. There is a nuttyness, dark chocolate and a touch of spice, and is right in the medium/full bodied range.

Thankfully it doesnt show much youth to it, which a lot of young ELs do. The tobacco was aged for a minimum of 2 years before being rolled, and with about a year of humidor time on it, these are smoking very well already. The wrapper on this cigar is very oily and very inviting! There is also a nice black cherry flavor that showed up on this cigar.

Onto the drink! I got a bottle of rum i have been after for a while from my sister this past weekend, Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva. This is a very flavorful rum that seems perfect for sipping alongside your favorite cigar. The combo of aged rum and a great cigar is hard to beat.

Don Pepin Garcia My father Lancero

2009-06-15T22:09:00.003-05:00

Another lancero made by Pepin tonight! This time around its the cigar called My Father, blended by Jaime garcia for his father, Don Pepin Garcia. This has a Habano Rosado wrapper and is a Nicaraguan Puro with tobacco grown at one of the most prestigious farms in Esteli, Nicaragua. This Lancero measures in at 7.5 inches X 38 ring gauge.

This is a great looking lancero, with a flawless wrapper that has a slight reddish hue to it. This has the pigtail cap, just like the Triunfador i reviewed last week. (not a surprise considering its made by the same guys).

The predraw is very rich and clean tasting, with loads of cocoa, cedar and a bit of the typical Nicaraguan spice found in Pepin's cigars. The draw is perfect for a lancero, just the right amount of resistance.

Wow. Right away this is a stellar cigar. It starts out with a slew of complex flavors, including cocoa, roasted nuts, a bit of toffee and a slight honey like sweetness. The complexity of this cigar is impressive, with such an array of flavors that really keep your palate excited. The flavor is constantly changing, with some flavors coming out with one puff, then something else coming through a few puffs later. About 2 inches in there is a really nice cakey flavor, almost like a spice cake. A few inches after that, i got a really pleasant salted meat like flavor that really surpised me and worked well with this blend. It was nice to smoke something like this with flavors that were constantly changing and intermingling together.

What an amazing cigar! I have one of these left in a different size and i can't wait to smoke it. This is a bit more refined than the El Triunfador, with a complexity i rarely see outside of Cuban cigars these days. This cigar is very well balanced and sits right at medium bodied. These will age magnificently, but smoke great now. After smoking this and the El Triunfador last week, i am very impressed with Pepin's Lanceros. If you see these, i highly recommend picking up a few! I paid a little over 7 bucks for this cigar, and it is well worth the price. This was an online purchase though, so i got it a bit cheaper than you would probably find in a shop. I like to buy locally when i can, but wasnt able to find this particular cigar in the area. I will definitely be buying more of these.

El Triunfador Lancero

2009-06-07T19:57:00.005-05:00

This is a cigar i have been after for a while now, and finally found a shop that carries them! This lancero measures in at 7.5 inches X 38 ring gauge. This cigar is made for Pete Johnson (owner of Tatuaje) by Don Pepin Garcia (who rolls all of Petes cigars) is made up of a Nicaraguan filler and a really nice dark connecticut broadleaf wrapper. These are made in very small batches, and are blended exclusively for the lancero size. This cigar hit the market in a very sneaky fashion in September of 2008. Very few people knew about these cigars coming out, which is a rare thing in the cigar world. I like how Pete was sneaky about releasing this particular cigar, and that he chose to do it in a Lancero, a very classic size. Now, you can find them several places online and at select retailers, but who knows for how long.

Ok, onto the review! The wrapper is very dark and oily, with no imperfections at all. I like the simple brown band Pete did for these as well. The pigtail cap looks great, and brings to mind the traditional Cuban lanceros such as the Cohiba Lancero and Trinidad Fudadore that also sport this style cap. The predraw is slightly restrictive, but that is ok because a Lancero needs to be smoked very slowly, and if the draw was too open it would be easier to smoke this too fast and get it too hot, making it bitter. The prelight flavors are dark chocolate and a bit of leather.

The flavor upon lighting is more of the same from the predraw, dark chocolate, leather, and a bit of classic Nicaraguan spice. There is also a touch of a darker sweetness flavor that im guessing comes from the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. As ive said before, with a lancero, you need a great flavorful wrapper since the ratio of wrapper leaf is much higher on this size cigar. There is a nice complexity to this cigar, with loads of different flavors coming and going as you get into it. An espresso flavor joins the mix of chocolate and spice. This is a medium bodied cigar, just shy of being what i consider full bodied.

The lancero is such an elegant size, and unfortunately is not a very common cigar anymore. This cigar demands you to slow down and sip at it, and if you take your time, you will definitely be rewarded. So far this is one of the best Non Cuban lanceros i have had the pleasure of smoking.

Hats off to Pepin on rolling this lancero. This size is one of the harder cigars to roll because of its thin ring gauge. If it isnt rolled perfectly, the draw is usually tight, but all the lanceros ive had from Pepin are spot on. Overall, the El Triunfador is a great cigar. I had to drive an hour to get this cigar, and ill gladly do it again for a few more. I paid just under 9 bucks for this cigar, and it is definitely worth the price tag. The flavors are rich and complex, and the construction of this cigar is pretty much perfect. If you are a fan of the Pete/Pepin combo cigars, then you will really enjoy this one! The lancero shape isnt for everyone,but for those that havent had one, this is a great one to go out and try. This is one that might make people who think they dont like lanceros finally see the light on thin ring gauge cigars!

Ashton San Cristobal Event

2009-05-28T22:42:00.004-05:00

Tonight was the Ashton San Cristobal Event at Bull and Bear Tobacco, my favorite local shop. What a fun evening filled with a ton of cigars, great food and drinks (beer, wine, you name it)! A San Cristobal Fabuloso (Torpedo) was provided to smoke, which i did, and i also picked up 3 San Cristobal Guajiro's (6 5/8 X 46) and smoked one of those as well. They did a few different raffles, and i won a bag of Ashton cigars to cap off the night! San Cristobals are fantastic cigars, blended by Don Pepin Garcia for Ashton ,and as anyone who reads my blog knows, im a huge Pepin fan.

The La Aroma De Cuba Especial (pictured on the right) and the machine made cigar on the bottom were given to me on the side by the rep, who i talked to for at least 2 hours tonight. There was also an Ashton Maduro in the cigars i won, but i gave it to my buddy Jim who went to the event with me. Alex Merick was the Ashton rep at the event, and was an absolute pleasure to talk to. He was very down to earth and a fun guy to talk shop with, and he certainly knows his cigars!

Thanks again to the fine people at Bull and Bear for a really fun event!

Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro

2009-05-27T13:47:00.003-05:00

Quai d'Orsay is one of the lesser known Cuban brands, and is one of the few brands i haven't tried before. This is the Coronas Claro, 5.6 inches X 42 ring gauge. This brand was originally created for the French market, catering to the mild and light cigars preferred in France at the time (1973).

This is a fairly basic looking cigar with a slightly wrinkly wrapper and some splits at the foot (damage occured during shipping) with a nicely applied cap and simple mustard colored band. The predraw flavors are very light and grassy.

The flavor up front shows some grassyness, a slight tea characteristic, and a honeylike sweetness. This is definitely a mild, toasty cigar, great for early in the day. The tea and honey flavors are very pleasant. Sometimes that grassy flavor can be overwhelming in a cigar, but it really works with this mild blend. I do not smoke a lot of mild cigars, since most mild cigars tend to be a bit on the boring side. This one however, is not boring at all.

The further i get into this cigar, the more i like it! That honey sweetness is still there, with the grassyness fading away a bit and being replaced with a very tasty shortbread cookie like flavor. At the tail end of this cigar, a slight leathery flavor showed up that i really didnt expect, but definitely enjoyed.

This cigar was a pleasant surprise for me. Usually cigars marketed as mild (especially in the non-Cuban market) are very bland and a waste of time for me. The Cubans got it right with this one though. This is a light, mild cigar, and has very pleasant and intriguing flavors that definitely keep you interested throughout the smoke. This could possibly be one of the best morning cigars available. I know the thought of a cigar in the morning sounds awful to most people, but lighting this up after a nice breakfast with a cup of tea would certainly be a pleasant and relaxing start to any day.

Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo

2009-05-24T16:37:00.004-05:00

Todays review is of the Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo, measuring in at 5.5 inches by 50 ring gauge. This is the maduro version of this cigar, which is also available in a natural wrapper. This particular cigar was sent to me by a friend who has aged these for a very long time. Im not sure how long, but i would assume at least 5+ years. This is more commonly known as a PAM (Padron Anniversary Maduro) and is one of Padron's super premium cigars. This is Nicaraguan Puro with a severe box press to it. The tobacco is aged for 4 years prior to being rolled.

This is a very solid feeling cigar, which i have noticed with most Padrons. They always feel overfilled but never smoke like it. The wrapper is slightly rough to the touch but with some nice oils present, and looks very apetizing with its dark chocolate coloring. The cap looks terrible, which is another common theme with Padron cigars from my experience. The predraw flavor is of properly aged tobacco and chocolate...loads of dark chocolate.

Right from the start this is an excellent cigar, with loads of that chocolate flavor present on the predraw, and a slight sweetness that im guessing comes from the maduro wrapper. This is a very smooth cigar, and im sure having some major age on it makes this one in particular that much more smooth. The blend is superbly balanced and the burn line couldnt be any more even. The ash is a very nice white color that holds together very well.
As i get into this cigar, the flavors become richer and the body moves into the medium/full range while remaining very smooth. That chocolatey flavor has now been joined with a bit of an espresso flavor and a touch of earth. What i find really intriquing about this cigar, is that while it has that definite Nicaraguan flavor, it doesnt have the spice i find in most Nicaraguan Puros. This is by no means a bad thing, its nice to see something unique in the mix of Nicaraguan cigars i smoke.

I am drinking a Moose Drool Brown ale with this cigar, and the malty flavors of the beer go very nicely with the chocolate i am getting out of the Padron. This would go great with any full bodied beer like a stout or a porter as well, and a beer like that would probably bring out the espresso flavor in this cigar a bit more.

So, if the thought of smoking a bar of chocolate appeals to you, then go get yourself a PAM! Yes, they are on the more expensive side, retailing for around 11 bucks for this size, and like other super premiums (Opus X, VSG, etc) there is usually a bit of a mark up making these a special occasion cigar. This cigar demands your attention when smoked with its complex and smooth flavors and deserves the high marks it gets among the cigar community.

Romeo Y Julieta Short Churchill

2009-05-18T15:26:00.004-05:00

Todays review is of the Cuban Romeo Y Julieta Short Churchill, which measures in at 4.8 inches X 50 ring gauge. (basically a Robusto) I am trying to go into this review with an open mind, but to be honest, i have never been a fan of the Romeo Y Julieta line as a whole. Hopefully this one will join the few Romeo's i do enjoy!

The wrapper on this cigar is attractive with a nice amount of oils present to the touch. The aroma at cold is of clean tobacco. This is a nicely constructed cigar, with a very well placed triple cap. The predraw has a slight amount of resistance and is pretty much perfect and has more of that clean tobacco flavor with a little bit of a sweet woody flavor.

The flavor right away is of a dried fruit, sort of raisin like. That woody flavor i got before lighting is mingling around in this cigar as well. This is starting off with a really nice complexity that is very intriguing. There is a smoothness to this cigar that i didnt expect,a nice creamy flavor that sort of reminds me of an English Breakfast tea with plenty of milk.
This is a nice slow smoking cigar, with really consistent and complex flavors. At the halfway point, i would put this down as being on the lower end of the medium bodied spectrum. The creamyness is still there, along with a citrus zest flavor joining in with the dried fruit flavor.
Towards the end of this cigar, the flavors continues to evolve and darken up a bit, but still remain smooth and creamy. The dried fruit flavor has come back in full force and the citrus zest has disappeared and been replaced by a bit of leather and just a touch of coffee on the finish.

Overall, i really enjoyed this cigar! This joins the Cazadores as another Romeo y Julieta that i would recommend, which is odd because the Cazadores is known as a rustic, spicey knock you on your ass cigar, and this is quite the opposite with its complex and creamy flavors. To me, this is a great late afternoon cigar.

sunday at the shop

2009-05-17T17:21:00.002-05:00

I didnt get a chance to do any reviews this week due to a head cold, so hopefully soon i will have a new review up! I was finally over my cold today, so i decided to drive to Bull and Bear Tobacco Shop and hang out for the afternoon. I smoked one of my favorite cigars, the Tatuaje Cojonu 03, followed by an Ashton San Cristobal Supremo. Both of these are blended by Don Pepin Garcia, and by this point everyone who reads my blog knows i am a huge fan of. Overall it was a great day full of good conversation and great cigars!

Check back in the next day or 3 for my next review (still not sure what ill be reviewing,but hopefully something tasty!)

Nestor Miranda Special Selection Coffee Break

2009-05-07T18:39:00.004-05:00

Here we go with yet another cigar blended by master blender, Don Pepin Garcia. This time hes blending for Nestor Miranda, maker of Don Lino cigars. I couldnt really find a lot of info on this cigar, other than its a Nicaraguan puro. This is the "coffee break" size, 4.5 inches by ring gauge. This isnt the prettiest cigar to look at, with a very rustic feel to it. The wrapper is nicely applied, but has a very large ugly vein up one side.

The predraw taste is fairly mild and cedary and the draw is just right. The first few draws show a medium bodied toasty flavor with a really tasty fruit flavor (a bit like black cherry). There isnt as much spice as i expected with this cigar being from Don Pepin, but its nice to see him changing it up between different lines hes blending for. There is a very toasted woody flavor present as well. This is a very approachable cigar so far with soft creamy flavors.

At the halfway point this cigar's flavor has gone a bit south. It has gotten a little harsh flavorwise though, and to be honest, a little boring. Also, there is a bit of tar forming at the head which makes for a nasty bitter flavor, but again, like the last cigar i reviewed, i cut a bit more off the cigar and it was fine.

Overall, this definitely wasnt a favorite. I like a ton of Pepin's cigars, but this isnt one of them. Would i smoke it again? probably not.

Por Larranaga Belicoso Extra Asia Pacifico Regional Edition

2009-05-03T17:29:00.002-05:00

Todays review is the Cuban Por Larranaga Belicoso Extra 2008 Regional Edition from Asia Pacific. Por Larranaga is a very overlooked Cuban brand that i havent smoked too many of actually. The brand is best known for the Petite Corona, which is a very tasty little cigar! This cigar measures in at 5.5 inches X 52 ring gauge.

The wrapper has a slightly uneven coloring to it, and is nice and oily. It feels a little soft, but not squishy. It is probably a little on the wet side and should have been dry boxed for a day, but i didnt think about it yesterday so oh well. The cap isnt the prettiest, and is a little sloppy, but held together fine. The bunching at the foot shows a very nicely rolled cigar.

The predraw is a little loose, but not a wind tunnel, and shows nice flavors of citrus, caramel, and a little bit of earthyness. Starting off this is a medium bodied cigar and a bit of a slow starter. The dominant flavors are a creamy caramel and citrus zest with a tiny amount of earthy flavor as well. The burn wasnt as even as i would have liked, which is probably due to a combination of the cigar being slightly wet and the breeze out on my balcony.

At the halfway point i touched up the burn a bit which stayed pretty even after that. A cinnamon like spice flavor showed up with the citrus and was a great adition to the flavor profile. Unfortunately, a bit of gooey tar showed up at the head of the cigar at this point, but a little trim with my Palio cutter got rid of that and it didnt show up again thankfully. In the final third of this smoke, a really pleasant graham cracker like flavor presented itself, with the citrus notes toning down quite a bit. The last inch or so became a bit acrid, probably due to the looser draw and youth of this particular cigar.

I enjoyed this cigar with a Fat Tire Amber Ale, but in the future i think a Hefeweizen would do really well this blend and would really make the citrus flavors pop even more.

Overall, i enjoyed this cigar, but i think if i had more of them i would let them sit for at least another year. More age would probably help round out the flavors towards the end of the smoke and due away with the harshness of the final third of this cigar. I love the belicoso vitola so it was nice to see the Por Larranaga blend in this size. If you are a fan of the Por Larranaga flavor profile, i think you would enjoy this cigar immensely, especially with another year or 2 on it. These have a ton of potential to become a very good cigar!

Arturo Fuente Anejo no.50

2009-04-30T17:24:00.002-05:00

Todays cigar is one of the more rare non Cuban cigars on the market. The Anejo is right up there with the Opus X as far as hard to get cigars, and is usually released twice a year, fathers day and Christmas. This cigar has a Dominican binder and filler, with a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper that is aged in Cognac barrels, giving the wrapper a very distinctive flavor. The cigar is enveloped in a cedar sheath, which tends to add a bit more cedar flavor to the cigar, and just looks nice. The wrapper is jet black, with plenty of oils and really toothy.
The predraw flavor is rich and sweet and definitely tastes like nicely aged tobacco. The initial flavors are rich, much like the predraw, with cedar, dark chocolate, and a very nice sweetness, almost like molasses. The woody sweetness is probably from the wrapper leaf aging in Cognac barrels. This is starting out as a nice medium bodied cigar, and very smooth. The smoke is silky and really coats the palate with its rich sweet flavors. The ash is really hanging on, showing how nicely this cigar is constructed. The burn line is very even, which is always a plus. This is a very consistent cigar flavorwise, remaining very rich and sweet, but not overly sweet. This cigar isnt nearly as strong as the Opus X, its a solid medium bodied smoke with a very different flavor profile. Ive heard that it has a very similar blend to the Opus, but im certainly not tasting it. I think that the wrapper is what really makes this cigar unique and is the main contributor to the rich flavor profile.

Much like the Opus X, there is a lot of hype around the Anejo line. They are made and released very seldomly, which really drives up the price and collectability aspect for this cigar. The retail cost for this cigars is around $8, but the cheapest ive seen them is for around $15, and for as much as $35 a piece. Ive smoked a few Anejos before, and enjoyed them all, but i think if i am going to buy a high end Fuente product, its going to be an Opus X. I find the Opus spicier and more intriguing flavorwise. The Anejo is a very tasty cigar, but personally i prefer more spice over sweetness. If you are a fan of maduro wrappers and Dominican Tobacco, then the Anejo is a must try, especially if you can find them for a reasonable price. Are they worth the high price tags that most shops sell them for? Thats a personal decision ,but for me, there are other cigars i would buy if im going to spend over $10 bucks per cigar.

Im drinking a Fat Tire ale with this cigar, but i think next time i would go with something like a Mojito. The fresh sweetness of the mojito would work really well the the burnt sweetness of this cigar. Sometimes a sweet cigar needs something to balance out the sweetness, and having a sweet drink like a Mojito seems like it would be too much sugar, but its a different kind of sweetness. This cigar has a very dark and rich sweet flavor, like molasses, kind of burnt. A Mojito has the very bright minty sweetness and tangyness of the lime and for me, would work really great with this kind of cigar.

Bolivar Gold Medal

2009-04-26T18:30:00.004-05:00

It finally stopped raining today, so i decided to do this review out on the deck. The Bolivar Gold Medal is a Lonsdale and measures in at 6.5 inches x 42 ring gauge, and is definitely a favorite size of mine. The presentation is really nice, with the gold foil and La Casa Del Habano band under the classic bolivar band. The wrapper is very supple and oily, with a nice reddish hue. It was applied with great care and topped with the triple cap you should see on all Cubans. These come in boxes of 10 for about $130 bucks.

The draw on this cigar is impeccable, with a very earthy flavor that i have come to expect and love of Bolivars. There is also a slight cocoa flavor on the lips, but its very subtle.
The first third of this cigar is classic Bolivar, with a dank, earthy flavor profile that is very enjoyable. This is a creamy cigar that really coats the palate. This had a slightly youthful characteristic, but was still very enjoyable. The burn is a little uneven, but that could be due to the breeze out here on the deck.

The second third of this cigar still had that great earthyness, but with the cocoa flavor showing itself a bit more with a bit of leather in there as well. This cigar really settled down and became very enjoyable in this second third. There is also a slight toasted bread flavor that is very nice! The burn evened out nicely. This is a solid medium bodied cigar at this point.

The final third of this cigar was very rich with a long finish. A bit of cedar flavor showed up towards the end of this cigar and the body moved into the medium/ full range.

Overall, i loved this cigar, it just puts a smile on my face! The size really worked with the Bolivar flavor profile and the presentation is one of the nicest out there. Any fan of Cuban Bolivars should enjoy this cigar and its dank earthy qualities. While i enjoyed this cigar now, i can see where some would want at least another year or 2 of age on it. This will definitely get even better the longer its in your humidor.

Illusione ECCJ

2009-04-23T16:08:00.002-05:00

Todays cigar is the Illusione ECCJ. This cigar was commissioned by European Cigar Cult Journal to commerorate their 15th anniversary. The blend is supposed to be different from the normal Illusione line, with a corojo wrapper over a blend supposedly tempered for the European palate. They were released in boxes of 15 in very limited quantities, and luckily i have a friend who picked up a box and sent me one to try! The cigar is a corona gorda, measuring in at 5 5/8 X 46 ring gauge.

You can tell that they took their time when rolling these, the construction and wrapper are flawless. It is topped off with a triple cap, which more and more Non Cuban companies are using now. This shows that extra care was taken when rolling these because this style of cap takes a bit more skill and time.

The predraw on this has a ton of flavor even before lighting of nicely aged Nicaraguan tobacco. The first few draws after lighting show a very dense, woody flavor with a slight bit of leather in there as well. The finish is very crisp and clean. I reviewed the regular Illusione corona gorda back in December and really enjoyed it, and this has similarities but you can tell it is definitely its own blend. This cigar has a slightly bitter characteristic to it that i have found in most Illusiones. It is not a bad bitter flavor, just different.
As i get further into this cigar, the bitterness is toned down a bit with a little sweetness showing up to balance out the bitterness. I passed a bit of smoke through my sinuses (which i dont enjoy doing that much) and was greeted with a bit of pepper i wasnt getting before. This is a solid medium body cigar with a very full complex flavor. Im thinking i might have to start keeping some more Illusiones in my humidor, i really enjoy Dion's cigars.

Overall i would definitely recommend this cigar, and if you can actually find them, buy them! These are not going to be easy to come by so if you get the chance i would jump on it. Anyone who enjoys a full flavored Nicaraguan cigar will not be disappointed with anything by Illusione.

On a side note, i noticed the guys over at Stogie review (one of the larger review blogs out there) did a review on this cigar recently to check it out if you want to here what someone else has to say about this cigar! http://www.stogiereview.com/2009/04/19/illusione-eccj/

Trinidad Coloniales

2009-04-19T17:24:00.004-05:00

Todays review is a cigar i haven't had before, the Cuban Trinidad Coloniales. This is a 5.2inch x 44 ring gauge cigar, topped off with Trinidad's signature pigtail cap. The wrapper on this cigar is pretty much perfect, with no blemishes and no large veins. This is how a Cuban wrapper should look!

The predraw flavor on this cigar is very toasty and light. You can tell right away that this is going to be a great cigar and is made with some of the finest tobaccos Cuba has to offer. Right away after lighting, you get a very clean and smooth flavor with that very distinctive Cuban twang to it. This is a balanced cigar, no doubt about it. This is not a knock you on your ass type cigar, but one that is a bit more delicate and refined with a nice complexity to the flavor. This cigar has a nice woody flavor with a bit of cocoa and a very light creamy coffee bean aspect to it as well. I got this cigar from a friend of mine so im not certain to the box date, but im guessing early 08 or even late 07. It has a slightly young taste to it, but is not offputting. I think with a year or so more age on it that this cigar would be even better. This is a solid medium bodied cigar that will go great with a nice aged rum, which is what i went and poured myself a small glass of halfway into this cigar! This cigar remained very consistent and creamy with a perfect burn.

Trinidad is one of Cuba's pricier cigars, right up there with Cohiba. This cigar goes for about $12, so it is a bit on the pricey side. This to me is a connoisseurs cigar with its complex flavors and creamyness. With the smaller size, you need to take your time with this cigar to really enjoy the flavors and to make sure it doesnt burn too hot. That being said, i think that any cigar smoker would absolutely enjoy this cigar. These have terrific aging potential. What better way to unwind after a busy week than with a great cigar and a glass of rum while watching it rain!

Opus X xXx (Power Ranger)

2009-04-05T19:47:00.004-05:00

Tonights smoke is the elusive Fuente Fuente Opus X. This is marketed as (and is) a cigar that isnt easy to get, at least for a reasonable price. The Opus X is Arturo Fuente's super premium line of cigars and are a very sought after cigar. They are a Dominican Puro and showcase a stellar Rosado wrapper, supposedly the first wrapper successfully grown in the Dominican Republic. The size im smoking is called the xXx, but is more commonly known as the "Power Ranger" due to its repuation of being a complete ass kicker of a cigar in a small package. It measures in at 4.625 x 49. Im not sure the age of this cigar as it was a gift, but i think it has at least 3 years of age on it.

The unlit aroma on this cigar is powerful and full of spice and cedar. The wrapper is very oily and absolutely flawless. Upon lighting, the palate is bombarded with loads of rich spices, cinnamon and leather, tons of leather. The Opus X has a very unique flavor profile, very rich but very well balanced. I think these do very well with a few years age on them to round out the flavors. These can be a little overwhelming when young, and tend to get a bit smoother as they age. This is a solid full bodied cigar right from the start and not for beginners. The further i get into this cigar, the more developed the flavors get. Notes of cedar and almost a sweet spice cake are present at the halfway point. The strength of these tends to sneak up on you as well. This cigar is an end of the night smoke to have after a big meal with your favorite spirit. I am drinking a glass of Pyrat XO Rum, and the sweetness of the rum really compliments the sweet spice characteristic of the Opus X.

The Opus X has a lot of hype behind it, and for some smoking one is a bit of a status symbol. Since they are made in small batches and shipped to stores very sparingly, there tends to be quite the mark up on this line. This cigar retails for $9.50, but ive seen them for sale for more than $30 bucks a stick. Most shops that sell Opus have a limit to what you can buy, usually 2 cigars per visit. I think for some people, to be seen smoking an Opus X shows that they are doing very well and have great taste. Yeah, thats fine but thats not why i smoke cigars! I sure as hell am not going to spend 30 bucks for one of these. If i can get them for around the retail price ill pick them up.. That being said, this is a special cigar that is worth buying if you can find them for a reasonable price (for these, i would say anything under about $15 is reasonable due to how hard they are to get).

Overall, the Fuente Opus X Power Ranger is an excellent cigar, but certainly not an everyday type smoke. This is a special occasion cigar for me (in this case the special occasion IS smoking this cigar!) and one that i always enjoy and am never disappointed with.

Oliva V Maduro Especial

2009-04-02T15:07:00.005-05:00

Today i am smoking the Oliva V Maduro Especial Torpedo. This is the only size of the V Maduro that has been released, and it has been released in very small numbers. I picked this one up a few weeks ago at my local shop, and was really surprised to see that they still had them, as most shops do not. This cigar measures in at 6.5 inches x 52 ring gauge. The wrapper is a Connecticut broadleaf with a Nicaraguan binder and filler. The head had some cracks in the wrapper, but i think i was able to cut off enough (actually more than i normally cut off of a torpedo) that the crack wont affect how this cigar smokes.

The predraw is strong, even stronger than the normal V line that i smoke very frequently. Upon lighting, i am greeted with crisp, strong flavors of earth, dark chocolate and a bit of peppery spice on the palate. Mixed in with the bitter chocolate is a really dark coffee flavor. This is starting out as a medium bodied cigar, but i have a feeling that it is going to be in the full bodied range the further i get into it. This tastes similar to the regular Oliva V line, with the dominant flavors being dark chocolate and coffee, but with a slightly richer characteristic to it.

As you can see by the picture, the Maduro wrapper compared to the regular V is just slightly darker, as a maduro should be. The regular line already has a fairly dark wrapper so the maduro doesnt look that much darker, but you can certainly taste the difference. The Maduro is the one on the bottom.

As i get into this cigar, it does increase to the full bodied range as i suspected it would. The pepper is still there a bit, but no where nearly as up front as it is in the normal V line. There is slight creamyness to this cigar that works nicely with the coffee flavors. This is the 2nd or 3rd one of these I've had, and they seem like a consistent cigar. As i pass the halfway point of this cigar, the flavors remain consistent and very pleasant, with a bit of leather showing its face within the flavor profile. This is a very rich cigar that should be enjoyed after a big meal and will stand up to just about whatever you want to drink with it, whether its a beer or a cup of coffee.

This cigar goes for around $8.50, so a bit more expensive than the regular line. I assume it is a bit pricier because of the limited number made, which is usually the case with cigars like this. Is it worth the extra money? I would probably go with the regular V line over this, but its a nice change and worth trying if you are a fan of full bodied Nicaraguan cigars. I'm sure if i come across these again ill pick up one to have on hand since they aren't easy to come by. This is another great cigar by Oliva and if you enjoy their cigars you will not be disappointed with this line.

La Riqueza no.3

2009-03-27T12:37:00.004-05:00

This is another cigar blended by Don Pepin Garcia for Pete Johnson's company Tatuaje. La Riqueza (the Wealth in Spanish) is a box pressed cigar with a Nicaraguan binder and filler, with a really dark Connecticut Broadleaf Wrapper. The no.3 is the Corona Gorda, measuring in at 5 5/8 x 46 ring. What i love about Don Pepin's cigars, is he puts a date stamp on the bottom of the box so you know when they were rolled. He's one of the few, or maybe even the only one outside of Cuba to date his boxes. This box is from June 2008, so they are a little young, but coming along nicely.

This wrapper isnt the prettiest, and feels a little dry to the touch, but it smells great. I think the best word for the way this cigar looks is rustic. The prelight draw has a very clean tobacco taste with a little leather, and just the right amount of resistance.

The first few draws are very in your face with a bit of earthy spice and a ton of leather. The further i get into this cigar, the more complex the flavors get. At the halfway point there is a slight sweetness mixed in with the spicey leather flavors and it really works nicely.
This is a solid medium bodied cigar with a very even burn. The last one of these out of this box that i smoked burned horribly, thankfully this one isnt hopefully none of the others will be as well.

This cigar goes for about $196 a box, or roughly $7.80 a piece. I think overall i prefer the Brown Label Tatuaje when it comes to Pete Johnsons cigars, but this one is definitely a must try and one ill keep around. This is a great cigar now, but will continue to get even better with more time in a humidor.

Don Pepin Blue Label Generosos

2009-03-18T12:48:00.004-05:00

Yet another Don Pepin Garcia cigar up for review this week! This time its his blue label 6 inch x 50 ring gauge Toro called the Generosos. I havent smoked nearly as many of the blue label as i have of the Black. This cigar looks very nicely constructed, and is topped off with Pepin's cuban style triple cap. This is another Nicaraguan Puro, with a Corojo wrapper, Criollo binder and filler. This cigar is rolled either in Pepin's factory in Miami, or at his factory in Nicaragua.

The aroma of this cigar unlit is very powerful and spicey with a little cocoa. It sort of tingles the nose. The draw is a little on the loose side, with lots of cocoa powder taste to it. I hope the loose draw doesnt affect the burn.

Right away i can tell im smoking another Pepin cigar, just from the flavor profile. There is definitely Pepin's trademark spice right up front, with some leather, cocoa and some vanilla bean in the background that is very pleasant. This is not a cigar for beginners in my opinion. It is medium to full bodied with a very spicey and full flavor that might be a turn off for someone new to cigars.

As i get a little further into this cigar, the spice really backs down, with a nice cedary characteristic becoming the dominant flavor. This flavor profile remained consistent throughout the rest of this cigar. Overall this was an enjoyable cigar, but i think i like the Black Label more.

I got a pipe!

2009-03-14T13:04:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine sent me a Meerschaum pipe the other day! I dont have much experience with pipes, but its pretty damn cool! Im smoking it for the first time right now, an english blend called Arcadia and it has a very unique flavor i havent ever tasted in tobacco before. This blend is really smooth with no bite to it at all. I dont see myself replacing cigars with a pipe, but this is a nice change of pace and im sure i will light it up every now and then!

This is the front face of the pipe:

San Cristobal De La Habana La Fuerza

2009-03-11T12:53:00.003-05:00

The Cuban brand San Cristobal De La Habana is one that i think is often overlooked. The La Fuerza is a 5.6 inch by 50 ring gauge cigar. SCDLH has been a brand i have always loved that rarely disappoints.

Visually this is a great looking cigar, very nice wrapper with a perfectly applied triple cap. The predraw has a slightly cocoa flavor.

This cigar is great right from the start. There is a lot of bitter chocolate and a creamyness to the flavor. There is a slight spiceyness to this cigar, but it is on the subtle side. At the halfway point i am tasting something i can't quite pin down but sort of reminds me of brown sugar. Molasses maybe? There is also a slight black tea flavor the further i get into this cigar. Cuban cigars tend to me harder to review due to their complexity. I would put this as a solid medium bodied cigar with very smooth, complex flavors. I recommend this cigar to any Cuban cigar fan looking for something off the beaten path.

If things work out, look for another review later on this week.

Oliva Master Blend III

2009-03-06T12:54:00.003-06:00

The Master Blends III is Oliva's top of the line cigar. This is the third Master blends edition (obviously by the name you knew that) and is a limited series. These have a very elaborate band that makes you think you are in for a treat when you see it in your humidor. Sometimes when i see an elaborate band like this, i think that a company is trying to hard to get your attention with flashy packaging, but that is not the case with this cigar. This cigar is composed of a Nicaraguan Ligero filler, Nicaraguan Habano Binder, and a Broadleaf Sun Grown wrapper. The wrapper on this is very nice and oily, with plenty of tooth that i usually see on a sungrown wrapper. This is a flat boxpressed cigar, meaning that it has a rectangular like shape to it instead of being round. The one im smoking is the Double Robusto size, 5 inches by 54 ring gauge.

The draw is fantastic, with just the right amount of resistance. Oliva is one company i seldom find a plugged cigar with. Flavorwise, this is definitely lighter than the Oliva V, one of the staples in my humidor. It is however a little more complex and less in your face than the V, which is a nice change of pace. This has loads of great toasted tobacco flavor with a light dusting of cinnamon and brown sugar. Its creamy and soft, but bold at the same time. There is also a light cedar flavor i am picking up at the halfway point on this cigar, as well as some nice leathery notes. The ash on this cigar is firm and very white, which looks fantastic next to the dark wrapper. This cigar reminds me of the smell of a cigar shop, cedar from the humidors and that rich aroma in the air from the customers who are smoking. This cigar goes for around $10, and is worth the price of admission. This is a medium bodied, full flavored complex cigar that will not dissappoint. You can tell that great care went into the blend and production of this cigar. I dont know many cigar smokers that wouldnt enjoy this line. The Oliva V is still my favorite of all the Oliva cigars, but this one is not to be overlooked. This is not an everday cigar, mostly because of the price point, but i will definitely reach for this when looking for a premium Nicaraguan cigar, that is if i can find them in a shop. These are a limited production cigar so they arent as easy to find as some of the other Oliva lines.

The last time i had this cigar, i was sitting down with David Wagner, the executive sales manager for Oliva Cigars for an iterview to become a sales rep for Oliva. At the time i enjoyed the cigar, but wasnt really focusing on it as i had other things on my mind! It was a very great experience to smoke with some of the people behind this cigar, and even though i did not get hired for the position, i continue to support and promote Oliva Cigars because i really love their products. I love having a memory behind a particular cigar, and sitting in that huge leather chair with the guys from Oliva while smoking it is definitely the one that will always come to mind whenever i light up this cigar.

La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial

2009-02-23T12:52:00.003-06:00

This cigar is another one blended by Don Pepin Garcia for Ashton. The one i'm reviewing is the Robusto size, measuring in at just under 5 inches by 48 ring gauge. This cigar is composed of a Nicaraguan Binder and filler, with an oily Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper. This cigar is as nicely made as any of the other Pepin cigars and sports the triple cap in traditional Cuban style that Pepin uses. The unlit aroma is powerful and tingles my nose with that very nice Nicaraguan spicey smell.
The predraw is very nice with a slight cinnamon and cedar flavor on the lips.

Upon lighting, the flavors that jump out at me are pretty much what i noted on the predraw, cinnamon and cedar. There is spiceyness i have come to expect with Pepins blends, and it is missing on this cigar. This isnt a problem, its nice to see him changing it up a bit. As i get further into this cigar, the flavor remains consistent with a toasty and earthy flavor showing up a bit. Curiously, this is marketed as a spicey medium to full bodied cigar, and im definitely not getting that. Towards the end i am seeing signs of youth on the palate with a slightly green taste. This taste isnt enough to make me put the cigar down, but shows me that a a few more months in the humidor would benefit this cigar.

This is turning out to be a great after lunch cigar for me, medium bodied and very approachable. It isnt overly complex but definitely not boring. I wouldnt smoke this after a heavy meal or with a strong beer or liquor. Im having Pepsi with it this round and it works pretty well, but for drink pairings, i would love to smoke this with sweet iced tea. I can see someone with an experienced palate enjoying this cigar as much as someone relatively new to cigars. These go for around 6 bucks a piece, which isnt bad considering its sold by Ashton. To me, this isnt a typical Pepin cigar, but its worth trying if you enjoy his blends, just dont expect his spicey profile.

H. Upmann Mag 50

2009-02-06T13:02:00.004-06:00

I was holding onto this cigar until i got a new job, but i think its going to be a while and im not that patient. This is the new H. Upmann Magnum 50. This cigar was originally released in 2005as an Edition Limitada, but has been re released in 2008 as a regular production smoke.
This is a 6.3 inch by 50 ring gauge cigar, which is definitely a favorite size for me. Its a large cigar but doesnt have a ridiculous ring gauge. I love the presentation of this cigar as well. The really nice Upmann band with the 2nd band labeling it as a Magnum 50 has a nice bold look to it.

This is a beautiful cigar that ive really been looking forward to. Construction and draw are perfect, with a really nice clean predraw flavor of very good tobacco and a slight sweetness. Right from the start you know you are smoking a Cuban H. Upmann. There is this slight earthyness with a really nice toasty flavor. This thing doesnt mess around, it starts off right away with an amazing flavor, which i love in a cigar. There is also a slight raisin/dried fruit sweetness that is really enjoyable. The smoke is smooth and velvety on the palate, i cant get enough of this cigar!

With this being from 2008, i would expect it to be showing signs of youth, with grassyness and not a ton of complexity, but that is dead wrong. There is absolutely no bitterness or signs of youth at all. This cigar is ready to be smoked now, or layed down for 10 years to evolve into something even more amazing. I think some of the more subtle flavors might show up after a few years of humidor time, but this isnt one that i feel like i am wasting by smoking it in its youth. I havent tried a lot of other cigars with 2008 box dates, and i hope this is a trend for Cuban cigars right now. You dont need a special occasion to light one of these up, this cigar IS the special occasion!

At the halfway point in this cigar there is a very subtle spice note on the finish and some of that dried fruit has died down but shows up on the palate occasionally. I read a review on this cigar a while back that said this cigar becomes a bit darker as you get into it, and i can really see what they meant. I am still really surprised at the complexity this cigar is showing already, and the further i get into it the more i am completely entralled with the depth of this smoke. The body is just above medium and very full flavored. I dont have any negative things to say about this cigar. It is on the pricey side, but if you decide to spend the money on a box you wont regret it. What a treat.

No Such Luck

2009-02-05T17:12:00.003-06:00

As some of you know, over the last 4 or 5 months, i have been trying to take my cigar hobby to a new level, by actually entering into the industry. I contacted many cigar companies about becoming a rep (salesmen) for their brands, and actually went to 2 different interviews with 2 amazing companies! This would be an absolute dream job for me, i would get to visit different shops in the neighboring states, promoting the brand, setting up cigar tastings and things of that nature.

My first interview was with Alec Bradley cigars, and i think it was a fantastic interview. It was very friendly and more like sitting down with a fellow cigar lover to discuss the job and the industry. My second interview was with Oliva Cigars, and was definitely a more professional interview. The nice thing about the Oliva interview was that it was in a cigar lounge and i got to smoke their cigars during the interview, which made it very comfortable. The Oliva interview was a bit more intimidating, as there were two people conducting the interview and many people interviewing for the position. I left both of the interviews very happy with how i answered the questions and how i presented myself.

I found out before the holidays that Oliva hired someone else for the position, and yes, i was bummed. Yesterday i found out that Alec Bradley was very happy with me as a candidate for the job and liked what i had to offer, but with the struggling economy it turned out that they couldnt pull the trigger on hiring someone new at the current time. Needless to say this was hard news to get, but i understand with everything going in the business world today. At least it sounds like i would have gotten the job if they could actually hire somebody for it.

It looks like i will not be entering the world of cigars on a business level, unless something changes and i get a phone call from Alec Bradley in the next few months (im not holding my breath). Ive exhausted my search for a rep job and i guess its time to move onto something new. I would have loved to work for either of these companies, both would have been very similar jobs doing something i love, but i guess it just wasnt in my cards.

2008 Bolivar RE Asia Pacific

2009-01-28T12:48:00.000-06:00

Today is my 4 year anniversary with Laurie, and to mark the occasion im smoking the 2008 Bolivar Regional Selection from Asia Pacific for 2008 called the Short Bolivar. This is a short robusto, measuring in at 4.3 inches by 52 ring gauge. Some are calling this the Bolivar Fat Boy, and i can see why. The wrapper is slightly veiny and seems a little overstreatched, but still very nicely constructed.
The draw is very loose, which im hoping doesnt make this cigar burn too hot.
Wow, this thing opens with loads of the classic Bolivar earthyness, leather and a touch of spice. I can tell that i will have to smoke this cigar slow to keep it from getting too hot with a draw this loose.
Regional release cigars are commissioned by different distributors across the world specificially made to only be for sale in that region. Ive had the chance to smoke a fair amount of these releases thanks to some of my cigar friends.

This is not one of my favorite sizes of cigars, but i can see where some would like it. The flavors started out very nice, but have become quite muted in the second 3rd. I hope the flavors return as i get further into this cigar.
As i continued to smoke this cigar, the flavor returned a bit towards the last 3rd, with a bit of creamyness with it. That core of earthyness i expect in a Bolivar is still there, but not as up front as it was at the start.

Overall, this was an ok cigar, but didnt wow me. I think if the draw had been a bit firmer it would have allowed for a bit more flavor developement, but it burned a bit hot and i think some of the flavors were lost because of this. Its hard to really judge this cigar though because it is very young. I think these could benefit with some time in the humidor, but if that draw is loose in every one of these, then i dont know what these will turn into, if anything. If you, like me, want to try the regional editions and most new cigars out there, then give it a shot, just know that you may encounted a very fast burning cigar with a loose draw. I really like Bolivars and am definitely glad i tried this cigar..
A big thank you goes out to my buddy Dale for this cigar, thanks for the chance to try it!

Cohiba Robusto

2009-01-20T15:42:00.000-06:00

Inauguration day! Today im celebrating not only Barack Obama taking office,but Bush being gone! To mark the occasion i am smoking a very classic cigar, a Cuban Cohiba Robusto. When most people think of a Cuban, Cohiba is the name that comes to mind. Just seeing this cigar always brings a huge smile to my face because i know im in for a treat. This marca is definitely on the pricey side, but you are getting some of the finest tobacco Cuba has to offer. If i remember correctly, the going price is about 15 bucks a piece on these. I havent had this cigar in a while now, and was fortunate to get it from a friend of mine on blowinsmoke. This is from a June of 06 box and he told me this was not an easy cigar to let go of, haha. A small glass of Pyrat XO rum will be paired with this cigar, which is a fantastic match to the Cohiba flavors.

The wrapper on this cigar is slightly veiny, but still beautiful. The construction and draw are perfect. The smell at cold is fantastic and has a cedary and grassy aroma that i expect on a Cohiba.

Onto the flavor. wow....i dont need to say anymore but i will. This cigar is exactly what i want when i light up a Cohiba. Cohibas show this grassy characteristic that you dont see in any other brand. There is also cedar, coffee, leather, a honey like sweetness (not overpowering at all, very subtle) and almost a dried fruit character as well. I recently read another review on this cigar and they described the dried fruit characteristic as kind of an apricot/peach like flavor and id have to agree. The grassy and cedar flavor are the dominant flavors for this cigar in my opinion. This is a very complex cigar, with such a variety of flavors on the palate that your never bored with it at all. This cigar demands your full attention during the entirety of it. When you light up a Cohiba Robusto, you shouldnt be doing anything else besides just sitting back and loving every inch of it.
The smell of this cigar is intoxicating. If i shut my eyes i can just imagine sitting on a balcony in Havana, smoking this cigar with a glass of Cuban rum as the blue smoke floats around me.
This cigar has tremendous aging potential, and someday i hope to be able to buy these by the box and hide them in my humidor for a few years.

Unfortunately, Cohibas are the most counterfited Cuban, so be very wary of where you are getting yours. If you can get the real deal though, they are heaven.

Sushi!

2009-01-17T18:26:00.001-06:00

This post is for my Aunt Suzi, a huge lover of sushi and all things fish, especially raw! I went and picked up some Nigiri and a snowcrab roll with tempura flakes on top for dinner tonight. Yum!
The place in town has a decent selection at a fairly decent price. My only complaint is that i ordered the combo of 1o piecesof nigiri, and they wont let you choose what you want, its the chefs choice. I understand that people like chefs choice selections, and i do too, but there were some specific pieces i wanted and didnt have that option. If i bought it all seperately its more expensive, but it guess you have to pay more if you want to choose what youll be eating. I wished they had put some Unagi in with the selction, maybe next time.

La Riqueza

2009-01-14T13:27:00.000-06:00

These just arrived yesterday!

My christmas money usually goes towards a box of cigars, this year it was the La Riqueza no.3. This is one of Pete Johnsons cigars, the owner of Tatuaje. This is another fantastic cigar rolled and blended by Don Pepin Garcia for Pete. This cigar has a Nicaraguan filler and binder, with a very nice Natural Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. La Riqueza means "The Wealth" in Spanish. I havent smoked one from this box yet, ill give them another few days rest in my humidor before i light one up. I smoked my first of this blend this summer in Washington that i got from a shop at Pike Place Market.

The box i bought are corona gordas, a traditional cuban size of 5 5/8 inch by 46 ring gauge. They are a box pressed cigar, which means they are packed in the box fairly wet and take on a fairly square shape. This is a medium/full bodied cigar and very full flavored. I cant wait to start smoking them!