Thursday, March 31, 2011

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Nub Maduro 460

Delicious smoke.  Excellent construction, beautiful and dark wrapper.  I was thinking this would be spicy, this the only Nub I hadn't tried thusfar.  Surprisingly, it is bold, yet smooth.  Notes of nutmeg and cinnamon.  I am really pleased going into the 2nd third.



This was a great smoke, and could very well be my favorite Nub.  It was medium strength at its strongest, yet the flavor combination was really something special. 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Recommendations

If I had to choose a small handful of cigars that I highly recommend at this point in time, here they are:

  • Oliva Master Blends III
  • EP Carrillo 
  • My Father by Don Pepin Garcia
  • La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor
  • Illusione MJ12
  • Oliva Serie V

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Tatuaje 7th Reserve

Tight draw.  Canoeing. Toasted coconut, mild black pepper..

Short review, I know.  This one was better than the last, which was so tight I couldn't even hope to provide a review of any substance.  It was still tight enough to discourage me from buying more anytime soon, although I recognize that both sticks I tried came from the same tobacconist.

Many people swear up and down that this cigar is amazing, but to me it wasn't anything special.  Personally, I liked the Havana VI better.  Not much more to say here.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Brick House Mighty Mighty


 
Wow!  This stick is huge, but sadly it wasn't very good.  I've smoked some robusto sizes which were fine, with the exception of some annoying veins that protruded above the band, but this cigar swelled and split every step of the way.  I was careful not to smoke too fast, but it didn't seem to make a bit of difference.  I was smoking it at a poker tourney, and I got a few chuckles, first at the size of the thing, and secondly because it looked like I fell for the old "exploding cigar" trick.  Sadly, I put up with it through the first 2/3, and subsequently dropped it in the ashtray in favor of an Oliva Master Blends III (which was fantastic).

You win some and you lose some.  Oh well.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Don Diego Coronas Major 5-1/2 X 42

Gifted to me about a month ago, and it's been in the humidor until today.  Off to a mild start.  Wrapper started to unravel before I even cut it.

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Flavor: Mild to Medium
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Brazil 

Mild tobacco flavor, without any complexity.  Burn line was a little jagged; nothing a touch-up or two couldn't fix.  I see this cigar as being a morning smoke.  Nothing exciting here, but not bad or anything.  Because of the aluminum tube presentation, it would be a decent gift for a beginner or inexperienced smoker. 


I think this was purchased in a tobacco section of a grocery store, so the construction issues may have to do with improper storage.  Who knows...but I had 20-30 minutes to kill before dinner, and this did the job.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Rocky Patel Edge Sumatra (torpedo) 6 X 52

For whatever reason, I wasn't expecting this cigar to be as smooth and medium-bodied.  Fortunately, it was both.  The Sumatra wrapper was a little oily, and it possessed moderate, but not protruding veins.  The flavor profile wasn't overly complex, however I picked up on notes of dirt and espresso throughout.  This cigar, in my opinion, is closely related to the RP Edge Lite.  Definitely an enjoyable smoke. 

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Acid Kuba Kuba

My local cigar buddy, Amos, gifted me an Acid today.  Here goes nothing!

Wow - I haven't touched an Acid cigar in years, and even then, I'd only tried one.  I wasn't expecting the huge scent and taste that this stick was packing.  The pre-light sniff reveals a very perfumey smell, and when the wrapper touches the lips, the sweet floral flavors linger for a very long time.  

The cigar itself was well-crafted.  It was slightly loose on the draw, but not too much.  Burn line and ash were top notch.  Strength remained mild-medium from start to finish.

I enjoyed smoking the Kuba Kuba just because it was a change of pace, however it won't find a regular place in my rotation.  Made by Drew Estate, you know it's going to be of good quality.  I just prefer non-flavor infused cigars.  

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Exclusivo Natural

This is my first Padron Anniversario...
Pre-light gave a very nice smell.  It measured at 5-1/8 inches.  Pairing this one with an Australian Shiraz.  The '64 was loose with some resistance.  As usual, I toasted the foot, and started 'er up.

Very spicy on the light, and that heavy spiciness lasted to 1/2 inch, where it lost some of its bite.  From the start I've been getting very thick, light-grayish smoke.


 To continue to describe the experience, I recognize a dark oily ring around the burn line, which is fairly straight with some occasional waviness.  The ash is a nice light gray, almost white.  At 1.5-2.0 inches in, the '64 is mild-medium in strength, with a creamy finish.  I pick up a light nuttiness along with toast.  After a retrohale, I notice a numbness on the roof of my mouth.  

At the 2/3 mark, it gets meaty.  A nice, long pull provides me with the sound of the burn line creeping up.

In the final third, the burn line needs a little touch-up, and not much long after that, the draw tells me that I either have to start pulling hard or it's going to go out.  I opt to torch it up rather than make myself ill.

As I get down to the nub, this stick is at full strength and body.  The pepper is back in full force here.

All in all, this was a very good cigar.  I can't say that this is the best cigar I've ever had, or even that it is in my top 3, despite all the positive comments from other smokers floating around out there.  Either way, it was good, and I'm glad I finally tried one.  Burn time: 90 minutes
3.75/4.0 stars

Monday, March 7, 2011

Liga Privada T52 Flying Pig by Drew Estate (4-1/8 x 60)

Posting this one just to brag a little.  This was given to me by the owner of Cigars & More in Libertyville, Ken Neumann.  Very cool guy, who I'm told has done, and continues to do great things for the cigar community.  Thanks, Ken!

La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor (robusto)

Pre-light smells of caramel, likely from the handsome, dark Mexican San Andres wrapper.  The binder and filler are Nicaraguan, I believe.  Box-pressed.  Slightly loose draw.  1st third is buttery.  Thick, billowy smoke.  Little bit of spice on the tongue.  Picking up notes of clove.   ...to be continued...

....alright, so I got distracted.  The people over at C&M (Libertyville, IL) always seem to be cool.  I always seem to get sidetracked from whatever it is I'm doing, and the same is true here.  I noticed minor variations in flavor as I smoked this one down to the nub.  I picked up chocolate and nuts in the 2nd third.  I would categorize this one as a medium-bodied cigar.  Really enjoyed the clouds of white, fluffy smoke that it produced throughout.  

4.0/5.0 stars

Tatuaje 7th Reserve

So tight, I can't even taste it to do a proper review..

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Gurkha Black Dragon (robusto) 4.25 x 52

 
Gifted from my cigar buddy, Amos - thanks!  This monster has a Connecticut Maduro wrapper, a Cameroon binder, and Dominican filler.  As expected, it was a strong, peppery start.  As it progressed about 3/4" in, the pepper lingered, but the initial "punch" was dulled.  While some have stated that it is mild-medium bodied, I found that it started out full, and tapered off to a medium-full body.  It can be tricky when describing these things as I recently read a great thread about the very important difference between mild/medium/full-BODIED versus mild/medium/full-STRENGTH. That said, it was stronger up front, and became less strong as it progressed, yet still by no means weak. 

The construction was pretty good.  The stick felt firmly packed.  The wrapper had a bit of oiliness to it with some minor veins showing.  Burn line was acceptable.  I'd describe the pre-light draw as slightly loose, but not too loose.  It remained the same after toasting the foot. Taste for me was a little difficult to describe.  I believe I picked up notes of earth, musk, and spice.  At one point, both Amos and I identified an almost oily taste, if that makes sense. 

This won't be a cigar that I will seek out, but for someone who enjoys a strong smoke without the butt-kicking, knock you on the floor power, this one will suffice. 

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Montecristo White Toro Grande


This might not have been a cigar I would have purchased on my own, however I'll rarely turn down a freebie, which is exactly what this was.  The local cigar shop gave 'em out to club members.  Montecristo Whites are mild smokes.  You'll notice from the photograph that the foot started to split right away, and later on (during the 2nd third), the cigar practically exploded.  I don't smoke my cigars too fast, and this one went from my B&M right into my humidor, where it sat for at least a month.  I didn't notice much in flavor complexity, and if it hadn't busted wide open, I might have considered it again but with a morning cup of java.

Construction issues aside, it was decent, but nothing to get excited about.  If someone gives me one, sure I'll smoke it, but I'm not at all interested in pursuing any for my humidor.  That's really all I have to say about it.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Tatuaje Havana VI Noble

About time that I tried this stick!

Lately I've been hearing a lot of buzz around the Tatuaje brand, Pete Johnson and his affiliation with Don "Pepin" Garcia.  I was expecting good things from this cigar, and I did thoroughly enjoy it.  I'm looking forward to trying the 7th Reserva, which is chilling in the humidor.  This cigar was gifted to me (thanks, Bret!), and had just arrived on the doorstep from CI.  Not bad for having been in transit for the last few days. 

The construction was solid, and the pre-light sniff didn't disappoint.  I was smoking this one with a glass of red wine, and with company, so didn't take any notes, but I'm sure this won't be my last.  Hey, the tobacco companies aren't knocking down my door with freebies to review so if I don't give much of an in depth breakdown, I doubt anyone will lose any sleep.

Looking back however, I did expect some serious spice and pepper on the light, but that power punch was not there (which is fine with me).  The flavors to start were more medium-bodied, and I noticed some woody, sort of cedar notes.   Throughout - and in no particular order - I picked up hints of chocolate, nuts, and maybe some leather, with periods of a bit of sweetness and cinnamon.  It won't knock you on your butt, but it has the flavor complexity that makes it interesting and enjoyable. 

I will say that this cigar lived up to my expectations, and it definitely won't be my last.

Devil's Weed (toro)

Pleasantly surprised with this one.  Mild cigar with consistent flavor and strength.  Oily wrapper, a few minor blemishes.  This cigar lit up easily, maintained a decent burn line, and while it did not have a lot of flavor complexity, it was certainly a decent smoke for the price.  I could see this being a morning cigar with a cup of coffee, although I enjoyed this one in the evening with a glass of red.  I have some more of these in the humi, so perhaps I'll take some notes next time and report more on the specific flavors.
Online MarketingAdd blog to our blog directory.