Sunday, July 31, 2011

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Divinos (6 x 52)

So far, I've liked all of the E.P. Carrillo cigars I've tried.  The New Wave Connecticut bears a Connecticut wrapper which signals that this is a milder smoke.  To me, it was more in the medium bodied/strength range.  I picked up notes of roasted cashew and possibly some graham cracker.
















While it strengthened at a nice pace, it never got what I would consider to be "strong," and the flavors didn't change in any major way as I progressed down to the nub.  It was interesting enough, however to be more enjoyable than many of the "mild" cigars out there.  The burn line was acceptable, and the construction in general was pretty good, as I would expect from E.P. Carrillo. 

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Alec Bradley American Classic Blend (robusto)

Smoking a new Alec Bradley that was released in late Spring.  It started off with some bite, and smoothed out after a 1/2 inch.  Toasted bread and raisins are what I picked up throughout the first half.  While the band is a departure from the typical AB branding, I found it to be quite annoying as the jagged top kept catching on my fingers.  The cigar itself looks quite nice, with a light brown, coffee and cream color.

As this cigar progressed, it gradually strengthened.  Sold to me as mild to medium, I would say that it fit the description, finishing up on the stronger side of medium.

While certainly not at all a bad smoke, it didn't really do much to entice me to run out and buy more.  With so many other smokes on the market today, this one didn't have that "wow" factor.  

Friday, July 22, 2011

Cabaiguan Guapos RX Natural 5-1/4 x 50

Tonight, I have the pleasure of smoking one of Pete Johnson's lines.  I'm a fan of the Tatuaje cigars.  This is one beautiful cigar.  It's got a pigtail cap, and is oily with a perfect hand feel.  Amazing blend of tobacco in the 1st third.  I'm drinking a cup of steaming hot black coffee.  Great burn line, white, velvety ash.  I love the color of the wrapper.

Hitting the 2nd third, woody/grassy flavors show more pepper, and I get strong cedar through the nose.  My ash fell off past an inch and a half, and I just noticed a 1/2" split on the underside of the wrapper a few paces north of the burn line.  Not affecting anything yet, fortunately.  Letting it rest for a bit.

The final third gave way to increased strength, nicotine, and lots of pepper.  

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Tatuaje Havana VI Angeles (Petite Corona) 4-5/8 x 42

Had a short window of time to grab a smoke, so I dug this one out of the humi.  The Havana VI's are medium bodied, and this one was no different.  I don't normally smoke many sub-50 gauge sticks.  The Angeles was medium strength and bodied, picking up a bit in the final third.  Admittedly, I had some distractions while smoking this one, but I wasn't able to pick up any distinct flavors besides a nice, classic tobacco. 

Decent cigar, however between this one and the Tatuaje Noella Cabinet Reserve I had a few weeks ago, I much preferred the Noellas. 

Monday, July 18, 2011

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial by My Father Cigars (toro) 6x54


I've been waiting for a perfect evening to sit out in the backyard and get familiar with this stogie.  It is a beautiful cigar with a dark, oily wrapper that smells of chocolate, and is topped off with a triple cap.  Notes of barnyard on the unlit foot.  

On the light: mild pepper, black cherry.  Easy draw.  

Paired with Boulevard Brewing Co.'s ZON Belgian-style Witbier.  


1/3: After the initial pepper, things quickly went mild.  Nice leathery notes.  Slight dry mouthfeel, with which the ZON helped to fix.  Resting smoke is present.  The appearance of the ash is like a flannel gray.  With 1-1/2 inches of ash hanging on, the smoke is velvety in the mouth.  I'm getting some floral through the nose.

2/3: I ashed just past 2 inches to find a little bit of "coning" underneath.  No big deal though.  At this point, it's medium in strength, body, and flavor.  Spice makes a brief appearance before mellowing out again to that velvety, creaminess.

3/3: In the final third, the cigar transitions to a full-bodied profile.  The heat has caused the oils to surface noticeably.  Some noticeable nicotine in the final minutes.

This cigar was worth the wait.  It is much gentler than its appearance might suggest.  These are box-worthy smokes.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Cain Daytona (robusto)

Heavy pepper on the light, leads to a flavorful, but smooth draw.  Visible veins, yet not protruding.  Woody and cedary notes with the retrohale.

When I'm using my mobile to upload, I tend to keep things short.  This Daytona stayed pretty much the same throughout, with the exception of the spicy start.  I enjoy the ligero.  The wrapper was lighter in shade in comparison to the other Cains.  While it was a good smoke, I enjoy the Cain Habano better, and probably find more complexity and flavor in the Cain F. 

I found myself without a proper lighter or cutter.  Wooden matches made it easy, however the box cutter I used to clip the cap didn't do such a good job.  Sometimes it's the little things that can ruin an otherwise pleasurable smoke. 

Friday, July 8, 2011

Tatuaje Noella Cabinet Reserve (5-1/8 x 42)

Good burn line.  Triple cap.  Oily, toothy, and "dusty" chocolate-colored wrapper. Espresso and black coffee notes.  Perfect draw.  Not sure what year this was because it was gifted to me with the humidor I received a couple months ago.  Seeing these for around $130-$180 for a box of 25.  These would be excellent "break time" cigars because the burn time was about 25-30 minutes for me.  I sure wish they were a little cheaper, considering they are a smaller vitola.  I don't typically smoke the small ones, but the quality of this stick was every bit as good as the larger ones.  Really impressed. 

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

EP Carrillo Short Run 2011 Canonazos (5-7/8 by 52)

Here I've got the 2011 Short Run by EP Carrillo in the Canonazos size.  Nice looking cigar with a triple cap and some minor veins.  I had an unusual combination of food beforehand, so hopefully my palate didn't play any tricks on me.  Nice cold draw, and good burn after fully toasting the foot.  Some spice on the light led to a smooth, kind of almondy-leathery flavor profile. 

Personally, I found the strength to be medium up until the final third where it kicked things up a notch to near full strength.  Burn line was pretty decent throughout; not perfect, but by all means not bad.  It never got hot, and fortunately I didn't pick up any of that carbon taste that I'm not such a fan of. 

I definitely notice a different flavoring than in the EP Carrillo core line.  This was a pleasant smoke. 





Thanks to Fenton for picking this one up!
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