Cain F 550 Habano (5 3/4 x 50)

Ahh, the reasons why and why not to make sure you grab the right stick when you reach in.  Thought I was buying the newer Daytona, and at the clip realized I had the F ("F" for Fuerte).  Good thing I ate first!
Great taste so far, and the construction and feel are exactly what I've come to expect from Cain (and the Oliva family).  Beautiful oily wrapper.

Predominant flavors of pepper and spice, very pleasant.  I don't tend to search out cigars with that combination, however I really thought the flavoring was nice and mellow, while maintaining some good strength.  The 2nd third mellowed out a little bit relative to the 1st, but the flavor was still quite nice.

Approaching the final third, the cigar required a few relights and touch-ups.  Some of the initial strength returned for a final showing.  Good smoke (not for beginners). 

Curivari

Keeping my eye out for these.  Interested to know how they're smokin'...

Speak Out! Keep the FDA out of your Humidors!

Click the link to generate a message to your congressman or woman.  The site writes it for you, and it only takes seconds.  

Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve - Corojo (toro)

Here, we've got a Rocky Patel OWR that I acquired last September on the Smoke on the Water cigar cruise in Chicago.  It's been kept perfectly since then, and yesterday having been a "perfect weather" day, seemed like a good time to light 'er up.  I haven't really seen many of these around in the B&Ms, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  The box-pressed cigar was well constructed, and it had a decent weight in-hand.  Predominant flavors of chocolate and aged tobacco, and overall it was smooth and medium to full bodied.  Another cigar with consistency rather than complex twists and turns.  I enjoyed it with some beer, both while kicking back and throwing the frisbee disc around the yard. 





I don't think I'll be scouring the shops in search of this cigar, but I did enjoy it.  Should one fall onto my lap again at some point, I'd probably keep it around for another lazy day around the house. 

*Speaking of RP cigars, I had the Edge Sumatra again on Saturday, and it was very good.  Seems to find a nice middle ground (strength-wise) between the Edge and the Edge Lite, with some flavors of its own.  Definitely a must try. 

HC Connecticut Shade (robusto)

I haven't been smoking many mild sticks lately, but it is Father's Day morning, and this cigar is going great with my coffee.  Smooth and velvety smoke, great draw.  The construction in these is quite nice. 

Padron 1926 #9 Natural

I was eager to try the 1926 after having enjoyed the 1964 Anniversary several months ago.  Between the two, I found the 1926 to be the better.  After tax, it cost just shy of $22, so not most people's everyday smoke.  The draw was good, as was the construction.  Flavors predominantly of aged tobacco, very smooth and tasty.  The final third showed me some real nicotine punch.  I was enjoying this with my father-in-law the day before Father's Day, so I chose to enjoy the cigar and not bother with the note-taking, hence the lack of details here.  Judging by all the reviews that can be found on the web, one can't go wrong with this cigar.  I certainly enjoyed it, and I would expect that anyone looking for a quality, full-bodied smoke would find this to be quite satisfying.

San Cristobal Papagayo (gordo) by Ashton

Big stick.  Beautiful chocolate wrapper.  Tight, white ash.  Very pleasant smoke, first inch is flavorful yet medium in body and strength.

Approaching the 2nd third.  Very smooth and great flavor.  Mocha and some caramel. 

Tenuta's House Blend (churchill)

Thanks to Greg for gifting this one to me last fall.  It's been hiding in the humidor since then.  Not sure about the true origins of this line of sticks, but it is apparently a premium priced cigar that a local cigar store sells under its own name.  The cigar came to me a little roughed up and dried out, however 9 months or so in good conditions repaired it even better than I could have expected.  The cigar was mild with a nice taste, and it remained consistent all the way to the nub.  Mild tobacco taste without much complexity, but certainly enjoyable.  Definitely a cigar for people who enjoy an occasional cigar, aren't looking to be overwhelmed with power, and aren't looking for something to challenge their palate.  Perfect for an afternoon break on a Friday afternoon. 

Punch Gran Puro Santa Rita (4.5 X 52)

Tobacco flavors.  Medium-bodied.  Salt and pepper ash.  Nice construction and nice weight in the hand.  Good draw with nice resistance.  Beautiful wrapper.
Decent, but unexciting.  Certainly didn't find any flavor complexities here. 

Padilla Signature 1932 (robusto)

Delicious on the light. Copious amounts of smoke.  Cinnamon ceder, pecans.  Charcoal-colored ash.



Enjoyable cigar.  I've got a few more that I want to let sit for a little while longer to see if they improve with age.

Generosity at its finest!

So, I was on BOTL complaining a bit about my brand new Don Salvatore humidor having issues....many issues, the most important of which involved mold during the seasoning process: Twice.  I had given up on it, and indicated such in the thread, when a complete stranger (yet a "brother" of the leaf) said he was sending me a 150 ct. humidor.  Wow, I thought..  how nice that someone read about my miseries, and wants to donate an old humidor that he is no longer using.

A week later, the following arrived at my office:

• The humidor itself - a beautiful limited edition CAO painted box which has both top and front-opening doors
• a hard cover book about cigars
• 5 Tatuaje cigars (Outlaw 2010, 7th Reserve, Havana VI Nobles, Havana VI Angeles, Miami Noellas)
• Tatuaje patch, button, die cut sticker, and cigar cutter
• Fuente lighter
• Ring size chart
• Shipping on this package was nearly fifty bucks

Needless to say, I am in awe.  Until he asked for my address, he never even knew my name.  It is people like this, that make me realize that there are still truly generous people out there.  Thank you, Justin!

Tatuaje Regios (5-1/2 x 50)

Nice draw, some visible veins.  Overall enjoyable smoke.  Although it is advertised as a full-bodied smoke, I found it to be more on the medium side.  Decent burn line, nice woody flavors, although I had hoped for some more complexity.  These are just under $10 per stick.  I'd be more apt to smoke these in the regular rotation if they were priced a few bucks less.  There are other $10 smokes I would purchase first, but that's not to say that this isn't a quality smoke.  Another notch on the belt for Don Pepin Garcia and Pete Johnson.  This one's a Nicaraguan puro, which for me, usually spells s-u-c-c-e-s-s.

Found a cool site worth a visit

Sip Smoke Savor

Just enjoying the weather and a Nub 460 Cameroon on Mother's Day

Tatuaje 7th Natural (46x5.625)

Paired with Boulevard's Bully! Porter.

Visible seams and 1 protruding vein on inspection.  The pre-light revealed an easy draw.  This cigar produced thick clouds of creamy smoke, with a pleasant coffee bean flavor.  I found it to be more on the mild-medium side with some complexity.  I also picked up notes of milk chocolate and almond. 

As I moved from the 2nd third to the final third, the strength increased, and pepper and black coffee appeared. 

With a nub left, the cigar went out.  I was enjoying it so much, that I had to relight it.  Also picked up some garlic powder, which is the only way I know to describe that particular flavor characteristic. 





3.75/5.00 stars

Partagas Serie D No.4

Incredible pre-light smell. Attractive medium brown wrapper with some veins.  Slightly uneven cap.  The clip caused some unraveling at the shoulder.


After toasting the foot and lighting up, initial tastes were of mild pepper.  Paired this smoke with Jack Daniels on the rocks.  As things progressed, I picked up some garlic notes (unusual, I know, but pleasant).  The first third proved to be relatively mild, with thick clouds of smoke.  After 20 minutes or so, the predominant flavor was that of woodiness, which led to a sort of walnut taste.  Mild retrohale at this point.  

Into the 2nd third, started to pick up a stronger nicotine buzz.  Took a deeper retrohale which was more harsh than in the 1st third.  Flavors shift to an earthiness/barnyard, but not in a bad way, and then to more notes of cedar.  I'm noticing at this point that my mouth and throat are getting quite dry even with the beverage.  At this point, the burn line has been good, with just a few minor snags.  No need for a touch-up yet.  The ash is a light gray with some black specs.

Going into the final third, I could tell that the cigar was close to going out.  Rather than wait for it, I torched it.  It didn't take long for the thick, cloudy smoke to return.  Not long after, the wrapper split, and I noticed some harshness on the throat and tongue. The nicotine packed a bit of a punch at this point.
Good smoke, however some aging would do these sticks more justice in my opinion.

Tabacos Baez Serie H

Tonight, I am smoking one out of the Don Pepin line-up.  Got this one in a trade.  1st third is nice.  Good flavor with some minor pepper.  V cut for the torpedo.

The Serie H was a consistent cigar end to end. Definitely enjoyed it. I didn't see it in June's CA, but I would expect a CA rating in the neighborhood of 88/89. I'd smoke one again.

Why do my posts vary in content and structure?

I believe there are two ways to enjoy a cigar:

1) Focus on the cigar experience, and take note of every twist and turn, every flavor that develops, etc.

2) Use the cigar to supplement another enjoyable activity, ie. reading a book, hanging out with friends, etc.

Sometimes I will go into depth in my blog entries, sometimes I will not. I may show a repeat cigar from time to time, but typically I try to show stuff that's not been on the blog already.

This started out as a way to keep track of various cigars I've tried, and to keep some sort of written record about the experience.

Should a reader have any comments, suggestions, or requests, please feel free to share.

Macanudo Cru Royale (lonsdale)

Occasionally, I'll smoke a lonsdale.  This one here was a B&M freebie.  I'm definitely digging it so far.

Decent smoke. Unfortunately, it went out a few times after the 1st third. Medium-bodied.

Oliva Serie O Maduro (robusto)

The "O" series are good everyday sticks.  I usually smoke the naturals, but this maduro is enjoyable too.Good way to enjoy the first "outside" smoke of the season sans warm jacket.

Graycliff Platinum Edicion Limitada

Quite good.  Wavy burn line, but well constructed.  Some veins were present.  Flavors varied somewhat throughout, but floated between two or three main notes: barnyard, dirt, earth.  This stick was on the lighter side of full-bodied. 

Padron 5000 (toro)

Off to a delicious start.  Nice pre-light smell.  Good burn line.  Thick, buttery smoke.  The 1st inch is mild-medium bodied, yet flavorful.

This cigar was quite enjoyable. Approaching the final third, I got a little bitterness as the cigar threatened to go out on me. After a torch, it picked up just fine. Definitely a smoke I'll be trying again.

EP Carrillo event

Lissette Perez-Carrillo and me

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.  

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

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..

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. 

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.

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.

CAO Gold Corona Gorda (6.5 x 50)

Don't normally like CAO too much.  The Gold is quite good so far, even for a mild-bodied smoke.

Cigar: CAO Gold
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 6.5 x 50 (Corona Gorda)
Wrapper: Ecuador Grown Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Mild

Didn't have my computer or even a pen & notebook, but in retrospect the cigar was consistent from foot to nose.  Burn line was good, construction was good, great draw, strength remained mild-medium throughout.   Mostly a mild nuttiness.  Not much complexity, but a satisfying smoke nonetheless.  If you're looking for power and twists and turns, you will not find it here. 

Illusione ~MJ12~

Beautiful construction, good pre-light draw.  Strong start leads quickly onto smooth, thick smoke.  Slight irritation in the back of the throat, but only lasted for a few minutes.  Retrohale gives notes of leather and a little bit of wood.  Perfect draw, medium to full body.

As I start the 2nd third, the woody flavor takes the lead, and the burn line has improved, although it certainly has not been poor. Chocolate is now evident, and the cone shaped ash I had initially experienced has corrected.

Bottom line:  Great cigar - definitely recommend!

My Father No.1 (52 x 5.2)

Very good smoke, worthy of it's high rating. Tight draw, pre-light. These are designed with a punchy blend in the foot, which catches your attention before settling down into a nice, creamy smoke. These will cost you at least ten bucks a pop, but you won't be disappointed. While hanging out at Cigars & More, I found myself engaged in some conversation, so I wasn't able to jot down any notes. I'm sure I'll smoke another one of these, and will give a detailed review at that time. Trust me, these are nice cigars.

Graycliff Double Espresso (Robusto)

This cigar didn't live up to its hype.  This is the 3rd Graycliff that I've tried. The blue label started off funky, but overall was good. The white/gold label (reviewed below) was also good. Neither were worth the hefty price tag in my opinion. The Double Espresso however, was a stick that I was looking forward to. Sure, some reviews I've seen were good, and others weren't very favorable. Either way, I seasoned this one in my humi for 3 months. Right off the bat it required some touch-ups, and later on it required a few re-lights. I didn't notice much complexity with this blend, but I was searching for the deep, rich coffee or mocha flavor, which I found but was not overly impressed with. To me, it was more of a burnt coffee bean taste. The 2nd third had the best burn and flavor, but I simply couldn't tell someone to go out and buy this one, even if it were priced down to $6 or $7. This cigar is rare, and I find no reason to seek it out. Also worth mentioning is an oddity that I noticed - just above the burn line, the wrapper seemed to melt or shrivel up. Graycliff is one of the most expensive brands out there. I wonder if they expect their prices to drive demand, rather than the actual quality and taste of their smokes.

70/70

Perfecto!

UPDATE (3/1/11):
For years, I was under the impression that 70/70 was the ideal.  As I continue to research the best possible environment for cigar storage, I'm seeing that 70/70 poses some potential risks (mostly if the humidor exceeds it and goes unnoticed).  65-68 for both temp and humidity seem to be popular amongst the enthusiasts on botl.  I'm making the move to adjust accordingly, and at some point I will report out on the experience.  I'm also hoping to invest in some 65% beads, as I'm currently using Xikar crystals w/ a humistat that I occasionally fill with distilled water as needed.

La Aurora 107

Watching KU v. ISU at The Cigar Lounge in Schaumburg.  This 107 is very smooth to start.  Jagged burn quickly fixed itself.  Hints of cedar.  Mild to medium in the first third.  Nice tight ash. Smoked this one down to about an inch and a half. The flavor remained fairly consistent throughout. Didn't really have any flavor complexity or twists & turns (which doesn't have to be a bad thing).

Nick's Sticks Little Havana (churchill)

Thanks to Bret, for gifting this one to me.  I was driving all day today, so this was a good size smoke for a road trip.  Wrapper was veiny and very toothy.  Moderate pepper in the first inch, gradually turned to a woody, earthy flavor that lasted for most of the cigar.  In the beginning of the 2nd third, I came across some bitterness.  The quality in construction is not quite the same as its brothers (Perdomo), but this is a decent budget stick for doing yardwork or jockeying the bbq grill.  ...and on a side note, as soon as I pulled off the "convenience store" style label, I instantly felt the cigar's quality go up.