Alright, so with the passing of time, I’ve noticed that a score out of fifty doesn’t cut it. I wanted to stay away from the 100 rating to dodge comparisons to other popular publications, but the 100-point system really seems to work. So, with that in mind, here is the new way we’re going to try doing things.
Cigar Review – Gurkha Turk
Gurkha Turk
Cigar: Gurkha Turk
Size: Toro (6×52)
Cost: $9.00
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Cibao Valley Dominican, Turkish
Turkish tobacco? I was excited to hear about this, as I’m always up for trying new types of tobacco. To date, I have had tobacco from Ecuador, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Peru, Costa Rica, Honduras, Bahamas, Taiwan, Brazil, and of course Nicaragua. Turkey is a new country to add to that list, and I couldn’t be happier to do so!
The Turk smells phenomenal, more like a sweet desert then a cigar. The prelight draw gives me spice, sugar, honey, and a wonderful earthy taste. The wrapper is chipped a bit in a few places, however, it’s mostly seamless with few noticeable veins.
The Turk burns a bit faster then a normal toro might but it doesn’t seem to heat up at all. The initial tasting notes are very mild and sweet with just a touch of black pepper on the tip of the tongue. It’s a nice flavor, but short-lived as the burn runs away in one direction.
This effects the taste quite strongly; when you think about it, if less of the wrapper is combusting, you’re getting more of the filler flavors. This can unbalance a cigar, especially a mild cigar that draws a lot of it’s flavor from the wrapper. Additionaly, if you’re forced to touch up a cigar with your lighter, the part that you’re touching up will burn very quickly, and leave a somewhat bitter taste. So; as a caution, try to use your lighter the minimum amount you need to once you’ve lit your stogie for the first time.
After about the first inch, the flavor has settled into a mildly woody flavor with vanilla on the tongue; there is a hint of pepper, but it isn’t quite pepper. If you’ve smoked a lot of Connecticut wrapper before, it’s a flavor that I can only think of as a Connecticut flavor. While we’re on the subject of flavors, this Gurkha is lacking the distinct “Gurkha Flavor.” If you’ve smoked more then two Gurkha’s, you’ll know what I mean. It’s a special flavor, one that many (myself included) do not care for. The fact that this cigar is lacking that is a definite plus for me. The finish is also unique to me, in that it has a very clean rosemary taste!
Dark chocolate, rosemary, and wood are the three main flavors as we head into the second third. The smoke, though plentiful, is creamy and light-tasting. There is no strong, smokey aftertaste, which many prefer. As the second third draws to a close, and the final third opens up, there is a burn earth flavor with that rosemary still there. To this point, it has been a good cigar; lighter then my personal tastes tend to allow for, but good all the same. The cigar ends with burning caramel and rosemary. After the initial burn issue, it burned just fine. Smoke Time: 60 Minutes
Overall Score: 84
The Good:
-Very different flavor profile then a normal Gurkha.
-Leaves a clean flavor in your mouth.
-Interesting mix of flavors from start to finish.
The Bad:
-Bad burn issues in the front.
-Though the smoke was thick, it lacked substance.
-No “wow” factor.
If You Like This, Try:
-Carlos Torano Casa Torano
-CAO Vision
-Gurkha Symphany
And, as always, we love to hear your questions and comments! Feel free to leave either in the comment box below!
Cigar Review – ITC 10th Anniversary
ITC 10th Anniversary
Cigar: ITC 10th Anniversary
Size: Torpedo (6.5×52)
Cost: $8.30
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
First of all, sorry for the huge gap in reviews. I got a few emails and I just want to say thank you to those of you who missed the blog. I had some family issues to deal with, but we’re back on track now, and hopefully I’ll be able to update 4-5 times a week again. And the ITC 10th seems like a hell of a cigar to start off with! The smell is intoxicating, pretty much a pure sumatra smell that really gives you a good feel for a cigar. It smells, in other words, like a cigar ought to. The ITC also shines beautifully with oil; it has that uniform light/dark gradiant that makes the wrapper look almost liquid, similar to the 5 Vegas Limitada ‘09. The prelight draw is very sweet, savory, and dark. It promises leather and coffee flavors, which I am very much looking forward to.
There is something amazing about the smell of lighting up a newly clipped cigar. Every time I smell it, it makes me smile, and brings back dozens of memories I’ve had whilst enjoying a stogie. The initial flavors are spicey toward the nose, with a wet leather flavor and creamy smoke. It is a medium bodied smoke that you feel surprisingly strongly in the stomach; lighter toward the front then I’d like though. The spice because very noticeable toward the back of the throat, which was nice, but through off the balance of the cigar in a strange way. After the first inch or so, the flavor does balance out a bit with a very strange flavor; I can almost swear that I taste a bit of fresh pumpkin! Very unusual for a cigar, but with the peppery flavor and the bits of leather, it actually makes a really nice combo.
This is a great cigar for begining smokers trying to work their way up to something fuller. It’s nice and clean, wont kill you with strength, and gives you a nice set of straightforward flavors with just a few nuances for the more experienced smoker. As you progress through the cigar, the spice makes its way toward the front. Prior to this, it was just an okay cigar, put it is certainly getting better. Lots of vanilla comes out at this point as well.
The last third is certainly the best. Burnt vanilla, cream, bits of leather and spice, and a nice touch of cinnamon. My suspicion is that if I let this cigar sit a bit longer, maybe a few extra months, more of these flavors would play out in the beginning. That is only a theory of course, but it would seem true. At any rate, it does get a bit tighter toward the end, but the burn was razor-sharp throughout. I put this one to rest a bit early, but satisfied. Smoke Time: 70 Minutes.
Overall Score: 85
The Good
-The last third was intoxicating, the burnt vanilla flavor was unreal.
-Builds nicely.
-Well constructed, with a razor sharp burn.
The Bad
-The first half was pretty bland, and unbalanced.
-Too pricey for the quality, though aging may cure this.
If You Like It, Try…
-ITC Cameroon Legend
-AJ Fernandez Signature Series
-La Aurora Barrel Aged
As always, we love hearing from you, and we’ve been gone for a bit; please leave us a comment below!
Cigar Review – Brun del Re Colonial
Brun del Re Colonial
Cigar: Brun Del Re Colonial
Size: Torpedo (6×50)
Cost: $11.00
Wrapper: Costa Rica Maduro
Binder:
Filler: Nicaraguan
The Colonial is the stronger offering from Brun Del Re, a Costa Rican based company that has yet to export to the United States commercially. He has been kind enough to offer us a box of the Colonial for review; today, I’ll be smoking the torpedo. The cigar’s come in a gorgeous box with fantastic presentation; the wrapper of each cigar is carefully cut, and doesn’t seem to have any soft or hard spots. The prelight draw is sweet and mildly fruity; very unusual, and I hope that this flavor comes through!
The initial flavors are black pepper and leather, with a very interesting citrus finish. Soon after the first half inch, the pepper and leather flavors die down and let the citrus flavors shine through in the body with a soft, leathery finish. The smoke has a nice, creamy consistency. The citrus goes away and is replaced by a velvety vanilla. And there really isn’t another way to describe it; if you’ve ever seen the inside of a vanilla bean, this flavor is similar to that in taste and texture. There are hints of coffee as well.
The second half starts off with a creamy, chocolate flavor; the vanilla has deepened and the Colonial has thus far burned very evenly. There is also a subtle fruit flavor, citrus, like a bit of lemon or orange even. It’s incredibly pleasant, and worth noting, that this particular flavor is generally found in Costa Rica tobacco; the Colonial’s well-fermented wrapper has done a great job of bringing this flavor out. This is also a very aromatic cigar; the smoke smells like cigar smoke with a twinge of chocolate; very nice indeed!
The last third is very similar in flavor; it does begin to get a bit harsh earlier then I’d like it to, so regretfully, I put it out. This is a very nice medium-bodied cigar that borders on full at some points; really a great afternoon cigar. Smoke Time: 65 Minutes
Overall Score: 87
The Good
-Very interesting departure from the normal flavors.
-Nice array of flavors, from citrus to vanilla, coffee, and chocolate.
-Perfect burn all the way through!
The Bad
-You need to revive it by double puffing occasionally.
-Gets a bit harsh toward the end.
As always, if you’d like to leave a comment or a question, we’d love to hear it! Leave it in the comments box below!
Cigar Review – Rocky Patel Sun Grown
Cigar: Rocky Patel Sun Grown
Size: Torpedo (6.1×52)
Cost: $9.00
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Similar to many of Patel’s brands, this one is built like a rock; it’s incredibly densely rolled, and has a sweet, caramel barnyard smell. The prelight draw has a nice bit of cinnamon, anise notes, and earth.
The first flavors produced are a gritty earth and white pepper. There is an abundance of dill and other dry floral notes. I’m tempted to almost compare the flavor to olive leaf and salt, which is a bit unpleasant. After the first half-nch, however, the flavor evolves into a solid wood that matches the white pepper very well. The draw is perfect to this point, and the burn is slow and true. Every now and then a burst of a cashew flavor emerges, but this seems to be relying on it’s main flavors of white pepper and wood.
The second third is much better, in my opinion. The sweetness from the Dominican tobacco is finally noticeable, which gives the Sun Grown the balance it was missing. The nutty flavors become more noticeable and consistent, while the white pepper has settled into more of a nuance. As with many of Rocky’s cigars, these tend to be very aromatic, and produce a nice smell. As you progress, the sweetness comes into play more and more, which makes the experience exceptional. This cigar also bears a resembalence to the 1961, also by Patel.
The last third begin with a strong woody flavor infused with a nice smokey tobacco taste. There is a very, very soft strawberry nuance with a long briney finish. For some reason as I smoke this, the flavor reminds me of bamboo; mind, I haven’t ever eaten bamboo, but something about the woody flavor just seems to taste like it. Smoke Time: 80 minutes.
Overall Score: 87
The Good
-Very distinctive, Rocky Patel flavor.
-Perfect construction, with a great draw.
The Bad
-Sort of unbalanced at first.
-Very rough flavor.
And, as always, let us know in the comment section below if you have questions, comments, or stories!
Cigar Review – Alec Bradley Tempus
Alec Bradley Tempus
Cigar: Alec Bradley Tempus
Size: Terra Novo (5×50)
Cost: $8.00
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduras
This is a totally gorgeous cigar, amazing double-banded, with a perfect oily wrapper. It has a nice prelight smell of chocolate and toast, and a wonderful taste of pine nuts. Initial flavors are savory and satisfying, pine nuts, and black pepper in the tons. It’s a strong cigar but very smooth, tons of smoke with a perfect draw, the smoke itself having almost a mashed potatoe consistency. As the burn line progresses nice and evenly, a new smell arises, sort of like steak and potatoes. It’s a really marvelous cigar, one I’d recommend to anybody who enjoys strong cigars. It’s priced in such a way that it is not terribly expensive, either, making it perfect for just about any occasion.
Bits of vanilla creep in to start off the second third of the Tempus. This third proves to be far sweeter, like brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and bits of that pine nut flavor that I really, really love. The tobacco flavor comes through as well, not at all harsh, but subtly, as a nuance under the rest of the flavor. This leg of the cigar ends with a much more subdued but still complex, flavor, all of what I’ve mentioned thus far in a medium body.
The body picks back up for the last third with a pleasant smokey cedar flavor along with white pepper and black pepper. This is one of those cigars that I wish would just keep on going. It smokes nice and slow right down to the nub. Smoke Time: 60 Minutes
Overall Score: 96
The Good
-Unbelievable flavor.
-Great variability; the flavor changes often while sticking to a general profile, making this a fun smoke.
-Perfect burn, excellent smoke.
The Bad
-None!
Please, if you have any comments, post below! We love to hear your thoughts!
Cigar Review – La Herencia Oscuro Fuerte
La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte
Cigar: La Herencia Oscuro Fuerte
Size: Toro (6×50)
Cost: $6.00
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
La Herencia Cubana is a cigar many people are familiar with; it’s received many a great rating, however, this is a new brand for me. The smell is very sweet and barnyardy, prelight draw with similar, sweet and dark notes. At first light this is a pepper bomb, stronger then it’s cousin, the Desiel, very similar to a Don Pepin Garcia blend, and erupts in a blast of black pepper. There are notes of cherry wood and a very light citrus flavor, like orange peel in the finish.
After about an inch, a light caramel coffee flavor drifts in, surrounding the pepper in a very pleasant way. One thing is for sure, this is a hell of a strong cigar. Even though I ate just two hours before, it makes me wish I’d eaten much more recently. The flavor from this is now decedent, I’d be just as happy with this cigar for dessert as I would a piece of cake. The flavor now is similar to a cookie dipped in hot chocolate. The smoke is plentiful and extremely creamy. Just toward the end of the second third, a burst of hazelnut adds to the already complex and wonderful experience. As this third winds down, the chocolate and hazelnut become muddled in a creamy, coffee-like flavor.
By the last third, my only complaint is a bit of an uneven burn. This is easily remedied with a slight touch-up, but frequent enough to warrant mention. The Fuerte ends with a hint of sugar, like burnt molasses. Smoke Time: 60 Minutes
The Good
-Great flavor, very complex and pleasant.
-Burned cool and slow the entire time.
-Great quantity of smoke.
The Bad
-Burned unevenly.
Overall Score: 90
Cigar Review – Oliva Master Blends III
Oliva Master Blend III
Cigar: Oliva Master Blends III
Size: Torpedo (6×52)
Cost: $12.40
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Broad Leaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
This cigar smells spicey, with a prelight draw of strong barnyard and pepper. It’s beautifully box-pressed with a very nice, defect-free wrapper. The shape and feel of this cigar just scream about how well constructed it is.
The initial flavor is very powerfully influenced by the Ecuadorian wrapper, and the Nicaraguan ligero; a mouth full of spice with cedar, light buttery leather with a smooth, creamy smoke. Its interesting to note that there are different flavors on the back of the mouth and front of the pallate. The back features a lot of spice, similar to horseradish, and the front is more leathery and creamy. It’s a pleasent surprise, very different from any other Oliva offering. Light, sugary cinnamon notes also come in, like the outside of a churro, which plays very well with the spice, making this cigar incredibly well balanced. There is also an incredibly powerful ash, which, when it broke, I dropped from about four feet off the ground on to some dirt, and it didn’t shatter at all.
The second third starts off with a powerful spice and a primary flavor of aged tobacco that is very reminiscent of a Davidoff. This flavor is not one that everyone enjoys, but for those who do, this is one hell of a cigar. On top of this, there is also a strong flavor of tea. This is a fantastic cigar that would be incredibly enjoyable after a night of BBQing in the summer, or a big steak dinner in the winter. The only issue so far is that the draw is fairly tight; this usually results in a cigar burning a bit hotter then usual, so it’s something to keep an eye on.
As suspected, it heats up a bit and burns fairly quickly. The box-press format on this one is pretty intense, which is probably what leads to the draw being so tough. This isn’t to say that it’ll happen for every cigar, but it certainly increases the likelyhood. This is the type of cigar that tastes so good that I’m willing to tolerate the draw being a little firm, though. The last third brings a nice nutty element to the already complex flavor set that the Master Blend III brings to the table. Smoke Time: 50 Minutes
Overall Score: 88
The Good
-Great flavor, especially the second third.
-Even burn
-Very well balanced.
The Bad
-Tight draw
-Goes out easily.
-Burns fast.
Cigar Review – Arturo Fuente King ‘T’
Arturo Fuente King "T"
Cigar: Arturo Fuente King ‘T’
Size: Tubo (Churchill, 7×49?)
Cost: $14.00
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Another new-ish cigar is the Fuente King ‘T.’ I do not find myself smoking many of the Fuente Cigars, but this is one I’ve been looking forward to trying. To start off, I am a big fan of the packaging; the split black/white tubo is beautiful, as is the flawless Connecticut wrapper. It smells sweetly barnyard, with a sweet coffee prelight draw.
Right off the bat, this is a complex cigar, with a mixture of strong vanilla, sherry, and leathery flavors. I found myself smoking this a bit faster since I just enjoyed how well harmonized these flavors were together, and I really wanted to nail down each individual nuance. Slightly woodsy notes mix in and make this a very nice light cigar with big flavor. After an inch and a half the sherry goes away and in comes a nice bit of pepper. One thing I’ve noticed about Dominican tobacco is that it all has a very nice, light, almost fruity flavor and aroma, and this cigar doesn’t fail to follow that trend. The burn stays true, and I find that the vanilla flavor gives way to the lighter, Dominican rum flavor I associate strongly with the La Aurora Barrel Aged. It’s always fun to have a cigar that changes this much, yet keeps the flavors working together, despite the change.
Past the first half, a nice woodsy flavor comes in as well, balancing out the sweet flavors amiably. The burn and draw remain perfect down to the last third, but I noticed that the draw got just a bit tighter then I’d like. The last third is a creamy mixture of sweet rum, vanilla, and coffee, balanced well by oak and tobacco with a leather finish. Smoke Time: 80 minutes
Overall Score: 87
The Good
-Great combination of well-balanced flavor
-Perfect burn, great construction
-Light body with excellent flavor
The Bad
-Draw gets fairly tight
-Burns a bit fast
As always, we love questions and comments, feel free to leave both below!
WBF, where are you?
Hey guys, Joe from WBF here, just to let you know that we haven’t died. Stan was busy with his own personal stuff and I’ve been nice and sick, but with my cold/flu/whatever it was officially beat, tomorrow will mark the first official review in over a week! I’ll be enjoying the Carlos Torano Virtuoso, which I have had before and enjoy greatly. If you have any requests, we can probably get our hands on it. If you’d like a review of a certain cigar, feel free to reply in the comments box below, or email it to joetreff@gmail.com.
So from both of us, we’re sorry for the delays, and we hope that you’ve all been smoking a few for us!
-The Wrapper, Binder, Filler crew.
Review – La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial
La Aroma De Cuba Edicion Especial
Cigar: La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial
Size: 5×50 Pyramid
Cost: 8.60
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
This is a beautiful smelling little parejo cigar, a beautiful DPG-made triple capped torpedo. The Aroma de Cuba line is actually produced by Ashton, but this edicion especial required the hands of cigar legend Don Pepin Garcia. Everything about this cigar is mouth watering, it looks, and smells, absolutely wonderful. The prelight draw has a rich, dark leathery flavor.
The first few puffs let you know, with no uncertainty, that this is going to be a big-bodied cigar. The flavor steps up to match the body though, with thick notes of juicy leather and a spice market array of flavors. This cigar essentially starts off tasting like the best part of the La Aroma de Cuba original, which is one of my favorite cigars. It really makes you feel very good, and I’d say this is a perfect cigar for just about any occasion for those of us who enjoy the heavy bodied cigars. Notes of vanilla mix in with the leather, creating a very balanced flavor profile. There is a hint of cumin as well.
The second this starts out with notes of oak, celerey salt (I think that’s what its called) and less of the overall sweetness the vanilla had imparted it with. After another inch or so, the flavor becomes very similar to the La Aurora Barrel Aged, with almost a dim flavor of Dominican Rum in the background.
The last third of this cigar is wondeful, provided you’ve smoked it nice and slow. Layers of a dark coco powder and hints of coffee play into a wonderful caramel sort of flavor. It’s a great ending, probably at a more medium body then the first two thirds were. The cigar burned straight and true the entire time, requiring no touch ups even though it’s a rather windy day. Smoke Time: 60 Minutes
Overall Score: 90
The Good:
-Excellent flavor that combines both Ashton and Don Pepin Garcia’s flavor profiles.
-Beautifully constructed, and a perfect burn.
The Bad:
-Stiff Draw
-Best part of the cigar is the first third. The rest is still good, but just not as good as that.
Review – Liga Privada No. 9
Liga Privada No. 9
Cigar: Liga Privada No. 9
Size: 6×52
Cost: $10.85
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro Ligero
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran
This is a beautiful cigar, the very unique ‘hand drawn’ look on cream-colored band really sets off the deep, almost black oscuro wrapper. It smells amazingly sweet, and boasts a prelight draw filled with coffee and pepper. I have always been interested in trying this particular cigar since it’s one of the non-infused Drew Estates offerings, and it always receives good reviews from our friends over at the cigar.com forum.
Starting out, this one is loaded with that traditional flavors of maduro cigars; a dark chocolate, mixed with dark, damp earth. The smoke, once you get this one going, is meaty and smooth. There are hints of raosted coffee beans. What jumps out at me immediately is that this is a very similar cigar to the Rocky Patel Double Maduro, though this is quite a ways less powerful, and significantly more smooth. Hints of pepper emerge as the cigar progresses, but fade away quickly.
The second third brings a little bit of a nuttiness to the cigar, and hints of tree bark. So far, though the flavor has been good, it’s been a bit one-dimensional. There is very little change in the flavor. There is a touch more wood and earth as the cigar progresses to the final third, and a hint of vanilla. The quantity of smoke dies down a little as well, and it seems as if this cigar is determined to put itself out. Smoke Time: 70 Minutes
Overall Score: 82
The Good
-Very nice, smooth maduro flavors.
-Beautifully constructed, great appearence.
The Bad
-No dynamism, the cigar was very much the same, start to finish.
-Cigar does go out semi-easily, Stan’s went out, mine started to with 3 inches left.
As always, we’re interested on hearing your thoughts!
Cigar Review – 5 Vegas Cask Strength II
5 Vegas Cask Strength II
Cigar: 5 Vegas Cask Strength II
Size: Toro (6×52)
Cost: $6.25
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Dominican Corojo
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero, Jamastran Ligero, Peruvian Filler
I was prompted to review this stogie because cigar.com recently had a sale on them; they’ve always been one of my favorite cigars, so I picked up a few five packs of them. They run at 6.25 regularly which really isn’t that bad, as the CSII really smokes like a cigar worth easily twice that.
The prelight draw is distinctively chocolatey, chewy flavor. It’s effortless, with just the right amount of resistance. The initial flavors are huge and full in black pepper, chewy tree bark, and dark earth. A soft hint of cinnamon and brown sugar float across the finish creating a really beautiful flavor. As the initial blast of black pepper becomes a bit softer, a perfect balance of sweet creeps in. As the first third winds down, a sweet cedar becomes the flavor in focus.
The second third starts off as a cedary body with a very sweet and spicy finish. It’s the perfect balance of sugars and spices, really something quite nice, especially through the nose. Another interesting thing about this cigar is the peruvian tobacco. Peruvian tobacco is very sweet, and imparts that onto this cigar, but further then that, there is the slightest citrus flavor that comes along for the ride. I love peruvian tobacco, and I wonder why fewer companies use it? It’s such a nice product that should probably be used more often. Notes of coffee, light and sweet, also appear in the middle of the second third.
The last third is heavier on the coffee flavors, and brings with it an element of that black pepper. A lot of people describe this cigar as chewy, and I can see why; it’s more like something you could take a bite out of then actually smoke, and it’s almost like chewing on the smoke that’s produced, since it’s so thick and flavor rich. The body and the flavors (black pepper, cedar, hints of earth) intensify for the last coupe of inches, putting a great end on a great cigar. Smoke Time: 80 Minutes
Overall Score: 94
The Good:
-Amazing flavor, and a nice, full body.
-Excellently blended to have the flavors always balanced by an opposite taste.
-Fantastic smoke, and a perfect draw.
The Bad:
-Needed to be touched up once or twice, but that’s really it.
And please, if you have any questions or comments, let us know in the comments below!
Review – CAO Vision
Cigar: CAO Vision
Size: Epiphany (6×50)
Cost: $14.00
Wrapper: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Brazilian
The CAO vision has great presentation in the box, and the band is beautifully designed. The wrapper itself, though, is a little lacking in that it has a few instances of bunching and leaf defects. That aside, it smells delicious, a very strong-scented Dominican tobacco. For a Dominican (mostly) cigar, too, this is a pretty strong one. I’d put it in the medium-full category, leaning more toward medium. The prelight draw gives me some notes of wood and earth.
The first third has white pepper on the front, and transitions to an interesting sort of peppercini taste toward the back of the mouth. It’s a great cigar for autumn, with oregano, basil, and almost a tomato sauce kind of flavor. The smoke and draw are wonderful, though the burn does need some touching up from time to time. There is a hint of salt as well. This is a really different taste, which I think comes from a strong Dominican tobacco. That sweetness is their, which cuts the pepper very nicely.
During the second third, the smoke is smooth, with that tomato sauce flavor still present. Vanilla and caramel powder flavors swirl in as the tomato sauce’s spices float in and out. The flavor flickers back and forth in a very pleasant way, which makes this a very fun smoke. Toward the end of the third, there is a hint of toasted almonds.
The last third gives way to black pepper that transitions to a nice, cedary finish. there is a sort of celery salt taste, and it begins to get a little dry, but over all this is a very fun cigar to enjoy on a cool autumn day! Smoke Time: 80 Minutes.
Overall: 83
The Good
-Great flavors that are unique to this cigar.
-Great use of Dominican tobacco.
-Very fun, dynamic smoke.
The Bad
-Many wrapper defects, veins, etc.
-The burn was very funky, probably due to the wrapper having so many quality differences.
And as always, leave us a comment with your experiences!
Review – CAO eXtreme
Cigar: CAO eXtreme
Size: Toro (6×50)
Cost: $9.00
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Seed Wrapper
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Five different habano Nicaraguan fillers, two of which are ligero.
The CAO eXtreme is a marvelous cigar. I believe it was discontinued some time ago due to production issues, which is a shame. It’s gorgeous and wrapped in a fantastically smooth Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, and it’s box-pressed to have a nice, hefty feel. It smells wonderful, like chocolate, tobacco, and barnyard, and the prelight draw tastes great as well, though it is very stiff. So stiff, in fact, that it had me worried a bit.
As I lit this stogie up, my fears of a tight draw went up in smoke, a good amount of it too. The first notes are spicy and full of capsaicin. Black and white pepper, leather, paprika, nutmeg, and aged tobacco really sets this one off right. It’s a very savory cigar, immediately full and reminiscent of a Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic. The burn is razor-sharp with a smooth draw, and as the burn line progresses, a nice, subtle coffee undertone is detectable.
The second third continues with a strong pepper, which is rare, since that flavor usually dies out by this point. It’s a pleasant surprise. The coffee flavor rises to the front, and the combination of smooth and spicy reminds me a lot of an Aztec coffee, which usually has chili powder in it. There is a dull, sugarcane sweetness that balances out the spicy elements perfectly, much like a BBQ glaze will on ribs. It’s good to note that, though this is a medium-full cigar, it’s JAMMED with flavor, unbelievable. It also seems to unfold in your mouth well after the smoke is gone.
The final third is much like the second, but a chocolatey flavor emerges in the body of the smoke. At this point, it is VERY similar to the Rocky Patel Decade. As it progresses down to the last inch (and I nubbed the hell out of this bad-boy) the flavor darkens with black pepper, dark cocoa, and woody notes. Smoke Time: 70 Minutes
Overall Score: 93
The Good
-Unbelievable flavor
-Perfect burn, and excellent construction.
The Bad
-Discontinued, hard to find.
-The draw was a tiny bit tight, so not a ton of smoke after the first inch.
As always, we’d love to hear what you have to say! Let us know in the comments below!
Review – San Cristobal
San Cristobal
Cigar: San Cristobal
Size: Robusto (5×50)
Cost: $9.05
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
The San Cristobal is a great-smelling robusto wrapped up in a gorgeous, dark Nicaraguan leaf. The draw is earthy, smooth with hints of dark chocolate. The first notes are black pepper (as you might expect of a cigar blended by Don Pepin Garcia) along with woody and peaty flavors. Very sweet, with nuances of caramel and honey. The pepper disappeares and transitions into chocolate.
The second third starts of chocolatey, earthy, with hints of cedar. Extremly smooth, and medium bodied, which is surprising coming from Garcia. The sweetness remains but fades downward, to be replaced by powerful earthy flavors, like peat moss, wood, and flowers.
The last third leaves a little to be desired. The flavors die down except for a hint of black pepper and cedar. Light moss flavor on the finish. The finish is actually quite good, but that alone wont make an excellent cigar. It also did burn a little hot toward the end, so when I let it rest a little, vanilla hints managed to come through, and it became quite good. My recommendation is to smoke this one slow.
Overall Score: 89
The Good
-Great flavor if you smoke it slow.
-Fantastic construction.
-Razor Sharp Burn
The Bad
-Burns a bit fast, and hot.
-Medium bodied, not as sweet as most maduros.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts and comments! Feel free to comment below!
Collaborated Review – DPG Cuban Classic
Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic
Cigar: Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic
Size: Robusto (5×50)
Cost: $7.00
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
And now, it’s time for something a little different. The Cigar Bot (Jeff) from cigarbot.com and I are doing a co-review of the Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic; Jeff is located up in Canada, and I’m in New York, which made it a bit challenging to connect; however, technology prevails (ha!) and using cigar.com’s forums, we managed to piece together a very nice co-review.
Cigar-Bot: This particular DPG Cuban Classic is loosely packed around the sweet and spicy scented foot. The rest of the stick is well packed and the wrapper has a great corojo aroma! The pre-light draw is very sweet and only slightly damp.
WBF: Ah, the Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic. This is a cigar that has been in my top three since I first smoked it; it’s a beautiful, flawless corojo cigar that is well constructed, smells great, and smokes even better! Don Pepin is known for his hallmark ‘black pepper’ taste, that really makes you feel as if you’re smoking a porterhouse steak rather than a cigar. I’m hoping this one delivers as well.
Cigar-Bot: I totally agree this cigar is at least in my top three! Out of the three I think 2 of ‘em are Pepin’s… I don’t know how Pepin does it but he does. And he takes up a lot of my humidor space. Well I’m going to light this beauty (hopefully I get that patent Pepin slap in the face, I’ll report in on how the first inch goes.) Got a new lighter, ordered it of Ebay… from china cheap as dirt, works really well, wood matchstick’s are great when you never have to touch up, but when your as anal about the burn line as I am, a butane torch is a must have, can’t believe I went without for so long.
WBF: I’m actually using a Xikar Executive to light up, 20 bucks or so buys you this beautiful single-jet. I did start smoking the DPG, and for sure the first couple of puffs result in a big pepper-punch to the mouth and throat. For anyone who loves a true full-bodied cigar, this is a must-try. The first few puffs are a real pepper bomb, with hard notes of black pepper riding a leathery undertone. Soon after, the strength goes down a notch, but the flavor is still strong, with that steak-dinner taste creeping in. The only complaint I have thus far is repeatedly having to touch-up a section that refuses to burn, but after doing this twice, it seems to have resolved itself. I have smoked six or seven of these so far, and this is the only one it’s happened to.
Cigar-Bot: I absolutely love the Pepin opening. Nothing but sweet spice that makes your eyes water and your nose explode. It’s been a while sense I had anything made by Pepin and I forgot just how intense the first half inch of his cigars are. After the first inch I detect some nicely sweet/vanilla tobacco with a citrus hint . The finish is long, astringent and full of black pepper, there’s a ton of “bite” to this cigar and I can feel it in the back of my throat. What stands out the most for me at the moment is just how sweet this cigar is… in a good way… not in the captain black swisher sweet dog rocket way.
WBF: For me, the second third starts off with that peppery flavor, along with notes of nuts, leather, and a good meaty tobacco. The draw is effortless, and there is a huge amount of flavorful smoke. The smoke takes on a very pleasantly creamy texture, which really goes well with the overall flavor profile. It’s interesting to note, but after reflecting of Jeff’s comments, I realize that this cigar really has a nice, delicate sweetness that sets off the spice just right; it’s a perfect balance, like a touch of brown sugar on a spicy, grilled steak.
Cigar-Bot: Pretty much at the second third now… here’s how the first third went: The citrus fades while the crazy sweet tobacco makes way for some almond hints, so you get a sweet almond mix with a touch of vanilla and lots of spice and black pepper. The burn is going great and the ash is white and slightly flaky. There is some leather too. The cigar is proving to be milder than I remembered, I’ve got wicked stomach acid problems and this cigar usually puts the acid factory into overdrive but… not today. It’s a shame I love love LOVE strong ‘gars, but I do suffer for ‘em! This is one of the few cigars that I have smoked that I would actually buy a box of (in the figurado size), everything about this cigar is what I’m looking for flavor wise, burn wise and strength wise.. and the flavor changes enough to keep me interested.. Plus they taste very cubanesque and are a lot cheaper!
WBF: I’d say this is better then a Cuban; the Cubans I’ve smoked (a pair of cohibas and a montecristo) have all been par or worse. I really love the DPG CC, and I definitely see what you mean with the almond flavor. I don’t see it being incredibly sweet, rather, a sort of delicate sweetness that is barely noticeable, just enough to set off the spice perfectly. I did have a lot of burn trouble with mine, though, but it’s really windy here.
Cigar-Bot: For me I’ve not had a bad Cuban Cigar… even the Guananmera dog rockets have a suburb Cuban cigar taste… this DPG comes close but not quite! It a tie for me between Nicaraguan tobacco and Cuban tobacco, I wonder if anyone has tried blending the two? Not a breath of wind here, my cigar has been resting now for about 3 or 4 months, I find when I rest ‘em the burn improves drastically… but the body drops a notch. Dr. Nick is kicking in as I am approaching the nub… got that smug sense of satisfaction and the ambient noise has dropped a few DB’s. Here’s a recap of the second third for me: The second third was very smooth, all the bite detected in the first third completely disappeared. The burn continued to go great and the predominant flavor was an almond sweet tobacco with a really long damp and earthy finish.. all the spice disappeared from the finish during the second third.
WBF: I gotcha on the earthy part. Really great essence, this cigar has. I have had this one sitting around for 5 months, and I know what you mean about the body. I think the burn was a fluke, but I’ve got to report it anyhow. It’ll take a few points off the score, nothing severe, I’ll revisit it on a less windy day. I did get a nicotine rush, and I feel very pleasantly dazed. I just finished it. What I have to report: The last third starts off with black pepper up front, with a sort of sweet, sherry undertone and a nice, creamy smoke. The smoke becomes even creamier, and takes on a rich tobacco taste, with muddled notes of nutmeg, pepper, and almonds.
Overall Score: 87
To see the Cigar-Bot score, head over to CigarBot.com!
The Good
-Fantastic pepper/leather-based flavor!
-Perfect smoke!
-Awesome texture and richness.
The Bad
-Burned Poorly
-Almost went out at least once.
As always, we’d love to hear what you have to say! Feel free to leave a comment below.
Review: Camacho Select
Camacho Select
Cigar: Camacho Select
Size: Robusto (5×50)
Cost: $6.45
Wrapper: African Cameroon
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras
Camacho has long been one of my favorite brands. The Camacho Select is one of the few I haven’t tried, but I’m always interested in anything by the Eioras. This is one of the cheaper super premiums offered by Camacho, and it packs the traditional Honduran bunch. One thing that sets it apart from other Camacho cigars is the African Cameroon wrapper, which lends it’s flavor very well.
The prelight draw is lightly barnyardy, with floral notes twisted in. The first third starts off sweet, like honey and barnyard. There is a little pepper on the finish, but for a Camacho cigar, it is medium to mild up through the first inch. Suddenly, white pepper pops onto the pallate, as well as notes of oats and rice in the background.
The second third starts out with pepper, but also includes a host of other spices such as thyme and rosemary. The pepper moves to the forefront, and is followed by a woody flavor. Interestingly enough, there is also a flavor that seems to taste almost like snow smells. It’s very unique and pleasent.
The last third is just an intensification of the last few flavors, especially the pepper, wood, and rosemary. The burn is a bit funky, but just a few touch-ups make it work easily enough. Smoke Time: 50 Minutes
Overall Score: 84
The Good
-Wonderful sub-sixty minute smoke.
-Unique flavor.
The Bad
-No real ‘wow’ factor.
-Awkward Burn
Review – Diesel
Diesel
Cigar: Diesel
Size: Torpedo (Unholy Cocktail) (5×56)
Cost: $6.00
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
One of the biggest word-of-mouth fame-getters of the past few months has been AJ Fernandez’s Diesel. It’s a hell of a looker, too. Smells gorgeous, rich leather, and comes in only one size currently: a stout 5×56 torpedo. It has a nice barnyard pre-light draw, and an easy pull. The first notes are a hearty leather with black pepper notes through the nose and on the finish. After the first few puffs, it begins to coat your mouth with a smooth cognac sort of flavor, mixed in with leather, earthy notes like peat, and subtle spices on the finish. Really a fantastic cigar, this is a stick that really lives up to the hype.
Something that people have really focused on in this cigar is the wrapper; it’s a PA Broadleaf, which is a varient of the Connecticut wrapper by the same name. This is a whole different animal, and I’d say it has more in common with a Nicaraguan Habano then the milder Connecticut. Even then, it is very different; it has a mild sweetness similar, in a few ways, to a Mexican Maduro wrapper, while still maintaining a very nice spice and leather combo.
The second third brings out more leather, and a slight (very slight) apple taste. At this point, the smoke really coats your mouth with this combination, tasting almost like a leathery hot applecider; it’s really interesting, very unique, and doesn’t leave your mouth at all dry. I do have to draw, at this point, some similrities between the Diesel and the Cain Habano; they both have a similar strength (though Cain, moreso) without having the effect of overwhelming you or causing that dry sensation you can get when smoking a much rougher cigar. The flavor in this cigar is also superb, with matches it’s construction nicely; it has burned razor-straight to the middle, and there is currently 2.5 inches of ash.
The incredible ash.
The last third starts off exactly like the second, a nice sweet leather with hints of apple and spice. It does strengthen up a bit, and gains a little bit of a woody finish. This comes in with a bit of a stronger black pepper taste. In a way, the cigar comes full-circle and ends right where it started, which is a rare treat (especially since the flavor is so damn good!) Smoke Time: 70 Minutes
Overall: 93
The Good
-Fantastic construction and even burn.
-Consistent, good flavor with a nice blend choice resulting in a smoke with no bland areas.
-Strong and yet very smooth.
The Bad
-Not incredibly complex. With flavor as good as it has, complexity isn’t really needed, though.
Industry Interview – Terence Reilly
Terence Reilly
Terence Reilly is the newest of a young generation that is quickly moving up the ranks in the Quesada family cigar business. Headed by Manuel Quesada, the Quesada family is known for products coming out of the MATASA factory, as well as the Fonseca line of cigars. The WBF crew met Terence at the Long Island Herf, and later asked him to answer a few questions for us.
WBF: Looking across the cigar industry, family seems to be really important. This seems to apply to the Quesada family more then most, as a younger generation is stepping in and really impacting the family trade. What kind of an impact have you and your cousins made on the family?
Terence: The 5th Generation of Quesadas (or Q5 as we like to call ourselves) are slowly becoming more and more involved in all aspects of the business. What we bring to the table is a fresh way of looking at things. Of course, we are fairly new at this and still have a lot to learn from our elders, but because we are part of a younger generation of cigar enthusiasts we have insight into what they are looking for in a cigar the various means of attracting their interest.
WBF: The Quesada is really a masterpiece. It’s the first cigar to have your family’s name on it, and for good reason; what was the process behind creating this cigar?
Terence: First and foremost, the idea behind the Quesada 35th was to honor my uncle’s (Manuel Quesada’s) 35 years in the business, and it was decided the best way to do that was with a cigar bearing the family name. The Quesada 35th was also intended to demonstrate that the 5th Generation is now more directly involved in the company and is capable of creating a cigar with the same great consistency and quality of the cigars that have been created in Matasa for the past 35 years, but with a taste that is completely new and different.
WBF: The Casa Magna had great success, and has garnered much acclaim from both cigar publications and everyday cigar enthusiasts; the Casa Magna Oscuro is now due out for release sometime around November; what was the thought process behind that, and what are some of the tasting notes?
Terence: The Casa Magna Oscuro was created to give the smoker another great, full-bodied cigar at a very reasonable price. However, although it is another full-bodied Casa Magna, it has its own unique look and taste profile. The mixture of Nicaraguan filler with a beautiful, dark Honduran wrapper give the Oscuro a personality of its own.
WBF: The Quesada line is going to be brought to the forefront of MATASA’s business; you said you were planning on going into slightly stronger cigars then Fonseca has delivered in the past, any details as to the cigars that are in the works? Will you be using more innovative leaf like the Ecuadorian-grown Aripicara wrapper?
Terence: We plan on releasing a full Quesada line in the first half of 2010. We are currently experimenting with tobaccos never used before at Matasa and are looking to create another innovative blend that garners the same praise that the Quesada 35th has.
WBF: Finally, what is your favorite part of cigar culture? The people, the places, the cigars… you’re a friendly guy, and you really seem to have fun doing what you do.
Terence: I can truly say I enjoy all aspects of this business, but if I had to pick a favorite, I’d say that working the events is my favorite part. I think it is a very special thing that I can sit down with a bunch of cigar enthusiasts, talk about the cigars our company makes, have a drink and a few laughs, and call that “work.” I’m pretty lucky.
Review – Cubano Viso Fuerte by Fonseca
Fantastic Morning Cigar
Cigar: Cubano Viso Fuerte by Fonseca
Size: Robusto (5×50)
Cost: $6.50
Wrapper: Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
This particular stogie was recommended to me by Terence (over at MATASA) who thought it would jive well with my full-bodied tastes, as a solid medium cigar. It smells great, the wrapper is silky smooth and looks like it’s covered in oils.
Starts of with a dry leather, mixed with earth sensations. There are small hints of black pepper on the finish. Very creamy smoke with a bit of a latte foam flavor on the body. There is a subtle sweetness that comes in with the foam. This sweetness mixes in with a woody flavor as well, creating a very complex first third. Toward the end of the first third, a roasted sweet red pepper flavor begins to mix very well with leather.
To the point of the second third, the Viso Fuerte has burned razor-straight, even though I’m sitting outside on a rather windy day. It does require a single touch-up with a tiny section of the wrapper curls up a bit away from the burn line. Otherwise, it’s a pretty solid cigar construction-wise. Meanwhile, the flavor is now a muddled woody/charred brown sugar sort of deal, with a very nice burst of sugar on the main body of the smoke. Toward the end of this portion, the cigar has settled on a nice maple wood/sugar flavor that would be very pleasant after breakfast.
The last third is a very woody/earthy portion that loses a lot of the sugar in the previous third. The flavors are still pleasant, though less complex; This is a cigar that would go very well with a cup of coffee. A bit of pepper from the initial part of the cigar comes back into play slowly, followed by a caramel flavor and sensation through the nose. Hints of nuts come in for a really fantastic finish. Firmly in the mild-side of medium category. Smoke Time: 60 Minutes
Overall Rating: 85
The Good
-Fantastic mix of sugary flavors like caramel and maple, and leathery, earthy body to balance it out seamlessly.
-Great burn, requiring only two touch-ups.
-Very nice, easy draw.
The Bad
-The middle is a little bit lackluster flavor-wise.
-Fairly veiny wrapper that could potentially cause burn issues.
