Forcade Cigars Giralda Churchill Cigar Review

This 7×48 stick offers a light pack, smooth soft wrapping with tight seams and minimal veins. The aroma is a very pungent barnyard and chocolate. First light reveals a perfect draw, plenty of rich smoke giving a medium-full body and flavors of a rich slightly peppery tobacco with a long finish. The entire cigar was very consistent, giving the same flavors from first light ending at the 1 hour mark. Overall a very smooth smoke and great for any time of the day with a great bit of flavor and power. Thank you very much to Forcade Cigars for sending this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Cain Maduro Double Toro Cigar Review

This 6×60 dark chocolate stick offers a chunky, firm wrapper with minimal veins and seams. It gives a peppery and sweet tobacco aroma. First light reveals a light medium body smoke with peppery and sweet tobacco flavor. The first third is a bit light on smoke needing double-puffs and tunneling a bit, prompting touchups. Flavors are consistent with the addition of a slight leather. The 2nd third evens out the burn a bit but doesn’t change the flavor profile noticeably, only bringing a slight harshness to the back of my throat. The last third brings a touch of cinnamon but overall the whole thing is very consistent. Strength wise it is just about topping the charts near the end here although with only 1/2 as much flavor. I’m ending the stick a good 20 min early at this point simply because this combo isn’t something I enjoy at all and don’t like the after effects of too much power. Smoking the whole thing would easily bring a 1:45 smoke time. Thank you very much to Jeremie Plouffe for generously sending this for review, I did enjoy trying it! Photography by BG Pictures.

Diesel Unholy Cocktail Cigar Review

This 5×56 torpedo sports a dark chocolate, soft but toothy firm wrapper with minimal veins, and a rich potpourri like spicy scent. First light reveals a slightly firm draw with adaquate smoke production. Flavors are medium bodied with a rich oily slightly sweet tobacco, and a good bit of pepper and spice especially on the long deep finish. The first third brings quite a complex blend of toast, coffee, then a spicy leather with a bit of pepper. The finish grows the pepper and adds spice, holding on well to the next draw. Body is a good medium-full. By the 1/2 way point the ash had just dropped off, burn was perfect and the flavors had mellowed a bit pushing more of the coffee. The last third continued the trend changing to a smooth creamy coffee with a pepper zing at the end of the draw. Total burn time to the nub was 1:15. Thank you very much to Chaz from Long Island for generously sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Xikar HC Series Criollo Cigar Review

This 6×46 stick offers a dark tan very slightly toothy wrapper with minimal veins, invisible seams, a double cap and small pigstail twist, with a slight barnyard aroma. First light reveals a very good draw and smoke production, a slight sweetness, lots of smooth oily peppery tobacco. Body is a nice medium-full giving very flavorful draws every time. Reaching the 1/2 way point 30 min in, flavors transitioned to a smooth, dry tobacco with a slightly sweet licorice quickly fading to a black pepper flavor without any of the spice. The last third ended at just over 1 hour, transitioning to a creamy and smooth mocha – soft coffee and a hint of chocolate, very silky. Thank you very much to Xikar for sending this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Torpedo Cigar Review

This 6.25 by 52 maduro stick offers a virtually seamless satin wrapper with some small veins showing in darkened color only. Overall a dark chocolate color it gives off a rich oily slightly sweet tobacco aroma. First light reveals a full palate of complex flavors, requiring multiple draws to fully experience. They included deep earth, sweetness, smooth tobacco, nuts, slight pepper, cocoa, coffee and cream. The first third develops to a solid medium body, with tons of very smooth rich smoke output and a very easy draw. Flavors remain complex and very creamy in texture. By the 2nd third flavors had become more of the creamy cocoa, with undertones of a caramel and a deep oily finish. Ending at the 1:10 min mark, the stick proved to be the same flavor wise through the remainder, which was just fine with me! Thank you very much to Michael Yamashita for sending this sample in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Padron 1926 Anniversary No. 6 Cigar Review

This 4.7×50 stick offers a mottled medium chocolate glove soft wrapper, with seams you can see but not feel and almost no veins even visible. It has a uniform firm but not hard feel, a tight box press, double cap and has a slight oil sheen, giving a mild tobacco and pepper aroma. First light reveals a smooth pepper and tobacco with a hint of coffee on the long finish. The draw is perfect producing copious amounts of oily, rich smoke. The burn is actually pretty fast for a Padron, getting through the 1st third in 20 minutes. It’s a full body and near full strength, giving me the jitters slightly. Flavors are typically Padron complex, with leather, pepper and spice, nuts, coffee, cocoa, tobacco and earth all blended smoothly and richly together with a long finish and tons of smoke. The 2nd third toned the body and complexity down somewhat, turning to a medium-full creamy cocoa and touch of leather with much less pepper and spice. The finish is still long and oily with great smoke production. Ending the stick with an inch remaining at the 50 min mark the draw was getting very hot. Flavors had remained consistent from the 1/2 way point with rich creamy coffee and cocoa and a slightly peppery finish. Photography by BG Pictures.

Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra Cigar Review

This 7×52 sungrown stick is wrapped in a medium chocolate, satin leaf with a slight tooth, even spongy construction and a triple cap giving a soft sweet floral aroma. First light reveals a medium-full body of strong black pepper throughout the mouth and a soft but deep tobacco. The draw is very loose, putting off a small amount of soft light smoke. By the 1/2 way point flavors had transitioned to a creamy, smooth oily roasted coffee, with a light finish that brought a touch of the pepper and spice. These flavors carried all through the last half, ending the stick at 1:20, a great time for a very flavorful stick! Photography by BG Pictures.

D’Crossier Imperium Class Vintage Taino Cigar Review

This 5 7/8×54 stick offers a rich, oily dark chocolate wrapper with a slight colorado red hue. The finish is soft and very oily with an even, firm but light pack. Giving off a rich chocolate and oily aroma, it is very pungent! The draw is on the loose side giving off tons of rich creamy smoke. Flavors at first light are a soft tobacco, slight pepper and lots of rich oil left on the finish. The first third develops into a big blast of pepper and spice that carries on through the finish leaving a cayenne kick on the lips and tongue. Core flavors remain of a smooth aged tobacco. By the 1/2 way point 45 minutes in, flavors also included a buttery smooth nut, that blended very well with the others. Ending at 1:25 the last third continued to get creamier and buttery, bringing the nut and caramel to the front of the flavor pack, with the tobacco and spices going down a notch. Thank you very much to D’Crossier for generously donating this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Augusto Reyes Maduro Belicoso Cigar Review

This 6.5×54 dark chocolate wrapped stick offered a fuzzy, very toothy firm feel with a rich oily cocoa aroma. First light reveals a very tight draw, hardly any smoke or flavor. What is there is just a mild tobacco, although oily and smooth. Taking a 2nd cut off the head opened up the draw to a normal level, just on the snug side. Smoke production improved, although still not voluminous by any means. Flavors were a medium bodied burned coffee, oily slightly sweet tobacco with a finish of slight black pepper flavor and zing. The stick didn’t want to burn evenly, the wrapper falling behind every 10 draws or so and required frequent relights and touchups. After a fresh light the flavors were very rewarding with a creamy, oily coffee and cocoa and slight peppery finish. As the burn deteriorated though, it slid toward the mild side with less smoke output and a general earthy core. The stick continued from here to 1:30 where it had a little over 1″ remaining but probably due to multiple relights, got very hot a bit early. Thank you very much to Ken Glass for sending this for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.

Primer Mundo Habano Criollo Maduro Cigar Review

This 5×50 box press stick offers a mottled, oily satin wrapper with a dark chocolate hue, minimal viens, smooth seams and a tight press. The aroma is of a mild sweet tobacco. First light reveals a draw on the firm side, a very smooth silky smoke, although light on production. Flavors are a medium bodied slightly peppery tobacco. There is a heavy slight bitterness to it, not unpleasant, much like a bitter chocolate experience. The stick proved to be extremely consistent, holding the exact same flavors from start to finish at the 1 hour mark. Thank you very much to Primer Mundo Cigars for sending this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Xikar HC Series Habano Colorado Toro Cigar Review

This 6.5×52 stick offers a dark chocolate wrapper with a firm pack and satin feel. Minimal veins, invisible seams and a peppery cocoa aroma present with a fairly dense heft. The first third starts off on the smooth side, with a touch of aged tobacco taste and richness. The smoke is rich and plentiful with a medium body and soft flavors of slightly sweet earthy tobacco with a big pepper kick. The finish is very long with the black pepper flavors building adding a zing over the tongue. Half way in at the 60 min mark, flavors had mellowed out a bit with the pepper coming and going at points. The sweetness had begun to change to a caramel, and the core flavor turned to a soft leather. By the last third, the pepper came back but not quite as strong, and the caramel died down a touch. Total burn time to the nub was 1:50. Thank you very much to Xikar for sending this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Ashton VSG Eclipse Tubos Cigar Review

This 6×52 dark chocolate stick comes wrapped in a cedar sleeve, inside a black aluminum tube for easy transport and storage. Offering a robust, slightly veiny irregular roll it presents slight tooth, a firm pack and beautiful chocolate tobacco aroma. Starting on the mild-medium body side of things, it opens with a oily, smooth tobacco and black pepper flavor without any of the spice and heat, adding a hint of a bitter chocolate in to the long pepper finish. Strength wise it’s definitely got a punch, medium-full by the first inch in. By the half way point flavors had changed to a creamy sweet chocolate and coffee, with a smooth pepper finish, getting richer as it burns down. By the end of the 2nd third flavors had dropped the pepper in exchange for more cream and butter, especially on the finish, leaving an oily creamy slick on the palate. The last third brought the coffee flavor to the forefront and the pepper back but at a milder point, with just a hint of the chocolate. Overall still rich, creamy, oily and slightly sweet, it finished long and smooth. Burn and draw were both excellent all the way down without issue. Total burn time to the last inch was 1:15 where it started getting hot. Thank you very much to Ashton for generously supplying this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Ashton ESG 23 Year Salute Cigar Review

This 6.25×52 stick offers a dark milk chocolate wrapper with a slight tooth, tight seams and firm pack with just a bit of give. A triple cap and minimal veins combine with a slightly irregular lumpy appearance showing it as a hand made creation. The first third brought a medium-full body of flavors including a smooth creamy cocoa with an undertone of tobacco and pepper, the finish being short and more peppery than the draw adding a slight spice kick. By the 2nd third flavors had transitioned to a smooth creamy cocoa with a bit of coffee, touch of leather and on the end of the draw into the lengthening finish, a black pepper taste and slight zing over the tongue. The last third brought the coffee flavor more forward and amped up the pepper especially on the finish. Smoke output was very good, coating the mouth with rich, smooth tastes. Draw and burn were both excellent all the way down with no issues and not needing any thought. Burn time to the last inch was 1:35. Thank you very much to Ashton for sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta No. 7 Cigar Review

This 6×50 stick offers a two-tone wrapper consisting of a natural light tan shade covering the first 75%, and the last 25% wrapped in a dark chocolate maduro leaf. With a very loose, effortless draw, it puts out a terrific amount of smoke. Starting with a slightly bitter wood flavor it finished long with a hint of coffee and touch of pepper. The 2nd third brought the coffee up just a bit and added a little creaminess, dropping much of the pepper. By the start of the last third it had turned to a slightly sweet, creamy coffee as the predominant flavor and just gave a hint of the typical connecticut woodiness. The stick was finished 1:20 in with about 1″ of the maduro remaining. Only about 15 min of the maduro section is smokeable before getting very warm and soft. Surprisingly the body went down a bit and flavors mellowed out once the transition was made. Flavors changed to just a mild, oily coffee with the ash holding on tight for about 1 1/2″ at a time showing white and light grey bands. Burn was flawless all the way down. Thank you very much to Drew Estate for sending this in for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.

El Primer Mundo Rosado Oscuro Cigar Review

This 5×50 box pressed stick presents a dark chocolate, slightly toothy wrapper showing minimal veins with tight seams and construction. The aroma is a sweet and peppery tobacco. Medium-full body, the flavors in the first third were smooth and rich giving a complex blend of a mild pepper, chocolate, light leather and cream with a touch of aged tobacco. Smoke output was excellent producing a huge, almost chewy volume with an absolutely effortless draw. Flavor remained consistent to the last couple inches where they transitioned to a creamy dry roasted coffee and touch of pepper with a long finish. Body and strength by the last third were a solid medium-full giving a slight rush. Total burn time was 1:10 to the nub. Thank you very much to Primer Mundo Cigar Co. for donating this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Padilla Signature 1932 Limitada Oscuro Salomon Cigar Review

This 7.2×59 figurado features a dark chocolate, oily, slightly toothy wrapper with minimal veins and invisible seams. Draw was perfect with just the right amount of resistance for effortless control. Body was medium-full giving rich, smooth smoke. Strength was also medium-full, giving a buzz by the 1:30 point. After the video I felt kind of sick for 30 min. Actual smoke output was light, but flavors were prominent until the short clean finish. First third flavors were dominated by an oily creamy tobacco and big black pepper notes with minimal spice and zing, contrasted by hints of chocolate. An inch down flavors changed to quick hits of coffee, chocolate and leather, settling down to a peppery, oily earth on the finish. Near the 1/2 way point, flavors changed to a predominant coffee with a creamy tobacco finish, and the coffee continued to increase to the end, at the 2:10 mark. Thank you very much to Ken Glass for sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Corona Nicaraguan Selection Torpedo Maduro Cigar Review

This 6.5×52 stick offered a medium chocolate wrapper with a slightly spongy feel and fairly dense pack showing minimal veins and a satin finish. The tip needed to be cut back about 1/2″ for a good draw, which produced a nice creamy oily smoke. Flavors were a rich sweet creamy leather with undertones of aged tobacco smoothness and a touch of mustiness. Overall an extremely consistent stick from start to finish, nubbing the last inch at the 1:45 min mark. Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Macanudo Maduro Diplomat Cigar Review

This 4.5×60 perfecto offers a very oily dark chocolate wrapper with very firm construction, minimal veins and a very small cap & shoulder that gave me a bit of trouble cutting as far as unraveling. Draw was very firm, almost plugged, offering little smoke output and somewhat muted flavors. What did come out of it were very nice notes of cream, light tobacco, sweetness and a hint of pepper with a very short clean finish on the first third. The center section required two touch-ups and changed to a very light sweet leather. Getting to the last third the draw suddenly opened up, producing tons of rich creamy smoke, a creamy earthy leather and a good pepper zing. The center section was obviously not constructed properly. Thank you very much to Jeremie Plouffe for sending this sample in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Gurkha Centurion Cigar Review

This 6×60 dark chocolate wrapped perfecto offers a draw on the firm side, and 5 inches of normal burn after getting past and clipping the tapered ends. Showing several transitions, flavors included a creamy buttery leather, chocolate, big pepper blasts without the spice, deep earth and a long finish for most of the smoke. At the last third, flavors changed to a huge deep roasted coffee that was increasingly creamy to the nub. Smoke output was very light at the start, taking 20 minutes to open up to just normal. It was on the light side but always smooth, delivering a medium-full bodied experience overall. The ash held on for 2″ at a time with no burn issues. Thank you very much to Ken Glass for sending this in for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.

Padilla Dominus Robusto Cigar Review

This 5×50 stick offered a medium chocolate wrapper with minimal veins, a very soft silky feel and a floral aroma. Body was medium-full giving rich smooth flavors all the way down with a good bit of power, but never overwhelming. Total burn time was just under 1 hour burning very well with a draw on the firm side. Smoke output was very good, filling the mouth with flavors of creamy leather, mild earthiness, hints of cinnamon and pepper in the first 1/2, transitioning to a dry mildly sweet cocoa with a long finish of the same. Thank you very much to Ken Glass for sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.