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Jul 7
3
262 Paradigm Toro Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
262 Paradigm Toro Cigar Review
This 6×54 box pressed stick offers a spongy, uniform dark chocolate wrapper with tight seams, minimal veins, slight tooth and a large double cap with a mild sweet tobacco aroma. First light reveals a light airy smoke, mild-medium body with slightly sweet tobacco and a small pepper kick with a long finish. A few small holes in the wrapper are leaking, these may be altering the burn a bit. 1/2 way through the first third the flavors pick up to a medium-full body with a much richer thicker smoke, creamy leather, oily tobacco and a good pepper kick on the finish. The 2nd third transitions to a creamier fuller smoke, a dark espresso and hint of chocolate, while the finish holds pepper and spice but gets very short and clean. The last third changes to a softer creamier coffee still with a bit of cocoa and brings the black pepper and spice up while the finish grows very long again. Thank you very much to Revolution Cigars for generously sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Jun 11
El Mejor Espresso Churchill Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, June 11, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
El Mejor Espresso Churchill
This 7×50 box pressed maduro stick offers an almost black wrapper with a tight press and seams, minimal veins, a firm but slightly spongy feel, very oily and smooth wrapper with a rich chocolate and tobacco aroma. First light reveals a firm draw, earthy, peppery flavors with a long finish and medium body. The firt third has burn problems, burning unevenly and tunneling. Flavors remain consistent with the first impression. By the 1/2 way point after several touchups, the flavors revealed a touch of coffee. At 1:15 I ended the stick because it had no good flavors after constant relights, tunneling and touchups. It had gone very warm and mushy, giving mostly charcoal flavors and a frustrating experience. I will try one again sometime, this could have just been a dud, it was my only sample. Thank you very much regardless, to Michael Yamashita for sending this in for review, I do greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.
May 12
Diesel Unholy Cocktail Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Apr 28
Gurkha Micro-Batch Liga C-10 Churchill Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Gurkha Micro-Batch Liga C-10 Churchill Cigar Review
This 7×48 stick offers a medium tan wrapper with a slight tooth, firm feel, double cap, minimal veins, tight seams and a rich oily deep tobacco aroma. First light reveals a slightly sweet note of caramel, touch of pepper, tobacco and overall an oily smooth smoke with a great draw. The first third developed in to a mild-medium body giving flavors of a slightly musty tobacco, creamy oily wood, with a hint of pepper on the long finish. Draw is excellent and burn is great, but fairly fast. The 2nd third came and went uneventfully. The last third developed in to a light creamy coffee, but still with a along slightly peppery finish. Ending at 1:25 the stick took on an almost bitter flavor going with the slight coffee and dry pepper. Thank you very much to Michael Yamashita for sending these samples in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Apr 23
Ashton Cabinet Selection Pyramid Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Ashton Cabinet Selection Pyramid Cigar Review
Sorry, I goofed on the pics from this one and formatted the wrong card 
This 6×52 belicoso shaped stick offers a silky soft light tan wrapper with minimal veins, a slight spongy feel and light barnyard aroma. First light gives a small amount of smoke but it’s extremely thick and chewy, leaving a heavy oily feeling. Flavors are a slight grass, cedar, and touch of tobacco. Taking a third clip off the head really freed the draw to a normal level and increased smoke and body to a much better medium. From the 1/2 way point at 45 min in through to the end at 1:15 flavors took on a creamy slightly sweet light coffee flavor, still with a rich thick smoke. The finish slowly increased carrying the creamy coffee with it. Than you very much to Ashton for sending this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Apr 14
Xikar HC Series Criollo Lonsdale Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Apr 14
Cigar Art – Coffee Bean Cigars 4of4
Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 in Cigar Art
Cigar Art – Coffee Bean Cigars 4of4
Apr 13
Cigar Art – Coffee Bean Cigars 3of4
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in Cigar Art
Cigar Art – Coffee Bean Cigars 3of4
Apr 12
Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Torpedo Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Apr 12
Cigar Art – Coffee Bean Cigars 2of4
Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 in Cigar Art
Cigar Art – Coffee Bean Cigars 2of4
Apr 11
Cigar Art – Coffee Bean Cigars 1of4
Posted on Sunday, April 11, 2010 in Cigar Art
Cigar Art – Coffee Bean Cigars 1of4
Apr 9
Padron 1926 Anniversary No. 6 Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, April 9, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Apr 5
Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, April 5, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Apr 2
Maribel Maduro Churchill Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, April 2, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Maribel Maduro Churchill Cigar Review
This stick appears to be a 7×48 with a dark brown slightly toothy rugged wrapper. Seams are good, veins are minimal and it puts off a smooth sweet aroma. First light reveals a very good draw on the loose side, plenty of medium bodied smooth smoke and a creamy smooth sweet tobacco taste with a long finish. Those flavors lasted all through the first third, changing to include a rich creamy textured coffee by the half way point 45 min in. The smoke absolutely pours out delivering oily creamy flavor through the long finish. The burn is excellent, almost razor sharp, but the ash only holds on for 1/2 inch at a time so you have to watch it. Ending the stick with 1 1/2 inches left because it got very hot, flavors continued unchanged to the end. Thank you very much to Joe a.k.a. CSMoFo for sending this for review! These are sold at a few stores around Miami and are available direct from the manufacturer: (305) 642-8219 Photography by BG Pictures.
Mar 22
Augusto Reyes Maduro Belicoso Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, March 22, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Mar 15
262 Paradigm Torpedo Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, March 15, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
262 Paradigm Torpedo Cigar Review
This 6.25×54 stick offers a thick, dark toothy maduro wrapper with minimal veins and tight even seams and construction. The aroma is a mild peppery tobacco. On first light the draw is very firm, and I had to cut it down to the edge of the shoulder. It remained tight, putting off a minimal amount of smoke. The flavors were a mild-medium slightly sweet leather, with a finish of slightly peppery tobacco. The second third only showed the leather flavor to disappear, replaced by a plain tobacco. 55 min in at the 1/2 way point the draw opened up to normal, the smoke production went up and flavors transitioned to a mild-medium body of earth, a touch of caramel and a bit of black pepper. The finish was still short with just a mild peppery tobacco. The last third showed some really nice flavors, morphing to a medium bodied coffee with an undertone of licorice and pepper, with a longer finish of a peppery earth. Burn was excellent all the way down, holding a 1″ tight bright white ash. Total burn time was 1:30 to the nub. Thank you very much to 262 for sending this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Mar 1
Ashton VSG Eclipse Tubos Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, March 1, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Feb 24
Ashton ESG 23 Year Salute Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Feb 22
Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta No. 7 Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, February 22, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Feb 21
El Primer Mundo Rosado Oscuro Cigar Review
Posted on Sunday, February 21, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.