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Mar 12
7
Corona Nicaraguan Selection 10th Anniversary Robusto Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Corona Nicaraguan Selection 10th Anniversary Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 stick offers a dark tan, firmly packed wrapper showing minimal veins and tight seams with a large double cap. The aroma is a mellow tobacco smell, reminiscent of the ‘perfect humidor’. Starting off it gives out huge volumes of smoke with a very easy, free draw. Flavors are extremely sweet, tasting much like a flavored tip. The core is an aged tobacco, very smooth with a good bit of pepper kick that comes on the end of the draw holding and building through the long finish. 40 min in at the 1/2 way point flavors remained very consistant, still medium-full bodied but without a strength kick. The last third mellowed the whole stick out – the body came down a touch to medium, the aged tobacco changed to a slight earth, the pepper zing came down and the big sweetness changed to a suble licorice. Burn was excellent all the way down, holding the ash in thirds for a total burn time of 1 hour. Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for seding this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Mar 9
Xikar HC Series Habano Colorado Toro Cigar Review
Posted on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
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 17
La Aurora Belicoso Maduro Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
La Aurora Belicoso Maduro Cigar Review
This 6.25×52 stick offers a dark brown wrapper showing minimal veins, clean seams and a very firm pack. 3/4″ had to be clipped off the tip for a decent draw, producing just an average amount of smoke on the draw. First third flavors were of caramel and licorice sweetness, a mild earth, slight woodiness and small pepper and spice kick on the long finish. At the half way point flavors changed to a smooth oily, creamy leather with a mild pepper that kicks up on the finish. In the final third flavors remained the same while the draw improved along with smoke production, reaching a very good volume pushing chewy. Thank you very much to viewer Jeremie Plouffe for generously sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Feb 12
Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Robusto Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, February 12, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Robusto Cigar Review
This 5.5×50 medium tan stick offers a firm, dense pack under smooth wrapper with minimal veins and a triple cap. Starting off very bitter, the first third was a dry, slightly bitter almond, fading quickly to a finish of an oily oak with hints of pepper zing. By the 2nd third flavors transitioned to a mild-medium roasted nut and oily toast with a longer finish. At the half way point it became a typical connecticut with dry toasty, nutty, woody flavors and a long dry finish. Body was medium, smoke output was fantastic, as was the burn and draw all the way down, typical of a Rocky Patel. Thank you very much to Michael Yamashita for sending this sample in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Feb 10
Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo Toro Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo Toro Cigar Review
This 6×50 medium tan stick offers a soft satin wrapper with minimal veins and very smooth seams with a triple cap. Body started medium-full pulling down to a medium by the 2nd third. Strength slowly built up to full by the end of the stick at the 1:10 hour mark. Burn and draw were both excellent from start to finish, holding a very straight burn with just the right amount of resistance. Flavors were fairly consistent to the last third, giving a smooth, slightly chewy smoke with a creamy leather and slight pepper kick. The finish was long, growing heavy and slightly bitter as it burned down. The final third brought a creamy chewy earthiness with a hint of licorice, and a cleaner finish of oil, cream and the same chewiness on the palate. The only problem with this stick was a terrible band glue job, with a huge glob on the wrapper taking a chunk with the band. Luckily it did not breach and still smoked perfectly. Thank you very much to Ken Glass for sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Feb 8
Padilla Signature 1932 Limitada Oscuro Salomon Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, February 8, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Feb 5
Corona Nicaraguan Selection Torpedo Maduro Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, February 5, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Feb 1
Gurkha Centurion Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, February 1, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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.
Jan 29
Corona Cigar Company Gold Series Gorda Uncut Sungrown Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, January 29, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Corona Cigar Company Gold Series Gorda Uncut Sungrown Cigar Review
This 7×52 shaggy foot stick offers a dark brown wrapper with a bit of oil, a satin finish and a very aromatic wrapper of sandalwood. The first two thirds were very mild with a light, airy smoke and flavors of light earth and a touch of cream. For a short time around the 1/2 way point a dry aged tobacco flavor joined in and faded by the end of the 2nd third. The last third woke up a bit giving a solid medium body with much richer flavor, twice the smoke output and showing a very smooth creamy light leather and a long earth finish. Draw was prefect and the burn was as well, all the way down, holding the ash about 3/4″. Total burn time was 1:25. Thank you very much to the Corona Cigar Company for sending this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Jan 22
Panacea Red 760 Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, January 22, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Panacea Red 760 Cigar Review
This monster 7×60 medium chocolate maduro stick offers a tight, dense pack, minimal veins and an oily satin wrapper with some good tooth. Body started off near full and quickly mellowed to a nice medium. Flavors in the first third included pepper, smooth tobacco hints of oil and sweetness, leaving a short finish of slight earth and black pepper flavor with no zip or spice. Smoke output was on the light side but coated the mouth well leaving a bit of an oil residual. Near the half way point flavors changed to a mellow, slightly sweet cocoa with a short earthy finish and a mild pepper zing. The last third changed again to a dry roasted espresso both on the draw and finish, which got very long, bringing a black pepper kick in late. Total smoke time was 1:50. Thank you very much to Flatbed Cigar Company for sending this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Jan 13
Man O’War Ruination Belicoso Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Man O’War Ruination Belicoso Cigar Review
This 5.7×56 stick offers a dark and oily wrapper with fairly firm construction, small veins and tight seams. Draw was perfect and the burn was very good all the way down, holding long tight ashes. The first inch had quite a spice kick with a smooth tobacco core and long finish. It then transitioned to flavors including coffee, chocolate, licorice, sweetness and left a long finish of oily tobacco and deep espresso. Body was medium-full with rich thick smoke while strength was pushing full. After the video I did have a jittery buzz for 30 min or so. Total burn time was 1:15 to the nub. Thank you very much to Chaz from Long Island, a fan of the site for generously sending me this to try! Photography by BG Pictures.
Dec 14
Bucanero Canon Cubano Natural Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, December 14, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Bucanero Canon Cubano Natural Cigar Review
This 5.5×60 light tan double connecticut stick offered a 1 hour burn time with plenty of smooth creamy smoke and a very loose draw. Burn was good all the way down with just minor waviness. The first third showed flavors of dusty light leather and a mild creamy finish, very much like a milder Don Douglas. The second third moved to a core earthiness and longer finish, losing the cream. The last third kept the earthiness but added quite a bit more cream flavor and texture, finishing the stick out very smooth and light. Overall a mild-medium body cigar. Thank you to Bucanero Cigars for donating this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Dec 11
Old Henry Robusto Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, December 11, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Old Henry Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 stick offers a medium tan wrapper with firm construction and a triple cap, with a very pleasant sweet aroma. Flavors were fairly consistant for the first two thirds, showing a smooth, rich smooth leather with a mild spice and pepper kick on the finish. Hints of a woody taste remained after the main flavors quickly trailed off. The last third brought a much smoother creamy taste and texture with a mild core of almond and a simpler finish without the pepper. Total burn time to the nub was 45 min. Overall body was mild-medium with a firm draw. Burn was very good all the way down with the ash holding in thirds cleanly and producing rich thick smoke. Thank you very much to Holts for sending this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Nov 20
La Aroma De Cuba New Blend Monarch Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, November 20, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
La Aroma De Cuba New Blend Monarch Cigar Review
This 6×52 stick offered a very smooth satin medium chocolate wrapper with a nice aroma of dusty cocoa. Draw started out very firm but gradually went down to a very nice amount of resistance as the stick burned. Total burn time to the nub was 1:30, holding the ash between 3/4″ and 1 1/2″ with an almost razor sharp line. Flavors in the first two thirds were very consistent, giving a light creamy leather flavor with a long finish. Pepper and spice built up on the finish giving a zing on the tongue and a heat on the lips. The last third showed the leather to fade out replaced by a smooth tobacco, and the pepper going way down to just barely there. The spice was completely gone by the band point. Thank you very much to Ashton for donating this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Nov 11
Ashton Aged Maduro #40 Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Ashton Aged Maduro #40 Cigar Review
This 6×60 stick offered a very dark, firm satin wrapper with a lot of texture like shrink wrap. Medium bodied overall, flavors were typical of a maduro stick at most points with the addition of being extra smooth and light. Creamy sweet leather came through for the first half, followed by a mild pepper wash on the finish. A dry cocoa replaced the leather on the second half, kicking up the pepper slightly and holding the body flavors on the finish longer. Thank you very much to Ashton for donating this stick for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Oct 26
Piano Fuerte Sonata Double Corona Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Piano Fuerte Sonata Double Corona Cigar Review
This 6×60 stick from Piano Fuerte came in a light tan wrapper with good firm construction and a smooth finish. Lasting just over an hour, it offered a fairly plain flavor profile but with a few good distinct transitions. Flavors included creamy leather, deep earthiness, cinnamon and a nice pepper & spice kick through the finish. This is a fairly spicy stick all the way down, with the core flavors changing through the thirds nicely. It was medium-full bodied but never overpowering – no buzz at all. Burn was almost razor sharp all the way down, the ash holding on for an inch between clean drops. The draw was just on the firm side with perfect resistance for slow nice pulls. The smoke volume was light till the last third, at which point it because voluminous and rich. Thank you very much to Piano Fuerte Cigars for donating this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Oct 9
Berger & Argenti Clasico Belicoso Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, October 9, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Berger & Argenti Clasico Belicoso Cigar Review
This 5.75×50 stick offered a tan, textured but firm wrapper, with a nice tobacco aroma. Total burn time was 1:45 just past the band point, and it was almost razor sharp all the way down. The ash was light grey and white, holding on 1 1/2″ at a time. The draw was VERY loose but produced huge amounts of rich smoke with no effort at all. It was very surprising to get that much smoke and flavor for so long with such a free draw! The flavors were very consistent, dominated by a smooth creamy cocoa, medium-full in body. The first two thirds offered a nice pepper and spice zing on the finish, giving way to just a long creamy finish at the end. Thank you very much to Berger & Argenti for donating this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Oct 2
Gran Habano 3 Siglos Torpedo Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, October 2, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Gran Habano 3 Siglos Torpedo Cigar Review
This 6.1×56 dark chocolate stick offered a medium body experience with somewhat muted flavors. The wrapper and binder both had very pronounced veins giving one minor burn problem that required an early touch up. The remainder of the burn was not perfect but was self-correcting. Draw was on the loose side and worked well. Flavors of the first third were just a heavy tobacco with pepper on the finish. The 2nd third showed a bit more development with hints of coffee wood and leather but they very quickly dissipated to a mild pepper finish, leaving a heavy aftertaste. The last third got very warm and a little mushy, prompting me to end it just before the band point at 1:45. The one negative thing was the aroma of the smoke off the foot – it was pretty stinky at points and left my fingertips smelling of wet ashtray by the time I finished. Thanks to Shuckins for trading with me for this stick! Photography by BG Pictures.