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Aug 29

Bucanero Canon Cubano Maduro Cigar Review

Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Bucanero Canon Cubano Maduro Cigar Review

This 5.5×60 stick offers a soft, firm satin dark chocolate wrapper with small veins, tight seams, nice double cap and a creamy tobacco aroma. First light reveals a rich smooth texture of a medium bodied slightly earthy peppery flavor. The first third continues the trend with smooth creamy textures of aged tobacco with a touch of sweetness and earth. The draw is firm, smoke output is minimal and the burn is good. I find that it smokes much better with a lot more smoke if you take two small puffs rather than the typical one long draw. It starts giving a smooth coffee flavor along with the rest in the 2nd third, hitting the 1/2 way point 45 min in. With no changes to the last third it continues all the good flavors through the rest of the stick ending at 1:15 with an inch left where it got warm for my taste. Photography by BG Pictures.

Aug 20

Press Release: Berger & Argenti ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO

Posted on Friday, August 20, 2010 in Informational

ENTUBAR MADURO TORP BOX 266x300 Press Release: Berger & Argenti ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO  cigar artFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Albert J. Argenti
August 20, 2010 (305) 644-2114

ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO LIGHTS UP IPCPR NEW ORLEANS

MIAMI – Berger & Argenti Premium Cigars announced the debut of ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO at the 78th IPCPR Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans, LA was an overwhelming success and enthusiastically received by retailers and consumers alike.

ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO is a full-bodied, super-premium extension of the sensational ENTUBAR® cigar brand which was unveiled to the public a year ago at IPCPR. Like ENTUBAR®, the QUAD MADURO pays tribute to the time-honored Cuban cigar making technique known as ‘entubar’ while also establishing a revolutionary new process of manufacturing premium cigars.

Each deeply aged Nicaraguan filler leaf that comprises the ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO blend is carefully rolled creating delicate ‘scrolls’ of rich, flavorful tobacco. This age-old method ensures open chambers of air flow from the foot to the head of the cigar. The ligero tobacco, which lends the cigar its unique full body, are bunched independently and then placed into the center of the remaining ‘entubar’ rolled filler blend. This ‘channel’ of ligero tobacco ranges the full length of the cigar and extends ¼” beyond the finished trimmed foot, creating a startlingly unique ‘fuse like’ appearance that assures a superior draw, flawless conical burn with a long white ash, and a myriad of complex flavors channeled directly onto the palate. ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO is ‘cuadrado’ pressed Habano and comprised of all Cuban-seed Nicaraguan (viso and ligero) and Dominican (seco) fillers, a savory Nicaraguan binder, and skillfully enveloped in a rich, dark Jalapa Valley-grown Maduro wrapper crop aged eight years in seasoned oak barrels.

Due to the meticulous small batch production of ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO, only ‘friends’ and authorized ENTUBAR® merchants in the United States will have access to the brand. ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO is delicately packaged in rustic Spanish cedar boxes of 20 cigars and available in four (4) distinct vitolas characterized by sumptuously large ring gauges: Corona Macho (4 5/8” x 48); Robusto (5 3/8” x 54); Double Corona (7 5/8” x 54); and Torpedo (6 7/8” x 56).

Berger & Argenti Premium Cigars is a privately-held company headquartered in Miami, Florida with agricultural and production facilities in Esteli, Nicaragua. The company serves as the exclusive manufacturer, importer and distributor of world-class, super-premium cigar brands including ENTUBAR®, ENTUBAR® QUAD MADURO, CLASICO® and MOOCH®. For more information, please call toll-free (800) 815-1155 or visit the Berger & Argenti website at www.bergerargenti.com.

Aug 11

Royal Jamaica Oro Rojo Toro Cigar Review

Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Royal Jamaica Oro Rojo Toro Cigar Review

This 6×52 stick offers a dark brown butter soft wrapper with a red hue, minimal veins, tight seams and a soft tobacco aroma. First light reveals a firm draw, minimal airy smoke with mild-medium flavors of an oily smooth tobacco with a slight bitterness. The first third proves to be similar with just a mild smooth aged tobacco taste with a long oily buttery finish. Burn is good but not perfect, and the draw remains firm. The 2nd third moved to more power and brought an earthy deep caramel but still mild. The finish was very deep oily and long with a touch of bitterness at points. The last third required multiple touchups and a relight, getting very warm by the band point at 1:30 where I stopped. Photography by BG Pictures.

Aug 5

Press Release: Cubanero Enterprises Introduces Premium Cigar Brand REINADO

Posted on Thursday, August 5, 2010 in Informational

Cubanero Enterprises Introduces Premium Cigar Brand REINADO at the 78th Annual IPCPR Convention and International Trade Show

pressrelease 139567 1281012548 Press Release: Cubanero Enterprises Introduces Premium Cigar Brand REINADO cigar art

Innovative brand employs unique fermentation to produce an upscale, distinguished blend.

Oradell, NJ, August 05, 2010 –(PR.com)– Cubanero Enterprises will unveil its new cigar and brand, REINADO, at the 78th Annual International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association Convention and Trade Show.

REINADO, meaning “Reign,” communicates a regal lifestyle and sophisticated smoking experience.

“Under development for many years, we sought to create a unique blend that exudes a smooth, rich, and complex experience like no other,” said Antonio Lam, creator of the brand. “With REINADO, our early customers and retail partners have told us we have succeeded.”

REINADO cigars are handmade and grown from Cuban seeds. Meticulously constructed from select premium tobacco grown in the rich fields of Nicaragua, REINADO is a Nicaraguan puro from premium crops aged up to 5 years.

The REINADO blend uses a proprietary fermentation process to enhance the flavors that resonate throughout the smoking experience.

Sizes include:
* Robusto: 5 1/2 X 50
* Torpedo: 6 1/8 X 52
* Churchill: 7 5/8 X 48

REINADO cigars are available at $7.95-$9.95 per cigar in boxes of 20 depending upon size. REINADO cigars will be available at fine tobacconists across the United States.

More Information:
To learn more, obtain samples, or carry the REINADO brand, visit us at booth #2358 at the IPCPR 78th Annual Convention and International Trade Show, online at http://www.reinadocigars.com or contact Cubanero Enterprises at:

REINADO Cigars
201.820.1851
info@reinadocigars.com

About Cubanero Enterprises:
Cubanero Enterprises, LLC develops premium cigars delivering a sophisticated smoking experience. Leveraging the Cuban heritage of its founders, Cubanero Enterprises incorporates passion and innovation to deliver the highest quality cigars.

###
Contact Information
REINADO Cigars
Antonio Lam
201-820-1851
press@reinadocigars.com
www.reinadocigars.com

Aug 5

Pinar Del Rio 1878 Cubano Especial Robusto Cigar Review

Posted on Thursday, August 5, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Pinar Del Rio 1878 Cubano Especial Robusto Cigar Review

This 5×52 stick offers a pig tail cap, a rich dark chocolate oily smooth wrapper with a strong barn and chocolate aroma. First light reveals a very smooth, rich and oily smoke with mild-medium bodied flavors of a slightly sweet tobacco. The 1st third produces medium bodied flavors of a rich, smooth aged tobacco with a slight general sweetness and very oily long finish. At the 1/2 way point, flavors remained the same, the ash fell off and the draw opened up to normal. Smoke output is good and the burn is perfect. 1 hour in to the band point, flavors shift slightly bringing a slight caramel and earth to the blend. Ending at 1:25 min, the last third proved to hold the same profile since the last transition. Photography by BG Pictures.

Jul 29

Victor Sinclair 10th Aniversario Toro Cigar Review

Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Victor Sinclair 10th Aniversario Toro Cigar Review

This 5.7×54 stick offers a cedar sleeve, tight firm construction, an oily dark brown soft satin wrapper with a slightly peppery tobacco aroma. First light reveals a slightly firm draw, good rich smoke production, a mild-medium body of a smooth creamy buttery tobacco smoke with a long rich finish. The first third develops with a perfect burn line to a medium bodied flavor package of a smooth rich tobacco with a touch of cedar wood and caramel sweetness. The draw flavors finish quickly and change to a black pepper and spice kick on the longer finish sensations. The 2nd third carries the same experience, holding the ash to almost 2″. The last third ends at the band point getting very warm and slightly mushy, bringing a generic nutty flavor to the end at the 1:25 mark. Photography by BG Pictures.

Jul 20

Tatuaje Black Tubos Cigar Review

Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Tatuaje Black Tubos Cigar Review

This 6×52 torpedo stick comes packaged in an aluminum tube and cedar wrap. It offers a dark chocolate wrapper with a slight red hue, a satin texture with very slight tooth, tight seams, minimal veins and a slight barnyard aroma. After toasting the closed foot and adjusting the head cut, the draw was perfect, smoke output was great and the flavors were dominated by a medium-full bodied smooth, rich pepper and spice. The first third develops to a light and airy leather with a deeper earthy pepper and spice, though not as intense as the first light. Smoke output is good with smooth rich smoke. Burn is ok, needing a touchup. The draw gets a bit snug and I clipped the head one more time. 30 minutes in at the 1/2 way point flavors have mellowed to a smooth creamy medium bodied smoke with a slight sweetness, earthy oily finish and good bit of pepper & spice. It is requiring a slight touchup every 10 min or so to prevent tunneling. Ending at 1 hour, the last third continues the same experience since the 1/2 mark, ending with a bit of power punch. Photography by BG Pictures.

Jul 16

Corona Cigar Company Dominican Selection Churchill Cigar Review

Posted on Friday, July 16, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Corona Cigar Company Dominican Selection Churchill Cigar Review

This 7×50 stick comes in with a light tan smooth wrapper with the feel of paper. Minimal veins, invisible seams and a double cap button it up, with an almost imperceptible aroma. First light reveals plenty of rich smoke production, a perfect draw and a mild-medium body of a dry bitter tobacco. The first third brings a mild leather and earth with a short finish. Smoke production is still great as is the draw. The burn is very good and the ash is holding on well. 45 min in at the 1/2 way point the experience is exactly the same. By the start of the last third flavors shifted to a slightly bitter nut and the smoke temp started rising. Finishing at 1:20 the stick proved to be a very nice fairly consistent mild stick, good for a morning smoke! Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for sending this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Jul 14

Joyas De Panama Torpedo Cigar Review

Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Joyas De Panama Torpedo Cigar Review

This 6.5×53 stick offers a medium brown dry wrapper with tight seams, a smooth firm feel and minimal veins with a slight barnyard aroma. First light reveals very smooth and creamy slightly sweet tobacco, a perfect draw and plenty of rich smoke. The first third ups the smoke production to a medium bodied thick and rich smoke, with very smooth creamy earthy and tabacco flavors with a long smooth finish. 25 min in at the 1/2 way point the only change is the sweetness bringing a slight licorice flavor. The burn is almost razor sharp and the ash is holding a solid 2″ at a time. 45 min in just past the band, the last third holds the same draw flavors adding an earthy finish that gets a bit longer than the start of the stick. Thank you very much to Joyas De Panama for sending this sample for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.

Jul 12

La Herencia De Cuba White Label Robusto Cigar Review

Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

La Herencia De Cuba White Label Robusto Cigar Review

This 5×52 stick offers a dark milk chocolate satin wrapper with very slight tooth, tight even construction with a double cap and a sweet slightly peppery and perfumy aroma. First light reveals a loose draw, plenty of light creamy oily smoke with mild-medium flavors of a smooth almost aged tobacco. The first third brings more of the same plus a slight sweetness and earth that gives me the impression of a light licorice. The finish is oily and relatively short, the draw almost effortless still with tons of rich smoke and a great even burn. The cigar ended at just over 1 hour with very consistent flavors from start to finish, only changing slightly in body, ending at medium. Thank you to Tabacalera Ramirez For donating this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Jul 9

Cuban Crafters Cupido Tuxedo Churchill Maduro Cigar Review

Posted on Friday, July 9, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Cuban Crafters Cupido Tuxedo Churchill Maduro Cigar Review

This 7×52 stick offers a dark chocolate wrapper with tight seams, minimal veins, a firm very dense pack and an oily sweet aroma. First light reveals a great draw, minimal but rich smoke production with flavors of a medium bodied smooth an oily sweet tobacco with a short earthy finish. The first third develops to a medium body of smooth leather, oily slightly sweet caramel and a short clean oily finish. Smoke output is normal, draw remains good, and the burn is almost razor sharp. 40 min in almost to the 1/2 way point, flavors have turned very rich and creamy giving nice desert like tastes. The leather died down and the overall experience is lighter than the first third. The caramel is pronounced like a creme broule and the finish is oily and short with just a hint of pepper. The end of the 2nd third brought a rich earth and a longer finish. The last third continued the same flavor profile, ending the smoke at 1:45 to the nub where it started getting warm for my taste. Thank you very much to Cuban Crafters for sending this sample for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.

Jul 7

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.

Jul 5

Helix X748 Maduro Cigar Review

Posted on Monday, July 5, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Helix X748 Maduro Cigar Review

This 7×48 maduro stick offers a dark to medium brown wrapper with a spongy, toothy but soft feel, visible seams, small veins and a mild soapy aroma. First light reveals a very thin wrapper with a tendency to peel and leak at points, giving a light airy mild tobacco smoke. The first third develops to a mild, oily, slightly sweet tobacco with a short clean finish. Overall a simple straight forward smoke. By the start of the 2nd third flavors had changed to a dry but still oily tobacco and leather with a good sweet caramel finish. The remainder of the stick is much the same, overall a consistent stick. Ending at 1:25 it started getting a bit warm and soggy for me but still performing perfectly. Photography by BG Pictures.

Jul 2

Forcade Cigars Giralda Churchill Cigar Review

Posted on Friday, July 2, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

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.

Jun 30

J.C. Newman Brickhouse Robusto Cigar Review

Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

J.C. Newman Brickhouse Robusto Cigar Review

This 5×54 stick offers a mottled dark chocolate wrapper with smooth but visible small and medium viens, a soft satin feel and slightly peppery smooth tobacco aroma. First light reveals a firm draw, adequate smoke production and medium body flavors of an oily smooth tobacco with a slight pepper kick. The first third develops in to a fairly simple mix of flavors similar to the first light. The draw did open up slightly making for easier smoke production, and a slight sweetness joined the game. Burn is perfect, almost razor sharp, flavors are easy to pick out and the finish is long and smooth with a touch of earth. The 2nd third shows no changes, being 100% consistent throughout. Ending at 1:15, the entire stick proved to be very consistent with the same flavors and great burn qualities throughout. At only a few dollars a stick this is a great stick for anyone looking for a good smoking simple stick. I did find that it needs several months of time, as every sample I had fresh at a cigar shop was very sub-par compared to this. Photography by BG Pictures.

Jun 15

Corona Nicaraguan Robusto Maduro Cigar Review

Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Corona Nicaraguan Robusto Maduro Cigar Review

This 5×50 stick offers a very dark almost black wrapper, showing a firm but lumpy handrolled appearance with small and medium veins, double cap and rich creamy aroma. First light reveals a very thick rich smoke with flavors of a slightly sweet earth, medium-full body, an oily and mildly peppery finish and a perfect draw. The first third is complex with rich cream, smooth sweet tobacco, pepper on the finish and an oily after taste. The 2nd third transitions to a creamy sweet leather and cinnamon, keeping the rich oil and growing the finish. The last third changes to a smooth deep earth with more of the same great oily creamy richness, dropping the pepper. Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for donating this 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.

Jun 10

My Favorite Sticks

Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 in Informational

I get several requests for ‘what are your favorites’ each week, so I’ve gone ahead and created a short list. This is by no means a ‘Top’ list, simply what MY personal taste favs happen to be at the moment. If you find yourself agreeing with the flavors I tend to get from sticks, I would suggest you try all of these!

In no particular order:

Arturo Fuente Anejo
CAO Black
El Primer Mundo Rosado
El Titan De Bronze Redemption Maduro
Mi Barrio
Old Henry
Padron 1964
Pinar Del Rio Seleccion Reserva Limitada
Esteban Carrera
San Cristobal Lancero
Sir Vin Cigars Merlin’s Magic

Jun 5

CAO La Traviata Radiante Cigar Review

Posted on Saturday, June 5, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

CAO La Traviata Radiante Cigar Review

This 6×52 sick offers an extremely oily, toothy rich dark chocolate wrapper with tight seams, minimal veins and a sweet chocolate and earth aroma. First light reveals a very oily medium bodied earthy flavor with a ton of rich smoke and a perfect draw. The first third develops to a mild-medium body of slightly sweet and nutty earth with a deep finish. 50 min in at the 1/2 way point flavors were very consistent, however the stick liked to tunnel and went out prompting a relight without further incident. The stick ended at 1:35 with slightly different but overall consistent flavors at the last third, moving to a slight caramel and nut combo, with the same great smoke draw and finish. Photography by BG Pictures.

Jun 2

D’Crossier Golden Blend Robusto Cigar Review

Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

D’Crossier Golden Blend Robusto Cigar Review

This 4 7/8 x 50 stick offers a dark brown wrapper with a slight red hue, very firm construction, minimal veins, tight seams, a double cap and a peppery tobacco aroma. First light reveals a heavy, deep oily and rich tobacco with a slight pepper kick on the finish, giving a medium-full body with plenty of thick smoke and a firm draw. The first third holds much of the first light impressions, adding a caramel and dropping most of the pepper. The 1/2 way point comes at 40 min in with no changes to the profile, continuing the perfect burn. Ending at 1:20 the stick has a great time to size ratio! Flavors in the last third remained unchanged, providing a very consistent experience from start to finish with flawless construction. Thank you very much to D’Crossier for sending in this sample for me to try! Photography by BG Pictures.