Xikar EX Natural Flame Lighter Review
Xikar EX Natural Flame Lighter Review
This is a solid, all metal lighter with a spring action top cover to protect the burner and button. It’s actuated by a single thumb button that ignites a wind resistant natural flame, approximately 1″ high. It has quite a heft and feels rugged in the hand, being the prefect size for my larger hands and fingers. With a large bottom thumbscrew for burner adjustment, it gives a total burn time of just under 7 minutes. Thank you very much to Xikar for sending this for review, I greatly appreciate it!
Promise Natural Flame Lighter Review
Promise Natural Flame Lighter Review
This is an all-metal lighter from Promise featuring a natural flame that exits the side, also useful for pipes. It is by no means a high quality unit but is extremely inexpensive. The body is on the small side, and those with large hands such as myself will find it a bit uncomfortable to use for more than 10 seconds at a time. I consider units such as this great alternatives to disposables or ultra cheap plastic units found at little stores. As tested, the flame in this unit lasted 3:15 of usable flame. Thank you very much to buylighters.com for sending this sample for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by bgpictures.com
Humidipak & Boveda Humidification System Review
The Humidipak and Boveda system offers maintenance and worry-free humidification of your humidors, boxes and loose stick collection. The system is very easy to use. Simply place the disposable pouches with your cigars and let them go to work. Every couple months they need to simply be changed out, and your humidification stays at perfect levels.
Pouches are available in three sizes to accommodate small bags, box storage or humidors. Each are available in various humidification levels, ranging from 65 to 75 RH, and the large size available in a special percentage meant for only charging a new, dry humidor.
Over the past several weeks I have tested the system, gauging performance on my digital hygrometers, and found them to be as easy and accurate as described. They keep humidity in the specified ranges, they are easy to gauge when they are depleted and there is nothing more to do!
Thank you very much to Humidipak for sending samples of their line for review, I greatly appreciate it!
Tabacalera Ramirez IPCPR Banners
These are the 4′x8′ banners I made for the Tabacalera Ramirez booth at IPCPR. I shot the photography and produced the stands for them, delivered them last week!
Ad Shots for Tabacalera Ramirez
These are a couple shots from today’s session for Tabacalera Ramirez…just sharing!
Joyas De Panama Coronita Cigar Review
Joyas De Panama Coronita Cigar Review
This 5×45 stick offers a rustic, medium brown slightly toothy and oily wrapper with an even slightly spongy feel and mild barnyard aroma. First light brings a slightly firm draw with a ton of rich smooth smoke output and flavors of a creamy textured, oily tobacco with a touch of earth and pepper that carries to the finish with a medium body.The first third gives a slightly musty leather with the same great rich smoke, and a relatively short clean finish. The 2nd third drops the mustiness for nuts, which increase all the way to the end at just over an hour. Thank you very much to Joyas De Panama for generously sending this for review!
Jose Marti Remedios Cigar Review
Jose Marti Remedios Cigar Review
This 5.5×44 stick offers a thin, seemingly fragile toothy wrapper, hot cocoa colored with a slight peppery tobacco aroma. First light reveals a perfect draw, tons of rich smoke and a very heavy, deep tobacco flavor with a big white pepper kick. The first third brings a smooth oily leather quickly joined by a rich pepper and spice and a touch of sweetness, that carries through to the finish. Body is a medium-full with a thick rich smoke that leaves a nice oil on the palate. The 2nd third brings more changes, dropping the pepper but adding steak at points, and the sweetness progressed to a touch of caramel. Coming in to the last third the flavors transition to a creamy mint and cinnamon with a warm smooth nutty finish. Ending at 1:10 after getting very hot, the cinnamon and nuts took over the flavor department, leaving a crisp short finish. Thank you very much to Mark T. for sending in this sample for review!
Diesel Unholy Cocktail Cigar Review
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!
Tambo Super Robusto Cigar Review
Tambo Super Robusto Cigar Review
This 6×50 stick offers a medium brown oily wrapper with a smooth finish, some minor and a few medium veins with a slightly floral aroma. First light reveals a very loose but controlable draw with tons of rich oily smoke production. Flavors are medium bodied with a slightly dry, musty tobacco and touch of pepper with a short clean finish. The first third shows a lighter flavor settling at a mild-medium body but with very rich smoke. It’s light in density but extremely plentiful and coats the mouth well with a creaminess, a soft deep aged tobacco and finishing with a touch of black pepper but no spice. The flavors didn’t change at all until the last couple inches, shifting to a soft light nutty profile, but keeping the great smoke and finish. Thank you very much to Tambo Cigars for sending this for review!
Nub Connecticut 464 Torpedo Cigar Review
Nub Connecticut 464 Torpedo Cigar Review
This 4×64 stick offers a medium tan, firm, thin stretched wrapper with minor visible veins and seams. The aroma is a very faint tobacco and it has a smooth velvet texture. First light revelas an easy draw, plenty of smoke production giving flavors of (more…)
Xikar HC Series Connecticut Shade Toro Cigar Review
Xikar HC Series Connecticut Shade Toro Cigar Review
This 6.5×52 stick offers a thin medium tan wrapper with a few medium and small veins, a double cap and even firm slightly spongy construction. The aroma is deep pungent tobacco. First light brings a slightly firm draw, mild-medium flavors of a slightly peppery, mildly sweet tobacco. The first third is a very smooth, mild leather with a woody aftertaste on a long finish. It’s very simple, smoke output is minimal and very consistent with a perfect draw and burn. The 2nd third progresses much the same, only adding a caramel to the end of the draw flavors and the finish. The last third holds the same flavors however body and smoke production rose significantly. Providing a rich flavorful medium body experience, the smoke was thicker and doubled in volume. Ending at 1:15 with about 1″ remaining it proved to be a very well constructed typical connecticut. Thank you very much to Xikar for generously sending this sample for review!
Gurkha Micro-Batch Liga C-10 Churchill Cigar Review
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!
Flor de Cielo Churchill Maduro Cigar Review
Flor de Cielo Churchill Maduro Cigar Review
This 7×50 stick offers a rich, almost black wrapper with a slick oil sheen, medium veins, and a very firm pack. The leaf seems fragile with a few tears here and there, more typical of a Connecticut than maduro. The feel is slightly toothy and the aroma is sweet and soapy. The flavors are of a slightly sweet smooth tobacco, medium in body but near full strength. The finish is fairly short and clean, leaving a slight pepper zing on the tongue. Overall an extremely consistent stick, the profile really didn’t change at all from start to finish. There were some wrapper splits that contributed to it going out in the 2nd third prompting a couple relights, but the flavors were not impacted. Ending the smoke at 1:45 with 1″ remaining it proved to be a potent classic maduro experience with a great value for the money! Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for generously donating this sample for review!
