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Aug 29
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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 23
Sancho Panza Double Maduro Quixote Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, August 23, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Sancho Panza Double Maduro Quixote Cigar Review
This 4.5×50 box pressed maduro stick offers a dark chocolate, satin wrapped stick with firm construction, minimal veins, tight seams, a ton of oil sheen and feel and a mild peppery tobacco aroma. First light reveals a plain deep medium bodies tobacco with a heavy after taste. The entire rest of the 45 min experience was exactly the same – very plain with a bad aftertaste of plain tobacco. I want my $2 back. Photography by BG Pictures.
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 11
Tabacalera Ramirez IPCPR Banners
Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 in World of CO
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!
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 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 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 18
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure Cigar Review
This 5.25×50 stick offers a firm slightly toothy golden brown wrapper with minimal veins tight seams and a double cap with a rich peppery tobacco aroma. First light reveals rich oily tobacco flavors with a good pepper kick, medium-full body and a long finish. The first third is creamy, rich, oily, holding the pepper and tobacco with a undertone of vanilla at points. The 2nd third mellows a bit losing a touch of power and body but keeping the oily richness. Flavors are a slightly peppery smooth tobacco with a long finish, perfect construction and 1″ ash chunks. The last third produces much of the same flavors, continuing the same great performance. Ending at 1:30 with over an inch left, it was just getting too warm for my taste. 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 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.
May 29
Arturo Fuente 858 Maduro Cigar Review
Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Arturo Fuente 858 Maduro Cigar Review
This 6×47 stick offers a dark chocolate almost black, lumpy toothy wrapper with small veins all over, a couple large ones, thick seams and a very nice slightly sweet chocolate aroma. First light reveals a firm draw, adaquate smoke production and flavors of a sweet tobacco with a rich and oily long finish. The first third develops in to a slightly musty aged tobacco taste with a oily and rich finish with a touch of caramel like sweetness. Smoke production is very good giving a thick and chewy medium-full body. The 2nd third proves very close to the first, bringing a hint of leather in at points. Ending at 1:15 the last third is pretty much the same, only adding a touch of dusty chocolate and a longer tobacco finish. Thank you very much to Jeremie Plouffe for sending me this sample for review, I really appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.
May 26
El Primer Mundo Connecticut Robusto Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
El Primer Mundo Connecticut Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 box pressed stick offers a medium tan wrapper with no visible veins, tight seams and an even slightly spongy give with a faint peppery tobacco aroma. First light reveals a perfect draw with tons of rich almost chewy smoke production. Flavors come out as a slightly sweet nut with a hint of peppery tobacco and a long oily finish. The first third pulls the initial flavors to a creamy nut and a slightly peppery note that builds on the long finish. The 2nd third transitions to a light creamy leather and the finish drops the tobacco for more of the leather and pepper. The last third continues the perfect construction, bringing back the nut flavor, the whole stick being a solid medium body with no real power kick, just a flavorful anytime Connecticut experience. The ash held on to the 1/2 way point then to the top of the band with the total smoke time ending at 1:15. Thank you very much to El Primer Mundo Cigars for donating this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.