Loading ...
Aug 23
2
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 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 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 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 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.
May 22
Cain Maduro Double Toro Cigar Review
Posted on Saturday, May 22, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Cain Maduro Double Toro Cigar Review
This 6×60 dark chocolate stick offers a chunky, firm wrapper with minimal veins and seams. It gives a peppery and sweet tobacco aroma. First light reveals a light medium body smoke with peppery and sweet tobacco flavor. The first third is a bit light on smoke needing double-puffs and tunneling a bit, prompting touchups. Flavors are consistent with the addition of a slight leather. The 2nd third evens out the burn a bit but doesn’t change the flavor profile noticeably, only bringing a slight harshness to the back of my throat. The last third brings a touch of cinnamon but overall the whole thing is very consistent. Strength wise it is just about topping the charts near the end here although with only 1/2 as much flavor. I’m ending the stick a good 20 min early at this point simply because this combo isn’t something I enjoy at all and don’t like the after effects of too much power. Smoking the whole thing would easily bring a 1:45 smoke time. Thank you very much to Jeremie Plouffe for generously sending this for review, I did enjoy trying it! Photography by BG Pictures.
May 18
Joyas De Panama Coronita Cigar Review
Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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! Photography by BG Pictures.
May 14
Jose Marti Remedios Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, May 14, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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! 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.
May 10
Tambo Super Robusto Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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! Photography by BG Pictures.
May 5
Nub Connecticut 464 Torpedo Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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 grass and nuts, with an oily smooth, long finish. By 10 minutes in the flavors settled to a mild-medium bodied creamy nut flavor with a touch of pepper but no spice. Those exact same flavors carried through the entire stick ending with about 1″ left at 45 minutes. The only shift was in the heat of the smoke, getting too hot for my taste just past the band. Thank you very much to Michael Yamashita for sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures. (Video correction: Ring gauge is measured in 1/64th”, this NUB is 1″)
Apr 30
Xikar HC Series Connecticut Shade Toro Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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! 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 26
Graycliff G2 Presidente Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Graycliff G2 Presidente Cigar Review
This 7×48 stick has a light tan smooth wrapper with a tight sponginess like a firmly inflated balloon. It is practically devoid of veins and near seamless. The aroma is a smooth slightly peppery tobacco. First light reveals an easy draw, plenty of thick, creamy medium bodied smoke with flavors of smooth tobacco, wood and a tough of pepper on a long woody finish. 10 min in the flavors develop to a creamy smooth, oily wood with a hint of tobacco, and they carry on through the finish for quite some time but at a mellower level. Smoke output is decent, and the draw is perfect. The first third further develops with a creamy cinnamon flavor that also follows through to the finish with a touch of black pepper and zing. 40 min in at the 1/2 way point flavors changed, swapping the wood for a light leather and the cinnamon taking on a dray slightly spicier characteristic. Ending at 1:30 the last third changed to a mild-medium nutty flavor with just a touch of pepper but no spice, holding a long peppery finish. Thank you very much to Michael Yamashita for generously sending samples 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 21
Flor de Cielo Churchill Maduro Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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! Photography by BG Pictures.