Mar 11
4
Padron Delicias Maduro Cigar Review
Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Padron Delicias Maduro Cigar Review
This petite stick coming in at 4 7/8×46 offers a dark brown, very toothy and rugged wrapper with firm, crunch construction, some medium veins and an uneven handmade appearance. The aroma is a faint peppery tobacco with a hint of sweetness. First light reveals a very free, open draw and huge smoke output. Flavors are a typical Padron tobacco – slightly sweet, slightly peppery and a medium body. Overall very soft satiny smoke. The first third brought the core of the Padron experience. You get this in just about every stick they make. A smooth earthiness, good pepper kick and zing, rich smoke output that leaves a bit of oil on your lips and a bit of sweetness. The finish is long and peppery, the body moved up to a medium-full along with a nice strength to match. A slight buzz came on just 10 min in. 40 min in at the 1/2 way point the stick is exactly the same, burning perfectly, remaining extremely consistent. Ending at 1 hour to the nub, the flavors proved to be the same from start to finish which is just fine for me – they were great! Thank you very much to Mark T. for sending this in 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 26
The Griffin’s Perfecto Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, February 26, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
The Griffin’s Perfecto Cigar Review
This 4 5/8×52 perfecto stick offered a medium tan smooth wrapper with good seams and a rock hard pack. Presenting draw problems until 1/4″ was clipped off the head and a further 1/2″ was burned off the foot, it finally settled to a just slightly firm draw. Burn was very good all the way down giving a rich voluminous smoke output. Flavors were very consistent showing a creamy cedar wood and slight pepper kick, with a short clean finish just leaving a touch of the pepper. Total burn time was 55min. Thank you very much to Michael Yamashita for sending this in for review, I greatly appreciate it! 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
Daily Deals: Mon, Feb 8th 2010
Posted on Monday, February 8, 2010 in Daily Deals
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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 18
Perdomo Grand Cru Maduro Torpedo Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, January 18, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Perdomo Grand Cru Maduro Torpedo Cigar Review
This 6×54 dark chocolate stick offered a satin wrapper with minimal veins and nice tight construction. Draw was perfect producing lots of thick and rich smoke with minimal effort. Body was medium-full giving smooth dry flavors of deep tobacco, sweet earthy leather and a mild pepper zing on the short finish. Ash held on cleanly to the 1/2 point and a slightly oily, creamy nutty flavor joined in. This stick did approach full strength by the end, building uo to a slight buzz at the nub. This proved to be a very consistent stick in all regards, like most of the Perdomo line. Total burn time to the nub was 1:10. Thank you very much to Brother of the Leaf Chaz, from Long Island, for sending this in for me to try! Photography by BG Pictures.
Jan 15
Xerez Corona Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Xerez Corona Cigar Review
This 5.5×44 bundle stick offers a medium chocolate wrapper with a soft spongy feel and many blemishes. Definitely not a premium stick but an average looking $1.xx cheap stick. Burn was very fast, the cherry moving quickly with each draw and the whole smoke lasting just 40 min. Smoke output was exceptional proving tons of rich flavor and volume from the perfect easy draw from the very first puff. Unlike most cheap sticks this one is on the medium-full side of the spectrum both in body and strength. Flavors were consistent showing a peppery tobacco and touch of zesty leather with a short peppery finish and bit of oil on the lips. This is a mixed filler cigar and the ash held for about 3/4″ at a time. Thank you very much to Berger & Argenti for donating this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Jan 11
Baccarat Petit Corona Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, January 11, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Baccarat Petit Corona Cigar Review
This 5.5×42 natural stick offers a dry, satin wrapper with a light pack and a spongy feel with a few soft spots. Burn was very good all the way down, holding 1″ ash chunks and giving lots of good smoke volume. Flavors were never harsh, giving a mild-medium body of a sweet leather and pepper core, with a fairly long finish adding a slight pepper zing over the tongue. This is a quick smoke, ending at 40 min to the nub where it got pretty hot in temp and I ended it while the flavors stayed on the smooth side. Draw was just about perfect, just on the loose side giving very easy resistance. The only flavor transition was from an extremely sweet first inch to a mild sweetness the rest of the way down due to the sweetened tip. Photography by BG Pictures.
Jan 7
Your Thoughts on Price and Awards
Posted on Thursday, January 7, 2010 in Polls
Tell me your thoughts on how you think price, if at all, should effect the Cigar of the Year award? Do you feel that value is part of what makes a cigar great? Should the award go to simply the best performing stick? If a mediocre stick is given an award simply because it’s cheap, is that fair to a stick that clearly out performs it at a higher price point? Does quality simply cost more?
Loading ...Dec 30
Cienfuegos Engine #5 Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Cienfuegos Engine #5 Cigar Review
This 5×50 robusto size maduro stick offers a mottled wrapper with good smooth seams and small veins. Draw was loose but controllable with no construction issues. The ash was fairly toothy and held on for 1″ at a time before falling in chunks. Smoke output was very good, always thick and coating if not huge in volume. Flavors had a couple nice transitions, certainly appropriate for such a small stick. They included a nice spice kick on the draw and finish (not surprisingly), a creamy leather that transitioned to a predominance of buttery cream on the second half. The last third also brought a dry roasted nut and floral flavor that kept it interesting to the nub. Body was medium-full and strength followed in suit most of the time, with a good bump at the 1/2 way point going full strength for several minutes. The finish was always very long, holding thick rich flavors to the next draw. Total burn time was 50 min where it became very warm. This brand is produced by Reyes Family Cigars. Photography by BG Pictures.
Dec 28
Nica Libre Imperial Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, December 28, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Nica Libre Imperial Cigar Review
This 6×54 box pressed maduro stick offers an oily, slightly toothy well made wrapper with an extremely pungent aroma of barnyard. This is often marketed as a copy of or alternative to the Padron blend. While it certainly does not live up to that claim it does stand well on it’s own merits. Starting medium and ending medium full, core flavors were earthy with leather coming in at points. The first third brought a touch of mustiness reminding me of most Bucanero blends. Other flavors came and went including nice pepper and spice kicks especially on the finish, raisins, licorice and coffee. Not overly complex by any means though it did hold my attention well. Total burn time was 1:30 and the construction had no issues. Burn was a bit wavy but never needed attention. The draw was fantastic all the way down. Photography by BG Pictures.
Dec 18
La Aroma De Cuba Edicion Especial Lancero Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, December 18, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
La Aroma De Cuba Edicion Especial Lancero Cigar Review
This 7.5×38 medium tan stick offers a smooth almost seamless wrapper with a triple cap and very small veins with firm construction. Overall a medium body stick it packs a medium-full power kick, giving a slight buzz about 1/2 way through. Flavors were extremely smooth from first light to the nub and included a creamy leather, vanilla, roasted nuts, dry tobacco and a pepper & spice kick at various points throughout. Burn was excellent, holding 1″ of ash at a time with a perfect draw just slightly on the firm side. Total burn time to the last inch was 1:20 where it started to get warm. The amount of buzz I received during this video may have been mitigated if I had not chosen this as my ‘just rolled out of bed cigar’. I would not suggest doing as I did 
Thank you very much to Ashton Cigars for generously donating this for review! 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 9
J.L. Salazar Y Hermanos Reserva Especial Seires V Maduro Churchill Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
J.L. Salazar Y Hermanos Reserva Especial Seires V Maduro Churchill Cigar Review
This 7 1/4×52 box press stick offered a dark chocolate wrapper with fairly soft construction, a toothy wrapper and just some small veins and a wonderfully spicy aroma. Total burn time was 1:10 with only one spot near the 2nd third transition that required a touch-up. Draw was slightly loose and produced huge mounts of rich smoke from the start. Overall body was medium, although the first third during the draw was pushing full for a little while. Flavors were mildly complex, including a smooth creamy leather, slight sweetness with a touch of coffee and cocoa at some points of the last half. The finish was very short and clean, leaving just a hint of a pepper and spice. Thank you to Cuban Crafters for sending this for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.
Dec 7
Padilla Signature 1932 Robusto Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, December 7, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Padilla Signature 1932 Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 dark chocolate stick offered a smooth almost seamless wrapper with some tiny veins, a triple cap and a great tobacco aroma. Draw was on the loose side and burn was very good all the way down, holding the ash in thirds. Flavors were very consistent from first light to the nub, giving a wonderful dusty creamy smooth leather, with a touch of tobacco flavor. They held all the way through the finish to the next draw where a slight pepper and spice joined in with a hint of cinnamon at points. Overall body was medium-full never overpowering. The smoke was rich and full even with the loose draw, giving saturated flavors all the way down. Total burn time to the nub was 50 min. Photography by BG Pictures.
Dec 2
Sir Vin Cigars Premium Royale Silver Lance Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Sir Vin Cigars Premium Royale Silver Lance Cigar Review
This 6×50 box press double maduro stick offers a butter smooth dark chocolate wrapper with a very firm press and double cap. Total burn time to the nub was 1:20 with a perfect draw and almost razor sharp line. Flavors were fairly consistent, holding a core of creamy prominent leather and a long earthy, peppery finish to the last third where a nutty flavor joined in. Smoke was exceptionally rich and smooth, with plenty of maduro oils coating the mouth. Body and strength were medium-full and the leather was especially bright just after the draw. Thank you very much to Sir Vin Cigars for generously donating this stick for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Nov 30
Cheap Stick Shootout 2 Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Cheap Stick Shootout 2 Cigar Review
This is the 2nd Cheap Stick Shootout – today we have the Thompson Empresario Maduro Churchill vs. the Perfect Cut Corona Tubos. The Empresario comes in at 7×48, the Perfect Cut at 5.5×42. Both are a mild-medium cigar, the Empresario being a traditional long filler handmade, the Perfect Cut a machine made short filler. Draw and burn on both were very good, the Empresario being on the tight side, the Perfect cut on the loose side. Burn time was 50 min and 30 min respectively, where they both became hot for my taste and I ended them. Flavor wise they are completely different. The Empresario gave a little bit of complexity, showing a light leather with slight sweetness and touch of pepper during the first 2 thirds. The last third it switched to a very creamy coffee flavor with a long lasting finish. The Perfect cut started with a very mild grassy taste, and bringing a mild wood in the 2nd third. The last third it changed to a very hot pepper, dominating the flavors both on the draw and finish. Photography by BG Pictures.