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!
Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra Cigar Review
Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra Cigar Review
This 7×52 sungrown stick is wrapped in a medium chocolate, satin leaf with a slight tooth, even spongy construction and a triple cap giving a soft sweet floral aroma. First light reveals a medium-full body of strong black pepper throughout the mouth and a soft but deep tobacco. The draw is very loose, putting off a small amount of soft light smoke. By the 1/2 way point flavors had transitioned to a creamy, smooth oily roasted coffee, with a light finish that brought a touch of the pepper and spice. These flavors carried all through the last half, ending the stick at 1:20, a great time for a very flavorful stick!
Tambo Perfecto Cigar Review
Tambo Perfecto Cigar Review
This 6×48 perfecto stick comes wrapped in a very firm, mottled light brown wrapper with slight tooth, smooth seams and a mild tobacco aroma. Without cutting the foot which is a very small tapered point, the draw is firm for the first few draws but quickly develops to a perfect balance of resistance. Flavors are a light leather and aged tobacco. A creamy, smooth oily core, medium-full bodied with adequate smoke output and a very short, clean finish. By the 2nd third flavors had grown more deep and power rose to meet the near full body. Showing a deep heavy leather, it was increasingly oily and smooth with a better smoke output. The finish had grown long and full as well carrying the same draw flavors. Taking the band off did reveal a glob of glue that took a chunk of wrapper, but luckily the binder held. The rest of the stick was consistent – very smooth, rich and enjoyable to the 1:20 mark where I ended it with about 1″ left but it was hot to me. Thank you very much to Tambo Cigars for sending this for review!
Padron Delicias Maduro Cigar Review
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!
Ashton VSG Eclipse Tubos Cigar Review
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!
Ashton ESG 23 Year Salute Cigar Review
Ashton ESG 23 Year Salute Cigar Review
This 6.25×52 stick offers a dark milk chocolate wrapper with a slight tooth, tight seams and firm pack with just a bit of give. A triple cap and minimal veins combine with a slightly irregular lumpy appearance showing it as a hand made creation. The first third brought a medium-full body of flavors including a smooth creamy cocoa with an undertone of tobacco and pepper, the finish being short and more peppery than the draw adding a slight spice kick. By the 2nd third flavors had transitioned to a smooth creamy cocoa with a bit of coffee, touch of leather and on the end of the draw into the lengthening finish, a black pepper taste and slight zing over the tongue. The last third brought the coffee flavor more forward and amped up the pepper especially on the finish. Smoke output was very good, coating the mouth with rich, smooth tastes. Draw and burn were both excellent all the way down with no issues and not needing any thought. Burn time to the last inch was 1:35. Thank you very much to Ashton for sending this in for review!
Panacea Red 760 Cigar Review
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!
El Titan De Bronze Redemption Maduro Robusto Cigar Review
El Titan De Bronze Redemption Maduro Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 stick offered a dark chocolate, satin wrapper with a slight oil sheen and tooth. Very small veins and clean seams ran the length to a triple cap all packed perfectly. Draw was slightly firm with perfect resistance for an almost razor sharp burn all the way down, even after sitting for 5 minutes unattended. The smoke was extremely rich and thick with tremendous volume from the first 1/2″ down. Flavors were very rich and smooth giving the impression of nicely aged mature tobacco. The first third brought smooth tobacco with a slight sweetness and pepper, quickly transitioning to a light leather core and getting very creamy and smooth. Other flavors joined in later including a dry cocoa and a smooth creamy milk chocolate. Total burn time to the nub was 1 hour. Everyone NEEDS to try this stick, even if you think you don’t care for maduros! Thank you very much to El Titan de Bronze for generously donating this sample for review!
San Cristobal Monumento Cigar Review
San Cristobal Monumento Cigar Review
This 7.25 x 49 stick offers a oily dark chocolate wrapper with slight tooth and fairly firm construction. The aroma has a slight sweet cocoa note along with a rich tobacco. This was a monster of a smoke pushing the 2 hour mark and building to full strength by the last bit – not an early morning smoke! It had some minor burn issues needing several corrections but nothing show stopping. Several transitions were present and flavors were fairly diverse including cream, cocoa, espresso, mocha, wood, pepper and a bit of spice. The draw was a bit firm at the start but quickly opened up to just on the loose side. Thank you very much to Ashton for donating this for review!
