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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 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.

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 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 19

Don Tomas Clasico Presidente Cigar Review

Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Don Tomas Clasico Presidente Cigar Review

This 7.5×50 stick offers a medium brown, very soft and satiny wrapper with almost no veins and clean seams topped by a double cap. The aroma is a potent but soft tobacco with a touch of pepper. First light reveals a tight draw, medium-full body, good smoke production and a slightly sweet, peppery wood and tobacco flavor. The first third holds the same profile, with a great even burn and good smoke production despite the firm draw. The ash holds on for 1 1/2″ and at the 30 min mark the draw opened up slightly, increasing smoke production and body to a medium-full. Flavors transitioned to a soft leahter, heavy earth, slight sweetness and black pepper with a bit of zing on the long finish. 40 min in at the end of the first third, flavors had gone to a rich, oly creamy butter with hints of cocoa and a dry licorice, the finish a dry tobacco. Smoke output kept increasing also getting richer with a slightly looser draw. 1:10 in at the 1/2 way point flavors were a rich creamy leather with a short smooth tobacco finish. Draw continued to ease and smoke output still increased to a great level of amount and richness. Ending at 1:45 with about 1″ remaining, the flavors took on an additional component of a slight cocoa in the last third adding to an already rich pleasant collection. Thank you very much to Jeremie Plouffe for generously sending me this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Mar 9

Xikar HC Series Habano Colorado Toro Cigar Review

Posted on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Xikar HC Series Habano Colorado Toro Cigar Review

This 6.5×52 stick offers a dark chocolate wrapper with a firm pack and satin feel. Minimal veins, invisible seams and a peppery cocoa aroma present with a fairly dense heft. The first third starts off on the smooth side, with a touch of aged tobacco taste and richness. The smoke is rich and plentiful with a medium body and soft flavors of slightly sweet earthy tobacco with a big pepper kick. The finish is very long with the black pepper flavors building adding a zing over the tongue. Half way in at the 60 min mark, flavors had mellowed out a bit with the pepper coming and going at points. The sweetness had begun to change to a caramel, and the core flavor turned to a soft leather. By the last third, the pepper came back but not quite as strong, and the caramel died down a touch. Total burn time to the nub was 1:50. Thank you very much to Xikar for sending this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Feb 22

Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta No. 7 Cigar Review

Posted on Monday, February 22, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta No. 7 Cigar Review

This 6×50 stick offers a two-tone wrapper consisting of a natural light tan shade covering the first 75%, and the last 25% wrapped in a dark chocolate maduro leaf. With a very loose, effortless draw, it puts out a terrific amount of smoke. Starting with a slightly bitter wood flavor it finished long with a hint of coffee and touch of pepper. The 2nd third brought the coffee up just a bit and added a little creaminess, dropping much of the pepper. By the start of the last third it had turned to a slightly sweet, creamy coffee as the predominant flavor and just gave a hint of the typical connecticut woodiness. The stick was finished 1:20 in with about 1″ of the maduro remaining. Only about 15 min of the maduro section is smokeable before getting very warm and soft. Surprisingly the body went down a bit and flavors mellowed out once the transition was made. Flavors changed to just a mild, oily coffee with the ash holding on tight for about 1 1/2″ at a time showing white and light grey bands. Burn was flawless all the way down. Thank you very much to Drew Estate for sending this in for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.

Feb 21

El Primer Mundo Rosado Oscuro Cigar Review

Posted on Sunday, February 21, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

El Primer Mundo Rosado Oscuro Cigar Review

This 5×50 box pressed stick presents a dark chocolate, slightly toothy wrapper showing minimal veins with tight seams and construction. The aroma is a sweet and peppery tobacco. Medium-full body, the flavors in the first third were smooth and rich giving a complex blend of a mild pepper, chocolate, light leather and cream with a touch of aged tobacco. Smoke output was excellent producing a huge, almost chewy volume with an absolutely effortless draw. Flavor remained consistent to the last couple inches where they transitioned to a creamy dry roasted coffee and touch of pepper with a long finish. Body and strength by the last third were a solid medium-full giving a slight rush. Total burn time was 1:10 to the nub. Thank you very much to Primer Mundo Cigar Co. for donating this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Feb 5

Corona Nicaraguan Selection Torpedo Maduro Cigar Review

Posted on Friday, February 5, 2010 in Cigar Reviews

Corona Nicaraguan Selection Torpedo Maduro Cigar Review

This 6.5×52 stick offered a medium chocolate wrapper with a slightly spongy feel and fairly dense pack showing minimal veins and a satin finish. The tip needed to be cut back about 1/2″ for a good draw, which produced a nice creamy oily smoke. Flavors were a rich sweet creamy leather with undertones of aged tobacco smoothness and a touch of mustiness. Overall an extremely consistent stick from start to finish, nubbing the last inch at the 1:45 min mark. Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Oct 14

Perdomo Grand Cru Toro Corojo Cigar Review

Posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 in Cigar Reviews

Perdomo Grand Cru Toro Corojo Cigar Review

This 6×50 stick offered a medium chocolate brown wrapper with striations and a very soft silky texture with an aged tobacco aromas. Burn was good all the way down and the draw was pretty free with just a touch of resistance. It produced thick rich smoke with just a tiny easy draw, giving a medium-full body overall. Flavors were very diverse, changing several times in the first half. They included sweet leather, honey, earthy-ness, mocha, then ended the stick with big blasts of creamy coffee. A nice pepper and spice kick was present through most of the finish which was very long and full flavored. Photography by BG Pictures.

Oct 2

Gran Habano 3 Siglos Torpedo Cigar Review

Posted on Friday, October 2, 2009 in Cigar Reviews

Gran Habano 3 Siglos Torpedo Cigar Review

This 6.1×56 dark chocolate stick offered a medium body experience with somewhat muted flavors. The wrapper and binder both had very pronounced veins giving one minor burn problem that required an early touch up. The remainder of the burn was not perfect but was self-correcting. Draw was on the loose side and worked well. Flavors of the first third were just a heavy tobacco with pepper on the finish. The 2nd third showed a bit more development with hints of coffee wood and leather but they very quickly dissipated to a mild pepper finish, leaving a heavy aftertaste. The last third got very warm and a little mushy, prompting me to end it just before the band point at 1:45. The one negative thing was the aroma of the smoke off the foot – it was pretty stinky at points and left my fingertips smelling of wet ashtray by the time I finished. Thanks to Shuckins for trading with me for this stick! Photography by BG Pictures.

Sep 28

Ashton VSG Robusto Cigar Review

Posted on Monday, September 28, 2009 in Cigar Reviews

Ashton VSG Robusto Cigar Review

This 5.5 x 50 offered a notably smooth medium-full experience with a mix of several prominent flavors. The first 1/2 brought a bit of sweet tobacco and leather with the last bringing cocoa and leather with a touch of oil. The finish was very consistent with a long pepper zing over the tongue lasting well until the next draw. Total time to the band point at which it became a little warm and nutty was 1:15. The burn was very good all the way down never needing any attention, and the draw was perfect – on the loose side with just a touch of resistance. It billowed easy thick, rich smoke at every draw. Thank you very much to Ashton Cigars for generously donating this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.

Sep 23

Cuba Aliados Miami Edition Toro Viejo Cigar Review

Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 in Cigar Reviews

Cuba Aliados Miami Edition Toro Viejo Cigar Review

This 6×53 stick offered a medium body experience, giving flavors of smooth hay and nuts with a clean finish. light pepper notes with a touch of spice came well after the draw and last about a minute. Burn time to the band was 1:15 where I ended it, preferring a very cool smoke. The burn line stayed nice and straight, the draw was on the loose side with just the right amount of resistance. The ash was light grey and white and held on for 1 – 1 1/2 inches at a time before falling off in chunks. Thank you very much to Reyes Family Cigars for generously donating this stick for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.