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Mar 12
1
Corona Nicaraguan Selection 10th Anniversary Robusto Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Corona Nicaraguan Selection 10th Anniversary Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 stick offers a dark tan, firmly packed wrapper showing minimal veins and tight seams with a large double cap. The aroma is a mellow tobacco smell, reminiscent of the ‘perfect humidor’. Starting off it gives out huge volumes of smoke with a very easy, free draw. Flavors are extremely sweet, tasting much like a flavored tip. The core is an aged tobacco, very smooth with a good bit of pepper kick that comes on the end of the draw holding and building through the long finish. 40 min in at the 1/2 way point flavors remained very consistant, still medium-full bodied but without a strength kick. The last third mellowed the whole stick out – the body came down a touch to medium, the aged tobacco changed to a slight earth, the pepper zing came down and the big sweetness changed to a suble licorice. Burn was excellent all the way down, holding the ash in thirds for a total burn time of 1 hour. Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for seding this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Mar 11
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 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.
Mar 3
Gispert Churchill Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Gispert Churchill Cigar Review
This 7×54 stick offered a medium tan smooth oily wrapper with a slightly spongy feel. Mild in aroma, body and strength, it presents a fairly consistent experience, transitioning once between flavors over the long 2+ hour smoke. Although this particular sample had a wrapper flaw that cut it short at the 1:45 mark, it would easily push past 2 hours under normal circumstances. First half flavors were sweet and smooth with mild flavors of grass, moving to a mild sweet leather at the mid point. Smoke output was minimal, and the finish was unremarkable short of a mild pepper zing for most of the stick. The draw and burn were both very good, up to the band point where tears and holes opened up. Removing the band exposed a patch and large crack, ending the smoke. Thank you very much to Jeremie Plouffe for sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Feb 24
Ashton ESG 23 Year Salute Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
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! Photography by BG Pictures.
Feb 16
CAO Escaparate Ecuador Robusto Cigar Review
Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
CAO Escaparate Ecuador Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 stick offers a light tan, paper thin wrapper that has some minor problems. The shoulder peeled off after cutting, a couple small cracks appeared above the band and there is a large patch below. The burn however was not compromised and it went just fine all the way down with a great draw slightly on the tight side. Smoke output was very good, producing ample volume with slow short puffs. Flavors in the first third were of a medium body creamy leather and an undertone of aged tobacco. The 2nd third shifted to a buttery toast and leather, with a bit of pepper flavor and zing that held on through the long finish. The last third transitioned to a medium-full smooth smoky leather with a bit of oil, that finished long and dry with a deep earthy aftertaste. Burn time to the nub was 55 minutes. Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for sending this for review! 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 8
Padilla Signature 1932 Limitada Oscuro Salomon Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, February 8, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Padilla Signature 1932 Limitada Oscuro Salomon Cigar Review
This 7.2×59 figurado features a dark chocolate, oily, slightly toothy wrapper with minimal veins and invisible seams. Draw was perfect with just the right amount of resistance for effortless control. Body was medium-full giving rich, smooth smoke. Strength was also medium-full, giving a buzz by the 1:30 point. After the video I felt kind of sick for 30 min. Actual smoke output was light, but flavors were prominent until the short clean finish. First third flavors were dominated by an oily creamy tobacco and big black pepper notes with minimal spice and zing, contrasted by hints of chocolate. An inch down flavors changed to quick hits of coffee, chocolate and leather, settling down to a peppery, oily earth on the finish. Near the 1/2 way point, flavors changed to a predominant coffee with a creamy tobacco finish, and the coffee continued to increase to the end, at the 2:10 mark. Thank you very much to Ken Glass for sending this in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Feb 3
Macanudo Maduro Diplomat Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Macanudo Maduro Diplomat Cigar Review
This 4.5×60 perfecto offers a very oily dark chocolate wrapper with very firm construction, minimal veins and a very small cap & shoulder that gave me a bit of trouble cutting as far as unraveling. Draw was very firm, almost plugged, offering little smoke output and somewhat muted flavors. What did come out of it were very nice notes of cream, light tobacco, sweetness and a hint of pepper with a very short clean finish on the first third. The center section required two touch-ups and changed to a very light sweet leather. Getting to the last third the draw suddenly opened up, producing tons of rich creamy smoke, a creamy earthy leather and a good pepper zing. The center section was obviously not constructed properly. Thank you very much to Jeremie Plouffe for sending this sample in for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Jan 25
Cielo Poseidon Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, January 25, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Cielo Poseidon Cigar Review
This 5×50 box pressed sungrown offered a satin medium chocolate wrapper with minimal veins, an oily feel and a slightly toothy appearance. Flavors were medium-full bodied all the way down, giving a big rich smoke filled experience. They included an aged tobacco smoothness, black pepper flavor with a bit of a zing, oily, smooth deep leather that turned pretty creamy in the 2nd third and a fairly long finish that held the creamy smoothness and a bit of pepper. With no real transitions it was very consistent all the way down and that’s just fine with me, it was excellent! Draw was perfect and burn was almost razor sharp never needing to even look at it. The ash was light grey and held to 1 1/2″ at each drop. Burn time to the last inch where it became very hot was 55 min. Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for generously 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 20
Camacho Pre-Embargo Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Camacho Pre-Embargo Cigar Review
This 6×48 stick is derived from actual decades old pre-embargo tobacco from Cuba. Offering a medium chocolate wrapper with a spongy feel, closed foot and pigtail cap it shows minimal veins and good clean seams. With a burn time of only 1 hour, it imparts a medium-full body and full strength, giving a rush and buzz just an inch in to the smoke. Smoke output was voluminous after burning off the closed foot, giving rich smooth flavors. The first half showed a typical aged tobacco smoothness with a bit of mustiness and a good pepper zing on the long finish. At the half way point it transitioned to a creamy flavor and light leather, keeping the cream through the finish where the pepper joined in. Burn was wavy but it performed well all the way down with a draw just on the loose side. If you want these you must buy now while they exist. 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 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 6
Sir Vin Cigars Merlin’s Magic Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Sir Vin Cigars Merlin’s Magic Cigar Review
This 7×50 stick offered a satin wrapper with a bit of oil sheen, firm construction and a slightly sweet aroma. Burn time was 1:45 to the nub with a very good burn and slightly loose draw all the way down. Ash was flowery but did hold on very well, falling off in 1/3rd chunks. The entire smoke was very silky and smooth, starting on the mild side ending medium. Flavors were very sweet and creamy offering candy or desert like selections including creamy leather and wood, caramel, licorice, butterscotch and a light earth. The finish brought a mild pepper zing and slight pepper flavor, with the draw flavors falling off rapidly. Thank you very much to Sir Vin Cigars for generously sending this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Nov 20
La Aroma De Cuba New Blend Monarch Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, November 20, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
La Aroma De Cuba New Blend Monarch Cigar Review
This 6×52 stick offered a very smooth satin medium chocolate wrapper with a nice aroma of dusty cocoa. Draw started out very firm but gradually went down to a very nice amount of resistance as the stick burned. Total burn time to the nub was 1:30, holding the ash between 3/4″ and 1 1/2″ with an almost razor sharp line. Flavors in the first two thirds were very consistent, giving a light creamy leather flavor with a long finish. Pepper and spice built up on the finish giving a zing on the tongue and a heat on the lips. The last third showed the leather to fade out replaced by a smooth tobacco, and the pepper going way down to just barely there. The spice was completely gone by the band point. Thank you very much to Ashton for donating this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Nov 13
Old Henry Maduro Robusto Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, November 13, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Old Henry Maduro Robusto Cigar Review
This 5×50 stick offered a dark chocolate, VERY thick and toothy wrapper with excellent construction. Burn was almost razor sharp all the way down, with the ash holding to the 1/2 way point and a perfect draw. Flavors in the first half were of a medium bodied light leather and smooth earth, with a bit of sweetness and a pepper & spice kick. The 2nd half transitioned to a deep earth and bit of licorice, losing the sweetness and pepper zing. The finish grew longer and the body went down to a mild-medium. Thank you to Shuckins for trading me for this stick! Photography by BG Pictures.
Nov 9
Santiago Cabana Maduro Toro Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, November 9, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Santiago Cabana Maduro Toro Cigar Review
This 6×50 dark chocolate stick offered a slightly toothy, satin wrapper with a nice firm construction. Burn time to the band was just over an hour with a draw that started slightly firm and ended slightly loose with a good burn. Flavors present were medium bodied overall with a few distinct transitions. The first third was the typical maduro cigar – slightly sweet, good pepper and spice kick and a light leather. Later flavors included a creamyness, a deeper earth and a bigger peppercorn zing. Thank you CSMoFo (Joe) for sending this to me! Photography by BG Pictures.
Oct 12
Don Pepin Garcia ‘Blue’ Generosos Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, October 12, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Don Pepin Garcia ‘Blue’ Generosos Cigar Review
This 6×50 milk chocolate stick offered a slightly toothy but satiny wrapper, with a firm and slightly bumpy construction. Burn was almost razor sharp and the draw was absolutely perfect. Total burn time to the nub was 1:15 where it got hot for me. The second half especially produced great amounts of thick rich smoke, giving flavors of coffee, leather, sweetness on the first half, and a bit of a pepper zing on the short clean finish. A touch of cocoa came through at the 1/2 way point, and the transitions were very nice throughout. Thank you to Shuckins for trading with me for this stick! Photography by BG Pictures.
Oct 9
Berger & Argenti Clasico Belicoso Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, October 9, 2009 in Cigar Reviews
Berger & Argenti Clasico Belicoso Cigar Review
This 5.75×50 stick offered a tan, textured but firm wrapper, with a nice tobacco aroma. Total burn time was 1:45 just past the band point, and it was almost razor sharp all the way down. The ash was light grey and white, holding on 1 1/2″ at a time. The draw was VERY loose but produced huge amounts of rich smoke with no effort at all. It was very surprising to get that much smoke and flavor for so long with such a free draw! The flavors were very consistent, dominated by a smooth creamy cocoa, medium-full in body. The first two thirds offered a nice pepper and spice zing on the finish, giving way to just a long creamy finish at the end. Thank you very much to Berger & Argenti for donating this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.