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Aug 19
7
La Gloria Cubana Artesanos De Tabaqueros Cigar Review
Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
La Gloria Cubana Artesanos De Tabaqueros Cigar Review
This 6×50 stick offers dual wrappers and the band at the foot end marking the transition between the first and 2nd third with connecticut and sumatran wrappers. It has a mottled rustic apperance, with a couple large veins, several smaller and a smooth firm feel. The aroma is a slight barnyard with a smooth tobacco. First light reveals a big pepper blast with deep earth smooth aged tobacco flavors. It’s a medium-full body with a perfect draw and thick smoke with a long peppery finish. The first third brings a mild black pepper zing with smooth creamy oily smoke and smooth tobacco flavors. The ash hold on to the wrapper slit point, falling off in a big solid chunk. When the sumatra wrapper takes over you get a nice buttery leather, dropping the pepper completely and the finish get shorter and cleaner. The last two thirds continue the leather adding a touch of licorice sweetness, the smoke gets thicker and richer leaving a buttery oily mouthfeel. Thank you very much to General Cigar Company for generously sending this in for review, I greatly appreciate it! 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.
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 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.
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.
Apr 7
Rocky Patel Signature Series Toro Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Rocky Patel Signature Series Toro Cigar Review
This 6×52 light tan stick is wrapped with a soft slightly toothy satin wrapper showing minimal veins, a couple small blemishes with a soft barnyard aroma. First light reveals a soft rich smoke, perfect draw with a deep dry earthiness and slight pepper on the finish. The first third starts off with a rich oily earth core and a huge spicy heat and zing that carried through the long finish. 20 minutes in the earth and spice died down, replaced by a buttery smoothness and toast. By the half way point the core flavors had changed again, this time to a dry toasiness – yet still oily, creamy and smooth. Body was down to a solid medium, and the finish lost much of the peper and spice. 45 minutes in the draw got very tight and the stick developed a very hard crispy spot about 1/2″ down from the head. After blowing back through the cigar a few times the blockage loosened up, possibly some tar buildup. The last third seemed to bring out all the flavors at once, very well blended together – toast, cream, cocoa, pepper, oil, a slight sweetness and long smooth finish. Total burn time was 1:20. Overall a medium bodied stick, it had strength in the medium-full range that only caught up to me after filming the video, making me a bit jittery for 30 min or so. Thank you very much to Michael Yamashita for sending in this excellent sample! Photography by BG Pictures.
Mar 24
Flor de Cielo Churchill Corojo Cigar Review
Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Flor de Cielo Churchill Corojo Cigar Review
This 7×50 stick offers a dark tan wrapper with a slightly toothy, oily finish showing a good amount of small and medium veins. The aroma is a faint soapiness. First light is on the mild side showing just a slight sweetness, hint of pepper and a grass flavor with a long, mild finish of the grass. Smoke output is minimal, draw is perfect, just the right resistance. The burn is following some of the veins, putting burn lines straight down the stick in spots. By the start of the 2nd third the burn had evened itself out, draw was still perfect and smoke production increased to very good levels, giving a rich smooth output. Flavors had transitioned to a deep musty leather, with a good sweetness and black pepper flavor with just a hint of the zing. The finish was growing longer holding the sweetness and pepper flavors with a mild-medium body. At the 1/2 way point flavors had changed to a milk chocolate although slight, and the sweetness had caramel and licorice components. The finish was still mostly the pepper although the zing had increased, washing over the tongue. The stick proved to be consistent for the remainder of the 1 hour total smoke time. Thank you to Corona Cigar Company for sending this for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Mar 22
Augusto Reyes Maduro Belicoso Cigar Review
Posted on Monday, March 22, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Augusto Reyes Maduro Belicoso Cigar Review
This 6.5×54 dark chocolate wrapped stick offered a fuzzy, very toothy firm feel with a rich oily cocoa aroma. First light reveals a very tight draw, hardly any smoke or flavor. What is there is just a mild tobacco, although oily and smooth. Taking a 2nd cut off the head opened up the draw to a normal level, just on the snug side. Smoke production improved, although still not voluminous by any means. Flavors were a medium bodied burned coffee, oily slightly sweet tobacco with a finish of slight black pepper flavor and zing. The stick didn’t want to burn evenly, the wrapper falling behind every 10 draws or so and required frequent relights and touchups. After a fresh light the flavors were very rewarding with a creamy, oily coffee and cocoa and slight peppery finish. As the burn deteriorated though, it slid toward the mild side with less smoke output and a general earthy core. The stick continued from here to 1:30 where it had a little over 1″ remaining but probably due to multiple relights, got very hot a bit early. Thank you very much to Ken Glass for sending this for review, I greatly appreciate it! Photography by BG Pictures.
Mar 19
Corona Cigar Company Gold Series Connecticut Churchill Cigar Review
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 in Cigar Reviews
Corona Cigar Company Gold Series Connecticut Churchill Cigar Review
This 7×50 light tan stick offers a buttery soft, oily connecticut wrapper with tiny veins and invisible seams, with a faint aroma of sweet hay. First light reveals a very tight draw, minimal smoke production with a light, mild tobacco and nutty flavor and a short clean finish. The first third transitions to a light leather, slight grass and hint of caramel all very smoothly blended and mild with thick smoke, but not much of it, keeping the tight draw. At the half way point 55 min in, flavors had changed to a primary core of caramel, though still mild and slight – with a black pepper flavor and tiny bit of zing that carried on to the finish, which had grown in length. 60 min in the draw suddenly opened up a notch, greatly improving smoke production, pushing the body to a solid medium with richer flavors. The last third showed completely different flavors with the core going to a cream and nuts, with a touch of licorice and a finish of nuts and pepper, still medium bodied. Burn was very good all the way down holding 1″ of ash at a time. Total burn time was 1:50. Thank you very much to Corona Cigar Company for sendig this sample for review! Photography by BG Pictures.
Mar 12
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.