Cigars

Welcome to my humble log of new cigars I try. I re-booted my cigar smoking experience in 2009 with a more historical, intelligent approach after educating myself on everything cigar, as well as seeking advice from local tobacconists. This is paying off fantastically with a better enjoyment of the smoking experience.

My reviews are usually kept short and sweet, there are plenty of better reviews that are more thorough by experienced smokers. I keep to my opinions and do what I can to explain what I am experiencing.

So far, I prefer mild to mild to medium body, naturally-sweeter sticks, torpedo form and larger ring-sizes. Not a fan of highly-peppery or spiceyness. Aroma is the most important part of the experience.

Feb 19 2012

Victor Sinclair Connecticut Yankee

Ahh, a Victor Sinclair selection that contains more of the VS tobacco taste that I enjoy from them. This Connecticut Yankee cigar starts off a bit brash with the taste being peppery or spicey, but quickly mellows out once it warms up to deliver a range of tastes. That lovely Victor Sinclair signature tobacco flavour [...]

Feb 13 2012

Victor Sinclair 10th Aniversario

To celebrate their 10th Anniversary, the blenders at Victor Sinclair spent several years perfecting a dynamic mix of Dominican tobaccos to make an exceptional cigar that sells at a reasonable price. I enjoy Victor Sinclair’s cigars becasue they have a very unique tobacco quality to them, though I noticed it was not present in their [...]

Feb 6 2012

Victor Sinclair Primeros Tabacos

About halfway through my Victor Sinclair sampler to meet up with a mild-bodied treat wrapped in a Connecticut wrapper; the Primeros Tabacos. This is a light cigar; the taste is very mild. You need to puff a mouthful of smoke to really get a taste from it. The smoke is not hot, and absolutely no [...]

Feb 5 2012

Madelaine Fuego Single Flame Lighter

Executive Summary: Cheap lighter, but reluctantly works, even in the cold. The Madelaine Fuego Single Flame Lighter was a $5.00 offer from a large cigar order through Famous Smoke Shop. I figured why the hell not. Overall, it has been serving me well for two weeks, despite the flame going out on a long-light and [...]

Jan 30 2012

Victor Sinclair Bohemian

Continuing through the massive Victor Sinclair sampler on a belated Sunday smoke during a nippy-monday afternoon is the namesake Bohemian cigar. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the other Bohemians, and although I should have started with this one, I’m looking forward to it, as with any VS cigar. The cigar draws quite effortlessly to fill the mouth [...]

Jan 27 2012

Flor de Oliva

One of a few budget daily smokes recommended by the fine folks in a thread I posted on puff.com looking for Oliva-sweet-like cigars at a lower price point. This was purchased from Famous Smokes, and it’s a huge winner. The end tastes like it may have been sweetened or dipped; it’s very sugary, but I [...]

Jan 24 2012

Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9

I visited Holts in Center City Philadelphia to enjoy some time in their lounge, and picked up the last Liga Privada they had. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an enjoyable smoke. The draw is very smooth with just the right subtle resistance. There’s an initial bitter or tangyness to the taste which gives way to a distinct [...]

Jan 23 2012

Daily Smoke Purchase from Famous Smokes

I received my order today from Famous Smokes that consists of 3 budget, daily smokes the good BOTL’s over at puff.com recommended me on this thread I started. The first for me to enjoy was the Flor de Oliva, since I very much enjoy Oliva’s premium offerings. And wow, is this really a great cigar [...]

Jan 17 2012

C.E. Beck

C.E. Beck Robusto from Cuban Crafters Another stoagie offered up from Cuban Crafters, and quite interesting with significantly different taste vs. aroma! The taste has quite an enjoyable zing to it with a peppery nip at every puff…but it’s well tamed! It offers a nice layer to the very woody & tobacco taste & texture. [...]

Jan 16 2012

Victor Sinclair Bohemian Oscuro

Victor Sinclair Bohemian Oscuro Usually part of my Sunday Sinclair Sampler but it was too damn cold yesterday. So tonight it’s a surprisingly enjoyable 28 degrees with little wind in the back yard. Time to enjoy this dark and night Oscuro. On the bittier edge, the taste is quite lively but not too overpowering with [...]

Jan 12 2012

Horse Shit Cigar

So the humidor I purchased from a fellow off of Craig’s List was a Cuban Crafters box set, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the makes under this store. Great stuff. However, also in the box were these Horse Shit Cigars, you can barely make out Horse Shit Cigar from the bottom of the label. The [...]

Jan 12 2012

My Uzi Weighs a Ton

My Uzi Weighs a Ton While I’ve smoked two of these already since i purchased these pre-production stoagies by Drew Estate, I’m finally ready to review one after its aged some in the humidor nearly 4 months after its release in September. The taste is fairly mild, perhaps light, and possesses little pepper to it [...]

Jan 10 2012

Cuban Crafters

Cuban Crafters Conecticut Well here we go, waiting a while to try the namesake from this amazing brand. The taste is unobtrusive in the mouth and warm, a slight pepperyness exists but its not overbearing. It’s mostly dry but contains a hint of creamy sweetness in the aftertaste. A mouthful of smoke gives a rich, [...]

Jan 9 2012

Cuban Crafters Cameroon

Cuban Crafters Cameroon The taste offered by this Cameroon has an initial sugaryness on the tip, not sure if this is natural or it’s sweetened on purpose, but it’s nice. You notice it when tonguing the end too. There’s a deeper tone to this cigar resembling earthy qualities while mixing with the sugary-sweetness. Aftertaste has [...]

Jan 8 2012

Victor Sinclair Bohemian Bamboo

My next subject in the VS Sunday Sampler, a bamboo stick! Unlike a real bamboo stick, this one is rather soft to the touch and light to the taste. In fact, the taste is lighter than most VS’s I have enjoyed so far. Far from anything harsh, peppery or hot, there’s only a light woody-sense [...]

Jan 4 2012

Don Kiki Green Label

After thoroughly enjoying his Red label, I look forward to sampling his other offerings, and up next is this Green label. The draw is a little tight, esp. after being in a humidor for a good while, but nothing that gets in the way of enjoyment. The taste is fairly mild and smooth compared to [...]

Jan 1 2012

Victor Sinclair Series 55 Maduro

Having enjoyed VS’s seconds from cigarsinternational.com, I’m finally getting a taste of the real Series 55 in a maduro. The wait was worth it! The taste is earthy and woody, with a light sense of sugary-sweetness mingling with some pepper. Retrohaling reveals more of the woody and earthy tastes. Overall it’s quite smooth and no [...]

Dec 29 2011

Don Kiki Red Label

So after having thoroughly enjoyed a few of Don Kiki’s other-branded stoagies, as well as other cigars from Cuban Crafters in general, I was looking forward to trying a name offering from them. This Red Label gets a lot of flack for being the ugly stick used to wreak ill on so many, but it [...]

Dec 26 2011

Alec Bradley Black Market

I was looking forward to trying this as I really enjoy the AB Tempus, and supposedly, they’re similar in tastes despite using different tobacco’s. This Black Market is part of an AB Sampler from cigar.com. The taste is initially a black-licorice sweet enveloped in a sweet creamy texture with some definite notes of cedar and [...]

Dec 25 2011

Victor Sinclair Vintage Select

Yay Christmas Stoagie! This Victor Sinclair kicks off my next 12 Sunday stoagie smokes as I go through a VS Best Of collection purchased from cigar.com. I’ve been enjoying VS’s 55 Second and a few others, and looking forward to trying all he has to offer. This maduro gets the ugly-stick reputation around the net [...]

Dec 25 2011

La Carolina

Another cigar from the Craig’s list deal coming from a Cuban Crafter’s sampler. I really don’t know the age of the cigars from this box, but so far all these smokes have been great. This Carolina has a very peculiar sweetened tip, which I thought at first was artificial as in an infused stoagie. But [...]

Dec 22 2011

Puros Indios

Indios Puros; Ecuador, Brazilian, Dominican and Nicaraguan I really liked their Veijo cigar and bought a box of them; they are well priced. I was given this regular version by a co-worker. I was surprised at how different it is from the Veijo. This is much more smooth and sweeter. The draw is very easy [...]

Dec 22 2011

Don Kiki US Army Limited

In the box purchased from Craigslist, there are these military-branded sticks, one for each branch of the military. There were two of the Army cigars so this is the one I’m trying first. While I don’t know how long they were in the humidor before I purchased it, I will say this is a really [...]

Dec 21 2011

Cuban Crafters Cameroon

One of many cigars in a humidor I bought off of Cragis List. . I have no idea how long this was aging in the box, but it’s impressive nonetheless. There’s a definite tobacco quality to this cigar but it’s very well tamed. The taste is pretty smooth with only a little spice or harshness [...]

Dec 6 2011

Alec Bradley Tempus

Wow, this is a really great cigar with a lot to enjoy, and you can feel it in the weight of the cigar alone. The taste is smooth and not harsh or spicy, but has some note of spice that are enjoyable. Overall it’s a dry, woody flavour with hints of dry nuts, cocoa powder [...]

Dec 3 2011

Black Friday Cigars 2011

Cigar.com had a really good black-friday deal with selected 6 packs (and other assortments) of some really good cigars. Prices were right, the selection was top notch, and purchases were made. The stash consists of: Pepin Garcia Blue Obsidian Double Perfecto Illusione Alec Bradley Tempus Quadrum E.P. Carrillo Oliva Serie ‘O’ Cigar.com House Blends Gordo [...]

Nov 30 2011

Obsidian

A cigar made to be full in taste and flavor, and perhaps strength! The obsidian definitely has a strong taste to it but it’s not harsh or peppery, but rather dry, akin to trying to smoke a 2×4 as it has a strong woody and dry-nut texture & flavour. The thick smoke coming from this [...]

Nov 29 2011

EP Carillo

Been looking forward to one of these and wow is this a nice cigar. It doesn’t have any fancy tricks, tastes or surprised. It’s just a good cigar. The taste is very light and mellow with a smooth, easy draw. No harshness, pepper or bitterness. The aroma is excellent with a very buttery scent with [...]

Nov 14 2011

Oliva Master Blends III

A highly enjoyable cigar I picked up as a single from an order on cigar.com. The initial lighting has a harsh pepperyness to it, but it quickly subdues to an herbal, chocolaty or cocoa taste with a woody dryness to it. The aroma is rich and creamy with an overall sweetness to it with some [...]

Nov 11 2011

H. Upmann 1844 Monarch Tube

A friend purchased a used cigar box off of Craig’s List, which came with a sealed box of these H. Upmann Tubes, and he gave them to me for trade of a few Cohiba Siglo’s. Well worth it, this box has been aging for a while on its own, and now in my humidor. A [...]

Nov 5 2011

Cuban Stock Royal Selection

Found this at a cigar shoppe I didn’t know about just off of South Street. I was walking around center city enjoying a cigar I had and wanted another, and the universe answered my plea! This was recommneded by the cute store guy there, they carry an extensive lineup of these. It was very good! [...]

Nov 3 2011

La Aurora

Part of a free 5-pack from cigarsinternational.com, I’ve been wanting to try more La Aurora’s since their contribution to CI’s Legends series. The taste is fairly smooth and easily mild with no bitter, pepper or harshness to it. The aroma is quite prominent with a buttery-sweet herbal quality to it. Not harsh or strong to [...]

Oct 31 2011

Victor Sinclair Serie ’55′ Seconds

A Seconds cigar from cigarsinternational, not the inked 2 in the photo. This is an enjoyable daily smoke that has yet to have any draw or burning issues in my experience. The aroma is overall smooth and mild, not harsh or bitter to the nose. A strong herbal quality is enveloped with a darker sweet [...]

Oct 28 2011

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Obelisco

This has a very original aroma to it. There’s a lot that evolves throughout the smoke. Overall there’s a very earthy texture to it, with a sweetness and nutty like smell complementing it. There’s a smooth earthy and herbal quality as well. It fairs the richer, darker spectrum in most aspects. Not at all harsh [...]

Oct 8 2011

Pirate’s Gold Cigar à trois

A comparison review of the Pirate’s Gold stoagie in two vastly different sizes.

Oct 7 2011

My little protest with a sign

So having seen a lot of folks on the internets taking a photo of themselves with a sign (and in a lot of cases, with incredibly small and hardly readable text), I felt inspired to make a sign and take a photo of my own for my own protest. All in fun. Hope I’m not [...]

Sep 16 2011

CAO Osa Sol

A nice gigantasaurus 58 ring gauge stoagie, just how they all should be! This is a very mild smoke overall. The taste has a slight pepper taste to bit, but not at all overwhelming or annoying, and it’s quite nice to my mouth. It adds just a little something-something to the smooth draw and coco-like [...]

Aug 30 2011

Diamond Crown Julius Caeser

Purchased at Casa Fuente in Vegas, I waited some time before smoking this hard-to-get cigar. The taste is heavy with a definite dryness initially and smoke, but it leaves a cocoa-sweet taste in the mouth. Just a hint of pepper initially, but not at all burdoning. This cigar smells amazing while breathing. Quite sweet with [...]

Aug 28 2011

Oliveros Kopi Luwak

A sweetened-tip cigar with a supposed flavor of Coffe. I’m not certain if the cigar was too young, but it had been in my humidor for a couple of weeks. It tasted dry & smoky with a sense of amonia, so something wasn’t right. The aroma was pretty nice, but definitly not reminiscient of coffee. [...]

Aug 26 2011

Cuba Libre

A pretty nice cigar with the usual notes I’ve noticed from other old-world cuban-clone cigars, but milder. It has a distinct herbal quality to it in the aroma, albeit mildly. Not overpowering or strong, but you do have to pay attention if you want to enjoy it. The taste is also herbal with the every [...]

Aug 23 2011

CI Legends Purple Label

Another nice, smooth cigar from Cigars International’s Legends line. Not harsh to the taste at all but has a nutty, woody, dry taste with just the slightest peppery hint that falls in the back of the mouth. Quite easy going. The aroma has a creamy scent to it with a wet-earthyness to it. Notes of [...]

Aug 23 2011

CI Legends Copper Label

A great smelling stick from Drew Estate for the Cigars International Legends line, imminently smelling of rich chocolate before light. The tip has a sugary-coated nom-nom-nom flavor to it, so unfortunately, some of the taste is masked. There is a peppery taste that is ever present and quite mild, however. The site’s description notes this [...]

Aug 22 2011

CI Legends Red Label

Noting the red color, I was expecting a strong cigar. Not so in strength, but it is in taste, but well tamed! I may be mistaken on this comparison, but it’s similar to another favorite of mine, the CAO Black], in that it has a very nice pepper & spice thing going for it that’s [...]

Aug 22 2011

CI Legends Black

This was a highly enjoyable cigar from Cigars International. Both the taste and the aroma had a distinct buttery taste to it, maybe a bit milky. The taste contained a mild peppery taste as well, but not overpowering at all. The aroma is great, the buttery scent is quite enjoyable while there’s a great mix [...]

Aug 21 2011

CI Legends Blue Label

A nice, smooth and mild cigar overall, and light to mild in strength. The taste is overall light with a peppery and herbal quaity to it, but very low key and not harsh whatsoever, and remained consistent throughout the smoke. The aroma is light chocolaty sweet with more of the herbal undertones keeping it interesting, [...]

Aug 18 2011

CI Legends Green Label

Had to start writing about this one pretty quickly as it’s really nice. It’s a pretty mild cigar overall, but the aroma is just great. Sweet, vanilla, herbal and chocolaty, all the good stuff, and pretty unique as far as my experience. The taste is very smooth and light as well; only a hit of [...]

Aug 17 2011

CI Legends White Label

I purchased the sampler of Cigars International house line of Legends and here’s the first smoke. This is definitely a smooth smoking cigar.it starts out a bit peppery and harsh, but that quickly fades to revel a nice sweet stick. There is usually a note of peppery in the taste, but overall it’s very mellow. [...]

Aug 16 2011

Gurkha Triple Ligero Special Edition 2002

Despite this being a Maduro, it’s very mild in strength and taste. In fact, it’s pretty mild overall. I got this in a 5 pack from a special impulse-buy from cigars.com. The taste is pretty tame, and mostly non-existant! Just the taste of smoke to me. A slight peppery thing going on, but it’s just [...]

Aug 15 2011

Genuine Counterfeit Cuban 1958 Edicion Limitada

Finally got around to enjoying the last of this Genuine Counterfeit sampler. I wasn’t expecting this to be too much different than the regular 1958 of the same line, but it is. While it still has a great herbal & spicy aroma, there’s more of a hint to a chocolaty scent as well. It definitely [...]

Aug 13 2011

Davidoff Aniversario No. 3

My second Davidoff, purchased out in Vegas with some other Davidoff’s. I figured a night in Cape May is a good enough reason to enjoy of these top-tier cigars. I don’t feel this was worth the price of admission into the top-tier level. Overall it’s an excellent smoke; the wrapper is gorgeous and flawless, as [...]

Aug 12 2011

Perdomo2 Limited Edition 2008

A boxed press cigar and I’m becoming favorable of this style because the draw is always good, and it helps the flavor flow and remain “compact” I suppose. The aroma on this is pleasingly interesting, and by that I am referring to its assortment of scents. Overall, it is sweet, but in a herbal way. [...]

Aug 10 2011

Perdomo Lot 23

A mild smoking and strength cigar. Tastes of honey and pepper, but not a harsh or bitter pepperyness. Aroma is sweet and continuing with the honey flavour, with some earthy notes in as well from the tobacco leaves. Draw was very light, the smoke was full. An enjoyable cigar, but nothing astounding or unique. Would [...]

Aug 9 2011

Perdomo Crand Cru 2004 Semilla Habano

Upon instant light, a thick, rich cloud was unleashed from this stoagie. A nice creamy taste with a hint of nuttyness and a light peppery undertone quickly flooded my mouth, and that taste remained solidly consistent through the smoke up until the final 3rd. The armoa was pleasingly sweet with a milky, vanilla-like scent with [...]

Aug 6 2011

Piñar Del Rio Seleccion

Aug 6 2011

Perdomo Habano

Unfortunately I did not write a description at the time of smoking this. All that I do remember was that it was decent, but nothing stellar or worth remembering to buy more of.

Aug 4 2011

Genuine Counterfeit Cuban

Another taste smoke in this line of ingeniously named cigars. Tasting of herbal and peppery notes that are pretty well balanced and remain consistent from first light to nub. Not sweet tasting at all, however, unlike that aroma. The aroma as an overly sweet, caramel and chocolaty scent with a distinctive herbal quality also present [...]

Aug 2 2011

Genuine Pre-Embargo Counterfeit Cuban 1958

Gotta love the name of this one, and also that they’re aiming for the real authentic pre-embargo taste. I had high hopes for this! And I was not let down! The immediate taste was of course harsh and bitter, but as with most cubans & other good cigars, that quickly goes away to reveal blissful [...]

Aug 2 2011

Genuine Counterfeit Dominican

A counterfeit dominican to round out the line of genuine counterfeits! This started out very peppery, almost to the point of non-enjoyment to me. However, it eventually mellowed out almost halfway through, letting more earthy flavors come to the front, but always still having a light peppery taste. The aroma was excellent and not at [...]

Aug 1 2011

Oliva Connecticut

Like most Oliva’s, this was very smooth and light. It’s not bitey, strong, peppery or sweet. Quite well balanced for what it offers, maybe a hint of sweetness but only slightly. The aroma is enjoyable, but not complex; you will have to really pay attention to enjoy it. Overall the Oliva Habano doesn’t deliver anything [...]

Jul 30 2011

Predominant Patriarch

Jul 29 2011

Perdomo Patriarch

Perdomo; Nicaraguan, Habano Purchased a Perdomo sampler pack from cigar.com and here’s the first stick from the batch. At first light, there’s a harshness to it but this quickly goes away to reveal a very smooth chocolaty-caramel quality that’s quite enjoyable. Not too strong in taste either, as some earthyness and tobacco flavours mingle exquisitely [...]

Jul 28 2011

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur

Wow, right after lighting this up, I fell in love with this cigar. It has a very cuban heritage in its blend, and thus reminds me of the Cigar.com Cuban Label I like so much. Initially it has some peppery and harshness to the taste, but that quickly gives was to a great sweet, caramel [...]

Jul 27 2011

Sol Cubano Series B

Another stick I had to try from this brand as the namesake Sol Cubano Connecticut is one of my regular smokes now. This cigar definitely changes in 3rds with taste. Overall, the aroma remains mostly consistent with a sweet, creamy sense like the Connecticut but a bit milder on the sweet, except towards the end [...]

Jul 26 2011

Obsidian

Back at home after the vacation, enjoying the first cigar in the back yard at home. This cigar was part of a freebie pack from Cigar International. Sweet nuts is probably not an appropriate way to describe a stoagie, but, there you go. The aroma is wonderfully rich with a sweet, creamy & nutty scent. [...]

Jul 25 2011

Diamond Crown Maximus

Bought in a shop here in Vegas, this is apparently a rare cigar created by Carlos Fuente at Newman’s request. This cigar is excellent. It’s labeled as a full-bodied with a maduro wrapper. However, it’s not overpowering at all in taste. A very smooth smoke with a complex taste to offer. I initially experienced a [...]

Jul 24 2011

Davidoff Millenium

My first Davidoff, purchased a few from the Davidoff’s cigar store at Caeser’s Casino. Enjoyed in a techno lounge in the Cosmopolitan Casino. What an easy smoking cigar. Very, very smooth to smoke, and very light to the taste. The aroma is warm, maybe a little nutty, with some cocoa sweetness to it. No harshness [...]

Jul 21 2011

Don Pepin Garcia

Another cigar I was looking forward to trying while out here, and well worth the wait as it was an instant favorite. The initial lighting and taste has a typical Cuban harshness to it that quickly fades off. This smoke has a very natural chocolaty taste and aroma, but not in the way the CAO [...]

Jul 19 2011

Casa Fuente Double Robusto

Available only at the Vegas store in the Caeser’s mall, I enjoyed this with a Courvoisier XO on the balcony store front on a nice slow Vegas afternoon. The cigar wasn’t clicking with me overall. The draw was perfect. Taste-wise (and before I hit the cognac), it was slightly harsh with an ever present dry-woody [...]

Jul 19 2011

Illusione

Hand-Labeled as #6098. Double Corona because it’s Vegas, baby! This stick has a really nice looking textured wrapper in my opinion. From start to finish it remained very consistent with no relighting. From the initial match-light, this cigar has a very creamy, mildly-vanilla taste with the slightest bite to keep it interesting. Hints of nuttyness [...]

Jul 18 2011

Drew Estate Java Connecticut

The second Java I had out here in Vegas. This one smells rich with chocolate, desirably munchable like a chocolate wafer. The rich chocolaty taste is very strong with the sweetened tip, which was a bit too much for me compared to the maduro version. As this was box pressed, the draw was incredibly smooth [...]

Jul 18 2011

Cigar Loot from Vegas

Cigars purchased during my vacation in Vegas. A set of Davidoff’s purchased from the Davidoff store in Caesers, a box of Casa Fuente’s from their Cafe (only available there!), Lovo Magnums and other Lovo’s (my favorite cigar find while there). Not pictured are some other tasty treats I found at various cigar shops in the [...]

Jul 16 2011

Lovo Magnum Twist

My first cigar shop visit here was Lovo cigars on the strip and I struck fucking gold. I purchased a few sticks from them and this Magnum was the first smoke, and my god is a good. This is one all-around smooth cigar. The draw is clean and just right. The taste is mild and [...]

Jul 13 2011

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur 1066

This cigar very closely resembles another favorite of mine, the CAO Black. It has that interesting range of herbal spices, which is not the same as a spiceyness in terms of harshness. More of an edgy taste all around, but not at all peppery or overpowering. The aroma is the same. It’s difficult for me [...]

Jul 12 2011

Cohiba XV

Slowly getting back into Maduro wrappers. The aroma off those is really sweet and delectable. But I’m finding, the taste isn’t. The story behind these XV’s is pretty cool, the wrapper leaf is picked from the top of the tobacco plant, which limits production greatly, and ages 3 years. This is a full-bodied cigar, and [...]

Jul 11 2011

Sol Cubano Maduro

Man the aroma off this Maduro is incredible. Very sweet and with a great truly-nutty flavor. I enjoyed it. The taste, however, was a different story. It was a bit harsh; smoky and dry; woody. It was not consistent, just as the burn; I had to relight this just as other reviewers had. I think [...]

Jul 9 2011

Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet

I didn’t notice it when I pulled it out of the humidor, most likely because of the combined aroma coming out of it, but this definitely needed to age more, it’s the first stick I’ve had with that ammonia-smell and a harshness to the taste. With that said this is bleugh, but I will purchase [...]

Jul 8 2011

CAO La Traviata

Wow, what a great cigar. The reviews say this was designed to mimick a pre-nationalization Havana. From my experience of real Cubans, I believe it does so, minus the authentic natural Cuban-sweetness found in the real deal. But this is highly enjoyable. For a full-bodied cigar, it’s well tamed, quite smooth and only the hint [...]

Jul 5 2011

Saint Luis Rey Reseva Especial

Wow this was a very smooth, light smoking cigar with a good dose of flavour. Not much tobaccony or smoke taste at all to get in the way of its full-bodied tastyness. All sweet, not spicey, and very delectable near the end. An easy smoke for sure, and one that I will probably have more [...]

Jul 4 2011

The Required 4th’s CAO America

Enjoyed a great BBQ with the family and the traditional CAO America stick. I keep a few of these on hand for the national holidays, plus, it’s just a damn good cigar, definitely a favorite of mine. Very smooth, medium but not dull with a very enjoyable palette that delivers some new taste every time [...]

Jul 1 2011

Cohiba Red Dot Black

Been looking forward to this as I did rather like the standard Red Dot from Cohiba, and I really like Black type of cigars for their richness & sweetness. And overall it was a good cigar; it had a great depth of flavours and a very rich aroma that was very enjoyable. A bit mild [...]

Jun 30 2011

Pinar del Rio Liga Cubana No. 2

Part of the freebie pack from CI, this Cuban-seed based stick was fairly enjoyable. Having smokes quite a few cuban seed sticks now, I can notice the similarities with them; a fair sweetness, very mild spice, and an overall smooth flavour. That said, this was pretty decent. I still prefer cigar.com’s Cuban label however as [...]

Jun 30 2011

Rocky Patel Renaissance

A rather premium cigar at nearly $7 a stick, I was looking forward to this and some other Patel’s as I really enjoy their aroma and taste. The Renaissance is mild despite the darker wrapper. Overall it’s well tamed, with a subtle sweetness adding to the more nutty flavours. Not at all spicy or peppery, [...]

Jun 29 2011

Vegas 5 Classic

Wow, I was looking forward to this from the reviews, but man was it a genuine pleasure. It’s a very mild to medium cigar with a plentiful sweetness to it that stays throughout the entire smoke. Something along the lines of white chocolate I think. It did get the slightest hint of spice at the [...]

Jun 28 2011

Pinar del Rio Classico

I received a package of Pinar del Rio’s free from my Cigars International order. This particular one started out a bit rough, then smoothed out to a nutty, woody taste with some sweet-undertones. Half way through, the sweetness dissipated to allow a full woody taste to come through, albeit it became dry. It’s a freebie, [...]

Jun 25 2011

Hoyo de Monterry Dark Sumatra

A very enjoyable, rich & consistent cigar with an obvious chocolaty (as opposed to cocoa) taste. And as another reviewer noted, buttery! Very smooth throughout. A bit tight on the draw, but not as bad as the previous two Hoyo’s I’ve enjoyed. The aroma is equally rich with the same notable flavours. While it didn’t [...]

Jun 20 2011

La Perla Habana

I’ve been looking forward to smoking a La Perla for a while, they get some good reviews, and the artwork on the label & merch is gorgeous. It was an enjoyable smoke, quite mild but a great consistent flavor of cocoa & coffee; overall it’s sweet. The aroma is also sweet with an ever present [...]

Jun 19 2011

Cuban Bullet 2.0

Purchased at a smoke shop in Noth Wales, PA, been looking forward to this just from the name alone. Overall it’s quite a mild cigar, no spicey or peppery tones at all. Cocoa and woody taste are all that I notice through the duration of the smoke. The aroma is the same. The draw is [...]

Jun 15 2011

Rocky Patel Sumatra Edge 2010

Overall it was a good Sumatra smoke (I do prefer Sumatra wrappers), but overall it was much more mellower than others I’ve had. It did have a nice range of sweetness and tobacco-earthyness to it however, so the taste adventure was definitely there. But it was very mild, so it took some concentration to really [...]

Jun 14 2011

Tatuaje Miami

From start to finish, this highly enjoyable cigar has a mild but full cocoa & woody presence that remains consistent throughout the entire smoke. The smooth draw, filling but not too overpowering taste and thick smokey aroma result in a superbly balanced mild cigar that’s full of enjoyment. I will be picking up more of [...]

Jun 13 2011

Hoyo De Monterry Tradicion

I don’t know where to start with this, it’s a completely different beast than anything I’ve smoked thus far. So let’s do the easy things: Mild strength, very complex aroma and a mysterious taste (to me!). This is truly an original cigar, and it’s not overpowering at all. The aroma is really the most enjoyable [...]

Jun 12 2011

Drew Estate Acid 5

Finally, a version of their Kuba/1400CC cigar without a highly sweetened tip makes this cigar perfect. I always loved the aroma from their ACID 1400CC cigar, and this 5-year anniversary edition doesn’t fail with that. I can now enjoy the taste without an overdose of sugar. The draw is very smooth as with the original, [...]

Jun 12 2011

New 200 Count Humidor

The new long-term humidor I purchased with a glass top. People said it was a good humidor on various forums, but they did recommend covering the window up so the sun does not bake the stoagies inside, so I do. I spent a week seasoning this, wiping down the cedar lining with distilled water. It’s [...]

Jun 9 2011

Kristoff Sumatra

A medium cigar with no real pronounced features but enjoyable anyway. Any sweetness gained from the Sumatra wrapper is always accompanied by a light peppery taste. The aroma is intriguing and enjoyable, as is the thick smoke. While it took about a half-inch for this stick to come alive, it remained consistent throughout. The aftertaste [...]

Jun 8 2011

Tatuaje Ambos Mundos

Filled with somewhat cheaper filler than normally used at the My Father factory, this stick started out kinda bland, with wildly peppery notes and not much else to enjoy. However, about half-way through it milds out with an enjoyable sweetness and a very original aroma that delivers more to enjoy than the taste. There’s no [...]

Jun 7 2011

Ashton VSG

Ashton makes some of the best stoagies out there. This amazing stick is very well balanced with all cigarness; woody notes, a light-peppery draw, the meaty taste when held, and a sweet aftertaste when exhaled thanks to the Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper. Not overly complex in taste, just enjoyably and surprisingly well balanced. And that [...]

Jun 6 2011

Sol Cubano

Wow, this is a heavenly cigar. very smooth, light, but quite tasty with a heavenly aroma. First time I can say I agree with the term creamy in describing a cigar’s taste. Very easy to smoke. Yeah, a box of these will be purchased some time.

Jun 5 2011

Padron Nicaraguan Habano

I picked this monster up at a local shoppe on recommendation, and it’s a home run. Hits you with a sweet, very little peppery taste right off the bat. They didn’t have anything smaller than this, but that’s fine for today, I’m not moving very fast as it is. I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar! It [...]

Jun 4 2011

Cohiba Red Dot Puro Dominicana

I finally bought one to compare to the real thing. And I dare say, I feel I am enjoying this more than the siglo. It’s much different, yes! Not as sweet, a very different aroma. But to my tastes, it’s highly enjoyable. I will try the entire line of red-dots. Ok, so a box of [...]

Jun 2 2011

Cigar.com Cameroon Label

Cigar.com Cameroon label (the label blew away unfortunately). I’m a big fan of Cameroon wrappers, but I’m finding the fillers make a huge difference as well. The cameroon wrapper definitely adds the sweetness to the aroma, but not the taste. Filled with maduro-style filler, the taste is dry, not necessarily peppery though. Bitey on the [...]

May 30 2011

Cigar.com Sun Grown Label

Cigar.com Sun Grown Label for an appropriately sunny, humid day. The cigar is in the medium strength range, with a nice well-rounded cigar-taste; not too sweet, not too spicy. As with most of cigar.com’s labels so far, the aroma flowing from this is sweet with some spicy notes; highly enjoyable. I am contemplating a box [...]

May 29 2011

CAO Criollo

CAO Criollo current generation cigar enjoyed during a gorgeous Sunday morning in Jason’s grove. I don’t know what to say about this because it was an uninspiring smoke. I’m a big fan of CAO’s products, but this had no life to it. Maybe the original blend was more interesting (and definitely it should be more [...]

May 28 2011

Cigar.com Blue Label

Cigar.com Blue label, enjoyed at my friend Mike’s place. I love how well cigar.com’s house labels burn, they hold onto the ash well! This was a pleasingly mild cigar, but it didn’t offer any unique flavours that stayed with me while smoking. The taste is a toast and walnut flavor, quite dry, without any pepper [...]

May 24 2011

Cigar.com Red Label

Cigar.com red label. This is their full-bodied maduro. It’s definitely moar spicier or peppery than I prefer. The aroma is sweet and enjoyable, but the taste is dark and “hot”. I am noting how much a wrapper affects the taste and smell of a cigar, and am preferring the Connecticut oily wrappers found on a [...]

May 23 2011

Cigar.com Corojo Label

Cigar.com corojo label stick. There a lot to like about this blend, however with my tastes, the slightly spicy aftertaste as noted in the official product description isn’t necessarily completely enjoyable. It is very subtle, but prolonged. Otherwise, it is quite mild and somewhat sweet tasting. The aroma, as with all of cigar.com’s labels I’ve [...]

May 21 2011

Cigar.com Purple Label

Cigar.com’s purple label cigar, looking like a train wreck as I fumbled the cut. This was a pretty unassuming smoke, maybe my taste’s aren’t developed enough for it but it was definitely light. Updated on December 7th with Gordo size: While I was apparently unmoved buy this cigar from the first review, that’s changed with [...]

May 18 2011

Cigar.com Brazilian Label

Cigar.com Brazilian label cigar. This was an enjoyable cigar. The taste had a lot to offer with a good range of slightly spicey, creamy and darker notes. The aroma was equally interesting; very floral and herbal is the best I can describe.

May 12 2011

Cigar.com Cuban Label

Cigar.com cuban house blend. A damn good buy with a lot of flavor and aroma. Perfect for the weather outside. ‎$2.50 a stick, or $50 for 20. Wow, that’s what I have to say after buying a single of this amazing cigar. Has a sweet aroma carried by a nice thick smoke, accompanied by a [...]

Apr 4 2011

Carlos Torano 1916 Cameroon

Enjoying the absolutely gorgeous evening in the back yard with a Carlos Torano 1916 Cameroon cigar. I do like Cameroon wrapped cigars, they offer a great natural sweetness in taste & aroma that I enjoy. However, they tend to be 1-dimensional smokes, and while I did enjoy this, it didn’t offer anything unique or complex [...]

Mar 21 2011

CAO America

CAO America stoagie. I Waited for the unnofical or official first day of spring to smoke this, and it definitely was worth the wait, it is very good! I read a lot of good things about this stick which led me to purchase it. I’m very glad I did, it is similar to CAO’s La [...]

Mar 16 2011

My Father Le Bijou 1922

This is a My Father cigar, recommended by Willy at the Trolley Square cigar shop. I’ve had this before, and bought a second stick, it was that good! It’s a medium to full I believe, but man is this an adventure in tastes. The first 1/4-1/2″ is ok, but then this opens up and the [...]

Mar 14 2011

Man O’ War

Man O’ War. This is their main cigar, a medium bodied stick. It’s very enjoyable, even after smoking it way too fast I didn’t get lightheaded or nauseous. A nice smooth draw, it’s a medium with a lot of flavor, not too sweet but just enough to not overpower the over flavours. They definitely have [...]

Mar 12 2011

Ghurka Monogram

Ghurka Monogram I purchased at a smoke shop in cherry hill. A mild to medium cigar all the way. Not bad, but nothing really special. Affordable considering, this is a decent regular smoke. Took about an inch to get to the good taste; mildly sweet with a nice aroma, but not too thick or heavy.

Mar 4 2011

Man O’ War Ruin Nation

Man O’ War Ruin Nation. So far so good, but as I’m discovering I am a mild-cigar kinda guy, I feel I am not really appreciating most of this. It is good, has a great aroma, but the sting or bite of medium cigars is keeping me from fully appreciating this famous stick.

Mar 1 2011

CAO Black

This was an instant hit! It has a very unique taste, which I have trouble describing with my limited experience. But it is mild for me despite being a full-bodied stick. The aroma is fantastic; rich with multiple notes of sweet, herbal and floral scents. Highly enjoyable, and has become a Sunday morning ritual cigar [...]

Feb 27 2011

Cohiba Siglo VI

First Light Starting off the Cohiba Siglo VI. It had a bite to it initially, at this point it had mellowed off. The head didn’t last much longer after I took this photo. A Little More A little more in and the real taste of this had shown itself. Very easy going, slightly sweet, but [...]

Feb 26 2011

Man O’ War Virtue

Didn’t write a description when I smoked it, but I do remember the Virtue being my favorite of the Man O’ War line. Definitely a milder cigar than their others and had a sweet flavour from what I remember.

Jan 20 2011

CAO ACID Sampler

A box of their 1400CC cigars, which is a guilty pleasure of mine, and their sampler set of infused stoagies. I honestly did not find much of them enjoyable, but it was a fun time trying them all out.

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