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Reviews

You want to try a cigar, but don't know if it's worth the money they want for it? Here we try them for you then let you know what we think. You will find predominantly cigar reviews here. We'll also slip in an odd [insert alcoholic beverage here] review.

"My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way." - Ernest Hemingway

Cabaiguan Guapo
Posted on April 24^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Toro
Size: 5 ⅝ inches
Ring: 54
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Nicaragua/USA

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

MSRPrice: $11.00

      I normally start each review with the "official" background description from the particular brands website or from one of the retailer websites, as most of them use the same description anyhow. The difference being, I actually quote the source to give credit where credit is due. This one is different as, for example, I'm finding conflicting stories of where the cigar is made AND many are calling it a maduro wrapper when Tatuaje describes it as a naturally dark sun grown broadleaf wrapper. About the only thing everyone can agree on is that Cabaiguan (pronounced Kah-by-GWAHN) cigars are medium bodied cigars created by Pete Johnson AND are named after the Cuban city that's home to some of the world's most talented cigar makers. Otherwise, everyone has their own opinion.

      If you haven't noticed already, this week has been dedicated to reviewing cigars from Pete Johnson. The following review is the final review for this week, but definitely not the last cigar review of a Pete Johnson cigar.

      I purchased a four pack sampler of various vitolas from this line on-line from New Havana Cigars. Other vitolas included in the sampler pack are the

Guapo 46 (5 5/8 x 54)
Guapo RX (5 1/4 x 50)
Guapo Junior (4 5/8 x 54)

      I've tried them all and the Guapo was the last in the pack, so I will review this vitola:

      Spoiler Alert...I liked all of the vitolas, but this one left quite an impression on me. I really enjoyed it more than the other vitolas! The dark sun grown pigtailed wrapper smelled of honey, reminding me of Cuban cigars I enjoy. I'd like to break it down to thirds, but quite honestly this cigar was consistent throughout. Five minutes after lighting this cigar, the various flavors of mild earth, cream, nut and even a hint of licorice. This was definitely a full flavored cigar, but a mild to medium strength. My tasting partner found it slightly bitter about half way. However I found that not to be. But I do prefer a stronger cigar than my tasting partner. On a side note, I enjoyed this cigar with a Belgian-style beer I picked up across the border in France called La Goudale. It complimented the cigar well.

      I found all three cigars reviewed this week did not have the typical spice or kick one expects from Pete Johnson brand cigars. They were all relatively mild in that aspect.

      Smoking time was an enjoyable one and a half hours. Burn was good and the draw was perfect. My compliments to the torcedor.

Buy more: Yes!

La Riqueza No. 2
Posted on April 22^nd, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Belicoso
Size: 5 ½ inches
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

MSRPrice: $9.50

      "A new brand from Tatuaje creator Pete Johnson, La Riqueza means "The Wealth" in Spanish. Nicaraguan Binder and Filler are encased in a Dark Natural Connecticut Broadleaf Wrapper. They are traditionally box pressed in the box. La Riqueza is an old Cuban brand name from the 1920's that was made in the Quintero factory in Cuba. The artwork replicates the original with a few updates, of course. Rolled at Tobacalera Cubana in Esteli, Nicaragua."¹⁸

      This week has been and will be dedicated to cigars from Pete Johnson. The La Riqueza is actually the brand Pete Johnson wanted to release initially but opted for the Tatuaje name instead. He finally has released the La Riqueza line recently and I was glad to pick up a sampler pack from New Havana Cigars. The following 5 vitolas were released:

No. 1 - 6 1/2 x 42 Cervantes/Lonsdale
No. 2 - 5 1/2 x 52 Belicoso
No. 3 - 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda
No. 4 - 5 x 48 Robusto/Hermosa No. 4
No. 5 - 4 3/8 x 42 Minutos/Petit Corona

      I smoked all the vitolas previously except for the No. 2, and will be reviewing this cigar:

      The wrapper placed under the nose and we noticed the smell of wood. In the first twenty minutes of the smoke we noticed mild notes of wood with a mild earthy aftertaste. Interestingly, the wood and earth was fleeting and disappeared as quickly as we could determine the flavor. After the twenty minute mark, the flavor profile finally left lasting flavors of cedar and earth, with tones of coffee to the very end of the smoke. We found the cigar to be medium and smooth to the end.

      Smoke time was one and a half hours. The draw firm and the burn was good.

      I'm still undecided whether I prefer the El Triunfador or the La Riqueza. It's apples and oranges at this point. I will also make room for a box of La Riqueza in my humidor.

Buy more: Yes!

El Triunfador No. 2
Posted on April 20^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Belicoso
Size: 5 ½ inches
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Habano Ecuadorian Sungrown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

MSRPrice: $8.00

      "Originally just a Lancero, produced to keep the El Triunfador name alive, the line is expanded to a full line of 6 vitolas with a new blend. The original Lancero, with its Broadleaf wrapper is still available as originally released. Feb. 2010: Originally slated for an international release first, Pete Johnson decided to release this new line to the States at the same time. A medium bodied blend that gets a ton of flavor from the Seco leaves originating on Pepin's La Estrella farm in Esteli, it features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan filler and is available in 6 sizes, including a Lancero (Not to be confused with the original Lancero, which is still being produced with its dark Broadleaf wrapper). Adorned in semi-dressed boxes and new bands. All sizes 1-5 are slightly box pressed and are in cello. The No. 6 Lancero is not. "¹⁸

      El Triunfador (meaning "the Winner) was relatively underground with one vitola available, the dark Broadleaf wrapper Lancero, just to keep the brand registered. Recently Pete Johnson released the El Triunfador in 6 vitolas:

No. 1 - 6 1/2 x 42 Lonsdale
No. 2 - 5 1/2 x 52 Belicoso
No. 3 - 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda
No. 4 - 5 x 48 Robusto
No. 5 - 4 3/8 x 42 Petit Corona
No. 6 - 7 1/2 x 38 Lancero

      I have tried all 6 vitolas from a sampler pack supplied by New Havana Cigars and found the No. 1 Lonsdale and the No. 4 Robusto as my favorites. In this case with the No. 2 Belicoso, a thicker ring gauge is not better IMHO (although I did enjoy ALL the vitolas). The No. 2 Belicoso was the last vitola from the sampler pack, so that is the one we will review.

      The wrapper is attractive and inviting and the cigar was soft to the touch. The smell of the wrapper before lighting was an unmistakably strong hay and barn aroma. After lighting this cigar we noticed mild flavors of leaf/tobacco, nut and cream. About half way through the smoke, the strength increased to slightly bitter, leather and even some cinnamon. Toward the end, something interesting happened. Besides noticing a bit of hay, the cigar mellowed out and went back to the same taste profile as the beginning of the smoke. This is a mild to medium smoke and I enjoyed this cigar. I will be making room for a box in my humidor.

      Smoke time was 50 minutes. The burn was great and the draw was easy with lots of smoke.

Buy more: Yes!

Benchmade Toro by Don Pepin
Posted on April 16^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 inches
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sumatra seed
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Price: $2.75

      "Benchmade is a new brand handcrafted in Nicaragua by Jose "Pepin" Garcia. These cigars feature gorgeous, dark-brown Nicaraguan wrappers, a pair of sturdy Nicaraguan binders and a delicious selection of high-grade Nicaraguan fillers. Each cigar is finished with a handsome pigtail top. The flavors are medium to full-bodied with a sweet earthy richness and a spicy complexity. Benchmade boasts the flavor and construction of a super-premium cigar, yet the attractive price-tag of a value bundle. Available in 5 traditional sizes in elegant cedar boxes, Benchmade is the new benchmark for the value cigar."¹⁷

      Interestly, this Nicaraguan puro is a mixed-filler cigar meaning the filler is a mix of short and long filler. You may notice inconsistencies from cigar to cigar, from box to box depending on when the cigars were made and whether you smoke cigars from different boxes. It is also a premium cigar at a rock bottom price.

      The cigar itself has a beautiful dark, oily wrapper well constructed and finished off with a pigtail. The cigar had a spongy feel to it making me dread a potential draw problem. But after lighting, I never noticed a draw problem throughout the entire smoke. First impressions of the cigar was a mild spice flavor with a taste of leaves. By the second third the spice continued and tones of coffee, nuts crept in and a slight oily cream flavor. A leather taste also began in the second third and about half way through the smoke it over powered the coffee and nuts leaving only leather and spice to finish the cigar. I never tasted an earthy flavor that many other reviews spoke of. This cigar has been sitting in my humidor since I purchased five months ago in the states. I really enjoyed this smoke. Even more so after checking the receipt for the price. While smoking it, this cigar reminded me of another cigar in my other humidor. It was similar in taste to the Casa Magna Colorado Robusto, only IMHO tasted better. The Benchmade had a more balanced taste compared to the Casa Magna. I smoked the Benchmade Toro to the very end.

      Smoke time was an enjoyable one and a half hours. The draw was great and burn need corrected one time only in the beginning and remained good the rest of the smoke.

Buy more: Yes! Great value for a quality cigar!

Tatuaje Cojonu 2003
Posted on April 10^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 ½ inches
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Miami, Florida USA

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo '99
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Price: $13.00

      "Tatuaje has taken the industry by storm! The Cojonu line represents the pinnacle of production coming out of the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Little Havana, Miami. Cojonu 2003 introduced, in that year, features an oily ligero wrapper, adding to its robust flavor. Under the direction of Maestro Tobaquero Jose 'Don Pepin' Garcia, master rollers skillfully handcraft each cigar, resulting in an impeccable construction and smooth draw. Tatuaje's creator, Pete Johnson, carefully selected 100% first generation Cuban seed Nicaraguan filler, giving the puros their impressive strength and complex aroma. Each Tatuaje cigar truly captures the spirit of old Havana, down to its Cuban-style triple cap."¹⁴

      A salesman definitely wrote that paragraph. I believe the goal of every successful cigar company is to employ "master rollers who skillfully handcraft each cigar" to ensure a "result of impeccable construction and smooth draw". Do you think people are there to produce crap and expect to sell millions of sticks of crap to consumers? Of course not. Let’s quit patronizing cigar smokers. Every cigar company thinks they make a quality product. Let us consumers decide if it is. That's my small rant. On to our review:

      The cigar was nicely constructed and had a wonderful sweet aroma of chocolate. More specifically, to the sheer delight of my tasting partner, an aroma of mint chocolate. From the beginning the draw was firm but had a beautiful white ash and produce a lot of smoke. The taste profile began with leather and toast. About twenty minutes into the smoke, it lost its leather flavor and turned to an earthy flavor. The draw still hadn't loosened up. A nice spice kicked in about half way through the smoke along with tones of coffee. The last third was more earth and coffee with the toast flavor turning to a burnt toast.

      Smoke time is over an hour. The draw was firm and the burn was great. This is a full flavor cigar best smoked after dinner with a whisky (no sweet drinks)

Buy more: Yes! It's worth a try, but at that price not for the daily rotation.

Cohiba Piramides Edición Limitada 2006
Posted on April 2^nd, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Piramide
Size: 156 mm
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €25.00

      "The 'Edición Limitada' originally made its appearance in 2001 with the launch of the Partagas Piramides - still regarded by some as one of the best cigars to date. Characterized by a specially prepared and aged dark Maduro wrapper the cigars sported a unique gold and black band with the year of production. The distinctive wrapper leaf for these cigars receives an additional mini fermentation for a period up to 25 days at higher than normal temperatures to achieve the unique dark, marbled texture. This additional fermentation also serves to impart approximately 10% more strength to the cigar as indicated by the "toasted" taste of the tobacco." "The entire process is very much an ongoing experiment conducted by agronomists within TabaCuba - the agricultural production division responsible for the cultivation of tobacco leaf in Cuba. Each year since 2001 Limited Edition cigars have been produced in selected marques and vitolas. Once these prestigious and rare cigars have been distributed and sold Worldwide they pass into the annals of cigar history. Inevitably the more popular cigars specially created within this format will appreciate in value by virtue of scarcity alone."¹⁶

      To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the 'Edición Limitada' series, Habanos S.A. re-issued three of the most popular LE cigars to date in 2006. The 2006 Cohiba Piramides LE is a re-release of the Cohiba 2001 Piramides LE. Montecristo Robusto and Partagas Series D3 were the other two LE cigars released in 2006.

      First and foremost I must thank my friend Walter for giving me this wonderful cigar. It is a beautifully constructed maduro piramide. The typical Cuban smell was quite enjoyable before lighting this cigar. We enjoyed a very pleasant sweet aromatic mix of cocoa, honey, and a touch of vanilla. This cigar had the standard taste profile of Cohiba cigars. It contained a grassy flavor, with tones of cocoa, coffee and vanilla. The first two-thirds of the smoke was a wonderful balance of these flavors. About half way through, a mild mix of spice and pepper appeared. We had a very intense unpleasant explosion of pepper which only lasted for a few minutes, eventually returning to normalcy and a very enjoyable level of pepper. Toward the end a leathery flavor appeared turning the cigar to a medium-full strength, whereas most of the smoke was a medium strength. This was a complex and well balanced cigar. I can only imagine it getting better in the coming years.

      Smoke time was one and a half hours. The burn was excellent leaving a long tight ash. The draw was firm shortly in the beginning, but loosened up to an enjoyable level throughout the entire smoke.

Buy more: Yes!

Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Robusto Corojo
Posted on March 30^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 ½ inches
Ring: 54
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Honduras

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Price: $8.90

      "When you open a chest of Olde World Reserves, the rich aroma of lush tobaccos hits your nose. Available in either a nutty Corojo or a cocoa-rich Maduro wrapper, the OWR is a full-bodied smoking experience that combines the smooth complexity of the Vintage series with the earthy strength of The Edge. The OWR was recognized by Robb Report as Best of the Best for 2007."⁶

      CA rated the OWR Maduro Torpedo vitola a 92 and placed it number 8 on its "The TOP 25 Best Cigars of the Year: 2009" list. I purchased this particular Corojo Robusto last year in November during my visit to PA and finally got around to smoking it.

      This square pressed cigar has a beautiful chocolate colored Corojo wrapper, soft to the touch with a sweet cocoa smell to it. My smoking partner immediately knew with such a sweet smell could only mean anything other than a sweet taste was about to follow. My smoking partner in crime was correct. It started out full flavored letting you know what was to follow. This was as a dirty smoke - VERY earthy. The after taste was nutty with peppery tones resting in the back of the mouth. After 15 minutes the taste mellowed and with a very pleasant coffee flavor in the cigar and a flavor reminding us of chili-chocolate in the smoke. The cigar remained pleasant maintaining an earthy, nutty, and coffee/cocoa flavor profile and a peppery aftertaste taste through the end of the smoke.

      Smoke time was one hour and forty-five minutes. The draw was good but the burn was uneven having to make several corrections throughout the smoke.

Buy more: Yes!

Diamond Crown Maximus Toro No. 4
Posted on March 19^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 inches
Ring: 50
Strength: Full
Nationality: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Ecuador El Bajo Sun Grown
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic

MSRPrice: $16.00

      "Diamond Crown MAXIMUS is a supreme achievement of three legendary Cigar Aficionado 'Cigar Hall of Fame' families: the Fuentes, Newmans, and Olivas. To celebrate J.C. Newman Cigar Co.'s 100th anniversary, Stanford Newman teamed up with Carlos Fuente, Jr. to the legendary Super Premium cigar, Diamond Crown. A decade later, Stanford again challenged Carlos to create a bold, rich, robust, and fuller-flavored complement to Diamond Crown. MAXIMUS is their crowning achievement. What makes MAXIMUS unique is the Fuente family's secret blend of specially-aged Dominican Filler tobaccos combined with the Oliva family's exclusive El Bajo Ecuadorian tobacco wrapper. The Oliva's El Bajo tobacco farm runs through a valley alongside the Rio Macul River. Centuries of South American tropical rains was the natural minerals and nutrients down from an adjacent mountain to make El Bajo's soil exceptionally rich. Only the finest oscuro wrappers are selected from the choicest upper corona priming’s for MAXIMUS cigars. Diamond Crown MAXIMUS...truly a MAXIMUS achievement from three 'Hall of Fame' cigar families."¹⁵

      This brands Double Corona No. 1 vitola took the number 4 spot on Cigar Aficionado's "The TOP 25 Best Cigars of the Year: 2009". This is high praise indeed from the top authority in the business. Quick disclaimer...I do have a subscription to CA and visit their website often. They are a great resource of information and I do enjoy their articles and cigar reviews. Taste is relative, meaning I do not always agree with their opinion.

      This Diamond Crown Maximus Toro sized vitola was supplied to us by Cigar Rights of America as part of our membership package. It has a beautiful dark oscuro wrapper that invites you to pick it up right away and smoke it. I was patient and left it sit in my humidor for about a month until last night for our tasting.

      Of course, we started with smelling the wrapper. Sometime this is a pure joy and sometimes it is quite uneventful. This wrapper smelled of fresh wet hay laying about a barn. It lacked the sweetness that makes it "a pure joy" by my standards. But I do like the smell of a barn (hey, I'm a country boy *shrug*). I really enjoyed the first third of this smoke. The barn/hay taste started this smoke, then evolving into a bit of a malty taste, with woody tones of coffee grounds, leaving an oily and creamy taste on the palette. The creaminess seemed to make it milder making for a good balance of all the flavors. About half way into the smoke it became stronger and a bit bitter. This continued through to the end, leaving a very dry burnt toast flavor on our palettes.

      Smoke time was one and a half hours with a good draw but an uneven burn we had to correct several times.

      This cigar was an enjoyable smoke. But I can't justify paying the price asked for, compared to the quality of the smoke. I have seen it online for as low as $11.00, but find other cigars for that same price a much wiser purchase. If this cigar is offered to you, don't turn it down. It's worth your time...but not the money asked for.

Buy more: No! Not worth the price asked for.

Tatuaje Havana VI Artistas Torpedo
Posted on March 15^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Torpedo
Size: 6 ⅛ inches
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

MSRPrice: $8.00

      "Tatuaje has taken the industry by storm! The medium bodied Havana VI cigars are hand rolled in Nicaragua. Under the direction of Maestro Tobaquero Jose ‘Don Pepin’ Garcia, master rollers skillfully handcraft each cigar, resulting in an impeccable construction and smooth draw. Tatuaje’s creator, Pete Johnson, carefully selected 100% first generation Cuban seed Nicaraguan filler, giving the puros their flavorful character and complex aroma. Each Tatuaje cigar truly captures the spirit of old Havana, down to its Cuban-style triple cap."¹⁴

      In the beginning, the smell of the wrapper intrigued me. The smell was pleasant with a slightly sweet cocoa smell...kinda. But it mostly reminded me a bit of many Cuban cigars I've smelled in the past. The first draw smacked of a slight pepper but quickly turned to a pleasantly bitter earthy taste. Quite mild actually in the beginning but progressed quickly to a medium body, losing its bitterness and gaining a peaty taste. The cigar maintained this flavor and strength until the end.

      This cigar reminded me of Cuban style cigars without the strength. This was an enjoyably smooth cigar. Smoke time was one and a half hours. The draw was easy and burn was good.

Buy more: Yes!

Edición Limitada 2009 Romeo y Julieta, Bolívar & H. Upmann
Posted on March 8^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Romeo y Julieta Duke Edición Limitada 2009

Vitola: Toro
Size: 140 mm
Ring: 54
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €14.50

Bolívar Petit Belicosos Edición Limitada 2009

Vitola: Campana
Size: 125 mm
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €11.90

H. Upmann Magnum 48 Edición Limitada 2009

Vitola: Coronas Extra
Size: 110 mm
Ring: 48
Strength: Light-Medium
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €9.30

Romeo y Julieta Duke Edición Limitada 2009

      "Pleasantly early in the year, the three 2009 formats of the Edición Limitada came into the market. They come from the Habanos brands Romeo y Julieta, Bolívar and H. Upmann. The largest format of this year's edition is the Romeo y Julieta Duke. It has an enormous ring gauge of 54, which equals a diameter of 21.43 mm. They are 140 mm long. Habanos S.A. offers the format in boxes of 10. The tobacco blend of the totally handmade long fillers stands out through its incredibly full-bodied aroma at medium-strength."⁸

      "The 'Edición Limitadas', whose filler, binder, and wrapper leafs have been cured for a minimum of two years, have been in the market since 2000. Every year aficionados are anxiously waiting for them, and they continue being extremely popular. Every year, certain formats are selected for the limited production, which are not part of the brands' standard portfolio. They also stand out through their naturally fermented dark wrapper leafs. They are made from tobacco leafs from the upper part of the plants."⁸

      This one I liked. I've smoked a few of these and each time I've been happy. I believe this cigar to be young, but it has some great aging potential. Pre-light smell of the wrapper produces a sweet chocolate aroma with a touch of fresh hay/grass. Very inviting...

      The smoke in the beginning is creamy, a bit of spice and a taste of grass/hay. About a third of the way through it loses its creaminess and takes on flavors of wood and earth. This was a pretty long smoke gaining strength toward the end, but not overwhelming. I believe this is one that will improve with age and a box of Dukes will find their way into my humidor. Perhaps they will receive a higher rating in the coming years.

      Our smoke time was an hour and a half, but I'm sure you could extend it to close to two hours. The burn and draw were good.

Buy more: Yes!

Casa Magna Colorado Robusto
Posted on February 23^rd, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 ½ inches
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Price: $5.25

      The following paragraph can be found at Cigar aficionado's 2008 Top 25 Cigar ranking list :

      "Manuel Quesada has been making cigars since 1974. His original cigars were mild bodied, most of them a blend of Dominican filler and binder tobaccos cloaked with light Connecticut-seed wrappers. His latest endeavors are bolder, more vibrant smokes. The Casa Magna is his greatest innovation. He joined forces with Nicaragua’s largest grower of cigar tobacco, Nestor Plasencia, and created this blend in Plasencia’s Segovia Cigar factory. The line of five cigars saw first light in the summer at an industry trade show and the entire brand was initially reviewed in the August 26 Cigar Insider. Standing above the other sizes was the robusto, a stubby cigar with a bold heart of Cuban-seed tobacco, all of it grown in two very different regions of Nicaragua: tobacco from Estelí (the area where most Nicaraguan cigars are produced) tends to be strong, while that grown in Jalapa, to the north, is typically more balanced and elegant."¹³

      Unless you have been living under a rock, this cigar was voted the Number 1 ranked cigar of 2008 by Cigar Aficionado. Although there were cigars given better ratings in 2008, CA ranked this "bargain" Number 1 because they also "took price into account".

      The wrapper is a beautiful, dark, oily Colorado. Simply magic to look at and feel. Initial smell of the wrapper was sweet chocolate, with a strong raisin scent exuding from the foot. After lighting, we noticed a bitter taste of chili- chocolate and leather. A strong coffee flavor and some cocoa and intermittent spikes of raisin evolved further into the smoke. It was quite enjoyable to smoke. By the halfway point a stronger leather flavor dominated, leaving a dry mouth and throat. From that point to the end, my tongue slowly took on the flavor and feel of a strip of rough leather. By the end, it was not enjoyable.

      When a cigar makes your tongue feel like a piece of leather, I wouldn't give it "Cigar Of The Year" status. I did enjoy most of the smoke, but now know better to quit early on this one while ahead. Not one for me to smoke to the very end, but enjoyable to a certain point none the less.

      The draw and burn were good and smoke time was 1 hour.

Buy more: Yes!

Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva
Posted on February 21^st, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Canonazo
Size: 150 mm
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €85.00 (this is NOT a typo)

      The following two paragraphs are the words of James Suckling of Cigar Aficionado, March 4, 2009:

      "I lit up the canonazo —the name the factory workers use—the moment I sat down at in the small, private outdoor restaurant. It measures 52 ring gauge by 5 7/8 inches. And I was in heaven the moment I cut the cigar and took a draw. Even cold it tasted good with a fresh herb, nut and coffee bean character when I drew. Once on fire, it delivered spice, coffee, milk chocolate, floral, and cedar notes. It kept on changing every moment. And the finish was so long, clean and fresh. 100 points, unblind."¹³

      "You may not want to believe it. But it is a perfect cigar. I can't think of another young cigar in my life that has delivered such complex, multi-layered character with such length and finesse. The subtle flavors last for minutes on the palate. "¹³

      Here’s what KCL thinks after smoking the hype:

      I wanted to see what a $5.00 milkshake tastes like. Unlike many other cigar review websites, I wasn't given this cigar by a friend of a friend. We had been fortunate last year during the financial crisis, so Santa was good to the KCL team. For one reason or another we could not sit down for a tasting until last night. Here is what we thought about the "perfect cigar":

      The wrapper has a beautiful chocolate brown color, beautifully constructed. We thought it had the typical Cuban cigar wrapper smell, nothing different. I was looking forward to this cigar and hoped it lived up to the hype. Time to light it up. From the initial light to about halfway through the cigar I was absolutely in agreement with the hype. Our first impression brought a taste of vegetable (cabbage) of all things, then an incredibly mild balance of nut, chocolate, floral and cedar. A complex and refined taste. Everything promised from the hype. I was enjoying every puff and was amazed at what a wonderful cigar El Leguita had produced and how fortunate I was to be smoking it. I began thinking that KCL had its first 5 rating.

      Then about halfway through the cigar the flavor took a turn in another direction. The balance was now gone and earth dominated the flavor, along with hints of coffee, cloves or cinnamon, and mild spice/pepper (we are still debating which one). Still very enjoyable, but not perfect. Taking the cost into consideration, I told myself I would smoke this cigar until the very end. At the very end, a strong (unfortunately unpleasant) earth and pepper aftertaste didn't help persuade us to believe the hype.

      This cigar was introduced last year at the XI Habanos Festival in Havana, Cuba. They use a special and rare Ligero leaf and all the leaves in this cigar are aged for 5 years. The Cohiba Maduro 5 Genios (a favorite of mine) also has leaves aged 5 years, but sells for €22.90. Cohiba is marketing this cigar as a very limited edition with only 5,000 numbered boxes of 15 cigars being sold worldwide. The price for one box is an astounding €1,275. Sources tell me this same cigar can be purchased in Spain at a fraction of the cost at around €50 per cigar. Why the huge difference in cost? There is no logical explanation.

      This was a great cigar, but not perfect. We began thinking of cigars, such as the Ramón Allones Specially Selected and freshly rolled Cohiba Siglo VI cigars obtained at a rolling last summer that had more of a WOW factor than this cigar. And their price is dramatically cheaper than this overly hyped cigar. First half of the Gran Reserva was perfect, but the rest was not.

Buy more: At €85, it is definitely NOT worth the price. The other cigars I mentioned earlier are a better cigar at a fraction of the price. I can't justify recommending this cigar at the price being asked .

Montecristo Open Master
Posted on February 18^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Robusto
Size: 124 mm
Ring: 50
Strength: Mild-Medium
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €9.40

      "Montecristo Open is ideal for the newcomer to the world of Habanos or those who prefer milder premium cigars from the Caribbean. But the MONTECRISTO OPEN also expands the spectrum of smoking options for Habanos lovers. Be it as the cigar for the early hours of the day or as a particularly adaptable companion for elegant wines and spirits. The provenance of the tobaccos matches the ambitions and the traditions of the brand: The leaves come from the plantations of the Vuelta Abajo region, the home of tobacco, which is among the best in the world. As is centuries old Cuban tradition, the four new formats - Montecristo Junior, Regatta, Master and Eagle - are manufactured in the H. Upmann factory in Havana 'totalmente a mano' - completely by hand"⁸

      I tried this cigar back in late summer of 2009 and wasn't impressed. It was a Montecristo without that full flavor I expect. It was more like a "Monte-Lite". I thought nothing of it until I found a Montecristo Open Master stuffed away in the bottom of my humidor since that same time last year. I decided to give it another try and share my thoughts with you.

      Before you even pick this cigar up to smoke it...forget that you are smoking a Montecristo! Only then can you have an open mind about this cigar. It is much milder than you will expect from a normal Montecristo. That is why it did not impress me the first time I tried it last year. Fast forward to last night...

      The wrapper lacked the typical Cuban cigar smell which I enjoy. This cigar took on a smell of smoked ham at first. But the more we smelled it, the more we thought of frankincense. My first couple puffs were actually reminiscent of the Montecristo I know, a strong combination of earth and spice. But that quickly vanished and a dry wood taste evolved with a soft creamy flavor on the palette. The cigar was mild now and would remain so. After about one third of the way into the smoke, the flavor turned to a bitter coffee flavor at the beginning of each puff then leaving a mellow aftertaste of hay. This was a good smoke until the very end when it turned bitter. Smoke time was one hour and the burn and draw were great.

      This was a good cigar. I enjoyed the time smoking it. This cigar would be more enjoyable on a summer evening with a nice white wine or in the morning with your coffee. And as the manufacturer intended, this would be a great cigar for a beginner cigar smoker or the occasional cigar smoker.

Buy more: Yes.

Flor De Selva Double Corona
Posted on February 15^th, 2010 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Double Corona
Size: 7 ½ inches
Ring: 52
Strength: Mild-Medium
Nationality: Honduras

Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras

Price: €8.20

      "This perfectly rolled cigar from Honduras has a medium strong aroma with a large volume of taste. The tobaccos used in this cigar have been perfectly matched to achieve this excellent blend of different aromas. The Flor de Selva is available as a Double Corona and in seven more formats."⁸ That is what the store description says. I have to disagree. Here's what I think...

      From first glance, this cigar looks appealing and is well constructed. Pick it up, place to your nose and one smells hay or a barn stall and a sweet wood. I looked forward to lighting it up. After lighting, one is reminded of an autumn taste. It tastes of straw or hay and leaves a creamy taste on the palette. The draw is easy with big puffy smoke. I didn't notice "a large volume of taste" or an "excellent blend of aromas". A very mild cigar with the taste of hay constantly dominating the cigar. Quite frankly the cigar got boring. After an hour I was only half way through this cigar and became bored with the taste. A constant creamy hay taste. It was not bad but it also was not complex. I didn't finish it.

     Burn was even, never re-lit, and smoke time would have been about 2 hours.

Buy more: No. It was too boring and too mild for my taste. It didn't taste bad. If you enjoy a mild cigar I would say buy it.

Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Flor Fina 8-5-8 Maduro
Posted on December 17^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Gran Corona
Size: 6 inches
Ring: 47
Strength: Mild-Medium
Nationality: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic

Price: $4.75

      "The Fuente family's cigars have remained the most sought after cigars in America for decades. From the world famous Chateau de la Fuente wrapper leaves of Fuente Fuente OpusX, to the complex flavors of Don Carlos, to the innovative perfecto shape of Hemingway, each Fuente cigar is a product of the Fuente family's love and passion for making the world’s best cigars."¹²

      The wrapper appeared rough and veiny with light brown and dark brown splotches throughout. The wrapper smelled of a barn or horse stall with a touch of horse crap permeating the nostril. Sorry to put it that way, but that's what we smelled. The foot took on hints of a Weinbrand Praline (alcohol and chocolate). My curiosity peeked with such a broad variety of aromas, I moved forward to the cut and light.

      In the beginning, it took on a mild tanginess but mellowed out quickly with dry, smoky, and earthy tones. Hay and cedar flavors maintained throughout the smoke. At the end it took on a sweet spice flavor. Smoke time was an enjoyable hour and a half with a rather easy draw. The burn was awkward at times but always corrected itself. I think the price of this cigar is affordable compared to the quality. I enjoyed a pleasant red Bordeaux with this smoke, which I believe helped to mellow the slight bitterness of the cigar. Not something I would use as a "go-to" but definitely a complex cigar worth a try.

Buy more: Yes!

La Flor de Maria Mancini Edicion Especial De Gaulle
Posted on December 1^st, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Robusto
Size: 120 mm
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Honduras

Wrapper: Honduras Habanos Seed
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Nicaragua

Price: €4.10

      "The "Edición Especial" from Maria Mancini is made from Havana seed cultivated in Honduras. Contrary to the "Edicion Clásica", the Edición Especial has a darker wrapper and offers a more full-bodied blend of tastes. The tobaccos used develop a very harmonious wealth of aromas - a distinctly refined and delicious composition."⁸

      So sayith LCDH in Nürnberg. I was rather surprised not finding more information about the "Edicion Especial" on line. I couldn't find any sites states-side talking up this cigar. If someone can tell me where or if I could find the "Edicion Especial" in the states, I would appreciate it very much. It seems abundant over here in the German cigar stores.

      The cigar itself has a sweet smelling wrapper combined with a sweet taste. In the beginning of the smoke it was light and flowery. Shortly after came a consistent creamy flavor with hints of caramel, towards the end of the smoke producing a nutty flavor. Some might say this is a medium strength cigar, but we found it to be mild throughout. It would be a great breakfast cigar with a coffee or a nice cigar before dinner. It had a good burn and even draw with a smoke time of 45 minutes.

Buy more: Yes! A good price for the quality of the cigar.

2006 Regional Edition Asia Pacifico Punch Super Robusto
Posted on November 3^rd, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Super Robusto
Size: 155 mm
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium - Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: S$58.00

      "Punch Super Robustos De Punch Regional Edition 2006 - Cuba 6 ½ x 50 This cigar is the new vitola of this prestigious brand exclusively handmade for Habanos lovers in the Asia Pacific markets. These Habanos are part of one unique issue of 2140 numbered cases with both 25 and 50 cabinet boxes. A wonderful hand rolled cigar with a rich, oily Colorado Claro wrapper, with the unique limited double band on the cigar, stating Exclusivo Asia Pacifico. "³

      "This is a cigar to set down for a few years. Initial tastings see a mixture of Cohiba Grassiness (in a good way) and Punch creaminess. There is leather, sour cheesecake and toasted tobacco. Overall it is being held back by its youth....but let a little time unleash its complete flavour spectrum. It needs a good three years put away but it has the balls to age for 10-15 years and become an absolute classic."¹¹

      This is the fourth and final installment of our Asia Pacific Regional Edition cigar reviews. That is unless of course we find more on our next trip to Asia (we hope so). The two paragraphs you read above were written when the cigar was released. I thought it would be interesting to include a review from when it was released and compare the taste to today three years later. The cigar reviewed tonight was obtained at "La Casa Cubana" in the Regent Hotel on our recent trip to Singapore.

      I must admit it was difficult to find a background story on this cigar. So the best I can do is give you our tasting notes on this fine cigar. The first Punch Super Robusto touched by these lips was on the balcony of the "Long Bar" in the infamous Raffles Hotel in Singapore. If you are in Singapore, the Long Bar is a must visit. Being the home of the Singapore Sling cocktail it is also a beautifully preserved colonial style upscale bar rarely seen nowadays. After enjoying my cigar with an original Singapore Sling and half-yard of Tiger beer, we wondered through the peanut shells scattered about the floor, up the wide spiral staircase to the upstairs bar to enjoy an enjoyable evening with a very good live band and a couple more Tiger beers. A very nice evening leaving a great memory.

      This time we relaxed at home with a nice wine and our tasting session began. The Punch Super Robusto had that typical sweet Habanos smell with a bit of hay/grass thrown in. After the initial light we noticed a grass/hay taste. The cigar had a medium strength and was actually quite enjoyable. About 15 minutes into the smoke a mild pepper taste settled on the tip of the tongue with an earthy taste settling on the back of the palette. But it did not disturb our enjoyment. About half way through a very noticeable strong pepper flavor kicked in. But it mellowed out in the last third with a leathery flavor and not so much pepper anymore. This cigar had an even burn with a good draw. Smoke time was one hour and fifteen minutes.

      Compared to the initial review above, I would say he was right about waiting three years. I would also guess this will need more years in the humidor to truly reveal its potential.

Buy more: Yes!

2007 Regional Edition Asia Pacifico Por Larrańaga Robusto
Posted on November 2^nd, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Robusto
Size: 124 mm
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: S$45.00

     "Press Release For Immediate Release 7 Nov 2007 Por Larrańaga Robusto 2007 Regional Edition For Asia Pacific Made exclusively by Habanos SA under the request of The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd for the Asia Pacific, a new cigar size in the Por Larrańaga brand. Available in the coming weeks of November 2007, the 2007 Regional Edition – Por Larrańaga Robusto – will be launched across Asia Pacific by The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd. This rare and special cigar will be exclusive to The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd for two years. The Por Larrańaga brand was registered in 1834 by Ignacio Larrańaga at 94 O’ Reilly Street, Havana. The name, Por Larrańaga, means “by Larrańaga”. By the end of the 19th Century, Por Larrańaga was a well-known cigar brand favored by the rich and famous. Despite the fame, Por Larrańaga has never been a brand of large output, the cigars produced are always in selected quantities and are often sought after by discerning aficionados. Por Larrańaga cigars have a caramel sweet taste. This is the hallmark of the brand. The cigars are also subtly aromatic. The Por Larrańaga cigars age extremely well, with aromas and flavors enhancing over time. The robusto size was chosen as the 2007 Regional Edition because this is a popular size among smokers and it is unique; as Por Larrańaga has never made a robusto cigar in its portfolio. This 2007 Regional Edition produced by Habanos SA for The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd exclusively for its Asia Pacific markets is a special production that may not be re-produced again. This robusto cigar has all the trademark aromatic caramel sweetness. It has a length of 124mm with a 50 ring gauge size (19.8mm diameter). The Por Larrańaga Robusto cigars will come with a double ring band and it will be much sought after by cigar aficionados and collectors because of its rarity and aging potential. This Por Larrańaga Robusto – 2007 Regional Edition cigars will be available to Asia Pacific cigar smokers in late Nov 2007 in all the Pacific Cigar Company cigar shops and prestigious cigar shops across the market."¹⁰

     Installment number three of the Asia Pacific Regional Edition series. As you've learned from the press release from above, these cigars were released in 2007. I did not sample them back in 2007, so I can only speak for how they taste now. I found a few reviews written back in 2007 when the cigar was released. What I can tell you is we did not taste the caramel that every review had raved about. It seems to have disappeared over the last few years.

      These particular Por Larrańaga Robustos we found on our trip last month to Singapore at "The Oaks Cellars" in Orchard Parade Hotel. The wrapper was an enjoyable sweet floral aroma to my nose. I could have smelled it all evening. I don't know why kids sniff glue to get high?! They should smell Habanos cigars to get high. It's healthier than "death by inhalant" and I can only imagine it's a much more pleasant smell than glue. Just a random thought. Cut, warm, light... The draw was good but the burn was good only after making a correction at the beginning. In the beginning, tastes of grass, light nut and some hay came to our palette. We thought the cigar would increase in strength the further we got into the smoke. But it stayed the same. An earthy taste made its way in as well as a cedar taste. But the cigar seemed to go flat at times between halfway and the end of the smoke. Surprisingly, what we did not get at the end was a spice or pepper flavor. Smoke time was approximately one hour.

      My tasting partner and I were split on this one. It was not really her taste in cigars. I however would buy more (singles, not a case) and smoke more.

Buy more: Yes!

2008 Regional Edition Asia Pacifico Bolívar Short Bolívar
Posted on October 29^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Petit Edmundo
Size: 110 mm
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium - Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: S$39.00

     "Press Release For Immediate Release 1 NOV 2008 - The 2008 Regional Edition cigar was made by Habanos at the special request of The Pacific Cigar Company. This unique size – Bolivar Short (petit edmundo) – was chosen as it has never existed in this brand and the Pacific Cigar Company hopes to give its Asia Pacific smokers the full signature taste of Bolivar from the first puff. It is a short but complex & robust smoke that is for the most demanding smokers. This Bolivar Short is a half hour cigar, great for a “after lunch” or “drinks before dinner” smoke. In box of 25 sticks, this 2008 Regional Edition is available exclusively to the Pacific Cigar Company for 2 years."¹⁰

      The second cigar in our Habanos Asian Pacific tasting session is the Bolívar Short Bolívar. As the name implies, this is a shorter cigar but still maintains the quality Bolívar taste. Our smoke lasted just under an hour. I think it lasted so long due to a bit of a draw problem. The wrapper has a very sweet, strong floral aroma to it. I wanted to go on sniffing the wrapper until my tasting partner urged me to get on with lighting it. I gave in and lighted the cigar.

      The flavor kicked in immediately. I tasted a mild nutty and creamy taste on my palette. The cigar was quite nice. It has the Bolívar earthiness with the tanginess staying minimal until the last inch and a half or so. Then the strong tangy flavor kicked in.

      Overall a great smoke!

Buy more: Yes!

2009 Regional Edition Asia Pacifico Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos
Posted on October 28^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Celestiales Finos
Size: 140 mm
Ring: 46
Strength: Medium - Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: S$35.00

     "The launch of the 2009 Regional Edition Cigar – Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos, stirred the interest of cigar smokers across Asia-Pacific. The Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos was chosen as one of the 2009 Regional Edition Cigars as the brand is rated highly among cigar connoisseurs, and the cigars are manufactured under strict quota so as to maintain quality. The size, Celestiales Finos (46 x 51/2“), was selected because this size has yet to be made under the Ramon Allones brand. Floral, tasting of exotic nuts and herbs with hints of honey sweetness and medium toasted tobacco, such is the characteristic of a hand-made Ramon Allones cigar. These flavours are presented in great complexity and balance. Such is the taste of this 2009 Regional Edition – Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos."⁹

      The manufacturer makes it sound pretty good. I guess that is why Marketing Departments exist. Our tasting session for the Regional Editions moves eastward to the Asia Pacific region. Last month I smoked this cigar in Singapore in a very nice lounge with a very nice 18 year old sherry wood Macallan scotch whisky. I was more caught up in my surroundings and good company, than critiquing the cigar. I remember the smoke being a bit strong but the scotch complimented it quite well by mellowing the harshness. Fast forward to last evening...

      This cigar is attractive from first glance with its rounded, tapered head and foot. It has the familiar sweet honey smell of Habanos cigars with a touch of floral/perfume. The first couple minutes of the smoke were rather unremarkable as we tasted nothing noteworthy. The burn and draw were quite nice with lots of puffy smoke. This maintained throughout the smoke. As a noticeable flavor kicked in we tasted leather with a mild spice. At a medium strength it was quite nice for awhile leaving an oily film on the palette. About halfway through the flavor changed gears. A strong earthy flavor, what I initially thought as spice, smoldering wood, and maybe a bit of tannin took over. But the spice flavor was more tanginess than spice making for a difficult smoke. It was quite overwhelming. I persevered for my readers. Whereas my tasting partner humbly retired to a nice Bordeaux leaving me to complete this session on my own. The tanginessness continued leaving for a dry mouth.

      My recommendation is if you want to smoke this cigar now, do so with a scotch or bourbon. As this is a new cigar, hopefully aging this cigar will develop it into a better smoke.

Buy more: Yes!

2009 Regional Edition Germany Bolívar 5ta Avenida (109)
Posted on October 27^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: El Conde 109
Size: 184 mm
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium - Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €16.40

     "The "5ta Avenida" was able to revive a format which hadn't been manufactured for decades. The name of the Vitola de Galera is "El conde 109" representing the original format of the Partagás Lusitanias and the Ramon Allones Gigantes which had been manufactured until 1976. It is 184 mm long with a ring gauge of 50. What is special about these cigars is their shape: Parejos (cylindrical, i.e. the same ring gauge from head to foot), but its head is shaped conically. It goes without saying that this rare format can only be manufactured by the best torcedores of the Partagás factory. The name "5ta Avenida", literally "Fifth Avenue" has a double meaning: it commemorates the famous street in the Miramar area of Havana, and it is also the Spanish name of the German Habanos importer 5th Avenue, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The Bolívar "5ta Avenida" is offered in boxes of 20. There are a total of 3,000 boxes available.".

     "As is usual for the cigars of the Edición Regional, each box is individually numbered with a plaque affixed to the box. Besides the brand-typical cigar ring, they wear another one identifying them as manufactured "exclusively for Germany"⁸

      Our tasting session for the 2009 German Regional Editions continues. Tonight it was the Bolivar 5ta Avenida. It has the typical Habanos smell but threw in a slight variable. It has an additional aroma reminiscent of a honey & jam toast breakfast. After lighting this cigar I noticed an odd combination of earth AND leather, a prevalent nutty flavor with hints of chocolate. The cigar also tended to dry the palate throughout the smoke. This was a long smoke...1 hour and 45 minutes. Towards the end it did become fuller with a spicy flavor.

      I really enjoyed this cigar. It is definitely an after dinner & have-some-time-to-kill cigar as it does deliver a strong finish. There is some talk about this cigar showing hope for development through aging. Time will tell.

Buy more: Yes!

2009 Regional Edition Germany Bolívar Especiales No.2
Posted on October 26^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Delicado
Size: 192 mm
Ring: 38
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €11.20

     "With the Bolívar Especial No.2 a virtually legendary cigar returns, which is enthusiastically welcomed by aficionados. The illustrated encyclopedia of post-revolutionary Havana cigars by Ron Min Nee and Adriano Martínez Rius reverently calls it a monumental cigar with maturing potential for decades. Its production had been ceased in the mid-1970ies. But the selection of the slender Delicado format with its ring gauge of 38 at a length of 192 mm by German cigar lovers was a surprise considering that for years only cigars with large ring gauge at shorter length were in demand. It would certainly be premature to talk about a comeback of the elegant, slender Panetelas, but there seem to be knowledgeable connoisseurs in Germany now who know how to smoke and appreciate this format. They must be smoked slowly to avoidoverheating which would irreversibly destroy the delicious aroma."

     "What is especially delightful is that these cigars are packed as a bundle wrapped in aluminum foil. This form of presentation does not only look good, it also helps to achieve an excellent maturing process. The 2,400 individually numbered boxes contain 25 each. As is usual for the cigars of the Edición Regional, each box is individually numbered with a plaque affixed to the box. Besides the brand-typical cigar ring, they wear another one identifying them as manufactured "exclusively for Germany"⁸

      After previously smoking a couple Especial No. 2's, I was looking forward to sitting down to this tasting session. I poured us each a nice Australian Shiraz and put the cigar to my nose to inhale a sweet aroma of chocolate and vanilla. I snipped, warmed and lit this slender Penatela. I sat back in the couch and enjoyed a fine smoke. It was a relatively mild cigar, but still maintained an earthy/sand flavor with hints of cocoa. This cigar smoked for well over an hour. Towards the end it picked up a bit in strength and spice. The spice reminded me of a mild chili flavored chocolate.

      Some beverages will ruin the taste of certain cigars. In hindsight, we noticed the Shiraz wine enjoyed with this cigar overpowered the cigar, but the cigar still tasted quite nice and maintained its flavor. My tasting partner made a comment about the cigars being a bit feminine due to its size. I didn't get that feeling though as I was too busy enjoying a really pleasant tasting cigar.

Buy more: Yes!

José Martí "Cuba Libre" Don Juan
Posted on October 23^rd, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Double Corona
Size: 7 ¼ inches
Ring: 54
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic

MSRPrice: $3.75

     "The José Martí brand is Nicaragua's number-two-selling brand. Frankly, in 1996, when it was first launched as a Nicaraguan after many years of production in Honduras, the cigars weren't all that great... but then again, a lot of brands in 1996 weren't that great. At the time, the industry was in the middle of the cigar-boom, and every factory was just turning out cigars as fast as they could to meet a demand that seemingly had no end. Every year, since the end of the cigar-boom era, these José Martí cigars have gotten better and better. NATSA (Nicaraguan American Tobacco, producers of over half of all the cigars coming from Nicaragua) is turning out cigars that just can't be beat for value. José Martí is an awful tough cigar to beat when it comes to its combination of flavor, quality, and price. It is a complex blend of multi-nation tobaccos, which provide a very rich and satisfying smoke. A great taste, a long finish, a super aroma - and all at a very low price. "⁵

      This vitola smoked for this tasting looks like it will be a long smoke. Let me tell you...it is! Never relighting it, I smoked this cigar for 1 hour and 45 minutes before having my fill (I had to get to bed). And there was still two inches of the cigar left to smoke. When you smoke this cigar, allot about two hours of smoke time. The wrapper has a pleasant smell of sweet wood and dry fruit. When lit she burned even and had a good draw with lots of smoke. While smoking the cigar, a woody, oily flavor dominated the palette, but a taste of coffee grounds found its way in at times. Toward the end of the smoke an earthy, peaty (reminiscent of a good scotch whisky) taste found my palette.

     This was overall a great smoke. Making it even more attractive is the low price offered to consumers.

Buy more: Yes!

NUb Sun Grown 464T
Posted on October 22^nd, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Torpedo
Size: 4 inches
Ring: 64
Strength: Full
Nationality: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaragua Habanos Seed
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

MSRPrice: $5.20, listing in Germany at €8.20

     "A cigar is judged by the enjoyment it provides. That enjoyment is defined by the quality of the ingredients, the craftsmanship in construction, and the form that blends those together. The NUb cigar is a study in cigar smoking enjoyment. Starting with a fine Nicaraguan filler and binder, NUb creator Sam Leccia increased the ring gauge while decreasing the length of a typical cigar. Experimenting, he found that at around 4 inches in length, and between 58 and 66 rings, the “Nub” delivered almost instantaneous flavor upon ignition, yet smoked for a similar duration as other cigars that, at least visually, appear almost double the size."⁷

      For the size alone, one would think it was the "fast food" of the cigar world. Not so. The cigar smoked quite surprisingly for over an hour. If you are looking for a quick smoke, this is not it. Initially, the wrapper had the sweet, honey smell reminiscent of Cuban cigars. Don't let the sweet smell fool you. The taste was organic with hints of wood. There was a strong black pepper/spicy taste prevalent throughout the entire smoke. I also noticed a touch of licorice, like the strong licorice flavor you find up north in Denmark.

     The draw and burn were very good, with lots of smoke. The short length and thick ring gauge also gave a comfortable feeling when holding it in your hand. This is a great (Rating: 3) cigar for those who want a strong, full-bodied cigar. It was, however, too strong for my enjoyment.

Buy more: For the full-bodied cigar smoker, Yes!. For an "enjoyable" hour, I found it too strong for my taste.

Rocky Patel Decade The 46
Posted on October 21^st, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Petite Corona
Size: 4 ½ inches
Ring: 46
Strength: Medium - Full
Nationality: Honduras

Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

MSRPrice: $8.00

     "Perfection takes time. For the Rocky Patel Decade, it’s the perfect blend 10 years in the making. The silky Decade showcases a gorgeous, dark Sumatra wrapper surrounding a secret blend featuring only the finest tobaccos in the world. The result is a rich and toasty medium- to full- body smoking experience. Complexity, balance and elegance earned the Rocky Patel Decade ratings of 91, 92, 93 and 95 points – an instant classic."⁶

     I was fortunate to be gifted a Rocky Patel Decade cigar thanks to my friend Walter. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get hold of the larger size Decades as I wanted to smoke "The 46" longer than it actually lasted. It had a nice draw and even burn. The cigar wrapper had a pleasant flower, almost perfume smell. The smoke itself was a creamy flavor with hints of vanilla and nut. Toward the middle of the cigar, I started to notice a mild pepper taste. The pepper did mellow out and made for a mild finish.

      I have eaten chocolate with cigars and really enjoy the combination. With this cigar, I tried some delicious caramels I purchased in France at a shop called La Cure Garamande. I started eating them about half way through the smoke when I noticed a mild pepper taste in the cigar. The caramels were delicious and seemed to mellow out the pepper taste from the cigar. Maybe it was the caramels or maybe the cigar mellowed out on its own. Either way, the caramels complimented this cigar very well. I'll definitely try a Lancero or Toro vitola when I go to the states next month. Looking forward to it.

Buy more: Yes!

Montecristo Afrique Jambo Jambo
Posted on October 20^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 inches
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium - Full
Nationality: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Cameroon, Tanzania, Nicaragua, Peru

MSRPrice: $6.00

     "The Montecristo Afrique is the culmination of a joint effort between George Gershel, Altadis USA's Tobacco Expert, and Lew Rothman. The goal was to create a new cigar of African-grown black tobaccos, and, in particular, to use a wonderful new leaf from Tanzania. After considerable experimentation, a nearly all-African recipe was created, which included a touch of spicy Peruvian ligero secured by an Ecuadorian Sumatran binder. Wrapped in a choice, African-grown Cameroon leaf, this cigar was christened the Montecristo Afrique."⁵

      This one was intriguing but not spectacular. I did like it. I ventured out on another walk today with my cigar. It just keeps getting colder here. Damn you old man winter. Upon smelling the cigar's wrapper, I realized immediately I would give a description of a smell that I've never read or heard come out of someone else’s mouth about cigars. The dark Cameroon wrapper smelled manly like bad cologne...reminiscent of grandpa. I was reminded how delicate Cameroon leaf can be when I cut the head. My "walking" cutter was getting dull and frayed the head a bit. But it was salvageable and not an annoyance.

      In the beginning the cigar began to tunnel. I corrected it by applying saliva at the tip of the tunnel and after a few minutes the burn was even and maintained nicely till the end. Altidus and Lew Rothman definitely blended a unique cigar. I had trouble placing the flavor as it was not a usual blend of tobacco. The cigar had a good draw with an earthy, foliage flavor staying medium bodied but also mild at times. Toward the end of the smoke I did notice a mild peppery taste. As I was walking in the woods, there were no beverages nearby to quench my palette. I finished out my walk with an unpleasant pepper-lined cotton mouth. The blame falls on me for leaving my flask behind. If I was by my bar, I think a dark lager or even a Guinness would compliment this cigar nicely.

Buy more: Not at this MSRP. For a reduced price, Yes. The taste is unique enough to give another try.

Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills
Posted on October 19^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Short Churchill
Size: 124 mm (4 ⅞ inches)
Ring: 19.84mm (50)
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €9.10

     "Named after William Shakespeare's tragic lovers, the origins of Romeo y Julieta as a Habano date back to 1875. The brand rose to international fame during the early years of the 20th Century under the direction of Don "Pepin" Fernandez, a talented promoter, who was amongst the first to recognize the power of the cigar brand. During his heyday no less than 20,000 different brands were used in production."

     "Winston Churchill became a devotee of Romeo y Julieta. Since his visit to Havana in 1946, his name has not only been commemorated on a band but it has also served to describe the marquee’s most famous size measuring 7 inches (178 mm) by 47 ring gauge - the Churchill. Romeo y Julieta's balanced and aromatic blend of selected leaves from the Vuelta Abajo region make it the classic medium bodied Habano."²

      The folks at RyJ should pat themselves on the back for this cigar. This cigar has always been a go to cigar for me. I'm surprised the box in my humidor isn't empty. I have never had a bad experience with this cigar. I reach for it quite often when going out but resist the temptation as I know there are other great cigars to smoke. I heard many say these cigars are even better aged so I am leaving them alone more often than I like so they can age. I can't imagine them being much better. But with patient and self discipline I will discover if this rings true.

      These come in tubos or you can enjoy a nice box pressed from the box. I prefer the box pressed. This cigar has a smooth, nutty, cedar and leather flavor. Great with an afternoon coffee or hot chocolate. Also great for formal occasions to be enjoyed with adult beverages.

Buy more: Yes!

Por Larrańaga Toro
Posted on October 18^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 inches
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic

MSRPrice: $7.50

     This Por Larrańaga is an extension of Cuba's oldest continuously made cigar brand."Dating back to 1834, Por Larrańaga was the rarest of the legendary cigars to come out of Menéndez y García, Havana's most fabled cigar makers. Over the years, little has changed. Today, a limited number of these exquisite cigars are handmade by the same meticulous rollers who create the legendary Montecristo and H. Upmann brands. Por Larrańaga is truly the rarest of pleasures."⁴

      So boasts the manufacturer. My first smoke was far from a pleasure. It was bitter and quite boring. I must admit it is difficult to be objective about non-Cuban Por Larrańaga's. Por Larrańaga Petit Coronas are one of my absolute favorites. Wonderful early in the day with a coffee and newspaper. When I see the Por Larrańaga band on the cigar I'm smoking, I expect quality. But I have to take a step back and give this cigar to my palette alone and forget any bias I have toward the Cuban Por Larrańaga. Not an easy task.

      The second cigar I smoked had something I could work with. It was a chilly evening, but I felt like a long walk. I grabbed this cigar from the humidor and off I went. Before lighting it, I put the cigar to my nose and smelled a slightly sweet aroma with a touch of tea thrown in. Cursing the coming cold weather months, I lit the cigar and headed off for a walk through the barren, harvested tobacco fields nearby. Yes, Germany grows tobacco but not for cigar production. I decided to give this cigar a chance by blocking out my experience with the first smoke and the fact that this wasn't a Cuban Por Larrańaga. A bit into my walk I was distracted by the beauty of the landscape and realized I wasn't paying attention to my cigar. I then realized I had smoked about a quarter of the cigar and to my surprise...it didn't suck.

     The first one had a strong, bitter taste. This second one was mellower. The draw was good and the burn was relatively even. A well constructed cigar. The cigar maintained tastes of wood and dry earth throughout the entire smoke. Maybe because it was cold outside and I was looking forward to hot tea when I got back, but I did taste tea in the cigar intermittently throughout the smoke. Toward the end of the smoke I got a mild peppery aftertaste. The cigar was an enjoyable smoke this time around.

Buy more: Probably not. I could smoke a much better Padron at a cheaper price.

Edición Limitada 2008 Montecristo & Partagás
Posted on August 6^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Montecristo Sublimes Edición Limitada 2008

Vitola: Sublime
Size: 164 mm (6 ½ inches)
Ring: 21.43mm (54)
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €18.00

Partagás Serie D No.5 Edición Limitada 2008

Vitola: Petit Robusto
Size: 102 mm (4 ⅛ inches)
Ring: 19.84mm (50)
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €10.00

Montecristo Sublimes Edición Limitada 2008

     "Sublimes size was first presented as part of the 2004 Limited Edition in the Cohiba brand. Now, Montecristo brings it back with its characteristic blend. A Habano to remember, respectfully long, with a proper draw and ready to show forth the notably medium to full flavour of said brand. All the leaves (filler, binder and wrapper) have been aged at least for two years."³

     This cigar under our nose brought a sweet aroma. With the first light the smoke was again sweet, with a touch of cinnamon. The taste in our mouth in the beginning was creamy and slightly herbal. The flavor stayed consistent until about halfway through. After that point the taste turned stronger with more herbs, leather, and at one point very bitter. Then it mellowed out in the last third. I have tried this cigar a few times. Once with water, once with scotch, and once with cognac. With scotch we noticed a stronger nuttier taste and it softened the herbal flavors. And with the cognac it also softened the herbal flavors.

     This cigar is a wonderful smoke and I recommend it. Smoke it in the evening after a big meal as it packs quite a wallop at the end of the smoke.

Buy more: Yes!

San Cristóbal de la Habana La Fuerza
Posted on July 26^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Gordito
Size: 141 mm (6 ½ inches)
Ring: 19.84mm (50)
Strength: Light-Medium
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €11.20

     "San Cristóbal de la Habana was the original name of Havana, Cuba’s capital city, when it was founded in 1519; San Cristóbal (St. Christopher) in honour of Columbus and La Habana after an Indian name for the site. San Cristóbal de la Habana cigars were introduced in 1999 as a tribute to the city’s long history on the threshold of the new Millennium. Its range is composed of four vitolas with a light to medium flavour using tobaccos from the Vuelta Abajo region. Each is named after one of the fortresses that defended the city in the days when it was the hub of Spain’s Latin American Empire."²

     This review will discuss the La Fuerza vitola. Robustos' are my preferred vitola and this cigar gave me the impression of a "long" Robusto. That can be a good thing so long as the cigar tastes good. This cigar did not disappoint. The cigar had a sweet woody smell and when lit the smell turned to memories of sitting around a camp fire. The taste itself was woody, a bit creamy and had smoothness to it. We also noticed a slight herbal flavor of cinnamon or clove. Toward the end of the smoke the herbal flavor faded and an earthy/leaf flavor.

     If you like a strong cigar after dinner, this is not the one. I enjoy this cigar with a late morning or early afternoon coffee.

Buy more: Yes!

Carlos Torańo Noventa La Esperanza
Posted on July 17^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 inches
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Habano Nicaragua
Binder: Habano Nicaragua
Filler: Pueblo Nuevo, Esteli, Jalapa and Condega (Nicaraguan Regions)

Price: $11.50-$13.50, purchase here for €14.00

     "The Noventa is a celebration of the Torańo family’s 90-year tradition as tobacco growers and producers of some of the finest hand-rolled cigars in the world. It is a blend made from the best 5-year-old Nicaraguan tobacco, hand selected by the Torańo family from their farms in Nicaragua. The Cigars are aged in reserve until they reach their peak, resulting in elegant, rich yet smooth, perfectly balanced flavor in a medium bodied strength."¹

      This 90th anniversary cigar confused us a bit. It was quite pleasant to smoke but we couldn't decide immediately what we tasted. It had a short aftertaste, hints of flavors came to us sporadically and disappeared very quickly when present. Leaving us frustrated because the taste was gone before we could figure out what we were tasting. The cigar had a great burn, good smoke, never re-lit it and our smoke time was an enjoyable 1 ½ hours.

     It did take us a bit but we figured it out. Throughout the smoke it was consistently creamy and silky smooth. We tasted citrus, flower, cedar and wood, and hints of leather from time to time. Toward the end of the smoke we noticed a spicy flavor but it wasn't overwhelming. This was a very pleasant smoke and I look forward to more of these. My problem is the price. If it was a more complex cigar I could understand the price at €14. But it is not complex.

Buy more: Yes! But not at this price of €14.

Partagás Presidentes
Posted on July 9^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Taco
Size: 158 mm (6 ¼ inches)
Ring: 18.65 mm (47)
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €8.90

     Don Jaime Partagás founded the Partagás brand back in 1845. After his death, the brand passed to Ramon Cifuentes in 1889 and was owned by Cifuentes y Cia. prior to nationalization. The factory itself is located in a beautiful colonial style building in Old Havana. It is one of the most popular attractions in Havana. It was in this factory that the reader ("Lector") appeared for first time. The lector is choosen by his/her peers to read aloud newspapers or books to rollers ("Torcedors") while they are working.

      There is no doubt about the strong, intense flavour of this line which is still produced in the Partagás factory, renamed Francisco Perez German after nationalization. The Partagás factory specializes in full bodied cigars and produce six different brands including Bolivar, Ramón Allones, Gloria Cubana and of course Partagás. The range is immense and it would be hard for a smoker not to find a Partagas which fits his or her interest in size or shape.

     This particular Partagás did not fit my interest. Just because a cigar is Cuban does not make them automatically great. In my humble opinion, this was not a great cigar, but it was smokable. When I first smelled the wrapper, it reminded me of freshly fallen leaves on an autumn day. I rather enjoy this time of year and looked even more forward to smoking this cigar. Before lighting this particular vitola, you have to take care and cut both the head and foot to ensure a good draw and burn.

     The initial taste after lighting was earthy. This earthy, leafy flavor maintained throughout the entire smoke, only to increase in strength with a peppery flavor noticed at times towards the end. At times I sensed a hint of nut, but it was fleeting. It really was unpleasant at times and I could not finish the smoke. Don't be turned off to the Partagás brand by this review. They do have some good vitolas which I'll review at a later time.

Ramón Allones Specially Selected
Posted on July 8^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Robusto
Size: 124 mm (4 ⅞ inches)
Ring: 19.84 mm (50)
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba

Price: €7.80

     Back in 1837, a pair of Spanish emigrant brothers Ramón and Antonio Allones created the Ramón Allones cigar company and has survived through the years to become one of the oldest brands in production today. They were the pioneers of cigar packaging as we know today. They are supposedly the first cigar manufacturer to pack their cigars in boxes decorated with colorful art stamped with their brand´s emblem and also decorated with cigars bands.

     The recent owner of Ramón Allone is the Cifuentes family. Production was moved to the famous Partagás Factory, where Ramón Allones cigars are still made to this day. Many popular vitolas in recent years have been discontinued but the Specially Selected, Gigantes, and Small Club Coronas viltolas are still incredibly popular among aficionados today.

     I decided to give the 'Specially Selected' a try. It is a beautiful box pressed Robusto with a somewhat sweet and honey aroma. It reminded me of the smell of freshly rolled Cohibas I had a few weeks prior. When lit, the initial taste brought back memories of Christmas cake. It tasted of nut, cinnamon and clove. It was quite nice and left no unpleasant aftertaste. The aftertaste was like the fine powder you find when eating fresh peanuts. After the first third it really mellowed and the rest of the smoke maintained a consistently soft, creamy, herbal and silky smooth flavor. The draw and burn were excellent with big puffy smoke.

     This cigar really surprised me. I enjoy Robustos more than anything. It's about the right size for me and I smoke this vitola more often than any. I didn't expect to discover a new favorite Robusto...but I did. I loved this cigar! My humidor will be making room for a box of these wonderful cigars.

La Gloria Cubana Torpedo No. 1
Posted on June 21^st, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Torpedo
Size: 6 ½ inches
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium-Full
Nationality: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatran
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic/Nicaragua

MSRPrice: $7.25

     Don't let the name fool you. It's not a Cuban cigar. La Gloria Cubana's are produced in Florida and the Dominican Republic. Tobacco grower Ernesto Perez-Carillo fled Cuba in 1959, taking with him the secret of La Gloria Cubana cigars. In 1968 he began making cigars in Little Havana in Miami and quickly became a local favorite. In 1980 his son, Ernesto Jr., took over the business. During the next few years, he blended a unique combination of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos to make La Gloria Cubana richer tasting and fuller flavored. Over a decade later, Ernesto Jr.'s efforts were finally rewarded when in 1992 CA awarded them with a high rating. Suddenly everything changed for them. La Gloria Cubana claim to be the most sought after cigar in the world. Well don't they all?

     I honestly have to say, the cigars colorful band first caught my attention. Then I noticed the rich dark wrapper. I licked my lips, bought a five pack, hoped it would not disappoint, and placed it in my humidor only to forget about them for a few weeks. Later looking for a cigar to smoke with a new rum I bought, I grabbed a La Gloria Cubana and poured a small snifter of Matusalem 15 year old rum.

     The Matusalem rum has a strong toffee and vanilla smell, with a sweet taste and a strong cream soda like aftertaste. It is a very pleasant rum. The La Gloria Cubana also had a creamy taste but not sweet. It also had a leathery taste, which it maintained through to the end. About mid-way the taste changed to an overpowering spicy/peppery taste. This didn't last long and the spice eventually mellowed out.

I enjoyed this cigar. The Matusalem rum and La Gloria Cubana also complimented each other quite well.

Mi Dominicana
Posted on June 18^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver with the help of C. Strecker's palate.

Vitola: Belicoso
Size: 6 ⅛ inches
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium - Full
Nationality: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic

MSRPrice: $9.00

     "Everything that is beautiful about the Dominican Republic has gone into this cigar," claims José Seijas, General Manager of Tabacalera de Garcia Ltd. The Mi Dominicana cigar, developed for Altidas USA, is the first Dominican puro produced by Tabacalera de Garcia.

     I like Dominican cigars. I smoked two of the Mi Dominicana Belicosos prior to this one and I get the same result. Unfortunately, I didn't really like this cigar. I smelled the wrapper and I got a flashback to my grandfather’s barn and horse stalls. It was a pleasant memory of my grandfather, also an avid cigar smoker. So I lit it up and got an initial leather taste and the smoke had a nutty aroma. The cigar itself felt hard, but the draw and the burn were good. Until about half way through the cigar, all I tasted was leather. Then it got stronger with some spice and a cedar/earthy tone to it. It maintained those flavors from then on, only to get stronger and unpleasant toward the end.

     The cigar is smokable, but I just wouldn't look forward to it when I have to smoke it.

CAO CX2
Posted on June 16^th, 2009 by Kurt Wolaver

Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 inches
Ring: 54
Strength: Medium
Nationality: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua/Columbia

MSRPrice: $9.00

     Immigrant Cano A. Ozgener first started CAO cigar company in 1968, but never sold cigars until years later. Being an engineer, he felt he could make a better Meerschaum pipe. He made them and intially this is what CAO sold. Not long afterwards, he ventured into selling humidors. It wasn't until the cigar boom of the 1990's that he started selling cigars. After a rough start, he finally gained attention in the cigar business with the release of the CAO Gold line of cigars. Since then, CAO has developed into a major player in the cigar industry.

Rating System

   5      To Die For! If you were going to die and you could only smoke one last cigar.....this would be one of them.

Cigar Weather Report

Havana, Cuba | Santiago, Dominican Republic | Tegucigalpa, Honduras | Managua, Nicaragua
Hartford, Connecticut | Miami, Florida | Mexico City, Mexico | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil