Davidoff tobacco masters have created these very special Limited Edition “Club House” Toro Cigars with moments of shared pleasure in mind. The connoisseur’s choice, wherever he or she is relaxing, particularly enjoying the fairways on a golf course.

Creation of the Davidoff Masters Edition 2013 “Club House” Toro

For this cigar, the Davidoff Master Blenders decided to play the long game, taking adventurous, sometimes risky, shots. They mixed rare and specially matured tobaccos, focusing on delivering delightful aromas rather than pure strength.

The majestic Gran Toro format allows the aficionado to enjoy the cigar’s intensive but balanced and nuanced taste over its entire length: the exceptional Yamasá wrapper, Mejorado filler and Ecuadorian binder develop mildly peppery and creamy notes, followed by elegant hints of chocolate, caramel and coffee.

Finally, displaying a playful elegance, both the cigar box, which is finished in high gloss white, and the second band carry a golf ball pattern.

The new Davidoff Masters Edition Club House Toro is the ultimate way to fill your time beautifully on a golf course with your friends.

This exclusive edition is limited to 7’000 boxes worldwide and the Davidoff Masters Edition 2013 “Club House” Toro can certainly be described as a collector's item. As we all know, the perfect round of golf depends upon the choice or club and cigar.

This Limited Edition will be available from the end of May onwards in Appointed Merchants across the US.

Davidoff Club House Tech Specs

Price: $21.90 (each)
Price: $219.00 (box of 10)
Format: Gran Toro
Length: 15.9 cm, 6 ¼”
Ring gauge: 2.1 cm, 52 RG
Wrapper: Yamasá- Marron Claro (matured for 3 years)
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Piloto Viso, San Vicente Mejorado Seco, Piloto Mejorado Seco, San Vicente Mejorado Viso, Vicente Mejorado Viso
Aroma: Intensive
Strength: Medium-strong flavour

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Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Belicoso
Size : 5 1/2 x 52
Wrapper : Nicaragua Sun Grown
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $8 each
More info about purchasing Flor de las Antillas cigars...

This week I decided to review a new(ish) member of the Pepin Garcia portfolio. The Flor de las Antillas is a hand rolled Nicaraguan puro that is being made to honor the Garcia families ties to Cuba. In 2012, this cigar earned the first spot on Cigar Aficionado's "Cigars of the Year" list. The Flor de las Antillas are available in boxes of 20 and come in the following four sizes:

• Toro 6 x 52
• Toro Grande 6 ½ x 56
• Belicoso 5 ½ x 52
• Robusto 5 x 50

On to the review…

Upon visual inspection my Flor de las Antillas Belicoso bore a nice oily brown wrapper however lots of thick veins were present. Point on the cap was very well constructed and the cigar had a semi-box press to it. Foot of the cigar had a red ribbon placed around it and the band was very detailed and colorful. Pre-light smell was not easily defined but I was able to pick up notes of chocolate and slight barnyard. Cold draw was tight with no true defining tastes except a bit of spice on the lips.

Pre-light score: 8 pts.

The Flor de las Antillas opened in the medium full range with a rich tobacco and coca tastes that left a reminiscence of spice on the tongue. Ash was a very white tower and the burn a bit wavy. Aroma was a wonderful old musty, aged scent and I must say the entire first third was not overly complex but very enjoyable!

The second third of the cigar had to be immediately touched up as the burn became too jagged. The chocolate tastes had certainly detailed themselves and the cigar was still in the medium-full range. A hint of dry wood crept into the taste profile near the end of the second third and the aroma remained wonderfully intoxicating.

The final third of my Flor de las Antillas was by far the least enjoyable part of this smoking experience. Tastes in the final third were a little harsh and detailed a spicy, flinty, burnt character. This could be summed up as the cigar needing more sitting (aging) due to young tobacco. Don’t get me wrong, the cigar wasn’t terrible, it just didn’t finish as strong as it started. Burn remained wavy until the end and the aroma great throughout.

Smoking score: 7 pts.

To sum it up I would say this is another great cigar from Pepin Garcia and My Father Cigars. I do suggest you try the Flor de las Antillas as I am looking forward to trying other vitolas in the brand. I certainly will be purchasing some more of the belicoso style to put down. Hopefully I can calm that final third to match the rest of the smoking experience.

Overall Experience score: 8 pts.

Flor de las Antillas Rating

Pre-Light: 8 pts.
Smoking: 7 pts.
Overall Experience: 8 pts.

TOTAL: 23 pts.

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Origin : Honduras
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 50
Wrapper : Honduran Olancho San Augustin Sun Grown
Filler : Nicaraguan and Honduran
Binder : Connecticut Broadleaf
Hand-Made
Price : ~$5 each
More info about purchasing CAO Osa Sol cigars...

This is the first blend and cigar made under the CAO label since the brand was taken over by General Cigar. It is currently being manufactured in Honduras.

Appearance : 3.5 out of 5 stars
The CAO Osa Sol has a Colorado shade wrapper with veins and an overall rustic look but it has tight seams and a nice sheen. As noted in the photos though, there were some construction issues that affected the overall appearance of the cigar. The colourful band is nice and refreshing but I could not take my eyes off the manufacturing flaws that were clearly visible.

Construction : 3.5 out of 5 stars
It did not hold up to my straight cut. The wrapper cracked when I snipped the cap off. Moistening it between my lips and pressing back down on it kept it from unravelling. Pre-light draw was nice, just enough resistance. The cigar was firm to the touch but a couple soft spots were noted. Thankfully they did not affect the burn which for the most part was good however it did require a couple minor touch-ups but thankfully no re-lights. Smoke output was good. The draw was easy with just enough resistance but felt a tad more open near the end. You can see why I made the deductions in the photos.

Flavor : 4 out of 5 stars
Lighting this cigar greets you with some mild pepper and very noticeable woodsy and earthy nuttiness.

Most of the first third was one dimensional, not much change in flavor but the flavors were for the most part enjoyable. There were some infrequent bursts of unsweetened coffee and toasted nuts with predominantly earthy undertone. The smoke output was exceptional at the start. A nice thick white cloud after every puff. The finish was medium in duration and pleasant, with just a lingering hint of mild spice. The strength was mild to medium.

I noted some pleasant sweetness enter the profile as I started the second third and the cigar left a nice touch of salt on the lips. There were some very mild hints of citrus, dried fruits and semi-sweet chocolate. The pepper was still there but remained mild and actually decreased from the first third. There was a decent balance between semi-sweet cocoa-bitter dark chocolate with very slight peppery finish. Again, aside from the hints of the aforementioned flavors, the cigar remained primarily earthy and woodsy although the wood notes were a tad sweeter.

Approaching the halfway point offered much of the same for flavor, smoke output and burn. At this point the cigar needed its first minor touch-up as the burn wavered. I did pick up a few more intense bursts of roasted nuts, unsweetened coffee and dark chocolate with the latter offering the occasional bitterness. There was a minor increase in the amount of spice but the overall spicy remained subdued. The finish was short to medium and offered some very mild hints of citrus and sweet woodsy tones.

The brownish ash held firm and there was no flaking. The draw remained good. As the cigar approached the halfway mark some strength started to come through making it more medium in strength. Overall though, I would still consider this stick a mild-medium strength cigar with the nicotine noticeable but not problematic. A good cigar for those looking for a milder smoke. At the halfway point I also noted some pleasant sweetness to the smoke’s texture, with the smoke leaving a nice sweet residue on the palette.

There was only one more burn issue to report beyond the halfway mark when the cigar needed another minor touch-up. I did find that the cigar started to get “dryer” after the second half. The pepper notes were pretty much gone only to come back on occasion the rest of the way, albeit very mild. The primary flavors remained woodsy, earthy but accompanied by occasional hints of leather and roasted nuts. The smoke remained thick but as I approached the final third the sweetness noted earlier had left the smoke and it became dry on the palate.
More earthy notes were picked up on the front of my palate with some nuttiness at the back end. It still remained woodsy and earthy but did surprise with the occasional burst of dried fruit and sweetness. Some bitterness started to make its way into the profile as I approached the final third.

As I started that final third of the cigar I picked up a very pleasant albeit brief sweetness at the front of the palate, resembling some semi-sweet chocolate/caramel but unfortunately this didn’t last long (I wish it did because the remainder of the smoke started to get more bitter). By the time I removed the band, the smoke lost most of its flavor and while there were infrequent notes of toasted caramel and nuts, the rest of the cigar remained on the bitter earthy side.

Value : 5 out of 5 stars
This smoke can be had for between $4.75 to $5.25 depending on where you look and perhaps even a tad lower if you buy by the box. Considering some of the price increases we are seeing lately for more popular cigars in this vitola, this cigar is considered great value. I’ve had worse robustos that sell for much more than this and while price should not be the determining factor in what makes a good cigar great, the fact that this cigar is offered at an excellent price point is to be commended. While not overly complex, it does offer a fairly enjoyable experience and is priced at a level where it could be a daily or regular smoke.

Overall Rating : 4 out of 5 stars
Admittedly I have not been a fan of CAO cigars in the past. In fact, the only one I recall actually quasi-enjoying was the Brazilia. However, this cigar was a pleasant surprise and was indeed enjoyable for the most part. It wasn’t a “great” smoke but it wasn’t terrible either. It was an above average experience and I would have no problems handing them out to my friends for an evening get together on the porch with a drink or two. They are also great for the golf course or as a daily smoke given their attractive price point.

If it is significant complexity or ‘strength’ you are after then you will be disappointed. However, for a medium strength/medium bodied cigar it wasn’t bad at all. Most of the flavors that greet you on lighting the Osa Sol stay with you the rest of the way in varying degrees of intensity with the occasional hints of varying sweetness. While it is mainly a woodsy and earthy smoke, there were some satisfying areas of sweetness, dried fruit, toasted caramel and nuttiness to the flavor profile along with the occasional hint of mild citrus. The cigar gets bitter fast near the band and that bitterness never leaves so keep that in mind when smoking yours. Best to put it out as soon as that bitterness appears so as not to ruin the experience. To that end, it is not a cigar I would nub. It is definitely worth a try.

There weren’t enough lasting changes in the flavor profile to classify this as an overly complex smoke. Instead, it remained one dimensional most of the way. One dimensional cigars are not necessarily a bad thing so long as the flavors are pleasing.

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Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Torpedo
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Corojo
Filler : Nicaragua & Honduras
Binder : Nicaragua & Honduras
Hand-Made
Price : $3 each
More info about purchasing Rocky Patel R4 cigars...

Rocky Patel seems to have truly found his way in the world of cigars. By far his name (and product) can be found in just about every cigar market in the United States. However, today’s review focuses on one of Patel’s low-end production cigars. The Rocky Patel R4 is a premium value line that differs from his normal line as the R4 is rolled in Nicaragua and not his typical Honduras factories. The R4 line comes in bundles of 20 and is available in the following sizes:

• Double Corona 7½ x 52
• Robusto 5 x 5
• Toro 6 x 52
• Torpedo 6 x 52

On to the review…

The Rocky Patel R4 had a very pleasing brown silky wrapper that contained plenty of veins and few blemishes. The torpedo tip was somewhat lumpy on all three of my examples and the foot very nicely packed full of luscious tobacco. What really caught my attention in this pre-light ritual was the awesome aroma the cigar profiled. The beautiful rich chocolaty aroma made my mouth start to water. The band was a simple plain brown with a sun/star in the middle, and was not applied evenly in the back. Upon cutting I found the cold draw to be very tight, leaving me to cut ever more than usual from the tapered head. Cold draw showed no true tasting notes.

Pre-light score: 7 pts.

The opening of my Rocky Patel R4 Torpedo was very light and mild with no spice or power. This cigar showed a nutty woodsy profile with minor lead/metallic notes in the first third. The burn was somewhat wavy but nothing terrible. Ash was a mixed grey and white and the aroma a sweet toasted tobacco.

Moving into the second third the cigar still was safely in the mild range. Still woody with an added cream/vanilla the tastes were certainly not overwhelming my palate. The burn however had to be touched up twice and became quite inconsistent. For some reason the cigar was having trouble staying lit.

The final third of my Rocky Patel R4 had taste turning a bit darker and oaky with a dark cocoa tastes present. The burn issues continued to persist and the ash was a dirty grey color. Finally I just gave up because I was tired of keeping this cigar managed with the lighting.

Smoking score: 4 pts.

So overall for the price ($2.75) you can’t complain about this smoke however do know you get what you pay for. Expect to find flaws and inconsistencies, as this is a value line. If you’re a big fan of mild cigars I truly suggest giving these a shot. This will be a great cigar for me when I’m doing things like outside work (mowing the lawn) or other activities where I’m not trying to totally focus on complex cigar profiles. Do know though that this is not something I would reach for to hand out with the purpose of impressing dinner guest or great friends.

Overall Experience score: 5 pts.

Rocky Patel R4 Torpedo Rating

Pre-Light: 7 pts.
Smoking: 4 pts.
Overall Experience: 5 pts.

TOTAL: 16 pts.

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La Gloria Cubana® is making a bold departure from its Dominican roots with the launch of two new Nicaraguan collections, the first-ever La Glorias to have Nicaragua as the country of origin. Both expressions will mark the expansion of the top-selling Serie R line which started the large ring, full flavor craze back in 1999.

According to Michael Giannini, General Cigar’s director of innovation, “When Serie R debuted, we established a market for bold cigars, and inspired other manufacturers to follow suit. We’re shaking things up again, by further expanding the size and flavor spectrum of our cigars with two unique and different full-flavored Nicaraguan blends, each in ultra-large ring gauges. Both new collections are trend setters in the making.”

The first of the two new Nicaraguan collections is a puro called Serie R Black. The blend features viso leaves from Jalapa and Esteli, and a Jalapa viso binder. The use of Jalapa viso as a binder and in the blend speaks to the spectacular characteristics of this tobacco, which was cultivated by a small, independent grower named Pedro Joaquin Guardian. It was Pedro who took a bold step by raising the tobacco on several small, unconnected plots on the craggy Jalapa mountainside. The blend is punctuated with an audacious Jalapa ligero wrapper. Harvested from the 2009 crop, this flavorful tobacco was fermented for an entire year, and aged for two and a half years.

Serie R Black debuts with a trio of brawny frontmarks, each in 18-count boxes. This includes: No 58 (6.87” x 58, SRP $6.99); No 60 (6” x 60, SRP $7.24) and No 64 (6.25” x 64, SRP $7.49). This collection will only be available for purchase through Internet/catalog retailers.

Initial details about the second Serie R offering will be released in June, with a full reveal in July at the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas. This new line will be a brick and mortar exclusive.

Giannini noted, “What’s also significant about both new blends is that they have the full flavor that’s characteristic of Nicaraguan tobacco, but they’re not about power. They are meant to deliver the smoking experience of a well-aged, refined and balanced Nicaraguan smoke, and we believe we’re delivering that in spades.”

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Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 50
Wrapper : Nicaraguan
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : ~$6 each
More info about purchasing Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic...

Don Pepin was one of Cuba`s most respected rollers when he fled the country and started rolling cigars in Miami with some other prominent defectors. The cigar is marketed as full bodied and is promoted as some of the most Cuban tasting non-Cuban cigars. The Cuban Classic is billed as a spicy cigar made from very select tobaccos. I had the opportunity to sample their Natural Robusto and what follows is my review of this cigar. This cigar comes from his “Black Label” line and is manufactured in Nicaragua.

Appearance : 4 out of 5 stars
The cigar is veined and rustic. Its triple cap looks well applied and the dark brown wrapper has a nice sheen to it with no visible seams. The band is elegant but not over the top. It is a double banded cigar with the cigar name on the main band and “Cuban Classic” on the secondary band. The foot of the cigar is wrapped in a nice golden/brown ribbon.

Construction : 4.75 out of 5 stars (4.75)
I used a guillotine cut on my Cuban Classic. The cigar held up well to the cut. It was firm to the touch, well packed and without soft spots. The burn was flawless for the entire duration of my smoke. The draw was perfect. Just enough resistance on the draw and I never had to fight the cigar. It did not require touch ups nor did it burst, swell, crack or start to unravel at any point. I was pleased with what I considered to be exceptional construction. The deduction was for the flaky and less than firm ash.

Flavor : 3.5 out of 5 stars
The pre-draw was very aromatic. Cedar, earth, tobacco and a slight floral note were obtained. The foot had a very pleasing and inviting cedar/woodsy aroma.

The first third of the cigar offered some peppery spice with hints of unsweetened coffee, leather and cocoa. There was a pleasant peppery taste to the cigar that did not overpower the cigar and actually complimented it nicely. A touch of saltiness on the lips was present. The smoke output was medium. There was no texture to the smoke and the finish was relatively short. The pepper did not linger on my palate nor did the primary flavors of leather, cedar and unsweetened coffee.

As I started the second third of the cigar the smoke volume increased noticeably. By this point, the smoke was thick and rich. The ash was a nice white/grey color but it was quite flaky often falling off in chunks. The burn was not affected though.

I started to pick up some sweetness in the second third of the cigar. Along with the primary earthiness of the cigar, there were hints of dried fruit, black cherry, coffee and very subtle hints of chocolate. As I approached the halfway point some hints of toasted caramel started to make their way into the flavour profile. The pepper remained consistent but the finish again was shorter than I had expected.

Near the halfway point the primary flavors remained earthy with some leathery undertones. The flavour became a little more complex with more hints of black cherry, toasted nuts, unsweetened coffee and some dark chocolate. The smoke output remained full but it did start to have some texture. The smoke wasn’t too oily but I did manage to pick up hints of unsweetened chocolate/cocoa in the smoke.

The Cuban Classic really opened up just past the halfway point. The finish became longer, the smoke volume intensified and carried with it more of the previously noted textures and some saltiness on the lips made the balance of flavors more enjoyable. There continued to be some pepper to the finish. Although the cigar is marketed as being spicy I really didn’t get that during my experience. Instead I got some hints of cracked pepper that stayed consistent throughout the cigar but not really ‘spicy’ that one would expect based on the promotional material. Needless to say this isn’t a knock on the cigar but just my observation. Perhaps a little longer lingering spice would have made the experience more enjoyable.

Going past the halfway mark the smoke took on some occasional sweeter tastes, with hints of black cherry dried fruit and citrus occasionally breaking through the mainly earthy/nutty notes. The finish was shorter again.

Nearing the final third I started picking up some toasted nuttiness, caramel and cocoa under the primary woodsy/earthy flavors. There were some unpleasant bitter puffs but these were few. Mainly the final third continued to dominate with cedar, black cherry, leather, unsweetened coffee and dark chocolate. The ash was still quite flakey but the burn never wavered. I hadn’t seen a guitar burn so evenly in quite a while.

The final third had pretty much the same blend of flavors noted above but more bitter dark chocolate notes started to enter the profile. The cigar remained mainly woodsy and earthy but there were the occasional bursts of sweetness that made it through the profile to compliment the more prevalent bitterness at this point. It wasn’t a harsh bitterness but it was noticeable nonetheless. The cigar finished off with mainly woodsy, leathery and dark chocolate notes with a very short peppery finish. The intensity of the peppery notes weakened during the cigar.

Value : 4.75 out of 5 stars (4.75)
This robusto can be had for as low as $6.50 at many online retailers and a box of 20 averages out to $5.59 per cigar. The highest price I found for this cigar was $7.00 but again, discounts were available for buying by the box. This cigar is definitely worth the money. For that price you are truly getting an enjoyable cigar. Not a “fantastic” smoke, but one with very few flaws. If you are a fan of woodsy/earthy cigars then you owe it to yourself to try one of these. If you are kept away, it won’t be because of the price, that’s for sure.

Overall Rating : 4.25 out of 5 stars (4.25)
My criticisms of this cigar are that the finish was short, there wasn’t enough complexity in the blend. When flavors did emerge though they did so in quite an enjoyable manner. The complex portions of the cigar were truly enjoyable but they were few. I would have liked the flavors and spice to have had a little more staying power on my palate. Also, the Cuban Classic did tend to get a little one dimensional, providing earthy/leathery notes for far too long before other flavors crept in. The cigar started with a low smoke output but opened up with nice rich clouds of smoke that took on some flavorful textures. When present, the hints of coffee and caramel were quite nice and unmistakable. The cigar was not overly complex, almost predictable but still, when all was said and done, it was still an above average cigar and one that smoked better than many other cigars in this price range.

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Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Corona
Size : 5.5 x 42
Wrapper : Nicaraguan (Natural)
Binder : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Age : 2 years 8 months
Hand-Made
Number of reviewers : 5 --- Nicholas (volpow61), Brian (B-daddy), Emmett (rhetorik), Robert (NavyPiper), Will (Dubv23)
Price : ~$3 each
More info about purchasing Padron Londres cigars...

Today we bring you a very special guest review of the well-known Padron Londres Natural, submitted by the crew from Blind Man's Puff. They do blind cigar reviews - each cigar is smoked by at least 4 different reviewers and the smokes are received naked, without any bands or information. We love the concept - so go ahead and check out their site for more reviews like this one.

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 86

“Chocolate brown wrapper that's a little unevenly colored and ugly. It's got some darker spots. It's got some shiny areas with dull spots and vice versa. A simple single cap that's neat enough and a soft box-press.” -Brian (B-daddy)

Aroma: 89

“The ugly appearance is somewhat redeemed by the aroma, it smells very pleasant. I'm picking up mild plain tobacco, and a little sweetness.” -Emmett (rhetorik)

Construction: 86

“The cigar felt even in the hand. It had a well done box press that was not too aggressive. It was firm with no detectable soft spots. They skimped on the cap and went with a single cap, no big deal though.” -Will (Dubv23)

First Third

Flavor: 89

Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Upon first puff i was greeted with light spice with a meaty/leathery flavor with a hint sweetness.” -Nicholas (volpow61)

“Right away I get a nice little pepper blast that lingers on the tongue. Besides that, about the only thing I'm picking up is coffee. As this third progresses, it mellows out a little and opens up with some more flavor including more fresh tobacco. This stick isn't very complex so far, but what it does offer is good.” -Emmett (rhetorik)

Second Third

Flavor: 89

Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Flavors began blending together, and intensifying. Some sweetness comes and goes. Enjoyed this third as well.” -Robert (NavyPiper)

“I get a transition as the second third starts. I'm getting a bit more spice and some leather flavors mixing with the cocoa. The spice and leather linger on the finish. Towards the end, I start to get some bitterness but it's not like a charcoal bitterness, it's more like a floral/hoppy ale. It's nice and mild. Unusual.” -Brian (B-daddy)

Final Third

Flavor: 88

Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“In the last third of the smoke spice and body pick up. also followed by some sweetness and meatiness it definitely ends with a bang.” -Nicholas (volpow61)

“The flavors in this third were the same as the previous third, but continued to increase in strength. About half way into this third, smoke increased greatly, and began to get a 'burnt' taste, but was not unpleasant. Smoked it to the nub. Really enjoyed it.” -Robert (NavyPiper)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 93

“Draw was decent. It had some resistance, maybe just a tad more than I would prefer which could have caused the bitterness in this smaller ring gauge smoke.” -Will (Dubv23)

Burn: 95

“Near perfect. Even. Ash holds for 2+ inches and the burn and draw combine to generate huge volumes of rich smoke from foot to head. Not even close to needing a touch-up.” -Brian (B-daddy)

Overall Experience: 89

“Overall a nice everyday smoke with some decent body and complexity.especially toward the end and depending on the price point, I could pick some more up.” -Nicholas (volpow61)

“Because of the burn and draw, this cigar was a joy to smoke. Combined with very enjoyable flavors, I really liked this cigar. It's not overly complex and the flavors aren't huge but the overall experience was very nice.” -Brian (B-daddy)

“If the price is right, I would call this a good budget choice. Nothing too complex or surprising, but a solid performance with some good flavors.” -Emmett (rhetorik)

“Very nice stick, enjoyed all of it, and was quite flavorful. I'd buy some!” -Robert (NavyPiper)

“This was a good cigar. It had some nice flavors that could be enjoyed anytime of the day by any smoker. There was not any sort of nicotine buzz that I noticed. It delivered the same flavors throughout the entire stick and did bring forth some bitterness at the halfway point. This was not a complex cigar by any means. The ash fell on me 4 times at about 1/2"...that was kind of annoying.” -Will (Dubv23)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body: Medium-Full
Smoking Time (in minutes): 62

Total Score: 89 (Good)

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Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Petit Corona
Size : 4.5 x 46
Wrapper : Ecuadorian
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : $6.75 - $8.00 each
More info about purchasing Oliva Serie V Melanio cigars...

The company markets this cigar as hand-rolled using ‘expertly fermented’ ligero fillers which are known for their robust and rich flavors. The Serie V Melanio is considered one of the brand’s “Premium” Cigars. The long filler tobaccos are a blend of Oliva Nicaraguan Habano that emphasizes tobacco from the Jalapa region, an area known for a more nuanced leaf than the Esteli or Condega regions.

Appearance : 4.75 out of 5 stars (4.75)
This petit corona comes box pressed. The wrapper was veiny and slightly rustic in appearance. It had two beautiful brown/tanned wrappers. The seams were barely visible with the exception of a very apparent seam near the cap. The cap itself was nicely applied, although somewhat uneven. It was an even box press. The bands were a tad big for this petit corona as they had a tendency to cover most of the cigar so obtaining a full inspection was not possible without removing them. However, I do prefer to let the cigar warm up before removing the bands as this tends to soften the vegetable glue used to apply the bands and helps prevent damaging the wrapper. Unless the band is already loose and can be slid off without difficulty then my preference is to wait as noted. Minor deductions were for the fact that the double bands conceal too much of the cigar and the rustic appearance of the cigar.

Construction : 4.75 out of 5 stars (4.75)
Two highlights that came out of my smoking experience with this cigar were the exceptional burn and the tremendous smoke output. I used a straight guillotine cut and the cigar handled this cut very well. The burn remained consistent and even throughout. It should be noted that this Serie V Melanio arrived in my humidor in late fall of last year so it has rested nicely over the winter and stabilized perfectly. This had to have contributed to the noticeably even burn throughout.

This cigar was not firmly packed. In fact, a quick pre-smoke inspection revealed that the cigar was actually quite spongy in feel. This, despite being stored at between 65-68% RH which is my preferred smoking RH. The pre-light draw was a tad loose for my liking offering no resistance whatsoever. Deduction was for the very loose construction. Otherwise the cigar held up quite admirably and burned like a dream, only slightly wavering at the occasional point but it self-corrected wonderfully without ever needing any touch up whatsoever. Minor deductions were made for the seam/cap and for the tad open draw.

Flavor : 2.5 out of 5 stars
The pre-light aroma was very pleasant with hints of cedar, natural tobacco and pleasant coffee and toffee notes. The pre-light draw was very open with some pleasing sweetness and only a hint of salt and spice on the lips. The cigar was lightly packed and felt a tad spongy. I was concerned that this very loose draw would play havoc with my cigar. Let’s see what it did.

Oliva Serie V Melanio Petit Corona held up well to my guillotine straight cut. I toasted the foot with my single torch flame and was greeted with a very pleasing and sweet cigar aroma.

Be ready because the first couple of puffs greet you with a spicy kick and it can be a tad overwhelming if you aren’t ready for it. I best describe the spice as cayenne pepper spice, not black pepper spice. It had a pleasant finish with hints of caramel/toffee and sweet cocoa coming through. The spice hit the front and back of the palate and tended to linger longer than normal at the back of my throat. It certainly offered some spicy "tickle" if I may.
The draw was effortless but in all truthfulness, it was a little too loose and open for my liking. As a result, smoke this one slow because it does have a tendency to burn fast because of that loose draw. I like a bit more resistance in my cigars.

The first third of the cigar was quite complex and I give the cigar an A+ for the first third after getting over the kick of spice with the first couple of puffs. The cigar had tremendous smoke output however, the smoke was very dry, lacking any creamy or velvety richness that one might expect with such thick smoke output. I would recommend a nice cool beverage handy, something sweet like an iced tea would pair nicely with this because, as I will get into later, you will need some sweetness to balance what is to come later.

The flavor during the first third was a pleasing blend of cedar, black cherry, tea, and the occasional hint of caramel complimented with some mild salt on the lips. The first third came to an end with consistent thick smoke output and the burn was perfect. Again, if I had one complaint it was the openness of the draw. Despite this though, the cigar never got hot and remained complex during the first third. The first third was definitely full flavored, smooth (apart from the initial spicy hit) and complex.

By the end of the first third the spice had decreased significantly when compared to the initial burst. The burn remained beautiful and the white/grey ash held together nicely, never flaking and holding up well until it finally broke off near the end of the first third.

As I started the second third and until I approached the halfway point of the cigar I noted a significant drop-off in the spice but don't exhale through your nose unless you want a spicy kick. This little cigar packs quite the spicy punch if retro-haled.

At the halfway point the cigar continued to provide thick white clouds of smoke but again, the draw was just too open for my liking. The cigar, not as complex as the first third, did exhibit some notes of unsweetened coffee, caramel and wood. Leathery notes started to become more prominent. The woodsy flavors shifted from what started as cedar tones to more oaky notes. Some bitterness started to creep into the profile which at first reminded me of unsweetened espresso but became harsher near the halfway point.

Just past the halfway point and until I approached the final third is where the flavors started to fall apart for me. There was no more salty flavor on my lips and despite the smoke remaining nice and thick, it lacked any texture to it whatsoever. The burn remained flawless but the finish was extremely dry and left me ‘parched’ on many puffs. The finish was not as long and it was harder to really find some flavors that were worth making note of. Overall, a considerable amount of bitterness started to dominate the stick with more woodsy/grassy/hay overtones. There were some mild notes of black cherry and unsweetened coffee but overall, this portion of the cigar was dominated by ‘plain’ woodsy and grassy notes.

By the time I hit the final third and until I decided to finally lay the cigar to rest, the flavors had become muted and very one dimensional. Wood and damp hay dominated the rest of the cigar with an unpleasant bitterness on almost every puff. Only very mild hints of spice remained and the cigar quickly deteriorated into a rather bland and bitter smoke.

The cigar at this point was very dry and bitter on the palate. A little more pepper re-emerged but the cigar as a whole lacked any discernible sweetness to balance the bitterness that had taken over the flavor profile. This is why I recommended a sweet beverage to help with the dryness and to balance the bitterness that took over for the last 30% of the cigar. Any complexity that was present in the first third and that crept through on occasion in the second third was completely gone. The cigar rapidly became quite woodsy and grassy. I also made a point of smoking it slow because of the very loose draw. I did not want the Melanio to get hot and, to its credit, it never did, staying cool the entire duration of the experience.

I must say that the final third was not enjoyable. While the smoke output and burn remained exceptional, the flavor was taken over by the bitterness one gets in burnt espresso. The flavors became bland with only wood and damp hay dominating the flavor profile. The finish was uninspiring. While some peppery spice re-emerged I just couldn't get over the bitterness that came back with a vengeance near the end.

Value : 2 out of 5 stars
Value is subjective and often remains one of the most contentious part of any review. If one really enjoys a cigar then a smoker will have no problem paying the price. If the experience is not enjoyable then the price has to be right in order to pick one up, even on the fly when nothing else might be available. The bottom line for me is that this cigar lasted approximately 40-45 minutes but in large part because I smoked it slower than normal because of the loose draw. I did not want it to burn too fast. Prices range from $6.70 to $8.00 per cigar. For that money I cannot truly say that this cigar offers much value. If you truly are a fan and want them, discounts can be had for buying a 10 count box. Single sticks will fetch you closer to $8.00 and at a couple of online retailers I noted prices closer to $9.00. There are better smokes to be had for that price range.

Overall Rating : 3.5 out of 5 stars
This cigar started very pleasing and after the first few puffs I thought I was going to have a really enjoyable experience. However, the complexity and enjoyable blend that had me smiling in the first third of the cigar slowly deteriorated offering virtually none of the complexity that was present in the first third. The spice settled down nicely but was always present to some degree. The construction and burn were outstanding but unfortunately, the transformation of flavors into a very one dimensional cigar in the last 30-50% of the cigar really left me perplexed and disappointed. If the cigar had managed to stay similar to the first third of the cigar there is no doubt that it would have scored higher. Flavors became less discernible as I smoked it. The cigar took no time whatsoever to open up at the beginning but all the positives turned to negatives and as such, the consistency of the smoke left a lot to be desired.

Positives included the outstanding burn and smoke output as well as a very enjoyable and beautifully complex first third of the cigar. Negatives were the loose draw, the lack of complexity from roughly the halfway point onward and the transformation to a bitter cigar not to mention the fact that the cigar’s incredible and thick smoke output lacked any real texture to it but instead contributed to a very dry smoking experience leaving me parched on many occasions. I would rate the cigar’s strength as medium. A seasoned cigar smoker can get away with smoking this on an empty stomach as I for example only started to feel the nicotine in the final third. More novice smokers should perhaps have something to eat first. The cigar makes a nice short smoke when time is limited. As noted above, the first portion of the cigar was full bodied, complex and smoothed out nicely after I got past the spicy kick that greeted me on lighting. Strength throughout was considered medium. Unfortunately, the smooth and full bodied tastes were only there for less than half of the cigar. As such, this is reflected in my flavor rating.

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When we published an article about cigar flavor components a while ago, a lot of readers commented and asked us to design a cigar flavors wheel with all the different flavors listed in the article. Well, we thought it was a great idea - and designed one. You can visit the original article and download it from there. Hope you enjoy it, and don't forget to share the wheel with your friends!

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