Today, I am proud to be able to bring you a review of a product instead of a cigar.  I was contacted by Aaron of www.butanelighterswholesale.com recently, asking if I was interested in reviewing a lighter for the site.  I agreed gladly, and had him send me a lighter for review.  The lighter I opted for was the Jobon single flame angled torch lighter, in a silver and chrome finish.

When I got the lighter in the mail, the first thing I noticed when opening it, is that it came in a really nice felt lined display box.  I picked the lighter up and held it in my hand, and I noticed immediately that it appeared to be very well built, and sturdy.  My favorite feature on this lighter is that it has TWO fold out punch cutters in different sizes built into the lighter.  This is very convinient for the cigar smoker, as you wouldn’t have to necessarily carry a cutter and lighter.  I immediately decided to punch the cigar I was testing this lighter on, and the punch worked perfect, and cut sharply.  As I went to light up, the lighter lit up on the first click of the ignitor, and has continued to do so through about 2 weeks of constant use.  I must say, with a pricepoint of $16.99, this lighter has so far proven to be a welcomed addition to my cigar accesories arsenal.  I know now where I plan to buy all my future lighters from.  Butane Lighters Wholesale shipped promptly, the package was well put together, and the product has worked flawlessly.  The Ronson Jetlite has always been my lighter of choice, but given the low price point and great construction of this lighter, the Jobon single flame lighter has now found its way into my everyday use.  I want to thank Aaron of www.butanelighterswholesale for providing me with this lighter for review.  I look forward to many future purchases from him, and if anyone is looking for a great price on great quality lighters, be sure to make www.butanelighterswholesale.com your first stop!

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!

Scott

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First things first, I have to thank Antonio Lam, the owner of Reinado cigars, for contacting me for review of his cigars.  The buzz surrounding these cigars says that this is something that I am really going to enjoy.  Nicaraguan cigars are some of my favorites, and that’s where these cigars come from!  I interact with Antonio on Twitter quite a bit, and you can find him on Twitter @reinadocigars .  I must of course by nature, add this disclosure, that Antonio did offer to send me a couple of sample sticks for review, so these were gratis, thanks to him.  As my readers know, I am always honest and forthright in my reviews, whether I buy the cigars for review, or I get them from the manufacturer.  With that being said, let’s get this rolling!

Pre-Light:  The first thing I noticed with both the cigars I was sent, as I pulled them out of the protective cellophane packaging, was that the wrapper had  a very smooth velvety feel to them.  Generally, when I get a wrapper that feels so smooth, I know I am in for a quality cigar, and a great smoking experience.  As I ran the cigar across my nose, I got that ever so familar Nicaraguan spice, but I also detected something I don’t get with most Nicaraguan sticks, a nice musty hint as well.  Reminded me a little bit of a “Sir Winston” cigar.  As I put the foot of the cigar to my nose, I got a nice Nicaraguan spice, as well as a great pure tobacco smell.  I cut the cigar with my ever so trusty Palio cutter, and lit up with my Ronson Jetlite.  Let’s see how this develops!

1/3:  As I lit up this smoke, the first thing I noticed was that the draw was a bit more snug than I was used to, but it was not deterring from the cigar at all.  The first few puffs greeted me with the typical Nicaraguan spice, along with a great barnyard flavor.  The smoke was billowing nicely, despite the tight draw, and the ash was near perfect, with a medium grey color.  I am really enjoying this cigar so far.

2/3:  As I continued on this cigar, I got some heavy hints of cedar and a slight spice tingle still remained on the tongue as I smoked it.  The ash was still holding pretty well, and the smoke was billowing nicely.  The draw was still a bit tighter than I normally like, but it was still not enough to keep from enjoying the cigar.  So far, I am impressed with the construction and flavor of the cigar.  Let’s see how it finishes up.

3/3:  I was hoping for a bit more change on the last third, perhaps a bit more spice rather than the cedar notes but that did not happen.  The flavors stayed pretty consistent, with a lot of cedar and musty flavors.  Enjoyable, but predictable.  There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you are expecting a smoke that is going to change flavors every 3 puffs, this one won’t be doing that.

Overall Impression:  Overall, I was pretty impressed by this cigar.  While it was not overly complex, and did not have a lot of flavor changes, the cedar and musty notes are always ones that I enjoy.  The Reinado is an enjoyable stick, for either an afternoon break, or perhaps even an after dinner treat.  I will be sure to have some in the humidor for regular rotation.
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CigarSnob Magazine is expanding their local edition, and it will be going national.  With that, they have a new Local Edition Editor.  Here is what CigarSnob Magazine has to say about the improvements to the magazine:

MIAMI, FL, June 9, 2011 – Starting with the July/August 2011 issue of Cigar Snob Magazine, the local edition that was previously only available to Florida subscribers and retailers will be going national.

The new supplement will have coverage of nationally relevant cigar events including product launches, grand openings, and major multi-vendor events. In addition, the local edition will contain editorial content pertinent to brick and mortar retailers. It will feature top cigar stores and lounges from all over the country, and will give cigar enthusiasts a guide to the best stores around the country.

Overseeing the new supplement will be Patrick Lagreid, who has been hired as the Local Edition Editor. Lagreid is currently the National Cigar Examiner for Examiner.com, as well as the Phoenix Cigar Examiner. In his columns, he reviews cigars and covers industry news and legislation updates, provides coverage of local events, and interviews people in the cigar industry.

“I’m pleased to announce the hiring of Patrick Lagreid to oversee this exciting supplement that I know will add value to the magazine and be of benefit to our readers at both the retail and consumer level,” said Erik Calviño, Cigar Snob’s publisher and editor.

Lagreid added that, “I’m extremely excited to join Erik Calviño and the Cigar Snob team as we add a whole new level of value to an already great magazine. There are so many outstanding retailers across the country, and through this new supplement, I look forward to showcasing them, their stores, and the positive impact they are having on their customers and communities.”

While work has already begun on the contents of the initial edition of the new supplement, Calviño and Lagreid will be meeting with manufacturers and retailers at the upcoming International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers trade show and conference in Las Vegas in mid-July. Cigar Snob will have a booth at the show, and invites all attendees to stop by and learn more about this new project.

Cigar Snob Magazine is also known for its premier event, the Cigar Snob Marathon, which has been held in five areas – Miami, Broward County, Tampa, Atlanta, and Phoenix – and takes cigar enthusiasts on a daylong trip of the top cigar stores in each area, giving away thousands of dollars’ worth of cigars and merchandise during the event.

Cigar Snob Magazine is published by Lockstock Publications. For more information, please visit www.CigarSnobMag.com.

For more information on this exciting new addition to Cigar Snob Magazine, contact:

Erik Calviño

Publisher/Editor, Cigar Snob Magazine

ecalvino@cigarsnobmag.com

786-309-7130

Patrick Lagreid

Local Edition Editor, Cigar Snob Magazine

plagreid@cigarsnobmag.com

206-850-6671

We wish the crew at CigarSnob Magazine the best of luck with the new venture, and can’t wait to see it out in my neck of the woods!

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!

Scott

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Anyone that follows this blog, or the ramblings of this insane cigar smoker, knows I regularly post on twitter and facebook.  One of the guys I have the pleasure of regularly interacting with, Skip Martin (@chiefhava on twitter), has come about with a new collaboration between himself and the crew at Adrian’s Cigars, to develop a new cigar that has sort of become a twitter phenomenon.  Alot of us in the twitter cigar community have heard the buzz surrounding these cigars.  This was partly due to the samplers that @chiefhava was sending to the cigar community on twitter, and partly due to the fact that they had been talked up by the people who had gotten these samplers.  Another added poke to this was that Skip was contstantly posting pictures of these cigars as he smoked them, thus taunting us cigar smokers with them.  Well, I finally got the chance to order myself some of his smokes.  I couldn’t decide between the sampler pack they offer, which gives the buyer one cigar in each vitola, or a 5 pack of the Knuckle Dragger, which would give me 5 of the same cigar.  Ultimately I decided on the Knuckle Dragger 5 pack, in order to give my readers a review of this particular vitola.

Pre-Light:  I pulled this cigar out of the cello, the first thing that caught my eye was how the wrapper was filled with oils, and had a great shine and sheen to it.  As I looked over the cigar, I didn’t notice any veins in the cigar, and it appeared to be wrapped very nicely.  I clipped this cigar with my trusty Palio cutter, and lit up with my Ronson Jetlite.  Let’s see how this one treats me!

1/3:  As I start on this cigar, the first couple of puffs offer a blast of hot pepper spice, with some cayenne notes.  As I continued through the first few puffs, the spice developed into a nice coffee, leather and wood note, with the pepper and spiciness making itself known on the retrohale.  The ash is a solid mass of grey, and the smoke is billowing nicely.  There is a ton of flavorful smoke coming from this cigar, and with the combination of flavors I am getting, I’m loving it!

2/3:  As I continued on this cigar, the ash is still holding firmly.  It’s holding on well enough that I was able to stand the cigar up on it’s ash, without it falling over.  Talk about impeccable construction!  As I continued on this portion of the cigar, the spice diminshed, and a pronounced flavor of coffee and leather made itself known, with a slight floral note when retrohaled.  Overall, at this point, the complexity of flavors, coupled with the incredible burn, and slow smoke time have made for an incredible smoke.  So far, this cigar is easily making my box purchase list, and if it continues the way it’s going, it will be pushed up to the top of the list!

3/3:  As I got to the end of this cigar, I was disspointed in myself for having bought the smaller vitola.  While the smoke itself lasted just over an hour for me, I couldn’t help be want more of it when I was nubbing it.  I smoked it down to the nub, and then some.  I got to the point where my fingers were burning, and my lips were burning.  The flavors were mostly the coffee and leather flavors, with a mix of floral and peppery spice all the way until the end.  I was really bummed to see this thing end!

Overall Impression:  Overall, this cigar made it’s way to the top of my “must buy a box” purchase list.  All the others I had on there have taken a back seat to this cigar.  The construction was impeccable, and flavors were complex and incredible.  I have to say that Adrian’s cigars and Hava Cigar Shop have hit an awesome home run with this cigar.  I can’t wait until I can pickup a cube of these smokes for my regular rotation!

For anyone looking to purchase these, the easiest way to do so is through the Hava Cigar Shop at www.havacigarshop.com .  That’s what I did, and will continue to do.  Speaking of which, where did I put that credit card?

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!
Scott

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Image Courtesy of www.samlecciacigarco.com

Those of you that read this blog, or follow me on Twitter know that I don’t hide the fact that I’ve been a huge Nub/Cain Cigar fan since their inception.  The man originally behind these cigars was Sam Leccia.  While he did leave Oliva, it appears as though he’s started up his own cigar company.  Many people knew it was only a matter of time before this happened.  You can find Sam on Twitter (@samleccia), or on Facebook.  I wish Sam the best of luck with this new venture, and being a long time fan of his work, I can’t wait to smoke his new creation, “Debut”.  Here is the press release from Sam about his new project:

For Immediate Release

May 24, 2011

Sam Leccia “Debut”

It is with great pleasure we announce the return of one of the most creative minds the

cigar industry has known.  Sam Leccia is back with his newest creation and what looks to

be the years most anticipated cigar.  The Sam Leccia Cigar Company

(www.samlecciacigarco.com) proudly presents Sam’s “Debut”, a fitting name for

Leccia’s solo release.

The cigar nation embraces Leccia like a rock star for the passion and originality he brings

to the business.

“This is the most exciting time of my life.  I look forward to sharing with you, my

Debut.”- Sam Leccia

Sam Leccia’s “Debut” is a twist of Nicaragua, Honduras, Ecuador and Santo Domingo

tobaccos blended together to give a unique smoking experience. Sam’s “Debut” will be

available in 3 sizes: Double Rob 5×60, Double Church 7×60, Figurado 6 ½x52.

The marketing genius and mad science approach of Sam Leccia has audiences excited

about his newest creation the “Debut”.

For pre-orders and general inquiries contact SamsDebut@SamLecciaCigarCo.com

For Immediate ReleaseMay 24, 2011Sam Leccia “Debut”It is with great pleasure we announce the return of one of the most creative minds the cigar industry has known.  Sam Leccia is back with his newest creation and what looks to be the years most anticipated cigar.  The Sam Leccia Cigar Company (www.samlecciacigarco.com) proudly presents Sam’s “Debut”, a fitting name for Leccia’s solo release. The cigar nation embraces Leccia like a rock star for the passion and originality he brings to the business.“This is the most exciting time of my life.  I look forward to sharing with you, my Debut.”- Sam LecciaSam Leccia’s “Debut” is a twist of Nicaragua, Honduras, Ecuador and Santo Domingo tobaccos blended together to give a unique smoking experience. Sam’s “Debut” will be available in 3 sizes: Double Rob 5×60, Double Church 7×60, Figurado 6 ½x52. The marketing genius and mad science approach of Sam Leccia has audiences excited about his newest creation the “Debut”.For pre-orders and general inquiries contact SamsDebut@SamLecciaCigarCo.com

Wishing Sam the best of luck!
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Per General Cigar, it looks like one of their popular cigars, the Macanudo 1968 is taking a price cut.  In an uncertain economy, price cuts are a welcome thing in to fellow cigar aficianados.  Here is what General Cigar has to say about the price cut:

GENERAL CIGAR ROLLS BACK PRICE OF MACANUDO 1968

Richmond, VA—General Cigar announces today that the company is reducing the price of all Macanudo 1968 cigars, representing an average price savings of more than $3.33 per cigar, and an average cost savings of more than $32.00 per box.

The new pricing of Macanudo 1968 is currently being made available exclusively at brick and mortar retailers across the U.S.

Bill Chilian, director of marketing commented, “Since the debut of Macanudo 1968 in August of 2008, the brand has enjoyed critical acclaim and has received high praise from brick and mortar retailers across the country.  We recognize that Macanudo 1968 is a strong product with tremendous potential and decided to revise the pricing structure to make the brand accessible to a broader range of cigar enthusiasts.”

Under the new pricing structure, Macanudo 1968 Churchill (7” x 49) will now be available for $7.69 per cigar or $153.80 per 20-count box (previous price was $10.00 per cigar or $200 per box). Macanudo 1968 Toro (6” x 54) will now carry an SRP of $7.49 or $149.80 per box (previous price was $9.50 per cigar, or $190.00 per box).

At 5” x 50, the Robusto frontmark (5” x 50) will now retail for $6.49 per cigar, with a box price of $129.80 (previous price was $8.50 per cigar and $170.00 per box).  Rounding out the collection is Macanudo 1968 Gigante (6” x 60) which will now cost $7.99 apiece or $159.80 per box (previous price was $11.00 per cigar, or with a box price of $220.

About Macanudo 1968

Macanudo 1968 is made completely of tobaccos which are either grown by General Cigar or cultivated for the company under an agreement of exclusivity.  Harvested one sun-ripened leaf at a time, aged in tercios and charcoaled wooden barrels to further enrich its flavor, the blend marries proprietary Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco to a tobacco cultivated solely for General Cigar in the remote Nicaraguan island of Ometepe. These tobaccos were developed expressly to complement the hearty Connecticut Habano binder and flawless, lustrous Honduran San Agustin wrapper.

Macanudo 1968 is aesthetically pleasing, with the brand’s characteristic round head and immaculate construction evident at the first glance. From the first draw to the last, deeply complex yet balanced flavor envelops the palate with a freshness that celebrates inherent natural sweetness from the soils that bore each tobacco.

About General Cigar

General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo, Cohiba®,  La Gloria Cubana®, Punch®, CAO®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.

®  Macanudo, Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, CAO, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

# # #

GENERAL CIGAR ROLLS BACK PRICE OF MACANUDO 1968
Richmond, VA—General Cigar announces today that the company is reducing the price of all Macanudo 1968 cigars, representing an average price savings of more than $3.33 per cigar, and an average cost savings of more than $32.00 per box.
The new pricing of Macanudo 1968 is currently being made available exclusively at brick and mortar retailers across the U.S.
Bill Chilian, director of marketing commented, “Since the debut of Macanudo 1968 in August of 2008, the brand has enjoyed critical acclaim and has received high praise from brick and mortar retailers across the country.  We recognize that Macanudo 1968 is a strong product with tremendous potential and decided to revise the pricing structure to make the brand accessible to a broader range of cigar enthusiasts.”
Under the new pricing structure, Macanudo 1968 Churchill (7” x 49) will now be available for $7.69 per cigar or $153.80 per 20-count box (previous price was $10.00 per cigar or $200 per box). Macanudo 1968 Toro (6” x 54) will now carry an SRP of $7.49 or $149.80 per box (previous price was $9.50 per cigar, or $190.00 per box).  At 5” x 50, the Robusto frontmark (5” x 50) will now retail for $6.49 per cigar, with a box price of $129.80 (previous price was $8.50 per cigar and $170.00 per box).  Rounding out the collection is Macanudo 1968 Gigante (6” x 60) which will now cost $7.99 apiece or $159.80 per box (previous price was $11.00 per cigar, or with a box price of $220.
About Macanudo 1968Macanudo 1968 is made completely of tobaccos which are either grown by General Cigar or cultivated for the company under an agreement of exclusivity.  Harvested one sun-ripened leaf at a time, aged in tercios and charcoaled wooden barrels to further enrich its flavor, the blend marries proprietary Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco to a tobacco cultivated solely for General Cigar in the remote Nicaraguan island of Ometepe. These tobaccos were developed expressly to complement the hearty Connecticut Habano binder and flawless, lustrous Honduran San Agustin wrapper.
Macanudo 1968 is aesthetically pleasing, with the brand’s characteristic round head and immaculate construction evident at the first glance. From the first draw to the last, deeply complex yet balanced flavor envelops the palate with a freshness that celebrates inherent natural sweetness from the soils that bore each tobacco.
About General CigarGeneral Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo, Cohiba®,  La Gloria Cubana®, Punch®, CAO®, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.
®  Macanudo, Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, CAO, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

I look forward to seeing this reduction, and am now going to be on the hunt for some of the 1968′s.  I have only had a couple of these cigars, but remember enjoying them quite a bit.  I will hopefully be reviewing this cigar shortly.

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy em if you Don’t!
Scott

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So a while back, I was perusing twitter, and came across @czarofcigar (Larry Good of Charlotte Cigars).  Larry is working on a new cigar venture, a premium cigar company made from Costa Rican Tobacco, called Buena Vista Cigars.  The cigar for this review is the smaller one of the 9 vitolas they offer, which comes in at 52×4.25″.  Let’s see how this one faired for me.

Pre-Light:  As I took a look at the box and bands on this cigar, I can’t help but be amazed.  The box is beautiful.  A nice pinkish/purple color, with an embossed logo on the top of the box, felt covered bottom of the box, with the BTF logo stamped directly into the hinges of the box.  This box alone had to cost a pretty penny.  It’s a perfectly contstructed  hard wooden box, that is cedar lined.  So far, judging by the box alone, the detail in the packaging is very apparent.  As I pull a cigar out of the box, first thing I notice are the two shiny bands on the cigar, one at the standard location near the head, and another band wrapping the foot.  The cigar itself appears to be rolled with meticulous care, with no major veins and a very smooth velvety wrapper.  I clipped the cigar with my ever so trusty Palio cutter, and lit up with my Ronson Jetlite.  The cigar lit up effortlessly, so here we go!

1/3:  As I started on this cigar, First thing I noticed was the draw was just about perfect.  Not too much resistance, but just enough to make an enjoyable smoke.  The smoke coming from the cigar was billowing nicely.  The flavors on the first portion of the cigar were some smooth barnyard flavors, with a touch of carmel-like sweetness.  The ash is compacted nicely, and holding firm.  On retrohale, I got a slight amount of pepper, with some mocha flavors mixed in.  So far, I’m enjoying this cigar very much.  I started smoking it at about 7:30am, and I found it made a perfect cigar with some french pressed coffee at this point.

2/3:  As I continued on this cigar, the ash still held pretty firm, but I decided to knock it off, as I didn’t want it land in my lap.  I’m a little paranoid that way.  So far, the cigar is burning great, and the construction is top notch.  I am still getting nice carmel notes, with a little bit of spice and pepper flavors on the retrohale.  One flavor that did make itself known was a slight cedar note, that would appear, then disappear without warning.  Nice to have hints of lots of different notes in this cigar so far.

3/3:  As I approached the final portion of the cigar, it stayed pretty consistent, with lots of carmel and sweetness, along with barnyard flavors.  The smoke is still billowing, and the draw is near perfect.  The cigar itself is burning pretty straight, and it very enjoyable for a morning smoke.  I’m enjoying this cigar, but I don’t find it to be overly powerful.  Seems like it’s going pretty well, and would make a great fit for a morning smoke anytime!

Overall Impression:  Overall, I was pretty impressed with this cigar.  It was beautifully constructed, and smoked great.  The flavors I got out of it were impressive.  I would classify this as a great morning smoke.  I tend to smoke heavier stuff as the day progresses, but I can see the Buena Vista cigar line becoming a regular morning smoke for me, depending on price point of course.  As of this writing, I am unsure of what the price point will be like.  Being that the cigars come in very high class boxes of 10 cigars, I am going to guess, they probably will not be inexpensive.  I could be wrong on this point, but I can only hope their price point does not push them out of competition.  If they are a reasonably priced smoke, I could see myself smoking them regularly.  Overall, I really enjoyed this cigar, and I am glad I have a few more left to smoke!

Smoke Em If you Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t !

Scott

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First things first, I have to thank my good friend Paul (@StogeyBogey on twitter).  I had heard a lot of great things about the Curivari line, and was axious to try them.  Before I knew it, I had a box with a great selection of Curivari sticks.  One thing I noticed was he sent me a few of these Gloria De Leon’s, as opposed to one of each of the other blends.  This told me he was looking for me to review this particular stick, and after talking with him about this, my suspicions were confirmed.  So, I have smoked a few of these samples, and I now have a few under my belt, to where I feel comfortable typing up a review.  That being said, let’s see how this goes!

Pre-Light:  As I roll this cigar around in my fingers, the first thing I noticed is that the wrap on the cigar is pretty much perfect.  No major veins, and the wrapper felt velvety smooth.  The cigar itself is densely packed with tobacco.  I clipped this cigar with my Palio cutter and lit up with my trusty Ronson Jetlite.  I ran the cigar across my nose, and got nice hints of pure tobacco, with some raisin like sweetness on the foot.  Loving the smells I get off of this thing.  Let’s see how it smokes!

1/3:  As I lit up this cigar, the first thing I noticed was that the draw, while a little airy, was just about perfect, with tons of smoke volume.  The first few puffs greeted me with some sweet raisin notes, and some nice leather and wood flavors.  The burn is great, and the ash is fairly solid, with a little flaking.  So far, with the flavors I am getting, and the smoke volume that’s coming from this stick, I am enjoying it quite a bit.  The cigar at this point is burning very cool, and not charring my mouth as I smoke, like a lot of the smaller cigars tend to do, since I am a fairly fast smoker.

2/3:  As I continued on this cigar the sweetness really made itself known, with a serious spice underlay that was really nice on retrohale.  The ash was knocked off, fairly easily, and the smoke is still billowing nicely.  I am really enjoying all the flavors of this cigar, and it’s burning great.  So far, this cigar is on my “box purchase list”.

3/3:  As I finised up this cigar, the sweetness, with a little black pepper creeped up on me.  At this point, I really don’t want this cigar to be over, and I am really enjoying the complexity of this cigar.  The construction at this point is top notch, and I am loving the flavors coming from this smoke.  Unless something changes drastically between now and the end of the cigar, it’s definitely a box purchase!

Overall Impression:  Overall, this cigar is GREAT.  If all of the Curivari line is as good as this smoke, I will be buying multiple boxes of their product.  I loved the cigar, and I am glad I still have a couple left in my humidor to smoke.  This one, while not really well known, and not one of the “big players”, should be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys a complex, medium-full cigar.

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!

Scott

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So, unless you are living under a rock, you have noticed on facebook, twitter, and the internet world, that there have been a few cigar festivals around the nation.  Most notably, the Texas Cigar Fest by Serious Cigars, and Cigarfest being put on by Cigars International.  After some research, it became apparent that there was no such cigar festival of any real note in the Southern California area.  What I would like to know is, what are some important things to have at cigar festivals?  The idea behind this came from two friends of mine Nick of Nick’s Cigar Nest here in Redlands, Ca, and Dave who owns a promotions company that does lighting and effects for events.  They were discussing things, and decided to possibly put on a Southern California cigar festival with possibilities of food, craft beer, and of course CIGARS!  What I want from my readers is a little feedback.  What would you like to see at a Southern California Cigar festival?  We will of course work on getting cigar and accessory manufacturers to have space setup with cigars to smoke, and product to check out.  We were also thinking of having the event in the parking lot of a local craft brewery, with beer tastings as well.  So, here’s what I need.  I need my readers in the so cal area to tell me what they think would make a great event.  We are looking for everything to total cost for the tickets, down to every detail of things you would like to see at an event like this.  I thank you all in advance for your participation in this, and will forward any and all comments to Dave and Nick who are interested in putting this thing on!

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!

Scott

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For those of you that have been reading my blog for a while, know that I am a HUGE fan of the Nub cigar, and I really enjoyed the Cain line that Sam Leccia and Oliva came out with a while back.  I am still bummed that Sam is no longer with the company, but everyone moves on at some point, and I wish him nothing but the best in any future endeavors!  When I heard Studio Tobac was coming out with the Cain Daytona, which is supposed to be a Cain cigar, with straight ligero, but focused more on flavor complexity rather than strength, I was very excited!  As much as I liked the regular Cain line, I did find that the standard Cain line was very focused on strength, and not so much on flavor.  Before I smoked any of these, being that I was intrigued by the Cain Daytona, I looked at a few reviews on the web.  This fueled the fire even more to find these.  I made a stop at one of my local shops recently, just to pick up a commute cigar.  As I walked into their humidor, I saw the Cain Daytona, and they were priced great!  Naturally, I picked up a few, and smoked one as my commute cigar, immediately.  The other two I smoked randomly throughout my work days.  Anyway, let’s see how the new Cain Daytona faired in my mind!

Pre-Light:  As I took a look at this cigar, and rolled it in my finger tips, the first thing I noticed was that the wrapper was flawless, with no major veins, and it was velvety smooth.  I loved the attention to detail in this cigar.  It was packed very well, and rolled VERY well, as I have found is typical with the whole Cain/Nub line.  I ran the cigar across my nose, and got some very nice spice and some cedar and wood notes.  I clipped the cigar with my trusty Palio cutter, and lit up with my Ronson Jetlite.  Let’s see how this goes!

1/3:  As I started in on this cigar, the first thing I noticed was that while the first few puffs had some punch and spice to them, the cigar was not near as powerful as the Cain and Cain F lines.  I got some great cedar flavors, with black and white pepper flavors.  I also got a slight bit of sweetness, almost a carmel flavor, that didn’t linger too long, but I did notice it.  The smoke was billowing nicely, and the ash was solid.  I am really enjoying the complexity of flavors coming from this cigar, and the construction is top notch.

2/3:  As I continued on this cigar, the sweet carmel flavor became a bit more pronounced, but still did not linger on the tongue much.  The pepper spice picked up quite a bit at this portion of the cigar.  The ash was knocked off earlier, just so I would not get the ash all over myself.  The cigar is burning perfectly, with no real issues to note.  The draw is great, as is most of the Cain/Nub line.  At this point, I am seriously considering a box purchase.  Those of you who know me, know that a cigar has to be VERY good in order for my to consider a box purchase.  We shall see if this cigar continues to live up to it’s “box worthiness”.

3/3:  As I finised up this cigar, the carmel sweetness went back into the background and the pepper spice, with cedar notes made itself more prominent as I was finishing up.  The ash was still holding on decently, and I was knocking it off every 1/2″ or so.  The burn is still going great, and I am still REALLY enjoying the flavors of this cigar.

Overall Impression:  If you can’t tell by reading the prior paragraphs, I was VERY impressed with this cigar.  I went into it with an open mind, but as I mentioned earlier, I am a fanboi of the Nub/Cain line, and this Cain Daytona did not dissapoint me!  I am already on the hunt for a box, but in the meantime, I am glad I have found a local retailer that carries them at a decent price point.  I highly recommend this cigar, and if you are a fan of what Studio Tobac and the Nub/Cain/Oliva crew are doing here, BUY SOME!  They are great, and are a cigar I could easily smoke daily.

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!
Scott

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