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Cuenca y Blanco - Lonsdale

2013-03-20T20:28:00.000-04:00

Tale of the Tape:

Brand: Joya De Nicaragua
Series: Cuenca y Blanco
Vitola: Lonsdale
Size: 6 1/2"
Ring Gauge: 44
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Nicaragua & Peru
Cigars Smoked for Review: 1

An offering from Joya De Nicaragua; the Cuenca y Blanco is the latest release from the Nicaraguan masters. The cigar is a blend that comes from the joint efforts of JdN President, Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca and new Vice President, Jose Blanco. Blanco is well known in the industry after spending some two decades at La Aurora.

JdN's press release gave a lot of information on the cigar. So here is it in their own words.

"Departing from Joya de Nicaragua’s traditional puros of all Nicaraguan tobaccos, the Cuenca y Blanco had been blended to be a cigar comprised of air-cured black tobaccos from four different countries of origin. This unique recipe is handmade with aged filler tobaccos including Habano Seed lead from Nicaragua’s Estelí Valley and the volcanic isle of Omtempe, Piloto Cubano from the La Canela region of the Dominican Republic and an aromatic visa from Peru’s famed Tarapoto region. The cigar is expertly finished in a beautiful Grade 1 Ecuador Habano wrapper. This complex blend is the fruit of nearly a year of ceaseless experimentation and has resulted in a very flavor smoke with a tantalizing aroma."

I may be one of the luckiest smokers out there, in that I have a small cigar shop 200 yards from my front door. There isn't a lounge or a huge selection; but they keep a pretty sweet selection. That being said, I knew the blogosphere was buzzin' about this CyB (Cuenca y Blanco) by JdN (Joya de Nicaragua).and I saw a fresh box at my local shop. Surprised the little shop picked up such a 'hot' item so quickly I jumped at the chance to try it.

First Third:

The cigar is extremely mild but tasty. It doesn't have any predominant flavor that I can pick up, but there are nutty and woody notes. haha woody. As the cigar burns it starts to pick up a little bit of body, but it is definitely milder than anything in JdN's collection (I haven't smoked the Clasico). At this point I'm a little disappointed, but I guess they are going for something completely different with this line.

Second Third:

The second third is much better than the first. I've now accepted the fact that this is a mild-medium smoke and I"m not getting a full-bodied experience this go-round. But its still just a medium bodied smoke with no remarkable flavor profile. The cigar is requires a little touch up, but nothing crazy; I picked up my lighter twice. The retrohale and resting smoke has a sweet aroma to it; the flavor profile is dominated by nutty flavors and a little bit of earthy notes.

Last Third:

The final third redeems the cigar. Honestly, this cigar was a bit of a disappointment for my taste. There is a time and place for mild-medium cigars - you know - sunday morning after a light breakfast, sipping a coffee. But as a smoker that loves full-bodied and full-flavored smokes, the CyB just isn't my cup of tea. The cigar is well balanced and smooth; its well-made and while it might not be my style - it might be your favorite. So give it a try.

Final Thoughts and Grade:

The cigar is well-made and a balanced, smooth mild-medium stogie.
I'm going to try this in a larger ring gauge. The 44 ring on this Lonsdale leads to the Dominican wrapper carrying this smoke. I'm usually a fan of small ring gauges but I'd be interested to smoke this in a larger ring gauge to get more of the filler flavor.
While I wasn't blown away by this smoke, its interesting to see Jose Blanco's influence on JdN. I can't wait to see their next offering.
JdN is solid on quality and consistency, the CyB could be a favorite for medium smokers out there

B - 80 points

The cigar gets top notch ratings on quality, craftsmanship and balance. The lower ratings pertained to my personal preferences of flavor and body

Oliva V Serie - Melanio Blend - Petit Corona

2013-03-19T22:56:00.000-04:00

Tale of the Tape:
Brand: Oliva
Series: Melnio - Series V
Vitola: Petit Corona
Size: 4 1/2"
Ring Gauge: 46
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian grown Sumatran
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Cigars Smoked for Review: 2

The Melanio
This is no regular Serie V. Oliva is known for quality and consistency at a fair price. The Serie V is one of the most solid go-to cigars on the market. A true full bodied, full flavored smoke. Personally, I don't care for the Serie V, but I respect the cigar. I realize the quality and value in the Serie V, but the cigar is just a bit much for my taste and always leaves me with a dizzying nicotine buzz.

The Melanio, is a cigar that stands on its own; no Serie V connection needed to prop up its credentials. Named after Gilberto Oliva's grandfather, the cigar is a tribute to the man that the Oliva family can trace their tobacco heritage back to.

As I mentioned, the normal Serie V cigars are not my cup of tea. They are great cigars, and its hard to beat them at the price they are offered at; but I don't smoke many because they are just too much. Don't get me wrong, I am a full cigar smoker, but I reach for other stogies more often than not. But with all the fanfare surrounding the Melanio, I had no choice but to give it a try.

I picked up the Petit Corona. 4 1/2" X 46 ring; a size I enjoy.. The wrapper is smooth and a medium dark brown hue. A few visible veins, but otherwise smooth to the touch. The construction is flawless, from appearance to last puff. A razor's edge burn that requires no touch ups.

The first half of the cigar is surprisingly milder than the normal Series V. Leaning toward medium on a medium-full scale; the cigar is smooth and creamy. Slightly sweet with a little pepper on the lips, the smoke is aromatic and I taste hints of coffee and burnt cedar. From what I understand, Oliva chose its most aged tobaccos for the blend, and the subtle sweetness of the Ecuadorian Sumatran shines through. The filler and binder are Nicaraguan and it is obvious that the Melanio blend is more than just a Serie V with a Sumatran wrapper.

The draw is a tad tight; but the smoke production is adequate. Usually a tight draw will ruin a cigar for me, but the ample amount of smoke keeps me from having to strain to smoke it. It is truly a non-issue. In fact it resulted in a slow burn; keeping the cigar cool and releasing a lot of flavor and nuances in the blend.

The second half of the Melanio keeps that smooth and creaminess to it. There is a peanut taste that is really enjoyable and seems to be the predominant flavor of the cigar. The cigar takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to smoke; a considerable amount of time for such a small stick.

As the cigar moves to its last 1 1/2" it never gets harsh like a lot stogies. The sweetness slowly morphs into a peppery spice , but it is not a main feature of the smoke. I know I mentioned it before, but this cigar is smooth. This cigar is easy to smoke and stays cool throughout. Not super-complex, but a lot of little nuances that make it an interesting smoke. Hands down a good cigar. I really want to try the figurado size and see how it stacks up.

Final Thoughts and Grade

Smooth tasty cigar with a slightly restricted draw that keeps the cigar cool and slow
Different from the normal Serie V line in many ways - still a lot nicotine in Oliva's tobacco
Aromatic and tasty - a lot of depth to the flavors
Leans towards medium body in a medium full profile
Great value at $7.50 - my new favorite Oliva - will buy and smoke many more

A - 91.5 points

Tatuaje Avion - Short Perfecto Update Smoke

2013-02-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

Tatuaje - Avion Update
Winter Thoughts - Feedback Time
Its the dead of winter a glimpse of the sun had me wishing it was warm out. But no fear...spring is right around the corner and with that......smoking weather!
Here is a picture of me enjoying a cigar or at the end of last summer. I was smoking a Pete Johnson made, Avion Short Perfecto. I'm a fan of most of Pete's creations; but the Avion left me a little.....unsatisfied. Read the original review here (Avion Short Perfecto).

So, as I mentioned, my first experience with the Avion left a bad taste in my mouth; literally. I chalked it up as a fluke; a bad seed, a young smoke in need of aging. Almost 6 months of aging later and I don't think the Avion was made for my palette.

A beauty of a perfecto, ballooning from 48 to 52 ring gauge and a length of 5 5/8"; the construction is drop-dead gorgeous. The wrapper is smooth; curves tight and sexy. The nipple...well, its a nice nipple.
Just like the my first go-round, the Avion burned evenly; a considerable feat for a semi-boxpressed perfecto vitola.

The cigar isn't bad. It just isn't for me. I liked it a bit more after 6 months in my humi. There was a little more fermentation and its done some good things for the cigar. My main complaint about the first Avion was its lack of complexity. Originally, this cigar was a bland one-trick pony; now its got a little more character. The cigar still only has two main stages, and the flavors just seemed muffled. An odd choice for flavor description, but it seems like there is potential that just won't come out.

I've got two more in the humidor. We'll see how another two months does one of these stogies. In the $10-$12 range there are just too many great cigars for the Avion to even be considered a good smoke. If looks were the only measure of a quality cigar; she'd take awards left and right.

But don't let me be the judge for you. Perhaps its just not my flavor profile. The cigar is a mix of hickory and smoked meats. It has a chewy mouth-feel with a tired volume of taste. With such a beautiful roll and sexy curves, this girl is going to let her Avions marinate a bit longer before she throws in the towel.

As the weather warms, more cigars shall be smoked. My favorite place to be is on my rooftop, tanning- stogie and note pad in hand.

Its like Pete is the parent of a seemingly intelligent child that has the looks to charm. So eager to see how smart the kid really is, he enrolled the kid a year early in school, only to have his experiment held up in the front office paper work.
Its worth a try, as I said the construction is impeccable, and your B&M's box probably has a few months rest on it now.
Quick Review Grade - Incomplete (cigar sent back to humidor for being to young)

Hot Girl Of the Day: BATMAN!

2012-12-30T02:07:00.002-05:00

De ne de ne de ne de ne, de ne de ne de ne de ne....Boobies, I mean Batman! With headlights like that, Gotham could have saved some money on their Bat Signal Electric Bill. Bruce Wayne is no playboy like Tony Stark (IronMan), but he is rich bachelor. The new boobies bat signal would settle Robin's sexuality question very quickly. He'd either show up, ready to fight crime, saying, damn Batman, did you see that bat signal. Or he'd show up complaining that it wasn't bright enough to see and that the girl is a tramp. That is all , you be the judge.

Illusione CG4 - Corona Gorda

2012-12-30T02:00:00.002-05:00

Illusione CG4
I've never been disappointed in an Illusione product. They've got that new-school edge with old-school attention to quality.
The CG4 is a Corona Gorda; one of my favorite vitolas for any cigar; its just a great length with a ring-gauge that highlights the blend and the wrapper leaf equally . The CG meaning Corona Gorda, the 4 a reference to the 4 horseman of the apocalypse. Just a little more of that dark Illusione imagery. That dark imagery all the new brands use.
When are they going to put a 'Sunshine and bubblegum' brand on the market. With such cigars as the 'Feel Good', 'Long Walk on the Beach Cigar', but I digress.
Dark imagery seems to be a winning formula for the likes of Tatuaje, Illusione, Room 101.....there are more, I just can't think of them at the moment.

Initial Thoughts
The cigar looks great. Well-made, a smooth wrapper leaf, seamless and flawless. A firm spongy, yet full feel throughout the cigar is a sure sign of freshness and nice tobacco distribution. However, one thing caught my attention enough that its worth noting....the wrapper leaf was a very light shade. Supposedly Nicaraguan wrapper leaf, this thing could have passed for a Connecticut Shade. It just looked mild. A little rugged, but mild all the same. If my memory serves me correct the CG4's I've smoked in the past had a darker hue to the leaf. Not a maduro dark, just a typical Nicaraguan wrapper color. Generally, I don't have much to say in the color dept. of Nicaraguan wrapper leaves, but this one was so damn light it bothered me.
Aroma
The cigar had a grassy, hay-like scent on the foot prior to lighting it. The cigar itself also had a hay smell to it, with a little sting of pepper and strong tobacco.
Once lit the resting smoke was slightly peppery with a creaminess to it. The retrohale was creamy and a little sweet. The cigar's aroma didn't vary much, but picked up some spice towards the end.
Smoking it
As with most Illusione products, the cigar burnt well. No need for touch ups; the cigar burned even and smooth. But that is where my expectation of Illusione and the reality of the cigar in my hand stopped being a match.
Two years ago, even just a year ago, Illusiones were complex cigars that evolved throughout the smoke. This CG4, while good by any standard, did not meet what I've come to expect from Illusione. The flavor profile was rather one-dimensional. I tasted a little spice on the front end and some sweetness halfway in. But a hay, aka barnyard flavor reigned as the predominant flavor throughout.
I enjoyed the cigar and by no means did I dislike it, but it failed to meet my expectations of what an Illusione should bring to the table.

Decline of the Wonder Brands
The cigar, while possibly a fluke is a sad testament to what I've noticed as a trend with some newer success story brands. Basically these new 'edgy' brands that took smokers by storm in the past 4 or 5 years came out with limited offerings that people couldn't get enough of. With such demand, it is only logical (and smart business) to extend your offerings. The problem with going from a few things you're really good at to a bunch of things that you are unproven at, is that quality seems to suffer. There is only so much good tobacco you can get your hands on, and when you've got to fill orders, you may pick up a batch of tobacco you may have passed on at an earlier time.
I'm no hater. More power to these guys. I admire their business acumen and ability to work the industry. But I hope some of them put enough cash in their pockets to stop the paper chase and get back to their roots. Make stogies that you're proud of. Make stogies that you would personally guarantee is as good as any cigar you've ever made. There are enough fan-boys and ass-kissing bloggers out there to keep these guys blind to the faults in their ways, but time cures all, and this ailment is no different.
Guys like Pete Johnson (Tatuaje, and a million others now) and Matt Booth (Room 101) hit this industry at the right time and found a lucrative niche that has changed the industry. I pray these guys (no one in particular, as Matt Booth has not done this, I'm speaking 'guys' in a very general sense) let their love of a good stogie with their brand on it take precedence over having 8 brands of mediocre cigars that are forgettable.
Yeah, every new brand will get the fanfare because your original cigars were un-frickin-believable, but mediocre cigars can only ride the coattails of your original success before they shred up your jacket and ruin all the goodwill you created and deserve.

The Fall of the Epernay
The Epernay (the 'medium' Illusione offering which received rave reviews and even a spot CigarAficianados Top 25 list) was a fantastic cigar. Tons of flavor, great craftmanship (althought craftmanship is never really an issue with regards to the topic at hand) - all around a great cigar. But after the first 2 or 3 shipments my local B&M received, the cigar was not the same. It tasted different, had a different shade wrapper; it was a different cigar in my opinion. Illusione had pulled a bait and switch. They probably made a shit-ton of money riding the coattails of the high quality cigar they had originally sold under that name. To this day, an Epernay is not a true Epernay. Say what you will. Thats my opinion. Also see Nestor Miranda, Coffee Break.

Overall
The CG4 I smoked disappointed me for many of the reasons I wrote about above. Illusione is still in the early stages of over-extension and it can be stopped and managed. They have enough solid stogies with good names to keep them a main player. They don't need new cigars to increase sales, they need to keep at what they do best. Its better to be the master of one thing then ok at a bunch of things. Poor analogy, but you catch my drift.
This CG4 was lackluster and no where near the quality of the CG4s I smoked 1-2 years ago. Its like, they put out an initial run of cigars that are to die for then once the really good tobacco runs out they buy the next best thing (which isn't comparable) and hope no one notices.

Grade: C+

Joya De Nicaragua - Antano 1970 - Machito

2012-10-31T21:03:00.002-04:00

Joya De Nicaragua - Machito
After a long week of work I stopped by the smoke shop right next to my house. (I know, lucky right) A few bucks in my pocket and an itch for a quick smoke I grabbed the Machito. I am very familiar with the Antano 1970 series and have smoked a lot of these in various sizes. They are a great go-to smoke and consistent in quality and flavor.

The Machito is the embodiment of what you want in a short quick smoke. 4 3/4" is the perfect length to be quick but not burning your fingertips within minutes. A 42 ring gauge keeps things quick, but isn't cigarillo status.
JdN does a great job of packing the Antano's characteristics into such a small package. I have found that sometimes these shorty smokes can pale in comparison to their big brothers. Some brands just can't bend their blends into smaller sizes without leaving something out. JdN accomplishes this as well as anyone.

Pre-smoke
The Nicaraguan wrapper is a milk chocolate shade of brown marbled nicely without any flaws. Firm, spongy feel throughout. Cedary aroma with a little spice. Well-made,
Smoke
The Machito opens with a familiar tinge of pepper up front. The bite slowly fades as creamy smoke with a cinnamonesque flavor and aroma takes over. At 4 3/4", the cigar goes from pepper to sweet and leans back to a spicy end, all the while maintaining a fulfilling full flavor.
While a lot of folks say these are 'full' cigars, I think the body is on the low side of full, high side of medium.
Overall
I'm happy with my quick smoke. Nice end to a long week; just what I was looking for. I recommend picking up any size of the Antano 1970 series. Try a few different sizes and scope out the nuances of the blend.
This is a great cigar to age. I've had a 5 year aged one that rivaled some top dollar and special blends out there.
This is also a great cigar to learn the subtle effects vitolas have on a blend. Collect them all.

A short story of why I love this cigar series:

I'll always have a special place in my heart for JdN; the Antano 1970 especially. A few years back, as I dove head first into a love for cigars; the Gran Perfecto, for lack of a better phrase, 'popped my full-flavor cherry'. You can read the review for the Gran Perfecto Here.
I had been smoking a lot; trying new cigars, being careful not to smoke cigars that were not too strong and shying away from spending more than $7 a cigar. I knew I didn't like mild cigars, so these blind, self-imposed guidelines left me smoking a lot of mediocre, medium bodied stogies.
I started becoming a regular at the smoke shop and asked the other guys their thoughts on different cigars. One evening, an older guy; seeing my frugal nature, told me to hold on to my Perdomo Champagne "piece of crap", and handed me a Gran Perfecto. 'Wow, I've struck gold' I thought. I had seen guys smoking these quite a bit, and I knew they were $12 or so. I had also been told they were full-flavored, so I thought it'd be too much for me to handle.
That cigar changed my whole perception of smoking. I lit the Antano 1970 expecting an explosion of pepper, dizzy head and burning stomach. What I got was a new level of flavor and enjoyment. It became an early favorite. I've smoked a lot of these over the years and appreciate the blend for its flavor, quality and consistency.

UnderCrown - Corona Viva - MISS CIGAR

2012-10-21T22:04:00.002-04:00

UnderCrown - Corona Viva

Miss Cigar here:

I won't bother explaining the origins of this series as it has been written at least a million times. Long story short; limited supply of Liga Privada tobacco, high demand - UnderCrown now exists. The market existed and Drew Estate/Liga Privada delivered.

Today I'll be smoking the Corona Viva, AKA Corona Gorda.
This cigar is 5 5/8" with a 46 ring. A favorite vitola of mine!

Unlike the ever popular #9 and T52, the UnderCrown uses a San Andres Maduro. This is a wrapper with mexican origin, but it has some similar properties and flavor profiles as broadleaf, without the high demand and high price.

The binder is a Connecticut grown habano leaf. The filler is a Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan habano. Based on the Liga Privada blends, the Undercrown simply uses lesser primimgs then the normal Ligas. So, as a fan of Liga Privada I'm interested to see what this cigar is all about. I've her mixed reviews, lets see what this cigar does for me.

Pre light
The San Andres wrapper is much darker than other San Andres wrappers I've seen and smoked. I've usually found San Andres wrapped cigars to have a dry feel on the palette and to be a little harsh. But LP chose this wrapper for a very particular reason.
The wrapper is coffee bean dark. Extremely smooth,with almost no visible veins. The wrapper doesn't have much in the way of oil.
The cigar smells great. Fresh tobacco with a little sweetness in the aroma. Time to smoke.

Smoking it
The cigar burns great. I really enjoyed the first half of the cigar. It is definitely a quality made stick and the flavor profile shares some similar notes as the #9. The cigar isn't overly complex, but it has some complexity to it. In the first half the cigar has a lot of sweet aroma in the resting smoke. I taste some coffee and toasty notes. I've smoked probably 6 or so cigars with San Andres wrappers and none had the creaminess and sweetness that this cigar has. That dry feel is not present in the first half.

I am really enjoying this cigar. An effortless pull, lots of smoke and a ton of flavor with medium body.

Finishing it
The UnderCrown is a great cigar. While I'd rather smoke a #9, its nice that Drew Estate has made the UnderCrown available to a lot more vendors then Ligas are. In some areas, LPs are difficult to get a hold of, so folks will be happy to try to UnderCrown.
The third quarter of the cigar begins to heat up a bit, but the flavor is still smooth and tasty. That dryness I associate with San Andres wrappers starts to creep in and I find myself reaching for my drink from time to time.

The last quarter of the cigar grows a little harsh and the sweetness and creaminess makes way for a hot burning smoke that is bearable, but a little bothersome.
Overall, I enjoyed the UnderCrown and I will be smoking them in the future. I'm interested to see how some of the bigger ring gauges taste. San Andres wrappers aren't exactly my favorite, so I want to try a larger ring gauge so I get a higher ratio of the Brazilian Mata Fina filler.

If you like Ligas or have been searching for them, the UnderCrown is worth your time and money. At about 8$ a stick, they are 5 to 6$ less then their Liga counterparts. The few downsides to the cigar aren't enough to consider them a bad smoke. These are great cigars. If I weren't to compare them to Ligas, they would be great. Knowing they are a lower level Liga Privada leaves you in a position where you can't help but draw comparisons. But with all that aside, the UnderCrown sits on its own throne and is a damn good cigar.

MISS CIGAR APPROVED

Hot Girl of the Day: Boobies Compilation

2012-10-16T00:31:00.001-04:00

Miss Cigar approved this message - enjoy the rack of racks

Man O War - Project 52C - Chisel

2012-10-16T00:25:00.001-04:00

Man 'O' War - Project 52C - Chisel
Tale of the Tape:
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Ligero
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: Chisel
Size 5" x 52 ring

This is Mr. Cigar here and this is the first side by side review done with Miss Cigar. We both sit down, burn the same cigar and leave our thoughts for you to read. Hope you enjoy!

The Cigar - Man 'O' War Project 52C
The Man 'O' War series has been around for a good while and is known as a good cigar for the money. Associated with online deals, you don't often see this smoke in your local shops. We got these cigars from www.cigarsinternational.com. It seems that the Man O War series is extending with a few new mini-series, which include the Phalanx (PA Broadleaf wrapper), the Little Devil (Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown), and the Project 52C. We haven't had a chance to smoke the first two, but the chisel vitola of the Project 52C has our interest.

Mr. Cigar
The cigar is well-made. I know chisels aren't easy to roll and they always have a great draw, so I'm looking forward to sparking this. I've smoked a handful of Man O Wars over the years. But I'm interested to see what this Project 52C is all about. The wrapper leaf is smooth and has almost no visible veins. The cigar is packed and heavy. A slight clip from the chiseled end and I'm on my way.

The cigar is good. Almost great. The burn is flawless and effortless draws produce plumes of thick smoke. The body is full and tasty; there is a lot going on with this filler. The blend is complex and the profile evolves as the cigar burns. I couldn't find many details on the filler, but I'm not sweating it. I'm just kicking back and enjoying this cigar. As I mentioned, you don't see these in a lot of B&Ms so I don't get to smoke many of these.

As I mentioned, the body is full, but not overpowering. The flavor profile is rich, creamy with a lot of toasty, peppery flavor. The 2nd third of the cigar is the best and I taste a lot of dark roast coffee with some fermented fruit and sweet tobacco on the tail end.

I recommend trying this out. They price out at about $8 a stick, but you can find deals on cigars.com where they are are like $4. If you see one of those combos, pick it up. I'd compare this cigar to the Liga Privada UnderCrowns, only a little smoother. These are not on the level of the normal Liga Privadas, but they have a rich profile without the harshness I find the UnderCrowns to have.

Grade: B+

Miss Cigar
Hey there Guys!
Thank you for welcoming me into the community. I've been smoking for about two years and while I still have a lot to learn, I'm actually a hot cigar chick, unlike some that claim to be such. So I hope you enjoy my reviews.
Since I'm a novice in the way of cigar brands and things like that, I think it gives me an unbiased approach when reviewing smokes. I don't look at the maker or series, I just call em like I smoke em.

The Cigar
I like the way the cigar is made. The chisel is a cool vitola. I've smoked La Flor Dominicana's Air Bender Chisel and enjoy the shape. As Mr. Cigar mentioned, the cigar produces tons of effortless smoke. The cigar burns very well, and it is obvious that its a well made stogie.
The cigar starts out with some peppery flavor and mellows out a bit into a creamy, nutty flavor. Don't let that fool you though. This cigar is full in every aspect; flavor, body, you name it.

I've been told I may get in trouble for saying this, but I liked the Project 52C Chisel better then the Air Bender. Hands down, it was just a better flavor through out. The last bit of the cigar was a little harsh for me; but I was hitting it like someone would smoke a weed roach, so you got to expect some of that.

Overall - Grade B
The cigar smoked well and tasted good. I liked it. It wasn't an 'A' smoke because it didn't blow me away. It was just a good smoke and well constructed. I'd be interested to try the Phalanx Project to see how that Pennsylvania Broadleaf plays with the blend. The Ecuadorian Ligero was evident in the strength of the cigar; and since I like the sweetness of Broadleaves I'd like to smoke these two side by side.

Alec Bradley - MAXX - Brazlian

2012-10-13T21:19:00.002-04:00

Alec Bradley - MAXX Brazilian

Tale of the Tape:

Wrapper: Brazilian Habano

Binder: Costa Rica

Filler: Colombian, Honduran, Nicaraugan

Made in Honduras

Size: Robusto - 5" x 50 Ring

Alec Bradley; a brand named after the owner's two sons, this company seems to know their way around the blending room. With the success of the Family Blend, Prensado and Tempus; Alec Bradley got ahead of themselves and put out a couple lackluster lines.
Personally, I heard bad things about the MAXX, but if you know me, I will try anything with Brazilian tobacco in it. So along comes the MAXX Brazil and here we are. My expectations low, I tested two of these for the review.

The Cigar
This cigar is a real eclectic mixture of tobacco; with 5 countries of origin, the tobacco in the MAXX Brazil is chosen to create a specific experience and highlight the qualities of the Brazilian wrapper.
The wrapper is a rich dark brown. Not Broadleaf dark, but darker then your normal Habano seed, which seems to be characteristic of a lot Brazilian wrapper leaf. Some small veins run along the cigar, but the leaf is smooth and has a little oil on it.

The binder is a true oddball, coming from Costa Rica. You don't see much Costa Rican tobacco in the industry, so Alec Bradley has found a specific characteristic in this binder leaf that they like. The filler is also a very specific mixture, containing Colombian, Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco.
Hand-rolled in Honduras, the Brazil MAXX seems well-made. It is firm and well-filled. It isn't a heavy cigar for its standard Robusto 5' x 50 ring size.

Smoking It
My expectations have been exceeded! Chalk this up as another AB success. I can't speak for the other MAXX lines, but the Brazil wrapper version is a great stick and priced fairly. At about 4$ a stick, you can't go wrong.

The cigar has a lot of flavor and not only does it vary as it burns, it is quite complex. I taste everything from sweet pipe tobacco to cocoa, roasted coffee, caramel and some sweet spice. It is a medium bodied smoke and while full of flavor, I wouldn't say its strong enough to be called a full stick.

The burn needed a touch up on one of the two cigars I smoked for the review. But otherwise these are well-made cigars. I recommend this stick, especially if you're a fan of Broadleaf and Brazilian wrappers

Overall Grade : B+

Say Hello To The Very Sexy Miss Cigar!

2012-09-18T01:10:00.001-04:00

Welcome Miss Cigar as Reviewer for the Site!

Miss Cigar is now a contributor to www.reviewcigars.blogspot.com. Now we've all seen the cigar review girls out there that have done well on the fact that they are decent looking girls who smoke cigars. Well, now www.reviewcigars.blogspot.com has a true cigar hottie. This girl knows the difference between Jalapa Valley Nicaraguan and Esteli Nicaraguan tobacco. She is good. So keep your eyes open. Shes got a review on its way. Until then, leave her a little love to encourage those reviews.

Hot Girl Of The Day and MISS CIGAR

2012-09-18T00:52:00.000-04:00

Hottie of the Day and the Introduction of Contributor Miss Cigar
Beaches make everything better...the end

Also, fellas - keep an eye open for Miss Cigar!
I have a new contributor named simply, Miss Cigar. This is a serious cigar smoking chick. I've seen some of these 'hot cigar girls' out there and while they aren't ugly women; they are far from smoking. Miss Cigar is a sexy, sexy lady. Keep an eye out for her posts!

Xikar XC Maduro

2012-09-18T00:28:00.001-04:00

Xikar - XC Maduro
Xikar is known for their high-quality cigar accessories, but not many smokers know Xikar for the quality smokes they've been putting out. Their accessories are flashy yet minimalist; stylish and of quality. If you've been in any B&M worth their salt then you've seen a wide array of cutters, lighters, ashtrays and the list goes on. If its cigar related, Xikar's got it covered. So it was only a matter of time before the company took a stab at making their own cigars.

Jesus Fuego-Master Blender
When Xikar got into the cigar game they did so with conviction and the desire to do it right. They enlisted the cigar acumen and expertise of blend master Jesus Fuego, owner of J. Fuego cigars and a former pupil and professor at Cuba's heralded Pinar Del Rio University. PDRU is a college where one can major in various tobacco related studies. Mr. Fuego knows his stuff and is gaining more respect in the industry with each passing year.
Since Xikar launched their own cigars they've received 10 90+ point reviews in various publications. I'm not sure to what extent, if any, Mr. Fuego was involved with this particular cigar but his legacy and style is in this cigar somewhere.

Today's Cigar
The XC Maduro is the newest addition to Xikar's cigar line up. I'm smoking the robusto vitola; standard sizing, 5" by 50 ring gauge. The robusto is the 'go-to', 'run of the mill' size these days and frankly, the XC Maduro has a standard cigar look. The cigar has some weight to it, I mean it really feels dense and hefty in hand. It is well-made, feeling firm throughout with no soft or empty spots. It has just the right amount of that spongy feel to show you its fresh.
Xikar doesn't make shit cigars. Bundled this cigar runs 2-3$, which is an amazing value; so I'm curious to see what this is all about. The fact its bundled contributes greatly to its low cost. Boxing and presentation are a costly part of cigar production.
The Wrapper
Not particularly dark for being a maduro, the wrapper has some noticeable natural oil; but what really catches my attention is the attractive toothiness of the cigar. For those not in the know, toothy refers to the bump, rugged look of a cigar. Toothy is a good thing. A cigar with too much tooth probably has something wrong with it; one with none is probably a Philly blunt.
The wrapper leaf has a marbled look to its coloring which looks nice. I'd call this one of those colorado wrappers with respect to hue. (Not to be confused, as Xikar makes a Colorado - to clarify, we are reviewing the XC Maduro)
According to Cigars Intl, the XC Maduro uses a habano oscuro grown in Connecticut. Oscuro's are usually the blackest leaves you can find. I suspect that the fact this is a habano-seed leaf (cuban wrappers are known for being lighter in hue - in the middle of the spectrum so to say), grown in Connecticut attributes to its rather light color. Don't get me wrong; this is not a light colored wrapper when compared to a shade wrapper, but this is not your normal oscuro. I've seen oscuros that are basically black; so this is light in color when compared to other maduros.
Connecticut is known for two things when it comes to tobacco. One is Connecticut-shade wrappers. These are highly sought after for mild cigars. They are thin, pliable leaves with an extremely mild, creamy profile. Second is the hottest leaf on the market, the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. On the opposite end of its shade brethren, the broadleaf ranges from medium to dark brown and is known for its flavorful and full bodied taste.
Filler
The XC Maduro is a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican long filler. The Nicaraguan for strength, spice and some sweetness, the Dominican for a smooth a creamy smoke (my opinion).

Smoking this Cigar.....Next Page

Smoking the Cigar - Overall

The cigar lights with ease and kicks off with a little spice that quickly subsides and a sweetness starts to prevail. The cigar burns well through-out and I've gotta say this is a well=made cigar. Some might say that anything bundled isn't quality, but this cigar proves otherwise. If you're not worried about a pretty wooden box that adds 1-2$ to each cigar in it, then this is a great pick up with tons of value.

First and Second Thirds

There is no shortness on flavor and body. The cigar doesn't evolve a ton throughout, but it is definitely discernible by thirds. As I mentioned, the cigar starts with that Nicaraguan peppery spice and it is evident you're in for a medium to full bodied smoke. Within a few puffs the pepper chills out and the sweetness of the maduro comes through the nose. I can taste the mixture of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos and they compliment each other well.

After the first third which is an introduction of pepper to sweet, the 2nd third opens up a quality profile of flavors, but is rather basic. This soon ends as the 2nd third meets the halfway point; this is when the cigar starts to get good. Standard to maduro wrapped cigars, I taste a little cocoa, fermented tobacco and some ripe dark fruit.

Final Third - Thoughts

The final third of this cigar left me wanting a longer cigar. It was good. Frankly, I wish it was a toro. The cigar started tasty, had a short lull, then opened up with a complex flavor profile that had me savoring each puff. The final third continues the tune of ripe dark fruit, cocoa and some roasted coffee. The cigar pours plumes of smoke and the draw is wide open. Some smokers will say they prefer mild resistance, but I find cigars burn quicker at the foot if smoke isn't flowing through them.

I'm impressed with this XC Maduro. To my knowledge, these are only available at Cigars International. You cannot beat the price. These cigars could easily be $9-10 sticks at the shop and people wouldn't blink. I smoked two of these for this review and found solid consistency in each. This has opened up my eyes to Xikar's cigar game. I always knew they were well-made and had a great reputation, but just like wine, a lot of folks smoke based on the look of a band or because they go with cigars they know and like.

Personally, I try to mix my smoking selection up as much as possible. That is what makes this hobby a passion after all. Variety, education and taking the time to treat yourself.

Grade: A

The low price is a heavy weight in this decision. If this were a normally priced stick, I would give it a solid B. But at 2-3$ a slug, you can have an every-day smoke without sacrificing flavor and quality. I'm going to try a few more; if I notice a drop off in quality I will let you know. But I have a feeling this will be one of those hard to find sticks as the news spreads of the value. Sometimes you can find quality construction with no flavor. Others, good flavor with shit construction. Others have both but zero complexity.

The XC Mduro has the complete package.

Tatuaje - Avion 12 - Short Perfecto

2012-09-12T01:34:00.001-04:00

Tatuaje - Fausto Line - Avion 12 - Short Perfecto
Pete Johnson took the cigar world by storm with Tatuaje and he isn't stopping. It seems everything he touches turns to cigar gold and he makes a lot of innovative business moves that keeps consumers on the edge of their seats. The Monster series for example.
I have to admit that I like a lot of Tats and I respect Pete's hustle. However, I am concerned Pete might be going overboard. Not crazy overboard or walking the plank....I mean Rocky Patel overboard. Meaning releasing tons of cigars under different brands and styles in an effort to keep dedicated consumers buying and searching for the next big release. After a while quality control goes down, bad ideas become reality and you over-extend yourself, leaving the very things that made you successful and different behind.

With that said, I must also mention that most every Tatuaje product I smoke I like. Actually, like isn't the word. There are a lot of Tats I love.

The Cigar
This brings us to the cigar at hand. The Avion 12 Short Perfecto. A stunningly beautiful cigar. A seemingly perfect perfecto vitola, this 'short perfecto' is 5 and 5/8" with a nippled foot that balloons to a 52 ring gauge, then slims out to a 48. Shapely like a good looking woman. Haha.
This is one of those cigars that look so damn good that you feel bad smoking it. But you can't have your cake and eat it too. Also at $10, these aren't out of my price range for a good smoke, so I can buy another if I'd like.

The Wrapper
The cigar is wrapped with a rich brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Ecuador has been the king pin of wrapper leaf lately. Especially for a lot of brands that have connections and or roll in Nicaragua. Ecuador, although it shares a similar climate to Nicaragua, it is very cloudy. This creates ideal conditions for wrapper leaf production as it keeps the leaf thin, pliable, and allows its to mature on the plant a bit longer than neighboring areas without thinking or toughening the leaf.
Filler
The filler is a mixture of Jalapa Valley ligero and Esteli ligero. No seco leaf here my friend. This smoke means business.

Smoke Time
The flawless wrapper has a slight sheen of natural oil and looks enough to eat. The band is simple and has a vintage feel to it; a cigar with wings adorns the band along with the words Tatuaje and Pete Johnson.

Smoke time commences and one match to the nipple blooms into an even and smooth burn. The cigar burned very well and is very well made. But I hated this cigar. It tasted bad. There were no rich flavors and it tasted bland throughout. I don't know if the cigar is too young but it sucked.

Which brings me back to my Rocky Patel comparison. The Avion is part of Pete's Fausto line. To date, (and I'll probably miss something) Tatuaje has put out the Red Labels, Brown Labels, Monster Series, El Triunfador, La Riqueza, Conjou Series, Reserva Line, Series P, The Vintage Year Cigars, the special figurado blends (T110 etc).
And now there is the Fausto line. Which includes the Fausto, La Castilla Criolla and Avion. I have yet to smoke the Fausto, but I thought the La Castilla Criolla was too overpowering without complexity.

The Disappointment
The Avion was a big disappointment. I didn't taste anything but bland smoke until the final third. At least at that point there was some richness in flavor. A little sweetness crept in through the stale flavor. But nothing to get excited about.
Maybe this things needs some age. But one things is for sure, I found the Avion a bad tasting cigar. It was pretty and well-made, but that is no excuse for lack of good flavor

Grade
D

Ramon Bueso - Genesis The Project

2012-09-10T00:36:00.004-04:00

Ramon Bueso - Genesis The Project
I picked up this cigar from Cigars International. I've heard some buzz about Ramon Bueso and his offering 'Genesis The Project'. It seems Mr. Bueso has been in the cigar industry since he started as a roller at the age of 15. He is said to have worked for and learned from the likes of Padron and Frank Llaneza. I've heard his cigar acumen has played a role in brands we all know and love. With that said, it sounds like Ramon Bueso knows his shit.

The Cigar

Now that we know of Mr. Bueso, let us move onward to the cigar. Titled, 'Genesis The Project', there is a lot of meaning stuffed in those three words.

Genesis: Suggesting a meaningful starting point for the Bueso brand; a powerful statement of the beginning.

The Project: Suggests that Bueso has put a lot of time into developing a cigar he is happy representing his name and brand.

I've got my hands on two of these 'Projects'; both 5"x 50 ring robustos. The cigar is a calculated mixture of tobacco and I'm interested to see how these stogies fare.

Construction/Looks

The cigar is well-made. It is firm, with a fresh feel to the squeeze. Tobacco throughout, there are no weak or empty spots. The wrapper leaf is marbled in appearance and has a pretty sheen of oil. There are no noticeable veins and is toothy (slightly bumpy in a good way). The leaf is dark like most Broadleafs, and the color varies just slightly (see picture above) from foot to cap with the cap

Filler

The filler is a mixture of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobacco; some Esteli Viso(Nicaraguan) , Condega Viso(Nicaraguan), La Entrada Viso(Honduran) and Talanga Ligero (Honduran).

Binder

The binder is a Honduran leaf from the Jamastran Valley, which is up and coming with its production of cigar tobacco.

Wrapper

Last, and most certainly important, the wrapper. The wrapper is a triple-fermented Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro. That makes me happy. I love a lot of Broadleaf wrapped cigars, so I'm interested to try this one out.

The Band

As with all marketing/branding/product aesthetic, nothing is just arbitrary. Ramon Bueso and company didn't just put a bunch of potential cigar bands on a dart board and start throwing darts. The look and style are designed and picked for very specific reasons. The Project band looks very similar to the band sported by one of my favorite brands, Liga Privada. If this cigar is 3/4 as good as Liga Privadas, we've got a nice smoke here.

To read more click the link below...

Smoking it:

So, she looks good, feels good and smells good. Lets see if she is good. I light this one up on my roof top chill area; overlooking downtown Baltimore. Its a beautiful day and I've got a little glass of Balvenie keeping me company.

The cigar lights with ease and provides a wind-tunnel of smoke. The first few minutes of smoking are tasty and full bodied. Its nutty flavored and has tastes of fermented tobacco. Surprisingly, this Broadleaf Maduro isn't as sweet as my expected, but I'm not very far into the smoke. One thing that catches my eye is the resting smoke. Not that this means anything, but the resting smoke a bluish look to it. I've noticed that I like cigars that have this type of resting smoke.

Halfway:
The first third of the cigar was good but unremarkable. It seems like a little age could help brighten the flavor profile or add to it. Shortly after the first third things start to get interesting. While the first third left me wanting more, I start to get some more flavors to compliment the to the full body. The nuttiness and strong tobacco remains the prominent flavors, but I taste some complexity showing up, but I can't quite identify the flavor. It seems to be developing as it goes. Early on I was concerned this would be a one-trick-pony, but the cigar is gaining momentum and my attention

Final Third and Overall Thoughts: As the 2nd third of the cigar starts to burn away, the flavor profile opens up and I taste a lot of your stereotypical Broadleaf flavors. These flavors really start to prevail and the nuttiness begins to fade. I taste some roasted coffee and smoky cocoa. Also, the smoke starts to sweeten up. The final third is very enjoyable. It never burns hot and it burns smooth until the end. I smoke the cigar to the nub and I find the final half the most enjoyable. I think that Genesis - The Project could use a little seasoning before it reaches it true potential, but it is still an enjoyable smoke. With such a complex blend (4 types of filler leaves), you expect a complex flavor profile and The Project gives you that. I'd take a cigar that changes flavor over a single flavored smoke any day. It seems like this cigar needs just a little more rest, then those four fillers, eclectic binder and desirable wrapper will ferment more, mix juices and result in a hell of a smoke. At 4$-6$ a cigar, this smoke has a lot of value.

The cigar is well-made and I see the potential for it to be a great smoke. Ramon Bueso chose the tobaccos he did for a reason and I think this will be one of those value cigars that will be hard to get your hands on once people catch wind of how good they are. You heard it hear first. 6 months from now, Genesis-The Project will be regular 'Out of Stock' cigar.

I have another one of these waiting in the wings and will revisit it in a few months to see if my prediction comes true. In the mean time, get your hands on some. As it stands this is a complex cigar with an evolving flavor profile. Its full-bodied without being over the top. At a 'can't be beat' pricepoint, this cigar is a buy for any type of smoker. Its an everyday stick for a guy who smokes a lot and can't afford $15 a day for cigars and it is a great cigar for a beginner to intermediate smoker that is looking to step up their game without breaking the bank.

Grade B

To be revisited in about 3 months

Hot Girl Of The Day - Labor Day

2012-09-03T15:02:00.002-04:00

Hot Girl(s) Of The Day - Labor Day Edition:
Since a lot of you are off work today, I put two hotties for your viewing pleasure. The first is yet another random but beautiful model. The second picture is famous latina model, Suelyn Medeiros.
I'm taking a count of who my readers think is the better model. Leave your choice in the comments.

Arturo Fuente - Hemingway Short Story

2012-08-31T20:43:00.001-04:00

Arturo Fuente
Hemingway- Short Story (Maduro)
Author Ernest Hemingway was an avid cigar smoker and a big fan of Fuente cigars. I'm sure Mr. Hemingway took full advantage of pre-embargo cubans and any cigar of quality; but its been said that he had a preference for Fuentes. Hell, half of the pictures you see of the old guy hes puffing a stogie. One can only imagine him sitting in the shade on a beautiful day, working words into art; a cigar between his teeth.

The Hemingway series has been a staple of the Fuente brand for some time now. What better way to honor a man than by naming a cigar after him? I'd rest in peace when the reaper takes me if I had a well-made cigar. The coolest part of the Hemingway line is that there are a variety of vitolas (sizes); their names a nod to Hemingway's writing. Just to list a few, you've got the Best-Seller, Master piece, Signature and Short Story.

The first few years I smoked cigars I found Fuentes to be well-made, quality cigars. But I thought they were one-dimensional when it came to flavor profile. I held this belief in error for quite some time. I smoked the 8-5-8, Gran Reserva, Don Carlos... but nothing ever excited me about the brand. I respected the quality; I considered them the icon of Dominican cigars. But I considered them behind the times, especially with so many amazing cigars that come out year after year. Then I grew up and opened my mind a bit.

I smoked an Opus X (read review here) and I decided to give Fuente another assessment. That lead to me falling in love with the Anejo #50 (read review here). Long story short, I changed a long-held belief and discovered that I had been missing out on some great cigars.

The Short Story (Maduro)
This little cigar is a work of art. I mean, look at this figurado. From the masterfully twisted nipple to the seamless look of the cap, this cigar is a beauty. It is the image that pops in my mind when I hear the word stogie. This figuardo vitola is 4" in length, starts from a nipple foot, balloons to a 49 ring gauge and slims down to a 42 ring gauge at the smoking end. This narrowing seems to be a funnel of flavor intensification.

Anyways, I kick back from my rooftop in downtown Baltimore to enjoy this shorty. I've smoked the Cameroon-wrapped Hemingway Classic (review here) and found it to be a quality cigar. The Classic is 7" by 48 ring gauge, with a nippled foot; but the flavor profile is nothing to go crazy about. It fit my belief that all Fuentes were one-dimensional, well-made cigars.

I kicked back with the Short Story expecting a short burn with predictable flavor. Lets just say, I learned a little bit today.

Read Rest of Review on Next Page

Prelight
As I mentioned the figurado is 4" and goes from 49 ring at the foot to 42 ring at the cap. The maduro leaf is a deep brown with a marbled look to it. Some small leaf veins are seen, but it just looks beautiful. The maduro wrapper has a slight tackiness to it which is a sign of some fermented oils, and damn it smells as sweet as honey. Enough talk. Lets smoke.

The Smoke

I just barely lit the nipple and it bloomed perfectly to a straight burn. Right from the start the cigar has a lot of flavor, and its screaming maduro. Well fermented maduro at that. The cigar is packed with flavor, but I would say that it is medium bodied. The resting smoke is sweet and tasty, and each puff results in a chimney stack of smoke.

The cigar is only 4", so unfortunately, its done before you want it to be. But you can't knock it for that. It is what it is. A small, flavorful smoke that takes about a half hour to enjoy. I haven't found myself hitting the end of a cigar like I was puffing on a weed roach in a while; but this was so good, I'm sure anyone that could see me figured I was smoking pot.

The cigar burned like a champ from start to finish. No touch ups needed, and the ash was solid. It is said that Fuente's factory pays special attention to the figurado vitolas; only a handful of rollers are given the duty, and are limited to 75 cigars a day to ensure quality.

The taste is delicious and dessert like. Its everything you could ask for in a maduro. Chocolate, coffee and sweet quality tobacco throughout.

Overall

My only complaint is it isn't bigger. The cigar is damn good. I highly recommend this cigar. At around $6, you can't go wrong. Next time you want some flavor but are short on time, grab a Hemingway Short Story. Go for the maduro wrapper if you can. I enjoyed this a lot more then the Cameroon wrapped Classic. Different sizes, but the maduro added a lot to the experience.

Grade B+

Pug Dog

2012-08-29T23:02:00.000-04:00

I used to have a pug dog. R.I.P. Leroy. Had to post this in his honor. Haha great picture. Gotta give credit to Nick Perdomo of Perdomo cigars for this picture.

Hot Girl Of the Day

2012-08-29T22:40:00.000-04:00

Hot Girl of the Day:
I don't think this one needs much comment. Enjoy, drink good beer, smoke good cigars.

Padron Anniversary 1964 - Monarca Maduro

2012-08-29T15:57:00.001-04:00

Padron Anniversary 1964 - Monarca Maduro
Beer: Stone Brewery 'Ruination IPA'
With a fresh paycheck cashed; I decided to roll top-shelf for an overdue cigar sit-down. With top-shelf on my mind, I grabbed a 24 oz. Stone Ruination IPA on my walk to the cigar shop. At $5.99 for a 24oz, it isn't cheap, but it is good. Stone has two other IPA selections, but the Ruination is a little higher in alcohol content and hop factor, at 7.7% and 100 + IBU.
Proudly rocking my Ruination IPA, I entered my shop and strolled to the Padron Anniversary box. You can't go wrong with a Padron Anniv., so I reached for one with some length so I could really sit back and enjoy my beer and stogie. With that in mind, I chose the 1964 Monarca Maduro. At 6 1/2" with a 46 ring gauge, I knew I was in for a good hour and a half of full flavored quality.

Cigar:
The 1964 Monarca is a Nicaraguan Puro. Padron ages all the tobacco for at least four years, resulting in some nicely fermented, sweet tobacco. The filler bunch is hand-picked for quality; the binder leaf, a Nicaraguan Habano - just like the wrapper. The wrapper leaf is gorgeous and smells of sweet tobacco and cocoa notes.
Beer:
The Ruination IPA is an extremely hoppy beer. The beer is a golden-orangish amber with a short head on it. The head leaves some lacing trails on the glass, even though its no wheat beer, the Ruination is slightly opaque. The beer has a lot of floral and fruit notes without being flowery like a Hoegarden.

Rest of Review on Next Page

Prelight:
As I mentioned, the wrapper leaf is flawless and a tad rustic in appearance. Basically, it is a picture of wrapper perfection. It has a seamless look, but natural leaf texture. Some cigar wrappers look seamless, but they often have a very unnatural look The Padron 64 Monarca's wrapper leaf is a true beauty. I can imagine a master blender handpicking each of these wrapper leaves. Only the finest for the Anniversary series.

Smoke and Drink:
The cigar is amazing. I won't go into too much detail as I've reviewed some other vitolas in the 64' series, but the taste and flavor profile is complex and full. A natural sweetness floats from the resting cigar and each puff is a blast of excellence.
The hoppiness of the beer plays well with the strength of the cigar and each serves to make the other better. Truly complimentary of one another. The beer starts off a little too bitter, but much like a cigar, your palette adjusts and the you can appreciate the nuances and flavors.
The Monarca burns nicely and never needs attention. Surprisingly, there was a time or two the burn wasn't perfect, but my lighter never left my pocket. The ash held on tightly and I needed to roll the ash against the ashtray to force it off. The ash burned to a speckled gray, with a little browning on the surface.

Overall Beer
This was the first time I had drank the Ruination and it won't be the last. I've had Stone's other IPA selection and really enjoyed it, but this brew takes the cake. I love IPAs, and the Ruination is one of those IPA brews that steps it up a notch in alcohol and hops. This seems to be a trend in IPAs these days and all I can say is 'push it to the extreme'. Lets see how much alcohol and bitterness you can pack into an IPA before its not a good beer.
But I give the Ruination a 46/50 rating. The appearance is appetizing, the aroma succulent, the taste and flavor profile fulfilling and complex. Hells yeah.

Overall Cigar:
I won't waste your time.
Grade: A
At $13.25, its not so expensive that it takes you broke, but its not an everyday smoke. Unfortunately I'm not on that level. I have to stay around the $8 mark for my daily smokes. But Padron's 1000 series are always there for a more affordable experience with quality. Cigars International offers a cigar that is meant to offer the flavor the Padron Anniversary series without the price. That brand is Nica Libre

Hot Girl of the Day - Random Girl

2012-08-27T20:59:00.001-04:00

Hot Girl of the Day - Random Girl
I have no background information on this beautiful female; but do you really care? I think not.

Tatuaje: Gran Cojuno

2012-08-23T01:13:00.001-04:00

Tatuaje Gran Cojonu:
Let me start this review by telling you that I am a happy cigar smoker. My favorite B&M cigar shop now carries Tatuaje. Admittedly, I am a Tatuaje fan-boy, but I'm not afraid to say when I get a don't like something from Pete Johnson's lines.

Up until a month ago, only one B&M in the Baltimore-metro area carried Tatuaje. This B&M will go nameless but, it wasn't my style. The clientele, too fancy for me; being 27, there was nary a person I could relate to when I sat down for a smoke. I would make the trip to this shop just to grab a few of Pete Johnson's offerings, but it was a necessary evil.

All of that has changed. My favorite cigar shop, Cross Street Tobacco, now carries Tatuaje cigars. They are official dealers, carrying a multitude of vitolas in both the red and brown series. Also, they've a couple other of Pete's lines. So.....I am a happy smoker. Cross Street has an amazing selection. The owner, Sheldon, only carries quality, and he carries what he knows people want. He runs a quality business, where almost everyone is a repeat customer.

Anyways....with a batch of Tatuaje cigars to choose from, I got ballsy, as the name suggests and grabbed a Gran Cojonu.

Rest of Review on next page

Pre-light:
Ding ding ding. In this corner, Mr. Easter, standing 6'1", weighting 170 lbs, armed with a glass of Balvenie and a torch lighter.
In the opposite corner, a monster, a cigar whose name loosely translates to big balls, standing at 6.5" with a 60 ring gauge, this cigar could choke an elephant. Heavy in the hand with a firm, full feel through the artisan-rolled cigar.....tttthhhhheeeee.........GRAN COJONU!

The wrapper leaf is flawless and to the eye it looks seamless. There are a few small veins with a bit of a bumpy feel to the textured leaf. The cigar weighs a ton. The thing is well-built and feels as if I could use it for self protection if the occasion arises.

The wrapper leaf is a Nicaraguan Corojo 99, the binder of Nicaraguan origin as well. It is rolled in Pepin's Miami, FL factory and uses a 100% Nicaraguan filler. I believe it is the same blend as the brown label series.

Smoking it
The Gran Cojonu opens up with Pepin's signature peppery smack. Pete Johnson (Tatuaje's Owner) and other folks in the know, will argue that Pete handles most of his blending these days; but whether its something he picked up from his master-blender Pepin, or Pepin had a larger roll in the blend of this smoke.

The pepper soon takes a back seat to a full but sweet tobacco taste. As you can imagine with a fat 60 gauge stogie, there is no shortage of smoke. Personally, I find that I like smaller ring gauges because the wrapper leaf is a higher ratio of the taste then a larger ring gauge, and since I smoke a lot of Broadleaf cigars, I enjoy tasting that Broadleaf. Also, I find larger ring gauges to be a little milder then their smaller-gauged counterparts. Whether it be a true preference or me being closed-minded, I lean to smaller ring gauges.

The Gran Cojonu has brought me to the light! This 60 gauge has changed my perception of large ring gauges. The flavor is smooth, mellow but full. There is complexity to it that I don't often find in smaller gauged cigars. With such a large circumference, you are smoking and tasting a high percentage of the filler; and cigars are supposed to be about the blend, so a higher gauged smoke will give you a better taste of what is going on in the filler tobacco.

But don't disregard the binder and wrapper. They play equally important roles in the total cigar experience and each of the 3 major components serves its purpose. But I guess with anything else in the cigar world, its all about the cigar in your hand, and each brand and series has their own identity. I've tasted 6"x60s that taste like complete crap. Like smoking a dirty cigarette. So, today I've learned to appreciate these fat-boy cigars. Kudos to you Tatuaje, Pete, Pepin, whomever would like the credit.

Overall - Cigar Experience
Straight up, A bitches. Perhaps a B- only because I paid $16.50 for this bad boy. I take overall value (price, experience) into account when I rate a cigar. I enjoyed this cigar through and through. The only part I didn't like was the end, because it was ending :-( But after 2 hours of sipping Balvenie and smoking such an enjoyable cigar on a beautiful day I've got no complaints.

The Gran Cojonu has a few different series: the 2003, 2006 and 2009. I've smoked them and they are limited releases, as compared to the regular Gran Cojonu which is on shelves at any given time. I've smoked the year series cigars before but never reviewed them. However, none of them hit me like this one did. For being called 'Big Balls', the cigar was smooth, tasty and no where near over-powering. It had that signature Tatuaje flavor, and it was great through and through.

A strong white ash held on with a death grip throughout the smoke and the burn, even. The cigar started with pepper, mellowed to chocolate then transitioned to a roasted cocoa before becoming roasted coffee and earthy notes. The retrohale and resting smoke was sugary sweet and almost dessert like. Although this shag foot cigar is band-less, I believe it is the brown-label blend in a large vitola.

GRADE: A

Energy Suppliers - Saving money on your Electric Bill

2012-08-16T23:11:00.001-04:00

Hey there,
I know this is outside the realm of cigars, but I am a Baltimore boy through and through, so I gotta show my hometown some love every now and then. I spent a few years working in the utility industry; BGE and Pepco in particular and I have a pretty solid understanding of deregulation and what it means for the utilities and consumers.

Anyways, I've been bombarded with sales guys trying to get me to switch to their respective supplier and was tired of hearing things I knew weren't true. So I set out to find the best rates and a supplier I could trust and one that I would want to do business with.

All in all, the less money I spend on my BGE bill, the more cigars I get to smoke!
In my search, I came across a local Baltimore company called Point Click Switch. These guys, rather then push one supplier, they are set up like priceline or expedia, but for energy choice. They provide a bunch of choices and are an unbiased source of information. I switched through them and am now paying about 20% less on my bill. Here is a write up the company provides its clients.

Energy Choice in Maryland - PointClickSwitch.com

At www.PointClickSwitch.com we want our patrons to be educated about their choices and what switching energy suppliers means. An educated consumer makes better decisions and in the end is happy. There is nothing more we want then happy customers. The team at PointClickSwitch.com wants you to be educated and happy because we want you to be life-long customers and proponents for our brand. We want you to take advantage of the savings available and we want you to be proud to say; “I get my energy from PointClickSwitch.com.”

In 1999, the government stepped in and told BGE that it was unfair to consumers for BGE to own the power plants that generate electricity and then create the prices for the electricity they sell to their utility customers. That age-old business practice was basically a monopoly; and unfair to BGE's customers. This resulted in deregulation of the electric industry, which forced BGE to get rid of its power plants and also allows consumers to choose who they purchase their electricity from.

Let it be clear, by law, BGE must provide service to all consumers in BGE's territory. This means that they repair damages, fix power outages, maintain the electric grid and keep the wires that feed your home or business up and working. That is the purpose of a utility company.

Now that the Maryland energy companies have been deregulated for almost 13 years, there are a lot of companies that want to supply and sell you their electricity. Some of them are able to offer cheaper rates then BGE, including PointClickSwitch.com.

If you choose another supplier to take advantage of saving money, or to purchase from a green energy supplier, BGE still sends you a bill and makes sure that your lights are on. The only thing that changes is the rate you pay. BGE will continue serving you with no changes; they are a utility company given a service territory by government regulators and by law they must serve all consumers in that territory.

So, now that you know buying electricity from a different supplier changes nothing other then the price you pay, it is important for you to choose the right supplier. To better serve you and be the best choice out there, PointClickSwitch.com offers their customers a variety of places to buy their energy.

If a supplier approaches you, they are asking you to buy electricity from them. They are offering you one option. As you know, people can be biased and always think their company is the best choice. The fact is, there isn't just one company that is always the cheapest and always the best choice. PointClickSwitch.com understands this and we allow you to choose from a few companies to ensure you find the one that is best for you.

Energy suppliers differ in a few key places.

Price
Fees (if any)

Some suppliers have fees associated with their services. Some have start up fees, others have cancellation fees and others have membership fees. Be certain you understand all fees associated with the company. PointClickSwitch.com has offers with no fees, and we provide our customers that information.

Energy Source

Most companies use electricity from regular power plants, while there are suppliers that offer green/renewable energy. PointClickSwitch.com lets you choose green energy if you'd like.

What Happens At The End of Term or Agreement

Suppliers often start you up with a low-rate or special offer. This can be for 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years. Any time really. It is important to know what happens at the end of the term. Most companies start cheap and then after your term is up, the price also goes up.

So, understand that these companies sign you up at a rate lower then BGE, then when your agreement ends, the price goes up; sometimes higher then BGE, sometimes lower or close. This is what they want. This is why most people that have switched from BGE don't know the name of the company they are with now and when their term ends.

You're getting the same BGE bill, you forget the company name, and a few months or year down the road the price goes up. You call to cancel, and they say that you now have a cancellation fee. You can avoid this by choosing a company that allows you to renew your agreement at a low rate.

This is why PointClickSwitch.com is different then the other guys. This is why PointClickSwitch is the best place to choose your energy. We want you to know who we are. We want you to know that you choose your supplier from PointClickSwitch.

Before your term is up we want you to renew at a lower rate then you would get if you did nothing. We want you to be a happy, lifelong customer.

PointClickSwitch values its customers and are proud that we do business different then the other companies out there. We have different suppliers for you to choose from. That means more options for you; more opportunity for you to save money.

So do your homework, check out www.PointClickSwitch.com, choose the best supplier for you and renew through PointClickSwitch to keep your rate low. We want you to make the best choice for yourself and your wallet. Take advantage of deregulation and saving money. Take advantage of the way we do business and you'll be saving money on your BGE bill for years to come.

Testimonials

PointClickSwitch.com
is a wonderful website. I saved over $200 last year in utility cost and saved time in shopping for electricity suppliers.

Bill B., Hanover, MD

My Father - Cedros Deluxe Cervantes

2012-08-10T01:33:00.001-04:00

Jaime Garcia - My Father Series - Cedros Deluxe Cervantes

The Cedros Deluxe Cervantes is a special edition of the My Father Series. Click here for a Stogie Guys review of the regular series. I like the honey-sweet smell cedar sleeves leave on a cigar, so I was excited to see this Corona Gorda priced at $7.50. That is cheaper then the normal series and with such a sharp look I had to give it a whirl. I had two intentions smoking this; one to compare it against the original My Father, but also to rate it as a stand alone. Judging the Cedros Deluxe on its own merits.

Pre-smoke

This Corona Gorda is a beauty and feels hefty in the hand. The cedar sleeve is branded with 'Cedros Deluxe' and the My Father emblem. There is also a foot band that finishes out the style on this three piece suit. Just looking at this smoke had me salivating. Even though I've smoked many regular 'My Father' cigars, the look of this one was the complete package.

With the sleave off the wrapper was flawless and slightly bumpy. I took a big whiff of the freshly unsleeved stogie and that sweet cedar aroma lingered and mixed with a strong tobacco smell. It also smelled earthy and little hint of hay. The wrapper leaf had slight variation in hue throughout giving it a very natural look.

The cigar is well-made, packed with tobacco, firm throughout and felt a bit dry to the squeeze.

My Father Series Background

The My Father Series has been a true success for Jaime Garcia, son of the living-legend, Don Pepin Garcia. Don Pepin Garcia owns his own brands, but is also a master-blender who various cigar companies use to help them create cigars. Just a few examples of companies that have taken advice or had a blend created for them are Tatuaje, Ashton (San Cristobal) and 5 Vegas. His blends are highly regarded and have a signature pepper kick off, with the first few puffs of his blends having a peppery kick.

With that in mind, Jaime Garcia set out to make a cigar of his own; but he did so in honor of his father, Don. Now Jaime has more then the My Father, but this was the first cigar that he owned from concept to roll. Supposedly, Jaime had to go through a ton to keep the secret from his father as he wanted the tribute to be a surprise.

The My Father Series has been listed in Cigar Afficianado's top 25 cigars for the past two years. Despite your feelings on CA's top 25; ranking since inception is a sign of greatness. I like a lot of what the Garcia's produce and the My Father Series is no different. Its not my favorite cigar in the world, but its pretty damn good. I don't go out of my way to smoke them as I prefer other cigars in the $9-$12 price range it falls in.

Smoke

Awwwww yeah. The cigar opens up, typical Garcia product....surprise peppery; but a little smoother then most of the Garcia's opening puffs. I catch myself watching the Olympics and just enjoying the cigar. At this point I'm a third down the cigar and its just tasting great. Powerful but not burning me up or knocking me up. I hadn't eaten a large lunch, so I was concerned it might burn my stomach a bit, but there were no issues.

The first third tastes of pepper which turns to a smooth earthy smoke. The smoke was thick and almost chewy on the palette. The resting smoke off the foot was honey sweet and I caught myself french inhaling and smelling the smoke left and right.

About halfway through I got a splash of some quality dark run from a friend and this cigar made the rum tasty and smooth. I'm not a straight rum drinker. I prefer scotch when it comes to liquor; I'll drink rum in daiquiris and all, but never straight. So I have to give the Cedros Deluxe the credit for me drinking straight dark rum.

Last Half and Overall Thoughts

Without explaining every puff off this stogie, the final half was enjoyable and full of flavor. I ended up putting it in the ashtray graveyard with about 1 and 1/2" to go. I was in a bit of hurry, but it was getting a bit harsh and I wasn't enjoying it as I had. Some smokers may enjoy that tail end of strong smoke, but I had enjoyed the cigar so much up to that point that I decided to leave my smoking experience where it was.

The burn had a razor's edge and a thick light gray ash held on, dense and rigid; these results being a true testament to the cigar's construction. Just an A++ made cigar. Cigar construction gets no better. I gotta say, that the Cedros Deluxe was better then the original line. There isn't much information out there, but I believe it is the original My Father blend with a touch something different. This is a question I'd love answered if anyone knows.

I would smoke this cigar again at the price point of $7.50. Even at $10.50, there would be value in this cigar. The size was well worth it and the burn slow and enjoyable. I was sitting there for a good hour and a half and I tossed it early. Somehow cheaper then the normal line; I picked this up from a small shop so that could explain the surprising pricing.

The Cedros Deluxe in the Corona Gorda is great smoke and I''l be smoking one again soon.

Overall: A

Hot Girls of the Olympics : Francesca Piccinini

2012-08-07T03:22:00.001-04:00

Olympic Hottie Series:
Francesca Piccinini is part of Italy's Women's Volleyball team. Tall, dark and beautiful. Reminds me of the girl in the Fiat commercial where the american average joe is seduced by his first sight of the vehicle (metaphorically pulled around by a hot Italian woman).
While the Italians aren't very good at Volleyball, lets all thank them for at least making the team attractive.