The Casual Cigar

E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2013 Robusto

2014-03-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

I love EP Carrillo smokes, and this one was an exceptional example.

Up front, it wasn't the prettiest stick ever. Firmly packed, but the wrapper was a bit splotchy and odd looking. Clipping the cap, the draw was perfect, just a tad snug, but not much flavor pre-light.

Performance wise, this thing was a champ. Thick clouds of white smoke lingered, and the ash held up to two inches at a time. The burn line was perfectly sharp, revealing a perfect little cone with each tap of the ash.

Flavor profile was right in my wheelhouse. It started with some pepper and leather, a bit stronger than I expected, and I am thinking that this is a tasty cigar. Moving towards the middle third, and the profile shifts to earth, leather, and a bready note, with the pepper on the retrolhale, but smooth. It just builds to the final third, and I am in love with this smoke. The pepper moves back to the forefront, but more of a dried red pepper that is giving me a tingle on my lips and in my sinuses. With an inch left, I am trying to find a good deal on stocking up on more of these.

This was just a fantastic cigar, and can be had at decent prices. It was a bit more aggressive than I expected, which I loved. I felt like it started good, and just kept building to great. Just a fantastic hour long smoke.

7-20-4 Hustler Dog Walker

2014-03-06T11:21:00.000-08:00

What a fun little smoke. Always on the search for something tasty and short for lunch or limited time frames, I was traded this cigar from a friend on www.cigargeeks.com.

To me, these are artful to look at. Such a small little smoke, and so well made with the barber pole wrapping. The cap snipped fine and it lit quickly and evenly.

Flavor wise, it's quick and to the point. There is some nice pepper kick from the start, with a bit of underlying sweetness from the second wrapper I am sure. Some red pepper kicks in and gives you a little tingle, and strong black coffee joins the party. Played with that sweetness, it makes for a tasty, fun 45 minute smoke.

The burn line was perfect, and the ash held about an inch or so. Lots of smoke for such a little guy too! Nothing at all to complain about here.

I would definitely like to have more of these around, for exactly their name, dog walks. My boxer loves sniffing around the neighborhood, and when I am not in the mood to spend over an hour out there, this thing would make the perfect companion. I am a fan of the Classic Dog Walker as well, and these two 7-20-4 smokes are among my favorites in that short smoke category. Not inexpensive for a small stick, but worth the change.

Bodega Reunión Aperitivo Double Robusto

2014-03-06T08:54:00.003-08:00

Starting out, I love the look of this cigar. The 5 x 54 format is one I enjoy, a little more smoke than a standard robusto, without getting to fat to enjoy. Great looking stick, with a chocolaty brown wrapper, slightly oily and very firm to the touch. The seams were noticeable but tight, and there was light veining all around the cigar. I snipped the cap, and the foot took to flame evenly and quickly.

Starting out, this smoke was very earthy with just a hint of pepper kick. The pepper faded quickly, and roasted nuts and earthiness dominate most of the smoke. Honestly, I didn't get any major flavor changes throughout, but it was not boring. It was a very tasty profile the whole way through, so it didn't need a lot of change. The earthiness began to really dominate after the midway point, an almost soily quality, but the nuttiness hung around, and I got some nice leather notes as well.

Performance wise, this thing was a champ. Never touched up or relit, and the burn line was razor sharp. Thick gray smoke pumped out of this stick, and the salt and pepper ash held on past the inch and half mark and was extremely dense. Just an extremely well made cigar.

All in all, I really enjoyed this smoke. Tasty, and easy to enjoy since it was so well made. Bodega has a good thing on their hands here. I get the "appetizer" idea behind this cigar, and would love to try a Digestivo to compare and see if the theory really works. I have a feeling it does. Looks like these fall in the $10+ range, and I understand why, it's a darn well made stick. Great work guys, can't wait to smoke another one!

Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 5

2014-02-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

Finally had a nice time frame to sit back and enjoy this one. This monster has a toothy, dark wrapper, slightly rustic but beautiful. It is, as expected, perfectly rolled and filled, and the cap snips cleanly. The pre-light aroma leathery and earthy, quite delicious.

Lit with a cedar spill, this thing burned perfect from the start. It starts out earthy, with deep espresso notes and rich leather. Moving along, oak and pepper join the party, and the nicotine kicks in. The flavors remain through the smoke, with a dark chocolate note entering in the final third that made for a great finish.

The burn was perfect the whole way, and the ash held as long as I would let it. I never touched up, however, I did have to revive from almost going out a couple of times after rest. But once going, smoke was thick. This thing packs a punch, which I usually don't feel, but definitely left quite the nicotine kick.

All in all, I loved this smoke. It was complex, but welcome flavors and great performance. Almost 2 hours of pure pleasure. I have seen these in the $15-20 a stick range, so they are not cheap. But as a limited release stick, I understand the pricing. Great smoke!

Cuban Stock Triumph Corto

2014-02-07T11:54:00.003-08:00

I received this in a sample from Cuban Stock Cigars. It had right at about 6 months rest on it.

Very nice looking stick, sporting a rich, dark brown wrapper teeming with oils and quite a bit of tooth. Very tightly packed, one fairly large vein running down the length. The pre-light draw was perfect, earthy and sweet. The cap bunched a little when I clipped it, so it was a bit of a jagged cut.

First impression was pepper, and lots of it. Gave me a nice little tingle on the lips. Moving in further, my immediate impression was a good, strong cup of black coffee. There was a bit of maduro sweetness coming through, but the pepper was the prevailing flavor. Towards the end there was a nice caramel note as well, which was a nice finish. The smoke was thick, and despite the fairly large vein, the burn was picture perfect. The ash was fairly light, and held on about an inch at a time.

I really enjoyed this smoke. Looks like it comes in at around $8, and I can certainly see why. It was not the most complex smoke, however, the flavors were extremely nice and fairly balanced with the sweet and caramel notes playing off the pepper and coffee. Good smoke all the way to the nub.

Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 Lancero

2014-02-05T12:32:00.002-08:00

This cigar showed me the difference the lancero vitola can make. I have liked the Antano line before, but this cigar was fantastic.

The wrapper was a very deep brown, matte, and visible but tight seams. The neat little pigtail cap snipped easily, and started a great cigar experience. Smoke was thick and ash, while flaky, held on about an inch at a time. THe burn was fine, not razor sharp but never requiring touch-ups.

The flavors were so much more pronounced for me in this vitola. It started with a nice pepper kick, cedar, and coffee. Moving along, there were more woody notes, spice, red pepper, black pepper, dark roasted coffee, and just a hint of sweetness from time to time. Really some nice transitions along the way, and all in all, just a great cigar. Smoke time was a bit over an hour, and I will have to pick up a few more as this was one fine smoke.

Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco

2014-02-05T12:20:00.002-08:00

Pre-Light:Fantastic looking cigar. The wrapper was velvety, chocolate bar brown, with very small veins, and tight seams. Evenly filled with just a bit of give, it really is just a model cigar. The wrapper is slightly sweet and earthy, while the pre-light draw is mostly cedar. The band is actually a pretty cool double band that you don't realize until you start to remove it.

Light & Burn: I can't say anything bad about the performance of this cigar. The burn was almost perfect, required one slight touch-up at less than two inches, and after that was a razor sharp line. The ash was dense, mostly white with just a bit of salt and pepper, and held for around an inch and a half. Smoke production was, as expected, thick and lots of it. The burn lasted almost an hour and a half, a good time given the construction of this smoke.

Construction:Once again, nothing bad to be said. The wrapper was gorgeous and thick, and the cap was perfect, and held the head together fine after the clip. The draw was spot on all the way to the nub. From inspection, to burn, to construction, this is almost a perfect cigar.

Flavor:This smoke didn't pack quite as much strength as I was expecting for some reason. It started slightly sweet with some cedar, then a very nice oakiness started coming through. Moving towards the center, leather and espresso start to dominate the flavor profile for me, with the oak certainly hanging around in the background. The finish is still mostly leather and oak, but there is a nice earthiness starting to come through, and a dry, tannic feel like a good red wine.

It was smoother than expected for me, I think I was expecting a more in your face powerhouse along the lines of the Antano 1970, and got a nicely refined, but still medium-full smoke for me. The finish lingered into the afternoon, and I really liked the aroma left behind. I revisited several times as it was quite a good smoke.

Summary

Cost aside, I thought this was a really good JDN. If you like the Antano 1970 line, you will love this, as it smooths some of the edges, but still delivers a good punch. $13 MSRP is steep, but I don't think too much for a quality smoke like this. Certainly would not mind having some of these around to revisit, a fine cigar.

Man O' War Side Project: Skull Crusher

2014-02-05T12:16:00.005-08:00

I really enjoyed this smoke. It's a neat looking stick with a closed foot, but I did not clip the foot. Torched the end, and in just a few seconds, it was ablaze. Draw was a bit tight as expected to start, but opened up nicely and was perfect for the balance of the smoke.

Burn was pretty much right on, required a couple of minor touch-ups, but for the most part straight on. The wrapper did crack a bit when removing the bottom band, but did not affect the burn. Smoke output started pretty light, but ramped up once I hit the fat part and was nice and thick.

Had a bit of a burned tongue, so didn't pick up all this stick had to offer, but there were definite spice and raisin notes to start, giving way to mostly oak and leather for me. I will definitely be smoking again with full attention.

Really nice cigar at a really nice price point. Smoke time was just short of an hour, so it was a good anytime smoke. I, personally, would not call this a full strength smoke. I think I expected a butt-kicker by the name, but got a fairly refined, tasty, med-full experience.

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Matatan

2014-02-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

Another fine LFD. Great looking tubo, packaged in an overly ornate aluminum tubo. Looking it over, it sports a beatiful, silky wrapper, slight veins, and tight seams. Evenly and quite tightly packed, but the draw pre-light is fine, no worries there.

The burn in the first third required a little watch, but once I got it straight, it burned straight through the rest of the smoke. Smoke was thick, and the ash held for over an inch and a half, very dense.

A really nice flavor profile for me, as it started very cedary, with some light spicy notes and cinnamon. Moving through the middle third, the profile became very leathery, but still lots of cedar, spice, and cinnamon. In the final third, the cinnamon backed out, finishing medium-full for me with lots of leather, spice, and a heavier wood note.

Very nice smoke, right about an hour, with a very nice flavor profile. Glad I picked these up.

Perla del Mar Perla P

2014-02-05T12:02:00.002-08:00

I was very pleasantly surprised by this smoke. Picked them up for $1 apiece on cigarauctioneer.com. Now thrilled I did.

It is a short, stubby little box pressed smoke with a kind of wrinkly wrapper. Light veins, and a bit light in the hand. I clipped the cap, and the draw was WIDE open. Too wide open frankly.

But that was the end of the problems. The burn line was razor sharp, and it held a chunky, inch long ash. Smoke volume was really nice despite the wide open draw.

Nice, smooth flavor profile here. Started cedary, with some clean tobacco and sweetness. Developed some interesting gentle spice, with a beautiful creamy coffee note. Lots of caramel sweetness past the midway point. Never any grassiness or bitterness, even though I smoked ROTT.

Very different from my normal smoke, but very enjoyable. Burned a little longer than I thought it would at less than 4 inches, but cool and smooth was the name of the game. And at $1, this is a no-brainer. The draw was my only majore complaint here, but hey, what can you really expect from a buck smoke!

Emilio Draig Cayuquero Robusto

2014-01-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

This standard 5 x 50 robusto turned out to be a very tasty treat indeed. It sported a silky, slightly veiny wrapper, and was nicely packed, no soft spots, etc. Checking in around $10-11 a smoke, I wasn't sure what to expect from this stick. While it is a good looking cigar, the band was, well, different. I know that packaging does not define the cigar, but it didn't seem to look like a $11 cigar's packaging. I would be proven wrong.

Construction wise, the burn was perfect from foot to nub. Smoke billowed from this stick, and the ash held in about one inch increments. It was salt and pepper, but had almost a golden hue to it. The wrapper did split about half way through, but it did not affect the draw, which was perfect throughout, or the burn.

The flavors were right on. It started with a nice black pepper kick, and lots of earthiness. Moving through, I got some nice notes of oak, leather, and a red pepper kick. There seemed to be a little bit of sweetness wanting to break through, but it just never made it to the front. Moving toward the end, the black pepper really kicked in, and left me very pleased with the overall flavor profile.

At over $10 a stick, I don't think this is a regular rotation smoke for me, but it certainly was very good! Good construction and a slow burn made this tasty treat I could really savor. I haven't had a bad smoke yet from House of Emilio, so I will keep on smoking them!

Paul Stulac Black Midnight Fire Robusto

2014-01-06T09:35:00.002-08:00

This was my first foray into the world of Paul Stulac, and what a fine example it ended up being. A textbook looking robusto, this 5 x 52 stick was draped in a slightly veiny, rich brown wrapper. I didn't notice any seams, and the fill was even and tight. I clipped the cap, and the draw was quite loose, but tasted of earth and had a slight sweetness to it. Foot to flame, and off I went.

The burn started of just slightly tilted, but after a correction at about a half inch, it straightened up and burned razor sharp until it burned my fingers. The ash held nice and dense for almost two inches at a time, and revealed a perfect cone with each tap. Smoke production was about average I would say, nothing overwhelming, but definitely not light. The draw remained pretty loose throughout, and the head became a little mushy towards the end, but that would be the only negatives about this cigar.

The flavor profile was extremely complex. It started out kind of ho-hum, with some pepper and earth, but by the time I was an inch in, this thing was singing with notes of leather, spice, and a great kick of red pepper. The retrohale was peppery, but not so much that it was too sharp. As I moved into the final third, the black pepper came back, and mixed with the spicy dried red pepper flavor, making my lips and nose tingle. This was the only point I would call this cigar "full", although I would say the overall impression was medium-full without a ton of nicotine kick. The finish was short and clean.

At about $10, these aren't cheap, but they live up to the price. Perfect construction and burn, and a flavor profile that makes me want to come back for more. The burn time was right at an hour. Glad I finally ventured into the world of Paul Stulac cigars!

La Duena Belicoso No. 2

2013-12-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

Having heard some good things about the La Duena line, today was the day to give it a shot. Blended by Pete Johnson for Janny Garcia of My Father Cigars, there is a lot of name recognition behind this stick, so I had to see if it lived up to the hype. It is a very attractive 5 1/2 by 54 stick, veiny with an oily broadleaf wrapper. It is adorned with a simple red and white band that is really very nice in person, simple, but classic and, well, pretty. The fill was even and full, and the wrapper smelled of earth and coffee bean. The draw was perfect, earthy with a bit of sweetness. Foot to flame and off I went!

The initial draws have a dry wine quality, not the flavor of red wine, but the tannic taste, along with lots of oak. There is a touch of black pepper as well. Moving into the middle third, the flavors don't really change, but are becoming more balanced, with the dryness backing off, and the pepper and oak moving to the forefront. There is a fleeting espresso note from here to the end as well. The finale is venturing to medium-full for me, peppery and the oak note to me is in full blast here.

As far as the burn goes, for the first half, it was pretty tilted the whole way, and I could not correct it. But at the halfway point, it finally corrected itself and stayed that way until the nub. The ash was a very light gray and held as long as I would let it, well over an inch and a half. Smoke production was awesome, billowing thick clouds of dense white smoke.

These tick in at about $9 MSRP, and I see why. This one had a slight burn issue, but all other facets of construction were perfect, and while the flavor was pretty consistent throughout the whole smoke, it did intensify and build, and was really delicious. This is another great blend, so if you are a My Father or Tatuaje fan, I would definitely say give them a try, as I did really enjoy this smoke.

Emilio AF Suave Corona

2013-12-06T06:46:00.002-08:00

In the mood for a time conserving and smooth smoke, I reached for an Emilio AF Suave for my evening smoke. Draped in a beautiful golden Connecticut wrapper, there was one small seam visible, and no veins on this classic 5 1/2 by 42 corona. The band is very plain, white paper with Emilio AF typed across, and Suave very faintly in the background. My understanding is the AF stands for AJ Fernandez, who was the blender for this cigar. I am fond of many of AJ's smokes, so that definitely bodes well. The cold draw was nutty, with a faint hint of sweetness. I snipped the cap, which unfortunately, cracked down about a third of an inch. No worries, nothing I couldn't fix. So, foot to flame, and off I went.

The burn started perfectly straight, with a nice white ash. The initial flavors remained nutty, with a very mild sweetness. There is a surprising little bit of spice in the first third as well. The middle third became very creamy, with hints of salted nuts now. The burn remained razor sharp, I mean picture perfect, all the way to the nub in fact. The ash would hold on almost 2 inches at a time, solid and tight.

Moving onto the final third, there is a definite pepper kick for me, which is quite unexpected. It is still smooth and enjoyable, but this really awakened my taste buds again. The creamy white smoke billowed thickly all the way to the nub, and I concluded my hour long smoke time quite content.

This was a wonderfully complex Connecticut wrapped cigar for me. There were some definite changes, and to get the pepper kick at the end when most connies are dying down, that really sealed it for me. There was not harshness or "wet grass" you can get from lesser connies either. This thing would be killer with a cup of coffee. The more I revisit it, the more I realize this is one of my favorite Connecticut wrapper cigars I have had. Very well done, House of Emilio.

Viaje Zombie Super Shot

2013-11-27T07:03:00.002-08:00

On a cold, rainy, all around nasty night in Georgia, I still had the need to get my cigar fix. And since I am relegated to outside, this night called for a shorter smoke. Wanted to try something I haven't tried to keep it interesting, so I reached for this Viaje. It is a neat looking little stick, measuring in at 3.5 by 54, with a mottled, dark brown wrapper. There was one fairly prominent vein, but overall construction looked very nice. I went with a punch, which was not the way to go, the cap was a bit mushy to handle it. Still worked, just think I should have snipped it. I put flame to the closed foot and off I went.

The initial puff was nice and peppery, but that died fairly quickly for me, and the first almost inch was fairly uneventful. Some nice earthiness, a bit of pepper, and a charred wood note, but not very strong at all. However, at about that inch point, the flavors really took off. I start to get some dark chocolate, and the pepper is starting to kick back in a bit more. By the halfway point, the strength has picked up as has complexity. The charred wood was very prevalent here, along with the dark chocolate and even some leather. The smoke production was thick from foot to nub, and the ash held strong until I tapped it, about every inch or so. The ash did flower almost from the start, but never flaked or became a problem, and the burn line was razor sharp all the way through.

Entering the final third, I found myself hoping it would hang around longer. For a short smoke, it was really getting good at the nub, and then it was gone. Chocolate, earth, and leather finished out the smoke, surprisingly complex in such a short time.

At about $7 a pop, these aren't cheap. But they aren't overpriced garbage either. This was a complex, tasty smoke in a short, fat little package. I enjoyed this smoke a lot, and I'm glad I have a few more stashed away.

Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill

2013-11-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

I have had many of the Serie V Olivas, but had not tried the Melanio yet. I decided to give this big box pressed beauty a spin. Measuring in at 7 x 50, it doesn't look as thick, I guess due to the box press. The wrapper is a flawless chocolate brown, with one noticeable vein but perfectly constructed. Not much of a pre-light aroma, but the draw was a delicious sweet chocolate after a perfectly snipped cap. Foot to flame and off I went.

The opening puff was some black pepper, settling in with a citrusy twang. The pepper faded quickly, but the twang remained, accompanied by some honey and spice. The flavor for the first third was milder than I anticipated. The burn was a bit slanted, I did have to touchup the wrapper a few times to keep it in line, but the ash held nice and tight for well over an inch, and thick clouds of white smoke poured from each draw. Moving into the second third, there was not a lot of flavor change for me, but the burn did straighten out some.

The final third did offer some flavor progression, as the citrus really died here and the spice ramped up with some leather and a slight red pepper kick. This was more what I was expecting from the whole cigar. While it is billed as full, I really didn't feel it got to medium-full, even toward the end. It was a nice flavor profile, a bit of complexity, just not powerful.

All in all, I was a bit surprised by the Melanio. I expected a full body experience like the original Serie V, and I got more of a medium body with some more refined touches. It was well constructed, slight burn issues aside, with a enjoyable flavor profile. At $13 a stick, it is a pricey option, and I would be much more comfortable grabbing them on sale, but it is quality smoke I would like to have around. I have some maduro versions waiting, I can't wait to compare the findings.

Quesada Tributo Alvarito

2013-11-08T12:44:00.001-08:00

In my search for some smaller smokes to enjoy during the winter months, I stumbled across the Alvarito. Measuring in at 4 1/2 x 40, this petite little smoke sports an oily, chocolate brown wrapper filled tightly, with a perfect pre-light draw. This revealed a very sweet chocolate note, quite delicious. This was an extremely well made small cigar. I went with the v-cut, and foot-to-flame, off I go.

The first puff is pretty light, both on smoke and flavor. However, after about a quarter inch, this turns into a little pepper bomb. Smoke started pouring from the head and foot in thick white clouds. Moving into the middle third, a nice leather note joins the pepper. The burn is pretty slanted, which I tried to touch up once just to even out. But it quickly started leaning again. Despite this, the ash held on for almost half the cigar, and was a beautiful stark white.

The final third really moved into the medium-full range for me, quite strong for such a small stick. The pepper is still prevalent, pairing with leather, black coffee, and earth. The smoke production remained thick, and the burn, while slanted, was consistent.

I have found another small smoke I really enjoyed. For a 40 minute smoke, this was perfect for me, bold, fairly straightforward, and tasty. Just what I needed for a cool lunch break or quick walk with the dog. The MSRP is about $5, which is on the high end for a small cigar, but they can be found on sale, and I still think they are worth every penny. Very tasty smoke indeed.

Nica Rustica El Brujito by Drew Estate

2013-11-05T09:31:00.002-08:00

So I have been looking forward to trying the newest Drew Estate release for several weeks, and when the first few hit my mailbox, I could only wait about a week of resting before I had to torch one of these beauties up. I would not be disappointed.

This one-size release weighs in at 6 x 52, and is a solid stick. Perfectly and evenly filled, the foot was closed and the cap was adorned with a slightly sloppy pigtail. I know the intent is for it to look rustic, and it does. And it works. No, it is not a stunning visual masterpiece, but the old-school look is very appealing, right down to the simple yellow and red band. With the closed foot, there was not a lot of flavor in the pre-light draw for me, but the wrapper smelled of pipe tobacco and earth. There were some slight veins, but very tight seams. Flame to the closed foot and off I went.

The El Brujito took the flame nicely since all I was lighting was the wrapper leaf, and smoke began to just pour from this stick. The initial puffs weren't overpowering, presenting a pleasant earthy sweetness. Moving through the first third, it is pure tobacco, which is very tasty indeed, with some nutty notes and that slightly sweet earthiness. The ash is dense, and white, holding on about an inch and a half. Same as the start, smoke billows from each puff, and keeps on even when resting. Moving to the middle third, the raw, rustic tobacco flavor is building into the medium-full range, and the nice bit of sweet earth is retreating, giving way to heavy leather notes.

As I progressed to the final third, I think this stick stayed in the medium-full range. The finale of this stick left me ready for the next, as a heavier earthy note entered, and played with the leather and some nice dark chocolate and espresso notes finished the experience. The burn was perfectly straight all the way to the nub, and the ash was tight all the way through.

For a $7 cigar, this thing is an absolute winner in my book. It was charming but extremely well built, and the flavors really popped. With some age, I think these are going to get even better, but even fresh, I thought this was a fantastic stick. Drew Estate just keeps moving the mark, and this one hits it dead on.

Conquistador Sublime

2013-10-30T08:30:00.001-07:00

This is one substantial cigar. It looks even bigger than the 6 x 54 size, wrapped in a oily, dark chocolate brown wrapper. It was evenly filled, not soft spots and the perfect amount of give. There were some light veins, but nothing concerning, and invisible, tight seams. The initial sniff is of earth and rich tobacco. I snipped the cap, which did produce some bits of tobacco, but provided a slightly snug, but nice draw. Foot to flame, and off I went.

The first few puffs were a bit non-descript, just smoke. However, once it got going, the first third produced a slightly sweet note, playing against earth and cedar. The burn started off a bit meandering, but easily corrected itself with no touch ups. Smoke production did start a bit thin.

Moving into the middle third, the flavor really started to pick up. Chewy smoke started billowing at this point, and notes of oak, leather, and coffee started coming through. The burn is now right on. Moving toward the final third, it is moving past medium, somewhere before medium-full. I got some more spice and pepper towards the end, definitely not overpowering, but you know it is there.

This was a very nice smoke, and while i was not provided the MSRP, I would guess in the $10-12 range for this large toro. It is definitely well made, and after the first third, the flavors really started to pop for me. It provided almost 2 hours of smoking time, since it was densely packed and I was grilling outside.

This cigar was provided to me from John Scoble with www.cigarsofcostarica.com. I am sure you can order some from him if you would like to try them out, I would say they are definitely worth a fiver for something different.

Camacho Criollo Robusto

2013-10-30T07:53:00.001-07:00

First off, I am usually a fan of the more classic bands, and find some of the new stuff to be gaudy and unnecessary. But I dig the new Camacho bands. Yes it takes up almost the whole length of this 5 x 50 robusto, but it looks good. As for the rest of the cigar, the wrapper was beautiful and silky, a little shy of milk chocolate brown, with some light veins and was filled nice and evenly. The cap snipped off perfectly and revealed a perfect draw. There were some nice cedar and sweet notes in the initial draw, so, foot to flame and off I went.

There is a nice cedar start, and a very rich, earthy tobacco flavor. It starts with a bit of spice, but evens out into the medium range for me, pretty much through the whole cigar. Smoke was thick, and the draw was perfect. The burn was picture perfect all the way through as well.

Moving to the second third, there was less earth for me, and more oak and leather notes. A distinct sweetness is coming through as well, playing off the heavier notes quite well. Still staying in the medium range, but a really nice flavor profile in my opinion. As I moved to the final third, I got some nice white pepper notes mingling with the leather, and a nice long finish that hung with me for a while. As I said, burn was perfect all the way through, as was the draw.

I would give this smoke high marks solely based on the near perfect construction, but the flavor profile was extremely tasty as well. While it was not a mind-bending complex smoke, it was a fully satisfying medium strength smoke that I would like to keep around my humidor. MSRP is about $6, which makes it a good regular smoke, especially if you can nab some on sale. I think the reblend is a success!

A. Flores Gran Reserva Half Corona by Pinar Del Rio

2013-10-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

As cold weather approaches, I was searching for some shorter smokes for the rotation when I just want to take the dog out for a few, and it is just too dang cold for even a corona or robusto. I stumbled across these on The Monster (www.cigarmonster.com) for $17 for a fiver, and I think I found a great option!

It is a short little plug of a smoke, only 3 1/2 by 46. It was well built, evenly filled, and showed no veins or prominent seams. The cap was a bit sloppy, but added a nice rustic touch and snipped nice and clean. The cold draw was very cedary as expected, seeing as it was wrapped in a cedar sleeve with a classy red ribbon around the foot. The wrapper had a slight earthy note, but mostly just the cedar from the sleeve. Foot to flame, and off I went.

The initial puff was very peppery, a real kick from such a small cigar. Moving into the first third, the pepper is the dominant note, with some cedar as well. The burn is fairly straight, running a bit but always correcting itself. This little stick just pumps out smoke as well, covering my patio despite the breeze. The second third is, yep, more pepper, but now with a nice oak note as well. This thing has some punch. Not overwhelming, but definitely will get your attention.

Moving toward the end, the same profile is there, really not ramping up, just nice and even. It ended up a tick shy of medium-full for me. The burn has continued to be a bit jagged, but always corrected itself, and the smoke production was thick the whole way through. The ash held about a little past an inch, and while it was pretty flaky, the core held strong with the perfect little cone. I nubbed this one out at about 30 minutes.

So I was impressed. I wanted something that gave me that premium experience in a shorter time frame, and this thing delivered. It wasn't the most complex smoke I have ever had, but that is expected considering it is such a compact smoke. It is tasty little pepper-bomb that I really enjoyed and will be a nice go-to for short lunches and dog walks for me.

Gurkha Cellar Reserve Solaro Double Robusto

2013-10-22T08:41:00.001-07:00

I picked this neat little perfecto up from a local humidor, and let it rest for about 2 months. It is a neat looking little stick, of course very reminiscent of the Flying Pigs from Drew Estate, coincidence or not. Measuring in at 5 x 58, it is a fat little thing, with a nicely done pigtail cap. It was extremely tightly packed, I mean to the point there was no give at all. The wrapper was was very oily, slightly mottled, and did have one pretty noticeable vein. The aroma was earthy and sweet. The pre-light draw was tight, with not much flavor due to the restriction. Flame to the little perfecto tip foot, and off I went.

The first draws are very tight and not very flavorful. I always have a tight initial draw from these nipple foot cigars though, so I soldiered on. After about a half inch, the draw opened up nicely and was really perfect the rest of the way through. Surprise! Moving through the first third, coming off that tight draw, the flavor is very astringent and dry, and the burn is running around quite a bit. That I am willing to forgive to to the odd shape, and truth be told, it evened out and burned absolutely perfect for the rest of the smoke. Not quite to the middle third, and the astringent flavor is now gone, and leather and spice jump to the forefront. Smoke production amped up here as well and it was now billowing thick clouds of white smoke. Moving through the middle third, the leather and spice mingles with oak, and I have totally turned around on this cigar. The ash was fantastic, holding on past the mid-point of the stick.

As I enter the final third, I think the spice flavor has moved more towards pepper for me, with the oak and leather remaining, and a nice dark chocolate note as well. Very earthy as well. I have to say, even with the early worries, this has become my favorite Gurkha to date. It teases you with full flavors, but never really moves past medium-full, and that is just toward the end. Very refined tastes and a nice finish did not leave me overwhelmed for the rest of the night either.

I paid around $10 for this Cellar Reserve, and I was not disappointed. While I don't see it as a bargain, it was certainly a great smoke at a not so bad price point. I would like to see if the initial problems are a fluke, and I do have one of the Prisoners in my humidor, a larger vitola of this. A very, very good effort by the folks at Gurkha.

Valeroso Primavera Refinado

2013-10-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

I had been trying to find time to fit in this boutique brand Valeroso for a few weeks, and finally got the chance on a Saturday morning with my coffee. Wrapped in a shiny, mottled wrapper, the veins and seams were fairly evident as you can see in the picture. Not unattractive, but definitely rustic. The fill was even, no soft spots, and the cigar felt heavy in hand. The wrapper had essentially no scent, mild tobacco at most. The pre-draw was quite sweet, very pleasant. Foot to flame, and off I went.

The initial puffs provided a quick citrus note. This definitely continued into the first third, accompanied by a nice creamy note, in fact, reminding me of coffee with cream. The burn started fine, just a tad tilted, but not bad at all. Smoke output was nice and thick. Moving into the second third, that citrus note hangs around, while the coffee becomes more pronounced, but not as creamy. There is also a nice woody flavor in the background. At this point, the burn has corrected to straight on, and the ash is holding nicely for over an inch. The draw was also perfect throughout, just a bit of resistance, but nice and full.

The final third is here, and the citrus note finally backs down, now mostly wood and a slight kick of pepper. I really enjoyed this cigar, which I paired with coffee. The creaminess and slight sweetness played quite well with my Saturday morning joe. For the remainder, the ash was perfect, firm and burning perfectly straight. I never had to relight or even touch up for that matter. This smoke definitely stayed in the medium range for me, but had a lot of flavor.

I received this cigar as a sample provided by Marie Cabrera of Valerosa Cigars. You can see more at www.valerosocigars.com or follow her on twitter @valerosacigars.

I think these retail in the $8-10 range, and I can see why. This was a very well made, well blended cigar that I really enjoyed. While the rustic appearance at first was different, it won me over and I would definitely like to add some more of these to the humidor. Well done.

E.P. Carrillo Elencos Don Rubino

2013-10-16T07:02:00.001-07:00

I received this 5 1/4 x 50 robusto in a E. P. Carillo robusto sampler. It is a sharp looking stick with a milk chocolate brown wrapper, very light veins, and invisible seams. Adorned with mostly gray and black band, it does look a little different than most EPCs I have smoked, dark and mysterious. The fill was even with just a bit of give, and the cap snipped cleanly. Pre-light draw was delicious, earthy with a sweet blast of milk chocolate. Foot to flame, and off we go.

The initial puff was all black pepper, and a lot of it. Easing into the the first third of the smoke, the pepper does dial down in intensity, but honestly, that is the only flavor I am getting early on. It does produce a lot of smoke, very thick and pungent. The burn through the first half was acceptable, a bit crooked, but nothing requiring and attention. The ash, however, was impressive, holding on almost to the midway point without me having to baby it at all. Moving into the middle of the smoke, the pepper lingers, and some espresso and oak enter fray. It is a solid medium here, but even with the heavy flavor profile, the strength is not overpowering at all.

Moving toward the end, the burn remained about the same, running a bit at times, but never needing any touch-ups. Smoke production was thick all the way to the nub, billowing from the white, firm ash. The strength stayed in the medium range, with the same flavors as the middle for me. I did notice a particularly short finish with this smoke, it really didn't linger at all.

These are a limited production cigar, sporting an MSRP of $9.50. And it is a good smoke, maybe not great, but good. The flavors were nice, but I think they were pretty straight forward with not much complexity. The construction was on par for sure, burning nicely and producing more than ample smoke. A solid, tasty smoke in my opinion, just something left me wanting a bit more.

Ramon Bueso Odyssey Robusto

2013-10-14T11:43:00.002-07:00

I decided to try this robusto on my lunch break for a change of pace. I don't smoke a ton of Connecticut wrapped cigars, but enjoy them when in the mood for a bit lighter smoke from time to time. I hate the grassy taste that many of them have, so I tend to steer clear a lot. But I found a good one here.

The 5 x 50 robusto is a nice looking stick, oily with a nice sheen. There are some visible seams and a small vein, but nothing too bad. The fill is nice and even, with a bit of give. It is a pretty simple band, and as a package, this is a nice looking smoke. I snipped the cap, and the pre-light draw was perfect, just a bit of resistance from a perfect cut. A bit of tobacco was all I detected from the cold draw.

Once I lit this one, I was immediately greeted by a quick hit of white pepper, surprising, but tasty. Moving into the first third, there was a great buttery note I love in a good Connecticut wrapper, with just a little of the pepper lingering on the tongue. Very nutty moving toward the second third, and quite tasty. They burn was perfect, as was the draw and nice white ash. Nice, thick clouds of smoke wafted from each draw. The wrapper did seem a bit thin, and had a couple of very slight cracks through the smoke, however, this did not hinder performance at all for me. The second third remained nutty, an almond note, and the buttery quality danced in an out. It was extremely smooth and creamy at this point.

Moving to the final third, the burn remained straight-on. No touch-ups or relights, and a razor sharp line. This had been in the medium range for me, and stayed there till the end. But a little of the pepper bite returned in the final third that made this a sneaky strong medium smoke. It was really a great lunch time smoke for me.

I was very satisfied with this smoke, in fact, quite surprised. I guess because I expected a milder experience, but it really was medium strength, but with a ton of flavor. The smoke time was right at about 45 minutes for me, which is great for that lunch time treat. MSRP is $7 on these, and I have seen them on sale for less, but I have to say, $7 is right on. This is a really good cigar in that price range. I will be tucking a few of these away to age, as well as work on for a change of pace.