Tiny Tim's Cigar World!

Ortega No. 12 (5x52)

2012-02-12T21:26:00.000-05:00

These are the first lines of cigars under the Ortega trademark. These lines will be introduced during the first quarter of 2012 and will be available only at a limited number of authorized tobacconists in the USA.

All the brands comprise a rich and complex blend of tobaccos grown in South and Central America with Nicaraguan tobaccos from Esteli and Jalapa giving it the prevalent flavors topped off with an excusite choice of Mexican Maduro; Ecuador Habano; Connecticut Broadleaf or Connecticut Natural..

All our brands are manufactured in Esteli, Nicaragua.

This first line of Ortega cigars come in the following 5 sizes:

No. 6 ; 4 1/2x48
No. 7; 5x46
No. 8; 5 1/2x50
No. 10; 6x52 Belicoso
No. 12; 5x52 (being reviewed today)

Wrapper: Mexican Maduro San Andres Valley
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Esteli/Jalapa Viso & Ligero

Boxes of 20 cigars. All the cigars are box pressed.

Video review HERE.

This cigar is very dark and almost jet black. The wrapper is thick and coarse. The filler is quite dense.

The test draw was very good. The first flavors at light up were a sweet, syrup tasting grapefruit citrus, coffee, with a ton of black pepper. The finish was sweet but I could not distinguish the flavors. I decided to let the cigar settle down for a minute or two.

About a half inch in the cigar settled down into one of sweet, rich grapefruit citrus with a thick sweetness, coffee, and a ton of black pepper. The finish is one of vanilla and lingering black pepper. The cigar is full bodied at this point and I do not expect it to change.

I am not surprised that Eddie chose a maduro for his first cigar. When he visited me two years ago before the S.C. Sit Down he had some Murcielago cigars. He really loved them.

At the midpoint the burn was a little off but that's not a deal breaker. The wrapper is quite thick and coarse. There are vanilla notes mixed in the citrus spice that are coming through nicely at this point. The main flavors of sweet, rich grapefruit citrus and coffee are still intact with the vanilla a little more pronounced. The pepper remains quite good on both ends.

The cigar did not change from this point to the end. 'Although the cigar is not complex it is very tasty. I really enjoyed the richness of the sweet grapefruit citrus. The coffee and black pepper were amazing. Lovers of heavy, full bodied maduros will love this cigar. The sweet vanilla finish was great and the lingering black pepper was quite nice. This was a great first cigar from Eddie. I very much enjoyed the cigar and sincerely appreciate the opportunity to review them before they hit the stores.

Score: 93

At the

E. P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 Invictos (5 7/8 x 52)

2012-02-11T20:20:00.000-05:00

Based on the huge success of the New Wave Connecticut and Core Maduro lines the Carrillos decided to experiment with mixing the tobaccos from both of these lines. Ultimately, they fell in love with a blend that consisted of:

Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut (wrapper from New Wave Connecticut)
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf (wrapper from Core Maduro)
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic (filler from Core Maduro)

The New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 captures the best of both lines. Carrillo states that this is probably the best Short Run yet!

The 2012 Short Run will come in the typical 3 Short Run sizes and will be limited to 1000 boxes per size.

Exquisitos
4 7/8x50
$152.40 per box; $6.35 per cigar

Invictos (being reviewed today)
5 7/8x52
$170.40 per box; $7.10 per cigar

Reinados
6 1/4x60
$206.40 per box; $8.60 per cigar

All 3 sizes will be available in boxes of 24.

These cigars will be available in local shops in late February or early March, 2012.

Video Review HERE.

I am very fortunate to get an early sampling of these cigars. They sound simple amazing, utilizing the best ingredients from the New Wave Connecticut and the Core Maduro lines.

The cigar is very well made and densely packed.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. Initially the flavors were very peppery and a lot of cinnamon with some lightly roasted almonds. There is also some orange citrus.

After the cigar settled down the flavors consisted of a very peppery, rich orange citrus which was candy-like. There is nice cinnamon also. The finish was fairly short with almond and vanilla. There is some lingering pepper on the palate. There is a depth to the richness which I attribute to the maduro binder. A nice, rich vanilla also appeared.

At about the 1 inch point the cigar has the richness which I have described in other reviews as port-like. I am reminded of a rich tawny port when smoking this cigar. I really like the richness the cigar has and the finish is now a long vanilla with nice lingering pepper. The 3 main flavors of cinnamon, orange citrus and vanilla make this a very tasty cigar! The cigar is mild to medium at this point.

The cigar remained fairly consistent for the next few inches. After removing the bands the cinnamon notes are forefront. The rich tawny port flavors are still intact but the cinnamon seems to be the lead flavor. The finish has changed somewhat to a french vanilla which is very creamy. The pepper continues to be very good on both ends.

At the end of the cigar the tawny flavors are still the main flavors and the cinnamon is still the lead flavor. The cigar is medium bodied. It achieved medium bodied status at or about the midpoint. I enjoyed the rich flavors very much. This cigar should be on your list of "must try" cigars.

Score: 94

Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Rosado (6x47)

2012-02-04T20:14:00.001-05:00

Country: Domincan Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Rosado
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Unknown, but same as other 8-5-8 cigars
Size: 6.0 x 47 ring

Video review HERE.

It is thought that all 8-5-8 cigars use the same fillers and binder but the wrappers are all different. The Rosado wrapper is highly sought by cigar enthusiasts. I am anxious to review this cigar. The distinguishing red band around the cedar wrapped cigar designates this as the rosado.

The test draw was effortless. Initially there were flavors of cinnamon and almond. The almond has some richness in it. You can really taste the almond on the initial part of the draw. The cinnamon really comes through when you expel the smoke. The pepper is very nice.

About 1/2 inch in the cigar transformed into one of a sweet, rich orange citrus with a sprinkling of cinnamon with some vanilla notes at the tail end. The finish is one of tapioca. Yes, I know that's a weird description but that's what it tastes like. The pepper is very good on the draw but it is not lingering on the finish at this point. But, that also quickly changed. Within 2 draws the pepper started lingering on the finish.

A little over an inch in the cigar had subtle notes of leather. The cigar is very tasty. The tangy-ness of the citrus along with the sweetness of the vanilla and the cinnamon notes really make this a nice cigar. The ash is very light in color. The almond notes tend to come and go.

At the midpoint the cigar has changed several times. All the previously described flavors jockey for prominence with some mixing here and there at any given point. The cigar is what you would describe as complex in my opinion; it changes all the time! The initial draw is so very good! As an example of how it changes so frequently, now the cinnamon is the lead flavor and the citrus is less than half the cinnamon, and there are also some almond and vanilla notes. The pepper seems to be the only consistent at this point; very good on the draw and it is lingering on the finish nicely.

As I approached the band the jockeying of flavors continued. The sweet orange citrus notes and cinnamon are even at this point. Another flavor popped up recently; tea. The tea notes are noticed on the tail end of the expelling of the smoke. They are not always noticed but they pop up here and there.

The cigar ended up just as it smoked with changes happening all along the way. I really enjoyed this cigar and urge you to try them if you haven't. This type cigar really appeals to me. I love the constant changing of flavors.

Score: 93

Eddie Ortega, president of EOBrands, resigns

2012-02-02T09:36:00.001-05:00

(from Cigar Aficionado)

Eddie Ortega, the man behind such boutique cigars as 601, Cubao and Murcielago, has stepped down as president of EOBrands Inc. and left his partnership with Eric Espinosa in order to strike out on his own.

Ortega told Cigar Aficionado that he will be leaving EO and starting Ortega Cigars, a small company headquartered in Sunrise, Florida.

“I’ve wanted to do this for quite some time and now is the right time,” Ortega said. “Eric [Espinosa] is like my brother, but I wanted to be independent.”

Ortega’s new debut brand is called Ortega Serie D, a five-size series made in Nicaragua at My Father Cigars S.A. The cigar is made from a blend of Mexican maduro wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler, and will retail in the $6.20 to $7.80 range.

“I have no interest in the so called limited-release market— plenty of those around. I’d much rather build solid brands. And I’m not looking to be the next big thing,” Ortega said. “I just want to open 300 accounts and that’s it. This way, they can support me, and I can support them.”
Ortega Serie D is scheduled to be released in March.

The cigars from EOBrands are distributed by Rocky Patel, who owns 50 percent of the company. Patel confirmed that Ortega is leaving. The other 50 percent ownership was split between Ortega and Espinosa who are now finalizing the details of a buyout deal.

On a personal note, Eddie attended the South Carolina Sit Down 2 years ago. I wish him a huge success in his new cigar venture. Below is a pic of Eddie and I at the event.

CAO La Traviata to introduce popular Luminoso frontmark in a new maduro version

2012-02-02T08:37:00.000-05:00

CAO La Traviata will introduce the popular “Luminoso” frontmark in a new Maduro version, making its retail debut later this week.

Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Ecuadoran-wrapped CAO La Traviata Luminoso, the new Maduro version features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper to lend a touch of sweetness to the critically-acclaimed blend.

At 4.5” x 50, the new Rothschild will be available for an SRP of $5.10 per cigar, or $153 for a 30-count box.

“CAO La Traviata ‘Luminoso’ is one of our top sellers, so it was only natural that we gave CAO fans a new take on one of their favorite cigars,” said Ed McKenna, CAO’s senior brand manager. “Rick Rodriguez and I are looking forward to receiving some great feedback about CAO La Traviata Maduro Luminoso on our website, caocigars.com.”

Macanudo welcomes 2 new frontmarks

2012-02-02T08:32:00.000-05:00

Macanudo, America’s best-selling premium cigar brand, is adding two new large-ring frontmarks to its lineup.

Making their retail debut this week are Macanudo Café Gigante and Macanudo Maduro Gigante.

Created in response to consumer demand for large-ring offerings, both the Macanudo Café and Macanudo Maduro Gigante cigars measure 6” x 60. Each will be packed in a 25 count box and sold for an SRP per cigar of $7.99, or $199.75, SRP per box.

“Macanudo fans have told us they get more bang for the buck out of large ring cigars, so we came out with the Gigante frontmark to round out the Café and Maduro lines. With so many cigar smokers reaching for large-rings these days, the new Gigantes are sure to become top-sellers,” said Bill Chilian, director of marketing for Macanudo.

Alec Bradley Black Market Toro

2012-01-29T21:48:00.000-05:00

Alec Bradley Black Market Toro (6 x 50)

Video Review HERE.

Alec Bradley Black Market cigars are blended with Honduran Jamastran (pronounced "ha-mas-tran") and Panamanian longfillers, Sumatra binder, and semi-sweet Nicaraguan Jalapa wrapper cured to a dark, shimmering patina.

The cigar is very dark! It is also quite dense.

After cutting the cap the test draw was very good. The cigar's flavors were pure coffee! There was nice black pepper also but the coffee was amazing!

After a half inch in the flavors settled down a bit. Now the flavors are dark semi-sweet chocolate with some grapefruit citrus and a decent amount of pepper. The finish is rather short and one of a faint vanilla.

At the 1 1/4 inch point the burn was off a bit. I am smoking the cigar slowly, or so I thought. Apparently you have to smoke this cigar VERY slowly. I will slow down and allow the burn to correct itself. At this point almonds have been added to the initial flavors and the cigar is sweeter. The pepper is nice and not overbearing. It also lingers on the finish along with a creamy vanilla.

Approaching the midpoint the burn did even out. The almond notes are becoming rich and making the cigar very nice. I thought this was a great change!

At the midpoint I am revising one description. The dark chocolate can be best described as a bitter sweet semi-sweet dark chocolate, along with the grapefruit notes and rich almond notes and decent pepper. The finish is indeed one of a sweet, creamy vanilla that is fairly long with lingering black pepper. This description best describes the cigar at this point.

About 2/3 the way through the cigar had no major changes.

At the end of the cigar it wraps up better than the Prensado. I think this would be a great after dinner cigar with a cup of coffee. It finished up just as it was a the midpoint. I enjoyed this cigar, perhaps more than I thought I would. I can see why people like this cigar!

Score: 92

Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill

2012-01-28T20:46:00.002-05:00

Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill (7x48)

This is my first experience with this cigar. As you know, it was named Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year for 2011. While I respect their opinion I differ from their opinions on many occasions. I want to find out for myself how good this cigar is. I will give you my honest opinions of it. You may remember that a few weeks back I gave the Alec Bradley New Yorker Six Two a rating of 94. I really enjoyed that cigar. I wonder how the Prensado will stack up against it. Well, let's see.

Wrapper: COROJO 2006 HONDURAS

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua

Strength: Full

Video Review HERE.

The cigar is box pressed, a first for Alec Bradley.

There are 5 other sizes available: Corona Gorda, Double T, Gran Toro, Robusto and Torpedo.
The Prensado Churchill is blended using Central American tobacco exclusively, including a very dark wrapper leaf grown in a southern area of Honduras called Trojes. The Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill is handmade at the Raices Cubanas factory in Danli, Honduras.

After clipping the cap I found the draw to be a bit firm. The cigar is a very dark brown. The initial flavors were sweet citrus and coffee with nice pepper. The finish was undetermined at this point.

After a couple minutes the flavors settled down into grapefruit citrus and cinnamon with coffee, black pepper and some sweetness. The finish is fairly short with vanilla notes and lingering pepper.

About an inch or so into the cigar there have been no significant changes. Rather than be influenced by other reviews I decided to not read anything about this cigar before having it. I will wait and see how the cigar develops.

At the midpoint I can see no changes. The grapefruit citrus and cinnamon are still the only primary flavors, along with the pepper. At times the cinnamon seems to be the lead flavor but that's about the only change.

Just before the band the cigar developed some richness in the flavors. That was a nice change. There was also a little more sweetness.

There were no major changes up to the end of the cigar. I must say that I am very surprised by this cigar. I waited for it to explode with rich flavors but unfortunately that never happened. I found the cigar to be medium bodied. While I respect Cigar Aficionado's ratings I have at times disagreed with them. This would appear to be one of those times. While I found the cigar to be good it was not great. I am a huge fan of rich citrus flavors but I did not find them in this cigar. The Alec Bradley New Yorker was a far better tasting cigar. I would not have put this as the cigar of the year but since everyone has different tastes I would like you to let me know your thoughts on the cigar.

Score: 90

Viaje Oro Torpedo

2012-01-22T21:58:00.000-05:00

Vieje Oro Torpedo (6x52)

Owner of Viaje cigar Brands Andre Farkas has been creating blends that have been receiving tremendous buzz throughout the cigar world. His blends are extremely limited production cigars, most of which sell out in only a few days. Viaje has teamed up with the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, makers of some of the finest cigars made with Nicaraguan tobacco on the market today. The Viaje Oro cigar brand are Nicaraguan puro's, which means they are made using 100% Nicaraguan tobacco. This blend is full bodied, made with a Corojo '99 wrapper, Viaje goes one step further with the making of their cigars by using two Nicaraguan binders which provides additional complexity to their cigars. High quality grade 'A' fillers are used to finish up this outstanding blend.

Video review HERE.

The cigar is a beautiful reddish brown and very well made. After clipping the cap the test draw was good. I lit the cigar and the first flavors were heavy leather with some light grapefruit notes and a lot of black pepper. The cigar feels full bodied even at this early stage. I let the cigar sit a minute.

After a minute or two the flavors settled down into leather, grapefruit citrus, vanilla and pepper. The finish is one of almond, which I found unusual. The cigar has some sweetness.

The ash is very dark.

After an inch and a half the grapefruit notes are more prominent. The leather has taken more of a secondary place. The pepper is very good. The cigar seems more balanced now. The finish is more of a creamy vanilla now.

Just a bit further the cigar showed signs of richness. I found this to be a good change. The vanilla seems to be giving the cigar it's richness. The burn is very even.

The cigar did not change much through the end. The cigar is very leathery, so if you like leathery cigars you will like this cigar. The other flavors of grapefruit citrus and vanilla added to the cigar nicely. The pepper remained very good throughout. I enjoyed this cigar but it is not one I would smoke everyday.

Score: 90

Camacho Havana Diadema

2012-01-21T18:37:00.000-05:00

Camacho Havana Diadema (8x60)

The cigar comes in a coffin. Here are several pics of the presentation.

When this cigar first came out in the 60's, it was manufactured in Nicaragua until production was moved to it's present home in Honduras. Very close to the Camacho Corojo line, with Corojo Binder and filler, this cigar is distinguished by it's Criollo leaf, grown in the same Jamastran Valley the Corojo tobaccos are from.

Camacho also makes a corojo diadema. Along with the Havana, these are the largest cigars made by Camacho. They normally come in boxes of 10. "The shape of the diadema really allows from some great complexity," said Dylan Austin, head of marketing for Camacho. "If you smoked a robusto or other shape in these blends and then smoke the Diadema, you'll see what I mean."

The cigars are both made entirely from Honduran tobaccos grown on Tabacos Rancho Jamastran, a farm owned and operated by Julio Eiroa, former owner of Camacho. The Corojo is made from Corojo-seed wrappers, while the Havana is made from a different variety of Cuban seed tobacco. All Camachos are rolled in Danlí, Honduras. The Havana has a Habano Criollo wrapper. Criollo means native in Spanish.

Wrapper: Habano Criollo
Binder: Authentic corojo
Filler: Authentic corojo

Video review HERE.

I think this shape of a cigar is simply beautiful.

After cutting the cap I lit the "nipple" and let it spread.

Initially there were a lot of sweet citrus.

After just a couple minutes the flavors were sweet grapefruit citrus with rich almond notes and a nice amount of pepper. The richness was very nice. The finish is one of subtle vanilla with slight notes of grapefruit with lingering pepper.

After an inch or so vanilla notes appeared on the spice. I noticed a slight softness on the cigar but it wasn't too bad. The finish has a smoky flavor now. The cigar continues to be very flavorful.

Approaching the midpoint and I'm well over an hour into it. The richness seems to come and go at times. The primary flavors remain the same.

The cigar continued with the same flavors until the end. The cigar approached full bodied but never quite made it. I would call this cigar medium to full bodied. This was not the best Camacho I've ever had but I did enjoy it and would purchase it again.

Score: 89

Oliva V Belicoso

2012-01-15T21:01:00.000-05:00

Oliva V Belicoso (5x52)

The Oliva website describes the V as:

Serie V is a complex blend of Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos. Blended with specially fermented Jalapa Valley ligero, and finished with a high priming Habano Sun Grown Wrapper.

Wrapper: Habano Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligero

Video review HERE.

This cigar was provided by Cigars Direct.

The V is a well made cigar that is almost flawless in construction. It is also very dense

After cutting a small part of the cap the test draw was a little firm. The initial flavors were a sweet almond with decent pepper.

The flavors quickly change to orange citrus, leather and a lot of pepper.

About an inch in the cigar settled down into one of orange citrus, leather and pepper with a finish of vanilla and a touch of lingering pepper.

Just a bit further the cigar developed some richness which I really liked. The finish changed a bit. Now in addition to the vanilla there is raw almond. The finish begins with raw almonds and ends with the vanilla. That's pretty nice.

A little past halfway the cigar is now feeling full bodied and you can also feel the ligero. The ligero in this cigar is fairly sneaky. You don't really notice it until well after the cigar burns, usually around the midpoint. The cigar remains quite rich. The burn is very even.

At the end of the cigar it remained consistent. The V is a very good cigar with sneaky ligero that you can really feel. It is full bodied with a lot of flavor. These are a standard in the cigar industry.

Score: 92

Esteban Carreras 187 Maduro Torpedo

2012-01-14T20:55:00.000-05:00

Esteban Carreras 187 Maduro Torpedo (6 1/8 x 52)

Esteban Carreras cigars are produced in two different factories. One is in Santiago, Dominican Republic and the other is in Esteli, Nicaragua. This cigar is all Nicaraguan so I would think it was made in Esteli.

Video review HERE.

It has a dark maduro wrapper and since it's all Nicaraguan I am quite excited to sample it. It is well made and dense.

The test draw after cutting the tip of the cap was very good. The initial flavors were a sweet coffee and vanilla with some pepper. The finish was a mediocre vanilla.

1/2 inch in the cigar was not too exciting. I am still hopeful though. The spice is more of a sweet dark chocolate with some pepper. The finish is vanilla-ish with some sweetness.

About 1 1/2 inch in the flavors are coffee and sweet grapefruit and some pepper. The finish is one of vanilla and lightly roasted almonds with no significant pepper.

Just past the midpoint the coffee notes are very strong. They appear to be overtaking the grapefruit citrus. Not much else has changed at this point.

At the end of the cigar it remained one of coffee, faint grapefruit citrus and almond. The pepper was decent. The cigar never took off for me. I had high hopes but this particular cigar just didn't do it for me.

Score: 84

Alec Bradley New Yorker Six Two Robusto

2012-01-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

Alec Bradley New Yorker Six Two Robusto (5.25x52)

This is a very interesting cigar. Alan Rubin, owner of Alec Bradley Cigars, produced this cigar to be sold only in New York state cigar shops; nowhere else. His reason for the extreme love for New York stems from his parents being from New York City. He also realized that New Your has a horrible tax of 75% on the wholesale cost of cigars. His intent was to produce a great cigar that could be sold for a reasonable price for the New York market. This cigar, the robusto, sells for $11 in New York inclusive of all taxes. That may not seem "reasonable" but when you realize that the cigar should be an $8 cigar normally, and the wholesale price is around $4, you would then add $3 tax to the cigar making it $7 at the wholesale level. Add in the $4 profit margin and you're now at the $11 selling price. I suppose that's a decent price in New York!

These cigars are made in Honduras.
Made By: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L. factory
Size: “Six Two” Robusto 5 1/4″ x 52
Wrapper: Honduran Criollo ’98
Filler: Honduran & Nicaraguan
Binder: Honduran Criollo ’98

Now, on to the review.

Video review HERE.

The cigar is a beautiful reddish brown and quite dense.

After clipping a small amount of the cap the test draw was effortless. The initial flavors were leather, cinnamon, and nice pepper. The cigar was quite leathery.

A few minutes later the cigar settled down into one of leather and prominent grapefruit citrus and vanilla and they are very sweet. There are coffee notes also. The finish is sweet vanilla; almost sugary.

A couple inches in the main flavor is rich, sweet cinnamon to go along with the leather. The finish is so sweet it's more like a caramel. The pepper lingers somewhat on the finish. The cigar remains a very leathery one. The richness in the spice is very nice. The vanilla notes are secondary.

I looked online to find the significance to the Six Two name but I could not find it. Apparently it is a reference to New York but it is unknown to me. The cigar is medium to full bodied. I am enjoying this cigar a lot!

With about 1 1/2 inches left the cinnamon flavors are joined by espresso coffee. The finish also has a vanilla/coffee mix. That was a big change. Coffee notes are everywhere in the cigar.

At the end of the cigar the rich cinnamon notes came back. Coffee is also in the main spice flavors but not nearly as much as it was just a few minutes ago. The finish is back to a vanilla/caramel mix. The burn was very good throughout. The cigar was very good and I am surprised that it's in such a limited market. This cigar could sell very well in any part of the country. You can find these cigars online if you look so you can still enjoy them. I enjoyed this cigar quite a bit.

Score: 94

San Lotano Habano Toro

2012-01-07T21:01:00.000-05:00

San Lotano Habano Toro (6x54)

A dark Habano wrapper surrounds this well made cigar. It appears to be triple capped and very dense.

San Lotano cigars are produced by A. J. Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua. The filler tobaccos are grown from prized seeds which are proprietary only to the Fernandez family.

Wrapper: Brazilian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, Dominican Republic

Video review HERE.

The test draw was very good. I detected a lot of spice on the draw even before it was lit. Upon lighting the initial flavors were a very peppery citrus which I would describe as tangerine citrus and lightly roasted almonds. The pepper is very, very good.

With a few minutes under it's belt the cigar settled down into the tangerine and vanilla notes with light roasted almond notes. There is also some depth to the cigar from coffee notes. The pepper is very good and it's lingering. The finish is one of vanilla at this point and lingering pepper. I could feel it on my palate and back of my tongue.

With about an inch and a half the cigar developed a nice richness. The orange and vanilla has a nice rich, tangy flavor. The almond is somewhat subtle. The pepper remains very prominent.

At the midpoint there was an additional flavor which was cinnamon. The main flavors are still tangerine and vanilla and the cinnamon and almond are more subtle.

The cigar remained fairly consistent until the end. The flavors wound up with mainly tangerine and vanilla with coffee notes and more subtle flavors of cinnamon and almond with continued black pepper. The finish remained one of vanilla and light citrus with lingering black pepper. I would call this cigar medium bodied. I found this to be a good cigar for the first review of the new year. I would suggest trying one for yourself.

Score: 93

Partagas Salamone LCDH Edition

2011-12-31T21:40:00.003-05:00

Partagas Salomone LCDH Edition (7.2x57) [2008]

I picked up this cigar in the La Casa del Habano in Cozumel, Mexico in September. It has a manufacture date of 2008. You may remember it from pictures in my write-up on our cruise. I have been saving it for New Year's Eve and tonight is the night!

The cigar is simply beautiful. Great construction. There are two bands on the cigar; the typical Partagas band and the La Casa del Habano band. This particular Partagas was produced for sale only in La Casa del Habanos.

Prices at LCDH's are a little high. This cigar cost me $28. Since I love the PSD4's and Partagas in general purchasing this cigar was a no brainer.

After a small clip of the cap the test draw was very good. I lit the small tip of the foot and sat back to enjoy. The flavors were sweet vanilla, raw almond and some cedar notes with nice pepper. The cigar is mild to medium at this point.

After an inch the cigar became one of a very rich vanilla primarily with underlying cedar and roasted almonds. The sweetness of the rich vanilla is great. The pepper sort of hangs around subtly.

About 1/2 inch further and there were some coffee notes. The cedar notes are more prominent now along with the roasted almonds and vanilla. The cigar seems to be more medium bodied now and the pepper is more intense. The finish is one of sweet, raw almonds.

Another 1/2 inch or so and the rich vanilla takes the lead flavor with a mix of cedar and coffee notes with roasted almonds. The pepper continues to improve. The finish is lightly roasted almonds with a touch of lingering pepper. The richness of the vanilla is very nice.

At the midpoint the favors are evenly mixed. I can detect the vanilla, cedar, coffee, and roasted almonds but they appear to be evenly distributed. No one flavor has the lead. The pepper is now at a very good amount. It started off very subtle but now is very good. The ash is very tight. At this point I have only ashed the cigar twice and both times I was afraid it was about to fall so I broke it off. I normally do not like to do this but again, I thought it would fall in my lap due to it's length. It was so tight that I actually had to apply pressure to it to break it! That's a tight ash! The cigar is approaching medium to full bodied too.

With about 3 inches left the cigar is now one of mainly cedar and rich almond notes. The vanilla notes are subtle. The pepper continues to be very good. For a typical Cuban cigar it's just about at the full bodied point. The finish now has cedar notes with some vanilla and almond notes with lingering pepper.

With 2 inches left the cedar notes are again prominent and they are rich! I believe the richness is achieved with the almond notes. The vanilla notes have disappeared at this point but the cedar and almonds are doing quite nicely on their own. The pepper remains great. The finish, however has cedar and vanilla notes along with nice lingering pepper.

The cigar continued with the same great flavors to the end. This is a monster of a cigar that lasted a little over 2 1/2 hours! It finished fairly full bodied.

These are only available at La Casa del Habanos so if you can get your hands on one you won't be disappointed!

Score: 92

Top cigars of 2011

2011-12-28T11:24:00.004-05:00

I reviewed 94 cigars this year. Now, it's time to talk about the best of the best. Below are my picks for top cigars of the year. 11 cigars achieved a score of 94 or higher! For a complete list of cigars reviewed you can email me at ticotych@hotmail.com and I will send the "word formatted" list.

Click on the cigar name of the top rated cigars for a direct link to the review. Most of the reviews in the direct link also have a video review.

This year's top reviewed cigars are...

97 pts.

Ashton VSG Spellbound (7.5x49) *BEST CIGAR OF 2011*

This has to be one of the most complex cigars I've ever smoked! It is easily the best cigar I've had this year. I absolutely loved it!

96 pts. (2 cigars with this rating)

E. P. Carrillo Elenco Series Elites (6x54)

The Carrillo's should be very proud of this cigar. The richness of this cigar makes it a joy to smoke. I highly recommend it. This cigar seems to be a little richer than the Limitada 2010 and the price point is better giving this cigar a higher score.

Padron Family Reserve no. 45 natural toro (6x52)

At the end of the cigar I found myself thinking back over the many flavors it had. It changed so many times. This is a great cigar worthy of high praise.

95 pts. (5 cigars with this rating)

Illusione mj12 (6x54)

This was an excellent cigar. Numerous changes. A full bodied, flavorful cigar that has a tremendous amount of black pepper. Any lover of Nicaraguan cigars will love it. I highly recommend it.

Fuente Opus X D'Chateau (7x48)

To sum up, the cigar was one of cinnamon, rich orange citrus and a ton of black pepper. The finish was long with vanilla notes, then changed to rich vanilla, then to rich vanilla with almond. I really enjoyed this cigar and highly recommend it.

Monte Pascoal Minutos (4 3/8x42)

I brought out my nubbing tool to enjoy the last bits of this cigar. I is a pronged device sort of like what you would use to eat corn on the cob. This cigar is amazingly good. If you like rich cinnamon, citrus, and almonds you will love this cigar. If you love pepper you'll love this cigar. This cigar is simply great.

Perdomo Exhibicion Sun Grown Robusto (5x54)

As the cigar burns it gets richer. The cigar continued it's great flavor right to the end. The cigar did not change much at all making it very consistent. I am a huge fan of rich, sweet citrus and I absolutely loved this cigar. They are new to the market so get out and grab a few for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Fuente Opus X Double Corona (7 5/8x49)

The cinnamon and vanilla flavors remained strong and I enjoyed the port flavors. The finish was very good with vanilla and port flavors. The pepper was very good on both ends. A great cigar and among the best Opus X cigars that I have smoked.

94 pts. (3 cigars with this rating)
Arturo Fuente Anejo Reserva no. 48 (7x48)

This is a very good, sweet cigar with lots of coffee notes and tawny port flavors. There are also leather and cedar notes. The pepper is very good. The finish is one of primarily vanilla but at times there is the addition of raw almond notes. This is a great cigar that you should try.

Litto Gomez Diez Americano 2009 (5 3/4x46)

I found this to be a great cigar. The sweet cinnamon, rich vanilla, and orange citrus along with the powerful black pepper last throughout the entire smoke. Lovers of full bodied cigars will really enjoy this cigar. I have to be honest, I smoke a lot of cigars and this cigar hit me like a ton of bricks.

E. P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut El Decano (6x60)

This cigar was very consistent from the 1 1/2 inch point onward. The rich orange citrus notes combined with the vanilla and almond notes make for a wonderful experience. The cigar is ultra rich. Another great addition to the New Wave Connecticut family.

The best of the rest...

93 pts.
Sencillo robusto (5 1/4x50
E. P. Carrillo Core Line Maduro Golosos (6 1/8x60)
Amilcar Perez Castro robusto (5x50)
Savinelli Special Selection 2006 (5 1/2x50)
Perdomo2 Limited Edition 2008 torpedo (6.2x54)
Pride Cigars Bandolero Billy the Kid (5x50)
Arturo Fuente Don Arturo Gran AniverXario Sungrown (6 1/4x44)
Vegas de Santiago Don Luis Secretos de Maestro Barber Pole torpedo (6 1/8x52)

92 pts.
Vegas de Santiago Don Luis Gordo (6x60)
La Gloria Cubana Serie N #58 (6 1/2x58)
Arturo Fuente Anejo Reserva #77 Shark (5 5/8x54)
Opus X Perfecxion no. 4 (5 3/16x43)
Warlock Churchill (7x54)
Room 101 LTD Conjura (4 3/4x50)
E. P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Divinos (6x52)
Graycliff Maroon torpedo (6x54)
E. P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes (5x50)
Don Pepin Garcia Los Imperialistas torpedo (6 1/8x52)
La Herencia de Cuba White Label torpedo (6 1/8x52)
Casa Magna Domus Magus Limitada (6 1/2x55)
Perdomo Exhibicion Connecticut churchill (7x54)
Savinelli Dos Compeones Coraje Esteliano (4 1/2x48)
Perdomo ESV 2002 Maduro Epicure (6x54)
Pride Ritual torpedo (6 1/4x54)
La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale Club (5 3/4x47)
Liga Undercrown Gran Toro (6x52)

There were many more very good cigars but these are the best. I enjoyed smoking each one of them and look forward to 2011 and a whole new batch of great cigars! I would like to thank you for reading my blog and please feel free to comment. Here's wishing everyone a great 2012!

Torano Family Cigar Co. hosts 2nd annual toy drive in Miami

2011-12-27T14:30:00.000-05:00

(Miami, FL) December 19, 2011— Toraño Family Cigar Co. partnered up with media sponsors Cigar Snob Magazine, Social Florida Magazine, and South Florida Luxury Magazine along with local radio station 880 AM The Biz for the second annual Toraño Family Holiday Toy Drive this past Wednesday, December 7. This toy drive benefits Neat Stuff for Kids which is a Miami based non for profit organization whose main focus is to provide brand new clothing to children who come from abused and underprivileged homes.

Jorge Guevara of 880 the Biz, Franklin Monjarrez of Neat Stuff for Kids and Carlos Llaca-Torano with toys collected at Toy Drive.

Toraño Family Cigar Co. hosted over 300 guests at Andalus restaurant located in the vibrant Design District in Miami. Guests were asked to bring an unwrapped toy to be part of this amazing gathering which featured Torano family’s award winning cigars and cocktails courtesy of Abuelo Rum and Chambord Vodka. Guests were also treated to delicious bites courtesy of Andalus which specializes in gourmet Spanish cuisine.

Jack Torano and Carlos Llaca-Torano

Toraño Family Cigar Co. was represented by Carlos Llaca-Toraño and Jack Toraño who provided a wide array of Toraño cigars to include new release Loyal. Guests smoked Toraño’s best under the Miami stars in Andalus’ smoker friendly terrace. Carlos and Jack were only happy to cut and light cigars for guests while sharing information with event goers about Toraño family history and its cigars blends.

Guests enjoying Torano cigars

Franklin Monjarrez, Executive Director of Neat Stuff for Kids who is a Toraño cigar smoker himself said, “It is special when a local company like Torano Family Cigar Co. cares enough about the community to once again host this amazing event benefiting our charity which helps those children who need help the most.

Charlie Toraño, President of Toraño Family Cigar Co. said,” We appreciate the support we receive from our community here in South Florida and the best way to show that appreciation is to give back to those who need help the most. Neat Stuff for Kids is truly an amazing organization that touches the lives of underprivileged children every day. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to host this Holiday event for the second time which brought awareness to its cause.”

Arturo Fuente Anejo #48

2011-12-26T20:34:00.000-05:00

Arturo Fuente Anejo #48 (7x48)

A dark, well made cigar. Arturo Fuente Anejo is one of the world’s rarest cigars. It features a dark maduro wrapper that is aged in cognac barrels. Each cigar is aged for 5 years and then cured an additional 6-8 months in cognac barrels to bring out the full potential of the tobacco used. The anejo features a blend of select tobaccos from the Opus X, Hemingway, and Don Carlos line, giving it a rich and vibrant flavor. Usually only available during Christmas time and Fathers Day.

I actually reviewed this cigar way back on January 9th or this year but let's take another shot at it. This cigar was provided by Cigars Direct.

Video review HERE.

The band clearly says Anejo on the bottom.

The test draw was very good. It is quite dense.

The cigar started off with coffee, molasses, and vanilla notes with a ton of black pepper. The cigar feels full bodied even at the outset.

About 1/2 inch in the cigar settled down into the same notes as above with the addition of leather notes. All the flavors in this cigar at this point are "dark". This cigar would probably pair well with coffee or bourbon (straight bourbon; no water or coke) The cigar is expected to take several turns. The finish is one of thick, sweet vanilla with some faint almond notes. The pepper lingers along the palate and on the tongue. The cigar is burning very evenly.

After only another 1/2 inch the cigar made a change to one of rich, sweet orange citrus. The coffee and leather notes are still there along with the black pepper. The cigar is quite rich at this point. You can taste the richness immediately on the draw! There are slight hints of almonds also; lightly roasted almonds.

About another 1/2 inch or so I decided to reevaluate my description of the rich notes. They now seem to be one of a rich tawny port. Yes, you could describe them as orange citrus but I'll stick with the tawny port description. The leather notes are more noticeable. All the flavors work well together.

With about 2 1/2 inches remaining the cigar has not changed much from my last description. The finish has more of a raw almond flavor along with the vanilla. The pepper has remained quite good. The last description of the main flavor as one of tawny port is still accurate. They are somewhat subdued at this point however. There was an addition of cedar notes. Other than that the cigar remains about the same.

At the end of the cigar it wrapped up very similar to my original review back in January. This is a very good, sweet cigar with lots of coffee notes and tawny port flavors. There are also leather and cedar notes. The pepper is very good. The finish is one of primarily vanilla but at times there is the addition of raw almond notes. This is a great cigar that you should try. They tend to not stay around long at local shops so act fast!

Score: 94

Cigar(s) of the Year coming!

2011-12-22T14:57:00.001-05:00

I have reviewed 94 cigars so far this year with many of them including video reviews. There have been some very good cigars and I will highlight the top ones. 11 cigars actually achieved a rating of 94 or higher! That's impressive. Some were not as fortunate. Remember, these ratings are all based on my opinion and while you may not always agree with me the point of the review is to describe the cigar in such a way that you know what it's like before you try it. Then, after you have the cigar you can see what you think. Every one's tastes are different. I strive to be honest with my reviews. If I like a cigar you'll know it. I will never berate a cigar but if it's not for me I'll be sure to tell you that also.

Look for the year end recap of the top cigars next week!

As always, thank you for reading my blog and feel free to comment on anything you see here. I like to hear your feedback, be it good or bad.

Vegas de Santiago Don Luis Secretos del Maestro Barber Pole Torpedo

2011-12-18T20:00:00.001-05:00

Vegas de Santiago Don Luis Secretos del Maestro Barber Pole Torpedo (6 1/8x52)

Vegas de Santiago is a small cigar factory in Costa Rica. Long time sponsors of our S.C. Sit Down, several of their cigars have been reviewed by me with very high marks. The VdS site describes the Don Luis this way:

We have created this cigar in memory of our late Cuban master Don Luis Lamas who was one of the 10 best in the world. We have chosen the finest tobaccos available in Nicaragua and Costa Rica for the filler plus a special leaf for a more sophisticated taste with an Indonesian binder and a Connecticut wrapper from Ecuador.

They also offer this cigar with an H2000 wrapper. This cigar appears to be made with a combination of the Connecticut and H2000 wrapper. It is a beautifully made barber pole torpedo with flawless construction. The cigar is very dense.

After cutting the cap the test draw was effortless. The initial flavors were a sweet combination of vanilla and raw almond with orange citrus and nice pepper. There are hints of cedar. The finish is one of sweet citrus with vanilla.

The cigar quickly gains richness. At the 3/4" point the orange citrus notes become more prominent and combine nicely with the vanilla. The almond notes take a lessor roll. The pepper is starting to linger somewhat on the finish which is still a thick, sweet citrus with vanilla undertones. The cedar notes are still hanging around.

Perhaps the most amazing point about the VdS cigars is their price point. They are extremely affordable. Make no mistake, these are world class cigars. Holding one in your hand and inspecting it makes you aware of just how well made these cigars are. They are simply flawlessly made!

At the midpoint the raw almond notes are combining with the cedar notes much more. The vanilla notes are also stronger. The orange citrus notes are subtle at this point. The finish is an interesting combination of cedar, vanilla, and subtle citrus. There is some lingering pepper.

This cigar would be described as medium bodied.

With 2 inches left the cigar has changed back to one of rich orange citrus notes and vanilla! The cedar is also back with subtle almond notes. The pepper has increased slightly from the beginning of the cigar. The finish is back to sweet orange citrus, vanilla, and subtle almonds.

Just a bit further, with about an inch and a half left, the cigar has become quite rich. The richness appears to be coming from the almonds. The cedar notes are playing second place with the vanilla completing the flavors. The orange citrus notes appear to be subtle.

The cigar finished up with those citrus notes appearing again with the rich almond notes and nice pepper. The cedar notes are somewhat subtle along with the vanilla notes. The finish was more of a rich vanilla with cedar notes. Quite a good cigar that made some nice changes.

I am not sure if these cigars are a regular production of VdS but you should try them. They are quite good and have a fantastic price point! VdS makes some great cigars!

Score: 93

Casa Magna Colorado Belicoso

2011-12-10T17:53:00.000-05:00

Casa Magna Colorado Belicoso (6 1/4x54)

The Casa Magna represents the ultimate collaboration between two cigar legends, Manuel Quesada of the Fonseca enterprise and Nestor Plasencia. Nestor’s farms produced the Nicaraguan puro leaves used in the construction of this very new cigar introduced to the world in 2008. The Nicaraguan filler is embraced by a very special Cuban-seeded Colorado Ligero wrapper also grown in Nicaragua.

Casa Magna means great house. It is a Nicaraguan Puro. Casa Magna cigars are rolled in Nestor Plascencia's Segovia factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Made with an oily Colorado wrapper and blended with Nicaraguan fillers and binder.

Casa Magna cigars are available at Cigars Direct.

The cigar has a beautiful reddish brown wrapper. Upon cutting the cap I gave it a test draw and it was effortless. I was a little concerned since the cigar is so dense.

(Because of time restrictions there is no video review.)

The first draws were heavy, sweet cinnamon and cedar with hints of citrus and almond with nice pepper. The finish was one of sweet vanilla.

About 3/4 inch in, where normally a cigar settles down into it's main flavors, this cigar remained one of heavy sweet cinnamon and cedar mainly. There are notes of coffee, vanilla and almond also. The hints of citrus are gone for now. We'll see if they return. The finish is still vanilla but now there are light almond notes.

At the 1 1/2 inch point the coffee notes are much stronger. They mix well with the cinnamon notes which are still the main flavor. There is still sweet vanilla and some roasted almond notes. The pepper is good but not heavy. The finish remains the same; vanilla and light almond notes.

At the midpoint the cigar has really not changed. I guess you could say it's consistent. For a Nicaraguan I'm a little surprised at the heavy cinnamon and cedar but it's a pleasing flavor.

The cigar all along has shown hints of becoming very rich but it just hasn't quite reached it. Oh, it's quite sweet but not fully rich. Here, with about 2 1/2 inches left the cigar show signs of ruby port flavors. These are just hints at this point and I'm curious is they will develop further.

The finish continues to be a very sweet vanilla with light almond notes. The cigar is full bodied.

As the cigar wound down it remained one of heavy, sweet cinnamon and cedar. The ruby port notes are still very faint and do not appear to be getting any stronger. There are still vanilla and almond notes but they are subtle. The pepper has really not changed and remains good but not overly strong. If you like cigars with lots of cinnamon and cedar notes you'll love this cigar.

Score: 90

Ashton VSG Spellbound

2011-12-05T08:24:00.006-05:00

Ashton VSG Spellbound (7.50x54)

The Ashton cigars were born in 1985 when Robert Levin sought the creation of a marque cigar to revitalize his family’s Philadelphia-based company. Combining a Dominican filler with the finest Connecticut leaf wrapper, Levin unveiled a masterpiece renowned for its consistently high quality and aromatic excellence.

Continuous improvement and innovation have been the hallmarks of Ashton Cigars since its inception, and this visionary trait gave rise to the development and launch of the Ashton VSG in 1999. Retaining the excellent Dominican filler Levin’s company has always employed, the Ashton VSG would be made with the almost ethereal Ecuadorian “cloud leaf” wrapper, imparting a potency mellowed by a curiously sweet undertone.

The Ashton VSG has been consistently ranked among the best of the non-Cuban cigars since its debut. The VSG’s deep, rich, and dark color belies its tobacco’s affinity for the sun.

VSG is an abbreviation for Virgin Sun Grown.

Wrapper: Virgin Sun Grown Ecuadorian
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic

Ashton VSG cigars are available at Cigars Direct.

Video review HERE. (the video has audio problems during the first segment. Those clear up after that point.)

The test draw was effortless especially for a very dense cigar.

The initial flavors were leather, cinnamon and light citrus notes. The finish was one of leather. It's early so let's see how it progresses.

About 1/4 inch in the flavors were leather, slightly sweet grapefruit citrus and vanilla. The finish is a citrus vanilla and some lingering pepper.

At about the one inch point the cigar developed a very nice richness. The vanilla became quite rich and it carried over to the finish.

Just a bit further the cigar developed notes of cinnamon. The burn is very even. The cigar has already shown signs of being quite complex.

The ash was very tight and easily got to 1 1/2 inches before it dropped off. The cigar is still very rich. It is full bodied. The pepper is nice on both ends. The finish has notes of ruby port and is very sweet.

Just a bit further the cigar had those ruby port flavors on the draw. They combine with the vanilla notes to give a very nice flavor. It seems the cigar changes almost every other minute! The cigar has flavors of ruby port, cinnamon and vanilla with hints of almond.

Just past the midpoint the ruby port flavors gave way to cinnamon and vanilla. The port flavors are still there but just subtle.

With about 2 inches left the cinnamon notes are in the lead. The vanilla notes round out the cigar. The finish is one of a thick, rich vanilla. Again the cigar has changed.

With about 1 1/2 inches left the leather notes are much more noticeable. The mix well with the cinnamon. The port flavors seem to be strong at some points and weaker at others. Vanilla seems to surround the other flavors. The pepper remains good on both ends. The finish is vanilla with subtle almond notes. At this point the cigar has been burning for 2 hours.

At the end of the cigar it had nice cinnamon notes with vanilla and subtle ruby port notes. The finish is one of thick, rich vanilla notes. This has to be one of the most complex cigars I've ever smoked! It is easily the best cigar I've had this year. I absolutely loved it!

Score: 97

Opus X Double Corona

2011-12-04T07:29:00.000-05:00

Opus X Double Corona (7 5/8 x 49)

A simple beautiful cigar. This is a monster! One of the largest Opus X cigars. The cigar is masterfully constructed. It has a triple cap and the foot is slightly square pressed.

Containing full-bodied Rosado filler leaves and binder grown on the Dominican Republic’s renowned Chateau de la Fuente, a brand was born that would soon become one of the highest rated cigars among industry reviewers and publications, taking its place on prestigious “best of the best” and “top 10” lists.

Video review HERE.

Opus X cigars are available at Cigars Direct.

The test draw was just a bit firm. At light up the initial flavors were cinnamon, pepper, leather and some sweetness.

After a minute the flavors settled down into a peppery cinnamon with a sweetness of orange citrus with some vanilla notes. The finish is long with vanilla and lingering pepper.

About an inch in there were notes of sweet ruby port flavors along with cedar and a carbonated-like flavor similar to a soft drink. Yes, that's a weird way to describe a cigar but it's there. The cinnamon and vanilla are still good but the citrus has decreased somewhat. The cigar has made it's first change.

The cigar stayed consistent for quite awhile. At the midpoint the cinnamon is back on top with the port flavors taking second place. The finish is more of vanilla with those port flavors.

In the final third the port flavors are back. At this point I had to remove the band. The Opus X band is among the most beautiful in the industry.

The cigar is full bodied but not an overwealming full bodied. It is very good. As always, I would smoke it slowly.

At the end of the cigar it remained fantastic. The cinnamon and vanilla flavors remained strong and I enjoyed the port flavors. The finish was very good with vanilla and port flavors. The pepper was very good on both ends. A great cigar and among the best Opus X cigars that I have smoked.

Score: 95

Liga Privada Undercrown Gran Toro by Drew Estate

2011-11-25T22:09:00.001-05:00

Liga Privada Undercrown Gran Toro (6x52)

Undercrown was created at the rolling tables by Drew Estate’s best rollers - not in a board room or meeting. The story goes as such: the rollers loved the original Liga Privada No. 9 blend so much that it was all they ever smoked. While most would consider that a ringing endorsement, Drew Estate was worried about the availability of the tobaccos. The primings used for the No. 9 aren’t easy to come by so the rollers had to quit smoking them – sort of. The rollers improvised and used different primings of the same tobacco to make a new blend they too could enjoy. This new blend went over just as well as the No. 9 and Liga Privada Undercrown was born.

Wrapper: Otapan Negro Ultimo Corte (Mexican San Andres Maduro)
Binder: T-52 Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut and Cure Habano
Filler: Select Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Cuban Seed

Available in these sizes:

Robusto (5x54)
Gran Toro (6x52) Being reviewed today
Belicoso (6x52)
Corona Doble (7x54)
Gordito (6 x60)

Video review HERE.

The cigar is very dark. You can tell it's a maduro. It's also very dense feeling. After cutting the cap the test draw was very good. The initial flavors were a sweet coffee, citrus, almond and lots of pepper.

About 3/4 inch in the flavors settled down into coffee, grapefruit citrus, raw almond and vanilla with a ton of pepper. The finish was one of vanilla and lingering pepper. There is a lot of sweetness and richness developing.

At 1 1/2 inches there was a sweet dark, red grape flavor. There were also a lot of almond notes on the spice with a subtle amount of citrus. The pepper is still good but has tapered off somewhat. The finish is a mix of vanilla and almond with lingering pepper.

At the midpoint the notes are coffee and vanilla. There is more raw almond on the finish.

With about 1 1/2 inches left the primary flavor is coffee. The other flavors move from vanilla to almond and there is a nice richness. The citrus notes have disappeared. The cigar is medium bodied with an even burn.

At the end of the cigar I can say it has changed several times. It ended up with a mix of coffee and rich vanilla. The pepper remained very good but it decreased from the initial inch or so. The finish bounced from one of vanilla to vanilla and almond with lingering pepper. I enjoyed this cigar very much.

Score: 92

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-22T20:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

More reviews on some great cigars coming this weekend! Stay tuned!

This weekend I will be reviewing the new Liga Undercrown Gran Toro!

I had one earlier this week and it was very good. Look for the review to see my thoughts.

Time permitting I will be reviewing some others.