1) Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 (Cuba) "Piramides" - When this cigar is on there's nothing that comes even close to comparing. The flavor is complex and creamy, sometimes tasting like chocolate, coffee, or caramel. This is the only Cuban cigar I've ever loved and that's probably because it doesn't taste like a Cuban cigar. I'm unlikely to get any more of these anytime soon so I smoke them a lot less often than I'd like to. Also the nicotine kicks my ass.
(First smoked 1/2005 - about $16)
2) Ashton Virgin Sun Grown "Corona Gorda" - The VSG "Illusion" may win my "Best Scented Smoke" award, but the "Corona Gorda" smells almost just as good and it has significantly more flavor. When it's on I absolutely love the flavor.
(First smoked 6/2001 - about $8)
3) Tied - I couldn't make up my mind which was better so two cigars place in third for me: the Rocky Patel Edge "Torpedo" maduro and Cusano Xclusivo "Preferido Grande". The Xclusivo is the most consistent cigar I smoke and makes me very happy almost every time I smoke it. It's also got the mildest flavor of all of my top cigars, which makes them an aberration for me. The Edge can both be impressive when they're on and still pretty tasty when they're not.
(Edge - First smoked 2/2005 - about $5)
(Xclusivo - First smoked 7/2002 - about $5)
Cigar Line (Country of origin) "Cigar name" [cigar details] -
Hygrometer Reading: [whatever the hygrometer read when I pulled the cigar]. Presmoked: [presmoked scent and occasionally appearance]. Smoked: [draw, burn, smoke scent, and flavor details]. Amount Smoked: [how much of the cigar I smoked].
([date bought] - [price paid] - [date smoked])
Ramon Allones (Cuba) "Special Selected" - It had been at least a couple of months since the last time I got to smoke a cigar, and it was Father's Day, so I wanted something special. Not equipped to deal with the nicotine from my favorite Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 "Piramides" I went for something else Cuban instead.
Presmoked: strong stinky scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was medium to strong and pretty straightforward leather. I thought it tasted more like a high end Honduran than a Cuban. My Coke toned the flavor down a little and rounded it out making it more enjoyable. It was a good cigar, but not worth ¥1,700. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(5/2006 - ¥1,700 - 6/2009)
Alec Bradley Maxx (Honduras) "The Fix" - I got this cigar free at a Maxx tasting. I'd tried a couple of Maxxs before, and didn't care for them, so I hope this one would be better.
Presmoked: sweet pungent scent and an oily wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full and sour, but it toned down to medium and the sour flavor went away on its own after about the first 1/2 inch. The flavor that was left was indistinct and kind of enjoyable. My Dr. Pepper lightened the flavor up, but didn't improve it. It wasn't bad, but not something I'd smoke again. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar
(9/2008 - free - 9/2008)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 70%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium and was deepened by my Dr. Pepper, but while the cigar was enjoyable it wasn't sublime like I know they can be. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2005 - $2.50 - 9/2008)
Chateau Real (Nicaragua) "Small Club Corona" -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started spicy with a very slight tar undertone. My Coke took out the spice and the tar leaving a creamy sweetness with a little cedar that worked for me. It was an enjoyable cigar, but my loathing of tar will probably keep me from buying another one. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(7/2008 - 9/2008)
Cusano 59 (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" - This was my first Cusano 59. I hoped it'd be better than the Cusano Habano LXI I had tried a few weeks earlier.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: no scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The problem was the cigar started without any real flavor. The cigar ended up hitting the ground and the wrapper cracked all the way around, but it didn't affect the flavor or draw. Too bad the flavor was boring, boring, boring. About the halfway point I might've detected some flavor but at that point I was done anyway. Once again I'm left hoping the other vitolas I have are better. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2008 - 8/2008)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with some good dark flavors, but I could also taste that the cigar was a little dry. When I hit my Dr. Pepper it took care of the dryness. Towards the end the flavor picked up some char that was heavier than I like, but even so the cigar was still more enjoyable than most. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(6/2007 - $20/5 - 8/2008)
Cusano Habano LXI (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: sugary sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The cigar started with the full body/thin spicy flavor combination that I normally don't like, but it worked for this cigar. It would've been good if the cigar didn't go out on me like 12 times. My Dr. Pepper sucked the spice out of the flavor, but I never really got a good taste of the cigar after that because of the incessant relighting. I think this was the first Cusano I've had with horrible burn problems. I have a couple of other LXI vitolas so hopefully they don't have the same problem. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2008 - 8/2008)
Nub Habano (Nicaragua) "460" [colorado maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor started spicy and mellowed to kind of spicy after a while. My Dr. Pepper got rid of the spice, which was bad because there wasn't much to the flavor without it. It wasn't a great cigar to begin with and that killed it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2008 - 8/2008)
Nub Cameroon (Nicaragua) "464" [colorado maduro, figurado] - Typically I don't like large ring gauge cigars because it seems the blender is so worried about making an overwhelming cigar that they go to the opposite extreme and make a yawner. Nub's marketing message of we'll make a fat cigar worthwhile (heavily paraphrased) made me curious enough to give large ring gauge cigars another chance.
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: barnyard scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke. I knew the torpedo wouldn't be as large because of its tapered shape, but after I clipped the cigar it was still larger than I like to deal with. The flavor started with plenty cameroon spice. It was one dimensional, but it did make an impression. The cigar seemed to get hot easily so I had to slow down my normal slow pace. Without the heat the flavor mellowed some leaving a pleasant aftertaste. My Coke mellowed the flavor a even more and brought out the woodiness in the aftertaste. It was work keeping the cigar from getting hot without letting it go out so while it was a pretty good cigar it was too much trouble. I do have to give them credit for not being boring though. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(7/2008 - 7/2008)
Kentucky (USA) "Cheroots" - This was the ugliest, stinkiest cigar I'd ever seen so of course my wife encouraged me to try it.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: strong stinky pungent scent on a cigar that looked like it wasn't beaten with the ugly stick, but was the ugly stick. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started with a medium sour flavor that also had a bit of sweetness. I was surprised there wasn't any pungency to the cigar given the scent. Unfortunately my Coke didn't affect the flavor so I still had to deal with the sourness. At the halfway point there was a subtle something to the flavor that made it enjoyable, but it's an experiment I'm unlikely to repeat anytime soon. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2007 - $1.60 - 7/2008)
Oliva Serie O (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: strong barnyard scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium to full with some barnyard pungency that was pretty good. Later my Coke mellowed the flavor and made the cigar tastier. There isn't much else to say other than I'm glad I have these around. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(6/2007 - $54/20 - 7/2008)
Illusione (Honduras) "888" [oscuro (colorado maduro in color)] -
Hygrometer Reading: 66%. Presmoked: heavy cigar with a sweet pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium, smooth, and indistinct, but enjoyable. It was a long cigar so the flavor had plenty of time to develop, but it didn't. My Dr. Pepper didn't affect the flavor either. It was a good cigar, but required much more time than I normally have to smoke. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar (and that took 1.5 hours!).
(12/2007 - $7.15 - 7/2008)
Padron 1964 Anniversary (Nicaragua) "Imperial" [maduro] - After a slew of disappointing Padron 1964s I stopped smoking them until someone was kind enough to give me a maduro "Imperial" that blew me away. I had to get one after that to see if it was a fluke or worth keeping a couple around for special occasions.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: sugary sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. Wow, the first puff got my attention. It was a combination of chocolate sweetness, spice, and other stuff I'm not good enough to pick out. The chocolate went away after a few puffs, but the flavor still remained complex and quite tasty. My Dr. Pepper cut the spice leaving a mellow cigar and the chocolate came back in hints. This was a pricey cigar, but unique enough and tasty enough to be worth it. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2005 - $14.?? - 7/2008)
ITC 10 Year Anniversary "Churchill" -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. The cigar looked substantial and felt quite heavy. Smoked: difficult draw which cleared up when I clipped 1/4 of an inch off the end, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The cigar started with a mild sweet flavor and medium to full creamy body that made me think it would be perfect with a Dr. Pepper. The cigar continued with a good mild wood flavor, which my Dr. Pepper didn't affect. I wished the flavor would change, because it was merely good, but it stayed the same the entire smoke. I liked the flavor of the ITC "Robusto" better than the "Churchill" and it didn't take two hours to smoke. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2007 - $7.25 - 6/2008)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] - The Ashton Aged Maduro "No. 20" was my first favorite cigar a long time ago. They don't age well so none of the ones I have in my humidor from 2003 are very good so I snagged one recently to see if they were still any good.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The cigar started with a spicy flavor that was sometimes accompanied with a flat paperiness or a pleasant sweetness. My Coke cut the spice and the paper flavor leaving an enjoyable flavor. It was a good cigar, but not up to favorite standard. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2007 - 6/2008)
601 Connecticut (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full with wood, spice, and a tinge of sweetness. It was highly enjoyable, but a bit much so I hit my Coke quicker than normal (the 111 degree heat might've had something to do with it too). The Coke toned down the flavor and added a little paperiness to the mix, but not enough to ruin the cigar. As the cigar went on it got better replacing the paperiness with something indescribable, but quite a bit tastier. I've really liked two out of two of these cigars so I'm going to have to get more.
Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler - 6/2008)
Cuvee Grand 2006 (Nicaragua) "Centro" [colorado maduro] - For my Father's Day cigar I hoped to have a great cigar (without dipping into the Cohibas). I couldn't tell if the Ashton VSG in the humidor was a "Corona Gorda" or an "Illusion" so I just decided to try something new from Cusano instead.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started with the kind of spiciness that made me think the cigar was a little dry, but it was still smooth and enjoyable. The spice persisted even after trying my Coke. After a while the spice mellowed to a woody sweetness that was good too. I liked the cigar, but not for the price. I should've tracked down one of my "Corona Gorda"s and saved the experimentation for a day when I didn't care. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(9/2007 - $12.25 - 6/2008)
Indian Tabac Limited Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Buffalo" [natural] -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar started with a smooth mild to medium flavor that was enjoyable. Eventually I hit my Coke and I'm not sure if it was my Coke or just bad timing, but suddenly the end of the cigar tasted very tarry. After I clipped the end of the cigar the tar went away and the flavor alternated between a subtle sweet woodiness and outright sourness. Eventually the sourness went away leaving a highly enjoyable cigar. It's amazing that after all these years these are still tasty cigars. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(11/2002 - $11/5 - 6/2008)
Tinder Box La Reserva "No. 3" [maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: overly light weight and faint sugary sweet scent. Smoked: easy draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild and left my mouth coated so the woody and slightly sweet aftertaste ended up being stronger than the flavor itself. The cigar made my Coke taste great, but the Coke made the cigar taste a little ashy. It wasn't anything a little blowing through the cigar couldn't fix, but the ashiness would still return after a while. Eventually the ashiness caused me to pitch the cigar. This was a decent cigar, and maybe it would've developed into a cigar I really liked if I didn't have a Coke with it, but it's not a cigar I'd get again. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2007 - free - 5/2008)
Oliva Special S (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [figurado] - This cigar was recommended to me by someone working at a cigar shop. Funny how they always seem to recommend the expensive cigars, but I decided to try it anyway (although I forgot that I tried the "Toro" a while ago).
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium and smooth. It didn't take long for the cigar to go mild with a light sweetness. My Coke didn't affect the flavor, but relighting the cigar after it went out did because there was an ashiness to it that was bad enough for me to toss the cigar. This was a decent cigar, but not for the price. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2007 - $9.75 - 5/2008)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: sweet scent and oily wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started full, a little creamy, sour, and spicy. It would've been good if it wasn't sour. The sourness never went away, even with a Dr. Pepper, so I had to pitch the cigar. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(6/2007 - $20/5 - 5/2008)
Montecristo Platinum Vintage 1999 (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" - I've seen a couple of vintage cigar lines before, but none of them were brands I cared for. When I saw an ad for a Montecristo Platinum vintage sampler it sounded worth trying though.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started medium with a dry, slightly sour flavor that wasn't exactly pleasant. After a quarter of the way the cigar didn't improve on its own so I hoped my Coke would improve it. It caused the sourness to go away, but the flavor was still nondescript. The cigar got a little sweet at the end, but there wasn't anything compelling about it. I'm guessing that Montecristo Platinums aren't built for aging and the whole vintage thing is just a marketing ploy, but hopefully the other two cigars in this line will prove me wrong. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2007 - $10/Montecristo sampler - 4/2008)
Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ (USA) "Belicoso" [figurado] - I liked this cigar enough to get a five pack, but that's usually the kiss of death so I hoped that wouldn't be the case this time.
Hygrometer Reading: 64%. Presmoked: strong tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium to full, but it didn't taste like anything in particular or particularly enjoyable. Unfortunately my Coke didn't do anything for it either. Somewhere along the way I actually started enjoying the cigar, but halfway through the nicotine started hitting me so I had to stop. I think it'll be a couple of years before I try another one. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2007 - $39/5 - 4/2008)
Punch Gran Puro (Honduras) "Santa Rita" [colorado maduro] - When I first tried a Punch Gran Puro "Santa Rita" I thought it might be good aged. It was time to find out whether I was right or not.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started medium, but thin and metallic with some bite to it. It was decent, but I hoped it would improve. It didn't and my Coke didn't do anything for it so I pitched it when I got bored with it. I have a couple of "Santa Rita"s left and I'm not exactly looking forward to them. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(8/2004 - $4.07 - 3/2008)
Punch (Honduras) "Magnum" - I have more than a few cigars in my humidors that I actually never plan on smoking and the Punch "Magnum" was one of them, but one day I needed a shorter cigar and it was there.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: great cedar and sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The cigar tasted a little dry, but still managed a pleasant mild flavor. The flavor didn't change on its own or with my Coke so it's a good thing I found it enjoyable. The cigar probably would've been better less dry, but I don't want to wait another 3 1/2 years to find out. mount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar (I would've finished it, but something came up).
(8/2004 - $4.80/Punch "Magnum" & "Bolo" sampler - 3/2008)
Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ (USA) "Selecto" [maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium and somewhat terrible, but the terrible flavor went away before I pitched the cigar. After that the flavor was mild to medium without much to it. My Coke gave it a hint of flavor and a light, toasty sweet aftertaste that was far better than the nothing I was getting before. It wasn't a bad cigar, but given the price and the fact that it went out on me three times I'm not buying another one of these again unless the other maduro "JJ" I have is significantly better. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(9/2007 - $8.65 - 3/2008)
ITC 10 Year Anniversary "Robusto" -
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: dusty tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium with some spice to it that quickly dissipated leaving a mild caramelized sweetness. The spice returned giving the cigar a slight edge that worked well for me. The flavor was good, but by halfway through I was getting bored with it so I finally hit my Coke. The Coke gave the aftertaste a barnyard twang that was unexpected, but quite tasty. The scent of the cigar smoke was much better than its flavor, but that didn't prevent it from being an overall fine cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2007 - $6.45 - 3/2008)
Padilla Hybrid (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: stinky pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor started medium with plenty of spice and a prominent barnyard aspect that complimented the spice. Despite the distinctive flavors the cigar was very smooth so I didn't need to hit my Coke when I finally did. My Coke mellowed the spice and the barnyard, but the cigar was still highly enjoyable. This was the best cigar I've had all year. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(6/2007 - $30/Padilla sampler - 2/2008)
C.A.O. Criollo "Pato" [colorado maduro] - There are a couple of cigar companies that produce nothing but cigars I don't like. While C.A.O. isn't one of them they're awfully close since I've only ever liked one of their lines.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: light dusty scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and uneven burn. The cigar started mild and stayed that way for longer than I could stand. I hoped my Dr. Pepper would help make the smoke more interesting, but no such luck. To the cigar's defense it tasted a little dry so it could've been better had I maintained my humidor better, but I didn't find enough potential in the "Pato" to try it again. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(12/2007 - $5 - 2/2008)
Casa Torano "Robusto" [maduro] - I just got over the flu so I wanted a mild cigar to get back into the swing of things.
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decent to pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with some dusty, earthy sweetness which wasn't my sort of thing. My Coke made the cigar taste papery, then sour. Eventually both flavors were replaced by a pleasant char that gave way to scorched paper that caused me to pitch the cigar. I didn't care for most of the flavors I got from this cigar so it's a good thing I enjoy the process of smoking cigars. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2007 - $5.80 - 2/2008)
Cigar.com Corojo Label (Nicaragua) "Robusto" - The first Cigar.com Corojo Label "Robusto" was one of the better Pepin cigars I'd tried so I hoped the second one would be just as good.
Hygrometer Reading: 67%. Presmoked: dusty sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with the kind of harshness that told me the cigar was too humid. I hit my Dr. Pepper pretty quick and it toned down the harshness. The cigar didn't have any distinctive flavors, but it was enjoyable. Towards the end it got sour so I pitched it. Even under the less than ideal circumstances the Corojo Label was still pretty good so this might be a cigar worth stocking. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler - 1/2008)
Cusano Xclusivo "Originale" (Dominican Republic) "Petite Perfecto" [figurado] - I picked up a bunch of these accidentally so I keep hoping that I'll actually start enjoying them.
Hygrometer Reading: 70%. Presmoked: grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and stinky to decently scented smoke. The cigar started mild flavored with a little leather, but medium bodied. It was decent, but I kept hoping there would be more to it. Eventually I hit my Coke which replaced the leather flavor with paper. It wasn't the best trade off. The flavor eventually became a mix of leather and paper, but it was less good than just leather. Maybe the next one will be better. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2007 - $34/10 & $9/5 - 1/2008)
Old Powder Keg (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [maduro] - I had read somewhere that Old Powder Keg cigars were good so I thought to give one a try despite their name.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: shiny wrapper with a sugary sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium with some twang and a peppery, tinny finish. There seemed to be an interesting undertone, but the pepper overpowered it. I had to correct the cigar because it started tunneling. My Coke got rid of the pepper, but created an interesting aftertaste. About halfway through the cigar went out. After the relight it didn't have much flavor and I didn't have enough patience to wait for it. Maybe Old Powder Keg's other vitolas are better, but I didn't taste anything in their "Robusto" that made me curious enough to try them. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2007 - $6.35 - 1/2008)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" [colorado] - The C10 used to be one of my favorite cigars, but it's been a while since I've had one that tasted good enough to be my favorite.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: grassy scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full and spicy. My Coke toned down the spice and made the flavor a flat wet cardboard. The cardboard flavor went away, but the cigar never developed anything compelling. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(9/2007 - $6.50 - 1/2008)
Tatuaje Havana VI (Nicaragua) "Angeles" -
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but there was a little something to it that kept it interesting. My Coke changed the flavor at little, but it was still only a little interesting. I started tasting tar and it wouldn't go away so I cut off 1/4 of the cigar. The tar went away, but the cigar never really got better. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2007 - $4.40 - 12/2007)
Illusione (Honduras) "88" [oscuro (colorado maduro in color)] - I liked the first Illusione "88" I tried, but I hoped the second one would be better than the first.
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and uneven burn. The flavor started bland and never changed. My Dr. Pepper didn't improve the flavor and the draw started wearing on me so I cut 1/4 off of the end and the draw improved. I finally got some flavor, including a little twang, but by the time the flavor picked up I had other things to do. It wasn't the most convincing second cigar experience, but I think I'd still like to try it one more time. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2007 - $6.65 - 12/2007)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, uneven burn, and slightly stinky smoke. At first only half the cigar got lit and then snuffed itself out quickly. Then I had a hell of a time getting the other half lit at all. Once both sides were lit I still had to tend to the cigar constantly to kept it lit. The flavor started spicy, but before long I was tasting a little tar. I cut off the last 1/4 of an inch and the tar went away and the draw loosened up. Too bad it still needed babysitting. This used to be one of my favorite cigars so it was even more disappointing that I didn't enjoy it at all. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2006 - $22/5 - 12/2007)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: light sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium with a complex flavor that had wood and a little leather in addition to other things. I was really enjoying the cigar, but I unintentionally let it go out. After the relight it wasn't good enough to bother with. That was unfortunate because this was the type of Edge that I love. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(6/2007 - $20/5 - 12/2007)
Illusione (Honduras) "88" [oscuro (colorado maduro in color)] -
Presmoked: no scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, uneven burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium and spicy with an interesting undertone that worked well with the spiciness. I dug the cigar, but I had to babysit it to prevent it from going out. I hate babysitting cigars because I don't find it relaxing. The cigar toned itself down to mild, which was ok. My Dr. Pepper gave the flavor a distinct creaminess that was just as tasty as the starting flavor. At the 2/3 mark the cigar went out and the only flavor after the relight was sour. This is worth trying again because if stays lit a little better on its own it'll be something worth keeping in the humidor. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(9/2007 - $6.95 - 11/2007)
Padilla Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Churchill" [maduro] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: difficult draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke. The draw made it difficult to taste anything so I cut 1/4 of an inch off the end. That didn't improve the draw any so I cut off an additional 1/4 and the draw improved. The cigar was medium to full flavored with spice and a little maduro sweetness. At about the halfway point the cigar went out and after the relight it was mild and a little sour. My Coke didn't affect the flavor. When the cigar snuffed itself out a second time I didn't bother relighting it since the sourness was still there. If there was a way for me to keep this cigar lit then I would've enjoyed it a lot more. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(6/2007 - $30/Padilla sampler - 11/2007)
San Cristobal (Nicaragua) "Supremo" [maduro (in color)] -
Presmoked: strong grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar started with a burst of pepper that quickly toned down to kind of creamy with not quite dark flavors. I accidentally let the cigar go out and when I relit it the flavor was close to mild. My Dr. Pepper didn't have any affect. The draw got noticeably tighter the closer the cigar got to the halfway point and once I tasted tar I was done; the mild flavor wasn't worth the trouble. This was my second San Cristobal and while their flavor is on the unique side it's not quite my sort of thing. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2007 - $8.90 - 11/2007)
Cupido Criollo (Nicaragua) "Campana" [figurado] - I accidentally neglected my main humidor so I pulled something from the coolador when I noticed that it was on the dry side too. Still, it wasn't as dry as the humidor so it was the better choice and I grabbed something I wouldn't be too disappointed by if it was terrible because it was dry.
Hygrometer Reading: 56%. Presmoked: dusty scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar tasted dry, but there was a pleasant unique spiciness to it and some cream. My Dr. Pepper only made it slightly less dry. Halfway through the cigar got sour so I pitched it. It was obvious that it would've been better if it wasn't dry, but I'll never know since this was the only "Campana" I had and all Cupido cigars were discontinued a while ago. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2003 - $17/part of Cupido sampler - 11/2007)
Cusano Xclusivo "Originale" (Dominican Republic) "Petite Perfecto" [figurado] - I accidentally got these Xclusivo "Petite Perfecto"s on Cigar Bid because I only skimmed the description and thought they were "Preferido Grande"s. I doubt they'll be as good as the "Preferido Grande"s, but I hope they're worthwhile because I have 15 of them.
Presmoked: grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and somewhat stinky smoke. The flavor started mild to medium with a little sourness I didn't like. My Coke made it papery in addition to sour so I liked it even less. I probably didn't leave it in the humidor long enough to return to normal after being mailed here so I expect the next one to be better. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2007 - $34/10 & $9/5 - 11/2007)
Illusione (Honduras) "68" [oscuro (colorado maduro in color)] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started an indistinctive medium that was ok. My Dr. Pepper made the flavor a little sharper, which didn't really make a difference one way or the other. The small "68" didn't make much of an impression. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(9/2007 - $5.25 - 10/2007)
Cusano 18 (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [claro] - My first couple of Cusano 18s were bland so I hoped this one would be better.
Presmoked: almost no scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar tasted dry, but had a good woody flavor and some spice in the finish. My Coke fixed the dryness and made the wood a little sweet without affecting the spice in the finish. I was finally done with it when I started tasting tar. This cigar was drier than it should've been, but the irony is that this was the best experience I've had with the Cusano 18. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2003 - $17/5 - 10/2007)
El Centurion (Nicaragua) "Guerreros" [colorado maduro] - Since I tend to like Pepin Garcia's cigars I picked up his first limited edition cigar despite their priciness.
Presmoked: sweet scent with a grassy undertone. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and stinky smoke that eventually got kind of pleasant. The cigar started kind of creamy with a medium toasty flavor and medium strength. It didn't take too long before most of the flavors died away leaving a mild cigar with a light woodiness and a hint of tar. Clipping the end of the cigar off took care of the tar. My Dr. Pepper made the flavor slightly sweet with baking spices. I liked the cigar enough to relight it after it went out on its own two times, but not the third. I liked the El Centurion, but not enough to pay $12 for it. It's possible that one of the other vitolas would be worth the money though. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2007 - $12.25 - 10/2007)
Tatuaje (USA) "Noellas" -
Presmoked: sweet pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The cigar started medium flavored with some spice and char and medium strength. My Coke killed the char and sweetened up the spice in a way I liked. I could taste some tar on my lips, but it wasn't bad enough for me to stop enjoying the cigar. If it weren't for the tar this would've been the best Tatuaje I'd had. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2007 - $7.92 - 10/2007)
Cuvee Blanc (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [colorado] - I tend to like Cusano cigars so I had to try the Cuvee Blanc when I found out about it.
Presmoked: strange combination of sugary sweet and grassy scents. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium, but on the bland side with a little more nicotine than I expected (possibly medium strength). My Coke made the cigar slightly papery, but not enough to ruin anything since any flavor was almost better than none. The Cuvee Blanc wasn't bad, but I didn't think it compared to a good C10. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(9/2007 - $7.25 - 10/2007)
San Cristobal (Nicaragua) "Maestro" [maduro (in color), figurado] - San Cristobal is a new Ashton cigar made by Pepin Garcia.
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: slightly easy draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started thin to medium bodied and had a flavor with a dark edge to it, like coffee only lighter. It was decent enough, but a tiny bit harsh in the back of the throat. I started feeling the nicotine early so I had to hit my Dr. Pepper, which lightened up the flavor a little, but didn't get rid of the harshness. Halfway through the flavor picked up a very enjoyable twang that was unfortunately short lived. Towards the end the cigar got somewhat ashy. The "Maestro" was pretty good, but I'm hoping the other San Cristobal in the humidor is even better. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(9/2007 - $12.25 - 10/2007)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and sweet scented smoke. The flavor started mild and a little papery. My Coke made the flavor a little more papery, but otherwise it never changed. The cigar was pretty nondescript the entire time. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 9/2007)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: oily wrapper with a pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, creamy, and medium bodied. It was enjoyable until my Dr. Pepper thinned down the body and made it closer to only ok. Amount Smoked: 3/4 the cigar.
(4/2007 - $5.60 - 9/2007)
Arturo Fuente Hemingway (Dominican Republic) "Work of Art" [maduro, figurado] - I picked up this little maduro Hemingway because I like the large maduro "Signature"s and hoped it would closer to those than the small "Short Story"s I don't like.
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: difficult draw that got much easier after the first 1/2 inch, mostly even burn, and somewhat stinky smoke. The cigar started full bodied with a full flavor that mellowed to medium-mild on its own. The flavor picked back up to medium, and had a spice undertone, but it wasn't anything great. About halfway through I finally tried the cigar with a Coke, which thinned the body out, killed the spice, and made the flavor a little ashy. This cigar was definitely closer to a "Short Story" than a maduro "Signature" even without the Coke making it worse. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2007 - $8.60 - 9/2007)
Tatuaje (USA) "Unicos" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: strong sweet tobacco flavor and oily wrapper. Smoked: the cigar started with a medium bodied smooth spicy flavor. It wasn't too long before I noticed the nicotine so I had to resort to a Coke. My Coke toned down the spice and just made the flavor mellow goodness. This cigar didn't knock my socks off, but it was very good. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2007 - $10.65 - 9/2007)
Sosa (Dominican Republic) "Piramides #2" [maduro, figurado] - One of the most ignored Fuente made brands has also been one of the most forgettable so far.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasant sweet scent. The flavor started medium with some sweetness that got a little sour. My Mexican Coke (bottled and made with sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup) killed all the flavor. I can't say I was crazy about the cigar either way. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $3.40 - 8/2007)
Primos (Nicaragua?) "Toro" [maduro] - The Primos "Toro" was a random cigar I picked up at the cigar shop.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: sweet scent and beautiful wrapper on a lumpy cigar. Smoked: difficult draw and even burn. In the beginning I couldn't get enough smoke to really taste the cigar, but there was a hint of some dark flavors. If I really hit the draw the cigar tasted sour, but had a pleasant aftertaste of leather and sweet wood. I hated fighting the draw so I clipped off the last half inch of the cigar and the draw improved. More smoke gave me pepperiness in the mouth instead of actual flavor so I liked it better when I could hardly taste it. My Dr. Pepper didn't do anything for the flavor. At one third of the way through some nice light, long lived flavors developed, but so did a slightly ashy aftertaste. Ultimately the aftertaste was consistently better than the flavor throughout the entire smoke so I wasn't impressed by the Primos, but another vitola might be better. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(6/2007 - $3.10 - 8/2007)
Oliva Serie O (Nicaragua) "Robusto" - I liked the last few Oliva Serie O "Robusto"s so much that I made a rare box purchase.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: barnyard scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The cigar started full and spicy with some paperiness. Judging from the flavor I'd say the cigar was a little dry. My Dr. Pepper didn't help and actually made the flavor a little ashy. If I'd been paying attention I would've had a Coke with the cigar (Dr. Pepper is suited for creamy flavors while Coke is suited for spicy flavors). This wasn't one of the better Serie O "Robusto"s I'd had. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2007 - $4.20 - 8/2007)
Graycliff Espresso (Bahamas) "Presidente" - This was the last of the Graycliffs I bought to sample.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: full bodied sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started full bodied with mild dark flavors. It was an understandably mellow beginning to a very long cigar. I tried to avoid a soda as long as possible, and the cigar was smooth, but my mouth still dried out before I was a quarter of the way done so I had to get something. The flavors seemed perfect for a Dr. Pepper, but I didn't have any cold so I had to settle for a Coke instead. Mistake: my Coke made the body flat, increased the flavor to medium, and gave it kind of a full paperiness which effectively ruined the cigar. It did leave a pleasant aftertaste though. I don't blame the cigar for what the Coke did, but I wasn't so enamored with the pre-Coke flavor that I'd pay $11 to try it again. That makes zero Graycliffs I'd buy again. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2007 - $11 - 8/2007)
Don Kiki Limited Reserve 2000 (Red Label) (Nicaragua) "Corona" - Don Kiki's used to get a lot of play on the boards a few years ago, but after smoking a few I buried the ones I had. I found them again recently and decided to try them again.
Hygrometer Reading: 64%. Presmoked: strong sweet scent. The cigar felt light so it might have been dry. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar started with a boring mild flavor that my Coke made ashy and a little woody. It wasn't exactly a pleasant cigar so when it got bitter I had to toss it. This was actually worse than the first time I had the red label. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $5/5 - 8/2007)
Padilla Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: sweet scent, rough looking wrapper, and extremely solid feel. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium and was very short lived, which was fine because it didn't taste like anything I liked or wanted. My Coke didn't do anything for the flavor. About halfway through the cigar picked up a dry tobacco flavor and nothing ever developed that I liked. Maybe 60% relative humidity was too dry for this cigar? I have a few other Padilla Maduros so we'll see. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(6/2007 - $30/Padilla sampler - 8/2007)
Willy Cigar Negrito (USA) "Toro" [maduro] - I picked this up because they're rolled locally and the oily wrapper was very pretty.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: difficult draw, uneven burn, and excellent sweet scent. The cigar started full and tasted like ass. I unintentionally (honest) let it go out. After I relit it the draw got better, and the flavor picked up some spice, but there was still too much ass to it. I hated battling the draw just to taste something I didn't like so I tossed the cigar pretty quickly. It was especially disappointing because the smoke smelled so good. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(6/2007 - $5.05 - 8/2007)
Los Blancos Criollo (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [colorado] - This was a cigar I picked up at random.
Hygrometer Reading: 64%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke that grew on me. The flavor started mild to medium with some pungency to it. Halfway through it got a little papery so I hit my Dr. Pepper, which gave it a slight ashy flavor that was mild enough that it didn't ruin the cigar. It wasn't my favorite cigar, but it made me curious about Los Blancos' other cigars. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(6/2007 - $5.60 - 8/2007)
Coronado by La Flor (Dominican Republic) "Corona Especiale" [colorado maduro] - I'd always avoided the Coronado because I had a bad feeling about them even though I tend to like cigars made by La Flor Dominicana. I didn't pre-judged the "Corona Especiale" I had, but I didn't like it anyway.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and excellent sweet spiced scent. In the beginning the flavor kept changing between spicy medium with a hint of paperiness, mild, or a flat mild to medium woodiness with a sharp paperiness. Sometimes there was even a light pleasantly sweet aftertaste that I liked. Unfortunately it settled on the flat flavor, which I liked the least. My Dr. Pepper made the cigar creamy with complimentary light sweet flavors, but it didn't take long for those to be replaced by ashiness though. In the end the cigar smelled better than it tasted. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(6/2007 - $7.25 - 7/2007)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] - One of my old favorites.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. My mouth was already dry when I started so I didn't expect a good experience, but I was still able to appreciate the medium spiced flavor and woody aftertaste. I had to hit my Coke sooner than normal and it made the flavor sour, but the good flavor returned before too long. The aftertaste was a little ashy, but had a tasty sweetness to it. If the other Killer Cameroons I had were consistently this good it'd still be one of my favorite cigars. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2004 - $3.28 - 7/2007)
601 Connecticut (Nicaragua) "Robusto" - Another Pepin cigar.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and sweet smoke that smelled like Christmas spices. The cigar was surprisingly full flavored for something wrapped in a Connecticut wrapper and kind of creamy with occasional paperiness. Full flavored cigars are too much for me so I hit my Dr. Pepper pretty quick. It toned the flavor down to a more manageable medium and made it very creamy with a light vanilla aftertaste. After the Dr. Pepper it was one tasty cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler - 7/2007)
Tatuaje (USA) "Petite Tatuaje" - I hoped the "Petite Tatuaje" would be a good small cigar so I would have something to smoke when I'm in a hurry (like when the weather royally sucks).
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium and thin bodied with a tinny flavor I didn't like. My Coke got rid of some of the tinniness, but not enough for me to actually like the cigar. The last 1/3 of the cigar it developed a somewhat caramelized flavor that would've been good if there was more body to go with it. The cigar went out on me twice and it wasn't worth the second relight. Instead of being the answer I was looking for this was one of the worst Tatuajes I've tried. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2007 - $3.45 - 7/2007)
Oliva Serie O (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and stinky smoke that got progressively better smelling until I really liked it. The flavor started medium and spicy, but quickly toned itself down to mild to medium with wood and some spice. At the 1/3 point I couldn't tell if it was the heat or the cigar that was making me sweat, but not wanting to take any chances on nicotine poisoning I hit my Dr. Pepper. The Dr. Pepper killed most of the flavor, but left a good aftertaste. The "Torpedo" was a good cigar, but the "Robusto" is still my favorite vitola of the line. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2007 - $5 - 7/2007)
601 Habano (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [colorado] - Another Pepin cigar.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: vanilla scent that it absorbed from some flavored cigar of Lynn's I forgot I had in the humidor. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. It started medium with an almost trademark Pepin flavor. It was more than I wanted deal with in the 107 degree heat so I was thankful that it toned itself down to mild and creamy with a little sweetness in the finish. It wasn't what I expected given the start, but lighter was better. My Dr. Pepper made the flavor a little sharp, which I didn't enjoy. It was a good cigar before the Dr. Pepper, but not good enough for me to continue in 20% humidity. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler - 7/2007)
Ras Tafari (Dominican Republic) "Afrika" - I was worried that I'd have to cut my cigar short so I grabbed one of the closeout cigars I have in abundance.
Hygrometer Reading: 66%. Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started medium with a pleasant spice. My Coke sweetened it up a little and gave it a pleasant aftertaste. As I thought I had to cut the cigar short so it died. I came back later and relit it, but it wasn't the same. At least it was enjoyable and it only cost me a buck. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2003 - $5/5 - 7/2007)
Fonseca Cubano Limitado (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso Corto" [figurado] - The first Fonseca Cubano Limitado "Belicoso Corto" I tried showed promise so I wanted to try another.
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar started with an indistinctive medium flavor that my Dr. Pepper didn't change. Not much to say about this one other than it was decent and probably the Fonseca Cubano Limitado I liked the least. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2006 - $6.90 - 7/2007)
Litto Gomez Diez (Dominican Republic) "Americano" - I didn't like the first "Americano" I smoked so I hoped this one would be better.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: strange scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. This cigar was very difficult to get lit because it was like sucking air through a straw and I didn't get any smoke. I was about to give up on the cigar when the draw tightened up and there was lots of smoke. Unfortunately once I could taste it all I got was a char so heavy that I could hardly stand it. My Dr. Pepper didn't change the flavor, which meant my cigar didn't have long. The char flavor went away after about a quarter of the cigar, but I still wasn't enjoying it so there wasn't any point in smoking it. What a waste. Amount Smoked: 1/4 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $9.20 - 6/2007)
Cigar.com Corojo Label (Nicaragua) "Robusto" - When I got the Don Pepin Garcia sampler the house label cigar was the one I looked forward to the least.
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started full with spice and some twang which toned down to medium full with a nice creaminess on its own. My Dr. Pepper gave the cigar a nice aftertaste with mild char that took it from good to excellent. The cigar went out due to neglect and it was never the same after I relit it. Too bad because I dug this cigar. At least I have another one to try. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler - 6/2007)
Flor de Farach (Cuba) "Farachitos" [figurado] - I'd seen these pricey little boxes of pre-embargo cigars for sale and thought I should see if they were any good. Most of what I read was bad, but curiosity got the better of me.
Hygrometer Reading: 64%. Presmoked: light musty cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The smoke was medium bodied smoke with a mild flavor of old soggy cardboard and a little bitterness in the finish. When I got the cigars they reeked of the cardboard box so the first thing I did was remove them from the box. Apparently it'll take more than a few months to undo years of marrying with musty cardboard, if the cigars ever recover from that. My Coke got rid of most of the cardboard flavor, but there was still a cardboard aftertaste that was gross. The cigar burned surprisingly well considering how old it was, but cardboard is a truly terrible flavor. It'll be at least a year before I try one of these again. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2006 - $60/5 - 6/2007)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 64%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started full and a little harsh with both going away pretty quickly. The smoke was full bodied, but the flavor was surprisingly mild and a little papery after that. My Dr. Pepper enhanced the flavor, and got it up to medium, but made it a little tinny at the same time. Apparently this was a cigar of contradictions. Thankfully the tinniness went away quickly. About halfway through the cigar started to heat up, which paradoxically made the flavor better. I was pretty happy with this La Aurora, but I have to wonder if it would've been better at a lower relative humidity. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2005 - $2.50 - 6/2007)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] - From one of my third favorite cigars to my second favorite.
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: medium cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full with lots of tasty spice and the occasional bit of paperiness. About the time the cigar toned itself down I tried my Coke. At first my Coke ruined the cigar, but the flavor didn't take long to reassert itself. The cigar was just never as good after that though. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(11/2006 - $8.40 - 6/2007)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] - Trying new stuff is fun, but it's always good to smoke the favorites.
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: oily black wrapper. Smoked: good draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar started medium with some spice and didn't take too long to tone down to mild to medium. My Dr. Pepper made the cigar creamy with an interesting aftertaste that improved it from good to tasty. Towards the end the cigar picked up a little char which made everything even better. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2007 - $5.60 - 6/2007)
Don Pepin Garcia Black (Nicaragua) "Robusto" - Back to trying the Don Pepin cigars.
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with some wood, spice, and other stuff I couldn't identify. It was a very smooth cigar, but there were times I could taste tar on my lips. My Coke made the cigar brilliant, but the cigar got hot cutting it short. In the end the cigar was just hot and kind of ashy. The Don Pepin Black "Robusto" had potential, but just didn't live up to it. Maybe another vitola would be better? Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler - 6/2007)
Oliva Serie O (Nicaragua) "Robusto" - I wasn't a fan of the old Oliva cigars, but my curiosity got the better of me when I saw the new ones. The "Robusto" was the best of the ones I tried so I got a couple more to sample.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: pungent barnyard scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started full with spice and a light sweet woody finish that was excellent. My Coke made the flavor ashy and terrible. I stuck with the cigar, but it could never overcome the problem caused by the Coke. Too bad, but I'll definitely have to get more of these. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2007 - $4.20 - 6/2007)
Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Forte" [colorado maduro] - The Torano "Forte"s I've tried have been a mixed bag so I hoped the last one of my five pack would finally recapture the greatness of the first one I had.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The cigar started with a mild caramelized flavor that was pretty good. My Dr. Pepper didn't change the flavor and the cigar never changed either. I enjoyed this cigar, but I don't think the "Forte"s have been consistent enough to warrant another five pack. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(7/2006 - $23/5 - 6/2007)
Cupido Criollo (Nicaragua) "Doble" [figurado] - I've been trying a lot of new and trendy cigars lately so I wanted to try something old and discontinued for a change.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium and bitter. Before I had to resort to a soda to get rid of the bitterness it toned down a little bit and was joined by a good flavor on its own. I still needed my Dr. Pepper though. The cigar made my Dr. Pepper taste very sweet and the soda got rid of most of the bitterness in the cigar, but also thinned out the flavor in a way I didn't like. The cigar got hot, ashy, and bitter at the end so I had to toss it. Maybe these aged a little too long? Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2003 - $17/part of Cupido sampler - 5/2007)
Cabaiguan (USA) "Coronas Extra" - Another Pepin Garcia cigar. I wanted to get the "Belicoso Fino", but it seemed to weigh half as much as a cigar that size should so I got the "Coronas Extra" instead.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar start spicy and stayed spicy. There wasn't anything else to it besides nicotine so I wasn't crazy about it. About a third of the way the nicotine started getting to me so I had to start on my Coke. The Coke toned down the spice, filled out the flavor, and gave it a sweet woody aftertaste. This cigar had a pleasantly light flavor profile that was a welcome change of pace from the heavier cigars I normally prefer. They're a little pricey, but I'll probably pick up a couple more to try. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2007 - $8.50 - 5/2007)
Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ (USA) "Belicoso" [figurado] - Yet another Pepin Garcia cigar.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar started with a medium spicy flavor that didn't do anything for me. My Coke did all sorts of things for the flavor making the smoke creamy and giving it a carmelized, slightly woody flavor that I found highly enjoyable. At the 1/3 point I started noticing the nicotine and it eventually got to be too much for me despite how much I liked the cigar. This was one of the best Pepin cigars I've tried so maybe this'll be a cigar I age before I smoke. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler - 5/2007)
Troya Clasico (Nicaragua) "XVIII" - Following my Pepin Garcia theme the last time I hit the cigar shop I picked up this Troya Clasico, which is made at his Nicaragua factory.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: light pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium to full with some spice and a thin metallic flavor I disliked. The flavor didn't improve on its own and my Dr. Pepper didn't improve it so I finished with the cigar pretty quickly. I'm not getting another one of these again. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(4/2007 - $8.75 - 5/2007)
Leon Jimenes Cameroon 2001 (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: light tobacco scent and solid feel (had to mention it after that last Graycliff). Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with a certain familiar flavor that I couldn't place (cameroon?) that kind of reminded me of peanut butter. The smoke was medium bodied and overall it was good, but it needed something to get it to the next level. My Coke got rid of the peanut butter flavor, but the cigar eventually developed a creamy flavor that was pretty good. At the halfway point the draw eased up to what it should've been originally, but by then the cigar was already getting hot and a little sour so I was done with it. I wouldn't get this vitola again, but I thought the cigar was good enough to try the other vitolas in the line. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(12/2006 - $8.20 - 5/2007)
Graycliff Profesionale (Bahamas) "Pirate" [figurado] - The first time I tried a Graycliff I thought it was terrible so when I decided to give them another try I got cigars from a couple of their different lines.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. The cigar seemed to weigh much less than it should given its size and there were several gluey fingerprints on the wrapper making for a very poor first impression. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium with a hint of sweetness that was quickly replaced by a hint of sourness. The sourness eventually disappeared leaving a decent, although nondescript, flavor. My Dr. Pepper didn't have any affect on the flavor. Eventually the cigar got a little ashy so I was done with it. It wasn't a bad cigar, but definitely not worth the money. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2007 - $9 - 5/2007)
Cusano Hermanos Vintage (Dominican Republic) "Corona" -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: stinky-sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium and left my mouth feeling kind of fuzzy. I didn't care for the flavor, but my Coke made it kind of tasty and gave it a pleasant depth. The cigar was doing well for a little while, but then an ashy flavor crept in that never went away. I haven't had any luck with Cusano cigars lately. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $15/Cusano sampler - 4/2007)
Padilla Edicion Especial Achilles (Nicaragua) "Toro" - I had seen the Padilla Edicion Especial Achilles on cigarbid.com and wanted to try them, but they were only available by the dozen. I hadn't disliked the other Pepin Garcia cigars I tried so I took the plunge untasted.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: light pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started with a very pleasant medium toastiness that quickly toned down to mild, but there was enough toastiness and creaminess to keep it tasty. The cigar was smooth, but there was a bit of nicotine sizzle that warned me that this cigar was probably the type to sneak up and kick my ass. It didn't take too long to confirm it either. I had to hit my Dr. Pepper to keep the cigar from getting the better of me and it decimated the flavor and made the body thin. It completely ruined the cigar. The flavor didn't recover before the nicotine kicked in so I was through with the cigar. I was disappointed that it started so well only to be ruined by my soda, but at least I still have 11 more to smoke. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2007 - $28/12 - 4/2007)
Bahia Maduro (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [maduro] - I've never been a fan of Bahia cigars so this was their last chance to make a good impression on me.
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started full with flat dark flavors that weren't bad, but needed something. My Coke made the aftertaste a little more pleasant, but it wasn't enough. In the end the cigar got very sour on me so I pitched it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2004 - - 4/2007)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection (Dominican Republic) "L-300" [colorado maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: light cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started full with a somewhat sour finish and a light body. The sourness went away quickly enough leaving something that just reminded me of nicotine. I hate the full flavor/light body combination so I hoped my Dr. Pepper would do something good, but it only made the flavor mild. It didn't make the cigar any worse than it already was. There was eventually a pleasant aftertaste, but it wasn't enough reason to continue smoking the cigar. This may well have been the least enjoyable La Flor Dominicana I've had. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(5/2006 - $5.65 - 4/2007)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: light pungent scent with an oily wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium to full with only char being apparent. It wasn't bad, but one dimensional. My Dr. Pepper greatly improved the flavor by making it creamy and giving it some depth. That depth disappeared though leaving a lighter version of the original char flavor. This Edge was enjoyable, but not the best Edge I've ever had. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(5/2006 - $5.50 - 4/2007)
La Aurora (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [maduro] - I'm not a fan of La Aurora, and even decided that I'm not buying them any more, but I was given one of their regular maduros so I had to try it.
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: sweet pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, somewhat uneven burn, and pleasantly scented pungent smoke. The flavor started medium to full with a decent amount of spice. I was surprised because I liked it. My Coke toned down the spice, but there was a full tobacco flavor that was perfect with the spice that was left. I found the cigar highly enjoyable so it was too bad that the cigar kept going out on me. After the second or third relight all the good flavor disappeared to be replaced by some tarriness so I pitched it far too early for my tastes. This La Aurora was good enough that I'll actually try it one or two more times despite my previous feelings about La Aurora. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(gifted - 4/2007)
Alec Bradley Maxx (Honduras) "The Culture" -
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: light sweet scent and an oily wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium with a little leather and caramel. It wasn't bad, but not my sort of thing. My Coke made the flavor even more caramelized, which I actually enjoyed until I was finished with the cigar. I liked this cigar, but I didn't like its flavor profile enough to get it again. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2006 - $5.15 - 4/2007)
Gurkha Legend (Dominican Republic) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: pungent barnyard scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pungently scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full, twangy, and a little dry. I was once again surprised that a cigar stored at 65% relative humidity could taste dry. I was enjoying my cigar, but my Dr. Pepper removed the twang and most of the flavor. Gradually the aftertaste became more assertive, but that was a bad thing because it was sour and a little ashy. Eventually the aftertaste got too ashy for me. This cigar was typical of my other experiences with the Gurkha Legend "Torpedo"; it could've been a great cigar, but wasn't. Maybe these things need to be stored at 70% relative humidity? Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $21/5 - 4/2007)
Cusano Selection (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [colorado] - I knew 57% relative humidity was too low for most of my cigars, but I decided to smoke one anyway. I take the complete blame for what happened.
Hygrometer Reading: 57%. Presmoked: dry tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The cigar started dry and sour and remained that way even after my Dr. Pepper. It was definitely too dry to smoke. Amount Smoked: 1/4 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $9/5 & $6/5 - 4/2007)
Graycliff (Bahamas) "PG" - The first red label Graycliff I tried was terrible, but I thought I'd give it one more shot.
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw that got difficult, even burn, and pungently scented smoke that eventually smelled pleasant. It started out decent with a medium flavor, light spice, and light body. My Coke got rid of the spice and lightened up the flavor in a way I didn't like. It got even worse at the halfway mark because the draw became difficult. The flavor got sour and I could taste tar on my lips so I pitched the cigar. The thought this second Graycliff would have to be better than the first, but it sucked in a completely different way. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2007 - $9 - 4/2007)
Tatuaje Series P (Nicaragua) "P3" -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium with a light body. It was decent enough, but the flavor got a little sharp and papery so I didn't like it. My Coke got rid of the sharpness and gave it a good medium flavor, but the paperiness remained for a while. At the halfway point the smoke had a creamy texture that complimented the flavor nicely and made it quite enjoyable. Unfortunately it was short lived because at two-thirds it started getting hot and sour and never stopped. The Tatuaje Series P "P3" was inexpensive, but the cigar wasn't good for long enough to make it worthwhile. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2006 - $4.15 - 4/2007)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium, a little sour, and a little harsh. The sourness quickly went away, but there was still a flat harshness that I didn't like. At the 1/4 mark the harshness went away leaving a good spicy flavor. Coke works best with C10s, but the only thing I had cold was Dr. Pepper so I hoped it wouldn't ruin the cigar. The Dr. Pepper got rid of the spiciness, but it gave the cigar a good flavor anyway. This started as one of the worst C10s I'd ever had, but it finished pretty well. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 3/2007)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: light cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and great scented smoke. The flavor started medium with a dry version of the dark flavors I like. I hoped my Coke would help bring them out, but it kind of compacted the flavor. It was still an enjoyable cigar and the only thing that prevented me from smoking the entire thing was that it was too high maintenance because it had a problem staying lit. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2006 - $22/5 - 3/2007)
Kahlau (Nicaragua) "Mudslide" [cigarillo] - I thought I finished these off, but I found one hiding in the humidor and I was looking for a quick smoke so it was a good excuse to see if it was any good.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: highly sugary sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and sweet scented smoke. The wrapper might've tasted sweet on the lips, but the cigar started with a medium sour flavor that was very unpleasant. At 1/3 of the way the cigar started getting harsh making me want to pitch it, which I finally did at the halfway point. Apparently after a long enough period of time all that sweet stuff works against the tobacco. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - $15.23/10 - 3/2007)
Oliva Serie O (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 64%. Presmoked: no scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started so mild I didn't taste anything despite the medium bodied smoke. It didn't take long to develop a hint of tar so I cut more the head off to prevent the tar from bunching where the head narrowed. That worked and I never tasted tar again. At the 1/4 mark of this long cigar there was still barely any flavor. I got thirsty so I hit my Dr. Pepper which thinned down the body and made the cigar taste flat. It was worse than how it tasted before the Dr. Pepper. The flavor eventually picked up a little char, but the body was still on the thin side. This cigar's flavor was way too mild for me. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(1/2007 - $6.65 - 3/2007)
Fonseca Cubano Limitado (Dominican Republic) "Toro" -
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: light cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started with a mild to medium mouth coating flavor and a pleasant somewhat woody aftertaste. It tasted surprisingly dry for a cigar that was stored at a higher relative humidity than usual. My Dr. Pepper made the flavor a little papery, but the long aftertaste got even better. Halfway through the flavor got ashy, but the aftertaste was still good. The flavor didn't improve from that point so I tossed the cigar. It was a good cigar, but the "Belicoso Corto" and "Robusto" in the same line have both been better. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2006 - $6.15 - 3/2007)
La Flor Dominicana (Dominican Republic) "Limitado II" [oscuro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: shiny wrapper and light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild with the occasional sourness and an undertone of the dark flavors I love. It was highly enjoyable for a mild cigar and there was plenty more cigar left for it to build up so I was looking forward to it. It was a hot day so I had to hit my Dr. Pepper sooner than I wanted to to prevent heat stroke. The Dr. Pepper enhanced the dark flavors and added a little char to the mix proving to be the right choice. As the cigar progressed it got milder in flavor with the dark flavors disappearing. I didn't find it nearly as enjoyable as the first quarter of cigar. At the end the cigar got too bland for me to even be bothered with smoking it. Things started so well, but ultimately the "Limitado II" disappointed. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(11/2006 - $8.10 - 3/2007)
Sosa (Dominican Republic) "Brevas" [natural] - The only thing I had to drink was a vanilla cream soda so I had to find a cigar that might actually go with it. I had a feeling the Sosa, probably the least talked about Fuente made brand, would fit the bill.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: dusty mild sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar started with a mild bitter flavor that went away after not too long leaving nothing but bland. I eventually hit the cream soda, but it didn't affect the flavor. Occasionally the flavor picked up a little something, but it always returned to nothing making for a very boring cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar (which had nothing to do with how much I enjoyed it).
(10/2004 - 3/2007)
Tatuaje Series P (Nicaragua) "P2" [colorado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: almost no scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar started with a mildly creamy and sweet medium flavor with a short finish. My Dr. Pepper gave it more flavor and more creaminess making it quite enjoyable. Towards the end there was an undertone of tar that wasn't bad enough to ruin the cigar. I'd get this cigar again, but I think $4 is too much to pay for a medium filler cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar. I would've smoked more, but I had other things to do.
(12/2006 - $3.90 - 3/2007)
Cacique Miami (Nicaragua) "Toro" [colorado maduro] - Recently the Cacique Miamis did well in the December blind tasting at Herfer's Paradise so I thought I should try one again.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: wrapper with a nice oily sheen to it and a dusty tobacco scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw that got more difficult as I smoked the cigar, mostly even burn, and stinky smoke. The initial flavor started with so much pepper that I thought the cigar was trying to kill me. After a few puffs the pepper dropped to a manageable level and the flavor started getting a little creamy. I didn't even get a quarter of the way into the cigar when I had to start my Dr. Pepper due to the excessive nicotine. I was amazed the cigar was still this potent after almost three years of aging (that means I'm going to have to wait even longer for those La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero "Chisel"s and Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001s to settle down). The Dr. Pepper made the flavor a little chalky, but didn't ruin it, and kept the nicotine from kicking my ass. The draw got so difficult at 1/3 of the way that I almost pitched the cigar, but the obstruction was burnt through leaving a perfect draw. Maybe it was fighting the draw that burnt me out, but the flavor started tasting a little burnt so I gave up on the cigar. It wasn't a bad cigar, but I need the nicotine to settle down some more so it may be another year before I smoke another one. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2004 - $4/5 - 2/2007)
Cubita Spanish Market Selection (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [colorado maduro] - The Cubita Spanish Market Selection "Robusto" was pretty good looking so I picked one up even though I'd never heard of Cubita.
Hygrometer Reading: 58%. Presmoked: heavy savory scent like Worcestershire sauce. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. I was doing yardwork so I wasn't paying as much attention to this cigar as I should've, but it was quite a bit better than the "yard 'gar" I assumed it was. I'll have to try a couple more of these. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2005 - 2/2007)
La Aurora 1495 (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" - I've never been a fan of La Aurora cigars (except for the reasonably priced La Aurora 1903 Preferidos "Perfecto No. 2" maduro seconds, which I can no longer get) so I doubted this 1495 would change my mind, but you never know.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: spicy-sweet scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar started with a mild thin flavor that had nothing to it and a pleasant unique, but short-lived, aftertaste. The aftertaste was medium if though the flavor was mild. There was an astringent quality to the smoke that made me want to hit my Coke before I wanted to. My Coke tasted watery (I'm beginning to think it's me), but didn't affect the flavor. Too bad because I didn't like this cigar and it's probably the last La Aurora I pay for. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(11/2006 - $8.20 - 2/2007)
Cuaba (Cuba) "Especial Cabinet" [figurado] - I've been trying to find a Cuban cigar I like besides the cost prohibitive Cohibas so I tried one of the seldom mentioned Cuabas.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started full, which was too assertive for me. It wasn't too long before it settled down to a medium-full on its own with some spice and a pleasant woody aftertaste. My Coke made the cigar papery almost ruining it for me. I persevered though and towards the end the paperiness disappeared leaving a decent flavor. Overall it was a decent cigar, but nothing compared to a good Cohiba. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(5/2006 - ¥1,600 - 2/2007)
Oliva Serie G (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [maduro] - This was the maduro version of the Serie G I just tried.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: pungent scent not quite as strong as the non-maduro version. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke with cocoa undertones. The flavor started full, but papery with a thin spice and a long finish. It wasn't the type of cigar I go for, but it wasn't bad. My Dr. Pepper tasted watery (big surprise there), but it wasn't bad with the cigar. Halfway through some tasty cocoa flavors started to develop, but they quickly disappeared being replaced by a bitter flavor. Overall it wasn't a bad cigar, but like the Serie O I liked the non-maduro version better. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2007 - $3.70 - 2/2007)
Oliva Serie G (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [colorado maduro] - Continuing my Oliva tasting.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar started full flavored with a sharp, thin spice that I didn't care for, but it settled down to something manageable. My Coke tasted watery (just like the Dr. Pepper with the Oliva Special S), but it left a good cigar aftertaste so I wasn't sure how it'd be with the cigar. My Coke toned the cigar down in a pleasant way making the flavor creamier with some wood and spice and a long finish. It was a good cigar, but I preferred the Oliva Serie O "Robusto". Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2007 - $3.55 - 2/2007)
La Vieja Habana Early Years (Nicaragua) "Wavelle Deluxe" - A long time ago the La Vieja Habana Early Years got a lot of praise on Herfer's Paradise so I got them untried in greater than usual quantities. Unfortunately I found out I didn't like them so I put them away for a while hoping I might like them later.
Presmoked: strong chocolate scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started mild and indistinct with a creamy medium body. I thought my Dr. Pepper would improve things, but the cigar got tarry instead. I should've known that if I didn't like the way they tasted when I got them I probably never would. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2004 - $4.16/2 - 2/2007)
Cusano 18 Paired Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [maduro] - I thought the first Cusano 18 Paired Maduro "Toro" I tried was good enough to merit a second one.
Presmoked: perfumed scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The smoke was medium to full bodied with a mouth coating flavor that was a little sweet and a little sour. It was pretty decent, but it needed help. My Coke made the flavor alternate between sour and tarry completely ruining the cigar. These are cheap enough that I could try it one more time, but the toro size is longer than I usually have time to smoke anyway. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2007 - $4.85 - 1/2007)
Oliva Special S (Nicaragua) "Toro" -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium and very smooth with a respectable amount of spice. I got about halfway through the cigar without having to drink anything. When I finally hit my Dr. Pepper it tasted watery, which I knew was a bad sign. The Dr. Pepper sucked all the spice and most of the body out of the smoke and made it taste papery. Basically it ruined it. I liked the cigar before the soda, but I don't think I liked it $10 worth. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2007 - $9.25 - 1/2007)
Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Forte" [colorado maduro] - The first couple of Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Forte"s I smoked were very good, but none since then have been even close to the same. I still had hopes for the last two I had left though.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: sweet hay scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium and dry so I had to hit my Dr. Pepper very quick. The Dr. Pepper lent a little moisture to the smoke and gave the flavor a nice depth. Sometimes there were dark flavors, other times a heavy char, but both were pleasant. The flavor started getting sour at the end, but it also picked up a nice aftertaste so it wasn't too bad. I would've finished the cigar if I didn't run out of Dr. Pepper because despite the dry smoke it was a very enjoyable cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $23/5 - 1/2007)
Tatuaje Havana VI (Nicaragua) "Nobles" - This was the last of the Tatuaje Havana VIs I bought.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor didn't taste like much besides tar when I started. I suspected the tar was coming from the cap so I chopped it off and it resulted in less tar, but still way too much for my tastes. My Dr. Pepper got rid of the rest of the tar flavor, and even improved the remaining flavors, but not enough for me to want to continue smoking the cigar in the cold. Amount Smoked: 1/4 of the cigar.
(12/2006 - $7.15 - 1/2007)
Fonseca Cubano Limitado (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso Corto" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: beautiful oily wrapper and a pungent scent. Smoked: easy draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium and dry. It wasn't bad, but my Dr. Pepper made it very good bringing out the twang and coffee flavors. It made me wish I had started drinking my Dr. Pepper earlier. I liked the first Fonseca Cubano Limitado "Robusto" I had better, but this was close. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2006 - $6.90 - 1/2007)
Oliva Serie O (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [colorado maduro] - Yesterday I tried the maduro version of the Oliva Serie O "Robusto" so I wanted to compare the non-maduro version to it while it was still fresh in my mind.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: strong pungent barnyard scent. Smoked: difficult draw and mostly even burn. The cigar started very mild due to the bad draw so I cut off the last quarter inch. That resulted in a perfect draw, but the flavor still tasted fairly mild to me with the aftertaste having more to it than the actual flavor. My Dr. Pepper gave it a really good flavor that disappeared after the cigar went out on me once. I liked this one better than the maduro version and I'll probably get another one. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(1/2007 - $4.35 - 1/2007)
Oliva Serie O (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [maduro] - My Coke ruined the first Oliva Serie O maduro "Robusto" I tried so I was determined to try it again with a Dr. Pepper.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor started full with a little spice that wasn't bad. My Dr. Pepper made the smoke full bodied and medium flavored with a hint of espresso, but it also brought out a little tar flavor. So I simultaneously liked and disliked what my Dr. Pepper did to the flavor. The tar flavor eventually went away, but it was too bitter cold for me to finish off the cigar. Too bad because I thought it was a decent cigar. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(1/2007 - $5.70 - 1/2007)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: sweet grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started full and very good, but my Coke ruined it by making it papery and a little sour. It never got better either. Every cigar I've had this year has been ruined by Coke, which is not a good sign. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 1/2007)
Oliva Serie O (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: sweet dusty tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started full with some spice in the finish. Full being too much for me it wasn't long before I hit my Coke. The Coke subdued the flavor to an easy to handle medium, but it completely killed the spice and made the flavor papery. I thought the flavor before the Coke was pretty good so I'll have to try one of these without a Coke. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2006 - $5.60 - 1/2007)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] - I wanted my first cigar of the new year to be a great one, and not have so much nicotine in it that it would make me sick, so I went with an Ashton Virgin Sun Grown "Corona Gorda".
Hygrometer Reading: 64%. Presmoked: cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium with plenty of spiciness and medium to full bodied. My Coke killed the spice and thinned down the body, which I absolutely hated, but the spice quickly returned. The body still remained thin so I wasn't too happy, but at least the mild aftertaste was pretty good. The body eventually got back up to medium, but the spice was too much so I pitched it. Not quite the experience I wanted for my first cigar of the new year. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(8/2005 - $7.75 - 1/2007)
Tatuaje Havana VI (Nicaragua) "Angeles" -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started medium flavored with a little spice and full bodied. My Coke took the spice out of it, but as usual it left a good aftertaste. I enjoyed the cigar, but the draw got difficult at the end so I had to pitch it. I have one more Tatuaje Havana VI left to try and I'm looking forward to it. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2006 - $5.65 - 12/2006)
Gurkha Legend (Dominican Republic) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: very light pungent scent. The cigar felt a little dry, but not brittle when I clipped the cap so I smoked it anyway. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and smoke that alternated between ashy and very pleasant. The flavor started mild to medium and not bad, but it did taste a little dry too. I figured a Dr. Pepper would improve it, and it did keep my mouth moist so I could enjoy the cigar longer, but it couldn't make dry smoke any less dry. This was probably the best Gurkha I've had. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $21/5 - 12/2006)
Gran Habano 3 Siglos (Honduras) "Robusto" [maduro (in color)] -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: robusto so large it was more like a toro with a completely flat head (don't think I've ever seen one before) and a pungent barnyard scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started mild and creamy with a peppery finish and a pleasant mild aftertaste. Occasionally I'd taste vanilla giving the impression of a vanilla cream soda. My Dr. Pepper made the cigar even creamier and enhanced the sweetness a little. It was an enjoyable cigar even it wasn't quite my sort of thing, but I had to stop because the nicotine started getting to me. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar, and it took me over an hour to get that far.
(12/2006 - $6.45 - 12/2006)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] - My tolerance for cigars I'm not thrilled with has gone down considerably with the cold weather so I wanted to smoke something I knew I'd enjoy.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: dusty sweet tobacco scent. The cigar felt a little dry when I clipped off the cap so I should've went without today, but I decided to try it anyway. Mistake. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium to full with some papery bitterness that I didn't like. It went away before I had to hit my Coke, but then the smoke got a little harsh forcing me to start my Coke. The Coke suppressed the harshness, and gave it a pleasant aftertaste, but it didn't take long for an ashiness to develop. The cigar was just too dry. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $46/10 - 12/2006)
Alec Bradley Maxx (Honduras) "The Fix" [colorado maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: beautiful oily wrapper with a sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: easy draw, uneven burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium to full with a light to medium bodied smoke. I like the flavor and body to match or mild flavor with a heavier body, but the opposite doesn't work for me. No particular flavors jumped out at me, but I didn't like the overall flavor. As the smoke progressed it actually lost flavor becoming mild. A third of the way through I had to hit my Coke because the flavor started to get a little papery and bitter. The cigar made the Coke spicy and the Coke gave the cigar a little more body and a mild toasty flavor. Unfortunately it wasn't enough for me to enjoy the cigar. In the end the cigar started getting ashy so I pitched it. Honestly I would've pitched it even if it didn't get ashy because I just didn't care for it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(12/2006 - $5.15 - 12/2006)
Tatuaje Series P (Nicaragua) "P1" - The Tatuaje Series P is a medium filler cigar, which explains the price difference between the Series P and the Havana VI. Medium filler doesn't bother me as much as short filler because at least I don't feel like I'm smoking scraps, but I did wonder if it would affect the smoke.
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: light pungent scent and the head cracked open when I punched it. Smoked: easy draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The cigar started medium bodied, but the flavor was flat with some spice. My Dr. Pepper rounded out the flavor a little, and made it a little creamy, but also got rid of the spice. I thought it was a little better with the Dr. Pepper. At about halfway though the flavor gained some pungency and paperiness. The cigar wasn't bad, but the flavor was too light for me. Was that due to the medium filler? I have no idea, but I doubt it. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2006 - $3.90 - 12/2006)
Fonseca Cubano Limitado (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" - I liked the Fonseca Cubano Limitado "Robusto" enough that I wanted to try it again even though it wasn't quite my thing.
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pungent smoke that occasionally smelled good. The cigar was medium bodied, but I couldn't taste anything up until I drank my Coke. After the Coke the cigar still didn't have any flavor, but at least it had a good aftertaste. Towards the end it got ashy so I pitched the cigar. This "Robusto" hardly resembled the first one I had so I suspect that the 5% difference in relative humidity made the difference. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(12/2006 - $5.90 - 12/2006)
Fuente Fuente Opus X (Dominican Republic) "Super Belicoso" [figurado] - It's that time of year when cigar shops receive shipments of Opus X, Anejo, and maduro Hemingways. I've only had one Anejo and maduro Hemingway, and was impressed with both, but my experience with Opus X has been mixed; I was impressed with one Opus X, but the others I've smoked have been disappointing. To help determine if I should buy any more Opus Xs, even though I never thought I should've bought any in the first place, I decided to try one.
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: sweet scent like sugar and cinnamon. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The cigar started full and spicy with a long finish, but one dimensional. The cigar settled down to medium-full without quite so much spice, but I still wanted some sort of complexity. The smoke was smooth enough that I didn't have to run for a Coke until I was ready for it, and once I did I was impressed. The Coke made the cigar pretty damn tasty for the remainder of the smoke. I was prepared to dislike the Opus X because of the Fuente's shifty marketing tactics for this line, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I enjoyed the hell out of this cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar. It's a good thing I stopped because when I was done I was feeling some nicotine fuzziness, which gradually progressed to the point that I had to eat something to keep from feeling sick. Maybe I should've aged it three years?
(2/2005 - $13 - 12/2006)
La Aurora 1495 (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso" [figurado] - I'm not a fan of La Aurora's cigars, but I have to smoke through many lines I don't like to give up on a cigar maker (like Partagas, Perdomo, and C.A.O.) so I thought I'd give La Aurora's latest line a try.
Hygrometer Reading: 66%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started full of leather and spice, but quickly toned down to a more manageable mild to medium with a hint of those flavors and an undertone of sweetness. About a third of the way through the flavor started getting toasty and I decided it was time to hit my Coke. The Coke made the flavor flat and leathery, which was not an improvement. About two thirds of the way it became a little ashy too. This cigar wasn't my sort of thing, especially for the price. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(11/2006 - $10.20 - 12/2006)
Tatuaje Havana VI (Nicaragua) "Victorias" -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: light pungent scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium, but it was difficult for me to taste it because of the draw. I tried to correct the draw by cutting off more of the end, but it didn't work. Eventually I tried it with a Coke and I liked it a lot better because it made the flavor fuller. Halfway through the draw improved and the flavor even picked up a hint of coffee. The cigar kept going out on me to the point that I eventually got tired of dealing with it. I liked the Tatuaje Havana VI enough to hope that the other vitolas work out better for me. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2006 - $6.40 - 12/2006)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" - It had been forever since I had a Cusano C10 "Crown Corona", and since it ranks as one of my favorite cigars that was too long.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and smoke that started stinky, but got very pleasant. The flavor started medium, but there was something not quite right about it. I didn't like the flavor, but the aftertaste was good. I hit my Coke pretty quickly, and it at least made the flavor decent. Towards the end the cigar got ashy so I pitched it. It wasn't quite up to the favorite standard, but it wasn't a bad cigar either. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 11/2006)
Fonseca Cubano Limitado (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso" [colorado maduro, figurado] - I had liked the Fonseca Cubano Limitado "Robusto" enough to try the rest of the line, which was the "Belicoso" this time.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: beautiful oily wrapper with a strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started with leather, a little spice, and a long finish. It wasn't my sort of thing. Eventually I hit my Coke in hopes that it would do something good to the cigar, but the only result was the spice disappeared. Halfway through the flavor was papery and ashy, and it never improved so I had to pitch it. It was very disappointing considering how good the "Robusto" was. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(11/2006 - $6.80 - 11/2006)
Romeo y Julieta (counterfeit Cuban) "Hermosos No.2 Edicion Limitada 2004" [colorado maduro] - When I saw this cigar I had a feeling it was counterfeit, but I didn't know for sure so I got it anyway. After a little research I found out that the "Edicion Limitada" label without a year was a dead giveaway. I should've followed my gut instinct, but since I had them I might as well try them.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent smelled like a barnyard (hay and animal crap). Smoked: difficult draw and mostly even burn. At first the cigar didn't have any flavor, and by the time the flavor started to develop I had to be attended to something that popped up. No big loss. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(12/2005 - $12 - 11/2006)
Fonseca Cubano Limitado (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" - I'm not a fan of Fonseca cigars, but I had heard good things about their Cubano Limitado line so I gave it a try. I'm glad I did.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke that got better as the cigar was smoked. The flavor started medium to full with lots of earthiness, leather, and a great twang, but was very smooth so it wasn't overpowering. Normally those aren't flavors I go for, but the combination was so well executed I was impressed. As the smoke continued the flavors toned themselves down in a disappointing way, but then got spicy. Even the spiciness went away so I finally hit my Coke. The Coke enhanced the twang in the aftertaste making the cigar enjoyable once again. This cigar tasted like a more robust version of the Gurkha Legend "Torpedo", and was damn near great. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2006 - $5.90 - 11/2006)
Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label (USA) "Invictos" - I had liked one of the two Pepin Garcia Havana Souls I had tried so when I saw a different Pepin Garcia line at the cigar shop I couldn't resist trying it.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: strong cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar started medium bodied, but the flavor was flat. About a third of the way in I started noticing the nicotine so it was time to hit a soda. I hoped my Coke would have a positive affect, and it caused the cigar to smell significantly better, but it hardly affected the flavor. Overall the cigar was ok, but I preferred the Havana Soul. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2006 - $6.75 - 11/2006)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection (Dominican Republic) "L-300" [oscuro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium with a little sourness, some spice, and a long finish that was enjoyable. I went almost half the cigar before hitting my Dr. Pepper. The Dr. Pepper toned down the flavors, but it made them dark and well rounded so I was happy. It was a very good cigar, but not good enough for favorite consideration. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(5/2006 - $5.65 - 11/2006)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] - A while ago a local cigar shop used to carry La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros seconds, but at some point they were forced to call them alts, and eventually they were no longer able to carry the seconds so they switched over to alts. I was worried that the last batch of seconds I got from them were really the alts.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar tasted like it was dry, but it had a good mild to medium flavor anyway. My Dr. Pepper didn't make the cigar taste any less dry, and gave it a sour flavor that I hated enough to stop drinking the Dr. Pepper. Unfortunately the sour flavor persisted all the way to the end of the cigar. I hate when my soda ruins a cigar, but at least I'm certain the most recent of these I got were the seconds and not the alts. Too bad I'll never be able to get them again. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2005 - $2.50 - 11/2006)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] - I hoped to follow up the very good Cusano Estate Reserve with a great Xclusivo "Preferido Grande", but that didn't happen.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: sweet grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The cigar started medium bodied and medium flavored without anything interesting about it. My Coke made the cigar taste a little ashy, which annoyed me, and then it got sour, which annoyed me even more. Eventually both flavors went away, but the cigar was never worth smoking. The Xclusivo "Preferido Grande" is normally one of my favorite cigars, but this one sucked. I wish I knew why. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $46/10 - 11/2006)
Cusano Estate Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Torpedo?" [natural, figurado] - Being sick hardly ever stops me from smoking a cigar, which is probably not a good thing. This cold I at least conceded that it would probably be better if I smoked a mild cigar. A while ago I picked up the Cusano Estate Reserve because I generally like Cusano cigars and I thought it was something new. After a little bit of searching I found out it hasn't been in production for years, and it was supposed to be mild. Not my usual type of smoke it sounded like something guaranteed from making me sicker.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: light weight for a cigar that was physically large with a sweet grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium, which was more flavor than I honestly expected. It was a little papery, but there was also balsa wood, a little sweetness, and something else that helped round out the flavor. A quarter of the way through the flavor was squarely medium when it picked up some spice that I enjoyed, but would've liked more on a cigar with more body. My Coke gave the smoke more body, but it sucked all the spice out of the flavor in addition to muting the other flavors. It basically ruined the cigar. I continued smoking it anyway until it got ashy and had to pitch it. The Cusano Estate Reserve was a much better cigar than I expected, and the best cigar I've had recently. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2005 - $5.98 - 11/2006)
Cupido Classic (Nicaragua) "Corona" - It was back to the Island of Lost Toys for me with a discontinued cigar that I probably wasn't going to care for.
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: strong cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar started mild, light, and a little papery with a slight twang that kept it from being tasteless. My Dr. Pepper enhanced the twang, but the paperiness increased to the point that I wasn't sure if I liked the cigar better before or after the Dr. Pepper. About halfway through the cigar started tasting tarry, but nothing blowing through the cigar couldn't fix. It was a decent mild cigar, but not the sort of thing I crave. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2003 - $17/part of Cupido sampler - 10/2006)
Flor de Camaguey (Nicaragua) "Figurado #?" [maduro, figurado] - The wrapper on this cigar was so dark and beautiful that I was compelled me to buy it.
Hygrometer Reading: straight from store humidor. Presmoked: pungent white pepper scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started with a mild, flat woody flavor. My Coke made the flavor papery with a hint of something good that just never got any better. Too bad because it was all unrealized potential. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2006 - $4.95 - 10/2006)
Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Silver (Honduras) "Corona Grande" [colorado] - I haven't liked the Exodus 1959 Silver line, but my Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Silver "Corona Grande" was free and a vitola I'd never tried before so I thought it was worth a shot.
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor shocked me by starting extremely spicy because spicy is not what I expect or have experienced from a Torano. After a couple of minutes the flavor toned down, which was good because there was too much spiciness. The flavor that remained was medium with some flavor I couldn't identify and a pleasant spiciness. My Coke toned down the flavor a little more, but caused a pleasant aftertaste that was a good trade off. Midway through the cigar started tasting a little ashy, but that went away and a floral flavor developed. This was one of the best Toranos I've had, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2005 - gifted - 10/2006)
Industrial Press (Nicaragua) "Mass" [maduro, figurado] - Occasionally I'll pick up a sampler of a cigar line and smoke through most of it, and not like it. That usually leaves me with the odd cigar or two that I don't know if I should even bother with. That was the case with the Industrial Press "Mass", but I figured I'd rather smoke it than toss it untasted.
Presmoked: light, pungent scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn that eventually went completely uneven, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but there was something unique about it that I enjoyed. As the smoke progressed it got a little sour, but wasn't too bad. My Coke got rid of the sourness, but otherwise didn't affect the flavor. The shape of the cigar was at least twice as wide at the foot than the head so I hoped the flavor would pick up as it was smoked, but it didn't happen. I could've lived without smoking this cigar. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(8/2002 - $14/part of IP sampler - 10/2006)
Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Forte" [colorado maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: light sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor started very mild, stayed mild, and after my Dr. Pepper continued to be mild. It wasn't until practically the very end when the flavor picked up a little bit, but it didn't pick up enough for me to finish the cigar. I hope the last couple of these I have taste better. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $23/5 - 10/2006)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] - I still wanted a good cigar that goes well with a Coke so I went for one of my favorites, the Ashton Virgin Sun Grown "Corona Gorda".
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: sharp cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The smoke was thin bodied, but the flavor was full with some wood and a little tar. My Coke took the tar out of the flavor, but didn't really improve things. The cigar had a real mouth coating flavor, which would've been great if the flavor weren't only good. I've had much better VSG "Corona Gorda"s. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2004 - $7.84 - 10/2006)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] - I wanted a good cigar that goes well with a Coke so the Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown sounded like a natural choice, but it proved to be a disappointment.
Hygrometer Reading: 58%. Presmoked: sharp cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and somewhat stinky smoke. The cigar started full bodied with a mild to medium flavor that didn't taste like anything in particular. My Coke didn't have an affect either way, and the cigar never got better. I had to stop smoking early to deal with a screaming kid, and it didn't bother me at all. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2006 - $22/5 - 10/2006)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 58%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent with an oily oscuro looking wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. It took at least 10 minutes to get the cigar fully lit and it would prove to be a very slow burner. The flavor started medium to full, but combined with the nicotine (which wasn't a lot, but enough) it was more than I was prepared for before lunch so I hit my Dr. Pepper quickly. The Dr. Pepper made the flavor mild and creamy and the sugar took the edge off the nicotine. As the smoke progressed the flavor developed a char flavor with a hint of espresso to it that was good, but was a little too one dimensional, and fatigued my tastebuds so I pitched it. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(5/2006 - $5.50 - 10/2006)
Indian Tabac Limited Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Buffalo" [natural] - I was rummaging through my coolador when I found a bundle of Indian Tabac Limited Reserve "Buffalo". This used to be one of my favorite cigars and somehow it had been almost two years since the last time I smoked one. I threw a couple in my humidor and took one with me to Flagstaff to smoke immediately to rectify that.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. Things started terribly because I accidentally dropped the cigar cracking the foot and the head (wrapper and binder). Somehow the draw was still good despite the two long cracks at the head. The flavor started mild with some paperiness and something else a little more robust. After my Coke the cigar took on a sweetness that was very good. I would've smoked the entire thing, but it looked like rain clouds were blowing in as we were breaking camp which forced me to abandon it. It was good enough that I'll look forward to my next one. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2003 - $40/25 - 10/2006)
Casa Torano "Churchill" - It was a bad fantasy football day for me so I just wanted a sweet cigar to sweeten a bitter day. I thought the Casa Torano "Churchill" would fit the bill given how the "Robusto" tasted.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly sweet scented smoke. The flavor was mild, papery, and ashy. I hated it so I hit my Coke pretty quickly. The Coke removed the ashiness, but there wasn't anything about the cigar that I liked. It eventually went out due to neglect and I never bothered relighting it. Torano may make a lot of cigars I don't like, but they're not bad cigars so I think this was an aberration. I'm not going to get another one to find out though. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(3/2005 - 10/2006)
Rocky Patel Edge Square (Honduras) "Missle" [maduro, figurado] - This was the closest Edge Square vitola I could get to the Edge "Torpedo" so I hoped I liked it better than the Edge Square "Toro".
Presmoked: dark oily wrapper with a light sweet-pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and excellent floral scented smoke (which I definitely didn't expect from his cigar). The flavor started smooth and mild, but it wasn't long before the nicotine started hitting me. The cigar was smooth enough that I didn't need my Dr. Pepper, but the nicotine was strong enough that I did. I don't know if it was due to the Dr. Pepper or just what the cigar would've done on its own, but about halfway through flavor strengthened up to medium and was very pleasant. I enjoyed it that way until the cigar got hot. There was a little more nicotine and a little less flavor than I like in my cigars, and it cost more than I'm will to pay for a merely good cigar so this was probably my last Edge Square. Unless I see a "Torpedo". Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $7.95 - 9/2006)
La Gloria Cubana (Dominican Republic) "Wavell" [natural] - I've been drinking too much Dr. Pepper lately so I wanted a cigar that goes with a Coke. It had been a while since the last time I had an LGC "Wavell" so it sounded like a good option.
Hygrometer Reading: 58%. Presmoked: light sweet bubblegum scent . Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The cigar had a mild flavor with a char aftertaste. My Coke didn't do anything for the cigar, and the cigar didn't do anything for me. I think this is one of those cigars aging works against rather than for. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(9/2003 - $30.80/10 - 9/2006)
La Aurora Sungrown Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium with a flavor I thought would've been much better with a better draw. I cut more of the head off and the draw was perfect. The flavor was now medium with a lot of char to it with the occasional sourness and a coffee aftertaste. My Dr. Pepper brought out a sweetness to the flavor that was very good and gave the smoke more body. The Dr. Pepper was exactly what the cigar needed. At the end the cigar got so hot that I had to stop smoking it. It was an enjoyable cigar, but I don't think I'd get it again based on the other three I had. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $4.80 - 9/2006)
Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte (Dominican Republic) "Cordona" - A lot of people like these cigars, but my experience hasn't convinced to get any more of them. I thought I'd try one last one to be sure.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: slightly sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium with some spice, but it was completely flat. My Dr. Pepper gave the cigar some body and rounded out the flavor. Halfway through the cigar it got tarry, which made me want to pitch it immediately. It took a lot of blowing through the cigar to make the tar go away, but the flavor was never again enjoyable. Too bad. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $3 - 9/2006)
Carlos Torano Nicaragua Selection (Old Blend) (Nicaragua) "Cetro" [colorado maduro] - My humidor was a little on the dry side so I wanted to smoke something that would still taste good dry and with a Dr. Pepper (I didn't have any cold Coke). The only thing that sounded close was an old Carlos Torano Nicaragua Selection.
Hygrometer Reading: 57%. Presmoked: the cellophane was so tight around the cigar that I had to split the cellophane because I couldn't get the cigar out of it. The cigar was so dry that it felt as light as an old bone, but it did have an excellent woody-tobacco scent. I think the tight cellophane caused a dryness issue independent of the humidor, but judging from the scent it seemed like the right cigar given the circumstances. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was very light with some creaminess, light wood, paper, and a slightly sour finish. I found it enjoyable, but my Dr. Pepper killed most of the flavor. It did leave a slightly cocoa aftertaste that kept developing so it wasn't terrible. It figures I finally liked this cigar when I only have one more left. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2003 - $7/5 - 9/2006)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: hardly a scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar started medium bodied, but without any flavor and a sour aftertaste that came and went. I never got into the cigar, even after my Dr. Pepper. This really is the last Fonseca Sungrown for me because I realized that the great ones are the aberration, not the other way around. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(5/2006 - $3.95 - 9/2006)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Esplendido" [claro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started mild and indistinct with a twang in the finish. The flavor didn't develop into anything and my Coke didn't do a thing for it. Towards the end the cigar picked up a great woody flavor that I wished was there all along because it made the difference between a decent cigar and a tasty cigar. Given the length of the cigar, about seven inches, I think there was too much of a wait for the pay off. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2005 - 129€/Cohiba sampler - 9/2006)
Mr. B's Nicaraguan Selection Sungrown (Nicaragua) "Double Perfecto" [oscuro, figurado] - A long time ago I got a Mr. B's Nicaraguan Selection Sungrown sampler and enjoyed the cigars. My favorite of the line was the "Double Perfecto", which had a rich flavor. Unfortunately when I bought a bundle of the "Double Perfecto"s they were never as good as the ones I had in the sampler. I wondered if their age could have been the problem although I doubted it. Now after three years of aging I decided to try one last "Double Perfecto" to see if I should ditch these cigars.
Presmoked: light tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild with an undertone of burnt hair and a mild tobacco aftertaste. My IBC rootbeer gave the cigar a pleasant char aftertaste, and it got rid of the burnt hair flavor, but it couldn't make the cigar enjoyable. I guess I need to get rid of these things. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - $32.95/25 - 9/2006)
Padron 1964 Anniversary (Nicaragua) "Imperial" [maduro] - I liked the Padron 1964 Anniversary "Exclusivo" maduro so much that I thought I'd try the "Imperial" maduro too.
Hygrometer Reading: 58%. Presmoked: light savory-sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar started medium bodied and medium flavored with light spice and a lot of char. My Dr. Pepper made the flavor fuller, but got rid of the spice. The spice couldn't be held down though because it came back pretty quick. I liked the cigar much better with the Dr. Pepper. Towards the end it got mild and tarry so I pitched the cigar. The "Imperial" was good, but the "Exclusivo" was better. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2005 - $14.?? - 9/2006)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero (Dominican Republic) "L-300" [colorado] - There are times the La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection oscuro has its moments so I thought I would try the non-oscuro version.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with a light body. My Coke gave the cigar a hint of sweetness and a good light wood flavor that made it enjoyable. I liked the La Flor Dominicana Ligero "L-300", but not enough that I'd get it again. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(7/2006 - $4.90 - 9/2006)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium and a little dry with a hint of sourness. My Dr. Pepper transformed some of the sourness into paperiness, but the cigar was still only alright. It later developed a mild char aftertaste, but the cigar was just missing something. Eventually I tasted too much tar on my lips so I had to toss the cigar. I don't seem to be having good luck with my cigars right now. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(5/2006 - $5.50 - 9/2006)
Litto Gomez Diez (Dominican Republic) "Americano" -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: spicy sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, highly uneven burn. The flavor started full with all sorts of spice without being harsh. It wasn't as complex as the "Cubano", but it was still enjoyable. The cigar brought out the spices in my Coke, unfortunately the Coke thinned out the cigar's flavor. A tarry flavor kept creeping in and the cigar kept going out, and this was before I was even halfway through. The cigar became too much of a pain in the ass so I stopped smoking it when it went out again. This was the worst Litto Gomez Diez I've had, but I've got another "Americano" in the humidor so I hope it turns out better. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2006 - $9.20 - 9/2006)
Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Forte" [colorado maduro] - My half day new kitchen sink/garbage disposal project turned into a three day frustration fest from hell. I sorely needed a cigar, but couldn't have one because I had too much to do. Finally I got to 95% victory so that was close enough for a victory cigar.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: light sweet-pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started medium bodied with some sourness plus a hint of the flavors I like. I started with my Dr. Pepper, but the sourness remained. The sourness remained in the flavor although some of the other flavors I liked built up to make this a decent cigar. I may never like another "Forte" as much as I liked the first. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $23/5 - 9/2006)
Black Pearl Rojo "Robusto" - I liked the first Black Pearl Rojo "Robusto" I had, got frustrated when the rest weren't as good, and swore them off. I got bored so I decided to try one again to see if they got any better.
Hygrometer Reading: 67%. Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and uneven burn. The flavor started mild to medium with a hint of something good, but the good flavor never developed. The cigar made my Dr. Pepper tasty, but the Dr. Pepper didn't return the favor. The cigar never got better than ok so I'm really done with them this time. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $3.95 - 8/2006)
Rocky Patel Edge Square (Honduras) "Toro" [maduro] - The Edge Square is a limited production version of the Edge with extra ligero. I love the Edge maduro (specifically the "Torpedo") so I wondered if it would benefit from a little extra kick.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: very light scent with a very oily black wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full and the ligero was obvious in the spicy bite. I have to give Rocky Patel credit because the cigar was still quite smooth. It seems in order to add the ligero they took something out that I like because I didn't get any dark flavors. Maybe the ligero just overpowered them? Despite the cigar's smoothness I did have to hit my Dr. Pepper pretty quickly. The Dr. Pepper thinned out the flavor, killed the spice, and left a pleasant aftertaste in its place. I think a Coke would have been a more appropriate match for this cigar. The cigar never got any better. I can't say that the Edge Square is any better or any worse than the Edge since I don't really like the Edge "Toro" maduro. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $6.90 - 8/2006)
Carlos Torano Tribute 2004 (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: oily black wrapper with no discernible scent. Smoked: difficult draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started mild with a pleasant dark flavor, but as it built up it got sour. If there's one flavor I hate in a cigar it's sour. My Coke cut the sourness and helped return the cigar to vaguely pleasant. Towards the end it developed some toastiness that was good, but it was too little too late. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2005 - $11.38 - 8/2006)
Gurkha Legend (Dominican Republic) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%. Presmoked: stinky pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium bodied and mild with a hint of twang to it, but not enough of anything to keep my attention. This time I tried it with a Coke, in hopes that it would work better with the cigar than the Dr. Pepper, but the soda didn't have an affect on the cigar. The flavor stayed steady the entire way through, which would have been great if I was enthralled with the flavor. I liked the first Gurkha Legend "Torpedo" I smoked better. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar (which had everything to do that with the great weather today and nothing to do with how much I liked the cigar).
(7/2006 - $21/5 - 8/2006)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Siglo VI" [natural] -
Hygrometer Reading: 76%. Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and excellently scented smoke. The cigar started out mild, but there was something enjoyable about it. The flavor built to a medium, but it wasn't until I hit my Coke that I really started digging it. There weren't any flavors that jumped out at me, but it was just enjoyable. I don't enjoy too many mild cigars, or Cubans for that matter, but the Cohiba Siglo line seems to do it for me. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2005 - 129€/Cohiba sampler - 8/2006)
Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: light bubblegum scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar started full bodied with a medium to full flavor that just didn't do anything for me. I tried my Coke and it did make the cigar enjoyable, but not nearly worth $10. I had to cut the cigar short, but it wasn't a big loss. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $10.70 - 8/2006)
Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Encore" [maduro (in color)] -
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: light pungent scent. Smoked: loose draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. I hardly got any smoke out of this cigar so I could hardly taste a thing even though I was getting a very pleasant expresso aftertaste. As I continued to smoke it seemed like I was getting a lot of smoke, just that there was nothing to the body whatsoever. It was almost like air, but at least there was some light baking spices and a little cream to the finish. I tried my Dr. Pepper and it didn't have any body either. Unfortunately the Dr. Pepper killed whatever flavor my cigar had so I ended up pitching both. This was the first time I could remember having a construction problem with a Torano, but the "Encore"'s vitola suits me even better than the "Forte" so I'll have to give it another try. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $6.10 - 8/2006)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium with some flavors I couldn't describe. It wasn't bad, but I hoped my Dr. Pepper would improve it. The Dr. Pepper gave the cigar a short lived hint of creaminess, but didn't affect the flavor otherwise. Halfway through the cigar developed an ashiness that came and went. The second didn't taste exactly like the regular one, but there were enough similarities that I'd say they were the same cigar: a specific flowery fragrance to the smoke (even if one did smell better than the other), the sourness (the second only had it on the first few puffs, but it was distinctive), and the indescribable flavor. They were also both disappointing considering I know that they can be great. At least at $2.50 the seconds can afford to be inconsistent. Too bad the seconds I got from December are the only ones I have left (assuming those are seconds). Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2005 - $2.50 - 8/2006)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] - One of the biggest controversies at Herfer's Paradise had to be the "Perfecto No. 2" seconds. Some didn't believe they existed, but long ago I did a taste test to verify that the seconds really were the same cigar. I still have a second left so I got a "Perfecto No. 2", paying the prohibitively high full retail price, just to conduct the experiment again. Unfortunately the seconds are no longer available so this is strictly academic, but tomorrow I'll smoke the second for comparison.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: light pungent-sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn that evened out after one correction, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with a little sourness to it and a pleasant aftertaste. Some spiciness and a hint of the dark flavors started developing so I tried my Dr. Pepper because I was impatient. The Dr. Pepper gave the cigar a creamy aftertaste, which I liked. The dark flavors made occasional appearances, but the sourness was dominating midway through. Eventually the sourness disappeared and there was some spiciness, but it wasn't as tasty as other "Perfecto No. 2"s (seconds and otherwise) I've had. This cigar is a little too inconsistent considering the price tag. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(7/2006 - $13 - 8/2006)
Matasa 30th Anniversary (Dominican Republic) "Toro Aniversario" [colorado maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 62%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started mild with a medium body and a twangy aftertaste. It wasn't bad, but I hoped it was building towards something. It got a little better with my Coke and some time, developing some sweetness and getting fuller bodied, but it wasn't my type of cigar. I wouldn't get this cigar again, even if it wasn't so expensive. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $9 - 8/2006)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] - The Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown "Chateau Fuente" used to be one of my favorite cigars, but I find them too inconsistent so I never know if I'll love them or be bored by them.
Hygrometer Reading: 64%. Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: easy draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor had a thin body, but spicy. I wanted the flavor more rounded out so I immediately went to my Coke. The Coke gave it some body while taking the spice out of it. It wasn't the best trade off, but it was preferable to what it was before. The spice started picking up again and some pleasant char flavors were developing, but I had to cut my smoke short. The cigar didn't bore me, but I didn't feel too bad about having to give it up early either. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $4.55 - 8/2006)
Cohiba Black (Dominican Republic) "Corona" [oscuro (in color)] -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: beautiful oily black wrapper and sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild and continued mild. The almost jet black wrapper suggested complexity or flavor, but there was none of either. The cigar did make my Coke taste spicy, but the Coke did nothing for the cigar. Towards the end the body became fuller, but the flavor stayed mild. Not once did I find the cigar worth smoking. The Dominican Republic version of Cohiba really does the Cuban Cohiba brand a disservice. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $10.65 - 8/2006)
Padron 1964 Anniversary (Nicaragua) "Exclusivo" [maduro] - The father in law and I were having a celebratory cigar for the baby so I carefully considered what to smoke. A friend of Lynn's handed out maduro Padron 1964 Anniversary "Exclusivo"s at his wedding, which I found damn tasty, so I figured if they were good enough for this generous cigar smoker on his big day then they were good enough for me.
Presmoked: no scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium and toasty with a hint of dark flavors. As the dark flavors became more obvious and I got happier with the cigar. The "Exclusivo" wasn't exactly impressive, but it was tasty and satisfying. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2005 - $11.?? - 8/2006)
Magus (Ecuador) "Double M" - Magus cigars are advertized as being made out of Ecuadoran swamp tobacco and since I'd never tried Ecuadoran swamp tobacco before (that I knew of) I thought it would be worth trying once.
Hygrometer Reading: 59%. Presmoked: light sweet scent and an amazingly solid feel to the cigar. Looking at the foot it looked like there were three or four stems rolled up into the cigar. I've never noticed stems before in a cigar, but I hardly ever look at the foot. Smoked: very difficult draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. I originally punched the cigar, but since the draw was very difficult I cut off a quarter of an inch off the end. Then another. Then another. I looked at the cut end and there were quite a few more stems than the foot. When I could get some smoke the flavor was a little sweet with something unique that I liked. I cut off another quarter of an inch and the draw improved from very difficult to difficult. Once I really started getting some smoke the flavor went medicinal, which was all the excuse I needed to pitch the cigar. I have no idea if I'll try another one of these again. Maybe if they have a corona vitola for less than $5, but I doubt it. Amount Smoked: 1/3 the cigar? It's hard to tell when you start cutting off the other end.
(7/2006 - $6.40 - 7/2006)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection (Dominican Republic) "L-300" [oscuro] - The La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection "L-300" is another cigar that I used to dig, but hasn't been doing it for me lately.
Presmoked: spiced scent that resembled worcestershire sauce. First bubblegum, then worcestershire sauce, what the hell's going on with my humidor? Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild, but it had some body to it. I found it boring so I hoped my Dr. Pepper would do something. It did, but not in a good way; it made the body lighter and made the flavor papery. Ultimately it ended up being a boring cigar not worth smoking. I wonder if its age was a factor, but less than a year is not much age at all. I have a couple of these that are more recent so I'll see if they're any better. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(8/2005 - $5.08 - 7/2006)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [colorado maduro, figurado] - I used to like Fonseca Sungrown "Bullet No. 4"s, but I fell out of like with them. These last few are their last chance to change my mind.
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: light bubblegum-cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium without anything interesting. My Dr. Pepper helped the flavor a little, but it reminded me why I stopped getting these. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(5/2006 - $3.95 - 7/2006)
Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve (Honduras) "Torpedo" [figurado] - $7 is my line. Any cigar more expensive than that better be flavorful and unique because there are plenty of cheaper cigars that are good with typical flavor profiles. When I saw that the new Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve were over $10 I doubted they'd be worth it, much less superior to the cheaper Edges, but I had to try one in each wrapper (corojo and maduro) just to check.
Presmoked: hardly any scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started mild and creamy. It was pleasant, but nothing interesting. As I smoked the cigar some flavor started to assert itself, but I was getting bored so I started on my Coke. With my Coke the cigar had a creamy, caramel like flavor that was an improvement over the mild creamy flavor, but not enough of one to make it worthwhile (temperatures of 112 degrees make the decision easy). I wasn't surprised I didn't like the corojo Olde World Reserve because I've never been impressed with any of Rocky Patel's corojo offerings. The maduro Olde World Reserve should fare better. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $10.70 - 7/2006)
Graycliff (Bahamas) "PGX" [colorado maduro] - Quite possibly the original boutique brand Graycliff has been pricey for as long as I can remember, which is also the reason I've stayed away from it. These days I've paid more money for a cigar so I thought it was about time I tried a Graycliff. Not at full retail though.
Presmoked: tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with a straight tobacco flavor and a hint of brine and sweetness. As I smoked the cigar the sweetness dropped away and the brininess became more assertive in an unpleasant way. I could even smell the salt in the smoke! A hint of brine is unique, but salty tobacco is just weird. The cigar was so smooth that I could've smoked it a lot longer without a drink, but I had to start on a Coke to keep from pitching the cigar at 1/3. My Coke cut some of the salt from the flavor, but the cigar made my Coke a little salty. I hoped another flavor would eventually develop, but nothing changed so I pitched the cigar. This was one of the most unique cigars I've smoked, but not in a positive way. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $9 - 7/2006)
Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Forte" [colorado maduro] - The first "Forte" I had was impressive so I hoped I'd still be happy with it after buying a five pack.
Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and an uneven burn that evened out after one correction. The flavor started medium to full with a dark flavor that was like expresso without being expresso. The flavor mellowed a bit as I smoked it and my Dr. Pepper mellowed it a little more. The benefit of the Dr. Pepper was that it also made the smoke creamy and gave it a richer flavor (although that might have developed on its own anyway). At the end the cigar got hot enough to burn my lips when I would draw. Despite that problem I feel like the Virtuoso "Forte" is the Torano cigar for me. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $23/5 - 7/2006)
Gurkha Legend (Dominican Republic) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] - I haven't found a Gurkha line I really like, but the Gurkha Legend has been getting the right type of reviews for a cigar I would like on Herfer's Paradise so I thought I'd try it out.
Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium and similar to the scent. Believe it or not, but that was a good thing because it was "twangy" in a good way. My Dr. Pepper made it more of a dull tang, but it was still pretty good. Towards the end the flavor petered out leaving me disappointed. Next time I'll try the cigar with a Coke. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2006 - $21/5 - 7/2006)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild and creamy, but it built up to medium that still retained its creaminess. There weren't any distinct flavors, but the flavor was highly enjoyable. My Dr. Pepper didn't have any affect on the flavor. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2005 - $2.50 - 7/2006)
Zino Platinum Crown (Dominican Republic) "Chubby Especial" [figurado] - I bought this cigar when I was in Las Vegas by myself and wanted something to smoke. At the time my mobility was limited so my only choice of cigar shop was a Davidoff store. I figured if I'm going to pay too much money for something it might as well be something unique or rare.
Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke that was light, sweet, and dessert like. The flavor started medium with a very flat spice to it. It didn't taste like any cigar I'd had before, unfortunately it wasn't something I'd got out of my way to taste again. My Coke actually made the flavor a little unpleasant, making it taste a little papery. The flavor improved a little as time went on, but it wasn't worth smoking. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(11/2005 - $34 - 7/2006)
Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Maestro" [colorado maduro] - The longest vitola of the Virtuoso line, I wasn't sure what to expect considering I loved the "Forte", but wasn't impressed with the "Crescendo".
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium with a hint of the dark flavors I love. I was looking forward to finding out how it was going to develop. The cigar got creamy with a little woodiness that was pleasant, but my dark flavor disappeared. My Dr. Pepper emphasized the creaminess of the cigar, but made the flavor a little sharp. The flavor mellowed and the cigar developed an aftertaste with the dark flavors I like. Towards the end the cigar got hot so I stopped smoking it. This was the mildest flavored Virtuoso I've had, but I liked it a lot better than the "Crescendo". It's unlikely I'll get it again though because I don't have time for too many long smokes. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar (it took me an hour and a half to get that far).
(2/2006 - $6.95 - 7/2006)
Montecristo (Cuba) "No. 2" - The Montecristo "No. 2" is probably the most well known Cuban cigar in the world and a constant disappointment to me. I have a few of these so I always hope I'll like them better.
Presmoked: great sweet, pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild and uninteresting for me. The flavor gradually built in strength and there was a pleasant woody aftertaste, but I still don't see going out of my way for this cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - gifted - 6/2006)
Diamond Crown Maximus (Dominican Republic) "Robusto No. 5" [colorado maduro] - I've always avoided the Diamond Crown Maximus because of the garish label, and high price, but I figured I should give it a try once.
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started medium with some spice to it that I really enjoyed, but it didn't take the flavor too long to wither down to a bland mild. I hoped my Coke would help it and it did keep it from boring the hell out of me. The flavor worked its way back up to medium, but it started tasting ashy too. Eventually the ashiness was too much for me. Apparently the Diamond Crown Maximus was meant to be on the same level as the Opus X. After smoking this one I can understand why the Opus X took off and no one cares about the Diamond Crown Maximus. What a waste of money. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2006 - $9.93 - 6/2006)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but enjoyable, and my Coke didn't change anything. It was good, but I think its age has caused it to lose some of its oomph. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $3.28 - 6/2006)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] -
Presmoked: dark tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium with a combination of sourness and something good. I started drinking my Coke, which made the flavor a little better, but didn't get rid of the sourness. I eventually pitched the cigar. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $50/10 & $22/5 - 6/2006)
Don Tomas Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [maduro] -
Presmoked: interesting sweet scent that reminded me of bubble gum. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar started medium with some thin dark flavors that were pretty good. The Coke gave the flavor a little more body, which was a good thing. About halfway through the cigar started tasting a ashy, and I fought with the ashy flavor for the rest of the cigar (having to blow out of the cigar often), but it never got so bad that it ruined the cigar. I thought the larger "Robusto" would be better than the smaller "Rothschild" from the same line, and it was, but not good enough for me to want to buy it again. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2006 - $3.63 - 6/2006)
Padron (Nicaragua) "5000" [maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: easy draw and slightly uneven burn. The flavor started medium to full, rich, and very good. It didn't take it long to develop some sourness that I didn't like though. I hoped my Dr. Pepper would get rid of it, but it couldn't. The sour flavor eventually got so bad I had to pitch the cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2005 - free - 6/2006)
Don Tomas Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Rothschild" [maduro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 60%. Presmoked: strong scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The cigar started mild to medium with some dark flavors that would have been good if a sour taste didn't develop. Luckily my Coke killed the sour flavor while making the flavor darker and more enjoyable. It also made it very mellow, which was good, but I'm hoping that the larger vitolas are better. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2006 - $3.03 - 6/2006)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection (Dominican Republic) "L-300" [oscuro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild, somewhat creamy, and pretty decent. I was able to get through almost half the cigar without a soda. My Dr. Pepper made the flavor fuller, but it wasn't too long after that the cigar started tasting ashy too. Overall it was a very good cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(6/2006)
Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Crescendo" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: shiny wrapper and a pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn that straightened out after being corrected once. The cigar started medium with a rich flavor that could have used more body. My Dr. Pepper gave the cigar a dark, caramel flavor, but other than that didn't affect it. It was a very good cigar, but I liked the "Forte" from the same line better. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(2/2006 - $6.95 - 6/2006)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: papery scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium and quite tasty. There was something about this cigar that agrees with me and it tasted just as good with my Coke. Towards the end it did taste a little ashy though. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar (only because my cigar went out and I didn't feel like relighting it).
(4/2005 - $46/10 - 6/2006)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium and a little creamy. The cigar made my Dr. Pepper very good, but overall I'd say the cigar was just good. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(5/2006 - $3.95 - 6/2006)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] - After three disappointing cigars in a row I needed cigar satisfaction. I decided not to take any chances so I went with one of my all time favorites, a VSG "Corona Gorda", from a humidor that I knew was at a good relative humidity.
Hygrometer Reading: 54%. Presmoked: spicy-sweet cedar scent. Smoked: easy draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium and thin with cedar and spice. It was smooth, but it immediatly dried out my mouth so I had to start drinking my Coke fairly quickly. My Coke kept my mouth from drying out and gave some body to the flavor making the cigar highly enjoyable. Finally a satisfying cigar! Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2005 - $8.?? - 6/2006)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Presmoked: light hay scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. I knew the cigar was slightly over humidified when it had a little harshness when I first lit it and the slightly difficult draw. It wasn't too bad because the flavor turned smooth, medium, and complex. There was a little "fuzziness" to the flavor so I hit my Coke pretty quickly. Initially my Coke made the cigar taste terrible, but it didn't take the cigar too long to taste decent again. Its flavor wasn't complex, but it now had a nice aftertaste. I needed a good cigar after the last two disappointing cigars so I was unhappy that it was my own humidor that led to this Cusano C10 "Crown Corona" not being as good as it could have been. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 5/2006)
C.A.O. Italia (Nicaragua) "Novella" -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: . When I first lit the cigar the flavor was like ass. I guess it is better to under promise and over deliver because any flavor would have been better than ass. After a minute or two the flavor faded into nothing, but there was an aftertaste that wasn't bad. It was very curious not having any flavor because the body of the smoke was full (one of the rare times I actually notice the body). About a third of the way through a burnt rubber taste started developing so I hit my Dr. Pepper. Sometimes it tasted less like burnt rubber than others, but ultimately it the flavor never stopped so I pitched the cigar. Another waste of a smoke. Looks like I'm 0 for 2 with the recent small cigars I just tried. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(5/2006 - $4.45 - 5/2006)
Sauza (Nicaragua) "Hornitos" [colorado, figurado] - Sauza "Hornitos" is my favorite tequila so when I saw Drew Estate made a Sauza "Hornitos" cigar I thought I'd give it a try.
Presmoked: sweet scent that smelled like pipe tobacco. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started nonexistent and eventually moved up to a mild flat flavor, but it never tasted like anything that remotely reminded me of "Hornitos". What a waste of a smoke. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the entire cigar.
(5/2006 - $3.05 - 5/2006)
Cusano Hermanos Vintage (Dominican Republic) "Figurado" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar started mild, creamy, and a little papery. I was able to wait halfway through before hitting my Coke. The Coke gave the flavor a little more depth and convinced me to keep smoking. Overall it was a good cigar, but I would have preferred more flavor. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2005 - $7.95 - 5/2006)
Carlos Torano Nicaragua Selection (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. It had a smooth mild flavor that was pleasant, but not interesting. About a third of the way through it started tasting a little grassy, which is not a flavor I enjoy. My Coke took out the grassiness and actually made the cigar enjoyable giving it a nice aftertaste. I might smoke this cigar again if I was in the mood for something very mild. Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2005 - 5/2006)
Ramon Allones (Cuba) "Special Selected" [colorado] -
Presmoked: musty sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. It had a smooth mild to medium flavor that was pleasant, but not great. My Coke took a little of the flavor from it, but not enough to make it boring. The cigar kept going out on me, and eventually I got tired of relighting it. It was a decent cigar, but Cubans still aren't my favorite. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(5/2006 - ¥1,700 - 5/2006)
Cusano 18 Paired Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent with a shiny wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium with a hint of the dark flavors that I like. My Coke made the flavor of the cigar fuller so I actually enjoyed it more. The cigar kept going out, but it was good enough to relight about seven times. Towards the end it took on some very pleasant toasty flavor. I liked the Cusano 18 Paired Maduro "Toro" much better than the Cusano 18 Paired Maduro "Robusto". Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(1/2006 - $4.75 - 4/2006)
Leon Jimenes (Dominican Republic) "No. 5" [claro] -
Presmoked: sweet papery scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. I wasn't really paying attention to the cigar, but it was mild with some flavor, and so smooth that I didn't need to drink anything. It wasn't bad. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2003 - $7/5 - 4/2006)
Carlos Torano Virtuoso "Forte" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: pungent scent with an attractive shiny wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started full, very smooth, and was like a bigger version of the maduro Rocky Patel Edge "Torpedo". It wasn't long before I started noticing the nicotine and I hoped my Dr. Pepper would keep me from getting the spins. The Dr. Pepper didn't affect the cigar's flavor while the cigar made my Dr. Pepper creamy. The combination of the Dr. Pepper and slowing down on smoking the cigar kept me from getting sick. Towards the end there was a tasty hint of expresso to the flavor. I believe this was the first Torano cigar I've been impressed by. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(2/2006 - $6.50 - 4/2006)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: rich sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started with a smooth, rich mild to medium flavor that reminded me why this is one of my favorite cigars. My Coke didn't affect the flavor of the cigar or vice versa. Towards the end the wrapper unraveled on me. It was irritating, but it didn't seem to negatively affect the flavor. At the end the cigar got too ashy so I had to pitch it. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $46/10 - 4/2006)
Joya de Nicaragua Antano (Nicaragua) "Robusto Grande" -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium, very smooth, and highly enjoyable. I thought the flavor was perfect for a Dr. Pepper, but I didn't have any in the refrigerator. I settled for a Coke, and it didn't do anything for the cigar. I believe this was the best Joya de Nicaragua I've tried. I may have to get a couple more of these cigars. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $4.45 - 4/2006)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: almost no scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started out medium and very smooth with some almost dark flavors that were quite good. It also had a light, pleasant aftertaste. I tried the cigar with a Coke Blak, a mix of Coke and coffee, because I thought the complex flavor would compliment a certain type of cigar. The Coke Blak tasted overly sweet and it made the cigar taste sour. The flavor of the cigar wasn't dark enough (chocolate and coffee type stuff) for the Coke Blak, but subsequent sips weren't nearly as bad. The cigar kept a mild sour undertone, but despite that I highly enjoyed the cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2006 - $5.65 - 4/2006)
Cusano Selection (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [colorado] -
Presmoked: dusty light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started with a mild, somewhat creamy flavor that wasn't bad. The cigar made my Coke light and sweet, and my Coke made the cigar creamier and sweeter. It also had a very pleasant aftertaste. If you're in the mood for creamy, mild, and a little sweet then this is a tasty cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $9/5 & $6/5 - 4/2006)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" - It's been a weird week for me so I wanted to celebrate Friday with a cigar. I didn't want any caffeine keeping me up so I thought I'd try my C10 with an IBC "Root Beer".
Presmoked: light, damn tasty sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, complex, and tasty. The cigar got a little milder and tasted a little papery as I smoked it. My root beer tasted ashy with the cigar, but the cigar was still really tasty. As I smoked it the flavor rounded out and it had a pleasant long finish. It would have been a great cigar if not for that papery flavor. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 4/2006)
Joya de Nicaragua Antano (Nicaragua) "Machito" -
Presmoked: strong sweet scent that resembled an incense heavy head shop no doubt due to the fact that it was right next to a Kahlua cigar and a vanilla cigar for my wife. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and stinky scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but pretty tasty. It wasn't too long before the nicotine started kicking in, and I was reaching for my Dr. Pepper. I had a feeling my cigar smoking session was going to be extremely short. When the cigar went out on its own I considered leaving it, but I relit it. It was tasty, but I had to stop because of the nicotine. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - 4/2006)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Presmoked: light cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild, but very tasty. The cigar made my Coke taste better than normal, but my Coke didn't affect the cigar. The cigar was damn tasty. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar. I would have smoked the entire cigar, but I had other stuff I had to do.
(12/2004 - $4.55 - 4/2006)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started smooth, mild, and very enjoyable. It stayed that way after my Dr. Pepper too. There weren't any flavors that jumped out at me, and it didn't have the dark flavors I get from the great Edges I've had, but it was highly enjoyable. It was also so smooth that I only had to drink one can of Dr. Pepper for the 1 1/2+ hours it took to finish it. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2006 - $5.65 - 3/2006)
Cusano Hermanos Vintage (Dominican Republic) "Corona" [maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but it was a little better than decent. My Coke didn't seem to change the flavor, but the cigar did taste better as I smoked it. It was pleasant, but not something I'd buy again. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $15/Cusano sampler - 3/2006)
Punch (Honduras) "Bolo" -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and was ok, but some tar flavor creeped in rather quickly. My Coke made the flavor a little better, but I couldn't stand the tar so I pitched the cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar (and it was a small cigar so that was a really poor showing).
(8/2004 - $4.80/Punch "Magnum" & "Bolo" sampler - 3/2006)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 1" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: very pleasant sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but it was very good. My Dr. Pepper slightly improved the flavor, making this a very enjoyable cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $3 - 3/2006)
Camacho SLR (Honduras) "Perfecto #2" [maduro, figurado] - I figured that even though I don't like Camacho cigars I might like them better with maduro wrappers. Nope.
Hygrometer Reading: 68%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. I could tell as soon as I lit the cigar I wasn't in the mood for its particular flavor. It had a medium flavor, but was only decent. The cigar kept trying to go out on me so it required a lot of effort. My Coke made the cigar somewhat enjoyable, but not enough to make the cigar worth the effort. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(1/2006 - $5.60 - 3/2006)
Arturo Fuente Hemingway (Dominican Republic) "Signature" [maduro, figurado] - The maduro Arturo Fuente Hemingway is rare, and I was wondering if it would be worth seeking out.
Hygrometer Reading: 67%. Presmoked: cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium with cedar and wood that was very pleasant. My Coke didn't really do anything for the cigar, but it didn't need to. Maybe I should have gotten more than two of these? Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2005 - $7.40 - 3/2006)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild, a little sweet, and very enjoyable. Not too far into the cigar the flavor became somewhat sour so I hit my Dr. Pepper. The Dr. Pepper really didn't get rid of it. The sour flavor never went away so I pitched the cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
($3.95 - 3/2006)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Hygrometer Reading: 70%. Presmoked: sweet grassy tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium, and pretty decent. My Coke didn't seem to affect the flavor of the cigar, but I did find myself enjoying it more after a while. This was one of the milder flavored C10s I've had, but it was still extremely enjoyable. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 2/2006)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 66%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild to medium, and tasty if a little dry. My Dr. Pepper didn't affect the flavor of the cigar, but it gave my Dr. Pepper a great aftertaste. It was a very good cigar, but I got tired of the flavor. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 2/2006)
Carlos Torano Reserva Selecta (Honduras) "Robusto" [claro, tubo] -
Hygrometer Reading: 70%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild, and mild was what I was in the mood for to get over the nicotine from the Cohiba. My Coke really didn't affect it. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $17/5 - 2/2006)
Kahlua (Nicaragua) "Corona" [flavored] - How do I follow up a great cigar that make me sick? Dessert. I thought a mild and sweet was exactly what I needed to ease back into cigar smoking.
Hygrometer Reading: 63% (either my hygrometer battery is going dead or my sponge needs a serious propylene glycol recharge). Presmoked: sweet Kahlua scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild, and was a little sharp. I wanted some sweetness from the smoke, but the only sweetness I got was the aftertaste on my lips. I had a Coke, but it didn't affect the flavor of the cigar. After a while a sour taste developed that I was not at all happy with. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(2/2006)
Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 (Cuba) "Piramides" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 74%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started with a very good medium flavor with some spice, cream, and dark expresso like flavors to it. I had to reach for a Coke fairly quickly, and it made the cigar taste even better. The cigar was great, but the nicotine snuck up on me. I stopped smoking as soon as I felt it, but it was already too late; the room was spinning, and I was almost sick. It's times like that I don't like cigars. It's probably going to be at least a year before I smoke another one of these. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(4/2005 - 349€/25 - 2/2006)
Cusano 18 Paired Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [maduro] - The Cusano 18 line is too mild for me, but when I saw that the Cusano 18 Paired Maduro had a maduro wrapper and some maduro filler I thought it'd be worth a try.
Hygrometer Reading: 63%. Presmoked: very light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar didn't taste like anything, which might have been due to my stuffy nose, but I doubt it since I was able to smell the smoke. My Dr. Pepper didn't affect the flavor of the cigar. About halfway through the cigar developed some char flavor that wasn't bad, but better than nothing. Ultimately isn't wasn't a tasty cigar though. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(1/2006 - $4.40 - 2/2006)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Cuban Belicoso" [maduro, figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 72%. Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn that eventually eventually even out, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started full with some spice and cedar while still remaining smooth. The cigar kept wanting to snuff itself out so I had to constantly smoke it to keep it lit (which I find a little annoying). My tastebuds get fatigued by cigars with strong flavors so I was happy my Coke mellowed the cigar, but I just couldn't get into the cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(10/2005 - $6.25 - 1/2006)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 67%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium and pretty good. The cigar made my Dr. Pepper rather tasty, but the Dr. Pepper didn't affect the cigar. Towards the end the cigar took on a ashy flavor, but there wasn't much left to smoke so it wasn't a bad thing. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2005 - $3.95 - 1/2006)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] - It had been a while since I had a Rocky Patel Edge "Torpedo" so I was looking forward to it.
Hygrometer Reading: 66%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium and somewhat pleasant. My Dr. Pepper didn't really improve it, but it got a little better as I continued to smoke the cigar. Overall the cigar was ok, but nothing special. It was disappointing considering some of the great Edge "Torpedo"s I've had. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(1/2006 - $5.65 - 1/2006)
Bolivar (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado maduro] - This was the second new blend Bolivar that I tried.
Hygrometer Reading (coolador): 61%. Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium, a little sweet, and pleasant. Originally I had punched the cigar, but since I didn't like my draw I cut the end off of it in hopes of a better draw. It worked. My Coke didn't affect the flavor of the cigar. The cigar kept snuffing itself out, and I kept relighting it, but eventually I got tired of doing it. The cigar was pleasant, but I don't think I'd get it again. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(12/2005 - $5.59 - 1/2006)
Cacique (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: sweet scent with baking spices. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild and not interesting, and even after my Coke it was still mild. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $7/5 1/2006)
Zino Platinum Scepter (Dominican Republic) "Grand Master" -
Hygrometer Reading: 64%. Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild with a touch of sweetness. It never really got interesting so I tried it with a Henry Weinhard's Vanilla Cream Soda. The soda matched well with the cigar, but it didn't do anything for the cigar's flavor. Eventually the cigar snuffed itself out, and I didn't bother to relight it. The Zino Platinum Scepter "Grand Master" retails for $17, but there's no way I'd pay that much for mild and sweet. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(1/2006 - $2 - 1/2006)
Flor de Filipinas (Philippines) "Coronas Largas(?)" -
Hygrometer Reading: 61%!? Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium, and it was pretty good. My Coke didn't really affect the flavor, and overall it was a tasty little cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - gifted - 1/2006)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection (Dominican Republic) "L-300" [oscuro] -
Hygrometer Reading: 68%. Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild and not bad. I had hoped my Dr. Pepper would bring a little life to it, but it still remained mild. At 2/3 of the way through it snuffed itself out, and I couldn't be bothered to relight it. This was a disappointing showing from a cigar that's competing for my top three. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(8/2005 - $5.08 - 1/2006)
Litto Gomez Diez (Dominican Republic) "Cubano" [colorado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 68%. Presmoked: odd chalky medicinal scent. Smoked: easy draw and a highly uneven burn that eventually evened out after I fixed it. The flavor started full and spicy without being harsh. It mellowed down to medium, and other flavors started coming through keeping me from wanting to drink my Coke so I could see where it led. The flavor reminded me of a Punch Gran Puro "Santa Rita" only better because it was smoother, and there was more flavor underneath the spice. Eventually I had to drink my Coke though. The cigar sucked most of the flavor out of my Coke, and the Coke sucked out the spiciness from the cigar. There was still a very enjoyable flavor, and the cigar did take on some creaminess even if it was a thin creaminess. I did have a little nicotine ickiness when I was done. This was the best experience I'd had with the Litto Gomez Diez line, but I don't know if it justifies the price for me. I think this would be one hell of a cigar to age so I might have to get a couple more of these. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - 1/2006)
Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 (Honduras) "Toro" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: slightly sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full with a noticeable amount of spice. Either it went away or I got used to the cigar because after a while it tasted mild. Getting a little bored with it I tried my Coke. Neither seemed to have a positive effect on each other, but the flavor of the cigar did get mildly interesting after awhile. 1/3 of the way through the cigar decided to snuff itself out. I almost didn't bother relighting it, but it was actually good after that. I wanted to continue smoking it, but it took me an hour and a half to get through half the cigar. This was the best 1959 I'd had, but it still wasn't a cigar I'm crazy about. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(11/2002 - $15/5 - 1/2006)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Robusto" -
Hygrometer Reading: 65%. Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started full and spicy, but quickly mellowed to something full bodied, but mild in flavor. My Coke sharpened up the flavor in a way I enjoyed, and towards the end I could make out some cedar in the flavor. The cigar was enjoyable, but not something I'd go out of my way for. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(1/2005 - 129€/Cohiba sampler - 12/2005)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [figurado] -
Hygrometer Reading: 68%. Presmoked: a light soggy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started a little harsh, but quickly mellowed out. It was mild to medium, but not that interesting. My Dr. Pepper did lent some creaminess to it, but it still wasn't as good as other Bullets I've had. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2005 - $3.95 - 12/2005)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] - This cigar was at a higher relative humidity (70%) than I normally keep my cigars so I didn't know what affect that would have. The one thing I noticed immediately was that the cigar gave me a lot of trouble lighting it.
Presmoked: light cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with some cedar to it, and I enjoyed it. The more I smoked it the more I enjoyed it. My Coke made the flavor milder, and not quite as enjoyable. I still liked the cigar though. About a third of the way through the cigar went out, and it was near impossible to get it relit. I finally got it relit, and it actually tasted better with a Dr. Pepper (my Coke ran out). Maybe the secret to these cigars is high humidity and Dr. Pepper? I don't know, but I'll definitely try the combination again; this cigar was just like the Arturo Fuente Special Sun Growns I used to love. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar. (I would have finished it if I didn't run out of Dr. Pepper too.)
(12/2004 - $4.55 - 12/2005)
Cuesta-Rey Centenario Standford's Cameroon Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Pyramid No. 9" [figurado] - I picked this cigar up because I had never seen or heard of the "Standford's Cameroon Reserve" line of Cuesta-Rey before. Turns out it's a one off so I decided to smoke this one immediately to see if I liked it that way I could pick up more before they disappeared forever. I thought $7.20 was expensive for a Cuesta-Rey, but after doing the math it's cheaper than I could get it for if I bought a box at full retail.
Presmoked: pungent scent. The gold sleeve around the cigar was difficult to remove, and seemed like a bad idea when I saw how thin and fragile the wrapper was. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and somewhat stinky smoke. The flavor started mild and light, but it was pleasant. My Coke made the flavor even milder, and a little less enjoyable. I wouldn't buy this cigar again. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2005 - $7.20 - 12/2005)
Carlos Torano Nicaragua Selection (Old Blend) (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: light sweet grassy scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild to medium with a little grassiness. It actually wasn't bad, and it was better with my Dr. Pepper. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2003 - $9/5 - 12/2005)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium with some char to it. It was pretty good so I was looking forward to how it would taste with a Dr. Pepper. The Dr. Pepper mellowed the flavor a little, but it didn't improve it. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 12/2005)
Romeo Y Julieta (Dominican Republic) "Cedros Deluxe No. 2" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: mild sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and very pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium, and pleasant. The flavor crept up to medium with a little sweetness and a generally good flavor. My Coke didn't affect the flavor. It was a pretty good cigar, well worth smoking. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(2/2005 - $4.20 - 11/2005)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and pretty tasty. My Coke gave the flavor a little more body, and brought a light woodiness to it. I wasn't sure if I liked it better before or after the Coke though. Overall it was a very good cigar, and I was happy that I finally had something that was really worth smoking. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 11/2005)
La Aurora 100 Anos (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" - I had resisted trying a 100 Anos since the only La Auroras I seem to like are the Sungrown Maduros, but I finally broke down and bought one.
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium, and alright. My Dr. Pepper didn't affect the flavor of the cigar. Disturbingly quick I tasted a little tar in the flavor, and it only got worse. I clipped the end off of the cigar, and that got rid of most of the tar flavor, but the flavor of the cigar was never anything really worth smoking. I wouldn't buy this cigar again, and I'd definitely say it wasn't worth the price. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(8/2005 - $12.20 - 11/2005)
Adolphus (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
Presmoked: nice cedar scent. Smoked: the draw awas like sucking air through a straw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke that smelled like the Kaluha cigar it was sitting next to in the humidor. The flavor was mild, kind of creamy, and reminded me of the Kaluha cigar it was sitting next to in the humidor. The cigar also kept snuffing itself out. My Coke didn't make the cigar taste any better, but the cigar caused my Coke to taste citrusy. It gave me a reason to continue smoking the cigar when the flavor itself didn't. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2004 - $3/5 - 11/2005)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection (Dominican Republic) "L-300" [oscuro] -
Presmoked: pungent sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was smooth, mild, and not very interesting. I thought my Dr. Pepper would improve it, but it didn't. It's a good thing I already have a couple more of these in my humidor otherwise I wouldn't buy anymore. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
($5.63 - 11/2005)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium and a little harsh. My Coke took the harshness out of it, but the flavor wasn't anything interesting. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $46/10 - 11/2005)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but a little harsh in the back of my throat. It got a lot smoother with my Coke, but it didn't pick up any flavor. This "Robusto" wasn't nearly as good as the C10 "Crown Corona", and it's doubtful I'll try this vitola again. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2005 - $7.25 - 11/2005)
1492 (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: almost no scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and somewhat stinky smoke. The flavor started mild with a slight bitter green aftertaste that I didn't like. The cigar picked up some flavor and body from my Coke, but that only made it decent. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2002 - $5.75 - 11/2005)
C.A.O. L'Anniversaire Maduro "Churchill" [maduro] - The C.A.O. L'Anniversaire cigars I've tried have almost always had draw problems so even though I was through with the line I had to try it one last time.
Presmoked: musty scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium, and pretty decent. It got better with a Pepsi (Coke and Dr. Pepper weren't options). I liked it, but it wasn't good enough to make me forget my previous draw problems so it's not something I'd buy again. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(11/2005 - $10.?? - 11/2005)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [figurado] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and pretty good, but it wasn't until I had it with my Dr. Pepper that it was great. I really liked the creamy aftertaste too. When it's good the Fonseca Sungrown "Bullet" is one of my favorite cigars. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(7/2005 - $3.95 - 11/2005)
Gurkha Expedition (Dominican Republic) "Torpedo" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild with a little bit of sourness. For some reason the wrapper kept cracking as I smoked the cigar. I've seen cigars do that in the cold, but not on a nice day. My Dr. Pepper made the cigar a little more pleasant by removing the sourness. It was a pleasant smoke, but not a cigar I'd buy again. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2005 - 10/2005)
Bahia Trinidad (Nicaragua) "Belicoso" [figurado] -
Presmoked: spiced honey scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild, woody, and a little sweet. The cigar smelled better than it tasted. I hoped my Dr. Pepper would improve it, but it didn't. It was an enjoyable cigar, but I wouldn't buy it again. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - - 10/2005)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection (Dominican Republic) "L-300" [oscuro] -
Presmoked: strong pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but complex and interesting. I hoped it would get stronger, or that my Dr. Pepper would augment it. My Dr. Pepper didn't, but the flavor gradually climbed to medium as I smoked the cigar. It wasn't as good as the first time I smoked it, but it was still a worthwhile cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(7/2005 - $5.63 - 10/2005)
Jericho (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: very light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was bland, and my Dr. Pepper didn't change that. About halfway through the cigar developed a nasty char flavor so I had to blow out the cigar far too often. I swear that the first Jericho "Robusto" I had was an aberration because each successive one has been bland. I'm done with these. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $3.46 - 10/2005)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Torpedo" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sugary sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and highly uneven burn. The cigar started with almost no flavor, which seemed typical of all the VSG "Torpedo"s I've tried. My Coke gave it a little flavor, but it definitely wasn't worth the price. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(6/2002 - $15.70 - 10/2005)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Cuban Belicoso" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: unpleasant moist cedar scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly cedar scented smoke. The flavor was medium with a little bit of cedar and spice. It was good. My Coke made the flavor mild, but it was still pleasant. The cigar wasn't great, but it was worth smoking. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2005 - $6.25 - 10/2005)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Missle" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet pungent scent. Smoked: easy draw and mostly even burn. The flavor was mild with a light pungent flavor. It was very unlike the Edge "Torpedo". My Dr. Pepper gave the cigar a vegetal flavor with a pleasant dark aftertaste. It went out on me quickly if I left it alone, and after it went out a second time I didn't bother relighting it. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(10/2005 - $4.75 - 10/2005)
Bolivar (Dominican Republic) "Lonsdale" [colorado maduro] - The new Bolivars looked so pretty I had to try one.
Presmoked: beautiful looking wrapper with a very pleasant sweet scent. Smoked: difficult draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started with a mild to medium flavor that was flat, and very disappointing. I hoped my Coke would do something to it, and it did round the flavor out, but I wasn't getting enough smoke to really taste anything. About a third of the way through the draw problem disappeared, but I still didn't get much flavor. So much for the new bolder flavor of Bolivar. I might try one of the other sizes, but I'm not going to get this size again. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2005 - $5.65 - 10/2005)
La Unica Cameroon Series (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso No. 3" [figurado] -
Presmoked: light cameroon scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. It had a light mild flavor that was ok. My Coke didn't really improve the flavor, but it did improve the more I smoked it. I still wouldn't buy this cigar again though. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - $6.32 - 10/2005)
Montecristo (Cuba) "No. 2" [figurado] -
Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor was a solid medium, and pretty good. My Coke brought a little creaminess to it. It was consistent with the other experiences I'd had with Cubans (with the exception of the Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001); it was very good, but not impressive. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2005 - gifted - 10/2005)
Padron 1964 Anniversary (Nicaragua) "Exclusivo" [maduro] -
Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full, and quite tasty. My Coke made the flavor firmly medium, but it may have also been the cause of the creaminess that developed. I totally dug this cigar, and I'll have to get a couple of these to see if they're consistently this good. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(gifted - 10/2005)
La Aurora Sungrown Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Bristol" [maduro] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild to medium with a slightly sour aftertaste. I hoped my Dr. Pepper would improve it, but it killed the flavor instead. It was alright. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $4.80 - 10/2005)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] -
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium with a pleasant light sweet woodiness. My Coke changed the woodiness into something else, but it was still pretty good. This cigar wasn't great, but it was one of the better cigars I've smoked lately. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $3.28 - 10/2005)
Ras Tafari (Dominican Republic) "Afrika" -
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium with a decent sweet wood flavor. My Coke didn't really affect the flavor so overall it was only an ok cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2003 - $5/5 - 10/2005)
Camacho Corojo (Honduras) "Monarca" -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor was mild, light, and hollow, and it really dried my mouth out. I had to open a Coke before I was ready to, but it didn't affect the flavor much except get rid of the hollowness. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't a great smoke either. This really should be the last Camacho cigar I ever smoke since I never really care for them. Amount Smoked: 2/3 the cigar.
(4/2005 - $4.63 - 9/2005)
Aromas de San Andres (Mexico) "Sceptors" [maduro] -
Presmoked: strong sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild to medium with a slight bit of flat cedar sweetness. My Coke got rid of the flatness, but it didn't make the flavor great or anything. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2003 - $4/10 - 9/2005)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [figurado] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and decent with some cedar. I hoped my Dr. Pepper would improve the flavor, but it didn't. It was only a decent cigar, but it might have tasted better with my usual Coke instead of a Dr. Pepper. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(8/2005 - $3.55 - 9/2005)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Mini" [cigarillo] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium, and pretty good with a Coke. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2005 - free - 9/2005)
Joya de Nicaragua Celebration (Nicaragua) "Consul" -
Presmoked: light Kahlau scent just like the Kahlau cigar it was sitting next to. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. It was a light bodied cigar with mild a flavor that had an aftertaste that reminded me of toasted corn puffs. I had a hard time keeping it lit, and the flavor didn't give me a reason to continue smoking it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2005 - $4.10 - 8/2005)
Vintage Aged by Rocky Patel (Honduras) "Torpedo 1990" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. I was sick when I tried this cigar so I didn't expect to enjoy it, but the flavor was medium, and a tasty cedar. I did have a problem keeping it lit though so I had to relight it about six times. I'm going to have to try another one of these. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $8.90 - 9/2005)
Jericho (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and while it wasn't harsh it left my mouth feeling "fuzzy". The cigar was a little overhumidified so I hoped my Dr. Pepper would help fix it, and it did to a point. The flavor was sharper in a good way, and the smoke hardly bothered my mouth. The problem was that it still bothered me enough that I didn't want to continue smoking the cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $3.46 - 9/2005)
Punch Gran Puro (Honduras) "Santa Rita" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: not much scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. Time had mellowed the flavor so there was only a tiny bit of harshness in the back of my throat that went away fairly quickly. The flavor was mild to medium, and pleasant. I had hoped the humidor time settled some of the nicotine out of these little monsters, but I started feeling the nicotine before I even got half an inch into the cigar. It was the nicotine that had me reaching for my Coke instead of any kind of harshness. I'll probably have to age these things another year before they've mellowed out enough for me to smoke them. The Coke helped me from getting sick, but I really didn't want to chance it. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar. I ran out of Coke, and the will to smoke it all too quickly.
(8/2004 - $4.07 - 9/2005)
Puros Indios Maxima Reserva (Honduras) "Toro" -
Presmoked: light honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The cigar had a light sweet woody flavor that was very good. My Coke made the flavor a little sour, but it was still a pretty good cigar. This wasn't one of my favorites, but it was worth smoking. Amount Smoked: 3/4 the cigar.
(3/2004 - - 9/2005)
Bahia Maduro (Nicaragua) "Belicoso" [figurado, maduro] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar started with a mild sweet flavor that my Coke didn't affect. It was pleasant, but unremarkable. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2004 - - 9/2005)
Padron (Nicaragua) "3000" [maduro] -
Presmoked: rough looking cigar with a honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started somewhat harsh, and made me immediately reach for a glass of water. I didn't go for my Dr. Pepper because I wanted to taste the cigar unadulterated. The flavor was full, and actually pleasant. I had to switch to Dr. Pepper pretty quickly though because the water wasn't very effective at keeping the harshness from the back of my throat. The Dr. Pepper killed most of the flavor of the cigar, and made it somewhat papery. I didn't like what the Dr. Pepper did to the flavor. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2004 - $3.?? - 9/2005)
La Gloria Cubana Serie R (Dominican Republic) "No. 5" [maduro] -
I'd had a couple of these before, and hated them both because they had a strong flavor that didn't taste good to me. Some guy at a cigar shop tried really hard to find a cigar I'd like, and recommended a Serie R so I decided to try one for one last time. Presmoked: smelled like Kahlau no doubt because it was sitting on top of a Kahlau cigar. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and smoke that smelled like Kahlau. The flavor started medium with dark flavors. The smoke felt creamy (as opposed to tasting creamy). I tried it with a Dr. Pepper, and it really didn't do anything to the flavor. I liked this much more than the other two Serie R I had before, but it still wasn't something I'd buy again. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $6.10 - 9/2005)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Presmoked: pungent musty scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and uneven burn. I wasn't in the mood to have a Coke with my cigar so I had a glass of Belvedere "Alexander Valley Sangiovese 2000" instead. I had started the wine before the cigar so I never tasted the cigar unaffected. The flavor was mild to medium, with a hint of something good, but it never got any better than that. The wine was terrible with the cigar, and I had to spit it out every time I tried to drink it. That was absolutely the worst cigar/wine pairing I'd had. I don't know if it was the wine, or if it was just an off Sun Grown "Chateau Fuente", but I didn't really care for the cigar. The cigar kept trying to snuff itself out, and eventually I let it because it didn't taste like something I wanted to make an effort to smoke. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $4.50 - 8/2005)
Vintage Aged by Rocky Patel (Honduras) "Torpedo 1992" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: pungent sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. This cigar produced amazing amounts of smoke. The flavor was mild to medium with a hint of richness. I was going to drink a Coke with it, but the flavor seemed more suited to a Dr. Pepper. The Dr. Pepper wasn't a bad match either. It made the flavor a little flat, but didn't adversely affect it otherwise. The flavor did get stronger, and richer. This was actually good enough for me to want to finish it despite the heat and humidity. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2005 - $8.90 - 8/2005)
Punch Rare Corojo (2004) (Honduras) "Rothchild" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor actually started pretty good, but my Coke killed it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(5/2004 - $3.95 - 8/2005)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but I could taste some complexity even though I was slightly dehydrated. The flavored edged up towards medium as I smoked, and I could distinguish balsa wood with a lightly sweet finish. I thought it was pretty damn tasty. I decided to try the cigar with an IBC root beer instead of a Coke for a change. The rootbeer gave the cigar more of a grassy taste that wasn't unpleasant. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 8/2005)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sharp scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and decent. I hoped it would taste better with my Dr. Pepper, but it didn't really change the flavor. About halfway through it started to taste good, but soon afterwards it got tarry. I was disappointed that it didn't taste as good as some of the other "Perfecto No. 2"s I'd had. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 8/2005)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and slightly stinky smoke. The flavor started mild. It was mild to medium with my Coke, but it lacked something that it had previously so this cigar wasn't worth smoking. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $46/10 - 8/2005)
Indian Tabac Super Fuerte (Dominican Republic) "Petite Belicoso" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor was mild to medium, and smooth with a little cedar sweetness. The cigar made my Coke taste a little light, but my Coke didn't affect my cigar. Overall it was a tasty smoke. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2004 - $3.84 - 8/2005)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [figurado] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild, smooth, and creamy. My Coke actually made the flavor of my cigar stronger, but about halfway through the wrapper stopped burning, and the cigar didn't taste very good. I'm not sure what to make of that, but I have two more Bullets in the humidor so hopefully that doesn't happen again. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2005 - $3.95 - 8/2005)
Savinelli Fuerte (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: sweet scented cigar that felt underfilled. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium to full with a little pepperiness. It was flat though. It mellowed to medium on its own, and my Dr. Pepper didn't affect the flavor. About halfway through the cigar the flavor got pleasant, but it was also about that time I noticed the nicotine hitting me. I didn't want to continue smoking it too long after that because nicotine doesn't agree with me. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $4.15 - 8/2005)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild to medium with some cedar. After my Coke it was mild. It was alright, but definitely not worth the money. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2004 - $7.84 - 8/2005)
1492 (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. It had a mild, smooth flavor with a little pleasant pungency. My Coke made the flavor a little more apparent, and a little sharper. It was good, but not great. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2002 - $5.75 - 8/2005)
Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 (Cuba) "Piramides" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: light pungent scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was mild to medium, but there were some dark, almost chocolately flavors that I really liked. My Coke didn't really change the flavor. This cigar was unique, but not as good as it's been before. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - 349€/25 - 8/2005)
Black Pearl Rojo "Robusto" -
Presmoked: light sharp, sweet scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The smoke started a little harsh with a pleasant mild flavor. I reached for my Dr. Pepper pretty quickly because I got tired of the harshness in the back of my throat. The good flavor I expected from the cigar just wasn't there, and I had a difficult time keeping this cigar lit. I ended up cutting the end off because I was getting some tar from the bullet punch. I ultimately decided that I've had too much trouble with these cigars to justify ever buying another one. I'm never messing with them again. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(7/2005 - 8/2005)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: dusty sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium, and very good. This was one of those times when the cigar was on because there was something about the flavor that really appealed to me. The cigar went out on me a couple of times, but I kept relighting it because this was one of the best "Preferido Grande"s I'd had. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $46/10 - 8/2005)
Cupido Criollo (Nicaragua) "Doble" [figurado] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild with a slight bit of sourness. It was pleasant, but nothing special (not even with my Dr. Pepper). Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $15/part of Cupido sampler - 8/2005)
Willy Cigar (USA) "Robusto" [maduro] - These cigars are actually made locally so I thought I'd try one. [web site]
Presmoked: pungent sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium and pretty decent. It mellowed on its own, and become creamy. My Coke didn't really affect the flavor. I enjoyed the cigar, but since I don't know the price of the cigar I don't know if it was worth it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar (it took me over an hour to smoke that much).
(7/2005 - 8/2005)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was very smooth and mild with a hint of sweetness. My Coke made it a little creamy, but not interesting. It definitely wasn't worth the money. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(6/2005 - $7.30 - 7/2005)
Litto Gomez Diez (Dominican Republic) "Lusitano" [colorado] -
Presmoked: sharp funky scent with a little sweetness to it. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor was mild to medium and smooth. The flavor started interesting, but that only lasted for the first minute. After that it was boring, and my Coke didn't make it any more interesting either. This cigar was definitely not worth what I paid for it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(4/2005 - 7/2005)
La Flor Dominicana El Jocko (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto #1" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The cigar started a little harsh, but eventually smoothed out to a decent medium flavor. The cigar made my Dr. Pepper taste very sweet, and the Dr. Pepper made the flavor of the cigar a lot more interesting. This was one of the better La Flor Dominicanas I've tried. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(6/2005 - 7/2005)
Onyx Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Torbusto" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: light cocoa scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, slightly uneven burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was mild, very smooth, and had a bit of toastiness to it. It was enjoyable. My Dr. Pepper toned down the flavor some, but it also made the cigar creamy. It was good, but not great. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $15/5 - 7/2005)
Romeo y Julieta Aniversario (Dominican Republic) "Corona" -
Presmoked: sharp, honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild and slightly sweet. It was alright, and my Coke didn't help. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2005 - 7/2005)
Fire (Nicaragua) "Petite Corona" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and alright. My Dr. Pepper made the flavor smoother, and better, but it still wasn't great. I liked the "Robusto" in this line better. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - free - 7/2005)
Occidental Havana Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Churchill" -
Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium, and a little creamy with some light wood. My Coke kind of muted the flavors a bit, but it didn't make the cigar any more interesting. It was hot and very humid outside, and this cigar didn't give me enough reason to stay outside. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2004 - $3.30 - 7/2005)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cabinet Selection (Dominican Republic) "L-300" [oscuro] -
Presmoked: oily wrapper with a spicy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was smooth, very mild, and boring. My Dr. Pepper actually brought out the flavor of the cigar making it more like medium in intensity and interesting. I was very happy with the cigar after my Dr. Pepper. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(6/2005 - $5.63 - 7/2005)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild to medium and pretty good, but it was even better after my Coke. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(7/2005 - 7/2005)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Mini" [cigarillo] - [Somehow this review disappeared from my site so this is the best I could recreate it.]
Presmoked: pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild and alright, but really disappointing compared to the last time I had a Cohiba "Mini". The last three times I've had the "Mini"s the humidity was 63% so I think it's more of a matter of consistency than humidity. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2005 - free - 7/2005)
Jericho (Nicaragua) "Toro" -
Presmoked: sweet, funky scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild, and stayed mild. Dr. Pepper or no, nothing interesting was happening with the flavor. This was a totally pointless smoke. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(4/2005 - $3.64 - 7/2005)
Black Pearl Rojo "Torpedo" [figurado] -
Presmoked: spicy-sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild, lightly sweet, and pretty tasty, but with a slight papery flavor. It made my Dr. Pepper taste pretty good, but a third of the way through the cigar I could smell and taste tar. I had to seriously blow out of the cigar to get rid of it. Halfway through the cigar went out (probably due to my neglect). I relit it, but two thirds of the way I let the cigar die because it wasn't doing anything for me. I had hoped the "Torpedo" would be better than "Robusto", but that didn't happen. I'll try one more "Robusto" to see if I'll continue smoking this line. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(6/2005 - $4.20 - 7/2005)
Black Pearl Rojo "Robusto" -
Presmoked: pungent tobacco scent. Smoked: difficult draw which got much better when I clipped off the end instead of punching it and uneven burn. In adddition to the draw problem I also had a difficult time keeping this cigar lit. This cigar was far too big a pain in the ass for me to enjoy. It was really disappointing since I loved the first Black Pearl Rojo "Robusto" I smoked. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(6/2005 - $3.60 - 7/2005)
Casa Torano "Robusto" -
Presmoked: pungent tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild, somewhat sweet, and very creamy. At times it reminded me of unfrosted yellow cake (this is a good a thing). A little sweeter than I normally like my cigars this would be a good dessert cigar for me. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2005 - 7/2005)
Bahia Trinidad (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: grassy tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor was mild with light woodiness. The flavor got a little better with my Coke, sort of a sweet spice, but I still wouldn't call it good. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - 7/2005)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sharp pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full with ambiguous rich dark flavors. As I smoked the cigar the flavor developed some toastiness too. My Dr. Pepper actually made the flavor lighter and sharper with only an undertone of the dark flavors I had tasted previously. This was the first Edge I've had that I liked the flavor better before my Dr. Pepper, but it was still pretty good. Halfway through the cigar snuffed itself out. I relit it, but when it went out again two thirds of the way and I didn't. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $5 - 7/2005)
Gran Habano VL (Honduras) "Pyramid" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sugary sweet scent with an oily wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke that occasionally smelled like cedar. The initial flavor was strongly coffee, but quickly settled down to something medium and unique. It was great, but the flavor got less good as time went on. My Coke didn't help it. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(6/2005 - $6.55 - 7/2005)
Savinelli Special Selection (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium and kind of bitter. The bitterness subsided on its own, and even more with my Dr. Pepper, but the flavor never amounted to anything I wanted to actually smoke. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $5.40 - 6/2005)
Cigars International Legends (Honduras) "White Label" -
Presmoked: sugary sweet scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and uneven burn. The flavor was mild, a little sweet, a little nutty, and complex. The big problem I had with this cigar is that I had a difficult time keeping it lit. If I put the cigar down for any longer than 30 seconds it would go out. I liked the flavor a lot, but the burn problem was too much of a pain in the ass to be bothered with. Amount Smoked: negligible.
(12/2004 - $13/CI Legends sampler - 6/2005)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Mini" [cigarillo] - I liked the previous Cohiba cigarillo so much that I immediately smoked a second one.
Presmoked: very pleasant cedar scent. Smoked: difficult draw and even burn. There was a hole in the binder so I hardly got any smoke until the cigar burned past the hole (which was close to the lit end anyway). After that it was pretty tasty. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2005 - free - 6/2005)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Mini" [cigarillo] -
Presmoked: light cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was on the mild side, and it smelled better than it tasted. It made my Coke very tasty, and the cigar was also very tasty after the Coke. This was much better than the first Cohiba cigarillo I smoked. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2005 - free - 6/2005)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Bullet No. 4" [figurado] -
Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor started medium to full, and actually quite tasty. It didn't take long for the flavor to settle down to medium and became a little creamy. After my Coke the flavor was flat with a good bit of cedar, but it returned back to normal. The cigar made my Coke taste like cinnamon and nutmeg. I thought this cigar was pretty damn good. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(6/2005 - $3.95 - 6/2005)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sharp pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium and pretty good, and my Dr. Pepper made it a little better. The cigar went out by itself halfway, and I didn't feel the need to relight it. This was good, but not the best Edge I've had. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(3/2005 - $5.20 - 6/2005)
Gran Habano #5 (Honduras) "Pyramid" [figurado] -
Presmoked: spicy tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasant uniquely scented smoke. The flavor was medium, a little flat, and had a hint of what I could smell in the smoke. It was good, but I would have liked it better if the flavor was fuller or rounder. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $3.91 - 6/2005)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium, and pretty tasty. It even got a little better with my Dr. Pepper. The only time I didn't like the cigar was towards the end when it started heating up. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 6/2005)
La Flor Dominicana 2000 Series (Dominican Republic) "Toro" -
Presmoked: light sweet papery scent. Smoked: easy draw and even burn. The flavor was light and mild, a little sweet and the occasional hints of burnt paper. There wasn't anything I liked about the cigar, and my Coke didn't help. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(6/2005 - 6/2005)
Sosa (Dominican Republic) "Brevas" [maduro] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The flavor was slightly sweet, occasionally sour, and pretty good. It got even better with a Coke and developed a creaminess the longer I smoked it. The cigar seemed a little dry so I expect that it would probably taste better with a little more humidity. I'd smoke another one of these if I could find them. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar (I was short on time).
(10/2004 - 6/2005)
Gurkha Expedition (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: pungent tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started sweet with a little twang. It was alright. My Coke didn't help it. Tar crept into the flavor disturbingly quick. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2005 - 6/2005)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Tres Mystique" -
Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar was medium, a tiny bit bitter, but actually pretty good. It made my Coke taste excellent, but my Coke made the cigar taste papery and a little off. Luckily that went away pretty quickly, and the cigar returned to its normal form. This was one of the better VSGs I've had, but if I'm going to smoke a VSG I'll stick with the "Corona Gorda" (which is still my favorite). Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(9/2004 - $8 - 6/2005)
Natural by Drew Estate (Nicaragua) "Dirt" [maduro] - I was in the mood for some type of dessert, and we didn't have anything sweet in the house so Lynn suggested I smoke one of her "Dirt"s. It was a good call.
Presmoked: chocolate scent, and the cigar looked oily at the tip. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. There must have been some sugar in those oils because the tip of the cigar was actually sweet, and the cigar tasted kind of chocolately. I was pretty happy with Lynn's dessert cigar. Smoked: the entire cigar.
(gifted - 6/2005)
Cusano Corojo Vintage 1997 (Dominican Republic) "Toro" -
Presmoked: sugary sweet scent with an oily wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started medium and decent. It was milder, but better with a Coke, but the cigar smelled a lot better than it tasted. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar (I was short on time).
(12/2004 - $15/Cusano sampler - 6/2005)
Jericho (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [figurado] -
Presmoked: papery sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar tasted like it was a little dry so it probably didn't taste as good as it could have. The flavor started mild to medium and decent, but not interesting. My Dr. Pepper didn't do anything for it either. Hopefully the other Jerichos will be at their perfect humidity when I smoke them. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $4.36 - 6/2005)
Fire (Nicaragua) "Corona" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: this cigar was plugged. I cut off about an inch total of the cigar a third of an inch at a time to try and get a better draw, but the best draw I could get was still very difficult. I couldn't get enough smoke to really taste any of the flavor. Amount Smoked: negligible.
(4/2005 - $3.50 - 6/2005)
Gran Habano #3 (Honduras) "Pyramid" [figurado] -
Presmoked: earthy tobacco scent. Smoked: sightly difficult draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium, a little unique, and it was pretty good, but not quite my sort of thing. My Coke mellowed the flavor, but the flavor basically remained the same. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $3.91 - 6/2005)
Fire (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [colorado maduro] -
Smoked: slightly difficult draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium and very smooth. After my Coke I noticed a nuttiness and could taste the occasional hints of coffee. This was a damn tasty cigar. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar (I was short on time).
(4/2005 - $3.25 - 5/2005)
Arturo Fuente Anejo (Dominican Republic) "No. 46" - There's a lot of hype surrounding these cigars so I wanted to try one if I had a chance. Turns out I had a chance in Las Vegas. I didn't think this cigar would be that good, but it was pretty damn tasty.
Presmoked: no scent, which was very strange. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium, spicy, and very smooth. I didn't pay as much attention to it as I should have, but it was a damn tasty cigar. I'll have to see if I can find more of these. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar. The cigar was smoking perfectly, and then suddenly went out. I didn't feel like relighting after that.
(5/2005 - gifted - 5/2005)
Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 (Cuba) "Piramides" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Smoked: perfect draw and slightly uneven burn. The flavor immediately started with coffee that mellowed into something indescribable, but good. My Coke didn't really change the flavor, but I was very happy with the way it tasted. So far out of the five of these cigars have been smoked by me or someone I know three of them have had draw problems. I thought the humidity level they were being stored at (63%) might have been too low, but the last three cigars (two with draw problems) were kept at 70% humidity so now I think it's just the Cuban construction problems I've heard about. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar (that was the point when the nicotine got to be too much).
(4/2005 - 349€/25 - 5/2005)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Presmoked: sweet and pungent grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium, and pretty decent. After my Coke it was damn tasty. I wish every C10 I smoked tasted this good. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar (I didn't have much time).
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 5/2005)
Black Pearl Rojo "Robusto" -
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent with a shiny wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was medium, slightly sweet, and very pleasant. I was going to have it with a Coke, but there were also some dark flavor so I got a Dr. Pepper instead. The Dr. Pepper didn't do anything for the flavor, but it didn't interfere with what developed into a tasty cigar either. I liked this cigar, and the low price was a pleasant bonus. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $3.06 - 5/2005)
Perez Premium (Mexico) "Churchill" [maduro] -
Presmoked: no real scent, oily wrapper, lumpy cigar, and it felt like it should have weighed more. Smoked: perfect draw and slightly uneven burn. The flavor was mild to medium, nondescript, and my Coke really didn't change that. It wasn't bad. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(12/2002 - $7.95 - 5/2005)
Plasencia Reserva Organica (Nicaragua) "1800" -
Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium, and pretty decent. It was sort of tangy, which was kind of weird. On my first taste of Coke I could taste a succession of spices including cinnamon. Once I got past the tanginess of the cigar it was pretty good. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $5.24 - 5/2005)
Padron (Nicaragua) "2000" -
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was medium to full, and while it wasn't harsh it definitely had an edge to it. I had to resort to a Dr. Pepper pretty quick. The flavor had its moments, but ultimately it wasn't what I was in the mood for. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - $3.60 - 5/2005)
Cupido Criollo (Nicaragua) "Comandante" - This must be my week for tasty mild cigars.
Smoked: prefect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium with pleasant dark flavors including a hint of coffee. The cigar became milder on its own, but the flavor was still pleasant. The cigar made my Dr. Pepper taste great, but the Dr. Pepper really didn't affect the cigar. Towards the end the cigar developed a kind of yeasty/toasty flavor that I usually get from when drinking a Blanc de blancs. It was a most unusual flavor to get from a cigar, but I dug it. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar (and for a seven inch cigar that's saying a lot for me).
(3/2003 - $15/part of Cupido sampler - 5/2005)
Cusano Selection (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [colorado] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild with a light sweetness, and a pleasant dessert spiciness. I dug this cigar, and my Coke didn't really change a thing about it. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $9/5 & $6/5)
Sancho Panza (Honduras) "Valiente" -
Presmoked: chocolate scent which was no doubt dew to the Drew Estate cigars next to it in the humijar. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild, but it was very pleasant. I actually dug this cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(11/2002 - $6.80/part of Sancho Panza sampler - 5/2005)
Cigars International Legends (Nicaragua) "Red Label" [maduro, figurado] - This particular cigar is made by Perdomo for Cigars International. To me Perdomo products always look great, but fail in either flavor or construction. This cigar didn't convince me that they've changed.
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was mild, and decent. My Coke didn't affect it in any way. The cigar was ok, but there wasn't anything about it that makes me want to smoke another one. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $13/CI Legends sampler - 5/2005)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] - The Cusano Killer Cameroon "Toro" used to be one of my favorite cigars, but now it just seems to be missing something.
Presmoked: wet paper sort of scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar must have been dry because it had a sort of papery flavor when I lit it, but that went away rather quickly. The flavor was mild and pretty decent, but it became a lot tastier after my Coke. The cigar got a little harsh at the end. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $3.28 - 5/2005)
Industrial Press (Nicaragua) "Brickk" [maduro] -
Presmoked: light pleasantly pungent scent. Smoked: plugged draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor (if it's possible to get flavor from such little smoke) was mild, but pleasant. I tried cutting off a quarter of an inch at the end to improve the draw, but it didn't help so I tossed it. Amount Smoked: less than 1/4 of the cigar.
(8/2002 - $14/part of IP sampler - 5/2005)
Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 (Cuba) "Piramides" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: rich cocoa scent. Smoked: tough draw and even burn. I couldn't get much flavor because of the draw, but what I could get was mild with some coffee to it. It was pretty good, but not nearly as good as the first "Piramides" I had. Eventually the flavors became more toasty. The draw on the Cuban cigars that have spent a decent amount of time in my humidor always seem to be tough. I wonder if I need to keep my Cubans at a significantly higher humidity than my other cigars? Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2005 - 129€/Cohiba sampler - 5/2005)
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Dominican Republic) "Chiselito" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium spicy, but not harsh. It was pretty strong too because I had to reach for my Dr. Pepper for fear of the nicotine. There wasn't much to the flavor with or without the Dr. Pepper so I got bored with it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $5.65 - 5/2005)
Rocky Patel Sungrown (Honduras) "Torpedo" [figurado] - The "Torpedo" was the final size in the Rocky Patel Sungrown line that I was going to try before I wrote the line off. Presmoked: oily wrapper with sugary sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild and decent, but my Coke didn't make the flavor any better. I'm officially through with this line, not because it's bad, but it's just not my thing. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(3/2005 - $7.85 - 4/2005)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. I had already started drinking a glass of Planeta "La Segreta 2003" so that completely affected the flavor of the cigar. The flavor was mild, but pretty good with the occasional bit of spice. I eventually got tired of the mildness though. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(12/2003 - $5 - 4/2005)
Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte (Dominican Republic) "Pamploma" -
Presmoked: spicy, slightly sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild, but I liked it for some reason. My Dr. Pepper really didn't change the flavor. Even though it was mild, and didn't seem very complex, I really enjoyed the cigar. I must have been in the mood for it. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(11/2004 - $3.28 - 4/2005)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: pungent spicy-sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and pretty good. My Dr. Pepper dramatically improved the flavor, and I was quite happy with the cigar when I had a chance to enjoy it. Unfortunately some things came up that kept me from being able to concentrate on my cigar, or to smoke as much of it as I wanted. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2005 - $5.20 - 4/2005)
Cigars International Legends (Honduras) "Green Label" -
Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was mild and sweet. I must have been in the mood for that because I really liked it. My Coke did something to the flavor I didn't like though. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(12/2004 - $13/CI Legends sampler - 4/2005)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was medium to full and flat with some spiciness. It wasn't the best Preferidos I've had so I hoped my Dr. Pepper would improve it. It didn't. Even though it wasn't that great it still managed to be better than the Don Lino Africa "Punda Milia" the night before. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 4/2005)
Don Lino Africa (Dominican Republic) "Punda Milia" - This was the last vitola in the Africa line that I could find that I hadn't tried yet so I thought I'd give it a shot. I hoped this lonsdale was the vitola I'd actually like.
Presmoked: sweet rich scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The flavor was mild to medium, and kind of flat with some spice. So far it wasn't as good as the other sizes. My Dr. Pepper rounded out the flavor, but I just didn't really care for the flavor. At the end there was too much tar for me to want to smoke any more. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(4/2005 - $6.15 - 4/2005)
Jericho (Nicaragua) "Corona" - I had hoped the "Corona" was going to be as good as the "Robusto", but it wasn't even close.
Presmoked: sweet, slightly musty scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild to medium and not very good. My Dr. Pepper helped the flavor to something medium and decent, but overall it wasn't a very good cigar. It felt a little dry to me so that might have been part of the problem. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2005 - $2.92 - 4/2005)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was medium, but nothing interesting. My Coke didn't help it either. This wasn't one of the better sun grown "Chateau Fuente"s I've had. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $4.55 - 4/2005)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Robusto" - To celebrate my recent acquisition of some Cubans I decided to smoke one from my sampler.
Presmoked: slightly sweet, very pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started full and very spicy without a hint of harshness. My Coke toned the spice down in a way that I didn't care for, but the spiciness eventually reasserted itself. Sometimes I would get hints of something that reminded me of caramel cake, but I think my Coke interfered with those flavors too. The cigar was kind of one dimensional, and I'm not sure if that was because of the Coke or because it needed aging. Either way it'll be a while before I smoke my other "Robusto", and I'll try it with a Dr. Pepper next time. Hopefully it'll be more interesting. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2005 - 129€/Cohiba sampler - 4/2005)
Jericho (Nicaragua) "Robusto" - I almost kicked myself for picking up this cheesy looking cigar, but there was some marketing sign (I forget what the actual term for them is right now) that said it was pure Nicaraguan tobacco (and I dig Nicaraguan tobacco), and close to full bodied so I decided to give one a try. It was a good call.
Presmoked: spicy paperlike scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full, and was very tasty. Kind of medium dark flavors combined with just the right amount of spice to keep them from being harsh. My mouth felt "fuzzy", but I didn't have to reach for my Dr. Pepper so I took my time enjoying the unadulterated flavor. When I did reach for my Dr. Pepper the cigar made the Dr. Pepper taste creamy. The Dr. Pepper also had a pleasing affect on the flavor of the cigar. Towards the end the flavor started tasting papery, but it went away before it got annoying. I'm definitely going to have to get more of these. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(4/2005 - $3.85 - 4/2005)
Cuesta-Rey Centenario Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Robusto No. 7" [colorado maduro] -
I thought I'd give this line a try again since I've had a few great ones.
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, but there was something not quite right about it. It was sort of like it was trying to be harsh, but just couldn't work up to it. The flavor mellowed out and improved greatly with my Dr. Pepper. The Dr. Pepper wasn't enough to make this a really good cigar though. It had a chance to change my mind about the line, but it looks like I'm done buying them again.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2005 - $5 - 4/2005)
La Gloria Cubana (Dominican Republic) "Wavell" [natural] -
Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor was medium and decent. It was still decent with my Coke. It's a shame that the only great "Wavell" I've had was the first one. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(9/2003 - $30.80/10 - 4/2005)
Don Lino Africa (Dominican Republic) "Kifaro" -
Presmoked: no scent. Smoked: perfect draw and an uneven burn. The flavors once again started medium and dark with a nice toastiness, just like the "Duma" I previously smoked. The flavor went mild on its own. The cigar made my Dr. Pepper (which seems to be a better match for those darker flavors than Coke) taste very good, but the Dr. Pepper didn't affect the flavor of the cigar. About halfway through the cigar kept going out on me, but I kept smoking it despite that. I didn't like the "Kifaro" any better than the "Duma", and I still had burn problems so it's doubtful I'll get any more Don Lino Africas. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(3/2005 - $6.90 - 4/2005)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [figurado] -
Presmoked: tasty spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started mild to medium, and decent, but nothing interesting. My Coke didn't help it either. The maduro version of this was much better. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $5.20 - 3/2005)
Don Lino Africa (Dominican Republic) "Duma" -
Presmoked: shiny wrapper with almost no scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw which got worse the longer I smoked the cigar, and uneven burn. The flavor was medium to full with somewhat dark flavors, and a really pleasant toastiness. The flavor toned down with my Coke, but it was still quite enjoyable. If I didn't have a draw problem I would have really dug this cigar. Maybe I'll have to try one of the larger sizes since I seem to have bad luck with the smaller ones. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2005 - $6.40 - 3/2005)
Padron 1964 Anniversary (Nicaragua) "Monarcha" [natural] - I used to like these, but the last few times I had them they were disappointing so I gave them up. It had been a few years since that so I decided to try it again.
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke that got better the longer I smoked the cigar. The flavor was mild and sweet, but there was something about it that was pretty tasty. It made my Dr. Pepper taste great, but the Dr. Pepper made the flavor kind of flat. Luckily it wasn't permanent, and the flavor returned to what it should have been fairly quickly. I dug the cigar, but I don't think it was worth the money. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $9.50 - 3/2005)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] - Now I see what all the fuss is about.
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and kind of tasty. I tried it with a Dr. Pepper this time, and while the flavor changed it was still pretty tasty. Towards the end it became complex with coffee and other flavors. I dug the "Torpedo" a lot more than the "Toro". Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(2/2005 - $5.20 - 3/2005)
C.A.O. Mx2 "Robusto" [maduro] -
Presmoked: mottled oily wrapper with a scent like wet paper. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The flavor started almost completely tasteless, and the oil from the wrapper on my lips felt kind of gross. I was amazed that a wrapper could be that oily and completely tasteless at the same time. The cigar felt like a complete waste of my time. My Coke gave the cigar a very mild sweetness, but not enough flavor to make it worthwhile. I should have known better than to buy a C.A.O. since I don't have any luck with them. Amount Smoked: 1/4 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $4.65 - 3/2005)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full with some spice, but it went mild after my Coke. It was still pretty tasty even mild, but I think I'm going to have to find something else to drink with this cigar that doesn't kill most of its flavor. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 3/2005)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. I knew the cigar was going to be a little dry before I smoked it, and the flavor confirmed it. The flavor was medium, and a little spicy. It was pretty good, but I like it better when it's at it's proper relative humidity. The flavor did improve with my Coke though.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $25/5 - 3/2005)
Rocky Patel Sungrown (Honduras) "Robusto" -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, and pretty decent. It got a lot better with a Coke. The flavor was above average, but it still didn't do it for me. The "Robusto" was much better than the "Petite Corona", but I don't know if I'll get any more of these, and if I do it'll probably be in larger sizes.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar (and I would have finished it if my wife didn't distract me).
(2/2005 - $5.75 - 3/2005)
Arturo Fuente (Dominican Republic) "Cuban Corona" -
Presmoked: almost no scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild with a bit of sweetness and some other good stuff. It was even better with a Coke. I'm not a fan of the regular (non-sun grown) Arturo Fuente line, but this was very good.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(8/2004 - $4.35 - 3/2005)
La Flor Dominicana 2000 Series (Dominican Republic) [figurado] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild with creaminess and some wood to go with a slight sweetness. It was pretty good for a mild cigar. My Coke didn't affect the flavor. Towards the end it started tasting like nothing.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(9/2004 - $4.31 - 3/2005)
Mr. B's Nicaraguan Selection Sungrown (Nicaragua) "Double Perfecto" [oscuro, figurado] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started full, but it was still smooth. The flavor was decent, but I didn't enjoy it that much. I hoped my Dr. Pepper would improve the flavor, and it did while toning down the flavor a bit, but the cigar never really tasted good. I still wish I knew what's caused the difference in flavor between the sampler I smoked and this bundle.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2003 - $32.95/25 - 3/2005)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: spicy cedar scent (no doubt from spending time on the floor of my humidor). Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was medium to full, and pretty damn good. When I drank my Dr. Pepper it was damn near close to perfect. Towards the end I started getting some espresso flavors too. I totally dig this cigar at 63% humidity.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar. I would have finished it off, but my smoking buddy had to leave.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 3/2005)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Toro" [maduro] -
Presmoked: light chocolate scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was still mild to medium, but it was a little more interesting. I still couldn't get into this cigar though. I think my cigar tastes really are different from most people, and this cigar might prove that.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $5.20 - 3/2005)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Toro" - This cigar has gotten all sorts of raves on Herfer's Paradise so while I would have tried this line anyway it shot to the head of my "must try" list.
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild to medium, and somewhat interesting. It was decent, but I couldn't get into it. Most of the guys on HP did say that they preferred the maduro wrapper to the corojo so it wasn't a surprise.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2005 - $5.20 - 3/2005)
Fuente Fuente Opus X (Dominican Republic) "Perfexion X" - This was our victory cigar for getting the floor done and getting moved on time. I think I should have chosen a different cigar.
Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor was very spicy, but smooth, one dimensional, and kind of flat. I hoped my Coke would round out the flavor a bit, it didn't, but it did cut some of the spice, which was becoming overwhelming. The cigar developed a tarry flavor at the end that I couldn't stand. This was definitely not worth whatever money was spent on buying it. Maybe it was a mistake for me to buy six Opus?
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(11/2004 - gifted - 3/2005)
Rocky Patel Sungrown (Honduras) "Petite Corona" - I didn't like this particular size, but the line shows potential.
Presmoked: very light scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium and interesting. My Coke toned the flavor down, and it wasn't very interesting after that. Towards the end it developed an ashy flavor that I didn't like. I'm looking forward to trying this line in a different size, and I'll probably try it with a Dr. Pepper next time.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - $4.85 - 3/2005)
Hoyo de Monterey Dark Sumatra (Honduras) "Expresso" [colorado maduro] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium, and alright, but nothing interesting. It made my Dr. Pepper taste pretty good, but there wasn't anything about this cigar that made me want to try this line again.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2004 - $3.88 - 2/2005)
Cigars International Legends (Dominican Republic) "Blue Label" -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild, but complex. I thought it was pretty tasty, but I would have liked it more if the flavor was stronger.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(12/2004 - $13/CI Legends sampler - 2/2005)
Punch Gran Puro (Honduras) "Santa Rita" [colorado maduro] - This "Santa Rita" wasn't as brilliant as the last "Santa Rita" I had, but it was very tasty.
Presmoked: very light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn.
The flavor started medium, and pretty good. The cellophane was quite yellow so I hoped this cigar had mellowed enough not to hurt me, and I thought the smooth smoke was proof that it was. Eventually I reached for my Coke, and the flavor improved. Eventually I started feeling the cigar so with vivid memories of the last time I had too much nicotine I let the cigar go out.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2004 - $4 - 2/2005)
Don Kiki Limited Reserve 2000 (Green Label) (Nicaragua) "Toro" [maduro] -
Presmoked: very sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was mild with a little bit of sweetness and piney wood. It was good, but too mild for my tastes. The flavor changed a bit with my Coke, but I didn't really care for this cigar.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $6/5 - 2/2005)
Arturo Fuente Hemingway (Dominican Republic) "Signature" [figurado] -
Presmoked: musty sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke (in the rain no less so that might disprove my theory about smoke being stinkier in high humidity). The cigar was bent from something blunt pressing into it, but the bend didn't cause any problems. The flavor started medium, and it was very nice. I was surprised since this was the first Hemingway I actually enjoyed. Eventually I drank some Coke, and while it didn't mellow the flavor it caused it to taste a little papery. It would have been better without the Coke. It was a very good cigar, but I don't think it was worth the price.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $7.50 - 2/2005)
Macanudo Robust (Dominican Republic) "Petit Corona" -
Presmoked: sweet scent with a tiny bit of spice. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and even burn. The flavor started medium to full, and pretty decent. My Coke mellowed the flavor a little. It was a pleasant cigar, but it's not something I'd buy again.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(9/2004 - $4.17 - 2/2005)
Flor de Filipinas (Philippines) "Coronas Largas(?)" - I wasn't sure what to expect from a cigar made with Filipino tobacco, but the Flor de Filipinas was pretty good (minus my burn problem).
Presmoked: kind of rough looking wrapper, not rustic, but more than halfway there. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild to medium, and actually very nice. The burn was all weird on my cigar (it had a runner that curved around), unlike Lynn's whose was perfect. My cigar snuffed itself out, and after I relit it I didn't really feel like smoking it anymore.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2005 - gifted - 2/2005)
[Note: my hygrometer read 63%, but the battery was going dead. When I replaced it the reading was 57%, which is quite a bit lower than I smoke my cigars so it would explain why the last three or four cigars I've smoked didn't taste as good as they should have.]
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor was mild to medium, and pretty good although not as good as last time (I don't understand why since it should have been the exact same relative humidity). My Coke didn't affect the flavor, but it was because I drank my Coke before smoking the cigar. At some point the draw tightened up, and the cigar snuffed itself out. I relit it without any ill effects, but the cigar snuffed itself out again about five minutes later. I didn't bother to relight it after that.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2003 - $9.60 - 2/2005)
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Dominican Republic) "Chiselito" [figurado] - I hoped this cigar would taste as good as its maduro big brother without kicking my ass with nicotine. Presmoked: thick, slightly sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and smoke that smelled like if I accidentally inhaled it it would kick my ass. The flavor was medium and very good. It was nice to reach for my Dr. Pepper when I was ready for it instead of having to because my head was spinning. The Dr. Pepper didn't affect the flavor of the cigar or vice versa. I was in the middle of puffing the cigar when it suddenly went completely out. I've had cigars snuff themselves out when I set them down for a minute, but never while I was puffing on it! I relit it, and the flavor was still as good. Towards the end the flavor was somewhat ashy. I think I'd really dig the maduro version of this cigar.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar (it took me over an hour to get that far).
(9/2004 - $3.95 - 2/2005)
Purofino Milenio (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium, and not very good. My Coke didn't make it any better either. This isn't a cigar I'll be buying again.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2004 - $4.95 - 2/2005)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was medium and so-so, not nearly as good as the last "Preferido Grande" I smoked. My Coke made the flavor taste a little papery. The only difference I can think of between this one, and the last one I smoked was the great one was at 64% relative humidity while this one was at 63%. I wonder if one percent can really make that much difference.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $25/5 - 1/2005)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] - It's been a long time since I've had a "No. 20" that I've actually liked, but I wanted to see if the increase in humidity would improve the flavor. 63% greatly improved the flavor, and I find "No. 20"s worth smoking again. Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and stinky smoke (it was very humid and still out which seems to make any cigar smell bad). The flavor started medium with cedar and other flavors I couldn't pick out. I dug it. My Coke didn't seem to affect the flavor, which was a slight disappointment because I liked the creaminess a Coke used to bring to these. The cigar was good, but I've had too many great cigars recently for this to reappear in my top three. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $50/10 & $22/5 - 1/2005)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] -
After the great Cuban I had I wanted to compare it to one of the better non-Cubans. Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and nicely scented smoke. The flavor was medium, complex, and a little spicy. Once again I'm amazed by the difference in flavor between 60% and 63% relative humidity. This cigar is absolutely great at 63%, and only decent at 60%. My Coke mellowed the flavor, but didn't take anything from it. Both this cigar and the Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 "Piramides" were great in different ways, but non-Cubans do have some advantages: they're cheaper, they aren't illegal, and they don't snuff themselves out. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - $8.88 - 1/2005)
Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 (Cuba) "Piramides" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
I had read about how great aged Cubans are on Herfers Paradise, and it made me curious; I had tried all sorts of Cubans when I was in Europe, and wasn't exactly impressed, but I never tried an aged one. I had a couple of Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001s in my humidor, which I figured probably had two years more age on it than any other Cuban I had tried previously. Presmoked: great interesting scent that I thought was due to this cigar's close proximity to a La Vieja Habana Early Years "Silencio", but after smoking the cigar I think it probably smelled great on its own. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and great smelling smoke. The flavor started medium, very complex with dark caramel components, and copious amounts of silky smooth smoke. I loved it! I thought it tasted like a Cusano C10 with more flavor. The flavor mellowed to a mild to medium, but it was still very tasty. It made my Coke taste overly sweet, but the Coke didn't really affect the flavor of the cigar. Eventually the flavor became mild and creamy towards the end. I'd say this was one of the best cigars I've ever had, and it was easily the best smelling Cuban I've ever smoked.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar (and that took me an hour!). I would have smoked more, but I had to be somewhere.
(1/2005 - 129€/Cohiba sampler - 1/2005)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Mini" [cigarillo] -
Presmoked: almost no scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigarillo hardly had any flavor, but what little it had did taste Cuban. This seemed like something that was meant more for cigarette smokers than cigar smokers.
Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2005 - free - 1/2005)
La Vieja Habana Early Years (Nicaragua) "Silencio" -
Presmoked: pungent chocolate scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium to full, and somewhat interesting, but not really compelling. My Dr. Pepper didn't do much for the flavor. I've given these cigars enough chances, but I just don't care for their flavor so I'm through with them.
Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2004 - $12.50/10 - 1/2005)
La Gloria Cubana Reserva Figurado (Dominican Republic) "Flechas Especiales" [figurado] -
Presmoked: syrupy sweet scent that I didn't like. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium, unique, and interesting. It then mellowed out to something mild, and only decent. I didn't care for it, and hoped my Coke would help. It didn't. I think the regular La Gloria Cubana "Wavell"s are much better. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $8.18 - 1/2005)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild to medium, and quite tasty. I didn't pay enough attention to pick out flavors, but I kept thinking it was a great cigar. Once again the difference in flavor from 60% to 64% relative humidity is huge. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2003 - $25/5 - 1/2005)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
Presmoked: sweet pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started mild to medium, and decent with some coffee flavors, but nothing special. The flavor turned mild when I drank my Coke, but I enjoyed it a lot more. Towards the end the draw got tough. This cigar wasn't as good as the first C10 I had, but it was still a tasty cigar.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5 - 1/2005)
Cossack Double Scimitar (Nicaragua) "Lonsdale" - Even though this was one of my favorite cheap cigars I haven't smoked one in a long time.
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. This cigar didn't seem like it was rolled quite properly, but it still had a decent mild flavor. Amount Smoked: 1/3 the cigar (I only had 30 minutes).
(2/2003 - $10/25 - 1/2005)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: excellent pungent spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The difference in flavor when this cigar is stored at 60% humidity (the normal relative humidity of my humidor) versus 65% humidity (the current relative humidity) is huge. The flavor started full, kind of spicy, and complex. It toned down a little on its own, but I still wanted to drink my Dr. Pepper pretty quickly. That helped, but there was still a rough edge to the flavor that never went away. I think I'll try and keep my humidor at 63% from now on.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 1/2005)
Indian Tabac Limited Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Buffalo" [natural] -
Presmoked: light sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild with a sweet cedar flavor. It was pretty good, but nothing special. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - $13/10 - 1/2005)
La Aurora Sungrown Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Bristol" [maduro] -
I had hoped this would at least be better than the "Belicoso" in the same line, but it wasn't.
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started mild, and stayed mild. I got so bored with it I went for my Dr. Pepper, and it didn't help.
Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar (it was too boring to smoke).
(10/2004 - $4.80 - 1/2005)
Montesino (Dominican Republic) "Diplomatico" [maduro] - Boring.
Presmoked: almost no scent. Smoked: loose draw and even burn. The cigar had a mild flavor that didn't taste like anything to me. I hoped a Coke would perk it up, but the flavor remained just as bland as it was before. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(8/2004 - $3.34 - 1/2005)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Siglo IV" - I wanted to celebrate the new year by smoking the last Cohiba "Siglo IV" I brought back from my Europe trip. I hope this cigar isn't indicative of the type of year I can expect.
Presmoked: sweet pungent scent. Smoked: impossible draw. I cut the cigar down a quarter of a inch to see if I could get some sort of draw, but it didn't help. I eventually cut the cigar down a total of two inches, and I still couldn't draw air through the cigar. After that I gave up on it. Amount Smoked: none of it.
(4/2004 - 12,50€ - 1/2005)
Indian Tabac Super Fuerte (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and sweet scented smoke that wasn't unpleasant. It had a medium slightly sweet flavor that I didn't think was anything special. I tried it with my Coke, and the flavor got much better (it was brighter). Even with the better flavor this isn't a cigar I'd buy again. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar (and it took me 90 minutes to smoke it that far).
(10/2004 - $4.48 - 12/2004)
La Luna Maduro Fuerte (Honduras) "Relampagos" [maduro, figurado] -
I don't know if my tastes changed, or if the humidity was just perfect, or if this cigar just needed a ton of aging, but this is the first La Luna that I've liked.
Presmoked: dense cigar with a light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and smoke that was stinky and floral (like orange blossom) at the same time. The flavor was medium and rich with a bit of sweetness and maduro flavor. It was quite tasty. The flavor got milder as I smoked the cigar. The cigar gave my Coke a really great flavor, and the Coke made the cigar flavor leaner, but still tasty. Halfway through the cigar tried to snuff itself out, which pissed me off because I despise having to babysit a cigar. Usually it's not worth the trouble either. After that the burn got uneven, and I got tired of messing with it. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2002 - $35/part of LL sampler - 12/2004)
La Aurora Sungrown Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso" [maduro, figurado] -
I was hoping this cigar would be as good as the 1903 Preferidos Sungrown Maduro, but it wasn't. It was still a pretty good smoke though.
Presmoked: light pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium and not too interesting. Eventually I had a swig of Dr. Pepper, which goes really well with the Preferidos, but it didn't do anything for the flavor. About a quarter of the way through the flavor got milder, but it started tasting better to me even though I don't think it changed flavor. I would say it's an above average cigar, but not nearly as good as the Preferidos. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar (and it was a long cigar too).
(10/2004 - $4.80 - 12/2004)
Camacho SLR (Honduras) "Corona" - I'm not a fan of Camacho products because they always taste bland and one-dimensional to me, but every once in a while I try a line I haven't tried to see if it'll taste different. This one didn't.
Presmoked: pungently sweet spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and an interesting scented smoke that smelled like baking spices along with the occasional sharp undertone of leather or game meat or something. The flavor started full with a complex spiciness that I could fall in love with, but it quickly disappeared and became some flat medium flavor. I kept from drinking my Dr. Pepper for as long as I could in hopes that the spices would return to the flavor, but it didn't happen. The Dr. Pepper didn't affect the flavor. This cigar smelled a lot better than it tasted. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $4.75 - 12/2004)
Puros Indios (Honduras) "Presidente" -
Presmoked: heavy cigar with a honey sweet scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was mild with a sweet woodiness. It would be good if you liked that sort of thing. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar (it was a very long cigar).
(7/2004 - $2.75 - 12/2004)
La Gloria Cubana (Dominican Republic) "Wavell" [natural] -
Presmoked: light dusty scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started surprisingly full so I reached for my Coke pretty quick. After that it was a pleasant medium flavor with a small bit of sweetness. Unfortunately I didn't pay very much attention to the flavor of my cigar after I started drinking my Coke, but I enjoyed it. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(9/2003 - $30.80/10 - 12/2004)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: chocolate scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor started out ok, and got a little better after my Dr. Pepper, but it never got better than ok. I knew there was the possibility that the cigar might be too dry, and the flavor proved it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 12/2004)
Punch Gran Puro (Honduras) "Santa Rita" [colorado maduro] - These really are great little cigars with some age on them. I didn't age this one myself, but they looked pretty aged from the shop I bought them from (the cellophane was very yellow). The only thing I don't like about these cigars is the abundance of nicotine.
Presmoked: spicy-sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor started full with enough spice that I reached for my Coke pretty quickly. The Coke mellowed the flavor a bit, but it also made it very nice. Towards the end of the cigar the flavor got mild, but it was still enjoyable. I had to stop when I thought I started feeling the nicotine though. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $4 - 12/2004)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] - This used to be one of my favorite cigars.
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: easy draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was medium and floral with a bit a spice. My Coke didn't really change the flavor. Overall it was a pleasant, easy smoke, but I wasn't in love with it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar (it was a long cigar).
(10/2004 - $3.28 - 12/2004)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Presmoked: light cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was medium, and pretty decent. It tasted better with my Coke. I dug the cigar, but there was an ashy undertone that I kept tasting. Somehow it didn't ruin the cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2003 - $5 - 12/2004)
Carlos Torano 1916 Cameroon (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
Presmoked: sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was a hollow medium spice that I didn't care for. When I had my Coke it mellowed the flavor a little and made it sort of sweet and woody. Normally those are flavors I like, but there was a sour undertone to the flavor that I didn't like. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - $69.95/25 - 12/2004)
Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte (Dominican Republic) "Cordona" -
Presmoked: spicy black pepper scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor was unique and medium to full, but nothing I really cared for. My Dr. Pepper didn't really do anything one way or another for it. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(11/2004 - $2.98 - 12/2004)
Partagas Spanish Rosando (Dominican Republic) "San Agustin" -
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was mild and unique, but hollow. I didn't care for it. My Coke didn't do anything to the flavor. I guess I should stick to my previous rule of not buying Partagas cigars since I'm indifferent about them at best. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(9/2004 - $5.92 - 12/2004)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: spicy sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The cigar had a pleasant medium flavor which tasted a lot better after a swig of Dr. Pepper. A tar flavor towards the end of the cigar forced me to pitch it before I was ready. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 11/2004)
Henry Clay (Dominican Republic) "Brevas a la Conserva" -
Presmoked: an oddly shaped cigar that was flat on one side and round on the other with a sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was medium and sweet cedar with something else. It was good, if you like cedar (which I'm not too crazy about). My Coke didn't really affect the flavor. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(8/2004 - $3.87 - 11/2004)
Padron (Nicaragua) "2000" -
Presmoked: dusty cocoa scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started full and was a little harsh at the back of my throat. I reached for my Dr. Pepper pretty quick and while it toned down the flavor it also toned down the harshness. The flavor was mild to medium, and decent, but it did get better the more I smoked the cigar. I'm sure this cigar will be pretty tasty with some more age on it. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar (I would have smoked more, but I was short on time).
(7/2004 - $3.60 - 11/2004)
Perez Premium (Mexico) "Churchill" [maduro] - The last time I had one of these things was Mardi Gras of 2002. I liked it then, but I wondered if I'd like it now.
Presmoked: sweet cedar scent. Smoked: loose draw, uneven burn, and excellent floral scented smoke. The flavor started mild with a little woody sweetness. The flavor then became floral, which I haven't had in a long time. Towards the end the flavor was a medium dusty cocoa. I really dug this cigar a lot. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2002 - $7.95 - 11/2004)
Horsepower (Honduras) "Turbo" -
Presmoked: excellent sweet earthy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started full and spicy. It quickly toned down to a decent mild flavor. My Dr. Pepper made the flavor darker, and pretty tasty. Eventually I had a difficult time keeping the cigar lit. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $7/5 - 11/2004)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" - One tasty cigar.
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and slightly stinky smoke. The flavor was mild, slightly sweet, and complex. It reminded me of my favorite Cusano Xclusivo, only a little better. My Coke toned down the initial flavor, but it didn't affect the aftertaste. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $6.25 - 11/2004)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: light pungent sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. When I cut the cigar it felt dry so I already knew it wasn't going to be at its best. The flavor started mild, but it was pleasant. The cigar got better with my Dr. Pepper, with the cigar gaining a creamy flavor and emphasizing some of the flavors I like in the Preferidos Maduros. The cigar gave the Dr. Pepper a great creamy flavor too. This is hands down my favorite cigar right now. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 11/12004)
Don Lino Africa (Dominican Republic) "Duma" -
Presmoked: shiny wrapper with a light sweet earthy scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium to full, and good. The flavor mellowed to medium on its own before I tried my Coke. I enjoyed the cigar until about halfway through when it went out. I relit the cigar, but I had a hard time keeping it lit after that. The draw was a pain in the ass too. I got a little nicotine buzz that I didn't want so I wasn't heartbroken that I was through smoking the cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2004 - $6.45 - 11/2004)
Cacique (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: peanut butter scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. It had a mild somewhat creamy flavor that was pleasant, but not impressive. My Coke didn't really affect the flavor. I don't know why but this cigar just has tasted as good as the first time I tried it. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $7/5 - 11/2004)
Partagas Cifuentes (2004) (Dominican Republic) "Septiembre" -
Presmoked: rich tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was unique and medium, but it seemed like it was missing something. My Coke toned down the flavor a little, but it didn't adversely affect it. I started tasting tar fairly early in the smoke, and it finally got so bad that I had to stop smoking the cigar. The Partagas brand (Dominican or Cuban) has consistently made cigars I don't like. I thought the Partagas Cifuentes would be different, but it wasn't. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $6.06 - 11/2004)
C.A.O. Italia (Nicaragua) "Ciao" -
Presmoked: shiny wrapper and a musty black pepper scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and hearty black pepper scented smoke. The flavor was mild, which was odd considering the scent, but it was pleasantly unique. I tried it with a Dr. Pepper, and the cigar killed the flavor of the Dr. Pepper. The soda made the cigar a little milder, but the cigar still had a good flavor. Eventually I drank all of my Dr. Pepper, and tried a Coke instead. The cigar killed all of the flavor of my Coke too, but the Coke also killed all of the good flavor of the cigar. This cigar was good, but I don't know if I liked it enough to pay over $6 for it. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $6.40 - 10/2004)
Havana Soul (USA) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: spiced honey scent. Smoked: easy draw, mostly even burn, and decently scented smoke. The cigar had a thick medium flavor with some spice, but it didn't do anything for me. After my Coke the flavor mellowed a little, but it still had a bit of spice to it. I don't know if the "Toro" in the same line tasted better, or if I just wasn't in the mood for this cigar, but I didn't care for this cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2004 - $5.95 - 10/2004)
Kahlau (Nicaragua) "Mudslide" [cigarillo] -
Presmoked: sweet creamed coffee scent. Smoked: easy draw, even burn, and excellently scented sweet smoke. The flavor didn't taste like much (the sweetness from the wrapper was nice, but that only lasts for so long) so I thought I'd experiment with some sweet wines to see how well they matched. The first wine I tried was Cline's "Big Break Vineyard Late Harvest Mourvedre 1997", which tasted good, but gave the cigar a lousy ash flavor. It almost ruined the cigar. Next was Yalumba's "Antique Tawny", which tasted great, but didn't seem to affect the cigar in any way. This was the last "Mudslide" I had and the last one I'll ever smoke. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - $15.23/10 - 10/2004)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Presmoked: spicy cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium and ok, but it got a little better with my Coke. Towards the end the flavor mellowed and took on a creamy character. I didn't think this particular sun grown "Chateau Fuente" was as good as some of the other ones I've had. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2003 - $5 10/2004)
Carlos Torano 1916 Cameroon (Nicaragua) "Churchhill" - I don't like the 1916 "Corona"s I have, so I thought I'd try a different size in the same line to see if is was any better. It wasn't. Presmoked: pungent spicy scent and a beautiful shiny wrapper. Smoked: easy draw and even burn. The flavor started medium with a little sweetness and some cedar. The flavor was decent, but boring. My Coke didn't change the flavor of the cigar, but the cigar made the Coke very sweet. Eventually the cigar took on a slight bitterness. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $3 - 10/2004)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: excellent spicy scent. Smoked: difficult draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was medium and pretty good. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar. (I would have smoked more, but the draw was too much of a pain in the ass.)
(12/2003 - $9.60 - 10/2004)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. I thought the non-maduro "Perfecto No. 2" wouldn't have as much flavor as the maduro one, but it had a medium flavor that was pretty good. Apparently most of the flavor for the 1903 Preferidos comes from the bundle, not the wrapper. Unfortunately it tasted like this cigar was very slightly overhumidified; not enough to ruin the cigar, but enough that it changed the flavor in a negative way. My Dr. Pepper helped things, and the cigar took on a kind of chocolate flavor. I'm looking forward to smoking another one of these that's not overhumidified. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 10/2004)
Montecristo (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [natural] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and sweet smoke that I thought smelt great. The flavor was mild to medium, but nothing interesting. The flavor gained strength as the cigar smoked down, but the flavor never became interesting. My Coke didn't help things either. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2004 - $7.70 - 10/2004)
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Dominican Republic) "Chisel" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: light sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and smoke that was either really stinky or smelt like bittersweet chocolate (which I thought was great). The flavor was mild, and had a bit of harshness in the back of my throat, but there was something about it that was interesting too. I felt the nicotine creep up on me so I went for a Coke. I didn't get much flavor from my Coke, but the cigar took on a sweet flavor, and the interesting flavor became stronger. The Coke was an excellent match for the cigar, and the cigar was much better for it. This was a cigar I'd buy again, but I may want to lay it down for six months.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar. (I would have smoked more, but I didn't want to drink two Cokes on a weeknight.)
(8/2004 - $6.30 - 10/2004)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild with a bit of something, but not much, to it. It made my Coke sweet, and the Coke brought out a hint of cedar in the flavor, but the flavor just wasn't that good. This wasn't even close to the same cigar that I used to like so much. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $50/10 & $22/5 - 10/2004)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 1" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: nicely spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor had the twang I've come to expect from the 1903 Preferidos Maduros, but the flavor was milder than "Perfecto No. 2"s. It was good, just not as good comparatively. I tried this cigar with a Dr. Pepper because I thought it might be a better match, and it turned out that my Dr. Pepper actually gave this cigar more flavor. Overall I didn't care for this cigar, but that might have to due to my preference for the "Perfecto No. 2"s. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2004 - $3 - 10/2004)
Torano Nicaragua Selection (Nicaragua) "Perfecto" [figurado] -
Presmoked: spiced honey scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar had a mild lightly sweet flavor with a light wood finish. My Coke didn't really change the flavor, and I thought it was pretty good for a mild cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(9/2004 - $3.95 - 10/2004)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and smoke that smelled good if I didn't smell it directly, but stunk if I did. The flavor started mild to medium, and kind of meaty. The flavor got mild, and the meatiness disappeared, but it was still very good. My Coke gave the cigar a sweet aftertaste. Overall it was a damn good cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(8/2002 - $31/5 & $23/5 - 10/2004)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
I was worried that this really wasn't a genuine La Aura (like an alternative instead of a second), but this cigar tasted very similar to the non-second "Perfecto No. 2" I just had earlier this week. This is an amazing value at seconds prices.
Presmoked: light spicy-sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and smoke that alternated between pleasant and nasty. It had a medium flavor that was pleasant, and similar to the "No. 2" I recently had. The flavor wasn't quite the same, but I chalked it up to the fact that I smoked this cigar the same day I bought it from the cigar shop, while the other one I had had been sitting in my humidor for about a month. I had a David Bruce "Central Coast Petite Syrah 2002" wine with this cigar, and it was a very good match. The cigar made the wine quite tasty bringing out sweetness, fruitiness, and a toasty woody finish. The wine toned the cigar down a tiny bit, but it made the cigar taste creamy. Towards the end when the cigar was heating up it made the cigar a little spicy. Overall it was a very tasty cigar, and at seconds prices I'm going to have to pick up even more of these. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2004 - $2.50 - 10/2004)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] -
One of the best cigars I hardly smoked.
Presmoked: somewhat spicy, flat musty scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was medium with a bit of spice. It was very tasty. It gave a spicy flavor to my Coke, and the Coke mellowed the cigar a bit. I really liked this cigar, but after I lit it I realized I wasn't in the mood for it. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(7/2002 - $22/10 - 10/2004)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
Normally I pass on La Aurora because they make boring overpriced cigars, but when I saw they made a sun grown maduro (which I believe they're the only ones making a sun grown maduro right now) I had to try it.
Presmoked: light sweet-spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild to medium, and quite unique. I'd never tasted anything like it before, and I don't think its flavor is for everyone, but I liked it. These cigars are expensive, but I could see keeping a couple of them around. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar. (I would have smoked the entire cigar, but I didn't have anything to drink with it).
(7/2004 - 9/2004)
Purofino Milenio (Dominican Republic) "Corona" - Not my sort of cigar.
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. Medium flavor that I didn't like, and my Coke didn't make it any better. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2004 - $4.95 - 9/2004)
Montecristo Serie V (Dominican Republic) "No. 4" -
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The cigar had a mild flavor that didn't taste like anything; it was completely boring. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(9/2004 - $6 - 9/2004)
Havana Soul (USA) "Toro" - A kick ass, ass kicking cigar.
Smoked: slightly loose draw, even burn, and somewhat stinky smoke. The flavor was full, tingly, and had an interesting dark aspect. I thought it was going to be too much, but the tingling wasn't too bad to begin with, and it decreased in intensity as I smoked the cigar so I got through a quarter of the cigar without touching my Coke. The Coke killed the dark flavors which made the cigar worth smoking (which means I won't be doing that again) and then I became distracted. When I started paying attention again I was halfway through the cigar, and it had kicked my ass. I was sick from the nicotine, and had to put the cigar out. I ended up sleeping it off. They should put a warning label on those things! Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2004 - $6.95 - 9/2004)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "No. 4" [figurado] -
Presmoked: cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. Mildly sweet cedar flavor wasn't bad. Halfway through it developed a little tingle, but my Coke flattened out the flavor, and basically ruined the cigar. It wasn't a big loss anyway. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - $5.50 - 9/2004)
Punch Rare Corojo (2004) (Honduras) "Rothchild" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium and so-so, but it improved nicely with a Coke. A good cigar, but I realized that the first Rare Corojo "Rothchild" I had, that I thought was impressive, was from the 2003 series, and these ones are the 2004s. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(5/2004 - $3.95 - 9/2004)
Ashton Heritage Puro Sol (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] -
Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. Medium flavor that had a certain twang that was interesting, but overall the flavor was one dimensional and not interesting. My Coke didn't improve it. I didn't really care for the first Puro Sol I had, and I didn't care for this one either. I'm through with them. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar (and I only smoked that much because I was keeping Lynn company).
(2/2004 - $9.40 - 9/2004)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Siglo IV" -
Presmoked: excellent sweet-spicy scent. Smoked: mostly even burn and pleasantly scented smoke. The draw didn't feel difficult, but I could hardly get any smoke out of the cigar. When I punched it the wrapper cracked a little, and because of the draw I ended up cutting off about half an inch from the end and then the wrapper started to unravel. What flavor I could get was good, and after the first inch I started getting a little more smoke, but I never really got to "smoke" the cigar. This could have been a much better cigar than it was. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar (it was too much damn work to try and smoke it).
(4/2004 - 12,50€ - 9/2004)
Oliva Gran Maduro (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor didn't taste like much to me, and my Coke got rid of even that little bit. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - 9/2004)
Puros Indios (Honduras) "Rothchild" -
Presmoked: sweet grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke.
It had a pleasant mild flavor, but my Coke killed most of the flavor. Not bad for a mild cigar.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - 9/2004)
El Rico Habano (Dominican Republic) "Habano Club" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: excellent spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn that evened itself out, and
pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was medium and ok. It didn't quite have the tingly feeling
I expected from this nicotine bomb, but I definitely felt the nicotine before too long. I tried
the cigar with a glass of Bouchard Pere y Fils "Monthelie 1999". Unfortunately I didn't taste the
wine before the cigar, but everyone who tasted the wine said it was good. With the cigar it had a
mild berry flavor, but I thought the cigar probably overpowered most of the flavor. The wine did
give the cigar a nice char taste though. After the wine I tried with cigar with a Coke, and the
Coke didn't affect the flavor of the cigar and vice versa. Overall, not a bad cigar, but it was
only the wine that made the cigar enjoyable. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2003 - $14/5 - 9/2004)
Fonseca Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "No. 3" -
Presmoked: musty sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. It had a sweet flavor, with
maybe a hint of cedar. Towards the end there was a sharp acrid flavor that I couldn't stand, and
I couldn't get rid of. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - $4.50 - 9/2004)
Henry Clay (Dominican Republic) "Rothchilde" -
Presmoked: excellent pungent scent and an oily wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and
excellently scented smoke. Flat medium flavor that was ok. It made my Coke taste really good,
but the Coke didn't do anything for the cigar. About halfway through the cigar developed a sour
flavor that never went away. This was definitely not something I'd smoke again.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2004 - $4.10 - 8/2004)
Bolivar (Cuba) "Corona" -
Presmoked: excellent spicy scent, but that was probably because it was stored
with my Ashton VSGs. Fragile thin wrapper that seemed a little dry. Smoked:
difficult draw, uneven burn that evened itself out, and excellently scented
smoke. When I punched my cigar I got so little smoke that I could hardly taste
it so I cut off about a 1/4 inch of the cigar, and the draw improved noticably.
It's a good thing I had my cutter in addition to my bullet punch. Medium
flavor that I didn't care for, but it tasted much better after a swig of Coke.
It had a pleasant creamy flavor which was different from the creamy flavor I
get from Nicaraguan tobacco. Not bad, but not impressive.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2004 - 9€ - 8/2004)
Carlos Torano Nicaragua Selection (Old Blend) (Nicaragua) "Cetro" [colorado maduro] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. So-so flavor that made my Dr. Pepper taste great. That
alone would have been reason enough to keep smoking the cigar, except that the flavor kept getting
ashy. Amount Smoked: 1/2 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - $7/5 - 8/2004)
Cupido Classic (Nicaragua) "Gran Robusto" -
Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar had
a mild flavor which was kind of sweet. It was familiar, but I couldn't quite
place it. It reminded me of Dr. Pepper. The Dr. Pepper I had with cigar
didn't affect it in any way. Overall I thought it was pretty good for a mild
cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2003 - $17/part of Cupido sampler - 8/2004)
La Vieja Habana Early Years (Nicaragua) "Wavelle Deluxe" -
Presmoked: light scent, cigar looked a little dry because the wrapper was
cracked in a couple of spots. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, mostly even
burn, and excellently scented smoke. The smoke smelled better than the cigar
tasted; it had a mild flavor that I thought would be good if it was stronger.
My Dr. Pepper didn't change the flavor of the cigar, but the cigar made
the Dr. Pepper taste very good. I didn't really like this cigar.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $4.16/2 - 8/2004)
Quintero (Honduras) "Robusto" [colorado] -
Presmoked: strong tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky
smoke. Medium to full flavor that I didn't like. It turned into a creamy
medium flavor after a swig of my Dr. Pepper, and it was better, but overall I
didn't like the cigar.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - 8/2004)
Punch Gran Puro (Honduras) "Santa Rita" [colorado maduro] - This "Santa Rita" was much
better than the first one I had. It was also the best cigar I've had recently.
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: loose draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started
medium and caused a tingling in my mouth. When the tingling disappeared there
was a pleasant "char" flavor. I smoked the cigar as long I could before the nicotine started
making me nauseous, then reached for a Dr. Pepper. The Dr. Pepper killed the "char" flavor, but
the cigar was still pleasant. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(9/2003 - $3.84 - 8/2004)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Flor Fina 8-5-8" [maduro] -
Presmoked: cedar scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw which loosened up,
even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild to medium, and
nothing interesting. It got a little better with my Coke, but not much. There
wasn't anything about this cigar that compelled me to smoke it.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 8/2004)
Purofina Dom (Honduras) "Petit Belicoso" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: light chocolate scent and shiny wrapper. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and uneven
burn. Medium flavor that was only ok. The cigar made my Coke really sweet, and the Coke toned
down some of the cigar flavor. Overall, not my sort of thing. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 8/2004)
Cacique (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" - Not as good as the first time I had one.
Presmoked: peanut butter scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke.
The flavor was mild, but pretty good, and my Coke didn't seem to change the flavor. Towards the
end the cigar took on an ashy flavor. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $7/5 - 8/2004)
Oliva "O" Maduro (Nicaragua) "Ovation" [maduro] -
Presmoked: spiced honey scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke.
The flavor was mild, smooth, and pleasant, but not something I'd go out of my way for. My Coke
didn't change the flavor. I'm through with Oliva "O"s because their flavor is consistently milder
than I enjoy. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 8/2004)
Duque (Nicaragua) "Wavell" -
Presmoked: pungent tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke.
The flavor was medium and ok. It made my Coke really tasty, but it didn't really appeal to me.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2004 - $7/5 - 8/2004)
Vintage Aged by Rocky Patel (Honduras) "Robusto 1992" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: pungent sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn that
eventually evened itself out, and decently scented smoke. The flavor was
medium and had a unique sort of coffee quality to it (without actually tasting
like coffee). The flavor was decent, but not good enough for me to want to deal
with the heat and humidity outside. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(6/2004 - $6.50 - 8/2004)
Punch (Honduras) "Champion" [figurado] -
Presmoked: spicy tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn.
Mild to medium flavor that started boring, then the finish took on an
interesting, unique sweet flavor that wasn't exactly sweet. It gave my Coke
a spicy flavor, but after the Coke the interesting part of the flavor
disappeared. The flavor did turn somewhat dark (caramel like) and that was
good. Not a cigar I'd buy again. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2004 - $4.10 - 7/2004)
Kahlau (Nicaragua) "Mudslide" [cigarillo] -
Presmoked: sharp, sweet scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented
smoke. The cigar tasted much better this time than on Friday (I think the cigar was drier this
time around which seems to help). The flavor was medium, sweet, and not bad. It's still like
smoking dessert, so you have to like that sort of thing to really enjoy this cigar.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - $15.23/10 - 7/2004)
Cupido Classic (Nicaragua) "Capitan" [figurado] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke (I think
high humidity might makes cigar smoke stinkier than normal, and the humidity was outrageous
yesterday). Nice mild to medium nutty flavor. My Dr. Pepper ruined the flavor by making it
ashy. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2003 - $17/part of Cupido sampler - 7/2004)
Kahlau (Nicaragua) "Mudslide" [cigarillo] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and smoke that
smelled good from a distance (the smoke from Lynn's), but kind of stunk close
up (the smoke from mine). The flavor was mild to medium, but it didn't taste
like anything I liked. Disappointing cigar.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2004 - $15.23/10 - 7/2004)
Macanudo (Dominican Republic) "Crystal" [tubo] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, and even burn. The flavor was mild, light, and sweet. Not bad, but I prefer more flavor. Amount Smoked: 3/4 the cigar.
(7/2004 - gifted - 7/2004)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. Medium spicy flavor with a woody finish. Damn tasty cigar. I tried it with a Rosemount Estate "Shiraz 2002" and it was a terrible match. It ruined the cigar for a while, but eventually with the help of a Coke the flavor returned to something enjoyable. The flavor ended medium with a spicy, tasty finish. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2002 - $22/10 - 7/2004)
Indian Tabac Limited Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Bison" [natural, figurado] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: slightly tough draw, mostly even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium with a papery and meaty flavor. After a swig of Coke most of the papery flavor disappeared, leaving the meatiness, and there was a sweet aftertaste. Overall, a very good cigar minus the slightly tough draw. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(7/2002 - $21/10 - 7/2004)
Mr. B's Nicaraguan Selection Sungrown (Nicaragua) "Double Perfecto" [oscuro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sugary sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and
excellently scented smoke. The flavor of the cigar was pretty mild, and decent,
but nothing interesting. My Dr. Pepper didn't really change the flavor. None
of the NSS "Double Perfecto"s I've smoked from my bundle haven't tasted as good
as the other NSSs I had from the NSS sampler. I wish I knew what the difference
was. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2003 - $32.95/25 - 7/2004)
Adolphus (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: tough draw, even burn, and great cinnamon
scented smoke. The cigar smelled much better than it tasted, not that I could
get any flavor from the tough draw anyway. When I did get some flavor it was
sour. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $3/5 - 7/2004)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly
sweet scented smoke. The flavor was mild and a sweet wood. My Coke made the
flavor a little sweeter, but it was never cloying. The final third of the
cigar the sweet flavor was replaced by a toasty light wood flavor. An overall
tasty cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(8/2002 - $31/5 & $23/5 - 7/2004)
Leon Jimenes (Dominican Republic) "No. 5" [claro] -
Presmoked: light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. Mild sweet
flavor that was papery too. A Coke didn't fix the papery taste, and I couldn't
stand it. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(2/2003 - $7/5 - 7/2004)
El Mejor Gran Reserva (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [maduro] -
Presmoked: rich dark scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and smoke that
smelled better the longer I smoked the cigar. The smoke started medium and
pretty good, but tasted a little nicer after a Dr. Pepper. The cigar wasn't
impressive, but it was a very nice smoke. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2004 - $9/5 - 7/2004)
Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial (Honduras) "Belicoso" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet scent and somewhat shiny wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, even
burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started medium with a slightly
harsh mouthfeel. The cigar made my Dr. Pepper taste really good, and the Dr.
Pepper toned down the harshness. As I continued to smoke the cigar the
harshness was replaced by a creaminess. Towards the end I thought this was a
really decent cigar. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar. I would have smoked
more, but that would have meant drinking two Dr. Peppers, which I didn't want
to do.
(10/2003 - $5.95/part of Saint Luis Rey sampler - 6/2004)
Natural by Drew Estate (Nicaragua) "Jucy Lucy" [natural] -
Presmoked: chocolate scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and great scented smoke. The flavor
started kind of tasteless, and didn't really pick up until a swig of Dr. Pepper. There was a mild,
pleasant flavor after the Dr. Pepper, but not enough to make me want to smoke another one of these.
Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(8/2003 - $3.65 - 6/2004)
Trinidad (Dominican Republic) "Corona" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: cloying scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and an annoying
cloying scent to the smoke. The flavor started medium with a sweet aftertaste.
It wasn't bad, but I didn't really care for it either. The Coke cut some of
the sweet scent in a good way. As the cigar heated up
it seemed to lose its flavor. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(6/2003 - $8 - 6/2004)
Dictador (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [natural, figurado] -
Presmoked: honey sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly
scented smoke. The flavor was medium and an indescribable kind of tasty. (It was
almost a meaty sort of flavor. After a Coke the flavor didn't change much, but
it took on a slight sour quality. I drank through the Coke pretty quickly trying
to get rid of the taste and decided it wasn't worth opening a second Coke.
Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - $25/25 - 6/2004)
Nicarao (Nicaragua) "Flecha" -
Presmoked: sweet, papery scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke.
The flavor was medium, sweet and tasty before a Coke, and the same after a Coke. The only
complaint I had was that an ashy flavor kept creeping in, but then I'd blow through the cigar and
it would go away.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(2/2003 - $16/25 - 6/2004)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] -
Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The flavor started out as a medium cedar
with a slightly sweet finish. It was very nice until the flavor grew a little
acrid. The cigar still tasted very good with a Coke, but the acrid flavor
never went away. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2003 - $50/10 & $22/5 - 6/2004)
Horsepower (Honduras) "Turbo" - A while ago I read about the Horsepower,
a line of cigars that was blended for specific strengths. It sounded like a
useful gimmick because I've never understood the concept of a "full bodied"
cigar so I curious how their "450 HP" would taste (which was supposed to be
full bodied). At the time I thought about it I checked out
Cigar Bid to see if I could find a
five pack. The only ones they had were the "Turbo"s, which were supposed to be
the over the top blend. Over the top is still full bodied so I got a five pack.
This cigar was smoother than the Punch Gran Puro or El Rico Habano so I don't
know if it's considered full bodied, but this was actually a tasty cigar.
Presmoked: light spicy, sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and
pleasantly scented smoke. Smooth medium creamy flavor with an espresso finish
that only got more interesting after a Dr. Pepper. A highly enjoyable cigar.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2004 - $7/5 - 6/2004)
Cuesta-Rey Centenario Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso No. 11" [figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and great scented
smoke. The cigar smelled a lot better than it tasted. The flavor improved a
little after a while, but it never reached good.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - $5.46 - 6/2004)
Punch Rare Corojo (2004) (Honduras) "Rothchild" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: pungent, cocoa scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and great
smelling smoking. The smoke smelled much better than the cigar tasted. After
some time and some Dr. Pepper the flavor didn't improve, but the aftertaste
was pretty tasty. Overall I didn't like this cigar much.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(5/2004 - $3.95 - 6/2004)
Cupido Criollo (Nicaragua) "Revolucion" -
Presmoked: sweet, pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The
flavor started out medium and papery, toasty, and nutty. After a swig of
Dr. Pepper the flavor got richer, dark. I liked it a lot better. The cigar
also made the Dr. Pepper very tasty. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2003 - $17/part of Cupido sampler - 6/2004)
Romeo Y Julieta (Dominican Republic) "Cedros Deluxe No. 2" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: light scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented
smoke. The flavor started out very mild and smooth. The flavor eventually
crept up to medium with a lightly sweet papery and cedar flavor. My Coke
didn't affect the flavor. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2004 - $4.50 - 6/2004)
Nestor Reserve (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet maduro scent. Smoked: perfect draw, and even burn. The
flavor was a medium, tasty maduro, but it was one dimensional. I tried the
cigar with the Cline "Red Truck 2002". The cigar gave the wine a fruitier
scent and a short fruity flavor with a long toasty finish. The cigar didn't
really make the wine taste better, and the wine didn't make the cigar taste
better. Amount Smoked: 1/4 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - $10/5 - 6/2004)
Plantation Reserve (USA) "Corona" -
Presmoked: sweet scent that was probably due to the Cuban cigars sitting on
top of it. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke.
The flavor was on the mild side, a little sweet, and pretty tasty. My Coke
didn't affect the flavor. As I smoked the cigar more the flavor got a little
stronger. I was surprised I liked this cigar since the other two I had from
the Cigar Factory were average. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(12/2002 - $22.50/part of Cigar Factory sampler - 6/2004)
Cacique Miami (Nicaragua) "Toro" - An extremely potent cigar
with a good flavor.
Presmoked: pleasant scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and potent
scented smoke. The cigar started with pure nicotine that made my mouth tingle,
but it also had a nice creamy flavor. I tried the cigar with a New Belgium
Brewing Company "1554" thinking that the full bodied beer would stand up to a
cigar, but it didn't. The combination of beer and the nicotine bomb made me
tipsy pretty quick and I had to give up the beer. I switched to a Dr. Pepper
and that got the buzz under control. As I kept smoking the cigar the flavor
remained pleasant and got a subtle sweetness and a little nuttiness. I've tried
a few nicotine bombs before and they've all lacked flavor so I was impressed
that this had any flavor, much less a flavor I actually enjoyed.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar. I would have smoked more, but this cigar
was kicking my ass.
(3/2004 - $4/5 - 6/2004)
Cacique (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" - A tasty, interesting cigar.
Presmoked: it smelled like a peanut butter cookie. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn.
The flavor was mild to medium, and pleasant. It got a little sweet, and a lot better
after a Coke. I can't wait to smoke another one of these.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar. I would have smoked more, but I was pressed for time.
(3/2004 - $7/5 - 6/2004)
Don Kiki Limited Reserve 2000 (Green Label) (Nicaragua) "Toro" [maduro] -
Presmoked: earthy, sharp scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and
decently scented smoke. The flavor was medium and typically maduro. It was
pleasant, but not great. Neither a Dr. Pepper or Coke made the cigar taste any
better. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $6/5 - 5/2004)
La Vieja Habana Early Years (Nicaragua) "Silencio" -
Presmoked: sharp cocoa scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and a dense pleasant scent that
was almost overpowering. The cigar had a flat medium flavor that was ok. I tried it with some
Bleasdale "Pioneer Port", and the port had a great combination of berry flavor with a buttery
finish. (Unfortunately, I didn't try the port beforehand to see if the cigar had changed the
flavor of it at all.) The flavor of the cigar became a little peppery and a little mild, but it
lost its flatness. It was an improvement, but not enough to make the cigar really good.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $12.50/10 - 5/2004)
Cusano Selection (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [colorado] - Uncharacteristically bad.
Presmoked: slightly sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke.
The flavor was a mild to medium nasty wet flavor. It never went away, even after a swig of Coke.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2003 - $10/5 - 5/2004)
Padron (Nicaragua) "3000" [natural] -
Presmoked: tobacco scent. The cigar felt a little dry even though I had
recharged my humidor a couple of weeks ago. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven
burn. The scent of the smoke and the flavor was more indicative of a Drew
Estate Natural than a Padron; it was sweet in an interesting way. I then
drank some Chateau Souverain "Alexander Valley Merlot 2001", and the wine
tasted like bubble gum. It was a surprisingly good combination. The cigar
eventually went out, and when I relit it it didn't taste good with the wine.
I switched to a Coke, but the cigar tasted flat. The cigar went out a second
time, and when I relit it it tasted like coffee. It was good, but I wasn't
in the mood for it. Overall, I really like the regular Padron line.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2003 - $3.95 - 5/2004)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent and shiny wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor
started medium, and it was pretty decent. After a Coke the flavor was great. I totally
dig this little cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(11/2002 - $3.95 - 5/2004)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] -
Presmoked: sweet, slightly musty scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium, woody, and a little spicy. I was pretty happy with it. I thought this cigar might make a good match for the Kim Crawford "Marlborough Unoaked Chardonnay 2003" I had in the refrigerator, so I tried it. The cigar took most of the bitterness from the wine, but the wine detracted from the flavor of the cigar. I switched to a Coke, and I was much happier. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2002 - $22/10 - 5/2004)
Cossack Double Scimitar (Nicaragua) "Lonsdale" -
Presmoked: there was a large hole in the wrapper, the wrapper was dry and fragile, and the cap cracked in half when I punched the cigar. It was a little unusual that the cigar seemed so dry because my humidor wasn't dry at the time. Smoked: tough draw, somewhat uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. I didn't get the normal pine flavor from this cigar, but it was still pretty good. I had the cigar with a "Sunshine Wheat Beer" from New Belgium Brewing Company. The Sunshine Wheat is a Belgium white ale, and the cigar made the spice and citrus flavors in the beer really come out. The beer also brought out a creamy flavor in the cigar. It would have been a great combination if the cigar didn't also make the beer taste watery. Maybe next time I'll try this cigar with a Paulaner Hefeweizen instead. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar. I would have smoked more, but not having a cap on the end of the the cigar made it difficult to smoke.
(2/2003 - $10/25 - 5/2004)
Montesino Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Pyramid" [figurado] - Much better than the first time I had the cigar (which I don't seem to have a review
for).
Presmoked: cinnamon and cocoa scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started medium, and didn't really change with a Coke. The flavor kept getting better the more I smoked the cigar until I totally dug the cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(11/2003 - 5/2004)
Punch Rare Corojo (2004) (Honduras) "Rothchild" [colorado maduro] - Not as good as the first Rare Corojo "Rothchild" I had.
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. Pretty good medium flavor that got a little better with a Coke. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(5/2004 - $3.95 - 5/2004)
Don Kiki Limited Reserve 2000 (Red Label) (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started medium and pretty decent, but nothing special. After a Dr. Pepper the flavor was much better. It's an above average cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2004 - $5/5 - 5/2004)
Carlos Torano Reserva Selecta (Honduras) "Robusto" [claro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild to medium and somewhat sweet. It was pretty good, although not as good as the Reserva Selecta "Torpedo". Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2004 - $17/5 - 5/2004)
Romeo Y Julieta (Dominican Republic) "Bully" -
Presmoked: slightly sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor tasted medium and like the cigar was very slightly overhumidified. It was pretty decent despite the overhumidification. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - $4.32 - 5/2004)
Indian Tabac Limited Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Buffalo" [natural] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium to full, and had me reaching for a Coke pretty quickly. The flavor settled down to medium after the Coke and was pretty tasty with some woody flavors. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(11/2002 - $11/5 - 4/2004)
Cupido Criollo (Nicaragua) "Commemorative" [figurado] -
Presmoked: dark, tasty scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. Dark, medium flavor that was pretty good before my Dr. Pepper and even better afterwards. The flavor seemed to trail off as I smoked the cigar. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2003 - $17/part of Cupido sampler - 4/2004)
Estavan Cruz (Dominican Republic) "Churchill" [maduro] - My first non-Cuban cigar after returning from Europe.
Presmoked: a spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The cigar didn't taste like anything to me at first, but I was at least happy it didn't taste like a Cuban. The flavor became apparent after a Coke, and was medium and kind of sweet. It wasn't a bad cigar. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2003 - $12/5 - 4/2004)
Cuesta-Rey Centenario Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Robusto No. 7" - After I discovered that Dr. Pepper was the missing component between my excellent first experience with the Centenario Sungrown line, and the other mediocre experiences that followed I had to try another one of these with a Dr. Pepper. Unfortunately this cigar was in my coolador, and needed longer than the one day I allowed it to even out in my humidor.
Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started mild, but tasty. The Dr. Pepper was complimentary, and the flavor eventually got on to medium. I was very happy with it, but the uneven burn (which I take full responsibility for) made me put it out early. This cigar really is much better with a Dr. Pepper than a Coke. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - $4.80 - 3/2004)
Cuesta-Rey Centenario Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Robusto No. 7" -
Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and decently scented smoke. The flavor started on the mild side, but it was pretty good. My Coke didn't do it any favors, and the flavor turned papery. Eventually it would right itself though. I was wondering what would make the experience better, and after reading through my old experiences with the Centenario Sungrown I need to smoke it with a Dr. Pepper. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - $4.80 - 3/2004)
La Vieja Habana [old blend] "Torpedo" [figurado] - Probably the best cigar I've ever had that I'll never be able to smoke again.
Presmoked: cedar and spice. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, mostly even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor started on the mild side, with a complex woody flavor. After a Coke the flavor became creamy and more of a cedar flavor. It was pretty damn good. I wonder if it was made by Perdomo though because it was a beautiful looking cigar, but at one point it tunneled. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 3/2004)
La Vieja Habana Early Years (Nicaragua) "Silencio" - Still too wet.
Presmoked: sharp somewhat cocoa scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw and uneven burn. The flavor started medium to full and a little rough. The harshness went away with a swig of Coke, but the flavor wasn't really great. I think this cigar will be pretty good when it gets dry enough, but I wonder how long it'll take to get there. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2004 - $12.50/10 - 3/2004)
Natural by Drew Estate (Nicaragua) "Twigs" [colorado, cigarillo] -
Apparently the first time I smoked a Twig it was overhumidified. It was much better after storage at a lower humidity.
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild and sweet. Not bad for a little smoke. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(2/2004 - $6.25 - 3/2004)
La Gloria Cubana (Dominican Republic) "Wavell" [natural] - Sometimes you just want a good cigar.
Presmoked: scent so light I almost couldn't smell it, but what I could smell was watermelon. Weird. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium and pretty good. It got a little mild with my Coke, but it still have a enjoyable flavor. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(9/2003 - $30.80/10 - 3/2004)
Punch Gran Cru (Honduras) "Robusto" [colorado] - I was tired of sweet cigars and Punchs can usually be counted on for a hearty smoke so I decided to try the Gran Cru today.
Presmoked: almost peanut butter scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor was on the mild side with a flavor I couldn't place that wasn't sweet, but seemed close to it. I actually enjoyed the flavor, even though it wasn't like I expected it to be. My Coke didn't really change the flavor either. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2003 - 3/2004)
Aromas de San Andres (Mexico) "Sceptors" [maduro] - I smoked this one immediately after the 5 Vegas, and because of the odd things I perceived in this cigar I thought it might have been due to the 5 Vegas. After thinking about it some more I think it was due to the proximity of this cigar to three La Vieja Habana Early Years "Silencio"s (which have a rather strong scent) I had in the humidor. They aren't going to remain in there for much longer.
Presmoked: smelled like a mix between cedar and burnt plastic. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and smoke that smelled like burnt plastic. This cigar even tasted like burnt plastic! I drank some Coke in hopes that it would help things, but then the flavor alternated between some kind of chocolate and burnt plastic. I couldn't stand it. Amount Smoked: 1/8 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $4/10 - 3/2004)
5 Vegas (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sharp, strange kind of scent, and a shiny wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn that eventually went uneven. The flavor started mild with a pleasant woodiness (a hearty woodiness, not the usual balsa wood type lightness in mild cigars) and light sweetness. It was decent, but not great. My Dr. Pepper brought out a sour flavor that wouldn't go away. I doubt I'll smoke the rest of the 5 Vegas Trops that I have. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(2/2003 - $11/5 - 3/2004)
C.A.O. Brazilia (Honduras) "Piranha" [maduro] -
Presmoked: spicy hay sort of scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. Medium to full flavored
and a little harsh in my mouth. My Coke toned down the harshness, made it a little sweet, and
generally improved the flavor, but this cigar is not for me. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 3/2004)
La Vieja Habana Early Years (Nicaragua) "Silencio" - I couldn't wait to
smoke this cigar so I lit one up as soon as I received it in the mail. I know
JR Cigars has a habit of shipping cigars moist, and even going through a third
party I knew this cigar would be a little too moist. It didn't stop me from
wanting to try it anyway, and as you'll see below all the problems were directly
attributable to how moist the cigar was.
Presmoked: strong bitter sweet chocolate scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw,
uneven burn, and very nicely scented smoke that could be somewhat overpowering.
The flavor started pretty full, but I couldn't pick out any individual flavors.
It was decent, and was still decent (although a little milder) after a Coke. I
can't wait to try one of these cigars after they've dried out a little.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar (which is where the cigar snuffed itself out).
(3/2004 - $12.50/10 - 3/2004)
Carlos Torano Nicaragua Selection (Old Blend) (Nicaragua) "Cetro" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: strong sweet and pungent scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly even
burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor started out mild to medium and sweet. A
little creaminess developed, and then the flavor then changed to something
grassy, which I didn't like. My Dr. Pepper ended up emphasizing the grassy
flavor so I didn't smoke too much of the cigar.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2003 - $7/5 - 3/2004)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] - My first
favorite cigar is still a pretty tasty smoke.
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and uneven burn. The cigar
started sweet with a light woodiness that eventually became a woody flavor with
a slightly sweet finish. The Coke made it a little sweeter. Overall the cigar
was very good, but not impressive. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $50/10 & $22/5 - 3/2004)
Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 (Honduras) "Robusto" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: grassy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, an uneven burn that kept righting
itself just to go uneven again, and ok scented smoke. The flavor
was mild to medium, and pleasant. It had an aftertaste that was somewhat sweet,
with a hint of cedar. It was good, but it wasn't good enough for me to want to
buy this cigar again. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(11/2003 - 3/2004)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Spellbound" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: spiced honey scent. Smoked: slightly tough to tough draw, mostly
even burn, and smoked that started out smelling ok, but got much better as time
went on. The flavor was mild and sweet with a sweet, slightly woody finish. I
kept hoping it would do something, but it never did. I probably went half an
hour before
I reached for my Coke, and while the cigar made the Coke taste pretty good the
Coke didn't effect the cigar. I liked the flavor of the cigar, but not for the
price and not for a cigar that would take two hours to smoke.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar (and that almost took me two hours).
(9/2003 - $10.86 - 3/2004)
Punch Rare Corojo (2003) (Honduras) "Rothchild" [colorado maduro] - An awesome
little cigar. Presmoked: very light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, mostly
even burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was medium to full with
an initial spice followed by a caramel type flavor. I totally dug it. After
the Coke the spice disappeared and there was a paperiness to the flavor, but
the original flavor kept reasserting itself the longer I smoked. The cigar was
better without the Coke, but it was still pretty damn good with the Coke.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar. I would have finished it, but I ran out of cold Coke.
(10/2003 - 3/2004)
Bolivar Fuerte (Honduras) "No. 554" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: spicy, stinky-sweet scent, and a shiny wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and very pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started full, and spicy. There was a kind of medium woodiness with the spice that matched really well too. I was surprised that I wasn't running for my Coke, but the spice was balanced and pretty smooth. After the Coke the spice went away, and the cigar had a caramel flavor. It was interesting, but the cigar never quite lit off fireworks for me. I would say this was easily an above average cigar, and an interesting smoke. Amount Smoked: 1/4 of the cigar. I would have smoked more, but I unexpectedly had to go do something.
(9/2003 - $4.50 - 3/2004)
Natural by Drew Estate (Nicaragua) "Twigs" [colorado, cigarillo] -
Presmoked: vanilla scent and the wrapper had a sweet flavor to it. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium and a little harsh on the middle of the tongue. It wasn't bad while I was smoking the cigar, but when I was finished I wanted to scrub my mouth out with soap. I liked the small Ashton much better. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(2/2004 - $6.25 - 3/2004)
Ashton Heritage Puro Sol (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso #2" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: buttered cinnamon-sugar scent. Smoked: perfect draw and somewhat even burn. The flavor started spicy, but it had a little more depth to it than the Punch Gran Puro or El Rico Habano. There wasn't much else to the flavor so I was curious to see what a Coke did to it. The Coke toned the flavor down, but the cigar never really got interesting. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2003 - $9.95 - 2/2004)
Mr. B's Nicaraguan Selection Sungrown (Nicaragua) "Double Perfecto" [oscuro, figurado] -
I was really in the mood for a Nicaraguan cigar, since I hadn't had one in a
while, so I was looking forward to the NSS, which is one of my favorites. This
turned out to be the first bad NSS I've ever had.
Presmoked: honey scent, and the prelit cigar tasted like prunes. Smoked:
perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasant smoke. There was a strong acrid flavor
that was very uncharacteristic of NSSs. I hoped the flavor would pass before I
was forced to hit the Dr. Pepper, but the nasty flavor was too strong. The Dr.
Pepper helped tone down the nastiness, but it never went away. I ended up
tossing the cigar very early. Amount Smoked: 1/4 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - $32.95/25 - 2/2004)
Ashton (European Union) "Esquire" [cigarillo] - A small cigar with a lot of flavor.
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The
flavor was actually pretty good for a cigar that was designed to be smoked in 20 minutes or
less, and better than some of the cigars I've had recently. I would buy a tin of these if I had
need of such a small smoke, but I don't. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(2/2004 - gifted - 2/2004)
Romeo Y Julieta Vintage (Dominican Republic) "Vintage III" [natural] -
Presmoked: very sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild, sweet, and pleasant. The flavor became a little papery with a Coke, but it gave the Coke a really good flavor. This cigar was above average, but I don't think it's worth the price Romeo Y Julieta Vintages go for. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2003 - 2/2004)
El Mejor Gran Reserva (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [maduro] -
Presmoked: chocolate scent. Smoked: perfect draw, burn that started uneven, but evened out after a while, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor was medium, mellow, and unremarkable, but pleasant. I think I would like this line in the corona size better because it might be a little more intense.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 the cigar.
(2/2003 - $8/5 - 2/2004)
Don Tomas Cameroon Collection (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto #1" [figurado] - This was the final cameroon wrapped cigar I was smoking for comparison. It was decent, but it brought to my attention that most cigars with cameroon wrappers aren't that good. I removed cameroon as one of my favorite wrappers even though I still dig the Cusano Killer Cameroon and Ras Tafari lines.
Presmoked: syrupy honey scent. Smoked: perfect draw, and a burn that started uneven, but evened out perfectly when the cigar was relit after going out. The flavor was mild to medium with a tiny big of spice. It was decent, but not something I would buy again.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $8/5 - 2/2004)
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos (Dominican Republic) "No. 3" - This is the
second to the last cameroon I'll be smoking in series for comparison. Both
Fuentes fared pretty poorly. The last cameroon up is a Don Tomas.
Presmoked: strong tobacco scent with a hint of sweetness. Smoked: perfect draw,
mostly even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started robust and
spicy, but soon toned down to some mild flavor that didn't taste like anything
in particular. I don't think Fuente cigars and cameroon wrappers are a good
combination at all. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2003 - $7.93 - 2/004)
Arturo Fuente Hemingway (Dominican Republic) "Short Story" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented
smoke. The flavor started nasty, and my Coke didn't change that. Eventually
the flavor went from nasty to bland with a woody finish. Definitely not the
cigar for me. Amount Smoked: 2/3 the cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 2/2004)
Kahlua (Nicaragua) "Corona" [flavored] - Not part of my cameroon smoking
series, but it was a gift so I wasn't going to turn it down.
Presmoked: it smelled like candy. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The Kahlua left a sweet
flavor on the lips, and like most flavored cigars the flavor of the cigar itself didn't taste
like much. Overall it was like smoking dessert, and it was a nice change of pace. I'd smoke
another one of these if they were cheap enough.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 the cigar.
(2/2004 - gifted - 2/2004)
Astral Cameroon (Honduras) "Beso" -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started
out papery and mild. I didn't like it at all. My Coke rescued this cigar by
making it taste better. I can't describe how it affected the flavor, but it
actually made the cigar enjoyable to me. Overall it wasn't a bad cigar, and by
no means the worst (which so far has been the Torano 1916) of the cameroons I've
been smoking in series. Next up will be a Fuente of some sort.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 1/2004)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] - A good
cigar, but I actually liked the Ras Tafari better.
Presmoked: slightly sweet, musty scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and
pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor started out mild and woody with a woody
aftertaste that kept getting stronger. The cigar gave my Coke a spicy flavor,
and in turn the Coke gave the cigar a slightly sweet, papery flavor with a very
nice finish. This was a pretty tasty cigar.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(4/2002 - $4.15 - 1/2004)
Ras Tafari (Dominican Republic) "Afrika" - I guess this is second in a
series of smoking Cameroon wrapped cigars to compare them. The Ras Tafari was
much better than the Torano. Next up is probably the Cusano Killer Cameroon.
Presmoked: musty, slightly sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn.
The flavor started medium with a little spice and a woody flavor. Excellent
flavor after drinking some Coke. Eventually the flavor got sweet, and towards
the end it mellowed into almost nothing. I would have preferred that the
flavor stayed about medium strength the whole time, but you get what you get.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2003 - $5/5 - 1/2004)
Carlos Torano 1916 Cameroon (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
Smoked: perfect draw and somewhat stinky smoke. The flavor started mild with
a slight sharpness in the back of the throat and a pleasant cedar finish.
After a swig of Coke the flavor was still mild, but now it was a general woody
flavor. Eventually the flavor crept up to medium, but the sharpness also
increased. I'll let these age another couple of months before I make a decision
about them, but as they are don't care for them.
Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - $69.95/25 - 1/2004)
Aromas de San Andres (Mexico) "Sceptors" [maduro] -
Presmoked: cedar scent. Smoked: tough draw, uneven burn, and very pleasant
smoke. The flavor started out medium, and pretty tasty. It got even better
(a sweet woodiness) with a swig of Coke. The only thing that kept me from
really enjoying this cigar was the tough draw.
Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $4/10 - 1/2004)
La Aroma De Cuba (Honduras) "Corona Minor" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: not much of a scent, but beautiful looking oily wrapper. Smoked: perfect draw and even
burn. The flavor was mild and didn't taste like much. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2003 - $3.75 - 1/2004)
Cupido Criollo (Nicaragua) "Revolucion" -
Presmoked: lite sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and great scented
smoke. The flavor was milder than the "Doble", which made it inferior to the
"Doble" to me. After a swig of Dr. Pepper the flavor got even milder making
this a downright boring cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(3/2003 - $15/part of Cupido sampler - 1/2004)
Cusano 18 (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [claro] - What does 18 year old Dominican tobacco taste like? Not a whole lot to me.
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild and pretty decent. The Coke didn't change it in any way. This wasn't a bad cigar, but it didn't do anything for me either. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(12/2003 - $17/5 - 1/2004)
Cohiba Extra Vigoroso (Dominican Republic) "XV 550" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The flavor actually started out
pretty mild and unremarkable. It wasn't until I drank a Coke that the flavor open up and became
interesting. It was a decent smoke, but not worth the money paid.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2003 - $7 - 1/2004)
Cupido Criollo (Nicaragua) "Commemorative" [figurado] -
Presmoked: I didn't smell anything, probably due to my stuffed up nose.
Smoked: problematic draw, uneven burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The draw
was good if I hit the cigar every 30 seconds, but as soon as I let it go for a
minute the cigar would try to go out on me. It was a real pain in the ass, and
a disappointment. Amount Smoked: 1/4 of the cigar.
(3/2003 - $15/part of Cupido sampler - 1/2004)
Padron (Nicaragua) "2000" [natural] - While I enjoy slightly sweet cigars
I wanted something a little more robust and not sweet. The 2000 seemed to fit that bill.
Presmoked: no particular scent jumped out at me. Smoked: perfect draw and even
burn. The flavor was medium, and pretty tasty even though I couldn't pick any
flavors out. After a sip of Dr. Pepper the flavor got a little milder, but the
Dr. Pepper didn't seem to affect it any other way.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(12/2003 - $3.25 - 1/2004)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet honey scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly
sweet smoke. The flavor started spicy, but after a swig of Coke it settled
down to a mild papery-sweet flavor. Pretty good, but not impressive.
Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(8/2002 - $31/5 & $23/5 - 12/2003)
La Gloria Cubana (Dominican Republic) "Extra" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: dusty cocoa scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and
excellently scented smoke. The flavor was medium, and pretty good with a
little bit of woodiness to it. Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(11/2003 - $4.22 - 12/2003)
Cuesta-Rey Centenario (Dominican Republic) "No. 60" [natural] -
Presmoked: papery scent. Smoked: perfect draw and mostly even burn. The
flavor was mild to medium, papery, a little sweet, and pretty pleasant. The
cigar made my Coke taste great, but the Coke ruined the flavor of the cigar
by making it taste like ash. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(6/2003 - $5 - 12/2003)
La Luna Maduro Fuerte (Honduras) "Colanda" [maduro] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor started medium to full, and pretty nasty. After some
Pepsi (I didn't have access to Coke) the flavor settled down to a somewhat pleasant medium flavor.
Occasionally I'd still get a taste or two of nastiness. I wouldn't buy this cigar again.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2002 - $35/part of LL sampler - 12/2003)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] -
Presmoked: slightly sweet earthy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and
excellently scented smoke. The flavor started flat, papery, and slightly sweet.
It was a little boring, but it got a lot better with a swig of Coke.
Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(3/2003 - $50/10 & $22/5 - 12/2003)
Romeo Y Julieta Vintage (Dominican Republic) "Vintage I" [natural] -
Presmoked: spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was
ok, but pretty good with a Coke. I may not have perceived the flavors very
well because my nose just started getting stuffed up right before I smoked the
cigar. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2003 - $7.13 - 12/2003)
1876 Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Churchill" [claro] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw and slightly uneven burn. The flavor was mild, but
pretty decent with a Dr. Pepper. Not great, but not bad either.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(12/2003 - gifted - 12/2003)
Savinelli Nicaragua Reserve (Nicaragua) "Churchill" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn,
and great smelling smoke. The flavor was medium, but it was only alright. I
might enjoy a smaller cigar in the same line more.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(11/2003 - $3.98 - 12/2003)
Mr. B's Nicaraguan Selection Sungrown (Nicaragua) "Double Perfecto" [oscuro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and excellently scented smoke. The flavor
was medium and pretty good, but it got really tasty after a sip of Dr. Pepper. A very nice cigar.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2003 - $32.95/25 - 11/2003)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] -
Presmoked: musty scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was
medium and a little woody. It was mellow, but tasty.
Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(7/2002 - $22/10 - 11/2003)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] - Brilliant
little cigar.
Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was full and spicy before
I drank some of my Coke, and it was medium, woody, and a little sweet afterwards. It was a very tasty
cigar; much better than the regular Fuente in the same size.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar (and I would have smoked more if I wasn't pressed for time).
(11/2002 - $3.95 - 11/2003)
Arturo Fuente (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium with a hint of cedar. It was good, but not
great. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(11/2003 - 11/2003)
Partagas Serie D (Cuba) "No. 4" -
Presmoked: cedar tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and stinky
smoke. The flavor was medium to full with a pleasant amount of spice that had
a depth to it that a lot of spicy cigars don't. At least it did until I had
some Dr. Pepper. Afterwards it had a decent flavor, but nothing too interesting.
If I had another one of these I'd try it with a Coke instead.
Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 11/2003)
Romeo Y Julieta Vintage (Dominican Republic) "Vintage III" [natural] -
Presmoked: spiced honey scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and sweet
stinky smoke. The flavor was mild and sweet, but nothing really interesting.
A Coke didn't change the flavor much except make it a little papery. This was
not at all like the other Vintage I smoked.
Amount Smoked: 2/3 of the cigar.
(10/2003 - 11/2003)
Cuesta-Rey Centenario Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso No. 11" [figurado] -
Presmoked: mellow sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and great smelling
smoke. The flavor was medium, but there was something I didn't like about it.
It did make my Coke taste good, but the Coke didn't really make the cigar taste
good. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(11/2003 - $5.45 - 11/2003)
Carlos Torano 1916 Cameroon (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
Presmoked: earthy, spicy scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, smoke that
alternated between very pleasant and stinky. The flavor started pretty
tasteless, but the smoke was harsh on the back of my throat. I tried to hold
off on drinking a Dr. Pepper, but the harshness was killing me. After a swig
of Dr. Pepper I could actually taste some flavor to the smoke, but it all seemed
to be in the back of my throat. Overall the flavor was pleasant and mild, but
it didn't do much for me. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2003 - $69.95/25 - 11/2003)
Havana Reserve by Don Lino (Dominican Republic) "Churchill" -
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: difficult draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was medium, papery, and had some other flavor that I couldn't quite place. It was decent, but not great. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(2/2003 - gifted - 11/2003)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] -
Presmoked: slight musty scent. This cigar felt a little dry when I punched it. Smoked: slightly difficult draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was medium, woody, and a little spicy. After a swig of Coke the flavor was mild, but it had a nice creaminess to it. This is one cigar I haven't changed my mind about. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(7/2002 - $22/10 - 10/2003)
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: lightly sweet scent. Smoked: easy draw, even burn, and smoke that alternated between stinky and very nice. The flavor was mild to medium and a little spicy. It was alright, but after a swig of Coke it was downright boring. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(9/2003 - $7.57 - 10/2003)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] -
Presmoked: woody tobacco scent. The cigar felt a little dry to me. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and pleasantly scented smoke. The flavor was mild and creamy with a pleasantly mild woody aftertaste. This was close to the "No. 20" I used to love, but milder. Hopefully some of my less aged (or possibly not so dry) ones will have a little more flavor. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(4/2002 - $6.90 - 10/2003)
Tres Hermanos (USA) "Numero Tres" [maduro] -
Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was mild, and only ok. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(12/2002 - $22.50/part of Cigar Factory sampler - 10/2003)
Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Silver (Honduras) "Corona Grande" [colorado] -
Presmoked: sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke. The flavor was medium, and didn't taste very good to me. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(6/2003 - free from Torano.com - 10/2003)
La Vieja Habana (Nicaragua) "Cedar Chateau No. 1" [colorado maduro] - When I found out this was a mixed filler cigar I wasn't very enthusiastic about smoking it. It turned out to be much better than I expected.
Presmoked: sweet cedar scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and sweetly scented smoke. The flavor was a little sweet, had a bit of cedar to it, and went well with a Coke. I would love this cigar for the price if it wasn't mixed filler, but for $1.75 I can get a tasty Nicaraguan Selection Sungrown, which is all long filler, so I'm not crazy about the price. Perhaps I can find these on closeout. Amount Smoked: 3/4 of the cigar.
(6/2003 - $1.75 - 10/2003)
Cuesta-Rey Centenario Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Pyramid No. 9" [figurado] -
Presmoked: honey scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and sharp stinky smoke. When I cut the cigar it was soft, and I could tell it had been overhumidified at the cigar shop I bought it from. (Normally the cigars from this cigar shop are in the best possible condition, but they were in the midst of changing locations, and they had dismantled their normal humidifier.) I should have put this cigar back and grabbed another one instead, but I went against my better judgement and smoked it. It was a mistake; the flavor was off, and the sharp smell in the smoke made it difficult to sit there and smoke. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(10/2003 - $6.84 - 10/2003)
Montecristo Platinum (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
Presmoked: slightly sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and very nicely scented smoke. The flavor started medium to full, and I didn't care for it much. The longer I smoked it the better the flavor got. After a swig of Coke the flavor was medium and was very nice. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2003 - $7.13 - 10/2003)
Oliva "O" (Nicaragua) "Orion" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: nothing I could smell. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and stinky smoke that grew on me. My last of the "Orion"s, and the first one I actually enjoyed, kind of. The flavor was medium and a little nice. It wasn't great, but it's better than all the other "Orion"s I've smoked. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2002 - $23/5 - 10/2003)
Cupido Criollo (Nicaragua) "Corto" [figurado] -
Smoked: impossible draw, uneven burn, and stinky smoke. I had to cut about a 1/2 inch off the end before it became perfect. The flavor was mild to medium, and really didn't do anything for me. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(7/2003 - $17/part of Cupido sampler - 10/2003)
Cuesta-Rey Centenario Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso No. 11" [figurado] - Kick butt!
Presmoked: very light sweet scent. Smoked: perfect draw, uneven burn, and some of the best smelling smoke from a cigar that wasn't an Ashton VSG I ever smelt. The flavor started medium to full with some spice and a woody, slightly sweet finish. When the flavor got a little stronger I hit the Dr. Pepper, and the flavor got creamy with a woody finish. I totally dug this cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(10/2003 - 10/2003)
Romeo Y Julieta Vintage (Dominican Republic) "???????" - Not the tasteless cigar I thought it would be.
Presmoked: sweet scent so light I almost didn't smell it. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn (despite a tear that went thought the wrapper and binder), and stinky smoke. The flavor started medium, with a nice bit of spice that wasn't overpowering, and a slightly sweet and woody finish. After a while the flavor cranked up to full, but it still wasn't overpowering. A Coke returned the flavor back to medium, but I could still get all of those spice flavors. Overall this was a damn good cigar. Amount Smoked: the entire cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 10/2003)
C.A.O. L'Anniversaire Maduro "Napoleon" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: smelled like honey. Smoked: very tough draw and even burn. The flavor was mild to medium, a little sweet, had that maduro yumminess, and went well with a Coke. Too bad I could hardly get any smoke from the cigar! Almost every L'Anniversaire I've had smoked like crap and this one wasn't any different. I'm glad I didn't pay for it. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade - 10/2003)
Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 (Honduras) "Toro" [maduro] -
Presmoked: very light sweet scent. The cigar looked great with a nice oily sheen to it. Smoked: perfect draw, even burn, and ok smelling smoke. The flavor was medium with a slight sweetness. It was decent, but only decent. After I drank some Dr. Pepper the cigar started tasting ashy, and it never stopped tasting ashy. Amount Smoked: 1/3 of the cigar.
(1/2003 - $29.95/part of Torano sampler - 10/2003)
Carlos Torano Nicaragua Selection (Old Blend) (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [colorado maduro] -
Presmoked: sugary sweet scent. Smoked: tough draw, even burn, and great smelling smoke. The flavor was mild and sweet, and reminded me of the Torano Reserva Selecta. I thought it was a definite improvement to the flavor of the Signature. I would have enjoyed it more if the draw had been better, and about the time the draw improved the cigar also snuffed itself out. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(1/2003 - $9/5 - 10/2003)
Carlos Torano Signature Collection (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto" [maduro, figurado] -
Presmoked: sweet tobacco scent. Smoked: perfect draw and even burn. The flavor was medium, but it just wasn't doing anything for me so I switched to a Nicaragua Selection. Amount Smoked: 1/2 the cigar.
(6/2003 - free from Torano.com - 10/2003)
Older cigar reviews are located in the cigar review archive.
Ashton Estate Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Churchill" -
In the humidor.
(8/2008 - $25)
Padron 1964 Anniversary (Nicaragua) "Imperial" [maduro] -
2 x In the humidor.
(8/2008 - $15)
601 Habano Oscuro (Nicaragua) "Tronco" [oscuro (colorado maduro in color)] -
In the humidor.
(7/2008)
601 Maduro (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(7/2008)
Rocky Patel Decade 10 Year Anniversary "Robusto" -
In the humidor.
(7/2008)
ITC 10 Year Anniversary "Robusto" -
In the humidor.
(7/2008)
Cusano Habano LXI (Dominican Republic) "Preferido" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(7/2008)
Cusano Habano LXI (Dominican Republic) "Toro Gordo" -
In the humidor.
(7/2008)
Cusano 59 (Dominican Republic) "Preferido" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(7/2008)
Cusano 59 (Dominican Republic) "Toro Gordo" -
In the humidor.
(7/2008)
Montecristo Platinum Vintage 1999 (Dominican Republic) "Toro" -
In the humidor.
(12/2007 - $10/Montecristo sampler)
Montecristo Platinum Vintage 1999 (Dominican Republic) "Habana #2" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(12/2007 - $10/Montecristo sampler)
Arturo Fuente Anejo (Dominican Republic) "No. 48" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(12/2007 - $10.10)
Arturo Fuente Hemingway (Dominican Republic) "Signature" [maduro, figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(12/2007 - $7.95)
601 Habano Oscuro (Nicaragua) "La Punta" [oscuro (colorado maduro in color), figurado] -
In the humidor.
(12/2007 - $6.30)
601 Maduro (Nicaragua) "Toro" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(12/2007 - $8.36)
Tatuaje Havana VI (Nicaragua) "Exclusivo Zona Del Este Verocu No. 2" [oscuro (colorado maduro in color)] -
In the humidor.
(12/2007 - $8)
Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ (USA) "Belicoso" [figurado] -
4 x In the humidor.
(10/2007 - $39/5)
Cusano Xclusivo "Originale" (Dominican Republic) "Petite Perfecto" [figurado] -
10 x In the humidor.
(10/2007 - $34/10 & $9/5)
Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ (USA) "Belicoso" [maduro, figurado] -
In the humidor.
(9/2007 - $9.95)
Tatuaje Havana VI (Nicaragua) "Exclusivo Lado Occidental Verocu No. 1" [oscuro (colorado maduro in color)] -
In the humidor.
(9/2007 - $10.25)
Padilla Maduro (Dominican Republic) "Churchill" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(6/2007 - $30/Padilla sampler)
Padilla Hybrid (Dominican Republic) "Churchill" -
In the humidor.
(6/2007 - $30/Padilla sampler)
Padilla Hybrid (Dominican Republic) "Torpedo" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(6/2007 - $30/Padilla sampler)
Oliva Serie O (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
16 x In the humidor.
(6/2007 - $54/20)
Rocky Patel Edge (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(6/2007 - $20/5)
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Dominican Republic) "Chisel" [maduro, figurado] -
3 x In the humidor.
(4/2007 - $7.50)
Tatuaje Reserva (USA) "J21" -
In the humidor.
(4/2007 - $10.65)
Tatuaje (USA) "Cojonu 2003" -
In the humidor.
(4/2007 - $12.25)
Tatuaje (USA) "Noellas" -
In the humidor.
(4/2007 - $7.45)
601 Habano (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
In the humidor.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler)
Don Pepin Garcia Black (Nicaragua) "Robusto" -
In the humidor.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler)
Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ (USA) "Belicoso" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler)
Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label (USA) "Generoso" -
2 x In the humidor.
(4/2007 - $40/Don Pepin Garcia sampler)
Padilla Edicion Especial Achilles (Nicaragua) "Toro" -
11 x In the humidor.
(2/2007 - $28/12)
El Rico Habano (Dominican Republic) "Gran Corona" -
In the humidor.
(12/2006 - $4.75)
Flor de Farach (Cuba) "Farachitos" [figurado] -
4 x In the humidor.
(12/2006 - $60/5)
Arturo Fuente Hemingway (Dominican Republic) "Signature" [maduro, figurado] -
5 x In the humidor.
(12/2006 - $7.40)
Arturo Fuente Anejo (Dominican Republic) "No. 48" [maduro] -
6 x In the humidor.
(12/2006 - $9.15)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" -
2 x In the humidor.
(12/2006 - $8.40)
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Corona Gorda" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(11/2006 - $8.40)
Litto Gomez Diez (Dominican Republic) "Cubano" -
In the humidor.
(7/2006 - $9.20)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
2 x In the humidor.
(7/2006 - $22/5)
Joya de Nicaragua Antano (Nicaragua) "Machito" -
In the humidor.
(7/2006 - $3.65)
Montecristo (Cuba) "No. 2" [figurado] -
4 x In the humidor.
(5/2006 - $20BZ)
Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 (Cuba) "Piramides" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
In the humidor.
(5/2006 - ¥3,600)
Partagas (Cuba) "Serie P No.2" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
In the humidor.
(5/2006 - ¥1,900)
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Dominican Republic) "Chisel" [maduro, figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(2/2006 - $6.??)
Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 (Honduras) "Toro" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(12/2005 - gifted)
Montecristo (counterfeit Cuban) "C Edicion Limitada 2003" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(12/2005 - $1?)
Partagas (counterfeit Cuban) "Serie P No.2" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(12/2005 - $13)
Romeo y Julieta (counterfeit Cuban) "Hermosos No.2 Edicion Limitada 2004" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(12/2005 - $12)
Arturo Fuente Anejo (Dominican Republic) "No. 55" [maduro, figurado] -
3 x In the humidor.
(12/2005 - $10.98)
Arturo Fuente Anejo (Dominican Republic) "No. 50" [maduro] -
2 x In the humidor.
(12/2005 - $8.35)
Arturo Fuente Anejo (Dominican Republic) "No. 48" [maduro] -
2 x In the humidor.
(12/2005 - $9.15)
Arturo Fuente Hemingway (Dominican Republic) "Signature" [maduro, figurado] -
In the humidor.
(12/2005 - $7.40)
La Aurora 1903 Preferidos Maduros (seconds) (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto No. 2" [maduro, figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(12/2005 - $2.50)
Litto Gomez Diez (Dominican Republic) "Chisel Puro" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(8/2005 - $10.75)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Preferido Grande" [colorado, figurado] -
3 x In the humidor.
(4/2005 - $46/10)
Montecristo (Cuba) "No. 2" -
In the humidor.
(4/2005 - gifted)
Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 (Cuba) "Piramides" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
8 x In the humidor.
(4/2005 - 349€/25)
Fuente Fuente Opus X (Dominican Republic) "Reserva de Chateau" -
In the humidor.
(2/2005 - $14.50)
Fuente Fuente Opus X (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
In the humidor.
(2/2005 - $12.25)
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Dominican Republic) "Chisel" [maduro, figurado] -
3 x In the humidor.
(2/2005 - $6.40)
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Dominican Republic) "DL-600" -
In the humidor.
(2/2005 - $5.40)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(2/2005 - $4.50)
Fuente Fuente Opus X (Dominican Republic) "Fuente Fuente" -
2 x In the humidor.
(2/2005 - $10.30)
Fuente Fuente Opus X (Dominican Republic) "Super Belicoso" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(2/2005 - $13)
Fuente Fuente Opus X (Dominican Republic) "Perfexion No. 5" -
2 x In the humidor.
(2/2005 - $8.60)
Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2003 (Cuba) "Double Corona" -
2 x In the humidor.
(1/2005 - 129€/Cohiba sampler)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Esplendido" -
In the humidor.
(1/2005 - 129€/Cohiba sampler)
Cohiba (Cuba) "Siglo VI" -
In the humidor.
(1/2005 - 129€/Cohiba sampler)
Cigars International Legends (Dominican Republic) "Blue Label" -
In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $13/CI Legends sampler)
Cigars International Legends (Honduras) "Green Label" -
In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $13/CI Legends sampler)
Cigars International Legends (Nicaragua) "Red Label" [maduro, figurado] -
In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $13/CI Legends sampler)
Cigars International Legends (Honduras) "White Label" -
In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $13/CI Legends sampler)
Cusano Hermanos Vintage (Dominican Republic) "Corona" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $15/Cusano sampler)
Cusano Hermanos Vintage (Dominican Republic) "Corona" -
In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $15/Cusano sampler)
Cusano Xclusivo (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso Fino" -
2 x In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $15/Cusano sampler)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Corona" [figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $15/Cusano sampler)
Cusano C10 (Dominican Republic) "Crown Corona" -
In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $43/10 & $19/5)
Natural (Nicaragua) "Egg" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(12/2004 - $9)
Sosa (Dominican Republic) "Piramides #2" [figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(10/2004 - $3.40)
Sosa (Dominican Republic) "Piramides #2" [maduro, figurado] -
In the humidor.
(10/2004 - $3.40)
Punch Gran Puro (Honduras) "Santa Rita" [colorado maduro] -
2 x In the humidor.
(10/2004 - $4)
La Flor Dominicana 2000 Series (Dominican Republic) "Toro" -
In the humidor.
(9/2004 - $5.22)
Punch Gran Puro (Honduras) "Rancho" -
In the humidor.
(9/2004 - $5)
Punch Gran Puro (Honduras) "Sierra" -
In the humidor.
(9/2004 - $5.12)
Punch Gran Puro (Honduras) "Pico Bonito" -
In the humidor.
(9/2004 - $4.10)
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Dominican Republic) "Chisel" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
In the humidor.
(8/2004 - $6.30)
La Vieja Habana Early Years (Nicaragua) "Silencio" -
4 x In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $12.50/10)
Horsepower (Honduras) "Turbo" -
3 x In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $7/5)
Adolphus (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
3 x In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $3/5)
Duque (Nicaragua) "Wavell" -
4 x In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $7/5)
Cacique Miami (Nicaragua) "Toro" -
3 x In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $4/5)
Cacique (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" -
In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $7/5)
El Mejor Gran Reserva (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [maduro] -
4 x In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $9/5)
Carlos Torano Reserva Selecta (Honduras) "Robusto" [claro] -
2 x In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $17/5)
Don Kiki Limited Reserve 2000 (Green Label) (Nicaragua) "Toro" [maduro] -
3 x In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $6/5)
Don Kiki Limited Reserve 2000 (Red Label) (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
3 x In the humidor.
(3/2004 - $5/5)
Cusano 18 (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [claro] -
2 x In the humidor.
(12/2003 - $17/5)
Arturo Fuente Special Sun Grown (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(12/2003 - $5)
Arturo Fuente (Dominican Republic) "Chateau Fuente" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(11/2003 )
Mr. B's Nicaraguan Selection Sungrown (Nicaragua) "Double Perfecto" [oscuro, figurado] -
20 x In the humidor.
(10/2003 - $32.95/25)
Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial (Honduras) "Rothchilde" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(10/2003 - $5.95/Saint Luis Rey sampler)
Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial (Honduras) "Toro" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(10/2003 - $5.95/Saint Luis Rey sampler)
Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial (Honduras) "Double Corona" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(10/2003 - $5.95/Saint Luis Rey sampler)
Romeo Y Julieta Vintage (Dominican Republic) "Vintage III" [natural] -
In the humidor.
(10/2003 )
Cuesta-Rey Centenario Sungrown (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso No. 11" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(10/2003 )
La Gloria Cubana (Dominican Republic) "Wavell" [natural] -
2 x In the humidor.
(9/2003 - $30.80/10)
La Aroma De Cuba (Honduras) "Monarch" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(6/2003 - $4.??)
Ras Tafari (Dominican Republic) "Afrika" -
24 x In the humidor.
(3/2003 - $22/25)
Don Tomas Cameroon Collection (Dominican Republic) "Perfecto #1" [figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(3/2003 - $8/5)
Ashton Aged Maduro (Dominican Republic) "No. 20" [maduro] -
8 x In the humidor.
(3/2003 - $50/10 & $22/5)
Onyx Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Torbusto" [maduro, figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(3/2003 - $15/5)
Aromas de San Andres (Mexico) "Maxmillian" -
4 x In the humidor.
(3/2003 - $4/5)
Aromas de San Andres (Mexico) "Sceptors" [maduro] -
5 x In the humidor.
(3/2003 - $4/10)
Gurkha (Dominican Republic) "Aged Cameroon Robusto" -
2 x In the humidor.
(3/2003 - $27/5)
Cusano Selection (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [colorado] -
7 x In the humidor.
(3/2003 - $9/5 & $6/5)
Havana Reserve by Don Lino (Dominican Republic) "Lonsdale" [maduro] -
4 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $7/5)
Colorado by Don Lino (Dominican Republic) "Coffee Break" [figurado] -
23 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $10/25)
Nicarao (Nicaragua) "Flecha" -
22 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $16/25)
Havana Royale (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [claro] -
4 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $4/5)
Estavan Cruz (Dominican Republic) "Churchill" [maduro] -
3 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $12/5)
Cossack Double Scimitar (Nicaragua) "Lonsdale" -
19 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $10/25)
Bohemian Red (Dominican Republic) "North Beach" -
4 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $10/5)
Leon Jimenes (Dominican Republic) "No. 5" [claro] -
3 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $7/5)
Hoja de Nicaragua (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
8 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $5/10)
Calle Ocho (Dominican Republic) "Corona" -
4 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $5/5)
El Mejor Gran Reserva (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [maduro] -
3 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $8/5)
Biarritz (Dominican Republic) "Coffee Break" [colorado, figurado] -
23 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $22/25)
5 Vegas (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [colorado maduro, figurado] -
2 x In the humidor.
(2/2003 - $11/5)
Montague (Indonesia) "Robusto" [maduro] -
4 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $17/part of Montague maduro sampler)
Montague (Indonesia) "No. 3" [maduro] -
4 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $17/part of Montague maduro sampler)
Montague (Indonesia) "No. 2" [maduro] -
4 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $17/part of Montague maduro sampler)
Montague (Indonesia) "No. 1" [maduro] -
3 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $17/part of Montague maduro sampler)
Montague (Indonesia) "Lancero" [colorado] -
4 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $5/5)
Indian Tabac Limited Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Buffalo" [natural] -
7 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $13/10)
Dictador (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [natural, figurado] -
20 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $25/25)
Carlos Torano Nicaragua Selection (Old Blend) (Nicaragua) "Robusto" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $9/5)
Carlos Torano Nicaragua Selection (Old Blend) (Nicaragua) "Cetro" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $7/5)
El Rico Habano (Dominican Republic) "Habano Club" [colorado maduro] -
3 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $14/5)
Nestor Reserve (Honduras) "Torpedo" [maduro, figurado] -
3 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $10/5)
Indian Tabac Limited Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Buffalo" [natural] -
23 x In the humidor.
(1/2003 - $40/25)
Arturo Fuente (Dominican Republic) "Canones" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
EL Rey del Mundo (Honduras) "Reserva Salado" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Perdomo Fresh Rolled (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Casa Blanca Reserve (Dominican Republic) "No. 4" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Sancho Panza (Honduras) "Caballero" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Bolivar Fuerte (Honduras) "No. 654" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
JR Special Corona (Honduras) "No. 2" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Fonseca Mit Zeder (Dominican Republic) "Zigarren No. 3" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
La Flor Dominicana Ligero "L-400" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Hoyo de Monterey Excalibur (Honduras) "No. 3" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Don Tomas Dominican Selection "Lonsdale" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Thompson (Dominican Republic) [claro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Perdomo ISOM (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Genuine Cuban Counterfeit (Nicaragua) "Torpedo" [figurado] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Newbie" trade)
Mantequilla Tapa Negra (Nicaragua) "No. 38" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
Mantequilla Tapa Negra (Nicaragua) "No. 50" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
Mantequilla (Nicaragua) "Corona" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
JR Ultimate (Honduras) "Corona" [colorado maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
JR Ultimate (Honduras) [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
JR Special Jamaican (Dominican Republic) "Pica" [claro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
Flor de A. Allones (Honduras) "Favoritas" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
EL Rey del Mundo (Honduras) "Cafe au Lait" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
EL Rey del Mundo (Honduras) "Corona Inmensa" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
Hoyo de Monterey Dark Sumatra (Honduras) "Ebano" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
National Brand Sun Grown (Honduras) "Corona" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
Consuegra (Honduras) "#9 Robusto" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
Montecristo (Dominican Republic) "Half Corona Seconds" -
In the humidor.
(1/2003 - from "Pay It Forward" trade)
Leon Jimenes (Dominican Republic) "Belicoso" [maduro, figurado] -
In the humidor.
(11/2002 - $7.45)
Leon Jimenes (Dominican Republic) "Robusto" [maduro] -
In the humidor.
(11/2002 - $15/5)
Indian Tabac Cameroon Legend (Dominican Republic) "Gorilla" [maduro] -
2 x In the humidor.
(8/2002 - $26/5)
Indian Tabac Limited Reserve (Dominican Republic) "Bison" [natural, figurado] -
4 x In the humidor.
(7/2002 - $21/10)
Cusano Killer Cameroon (Dominican Republic) "Toro" [colorado] -
In the humidor.
(7/2002 - $22/10)
Xikar Bullet Punch - I loved my cheap, rubber bullet punch, but the bullet punch on a Prometheus lighter convinced me to upgrade to a better one. The Xikar is slick, and cuts better than the rubber one, but at more than 10 times the cost of the rubber bullet punch it had better.
)
Plastic Bullet Punch - It's cheap, but it's still a good cutter. Bullet punches make a clean hole in the back of the cigar so you don't have to spit out little bits of tobacco, and this cheap bullet punch actually has the best blade I've run across in any cheap cutter so it does a good job. It does need to be replaced periodically though, but all bullet punches do (unless you get one with a replaceable blade).
)
Xikar XI3 Redwood - Sometimes you have to cut the end off the cigar (like figurados) so you want to get as clean a cut as possible. The XI3 has high quality blades, a unique design which helps with the cutting action, is more portable than a scissor cutter, and it looks good to boot.
)
Lubinski Scissors - I just bought it because it looked cool. It's a scissor cutter with three blades (like the three bladed Colibri scissor cutter only better looking) that cuts very well.
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Michael Dixon - I got this beauty for my birthday. It's an unbelievably high quality piece of work that I've never seen other humidors even come close to (and that does include the overly expensive French ones). I'll probably get around to listing the reasons I think this humidor is superior to the others someday.
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Homemade Coolador - I made my coolador out of a Coleman stainless steel cooler. It looks cool, works damn well, and didn't cost too much. What more could you ask for?
Homemade Humajar - My mason jar still has a purpose; I can store my Natural by Drew Estate (funny smelling) cigars in it.
Csonka Cigar Traveller w/accessory kit - A hard aluminium case wrapped in leather. It's practical and it looks good. I don't think the accessory kit is really worthwhile. The only things I found useful were the pipettes and the hygrometer, but I almost got it for free so I don't have any complaints.
Csonka Cigar Valet w/accessory kit - When I started traveling for longer periods of time I realized that the Traveller didn't have enough room for my cigars plus the cigars I was purchasing on the trip so I got the larger Valet.
Atoll table lighter - It's a retro looking lift arm lighter wrapped in burgundy crocodile skin. It kicks ass.
Colibri Platinum 1928 - The table lighter isn't very portable (hence the name "table lighter") so I bought this little retro job. It's tiny, has a unique lighting action, and it looks great.
Colibri Trifecta (black lacquer and chrome finish) - This is my newest lighter, a flamethrower with three jets. I love my two other flint lighters, but I decided I needed a flamethrower because I would have a really hard time lighting my cigars when the wind was up. Originally I purchased a Prometheus Legend X lighter and I was disappointed with the quality of it. I returned it for a Colibri Trifecta instead, and I'm much happier; everything is tight, and it looks like a million bucks.
Cigar Cyclopedia - A good source for cigar news and deals.
Cigar Aficionado - The original cigar site. Cigar related articles and all the cigar ratings from the magazine.
Top 25 Cigar - A good looking site with good information. I also dig their editorial style. (Someone really should proof their content though.)
Smoke Magazine - I didn't even know there was another cigar magazine, but their web site has some good information. One thing bothers me in a major way though. It would appear that the last time they updated their cigar reviews was 12/99. [I found the more recent cigar reviews in the "Archive" section, but you can't search them from the "Cigar Reviews" section.]
Cigars Review - With a name like Cigars Review you would think there would be reviews for all sorts of cigars, but the cigars are strictly Cuban. Oh wait, that's pretty useful.
Cigar Weekly Reviews - Cigar Weekly has all sorts of things including those all important reviews. Very well organized, you can read their most recent reviews, or if you want to check on a specific cigar you can browse by brand.
Herfer's Paradise - A good place to talk about cigars. The bulletin board is very active, and a lot of those guys seem to smoke cigars you don't normally hear about (like cigar seconds and bundles) so it can be a real learning experience. Also, where would you hear gems like, "Cigars are like apples. I try to smoke one a day in the evening to relax, reflect and listen to baseball. I tend not to smoke while driving, cutting the grass, or fucking, or I would be smoking a lot more." [They changed the board, and you have to be a member to get access to the forums these days. Membership is free, but it's still annoying.]
Keepers of the Flame - An interesting cigar blog with lots of detailed reviews.
Cigar News - A cheesy looking site with some good information.
Cigar.com - A retail site where you can buy your cigars from. Their prices aren't good, but they have cigar reviews. The reviews tend to be mostly positive with people only submitting negative reviews when they find a cigar they especially hate. Still useful though.
CigarBid.com - You can get really cheap cigars there if you know what you're looking for and what you're doing.
Mr Bundles - Excellent prices and service. The selection isn't great, but if Uncle Mikey has what you want there's no one better to order it from.
Cigar King - Very good prices, but my experience with them has been limited. Their customer service was excellent when I needed them to take care of something though.
AtlanticCigar.com - Atlantic Cigar typically comes up with the cheapest price per box, but their website doesn't necessarily list what they have in stock, they seem to be a little slow on their orders, and they don't communicate nearly as quickly or as often as I would expect. If you're not in a hurry for your stuff or you don't mind following up with someone you're trying to buy something from, then they aren't bad.
Xikar - I'm a sucker for cigar cutters and Xikar makes some of the coolest and most functional pieces around.
Michael Dixon humidors - The humidors are beautiful and the humidor I got to handle in person is by far the most well built humidor I've ever seen.
Current Preferences:
Wrapper - sun grown, maduro
Country of tobacco origin - Nicaragua, Cuba
Size (or vitola) - torpedo, toro
Flavor strength - medium
Flavor attributes - creamy, slightly sweet, light woodiness, spicy, dark flavors, chocolate
[If you don't know what I'm talking about when I refer to claro or maduro, check out Cigar Aficionado's Cigar 101: Shapes, Shades & Sizes.]