Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro Torpedo

Well, I will let my nerd flag fly. This Friday was the premiere of Season 4 of the new Battlestar Galactica, and I was excited. We went over to Curt's house to enjoy the giant 52" HDTV and the company, and it was a great time. (Editor: So... while pridefully flying your "flag" you went to "Curt's house" to enjoy his "Giant TV", and had a "Great Time".)

Before the show started, we decided it was time for a cigar. So Curt made some manhattans using Woodford Reserve, which was just awesome. (Editor: At least he bought you a drink first...) And then I grabbed this Padron 1964 maduro and Curt went for a Torano (don't remember which one).

I got this stick as a part of a secret santa thing back in November, and I have been looking forward to it. Well, I have to say that it definitely delivers. Just a kick in the ass of strong and complex flavors. The taste was really strong, any stronger and it would have crossed over into harsh. It had a nice spice to it, but there were spikes of sweetness that appeared from time to time. The draw was on the loose end of perfect, I was smoking everyone out with the giant clouds billowing out of this thing.

I really liked how the cigar changed constantly, it made for a really interesting smoking experience. The manhattan complemented it well, and overall I had a wonderful time.

Now, the big caveat here is the price. Like I said, I got this as a gift. But if you want to buy this fella you are looking at at least $14 per stick. That is pretty darn high. The last time I reviewed a stick that high (the Cohiba), I said it wasn't worth it to me. Well, this one is, but just barely. I really loved it, and it had the complexity that I find so interesting in higher-end cigars. I will get one again, but it will be a while. And I definitely won't be getting a box. So while I can't give it a full 10 rating, I liked it enough to push past the price and bestow it with a strong Hoff.

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro Torpedo
Size: Torpedo (6" x 52 ring)
Taste: Wild
Draw: Insane
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Strong tobacco, spice, some cocoa and nut
Overall Rating:

Definitely a KITT not a KARR.

Mayorga Robusto Maduro

This week's review is brought to you by the letters T, G, and the number 8. But that no-good deadbeat Number 6 totally owes us money. I'm gonna break your knees, you bastard! Hmm..does a number have knees? Maybe I'll break his loop at the bottom of the 6. (Editor: My god you waste a lot of my time.)

I was at the J&R Cigars store in Burlington, NC, last week, and picked up a couple singles. I got an AVO Maduro, a couple RyJ Reserve Maduros, and an Upmann Vintage Cameroon. As I was trying to choose another cigar, the woman at the counter recommended this Mayorga Robusto Maduro. I'll be honest, I thought she was trying to foist some crap off on me that didn't sell well. The cheapo-looking band only enhanced my suspicion. But she seemed decent enough, and I liked the color of the cigar itself, so I got it. Plus, it was really cheap (around $2.75). (Editor's Cat: awsdfadxccacaaaaacgfffffffffcuhuhnnmiopo,.-=0-09o09op)

Wow, what a fantastic smoke. The wrapper was a beautiful mottled black-brown, box-pressed, and smelled great. The draw was the best I have ever experienced, just huge clouds of smoke. The burn started to tunnel a couple times and needed a touchup or two, but nothing serious. (Editor's Cat: ,.njmm.,njm,.mhjjuholkkndjklnlnujlsnfdvnlsfvnnvnjvsnklnlllnlllnlnnllnlnnlnlllnl)

It had a great strong taste, starting with some spicy flavor, along with a charred earthy taste that wasn't unpleasant (even though charred earth sounds nasty), and then progressed to a coffee flavor. The end was sweeter, maybe a little chocolate to it. I smoked this down to the nub, and will definitely get some more - especially at around $40 per box. (Editor: GET AWAY FROM THAT!)

(Editor's Cat: xxa nbm.)


Mayorga Robusto Maduro
Size: Robusto (5.5" x 52 ring)
Taste: Wild
Draw: The best I've had
Burn: Decent, needed a few touchups
Flavors: Charred, earthy flavor becomes coffee and chocolate.
Overall Rating:
May become my weapon of choice.

Fonseca (Dominican) 5-50

I had a long week, so I was looking forward to a cigar-riffic weekend, and it delivered. I won't say why I had such a long week, but I will give you a hint. It involved a rodeo clown, my half-sister's inheritance, and a very confused Mexican politician.

We have been having a nice warm spell here in NC, and it seems like every night of the weekend is a great one for a cigar. So it was time to grab a glass of Bulleit bourbon and a book, and hit the porch.

I have been going through my CI sampler one by one, and I am down to the last couple. So I decided to grab the Fonseca 5-50. To be honest, I wasn't expecting a ton from this cigar, as it just radiated an air of blandness. Well, that initial impression was perfectly correct.

This thing did absolutely NOTHING for me. I couldn't put a name to the taste, other than tobacco. It was boring boring boring, the draw was mediocre, and I put it out halfway through. This cigar is like making out with an ugly girl - it's better than nothing, but you won't feel good about it.

The only big plus I can give this cigar is that it didn't taste bad. It just tasted like air. A pretty weak showing. Take THAT, Fonseca company!

Fonseca (DR) 5-50
Size: Toro (5" x 50 ring)
Taste: Mild
Draw: A little tight
Burn: Decent
Flavors: Nothing.
Overall Rating:
CUT. IT. OUT.

Cohiba (Dominican) Churchill

Today's bit of wisdom: If someone offers you a great deal on used pizza, walk away. That is all.

I met Curt for a Manhattan (Makers) and a couple cigars at a different cigar bar than the one we normally frequent. This one was called Amra's, and it was a really nice place. Super chill, with big leather couches and little separated areas around a huge bar.

Since it was 65+ degrees out, we sat on the patio, which was great. Unfortunately, we then got harassed by several homeless guys who were wandering down the street. I think its impossible to smoke a churchill-sized cigar and have someone believe that you don't have any money to give them. But on the plus side, the waiter kindly but firmly told all the guys to get the hell out, which was cool. (Editor: Nick enjoys his men kind but firm...) Anyhow, onto the Cohiba.

I recieved this cigar as a gift from a fellow cigar smoker on a message board that I post on. It was an amazingly generous gift, and I have been looking forward to this cigar for a while. He said he had aged it over a year, and then it aged in my humi for 5+ months, so I was expecting big things. (Editor: Nick's wife did not have the same expectations about him)



However, this is a difficult cigar for me to review. I really enjoyed the smoke thoroughly, but then again it was a gift. If I had paid the ridiculous price for this cigar ($15+), I would not be happy. Its flavors were all smooth and pleasant, but there were no flavors that really jumped and made you say "wow". I would probably best describe it as a cedar taste, maybe a little nutty flavor. It didn't change much over the course of the smoke, which is too bad, since that is the main appeal of a churchill to me.

So I am going to have to give this cigar a low rating, because I wouldn't buy it again. However, as a freebie it was amazing. (Editor: Your Mom was similarly reviewed) So keep that in mind as I tell this DR Cohiba that I've had the time of my life. (Editor: Did you paste Patrick Swayze's face on a cigar again?)

Cohiba (DR) Churchill
Size: Churchill (7" x 49 ring)
Taste: Medium-Mild
Draw: Good
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Cedar with a little nut
Overall Rating:
Bad deal for the money but great smooth flavors make this a cigar for the Road House.

Camacho Coyolar Puro

This was supposed to be my birthday cigar back in January - First I couldn't find my cutter, then the cork broke in my favorite Scotch... then I couldn't find the lighter I'd had moments before... (Editor: Next time, take the hint. End it all.)

Suffice to say, I put this one away, and wrote off the evening, and went to bed.

This weekend, some nice mild weather inticed me to bring it back out.

I've heard gleaming reviews of the Coyolar Puros - it's an oft reccomended stick, and pretty highly rated across the board... so I was expecting a treat.

The cigar itself wasn't bad, but I think (hope) I got a lemon. Draw was good, but despite a perfect light, the burn turned out terrible in the end. I might have been able to salvage it with a few touch ups, but I was out on a walk and didn't really feel like heading back to the house for the lighter. (Editor: By "walk", of course, you mean, "cruising the boulevard for ladyboys." I assume.)

Incase anyone has ever wondered, this is a bad burn:




The extreme bias on the burn is what really makes me think (again, hope) this was a lemon - issues with half of the filler in the cigar could lead to something like this.

Truth be told, it wasn't a bad smoke, just a little disappointing. I came in with high hopes, and was let down somewhat.

First, for what's touted as one of the champs of full bodied cigars, I found it a little lacking. It was flavorful at first - a good punch of spice and pepper, but it quickly mellowed out into woody tones and just kind've seemed content to stay there. (Editor: There is a giant herd of deer across the road from me. Maybe 11 or 12. That's pretty cool. I wonder if- oh, sorry. Your mind-numbing prose caused me to lose focus. Please, continue.)

The price was in the $5-6 range, so it wasn't a huge investment - I hope to try one again some time and confirm that this was just an isolated incident. Until such a time, I'm going to have to give this sucker a 4.


And for now, you CAN put Baby in a corner.*


* - Yes, I made a Dirty Dancing reference. No, I'm not proud of it.

(Editor: :-( )
Camacho Coyolar Puro
Size: Torpedo (6" x 54 ring)
Taste: Wild (Allegedly)
Draw: Good
Burn: TERRIBLE
Flavors: Peppery, Mellows in the middle.
Overall Rating:

Tierra Del Sol (Maduro)

So... as I mentioned previously, it's damned cold in Ohio right now. Real cold. (Editor: Isn't that like saying it's wet in the sea?)

So when the opportunity arose to travel to a luxurious hotel in Charlotte (with a nice balcony) I lept at the chance. Ok, it wasn’t really an opportunity, but a work obligation, and it wasn’t luxurious, it was a regular old business class hotel, which happened to have a balcony.

The reality is that I packed these, got to Charlotte, and then proceeded to work several 17 hour days, all of which started at 4 or 5 am. (Editor: Hold on, I need a minute to dry my eyes from all the tears I am shedding for you.) By the time sunday night rolled around, I decided to take time to enjoy. It was cool, mid-40’s by the time I had this – with a pretty good wind whipping around. Thankfully that helped keep the cigar smoke from drifting back into the room, but made for some pretty terrible lighting conditions (matches only, thank you, TSA).

I had my v-cutter with me, so I figured I’d give it a shot – the torpedo made for a perfect cut, but also made for an absolutely horrible draw – I went with a regular cut and didn’t look back. (Editor: It's a good thing, too. Looking back would only show you the series of embarassing failures that have brought your life to the point it is at now.)
It was spicier than I expected at first – very peppery on the nose, but part of that could have been attributed to lighting the cigar with matches in the middle of a windstorm – pretty inconsistent, and I had to overheat a bit to get her going.

Quickly it mellowed out, to what I can only describe as an earthy, peaty charcoal. I really wish I had been able to pair this with an Islay Scotch, instead it was crappy hotel coffee, but it actually wasn’t bad – a fuller-bodied coffee would be perfectly at home with this cigar.

The only oddity I found was that it wound up being a lot milder than I expected for a Maduro – it had its moments, but overall it was right in the mild-to-medium range.

I picked up a bundle of these awhile back, kept a few in wrapper for travel, while unwrapping the rest – given my experience with this cigar, I’m really eager to see what these develop into with some aging and mellowing. (Editor: Just as you will find that as your friends age and mellow, they only hate you more and more.)

So far, I’m happy with the purchase, so happy, in fact, I’m giving it a Hogg.

Tierra Del Sol (Maduro)
Size: Torpedo Maduro (6.1" x 50 ring)
Taste: Medium-Mild
Draw: Excellent (with Guillotine Cut)
Burn: Ok (with poor lighting conditions)
Flavors: "Peppery, Earthy Charcoal"
Overall Rating: "Hoggin' it up and havin' a good time!"

Perdomo Cabinet Series "La Tradicion" Maduro "P"

Well, this past weekend was the SuperBowl, and we all know how that turned out. Four people dead, one injured cat, and a whole lot of angry pool owners. No, wait, that was my weekend 2 weeks ago.
Anyhow, it's time for another review. This time it's the longest cigar name in the world, the Perdomo Cabinet Series "La Tradicion" Maduro Extra-Special Thoroughbred Junta Magnifico Part II: First Blood. Or something like that.

This cigar came as part of that great CI sampler I got a while back, and it caught my eye because of its strange shape and the red cellophane it came in.



I saved it for a special ocassion, and the SuperBowl and 70-degree weather seemed like the perfect time. And it was. Several glasses of Maker's Mark helped it go down smooth, and sitting next to the grill smelling the bbq wings and burgers that were cooking was just ideal. And that's when the bullets started flying. No, wait, I was still thinking of the wrong weekend.

This was a fantastic smoke. Strong but not harsh, with really nice notes of chocolate, maybe some cedar and a really smooth, earthy tobacco flavor. I smoked it down to the end and loved every second. I will definitely get this one again. This is also my first experience with a Perdomo stick, and I am interested in trying more. This one definitely gets my Smokey.

Oh, and if you hear any rumors about strange things that went on in my neighborhood two weeks ago, ignore them.

Perdomo Cabinet Series "La Tradicion" Maduro "P"
Size: Perfecto (5.5" x 55 ring)
Taste: Wild
Draw: Great
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Cocoa, Pepper, earthy tobacco
Overall Rating:
MUSTACHE FEELING

Drew Estate: Acid Wafe

Alright, it seems I've been getting some crap lately for a lack of reviews on my part. Some of us don't live in Tobacco Country USA, free from smoking bans, and home of mild winters. Some of us can't smoke in bars, won't smoke in their houses, and are dealing with -10*F temperatures. (Editor: could be. Or you could be the world's biggest sissy. Readers?)

That being said, wintertime up north is a perfect time for quick smokes - and presented here is my all time favorite quickie, (Editor: ......) most recently enjoyed just this past weekend.

The Acid Wafe by Drew Estate is one metric assload of flavor in a tiny package - like the rest of the ACID line, the tobacco used in creating this cigar is aroma cured for months, infusing them with flavors and aromatics you won't find in other lines. Aromatic cigars are kind've a mixed bag, people love them or the hate them. A few years ago this sort of cigar would have probably made me retch - now I can't get enough of them.

This box pressed cigar is about 3.5 or 4" long (obligatory joke of choice here) (Editor: oh god...so many choices...so little time...damn, freezing up!), and is only about a centimeter thick - this allows for a pretty quick burn, making it a quick smoke - but unlike normal cigarillos, this one is still a half inch wide, giving alot more room for flavors and blends to be worked in.

The cigar itself? Full bodied - but in a smooth way. It's potent, but it's also sweet on your lips. I really can't describe this one, it's very different, very floral, very herbal, it's everything but mild, but not in a harsh way. Buy one, or five. If you don't like it, I'll gladly take the rest off your hands.

And PS, down south, I've seen these 5 to a hardpack, like regular cigarettes - I'd recommend this route, as these, and other strong aromatic cigars really aren't the sort of thing you should store with your others - mild cigars can mingle with mild cigars - but I really doubt these guys would play well with others... (Editor: PS, down south, you know this guy ALWAYS looks for a hardpack.)

At around 3 bucks a stick, it's a little pricy for a 15 minute smoke - but these are worth every penny. Would I buy again? I have, and will continue to do so... and because that's our main criteria, I'm proud to give this one our very first Bandit.


Acid Wafe (Drew Estate)
Size: Wafe (NA)
Taste: Mildly-Wild (Yowza)
Draw: Excellent
Burn: Excellent
Flavors: Youbetcha!
Overall Rating:

Gurkha Connecticut Reserve Robusto #4

Well it's Tuesday, and you know what that means. Time for your weekly beating. No, wait, I was thinking of what I will tell my children in the future. DON'T JUDGE ME!

I had two cigars over the past weekend, and I will hopefully have the review of the other one pretty soon. First, though, I will tell you a tale. A tale of a cigar. A Gurkha cigar. A cigar who wanted to get home to his family. Well, too bad. He got burned instead.

I got this Gurkha Connecticut Reserve Robusto (quite a mouthful to say) in a CI Sampler, and since I enjoy Gurkha's Castle Hall line so much, I was really looking forward to this one. Sadly, it didn't do much for me.

My new cutter is much better, so I had a nice cut and light, and the draw was great off the bat. It started with a pretty bland tobacco smoke flavor, not much else in there. Unfortunately it seemed to just continue that way throughout. On the plus side, the smoke was really smooth and had very little in the way of harshness.

That brings to mind a thought: Why does every reviewer insist on calling a cigar's smoke "creamy"? That adjective is worthless in regards to smoke. It's like calling oxygen "supple". It's nonsense. (Lawson: It's true, only an idiot would refer to smoke as creamy.) (Nick H: Well damn me. And damn YOU, Lawson. NEVER POINT OUT MY CONTRADICTIONS!)

Anyhow, I got more and more disappointed with this one as time went on. I ended up stubbing it out a little early because I was bored. It wasn't objectionable, but it also wasn't good. It wasn't much of anything, just kinda bland and smokey. However, the good construction, solid draw, even burn and smooth flavor keep this from failing. If someone gave me another I would take it, but I won't seek this one out again.

Gurkha Connecticut Reserve Robusto #4
Size: 6" x 50 ring
Taste: Mild
Draw: Good
Burn: Even
Flavors: Not much, sadly.
Overall Rating:
The smoothness keeps it from failing, but the bland taste gets a Jim Kirk double-punch.

Punch Rare Corojo Crystal

I had heard great things about this cigar so I had high hopes. I believe it got a 90 rating from Cigar Aficionado. (Editor: A magazine that is entirely funded by cigar company ad revenues rated a cigar highly? No way!)

The construction of this cigar was great. It was one of the most solid cigars I've ever smoked. It burned completely even throughout and the draw was great. There was lots and lots of smoke. (Editor: Smoke? From a cigar? Amazing. About as amazing as your ability to coordinate motor function long enough to push out this substandard write up.)

This cigar had an over powering pepper flavor from the moment I lit it up to the last puff. The taste didn't change at all. Pretty consistent throughout. Now, I looked at some other reviews and they mentioned flavors of chocolate and wood. I did not taste these in my pepper stick. I poured myself some whiskey to sip on while I smoked. The problem was I could not taste the whiskey but it did wash some of the pepper flavor out of mouth. I like full flavored cigars but.... I'm not sure what was up this thing. (Editor: Are you sure it isn't just that your failings in life happen to taste like pepper?)

Now, I am pretty sure the cigar I smoked was not the same one that got a 90 ranking. I did find some other people with very similar reviews as mine. So.... there is a bad evil peppery batch of these floating about or my palate did not enjoy this cigar.

It did give me a nice buzz though. I think I could have drank any awful liquor I wanted with this one because there was no way to taste anything else.

All that being said I will probably try this cigar again later because I'm curious if it was me or the cigar. (Editor: I think, regardless of cigar quality, we can always safely say that it's you, Curt. It's always you.)


Punch Rare Corojo Crystal
Size: Torpedo (5.5 x 54)
Taste: Medium-Full
Draw: Great
Burn: Perfectly Even throughout
Flavors: Strong Pepper from start to finish.
Overall Rating: Pepper ray gun

Macanudo Maduro Hampton Court

While Nick was smoking his AVO Maduro #3 I was smoking this Macanudo. Havana's is a great bar. Cushy chairs, leather couches, great bartenders, dark and classy. I wish this bar was off the back of my house. Attention Lawson: When you come to town we will go. (Editor: What about me, you ingrate?)

Anyway, on to the cigar. There are some in the cigar world that bad-mouth macanudos. Well, some of the criticism may be founded, but I equate it with film snobs who hate any movie that has financial success or was made in the last 30 years. That being said on to the cigar! (for real this time) (Editor: ..wha? Oh, sorry, I fell asleep while you took THIRTY SEVEN YEARS getting to the body of the review!)

This was a great looking cigar and had a sweet cocoa smell.

This cigar burned nicely. Perfectly even throughout.

The draw was a bit tight for my taste. Maybe a few more months in the humidor would fix this.

Now on to the flavor. I was a bit surprised by the taste of the cigar. The cigar started with medium body with hints of chocolate and coffee. In the second third of the cigar the flavors came to the forefront and I really enjoyed it. In the last third of the cigar the flavors were gradually drawn out as the harshness of the cigar took over. Don't get me wrong though, I smoked this baby down to the nub.

This cigar was not complex but extremely solid. This would be a great cigar to have on a Saturday morning with a cup of joe. (Editor: Or, in Curt's case, with a guy named Joe on a Saturday morning after yet another "mistake".)

This stick costs about $4 to $5. I would recommend this cigar for its solid taste and reliability.

Macanudo Maduro Hampton Court
Size: Corona (5.5" x 42 ring)
Taste: Medium
Draw: A little Tight
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Coffee, Chocolate, Nutty
Overall Rating: Squeaked into the boss hogg, not unlike... well, you fill in the blank...

AVO Maduro No. 3

Back again for another review by the greatest person you know.*

This time it's for the biggest cigar I've ever had, an AVO Maduro #3. I got this one through a Cigar Secret Santa thing that I was a part of this year, and it barely fit in my humidor. It had a beautiful color and smelled delicious, though, so I was excited to try it. Therefore, when Curt and I decided to go down to the local cigar bar, Havana Deluxe, I brought the beast along for the ride.

I do have to admit it made me feel a little stupid to be smoking such a giant cigar in public. I needed a Cadillac with horns on the front, or a thrilling tale of my oil-baron days to accompany such a ridiculous looking stogie. But it cut cleanly and lit perfectly, so away I went.

The draw and burn on this bear was perfect. We were there for hours and it never burned unevenly or was the slightest bit plugged. The taste, though, is where it really shone. It started with a nice coffee flavor right off the bat, then gradually broadened into a sweeter taste, without the slightest hint of bitterness or acrid tang that some maduros have. The end picked up steam with more coffee and a little almondy taste.

But I have had cigars with those flavors before - what really set this one apart for me was how smooth it was. The flavors were strong without being harsh, and lingered without overpowering. I paired this with a Belgian-style witbier to good effect, the sweetness countered the coffee nicely.

I probably wouldn't get this size again, it's too big. But I will definitely buy this line of cigar again. And since that is the basis of our number-scale ("Would I buy this again?"), this one gets my Walken.

AVO Maduro No. 3
Size: Churchill (7.5" x 50 ring)
Taste: Medium
Draw: Great
Burn: Perfectly Even
Flavors: Coffee, chocolate, pepper, nut
Overall Rating:
The smooth taste and interesting, changing flavors give me a fever, and the only prescription is:


*P.S. That's me

La Princesa de Cuba Toro

I got this cigar in some new years eve sampler pack. The sampler pack was a great deal and had a few cigars I have never tried before, this being one of them.

I smoked this cigar a few weeks ago and at first I was not going to review it because... well, it was lackluster. Then I decided to review it anyway because all reviews shouldn't be great. (Editor: Well, you're off to a fine start, then.)

The cigars looked and smelled nice. I had no problems lighting it up and it burned pretty even.

The taste at first was pretty harsh. Not a good harsh just kinda strong with no redeeming qualities. The second third of the cigar was actually not terrible. It had a very earthy flavor but maybe too earthy like dirt. The last third of the cigar returned to the harsh, bad tasting cigar it started out as. (Editor: I had a girlfriend like that. Started off ok, then turned dirty, and then tasted terrible. Oh, wait - it was YOUR MOM. Burn. )

There was lots of smoke with the cigar but unfortunately that pretty much the extent of the flavor... smoke.

The draw was medium... just about perfect. For me I like I medium draw. I don't want to have suck so hard my mouth hurts (like I do with Lawson's toes). Just kidding, Lawson likes it more sensual. I also do not prefer a cigar that feels like I'm sucking through an empty straw. I would prefer some resistance so I know I'm smoking. (Editor: We all know what you're smoking...)

Do you think anyone is actually lured into believing a cigar with Cuba in the name is actually from Cuba? Like when I saw this cigar I thought it was made either by or from a Cuban princess. After I tried it, probably a drag Cuban princess is a better guess. (Editor: Well, you would know.)

Overall, the cigar was mediocre at best. No real complexity. Nothing to write home about. Probably will never buy it again. (Editor: Wow, that was my same thought about YOUR MOM. Burn.)

La Princessa de Cuba
Size: Toro (6" x 50 ring)
Taste: Medium
Draw: Smooth Easy Draw
Burn: Pretty Even, Burned very slightly faster on one side but not a problem at all
Flavors: Earthy and wood flavor but mostly just smoky and unexciting
Overall Rating:
Dynamite Lips = not so great cigar

Carlos Toraño Virtuoso Encore

This was another cigar from that sampler pack I got from Cigars International. I picked it because I wanted to review something with a maduro wrapper, and also because it was short and I knew the temperature was dropping.

And drop it did. When I started the temperature was around 62, and just a short time later it was already 52. Now, a shower and straight-razor shave later, it's down to 48. I guess I picked the right time of night! Aren't you excited? I know you are.



As you can see, it's a nice-looking stick, on the short side. On we go!

Well it didn't start promising, as it seems I've lost my cutter. I looked everywhere and couldn't find it, but to no avail. So out came the trusty kitchen knife. Here's a tip, dear readers: use a sharp knife, not a dull thing unworthy of the title "knife". What a cut! It looked like a dog had gnawed off the end. On the plus side, it didn't unravel at all. It just looked like hell.

But thanks to my new trusty lighter, it lit right up. Man, this is a full-bodied cigar, lots of powerful tastes. I was hoping for a bit more complexity, but what it did have was really nice. There was a really strong peppery taste throughout, and near the middle I got some coffee flavor in there, too.

Like the other Toraños I have had, this was perfectly constructed and the burn was great. It needed one little touchup, but nothing significant. The draw was very nice, too.

Basically, my only complaint with this one, and probably what will keep me from buying a lot of them, is that there's not a lot there. What you get at the beginning is what you get at the end. The flavors don't evolve much over the course of the cigar, and that makes it a little dull near the end, no matter how strong it gets (and believe me, near the end it got really strong). I paired it with some more of that Evan Williams Single Barrel to decent effect, although it tended to overpower the bourbon a bit.

This is a nice cigar, and I'd love to try one that had been aged for a while to see if there were some more flavors in there. Overall, it was an enjoyable smoke, and took quite a while to burn for its size. Recommended to fans of strong, peppery maduro cigars.

Carlos Toraño Virtuoso Encore
Size: Toro (4.5" x 52 ring)
Taste: Wild
Draw: Very good
Burn: Even with one touchup
Flavors: Strong pepper and some coffee.
Overall Rating:
Just barely made a Boss Hogg.

5 Vegas Gold churchill

Well here is the first official review since the institution of our formalized cigar rating system. Are you excited?
Well, let's check. Have you urinated in your pants yet? Then you're not excited enough! Get to it!

Anyhow, on to the review. Recently I bought an 8-cigar sampler from Cigars International, and it contained some cool stuff. One of the things I had wanted to try for a while was a 5 Vegas Gold, since they are usually pretty cheap and I had heard some good things about this as a budget cigar.

This is probably a good time to explain my thoughts on price. I don't smoke a ton of cigars, maybe one or two a week, max. So I don't feel like I need to be stingy on my cigars. I would rather buy a good, more expensive cigar, than 10 cheap ones. On the other hand, I feel that after a certain point, there is no amount of delicious flavor that can justify a giant price tag. So I fall into a medium category where I am willing to pay more for a good cigar, but once the price goes too high, I don't feel it could be worth it.

OK, Back to the 5 Vegas Gold. In appearance, it looks a lot like that Castle Hall I reviewed a few times back. Churchill-sized, light wrapper tending towards yellowish gold.

It cut cleanly, which is a miracle considering the 100% crap cutter I use, and lit up evenly. I just bought a torch lighter from a local department store, and it is totally worth the money. At first I wasn't feeling this cigar, it felt bland. However, once it hit the sweet spot I definitely enjoyed it. It is stronger than it looks, with a much spicier taste than the light wrapper would indicate. It falls into the Medium category for me, just over the line from Mild. It had a nice but not overpowering tang to it, which hit me on the sides of the tongue.

It had a slight nut taste, but didn't have the strong nutty flavor that I like in the Castle Halls. However, it did have a very pleasant peppery taste to it that I liked. The draw was very respectable, plenty of smoke without a lot of effort. I didn't smoke this one down to the nub because it was just too long, but if I had been in a group hanging out and chatting I don't think I would have tired of it. I paired it with a small glass of Evan Williams Single Barrel, which I find to be a good cigar bourbon.

Overall, I think this was a solid smoke, especially for the price of around $3 a stick. Here's the roundup:

5 Vegas Gold
Size: Churchill (7" x 50 ring)
Taste: Medium-Mild
Draw: Good
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Slight nut with a strong pepper near the end.
Overall Rating: A strong Belvedere.

Diamond Crown Pyramid No. 7, Maduro

First review, I guess I'll make this one count, at least my wallet will think so, given this is an $18.00 stick.

I'll start with the technical details - this really is a gorgeous cigar - the wrapper is a beautiful maduro, and while I usually couldn't care less about band art, the band really does pair up well with the deep maduro wrapper. It has a certain heft to it that really makes it feel like a solid smoke.

Construction is excellent - all of the DC's I've seen run large ring gauges, allowing for some pretty impressive multi-leaf blends, and this one was no exception. The construction quality carried through to the ash as well - which held up admirably.

Burn was a little uneven, but I chalk part of that up to my lighting - I was using a sub-optimal lighter at the time, letting the cigar rest for a bit on an incline evened things up though, so, again, I think this was a case of operator error rather than flawed construction.

Draw was great, especially for a torpedo, sorry, pyramid, which can have issues if the overall construction isn't up to par.

Now on to the real details; From a flavor profile perspective, this was a much stronger cigar than I expected - I've seen these classified from mild to medium - I'd put it in the medium category myself, but much more toward the strong/full end of the range. Again, it's strength took me by surprise - it creeps up on you.

At first puff, the cigar was really mild, some cedar notes, but nothing to really write home about. A few moments in, however, it really opened up. Floral notes really were the signature here - even the smoke put off by this stick carries with it some floral overtones. A pleasant surprise for me, as this was one of the few instances I actually smoked in the house (albeit with windows open and a good deal of ventilation) due to some nasty rainstorms in the region. As pleasant as it was, I still underestimated the potency of this cigar - it wasn't until I stood up to fetch some water, and the subsequent "Cigar Buzz" hit me that I realized what a real gem this is.

I paired this with some recently acquired a bottle of Distillers Choice Laphroaig - in hindsight, this wasn't a great pairing. I underestimated the floral overtones of the cigar, and wound up saving most of the scotch for later. An ideal pairing, in my mind, would be a non-Islay, lighter scotch. Budget favorite (i.e. my college favorite) Aberlour would be a good choice for it's floral/fruity notes, or even Glenlivet/Glenkinchie. If you are putting out enough for a nice cigar, it's worth having a good drink pairing, after all.

$18.00 might be a little steep for a cigar, but disregarding the price, this one's a solid Hoff*.

(* - Ratings retroactively added)

Diamond Crown Pyramid No. 7, Maduro
Size: Pyramid (Torpedo) (6.7" x 54 ring)
Taste: Medium (Medium-Full)
Draw: Good
Burn: Even, after correction.
Flavors: Cedar, Floral
Overall Rating:

Welcome!

So, this is the beginning of our new adventure into cigar and spirit tasting/writing. Here's the background: we are not connoisseurs. We are not experts. We are barely literate. In fact, in some states we are not allowed to operate a vehicle.

What we are is a group of three guys who have decided (some recently, some not-so-recently) that we enjoy whiskey and cigars, and want to try our hand at writing about them. Our posts will include some background, some impressions of the product at hand, and some pictures. Except this one. Because I forgot my camera.

We live in different areas of the country, but starting soon we will be attempting to review the same cigars and drinks at the same time, to give you some different viewpoints on the same subject. We appreciate feedback, unless your feedback is "lol" or some kind of spam. But we do like real Spam. Mmmmm.....ham-like....



I'll start with this weekend. Curt and I went out to the local cigar bar in Raleigh, Havana Deluxe. I brought with me a Castle Hall churchill that I recieved as a gift from a generous fellow on a message board that I read. The Castle Hall is a hefty cigar compared to what I usually smoke - it's 7" long and has a 52 ring. The wrapper is a very light tan, tending towards the greenish end. The band is predominantly purple and orange, and to be honest looks a little garish. The internet tells me that it is made from Dominican and Honduran filler, with a Honduran wrapper. To be honest, that doesn't mean a lot to me.

The first thing I noticed was that the draw was really easy on this. Not as easy as the CAO Brazilia I had last week, but still ridiculously open. The flavor on first light was not great, and I got a lot of little tobacco bits in my mouth from a slightly frayed cut. However, about a quarter of the way through it really started to pick up. It had a really smooth and creamy smoke, and had a nice strong flavor without being harsh. (I define harsh as that tannic taste you get on the sides of your tongue). It definitely had a hint of sweetness to it, as well as (maybe) a nutty flavor.

However, this is a good place to put a disclaimer. I can't taste all those notes that cigar-people claim to taste. Toasted leather, honeysuckle, Scott Baio's mullet, wild rose, whatever. I can't taste them in wine, I can't taste them in scotch, and I can't taste them here. So take my opinion for what it's worth: nothing.

I paired this cigar with a really nice Old-Fashioned (Maker's Mark bourbon, sugar, orange, cherry, bitters). I find that the smell of a cigar really enhances a bourbon drink, bringing out the smokier flavors in the bourbon. Maker's is a very nice bourbon and makes for a nice old-fashioned. There are fancier bourbons, but for the price it's hard to beat Maker's. I'll have some more detailed bourbon reviews as we progress.

I also really recommend Havana Deluxe to any cigar aficionados in the area. It's members only, so you have to sign up to be a member. But because of this, it's never crowded. There are plenty of leather sofas and small tables with high-backed chairs to hang out in, and the music is low so you can talk. We sat there for 3+ hours smoking and drinking, and never were pressured to leave. I had another cigar in the evening, a Montecristo #3, but I'll review that another time.

So next time expect more pictures, and more of the same ramblings. Also, next time we will debut our unique cigar and drink rating system.