La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami

Hey, remember this site? Me either. Anyhow, here is a cigar review from a while back that I never typed up. So now I am typing. Wheeeeee!

I got this cigar from fellow Joe Cigar writer Curtis, and since it was an LGC I hadn't had before, I was looking forward to it. But that all changed once the Fire Nation attacked. Oh wait, that didn't happen.

This was a stout little robusto that looked nice, and it lit up easily. (Editor: Nick has also used this phrase to refer to women - yeah they love it if you were wondering) I paired it with a Dogfish Head 90 min IPA, which is my favorite beer. (Editor: I bet fish would be more beloved if they had dog heads. Basically, if were fish were dogs we would probably eat less fish) I usually don't mix it with cigars because I like to enjoy the taste of the beer by itself, but it felt like a beer kinda evening. It probably wasn't the best pairing, but both the cigar and drink were very good separately.

This cigar started off with a spicy wheat flavor, that had a sort of tannic dryness to it. My god that sounds pretentious. But that is what I wrote down and I am sticking to it! About a third of the way through, it started mellowing out, and got sweeter and lost some spice. As it neared the end, it got a lot stronger and added some earthy flavors to the mix. Unfortunately, as it got into that last third it got pretty bitter, and the end was not very enjoyable. (Editor: Just like Nick's one night stand with Mr. Belvedere)

Overall, a decent cigar, and I will never look a gift 'gar in the mouth. Or foot. Or whatever. It was a nice change of pace from both the normal LGC Serie R and the LGC Reserve, but it won't become one of my go-to sticks.

I am going to give it a 6, because it had some nice potential in the front half before it reached the bitter end. So for now, Mr. Belvedere is off to Miami!


La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami
Size: Campana Chica Torpedo (5.5" x 58 ring)
Taste: Medium-Mild
Draw: Good
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Slight nut with a strong pepper near the end.
Overall Rating:

Don "Pepin" Garcia Blue Label Generosos

The last time I gave a cigar a 10 rating, it was the Perdomo Reserve Maduro, and now I kinda regret giving it such a high rating. The first one I ever had was amazing, it just blew me away and I declared it one of my all-time favorites. Sadly, however, I have never had another one as good as that first one. I have talked to several other cigar fans who have had that happen with various sticks - you get a magic one and then spend the rest of your time in that brand trying to chase the white stag. So I would currently revise that Perdomo's rating to a 9. It's good, but on the whole, it's not 10 good - but the first one I had was amazing. (And as to why we have given a 10 to an Acid cigar, you will have to ask Nick L...)

That is why, this time, I have waited until I have had a lot of these DPG Blue Labels before giving it the coveted "Smokey" award, and it has not disappointed me. I have tried many different sizes of the DPG Blue, as well as the Black and Serie JJ lines. The Black and JJ are good smokes, and worthy of your time, but once you've had the blue you'll know where you want to put your money.

I haven't had a poorly constructed DPG Blue yet, in either the lancero, corona, or toro sizes. They have all burned and drawn very well, no complaints. The flavors are strong and exciting, tending towards a spicy cedar which sometimes mellows into a peppery chocolate or cocoa. It is definitely on the stronger side, but I don't find it overpoweringly so. It's got a lot of character, though, which is what I look for.

Overall, I always look forward to the DPG Blues in my humidor, and I know whenever I fire one up, it's gonna be great. If that isn't the basis for a "10" rating, I don't know what is.

Don "Pepin" Garcia Blue Label
Size: Generosos (6" x 50 ring)
Taste: Medium-Wild
Draw: Good
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Spicy, with cedar and cocoa
Overall Rating:
Steal a Trans Am and pack it full of these great cigars.