Fuente Hemingway Best Seller

I have heard a lot of good things about the Hemingway line, but I have never tried one. Until now! Well, until a few days ago.

I actually picked this little guy up in Arizona, where their tobacco taxes are apparently much cheaper. I got a collection of nice sticks there for a much lower price than I could find here in the east.

Anyhow, the Best Seller is a slightly larger version of the popular Short Story, which I had not had before either (I also bought one of those, but I found it very similar to this cigar, so I won't review that separately).

It has a nice perfecto shape which I find creates an even burn, but some people have trouble with it. It is deceptive in its size, since it burns as long as a much bigger cigar. I enjoyed a nice long book-reading evening on the porch with this little guy.

I paired it with a nice Eagle Rare SB bourbon that had a nice bite to it, and they went together pretty well. The cigar tended towards a nice clean tobacco flavor, with some nuts and cedar. It kinda tasted the way a humidor smells. And since I like that smell, it was all good with me.

I didn't notice any distinct taste changes, and the flavor was a bit low-key for me. But it was definitely a solid cigar. So for having a decent flavor, good burn and nice construction, I give it points. The slightly too-high price, the one-note flavor profile, and slightly bland taste knock it down a couple pegs.

In general, I give it a Belvedere.

Fuente Hemingway Best Seller
Size: Perfecto (5" x 55 ring)
Taste: Medium-Mild
Draw: Good
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Cedar and nut, tasty tobacco flavor
Overall Rating:
Fat in the middle like Mr. Belvedere.

Hoyo De Monterrey (Honduran) Dark Sumatra Espresso

Well, it's only been a few months, better do a cigar review!

Our editor had an unfortunate incident with a bamboo skewer and a wild ptarmigan, so we have been out of business for a while. But we are back and better than ever! Actually, the same.

I recently bought a 4-pack of these Hoyos from JR Cigar, as I wanted something to fill out my order after I bought a sweet leather cigar case for taking smokes to the bar. I hadn't heard much about them, but the super-dark wrapper caught my interest and they were very reasonably priced. (4 cigars for $14, or $3.50 each)

Well I've been on a business trip in Illinois, and then had to work the weekend to finish up the stuff I was doing on the trip. So a cigar and bourbon on the porch was in order. For the bourbon, I went for a new one, Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel. For the cigar, I chose this little Hoyo.

It was a short guy, but lasted over an hour. The draw was great, the burn was fine, with just one touchup needed. The flavors were very enjoyable, strong without being harsh. Definite spice, mellowing into some coffee and a leathery taste, and under it all a smooth tobacco flavor.

The bourbon was pretty good, but didn't knock my socks off. I still prefer Woodford Reserve as the mid-price champ. But the smoke was a definite pleasant surprise.

I really enjoyed the smoke, especially for the price. I will be getting more of these in the future. The nice and interesting flavors, the good construction, and the good price make this a solid Hoff.

Hoyo De Monterrey (Honduran) Dark Sumatra
Size: Espresso (4.5" x 50 ring)
Taste: Medium-Wild
Draw: Great
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Spicy pepper, leather, coffee
Overall Rating:
Michael Knight in shining armor

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.

Felipe Dominicana Serie Especial T

I've had this review sitting around for a while so I thought I'd post it. Novel idea, huh?

So, I am reaching the end of my CI sampler that I bought a while back. I have let this Felipe Dominicana sit for a while because, frankly, it looked like crap. The bland band art and the middle-of-the-road wrapper color didn't excite me. It looked like filler, and the last filler stick I had was pretty poor.

But this one surprised me. It had a really pleasant mild sweet flavor, and the burn and construction were top-notch. The flavors tended towards a tangy nut flavor, with a lot of vanilla sweetness. Overall, very pleasant.

This was a nice cigar and paired well with the smoother Woodford Reserve bourbon I was drinking. It wasn't the greatest stick I've ever had, but it was a pleasant surprise and I would not hesitate to have another one if it came as filler in another sampler.

In summary, I give it a solid Belvedere.

Felipe Dominicana Serie Especial T
Size: Torpedo (6" x 54 ring)
Taste: Mild
Draw: Great
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Sweet and tangy
Overall Rating:

Streaks on the china
Never mattered before
Who cared?
When you drop kicked your jacket
As you came through the door
No one glared

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.

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

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.

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.