5 Vegas Cask Strength

Oh, three years ago, I caught a handful of 5 Vegas Cask Strength cigars, smoked one, and then so carefully set aside the rest that I didn't find them again until this past weekend. I was so impressed with the first, that I was sad to see the line disappear, and also a little miffed that I couldn't find the ones I had. Well, three years of unintentional aging later, here I am enjoying another of these fine cigars.

Sure, in the last couple years, I've really taken to Nicaraguan filler, maduro-wrapped cigars. So, this mostly Dominican, shade grown wrapped cigar was a change of pace from the recent affairs.

The Dominican wrapper was a bit darker than typical, shade-grown Connecticut seed, and a bit veined as well. A pass under the nose brought a soft aroma of hay and leather, with a little earth nearer the foot. Clipped, a respectably firm draw ensued.

The first inch of this toro was a complex weave of leather, earth, and a smooth and subtle spice. I was instantly reminded about how this cigar first thrilled me. Hints of vanilla and sweet leather were also in the silk-smooth finish. This had all the hallmarks of a premium, even for a catalog cigar.

After the second inch, the complexity of the flavors settled into a pleasant sweet hay and leather, with the mild spice continuing. Definitely a solid medium in flavor and strength to that point.

The final third of the cigar continued with the substantial flavor of leather, sweet hay, and the subtle spice to the very end. A glance at the clock confirmed that this slow-burning toro lasted me about 90 minutes.

Anyone fortunate enough to have a cache of these discontinued cigars should count themselves fortunate, and should break them out occasionally. They have aged well and still retain respectable body and power enough to validate the title 'Cask Strength'.

5 Vegas Relic

One of my most excellent brethren at Social Cigar, Joe Ed., bombed my mailbox recently. The bomb was heavy with Manuel Qesada-made cigars, including the 5 Vegas Relic.



Great smoke, and a great gift from a great friend. Thanks, Joe!

Cigarillo Shootout, Episode II

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5 Vegas Series 'A' Artisan

5 Vegas Series 'A' Artisan robusto
$4, Size: 5", Ring: 52
Costa Rican maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan Binder, Honduran, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers.

Just one look at the 5 Vegas Series 'A' is enough to make the maduro lover start salivating. The lush, dark maduro wrapper, the large, shiny, embossed band and cedar sleeve combine for a very impressive presentation.

Once liberated from the cedar sleeve, the Costa Rican maduro wrapper appeared a rich chocolate color, smooth and slightly glossy, with only a couple obvious veins. An aroma of cocoa rose from the wrapper, and was also present at a cold draw. I dry-boxed this cigar for a couple days before smoking it, hoping to reverse a trend of sloppily burning cigars. The cigar burned pretty straight, holding a grey ash for 1.5 inches.

From first draw to the last, this cigar was smooth. An appetizing combination of nuts and cocoa are the initial flavors, with cedar joining in soon after. Sweet pepper flavors replaced the nuts after the first inch, with the body building towards medium strength. At the last third, the flavor abated a bit, with the pepper receding and the nuts returning, and ended that way.

The only annoyance, with an inch and a half left to smoke, the wrapper burst ahead of the burn line, and fairly suddenly. I thought it was odd, but some other reviewers of Series 'A' cigars have had similar experiences. The cigar still smoked fine after the split, and I was able to smoke down to a nub.

Series 'A' could stand for affordable, attractive, or even awesome. I would call it an amiable smoke. Just make sure to dry box it for a couple days to keep the fillers from swelling so much as to split the wrapper. I've got a couple more for my future amusement.

A gaggle of folks have reviewed other vitolas of the Series 'A':
Keepers of the Flame smoked the diminuative Anomaly.
Brian Hewitt smoked the Archetype toro, one of which burst similar to my experience.
Stogie Review also smoked the exploding Archetype.
Cigar Jack smoked the larger Apex toro plus.

5 Vegas Gold

5 Vegas Gold robusto
$9/ 5 pk., Size: 5", Ring: 52
Honduran Connecticut shade wrapper, Honduran binder, Honduran and Nicaraguan cuban-seed fillers.

We are in the midst of a season of gifts, and the most famous of Christmas gifts were the first recorded of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. So, to celebrate, I pulled a 5 Vegas Gold from the humidor.

Gold is rolled for 5 Vegas in Danli, Honduras, under the aegis of Nestor Plasencia. The Honduran cuban-seed filler is aged 5 years before being enrobed in the Honduran Connecticut shade-grown wrapper, and the results are well worth the care.

The Connecticut wrapper is smooth and sturdy, with few veins, and has a nice toasty aroma to it. After punching the cap, I tried the draw and found it to be a little loose. I'll just have to restrain my enthusiasm while herfing it, that's all. While smoking, the ash was white and fairly solid, dropping after little more than an inch.

Once lit, the taste is a mild, toasty nut body, with a light spice, and that flavor is fairly consistent to the end. While not full of bold and complex flavors, this was still a pleasure to smoke. The taste was reminiscent of the main body of the Occidental Reserve Double Broadleaf, which is my favorite, This is surprising when looking at the disparate origins of the tobaccos of the two cigars.

5 Vegas have made a nice mild-mannered cigar with a pleasant taste. The Gold is like a long-time golfing pal who gives you a 1 foot putt, despite the fact that you're four strokes up on him. That indeed is a precious gift.

Here's Stogie Review's take on the 5 Vegas Gold.