Wow, 6 months goes by pretty quick. I finished the spring semester with a B in Calculus I, and only by the skin of my teeth, and started the summer off with my wife giving birth to our fourth child. I've also been spending entirely too much time at Social Cigar, posting, chatting with friends, and wasting time in general.
In this long interval, I've been smoking some awesome cigars, decent cigars, and a couple crummy ones as well. I've been sampling some Pepin cigars, and I liked the Tatuaje P-Series enough to buy a box after smoking just one. I also smoked a couple of the Tatuaje Havana VI, CI Legends Yellow label, and Benchmade. I'm starting to see the reason's for the Pepin hype. I just hope it doesn't sour, like the hype around Rocky Patel's cigars.
Speaking of Rocky, I've finally landed some RP Sungrown, and liked them, along with the Indian Tabac 10th Anniversary, which I didn't really like.
The biggest revelation of the spring was my discovery of the Arturo Fuente Hemingway. I have found my "Deserted Island" cigar! If I could afford to smoke these on a regular basis, I would. But, they are not the cheapest cigar, so I save them for special occasions.
Other highlights were Oliva Serie V, Perdomo ESV '91 maduro, CAO Brazilia, Camacho Triple Maduro, and Camacho 10th Anniversary Corojo.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Macanudo 1968
Yeah, I've been on a break for a while. Having a fourth child will do that. But, let's keep it about the cigars...
I pounced on Mac's 3/$10 sampler offer when they debuted the 1968. Being an avid maduro fan, I couldn't pass it up. After letting them rest for a month, here I am smoking them.
This is a beautiful cigar, with a milk-chocolate complexion, oily texture, and mild veining. A squeeze here and there reveals a nicely packed cigar, but not overly so. The draw is easy, and the burn is tolerable, with a little wobbling that did not make me reach for the torch.
Flavor-wise, this cigar starts up in earnest, delivering the goods up front: Leather, earth, walnut and a nice, mild spice. and then it holds that chord for an hour. Sure, it's not a thrill ride, but it tastes good.
In a blind taste test, I'd guess this to be an Oliva Serie G or Perdomo Reserve maduro, but never a Macanudo. Still, at an MSRP of $8.50, it's overpriced when compared to an $6 Oliva or Perdomo cigar.
I pounced on Mac's 3/$10 sampler offer when they debuted the 1968. Being an avid maduro fan, I couldn't pass it up. After letting them rest for a month, here I am smoking them.
This is a beautiful cigar, with a milk-chocolate complexion, oily texture, and mild veining. A squeeze here and there reveals a nicely packed cigar, but not overly so. The draw is easy, and the burn is tolerable, with a little wobbling that did not make me reach for the torch.
Flavor-wise, this cigar starts up in earnest, delivering the goods up front: Leather, earth, walnut and a nice, mild spice. and then it holds that chord for an hour. Sure, it's not a thrill ride, but it tastes good.
In a blind taste test, I'd guess this to be an Oliva Serie G or Perdomo Reserve maduro, but never a Macanudo. Still, at an MSRP of $8.50, it's overpriced when compared to an $6 Oliva or Perdomo cigar.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Nebraska Bans Smoking
Following Omaha's and Lincoln's smoking bans, Nebraska's unicameral (and uni-brain cell) legislature passed a ban against smoking in restaurants, bars and other public places, state-wide. If the governor signs it, the law will go into effect in June of 2009.
Really, why not just ban smoking and tobacco products altogether? If it's dangerous enough to ban in public, the State should ban it in private for the health and safety of the citizenry.
As for the bars and restaurants, the greatest health hazards in those places are on the plates...
Update 2/26/08: The Governor has signed the bill, it's law in Nebraska, and takes effect June 2009. It might take me that long to sell my house and move to northern Kentucky, where the nazis haven't completely crushed freedom.
Really, why not just ban smoking and tobacco products altogether? If it's dangerous enough to ban in public, the State should ban it in private for the health and safety of the citizenry.
As for the bars and restaurants, the greatest health hazards in those places are on the plates...
Update 2/26/08: The Governor has signed the bill, it's law in Nebraska, and takes effect June 2009. It might take me that long to sell my house and move to northern Kentucky, where the nazis haven't completely crushed freedom.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Camacho Corojo Maduro
Camacho Corojo Maduro monarcha
$6, Size: 5", Ring: 50
Honduran Corojo wrapper, binder, and fillers
It's always a pleasant surprise to get a nice cigar in the mail, and it's better yet when the cigars are so appetizingly beautiful. TommyboyMartin, an anchor at Social Cigar, sent me a brace of these maduro lovelies, and they were a great starting point for getting acquainted with Camacho's different lines. The Camacho Corojo is a Honduran puro, stuffed, bound, and wrapped with corojo tobacco, notorious for being a feisty and tasty leaf.
A sumptuous shade of dark chocolate, the maduro corojo wrapper was mildly veined and velvety. Unprompted, my 7 year-old son remarked that it smelled like chocolate. The cigar felt moderately filled, with a draw that's free, without being loose, and the white ash held a bit over an inch beyond the burn line.
The cigar started with sweet leather and toasted nuts, with an initial tease of spice and cocoa. The flavors settled into a robust leather and nuts combo that had a peppery echo. The corojo turned on the afterburners in the last couple inches, pumping some sweet heat into the medium-bodied flavors. The body and flavors of the Corojo Maduro went great with my coffee.
The Corojo Maduro was the first Camacho cigar I've had, and it forebodes made more pleasurable experiences to come.
$6, Size: 5", Ring: 50
Honduran Corojo wrapper, binder, and fillers
It's always a pleasant surprise to get a nice cigar in the mail, and it's better yet when the cigars are so appetizingly beautiful. TommyboyMartin, an anchor at Social Cigar, sent me a brace of these maduro lovelies, and they were a great starting point for getting acquainted with Camacho's different lines. The Camacho Corojo is a Honduran puro, stuffed, bound, and wrapped with corojo tobacco, notorious for being a feisty and tasty leaf.
A sumptuous shade of dark chocolate, the maduro corojo wrapper was mildly veined and velvety. Unprompted, my 7 year-old son remarked that it smelled like chocolate. The cigar felt moderately filled, with a draw that's free, without being loose, and the white ash held a bit over an inch beyond the burn line.
The cigar started with sweet leather and toasted nuts, with an initial tease of spice and cocoa. The flavors settled into a robust leather and nuts combo that had a peppery echo. The corojo turned on the afterburners in the last couple inches, pumping some sweet heat into the medium-bodied flavors. The body and flavors of the Corojo Maduro went great with my coffee.
The Corojo Maduro was the first Camacho cigar I've had, and it forebodes made more pleasurable experiences to come.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Rocky Patel Fusion
Rocky Patel Fusion robusto
$5, Size: 5.5", Ring: 50.
Habano wrapper, Ecuadorian Connecticut binder, with Cameroon, Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers.
As we draw near to Lent, a time of thoughtful meditation and self-sacrifice, I wanted to smoke something of repute before donning the sackcloth and ashes. Rocky Patel has been fairly prolific in recent years, and this is one of many different cigars he's blended to different concepts. The Fusion uses two wrapper tobaccos, with the Connecticut tobacco as a binder, and a Habano wrapper jacketing the entire package.
My cigar's Habano wrapper was smooth, had few veins, and was glossy. A light, almost floral aroma issued from it. The cigar felt moderately packed, with a nicely balanced draw once the cap was punched. I had no problems getting nice volumes of smoke, and a white ash stuck over an inch beyond the chronically wobbly burn line. Still, I only had to do a touch-up to the burn once.
The flavors were fairly mild to start, of lightly toasted nut and a mild wood note. There was a pepper flavor lurking, but really didn't come out to shine until after the second inch. By that time, the wood note had become more pronounced and cedar-like, blending well with the spicy white pepper flavor.
The overall flavors were between mild and medium, and the cigar had a bit of nicotine to it. Not a bad smoke, and I've got three more napping.
$5, Size: 5.5", Ring: 50.
Habano wrapper, Ecuadorian Connecticut binder, with Cameroon, Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers.
As we draw near to Lent, a time of thoughtful meditation and self-sacrifice, I wanted to smoke something of repute before donning the sackcloth and ashes. Rocky Patel has been fairly prolific in recent years, and this is one of many different cigars he's blended to different concepts. The Fusion uses two wrapper tobaccos, with the Connecticut tobacco as a binder, and a Habano wrapper jacketing the entire package.
My cigar's Habano wrapper was smooth, had few veins, and was glossy. A light, almost floral aroma issued from it. The cigar felt moderately packed, with a nicely balanced draw once the cap was punched. I had no problems getting nice volumes of smoke, and a white ash stuck over an inch beyond the chronically wobbly burn line. Still, I only had to do a touch-up to the burn once.
The flavors were fairly mild to start, of lightly toasted nut and a mild wood note. There was a pepper flavor lurking, but really didn't come out to shine until after the second inch. By that time, the wood note had become more pronounced and cedar-like, blending well with the spicy white pepper flavor.
The overall flavors were between mild and medium, and the cigar had a bit of nicotine to it. Not a bad smoke, and I've got three more napping.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Alec Bradley Ovation Maduro
Alec Bradley Ovation maduro baron/robusto
$3.50, Size: 5", Ring: 54
Brazilian maduro wrapper, Mexican binder, Nicaraguan and Costa Rican fillers.
Under the ownership of Alec Bradley, Ovation seems to be an older sibling of the current Trilogy brand. Being a little fatter than its newer brethren, and not being listed on Alec Bradley's new website, I dare say this cigar won't be available too much longer, and only then on CBid. But, onto the cigar...
The Brazilian maduro wrapper was a medium chocolate color, had a smooth, matte texture with a faint gloss, and had wispery veins. I was impressed with the craftsmanship of the cap, as it was impeccably cut and applied. Getting more physical with it, the cigar felt nicely packed, and had a draw with noticeable resistance, but didn't feel outright tight. Once lit, the cigar burned pretty straight and held a good inch and a half of silvery ash.
After toasting the foot, the first half inch was extremely mild, with only a light tobacco flavor. Getting to an inch in, the flavor came in as a toasty nut, and as the second inch fumed away, a more present, leathery flavor joined in. Halfway through, a mild pepper flavor started lingering on the palate, and then strengthened with the leather . A dark, wood flavor bobbed in and out as well, while the pepper stayed strong to the finish. Not counting the first inch, I'd say the Ovation was close to medium bodied.
Although it is a slow starter, the Ovation maduro has some nice flavor to it, and is a worthy smoke. While supplies last, that is.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Perdomo Reserve Maduro
Perdomo Reserve Series R maduro robusto
$4, Size: 5", Ring:54
Nicaraguan maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers
I like maduro cigers. Okay, if you've seen the list of cigars I've bothered to write about, you could say that I LOVE maduro cigars. I've got a major-league sweet tooth, so a sweet, toothy maduro wrapped cigar usually hits the spot for me. Perdomo's Reserve series uses some of the best fillers that Nicaragua has to offer. Couple that with a velvety Nicaraguan maduro wrapper, and anyone would be in for a treat.
Onward to my experience, my cigar had a medium chocolate maduro wrapper, which was toothy with a slight gloss, and a few pronounced veins. It was also fairly thick, which is good for keeping all that tobacco inside the cigar. Hefting it by hand,it felt like a solidly build cigar, felt very packed, and the draw was restrained enough to prove it.
Burn needed some touch-up here and there, I've found that the thicker wrappers tend to do that to me, and the densely packed filler took its sweet time burning. There was also lots of rich smoke to be found.
Before lighting, the cigar was mildly sweet on the lips, while earth and cocoa flavors were present in the cold draw. After ignition, the smooth, rich flavors were of earth and dark cocoa. As the first inch fumed away, a spicy note joined the flavors, for a predominantly peppery cocoa flavor that stayed fairly constant to the end. A mild nutty flavor occasionally poked it's way in for a puff or two. The flavors never got overpowering, and stayed robust and smooth.
Overall, the Perdomo Reserve maduro is a densely packed cigar with a rich, medium bodied flavor. The price isn't bad either.
Patrick, guest reviewer at Cigar Jack, smoked the honkin' 7x54 Reserve C churchill.
$4, Size: 5", Ring:54
Nicaraguan maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers
I like maduro cigers. Okay, if you've seen the list of cigars I've bothered to write about, you could say that I LOVE maduro cigars. I've got a major-league sweet tooth, so a sweet, toothy maduro wrapped cigar usually hits the spot for me. Perdomo's Reserve series uses some of the best fillers that Nicaragua has to offer. Couple that with a velvety Nicaraguan maduro wrapper, and anyone would be in for a treat.
Onward to my experience, my cigar had a medium chocolate maduro wrapper, which was toothy with a slight gloss, and a few pronounced veins. It was also fairly thick, which is good for keeping all that tobacco inside the cigar. Hefting it by hand,it felt like a solidly build cigar, felt very packed, and the draw was restrained enough to prove it.
Burn needed some touch-up here and there, I've found that the thicker wrappers tend to do that to me, and the densely packed filler took its sweet time burning. There was also lots of rich smoke to be found.
Before lighting, the cigar was mildly sweet on the lips, while earth and cocoa flavors were present in the cold draw. After ignition, the smooth, rich flavors were of earth and dark cocoa. As the first inch fumed away, a spicy note joined the flavors, for a predominantly peppery cocoa flavor that stayed fairly constant to the end. A mild nutty flavor occasionally poked it's way in for a puff or two. The flavors never got overpowering, and stayed robust and smooth.
Overall, the Perdomo Reserve maduro is a densely packed cigar with a rich, medium bodied flavor. The price isn't bad either.
Patrick, guest reviewer at Cigar Jack, smoked the honkin' 7x54 Reserve C churchill.
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