Rocky Patel Cigar Dinner, May 2008

Our May Cigar Dinner featured 4 Rocky Patel entries varying in price and body. We had Max Bichler on hand from Rocky Patel Cigars to present and speak on the cigars.
We started the evening with two selections from the Edge line, a Lite and a Maduro. The Edge Maduro, made in Nicaragua was a rich and oily as any fine Cuban I’ve ever seen. We moved on to the surprise hit of the evening – the RP Sun Grown. What a stick. Sometimes you just forget how good a cigar is…this is that kind of smoke. Full-bodied, yet balanced. It was a true tobacco lover’s smoke. We finished the night with a Vintage 1990 Robusto, and the crowd on hand couldn’t have been happier.
Our dinner was promoted as a Cinco de Mayo event, complete with a Tequila tasting, no Cuervo here-just the high end Resposado for this group. We also enjoyed Dos Equis beer and Spanish Wine at each table. The Spanish inspired menu featured gazpacho, a personal favorite, figs and chorizo appetizer and a braised short rib for the entrée….all prepared to perfection by the chef at our host restaurant the Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville, NY.
I think the video will say a lot about the night, which was staged outdoors on the patio dining area, just a perfect night and it looks in the video that it was enjoyed by all.
Check out our video of the event


For info on our upcoming June 2008 Dinner featuring Don Pepin Garcia Cigars
click here

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero

Size: 4.7 X 60
Shape: 660
Origin: Dominican Republic
Body: Full
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra Sungrown
Binder: Dominican Ligero
Filler: Dominican Ligero
Smoke Clock: 45 mins

It was a beautiful day at Dwyer Memorial Park; the birds were singing, children were laughing and scurrying around, and I was relaxing at a peaceful picnic table by the trees with an excellent stick of burning leaf as my companion.

Upon placing a flame to my La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero, I experienced a hefty amount of spice and peat. I was also able to tell immediately why they call this cigar full bodied. Fortunately, the body only made itself known and did not overwhelm, giving the first light a thick quality that I really enjoyed.

As the first quarter of this cigar developed, I noticed a light cashew note as well as a smokey camp fire quality to the profile. These supported the big oak notes that dominated the first quarter and set an excellent foundation for the profile to evolve from.

While the profile developed, I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of the ash left behind. It is milky white with only small blotches here and there. This was a delight to the eye, revealing the high quality of the tobacco in this stick and heightening my enjoyment of the overall experience.

Drawing my attention away from the silken ash, the second quarter was transformative, covering my pallet with emerging coffee and cedar notes. The flavors in the profile began to merge and became deep and complex as they blossomed together into something completely new and unique. By the time the third quarter began, I could hardly distinguish one flavor from the other because they had melted together so beautifully. I became transfixed and fell into the sweet depths of this blend.

Cars pulled up and unloaded or picked up people as I remained lost in the depths of Double Ligero. Then a shift occurred. Subtle chocolate notes emerged just before earth notes took dominance in the blend. This shift was slow but enticing, drawing me out of the beautiful stupor that the second quarter sent me into.

This cigar set me down easy, resolving nicely by maintaining the body, but slowly mellowing out on the flavor. With evening drawing near, I tasted the coffee, earth, and chocolate notes ones more before setting down this beautiful experience.

As people packed up for the evening and I watched the sun set over Little York Lake, I couldn’t help but feel thankful for days, and cigars, like these.

Rating:
Presentation: 7/10 – Simple and attractive band. Predominantly black and gold with some red behind the “LFD” to give the letters dominance. Nice design.

Appearance: 9/10 – The wrapper was oily, toothy, seamless, and dark with minor yet consistent splotches. No flaws or cracks were to be found. To say this cigar is mouth watering to behold is an understatement.

Construction: 33/35 – Firm throughout with only the slightest give towards the head. The draw was comfortably open given the dense pack. The only issue I had in this category was the uneven burn. It never became a serious issue but to describe this cigar as even burning would be like saying the Eiffel Tower is a cube.

Flavor: 43/45 – Wonderfully complex and infinitely interesting, but a slight bitter note crept in just at the end.

Overall: 92/100 – Mouth watering to behold, very well constructed, and wonderfully complex, this full bodied beauty is a cigar that should not be missed.

-DH

601 Oscuro La Fuerza

Size: 5.5 X 54
Shape: La Fuerza
Origin: Nicaragua
Body: Medium - Full
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habana Oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoke Clock: 1 hr 25 mins

After a long and successful summer season, I have finally gotten settled into my new apartment. To celebrate, I pulled out a smoke that I have long waited for: the EO 601 Green.

The 601 Green has spent the last month and a half eluding me. I’d bring it with me to work to smoke on a break, only to have more work than I expected and not enough time to smoke this stick. I’d step outside to light up on my day off, only to be bombarded by phone calls to go hiking or kayaking (two of my other favorite things to do). As you can imagine, neither of these things are conducive to taking notes on a fine blend, so this cigar continued to elude me. However, yesterday, I had time to sit outside on the veranda (aka the cement porch of my apartment building) and relax and that’s just what I did, bringing this elusive smoke along with me.

Sliding this stick out of its cellophane, I immediately noticed the consistency of color and quality of the wrapper. It didn’t scream juicy deliciousness though, and for a moment, I lost heart. I trudged through the cut, which was clean and easy, pushed through the prelight ritual, which was a delight, and lit up. Boy did this stick blow my doubts out of the water.

Prelight, there were strong earth, spice, and leather notes detected with the spice being very forward. However, when I lit up, the Green delivered a complex, sweet, and earth filled profile with only a subtle spice note present.

Developing into the first quarter, the profile became all about the compost note. Delicious! The smoke was soft and creamy in the mouth as the profile ebbed and flowed around and through the compost note. Pepper and caramel notes wafted up into dominance and meandered back into the blend several times until the profile began its first evolution into deep earth and bright cedar notes. The cedar notes here taste like a cedar campfire: toasty and bright. Towards the end of the quarter, some dark chocolate notes had begun to peek their heads through, but didn’t take over until the half mark of this stick.

I was admiring the view of shorts sporting college girls as they passed by when the second quarter of this cigar really came into its own. Notes of toasted cream and leather took over, then slowly and gently relinquished command to dark cocoa and coffee notes. That delectable compost note had slunk way into the background at this point, nearly vanishing into the delicious depths of the flavor profile.

It was at this point that I tried to ash for the first time. The ash, having remained quite dense, would not relinquish its hold on this cigar. I was so confident in its density, in fact, that I stood the cigar on end ON THE ASH. I could not believe how incredibly well packed this cigar must have been to be able to sport such fine and strong ash on such a lengthy, heavy stick. Bravo!

After my ashen foray, I refocused on the flavor profile as the third quarter began. The second quarter carried over into the third nicely, relinquishing dominance to some oak campfire notes once or twice before returning to where it began. That fantastic complex compost note returned just before the fourth quarter, bringing the profile full circle and leaving me completely satisfied.

There are times when I realize that the Universe is smarter than I. This is one such case. The EO 601 Green eluded my smoking desires until just the right time when I could really focus on it and enjoy it to the fullest. Thank you Universe for all your wisdom.

Rating:
Presentation: 9/10 – I really like the band on all the EO 601 cigars, but the interplay of green and gold here is really stunning. Great design with an excellent focus on the 601 line. Simple and straightforward yet beautiful in its own right, accenting the color of the cigar perfectly. Way to go, EO.

Appearance: 7/10 – This cigar is nice to look at, but not gorgeous. The wrapper has a very consistent color, it’s toothy, and the seams of are almost well hidden, but there’s barely any shine to it. There was also a small dime sized patch missing towards the foot of the cigar, but I burned through that quickly enough.

Construction: 33/35 – Great construction. The draw was open, the pack firm enough to stand the cigar up on its ash, and the burn was mostly even with a little wave here and there.

Flavor: 44/45 – This cigar told a story and brought it full circle. I really respect a blender’s ability to do this clearly while providing purity to the flavors and a dynamite smoke to booth. Excellent work.

Overall: 93/100 – This cigar is tasty and delicious, telling a story with its pure flavors. The construction is very high quality, allowing the smoker to focus on the flavorful experience and not on the draw or relights. This is one heck of a cigar that I highly recommend any fan of full bodied smokes try at their earliest convenience.

-DH

Kristoff Ligero Maduro

Arturo Fuente King T

Size: 7 X 49
Shape: Double Corona
Origin: Dominican Republic
Body: Medium
Wrapper: USA Grown Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Smoke Clock: 1 hr 15 mins

Sitting inside my local tobacconist’s shop on a calm Monday, I decided to light up a smoke that I suspected would be a little on the mild side, the Arturo Fuente King T.

This stick is presented in a beautifully designed tube with white and black contrasting top and bottom parts. Opening the tube reveals a solid stick encompassed by a lovely tan Connecticut wrapper. The oily sheen that I discovered on the wrapper had me eager to get this stick lit.

Once I had the foot toasted, I gave this stick a thorough light and was inundated with a transcendent sweetness supported by a light cashew note, subtle leather, and just the right amount of spice.

As this stick burned into the first quarter, I really began to fall in love. I began to taste what I can only describe as a cream soda flavor, a flavor that I’ve heard referred to as purely Cuban and one that I had never experienced before. This cream soda flavor was complemented by notes of oak and cedar with leather & sweet cream lingering on the palate after each puff.

Burning into the second quarter, the complexity to the profile remained, but the less dominant flavors slipped further into the background, allowing the sweet cream soda note to really take the fore front. Evanescent wisps of smoke floated up from my cigar as I reveled in the lingering finish that each puff brought to my palate. In this moment, I was in heaven.

With the third quarter came the return of the oak and cedar notes which had retreated during the second quarter of this smoke. Their return provided some welcome complexity, although the purity of the cream soda flavors was missed. At this point, I really began to notice how medium bodied this smoke actually was. With this realization came a hearty spice note which was most noticeable through the nose, providing a tingle in my senses which again elevated the sweet soda quality that this cigar provided.

As I lay this stick aside, the lingering sweetness, cashew, and leather left me craving another almost immediately. Given easy access to another of these sticks, I would not hesitate to light it up post haste to get another taste of that fabled Cuban flavor.

Rating:
Presentation: 9/10 – In addition to the tube, this stick comes double banded with one band at the shoulder and the other at the foot. The shoulder band is very attractive and bumps this stick up to my second highest presentation grade. Even though the band at the foot is also attractive, it feels a bit unnecessary to me and so, no perfect for this stick.

Appearance: 7 /10 – The wrapper is consistently colored, oily, and thinly veined. Drawbacks are the wrinkled appearance of the wrapper and the visible seams.

Construction: 32/35 – Very nice draw to this consistently firm stick, especially given that I used a punch cut on this guy. However, the burn was a bit uneven at times.

Flavor: 44/45 – Purity, complexity, consistency, and just downright yummy, this stick hits the mark in the flavor department.

Overall: 92/100 – Awesome flavor with a long and delectable finish accompanied by excellent construction and a knock out presentation makes this stick one for the record books. The next time you get a chance, burn one of these. You will not be sorry you did.

-DH

SAN LOTANO OVAL by A.J. FERNANDEZ

SAN LOTANO OVAL by A.J. FERNANDEZ

The San Lotano Oval is a new product by A.J. Fernandez. The wrapper is a four year aged habano 2000, a Nicaraguan binder and a mix of Nicaraguan, Honduran and A.J.’s secret blend. This combination makes for a mysterious smoke. The size I have chosen is the Toro. It is a 60 ring by 6.5 inches in length and just happens to be my preferred cigar size.
Starting the night with a new Gordo size San Lotano Oval is a new experience I can’t wait to try. I begin as normal and light my piece of cedar and warm the end of the cigar. As I initially draw in the flavor I realize a woodsy and leathery taste that makes for a good enjoyable smoke. I also sense a light taste of caramel but very gentle. The cigar is burning very even and the draw is nice and smooth.

This cigar has a distinctive and very pleasing taste. About a third of the way in the hint of caramel is more abundant and is pleasing my palette. The ash is still intact and is showing off its excellent construction. As I pull on this cigar the cherry of the end illuminates the darkness of the room casting shadows of expelled smoke on the walls. The Oval is pleasing all my senses and leaving me wanting more. At the half way point the caramel flavor is prominent and the cigar has taken on a new life. The ash is still gray and very sturdy.

The cigar started medium-bold and now has become bold in strength and is a pleasure to smoke. The change over occurred at the half way point and was a little sharp but not overly. (It didn’t turn me off) The Oval has a dark appearance but doesn’t taste that way until a little past half, then you realize your smoking a bolder smoke. Two thirds gone and it begins to loose the caramel taste and the woodsy takes over. My palette is enjoying the change and that reminds me of the way the El Baton smokes. The Oval is now down to the nub and is ready to be finished, the flavor is all but gone and is being replaced by an ashy taste. Smoking it down to the nub is not recommended but was necessary for this review.
The SAN LOTANO OVAL by A.J. FERNANDEZ is a good product and I recommend trying it. The OVAL has a great taste and has a lot of changes. It is not a complex smoke but it is a palette challenging experience. If you prefer a cigar like this then you will enjoy it. If you are a beginner then I recommend that you smoke this with ease.

ILLUSION MJ 12 MADURO

THE ILLUSION MJ 12 MADURO

The ILLUSION MJ 12 MADURO is a complete Nicaraguan Puros. Puros is a complete cigar where all parts of the makeup are from the same country or plant. The wrapper is a Nicaraguan Maduro and the binder is also Nicaraguan. The filler is pure Nicaraguan broadleaf. I’m looking forward to smoking this stick.

With what has become my signature, I light my cigar with a piece of cedar. Slowly warming the foot I gently begin to draw on this complete Nicaraguan cigar. After the first couple of puffs I come to realize this is a medium blended cigar and I’m seriously surprised. The Maduro leaf is not as poignant and is leaving me in shock. It’s not that it’s not enjoyable but it’s a surprise how smooth it tastes. The other flavors I pick up are chocolate and a slight oak. At halfway the cigar is smooth and spicy but not enough to warrant a glass of something to wet my whistle. The construction and burn is good and the plume of smoke is solid white. Coming to the last third the cigar has begun to get a little stronger in strength and is finishing well…

The ILLUSION MJ 12 MADURO is a pleasantly surprising smoke and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy a new experience. Buy it by the stick or buy it by the box you won’t be disappointed…

FLORES Y RODRIGUEZ by PDR

                                   FLORES Y RODRIGUEZ  by PDR

                      The FLORES Y RODRIGUES  is the next venture by PDR. This cigar is a Dominican Puro consisting of Dominican habano Vuelta Abajo blended filler with a Dominican habano wrap and a Dominican binder. The cigar size is 58 ring by 6 and ¼ in length.

                         Since my last review I have changed my cut to a punch and am enjoying it a lot better. I light my cigar in my normal fashion using a piece of cedar and take my first draw. Right away I’m hit with a full mouth of spice and a woodsy flavor. There is also a leathery presence is noticeable and it has an excellent burn and draw. With every exhale the plumes of smoke fill the room and leave a great aroma in the room.

A third of the way down the ash is full and fluffy. The spiciness has subdued and the smoke has smoothed out to where if someone who doesn’t like an overabundance spice will like the end result. Unfortunately the burn has become uneven but it is easily correctable.

The “woodsyness” is more dominant and the leathery presence is still holding. At the halfway point the spiciness has definitely taken a back seat to the overall woodsy and leathery presentation. The great plumes of smoke are still overwhelming the room and the burn has straightened out. This smoke has turned out to be a great smoke. I have less than a third left and the only problem is that the remainder has become to hot to hold so I have elected to use my trusty tweezers to finish this stick.

                           The FLORES Y RODRIGUES  is a surprisingly great smoke from PDR. I would highly recommend smoking this stick and will hopefully do so again. The FdR comes in a Habano wrapper and a Habano Maduro so enjoy both…..

                                                                     Thanks….the  Cigar Guru    

CAO Osa Sol Lot 58

                       CAO OSA SOL LOT 58

The latest stick from CAO is the OSA SOL LOT 58. A Nicaraguan/Honduran blend wrapped in a Connecticut Broadleaf binder with an Olancho Agustin wrapper from a 2008 crop will make an interesting review because I’ve never had this type of wrap. The last new cigar from CAO was the LA TRAVIATA and that was an awesome smoke.

           After punching my cigar I’ve decided to light my cigar with my trusty Xicar dual flame torch because I’m feeling lazy. At first draw the cigar tastes a little green but I hope it will work its way out. A quarter of the way in the green taste has smoothed out and is being replaced by a woodsy and cedar flavor. The strength is light to medium and has surprised me. The size is 58 ring by 6 inch long and that is why I thought it was going to be a little more towards the medium to full range (kind of expected it to be the same strength of the La Traviata). A third of the way in the burn is even and the ash is still attached do to the excellent construction I’ve gotten used to from CAO. The flavor has improved and it is now showing a little of spice. A little past a third and the ash has finally fell of and stayed together, lucky for me because it fell on my shirt, the plume of smoke is almost gray and the spice has definitely become more noticeable. With two thirds gone the stick has turned out to be a good smoke but not what I would normally smoke. The finish of this cigar has once again surprised me in that it stayed light to medium and spicy.

Save on CAO Osa Sol online

           The CAO OSA SOL LOT 58 is a good smoke for someone who is looking for a light smoke with a medium finish. I recommend trying it and hopefully you will enjoy it.

                                                                      Thanks for reading ……the  Cigar Guru… keep smokin

La Flor Dominicana Factory Press

THE LA FLOR DOMINICANA FACTORY PRESS

The LFD factory press will be an interesting smoke. It’s been a while since I have smoked any La Flor so it should be interesting. The La Flor factory press is a Ligero wrapped smoke that in the past was a mainstay in my humidor until the Liga Privada came out and changed the way I perceived what a Ligero cigar to taste.

Starting the procedure of lighting my cigar with a piece of cedar I draw in my first of many mouthfuls of smoke. The flavor greets me like an old dear friend and the aroma gives me flashbacks of years past. The plume of white smoke fills the air and is making my air filtration system work overtime. The only tough part is getting used to the flatness of the press; a factory press as opposed to a box press is a tighter press and gives the cigar a ridged edge (corners). At the halfway point the stick is still enjoyable and the ash has just fallen off. The taste of the subtle Ligero is still noticeable and leaving me wanting more. With more than 2/3 gone the cigar is starting to heat up and now has reduced me to put it out due to the factory press it seemed to warm up faster.

THE LA FLOR DOMINICANA FACTORY PRESS is a descent smoke but it takes a little time to get used to the flatness of the stick. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys smoking a box press so light up and enjoy…

THE BIG JUICY by DREW ESTATES

THE BIG JUICY by DREW ESTATES

The Big Juicy is a cigar put out by Drew Estates under the Acid Natural line. It is the big brother of the Juicy Lucy and measures 6x52. The Big Juicy is a flavor infused cigar and is not normally something I smoke.

After preparing my palette by having a snort of Hennessey I light the infused cigar with my standard method of using a piece of cedar to light this hopefully tasty treat. At first the flavor is sweet and more than what I expected. The initial flavor is that of mint and sweetness of sugar. The stick is very well constructed and the burn is even. The ash is a light grey and the draw is easy. About half way down the sweetness is not as overpowering as when it began but the mint taste is still dominating the experience. I can’t say I’m really enjoying the smoke but I also don’t smoke infused cigars much. At 2 thirds gone the mint has dissipated and the smoke is a little more manageable. The Acid Natural line is not my cup of tea. The strength threw out is light but I believe it is due to my inexperience of smoking these type of cigars.

The BIG JUICY is a smoke I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the ACID line. The sweetness and infused flavor is not for me but it might be for someone who enjoys a flavored light tasting cigar…

THE ELENCOS SERIES DON RUBINO by E. P, CARRILLO

THE ELENCOS SERIES DON RUBINO by CARRILLO

Robusto 5x50

This nicely constructed stick is the second attempt from Carrillo to try to impress my palette. This stick has a natural looking wrap that compliments the solidly pack.

I light my cigar in normal fashion using cedar. The first draw has a taste of nut and a little oak flavor. The burn is even and the draw is loose. The stick is burning well producing a thick layer of smoke and an aroma that has people asking what that is. At the halfway point the strength has stayed at a medium feeling and is a pleasant experience. Now with 2/3 gone the smoke has stayed very consistent and has been a pleasure to smoke. The end of this “job” is making me wish that the smoke was longer and I’m wishing I had gotten a Toro instead of a robusto.

The DON RUBINO is a good smoke . I recommend getting the 4 pack to try all the different wrappers.

NEW WAVE CONNECTICUT BRILLANTES by CARRILLO

This cigar was a completely new product to me. An interesting blend with a Connecticut shade wrapper and a size that is good for a tasting,

Lighting my cigar with my usual process of using a piece of cedar I draw in my first taste of this well constructed stick. I notice a hint of cedar and a little nut flavoring telling me that this might be a gem in the rough. The light shade wrap is giving me the impression that this cigar is going to be light but I will keep an open mind.

At halfway the strength has stayed consistently light and the cedar flavor has taken over and is making for a good smoke. The ash came off about 1 third of the way but it has burned even and not to hot. The ash is the color of a grey storm cloud and the plumes of white smoke fill the lounge.

With 2/3 gone the strength has picked up a bit and is leaving me to classify this as a light to medium smoke. The usual taste of green I get from most lightly wrapped cigars is not present and leads me to believe that this company has the right blend down to compliment the lighter wrap.

The NEW WAVE CONNECTICUT BRILLANTES is a good cigar for someone that smokes an ARTURO FUENTE or an Ashton. I recommend that if you want to try this cigar that you get, if available, the 4 pack sampler…

KRISTOFF COROJO LIMITADA

KRISTOFF COROJO LIMITADA

The next new KRISTOFF is the COROJO LIMITADA. This cigar is almost a puros Nicaraguan cigar. The wrapper is Nicaraguan Corojo with a Nicaraguan Habano binder. This is followed by a mix of Nicaraguan and Dominican filler. This should be an interesting smoke.

In my ritualistic lighting of my cigar I begin to draw on my stick. The overwhelming flavor is the Nicaraguan corojo and is a nice pleasant surprise being that I don’t smoke too many Corojo wrapped cigars. The smoke has started out very smooth and has a touch of pepper and toasted nut giving a smooth taste to the cigar. The construction of the stick is nothing less than what I have become to expect from this great company. Even burn and nice ash close out the points on which this cigar is constructed. I am really enjoying this smoke and have lost track of time. At the halfway point I am totally relaxed and I rest easy thinking of how I could easily sell this cigar. The experience of this smoke is right up there with the Liga Privada and the La Serina, although completely different tasting smokes they are all in the same class. With the cigar down to a third left I’ve decided to take out my tweezers and attempt to smoke it all the way through. At the end of this smoke I’m prepared to buy a box and maybe buy one for a gift…

KRISTOFF GC MADURO SERIES 6x60

KRISTOFF GC MADURO SERIES 6x60

The first of the 2 new Kristoff cigars is the GC MADURO. This line is named for Kristoff owner Glen Case, one heck of a cigar man. His namesake cigar consists of a Brazilian Maduro wrapper, a Honduran binder and filler containing Dominican and Honduran leaf. I will be smoking my favorite size a 6x60.

The night starts with a warming of the entire stick and then ceremonial act of lighting my cigar with my trusty piece of cedar. The first initial flavor to hit my palette is sharp spice of the Maduro. This is accompanied by chocolate and espresso. The burn and draw are excellent and showing me why this cigar has the reputation it does. One of flavor, quality, and consisitency.
As I get one third of the way in the spice has evened out and is allowing the surrounding flavors to take off. The smoke is very smooth for a Maduro and is very enjoyable. At the halfway point the smoke has become an awesome experience. The ash is intact and the burn is even and consistent.
The taste has stayed the same and is making me want more to keep in my humidor. The ash is a consistent grey and the plume of smoke is almost an Ivory color. With a third left the smoke is still very enjoyable and is making me wish it would never end…

The KRISTOFF GC MADURO is an excellent smoke and would be most enjoyed with a nice glass of Glen Livet. I highly recommend that you run out and try one if you can…

CRUZADO DANTES from ILLUSION

CRUZADO DANTES from ILLUSION

The CRUZADO DANTES by ILLUSION CIGARS is a cigar that consists of a Nicaraguan criollo wrapper and a Nicaraguan binder. The filler is a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran broadleaf. I’ve never had an Illusion before so this will be a true test…

With an empty cigar lounge because its 9 am I’ve decided to smoke this uninterrupted and give it my full attention. Taking the time to wet my cigar down then warm it with a lit piece of cedar, then warm the foot and begin to draw on the stick I get a true first taste of this first time smoke. The flavor I first taste is a hint of toasted nut and nutmeg. This is a pleasant and new taste and it is giving me a new experience. The construction is good with a firm wrap and an attractive appearance.

About a third of the way in the cigar has picked up a slight spiciness and a peppery flavor. The burn is great and the ash is solid grey even though the ash is small. The plume of exhaled smoke is filling the quiet lounge and I’m wishing there was someone here to share the experience with. The stick is a mix in strength between medium and full depending on your palette. At the halfway point the taste and strength has completely smoothed out and has become almost creamy.

The construction has held up and is very impressive. As I get to a third left the spiciness has picked up and is a nice change. The changeover has been gradual and smooth. The stick has been a pleasure to smoke and I’m ready to say that I will smoke this again…

The CRUZADO DANTES by ILLUSION is a good smoke if you are looking for something new and are willing to smoke a good product. This gem is something I would give a friend if they wanted to enjoy a nice medium to full bodied smoke…

MY UZI WEIGHS A TON

DREW ESTATES MY UZI WEIGHS A TON

Along with the Liga Undercrown Drew Estates this year released another cigar and it’s called MY UZI WEIGHS A TON. The UZI is a formidable stick in that it only comes in a 60 ring.

The UZI for this review is the size that I like, 6 inch by 60 ring. As with every review I light my stick with a piece of cedar as to keep the flavor true, and then draw in my first mouth full of smoke. The flavor right away takes me by surprise. I was expecting to have the same taste of a Liga but the first thing that comes to mind is an oak flavoring followed by chocolate. Accompanying these flavors is a slight spiciness and is telling me that this is a completely different direction that Drew Estates is taking. The draw and burn are excellent and the white plumes of smoke are slowly taking over the atmosphere in the lounge.

As I get a third of the way in the ash is attached showing no signs of faltering. The solid white ash is thick and its only contrast is the red glow of the cherry when I draw off the stick. At the halfway point the taste has stayed the same but the spicy flavor is a little more apparent. Also the ash is still attached and is showing off its great construction.

The experience of smoking a totally new blend for Drew Estates is always an adventure and never a letdown. With a third left the spiciness is consistently getting more dominate and is making my mouth water for more. I really don’t want this to end and probably won’t.

The UZI is one of the better smokes I have enjoyed this year. Drew Estates once again has not let me down and is making great strides into the non-infused market. So with a smile on my face and burnt finger, from smoking it too short, I give this new cigar realistic thumbs up and say if you can get them buy them by the box… thick smoke and long ashes…

THE UNDERCROWN BY LIGA PRIVADA

The Undercrown is the latest undertaking by Drew Estates. Described as an inverse LIGA #9 this cigar literally is that. The stick has a Mexican Negro San Andres wrapper instead of the usual Connecticut broadleaf giving the smoker a spicier flavor. This should be quite a treat.

After digging around town I finally found a piece of cedar to light my cigar. As I begin I lightly warm the foot and begin to draw in the spicy smoke. Right away I am reminded why LIGA PRIVADA has become one of my favorite cigars. The spice is accompanied by a hint of chocolate and slight oak flavor, bringing me back to the first time I smoked a Liga. Although the undercrown tastes like a #9 the strength is slightly less, leaning toward a medium smoke. The unmistakable Ligero blend is as excellent as the original and I am really enjoying this smoke. The construction is nothing less than perfect. The draw and burn are even and ever so great. The plume filled room has an awesome aroma and is leading me to want to by a box. At a third of the way in the ash is as sturdy as a prelit cigar. The ligero and San Andres wrapper are working so good together I’ve decided to take the smoke on the road. I arrive at the casino and am smoking in a packed house. About 10 minutes into being there men and women are constantly asking what kind of cigar this is. All ages are telling me that it is the most pleasurable smelling cigar they have ever had the pleasure of being around. With its no offensive aroma it makes for a good evening. Now I’m down to the halfway point and the construction has not let me down. The ash is still as sturdy as when it started and the burn is extremely even. The flavor is, if you can believe it, has actually gotten better and is making me realize that if I smoke anything else tonight no matter what it is will taste like a white owl. After not paying attention I’m down to the nub and it still hasn’t changed flavor and has made me compitent that I will finish this with burnt fingers and lips…

LIGA PRIVADA has done it again. The UNDERCROWN is one of the best cigars I’ve ever had and has even caused me to get some next week. I think I will buy 2 boxes and stock my humidor with them… Buy this cigar by the stick or by the box. It's AWESOME!!!! THE BEST DEAL I HAVE SEEN SO FAR IS AT ROCKY CIGARS.COM in Syracuse New York. Go out and buy some before they are all out!!!...

P.D.R. 1878 CAPA HABANO DOUBLE ROBUSTO

The P.D.R. Capa Habano is the latest addition to the Pinar Del Rio line. It is a Dominican Habano wrapped cigar with an Ecuadorian binder and a Nicaraguan filler. This will be an interesting review being as though I personally haven’t been huge fan of PDR yet, however, Abe Florez has built a huge following for this brand. I am always happy to try a new blend...and I hope to be impressed.

Smoking in the cigar lounge tonight I start my ritualistic lighting of my cedar to first warm my cigar then lighting the foot I initiate the smoking experience. It has a good light and burn. The initial flavor that catches my taste is cedar and a little pepper. The pepper is leaving a remains on my tongue but not enough to stop me from analyzing this cigar. Then cigar construction is appealing but I notice right away the ash is less than desirable. I enjoy he look of a sturdy ash. The ash has fallen off three times since the light and I’m only a third into it. The flavor however is staying consistent and is a redeeming feature of this smoke.

At the halfway point the smoke has picked up a little spiciness and is still tasting good. The strength is medium bodied and is staying that way. With the cigar mostly gone the cigar taste wise has been one of the better tasting PDR’s but I wish to see these cigars hold their ash. It's just my preference.

The PDR Capa Habano 1878 will be enjoyed by someone who likes any of the other Pinar Del Rio blends.

TATUAJE 7TH CAPA ESPECIAL SUMATRA

TATUAJE 7TH CAPA ESPECIAL SUMATRA by PETE JOHNSON


The Tatuaje 7th Capa especial Sumatra is another great product from Pete Johnson. The same excellence that this company has shown through the years in other lines shows in this cigar. The 7th Capa is a great smoke but this will be the first time that I’ve tried the Sumatra wrapper in this blend. Paired with the unique Sumatra wrapper is a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan filler making for a medium to full smoke. The master of all masters Don Pepin Garcia has blended this cigar so I know I won’t be disappointed.

With my ritualistic lighting of my stick with a piece of cedar I begin to draw. The beginning taste is no surprise a black pepper flavor accompanied by a nice spiciness that makes my tongue tingle. The burn and draw are as expected and leave no mistake that this is a Tatuaje cigar. The strength has started off medium but I know that further on it will change to something more to my usual strength. As I move a little further in I pick up an ever so slight taste of oak and I am pleasantly surprised.

About a third of the way in the pepper and spice has evened out and is now beginning to change to a little stronger cigar. The thick white plumes of smoke are starting to fill the lounge and I am really glad I choose this stick to smoke this afternoon. The construction is awesome and the ash shows no signs of faltering.

As I pass the halfway point the cigar is starting to show me that I wasn’t wrong. The strength has moved almost totally to full and the flavoring has regulated to smooth tasting pepper and spice. The ash is still there and shows no sign of flaring or falling off.

I had to do some local driving so I decided to smoke along the way. The cigar is wonderful and is no longer changing. It has become what I had suspected a full bodied smoke but extremely smooth. Without skipping a beat I have now thoroughly smoked the gem to the nub. The Don Pepin blended TAT 7th Sumatra has left me wanting more and I will sorely miss the pure enjoyment of it.

The TATUAJE 7th CAPA ESPECIAL SUMATRA is an excellent smoke. I highly recommend this cigar to anyone and especially to TATUAJE smokers. Try it I guarenty you won’t be disappointed… BUY A BOX FOR CHRISTMAS!!!! I will be receiving gifts at Rocky’s if any one feel the Christmas spirit and I will share…