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Pinar Del Rio Flores Y Rodriguez Habano - Genios — (6 x 52)
Appearance / Construction -
The two new lines from Pinar Del Rio that we've received in the past few weeks, the Flores Y Rodriguez line along with the Pinar Del Rio Small Batch are two new Brands that were blended and rolled in the new Pinar Del Rio factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The scarce information that we were able to find on the blend was available from our friends at Halfwheel.com (naturally). The cigar is apparently a 100% Dominican Habano Vuelta Abajo blend, available in a Natural and Maduro wrapper, with the two wrappers coming from different crops. I love the band, it's very traditional feeling, and the colors really pop. The Flores Y Rodriguez cigars are packaged without cello, which has its pro's and con's, but opening up a box is quite a sight. The wrapper is a golden brown, very oily, same with the Maduro, oily and real beauties.. they're just begging to be smoked. The cigar is very firmly packed, and rolled very well, great construction on sight. On the cold draw I pickup a slight saltiness, with some woodsy, leathery tobacco flavor. Lets fire this new Pinar Del Rio stick up and see how it smokes.
First Third:
Upon lighting the cigar, all the leathery, salty-sweet tobacco flavors come to life, as if the cold draw was an exact preview of what was to come. Only difference being some nice mild spice through the nose on the retrohale. Again there is a lot of tobacco in this stick, and it's well packed, so the draw is just a tad tight, hopefully it will open up a bit as I smoke on. The cigar starts off medium in body, with some nice balanced flavors so far. I'm glad it's the first cigar of the day for me, it seems to be the perfect time for it, being that I enjoy medium to full to full toward the middle and end of my day. The Flores Y Rodriguez Habano shows it's Dominican puro roots, with a medium strength body and many very subtly interwoven flavors. This is not a Nicaraguan, in your face, power bomb. There is a nice honey and baked bread flavor running throughout so far, with some earthy tobacco, wood and leather to balance the blend. I'm wishing it had a bit more spice, but that's just the full body smoker in me! The draw has opened up to a good place and the burn has been phenomenal so far with a few minor corrections required here and there.
Second Third:
As the giant, almost 2 inch long ash dropped off, I started in on the second third.. The cigar is still around medium in strength, and has quite a Cuban'esque profile. I don't throw that term around much and to be more specific, Pinar Del Rio seems to have focused more on the flavor and balance than the strength. I can't wait to see what aging turns this smoke into. Unfortunately I smoked a few of these basically right off the truck with one day of dry boxing. The Cuban profile I speak of also refers to the "twang" I'm getting from this cigar. Yes ladies and gentlemen, its got Twang! If you smoke Cuban cigars from time to time you know will understand what I mean. The second third remains balanced, with a slight build in body, as well as more of a mineral flavor. The underlying spice of the cigar has picked up a bit and is now noticeable on each puff.
Final Third:
So far this cigar has performed like a champ. Extremely solid ash and near perfect burn. If this Flores Y Rodriguez blend is any indication of what will be coming out of the new PDR Factory, get ready to smoke some great Dominican cigars. I'm very interested to see how the different sizes as well as some more time on the shelf or your humidor changes the blend. As I said above, I think it's going to do wonders, for some reason I feel like this one will age very well. The cigar continued a similar profile in until nubbed, with the spice and body picking up, as well as some more definition in the already identified notes. Overall I must admit this one of the more interesting Pinar Del Rio blends I've smoked in a while.. It's grabbed my attention, I love the balance and Dominican profile, as I've said I can't wait to try this in a few other vitolas as well.
Look for this available at Atlantic Cigar and in our sister retail store, the Cigar Republic very soon!
Thanks for reading!
GC
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Currently rated 4.5 by 2 people
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Ortega Series D - No. 12 (5 x 52)
Background:
In early February Eddie Ortega announced his departure from his partnership with Erik Espinoza in their EO Brands company. Eddie left EO on good terms, and ultimately made the decision to be more independent and create his own brands. Check out full coverage of this news from our good friends at halfwheel.com.
Very shortly after that he released access to his new website ortegacigars.com, which announced his new cigar imprint, Ortega Cigars. The website lists 3 lines that Ortega will be releasing, the Serie "D", the Brotherhood, and the Aftershock. The Series D is the only cigar by Ortega that has been released, today I will be reviewing the No. 12 (5 x 52) size. Rolled at the My Father Cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, the cigar uses a Mexican San Andreas Maduro Wrapper and features Nicaraguan fillers and binders from Jalapa and Esteli. The Series D is available in 5 sizes, all box-pressed.
Eddie's website explains that the Ortega Cigar Co has a deep commitment to quality and that by using the best materials available, and by taking the time to allow the cigar to cure and age to perfection, you will be able to identify a "characteristic personality" within each cigar you smoke. What more can you ask for in a cigar? Atlantic does not currently have the Ortega Series D for sale, but they are coming soon so keep an eye out.
Appearance:
The Ortega Series D is encased in a dark, toothy wrapper, the cigars are box-pressed and very firm and well packed. The scent off the wrapper is very barnyard, the pre-light draw having the same earthiness as well as some sweet tobacco flavor.
First Third:
Upon lighting the Ortega Series D my first few draws give off a very sweet, spicy Nicaraguan flavor. The standing smoke output of the cigar is minimal which I prefer to a cigar that puts off smoke like a campfire. The cigar has a wonderful sweet nutty aroma. Lots of sweet character upfront with the perfect amount of spice through the nose on the retrohale. The body remains in the medium area in the first third, but I can feel it building. Behind the earthy, molasses core is a cashew nuttiness that creates a very nice smooth flavor. The cigar's rich profile also includes some anise or almost a licorice flavor.
Second Third:
The salt and pepper ash has been hanging on in 1 inch segments before dropping off. So far the burn and draw of the Ortega D No. 12 has been great. While the burn is a bit wavy, the draw has the perfect amount of resistance. The peppery spice has fallen into the background and almost disappeared as the cigar hits its midway point. The cigar has hit it's stride and become very smooth, the sweetness has balanced out to produce a very enjoyable creaminess. At this point the body has built to something closer to medium - full.
Last Third:
The last third continued much like on much in the same fashion, with some rich earthy tobacco sweetness. The peppery spice returns, as the body continues to build to medium - full plus. I am very much enjoying this cigar, although the profile is rich, earthy and sweet, it's not super heavy or bowling me over with strength. Even as the Series D gets down to the final few inches, the cigar remains smooth.
Overall:
Although I only smoked a few of these to write this review, I enjoyed everyone individually. Each size brought a different experience to the table. The cigars are a great reference to the rich, flavorful cigars coming out of Nicaragua these days. If someone was to ask me what a Nicaraguan cigar taste like, I would hand them this cigar. I wish Eddie well on his journey, hopefully all that he's learned in his years in the industry will go into creating great product. All indications so far point exactly to that, an awesome first blend for a new Brand from an industry veteran.
*Ortega Cigars are coming soon to Atlantic Cigar, we'll keep you posted!
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Currently rated 3.7 by 6 people
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Tags: eddie ortega, eo brands, ortega cigars, series d, erik espinoza, san andreas maduro, esteli, nicaragua, jalapa, my father cigars, don pepin garcia, no. 12 |
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Background:
Today I'm smoking the Elites (Toro 6x54) size of the Pre-release E.P. Carrillo Elencos Oscuro Series. The Carrillo Family has decided to release the Oscuro wrapped version of the Elencos blend in very small numbers at first, just a few boxes per retailer in the Elites size with the full release of the brand planned for late winter 2012. The Maduro Elencos Series sports a Brazilian Habano wrapper and a Nicaraguan / Dominican binder and filler.
Appearance / Construction:
The Elencos Series Oscuro is quite a specimen. The toothy wrapper is not anywhere close to as rough as the wrapper leaf used for the EPC Core Line Maduro. It's so smooth, I can barely see any veins or seams. Heavy in hand, the cigar is well packed.The pre-light draw gives off a nice barnyard aroma with some sweet tobacco flavoring. Lets light this baby up!
First Third:
After toasting the foot, the first few draws give off a substantial blast of pepper, with some nice spice through the nose. The toothy wrapper creates a nice white ash as I smoke through the first half inch. There's a lot going on here, despite the anticipation of a strong body and profile, I'm getting a very smooth, creamy cigar with vanilla sweetness to start. Something I did not expect from a cigar with such a dark wrapper! The cigar is wonderfully balanced and has a very complex flavor profile. Through the balanced strength and creamy finish, I'm also experiencing woodsy, earthy flavors that may be coming from the wrapper leaf? The regular E.P. Carrillo Elencos Series was very complex, very smooth and creamy, and instead of butting heads with the blend, the Oscuro wrapper just seems to add a new dimension. As the first third comes to an end, the strength of the body and the peppery spice is kicking up a bit. Also identifying some espresso or dark cocoa sweetness. The smoothness and balance of all the flavors is excellent, and each can still be identified in the profile. A very complex smoke.
Second Third:
The burn and the draw has been near perfection throughout the cigar so far, just the perfect amount of hesitation on the draw. When I smoke cigars I constantly retrohale, to the point where it's unconscious at this point. While this cigar has a medium to full body, and so many flavors going on the retrohale is amazing. Smooth and creamy smoke flows wonderfully throughout my nose allowing me to take in all this cigar has to offer. Waiting until late winter to try some more of these Toro's and the other sizes of the Elencos Oscuro is going to be tough, I'm really enjoying this cigar. The cigar's profile has shifted more towards the earthy, leathery flavors in the forefront, the sweetness has disappeared a bit, but the long creamy finish remains.
Last Third:
The final third is all leather and dark cocoa, medium to full in body, still an excellent balance in flavor and no bitterness at all. An enjoyable cigar all the way to the finish. I smoked it down as far as I could, until it got a bit too hot to smoke. All I can say is Wow, I know I'm gushing a bit on this one, but I swear Ernesto Carrillo has a gift, and luckily we are all around to enjoy his creations.
Overall:
I feel like every time I smoke or review a new EPC cigar, I'm blown away. Or at least I'm more impressed than the last time I smoked one. The ability to consistently outdo oneself is a true mark of greatness. If you were a fan of the Natural Elencos Series, which stood on its own as an amazing cigar, I promise this one is going to rock your world. Taking the Elencos to the next level by adding an Oscuro wrapper that works perfectly with the blend. Right now, the only way to score this cigar from Atlantic Cigar, is to purchase the Sublime 2012 Sampler. A great sampler for a great price, this cigar absolutely deserves to sit amongst the likes of the Padron No. 9, The OpusX Lost City and the Camacho Liberty 2011. Phenomenal cigar, can't wait for the other sizes and the full release which should be late-winter 2012.
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Background:
The latest in Rocky's Seasonal selections is the Rocky Patel Winter Collection 2012 (also known as the Winter Blend). This year's cigar sports a dark Ecuadorian Habano Wrapper with a dual binder from Costa Rica and Mexico, and fillers from both Panama and Nicaragua. An interesting blend with tobaccos from more than 4 countries. Let's see how it stacks up to the successful 2009 Rocky Winter Blend, and if it feels like a Winter cigar..
Construction / Prelight:
This 5 1/2 " box-pressed Robusto is a very attractive smoke. The aroma that comes off the cigar when you take it out of the cellophane is mouth watering! The dark reddish brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is smooth and oily. The construction is great, the cigar is well packed, with no soft spots to speak of. The pre-light draw gives a sweet spice mixed with tobacco profile. Can't wait to fire this one up.
First Third:
Right off the bat, Rocky's New Winter Collection gives a great blast of flavor and a TON of smoke. The cigar starts off with a leathery sweetness with some peppery spice and a nice clean finish. Although well packed the draw is a tad on the loose side, making an average puff fill the air with clouds of aromatic smoke. I've had to touch up the cigar a bit with my lighter to keep it on the straight, I'm attributing the wavering burn to the looser draw. The cigar has a dark chocolate, espresso sweetness reminiscent of the Casa Magna Domus Magnus and a slight cedar or oak profile. These flavors continue on throughout the first third with excellent balance.
Second Third:
Onto the second third, the leather and earthy flavors are in the forefront, mixing well with the rich sweetness of the blend. The body is medium at this point, possibly a little stronger, but nothing too wild yet. The 2012 Winter Blend has a ton of character, a very enjoyable combination of flavors that are bold and mix well. I think the cigar does a good job of being a "winter" batch. Its richness and bold flavor, combined with a long finish gives the Rocky Patel Winter Collection 2012 a true winter feel. I could definitely see myself lighting one of these up after a heavy holiday feast, a perfect topper to a belly warming meal.
Final Third:
All the draw and burn issues I was having at the start of the smoke have worked themselves out. The cigar basically just corrected itself and started to burn near perfectly. The body and spice have picked up in the final third, I'd say the body has easily reached medium - full. The sweetness that was initially in the forefront of the profile has dropped off into the distance. The earthy core of the cigar continued to play out until I nubbed it.
Overall:
I was a big fan of the 2009 Rocky Patel Winter Blend, another bold blend with a PA Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. I think Rocky has succeeded in creating a similar bold and flavorful (heavy) Winter Blend, but with it's own character. What this blend lacks in complexity and elegance it makes up for with a boldness of flavor. A great medium to full cigar loaded with a unique flavor that while not varied, is balanced and very tasty. As all seasonal blends, the Winter Collection is limited, so grab yours while you can! Only 2000 boxes of each size were made this year.
Check out Our Rocky Patel Winter Collection 2012 brand page to see availability or call us 1 (800) 887-7877 to order.
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Currently rated 4 by 1 person
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Tags: rocky patel, winter collection 2012, winter collection 2009, cigar reviews, new cigars, ecuadorian habano, costa rica, mexican san andreas, panamanian tobacco, nicaragua, medium - full body cigars |
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Categories: Product Reviews, What's New |
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Background:
Released at the 2011 IPCPR the Entubar V32 is Albert Argenti and Kiki Berger's latest addition to the Entubar line. For those of you just getting acquainted, these cigars are rolled in the old fashion "entubado" method which requires rolling the leaf into smaller circular tubes instead of the more often used bunching method. At first introduction the idea seems like a gimmick, but to the contrary. Not only is it much more time consuming but its proven to produce an end product that has phenomenal smoke production and draw. For the V32 line, B&A have placed what has been reported as a 32RG tube of straight ligero in the center of the cigar, giving it a serious kick in the strength department. Due to the scarcity of the quality materials gathered to make the V32, they are limited, Argenti claiming he was only able to make around "80,000 cigars" which breaks down to 4000 boxes of 20 (for all you math majors  ).
The Berger & Argenti Entubar V32 is offered in 4 sizes:
Khilla Korona (4 7/8” x 50)
Rogue Rothschild (5 5/8” x 54)
Tremendo Toro (6 1/4” x 56)
Bruto Belicoso (6 3/8” x 60)
For this review I will be smoking the "Rogue Rothschild", which is closer to a larger Robusto format than a Rothschild.
Appearance / Construction / Prelight:
Getting past the footband and 32 ring "Nipple" sticking out of the foot of the cigar is not easy, but once you get over all that, you will see the beautiful dark oily Maduro wrapper hiding under all the packaging. The wrapper is a Jalapa Valley Cuban seed Maduro leaf with a really deep rich character. The pre-light draw has a very distinct chocolate earthy note. Lets fire this baby up and see what's doing here!
First Third:
Following the instructions of the footband I toast the entire foot of the cigar including the extruding smaller foot. Once properly lit, the smoke production is amazing. Tons of spicy, rich aromatic smoke pours from the foot and also the center of the clipped end. This would be the entubado method working it's magic. Right off the bat I'm getting a rich profile of sweet cocoa, a bit of peppery spice and an awesome creaminess that's pulling everything together. So far, the Berger & Argenti Entubar V32 is definitely an in your face type of flavor profile, but its extremely smooth. Similar to smoking a Oliva Serie V when it's pumping on all cylinders, yet obeying the smoothness it was blended to have. This is a far different blend from the original Berger & Argenti Entubar or the Quad Maduro for that matter, and so far, I'm really digging it. As the first third comes to a close, I've continued to enjoy the smooth, balanced delivery of great flavors, the body has died down a bit and is content with delivering a more earthy profile.
Second Third:
I had to actually brake the ash off at almost the 2" mark for fear of wearing it. This, another characteristic of the Entubar V32 is a seriously strong and stable ash. The core of rolled tobacco creates an ash with a built in support system. If you wanted to you could easily smoke the whole cigar down without ashing. The finish left on my palate has changed a bit to a more baking cocoa than sweetness, but still its long and great tasting. While smoking down the second third, I carefully removed the large Entubar band finally showcasing the naked Berger & Argenti V32. It almost came as a surprise to me how dark and rich the wrapper on this cigar really is. The flavors continue on pretty much unchanged throughout the rest of the second act.
Final Third:
The last third kicks up a notch in the body of the cigar, reaching medium-full, maybe even full for some folks. I'm not sure if it's the long ash, or just a great balance in the blend, but the Entubar V32 is an absolute exercise in smooth, enjoyable cigar smoking. The high quality tobaccos used come together to create a wonderful profile of flavor. The construction, draw, and burn have continued to be absolutely perfect throughout and look on par to continue this way. The nicotine levels are starting to creep up on me, I wouldn't recommend smoking the V32 on an empty stomach! The cigar finished elegantly with the same balance and great flavor profile that it provided throughout.
Overall:
Berger & Argenti are not newcomers to the cigar game. These are veterans and these cigars shows this. The V32 is an example of the kind of cigar that two highly skilled guys can create when using super premium excellent tobaccos. While the cost is somewhat prohibitive, if you want a true artisan crafted cigar the Berger & Argenti Entubar V32 is a great pick. I would venture to say, personally this is the company's best blend to date. I would put it right next to EP Carrillo's Dark Rituals for the best maduro cigars released in 2011. If sticker shock is an issue, try a fiver or some singles first, I think you'll quickly see these are absolutely box-worthy.
Check stock on our website here of the Berger & Argenti Entubar V32 Cigar.
Thanks for Reading...
Keep on Smokin!
~GC
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Currently rated 0 by 0 people
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Background:
The Carlos Torano Family Cigar Company released the new Torano Vault Cigar at the 2011 IPCPR Tradeshow in Las Vegas. The story behind this new blend is that it is actually an old concept, recorded in by Carlos Torano Sr. in the family's special "blend book," which captured every blend that the family has created. Making this book priceless for the Torano’s which they store under lock and key. The book outlines blends that are current as well as a whole list of yet to be produced blends, hence the name “Vault.” To produce the Vault, Charlie Torano scoured this same book and found a blend they developed in 2000; blend A-008. This particular blend impressed Charlie as it had great potential but was missing an important ingredient and was never released. After revisiting this blend, Charlie Torano realized the missing ingredient was Ometepe tobacco, which is grown on the rich fertile soil of the volcanic island of Ometepe, in Lake Nicaragua. Using complex Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos in conjunction with this Ometepe leaf as a ligero binder the blend produced a spicy full bodied aromatic cigar with solid rich earthy flavors. The cigar is finished with a Colorado Shade-grown Habano wrapper.
Construction / Appearance:
The Torano Vault Toro sports a very attractive colorado reddish brown colored wrapper that's smooth to the touch with a nice oily finish. The packaging and cigar ring is very nicely done, black and silver without too much flash. The Vault also has a foot band identifying the long lost blend as A-008. The cigar is well packed, with no soft spots I can identify. The aroma coming off the cigar itself and through the cold draw is very barnyard, with a promise of some spicy, sweet tobacco flavors.
First Third:
The Vault took to flame like a champ and lit right up. Despite the heavy packing of tobacco, the draw is a tiny bit on the loose side, which I don't mind considering the blast of flavors coming from the initial few pulls. The cigar is putting out lots of chewy smoke. The profile is solid medium right off the bat, the flavor is very rich, complex and balanced with an earthy base, some sweetness and a bit of spice through the nose. This is not a hard cigar to like, I'm thoroughly enjoying the mix of earth leathery notes with an underlying spice and a long creamy finish. The burn line is almost perfect, the ash is a bright white falling off at half inch to inch intervals.
Second Third:
The second third has the body ramping up to medium-full, I have a feeling this one is on it's way to full body by the time I snuff it. The nutty creamy finish has some spice in the mouthfeel that blends excellently with everything else going on here. This is definitely one of the best Torano cigars I've smoked in a long time. The Torano Vault absolutely satisfies a wide range of the palate, but it doesn't over do it in any one area.. As the second third winds down the cigar has hit a very comfortable stretch… relaxing, smooth and absolutely full of dynamic flavor.
Last Third:
The last third is proving to be definitely fuller bodied, with a salty meat character. The sweetness has left for the most part, leaving a rich earthy smoke. The draw is a bit loose, which is causing the cigar to burn a little hot, but the flavor keeps me coming back. The nuttiness that was a major component of the cigar throughout has also come to the forefront.. reminds me of those roasted nut vendors you see (and smell) on the sidewalks of city streets. I decided to put the Vault down when it started to burn my fingers a bit. The cigars burn stayed razor right till the end.
Overall:
I think many cigar smokers are going to be very happy that the Torano family opened up the Vault book to create this blend and put it out on the market. An absolute exercise in balance and complexity, again I think this is one of the best efforts out of the Torano camp in a long time. They hit this one out of the park. Whether you get into the back story or not, bar none, this is a phenomenal cigar. For medium to medium-full bodied smokers who are looking for a great complex cigar that hits all areas of the palate , this is absolutely worth a try. Check out what's in stock on our Carlos Torano Vault Brand Page.
Thanks for reading..
Keep on Smokin-
~GC
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Currently rated 5 by 1 person
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Tags: Carlos Torano, Torano Vault, Torano Vault Toro, blend book, Carlos Torano Sr., Ometepe, Nicaragua, ligero, shade grown Habano Wrapper |
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Categories: Product Reviews, What's New, IPCPR Watch |
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New Cigars In Stock!
By admin
10/19/2011 3:18:00 PM
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Lots of great new cigars out this week! New Brands that just landed and are ready to smoke:
Aging Room Small Batch M356
- These Dominican beauties are created by Oliveros for Rafael Nodal's Habana Cuba Cigar Co. The brand is getting a lot of attention as of late due to some extremely high ratings in Cigar Aficionado. A complex, medium body cigar that's full of flavor and extremely enjoyable to smoke. The Presto Size is reviewed below in detail. These are "small batch" so they will be limited.
Rocky Patel Fifty
- After working on the blend for over four years, Rocky Patel has released the "Fifty", an ultra-premium cigar to celebrate his 50th birthday. The Fifty sports a dark Ecuadorian Habano wrapper hand selected from the top of the plant, the 7th priming. The double binder and secret blend of Nicaraguan fillers give the Fifty a rich full bodied character with complex flavors of peppery spice, dark chocolate and espresso. The packaging is very well done, with a limited edition decorated and numbered box. Give us a call or check our retail stores for more information: 1 (800) 877-7877. You can also email us.
Farmer's Select Nicaraguan Bundles
- We all know the economy isn't looking all that great these days, everyone is trying to save some cash here and there. We wanted to find a great Nicaraguan cigar that had all the usual qualities, some spice, a nice medium to full body, earthy tobacco flavors, etc.. at an everyday smoke kind of price point. With that in mind we did some digging around and came up with the Farmer's Select Nicaraguan. Because we import them directly and skip the flashy packaging, we're able to cut out the middle men, and deliver a 5 or 6 dollar cigar for half the price. Created in a small factory, these small batches are made with the same premium tobacco that are in your pricier smokes. Try them out, we think you'll be glad you did. All bundles are under 40 bucks.
Sencillo Black Cigars by Prometheus
- Sencillo is a project created by Keith Park and Prometheus. Last year's Sencillo was blended by Christian Eiroa of Camacho Cigars. This year Keith Park teamed up with the Plasencia family to create the Sencillo Black. The 2011 blend has more Nicaraguan tobacco to give the cigar a fuller bodied profile. Handmade in Nicaragua, Park created a blend made up of five different tobaccos that come together very well to create a balanced, tasty smoke.
E.P. Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011 - Dark Rituals
- The latest and third E.P. Carrillo Edicion Limitada released is a beautiful dark Oscuro Maduro dubbed "Dark Rituals". The Carrillo family's cigars just keep getting better, and the Edicion Limitada's are really something to covet. Blended with an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder and Nicaraguan Fillers, the Dark Ritual is a pretty large smoke, (6.5" x 56) and is encased in a dark, rich Oscuro Maduro wrapper. The cigar comes in boxes of 10. Only Carrillo Sr. could blend such a complex, full body and full flavor masterpiece. These cigars are no joke, forget about the single sticks - we haven't had something more box worthy in the shop in a long time! Like all Edicion Limitadas, the quantities are limited so hurry up!
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Currently rated 5 by 1 person
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Tags: new cigars, atlantic cigar company, aging room small batch m356, oliveros cigars, rafael nodal, , rocky patel fifty, farmers select nicaraguan, sencillo black, prometheus cigars, keith park, plasencia, ernesto carrillo, e.p. carrillo dark rituals, e.p. carrillo edicion limitada |
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Aging Room Small Batch M356 - Presto (4 1/2" x 48)
Background:
The Aging Room Small Batch M356 is a small batch production created by Rafael Nodal and Oliveros created from Habano Seed Ligero grown in the La Canela region of the Dominican Republic. M356 indicates the day the blend was created, on a Monday, on the 356th day of the year. Nodal claims to have been trying to launch the brand for a while now, but due to the scarcity of the quality tobaccos that go into the blend was only able to release it now.
Aging Room Small Batch M356 comes in 4 sizes, the Major (6 1/2" x 60), the Mezzo (6" x 54), the Rondo (5" x 50") and the Presto (4 1/2" x 48). For this review I will be smoking the Presto which has recently garnered a 94 rating from Cigar Aficionado and is labeled by the manufacturer to be medium bodied.
Appearance / Pre-light:
The cigar itself is an interesting small Robusto size wrapped in an attractive chocolatey brown Habano wrapper. The hue of this wrapper is just perfect, not too dark, not too light.. The artist in me always has a critique for the band, this one is pretty interesting and eye catching. Kind of a mix of traditional and a modern look. The cigar seems packed well enough, and is giving off a lot of aroma from both the wrapper and the foot. Sweet barnyard and some nutty flavors. The pre-light draw is fruit and nuts. Lets light this baby up.
First Half:
I'm going to do halves on this one being that it's only 4.5".. After getting this little guy lit, I get an intense rush of complex flavors. The Presto comes out swinging with a blast of pepper and some leathery earthy flavor. The smoke output on this short Robusto is impressive and the draw and burn are close to perfect. About a third of the way in, I'm starting to get some enjoyable sweetness mingling with the rest of the woodsy flavors. Although aged, this tobacco has not lost any flavor at all. While medium in body, the M356 Presto is absolutely full in flavor. This is a great cigar for the colder weather that is approaching. Perfect size, very satisfying and lots of flavor.
Second Half:
This is my first smoke this morning, and being generally a full body smoker, I'm finding it to be a perfect cigar to start my day. I'm very impressed with amount of complex flavor coming from such a small cigar. The body builds toward the end of the stick close to medium-full, as the peppery spice comes to the foreground. The finish remains rich all the way to the end. The Aging Room M356 did not get hot or bitter toward the end, I was able to enjoy this cigar down to the nub.
Overall:
Big things come in small packages. I've always been a fan of the Lancero due to being able to truly taste the wrapper flavor. The idea is the same here, although the ring gauge is a little bigger. The concentration of flavor is awesome in this little bomb, and extremely complex for a short smoke. To often short cigars are doomed to a singular flavor throughout with no changes or complexity, this is not the case here. I would definitely recommend trying this cigar, rating aside, I think you'll be impressed. The Presto size also gets my vote for a great shorter smoke for the upcoming colder seasons. The entire smoke time was under an hour, and that was at a pretty slow pace. After smoking a few of this smaller size, I'm interested to try some of the bigger rings to see if they impress as much as the Presto size did.
These just landed in our warehouse and are ready to ship. Checkout the Aging Room Small Batch M356 brand page for availability.
~GC
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Background:
Schrader Hispaniola cigars are a project by Fred Schrader, a successful proprietor of the wine industry. Manufactured by Para Ti, a small factory in the Dominican Republic, the cigars will be released as limited production Vintages as they become available. The first release, what I will be reviewing today, is the hand rolled Sparky Doco-Est MMIX, a 7 1/2 x 41/50/56 torpedo shape, packaged in a coffin, available in boxes of 10. The cigar is created from 100% aged vintage Dominican Tobacco. 3 Fillers, a 2001 Corojo (Ligero), a 2005 Havana Vuelta Arriba (Ligero), and a 2008 Criollo ’98 (Viso) with a binder of 2008 Dominican Crilollo ’98 (Seco), and a gorgeous wrapper of 2001 Honduran Colorado Habana (Viso). This is no daily smoke, with an MSRP being $26.95, this one is designed for special occasions or collecting.
Appearance / Construction:
Just by looking at the cigar you can tell that this is something special. From the wood- coffin to the wonderful unique Salomon-type shape, the Schrader Sparky's presentation screams special edition . The cigar has an expertly applied, wonderful aged, wrapper that has an oily soft feel to the touch. The Sparky is firm, but not overly packed. Most interesting is the business end, which has a small blossom of tobacco sticking out from the bottom like a fuse ready to light this rare specimen. After clipping the perfectly applied cap the cold draw, a bit loose, has some nice earthy, grassy flavors with a bit of sweetness on the finish. *Side note, my sinuses are a bit crippled this morning so I'm probably not going to be able to pick out all the eccentricities of this cigar, and I feel like it has a lot.
First Third:
The lighting preparation was very similar to firing up a Salomon, making sure to get an even burn on the small nipple extrudes from the foot. The Sparky starts out with a looser draw, with a good amount of smoke output containing an earthy leathery, woody flavor with some sweetness and spice right off the bat. The burn and draw are pretty much spot on as the cigar progresses with a few touch-ups needed here and there. Fred Schrader has definitely created something very complex here. I'm really enjoying the spicy and creamy flavors, along with the billows of chewy smoke the cigar produces. The shape is a really unique one, and I'm finding it really fun to smoke. At this point the foot is around 56 at least and the other end is an extreme difference at around 41 or so ring gauge. The cigar is probably medium at this point but I definitely see it working it's way into medium-full if not completely full.
Second Third:
As the second third opens up I am greeted with a blast of pepper spice… The Schrader Hispaniola Sparky has some kick after all! While many may have some sticker shock with the Schrader Hispanolia line, you can tell as you smoke the Sparky, that quality, aged tobaccos and some very good quality control was employed during the creation of this cigar. It's said that Fred Schrader oversee's the process to ensure a proper end product. A cigar absolutely for special occasions, but even more exciting for me, the Sparky is a cigar for special occasions for full body cigar smokers! The cigar continues to pump out volumes of spicy, chewy smoke with an earthy, woody base and aroma. The sweetness that was prevalent in the first third has taken a back seat.
Last Third:
More spicy, earthy goodness. Elements of cedary wood and pepper. If you do not like a spicy full body, complex smoke this is not for you. While I'm not getting a huge nicotine buzz, the cigar has definitely reached full in all areas. Did I say this cigar was spicy?? I mean wow, I'm enjoying it, but this particular specimen is comparable to Thai food with some Sriracha hot chili sauce liberally applied. I've been smoking this baby for well over two hours now, so as with all large perfecto's set aside a nice chunk of time to enjoy this cigar. With the general taper of the cigar the final inch or so has gathered a lot of power. I put the Sparky down with less than an inch due to some heat and a bit too much spicy mouthfeel.
Overall:
Wow, what an interesting ride. From start to finish, the cigar takes you through a complex journey, providing a lot of interesting flavors, a great draw and burn and overall a unique spicy experience. The big question.. Is it worth $26.95? Well.. unfortunately that's for you to decide. In my humble opinion, when spending that much cash, I generally tend to point myself in the direction of the nearest Padron, possibly a Davidoff creation.. However, adding a few of these unique creations to my collection is definitely going to happen, it's a great cigar that I think any full-body cigar aficionado should add to his stash. I'm sure I'll be reaching for another one soon. To check our stock visit the brand page on our website for Schrader Hispaniola Sparky Doco-Est MMIX.
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Background:
This is an interesting new project coming from Team La Gloria set for release in September of 2011. The La Gloria Cubana Retro Especial has been in the works for almost 8 years now. The brand was inspired by an antique humidor found at the El Credito Cigar Factory. Team La Gloria wanted to replicate the Retro look of the humidor. It took them two years to finally get the retro feel of the packaging just right. Each frontmark has a unique design and a classic name taken from the old days of El Credito. The cultivation of the cross-bred Connecticut seed grown in Honduras to create the beautiful wrapper that encases the cigars. The cigar features a double binder of bold Nicaraguan and Mexican tobaccos and a filler made up of proprietary blend of ligero and Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco.
Appearance and Construction:
This new cigar from La Gloria Cubana, the Artesanos Retro Especial has a really nice looking, rustic, toothy golden brown wrapper on it. I am reviewing the Club size which is a 5 3/4" x 47 ring gauge. The cigar is very firm and seems to be packed very well. The band gives the cigar a very Retro feel, which is what they were going for and was executed very well. One clipped the cold draw, while a bit tight, gave off somee nice earthy tobacco flavors.
First Third:
The Retro Especial starts off mild-medium with some welcoming earthy flavors, some spice, and an underlying sweetness. The draw gives off just the right amount of resistance and the burn line while wavering a bit, is pretty official. The ash is very dark and almost black where it meets the cigar. The flavors in the first third are already fairly complex. For some reason this cigar reminds me of Fall as I smoke it. The aroma is an Autumn spice with a young tobacco scent.
Second Third:
The Retro Especial Club is building in strength, body and spice as it moves into the second third. Strength wise this La Gloria Cubana is still medium in body, with clean mouth feel and a long finish. A nutty, dry flavor mixed with something earthy, possibly a woodiness, (cedar maybe?), moves into the cigar's complex array of flavors. There is something here that is reminiscent of some Cuban cigars that I have smoked in the past. It's not that twangy taste, but more of the vegetal youngness, it's enjoyable with this particular cigar because it seems to be very much balanced. I think the La Gloria Retro Especial will have some really great aging potential, even a few months in the humidor could do wonders here.
Last Third:
The earthy cedar flavors are definitely in the forefront as the cigar takes its final stand. In the background is a nice creamy sweetness, kind of like a caramel or coffee flavor. The last third of the Retro Especial is really enjoyable.. The strength of the fillers and binders have ramped up a bit to blend perfectly with the unique flavor of the hybrid wrapper. With a little left than an inch left, the cigar became a little bit too hot for my liking. Usually due to my smoking too fast.. Total time smoking this Corona Gorda was over an hour and a half.
Overall Impressions:
I'm not sure if it's the unique wrapper leaf, the interesting mix of fillers and binders, or all things considered, but this La Gloria has some serious character. Lots of complex flavors matched with an interesting aroma and perfect draw and burn. Team La Gloria definitely has an interesting product on their hands here. I can't wait to see the finished packaging, I think it's going to be a real eye catcher. It's good to see a big company like General Cigar create something with some boutique type qualities to it. While I'm sure they will be making a good amount of these babies, the cigar looks and generally performs like a smaller batch cigar. Perfect for Fall, this one will be arriving in our Retail Stores and online very soon within the next week. Keep your eye's peeled!
*UPDATE: These are now available in our retail stores and online in the Brand page section of La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especial.
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