CigarChoice.net- Cigar Reviews and News

First things first, I have to thank Loren Gomez of Casa Gomez cigars for contacting me.  He had read a few reviews of mine, and emailed me asking if I would like to review some of the Casa Gomez line.  Being a blogger that is always looking for new cigars to review, I graciously accepted his offer, and within a few days, I had a package waiting for me.  Thank you Loren!

Here are the specs on this cigar:

Wrapper: Brazil arapiraca maduro

Binder: Honduran

Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican

Pre- Light:  Before I cut and lit the cigar, as I usually do, I ran the cigar across the length of my nose, and to my surprise, I got a nice coffee smell, with some slight white pepper smells on the foot.  I gently squeezed the cigar, and got just the right amount of “give” to the wrapper.  Thus far, everything is very nice with this cigar.  There are not a lot of veins, or imperfections in this cigar.  I am anxious to smoke it, so I clip it with the ever trusty Palio, and light up with my Ronson Jetlite.

1/3:  As I torched this cigar, the first few puffs brought some nice coffee and sweet flavor.  The draw on this cigar is just about perfect, with just a slight resistance, just the way I like it.  On the finish, I am getting some nice straight tobacco flavors.  The ash is holding on, but just barely.  The cigar is burning nice, and the smoke is billowing.  Overall, so far, this cigar is tasting pretty good, and also very straight forward.  Not a lot of complexity, but tasting good.

2/3:  As I continued on this cigar, the ash decided to drop right at the beginning of this portion.  I started to get less of the maduro sweetness, and more of the nice straight forward tobacco flavors.  The draw is still very nice, and the smoke is still billowing very nicely.  I started to get a little white pepper spice on the finish at this point, which made for an interesting combination.  At this point, the cigar is good, yet straight forward.

3/3:  As I finished up this cigar, the maduro sweetness came back a bit more, with the spice and tobacco flavors fading a bit.  The ash is getting a little flaky, but that’s ok with me.  The cigar is still burning nicely, and the draw is still great.  As I got to the end of this cigar, one thing I did notice, is that the cigar got a little harsh.  I am sure it was just a fluke, as I have smoked 2 others of this cigar, and did not experience that at all.

Overall Impression:  Overall, this cigar is good, and very straightforward.  If the price point is reasonable, I could see using these as an everyday smoke.  They are not the most complex cigar out there, but the flavors you do get are good.  I want to thank Loren of Casa Gomez for sending me a few samples to smoke.  I look forward to reviewing the Casa Gomez Connecticut soon!

Smoke Em If you Got Em, Buy Em If you Don’t!

Scott

First things first, I have to thank Paul over at Flat Bed Cigars for sending me a couple of these to sample.    I had been trying to decide what cigar to review next, as I needed to get this site rolling again, and Paul came through just at the right time, and gave me a couple of these to try.  I greatly appreciate it Paul!

Pre-Light:  My first thought when I looked at this cigar was just how MASSIVE it was.  at 5×60, it is not a cigar to take lightly!  As I ran the cigar across my nose, I got a faint sweetness that reminded me a bit of molasses, with a very strong straight tobacco smell.  I have always been a fan of Maduro cigars, and this one seemed like it would be right up my alley, but only time would tell!

1/3: My immediate impression upon lighting up and taking a few puffs, is that this cigar offers some very nice flavors for a maduro. I do get a slight hint of spice, with a very distinct, almost molasses like sweetness on the finish. There is also a slight coffee hint to the smoke as well. The ash is sturdy, and the smoke is billowing nicely. The draw is a bit tight, but not so bad that I can’t enjoy it. So far, I’m enjoying it immensly.

2/3: As I continue on the cigar, the ash is still holding strong. The molasses sweetness and coffee are still very pronounced, but the spiciness kicked it up a notch as well. This is a very well balanced cigar thus far, and the smoke billows nicely. I am quickly becoming a fan of this smoke!

3/3: As I finish up this cigar, the molasses sweetness, coffee and spice are still apparent. The ash finally dropped at this point, but only because I forced it to. The construction on this cigar is awesome. The flavors are complex and well balanced, and the price point is very reasonable, at aroun $5-6 per stick.

Overall Impression: Overall, I am planning on picking up ALOT more of these. I could see these as a regular smoke in my rotation. Once again, Flatbed Cigars hit’s a homerun. I highly suggest you guys pick up some of these!

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!
Scott

Disclaimer: I will have more pictures coming.. I am having issues getting pictures uploaded…

First things first, I need to thank the people at General Cigar for gifting these cigars to me.  Not expecting a thing, I got a package in the mail.  As I opened it  up, it had 5 of the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros, and the Punch “smoker” box with a few punch cigars in it.  I have no clue why they opted to send this package to me, but I am grateful, and I am humbled.  Thank you General Cigar!

Now, on to the review.  I was intrigued by this cigar, as the band is not in the typical spot that you’d expect to find it.  Instead of being near the head of the cigar, the band is found a bit past the halfway point, and acts as a “line” seperating the two wrappers on the cigar.  Here is what Victoria McKee Jaworski has to say about the cigar, taken from the LGC Blog:

La Gloria Cubana is pleased to introduce Artesanos de Tabaqueros, the second edition in the critically-acclaimed Artesanos series from La Gloria Cubana®.

Created by Team La Gloria Cubana to showcase the artistry of La Gloria Cubana “tabaqueros” (artisan cigar makers), Artesanos de Tabaqueros cigars are a stunning embodiment of the time-honored craft of cigar making. So exacting is the skill required to handcraft cigars of this complexity that Benji Menendez personally selected an elite group of just 18 master cigar makers, representing the cream of the crop from El Credito Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic.

Meticulously crafted to combine two different wrappers and two distinct tastes in one eye-catching cigar, Artesanos de Tabaqueros is a world-class smoke that opens to a rich and intriguing spice and ultimately reveals a depth of flavor that can only be achieved through a precise balance of unique and rare tobaccos. Hand selected from General Cigar’s extensive library of Dominican and Honduran tobaccos, the cigars are dressed in both a supple Connecticut Shade and hearty Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper. The blend is made solely of proprietary tobaccos, each aged five years or more.

Presented with two different wood treatments to promote the unique tastes promised in each cigar, Artesanos de Tabaqueros cigars are protected in boxes of 25. The collection will debut in early April with three frontmarks, each named to according to its dimensions: 650 (6” x 50, SRP per cigar is $8.00), 652 Belicoso (6” x 52, SRP per cigar is $9.50) and 750 (7” x 50, SRP per cigar is $9.00).

“To truly experience this gem of a cigar is to smoke it and taste the masterful artisanship that comes to life when one wrapper ends and the other begins in balance and harmony,” noted , director of marketing for La Gloria Cubana.

-Victoria McKee Jaworski Director of Public Relations

Pre-Light:  As I took a look at this cigar, I couldn’t help but notice how seamlessly they managed to combine the Connecticut shade and Sumatra wrappers on this thing!  The cigar smelled very sweet, with hints of raw sugar, and a strong smell of straight tobacco.  The cigar smelled wonderful, and I couldn’t wait to light up.  I clipped it with my ever trusty Palio and lit it up with my Ronson Jetlite.

1/3:  As I took the first few puffs of this cigar, I got alot of the typical smoothness and hay flavors associated with Connecticut wrappers.  At this point, the cigar is burning great.  The ash is a little flaky, but nothing to worry about yet.  The burn is fairly straight, and the draw is darn near perfect.  At this point, the strength is a bit on the mild side, which is typical with Connecticut wrappers.  One thing I noticed at this point is that there is a bit of spice/pepper that is not normally found in connecticut shade wrappers.  Enjoying it so far!

2/3:  As I started on this portion, I had burned through the Connecticut wrapper, and was starting in on the sumatra wrapper.  As I kept smoking, The flavors went from mild to medium-full in a HURRY!  It could have been my imagination, but I liked it!  The Sumatra wrapper was offering flavors of nuts, spice, and a touch of sugar.  It’s still burning well, and the ash is holding decently.  Really enjoying it so far!

2/3:  As I continued on the cigar, the smoothness of the Connecticut wrapper was making itself known, but I was still getting a lot of raw sugar and nut flavors from the sumatra wrapper.  The draw is still outstanding, and the smoke is BILLOWING.  I haven’t seen this much smoke from a cigar in a LONG time.  Loving it!

3/3:  As I finished up this cigar, not much changed, but I am enjoying the nutty and sugary flavors that I am getting, so there are no complaints here.  Still buring decently, and the smoke is billowing.  I am really enjoying this cigar!

Overall Impression:  This is a cigar that I could definitely smoke on a regular basis.  With the mixture of flavors, and the nice burn and ash, I am really liking it.  It was a pleasure to smoke, and I am glad I have a few more.  If you can, I recommend you grab a couple to try!

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!

Scott

Here I am, back at you with another cigar review.  A good friend of mine, Nick, gave me a couple of these cigars to try, and told me I had to review one on the site when I was done.  He knows I am primarily a medium to full cigar smoker, so when he handed me this one, he told me it was mild, but that I would still be surprised.  I guess it’s time to find out if I was surprised, or if this cigar did not live up to the hype garnered by Nick and quite a few other people.

Pre-Light:  The first thing I noticed about this cigar, is that it was perfect.  The roll was perfect, with no cracks, splits, or tears, and it felt just right, with a minimal amount of “squish” as I held it in my hands.  As I ran the cigar across my nose, I got a faint barnyard smell, with a little bit of carmel-like sweetness.  At this point, I am really looking forward to smoking this cigar.  I clipped the cigar with my ever-trusty Palio and lit it up with my standard Ronson Jetlite.

1/3:  As I lit up and took the first few puffs of this cigar, I got a good blast of the carmel sweetness I was smelling earlier.  At the back of my throat, the barnyard and hay flavors made a quick appearance, then faded away.  As I retrohaled the smoke through my nasal passages, I couldn’t help but notice how smooth it was.  It was very nice, and not real spicy, but had a great smell to it.  The ash it holding pretty tight, and the burn is very nice, and not too wavy.  So far, this cigar is living up to the hype, and I am really enjoying it, even if it is milder than what I usually smoke.

2/3:  As I continued onto the 2nd portion of this cigar, things changed up quite a bit.  The carmel-like sweetness just about went away completely, and the barnyard and hay flavors made their appearance in a big way.  I also started to get some black pepper spice on the finish, which in turn caused a bit of a burn on retrohale.  All of a sudden, it was like I was smoking a completely different cigar.  A good cigar, mind you, but a completely different cigar.  The smoke is still billowing nicely, and it is a very enjoyable smoke.

3/3:  Not much changed from the last third to this third.  The flavors stayed about the same, but the black pepper spice that made itself known got a little bit stronger as I got down toward the end of the cigar.  The smoke billowed nicely to the end of the stick, and I smoked it until I couldn’t hold onto it any longer.  The changes in flavors made for a nice interesting stick.  The burn still stayed fairly even and straight, and there were no construction problems to this point.

Overall Impression:  Overall, I found this to be one interesting cigar.  I had never experienced a cigar that made such a drastic flavor profile change from one portion to the next.  They were all excellent flavors and very enjoyable.  The price range on these sticks is really what keeps me from buying more, but I do see why they are as spendy as they are.  Great stick, not so great price.

I know, its been a while since an update, but life’s been getting in the way.  A few weeks on twitter, I was talking to Mederos Cigars, and he mentioned that he’d like to send me a couple samples to review, so I finally had some time to sit, smoke and enjoy.  As a disclaimer, I was given these cigars, with no charge, on the premise that I would review them with an unbiased opinion.

Wrapper: Corojo from Jalapa, Nicaragua

Binder: Esteli, Nicaragua

Filler: Esteli, Nicaragua

Pre-Light: As I pulled this cigar out of my wine-a-dor, and then out of the cellophane, I ran it across my nose.  As I smelled the cigar, I got nice notes of barnyard, with some pepper on the foot.  As you can see by the specs, this is a Nicaraguan puro.  I have yet to smoke a Nicaraguan puro that I didn’t enjoy, so I was really looking forward to this one.  I clipped it with my Palio, and lit it up with my Ronson Jetlite.

1/3:  As I toasted and lit this cigar, I couldn’t help but notice the great smells I was getting off the smoke that was passing my nose.
Lots of nice pepper and leather smells, with hints of barnyard.  As I took my first few puffs, I got the typical Nicaraguan pepper blast along with some nice cedar notes, and some faint barnyard and grassy flavors on the finish.  The finish with each puff is fairly short, which is nice.  Smoke is average in volume, which is ok with me.  So far, I am glad I agreed to review this smoke.

2/3:  As I got to the next portion of this cigar, the burn started to get a little bit wavy, but I didn’t feel the need to correct it just yet.  Still got more of the same cedar, spice and hay flavors I was getting in the first portion, but the spice seems to have picked up a bit.  I think the cigar is tunneling just a bit, as it’s starting to get hot where I am holding it.  I decided to slow down on my smoking to see if that helps with the heat issue.  Still really enjoying the amount of smoke I am getting.  So far, this is a very enjoyable smoke, despite the minor burn issues.

3/3:  As I finished up this cigar, I was still getting heavy spice, with hints of cedar and hay.  It seems to be  getting a little bit hot, so I decided to pitch it before I was completely done, but that’s just because I couldn’t really hold it well.  The smoke is now billowing more than it has the last couple sections of the cigar.

Overall Impression:  Overall, this cigar was fairly straightforward, and not overly complex.  The flavors of spice, cedar and hay are pleasant, and it made for a very nice smoking experience.  I am going to be looking for some of these shortly.  While not overly complex, the flavors in this cigar were very good, and worthy of keeping a few on hand for smoking.

Ok, so I figured I ought to do a Halloween review of a cigar, and since I just got the “Drac” review done yesterday, I figured why not throw up the review of the “Boris”.  I picked up this cigar at my local retailer, with a price point of $12.99 plus tax.  The box it comes in is very plain, but a nice looking box nonetheless.  After being disappointed in the “Drac”, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this cigar.  Tatuaje’s website says this about the “Boris”:

The Boris (The Frank out of Costume) 7 x 49 Churchill – Wrapper: Sumatra Ecuador Rosado – 1,000 boxes of 10 produced

So, I don’t know if essentially this is a “Frank” with a different band, or if its a different blend. I do seem to recall the “Frank” being quite a bit larger in ring gauge and length, but I could very well be wrong about that, as I’ve never had a “Frank” first hand.  Anyhow, on to the review!

Pre-Light:  Before I lit this up, I took a good look at it.  The first thing I noticed was this particular stick was really well rolled, with very little in the way of veins or any imperfections.  I ran this cigar across my nose, and got some of that typical Tatuaje spice, with a little bit of a sweet tobacco smell on the foot.  I clipped this cigar with the ever trusty Palio, and lit it up with my Ronson Jetlite.

1/3:  As I started in on this cigar, I got a nice blast of spice, typically found in most Tatuaje’s.  This was followed immediately after with some pure tobacco flavors, along with some nice sweetness mixed in.  The smoke was incredibly thick, and billowed nicely.  As I retrohaled on this cigar, I got ALOT of the spice that I was getting on the beginning of this cigar.  Not so much spice that it was uncomfortable, but just enough!  The burn is really straight on this one at this point, despite it being a bit breezy at the house today.  The ash is a nice white/grey color, but it very flakey, and tends to want to fall every 1/2″ or so.  That doesn’t really bother me, as I have an ash tray right next to where I am sitting.  So far, I am REALLY enjoying this cigar, and it reminds me a little bit of a larger Tatuaje Black Label, just a bit.  Not every flavor I am getting is the same, but it does have some of the same nuances.

2/3:  As I continued on this cigar, not a whole lot has changed.  I am getting a little bit more of that nice straight tobacco flavor, but other than that, this cigar is staying pretty consistent.  I am ok with that, because I am really enjoying the flavors I am getting out of this cigar.  The ash is still flaking off at about the 1/2″ point every time, and the burn is staying pretty darn straight.  At this point, I am seriously wishing I had a box of these to keep around for a while longer, since these are going to be difficult to find shortly.

3/3:  At the final third, the typical Tatuaje spice came back, this time full force.  The natual tobacco flavors have seemed to diminish a bit, and I am getting mostly spice.  It was a nice change, that I wasn’t expecting.  The smoke is still coating my mouth nicely, and the finish is fairly short on this cigar.  Now I am REALLY kicking myself.  I really want a box, but I have no room in the wine-a-dor, and I have no money.  Crappy predicament to be in, for sure,  but alas, such is life.

Overall Impression:  Overall, the “Boris” is hands down one of the best cigars I have ever had the pleasure of smoking.  I am very disappointed that I didn’t buy more of these.  I recommend these highly, and enjoyed it very much.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of smoking this cigar, start running around now to try and find one or 10.

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!
Scott

As many, if not all of my readers know, I am active on Twitter.  As luck would have it, so is Bryan at Cigar Spike.  I started talking to him about his product, and lo and behold, he offered to send me a few for review.  So, without further ado, here is my review for my loyal readers.

The first thing I noticed about this was that its some sort of plastic.  Before receiving it, and looking at the pictures, I expected it to be some sort of metal.  Nothing wrong with plastic, it just threw me off a bit, because I was expecting metal for some reason.  I put the Cigar Spike onto my key chain, and went to work, knowing that at lunch, I’d get the chance to test this thing out.

Lunchtime came around, and I quickly walked outside to the truck, and grabbed a cigar.  Now, this tool is straightforward, and easy to use.  I simply stuck the head of the cigar into my mouth, to get the leaf a little wet before spiking it.  I gently pushed the spike into the end of the cigar, and it worked well, with one problem.  I pushed too hard, and heard a nice *CRACK* sound.  It did manage to split the head of the cigar a little bit, but did not mend it unsmokeable.

Even with the small crack, as I smoked the cigar, I noticed that the smoke was coming to me in full mouthfuls, but a lot cooler than when I use my Palio to cut the cigar.  Another thing I noticed with the use of this particular tool, is that I was getting a little bit of tar buildup at the head.  Not too big of a deal, but not something I am used to with a good old fashioned cut.

Overall, with a little practice, the Cigar Spike can be a very useful tool, that will yield mouthfuls of cool smoke.  Its a nice, light item to keep on a key chain, and contrary to my first impression, I have yet to stab myself in the leg with it.  I can’t see this replacing my trusty Palio for every day use, but for a change of pace once in a while, the Cigar Spike definitely has its place.  At a price of $2.99 for 3 of them shipped, they are certainly affordable.   You can check out more info on the Cigar Spike at www.Cigarspike.com.

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!

Scott