Monday, May 31, 2010

Diesel "Unholy Cocktail" Review

Diesel "Unholy Cocktail" 5 X 56. Wrapper - Pennyslvania Broadleaf, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Jalapa, Condega, and Esteli. Made by Abdel "AJ" Fernandez. Full bodied.

Inital taste apon lighting was leather, wood and spice which quickly became a predominate spicey leather & wood flavor along with cinnamon.

When I got to the halfway point, I noticed the spiceiness picking up with the wood flavor - leather and cinammon was still present.

The last third of the cigar is where it got intersting - a sweetness emerged along with a creamy coffee flavor that became the dominate flavors. The leather taste was still noted but was more of a secondary flavor and the spice became more underlying than earlier in the cigar.

The finish of this cigar was also intersting in that it changed from the beginning to the end. The finish of the first half of the cigar was long with flavors of spice and leather. The second half was a long finish of a creamy sweet coffee flavor. Very enjoyable.

Construction, burn and draw was perfect. Nice light grey ash that held on for an inch and a half before falling off. Beautiful chocolate brown, oily wrapper. Very nice complexity and balance. I really enjoyed the change of flavor profile in the last third of the cigar - it really took me by surprise and made this experience even more interesting. MSRP on this vitola is $99.95 for a box of 30 ($3.33 per stick) which makes this cigar an excellent value. I highly recommend.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Malfetano Belicoso Review

Malfetano Belicoso - 6 X 52. Wrapper - Honduran Criollo '98 Trojes Viso, Binder - Honduran Criollo '98 Trojes Seco, Filler - Honduran Trojes, Nicaraguan Halapa. Medium bodied.

Initial taste after lighting is that of spice and wood. Continuing on, flavors of wood, leather and spice were noted balanced nicely.

Around the halfway point, there was predominate flavors of cedar and leather with and underlying spiceiness. I also detected some orange peel flavors as well.

The last third, there was some changes with the flavors. The cedar was no longer present but the strong taste of leather and the spice remained along with the orange peel. It was in this last third of the cigar, that I noticed an earthiness underlying the other flavors.

Construction, burn and draw were perfect. Ash was a black and white color. I enjoyed this cigar's flavor profile and it had good complexity and nice balance. MSRP on this particular vitola is $8.30. I suggest giving this cigar a try, I think that you will enjoy it.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Cugine Nicaraguan Robusto Review

Cugine Nicaraguan Robusto - 5 X 50. Wrapper - Nicaraguan Rosado, Binder - Nicaraguan, Filler - Dominican, Nicaragua & Costa Rican. Medium Bodied. Made by Alec Bradley Cigars.

Initial taste of dry woody spice. Within a short time, the flavors noted in the first third of this cigar are that of spice, dark coffee and a subtle sweetness that increases as the cigar progresses.

Halfway point reveals the spice picking up slightly, dark coffee with a slight leather taste emerging along with a caramel sweetness and cedar all balancing nicely together.

Last third of the cigar is pretty much the same flavors - the strong presence of the spice, caramel sweetness, dark coffee and cedar. Nice long finish of caramel, spice and dark coffee.

Construction, burn and draw were spot-on as with all Alec Bradley made products. This cigar had very good balance and complexity. I enjoyed this cigar very much. MSRP on this vitola is $8.25. I do recommend trying the Cugine Nicaraguan.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Press Release - El Primer Mundo Company, LLC.

Atlanta, GA — May 17, 2010 — Primer Mundo Cigar Company’s agreement with Los Blancos Cigar Company to sell and distribute Primer Mundo’s line of premium boutique cigars will expire on June 27th of this year. Primer Mundo Cigar Company is preparing to market, sell and distribute their current and future offerings independently to retailers throughout the country.

Primer Mundo has enjoyed a solid relationship with Los Blancos over the last few years and looks forward to continuing with a solid working relationship going forward. Primer Mundo Cigar Company’s current line of cigars will continue to be produced at Nestor Plasencia’s Segovia Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua through our current arrangement with Los Blancos Cigar Company.

Primer Mundo cigars have been on the market for four years in limited distribution and as the line expands its reach and offerings it is imperative that we continue to build and strengthen our brand identity. This requires a more hands on approach to our sales and distribution model as well as other initiatives. In this current cigar market driven by informed, discerning, and active consumers Primer Mundo Cigar Company is committed to providing the best cigar smoking experience possible. To do this we will continue to engage with our consumers at the grass roots level while providing solid support to our retailers.

Primer Mundo Cigar Company currently offers three lines: Black Label(Rosado Oscuro), Red Label(Criollo Maduro), and Blue Label(Connecticut Shade). We are looking forward to the release of a new line in the next few months and new lancero vitolas for our Black and Red Labels.

Please feel free to contact Sean Williams directly at 404-542-6914 with any questions. We appreciate your interest in the Primer Mundo line and we look forward to communicating with you in the future.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

1989 by Nestor Miranda Torpedo Review

1989 by Nestor Miranda Torpedo - 6 1/8 X 52. Wrapper - Nicaraguan Oscuro, Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua (Esteli & Jalapa). Just to the right side of Medium bodied.

Initial taste of dry woodiness which quickly changes to a very pleasant leather, wood and some light spice profile.

Continuing into the halfway point, leather wood and spice continues with the spice becomming a bit stronger but not overpowering. Hint of nuts was also noted. Very nice balance.

The last third of the cigar reveals a slight creamy sweetness and Cinnamon emerging along with the leather, wood and underlying spice. Very enjoyable long finish of leather, sweet Cinammon and some spice.

Construction burn and draw were perfect - sharp light grey ash that held on for a couple of inches before falling off. I enjoyed this cigar very much as it had a good complexity of flavors that I really like along with excellent balance. MSRP for this vitola is $5.50 which makes a cigar of this quality a great value and a no-brainer for a definte recommendation. It is nice to see that Nestor Miranda is aware of the economic climate and is continuing to offer very good cigars at very affordable prices.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

PDR 1878 Cubano Especial Capa Madura Robusto Review

PDR 1878 Cubano Especial Capa Madura Robusto. 5 X 52. Wrapper - Brazillian Arapirca, Binder - 1998 Dominican Criollo, Filler - 1998 Nicraguan & Dominican Criollo. Full bodied.

Initial taste was a blast of pepper that smacks you in the face along with wood and coffee. Smoking into the first third of this cigar, flavors of a tangy sweet citrus and black coffee emerge with the pepper becomming more of a spiceiness accompanied by a nice woodiness.

The halfway point is where things get even more interesting. The sweet citrus leather picks up along with the spice and now I am also getting a bittersweet chocolate flavor as well. Woodiness is still present but it is more of a background component at this point.

The last third of this cigar still has the wonderful sweet leathery citrus, spice, and a more bittersweet chocolate presence. There is also an earthy quality noted as well as some hints of wood. Very long finish of bittersweet chocolate, spice and leather.

Construction, burn and draw was absolutley perfect with a nice dark grey ash and a razor sharp burn. Beautiful dark brown wrapper. This cigar is a powerhouse full of complex flavors balanced perfectly. It is exactly my type of flavor profile. MSRP on this vitola for the first year is an amazing $4.55 which makes this an excellent value for a full flavored complex cigar that delivers so much enjoyment. A definte recommend by me to try.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Gurkha "The Pinker" 6 X 60 Review

Gurkha "The Pinker" 6 X 60. Wrapper - Dominican (Cuban seed Habano), Binder - Dominican, Filler - Dominican. Medium - full bodied. Special blend made for radio host Geoff Pinkus.

Initial taste was a dry woody taste which quickly turned into flavors of Leather, wood and some spice.

A little before the halfway point, this cigar begins to build with the leathery flavor picking-up, spicieness increasing and the woodiness in the background.

The last third of this cigar continues to build in flavor with the leather becomming more of a tangy citrus leather taste with the spice balanced nicely along with the woodiness. I also got some slight note of a sweetness that was very enjoyable.

Construction burn and draw were perfect. Beautiful oily brown wrapper on this cigar. The cigar never got hot or bitter and had good complexity for a cigar with such a big ring guage. Long finish of leather and spice. MSRP on this vitola is $10.00. I recommend trying The Pinker!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Joya De Nicaragua Dark Corojo Antano El Martillo Review


Joya De Nicaragua Dark Corojo Antano El Martillo 5.5 X 54. Wrapper -Nicaraguan Corojo (Jalapa region), Binder - Nicaragua, Filler - Nicaragua. Full bodied.

Initial lighting taste was woody with some leather. Into the first third of this cigar, spice picks up right away with leather, wood and notes of cinnamon. Towards the end of the first third, a sweetness begins to emerge as well.

At the halfway point, the sweetness really picks up - a syrupy sweetness that coats the palate along with a strong flavor of spicey leather and cedar and the notes of cinnamon as well.

Final third of the cigar reveals the same flavors as the halfway point with the sweet spicey leather dominating the profile. The cinnamon picks up to become a constant flavor. I did not taste the cedar anymore at this point. Long tasty finish of syrupy sweet leather filling the palate.

Construction was good but the wrapper was very delicate. Burn and Draw were perfect - razor sharp burn with a light gray ash. A strong full-bodied complex cigar that had nice balance as well. I enjoyed this cigar very much. MSRP on this vitola is $7.75 which I believe this cigar is worthy of, and I recommend it for an experienced smoker who enjoys a full bodied, full flavored cigar.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Cigar Fest 2010 in the books!


This past weekend was Cigar Fest 2010 and marked the first time my wife Carmen and I attended this big event. We went to help Miami Cigar & Comapny with their three booths - La Aurora, Nestor Miranda and Tatiana.

We drove the day of the event with little traffic and got there by about 9:30am, just about 2.5 hours. There was already a line of the VIH (Very Important Herfers) that are allowed in by 11am. Once we got inside, we quickly began to help setup and work the booths and by 11:00am, the place was busy! Lots of fellow cigar smokers all smoking and having a great time. All three booths were very busy handing out very good cigars. It was nice to see our friends again - Nestor Miranda, Jose Blanco, Don Pepin, Jaime & Janny Garcia, Pete Johnson, Eddie Ortega, Nick Perdomo, Pachy & Raquel Quesada, Terence Reilly, Jose Oliva Jr., Dave Wagner and many more, and to finally meet Nestor's daughter Tatiana as well as Jason Wood. Being in New York, we don't get to spend nearly as much time with these good people as we would like to. My buddy Michael Dove, along with partners Walt and Trey were there as well promoting the new website that I will be involved with - www.CarBarsandCigars.com. More on this site soon but I am really excited to be a part of it - I think it will be a groundbreaking site and I am sure everyone will really like it.

Everybody was in great spirits smoking, drinking, talking, and taking pictures. Cigars were everywhere - 40 vendor booths! It did get very hot in the building and I was told that this year was the first time it was so hot, but all in all a great time was had by all. It was a busy day for us but we can't wait for Cigar Fest 2011!