Kings Cigars “King of Kings”
I was introduced to Kings Cigars just prior to IPCPR by Scott Hartog, who recently went to work for them. I subsequently met principals Anwar Mithavayani and Pete Tyndale at the show, as well as the Chattanooga Tweetup. All are very enjoyable company….and Pete has some pretty impressive domino skills as well! According to the Kings Cigars website, the company “has two factories, the first in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and the second in Esteli, Nicaragua. We are blessed to have access to the finest tobaccos in the world, and even more blessed to have the most skilled of hands roll our cigars. Our cigars go through a very rigorous aging process before they end up at our Headquarters in Pompano Beach, Florida. Once the cigars are in the United States we age them a rich Spanish Cedar Humidor room for weeks before they are shipped to the stores. We don’t cut corners, it is what makes us the Kings.“
Prelight
The King of Kings is a firmly square pressed 6″X64 offering from their Nicaraguan factory, and has an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper around a binder/filler blend of Nicaraguan Viso, Seco, & Ligero. According to Scott, it will be released in late September. In conversing with the folks at Kings, they are adamant about not releasing a cigar into the market until it is absolutely ready and up to their expectations. Their other two existing lines, the Conde and the Baron, are currently shipping. The King of Kings has an MSRP of just over $9 per stick.
A preliminary exam of the KoK shows a medium light brown wrapper leaf, uniform in color and with light veining. The leaf is extremely delicate, as is often the case with habano wrapper. Through no fault of the cigar, I managed to bump one on a hard surface during my travels and put a significant crack in the wrapper (more on that below). The complexion of the cigar’s surface is very smooth to the touch, with little oil. I didn’t detect any inconsistencies in the pack. It seemed quite even in distribution throughout the roll. The prelight draw resistance is normal-to-free, falling within what I’d consider optimal and provides an aroma and flavor that were both slightly earthy, with just a touch of spice that could be felt in the nose.
The Smoke
The spice that I was detecting on the cold draw becomes quite subtle when lit, even at first light. I didn’t really taste a great deal of the noted earthy character, either. What I did notice is a pleasant cedar flavor, followed by a long lasting nutty finish. Rounding out the first inch, the cedar presence has strengthened, and the sweetness faded into the background. I would place the strength at this point a firm medium, while the flavor ranks noticeably higher on that spectrum (a good thing, in my eyes). During the 2nd third of each of the two samples I tried, I didn’t notice any radical changes in the flavor provided by the King of Kings, although both did develop a more woodsy character. The burn on both was very good – despite the fact that I managed to damage one of the wrappers in transit. I dropped it and put a sizable crack in the foot. The cigar actually responded well, and managed to overcome that crack – managing to produce a very straight, well-behaved burn. The draw has been nearly impeccable for both cigars as well – slightly on the open side, but within normal expectation. Construction has been flawless throughout.
Summary
In the final stretch, the earlier cedar comes back into the limelight, taking the primary spot in the palette of flavors. This never rises into the nether regions of bitterness (as can happen with some cigars when cedar becomes too dominant), but definitely became more frenetic as I neared the end of the smoke. In the final analysis, the King of Kings is a well-blended, properly built cigar with traditional Nicaraguan flavor. Being one who normally reaches for a corona or robusto vitola, the size was a bit out of my regular comfort zone – but I have to admit it wasn’t uncomfortable while smoking. For someone who enjoys larger cigars and prototypical “Nicaraguan” flavor, this would seem to be a homerun. If you’re in that camp, you should by all means be on the lookout on your local shop’s shelves.
I stopped by the Viva Republica booth at IPCPR not really knowing much of the company. After speaking with them, and doing a bit of browsing around 
At first light, the initial puffs produce a caramel-reminiscent sweetness; almost – but not quite – sweetened cocoa, tempered with the slightest bit of spice through the nose; a full retrohale showcases this spice a bit more – but it’s never dominant. By the end of the first inch, what spice was present earlier has almost completely dissipated; it begins to transition into a hardwood forest-floor earthiness. It reminds me of the aroma from a forest after a steady rain. The burn has been quite well behaved, providing a mottled gray and white ash with a flaky appearance but solid in character. It is releasing 
If you read The Cigarmy with any regularity, you have likely noted that I tend to publish reviews for cigars that make an impression on me as standouts from more pedestrian fare. The Viva Republica Rapture Maduro is no exception. Having developed an affinity for San Andres wrapper leaf over the past 18 or so months, I have come to hold great expectations when I see it listed in blend details, and the Rapture Maduro did not disappoint. The early sweetness and subsequent earthy tone of the cigar were very enjoyable, and with near perfect construction I found the experience to be remarkable. While visiting the Viva Republica booth, an emphasis was made on the relationship between Jason Holly and the folks at La Aurora, and how he has near carte-blanche access to component leaf for blending. This carries through in the final product. I would never have identified this as a La Aurora cigar had it been an unbanded stick. I can only assume that is due to the personal preferences and hands-on presence in the blending process afforded to Jason Holly and the Viva Republica folks, rather than simply ordering up some vague notion of what they would like to have in a cigar and taking what is delivered. They have done an excellent job with this line, and I can only give it the highest recommendation. I foresee it becoming a regular part of my San Andres rotation, when in the mood for it. For my tastes, it is worthy of a box purchase, and I hope to see it on my local shop’s shelves soon…
The Black is medium brown in color, with a slightly golden hue. I find no soft/hard spots across the length in any of the four I have now smoked. The draw has been exceptional as well. Actually, the construction has been spot-on in all examples.
In typical Padron fashion, the construction and appearance for this cigar are absolutely flawless. Faultless cap; no voids nor overly dense areas; just about as perfectly built a cigar as one can find. The wrapper provides only a faint aroma of cedar, which may be from its years in the humidor. The foot aroma is somewhat bolder, with a bent toward sweet hay. The cold draw is delicious. I perceive it as cedary, and almost minty, even. It carries an evenly colored, medium-brown wrapper – which has settled into every nook and cranny of the bunch and binder beneath. The press is sharp but not awkwardly so.
At first light, I get a bit of a dusty beginning on the initial puffs – in feel alone. The flavor borders on a floral, or clove-like sweetness but is almost obscured by the dry texture. Once the dust has settled, this Padron really begins to shine, providing creamy allspice, perhaps even touching on cinnamon-sugar. This sweet spice is quite prevalent, with basically none of the cocoa I’m used to in its maduro counterparts. There was a noticeable tinge of sweetened coffee, though, which was very pleasant. The dustiness dropped off by the end of the first inch, leaving behind the creamy sweet spice throughout the midsection of the cigar. Although I shouldn’t be, I’m struck again by the lack of chocolate and cocoa flavors I find in the maduros. By the final portion, a slight bit of the earlier dusty character has returned – but never in full force. The finish is long and leathery; leaving me wanting more. Not more from a cigar; more of this cigar. As an added bonus, this Padron had a very significant physiological “relaxing” effect on me. A fantastic smoke!
I don’t keep many of any Padron Aniversario around long-term. I tend to buy one here and there for an “occasion” – or even no particular occasion sometimes. This experience has shown me the folly of that philosophy. Both of the examples smoked for this week have just simply been phenomenally enjoyable cigars, and both have made me want to put some away for a while. If I can keep my hands off them in the meantime, that is…..
In recent months, I have noticed quite a bit of social media chatter from 
Giving the cigar a quick visual check, 
While I would stop short of breaking a leg running to my local shop to buy up all their Cult stock, I did find the Classic to be an entertaining, enjoyable smoke….and one definitely worth exploring in more detail. I know they offer two other lines as well (the Fuerte and Ometepe), which I will make a point to try when I return to the local B&M. Definitely worth picking some up to give them a try.
Background – La Aurora 107 Maduro
The initial puffs during the first five to ten minutes of smoking provide a great deal of peppery spice. It is noteworthy that this spice is experienced more nasally than by taste initially. The finish, however, is where it really presents itself as a flavor. To me, it is more a cayenne/moderate red pepper flavor than the tropical spice I have noted in other cigars. In any event, it is quite pleasant, even for a capsaiphobe such as myself. I never felt overwhelmed, even at the height of this spice, which had settled considerably by the 20 minute mark. The burn at this point has been very straight and maintenance free for both cigars used to formulate this review.
It has been quite a while since the rumors and rumblings of a 107 Maduro made the rounds, but I think the extra time and effort taken in blending it were definitely worthwhile. Jason Wood, VP of Miami Cigar & Company, reports that
“So I started this morning off with Mystery Cigar A. It appeared to be a robusto, although I didn’t measure it (roughly 5″X50)
After that first inch, the pepperiness calmed down considerably. It developed a more leathery profile. The zing is still there, just less boldly. The flavors are bright; and going back to an analogy I made in an early Cigarmy review – I sometimes think of flavors being on a pitch scale (i.e. music)). These are higher in pitch than earlier. Kind of toasty – dry toast; almonds. Either my palate adjusted considerably, or the spice has toned down a lot by the end of the second third.
“Prelight, the wrapper aroma was incredibly faint and a bit cedarish – maybe from its storage rather than the leaf itself? The foot aroma was also faint, but not quite as much; sweet tobacco, almost oatmeal. I got a very mild hay flavor on the cold draw.
REVEAL: Blind Cigar “B” was an Ashton VSG
“Cigar C has a very toothy wrapper, and is exceptionally well made – it sports perfect cap construction in particular. Prelight, the wrapper and foot both are fairly mild in aroma – with the wrapper being a slightly sweet cedar or woodsy scent, and the foot only slightly sweeter but still in the same family. The cold draw holds firm to the aroma given; sweet cedar; almost (but not quite) floral.
but certainly not over the top; it provided a “dark” sweetness – not like baking spice; almost leathery. This sweetness, too, borders on being floral, but at no point would I go so far as to say it is floral.
REVEAL: Blind Cigar C was the La Aroma de Cuba Marquis (Tubo/Cedar Sleeve)
I thought I’d publish a Cigar Spotlight on Eddie Ortega’s Wild Bunch Series, and realizing how verbose I was in covering only 5 cigars for the previous spotlight, I thought it best if I did so at the halfway point. Waiting until the end of the year and posting an article covering all twelve cigars would likely be quite cumbersome to you folks reading. At year-end I plan to do the same for the remaining cigars in the series.
While I don’t typically find myself on the hunt for large ring cigars, I have to eat a little crow here and say I thoroughly enjoyed both Big Bad John examples I’ve now smoked. The pleasant flavors, great construction, and attention to blending overcame my normal aversion – which is merely a size preference. If I were to find myself in the mood for something in a 60 ring, I’d definitely consider the BBJ a prime candidate. I believe I’ll put a few down before they’re all gone for just such an occasion…
oak, perhaps, but not charred – just undried oak wood. At about the halfway point, the profile changes once again. I pick up on some fruity sweetness on occasion, braced by a foundation of earthy pepper flavors.
By the final stretch of “The Boss,” the toasty sweetness mentioned above has progressed nicely, and the cigar has settled firmly in the medium-strength range for me. The early spice has subsided considerably, but still pushes through on occasion – and, in fact, presented clearly in the very end. Tony “The Boss” is possibly my favorite of the first six vitolas of the Wild Bunch, followed by “Honest Abe” and “Island Jim.” I have already begun the process of clearing space to store some for the days to come when they’re no longer available…
The strength is a bit sneaky…it never “seems” like a potent cigar, but will give you the velvet hammer treatment if you’re not carefully minding your cadence. Overall, the toasty breadiness was prevalent throughout for me. This was the theme for the entire length of the cigar, with occasional diversions into the lighter, brighter flavor families. I have only had the opportunity to smoke one example of “Empire State,” though; I think more experimentation is called for….
It begins to lean toward a more earthy profile, but this never really builds to a dominant characteristic of the cigar. The sweet yet spicy interplay of the flavors that I’ve found so entertaining throughout this stick continue on to the very end. Now, on the final of the first six issues of the Wild Bunch, I believe I will take back something I wrote earlier: I think the “Honest Abe” is the most “My Father-esque” cigar of the first six. This one has Garcia written all over it. Being a fan of many other My Father-produced cigars, I’m loving it.
