Cigar Reviews Archive | Page 8 of 9

Cigar Review: Ortega Serie D Number 10

April 4, 2012 By Kip Fisher

Good day, everyone. It’s a busy week around here with unexpected travel and some work related chaos, but we’re back with a review. Today, let’s take a look at the recently released Ortega Serie D from Eddie Ortega/Ortega Cigar Company – specifically the Number 10 (6X52 Belicoso). The Serie D is the first offering from Eddie since leaving EO Brands (makers of 601, Cubao, and Murcielago) back in January. I have to admit I’ve smoked a number of the Serie D, and at least one in each of the five sizes, since their release just weeks ago. They are made for Ortega by Pepin Garcia (My Father Cigars S.A.), carry a Mexican San Andres wrapper, and Nicaraguan binder and filler. I began this review a couple of times with other vitolas (the Number 7 is actually my personal favorite), only to scrub the mission midway through because quite honestly I just wanted to enjoy the smoke. While review-writing is a fun diversion – otherwise I wouldn’t be spending my time fumbling through the process of learning how to do these things – it is sometimes good just to sit back and savor a cigar rather than busy yourself taking pictures and trying to keep notes in the process. I find myself just wanting to take in the moment and enjoy these sticks.

So, on with the show! Before first light, the aroma on the foot strikes me as a fresh hay, or even molasses if you linger a bit longer. The wrapper aroma is similar, but more faint. The pre-light draw is earthy, with only the slightest bit of spice on the tongue. The construction is solid, with no noted voids or tight spots and a very good draw. I came across a rogue tweet or two early on in the initial release that mentioned some tightness in the draw, but none of the ones I’ve had presented any draw issues whatsoever. The wrapper has a slightly oily feel to it, but not really a visible sheen, and is a beautiful dark chocolate brown. It almost has a rustic appearance in that the wrapper telegraphs every nook, cranny, and bump beneath. The leaf veins can be seen, but barely felt.

The room note while toasting the foot of the Serie D reminds me of toasted oats or nuts. I’ll mention here that this series has almost universally been extraordinarily easy to light. They have taken the flame evenly and quickly almost without fail. Going into the first inch of smoking, the smoke is somewhat drying on the palate. Not cloying by any means, just enough to pleasantly coat the inside of your mouth and keep your attention. I do get some mild red pepper this early on, and what I would call a woodsy core of flavors. The burn is well behaved, and as of yet is flawless in today’s stick.

The second inch is where the #10 really comes into its own. It’s still somewhat dry on the palate, and keeps the early notes of toasted nuts – although the hints of wood come to the foreground for me. The wood flavor has sweetened a bit, and in keeping with my habit of drawing associations to my grilling/smoking escapades, this reminds me of when I have applewood in my smoker in preparation for smoking salmon. The sweetness is not pronounced as in an added flavoring, but produces that sensation of being sweet when tasted and smelled. The early indicators of a well constructed cigar are proving to be true, and the stick has kept its good burn and even-keeled draw. After the second inch, and going into the third, the burn has wandered slightly. Nothing significant, just some slight scalloping easily corrected with a quick touchup. It hangs on to the earlier oat flavors, with the addition of some leather, but still keeps the woodsy core. The apple-like sweetness I mentioned above is still there, but some additional sweetened has occurred – it actually reminds me a bit of allspice, albeit only in fleeting wisps. There are also some brighter notes of cedar on the retrohale.

In the final stretch, I would place the Ortega Serie D well within the medium range for strength, but it produces bold, full and enjoyable flavors throughout. The only negative thing I can even concoct is that they can get a little “ashy” tasting if you overpuff them during the last couple of inches. But, that is avoided by simply minding your cadence. In my mind, these are great cigars in most every respect. They have the added bonus of being at a very reasonable pricepoint as well. My local shop has singles for $6.10-7.10 each, and if you buy in box quantities they can be had for $5.85-6.25 each. That’s a heck of a bargain in my book, and I plan on stocking up…plenty for now, and some to keep tabs on to see how they progress with added time in the humidor. I wouldn’t shy away from recommending the same to you.

Pre-release Review: Arturo Fuente Casa Cuba

March 25, 2012 By Kip Fisher

During the IPCPR tradeshow last year, a number of new cigars were announced by A. Fuente. Some of them have since been released, but relatively little has been subsequently seen of one new line, the Casa Cuba. They have held this trademark for many years, but as far as I can determine it has been mostly out of use, except for some cigars marketed and sold through Tampa Sweethearts that bear the name. My understanding is that this is an entirely new line. I managed to get a couple of examples of this upcoming line at CFC, and later at a Fuente event I attended. Little is known as to the composition or pricing of the Casa Cuba, but I thought since I had two of them I’d at least try to write up a quick review. My examples were of the same vitola – basically a toro, coming in just a hair’s breadth short of 6 inches, and about a 50 ring. In speaking with a rep, there will apparently be a few different sizes from which to choose once they are released. The packaging was not yet ready, so both were unbanded when given to me.

As I have come to expect from Fuente, the construction is absolutely impeccable. The wrapper has an oily sheen, and while it has a very fine tooth, or grain, overall it is very smooth to the touch. There are prominent but unobtrusive veins on both. One of them does have a noticeably more red hue, but I noticed no difference in the flavor. I might not have even noticed the difference if I weren’t accustomed to differentiating hues on the brown spectrum from years of looking at furniture finishes. Prelight, the foot aroma was of sweet, freshly hewn hay; the wrapper scent was similar but more sedate. Both sticks are very firm throughout their length, and well packed. So dense, in fact, that I am pleasantly surprised by how freely they drew. The prelight draw gives a strong hay flavor, not at all reminiscent of any other Fuente product I can think of…and I have tried many. Once again, the near perfect construction is apparent in the draw – just a slight resistance; in my “Goldilocks” zone. Not too tight, not too loose. Just right.

Another surprise awaits upon lighting these. Lots of initial spice! Not the typical impression I get from most Fuente cigars, and not the spice I normally encounter even in their stronger blends. It struck me as being similar to what I do get from many Nicaraguan blends in recent years. There’s a little citrus in the background, but the peppery spice is definitely in the forefront for the first 10 minutes or so. The only other Fuente-esque similarities that came to mind are possibly the Sungrown Cuban Belicoso, or even some Don Carlos’ I’ve had – but only in flavor “families.” This would be akin to those cigars on anabolic steroids. Very potent in perceived spice, but backed by somewhat similar flavors during the early smoking. Moving past the 1-inch mark and into the second, the ash produced is finely textured, and predominantly white. The spice mentioned above has subsided – considerably – and more sweet flavors develop. Not sweet in the sense of a cloying flavoring, just a smoothness or “roundness” to the tastebuds – think leather and oats. If I were blindly sampling these, I would never have guessed the maker in the first inch. By the second, it has become a little more recognizable as a Fuente composition. The aroma in the early portion was very much like what I associate with a stout Nicaraguan puro, with some slight astringency. That has mostly dissipated by this point. If you are a fan of the Opus X line, you’d probably recognize the occasional puff or two of the almost oatmeal-like flavor of a well-aged Opus. But just a hint. There’s still some citrus coming through as well. Going into the third inch of smoking, the ash is still clinging tightly. In fact, it did not let go until about 3″. In the final stretch, the leather flavor develops quite a bit more, as does the sweet oat flavor. The initial spice peeks through on occasion, but it is far less bold than in the beginning. The final half-inch is bound by citrus and leather as well.

Overall, the blending in this cigar is an enigma to me. I can pick up slight glimpses of other Fuente offerings – there are occasional flashes of Don Carlos, the Magnum R’s, or even a well rested Opus. But, in the end I can’t say it is a near match for any of their other standard lines. It’s not the powerhouse smoke found in some of the blends Carlito favors, nor does it have the milder signature of Carlos Sr. Despite the few flavor descriptors I’ve used above, it is a very complex cigar that I found interesting from first light to final puff. It began with a modest kick in the pants, and ended firmly embedded into what I would deem medium in strength – and I found the flavors captivating throughout. Those of you who know me know that my absolute favorite cigar is the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos #3. Will this replace that for me? No. Will there always be some Casa Cubas in my humidor? A resounding “yes!” Absolutely. Assuming the blend is the same once they are released, this nicely fills a niche for which I commonly have use. It is lively and bright in flavor, without being too overpowering for a nicotine-wimp like myself. The flavors are comfortable and pleasurable; this cigar is bold enough to keep your attention and focus, but approachable enough to enjoy while your mind and/or hands are elsewhere. There is plenty of complexity to maintain interest for the duration. That, bundled with typical Fuente construction and burn characteristics, make for something right up my alley. I highly recommend you give them a try when they hit the market later this year.

Cigar Review: Room101 Namakubi Tiburon

February 13, 2012 By Kip Fisher

From all appearances, I jinxed this week’s weather by mentioning how great it was last week. This fine Florida morn comes in about 40 degrees cooler than the same time a week ago, and I do not appreciate it. Nonetheless, there are cigars to be smoked and I’m not one to shirk my responsibilities. The “official” cigar up for review this week is the Room101 Namakubi Tiburon (6X44) from Room101 Cigars. The Namakubi series derives its name from Samurai culture in centuries past, where the Namakubi was a trophy presented to the winning leader after a competition – the trophy being the severed head of a losing warrior. Our modern day Namakubi is presented with an ornate band, adorned with stylistic lettering reminiscent of the culture from which it takes its name. It is manufactured by Camacho for Room101 and contains a filler composed of a mix of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran (Vuelta Abajo) tobaccos, a proprietary Honduran binder and Ecuadoran Habano wrapper. The Tiburon is available in at select retailers, and sells for about $7.50-8.00 each in the Tampa market.

I picked up several Namakubis at my local shop, and have now smoked 3 in preparation for this review. In all honesty, the first thing I noticed about each of them is the beautiful, milk chocolate-brown wrapper. The coloration has been remarkably uniform, such that the seams of the roll almost disappear. This uniformity has been the case in most every facet of the smoking experience with my three examples. The consistency among all three has been noteworthy, whether speaking of color, construction, flavor, burn, or any number of other characteristics. I am impressed, to say the least.

Upon clipping, the cold draw is firm; perhaps just a bit moreso than I would deem perfect for my comfort, but within the normal acceptable limits. The flavor is earthy and sweet, and the unlit aroma is of hay and fig. The construction is as good as any cigar I’ve ever smoked. The pack seems to be equally distributed from head to foot, with no soft spots nor voids. During the first few minutes after lighting, the smoke has a bit of spice to it, although this is tempered with a sweet, leathery flavor. I have paired today’s stick with a cup of plain, black coffee. The interplay of the slight acidity/bitterness in the coffee with the sweetness of the Namakubi is very nice. I’d recommend at least giving it a try if you’re a coffee drinker. Continuing into the first inch of smoking, the spice transitions into a mild, sweet flavor that I have, on previous occasions, called “tropical spice.” As I mentioned in another review, this family of flavors reminds me of the Caribbean cooking spices more than the black pepper typically referred to as “spice” in cigar descriptions. The aroma of the sidestream smoke is pleasing as well, perhaps a little less astringent than most, and almost chocolate-“ish.” Normally, I would not notice this as I smoke, but I caught a whiff of this one and thought it might even be tolerable for many folks who prefer not to even be near a lit cigar.

As I progress into the second inch of smoking, I must say that the Namakubi seems less potent than other Room101 cigars I have tried. This does not impact the flavor as might be expected. The flavors are quite bold and bright; it just isn’t as strong a blend as some other offerings. The flavors are slightly muted from the earlier portion of the cigar, but still present in straightforward, well-aged tobacco taste. Forgive the muddled description, but the flavor seems more “round” than earlier – more smooth; creamier even. There is also an occasional but short-lived fruity sweetness that will make an appearance. As I approach the third inch of this final Namakubi, the ash is still clinging tightly to the unburned portion of the stick. This is despite the fact that I have been walking around while smoking, and actually dropped it into the cradle as I was placing it on the ashtray. I was so impressed by this that I measured once the ash fell. Of the original 6″ length, only 2.75″ remained when the ash first fell. That is more than half the cigar burned away before it let go – with absolutely no effort to protect the ash. Just normal, everyday smoking. Amazing, really, considering it had no special treatment. Going into the final stretch, the strength picked up measurably. It still isn’t overpowering or brash, but it is noticeably stronger. The flavors are still bold, but sweet with no harshness. I’m picking up leather and wood flavors in addition to the sporadic sweetness mentioned above.

The Namakubi series’ production is limited, but not severely. I believe there were to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 cigars produced (total for the 5 vitolas). Since they have been on the market for several months now, I imagine they will become increasingly harder to find in the not-so-distant future. I highly recommend them to anyone – there’s something for everyone in the blend. Tons of good, tobacco flavor in a cigar that falls in the medium-full range. It won’t overpower you with the strength sometimes found in similar sticks, but you’ll know you’re smoking a cigar. Tons of interesting flavor, and lots of bang for the buck. My only hesitation in making this recommendation is the fear that someone out there may shop at the same B&M as I do, and buy up all of what they have left before I have the chance…

Cigar Review: Thunder by Nimish Robusto

February 6, 2012 By Kip Fisher

It’s a fine Florida February morning, about 74 degrees and sunny. Sounds like reviewing weather to me! Today, I’m going with the Thunder by Nimish, from Nimish Desai, via cousin Rocky Patel. The Thunder is Nimish’s brainchild, and was brought to market a few months ago in three sizes (Robusto, Toro, and Torpedo). I picked up a few of the Robustos last week from a local B&M, two of which form the basis for this review. Personally, I might have called it a Short Robusto, as it’s only 4.5″ long, although it is of slightly larger girth than typical for the vitola, at a 54 ring. It has an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper, dual binders from Nicaragua and Honduras, and a Nicaragua/Honduras/Costa Rican filler mix. As I’ve mentioned before, there was a time when I enjoyed several of RP’s early blends, although I have to admit I have drifted away from most in recent years. You can find the Thunder in the Tampa market for about $5 per stick as singles, and as low as $4.50/stick if you buy in box quantities.

The prelight aroma on these is ever-so-slightly sharp, but reminiscent of hay, and the prelight draw is dramatically sweet. Construction is near-perfect, and exhibits no voids nor tight spots throughout its length. The draw is open and free, with just enough resistance to put it dead center of my personal preference. The flavor on the cold draw is almost unidentifiable – I am having a hard time associating it with a specific taste, although it reminds me of cherries; not the cloying, Maraschinos you get in a jar of syrup…the actual fruit from the tree. It’s very sweet, and I can’t say I have ever experienced this so strongly in a cigar before. It is actually quite pleasant. I will attribute this to the Costa Rican tobacco, as the only thing remotely similar I recall were some sticks rolled by a local roller who used some Costa Rican leaf as well – but I have nothing to back that up outside of my own speculation. In any event, it is enjoyable. The Thunder has a small pigtail tied into the cap, which doesn’t change the smoking characteristics but is a differentiator that makes it a more attractive cigar.

Upon first light, the Thunder produces tons of spice on the palate. This spice is more felt than tasted, and the flavor is akin to a oats, or some other grain. It gives a noticeable tingle to the nose upon retrohale as well. The sweetness experienced prelight is very faint, but discernible at times in the first inch. By the end of this first inch, the spice has begun to dissipate. It never completely vanishes, but does acquiesce fairly early on. The cigar produces a great deal of smoke, and burns quite well. Toward the end of this portion, I pick up a bittersweet chocolate flavor, and the “cherrylike” sweetness has disappeared entirely. It has been replaced with a differing sweetness, more like leather than fruit and more recognizably like the sweetness typically found in comparable cigars.

The ash falls into the ashtray near the beginning of the second inch, and the spice has dialed back even more. A leathery flavor has stepped front and center. There is still a bit of a tingle through the nose, but it is slight. Early in this part of the smoke, I would have claimed that the Thunder was not as strong a cigar as I had expected; however, by the end of the second inch the potency has picked up in good measure, and I would rate it on the heavier end of medium or lighter side of full strength. The flavors have become more subdued at this point, but the leather, chocolate, and spicy feel remain. I also noticed the ash became remarkably more flaky in the latter part of the cigar compared to the earlier portions.

I am impressed by the lifespan of the Thunder. Despite the fact that it is only 4.5 inches long, it burns at a slow enough rate that it lasted well past an hour and very near 90 minutes for me. That’s considerably longer than I expected before lighting the first one. Toward the end of the stick, the flavors did develop into a profile that was somewhat ashy and tart to me, which signals the end of its life – a sure signal from many cigars. Overall, I am left with a similar impression as with the Humo Jaguar I wrote about last week. I am currently in a groove where I don’t go out of my way to seek cigars with Honduran tobacco…but this is still a very good cigar. I do have to say, the Thunder was a bit more interesting to me than the Humo Jaguar, though. And at the price, it’s a dang good value. I’m not going to knock myself out to run down and buy a box of these tomorrow, but it’s not out of the question should the opportunity arise in the future. And, I certainly won’t hesitate to keep a few around in the humidor to mix things up on occasion.

As a sidenote, you may have noticed a new logo in the header for The Cigarmy tonight. This is thanks to Amy over at BrandLand. She did a wonderful job of capturing what I was looking for in the logo, and I highly recommend her. You’ll be seeing several more changes in the coming days and weeks to the layout and format of the site (starting with the background image behind that logo…it seems to clash a little with the logo right now). If you have any suggestions for how I might improve the site, either in content, appearance, or navigation – let me know. I’m still very new to this and certainly open to suggestions!

Cigar Review: Humo Jaguar Robusto

January 29, 2012 By Kip Fisher

Today, we’re smoking the Humo Jaguar, released in 2011 as the product of a competition held at the Honduran cigar festival by the same name. Honduran tobacco growers and cigar makers submitted their entries for the competition, and over 200 panelists sampled the blends to select a winner. This year’s winner was blended by Nestor Plasencia and subsequently released into the marketplace by Miami Cigar & Company in the Fall. Today’s review is based on a couple of examples, both robustos which have been resting in my humidor since October. The Humo Jaguar is also available as a Corona Gorda (6X52), and Gigante (6X60). The blend is, of course, a Honduran puro, and the robusto is available in the Tampa market for about $7.35/each in box quantities of 20.

So, without further ado, on with the review! The wrapper leaf is quite smooth, and despite a fair amount of chatter about it’s oiliness, my two examples lack any sheen at all. They are supple, but feel very dry to the touch. The packaging for the Humo Jaguar calls the wrapper oscuro, but to my eyes they are considerably lighter in color than what I would typically give the name. The pre-light draw is firm but free, and well within the normal acceptable range. It produces a sweet hay flavor on the cold draw. If you happen to be familiar with pipe tobaccos, it actually reminds me of Old Gowrie, a virginia blend by Rattray’s. In fact, it reminds me quite a bit of Rattray’s virginias’ aroma and flavor while unlit. It takes fire very well, and lights easily and evenly with no fuss. The first few minutes of smoking are marked by some spice, and will give a little tickle to the nose upon retrohale. The initial flavors are leathery and sweet – but with a slight tanginess I find pleasant but fleeting. As ridiculous as it may sound, throughout the first inch of the cigar I detect an occasional taste that reminds me of tortilla chips, actually. I only remember making this comparison in two other cigars – the early releases of the Shaggy by Gurkha, and an Indian Tabac cigar (I don’t remember the exact blend – my memory isn’t what it used to be) from back in the days before Rocky Patel had become a household name in cigars. I haven’t had any of his cigars in a very long time, but I have had a few Shaggies and don’t recall coming across this flavor in them for a few years now. Both of my Humo Jaguars burned at a pretty quick clip, although neither turned harsh nor burned hot. I just noticed they seem to be relatively short smokes, even for a robusto.

Today’s example ashed itself just past the one inch point, and produces an ash with flaky appearance, yet exceedingly rigid. The smoke is somewhat drying to the palate, and had me reaching for the water glass regularly throughout the cigar. I switched to coffee late in the stick, which worked out nicely. It paired well with just plain, black coffee. In the second inch of smoking, the earlier sweetness seemed to take a backseat to a charred flavor. Not charred in the sense of being unpleasant – think of the skin on a roasted marshmallow. The strength also seems to pick up during this time, but in all honestly the cigar never developed the strength that I had expected. It remained in the goldilocks zone for me, never brash but always reminding you it’s there. By the third inch, and into the final stretch, the flavors had subdued considerably. The leather and hay would pop up on occasion, but both the sticks I smoked carried a woodsy profile during this time. There was also a periodic waft of a medicinal flavor that would make its presence known, almost reminiscent of some solvent…but this would dissipate quickly after a puff or two. The sweetness came back into play toward the end, although not to the extent as the early portions of the cigar. The ash seemed to break more unevenly toward the end, but still kept its rigidity throughout. It tended to break off leaving a jagged edge, rather than cleaving along clean lines.

Admittedly, I have not been a huge fan of Honduran tobacco for some time now, tending to smoke more Nicaraguan cigars (and, as always, a goodly portion of my beloved Fuentes from the Dominican). I have enjoyed them quite a bit at different times in the past, and probably will again. While the Humo Jaguar is a good cigar, it isn’t a game changer to me in that respect. I certainly can see the quality of the blend, it just isn’t my “Holy Grail” of flavor profiles. However, if you enjoy Honduran tobaccos, I would not shy away from recommending it to you. The quality of the leaf, as well as the construction and appearance, are superb and certainly worth a try. It is obviously blended and built from good components, and rolled well.

Cigar Review: Oliva Serie V Maduro Toro (2011)

January 16, 2012 By Kip Fisher

Foiled and frustrated by a Jeep that hasn’t wanted to start all weekend, I decided to settle down for a smoke this fine Sunday afternoon. Besides, it’s time for a review and a cigar is just the medicine I need to calm the mind, soothe the spirit, and fire up some problem-solving synapses. This week, let’s take a look at the Oliva Serie V Maduro. I picked up a 10 count box and a half of these back in December, and have smoked 7 of them so far. These cigars have made their annual appearance on retailers’ shelves since 2008, in limited quantities of 30,000-50,000 sticks. They typically sell briskly, but you can still find them even now in mid January (if you want some and have trouble finding them, send me an email at [email protected] and I can line you up with my local B&M, who still has them in stock as of today). They retail in the Tampa area for about $8.50/single or $8/each in boxes of 10. In previous years, they have been blended and rolled as torpedoes, but come in a toro (6X50) for 2011. The wrapper is a San Andres (Mexico) maduro, and both binder and filler is Nicaraguan.

Before first light, today’s cigar reveals an intensely toothy wrapper. It is firm to the touch, with no noticeable soft spots. There are several small tears in the wrapper, although none penetrate the binder. These should not affect the smoking, but it is worth mentioning.

On each of the ones I have had thus far, the first few puffs have provided a good dose of typical Nicaraguan spice. This spice, however, is tamed by a slight sweetness in the background upon retrohale. If you prefer one or the other, you can control the two by metering how much fresh air is drawn in during your puff. If you leave the corners of your mouth open while drawing, you can pull in fresh air with the smoke – the more fresh air, the more prevalent the sweetness in this cigar, and vice versa. More fresh air in the mix will also dilute the drawn smoke and reduce the burn when exhaled through the nose. This cigar also produces a smoke which is quite dry on the palate. The volume of smoke generated is impressive, as well. It will continue to burn and produce a great deal even after being placed in the ashtray for a bit.

In this first inch of smoking, the flavor is akin to cocoa, although with a slight (but pleasant) bitterness – think dark rather than milk chocolate. The ash is mostly white, and yields such fine detail that it still shows the tooth of the wrapper leaf. I’m not one to make claims about any qualities of a cigar based on ash color (I’ll leave that to Sherlock Holmes), but this one is certainly nice to look at. The ash held on to just past an inch before breaking off.

A little further into the smoke, it occurs to me that each example of the 2011 Serie V Maduro I’ve had has tended to burn very slowly, and responds well to a slow cadence when smoking them. I had some burn and draw issues with the 2010 release, but I have to say all the ones from this release have been outstanding. The burn line has been razor-sharp, with very little wandering. I haven’t made so much as a touchup on today’s stick, and don’t remember ever needing a relight on the others from this release. As I’ve mentioned before, having to fidget around and relight a cigar is a serious pet peeve of mine. This one has been absolutely worry-free, as have the others. Over the course of seven sticks, that impresses me considerably. Each of mine from this batch have been impeccably rolled. I’ve had none of the burn issues I remember from last year.

Rounding out the second inch and into the third, the flavors remain very similar to those in the first portion of the cigar. While this has changed little throughout the stick, the flavors are pleasant enough to stand on their own and not become tiresome. Much of the spice has subsided, although that might actually be due to my becoming desensitized to it. It was never overpowering in any event. The dark chocolate and mocha/coffee flavor still remains firmly in the front seat, although more sweet notes begin to make themselves known. At the three-inch point, there is an occasional but distinct hint of molasses as well, although this is fleeting and sporadic. The dryness of the smoke is worth mentioning again, as I am halfway through this cigar and the area around the clipped cap is still almost completely dry. It produces almost no reaction from the salivary glands. I sometimes tend to be a wet smoker, yet even with a glass of water at hand this stick stayed dry.

In the final stretch of smoking, the flavor did become slightly “ashy” for a couple of minutes. I’m glad I stuck with it, though, because that subsided and was replaced by a return of the earlier sweetness. In fact, this was actually one of the more enjoyable portions of this cigar. The burn remained true all the way to the nub, and I never even felt compelled to touch it up.

Overall, the 2011 Oliva Serie V Maduro is a very impressive cigar. The construction and draw are flawless, and the appearance is beautiful. Because of the almost monochromatic flavor profile, I would not likely place this in my day-to-day smoking rotation; however, it is a great stick to keep around for the occasional treat, and well worth putting away a box (or two) for the year ahead. The availability is limited enough that the market will never be flooded, yet obtainable enough to keep you coming back for more. I think it fits well within the niche for which it is made. So, if you have the chance, I definitely recommend putting a few away for a rainy day.

Half Ashed Episode 055 Giveaway….here’s the pic:

Cigar Review: Crowned Heads’ Four Kicks Corona Gorda

January 8, 2012 By Kip Fisher

After a few weeks of dealing with holiday travel, unseasonably cold weather, and a couple rounds of pollen-induced congestion, it’s finally time for another review! My holiday travel consisted of a trip back home to East Tennessee for Christmas, and while there I managed to pick up a few sticks that are not yet available at my local brick & mortar shop in Tampa. I bought a few of today’s featured stick at Smokin Joe’s/Old City Cigar in Knoxville – you can find them HERE, but they don’t appear to keep their site up to date in realtime – it seems to be more of an informational website. Give them a visit in person if you’re ever in town, though. They have a great selection and friendly helpful folks to either point you in the right direction, or just chitchat if you have a few minutes to hang out and smoke.

Now, on to business. Today’s featured cigar is the Four Kicks Corona Gorda (5 5/8″ X 46), from Crowned Heads. When you can find them, they retail around $7/stick for singles, and a little over $6/each by the box. Most likely, you’ve already heard about them, although they’ve only been on the market a couple of months and only at select retailers. The buzz about these has been astronomical for the past several months, and the accolades have poured in during the past few weeks as various blogs and magazines assembled their “Best of 2011” lists, many of which featured this line of cigars. This chatter is not what drew me to the cigar, however. Nor was it my general love of EP Carrillo’s blending magic – which is significant (EP Carillo manufacturers Four Kicks for Crowned Heads). What intrigued me most was THIS blog entry by Jon Huber himself, the “head” of Crowned Heads. He described an impromptu reaction from a passerby about the Four Kicks he (Jon) was smoking. An “unprompted, unsolicited, and completely authentic” appreciation for the aroma of what the bystander proclaimed to be “a special see-gar.” No fru-fru. No “essence of Hungarian sweet paprika.” No BS. Just simple pleasure from a good cigar. Now THAT appeals to me. I get it. A cigar for cigar-smokers. How novel! In my mind, that is a far more desirable achievement than making the lists and generating industry buzz. So, without straying too far into the realm of fru-fru I will give at least a paragraph trying to describe my experience with Four Kicks and ask, “Does it live up to that standard?”

I bought 5 of the Corona Gorda size, and at the time of writing this is the third I’ve smoked. I gravitate toward corona(ish) sizes, so this is a natural match. Each have been flawless in construction. Moderately veiny, but not “rustic” in appearance. The draw has been astoundingly perfect…a “goldilocks” draw for me. Not too tight, not too open. Just right. Before lighting, the aroma and cold draw are nothing fancy. If pressed, I’d call the flavor sweet leather and mildly grassy. But mostly, just honest-to-goodness tobacco nicely assembled into a worryfree cigar. It actually reminds me of sticks I have mythologized in my mind from my early days of cigarsmoking 20 years ago; cigar experiences I remember being great, but rarely encounter today. Likely due to the impeccable construction mentioned above, the burn has been great on each of mine thusfar. A minor touchup here and there, but never enough to be bothered. The leather flavor from the cold draw weaves in and out for the duration, interspersed with slightly more astringent citrus – think lemon/grapefruit rather than sweet orange. It is somewhat dry on the palate as well, and lends itself to keeping the head of the stick dry. I suppose that’s somehow related to the pH of the smoke…but that’s a discussion for another day.

So…what is the verdict for Four Kicks? Does it live up to the fanfare? Is it worthy of being declared “a special see-gar?” Is it worthy of the shelf-clearing sales that have made it somewhat difficult to track down? My vote, which means little but can be guessed by looking at the nub to the left, is a resounding “yes!” The blog entry that created the desire in me to search for the Four Kicks also ignited a very specific vision, a craving even, for something I’d been unconsciously seeking for quite some time. Four Kicks revealed what I had been looking for in a cigar, and then filled that niche. Call it marketing genius, fate, destiny…kismet even. I call it a damn good cigar. Often, I am motivated to recommend a certain cigar to a person based on the information at hand about what they enjoy or dislike in a smoke. I can’t think of a soul for whom I would not recommend Four Kicks. Maker’s Mark bourbon currently has a television commercial campaign entitled “It Is What It Isn’t.” This sums up the Four Kicks for me. There are no pretenses, no “angle” from the makers or marketers. They’re just putting out an outstanding cigar at a fair price and letting the cards fall where they may. That is why I’ll be buying more.

Cigar Review: CAO OSA Sol (Lot 50 – Robusto)

December 4, 2011 By Kip Fisher

…so I find myself just hanging around the house this fine Florida Sunday afternoon, and thought it was about time to do another review. I went to the humidor and pulled out a cigar I have tried several times and with which I seem to have developed a strong love/hate relationship. I selected the CAO OSA Sol, in robusto (5X50, and marketed as the “Lot 50”). I have tried each of the three vitolas this line is currently offered in, and to my palate, the Lot 50 has been the more flavorful of the three. It’s also the only size OSA I had on hand, so that made the choice rather obvious :). This is the first release from CAO after the change in ownership to General Cigar. According to General, the cigar features the Olancho San Agustin (OSA) wrapper, grown in “one of the most fertile and rich valleys in Honduras.” The binder is Connecticut, and the filler is a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. In Tampa, it retails for about $3.75 per stick by the box, and $5.50 for singles.

Pre-light, both the foot and wrapper produce a mild woodsy aroma, slightly sweet but not overtly so. The draw is firm but unencumbered, and produces more of the sweet wood and leather noted in the scent. In terms of appearance it is a beautiful cigar. The wrapper leaf shows a few slender veins, and is dry to the touch – although very pliable and supple. I don’t detect any uneven spots along the stick; the bunch seems uniform throughout, with possibly a slightly dense area about 1/2″ from the foot. The feel and draw leads me to believe the cigar is quite well constructed.

Upon initial light, the most remarkable thing is the copious amounts of smoke that this cigar is generating. The first blast of flavor is very spicy on the back of my palate and throat. It is more felt than tasted; I would stop short of calling it peppery in taste, but it produces the distinct feeling of pepper on the palate. The retrohale is aggressively spicy in this respect, but I find that often within the first few minutes of many cigars. As I progress through this first inch of the smoke, the flavors almost make it over the hump into some citrus or cedar…but not quite. There is a slight perceived bitterness, which could honestly be produced by the dryness of the smoke. Within the first five minutes of lighting, I was reaching for my ice water to relieve that dry feeling. This dryness continues throughout much of the cigar.

Toward the final puffs of the first inch, and into the second, the flavors do progress into the citrus family I mention above, but the wood remains. It flirts with the citrus, but doesn’t commit. The spice has subdued by this point, but is still present. Had these flavors come through stronger, I might have compared them to other sticks I have had that include a bit of Brazilian tobacco – I always get a clear perception of citrus whenever that is the case. I would place this in the same family of flavors, but not prominent in this case. There is also a noticeable presence of a somewhat off-putting “ashy” flavor as well. During this time, the burn became a little cockeyed, but stayed reasonable with only a couple of minor touchups. It continued to produce a great deal of smoke. This smoke production and the accompanying rate of burn dictated a very slow cadence. It pays to widely space your puffs with this cigar. It never even pretended to go out, even with only occasional draws.

The third inch of smoking has confirmed the earlier hunch about construction. I find no fault there at all. It has burned exceedingly well, and never wavered in the easy draw mentioned earlier. By this point, the flavor and spice has mellowed a good bit, with the woodsiness and citrus finally coming into their own. In fact, by the final stretch, the spice has all but abated. The ashy taste has definitely become more pronounced, however, signaling the end of the cigar.

As I mentioned at the outset, I have developed a love/hate relationship with this blend. I have had each of the sizes, and probably about 7-8 of the blend total now. To be honest, had I judged solely on the first example I smoked I would probably have been willing to purchase a box of them. After subsequent smoking, however, I don’t think I would. The cigar itself is a solid smoke, just not for me to keep around in large quantities. The construction has been outstanding for each of the sticks I have smoked, and the burn has been exceptional in most cases. The flavors, however, just haven’t been my cup of tea. Some have been great, straying further into the citrus and cedar, while others have been ashy and bitter in comparison. This inconsistency has been a drawback for me. I certainly would not hesitate to buy a few more and keep them around for the occasional diversion. In fact, I will probably do just that and sample them as time progresses. But, I don’t foresee purchasing a box of them any time soon. I would absolutely recommend trying them…but I would not recommend investing in a box without going through several first.

Cigar Review: Torano Master (Robusto)

November 28, 2011 By Kip Fisher

Well folks, it’s time to gather around the proverbial fire – or literal, as the case may be – and talk about a cigar. This week, we’re looking at the Torano Master series, specifically the robusto (5X50). It comes from the Torano family, and according to their website the blend is a collaboration between Charlie Torano, the current head of the company, and Felipe Sosa, “master” cigar roller (hence the series name, and the presence of Felipe’s image on some of the packaging). The blend is a concoction of Ecuadoran Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan (Esteli) binder, and Nicaraguan (Esteli & Jalapa) filler. The Master series is intended to only be available at brick and mortar tobacconists.

The initial once-over for this stick reveals a very silky wrapper – not oily to the point of producing a sheen on its surface, but very smooth to the touch. There are some veins in the leaf, but they are sparse and unobtrusive. The aroma at the unlit foot is faintly reminiscent of hay with just a little spice – it produces a bit of a tickle in the nose rather than an identifiable odor. A quick sniff of the wrapper gives the same impression, but still very slight. The cap of the cigar telegraphs every bump of the tobacco underneath, but proves pliable enough to handle clipping without tearing during the cut. The draw is firm but free, and very sweet to the palate – imagine figs and hay. The construction is solid throughout the stick, with neither void nor highly dense areas to speak of.

The initial light surprises me with an explosion of cedar flavor. It is very powerful and quite recognizable, in fact. I know some folks who are turned off to cedar flavors in their cigars. I happen to really enjoy it, as long as it doesn’t stray too far into bitterness. There is a fine line between cedar, cream, and spice versus harshness, astringency, and bitterness. I can say that in the Master, at least in this one, that is not the case. There is just enough creaminess to temper the cedar. Being one of those folks who strongly associates flavors and aromas with memories, I am instantly transported back a decade or more to a time when I did some hobby work on cedar lining for some humidors. The cigar produced an aroma not unlike the seared cedar dust that filled the air when sanding the wood for that project. There is also a noticeable tickle in the nose; a very slight burn but not uncomfortable. I would, however, recommend drawing in a little air alongside the smoke if you intend to retrohale this stick in the early minutes. By the one-inch mark, both the cedar and spice has subdued, although the cedar is still very prominent. The spice has begun to present more of a pepper flavor and less of a feeling by this time. The burn is very good, and has evened out perfectly, with the ash hanging on to about an inch or so before falling. Its appearance is somewhat flaky, but internally it seems to be quite sound.

The construction on this cigar is remarkable heading into the second inch of smoking. It is a no fuss – no muss kind of stick. Within the second inch, the cedar flavor is still dominant, although calmer than the initial light. It does transition to a sweeter version of itself by the end of this section, however. Toward the end of this period, and into the third inch, I pick up a little nuttiness in the mix which is very pleasing. There are also some “darker” flavors that weave themselves in and out of the smoke – notes of leather, raisins, and some of the fig noted earlier. The burn here wandered ever so slightly, but a quick touchup corrected that with no issue. I should mention this was not a serious problem; routine maintenance, really. I just happened to notice because it was the first time I had even thought about tinkering with the cigar. The sidestream smoke has an aroma very different from the flavor produced in the mouth – it is considerably darker, more leathery than the flavor produced.

In the final stretch of the cigar, the strength jumped a notch or two. I would still place this firmly in the “medium” range, but it was noticeably stronger toward the end. It was never overpowering nor harsh in any way, which scores big points with me personally. The smoke did become slightly astringent at one point, but a short purge cleared that entirely. Once that astringency began to creep back in a few minutes later, I knew the cigar was signalling its end. The finish is lingering and sweet, almost woodsy in nature. In my years of smoking cigars, I’ve never been a particularly dedicated devotee of Torano products, but for no other reason than my tastes tend to flit about from maker to maker with few exceptions and I never settled into a groove with a Torano blend (at 250lb, I don’t know that anything I ever do could be called “flitting,” however). This cigar may just change that. It is certainly my favorite product to date from the Torano family, and one of the better sticks I’ve tried in recent months. I do chalk this up to my appreciation for this flavor profile, however. At box prices of ~$4.75 per stick for the robustos in the Tampa area, it is definitely boxworthy for me. I will likely be picking up more of these in the near future, and would highly recommend them to anyone – with the caveat the if you do not enjoy cedar in your smoke, you probably won’t enjoy it as much as I did. If, however, you’re a fan of woodsy flavors leaning sharply into the cedar camp, you will most definitely like this stick.

Cigar Review: San Lotano Oval Robusto

November 12, 2011 By Kip Fisher

For our review this week, we’re smoking the San Lotano Oval, by A.J. Fernandez. My local B&M just got these in, and since the Oval has been such a huge hit for AJF, I thought I’d give it a try and see what all the hubbub is about. It is available in 6 vitolas, and I selected the robusto (5.5″ X 54 ring) for the review. In the Tampa area, the robusto retails for $8.50-8.75 for singles. According to the company website, the Oval has a Habano 2000 wrapper, aged a minimum of 4 years, Nicaraguan binder, and an “AJ Fernandez Secret Filler” composed of both Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. It comes in a unique ovoid cross-section, which to me looks like a semi-square press. Think of a cigar that has been square pressed along one axis, rather than two.

Upon removing the cellophane, my specimen is very solid; there are no voids or overly dense areas to be found. The wrapper feels and appears very oily and smooth. Mine appears to have been jumbled around a little bit during transit, as there are a couple of dings on the cigar, one of which has left a small (1/8″) tear in the wrapper leaf. Hopefully, the binder will hold true and not allow extra air into the stick that might interfere with the smoking. Before lighting, the foot gives a pleasing scent of hay and maybe a slight hint of cedar, while the wrapper provides the faint aroma of a tobacco barn. Mild, but pleasant. The prelight draw delivers very little in terms of flavor, but the near perfect construction is evident in what I’ll call a “Goldilocks draw.” Not too loose, not too tight. Just right.

It’s a cool day here in Florida (63°), which lends itself to getting pure, clean flavor from a cigar. The Oval takes the light very well, and toasts evenly with little effort. The initial puffs produce a slightly vegetal, woody spice. The spice here is slightly cedarlike, and produces a noticeable but tolerable tingle in the nose upon retrohale. There are some “bright” notes of citrus as well – more a lemon/lime sensation, rather than the sweetness of orange or tangerine. Not an explicit flavor, just something that brings these flavors to mind. The smoke in this early portion of the cigar is quite mouthwatering, which I understand to mean the pH is lower than that present in the mouth. The burn in the first inch has a slight wander, but not too bad. The hole in the wrapper mentioned above is thusfar a nonissue, and produces no problem with the draw or light.

Into the second inch of the Oval, the spice has mellowed considerably. I have a cup of plain, black coffee as accompaniment today, and the pairing is actually very complementary. The flavors play together quite well. The burn has continued to have a small bit of scalloping around the edges, but I am impressed with how adept the cigar is at self-correcting. There are now some nice, darker flavors of cocoa or espresso. These are very clean, however, in that they dissipate quickly from the palate.

In the 2″-3″ portion of the cigar, the taste has gotten a more creamy feel in the mouth, with little of the spice that was prevalent earlier. The coffee remains, and even a more tea-like flavor as well. Most cigars will respond well to a slow cadence, and the Oval is no exception. Slowly smoking this cigar will reward you with wonderful bursts of flavor – cocoa, coffee, nuts, mild cedar can all be picked out. I was not especially careful with the ash, but it impressively held on to about 2.5″. The texture of the ash itself is also noteworthy – it has a very fine, dimpled grain to it. Toward the end of this phase of the smoke, and into the final stretch, the tingle I experience in Nicaraguan tobacco returned. However, it was never harsh nor acrid. It was well balanced with the other tobaccos and remained flavorful and comfortable, presumably held in check by the addition of Honduran tobaccos in the filler. The sheen from the oils in the wrapper is remarkable at this point, and appears to almost be fleeing the heat of the ember. The cigar produces copious amounts of smoke in this section, as well. That’s not as important to me as it is to some folks, but it was very pronounced here. The coffee flavors remain dominant and up front throughout. It is worth mentioning that I never had to relight this cigar, nor even touch it up. Every time even a mild variance occurred, it quickly corrected itself and I was on my happy way. Within the final few puffs, it did become slightly astringent, but this dissipated with a slight purge.

The San Lotano Oval is indeed a big hit for AJ Fernandez, and after smoking this one I can see why. It was a great cigar all around. The flavors were bold and pleasurable, and while they varied throughout the smoke, the profile was very consistent and harmonious. The burn and construction were flawless and provided a worry free smoking experience. It is bold enough that you know you’re smoking a cigar, but approachable enough for even the neophyte cigar smoker. While not inexpensive, the pricing is definitely in line with the experience provided – I have certainly paid the same for much lesser cigars. Overall, I am very impressed with the San Lotano Oval, and would highly recommend it to anyone. According to my rating system-in-progress below, it scores a 92. A great cigar.

Flavor (1st third): 9

Flavor (2nd third): 9

Flavor (3rd third): 9

Burn: 10

Prelight aroma/draw: 9

Draw: 9

Construction: 10

Value: 8.5