Well, it’s been months since I wrote a cigar review.  To be honest, the freezing cold Ohio winters have really taken their toll on my cigar smoking hobby.  Being a warm-blooded Californian that relocated to Ohio 3 years ago makes smoking cigars in 10 degree weather extremely challenging.  Now that the weather has warmed up, I plan to restart my love affair with tobacco and keep posting updates here!

So the Graycliff…The little boutique hotel from the Bahamas that actually produces decent cigars too.  I will say that every Graycliff I’ve had has been very good and definitely unique when compared to Dominicans, Hondurans, etc.  The 1666 was another grand adventure to the tropics.

The Churchill size has never been my favorite.  With this cigar, it actually works.  The wrapper is dark, toothy, and very oily and it really takes the full churchill length to appreciate as it slowly warms up.  The flavors were very good; rich almond taste, burnt caramel, and espresso coffee were the predominant aromas.  The constructions was wonderful…no issues with burn or draw.  Overall, I really enjoy these cigars and would buy them again.

LeafyTimes.com Rating 8.5

Another Take: Cigar Jack Review: It’s strong enough to settle any stomach, but somehow it doesn’t seem overpowering. Versatile enough to satisfy many palates. One of my new favorites.

Yet Another Take on the Brand: Graycliff Professionale Vintage 1999

No Comments »

This week, I received a sampler pack of Macanudos from JR Cigar as part of my (rather dismal) Halloween sampler. Included were robusto-sized equivalents of Macanudo’s Original, Maduro, and Robust lines–a perfect opportunity to decide which Macanudo is the best.

My brother and I first tried the Original Macanudos in 2005, after our father told us our late grandfather smoked them. We praised them at first, but quickly outgrew them because they are extremely mild and have some rather pronounced drawbacks, particularly the ashy/chary aftertaste.

Next we tried the Maduro line, which features a very dark wrapper, yet is still surprisingly mild. Musty and damp in flavor, we found it to be far inferior to other maduros and have consistently avoided it.

Last we tried the “Robust” line, which, I assume, Macanudo developed to appeal to more sophisticated smokers who prefer a little more kick in their cigars. Although I’ve tried a few, I never paid much attention to this line because it lacks the nostalgia of the Original line.

Results:

Somewhat to my surprise, I found the Robust to be the most enjoyable of the three. It is surprisingly balanced, toasty at first with a long, cool aftertaste and plenty of spice at the end. It doesn’t have the ashy aftertaste of the Original line, yet it retains some of the toasty notes I’ve always liked.

While it’s far from perfect (and it lacks the beautiful gold wrapper of the Original line), if, like me, you’ve overlooked the Robust line, you might consider trying it again. It’s generally the same price as the Original line, but it is superior in many respects. If you’ve never tried a Macanudo, or if you’re new to cigars, I’d stick with the Original line for a while and then try the Robust later. The Maduro you can pretty much ignore altogether.

Robust
Original
Maduro

3 Comments »

Those of you who read this site regularly already know that I’m a huge fan of CAO. From the everyday Gold line, to the more exotic Sopranos and Italia lines, there’s only one cigar they make that I’m not a fan of (the Criollo). While I may have lost a few points with some readers by saying the Gold Maduro is a fantastic addition to their lineup (a month later, Cigar Aficionado gave it a dismal 82 points), I’m confident most of you agree that CAO is arguably one of the “top three” producers out there (along with Arturo Fuente and Padron).

It’s not every day you get to try a new CAO–though sometimes it seems like every other day. Their newest is the “CAO America.” This is a very complicated cigar. The filler alone comes from four different countries: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Italy and USA. The binder comes from a fifth country: Brazil. Then there’s two wrappers, both from the USA–the first is a creamy Connecticut shade; the second is a darker sungrown ligero–wrapped together to form a “barber pole.” Much like the country it’s named after, the CAO America is a true “melting pot.”

But is it any good? Absolutely. In fact, this the best cigar CAO has made to date. The draw is perfect. The burn is good. The taste is powerful–spicy, nutty and woody, with honey and flower notes. Much like its namesake, this cigar is utterly unique. And, much like its namesake, it’s “heavier” than the rest of the world, ranging in size from 5 x 56 to a whopping 6 x 60. It’s more patriotic, too, with obnoxiously over-pronounced stars and stripes (only 45 stars, though–take that Alaska, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma!). And, like the country, CAO’s America gets better with time–up until the last few puffs, where everything kind of falls apart. (Sorry, no politics.)

I know some of you will disagree with my conclusion that this is the best CAO ever. Fair enough. This is America, after all. The land of free expression, opinion and ideas. America is controversial; so too is this cigar. One thing’s for sure, however: CAO has created something hitherto unknown to the cigar world. I, for one, think they did a great job. Or, as George Bush would say, “Mission Accomplished”.

LT Rating: 9 / 10

Another Take: StogieReview.com
Yet another take: CigarCommand.com

20 Comments »

I picked up a bundle of these from CigarInternational.com for just $29.95. To be sure, they are mediocre smokes, with average draw and poor burn quality. Taste is nutty and spicy, with a bittery aftertaste. Still, for the price–just $1.50 per stick–they are superb value-gars. I recommend having a few of these on hand for when your friends (who don’t normally smoke cigars) are around, or for when you’ve had too many brews to care what your gar tastes like.

No Comments »

I picked up a bundle of these from cigar.com. They are supposedly from the very first batch of Greycliffs in 1997. They have aged very well and are fantastic smokes, despite the small ring size (32-26). With deep earthy tones, hints of licorice, perfect draw and decent burn, these are not to be missed. They do, however, burn a little hot and are expensive for such a small smoke.

2 Comments »

This is a solid cigar. Well made, and very strong. Flavor is spicy with a sweet aftertaste. Picked up a bundle of these on special from cigar.com. Not bad for a value cigar, but still nothing special, despite the “Miami” name–which is obviously supposed to mimic the Padilla Miami line. Recommended only on special.

No Comments »

I recently got into “the Sopranos.” After dismissing it as dated and lame for five years, I caught one or two episodes on A&E this year. I decided to purchase the whole first season to avoid the extremely annoying (and long) commecial breaks. By the end of the fifth or six episode, I was hooked, and I bought all six seasons on DVD. During my mo-mega vacation this year, I watched every episode, cigar in hand. Every time Tony Soprano lit up his “macanudo” — which was quite frequently — I would smile, if only because the idea that a mob boss would smoke Macanudos, as opposed to illegally-smuggled Cubans, always seemed laughable to me.

There’s an obvious connection between cigars and the underworld that “the Sopranos” personifies beautifully. Cigar Aficianado recognized this earlier this year when they put the cast from the show on the cover of the June edition. And CAO, with its ever-savvy marketing department, recognized it too when they put out a “Sopranos”-themed cigar. To my knowledge, it’s the only TV-themed cigar ever made, which makes it a novelty, to say the least.

Being a novelty, I avoided it at first, much like the TV show. Then I tried one. It was good. Not just better than your average CAO–which is by all accounts a very good cigar–but arguably better than any other CAO out there. For me, this cigar rivals a Padron 1964. It’s just as flavorful, nutty, spicy, and it’s even more leathery. And, like the Padron 1964, it’s impeccably constructed–an area that has traditionally caused problems for CAO.

Alas, the TV show is over. Aside from waiting for the final eight episodes to come out on DVD, there’s little left of the Sopranos (hell, even the Emmys are over), save for the hope that HBO might put out a movie someday. Until that time, CAO has given the show a good legacy in this fantastic cigar. Yes, it’s expensive (still cheaper than a Vision), but its worth it, in my book. My only real complaint is that the band is difficult to remove–hardly something to “whack” someone over.

9 Comments »

I picked up two of these for my brother and me to smoke during our sister’s wedding extravaganza in San Diego last weekend. After a good Italian meal, and lots of alcohol, these were the perfect gars to have while we celebrated the occasion overlooking the water.

I’ve long been a fan of the Don Carlos line, and these definitely didn’t disappoint. While I overpaid for them due to poor planning ($14.99 at the local cigar shop, instead of $10.99 online), they were still worth it. Between these and the Padron 1964 Exclusivo Maduros we had the next day, my Brother and I agree that the Don Carloses were the better cigar– at least this time around.

2 Comments »

Avo Uvezian, a famed jazz musician and composer, is also a cigar lover. Hence the AVO Uvezian line. This ultra-smooth, silky smoke is made by Davidoff and is among the best cigars I’ve tried this year. Uber-nutty and woody in flavor, it’s long on the palate, with perfect draw and burn. This little guy lasted as long as a Toro or even Presidente for me. If you’ve overlooked this brand, I highly recommend picking up one of these cigars the next time you want something different. While they run for around 10-14 bucks at most cigar stores, you can sometimes find them for less, or just order them online. Cigar.com has then for just $7.80–well worth it for a cigar of this quality.

4 Comments »

This is an impeccably-made cigar, with perfect draw and burn. The flavor is second to its construction, however: it’s a bit to sweet for my palate to make it perfect. Damn good, though. I can’t say it was worth the $35 I paid for it, but I would definitely smoke it again. Not until I’ve tried the Don Carlos version, however.

1 Comment »

Back in March 2005, I ordered my first box of cigars: the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Barcelonas. Sure, the box smelled of paint thinner, but this was an entire box of cigars: think of the money I’d save. At the time, I thought they were great. I remember smoking these in Brother Dicksbain’s garage at the Spruce Place. Good times. While my palate has since moved on, they still hold a special place in my heart. Grassy in tone, with average burn, and decent draw, they are perfect “filler” gars (aka drinking gars).

No Comments »

Hello all. I’ve just returned from my honeymoon in Hawaii. It’s an amazing place, especially if you rent a Jeep, take the top down, and have a few car gars. Even better if you have some great company (the new wife was with me, and is still fully supportive of my habit). I brought along 20 cigars for a 10 day trip, figuring I could always supplement in Hawaii if I needed to. I remember thinking as I packed, “Of course a place like Hawaii, which caters to tourists looking to cut loose and have some fun, would have loads of cigar shops.” Boy was I wrong. After driving around Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Hilo (the Big Island) — a grand total 600+ miles logged — I found only two cigar stores. The first was near Pearl City, just outside of Pearl Harbor: Island Liquor & Cigar, 98-199 Kamehameha Hwy. #A09, Aiea, HI 96701. The prices were good (for retail), and I picked up an additional five gars, including an 1991 ESV Perdomo, a Fuente Don Carlos Robusto and some Sancho Panza bad boys (monsters gars for drinking nights). Unfortunately, I found this gem of a store at the beginning of my trip; I wish I’d known then that I would not find another real cigar store anywhere other than Oahu in the state.

Indeed, I found nothing on Hilo or Maui and only one “cigar shop” on Kauai: Kauai Cigar Co. For those of you who might be excited to know there’s at least one cigar store on Kauai, I should tell you that Kauai Cigar Co. sells a whopping two cigars: a “light” and a “dark” variety of a cigar called the “Island Prince” (roughly a toro in size with an ultra smooth wrapper). Having cornered the cigar market on an island with 50,000+ residents, I guess I wasn’t surprised when the clerk told me these gars were a criminally expensive $12 each. I bought one “light” cigar, despite the fact that I was totally desperate at that point (day 8). I’d say it was “not horrible” for a cigar that’s supposedly comprised of 100% Hawaiian-grown tobacco. (Remember, they don’t even sell cigars on Hawaii, so it’s not like the place is known for having really good smokes.) But it was far from great, either. I would rate it a solid 7.0 if not for the price, which makes it about a 5.0 on our Leafytimes.com scale.

Then, out of pure desperation, I did the unthinkable. I bought some Swisher Sweets to have in the Jeep while I drove around on Kauai. Terrible things, really. Honestly, they’re better to chew on than to smoke. After returning the Jeep, I bought another Hawaii “special”: a “Royal Hawaiian Kona Coffee Flavor” cigar for $4.49 at an ABC Store (regular price $5.49). At the time, I was somewhat impressed by the fact that this cigar, which looked like a crudely-wrapped lancero, was “Tubed in Maui for Freshness.” Moreover, the packaging assured me that the “natural leaf” tobacco was “imported” (from?) and made “In the Aloha Spirit of the Hawaiian Islands” (huh?). Lastly, the company has a website, www.royalhawaiiancigars.com, so they’re somewhat accountable, right? Wrong. Just goes to show you that shit, even when well preserved and rolled with spirit, is still shit. I can honestly say that I would rather have had another swisher sweet. To be fair, the ABC Store did have some traditional fare for sale. But I just can’t stomach $14.00 for a Macanudo crystal or $16.00 for a Cohiba red dot rothschild. Ugh.

So, in sum, what did I learn from my trip to Hawaii? First, rent a Jeep, take the top off, and drive around all day smoking nice, fat stogies. Truly God’s country. Second, make sure you bring plenty of cigars because you won’t find any for sale anywhere other than Oahu, and even then you’ll need a little luck unless you have a GPS system or know the island really well. Finally, when it comes time to retire from my life as an attorney, I’m going to move to Hawaii, open up a cigar store and smoke/reap the profits. It’s an open market there, and I plan to conquer the five main islands with Dicksbain someday.

9 Comments »