Name Change!

This morning I received an email from one of the co-owners of www.toastedfoot.com, politely asking me to change the name of my blog since, well, they had obviously thought of it first.  No problem, guys.  My bad for not making sure it wasn't already in use.

So, to keep them from inadvertently stealing any of my readers </sarcasm>, I'm renaming this blog C(ig)arpe Diem.  Which, I suppose, ought to translate as "daily cigar" but which I'm hijacking to mean "seize the stogie", since Latin is a dead language and there's no one left alive to prove me wrong.  The phrase was, so far as I can tell, invented by Do5ug (aka Doug (the '5' is silent)) at Puff.com.

And you know what?  I think I like this name better than the original...  Props to you, Doug!

I think I've found and updated all the self-referring links, but if anyone finds one I missed, please let me know.

Gurkha's Castle Hall

 

Gurkha's Castle Hall was the first hand-made cigar I ever had.  It was given to me by Jerry Gibson (yeah - the rum punch guy) nearly two years ago, and it opened my eyes to the world of premium cigars and made me realize what I'd been missing.  

But since joining a few internet forums I'm realizing that Gurkha doesn't get a lot of love among cigar aficionados.  Reviewers complain about bland taste, inconsistent body, burn issues, construction issues, etc...  I began to think that maybe I didn't really enjoy that first one as much as I thought I had.  Maybe I just didn't know any better way back then.  So, having acquired a couple of these in an awesome sampler from CI, I decided last night to call up my first girl and rekindle an old flame.

(Cue Foreigner's Feels Like the First Time...)

Straight out of the wrapper, the Gurkha Castle Hall (Toro: 6" x 54) certainly was as pretty as I remembered.  The Habano-seed wrapper was richly colored and slightly oily and only lightly veined.  And, although it doesn't matter really, I love the colors and artwork on the band.  It's firm, well-packed and it feels a little heavy in the hand.  Smells woodsy.  It cut cleanly, and the pre-light draw was just right.

Toast the foot and light it up:  yeah...  it's as good as I remember.  It's mild-medium in body, and filled with earthy, woodsy tastes.  There's leather in there, and nuts and mushroom and a little oak.  Under it all is a very subtle and sweet spiciness.

Construction issues?  What construction issues?  A cool, even, perfect burn.  I wound up taking a dozen pictures of the ash, expecting it to fall off at any moment.  No flaking, either.  This is the last one I took before it finally fell - and it made a solid thunk when it hit the deck...  The draw stayed perfect - not too tight and not too loose.  Lots of smoke, too.

Past the halfway point, the cigar intensified slowly.  What started off mild-medium was medium-full when I snapped the above pic.  The same great flavors as before, but they were stronger, too.  Still very, very smooth.  I caught myself "hmmmmm"-ing in delight after nearly every puff.  Notice that it's getting dark - my total smoke time was about an hour and twenty minutes, and then I only stopped because it was burning my fingers.

A wonderful, wonderful smoke - every bit as good as I remembered.  A great value at around $3 a stick, too.  All you Gurkha bashers out there: do yourself a favor and try one of these.

Appearance and Construction:  14/15

Flavor:  22/25

Smoking Characteristics:  23/25

Overall Impression:  32/35

Total:  91/100

Paid Forward... with Interest!

I participated in a Noobie PIF thread at Puff.com and I received this from Stogin (aka Brendan).

- CAO Gold Maduro (Robusto: 5" x 50)
- Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 (Robusto Grande: 5.5" x 52)
- Cu-Avana Maduro (Robusto: 5" x 50)
- Padron (#3000: 5.5" x 52)
- Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 (Robusto: 5.5" x 50)

A very generous return on my investment!  Thanks Brendan!

BotL Small Batch 2010

Looking back, I don't know why I was so surprised by this cigar.  How could I expect anything less than excellence in a cigar commissioned by and produced for the Brothers of the Leaf?

Made in Nicaragua by Pinar del Rio, the BotL Small Batch 2010 (Corona Gorda: 6" x 46) is, first and foremost, a beautiful cigar.  Bumpy but firm construction, with a dark, very oily Brazilian Bahia wrapper that looks like well-oiled leather.  It looks rich and delicious, and it smells like old leather and cedar and spices.

It cut cleanly and the unlit draw was nondescript and so easy that I thought I might have trouble getting any taste or smoke out of it.  I shouldn't have worried - it had both in plenty.  Lots of leather, which I could have guessed, and red pepper and other spices, and nuts and dark chocolate.  Some cedar and a smoky-sweet coffee in there, too, more noticeable in the second half.  An incredible array of flavors that somehow didn't get in each others' way.  The burn got a little uneven here and there - due to the "bumpiness" noted earlier, I suppose - but it never detracted from the experience and always self-corrected within a half-inch of so.  The draw was effortless, but still produced plenty of flavor and smoke, all without burning too hotly or quickly - a very neat trick.  This wonderful smoke occupied just about half of a rainy and otherwise dull three-hour drive.

I would love to get my hands on some more of these beauties, but I was very sorry to learn that only 200 20-count boxes were produced.  Which, I suppose, makes the small batch BotL even more of a value at $6 and change per stick.  Mine, however, was free - courtesy of FireDoc83 at BotL.org.  Thanks, Matt!

Appearance and Construction:  13/15

Flavor:  23/25

Smoking Characteristics:  23/25

Overall Impression:  33/35

Total:  92/100

Nica Libre

I have had a couple of Nica Libres in my humi for a while, but the one I finally tried was from msirenoxed, a very generous brother from BotL.  I enjoyed this out on the deck, with a good friend, after a good dinner.

The Nica Libre (Exclusivo: 5.5" x 50) is a fine smoke.  Top-notch construction and very easy on the eyes - box-pressed, evenly packed, with a toothy, oily maduro wrapper.  Pre-light it smelled earthy and sweet (reminding me of raisins, somehow).  Once lit, the (plentiful) smoke was rich and creamy, tasting of leather, coffee and chocolate.  And raisins again - must be the wrapper.  A very, very pleasant and interesting combination of tastes.    It started off medium-bodied, and it seemed to me that it got a little stronger as it progressed.  It left a faint, peppery tingle on the lips and a long, sweet finish on the back of my tongue.  The burn got very uneven halfway through, and I had to correct it with my lighter, but that's my only complaint.  A delicious cigar that I could enjoy again and again.

Appearance and Construction:  13/15

Flavor:  23/25

Smoking Characteristics:  20/25

Overall Impression:  32/35

Total:  88/100

I thought it was over...

I thought I could get on with my life.  I thought I was safe.

FireDoc83 (aka Matthew) at BotL thought different...

 

Brutal.  Just brutal.  Look at this... this... cigarnage!

- (2x) BotL Small Batch 2010 (6" x 46)

- Perdomo Estate Seleccion Vintage 1991 (Prestigio: 6.5" x 54)
- Carlos Toraño Fortress (Double Robusto: 5.5" x 56)
- Macanudo Vintage Maduro 1997 (Toro: 6" x 54)
- Macanudo Vintage Maduro 1997 (Perfecto: 6" x 49)
- (2x) Romeo y Julieta Habanas (Churchill: 7" x 48)
- Illusione (~88~: 5" x 52)
- Graycliff Platinum Edition (Gordo: 6" x 60)

When my ears stop ringing and my brain stops rattling long enough for me to make sure I still have all my fingers, I shall have my revenge. For now, though, I'll just say "Thanks, Matt". This is an awesome collection of sticks and one princely gift.

Perdomo Habano Maduro

My stepson and his fiance gave me a tin of Perdomo Habano Maduros (Habanitos: 4" x 38) for Christmas last year and last night I finally got around to lighting one up.  I've never had a cigar this small before (my first thought was, "Cute little thing..."), so I was a little surprised by how "big" it tasted.

Before lighting I notice that it's unevenly packed.  Some spots are definitely softer than others, and it's downright spongy here and there.  It smells sweet and spicy (like most maduros do) and there's also a hay-like, barnyard aroma in there, too.  Not as unpleasant as it may sound.  I cut it with my guillotine cutter and the draw was nice and easy, so I toasted the foot and lit it up.

Like I mentioned earlier, I was surprised by how "big" this little cigar tasted.  Leather on leather and little else at first.  Reminds me a lot of the 5 Vegas 'A' I reviewed a while ago, actually, but without all the pepper.  Medium-full bodied.  Lots and lots of smoke, which I like.  The ash is medium gray, and firm enough to keep from flaking apart.  It got to be about an inch and a half long before dropping off on its own - not bad considering that's almost half the length of the cigar!

After the ash fell, it started burning unevenly; canoeing at one of the softer spots.  But by the halfway point it corrected itself.  The taste was smoother now, and richer, and very thick - I could feel it coating the back of my throat.  Still leathery, but creamy, and just a little spice on top of the maduro sweetness.  It was thoroughly enjoyable at this point - I was a little sad that I could only get another inch or so out of it before it was burning my fingers.

All in all, a "big" little smoke that started slow but finished like a champ.

Appearance and Construction:  10/15
Flavor:  22/25
Smoking Characteristics:  21/25
Overall Impression:  32/35

Total:  85/100

Oh, Come On!

OK.  This is getting a little ridiculous now.  I got blasted yet again with another bomb/care package, this time from Rock31 (aka Ray) at Puff.com:

The Victor Sinclairs: (two each, all Robusto: 5.5" x 50)
- Triple Corojo
- Vintage Select
- Primeros
- Connecticut Yankee

The tubos:
- Montecristo (6" x 42)
- CAO Italia (6.5" x 50)
- Oliva G Series (6" x 50)
- Excalibur Dark Knight (5" x 52)

And, oh yeah, Ray also sent me a nice humidor to keep them in!

It took less than two days to season and it's holding rock-steady at 63% RH (using the kitty litter that I got from Termite in this bomb).  I tell ya... I'm still shaking my head at this outpouring of generosity.  And it's not like I fed these guys a sob story and begged for cigars; as near as I can tell this happens to just about everyone there.  Now I know the idea is that I'll pay it all forward to others even noobier than myself (and I certainly will), but c'mon.  This makes 51 premium cigars and a humidor that I've been given in the last few weeks.  I've never known such a generous bunch of guys.  Is this the greatest hobby in the world or what?

My First Cigar Trade

At Puff.com, they have a program called the Noobie Sampler Trade.  It gives new smokers a chance to swap cigars with more experienced smokers.  This gives the new guys the opportunity to try new sticks, especially higher-end ones that they might not buy for themselves.  By design, the noobies always come out ahead in the trades.  But I had no idea just how far ahead.

I added my name to the list and drew kapathy (aka Kevin) as a trading partner.  I put together what I considered to be a pretty good bundle of sticks:

- John Bull (Prime Minister: 7.2" x 54)
- Graycliff Professionale (Pirate: 6" x 52)
- 5 Vegas Miami (Robusto: 5" x 50)
- Nica Libre (Imperial: 6" x 54")
- Perdomo Habano Maduro (Habanitos: 4" x 38)
- Macanudo Maduro (Ascot: 4.2 " x 32)

This was Kevin's retaliatory strike:

- Camacho Triple Maduro (4.5" x 50)
- Los Blancos Nine (Toro: 6" x 52)
- Ashton VSG (Torpedo: 6.5" x 55)
- Gurkha Empire Series V (5.5" x 52)
- Gurkha Triple Ligero (Toro: 6.1" x 52)
- Alec Bradley MAXX (The Fix: 5" x 52)
- Ave Maria (Crusader: 5" x 52)
- Camacho 10th Anniversary (Belicoso: 6" x 60)

What a smackdown!  I feel like a cat that picked a fight with a bulldog...  Thanks, Kevin!

La Libertad

I received a La Libertad (Churchill: 6.5" x 50) in a random act of cigar kindness from Mark (aka Termite) at Puff.com.  Never having heard anything about this brand I tried to find some information on it.  I had very little luck; this brand is either not very well known or everyone's trying to keep it a secret.  I even had to create the image above myself.

Here's what I was able to dig up:  it's made by Villiger in the Dominican Republic, with a Cuban-seed wrapper and a Nicaraguan-seed binder (both grown in Peru), and ligero long fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.  It's either Medium- or Full-bodied, and either creamy or spicy or nutty, depending on which comical "Language X to English" translation site you use.

Here's what I was able to figure out on my own: the La Libertad is one damn fine cigar.  The wrapper was a little veiny, but beautiful.  The construction was firm and flawless.  The cap was so solid I had to clip it; my punch cutter couldn't penetrate deep enough for me to get a decent draw.  It smelled like a cigar should - cedar-y and spicy and woodsy.  I lit it a little unevenly but it straightened itself out within a few minutes, and the burn was slow and cool and even for the entire 2 hours and 15 minutes of pleasure that this one gave me.  I would describe it as medium-full bodied, and very, very smooth.  The taste, which stayed the same from foot to nub, was indeed creamy and spicy and nutty, with some leather and caramel thrown in for good measure.  Highly recommended, and as soon as I find some room in my humi I'll be ordering some for myself.

Appearance and Construction:  14/15

Flavor:  21/25

Smoking Characteristics:  23/25

Overall Impression:  32/35

Total:  90/100

And Another!

Another bomb from another Brother of the Leaf, namely slave2theaxe (aka Nic).  I got it for "winning" a "Noobiest Noob" contest, but I don't mind - check out these goodies:


- Devil's Weed (Churchill: 7" x 48)
- Rocky Patel Edge Sumatra (Toro: 6" x 52)
- Ashton (Churchill: 7.5" x 52)
- Padron Maduro (#3000: 5.5" x 52)
- Tatuaje Cazadores Reserva (Petit: 4" x 40)
- La Aurora 107 (Robusto: 4.5" x 50)
- Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 (Robusto: 5.5" x 50)
- CAO Brazilia (Gol!: 5" x 56)
- Tatuaje Havana VI (Nobles: 5" x 50)
- 5 Vegas Gold Maduro (Robusto: 5" x 50)

The 5 Vegas Gold Maduro is the only one I've already tried (and I love them!) 

That's one warm welcome, bro!  Once again, I am blown away by the generosity of these guys... Is there another hobby in the world like this?

{Edit:  14 March, 2011.

I may need another humidor soon.  As it turns out, another BotL, this one named msirenoxed, saw that I had been declared the "noobiest noob" and took it upon himself to share some of his wealth, too...

So, as if slave2theaxe's gesture wasn't enough, I've also received:

- two Cuba Libre (Magnum: 5.5" x 55)
- four 5 Vegas Cask Strength (Toro: 6" x 52)
- four Gurkha G5 Avenger (Torpedo: 6" x 52), and
- two Nica Libre (Exclusivo: 5.5" x 50)

I've already had (and thoroughly enjoyed) the 5 Vegas Cask Strength, but the others are new to me.  The Gurkha G5s look absolutely delicious...}

Thank You Sir! May I Have Another?

It happened again!

One of the most remarkable aspects of the cigar forums I've joined is the incredible generosity of the members. It seems like these guys are just looking for new ways to give out cigars and expertise to the newer members.  Every day there are giveaways (called cigar "bombs"), trades between members, Pay-It-Forward and Make-A-Wish programs, all sorts of activities to help members try out different cigars and to help make new members feel welcome.  Random acts of cigar kindness are badges of honor at both sites.

A few days ago I posted about just such a random act from Termite, a member at Puff.com.  Two days later, on Sunday, I returned home from visiting my son Kieran at Liberty University to find my mailbox "blowed up" (thanks, Emmitt) once again.  This time courtesy of Shuckins (aka Ron) at Brothers of the Leaf.  Check out these fantastic sticks!

- Romeo y Julieta (Short Churchill: 4.8" x 50)
- Gran Habano Corojo Vintage 2002 (Churchill: 7" x 50)
- 5 Vegas Miami (Toro: 6" x 48)
- 5 Vegas Relic (Perfecto: 5.7" x 54)
- Pinar del Rio Clasico (Torpedo: 6.5 x 52)
- San Cristobal (Clasico: 5" x 50)
- Tatuaje Cabaiguan (Guapos 46: 5.6" x 46)
- Perdomo Habano Corojo (Robusto: 5" x 52)

Notice the personalized herf tube in the picture?  That just goes to show you how often Ron does this.  Amazing.  I am once again blown away by the unprovoked generosity of a fellow BotL.

I Got Bombed!

I have a theory that cigar smoking makes people... better.  Sitting down for an hour or two with a good cigar (and good friends, whenever possible) is better for the soul than an hour or two on any therapist's couch.  It has a way of putting the rest of your day in perspective.  It's a chance to relax and think, while enjoying one of life's truly luxurious experiences.

I joined a couple of online cigar forums last month, Puff.com and Brothers of the Leaf.  Both sites are wonderful, full of friendly, helpful (and generous!) members.  I love both sites and I sincerely hope that I can contribute in some small way to the character and camaraderie of both.

Yesterday, I returned home from work to find that Termite (aka Mark) from Puff.com had taken it upon himself to help a new member (me!) feel welcome.  Inside my mailbox was a Ronson JetLite cigar lighter, a mesh bag of gel kitty litter (which, I recently learned, makes a very reliable humidifier for a humidor) and five great smokes:

- Diesel (Unholy Cocktail: 5" x 56)
- CAO Gold Maduro (Churchill: 7" x 48)
- La Libertad (Churchill: 6.5" x 50)
- Gurkha Micro Batch (Liga TPB-1 Lonsdale: 6.5" x 44)
- Nica Libre (Torpedo: 6" x 52)

Someday, and soon, I'll be putting together a nice little bundle and blasting some poor, unsuspecting noob's mailbox to smithereens.  See what I mean?  It's catching!

Wizard's Hat 54-Ring Mega-Sampler

Another delicious-looking sampler I just ordered from Cigars International, the Wizard's Hat 54-Ring Mega-Sampler includes 20 beautiful 6" x 54 toros:

2 - A. Fernandez
2 - Felipe II
2 - Graycliff G2
2 - Gurkha's Castle Hall
2 - Gurkha's Cuban Legacy
2 - Gurkha's Park Ave
2 - Indian Tabac Classic
2 - La Cuna Habano
2 - Nica Libre
2 - Padilla Habano

Squeeee!!!!

5 Vegas Cask-Strength

After spending that insane amount of money on my new lighter, I just had to try it out, didn't I?  So last night I settled in on the porch with a mug of coffee, a good book and one of these beauties.

The 5 Vegas Cask-Strength (Toro: 6" x 52) is a gorgeous, box-pressed cigar, with a beautiful mahogany-colored Corojo wrapper.  Pre-light, it smelled wonderful:  smoky and leathery and spicy and flowery all at once.  It felt good in the hand, too: solid, evenly packed, slightly oily.  The construction was as close to perfect as I've seen yet.  It lit easily with my new lighter, and burned evenly and coolly and produced tons of smoke for a little over an hour.  Punch-cut, the draw was perfect.  The tastes were many and varied, but never muddled or overpowering - leather, smoky whiskey, oak and mild spices throughout, with a faint white peppery tingle in the first third and an unusual "red" fruitiness, like cherries or plums once I got past the halfway point.  It's marketed as medium-full bodied, but I'd say it's definitely closer to full.  In fact, it's a touch stronger than I normally prefer, but absolutely delicious nonetheless.

Appearance and Construction:  15/15

Flavor:  22/25

Smoking Characteristics:  23/25

Overall Impression:  31/35

Total:  91/100

My First (and Second) "Real" Cigar Lighters

I've been pining for a "real" cigar lighter for months now.  I do have one of those refillable flip-top Zippo's left over from my cigarette-smoking days.  They look and sound cool, but the fluid makes your cigar taste like gasoline.  Matches are too hard to use outside, where I am routinely and ruthlessly exiled by my otherwise wonderful wife. And sure, that disposable Bic makes fire, but that soft flame takes a long time to toast the foot.  And since that flame is a quarter of an inch from your thumb, by the time you actually finish lighting the stogie, your thumb feels like it's going to burst into flames instead.

So I've been looking for a good deal on a torch lighter for a while.  But I just couldn't bring myself to spend $20 (or $30, or $50!) bucks on a high-end model.

And then I found this in my local CVS last week.  Made by Elite Brands USA, it was selling for the princely sum of $4.19.  Not expecting much, I bought one.  And, I love it.  It fits comfortably in my hand, the thumb switch is easy to reach, and it has a nice, hot flame.  The jet flame is adjustable, and it's refillable with any brand butane-in-a-can.  At first, it didn't light reliably, but I turned the flame adjustment down a little and from then on it's lit every time.  The flame is still plenty long enough and hot enough to toast the foot of my 52 ring stogie in about 4 seconds flat.  And since that flame is pointed away from the actuator, I'm not burning my thumb, either.  So far, it's a great lighter at a great price!

{Edit - March 29th:   Well, it was a great little lighter.  I'm not sure what went wrong, but it's been nearly impossible to light lately.  I've purged and refilled, adjusted the flame, cleaned the nozzle... nothing helps.  I get a flame maybe one try out of eight.  Not good enough.

Luckily, I received one of these in the very first bomb I ever received, courtesy of Termite (aka Mark) from Puff.com:

It's a Ronson JetLite, and I love it.  In the same ballpark, price-wise, as the one above, but a whole helluva lot more dependable so far.  I've been using it for a couple of weeks and it hasn't misfired once.  My local CVS carries these too, so (if they ever get any more in) I'll stock up.  Thanks again, Mark!}

John Bull

Another "on faith" buy from Cigars International.  These caught my eye as I was looking through the latest CI catalog.  They simply looked like something I'd like.  I read two very favorable reviews a couple of days later, and suddenly they sounded like something I'd like, too.  And a few days after that CI put them on sale at a crazy-good price and I caved.  To be honest, if it weren't for those glowing reviews, I would never have tried them.  I mean, c'mon:  how good could I expect a $1.50 cigar to be?  And it's not at all like me to buy 20 sticks of a brand I've never tried, but I'm very glad I did.

The John Bull (Prime Minister: 7.2" x 54) is a big, hefty beast of a cigar.  The wrapper is Ecuadorian Connecticut, veiny but attractive, and inside is a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican long fillers.  The taste is better, and smoother, than I would have expected for the price.  At first it had a woodsy, almost earthy taste.  Unusual, but not unpleasant at all.  After the first few puffs it evened out and turned creamy and toasty, and from there it was cool, consistent flavor all the way to my fingertips.  I used a bullet cutter and had absolutely no issues with the draw, as one of the reviewers had.  The ash was medium gray and not very firm, but the burn was slow and cool and even.  The one I had yesterday lasted well over an hour, and I could have easily drawn it out even more.  Not the best cigar I've ever had, but very good overall and an incredible value for anyone looking for an inexpensive but smooth, mild-to-medium everyday stogie.

Appearance and Construction:  12/15

Flavor:  20/25

Smoking Characteristics:  23/25

Overall Impression:  30/35

Total:  85/100

H. Upmann

Fun fact:  H. Upmann cigars were originally produced in Cuba, and were a personal favorite of President John F. Kennedy.  He had his aide, Pierre Salinger, buy as many Cuban-made Upmann cigars as he could find (about 1,200 all totaled) the day before signing the Cuban Trade Embargo in 1962.

Even though the one I had wasn't Cuban, the H. Upmann (Churchill: 5.6" x 46) is a very pleasant smoke.  The construction was first-rate:  it drew perfectly and consistently, burned evenly and left a firm, gray ash.  Before lighting, it smelled... well, like a cigar should:  light and cedar-y and leathery.  Mild and smooth, and subtly flavorful, too; it had a roasted nuttiness to it, and a hint of chocolate as well.  The wrapper is an Indonesian Cameroon, and the filler is a Cuban-seed Dominican/Honduran blend.  A tasty, pleasant smoke that I can easily see myself enjoying again and again.

Appearance and Construction:  13/15

Flavor:  22/25

Smoking Characteristics:  23/25

Overall Impression:  27/35

Total:  85/100

Macanudo Gold Label

Cigars International had an amazing deal on these a while back and I told a friend about it.  He was so grateful he gave me one to say thanks.  It sat in my humidor for months, and I finally got around to smoking it on Sunday night, after watching my beloved Packers beat the Bears in the NFC Championship game.  Any Packer fans reading this will understand that this cigar could have been made of dog hair and it would have still tasted like heaven after watching that.

But, I'm happy to report, that wasn't the case.  The Macanudo Gold Label (Tudor: 6" x 52) is a fine cigar, and it's easy to see why it's one of the best-selling cigars on the market.  Good looking in its golden Connecticut Shade wrapper, it's very well constructed.  It cut cleanly, lit easily and burned evenly.  The draw was just right, and the ash was pale gray and very firm.  With faint notes of cedar, black pepper and a sweet-and-sour citrus, the taste was interesting (and good), but a little bland.  This is a very mild cigar.  For me, it was kind of like eating a store-brand frozen pizza:  it's still good, but you find yourself reaching for the Tabasco to doctor it up a little.

Appearance and Construction:  13/15

Flavor:  17/25

Smoking Characteristics:  23/25

Overall Impression:  28/35

Total:  81/100

Tatiana Mocha

This was the first flavor-infused cigar I had tried.  I was leery after reading some very divided opinions on the internet - some people love infused cigars, some people hate them.  Count me with the former.

The Tatiana Mocha (Caramely: 6.0" x 50) is, first and foremost, a good looking cigar, with a beautiful, dark Sumatran wrapper.  Unlit, it smells, tastes and looks a lot like a Tootsie Roll.  Light it up, and it's still very chocolaty, but now there's a smoky, rich coffee in there as well.  I was a little worried that the sweetness would become cloying after a while, but it didn't.  The flavor stayed consistent and smooth.  It burned coolly and evenly, and left a firm, gray ash and lots of sweet-smelling smoke. I enjoyed a couple of glasses of a nice, sweet port wine while I smoked this, and the two combined into a very interesting, adult maraschino cherry kind of thing.  Not something I would smoke every day, but delicious and a great choice for when I'm feeling like something a little different.

Appearance and Construction:  14/15

Flavor:  22/25

Smoking Characteristics:  23/25

Overall Impression:  31/35

Total:  90/100

5 Vegas Series ’A’

This seductively beautiful stick is also brutally flavorful.  The first half-inch tasted so strongly of leather I thought I was smoking a belt.  I almost gave up on it, honestly.  But I'm glad I didn't.

The 5 Vegas Series ’A’ (Archetype: 6" x 50) is gorgeously built, with a smooth, dark maduro wrapper,  well-packed fillers and excellent construction overall.  Looks great.  Feels great.  Smells great.  Put it to your lips and you feel a peppery burn immediately.  Light it up and... POW.  In-your-face flavor so full-bodied it's almost overpowering.  Pronounced leather and pepper, that evens out as it burns (or maybe my tongue was just going numb), with subtler notes of coffee and nuts that I couldn't detect until the last third.  It lit easily, burned evenly and produced clouds of thick smoke.  The draw was just right.  But the flavor was a little too "too" for me.

Appearance and Construction:  14/15

Flavor:  20/25

Smoking Characteristics:  22/25

Overall Impression:  29/35

Total:  85/100

My Cigar Rating System

The more cigars I smoke, the more I become aware that my palette and tastes are getting more... discriminating.  I'm getting to the point where I can pick out finer and finer details and differences in taste, aroma, draw, etc.  And I'm discovering that my rating system isn't precise enough.  Not all "7 out of 10" cigars are created equal, after all.  To make matters worse, I never really used a rating system at all, just 10 point "enjoyment" scale.

So I'm going to go back and re-do all my ratings, using a 100-point scale suspiciously similar to the one used by Cigar Aficionado magazine...

Appearance and Construction (15 point maximum)
A cigar should have consistent color and shape from head to foot;  the wrapper should be smooth and flawless. When held, the cigar should feel firm and give off a slightly oily moistness. Points will be deducted if the wrapper has areas of large veins or if the cigar feels dry or firmer in some parts than others.

Flavor (25 points maximum)
A cigar should have clear, distinctive (and pleasant) flavors, and it should be consistently smooth and rich. Points will be deduced if the cigar leaves a bitter or harsh taste on my lips, tongue or mouth.

Smoking Characteristics (25 points maximum)
A cigar should light and burn easily and evenly, and it should have a comfortable, consistent draw.  The ash should be pale and firm, and the cigar should give off thick, white smoke.  Points are deducted if the cigar burns unevenly, too quickly, too hot, or if the cigar is difficult to keep lit.

Overall Impression (35 points maximum)
A completely subjective score based simply on how thoroughly I enjoyed the cigar.  This is the most heavily weighted category because it is the most important, at least to me.

In some cases, I may be forced to re-smoke a given cigar in order to refresh my memory, but that's a burden I'm prepared to accept for you, my devoted readers...

Sancho Panza Double Maduro

My latest "splurge" from Cigars International.  After reading some impressive reviews, I grabbed a 5-pack of these while ordering a few more of the 5 Vegas Gold Maduros that I enjoyed so much night before last.  Honestly, I didn't expect much.  $3 per stick seemed rather cheap even at CI's usually great prices.  But man... did I hit the jackpot.  (Next time I'll order a full box and save even more...)

The Sancho Panza Double Maduro (Cervantes: 6.5" x 48) is a delicious smoke.  It's good looking, too.  The maduro wrapper is as dark and oily and smooth as you'd imagine something called "double maduro" would be.  The construction is a little loose:  compared to the 5 Vegas Gold Maduro that I reviewed last week, the Sancho Panza felt light by contrast. I cut the opening slightly smaller than I normally do, but in retrospect I probably didn't need to.  It lit easily, burned evenly, and left a light, medium-gray ash.  It seemed to burn quicker than my other cigars, but never got "hot".  This thing is definitely not light on flavor, though.  Leather, toast, chicory and dark chocolate, all laid on thick - stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth thick, but never overpowering - right down to the nub.  I have a feeling I'll still be able to taste it tomorrow morning - and that will be a good thing.  My new favorite.

Appearance and Construction:  13/15

Flavor:  24/25

Smoking Characteristics:  23/25

Overall Impression:  33/35

Total:  93/100

5 Vegas Gold Maduro

This cigar is a dilemma... I enjoyed a 5 Vegas Gold Maduro (Robusto: 5" x 50) while reading a good book out on the patio last night - a crisp, clear autumn night that I enthusiastically filled with clouds of thick, white smoke.  Beautiful to look at - the dark, oily maduro wrapper makes it look more like a stick of fudge than a cigar - it felt solid and heavy for its size.  I've smoked two of these, both Robustos from the same batch, and they were both so dense that the draw was very difficult. The flavor stayed consistent all the way through, which was a good thing, because it was delicious from start to finish.  Strong notes of leather and cedar and coffee, with a hint of pepper and a white-chocolaty sweetness than never became cloying.  My only complaint is the draw:  getting smoke out of these things seems so much like work I gave up on the last two inches both times.  I'm hoping it was just a bad batch; putting these down before they burned my fingers seemed wasteful.  It's like finally getting a Ferrari and realizing you had more fun driving your old Ford.  I've ordered 5 more of these in the Torpedo size - hopefully they'll be less work, because this would be a great cigar otherwise.

{Edit, 16 November 2010:  I finally got around to trying one of the torpedoes, and it smoked much better than the first two had.  The scores below have been updated.}

Appearance and Construction:  14/15

Flavor:  23/25

Smoking Characteristics:  22/25

Overall Impression:  31/35

Total:  90/100

5 Vegas Classic

 

A very, very nice cigar, the 5 Vegas Classic (Torpedo: 6" x 52) appealed to me from the moment I removed the wrapper.  Beautiful, and beautifully made, it just... smelled like it was going to be good.  I lit it unevenly but it burned slowly and coolly and eventually evened itself out.  The taste reminded me of leather, hickory smoke and a little vanilla.  It was quite smooth for a medium-bodied cigar.  Minus just a little for an uneven draw - some parts were too easy, some too tight.  Towards the end it was difficult to keep lit.  But very enjoyable overall.

Appearance and Construction:  12/15

Flavor:  22/25

Smoking Characteristics:  21/25

Overall Impression:  30/35

Total:  85/100

5 Vegas Historical Collection

Another order from Cigars International, this 5 Vegas sampler contains 8 of 5 Vegas most tantalizing blends.  The sampler contains:

3 - 5 Vegas Classic (Torpedo: 6" x 54)
3 - 5 Vegas Gold (Robusto: 5" x 50)
3 - 5 Vegas Gold Maduro (Robusto: 5" x 50)
2 - 5 Vegas Cask-Strength (Toro: 6" x 52)
2 - 5 Vegas Series ’A’ (Archetype: 6" x 50)
1 - 5 Vegas Limitada 2010 (Belicoso: 6.25" x 52)
1 - 5 Vegas Triple-A (5" x 56)
1 - 5 Vegas Miami (M5: 5.5" x 55)

Graycliff 'G2'

The Graycliff 'G2' Pirate (Torpedo: 6" x 52) is a good cigar.  Very mild, but flavorful from the very beginning.  Creamy smooth, with lots of cedar.  I enjoyed this one while floating on my back, alone in my swimming pool, for a good, solid hour.  It had a slow, even burn, and a very easy draw.  Lots of thick smoke, which I like.

Appearance and Construction:  13/15

Flavor:  18/25

Smoking Characteristics:  22/25

Overall Impression:  27/35

Total:  80/100

5 Vegas Gold

A beautiful cigar, the 5 Vegas Gold Series (Robusto: 5" x 50) has excellent construction and a perfect Connecticut wrapper.  Mild, but chock full of flavors - nutty, peppery, smoky, and leathery.  It started off strong - almost too strong - but mellowed quickly.  After a half-dozen puffs, it was creamy smooth and actually got smoother and tastier as it burnt.  The burn was even and the draw was slightly firm.  I smoked this one until it was burning my fingers.  Very, very good and very satisfying.

Appearance and Construction:  14/15

Flavor:  22/25

Smoking Characteristics:  21/25

Overall Impression:  32/35

Total:  89/100

Rocky Patel 'R4'

The Rocky Patel 'R4' (Double Corona Corojo: 7.5" x 52)  is easily my favorite, so far.  This is a big, beautiful cigar that I loved smoking.  Earthy and nutty and flavorful - but smooth - from the moment I lit it up.  The flavors clung to my palette like a life preserver.  Perfectly constructed, it had a just-right draw, and a cool, even burn all the way to the nub.  I hated to put it out.  I will definitely be getting some more of these.

Appearance and Construction:  15/15

Flavor:  25/25

Smoking Characteristics:  22/25

Overall Impression:  30/35

Total:  92/100

Oliva Serie 'O'

The Oliva Serie 'O' (Robusto: 5" x 50) may deserve a better writeup than I'm going to give it.  At the time of smoking, I was working my way through my 5th, 6th and 7th servings of Jerry Gibson's dangerously good rum punch.  As a result, many of the details of the afternoon have escaped me.  I do remember that the Oliva had an easy draw and a consistent burn, and a solid salt-and-pepper ash.  The last third of the Oliva burned a little hot, but I may have been over-smoking it.  The flavor was... well honestly, I don't remember.  In any case, it wasn't remarkably good or remarkably bad.  In the spirit of fairness, I'm going to have to try another one sometime.  (Poor me!)

Appearance and Construction:  12/15

Flavor:  18/25

Smoking Characteristics:  22/25

Overall Impression:  25/35

Total:  77/100

Gurkha's Park Avenue

Gurkha's Park Avenue Series 44 (Churchill: 7" x 48) - This is a beautiful cigar, with a smooth, oily Connecticut wrapper.  It had a good, nutty flavor that started out very mild but intensified during the smoke; toward the end it was a little overpowering.  A shorter stick may have been more enjoyable.  The cigar had a good draw, even burn, and salt-and-pepper ash that flaked annoyingly in the light breeze.

Appearance and Construction:  13/15

Flavor:  16/25

Smoking Characteristics:  15/25

Overall Impression:  27/35

Total:  71/100

Bahia Blu

This little beauty surprised me.  I don't know why I wasn't expecting much, actually.  Maybe the plain, modernish-looking band threw me, but when I decided to try it I was prepared for disappointment.

I was wrong.

The Bahia Blu E652 (Torpedo: 6.5" x 52) is a very nice smoke, smooth and mild but consistently flavorful.  Lots of cedar and something sweet - honey, perhaps.  The clean, pleasant aftertaste stayed for a long, long time.  The draw was perfect; the burn was even.  The ash was firm and pale.

Appearance and Construction:  10/15

Flavor:  22/25

Smoking Characteristics:  21/25

Overall Impression:  28/35

Total:  81/100

My Humidor

A birthday present from my lovely wife, Kathy.  It's lined with Spanish cedar and it holds 100 cigars (not yet, but maybe someday...).  It has a lock, a small brass nameplate for engraving, a humidifier and a small hygrometer.  Kathy was also thoughtful enough to order me a bottle of cigar juice, a seasoning kit, and a calibration kit for the hygrometer.  The hygrometer that came with this humidor was way off (25% off!), and the set-screw adjustment didn't work.  I wound up using a sharpie to mark off an area that equates to between 65 and 75% RH.  But that's my only gripe.

The humidor itself is beautiful and solidly constructed.  It was hard to avoid playing with it during the seasoning process, which took two weeks with the seasoning kit, and I still open it too often just to stick my nose in and smell.  The seal is exactly right and it will serve me well for many years.

Note that this image is from Cigars International, but Kathy actually ordered this humidor from www.humidorvault.com.  The CI image is the nicest I could find though, and with all the free advertising they're getting from this blog, I didn't think they'd mind...

Graycliffe Profesionale

This was another great deal from Cigars International.  These 92-rated Graycliff Profesionales have an MSRP of $20 each.  CI usually charges $90 for 5 of the Torpedo (6" x 52) size.

I got 10 for $39.99.

I'll repeat that:  I got 10 for $39.99.

Four measly bucks each for 10 of the best cigars Graycliff makes!  And since it was a daily special, I didn't even have to pay shipping and handling.  And just like the first order, they arrived quickly (ordered Thursday night; arrived Monday morning) and in great shape.

The Graycliff Profesionale is superbly constructed, with a beautiful, oily wrapper that's a little darker than the picture makes it look.  It lights well, burns coolly and evenly and yields clouds of thick smoke.  The flavor is complex:  nutty, smoky and earthy, with hints of leather and cedar and pepper and other spices I couldn't even identify.

Despite all that, I probably shouldn't have made this plunge.  This cigar is a little too full-bodied for me to be 100% enjoyable.  If I had done a little more research, I probably would have realized that.

After handing a few out to friends, I still have five of these left.  I think I'll let them mellow in the humidor for a few months.  Maybe the flavor will settle down to something more suited for my beginner's palate.

{Edit, 18 November, 2010:  I finally tried another one of these a couple of nights ago, and it was superb.  Either four months in the humidor gave these babies time to settle, or my "beginner's palate" is starting to grow up.  Either way, I've upped the overall score from 75 to 85 as reflected below.}

Appearance and Construction:  14/15

Flavor:  20/25

Smoking Characteristics:  21/25

Overall Impression:  30/35

Total:  85/100

Puros Indios Viejo Maduro

The Puros Indios Viejo Maduro (Toro: 6" x 52) was the first cigar I tried from my Cigars International order, and I was... well... underwhelmed.  (To be fair, I didn't yet own a respectable humidor, so all of my cigars sat in a Tupperware bin with a small sponge soaked in distilled water until my "real" humidor arrived.  The other smokes fared well enough though, so it doesn't seem likely that I ruined just this one.) It lit well, and had a nice, easy draw.  The burn was even and consistent.  But the flavor was just OK - nothing I could describe as bad, but nothing memorable, either.  It was certainly no "dog rocket", but I probably wouldn't go far out of my way for another one.

Appearance and Construction:  12/15

Flavor:  17/25

Smoking Characteristics:  20/25

Overall Impression:  25/35

Total:  74/100

My First Internet Order

This was the first internet cigar purchase I made, a great sampler deal from Cigars International.  At the time, it was $15, plus $5 shipping and handling.  Get this:  I ordered these on a Thursday afternoon, and they arrived Friday morning!


Here's what I got:
- 5 Vegas Gold Series (Robusto: 5" x 50)
- Bahia Blu (E652: 6.5" x 52)
- Graycliff 'G2' (Pirate: 6" x 52)
- Gurkha's Park Avenue (Churchill: 7" x 48)
- Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Maduro (Toro: 6" x 52)
- Oliva Serie 'O' (Robusto: 5" x 50)
- Puros Indios Viejo Maduro (Toro: 6" x 52)
- Rocky Patel 'R4' Corojo (Double Corona: 7.5" x 52) 

It also came with a very sturdy little 5-cigar travel humidor called a "Herf-A-Dor".  It has soft foam lining to protect your stogies and a small humidifier that you can charge with a few drops of cigar juice or distilled water.