Origin : Cuba
Format : Short Torpedo
Size : 127 x 20 mm (5 x 50)
Ring : 50
Release : 2008
Hand-Made
Price : ~$385 for a box of 25
More info about purchasing Juan Lopez cigars...

Many thanks to Damien from DutyFreeCubanCigars.com for sending me these rare cigars. Check out his shop for a nice selection of Cuban and non-Cuban cigars.

Another addition to our collection of Cuban cigars that you can't really find reviewed online (unless you're a better Googler than me, of course), Juan Lopez Short Torpedo was released in 2008 for the Caribbean market and, so far, this is the only regional edition for that zone. A 5 x 50 short torpedo, this is definitely not the first cigar of this size that was recently released; it's a whole trend (ErdM Petit Compania, Bolivar Petit Belicoso among others) and, to be honest, I am not against it since I rather like this size. We will let the purists smoke churchills and lanceros and see what this baby has to offer.

Read the full review of Juan Lopez Short Torpedo (RE Caribbean)...

Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Magnifico
Size : 5.13 x 52
Wrapper : Dominican Republic
Filler : Dominican Republic
Binder : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : ~$65 for a pack of 4
More info about purchasing Davidoff Puro d'Oro cigars...

Davidoff has released the Puro d’Oro of cigars in four sizes; these are Dominican puros featuring Davidoff’s exclusive Yamasa™ wrapper. I do not smoke too many Davidoff cigars, but I do enjoy their Millennium line; I decided to buy a four pack of the Puro d’Oro and give them a try. Today’s featured cigar is the Davidoff Puro d’Oro Magnifico (5.13 X 52).

Read the full review of Davidoff Puro d’Oro Magnifico...

Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Lancero
Size : 7.5 x 41
Wrapper : Dominican Republic
Binder : Dominican Republic
Filler : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : ~$30 each
More info about purchasing: Opus X Lost City cigars

Cigar Pass hosted a memorial raffle last year whose proceeds went towards the running of the online community. Members were given the opportunity to buy tickets for the chance to win one of several boxes of premium cigars that had been donated by various shops and members. After deciding that the entry was worth just the knowledge I had already received from there, I entered and began hoping on hopes that despite the odds, I would walk away with a lucky golden ticket. After the numbers were drawn, I was overjoyed to find that the box of ten Opus X Lost City Lanceros was making its way to my door. Coming with an offer for a free DVD of the cigars’ namesake, I obtained my copy of the movie with the intent to watch it while smoking the first of ten. Setting up the laptop outside, with film and cigar in tow, I seated myself in the fading sunshine to enjoy my first Opus X.

Read the full review of Opus X Lost City Lancero...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Torpedo
Size : 7 x 56
Wrapper : Brazilian Maduro
Binder : Honduran
Filler : Dominican, Columbian, & Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : ~$12 each
More info about purchasing: CAO Sopranos cigars

My wife and I missed the mad rush to drink the Kool-Aid that was The Sopranos television show when it first aired in 1999. Fortunately for us, a couple we are friends with partook heartily and ended up purchasing the entire twenty-eight disk box set. Borrowing it from our friends, the two of us proceeded to follow the crime boss cigar enthusiast, Tony Soprano, through six seasons all the way to the infamous cut to black and we both agreed that the show was slated to reside on our top five series list for some time. A short time after the roller-coaster’s conclusion, a fellow BOTL and I participated in a blind trade and the CAO Sopranos Boss was one of the cigars included from his end. Not having known that these cigars even existed, I was very excited to sample the smoke that CAO deemed fitting to represent big boss Soprano himself.

Read the full review of CAO Sopranos “Boss”...

Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Torpedo
Size : 5.625 x 54
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder : Dominican Republic
Filler : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : up to $30 each
More info about purchasing: Arturo Fuente Anejo cigars

Throughout each of our smoking lives, many of us set aside cigars that we label as special to be smoked on rare occasions. One such cigar that repeatedly tops many lists is the Arturo Fuente Anejo Reserva No. 77. Resembling a tooth because of its uniquely box pressed torpedo shape, this cigar is more commonly known as the Anejo “Shark”. Sought after by both lovers and collectors with fervor similar to the search for Fuente’s Opus X line, this is one cigar that I have been looking forward to trying for some time.

Read the full review of Arturo Fuente Anejo Reserva No. 77 “The Shark”...

Many thanks to Damien from DutyFreeCubanCigars.com for sending me these rare cigars. Check out his shop for a nice selection of Cuban and non-Cuban cigars.

This version of the San Cristobal Oficios (click here for the review of the regular one) comes from a limited edition humidor, released in 2004 to celebrate the fifth birthday of the brand. In fact, this was the first appearance of the Oficios vitola. Consequently, it is quite an aged cigar, with approximately 6 years of humidor time. Let’s see how this 5.3 x 43 corona smokes!

With its pale brown wrapper and several visible veins, this cigar looks very much like the Oficios I smoked half a year ago. Moderately firm to the touch, it has an easy pre-draw with surprising notes of peppermint. In the beginning, it is medium-bodied, dominated by wood / cedar flavors. The burn is simply excellent – slow and regular – resulting in a beautiful ash holding for over 2 inches. As I tap this first ash off, the flavors have slightly changed – a bit of leather is added to the bouquet and there is definitely some moderate spice in the back of the throat. Surprisingly, I have a sudden construction issue – first of all, the ash, not even 1 inch long, falls into my lap and then, when I’m done cleaning my short, the cigar goes out. Cursing quietly, I relight it just to find a very flavorful last third (I purged the cigar after re-lighting it), characterized by thick smoke with deep, complex flavors that, besides those that were mentioned before, include sweet coffee with milk and sweet chocolate.

Overall, a very interesting cigar, however, I am not sure that it is any better than the regular one. If you have a chance try it out - otherwise I wouldn't go out of my way to specifically hunt it.

Origin : Cuba
Format : Corona Gorda
Size : 5.625 x 46
Weight : 11.41 g
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10 each
More info about purchasing H. Upmann cigars...

Who has not heard of Cuban cigars? Long touted as producing the pinnacle in quality cigars, that small island has made quite a name for itself. Determined to see if they could live up to the hype, I set out on trying one of the most consistently enjoyed sticks available, the H. Upmann Magnum 46.

Read the full review of H. Upmann Magnum 46...

Origin : Cuba
Format : Petit Robusto
Size : 102 x 20 mm (4 x 50)
Ring : 50
Release : 2009
Hand-Made
Price : ~$12 each
More info about purchasing Punch cigars...

As a complete marketing victim, I just can't refrain myself from buying a Cuban cigar with a second band, regardless of its color. This time it was a red one. Whereas some of the regional editions I tried were rather disappointing because of the lack of personality, others turned out to be outstanding. Bottom line - I don't mind trying my luck with REs. This is why I bought a couple of Punch Small Club when I was in Paris in April.

Read the full review of Punch Small Club (France Regional Edition)...