Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Diadema
Size : 6.5 x 54
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Filler : Dominican & Peruvian
Binder : Dominican Piloto
Hand-Made
Price : ~$15 each
More info about purchasing Avo La Trompeta...

The AVO 86th Anniversary cigar, “La Trompeta”, is a Limited Edition release to celebrate the 86th anniversary of Avo Uvezian. The name “La Trompeta” means the work of his lifetime — both music and cigars.

Read the full review of Avo La Trompeta 86th Anniversary Limited Edition...

Origin : Cuba
Format : Short Robusto
Size : 110 x 19.1 mm (4 1/4 x 48)
Release : 2009
Hand-Made
Price : ~$12 each
More info about purchasing H. Upmann cigars...

H. Upmann Magnum 48 was part of the 2009 Edicion Limitada series released every year by Habanos S.A. I had smoked one of these about a year ago and it kind of stuck to me. You know when you have a cigar that stays in your head for a while. Well, that was one of those. I only had two of these so I waited another year to smoke it. Now it’s time to turn this one into another special moment.

Read the full review of H. Upmann Magnum 48 2009 Edicion Limitada...

Origin : Cuba
Format : Short Robusto
Size : 5.3 x 46
Released : 2011
Hand-Made
Price : ~$14/piece
More info about purchasing Hoyo de Monterrey cigars...

The Hoyo de Monterrey Short Hoyo Pirámides Limited Edition 2011 was released at the end of last year by Habanos S.A, describing it as mild yet complex, a perfect cigar for beginning smokers. I managed to get mine (smoked a fiver for this review) in Rome's La Casa del Habano this spring and had waited a couple of months before sitting down tête-à-tête. Seems like it was worth the wait.

Read the full review of Hoyo de Monterrey Short Hoyo Piramides 2011 LE...

Origin : Cuba
Format : Corona
Size : 143 x 17.07 mm (5.6 x 44)
Ring : 44
2 cigars smoked for the review
Hand-Made
Price : ~$13 each
More info about purchasing Ramon Allones cigars...

The Ramon Allones “Allones Extra” is part of the 2011 Limited Edition collection by Habanos S.A, and was the first Ramon Allones Edicion Limitada cigar since that brand’s inception in 1837. The band on the cigar is a historic one, which contributes to the collectible status of the cigar. The wrapper, binder, and filler have all been made out of aged Cuban tobacco leaves from Vuelta Abajo. The Ramon Allones “Allones Extra” is widely regarded as a top notch cigar, and it’s easy to see why.

Read the full review of Ramon Allones Extra 2011 Limited Edition...

Origin : Honduras
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 56
Wrapper : Nicaraguan Criollo '98
Filler : Nicaraguan/Honduran (Criollo '98 & Corojo '06)
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : $10 each
More info about purchasing Cruzado cigars...

The Cruzado is a line of cigars released by Dion Giolito, owner of Illusione cigars. They are the only cigars that are not Nicaraguan puros in his portfolio. Cruzado means "bearer of the cross" and the bands are gilded in gold, silver, and black with the Cruzado name aside the Crest of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Much like the Illusione MJ12's, the Domenicos Extra is wrapped in gold foil instead of silver.

It seems that availability of the Cruzado line is fairly more limited than his other popular lines (Epernay & Illusione). And among the Cruzados, the Domenicos Extra is the rarest. Several of the other vitolas have been discontinued over time only leaving a few sizes left. It's no secret that I am a huge fan of the Illusione & Epernay lines, and the former seems to be the overall favorite cigar amongst my circle of friends. The Domenicos Extras I smoked for this review are the first I have had of the Cruzado line. So here goes,...

Read the full review of Cruzado Domenicas Extra...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Torpedo
Size : 6 x 54
Wrapper : Mexican San Andreas maduro
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10 each
More info about purchasing Oliva Serie V Maduro cigars...

You must have heard of the maduro version of the famous Oliva Serie V. Introduced in 2008, the blend has been since then changed yearly, which is a good way of creating regular buzz about a cigar. As for the vitolas, the first three years we've seen torpedos and the toro replaced it in 2011. Up for review today is the 2010 edition, a 6 x 54 filled with Nicaraguan tobacco (ligero from Jalapa valley to be exact) and wrapped in a Mexican San Andreas maduro leaf. I've received this cigar in a r/cigars trade with a cigar aficionado from Finland - thanks Timo!

Read the full review of Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2010...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 48
Wrapper : Nicaraguan Criollo
Binder : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10.00 each

The Viaje White Label Project Red 50/50 has a flawless wrapper,… deep mahogany with reddish tint. Invisible seams, and a few medium sized veins. Draw is somewhat tight and hard to pull on. More smoke comes off the foot than through the head it seems sometimes. Burn line is all over the place and needs a few touch ups while smoking.

1st Third- Leather is first noticed, then a tad bit of soy/and or beef jerky,... a little paperish too. Not much spice for a Viaje. A tad sour. Pretty one dimensional.
2nd Third - Started out with some smooth dark chocolate flavors that disappeared into charred meat.
3rd Third- Malty-paperish amalgamation, hard to pin down but not very good nevertheless.

Well, this was the third WLP cigar I have smoked and the consistent theme with them all can be summed up with one word,... underwhelmed. It had some glimmers of hope during the experience of smoking it, but all in all this stick is too reckless in its flavor delivery to provide much enjoyment. All I can say is that I am glad to have smoked one but one will be all that I need to smoke.

Appearance :
Construction :
Flavor : (2.75)
Value :
Overall : (2.75)

Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Corona Gorda
Size : 5 5/8 x 46
Year : 2001
Wrapper : Dominican Republic
Binder : Dominican Republic
Filler : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : $11-$12
More info about purchasing Arturo Fuente Opus X cigars...

Thanks to some good friends over the years I have had the opportunity to wheel and deal my way to a slew of Fuente Opus X's from different vintages. Early in my smoking stage, I was curious to see the development of Dominican tobacco over several years of aging. What better stick to test the aging ability of Dominican tobacco than the brand most people consider the best Dominican out there?,... the Opus X brand. So I dipped into my humidor and pulled out the oldest Opus I could find. Now most seasoned cigar smokers know the great aging potential of Cuban cigars and Nicaraguans, but can the Dominicans hold their own too? We'll see,...

Read the full review of Arturo Fuente Opus X Fuente Fuente 2001...