Origin : Honduras (Raices Cubanas Factory)
Format : Gran Corona
Size : 5 5/8 x 46
Wrapper : Honduras Criollo '98*
Filler : Honduras & Nicaragua Ligero
Binder : Honduras Criollo '98*
Hand-Made
Price : $8.50 MSRP

* Ocean State's website lists both the wrapper and binder as being Honduras Criollo '98, but the press release announcing the J. Grotto Series Reserve states that the wrapper and binder are Nicaragua Criollo '99 and '98, respectively.

J. Grotto Series Reserve is the latest release from Rhode Island's Ocean State Cigars, Inc. Ocean State is just two years old, and the J. Grotto Series Reserve is their second line, following the original J. Grotto Series. The Reserve comes in four sizes, 5 5/8 x 46, 5 x 52, 6 x 52 (with a pig tail cap), and 6 x 60. The tobacco used in the Reserve line is aged three years, and then the finished cigars are rested an additional three to four months before shipment. Ocean State claims that "the Reserve has power, but no spice."

Read the full review of J. Grotto Series Reserve Gran Corona...

Origin : Honduras
Format : Original/Cheroot
Size : 5 x 44
Wrapper : Nicaraguan Colorado
Filler : Nicaraguan Corojo and Criollo
Binder : Nicaraguan Criollo
Hand-Made
Price : ~$2 each
More info about purchasing J. Fuego cigars...

J. Fuego is one of a number of relatively new, "boutique" cigar brands that are taking the cigar world by storm. Founded just a few years ago in 2006 by Jesus Fuego (whose familial involvement in the cigar industry extends all the way back to 1876 in Cuba), the J. Fuego brand has quickly expanded to include five different lines, as well as the spin-off 777 brand. Sangre de Toro (which translates to "Bull's Blood") is the newest line, released in Spring 2011, and the Original is the newest vitola, released at ICPCR 2011. Jesus Fuego has described the tobacco used in the Sangre de Toro line as "heavy and well-aged stuff," and the Original vitola showcases all the richness that this tobacco can deliver. The Originals come five to a soft pack, and the very attractive design on the pack mimics the design on the Sangre de Toro bands; however, the Originals themselves are unbanded.

Read the full review of J. Fuego Sangre de Toro Original...

Origin : Honduras
Format : Presidente
Size : 7 x 56
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Filler : Dominican
Binder : Cameroon
Hand-Made
Price : ~$12.00 each
More info about purchasing Gurkha Black Dragon cigars...

When I first started smoking fine cigars, this was one of the first cigars that I ever had. The beginning of my college career is right about the time this world opened up to me. There was a little cigar shop a couple miles from campus that I would go to occasionally. As I would walk around that shop, they carried the Robusto size of the Gurkha Black Dragon. One day I picked it up, and fell in love with fine cigars. So, in fact, this is the one cigar that opened up the cigar world for me. Now, five years later, I revisit this stick to see if it still has the same feel to it.

Read the full review of Gurkha Black Dragon Imperial Presidente...

Origin : Honduras
Format : Gordo
Size : 6 x 58
Wrapper : Honduran Corojo ’99 Rosado
Binder : Honduran Criollo ’98
Filler : Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ‘98
Hand-Made
Price : $11.55 each
More info about purchasing La Palina cigars...

I would like to thank Courtney from La Palina for sending me these cigars. Disclaimer: La Palina is an advertiser on CigarInspector.com.

La Palina was a cigar line originally manufactured by Congress Cigar Company way back in 1896. The line existed until 1926; when company founder Samuel Paley passed the company down to his son William, William took an interest in radio broadcasting and switched entirely away from cigars, creating the Columbia Broadcasting System. Congress Cigar Company ceased to exist. But now over a century after the founding of Congress Cigar Company, William’s son has decided to revive the original La Palina cigar line of his grandfather. Having had an opportunity to review the delightful La Palina Alison (Torpedo) earlier this year, I jumped on the chance to try the La Palina El Diario, a new blend. El Diario translates to “The Daily”, which is the intention behind this cigar — that this would be a great smoke for everyday. El Diario is available in five vitolas: Churchill (7x50), Torpedo (6.125x52), Gordo (6x58), Toro (6x50), and Robusto (5x52). Today I’ll be having a look at the gordo.

Read the full review of La Palina El Diario...

Origin : Honduras
Format : Robusto Gordo
Size : 5 x 54
Wrapper : Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler : Nicaragua & Colombia
Binder : Honduras
Hand-Made
Price : $3.40-$4.00, $85/box of 25

Many of you out there won’t know much about this cigar unless you have read Stogie Guys’ take on this brand. Mataza is made by Alec Bradley, in Honduras, comprised of a multinational blend of tobaccos. Devan Brown, of Hiland's Cigars in Scottsdale (which is the only store known to have these cigars in stock at this moment) got in contact with us here at Cigar Inspector, and sent me a sampler of 6 cigars consisting of 3 robusto gordos (5x54) and 3 magnums (6x60). I smoked most of the samples and came to the conclusion that the robusto gordo was the better of the two and decided to accent this stick in this review. So here goes,….

Read the full review of Mataza Robusto Gordo (by Alec Bradley)...

Origin : Honduras (Eiroa/Camacho)
Format : Petit Corona
Size : 4 x 48
Wrapper : Rosado (Origin?)
Filler : Dominican & Nicaraguan
Binder : Honduran
Hand-Made
Price : $7.50-$8.00
More info about purchasing Room 101 Conjura cigars...

For some reason, over the last year, I have ignored the Room 101 brand at my local B&M even though they came highly recommended from the store manager. To me, a cigar blended by Camacho (Eiroa family) didn’t sound appealing since, truthfully, I never really cared much for them. Camacho’s have always been lackluster but very serviceable cigars. Somehow, Matt Booth, the head of Room 101, has teamed with the Eiroas and squeezed what seems to be the best thing I have smoked out of that factory. Check out below what makes this partnership so great.

Read the full review of Room 101 Conjura Edition Petit Corona...

Origin : Honduras
Format : Robusto
Size : 4.75 x 52
Wrapper : Ecuador
Filler : Honduras, Nicaragua
Binder : Indonesia
Hand-Made
Price : $6.15
More info about purchasing Casa Toraño cigars...

Four generations ago, the Toraño family began making fine cigars in Havana, Cuba. In 1959 the family left Cuba and was instrumental in pioneering the art of processing Piloto Cubano in the Dominican Republic. Today, Casa Toraño has 13 cigar lines with factories in Honduras and Nicaragua.

Read the full review of Casa Toraño Robusto...

Origin : Honduras
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 50
Wrapper : Honduran Connecticut Shade
Filler : Honduras, Nicaragua
Binder : Honduras, Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $5 MSRP (street price should be considerably less)
More info about purchasing Alec Bradley American Classic cigars...

Every now and then I come across a cigar that really grabs my attention. These choice sticks sometimes become a Joe’s Gem while other times simply an incentive to purchase a box. Right now I am giddy over a sample of the soon-to-be-released Alec Bradley American Classic Blend.

The term “American Classic Blend” is one many cigar makers have used and generally means the cigar has a Conn. Shade wrapper. But these days, some of the best tasting Conn. Shade wrappers are grown outside the US. Such is the case with the new ABC (Alec Bradley Cigars) release. It sports a Honduran grown wrapper from Conn. Shade seed…and it’s gorgeous. With a golden brown hue and leathery feel, this cigar looks like a winner. But its good looks are only the beginning of a wonderful smoking adventure…

Read the full review of Alec Bradley American Classic...