Origin : Cuba
Format : Coloniales (Corona)
Size : 5.2 x 44 (132 x 17 mm)
Hand-Made
Price : ~$9 each
More info about purchasing Trinidad cigars...
Continuing with a newcomer's perspective on cigars, I have selected the Trinidad Coloniales for this review because it's a mid-range Cuban, quite affordable and, at 45-60 minutes, easily digestible for the inexperienced palate.
Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Robusto
Size : 4 3/4 x 52
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Connecticut
Filler : Dominican Republic
Binder : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : £6.50 each
I regularly contribute my own views (as something of a newbie to this pleasure) and I find it interesting how these converge/diverge with those of other readers/contributors. I have contributed to the Montecristo (Open Master, Open Regata and No. 5) and El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme reviews predominantly, but also others.
I would like to share my views on other brands which I sample, mainly drawn from my favourite stockist, Fox's of St James', London. As a newbie, I think I can add something to the experience of other beginners, as reviews can, with time, become quite in-depth (rightly so) but would benefit from sharing a newcomer's take as well.
I am particularly interested in being able to draw out cigars which may suit the palate of the beginner which will include bigger names with less demanding flavours and, crucially, other non-Cuban cigars which, on account of perhaps more modest pricing, may be more attainable on a regular basis.
To this end, I'd like to start with the Fox's new, in-house brand, the Carlos Torano Dominico Robusto 1.
Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Lancero
Size : 6 ½ x 38
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $7 each
More info about purchasing Cubao cigars...
Cu-bao – the Taino word meaning “where fertile land is abundant” or “a great place”, made its debut in 2008. It was created by Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa when they were partners in EO Brands. In 2013 Eddie Ortega reintroduced the brand. Cubao cigars are manufactured in Esteli Nicaragua at the My Father factory.
Origin : Nicaragua
Format : El Brujito (toro)
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Filler : Nicaraguan Longfillers Grown in Esteli & Jalapa
Binder : Mexican San Andres Negro
Strength : Medium to Full
Hand-Made
Price : $6.95 each each
More info about purchasing Nica Rustica...
Drew Estate’s Nica Rustica is said to be blended “for hard core tobacco lovers.” The self proclaimed “rustic, un-refined” stick is draped in a rugged-looking Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper leaf. The dark chocolate-brown colored wrapper is flecked with some small, puckered veins and is left long to cover the foot. The simple, mustard colored band is in line with the un-refined vibe of the cigar. Beneath the Connecticut Broadleaf is a Mexican San Andres Negro binder snuggly wrapped around long fillers grown in Esteli and Jalapa. The cap is thin but nicely mounted and pulled into a taught pigtail. It cuts cleanly using the punch cutter on my Colibri Evoke Lighter.
Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Churchill
Size : 7 x 50
Wrapper : Connecticut Shade & Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler : Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Binder : Ecuador
Hand-Made
Price : $9 each
More info about purchasing LGC Artesanos de Tabaqueros...
Released back in 2010 by General Cigar, the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros line utilizes two wrapper leaves on one cigar. However, this is not the only thing that makes this cigar unique, as the tobaccos chosen for the wrapper(s) have not been used by the La Gloria Cubana brand. In an interview with Cigar Aficionado, Michael Giannini, marketing director for General Cigar, stated, “We thought about this like we were at a restaurant eating food. The Connecticut Shade (at the foot of the cigar) is the appetizer, and this is the big entrée (pointing to the Ecuador Sumatra wrapper).” The design is intended for the smoker to experience two separate distinct flavors as the cigar is smoked.
Read the full review of La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros 750...
Origin : Honduras
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Habano Ligero
Filler : Nicaraguan & Honduran Ligero
Binder : Nicaraguan
Strength : Full
Hand-Made
Price : ~$9 each
CAO has long been known for its unique blends featuring small batch and specialty tobaccos to create new and interesting smoking experiences. Extreme, the newest line from CAO, features ligero fillers grown in Estelí and La Entrada. The wrapper is a deep brown Ecuadorian Habano ligero leaf. Concealing the majority of the wrapper leaf is a large black and orange band. Underneath the large band, the Ecuadorian Habano Ligero wrapper is dark and oily and smooth with a slightly mottled appearance. The length of the six-inch stick is plump and nicely rolled. There are no noticeable soft spots. The thick cap cuts cleanly using my Colibri V Cutter.
Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 52
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Maduro
Filler : Brazilian Hybrid, Piloto Cubano, Dominican, Iconic Leaf Ligero
Binder : MBC (Proprietary Binder)
Hand-Made
Price : ~$7.5
This pre-release Robusto was sent to me by Iconic Leaf but in no way was my review impacted by this. 2 cigars were provided and both were smoked for this review.
They were sent to me for review last autumn. Given my smoking climate, I let them rest over the winter in my humidor and while these cigars are now available I have finally gotten around to smoking my two samples for the purpose of this review.
Iconic Leaf (Recluse) rolls all of their cigars in the entubado style and all are rolled at their Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas factory in the Dominican Republic.
More information about the company and their methods can be found in my review of their initial offerings (The Recluse and uniquely-shaped Kanu).
Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro
Size : 5 1/2 x 54
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Habano Maduro
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $8 MSRP
Over recent months, the limelight has started to shine on Córdoba & Morales. The boutique cigar brand is operated by Azaires and Emile Mustafa, who were taught how to hand roll fine cigars by their grandmother. Right now, the company only offers a handful of cigar lines, but they appear to be off to an auspicious start. Our own DrFever already reviewed the Family Reserve around one year ago. The Córdoba & Morales 19th Hole, that we are examining today, contains a Nicaraguan binder and filler inside an Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper.
