Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro
Size : 6.25 x 54
Wrapper : Sun Grown Corojo
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : around $10 at release, $13-$15 aftermarket
More info about purchasing Viaje TNT cigars...

Awhile back I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a 5 pack of last summer’s limited Viaje release called the “TNT.” The TNT is characterized by its resemblance to a stick of dynamite with its long fuse like cap. Packed into boxes that look like authentic crates that house dynamite, the TNT was very well presented and marketed.

Read the full review of Viaje TNT...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro Grande
Size : 6.5 x 56
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Sumatra Maduro
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$20 each
More info about purchasing Man O'War Armada cigars...

Please welcome Zack who joined our team of contributors! He starts off with a review of the Man O'War Armada.

This was the last of the Man O'War cigars for me to try. Several years ago, I got my hand on a few of the original Man O'War's, and they were amazing. So, since then I have been a huge fan of the line. When I had the chance to get my hand on one of these rare gems, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Now I know that $20 a stick is kind of pricey, but this cigar, for once, deserves that kind of price tag.

Read the full review of Man O’War Armada...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Torpedo
Size : 6 x 54
Wrapper : Cuban-Seed Corojo
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$6-7 each
More info about purchasing Perdomo Habano cigars...

Background Info

Perdomo Cigars released the Perdomo Habano in August 2007. The company has touted this cigar in its use of three different tobaccos from different regions in Nicaragua, making for a balanced and enjoyable smoking experience.

Mission Debrief

Like the La Escepcion from my last review, I found the Perdomo Habano by accident, the box stuck in a corner of my B&M’s walk-in humidor. As I have not had as much experience in smoking the wares of Perdomo as I do of other popular cigar brands, I thought this would be a great time to get more acquainted with this line from Perdomo.

Read the full review of Perdomo Habano Corojo Torpedo...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Conde 109
Size : 7 x 50
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10 each
More info about purchasing Tatuaje cigars...

Federal Cigar, at the beginning of the year celebrated its 90th anniversary by releasing an exclusive Tatuaje cigar informally called the Tatuaje 109. These were produced in two versions with different wrappers with the same base verocu blend, one with a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, and the other with a Rosado leaf wrapper. Here, I am reviewing the Rosado leaf version, and will soon also do a review of the reserva version in the Connecticut broadleaf wrapper.

Read the full review of Tatuaje 109 Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Double Corona
Size : 7 5/8″ x 49
Wrapper : Sungrown Broadleaf
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : $8 each
More info about purchasing Tatuaje cigars...

I read on a discussion board somewhere that someone was saying hurry up and smoke The Frank because it has peaked and is in the decline. I thought, OK let's smoke one and see how they are doing. I still have the better half of my box left (you can read my initial review of The Frank here). I’m glad I picked the box I did because my Franks are certainly not in a decline. They are smoking wonderfully. True they have lost a bit of their oomph, and a little bit of the spice they had when they were newborns but these dark double coronas still have plenty to offer me. They still start off with a blast of pepper but perhaps not the full on punch in the palate that it once was. It also still has plenty of the “sun grown twang” that I love from sun grown broadleaf wrappers. The black pepper and spices are much more subtle now and the coffee and cocoa flavors are more prevelant and I was occasionally getting an nutty, almost almond like flavor from it from time to time.

Read the full review of Redux: Tatuaje Monster Series “The Frank”...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Petit Robusto
Size : 4.5 x 50
Wrapper : Pelo de Oro / Habano Oscuro
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $7 each
More info about purchasing My Father Le Bijou cigars...

I have been a big fan of the regular My Father cigars, but never gave the Le Bijou line a chance until now. My local B&M, Habana House in Austin, had just gotten a new shipment of these in months ago and were recommended for me to try out by Abdul, the manager of Habana House. I obliged due to the fact that the new Le Bijou was in my favorite vitola, a petit or short robusto. I also had to try it due to the fact that the new Le Bijou was sporting the infamous pelo de oro wrapper. So here is what I thought…

Read the full review of My Father Le Bijou Petit Robusto...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Rothschild
Size : 4 x 60
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $5.20 each
More info about purchasing Nub Habano cigars...

What a strange looking cigar. The NUB Habano 460 is a Nicaraguan puro manufactured by the Oliva Cigar Company. Have you ever noticed that some cigars taste best in the several inches toward the middle? The rationale behind NUB’s awkward sizes is that the cigars are designed in attempt to replicate this “sweet spot” from the beginning to end.

Read the full review of Nub Habano 460...

Illusione 88 Candela VS Viaje White Label Project Candela
Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 52 (Illusione), 5 x 50 (Viaje)
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $8-9 each
Smoked 2 of each for review

Since two of the top brands in the industry (Illusione and Viaje) decided to come out with candela cigars, I found it only appropriate to match these up face to face to see how they compare. The two cigars are the Viaje White Label Project Candela and Illusione’s 88 Candela. What makes this match up even more interesting is that both cigars come out of the same factory. For a lot of people out there this may be a problem, especially for those loyal to their brands and they don’t like the fact that the factory allowed two candelas to leave its doors. Some even have gone as far as to say that Andre Farkas of Viaje is following (or copying) the lead of Dion Giolito. But the only question to myself, was which one of the cigars was better? So whose cigar is King of the Candela?

Read the full review of Raices Cubanas Candela War...