Origin : United States (Miami/FL)
Format : Torpedo
Size : 5.5 x 52
Wrapper : Shade-grown Nicaraguan Viso
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$13

The Cojonu (ballsy in Spanish) series by Tatuaje is comprised of several blends, each released in a given year – it doesn’t mean that the cigar was produced during that year though, so we can’t really talk about “vintages” here. Some of the blends have previously been reviewed on the site: Tatuaje Cojonu 2003, Tatuaje Cojonu 2009 & Tatuaje Cojonu 2012.

Construction is absolutely flawless with this cigar. The roll is seamless, the cigar is firm to the touch with a little bit of bounce.

The draw is great on the Cojonu 2006 and the burn is even. The ash was nice and compact with no flowering but it was very weak and fell off at about the half inch mark. The body of these cigars is medium to full but the strength is full especially towards the end of the cigar where it gave me a little buzz.

Some nice deep rich flavors from the start. I get coffee beans, nuts and a toasty almost chary cedar flavor. There is some pepper but it is very balanced with the rest of the flavors. In the second third some sweet honey notes come in and out which gives the cigar a nice creamy texture in the mouth. The final third was much of the same with the addition of some cocoa flavors. The flavors also became more full and pronounced in the final third.

I really enjoyed the Tatuaje Cojonu 2006 blend. The price tag on this guy is way out of an everyday cigar, but would make a nice occasional smoke for most of us. The flavors were balanced and complex which is a must for a cigar that goes over $10. The one downside to this cigar is that it doesn’t vary much from the other Tatuaje Miami’s that I’ve smoked except for the fact that it is a little stronger than the regular line.

Origin : Miami, Florida
Format : Torpedo
Size : 6 x 54
Wrapper : Ecuadorian
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Sumatran
Hand-Made
Price : ~$12 each

Black Midnight Fire was one of three cigars debuted by boutique cigar manufacturer Paul Stulac at IPCPR in 2012 (the others were White Blinding Light and Red Screaming Sun). Previously I tried Red Screaming Sun, which retails in a similar price range. I enjoyed the flavors a lot, but was displeased with some construction issues. I also tasted the Classic Lord of Albany, a cheaper smoke that I thoroughly enjoyed. I gave the Black Midnight Fire a whirl to see how it measured up. They are hand-rolled by Guillermo Pena in Miami (something you don’t run into every day in the world of premium cigars).

Read the full review of Paul Stulac Black Midnight Fire…

Origin : USA
Format : Robusto Extra
Size : 5 5/8 x 54
Wrapper : Ecuador Habano
Binder : Ecuador
Filler : Nicaraguan and Dominican
Cut : Xikar Xi2
Light : Matches
Drink : Water
Total Smoking Time : 1 hour 45 minutes
Number of Cigars Released : 2,500 Boxes of 10 Cigars
Hand-Made
Price : $18 MSRP each

Please welcome Bruce, our newest reviewer!

Howdy, today for my first review on Cigar Inspector I will be smoking a La Palina Goldie Laguito No. 5. This is the second release of the Goldie blend and I’m fairly excited seeing as the first release did so well. As with the first release, all of the cigars are rolled by Maria Sierra, a 95 rated category 9 roller at El Titan de Bronze factory. La Palina does well embracing the women in the cigar industry as the cigar named after a woman (Bill Paley’s mother, Goldie Paley) is rolled by a master female roller and is supervised by the female owner of the El Titan de Bronze factory, Sandy Cobas.

Read the full review of La Palina Goldie Laguito No. 5…

Origin : Miami, FL
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 50
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$9-10 each

This is my review of the Tatuaje Miami Reserva Series J21 Robusto (5×50). After trying a sampler of these I ended up picking up a box. They work out to about $9 a cigar.

The J21 has some interesting backstory. It’s a Nicaraguan filler with a Nicaraguan wrapper, and it’s blended by Don Pepin and rolled at the Little Havana section of the El Rey de Los Habanos factory in Miami for Pete Johnson.

Read the full review of Tatuaje Miami Reserva J21 Robusto…

Origin : USA
Format : Corona Gorda
Size : 5.75 x 46
Wrapper : Habano (Nicaraguan?)
Filler : Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $10-12 each

Recently, a press release about Cremo Cigars was brought upon the cigar world sending some aficionados abuzz. With that being said, you can click here to read that press release, which will allow me to really expand on what’s important, rather than providing you with facts that have already been spread around the cigar community. One fact that I will touch on, however, is that these smokes will not be available until after the first of the year. Allow me to make this very clear. I can’t wait.

Allow me to start out by thanking the President of Cremo Cigars, Mr. Walter Santiago. He seems quite passionate about the product he brings to the table, and I truly appreciate him providing me with the samples for this review. The two vitolas I received arrived in great condition, and came along with a nice box of cigar matches. Thanks again Walter. Now, on to shameless criticism.

Read the full review of Cremo Magnum Opus…

Origin : USA
Format : Torpedo
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf (Maduro)
Filler : Dominican/Mexican
Binder : Ecuador
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10.00

This cigar, created by Alberto Medina, is his signature cigar to commemorate the return of himself to the cigar world and his brand PIO, after his lawsuit over his former PIO “Overture” line. My local B&M, Habana House, had been talking these sticks up and saying they were pretty good and had to try them, so I gave in eventually and purchased a few as well as receiving some from the PIO factory from Alberto to write this review on. I have to admit, they weren’t much of a looker, but hell, neither are Padrons. So this is what I thought of the PIO Resurrection…

Read the full review of PIO Resurrection Torpedo…

Origin : United States
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 50
Wrapper : Habano Rosado Claro (Nicaragua)
Filler : Cuban Seed Corojo (Nicaragua)
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $7-8 each

I have had several cigars with the Don Pepin Garcia name on them. When the opportunity was given to me to review this stick, I had to take it. I had never had this particular cigar, so I was looking forward to doing this one. I have never had a bad Don Pepin Garcia cigar either. So I knew, before I lit it, that I was going to be in a for a good time.

Read the full review of Don Pepin Garcia Vegas Cubanas Generosos…

Origin : USA
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Ecuador
Hand-Made
Price : $8.20 each

Bryan White, owner of 13th Floor Cigars provided me with a sampler of his Foundation series (toro vitola) cigars to review for our website. I have to say I have been highly impressed with most of the boutique brands that I have had the privilege of smoking recently. I first smoked one of these cigars awhile back with a friend of mine on my way to the post office and was floored by how much I liked it, and told my friend that I couldn’t wait to actually sit down and write the review for this smoke.

The 13th Floor cigars are produced in Miami off of Calle Ocho by Willy Herrera of the El Titan de Bronze factory fame. I have never had an El Titan cigar, but if the 13th Floor is any indication of the production quality I experienced then I will be definitely on the lookout for anything coming out of that factory. Thanks again Bryan for giving us the opportunity to try your excellent cigars.

Read the full review of 13th Floor Fondation Toro…