Norwegian Cruise Line

Definition

Compared to the "original" Gen413 with Habano, this darker Maduro version is definitely bolder. The draw & burn stayed very clean. Flavor points still consist of heavy cedar notes with a chalky smoke body, but now with added black pepper and earth.

H. Upmann

Always an elegant & smooth cigar. The profile brings out flavors of leather, light coffee, a little nuttiness, and a touch of caramel. The draw is open with a very clean burn.

601

Another super bold cigar from the Warhead line. Although the construction was a bit soft, it did not affect the flavor or draw. It did burn incredibly fast though. The flavor profile presented notes of dark roast coffee and black pepper, especially on the retro with increased intensity.

La Flor Dominicana

A pretty simple cigar in terms of flavor. Although there is a blended profile of hay, wood, and slice, that profile is very minimal in strength. Only a touch of that spice also comes through on the retro. The construction, draw, and burn are all great. Makes for a milder relaxing cigar if you don't want much flavor.

Drew Estate

A very solid cigar, with very firm construction. The draw is incredibly smooth, bringing out flavors of coffee, pepper, spice, and some wood tones. The burn remained incredibly level the entire way down. Very reliable.

Lure Cigars

Mixed points in this review. In terms of flavor, it's very powerful. Notes of dark coffee, deep earth, minerals, and a ton of pepper. If you like dark, you'll enjoy it. However, the construction did not match the quality of the other Lures I've had. It felt like it was missing some leaf, as it quickly tunneled up to the halfway point and negatively affected the burn. The second half leveled out ok. Hopefully this particular stick was a fluke.

Black Star Line

This one is a dark & toothy cigar that produces a ton of smoke. The smooth draw enables a good blend of flavors, including wood tones, black pepper, and sweet cinnamon. A very even burn made this a great smoke to repeat.

Partagas

Continued review on the Aristocrats vitola, remaining a solid quick choice. The flavor is rich & creamy with leather tones. That extra spice still pops in from time to time. The draw was a little tight this time, but still smooth with an even burn. Purchased in Barcelona Spain.

601

Consistent review, now with 2 years on the box. A super smooth profile with a balance of pepper & spice. A very slow & level burn this time with a super smooth draw. Construction is firm, just as the rest have been.

Caldwell

Here's a well balanced cigar. The flavor notes are primarily of next cedar with black pepper, while notes of cooking spices appear on the retro. Solid construction and a very smooth draw enable a slow even burn.

La Palina

There's an odd flavor blend to this one... General notes of tobacco and earth are primary, but there's a mix of bitter minerals and spice as well. The blend just doesn't hit well. All other aspects are decent - well constructed, open draw, and even burn.

Time Out Cigars

A bold cigar that never gets bitter, this one brings out flavors of dark chocolate and various spices. The construction is solid, with a very smooth draw producing a ton of smoke. The burn only wavered a little, correcting itself with no adjustments needed.

Arturo Fuente

As expected, an incredibly elegant cigar. The profile notes bring out medium-bodied cedar with a somewhat fuller-bodied hit of spice. The blend works very well. With a smooth open draw, the burn is perfect with a lot of smoke output.

Asylum

Unknowingly when purchased, this has a very sweet tip. The construction is very spongy, so the burn was all over the place. Somehow the draw stayed smooth. As for flavor, once you work passed the sweet tip, you find more sweetness in pure maple syrup alongside some bright pepper.

Black Works Studio

This is an incredibly appealing cigar due to its triple wrapper. The draw was super smooth and burn was flawless. In terms of flavor, notes of creamy white chocolate mix interestingly with a hit that reminds me of ginger spice. Such an intriguing cigar overall.

Adventura

Always an incredibly smokey Connecticut! Immediate tones of cedar soon blend with a little pepper and vanilla. The draw is clean with an even burn. Decently firm and proper construction.

Serino

Consistent review, now with two full years of rest. This remains a very silky cigar with notes of coffee and nuts with some subtle woodiness. Very clean draw and burn. Dark without being harsh. It has gotten smoother yet darker with age.

Exquisito

First off, the appearance is super elegant. Turns out, the tobacco used is all Cuban-seed stock. A smooth draw brings out a super spicy profile that tingles the tongue. The construction is firm, and the burn was fantastic. All around an incredible cigar.

Port of Roatan

Purchased from a local roller in Roatan. The construction is surprisingly firm and well structured, providing a very clean draw and a good amount of smoke. The flavor profile brings out a ton of cedar, sweet spice, and just a touch of something citrus. The burn was incredibly even the entire way. This could easily be a banded cigar.

Ave Maria

This cigar is definitely a bold one. The dark oily appearance translates directly over into the flavor - notes of robust coffee, dark chocolate, spice, and some earthiness. The fairly open draw produced a ton of smoke, while the burn remained incredibly even without needing any corrections.

MBombay

First time trying the longer vitola on this blend. The draw was clean and smooth. Notes are of toasted leather and nut, with the body including a touch of chocolate/coffee. The burn remained pretty even.

Alfambra

Updated review, now with 7 months rest after purchasing in Spain. The simple wood flavor profile has improved even more, with the extra touch of spice staying true. The tobacco construction is solid, with a smooth draw and very level burn. This cigar keeps improving with time.

Esteban Carreras

Second review. The flavor notes portray a touch of coffee, some leather, and a hint of spice. However, that spice presents with more intensity on the retro. The sharp box pressed edges enable a unique mouth feel, but the draw remains slightly open with a clean burn.

Foundry

First off, the flavors are good here - cedar, sweet vanilla, cocoa, double spices. However, the construction is loose & spongy in places. This caused the burn to waver and need help, even though the draw was smooth. This cigar has potential if the construction was better.

TWM

Produced by JC Newman, this is a fairly smooth cigar from Total Wine. Medium bodied but rich tobacco joins with a slight nutty note. The draw is incredibly open, producing a good amount of smoke. With a very level burn, this cigar is a great budget smoke to pull out between other heavy smokes.

Plasencia

This. Is. Amazing. -- While the cigar appears oily, it's just textured and has that rustic appearance. The flavors consist of black pepper, sweet herbal essence, and a subtle floral backend - all with a lingering tingle on the tongue. The spices come through on the retro without ever getting too intense. An immaculate & incredible cigar!

Garofalo

First time smoking this one, and it's absolutely fantastic. Learning it's a blend between 2 Guys & Perdomo explains the immaculate construction. The flavor blends together notes of bright pepper with hints of cocoa & graham cracker. Absolutely perfect burn.

Carlos Torano

A solid reliable classic, from a box purchased 4 years ago. With solid construction, the profile presents notes of cocoa, sweet spices, and a bit of earthiness. A super smooth smoke, especially after the extra rest, with a slow controlled burn.

Hoyo de Monterrey

The appearance is rustic & veiny, but it burned pretty well. Only a couple of corrections were needed. They flavor is simple, with rich earthy tobacco and some creamy notes. The retro had zero intensity.

Asylum

The name fits the cigar perfectly. With a profile blend of coffee, chocolate, and strong mint, this cigar is almost as refreshing as it is bold. A ton of smoke was produced thanks you an open draw, keeping the burn line even.