I've come to really enjoy this one in the pig vitola. This one brings out notes of chocolate, pepper, leather and a sweet honey texture that shows up about halfway in. The draw is open and produces a massive amount of smoke! The burn was fantastic as well.
Continued review, 5 months of rest. The profile includes notes of bright pepper, leather, and some sweet cinnamon. At first purchased, the pepper was overwhelming and the burn needed help. Now the flavors are blended better and the burn stayed very even.
Continued review. The profile brings notes of bright pepper, leather, and some sweet cinnamon. The strength of flavor makes the pallet almost overwhelmed. An open draw enabled decent smoke, but the burn needed help again.
This is a very intriguing darker variation of the War Witch. Where the original brings out notes of chocolate and pepper, this one continues those notes but includes leather and a sweet honey texture about halfway in. The draw is open and produces smoke equivalent to a fog machine!
A bold yet smooth cigar, with a flavor profile of chocolate, pepper, and a little earth underneath. The draw was open with a decent amount of smoke. Although it burned just a little fast, it did not take away from the flavor.
First time trying this one, it's a quick little powerhouse. With profile notes of bright pepper, leather, and some sweet cinnamon, the pallet is almost overwhelmed. The draw was open but very smoky, with the burn needing a few touch-ups.
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust StillWell Star Aromatic No. 1
8220
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
StillWell Star Aromatic No. 1 Toro (6.0"x52)
100
Flavor
Draw
Burn
Appearance
The world’s first luxury pipe tobacco cigar!
Steve Saka, Master Ligador, teamed up with Jeremy Reeves, the head blender of the famed pipe tobacco maker Cornell & Diehl to create cigars incorporating pipe tobaccos that spare no expense. Each of the pipe tobacco recipes is meticulously crafted in small batches with the cigar ligas carefully tailored to specifically showcase and enhance the nuances that each of the pipe blends add to the cigar. These gems come in four different pipe tobacco combinations, in addition to using a high-priming Ecuadorian Habano oscuro wrapper over a Mexican San Andrés negro binder. Four unique cigars each with its own personality, skillfully blended to afford the enjoyer the nuances of the flavors and aromas of the pipe blends while working in concert with the black cigar tobacco. Stillwell Star cigars are truly a mesmerizing medium-bodied experience for any cigar lover. Don't miss your chance to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Aromatic No. 1 – Uses Black Cavendish, Golden Virginia and Burly pipe tobaccos, and Nicaraguan long-fillers
Aromatic No. 22 – Uses Cavendish burley and Virginia pipe tobaccos, originally the limited edition Y2022 Stillwell Star.
English No. 27 – Uses Burly and Turkish pipe tobaccos, a “generous portion” of pressed Cypriot Latakia, and Nicaraguan long-fillers
Bayou No. 32 – Uses Bright, Red Virginia and St. James Parish Perique pipe tobaccos, and Nicaraguan long-fillers.
Navy No. 1056 – Uses Red and Golden Virginias, Orientals, and Latakia pipe tobaccos, these are then blended with dark air-cured black cigar leaves in the filler
Hey, Fogata-bout it!
If I'm spending top dollar on a cigar, I need to know it's amazing. I'll roll the dice on a bundled blend, but when we're talking ultra-premiums, I'm way too thrifty to gamble with my cigars. That's why I love new releases from Avo Uvezian and Henke Kelner. The men behind numerous Top 25 and 90+ rated cigars are back with another fantastic release, and based on the samples I went through, this may be one of my favorites ever.
AVO Syncro Nicaragua Fogata cigars are a follow-up project to last year's 93-rated AVO Syncro Nicaragua. That box-pressed blend was the first AVO release to feature Nicaraguan leaf, and this one has even more. At the risk of being hokey: if it ain't broke, don't fix it! That typical Davidoff floral, grassy aroma was strong on the Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper. After a quick clip and light, you'll find wood, leather, cinnamon, and a slightly sweet finish. In all, Syncro Nicaragua Fogata is a fantastic release that reminds me why I love AVO: Loads of flavor, high quality control, and a refreshing consistency from box to box.
Note: The AVO Syncro Nicaragua Fogata LE 30 Years Toro vitola features the same great blend but comes in limited edition packaging, celebrating 30 years of excellence from AVO cigars.
'R'guably La Gloria Cubana's finest.
The La Gloria Cubana Serie R cigar utilizes an Ecuadorian grown Colorado shade wrapper, or Connecticut Broadleaf maduro, concealing an extensively aged blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler leaves. The result is a richer, spicier, fuller bodied version of the regular La Gloria Cubana cigar line. Using thicker ring gauges, the Serie R helped pave the way for today’s thicker, bolder cigars. Experience the beginning of a legend.
The Serie R has been honored with a 92-rating noting: "Rich in color with an oily wrapper and superbly crafted cap, this short robusto draws and burns evenly. Sweet woods and floral notes are balanced by spices, earth and hints of dried orange peel."
Worth the wait...
Crowned Heads is quickly building an impressive resume. Always thinking outside of the box, founder Jon Huber has focused the company on a small batch approach to blending producing many highly-rated, incredibly sought after, core lines as well as a few limited editions. The original Mil Dias line wowed with a 91-pont rating, and the maduro version is primed to impress just as much.
Mil Dias Maduro arrives in a strapping Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper with intense long-fillers from the Condega, Jalapa, and Ometepe regions of Nicaragua. Secured with an Ecuador Habano binder, this medium to full-bodied boutique delivers ample flavor. You have bold notes of chocolate, cedar, leather, and hints of sweet spice on the retrohale. Crowned Heads hits the mark once again.
A bold character from Estelí
Less than a decade ago, if you told me you could snag a premium Drew Estate cigar any day of the week for $5-$6, I would have called the men in white coats. That’s why the original Nica Rustica changed the game. It’s got it all. Attractive price point, premium tobaccos, rich & slow-burning experience, and even a 90-rating from Cigar Aficionado. Enter today, and Nica Rustica Adobe is here with the same blueprint. The good news is the blend works and delivers in a way that’s going to click with a lot of people.
This time, the Nica Rustica Adobe starts with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. This leaf provides a nutty core with underlying notes of dried fruit. Tucked just beneath is the real star of the show, a stout long-filler blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos hugged by a bold Brazilian binder. Woodiness and toastiness carry the flavor profile throughout most of the experience before hints of black pepper and baked bread show up in the tail end. Medium to full-bodied, and easy to puff on, many will find this blend enjoyable during just about any time of day. As fair warning, if you’re looking for a cigar just like Nica Rustica, this isn’t it. But if you like what the original brought to the table and want something different, look no more.
Violent delights that don't have violent ends!
The Reserva Real lineup from Romeo y Julieta is one of the most recognized and sought-after blends available today! Dating back well over 100 years ago, Romeo y Julieta has a storied history and continues to produce some of the tastiest cigars around. With this unique line extension, you'll find yourself wrapped up in this iconic twisted love story.
These barber-poled beauties are eye-catching are exemplify the complexities of romance by utilizing a flawlessly woven combination of Ecuador Habano and Ecuador Connecticut wrapper tobaccos. Beneath these starcrossed wrappers, there is a Nicaraguan binder enveloping a hearty blend of both Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers. With top notes of cedar, spice, and cashews, these flavorful yet mellow to medium-bodied characters would make a fine addition to your cigar rotation!
A return to the Age of Aquarius.
The late ‘60s and early ‘70s were a strange time to be alive, but a great time be a cigar fan. This era is referred to by some as the ‘golden years’ of tobacco, specifically in reference to the fantastic blends coming out of the Caribbean at the time. Now the iconic heritage brand Trinidad is pairing up with the great AJ Fernandez to produce a Nicaraguan puro reminiscent of the spirit of cigar excellence from those years, and they named it the Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 1.
The Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 1 contains all Nicaraguan tobacco carefully blended to speak to the soul and hearken back to the delightful island cigars of yesteryear. The packaging is a true representation of vintage Caribbean culture, and the cigars are medium-full bodied and satisfyingly full in flavor. If you’re looking for rich, chewy flavors of pepper, citrus, vanilla, and toast in perfect harmony, you’ll want to grab a box of Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 1 today. No time machine or passport required.
Good news! The Trinidad Espiritu No.1 has received a well deserved 94-point rating and a spot on the top 25 cigars of 2023, with the review noting "First puffs start with concentrated notes of fig, raisin, date and dried blueberry. A meaty, savory element brings it all together for a jammy finish reminiscent of a California Cabernet."
Full bodied fans rejoice - San Lotano Requiem is here.
Few cigar makers are as in demand as AJ ’Abdel’ Fernandez these days. Looking at his impressive portfolio of top-notch blends, it’s easy to understand why. Take for instance his already impressive portfolio boasting the likes of Man O’ War, Diesel, Morro Castle, and 5 Vegas Triple-A - all winners, no doubt. AJ’s highly successful blends are indicative of his ferocious passion and deep seeded desire for perfection.
But now, AJ has taken his craft to another level with the first major release bearing his name, San Lotano by AJ Fernandez. A truly complete ensemble, the San Lotano collection offers something that everyone can rejoice in. Ranging from mellow to full, the new San Lotano line is sure to satisfy even the most discerning of palates.
The San Lotano Requiem is the epitome of what a full-bodied cigar should be. Strong and flavorful, yet balanced and smooth, San Lotano Requiem is extraordinary. Blended using an exquisite medley of rich Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Honduran tobaccos, the Requiem is anything but boring. Accompanying the complex blend is an extremely rare Brazilian-grown Habano wrapper, available to merely two manufacturers in the world. Together, the unique wrapper and fillers strike a resounding accord of flavor, body, and complexity. Once lit, the Requiem graces your palate with nuances of wood, leather, and spice. Expect an even burn accompanied by an easy draw and long finish. Easily one of AJ’s best blends yet!
Liga Privada No. 9 Robusto Oscuro (Robusto - 5.0"x54)
100
Flavor
Draw
Burn
Appearance
Drew Estate's finest, period.
Liga Privada No. 9 is a cigar you must try. The wrapper alone will make your mouth water...a jet-black Oscuro leaf that's toothy, oily, and a marvel to look at. Underneath, aged long-fillers from seven different farms unite, creating a bold and complex bouquet. However, an extra year's worth of aging has morphed this tasty creature into a rich, meaty cigar with various notes of toast, coffee, and chocolate into a smooth, satisfying experience. Full-bodied but silky from start to finish, the Liga Privada No. 9 is a gem. Check out the reviews for your Drew Estate's Liga Privada No. 9 and try a sampler to get you started.
Liga Privada No. 9 was honored with Top 25 honors for 2015 (#10 overall) and received a well-deserved 94-rating noting: "complex range of strong earthy flavors, a sweet quality redolent of perique tobacco and a sweet tarry finish."
The Sixty resembles a chocolate bar, and Patel takes advantage of the large ring gauge by loading it with bold tobacco that lays down a foundation of leather and wood and continues to build in flavor with tasty layers of coffee, walnut and a ground red pepper spiciness."
Joined by Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan long-filler, Sin Compromiso explodes with rich flavors of chocolate brownies, coffee, and a unique sweetness.
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