The Cigar District

Room 101

Foot and wrapper have aromas of cedar and barnyard. Cold draw has cedar and caramel with slight hint of dried fruit. First draw is cedar and caramel with a subtle cinnamon spice note on the retrohale. Into first third is cedar and graham cracker. The subtle cinnamon spice remains on the retrohale. Second adds a subtle citrus zest. The final third holds same notes after a quick purge(Slight bitterness started to appear). I'm not a shade wrapper smoker but I will definitely smoke more of these.

Espinosa

Wrapper has light note of brown sugar and foot has noticeable brown sugar and light earthiness. Cold draw is very subtle but I get notes of coriander. Leaves a nice light sweetness on the lips. First draw reminds me of a Cuban coffee with some pepper on the retrohale. It has a nice sweet citrus aroma coming from the smoke. Into the first third the Cuban coffee stays with subtle caramel notes. Retrohale still has a light pepper note but also has a nice sweetness. Not much change into the second third but the aroma changes to more fruity floral than citrus. At about the halfway point a hint of cedar develops on the back end. Final third the pepper comes back with heavier cedar notes. Habanos don't usually hit my palate but this is a very smooth well balanced stick that I will keep in the rotation. Draw is a little tight but it helped when I straight cut it instead of a punch.

Macanudo

Foot and wrapper have a nice barnyard and fruit wood aroma. Cold draw is notes of fruit wood and leaves a light pepper and sweetness on the lips. First draw is cedar, oak, and dark cherry notes. Retrohale is sweet but has a mild white pepper bite. The first third has cedar, dark cherry, earth, and subtle milk chocolate and coffee notes. Retrohale has still holds a medium pepper bite. The second third stays similar but the dark cherry drops off and a subtle black licorice takes its place. The smoke has a charred mixed wood aroma much like a campground firepit. Final third holds notes of the second but picking up a citrus zest on the back end along with black pepper. The retrohale has switched to a cinnamon note. Overall a good stick but it took multiple touch ups throughout.

Micallef

Has a light hay and dried fruit sweetness from the wrapper and foot. Cold draw is also light with hay and tobacco sweetness. Has a mild pepper and leather on the lips. First draw is earthy dry hay with a cocoa bitterness and mild pepper on the retrohale. Into the first third it holds the earthy dry hay but the cocoa develops a more dark chocolate flavor and an aged leather note comes in. The retrohale holds the pepper as well but all notes are subdued and well balanced. Rounding out the firs tand starting the second third a smoky nutty note and a coffee with cream note. The flavor intensity picks up a bit but is still very smooth. Smoke has a subtle floral aroma. Final third has little change other than the pepper picks up. Overall a solid stick had a couple burn issues.

Room 101

Has a nice semi sweet chocolate and mint aroma at the foot. A light earthiness and some floral notes from the body. Cold draw has coffee and dark chocolate notes and a nice salty leather taste on the lips. First draw has some charred oak, dark chocolate, coffee, and black pepper on the retrohale. First third carries these notes with some cream, sweet nutty, and earthy notes. I get some faint notes of anise on the retrohale. Second third is similar with a slight cedar addition on the retrohale and dark chocolate transitions toward cocoa. The anise notes move toward the front and less on the retrohale. Coffee notes also move toward a more dark roast bitterness. Final third transitions to a some dried fruit sweetness, charred oak, black pepper, and some mineral notes. Retrohale has white pepper and citrus zest. Very smooth bold stick that punches above its price point

El Rey del Mundo

Has a very nice earthy aroma. Cold draw is similar with faint notes of chocolate and dark coffee. First draw has cedar, earth, dark coffee notes , and pepper on the retrohale. Has a definite tobacco sweetness to the aroma. First third maintains initial notes with some chocolate and cinnamon notes that develop. Second third holds the notes but a noticeable anise aroma comes out briefly. Last third the dark coffee and chocolate notes become more prominent but initial notes are there but subtle. Also develops a creaminess. Some hints of salty caramel show up intermittently throughout. Surprisingly smooth in the last third considering how dark this stick is. Has Burn is very good throughout and holds a nice ash. Very well balanced stick with good complexity.

Foundation Cigar Co.

Charter Oak Maduro Toro. Has aroma of dark chocolate and mint. Cold draw is earthy and dark chocolate with leather on the lips. First puff is cedar and earth. A little leather, black coffee, chocolate, and lightly sweet cherry notes come after a couple more puffs. Retrohale has some black pepper but light enough to retro the whole draw. Flavors and aroma are subtle, but stay consistent. The pepper picks up a bit into the second third and holds through the last third. Overall a solid stick. Wrapper started peeling toward the nub but didn't affect the flavor

Foundation Cigar Co.

Charter Oak Maduro Toro. Has aroma of dark chocolate and mint. Cold draw is earthy and dark chocolate with leather on the lips. First puff is cedar and earth. A little leather, black coffee, chocolate, and lightly sweet cherry notes come after a couple more puffs. Retrohale has some black pepper but light enough to retro the whole draw. Flavors and aroma are subtle, but stay consistent. The pepper picks up a bit into the second third and holds through the last third. Overall a solid stick. Wrapper started peeling toward the nub but didn't affect the flavor

Aganorsa Leaf

Has an earthy deep tobacco aroma. Cold draw has notes of very dark coffee and tobacco. First draw has the same dark coffee and retrohale has a strong pepper note that stays for about the first inch. The pepper mellows and coffee stays but some charred wood, ash, and chestnut notes come in. Has a light but noticeable sweetness in the aroma like a pipe tobacco. Draw is really nice but the burn is uneven and doesn't correct. Second third doesn't change much. The pepper picks up again in the last third. Other than the burn this is a solid stick and I found I didn't want to put it down. It leaves a little more aftertaste than I prefer but not a deal breaker. This stick produced a lot of smoke

Padron

Has a nice light cinnamon graham cracker and chocolate aroma. Cold draw is nice with chocolate and graham cracker flavors and has a slightly sweet raisin taste on the lips. First draw has chocolate, caramel, dark coffee, light vanilla, and black pepper on the retrohale. Has earth, hay, and cedar notes that come in. Draw is pretty tight into the second third but loosens into the last third. The pepper notes subside in the second third. This is a solid stick all the way.

Leaf By Oscar

Has a nice sweet chocolate aroma. Cold draw is tight and has a distinct chocolate, honey, and sweet tobacco flavor. First draw is spicy pepper on the retrohale with notes of chocolate, floral honey, coffee and cream. Into the first third the pepper mellows but is apparent and some earthiness and light wood notes come in after about an inch. Into the second third a hint of black licorice on the front and very light leather show up. All the previous notes remain but have mellowed like the pepper. It has a nice toasted honey wheat bread aroma that comes off the smoke that took me a while to pinpoint. The last third the notes come back strong. Flavors remain throughout with the boldness at it heights in the first and last thirds. Very well balanced stick. Glad I tried it because it looked gimmicky wrapped in the tobacco leaf

Alec Bradley

Aroma is hay and chocolaty tobacco notes. Cold draw has a light sweet chocolate and vanilla with some leather on the lips. First draw is has a nice sweet tobacco and citrus flavor with a little vanilla. Has some cinnamon notes on the retrohale. Into the first third the flavors stay but they get smoother and a little creamy. The flavors remind me of a semi sweet chocolate chip macadamia cookie. Burn gets a little uneven but smooths out with a couple puffs. Some fruit wood smoke notes come in on the second third. The flavors get a little bolder in the last third. Some spice on the retrohale and the smoke has a more earthy floral aroma. Has a good complex flavor. Did not expect this from a more budget friendly stick

El Artista

Aroma of earth and hay maybe a little molasses. Cold draw is earthy with some baking spice. Draw is a little tight. First draw is dark roast coffee and cocoa. Has definite pepper on the retrohale. Has a distinct tobacco sweetness on the lips. Into the first third notes of molasses come in. Has noticeable campfire aroma. Had to touch up the burn a few times and relight twice. Wrapper started to come apart at the last third due to band sticking. Flavors stayed pretty consistent throughout and the molasses came through the aroma as burned through. Pepper notes were stronger in the last third. Not a bad stick for the money

Flor de Oliva

Has a nice cocoa aroma with a little spice. Cold draw is tight with pepper notes. Starts with a creamy smoke and cedar. Has coffee, cocoa, and a little caramel and walnut flavor that becomes more noticeable toward the second third. Has some pepper on the retrohale. Into the first third is has an earthy sweet aroma that stays throughout. Flavors stay consistent all the way. The pepper notes are slightly heavier in the last third. Burn is perfect. This stick smokes better than some 2-3 times it's price. Oliva holds true to it's quality

El Artista

Has a nice sweet nutty woody aroma. Cold draw is similar flavored. First draw is black pepper on the back and has a taste similar to smoke from pecan wood. Flavors are pretty bold but simple. Burn is not great and goes out quickly(can'tlay this one down). Has a salty buttery note that comes in part way through the first third. Burn improves in second third. Has some cinnamon notes into the final third. A good budget stick

Rojas

Has a cinnamon and vanilla aroma. Cold draw I get cocoa and cedar. Definitely has an orange zest on the lips. First draw is cedar and red pepper. Definitely get a sweet bread aroma. Red pepper on the retrohale and cocoa on the tongue. The flavors mellow into the second third with the addition of coffee, cream, and a little leather. Has a good sweet tobacco flavor all the way and nice creamy smoke. Burn is near perfect, ash is a little flaky, draw is good, and appearance is sophisticated. A great smoke to the nub

Oliva

Cigar noob so this is the only stick I have purchased multiple times. I really enjoy the smoothness and body of this cigar. It's a little heavy on the draw and the appearance isn't as eye catching as other brands. I Oliva lets their blends talk instead of flashy wrappers

Arturo Fuente

Has a mild earthy smell and smooth cold draw. Produces a good amount of smoke that is smooth. Has a creamy woody flavor with a little spice on the back end. Some citrus notes come in at the end of the first third and throughout the second third. Draw remains smooth throughout and burn is good. Spice notes build into the last third.

La Aroma de Cuba

Has a hay smell before lighting and very light aroma of coconut. Smooth draw. Wrapper flaking near head. Ash dropped about an inch in and it doesn't hold an ash well. Black pepper is the most noticeable. This is a very smooth stick. I did pick up the coconut(faintly) and chocolate taste in the second third. I didn't taste the toasted almond or espresso beans. Good all the way to the nub