ABC Fine Wine & Spirits

CAO

TL;DR: A good medium+ cigar with tasty flavors up front and power at the end. ——— 70% RH @ Cap, 64% RH @ foot - Home humidor aged 2 days. ——— Initial observations - Say what you will about CAO cigars, but their bands are always eye catching, and this one is no different. The blue, yellow, and green, along with the gold font, really capture one’s attention, and it plays perfectly off the wrapper itself. A nice, oily, toothy, chocolate color, this cigar looks like it’s going to be a creamy smoke just on looks alone. There are veins a plenty and a couple seams that aren’t hidden so well, but I doubt that either of those will affect the smoking experience. The foot is clean cut and neat, and shows the bunching and packing very well. It’s a tight cigar with little give and should impart a dense smoke. The cap is set straight and deep, though the cutting of it seems to be slightly “irregular”. All the same, it appears to be set well enough that it should withstand any kind of cut thrown at it. Finally, scents off the unlit wrapper included hay, coffee, and a touch of musty leather. The foot smells more of cinnamon and chocolate. ——— Cold draw - As predicted, the cap took my double-sided straight scissor cut very well. The draw is nice and relaxed with “the right” amount of resistance to it. Flavors I got from the unlit stick mainly included wheat bread, cinnamon, and hay. I fully anticipate that I’ll experience all 3 of those at some point during the smoke. ——— Light up - Upon light up I got notes of a dark wheaty bread, like pumpernickel, black pepper, and dark coffee on the palate. Retrohales gave a black pepper/red pepper mix in the sinuses, along with coffee and dark chocolate. The finish left me with black pepper, dark coffee, and earth. ——— First third - The cigar was off to a good start with an even burn line. The ash was a medium gray, slightly flaky, “stacked”, with visible “tooth” in it from the wrapper. It started to wave on the burn line, but also corrected itself once I rotated the cigar regularly. The draw kept a good resistance and the overall burn was nice and slow, probably due to the ring gauge. Primary flavor notes on the palate in this third were dark wheat bread, a touch of molasses, black coffee, and walnuts. The retro was now black pepper only, cream, a floral note, and a faint sour dough. Lingering in the finish was coffee, leather, and a touch of earth. The aroma in the air held a nice hickory scent along with a non-offensive standard tobacco. Peaty earth and sweet tobacco flavors are left on the lips. The ash held on through the end of the first third and into the second, which was brought in by subtle changes to the blend. ——— Second third - A slightly wavy burn line didn’t stop the ash from hanging on all the way to the band. The flavors continued to mellow with a slightly more pronounced sweetness on the palate and in the finish that went from molasses to pure sugar cane. The cream in the retro shifted to just dark chocolate. The sour dough in the retro hung around though. Dark wheat continued on strong on the palate, along with a more pronounced leather note. I was able to remove the band without disturbing the ash, but it fell off a few puffs after that anyway. This was a well constructed cigar. At this point, the darker leather and peaty earth that were only on my lips found their way into the smoke flavors. The finish was noticeably darker and bolder. The strength was a solid medium plus here and the flavor presence continued to ramp up. The transition into the final third was gradual, fairly undetectable aside from the bold presence of the earthy notes. ——— Final third - The wrapper’s sweetness became gradually overpowered by the darker coffee, leather, and earthy notes, though it still tasted balanced. A new charred oak note entered in this final third on palate but not in the finish, as did a faint anise. The smoke texture was thick and silky throughout the entire stick. Since the pepper in the retro receded, I found myself retrohaling more in this third than the previous two. The ash held on through till the very end. It got more flaky and ugly, but had no impact on the smoke itself. Just be careful in breezy conditions. Final tasting notes in the last few puffs were charred oak, anise, sweet tobacco, and leather. ——— Other notes - I smoked mine down to a 0.5” nub in 1 hour, 10 minutes. Overall a pretty good smoke and I’d definitely reach for this one again. The end of the first third going into the second third was the best part. Final third was my least favorite, but still okay. Many thanks to my buddy Trevor for gifting me this one. I’ll have to give him one of my favorites to try. ——— Personal Final Score - 87

Arturo Fuente

TL;DR: A quick-ish smoke that is a roller coaster ride of shifting flavors. ——— RH could not be measured due to cigar size/shape - Home humidor aged 4 months. ——— Initial observations - Like most Fuentes, it’s a firm, very well-packed stick. Not a typical vitola for me, this perfecto size and shape is interesting and will probably affect the flavors and smoking time. The Cameroon wrapper has hidden seams, but veins galore and a fair amount of mottling. Cameroon wrappers are notoriously sensitive, so I’ll be forgiving. The band is standard Fuente. Nothing new. The taper from foot to cap is gradual and combined with the finish on the foot (nubbed and mostly closed), it assured me that these cigars are rolled by extremely skilled artisans. The cap is deftly cut and deeply placed, but extra care could have been paid to make sure it was straight. Wrapper scents included cinnamon, coffee, and hay (as usual). No foot scents since it’s mostly closed. I took care in my V-cut, and the cap stayed in place. ——— Cold draw - Creamed coffee, hay, must, and cedar were the flavor notes. The draw itself was a little tight. ——— Light up - The flavors I caught were toast, plum, raisin, leather, black pepper, walnuts, a floral note, and earth. There were so many natural, earthy flavors going on at once that it was hard to catch them all. The retrohale was just as unforgiving with notes of earth, black pepper, graham cracker, wheat, dried fruit, cedar, almond, and a touch of cream. I honestly have not had my palate assaulted like this by a cigar…EVER. ——— First third - The flavors distracted me so much that I almost missed how badly the burn started, but like most Fuentes, it self-corrected with time. It canoed AND waved, and it took a bit to even out, but I could see it happening with each puff. The draw went from tight to loose, but that was to be expected given the foot finish. Ash was gray, “stacked”, and flaky, but held on well. The aroma was that of most Fuentes; they seem to have their own unique scent once they’re lit, almost as if you can smell a nuttiness in the tobacco. Flavors were similar to the light up notes, but better blended. Dried fruit, black pepper, nuts, and earth were standout on the palate. The retro retained black pepper, wheat, cedar, and raisin. The finish allowed the floral, woods, must, and prune notes to linger. The smoke itself was abundant and noticeably thicker than most other manufacturers. And just as I got comfortable with the cigar, it transitioned to the second third. ——— Second third - As if the flavor profile wasn’t all over the place already, things shifted, blended, mellowed, stood out, and altogether changed even more in this third. The finish shifted to pepper, floral, a hint of cream, and pine nuts. Retro flavors shifted to wheat, graham cracker, vanilla, prunes, and of course black pepper. All while the main palate notes became dark chocolate, raisin, pepper, and a hint of citrus. To say that this cigar challenged me to identify a plethora of flavor notes would be an understatement. The ash continued to hold on, not falling from light up until there was about 0.75” left in the second third. If I ever entered a long ash contest, I’d choose a Fuente to smoke. Even as it looked dirty and flaky, it still held on. Construction was excellent. Towards the end of this third, the flavor notes got more earthy, and the taper caused the burn rate to increase. ——— Final third - One more shift in flavors. Peaty earth and balsamic notes dominated as the main attraction, but the supporting cast was still an all-star list of pine nuts, floral notes, and anise on the palate, with black pepper, graham crackers, vanilla, toast, and a mix of dried fruits (cherry, raisin, plum) in the retro. The finish stayed the same, but seemed to be drier. Band removal was easy and signaled an end coming soon. The burn evened out but never got razor sharp. Medium-plus in strength and flavor presence throughout the entire cigar. And with as much flavor shifting as took place throughout, I should have known that the end had one last trick up its sleeve…a little sourdough, not much, combined with the anise, citrus flower, and tobacco to finish the cigar. What a ride! ——— Other notes - I see why these Hemingways are so beloved. If you’re not paying attention to the flavors with these, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Smoked down to 0.5” nub in 1 hour flat, and it would have gone quicker if I wasn’t writing the review as I smoked. If I had to knock the cigar, it would be that it smokes so quickly. Will absolutely buy and experience these again, as I plan on keeping a few of these in my humidor. ——— Personal Final Score - 91

My Father

TL;DR: My Father flavor and spice + Ecuadorian shade = MAGIC! Top 10 Connecticut. ——— 69% RH @ Cap, 65% RH @ foot - Home humidor aged 4 months. ——— Initial observations - Very firm stick. Well packed, even for this ring gauge. Brown paper bag colored wrapper. Visible seams and a fair amount of veins. Black foot band is classy, and foot overall is neat. Main bands are ornate, but tasteful, if not a little large; the first band will come off in the second third. Triple cap is deep set, but cut sloppily. Wrapper smells of hay, cinnamon, and light coffee. Foot scents remove cinnamon, but add barnyard. The cap took my scissor cut without any issue. ——— Cold draw - Flavors of cinnamon, creamed coffee, cashew, and hay. Resistance is good, but subject to change. ——— Light up - Flavors on the palate are creamed coffee, hay, cinnamon, and nuts. Retrohale had black pepper, red pepper (blast), cream, and cashews. Finish is short but notes of nutmeg, cream, and tobacco linger. ——— First third - Sight canoe to the burn to start off with, but it looked to be able to correct itself. Pepper on the retro died down some, but not a lot. Flavors on the palate stayed strong and were the same as light up: creamed coffee, hay, cinnamon, and cashews. Sweetness was slight and coming from wrapper. Nicotine strength was mild+. Room aroma was standard cigar, not especially aromatic. Cedar came through about 15 minutes in. Finish lengthened. Ash was gray and “stacked”. Retro flavors included buttered toast, cream, green tobacco/oregano, and graham cracker. Very pleasant for a Connecticut, so far. Burn canoe corrected itself, but still waved up slightly. Cigar ashed itself at 1.5”. Smooth, gradual, easy transition into the second third. ——— Second third - The cream would come through more if the pepper wasn’t as present. Still, it was a smooth smoke. Flavors on the palate were minerals (salt), nutmeg, toast, cashew, cedar, and faint cream. Retro included black pepper, cream, orange peel, and graham cracker. Finish got longer and tasted of grassy oregano, anise, white pepper and slight brown sugar. Strength moved up to medium. Sweet cream flavor increased as this third progressed. Very nice. If the slight “green” note on the finish wasn’t present this would be a perfect third. Ash built up and the burn line became razor sharp. Blend of flavors was great. First band came off easily, but I accidentally ashed the cigar in the process. ——— Final third - Removal of the last band ushered in the last third. Band came off easily. A slight cumin note appeared in the transition to this third and hung around. Strength stayed medium. Flavors on the palate were almond, cashew, cedar, white pepper, and sweet cream. Retrohale had black pepper (though toned down a little more, it began increasing again as the final third progressed), cream, toast, and graham cracker. Long finish tasted like mostly hay. Tobacco flavor took over with 1” left. Anise became more prominent, but only got slightly bitter. Final tasting notes were a surprise sourdough and lemon zest. Smoked down to nub (0.5”). ——— Other notes - 2 hour 15 minutes smoke time. Slow paced burn throughout, which is a plus in my book. As long as the ash held on, the burn line was sharp, but ashing, whether intentional or self-ashed, caused the burn to go wonky. Hold the ash as long as possible for even burning. Excellent construction. Copious amounts of smoke. Great draw throughout. Top 10 best Connecticut, maybe top 5. Great smoke for the money, even if you don’t like Connecticuts. Very impressed and highly recommended. ——— Personal Final Score - 90

Oliva

I don't hide my love for Oliva cigars. Not a fan of the Serie O, but that's about it. Having already tried and loved a Serie G, I was pleased to see that they made a maduro version with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper (one of my favorites), so I had to try it. Initial observations were that I saw no seams, the wrapper was slightly veiny (as to be expected from a Connecticut Broadleaf), and toothy. Overall, it looks rustic, with its deep, rich color and tactile feel. The cap was nicely cut and deep set. As with most figurados I smoke, I V-cut this one, though a straight cut would have worked as well, perhaps even better. I initially missed the small bulge in the middle of the cigar that qualifies it as a "perfecto", but honestly, it's very subtle. On top of that, the stick was box pressed, which I'd never seen before on a perfecto. That's not to say it doesn't exist, just that this was my first. The feel was very firm with a little spring back. Fearing it may be a little dry, I checked it with my new humidimeter and got a 71% RH at the cap, and 66% RH at the foot. It was not dry at all. Post cut, the cold draw gave me notes of dark wheat, coffee, cedar, and some nuttiness. Light up gave earth, chocolate, wheat, and a little black pepper on the palate. Retrohale presented PLENTY of pepper and some milk chocolate. The burn canoed a bit after light up, and I did touch it up once with my lighter, but it was an even burn from that point forward. Speaking of burn, the ash was dark gray and flakier than I thought it would be, and it didn't hold on particularly well; ashing itself in half inch pieces. In the first third, the spice made even more of a presence, creaminess from the wrapper showed up, and a woody note of oak came in. The nuttiness from the initial light up became walnut here too. The first third was probably my favorite part, though it was over quickly due to the perfecto shape. The finish was a good medium in length. The second third came in quickly with a settling of the flavors. The nutty notes became more prominent, and the chocolate turned more to cocoa. Also, the creaminess faded. The draw was excellent throughout, but best in the second third. The final third shifted to the more woody, oaky notes, and less on the cocoa and nuts. Overall, the cigar stayed interesting the entire way, but I was left feeling like the cameroon versions are better than the maduro.

Liga Privada

Smoked at 66% RH reading @ the Cap & Foot, aged 3 months in the humidor TL;DR - Not your typical Connecticut, especially when you smoke it slowly. Not the neatest or prettiest wrapper. Seams were mostly hidden, but veins abounded. The main band and foot band were nicely designed and effective. The cap was cut very well and deeply set. Standard Connecticut scents from the wrapper and foot included hay, coffee, and cinnamon. I straight cut the cap without damaging it, and the cold draw gave standard Connecticut flavors of hay, wheat, and cinnamon. Nothing about this cigar stood out to begin with. Initial light up bright flavors of cedar, cinnamon, hay, salt & wheat (buttered toast effect), and a touch of vanilla. Draw was very good if not a touch on the loose side. Burn line was slightly wavy but overall neat and even. There was a touch of white pepper in the retrohale, and a slight cream to the finish. All of that is also how the first third began. Into the first third and baking spices appeared like cloves, oregano, and perhaps a faint touch of nutmeg. I was surprised by the complexity and flavor presence up front. The ash was light gray and not flaky, and seemed to hold on for quite awhile. The construction was very good; better than most. As the first third closed, a slight citrus flavor came out like that of a lemon or lime, but it was very faint. The aroma off the foot was fine, neither exceptionally aromatic, nor off putting. As the second third began, the creaminess on the palate opened up. The retrohale gave more pepper, and a touch of graham crackers showed up. Through the second third and the vanilla stood out more, with honey or caramel mixed into the finish. By the end of the second third the cedar was more pronounced and the shifting of flavors was noticeable. The band removal ushered in the final third along with an increase of strength and tobacco flavors. The finish and retrohale were ironically unchanged though. On the palate, the sweetness and cream died away, but the cereal and woody cedar notes hung around. The strength continued to increase as well. I really appreciated the shifting complexity of this stick from beginning to end. Tobacco notes didn’t take over until less than an inch left, maybe 0.75", and never got bitter. In fact the final tasting note on the finish was primarily toast. Overall a great cigar and a top 10 Connecticut.

Arturo Fuente

TL;DR: Very good stick, but the Maduro version is better. This isn’t my typical review type, but I wanted to share some thoughts anyway. Fuentes have their die-hard followers, and for good reason; they are EXCELLENT cigars, and this is no exception. The burn is exceptional and it took 70 minutes to smoke down a 4” stick. The ash holds on FOREVER! The draw is near perfect as well. Construction on these are great also. Seams are not obvious and there are very few veins that I see. My only knock, specifically with the sun grown, is that the flavors are just “okay”. There’s more interesting stuff going on with the Maduro version. Overall, superb stick, but I was disappointed a little with the flavor.

Brick House

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the Brickhouse series. The Double Connecticut is very good, and the Maduro is no slouch either, so I wondered where the natural would fall. Mine was aged 3 months before smoking, so the flavors should meld well. The appearance was decent. Seams were definitely apparent, but didn’t look like they’d be an issue. The layered cap was neatly and nicely placed. The band is attractive and an adequate place to hold the stick. Foot was neat and trimmed as well. The cigar gave scents of just a touch of barnyard, cinnamon, and hay off the unlit wrapper, while the foot added a little milk chocolate to the aroma. Double sided cut from scissors was clean and the cap held up well. Cold draw gave wheat, dried fruit, and creamed coffee. Light up immediately offered the same flavors of wheat bread, dried fruit, a touch of saltiness on the palate, and some white pepper on the retrohale. Draw was good if not somewhat on the loose side. In the first third, a very SLIGHT touch of creaminess seemed to come through along with some toasty woods. The burn line was slightly wavy, but gradually corrected itself. Aroma in the air was pleasant and non-offensive. The ash held on through the end of the first third and into the second; a testament to its construction. The ash was light gray, but a little flaky. The second third brought the same flavor notes and a couple new ones, that all seemed to blend well. There was a hint of a floral taste, but I found it to go in and out. Pepper came out onto the palate as well, not just in the retrohale. The creaminess morphed into a milkiness that I hadn’t experienced before. It was present, but seemed to thin out in a way. Interestingly enough, the value of this cigar showed up in the fact that I had to puff a little more often than I wanted to in order to keep it from going out. Undoubtedly, this was what contributed to a lower smoking time than I expected from my toro. Towards the end of the second third the wrapper sweetness really started to come out, and the finish started to linger longer; both pluses in my book. The final third was ushered in with the band removal. Most of it came off easily, but it did take some of the wrapper with it. Flavor changes included a pronounced nuttiness like that of cashews and walnuts. Tobacco flavor started taking over with about 1 - 1.5” left, but it didn’t get too bitter. Smoked down to a half inch nub. Overall the flavors were a good medium, and strength was a little on the lighter side; I smoked my stick on an empty stomach with no adverse effects. Not a bad stick by any means, it’s actually a decent cigar for the price, but I prefer the Maduro more, and the Connecticut is probably the best of the three.

Oliva

I’m not especially loyal to any brand of cigar, but if I had to choose one manufacturer to smoke for the rest of my life, it’d probably be Oliva. As a fan of the Connecticut, Series G, V, and V Melanio, I was hoping this would join them and not go the way of the Serie O (in my opinion, the only Oliva I don’t care for). The initial presentation started things off great. The wrapper is neat, very few veins, and a small seam. The cap is deep, complex, and tidy. Not the best, but certainly not the worst. Unlit, it smelled of hay, coffee, and sweet tobacco from both the wrapper and the foot. The cap held up very nicely against my double guillotine straight cut, and that gave an almost perfect draw. The cold draw had flavor notes of wheat, coffee with cream, and a light raisin. Initial flavor notes after immediate lighting for me were toasted wheat, minerals, and a whisper of a dark dried fruit. The retrohale had black pepper, and just a touch of cocoa. I thought it would remind me of a Connecticut Reserve, and it does, but a bit more sophisticated. In the first third, the burn line was clean. Pepper was noticeable on the palate and the back of the throat, not just the retrohale. A creamy note joined, as did a baking spice like clove on the retro. I also got the standard cedar and cashew that’s in a lot of Connecticuts. Interestingly, as the first third started to move into the second, the fruit note went from dried plum or raisin to a citrus like orange. Ash was bright and not overly flaky, but had a little flake to it, and it held on until the end of third. In the second third, the pepper died down some and made room for the other shifting flavors to come out. The buttered toast was there, along with the cream, orange peel, cashew, and cedar. Even though the flavor notes were the same, they seemed to be shifting among themselves in strength and prominence, and the nutty note went from cashew to peanut. Mid way through the second third, some sweetness arrived like caramel. The band came off very easily and brought in the final third. The final act mellowed the shifting flavors and eventually the tobacco took over. A little pleasant anise came out, but it wasn’t a stand out flavor note. Those that retrohale in the final third will get pepper but also some graham cracker. The strength bumped up as well. I smoked this down until I couldn’t hold it (about a half inch) and really liked it. The burn got a little wonky in the last inch, but nothing dramatic like canoeing. Overall, the aroma was decent but not aromatic, and the strength went from mild plus to a solid medium at the end. The finish wasn’t as long as I wanted, but I wouldn’t call it short. It was definitely more complex than the Connecticut Reserve and stronger as well. Quite a good cigar especially given the price point.

AJ Fernandez

TL;DR: Get past the first half inch and you’ll enjoy it a lot if you like creamy, nutty sticks. I first tried the Cameroon version of this cigar, and that one is amazing, so I was hoping this would be too. It’s starts off really well with a great feel and appearance. The stick was firm with just a touch of give to it. The band is similar, if not the same, as the Cameroon. The wrapper is a nice wheat color. It’s not too veiny, but the seam is very noticeable. I like that it has a foot band for protection as well. The cap is set deeply, but the cut of it seems like it could be better. All the same, the straight cut didn’t injure the cap, which was a good sign. The scents off the wrapper were cinnamon, coffee, and barnyard. The foot gave tobacco, hay, and coffee too. The draw isn’t too loose and has a decent amount of resistance. Light up went well and gave me notes of grass, creamed coffee, nutmeg, and white pepper immediately. The retrohale had notes of black pepper and graham cracker. Not wild about the grass note. I hoped it would turn to hay sooner than later. All the rest of the flavor notes mellowed out once into the first third. Foot smoke was borderline aromatic, but still held a little funk in it. Ash wasn’t flaky and held on till the end of each third. As the first third progressed, the creamy note came out more and more. Burn line wasn’t razor sharp, but it was close! Coming into the second third, the flavor notes were mostly creamy, peppery hay. The retrohale added a slight bit of vanilla and cumin to the taste and that might have been what I smelled in the foot smoke. Through the second third I also got cedar and almond, so the complexity of this cigar is much better than I initially expected. It was here that I really bought into how good of a smoke this stick was. The band came off nicely with the warmth of the burn and none of the wrapper came off with it. The final third brought even more flavor mellowing, but added the sweet tobacco flavor and some salt to the palate while increasing the pepper slightly. I noticed it sitting more at the back of my throat. The given held on through a bathroom break and didn’t require relighting. The finish throughout the entire cigar was a good medium length, and in the final third added a very slight floral note. Very pleasant ending, the tobacco taste didn’t ever completely take over, but it was the most pronounced flavor at about an inch left. I smoked mine down until I couldn’t hold it anymore (a little less than half an inch), and the aroma was very pleasant and aromatic as it went out. Strength was mild, flavor was medium across the entire stick. Of all the connecticuts I’ve smoked so far, it was probably in my top 10, maybe top five, which is high praise. I may have to do a back-to-back comparison to others in the future. Highly recommend this cigar.

Perla del Mar

My affinity for J. C. Newman cigars starts at this line of smokes. I’m a fan of the shade version of these, so I was curious to see how the Maduro fared. The appearance is great. The band has nice, fancy touches. The cap is neat, complex, and well-set. Not much mottling, and only a couple of stray veins. The wrapper is a good chocolate color and has scents of cocoa, coffee, and hay. The foot smells of sweet tobacco and hay as well. This stick was firm with a little give, implying a good construction even with the box press. The cap held up nicely to my double guillotine cut, and the cold draw gave notes of wheat bread without much else. The draw itself was excellent. After lighting, the first flavor notes I got were milk chocolate and buttery minerals. The retrohale gave copious black pepper and cream. It’s an excellent start. Foot smoke is nicely aromatic. The only knock I gave it was a canoe on the initial burn. It required touching up. After that it burned fairly evenly. The second third was pleasant without much change in flavor notes. The pepper calmed down though. The band resisted coming off, but I was able to coax it. None of the wrapper came off with it. The final third didn’t have many changes either, save for the cocoa turning into more of a dark chocolate. Finished with less than inch left. Very good smoke overall. Plenty of smoke throughout. Flavors and strength started medium and stayed that way. I think I might like this more than the shade version.

Perla del Mar

My stick was a little on the soft side, but it wasn’t anything to be worried about. The appearance is what you’d expect from a Connecticut in this price range. Not too many veins, but some. A little mottling. Box press is soft, but noticeable. Scent off the wrapper is cocoa, wheat, and barnyard. Unlit foot gives tobacco and cedar. The cap is fancy and set deeply, withstood double straight cut. Cold draw gives wheat and honey. Light up is easy. First flavor notes are toast, cedar, mineral, and a dried fruit of some sort. Black pepper and walnut on the retrohale. Draw is a little on the loose side. PLENTY of thick smoke. Ash is solid and light gray, and holds on well. Principal flavor is buttered toast with just a hint of jam through the first third. The burn canoed, but I gave it chance to fix itself and it did nicely. Into the second third and the notes don’t change much. I thought I’d gotten a taste of cream off of this before, but this time around it didn’t peek out until midway through the stick. The pepper showed itself on the palate, not just the retrohale in the second third. Strength at this point is a mild-plus bordering on medium. The band came off well, but it took a little off the wrapper with it. Oddly enough, it wasn’t where the band was glued together. At the end of the second third, a floral note is noticeable. The final third also brings ash as a flavor note. Smoked down to a half inch. Overall a decent smoke, if not slightly inconsistent from one cigar to the next.

Arturo Fuente

Didn’t know what to expect going into this. AF makes some great cigars, but a number of companies flub the economic side of things. Upon first glance I could already see where corners were being cut. The wrapper itself was not injured, but there seams were visible, the veins were all over, and the cap was ragged and not set deeply, or very well for that matter. Also, the whole stick was much softer than most of AF’s other offerings. On the bright side, it smelled promising. Unlit, it gave a good barnyard and strong coffee off the wrapper, and some mix of baking spices off the foot. The cap was no match for a straight cut. It fell apart even before lighting. Cold draw gave spices and earthiness I wasn’t expecting. Thankfully it lit easily, and the first flavors I got were nutty. Very nutty. Peanuts, almonds, and walnuts. Also got some saltiness, dry crackers, and a little white pepper. Oddly, there was almost no pepper on the retrohale. It was smooth from the first light. Moving into the first third and a small amount of cream was evident along with that buttered toast flavor I get from a lot of connecticuts, which I was not expecting since the stick did NOT have a CT wrapper. The burn began to canoe and required touching up. The draw was good, but just a touch too open the entire length of the cigar. Foot smoke in the first third was pleasant. Not quite aromatic, but also not offensive. Ash was bright white and not very flaky. It held on past the end of the first third and into the second. Keeping the stick cool and not puffing too often was the key to keeping the flavors balanced and pleasant. They didn’t change much in second third, but what was there was enjoyable. Toast, cedar, and nuttiness. The burn evened out and stayed with a good line all the way up to the band. The removal of which brought in the final third. Again, no change in flavor or strength, just a hotter (temperature), good smoke. The ash did become flaky in the last 2 inches. The smoke output kept humming along though, and it was thick. It just sat on my palate till the very end. The finish was never long, but it wasn’t bad. The tobacco flavor that took over at the end never got exceedingly bitter, which made this a nubbable smoke. I finished it with less than an inch, but not where it was nearly burning my fingers like I do with cigars I find really enjoyable. I did get a few small tobacco pieces in my mouth because these do have some short filler in with the long filler, but the short pieces are of premium aged tobacco, making it the best “Cuban sandwich” I’ve tried. But that’s also why this is such a perplexing cigar. It performs like a Factory Smokes Shade, but tastes more like a Cusano M1, and yet it’s priced at two times either of those. This was just a straightforward, no frills, no tricks cigar. The BEST budget stick I’ve smoked, but not complex enough to compare it to other cigars in its price range.

Casa de Garcia

Casa de Garcia - Connecticut The band is classy, but the cigar itself could look better. Wrapper looks kinda rough with visible seams, veins, and mottling. It’s not damaged, though, and cap withstood cutting. Not much scent from it. Cold draw is slightly restrictive, and has notes of cinnamon, graham cracker, faint coffee, and a touch of brown sugar. Sweet tobacco off the unlit foot. After lighting, notes of minerals and a good helping of cream. Buttered toast is the theme. Foot smoke is not offensive. Very mild pepper and baking spices on the retrohale. Reminds me of an Oliva Connecticut Reserve initially. The Oliva has just a bit more complexity and better appearance, but it’s 3-4 times the price. Hard draws don’t change the flavor. Ash is dark and flaky, but holds well. Burn isn’t razor sharp, but it never canoed. Light almond flavor in the first third. The second third brings out a caramel note and light green tea. More white pepper on the retrohale, and it starts to linger in the back of the throat. The graham cracker in the cold draw finally shows up halfway through. Altadis (Montecristo) uses long filler in these cigars and it shows nicely. Band was sticky and moderately hard to get off, even with heat, so be careful. Final third and the lack of aging shows up. Tobacco taste dominates and complexity disappears. Not bad, but I won’t smoke it down to the nub. Reach for the longer vitolas. Piney tar flavor arrives with 2 inches left. Draw lightly. Foot smoke gets slightly foul. Medium in flavor, mild in strength. Extremely versatile cigar that I would smoke on ANY occasion. One of the few budget cigars I would feel okay about lighting up in a cigar lounge, or throwing away halfway through. No qualms about buying a full bundle (20) of these. Easily my favorite budget Connecticut, and these will be a staple in my humidor.

Quorum

I tried the belicoso version of this about 2 months ago and didn’t like it, but I figured I’d give the toro vitola a shot. Okay wrapper. Has gaps, cracks, and severe mottling. Cap is deep, but ugly and haphazard. It didn’t fare well against a double guillotine cut. Smells of nice coffee and hay. Cold draw is tight and tastes of sourdough, salt, and cedar. The burn line canoed in 2 places almost immediately. Very little smoke output due to wrapper condition. Flavor notes are oregano, salt, cumin? and barnyard, and not in a good way. Some mild sweetness, but that couldn’t redeem this cigar. Grass and white pepper on the retrohale. It was all I could do to even get to the second third. Foot smoke was decidedly unpleasant and smelled cheap. Flaky ash that didn’t hold on very well. Second third got slightly better, but not much. Grasses and buttery sourdough toast with a touch of sweetness were the main flavors. The finish has a floral note. Thankfully it’s very short. Bitter tobacco taste showed up an inch BEFORE the band. Never made it to the final third. Medium flavors, mild strength. Yes, it’s inexpensive, but that’s no excuse for this stick’s shortcomings. I can’t recommend this to anyone for any reason. Pretty much anything will be better. For the same price, I’d reach for Factory Smokes Shade, or a Casa de Garcia Connecticut. J.C. Newman is a good company, and I’m a fan of their Perla Del Mar, Brickhouse, and “The American” lines of cigars, but I may never smoke one of their Quorums again, even if it was given to me.

Rocky Patel

Having smoked the San Andres just the day before, I didn’t know what to expect. The previous one was just okay, but this one, I was hoping for more since I like Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers more than San Andres. Unlit was the same hay, wheat, and coffee notes, but also a little cocoa. Wrapper was dry and not toothy. Seams and veins a-plenty, but it works. Nice cap that withstood the straight cut. Much better draw. Cold draw let me taste what I smelled (wheat, hay, cocoa, etc.). Light up was easy and the flavors were great: cinnamon, cream, coffee, earth, plus baking spices and chocolate on the retrohale. Plenty of nice, thick smoke! Foot smoke is decently aromatic. Finish isn’t long, but it’s nice. Notes of butter are in and out along with a faint herbal taste. The chocolate became more apparent as I went through the first third. Burn was nowhere close to razor sharp, but it didn’t canoe like the San Andres. Ash fell in 1” chunks. It was very flaky. The second third was magic. Flavor blends were excellent, as good as a cigar twice the price. The notes of hay and coffee mixed with the chocolate, wheat, and cream and gave an impression of chocolate cake. The final third gave new notes of leather and an increase in strength. Flavors and foot smoke never turned foul or acrid. Delicious down to the end. Smoked it until I couldn’t hold it anymore (about a half inch nub). All in all an excellent stick even without considering the price.

Rocky Patel

Nice looking wrapper. Rustic, with seams and veins, but a really nice, rich color. Mine wasn’t oily or toothy, but it smelled terrific. Very wheaty, with hay, and coffee. Light up was easy, but the burn was ridiculously uneven. The canoe was bad from the start and I fought it for the entirety of the cigar. I don’t THINK it affected the flavor notes as this wasn’t so complex, but it was definitely more interesting than, say, the Nica Rustica. The cigar was smooth and bready along with its earthy-ness. Quite interesting. Unfortunately the draw was tighter than I like. The second third continued the smoothness, and the flavors began to blend with each other really well. A new sweetness appeared that was almost like honey. Definitely black pepper on the retrohale, but the finish ended with a buttery flavor and texture, no doubt from the mineral note that shows up from puff to puff. That was the most enjoyable part of the cigar. The final third removed the complexity it had, but I was still able to enjoy the cigar down to a half inch nub. Not bad overall, and for the money, I’m not upset at all.

Drew Estate

TL;DR - Natural Earth, earth, earth The Connecticut broadleaf wrapper is amazingly dark. It’s rustic with seams and veins, but as the name suggests, it’s supposed to be. Bands match well. This is my first pig-tailed cap and closed wrapper foot cigar. As expected, deep notes of hay and chocolate off the unlit stick. Pulling the pig tail off with teeth does not have the desired effect. Cut it, to be sure. The draw is perfection. Wheat, chocolate, dark coffee on the cold draw. Don’t miss the first few puffs; it’s almost entirely the flavor of the wrapper, which is bold, dark, earthy, peppery, leather. The foot smoke is pleasant, fragrant, nearly aromatic. TONS of thick smoke in the mouth and off the foot. The burn started in a wave due to the closed foot, but it corrected itself. First third didn’t produce the chocolate sweetness the cold draw hinted at. It stayed coffee and earth forward. Ash holds nicely. Into the second third and the flavors mellow out and blend together. A hint of sweetness shows up to add an effect of mildly sweetened cafe au lait, but the overall experience is still very earthy. The finish is moderate. Strength goes up to solid medium. Burn got uneven and required touching up a couple of times. No effect on flavor though. A little nuttiness appears at the end of the 2nd third. Final third gave a little floral note. Walked away from the cigar and it went out. Relight wasn’t too pleasant, even with a soft flame from a cedar stick, but once it got going again it was fine. Sweet note vanished, but the tobacco note had a little natural sweetness to it. Overall, home humidor aging will assist in developing balance and sweetness. Band came off easily. The nub wasn’t unpleasant, but it was more of the same. The price shows in its middling complexity. Finished with about an inch left. I had high hopes for this and it turned out to be just okay.

Cusano

Cap held together through cut and lighting. Initial notes are cooking spices, hay, and sweet tobacco. Good, clean burn. Nice and even throughout. Foot smoke isn’t too offensive, but like most value cigars, its true nature of the tobacco used comes through in an odor that isn’t present on other premium long filler cigars. Creaminess shows up in the first third. It’s faint, but it’s there. A little white pepper on the retrohale also. Draw is slightly tight, but not too bad. Second third is nice. Some almonds and cedar come through, along with a hint of some dried mild herb, like oregano. Mellow flavor and mild strength. Final third and the foot smoke gets more cheap and pungent. Band came right off with some warmth. Tobacco flavor becomes more pronounced, with a hint of graham cracker. No bits of tobacco fell in my mouth, making me question the Cuban sandwich nature of this stick. Smooth with plenty of smoke through the entire experience. The wrapper could be better, but the binder and filler are great. I would pay two to three times as much for this cigar. While I wouldn’t buy a full bundle of these, I will definitely keep a few in my humidor to give away to novice smokers, or smoke myself on forgettable occasions and circumstances, or just as a change up from Factory Smokes Maduros.