Puros on the Low Low

Nub Connecticut 460T (4" x 60)

2011-04-10T12:52:00.000-05:00

It's Sunday morning and I grabbed something "light" from my treasure chest of stogies that I won from the Outlaw. That's right: It's time for an (Oliva) Nub Connecticut! I paired it with some Roasterie City of Fountains blend and smoked the sucker up while chatting with my bro (who was smoking a damaged Cain Daytona). Rockit.

The stogie has a nice appearance and the torpedo format makes it look a little cooler looking than the other nubs. I still really like the Nub band-it is distinctive and kind of minimalistic. This Nub has an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and was kind of tough to light up-it used up six kitchen matches before the thing finally took to the flame. Once lit, though, it burned solid and never went out or required a single touch up.

I rate this stogie a 2 on my 4 point scale. Like the other "non-Cain" Nubs I've had...there is nothing "wrong" with it...but it just doesn't "pop" or satisfy. It started out kind of bitter (like many Connies) and eventually settled down and became kind of creamy. I think it would be a good cigar to smoke in the wind (fishing or golfing or something) because it really did stay lit and burned very nicely. However, like the Nub Habano I smoked last night, it left me thinking that I should go get something better. These things sell for $5 or $6 bucks apiece by the box but I probably won't be buying any.

Nub Habano 460

2011-04-09T21:16:00.000-05:00

Tonight I smoked the short and fat Nub Habano 460. It was one of the many Michelle won for me from the Outlaw Cigar Store drawing a month or so ago. I paired it with some Evan Williams Single Barrel bourbon, a mellow bourbon which seems to go with most cigars.

This cigar is an impressive little guy and I like the band. The cigar itself shows little in the way of blemishes but doesn't stand up on its end without a little assistance (some of the filler cigar is sticking out a little). Normally I wouldn't mention it, but a short and fat cigar like this seems like it ought to stand up by itself without any "schmushing."

There's not much to say about this Nub-like most of the nubs I've had (excluding the Cain Nubs which are a different story) it is an uncomplicated smoke that is tasty but unremarkable. It smells okay. It burns okay. It tastes okay. With that being said, I think that this cigar would be enjoyed (by me) the most as a morning cigar or one that I'm smoking with friends...or one I'm smoking after my taste buds are fried from smoking other cigars. At the risk of sounding overly pompous, (if funds allow), "Life is too short to smoke average cigars."

I rate the Nub Habano a 2 on my 4 point scale. Does it rock the house like a Clutch album? Hells no. Is it an endless loop of your daughter's favorite Disney tracks? No way. It is what it is and I would probably not buy it (even though they sell for less than $5 each by the box.

Which leads me to the often debated topic: Is the Nub a gimmick cigar? I would say it is a striking form factor that tends to deliver one decent tobacco flavor from the first puff to the last. They seem to be smooth and well constructed and reasonably priced. I do not think that they are a gimmick in the respect that they are decent cigars and if you like fat boys, they are a pretty good value. However, they just don't deliver enough in the flavor category to score above a 2.

Now that my Nub is gone...I find myself wanting a cigar...not a really great recommendation.

Cain F (habano) Lancero (Unreleased) (7" x 38)

2011-03-27T12:06:00.000-05:00

Today I smoked (and am reviewing) the Cain F (habano) Lancero by Oliva. Like the Oliva Cain Nub that I reviewed earlier in the week, it is from the large batch of Oliva cigars I won at the Outlaw Cigar Store in Kansas City. The cigar is also noteworthy due to the fact that is is not in regular production (yet) and thus unavailable to purchase.

The stick makes a big impact. It is long and thin and very elegant looking-definitely not the jawbreaker that the Cain F Nub I smoked yesterday was. It took to the flame and maintained a perfect burn while giving off copious amounts of plumage and great heavy and tart tobaco flavor. It reminded me a lot of the Cain Nub F but was more refined and much more enjoyable to me.

I found myself detecting a few other notes to the flavor, especially some tart elements that reminded me of cherries or citrus. It paired very well with my Roasterie City of Fountains coffee (a Kansas City Costco exclusive I can thank my brother for pointing out to me) and as I smoked it, I felt my on-again/off-again love affair with lanceros returning. Each puff whispered "you missed me, didn't you" and each exhale said "hell's yeah!". I don't know how much these guys will retail for but I'm hoping to get a box next year if they are released.

I rate this stogie a 4 on my 4 point scale-great appearance, great burn, great flavor. Plus smoking one is a great conversation starter (I'm sure) as it is an impressive stick in its own way with its length and super oily surface. It does not seem as potent at the other Cain F I tried but still packs a lot of flavor and punch.

Cain F Nub (Habano) (4" x 64)

2011-03-26T12:07:00.000-05:00

I won this Cain F Nub at the Outlaw Cigar Store in Kansas City KS. recently. It came with a nice wooden Oliva humidor and every time I see it (as if I need a reason), I remember one of the reasons that my wife is so great-she's lucky! This is not the first time she's won me something in a drawing but it is probably the best! Anyway, you should check out the Outlaw Cigar Store if you are in Kansas City or check out their website http://www.outlawcigar.com/.

The Cain F is a short and stocky sucker. It clips and starts burning quickly and stays lit throughout the smoke. In keeping with the theme, I'll keep my review equally short: Cain F Nub is a good cigar but not really my thing. I had to slow down a few times as the strength of flavor and the nicotine potency kept increasing. Additionally, though the tangy flavor was enjoyable it didn't change much throughout the smoke, which kind of left me a little bored.

This cigar was a little too much power-it could really gain from a reblending that toned it down a notch and added some complexity. I rate this cigar a 2 on my 4 point scale: It's a good smoke but it isn't to my taste. I will probably trade some of these with my buddies that like the power house cigars (are you listening, Rico?) and continue my mission to review each of the different types of cigars we won at the Oliva Outlaw event.

Wifey rocks!

2011-03-22T13:10:00.000-05:00

It has been awhile since I've posted a blog but the warmer weather is coming so I'm gearing up! Plus, thanks to my sweet (but also intelligent and beautiful and wise) wife, I won the Oliva raffle from the Oliva event a month ago at the Outlaw Cigar Store...thanks to Michelle filling out my raffle tickets.

I won an Oliva humidor and a bunch of cigars so I'm going to review one of each type of cigar I received in the very near future-a bunch of Nubs, Cains, and a couple other Olivas. That's right! I'm a lucky dog...

Peace out, girl scouts.

601 Blue (maduro) Toro (6.25" x 54)

2010-11-18T19:13:00.000-06:00

I've reviewed this stick before but after smoking the toro, I had to do it again. It's a great smoke and I've been seeing sales online of the robusto for $4 a stick. At that price...fans of Don Pepin Garcia and/or maduros should pick up a few!

Here is what Famous cigars has to say about them:

The 601 'Blue' cigar series are slightly box-pressed, medium to full-bodied premium cigars created by Don Pepin Garcia with an exquisite recipe of perfectly-aged Nicaraguan longfillers finished in a dark, oily Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. Precisely blended to offer a rich, well-balanced medley of dark and naturally sweet tobacco flavors enhanced by an arousing aroma, if you prefer taste over strength, this is the 601 for you. Make sure you have a box on-hand for those very special occasions.

For once , I think I'd agree with the sales blurb!

Smoking this slightly boxed press cigar was a real pleasure. Though I always enjoy these things, this one had been aging for over two years and was even better than usual. Much of it was a smooth nutty maduro expresso type mix but at several points I felt like the stick was channeling the Padron 1964 maduro (a much more expensive cigar that I reserve for special occasions). The burn was perfect. The aroma was nice (Michelle commented that it smelled pretty good, which is rare!).

I continue to rate this stick a 4 on my 4 point scale.

Pinar del Rio Habano Sun Grown robusto (5" x 50)

2010-10-30T14:56:00.000-05:00

I picked up a few five packs of these from cigarmonster.com after I had heard some good things about them. One reviewer hinted that they were a "poor man's Oliva V" so I had to get some. After having four or so I am ready to review!

Here is what one vendor has to say about the Pinar del Rio Sun Grown

Pinar Del Río Habano Sun-Grown cigars showcase a blend of extra-long-aged Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos with a lush, oily, Dominican-grown Habano leaf - like the deep, red-brown wrappers grown in Pinar Del Río, Cuba - that laces the palate with rich flavor.Cigar Press wrote: "Medium to full in body and rich, creamy aroma, with a lot of spice in the nose. Complex. Excellent smoking cigar." Discover these outstanding premium cigars created by Abe Flores and Juan Rodriguez today

Upon lighting this guy I realized that I really do like these cigars-though they can be a little flakey on the flavor and the burn. I attribute some of this on the cold weather of Fall-two I had were really perfect and the third (smoked at 5:00. a.m. with Family in the cold October morning) was a bit bitter. The one I smoked for this review was bittter at first and I realized that I needed to slow my draws down-made a world of a difference. I've found that most non maduro cigars I've smoked in the cold (or when going from one temperature to another) tend to suffer from flavor or burn issues-can't really blame the Pinar, right?

After about ten minutes of smoking, the Pinar burn corrected and I did not feel like I was smoking some kind of leprous exploding cigar. I keep thinking "this is like a diet Oliva V" and I think that can be a good thing-though at several points I started craving that extra body that the V brings to the table.

The flavor is kinda nutty with a creamy element and that semi-tart flavor that I associate with sun grown smokes. I'd say it is a medium flavor and body smoke-a really nice break from the full growns I've been enjoying the most for the last year or so. The triple bands are nice too and the cloth band at the tip makes these cigars stand out on the shelf.

I think I paid $2 or $3 for these on sale and at that price, they are a good deal. I think they run around $6 at the cigar store. I'd rate this stogie a 2 on my four point scale-a good and enjoyable smoke. The one bitter one and the apparent sensitivity to environmental factors keep it from earning a 3. I'd pick one up on sale again, without hesitation.

Here's a bonus pic of me smoking the Pinar. It's kind of a bad photo but in the shadows I'm kind of mysterious so here you go!

CAO Brazilia (Chango) 6.5" x 50

2010-10-24T13:33:00.000-05:00

Here is what a vendor has to say about the CAO Brazilia

The Brazilia is the fuller-bodied side of CAO. Its dark and spicy wrapper make it very flavorful with a long earthy finish.

For years CAO dreamt of a cigar that uses premium Brazilian tobacco, but finding good Brazilian leaf at the end of the cigar boom was not an easy task. At the time Brazilian tobacco was not at the top of its game. However, CAO stumbled on a beautiful dark wrapper leaf from the coveted Bahia region and the rest is history. After its launch this cigar brought attention back to Brazilian tobacco and essentially was the rebirth of Brazilian cigars in the US cigar market, as other cigar makers flocked to South America in attempt to recreate CAO’s success. The rich Brazilian wrapper gives the CAO Brazilia a full-bodied and full-flavored aroma that carries a long and spicy finish. It is a truly unforgettable cigar, and a powerhouse addition to the humidor.

CAO reminds me of a kid I went to school with. He talked a lot of b.s. and he always had a look on his face-irrespective of the fact that he had little to be proud of-like he'd just whupped Jack Bauer's butt and was taking his daughter to the drive-in. Just like this kid, I occasionally decide to "hang out" with a CAO cigar and every darn time, when it's through, why I didn't remember the last time. This time I'm going to do a review-perhaps this text will remind me so I don't walk down that road again in a year.

Let me start out by saying that I really wanted to like this cigar. The green and yellow tubo was attractive and the idea of a Brazilian maduro smoke really appealed to me. But when I pulled the stogie out of the tube I felt a somewhat dry stick with a mottled wrapper that smelled only of really strong cedar. Cedar is NOT my favorite cigar flavor. Where is the rich maduro aroma? Not here.

The light did not improve things. The smoke was full but the flavor was charry. After a few puffs I detected a little bit of a nutty flavor. After a few puffs, the Chango increased in flavor, kind of a mix of cedar, char, and some kind of full and mellow espresso with a little sweetness. The aroma improved as well, kind of a mellow sweetness.

Overall this smoke is remarkable for the marketing and its white ash, its good construction, and its layered flavors which provide a rich experience overall. It reminded me very much of some kind of rich dessert and was surprisingly good overall. I rate the Chango a "3" on my 4 point rating scale and am pleasantly surprised that I found a CAO that didn't let me down!

Here are two bonus pics-Michelle enjoying the Fall morning with me while I smoke the Brazilia and read The Passage...

...and here are three of the "Reid Boys" enjoying some fishing at the Reid pond! Notice the authentic props (Reid casa, Reid "Old Red truck", rotting log where Ry was scared silly by a dead snake...

Capoeira (torpedo, 6.5" x 52)

2010-09-19T21:23:00.000-05:00

I picked up some of these from Famous cigars-ran me about $3 apiece. Smoked this one on a beautiful Fall evening-the 2nd evening this season that really felt like Fall.

Here is what Famous had to say:

Pronounced "kapu'era," Capoeira cigars get their name from a centuries-old Afro-Brazilian art form combining martial arts, music and dance. Created by Jesus Fuego, he used mostly organically-fertilized Honduran & Nicaraguan Criollo and Mexican San Andres longfillers, plus a Costa Rican Corojo binder rolled in 4-yr-aged Brazilian Mata Fina Maduro wrappers. Expect a well-balanced, full-flavored smoke with elements of pepper, sweet wood, nuts and espresso.

I like the appearance of this-dark maduro with a nice blunted torpedo head. I cut it narrowly but had to recut because the draw was a little tight. I didn't detect much of a prelight but once lit, this stick pumped out some cocoa, pepper, and solid maduro flavors (a hint of sweetness). It didn't vary much but the flavor was very good. The stick required some maintenance though-3 or 4 touchups and relights, which was kind of a pain and would have been a little more annoying in a social situation. The body was medium and the flavor was medium to full (all the way through!). On a side note, it reminded me some (though milder in flavor inensity) of other maduros I've had that have Mexican tobacco in them-a good thing, if you like stronger cigars.

RTR review: 3 out of 4. Check this one out if you're in the mood for a budget maduro with some flavor!

RTR posing doing some Brazilian martial arts while smoking!

Graycliff Double Expresso (4.5" x 54)

2010-09-19T16:45:00.000-05:00

First, here's the setup: My buddy Jeff mailed me this sparkplug of a cigar a few weeks ago and asked me to review it. I put it in the humidor and let it stabilize and now it is ready to roll!

It is notable for several reasons: It is made in the Bahamas (not well known for cigar making) and has a Costa Rican wrapper and binder. The filler is a mix. Additionally, this cigar retails at $13, according to my preliminary research (Thanks Jeff!). As such, it sets expectations high, especially when you take into account its small size. The dual-bands give it a classy look and the pre-light aroma is aromatic-smelled sweet and reminded me of some kind of fancy coffee or pastry. The form-factor is really good-I wish there were more stogies like this (maybe I need to check out the Nub!).

I really enjoyed this cigar. The flavors were a strong bitter coffee (hence the "Double Express" part of the name). I also got some underlying nuttiness that was very enjoyable. As I progressed through about an hour of smoking this guy, I realized that I really wanted a cup of coffee to go with it (though, with this cigar, I'm not sure how that would work!). The cigar has a lot of draw and produces good plumage. The flavor is full initially but drops to mild-medium by the end. The body is mild or mild-medium.

As I burned through this guy I noticed that the flavors lessened a little-very different from how many other cigars progress. I would rate this cigar a "3" on my 4 point scale-a pretty darn good cigar. I think I would enjoy these the most at the end of the night of smoking stogies or perhaps in the later morning. The price tag is probably a big deal-killer for me, however-as there is a lot of potent competition in this price range. Thanks much Jeff!

Here's a special bonus pic of my sweet daughter!

Murcielago "The Bat" robusto (5 1/4" x 5)

2010-09-06T11:19:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed the Murcielago at my brother's place in KC. It capped off a fun trip to the Ren Fair at Bonner Springs. Sadly, we had not yet recovered our camera from Lost and Found there so these photos are from my cell!

Here is what one vendor has to say about "The Bat":

While hiking in the mountains of Veracruz, Mexico, Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa, co-owners of United Tobacco, Inc., came across a cave of bats. The exciting experience resonated with them and years later the Murcielago, Spanish for "Bat," was created.

These medium to full bodied cigars have a Nicaraguan filler, Mexican binder and a Mexican Maduro wrapper. The Mercielago has a nice sweet taste, notes of spice and superb balance.

Here's my scotch and my Bat...ready to hit E & K's patio for a smoke!

I'm starting to associate this smoke with KC-I enjoyed one with my brother at the (new) Outlaw there a month or two ago...and I remember the cigar guy there telling us a story of how the wrapper is Mexican and was supposed to be for Padron and DPG somehow got access to it. Regardless of how this wrapper came about, it certainly gives the smoke a much different flavor and character than other Don Pepin Garcia and 601 smokes.

When I first pulled this cigar from the cellophane, the smell of spicy dark cherries filled my nostrils. Perhaps it was partially due to the fact that I hadn't had a smoke in a few days but I really enjoyed the prelight aroma on this cigar and immediately knew I'd be in for a treat.

The cigar's flavor (and the gold/black/red "bat" label) are the most distinguishing characteristics. The flavor is very difficult for me to describe and was very complex-I did detect some black cherry type tartness and some chocolate type flavors. The plummage was thick and potent, drawing comment from my sweet wife ("Get it out of my face!"). The burn was perfect, as was the construction. I would rate it as medium to full in body and full in flavor.

I rate this stogie a 4 on my 4 point scale-will be trying to get some more soon. I do think it might be a little complex for many and would not have enjoyed it a few years ago. I got it in a sampler but figure a robusto like this probably costs $7-$8 in a store.

Wife and I enjoying the KC evening!

Here's a foo creature we saw at the KC art museum. Pretty awesome!

Here's the sunset as we were returning home.

Nestor Miranda Dominicano Robusto Grande Rosado (5.5" x 54)

2010-08-16T13:39:00.001-05:00

Long name...really good cigar!

I first experienced the Miranda Dominicano while at Disney World with the Family-and it has the distinction of being one of the stand-outs of the trip. Though we had lots of fun...the Dominicano is a great smoke and I can re-experience the trip (through the delights of olfactory memory triggers) for only 8 bucks!

It was dusk on Sunday night and I had set the stage for this smoke by pouring some Bowmore 12 Year Scotch. I took a sip and evaluated the Dominicano:

*Wrapper was dark (but not maduro) and smooth-Ryan commented that he thought it was "Perfect".

*The band has kind of an African feel and has the distinctive copper bands that adorn all the Nestor Miranda lines.

This stick, to me, is all about the plummage and aroma-it has plenty of both. The flavors are full but tough to describe. I enjoy them but cannot name them-though I did detect a bit of cocoa. The cigar produces thick aromatic smoke that I kept pausing to enjoy.

Here's some info from a vendor:

The Nestor Miranda Collection label from Miami Cigar & Company are a collaboration between Nestor Miranda (of course) and Pepin Garcia. These smokes, manufactured in the Dominican Republic, have captured the imagination of cigar smokers across the globe and are a must for the cigar connoisseur.

Surprisingly (given the name), the only Dominican tobacco is the binder-the rest is all Nicaraguan.

I enjoyed this stogie-have smoked four this Summer and they have all been stellar. I rate it 4 on my 4 point scale-it is one of my favorites (based almost exclusively on the smell!).

Here are some bonus photos of some of the Family at our vacation:

Here my two boys and I are mugging it up in the fake subway entrance...

Here is a photo of the resort we were at-we really enjoyed the river that cut through it.

Here's four of our five, hanging out by one of the restaurants.

Here T and M are getting wild to some Cuban music!

Cubao #7 (Corona, 6" x 42)

2010-08-14T09:38:00.001-05:00

Cubao #7 (Corona, 6" x 42)

Like Dokken said so long ago, I'm "Back for the Attack"! Yes, it's been awhile since I've got a blog review going...been smoking, of course, just haven't had the "ummph" to write anything up. After some email encouragement, I figured I'd share my experiences with the Cubao #7 with you, my faithful readers!

The Cubao is a thin little guy with a cute pig tail. I thought they were "short lanceros" (and they still are, to me) but I discovered that the manufacturer calls these "coronas". Eh. They are made by Don Pepin Garcia for EO cigars (makers of other goodies such as 601).

I really like the Cubao line. I have reviewed them before but not in this format. The cigar has a simple brown band, and a dark and mottled wrapper color. It has a nice little pig tail on the top, which I think is kind of cute. The stogie, like other Cubaos I have had, has a rich prelight aroma-good tobacco smell with a little Pepin tartness that makes me want to light it up a.s.a.p. The cigar is composed of Nicaraguan fillers and wrapped in an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. I think I caught a special on Cigarmonster.com and got a five pack for $25.

I lit this bad boy up this last week...and settled down to enjoy it with some coffee and a Dr. Who graphic novel that my sweet wife bought me. The sun was up and right before I lit up I wondered if the furnace heat of August in SW Kansas was going to ruin the experience...another sniff of the Cubao and I lit it up-committed to smoking this guy, damn the costs. Heroic? That's for others to judge.

The Cubao #7's thinness was its most unattractive feature-however, it was mitigated by the fact that the thinner version of the Cubao imparted more flavor than its thicker siblings-noticeably richer and more sophisticated. Additionally these thin cigars tend to burn a little faster and when time is tight, that's a nice feature. I'd call it a potent smoke, perhaps full bodied and full flavor as well-just what the Doctor ordered (heh heh, that's for you Tardis and pun lovers out there).

The plummage was impressive (for a thinner smoke) and the burn was great. The strength of the cigar increases and by the time I nubbed this guy, I was really noticing the flavor and power. This cigar is a "4" on my four point scale-really a great cigar, in any of the sizes.

Here is a bonus pic of one of my sons out picking sand plums out near Protection, Ks. Though he didn't get a lot of plums, he did conquer and explore the surrounding area, especially this monster tree.

LG Diez "Americano" (5.75" x 46)

2010-04-19T20:24:00.000-05:00

The LG is made by Litto Gomez (La Flor Dominicana) and is a Dominican Puro. I have been enjoying these for a year or so, off and on, and when Michelle suggested we go on a "Explore Southwest Kansas" trip this weekend, I grabbed it up.

The cigar has a cool red/gold/black band but what gets my attention is the wrapper-in good light, it has a deep leathery color with a bit of orange. The color of the wrapper and the prelight aroma reminds me a great deal of the Coronado by La Flor Dominicana (one of my all-time favorite smokes).

As I smoked this cigar, I couldn't shake the similarities between this and the Coronado. Both are rich in spices and flavor transitions and both have great construction and all the other qualities of a really fine cigar. In fact, until the final third I was pretty certain that they were, in fact, almost the same cigar. Both sticks have really great and interesting flavors (that I can't even really describe, sadly!). The last third, however, the LG amped up the flavor and the potency and that is where the two really go in separate directions. The LG is smoother than the Coronado and a more elegant smoking experience but also a more expensive one (I've seen this stick as high as $15 in cigar shops vs. the Coronado, which often sells for $9 (and is a bigger stick).

Here is what Litto has to say about his LG puro:

In 1999, We challenged ourselves to produce a cigar that was made entirely with tobacco grown on our farm. We knew it was a difficult task, because it implied growing our own wrapper. The investment was big and the risk too. But the most difficult part was the waiting. The process of fermentation and aging took more years than we expected. We tested this blend month after month for three years. Just to be disappointed because it was not ready but at the same time happy because we would taste the progress. Finally the waiting is over, today we can celebrate this great achievement. The flavor and complexity of the LG's are everything that we anticipated. We hope you enjoy these great cigars.

I rate this cigar a "4" on my 4 point scale, though the price is a little steep for me. The smooth yet flavorful stick packs some real punch at the end and the aroma is fragrant and aromatic. At several points as were driving around near Jetmore, KS I realized I was paying more attention to the stogie than I was to whatever we were chatting about-it's damn good. Anyone who finds the Coronado too potent or "rough" but likes the flavors should consider the LG for a special treat.

Here is a bonus pic: We found a small body of water. That's right-WATER, within spitting range of Dodge City.

601 Black (robusto, 5" x 50)

2010-04-19T20:04:00.000-05:00

601 Black

I've been digging on 601's a lot lately...all are made by Don Pepin Garcia for a company named EO. The Black label is the most mild of the bunch (clocking in at "medium" on flavor and potency). and smells of pepper on the prelight. The overall appearance is one of sophistication...and the first one or two I lit up I was very skeptical that I would like this stogie...the light wrappers do not usually appeal to me and the Black label gets the least amount of accolades of the bunch. After the first one I tried, though, I realized that this stogie is a great stick-especially in the morning or over Lunch. When I decided to read my "Preacher" graphic novel over Lunch the other day, I reached for this stick over all the others in my collection. The fact that it is my last one (and that I still selected it) strongly indicates my preference for this stogie-and I'm already trying to figure out how to get a few more.

Here's what an online vendor has to say about it:

The 601 'Black' cigar series are medium to full-bodied premium cigars blended by Don Pepin Garcia with an exquisite blend of perfectly-aged Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos capped with a beautifully rich and oily Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper leaf. Connecticut wrappers are often used to 'tame' the robust and spicy nature of Nicaraguan tobacco, but Don Pepin has cured this leaf to be richer and more full-bodied in character, giving each cigar even more depth and complexity.

I rate this stogie a solid "3" on my 4 point scale. The price (about $5 a stick I think) works against it, as I can get some pretty decent stogies for that price online. Still, the stick has perfect construction, great plumage, is visually attractive...and has a really nice smooth and buttery pepperiness that may be unique among the stogies I've had. Many Don Pepin Garcia fans dismiss the 601 Black as too tame or boring but I think it is one of his best blends. Ehhh. More for me!

Here I am getting some sun, enjoying my 601, and reading my Preacher graphic novel (very cool!)

San Cristobal "Monumento" (7.25" x 49)

2010-04-08T20:40:00.000-05:00

I'm kicking it on my patio, enjoying a new Scotch and one of my favorite cigars of this year: the San Cristobal "Monumento" while rocking out to some old punk rock from my youth on Pandora (State of the Union album songs keep coming up-rock out Soulside, Fugazi ,and Ignition!).

Here is what Ashton has to say about this stogie (they produce it):

San Cristobal is a boutique cigar handcrafted in Nicaragua by Jose “Pepin” Garcia. Blended entirely from rich, well-aged Nicaraguan tobaccos, these cigars feature dark, oily Nicaraguan wrappers. The flavors are rich and full-bodied, exhibiting a perfect balance between strength and complexity. Hearty notes of earth, cedar and spices are accompanied by lighter notes of walnuts, espresso, black cherries and dark chocolate. Each cigar is constructed impeccably and finished with a traditional Cuban Triple-Cap. San Cristobal is available in 8 sizes; packaged in cedar chests of 21 and 22.

This stogie looks very sharp-the band is doing most of the heavy lifting here. I love the colorful parrot! The stogie itself is dark and mottled and a rough looking-maybe that's why they went with the nice band! This cigar has the rounded torpedo type tip that I've seen on another Ashton (the VSG?)-and I like that too!

The prelight aroma is earthy and tart-made my mouth water! I lit it up and was immediately hit with a heavy tart/peppery flavor. This flavor lasted half the cigar and then intensified. I didn't taste half the stuff Ashton claims (surprise!) but it's a great cigar. The aroma is full and the plummage is solid as well.

I've smoked about a half a dozen of these dudes and they've all been excellent-some of my favorite Don Pepin Garcias. I think that they retail for around $11, which I know isn't cheap. However some serious quality comes with these and I think that, for a stogie of this size and quality, it's a pretty good deal. I expect to keep one in my humidor for special occasions. For instance, this week my good buddy Seth called-haven't heard from him in a long time. That's good enough to light up for me!

Here I am enjoying this San Cristobal.

Here's a bonus pic of my wife and her new "friend".

El Rey del Mundo Rectangulars (5.6" x 45)

2010-04-05T19:49:00.000-05:00

El Rey del Mundo Rectangulars (5.6" x 45)

Here is the stogie, along with my Red Stripe, Swiss Army cutter, Blazer lighter. Not pictured are my laptop, the dvd "Torchwood: Children of Earth", and my sweet wife!

I thought I'd revisit this cigar, one of the first I reviewed on this blog. With two years of smoking these (some new, some with two years of aging), I have come to two conclusions: 1) Cigar smokers' tastes change a lot over time and 2) This is still a really good cigar.

Though I used to think that this cigar was one of my favorite, I have since moved on to stronger stogies-the El Rey just doesn't have enough flavor or body to hold my attention. Even so, I have found that it is a really great cigar-I enjoy it most in the morning or anytime I want a cigar but I don't want to have to "worry" about it or pay too much attention to it.

The construction is top notch, the price is affordable, and the flavor is a pleasant tobacco and nutty concoction. I have smoked at least twenty of these and I don't know if I have EVER had to do a relight or experienced any kind of cracks or problems of that sort. On my 4 point scale, I give it a "2", though-because the flavor just isn't varied , interesting or strong enough to keep my attention...but when my attention is diverted (such as when I'm watching a Dr. Who spinoff!), it hits the spot!

This bonus pic is of my elite posse of martial arts enforcers after H.T. filled their bellies with Oklahoma BBQ and set them loose with a camera! Note the way that the middle one's Ki power has been focused as light bursts from her forehead!

J. Fuego Delirium Robusto (5"x50)

2010-04-05T19:37:00.000-05:00

J. Fuego Delirium Robusto (5"x50)

This cigar is dark and feels a little dry...but smells of strong tobacco-chock full of that "barnyard" smell that almost always promises a good smoke. On the web I discovered that it has a Brazilian wrapper and Costa Rican binder; the filler is Nicaraguan and Honduran (mixed).

I decided to try a punch cut on it and, after lighting, was rewarded with dry cocoa type aromas and flavors. As I began smoking, I rapidly began associating the flavor and smell with a dark beer like a Guinness. Though I was enjoying the Pacifico I was drinking, I began making plans to try this cigar again with something dark or perhaps a heavy coffee.

Here the stogie is in all of its glory.

This cigar is one of those that starts out with a given flavor (kind of a dry chocolate or cocoa) and then ramps up the intensity as you smoke it. I've had three and all of the provided the same experience...an enjoyable experience up until the last 1/3...at which point it reminds me of that third piece of chocolate cheese cake when you realize you might have overdid it. I presume that's where the name "Delirium" comes in, as in "I'm delirious with the rich chocolate flavors of this thing".

I think I pad around $4 for it and have been seeing it on sale the last month or so. It has great plumage, aroma, construction, ash, flavor and burn...It's a really good cigar if you like more mocha and chocolate (LOTS MORE CHOCOLATE) and less pepper in your maduros.

On RTR's 4 point scale I rate it a low "3"-it is a really good cigar and I'll be smoking more...but that last 1/3 is just "too rich" for the stogie to ever make it into "4" territory.

Here's a bonus pic: Me and my two littlest ones after Thane won (another) bike-this time at the Easter Egg hunt!

Brick House Toro (6 x 52")

2010-03-31T20:34:00.000-05:00

I'm lighting up the Brickhouse toro by the Newman Family...picked it up a few months ago after I started seeing buzz on it on the web. Apparently, many believe this to be one of the best new "budget" smokes (costs less than $5 at a cigar store)-in this economy, who wouldn't be interested in trying it out?

The cigar has a decent appearance with a kind of understated red, white, and cream band. The stogie feels heavy in the hand, like it is chock full of goodness. As I prepared to light up, I realized that The Smiths was playing on my Pandora radio and I wondered if I ever thought I'd jam to The Smiths while lighting up a stogie...not 100% certain that Morrissey would appreciate the pairing!

The prelight smells peppery and sweet. The initial draw was a bit loose and it seemed to have trouble lighting completely (some blackened areas that don't look lit were prominent). After a few puffs I started picking up some medium strength tobacco with an underlying mild sweetness. I paused after these first few puffs, and savored the overall experience...and realized that The Smiths rock just fine with this stick!

Here is some background from a cigar sales website:

The Newman family has brought back one of their vintage brands at an affordable price. Eric & Bobby Newman, 3rd generation cigar makers, have recreated the Brick House cigar that was originally created by their grandfather, Julius Caesar Newman. The Brick House cigar was originally produced to honor J.C. Newman’s rich family heritage and childhood memories of his family's brick house. (Back then, it was a big deal to have a house made of brick.)

Brick House cigars feature a "puro" blend of hand-selected Nicaraguan tobacco and a medium-brown Havana Subido wrapper.

Here I am enjoying this stogie.

The more I smoked this cigar, the more I like it. The smoke quantity and quality is high, the appearance is high, and the flavors pretty good too. I like the pepper and tartness but the underlying sweetness would probably keep me from smoking very many of these. I'd call it a medium on flavor and body. I can see many people really enjoying them, especially for the price. I give it a 3 on my 4 point scale and look forward to smoking another to confirm.

Here is a bonus shot of H.T. and some grandkiddos!

March Smokes

2010-03-30T19:24:00.000-05:00

Hello Faithful Readers!

It has been very busy and the weather has been super-nasty-that is the only rational explanation for how my little brother has managed to utterly surpass my cigar reviews this month!

Though I have dutifully smoked a few stogies this month, I have somehow managed to fail to actually review them. In this one blog post, I shall attempt to rectify that with a few quickie reviews.

I smoked this San Cristobal (Nicaraguan puro) over the weekend-these continue to be real treats. Full bodied, this stogie is made by Don Pepin Garcia for Ashton. The smoke has a fair amount of power and the flavors sort of flit in and out-I typically get some pepper as well as some tart "black cherry" and "charred meat" type of flavors. I read a few chapters of the Imperial Guard Omnibus and talked to my bro on the phone-I rate the experience a 4 on my 4 point scale and the cigar a 4 as well.

I few weeks ago I smoked a J. Fuego "Delerium" robusto while helping Dad feed the sheep. As I told the esteemed H.T. Reid, "This is the EXACT OPPOSITE of the type of experience I smoke cigars for. It is below freezing, outdoors, with high winds. And I'm holding a pitchfork". I can't really review the stogie considering the conditions and will need to revisit it.

I honestly can't remember what I smoked on St. Patrick's but I do have a shot of my beer (guess which one) and Michelle's Harp. I'm really starting to appreciate this holiday as I get older.

Last Saturday I enjoyed the La Flor Dominicana "Mysterio", a rare cigar that runs around $20. The fact that the store I bought it from had three available for $10 each made the experience so much better.

This stick has a dark wrapper with light tips at each end. Though I often suspect these kinds of things as being gimicky, this stogie delivered fantastic flavors, plummage, and burn. At $20 a pop, I simply cannot afford these things very often but damn it was a fine stick. On my 4 point scale, I rate it an easy 4 and would consider it a super-premium.

As I'm writing this, I'm smoking a Padilla 1932, a stick that I have already reviewed. I picked up a box a year ago and have enjoyed a handful. With the year of aging, I am detecting very little change in the stick-it has great tobacco flavors, with a little pepper, and a little sweetness. It is super smooth, despite having some punch to it. I will say that I am not as enamoured with the Padilla line as I once was...but that may just be my evolving tastes-I seem to be preferring more full bodies smokes lately and Padilla's stuff is more medium or medium-full.

Here are a couple of bonus pics. My two little ones spend much of their time trying to kill each other it seems...so these are true rarities!

Padilla Series 68 Corojo Edicion Limitada 2009 (Salomon) AND The Cigar Stub

2010-03-23T11:45:00.012-05:00

ejrpostback: 2010.02.13

This is sort of a dual review, both of my Padilla 68 cigar and my new cigar accessory, The Cigar Stub, noted below.

I split a pack of 10 with my bro last year and have been slowly wheedling away at my stock of 5 sticks. This one, I smoked at the Outlaw after my wife gave me my brainchild-realized: the Cigar Stub. I have for years been proclaiming the benefits of an invention I conceived (I'd say back in 2003 -- aka "aught-3" -- or so) that I then called the "Cigar Arm". Evidently, some brilliant person actually stepped up and engineered just such a device. Wish it had been me!

Cigar Stub Review

The idea was that sometimes the truly best part of a cigar is the wee nub, when you most want to eek the last bits of heartiest flavor from it. Unfortunately, that's also when you find your fingers creeping further back on the most tenuous grasp as the burn encroaches on your fingertips and lips!

So why not invent a device that let's you grasp that last nub gracefully and smoke it down to the last drop? I first thought some kind of bar that t-boned into a horizontal spike at the top could 'spike' the cigar. But later I decided that such an approach would not only be inelegant, but would result in problems with your draw, plumage leak, and possibly destruction or damage to the nub of your stogie. So then I envisioned more of an extended 'clip' that would clamp only as tightly as needed. As some people have said "a roach clip for your cigar".

And with its easily pocket-sized, stainless steel cylinder shape, which extends out into a slick retractable pincher, including a slider to lock the clamp to the desired diameter, this looks like the perfect realization of my brainchild.

Upon further usage, I discovered that the Cigar Stub is the bomb, better than I even realized when I was imagining it years ago. The real incarnation of this idea turns out to do a good job of holding the cigar (no matter what the thickness) without squeezing it too tightly or damaging it. Plus a nice bonus I have come to experience using the Stub is that it actually seems to "focus" the draw a bit more -- delivering you slightly more "directed" puffs, which actually improves your smoking experience. The flavor and especially the draw and the plumage are a bit enhanced by its use.

Now, that said, it is extraneous and perhaps a little goofy-looking in usage, so I don't usually use it until halfway into the cigar or further, but for that last half or quarter of a cigar, I actually find that it not only lets me enjoy the cigar longer, but also actually becomes easier to hold in a relaxed way, without "worrying about it".

Padilla '68 Review

Now I am loathe to review this cigar right now... May have to redo it honestly, because it isn't nearly as awesome as I remember all my previous experiences with the same sticks of that batch.

... [time delay]

Aw, good. I will say the flavor has improved considerably after passing the bulbous peak at the far end. (Initially with THIS instance the flavor had been a bit bitter, but in most other specimens of this type, I didn't have that problem that I recall.) Now, though, after that first quarter, the plumage is thicker and more creamily aromatic, and the puffs are a mixture of tasty cream and spice. It really is a great cigar, and most of my experiences have been a little more straightforward.

Appearance - 7 \ Large, dark wrapper, cool double band with serialized number, and a funky salomon form factor
Burn - 9 \ Fine
Draw - 5 \ OK, but a little tight- improved by the Cigar Stub
Plumage - 8 \ Decent - also improved by the Cigar Stub
Flavor - 8 \ Nice and spicy, full-bodied, with a creamy taste/aroma
Overall - 8 \
Rt scale - 3 \

That said, I myself am not actually a fan of the funky salomon shape, but it doesn't preclude a good cigar experience. I just find it unwieldy and a little clunky. Also, I did enjoy the cigar with a super-rich white chocolate mocha coffee -- delicious but may have made the stogie initially seem bitter, so you may have to disregard that bit.

Nestor Miranda Special Selection (Rosado) "Coffee Break" (4 1/2" x 50)

2010-03-17T12:43:00.000-05:00

Nestor Miranda Special Selection (Rosado) "Coffee Break" (4 1/2" x 50)

I've been on an ongoing quest to grab a decent "short smoke" for those Winter days when I have to smoke outside...and when I saw heard some buzz about this "Coffee Break" mini-cigar, I was interested. When I saw some at the Cigar Chateau in Wichita, I grabbed them-was pretty excited.

In keeping with the size of this smoke, I'll keep my review short. Yes, this is a decent small cigar. The burn is good, the flavor is just basic tobacco (but it has more "fullness" than most tiny smokes). The plummage is solid. It's a decent cigar to be sure.

Sadly, I can't ignore the cost. I gave $4.50 for each of the three I bought and that's too much for what you get with these. I sure wish that a guy could get ahold of a handful of small Winter cigars for closer to $2 each. Meh. I give this a "2" on my four point scale.

Remote post test

2010-03-16T00:57:00.001-05:00

Well, with this being a largely cigar-oriented blog, I'll start by saying that I'm finishing off a strong but solid Joya de Nicaragua at a new-to-me watering hole named 'Grumpys' near the house.

But to the point, I'm really just testing the very cumbersome posting process of my phone and blogger. Over and out, soldiers.

La Gloria Cubana (well-aged)

2010-03-15T21:34:00.007-05:00

ejr postback: 2010.02.04

Likely-years-aged La Gloria Cubana (from 2009 kc aficionados holiday party raffle).

Appearance - 8 \ nice but length makes (robusto?) thickness seem thinner. Dark brown wrapper. Looks like maybe a hint of blume? Funny sweet cloying aroma before lit.
Burn - 10 \ perfectly even.
Draw - 6 \ a little tight, but if it was too much looser, it would have smoked too fast.
Plumage - 9 \ above average, plus the aroma was also thick with the flavor described below, which added to it.
Flavor - 10 \ initial flavor really caught my attention... It had a whole different layer of flavor on top of the normal cigar flavor. Good. Different. Sort of more 'herbal' or 'dusty' or 'deep'. In a way the normal flavor-adjectives often fail me and with this especially, these words capture the whisp of recognition better than food or wood flavors. It did have something of an aftertaste of mild old pepper, that's the only way I can describe it. It really tasted very much like it had been blended with another type of plant than tobacco entirely. Having very limited experience with bloom, I wondered if it was related. The spicy undertones built slowly but progressively, providing variation and an extremely satisfying rhythm that built to a peppery powerhouse crescendo.
Overall - 10 \
Rt scale - 4 \

Smoked while reading technical manual on an Adobe product at Mulligan's. The picture doesn't do the gray spots of suspected bloom justice, and I know it's not really replicable, but definitely a worthy smoke worth mentioning. Possibly one of the best cigars I've ever smoked, though certainly different than most other greats.

HL Illusione - "Holy Lancero"

2010-03-14T12:13:00.006-05:00

20100312 HL Illusione

I pulled a little background info (see bullets below) off this fellow's fine review at InTheHumdior.com, as well as one of his pictures of the band, which I had a hard time capturing with the little camera I was using.

Wrapper:Nicaraguan Puro
Binder:Nicaraguan Puro
Filler:Nicaraguan Puro
Size: 7 1/2″ x 40

Appearance - 6 \ just too thin (lancero) for my taste, and although the HL and illusione on the label were a cool dan-brown-illuminati style, it wasn't as cool with the rest of its plainness.
Burn - 8 \ quite good. It was a little off but never had to touch it up.
Draw - 9 \ great. Bordering on a little tight, but it made the stick last alittle longer, which was enjoyable.
Plumage - 9 \ fantastic, especially for a thinner cigar like this. Dense orbs of amoke with a rich and spicy aroma.
Flavor - 10 \ Excellent. See below. Much more flavor and strength than I expected.
Overall - 10 \ Just an awesome cigar.
Rt scale - 4 \ This makes it into that "top of the top" category of cigars for me.

Spicy, bold and full-flavored, especially for a lancero. A hint of edginess and bite that I actually liked because it didn't go too far and become bitterness. Somehow, with all that I might have detected a hint of caramel in it, but maybe that was the coffee residue in my mouth - though I wasn't drinking flavored joe or anything. It was raining and dark, with the temperature dropping as I watched the concrete ramp glisten before the open doors. Smoked while watching Chuck season 3 in the smokeshack until the battery died. I'm gonna need to work on that problem...

Various Other stuff from 2/26/2010 weekend in KC

2010-03-10T03:52:00.012-06:00

ejr postback Date - 2/26-27/2010 - Part 2.
I wanted to give a nod to a few other great smokes we had that weekend as well. The Ashton VSG lancero I had Friday night was a tasty treat, despite not normally being a lancero man, myself.

And here I wanted to give a brief nod to continued use of my Valentine's Day gift, the Cigar Stub accessory (not to be confused with a cigar roach clip!!!)... Fuller review and notes on it coming soon.

Here's one of the first baddies T-Bone enjoyed, a La Flor Dominicana with brandished scimitars and red dunes on the band:

Liga Privada No. 9 by Drew Estates

2010-03-10T03:17:00.012-06:00

ejr postback Date - 2/26/2010
I have promised some flashback reviews, and here's the first... Comes from a fun weekend where the bro came into town after a harrowing few months of broken dog bones and disheartening blizzards. Good to see him and enjoy some smokes, some great meals, a little Hendricks' Gin, and watching Philip Seymour Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War.

Here we are enjoying the Outlaw.

Here's RT enjoying one of the many countless wise gems I passed along to him over the course of the weekend.

Mmmm... Coffee AND cigars... Heaven.

The following cigar was one we said we'd do a "dual review" of, as he picked one up for me and himself and we smoked them at the new Kansas Outlaw Cigar location.

Liga Privada No. 9 by Drew Estates
Here are my ratings:

App 9 \ striking, cool simple black pen signature on white, dark wrapper, nice blunted torpedo
Burn 8 \ very solid
Draw 8 \ fine
Plumage 10 \ great! Wonderful rich, peppery aroma
Flavor 9 \ was arresting in its pepperyness, very good, but so full-bodied it may have gotten in its own way... Seemed that there were some creamier layers that may have been too hard to discern that could have been better 'married'. But by far a small complaint because the base flavor was great.
Overall 9 \ just a great, pleasurable smoke.
Rt scale 4 \ Although I can complain about the cost (even though I didn't pay for mine!) and maybe that there was some nuance I thought I was missing -- I really, really enjoyed this bad boy. Just won't run out and buy another.

Final analysis: Great smoke, cool appearance and band especially, but value is tough at $15 per stick retail at outlaw. Very compelling taste, aroma and experience.
And here's RT enjoying a smoke earlier in the day.

Oliva V Belicoso (5" x 54)

2010-03-06T18:27:00.000-06:00

Oliva V Belicoso

This little torpedo is from one favorite lines: the Oliva V. Though it is not my favorite from the line, it is a damn good smoke!

The dark wrapper was flawless. The band is attractive and easy to remove (something I really appreciate given my recent experiences with the Arturo Fuente King B cigar). The prelight was rich and a little sweet.

I really don't know where to go with this review...the cigar is just damn good. I've sampled every size in the Oliva V line and gone through at least two boxes in the last year or two (my favorite being the figurado). The cigar never disappoints.

The smoking experience can best be described as "smooth power". Several times I have enjoyed the rich tobacco flavors to the nub, never once experiencing hardshness, surrounded by a haze of fragrant smoke...and stood up to realize that I needed to sit back down again. These are fullest bodies smokes I've had that manage to pack that power in a refined package-literally it's a steel fist in a velvet glove. Though this stick doesn't really have that many subtle flavors that I can pick out, the flavor is outstanding, as is the value (I think this stick cost me around $5).

This Nicaraguan puro is a solid 4 on my 4 point scale and may be my favorite cigar of all...when cost is factored in, the Oliva V has no competition at all.

Here I am enjoying this sweet stick on the way to Wright Park.

Here is my bonus cigar review guest: all played out!

La Gloria Cubana (robusto) (unique smoke)

2010-03-06T18:12:00.000-06:00

La Gloria Cubana

This was a special smoke...the kind that was both a gift and a rare cigar that I can probably never get another of. This particular L.G.C. was given to me by my bro and was an aged stick-unsure of how old it was but I'm guessing five to ten years. Rico told me he had won it in some kind of cigar raffle and that it was a "very aged stogie" from some dude's collection.

I got a glimmer of a nice day and I jumped on it-grabbed up this robusto, microwaved up some coffee and I was out smoking my Lunch hour away...

Here's the layout-I was ready to go!

This stogie had been through several hands before it got to me...the wrapper had some small nicks and bumps. Overall it looked like it had outlasted whatever elements had stood against it but it hadn't gotten away unscathed.

Here's a close up of the label. I think that the modern versions of this cigar have a similar but more polished label.

The stogie almost ended up in the trash can-I spent about two minutes trying to light it-thought it was fire proof! After I got it lit, it started giving off these strange almost fungal flavors and odors and I was (again!) about to toss it...when I remembered how excited Rico had been the one he had smoked so I stuck it out.

I'm glad I did.

The stogie was all over the map-in a good way. After about four or five puffs, it kicked in an intense and powerful aroma that really satisfied. The flavors alternated between traditional maduro flavors, a leathery flavor, and even some strange vegetal/earthy/fungul notes that (believe it!) were satisfying.

I give this cigar a solid "4"-it was one of the best cigars I've had and certainly my favorite "aged" cigar. Wish I could get more!

Winter Quickie Cigar Reviews

2010-02-13T12:25:00.000-06:00

Man, it's been cold and nasty the last few weeks...and, to be truthful, most of the few stogies I've managed to smoke recently have not been the best I've had...I was thinking I'd skip reviewing them but I figured it might be good to have some less-than-stellar stogies on my blog for perspective.

First up is the Camacho Select (robusto). The double bands make it look classy but removing the top one damaged the cigar. I have no tolerance for that kind of crap. The smoke smelled tart and lit well. It also had nice smelling smoke and a decent burn. However, the cameroon wrapper just doesn't "go" with the Camacho flavor or expected experience and I just don't much like the flavors (a mix of nuttiness, pepper, and "something else".

RTR quickie review (4 point scale): 2. This cigar might really please some people; I just don't like the flavor much-will not purchase again.

Here I am looking real damn cool. Check out the "smoke beard": "Camacho will put hair on your chin!"

Camacho Corojo (robusto)

This stogie was really good. The smooth dark wrapper and (new!) label really looked good together. When I lit up, the stogie immediately let me know what I was in for: a ride dominated by powerful pepper and tobacco flavors and a lot of power! This was one of those smokes that every puff reminded me I was smoking a beast but I kept coming back for me. My only complaints were that the label doesn't tell you what "model" cigar it is (had to look it up) and the flavor never really changed...but when I want a potent cigar in the future, this one is on my short list. Construction, flavor, and plummage were all very good.

RTR 4 point rating: 3 (not my favorite but really good). I will always make sure have a few of these in the coolidors.

Don Kiki Green label (torpedo)

First of all, the band is cheesy. Second, I'm not a huge fan of torpedos anymore. Third, the prelight was not impressive. After about ten puffs (each tasting somewhat like wet cardboard) and I knew that this was one of the worst cigars I've ever had . I got it for free but I still can't get the bad taste out of my mouth. The cigar is made by Cuban Crafters and, from what I read, CC and Don Kiki DO have some good cigars. This is not one of them.

RTR 4 point review: 1 (bad. Give to a mooching friend who you want to make funny faces while they smoke it). Dog Rocket.

Tatuaje Black (robusto)

This stogie has been in my humidor for about a year. I picked up a "free" 3 pack at the Pete Johnson/Tatuaje event at the Outlaw in KC. I have been wanting to try one of these for a long time and had high expectations (which might account, in part for my overall disappointment). Basically, it's a "more potent" Tatuaje with a kind of ugly wrapper. It's not that different from a Don Pepin Garcia Black label (which is easy to get and very affordable). Overall I was expecting more from this, considering the difficulty in obtaining it and the hype surrounding it (supposedly it's Pete's "special personal brand".

RTR 4 Point Rating: 3 (it's a good cigar and I enjoyed smoking it but it did not meet expectations or climb into the coveted "RTR Favorite Smoke List".

Bonis Pic #1: Here is Eric's dog house-soon to be refurbished, I'm sure, for Mojo! Eric will undoubtedly use it when my new sister-in-law discovers what a pain in the ass he can be and forces him out of the house!

Bonus pic #2: Here is my sweetie! She has recently grown too large to ride it so notice the cool "chopper-style" riding technique!

La Joya de Nicaragua Clasico (6.6" x 44)

2010-01-23T19:01:00.003-06:00

La Joya de Nicaragua Clasico (6.6" x 44)

I grabbed this long and lean smoke to enjoy while helping my dad and Anne-Marie feed the sheep. It was a little chilly and, on these kinds of adventures, you never know when you'll be called upon to toss your smoke and have to help corner a ewe or grab up a frisky lamb-so I grabbed a smoke that I had low expectations fors: the LJN Clasico.

Eric had given me a pair of these faux-lanceros a few weeks ago. I had backed out of the chance to share a box of these and some Antanos-reviews I had read had made me think that they were probably not going to be too great...but I'm really glad I had one because it hit the spot!

Here is what an online vendor has to say about these sticks:

Joya de Nicaragua Clasico cigars are a smooth, medium-bodied Nicaraguan selection from Tabacos Puros de Nicaragua. The filler and binder are all high-quality Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobaccos wrapped in high-grade Nicaraguan Criollo capas. With a fine aroma and flavorful finish, the flavor has a dry, woody, herbal character to it. While full-flavored, they're never overpowering.

It lit up quick and hit my palette with a peppery taste that reminded me a lot of the LJN Antano, though not as full and not as deep. I puffed on it while scooping hay, walking with Anne-Marie to the Pond to look for ducks, and while trying to help Dad separate some sheep from the herd. It held up much better than expected and I smoked it for at least an hour, almost to the nub.

Here is Dad after grabbing up two of the lambs.

And here I am enjoying the La Joya amidst my "siblings".

I give the La Joya a "2" on my 4 point rating. It was not a great cigar-kind of one dimensional (pepper, mostly). The rustic band didn't do much for me either, and the aroma was unremarkable. However, the construction was impressive-while smoking it outside and doing a variety of low-impact farm work, it held up well, requiring only the most minor of touchups. I think it is a good bargain cigar, a good deal for around $2 or $3, especially suited for times when one wants to enjoy a cigar but still needs to be active (walking a dog, doing minor work, etc).

Here are two hard working sheep herders!

Nestor Miranda Special Selection Rosado (toro, 6" x 60)

2010-01-18T14:49:00.005-06:00

Nestor Miranda Special Selection Rosado (toro, 6" x 60)

Here is the Nestor, along with my tools and beverage of choice (coffee).

Eric and I picked up a box of these when they showed up on Cigar Monster. Since its made by Nestor (who created some maduros that Eric and I both have some fond memories of) and blended by Don Pepin Garcia (whose stogies are almost sure to please me), I knew that I had to bite on this deal. Add to that the fact that Eric and Scott both have enjoyed these and mentioned several times how good they were and...I had high expectations for this stick. Since today MLK Day (and I'm off) and it is another warm day (50 degrees and no wind) I grabbed up the Nestor and headed for the back patio!

The box that these guys came in was more of a "chest"-thick and stout. Upon opening, I saw that the cigars were surrounded by tobacco leaf. It's a little weird but a nice touch, I think.

The Nestor 20th Anniversary appears to have a rosado, an oscuro, and a maduro variant-the one I am smoking is the rosado.

Here is a close-up of the band. The copper is a little washed out-it is more vivid in person.

Here is what an online vendor has to say about the smoke:

A bold handmade from Nicaragua.

Nestor Miranda Special Selection is a tasty new handmade named after its creator - that’s Nestor Miranda for those of you not paying attention, maker of Don Lino cigars. Carefully crafted by hand in Nicaragua, the Special Selection is available in two choice varieties: a silky Rosado wrapper or a dark Nicaraguan-grown maduro. The long-filler mixture of Nicaraguan and Costa Rican tobaccos is extensively aged, and promises an eventful medium to full-bodied bouquet of flavor. The smoke is rich and woody, with a delightful coffee component and a unique touch of sweetness on the finish.

Nestor Miranda Special Selection received a healthy 90-point rating, which noted:
"Skillfully rolled with a dark, oily wrapper and a neat cap. The draw, while a bit loose, produces beefy, nutty smoke balanced by some sweetness and earth."

The label is what always attracts my attention to this smoke-I love the copper. Once I get past that, I can't help but marvel at its size-a real "Biggun'". So big, in fact, that not only did my cutter struggle with clipping it but my it also gave my Blazer lighter a real workout getting it lit!

The first few puffs imparted a nutty flavor with a small amount of pepper-reminding me a great deal of a milder version of the Don Pepin Garcia Black label (but with a thicker, more resilient wrapper). As I puffed away for two hours, I did have relight at the 1/2 way point but other than that the burn was great.

The stogie continued to impart similar flavors for the duration of the smoke...never really varying but becoming more powerful in flavor and strength as I approached the last inch or so. Finally, after almost two hours of puffing pleasure it was through-and I was getting a bit light headed! As I puffed my last puff I realized that these things remind me a great deal of the Tatuaje Gran Cojonu-but they're easier to obtain and about half the price!

RTR Review: solid 3. This is a great cigar, especially for those who like their cigars large and in charge.

601 Blue-Box Pressed Maduro (Toro, 6.2" x 54)

2010-01-17T21:25:00.003-06:00

601 Blue-Box Pressed Maduro (Toro, 6.2" x 54)

I received this Don Pepin Garcia gem from my oldest son Ryan-as a Father's Day gift from about two years ago. It came from Sosas at Downtown Disney and I'd been saving it for a special occasion. Today was the warmest and nicest day in over a month-and I knew that this was it!

The Blue label, by 601, is a Nicaraguan puro. It has a maduro wrapper and a colorful red, blue, and gold band. The one I had was slighly boxed pressed but not quite squared off.

Quick review: At Wright Park when I smoked this, I lost track of time and space. I remember a full flavor and body and a consistent "tart and peppery flavor". The stogie burned perfectly and produced solid grey ash. Plumage was impressive, even outside. I've smoked a half dozen 601 Blues and this stogie has never disappointed. For around $8 a stick (by the box), this is a fantastic stick, and probably my favorite Don Pepin Garcia made maduro. RTR Rating: 4 of 4.

Here I am enjoying the second half of this guy.

And here's a picture of my sweet and long-suffering wife!

Bonus picture 1: Anne-Marie helping Grandpa with sheep feeding this weekend.

Bonus Pic 2: The Shepherd himself.

Adrian's maduro robusto (5" x 50)

2010-01-10T17:49:00.004-06:00

Adrian's maduro robusto (5" x 50)

A month or so ago, while I was smoking at the Cigar Chateau, a rep for Adrian's offered me a handfull of his brand of stogies. He told me how good that they were and that they were from Costa Rica and that they run around $6 apiece in a store. Rarely one to turn down free stogies, I snatched them up and put them in the humidor to to make sure that they'd be ready when the time came...

...and it did, today. I grabbed up the Adrian's Maduro and hopped into the Fit to chat on my phone and hit the SW Kansas highways-just me and my Costa Rican maduro!

The band is quaint (kind of a tropical beach motif) and the stick is very attractive-dark and a bit oily but very "natural" looking-not at all like some of the glossy black sticks that one sometimes sees.

As I smoked and talked and drove I realized more and more that this stick was both milder in flavor and in potency than I'm used. I also realized I really liked it. It gave off a mellow and clean maduro flavor that builded slighly in intensity at the nub. Through it all, it gave off good plummage and burned straight as an arrow.

I rate the Adrian's maduro at 3 (on my 4 point scale)-it's a great morning smoke for me and I'm glad I have one more freebie to enjoy before I have to try to find out where I can buy a few more.

Here's a link to Adrian's website, in case you'd like to check them out.

http://www.smokeadrians.com/

Ashton VSG Spellbound (7.5 "x 54)

2010-01-10T17:23:00.005-06:00

Ashton VSG Spellbound (7.5 "x 54)

Wow. This cigar has skyrocketed towards the top of my favorite stogies. Though, sadly, I cannot afford them, I have found that they really hit the spot when I have something to celebrate or when I just really want to reward myself...

RTR, bereft of a real camera (laptop webcam only)-enjoying the Spellbound at the Cigar Chateau in Wichita, KS last week.

Here is what Ashton has to say:

(Image borrowed from a website)

For those who desire a powerful and intoxicating flavor with a complex rich finish, look no further than the Ashton VSG. The VSG is blended exclusively for Ashton by Carlos Fuente Jr. using 4 to 5 year old aged Dominican tobacco taken from the finest and most fertile plants. The distinct flavor of VSG comes from its wrapper grown on a private estate in Ecuador owned by the Oliva family where this proprietary wrapper leaf is grown for the Fuente Family exclusively for Ashton VSG. The leaf is taken from the higher primings and matures slowly by sunlight filtered through the region¹s natural cloud covering. The result is the rich intoxicating wrapper which has made the Ashton VSG the most in demand cigar on the market today.

I paid $20 for this stogie, and it was the biggest VSG that was available. I will admit, that price is high; in fact, I spent ten minutes debating the purchase in the humidor, thinking "well, going to a movie tonight and having candy and soda would cost me $16 easily so..." and other similar thoughts to justify the purchase. Finally, I thought about how rare it is for me to get to smoke inside a real smoking room indoors and I bit the bullet and lit that sucka up.

First off, it's a big stogie-larger than I normally enjoy. A light grey film was sprinkled on the dark wrapper of this stogie-not sure if it was dust, "plume", mold or what. A bunch of the VSGs in the boxes on display had them so I wasn't worried-though it was a bit odd.

The initial flavor is tangy and peppery and the smoke has a luxuriously rich aroma. I cannot describe it but it is very pleasurable. The smoke burned straight and true with great ash and great plummage.

This cigar is a solid 4-a real super premium. If these were 1/2 the price, I'd buy a box with little hesitation. As it is, I'll be lucky to experience one a year-and so far, they are my first choice for a celebratory smoke.

Montage, best of 2009

2010-01-09T16:11:00.006-06:00

1st Annual 2009 Stogie and Life Montage

2009 has been a great year for me and my family. It's been filled with new opportunities, great health, and lots of great family time. Here are some highlights, as well as some photos of and a list of my favorite cigars of 2009.

*Shannon got her Bachelor's degree and her and Todd have a new son, Thomas!
*Eric & Kellie's beautiful wedding in KC
*Ryan moved to his own place in Wichita
*Thane performed in a Depot play, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"
*Michelle started her Library Science graduate program
*Anne-Marie made a great new friend in our neighborhood and got TALL!
*We had a great Texas vacation at Lake Texoma

And here is my list of favorite smokes of 2009 (not in order!)

Oliva V
Don Pepin Garcia Blue
LG
Coronado
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown
Casa Magna (rosado) (The Official Smoke of Eric J. Reid's move to his new house!)
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero and similar LFD smokes
601 (any of the four blends)
Padilla 1932
Padron 1964 (the Official Smoke of Eric J. Reid's Bachelor Party!)

Every one of these smokes delivers, and most have some great memories attached to them!

I hope that 2010 is half as great as 2009, for me and for all of my friends and family.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero "Chisel" (6"x 54)

2010-01-09T15:53:00.003-06:00

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero "Chisel" (6"x 54)

It's been cold, ladies and gentlemen...real damn cold. Every smoke has been a luxury, especially those few that I've been able to enjoy inside, away from the frigid wind that does its best to turn my blood to ice...so when Michelle suggested we go to Garden City to grab some Italian food at Napoli's (at the GC Airport), I grabbed a stogie that I knew would not disappoint: the LFD DL Chisel...

Note: sorry about the photo quality-my cell phone was really struggling with the lighting (or maybe the cold!).

From a cigar vendor's website:

The La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel cigars are very full - bodied cigars meticulously handcrafted with powerful ligero fillers and rich - tasting, Ecuadorian sun - grown wrappers. Like the regular La Flor Dominicana cigars, this selection is considered to be among some of the finest cigars made in the Dominican Republic. This is a highly reputable label that cigar smokers really should experience, especially if you love full, dark tobacco flavor. La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero The Chisel Maduro Cigars 6x54 Box of 10 La Flor Dominicana.

Here's the band-photo doesn't do it justice. Really like this band-new ones are bright red and black.

Highlights: The smoke is really potent, and really rich. The aroma is probably the thing I enjoy the most about it-sweet and spicey and very aromatic. The flavor starts out with lots of charred wood/meat flavors and hot peppers (jalapenio?). Later on I picked up some expresso and cherry notes.

Overall, the smoke is consistant and doesn't vary on the flavor much, but the flavor it does have is full and it definitely keeps my interest. I'm very glad I had it after a full meal because I this stogie packs a nicotine punch!

I started out by using a punch on the top side of the flattened, "chisel" head but decided I really didn't like it-opted after a few minutes to chop it off with my trusty Cuban Crafters cutter. After that, it was all gravy.

RTR quick review: 4 (of 4). This is a fantastic smoke-like almost all of the Litto Gomez/LFD stogies, I recommend it fully-though it may be too potent for mild stogie lovers.

Alec Bradley Tempus Quadrum (5.5" x 55)

2009-11-15T15:03:00.003-06:00

Alec Bradley Tempus Quadrum (5.5" x 55)

I bought a few 5 packs of these on sale a month or so ago. Though the Alec Bradley Tempus is available everywhere, the "Quadrum" is a Cigars International exclusive.

Here is what CI has to say about the blend:

A 94-rated masterpiece.

Here it is, quite possibly the crowning achievement of Alec Bradley Cigars. Tempus is truly boutique, right down to the tobaccos used. The Habano-seed wrapper hails from a small tobacco field located on the border of Nicaragua and Honduras, capturing the rich, hearty flavors of Honduras. This leaf is dark and leathery, and conceals a complex mixture of Cuban-seed long-fillers grown in both Nicaragua and Honduras. The cigar explodes with rich, but smooth flavors noting toasted wood and nuts. The finish is long and peppery with an enjoyable sweetness.

I like the band. Gaudy but the purple is a nice "break from the pack"-seems like many labels blend together with the same red/gold color scheme.

The Quadrum also differs from other Tempus lines I've seen due to the partial box press, resulting in a flast top and bottom and rounded sides. It makes for a pretty thick stick-this monkey was so thick that my Cuban Crafter guillotine cutter was only able to cut off about 1/8" of an inch-but that was plenty to give me a great draw and get me started.

I paired this cigar with my favorite scotch, Laphroiag and enjoyed it while watching Josh Whedon's Dollhouse. It was chilly but with my hat and pancho, I was living the good life.

The stogie had some really rich chocolate and coffee flavors initially. Partway through, the stick seemed to become more "earthy" with an occasional metallic element-still good but a little odd.

The stick had excellent ash but did require a few touch ups. During the last third, I started noticing the potency of the cigar-seemed very full bodied and full flavored by the time I nubbed it.

I've been enjoying Alec Bradley cigars since shortly after I started smoking a few years ago...and have sought them out frequently, as they were often on sale and were alwasy good smokes for the money. The Tempus seems to be the brands' first "premium" cigar and I'm really impressed with what they've done. I rate the Tempus a 4-I've really enjoyed smoking these bad boys and will be buying more.

Here's a snapshot of our evil cat Blossom...who wastes little time crawling in bed with any sleeping Reid he can find!

LFD Double Ligero Oscuro Especiales 6 7/8” x 49

2009-11-11T19:50:00.003-06:00

Double Ligero Oscuro Especiales 6 7/8” x 49
By La Flor Dominicana

(This review was actually done a few weeks ago-got behind and forgot to post!)

I bought a box of these while in KC at the Litto Gomez event at the Outlaw (for Eric's Bachelor Party!). Here's a photo of the band-notice the dark colored Oscuro wrapper and cute little pig tail cap.

Notice LFD's new band-heavy on the black and dark red (used to have a lot of pink in it with some flowers). I like the new band but prefer the old one. Maybe the new one is supposed to warn people to watch out: some of the LFD stogies pack a punch!

Here's some "sales talk" I found online at a vendor's site:

With a pungent aroma, and very spicy on the palate, this full bodied La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Churchill Especiales is meticulously handcrafted with powerful ligero fillers and with a rich-tasting, Ecuadorian sun grown Oscuro wrapper. Like the regular La Flor Dominicana cigars, this selection is considered to be among some of the finest cigars made in the Dominican Republic.

When I pulled this bad boy out of the box, I immediately had a flash back to Eric's Bachelor Party, where Kent, Eric, Brad, Scott and I all enjoyed some great smokes. Good times!

The stogie is dark and alluring and has a tart prelight aroma. I had some trouble getting it to take the flame but once it was lit, it gave off a pleasant chalky flavor with some pepper and tart cherrys. The aroma was pleasant, as with most La Flor Dominicana's, and is one of the main reasons I keep coming back to them.

The stogie's flavor was consistent (and enjoyable!) the whole ride. By the end, the nicotine hit was noticable-and I remembered that it was a Litto "double ligero"-had forgotten the power on these guys.

Overall, I'd rate this stick a solid 3 on my four point scale. I would avoid it if you prefer mild cigars (it is medium to full flavored and full bodied).

Here I am enjoying the last bit of it.

...And here I am with Anne-Marie in our Halloween costumes. I'm a (software) pirate and Anne-Marie is, of course, Wonder Woman!

Veteran's Day Update

2009-11-11T12:08:00.004-06:00

Man it's been busy!

I've got the day off and somehow I ended up working all morning, fixing computers, paying bills, running kids around, the whole deal). Luckily, I have carved out an hour or so and grabbed up one of my favorite cigars (Coronado in the toro size) and figured I'd kick it and watch a few episodes of The Dollhouse, Season 1.

I could review this stogie but I've done it before-I can already tell you that I'm going to love it. We'll see how the Dollhouse goes.

Have a good Veteran's Day-"Smoke'm if you gott'em!"

Padilla 1968 Edicion Limitada 2009 Oscuro Salomon (7.2" x 57)

2009-10-26T11:25:00.005-05:00

Padilla 1968 Edicion Limitada 2009 Oscuro Salomon (7.2" x 57)

That's a big name...but it's a big smoke...guess it fits!

Here it is, along with my trusty tools and beverage.

Heres' the band-I like it.

Here is what Cigar Bid has to say about this stogie:

Introducing, Padilla Series ’68, a cigar built to honor the world renown work of Ernesto Padilla’s father. Rolled in Honduras - making it the only Padilla handmade from Honduras - the 1968 is chock full of Cuban-seed long-fillers from the Jalapa and Condega valleys of Nicaragua. Topped off with a toothy, reddish-hued Corojo wrapper grown in the black, fertile soils of Nicaragua, each cigar presents a rich, earthy, medium to full-bodied bouquet with spicy sweet undertones.

The Limitado Oscuro Salomon takes this blend to bold new heights, thanks to a beautiful, triple-fermented oscuro wrapper that oozes with rich ’n flavorful goodness.

---

I picked these up on a "JoeCigar.com" deal and split the cost with my brother...now I'm wishing I would have bought more!

They are sweet and tart on the prelight-very impressive band and appearance. The Wrapper is rough and leathery, but I like it. Overall it looks like a real beast of a smoke and made my mouth water when I first got ahold of it, especially after I got that first prelight whiff-tart and spicey!

I've sampled most of the Padilla smokes in the last year, (the 68, the 48, the 32, the Miami, and the Habano), and this resembles none of them in flavor (even though it has 68 on the band). I believe that this is a new blend, borrowing the 68's name (though I'm not upset about this as the 68, while a very good smoke, is not my favorite in the Padilla line).

I like the form factor...allows me to have a "billy club" of a cigar without the jawbreaker effect. This form factor is getting more popular but I've kind of had luke warm feelings about it-the sticks are big and require a solid time committment to smoke them. Additionally, on one or two salomans (from other lines/manufacturers) I've had major burn problems-which is a big turn off for me. This Limitada, however, was a real treat and I'd like to get ahold of another five pack to share with other smokers-expecially those who like the thick ring gauges (you know who you are!).

The aroma was great throughout this smoke. Upon lighting, I picked up a cedary/maduro flavor, with a burst of salt here and there. On the second third, I detected several citrisy notes. During the final third, the body kicks in a bit and the flavor transitions, adding some charcoal and mildly sweet maduro type flavors. Throughout the smoke, the aroma was mesmerizing-difficult to describe but omnipresent and very enjoyable.

I got this smoke for around $4 apiece on a deal...see them on Cigarbid for about $8 a piece. I'm guessing $12 or $15 at a cigar store. Did have some burn issues in the first third but they were managable and, though I feared they would persist/worsen, they did not and the cigar overall was fantastic. I think I would have been okay with this cigar for $10 but for $4 it is a complete steal.

The review on this is a "3", tentatively. The 2nd one I have will clinch it-will be sure to enjoy it indoors so as to maximize the chances for the stick to shine. At that point, it could easily move to a "4" on my four-point scale. Regardless, I'm keeping my eyes open for more.

Centurion Lancero, by Don Pepin Garcia (5.5" x 38)

2009-10-24T11:16:00.004-05:00

Centurion Lancero, by DPG (5.5" x 38)

Here's a photo of this mini lancero before I sparked it up. I like the band.

Here's another "cream puff" shot of this sweet stick.

I decided to smoke this outside this morning…looked warmer than it is! Nasty Dodge City wind is not improving the experience but I haven’t had a good smoke in over a week so I toughed it out! I paired this stogie with 40 Sardines coffee and they mate very well.

Here's what a vendor selling the stick had to say:

This the first Limited Edition smoke made by Don Pepin Garcia under his own label and it is limited to a production run of 600 boxes per size. This is an absolutely exquisite medium to full bodied smoke made in Don Pepin's Nicaraguan cigar factory, Tabacalera Cubana (TACUBA). A carefully selected blend of Nicaraguan grown, Cuban seed tobaccos featuring both Criollo '98 and Corojo '99 leaves have been meticulously aged for 3 years for the filler and binder. The wrapper is a beautiful, smooth looking, and oily medium brown colored Nicaraguan Habano wrapper also aged for 3 years. To ensure that these tobaccos were aged to perfection, Don Pepin was checking the status of the aging process himself. It's his baby and he was dead set on making sure that this was one of the best cigars he has ever produced.

The smoke is as smooth as a well aged scotch and the flavor is rich and balanced with flavors of cedar, coffee and leather with a spicy finish. Pepin says that El Centurion taste like "old Cohibas" and that they are "aromatic".

RTR notes: beautiful wrapper, dark and smooth, prelight aroma was of strong cinnamon, wrapper is gold and attractive. Held off buying any of these due to price and low availability but received one for Father's Day this year as part of a Don Pepin Garcia Lancero collection....ultra smooth and cinnamony; reminds me of JJ or My Father only smoother. Actually, it also remind me of Holt's DPG house blend "Old Henry", though Old Henry is a little rougher in appearance and not as smooth.

RTR quick rating: 3. This is a really good cigar-so smooth that the body (around Medium) really sneaks up on you. I would give it a 4 if it had more flavor but I think a “mild to medium” cigar smoker would rate this a 4. I cannot imagine anyone disliking this cigar-though, when these were available, the price point was a little steep (above $14 I think). If these were readily available and the price was closer to $6, I would get more of these.

Here I am enjoying this dude on the back patio. Notice the ultra-cool Cigar Bag.

And here are my special guests who visited me despite this Frosty Fall we're having!

Padilla Miami Churchill (7" x 48)

2009-09-27T12:14:00.002-05:00

It's a lazy Sunday morning...enjoyed a big breakfast of french toast, eggs, and jalapeno laced hash browns at the Golden Pancake...and Michelle and I decided to enjoy some sun on the patio. For such a relaxing and perfect morning, I knew I needed something special to mate with my Roasterie Columbian coffee so I reached for the first of my new box of Padilla Miami stogies...

The stogie is long and lean and very attractive. The stick seems thinner than the advertised 48 ring gauge, coming closer to a lancero to me, than the advertised Churchill form factor. It looks good and feels good in the hand and before even lighting it I knew I was in for a treat.

This is the "new blend" of this stick, with the newer label. Prior to this incarnation the stogie was blended by Don Pepin Garcia and made quite a stir. They parted ways before I was able to sample that version of the Miami and this stogie is made from Nicaraguan tobacco and is created in Honduras.

The band is tasteful and reminds me of the other Padilla bands, though perhaps a little less ornate. I find this band attractive and classy. Additionally, the band has a number on it, identifying the stogie with a serial-always a sign of quality in my opinion.

Upon first light, the cigar greeted me with a small blast of mild pepper-and not much else. I was mildly concerned that it might continue that way for the duration but after a few puffs, it settled into a flavor profile that lasted for most of smoke. I cannot pick out individual flavors but I can say that the flavors are mildly sweet and I "maple like". Or maybe "raisin like"-kind of a natural sweetness that is pleasant and satifsying. The flavors were paired with an aromatic aroma that was rich and enjoyable. Of the Padillas I've enjoyed, it reminds me most of the 1968, but with a rich sweetness and sophisticated creamy smoothness-damn this is a good cigar.

The burn and contruction were perfect and the plummage was good as well-even with the gusts of wind that swept across our porch from the North. The end of the cigar "firmed up" a bit, with the medium flavors and strength moving closer to the full edge of the spectrum.

As I am writing this review and nursing the tiny nub of the Churchill, I'm struck with the realization of just how good this cigar is. On my 4 point scale, it's a solid "4", truly an oustanding and high quality smoke.

They retail for around $8 a stick (by the box, online) or $12 at a cigar store-and at that price they would be a worthy "special occasion" stogie for me. At the $5 a cigar price I got them at, they are outstanding and I would recommend them to anyone who enjoys fine medium to full cigars.

Here's a photo of my sweet Michelle who decided that a big breakfest and the warm September sun should be best enjoyed by a catnap on the patio!

Indian Tabac 10th Anniversary Toro (6.5" x 52)

2009-09-26T19:51:00.003-05:00

Indian Tabac 10th Anniversary Toro (6.5" x 52)

It's one of those great Kansas Fall days...last night it was in the 40's and now it's 80...warm and nice. I broke out a cold Harp, my Swiss Army bottle opener/cigar scissors, and grabbed a "single" I bought in KC about a year ago at Fidel's: the Indian Tabac 10th Anniversary Toro.

Here's what online retailers say about it:

The Indian Tabac 10th Anniversary by Rocky Patel celebrates Rocky's decade of excellence in the premium cigar industry. The tobaccos are grown and the cigars are manufactured in Nicaragua by Joseph Fernandez, a rising star in the business. This is the company’s first Nicaraguan Puro using binder and filler tobacco from 3 different regions in Nicaragua: Jalapa, Esteli and the Condega Valley. The Wrapper is a Cuban seed corojo, also grown in Nicaragua. The cigar is flavorful and elegant with a spicy flavor and complexity.

The "Joseph Fernandez" they're referring to is "A.J. Fernandez", the blender who is doing a bunch of stogies pimped by C.I., including Man O' War, La Herencia, and the Sol Cubano barber pole soloman that Ryan really enjoys. Though the cigar is one of Rocky Patel's, I'm more excited about A.J. Fernandez's hand in it, since most of Rocky's creations seem kind of average to me these days.

Here's a close up. Nice double band-certainly projects a lot more class than the regular Indian Tabac. The cigar itself has a nice leather colored wrapper-the prelight smells like sweet tobacco.

This stogie shot out some major plummage, pleasing me for over an hour while Thane and I and one of his buddies played Munchkin Fu, a card game that my buddy Seth introduced me to a year or so ago. Good times! The cigar was sweeter than most and somewhat leathery with a few chocolately notes. Each draw was kind of sweet and very clean but left behind a deep cigar flavor that was pleasing.

I wouldn't call it a complex cigar but what it did, it did well and I found myself happily puffing on it while I used my Hong Kong Bong of my Ancestors and my Ninja Clown Fu to wreak Asian havoc on the young'uns!

...And then disaster struck! The wrapper turned out to be very thin and fragile and cracked and when bad on me. I was worried the whole thing would slip off but, to my surprise, it hung in there and smoked through it...with no negative affect.

I'd rate this cigar a 2-primarly because it wasn't quite potent enough for me (mild to medium strength, medium flavor). I also dinged it a little for the wrapper. I think anyone who smokes Gurkhas or most of the Rocky Patels would really enjoy this, as I think it is a step up in flavor. It's a far cry from the normal Indian Tabacs, which I once enjoyed but have since kind of moved away from. I paid $8 for it and I think you can get them online for $5 apiece, by the box.

Legends Nestor Plasencia Maroon Label (5.7 x 54)

2009-09-20T18:37:00.003-05:00

Legends Nestor Plasencia Maroon Label (5.7 x 54)

I had a good relationship with Cigars International's "Legends" series of smokes when I first started lighting up stogies. They were thick, made by well-known makers, and CI's marketing juggernaut made them so darn cool sounding. Plus the "color coding" branding made the confusing world of cigars so much more accessible. At the time, I really gravitated towards the thick stogies and these bad boys were all right up my alley. I enjoyed the red label (Perdomo) white label (Camacho), the Orange (Rocky Patel), the Yellow (Don Pepin Garcia) as well as a few Blue (Matasa) and Purple (Graycliff)...

As time went on, I found myself less enchanted with them. The White label didn't seem to age well. The Red was good but kind of one dimensional. The Yellow seemed to vary a lot in flavor (some were too damn peppery even for me!). I enjoyed the Orange but I recall it having issues with it staying lit. The Black and Purple never did it for me and the Blue smelled like perfume!

So when the Maroon label by Nestor came out, I was curious but enjoying my other smokes too much to try them out...

...And that's where my little brother rides in on his white horse (Red Buick) and offers me this thick black log of a smoke. Since I had just finished an Oliva G and he was on the phone with me, I figured I'd try out the Nestor...glad I did.

Here is what Cigars International has to say about them on their website:

Legends Nestor Plasencia - Maroon Label: Nestor Plasencia was a natural fit for the Legends Series. He is one of the world’s leading tobacco growers, owning fields throughout Central America and beyond. In fact, most of the cigars you enjoy on a regular basis contain tobaccos grown by him and his father, Nestor Senior. His supply and variety of fine tobaccos is limitless, granting him the potential to blend masterful cigars, which he has down with the Maroon Label. Dressed in a rich, redolent, and oily broadleaf maduro wrapper from Honduras, this fine cigar utilizes a long-leaf mixture of aged, Nicaraguan-grown ligeros bound by a dark Nicaraguan leaf. The result is remarkable, a medium to full-bodied array of flavor, including leather, earth, and coffee delivered throughout the smooth, chewy core. A pleasant sweetness finishes each savory puff, completing an eventful and memorable smoke.

The wrapper is dark and uniform-and feels like a well-packed, solid stick. The stick took the flame well and burned like a champ. The flavor was a mild to medium maduro type flavor-not too complicated but very enjoyable. It lacked the pepper that so many maduros that I enjoy possess but I enjoyed the absence. The best thing about this stogie is the really pleasant and sweet aroma-I kept finding myself pausing and enjoying the fragrance.

These run around $3 apiece right now on CI-not sure what Eric paid. For that price, the cigar is a great deal, especially if you like thicker stogies like this. I'd rate it a 2 (which, on my 4 point scale is a good and enjoyable smoke). It almost edges its way into a 3-keeping it down would be the lack of flavor transitions and the the thick ring gauge, which I'm not always appreciative of-and the band. Damn it, I hate to be that way, but the Legends band is a big part of the "2" rating instead of the "3". The band is gawdawful and has no...character. I may buy a five pack, pull the bands, smoke another and rereview it to see if it slides into a 3!

I think that this cigar would be a good one to keep around-for my own enjoyment and also as a relatively affordable "hospitality" cigar to hand to an infrequent smoker-they'll enjoy the mild to medium flavors without having their butt kicked!

Damn good cigar, Bro. Thanks!

Oliva G Maduro Perfecto (5.5 x 54)

2009-09-20T17:41:00.003-05:00

Oliva G Maduro Perfecto (5.5 x 54)

It's a beautiful Fall afternoon/evening so I decided to light up this maduro beauty...before I get started, here is what Famous Cigars website says about this stick:

Oliva Serie G Maduro Perfecto cigars present an affordable, all box-pressed puro selection with a dark and oily Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. Each cigar is skillfully handmade with a blend of Nicaraguan Habano long-fillers and binders that are carefully selected to complement the robust flavor and sweet aroma of this specially-aged wrapper. The smoke is rich, earthy, and medium-to-full in body. If you're MAD for maduros, and want outstanding quality at a fair price, order a box now.

The stogie is on the budget side of Oliva's stable...runs around $5 apiece. It has a dark and alluring maduro wrapper and the prelight reaks of that "barnyard" odor that I associate with many (good) Nicaraguan cigars. The shape is unusual-kind of a boxed press lopsided torpedo...difficult to dscribe and a little awkward looking.

The stogie lights up nicely and gives up lots of yummy maduro flavor and smoke. No burn issues. No odd flavors. no negative issues of any kind.

The stogie is solid-though not a standout. For the price it's a good bargain, though. Everything is good but nothing is what I'd call exceptional.

I'd rate this stogie as a solid 2 on my 4 point scale. I'd smoke it anytime. Of the six or so I've had, they'd all had remarkable construction and consistancy. What's keeping them from greatness is the lack of transition to other flavor types. I plan on enjoying more of them, perhaps as a 2nd or 3rd cigar of the day or when I'm smoking with others (and afraid that an exceptional cigar would be wasted in the haze of "other guys' smoke"!)

Here's a bonus pic of some of our family enjoying Thane's birthday meal. Good times!

And here's another of our new cat!

La Flor Dominicana Factory Press II (6.25" x 64)

2009-09-12T20:17:00.004-05:00

La Flor Dominicana Factory Press II (6.25" x 64)

This is a special cigar...my brother Eric bought me two of these for my birthday about six months ago...additionally, it's a limited edition cigar by Litto Gomez (who I think creates some really great powerful cigars)...and it's...distinctive. The stogie is oily and dark and has a severe box press. Additionally one of the flat and wide sides seems wider than the other, reminding me of something from geometry class more than a cigar. The overall dark oiliness combined with the shape reminds me of a very high end chocolate bar...yummy! Lastly, this cigar is special to me for it's price-I think Rico paid $15 apiece for these babies (he got me two!). With this price, I'll probably never get any more, even if I could find any more.

A little background on these (courtesy of Rocky's Cigars):

The blend is exquisite and required years of planning and expertise by Litto. The Cuban-seed Corojo filler tobaccos from 1997, were selected from Litto’s private farm in the Dominican Republic. The binder, a dark, Dominican-grown Sumatra leaf, has been aging for 8 years. The wrapper dark and rich looking as any we've ever seen, is hand selected also from Litto’s farm.

I enjoyed this stogie on a short Family jaunt to Horsethief Canyon, a new lake that is being built in our area. I paired it with some Roastarie coffee (Ethiopian Harrar blend)-which complimented the cigar well.

The stick has a nice double-banded variant of the typical La Flor Dominicana band (always tasteful and attractive). The prelight smelled of mild tobacco-nothing special, really. Putting torch to the stick yielded hints of what I'd experience for the next two hours-a smooth chocolatey/cocoa treat with rich aroma.

Initially, I was a little worried because the flavor and strength seemed a little mild for a Litto Gomez stick. Then, I was distracted by the shape-it reminded me of a kazoo in my mouth. Later, as the stick opened up and the flavors and strength intensified, I started to realize I'd have to be careful or the thick bastard was going to cause me a jaw cramp! The overall flavor profile is very similar to the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Maduro) stogies that I've enjoyed and I view the Factory Press as kind of the "Deluxe Model" of the Double Ligeros.

A quarter in the cigar started throwing up some black pepper flavor and the flavors and strength intensified (which it continued to do for the whole cigar). The aroma did the same thing...by the end, my mild disappointment (that the flavor hadn't varied much) was replaced by awe at the smoothness of this stogie and the carefully delivered increase in flavor. This is the only cigar I can remember that produced one basic flavor profile and somehow gradually amped it up from almost mild all the way to full without any bitterness or negative elements...really cool. By the end of this cigar, I was glad I was driving because I'm certaint that standing would have made me light headed.

I'd rate this cigar a "4"-based on its appearance, its great aroma, its endurance, and its great construction. I think it would make a great special event cigar for those that like some strength in their maduros...and I'm saving its twin brother for just such a happy moment!

Thanks Rico!

Here I am finishing this bad boy up!

Padilla Lancero (7.8" x 42)

2009-09-07T16:28:00.003-05:00

Padilla Lancero (7.8" x 42)

I caught a deal on these stogies (1/2 price) and since I have enjoyed the Padilla 1932 and the 1968, I figured I'd take a chance on these 1948 lanceros (at around $3 each). I'm glad I did.

From Cigars International:

Lush and luxurious. Padilla 1948 combines a vintage blend of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan Corojo and Nicaraguan Criollo long-leaf tobaccos with a thick and buttery Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper to complete another high-end Padilla blend for you to savor. Like all of Ernesto Padilla’s fantastic blends this creation is meticuously hand-rolled using extreme quality control measures and comes layered with flavor. Expect a rush of spicy, woody undertones to awaken then palate, only to be soothed by a smooth bouquet of deep, earthy nuances. A tasty, medium to full-bodied morsel.

When I opened the box, I was very impressed-the lanceros were oily and striking, longer than many lanceros I've enjoyed. Yummy!

The lanceros have a nice even burn (which I've come to expect and appreciate from this form factor) and a rich and spicy flavor-occasionally throwing a strong earthy flavor up. One strange thing is the ash-it's a grey "dirty" color as opposed to the white/gray ash I normally see.

I smoked this one with a Boddington on the back porch of Mom and Dad's house after a full day of digging for salt crystals near Cherokee Oklahoma. See photos below for a taste of it but suffice it to say I was tired and windblown and the beer an stogie hit the spot!

I really enjoy this cigar-good plummage, good flavor, good constructions...but it's missing something that would propel it to greatness. I'd rate it a 3 on my 4 point scale and will probably buy another batch, if I see another good deal on them. I am hoping to age a handful of them in the hopes that a year or two will alow these guys to reach their full potential.

Here's Thane by the sign for the crystal digging area...

And here's Michelle and Anne-Marie digging for the dirty fragile little things...

...and here's what they look like after you clean them up just a little.

El Triunfador (lancero, 7.5" x 38)

2009-09-07T10:44:00.004-05:00

El Triunfador

It's Labor Day so I thought I'd break out a cigar I really enjoy to celebrate...the El Triunfador!

The El Triunfador is a limited edition Pete Johnson stick (maker of Tatuaje), blended by Don Pepin Garcia. It has Nicaraguan filler and binder and a Connicticut maduro wrapper). It was a limited edition stick and relatively difficult to obtain-retailed around $10 a stick. I bought these when I started my "lancero kick" and smoking it reminds me of why I rank the lancero as one of the best form factors...they can be damn fine cigars with really sharp flavors.

I picked a box of these up at a Pete Johnson event at the Outlaw in Kansas City about a year ago, hanging with my bro, his fiance, and my sweet wife.

At the time, I enjoyed the stick and have had about one of them a month since then...I've found them enjoyable...but now, I think the additional age has really brought them into their own. They remind me a lot of the Cubao, another dark DPG stick...and when these run out, I guess I'll have to pick up some of those to "get my fix".

The stick is dark, thin, and a little rustic looking-but still attractive. The band is an understated tiny brown oval with white text.

The first few puffs give up warm cocoa aromas and flavors...as the stick burns it adds a small amount of pepper and an appealing "nuttiness". The burn is perfect, as is the draw...and the plummage is full and pleasant. At times, I find myself really enjoying the underlying tobacco flavor, usually on the aftertaste.

I'd rate this stogie as a 4-it's a really great stogie, suitable for evening or morning smoking (medium to full on flavor and probably medium on potency). My only (tiny) complaint is that the stick seemed to burn a little faster than I like (about an hour long smoke).

Here's a bonus photo of Dad and Anne-Marie in Old Red, getting back from feeding the sheep!

Oliva Master Blends #3

2009-09-03T14:15:00.024-05:00

Well, although I don't expect my absence from the blog to have been noted, it's been a busy several months since my last review. Lots of wedding prep. I've still been smoking (even joined the The Kansas City Cigar Aficionado Club last month) but been too busy to write and post pix.

I picked this up in a trade or a gimme with my bro in July 2009. It had been aging in his humidor awhile before that. I paired it with a cup of KC Roasterie coffee, City of Fountains blend, with a splash of French Vanilla creamer.

This cigar had an intriguing appearance. Its rounded box press, with wide flat sides on the top and bottom, reminded me of a stubby tongue depressor. The band was intricate with lush green tropical imagery I took to be Central American tobacco plains, a gold leaf pattern on burnt brown and red, the Master Blend script logo, as well as a portrait belonging to (I believe) Fernando Oliva.

In addition to a strong start, it picked up steam and had a powerful, tasty finish.

The stats:

Appearance - 9 \ Very cool label and the form factor grew on me.

Burn - 10 \ Fantastic

Draw - 7 \ Fine.

Plumage - 8 \ Thick and satisfying with a creamy aroma.

Flavor - 9 \ I found this to be medium-heavy flavor, with a few moments pepper surprise.

Overall - 9 \ This was really a smooth and classy treat on all levels.

RT Scale (1-4) - 3 \ A really great smoke I'd enjoy picking up again somewhere along the way.

In personal news, I'm including a few random shots from our visit to St. Louis last weekend, where we visited the City Museum. It's really interactive and difficult to describe -- great for adults and especially kids. Imagine if someone had grown up loving jungle gyms and Goonies or Indiana Jones, was really artsy, and decided to make an interactive amusement park of mazes and stuff to climb through.

Short reviews: Punch Chateau L Double Maduro, La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero

2009-08-02T19:47:00.005-05:00

Been doing a lot of smokin' and not much reviewin'...here are a couple of stogies I had every intention of reviewing but never got around to doing.

Punch Chateau L Double Maduro (7.2" x 52)

A summer or two I discovered these long bad boys and thought I was in heaven-they seemed to suit me to a "T". I decided to break one out and see how they hold up to some of the other sticks I've been enjoying...

...And I found out that I liked them-though I don't love them anymore. You get a lot of smoke time with this stick and the flavor is great-a true maduro flavor with chocolate notes. The burn is perfect, the stick and band are attractive and the plumage is solid...but the bottom line is, I think my taste buds have changed a bit. I tend to prefer the sticks with more flavor and more "transitions"-I kept wanting this stogie to "do something". After I got over that and realized it wasn't, I still had an hour or more of smoking to do...and still enjoyed this guy. I'd give it a 3 on my 4 point scale now-it's a good stick, better than everyday, and premium in most ways that matter-but I won't be buying a box. There are just too many other sticks I'm enjoying more right now.

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero DL600 (5.1" x 52)

From Cigars International:

The latest from Lito Gomez and La Flor Dominicana.

Named for the strain of leaf called "ligero," which is a strong and peppery type of tobacco that gives many full-bodied cigars their oomph. As you might imagine from the name, La Flor Dominicana’s Ligero series is a strong, spicy and full-bodied smoke.

Double Ligero: Wrapped in a dark, Ecuadorian sun-grown leaf is a powerful blend of Dominican ligero fillers bound by a Dominican ligero binder. The result is a powerful, well-balanced smoked packed with a punch.

Was smoking this and watching 24, Season 7 with Michelle...and a thunderstorm rolled in and I had to bail on it 1/2 way. Damn shame, too. Michelle commented that it smelled "really good"-a rare thing for her to say about a stogie. The thing was peppery and charcoaly and really had some potentency...based on previous ones I've had, I know I missed out by having to flee the rain.

RTR Quickie Rating: 3 (out of 4): A really good stogie and one that I'll try again.

Cubao #1 (Churchill, 7 1/8" and 49 ring gauge)

2009-07-23T20:18:00.003-05:00

Cubao #1

It's a really nice July night so I decided to break out a Cubao #1 from the rustic box of them I bought last Summer...

Here is what Cigarbid has to say about them:

Cubao is a dark and oily number with simple, understated bands. Blended by Don Pepin Garcia, this Nicaraguan premium comes from the two-man team behind 601 Serie. The wrapper is an Ecuadorian-grown Sumatra Oscuro that’s thick and leathery. Beneath this leaf, a variety of vintage, Cuban-seed long-fillers from the black, volcanic soils of Nicaragua. Upon lighting, Cubao promotes a buttery-smooth bouquet that seems to cling to the palate, leaving behind bold traces of oak and leather. Medium in body, this is a fine cigar backed by luxurious aromas.

I enjoyed this stogie with a Guinness and watched some 24, Season 7 on the patio...good stuff!

I really like this cigar. Unlike many other long cigars, this thing starts up with real flavor the second the torch hits the tip. The burn was perfect and the plumage was full and aromatic. I'll keep it short: this cigar is one of my faves (4 of 4) and is a great cigar-consistent every time.

Here's Michelle playing with our new kitten, Blossom.

Here's a pic of my bro...visited us this last weekend and we burned a few stogies and kicked back some brews.

...and here's Thane, getting ready to enjoy another book outside!

Coronado "Hammer" (box press 6.5" x 47)

2009-07-19T10:34:00.003-05:00

Coronado "Hammer" (box press 6.5" x 47)

Wow. The Coronado (by La Flor Dominicana) is consistantly among my favorite cigars of all time. I think I've reviewed it before (in a different vitola) but it deserves some more attention so here goes.

This particular size is a Holt's exclusive. Here's what they have to say about the line:

Coronado is a boutique line of cigars handmade in the Dominican Republic by Litto Gomez. Orangish Nicaraguan wrappers accompany a fiery blend of aged Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. The flavor is robust and intoxicating. When you first fire up one of these bombshells your palate is immediately flooded with a cornucopia of flavors including dark chocolate, assorted peppers and fresh cinnamon. This cigar remains strong all the way down to the nub, yet retains remarkable balance throughout. Its no wonder the Double Corona was recently ranked #2 on Cigar Aficionado's "Top 25 Cigars of 2006."

I caught a sale and bought the "Hammers" for around $80 for 20 units. Though I prefer this cigar in the normal formats (which are thicker and possess more strength), this box pressed thin-boy was an incredible bargain at $4 a stick.

I enjoyed this cigar with some Costa Rican coffee from the Roasterie-a treat in and of itself. I took a chance on having this cigar this early but I had enjoyed a full breakfest so thought I'd try it. I'm glad I took the chance. It was the perfect beginning of a fun-filled Sunday.

I've smoked through that box (only have a handful left) and they are amazingly consistant-in all ways good. The wrappers have a bit of an orange/brown leather color and smell a little exotic. The first few puffs of this one imparted flavors of paprika or maybe curry or some other food spice. Oddly, this is the only stogie I've had that gives off these kinds of flavors and I really savor them. Later the cigar gave up chocolate notes, as well as flavors of brown sugar and some floral notes that I enjoyed but cannot describe. This stogie never disappoints and often takes me on a roller coast of flavor, all the while kicking up delicious aromas.

I have found that these cigars tend to do a little better at around 70 (I normally keep my stogies at 65 humidity)-they draw better and give up more of their flavors.

This is a solid "4" on my 4 point cigar rating scale: It is outstanding, among the best I've known. It does have a bit of strength that sometimes sneaks up (it is smooth but gets more potent as it goes!) so I don't recommend it for enjoyers of mild cigars. I like it so much that I'm even getting to the point where I like the band (a strange gold and reddish thing with a crowned tiger in the middle).

And here's my faithful companion enjoying her Sunday morning paper and giving me an enigmatic smile!

Cuesta-Rey Centenario (toro)

2009-07-19T10:20:00.002-05:00

Cuesta-Rey Centenario (toro, 6 x 50)

I picked this stogie up about a year ago in KC with my bro and my son Ryan at a little cigar store Rico found. It got to age a year or so primarily due to the fact that I associated it with a nice visit Rico and the fact that it is a Connecticut wrapped number-which generally don't "do" it for me. They tend to be a little bland and sometimes run bitter...

Here's the stogi...attractive enough with a nice band---really like these "classic" looking bands.

Here's a close up of the band.

I lit this sucker up in the early morning and immediately realized that I was in for more than I expected. The stick put off a goodly amount of aromatic smoke...and gave of flavors of nuts mixed with a buttery smoothness. As I got deeper into the stick, the "fullness" of the experience increased, moving the stick (by the end) closer to the medium end of flavor and potency. At this point the aroma really picked up too and I felt (like I rarely do when smoking these really light colored sticks) like I was smoking a "real cigar".

I enjoyed this stogie enough to look it up...and here is some historical info about the maker of the line, Newman. I grabbed from Walt at www.stogiereview.com:

In 1895, Julius Cesar Newman hand rolled his first 500 cigars for the family grocer in Cleveland, Ohio. One hundred and thirty years and four generations later, J.C. Newman Cigar Company is America’s oldest family-owned premium cigar maker. Headquartered in historic 1910 cigar factory in Tampa’s Ybor City district, the Newman Family is partnered in making and distributing many of the world’s finest cigars.

Summary: This smoke is a great morning smoke. It would also seem to be a good stick to have around to give buddies that don't smoke much-it shouldn't overpower them like many of the new brands. I rate this a solid 2 (on my 4 point scale), which means that it is a really good cigar. I'll probably buy another for another morning treat or to share with a friend but I don't see myself picking up a box ever.

Here's a shot of some of the 4th of July events we enjoyed at our house this year...

Lake Texoma Vacation Smokes

2009-07-04T13:55:00.005-05:00

Smokin' in at Lake Texoma!

I took the Family to Lake Texoma to meet up with Mom and Dad at their timeshare there...had a blast. Here are some quick reviews and highlights...for more pictures email me or hit Michelle's blog.

Here I am on the primary deck, enjoying a Illusione Holy Lancero...a Father's Day gift from Michelle. The smoke was great; this particular lancero is a little thicker than most and quite long; allowed me to enjoy the earthy flavors while hanging with Ry and Dad. Dad made some dirty martinis which added even more to the experience. I rate the Holy Lancero a solid 3, creeping into 4 territory-you should try this cigar, even if you are leery of lanceros.

Here's Ry smoking an Oliva V robusto. It's becoming his smoke of choice-in fact, I don't think I've seen him smoke anything else for months. While I prefer the figurado and the lancero in this blend, I can't image that his smoke was anything less than superb.

I enjoyed finishing this book and this smoke one morning...a Don Pepin Garcia White label JJ Lancero while there...another Father's Day present, this was one of the most relaxing and pleasant mornings I've had in a long, long time. Stogie rates a "3" with smoothness and construction being the best parts.

Here I am at one of the resort's pools...enjoing an El Rey del Mundo...it was a solid, earthy, Honduran smoke. It was a perfect cigar for this type of deal-a tasty number but cheap enough that, if I needed to jump in the pool and dunk my kids, I wouldn't regret it. I rate it a solid 2 and a great value. Its construction and consistancy are really impressive (I've sampled a box and never been disappointed).

Another morning I enjoyed starting this book (Dan Abnett rocks!). The stogie was a Perdomo Lot 21...a phenomenal breakfest smoke. I think that this one was the "maduro" version but the maduro was so light (in color and flavor) that it is hard to say. Regardless, it was a thick, buttery smoke that delivered pounds of smoke and satisfaction. I rate it a "2" and, along with the El Rey Del Mundo, I consider it one of the best of the "cheaper" cigars I enjoy. Unless you really are wanting a "power house" stogie, this guy satisfies...and is also a good one to give to non cigar smoking buddies who want to try a stick.

And this is what I enjoyed today, upon my triumphant return: an Oliva V Lancero. This is a fine smoke and a bargain. I really don't think you can go wrong with Oliva in general and the Oliva V is (to me) the best of their line up, especially when you consider the price. I rate it a 3, only because I know that the perfecto version is better, and it is easily a 4.

Oh yeah.

And here is the bonus shot of me leaping from the small waterfall at Sulpher Springs...when I realized how close our resort was to this infamous site, I knew I had to take the Family. I'd like to give a special "shout out" to Sethro Max, who introduced me to this fantastic ice cold swimming hole a few years ago (when he took us early in the morning when it was way too cold to be jumping into ice water!)...and I have to say, it's at least as fun to jump in when the temperature is over 100 outside.

Don Pepin Garcia Blue Magnate (7.63" x 49)

2009-06-16T21:10:00.004-05:00

Don Pepin Garcia Blue Magnate (7.63" x 49)

It's Don Pepin Garcia week, baby- and I'm living the good life!

Here's a close up of the label...I think it's the 1st or second label to adorn this particular stogie. I like it.

...and here's the cigar along with the tools I'm using to enjoy it...not pictured is the glass of Johnny Walker Red label I drank...good stuff for the good life!

And here I am enjoying this big guy.

Don Pepin Blue is the definitive Don Pepin cigar for me...it's kind of "middle of the road" for the blends he puts out under his own name (the Black is cheaper and spicier and the White is smoother and pricier). I think they run around $8 for one of this size but I bought them in volume and paid closer to $4.

The stogie looks reddish brown and the prelight is spicy and fully. The flavors are cinammon, peppers, with a little bit of sweetness. It doesn't change much in the flavor but the flavor that is there is top of the line. Unlike some other "Big stogies" this one doesn't take long to get serious and the flavor just lasts and lasts.

I shot boom clouds of smoke while enjoying "Crank" and this fine cigar outlasted the movie and my scotch. Sweet. On the downside, it did need some touching up but nothing too annoying.

The stogie is medium-full in flavor and medium in body and never gets bitter.

RTR Rating: 4. This is a great cigar and one of my favorites, up there with the Coronado. I've had a dozen and never been disappointed. Get one.

Earlier in the week I enjoyed this 601 Green Label (Oscuro) in the "Tronco" (5 x 52) format.

Quick review: I really like the 601's but not enough to buy more than a 5 pack here or there. The green label is probably my least favorite (though it gets a lot of good reviews). It's pretty potent.

This cigar has some mocha and pepper and is full bodied and pretty strong flavor too. I caught some black cherry tartness early on (no shit) as well as a lot of kind of chalky cocoa type flavors.

It reminds me at times of the La Joya Nicaragua Antonio but the 601 is not quite as dangerous.

RTR quick review: 3. It's a really good cigar-great construction, flavor, and appearance. The flavor just isn't my fave, keeping it as a really fine cigar but not among the best.

Here's Ry and Thane enjoying the "after party" of A.M.'s birthday...good stuff! Notice he's rocking the Clutch shirt...

...and here is A.M. opening some presents. She raked it in this year!

Oliva V (natural) Lancero & La Flor Dominicana Toro

2009-06-14T16:49:00.004-05:00

Oliva V (natural) Lancero & La Flor Dominicana Toro
...with guest reviewer the Almighty Scotty!

This week I was lucky enough to have my buddy Scott visit for an evening...of course, I made him consume large quantities of cigars and scotch...and we enjoyed kicking back and talking...managed to find some time to grill some steaks and share a beer or two also...great times.

Coronado, by La Flor

Here's the label from my Coronado (by La Flor {Dominicana}), a toro sized beast that I enjoyed over the weekend after my daughter's birthday party! This cigar has jumped into my top five list...there's nothing else I've run into with these kinds of flavors...paprika, cocoa, cinnamon, tobacco,...and some stuff I can't even identify. It's a power house though so make sure you have a full stomach. I did and it still left me sweating and a little wobbly...

I've had maybe ten of these since my last review and they've all been flawless. At around $8 apiece, they're not cheap but I'll gladly part with that kind of money for this kind of experience.

RTR rating: Solid 4: among the best I have ever had.

Oliva V Lancero (7" x 38 thin boy)

Here's Scott enjoying an Oliva V lancero that I gave him. He was a man of very few words but I did manage to get a little out of him:
***mmmmm...spicey. I like the flavor.
***tastes kinda like raisins. Yeah, raisins. That's cool.
***this thing is too light.
***this thing tastes good but does it come in something a little...bigger?

Variants of this repeated for the forty-five minutes or so that he enjoyed this stogie.

I am guessing that he reviewed it at a 2 (fully decent cigar) and that if he'd have had a thicker one he'd have given it a 3 or higher. I, of course, rate this cigar a solid 3 in this format, if not a 4.

And there's Scott right before he said "You're not going to put these pictures of me smoking this girly thing on the internet are, you?"

And here's a bonus picture...of Thane doing some amateur archeology out West with Michelle, Dana, and her boy Jackson. They paid some guy who does this sort of thing and they found some fossiles of several different types of fish which Thane was allowed to bring home with him. They had a great time!

Tatuaje Gran Cojonu (6 x 60)

2009-06-05T07:31:00.002-05:00

Tatuaje Gran Cojonu (6 x 60, by Pete Johnson and Don Pepin Garcia).

It's been a heckuva week-I've fixed so many computers and dealt with so many humans that I knew I needed something special...so when I got home and realized that the wind was low and the temperature nice...I grabbed something I knew I'd enjoy...

The Gran Cojonu!

I picked up a box of 12 of these dudes awhile back and really enjoy them. They are hefty sticks, 6 x 60 and feel solid. They have no bands to improve their appearance but they have a certain oily sheen and smell of pepper and rich tobacco.

I grabbed my Red Stripe, my son Thane, a dvd of Fear Factor t.v. episodes (with host Joe Rogan!), and we sat down for the most enjoyable night I've had in some time.

This stogie has an interesting foot-instead of open tobacco, the foot is closed with folded over wrapper. I like this a lot-lighting is very easy and I got a great burn.

Hey, man, I nubbed it! This stogie was fantastic. It had a peppery/cocoa flavor that was very full but not overpowering. It didn't change much but the flavor was so good and so consistant that I really didn't need it to. It burned for four episodes of Fear Factor and lasted through one Red Stripe, two glasses of water, and one restroom break. This baby was a trooper. The super thick ring gauge is not usually my thing but on this cigar it was awesome. The smoke was thick and aromatic and the burn was great too. I think I paid $10 for this stogie and I'd rate it a 4 on my four point scale. It's just a great cigar and, though it's too pricey for me to enjoy all the time, makes a great celebratory cigar when you've got time to enjoy it! Additionally, it's the best Tatuaje I've experienced, having none of the minor let downs that other Tatuajes seem to have, but still delivering that great flavor.

And here's my guest star! Thane and I watched Fear Factor...might try to see how many Rocky movies we can watch tonight!

Memorial Day Weekend Cigars

2009-05-25T08:55:00.004-05:00

It's been a whirlwind Memorial Day/Michelle's birthday Weekend and I've got some short cigar reviews mixed in with some photos of me and my crew enjoying the holiday!

I started the weekend off with this chunky 5 Vegas "Fifty Five", a thick, partially box pressed chub of a stick. Scott gave it to me and they've apparently been his "go to" stick for some time. The stick was a damn fine stick for the money ($3 pretty much all the time from Cigars International). Though not overly complex, it had tasted of pepper and tobacco and had a perfect burn and lots of plumage. For me, I'd smoke this again and would rate it a "2" on my four point scale. In fact, I smoked a Maxx by Alec Bradley later in the weekend (a cigar that costs at least double of what this 5 Vegas runs) and it was not nearly as good of a stick.

Here's Anne-Marie helping Michelle in the Garden early in the weekend!

Here's our littlest cave explorers in Alabaster Caverns. We had to fill them up with chicken and picnic fixin's before the big underground adventure!

Here's Ry with our surprise guest star, Grandpa!

Here's Grandpa at the top of the hill waving us on!

Here's Michelle and Thane enjoying the main cavern tour.

...And here's Thane and Ry doing some short exploration of one of the smaller caves nearby (this one is called the "Water Cave" I believe).

And here is how I celebrated the adventure's conclusion: a Coronado by La Flor, double corona (7 x 50). The Coronado is one of my favorite cigars and this was no disappointment. It had a perfect wrapper, draw, and plummage and gifted me with about two hours of solid peppery smoke. I tasted some cinnamon, spice (paprika?), and lots of tobacco and pepper and shot boom clouds of smoke in the air. I tried to nub it but all the caving activity and hot sun combined with the potent stick to make me light headed-I wussed out and let it go with about an inch and a half left.
This stick is a 4-is truly one of my favorites and was a great capstone to a great weekend of adventure!

Perdomo Habano (Maduro) Robusto 5 x 52

2009-05-17T13:26:00.004-05:00

Perdomo Habano (Maduro) Robusto 5 x 52

This stogie is dark and oily...and a big boy (52 ring gauge). It has a double wrapper (the foot wrapper had already slipped off so is not seen here), giving it a classy look that is incongruous with its cheap price (I got it for $2 on Cigar Bid in a sampler). It is composed of all Nicaraguan tobaccos from the three main growing regions of that country. It has been aging in my humidor for six months or so.

The band is ornate and a bit gaudy but I like it-it lists the three growing regions by name on the main band and has the Perdomo flowery symbol thing in the middle.

The stogie had that strong barnyard odor on the prelight. Though it was a stout smoke, it felt light in the hand, which made me think it might have been underfilled and have too loose a draw. However, this was not the case and it smoked like a champ.

It took the flame well and had a pleasant burn throughout. It didn't change much but the qualities it did have were pretty decent-a medium maduro flavor, with some coffee and pepper bits. The smoke was plentiful and dense. Rico would have really liked the plummage but I was glad I was smoking it outside because indoors or in a car it could have become a bit much.

Quick review: I rate this stogie a 2. It's a decent stogie and I would smoke it again anytime. Though it never achieves greatness, it is very solid. It seemed to have medium flavor and mild to medium body-the dense flavors were never offensive.

It would also make a great gift cigar to a buddy who was short a smoke (solid smoke + cheap price means everyone is happy!).

Here I am enjoying my Perdomo Habano in my new Clutch trucker hat!

Other News
I watched Gamers: Dorkness Rising, a movie recommended to me by Brad. It was pretty funny and got me excited about throwing some dice again. Too bad May and (now June!) are booked with work and Family stuff! Perhaps July will work out for me!

May Smokes

2009-05-14T09:21:00.002-05:00

No pictures this time...just a short list of smokes I've enjoyed this month so far.

Montecristo (white label): I was given this as a gift by a coworker and smoked it last Sunday morning...good stuff. I'd call it mild to medium. The burn was perfect and it paired well with my Costa Rican coffee. I'd rate it a "2" (pretty good)-it doesn't get any higher just because it's not quite as flavorful as I've been enjoying lately.

Alec Bradley Tempus Creo (Lancero): I picked this up at Wichita at the Cigar Chateau. It is an elegant, double banded stick (one band at the foot). Man, this is a really great smoke. I have enjoyed some Alec Bradleys before but this is truly a premium. I'd rate it a 3 or maybe 4...need to try another to decide. It's a full and flavorful experience that I'm sure is duplicated in the shorter, chubbier sticks of the line.

I'm in Wichita now, doing some web training. Tonight is the big Clutch concert and I'm sure Ry and I will find time for a small smoke before we hit the Big Event.

Tatuaje Especiales (7.5 x 38)

2009-05-07T16:11:00.003-05:00

Tatuaje Especiales (7.5 x 38)

It was a beautiful night last night...no wind, perfect temperature...so I grabbed a stogie I bought in KC at the Tatuaje event a few months ago when I was on my lancero kick.

I used my trusty Cuban Crafter cutter and my Blazer lighter/welding torch. I backed it up with some midrange scotch that wasn't too great.

Here's the lancero before I cut and lit it up!

And here are my tools.

This stogie was pretty damn fine. It had a great "tart" Pepinesque teste but not as much pepper as his often have. At several times I tasted (I am not shitting you) cinnamon rolls or something very similar. That's a first for me but I swear that's what it tasted like.

It's a potent cigar-it's strength started to hit me about 1/4 of the way in.

The plumage was solid and the taste really great. It needed a few touch ups but I left it alone for too long, I think, when I was called in for emergency tech support for the wife's internet class. I rate it a solid 3 on a 4 point scale-it's a great smoke and I really liked it but it's not one of the best.

Lancero Kick

Well...I went on a major lancero kick a month ago or so and I bought a box of El Triunfador (really good lanceros!). I also tried to sample as many lanceros as possible. I read all the articles about how good they were and how the flavor is better and I gave it a real try...

...and it is true. The flavors are much more distinguishable and interesting...however the downside is social stigma (when your amigos laugh at you while you smoke it hurts, friends, it just hurts!)...increased cost (in most cases) and the missing "boom". The thinness of the lanceros loses that depth and richness that the thicker ring gauges have (even though the thicker ones seem to muddle the flavors more).

I think I'll keep picking up the lanceros now and then but I don't think I can live on them alone.

No Review-just updates

2009-04-24T08:31:00.002-05:00

Man, it's been busy. Not that long ago, I dreaded the time period between Halloween and Christmas because it required nonstop planning, travel, and craziness. Now it seems like every week is like that. Yuck!

I still found time to enjoy several stogies this week...didn't do full blown reviews but I thought I'd mention them in case any of other "Stogie Homies" had encountered them. Plus someone complained that I was only reviewing Don Pepin Garcia smokes so here's some goodies for you bastards that don't share my passion for the "Don"'s work!

Blue label Graycliff: this stogie was nutty and mild to medium in strength. Flavors were medium. I picked this up as part of a sample about two years ago, where it has sit happily in my humidor, waiting for it's time to shine! It had several flavors going on and was "clean"-not much aftertaste. Still, it was too mild for me these deays. Graycliff is a pricey brand and I don't think I'll have another. If you like most Gurkha's you've had, I'll bet you'd like this .

Oliva O (natural): I had only experienced the Oliva maduros so this was a new thing for me. I got it in a free sampler six months ago. The cigar was rich and buttery...and noticably stronger than I expected it to be. I wouldn't smoke these all the time but I think it's a really good cigar-nothing truly outrageous but no faults either...a solid 2 for me (probably a 3 on my 4 point scale if you like medium cigars (I lean towards medium to full most of the time).

This weekend I hope to have a (Nestor) Miranda SS lancero...it's a beat up looking lancero that I got for a steal. If I hit the Outlaw in KC, I may seek out an Illusione Holy Lancero, a great stick that I'd like to review from Eric's Smoke Shack at his new house!

Padilla Series '68 Corojo

2009-04-24T02:21:00.006-05:00

Robusto, smoked on the porch after a good but long week. One of my finest cigars, and an early birthday present.

Appearance 9 \ very cool label, nice wrapper
Burn 9 \ one touch-up but that was in some wind. Largely self-correcting even under those conditions.
Draw 10 \ superb... perfect draw.
Plumage 8.5 \ solid and richly aromatic despite strong breezes.
Flavor 10 \ My second one of these, just as good as the first. Woody and rich flavor, but not sweet.
Overall 10
RT score 4

Here it is on top of my windblown yellow pad, where I was storyboarding for the Flash wedding site I'm working on for me and Kells.

Here you can see a bit of the serial number, the very cool band, and the rich and oily sheen of the corojo wrapper.

And here's me enjoying the bad boy!

Kudos on a terrific gift! Great way to kick off the weekend.

Padilla Signature 1932 (Toro)

2009-04-22T12:45:00.003-05:00

Padilla Signature 1932 (Toro 6 x 50)

Wow. Great cigar. It used to be made by Don Pepin Garcia (for Padilla) at Garcia's factory in Miami...now, I'm not so sure. I guess a year or so ago Garcia and Padilla parted ways so I'm unsure if Pepin is involved...if I had to guess, though, I'd say "yes" because it tastes like many of his other blends, only better.

It's won lots of awards, was smooth as butter, but still managed to keep my attention with strong and changing flavors. It's a great cigar folks.

Padilla made it to celebrate some special anniversary (those Latino cigar makers are ALWAYS honoring some special year). It has a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper and the filler and binder are Nicaraguan Criollo.

It stars off with some pepper (which comes and goes throughout the cigar) and has a very rich "Pepinesque" tartness...it has a certain sweetness to it as well. The cigar's wrapper is smooth and attractive and the burn line was perfect. The smoke is smooth but bold. It creates good plumage, has great odor. I really can't say much more about this stogie other than "outstanding".

They run around $13 online (for a single) which is a little high for me...but I caught a deal and paid closer to $5 a stick. Even for $13 it's a pretty decent smoke for a special occasion. At what I paid...it's a steal and I feel guilty with each delicious puff!

Here's the stogie 1/5 way in.

And here it is five minutes before I nubbed it.

This cigar is a solid 4-outstanding, super premium. I've had two of them and both performed flawlessly. Try one.

Cubao No. 1

2009-04-21T13:04:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, before the parents arrived for a little sojourn at our new house in KC, I enjoyed a Cubao while prepping a Flash class. It was a Cubao No. 1, and the sticker on the plastic wrapper noted the dimensions as 7 1/8 length by 49 ring gauge. I quite enjoyed it in the solace of the smoke shack, where I was protected from the blustery winds out here on the suburban plains of Olathe, KS.

The stats:

Appearance - 5 \ Intimidating length, plain band.
Burn - 9 \ fine -- especially considering the length
Draw - 7 \ no problems.
Plumage - 7.5 \ moderate plumage, with occasional clouds... solid tasty smell
Flavor - 8.5 \ solid and likable. A fairly heavy smoke, with the flavor getting richer as it progressed.
Overall - 8.5 \ Good stuff, if you have the time and atmosphere to enjoy it.
RT Scale (1-4) - 2.5 \ Just on the cusp of greatness. I'd never turn one of the babies away!

I have some pix, but may just have to add them later as time allows. Been crazy busy lately!

Pix Addendum… 4/24/09
Here are of few of me and the Cubao… As well some guest shots of Mom and Dad checking out some wedding locations.

Padron 6000 (Maduro)

2009-04-08T18:55:00.004-05:00

Padron 6000 Maduro

It's a beautiful Spring day...wind is tolerable, sun is out, and (of course) they're forecasting rain and low 40's tomorrow...so I figured I'd enjoy today while it lasts, and I broke out this Padron 6000 Maduro (torpedo). I've got the "baby" laptop rocking out some Pandora radio and it's time to smoke!

Michelle got me five of the maduros and five of the naturals for my birthday a year and a half ago. At the time, they were okay but I certainly expected a little more. I smoked one or so every couple of months and started to see big time improvement after six months or so. Since this is one of the last cigars of the batch (and my blog is starting to sound like a Don Pepin Garcia fanboy machine) I figured I'd let you all know how this stick is.

Here's the Pardon with my cutter choice-my Swiss Army knife /w cigar scissors. Good stuff.

Like all Padrons I've seen, the appearance is mixed. The band is minimal and understated and the cigar is kind of rough looking-I see veins and it just seems kind of rough and maybe a little dry. But the color is great-deep brown and very attractive. Prelight smells like barnyard (that smell that, I suppose, mixes horses, hay, and other such odors into a unique odor.

Upon light, the stogie gives up some deep nutty and chocolately/coffee type flavors-very rich and very deep with a lot of sweetness. It reminds me of the sensation I get when I bite into a chocolate cake that is "too rich" but I somehow manage to eat a few more bites...head spinning all the way.

I paired the stogie with a small glass of Macallan 10 Year scotch...this Macallan is one of those bottles I buy when I try to explore something different beyond my favorite, Laphroaig. It's decent and pairs well with the Padron-and at $40 a bottle, it's not too hard on the pocket book, as far as single malt scotches go.

The Padron is delicious. The age really helped the flavors "pop". At $5 or $6 a stogie, I think it's a pretty good deal, especially if you enjoy chocolate-richness and sweet maduros in general. It seemed to burn a little fast though so if you're a "rapid smoker" (You know who you are, Eric and Ry!) then you might pass this over.

The aroma and plummage on this cigar are first rate-great odor and volume. Very rich and leathery...

Overall, I'd rate this as a solid 3, maybe a 3.5 depending upon your tastes (on the new 4 point RTR scale). It's a premium cigar-perhaps not the best but real damn fine.

I'm stealing (and butchering) this quote but I think it's safe to say that "if you don't like this cigar, you don't like cigars".

RTR'S LIFE BONUS FEATURE
I really enjoyed the Watchmen movie. I had never read the graphic novel and found myself wondering about the various characters and such several times, days after watching it. Michelle bought me the graphic novel compilation and I immediately put away my Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 books to devour the Watchmen...

It's a great movie and a great novel-especially if you've enjoyed comic books (or fantasy role playing) like I have. It has some great characters and really challenged the genre (and me, as a reader). The characters of The Comedian, Ozymandias, Dr. Manhattan, and (especially) Rorschach really interest me. I think any of them would make great pc type characters/personalities...and the Watchmen really made an impact on me. If you haven't experienced it, I really suggest you do so.

I've also been really enjoying the Warhammer Omnibus books. They're big, they're violent, and they're pretty darn good. One in particular I think would appeal to just about any of the folks who might read this, Gotrek and Felix...which follows a very bad ass dwarf on a death mission and his human friend who has sworn to chronicle the Dwarf's "epic death". Reading it takes me back to some good D&D gaming...particularly those campaigns that had super cool dwarfs or bard like characters (I'm talking to you, Eric, Seth and Craig!).

My orange Fit is finally fixed, I've got a Clutch concert coming up, and a trip to KC for a little gaming... and the future looks bright!

Here's a guest shot of my swinging' wife and daughter, enjoying the nice evening weather!

Snow in Dodge City

2009-03-30T12:04:00.002-05:00

This weekend Ry and I managed to have a smoke...after we braved the Dodge City snowstorm of course!

We both enjoyed our stogies (sorry, no real review here!)...I had an El Triunfador (a long and elegant lancero stick). It was made by Don Pepin Garcia and Pete Johnson and it was full of maduro goodness! Ry said his Don Pepin Garcia JJ White Label maduro was also the bomb.

Here are some photos of us, the day after the storm...

Nub Habano 358 (by Oliva)

2009-03-22T19:38:00.003-05:00

Nub Habano 358 (by Oliva)

Here it is...a short review of a short smoke...my first Nub!

First off a preface: I hadn't gotten on the "Nub" kick-all the promotion that this line got kinda kicked my Spideysense into high gear...but when my son Ryan smoked a Cameroon Nub a month or two ago and really enjoyed it, I got curious. Then when a coworker gifted me this one, I started to get pretty excited. I figured I'd let it sit in the humidor for a few weeks and wait for the right time to spark it up.

When the weather turned warm and I had nothing to do over my Lunch hour, I grabbed it up.

The stogie has a nice band and I like the appearance. It's stubby and short (which is a little odd, especially since I've been hitting the lanceros lately) but the wrapper is oily and inviting. The prelight smell is "barnyard"-reminds me of the old horse barns I used to explore as a kid in Oklahoma.

The stick burned well and kicked out some serious flavor. I got some mocha and a lot of "spice", though I'm not sure exactly what the spice was in this case. The draw was great and the plummage was good too...I realized very quickly that I was in trouble because 1) this was a really enjoyable smoke and 2) It was NOT going to be through by the time I had to go back to work!

I got about half way through this spark plug before I had to bail. The flavor and burn were still right on track-really wish I could have stayed for the whole thing. I'll probably grab another or two to see how they go when I have more time.

601 Blue Label by EO

2009-03-19T21:04:00.005-05:00

601 Blue Label by EO (Robusto, 5.25 x 52)
blended by Don Pepin Garcia
(With special Kilted Irish guest star!)

Wow...what a day...I'm finishing up a really enjoyable fantasy/sci-fi book, enjoying beautiful sunny weather, and I have a great stogie and a brand new cigar accessory to try out! My sister and brother-in-law bought me that cool (pictured) cigar scissors from Cuban Crafters for my birthday and this is my first try at using it!

This short and stocky robusto cigar smells really good-kinda tart (cherries?) and spicey. It has a dark and oily wrapper (maduro) and is in a slight blox press-which I enjoy much more than the full box press. I don't think a cigar should really have "corners".

The cigar scissors performed flawlessly. It has three cool blades in kind of a circular array cut the stogie from all sides-very, very cool. Since Cuban Crafters made this (they also made the incredibly resilient double-g cutter Dad got me a few years back) I'm looking forward to enjoing this scissors for many years to come!

Upon initial lighting, the cigar delivered DPG pepper and some floral notes-very aromatic. In fact, I think that throughout this cigar I was enjoying the aroma as much as or more than the flavor.

Here I am enjoying this stogie...

As you can see, the burn on this bad boy was solid. The stogie had great construction, even in the SW Kansas wind.

The defining element of this smoke, I think, is its strength. After the first few puffs, I spent most of my time thinking "what the hell are these flavors I'm getting?"...there was this kind of "wall" of flavor" that kept pounding me after every puff but I couldn't make out any specifics. It does taste a little similar to some of the La Flor Dominican (Double Ligeros) I've had and I associate this strong but unspecific flavor rush to the ligero.

Overall, this stogie rates a 3 on my four point scale. It's a really good cigar-and would be great if I could have enjoyed some more specific flavors. I enjoyed it but I spent most of my time waiting for something to happen that never did. I don't think mild cigar smokers would enjoy it much though. It runs around $8 in cigar stores but in samplers (like I got it) it was closer to $4.

Here's my sweet wife, who came out to help me enjoy the 601 Blue.

And here, as promised, is the mighty Irish warrior Thane. I was discussing kilts with Michelle (I think the Reid men should all get them!) and Michelel remembered that she had a small one of her clan (the Lamont clan of Ireland). Thane was VERY excited and spent the evening kilted and ready to vanquish enemies!

CI Legends Yellow (by Don Pepin Garcia)

2009-02-24T11:28:00.002-06:00

CI Legends Yellow (by Don Pepin Garcia)

Here's a short review of this stogie...

It's way too damn fine a day to be inside shuffling paper and keeping a (small) digital empire alive...so I'm enjoying a stogie on the back porch. The sun is smiling and so am I!

I decided to bust out a CI Legend Yellow stogie...primarily because I've become disenchanted with the line(s). I figured "if it sucks or I have to leave early, I won't lose much).

This stick is 5.75" x 54 ring gauge-a fat sucker. The wrapper is rough-nothing fancy. The band is kinda...ugly as well. The burn is uneven and is started out with a strong but persistent pepper blast that obscured all other flavors (not in a good way). However, over time this bad boy mellowed out and mixed jalapeno peppers and a nutty flavor-pretty darn tasty!

When I first got these a year ago, I hit some major consistency problems. Some were too peppery to smoke (almost) and at least one was "sour". A year or so in the humidor evened this stick out though and for $3 (with some humi time) it's a pretty decent smoke.

I'm creating a new rating system that is simpler and possibly more useful. I decided that most cigars really either suck, are good, are very good, or are outstanding.

RTR's 4 Point Scale

1: Throw that shit away (Most of Puros Indios and Vega Talanga)

2: Decent "quickie/budget" Cigar that is okay but you wouldn't mind tossing if you had to. (Most of the CI Legends, Oliva Angel, Alec Bradley cheaper stuff, etc). These are fully doable cigars but not something that I'd go ape shit over.

3: Good Premium Cigars, especially if you can get it on sale (Most Don Pepin Garcia, Tatuaje, San Cristobal)

4: Really Great Cigars (Oliva V, Coronado, most of La Flor Dominicana, Padron 1964, Don Pepin Garcia JJ White Corojo). These are my favorite.

With that in mind, this CI Yellow is a 2-respectable and fully decent but not something you smoke if you just won the lottery.

Home Front Update
This month has been freakin' crazy. I went to KC three weeks out of the last four...and racked up some major road miles. Also had some D&D and another big game coming up in Anthony in March. We've been juggling lotsa work, family illnesses, and an everfull schedule. I've got a birthday coming up and this is the first year that I've thought "so this is what it feels like to get older"...Angie Reid always says "It's a great life if you don't weaken" and I think I understand that statement more every year.

Rock out, dudes and don't forget to get off your lazy asses and post some stogie reviews on this blog!

Bad to the Bone Special Edition 2007 (Don Pepin Garcia)

2009-02-17T19:47:00.003-06:00

Bad to the Bone Special Edition 2007 (Don Pepin Garcia)
6 x 50? Toro?

This stogie blew my mind last Summer at the Don Pepin Garcia party at the Outlaw. Does it still perform or was my brain foggy from good company, great stogies, free beer, and free bbq pork?

It's a perfect night...like February woke up and thought it was April...warm, no wind...truly a rare and delightful night for Southwest Kansas in Winter. Above is a photo of the stogie before I lit it up.

This stogie was created by Don Pepin Garcia for The Outlaw, a cigar store in Kansas City. As such, it's a limited edition and no longer made. Additinally, I believe it is a maduro and DPG doesn't make that many maduros so it's a minor novelty in that respect.

The prelight was...muted. Dull, in fact. The appearance was nice, though-dark and oily with what seemed like a thick wrapper. I paired the stick with a big bottle of Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale (one of the few brown ales I can tolerate) and lit that sucker up!

Here's a photo of the band. Nothing really that exciting.

Here's the stick after it's been lit for awhile, beside my beverage.

Here I am looking cooler than Hell, rocking this stick with my poncho.

The stogie doesn't have the pepper blast that I associate with DPG sticks but does have a nice maduro flavor and a very pronounced "twang" that is present in most DPG sticks. In this respect, I think it is pretty unique-it has more of that flavor than most of the other blends he has and I enjoy it. The construction was top notch and the odor is delightful-aromatic and full. The wrapper is "chewy"-thick and pliant. I found myself kind of chewing it a bit, which I rarely do-the tactile sensations were very pleasant.

Sadly, this stick is not as good as I remember it last Summer. That's doubly sad because I bought a box while I was there since I liked it so much! Each stick retails at around $9 and I doubt you can get them anywhere besides the Outlaw. On the other hand, it's a very good stick...so rating it is kind of a challenge.

RTR's Firing From the Hip Rating: 8.7.

If you like the DPG JJ (White Label) Maduro or the 601 Maduros (but prefer something with a little less kick), these cigars will suit you just fine.

Here's a pic of Michelle and I and Thane in KC a few weeks ago. We dined at an Italian place on the Plaza with Eric, Kellie, and Anne-Marie. Good times!

Sol Cubano Cabinet

2009-01-21T15:29:00.004-06:00

1/17/2009 on the Twilight Lounge, afternoon.

Enjoyed this trade from my bro. I found the Sol Cubano Cabinet robusto to be quite doable, despite the wind and the cold. And since it's been a few days since I smoked it, I don't really remember more to tell you. But hey, I'm still putting my ratings and scant notes down for your perusal.

The stats:

Appearance - 7 \ The stick itself has a plain and average look, but an intriguing band that more resembles a family crest than a cigar label.
Burn - 6 \ fine
Draw - 7 \ no problems.
Plumage - 6 \ fine
Flavor - 6 \ A little bitter bite but pleasurable. Consistent throughout.
Overall - 6.5 \

Double Maduros: DPG JJ White and Padron 1964

2009-01-20T18:19:00.002-06:00

This is a Maduro Double Feature! I'm doing short reviews of two great maduro smokes that I enjoyed this weekend!

First, the Don Pepin Garcia JJ (White label) Maduro

I enjoyed this in my favorite Mexican bar here in Dodge. I was chatting with my bro, who was also smoking this sucka.

The JJ was a good looking smoke with an attractive band. The smoke was a lot of "charcoal"...and it became stronger as I smoked my way through it...I didn't get as much cocoa or coffee taste that I often get/got on maduros like this...also didn't seem to have the pepper that I expect from Don Pepin. The burn was good and the smoke was good, though I'm betting that the bar's ventilation system kept me from smoking up the whole damn place.

RTR Quickie summary: Good cigar...Might be priced a little high. I think that I enjoyed the JJ Corojo more and it costs a little less. Construction and aroma were very good.

Quickie rating: 9.0

The next cigar is a long thin sucka that I bought in Denver almost two years ago, at cool cigar place...I was pressured into it by the "too cool" sales guy who implied that I wasn't a real cigar smoker if I'd never had one of these dudes. Somewhat rustic looking, I wondered if I'd been taken when I paid $20 for the Padron Anniversary 1964 maduro...

Well, I did...in the respect that cigars cost too damn much in Denver. But I broke this stogie from the humidor and gave it a test drive because many, many cigar smokers have rated this cigar at the top of their list. It's almost always in some kind of a top 10 list and I've seen it rated #1 in the world at least once...so I figured I'd better test it out and see if it would be "acceptable" for my Bro's upcoming Bachelor Party

I was looking for a stogie that would be "mild" enough that new smokers might enjoy it but still flavorful and strong enough that experienced smokers would appreciate it...and the Padron 1964 Maduro met all of my expeditions.

I read that it is a nicaraguan puro and that all the tobacco comes from the Padron farms-call me a romantic but I like it when the tobacco is actually grown by the family who is producing it. Keep it in the Family, that's what I always say...

It looked a little rustic and wrinkled-not much of an appearance. It smelled of "barnyard"...which has often been a good sign for me in the past on Padron cigars. It had a delicious aroma, flavors of cocoa, coffee, nuts...it had a perfect burn and great plumage, both copius and pleasant smelling. It was smooth, rich, and packed a little punch at the end...

Quick Review: 9.7. This is a great stogie. I had read a "professional" review once that said something like "if you don't like this cigar, you don't like cigars". After I finished it, I ordered a box for the upcoming event.

Baccarat candela robusto

2009-01-20T10:07:00.015-06:00

I actually enjoyed this stogie on Sunday, 1/18/2009, 15:30 on the Twilight Lounge... Here's the review.
I toked this Baccarat candela robusto on my porch. I enjoyed it with some Jim Beam Rye (rough stuff, but the price is right!). To give it that edge of class, I populated it with some of my new Scotch Rocks -- freezer-conditioned rock cubes. This stogie was a gift from my nephew Young Master Ry, on one of his trips up to KC. I chose this stick because it's been a long time since I've had a green-wrappered (candela) stogie.

The stats:

Appearance - 8 \ Cool green wrapper that intrigued me despite the rough-skinned look. Plus it has an interesting label, including the Italian phrase "Dolce far Niente" which translates as "Sweet doing nothing", or chillin' out. Also the mysterious note "The Game" on the lesser side of the band. As I told Ry, I hoped this wasn't like the movie with Michael Douglas where the guy's gift has him suddenly becoming enmeshed in a game apparently designed to kill him. I'm hoping it was just homage to the poker cards on the label.
Burn - 3 \ After the first fourth of the cigar, I ashed and discovered a weird tunneling burn issue. I worked at fixing it with touch-ups and controlled smoking. For the most part this worked out, but once in awhile it would pop up again.
Draw - 6 \ Fine.
Plumage - 5 \ Nothing special but doable.
Flavor - 6.5 \ Very interesting. Minor biting herbal taste. Cool novelty. Not too sweet, which I'd worried about from the initial sugary flavor of the wrapper when I first mouthed it.
Overall - 6.5 \ I enjoyed this as a novelty but especially with that weird burn issue, I probably wouldn't seek this out to keep a lot on hand. Fun smoke, though.

Above and below, check out the details of the label.
Here's the cigar and my scotch rocks in play.

Now, witness the burn issue from different angles.

Father Son Reid Oeste Don Pepin Double-Slam

2009-01-19T20:38:00.005-06:00

It's a new year...and this is the first of several new formats I'm introducing to boost intest...there's a lot of competition in the "cigar blog" arena and if we're ever going to hit the big time (and score free samples from the Big Boys) we all have to step up a little!

So here we go...a Father Son Reid Oeste Don Pepin Garcia Double-Slam!

That's right-Father and Son both smoke and review at the SAME TIME!

Here's Ry's new cigar tools (courtesy of Holly's parents)-one of them is particularly cool to me-it has two different punches and a single blade guillotine in one unit. Neato.

Here's Holly and Thane-who came out to join us for this mind-numbingly cool review!

Here's Ry trying to be cool.

Here's Ry and I smoking our stogies.

Oh yeah. There was supposed to be a review...here goes...

Both cigars were very good. Both were fron Don Pepin Garcia's personal label...both were Nicaraguan puros...

Ry (Vegas Cubana Generoso)
"Don Pepin really knows how to bring on the pepper."
"This is good-not sure what the tastes are but there is more than just pepper here."
"I think I taste cedar here or pine".

Ry felt like his draw was a little tight. Thane, Holly, and Michelle all enjoyed the aroma of this cigar.
Ry rates it an 8 saying "I might give it higher if I could have smoked it indoors".

RTR (Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label (7.5" x 49 rg)
My draw was a little loose on this long boy but it's a great smoke-every time. It starts with some pepper and then I got lots of cinnamon. Great aroma, great Don Pepin "twang". I don't normally go for the "long somebitch" cigars but it was a great day and I have yet to regret lighting up a DPG Blue Label. Lots of flavor and medium to medium/full strength...was a little dizzy after I finished this two hour smoke!

RTR quick rating: 9.4---it's a great smoke.

Don Pepin Garcia, series JJ Maduro

2009-01-19T17:27:00.008-06:00

I enjoyed this bad boy in Greg Bennett, my 2003 Alero, while catching up with my bro on the phone. I had to roll down both windows due the immense amounts of smoke it produced -- and I usually embrace that sort of thing.

The stats:

Appearance - 9 \ Classy look and red, gold and cream label.
Burn - 8 \ Gave it a minor touch-up a couple times towards the end, nothing major.
Draw - 9 \ No problems.
Plumage - 10 \ Unbelievable amounts of smoke. That sort of thing really makes me feel like I am smoking a great cigar. A few times halfway through, I thought the smoke might have smelled a little twangier than desired, but the copious amounts of it just overpowered any such concerns.
Flavor - 8.5 \ Really enjoyed this cigar. It was potent the whole way through. It started with a heavy coal taste that actually left a heaviness in the back of my throat. Halfway through it seemed to include (more aromatically than in flavor) a bit of a twangy cheese. Weird, I know, but there you have it.
Overall - 8.5 \ I quite enjoyed this smoke -- and I'm sure it helped that it was the first one I've had in awhile experienced in a halfway enclosed environment, but I think it was a solid stogie to begin with.

In the grand scheme of things, I might not seek this baby out at the prices it runs for -- but I definitely enjoyed it and wouldn't turn one down.

Joya de Nicaragua Antano

2009-01-15T12:21:00.003-06:00

Joya de Nicaragua Antano (not sure on size-thin and short)

This is a short review for a short cigar. Strong. Very strong. I can't identify any specific flavors-not one. Instead, this cigar delivered a full on attack on taste buds (and, I think, my body). This cigar reminds me of when Ryan and I were looking for the hottest hot sauces...and we ran across Dave's Insanity sauce...and decided that sometimes, the hottest is NOT the best.

Rating: very difficult to rate. I couldn't smell the smoke after the first few blasts to my sinuses...and the flavor was impossible to rate as well. The construction was good...and I can see myself eventually liking this cigar if smoked it regularly for a few days or weeks. However, I'm certain that all other cigars would taste like cardboard and my poor taste buds might never recover!

This stands in stark contrast to the Don Pepin Garcia JJ Rosado (White Label) that I had last night...the JJ had some power but it also had some nuance-in it I could recognize at least three different flavors (jalapenio pepper, mocha, and coffee)...whereas this damn La Joya was a donkey punch to the face.

I'll probably buy another (a big one!) to try to get Seth to smoke and roll through his nose...but I'm staying clear of these dudes for me!

Oliva Master Blends III Double Robusto

2009-01-12T08:19:00.002-06:00

Oliva Master Blends III Double Robusto

Shoulda been a perfect smoke...warm Sunday afternoon in January, great cigar...nice cold Boddington beer...but I started the smoke riled up and pissed off (why, I don't even remember)...I remember thinking when I lit up "Should I even try to relax and enjoy this cigar? Will this bad boy temper my foul spirits or will my bad mood ruin the stogie"?

Turns out that the stogie conquered...and really improved my mood and day. However, I am certain that I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been upset when I started.

The stogie has a very colorful band-looks like a picture of a tobacco farm with lots of color. You can't tell from looking at it, but it is sort of an "almost box press", squished a little from the top in order to make the stogie "thinner" on the vertical axis and thicker on the horizontal. I really like this type of press-makes the cigar feel heartier.

From the Oliva website, it says that the binder and filler are Nicaraguan and that the wrapper is Conn Broadleaf. It also says that it is super fancy, super sexy, and that only cool guys should smoke it (or at least that's the way I read their marketing).

The prelight aroma on this stick is good-smells like a maduro. Upon lighting, the draw was perfect and the smell was very aromatic. Plumage was solid (though nothing compared to the Alcazar Ry was smoking-he was shooting smoke out faster than Anne-Marie can belt out the words to "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" which is saying something.

There's Ry, enjoying his Alcazar before work.

Here I am, enjoying the Master Blend III while experimenting with a new form of mustache. Yeah...I shaved it this morning!

As for the stogie...this is a really good stogie. Constructions, plummage, aroma, and flavor are all top knotch. The flavor was a rich maduro with some hazelnut nuances. I kept remarking to myself how rich and buttery it was. The "wide press" effect is really nice and I wish more stogies were like this (wider horizontally and thinner vertically). The only complaints I'd offer is that it is pricey ($12 at one store in KC where I saw it) and that the stogie doesn't change much. I found myself kinda hoping for a transition during this cigar and I didn't experience it-what you get it very good but it stays the same throughout the smoke.

RTR Quick Review: 9.3