Capoeira (torpedo, 6.5" x 52)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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!)