CAO Italia Largo
Size – 6.5 x 50
Age – About 1 year
Cost – $6
Wrapper – Habano (Honduras)
Construction – A nice looking, mostly symmetrical cigar with slightly pronounced veins from a good rest in the humidor. The wrapper had a small crack and flake of wrapper missing at the foot but the cigar withstood a punch cut and held together nicely.
Burn – Mostly even with one touchup needed. I did note that this cigar liked to be puffed a little more frequently than most; it would probably have gone out if I stuck to the usual draw every 1-2 minutes.
Ash – Ash was very light grey, nearly white. It held for 3/4″ at a time.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was somewhat loose and a fair amount of smoke was produced with each puff. Very little smoke came off the foot while it was resting in the tray.
Flavor - The initial flavor profile was somewhat sweet (not from a sugared cap, thankfully) with some coffee notes and a very slight spicy tingle. The one thing that stood out from the start of this stick was a really nice smooth spice and mocha aroma; this is a great aromatic stogie. The second half of the Italia brought a little more toasty tobacco and woody flavors and the sweetness diminished. Coffee and espresso flavors persisted but were not dominant, with all of these tastes and the great aroma blending into an interesting and complex smoke.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 9/10
Value – 7/10
Drink – Grapefruit soda
Notes – I received this cigar from a friend and did not know the vitola. It was 6.5″ long which should make it the Largo, but the Largo is usually sold tubed, and I received this one “naked”. Nevertheless it was properly cared for and should represent the brand well. I’m not sure exactly what part the Italian tobacco played in this cigar, but the blend is solid and it has earned a well deserved slot in the “just over value price” section of my humidor.
Reviews
50 Ring, 9/10, CAO, Cigar Review, Habano, Med/Full
Padron #2000 Natural
Size – 5 x 50
Age – 1 Month
Cost – $3.50
Wrapper – Natural (Nicaragua)
Construction – Very well constructed with a slightly rustic appearance and good symmetry.
Burn – Slow and completely even; a very well behaved cigar.
Ash – Mottled and slightly loose, held for 3/4″ at a time.
Draw & Smoke – Draw felt slightly loose but after lighting it paired up perfectly with the sizable volume of smoke produced on each puff.
Flavor – Rich earthy and spicy flavors emerge from the light. The peppery spice only persisted through the first third, as the cigar mellowed in taste somewhat. The earthy flavor remained through the whole cigar and a sweet tobacco finish emerged after the first third. Aroma was a nice tobacco smell with a spice and sweetness.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 8/10
Value – 8/10
Drink – I smoked this with a tall mug of hot “Constant Comment”, which is spiced orange pekoe tea. A nice pairing.
Notes -The Padron #2000 is one of many Padrons, this one being the more value-oriented offering. This Nicaraguan puro is a great value and could easily be my goto cigar if I ever ran out of new stuff to try 
Definitely a recommended smoke for the money.
Reviews
50 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Medium, Natural, Padron
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure
Size – 5.25 x 50
Age – 2 Months
Cost – $4.50
Wrapper – Connecticut
Construction – An exceptionally well constructed cigar with great symmetry and cap, and just a few more veins than I would expect from a Connecticut shade wrapper. (9/10)
Burn – Slow and almost dead even (9/10)
Ash – Very light grey mottled with some charcoal colored ash. Firm and compact.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was a little bit snug on this cigar but each puff resulted in a nice volume of smoke.
Flavor - This cigar is a bit of a surprise, because lurking under the pretty Connecticut wrapper is actually a nice hearty blend of tobacco from 3 countries – Honduras, DR and Nicaragua. The Excalibur started with a silky smooth woody flavor and a clean finish, which progressed into the second third with a heavier sweet and woody flavor but almost no spice or pepper. About halfway through, I began to pick up just the slightest nutty flavor of cashew. The aroma was very nice, somewhat sweet and light.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 9/10
Value – 8/10
Drink – This was a daytime cigar so I enjoyed it with a Pepsi.
Notes – It was a little difficult to get the full story on this cigar as it’s not even mentioned on General Cigar’s website – the label does indicate it is a limited edition. I found it to be a really good blend of light and crisp flavors from the Connecticut wrapper and binder, mixed with the more assertive and full bodied filler. This is a real treat of a cigar that can be found at a good price. There is a maduro version of the Excalibur which I think would be a bit less interesting but still tasty. I’ll be picking a few of the maduros up when I see them.
Reviews
50 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Connecticut, Hoyo de Monterrey, Medium
Oliva Serie “O” Robusto
Size – 5 x 50
Age – 2 months
Cost – $4
Wrapper – Natural (Nicaragua)
Construction – Excellent construction with a flawless wrapper and excellent symmetry (10/10)
Burn – Did not want to stay lit in the first half, requiring three relights. Burn was even and slow. (6/10)
Ash – Mottled grey ash that was compact and firm.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was a bit snug on this cigar. I will probably clip the next one instead of punching. The amount of smoke was average.
Flavor – The initial flavors were subtle, with some wood and lightly sweet tobacco. After the first third, richer cedar and black pepper flavors developed. The entire cigar was punctuated with a crisp and pleasant finish. Room aroma was nice with sweet tobacco and slight coffee smells.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 8/10
Value – 7/10
Drink – Meyers dark rum
Notes – This is really a 9/10 review but I had to knock at least one point for the diffuculty I had keeping the cigar lit in the first third. The Serie O is outclassed by the delicious Serie V but remains a solid buy for anyone looking to add a tasty and rich med/full habano to their humidor.
Reviews
50 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Habano, Med/Full, Oliva
Fonseca 5-50
Size – 5 x 50
Age – 2 months
Cost – $3-4 online
Wrapper – Natural (Ecuador)
Construction – A very well constructed cigar with great symmetry and a pretty, vein-free wrapper. (9/10)
Burn – Even with no touchups required. (9/10)
Ash – Very light grey; compact with a bit of flowering.
Draw & Smoke – Tight draw took a little bit of effort per puff. The amount of smoke was medium.
Flavor – The 5-50 started off immediately with a note of peanut that pleasantly blended with the predominant flavors of sweet tobacco and some leather. The mouth feel was smooth but slightly dry. The finish was somewhat dry with flavors of paper and wheat. Aroma was an excellent sweet and light tobacco smell. Very tasty and smooth from start to finish.
Strength – Mild/Med
Rating – 8/10
Value – 8/10
Drink – Water
Notes – This was a late afternoon cigar that I just grabbed out of my desktop humidor and didn’t expect to review (hence the stock image). As soon as I got a hit of that smooth and tasty smoke, though, I headed back inside to grab my notebook. This is a surprisingly satisfying stogie with excellent construction and burn, creamy flavor, and a fantastic aroma. The experience (if not the exact flavors) reminded me of the Gispert natural which is one of my favorite mild cigars. The price is right and I plan to have a few of these in the humidor from here on out.
Reviews
50 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Fonseca, Mild/Med, Robusto
Victor Sinclair Vintage Select Toro
Size – 6 x 50 boxpress
Age - Around 2 months
Cost – $2 – 2.50 online
Wrapper – Maduro (Brazil)
Construction – A nice wrapper marred by a couple of small spots. Sharp boxpressed shape with fair symmetry except for an uneven cap. The bands are unattractive with an awkward font and spacing in the text, and were put on poorly. (5/10)
Burn – Other than an early lopsided burn caused by a vein the wrapper, burn was even and slow. (7/10)
Ash – The ash was medium grey and held for about 3/4″ at a time with an unruly flowering that left bits of ash on my lap and the floor.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was looser than I expected from such a sharp boxpress. It was just right and resulted in a medium volume of smoke.
Flavor – The Vintage Select is a cigar with a smooth and mild flavor. While no distinct flavors “popped” from this smoke, it has a nice earthiness and was complimented by the common maduro smells of sweet tobacco, chocolate and a bit of raisin. On a few puffs I did note a very slightly sour flavor up front but the finish was smooth (if a bit short) throughout the cigar.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 7/10
Value – 8/10
Drink - English black tea
Notes - I believe this is currently an exclusive to Cigars International, or maybe a line that just the largest online stores carry. It’s not even mentioned on the Victor Sinclair website. This is a solid value cigar with ok construction, great aroma and a mellow flavor profile. Take off the tacky gold bands and ribbon and enjoy this $2 maduro.
Reviews
50 Ring, 7/10, Cigar Review, Maduro, Toro, Victor Sinclair
Victor Sinclair Primeros Toro
Size – 6 x 50
Age - 2 months
Cost – $2 online
Wrapper – Connecticut (Ecuador)
Construction – This is a very well constructed cigar with a nice firm springy feel, a pretty connecticut wrapper with very few veins and a well made cap. The label and matching ribbon on the foot are nice. (8/10)
Burn – Burn was even and slow. (9/10)
Ash – Ash was very light grey but loose and a bit flaky. Ash held for 3/4-1″ at a time.
Draw & Smoke - The draw was slightly firm and produced a medium volume of smoke per puff.
Flavor – I’m not sure if it’s a limitation of my still-developing palate or just a characteristic of mild cigars but I have a difficult time identifying individual flavors in some mild-med sticks, especially those with connecticut wrappers. This cigar has a pleasant flavor with a woody and creamy taste and a buttery mouth feel. The mouth feel does become a bit heavy and I found myself drinking more of my beverage than I would with most other cigars. The aroma was nice with a bit of sweetness and a smooth tobacco smell.
Strength – Mild/Med
Rating - 7/10
Value - 7/10
Drink - Hot English blend tea. Would go well with iced tea as well. For an alcoholic drink I’d pair this with a gin and tonic.
Notes - One of my pet peeves is cigar ash that is not compact and winds up flaking off bits of ash all over the place, particularly on my laptop. I nearly knocked this smoke down another point due to the unruly ashes in the first half, but it’s really a pretty nice value cigar and one that you can share with your newbie friends. Once the weather warms up I can see myself on the porch with this cigar, a cold drink and a book.
Reviews
50 Ring, 7/10, Cigar Review, Connecticut, Mild/Med, Toro, Victor Sinclair
Perdomo Lot 23 Churchill
Size – 7 x 50
Age - 2 months
Cost – $4-5 online
Wrapper – Natural (Nicaragua)
Construction – The wrapper on the Lot 23 that I chose for review had some problems. It had some noticeable veins; there were several cracks by the foot and two small tears along the body. The head cracked when I used the punch on it, but it held together. Symmetry was good. (4/10)
Burn – Burn was not straight but needed no touchups or relights. (6/10)
Ash – Ash was light grey and mostly compact, but a nice messy 3/4″ ash fell early and landed on my laptop.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was solid but not difficult and yielded a good amount of smoke per draw.
Flavor – This cigar started out fairly unremarkable, with some woody flavor and a bit of spice and pepper on the finish. The flavors intensified in the second third and the pepper became balanced with a pleasant creaminess. Room aroma was very nice with a sweet and earthy smell. The final third produced even more body moving towards the full range, and more peppery flavor on the back of the palate.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 5/10
Value – 5/10
Drink - I had two beverages accompanying this cigar. First, a Cabernet Sauvignon, which I did not like the pairing very much; I felt like the tannins in the wine and all the pepper from the cigar were just killing my palate. So I moved to a good ‘ol Pepsi Cola which actually paired up nicely with the second half stick.
Notes - I was looking forward to trying the Lot 23 since it has an interesting origin – all the tobacco in the cigar comes from the same small farm near the Perdomo factory in Nicaragua. Unfortunately, due to significant consruction issues and somewhat one-dimensional flavor, I rated this pretty low. This cigar will definitely be re-visited after the rest have a long nap in the coolidor.
Reviews
5/10, 50 Ring, Churchill, Cigar Review, Med/Full, Natural, Perdomo
Cu*Avana Maduro Robusto
Size – 5 x 50
Age - 1 month
Cost – $2 online
Wrapper – Connecticut maduro
Construction – This cigar is well constructed with a nice looking, toothy maduro wrapper and just a couple of visible veins. Symmetry is good and there we no issues with the cap when punching it. (8/10)
Burn – The burn on some of the other cigars I have had from this box was not that great. I believe the box may have been very dry when I received it. After 4-5 weeks in the coolidor, this cigar burned evenly and had no issues. (8/10)
Ash – Light grey, almost white. Firm and grabby with no flowering. Held2.5″
Draw & Smoke – The draw was tight and bordered on being a bit too much effort. I might clip this cigar instead of punching it next time. I would have liked to have seen more smoke in each puff.
Flavor - A mellow blend of flavors including some coffee, very small amount of black pepper and a smooth creamy palate feel. The room aroma is that nice sweet tobacco smell you expect from a maduro.
Strength – Mild/Med
Rating – 7/10
Value – 9/10
Drink - Hot earl grey with cream and sugar. Good pairing but nothing to write home about.
Notes - The Cu*Avana maduro is a mild, tasty maduro that could compliment your morning coffee or accompany a nice afternoon break. It is a well constructed smoke that you can pick up for as little as $1 apiece at cigar auction sites. This is a great everyday maduro that you can feel free to enjoy without having a 3 course meal first. A solid addition to any humidor.
Reviews
50 Ring, 7/10, Cigar Review, Cu*Avana, Maduro, Mild/Med, Robusto
Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo Toro
Size – 6 x 50
Age - About 1 month
Cost – $2.25 online
Wrapper – Corojo (Dominican Republic)
Construction – Construction was fair with no wrapper tears or holes. There was a significant vein in the wrapper leaf. (5/10)
Burn – The first third was uneven but it leveled up and burned reasonably well for the rest of the cigar.
Ash – Dark grey and held for 1″ at a time. There was some flowering and bits of ash falling from the medium-to-loose ash.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was firm but not difficult and produced a moderate amount of smoke per puff.
Flavor – This cigar is named because the filler, binder and wrapper are all corojo leaves. This results in a powerful spicy and earthy flavor that is fairly well balanced by some creaminess and a bit of sweet spice in the finish. Prelight moistening gives a tingly zap to your lips and you know you’re in for a pretty full-bodied smoke. The red pepper zing hangs on the back of your palate throughout the smoke and I found it to be just a bit annoying by the end. Overall this is a rich, flavorful cigar with a nice room aroma but not a lot of complexity in flavor.
Strength – Full
Rating – 7/10
Value – 8/10
Drink - Hot herbal tea – a nice refresher between puffs of this cigar.
Notes - I’m a big fan of corojo wrappers but I didn’t think a cigar made entirely from corojo tobacco would be a nice experience. However, I found the VS Triple Corojo to be a solid value with some nice bold flavors and a great room aroma. Anyone looking for a new and interesting corojo (and willing to accept a few burn and construction inadequacies) can do a lot worse than the $2-3 the Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo will cost.
Reviews
50 Ring, 7/10, Corojo, Full, Toro, Victor Sinclair