Romeo y Julieta 1875 Love Story
Size – 4.5 x 46 (Perfecto)
Age – 3 months
Cost – $5
Wrapper – Natural (Indonesia)
Construction – A nice lookinig, symmetrical cigar in an interesting shape. The cigar was slightly uneven in feel, having a few firm spots. The wrapper also cracked in one spot as I was squeezing the cigar.
Burn – With other love story vitolas I have had no problems getting the stick going thanks to the nipple end. I had the opposite experience with the RyJ 1875; it was quite difficult to light but once it hit the wider part of the perfecto, burn was much improved – even and slow.
Ash – Very light grey, almost white. Compact and held snug in 3/4″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was very tight until the burn reached the widest part of the cigar. After that it was smooth sailing with a nice easy but not loose draw, producing a moderate amount of smoke per puff.
Flavor – The prelight flavors of earthy tobacco and grass led into a very smooth, mild blend of flavors after the light – a creamy blend of earth, wood and tobacco with just a bit of sweetness. The gentle flavor profile hides a surprising medium body; I was expecting a very mild cigar which this is not. The second half of the cigar had similar flavors, but a bit more intensity and some tingling spice. It also picked up a touch more sweetness on the finish.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 7/10
Value – 6/10
Drink – Ice water
Notes – Romeo y Julieta are a very well known brand in the cigar world and are probably the daily cigar of many many aficionados. For a younger and relatively new cigar smoker like me, they are often overlooked for blends by “superstars” like Pepin and Patel. I’m glad to have received the 1875 in a sampler because it is a pretty good smoke, but it had a few construction problems and more importantly it shares a price point (and vitola) with the much better Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story.
Reviews
46 Ring, 7/10, Arturo Fuente, Cigar Review, Medium, Natural
Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Corojo Toro
Size – 6.5 x 52 boxpress
Age – 3 months
Cost – $11 online
Wrapper – Corojo
Construction – Very well constructed with a single noticeable vein in the wrapper and an attractive label and paper sleeve on the foot.
Burn – Quite even throughout the cigar. The wrapper did begin to come unraveled in the last third.
Ash – Very light grey and compact. Held firm with no flyaway ash on the laptop keyboard (my pet peeve)
Draw & Smoke – A slightly stiff draw produced a copious amount of smoke per puff.
Flavor – The Olde World Reserve is not exactly a dainty cigar. This is a full bodied, full flavored smoke that starts off immediately with layers of rich flavor including wood and earthy tobacco. I was expecting just a bit more sweetness on the finish from the corojo wrapper, but the maduro version of this cigar better provides that. The finish was dry and had just a hint of black coffee. Despite the body of the cigar being full, I was interested to see the absence of the typical black pepper tingle on my whole palate, although a small amount was there tickling just the back of my tongue and throat.
Strength – Full
Rating – 7/10
Value – 4/10
Drink – The first half of the cigar was accompanied by a hot earl grey tea. The second half, Meyers dark rum. The rum made a good pairing.
Notes – I think I was expecting just a bit too much of this cigar simply due to its $11+ price tag. While I liked the core flavors, the finish was not quite as smooth as I would have liked. If you get an OWR in a sampler or as a gift, by all means enjoy it! However, I wouldn’t make a special trip to the local shop for this one. The maduro version of this cigar is excellent.
Reviews
52 Ring, 7/10, Cigar Review, Corojo, Full, Rocky Patel
Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic (Black Label) 1977 Corona
Size – 5.5 x 38
Age – 1 month
Cost – $6
Wrapper – Corojo (Nicaragua)
Construction – Expertly constructed with a beautiful wrapper, no flaws and great symmetry.
Burn – An even burn was interrupted in the second third by a wrapper split, possibly due to slight over-humidification although no other sticks from the same humidor have had this problem.
Ash – A firm salt and pepper ash
Draw & Smoke – Draw was very tight on this cigar, making it difficult to produce a puff full of smoke. Improved slightly in the final third.
Flavor – Prelight aroma was a very rich and earthy tobacco smell. After lighting I was treated to a bold blend of cedar, deep earthy tobacco and some black pepper. As the small cigar moved along at a fairly brisk pace, the core flavors of wood and tobacco persisted while the pepper become a bit more muted. At about halfway, a really pleasant aftertaste + aroma combination teamed up to enhance the cigar even further. The Black Label’s aroma was excellent, a rich sweet tobacco smell.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 7/10
Value – 4/10
Drink – Water
Notes – I plan to buy some more of these cigars and age them a bit longer; they deserve to be revisited for review, possibly in a different size. I think this really is a 9/10 stogie but the wrapper split, the very firm draw and low smoke volume all diminished the experience. Otherwise this is a cigar with a great flavor profile and an intoxicating aroma. The $6 price tag for a 38 ring stick does move it out of the value range.
Reviews
38 Ring, 7/10, Cigar Review, Corojo, Don Pepin Garcia, Med/Full
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
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
Victor Sinclair Connecticut Yankee Toro
Size – 6 x 50
Age – Less than 1 month
Cost – $2-2.50 online
Wrapper – Connecticut
Construction – Good construction but a very rustic looking wrapper with pronounced veins and a somewhat uneven shape. (7/10)
Burn – A rocky start but evened out fairly well. (7/10)
Ash – Very light grey, held tight for 1-1.5″
Draw & Smoke – Nice easy but not loose draw, yielding a good volume of smoke per puff.
Flavor – The first minute of this cigar was pretty bad. I was almost ready to write it off as the first few draws delivered slightly sour and cheap-tasting tobacco flavor, like a gas station cigar. This very quickly disappeared, thankfully, and was replaced with a satisfying toasty tobacco flavor with some cocoa and a nice creaminess on the palate. Room aroma reminded me of a corojo leaf, a pleasant sweetness and toasted tobacco smell. Not a whole lot of changes between the first and second halves.
Strength – Mild/Med
Rating – 7/10
Value – 8/10
Drink - Since this was a daytime cigar, I just had a regular Pepsi to go along with it. Nothing special.
Notes – The Connecticut Yankee Toro is part of a pretty big sampler of VS cigars that I picked up recently, and based on the first couple I’ve had, I think they make a nice addition to the humidor. Another stick that you’re not worried about giving to a friend and having them set down and forget, but you wouldn’t be hesitant to hand to someone who enjoys good cigars. The construction was an issue but the flavors were tasty and satisfying.
Reviews
50 Ring, 7/10, Cigar Review, Connecticut, Mild/Med, Victor Sinclair
La Aurora Leoninos Robusto
Size – 5 x 50
Age - Less than 1 month
Cost – $2 or less online
Wrapper – Corojo (Dominican Republic)
Construction – A nice looking robusto with no imperfections. The corojo wrapper was slightly leaf-textured and veiny, and lacked the reddish hue from which they get their name. (7/10)
Burn – A very uneven start which corrected itself within the first third. Pretty even for the rest of the cigar. (7/10)
Ash – Medium grey, held for about 1.5″
Draw & Smoke – Somewhat loose but not unpleasant. A moderate amount of smoke produced per puff.
Flavor – This cigar starts off with a bang, as tons of red pepper and tingling spice hit my mouth immediatly after lighting. I’m not certain if my palate dulled a bit or it mellowed out, but the effect faded somewhat by the end of the first third. The rest of the cigar produced spicy, peppery and earthy tobacco flavor with a tiny bit of sweetness and a lot of body to back all this up. Room aroma was nice with a slightly sweet tobacco smell.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 7/10
Value – 9/10 Let’s be clear here: this is a $1.50 cigar. At that price point, if it tastes ok, burns ok and doesn’t kick your dog then it’s a pretty darn good value. Luckily this cigar is better than ok and winds up being an excellent value.
Drink – Raspberry tea – I was expecting my frou-frou drink to get completely overwhelmed by this cigar but it actually made a very nice pairing as it was able to rest and cleanse my palate between puffs of the spicy Leoninos.
Notes – This Med/Full cigar tricks you into thinking you’re in for a wallop of full body. Even moistening the cap so I could clip it I got a tingle like a 9 volt battery on my lips and mouth. Let this one go past the first inch, however, and you’re in for a tasty and spicy cigar that is also a really good value. I’m looking forward to seeing how this smokes in 6 months.
Reviews
50 Ring, 7/10, Cigar Review, Corojo, La Aurora, Med/Full
Today I found this cigar lurking at the bottom of my desktop humidor. It’s the last of a 10-pack I bought about 6 months ago and so I figured I’d fire it up and review it on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Gurkha Symphony Robusto
Size – 6 x 50
Cost – $6 – 8 online
Wrapper – Connecticut
Construction – Excellent construction with a perfect cap, almost no veins in the smooth wrapper. The foot was slightly chipped from being moved about in my humidor. (9/10)
Burn – Dead even from light to put down. (10/10)
Ash – Very light grey with a smattering of darker grey. Held firm for 2″
Draw – A bit tight but not annoyingly so.
Flavor – I lit this cigar up expecting the grassy, slightly acrid taste I have begun to associate with Connecticut wrappers, but I thankfully found nothing of the sort. What I did get was very mild and creamy flavors – so mild it was tough to distinguish them at first. Then a soft creaminess and woody, almost pine tree-like flavor and aroma developed. The finish was peppery around the back of the palate. The aroma really helped this cigar’s character; a slightly sweet nutty smell helped bring out the nearly nonexistent flavors in the first two thirds.
Smoke – A nice large volume of smoke from every puff.
Strength – Mild
Rating – 7/10
Value – 6/10 At MSRP this, like most Gurkhas, is a pretty poor value. Those who are interested in picking up a few of these at an auction site or on special should be able to do so as low as $3 a stick.
Drink – Hot earl grey with cream and sugar. A nice compliment for this smoke. If it was evening I’d pair it with an assertively hopped beer such as Sierra Nevada or ESB.
Notes – Overall the cigar was a bid too mild for me but it did have some enjoyable complexity. I think 6 months in the humi helped this stick out. My tasting notes from when I bought them noted more harshness and a more uneven burn. Seems like a good candidate for aging.
Reviews
50 Ring, 7/10, Connecticut, Gurkha, Mild