5 Vegas Series ‘A’ Artisan (Robusto)
Size – 5 x 52
Age – 2 months
Cost – $4
Wrapper – Maduro (Costa Rica)
Construction – An excellently constructed cigar with nice heft and feel.
Burn – Slow burn that was uneven at the start and had some tunneling. Nothing terrible and no relights needed but could have been much more even. The wrapper also wound up with a small split in the last third.
Ash – Medium grey with a tight 1″ of grab. No flakes or ash mishaps.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was perfect, just a bit open which allowed a medium amount of smoke to come through the punch cut in each puff.
Flavor – The Series ‘A’ starts off with a smooth and interesting blend of wood and sweet spice flavors, punctuated by a bit of chocolate and cedar from the wrapper and the sleeve respectively. One of my difficulties in tasting cigars is picking out specific spices but I believe I got some clove or cinnamon in the aroma as well. As the cigar quickly moved into the second third, the body picked up a bit and the flavors blended together a bit better into a creamy and spicy-sweet medium to full bodied smoke with an espresso finish. The spiciness ramped up in the final third and by the time I set it down it was a solid, full bodied but not overwhelming, cigar.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 8/10
Value – 8/10
Drink – Water
Notes – Another very nice smoke from 5 Vegas, this one a step up in body from the Classic line. There are a lot of vitolas in this line (all beginning with the letter A, natch) and I am hoping to find a good sampler of them so I can find my favorite one. I think the wrapper really adds a lot to this cigar, which leads me to believe the smaller ring vitolas might be the best. If you have a favorite why not add a comment to this post and let us know?
Other Opinions
A less positive review of this stick can be found at The Box Press.
Reviews
5 Vegas, 52 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Maduro, Med/Full
Casa Magna Colorado Belicoso
Size – 6.25 x 54
Age – 1 month
Cost – $6
Wrapper – Colorado (Nicaragua)
Construction – Very well constructed with a slightly uneven tip. The cigar feels soft but not squishy. The feel is even from point to foot.
Burn – Burn started out a bit uneven and mostly stayed that way throughout. It did not stair-step or canoe and needed only small touchups. This cigar burns slowly; plan for a nearly 2 hour smoke. It did tar up a bit and required purging twice.
Ash – Ash was a medium grey and held tight in solid 1.5″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – You can pretty much clip a belicoso to achieve whatever draw you like. With my normal torpedo/belicoso clip leaving about a 40 to 45 ring hole in the cap, I was rewarded with a nearly perfect draw - not too loose or tight. The amount of smoke produced per puff was a bit above average and quite satisfying. The foot streamed a good amount of aromatic smoke when resting.
Flavor – Holding this cigar in my mouth for a prelight taste yielded lots of tingling red pepper, the flavor of which imediately settled at the back of my palate after the light. The profile is very earthy and peppery but smooth, and a tiny hint of caramel and coffee in the finish and aroma. I also caught a bit of black cherry in the first third that didn’t stick around for long. The second third saw the pepper flavors muted and brought a big helping of body and more intense earthy flavor with less sweetness and hints of tea (surely enhanced by the fact that I was drinking tea at the time) and leather. The final third brought new flavors of mocha and honey, punctuating a complex, layered and interesting journey from start to finish.
Strength – Full
Rating – 8/10
Value – 7/10
Drink – Iced tea
Notes – This is a different vitola of the Colorado line – the robusto won Cigar Aficionado’s 2008 Cigar of the Year award. Whatever your opinion of magazine reviews, rest assured that the two experts behind Casa Magna, Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plascencia, have crafted a very good cigar. Like the pros, I prefer the robusto size to the larger belicoso; I found it to be more complex and a better overall experience. However, this remains a fine smoke and a great value at less than $6 at your local shop. It may also be your only option in this line as the robusto’s high marks have left it in short supply.
Reviews
54 Ring, 8/10, Belicoso, Casa Magna, Cigar Review, Colorado, Full
Saint Luis Rey Rothchilde Natural
Size – 5 x 54
Age – 2 months
Cost – $3.50
Wrapper – Natural (Nicaragua)
Construction – A nice looking cigar with a few veins in the wrapper. Good symmetry and no soft spots.
Burn – A nice even burn even in breezy conditions.
Ash – Mottled and somewhat firm with 3/4″ of grab
Draw & Smoke – Good resistance on the draw, not too much, and a satisfying amount of smoke in each puff.
Flavor – The flavor profile was rich, with earthy and woody notes. The SLR is a good example of a cigar that has lots of flavor without a dizzying full body strength. In the second half a bit of toast and spice replaced the woody flavors as the earthiness persisted. The second half also brought some aroma and flavor of peanut.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 8/10
Value – 8/10
Drink – Water
Notes – The SLR Rothschild is a solid value cigar with lots of flavor. While it’s not a terribly complex smoke, it’s a darn good one and should be considered for anyone looking to fill their humidor without breaking the bank.
Mini Review, Reviews
54 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Med/Full, Natural, Saint Luis Rey
Kristoff Maduro Robusto
Size – 5.5 x 54
Age – 2 months
Cost – $7
Wrapper – Maduro (Brazil)
Construction – A pretty chocolate brown maduro leaf adorns this cigar, beginning with a pigtail and ending in a shag foot; the result is a unique and attractive cigar. The wrapper is oily and has just a few noticeable viens. Symmetry is excellent.
Burn – The shag foot burned quickly but helped create a fast start for this cigar. Burn was a little uneven but required no tending or relights.
Ash – Ash was light grey and held in 3/4″ pieces on a somewhat breezy afternoon.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was perfect and each puff resulted in a moderate amount of smoke.
Flavor – Prelight aroma and flavors were coffee and chocolate, very typical of a maduro wrapper. After lighting , these flavors of chocolate and coffee came through clearly, along with a good dose of black pepper. Despite the cigar being advertised as medium-bodied, I experienced quite a bit of nicotene tingle on my tongue, palate and even lips. As the smoke moved along a nice nuttiness emerged, along with a little less black pepper and a more smooth spicy note.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 8/10
Value – 6/10
Drink – Sugarcane-sweetened Pepsi
Notes – This was the first afternoon cigar on the back patio for me this year. It was a gorgeous, cloudless afternoon in the low 70s and I found the whole experience to be quite enjoyable, but hopefully it didn’t tilt my review too much – perfect day or not this is a nice cigar. When I’m outside I find myself really missing the intense room aroma of most cigars, so when I do get a nice little whiff it enhances the moment nicely. The Kristoff maduro is a solid cigar and while most online retailers do not carry this line, it’s worth a purchase the next time you spot them in your local shop.
Reviews
54 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Kristoff, Maduro, Medium
La Gloria Cubana Serie R #4 (Rothschild) Maduro
Size – 4.875 x 52
Age – About 1 month
Cost – $5.50
Wrapper – Maduro (Ecuador)
Construction – A beautiful, dense cigar dressed with a very dark brown maduro wrapper. Nearly perfect construction.
Burn – An uneven start quickly settled in to a slow and fairly straight burn.
Ash – Ash was medium grey and held tight in 3/4″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was firm and the amount of smoke was about average.
Flavor – The prelight aromas of wood and coffee turned into the same flavors immediately after lighting this smallish cigar. Spicy black pepper arrived shortly after the light and stayed throughout. The maduro wrapper provided a nice bit of sweetness in the aroma; unfortunately that characteristic maduro sweeness was not found in the cigar’s variety of flavors. The second half remained rich and spicy but smooth and balanced, with a very interesting malty note when retrohaled.
Strength – Full
Rating – 8/10
Value – 7/10
Drink – Dr. Pepper. I really wish I had a single malt to enjoy this with after I caught that malty flavor and aroma. Next time I won’t be out of scotch!
Notes – This is a brand that most of the cigar smokes I know love, but I’d never visited. I’m really glad I grabbed this cigar on a whim at my local shop – it’s a powerful but balanced smoke that deserves a spot in the humidor.
Reviews
52 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Full, La Gloria Cubana, Maduro
Gran Habano Black Habano #3 Pyramid
Size – 6.125 x 52
Age – 2 months
Cost – $5 local, $3-4 online
Wrapper – Habano (Nicaragua)
Construction – A fairly well made pyramid/torpedo with a nice looking wrapper and a firm feel.
Burn – The burn was a bit uneven but never got too far out of balance.
Ash – The #3’s ash was mottled – mostly light grey – compact and well behaved. The ash held in 1″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was easy but not loose. There was not a lot of smoke produced per puff, although the foot continually released a thin stream of smoke while resting.
Flavor – The Habano #3 has a straightforward profile of mild spice, cedar, and (I don’t typically like this word to describe cigars) a salty finish. The blend results in an unchanging but very pleasurable cigar that you don’t have to concentrate to enjoy. The flavors are pronounced while the cigar keeps itself at a medium strength and body. Room aroma is sweet and woodsy.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 8/10
Value – 7/10
Drink – Redhook ESB ale
Notes – While I did not like this cigar quite as much as another of the offeirings from Gran Habano, the Corojo #5, it is a tasty number that will only set you back about $3.50. It’s a solid value and worthy of a spot in your humidor.
Reviews
52 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Gran Habano, Medium, Pyramid
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
Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Toro
Size – 6.5 x 52 boxpress
Age – 2 months
Cost – $7
Wrapper – Maduro (Honduras)
Construction – Very well constructed with great symmetry. The smooth chocolate brown wrapper had a couple of very small blemishes. (8/10)
Burn – Mostly even with no touchups or relights. (8/10)
Ash – Light grey and compact. Held tight in 1 – 1.5″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – The smoke felt a bit firm and dense but there were no problems with the draw after clipping the cap. Smoke volume was low.
Flavor – The prelight aroma of this cigar was sweet aged tobacco. After getting it lit I was rewarded with a smooth and mellow flavors of sweet tobacco, wood and cherry. The room aroma was excellent, a sweet and clean maduro tobacco smell. As the cigar moved along, the flavors stayed consistent but not quite one-dimensional. In the second and final thirds, a bit of spice crept into the mix, along with some aroma of chocolate. I also caught a few hints of citrus but I discounted those as I believe they were provided by my drink (earl grey)
Strength – Mild/Med
Rating – 8/10
Value – 6/10
Drink – Hot earl grey tea
Notes – I keep waiting for Rocky to deliver a cigar that I don’t like. Looks like I’ll still be searching for that stick, because the 1990 was a good tasting and wonderful smelling cigar that is a perfect for an afternoon (or morning). If the flavors of this blend were just a bit more pronounced it would earn a 9/10.
Reviews
52 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Maduro, Mild/Med, Rocky Patel
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