Syrinxx’s Cigar Shack

Rocky Patel Sun Grown Toro

Size – 6.5 x 52
Age – 6 months
Cost – $5 online
Wrapper – Sun Grown (Ecuador)
Construction – Nearly flawless appearance and construction that was marred by a small wrapper tear during smoking.  The symmetry and firmness were very good.
Burn – Slow and even with one relight in the beginning of the second half
Ash – Ash was very light grey and compact, holding tight in 3/4″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was firm but the payoff was a large volume of tasty smoke per puff.
Flavor – The Sun Grown by Rocky Patel started off with a crisp, cedary and sweet flavor.  I detected some very light citrus notes just before a very nice blend of smooth spice and a bit of black pepper set in.  As the stick progressed into the 2nd third, the clean woody and cedar tones gave way to a deeper array of  leather and spice.  The creaminess and sweetness remained throughout the stogie.  In the final third, the flavors remained rich and leathery with sweet spice; there was plenty of flavor without the dizzying full body experience that can sometimes go alongside a bold set of tastes.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 9/10
Value – 8/10

Drink – Diet soda.  Nothing remarkable although the sweetener did compliment the sweetness of the cigar.  I did not start the drink until after the first third, making me reasonably convinced that the drink did not cause the sweet notes in the cigar’s flavor profile.
Notes – These days I regularly try not to sound like a Rocky Patel apologist or fanboy, but the man can blend.  This is another excellent cigar from the man who seems like he can do no wrong.  To my knowledge this is an online and mailorder-only stick which means you may not run across it in your local shop, but it’s worth seeking out; this is a great cigar at an attractive price.

Second Opinion – Matt’s Cigar Journal has a positive, although not quite as glowing, review of the Sun Grown.

Reviews 52 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Med/Full, Rocky Patel, Sun Grown

Indian Tabac Co. (ITC) 10th Anniversary Toro by Rocky Patel

Size – 6,.5 x 52
Age – 3 months
Cost – $7
Wrapper – Corojo (Nicaragua)
Construction – Flawless construction as I have come to expect from RP.  The wrapper was smooth and had a very nice sheen in the light.  The cigar felt a bit light for its size, but did not have any soft spots or a spongy feel.  Unfortunately the tightly wrapped bottom band created a small wrapper tear when it was removed.
Burn – The burn started very straight but eventually became somewhat uneven and had a bit of stair-stepping.   No relights were required, although it did need a couple of quick touchups.  I did purge the cigar one time, as I normally do with a toro.
Ash – Very light grey and compact.  Held in 1″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke -  Draw through a v-cut cap was perfect.  There was not a whole lot of smoke per draw, but it did increase as the cigar progressed.
Flavor – Prelight aroma was leather and earthy tobacco.  Upon lighting, however, I was pleasantly surprised by a good amount of smooth corojo sweetness mixed with subtle peppery spice and some leather notes.  Progressing into the second half, the cigar picked up in spice, including red pepper, but also remained creamy and smooth.  A very slight harshness crept into the second half, but it was still balanced by the sweet corojo tobacco flavor.  The finish throughout was slightly woody and dry.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 8/10
Value – 6/10

Drink – Water
Notes – This is another tasty stick from RP.  Rocky has proven that he can blend some fine cigars at the $5-6 price point and this is no exception.  I was comfortable overlooking the band-caused wrapper tear, which really did not impact the smoke, and found a nice cigar that has a good, balanced array of flavors and a medium body suitable for a day or nighttime smoke.

Reviews 52 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Corojo, Medium, Rocky Patel, Toro

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

Coronado by La Flor (aka La Flor Dominicana Coronado) Double Toro

Size – 7 x 54
Age – 2 Months
Cost – $8
Wrapper – Natural (Nicaragua)
Construction – A well constructed large cigar but with some wrapper issues – pronounced veins were present, although some veins are acceptible in a sun grown wrapper.  A crack in the foot and two more near the band were evident, despite the cigar being kept in cellophane and not rearranged much.
Burn -  Mostly even and steady.  When it began to burn unevenly, the cigar corrected itself.  One relight was needed around halfway.
Ash – Very light grey and somewhat loose but not completely unruly.  Ash held for about 1″ at a time.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was perfect and the cigar produced a ton of smoke per puff.  It also continually produced a significant stream of aromatic smoke from the foot while resting.
Flavor – This is a complex and very flavorful cigar.  The prelight aroma of anise appeared as a flavor in the first third, along with caramel and some spice.  Room aroma was rich and sweet with a hint of citrus, like orange or lime peel.  In the second third, black pepper kicked in and the taste of leather joined the flavor party.  These flavors were balanced by a sweet and creamy tobacco flavor that persisted through the cigar.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 9/10
Value – 6/10

Drink – Columbian coffee – an excellent pairing with the bold and rich flavors of the Coronado.
Notes – The Coronado double toro, at 7 x 54, is a whopper of a cigar and is among the sizes that I do not regularly smoke, mostly due to time constraints.  Plan to spend 120 minutes on this cigar, which is going to be a very enjoyable 2 hours of your life.  This is an excellent, complex cigar with plenty of reasons to like it, and if you’re like me you’ll want to revisit it to see what you missed.  Construction problems are the only thing that kept this stick from being a 10/10.

Reviews 54 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Coronado, La Flor Domninicana, Med/Full, Natural

Gispert Natural Churchill

Size – 7 x 54
Age – 1 month
Cost – $3.00 single
Wrapper – Connecticut (Ecuador)
Construction – Good construction with a great wrapper and no flaws.  The cigar is a bit soft to the touch but this has been the case with every Gispert I’ve had, and does not detract from the smoke.
Burn – Mostly even and slow.
Ash – Medium to dark grey and slightly loose.  Ash held for 3/4 – 1″
Draw & Smoke – Draw was just right with a good amount of white smoke per draw.
Flavor – The Gispert natural has a very nice, mild flavor profile.  Flavors include earthy wood and a hint of grass produced by the wrapper, with a compliment of peanut, wood and sweet tobacco flavors and aromas.  These flavors are all mellow, and the result is a very creamy and smooth cigar.  The room aroma is excellent.
Strength – Mild
Rating – 9/10
Value – 9/10

Drink – Blackberry tea
Notes – Gispert was one of the very first cigars I ever smoked, and I still love them to this day.  There are a lot of reasons to keep some of these in your humidor: they make an excellent cigar to give to non-aficionado friends, a great daytime cigar, or a perfect way to follow up a lighter dinner.  At around $2 each by the box, they are one of the best values around.  I’ve been told on more than one occasion that these get even better with 6+ months of aging.

Reviews 54 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Connecticut, Gispert, Mild

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

Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro Toro

Size – 6.5 x 52 boxpress
Age - 2 months
Cost – $10 online
Wrapper – Maduro (Costa Rica)
Construction – This is a very well constructed cigar with a flawless, nearly vein-free wrapper that is a beautiful dark brown.  The review cigar had a couple of small crinkles from the box press.  (9/10)
Burn – The cigar started out with a little runner but quickly caught up and burned slowly and evenly the rest of the way.  (8/10)
Ash – The ash was compact and light grey, about 1.5″ of grab
Draw & Smoke – An easy but not loose draw produces a medium amount of smoke.
Flavor – The Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro Toro (whew) has a whole lot going on.  From the light it produces a mellow and smooth blend of flavors which seem to mingle to the point that you can’t really discern them.  This is deceptive though, because as the cigar progresses you realize a really wonderful array of flavors has been blended into this cigar – earth, toast and leather each emerged in the first half, while the room aroma was a delicious sweet chocolate, fig and tobacco smell.  The second half continued the rich blend of flavors with a bit of coffee, black pepper and more body.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 9/10
Value – 5/10

Drink - Earl grey tea, hot with cream and sugar.  A nice pairing with this amazingly creamy and rich cigar.  A good alcohol pairing would be a malty, dark beer such as a doppelbock or a porter.
Notes – A really nice cigar and a real treat to a (mostly) value smoker like me.  The blend is really impressive and is yet another testament to the skills of RP. 

Reviews 52 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Maduro, Med/Full, Rocky Patel, Toro

Macanudo 1968 Churchill

Size – 7 x 49
Age - 5 Months
Cost – $9 – 10 in stores (not available online)
Wrapper – Honduran
Construction – The 1968 is well constructed with a pretty, oily wrapper that had no flaws.  The cigar has slightly uneven symmetry.  The slight damage to the foot of the review cigar was my own fault, I had it out of the cellophane in a desktop humidor that was rearranged frequently.  (7/10)
Burn – Burn was even with no touchups needed.  (8/10)
Ash – Salt and pepper with a 2″ grab.  Some flowering and loose ash.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was easy but not loose, producing a large amount of aromatic smoke in each puff.
Flavor – Prelight flavors were coffee and little bit of spice I could not quite put my finger on – nutmeg or cinnamon maybe?  After lighting up you are treated to lots of spice, leather and a bit of coffee.  This is a rich and interesting cigar whose room aroma is among my favorites – sweet tobacco, spice and chocolate aromas compliment the cigar’s flavor.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 9/10
Value – 4/10

Drink - Hot earl grey tea.  The citrus notes from this tea made a very nice pairing with the 1968.
Notes - It is unfortunate that the Macanudo 1968 is a “contract cigar”, meaning it can only be sold by participating tobacconist shops and not online.  This makes MSRP the lowest price you will likely find this tasty cigar, and while I really like this smoke, it’s not one that I would purchase as an everyday.  The advertisements you may have seen for the 1968 claim it’s “bold” and imply that this is a full bodied cigar.  Compared to other Macs it may be, but overall it’s Medium, perhaps Med/Full. 

Reviews 49 Ring, 9/10, Churchill, Cigar Review, Macanudo

Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label Toro

Size – 6 x 50
Age - Less than 1 month
Cost – $7 online
Wrapper – Corojo (Nicaragua)
Construction – Good construction except for 2 small tears in the wrapper edges and a slightly splayed foot.  (7/10)
Burn – The burn started uneven and stayed that way.  While there was no tunneling or relights, the ash was defined by a fairly scraggly line around the cigar.  (7/10)
Ash – The ash is medium to light grey and very compact; it held snug for 2″ and would probably have gone longer had I not bumped it off.
Draw & Smoke – An somewhat tight draw yielded lots of billowing white smoke in each puff.
Flavor – The Blue Label starts of with a nice shot of peppery spice.  Strong but balanced flavors then layered on: leather, coffee and sweet spice.  This is a cigar with plenty of flavor and a lot of body.  The corojo wrapper produces a nice rich, sweet room aroma.  The second half did not differ much from the first; the Blue Label starts off strong and follows through.
Strength – Full
Rating – 9/10
Value – 6/10

Drink - 12-year Glen Livet  scotch, neat.  A great pairing as the earthy flavors complimented this full body cigar quite well.
Notes - There’s not much new to say about the DPG Blue – there is a reason this line has generated so much discussion online (and most certainly in local shops).  It’s a great showcase for one of the all-star blenders in the cigar world – a tasty, rich full bodied cigar that’s a wonderful way to spend an evening.  I was a bit disappointed by the construction and burn issues.  Hopefully this is only the case with the one cigar I picked out of the coolidor for the review.  I’m guessing some time at the bottom of the humidor will make this smoke even better.

Reviews 50 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Corojo, Don Pepin Garcia, Full

Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Toro

Size – 6.5 x 50 boxpress
Age – Less than 1 month
Cost – $7 online
Wrapper -  Natural (dark), oily and smooth.
Construction -  Nearly flawless constuction with a couple of crinkles that seem to be due to the boxpress.  (9/10)
Burn – Mostly even with no problems (8/10)
Ash – Salt and pepper (mostly salt), slightly loose but held tight for 1.5-2″
Draw & Smoke - Draw was just right, not too loose or tight.  Lots of blue-white smoke pours off the foot when it’s resting.  A good amount of tasty smoke accompanies each puff.
Flavor – This stick has plenty of deep, rich flavors including sweet nuts, chocolate and a small amount of cedar, coffee and spice.  There is little to no peppery tingle, just a satisfying creamy blend of all these flavors.  A beautiful room aroma enhances the smoking experience.  With such a deep and tasty cigar, I found the body to be lacking just slightly.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 9/10
Value – 6/10.  This is a cigar that is worth every penny.  The $9-10 MSRP does not help the value score, however, and it would be hard for most people to justify this as an everyday cigar.

Drink – Hot coffee.  Really brought out the coffee flavors in the cigar and enhanced the others.  A good pairing.
Notes – I picked this up with a dozen RPs from a weekly sampler deal at Cigars International for a great price.  I feel lucky to have bought this stick for about 3 bucks; I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for another special on them.

Reviews 50 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Medium, Natural, Rocky Patel