Showing newest 11 of 26 posts from June 2021. Show older posts
Showing newest 11 of 26 posts from June 2021. Show older posts

Thursday, June 30, 2021

Pinar Del Rio Habano Sun Grown Liga Cubana No. 5

Pinar Del Rio Habano Sun Grown Liga Cubana No. 5

Out of the humidors I have, I keep one for the cigars I have yet to review. I find that this humidor is always filled and I mean that in a good way. Sometimes when looking for a cigar I get into the mood of "I don't want that," but with my review humidor I have tons of stuff in there I haven't had in a long time or just have not had. I was moving some cigars around in there when looking for a cigar and I stumbled across this particular smoke. I have enjoyed it on several occasions and have only reviewed the company’s portfolio a couple of times. I am a big fan of the Pinar Del Rio Cigar Company and haven’t had a cigar of theirs that was dull. They have really been getting a lot of publicity lately and with the batch of cigars they are making it is no surprise. The Habano Sun Grown Liga Cubana No. 5 is an incredible smoke and probably tied for second among this line and third among their entire production. Like the rest of the cigars in this line the fillers are a mixture of Nicaraguan and Dominican with a Criollo 98 binder from the Dominican Republic. The wrapper is a Cuban-seed tobacco that has been sun grown. I am a big fan of Habano wrappers and I am a major fan of sun grown tobacco as well. You don’t see many Habano wrappers from the Dominican Republic but when you do they are pretty damn good. Whether it be the Cien Anos, Opus X or Ashton ESG,they are all great. I chose the toro vitola in the lineup which is your standard 6” by 50 ring gauge size.      
Liga Cubana No. 5
With a reddish brown wrapper the cigar is very appealing to the eyes. The wrapper is not very oily but silkier. The aroma of the cigar is of spices and wood with hints of coffee beans as well. Upon lighting the cigar shows lots of leather, spices and wood notes and is medium in body. The cigar is burning perfectly and is producing a good amount of smoke. As I enter the second third of the cigar earthy and chocolate notes begin to emerge and it is accompanied by hints of spice as well. There are still a lot of wood notes present and the cigar is really beginning to show all of its flavors. I would say this cigar is full bodied but because of the balance and wonderful flavors of the cigar it is smoking wonderfully and remaining very smooth. Still burning evenly the cigar is perfect in the smoking characteristics category and I am looking forward to the final third. When I think of the final third abundance is the word that comes to mind. Whether it is in body or flavors, the cigar really shows everything in the end. From chocolate to spice and coffee to wood the final third has it all. I would love to smoke the final third of this cigar three times in a row and then one more time.
Liga Cubana
I am giving this cigar a 92 and this is the best one of the several I have had. The wrapper is fairly delicate on the cigar so when removing the bands be careful not to tear the wrapper. I love the cigars that Pinar Del Rio Cigar Company is making and I am looking forward to future blends. They have a cigar that every type of smoker would enjoy and whether you prefer milder or full bodied smokes, every one of them has a tremendous amount of flavor and complexity to it. Available at exceptional values you can’t go wrong with a box purchase of this smoke but if I were you I would get a collected works sample from Cigars International or Cigar.com and enjoy all these wonderful smokes. Along with a cigar for everyone they offer a variety of vitolas giving you the opportunity to choose a vitola you prefer. I am looking forward to reviewing the next two and the next one I choose is my favorite.  
Posted by S. Geise 0 comments
Labels: Habano Sun Grown Liga Cubana No. 5, Pinar del Rio Cigar Co.

Monday, June 27, 2021

La Flor Dominicana Double Press

La Flor Dominicana Double Press
I smoke cigars often, and though I smoke full bodied cigars they do not often sneak up on me and really catch me off guard. I will tell you one thing though; La Flor Dominicana cigars always seem to have the strength that can get to me. Litto Gomez has become well known for making some incredibly flavorful smokes in the past years but those cigars have also had tons of power to them as well. I am not sure why it is but I can always feel the power inside Litto’s smokes. Good for him I say. The Double press by Litto is definitely one of those cigars and then some. There isn't much information on this cigar on the company website but I do know that it is made up of Dominican fillers from Litto's La Canela farm with a Dominican binder and an Ecuadorian wrapper. I am not sure if it a Sumatra or Habano leaf but it definitely has some spice to it. The cigar is incredibly pressed, hence the title of Double Press, and measures 6" with a 52 ring gauge. The wrapper has no veins present and is rolled perfectly. The aroma on the cigar is of cedar, spices and leather. 

The cigar begins with tons of strength and some nice notes of cedar, pepper and leather. The flavors are present but not overly complex but the strength of the cigar is incredibly powerful. The cigar is burning very well and even producing lots of smoke. So far the cigar is not going the direction I would like it to go, but it is still early.  As I get into the second third of the cigar the flavors begin to increase showing some coffee and nutty characteristics, with lots of pepper and cedar still there. The power is still easily full and I think for one point half way through the cigar the flavor and strength are balanced. The cigar is burning very well still and the flavors are increasing but I feel that it is still lacking in some ways. For one thing, I feel that this cigar is lacking balance and depth, and is merely meant to be strong. I have entered the final third and the cigar and it is back to the beginning with lots of pepper and cedar and strong tobacco. I put the cigar down with about an inch left. 

I wasn't able to finish this cigar because it wasn't really giving off that much and I just felt it wasn't worth the remaining time. I would give this cigar a rating of 86 and probably not recommend it to others. If you are a guy who likes strength in cigars and that is it then this would be perfect for you, but I just don’t see the flavor in it, and that is what it is important to me. I know a lot of people love full bodied cigars, and so do I, but I feel it is more important to have a flavorful and enjoyable cigar rather than just strength. I think if the blend was tweaked some and there was some tobacco put in with more flavor then strength this could be a great cigar. Sorry LFD but this is not your greatest achievement.  
Double Press
Posted by S. Geise 0 comments
Labels: Double Press, La Flor Dominicana

Saturday, June 25, 2021

My Father - No. 1

My Father
There are some cigars with amazing stories and may I say that this is one of the best. The story begins with Jaime Garcia, Don Pepin's son in Central America making and blending a new cigar. No one knows what the cigar is and who it is for but there they are working on this new blend. Jaime did not want his father knowing what he was working on but as most things happen new eventually leaks from the factory in Esteli to Miami where Don Pepin is. The cigar was currently being made without the permission of el jeffe. Of course Don Pepin goes down to the factory and asks his son what is going on and there is a lot of hush hush but eventually Don Pepin asks for three sizes of the blend and goes to smoke them. The following day Don Pepin asks what he is smoking and his son tells him that this cigar is being made in honor of him.

And so that is the history of the My Father line and nothing but success was to come. As great as the story goes it would not be as great if the cigar was not as good as it is. The cigar begins with Nicaraguan tobacco in the filler and a Nicaraguan binder as well. The cigar is covered with a habano wrapper from Ecuador that was grown by Oliva Tobacco Company. Now let us not confuse the Oliva Tobacco Company with Oliva Cigars because the two are complete separate, but the Oliva Tobacco Company has been involved with almost every cigar manufacturer as much as Nestor Plasencia. Since the success of this line their new factory in Esteli has taken on the name and so has the company.

The No. 1 rates as the third highest cigar of 2019 and has always done well by Cigar Aficionado. I think the size is great and the cigar is just amazing. The cigar measures 5.2" with a 52 ring gauge and is constructed perfectly. The triple cap is gorgeous and there are no soft spots on the cigar as well. The factory limits only the best torcedores to work on this cigar and it truly shows. The wrapper is just beautiful and has an even red clay color to it. There are no veins present on the wrapper and it is just perfect to look at. The cigar has wonderful aromas of red pepper, leather and wood, and is just amazing.  

The cigar begins with a powerful and elegant blast of red pepper and cream. It is medium-full in body but really has wonderful flavors and balance to it. The red pepper is definitely present but there is that cream on the finish that brings it down. After the first inch the cigar really opens up more showing lots of leather and coffee bean notes as well. The cigar is burning perfectly and producing wonderful amounts of smoke. As I enter into the second third of the cigar the flavors definitely grow more and more and I begin to pick up some dark cherry notes as well. The cigar is still smoking with full flavors and a full body and is just incredible. The burn is perfect and I am loving this cigar. The final third really brings back the flavors from the intro with lots of cream and red pepper but also tons of leather and coffee as well. There is this cedar flavor that is present throughout the whole smoke that increases in the final third.

This was just an incredible smoke and absolutely enjoyable. There are very few cigars that really do well in every category and this cigar is one of them. I would give this cigar a 95 rating and I would give every one of these I have ever had that high of a rating. This is a cigar that really delivers all the time and that does not happen all the time with cigars. This is truly an amazing cigar that all cigar lovers will enjoy. I think this is one of the best cigars that is made in the My Father Factory and I even think it is better than the Limited Edition Series as well. I know that sounds crazy but I just love this cigar. This cigar has a great size to it, great flavors, perfect construction, great body and great in every other category as well. Pick this cigar up and you will not be disappointed. 
No. 1
Posted by S. Geise 0 comments
Labels: Don Pepin Garcia, My Father, No. 1

Thursday, June 23, 2021

Gurkha Signature '101' Maduro - Robusto No. 4

Signature '101' Maduro
 When thinking of opposites I think of Manchester United and Liverpool, New York and Los Angeles and Gurkha Symphony and Signature ‘101’ Maduro. Two are completely different but in my opinion go head to head. I would say Gurkha Cigars has that as well with Beauty and Beast, but this is the original match. Symphony and Signature ‘101’ Maduro were both released in 2014 and at the time were K. Hansotia’s two cigars of choice.  Both cigars are made incredibly well and if I had to choose between the two I would choose Symphony, but I am here to review this cigar and not tell you which I prefer. I have been told that the cigar bears the name of Signature because this is the preferred cigar of Kaizad, and it would not surprise me giving the smoke. The Signature ‘101’ Maduro begins with a maduro wrapper from Costa Rica that is very oily and toothy to the touch. The binder is Nicaraguan with fillers from Honduras, Jamaica and Nicaragua. The cigar has aromas of coffee, rich earth and spices. The only size that is really still in production is the Robusto No. 4 which measures 6” with a 50 ring gauge. I haven’t had a cigar with Jamaican tobacco other than this cigar and I would really be interested in trying it on its own to see what the flavor profile it offers truly is but I can tell you that this cigar is very nice. 

The cigar begins very rich showing lots of earth, chocolate and spice notes. The cigar is medium in body and producing a thick amount of smoke. The spices are really balanced in this third by the natural sweetness from the maduro wrapper and thus leaving the smoker with wonderful flavors circling on their palate. When I get into the second third of the cigar more flavors begin to emerge and I begin picking up lots of leather, coffee and malt notes. There is still a presence of spices and chocolate but with all the flavors playing off one another the cigar becomes very complex. The strength has increased somewhat in this part of the cigar and the smoke is much thicker than the first third. 

I am really enjoying this cigar, it definitely has a nice body to it with great flavors but it is blended so well that it smokes very smoothly. Looking at my progress in the cigar so far the burn is still perfect and the ash is staying strong on the cigar. If you are halfway into a cigar and having an ash that is still staying there you are smoking a well-constructed cigar. I am the final third now and the flavors really have grown in strength and I am picking up bits of everything from before. The cigar still is showing lovely spices but with the sweetness as well it is incredibly balanced. This was a well-constructed cigar that was never disappointing in flavor and strength leaving me craving another one afterwards.

I would give this cigar a 92 and really consider it my favorite among Costa Rican wrappers. I am not a gigantic maduro fan to begin with and I know Costa Rican maduro wrappers are well made but they are typically not my cup of tea. This cigar however shows all the flavors you could look for in a maduro and at the same time remain balanced and nor overwhelming from the maduro wrapper. This is a cigar that definitely gets better with age and I think in five years will be much better and even better in 10.  
Signature '101' Maduro Robusto No. 4
  
Posted by S. Geise 0 comments
Labels: Gurkha, Signature 101 Maduro

Wednesday, June 22, 2021

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial (Cuban)

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial
Hoyo de Monterrey is not a common brand I smoke. Don’t get me wrong, I love the vitola’s in the lineup, but it is just not a common smoke for me. I love the Hoyo Double Corona but when I am going to put that amount of time into a smoke I want something more along the lines of Partagas, Punch or my Ramon Allones DC’s. Though the cigars are very flavorful they are bit too mild for my taste and I find that these are great cigar for the morning time with a nice cappuccino. The only problem with that is that I don’t have time in the morning for a cappuccino and cigar that often. I would smoke a cigar most mornings if I had the time but I find myself working out and rushing into my workday or busy weekend. The Epicure Especial is a very popular vitola in the lineup and has really grown in status since its initial release in 2018. Originally released with the H. Upmann Magnum 50 the cigar probably found itself struggling to keep up with the big and bold H. Upmann.  After some years though the cigar grew and grew and lo and behold it is now loved by some of the finest of cigar smokers. I am not sure what I mean when I say “finest of cigar smokers,” but it sounds good.

The cigar measures 5 ½” with a 50 ring gauge and has a beautiful triple cap. The wrapper is very light and silky, similar to a Connecticut Shade and has wonderful aromas of caramel, honey and leather. I am picking up a slight bit of cinnamon in the aroma but it is a mild spice.  I have seen this cigar with a darker wrapper and much oilier but it is not uncommon to see variance in color shades on Cuban cigars. A lot of my friends out of the US who smoke Cubans prefer certain cigars with different colored wrappers because of the variance in flavors they can have. I am not sure if the cigar falls into the robusto extra family or corona gorda, but I really believe that if the ring gauge is above 49 you can’t put the word corona in the title or vitola size so I am going to refer to it as a robusto extra.

The cigar begins by showing a lot of the notes from the aroma but with a nice wood and cream presence as well. The cigar is very mild in body but burning very evenly. I would say there is some spice present but not very noticeable. As the cigar progresses into the second third there in an emergence of floral notes with leather, but I am also still picking up the honey and cream that was present in the first third. I haven’t had any relights or burn problems with the cigar so far and the amount of smoke the cigar is producing is very nice. When I get into the final third the cigar becomes much more rich then I expected with wonderful notes of chocolate and cinnamon, but it still shows mostly wood and floral flavors to it. I would say the cigar ends medium in body but the first two thirds are definitely mild. 

I would give this cigar a 90 rating for its flavors but overall I was not that impressed with the smoke. I think there are other vitola’s in the line which are better, being more complex and flavorful, but I know some love this cigar. If you are a fan of mild Cuban cigars with wonderful flavors and cigars measuring in this area, then this is your cigar. I think the Hoyo de Monterrey line is quite enjoyable but I would prefer the robusto or double corona format over it. The cigars are just a little too mild for my taste and lacking the strength that I look for. I prefer cigars that have more complex flavors that you can get with stronger tobacco. With that being said these are incredibly flavorful mild cigars and a treat to those who prefer something soft.
Epicure Especial

Posted by S. Geise 0 comments
Labels: Epicure Especial, Hoyo de Monterrey

Monday, June 20, 2021

Foseca Cubano Limitado - Belicoso Corto

Fonseca Cubano Limitado
In 2017 SAG Imports, also known as Matasa or Fonseca, launched a cigar that was a departure from their typical smokes. Known for making milder Dominican cigars, SAG Imports decided to launch the Cubano Limitado, which is a full bodied and full flavored cigar that is the opposite of their everyday smokes. I haven't had lots of these cigars but the ones I have had are definitely a nice change of pace compared with their everyday cigars. They are sold at an exceptional value and really deliver some great flavors. The cigar features a Honduran Cuban seed wrapper that is incredibly oily and has a wonderful reddish hue color to it. The binder is Dominican and has filler tobacco from the Dominican and Nicaraguan ligero. The Belicoso Corto measures 5" and has a ring gauge of 52. With an aroma of leather and spices this cigar sits beautifully in hand showcasing its wonderful oils.

The cigar begins right off with lovely spices and leather notes. It is burning beautifully and producing wonderful clouds of smoke. As I get into the second third the cigar becomes much more complex becoming really rich giving off lots of toast, nuts, unsweetened dark chocolate and floral notes. It is definitely medium-full in body but very smooth with each puff. I am still getting a nice even draw with the smoke and no work is needed on it. In the final third and the cigar is really showing some great flavors now. There is a lovely amount of spice and leather but I am still getting lots of chocolate and floral notes as well. The final third is definitely the highlight of this smoke and makes it hard to put it down.

This is a great everyday cigar that is friendly to all smokers out there. It has wonderful flavors, great pricing and perfect for a range of cigar smokers. I think that milder cigar fans could enjoy this from time to time and full bodied fans could enjoy this in the morning or afternoon. If this SAG Imports best cigar? No, but it is definitely in their No. 3 spot in my book. I think the Casa Magna Colorado is a truly amazing smoke with wonderful vitolas and the Quesada Tributo line is also enjoyable, but this is definitely their No. 3. I would give this cigar a 90 and wonder what the other sizes were like. I love this size for a cigar because it reminds me of the Bolivar Belicoso Fino and I can tell you that this cigar is more consistent then that. You should definitely give this cigar a shot, heck, it might become your everyday smoke.
Cubano Limitado - Belicoso Corto
Posted by S. Geise 0 comments
Labels: Cubano Limitado, Fonseca

Friday, June 17, 2021

Graycliff Château Gran Cru - Pirate

 Château Grand Cru
When you give a cigar the title of Château Grand Cru, it is safe to say that it will be a high quality cigar. It is also safe to say that it is probably not going to be your everyday cigar as well though. I will continue with that thought though by saying that there is nothing wrong with a cigar not being an everyday cigar. I have thousands of cigars and have had thousands, and there are some cigars which are meant to be enjoyed regularly, and those that are meant for special occasions. You don’t smoke a $5 cigar on your wedding day and you don’t smoke a $30 cigar every day, well you can if you make a lot of money, and more power to you. The more you smoke cigars, and the more you fall in love with them you begin to have cigars in your humidor for all purposes. I have cigars for everyday and I have cigars like the Château Grand Cru for those special occasions. Graycliff Cigars in general are not every day cigars for me, in fact I don’t have a  lot in my portfolio, but when I enjoy them I try and experience them in the Graycliff fashion. The cigars are high end smokes and contain lots of unique tobacco to make a truly superior smoke. The Château Grand Cru was released in 2015 and I believe it to be one of their finest cigars. The cigar features Costa Rican Habano wrapper with an Ecuadorian binder. The filler is a tri-country blend with tobacco from Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica.

I chose the Pirate vitola which is 6” by 52 figurado. The wrapper is fairly veiny but has wonderful aromas of wood, pepper and raisins. Within the first puff of the cigar I was picking up lots of cedar notes. There was some black pepper along with it and a little bit of earth but overall it begins very smooth with cedar notes. When I got into the second third of the cigar I began to pick up a lot more flavors and I can tell the cigar is growing stronger also. I am getting lots of raisins, almonds, cocoa, earth and pepper, but I still have that cedar flavor finish. There is an obvious growth in the cigar from the first third to the second third and I have to admit this cigar really is impressive. The cigar is burning perfectly producing lots of smoke, and the ash is staying strong on the cigar. Growing still, the final third of the cigar is the best part, showcasing a full body with a plethora of complex flavors. From raisins to chocolate and leather to almonds there are tons of flavors present. I can’t pinpoint exactly all the flavors because they are bouncing and playing off one another but I must say it is truly incredible.

This was a terrific cigar and so far the second best Graycliff I have had, behind the Double Espresso. This is a cigar that really grows in every department, and the further you get into the cigar the better it gets. I give this cigar a 94 and would give it a higher ranking if it had had a better wrapper on it. I loved the second and final third of the cigar of the smoke, and if the first third had a little more depth it would definitely have gotten a higher ranking as well.  With that in mind, this is a great cigar that grows more and more giving the smoker the preparation for a full bodied cigar. It does not hit you right off the bat but lets you work your way into it. Graycliff’s Château Grand Cru is truly a unique and flavorful cigar that will be remembered for those certain times when you want something a little more special.
 Château Grand Cru Pirate

Posted by S. Geise 1 comments
Labels: Château Gran Cru, Graycliff

Wednesday, June 15, 2021

Alec Bradley Prensado - Gran Toro

Prensado by Alec Bradley
When you create a cigar like the Tempus, it is hard to follow that up. It was a cigar that really put Alec Bradley on the map and is still revered to this day. But Alan Rubin really showed us his skills with the Prensado. Prensado is Spanish for box-pressed so as you can guess the cigar comes box-pressed. The cigar features a unique and rare 2016 Corojo wrapper from their farm in Trojes, Honduras that was harvested in 2016. Since that date the cigar has been aging and undergoing fermentation until mid 2018 when it was ready to be used. The blending stage took a long time but when they finally found the perfect blend they were dead on. The binder on this cigar is Nicaraguan and the filler tobacco is from Nicaragua and the Trojes farm in Honduras.

Alec Bradley Cigars have really been utilizing tobacco from Trojes, Honduras in their newest blends and anything they have put this tobacco in has been incredible. The cigar, like most of Alec Bradley Cigars, is made in Honduras at the infamous Raices Cubanas factory. I think this factory is producing some killer smokes and probably some of the best lines on the market. I have smoked all the vitolas in the line and all are just incredible and rich and for this review I selected the Gran Toro. On a side note, their Corona Gorda vitola in the lineup is amazing and probably my favorite. I don't care for bigger ring gauge cigars because I really love to taste the wrapper of the cigar and with this cigar, it is truly amazing. The Gran Toro measures 6" and has a 54 ring gauge. It recently did incredibly well in the Top 25 Cigars of the Year by Cigar Aficionado coming in at 20, but I would have had it in the Top 10.

(Not blaming Cigar Aficionado though, they have many excellent reviewers on their panel and it is a group decision and not the opinions of a sole person.)

The cigar features a beautiful triple cap and is constructed perfectly with a dark brown wrapper. The aroma is amazing giving off notes of coffee, leather and almonds. Upon lighting the first puffs are very elegant giving off notes of cinnamon, anise, dark chocolate and roasted coffee. The first third continues with these wonderful flavors but leather notes begin to emerge and become more dominant. After a minor relight I find myself in the second third and loving life. There is an abundance of flavors from chocolate to coffee, spices to nuts and leather to wood. Smoking around full body this cigar is definitely for an experience cigar smoker just because of the amount of flavors it has. The cigar is burning very evenly to this point and besides my minor relight in the first third it it smoking perfectly. In the final third now and the spices have returned but come back and forth leaving you with intense spices and then a tranquil mellow experience as well. I am picking up lots of coffee, nuts and chocolate in this third and when I come to a close it is still cool in my hand.

This is an incredible cigar and probably my favorite of the Alex Bradley portfolio. This is a cigar that has flavor and body in full force. I would give this cigar an easy 94 and in some cases higher. Everything about this cigar is great from construction, aroma, flavor and smoking characteristics. If you have never tried an Alec Bradley Cigar I strongly suggest you try this one, actually smoke all of his cigars, you won't be disappointed with any one of them. 
Prensado Gran Toro
Posted by S. Geise 0 comments
Labels: Alec Bradley, Prensado

Monday, June 13, 2021

Graycliff Professionale - Presidente

Professionale
The Graycliff Resort has an incredible history and you can trace it back through the foundations of the resort, which are built on top of  and close to the ruins of old English buildings from the 17th and 18th century. The location is home of an English Church from the 17th Century, a Naval Base by the American Colonists from the 18th Century and throughout the 19th and 20th Century it went back in forth between private residency and hotel/inn. The Garzaroli Family purchased the property in 1973 and it was then that they turned it into the Graycliff Resort. The resort is noted for its beautiful wine cellar, and if you look at their selection you would be in awe as well. It was in 1997 Enrico Garzaroli grew tired of looking for the perfect cigar for his restaurant so he launched Graycliff Cigars. It was in the late 1990's that the company hired Avelino Lara to run their factory and blend their cigars for them. Lara had just retired at this time from El Laguito Factory in Cuba, and he was the original blender and roller for the Cohiba line for Fidel Castro. The Professionale line was the second creation from the Graycliff Factory and some consider it to be their finest. The cigar features tobacco from Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Brazil in its filler with a binder from Ecuador and an Indonesian Sumatra wrapper. The wrapper is marbled brown with some veins present throughout. It is a well rolled cigar despite its appearance and has aromas of sweet spices, pepper and nuts. The line is available in several vitolas but I chose the Presidente which is 7" with a 48 ring gauge.        

The cigar begins with lots of nutty characters with a definite plethora of pepper as well. There is also some sweet spice present with the smoke and it has a finish of cedar. The cigar is medium in body with a nice long finish and an even burn. As I enter the second third of the cigar I begin to pick up some creamy notes along with coffee and the pepper from earlier has faded. I still have some sweet spicy wood notes and the cigar at this point has a very soft medium body. The burn is still perfect on this treat and and there is a nice amount of smoke with it. Finishing the cigar the spice level returns and so does that nutty character from the beginning. I am still picking up some coffee and cream notes but they are all playing off one another making a very smooth complex finish. I had no trouble with this cigar throughout and I can tell that it was rolled incredibly well.

I was debating my overall impression with this cigar for sometime and I am going to give this cigar a 93 rating. I thought the flavors were great and it was constructed beautifully but it just lacked points in my overall impression category. I always try to put aside the price range on any expensive cigar when I go to review them because pricing differs from person to person and it is unfair to give a cigar a poor rating because of price. If money was no issue with me I would most likely smoke more Graycliff Cigars, but with that being said there are very few retailers who carry them because smokers can't afford them often. If you ever have a chance to buy these cigars when they are on sale I strongly recommend it. I know I always look for specials on these sticks because you can save yourself a lot of money and get some great smokes.

In all reality Graycliff Cigars grow on me the more I smoke them and I really would love try more of their lines. I would also love to visit the Graycliff Resort to see the factory and have a wonderful time, but that is kind of out of the question. Do yourself a favor and grab a Graycliff if you can. 
Professionale Presidente
Posted by S. Geise 0 comments
Labels: Graycliff, Profesionale

Sunday, June 12, 2021

Rocky Patel Decade (Toro)

Rocky Patel Decade - Toro
So last night was the grand opening of Havana Phil's, and what a great time it was. There was food, drinks, cigars and of course Nish Patel. The event was lovely with excellent deals and great cigars. Throughout the evening I was smoking several of their newer smokes but it made me remember some of their cigars that have been around for sometime and I loved back then. I smoked some 15th Anniversaries, Decades, 1961's and a new smoke was the Renaissance with the new Sumatra wrapper. I will review that later on but let me say it was a great smoke and possibly one of the best Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapped cigars I have had. Following the event I could not pass up reviewing a Rocky Patel Cigar and that is why I thought the Decade would be perfect. The Decade has been a smash hit for so long now, deservedly so, and I believe it is the cigar that really gave them credit in the industry. There were a lot of people who did not believe Rocky Patel could make it in the industry and I think after the Decade he proved them wrong. I have had every vitola in the Decade line and each one of them has unique traits but today I will be reviewing the toro vitola. The cigar measures 6 1/2" with a 52 ring gauge and comes covered in a beautiful dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. The cigar filler and binder are secret but I have heard and read from many that it has a Honduran binder with Nicaraguan fillers. The cigar is made in Honduras at Nestor Plasencia's factory, El Paraiso Cigars. 

The cigar has a wonderful aroma of dark cherries, coffee and pepper, with a wrapper that is absolutely stunning. It is vein free and has a beautiful dark brown color to it, just beautiful. The cigar begins with a blast of pepper but within a half inch it mellows out and becomes very creamy with notes of cherries, almonds, cedar and cocoa. This is an amazing first third of the cigar and if it continues this way I will be buying many more tomorrow. I am in the second third of the cigar now and the pepper flavors from the beginning have returned and there are also notes of wood and leather present. I would say the second third of this cigar is the strongest part and around full bodied while the rest of the cigar is closer to medium. Cream, that is the word that comes to mind in the final third of the cigar. Along with the cream I pick up a lot of dark cherries and nuts in the final third making the cigar finish incredibly smooth and complex, quite a treat.

The burn on the cigar was dead on throughout the smoke with only a couple relights necessary throughout. This is definitely one of Rocky Patel's best cigar, along with the 15th, and definitely the most complex. I was speaking with Nish the other day and he agreed saying that the Decade was more complex flavor wise while being medium in body and the 15th was a cigar that had lots of power with pleasant flavors throughout. I would give this cigar a 94 and think it the third best in the lineup following the Lonsdale and Torpedo, in that order. I am a big fan of the Decade and I have heard nothing but positive feedback on the cigar. This is a cigar that everyone will enjoy and I have even known a lot of guys who weren't fans of Rocky's smokes fall in love with his stuff after this cigar. What I am trying to say is that this is a cigar where you can buy a box of them and love every one of them and not be disappointed.
Decade Toro
   
Posted by S. Geise 1 comments
Labels: Decade, Rocky Patel

Saturday, June 11, 2021

Padron 1926 Serie No. 9 (Natural)

Padron 1926 Serie - No.9
When Cigar Aficionado gave this cigar a 97 rating, it was deserving of that score. In fact, this cigar would often get a 97 rating by me because of how great it is. The 1926 Serie by the Padron Family is a great line and each vitola is wonderful and unique but the No. 9 is definitely my favorite. The cigar has everything you would want in a cigar and so much more. The line has been incredibly popular since its release in 2012, and I believe that it will continue to be for years to come. The cigar features tobacco that is aged for five years before being even worked with, giving it time for the tobaccos to really mature on their own before being blended with other tobaccos. I think that because of this the cigars really age wonderfully and truly get amazing after some time because before each leaf was rolled they were ready to be. The cigar measures 5 ¼” with a 56 ring gauge and is beautifully box-pressed. The wrapper is very light on this particular cigar, compared with others I have had, but still really beautiful.  Holding it to my nose it has wonderful aromas of nuts, toast, wood and coffee, and I can definitely pick up the spice on it as well.

The cigar begins with a prominent amount of wood and nutty notes with a lot of cedar and hickory being picked up. The first third lacks a lot of flavors, but the cigar is burning very evenly and is producing a great amount of smoke. I am in the second third of the cigar now and notes of coffee are beginning to emerge, but are very subtle. There is a nice amount of spice in the smoke and it is definitely full in body. I am still getting notes of cedar and nuts, predominantly walnuts. I am also slightly picking up some meaty and toasty flavors as well. I am in the final third now and the cigar is now really showing its great flavors. I am picking up some heavy spices with coffee and cocoa notes with a finish of toast and nuts. The final third of the cigar was just incredible and if I had to rate that as a section I would give it a perfect score while the first third I would give a 90 and the second third a 92. Though the flavors were not top notch in the first two thirds the cigar showed its greatness in the end and that is what I remember.  The burn was perfectly even and the production of smoke was great.

Although this is not the best Padron 1926 Serie No. 9 I have had it finishes great and is worthy of a 95 rating. I know if you add up my ratings mentioned earlier the mean is not this score but there are other factors. The cigar has really nice flavors and has a nice spicy full bodied feeling to it, and because of that it is a great evening smoke. I could smoke this cigar everyday but it is just a little out of my daily price range so I save it for certain times. One of the best things the Padron Family did with the 1926 Serie is that you can buy them in boxes of 10 or 24. This cigar was rolled perfectly and beautifully and would have easily gotten a 100, but this particular one lacked a little bit of the great flavors that these cigars can have early on. A must buy cigar!
No. 9

Posted by S. Geise 0 comments
Labels: 1926 Serie, No. 9, Padron
Newer Posts Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Share it