Review: Felipe Gregorio Felipe II Salomon

Brand: Felipe Gregorio
Name: Felipe II Salomon
Vitola: 7 x 58 Salomon
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Sumatra
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Body: Medium
Time of Smoke: 1:45 min
MSRP: 2.50 to $4
Price: Box of 20 for $31
Purchased: http://www.cigarbid.com/

I decided to have a smoke during a game of Bocce Ball with a couple buddies, and this cigar just stuck out to me in my humidor. I bought a box of these, and they'd been sitting in my humidor for at least two weeks now, so i figured i might as well give this stick a try.

Appearance & Construction: 24/25

Right out of the gate, I'll tell you this cigar is huge! By huge, i mean it's the biggest cigar I've ever smoked for sure, and my first Salomon cigar as well. This stick was wrapped in a very sleek looking darker brown Sumatra wrapper, and was very oily to the touch. The cap was well constructed and matched the wrapper, while the foot of the cigar flowed nicely into a small "nipple" for an easy light. It's firm touch only enhanced my belief this cigar was very well put together.

Smoking Experience: 20/25

This cigar lit up with ease, but then gave me problems the rest of the way through. I could not detect any serious notes of flavor expect for an earthiness and some slight cocoa through the entire smoke. The first third burned completely unevenly, and needed touched up severely. After about the midway point, it burned wavy at best, and the draw improved to a small degree. I still didn't get much flavor from it, which was disappointing because from the look and construction i had high hopes. It's ash was a light gray coloration, and although I've heard the ashes on these sticks can get very, very large, this one only managed to go about an inch and a half.

Price: 18/20

At 31 dollars for a box of twenty, that is $1.55 per stick, so not bad at all. I got these on cigarbid, so i paid there shipping prices which in turn increased the per stick price some, but still near 2 dollars per smoke. Your getting your money's worth in terms of tobacco that's for sure.

Overall: 23/25

Overall, i was left disappointed with a great looking and wonderfully constructed Felipe Gregorio cigar. I never really found any dominate notes of flavor, nor did this stick burn well at all. I have nine more of these beasts, so eventually I'll be giving it another try. Hopefully with a little aging, it will improve.

Rating: 85

Review: Bahia Trinidad Pancho

Brand of Cigar: Bahia
Name of Cigar: Trinidad
Vitola: Robusto 5 1/2 x 52
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Body: Medium
Time of Smoke: 1 hour
MSRP Price: $2-2.25 per stick $104 per box
Purchase Price: $40
Place of Purchase: Cigarbid.com

Intro:

I've had the Bahia Trinidad's before and for a cheap smoke i remembered them being fairly good, so i decided to buy a 5 pack on cigarbid and try them out again. So here i am, with my friend whose smoking a Felipe Gregorio, in our breezeway.

                                              

 Appearance/Construction: 22/25

I tore through the plastic on this stick like it was Christmas. I’ve been busy the last few days, so I’m going through stogie withdrawal. This cigar had been sitting in my humidor for about a month so it was firm, with just a little bounce to it. The wrapper was a light brown shade, with no veins or imperfections. The cap was solid, but left a little tobacco on the tip even with my best cutter. After the cut, I noticed that the cigar wasn’t very tightly wrapped, as evidence in this picture.

Smoking Experience: 22/30

Lighting this stogie up with excitement, I found the first third to be very peppery, with a small leathery note, as well as a woodsy note as well. It had a wavy burn through this third, but still pulled a good amount of smoke. Once it reached the second third, most of the notes had faded and left me with the peppery taste. At this point it was already started to leave the tip of my tongue hot each time I drew smoke. The ash was a dark grey, and ran about an inch long each time.



 Value: 18/20

The Bahia Trinidad Pancho isn’t a very expensive cigar, running at an MSRP of around 2 dollars. I got a bundle on Cigarbid for $40, or 2 dollars per stick. So I really didn’t buy them at much of a discount, but still cheap is cheap!

Overall Rating: 23/25

Overall, this cigar had no real flaws, but then again had nothing really going for it either. The construction and appearance, while it wasn’t bad at all, didn’t leave my wowed. Its taste wasn’t bad either, but yet again nothing special. If you want a cigar to smoke while you’re doing something, then I suggest this one. This cigar is one I’d be smoking while I’m fishing, or grilling out. Not one I’d plan my day around.

Rating: 85

Review: CAO Cameroon Toro

Brand: CAO
Name: Cameroon

Vitola: 5 ½ x 55 Toro

Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Cameroon

Filler: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Body: Full

Time of Smoke: 1:20

MSRP: $6-7

Price: $3.06+

Purchased: Tobacco Village

Intro:

I bought this stick right before I came back to school, so it’s been just about a month. When I bought it, the stick was very soft, and after a month in my humidor I was able to get it back to a respectable feel. Now I’m very partial to two cigars, Montecristo and CAO, I absolutely love them. The Montecristo is my favorite brand, and the CAO brand was one of the first cigars that I started smoking. So I’ll be as unbiased as a can with this one! Unfortunately i don't have any pictures for this smoke, my camera died on me just as i was lighting this one up.

Appearance & Construction: 23/25

The Cameroon wrapper was as close to flawless as I’ve seen in a good while, the veins were no problem here, nor were there any raised spots at all. The cap was solid, with very little difference in color from the wrapper. The only flaw in this cigar was the fact that it was still a little too soft for my liking, and even with my best cutter it left me with some tobacco in my mouth. The initial draw was good, and i could tell this smoke was going to be a solid stick.

Smoking Experience: 27/30

This stick lit up without problems, and the smoke drew with ease from this stogie. The first third was very smoky which I was pleased with, and I got heavy notes of chocolate and undertones of some spices I couldn’t quite identify. The second third continued to smoke well, and left me with a chocolate note, as well as coffee, and those same undertones of spices. From the midway point on this stick had a lot strength and the notes were very prevalent. The burn throughout was very solid and the ash lasted well over an inch both times.

Price: 19/20

By far the best discount I’ve gotten in a while, and although this cigar store always lets me down in terms of condition, they have the dirt cheap prices. At 3 bucks, I’ll keep buying them all day! Even at MSRP they are worth it.

Overall: 23/25

Overall, this smoke is a keeper! I found no real flaws, except for the softness of the stogie, but with a little more aging that wouldn’t have been a problem. The flavors were strong, the smoke was thick, draw easy, and the burn very good. I have nothing bad to say about the Cameroon, and I would recommend this one to any cigarnivore!

Rating: 92

Review: Padilla Achilles Robusto

Brand of Cigar: Padilla
Name of Cigar: Achilles
Vitola: Robusto 5x54
Wrapper: Habano-Seed Corojo
Binder: Unknown
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic
Body: Medium
Time of Smoke: 1.15
MSRP Price: 5 pack at $20-22
Purchase Price: 5 pack at $11
Place of Purchase: Cigarbid.com

Intro:

I’ve had a 5 pack of these once before and remember them being a pretty solid smoke. So naturally I grabbed a second 5er off of cigarbid for 11 bucks. Now after about 3 or 4 weeks of seasoning in my humidor, this stick is going to accompany me out to the breezeway so we can get to know each other a bit more.

Appearance & Construction: 22/25



This cigar was tightly wrapped



This Robusto comes in at 5 x 54, with a medium brown Cuban-seed corojo wrapper. The wrapper itself looked very well aside from a good sized raised spot near the head of the stick. It also had a smaller raised vein towards the foot that I only noticed after I began smoking it. The wrapper itself was very oily, and had no other imperfections. The cigar cut well, which I wasn’t expecting seeing as how large of a ring size it had.

Smoking Experience: 26/30

I lit this puppy up with excitement, as it had been at least a week since I’d had a cigar, so my expectations were high! This cigar started off well, leaving me with a wood flavor, with a peppery after taste in my mouth. After about the half way point I was getting the same woodsy flavor, as well as a nutty note, and the peppery after taste shifted and became a little sweeter. The Achilles burned very evenly throughout the entire cigar, and it’s ash lasted at least an inch both times.

Price: 18/20

I got these beauties in a 5 pack for $11, so at $2.20 I can’t complain. The MSRP is around 20-25 bucks per 5 pack, so I did get a good deal on these at Cigarbid.com

Overall: 23/25

Overall, there is absolutely nothing bad I can say about this stick. The Padilla Achilles offered some very good flavor notes, burned well, and aside from the two raised veins was very well constructed. Unfortunately I only have 1 of these left out of my 5 pack, so once it gets some time in my humidor I will definitely be giving it another go! I recommend this one to any cigarnivore, especially if they enjoy a medium bodied smoke

Rating: 89

October Releases Part 3

La Aurora 107 Maduro

This feature from La Aurora will be donning a very beautiful Oscuro wrapper from Ecuador. The filler is a blend from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The tobacco used for the binder wasn’t disclosed, but this stick is said to have flavor notes of cedar, spices, and an earthiness. I wasn’t able to find the MSRP on the Maduro, but it’s sister cigar the 107 is around $8, so you can expect something similar.

Padilla 8 & 11

Padilla will be re-releasing it’s famous 8 & 11 line this October, with a very limited quantity of 200 boxes. Each box will come with 20 Robusto cigars. The 8 & 11’s will consist of wrapper, filler, and binder, all from Nicaragua. The first release of this line has an MSRP of $8.95, but there was no info on the price of the re-release. With Padilla being one of my favorites, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for these beauties.

Tatuaje Monster Series "The Wolfman"

Every Halloween Tatuaje unveils a new cigar for it’s Monster Series, and this year is no different. They’ve come out with “The Wolfman”, a 7 ½ x 52 box pressed torpedo. This gem will be given hair in the form of a shaggy foot, and will be released exclusively in only 666 boxes. In boxes of 13, and unmarked boxes of 10, you should expect to pay around $13 per stick. If I can get my hands on one of these, I will be aging it for years!!!

October Releases 2011 Part 2

Leon Jimenes Prestige



Leon Jimenes' newest line released this month. The Leon Jimenes Prestige comes in three different sizes including a 5X38 Corona, a 5X50 Robusto, and a 7X47 Churchill. The Prestige comes from La Aurora's factory in the Dominican Republic. It will have a Dominican filler, Corojo wrapper, and will be a medium bodied blend. The medium body is a nice change of pace from the usual mild cigars from Jimenes. These sticks look like a pretty good smoke, but they'll cost you. The Prestige's MSRP ranges from $8.20 for the Corona to $10.30 for the Churchill.

Torano Vault

Carlos Torano released his newest addition to the popular Torano brand on October 1st. The Vault's filler will be composed of three different Nicaraguan tobaccos and it's held together by a Honduran binder and Nicaraguan Colorado wrapper. It will come in three different sizes including a 5X52 Robusto, a 6X50 Toro, and a 6 1/8X52 Torpedo. The Vault will also be accompanied by a Limited Edition Corona Gorda Vault which will release on Halloween day. The MSRP on these sticks sits right around $7.00

AKACigars Full Body


American KickASS Cigars will be releasing their newest cigar in October. AKA started releasing their cigars in 2010 when they brought out the "Hybrid" and "Respect" ines. Now they will add the "Full-Body" to their line. The new line will be a tribute to the United States Military and AKA will donate a percentage of their sales to the US Military. Their is not a whole lot of info about the "Full Body" line out their yet other than that it is a Honduran Blend. The info to take away from this release is that AKACigars look to be a badass new cigar brand. They have some awesome ideas at AKA including sending in your bands to receive dogtags showing your American KickAss Cigar rank, not to mention they are giving back to the US military and have some awesome looking bands! Sign me up for one of these 18-band boxes!

October Releases 2011 Part 1

C & C Corojo

This new line comes from the makers of Cusano cigars, and will be in three different Vitola’s. The Robusto 5 x 50, the Toro 6 x 52, and finally the Churchill at 7 x 50. This cigar comes in a Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, binder from the Dominican Republic, and filler of seco, viso, and ligero all Corojo or Cuban seeds. This stick is a medium bodied cigar, and will profile many spicy notes. These won’t be too expensive either, with an MSRP ranging from $3.99 to $4.50 per cigar.

C & C LRMD


C&C LRMD Cigar Band



The second stick from C & C is there limited release of the LRMD. This cigar will profile a Dominican maduro wrapper, binder from the Dominican, and a filler blend of Piloto Cubano and Ligero. The LRMD is a medium to full bodied smoke, with a more sweeter flavor than the Corojo. There was no MSRP for this line, but this cigar will be coming in the same three Vitola’s as the Corojo.



The E.P Carrillo's newest Limitada line.

 E.P. Carrillo Limitada Edición Limitada 2011 "Dark Rituals”

The cigars name, “Dark Rituals”, is taken from it’s beautiful dark maduro wrapper. This stick is a follow up line to the 2010 edition which was one of the top ten cigars of 2010 according to Cigar Aficionado’s. The oscuro maduro wrapper’s origin was not released, but this stogie has Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and filler from Nicaragua. The “Dark Rituals” will be in a “Super Toro” vitola and will sit at 6 ½ x 56. There is no MSRP for this stick as of now, so keep your eyes peeled.

Montecristo No. 2 Gran Reserva Consecha 2005

The Montecristo's Classic Band

My personal favorite cigar brand will be releasing a new Cuban blend this October. The Gran Reserve is the first of its kind from Montecristo, it comes in at a 52 by 152mm. This cigar will be limited in its release, with only 5,000 numbered boxes each containing 15 of these beauties. The price on these puppies are unknown, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for more information.

Oliveros King Havano Maduro Fuerte Monarch

Brand of Cigar: Oliveros
Name of Cigar: King Havano Maduro Fuerte Monarch
Vitola: 6X54
Wrapper: Maduro Fuerte
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Body: Full
Time of Smoke: 1:25
MSRP Price: $4.70-5.40
Purchase Price: $2.00 (20 for $40.00)
Place of Purchase: Cigarbid.com


Intro:

I looked in my humidor for what I was going to smoke tonight and realized I was down to my last Oliveros King Havano. I figured I'd better do a review on this one before I forgot about it and smoked my last one. About four months ago I bought a box of these maduro sticks and have already gotten to the end of my supply. I decided to bust out my knew scissor cutters and makeshift ashtray and give this one a go on my deck while enjoying the wind and rain from the storm before I got to my much anticipated Fantasy Football Draft.

Appearance/Construction: 21/25

The first thing I noticed about the King Havano is the dark maduro wrapper. I will admit the dark brown wrapper gave me enough reason to take a chance on these. Not only is the wrapper nice and dark like I prefer, but the band looks great as well. The band is a thick one that is mostly gold with some nice artistic elements added to it. I really thought the gold matched up well with the darkness of the stick. The King Havano also has a smaller band at the foot of the cigar which gave it a nice unique look. From a distance these cigars look beautiful, I will say however, that they do drop off in appearance after a closer look. I noticed that this particular stick had quite a few veins running through it. The veins even made the cigar a little bumpy along the wrapper and took away from the elegant look that I saw from afar.

Smoking Experience: 27/30

After poring myself a glass of Glen Ellen Pinot Gritio and taking a seat on my deck, it was time to examine this cigar properly. After all, the looks really don't mean that much as long as the stick smokes like a champ. During the pre-light examination, I noticed that the King was firm but had a nice bounce to it, and gave off some earthy and mocha tones. I got right into this one and it started burning wonderfully just like the previous King Havanos I had smoked. For a two dollar stick, this one really burns well. I was taken over by the thick smoke that rolled of this cigar and knew that it had the chance to be a solid stick. I started taking in some notes of leather and mocha right away, and those were met by the common earthy and peppery flavors. This one was smoking evenly just like the others that I had smoked and it didn't require any touch-ups. I ended up smoking the gray ash to about 1.5 inches before deciding to ash it before I got hit with some cigarbage. I really didn't want to be cleaning it up when I should have been choosing between AP and Chris Johnson. One thing I was really surprised about was the color of the smoke, it had a brown tint to it, which is a little different from the usual white and gray clouds that I associate with cigars. This was different than what I'm used to, but I had no problem with it. The only problems I had with the cigar was the leaf coming undone a little where I had cut the cigar and tasting a bit of harshness once the stick got down to about an inch. But overall, I solid smoking experience.

Value: 18/20

For two dollars a stick, I can't complain about this one. The construction of the cigar could have been a little better, and I would have liked to see a better flavor profile for a full cigar, but I'm nit picking here. For the price, this is a pretty damn good cigar and I would definitely purchase again at a $2.00 price tag. I personally think that this one's worth it even at MSRP.

Overall Rating: 22/25

Overall, this cigar is a pretty solid stick. The only complaint I could have is the construction, but even with the veins and rough surface, the cigar was a very enjoyable smoke. It didn't have the best flavor profile for a full-bodied cigar, but again, at $2.00 or even $5.40 I'm not complaining. I would definitely recommend this dark Oliveros.

Rating: 88

The Griffin's Classic Robusto

Brand of Cigar: The Griffin's

Name of Cigar: Griffin's Classic
Vitola: 5X50 Robusto
Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Body: Mild
Time of Smoke: 1:15
MSRP: $5-7
Purchase Price: Gift (unknown)
Place of Purchase: Unknown


Intro:
I received this smoke from my brother because I ran into the unusual problem where I did not have a cigar on me. I had heard of "The Griffin's" cigars before, but had never had one in my years of smoking. I thought it looked like a good stick, and since I hadn't had one of these Connecticut sticks before, I figured I'd better do a review on it. I took the stick and smoking utensils out to the back deck and took in the experience of a smoke out in the woods.


Appearance/Construction: 21/25
Although I personally enjoy the appearance of a nice dark maduro cigar, I couldn't help but think this stick was a beautiful specimen. The 5X50 Robusto looked very smooth and upon putting my lips to it, I could sense a nice oily feel to it. There were a couple prominent veins that ran the length of the cigar, but overall it was a very smooth cigar and put together well. I had no problems with the cigar coming unraveled and the cap disconnected from the rest of the stick with ease.

Smoking Experience: 28/30
Upon taking the cigar out of the wrapper I noticed a woody scent with a little touch of sweetness to it. As I mentioned earlier, it was oily to the touch and looked to be a promising cigar. I lit this delight up with a Coors Light on my side and was ready to start enjoying. After lighting this one up, I immediately started getting some earthy tones along with some nutty flavors. It had a nice dense smoke and I know problems with the draw of the cigar. I personally enjoy a more full-bodied cigar, but this one was exceeding my expectations. "The Griffins" Classic definitely didn't take me over with flavor, but it was a very enjoyable smoke. I decided to risk dealing with "cigarbage" and try to keep the ash going on this one. I kept waiting for the long white ash to fall, but it never seemed to happen. Finally the ash fell from the rest of the cigar after about 2.5"....that's half of the cigar! As a firm believer of the "smoke till you can't no more" mentality, I decided to smoke this cigar down to the bitter end. The only thing was, there was no bitter end. I finally put it down, with about half an inch left, and although my fingers were starting to feel the heat, I never experienced any harshness to the cigar. By the end, this cigar had earned my respect.


Value: 18/20
This is by far one of the better mild cigars I can remember. As a gift, the value is great, but even if I had bought it for the $5.00 price tag, I would have to say I got my money's worth. I would definitely purchase this cigar again, and it would be great for the casual smoke. I feel the $5.00 price tag is very reasonable for this particular stick.


Overall Rating: 23/25
Although I am more of a full-bodied smoker, I must say that this mild cigar was a delight. The burn was flawless and although there was not a lot of complexity, the flavors kept me wanting more. I don't know many smoother cigars out there. It's also a plus that I know I can turn to this particular cigar if I am in need of a specimen for a long-ash contest. Overall, this cigar ranks at the top for me in mild cigars.
Rating: 90

Review: H. Upmann 1844 No. 100

Brand: H Upmann
Name: 1844 No. 100
Vitola: 4 ½ x 50 Robusto
Wrapper: Indonesia
Filler: Dominican Republic, Brazil
Binder: Dominican Republic
Body: Medium
Time of Smoke: 1:10
MSRP: $5.00
Purchase Price: $4.75
Place of Purchase: Spanky’s Tobacco World

Intro:

This was the second cigar I purchased at a local cigar store, the same place that usually doesn't take care of their sticks. Luckily, this cigar came out unscathed for the most part, and I gave it some time in my own humidor just for extra measures. I decided to smoke this cigar with some friends as we enjoyed some drinks around a fire. Since becoming a cigar smoker, I’ve tried more brands than I can keep track of, but I don't believe I’ve had very many H Upmann's, so I was looking forward to this smoke.

(Sorry about the bad picture quality)


Appearance & Construction: 23/25

After running it through my hands a bit, I could find no soft spots and it seemed rather firm. The Sumatra wrapper was a natural color, with no veins or raised spots which is a testament to how well it was shade grown This stick didn’t have the most oily wrapper, and the cap wasn’t the same shade either. It cut well, so no problems there.   

Smoking Experience: 22/30

This cigar was a lot tougher to draw smoke from than I expected, and I caught myself a few times pulling fairly hard for a mouthful of smoke. When I did get smoke, it left me with notes of earth, some cocoa, as well as a small note of leather. The burn was very solid, with very little waviness at all. After the half way mark, the smoke became a little more easy to draw, and the flavors (which hadn’t changed) came out a little stronger which I was happy about.

Price: 18/20

I bought this smoke for $4.75, and I saw the No. 100 online anywhere from $3.50 to $5.50 so it's a pretty cheap smoke with some good qualities. There are better cigars under 5 bucks, but this seems to be a solid choice.

Overall: 23/25

A fairly good smoke for its cheap price tag, and I'd recommend it for a beginner or someone looking for a mellow taste. It doesn't have any bad qualities, and I’m looking forward to some of H Upmann's other cigars. I'll let the others I’ve purchased sit in my humidor for a little while longer, and I'll be sure to get back to you when I’ve smoked another!

Rating: 86

Warlock Robusto

Brand of Cigar: Warlock

Name of Cigar: Warlock Robusto
Vitola: 4 3/4 X 54 Robusto
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cubano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
Body: Full
Time of Smoke: 1:20

MSRP Price: $6.25
Purchase Price: $6.00

Place of Purchase: Puff N' Stuff


Intro:
This was another purchase connected to the stupidity of leaving all of my cigars in Ohio. I can't complain though, this is the first time I had seen this cigar and if I hadn't forgotten all my sticks in my humidor I may have never got the opportunity to smoke this one. When I walked in the Puff N' Stuff humidor I ran across the usual Romeo Y Julietas, Cristos, and lower end cigars. I decided that I wanted to try something different, and then I came across the Warlock, they had a toro and robusto, but I decided to go with the robusto because I hadn't heard anything about this particular cigar before. I decided to sit down with the old man and a glass of Monticello Vineyards 2009 Presedential Chardonnay and see just what I had purchased.


Appearance/Construction: (22/25)
I personally thought this was a nice looking cigar. I'll be honest, the main reason I picked this one up was because of the dark maduro wrapper on it. It is definitely one of the darker cigars I've smoked, it reminds me a lot of the Montecristo Media Noches. The band was also pretty cool, it was very plain but the black and silver gave it a nice modern feel and it coincided well with the black maduro wrapper. The cigar did have a couple major veins running through it and it was almost rough to the touch, which hurts it a little in the ratings.


Smoking Experience: (27/30)
Even during the pre-light I could tell this cigar was going to have a nice bitterness to it. It had a nice chocolate smell to it, but I could also make out the spiciness right off the bat. After getting the intimidating Warlock lit, I started getting hints of a dark chocolate/mocha. The chocolate tones continued throughout the first third, but the spices kept the stick from overtaking you with sweetness. The spices really picked up in the second half and it really started to taste like I was sipping on a bitter coffee. The change was pretty significant, and I personally enjoyed it. The cigar was also producing a nice amount of smoke along with a nice white 1.5" ash. Once I got to the final third of the cigar, I started to get a little harshness. I continued to get touches of chocolate but the harshness took over the cigar with about an inch left. Although the stick did get a little harsh, I was thoroughly impressed with the fact that I never had to touch the Warlock up and didn't have to worry about it going out on me.



Value: (18/20)
I was more than satisfied with this stick by the end of the 1:20 smoke. I bought this one for $6.00 and that seems to be about the norm (found them online for $6.25). I would be willing to buy this one again and might even grab a few before I head back to Ohio for the fall. The harshness was the only disappointment in this stick, but in reality I should expect that when I'm smoking them down to the nub.

Overall Rating: (22/25)
Overall, I really enjoyed this cigar, I liked the dark maduro look to it and the chocolaty flavor profile. It had a nice thick smoke and I never had to think about touching this one up. I think I will go grab another and see how a little aging affects it. For grabbing this one out of the store and smoking it immediately I am pretty impressed with this badass robusto.

Rating: 89

Review: Trinidad Habana Reserve Short Churchill

Brand: Trinidad
Name: Habana Reserve Short Churchill

Vitola: 4.5 x 54 Petit Chruchill

Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Conneticut

Filler: Honduras/Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Body: Full

Time of Smoke: 1 hour

MSRP: $5.00

Price: $4.05+

Purchased: Tobacco Village

I met up with my fellow cigarnivore the other day to talk a bit about this site and i promised him I'd bring him the Montecristo Reserva Negra he'd been asking for. So, like we usually do, went out onto his patio and decided we might as well smoke a cigar... Fine by me!


Appearance & Construction: 23/25

This Trinidad was on the lighter brown shade, with a cap of the same color. I bought this stick from the same Tobacco Village where I had gotten the Montecristo Classic Especial No. 03, so i assumed it would be very soft as well, luckily for me though it was not. This cigar proved to be very healthy and had just a slight bounce to it. The wrapper had one small wrinkle in it, and one small raised vein around the wrapper. The cap cut very smoothly, and left me with no tobacco to get in my mouth!

Smoking Experience: 23/30

This cigar lit up with ease, and immediately i began drawing a wonderfully thick smoke. The first two inches of this stick left me with notes of leather, and a slight peppery note on the tip of my tounge. Luckily, on this particular smoke i anticipated cigarbage, and caught the ash in my ashtray. The ash on this petit beauty was about an inch and a half long with a medium grey shade to it. It's burn was fairly even, and never once required my attention. After the first two inches, the TTT Trinidad presented a woodsy or woody flavored note, and the pepper at the end of my tounge had disappeared. Overall, the taste of this stick wasn't dominating my mouth with flavor, but i was still pleased.

Price: 19/20

At $4.05 per stick, i have absolutely no room to complain. MSRP on these petits are around 5 dollars, so i got a pretty good deal. I always wonder how this Tobacco Village makes any money on cigars when i've never once bought a cigar at MSRP from there.

Overall: 23/25

Overall, i would most definitely recommend this cigar to anyone. Light smokers would enjoy the length of smoke on this stick, while more adept smokers would be pleased with its taste and construction. I found no problems with this stick aside from one small vein, and i have no doubts in my mind i'll be purchasing a box of these.

Rating: 93

September Releases: Part 3

Padron Family Reserve 85^th

Padron released their Padron Family Reserve No. 47 on September 8^th. They have changed the name to the 85^th to commemorate Jose O. Padron's 85^th birthday. The 85^th has a Nicaraguan maduro wrapper along with a Nicaraguan binder and filler. This stick will come in a 5 ¼X50 Vitola and like the other Padron annual releases, this one will be a little pricey. Currently these sticks are selling for $20.00 a piece.

SWAG Limitado 99

Oliveros will be releasing their newest addition to the SWAG line in September. The '99 which is known as “The Infamous” was originally set to release in July but was pushed back to a September release. It will come in a 6X54 vitola and will be limited to a 2000 box release. The price of this stick comes in at about $6.00 which is fairly cheap considering the limited release and 1999 tobacco that is used in the filler.

Undercrown by Drew Estate

Drew Estate will also be releasing a new line this September. After the highly successful Liga Privada line, they have decided to release the similar Undercrown line. Rather than using the Connecticut wrapper that the Privadas use, they will use the Connecticut leaf in the filler and use a Mexican San Andres Negro wrapper. This stick will have five vitolas ranging from a 5X54 Robusto to a 6X60 Gordito. The Undercrown's MSRP ranges from $7.45-9.95.

September Releases: Part 2

La Aurora Corojo

This Robusto sizes in at a 5 x 50, with a very fancy looking red, white and silver wrapper. It has already been released this month so it’ll be hitting stores any time now. It’s filled with Piloto Cubano, Dominican Olor, and Nicaraguan blends of tobacco, and bound with Ecuadorian Sumatra tobacco. Finally its' wrapper is a beautiful looking Ecuadorian Corojo that is sure to please many. In terms of MSRP, I have yet to find any information on it, but I don’t expect it to be too pricey.

NCH Surrogates

New Havana Cigars has released two new sticks, one called The Bone Crusher and the second named Skull Breaker. The first is a 5 ¼ x 54 ring, while the skull breaker is a 5 ¼ x 52. There isn’t much else in terms of news on these two sticks, but the MSRP is supposedly around $7.50 per stick. The Bone Crusher is the more full bodied of the two smokes.

San Lotano Oval

The San Lotano Oval will be released this September in a very limited release, with more to be sent to dealers throughout the year. This stick has a Ecuadorian Habano 200 wrapper, and is supposedly a new vitola to the industry. They have yet to disclose its shade and size, so it will be very interesting to see it when it actually does come out. Its' binder is from Nicaragua, and filler from Nicaragua and Honduras. The release also states that there is another blend of tobacco in the filler, but it has yet to be released. There also hasn’t been a set MSRP, but I’d expect them in the 10-15 dollar range. It will be a 30 cigar box, individually numbered and plated. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on this one!

CAO OSA

One of my favorite cigar brands will be releasing its newest blend, the OSA SOL. This will be wrapped in a 2008 Olancho San Agustin wrapper, which Rick Rodriguez (Head of Product Development for CAO) chose for its specific oils. To get the medium bodied flavor, the OSA used a Connecticut broadleaf binder, with Nicaraguan and Honduran filler. This stick was made to have a uniquely robust, earthy flavor with a full body aroma. the 5 x 50 lot will be available for 5.75 per stick, while a box is around $143. There will also be a 6 x 54, and a 6 1/2 x 58.

Gurkha Cellar Reserve

The Cellar reserve will also be dropping in September.  It uses 15 year aged tobacco starting with an oily Criollo 1998 wrapper, a Dominican Olor binder, and finally filler from Criollo and Nicaragua. These medium bodied sticks will be coming in a 20 count, hand carved wooden box, and in 5 different sizes.  The sizes will consist of a 4 x 58 Perfecto, 5 x 58 Double Robusto, 6 x 58 Gran Rothchild, 7 x 54 Churchill and a 6 x 60 XO, with an MSRP ranging from $7.99-$12.95 per stick.

Cigar Releases: September 2011 Edition

Zino Embassy Selection 2011 - Sept, 1 release



Zino's 2011 edition of the ongoing Embassy Selection will be hitting stores this month with a limited production of 30,000 cigars. This Zino has a robusto vitola, at 5 inches long and a ring of 52. It comes wrapped in a special Ecuadoran sun grown called "Selection 702", with a Dominican Criollo binder and filler made with Criollo, Pioto, and San Vicenete ligeros. Packed in a burgundy 10 count box, the Embassy Selection has an MSRP of $10.30 per smoke before taxes.






Davidoff White Edition 2011 - Throughout September

The newest from the Davidoff brand will be hitting stores this month with their newest vitola called the Belicoso Supremo, sitting at 5 1/2 x 52. This Edition will have a Dominican Criollo wrapper, Peruvian Corojo Binder, and filler of Vicenete, Visus, and Piloto ligero that has been aged for over 5 years! This stick will be sold in individual white boxes, at a whopping $19 per cigar. There's a limited release of 9,000 cigars in this selection.

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Two new Cuban cigars will be released this month, the Hoyo dey Monterrey Short Hoyo Pirimades and the Partagas Serie E No. 2. Both of these sticks will be released worldwide this, although you will have to travel for these as the U.S. will not be getting any of these Cuban delights. The Partagas measures in at 5 1/2 x 54, and is the brand's largest ring gauge pajero. The Hoyo is a short stick measuring in at 5 3/8 x 46, and is said to be a great beginner's smoke.

Stay Tuned for Part II....

Montecristo 75th Anniversario No.2

Brand of Cigar: Montecristo

Name of Cigar: 75th Anniversario No.2
Vitola: 6 1/8 X 52 Torpedo
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan & Honduran
Body: Medium
Time of Smoke: 1:30

MSRP Price: $14.70-16.65
Purchase Price: $8.00

Place of Purchase: Puff N' Stuff


Intro:

I made my way back to Pennsylvania this week to get together with my fellow Cigarnivore so we could smoke some cigars and try and get this site up and running. About an hour into my five hour drive I realized I had forgotten my sticks in my humidor in Ohio. What was I to do? The obvious answer was to go grab some more cigars at the local cigar shop, Puff N' Stuff. Unlike the other local cigar shops in the area, this place actually keeps their cigars pretty well and are relatively inexpensive. I managed leaving the shop with this 75th Anniversario Cristo for $8.00, to say I was excited to smoke this stick would be an understatement. Because I was in a bind, I didn't have time to age this cigar, but I know that the store has had these for at least the last six months so I figured I'd be alright. I took this one out to the back deck with my fellow Cigarnivore (who had a Siglo) and got ready to enjoy my purchase.

Appearance/Construction: (23/25)
When I picked this cigar up, I couldn't help but think it was a great looking cigar. It was a great sized cigar (6X52) for my liking (I prefer a cigar over a 50 ring). It also came packaged in a nice dark chocolatey wrapper. It also had a nice oily coating on it. I didn't see any major veins running through the stick and overall it looked to be a very smooth stick that was rolled with quality. This is pretty typical of Montecristo as I haven't had too many that weren't put together well. The Band reminded me a lot of the Cristo Cabinet Selection bands, however the 75th Anniversario added a sense of nostalgia to it. Once I saw the 75th Anniversario I was naturally suckered into making the purchase.

Smoking Experience: (25/30)

After getting this thing out of the plastic and cracking open a nice cold Red-Stripe to accompany it, I looked for the pre-light characteristics and noticed the usual earthy tones along with a sweet hint to it. I lit this bad boy up and was immediatly engulfed in smoke. The heavy smoke that came from this stick was certainly a plus, and I had no problem with the draw. I must say I thought I was in for a classic, the smoke and draw were good and I was getting hints of mocha and some sweeter tastes. Throughout the first third, all was well, the sweetness continued with some earthy tones and I had a dark one inch ash clinging to the end of the stick. Once the ash fell, this cigar started to fall off a little however. I had to touch up the stick on three different occasions, which I personally don't think should be happening with a $15.00 MSRP Cristo. The cigar never did get harsh, but with a little over an inch left, the Cristo started tunneling and I decided to call it quits.



Value: (17/20)

I personally enjoyed the flavor profile of this particular cigar, but the touch ups and tunneling shouldn't be present in a quality stick such as this. I don't think I would purchase this cigar at the MSRP, but I may give it another try at the $8.00 price tag and age it in my humidor for a little while. This was by no means a bad cigar, I think with a little aging it could be fine.  If I do grab another I'll be sure to keep it awhile and update this review if I find a difference.


Overall Rating: (22/25)This one may be a little overpriced in my opinion, at least at the MSRP price. The cigar did have a nice flavor profile and a thick smoke that I enjoyed. This one is a little tough for me in the overall rating because although it tunneled on me, I couldn't help but keep looking at it and say "damn this is a nice looking cigar". Overall the cigar was solid other than the tunneling and touch-ups, but I will have to take off for those for now. Like I said if I grab another and give it time to age, I'm sure I will bump up this particular stick in a few categories.

The Montecristo 75th Anniversario No. 2 Torpedo recieves a rating of 87.

Review: Siglo VI

Brand: Siglo
Name: VI Limited Reserve
Vitola: 6x54
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan/Dominican
Body:
Time of Smoke: 1:45 min
MSRP: $4.50-7.00
Price: $5.99+
Purchased: Puff N Stuff

I picked up the Siglo VI Limited Reserve Tubo in a local Puff N' Stuff, which is the only place within 25 miles where you can get any half decent cigar. Because i don't trust most store humidors in my area i usually like to give them a few weeks in my own humidor to freshen up a bit, but since this wasn't a planned smoke, i had to do an old "buy & smoke". So now I'm sitting on my fellow Cigarnivores back deck, enjoying this gem as i take in the woodsy scenery and the trickle of water from there nearby pond. I smoked this while my fellow cigarnivore had a Montecristo, and his brother enjoyed a R&J.

Appearance & Construction: 22/25

To start, this cigar came In a sleek yellow tube to match it's band. Now i must saw that its choice of colors and brand name seem to be a direct rip from Cohiba's brand of Cuban cigars. Although this is not by any means original, it does look good. The Siglo's wrapper was a medium brown EMS, that had no serious veins or imperfections to contend with. At first touch it was very oily, as well as firm. This particular stick had a double cap that wasn't the same color as the wrapper which was the only blemish i could see.

Again the cigar was very firm, and had some bounce to it when squeezed. Upon cutting It I did not see any stems, and the cut was smooth. Overall, a very good looking and well constructed stick.

Smoking Experience: 26/30

Upon lighting this very good looking smoke, i noticed immediately that i would be getting a lot of very heavy smoke with no problems drawing it at all. The first third gave off a leathery note, with a small note of pepper on the tip of my tongue. The remainder of the cigar gave off the note of leather, while the note of pepper slowly went away, and a note of oak came through. It's ash lasted about an inch to an inch and a half each time, but it was a very windy day out, so I'd assume it would have went longer. The ash itself was very white, with some splotches of black mixed in there.

Price: 17/20

I bought this smoke at the Puff N' Stuff, which like i said is a monopoly around my area for good cigars. So i paid 5.99 plus tax, which isn't bad by any means, but could be had cheaper online.

Overall: 24/25

Overall this was a good looking, and well constructed smoke, with good but not great taste. It's notes weren't prevalent aside from the leathery taste, which was kind of a disappointment. But i would definitely recommend this stick to anyone. It's no Cohiba Siglo, but it is worth the price for sure.

Rating: 88

About the Cigarnivores: Part 2

I've been dabbling as a cigar smoker for about five years now. I grew curious of the hobby after watching my father smoke sticks since as far back as I can remember. Once I hit the ripe age of 18 I knew it was time for me to start devouring these delicious smokes. I still remember my first cigar, an Acid Cuba Cuba in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I felt like I was on top of the world! Boy was I wrong, since that first smoke in 2008 I've moved on from the Yuppie smokes and realized that cigar smoking isn't a hobby but an art. These fine pieces of tobacco aren't just a bunch of leaves rolled together but masterpieces to admire.

Recently I realized that I have become more than a casual cigar smoker, I have turned into a cigarnivore! Maybe it started with watching my dad smoking these delights, maybe it started with needing something to entertain me while watching my Pittsburgh Pirates, but whatever happened, I've come to the realization that cigars are one of my biggest passions.

Now, I just want to share my opinions with all of you. I've smoked the good and the bad, and I think I can help to keep you from smoking the same bad sticks that I have experienced in the past. We at Cigarnivores pride ourselves on our unbiased, truthful assessments on cigars in today's industry. With all that said, let's light one up!

About the Cigarnivores: Part 1

The idea of Cigarnivores has been floating around in my head for a year or so now, but never did it seem like a viable website to create. Niether of us thought we knew enough about cigars to write about on a regular basis. But after hundreds of cigars, and too many discussions with our friends about our likes, dislikes, and general cigar banter, we've decided that our knowledge of the cigar industry may just help someone out there try a new cigar, or cigar product.

On that note, my name is Michael, and my goal for this website is to share my knowledge and as many cigars as i can with you. Hopefully, in trying out new cigars and cigar products, i'll find a new brand that i can add to my list of favorites.

The cigar brand i smoke the most often is Gurkha or Montecristo, which are both usually priced on the higher end scale. These two brands have never let me down when in need of a well constructed, and wonderfully tasting cigar. My favorite cigar would be the Cohiba Extra Vigiroso, its robust blend of flavors has me craving one as i type. And my least favorite brand is probably Comacho, and it's no fault of theirs, but i'll leave my reasons why for a different post.

So thats a little bit about me, and now that the introductions are through i can start giving my opinion about some great cigars!