Tonight, I bring a Tale of Two Maduros:


Montecristo Media Noche Edmundo
Size: 5 x 55
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaragua, Peru, Dominican
Price: $16.25

I got 4 of these cigars from Paul Shook. They've been aging for 12 months at 67-70% RH. The wrapper seemed a little too dark and uniform in color to be natural, so I did perform the wet finger test (I was so recently burned by a bad Rocky Patel Fire Maduro), but this cigar passed.

This is a very typical Connecticut Broadleaf maduro cigar--full in body, and heavy in flavor, but not very rich or subtle. The flavors taste blunted, sort of bitter/sweet. Once lit, the cigar has aroma like chocolate that picks up traces of coffee flavors at the half-way point.

Construction is excellent, but this cigar is average, not worth the price tag by a long shot.


Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Maduro
Size: 6.00 x 47
Tobacco: Dominican Republic
Price: $14.00

I've reviewed this line before, back in May 2008. You can tell just by looking these maduros are definitely the real thing: the wrapper is dark brown and somewhat mottled, not a uniform milk chocolate consistency. And definitely not black!

In fact, at first I wondered if this was the elusive Arturo Fuente Hemingway Maduro or just a Sun Grown Gran Reserva (the bands for both the Sun Grown and Hemingway are identical, with a black ribbon under the AF logo, instead of the standard green ribbon.) But upon smoking, there is a distinct difference in the Sun Grown Cameroon and the Maduro tastes.

These cigars came from my favorite online retailer CigarsDirect

I won't repeat my entire review from last time, but I will say that my experience with these two cigars recently was notably better than last time around:

1. Same flawless construction, with a razor sharp burn.

2. These lasted 90 minutes each, as opposed to just 60 in '08.

3. These cigars had less nuts and coffee and more spice and leather. Still not as full or spicy as the cameroon, but a definite improvement. (It might have been that I paired them with Bruichladdich, a very sea-salty scotch -- think Old Pulteny on steroids).

This was a maduro unlike the Montecristo reviewed above. It is worth the money and the time to invest in smoking it.

Fuente OpusX Robusto
Size: 5 1/4 x 50
Tobacco: Dominican puro
Price: $25

One of my most memorable cigars was the "skunk cigar" I reviewed in April 2008, an OpusX Super Belicoso, so-named because I was chased off the porch by an adventurous skunk while smoking. That cigar was characterized by an initial burst of pepper, followed by a series of alternating tastes that fluctuated between sweet, spicy, and earthy.

This time, my friends at CigarsDirect sent me this OpusX Robusto.

It's always interesting to note how different vitolas compare to each other. This robusto, as you can see above, had a dark, bumpy wrapper, not at all like the smooth glossy wrapper on the belicoso. There was no initial burst of pepper, and the prominent earth tones of the belicoso gave way to a subtle vegetal taste. Despite being shorter, the robusto seemed to last longer, clocking in at more than 90 minutes. As you would expect from the world's rarest "super premium", the burn was perfect, cool and slow.

This cigar paired well with a single malt, and it certainly had a lot going for it, although in the final analysis the robusto lacked the wow factor of the super belicoso.

State of the Humidor - Jan 2009

2008 was a strange year. I spent most of it waiting... waiting for my house to sell, waiting for new projects at work, waiting to find the outcome of my dad's job situation, waiting for my wife to get pregnant (ok, not really waiting, I was much more of an active participant in the last one). But it ended in a flurry of activity: new house, kid #2 on the way, and suddenly very busy in my career.

I enjoyed a lot of cigars this year and, thanks in large part to CigarsDirect who occasionally sends me free goodies for review, I was able to really upgrade this year. It's time for my annual State of the Humidor address:

Here’s my list of new cigars to try in 2009: 5 Vegas Miami, Don Kiki Brown Label, Tampa Sweetheart #85 (second to Fuente 8-5-8)

In 2008, I smoked an average of cigars 4.17 cigars per week.

Last cigar of 2008: Graycliff Profesionale Presidente
First cigar of 2009: Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1979

Best cigar of 2008: God of Fire Carlito 2005 Double Robusto
Worst cigar of 2008: Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo

New cigars I tried in 2008, that I would purchase again in the future: Joya de Nicaragua Celebracion, Gispert, Padron 7000, Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 Maduro, Arturo Fuente Sun Grown (Chateau & King B), Arturo Fuente Hemingway (Short Story, Signature Maduro, & Untold Story Maduro), God of Fire Carlito 2005, Fuente Fuente OpusX, Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Natural, CI Legends by Graycliff (Purple Label), CI Legends by Rocky Patel (Orange Label), CI Legends by Pepin Garcia (Yellow Label), Punch Gran Puro, Vibe Corojo, La Flor Dominicana Ligero, La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero, El Mejor Elmerald, Padilla Hybrid, El Titan de Bronze Redemption Sungrown Habano, Bolivar, Flor de A.Allones, La Rosa Especial, Maria Mancini, Omar Ortiz, Gran Habano #1, Gran Habano #3, Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro, Omar Ortez Originals, DPG Black Label, Hoyo de Monterrey, 5 Vegas Limitada 2007, Partagas Spanish Rosado

New cigars I tried in 2008, that I would not purchase again: Power by Felipe Gregorio, CI Legends by Cusano (Gray Label), Rocky Patel Original Sun Grown, Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo Torpedo, Camacho 1962, Famous Nicaraguan 1000, Don Carlos Edicion de Aniversario, Olor del Cibao, Padilla Obsidian, Blue Label, Belinda, MATASA 30TH Anniversary, Leoninos by La Aurora, Cremosa, El Rey del Mundo, Bock y CA, San Cristobal, Rocky Patel Sungrown

I'm running four small (less than 100ct) humidors right now. Here is the complete list of their contents::
• La Herencia Cubana (13 – all sizes)
• Gran Habano #5 Robusto (10)
• Hoyo de Monterrey Governor (10)
• Gran Habano #1 Robusto (9)
• Gran Habano #3 Robusto (8)
• Rocky Patel Edge Torpedo (8)
• Famous Dominican 1000 Double Corona (7)
• Graycliff 1666 PGX (7)
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Toro (7)
• Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Toro (6)
• 5 Vegas Limitada 2008 Torpedo (5)
• Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1979 (5)
• Gurkha Master Select #4 (5)
• Gurkha Regent Toro (4)
• Vegas de Fonseca Sobrinos (4)
• 5 Vegas Limitada 2007 Torpedo (3)
• Maria Mancini De Gaulle (3)
• 5 Vegas Torpedo (2)
• Carlos Torano 1916 Toro (2)
• Flor de A. Allones Bellicoso (2)
• Fonseca 5-50 (2)
• Fonseca Habana Selección Invictos (2)
• Fonseca Serie F Robusto (2)
• Fonseca Vintage Robusto (2)
• Gispert Churchill (2)
• Leoninos Torpedo (2)
• Perdomo Reserve Cameroon Torpedo (2)
• Arturo Fuente Lonsdale (1)
• Camacho 1962 Churchill (1)
• CAO Gold Maduro Churchill (1)
• Don Diego 10th Anniversary Toro (1)
• Montecristo White Churchill (1)
• Padron 2000 (1)
• Punch Magnum (1)
• Rocky Patel Sungrown Toro (1)
• Romeo y Julieta 1875 Churchill (1)
• Romeo y Julieta 1875 Cedro Deluxe (1)

Pending reviews: Omar Ortez Originals, Rocky Patel Sungrown, Gran habano #1, 5 Vegas Limitada 2007, Hoyo de Monterrey, RP Olde World Reserve Maduro, Punch Magnum

Fuente Hemingway Untold Story Maduro
Tobacco: Dominican
Price: $22

This cigar came to me from my friends at CigarsDirect.com. & wow, it did not disappoint. I enjoyed it during a boys' poker night last Friday, paired with Rusell's Reserve 10-year old bourbon.

According to Cigars.com: "The maduros in [the Hemingway] line are some of the hardest to find non-Cuban cigars in the world, particularly the Untold Story and the Between The Lines."

Appearance: This cigar features the unique perfecto shape common to all Fuente Hemingways, distinguishable by the little nipple at the foot of the cigar. The wrapper was a dark, lush shade of brown, with few veins and no blemishes. It was heavy, and obviously a well-constructed cigar.

Burn/Construction: I've never had a bad Hemingway, but this one set a new bar. This cigar burned slow and cool, with mouthfuls of smoke, for a whopping 3 1/2 hours! It held a great 2" ash, and didn't extinguish even when left alone for 10 minutes. It wasn't perfect: It did need a slight correction about 2 minutes in, as a small canoe was forming due to a hairline crack right at the foot. But I can't remember any cigar smoking as well, for as long, as this one did.

Taste: If there was a negative to this cigar, it was the taste profile. While many cigar aficionados love maduros, I prefer EMS, cameroon, and corojo wrappers. In particular, I enjoy the African cameroon wrappers on Hemingways because they are spicy and biting. This maduro was heavier, but also sweeter, more mellow, and with less finish. Excellent, but not the taste profile I enjoy the most.

Overall: I highly recommend this cigar. 8/10

Cigar Musings from my Eastern Carribbean Cruise

Michelle and I booked a 7-day Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Valor cruise ship out of Miami, Fla. last week (along with our friends, Shaun and Charity Brannen and Kim Sass). Other than one issue, described below, the cruise was great. We swam with dolphins in Nassau, snorkeled off the coast of St. Maarten, and enjoyed one of the world's Top 10 beaches in St. Thomas. The food was superb and the nightly entertainment (dancing, comedians, ventriloquists, jugglers) was fun.

But there was one bummer: We chose this ship, in large part, because it advertised on Carnival's web site a comfortable, fancy cigar bar that featured nightly live jazz. But my first night on the ship, as I was about to clip a Fuente 8-5-8 Flor Fina, I was told by the bartender that Winston's Cigar Lounge would no longer allow cigar smoking. I complained to our cruise director and learned that (starting last week), the Carnival corporate office had decided to test a new no-cigar policy on the Valor. If customer complaints aren't too high, they plan to enforce the new policy on their entire fleet.

Cigar smoking is still allowed on open decks (starboard side only), but not in any bar or lounge or casino... not even the Winston Cigar Bar. I thought this was extremely disappointing, not to mention a tad dishonest. If I had known about the new policy, I probably would have sailed with another cruise line....

Smoking cigars on the open deck proved to be a not-so-good alternative. 1) It was windy, and 2) it was difficult to enjoy conversation with friends, since the open deck movie theater was playing every night. (I don't fancy having to watch Bee Movie with my cigar and cognac.)

C'est la vie. Here are the fine cigars I enjoyed on the ship:

Saturday: El Titan de Bronze Redemption Sungrown Habano Toro
Monday: Graycliff Red Label
Tuesday: Leoninos by La Aurora
Wednesday: Boliver ("yello cello"), Hemingway Signature
Thurs: Fuente Curly Head, Flor de Allones
Fri: Fuente Double Chateau
Sat: Fuente Cuban Corona

The highlights included Graycliff Red Label (which Shaun picked up while touring the Graycliff resort) and an aged Bolivar in Megan's Bay, St. Thomas. But extra-special mention goes to the El Titan de Bronze.

I went to the El Titan de Bronze factory on 8th Street, Miami the day before the ship departed. I had wanted to go to LGC or the Pepin Garcia factory, but they were closed. The store is run by a very friendly, older gentleman named Carlos. He and I talked for about 45 minutes. All his cigars are made by 4 rollers right in the front of the shop. He showed me pictures of all his famous customers, then gave me an informal tour of the rooms where he stores his tobacco and then ages the cigars after they are rolled. You could tell that Carlos is very passionate about his work, and that passion is definitely evidenced in his cigars.

After dinner, I had the Redemption Sun Grown Habano, relaxing in South Beach, and it was very, very good. Spicy and bold, similar in taste and body to a La Flor Dominicana Ligero, but with an even better finish and draw. I still can't believe the world hasn't found out about these cigars.

Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 Maduro
Size: 6 x 47
Tobacco: Dominican with Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper
Price: $4.10 (B&M), $3.69 (box price)

CigarsDirect (a great online site that specializes in high-end superpremiums) gifted me one of these as a "thank you" for participating in their online NCAA Tournament Challenge.

With the exception of their sandwich cigars, Curly Head and Breva Royale, I can't say I've ever come across a bad offering from Arturo Fuente. Some I've liked more than others, of course, and I was extremely disappointed in the Don Carlos Anniversario a few weeks ago; but all the Fuente lines, from Montesino to Opus X, share common characteristics of quality ingredients and top-notch construction. The 8-5-8 natural is one of my favorite cigars. It features a sophisticated taste that evolves from sweet and nutty to spicy and full over the space of about 50 minutes.

The 8-5-8 maduro is also a very good cigar, but does not hold up to the repuatation of its counterpart. In general, I prefer naturals over maduros anyway, which I often find to be smoother but muted in flavor. The 8-5-8 maduro burns evenly, with a mid-range draw, and yields rich coffee flavors. While coffee is not my favorite taste in a tobacco, it can be enjoyable every once in a while. The 8-5-8 maduro was comparable in flavor to a CAO Black 'VR' (although I think the CAO was a little better, in this case). It paired well with a glass of Gentlemen Jack on a warm spring evening.

On the C&S rating scale, I award this 6.5 leaves out of a perfect 10.

Arturo Fuente Sun Grown Chateau King B
Size: 6 x 55
Filler: Dominican
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown "rosado" wrapper
Price: $6 (box price); $15 (single)

CigarsDirect (a great online site that specializes in high-end superpremiums) gifted me one of these as a "thank you" for participating in their online NCAA Tournament Challenge. I decided to give it a go at my monthly St. Andrews church poker game. Shaun and I both smoked ours that night, provoking much jealousy among our friends who did not participate in the bracket. It was a lucky stogie, since I won $120 at the table.

The cigar is named after an outdoor tavern in Ybor City, Florida named the "King B", where many of the Cuban immigrants gathered in the afternoon to share drinks and stogies after work.

Since I reviewed this same cigar in a smaller size three months ago, I'm just going to hit the highlights in an abbreviated review:

1. My earlier experience with the Fuente Sun Grown was no fluke: They take the Gran Reserva line to a whole new level. They have more flavor, more spice, and more body.


2. I thought I would enjoy the King B more than the Chateau because it is a larger cigar. Whereas the chateau felt like it burned too hot for so much flavor, I assumed a larger ring guage would taste more balanced. But in fact, the larger cigar had lots of complex, balanced, fun flavors at the beginning and at the end. But in the middle there was a letdown where the cigar seemed to become mild and very muted. Both Shaun and I remarked on it.

The Chateu rated a solid 8.0 leaves out of 10 in the C&S scale. We decided to award the King B a slightly lower 7.5/10.

Postscript April 10, 2009: Last night, my friend Daniel gave me a Fuente Double Chateau Sun Grown, which is longer than the King B (6.75 in) with a smaller ring guage (50). This proved to be the perfect size for the Fuente Sun Grown line. Perfect balance between spice and strength. Never burned too hot and never lost its flavor. I'd rate the Double Chateau Sun Grown a 9/10. Its only negative was a canoe at the very beginning, which is an anomaly in a Fuente product.

Don Carlos Edicion de Aniversario
Size: 5.2 x 50
Tobacco: Dominican
Price: $40 (single)

This cigar stands out as being, by far, the most expensive cigar I've ever smoked. Thank you Cigars Direct

History: 2006 marked the 30th anniversary of Don Carlos cigars, which were created in the Dominican Republic by the patriarch of the Fuente family, Carlos Fuente Sr. This unique anniversary edition was created by his son, Carlito, back in 2004 to commemorate his father's legacy in the cigar industry. Don Carlos Edicion de Aniversario was chosen as Best of the Best by Robb Report (June 2007). Only 24,000 cigars were released to the public; they are sold in humidor boxes that sell for $1,250 each.

Appearance: My cigar sported a smooth, milk-chocolate brown wrapper, with few veins. Its prelight taste was a tad spicy on the lips and the aroma seemed to indicate a medium flavored smoke.

Setting: I selected this cigar on the first day of my beach vacation in Ocean Isle, NC. One of my favorite places to enjoy a cigar is sitting on a beach in late afternoon listening to the surf as the tide rises. It was a very windy Monday afternoon, which was turned out to be unfortunate, because I had trouble getting the cigar lit and keeping an even burn.

Taste: Upon first light, I was rewarded with a full peppery flavor. But that quickly subsided into a medium-bodied, nutty flavor with little aftertaste or finish. The cigar picked up strength as it burned, making me a little light-headed near the end, but the flavor remained constant-- medium and nutty.

Overall impression: I wish I had chosen another day to light this cigar, because it is difficult to savor the complexities of a cigar when you are having to fight gusting wind just to sustain a decent draw. But even allowing for that, I just didn't "get" what was so special about this stogie: it had a decent but unremarkable taste. Not nearly as memorable as other Fuente offerings like OpusX, God of Fire, Hemingway, or Sun Grown.

On my 10-leaf scale, I can only give the Don Carlos Edicion de Aniversario a 6/10.

Fuente Fuente OpusX Super Belicoso

Size: 5.5 x 52

Tobacco: Dominican Puro

Price: $15-$50

To rest of the world, the Fuente Fuente OpusX is considered one of the rarest and most prestigious non-Cuban cigars on the market. To me, it will always be the "skunk cigar". While I was smoking it in Los Pines, Texas a skunk wandered out of the woods and right underneath my chair. My companion looked at me and said, in a very calm voice, "Uh uh, you better clip your cigar and get inside. That thing looks ready to spray." Needless to say, I wasn't about to ruin the cigar-- but I did haul butt off the porch and headed as fast as I could in the opposite direction. I stood by an open fire pit for half an hour, waiting for the skunk to leave, before I could retrieve my forgotten beer.

Cigar History: Although it needs no introduction, this cigar gained its reputation for its Dominican Rosado wrapper. Dominican puros are rare, primarily because the climate does not make it easy to grow good wrappers. Both Fuentes--Carlos Sr. and Jr.--developed the cigar in the 1990's and each year they release a limited batch for the holidays. OpusX are not difficult to locate (CigarsDirect has them here!) and when they are, they go in the $40 and up range. I know in Memphis, at least one B&M sells them for $15, but only to loyal customers--a kind of "thank you" for doing business with them throughout the year.

Appearance: A shiny, glossy wrapper. No defects or noticeable veins. A heady aroma and spicy prelight taste on the tongue.

How did it taste?: When I lit this cigar, I was first surprised by the full, peppery taste. I had not heard that OpusX were considered to be strong cigars and this began very much similar to the Fuente God of Fire. However, the strength/spice quickly abated and was replaced by something interesting: alternating tastes that reminded me, in turns, of a Fuente Hemingway, an Indian Tabac Fire, and a Punch Gran Puro. It was like taking the best characteristics of many different types of cigars and rolling them into one very unique and hard-to-describe experience. It was exceptionally balanced, smooth, and never boring.

Although I almost hate to award such a high score (especially not twice in 10 days), I have to give this a perfect 10-Leaf rating.

God of Fire Carlito 2005 Double Robusto

Size: 5.7 x 50

Tobacco: Dominican (with Cameroon wrapper)

Price: $20-$24

Billy Ferriolo, from CigarsDirect (a great online site that specializes in high-end superpremiums), gifted me this cigar, which I enjoyed with a glass of Glennfiddich 12-Year Old at Swig's martini bar, right off Beale Street in Memphis. I was celebrating my NCAA championship tournament bracket, which was a perfect 8-0 in the Sweet 16. (I am currently 2nd place in the CigarsDirect bracket competition. The winner gets a Padilla humidor, filled with cigars valued at $1500!)

Cigar Background: God of Fire is made annually by The Arturo Fuente Company, in extremely limited quantities which seem to be released around Christmas every year. They tend to be hard to find and sell out quickly, putting them in the same category as OpusX in terms of its ability to generate word-of-mouth buzz. The cigar comes in 2 blends, one by Don Carlos and the other by his son Carlito. The Don Carlos blends are said to be smooth and full-flavored; the son's blends are spicier and stronger.

Appearance: The cigar sports a cool multicolored band depicting a famous scene from Prometheus Bound, where Prometheus is held captive by the Greek gods for giving the secret of fire to mortals. Every day vultures come and peck out his liver. The cigar itself is wrapped in a medium-brown wrapper that is as near to perfect as I've ever seen: shiny, tight, no veins or visual defects--it almost appears to be a single intact leaf.

Prelight: I detected no prelight aroma. When I tasted the cigar cap, I was surprised at a definite sweetness in the wrapper, which often indicates a mild cigar. After clipping the head, though, I could easily taste the pepper spice in the filler tobacco. The sweet wrapper was intended to soften, just a bit, the full onslaught of flavor that was to come.

The Experience: All I can say is... wow! I have never tasted a cigar like this before. It was loaded with pepper spice from the first puff until I nubbed it in the ashtray. Yet, even with all that strength, it never became harsh or overpowering (I immediately think of Camacho Coyolar Puro or Gran Habano #5!). The burn was razor sharp, the ash tight, and the draw was just perfect. In fact, I've not had any cigar since Cuban Montecristo #2 that burned as exceptionally as this one.

The spice abated slightly in the middle third of the cigar. If there was anything disappointing in this cigar, it was that middle section where I thought a new flavor should have made itself known (similar to what happens in a Padron 1926). But I'm nitpicking here... I like spice, and that's what this cigar was all about. I don't know if it was the excitement of the evening or the heavy nicotine content, but my heart was racing during the last half of this beauty.

Final Thoughts: God of Fire ranks easily in the Top 5 cigars I've ever tried. Perhaps the Top 3-right next to Padron 1926 and Cuban Monte #2.

On my 10-Leaf scale, I'm awarding this one a perfect 10!

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Maduro
Size: 6.00 x 47
Tobacco: Dominican Republic
Price: $14.00

This weekend, my friend Shaun and I sampled two Hemingway Signature Maduros.

The Hemingway line, named after the famous American author, probably needs no introduction to most cigar enthusiasts. It was Arturo Fuente's first limited edition extension to their regular Gran Reserva line. They are made with tobacco aged four years and rolled only by experts who are limited to a production quantity of 75 cigars per day. Each cigar is rolled in a perfecto shape. Hemingways can be notoriously difficult to find, and many local B&Ms, especially here in Memphis, limit the number that can be purchased.

The maduro version of the Hemingway is even rarer than the Cameroon. In fact, while the cameroons can usually be found under $10, the maduros sell for considerably more. Most online sites don't even carry them. I got mine from CigarsDirect, a good site for superpremium smokes.

Appearance: Our cigars sported toothy wrappers a deep shade of coffee-brown. The wrapper felt thick to the fingers, and mine was unblemished except for a single vein on the underside that ran from the cap all the way to the foot. The aroma was mild, but the pre-light taste was unmistakably maduro. It was not the flavor of young maduro (like a Partagas Black or a Montecruz Negro), but was balanced and nuanced.

First impressions: Like the cameroon version of this cigar, the immediate taste upon lighting was mild and sweetish. I remembered the cameroon increased in complexity as it burned, picking up spice and pepper, and gradually turned into a full-bodied experience. I expected the same flavor profile here, too. Unlike the cameroon, I tasted distinct notes of nuts and coffee.

Overall experience: What can I say? Flawless construction. A razor straight burn that never varied for an hour. It held an inch-long white ash that never flaked or fell. The draw was perfect for this size ring guage. I was disappointed, however, that the cigar never built any spice or pepper. It remained rather one-dimensional (dare I say it, bland?), medium in taste and body. The potential of those balanced, nuanced pre-light flavors never materialized. I had a slight nicotine rush when I stood up at the end, indicating this cigar managed to be potent without being full-flavored.

On the C&S (Craig & Shaun) 10-Leaf scale, we awarded this cigar 6 Leaves out of 10. If you are a big fan of maduros, you owe it to yourself to give this smoke a try, just to experience its expert craftsmanship. But if you prefer a full spicy taste, then you would fare better with the Hemingway Cameroon or the Fuente Sungrown.

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story
Size: 4 x 48 (perfecto)
Tobacco: Dominican filler, Cameroon wrapper
Price: $5

Billy Ferriolo, from CigarsDirect (a great online site that specializes in high-end superpremiums), gifted me two of these cigars. I first reviewed them seven months ago, and was pleased that my experience this time was equally as good.

Appearance: Perfecto-shaped cigars are supposedly the most difficult vitola to create, and this line is crafted by the most skilled Fuente veterans. At first glance, it appears to be a short, skinny cigar that probably will last half an hour. The wrapper looks flawless and is slick to the touch. The prelight aroma, which is subtle and tangy, belies the spicy strength of the cigar.

Overall impression: The taste profile is identical to the Hemingway Signature, starting out mild-to-medium, and then steadily picking up spice and strength: a very complex smoke that you can nub to your fingers without ever feeling satiated. The spicy flavor settles on the back of the tongue and lingers for hours after the cigar is extinguished. It pairs great with a glass of single malt scotch. Even if you follow it with a lesser cigar (as I did on a lazy Sunday afternoon), the flavor of the Hemingway stays with you. What's particularly astonishing is that, for such a small cigar, it burns incredibly slow, almost an hour, without becoming too hot. Burn is straight as an arrow. I wrote seven months ago "The Hemingway may be the best non-Cuban cigar on the planet." I am now retracting that statement, but only because in comparison to the less expensive Sun Grown Fuente, the Hemingway Short Story never quite reaches the same level of complexity.

I score this a 7.5/10 .

Arturo Fuente Sun Grown Chateau
Size: 4.5 x 50
Filler: Dominican
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Price: $3.85 (box price)

Billy Ferriolo, from CigarsDirect (a great online site that specializes in high-end superpremiums), gifted me three of these very popular cigars. You can tell a Fuente Sungrown apart from its shade grown siblings based on the colors on the band. The sun grown has a black ribbon under the Fuente logo. The others have a green ribbon.

My only prior experience with sun grown cigars were the Carlos Torano Signature, 5 Vegas Limitada, and Punch Gran Puro. The term "sun grown" is applied to tobacco that is grown in open fields with direct exposure to sunlight, which causes the leaves to become thicker, oiler, and produces pronounced veins. They are often used as wrappers for full-bodied cigars, although they are not usually as full as maduros. These cigars are often distinguished from "shade grown" wrappers which are grown under fine gauze sheets called tapados; shade grown wrappers are usually thinner, more attractive, and have more subtle nuanced flavors.

Appearance: The cigar comes dressed in a cedar wrapper. It is dark brown, the color being somewhere between a natural and a maduro. The cigar is smooth and heavy, with densely packed tobacco. It has a spicy prelight aroma.

First impressions: Don't get me wrong, I still love the Fuente 858 (the best of the Gran Reserva line, tastes like a Hemingway)... but this takes Gran Reserva to a whole new level. It has more flavor and more body. It should be enjoyed on a full stomach, paired with a strong single malt scotch. It's not an everyday cigar; it needs to be chosen to fit a certain mood, reserved for times when you can savor the experience.

Overall experience: It features the two best qualities I like in a cigar: lots of spice, and complex flavors. It has a smoky, dry draw. Tastes shift throughout the experience, from hot and bitter at first, then slowly transitioning to smoky and sweet. It is very similar to a JdN, but with a better finish that stays with you for hours after the cigar is finished.

The only drawback--and it is a big one-- is size. At 4.5 inches, this cigar needs a larger ring guage to keep it from getting too hot. I felt like the flavors were fighting with the heat for my attention. Small ring gauges are fine for mild smokes, but they can intensify a strong cigar too much. A better size for this blend would be the Chateau King B (6 x 55).

C&S: 8 / 10.

Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 (natural)
Size: 6" x 47
Tobacco: DR
Price: $4.10

I picked up this cigar at the Tobacco Corner in Memphis. This cigar is the same size as the Fuente Hemingway Signature, which I reviewed a few weeks ago. Although the 858 is half the price of the Hemingway, I am convinced they are the exact same cigar (except the Hemingway is a perfecto, while the 8-5-8 is not). They both started off mild/medium, then picked up strength and that same unmistakable spicy/pepper taste. They burn for an hour and a half, getting better the longer you smoke them. Addictive. Like I said before, these may be the best Non-Cuban cigars on the planet.













Sancho Panza Double Maduro Quixote
Size: 4.5 x 50
Tobacco: Honduran, Nicaraguan, DR
Price: $3.35

I've read some rave reviews about Sancho Panza cigars on the internet, so I plucked this robusto out of the back corner of the Tobacco Corner humidor. I'm on a good run: that's two days in a row I've gotten off work early to kill an hour and a half talking to the regulars over there.

These cigars are pretty to look at, with their dark rough-hewn oscuro wrappers. But honestly, I don't know what all the fuss is about. Yes, they're inexpensive, but I can name half a dozen JR alternatives or bona-fide seconds that I'd prefer. Other than a typical heavy maduro flavor, there was nothing to this smoke. There was no complexity to the flavor, no lingering finish or pleasing aroma. It did not taste very good and it was dull to boot.

(At least the conversation at the B&M was worth the trip!)

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story
Size: 4 x 48 (perfecto)
Tobacco: Dominican filler, Cameroon wrapper
Price: $5

I've already reviewed the Hemingway Signature, and the Short Story tastes very similar. A medium strength cigar, but filled with a spicy flavor that settles on the back of the tongue. I honestly think the Hemingway may be the best non-Cuban cigar on the planet right now.

What's particularly astonishing about the Short Story is that, for such a small cigar, it burns incredibly slowly and without becoming too hot. I bought mine to commemorate the official end of my recovery from two foot surgeries that has spanned over six months; the doctor discharged me this week. The cigar lasted nearly an hour with a glass of Glennfiddich 15-year old single malt.

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic
Size: 7.0 x 48
Tobacco: DR
Price: $8.50

I enjoyed this cigar at the Tobacco Merchant in Columbia, SC. What a great way to enjoy a stogie! In addition to a large walk-in humidor, this establishment has several large recliners, a big-screen tv, and even wireless internet access for your laptop. It attracts a lot of repeat customers, who come and hang out a few hours every week just for the atmosphere. A few of the guys even bring their wives and dates. It's just about the best cigar haven you could hope for-- except they don't have a liquor license.

The Hemingway itself did not disappoint, either. Like Hemingway's best books (Old Man and the Sea), it seemed in some ways simple, understated, but in the end it packed one heck of a wallop. Started mild but got progressively stronger, with lots of intricate pepper flavors and a long, satisfying finish. Unlike some other full-bodied cigars, like Comacho and JR Ultimate (or 5 Vegas Series 'A', if it is young) , this one was very smooth, never harsh. In terms of its flavor profile, it was similar to some Padrons, but with less "earthy" flavors and more "spicy" flavors. The only negative was its unmemorable aroma.

According to Cigars International, the Hemingway cigars are made of 4-year old tobaccos and are only rolled by experts, who have a limited production quota of no more than 75 cigars a day.


Gurkha Gold Collector's Edition Robusto #4
Size: 6 x 50
Tobacco: DR

Soapbox time: This must be one of the dumbest names for a cigar I've ever run across.

1. There is no line of cigars known simply as "Gurkha Gold"- so how can you create a collector's edition to this line?
2. In any case, how can a cigar be a "collector's edition" at all? It's for smoking, not collecting!
3. How many robusto sizes do they sell that they need to give it the No. 4? Wouldn't "Gurkha Gold Robusto" have been sufficient?

My experience with Gurkhas has been hit-or-miss so far: I liked the Master Select; the Expedition was so-so; I disliked the Class Regent. The Gurkha Gold definitely landed on the plus side for me.

It sported a dark red Connecticut wrapper that had much more in common with a maduro than a corojo. The cigar was medium bodied, not mild as the Gold moniker usually implies. I would describe the taste as similar perhaps to licorice (but bear in mind the only adjectives I can ever think of to describe different types of tobacco are usually "earthy", "grassy", "pepper", and "licorice". Licorice being the least distinct of them all.)

It burned slow (over 90 minutes to smoke a robusto!) and paired excellent with the drink of the night - a 21-year Glennfiddich.

State of the Humidor - Jan 2007

I've been reviewing cigars for four years now, and since the last few months have been a transition period for my humidor, and I thought I would post some random thoughts:

• Here's my list of new cigars to try in 2007: Rocky Patel Vintage, Fuente Hemingway, Fuente Short Story, Sancho Panza Quixote, Don Kiki Red Label (the original 5 Vegas blend, before the brand was sold to the La Aurora factory)
• I wish I was keeping up with how often I smoke cigars, because I suspect I'm up to an average of 3/week. How much is dangerous to my health? It hasn’t helped that cigars have become a cornerstone of my frendships with Anthony and Shaun.
• I've now smoked all the cigars from my initial JR / CigarBid frenzy in early 2006, plus a lot of singles that were gifted to me.
• Here is a list of the brands that are now gone, but I may purchase again in the future: Legends White Label, JR Limitada Edicion Alternative - Montecristo Edmundo, Black Pearl Cobre, Black Pearl Rojo, JR Alternative Excalibur, Indian Tabac Super Fuerte, 5 Vegas (all lines!), Fire, Padilla Special Edition Cedro, Gurkha Master Select, San Luis Rey Reserva Especial, Comacho Coyalar, HdM Excalibur, Fuente Gran Reserva, Padron 1926, Don Kiki Green Label, La Gloria Cubana Serie R, Padron 2000, CAO Brazilia
• These are the brands that are gone, never to return: CAO Cameroon, Indios Puros Nacionales, RP Vintage Euro, Indian Tabac Limited Reserve, Indian Tabac Cameroon Legend, JR Alternative Perdomo, JR Alternative Cohiba, JR Alternative Fuente, El Credito, Quorum, CAO CX2, Socorro, Montesino, Gurkha Class Regent, Gurkha Expedition, JR Alternative Ashton, Carlos Torano Signature, Royal Jamaica Gold, Royal Jamaica Gaucho, Mister B's
• I recently had to replace all the humidifying sponges in my humidor, after I noticed all the cigars were drying out. I bought two new devices, plus a small crystal pack for the travel humidor. Also, I got a new digital hygrometer from Radio Shack (unfortunately, there were out of the wireless ones!)
• Here is a list of what is in my humidor right now: Singles: Old Fashioned #550, Fuente Cuban Corona. 10 packs: JR Ultimates, Excalibur No. 1, Fire Double Corona, 5 Vegas Gold Double Corona, 5 Vegas Series 'A'

Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente
Size: 4.5 x 50
Filler: DR
Price: $4

Laura gifted me this cigar as part of my birthday present. I smoked it with Dexter Muller and Shaun Brannen around the fire pit at Shaun's birthday party, discussing casino poker and the general crime level associated with Memphis strip clubs. (Ok - I should explain that last bit. Dexter works for the city council and knew all the details about the recent FBI sting operation at the Platinum Plus Club near where I work)

The cigar was a short robusto with a light brown wrapper wrapped in a cedar sleeve. The wrapper was in good condition, although I noticed a few splits near the cap caused most likely because the tobacconist was storing it in a too-humid environment. Otherwise, the cigar was in perfect condition and had a soft, sweet pre-light aroma.

The Chateau had a smooth, light-to-medium wood flavor. Taste, burn, and draw were consistent throughout.

Fuentes are always enjoyable to me, since I rarely spring the cash for them (they are never sold at discount, not even through internet retailers). Although some of the lower-end sticks (Curly Head, Breva Royale, Montesino) haven't impressed me, the 'Gran Reserva' line (green label) seem to always be good quality tobacco and construction.

I have never tried the Hemingway line or the Anejo, but I hear they are even better.

MONTESINO DIPLOMATICOSize: 5.50 x 42
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade or Broadleaf, Filler: DR
Price: $3.15


Montesino was the flagship line of the Arturo Fuente family after they were driven from Cuba. I picked up a single at a local B&M just to try it out, and because I was out of smaller cigars for mowing the yard.

Location: Mowing the grass at 9:30 am, as the thermometer began to peep over 95 degrees.

Construction: A light golden wrapper (the same wrapper as the AF Breva Royale, I think). A nice even burn, but I had trouble keepting it lit (although I'm apt to be more forgiving since I had to put it down often to pull weeds, uproot bushes, swap tools, etc..)

Taste: Lacking a distinctive or pleasing aroma. But nice lingering finish on the tongue. 9 times out of 10 this cigar would have been too mild for me, but on such a blistering hot morning, this turned out to be the exact strength I wanted. A soft, nutty taste to the tobacco, too.

Final verdict: Probably not something I'll go looking for again, but it was the right cigar at the right time.

Tonight, Let’s first talk about size:

For me, the perfect size of a "big" cigar is between 6 and 6.5" in length with a ring size of 50 (roughly the dimensions of the Montecristo #2). I call these my ballgame cigars because you can nurse them through a basketball game or at least half a football game. I’ve had good cigars that were larger (like a Punch Double Corona), but after a while even the good ones can become overkill.

A medium cigar should be about 5.5" in length, with a ring size of 44. These last 30-45 minutes and are perfect when you’re grilling chicken in the backyard. Examples of these are the Riata 400 series, the Fuente Breva Royale, and just about anything in the "corona" size.

But I am still looking for my "halftime cigar", something that tastes good and lasts less than 20 minutes. I don’t like cigarellos because they’re too small and taste like cigarettes. I’m thinking about trying some petite coronas or petite panatelas. I haven’t bought any yet but I’d like to try the JR Ultimate Habinito, Partagas Black Pronto, and Aristoff Cigarito.

Another possibility would be Consuegra No. 9 Rothschild –although they may be a tad too big. (Consuegras are the bundled segundos and production overruns made at the Villazon factory in Honduras - the makers of Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, El Rey del Mundo, JR Ultimates, etc.)

Now, on to the reviews:



1) Guantanamera Habana

My friend Anthony smuggled a few of these small Cuban cigars back from his vacation in Mexico. Although it was not a change-your-world cigar, it did share many of the characteristics of good Cubans: a slow cool burn; a mild relaxing flavor; and very little excess smoke.

2) Arturo Fuente Breva Royale
Size: 5.5" by 42
Price: $1.90

Nothing too fancy about this one, except it had a very nice golden brown wrapper. Very smooth, but it also committed two cigar sins: the second half burned too hot and bits of tobacco leaf flaked off into my mouth.


















3) Riata 400
Size: 4.5" by 44
Price: $0.80

These are tagged as "the best selling bundled Honduran cigar". They are made with medium filler leaves, rather than long filler. I’m about half way through the bundle of 20 I ordered. A very average cigar, but at a great price. They are well constructed, burn slowly, and don’t get too hot. Not bad tasting, although there is nothing particularly distinctive about them.

I should note that I ran across one bad apple, though – a hopelessly plugged cigar that wouldn’t draw and tasted downright foul. It was the only mar on an otherwise terrific night of tournament poker (I came in 1st place out of 50 at the Fox & Hound Pub).