Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet
Size: 6 x 50 (Magnum/Toro)
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan/Honduran
Price: $5.50

This cigar is manufactured by Oliva and blended by AJ Fernandez (the creative force
behind Man o War, La Herencia Cubana, Indian Tabac 10th Anniversary, Padilla Habano,
RP Fusion, and several others).

I aged this box nearly two years at a high RH (70-80%), then moved it to lower RH (65%) for a few months before smoking. And it was worth the wait. The caramel-colored wrapper developed tooth and the prelight aroma ripened. This cigar had a slightly spicy flavor profile and was medium-to-full in body.

The best way to describe this cigar is that it is very similar to Man O' War--I suspect the wrappers are identical--with perhaps just a smidge less strength
and spice. There was no floral flavors, like the LHC.

Fire Maduro Double Corona by Rocky Patel
Size: 7 x 49
Wrapper: Costa Rico
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras
Price: $2

This is the maduro version of the "triple fermented" Fire line by Indian Tabac/Rocky Patel. (My cigar must be older, since it featured a different band than the one shown above.) I reviewed the corojo version back in May 2006. These cigars can still be found on the internet (cheapercigars.com) but they are no longer offered by CI or Cigar Bid.

The corojo is a very good inexpensive cigar with a tangy bite. This maduro version is nothing like it. It looks good, with a very thick, dark wrapper and a pungent prelight aroma. However, the wrapper did not pass the wet finger test: it seems to be dyed to affect this color. It also had that same bitter chemical taste that I don't like in low-end maduros. The draw was almost impossibly tight.

Fortunately, this cigar was a gift. I don't have to endure any more of them.

Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Double Corona Natural
Size: 7.5 x 52
Tobacco: Costa Rico, Nicaragua, Honduras
Price: $2.80

I bought a 5-pack of the double coronas in September 2007 because I needed a large cigar that would last through a entire night of poker. The natural version of this cigar lacks the "kick" that the maduro showed a few years ago. Still, it's a serviceable medium to full-bodied cigar with a nice aroma and an easy draw. Can hold a half-inch ash, no problem.

Without doubt, the best cigar was the one I let rest in the humidor for 8 months, and then enjoyed while watching "Double Indemnity" on my laptop DVD player. After 8 months aging, this cigar picked up flavor and strength and developed into a smooth, well-balanced flavor, with a formidable finish. This cigar will never light the world on fire, but I've paid a lot more for worse smokes over the years. A great bargain.

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'

May 2006: A Tour of ROCKY PATEL and INDIAN TABAC

Indian Tabac is a line of Honduran cigars created by former product-liability lawyer Rocky Patel. Although Rocky is from India, his company licenses the name and logo--a Native American war chief in full headress--from Indian Motorcycle Company.

By Rocky's own admission, the Indian Tabac brand started as a barely average cigar with a slick marketing campaign to capitalize on the cigar boom in the early 1990's. However, Patel quickly became a rising star in the business, and began blending his products for high-end, sophisticated tastes. His Indian Tabac line has improved a lot since the early days, but still garners most of its sales through catalogs and online sites rather than traditional B&Ms. In 2003, Rocky turned over management of Indian Tabac to Swisher International to focus on a new "RP Vintage" line, which has since become very popular, scoring over '90' in many Cigar Aficionado taste tests.

Here are my reviews of some Indian Tabac and Rocky Patel products:



(1) Indian Tabac Cameroon Legend
Size: 6.1" x 54
Price: $6.00

Mister MaDuroo from ClubStogie sent me two Cameroon Legends after I posted a question in the online forum. He had warned me to be careful handling them, but of course I didn't listen, and I had to learn the hard way how fragile a cameroon wrapper can be. I dropped one of the cigars in the car as I was lighting it, and the entire wrapper split down the middle, completely seperating from the binder, ruining the cigar. (I found out you can't even light a cigar without its wrapper).

I was more careful the second time, and my drive to the paper mill in Courtland, AL was enhanced by this smooth, mild cigar with an interesting tangy taste. I might consider smoking them again, except the delicate-as-glass wrapper is probably a deal-breaker for me.



(2) Indian Tabac Limited Reserve
Size: Bear (5" x 50), Buffalo (7" x 47)
Price: $2

Boxes of Limited Reserve used to sell for $100, but they are now distributed solely through Cigars International for half that price. These cigars come individually wrapped in spanish cedar. They have a deep, rich aroma that always makes me think of pirate ships in the carribean. Unfortunately, they taste very mild/bland, with a slight bitter aftertaste. I won't buy them again.

However, I should note the Bear is the perfect size for driving home in rush hour traffic on I-240. I light it as I turn out of the office parking lot, and I finish it just as I'm pulling into my driveway.

(Update 07-23-07: I saw a box of IT Lmt Reserve on sale at Tobacco House in Memphis, for $5.36 per stick. I can't believe they sell for that much, but I guess they are no longer distributed solely through CI)

(3) Fire by Indian Tabac
Size: 6" x 50
Price: $3.50

These are sometimes also marketed as "Fire by Rocky Patel", which I'm sure is an attempt to position them at the upper-end of the market, closer to to the highly rated and more expensive "Vintage" lines.

They have a rich golden color, with a subtle if not spectacular aroma. They are made with triple-fermented wrapper and fillers, and the taste is both "heady" and "slightly sweet". Definitely worth a repeat look in the future. My only complaint is that I can't leave them unattended for more than two minutes without a relight.












(4) Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Corona Maduro
Size: 5.2 x 43
Price: $3.60

I won a "Friday night fights" sampler pack from CigarBid. The idea is to pit two similar cigars of competing brands in a head to head contest to see which one you like better. Mine contained 5 Super Fuerte coronas versus 5 Gurkha Regents. The price was $20 (after shipping) so I thought it was a good deal.

I was disappointed when I saw how small the Super Fuertes were; they're hardly any bigger than a Punch London Club. But, I must say, they have quickly become my favorite of the Indian Tabac brands; they pack a nice little punch -- full of flavor. They make a great cigar for doing something short like mowing the yard or trimming the shrubs.









(5) Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 "Euro"
Size: 5.5" x 42
Price: $5

The RP Vintage cigars never took off in Europe like they did in the U.S., so Rocky adjusted the formula by fermenting the tobacco less and removing some of the spicy ligero leaf from the filler. This new "Euro" blend is marketed as being lighter and milder.

I smoked one at sunset on Pensacola Beach and was very impressed. It is medium-bodied; and in fact made me want to try the original, stronger recipe. It lasted for over an hour, with virtually no construction or burn problems, despite a stiff ocean breeze that would have ruined lesser smokes.

Here are some of the Rocky Patel lines I have not tried yet:
1. RP Vintage
2. RP Sun Grown (Connecticut)
3. Indian Tabac Classic
4. The Edge