A quick revisit of some cigars previously reviewed but that I have not tried in years...

Consuegra Double Corona (Honduran version)

I have been smoking my way through a bundle of consuegras, the first time in about 10 years. These are the original Honduran blend, with Honduran wrappers and binders and a fill of DR, Nicaraguan, and Honduran tobaccos.  They are seconds to Hoyo de Monterrey, Punch, Bolivar, Flor de A. Allones, and El Rey del Mundo.

As expected, they are all over the map.  Some have smoked and tasted like their name-brand counterparts, excellent smokes all around.  Others have had construction and burn issues.  Taste has been consistently medium-to-full bodied with moderate spice. Several have burned very quickly while a few have lasted an hour or more.

JR Alternatives-Rocky Patel Edge Toro

Several years ago these were rumored to be made at the same factory as the "real" Rocky Patel Edge.  They still taste like I remember.  This bundle has a year of aging.  Excellent cigars that taste just like I remember the originals. Better than the RP Edge Counterfeits sold by Cigars International.

State of the Humidor - Jan 1, 2012

New cigars to try in 2011: Tampa Sweetheart #85 (second to Fuente 8-5-8), Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte (Yes, these were the same two cigars I listed last year. I am aging a bundle of JdN Fuerte and I plan to finally get around to the Tampa Sweethearts in 2012).

Last cigar of 2011: Padron Churchill
First cigar of 2012: Padron Churchill

Best cigar of 2011: El Titan de Bronze Redemption Sun Grown Habano
Best (new) cigar of 2011: JR Alternative to Rocky Patel Edge
Worst (new) cigar of 2011: Fire Maduro by Rocky Patel

New cigars I tried in 2011, that I would purchase again in the future: Flor de Baloney (HdM seconds), 5 Vegas Miami, Royal Nighis, Partagas Diciembre, JR Alt-Rocky Patel Edge, La Gloria Cubana, Don Kiki Brown Label, Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, Bahia Blue, Leon Jimines, Rocky Patel Corojo Especial, Don Diego Aniversario

New cigars I tried in 2011, that I would not purchase again: JR Alt-La Gloria Cubana, El Mejor Espresso, Montecristo Media Noche, Fire Maduro by Rocky Patel

I'm still working towards my goal to reduce capacity to 2 humidors--a large one for aging and another for current smokes. I got there briefly, but then floated back to 3 humidors to make room for a box of Cupido Criollo Doble last month.

So right now, I'm running 3 humidors, and here is an approximate listing of their contents from memory:

Box of Flor de Allones
Box of Boardwalk
Box of Saint Luis Rey
Box of La Perla Habana Cobre
Box of A. Fernandez Sumatra
Box of Cupido Criollo Doble
2 Bundles of Gurkha Master Select
Bundle of Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte
Half-bundle of Calle Ocho
Half-bundle of Flor de Baloney
Half-bundle of JR Alt to Rocky Patel Edge
2 La Gloria Cubana Charlemagne
2 Padron Churchill
1 Sancho Panza
Carlos Torano 1916 (single)


This doesn't count the Lost Sticks Cemetary, the top tray of my large humidor. I save the last cigar from each box and put it in this tray for long-term aging, just to see how some sticks will hold up for 3-5 years.

Flor de Baloney Robusto
Size: 5 x 52
Tobacco: Ecuador (Sumatra wrapper), fillers from Nicaragua, Honduras, DR
Price: $5.00

According to Lew Rothman, this was one of the worst experiments in JR Cigars history. I guess it was about 5 years ago, JR purchased a bunch of quality cigars from the Villazon factory in Honduras (supposedly these were firsts of Hoyo de Monterrey) and decided to sell them under the house name Flor de Baloney with the years 1890 and 1892 printed on the band. It was intended to be a not-so-subtle jab at the Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 and 1992 brands, since Lew claimed any cigar purporting to use tobacco that old was full of "baloney".

The cigars did not sell because of the ridiculous name. For years, I kept seeing them advertised in the quarterly catalogs; each issue the price dropped another 20%. I finally bought a bundle in Feb 2011 for $1.55/stick. Normally, I would have aged these cigars at least a year, but they turned out to be a great size for smoking during my evening mile walk with Kedron (although Michelle keeps saying it's not really exercise if I'm smoking a cigar. I don't know -- I'm not losing any weight, but it does seem to be helping my cardio; I don't get out of breath as fast as I used to).

Back to the cigars... they taste like HdM to me. Same flavor profile, good construction, I've noticed some variation in taste from stick to stick. Some are definitely full-bodied, while others are more medium. But I notice this same phenomenon in Punch cigars from the same factory.

This brand is discontinued. Too bad at this price...

JR Alternative to Rocky Patel Edge
Size: 6.5 x 52 (Toro)
Tobacco: Honduras
Price: $2.15

I've been smoking the heck out of this bundle, which only has 10 months of age on it. I read on a message board several years back that the Honduran JR Alts are rolled in the same factory as the Rocky Patel Edge, so the JR Alt to RP Edge is probably in fact the same cigar. I don't know if this is true, but I can say these cigars certainly taste like the real thing; in fact, they taste more like the real thing than Rocky Patel's own Edge Counterfeits, which purport to be the same blend but are rolled in Nicaragua.

These cigars sport dark, very toothy wrappers. I've run across a few wrappers with dinks or tears, and a few others that appear pale or abnormally thin, which makes me think these are actaully seconds to RP Edge. But the full-bodied, spicy, complex taste is there. Construction on all cigars has been flawless.

In fact, right now I'm actually preferring these to the box of San Luis Rey with 17 months of age. (Although I admit SLR is a smoother experience with slower, cooler burn).

Highly recommended.

La Gloria Cubana Charlemagne vs JR Alternative to La Gloria Cubana
Size: 7.5 x 52
Tobacco: DR/Nicaragua
Price: $6.28

"The LSU Cigar"

18 months ago, I bought a bundle of JR Alternatives to La Gloria Cubana, and JR threw in a couple of real LGC's for comparison. I aged them all for a little over one year, then took my time working through the bundle over a span of six months. In general, I think JR Alts from Nicaragua are usually very good, but the ones from Dominican Republic leave me underwhelmed. These are mild-to-medium in body, without a lot of taste. The consistency of this bundle was not as good as I would have liked: it featured a few bitter cigars, and a few tight cigars. But most of them were serviceable, just your average run-of-the-mill cigars with palates of wood and nuts. Paired well bourbon or strong beer.

The real LGC Charlemagne, on the other hand, was noticeably better. They were slightly longer (7.25 inches versus 7.0) and thicker (52 ring guage versus 50). The wrappers were a darker camel-colored brown, as opposed to a light creamy tan. Prelight aroma was more pungent. Flavors were stronger, headier, with a noticeable lingering finish. The LGC smoked slower and cooler.

I lit one at Bryant Denny Stadium in traditional celebration after beating Tennessee, and I smoked it for about 90 minutes to the nub. I was going to smoke the second one two weeks later, when Alabama beat LSU and moved to #1 in the polls, but then as it turned out we lost in overtime. I'm saving that cigar in anticipation of a rematch in the BCS National Championship game. If we don't get the rematch, then I'll save this cigar for next year. But it has become my LSU cigar. I won't smoke it until we beat them.

To cold for cigars this weekend, but thought I'd mention I made a couple of very low-rent pick ups this week. Boardwalk from Holts ($30), Flor de Baloney and RP Edge Alternatives from JRCigars ($73).

That's 70 cigars for $1.47 each.

I'm not sure why I did this, as I could have gotten a wheel of 50 SLRs on JRCigar Auctions for the same $100 (and I know I would love them). But sometimes I just get in the mood to smoke some new house brands. Besides, I read on cigar forums that Boardwalk is one of the best sub-$2 smokes on the market. Flor de Baloney are supposedly identical to HdM, and I read somewhere long ago that JR Alts to Edge come from the same factory as the real RP Edge.

I guess I'll age these cigars and make up my own mind next year.

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'

ASSORTED JR ALTERNATIVES
Price: All about $1

Shaun has been sharing from his stash of JR Alternatives that he bought at the JR store in New York. He's shared three new blends with me:

1. Alt-Cohiba Robusto -- an easy smoke, but bland
2. Alt-Ashton -- dull and flavorless
3. Alt-Fuente Cuban Corona -- great taste, but the ones I've tried have been plagued with construction problems like an ultra-tight draw, or an inability to keep lit.














Further thoughts on 5 Vegas

Series "A"
After giving them a month or two to age, the 5 Vegas Series "A" has improved dramatically. I've been smoking them back-to-back with some JR Ultimates and I realize now the Series "A", while not as strong, has a creamier taste with a more lasting finish. It's sort of similar to how Bud Light can taste better than Killians Red when you first begin to drink, but Killians is more substantial, stays with you longer, and in the end is more satisfying.

Limitada 05
It's too bad the 2005s are all sold out, because I've had 3 more since my review, and none have disappointed. Layers of shifting flavors and no two cigars have been exactly the same. I want to try the 2006s, but I haven't found a good deal on them. They run about $5 apiece online.

Limitada 06 (updated 11/3/06)
I bit the bullet and paid nearly $20 (after shipping) for a 5-pack of these. As with the 05's, a well-constructed cigar, with medium draw and a slow, cool burn. The cigar retains its taste if you have to set it down for an hour and then relight it.

Unlike the 05's, these cigars start with a medium nutty taste and develop into a more peppery taste at the end. Not real strong, like the Series 'A', but definitely some "kick" at the end. I have to admit to being a tad disappointed, though , that the 06 was not as good as the 05. It still had the medium body, with the smooth soft pepper flavors, but it didn't have that curious citrus flavor that I enjoyed in all the 05's. I'm not complaining, mind you, but it lacked that little something extra. Just not quite as good as last year, IMO.

postscript 11/20/06: I've tried two more of the Limitada 2006s and I think I misclassified the "peppery" taste that I noticed at the end of these cigars. It's more of a "salty seawater" taste -- like the aftertaste that saltwater taffy leaves in your mouth after you swallow the sugar. It takes a little while to get used to, compared to the more immediate flavors in the 2005. The flavor comes out more when the cigar is paired with a single malt scotch (Glennfiddich 12- or 15-year) rather than with wine.

JR Alt - Perdomo Reserve #5
Size: 6.75" x 56
Price: $1.50

I bought a bundle of these for Anthony for his birthday. He wanted them because of the unique shape -- they are tapered at both ends. Unfortunately, neither of us liked them once they arrived. They smoke for a long time (2 hrs), but they have trouble staying lit and, frankly, they just don't taste very good.

JR Alt - Excalibur II (Maduro)
Size: 6.45" x 48
Price: $1.48

JR Cigars has hit on something with its Excalibur Alternatives. This was a yummy blend, similar to but not quite as strong as the Prensada Alt. Lasted over 2 hrs.

JR Limitada Edicion Alternative - Montecristo Edmundo
Size: 5.25 x 54
Wrapper: Maduro
Filler: Nicaraguan


This is a serious medium-to-full bodied smoke, with just enough bite and zest to keep it interesting. The website describes them as "wrapped in a deep Colorado maduro wrapper and spiced up with potent ligero fillers from the Jamastran Valley". I'm not sure what all that means, but JR Cigars sells out of these bundles almost as fast as they arrive, and it's easy to see why. I've noticed a few minor problems with burn (a tendency to canoe, an occasional relight needed), and I gave one to Anthony which might have been plugged because he had a hard time keeping his lit.

But this blend has hit upon a magic formula for strength and flavor without bitterness. For now, this has topped the JR Cuban Alt-Monte #2 as my go-to "affordable" smoke.

No new review today. Last night’s cigar was a disappointing JR Alt-Monte #2. But the disappointment was my fault—not Lew’s. I had to let the cigar die 5 minutes in, because Kedron woke up from her nap early. When I returned an hour later, the wrapper started to unravel and split, which led to burn and draw problems. This marred an otherwise fine night of heads-up, no-money-wagered poker with Anthony on the back porch.

This brings me to tonight’s subject: I first became a fan of the JR Alternatives line in 2004, because they were the only quality hand-rolled, long-filler cigars that could be obtained for a buck. Yes, there are cheaper buys, but they are either segundos (which by their nature are inconsistent) or mixed-filler sandwich cigars, like Riata and Mister B’s. Back in 04, a bundle of JR Alt-Monte #2 cost $21.95, plus $2 shipping, or $1.20 per smoke.

But over time, Lew’s inventories dropped and shipping costs rose. Today, that same bundle costs $26.95, plus $2.63 shipping, or $1.48 per smoke. Still a great bargain for a very good smoke.

However, I recently found a site called CigarBid.com where boxes of name-brand cigars are routinely placed on the auction block at less than $10 and a feeding frenzy ensues. This site seems to specialize in new and boutique labels that became popular in the boom of the late 1990’s. I see more cigars with “by Rocky Patel” or “by Perdomo” in the name than Montecristo or Punch. Most boxes end up selling for 70% of retail; some even sell for higher than MSRP. But sometimes you can get a steal: I bought a box of Legends Series Camachos and a 20-cigar sampler of CAO, Gurkha, La Perla, and Puros Indios for almost the same price as the JR Alts ($1.68 per smoke, after shipping).

I’m excited about this, because it will mean more variety than what I find at JRCigars, at my present costs. I’ll post reviews soon.

Mister B's Handmade Cigars

You can't get many handmade cigars for $0.50 apiece, so I ordered a few bundles from JRCigars.com when they became available. Apparently, I'm not the only one who's had this epiphany, because more often then not these cigars are out of stock.

First, it just can't be ignored, these are some ugly stogies. The wrappers are often wrinkled, vein-y (is that a word?), and bumped. That's probably why they're sold at such low prices. But most of them smoke well, because as we all know, the wrapper rarely affects taste or burn. They are loosely wrapped concoctions, with fair but not great quality tobacco. On the plus side, they smoke fast when you don't have much time, but they also tend to go out quickly if you don't attend to them often. I don't particularly care for the taste of the naturals, but the maduros were smooth.

I may try them again, but for now I'd rather pay a little extra ($1.25) for the JR Alternatives






Macanudo Crystal Cafe

James and Laura gave me a box of 8 for my 30th birthday. & let me say, these are easily the best Macanudos I've ever had. Smooth, evenly rolled, slow-burning, perhaps a bit too mild -- but definitely a Ritzy cigar. They come in airtight glass tubes with foam-padded, gold-tasselled corks at the top. I probably can't justify the price (nearly $5 apiece), but a very good smoke. Redeemed the Macanudo brand name, in my opinion -- just don't give me anymore of those damn Hampton Courts!

















Excalibur Prensado (JR Alternative)

Another excellent heavy-bodied cigar from the JR Alternative line for the economically challenged. As good as -- if not maybe a tad better -- than the JR Ultimates.

Some miscellaneous reviews:

(1) Partagas Black

A $6 turd of a cigar. This one was packed so tight it was almost unsmokeable. And where was the famous Partagas flavor? Not nearly as complex as a JR Ultimate.








(2) JR Alternative – Montecristo #1

The same cigar as the Alternative Montecristo #2; just as good, only smaller.
























(3) Punch Rare Corojo Double Corona

This cigar started so wonderful. Smooth, strong, yet subtle... I had just lit this prize and was preparing to deal the first hand of Texas Hold 'Em, when a soured waitress made her rounds telling all smokers that cigars were not allowed in the main room of Fox 'N Hound. Of course, the three cigarette smokers at my table were welcome to continue killing us all with their secondhand Marlboro stench.

By the time the game was over and I re-lit this beauty, it had dried out, gone stale, and turned bitter. Never before have I mourned the loss of a stogie like this one...

OK, first the bad news:

JR Cigars has increased the price of a bundle of JR Alternatives by $5. So now, with shipping, the JR Montecristo #2 costs me $1.45 and the JR Punch Double Corona is $1.35. Still small potatoes compared to retail prices, but with a baby on the way and Michelle's impending unemployment, I'm pinching pennies like never before.

Now, the good news: I bought a bundle of 25 Consuegras, which are very high quality seconds from the makers of Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, El Rey del Mundo, and JR Ultimates.

Mild, almost to the point of blandness sometimes, but they smoke very cool and very long. I did notice some variability; that some cigars were smokier than others, and some more flavorful.

At this price, they are probably one of the best cigar bargains on the market.

JR Ultimate Corona (JR Alternative)
Size: 5.62" x 46
Price: $1.05 (comes in bundles of 20)

It doesn’t make any sense to me that JR Cigars makes an "alternative" to its own line. The alternatives are a little cheaper, but c’mon… it’s gotta be the exact same cigar!

Like almost all the JR Alternatives, this is a well-constructed cigar. No problems with burning too fast or unraveling or loose leaf bits on the tongue. But be forewarned: This is a heavy pungent cigar! It’s similar to the Montecruz but it’s not bitter and doesn’t leave me with a stomach ache. I’ve loaned some to friends – who seem to fall into the "love it" or "hate it" camps. I’m not sure I could smoke them all the time, but they seem to fit when I’m in the right moods.

JR Cuban Alternative: Montecristo #2
Filler: DR
Length: 6, Ring: 50

The Cuban Montecristo #2 is the measure by which I have evaluated every other cigar since. I have yet to find its equal. I’ve had five of them (two on the deck of a cruise ship in Jamaica).
This JR Alternative is not in the same class, although it is better than the name brand Montecristo from the Dominican Republic that sells for about $12. It is slightly heavy, but it burns slow and cool and even for the better part of 45 minutes. At a little over a buck a cigar, it will sit atop my reorder list at JRCigars.com














Mocha
Filler: Honduras

This is a unique tasting cigar, that I would probably indulge again, if not for the poor construction. Out of the box I split with a friend, I had several that burned unevenly on one side and more that I could not keep lit without constant attention. Many of them burned tight and harsh after they were lit, before finally loosening up. All my friends who tried them had the same complaint.

It's been a year and half since I updated my cigar blog. There's a very good reason for this: In late August 2003, I purchased two Cuban Montecristo #2 cigars from a vendor in Jamaica ($7 ea). I smoked them on the top deck of the Carnival Conquest cruise ship, and I knew instantly that my searching was over. I had found the perfect cigar: perfect taste, perfect size, lasted over an hour and the cigar never faltered or grew hot. It became my standard--and no other has even come close to topping it.

I abandoned the blog, because there was nothing else to say.

Of course, you can't buy those treasured delights in the States, unless you are willing to break the law and (more importantly) shell out $50 for each one. So, over the past 18 months, I've mainly stuck with brands I already knew. There have been a few excursions into the unknown, most noticeably:

1) A Davidoff, purchased in Amsterdam, smoked during a boat ride down the River Seine in Paris.

2) A Cuban Cohiba (from the same Jamaican vendor) that did not live up to its billing. It had been improperly stored and even a few weeks in my humidor couldn't do anything for it.

3) An eight-inch behemoth from Romeo Y Julieta, smoked while watching the 2005 Sugar Bowl with friends.

4) A box of Elvis Presley cigars, hand rolled in Honduras, given to me by a Tennessee fan I met while watching the AL-TENN game at a local hangout.

5) A box of $1 JR Alternatives (Punch Double Corona), that tasted--and perhaps were--exactly like the "real" thing. Easily the best cigar value I've ever found. Usually, the JR Alternatives are just excess inventory from the manufacturer, sans the pretty packaging.

6) 3 more Cuban Montecristo #2's, smuggled back from Mexico by a friend. This time I shared with both Anthony (who is becoming as hooked on this hobby as I am) and Donnie Taylor, who waxed poetic, agreeing it was the best cigar he's ever had and made a standing offer to pay up to $500 dollars if I can get him a box.

But mostly, it was the same old, same old:

• The occasional Onyx Reserve (now $3.75 at JR Cigars)
• Arturo Fuentes (Double Chateau, Curly Head Deluxe)
• Montecristo (Afriques, when I can afford them, which is not often)
• Macanudos (they all taste the same)
• Two bad experiences with H. Uppmans and El Rey del Mundos.

But I've come back to the blog now, because more and more frequently I find myself in the cigar stores or online at JR Cigars, wondering Have I tried this brand before? Did I like it?

So, the blog will no longer record my pursuit for the perfect cigar. Instead, I will only add to it when I try new ones and want to record my impressions and opinions.