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.

For my 32nd birthday, my friend Shaun bought me a Gurkha humidor filled with a selection of 20 cigars that were all rated 94 or better by Cigar Aficionado magazine. There are 10 different types of cigars showcased (2 of each brand). Most of them are new to me, although some I have reviewed before. As Shaun and I smoke them together throughout the year, I'll post my reviews in this section:

Graycliff Profesionale PGX
Size: 6.0 x 50 (toro)
Wrapper: Indonesian
Filler: Primarily Brazilian, with some Dominican and Nicaraguan
Price: $10

Date: 12/14/2007
Occasion: Poker night, in honor of my birthday

The ultra-expensive Graycliff cigars are rolled at the ultra-exclusive Graycliff resort in the Bahamas, where they are designed (according to http://www.graycliffcigars.com/) to be enjoyed with the "fine wine and cuisine" available only in ultra-chic Graycliff restaurants. These cigars retail from $7 to $38 per cigar at online discount sites (I've seen some for sale in B&Ms, usually in the $15-$20 range).

Most of the non-Cuban cigars I've tried at the $10 price point have been, at least to some extent, novelty items (Drew Estate Egg, Makers Mark, Island Prince). Others have been decent but laughably overpriced (Gurkha Class Regent, RP Vintage 1990, CAO CX2). So, I was suspicious that Graycliff would turn out to be all hype, little substance.

The cigar came dressed with an impressive blue label with the well-known gold "G" emblem. The wrapper was a nondescript light brown with a few noticeable veins. The pre-light aroma and taste told me unequivocally that there would be a lot of spice in this cigar. And, upon lighting, it certainly did not disappoint. In fact, the Graycliff Profesionale PGX hit the flavor profile I enjoy most in a cigar: medium body with a strong, spicy flavor. It immediately reminded me of a few other favorites, namely the Fuente Hemingway line and the Island Prince from Hawaii.

The cigar had flawless construction, as I nursed it through the first two hours of a Friday night poker game, paired with Whathen's Kentucky Bourbon. It kept a quarter- to half-inch salt-and-pepper ash and maintained a consistent taste until it burned past the band mark.

As an encore, I followed it with a slightly stronger Edge Counterfeit Corojo and a Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch. I even won $55 in the poker game -- all in all, a fairly extraordinary night.

Montecristo White Rothchilde
Size: 5 x 52
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Filler: Dominican/Nicaraguan blend
Price: $8.50

Date: 12/28/2007
Occasion: Shaun's Birthday

In appearance, this cigar is very elegant in its simplicity. It has a light reddish-brown wrapper, flawless without veins, creases or bumps. The band depicts the famous Montecristo logo, but with an all-white background instead of the typical brown. I detected a very slight (but pleasant) prelight aroma. When I clipped the end and tasted the tobacco, there was no prelight flavor, which I knew indicated an extremely mild taste.

The stogie is very, very mild with a subtle taste of nuts. (In fact, it reminded me a lot of the Padilla Cedro, except substitute the flavor of nuts instead of grass). The body is light and the draw is medium. The finish was more noticeable on the palate than the initial draw because it left behind a slightly bitter taste. I could not decide if this was intentional or if the cigar was a little too wet (I have kept it stored about 70% humidity). I think it was intentional or else there wouldn't have been much to taste at all.

Because of the mild nature of the cigar, it is important to pair it with a good drink. It might go well with a domestic beer or a bottled water, but I found that Basil Hayden 8-year Kentucky bourbon enhanced the experience nicely.

I took a long time to decide if I really liked this cigar. I still don't know. My first instict was to write it off as simply an overpriced mild smoke (there are plenty of those on the market, from Macanudo to Royal Jamaica Gold). But at the same time, it is clear this cigar is excellently constructed and the tastes, while faint, are well-balanced. In the end, I decided that no ultra-mild cigar could be any better than this. Montecristo has perfected its product; I'm just not in the target audience.

Joya de Nicaragua Celebracion Consul
Size: 4.5 x 52
Wrapper: Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan Puro
Price: $4

Occasion: New Year's Day 2008

Joya de Nicaragua cigars were first created in 1968 in the first tobacco factory in Central America. They have not always been available in the U.S., the victim of government instability and a complicated history of trademark ownership. Today, the brand is owed by Tabacos Puros de Nicaragua S.A and the cigars are onced again manufactured in Nicaragua and made entirely with Nicaraguan tobacco. The Celebracion itself was named one of the Top 25 Cigars of 2004.

I paired this cigar with a Yuengling lager on a chilly New Year's Day afternoon.

Featuring a dark brown criollo wrapper, the first thing I noticed about this cigar was a rich, full prelight aroma and a peppery taste on the tongue. When I toasted the foot with my lighter, I was surprised at how strong and spicy the cigar was, particularly since I had read that the Celebraction is viewed by many as the "milder cousin" of the Antano 1970 line. Based on online reviews, I was expecting tastes of cedar and nuts; instead I was pleasantly surprised to get notes of deep spice.

While the strength does abate somewhat, this could not be called anything except full-flavored and full-bodied. It reminded me a lot of the Padron 1926, except somewhat harsher. The only drawbacks were some inconsistent burning, a slight tendency to canoe at the halfway point, and a tight draw. None of these were severe problems, and I think they could have been alleviated by storing at a lower humidity (maybe around 66% or so).

I would definitely try this cigar again. However, I no longer have a desire to try the Antano 1970 line. If it's any stronger than the Celebracion, it will definitely be too strong.


Rocky Patel Vintage 1990
Occasion: 70 degrees in the middle of winter, felt like celebrating

I reviewed this cigar in a bigger ring guage several months back, so I won't retread my opinions all over again. This cigar had more tastes of nuts and coffee, and less spice. It was also fuller in body and finish. It paired very nicely with three fingers of Gentleman Jack. My overall impression of this cigar did not change. This is a very good cigar (it would be better without the hard box press). It's not worth the $10 price tag I usually see in B&Ms, but you can usually find bundles of 2nds online at substantially less cost.

Power by Felipe Gregorio
Size: 5.5 x 55
Wrapper: Cuban-seed Costa Rican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $11

I usually like to research a new cigar before I smoke it. In this case, I did all my research after the fact, and I wonder if my perception would have been different if I'd read the hype before I smoked it.

According to http://www.felipegregorio.com/power.htm, the Felipe Power cigar features a wrapper derived from a strain of Cuban seed tobacco called Pelo del Oro ('Golden Hair') that has not been cultivated in Cuba since before Castro’s reign. It has earned ratings as high as ‘92’ by Cigar Aficionado. It is described on Cigars International as "med to full body with ample taste". It sells for over $10 at B&Ms and online stores.

My cigar started out unceremoniously when my rare pre-Castro Pelo del Oro ripped as I removed the band. Fortunately, the hole didn't seem to affect the smoking consistency very much. It had a strong, very sweet pre-light taste. After lighting it, I realized that "Power" must have been named after the characteristics it was missing. There was no punch at all to this cigar. I tasted a little earth, a little sweetness, and (if I closed my eyes and wished really hard) just a little spice.

On the whole, it was a mild, indistinct taste. Very little body or finish. The cigar wasn't bad by any means, just average. It reminded me of several $2 cigars I’ve enjoyed while mowing the lawn or driving around town. I was stunned when I found out later how much this cigar usually sells for.

Gispert Churchill
Size: 7 x 54
Wrapper: Ecudorian
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan
Price: $2.52

Occasion: Easter Celebration

I spend so much time looking for full-bodied, spicy cigars that sometimes I am surprised how much relaxation can be derived from a high-quality, well-balanced mild smoke. Gispert (pronounced his-pairt) definitely fit the bill tonight, chatting with friends and sipping on a sweet port wine. This cigar sported a golden wrapper, free of almost all veins and blemishes. Upon lighting it, I tasted hints of spice and nuts, and for a few minutes I thought it was going to be medium-bodied, but then it quickly settled into a light, sweet taste (no doubt greatly influenced by the port). The draw was firm, yielding mouthfuls of clean white smoke. The aroma was surprisingly robust for a such a mild taste. It certainly gave off a cedar-like smell, although I did not taste any cedar. The finish was light, with almost no aftertaste. It burned like a champ for over an hour and a half.

I did some research on the brand but did not turn up very much information. The cigar is made by Altadis, one of the two biggest cigar companies in the world, and its slogan is "A five star cigar without a five star price." It was named after a 19th century Cuban brand, and was once rated 90 by Cigar Aficionado.

Romeo y Julieta 1875 Cedro Deluxe #2
Size: 5.5 x 44
Tobacco: Dominican with Indonesian shade-grown wrapper
Price: $4.50 (B&M); $3.00 (box price)
Occasion: Memorial Day, 2008

I scoured my old cigar reviews today and was surprised to discover only three entries for Romeo y Juliet. The first one was the 8.5" Exhibicion #1 (New Year's Day, 2005), which I mentioned briefly but never wrote a full review. The other two were the Romeo #1 and #2, both of Cuban origin. Like the HdM Excalibur, it seems every B&M I've ever visited sells this brand, and I think I must have tried several in my "early days". It must have been prior to January 2003, when I started writing this blog in order to remember which brands I liked.

Shaun and I decided to pull these cigars out of our now-famous "Gurkha box" to celebrate Memorial Day-- although since I forgot to bring them to his Memorial Day party, we actually enjoyed them four days later as we polished off the last of my Lagavulin single malt scotch. We sat in the backyard with our wives, after a nice dinner at Bahama Breeze, and planned our cruise vacation to the Bahamas.

The non-Cuban incarnation of the Romeo y Julieta hasn't changed much over the years. It is a mild-flavored smoke, with a white ash and a weak (but not tight) draw. It comes wrapped in a cedar sleeve which imparts a relaxing aroma and a slightly nutty taste. It is always a good cigar, although not one that I would regularly go out of my way to procure; there are other equally good mild cigars that can be had for less.

Carlos Torano Signature
Size: 6 x 50 (Toro)
Wrapper: Sun Grown Brazilian Maduro
Filler: DR/Nicaragua
Price: $4.45

Occasion: 4th of July in Arkansas

I gave this cigar a poor review in Jan 2007, but I'm pleased to announce my sophomore encounter was much better. After almost seven months aging in the "gurkha box", Shaun and I enjoyed these relaxing on his parents’ back porch with our wives, overlooking a lake, sampling some Talisker 10-year. It was a great night and my overall enjoyment of the cigar increased. The nutty aroma and taste (with hints of coffee) were there, like I remember from last time, but this time they were more pronounced and consistent throughout the cigar. It is still a mild cigar that could use a burst of flavor, so I'm not ready to go buy a box of these just yet, but at least it salvaged my initial impression of the Torano brand.

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.

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).

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.