State of the Humidor - Jan 3, 2014 

I have shamelessly let this cigar blog lapse since last August.  It's going to bite me in the butt, too, because I've smoked a lot of good cigars and now I can't remember what they were. 

Here's the 2014 State of the Humidor:

New cigars to try in 2014:

1. E.P. Carillos Predelictos
2. Pinar Del Rio Small Batch Black Corojo Torpedo

Last cigar of 2013:

• Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story, while watching a Bears-Packers game with my brothers-in-law

First cigar of 2014:

• El Credito from the LGC factory in Miami, while watching Fiesta Bowl at Steve Laster's house

New cigars I tried in 2013, that I would purchase again in the future:

• Padilla Reserva Maduro Toro
• EP Carillo Core Natural
• Joya de Nicragua Antano 1970
• Dunhill Aged
• Cusano Habano LXI Sun Grown
• Pinar Del Rio Habano Sun Grown
• Casa de Fernandez Miami Toro
• Beale Street Maduro
• "My Uzi Weighs A Ton" Bait Fish
• Gran Habano Corojo Vintage 2002 (although I prefer the "non-vintage" version)
• Maria Guerrero Robusto
• Alec Bradley MAXX Brazil
• Cupido Criollo (but not the perfecto, due to persistent construction issues)
• Nat Sherman Timeless Collection #556

New cigars I tried in 2013, that I would not purchase again:  

• La Traviata by CAO
• Zino Platinum
• Gurkha Ghost
• Rocky Patel Private Cellar
• Dona Flor Robusto
• CAO Concert Churchill
• CLE Corojo

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

• 5 Vegas Limitada 2011 Belicoso
• La Perla Habana Morado Toro
• La Habana Rojo Toro
• Famous Nicaraguan 3000 Torpedo
• 5 Vegas High Primings Double Corona
• 5 Vegas Miami Churchill
• Pinar del Rio (sampler of various blends)
• Oliveros Sun Grown Churchill
• Pinar Del Rio Small Batch Black Corojo Torpedo
• Legends Series - Camacho
• La Perla Habana Morado Belicoso
• Man O War seconds
• Pinar del Rio Sun Grown Dbl Corona (half box)
• E.P. Carillos Predelictos (5)
• Excalibur Legend Challengers (2)
• Padilla Achilles Toro (2)
• 5 Vegas Cask Strength Toro (single)
• Perdomo Patriarch Corojo (single)
• Perdomo Grand Cru Corojo (single)
• Perdomo 2 Limited Edition (single)
• Perdomo Lot 23 (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.

Padilla Hybrid Robusto (updated opinions)
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Ecuador (hybrid of a cuban-seed and a Connecticut seed)
Filler: Nicaragua, DR, Peru
Price: $3.50

In August 2008, I reviewed this cigar on the basis of a single stick from a sampler pack. I purchased a box of 20 robustos for $40 in Feb 2009, aged it nearly two years. I have almost finished the box and thought it might be fun to revisit my initial impressions.

As I write this, I am smoking a Padilla Hybrid by the pool, at 10:30 at night, paired with Jack Daniels over melted ice.

So, what did I say in 2008?

It had a light-brown wrapper with a faint,tart pre-light flavor. I couldn't tell if the tartness was just a property of this unique wrapper, or an indication of a young cigar with too much ammonia.

After 24 months, the tart pre-light flavor is still presence. It is certainly not an indication of youth.

But it burned very well for the better part of an hour, and held a terrific ash.


I must have just gotten lucky with my first Padilla Hybrid. In fact, my biggest complaint about these cigars is how fast they have burned. Would be a better cigar in a longer size. Ash is usually very flaky.

Paired with a lager, but I think it would go better with a single malt. I think with some aging this could be an excellent everyday cigar that would also hold up well on special occasions.

"Excellent" may be stretching it a bit. But it does have a unique flavor -- crisp, precise, almost tangy, with a subtle faint lemony nose and no aftertaste.

Update May 5, 2014:  Two nights ago I pulled out the last Padilla Hybrid robusto from my Lost Sticks Tray.  It had 5 years, 3 months age on it.  The pre-light aroma was delicate and woodsy.  Paired with Glenlivet.  It tasted much the same as I remember, although the extra years seemed to have mellowed it somewhat.  More mild than medium this time around, with that same soft tartness in the flavor. The ash was not flaky, nor did the cigar burn too quickly or too hot.  Enjoyable indeed.

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.

A few random musings...

Yesterday, I finished my last Omar Ortez Original (aged 2 yrs, 1 mo.) from the original box of 60 (well, technically I left one in my Lost Sticks Tray that I'll probably fire up in 2013 or so). These were strong, pungent nicaraguan puros. They lacked complexity but made up for it with blunt force. My only complaint about these cigars were they could not be left unattended for any length of time without losing the flame, and they were prone to going out and having to be relit. Other than that... very highly recommended.

Tonight, I am enjoying a Padilla Hybrid robusto (aged 2 yrs, 2 mos.) after dinner. It is mild-medium body, but with lots of odd flavors that I can't quite describe yet. Enjoyable but different.

I recently ordered two bundles of Gurkha Master's Select Robusto #4 (6 x 52) from CigarBid for $42.99 (incl. shipping). I have really enjoyed the Master Select line in the past, but I'm a little worried about this batch. These are no longer dressed in attractive, aromatic cedar wraps. Also, the light brown wrappers are now very dark, almost maduro. The cigars smell young, with traces of ammonia, although I suspect this will disappear with age.

I asked Cigars International about these discrepancies and here was their response:

Dear Craig,
Thanks for choosing Cigars International! As far as the wrapper is concerned, I can tell you it is the correct wrapper, but because it is a natural product there may some inconsistencies; that is, depending on weather, soil, and the year that it was harvested. As for the cedar sleeves—these were done away with by Gurkha from what I understand to cut back on costs. Regardless these are the same tasty gems that you’re used to, and I’m sure you’ll still love them! I hope this helps, and if you need any further assistance, please feel free to ask.

Respectfully Yours,
Sean L.
Customer Service.

So I guess I'll just have to wait six months and decide for myself if these are the "same tasty gems" that I'm used to.

Update 5/9/14: I finally fired up that last Omar Ortez Original from the Lost Sticks Tray last night, a year behind schedule.  The cigar was still ugly as sin, with tooth and veins running amok everywhere. The cigar had developed a grassy pre-light scent that I don't remember, the initial spicy pepper blast (which I described as "Pepin-esque" in 2009) was noticeably absent, and the loose draw had tightened up to perfection.  The burn problems that plagued this cigar in 2011 were completely solved, and the distinctive Nicaraguan tobacco taste, exemplified so well in Padrons, were if anything richer, softer, and ultimately more pleasing. This cigar was the perfect complement to a glass of Balvenie Double Wood last night.  I had nearly forgotten this brand, my favorite stogies of yesteryear, but our reunion was oh so sweet...

Update 8/19/14: The Gurkha Master Select maduros were not "the same tasty gems" I remembered.  They were bland unmemorable maduros, just like most $2 maduros you find on the internet. I felt highly ripped off. I noticed last month, however, that Cigars International is now advertising "The original Gurkha Master Select blend is back!" The cigar wrappers look light brown again, and the cedar sleeves have returned.  JR Cigars is still selling the sleeveless maduro version of Master Select, at least for the time being.

State of the Humidor - Jan 2011

New cigars to try in 2011: Tampa Sweetheart #85 (second to Fuente 8-5-8), Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte

Last cigar of 2010: OpusX
First cigar of 2011: CAO America

Best (new) cigar of 2010: Ashton ESG Churchill
Worst (new) cigar of 2010: Hand-rolled Guatemalans

New cigars I tried in 2010, that I would purchase again in the future: King Corona Ybor Handmades, El Sol Parejos 6X Sumatra, Cain by Oliva, Ybor City Plus, 5 Vegas Cask Strength, Don Pepin Series JJ, Cohiba Robusto (Cuban), Padilla Signature 1932, Private Stock, La Flor de Murias, Ashton ESG,

New cigars I tried in 2010, that I would not purchase again: Tio Pepe, Padilla Habano, Patel Brothers, Calle Ocho, Bucanero Red, G.A.R. by George Rico, Perdomo Lot 23, Quesada Tributo

My goal is to reduce my capacity to 2 humidors--a large one for 1-2 years' box aging and another for current smokes. Right now, I'm running 4 humidors, and here is an approximate listing of their contents from memory:

Box of La Herencia Cubana
Box of Flor de Allones
Box of Padilla Hybrid
Box of Boardwalk
Box of Saint Luis Rey
Box of CI Legends-Graycliff
Box of Gran Habano #5 Pyramid
Bundle of Calle Ocho
Bundle of Perdomo Slow-Aged
Bundle of JR Alternative - La Gloria Cubana
Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet (partial box)
5 Vegas Miami (partial box)
Omar Ortez Originals (partial box)
Don Kiki Brown Label (partial box)
Ramon Allones Reserve (partial box)
Tio Pepe (partial bundle)
Montecristo Media Noche (5-pack)
La Gloria Cubana Wavell (5-pack)
Bahia Blue (5-pack)
Gran Habano #1 (singles)
Punch Champion (single)
Fuente 8-5-8 Sungrown (single)
Leon Jimines (single)
RP Corojo (single)
Carlos Torano 1916 (single)

I've also converted the top tray of my large humidor into what I call the Lost Sticks Cemetary. 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.

One interesting experiment to note is that the last two Ramon Allones Reserves I smoked were extremely bitter. Since the first few I smoked were excellent, I am pretty sure this is an indication these cigars are "turning". This happened to me years ago with a box, but I didn't know what was happening, so I just assumed the cigars weren't any good and I wasted them as 2nd-cigars-of-the-night or gave them to nonsmoking friends who couldn't tell the difference. This time, I'm letting the rest of the box age patiently, and I am excited about trying them again this summer.

Padilla Signature 1932 Robusto
Size: 5 x 50
Tobacco: Nicaraguan puro
Price: 10.80

Thank you, Cigars Direct! The Padilla Signature 1932 robusto is, hands down, the best Padilla cigar I've had. It has single-handedly restored my faith in the brand.

Before tonight, I've always been slighly disappointed in Padilla cigars. The Special Edition Cedro was relaxing, but too mild. The Habano was boring. The Obsidian was an experiment best forgotten. The Hybrids weren't spectacular, but at least show promise with aging (I think I've still got a box at the bottom of my humidor somewhere).

But the Signature 1932 Robusto was the best cigar I've had in several weeks. It had no flaws: A dark, smooth Corojo wrapper; a perfect burn; a spicy aroma; and (best of all) a rich, woody taste that coated my mouth like a fine, pungent scotch. It began with subtle spice, then shifted to flavors of oak (which reminded me of San Luis Rey) and then charcoal (reminiscent of Casa Magna). There was also a fragile undercurrent of some strange flavor, almost metallic, that put me in mind of a Black Pearl Cobre from several years back.

All in all, a complex and relaxing cigar that I am certain to try again...

Padilla Habano Churchill
Size: 7 x 48
Tobacco: Nicaraguan puro
Price: $3.50

How can you go wrong with a 90-rated puro with a 5-year old Cuban-seed wrapper?

I don't know, but you can.

I really want to say something nice about this cigar. It has a yummy dark brown wrapper. It's got a cool yellow band. It's a Nicaraguan puro.

I bought two 5-packs a year ago, in May 2009. I've still got a few left. The problem with these cigars is they are utterly unremarkable. Medium-bodied. Prone to the occasional canoe or re-light. I smoked them during ballgames, out by the pool, even in the car. They are never dinstinctive. Nothing noteworthy ever happens while one of them is lit.

They are like Meg Ryan movies. They are all the same. They all struggle to reach a plateau of mediocrity. They are all forgotten as soon as the credits roll.

Today's reviews come from the back porch, lounging by the pool, while smoking the last of my Flor de A. Allones bellicosos. This cigar, with 10 months age on it, has grown richer and spicier. A definite winner.

Before I commence with my latest batch of reviews, I wanted to post my latest internet cigar haul. I just bought a 300-ct glass-top humidor and this is how I plan to fill it up:

from Cigar Bid
1 Box 5 Vegas Miami by Pepin Garcia ($57)
1 Box Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet by Oliva ($51)
1 Box Gran Habano #3 Corojo ($45)
1 Box Padilla Hybrid ($43)
1 "cuban wheel" Perdomo Fresh-Rolled ($69)
-- i.e, 50 puros that have not been aged, with no bands, no box, no cellopane

from JR Cigars
1 Box Flor de Murias ($39.50)

from Cuban Crafters
1 Box-Don Kiki Brown Churchill ($54)
1 Bundle-Tio Pepe ($34)

That's 205 stogies, at an average price of $1.92. All are well-known premium brands, except Flor de Murias and Teo Pepe. (All prices include shipping).

I need to win two more auctions to make sure the humidor is set for a year: a box of Legends by Pepin and a 60-ct chest of Omar Ortez Originals. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to find the really cheap steals. Everybody is stocking up because in two months, the new $0.40 federal cigar tax is coming.

Update 03-15-09: I added a crate of 60 Omar Ortez Originals ($130) and a box of Ramon Allones Reserve ($43). I didn't win the Pepins. But this gives me 285 cigars in the new humidor, plus my current inventory (about 115 cigars). My goal is to let most of them age for 9 months. At current rate of consumption, this should give me enough smoking supply to last until late 2011.




Africa by Don Lino
Size: 5 x 50 (the "Duma")
Tobacco: Africa, Honduras, Nicaragua, DR
Price: $6.00

Each size in the Africa by Don Lino line has been ascribed the Maasi tribal name for a famous exotic animal on the continent. In addition to Duma, there is Kiboko, Kifaro, Kuro, Punda Milio, and Tembo.

The cigar is very attractive, with a shiny, oily dark brown wrapper, for the most part free from veins or bumps. It has a soft earthy pre-light aroma, with almost no pre-light taste. The draw is smooth, the burn slow and precise. It is medium in both body and taste. In the first half, the primary flavor is earthy with a slight spicy bite on the finish. In the second half, the spiciness is replaced by a dominate coffee flavor

I smoked this one last night over at Shaun's house. I was loopy from some cold medicine I had taken, so I did not pair it with any drink. It was a solid, enjoyable cigar; it didn't blow me away by any means, but I would certainly smoke one again.



La Herencia Cubana
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Nicaragua (regions: Jalapa, Condega, Esteli)
Price: $5-$7

I bought a 20-cigar sampler of this brand on CigarBid for around $36, that included the robusto, lonsdale, toro, and torpedo sizes. I don't know that I would have ever noticed this little boutique cigar from AJ Fernandez, until I read this glowing review on another blog.

This cigar is a very good everyday, after-dinner treat. It is fairly one-dimensional, but has a lot of pepper-spice flavor with a healthy finish. Pairs well with scotches, bourbons, and lagers. I've never had any problems with the draw or the construction. Despite having a Sumatra wrapper and being (nearly) a Nicaraguan puro, it does not have the same rich flavor as other Nicaraguan puros like Padron and Omar Ortez Originals. There is a very faint, bitter, almost acidic, undercurrent while you smoke it. Hard to describe and very unique; I'm not sure I've ever tasted it before.

It is, indeed, similar to some of Pepin Garcia's stuff -- at a fraction of the price. Something tells me the CBid samplers won't be going for $2/stick very long.



Omar Ortez Original Bellicoso
Size: 6.12 x 52
Tobacco: Nicaraguan Puro
Price: $5 (Tobacco Corner in Memphis)

I don't know who Omar Ortez is, but his namesake cigar is, right now, my new favorite cigar in all the world. It started, I'm sure, as Altadis' answer to the ever-popular Edge brand. Like Edge, the Omar Ortez Originals came unbanded in massive crates of 60 cigars. Once Rocky Patel started putting a foot band on his Edge, then Omar Ortez came out with a similar-looking foot band as well. This was clearly supposed to be a knock-off product. But here's the kicker: it's better than Edge. A lot better.

I smoked my first one about a year ago, and loved it. But I didn't have room to buy a box of 60. I remember back then, some of those crates sold on CigarBid for $80-90. However, the word is now out. Now that I have the storage capacity, those same crates never go for less than $136. JR Cigars sells them for $160. SeriousCigars sell them for $142.

This is one of the ugliest cigars I've ever seen on the market. The dark brown wrapper that is covered, head to foot, with "tooth" and veins. The pre-light taste of the wrapper is nondescript, leading you to think maybe it is not a strong cigar. But when you light this puro, the initial blast is strong, spicy, and harsh. Very "Pepin-esque" (although I hate that term). After a few minutes, though, the harshness subsides and then this cigar becomes very similar in taste to a Padron-- a lot of spice, a lot of earth, a little coffee perhaps, but never dull and never bland. The only negative to this cigar, if there is one, is an overly loose draw.

If I can get this cigar at around $2-$2.50 on CigarBid, this will become my staple after-dinner smoke. And my posts to this blog will decrease. Because once you've found what you're looking for... why keep looking?

Postscript 03-20-09: I recently learned the Omar Ortez Originals are named after a prominent tobacco grower who has survived and prospered in Nicaragua under both the sandinistas and the current government. They are manufactured in the NATSA (Nicaraguan American Tobaccos S.A) factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. The factory is jointly owned by Lew Rothman of JR Cigars and the Oliva family in Tampa.

MATASA 30TH ANNIVERSARY

SIZE: 6.5 X 52 (Toro)

WRAPPER: Dominican (maduro)

TOBACCO: Dominican & Nicaraguan

Price: $8 to $11

This cigar was one of the bigger disappointments I've had in a while. It tasted like leather, a little spongy (despite being stored in low RH) with a tight draw. It was strong, but not spicy and not very flavorful. Its appearance wasaverage, with a somewhat splotchy-looking wrapper.

Here's the PR spin on this cigar (which just goes to tell you not to believe everything you read):

MATASA stands for Manufactura de Tabacos, S.A., which is a factory begun in 1974 by Manuel Quesada in Santiago, DR. The Quesada family worked in Cuba for several generations, not as cigar-makers, but as tobacco leaf brokers. They settled in the DR after being forced out of Cuba at gunpoint by the Communists. The MATASA factory is today best-known for producing the many varieties of Fonseca cigars (they also make the bulk of JR alternatives).

The MATASA 30th Anniversary cigar by Fonseca was created to celebrate the founding of the company. Introduced in 2005, about 30,000 cigars were produced and promptly received the Robb Report honor "Best of the Best 2006". The wrappers are choice maduro leaf ("high priming Olor Dominicano" from the Cibao Valley), and the filler tobacco is aged over 10 years. Quesada described it as "the finest of old, noble leaf so that we would have the depth of some of the choicest aged Cuban-seed tobaccos, but without the hardened strength."

Padilla Hybrid Robusto

Size: 5 x 50

Wrapper: Ecuador (hybrid of a cuban-seed and a Connecticut seed)

Filler: Nicaragua, DR, Peru

Price: $3.50

At first, I wasn't sure I'd like this cigar. It had a light-brown wrapper with a faint,tart pre-light flavor. I couldn't tell if the tartness was just a property of this unique wrapper, or an indication of a young cigar with too much ammonia.But it burned very well for the better part of an hour, and held a terrific ash. Mild to medium, but gains in complexity as it burns. Paired with a lager, but I think it would go better with a single malt. I think with some aging this could be an excellent everyday cigar that would also hold up well on special occasions.

I don't know why it's worked out this way, since my humidor is overflowing right now, but I seem to have been bumming a lot of cigars from Shaun lately. As the scotch, smokes, and good times pile up, so do the reviews. Here's a batch of short reviews of cigars I didn't pay a cent to try:

Blue Label
Size: 6 x 44 (corona)
Tobacco: Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican, with Habano wrapper
Price: $3.25

I mooched a couple of these, one at the casino and one by the pool. They’re made in the same factory as Gran Habano and sold through Cigars International. CI has been hawking them hard lately, and I think Shaun picked them up on the cheap as a daily special. If the two I smoked are any indication, they’ll stay cheap. Both cigars—even the one with two months age in the humidor—were bitter and harsh. Not at all recommended.


La Flor Dominicana Ligero L400
Size: 5.7 x 54
Tobacco: Dominican, with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper
Price: $5

Like the Double Ligero I reviewed earlier, this is an excellent cigar. It’s does not have the same knock-you-down-and-stomp-on-your-nads powerhouse thing going on, but its spicy, full-bodied, and packs plenty of pepper flavors. It was very similar, I thought, to a San Luis Rey. Maybe a little stronger, because I had broken out into a small sweat by the time it was over (of course, that might have been because I was also losing all my chips in the friendly church poker game that night). Flawless construction, good draw, slow burn. If this was the only cigar I could smoke for the rest of my life, I’d be ok with that.

El Mejor Elmerald Toro
Size: 6.0 x 52
Tobacco: Nicaragua, with a Hondruan-grown Corojo wrapper
Price: $2.25

Shaun gave me this cigar one Saturday evening, to enjoy on his back porch with a single-malt libation. This line of cigars is blended and manufactured by Nestor Plasencia in his Honduras factory. Plasencia is most well-known for developing the Habana2000 wrapper (used in a variety of cigars, such as Maria Mancini ) and the popular blends for Rocky Patel's Edge and Sungrown lines. Despite a low price point and apparently being sold exclusively through Cigars International, Shaun and I were both impressed by this cigar.

Appearance: The cigars came dressed in cedar sleeves, which always add a nice aroma, even if I don’t notice that they changed the taste very much. These cigars also have a pigtail cap (like the CAO criollo) and an unwrapped “shaggy foot”. I’ve heard the shaggy foot is popular in Cuba, and I’ve seen these before, but this was my first time to smoke one. The shaggy foot smoked as well as the rest of the cigar, but it was a little harder to get lit evenly than a regular foot.

Taste: It had a loose draw with lots of leafy, oaky, grassy flavors. It started off with mediuim body and strength, but grew stronger and spicier as it burned. Despite only being in the humidor a few days, my cigar did not taste at all young or harsh. The online description states the cigar goes through six months of box aging and has a “core of rich, searing Ligero tobaccos”. I don’t know about “rich” and “searing” but you can definitely taste the ligero leaf. The finish was unremarkable.

Construction: Smooth, even burn. No problems whatsoever.

I”d rate this a 7 out of 10. Definitely a decent bargain. Would try again.

Padilla Obsidian Bellicoso
Size: 6 x 54
Tobacco: Honduran and Nicaraguan
Price: $3.50

The bands on these cigars announce exclusivity: it says “Padilla Limitado” and “Edicion Especial 2006”. The internet is littered with its praises. It certainly looks impressive, wrapped in a jet-black ligero leaf. Even though I’m not a big fan of most maduros, I wanted to give this one a try.

What can I say? Stay away… far, far away.

How did ye disappoint me? Let me count the ways:

Poor construction. Although I had a good initial light, this cigar went out on me twice. There was no wind to blame it on, and I gave it constant, steady attention. The cigar just went dead twice, due to places where the tobacco was very, very loose.

Lack of flavor. The cigar began ‘ok’ with smooth, mellow, earthy notes. As it burned, it got progressively stronger in terms of nicotine content, but the flavor petered out. It’s kind of odd to describe a full strength/weak flavor combination, but that’s what this cigar has.

Failed the wet finger test. Maduro tobacco is dark brown, but not black, unless it has been dyed. I licked my finger, ran it across the tip of the cigar, and sure enough, drew back a brown finger. I found the following posting on ClubStogie.com:


Originally Posted by nozero
…I won a Cbid on Padilla Edicion Especial ’Obsidian’ (belicoso). The first two had no problem, the third however stained my lower lip. I emailed Cbid customer service about this, and here is their reply.

"Customer service comment by: Tom Date: 6/25/2008 5:15 PM
I apologize for that sir, although they are maduro cigars, they are dyed to make them look even darker and sometimes the dye will come off. Thanks."

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'

Paso Higueyano
Size: 5.5 x 45; 6 x 50
Wrapper/Filler: Dominican Republic (puro)
Price: $2 USD

During his vacation to the Dominican Republic this year, my friend Anthony took the opportunity to tour a small local cigar factory outside the city of Higuey. He watched the workers roll the tobacco, glue the caps, and trim the foot; and he got to meet the owner and talk about the industry.

These cigars are puros, meaning all the tobacco comes from the same country.

Anthony gifted me two cigars from the trip. Both had white bands, with gold lettering in Spanish. The wrappers were light brown with prominent veins throughout, and both were very tightly packed, although that did not lead to burn problems as I feared.

(1) The first was a vanilla-flavored corona. It was interesting, because I'd never tried a flavored cigar before. The cigar burned well, but the vanilla flavor completely masked the taste of tobacco and I couldn't tell if it was any good or not.

(2) The second was a torpedo, roughly the same size as a Monte #2. I enjoyed it on a cool December night, without spirits, reading Keith Dunnavant's book THE MISSING RING, about the 1966 Alabama football team. Other than a very slight canoe that self-corrected, the cigar burned smooth and cool all the way to the nub. It had an extremely mild taste, with an airy finish and insubstantial aftertaste. The tobacco was average but not premium quality-I'd say comparable to a Padilla Cedro, perhaps. Overall, a pleasant experience.

Padilla Special-Edition Cedro
Size: 7.0 x 48
Price: $4.50

Padilla Cigar Company is a small producer in the Dominican Republic. The 90-rated Miami 8&11 series is probably what they are most known for, although I think that line is now discontinued. The Cedro is not mentioned at all on their websites, so it is probably only available through online discount brokers.

This cigar comes packaged in spanish cedar, and features a Connecticut wrapper. A very smooth, very mild cigar, with an even and loose draw. They are a little [I]too[/I] mild at first, but the flavors start to kick in about half way through the stick, as it begins to progressively burn hotter. If you are patient enough to nub it all the way to the fingers, you will be rewarded with a small punch of flavor at the very end. This was not a world-changer, but a nice relaxing cigar nonetheless.

I recommend it with Glennfiddich Caoran Reserve; the subtle nutty flavors blend well with notes of peat in this single malt scotch.