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.

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'

San Luis Rey Reserva Especial
Size: Rothchilde: 5" x 54
Filler: Mix of Honduran, Nicaraguan, Peru
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Price - $3

The first time I heard of these cigars was at Eastover Paper Mill, when I ran into a mechanic smoking a cigar outside the training complex about 6:30 a.m. I asked him if the cigar was any good and he told me it was one of the best, a San Luis Rey. So, when I saw this one sitting in the humidor at a local B&M, I decided to put his judgement to the test.

It had a light brown wrapper, and burned slow with a good draw. The aroma and taste was reminiscent to me of a Padron cigar; nothing particularly distinctive but obviously well-constructed with high quality tobacco. A medium body with a light finish.

Unfortunately, I mis-timed how long it would take Shaun to grill dinner, and I had to extinguish this cigar midway. When I returned to it after dessert, the flavor was distintively more bitter (similar to what a Punch Corojo does after relight.)

Still, I noticed that JR Cigars is selling these for $2 apiece. Definitely worth another shot -- perhaps I'll use the gift card Alie gave me for my birthday!