State of the Humidor - Jan 2009

2008 was a strange year. I spent most of it waiting... waiting for my house to sell, waiting for new projects at work, waiting to find the outcome of my dad's job situation, waiting for my wife to get pregnant (ok, not really waiting, I was much more of an active participant in the last one). But it ended in a flurry of activity: new house, kid #2 on the way, and suddenly very busy in my career.

I enjoyed a lot of cigars this year and, thanks in large part to CigarsDirect who occasionally sends me free goodies for review, I was able to really upgrade this year. It's time for my annual State of the Humidor address:

Here’s my list of new cigars to try in 2009: 5 Vegas Miami, Don Kiki Brown Label, Tampa Sweetheart #85 (second to Fuente 8-5-8)

In 2008, I smoked an average of cigars 4.17 cigars per week.

Last cigar of 2008: Graycliff Profesionale Presidente
First cigar of 2009: Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1979

Best cigar of 2008: God of Fire Carlito 2005 Double Robusto
Worst cigar of 2008: Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo

New cigars I tried in 2008, that I would purchase again in the future: Joya de Nicaragua Celebracion, Gispert, Padron 7000, Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 Maduro, Arturo Fuente Sun Grown (Chateau & King B), Arturo Fuente Hemingway (Short Story, Signature Maduro, & Untold Story Maduro), God of Fire Carlito 2005, Fuente Fuente OpusX, Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Natural, CI Legends by Graycliff (Purple Label), CI Legends by Rocky Patel (Orange Label), CI Legends by Pepin Garcia (Yellow Label), Punch Gran Puro, Vibe Corojo, La Flor Dominicana Ligero, La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero, El Mejor Elmerald, Padilla Hybrid, El Titan de Bronze Redemption Sungrown Habano, Bolivar, Flor de A.Allones, La Rosa Especial, Maria Mancini, Omar Ortiz, Gran Habano #1, Gran Habano #3, Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro, Omar Ortez Originals, DPG Black Label, Hoyo de Monterrey, 5 Vegas Limitada 2007, Partagas Spanish Rosado

New cigars I tried in 2008, that I would not purchase again: Power by Felipe Gregorio, CI Legends by Cusano (Gray Label), Rocky Patel Original Sun Grown, Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo Torpedo, Camacho 1962, Famous Nicaraguan 1000, Don Carlos Edicion de Aniversario, Olor del Cibao, Padilla Obsidian, Blue Label, Belinda, MATASA 30TH Anniversary, Leoninos by La Aurora, Cremosa, El Rey del Mundo, Bock y CA, San Cristobal, Rocky Patel Sungrown

I'm running four small (less than 100ct) humidors right now. Here is the complete list of their contents::
• La Herencia Cubana (13 – all sizes)
• Gran Habano #5 Robusto (10)
• Hoyo de Monterrey Governor (10)
• Gran Habano #1 Robusto (9)
• Gran Habano #3 Robusto (8)
• Rocky Patel Edge Torpedo (8)
• Famous Dominican 1000 Double Corona (7)
• Graycliff 1666 PGX (7)
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Toro (7)
• Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Toro (6)
• 5 Vegas Limitada 2008 Torpedo (5)
• Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1979 (5)
• Gurkha Master Select #4 (5)
• Gurkha Regent Toro (4)
• Vegas de Fonseca Sobrinos (4)
• 5 Vegas Limitada 2007 Torpedo (3)
• Maria Mancini De Gaulle (3)
• 5 Vegas Torpedo (2)
• Carlos Torano 1916 Toro (2)
• Flor de A. Allones Bellicoso (2)
• Fonseca 5-50 (2)
• Fonseca Habana Selección Invictos (2)
• Fonseca Serie F Robusto (2)
• Fonseca Vintage Robusto (2)
• Gispert Churchill (2)
• Leoninos Torpedo (2)
• Perdomo Reserve Cameroon Torpedo (2)
• Arturo Fuente Lonsdale (1)
• Camacho 1962 Churchill (1)
• CAO Gold Maduro Churchill (1)
• Don Diego 10th Anniversary Toro (1)
• Montecristo White Churchill (1)
• Padron 2000 (1)
• Punch Magnum (1)
• Rocky Patel Sungrown Toro (1)
• Romeo y Julieta 1875 Churchill (1)
• Romeo y Julieta 1875 Cedro Deluxe (1)

Pending reviews: Omar Ortez Originals, Rocky Patel Sungrown, Gran habano #1, 5 Vegas Limitada 2007, Hoyo de Monterrey, RP Olde World Reserve Maduro, Punch Magnum

Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo Torpedo
Size: 6.5 x 54
Tobacco: Dominican Republic puro
Price: $6-MSRP; $2.25-internet

Despite my less-than-stellar impressions of Victor Sinclair in the past, I allowed myself some hope for this Triple Corojo that Shaun Brannen gave me at tonight's St. Andrews guys poker game. The cigar derives its name from the fact that the wrapper, binder, and filler are all made from corojo tobacco.

This cigar had a pleasant prelight smell. That was the only good thing about it. After I lit it, everything went downhill. What started as a bland, slightly unpleasant bitter taste quickly degenerated into something akin to smoking a cardboard box. Shaun complained repeatedly that his cigar tasted like soap. We both abandoned our sticks before the halfway point.

Unfortunately, my follow-up cigar turned out to be no better. But hey, at least I won $55 at the poker table.

It’s time for my 2nd annual State of the Humidor Address. Since my 1st address was actually posted at the end of January 2007, this address will cover Feb – December 2007.

• Here’s my list of new cigars to try in 2008: Flor de A. Allones, Tampa Sweethearts #85 (second to Fuente 8-5-8)
• Over the last 40 weeks, I smoked an average of 3.39 cigars per week.
• Last cigar of 2007: CAO Black Storm
• First cigar of 2008: Joya de Nicaragua Celebracion Consul
• 4 Best cigars of 2007 (because I couldn’t pick just one): Fuente Hemingway, Fuente 8-5-8, Graycliff Profesionale, Rocky Patel Edge
• Worst cigar of 2007: Don Paulo (It’s Polish..I should have known)
• Best values of 2007: Rocky Patel Counterfeit Edge ($2 on CBid), Peterson Gran Reserva ($2)
• Full list of new cigars I tried in 2007, that I would consider purchasing again in the future: CAO Criollo, Fuente Hemingway, CAO Black, Victor Sinclair Bohemian Black, Victor Sinclair Vintage Select, Fuente Hemingway Classic, Gurkha Gold Collector's Edition, Fuente Short Story, Rocky Patel Vintage 1990, The Edge by Rocky Patel, Edge Counterfeit, Island Prince, Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8, Gran Habano #5 Corojo, Peterson Gran Reserva, CAO Black ‘VR’, Graycliff Profesionale, Montecristo White, Joya de Nicaragua Celebracion
• Full list of new cigars I tried in 2007, that I would not purchase again: Old Fashioned, Roly, Don Paulo, Victor Sinclair Primeros, Victor Sinclair Bohemian Red, Serie ‘55’ Maduro, Serie ‘55’ Corojo, Oliveros 1927, Duques, Trilogy Cameroon “Tri-Press”, Don Felo, Don Kiki Red Label, Legends Gray Label, Sancho Panza Double Maduro
• Here is a list of what is in my humidor right now: Camacho 1962 (full box), Don Kiki Red Label, JR Alternative-Excalibur Prensada, Peterson Gran Reserva, Don Paulo, 5 Vegas Classic, Gispert, Fonseca, Carlos Torano Signature, Rocky Patel Vintage 1990, Perdomo Cabinet Series, Romeo y Juliet Cedro Deluxe, Romeo y Juliet 1875, Gurkha Class Regent, Power by Felipe Gregorio, Indian Tabac Super Fuerte, Fire by Rocky Patel, CAO Brazilia Samba, Padron 4000 Maduro

Up until a few months ago, I never tried a Victor Sinclair cigar. Then I won a 20-cigar sampler on CBid featuring 10 Series '55', 10 Bohemians, and 5 Primeros -- all for about $2 each. Also, Shaun bought a box of Victor Sinclair Vintages around the same time. So, I've been immersed in Victor Sinclair for the last three or four months and I thought I'd post all my reviews at once.

Victor Sinclair cigars I like:

• Bohemian Black
• Vintage

Victor Sinclair cigars I don't like:

• Primeros
• Series '55' maduro
• Series '55' corojo
• Bohemian Red

Victor Sinclair Primeros
Size: 6.5 x 52
Tobacco: Grade 1 Connecticut shade wrapper;
Filler: Dominican Seco
Price: $2.50

This cigar is all tease, with no payoff. It starts with a complex savory pre-light aroma, like you find when you enter a good cigar and pipe shop, where all smells of many different kind of tobaccos mingle together. It has a pleasing golden brown appearance, although I have noticed on at least one stick splotches of green which indicates the wrapper has not been dried properly. Usually the first few puffs on the cigar reward me with a mild, nuanced flavor.

And, then, poof, it's gone... and all I'm left with is a stick of tobacco that tastes as bland as scented paper, just nice-smelling air. I've tried them with whisky, with rum, and with red wine. Nothing brings out any flavor. It's not just that they're mild, because I like CAO Golds and Padilla Cedros and Macanudo Crystal Cafes-- but the Primeros are just a waste of time.




Victor Sinclair Vintage Select
Size: 6 x 50 (Toro)
Wrapper: Brazilian maduro
Filler: Cuban-seed Dominican
Price: $2.25 (box purchase)

Shaun gave me a VS Vintage to enjoy with two glasses of Blanton's Whisky on a hot summer day. I don't know if it was the stogie, the spirits, or both, but it made for a great afternoon. The cigar was box pressed, medium bodied, mild-to-medium taste, and (like all Victor Sinclairs I've tried) a very slow even burn that was good for at least 90 minutes.

Note: This line is only available from Cigars International




Victor Sinclair 55 Blue Label (Maduro)
Size: 6.5 x 52
Tobacco: 5 country blend (includes Brazil, Dominican, Nicaraguan)
Price: $5.00 (box price)

The Series 55 line gets its name because each cigar uses a blend of tobacco aged 5 years from 5 countries. This is obviously supposed to be a premium, or even super-premium, smoke. They come packaged in 3-tray humidor boxes and have a gold tassel wrapped around the foot, as well as an ornate colored label at the head. The Blue Label cigar does indeed look impressive. I obtained a 5-pack off CBid a few months ago, and all of them had flawless, deep black maduro wrappers with a heavy pre-light aroma that promises explosions of spice and flavor. Frankly, it's hard to keep from drooling.

There are many things to like about this cigar: (1) I've never had the slightest burn problem, (2) They last about two hours each, perfect with a glass of wine watching my daughter chase the dog around the backyard as the sun sets, (3) The taste is consistent with every cigar.

Unfortunately, consistent taste is not the same thing as good taste. None of my cigars have lived up to expectation. While it doesn't exactly taste bad--perhaps somewhat vaguely similar to a 5 Vegas Series 'A', only much much milder-- "Mild", "Bland", and "Boring" are the adjectives that immediately spring to mind. If you think about it long enough, it boggles the intellect that you can blend tobacco from five separate countries and end up with a cigar that tastes so ordinary it could have come from any tobacco plantation anywhere in the world.

To sum up: It's not a cigar I would turn down if offered, but also not something I would ever purchase again.



Victor Sinclair Series 55 Red Label (Corojo)
Size: 6.5 x 52
Tobacco: 5 country blend (includes Brazil, Dominican, Nicaraguan)
Price: $5.00 (box price)

Another disappointing entry in the Series 55 line.

Like the maduro version, this cigar has great construction and tantalizing pre-light aroma, but it is too mild and just doesn't leave any lasting impression at all. I can't believe people pay $7 or more at retail stores for this smoke.



Victor Sinclair Bohemian Black (oscuro)
Size: 6 x 50
Tobacco: Dominican Republic
Price: $4.17 (box price)

I smoked my first Bohemian Black at Swig's martini bar downtime when Misty and Roger Potter came to visit. Roger didn't like his, but then he's a fireman and he says "Cigars just smell like a burning house to me." I thought this was a very good cigar. It has a pitch black, shiny, oily wrapper, with a pig-tail curl at the head. On first light, you notice a pronounced heavy maduro taste, which softens and then picks up more spice as you smoke it. The draw is easy and this cigar will last about an hour. Pairs equally well with Glennkitchie and Glennfiddich 15-Year Old scotch.



Victor Sinclair Bohemian Red (corojo)
Size: 6 x 50
Tobacco: Nicaragua, Brazil and the Dominican Republic
Price: $4.45 (box price)

This cigar is advertised as being fuller flavored and heavier bodied than the Bohemian Black. I've only smoked one of them so far--with 4 left in the humidor--but I thought it was milder than the black. It definitely lacked that spiciness that I enjoyed in the black. The Bohemian Red seemed mild and uneventful in comparison.