Unable to keep up with all the new releases (I leave that to Tony), I am sticking with the same format for my top 10 list as in past years. The only criteria I have is that I had to of reviewed the cigar during the last calendar year. 2015 marked one of the best years in my 10 years of smoking. Everything from the budget friendly cigar to the super-premium, cigars are performing better and tasting better than ever before making it a little harder this year identifying the very best, in my opinion. And as Tony said in his Top 10 List, “Here at Casas Fumando we don’t claim to be the best in the business, nor do we take ourselves very serious. We’re just a couple of guys who like to smoke cigars, so our very subjective lists reflect that”. Now onto the good stuff.

# 10 VegaFina Nicaragua

Vitola: Gran Toro | Size: 6 by 52 | Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano 2000 | Binder: Nicaraguan Seco | Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero, Nicaraguan Viso, Nicaraguan Seco

Once again, a manufacturing giant has made its way into my top 10 list and for good reason. It is hard to beat a cigar around $6 that highlights natural tobacco sweetness, woodsy notes, black pepper spice, an underlying citrus, and toasted bread. This medium flavored, low to medium strength cigar performs exceptionally.

Review HERE.

#9 MoyaRuiz Cigars – La Jugada Nunchuck

Vitola: Churchill | Size: 7 by 54 | Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro | Binder: Nicaraguan | Filler: Nicaraguan

Inspired by Cigar Dojo, Danny Moya and Nelson Ruiz launched the La Jugada Nunchuck in 2014. The Nunchuck features dark flavors of black pepper, coffee, earth, and cocoa rounded out by a sugarcane sweetness, hazelnut richness, and creamy cedar. Complex, balanced, and spicy, this is one gimmicky yet awesome cigar. MoyaRuiz’s La Jugada Prieto landed the #3 spot on my 2013 list.

Full review HERE.

#8 Global Premium Cigars – 1502 Nicaragua

Vitola: Robusto | Size: 5 by 50 | Wrapper: Nicaraguan | Binder: Nicaraguan | Filler: Nicaraguan

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are aware of the significant changes that took place in House of Emilio after the retirement of Gary Griffith this past year, but that did not seem to phase 1502 Cigars which seems to be gaining a solid footing in the industry. Enrique Sanchez has released several cigars in the last few years, but this Nicaraguan puro out performs them all. On the upper end in terms of strength and flavors, the 1502 Nicaragua shows off what Nicaraguan tobacco is all about. This is another very reasonably priced cigar coming in at $6.50.

Full review HERE.

# 7 Bombay Tobak – MBombay KeSara Vintage Reserve Nikka

Vitola: Grand Corona | Vitola: 6 1/2 by 46 | Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut | Binder: Ecuadorian | Filler: Dominican and Peruvian

#6 United Cigar Group – Garofalo

Vitola: Robusto | Size: 5 by 50 | Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut | Binder: Nicaraguan | Filler: Nicaraguan

The Garofalo has become the standard by which I gauge all other Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapped cigars. While 2015 may be the year of Connecticut Shade cigars (Padron Damaso and Undercrown Shade), the Garofalo stands with the best of the them and even beats out most of them when you take the price of under $7 into consideration. What made this blend so enjoyable was the play between the light, creamy, sweet woodsy notes from the wrapper and the heavier spice flavors delivered by the Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. You can find these over at Two Guys Smoke Shop’s online store (2guyscigars.com).

Full review HERE.

# 5 Perdomo Cigars – Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Maduro

Vitola: Robusto | Size: 5 by 56 | Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro | Binder: Nicaraguan | Filler: Nicaraguan

Perdomo has found 2 spots on this year’s top 10 list (Garofalo is made by Perdomo), something that was completely unexpected. The Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Maduro delivers dark, heavy, rich flavors that are balanced and satisfying. There is also no lack of complexity in this stick. Perdomo has flown under the radar for several years for me, but it has become a company I will be keeping my eyes on going forward as I believe they have a lot going for them.

Full review HERE.

#4 Davidoff – Millennium Blend Tubo Robusto

Vitola: Robusto | Size: 5 1/4 by 50 |  Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown | Binder: Dominican | filler: Dominican

Davidoff has never been a company to grab my interest. As stated in the review, the price tag has caused me to stay clear of them, but thanks to our good friend at Famous Smoke Shop I was able to smoke through several Davidoff Millennium Blend in the Robusto vitola this year. Out of all the cigars on this list, the Millennium Blend is the one I was choose to light up to on a special occasion. This is not a new cigar by any means, but it still a darn good cigar worthy of making my top 10 list.

Full review HERE.

#3 Tatuaje – Limited Lancero Collection

Vitola: Lancero | Size: 7 1/2 by 38 | Wrapper: Varies | Binder: Varies | Filler: Varies

If someone is interested in getting to know Tatuaje cigars, this is the first place I refer them. At a reasonable price of $95 for the sampler, you get to smoke 10 of the best cigars on the market. Unable to pick just one cigar, I decided to throw in the whole sampler into the top 10 list (I may be breaking the rules, but who cares!!!). Reviews below:

• Tatuaje (Brown Label)
• Tatuaje Havana VI
• Cabaiguan Guapo
• La Riqueza
• El Triunfador
• La Casita Criolla
• Fausto

#2 Mel Caribbean Corp. – Bella Dominicana

Vitola: “M” | Size: 4 7/8 by 46 | Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra | Binder: Dominican | Filler: Dominican Seco, Dominican Viso Criollo 98 and Nicaraguan Viso

Bella Dominicana is probably the least known cigar on this list, but a cigar that is sure to make waves once it enters the U.S. market. Armando Diaz of Mel Caribeean Corp. teamed up with Jochy Blanco of Tabacalera Palma to create this exceptional cigar that delivers mainly medium flavors alongside a medium strength profile. Sweet, rich woodsy notes make up the core of the flavors with the appearance of some very intriguing flavors throughout. I have been able to share this cigar with several friends, ranging from beginner to veteran smokers, and they all shared very positive feedback on the Bella Dominicana. I cannot wait to see this enter the U.S market so I can smoke through the other vitolas.

Full review HERE.

#1 Crowned Heads – Yellow Rose

Vitola: Box-Pressed Torpedo | Size: 6 by 54 | Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf | Binder: Nicaraguan | Filler: Nicaraguan

Since 2012, Crowned Heads has landed several spots on our annual top 10 lists, even a #1 spot in 2013 with their J.D. Howard Reserve. Well, this year they have reclaimed the #1 spot with their Yellow Rose, exclusive to Texas retail stores. After reviewing the Yellow Rose in May, it is a cigar I have been unable to get out of my mind. While I haven’t had the cigar budget to grab a box, each quarter when I am in Texas for work I make sure to stop by the local shop and grab a few to hold me over until my next visit. The rustic Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper delivers the common tartness and cocoa which matches up well with the Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos that add some strength and spice to the mix. I am absolutely in love with this blend and hope to see it around for years to come.

Full review HERE.

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April 2015 Recap

Number of Cigars Smoked: 21

Of those smoked:

• Purchased: 7 or 33%
• Gifted: 5 or 24%
• Samples Provided: 9 or 43%

Of those purchased:

• Brick & Mortar: 5 or 71%
• Online: 2 or 29%

The Piper Corner

I have been trying my hand in the pipe world for the last 9 months or so.  While I am not quite ready to publish a review , I wanted to share with you a few of the tobaccos I have been enjoying lately. This month I experimented with some of the top selling bulk tobaccos on the market. To be honest, the #1 bulk tobacco, Lane 1Q, did nothing for me, but I have found some impressive bulk tobaccos that run just a few dollars an ounce.

• Peter Stokkebye Luxury Twist Flake
  • Blend: Virginia
  • Tobaccos: Virginia

I found the Luxury Twist Flake to offer a similar profile as the Dunhill Flake that I featured in this section last month but at half the cost. Good stuff!

• Dunhill Early Morning by Scandinavian Tobacco Group
  • Blend: English
  • Tobaccos: Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, and Virginia
• Dunhill Nightcap by Scandinavian Tobacco Group
  • Blend: English
  • Tobaccos: Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique and Virginia

The Dunhill Early Morning and Dunhill Nightcap deliver similar flavors, with a bit more spice found in the Nightcap. However, I find the Early Morning to be fuller smoke than the Nightcap, which surprised me. I assume the Early Morning is designed to give you the kick you need to begin your day, while the Nightcap strength is on the mild side so you are not up all night with a racing heart from the nicotine.

Cigar Reviews

Headlines First Edition Page 3

After smoking three First Editions for this review, I found myself enjoying the cigar more and more each time. The core flavors are dark and heavy, but the sweetness cuts through bringing a nice balance to the smoke.  I would recommend smoking this cigar after a full meal due to its strength and richness making it a nice after dinner smoke.

Global Premium Cigars – 1502 Nicaragua

Between the rich cedar, complimented by a medium spice and natural tobacco sweetness, full flavors, full body, and medium-high strength, this cigar hit my palate just right. For a price of $6.50, the 1502 Nicaragua is one of my favorite smokes this year!

Jordan Alexander III Premium Cigar Co. – Jordan Alexander III

The Jordan Alexander III Corojo delivered a flavor and strength profile not typically thought of when Dominican cigars are mentioned. Full flavors and a medium-full body characterized this Quesada made cigar. There where some change-ups noted with dry cedar highlighting the first third, while deep earth notes were showcased in the second and final third of the cigar

Tony’s Reviews

MoyaRuiz – La Jugada Nunchuck

I’ve been impressed with all the cigars under the La Jugada brand, and the Nunchuck just added to the list. The cigar is decently complex, bold, and finished smooth and creamy without the strength overpowering the experience which is exactly what I look for in a cigar. Again, it’s a bit of a gimmick, and the price point is up there, but this was a fun cigar, and a damn good one.

Quesada Reserva Privada

No doubt about it the Quesada Reserva Privada rocked. Lately, in my opinion, Quesada has been hitting home runs ever time it steps up to the plate but the Reserva Privada is on a whole new level. I am not big on Connecticut shade cigars as I’ve stated numerous times in the past but this cigar is in a league of it’s own and easily the best Connecticut wrapped cigar I have ever had the pleasure of smoking.

Epicurean Carnavale

The Epicurean Carnavale is a good cigar. It produces some great flavors, and a great experience. It’s not as complex as I was hoping for, and that’s probably my only gripe about it, but that falls on the subjective side as the cigar preformed flawlessly. I love the format, and the quality of the construction was perfect. I think this cigar is perfect for someone who likes solid smokes, and doesn’t normally reach for the more complex cigars

Selected Tobacco – Bandolero Bravo

All in all it’s a good cigar. Life changing? No, but it’s bold flavors and unique profile made me really enjoy the time I spent with it. I couldn’t quite find an exact price for these cigars, but in all honesty, leave out the cost for the humitube and I’d probably carry quite a few of these on hand for those nights when I am craving something a bit different.

Guest Reviews by Jeff Oda

Villiger Trill Torpedo Gordo

I did not have any re-lights, and the flavors, while not terribly complex, did have some nice transitions, while smoking cool and without harshness all the way down to the nub.  After the initial lifting of the cap, careful handling gave me no further problems.  I am intrigued enough to want to check out the smaller ring gauges to see what they would have to offer, although this experience would be a warning to me that the gordo would probably be a bit too much cigar – in terms of time, not strength – for me.

 

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Between the rich cedar, complimented by a medium spice and natural tobacco sweetness, full flavors, full body, and medium-high strength, this cigar hit my palate just right. For a price of $6.50, the 1502 Nicaragua is one of my favorite smokes this year!

Today, I will be reviewing the 1502 Emerald, one of three blends originally launched by Global Premium Cigars several years back with the 1502 Ruby and 1502 Black Gold. But not to disappoint with an “old” cigar, I bring to you the corona vitola, which was added to the line earlier this year.

1502 Emerald, and all other lines, are produced in Esteli, Nicaragua at Plasencia S.A.. Six box-pressed vitolas options are now available: Toro (6 by 50), Torpedo (6 1/2 by 52), Perfecto (6 1/8 by 50), Conquistador (6 by 56), Lancero (7 by 40), and Corona (5 1/2 by 42) . As is the case with all current offerings from Global Premium Cigars, the 1502 Emerald is heavily influenced by Nicaraguan tobacco, but changes it up a bit with Mexican San Andres in the filler.

The Facts

Samples Provided by House of Emilio
Price: $6.70
Vitola: Corona
Size: 5 ½ by 42
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Mexican San Andres and Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour
Drink: N/A

Pre-light

The 1502 Emerald is dressed in a light to medium tan Nicaraguan Corojo Habano wrapper that is extremely smooth to the touch. Some watermarks and color imperfections can be seen upon closer examination, as well as small veins. But overall, this is a great looking stick!

A natural sweet tobacco aroma is found on the wrapper, while fuller notes of pepper spice, cedar, and sweet tobacco are found on the “cigar lock” foot. A shallow cut through the double cap reveals a perfect draw. The dry draw is rather mild in flavor with a hint of clove and a slight spice tingle can be felt on my lips.

First Third

The box-pressed format of this already small ring gauge cigar makes it very comfortable in the mouth. Earthy notes and rich cedar, accompanied by spice, are first to greet my palate. Natural tobacco sweetness is hanging way in the background. Only a few puffs in and the cigar appears to be burning rather quickly, with a half and inch of ash already. I will be through cigar in no time if it doesn’t slowdown. A warming sensation is felt in the back of my throat from the spice. The ash is light in color and easily drops in the ashtray at three-fourths of an inch.

Middle Third

As the smoke first enters my mouth, a sharp citrus pierces my tongue, transitions to a rich cedar, accompanied by an orange zist sweetness, and finishes with toasted, earthy, and vegetal flavor. Moving further into the second third, the sweetness subsides and the toasted and earth notes continue to build, along with a new found cocoa. Based on appearance alone, I did not expect the amount of spice the 1502 Emerald is delivering. Up to this point, the cigar is burning well with a thin eyeliner burn and the ash is firm considering the ring gauge.

Final Third

Woodsy notes make a reintroduction, but are not the same rich cedar notes as earlier, more of a wet wood. The toasted notes and dirt are on the finish. The strength, which has hovered around the lowside of medium for the first two thirds, has intensified to a solid medium. Reaching the remaining half inch of the cigar, it is time to lay the cigar down to its final rest.

Wrap-up

Going into this cigar, I anticipated a mild to medium flavor and strength profile. And to say the least, I was mistaken. The 1502 Emerald held medium/full flavors throughout, and while the strength begun on the low-side of medium it crept up to a solid medium by end of the cigar. The Emerald is not overly complex, but it does deliver an intriguing profile and a nice balance, especially during the first and second thirds. The construction and performance of the Emerald was exceptional. At a price of $6.70, the 1502 Emerald Corona is easy on the wallet and worth a try. But for me, I know I will still be reaching for the 1502 Nicaragua over the 1502 Emerald Corona. But that is just a personal preference.

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The 1502 Nicaragua pays tribute to  the home country of Enrique Sanchez, Founder and CEO of Global Premium Cigars, in both name and blend. This Nicaraguan puro utilizes tobaccos from the four main tobacco growing regions of Nicaragua – Esteli, Condega, Jalapa, and Ometepe. Produced at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua, the Nicaragua is available in a single robusto (5 by 50) vitola and sold in boxes of 30. Distribution of the 1502 brand is manged by the House of Emilio led by the one and only Gary Griffith, who handles distribution for well know “boutique” companies such as Ezra Zion and Nomad Cigar Co.

The Facts

Samples Provided by House of Emilio
Price: $6.50
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes
Drink: Water

Pre-light

The 1502 Nicaragua is draped in a medium tan leaf that is full of character and has a reddish or rust-like hue. Small veins are webbed all over the leaf, a few medium veins, and some bumps are easily seen. However, to the touch, the wrapper feels velvety smooth. A medium aroma is found on the wrapper with a natural tobacco sweetness and muskiness. The “cigar lock” foot shows off notes of chocolate and wet earth.

The double-cap gets the job done. A very shallow cut opens up a perfect soft draw bringing forth thick notes of graham cracker, chocolate, cedar, and cherry. While I did not pick up much spice in terms of flavor, my lips are left with a tingle and a slight itch is felt in the back of my throat.

First Third

Putting a soft flame to the foot of the cigar, tons of oils begin to seep out of the leaf. Full, rich flavors are first to greet my palate. After a few minutes, the richness tones down allowing cedar and toasted notes through. A natural tobacco sweetness is providing a nice balance to the flavors. The smoke is thick in the mouth coating all surfaces. I am not finding as much spice as expected, but a black pepper flavor lingers on the palate, while cedar and pepper are showcased on the retrohale. Even with the a couple touch-ups during the first third and a flaky looking ash, the ash still held well.

Middle Third

Transitioning into the second third of the 1502 Nicaragua, the rich cedar is carrying the cigar along with a creamy mouth feel. Earthy/leather notes have arrived and the pepper spice is picking up in terms of flavor and heat. Smoke production is rocking, but the burn continues to struggle. So far the strength is sitting in the medium range, but, as I retrohale the smoke more often, I am beginning to feel a slight nicotine kick. In the middle of the cigar, a newly found dusty cocoa has join in, but mainly on the finish.

Final Third

As the cigars winds down, I am finding more toasted notes and pepper. The smoke continues to be rich and a small sip of water is necessary to reset the palate every few puff. The natural tobacco sweetness has diminished and a vanilla bean flavor surprises me just before I am about to put the cigar to rest. The vanilla flavors is similar to that which you might find on the nose of a spiced rum.

Wrap-up

The soft box-press on the 1502 Nicaragua robusto made this cigar seem smaller than it actually is. And being a fan of small ring gauge cigars, that is not a bad thing. The performance of the first sample I smoked was below par, requiring several touch-ups in each third and completely extinguishing at one point. However, I easily looked beyond the performance because of the exceptional flavors the 1502 Nicaragua delivered. And I am happy to report the same burn issues were not experienced in the second sample. Between the rich cedar, complimented by a medium spice and natural tobacco sweetness, full flavors, full body, and medium-high strength, this cigar hit my palate just right. For a price of $6.50, the 1502 Nicaragua is one of my favorite smokes this year!

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