September and October 2015 Recap

Most Memorable Cigars Smoked

1. Crowned Heads – Las Calaveras 2015
2. La Mission du L’Atelier
3. Tatuaje – La Riqueza
4. Mel Caribbean Corp. – Bella Dominicana

 September and October Cigar Reviews

Review Highlights

Jeremy’s Reviews
Mel Caribbean Corp. – Bella Dominicana 

Bella Dominicana delivered medium/full flavors at the start and transitioned to more of medium smoke throughout the last two third. The strength behaved exactly opposite with reaching medium/full at the end. I would characterize the core of the smoke, or the most consistent flavor, as sweet, rich woodsy notes with no lack of complexity and change-ups and a fair amount of pepper spice.

J. Fuego – Vudu Sacrifice and Vudu Dark, Famous Smoke Shop Exclusives

Sacrifice: Right of the bat, the Sacrifice delivered full-flavors that were full in body and medium in strength. I have absolutely no complaints in the performance department. While the draw was stiff at the pre-light, once lit, the draw was fine and the burn and ash was exceptional for a cigar less than $3.00. Not overly complex, but highly enjoyable smoke that I could see picking up in the evening and standing up to fuller body beverages.

Dark: The Vudu Dark is my cup of tea. The flavors of earth, cocoa, and pepper suited my palate with an evolving strength that moved from mild to medium/full throughout the smoke. Compared to the Sacrifice, the burn-line was not nearly as even, but was of no concern. I actually ordered up a jar of No. 7s, and I believe you may be hard-pressed to find a better cigar for the price.

Macanudo Estate Reserve 2015

Macanudo Estate Reserve 2015 delivers medium flavors, body, and strength, sometimes pushing full, with an effortless performance. The sweetness noted in the first third brought a nice balance to the dark and sour/floral flavors and was sorely missed once it exited in the middle third and never made a return. The sour floral or grapefruit essence held my interest throughout but I longed for the return of the sweetness.

Carnage, a Famous Smoke Shop Exclusive

Famous Smoke Shop’s Carnage blended by Nestor Plasencia delivers medium flavors and medium/full strength with a consistent profile with a core of rich woodsy notes and pepper spice, with some subtleties that are much more noticeable if this cigar is not hot boxed. The Carnage Robusto required one touch-up, but other that I don’t have any complaints on the performance.

Tatuaje La Riqueza Lancero

The core of the flavors were dark and spicy, with lots of subtleties in the profile and change-ups in each of thirds kept me engaged the entire time. Each time I burn through one of the Tatuaje lanceros in the Limited Lancero Collection, I feel like I just found my new favorite Tat. As it stand today, this may very well be my favorite.

Tony’s Reviews

Padron – Damaso No. 8

In my case, I was pretty disappointed in the lack of everything that you have come to expect from Padron in the case of the Damaso. The body was lacking, the flavor profile was less than stellar, and the price point was way too high for what the cigar delivered. Not to mention that I really tried to take my time with this cigar, but even then it burned way too quickly. It seriously only took me about 50 minutes to smoke this down to the very nub.

Crux Du Connoisseur

Each of Crux’s cigars have been hits in our book, and the Crux Du Connoisseur is no exception. In fact, it’s probably one of my favorites by the company. The cigar sports lots of character with a complex and interesting flavor profile that isn’t too far over the top.

Guest Reviews by Jeff Oda

L’Atelier Extension de la Racine ER14

Looking over my review of the first release of the Extension de la Racine (ER13), it appears that this one is quite a bit different in the flavors it presents, and I have to wonder if the shape of the cigar has something to do with that.  I definitely missed the Asian spice and floral elements that were present in the ER13 and that I enjoyed so much, so perhaps the Parejo shape is a better fit for this blend than figurado.

Roberto Duran Cigars – Neya 

The flavors were enjoyable and reasonably complex, and the experience was very much in line with the Duran EPF target.  The previous two that I had actually lasted about ten to fifteen minutes longer than this one, so YMMV.  At four bucks, I think that this cigar is an absolute bargain, and I have no qualms about recommending it to someone who’s looking for a high-value medium-plus bodied stick.

AJ Fernandez Enclave

The AJ Fernandez Enclave turned out to be a solid smoke, which while not the most complex around, provided a good range of flavors with enough transitions to keep me interested in it.  Construction and burn were top-notch, it smoked nice and slow, and the price is absolutely consumer friendly.

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The Carnage from Famous Smoke Shop is a three country blend that utilizes a Habano wrapper from Ecuador, a Connecticut binder from Honduras, and Viso, Seco, and Ligero filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. Produces at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Nicaragua, the line is available in four vitolas: Robusto (5 by 54), Toro (6 by 52), Churchill (7 by 50), and Magnum (6 by 60). Packaged in 20 count boxes, price of the Carnage cigars range from $66.99 for the Robusto to $76.99 for the Magnum.

The Facts

Samples Provided by Famous Smoke Shop
Price: $4.75 per single / $66.99 per box of 20
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 54
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Honduran Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes

Pre-light

The Carnage is draped in medium brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper has a faint red hue that has a somewhat mottled appearance. Veins and bumps bare easily seen as on the wrapper that has a light oily sheen. The cigar is rock solid from head to foot. 

As I bring my nose up to the cigar once it is removed from the cellophane, I find of an aroma similar to that of a merlot with dark red fruit notes, oak, and some earthiness. There may be a hint of chocolate as well. From the foot of the Carnage, I pick up blueberry, chocolate, and cedar. Clipping the double cap, I find an easy cold draw that has very similar flavors to the ones noted on the foot of the cigar.

First Third

Once lit, the Carnage pours out plentiful smoke with rich, woodsy flavors and a fair amount of spice that is warming up my palate. In the background there is citrus quality that is playing well with other flavors and there is a saltiness that moves in about a half inch in. The burn-line is thick and jagged but nowhere near requiring a touch-up. Although it appears flaky, the ash is holding well up to an inch plus.

Middle Third

The spice heat pulls back as I transition to the second third of the Carnage. The main flavors remain consistent with the prior third with some added dark fruit notes that offer a little sweetness and a light cinnamon spice. Retrohaling the smoke, the spice is sharp through the sinuses. I won’t be doing that too often. Some  toasted bread notes linger on the finish. The burnline has a much more acute wave, and after holding out as long as possible a quick touch-up is finally required.

Final Third

The core flavor of rich woodsy notes that have dominated the first two thirds get pushed back by the toasted notes, a roasted marshmallow sweetness, and a nuttiness. The strength has finally kicked up its game, now borderline full.

Wrap-up

Famous Smoke Shop’s Carnage blended by Nestor Plasencia delivers medium flavors and medium/full strength with a consistent profile with a core of rich woodsy notes and pepper spice, with some subtleties that are much more noticeable if this cigar is not hot boxed. The Carnage Robusto required one touch-up, but other that I don’t have any complaints on the performance. If you enjoy a Nicaraguan spice and solid, consistent flavors for under $5, this cigar will be right up your alley. Would I smoke this again? Yes, I believe this cigar is worthy of a five-pack purchase and possibly a box from Cigar Monster where they can be found with heavy discounts and free shipping.

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