Monthly Recap – June

Number of Cigars Smoked: 46

Of those smoked:

• Purchased: 23 or 50%
• Gifted: 15 or 33%
• Samples Provided: 5 or 11%
• Traded: 3 or 6%

Of those purchased:

• Brick & Mortar: 15 or 65%
• Online: 8 or 35%

Top Cigars Smoked by Quantity

While the cigars I smoke in any given month are diverse, the cigars I smoke more than one or two of don’t seem to change much month to month. Instead of boring you with the same cigar each month in this section, I think I will either eliminate it or replace it with something more appealing and less repetitive. Leave a comment if you have any ideas of what you would like to see in place of this section.

Most Memorable Cigars Smoked

#1. EO Brands – Cubao – My wife surprised me with a box of Cubao’s by E.O. Brands for Father’s Day. Yes, you read that correctly. An internet company still had the original Cubao under E.O. Brands in stock. After the split of Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa’s partnership a few years back, Ortega gained ownership of the Cubao brand. The Ortega Cigar Co. Cubao made my 2013 top ten list. I estimate that these cigars have three plus years on them, and I couldn’t have hoped for a better smoking experience. I am going to try and hold onto these for awhile but I am no sure how long they are going to last in the humi because they are just so dang tasty.

#2. La Flor Dominicana – Litto Gomez – A couple of my co-workers gifted me this cigar during a farewell party that was thrown for me before I departed to Michigan. I lit this cigar up on my last evening in El Paso while hanging out with Tony Casas and a few other of my close  buddies. The Litto Gomez was an absolute treat satisfying with its flavors, as well as the strength that calmed by anxieties of the next day move. I highly recommend this cigar. The price is a bit high for a cigar I would visit often, but the LG is a cigar I would grab for any special occasion.

#3. La Gloria Cubana – Rabito De Cochino – A couple years back, I stumbled across these cigars on cigarsinternational.com. I was so impressed with the Rabito that I gave a handful to Tony, which he then sent a few to Jeff Oda who fell in love with these very affordable cigars. As fate would have it, Jeff sent me a handful of Rabitos down last month. As soon as I burned the first one, I remembered the reason I was so drawn to these sticks in the first place. Perfect size, medium in flavor and strength, affordable, and just down right good.

Cigars Reviewed

Kuuts Cigars – Miro Lancero

The Kuuts Miro Lancero is a very nice evening smoke that delivers in the spice department for sure. Don’t let the small ring gauge trick you. This Lancero packs a punch with its strength 

Drew Estate Cigar Safari – Tony Casas Limited Edition 2013

I didn’t know what to expect going in to but I can say I wasn’t disappointed. The first two third were very enjoyable, and even when the diesel-like flavor arrived in the final third I wasn’t put off by the cigar at all. This cigar did not present many new flavors as it progressed, but it did show variations within the main flavor components, which worked well in the Corono Gorda size.

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#10 – Joya De Nicaragua – Rosalones

I have smoked more Rosalones than any other cigar on this list, which is understandable since it has a price point just over $3 a stick making it is easy on the wallet. Tony raved about this stick upon his return from Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari back in April when he first sampled the cigar and I will continue rave about this cigar because, for the price, there is not much competition out there.

 Read the full review here.

#9 – La Gloria Cubana – Serie R Esteli

If you would have asked me at the start of 2013 if any of the manufacturing giants would have found a spot on my top 10 list I would have said “no” without question. But, as with many other things in my life, I was wrong. The Serie R Esteli by General Cigar Company is a complex cigar that performs exceptionally well. For almost two hours, the Esteli will bring you on a journey of flavors consisting of deep notes of cedar, earth, cocoa, and dark fruit. All for a price around $7.00.

Read the full review here. 

#8 – Leccia Tobacco – Black

After a two-year hiatus from the industry, Sam Leccia made quite the return in 2013 with his release of the Black and White. The Black features a unique “Dark Fire” tobacco alongside Nicaraguan, Brazilian, and Dominican fillers, a Nicaraguan binder, and a Habano wrapper. The Dark Fire tobacco brings out peaty and hickory notes that balance well with the other flavors in the cigars.The Black offers complexity, balance, and a whole lot of uniqueness for around $8.00.

 Read the full review here. 

#7 – Espinosa Cigars – Espinosa Habano

While this is a 2012 release, I did not have opportunity to smoke the Habano by Espinosa Cigars until March of this year. So, while I may be breaking all of the rules, I believe this stick is worthy of a spot on my top 10 list. The Habano shows off a crazy creamy, spicy profile with a welcoming sweet cedar flavor that I absolutely love. For a price around $6-$7, this is a cigar I am always on the look out.

Read the full review here. 

#6 – Cuenca Cigars – Cuenca 5 Anniversary

There are not many cigars produced by A.J. Fernandez that I do not enjoy and the Cuenca 5 Anniversary is no exception. The Cuenca 5 is a full flavored, full strength cigar made exclusively for Cuenca Cigars in Hollywood, Florida. The box pressed format and tapered head, makes this 7 by 54 behemoth of a cigar easy to manage in both the hand and mouth and the bold, complex flavors make it even easier to enjoy.

 Read the full review here. 

#5 – Leccia Tobacco – White

Leccia Tobacco is the only company to find two slots in my top ten list and that is probably a bigger surprise to me than to anyone else. Back in August, Skip Martin’s tweet summed it up best when he said

Leccia Black Robusto is going to bring them to the brand, but White is going to keep them.

While this is a more traditional cigar than the Black, the White delivers in all aspects and does not disappoint.

Read the full review here. 

#4 – Ortega Cigar Company – Cubao

With Ortega Cigar Company’s release of the Ortega Wild Bunch this year, several other offerings from the company have gone overlooked and the Cubao is one of those. The Cubao has been on the market since 2008 under EO Brands but it was relaunched under Ortega Cigar Company earlier this year. The Cubao sports an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper overs its Nicaraguan filler and binder and delivers flavors of peppery spice, rich cedar, orange peel, and some sweetness.  On top up the profile that just suits my palate, the Cubao always seems to perform beyond expectation, even in the Lancero format, which is my favorite.

Read the full review here. 

#3 – Moya Ruiz Cigars – La Jugada Prieto

The La Jugada Prieto is the freshman release from Moya Ruiz Cigars produced at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Back in June, when Tony Casas and I were guests on episode 55 of Stogie 411, I mentioned that the La Jugada Prieto was one cigar that stood out to me this year and, at the close of 2013, that has not changed. The Prieto showcased the San Andres Maduro wrapper better than any other cigar I have smoked this year.

Read the full review here. 

#2 – Ezra Zion Cigar Company – Tantrum Eicion Limitada

You may think it crazy to spend $9.50 on a 4.4 by 44 Petit Corona but that is probably because you have not smoked the Tantrum by Ezra Zion Cigar Company. This little sticks packs a punch and is fitting of its slogan – “a little baby powerhouse”. But beyond its punch, the Tantrum delivers full, spicy flavors with complex subtleties. While my experience with other offerings from Ezra Zion is limited, I would not hesitate to recommend the Tantrum even with its higher price. I look forward to getting to know the other lines from the company in 2014.

 Read the full review here.

#1 – Crowned Heads – J.D. Howard Reserve

Last year, Crowned Heads found the #9 spot on Tony’s top 10 list with their Headley Grange. This year, Crowned Heads found the #4 spot on Tony’s list and the #1 spot on my first top 10 list with their J.D. Howard Reserve. As I mentioned in the full review, I have a lot of respect for how Jon Huber and Mike Conder run the company but even more respect for the excellent product they have put on the market. From the presentation to the flavors, the J.D. Howard is one heck of a smoke making it worthy of the #1 spot for 2013.

Read the full review here. 

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