The original REO that came on the scene more than a decade ago was produced at Rocky Patel’s factory in Honduras and featured a Costa Rican wrapper. While I am not certain who is manufacturing the newly released REO, it is still produced in Honduras, but now features a Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro wrapper over Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. The cigars come packaged in 20 county bundles with four vitola options: Corona (4 ½ by 44), Robusto (5 by 50), Torpedo (5 1/4 by 54), and Chairman (6 by 58 Gordo). A bundle will run you $29.99 for the Corona up to $49.99 for the Chairman.

Quality Importers manages distribution for Ortega Premium Cigars. REO cigars are available for purchase through Cigars International and Cigars.com.

THE FACTS

Purchased through Cigars International
Price: $29.99 per bundle of 20
Vitola: Corona
Size: 4 ½ by 44
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro
Binder/Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 5 Minutes

Pre-light

The Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro wrapper on the REO is extremely dark, almost black in appearance. The color is consistent from head to foot of the cigar. About a half inch from the head of the cigar, I encounter a indentation, but other than that, the rest of the cigar is filled evenly and is solid to the touch.

An aroma of earth and barnyard are found on the Maduro wrapper, while some more earth and a generic woodsy smell comes across on the foot. After two cuts of the double cap, the draw becomes workable. Even though the aroma from the wrapper and foot were faint, the dry draw features much fuller and richer flavors of cedar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

FIRST THIRD

Upon lighting, the draw opens up allowing a copious amount of smoke to move through with each light draw. Just like the wrapper, the flavors are dark. Up front and center are a gritty earth and coffee. Behind the darker flavors, a pine is adding some depth to the profile and a bitterness that is working well. Sort of like a pine flavor common in IPAs. The smoke passes easily through the sinuses, but it does highlight a pepper spice and earth. A light colored, layered ash is being formed as the cigar burns with a minor wave.

MIDDLE THIRD

Moving into the second third of the REO, a richness develops and the earth is now more diesel like. A mild sweetness joins in that is only noticeable every few puffs. The burn is now jagged with a section of the wrapper trailing behind, but so far a touch-up isn’t looking necessary. The flavors have been holding steady at medium/full up to this point.

FINAL THIRD

The flavors mellow out with the coffee pushing forward accompanied by a cocoa sweetness that is now more consistent in the profile. A new yeasty bread flavor has joined in. At the last inch, I am beginning to feel the lightest nicotine hit that is welcomed and relaxing.

WRAP-UP

REO by Ortega Premium Cigars is by no means the prettiest cigar either in packaging or wrapper choice, nor the most complex. However, for $1.50 a stick for the 4 1/2 by 44 Corona, the REO delivers a bold and dark profile of earth and coffee that develops to a richer, sweeter profile as the cigar burns down. With the cigar opening up after lighting, I have no complaints in regards to performance. Sure, the ash doesn’t hold long and the burn was a little wavy, but I’ll get over those things. I dig this little cigar and I am certain that I will be ordering up another bundle or two in the near future.

The post Ortega Premium Cigars – REO appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The 601 Green Label was introduced by EO Brands in 2007, joining the Red Label Habano, the Blue Label Box Pressed Maduro, and the since discontinued Black Label Connecticut in the 601 line, but for some reason, none of them have ever been reviewed here at Casas Fumando.  The 601 La Bomba was to follow, and you can read Daniel “Where the hell is that guy?” Temos’ take on the La Bomba Atom here.  After the break-up of the company, the 601 brand was retained by Erik Espinosa, along with the Murcielago and Mi Barrio lines.  The 601 lines were originally blended and manufactured by Don Pepin Garcia, but are now being produced at Espinosa’s La Zona factory.  From what I have been able to glean, the blend has never changed at any point in its history.  The 601 Green Label comes in five sizes:  Corona 5×42, Tronco 5×52, La Fuerza 5-1/2x 54, La Punta (Perfecto) 5-1/2×52, and Trabuco 6-1/8x 58.

So how does the 601 Green stack up?  To the Bat Cave!

Wrapper:  Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro
Binder:  Nicaraguan
Filler:  Nicaraguan
Size:  Tronco 5×52 robusto
MSRP:  $9.25
Smoking time:  1 hour thirty-five minutes
Pairing:  Silver City Brewery Fat Scotch Ale

Pre-light: The 601 Green Label Tronco sports an oily and very dark chocolate brown wrapper with even darker, almost black, splotches.  This one has one medium sized vein and a couple of finer ones.  It is triple capped and firmly and evenly packed for the most part, although it does feel a little softer near the foot.  The wrapper gives off a somewhat sour barnyard scent, while the foot adds a peppery touch.  The cold draw shows off some sweet spice, tobacco, and a touch of cocoa.

First third: The cigar lights up easily and evenly with my el cheapo single flame torch, and displays medium bodied flavors of pepper, coffee/cocoa, wood somewhere between oak and hickory, and earth, with just a touch of sweetness.  On the retrohale, the pepper and wood are the main components.  A little further in, the earth and wood begin to dominate.  The ash is a little flaky and doesn’t appear to be very solid, but the burn line is sharp, albeit wavy.  The pepper then begins to wane on the entry, but is still quite noticeable on the retrohale.  Nearing the end of this third, bitter coffee and charred wood note have made an appearance.

Middle third: The body of the 601 Green Label has now actually gotten lighter, and the texture has become smoother, although by no means creamy.  The charred flavors have died back and coffee and light cocoa have made a return, along with the pepper.  The burn line has vacillated between wildly wavy and almost straight without any touch-ups.  The oakiness remains, but is not as strong as previously, and earthiness lingers behind.

Final third: The body of the 601 Green Label is back up again, but the pepper has once again faded back, along with the cocoa.  A bit of sweet spice has shown up, and the wood has turned to a more cedary note.  After 95 minutes, it’s time to lay it down to a peaceful ending.  Overall, the construction was very good despite the screwy ash and I never felt very much of a nicotine kick with this one – the beer probably had more of an effect on me.

Final thoughts: This particular stick was a very difficult one to review.  To provide full disclosure, I have smoked a good twenty or so of these over the past few years (and I know that both Tony and Jeremy are big fans), and the flavors I got with this one were simply not the same as I can recall with just about any of the others I have had.  The others have overwhelmingly been more full bodied and big on the coffee and cocoa, with the pepper and sweetness being a constant presence.  The bitter flavors I got were something I had not experienced before.  Therefore, I would have to categorize this one as an anomaly, something of a dud, if you will.  Even at that, it was not terrible, just a bit of a disappointment, given my expectations.  That is something to be expected every so often with a man-made, hand-made product, so with the perspective of my past experiences with this cigar, it will certainly not deter me from purchasing more of these, nor should anyone who leans toward the  deeper part of the flavor spectrum.  In fact, over the past few days, I have had another from the same batch that had been sitting in my humidor for the past nine or so months, as well as one I got just a few weeks ago, and both were as good as I recall.  As many great philosophers of the past have said, “Shit happens”.

Pairing: The Fat Scotch Ale from Silver City Brewery in Bremerton, Washington is, well, a Scotch style ale with a large load of sweet malt flavors, along with dark fruits, a bit of booziness – 9.2% ABV – and a lightly bitter finish.  Normally, I think this would have been a terrific match with the 601 Green Label, had the cigar been its usual self, but the bitterness from both parties turned out to be a bit overwhelming for my taste.  As it was, this particular cigar would probably have gone better with a nice port, or even a sweetened coffee drink.

The post 601 Green Habano Oscuro Guest Cigar Review appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

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.

The post Monthly Recap – June 2014 – Jeremy Hensley Edition appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

William Cooper of Cigar Coop  posted a “Cigar Preview” of the Cubao back in June 2013 and has this to say about the cigar:

Cubao, was a brand that was a part of EO Brands.  The line was introduced back in 2008.  When Ortega and his partner Erik Espinosa dissolved EO Brands, Ortega retained the rights to the Cubao line.

In terms of packaging, Ortega Premium Cigars is replacing what they term the “scrounge” look of the boxes with a sleeker and cleaner look.  The Cubao will now be offered in boxes of 10 as opposed to the boxes of 20 it used to be packaged in.  The frontmarks have been consolidated down to six vitolas as opposed to seven (the No. 6 is not returning).

In the press release Ortega said: “I’ve been meaning to re-introduce Cubao for a while now, just had my hands full launching and promoting the Serie D which was the first brand under the Ortega name this past year, I think now is the right time to re-introduce the Cubao.”

While Ortega has announced the return of the Sumatra blend, there has been no word if or when the company will re-release the Maduro blend.

Cubao is produced in Nicaragua at My Father Cigars and is available in six vitolas: No. 1: (6 ½  by 49),  No. 2 ( 6 by 52)Torpedo), No. 3 6 ½ by 38, No. 4 (4 ½ by 50), No. 5 (6 by 50), and No. 7 (6 by 42).

The Casas Fumando crew has reviewed several cigars from Ortega Cigar Company. You can locate the reviews here:

• El Conejito Tubo (Spec’s Exclusive)
• Serie “D” Maduro
• Wild Bunch Set #1 – Big Bad John, Iron Mike and Island Jim
• Wild Bunch Set #2 – Tony the Boss, Dandy McCoy, and Honest Abe 
• Wild Bunch Set #3 – Wild Bill, Fast Eddie, and Gearhead Gary

The Facts

Samples Provided by Eddie Ortega
MSRP: $8.00
Vitola: No. 3 Lancero
Size: 6 ½ by 38
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Drink: Water
Smoke Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes

Pre-light

The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper is light to medium brown in color. The band does not pop against the wrapper due to the similar color. Small and medium sized veins cover the entire wrapper leaf. Light oils can be seen as the light reflects off the wrapper, but to the touch the wrapper feels somewhat dry. I am getting a lot of barnyard, pungent aromas off the wrapper, while the foot gives off notes of cedar, cardboard, and a faint pepper spice.

The triple, pigtail cap has been applied neatly and it is actually difficult to see where the cap begins. As I clipped the cap, a half inch crack formed. The cold draw is just about perfect so I do not believe it will impact the experience. The cold draw has a bit of richness to it, along with some woodsy notes.

First Third

This is one of those cigars you do not want to judge by its cover. While the wrapper color may trick you into thinking it will be a mild to medium smoke, the first puff will prove you wrong. With each small puff, my mouth fills with thick, flavorful, spicy smoke. A spice tingle is felt on my palate for a considerable amount of time. The profile is very meaty….maybe that’s the right word. It reminds me of the flavor you get from a barbecue sauce that caramelizes while grilling and there are cedar, woodsy notes hiding in the background. Being such a small ring gauge, the ash is excellent thus far, holding to three-fourths of an inch and the burn line is right on. Flavors are full with the strength being a solid medium.

Middle Third

Pulling into the second third, I am experiencing a lot of variations in the intensity of the pepper notes. The pepper is right in my face on one draw and, the next, it is toned down allowing some woodsy and nutty notes to show off. Warm, rich cedar notes are bringing a wonderful balance to the cigar. Also, an enjoyable, unique bitter citrus flavor, like orange peel, has entered the mix. The finish is very clean even with the lingering spice. The number of puffs I have taken can easily be counted on the layered ash with every other layer going from white to grey. Halfway through the cigar, a lot of sweetness has arrived, which I was not expecting but really enjoying.

Final Third

At the one hour mark, I am making my way into the last third of the Ortega Cubao No. 3 Lancero. All of the flavors are meshing beautifully with one another. The pepper has toned down, the rich cedar has found its footing, and a sweetness is now rounding out the profile. Losing myself in the cigar, I almost burned right into the band. But don’t fear, I caught it just in time. Putting a close to the cigar, the Cubao is sneaking up into the medium/full range in the strength department.

Wrap-up

As I have mentioned in the past, lanceros are one of my favorite vitolas. So right off the bat, this cigar jumped up a few points on my nonexistent rating system. However, draw issues and a flaky ash are common downfalls with such a small ring gauge. So I very pleased to report that this cigar did not present any of those familiar problems. Actually, the draw on every Cubao Lancero I have smoked (a total of four) have been exceptional producing a copious amount of smoke. The flavors surprised me with their fullness, but I was not overwhelmed by strength. If you are looking for an effortless cigar that delivers full, complex flavors, you can stop your search. Eddie Ortega made the right choice bringing Cubao back to market and the world will be a better place because of it.

The post Ortega Cigar Company – Cubao No. 3 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Last week, Daniel reviewed the La Zona Habano by Espinosa Cigars. Today, I bring to you another offering from Espinosa Cigars, the Espinosa Habano.  The Espinosa Habano is Erik Espinosa’s first cigar to come out of his La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and is available in four vitolas: Robusto (5 by 50), Toro (6 by 52), Belicoso (5 1/2 by 52) and Trabuco (6 by 60).

The Casas Fumando team has reviewed a couple of Espinosa’s new offerings, as well as a few cigars that carried over from his previous company, EO Brands.  The reviews can be found here:

• La Zona Connecticut
• La Zona Habano
• 601 La Bomba (Yellow)
• Murcielago

The Facts
Samples Provided by Espinosa Cigars
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Pairing: Water
Smoke time: 1 Hour and 35 Minutes

Pre-light

The Espinosa Habano sports a primary band and a secondary foot band.  The color choice and design on the primary band makes it very unique and, while not my favorite band, very eye catching.  The foot band has the name of the factory where the Espinosa Habano is produced, La Zona.  The medium brown wrapper is consistent in color and, other than a couple of medium size veins, the wrapper is very smooth and packed firmly from head to foot.

The aroma off the Habano wrapper is of tobacco, mild pepper, and a faint cedar.  The foot comes across much richer but of the same aromas. The triple cap clips easily leaving a small crack running a half inch up. The draw is perfect.  After fighting the draw on last week’s Cardinal Maduro, I am looking forward to this. A spice is left on my lips, and the cold draw brings out tobacco and a clove-like flavor.

First Third

The foot band slides off with ease.  The first thing I notice is the mouth feel of the smoke.  I was completely blindsided by this.  The smoke is full and creamy, and coats the entire mouth with each puff.  The profile has a rich, cedar core with pepper and a spice tingle at the back of the throat.  The finish is somewhat dry of toasted cedar.  The thick eyeliner burn is producing an ash, which is white on the outer edge, but the filler ash is much darker.   A copious amount of smoke fills my mouth on the draw and blue smoke is pumping out while resting. A quick touch-up was required to get a small portion of the wrapper to burn.  The flaky ash held strong for over an inch before tumbling into the ashtray.  Flavors are medium/full and the strength is a steady medium.

Middle Third

A crack has formed down the wrapper leaf which runs approximately an inch and a half.   The flavors have not evolved much from the first third.  Unlike the pencil shaving, cedar flavor I have become accustomed to in other cigars, this is a rich, sweet cedar that is extremely enjoyable. The spice in the mouth has become faint, but as I push it through my nasal passage I am hit with a pepper and hot, spice blast.  The finish now has an added element of cocoa. I am still experiencing minor burn issues, which seem to be a result of the cracked wrapper that has pulled away from the rest of the cigar.

Final Third

I just can’t get over the mouth feel of the smoke.  The chewy, creamy smoke compliments the sweet cedar profile.   There are some notes hiding in the background that I can’t put my finger on but they are in the area of a caramel or cocoa flavor. The finish has become toasty, with some black coffee and a hint of bitterness. The retrohale is intense and wonderful, showcasing the Nicaraguan pepper that I love . With another touch-up, I have finally surpassed the crack in the wrapper on the Espinosa Habano.   The burn has become razor sharp, which confirms that the crack was causing the previous burn issues.  Another crack has formed at the cap. Flavors remain medium/full and the strength is borderline full.

Wrap-up

I was not aware of how delicate the Habano wrapper was on the Espinosa Habano, and to say the least, I did not take the best care of the cigar this past weekend.  Due to having my travel case under filled,  I believe the cigars may have been bouncing around a little too much.  All in all, the wrapper crack and related burn issues were not a major annoyance. When a cigar is delivering in the areas of flavor, body, and strength, I am more than willing to touch up a cigar a couple of times.  The cigar was not overly complex but it hit the spot for me. Espinosa Habano cigars can be picked up at Smoke Inn for a price of $6 to $7, which makes this an easy buy in my book.  These sticks must be flying off the shelves because the only vitola remaining in stock is the Trabuco (6 by 60).  So grab them while you can and let us know what you think of the cigar.

The post Espinosa Cigars – Espinosa Habano appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

On the chopping block is the Habano wrapped version of the Espinosa Cigars La Zona. If the Espinosa name sounds familiar it’s probably because you heard about it from the EO Brands cigar label where Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega worked together to create some very popular lines. Espinosa Cigars is Erik fairly new project and the La Zona line is one of his first few blends.

The La Zona line currently comes in two flavors, a Connecticut and the Habano, they are also only available in two sizes, Super Toro and Robusto. The only noticeable difference between the two blends is a slightly different color on the bands. The Connecticut had a sort of lime green touch to it while the Habano is a bit more of a subtle brownish green.

The price on these cigars comes in well below $5 a stick. If you opt for the massive 80 count boxes, the price per stick can drop to nearly $3 each making this a very affordable stick to have in the humidor. Fans of Nicaraguan tobacco will also be happy to hear that the La Zona’s are Nicaraguan Puros and are also manufactured right in Esteli.

Despite a ton of snow we’ve been having, the weather is actually warming up a bit. I think Mother Nature in a bit confused… But I’ll take advantage of that as I enjoy some good cigars. So let’s just right in and see if the La Zona Habano is worth stocking up on in the Humidor.

Cigar: Espinosa Cigars La Zona Habano
Drink: Coffee
Vitola: Super Toro (6.5 x 54)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: About $4
Burn Time: 1.5 hours

Construction:
• The medium brown color of the wrapper is accented with some golden touches
• Almost no veins on this slightly dry looking wrapper
• It also has a somewhat rough texture and lots of toothiness to it, just missing the oily spots
• I did notice a sort of green water spot right around the middle of the cigar
• After a small and easy cut, the draw is super open, pretty surprising since it’s such a long cigar
• There is a definite softness from cap to foot here, lots of give when I squeeze it a bit
• The foot looks to be decently packed and the cap is finished very cleanly

Burn:
• Toasting took a bit of time but it lit up nice and evenly
• Burn line has been a tad wavy but pretty good for the most part through the first third
• Through the first half, I had one minor touch up for a peninsula that was forming
• The La Zona Habano is burning at a good pace, not too fast and not too slow either
• A couple more touch ups as I get near the end, none were major issues, probably jsut me wanted to be a perfectionist! lol

Smoke & Ash:
• There is a fair bit of smoke off the start but a slightly open draw is making it tough
• The resting smoke is pretty minimal
• Ash is looking to be pretty clean and somewhat strong
• First ash got tapped off at about the one inch mark since it looked to be getting a bit wobbly
• A fair bit of smoke from each draw but it does take a few tries to get it all out
• The remaining ashes all stuck around the 1 inch mark pretty consistently
• Other than the dark spots from touch ups, the ash had a light and dark grey color to it

Tasting Notes:
• The wrapper has a deep cedar aroma to it with a touch of spice
• On the foot, I’m getting the same cedar and more spice to it, tickled my nose quite a bit
• Pre-light draw had a ton more cedar but much less spice here, a touch of sweetness here as well
• Initial flavors brought out more of the cedar but not as much spice right off the bat
• I found a touch of spice in the aftertaste and main flavors mostly dominated by some leather and woodsy notes
• I’m picking up some hints of creaminess but they don’t seem to be sticking around too long
• Body started off in the medium range and has been sticking there through the first half of the cigar
• The retrohale has a nice little spice bite to it and a bit more on the finish, with just a touch of creaminess in there
• I got a few coffee notes and a bit more creaminess towards the last half which kept it interesting
• No real harshness or bitterness right to the nub, allowing me to enjoy the whole cigar

Final Thoughts:
I have to say that both the Habano and Connecticut version of the La Zona cigar were a satisfying smoke. They are also quite different in their own regards. The Connecticut brought a surprising amount of spice to the table while the Habano had a more creamy and woodsy approach. For a $3 price tag, you are definitely getting your money’s worth on these cigars. Other than a couple minor touch ups, the whole burn was pretty darn good and the flavors were just enough to keep things interesting. I’d definitely consider buying a few more of each and for the price, you don’t feel bad to hand over a tasty and flavorful stick to a novice smoker either.

Pairings:
I went with plain old coffee for today’s review and it actually worked out really well. I don’t tend to pair with coffee quite enough and I’m not sure why, it definitely makes for a great pairing. Especially in the morning or early afternoon. I think a nice amber ale, maybe something oaked would make an awesome pairing here. Or possibly a light scotch as well.

The post Espinosa Cigars La Zona Habano appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The La Zona cigar comes from Espinosa Cigars. Erik Espinosa was the “E” behind the EO brands label that gave us the popular 601 line. He’s gone ahead and started his own line just as his counterpart Eddie Ortega did. The La Zona comes from the factory in Esteli Nicaragua and is intended to be a value cigar with premium flavors. There are two wrappers, the Connecticut in a brighter lime green band and the Habano which has a darker green/brownish band. They also only come in 2 vitolas, Robusto and Super Toro.

Today’s cigar was the Connecticut variety in Robusto vitola and I have to admit that I would NEVER have guessed it was a Connecticut just from smoking it. This cigar started with a huge punch of pepper and spices that really surprised me. The pepper and spices also continued through most of the cigar. Where the Connecticut shone through was with the smooth creaminess, especially on the retrohale.

This cigar was pretty unique in that most connies don’t try this, they tend to stay in the mild range so the contrast was interesting to what I was expecting. The spice tapered off a bit towards the middle but they were still there. To compliment them I got a nice mix of cedar. The construction was awesome the whole way through even though I was walking in some slightly windy weather and it was a chilly 25F or so. I also have some Habano’s to try and see how they smoke. For a cost of just under $4 this was a pretty tasty and interesting cigar that kept me on my toes so keep an eye out and give them a try if you find them.

The post Quick Draw Episode 11 – Espinosa Cigars La Zona Connecticut appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff: As most of you now know, Eddie Ortega had recently decided to separate from the joint operation he founded along side Erik Espinosa, EO Brands. Shortly after announcing his new brand, Ortega Cigar Company, Eddie announced and even started shipping the first installment under the new label the Serie “D”.

The Serie “D” is hand crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua using fillers and binder grown in the Jalapa and Esteli regions of Nicaragua, with a San Andreas, Mexican maduro wrapper. The Serie “D” will come in both 10 and 20 count boxes of the following 5 sizes: The No.6 (4 ½ x 48), the No.7 (5×46), the No.8 (5 1/2×50), the No. 10 (6×52 belicoso), and the No. 12 (5×52) and will range from $6.50 to $7.50.

As of today, around 70 retailers across the United States will start receiving limited shipments of the Serie “D”. Although, from what I know, this is not a limited edition cigar, production will start out small. In a conversation I had with Eddie, he let me know that as of right now he is pretty much sold out, and is grateful that he has been getting the feedback that he has, and has even already received re-order which he is working diligently to fill. Once they can produce more of the Serie “D” they will expand into more, and more retailers across the country. For more information follow Eddie on twitter (@eddieor) and visit the Ortega Cigar Company website (www.ortegacigars.com).

 Size: 5 ½ x 50  –  Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas  –  Binder: Esteli Nicaraguan  –  Filler: Esteli/Jalapa Nicaraguan  –  Strength: Medium/Full

Prelight: The Ortega Serie “D” is an awesome looking cigar. It stars out with this crazy dark, toothy, rough looking wrapper. Seriously, this thing is almost black. Although very consistent, the cap is quite a bit lighter than the wrapper on the rest of the cigar. Again, I like to see inconsistencies in my maduro cigars. It proves to me that they aren’t dyed. The body of the cigar is a beautiful, wide, box press which only display ones smaller vein running about half of the body of the cigar. The wrapper on this cigar feel really tough, and very hard as well as the filler. The Serie “D” barely even compresses as I squeeze the hell out of it. The cigar is then polished off with an elegant, double band looking single band. Red, black, green, and white and gold with Eddie’s new “Ortega” logo printed on the front as well as the words “Serie D” and a barcode stamped on the back. The wrapper doesn’t give off too much aroma at all, mostly cedar which I would assume came from the actual box these were packaged in. The foot gives off some nice coffee, tobacco, and a dash of pepper. The cap on the Ortega Serie “D” clipped cleanly, and easily using my double bladed Palio cutter, despite how tough I thought the wrapper was going to be. The cold draw lets looks this crazy chocolate and coffee flavor with just a tiny bit of earthy tobacco underneath.

First Smoke: It took a little convincing, but after a minute or so the Ortega Serie “D” finally caught fire using my single flame butane torch. Right away I was greeted with a very nice, light pepper which faded away after only a few puffs to reveal a really strong, dark chocolate, coffee, nut, and tobacco flavor profile. The draw is slightly tighter than I would of liked, but it’s far from plugged and after only a few puffs the Serie “D” kicks out a nice cloud of very thick, white smoke. The cigar doesn’t give off much in the stationary smoke department, but the aroma is a terrific spicy cedar. The burnline is nicely even leaving behind a nice, zebra striped white and dark grey ash. The ash held on for about an inch before giving way.

Halfway There: The more I smoke this Ortega Serie “D” the smoother it becomes. The chocolate has morphed into what I could best describe as a nice chocolate milk flavor along with the ramp up in the coffee flavor resulting in a crazy espresso style profile. The nut is still there as well. The retrohale is just as easy and smooth as the rest of the experience coating my nasal passage with an awesome chocolate/cedar. I’m not really feeling any nicotine, and the burnline is still dead even.

Finish: And again, the dark chocolate flavor in this Ortega Serie “D” has really ramped up yet again. I actually made a comment when discussing this cigar with my good friend Dan Reeve over at Cigar Explorer that cigar was kind of like smoking a Hershey’s bar. The chocolate is really taking hold of the rest of the flavors in this experience leaving only some sweet, sweet tobacco, deep woodsy flavors, and of course the espresso.  The band slid right off. The entire experience has been incredibly smooth and I am feeling absolutely no nicotine at all from this cigar. Even into the final inch, which burned so well it didn’t even heat up much, with no harshness at all. It took me about an hour and a half to take this wonderful cigar down.

Overview: It’s safe to say Eddie Ortega has hit it out of the park once again. I’ve always been a fan of the work he did with Erik Espinosa over at EO Brands and the Serie “D” didn’t disappoint. This is one of the smoothest experiences I have had while producing some strong, and pleasant flavors. Don’t think this is an infused cigar, or even close to an infused experience. It’s not. Far from it. I honestly went into this experience imagining a tweaked Murcielago experience, which it wasn’t anything like. For the quality cigar that you get at the low price point I think this cigar is a perfect addition to anyone’s regular rotation. I’m extremely curious to see what else Eddie has up his sleeve.

Pairing: Here’s another beer that isn’t a stranger to Casas Fumando’s pairing section. Chimay’s Grand Reserve, or Chimay blue. The entire Chimay line has made multiple experiences to this website, and with good reason. Not only are they baddass Trappist brewed Belgian beers, but they each go perfectly with just about any cigar. The Blue is the strongest out of the bunch, boasting a 9% ABV and it’s also the darkest, thickest out of the trio. The deep fruity, malty, chocolaty flavors goes perfect with any fully bodied, or maduro cigar. This cigar would also go incredibly well with some porter, any stout, dark coffee, or brown cola.

The post Ortega Cigar Company – Serie “D” No. 8 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Before heading down south for a couple weeks I picked out a cigar to review that recently made an appearance at the IPCPR show in July 2011. It’s not the first report of this cigar though as is was initially released in limited quantities back in May of this year. Originally it was released to be sold in singles and 5-packs along with the purchase of other EO Brands cigars and is soon to be available in boxes of 10. I’ve already seen them posted up on some online cigar retailers who seem to be taking pre-orders.

The La Bomba is one of the first new cigars coming from EO Brands since they merged with Rocky Patel not long ago. There seemed to be a lot of criticism and concern over the direction of the company after that merger and I think they can be put to bed after the news of this release. The cigar is still blended by Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega of the original EO Brands company and also continues to be rolled at the My Father Cigars factory in Nicaragua.

From some web research, it seems the official name of the cigar is the 601 La Bomba. As you can see from the picture, it will be a yellow 601 label placed at the foot of the cigar with an interesting warning. I like the comedic side! The La Bomba has an interesting appearence with it’s “fuse” like pig tail on the cap. It’s been touted as a pepper and spice ‘blast’ no less, so let’s see if the imagery coincides with the experience. Will I be “blown away”? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist! haha)

Cigar: EO Brands 601 La Bomba (Yellow Label)
Drink: Delaforce 2005 Late Bottled Vintage Tawny Port
Vitola: “Atom” Corona (5.5 x46)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: About $8
Burn Time: 1.5 hours

Construction:
• A fairly rough looking wrapper with lots of veins surrounds with cigar, none of them are over sized but they are noticeable
• The dark chocolate brown color shines in the light due to it’s oiliness, very appealing look
• The top of the cigar is finished with a triple cap that flows into a long pig tail, making this look sort of like a stick of dynamite
• The cigar has a nice firmness with a slight spring which is petty even throughout
• The foot of the cigar looks to be mostly well packed with a couple spots that seem a little open
• The cap clipped off easily and left me with a great draw

Burn:
• Toasting was just about spot on, taking a bit of time but not too long before my culinary torch had it glowing evenly
• The La Bomba started burning great right off the start and is staying lit with minimal draws
• At first the cigar seemed to be burning quickly but it slowed down and is burning super slow now
• Burnline is razor sharp through the first half and still burning slowly
• Razor sharp burn continue to the end but it got a little hot at the nub

Smoke & Ash:
• This cigar started out with a huge burst of smoke, very thick and full
• Despite the ton of smoke from each draw, the resting smoke is very minimal going almost unnoticeable after a few seconds in the ashtray
• The ash is a little uneven and rough around the edges but it’s producing a very nice white color. It’s not flaking but doesn’t look too strong
• First ash lasted a little over an inch and fell softly into the ashtray
• Nice ashes continued for the remainder or the cigar, very nice construction!

Tasting Notes:
• The wrapper of the cigar gives off a spicy and woodsy aroma, actually made me sneeze! lol
• The foot brings more spice and wood, along with a bit of earthy or barnyard aroma
• The pre-light draw is very interesting bringing some sweet tartness on top of the woodsy and spicy burst
• The initial draws are packed with pepper spice that makes you tongue and lips tingle, along with a smooth woodsy undertone
• The cigar started off in the medium bodied range and the retrohale already has a hefty bite to it.
• The finish has been somewhat dry and mostly with a flavor of wood
• Within the first inch the pepper blast laid back a bit, its still there but now it’s more of a compliment rather than the major player
• The woodsy and earthy notes have taken center stage and now I’m getting some leather mixed in there as well
• The cigar really balances out nicely and gets much smoother after the first third, the flavors haven’t changed much but they are brighter and the finish isn’t dry anymore
• As I pass the halfway point the body and spice are building up, definitely lots more pepper in the mix now with a biting raw nutmeg
• The spice and body continue to build in the the last couple inches, definitely into the full range
• The overall profile is still smooth but the dryness on the finish is slowly creeping up again
• Only minor harshness at the nub but the heat of the cigar had me lay it down just a bit early cause my fingers were burning, lol

Final Thoughts:
The EO Brands La Bomba is all in all and enjoyable smoke. It’s flavor profile will definitely cater towards those who like some bite and kick in their cigar. Usually that’s not my favorite profile but this one had a good balance to it through most of the cigar. The burnline was spot on the entire time and that always grants extra points in my mind. I don’t think I would offer this cigar up to a new cigar smoker but most regular cigar lovers will find the cigar interesting and it will keep you on your toes.
Let me add that this cigar had some punch to it that I didn’t realize until I stood up, a definite nicotine kick here and a powerful little cigar!

Pairings:
Not doing anything new in this department today, sorry! lol. I like my Port and I stand by it, especially when I’m heading into a cigar I know is higher up in the full range. The Delaforce 2005 Late Bottled Vintage Tawny Port is a great drink that fits me perfectly. Price, flavor and smooth texture make it a great pairing to many cigars. I recently reviewed the Perdomo Grand Cru Maduro and the Pinar Del Rio 1878 Cubano Especial Capa Madura with this pairing. I found the Port to be an excellent match for the EO Brands 601 La Bomba’s peppery spice and power. The sweet and boldness of the port really stands up to it while complimenting it as well. I think a careful pairing will make or break this cigar so make sure to reach for something a little fuller. Other possible pairings could include a nice scotch or maybe a strong and bitter Belgian ale.

The post EO Brands 601 La Bomba (Yellow Label) appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff: The Murcielago is the newest blend kicked out by Espinosa and Ortega at E.O. Brands. The Murcielago made its big debut at this past year’s IPCPR convention in New Orleans. It took a while for me to get my hands on these sticks, but luckily the first batch that hit my front door were ever so graciously sent over to me form the guys over at Buckhead Cigar.

I’m not entirely sure where Espinosa and Ortega got the name “Murcielago” or “Bat”. There are a tons of theories from them just coming up with it out of the blue, to the metaphor of the dark characteristics from the cigar itself. The Murcielago is primarily constructed from an ultra dark Mexican wrapper grown in San Andreas, and bound with a Mexican binder, stuffed with the finest Nicaraguan filler.

Size: 6.12 x 50 (Toro)  –  Wrapper: San Andreas Mexican  – Binder: Mexican  –  Filler: Nicaraguan  –  Body: Medium/Full

Prelight: The Murcielago is an extremely darkly wrapped,  box pressed cigar. The wrapper itself is and extremely dark, chocolatey brown and very toothy. The toothyness I am referring too looks a lot like that texture on a cat’s tongue, or sandpaper. The color is extremely consistent and the wrapper gives off a slight sheen as light is bounced off its oils. The Murcielago is then capped off with a round triple cap. The cigar is very firm to the touch, and the only soft spots I was able to find were near the foot of the cigar. There is a very slight separation in the wrapper that exposes just the slightest bit of the binder near the head of the cigar, but it’s not anything to worry about I am hoping. I do however see band removal being a chore and even tearing the wrapper if it has too much glue on it due to the separation. The wrapper on the Murcielago gives off a very bold smell with scents of oats, cocoa, tobacco, and musk. Where as the foot of the cigar is a bit more on the sweet side, carrying the tobacco and cocoa smell. The cap of the Murcielago clipped right off under my Palio double bladed cutter. The cold draw produced although effortless, produced only very subtle hints of tobacco and pepper.

First Smoke: The Murcielago kicked out quite a bit more flavor than expected from what I took off the cold draw. The more dominant flavors are cocoa, strong tobacco, wood,  a sweet nutmeg, and hints of pepper. The draw the Mucielago gives off is amazingly large and effortless, and results in a huge cloud of thick, bluish-brown smoke. The cigar gives off very little stationary smoke so it was a bit harder to conclude what kind of aroma this stick gives off, but the notes I picked up were very leathery, with scents of spice and wood. The burnline is dead even and razor sharp leaving behind a very thick, white, compacted ash. I got about an inch and a half into this cigar before the first ash gave way.

Halfway There: The flavors in the Murcielago keep on coming. I absolutely love when the flavor profile of my cigar changes up on me and the Murcielago definitely keeps you on your toes. The pepper has all but faded, giving way for a much sweeter tobacco flavor back with hints of cocoa, raisin, leather, and oats. The Aventinus double-bock style wheat ale is really adding the “fruity” element to this flavor mashup.  The burn line is still dead even, draw is magnificent. This cigar is very smooth and I am not getting even the slightest nicotine buzz from it, even though I am smoking like a champ. One side note is the stationary smoke has become quite a bit larger over the course of the smoke. Giving off a very pleasant spicy/woodsy aroma.

Finish: I have ashed a total of 3 times up until the final third, all of which ended up on my shirt. And it’s not cause the ash flakes off and falls unexpectedly, it’s actually just the opposite. The ash produced by the Murcielago is very thick and each time I try to see how far it holds on for, consequently they fall on me instead of the ash tray.  The flavors have remained pretty similar to the second third of the stick, with the exception of slight pepper being reintroduced into the experience, and a very subtle cardboard type flavor that I didn’t care much for. I am feeling a slight nicotine kick from the end of the stick, but nothing too alarming. I am still enticed by how large and easy flowing the draw on the Mucielago is. I wish all cigars were this easy to smoke. Luckily, my fear never became a reality and the band had just enough glue to come off with ease. All in all this Murcielago took me about an hour and a half to smoke. It really took off at the beginning and I was scared it would burn too quickly, but once that binder and filler got a chance to mashup it was smooth sailing.

Overview: The Murcielago is a solid stick. The complexity is gratifying as well as the consistently superb construction kicked out by E.O. Brands not only on this stick, but pretty much anything they produce is top notch. This cigar is smooth enough for a novice smoker, and complex enough for any aficionado. The Murcielago does come with a higher price tag, cresting in the upper $9 range for stick, but I wouldn’t mind paying for it any day. Definitely box-worthy.

Pairing: I decided to pair this Murcielago with some Schnieder-weisse Aventinus Dopplebock. The Aventinus is a strong wheat based double bock with tons of fruit and spice flavors that range from apples and cinnamon to Orange zest and pepper. The combination of those flavors and that of the Murcielago create a complete package for flavor and aroma therapy. I would recommend anything sweet or dark as a proper pairing for this cigar. Apple juice, sweet tea, coffee, porter, or hell, even a lambic.

UPDATE: Shortly after posting this review, the Man Eddie Ortega himself left a comment with some very exciting news:

Great review, this is my favorite cigar we make. As you know by now, we have just merged with Rocky Patel. Because of the merger, we were able to significantly drop the price on all our brands. The murcielago’s new MSRP price range is between $6.20 and 6.80, the prices on the cubao and 601 lines are also down anywhere between 2.50 and 3 dollars per stick.

-regards

Eddie

Now, at those prices.. This stick is a STEAL. Go out, buy some, buy a lot. Its worth it! Not to mention the 601’s at the price point. I’m a sucker for the blue.

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