The Good Stuff:

The HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo is the latest addition to Famous Smoke Shop’s Exclusivo cigar series. The HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo is based on the same successful blend as when it was originally released only in a special 6 1/2 x 50 format only available at Famous Smoke Shop. “Serie A” represents the cigar’s blend which only utilizes grade A tobacco grown at the Arganorsa farms in Nicaragua. Blended by Reinier Lorenzo, the found of HVC Cigar, at the Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. factory in Nicaragua the blend starts out with a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. Packaged in boxes of 10 each cigar runs $10 each with only a very small amount of 300 boxes total being released. Big thanks to our friends at Famous Smoke Shop for hooking us up with a few samples for review. You can view more information and purchase yours here.

• Size: 6 1/2 x 50
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corona ’99
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Medium/Full
• Strength: Medium
• Price: $9.50
• Pairing: Veil / Half Acre Soak in Shadow (Imperial Stout 13% ABV)

Prelight:

The HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo is a beautiful looking cigar. Starting with it’s very rustic looking wrapper which sports inconsistent blotches of light and medium shades of brown with orangish areas scattered throughout. The wrapper’s texture carries some light grainy tooth with a ton of oils coating it. The wrapper itself is a bit thin, but very hard while the cigar as a whole is incredibly heavy and tightly packed. There are quite a few minor veins and natural tobacco webbing in the leaf as the wrapper is laid seamlessly over itself leading up to the cigar’s round, triple-wrapped cap. The cigar is then polished off with the same HVC Serie A orange, white, black and gold band found on the blend but an added gold and black foot band with the words “Famous Smoke Shop Exclusivo” embossed across the front signifying the cigar’s addition to the Exclusivo Series portfolio.

The wrapper on the HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo gives off light cashew and natural tobacco notes while the foot of the cigar is much more pungent with loads of moss, cedar, and natural tobacco aromas. The cap cut clean and easily allowing the cigar release loads of cashew, honey, and earthy flavors on the cold draw.

First Third:

The HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo starts out with a very mild black pepper punch with almost immediately faded allowing the cigar to showcase a really bold mixture of honey, cashew, and citrus over cedar, vanilla, musk and earthy notes. Despite being packed so tightly the draw is absolutely perfect as each and every puff kicks out a whole mess of thick, white smoke which hangs around for a considerable amount of time before dissipating while the cigar releases a ton of stationary smoke while it rests in my ashtray. The burn line is dead even and decently thin leaving behind a trail of tightly compacted white ash which held on for an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo and this is where the cigar really begins to shine. The musk and cedar are now leading the charge backed by bolder vanilla and cinnamon over lighter cashew, honey and earthy notes. I am really enjoying the flavor profile here. The retrohale brings out a great spice and I find myself doing it quite often. I close out the second third with nothing in terms of a nicotine hit.

Finish:

Into the final third of the HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo and the flavor is just pouring on now. The musk and cedar are still the dominant notes with loads of cinnamon and vanilla over maple, honey, and citrus. It took me a little over 2 hours to smoke this down to the nub. It burned very slow and that’s totally ok with me. I experienced no harshness nor any extended heat. I never once had to reach for my torch to touchup or relight the cigar. I close out with only a very minor nicotine kick.

Overview:

I am quite the HVC fan and a shop exclusive which uses one of my favorite cigars from them immediately got my attention. The HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo represents the blend very well. The flavors were rich and complex, the smoking experience was flawless and the price point is very affordable considering the experience, especially for the length of time it takes to smoke this cigar. All in all, wins all around. I just wish it wasn’t so limited, but that just means I’ll need to pick some up before they are gone.

Pairing:

Soaked in Shadow is an imperial stout brewed with milk sugar aged in apple brandy barrels. Brewed in collaboration with The Veil and Half Acre the 13% ABV beer leads with a ton of sweetness, apple, grape, chocolate, roasted malt, and creaminess with a very heavy/sticky mouthfeel before finishing with much more apple brandy sweetness, chocolate, cinnamon and a lasting boozy aftertaste. While the HVC Serie A Famous Exclusivo itself was fantastic, I thought adding something with a little sweetness could add another level of complexity to the experience, and this pairing did just that.

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We wanted to create a blend that capture the elegance and style of classic Cuban Cigars. Covered in our finest Corojo 99 wrapper from Jalapa, Siboney Reserve is rich in flavor, complex, and balances with a subtle sweetness. It’s a cigar for those who crave old-world flavor and aroma.

Handmade in Nicaragua by Aganorsa Leaf, the cigar utilizes all Nicaraguan tobaccos sourced from Aganorsa farms. The cigar was introduced in four sizes including Lonsdale (6 by 44), Rothschild (4 1/2 by 48), Robusto (5 1/4 by 50), and Toro (6 by 52). Packaged in boxes of 10, the cigars will run you between $7.00 to $8.50.

You can purchase the Siboney Reserve by Aganorsa Leaf from our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.00
Vitola: Lonsdale
Size: 6 by 44
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo 99 Jalapa
Binder: Proprietary Nicaragua
Filler: Proprietary Nicaragua
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 35 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Siboney Reserve is dressed in a medium brown Nicaraguan Corojo 99 Jalapa wrapper that has tons of dark watermarkings. There are some veins and bumps on the wrapper leaf but, to the touch, the cigar feels crazy smooth. The cigar is firmly rolled with a couple of indentations.

A strong chicken coop aroma emits from the wrapper. A more subtle aroma comes across from the foot of the cigar with notes of cedar, manure, chocolate, and pepper. The draw has more resistance than preferred and my palate is met with cold draw flavors similar to those from the foot.

FIRST THIRD

A sweet tobacco provides a nice opening to the Siboney Reserve. The sweetness is followed by a combination of wood and earth. The sweetness backsoff as the cigar warms up. There is a mild pepper flavor on the palate, but, the pepper really pops in both flavor and spice heat as I retrohale the smoke. The filler tobaccos are burning quicker than the wrapper requiring a touch-up.

MIDDLE THIRD

Into the second third, the flavors are balanced and harmonizing well. I am still able to identify the individual flavors as they form into a wonderful bouquet on the palate. The sweetness moves in waves and, combined with the pepper, is keeping me fully engaged. Even though the flavors are only hoovering in the medium range, there is a bit more strength than I would have expected.

FINAL THIRD

The final third of the Siboney Reserve shows a transition in the wood flavor to more of dry pencil shavings. The darker flavors move forward with the earth and pepper playing a a more dominant role. A yeasty flavor develops as I near the end of the cigar. An edgy burn in the final third makes one more touch-up necessary before I close it out.

WRAP-UP

My experience with Cuban cigars is limited to say the least. So I cannot say if the Siboney Reserve is Cuban-Esque or not. But I can say I enjoyed this cigar from the first light to final puff. The medium profile delivered a well rounded profile primarily of wood, earth, shifting sweetness, and pepper. A little bit of strength sneaks up on you with the Siboney Reserve. Just enough to get put you in a relaxed state of mind. This is a great cigar that I highly recommend.

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The 601 Kryptonite is produced by Erik Espinosa at La Zona in Nicaragua and features all Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigars are available in Robusto (5 by 50), Toro (6 by 50), and Churchill (7 by 5). The cigars will run you from $6.59 to $7.00 per single or $79.99 to $84.99 for a box of 20.

You can purchase the Espinosa 601 Kryptonite from our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop.

THE FACTS

Price: $6.59
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The 601 Kryptonite comes in a dark tan, Nicaraguan Habano wrapper that has a light green hue. The wrapper leaf is rather rough being full of bumps, veins, stretch marks, and color imperfections. Even to the touch, I can easily feel the rustic character of the leaf. Lightly rolling the cigars between my thumb and index finger, the cigar is spongy near the head of the cigar but firms up as I make my way towards the foot.

An aroma of chocolate-covered cherries greets me from the wrapper. The chocolate aroma is even stronger on the foot of the cigar and is joined with some warm cedar notes. The chocolate/cherry combo carries over to the cold draw that has hardly any resistance. 

FIRST THIRD

The Espinosa 601 Kryptonite starts with a heavy dose of black pepper, leather, earth, and sweet cherry. Cocoa and a darker earthy flavor remains on the palate for half a minute or so between puffs. A section of the wrapper is already struggling to burn inline with the rest of the cigar. A quick hit with my lighter gets everything back in line. 

MIDDLE THIRD

The pepper remains strong and is joined alongside the sweet fruit flavor as I pull into the second third of the 601 Kryptonite. The leather and earth notes move to more of a cedar. As the cigar progresses, the intensity of the flavors gradually picks up and the nicotine is right in the middle of the road. The burn line is edgy but performing much better than the first third.  

FINAL THIRD

Into to the last couple of inches, the woodsy cedar transitions to charred wood and gritty earth and cocoa sit heavy on the finish. The fruity sweetness has mostly departed but is very subtle on the backend of the smoke. As I take lighter draws of the 601 Kryptonite, the sweetness make a final reappearance before I lay down the cigar for its final rest. 

WRAP-UP

The 601 Kryptonite is a wallet-friendly cigar that offers some solid medium/full flavors and a medium strength profile. I really enjoyed the upfront pepper spice and the sweet cherry. A couple of burn issues were encountered and a touch-up was required during the first third of the smoke. I don’t know if I would pay the single stick price of nearly $7.00 for this cigar, but I would grab a fiver for $19.99.

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After some research, we decided the history of the Union Fire Company was a perfect match for a new cigar line. The cigar itself is a rich and smoky blend of Nicaragua tobacco

Crux Union Fire cigars are rolled in Esteli, Nicaragua at Tabacalera Plasencia. The cigar utilizes a proprietary Nicaraguan wrapper leaf, Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. The wrapper leaf, known as Enganoso, is also featured on the Crux Limitada lines. There are three sizes being produced: Robusto (4 ¾ by 50), Toro (6 by 52) and Churchill (7 by 50). 

You can purchase the Crux Union Fire from our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop HERE.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.80
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Enganoso
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Crux Union Fire is dressed in a dark tan wrapper that is coated in oils and bumps. There are a couple of medium-sized veins running the down the cigar that are easy to spot.

Having arrived with no cellophane, I am only picking up on cedar on the wrapper, which I attribute to my humidor. Earth and cedar are noted on the foot of the cigar with a faint spice tickling the nose. The cold draw has a bit more resistance than preferred. And this may be one of mildest cold draws I’ve ever encountered with only a hint of cedar and mild spice felt in the mouth.

FIRST THIRD

After slowly toasting the foot of the cigar, the Crux Union Fire is underway. The warm cedar flavor transfers over from the aroma on the wrapper/foot and the cold draw. It is joined with a combination of sweet and tart with black pepper hanging in the background and on the finish of the smoke. Even early on, the flavors are a solid medium and well-rounded. For the most part, the burn is even as white ash forms.

MIDDLE THIRD

This is a slow burning cigar. Forty-minutes in and I am barely making my way into the second third of the Union Fire. All of the flavors in the first third continue to hold their ground as the cigar develops in richness. The tartness moves to orange zest as the retro-hale brings out the pepper and a darker earth flavor. A quick hit with lighter is required to get a small section the wrapper back in line with the rest of the burn.

FINAL THIRD

Prior to lighting, I had some concern on the draw. But I quickly forgot about that concern once lit. The cigar has been producing a mouthful of smoke ever since the first puff. The flavors are still medium-full and rich and I am feeling some strength from this Plasencia-made cigar. The orange zest has faded out as a perfume quality joins in as I begin to wrap up my journey through the Crux Union Fire. 

WRAP-UP

Crux cigars have consistently scored well with the Casas Fumando crew (on our nonexistent scoring system). And when news broke of a shop exclusive with Famous Smoke, a site sponsor, it quickly moved to the top of my list of cigars to review.  The Crux Union fire hit the spot with its medium-full flavors, developing richness, and pepper kick. What intrigued me about the cigar was the sweet and tart in the first third that evolved to an orange zest as the cigar progressed. The cigar burned incredibly slow so you definitely get your money’s worth on this cigar.

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Manufactured in Esteli, Nicaragua at the Plasencia Cigars S.A. factory, the Crux Guild features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The cigars come packaged in 20-count boxes and run between $6.99 and $10.99. Available vitolas include Corona (5 1/2 by 42), Robusto (5 by 50), Robusto Extra (5 1/4 by 54), Toro (6 by 50), Toro Extra BP Marblehead (6 1//2 by 52), and Gordo BP Marblehead (6 by 60).

You can purchase Crux Cigars from our good friends over at Famous Smoke Shop.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.99
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 20 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Crux Guild wears a wrapper that has an initial milk chocolate appearance, but, as I move into the sunlight, I am able to see a deep red hue to the cigar with darker markings. There are a few scattered bumps, no tooth, and only small veins. The cigar is rolled evenly and firmly with no soft spots to be found.

The wrapper has a pungent vinegar aroma and some earth. The foot of the cigar is much more pleasant with chocolate, cedar, and pepper. The double cap cuts clean opening up a draw with just a hair more resistance than preferred. Cold draw flavors include dough, chocolate, cedar. And light spice is felt on the lips.

FIRST THIRD

The Guild by Crux Cigars opens with dark, rich flavors that are on verge of full with a hefty amount of spice accompanying them. The flavors include earth (more dirt-like), coffee, dark fruit, pencil shavings, and black pepper. There is both a sour edge and a sweetness that seems to be tied to the fruit flavor. The burn is even and the nice looking ash is holding well.

MIDDLE THIRD

The darker flavor of earth and coffee intensify as the cigar progresses into the second third. A cocoa has joined the profile and the richness continues to build. The cocoa sits on the finish of the smoke that is somewhat drying on the palate. At the middle of the cigar, the flavors soften, allowing a warm cedar flavor to pull through along with that earlier sour quality.

FINAL THIRD

Moving into the final third, the flavors that softened in the second third take a quick turn and are back to their earlier richness. The coffee and earth are back in play and the pepper spice is sharp on the retrohale. The cigar continues to perform well as I near the end of the Crux Guild.

WRAP-UP

The Crux Guild is another solid smoke from the guys over at Crux Cigars. A building richness, a flavor profile that shows a lot of depth to it, and nearly perfect construction, I just don’t know what to complain about. And then you have a price of $7.99 and it makes the deal that much sweeter. I am still waiting for the day to smoke a bad cigar from Crux. This is a cigar that could easily fit into the weekly rotation and one that I highly recommend.

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There is not a whole lot of information available on the Huntsman, but here is what I got. Created in Esteli, Nicaragua at Fabrica de Puro Plasencia, the Huntsman features a four country blend and is available in three vitolas: Robusto (5 by 50), Toro (6 by 50), and Churchill (7 by 50). Like many of the Famous exclusives, the Huntsman comes with a wallet friendly price between $5.25 and 5.75 per stick.

You can purchase the Huntsman from our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop HERE.

THE FACTS

Price: $5.25
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder:  Mexican San Andres
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan and Brazilian
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Huntsman Robusto comes wrapped in a dark brown Nicaraguan Habano leaf that has a deep red hue and tons of nearly black watermarks. Loads of small veins can be seen webbing down the wrapper and a couple of medium sized veins. There are some scattered bumps and I find no soft spots on the cigar.

The aroma from the wrapper is meaty and savory. Similar to spices that you would use while grilling meats. The aroma is nearly the same on the foot, along with cedar. After a quick cut of the cap, I find a very free and airy draw with a strange sweetness that I am unable to pinpoint, along with cinnamon and wood. 

FIRST THIRD

Once lit, thick clouds of smoke pour out of the Huntsman. The flavors are rich, sweet, and spicey. There is a wet wood flavor, an acidic sourness, and sweet bread. A medium salt and pepper spice trail the aforementioned flavors. The sweet bread lingers on the finish before it turns to more of a toasted flavor. Through the first third, the burn was mostly wavy. 

MIDDLE THIRD

The acidic sourness has a sharpness to it causing some imbalance to the flavors.  While the wood and sweetness are still in play, the toast and sourness are the dominant flavors. Allowing the cigar to rest for over a minute between puffs cuts back the harsher aspects of the smoke. A touch-up is required to get a section of the wrapper back in-line that is refusing to burn.

FINAL THIRD

The richness that faded in the second third has come full circle. The sweetness is no longer the earlier sweet bread, but more of a caramelized sweetness. The ash that started as light gray is now much darker.

WRAP-UP

I am not quite settled on the Huntsman. There is a lot I liked about this cigar. Price for one followed by most of the flavors. The sour edge was intriguing at some points, but distracting at others. Letting the cigar rest between draws is a must, which isn’t a bad thing as it makes me slow down. Something I need more of these days. Other than the single touch-up, I experienced no other performance issues. I would smoke these again as the jury is still out.

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Life in Olde Penn was anything but pedestrian. Its people worked hard, played fair and stood up for what they believed in. When they met adversity face-to-face, they gave it a wry look and spit in its eye. Pennsylvanians business was building America. They followed their fathers into the coal mines, forged America’s railways in their steel mills, tamed the Great Lakes, and 4,600 cigar factories (more than any other state in the Union), plus myriad Keystone State tobacco farms, satisfied the nation’s appetite for a good smoke.

Suffice it to say, Pennsylvania’s roots run deep, hold fast, and remain strong. And it’s in this unanimous, spirited and determined tradition that Olde Penn cigars were forged with the same grit and determination that’s been coursing through Pennsylvanians veins since 1682.

Manufactured at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Esteli, Nicaragua, Olde Penn is available in five vitolas: Small Corona (4 1/2 by 33), Robusto (5 by 50), Toro (6 by 52), Lonsdale (7 by 46), and Gordito (6 by 60). The cigar, running between $6 and $7.50 per single, features a Connecticut seed wrapper grown in Ecuador over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. You can purchase Olde Penn cigars from our good friends over at Famous Smoke Shop HERE.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.25
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 25 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

Olde Penn by Drew Estate wears a golden tan Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. There are mostly small veins to be found on the leaf and a couple of medium sized, stitch-like veins. The light color does little to hide the stretch marks and bumps.

A mild aroma of graham cracker and cardboard is found on the wrapper, while big cinnamon and chocolate notes come across on the foot. There is a void in the filler tobaccos near the band and the foot appears under-filled. A shallow, quick cut through the double cap opens up an easy draw. A cinnamon spice instantly warms my palate followed by cedar.

FIRST THIRD

Out of the gate, Olde Penn starts with solid mediums flavors. That common Connecticut shade bitterness is being contrasted by a natural tobacco sweetness.  Trailing behind these upfront flavors are earth and a generic woodsiness. As the cigar progresses, a sweet fruit flavors joins in. A significant section of the wrapper is struggling to keep up with the rest of the burn as a dark gray, flaky ash forms. But within no time, the burn has self-corrected 

MIDDLE THIRD

The sweetness has evolved to more caramel-like, making the overall profile richer and there is now a nuttiness to the smoke. The sweetness is keeping the bitterness and earthier flavors at bay. There seems to be a hint of cinnamon spice flavor going in the background as the Olde Penn warms my palate nicely.

FINAL THIRD

As I pull into the last third of the Olde Penn Toro, a tear forms in the wrapper as a result of a little too much glue on the band. I can now easily see how thin and delicate this wrapper is. Even with the hole in the wrapper, the cigar is still pumping out smoke and it doesn’t seem to be hindering anything. The central sweetness of the flavors continues to hold strong as a charred wood flavor arrives. The cinnamon spice has departed and the spice at this point is more of the typical black pepper.

WRAP-UP

I have never been a huge fan of Connecticut shade cigars. There are a few out their that get me going, but, overall, they just don’t suit my palate. But when Drew Estate releases a Connecticut shade cigar, I know it is worth a try. I really like the branding and story behind Olde Penn, but more importantly I enjoyed the cigar itself. Olde Penn delivered medium flavors highlighted by a Connecticut shade bitterness and evolving sweetness. This would be a great cigar to pair with a cup of coffee in the morning, but it would also hold its own later in the day on a fresh palate. A couple of construction issues were encountered with the burn and delicate wrapper, but not enough to concern me. There are some great deals on the five-packs over at Famous Smoke Shop and I recommend you grab yourself a couple.

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Southern Draw’s portfolio has grown over its few short years in business with Jacobs Ladder, Kudzu, Firethorn, Rose of Sharon, and QuickDraw. QuickDraw, as with the rest of Southern Draw’s lines, are produced at Tabacalera Fernandez De Nicaragua S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua. Three wrapper options are currently available including Ecuadorian Connecticut, Ecuadorian Dark Habano, and Pennsylvania Broadleaf. Keeping with the theme of the brand, the two available sizes are on the smaller end of the spectrum with a Petite Corona (4 1/2 by 44) and Short Panatela (5 1/2 by 40). The QuickDraw Petite Corona comes packaged in 50-count boxes that will run you about $225 or $5.00 per stick.

You can purchase the Southern Draw QuickDraw from our site sponsor Famous Smoke Shop. Make sure to use coupon code “CASASAVINGS” for $15 off orders over $100.

THE FACTS

Price: $5.00
Vitola: Petite Corona
Size: 4 ½ by 44
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Start Time: 1 Hour

PRE-LIGHT

Southern Draw’s QuickDraw Pennsylvania is dressed an extremely dark, nearly black Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. There is a ton of texture on this rustic looking leaf that is loaded with tooth, veins and bumps. Sugar-like crystals glisten down the leaf as I work through my pre-light inspection.

The cigar is firmly rolled from head to foot and I am met with a pungent aroma of barnyard and wet earth as I bring the wrapper of the cigar to my nose. With the shaggy foot, the aroma is mostly the same with a hint of richness and sweetness. A shallow cut through the small pig-tail cap reveals a firm draw, which I expected to be due to the shaggy foot. Rich cedar and light baking spices are on the cold draw.

FIRST LIGHT

As soon as the foot of the Southern Draw QuickDraw is lit, the draw opens up and heavy and dark flavors pour out with notes of leather and a rich coffee. The richness really comes out as I retro-hale the smoke, along with a faint spice. The spice is building in both the flavor department and heat, warming my palate, as the cigar progresses. The QuickDraw Petite Corona is burning with a minor wave as a white ash forms. The ash held just short of an inch, which is pretty impressive for such a small ring gauge cigar.

MIDDLE THIRD

The QuickDraw Pennsylvania gains in richness as the flavors remain consistent with the prior third. The flavors are medium/full and I am beginning to feel the strength this small cigar has to offer. At the back end of the flavors there is a tartness and sweetness that is beginning to peak through. The tartness is something I find in most Broadleaf cigars.

FINAL THIRD

As I begin the last leg of my journey of the QuickDraw Pennsylvania, I find the tartness to be moving forward, trying to keep up with the darker flavors of charred wood, leather and coffee and a caramelized sugar sweetness. The flavors have made it to the full realm and the strength is on par. And the spice is showing no signs of slowing down as I near the end of the smoke. 

WRAP-UP

I don’t know why I waited so long to light up a cigar from Southern Draw. The QuickDraw Pennsylvania is exactly what I look for in a cigar. Big flavors, full strength, spice that keeps the palate alert, and a whole lot of richness. I love the Petite Corona format, but, at the same time, I didn’t want the cigar to end. The cigar developed a wave in the burn here and there, but it didn’t distract me from everything else going on. I highly recommend the QuickDraw Pennsylvania and I consider it a box worthy cigar even in a 50-count box!

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Produced at Tabacalera Oliva S.A., the Inferno Singe is a Nicaraguan puro like the Melt and is available in three vitolas: Robusto (5 by 50), Toro (6 by 50), and Churchill (7 by 50).  The Singe comes packaged in 20 count humi-jars and will run you between $90.99 to $99.99 or $7.95 to $8.75 per single stick. You can find other Inferno reviews below:

• Inferno 3rd Degree
• Inferno Flashpoint
• Inferno Melt
• Inferno Scorch

You can purchase the Inferno Singe from our site sponsor Famous Smoke Shop. Make sure to use coupon code “CASASAVINGS” for $15 off orders over $100.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.95
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 25 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

Inferno Singe wears a medium brown oily wrapper. Small veins can be seen criss-crossing down the leaf with only one or two veins medium in size. Oils, an extremely fine tooth and scattered bumps can be felt underneath my fingertips as I examine the cigar for soft spots. There are no soft spots found and the cigar is evenly filled.

An aroma of barnyard, salt and lime come across on the wrapper. The salt and lime combo is just like the Limón Mexican candy packets. Dirt and wood are on the foot. A quick cut through the double cap opens up a good draw. The cold draw flavors are faint with some cedar and light cinnamon spice.

FIRST THIRD

The Inferno Singe begins creamy in the mouth with notes of bright pepper, yeast, wood, and sweetness. There is a sourness to the smoke, but unlike the sour quality of the Scorch that was lighter on the palate, it has an edge to it. The spice is warming my mouth as the cigar burns evenly with a salt and pepper ash being left behind. 

MIDDLE THIRD

Medium flavors and medium strength characterize the Inferno Singe as I make my way into the second third. The smoke production is amazing as the flavors turn to the darker end of the spectrum with dirt and leather matching up with sour flavor. As I slow my pace, the natural tobacco sweetness pulls through and rounds out the profile, along with an added touch of cocoa. While the burn is no longer even, it is of no concern either. 

FINAL THIRD

The earlier wood has made a comeback, but the dirt, leather and cocoa are holding strong. As I pass the smoke through my sinuses, the pepper spice is front and center. With the Inferno Singe winding down, a buttery toast flavor joins in and the dirt is heavy on the finish of the smoke. 

WRAP-UP

Marketed as a full bodied, full flavored cigar, I would describe the Inferno Singe more in the medium realm with flavors pushing to the full side only on occasion. From first light, the Singe evolved from sweet and spicy to dark and spicy with more nuanced flavors moving in and out throughout the experience. And I really don’t have any complaints on the performance. While the burn had a slight wave beginning in the second third, there were no major issues to address. Now to the moment you have all bee waiting for in great anticipation. How do I rank the latest cigars in the Inferno line? Here you have it:

#3 – Inferno Scorch – There were a lot of good qualities to this smoke and some intriguing flavors, but the linear flavor profile lost my interest even in the robusto size. But in no way it is a bad smoke. I recommend trying a couple out to see if it fits your wheelhouse.

#2 – Inferno Singe – See review notes above I recommend a 5-pack.

#1 – Inferno Melt – Rich, spicy and full flavor goodness in a box-pressed format! Doesn’t get much better than that for the price. Grab yourself an entire jar of these.

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Produced at Tabacalera Oliva S.A., the Inferno Scorch is available in three vitolas: Robusto (5 by 50), Toro (6 by 50), and Churchill (7 by 50).  The Melt comes packaged in 20 count humi-jars and will run you between $90.99 to $99.99 or $7.95 to $8.75 per single stick.

You can purchase the Inferno Scorch from our site sponsor Famous Smoke Shop. Make sure to use coupon code “CASASAVINGS” for $15 off orders over $100.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.95
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: African Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan Habano
Smoke Time:

PRE-LIGHT

Draped in a Cameroon wrapper, the Scorch is light to medium brown with a green and orangish hue going on. There are are only light visible oils and to the touch the wrapper is dry and rough. The leaf is full of small to medium in size and scattered bumps.

There is wet, sweet wood and cinnamon going on as I bring the wrapper to my nose and dark red fruit, chocolate, and cedar on the foot. A spice tickles my sinuses. Upon cutting the cap, a draw with just the right amount of resistance brings forth cedar and a graham cracker.

FIRST THIRD

With the Inferno Scorch underway, a wet, sweet wood flavor moves across my palate, along with a sour apple quality that is tagging along. The flavors are on the low side of medium and a pepper spice has the edge on the flavors with its medium heat that is warming up my plate. A light gray, firm ash forms as the cigar burns with a minor wave.

MIDDLE THIRD

A small crack has formed in the delicate wrapper leaf near the burn line as I make my way into the second third of the Inferno Scorch. As the cigar progresses, the earlier wood flavor evolves to a rich cedar with a sufficient amount of sweetness to balance out the sour quality. Some earth is now in the profile and a coffee lingers on the profile. The smoke production is satisfying. The burn is now even and the ash continues to hold well, but a little more flaky. A sharp pepper spice comes across on the retro-hale.

FINAL THIRD

The earth is taking a more dominant role in the profile and pushing out the rich cedar and the sour apple continues to hold strong as it has throughout. Clouds of smoke are produced with each effortless draw as the cigar ends in the medium range in both flavor and spice. 

WRAP-UP

Let me start on the more objective side of the Inferno Scorch. The cigar presented an easy draw, mostly even burn and firm ash. A total of three ashes formed through the entire smoke, which was quite impressive. The construction on this Inferno was above average. And even though it wasn’t the typical profile I go for, the sour apple quality was something new to me and it worked well with the sweet wood flavor. For most of the smoke, the flavors remained consistent. Once I complete the review of the Singe, I will provide my ranking of the three latest releases in the Inferno line.

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This Nicaraguan puro is produced at Tabacalera Oliva S.A. in three vitolas: Robusto (5 by 50), Torpedo (6 1/2 by 52), and Churchill (7 by 50).  The Melt comes packaged in 20 count humi-jars. I have picked up a couple of these humi-jars over the last year and they are great for storing cigars, pipe tobacco, and coffee. A jar of Inferno Melt will run you between $90.99 to $99.99 or $7.95 to $8.75 per single stick.

Price: $7.95 per single | $90.99 per jar of 20
Vitola:Robusto
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 10 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Inferno Melt is draped in a dark brown, mottled Nicaraguan Sun Grown Broadleaf wrapper. It is one rustic looking leaf with its many color variations, prominent veins and raised bumps. This box-pressed cigar is evenly filled from the foot to the band of the cigar, but near the band there is very squishy section of the cigar.

An aroma of straight-up barnyard is found on the wrapper and earth, chocolate, and barnyard are on the foot of the cigar. A double cap rounds out the cigar with nice straight lines. A quick cut with my Xikar cutter opens up a free draw allowing for a woodsy notes to move across my palate.

FIRST THIRD

Right off the bat, the flavors open up full, spicy and rich. I am noting leather, warm cedar, orange zest, and a natural tobacco sweetness. There is a significant amount of spice heat that lingers in the mouth, but there is not a clear flavor associated with the spice at this point. The ash is light in color and flaky as the Inferno Melt burns a bit jagged.

MIDDLE THIRD

As I move into the second third of the Inferno Melt, both the spice and overall flavors have tapered off but hang steadily in the medium/full range. For the most part, the earlier flavors remain and the smoke is now creamy in the mouth. As I pass the smoke through my nose, the smoke is creamy and a light pepper stands out that really adds to the experience. This may be the first time the texture of smoke is noticeable as I retro-hale.

FINAL THIRD

With the final third of the Inferno Melt underway, it seems like the cigar is progressing in the opposite direction than most cigars. The intensity of the flavors continue to be on the decline, along with the spice. The leather and orange zest are front and center as the cedar has dropped out of the profile and the  sweetness is playing far less of a role. The flavors are not as balanced as earlier as  a char flavor lingers on the finish of the smoke with only a handful of minutes remaining. 

WRAP-UP

“Collaborations” between major online retailers and well known manufactures don’t always play out well. Half the time, it seems like a band is thrown on the stuff that no one else wants. But that isn’t the case with the Inferno line. I took a liking to Inferno cigars after smoking through the Flashpoint and 3rd Degree in 2015. So when I received the news about three new cigars under the Inferno name, my interest was peaked. I absolutely loved the way the Inferno Melt kicked off with its full, spicy, and rich profile. And even though the smoke seemed to lose some of its intensity throughout, it was a cigar I really enjoyed. The cigar burned well, with no major issues, but the ash was abnormally flaky. The per stick price of almost $8.00 would be bit much to pay considering the competition out there, but for under $5.00 when purchased in the 20-count humi-jars, it makes this a great cigar for the price.

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The press release from Famous gave some insight on the name:

Whiskey Rebellion 1794 cigars by RoMa Craft Tobac take their name from the protest known as the Whiskey Rebellion, which began in 1791 under George Washington’s presidency. Washington’s Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, introduced a tax on all distilled spirits in an attempt to lower the nation’s debt without raising the nation’s already-high import taxes; the Whiskey Tax was the first tax on domestic goods in United States history, and was roundly — and vehemently — opposed by many rural American communities.

Manufactured in Esteli, Nicaragua at Nica Sueno, the Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794 is produced in limited quantities, but is stated to be a regular offering for the foreseeable future. There are currently five sizes including: Hamilton (4 by 46), Jefferson (4 1/2 by 52), McFarlane (5 by 50), Bradford (5 by 56) and Washington (5 1/2 by 54). The cigars will run you between $6.15 and $8.99.

You can purchase the Roma Craft Tobac Intermperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794 from our site sponsor Famous Smoke Shop. Make sure to use coupon code “CASASAVINGS” for $15 off orders over $100.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.35
Vitola: McFarlane
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Ligero
Binder: Indonesian Besuki
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 5 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Whiskey Rebellion 1794 wears a medium brown wrapper that is coated in oils and has an extremely fine tooth. Veins web down the leaf with only a couple medium-sized veins to be found. There seems to be a void in the filler tobaccos between the band and the tapered head that can be easily felt and almost seen. Other than that, the cigar give just slightly when rolled between my thumb and index finger.

An aroma of wood, pungent barnyard, and a faint chocolate are found on the wrapper, while a rich aroma of chocolate and raisins are on the foot. Upon clipping the tapered head, a beautiful free draw opens up showing off cold draw flavors of cedar and potpourri like spices.

FIRST THIRD

With the Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794 underway, thick smoke flows easily across my palate with each small draw. The flavors start out with rich woodsy notes that are paired up with a more musty earth flavor. There is just enough sweetness tied to the woodsy flavor to round out the profile. As the cigar warms up, the spice intensifies, especially as the smoke is moved through my sinuses, which brings forth both pepper and salt. Through the first third, the cigar has burned mostly even, but a somewhat ugly gray ash is being formed.

MIDDLE THIRD

Moving into the second third, the earlier saltiness that first appeared on the retrohale has moved into the profile, along with heavier earth flavor.  With the woodsy flavor now departed, a more yeasty note has developed in the profile with the sweetness still hanging around, but tone down. There is a bite to the profile that is intriguing and some strength is already showing up. As I near the end of this third, a quick touch-up is required to get the burn back in-line.

FINAL THIRD

The bands remove with ease to begin the last leg my journey of the Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794. The flavors from the second third continue to hold steady, just a little bit darker and richer than earlier. A satisfying amount of smoke is brought forth with each draw and the resting smoke is quite impressive. As I come to the last inch of the cigar, the strength of this Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion is really hitting and I am glad this cigar isn’t any larger. 

WRAP-UP

I was first introduced to RoMa Craft cigars and the Intemperance brand after winning an Intemperance sampler from a Casas Fumando giveaway back in 2012 (You can check it out HERE). Ever since, I have been a huge fan of Skip Martin’s work and I don’t think I’ve come across a cigar from him that didn’t impress me. The Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794 does a great job carrying on the theme of the brand and it is an excellent addition to the line. The WR 1794 brings a heck of a lot more strength to the table than the BA XXI and EC XVII and a whole different profile. The cigar pumped out full-flavors from beginning to end (or as Skip likes to say “Front to back. Top to bottom”), kept my attention, and behaved moderately well. The strength did me in by the end of the cigar, which doesn’t usually happen. I would highly recommend this cigar to a seasoned cigar smoker who isn’t scared of a little strength and enjoys full flavors and spice in their smoke.

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Manufactured at the Scandinavian Tobacco Group Esteli S.A. factory in Nicaragua, the Cohiba Nicaragua has five frontmarks: Pequenos (4 3/16 by 36), N45 (4 by 45), N50 en crystale (5 by 50), N54 (5 ½ by 54), and N60 (6 by 60). Typical packaging for the cigar is 16-count boxes, while the N50 en crystale comes packaged in glass tubes in 8-count boxes and the Pequenos come in 6 count tins.

You can purchase the Cohiba Nicaragua from our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop.

THE FACTS

Samples Provided by Famous Smoke Shop
MSRP: $9.99
Vitola: N45
Size: 4 by 45
Wrapper: Honduran Sun Grown Colorado Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan – Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan – Esteli & Jalapa
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 5 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Cohiba Nicaragua sports a dark reddish brown leaf that shows off its veins, bumps, and some stretchmarks. In appearance there is only a slight oily sheen, but tons of oils are felt as I roll the cigar between my fingers. There a several soft spots located on the short cigar.

Bringing the cigar to my nose, I find a sweet caramel and honey mix on the wrapper, while the foot of the cigar shows off some more of the sweetness, along with prune. The double cap looks like a rushed job with its uneven lines. The draw is a hair firmer than preferred, but still within the acceptable range. The cold draw highlights more of the honey and prune with an added rich cedar and cinnamon. A spice heat is felt on my lips and in the mouth almost instantly.

FIRST THIRD

This Nicaraguan made cigar opens with a rich woodsy, smoky flavor that finishes with a dark roast coffee and a lingering black pepper. As I take a slow, long draw of the Cohiba Nicaragua, a sweetness hits the tip of my tongue that is caramel-like. Fifteen minutes into the cigar a dark red fruit builds upon the profile that is working well so far. A minor wavy burn and flaky ash forms as the Cohiba burns down.

MIDDLE THIRD

The core of the Cohiba Nicaragua remains woodsy and smoky pulling into the second third.The sweetness is mild, more of natural tobacco sweetness, but bringing a nice roundness to the medium bold profile. The pepper is accentuated as I pass the smoke through my nose. The pepper is brighter than the black pepper that is on the finish.  I am beginning to feel a slight nicotine kick right in the middle of the cigar.

FINAL THIRD

The richness and sweetness both step up a few notches entering the final third. The dark fruit flavor is now distinguishable as a prune. A toasted quality has joined in, but the flavors are not harsh and the smoke remains cool. The wave in the burn-line finally got to the point of requiring a touch-up.

WRAP-UP

From start to finish, the Cohiba Nicaragua showcases its Nicaraguan qualities in a complex, balanced fashion. Delivering a medium body smoke, you can expect a woodsy, smoky profile that develops in richness and sweetness as the smoke progressed with just enough spice to you keep your palate alert. Other than a single touch-up in each sample, no other issues were encountered even though the burn was wavy and ash flaky throughout. The Cohiba Nicaragua is a solid offering in the General Cigar’s Cohiba portfolio even with its steep price.

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Famous Smoke Shop’s Cory Grover reached out to me to ask if I would be interested in reviewing this cigar.  Of course, there was no way I was going to decline the opportunity to do so.  Famous Smoke carries just about everything Davidoff, and you can check out Famous Smoke Shop’s Davidoff page here.

For some reason, there have not been a lot of reviews here of Davidoff cigars, but Jeremy did a great one of the Millennium Blend which you can find here, and Tony reviewed the Escurio here.

The Basics:

Samples provided by Famous Smoke Shop
Wrapper:  Nicaragua Habano Oscuro
Binder:  Nicaragua Jalapa
Filler:  Nicaragua (Condega, Esteli, and Ometepe)
Size:  Robusto box pressed 5 x48
Price:  $14.50
Smoking time:  One hour, ten minutes
Pairing:  Doorly’s Fine Old Rum Aged 12 Years (ABV 40%)

Pre-light: 

The Davidoff Nicaragua Box Press Robusto’s shape gives it an appearance that seems more like a petite corona than a typical robusto, but needless to say, it certainly lives up to what one might expect of Davidoff’s standards.  The wrapper presents itself in an almost uniform amber tinged medium brown spotted with darker hues, a silky oily feel and sheen, and minimal veining leading to a neatly applied triple cap.  It carries a bit of a spongy feel with a few softer spots.  Something I wasn’t expecting is that the primary band also identifies the size of the cigar as Robusto; not a feature you normally see on any cigar, as that would require a different band for each size.  Yep, details obviously matter to Davidoff.  The wrapper exudes a sharp earthy scent, while the foot shows an aroma of rich natural tobacco with faint tones of mossy wood and herbs, and perhaps even a bit of unsweetened cocoa.  After clipping the cap, I am met with sweet spice, light woodiness, a touch of saltiness, and a bit of peppery tingle on the lips and tongue.

First third:

Upon lighting, musty, earthy tobacco, pepper, and sweet spicy herbs hit the palate.  Woodiness bordering on mesquite or hickory follows as the Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed Robusto is already at a solid medium body, while giving up a copious amount of smoke with each easy draw.  The burn line is sharp but wavy, and the ash has unexpectedly fallen into my lap and onto the porch floor.  Toward the end of the opening third, the pepper that had been leaving a scratchiness on the back of my tongue has ebbed, and the entire experience has smoothed out considerably, while bringing in some mocha-like notes and pushing up the body a bit more.

Middle third:

The second ash of the Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed has decided to be nice to me and hung on for a good inch before falling off into my ashtray.  The burn has pretty much self-leveled as the mocha/coffee pushes in further and the body continues to climb.  The cigar is rich and smooth and there is just enough strength at this point (combined with the rum) to put me in a nice state of relaxation.  The mustiness is still there, but has moved farther into the background and the sweetness has also fallen back.  Some tartness has emerged, giving the cigar another dimension.

Final third:

Continuing its ascent into the medium-full realm, the Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed Robusto has brought back the pepper, although more in the flavor department than in feel, and some sweetness also return on entry but quickly dissipates on the palate.  Wood, earth, coffee, tartness, a little bit of leather, and that rich and once again musty tobacco intermingle nicely.  The strength continues to move up, but not to an uncomfortable level, as the body approaches full.  With no re-lights or corrections needed throughout, the Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed smokes comfortably cool and with just a small amount of softness down to the last ¾”.

Final thoughts:

Nice appearance?  Check.  Great construction and burn?  Yes.  Outstanding flavors, complexity and balance?  Another tick.  The only misgiving I would have is the price, which is obviously a bit high for a 60-70 minute smoke.  That being said, if I could afford it, I would have this stick around at all times.  It’s a damned good cigar to relax and melt into a comfortable chair with, and no doubt one of the best I have had so far this year.  Highly recommended for those who like their smokes on the fuller, stronger side, but still want great balance and smoothness to go along with it.

Thanks to Cory at Famous for sending these to me to check out!  And for another take on this line, but in the Toro size, you might want to take a look into my friend Gary Korb’s review here, which I had to keep myself from reading until I finished my own review, lol.  Sure, Gary works for Famous and is also the head man at Cigar Advisor, but I have always found his reviews to be honest and concise.  Damn, now I want to try out the Toro.

Pairing:

I figured it was about time to take my own advice and match a cigar with a nice rum that I thought would enhance my experience with this cigar.  Doorly’s is a product of the well thought of Barbados based Foursquare Distillery (R.L. Seale & Co. Ltd.), and is mostly available through the Total Wine and More beverage chain.  The Aged 12 Years is a blend of pot and column stilled rums, with 90% aged for 12 years in Kentucky bourbon barrels and the remaining 10% aged for 12 years in Madeira barrels.  Exuding banana and apricot fruit on the nose and a not overly sweet oaky vanilla hit on the palate, this rum presents a smooth and silky feel on the tongue with a nice bit of alcohol warmth.  At about $28 for a fifth, it’s a great deal for a high quality sipping rum and a perfect match-up for a number of cigars.  Hell, that’s an entire bottle for about the cost of two of the Davidoff Nicaragua Box Pressed Robustos.  This was certainly a great pairing, as each complemented the other with what they had to offer, and any deeply flavored but not overly sweet, balanced rum would do well with this cigar.  If you’re looking for a beer to go with it, I would recommend something rich and strong, especially something barrel aged, and in terms or wine, a rich tawny port with a good acidic balance is something I would love to match this up with.

*We often post pairings here on Casas Fumando and have always been advocates on finding the right pairing for your cigar smoking experience. Our friends over at Famous Smoke Shop recently released a very easy to use tool which helps you choose the right pairing for your cigar or drink. Check it out here: https://www.famous-smoke.com/cigar-pairing 

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Produced in Esteli, Nicaragua, the Baptiste by Oliva, named after a character in the Lord of War movie, is a budget friendly cigar available in four vitolas: Toro (5 ½ by 54), Torpedo (5 ½ by 54), Churchill (7 by 52), and Double Toro (6 by 60). Prices range from $5.63 for the Toro to $6.15 for the Double Toro. 

You can purchase the Baptiste by Oliva from our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop. 

The Facts

Samples Provided by Famous Smoke Shop
Price: $5.63 per single | 5-pack for $19.99 | $78.99 per box of 20
Vitola:Toro
Size: 5 ½ by 54
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 20 Minutes

Pre-light

The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is deep brown in color with some black watermarks and some other color variations. The wrapper is very dark compared to other Habano wrappers I typically see. Tiny veins web down the Baptiste that feels extremely smooth to the touch. Firmly and evenly filled, there are no soft spots to be found as I examine the cigar. A potent aroma is found on the wrapper with notes of wet earth, vinegar, and red wine.

The same aromas come across from the foot of the cigar with an added layer of caramel. The large double cap has a minor crack in it, which I do not see leading to any issues. Upon clipping the cap, the draw has almost zero resistance with some mild to medium flavors of cinnamon and rich cedar. A spice heat is instantly felt on the lips. 

First Third

The Baptiste by Oliva opens with some wet woodsy notes that quickly transition into a more rich cedar, along with earth, a dark red fruit sweetness, and a good dose of black pepper. The finish is a mix of earth and coffee. There is something about the profile that makes me think the tobacco is young – maybe the way it jump between a musty woodsy/earthy taste to a rich profile. The burn-line is thick and tons of oils are seen on the leaf as the cigar warms up. The black pepper is making a strong push into the profile. So far so good with the burn and ash.

Middle Third

Moving into the middle third, the Baptiste’s profile transition with a new saltiness that is playing well with the earlier profile with the earthiness holding strong and more of a natural sweetness joining in. The pepper has moved up steadily since the start of the cigar and is borderline full in flavor and heat at this point. Overall, the profile is much more balanced  and has really found its rhythm in the second third. A small section of the wrapper is struggling to burn, but i am holding out on a touch-up.

Final Third

The earth is gritty and the profile is gaining in richness with around two inches left. The sweetness is fuller than earlier and more caramel-like and I am still enjoying the saltiness that joined the profile in the second third. Closing out the cigar, a toasted/char flavor and black coffee show up and the heat from the cigar is letting me know it is time to lay it down for its final rest. 

Wrap-up

I am always excited when Cory Grover from Famous reaches out to Casas Fumando to check out one of their new shop exclusives. I have come across several cigars from Famous that fit by budget and they have made their way into my regular rotation. So will the Baptiste be the next cigar to join my rotation? The Baptiste by Oliva had nearly perfect construction  and performance other than the small crack in the wrapper and minor burn issue in the second third that self-corrected. I was concerned about the draw being too free, but once lit, the cigar produced a satisfying amount of smoke that delivered a rich & spicy profile. The wet woodsy notes in the first third and charred notes at the end of the smoke were the only things that took away from the rather enjoyable profile. The Baptiste is by no mean a complex cigar, but one shouldn’t expect that when paying under $6, but it is a cigar that offers a consistent medium profile with enough spice to keep the palate alert. My buying recommendation on the Baptiste would be a 5-pack.

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