Ever smoked a classic maduro and thought to yourself “I wonder what this cigar experience would be like if this sucker packed a punch”? Well Eiroa finally has an answer for that. Following up last year’s CBT release Eiroa created a Maduro version which was unlike any maduro cigars I have ever had. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s powerful and fires on all cylinders front the second you light up, to the second you put it down. You can check out my full review here.

#9. Tatuaje – Tattoo

Tatuaje always seems to find their way into our top 10 lists and with good reason. Most of Pete Johnson’s creations fit my flavor profile and their experiences are always impressive. This year Pete decided to create a great cigar, and a very low cost. While many manufacturers have attempted this, Pete actually created something incredible that can hold it’s own in comparison to some of the more expensive blends out there. The Tattoo leads forward with sweetness, rich flavors, and a medium body resulting in a great experience while not breaking the bank. You can check out the full review here.

#8. Quesada – 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica

Quesada is a company that over the last few years have really rebranded themselves by making some incredibly cigars. Adding to that list is the 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica. Not to be confused with the standard 40th Anniversary, the Corona Clasica sports it’s very own blend. The cigar offers up some amazing flavors with a relatively mild strength profile. I’m not big on Connecticut shade cigars, but when they are done right they can create some killer experiences and this cigar shows just how great that wrapper can be. You can read my full review here.

#7. Padron Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro

Padron’s Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro has been a long time in the making. Each time a new Family Reserve hits the marking it’s almost immediately branded into the minds of people who create “Top cigars of XXXX” lists such as these, and the 50 years is no exception. While the Natural version didn’t really do it for me, the maduro delivered on all accounts. Amazing, bold flavor profile with medium/full strength and amazing construction. My only complaint would be the price, which isn’t really a complaint as I still gladly pay for them as the experience delivered is well worth it. You can check out my full review here.

#6. Joya de Nicaragua – Joya Red

Joya De Nicaragua doesn’t release many new blends, so upon release the Joya Red took the cigar world by storm. Joya de Nicaragua has always been known for its strong Nicaraguan roots, and absolutely solid cigars. The Joya Red falls right into this category. While it remains a medium strength cigar the Red offers some great bold flavors, with an extremely easy experience making it the perfect “anytime of the day” cigar. Joya de Nicaragua kept the costs very low on this blend while making production high resulting in tons of availability at a great price. You can check out my full review here.

#5. Fratello – Boxer

It took me a while to finally chase down Fratello cigars. They aren’t easy to come by in these parts, but once I had one there was no stopping me from grabbing all that I could carry. While making it’s introduction into the cigar world last year, the Fratello released a new box-pressed torpedo format this year. What I love the most about the cigar is it’s bold, sweet, balanced flavors without the huge strength punch. I just wish these were a bit easier to come by. You can check out my full review of the corona version here.

#4. La Palina – Goldie Laguito Especial

Yup, it’s another Goldie and its on another list. There isn’t much to say about this cigar that hasn’t been said already. With the Goldie you expect the most precise, flawless construction ever encountered followed with an incredibly smooth and balanced flavor experience that falls in the medium/full range. The only thing keeping this cigar out of the top 3 is the price tag and availability. It’s quite pricey, and very limited, but I’d gladly pay the coin time and time again. You can check out my full review here.

#3. The Crowned Heads – Jericho Hill

The Crowned Heads do it again. Honestly, this company has been smashing home runs each and every time they have been at bat. One thing that I love about these guys is they don’t waste anytime savoring the moment each time a new cigar releases. This year, as soon as a release started to get press there was another blend flying right out. Not only do The Crowned Heads make great cigars, but they do it with such passion and their great attitudes are contagious. The Jericho Hill was one of the first releases they made in conjunction with My Father Cigars. It carries some deep, sweet, enjoyable flavors with a milder body, great price tag, and easy availability. You can check out my full review here.

#2. Espinosa Premium Cigars – Laranja

Espinosa cigars is no stranger to our top 10 lists at Casas Fumando, and this year is no exception. Riding incredible press that surrounded this cigar during it’s debut at this year’s IPCPR show, the Laranja was a cigar that lived up to it’s hype. Sporting extremely bold flavors over a heightened strength profile the Laranja isn’t for the faint of heart. Those looking for a true bold experience done right look no further. You can check out my full review here.

#1. Illusione – Fume D’Amour

My #1 was an easy one this year and probably one of the best cigars I have had in a very long time. Illusione’s Fume D’Amour is the perfect mixture of complexity, creaminess, balance, strength and flavor. The Fume D’Amour is a great addition to an already amazing portfolio. To top that off Dion not only made this cigar very affordable, but added it to his regular production so it’s widely available and will be for a long time. You can read the full review here.

The post Top 10 Cigars of 2014 – Tony Casas Edition appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Monthly Recap – October

Number of Cigars Smoked: 25

Of those smoked:

• Purchased: 15 or 60%
• Gifted: 3 or 12%
• Samples Provided: 7 or 28%

Of those purchased:

• Brick & Mortar: 1 or 7%
• Online: 14 or 93%

Most Memorable Cigars Smoked

#1. Quesada 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica – Tony reviewed the Quesada 40th Anniversary back in September. You can find his full review HERE. Unlike Tony, I had no problem removing the tissue paper, and I am convinced it was more of a user error on Tony’s part than anything else But I am not here to critique the cigar necessarily. Last month, my dog that I had since I was in 8th grade was put to rest at the age of 16. I was not there to say my goodbye as he was in El Paso with my parents. However, that evening I lit up the Quesada 40th and reflected on the great memories I had with him including taking him snowboarding in the Upper Peninsula, falling through ice while ice fishing, and several others. He was one stubborn, loving dog that I will miss.

#2. Cain F Lancero – Easily one of my favorite offerings from Oliva. The Cain F Lancero is a solid cigar that I could smoke any day of the week. I have to keep them hidden at the bottom of the humi to not smoke them all at once. I picked up a box of these bad boys in the Summer of 2013, allowing myself one every few months.  With only 4 or 5 remaining, it is time to order up another box. My opinion of this cigar has not changed since I reviewed it back in June 2013, when I had this to say (find the full review HERE):

I am just going to say it. I freakin love this cigar! While it has been well over a year since I smoked the 2011 release, I felt that this release offered bolder flavors and more complexity. While ugly in appearance, the construction and burn were excellent. As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I lean towards cigars that deliver some sweetness and the Cain F Lancero it right up my alley.  I adore the Lancero format and it is just unheard of to find a lancero in the $6.00 range…

Cigar Reviews

La Gloria Cubana Domino 758, a Mike’s Cigars Exclusive

Beginning with a mild profile, the cigar developed to medium in the middle third and ended on a high note with medium/full, rich flavors. Only once did I have to correct the burn in over two hours of smoking. So a 10 second annoyance out of 7200 seconds of smoking is really no issue at all.

Espinosa Cigars – La Zona Habano

For a cigar that can be found for under $4 on most days and around $2 on good days, La Zona Habano by Espinosa Cigars is a good stick that delivers without breaking the bank.

Exactus – Puro Ambar Short Coloso

The flavors delivered in the first and second thirds, but tapered off in the final third, which I will blame on the void in tobaccos near the head. I am pleased to report that the issue did not occur in the other sample. When I think of the lines I have smoked under the Exactus brand, I can honestly say that the Puro Ambar is a step above the other lines.

Romeo Y Julieta Primer Lote 770, a Mike’s Cigars Exclusive

Beginning with the Romeo Y Julieta RyJ in 2013, followed by The Banker by H. Upmann a few months ago, and now the Romeo y Julieta Primer Lote 770, my perception of Altadis U.S.A. is changing. The Primer Lote 770 delivered a good performance with medium flavors. But what  made this Mike’s Cigars exclusive unique was the distinct flavor profiles in each third. For a price under $8, this cigar falls right into the sweet-spot.

Tony’s Reviews

Padron- Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro

…the Padron Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro is an exceptional cigar delivering most notably in the flavor department. As any of you who are familiar with the Family Reserve releases would expect, the flavors were quite complex, yet very smooth and balanced. Not to mention they are ideal for beer pairing especially with the early winter seasonal releases.

Asylum 13 Ogre

As with most Asylum cigars I have smoke, the Ogre is a solid stick. That being said, there wasn’t anything outside of the strength which really stood out to me. I did like the flavors, and the changeups, but I would probably reach for the standard Asylum 13 over the Ogre.

Matilde Renacer Corona

This is a little cigar with a whole lot of personality. The flavor profile is pretty different, but a breath a fresh air showcasing some great floral and sweetness combined with some nice spice, and natural flavors which all developed at the right moments to keep my on my toes. Matilde’s Renacer is one of the better Dominican-rich cigars that I have smoked in a long time

Guest Reviews by Jeff Oda

L’Atelier Imports – L’Atelier Extension de la Racine ER 13

A tasty and relaxing medium-full bodied smoke with low-medium strength – hell yes!  I have really enjoyed the several L’Atelier Extension de la Racines that I have smoked, with flavors that are certainly not run of the mill providing a good amount of complexity without pounding you over the head with them.  Construction was pretty much spot-on, with just one small correction required and no re-lights.  The price is entirely in line with a cigar of this quality, and even more so with the limited availability. .

Nomad C-276 Torpedo

The Nomad C-276 is a great cigar, especially for those who are into the fuller bodied and stronger smokes. The flavors are distinct and complex, and the construction is solid. Although I did eventually have to correct the burn a few times, it was not an aggravation, and did not affect the flavors. Fred did an outstanding job in blending this stick, and the inclusion of the Ometepe leaf takes it a step beyond the S-307 that I had previously enjoyed, in terms of additional flavors and balanced complexity

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

Monthly Recap – September

Number of Cigars Smoked: 26

Of those smoked:

• Purchased: 13 or 50%
• Gifted: 6 or 23%
• Samples Provided: 7 or 27%

Of those purchased:

• Brick & Mortar: 1 or 8%
• Online: 12 or 92%

Most Memorable Cigars Smoked

#1. Fuente Opus X Belicoso XXX “Power Ranger” – A good friend and coworker gifted this cigar to me awhile back. Maybe two or three years ago (I need to get better at tracking my cigars). I have been waiting for the right occasion to burn this cigar and with the recent move to Michigan, the purchase of our new home, and my mom and stepdad’s visit, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate time. As the kids played off the shores of Lake Michigan, I lit up the Opus X Power Ranger as my stepdad, Rick, burned a Padron 1926 Maduro. Watching the kids be kids and enjoying each others company, the Opus X was the perfect touch to an already perfect day. This cigar will hold a special place in my heart.

#2. Espinosa La Zona Habano – I have never had much luck on cigar bid sites until I came across a bundle of La Zona Habano at cigarbid.com. With only a few minutes remaining on the auction, I placed my bid and counted town the remaining seconds. I walked away with the bundle for $43. Since the shipment was received earlier this month, I have already burned through six of these sticks. The Super Toro 6 1/2 by 44 La Zona offers a satisfying, flavorful smoke at a very inexpensive price.

Cigar Reviews

Agio Cigars – Balmoral Royal Selection Anejo 18

The Balmoral Royal Selection Anejo 18 is a very unique and special cigar. The profile was intriguing in the first third with the sour grass notes, well balanced in the second third with the added sweetness and coffee, and completely satisfying in the final third with deep, dark, full flavors.

Tatuaje – Havana VI Lancero

The Tatuaje Havana VI Lancero began with a bang, opening up with full flavors that were balanced and spicy, but that is where the fairy tale ends. The final two thirds became a story of bad performance and poor flavors. Knowing the high quality of Tatuaje and My Father cigars, this cigar has not deterred me from hunting down one more Havana VI Lancero and giving it another shot.

StogieBoys – Riot

In the last couple of months I have burned through 5 or 6 Riots. Each one presented a decent draw, a somewhat wacky burn-line, and solid, enjoyable flavors. The flavors have been consistent in each of the  samples and sizes. The medium/full flavors and strength fit me just right.

Tony’s Reviews

Espinosa Premium Cigars – Laranja Reserva

Add the Espinosa Laranja Reserva to the list of possible candidates for cigar of the year, not just on our list, but everyone’s else. This cigar is making a name for itself by providing solid construction, and a unique, bold, complex experience to everyone who smokes it.

Quesada – 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica

I seldom reach for Connecticut wrapped cigars, but this is one that I could see myself smoking all day. Flavorful enough for the evening, mild enough for the morning. The construction is absolutely flawless, and the experience is incredible while the price point is just.

Eiroa – CBT Maduro

The rich flavors, full-body, and full strength entice even the more sophisticated cigar-smoking palates while the old school maduro presence will bring the more traditional, and novice smokers out of the woodworks. Sure, the CBT Maduro does come with a premium price point, but it’s one that I would gladly pay over and over again for the complex, balanced, and flavorful smoking experience.

Guest Reviews by Jeff Oda

Villiger – La Libertad 

The Villiger La Libertad carries some rather unique flavors that may not have quite come through in my review, as I admit that the link between my palate and brain is probably not sophisticated enough to describe the nuances of the experience, but anyone interested in what Peruvian tobacco can bring to the table would do well to pick up on a couple of these to see what it has to offer.

Bonita Smoke Shop – Time Warp “Big Ben”

In this age of the new wave of modern flavor preference (i.e. chocolate, spice, etc.), the Time Warp is kind of a throwback in terms of “old time” flavors, and the Time Warp Big Ben does a pretty solid job in delivering on those, although I found myself craving a bit more sweetness to provide more balance.  The construction is terrific, especially with the signature El Titan de Bronze entubado roll that provides a great draw and burn, resulting in an enjoyable big ring smoke

Contests

Casas Fumando and our good friends at StogieBoys.com are giving away a box of Riot Cigars. The contest runs through Thursday, October 9th @ 11:59 PM. A winner will be selected Friday, October 1oth. Enter HERE for your chance to win.

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

The Good Stuff:

This year Quesada announced a new line of cigars created to celebrate 40 years of hard work. The 40th anniversary is composed of three regular production lines: Robusto – 5 x 52, Toro – 6 x 54, and the Toro Real – 6 x 65. There are two limited edition vitolas: Toro press – 6 x 49 boxpress, and the Salomon Press with is a 6 ¾ x 50/33. It’s a crazy size with a Salomon foot and head and a slender box-press body. Through those 5 sizes the blend is consistent featuring a Mexican San Andreas wrapper, Dominican Binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica shares the same name as it’s 5 brothers, but the blend is quite different featuring an Ecuadorian Connecticut Wrapper, and a tweaked blend using a Dominican Criollo binder with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica is blended by Manuel “Manolo” Quesada Jr. and is only available at events that he personally attends where it is sold in packs of five. After the event, that specific retailer who put on the event is able to sell the cigars which then comes in 50 count cabinets. You can find a bit more information about the blend over at Halfwheel’s site. While these may be elusive to some, I was able to pick up a handful over at Smokeinn and believe they still may have them in stock. Like many of the other cigars is the 40th anniversary line, the Corona Clasica is a limited run so you may want to pick them up while you can.

Size: 6.5 x 46
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican Criollo
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
Body: Medium
Strength: Medium
Price: $9.25
Pairing: Prairie Artisan Ales – Prairie Ale (Saison 8.2% ABV)

Prelight:

The Quesada 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica is mostly covered in a soft white tissue. While the tissue gives the cigar an interesting look and provides a bit of protection for the rather delicate Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf, it’s a pain in the ass to get off on all the Corona Clasicas that I have smoked. Not only is it tightly twisted around the foot, but they also have a small strip of glue on them. In a few cases it worked against the attempt to protect the leave as it tore small parts of the wrapper off during removal. On the plus side, the tears were all very minor and never harmed the smoking experience. Once the tissue has been successfully removed a beautiful, light brown wrapper is on display. The wrapper is pretty consistent in it’s yellowish-brown color but features a few areas of green tinted leaf, and darker brown webbing. As I stated before, the wrapper is pretty thin and delicate but the filler is very tightly packed and firm with no soft spots at all. The long body which resembles more of a toroish vitola leads up to a beautiful round triple cap. The construction is perfect. The cigar is then polished off with a double band. The first is one we are familiar with as it came on the Seleccion de Espana blend featuring a black, gold, white, and silver color wheel and Quesada’s emblem. The second features the same colors with the elegant writing of “40th Anniversary” on the front. The presentation on this cigar is incredible and I just can’t wait to light it up.

The wrapper on the 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica gives off a very bold grassy/mossy aroma with hints of tobacco while the foot of the cigar features much more spice and cedar. The cap cut clean and very easily using my Palio double bladed cutter. The cold draw features much of the same with lots of spice and cedar backed by grassy notes and even a bit of sweetness.

First Smoke:

The first draws on Quesada’s 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica start out very salty, with some slight pepper and spice over lots of sweetness, citrus, cedar, and floral notes. As I carried on the saltiness began to face and the spice became a bit more prominent. The draw is a bit snug, but nothing too bad. The burnline is razor thing producing a very pretty, tightly compacted, dark and medium gray ash which held on for an inch before softly falling into my ashtray.

Halfway There:

The floral flavors have really taken off in the second third of the Quesada 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica. Each puff the spice peeks through more and more as the cedar and sweetness are still in the mix. It seems all the flavors have to battle through the strong floral flavors to get attention, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The floral notes are great. The 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica has a real Cubanesque feel to it’s flavor profile. The retrohale is very smooth and it lets the cigar show off those spice and cedar notes more. The burnline is still rockin’ even and I am feeling absolutely no nicotine as I close out the second third.

Finish:

The final third of Quesada’s 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica is where the cigar really starts to shine. Up until now the body was medium at best, but it’s now pushing it into the medium/full range with lots more cedar and spice, sweetness, and citrus while the floral flavors begin to fizzle out. I am starting to pick up a bit more of the pepper though, although it’s quite mild. I’m just surprised it’s still present at this point in the experience. The burnline has been perfect the whole time. I never once had to reach for my torch the hour and a half it took to take the 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica down. I smoked this bad boy down until my fingertips were on fire encountering absolutely no harshness at all. Knowing the blend, I do recommend taking your time with this one. If you speed through it there is a good chance you just may encounter some harsher areas.

Overview:

Having smoked a few of the 40th Anniversary sizes outside of the Corona Clasica, there really isn’t any similarities between the two. The standard 40th anniversary is bolder, sweeter, and flavorful while the Corona Clasica is much more cubanesque, milder, and in my opinion much more balanced and well-rounded. I seldom reach for Connecticut wrapped cigars, but this is one that I could see myself smoking all day. Flavorful enough for the evening, mild enough for the morning. The construction is absolutely flawless, and the experience is incredible while the price point is just. My only suggestion is to lose that tissue, it’s a bit of a pain. I picked up quite a few of these and will probably grab some more. If you happen to come across these do yourself a favor and pick a few up.

Pairing:

Prairie Artisan Ales’ Prairie Ale is an 8.2% ABV Saison style Farmhouse ales brewed at the Prairie Artisan brewery in Oklahoma. I’m a big fan of Saison style ales, especially in fall. The citrus, spice, and fruit really match the weather’s mood, and most of them come in at a nice, high ABV. The Prairie Ale is very light, leading with strong citrus, doughy bread, and spice with a light mouthfeel and a strong citrus and bitterness on the finish. It has a bit of bite, but finishes crisp. The first time I smoked the 40th Anniversary Corona Clasica I immediately pictures pairing this with a light saison. I needed something that had some citrus and spice, but wasn’t overpowering at all as the cigar could easily be overdone by a bolder pairing. The Prairie Ale fit that description to a tee. The citrus, spice, and even the bready flavor paired up perfectly with the existing flavors in the 40th Anniversary. Other pairing would include coffee, a Belgian golden ale, or a mild Marzen.

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