At the start of 2014, I began tracking each and every cigar I have smoked. Well, I may have missed one or two. Based on discussions I’ve seen on Twitter and questions on this site and others, I decided to compile some information that I thought you might find interesting.

February & March 2015 Recap

Number of Cigars Smoked: 32

Of those smoked:

• Purchased: 7 or 22%
• Gifted: 5 or 16%
• Samples Provided: 19 or 59%
• Unknown: 1 or 3%

Of those purchased:

• Brick & Mortar: 3 or 43%
• Online: 4 or 57%

The Pipe Corner

I have been trying my hand in the pipe world for the last 8 months or so. Rather than getting lost in the unending brands and types of tobaccos available, I reached out to people who are well versed in pipe tobaccos. Going with the recommendation of trusted individuals was much more fruitful than purchasing tobaccos based on the name or design alone. While I am not quite ready to publish a review , I wanted to share with you a few of the tobaccos I have enjoyed the last couple of months.

• Rattray’s Marlin Flake by Kohlhase & Kopp
  • Blend: Virginia/Perique
  • Tobaccos: Black Cavendish, Perique, and Virginia
• Dunhill Flake by Scandinavian Tobacco Group
  • Blend: Virginia
  • Tobaccos: Virginia
• GL Pease Gaslight by Cornell & Deihl
  • Blend: English
  • Tobaccos: Latakia, Orientals, and Virginia

March Cigar Reviews

Espinosa Cigars – Sensei’s Senational Sarsaparilla

There are very few cigars coming out of La Zona that I do not hold in high regard. However, I am split on Sensei’s Sensational Sarsaparilla. If the cigar smoked the entire length as it did in the final third, I would have absolutely zero complaints. Everything about the final third with the rich cedar and natural tobacco sweetness made it an absolute treat. The first and second thirds lacked the balance and complexity of the final third.

United Cigar Group – Garofalo

As I have mentioned in past reviews, I rarely smoke Connecticut shade cigars. While there are few exceptions, the flavors profile just does not suit me. Well, the Garofalo by United Cigar is another cigar to add to my exceptions list. Everything about this cigar works for me. Solid performance, full flavors, and a complex profile. For a price under $7, this is an easy buy in my opinion.

Rocky Patel – Nicaraguan, a Famous Smoke Shop exclusive

The charred wood was intriguing at the beginning, but was a bit much by the end of the Rocky Patel Nicaraguan. I would say a smaller ring gauge of the Nicaraguan would help, but considering the Toro is the smallest in the line-up that seems out of question. Overall, I enjoyed smoking the cigar but would have been happy to close out the cigar 20 minutes ahead of schedule.

Tony’s Reviews

Espinosa Cigars – Alibi, Backroom Series

The Espinosa Alibi is a solid cigar in every category. I usually gravitate towards full-bodied cigars and this is the perfect example on full-bodied done right. The flavors are bold, yet balanced while I wasn’t overpowered by the higher strength this cigar yields. The size chosen is incredible as I usually go for smaller ring gauges as I feel the wrapper, in most cases, delivers more of the flavors I look for.

Guayacan Sabor de Esteli Maduro

The Guayacan Sabor de Esteli is a good cigar, but it does have it’s nuances. First, that tartness was a bit much for me. While that’s strictly subjective something that isn’t is the massive amounts of sap that built up on both samples I smoked. The sap appeared a little more than halfway end requiring me to frequently clip the cap to get rid of it. Some time in the humidor may do wonders for this cigar as the tartness would mellow out and the sap would be absorbed. I’ve smoked and loved the natural version of this cigar and at this point would recommend that one over this cigar, but I’ll have to revisit this one in a few months to see how it shapes up with a bit of age.

Cubanacan Maduro

I wasn’t expecting the Cubanacan Maduro to be as strong as it was, and it was a pleasant surprise. The cigar offers a great balance of bold flavors, and strength without going overboard in either direction. The flavors are just complex enough to keep me on my toes, but not overdone. The smoking experience is top-notch while the price point is well under what I’d shell out for the stick making it very box-worthy and a welcomed addition to my regular rotation

Crux Cigars – Crux Passport Half Corona

The Passport is a high quality, affordable, small format cigar that delivers on every level. It’s got some deep, bold flavors, some great strength, and perfect construction which results in a great cigar smoking experience.

Guest Reviews by Jeff Oda

Espinosa Cigars – Mi Barrio

While the MSRP for singles may seem high, the box prices, and the fact that these are frequently on sale at Famous and up for grabs on Cigar Monster for significantly lower prices (and I mean in the $4-$5 range), makes the Mi Barrio a cigar well worth looking into.  I know that I will keep grabbing five-packs at least to keep in my humidor.

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Today for review, I bring to you the Rocky Patel Nicaraguan, a Famous Smoke Shop exclusive. Information is lacking on the interwebs for this specific cigar, but I will give you the information that I do know. The Nicaraguan is available in three vitolas: Toro (6 by 52), Torpedo (6 by 52), and Grand Toro (6 by 60). Single stick prices range from $6.50 to $7.50 and drops between $4 and $5 if purchased by the box. The components are not disclosed on the Nicaraguan, but based on the name I assume it is a Nicaraguan puro.

The Facts

Samples Provided by Famous Smoke Shop
Price: $6.50 per single / $79.99 per box of 20
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Unknown Country, Habano
Binder: Unknown
Filler: Unknown
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 50 Minutes
Drink: Water

Pre-light

The Rocky Patel Nicaraguan wears an extremely dark brown wrapper that is covered in oils from head to foot. Oils glisten in the light off this gorgeous Habano wrapper leaf that is very smooth to the touch, but a few medium sized veins can be seen and it does not lack in bumps. The Nicaraguan feels solid in the hand and the cigar is rock solid. The foot appears under-filled but I do not encounter any soft spots.

Notes of barnyard, cedar, and honey are found on the wrapper, while honey, pecans, some pungency, and a sour cedar are on the unlit foot of the Nicaraguan. I find a decent draw upon clipping the double cap causing a spice tingle is on my lips. A honey sweetness is front and center on the dry draw with some potpourri-like spices.

First Third

With the cigar fired up, I immediately taken on a journey from my cold basement to a campfire on a warm summer night. The flavors are reminiscent of charred wood and roasted marshmallows. The profile is very meaty and full flavored. With the charred flavor playing such a dominating role, I assume this stick carries its fair share of ligero tobaccos, but don’t quote me on that. The finish is of earth, dirt, and black coffee, with just a hint of that honey I picked up the pre-light inspection. There is a  crazy-wavy burn, but no need to bust out the lighter.

Middle Third

The pepper is full force on the retrohale, borderline unbearable, but I like the intensity of it. Chocolate covered nuts, marshmallow sweetness, and charred flavor are making up the profile in the second third.  The smoke feels creamy in my mouth with each draw. A quick touch-up is needed to correct the burn.

Final Third

The flavors of roasted marshmallow, chocolate, and honey have dropped off, while darker flavors of  charred wood, earth, and diesel-like arrive. Pulling up to the two hour mark, I am finally beginning to feel some of the strength of this cigar. A small crack has formed, only wrapper deep, so it is not impacting the smoke production. As soon as I thought the burn got its act together, once again a touch-up is needed.

Wrap-up

The Rocky Patel was slow smoking, full flavored, and medium/full in strength. The core flavor of charred wood (campfire) held strong through the course of the cigars for almost two hours, with some additional marshmallow and chocolate sweetness in the first and second thirds that rounded out the profile. As the cigar came to a close, the sweetness faded and unrefined flavors of earth and diesel arrived. I would not consider this cigar complex but there were some change-ups throughout. A Toro vitola is not an overly-large cigar in my opinion, but it sure smoked like one considering the amount of time I spent from first light to final puff. The charred wood was intriguing at the beginning, but was a bit much by the end of the Rocky Patel Nicaraguan. I would say a smaller ring gauge of the Nicaraguan would help, but considering the Toro is the smallest in the line-up that seems out of question. Overall, I enjoyed smoking the cigar but would have been happy to close out the cigar 20 minutes ahead of schedule. With a price under $7, if the profile is in your wheelhouse, I recommend that you grab a few.

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