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

Monthly Recap – January 2014

Number of Cigars Smoked: 43

Of those smoked:

• Purchased: 29 or 68%
• Gifted: 10 or 23%
• Samples Provided: 4 or 9%

Of those purchased:

• Brick & Mortar: 21 or 72%
• Online: 8 or 28%

Top Cigars Smoked by Quantity

#1. J. Fuego – Sangre De Toro (Original): 4

#2. Joya De Nicaragua – Rosalones (Consul): 3

Both the cigars above are value-priced sticks making them easy on the wallet. Even though they are inexpensive, I HIGHLY recommend both of them. Shoot, the Rosalones even made by Top Cigars of 2013, coming in at the number 10 spot.

Most Memorable Cigars Smoked

#1. Drew Estate – Liga Privada No. 9

#2. My Father Cigars – El Centurion

#3. Drew Estate – Nica Rustica: This cigar just continues to grow on me each time I smoke it. Check out Tony’s review here.

#4. Quesada – Oktoberfest 2013: This cigar has stepped up its game from the 2012 release.

The number 1 and 2 were smoked on my 27th birthday. So, my ranking may be a bit swayed since I was enjoying one heck of an evening with close friends and family when I smoked them. Even my dad came in from Michigan for the weekend. But at the end of the day, aren’t cigars all about the experience anyways?

Cigars Reviewed

Ventura Cigar Company – Estilo Cubano

Espinosa Premium Cigars – 601 La Bomba Warhead

Room 101 – San Andres 213

Partagas – Benji Homage 62

Rodrigo Cigars – Boutique Blend

Well, I hope you enjoyed my first “Monthly Recap” and I hope to expand on this in the coming months. I would appreciate any suggestions that you have to make this post more informative. I should be back at it next Friday with a full review.

ALSO, congrats to both Bill and Joe who have been notified about winning our latest contest for a sampler pack from Felix Assouline Cigars. Your samplers should be on the way soon and for those who did not win, we have more contests coming soon!

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

The San Andres (Serie SA) is by no means a new offering from Room 101. It has been on the market for almost two-years but it wasn’t until the end of 2013 that I had opportunity to light one up.   Produced in Honduras at Camacho’s factory, the San Andres is available in five vitolas: Papi Chulo (4 by 42), 305 (5 by 50), 214 (5 1/2 by 44), 615 (7 by 48), and 808 (6 by 60).

Overall, Room 101 cigars have been well received by the Casas Fumando crew. You can find our reviews of the other offerings below:

• Room 101 – 702 
• Room 101 – Big Delicious Smoke Inn Exclusive
• Room 101 – Daruma Sucio 
• Room 101 – Namakubi Roxxo
• Room101 – O.S.O.K. (One Shot, One Kill) Trucha

The Facts

Price Paid: $2.00
Vitola: 213 – Corona
Size: 5 ½ by 44
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Honduran Corojo Seco
Filler: Honduran and Dominican – Criollo Ligero and Corojo Seco
Drink: Water
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 5 Minutes

Pre-light

The medium brown San Andres Maduro wrapper is consistent in color, fairly bumpy, and small veins can been seen scattered down the leaf. As I gently press down the cigar I do not come across any soft spots on this firmly filled stick and, to the touch, the cigars feels velvety smooth. The natural leaf does not seem to contain many oils. 

The smell of the wrapper is pungent with vinegar, manure, and cedar aromas and sweet cedar notes are found on the foot. Upon clipping the cap with a double guillotine cutter, the cold draw highlights rich tobacco with the same sweet cedar off the foot aroma and some cinnamon spice.

First Third

Instantly, I am able to tell that I am smoking San Andres tobacco, however, I am having a hard time figuring out or at least communicating what aspect the profile highlights the Mexican tobacco.  The smoke is very savory with deep notes of cedar, leather, some saltiness, and spice. The Serie SA delivers a mouthful of thick smoke with each draw.  The light ash being formed is holding well past an inch and the eyeliner burn line is right on. The 213 vitola is a great size that feels comfortable in both the hand and mouth.

Middle Third

The cedar and saltiness are at the forefront of the flavor profile as I make my way into the second third. The cedar notes have a lot of depth and complexity in and of itself. The spice and leather seems to have calmed but the retrohale is a different story. The pepper on the retrohale is sharp and my eyes may have teared up just a little. The profile has become much richer and some sweetness seems to be showing its head. Possibly a cocoa-like sweetness. There is nothing interesting to report on with the ash or burn, which is a good thing. 

Final Third

The cedar continues to be the core of the profile but some change-ups are occurring every few puffs. I find a dry, shallow cedar on one draw and then some moist, deep earthy cedar notes on the next. The cocoa has not developed into anything more thus far but there is still some underlying sweetness. Maybe more similar to a light sugarcane sweetness. Some charred notes have found their way into the profile as I approach the final inch and the smoke is a bit warm causing me to extend the time between each puffs. 

Wrap-up

One worry I have with a small ring gauge sticks is overheating due to smoking too fast. Maintaining my regular rate,  I did not encounter any heat in the first or second thirds, but the last third did present some charred notes and a small amount of heat making me slow my roll. Once I slowed my smoking pace, the smoke cooled and the enjoyable rich cedar finished off the experience. I really enjoyed the 213 San Andres and it may be the first cigar I have smoked that utilized a natural San Andres leaf. The San Andres tobacco still had its distinct characteristics but did not overshadow the rest of the blend that seems to take place with cigars that have San Andres Maduro wrappers. There was absolutely no babysitting this stick. Not a single touch up was needed and no ash dropped in the lap. I can highly recommend this cigar and for a regular price under $6 this is a stick that will remain in my humidor for a while.

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