Villiger, the Swiss cigar company, continues to turn out premium handmade cigars in addition to their machine-made cigars, and is making a strong push to get their products to a wider market in the U.S.  The Talanga is one of the newer blends, coming out a couple of years ago.  I reviewed the La Libertad last year, and liked it quite a bit, so I’ve been looking forward to trying out this Connecticut seed wrapped line.

The Talanga is made by Plasencia at their factory in Nicaragua, and consists of a Honduran wrapper, and binder and filler from Nicaragua.  The retail prices range from $7.35 – $9.50 and come in six sizes:

Selecto Corona Gorda:  5×46
Robusto:  5×50
Double Robusto:  5.5×54
Toro:  6×50
Churchill:  7×50
Lancero:  7×40

I was sent this particular Talanga by the folks at Famous Smoke Shop as a freebie with an order that I had placed a little while back, so this will be the first of the line that I will have smoked.

Wrapper:  Honduran Talanga Connecticut seed
Binder:  Nicaraguan Jalapa Seco Habano
Filler:  Nicaraguan from Esteli, Condega, and Ometepe
Size:  Toro 6×50
Price:  $8.50 MSRP
Smoking time:  One hour, thirty minutes
Pairing:  Deschutes Red Chair Pale Ale – 6.2% ABV

Pre-smoke

The Villiger Talanga comes draped in a rich golden tan wrapper with a nice sheen to it.  A few small veins are present, but do not stand out, and the wrap is virtually seamless, leading to a nicely appointed double cap.  The white, gold, and red bands are fairly simple and elegant, giving a very nice presentation.  This is a firmly packed stick, with little give when gently squeezed.  The wrapper smells of grass, faint sour barnyard, and very light cedar.  The foot gives off a scent of lightly earthy tobacco.  Cutting the cap leads to a fairly snug draw, so I give it an additional snip, which alleviates the tightness somewhat.  I can now taste a lightly sweet grassiness, earth, and tobacco.

First third

The Talanga takes a good long toasting to get going, and the first puffs reveal a slightly sweet and bitter herbal spice along with a smooth cedar.  The sweetness soon fades and the smoke takes on a dry, woody character.  After an inch, the cedar is the primary flavor component, backed by some of the herbaceousness.  It is so far mild and smooth, but not creamy, and just a tickle of pepper has shown up.  The burn has been great so far; not razor sharp, but even, as I tap off the first ash at 1-3/4”.

Middle third

As I enter the second third of the Villiger Talanga, the flavors have suddenly picked up, along with an added bit of pepper.  The cedar and herbal notes continue to drive the flavor, but there is now a sweet bread note lurking in the background.  The smoke has taken on a fuller, rounder texture, although it is still no more than a high mild.  Nearing the halfway point, the pepper has been playing peekaboo, and the smoke has approached the creamy stage as the cigar continues to burn beautifully.  It does churn out a pretty serious amount of resting smoke, though.

Final third

Into the final third of the Villiger Talanga, a slight bit of char has appeared, along with a touch of bitter coffee, but the wood remains the focal point of the flavors.  Surprisingly, in the final inch and a half, the bitterness has dropped out, making it so much easier to take it down to the last ¾”.

Final thoughts

I’m a little torn on this one.  The construction of the Villiger Talanga is top notch, and it’s a terrific looking cigar.  Once lit, I never had to even think about picking up my lighter, as it burned as well as you could ever want a cigar to burn.  On the other hand, I found the flavors to be wanting just a bit.  A little more of the sweetness and less of the bitterness would be greatly appreciated.  Being that this was my only experience with the Talanga, and reading other reviews of it, I would have to believe that my experience was somewhat out of the norm.  I do have a robusto sitting, so I’m looking forward to lighting that one up to see if the one I had was an aberration.  I can certainly see what they were trying to do with this cigar, matching the Nicaraguan filler and binder with Connecticut smoothness and sweetness, and I think that I will also be picking up on the smaller ring gauges (especially the lancero) to see if the greater wrapper ratio would make a difference in the smoke.  As always, trying to judge a cigar on a single experience can be misleading.  I’ve had many a smoke that didn’t do it for me on the first try that I have come to really enjoy.

Pairing

Not having had the Villiger Talanga before, I reached out to local Villiger rep Ed Ryan for a suggestion on what to pair with it, and he came back with pale ale, kolsch, or a wit.  So pale ale it is!

The Red Chair Pale Ale by Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon is a late winter/early spring seasonal that I have come to look forward to each year.  Smooth and malty with a clean finish, it goes down easily and is just plain enjoyable to drink.  The maltiness of the Red Chair is a fine foil for the Talanga, although I’m thinking that a sweeter and fruitier Weissbier, such as the Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier that I paired with the Bonita Smoke Shop Time Warp Big Ben, might be an even better match.  Of course, a sweetened coffee in the morning would also be a go-to pairing for this cigar.

The post Villiger Talanga Toro appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Today, I will be reviewing the FTW (Forever Two Wheels) by Total Flame Cigars for your reading pleasure. Total Flame Cigars was founded by two Russian motorcycle enthusiasts who have a passion for cigars – Vladimir Roshchin and Maxim Privezentsev. FTW  is one of four lines with the other lines being Bright Line, Dark Line, and Nicaragua. The FTW was released in 2013 and  is currently available in two vitolas: Robusto (5 by 54) and Toro (6 by 52).  A brochure I received with the cigar has this to say on the FTW:

Consisting of a robust yet smooth blend of three aged Nicaraguan ligeros, this cigar represents the strongest of the Total Flame Cigars. The FTW was made to represent the essence of the biker spirit; strong, bold, fearless and powerful.

The Facts

Samples Provided by Total Flame Cigars
Price: Unknown
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Nicaraguan “El Corojal”
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 30 Minutes
Drink: Water

Pre-light

The FTW Toro is dressed in a medium brown wrapper that has a deep red hue. The oils on the Nicaraguan “El Corojal” leaf glisten in the sun. The cigar feels smooth and oily to the touch but the wrapper does not lack in small and medium veins and bumps. I encounter no soft spots as the cigar is packed evenly through and through. The wrapper has a faint pungency, barnyard, cedar, and chocolate aroma. The foot gives off much heavier cedar and chocolate notes.

The cap is large and has been applied neatly. Upon clipping the cap with a double guillotine cutter, I find a draw that has a touch more resistance than preferred but still within the acceptable range.  The cold draw showcases thick notes of cedar, exotic spices, and some chocolate.

First Third

While the draw remains firm once lit, the FTW is pouring out thick, chewy smoke. The flavors consist of cedar and pepper that balance nicely. As I push a small amount of smoke through my nasal passage, a heavy pepper spice jumps out. The burn, which began a bit wavy, has just about corrected itself within the first inch. The flavors are borderline full and the strength is not overpowering but noticeable. At this point, I would mark the strength as a solid medium.

Middle Third

The core of the smoke continues to be of cedar and pepper with the pepper intensifying as I burn into the second third. Additionally, there is a faint tartness that is barely noticeable but is a flavor I commonly pick up on with Mexican tobacco. A toasted bread flavor is also coming through. The finish is now bringing out notes of chocolate similar to those that I picked up on foot aroma. The flavor remain at the same level but the strength has gradually increased bringing it to full.

Final Third

The flavors have become deeper as I enter the final third of the cigar with a newly found coffee flavor building upon the  toasted bread, cedar, and peppery profile.  The smoke production has decreased as I am fighting a small tunnel that is forming but with only an inch and a half left, I am not too worried about it. Other than the tunneling at the end, the performance has been spot on all the way down to the last puff.

Wrap-up

Prior to the samples received for review, I had absolutely no experience with any of the offerings from Total Flame Cigars. First impressions are huge. Right or wrong, a first impression will determine if I ever pick up a cigar again or visit any of the other lines from a particular company. The FTW presented itself well in both samples showing consistency in flavor and performance. The burn-line was spot on, the ash held to an inch, and the smoke production was to par. The smoke delivered balanced yet bold flavors of mainly cedar and pepper, along with some toasted bread and coffee as the profile developed. This is a cigar I would love to try again and could see myself grabbing a handful when I stumble across them. And finally, I want to say “Thank You” to Total Flame Cigars for providing the samples.

The post Total Flame Cigars – FTW (Forever Two Wheels) appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff: Crowned Heads’ Las Calaveras is the third limited edition release form the company following the Four Kicks Mule Kick and the Headley Grange Drumstick (we don’t have a review for the drumstick up, but I did review a different format out of the line which you can read here. That being said, the drumstick was my favorite in the line for sure). While the Drumstick and Mule Kick were tweaked blends/line extension the Calaveras is a completely limited blend. All the previous Crowned Heads blends were blended by E.P. Carrillo with overview by Jon Huber and Mike Conder with the exception of this blend which is blended by the Garcia Family at My Father Cigars S.A. in Esteli Nicaragua. The Calaveras comes in 3 sizes: Robusto (5 x 54), Toro (6 x 52) and Churchill (7 x 54) with prices ranging from $8.95 to $10.95 a stick. They come packaged in boxes of 24 and with only 1,000 boxes of each sizes being released this will sell out VERY soon. I picked up a handful of these from Cigar Hustler and list time I checked they still had some in stock. Here is a bit more information from the Crowned Heads site on the project and what to expect with the years to come.

Crowned Heads Las Calaveras was inspired by “La Calavera Catrina,” a zinc etching by Mexican printmaker and illustrator, Jose Guadalupe Posada.

The image depicts a female skeleton dressed only in a hat, and has become an icon of the Mexican Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.  The holiday focuses upon gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember those who have died.

Beginning with the Edicion Limitada 2014, Las Calaveras will be an annual release that is a respectful homage to those who have passed away in the year before, and is intended to be a celebration of their lives and remembrances, rather than a mourning or a symbol of sadness and death.  Each year, we all lose a friend or loved one, or know of someone who has endured that same loss. In today’s fast-paced world, it is all too easy to forget the fragile nature that is life.  Often, in the race to gain material success, we lose sight that our true legacy are the lives we touch and the love we leave behind once we pass on.  It is in this spirit that Las Calaveras pays tribute to those who have touched our lives and shared their love.

With each year’s annual limited release, the blend and presentation of Las Calaveras will be altered.  What will remain the same, however, is the spirit behind the cigar.  We hope that with this annual remembrance, we will choose to celebrate–rather than mourn–the lives of those who have so graciously shared their legacies with us.

That being said, I am smoking this particular Calaveras in memory of my Father who passed away a few months ago. He was a hell of a man and I miss him more and more every day. (Funny, not even joking, as I typed that the wind picked up crazy for about 20 seconds. There wasn’t even a slight breeze before that. Coincidence? Maybe. Probably. But yeah…)

Size: 6 x 52
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano Oscuro (8th priming)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Body: Full
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $9.95
Pairing: Unibroue La Terrible (Belgian Strong Dark Ale 10.5% ABV)

Prelight: Las Calaveras starts off with a crazy thick, dark wrapper. The wrapper is a very consistent, very dark brown. It’s pretty much as dark brown as you can get before you venture into black. The wrapper is very toothy, very hard, and very thick with a nice amount of oil. The leaf is laid seamlessly and you can only see some very minor veins running through the length of the body with one larger one running about half the body’s length. The cigar is really heavy and firm in most places but the foot on this particular stick it pretty squishy and you can see a small void in the filler. The Calaveras is polished off with a round triple cap that’s attached so seamless it was difficult for me to tell where the wrapper started and the cap ended. Las Calaveras carries a very elegant, simple, white, black, red and gold band carrying the Las Calaveras crest which really stands out on the dark cigar. The crest carries a gold crown, a few medallion, the words “Las Calaveras” in black and “EL 2014 Esteli Nicaragua” in gold which I assume stands for “Edicion Limitada 2014”.

The wrapper of this cigar gives off more aroma than any cigar I have ever smelled before. I’m picking up some strong sweetness, a ton of spice, and some great cedar. The foot of the cigar carries just as much aroma only it leads off with much more spice and natural scents. The cap cut so clean and so easily using my Palio double bladed cutter. The cold draw carries on with the bold trend pumping a whole mess of spice, pepper, and sweetness.

First Smoke: Las Calaveras started out with a nice pepper burst which quickly faded away. In fact, after the first few draws it was completely gone and I was left with a whole ton of sweetness, loads of spice with cinnamon being the dominant flavor, cedar, cherry, and even some light pine notes over some great natural tobacco. The draw on the cigar flows very freely and it takes very minimal effort to get a good amount of thick smoke. The burnline started with some slight waves as it burned through the filler voids I mentioned earlier which only went a few centimeters deep. After that the cigar was burning solid and clean leaving behind a compacted medium grey ash with darker stripes which plopped into my ashtray about an inch in.

Halfway There: The flavor in the Crowned Heads Calaveras just keeps on pumping itself up. The spice is really strong now and it mixes in real well with the strong cedar. I’m still getting a bit of that pine but it’s much more minimal now while the cherry has become deeper and stronger as the sweetness has faded out a bit. The retrohale is really sharp and a very bold as it coats my nasal passage with some really strong spice and cedar. I don’t find myself retrohaling this bad boy too often. The burnline is slightly wavy but not concerning as I have yet had to reach for my torch. I am feeling absolutely no nicotine as I close out the second third.

Finish: Man, as if Crowned Heads’ Las Calaveras couldn’t become more complex some really nice malt and honey notes tossed themselves over the strong spice, cedar, and deep cherry which now has a more chocolaty finish. Is it a spoiler if I say that I am enjoying this cigar a whole hell of a lot? If so, who cares, it’s the truth. The pepper actually made a brief reappearance during the final inch or two of the cigar. The Calaveras took me about an hour and a half to take down and I experience absolutely no harshness or heat even into the final inch. In fact, the final inch or two was really where the cigar shines as the flavors really ramp up and come together to wish you farewell in the boldest way possible. I never once had to take out my torch to relight or touch this cigar up.

Overview: Let’s just get to it. How good was this cigar? Honestly it’s probably the best cigar I’ve had all year. No doubt about it. Crowned Heads continue to push their own personal standard as they really raised the bar with the Calaveras. Can this company make a bad cigar? Who knows. The Calaveras has everything I crave in a cigar. Loads of bold flavors which are not overpowered by strength, perfect burn, great price, and let’s not forget how awesome the box/band design is on these guys. My only gripe is that they are so limited. I know I’ll be chasing a box down this week as the few sticks I purchased didn’t last long at all. This cigar is absolutely perfect for a seasoned smoker looking for a full bodied, complex experience and the price makes it an ideal cigar for the novice smoker who is itching to break into premium, full bodied cigars. The price is in the high range for most people but quite honestly I’d probably pay even more than the cost for this cigar.

Pairing: Unibroue La Terrible is a Belgian style strong dark ale brewed in Canada coming in at 10.5% ABV. Unibroue has to be my favorite Canadian brewery only due to my love for Belgian style ales, but everything that comes out of the brewery is solid. You won’t get a bad beer. La Terrible had a ton of sweetness which kept pushing the sweetness in the cigar to reach it’s full potential especially towards the end of the experience where it could have easily dropped off completely. Along with the sweetness La Terrible carries a ton of deep cherry, apple, and other fruit flavors which tied in especially well with the cherry from the Calaveras not to mention the incredible amount of spices both the beer and the cigar pump out. I thought for a few days of the perfect pairing for this cigar. While many other options came up it was an “AHA!” moment when I remembered I had a bottle of La Terrible just waiting for the right time to pop open. I’m so glad I saved it as I don’t think there is a better beer pairing than this one.

The post The Crowned Heads – Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2014 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Rosalones is produced at Nicaragua’s oldest factory, Joya De Nicaragua. Currently, it  is available in five vitolas to include the Machito (4 by 46), Consul (4.7 by 48), Gran Consul (4.7 by 60), Robusto (5 by 52), and Toro (6 by 50). According to Joya De Nicaragua’s website:

Rosalones is one of the original brands produced in the beginnings of Joya de Nicaragua. It’s been considered the small brother of Joya de Nicaragua Clásico. Returning to the market at the end of 2010, after two decades of rest, Rosalones is an affordable alternative to Nicaragua’s taste.

While the JDN Clasico is a milder body smoke that wears a Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, the Rosalones wears a Nicaraguan Criollo wrapper and is said to be a medium body smoke.

The Facts

Price: $64.95/box of 20
Vitola: Consul
Size: 4.7 by 48
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan
Pairing: Iced Coffee
Smoke Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes

Pre-light

The Nicaraguan Criollo wrapper is dark brown with a deep red, almost burnt orange, hue (too much Texas college football?). Quite a few medium veins are easily noticeable and black marks are scattered down the leaf. By no means is this the prettiest wrapper I have ever seen. The cigar has been packed evenly and firmly. The wrapper aroma is of vinegar and cardboard, while the foot is a completely different story.

Sweet notes of chocolate, espresso, and faint pepper jump off of the foot and some spice can be felt in my nasal passage.  The Rosalones sports a large double cap and, once cut, a decent draw is revealed. There is a little bit more resistance than I would prefer. The cold draw brings out rich cinnamon , chocolate and a mild spice.

First Third

A decent amount of smoke is being produced by this JDN Rosalones. The smoke is light on the palate but the flavors are much darker than expected. Notes of black coffee, earth, cocoa, dry cedar (pencil-shavings), and pepper are making up the profile. The coffee lingers on the finish of the smoke for a good amount of time. My palate is left dry after each puff requiring a sip of water to refresh my palate. The retrohale brings out the familiar Nicaraguan pepper and spice I have come to love. A beautiful light grey ash is being formed.  Flavors are coming across medium and I am feeling a little kick of nicotine.

Middle Third

Along with the peppery spice, cinnamon is now in the mix that is warming my palate and a tingle is felt at the back of my throat. A thick, rich, syrupy sweetness is meshing with the coffee, cedar, and cocoa. The smoke, which was light on the palate in the first third, has become more chewy and is no longer leaving my palate dry. So far so good with the ash and burn that are still performing above par.

Final Third

Removing the band, I am into the final third. Side note: Joya De Nicaragua could lighten up on the amount of glue applied to the band. The flavors have remained consistent with the previous third but the richness has picked up. Cocoa has evolved more to a sweet milk chocolate. The flavors are the most rounded and balanced they have been throughout the entire smoke. As I put the cigar to a close, the ash is a bit flaky but the burn remained right on till the very end.

Wrap-up

I have heard it said that cigars taste completely different in Nicaragua. Whether it is the environment, the people, or the combination of both, smoking in one of the cigar capitols of the world can sway your opinion and provide a completely different experience with a cigar. Since I jumped on a box of the Rosalones without ever smoking one, I sure hoped that this wasn’t the case with Tony and the Rosalones. After smoking a handful of these sticks, I am very pleased to report that it wasn’t the case at all. The Joya De Nicaragua Rosalones is a solid smoke that delivers rich flavors of earth, cocoa, cedar, and pepper. The construction and performance of the Rosalones are rock solid. The stick is said to be a medium body smoke, but seems to sit right at the borderline of medium and full to me. At $3.25 per stick, this cigar is seriously a no-brainer. Already, the JDN Rosalones is in my weekly rotation and I expect it to remain there until I can no longer find them.

The post Joya De Nicaragua – Rosalones appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

This week, I’ll be checking out the second generation of the Saint Luis Rey by Altadis U.S.A., the SLR Gen². The Gen² is available in three vitolas: Robusto (4 ½ by 54), Toro (6 by 54), and Titan (6 by 60).   I located the press release for the Saint Luis Rey Gen² at Halfwheel.com, which had this to say about the cigar:

Gen² is not just a new version of a classic. It is much more. It is the heritages of many generations of know how. It is the expression of wisdom and passion from some of the most expert craftsmen in the world as they bring forth a most sublime smoking experience. From our recent consumer research, we know that US Consumers are always looking to try something new; this was one of the aims of the launch – to offer something new, compelling and punchy to these targeted profile.

Gen² is a rare combination of quality, tradition, innovation and the passion of centuries expressed in a singular cigar.

There is only one formula for pleasure!

Quality + Passion + Innovation = Gen²

Passion Squared!

The Facts

Price: $5.75 to $6.75
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 54
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Pairing: Water
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes

Pre-Light

The brownish red wrapper has small and medium sized veins throughout. The medium sized veins stand out a little more due to being lighter in color than the rest of the wrapper. Most of the cigar is evenly packed with just a slight give. The middle of the cigar has one soft spot. As I examine the foot, there seems to be a small void in the middle of the tobaccos.

The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper gives off sweet woodsy notes at its core, with additional notes of cherry and cinnamon. The foot aroma is much of the same as the wrapper. A large double cap has been applied decently.   A perfect draw is revealed after I cut the cap. Cinnamon and spices make up the flavors on the cold draw that is leaving my mouth a tad dry.

First Third

The Saint Luis Rey Gen² is producing a copious amount of white smoke.  No effort at all is required to pull the smoke through this six inch cigar. The dominant flavors are cedar, earth, and light cinnamon. The light smoke is drying my mouth and the finish is short. A creamier profile would compliment the cedar nicely. I cannot tell if I am getting some irritation in the back of my throat or if it is just a lingering spice.  As I retrohale the smoke, I’m hit with a blast of pepper and a slight spice sting. The burn line is thick and wavy, while the ash is dark grey and flaky, holding to about an inch.  The flavors are on the high side of medium and so far the strength seems to be right at medium.

Middle Third

The cigar continues to pump out tons of smoke as I have  it resting in my ashtray. Also, the burn line that was iffy in the first third is now back in line. The sweet cedar I grabbed off the wrapper during the pre-light has introduced itself into the profile, along with presence of pepper and some toastiness. As I burn deeper into the second third, some heavier earthy notes have arrived. The ash remains flaky. The flavors are still holding strong and I am starting to feel a little nicotine. The strength is right where I enjoy it. Hopefully, it stays at this same level for the remainder of the stick.

Final Third

The earthy notes have really picked up as I make my way into the final third. The earthiness has a mineral quality, along with a diesel-like flavor. The SLR Gen² is developing some heat.  The cedar jumps back into to the profile as I let the cigar rest a little longer between puffs.  Additionally, a bread-like flavor and cocoa have arrived. The pepper has subsided a little on the retrohale but a charryness has shown up. Putting a close to this Saint Luis Rey Gen², the strength is starting to kick my butt. I can’t tell if it is the nicotine that is making me sweat or the 90 degree temperature at 9:00 PM.

Wrap-up

The SLR Gen² delivered some enjoyable flavors throughout. However, as the cigar progressed the toasty / charred notes became more pronounced.  I was unable to nub the SLR due to the heat that is was producing with an inch and half left.  While the burn got off the path a few times it always managed to find its way back.  I am happy to report that the other sample I smoked and paired with sweet tea did not develop any heat or charred flavors.  The sweet tea brought out the sweet cedar notes and additional notes of cocoa in the  Gen².  My second experience with this cigar was much more enjoyable. Even though I still wasn’t blown away, I would pick this up again if I came across it at the local shop. At a price point in the $6 range, I think this cigar is well worth a try.

The post Saint Luis Rey Gen² appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Back in 2011, Emilio Cigars, owned by Gary Griffith, began making a bunch of noise within the cigar blogger community.  Several Emilio cigars received high praises, which was the start of my almost year-long search for his sticks.  While they have yet to arrive at the local retailers, I did stumble across a few of the cigars at Fox Cigar Bar in Gilbert, Arizona in mid-2012.  Instantly, I fell in love with the AF1 and AF2 lines.  On my next visit to AZ in October, I made sure to pick up some more Emilio cigars. This time I snagged the Draig K. With almost seven months of rest, it is time to see what this cigar is all about.  The Casas Fumando Team has reviewed the following cigars from Emilio Cigars:

• Emilio Cigar – AF1
• Emilio Cigars – AF2
• Emilio Cigars – Grimalkin

The Draig K is produced at Nestor Plascencia’s El Parasio factory and is available in four vitolas: Corona (5 1/2 by 46), Robusto (5 by 50), and Toro (6 by50). The K began to hit the shelves of retailers in July of 2012. While it is stated to be an “extremely limited” cigar, the Draig K is still available at several online retailers for a price in the $9.00 range.

The Facts

Price: Around $9.00
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 50
Wrapper: Columbian Maduro
Binder/Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Pairing: Water
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes

Pre-light

The Draig K sports an extremely dark brown wrapper.  The Oscuro looking, Columbian Maduro wrapper has some medium to large veins and a nice amount of oils.  Half of the cigar closest to the foot has some sponginess, while the other half is firmly packed. I hope this doesn’t lead to any performance issues.

The triple cap has been applied very sloppily, with some bunching on one side. A shallow cut of the cap has opened up a beautiful, free draw. I got so excited to light up this bad boy that I forgot to do my usual pre-light ritual of checking out the aromas off the wrapper and foot.

First Third

The burn is off to a crazy start.  I was forewarned by a Casas Fumando reader to dry box the Draig K prior to smoking to help alleviate burn issues.  The Draig K has been resting around 60% humidity, a little dryer than normal for me, but it may not have been enough.  There is a youngness to the smoke, almost grassy,with a touch of sweetness.  Additionally, there are notes of earth, leather, pencil shaving, and pepper, along with a minor spice. The finish of the smoke is of black coffee and a slightly charred flavor.The burn line is all over the place and several touch-ups were required in the first third. The dark grey, flaky ash held to an inch before dropping. The flavors are at the high-end of medium and strength is in the low medium range.

Middle Third

No change in the burn as I make my way into the second third. The pencil-shaving flavor is now at the front of the profile, along with the earthiness. The spice is warming my mouth and leaving a slight irritation at the back of my throat.   The Draig K has a tanginess to it that is unique and something I rarely pick up on.  The retrohale brings out sharp pepper and tons of spice. The finish has become very smokey and reminds me of  the smell of a campfire. Halfway into the second third, the draw has become a little more firm and the burn line seems to be correcting itself. I believe I finally reached the area the cigar felt more firmly packed. As I examined the ash mid-way through the second third, there seems to have been a void in the middle of the cigar.  The flavors are full and the strength is creeping up on me.

Final Third

A smokiness is now dominating the flavor profile.  The smoky flavor is something I have picked up on with pipe tobacco but not too often in cigars. It is similar to a fired cured tobacco flavor. The grassy flavor from early on  is no longer in the flavor make-up and a good amount of earth and pepper remains.  With an inch and a half remaining in the cigar, some chocolate notes pull through and remain on the finish of the smoke.  The burn is performing much better at this point but still wavy.  After an hour and fifteen minutes, it is time to put the Emilio Draig K to rest.

Wrap-up

I really wish the Draig K would have blown me away but I was completely unimpressed. While some enjoyable flavors showed up, the smoky, charred-like flavors stole the show.  The construction and burn also took away from this stick. I probably touched-up the Draig K no less than ten times.  Even if the flavors were more enjoyable, touching-up a cigar so often becomes burdensome.  But with that said, I am still a huge fan of Emilio Cigars and several of the other lines Gary Griffith has out.  This cigar was just not for me.  I will be picking up a couple more if I stumble across them and will provide updates if they provide a different smoking experience.

The post Emilio Cigars – Draig K appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

This year, he made big news again by announcing that he will be releasing 12 more blends, one each month over the course of this year. The first three in the series were labeled as the Big Bad John, Iron Mike, and Island Jim. Each blend represents an actual real, live, person that Eddie has met along his cigar manufacturing way. We all know how some of us cigar folk tend to stand out. Anyhow, you can check out my series review of the first set of three here.

You can also get a run-down of the project from the mouth of Eddie here:

“During my time in the cigar industry, I’ve come to know lots of great interesting characters in the industry. I’ve found certain characters so interesting, that I decided to create a series called “Wild Bunch”. This series will consist of 12 characters, each of them with a unique flavor and size profile, no two will be alike.

The series will consist of a limited number of boxes 500-1000, the number of boxes produced will be based on the blend selected for the character, I want to use out of the ordinary material, specially wrappers, and I know that some of the selected wrappers I have chosen are in very limited supply.

The Series will start January 2013 and will continue through December 2013 with one character being released every month of the year, on December 2013 a final release of the completed set made up of either 12 cigars; 1 of each character or 24 cigars; 2 of each character.”

Well now as we are quickly closing in on 2013’s “halftime”, Eddie has released his second set featuring “Tony the Boss”, “Dandy McCoy”, and “Honest Abe”.  These will be the releases for April, May, and June. I reviewed each of these with only water as a pair. Since I only smoked one of each of these I didn’t want to cloud up my palate with something that may not have paired well. That being said, let’s get to the good stuff.

Tony the Boss “Enforcer” #4:

Size: 7½ x 49
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Rosado
Binder: Sumatran
Filler: Nicaraguan from the Jalapa and Esteli regions
Body: Medium/Full
Strength: Medium
Price: $8

Prelight: Whoa, whoa. An “A”?! Well, there is a commitment! This cigar is a BEAST!! Be ready to set aside some time to take this thing down. Outside of the obvious characteristics, the cigar is gorgeous sporting a light, milky brown Rosado wrapper with a hell of a lot of oil shimmering off the leaf. This sucker is built like a tank too as it barely has any give as I squeeze it between my fingers. The wrapper is real smooth with some larger veins running through the body of the cigar.

Flavors: The Boss leads in with some slight black pepper which fades very quickly leaving you with a milky, malt and sweetness overlying some earth and cedar flavors. As the experience progresses some cinnamon and leather begins to find it’s way into the mix while the malt dips out. The final third of this cigar is where it really begins to shine as the cedar ramps up greatly with lots of sweetness and spice as well as a huge jump in body.

Burn/Draw: Well it took 2 hours to take this beast of a cigar down. I smoked a bit quickly too so you may want to set a good amount of time aside before committing to this cigar. I ran into a few waves that required a bit of attention from my lighter but that’s to be expected from a cigar this big. I didn’t have to relight at all.

Thoughts: First and foremost, I didn’t walk away from this cigar light-header, with a nicotine kick, or and harshness at all. That takes some expert blending hands and Eddie nailed it. While I’m not a big fan of the “A” format, I love having them on hand for celebrations or special moments and at this price point, this one will definitely find it’s way into that rotation.

Dandy McCoy “Empire State” #5:

Size: 6 x 54 Box Press
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Viso from Esteli
Filler: Nicaraguan from the Jalapa and Esteli regions
Body: Full
Strength: Full
Price: $8.50

Prelight: First of all, I love this size. I have been boasting about how not enough blends out have this elongated box-press format. It fits so nicely and comfortably in the hand while almost always producing a near perfect draw. Along with the great format the Dandy McCoy sports a beautiful wrapper. This thing is extremely dark and toothy and feels almost identical to a cat’s tongue while still containing enough oils to get a nice reflection.

Flavors: Right off the bat this cigar starts out with a ton of sweetness, lots and lots of milky chocolate, smooth tobacco, and just a touch of spice. As the cigar burned along the milk chocolate just keep ramping up as the pepper faded out and cedar and spice slipped it’s way in. The sweetness remained a big factor the entire experience.

Burn/Draw: As far as burn goes this bad boy was razor sharp, and burned dead even the entire time. No touch ups, no relights. It burned pretty slow too. It took me about an hour and a half to take this guy down to the nub.

Thoughts: So far, out of the six, this has been hands down my favorite. I’ve always been a sucker for Connecticut Broadleaf and the size just puts it over the top. Lots of sweetness, body and strength without being too overpowering or too strong. That’s a fine line and hard to balance out but Eddie nailed it with this one. BUY THESE.. like… NOW.

Honest Abe “Ringmaster” #6:

Size: 6½ x 52
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Viso from Esteli
Filler: Nicaraguan from the Jalapa and Esteli regions
Body: Medium/Full
Strength: Medium
Price: $8.50

Prelight: The Honest Abe starts out with a beautiful, shiny, oily wrapper. Each time I touch this stick a bit of oil gets transferred to my fingertips. There are a few larger veins, but nothing too significant. The wrapper on this cigar feels a bit delicate but it is as smooth as silk while the body of the cigar is extremely firm.

Flavors: I thought the Honest Abe would start out all kind and mild, but looks can be deceiving. The cigar started out with a quick burst of strong, black pepper before it quickly faded away leaving a nice, smooth balance of cedar, spice, honey and natural tobacco. None of the flavors were overly significant, but mixed together it made for a nice balance of flavors. A bit of sweetness began to creep in as I reached the halfway point while a lot of the cedar began to fade away. The cedar, honey and sweetness stayed consistent throughout the experience.

Burn/Draw: The burnline was pretty thick on this one and despite a few waves, it only required a touch up here and there. Never any relights.

Thoughts: This was a solid cigar, especially if you tend to fall on the mild side of cigars. To me, I felt it needed a little more “UMPH” to get my attention. Then again, that’s strictly subjective since I tend to chase after more stronger, bolder cigars. On a side note, I was super glad to see Abe creep into this lineup. Those who don’t know, Abe runs the Smokeinn shops and has been a huge supporter of not only this blog, but just about anything and everything having to do with cigars.

P.S. I don’t think I will be publishing a review next week. That’s right, it’s going to be a Jeremy and Daniel takeover. I will actually be heading to Nicaragua to join many of the other bloggers as well as the Drew Estate team on a Cigar Safari tour! I will be sure to come back with a full report.

The post Ortega – Wild Bunch Set #2 – Tony the Boss, Dandy McCoy, and Honest Abe Reviews appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

As I said, I have visited this cigar on Casas Fumando before. The only catch is it was a blind review that Brooks from Halfwheel (Smoking Stogie at the time) sent my way. You can check that review out here. Anywho, Henry Clay is an old-time brand that’s distributed by Altadis. The blend starts with and ugly, yet beautiful Nicaraguan Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a mix of Nicaraguan, Peruvian, and Honduran fillers. From what I gather the cigar comes in four sizes. The Brevas (5 1/8 x 42), Brevas Finas (6 ½ x 48), Rothchilde (5 x 50), and the Toro (6 x 50). I’ve had a number of each of the sizes, but I am partial to the Brevas and Brevas Finas. These cigars come packed in boxes of 25 (the Brevas is available in a 50 ct. box) and run anywhere from $4.95 – $5.75 a stick. If that wasn’t enough, I have scored these as low as $2.50 a cigar at times. This plays a huge factor in the value of the cigar and I urge you to shop around. You may find them on sale.

First of all, isn’t the Henry Clay an ugly little cigar? It’s not much to look at, but in my book that type of personality often transpires into a great cigar experience. The cigar is a messy, toothy, veiny, dark brown with some very dark spots. The cigar is polished of with the familiar Henry Clay crest. I love this band. Simple, clean, and direct. It doesn’t need flashy marketing to find it’s way into your humidor.

Despite being and ugly looking cigar, I rarely have any trouble with construction or burn on these bad boys. I have had a ton and, while a few have had draw issues, they were very few and very far between. This cigar kicks out tons of unsuspecting flavor. The Henry Clay leads off with some very strong sweetness, brown sugar, cedar, syrup, and plum. It’s quite comparable to a lot of cigar flavors out in the market today. While there isn’t much of a change up throughout the cigar, the flavors always remain strong and pleasant.

One note. When I did my blind review of this cigar I could have sworn it was going to be a Tatuaje. Brooks then told me how Pete Johnson himself really enjoys this blend and it shed a little light on the flavors. The sweetness and balance really matched up with a lot of cigars that Pete is blending today and I can see why he was so drawn to the Henry Clay. Seriously, at $2.50 – $5.00 a cigar who wouldn’t give this a try? It’s perfect for those long drives home, that endless yardwork, and those times in-between when you need a nice cigar that packs great flavor at a value price.

The post Quick Draw Episode 15 – Henry Clay appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Now up until recently, I had not smoked too many Origens and the ones that I did have were usually the smaller unbanded sizes that come in the soft pack bags. If you’ve had some of those you already know they are some of the best priced quick cigars you can find that still actually taste like a real cigar. So I was pretty excited to see how this Toro compared to the small versions of the same stick and even other sticks in the line-up.

This wrapper and blend is a new addition to the Origen line up that was just recently released last year. It’s surrounded by a toothy and tasty looking Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper followed by a Costa Rican Corojo binder and finished off with some Nicaraguan, Honduran and Mexican fillers. Right away you can pick up some sweet cocoa and spices off the wrapper and foot. After toasting the foot, I’m met with more of the spices and some smooth coffee flavors added to the bunch.

As I keep burning along, I’m also picking up some slight woodsy notes and the retrohale is finishing with some very nice creaminess that I’m really enjoying. There are a couple touch-ups here and there throughout the cigar but none are major. The coffee flavors slowly build up and turn to a nice espresso note which is pairing perfectly with the creamy and soft spice notes.

The whole experience wraps up nicely with no harshness and tons of flavor. I did not want to put this cigar down and nubbed it till my fingers were burning! I gotta find myself some more of these for sure, and you should too! Especially the soft packs which are great to have as a quick cigar when you are tight on time.

The post Quick Draw Episode 14 – J. Fuego Origen Maduro appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Now I’ll be honest that I hadn’t heard too much about Ezra Zion cigars or any of their particular lines before I came across this particular stick. But after doing some research I realized there was quite a bit of buzz around them. Now the company is fairly young looking to have really started pushing itself only last year but the big buzz came when our good friends over at Emilio Cigars partnered up with Ezra Zion to handle their distribution.

We all know Emilio Cigars has a knack for turning around quality sticks and they wouldn’t just accept any cigars, they must be good, right? Well the Reagan edition is one of 2 lines offered by Ezra Zion, the other line is called “Jamais Vu” which was renamed from the original “Inception”. The Reagan series only has two vitolas available at this time, the “President” (6.75 x 54) and today’s vitola dubbed the “40th”.

All the tobaccos in the Reagan are Cuban seeds grown in Nicaragua, as well as being aged a 5 to 6 years before rolling. It also should be obvious that these cigars are a tribute to President Reagan, the names should have given that away too ;). I also want to point out that I love the box press style toro, it’s just awesome and more people should do it. So let’s dive on in and see how this cigar stacks up!

Cigar: Ezra Zion Reagan Honor Series
Drink: Mill Street Breweries Cobblestone Stout
Vitola: “40th Boxpress” Toro (6 x 52)
Wrapper: 2006 Cuban Seed Nicaraguan – Sun Grown Habano
Binder: 2006 Cuban Seed Nicaraguan
Filler: 2007 Cuban Seed Nicaraguan Seco, Viso, and Ligero
Price: $12.50
Burn Time: Almost 2 hours

Construction:
• The wrapper on this Ezra Zion Reagan has a very smooth texture and a color of soft cinnamon brown
• There are hardly any veins to be seen, super smooth and velvety to the touch
• I really like the box-pressed shape on this cigar, definitely need more companies to start doing this
• All my samples were pretty soft to the touch, all the way from head to foot
• Packing looks to be pretty full at the foot even though they are soft, interesting…
• The cap has some imperfections but overall it’s finished well
• A very thin cut leaves me with a perfect draw

Burn:
• The Ezra Zio Reagan toasted up with ease and quickly, leaving a nice glowing foot to see
• Through the first inch, the burn has been somewhat wavy but no cause for concern yet, we’ll have to keep a close eye on this
• A little past an inch in and i got a pretty big peninsula growing that I needed to correct with a small touch up
• Just before the halfway mark I had another peninsula rear it’s head so I needed another touch up here
• Some more small touch ups needed towards the end but nothing too major

Smoke & Ash:
• This cigar has got a ton of smoke from each easy draw
• It actually doesn’t produce much resting smoke though
• So far just under an inch in and the ash is looking pretty messy, some pieces are already falling off and it appears pretty weak
• Despite the flimsy look, the ash lasted past an inch and started to look more clean and stable as the burn continues
• The ash lasted just about an inch before I tapped it off
• Second ash was a mix of looking strong and weak again due to the touchup, still lasted about an inch though
• The third ash is coming along much nicer with no touch ups, it’s clean and string with a light and dark grey striping

Tasting Notes:
• The wrapper has a very hay-like aroma to it, with just a bit of woodiness
• I’m getting more hay and woodsy aromas on the foot with a touch of spice thrown in
• The pre-light draw had some nice sweet cocoa flavors and a touch of spice
• On the initial draws, I’m getting mostly light coffee flavors so far, a touch of dry spice on the back of my throat as well
• Through the first third of the cigar, coffee and light spices are still playing the biggest parts
• The whole experience has been in the mild-medium range so far
• From the retrohale, I’m getting a nice little bite and a smooth sweet and creamy finish that I’m enjoying
• As I get into the final third, the spice is ramping up a tad and the sweet coffee has switched over to more of an espresso note
• The deep rich flavors continue through to the end with a bit of leather being mixed in there as well
• No real harshness towards the nub so I got to finish this nicely

Final Thoughts:
There were some really nice flavors in the Ezra Zion Reagan Honor Series and I enjoyed the experience for the most part. There were two key parts that brought down my experience today. The main one was the touch ups and wavy burn throughout most of the cigar. The price is also a bit steep, so when I go into a cigar knowing I spent well over $10 for it, I am expecting a good cigar. On the upside, I really enjoyed the flavors here. They were deep, rich and right up my alley so that kept me interested the whole way though. Also, I’m happy that the touch ups did not ruin that flavors here either. All in all, I will be looking for more of these. I’m hoping the burn issues were restricted to the bunch I had because if you take that away, this would be a very tasty cigar!

Pairings:
Today we have another pick from Mill Street Brewery that I’ve also paired with before. I love supporting the local people and when it’s a darn good stout, I will keep supporting them! lol. The Cobblestone Stout is still fairly new to the stores but it seems to be selling quite well. It is a classic stout with lots of deep malty and smoky flavors and even a touch of coffee, but not too much. It’s got a ton of head when you pour it and a bit of a dry finish. I really liked how the rich flavors of the Ezra Zion Reagan. This would pair really well with anything deep and rich, such as a porter or even just a nice strong coffee.

The post Ezra Zion Reagan Honor Series appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rocky Patel The Edge Habano is also unique in a new way. It is the first cigar in this lineup to be a Nicaraguan Puro and is even produced in a different factory than the rest of the Edge blends. I’ve had some mixed opinions on most of Rocky Patel’s cigars, some I’ve loved and some not so much. But The Edge lineup has been one of the blends that has been consistently good for me so far.

When Rocky unveiled these at IPCPR earlier last year, he also gave some details that I found interesting. First was the price which you can find below, but he also mentioned they would be sold in boxes of 100 which is pretty interesting and does make for a pretty nice show piece. Lucky enough for us who have no room for 100 cigars of a single type, they are also being sold in boxes of 20, a little more digestible for sure.

So let’s go ahead and dive right in to see if the newest edition to the Edge lineup can hold it’s own. I reviewed The Edge Corojo not too long ago so those notes are still fresh in my mind to compare with.

Cigar: Rocky Patel The Edge Habano
Drink: Pocas Special Reserve Tawny Porto
Vitola: Toro (6 x 52)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan(Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa)
Price: $6.15 MSRP
Burn Time: 1.5 hours

Construction:
• The Rocky Patel The Edge Habano has a pretty bumpy yet oily wrapper on it
• The color of the wrapper is a deep brown with what looks to be some slightly golden accents
• Near the foot, this cigar was definitely a bit squishy but the rest of the cigar had a slightly firm and springy feel
• No major veins to be worried about here, looks like a well chosen leaf to me
• The Triple cap was fairly clean but there was a piece that wasn’t quite stuck on very well

Burn:
• The toasting took a bit long here, seems the edges lit up easy and fast but the core of the cigar took a bit of time to catch on
• Through the first bit, it seems to be burning really fast, a lot of wrapper disappearing on each draw
• The burn line has started out pretty nicely, keeping it fairly even with just a bit of a wave
• Can’t complain here, the burnline wasn’t perfectly straight but it stayed nice and even throughout the whole cigar and I didn’t need to touch it up at all

Smoke & Ash:
• Each draw is pumping out a decent amount of smoke here, not really requiring me to go back for seconds
• The ash is coming out with a nice light and dark grey alternating pattern
• We’ve got some clean and strong ash here, doesn’t look like it will fall off very easily
• Lasting past an inch before I tap it off so it doesn’t land on my laptop
• Next few ashes stayed strong and clean as I tapped them off around the 1 inch mark
• The draw did open up a bit in the last half giving me a nice full pull of smoke on each draw

Tasting Notes:
• The wrapper had an aroma of cedar and a touch of spice on the nose
• From the foot, the aromas I grabbed were more spice and a touch of nuts or almond
• Pre-light draw gave me a nice creamy cedar sort of flavor
• From the first few draws, you can easily pick out the creaminess from the Habano wrapper and a nice amount of cedar
• There is definitely not as much spice here as on the original The Edge but there’s still a bit just to keep it interesting
• Picking up a soft coffee note as I burn through this first third adding a nice layer here
• The retrohale actually has a nice kick to it considering I’m not getting too much spice, but it has a nice smooth and creamy finish to it
• The spice definitely started to pick up after the halfway mark, more signature Edge flavors now
• The creamy and coffee notes continue to stick around with some cedar to back it all up
• The Edge Habano entered the last third with more creamy, coffee and cedar notes, maybe a touch of roasted almonds here too
• As I approach the nub, the flavors sort of all melted together and turned a bit bland, even a touch harsh so I put it down

Final Thoughts:
I had some pretty high expectations going into this cigar simply because the past few I’ve smoked from Rocky Patel’s The Edge line have all been good. So would this new Habano edition stand up? Seems like it did a pretty darn good job. Minus the last bit when it got a bit harsh, the rest of the cigar was spot on with some smooth flavors and a great burn. That harshness might have just been from the cold weather or the fact that these were pretty young sticks but I definitely would have a few more even with that caveat at the end.

Pairings:
So the pairing I chose today was actually the same bottle of Port I used to pair with my review of The Edge Corojo not too long ago. I won’t re-invent the wheel here, the port is about the same. The Pocas Special Reserve Tawny Porto pours very very light and has some very fruity notes on your nose. The flavors follow those same lines with a very light flavor, fairly fruity, lots of oak flavors and not bold at all. Definitely an easy drinking port that’s not overly bold. It paired quite nicely with the softer creamy notes on The Edge Habano and countered the spicier parts nicely as well.

The post Rocky Patel The Edge Habano appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

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

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

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

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

The Good Stuff: The press release pretty much sums up this blend:

April 10, 2012 (Bonita Springs, Florida) The Rocky Patel Premium Cigar Company announced today the release of The Edge Candela.

The Edge Candela is a medium bodied cigar and the latest addition to The Edge line. The candela wrapper gives the blend a truly unique flavor, consisting of sweet spice and floral tea, ultimately lending a creamy finish.

The wrapper is a Habano Seed Candela, and the binder and fillers are a secret.

Says Rocky Patel of the new Edge Candela, “I blended the Limited Edition Edge Candela for The Edge fans – it still holds the flavor profile that is so beloved by Edge lovers every where, and the wrapper just gives it a distinctively spicy and creamy twist”.

The Edge Candela is available in Toro size (6 x 52) and is sold in boxes of 20. It is a limited edition product with only 1,000 boxes made by the El Paraiso factory in Honduras. The cigar retails for $6.40. Just released, it is now available at all fine retailers.

Located in Bonita Springs, Florida, the Rocky Patel Premium Cigar Company began producing high quality premium cigars in 1995, based on Rocky’s passion for cigars, and his desire to share his unique cigar blends with cigar connoisseurs around the world. Rocky is also very active in raising money for underprivileged children in Honduras, with his RP Foundation. Current Rocky Patel cigar brands include: Decade, Olde World Reserve, Edge, 15th Anniversary, the Vintage Series, Thunder, Xen and “50”. For more information visit their Website at www.RockyPatel.com.

And there you have it! Now let’s get onto the review.

Size: 6×52  –  Wrapper: Habano Seed Candela  –  Binder/Filler: “Secret”

Prelight: The Rocky Patel Edge Candela isn’t a pretty looking cigar, then again, in my opinion Candela seldom is. It looks like a standard  Connecticut cigar had a bad dinner and got sick. Anyways, as far as the construction goes these sticks are spot on. The wrapper starts off with its strange, pea green color. The wrapper is really firm, very toothy, and semi-dry. There really aren’t a lot of oils spread across this thing. Where the Edge Candela lacks in oils it makes up for in veins. They aren’t large at all, and more than likely won’t affect the experience, but there sure are a lot of the them spanning the length of this cigar all the way up to the double cap. The Edge Candela carries the same band as the edge series, manila in color, and draped around the foot of the cigar.

The wrapper, much like you would expect by looking at it, gives off a very natural, very young tobacco scent while the foot pumps out a whole ton of spicy, peppery, strong tobacco aromas. The Edge Candela cut clean and very easily using my Palio double bladed cutter. As expected, the first few puffs off the cold draw are smooth, plentiful, and filled with young and natural tobacco flavors.

First Smoke: Wow, this draw is loose. Hopefully it tightens up a bit as I get further into the cigar. Rocky Patel’s Edge Candela starts out with some very smooth, mild flavors such as sweet tobacco, natural and earth flavors, along side some very mild pepper and spice. Ok, now that I have smoked this thing just a bit more in I need to amend two things that have already changed up. 1) the draw is now pumping out smoke furiously, it’s tightened up and dead on and 2) the pepper started out really mild but really turned it up a bit after getting towards the 1 inch mark. That being said, the burnline is slightly wavy and rather thick while it produces a flaky white, and black ash. The cigar really doesn’t give off much, if any stationary smoke. The ash held on for about in inch before giving way.

Halfway There: Maybe it’s just me, but has anyone else pulled a spearmintyness from this cigar? I seem to get it off and on in the second third of this Edge Candela. Alongside that mint I am still experiences lots of earthy, natural tobacco, lots of sweetness, a bit of gingerbread, and some slight spice as the pepper has complete faded away. The retrohale on this cigar is very interesting, coating my nasal passage with a really sweet spice and citrus. I totally dig it. The burnline is still pretty squirrely, but I haven’t had to touch up, or relight this cigar so I am ok with that. I am not feeling any nicotine at all as I finish off the second third of this cigar.

Finish: Along with a powerful and triumphant return of the pepper, the body in this Rocky Patel Edge Candela is really starting to ramp up as well. Usually when I think Candela, I think boring, and mild. The spice flavors are still lingering while natural tobacco, sweetness, and even some mixed in pine has taken over. All in all this cigar took about 1.5 hours to smoke and I am feeling a mild nicotine kick while the cigar burned a bit wildly but required no touch ups, no relights, and experience no harshness even down to the nub.

Overview: While somewhat mild until the end, much like Illusione and Viaje’s Candela releases the Rocky Patel Edge brings Candela wrapped cigars to a whole new level. While it’s probably not something that I would smoke everyday, for what you get for the price the Rocky Patel Candela is a solid stick. When compared to other Candela wrapped cigars this one is right up there with the big boys. Decently complex, smooth, and flavorful this cigar is perfect for the novice and the seasoned smoker looking for a different type of experience. Let’s not forget the price. The Edge series has always given great bang for the buck and the Candela is just another notch in the series’ belt.

Pairing: Yes, another New Belgium Lips of Faith series. This one is on my “buy a ton” list whenever it gets released every year. It’s their seasonal release of Biere De Mars. Biere De Mars is an almost-farmhouse ale, brewed in March (Mars) each year. It boasts some crazy strong orange, and lemon citrus flavors with modest hops, malt and caramel and some awesome cinnamon aftertastes. At 6.2% ABV this beer is perfect for a spring or summer afternoon. I knew this beer would pair perfectly with the Edge Candela’s already heightened citrus flavors, spice, and mild composure. This cigar would also go great with an IPA, an ale, or a saison.

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The Good Stuff: Black Market as one of the few releases Alan Rubin over at Alec Bradley kicked out last year. The Black market is composed of a Nicaraguan Wrapper, a Sumatran binder and Panamanian & Honduran fillers. This cigar was actually manufactured by Nestor Plasencia at the Tabacos de Oriente factory in Honduras. The black market comes in 5 sizes (The Gordo 6×60, The Churchill 7×50, the Robusto 5 1/4×52, the Toro 6×60 and the Torpedo 6 1/8 x 54) and are contained in these crazy “Black Market” looking, weapon boxes that hold 22 cigars each and run between $6.75 and $8.00. You can find these in stock over at GothamCigars.com.

Size: 5 1/4 x 52  –  Wrapper: Nicaraguan  –  Binder: Sumatran  –  Filler: Panamanian/Honduran  Body: Medium/Full

Prelight: First things first, let’s take this ginormous band off this Alec Bradley Black Market. Before I do, let me just take a minute to tell you how awesome I think this band is. I love it when companies do things a bit different. I know, this isn’t the first time that I have seen a ¾ length foot band, but I like it. It’s got this neat, recycled paper texture with black stencil ink with the Alec Bradley Name, the “AB” crest, along with the words “Black Market”. This definitely resembles the kind of artwork one would see at a Black Market. Anyways, not that the band is gone I am exposed to a nice added touch with a smaller band with an identically designed appearance. Under that is this just awesome looking, mean, meaty, toothy, webby wrapper. The wrapper itself is a very dark brown with patches of lighter brown along with a few oranges mixed in. There really isn’t any larger veins at all, only a ton of smaller ones making the cigar look as if it is wrapped in spider web. The wrapper feels really tough and durable, while the body of the cigar contains no soft spots all the way up to it’s round double cap.

The wrapper of this Black Market pumps out a very welcoming cedar, leather, and spice aroma while the foot is all spice and tobacco. The cap gave me a little trouble clipping using my double bladed Palio cutter, but once I pressed hard enough it came right off. The cold draw produces a really deep, dark chocolate, spice, and almost curry flavor each time I take a puff. It feels a bit tight, but I am hoping it opens up a bit once I actually fire the cigar up.

First Smoke: Alec Bradley’s Black Market starts out with some rich cedar, chocolate, leather, nutmeg, and just enough pepper to tease my tongue. The draw isn’t nearly as tight as it was before I lit it up, producing nice clouds of brown smoke with each puff. It does take a few to get to the desired limit, but it’s not plugged by any means. The burnline is pretty thick, but dead even. The ash left behind is very compacted (even with the winds I’m experiencing right now), and a bright white with lighter grey spots. The ash actually held on for well over an inch before giving way.

Halfway There: The pepper is now completely gone in this Black Market and in fact, most of the flavors seemed to have taken a nose dive. I am now left with a smooth chocolate, slight cedar, and a lot of just natural, earthy tobacco. The retrohale is still really potent though, priming with a very deep cedar. I am not feeling any nicotine and all at this point, in fact the only thing I am feeling is a little bit of dry mouth from the cigar. Luckily I have some juice to moisten that up.

Finish: Into the final third of this Alec Bradley Black Market and not much has changed. It’s still an all around smooth cigar, but the dampening of the flavors has really started to rain on this parade. The flavors have remained a slight cedar, slight spice, with lots of strong, natural tobacco flavors. There isn’t much body in this cigar either as even after an hour, which is how long it took me to take this cigar down to the nub, there isn’t any sign of a nicotine kick. The burn however, stayed dead even the entire time without any touch ups or relights. There was no harshness built up what so ever.

Overview: The Alec Bradley Black Market starts out with a ton of potential. Lots of upfront flavor, great construction and appearance, and a perfect burn. It was later in the experience that I realized just how one dimensional this cigar is. Nothing really changed from the start of the smoke through the end, except the smoothing out of the flavors. I would say this is a solid stick, but if you are looking for something that has more depth, this isn’t the cigar for you. There is nothing really wrong with this cigar, but at the same time nothing really stands out either. For the price the Black Market is perfect for the novice cigar smoker for the novice looking for a straight forward, enjoyable experience however, if you are looking for a cigar with some good switchups, and a lot of character, this isn’t for you.

Pairing: Well, as I stated last review I haven’t been feeling well. I have a kidney infection which I think, has pretty much passed at this point. I am still on meds so no alcohol until next weekend, so I paired with the next best thing. Some 100% Cranberry juice. I mention in my reviews a lot that I would pair certain cigars with juice, tea, or coffee outside of the normal libations but I think this is the first time I have actually done it in a posted review. The Cranberry juice added some nice fruity depth to the Black market while pairing in perfectly with some nice tart flavors. If you haven’t paired a cigar with apple, or cranberry juice then I highly suggest you do so.

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