Back in 2009, the folks at Miami Cigar & Co. teamed up with Don Pepin Garcia to create the Nestor Miranda Special Selection, a limited release made by Pepin in Nicaragua. The Rosado version of that series ended up being one of my favorite smokes of that year.

The partnership between Miami Cigar and Garcia is still going strong, as evidenced by the debut of the Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve during the summer. This cigar, available only in a torpedo size (6.1 x 52), is made at the My Father Cigars factory in Nicaragua and priced at about $12. When my local tobacconist put it on special for $9.50, I thought it was high time to take it for a test drive, so I bought a handful to review.

The Grand Reserve makes a good first impression with a beautiful cap, an intricate band of emerald and gold, and a clean Connecticut broadleaf wrapper with minimal veins. Underneath, the Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos are packed evenly to produce a firm feel from head to foot with no soft spots. And I would be remiss to forget to mention the delightfully pungent pre-light aroma of milk chocolate and hay.

Clipping the cap yields an easy draw that concentrates each puff to a relatively fine point on the palate. Once lit, this is where the dry woodsy spice is focused. But while the spice is focused on the tip of the tongue, the rest of the palate certainly gets involved quickly as notes of earth, coffee, and caramel round out the flavor.

Smoking through the nose and paying close attention is rewarded with a taste of cashew. Aside from this nuttiness, more creamy notes come into play at the midway point, making this a truly complex and balanced smoke. So many wonderful elements are present, including spice, cream, sweetness, and earthiness.

As you would expect from a super-premium, the physical properties are excellent. Each of my samples exhibited a solid white ash, a smooth and consistent draw, and a straight burn line that stays lit evenly.

Only 10,000 of these torpedos were produced. I really enjoyed the Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve, so I think I’ll be heading over to my tobacconist soon to see if they have more in stock. If they do, I’ll be OK with shelling out $12 for each—and I’ll be really pleased to find them still listed for $9.50. Don’t pass up on your own chance to try this cigar, which is worthy of four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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Ever since June 2009 when President Obama signed the “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act,” my colleagues and I have written ad nauseam about the danger of granting the Food & Drug Administration jurisdiction over handmade cigars.

Jeff Borysiewicz, owner of the Orlando-based Corona Cigar Co., hasn’t been taking this threat sitting down. As chairman of both Cigar Rights of America and the recently established Puro Pac, Borysiewicz has graciously volunteered his time and money to defend cigar rights. His current efforts are focused on building support for HR 1639, a bill that would exempt premium handmade cigars from FDA regulation.

To draw attention to the bill and raise money in support of it, Borysiewicz partnered with the J.C. Newman Cigar Co. to launch a line called House Resolution. Offered in three vitolas—Chairman (5 x 56), Speaker (7 x 52), and Whip (6.5 x 52)—the blend is made in Nicaragua with a San Andreas maduro wrapper and Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long-filler tobacco.

The House Resolution Chairman is priced at $79.95 for a box of 20 or $37.50 for a 5-pack at Corona Cigar Co. The dark, textured smoke is firm to the touch with no soft spots. The foot emits pungent pre-light notes of peanut and cocoa.

After establishing an even light, a profile of leather, black coffee, and charred wood emerges. Normally I would associate such flavors with full body. But this cigar seems to bundle bold tastes into a smooth package, leaving the overall impact milder than you might expect. Helping to tone down the body is a faint chocolaty sweetness. This sweetness builds as the cigar progresses. All the while the physical properties are excellent, including a straight burn line, an easy draw, and a gray ash that holds nicely off the foot.

The per-stick price when you buy by the box ($4) makes the House Resolution Chairman an easy recommendation. Although it doesn’t have loads of complexity or a whole lot of balance, it sports an interesting flavor that fans of San Andreas tobacco will find delightfully familiar. And it does so while going easy on your wallet and contributing to the cause of cigar freedom. For that, I tip my cap, and I award this cigar three and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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The other day I was browsing our cigar reviews archive and discovered something that surprised me. Despite well over 500 reviews, my colleagues and I have never written a full review of a cigar from the original (Brown Label) Tatuaje Cabinet line.

Even with 19 Tatuaje reviews, including multiple “five stogie” ratings, and a few Brown Label variations (Reserva SW and Reserva Porkchop), the “Selección de Cazadore” line were somehow missed. To remedy this I decided to review the Havana Cazadores (6.4 x 42).

Billed as the strongest of the six original sizes, the Havana Cazadores is “wet-packed” in foil. When added to the other sizes in the line—Unicos, Noella, Taino, Especiales and Regios—the first letters spell Hunter, after one of Tatuaje creator Pete Johnson’s dogs.

The cigar features Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos wrapped in a habano Ecuador wrapper. The samples I smoked for this review were medium brown in color, though others I’ve enjoyed in the past were far darker. Since 2003, the original Cabinet line has been made at Don Pepin Garcia’s El Rey de Los Habanos factory on Calle Ocho in Little Havana.

The cigar is noticeably well-constructed with a Cuban-style triple cap. Despite not being particularly thick, it’s very firm to the touch. As I smoke the cigar, a light gray ash develops and holds steady for over an inch.

The Havana Cazadores starts with a bite of pepper and settles into a medium- to full-bodied smoke. Cedar and cocoa are dominant, but there’s also notes of coffee, clove, earth, and cinnamon. Towards the second half, buttery flavors develop and the body picks up with some added spice.

It’s no wonder that Pete Johnson says this is his favorite of the original Tatuajes. It’s my favorite too, with the smallest size, the Noella, being a close second. The entire Tatuaje Cazadores line has been a staple in my humidor for a few years now, so it’s hardly a surprise that I like it. But it took the attention to detail that is required to sit down and write a review to remind me why I still enjoy this cigar.

Nearly a decade after it was first released, the original Tatuaje still provides flawless construction, excellent balance, and a tasty combination of full flavors that focus nicely on the palate. That’s why the Tatuaje Havana Cazadores earns four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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Don Tomás is one of many brands produced by General Cigar, which is either the largest or second largest cigar company in the world, depending on who you ask.

Being a label in the General Cigar portfolio carries both advantages and disadvantages. As far as disadvantages go, Don Tomás is often overshadowed by the more visible General brands, including Macanudo, Cohiba, Punch, Partagas, and La Gloria. And I think it’s safe to say that many cigar veterans tend to snub their noses at mass-produced cigars like those made by General, no matter how good they may be.

As for the advantages, Don Tomás can thank General for both its wide distribution and its affordable price. For example, the subject of today’s review, the Don Tomás Maduro Robusto, can be found at many online and brick and mortar retailers, and it can be purchased for as little as $2 to $3 when bought by the box of 25.

This cigar measures 5.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 50. It has a smooth Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper around Honduran and Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos. Made at the Centro American Cigars factory in Danlí, Honduras, the Robusto makes a better impression than its price might suggest, with its firm feel and pre-light aroma of light cocoa and coffee.

Once lit, the initial profile is mild and sugary with hardly any spice. The syrupy texture tastes of raisin, dark chocolate, marshmallow creaminess, and some typical maduro sweetness. The draw is a tad tight, resulting in less smoke production per puff than I’m accustomed to. Aside from the draw, the construction qualities are outstanding—particularly for such an inexpensive smoke. The burn line is very straight and the white ash layers nicely off the foot, where it holds strong for over an inch.

I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by the Don Tomás Maduro Robusto, and I wasn’t. The flavors are just OK with little complexity and hardly any variance from start to finish (the only major change is the introduction of some woodsy spice at the end). That said, if you’re looking for an everyday maduro that won’t break the bank, you could do a lot worse. That’s why this smoke earns three out of five stogies.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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One of a small number of Miami-rolled cigars, the Canimao is not easy to find. I’ve seen it in only a couple of shops and a few online retailers. But it’s well worth seeking out.

My first came several weeks ago at The Cigar Loft, a warm, welcoming shop in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg, Florida. It was my good fortune that shop owner Tom Gabriele pointed the Canimao box out to me in the humidor or I might have missed it altogether.

That would have been a shame. I’ve enjoyed this cigar about as much as any I smoked in 2011. It’s distinctive without being odd, different enough to stand out but not so much that you wouldn’t want to smoke it frequently.

Upon lighting up, the immediate and most lasting impression comes from a mix of subtle spices that make the Canimao stand out. Throughout the length of the cigar, other flavors come and go, making for an engaging smoke with a great aroma.

At about $6.75, the cigar is amazingly priced for a U.S.-made product. With an elegant wrapper, the Canimao is a excellently constructed cigar with a fine draw and straight burn. The double corona is a generous 7.5 inches with a nice 50 ring gauge. The name comes from a legendary Indian warrior in Cuba.

According to Canimao’s website the cigar has an Ecuadorian wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and filler from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. In reviews and listings, you’ll see a variety of labels for the Canimao’s strength. To me, it’s in the medium range.

I’d recommend this cigar to just about any smoker, from beginner to grizzled vet. It’s hard to imagine not finding something to enjoy. I rate this four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-George E

photo credit: Canimao Cigars

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These days, Don Pepin Garcia and his son Jaime make many smokes at their My Father Cigars factory in Estelí that are sold under many different labels. Their Nicaraguan outfit may span seven acres, but the influence of the Garcias is felt across the entire industry.

In addition to the smokes they produce for other brands, the Garcias also make several lines that are sold under their own labels, including La Reloba, Jaime Garcia, Le Bijou, and Cedros Deluxe. The most recognizable, and perhaps the finest, though, is the original My Father line, which was introduced in 2008.

My Father was developed by Jaime as a tribute to his father. The elder Garcia reportedly didn’t know Jaime was working on the project until it was near completion. But when Don Pepin sampled the blend—made with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos and a habano/criollo hybrid wrapper from Ecuador—he loved it and was touched when Jaime told him he wanted to call it “My Father.”

The robusto-sized No. 1 (5.5 x 52) sells for around $10. It is a very attractive smoke with a gorgeous band and a smooth, oily wrapper. The pre-light aroma is characterized by notes of caramel and cocoa. Clipping the triple cap yields an easy draw.

After an even light is established, a profile of black pepper, cedar spice, coffee, and chocolate emerges. It tastes dry and tannic on the palate. The aroma from the thick, dense resting smoke is sweet and creamy. The strength and body are powerful, making this one of the rare full-bodied creations that combines boldness and complexity.

That boldness—particularly the nicotine kick—is on full display after the midway point and into the final third, where it pays to smoke slowly to keep the temperature of the foot relatively cool. Still, the My Father No. 1 is no simple sledgehammer. It has the subtlety and nuance that seasoned cigar smokers look for in cigars in this price range. And it also has outstanding physical properties, including a solid gray ash that holds firm and a straight burn line.

I’ve been a fan of this particular smoke for years now, always keeping at least a few on hand. I know I’m not alone in my adoration of this cigar, and I have no reservations about awarding the My Father No. 1 a rare rating of four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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EO Brands has created some memorable lines since it was founded in 2003 by Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa. In relatively short time, the 601 Series, Murcielago, and Cubao cemented the Nicaragua-based brand as a favorite among cigar enthusiasts.

The smoke that usually comes to mind when I think of EO is the 601 Green. That habano oscuro-wrapped cigar is mighty and powerful with black pepper spice, coffee, and leather. While it may not be the most intense stick on the market, you can’t deny the sheer boldness of the so-called “Green Label.”

So when EO, now distributed by Rocky Patel, announced they would be releasing their strongest 601 to date at the 2011 industry trade show, I did a double-take. I also remember thinking that “La Bomba” is a fitting name if this blend is half as strong as it’s rumored to be.

La Bomba’s recipe includes 100% Nicaraguan tobacco and a dark, oily habano wrapper. Four explosive sizes are available: Atom (5.5 x 46), Napalm (5 x 52), Atomic (6 x 60), and Nuclear (6 x 50). Each retails for $7 to $9 apiece and is packaged in boxes of 10, and each is made at Don Pepin Garcia’s My Father Cigars factory in Nicaragua.

The Nuclear vitola has a unique pigtail cap that doubles as a “fuse” and a yellow band across the foot. Once the cap is clipped and the band is removed, it looks much more serious and a lot less gimmicky. Only then do I find myself appreciating the cleanliness of the wrapper, the extreme firmness of the roll, and the pre-light aroma of sweet cocoa and earth.

After taking note of the cigar’s smooth draw, a peppery profile of leather, dry wood, and espresso emerges. Many Don Pepin creations have strength, spice, and full body at the outset. But the power displayed here is more formidable than anything I’ve smoked in recent memory.

As it progresses, La Bomba Nuclear gives off traces of chocolate, nuts, cream, and black licorice. But the unwavering core of the smoke remains similar throughout. All the while the physical properties are superb, including a white ash that holds solid and a straight burn line.

If you’re looking for loads of complexity and nuance, this isn’t your best option. Cigars with this much power usually have the subtlety of an AC/DC song. That said, sometimes I’m in the mood for the screeching vocals of Brian Johnson and the blaring guitar solos of Angus Young. So don’t be surprised if the mood strikes you for a heavy post-meal smoke that can stand up to a stiff drink. The flavors are solid, and you won’t find anything to complain about in terms of construction. All things considered, this cigar is worthy of three and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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“The Ashton Classic is truly a smoke for anytime and anywhere and, like an old friend, never lets you down.” So reads the Ashton website.

I wasn’t thinking these exact words as I was browsing the humidor at one of my local shops, but I might as well have been. Going back to my earlier days with cigars—when I regularly tended toward the mild side of the spectrum—the Ashton Classic was my go-to if I wanted something special. And why not? The blend is reliable, tasty, and well-constructed.

These days, even though I still enjoy milder smokes and I make sure to include them in my rotation, I don’t find myself smoking many Ashton Classics. Not sure why. So, as I was scanning the shop’s humidor, I selected a couple Prime Ministers (6.9 x 48) for just under $10 apiece.

Like the 15 other vitolas in the line, the Prime Minister features aged tobaccos from the Dominican Republic wrapped in a golden Connecticut shade leaf. The cap is applied well and there are no soft spots from head to foot. The pre-light aroma smells of honey and hay.

Using a V-cutter to clip the cap, I find the draw is a bit stiff. This makes establishing an even light a bit more time-consuming than you’d normally expect from such a slender smoke. Once the light is set, traditional Connecticut flavors shine through. These include honey, hay, nuts, and some creaminess.

In the final third, a grassy taste becomes dominant. Then the stiff draw starts to get more difficult. As a result, I take more frequent puffs, and this probably contributes to the traces of stale flavors that emerge toward the end. Next time I’ll probably elect a guillotine cut rather than a V-cut to see if this improves the draw experience. Otherwise, the physical properties are very good, including a solid white ash and a very straight burn line.

Aside from the draw, my recent experience with the Prime Minister format was a good reminder of why I used to rely on the Ashton Classic fairly regularly. Sure, there are plenty of other Connecticut-wrapped smokes on the market, and many of them can be purchased for less. But this blend, when at its best, has a wonderfully balanced profile of traditional Connecticut flavors that’s more unique than you might expect. Keeping all of this in mind, I award the Prime Minister four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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In December, I reviewed the Habano Oscuro from the reinvented Tiant Cigar Group, and I was impressed. I later received an email from Daniel Tiant who was prodding me to try the Habano Rosado blend since, in his words, it has more complexity than the Oscuro.

Daniel is the son of Cuban-born baseball legend Luis Tiant, known to many simply as “El Tiante.” Tiant launched his own line of cigars in 2007 (around the time of the 25th anniversary of his final major league game) and only recently unveiled the two new blends that serve as the cornerstone of the company’s reintroduction: Habano Oscuro and Habano Rosado. Each is made at Don Pepin Garcia’s My Father Cigars Factory with Ecuadorian-seed wrappers and Nicaraguan binders and fillers.

Why scratch the company’s original creations and launch two entirely new blends? “I wanted a more serious image with our cigar company, and that is the reason we recreated our cigar bands, boxes, and overall presentation,” Daniel told me.

Both new blends come in four vitolas that retail for $6.80 to $8.60 apiece: Pyramid (6 x 52), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), and Toro Gordo (6 x 60). They are sold mostly in the New England area, including shops in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, but are also available at several locales in Florida. Daniel is looking to expand distribution nationwide.

The Habano Rosado Toro has a nice triple-cap, a firm feel in the hand, and a clean, silky exterior leaf. The pre-light aroma is mostly earthy with a touch of sweet cocoa. The maroon band is easily removed and the cold draw has just the right amount of resistance.

Where the Habano Oscuro starts with a chary, chewy Nicaraguan zing, the Habano Rosado has a jasmine-like floral taste with notes of toast, cinnamon spice, and a toffee sweetness on the finish. This is an entirely different cigar with a more medium-bodied profile (the Oscuro is a bold, full-bodied smoke). Still, the spiciness makes it no pushover, and the complexity makes it quite interesting.

As the straight burn line works down the cigar and the white ash builds off the foot, I notice that the resting smoke has a pronounced sweetness. I also notice that the taste of the cigar mellows halfway through with some of the spice giving way to more sweet notes. The overall balance of the profile from this point to the end is how I will remember the Toro, and perhaps the main reason why I look forward to smoking more of this blend.

Now I can see why Daniel prefers the Habano Rosado to the Habano Oscuro. I’d have to agree with him, giving the Rosado a slight edge over its partner in crime and awarding it four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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It’s been a few years since my last Dominican-made Montecristo. Too long, perhaps, since I enjoyed many of them, particularly the Montecristo Classic made by Altadis USA.

With that in mind, I was glad to try the new Montecristo New York Edition, introduced recently by Altadis. The concept, a cigar especially for the the New York market, isn’t new as evidenced by Alec Bradley’s Gotham and Broadway by La Aurora.

The Montecristo New York Edition is a large, box-pressed cigar (6 x 60) featuring the classic Montecristo band accompanied by a black band with the New York skyline. Unlike many box-pressed smokes, it is a square-press, with the cigar as wide as it is deep.

Once lit, the Montecristo New York produces smooth and balanced flavors. I found it to be a medium-bodied smoke (though in marketing materials, Altadis calls it medium-full).

Either way, its a balanced mixture of subtle leather, butter, toast, and honey. The flavors are consistent from start to finish, though the body and some graham spice builds towards the final third.

Normally, I’m not a fan of such large cigars, but the box press on this stick makes it manageable and more comfortable in the mouth. Flawless construction also makes for a trouble-free 90-minute smoke.

At $14 each, it’s not cheap, but then you wouldn’t expect a special edition Montecristo to be. Let’s just hope that the price includes New York’s sky-high taxes.

All in all, this cigar has enjoyable flavors with distinctive packaging, and as a New Yorker I’m a fan of the Gotham theme. That’s why the New York Connoisseur Edition earns a very solid four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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