Cigar Reviews - Fire Up That Cigar» Adam

E.P. Carillo Core Line – Cigar Review

Adam — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:31:04 +0000

E.P. Carrillo Core Line

Size: Club 52, 5 7/8 x 52
Price: $126.95 per box of 20, $36 per 5 Pack from Smoke Inn
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Made In: Dominican Republic

Appearance & Construction: The E.P. Carrillo Core Line is an okay looking cigar. Being a Sumatra wrapper, it is normal to see some color variation, almost like a subdued camouflage affect. The band is classy and elegant with a nice variation of fire engine red, yellow and blacks and a touch of gold accents. Very well done.

Smoking Characteristics: The E.P. Carrillo Core Line has an absolute perfect draw to it that produces a ton of smoke. The burn was a little off but only required minor touchup as I smoked. The ash although not very solid did stay on for just about an inch.

Flavor: The E.P. Carrillo Core Line starts out with a blast of spice. I had to take a second look to make sure I wasn’t smoking a Pepin. Once things settle down after about a quarter of an inch or so the cigar shows an earthy core with floral notes and fruitiness that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s not quite berry sweetness because there isn’t much tartness, but more of a rich fruit flavor, almost like a mango or even a peach. As the cigar progresses some coffee notes come in and the earthiness turns to more of a woody core. As I smoke my way through the second third the cigar becomes very smooth and then wham. I hit the final third and the spice returns although not as intense as when I first lit up the cigar. The body of the E.P. Carrillo Core line is medium to full.

Final Thoughts: The E.P. Carrillo Core Line is a winner in my book. When I first started smoking cigars I was really into Sumatra wrappers but as my flavor changed over time, I found myself growing away from them. This cigar may have just reignited my passion for Sumatra wrappers and reminded me of what I loved about them.

Cigar Rating: Very Good

La Aurora Corojo – Cigar Review

Adam — Tue, 03 May 2011 16:32:13 +0000

La Aurora Corojo

Size: Torpedo
Price: MSRP is $6.80 per single cigar
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Made In: Dominican Republic

Appearance & Construction: The La Aurora Corojo has a light brown colored wrapper with a reddish tint to it. The cigar is a tad lumpy feeling but the overall construction seems good with its even seam lines and a neat torpedo head. The band, well, let’s say they are already in the process of redesigning it and will show it off at the 2011 IPCPR Trade Show this year in Las Vegas, NV.

Smoking Characteristics: The La Aurora Corojo Torpedo draws like a dream proving tons of thick smoke. The burn is pretty even for the most part and the ash is fairly solid and compact.

Flavor: The La Aurora Corojo starts with some spice upfront that quickly mellows down to show notes of light wood, creamy vanilla, and a raisin-like sweetness. As the second third approaches some cinnamon comes into play and I can’t help thinking of Sara Lee Raisin Cinnamon bread. As the second third fades into the final third, the spice picks back up but remains balanced with the rest of the cigar. The body of the La Aurora Corojo is mild to medium. Strength is average.

Final Thoughts: The La Aurora Corojo is a damn good cigar and in my mind and could be compared to a Cuban cigar. The cigar is very clean and crisp on the palate like a good Cuban and has the flavor profile of a Cuban cigar I have smoked, but I can’t put my finger on the name of it. Also, big thanks to Merley of Miami Cigar & Company for hooking me up with this cigar for our review today. I recently met Merley at an even at Titletown Tobacco and she is one of the sweetest ladies in the business. The La Aurora Corojo is balanced perfectly and has a good amount of complexity for the money. If you enjoy a cigar in the medium category, go getcha some!

Cigar Rating: Great

Nestor Miranda Day, May 6th

Adam — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:50:09 +0000

Nestor Miranda Day, Friday May 6th 2011

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO!

Nestor Miranda Day will be held Friday May 6, 2011. Nestor Miranda is offering a FREE CIGAR (Art Deco), when you purchase any cigar, ANY. It doesn’t matter which brand, all you have to do is buy one cigar and he will give you a Nestor Miranda Art Deco for free. The offer is only good at participating retailers so make sure to check if you local shop will be participating.

Viaje White Label Project Candela – Cigar Review

Adam — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:47:02 +0000

Viaje White Label Project Candela

Happy Saint Patrick’s day everyone! On a day where green clothing, green beer, Shamrock Shakes, Irish Whiskey and corn beef and cabbage are a staple, one thing is for sure, Green cigars are not. Until recently, there has not been a major release in years featuring the once popular Candela wrapper. Candela wrappers were extremely popular in the late 50’s to the early 70’s. Candela was at one point called American Market Selection because of their extreme popularity in the United States. Nearly all cigars from that era that were smoked in the states were candela cigars. Candela wrappers have green appearance because of the unique way they are cured. The curing barns are sealed and vented from the bottom to promote up and down air exchange. Either small charcoal fires or propane heaters are used to start the process. The temperature is slowly raised in the barn to about 165° F over a 60 to 72 hour period. The green part comes from the chlorophyll that is trapped inside the leaf as the tobacco cures. At this stage the tobacco is extremely dry and brittle. The tobacco is then re-humidified so it can be handled without damaging the leaves.

Recently there have been two additions to the extremely small inventory of Candela wrapped cigars on the market. Illusione was the first to release a candela wrapped cigar earlier this year, then Viaje released its White Label Project just in time for St. Patricks day which is what we are reviewing for you today. The White Label Project from Viaje is a new; you guessed it, Limited Edition series of cigars that will be experimental blends, mash ups, factory errors and the likes. Now, I don’t have much experience with Candela cigars and I only remember having one when I first stared smoking cigars and quite frankly, I remembered I didn’t like it. Let’s see if Viaje can change my mind about candela cigars.

Viaje White Label Project Candela
Size: 5×50 Robusto
Price: About $7.50 per single cigar
Wrapper: Candella
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Made In: Honduras

Appearance & Construction: As you would imagine, the first thing that you notice about the Viaje White Label Candela is it is green. Not a bright vibrant green but a baby diarrhea green; I know, appetizing right? There are some medium sized veins in the pale green wrapper of this cigar but nothing major. The construction seems top-notch as there are even seam lines and a nicely prepared triple cap. The band is boring and simple and actually doesn’t look very good on this color of a cigar, but I get it, it’s White Label Project with concept blends being introduced in the series.

Smoking Characteristics: The draw on the Viaje Candela is great; very smooth with almost no resistance. The burn is thick and even. The ash, although flaky, does hold on for a decent amount of time.

Flavor: The Viaje Candela starts out with some spice and your typical Nicaraguan flavor profile of coffee, earth and some leather. At this time I don’t really notice a huge difference with the candela wrapper. Where I do notice it is on the finish where some tea- like, vegetal flavor is present. As you smoke the cigar down you start to notice the candela wrapper. The flavors get a little sweeter but are also a touch flat.

Final Thoughts: The Viaje White Label Project Candela is a good cigar. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this cigar but I was mildly impressed. Did it change my mind about candela cigars? A little bit, but I would not rush out to get more that is for sure. It’s a good novelty smoke but nothing I could see myself smoking on a regular basis which is why I rate the cigar ‘Good.’

Cigar Rating: Good

Quesada Tributo Alvaro- Cigar Reviw

Adam — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:00:05 +0000

Quesada Tributo Alvaro – Cigar Review

Today I have the Quesada Tributo from SAG Imports, the makers of the ever famous Casa Magna and Fonseca brands. Headed by Manuel Quesada and his family (The 5th Generation), SAG Imports was started in 1993 to distribute the Quesada’s cigars. SAG stands for “Sobrinos de Antero Gonzales” or “Descendants of Antero Gonzales,” who was the original member of the family to go into the tobacco business during the 1880’s in Cuba. The Quesada Tributo is a cigar meant to pay “tribute” to family members that have passed on as well as the cigar enthusiasts that enjoy their cigars. The wrapper is the most noteworthy component of this cigar as it is a Ecuadorian Hybrid that was made using four varieties of seeds; Habano 2000, Corojo, Habano Vuelta Arriba and Sumatra. Now I am not a horticulturalists by any means but as I understand it, you have to basically cross pollinate the 4 different plants. Here is my best explinatin: A stamen is the male organ of a flower. The stamen is the portion of the flower that has powdery pollen formed on it. If you can’t see the pollen with the naked eye, use a magnifying glass. The stigma of the flower is the female organ. Pollen gets deposited on the stigma and travels down a tube to fertilize the flower. I’m not quite sure how all those varietals formed one plant but I would imagine it would have taken years to make one plant.

Cigar: Quesada Tributo
Company SAG Imports
Size: Alvaro, 6×52 Torpedo
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Hybrid (Habano 2000, Corojo, Habano Vuelta Arriba, & Sumatra)
Binder: Honduran Ligero
Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican Ligero’s
Made In: Dominican Republic – Matasa factory
Price: About $8 per single cigar

Appearance & Construction: The Quesada Tributo is an amazing looking cigar, one of the best I have seen in a while. The chocolate brown colored wrapper has very minimally sized veins and a light sheen of oil. The cigar is ultra smooth to the touch and is solidly constructed.

Smoking Characteristics: The Quesada Tributo has a nice even draw that produces a satisfactory amount of smoke. The burn is pretty uneven and required some touch-ups along the way but nothing major. From the bad burn came a chunky ash that I was forced to get tap off along the way so I was never really able to make an assessment on the strength of the ash.

Flavor: The Quesada Tributo starts out with a nice clean spice and some wood. The spice is not black pepper, rather a clean heat like cayenne pepper. Once the cigar settles in notes of espresso, cocoa, nutmeg and cinnamon add to the woodsy core of this cigar. The cigar has a very complex profile and the flavors are very round and synergistic. The second third adds some leather to the core of the cigar while the nuances still remain the same. On the final third of the cigar, things change up a bit. The body becomes heavier and the flavors change to more of a dried fruitiness and toasted wood. The body of the Quesada Tributo is medium to full while the nicotine strength is a bit stronger than your average cigar.

Final Thoughts: What a cigar! Complex, balanced and a great flavor profile for the Quesada Tributo Alvaro. Everything went together so well with this cigar and the flavor changes throughout the cigar were enough to keep me on my toes and typing away. I will say I was a little disappointed with the burn of the cigar, however some time in the humidor should shore up those problems; but what a nice smoke.

Cigar Rating: Very Good

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PDR 1878 Reserva Dominicana Capa Oscura – Cigar Review

Adam — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:17:26 +0000

PDR 1878 Reserva Dominicana Capa Oscura – Cigar Review

The PDR 1878 Reserva Dominicana Cap Oscura (wow that’s a mouthful) is a limited release cigar from Abe Flores of Pinar Del Rio. The first batch was released in December of 2010 and was a production of 1,500 to 2,000 boxes of cigars. However, word is that he may do a full release at the 2011 IPCPR. If you are an avid reader of Fire Up That Cigar, you know that the original PDR 1878 made our Top 25 Cigars of 2010 list. How does this blend compare? Read on to find out.

Size: 6×54 Toro
Price: About $5 per single cigar
Wrapper: Dominican Habano Oscuro
Binder: Dominican Habano
Filler: Corojo, Habano, Criollio 98
Made In: Dominican Republic

Appearance & Construction: The PDR 1878 Capa Oscura is a rustic looking cigar. The wrapper is a darker brown color with some medium sized veins. The cigar has a softer feel to it but I have come to expect that from Pinar Del Rio, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just the way his cigars are made. The pigtail cap on these cigars are very nicely done and the closed foot is something that I always appreciate. The band is a fairly simple red, white and silver that is traditional yet rich looking.

Smoking Characteristics: The PDR 1878 Oscura has an effortless draw and one that I particularly like. The burn is fairly even and did not require any touch-ups. The ash is fairly weak and breaks off before the one inch mark.

Flavor: The PDR 1878 Reserva Dominicana Capa Oscura (not sure why I typed that all out again) has a cedary core with some flavors of nuts and a real subtle fruity sweetness. Not the most complex flavor profile but good non-the-less and nicely balanced. There isn’t much change between the thirds so we will leave it at that. The body of the PDR 1878 Capa Oscura is medium and the strength is average.

Final Thoughts: Abe has another solid smoke on his hands with the PDR 1878 Capa Oscura. The thing that kept on going through my mind while reviewing this cigar was how easy of a smoke this is. The draw is great, the flavor profile is not overly complex, the body is a solid medium, there is hardly any nicotine kick to this cigar and the price is fantastic. This has all the makings of a solid everyday smoke for me. It’s something I could grab and smoke while doing a project in the garage or screwing around in the yard. Now if you are looking for a nice full bodied complex smoke to relax with after a hard day’s work, I’m not quite sure this is the cigar you are looking for. But if you want a cigar that has good flavor, budget friendly and a cigar you don’t have to pay too much attention to, the PDR 1878 Capa Oscura is the cigar you are looking for.

Cigar Rating: Very Good

Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro – Cigar Review

Adam — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:52:56 +0000

Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro – Cigar Review

Wrapper: Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Made In: Honduras
Size: 5.5×54 Robusto
Price: About $8 per single cigar

Appearance & Construction: The Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro is a boxed press beauty that sports a jet-black wrapper with some small veins running throughout. The wrapper has some wrinkles in it from the box pressing but overall it seems to be constructed very well. The band is a nice cream color with some gold and brown accents.

Smoking Characteristics: No surprises here as the Rocky Patel Olde Word Reserve Maduro has a perfect draw that produces a healthy amount of smoke. The burn is uneven and required a few touch ups to keep things going. The ash is a darker gray color but holds on for the standard inch.

Flavor: The Olde World Reserve Maduro starts off with a complex array of earth, coffee, cocoa, sweet leather, and a black pepper spice. The cigar is very rich and bold but remains medium bodied on the palate. In the second third, the cigar mellows out a bit more but still shows nice character. The final third the cigar picks back up and the earthiness and coffee are the main flavors in this last third.

Final Thoughts: The Olde World Reserve Maduro is one of my favorite Rocky Patel cigars. The cigar is rich and complex, but could use a bit more balance and finesse. The finish of this cigar is simply amazing; nice and woody flavor will last till your next puff. This cigar doesn’t get as much hype as it should and I think it’s because he has a plethora of cigars in his stable. But you know what, I am okay with that. He has something for everyone in his line up and when you are as big as he is, you can do that sort of thing. A lot of people get on Rocky’s case about being so big but I think it is a testament of how well he does what he does. The same thing is happening with Pepin right now but I don’t see a lack of quality in his tenured lines. These guys have built a massive following because of the great cigars they produce and it’s no wonder they are at the top.

Cigar Rating: Very Good

Murceago – Cigar Review

Adam — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:40:25 +0000

Murcielago by EO Brands – Cigar Review

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Made In: Nicaragua
Size: Belicoso, 5 ½ x 52
Price: About $9.50 per single cigar

Appearance & Construction: The Murcielago is one dark looking beauty. The wrapper is as dark as the night and is filled with a large amount of moderately sized tooth. The cigar is slightly box-pressed and seems solidly packed with tobacco.

Smoking Characteristics: The Murcielago has a nice smooth draw with a slight bit of resistance; I would call this draw perfect on this cigar. The burn is very even throughout the cigar however the ash falls off a little shy of the one inch mark.

Flavor: The Murcielago starts off with some notes of earth and pepper. Once the cigar gets going a bid the cigar transitions to some woody tones with some dark cocoa flavors. The finish is a bit short on this cigar and is only mildly creamy. The second third was much of the same, however as I end the second third and begin the final third, the finish becomes a bit longer and a little richer. The pepper makes a return and is quite strong through the final third. The body of the Murcielago is full while the strength is average.

Final Thoughts: Overall I did not enjoy the Murcielago. The flavors were flat and dry on the palate, and the finish was extremely short. The lack of any sort of sweetness in this cigar also hurt its rating with me. I prefer a Maduro that has a moderate amount of sweetness to it and this cigar did not offer that. For me, my money would be much better spent on the Cubao Maduro from EO Brands; it’s sweet and rich on the palate. However, I know that there are people out there that do not like a sweet flavored Maduro that will like this smoke. If that’s you, give this one a shot.

Cigar Rating: Average

Zino Classic Premium Selection No. 6 – Cigar Review

Adam — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:33:09 +0000

Zino Classic Premium Selection No.6 – Cigar Review

I’m typically not a mild bodied cigar smoker. My sweet spot is usually the medium to full range so when I review a mild smoke, I typically do it as my first cigar of the day in the morning. I do this so I can try to experience the cigar as a mild bodied cigar smoker would in the evening. Mild bodied cigar smokers tend to have a more sensitive palate that tends to get more irritated by full bodied cigar. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, it’s just the way it is. If I was to smoke a mild bodied cigar in the evening chances are my palate would be so worn down from a day of food, beverages and cigars that I wouldn’t taste the cigar as a mild bodied smoker would. What I am getting at here is that you have to know your palate. I see many guys smoke heavy stuff and then go to a mild bodied cigar and say this thing sucks. Well, no it doesn’t. Your palate is worn out and you can’t taste the lighter side of cigars at that particular time. Enough babbling let’s get to the review.

Cigar: Zino Classic Premium Selection
Company: Davidoff
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Made In: Dominican Republic
Size: No. 6, 5×50 Robusto
Price: $8.15 per single

Appearance & Construction: The Zino Classic is an average looking cigar. The Colorado colored wrapper has virtually no veins but has some discoloration because of lumpiness of the cigar. The roll looks good though and the band is a simple yet classy band with its gold lettering on top of a maroon background.

Smoking Characteristics: The Zino has a great draw with very little resistance. The Burn was even and did not need any touching up. The gray ash was fairly solid and held on for the standard inch or so.

Flavor: The Zino Classic starts off with some light notes of earth, sugar, butter, and some toast. There is a little bit of pepper on the palate which helped to give this cigar a little kick in the pants, but for the most part this is a typical mild Connecticut wrapped cigar. The cigar remains the same throughout the entire cigar so I will not bother going into thirds with this cigar. The body is mild and the strength is average.

Final Thoughts: I did not have a good experience with my first Davidoff cigar, the Davidoff Millennium Series, so I was pretty skeptical going into this review. Well my skepticism was eased a bit as I enjoyed my experience with the Zino Classic. The price of this cigar is bordering on my comfort zone but managed to please. As stated in the introduction I am not a mild bodied cigar smoker and it is very rare that I get an occasion to smoke a cigar in the morning so I will probably not be going for a box of these anytime soon. I will however be picking up more of these for when I do get that occasion and want something a little nicer.

Cigar Rating: Average/ Good

Adam — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:28:26 +0000

Nick’s Sticks Maduro Robusto – Cigar Review

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Made In: Nicaragua
Size: 5×52 Robusto
Price: $4.75 per single Cigar

Appearance & Construction: The Nick’s Sticks Maduro Robusto is you average looking cigar. A nice oily dark brown wrapper covers the cigar. The wrapper has some medium sized veins throughout the cigar and the roll looks pretty good.

Smoking Characteristics: The Nick’s Sticks Maduro has a pretty snug draw to it but produces a good amount of smoke. The burn is pretty even and the ash is solid and compact. The one thing that I noticed about this cigar and is something I usually don’t comment about but this cigar has a ton of resting smoke. Despite that, the cigar burn time was actually much slower than most cigars this size. Pretty odd, but I figure I’d let you know.

Flavor: The Nick’s Sticks Maduro starts off with nice deep flavors of coffee, dark chocolate and some wood. Things remain generally the same till about the half way point when I notice some pepper in the background. Nothing major just a little tingle here and there, other than that the cigar remains the same for the rest of the cigar.

Final Thoughts: I know, I know the price point on this cigar is great, but in the end the Nick’s Sticks Maduro just didn’t do it for me. For a dollar more throw me a Perdomo Habano Maduro that I think has more depth of flavor and I’ll be as happy as a fat kid in a candy store. The cigar by no means was bad; it was a decent, yet average cigar.

Cigar Rating: Average

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