Category Archives: 3 out of 5

Aging Room Quattro F55

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Quickie Reviews are snapshots of cigars. These reviews are a great reference if you just want a general feel for a cigar instead of an in-depth discussion of all its characteristics. Basically, they tell the CliffsNotes version of a cigar’s story.

F55

-Wrapper – 9 year aged Sumatra 2003
-Binder – Dominican
-Filler – Dominican
-Size – Maestro 6 x 52 (torpedo)
-Price – around $9

Takeaway
The wrapper on this cigar is pressed perfectly smooth with slight veining. The milk chocolate color has some mottling, and overall looks absolutely gorgeous. The cold draw is sweet with a little earthy taste. Box pressed torpedoes are one of my favorite vitolas, and these cigars have a little give to them when squeezed.

The first few puffs are chocolate bliss. The cigar then develops a woodsy core surrounded by light spice. The draw on this torpedo is just about perfect, not too loose and not too tight. For a cigar with rich flavors, the smoke is surprisingly light bodied. About an inch in a bright note starts to shine through that I haven’t noticed in the robusto size. It isn’t a citrus flavor, but more of a bright nuttiness.

By the second third the spice has dropped off considerably. The smoke is gradually gaining body and the flavors are getting deeper. A touch of harshness has developed, so I’m going to slow down my cadence. This could also be due to numerous touchups, which wasn’t necessary on the other F55s I’ve smoked.

A sweetness has crept back in at the start of the last third. Cocoa is present again, which is a nice way to finish as the second third was pretty static.

Flavor – Full
Strength – Medium
Body – Medium
Construction – Good

Rating 3.5 – Great cigar, but at close to $14 in the Montana market it might be a little overpriced.

Diesel Hair of the Dog

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Cigars City is an online cigar shop that specializes in same-day shipping, great customer service, and humidity controlled storage of all their cigars. Plus, their prices are great and they only show in-stock stogies on their website, which you can find here. Anthony Welsch contacted me to see if I would do an “honest assessment” of a couple cigars from their humidor, and I gladly jumped at the opportunity. He sent two budget friendly cigars, a Partagas Naturales Robusto and a Diesel Hair of the Dog. First up is the Diesel.

Diesel Hair of the Dog

-Country – Nicaragua
-Wrapper – Ecuador Habano
-Binder – Mexico
-Filler – Nicaragua
-Size – 6.2 x 52 Belicoso
-Price – $4.25 at Cigars City

Appearance, Pre-light
This beautiful cigar is wrapped in a leaf the color of milk chocolate. There are minimal veins and the seams are practically invisible. I get a barnyard aroma off the foot, while the wrapper has a hint of chocolate. The cold draw isn’t offering much, except for a touch of spiciness.

First 3rd
The first few puffs are airy with a slight cocoa flavor. Once it gets going the body deepens to the medium-full area. The draw is loose but the smoke remains cool and smooth, which is surprising since I expected more spice up front from the cold draw. The cocoa remains through the first third, and a coffee flavor joins in after a half inch. I’m not getting a ton of smoke with each puff, and I blame the loose draw for letting too much fresh air get mixed in. The finish is excellent, hanging around long enough to appreciate the mocha-like taste on the palate.

Second 3rd
In the second third a sweet spice creeps into the retro-hale, and the coffee and chocolate notes have faded a bit. While the smoke is still smooth, I can feel the strength of the tobaccos in the back of my throat. It’s just a slight “irritation”, although I hesitate to use that word because of its negative connotation. Towards the end of this third a woodiness appears that is a very nice transition. Also, the retro-hale has an earthy component to it now, almost like leather.

Last 3rd
In terms of construction the Diesel Hair of the Dog is smoking very well. The burn line has wavered only slightly, and the only touch up I did was after I ashed the cigar, just to keep it going. The draw is a lot looser than I prefer, but other than that I have no complaints. A dark fruit flavor has emerged in this third that is fleeting but pleasant. The sweet spice from earlier also pops its head in now and then. I can feel the strength a lot more now, but the body has been a fairly consistent medium-full. In terms of balance, this is one of the few cigars that is consistent in every category, for better or worse.

Diesel Hair of the Dog

Diesel Hair of the Dog

Takeaway
Despite my better judgement, I have to say the Diesel Hair of the Dog is a very good cigar. I’ve had two other Diesels before that were overwhelmingly strong and lacked any flavor nuance, but this one stands way above those. While I wouldn’t recommend this to a novice, a seasoned smoker could really appreciate what this cigar offers.

Flavor – Medium-Full
Strength – Medium-Full
Body – Medium-Full
Construction – Excellent

Rating
There is nothing overwhelmingly amazing about this cigar, but it is still a fine example of a well made, tasty cigar. I would recommend it to other cigar enthusiasts, making this a…
3 out of 5
You can find my ratings scale here.

Tatuaje Tattoo

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Tatuaje Tattoo

-Country – Nicaragua
-Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano
-Binder – ?
-Filler – Nicaraguan
-Size – 5 x 50 Robusto
-Price – $5ish, $7.50 local

Appearance, Pre-light
The Tatuaje Tattoo sports a dark brown, even colored wrapper. Oils are noticeable, as are the small veins and seams. The foot smells of sweet tobacco and the wrapper smells the same, only stronger. The cold draw offers no sweetness, but is very woodsy. This may be a “perfect” draw in my book; open but not loose, and giving the slightest tug of resistance.

First 3rd
Upon lighting, the first puffs are smooth, sweet, and spicy. The sweeter baking spices coat the soft palate, while the more peppery spice come through on the retro-hale. Smoke billows forth from the foot after taking a pull but slows down when the cigar is resting, making it fun to smoke and not at all annoying when it’s sitting in my hand. The finish fades away nicely, reminding me that I’m smoking something tasty without making me reach for a drink. A plum-like darkness appears about 3/4 of an inch in and the sweetness from that flavor lingers on the palate for over a minute. The burn line wavers quite a bit so far, but the single touch-up has had no adverse effect on the flavors. The pepper in the retro-hale has been replaced by a sweet, cedar-like woodiness coming into the second third.

Tatuaje Tattoo

Tatuaje Tattoo

Second 3rd
Into the second third I notice a big drop off of the sweetness. Instead I’m finding notes of charred oak and some leather, but not an earthy leather. The smoke is still extremely smooth, and unfortunately the burn line continues to wander. Some cinnamon flavors pop in now and then, along with the original sweet baking spice. Well into this third a definite earthiness is showing up. While not my favorite flavor in cigars, in this blend it is balancing well with everything else that is going on. Two inches in and the ash has yet to drop, proving that made by the right people, inexpensive cigars can still be premium works of art.

Last 3rd
The final third of the Tatuaje Tattoo is bringing something to the mix I can’t quite place. It’s something I occasionally find in Nicaraguan cigars, and I default to calling it a “smokey-whiskey” flavor because I find alcohol-like tannins mixed with smoked tobacco notes, all wrapped in this one flavor. It is a very savory flavor, and in this cigar it’s like eating a smokey steak after a sweet pie. The strength is becoming noticeable now, but far from overwhelming.

Takeaway
At this price, there is no reason not to stock up on these delicious, dark cigars. A novice might find the strength a bit overwhelming, but anyone else with a penchant for full-flavored cigars will love this.

Flavor – Full
Strength – Medium-Full
Body – Medium-plus
Construction – OK

Rating
I can’t recommend these enough. If you want a bold, tasty cigar that won’t break the bank, then the Tatuaje Tattoo is for you.

3.5 out of 5

Short Smokes for Winter Part 4

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Part 4 – Oliva Serie G Special G Maduro

“Winter is coming…”

…and with winter comes a time to enjoy all the smaller cigars in your humidor! If you live in the northern part of the USA and find yourself without an indoor lounge, it’s almost time to put those churchills and 6 x 60s away. Winter is a great time to get to know some petit coronas, small perfectos, and other cigars that don’t take quite so long to smoke. For the next few weeks I’ll be featuring some of my favorite short smokes for winter because, let’s face it, nobody wants to freeze their fingers off for two hours just to enjoy a good cigar.

Next up is a Full Review of the Oliva Serie G Special G Maduro. This is a small figurado, and a great example of the type of value Oliva brings to the table. The original posting of this review can be found here.

photo 1-8

-Country – Nicaragua
-Wrapper – Connecticut Broadleaf
-Binder – Cuban-seed Habano
-Filler – Nicaraguan Habano
-Size – 3 3/4 x 48 figurado
-Price – $4.30, $5.50 local

Appearance, Pre-light
The Oliva Serie G – Special G has a dark brown Maduro wrapper that is smooth and slightly oily. The wrapper itself smells, and even tastes, of semi-sweet chocolate chips. The cold draw tastes of straw, but is really pleasant with the sweetness from the wrapper. A typical Oliva Serie G band sits right in the middle of this cigar, and it slides off without effort when the time comes. I’ve smoked a lot of these and sometimes the draw can be on the tight side, and this one is no different. It is still perfectly smokable, just a little tight for my preference.
photo 2-8

First 3rd
I normally use a jet flame lighter, but for Special Gs I like to use my soft-flame Dunhill to light the small foot. The flavors are a little muted for the first half inch, but I get a nice bit of cocoa sweetness and straw. Once the burn line gets into the bulge, it really opens up and morphs into a beautiful leather flavor. The draw also opens up but is still a little tight. The finish is mostly leather and is not too short and not too long. The room aroma is still sweet, but the smoke now is all leather. A bit of spice comes out on the retro-hale.

Second 3rd
Once past the bulge, the body of the smoke picks up significantly. The leather has started to fade into the background, and chocolate and spice are becoming the primary flavors. This is a nice cigar to “sip” on, as opposed to taking big drags, and I really recommend it as the flavors come alive with smaller puffs. The chocolate at this point is taking on a dusty cocoa feel through my nose, and a sugary sweetness sits low in my mouth, almost under my tongue. I can also pick up cinnamon now and then, but only as a secondary flavor. I get a pure chocolate taste every so often that is like eating a nice piece of Cadbury’s. Again, this is fleeting when it happens, but oh, so enjoyable.
photo 5-2

Last 3rd
The end of the Special G continues with a dark chocolate flavor. If the cigar gets hot it loses a lot of its taste, so I really need to watch my cadence to keep the temperature down. I had one minor touch up towards the end, but mostly for cosmetic reasons. The cinnamon comes back with some Christmas spices, almost like nutmeg, and continues with the chocolate all the way to the nub.
photo 1-9

Takeaway
I find these to be excellent cigars after breakfast, after work, or after I put my kids to bed. For some reason they just add that little something “special” to top off any minor event. These can be smoked any time of day, but after a heavy meal I would choose something with a little more “oomph.” The flavors are excellent, the price is great, and the construction is hassle-free.

Flavor – Medium
Strength – Mild-plus
Body – Medium
Construction – Very Good

Rating
There’s nothing remarkable about the Oliva Serie G – Special G, but overall it’s a tasty little smoke that scores a solid…
3 out of 5

Alec Bradley Nica Puro

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Alec Bradley Nica Puro

Alec Bradley Nica Puro

-Country – Honduras
-Wrapper – Nicaragua
-Binder – Nicaragua
-Filler – Nicaragua
-Size – 5 x 50 Robusto
-Price – around $7.50

Appearance, Pre-light
I get a mellow chocolate scent off the wrapper, but not much off the foot. Some spice comes through on the cold draw, and there is a touch of resistance that is slightly tighter than “perfect.” The cigar is very firm up and down the length, and the brown wrapper has a mottled look with no veins.

First 3rd
The first few draws open with a creamy, smooth, thick bodied smoke. The flavors are a little muted out of the gate, but I detect some earthiness, a tiny amount of cardamom, and a lot of pepper on my tongue. About an inch in, the cigar takes on a more woodsy profile. Above the wood I can find leather and bitter chocolate. These two flavors dance from background to foreground.

Nica Puro Secondary Band

Nica Puro Secondary Band

Second 3rd
The burn on this Alec Bradley Nica Puro is very even so far, and the salt and pepper ash is wavy. I can see every puff I’ve taken so far in the ash, like the suds rings left on a Guinness glass. There’s a dark fruit flavor coming through now that I can’t put my finger on. It has a tanginess to it that is familiar, yet fleeting. The bitter chocolate had morphed into a dusty cocoa that I usually like, but in this case I’m missing the straight up chocolate. That flavor seems to be what was giving the first half its creaminess.

Last 3rd
Coming into the last third, some smokey whiskey flavors are showing up. There is also some harshness that might be fixed with another month or so of aging. Or I could be totally off my rocker. I just realized the band is actually a double band. The cool thing here is that the secondary band has some latitude and longitude numbers on it. When I put them into Google Maps it landed right on La Trinidad, Esteli in Nicaragua. Very nice touch. The strength is more apparent now but not overwhelming, and that flirtatious dark fruit crops up now and then. Much of the spice had dissipated, making the retro-hale all the more enjoyable.

Yumminess

Yumminess

Takeaway
I enjoyed all 95 minutes of this deep, dark cigar. The complexity wowed me right out of the gate, and while I don’t smoke a lot of Alec Bradley cigars, this is one I will definitely be picking up again. This would be a great smoke to give someone who is looking to delve into stronger, more full flavor cigars, but a novice might find it a touch overwhelming.

Flavor – Full
Strength – Medium
Body – Medium-Full
Construction – Excellent

Rating
The Alec Bradley Nica Puro was a very good cigar. A full-flavor treat, this cigar would please any smoker looking to light up their palate and enjoy some typical, yet unique, Nicaraguan flavors.

3.5 out of 5

Short Smokes for Winter Part 1

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Part 1 – Arturo Fuente Exquisitos Natural

“Winter is coming…”

…and with winter comes a time to enjoy all the smaller cigars in your humidor! If you live in the northern part of the USA and find yourself without an indoor lounge, it’s almost time to put those churchills and 6 x 60s away. Winter is a great time to get to know some petit coronas, small perfectos, and other cigars that don’t take quite so long to smoke. For the next few weeks I’ll be featuring some of my favorite short smokes for winter because, let’s face it, nobody wants to freeze their fingers off for two hours just to enjoy a good cigar.

First off is a Quickie Review of the Arturo Fuente Exquisitos Natural. If you only smoke one type of small cigar all winter, smoke this one. It’s a 20-30 minute smoke that is full of flavor.

Arturo Fuente Exquisitos

Arturo Fuente Exquisitos

-Country – Dominican Republic
-Size – 4 1/2 x 33 cigarillo
-Price – $2.50, $4 local – Box of 50 $108

Takeaway
This tiny cigar won’t win any beauty pageants, but the fellas down at Arturo Fuente really bring the flavors with the Exquisitos. The wrapper covers the foot, and the “cap” is really just a small twist of the wrapper. On first light there is a subtle sweetness, and red pepper is detectable on the retro-hale. The core flavor profile is light wood, but the sweetness is present throughout the smoke. At times I pick up cinnamon and other baking spices, but these are fleeting at best and very light. These little guys usually come pretty wet, so don’t be too worried about leaving one out of your humidor for a few hours before smoking it. If you only smoke a few cigars a week, a box of 50 of these will last most of the winter.

Flavor – Medium-minus
Strength – Mild-plus
Body – Medium-minus
Construction – Gets the job done

Rating
You just can’t beat this little cigar from Arturo Fuente.
3 out of 5

Joya Red (Pre-release)

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Joya Red

Joya Red

I’ve been eagerly waiting for the Joya Red to come into retailers, so lucky for me I got a chance to weasel a few from the Joya de Nicaragua crew at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival last August. Poor Richard’s is getting these in, so if what I’m about to say sounds good to you, go pick some up at Bozeman’s best B&M.

-Country – Nicaragua
-Wrapper – Nicaraguan Habano
-Binder – Nicaragua
-Filler – Nicaragua
-Size – Robusto 5 1/4 x 50
-Price – $5.75, probably around $7.50 or $8 here in Montana

Appearance, Pre-light
The Joya de Nicaragua Joya Red is a beautiful robusto. It is covered with a light brown, reddish wrapper that looks and feels like leather, and the tiny veins are spaced about an inch apart. The filler tobacco in the foot has an awesome brindle-like color to it, and it is very easy to pick out the ligero and viso primings of the leaves. When I sniff the wrapper I pick up hay and chocolate, while the foot smells of molasses. The molasses comes through on the cold draw, along with a light woodiness.

The brindle-foot

The brindle-foot

First 3rd
The first draw is woodsy, dusty, and slightly sweet. Some spice is apparent up front too, but there is no trace of pepper or harshness. About a quarter inch in I’m getting a lot of earthiness and more baking spice flavors. The earthiness is more apparent on small puffs, while the sweetness and spice come out with a bigger mouthful of smoke. So far all the flavor is detectable in the mouth, with the retro-hale serving to augment the overall amount of flavor. The finish is fairly clean, and the smoke has a certain presence in the mouth without coating it.

Second 3rd
The earthiness drops off and returns sporadically in the second third. I’m picking up a sweet bit of twang, and there’s a fruity taste on the finish. At times I get an enjoyably dusty mouthfeel, but every now and then the earthiness gets overly strong. So far there is no hint of nicotine, and the white ash is holding on very well.

Smoking well

Smoking well

Last 3rd
The final third is bringing some cinnamon and cardamom flavors, while the earthiness has moved to the background. On the finish there is a pleasant toast taste that lingers behind on the roof of my mouth. The first two thirds needed a couple of touch ups, but this last inch and a half is burning great. The smoke is getting warmer, but not bitter, and the cigar itself is getting a little squishy. This doesn’t seem like a major flaw in construction, so I would point to the lower priming of leaves in the bunch as the source of this softness. The baking spices are really picking up at the end, and I’ll keep smoking to the nub if they continue.

Takeaway
I have to be honest- earthiness is not my favorite flavor in a cigar. That said, the Joya Red had enough other flavors going on that I could look past that and enjoy the cigar. The burn was good and the room aroma was deliciously sweet, but I just wish more of that sweetness came through on the palate. If I didn’t know this was a Nicaraguan puro, I would have guessed there was a lot of Honduran tobacco in the blend simply because it was so earthy.

Nubbin'

Nubbin’


Flavor – Full-minus
Strength – Mild-plus
Body – Medium
Construction – Good

Rating
I personally don’t like earthy cigars, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t a good smoke. If you like earthiness, this would probably be a 4 on my rating system. The Joya Red is probably not for me, but it still scores well enough for a…

3.25 out of 5