Aging Room M356 Rondo

It has been a good long while since I posted. I have been very busy, but during that time I have been smoking and taking notes. Let's get back to it.

The cigar I had was an Aging Room M356 Robusto. This cigar is a Dominican Puro, the wrapper being a habano.

The cigar was a little soft to the squeeze, but did not feel loose. The wrapper was very oily.

This cigar starts out with a spicy flavor. A few puffs in it becomes more nutty and is starting to give off hints of coffee. They did not just pop up either, but transitioned well into adding each flavor.In the second third of the cigar the coffee started to drift away, as well as the nutty flavors. These were replaced with more of a wood flavor and hints of roasted nuts. These flavors stuck in your mouth, but in a pleasant way. In the last third the spice changed to be a little bit more like a white pepper, and the flavor became more toasty. The roasted nut flavor fell off, but the wood remained the same.

This cigar had great construction. The burn was very good, the draw was smooth, and the ash was perfect. Held on about halfway before I knocked it off.

This cigar will run around $8-9 in Minnesota, maybe as high as $10 in some shops. Considering the complexity of this cigar, and the time it took to smoke it (about 50 minutes), it is a good buy. This cigar was well made, had great flavors, and was enjoyable the whole way through. I would buy these, easily. I might even be willing to pick up a box in the future. This cigar goes great with a dark roast coffee.

Final Grade: A+

Authors note: I am aware of the error in the numbers I wrote. I was typing faster than thinking. I apologize for the mistake.

Cremo Classic Intrepidus

I got a cigar made by Cremo, which is a new company due to launch January next year. Luckily I got to review their smoke.

This cigar was made with a Habano wrapper, the binder is Nicaraguan, and the filler is Dominican and Nicaraguan. As a fun note, the cigar is American. Made in Miami at El Titan de Bronze cigar factory.

This cigar started out with almost a sweet cream flavor. This was accompanied by an almond/walnut tone, a hint of straw, and a subtle spice. After the first fourth things began to change. The cream was not as sweet, but not bitter either. The amount of cream increased, bringing with it subtle notes of toasted nuts and a little pepper. The last third of the smoke had the almonds and walnut come back, keeping with it the creamy flavors. The aftertaste of this smoke was of a sweet cream and butter. At times I could have sworn it tasted a little like peanut butter.

This cigar was very well made. The wrapper was tight and very even. Some veins here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary. The wrapper felt like a soft velvet or a suede. No soft spots, even after it warmed up. The draw is a little firm but produces a decent smoke and there is no lack in flavor. The burn was even and needed no correction and the ash was very nice.

I had the Intrepidus sized cigar (52 x 6) which lasted me a good 45 minutes to an hour. This smoke will run between $10-$12. Very nice prices for this smoke. This mild to medium smoke provided very complex flavors, and was very pleasant to smoke. Wonderfully made and great flavors. I suggest this cigar to anyone that sees it.

Final Grade: A+

NOTES: I found out on their website, when you register, you sign up for the chance to get a free box of Robusto cigars. They are only giving away one, so I already put in my e-mail for it. Best way to get info is through their Facebook page. Also, since my camera is broken they provided me with a picture of their cigar. Exactly like mine.

Kristoff Ligero Maduro

I was at Little Havana Tobacco for a Kristoff event. They had all their cigars out, and since I like full bodied cigars, they suggested the Ligero Maduro Churchill.

The wrapper is a Brazilian Maduro while the binder is Dominican. The filler is made up of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos.

This cigar started off with a nice spice and earthy mix. Within a third of the cigar a toasty flavor came out, as well as notes of coffee. Just before the halfway point, small hints of chocolate came into the mix. The spice could overpower some of these more subtle flavors, which can be frustrating. The after taste kept on the earthy and coffee notes, with the spice being in the background.

This cigar had a veiny and oily wrapper. Sliding the fingers across the wrapper, it felt a little slick, but soft. The construction felt firm throughout, so no soft spots in that sense. It had a mildly firm draw, but could still produce a good smoke. The burn was very good.

This smoke was $13.50, which is a little steep. It is a good smoke though for those that like full flavor, but some of the good, subtle, flavors are masked during the smoke. Those flavors are great additions, and I wish they would be more consistent. The flavors that do remain are good though. I like how it opens up, but I wish it would stay a little more, and for that price it should. Still a good smoke.

Final Grade: B

Cusano 18 Maduro

Now, telling what this cigar is made of is kind of different. They have it on the box and I might have made an error. I will be sure to check it out again, but I will put what I have down here for now. I forgot to check the box at Little Havana Tobacco when I picked it up.

The wrapper is a Connecticut Broadleaf, and the second wrapper (in the filler) is a Brazilian Mata Fina. The binder is a San Vicente Olor and the filler is Oro Seco, Mata Fina Brazil (second wrapper) and Ploto Dominicano.

The start of this cigar was very earthy. The first three to four puffs were almost nothing but earth. That went down quickly and other flavors came out. A leather flavor came out with black pepper, and minor hints of coffee. This stayed consistent throughout the whole cigar. I wish the earth flavor would come down a little, but the other flavors were still noticeable. The aftertaste was earth and coffee. It was a good aftertaste that remained for a little bit, but never got bitter or tart.

This cigar was a little veiny, but was well made. Firm construction and a firm draw, with a good smoke. This cigar needed no correction.

The cigar I had was a Churchill size and it cost me $11.50. For this quality of a smoke, it is a very good price. I think this one is a good buy for many people. It smokes like more on the heavy side of a medium cigar. This is good for people wanting to try a full flavor smoke. The price is great for that size too. I just wish the earth would tone down. It is a good smoke, but nothing spectacular though for a Maduro. It has some common flavors, so this isn't going to get the highest rating, but it is going to be up because of how well the cigar stayed during the burn, and how consistent the flavors were, and with that that it had some complexity.

Final Grade: A

San Lotano Habano Torpedo

I went into Little Havana looking for something new to smoke, and Steve guided me to this brand. From what I know it is only sold in stores. So, I picked up the one that was a medium blend, right in the middle, and gave it a try.

The wrapper on this is Brazilian, while the binder is Honduran. The fillers are Honduran, Dominican, and Nicaraguan.

As I lit this cigar up up I got a wonder taste of a mild pepper and a toasty note with it. As the cigar burned, it opened up to flavors of espresso and leather. The leather was the most subtle of the flavors, but even if you miss it there is no problem. The aftertaste consists of spice and leather. It seems to last too short with the leather, and too long with the spice. Neither stay around long enough to taste badly so that is not something to fret about.

The construction on this was good. Had a easy draw, produced a good smoke, and burned very evenly. The appearance of the cigar was very pleasing as well, with the wrapper being very even. The feel of the wrapper was like that of a fine, if not a tad rough, velvet. It had a fine toothy-ness to it.

The price on this 50 minute smoke was $12.50, plus tax. Now, that price is a little high, but not enough to deter me from having another one. This smoke is worth having.

Final Grade: A+

Cuba Aliados Anniversary

This cigar was the last Aliados I had in my humidor, and I figured it was time to have it.

The wrapper on this cigar was a Maduro 3 year aged Corojo, the binder being an Ecuador Sumatra, and fillers which consist of Brazilian, Dominican, Nicaraguan tobaccos.

This cigar started out with a nice earthy and cedar flavor, with a light nutty flavor coming in shortly after. Just before the halfway point flavors or roasted almonds and a light pepper note come into the mix. The aftertaste is a nice mix of nutty tones and spiced almonds, with a hint of cedar throughout. The taste sticks around for a bit.

The draw on this cigar is fairly firm, but you are still able to get a decent smoke. The burn was consistent with only one correction needed, and I am guessing it is because my lighter was dying and the lighting was not perfect.

I had the Short size (4 x 48) and the retail price is around $4. Since Minnesota has its tax system and stores have their markup system, this cigar will probably be closer to $6-$7. That is a little steep of a price for this type of smoke, but reasonable. It is a short smoke, but a tasty one. At the beginning the smoke seems a little one sided, but not for long, so just keep puffing. I say if you see this one, get it and try it out.

Final Grade: A-

I want to thank Reyes Family Cigars for sending this sample to me.

Puros Indios

This was sent by the company for a review. Now, I did a cigar of their before (the Miami), so I was looking forward to this.

The cigar is made from an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper and binder, and filler from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Brazil, and Nicaragua.

This cigar was evenly constructed, and there was little in the way of veins. The wrapper was tight and even. It felt like a fine, little bit rough, velvet.

The first draw tasted the same as the tobacco on my lips, woody. There was a strong wood flavor and a hit of bitter earth. Over the whole thing was a peppery flavor. Now, this cigar had bitter flavors, but not in a bad way. It mainly held a strong woody flavor though. The aroma was mildly toasty.

This cigar had a very, very good draw. The burn was very even and had no issues. The only correction I had to do was when I had one outside, and that is not the fault of the cigar.

I had the Piramide #2 and Gordo sizes, which can range from $6-$8, depending on the area. Now, for the price, this is not too bad. It is kind of a one note act, which is disappointing, and people say the aroma is best left outside. I found this cigar to be a good one of reasonable price that is good in a setting of golf or poker. This is not one to sit and soak in, for it is not overly complex, but you can still get the main good flavor while doing other things. So, I think since it is a one note, grade goes down, but quality and price bring it up.

Final Grade: B+

Note: The manufacturer states that retail price should be $5 for a Gordo size. Now, I am including tax and mark up. Without any markup, it would be around that. If they did no markup, their profit would be nil in the state of Minnesota.

I would also like the thank Reyes Family Cigars for sending me a sample.

Marco V Platnium Label

They have three cigars in this size (60 x 5" V. Gigante), so I am doing the third one.

The wrapper is a rare Arapiraca, Brazilian Maduro,the binder is De Olor, which is Dominican and the filler is a blend of four tobaccos: Piloto Cubano from the Cibao Valley, Dominican Republic and Esteli, Nicaraguan Ligero. Information can be found at http://www.marcovcigars.com. That is where I pulled this info from.

This cigar is well made. No soft spots whatsoever. Even wrap, and a nice feel. On the lips it felt a little thin though. Also, there was a vein along one side. That is not always a problem, but I had to see what it would do.

This cigar starts off with a rich spice. Holding the smoke in your mouth you get a nice roasted flavor, hints of nuts, wood, and very mild hints of earth. The aftertaste is nice and simple. The spice stay with you, but you get a nice nutty flavor with it. A nice mix.

The draw was great. Nice, cool, and produced a wonderful smoke. The burn became a little uneven, but I took a lighter to it and had no more issues. Oddly enough it wasn't where there were any veins. The ash got far, very far. To the label, which shows this is a very well made cigar. It burned very slowly, which brought my smoke time to just over an hour.

The only issue lies in the flavors. The spice can overshadow some of the other flavors at times, but it is by no means overwhelming, and quiet pleasant in and of itself. That overshadowing will lower the grade a bit, but not much. For $8, this is a good smoke.

Final Grade: A-

Note: This picture is of me enjoying this smoke at Little Havana in Anoka, MN. All the cigars had an ash this size or greater. This is not the largest ash, but it is up because I am the one smoking.

Macanudo 1968

A friend brought these in an said they were too strong for him. Bring the one that likes strong cigars, one was passed my way.

This cigar has a Honduran San Agustin Havana Seed wrapper, a Connecticut Habano binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Ometepe.

The wrapper on this cigar felt soft, but a little crisp. The person I got it from keeps his cigars in good condition, so I know it would not be dry.

This cigar had a mild espresso flavor, with some earthy and spicy notes. There was a hint of bitter flavor throughout. The aftertaste consisted of a smokey flavor and an earthy note that lingered.

The construction on this cigar was moderate at best. It burned well, but the draw was terrible. I had to put it through the cigar poker. That helped out a lot, but not for very long. The draw became firm again in about four puffs.

This is a new shape for this cigar. A Trompetta. This is a Pyramid shaped cigar. It runs about $10, so the price is a tad steep, but not for the tobaccos in this smoke.

The flavors came out more when I had a good smoke. It is hard to judge the flavor on this cigar and I would have to give it another go when writing on that (I will expand on it the next time I get the chance), but for the one I got is the one I will grade.

Final Grade: D

Arganese Estilo Dominicano

This is a new cigar we got into Little Havana Tobacco, so I naturally had to try it.

This has a Connecticut wrapper, a Sumatra binder, and Dominican filler. Also, this cigar had a medium filler instead of a long filler. Just something to note.

The wrap felt nice and soft. I clipped the end and lit the cigar up. The first flavor that hit my taste buds was a nice creamy flavor. The mild cedar flavor came in next, mixed with something that could be described as a light coffee flavor. The aftertaste consisted of cream and a bitter portion that reminds me of Lipton Ice Tea. I know, odd way of describing it, but that is the only way I can put it. Very light on that flavor though.

The burn on this cigar was great. Even and consistent. The draw was amazing as well. It was easy to get a great smoke.

The price on this cigar is $10. Great price for a torpedo.

Final Grade: A

Macanudo Maduro

I have tried this cigar several times, and it has be difficult to determine what to write. Needless to say results have been different each time.

This cigar is made with a Maduro Connecticut Broadleaf, Dominican fillers, and a Mexican binder. This produces a very mild Maduro.

When looked at this cigar I notice that the wrapper was uneven in color on some of them. All of them felt tight though, so maybe it would not matter.

Each one I offer gives a strong earthy tone to it. Sometimes it is like a light coffee. Sadly, this seems to disappear on some. Some of them turn around and become bitter and tart. With the particular size I had I knew to puff slowly. I did that and even still it turned on me. Sometimes though, it is great. Earthy, coffee, hint of sweet. Others, just earthy then bitter.

The burn was just fine on this smoke but the draw is very firm. It takes a decent amount of effort to produce a good smoke, and when you do it causes it to turn sour.

This cigar was a Baron De Rothschild (which is 6.5 x 42) and it runs around $13.50. That is way overpriced for such a cigar. Especially with the inconsistencies. If you get a good one, it is still overpriced.

This one gets a mixed grade. It seems like 1 out of 3 has issues. If it is a good one, it still only gets a C+ to a B-. This though will drop.

Final Grade: F

Marco V Gold Label

Time to go back to the Marco V line. Since they are headquartered in Minnesota, and that is my home state, I feel I am obligated to review all of them in time.

The wrapper is a rare Arapiraca, Brazilian Dark Maduro. The binder is a De Olor, Dominican. The filler is a blend of 4 Premium Tobaccos: Piloto Cubano from the Cibao Valley, Dominican Republic and rare Matanorte, Brazilian Ligero. I am so glad their website (www.marcovcigars.com) tells everything.

This cigar has a nice wrap, feels like a soft leather. Very thick too.

This cigar starts out with a nice spice and earthy flavor. It moves to a smokey cedar and leather with a hint of cream (very small hint at that). At the end you get nutty flavor. Very even in all the flavors. The leather is the only one that is subtle, but the rest are easy to sense. The aroma is very rich as well.

The burn and draw are very good. The draw is a little firm, but not enough to stop you from getting a good smoke.

The price on this cigar is only $8. This is for a V. Gigante which is a 5"X60. This is an hour long smoke. Great price for it. Since cheaper Maduros are usually bad (and really bad at that) this one amazes me. You could easily sell this for $10-$12.

Final Grade: A+

H. Upmann

I picked up another cigar that is famous for its Cuban counterpart. With Cuban-seed Dominican and Brazilian filler, a Dominican binder, and an Indonesian wrapper, it was bound to be interesting.

This cigar had a very even cedar taste with a hint of sweetness at the end. The aftertaste the lingers is very smooth. It has some hints of leather, and even coffee. The coffee is very, very small though. Very interesting flavor. It starts with a tartness though, but that is evened out by the sweet flavor in the end.

The wrapper was nice and soft. Firm feeling throughout. The burn was incredibly even. One of the most even burning cigars I have had. The draw was very firm. Too firm in my opinion. It is tough to get a really good smoke out of this.

The price is $14 for a toro. That is a little steep, but with consistency this brand holds, it is understandable.

In the end, the firm draw keeps one from getting a great flavor. That upsets me because with the flavors involved, I would love to expand on them with my taste buds. That is the flaw with this smoke. For the price, I would expect a better draw. All in all though, it is a good cigar. Not great, but good.

Final Grade: C+

Onyx Reserve

This was the first Maduro I ever had, and I have been hooked since. So, on this post, I admit my bias.

The wrapper is a Blackened Connecticut Broadleaf while the binder is Nicaraguan. The filler is Dominican, Nicaraguan and Peruvian. Nice oily wrapper. Soft and feel like cloth.

The taste on this cigar is strong and balanced. You are hit with a nice earthy flavor with a nutty flavor. A woody and earthy flavor remain in the aftertaste. It has a toasty flavor to it as well. It is like having a fine scotch. It is strong and smooth.

The draw was firm, but the flavor did not settle. I am thankful for that. The last one I had had a better draw. The burn was nice and even with a good ash at the end.

The one thing that hits this stick is the price. It is $13.75 plus tax for a No. 2 Belicoso. That is a little steep for a 45-50 minute smoke. But the balance of this cigar never ceases, and the pleasure is always there.

Final Grade: A

CAO MX2

Being that Maduro smoker I am, I took an MX2 for the tasting. Now, I had heard two things from this cigar. "Love it," or "hate it."

This cigar is made with a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, a Brazilian Maduro binder, and fillers from Nicaragua, Peru, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. This cigar had a oily wrapper that was a little soft. Firm feeling though as far as filling.

Torching this cigar, for me, was a treat. A rich earthy flavor, mixed with a taste of coffee. This cigar almost had a sweet undertone with the coffee flavor. It was like if you added just a hint of sugar to a French Roast. The Earthy flavor stayed balanced and did not over power the smoke. The aftertaste consisted of a nutty flavor with a hint of coffee or espresso. It is nice for the coffee flavor, but at times it seemed the earthy flavor was overshadowed at times, even nonexistent.

The burn was different. Instead of a nice white ash, it was as black as the cigar. I found this to be very interesting. It burned very evenly though until the end. The wrapper started to split. It was like watching an explosion in slow motion. I had to slow way down to avoid it getting worse. Once passed, the cigar finished just fine. The draw was a little firm, but consistent.

The price point for this cigar (double toro size) was $11.75, plus tax of course. Not a bad price for a hour long smoke. A Maduro usually costs more as well. So, for the what you are getting, the price is good.

The just missed explosion of my cigar will bring the grade down. The overshadowing of the earthy flavor will also bring it down, but not much because of what you get with the coffee flavor. Without the split and almost exploding, this cigar would be an A-/A.

Final Grade: B

Gurkha Black Dragon

This is it. The Black Dragon.

This cigar is wonderfully made with a nice, soft, oily Maduro wrapper. Made with a Connecticut Maduro Wrapper, Cameroon Binder, Dominican Filler, this cigar sounded like it would be a great smoke.

The first puff gave me a nice earthy flavor. Behind this is a nice hint of spice. Almost like peppermint. Has a very subtle sweetness to it. The aftertaste is very coffee like. Rich with a mild spice. Starts with a mild nuttiness and ends with the spice. Coffee in the middle is just a bonus.

The draw and burn on this smoke are wonderful. Easy draw and an even burn. This produces and nice white ash.

The price is $25, plus tax. The price is steep, but it does not hurt this smoke much. If you are a Maduro smoker, and are celebrating something, this is an A+ cigar. For the average smoker, it goes down, but not much.

Final Grade: A

M. Vito x Marco V Cuban Lancero Medium

This is another smoker from the Marco V line, and since I like what I have had (I have not put reviews for all of them yet) I decided to jump on this one and try it out. Usually I do not care for the Lancero shape (38 x 6.5") but I figured I would give it a go.

Now this is made with a Brazilian Maduro, Dominican binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan Esteli Ligero fillers. When feeling this cigar I could notice the rough, bumpy wrapper and the construction seemed a little soft. It brought my worries up on this cigar.

Once lit I got a mild earthy flavor with a hint of spice. A very mild hint of spice at that. It grew as you smoked, but not too fast nor too slow. A nice nutty flavor also came forth in the aftertaste of this. The mix of earth and spice was nice. The first reaction is to think it was creamy with how smooth this smoke was. The nutty flavor seems lost at times though.

The draw was great. Not too much and not too little. It was leaning towards more of an open draw though. The burn was great as long as you puffed slow. That brings me to my next point.

If you puff this cigar fast, it will turn on you. It becomes overly bitter and tart. Luckily, this can be solved (assumed you puffed too fast and are in a jam). This cigar, if you let it sit, and even go out, comes back to life. It is not like some where once it turns, that's it. Just let this one go out, blow the old smoke out, and tourch it. It will be good as new.

With an $8 price range, this is also good for the buck. Not the best Marco, but not the worse either. And even if the was the worst, it is a darn good worst. The only issue was how much the flavors could come out. One seems lost and makes the cigar seem a little off balance. Even with that, this is a good smoke.

Final Grade: A

Rocky Patel Connecticut Vintage 1999

With a 7 year old Connecticut wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and 5 year old filler (Dominican and Nicaraguan), I decided to try this particular Rocky Patel. Now, most of the time the reviews are wonderful for Rocky cigars, but this one get mixed ones.

The look and construction of this cigar was a good one. I wouldn't expect less from a Rocky.

The flavor was creamy with a nice sweet aftertaste. It was almost like butter at some points. Unlike other Rocky Patel cigars, you have to go slow. Others, no matter how you smoke it, it tastes good. This one has a turn if puffed fast. It can go sour. Staying at a steady pace you get a creamy flavor with a hint of butter, and a creamy aftertaste. There lacked a balance to this cigar though. Almost like you needed a little bitter flavor to even it out. The butter flavor was also overshadowed by the creamy flavor. Seemed to be one sided much of the time.

The draw was just fine. A little more firm than other Rocky Patel's. The burn was even as well.

The price of a Churchill size is $12.50, which is over the top for this one. But for a creamy cigar, there are better. Rocky seems good at darker wraps. Even with that said, this cigar is well constructed and well smoked for the most part. Disappointing for a Rocky Patel though. Mostly a one note act, and thus not worth the price.

Final Grade: C-

Cohiba Red Dot

Cohiba... the name that cannot be separated from Castro, nor can it be separated from its know Cuban made cigars. I live in the United States, so I cannot get Cuban cigars. This one is from the Dominican Republic and has a Cameroon wrapper with Dominican filler and Indonesian binder.

I decided to try this smoke so I picked up a robusto. The construction was wonderful and so even. Not a flaw in it. The packing felt tight as well.

The first puff and I realized the great draw. It took half puffs as to not smoke it too fast. The flavor was strong in cedar with a hint of cream. The finish was creamy with the cedar flavor staying in your mouth.

The burn was very even. No matter how slow, or fast, you smoke, it is perfect every time.

With grading, this is an A+ cigar... except for the price. Most people are on a budget, and if not, they like to keep it under $20. Even with that, if you pay $20 you usually get a Churchill or toro sized cigar. This cigar was a robusto and it was $25. Most people are not willing to pay that, so that brings this final grade down... far. So, the cigar in and of itself is an A+ but because of the price, it takes a hit.

Final Grade: C-

Rocky Patel Vintage 1990

Steve has been telling me to try this cigar, over and over again. Some of the people that come into Little Havana Tobacco live by these cigars. So, to silence the peer pressure, I tried it.

This smoke has a wrapper that is aged 12 years, a nice Honduran Maduro wrapper with fillers at least 5 years of age. According to the Rocky Patel website, the binder is Nicaraguan, with fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. With these stats, according to sources, I was unsure as to how this cigar would pan out, but needless to say, I was happy in the end.

I saw the box shaped cigar, with a very tight wrap, and saw that this had been put together very well. Tight wrap and a tight pack. This was very well put together. Everything was even and the quality of the cigar looked supreme.

I noticed a nice wood smell that reminded me of a fine cedar and a hint of oak. This gave a hint of coffee, or even espresso, to it.

When I lit this wonderful looking cigar, I got a wonderful taste. I was hit with the wood and coffee flavor on the first puff, with a nutty flavor added. Under this complex taste was a sweetness, which turns the coffee to more of an espresso. Between that is a slight earthy flavor. Some people say they taste this, I however barely noticed. On top of that, the aroma of this smoke added to the flavor by giving the same great taste to the nose.

No matter the draw, this cigar does its job. Not only do you get a great smoke and great flavor, but the burn stays constant. No matter how you smoke this this gem, it is wonderful.

All of that for a price of $12.50 plus tax makes this cigar fantastic.

I will give a grade deserving to the student that made it.

Final Grade: A+