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| Los Blancos Nine Lancero | August, 2010 | 90
CG Rating |  | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Mountedshriner (mountedshriner) | | For the cigar lover who enjoys a full bodied cigar with ample flavor complexities, this is a must tr... Read More | | Los Blancos Nine Lancero | August, 2010 | 85
CG Rating | | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Wes Leach (87North) | | On the whole I found this to be a pleasant hour's worth of smoking on the front porch. Th... Read More | | Los Blancos Nine Lancero | August, 2010 | 84
CG Rating | | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Don Miller (DonM) | | If this cigar had burned a little better and not had to be relit, I would have enjoyed it more. ... Read More | | Los Blancos Nine Lancero | August, 2010 | 87
CG Rating | | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Rich Hefner (DocJazzRH) | | The smoke time was a bit over an hour and was very enjoyable. The cigar performed solidly allowing m... Read More | | Los Blancos Nine Lancero | August, 2010 | 80
CG Rating | | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: kola (kola) | | The cigar was dry-boxed for one day prior to smoking, in an old single-stick coffin that I had layin... Read More |
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| CAO LX2 Bam |  | cmmayo | 9/4/2010 4:33:05 AM | This is a nice little cigar I received from kola/Armin and it was the perfect choice for a late, late smoke over at my brother's house in Houston.
This is a smallish (4" long) rectangular box-pressed cigar with a barnyard pre-light aroma and a cold draw of dried berries.
Initial flavors through the easy draw are rich with pepper on the finish. Berries, light anise, and pepper are the main flavors I'm getting in the first third. The burn and ash are near perfect.
The spicy nose is incredibly satisfying and I am getting a ton of smoke. I usually HATE anise (black licorice) flavors, but it is a perfect compliment to the pepper. I have to admit, I came into this experience with a negative attitude, but this little stick has fully won me over.
I ran inside to make a (Cruzan) rum and Coke (Zero) and even that is a great pairing for this appropriately named BAM of a cigar.
This is a perfect example of it being a good idea not to make up your mind about a blend after just one cigar. I did, but thanks to kola, here I am upgrading my opinion to a 4.5, or a 91-92 on the 100-pt scale.
GET YOU ONE! | | Kensington Chateau |  | consti | 9/4/2010 1:00:47 AM | I got this cigar as a part of a free sampler when Best Cigar Prices was giving away 3 packs on Facebook. I wanted a relatively short smoke so I went with this cigar as the shape was perfect for the time constraint I had. The cigar sampled for this review has been aged for 3 months.
The construction on this cigar was acceptable. The burn and draw were perfect. The ash held on for more than an inch as well. Unfortunately, there was a notable soft patch on the cigar. I let the cigar rest in the humidor, thinking it would get better but it remained the same way since I had gotten it. This, however, did not detract from the smoking experience and it did not alter the smoking characteristics in any manner.
The cigar smells of a typical Connecticut shade wrapper. The pre-light draw delivered a grassy note. Upon lighting, notes of nuts, spice and some wood were present on the palate. The finish is that of the woodsy note and a tingle of the grassiness. The second third transitions to a more prominent woodsy tone with hints of spice, cinnamon and oak. The woodsy tone lingers on the finish, complemented with a nutty flavor and carries the cigar through this portion. A vanilla note becomes more prevalent later on in this portion as the woodsy note recedes. As the cigar transitions to the last third, the woodsy note takes center stage again with cinnamon, nuts and spice complementing it. The flavor profile intensifies the closer and closer I get to the nub.
Overall, this was a fairly good cigar. I did not expect much coming in but the flavors were definitely good and was surprisingly complex as well. A solid 3.5. | | 5 Vegas Series A Triple-A (AAA) | | ljlemer | 9/3/2010 11:08:58 PM | | A high 3.5, but no fireworks. Very full flavored. The appearance and construction were all fine. I didn't detect a lot of complexity but did a little. I was mainly struck by its inoffensive heaviness. That's surely better than offensive heaviness, but heaviness can be tiring. There was no variation throughout, just the one heavy flavor. It's not a bad flavor, but I prefer my heaviness with a side of surprise. | | CAO America Potomac | | kola | 9/3/2010 9:17:58 PM | Rested 24 days. This is a very sexy looking cigar, and I must say I like the labels a lot. The maduro+connecticut barber pole is perfectly applied, and was very smooth and oily. No veins to speak of. Construction was excellent from head to foot. The cigar was densely packed and you can feel the heft. Pre-light odor was glorious barnyard. Cold draw had nice resistance, and gave slight spice.
Punching the cap was probably the best I have seen in any cigar, and the cap stood up solidly through my abuses. It torched pretty good, but required a hot pull or two to get a solid light. The gray/white ash held solid past an inch. The burn stayed straight and scalloped just a bit from time to time - no touchups or relights in spite of sitting in the ashtray for a spell. The draw was perfect, the cigar smoked cool and generated a huge billows of aromatic smoke.
It opened with a surprisingly flavorful creamy chocolate and spice, with undertones of dark fruit (I wonder if the fruit was actually from the Pikes Extra Stout I enjoyed with the cigar). Nice pepper in the nose. At 1/3 I noticed a slightly nutty character mix with the ligero. The finish is long, leaving a nice spicy chocolate behind. After 1/2 the chocolate and finish got a bit dryer, and pepper made more of an impression in the smoke and aftertaste. The final third introduced a nice toasty character to the flavors. Near the nub, the nicotine ramped up, delivering a solid kick to finish the experience.
This cigar felt like it was on the low side of full-bodied, maybe because it was so smooth, or maybe because of the stout I was drinking. But I loved smoking this stick. It has definitely made my A list for repurchase. | | El Rey Del Mundo Reserva Salado Cabinet | | gitfiddl | 9/3/2010 6:48:46 PM | | This was a great cigar! It opened with cedar and spice that gave way to leather and oak as it progressed. The burn was perfect, as was the draw. Well rolled and full feeling in the hand. The ash built to almost two inches before dropping. The cigar gave off tons of smoke and was truly enjoyable. Even non-ERDM fans need to try this one. | | Indian Tabac Classic Corojo Arrow | | gitfiddl | 9/3/2010 6:29:28 PM | | This was a pretty decent cigar, better than your average everyday dog-walk stogie. It had a good amount of Corojo spiciness to it on top of some milder nutty notes. The smoke produced was thick and creamy, with just a touch of bite through the nose. The ash was firm, the draw was nice, and the burn was even. At the prices these can be found at, I'd definitely recommend keeping some on hand for those times when you want a decent cigar but you think you might not have the time to finish it. | | Casa Magna Corona |  | kennyg | 9/3/2010 3:16:56 PM | Casa Magna, in a size of 5.6 x42.
Found this cigar at a brick and mortar cigar store in a small town while on a motorcycle ride one day. The owner said it was a terrific stick, that got a "91" rating somewhere or other. Price ? $5.00 a stick. I was a little leery of this stick, being only a 42 gauge ring size. But I bit, and purchased 2 of them.
After 99 days in my humidor, it was begging me to try it.
Pre light look, very dark brown, nice looking stick. Heavy in the hand for a small gauge, but not too packed tight.
Initial light was easy, the draw easy and flavors immediate. Earth, Carmel, Chocolate, and slight spice, but not a peppery spice, more like....cinnamon, or something a touch sweet, but not sweet, just not a peppery flavor. Nice clouds of smoke, and a heavy taste on the back of the throat. Nice, medium to full flavors.
1/3 of the stick same thing. Smoke it too fast and it bit back, I slowed down a little and it returned to a pleasant flavor. I think this is because it's only a 42 gauge ring size.
2/3 and the stick changes flavors around. Nice, I like variety. Same flavors, but in a different mixture of them.
3/3 OK this is a good cigar. I nubbed it, and it didn't get harsh or bitter at the end.
Nice smoke, nice price, nice flavors. | | CAO Brazilia Cariocas | | PA.pierced2010 | 9/3/2010 12:42:26 PM | Construction: Beautiful dark wrapper, feels heavy for the size. A little rough looking wrapper, but solid construction.
Burn: Lit easily, and burned evenly. The draw was just slightly on the tight side considering its size. However, the draw freed up a bit after the first few puffs.
Taste: Woodsy taste with semi-sweet dark chocolate, coupled with rich black coffee. A little spice entered later on. Really pleasant flavors, overall.
A solid 4 on this little stick. Highly recommended! | | ACID Krush Gold Sumatra |  | DocJazzRH | 9/3/2010 9:11:26 AM | | The cigars construction was respectable a nice colored wrapper no soft spots, the pre-light was unusual and hard to describe, perhaps floral is all I can say. The burn was slow and deliberate the draw was not the best as it tightened up towards mid-point after being quite open, the ash was flaky. The flavor(s) were unusual and very sweet the tobaccos were lost for the most part I could not get past the infusion. I did not buy this cigar and will not in the future, if you want lots of sweet, floral, fruity? Flavors give this one a go… | | Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Double Corona | | consti | 9/3/2010 12:51:17 AM | This is a very nice looking cigar that has a very prominent box-pressed shape. At a 7.5" length, it's an incredibly slow and imposing cigar. It looks like a long candy bar. It smells of good aged tobacco that has a slightly pungent twang to it. The cigar that is sampled on this review has been aged for about 6 months.
The construction of this cigar is great. The burn was razor sharp (considering how windy it was when I was smoking.) The draw was perfect and the ash held on for more than 2 inches. There were no soft/hard spots to be noted as well and the cigar looks more expensive than it is.
Pre-light, the draw has notes of chocolate and oak. The cigar opens with a peppery punch upon lighting. After a couple of puffs, the pepper recedes and notes of oak, leather, cocoa, coffee and spice. The finish has a dominant spice to it but never to the point of being excessive. The retrohale produces notes of oak, spice and coffee. The leather and cocoa notes linger on the finish as the cigar begins to transition to the second third. The body stays a little on the medium side and helps in introducing you to the flavor profile of this cigar.
The second third transitions to the coffee, cocoa and oak notes on the front with spice lingering on the background. A cocoa note with some sweetness lingers on the palate and rounds out the flavor profile nicely. A nutty note emerges on this portion of the cigar as well and complements the existing flavor notes nicely. The body still is on the medium scale and just carries the cigar through this portion nicely.
The last third finishes with the nutty note complemented with coffee, leather, cocoa and spice. The nutty note lingers on the finish nicely, paired with spice. The body is fuller now and bring the cigar full circle.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable smoke. It started out a little boring but as the flavors built in intensity and body, the cigar became better and better. Definitely a cigar you should set aside time for as it took me almost 2 hours to finish it. A low 4.5. | | Ashton VSG Tres Mystique | | cmmayo | 9/2/2010 11:45:49 PM | I am pretty sure I got this in a trade with Jackal/Jason in 2009. As a matter of fact, I think he included it in the trade even though I didn't have an equivalent stick to send to him... that's just the kind of guy he is!
Unfortunately, this cigar got some damage in my "experimental no cello" small humidor. The cap is cracked cracked about a quarter of an inch from the top and the crack wraps around about 40% of the cigar. I decided to gently punch the cap, which seems to have been a good decision.
The wrapper is medium to dark brown and is seamless. The pre-light aroma gives tons of cedar and the cold draw is an interesting herbal woody flavor. The draw is open, but not in an airy kind of way.
I'm pairing this with two very interesting drinks. One is a glass of The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt (with two ice cubes) and the other is a large latte with cinnamon sprinkled on the foam.
The initial flavors remind me of the well-aged cigars I've had. By that, I mean there is a floral sense to the peppery cedar that denotes aging--if you've had a well-aged cigar, you know that sometimes you CAN JUST TELL on that first puff.
About an inch in, there is a great spicy nose to this cigar. The first VSG I ever smoked was part of a "blind" pass and I knew from the first puff that this was the high-end smoke (refer to the Round Robin passes for more info, if needed). The second thing I noticed was the fantastic spicy nose--it's nearly the ideal cigar to retrohale (i. e., to exhale through the nose to get more flavor).
The flavors compliment the latte, as there are rich espresso notes that jump out with the pairing. Alternatively, the scotch brings out the fruitiness through the nose. Either is a fantastic pairing.
With less than three inches left the primary taste is light pepper and dried berries complimenting a rich coffee tone over dense oak and cedar. Not long after, a rich leather flavor joins.
It really IS all it's cracked up to be--a fantastically complex, yet somehow simple blend. It's familiar, but in a good way. That is to say, it features commonly experienced cigar flavors, but it is a step above--most likely because of the Dominican tobacco that Carlos Fuente Jr. ages for 5 years. Then again, it could come from the Ecuadorian proprietary wrapper leaf grown by the Oliva family.
The burn is razor sharp and the ash is tight. This is an extremely well-made stick that doesn't suffer from being a petite corona.
If money was no object (I tend to spend $3 or less on my commonly smoked cigars), this blend would be my go-to stick.
On the CG scale, I give this a solid 4.5 out of 5, which, in my book, is a 92-93 on the 100-pt scale. | | CAO Brazilia Samba | | DocJazzRH | 9/2/2010 10:40:20 PM | | Fine CAO construction firm and solid in the hand, the wrapper was dark kind of rustic to my eye, the pre-light aroma was a deep dark sweetness that really got my attention The burn was darn good even if it was off once, the draw open giving a generous amount of smoke, the ash was as tight as I have seen in some time. Flavors included leather at the get go followed by some cocoa, the bend was smooth as silk; near mid-point coffee and a touch of pepper just to tingle the palate. Overall this was a rich high-medium cigar for me; no overkill just a truly nice smoking experience… | | Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet Robusto | | Bob Cordell | 9/2/2010 10:11:04 PM | Man was this a nice cigar that I really enjoyed. Nice looking and very firm construction. I got a blast of pepper and spice on the light and the draw was very generous. Those flavors mellowed quite a bit after about a half inch and I got some nice earthy, and somewhat toasty tobacco flavors.
At the half way point some nutty hints appeared as well. The ash was a nice light gray that held well, the draw was still great, slightly restrictive but produced a ton of thick spicy smoke.
Towards the last half I got some really nice coffee with hazelnuts hints. I nubbed this one out. I'm not that familiar with Sol Cubano but this was a great start. I'm pretty sure Les or Dennis sent me this in a bomb, whoever it was, thanks! | | La Caya Churchill Vintage | | Bob Cordell | 9/2/2010 8:59:20 PM | This was an ok cigar, I've never had a La Caya and didnt know what to expect. I've been trying more cigars lately that I have never had and picked this one. The wrapper looked a bit loose in spots but held on fine.
I got some tangy leather and mild nuts in the first half inch then some semi-bitter-sweet nuts. About half way in there were some sweeter coco and vanilla hints. This was a fairly mild cigar that burnt well and had a nice draw.
Towards the last third I got some peppery flavors that mixed well with the other flavors. I finished it to a small nub and would have another, not bad at all guys! | | Diesel Unlimited d.6 | | ROTHNH | 9/2/2010 8:26:11 PM | | Rested for about 4 months, I don't think this size is available yet to the general public. It's safe to state, unequivocally, that this, one of the first brands to feature the PA Broadleaf as the wrapper and the star, is a huge success. I got a handful of these after bemusing the fact that a 60 ring would be a smoother, more harmonious version of the original cigar. TBH, I'd only tried one of the early versions of AJ's original Diesel and, while I thought it was pretty good, I had a hard time agreeing with Alex Svenson who was doing somersaults and is still shaking his pom-poms profusely over this cigar. But the aptly-named "Unlimited," in this case the d.6 6X60, really brings it all together for me. Everything about this cigar is very near 100% perfect in this size -- very close to 5 stars. Great construction, a full complexity of delicious flavors, smooth, balanced, cool, even burn, nice firm ash and just one hell of a cigar. A definite addition to my regular rotation once it hits the streets for the plebian masses. A must try for full flavor maduro lovers. Highly recommended. |
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