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|  | The 10th Annual “Cigars for Troops” drive is underway. This is a great opportunity to give back to those who protect our freedoms and earn the coveted "Troop Supporter" badge at the same time. You can find information here: http://www.cigargeeks.com/community/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=5087... A special thanks goes out to Nathan (nwb) for running the drive again.
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| | If you have not seen it, the 2018 Marine Toys for Tots drive is in full swing. This is an excellent opportunity for the brotherhood to contribute to a great organization that provides gifts for those less fortunate children in time for Christmas. A special thanks goes out to Emerson (McBryde) for stepping up to run the drive this year. Also, we are introducing a new Toys for Tots badge this year for being a contributor. If you gave a kit for auction, win an auction, or donate at least $25 you will earn the new badge  |  |
| | | The points contest is under way for the month of May. The 26 members with the most points for the month have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Famous Smoke Shop. You can read the details HERE. To view the previous month's contest results see here. |
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| Camacho Liberty 2005 Throwback | August, 2018 | 93
CG Rating |  | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Jason (jharrisx5) | | I'll preface my conclusion with an admission... I'm a big fan of the Camacho Liberty line of cigars.... Read More | | Camacho Liberty 2005 Throwback | August, 2018 | 90
CG Rating | | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Chuck (Cfickter) | | I have not smokes the original 2005 so I have no true comparison, but I have smoked every one since ... Read More | | Camacho Liberty 2005 Throwback | August, 2018 | 91
CG Rating | | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Don Miller (DonM) | | I really enjoyed this Liberty as I do every year. The cigar smoked very well with nice fl... Read More | | Camacho Liberty 2005 Throwback | August, 2018 | 72
CG Rating | | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Jeff (Cap10_Morgan) | | Don't let the low score fool you. If your only concern is construction, then this might n... Read More | | Camacho Liberty 2005 Throwback | August, 2018 | 84
CG Rating | | | Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Gustoff | | I did not have the privilege to experience one of the actual 2005 Liberties that are so highly rated... Read More |
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| Ave Maria (Core line) Crusader |  | tuck0411 | 5/19/2019 6:21 PM | Humidor time: 173 days
Appearance and construction: This one had a few veins, a light sheen, and a moderately firm pack with no soft spots. Gave it a V-cut and PLD was moderately open. (10/15)
Flavor: PLA gave a faint whiff of coffee. The light revealed a medium-bodied profile with subtle notes of leather and cocoa that stayed consistent throughout. This appears to be the same blend as the Lionheart, which I reviewed a week ago, and if it is, I enjoyed that stick quite a bit more. This one was pretty ok, but doesn't match what I wrote about the Lionheart... Strength, for this one, was about medium as I felt the nic., but it wasn't a huge hit. (20/25)
The pic below doesn't show the finger of un-burned wrapper on the back side...
Smoking characteristics: The light produced an easy draw, good smoke volume, and a wavy burn to start. The burn didn't self-correct and got lopsided in the first third. Knocked the ash off and gave it a touch-up. The burn continued wavy and finally self-corrected almost at the nub. Apart from all that, it smoked pretty well... (15/25)
Overall impression: Disappointing smoke, this one, as I've had pretty good luck with the AM sticks I've had up to now. Flavors were just OK and the construction was pretty lacking. I have a few more of these, though, and will update this review should those perform any better. (18/35)
Burn time: 1:11
Rating: 63 | | Oliva/ Studio Tabac Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc Churchill (750) |  | tuck0411 | 5/19/2019 3:39 PM | Humidor time: 173 days
Appearance and construction: A few veins and bumps in the conny-shade wrapper, an oily sheen, and a firm pack with no soft spots... Gave it a V-cut and PLD was moderately open. (13/15)
Flavor: PLA gave a whiff of sweet, mild tobacco. The light produced a medium profile, but as with the Robusto vitola I'd previously tried, I couldn't pick out any particular notes. But it was very pleasant and tasty, my undeveloped palate aside... Strength was on the mild end as I got no discernible nic. hit from this one. (20/25)
Smoking characteristics: The light produced an easy draw, good smoke volume, and an even burn to start. The burn remained very even with the first ash dropping at about 2" leaving a cone. The rest of the smoke also exhibited an even burn with self-correction occurring every time a slight wave appeared in the burn line. Very uneventful smoke down to the nub. (24/25)
Overall impression: Another fine Oliva smoke, no surprise. I remain convinced this brand has about the most consistent quality in terms of both their blends and their construction of all the sticks I've tried so far. (33/35)
Burn time: 1:28
Rating: 90 | | Graycliff G2 Habano PGXL |  | tuck0411 | 5/19/2019 12:14 PM | Humidor time: 173 days
Appearance and construction: This one had a few minor veins, a light sheen, and had a moderately firm pack with no soft spots. Punched it and PLD was open. (12/15)
Flavor: PLA gave a faint whiff of coffee. The light revealed a medium-bodied profile with muted notes of coffee and cocoa which stayed pretty consistent throughout the smoke. Not all that amazing, but pleasant enough for the puffing. The strength was about medium or a bit less as the nic. hit wasn't large. (20/25)
Smoking characteristics: The light produced an easy draw, good smoke volume, and an even burn to start. The burn stayed very even through the first third with the ash clinging tightly and falling at about 2", which left a nice cone. The burn then got a bit wavy in the 2nd half but mostly self-corrected until it appeared to get hung up on an un-cooperative vein and quickly got lopsided, at which point I gave it a touch-up. The nub was reached shortly thereafter. (20/25)
Overall impression: Pretty nice smoke, this one, the one burn issue in the last third aside. Probably not one I'll be looking to buy more of given the relatively uninteresting flavors, but I'd smoke it again and will as I have a few more... (25/35)
Burn time: 1:46
Rating: 77 | | La Gloria Cubana Serie N Rojo | | Hot Stuff x | 5/19/2019 2:09 AM | | A good looking cigar, very firm to the touch. Wrapper is mostly very dark, with some lighter spots in a few places. The cold draw flowed well and revealed a spicy wrapper. After lighting, the cigar initially performed well with leather and spice notes, and a great draw. But about half way in I reached a hard spot. Although the draw was still good, the cigar wouldn't stay lit at this spot. I massaged what felt like a knot in the cigar, and a chunk dropped out. I managed to re-light it but it still wouldn't burn right or stay lit, so I gave up on it. This would have been a much better cigar if I had been able to smoke more than half of it without a struggle. | | La Perla Habana Black Pearl Morado Toro | | tuck0411 | 5/18/2019 10:09 PM | Humidor time: 184 days
Appearance and construction: This one had a couple of large veins and a few smaller ones, and a moderately firm pack with no soft spots. Gave it a V-cut and PLD was open. (12/15)
Flavor: PLA gave a faint whiff of chocolate. The light revealed a medium/full profile with notes of leather, cocoa, and some sort of tangy sweetness that I remembered from previously smoking the Toro Gordo vitola of this blend. Hard to say what it resembles, maybe some sort of molasses. There's also some spiciness in the mix, most noticeable on retro at the beginning, but it sticks around throughout the smoke. One of the more complex blends I've smoked lately and quite enjoyable. Strength was about medium or a bit less as I didn't get much of a nic. hit from this one. (22/25)
Smoking characteristics: The light produced an easy draw, good smoke volume, and an even burn to start. The burn remained even for the first third through the first ash drop at about 2", but then got lopsided following. Gave it a touch-up when it didn't show signs of self-correcting, then smoked it to a nub with no further issues. (20/25)
Overall impression: Decided to light this one up to compare to the LPH "Classic Natural" torpedo I had earlier today. There are similarities to the flavor profiles, and this one is mighty tasty, but I think I have to give the edge to the Classic Natural blend by just a hair. In any case, they are both great smokes. I'm not going to reduce too many points for the burn issue with this one that required a touch-up as the rest of the smoke was more or less flawless. Look forward to smoking more of these... (30/35)
Burn time: 1:05
Rating: 84 | | Ave Maria Immaculata Gordo | | tuck0411 | 5/18/2019 6:26 PM | Humidor time: 172 days
Appearance and construction: A few minor veins and bumps adorned the light brown conny wrapper on this one. Felt like a firm pack with no soft spots. Punched it and PLD was open. (12/15)
Flavor: PLA gave a whiff of hay. The light revealed a mild/medium profile with a bit of a buttery, creamy taste along with some spice on retro. Very flavorful and consistent throughout the smoke. (21/25)
Smoking characteristics: The light produced an easy draw, good smoke volume, and a somewhat slanted burn to start. The latter probably more due to my misjudging my lighter position due to being outside in my sunny backyard vs. inside where I've been doing most of my smoking lately... I managed to singe the wrapper around the foot pretty good. Knocked the ash off at about 1 1/2" leaving a cone. The burn remained slanted but gradually self-corrected to nearly even by the last third with no touch-ups being needed. (20/25)
Overall impression: I'd previously smoked the churchill vitola of this blend and enjoyed that one, so was not surprised to find this one was just as tasty. Another fine stick I'll be revisiting with regularity. (30/35)
Burn time: 1:23
Rating: 83 | | H. Upmann (Cuban) Upmann No. 2 |  | Elohim80 | 5/18/2019 4:33 PM | | Amazing cigar it burns uneven but such a nice smoke smooth nutty and sweet I got this in Cuba it is so good. It is a Connoisseur a. If you come across one make sure to pick one up. | | La Perla Habana Classic (Natural) Torpedo | | tuck0411 | 5/18/2019 3:22 PM | Humidor time: 172 days
Appearance and construction: This one had a few minor veins and bumps, a light sheen, and a moderately firm pack with no soft spots. Gave it a single clip with the guillotine and PLD was moderately open. (12/15)
Flavor: PLA gave a faint hint of coffee. The light revealed a medium-bodied profile with a note of coffee and a bit of spice on retro. The spice remained throughout the smoke and was joined by a hint of cocoa in the 2nd half. Very sweet, flavorful smoke and it ended up more in my wheelhouse than I was expecting based on the first third. (23/25)
Smoking characteristics: The light produced an easy draw, good smoke volume, and an even burn to start. The burn remained very even, or what some would call "razor-sharp", for the duration. Knocked the ash off at 1 1/2" leaving a cone. Things were very uneventful down to the nub. (24/25)
Overall impression: What a great smoke. Only the third LPH blend I've tried so far, but it's easily the best of the three. Great flavor, fine construction, safe to say I'll be smoking lots more of this stick... (33/35)
Burn time: 1:17
Rating: 92 | | Warped La Relatos | | tuck0411 | 5/18/2019 12:38 PM | Humidor time: 194 days
Appearance and construction: Couple of small veins in the medium-brown wrapper, light sheen on it, and a moderately firm pack with no soft spots. Gave it a punch and PLD seemed tight. (12/15)
Flavor: Got nothing from PLA on this one... The light revealed a medium-bodied profile with no particular notes I could pick out apart from a bit of spiciness, but it was very pleasant all the way through. Strength was about medium without much of a nic. hit. (20/25)
Smoking characteristics: The light produced a moderately easy draw, good smoke volume, and an even burn to start. The burn stayed even with the first ash dropping just past 1" leaving a cone. Burn remained even and things were uneventful down to the nub. (23/25)
Overall impression: Another fine smoke from Brlesq's "Mystery sampler" from awhile back. Nothing really amazing taste-wise, but it was a very enjoyable smoke all things considered and one I'd smoke again. (30/35)
Burn time: 1:19
Rating: 85 | | Partagas Cifuentes Maduro Double Robusto |  | tuck0411 | 5/17/2019 9:49 PM | Humidor time: 183 days
Appearance and construction: Dark, oily wrapper on this one with several veins, a moderately firm pack and what seemed to be a couple of soft spots near the head. Gave it a punch and PLD was on the tight side. (12/15)
Flavor: PLA gave a whiff of coffee. The light revealed a medium/full profile with a note of leather and a salty aftertaste on my lips. Probably from the wrapper... The salt disappeared around the half way point and a note of cocoa appeared to complement the leather and gradually replace it as the 2nd half progressed. The first half wasn't bad, but I enjoyed the 2nd half more... Strength was medium at best as the nic. hit was small. (20/25)
Smoking characteristics: The light produced a so-so draw, thin smoke, and a wavy burn to start. The smoke volume improved slightly 1/2" in, but never reached optimal. This was another one of those sticks that give off more smoke from the foot than from the head... The burn continued wavy but self-correcting and I knocked the crumbly ash off at 1 1/2" leaving a cone. 2nd half was similar although a touch-up was needed when the burn got lopsided after the first ash left. (15/25)
Overall impression: This was a pretty tasty smoke and would have rated quite a bit higher if the construction had been of better quality. I have three more and hopefully those will perform better... (23/35)
Burn time: 1:41
Rating: 70 |
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