Cuban Cigar Reviews

Country of origin: Cuba

Dimensions:  4 3/8 inches by 42 – ring gauge

Date smoked: Saturday 09/06/08

Time:  5:45 PM – 6:18PM

Location:  Afternoon at my smoking patio.

Accompanying drinks:  Filtered water, carbonated water, Cappuccino

Color of wrapper:  Light coco brown wrapper.  The seams held an earthen contrast as if dipped and the excess shaken.

Construction:  Very firm with one vexing knot toward the cap.  The cap was marked with beautiful contracting lines of thinning dark earth reminiscent of an artist’s dry brushing technique.  Thin veins in the dainty wrapper brought definition and added texture that was tactually pleasing.  A gem for the hand and eye.

Pre-light Aroma:  Floral with overtones of hibiscus

Cut:  Guillotine

Pre-Light Draw:  very slightly restricted airflow with Honey and wood.

Combustion:  Torch lighter.

Post Light Aroma:  Wisps of smoke arose, entreating me to a floral bouquet intertwined with nuts and clover honey.

Initial Draw:  I was pleasantly surprised to find my concern unwarranted stemming from the knot found close to the cap.  This cigar produced an even draw, albeit only a moderate volume of smoke.  Lightly toasted tobacco with honey sweetness lingered on the palate.   Buried in the background were ripe comice pears, toasted pine nuts, and clover honey.  Playing in the breezeless sky the smoke invited me to take in its pleasing bouquet.

First third:  The polite introduction of toasted tobacco gently expanded to heartier tobacco while never loosing its balance of floral nuttiness.    Moderate amounts of smoke were produced with the bouquet moving toward woodiness and ripe fruit.  The burn was acceptable, but not completely straight.  No attempts were made to correct the minor imperfections of the burn as the ash held perfectly tight.

Second third:  The second third opened with further expansion of toasted tobacco and burning apple wood.  Still maintaining balance, the fruit and nuts evolved to Christmas spice with roasted pine nuts dominating the ultra clean finish.  Tight white ash scored with black tiger stripes held firm.  The second third continued a stealthy increase of strength toward the finally.

Final third:  At no time overwhelming, this medium bodied smoke continued to escalate in strength.  Toasted tobacco, sweet clover honey, and veiled in an ultra clean finish was Christmas spice.  The end the smoke became increasingly hot and dry.  The last ¼ inch became slightly tannic.      

Synopsis:  Ramon Allones Small Club Coronas are balanced in flavor and strength from start to finish.  Medium bodied and perfect for an afternoon smoke this polite cigar boasts toasted tobacco, sweet honey, and woody spiciness.  In this reviewer’s opinion, the consummate companion for this little gem is coffee cut with milk and plenty of sugar.

Country of origin: Cuba

Dimensions:  5 ½ inches by 52 – ring gauge

Date smoked: Saturday 08/23/08

Time:  6:30 PM – 7:38PM

Location:  Afternoon at my smoking patio.    

Accompanying drinks:  Filtered water, carbonated water, Zaya Rum

Color of wrapper:  Darker than most Bolivars that I have smoked. Deep chestnut with hues of umber and abundant glistening oils which reflected glittering specks of bronze in the late afternoon sun. 

Construction:  Firm, yet not overly firm. The triple cap was neatly brought to a fine point.  Several petite veins ran the length adding texture and contrast to the swarthy wrapper.  Steeped in oil this well aged cigar was ripe.             

Pre-light Aroma:  Floral with hints of leather

Cut:  Using a Xikar X3 a precision cut was made

Pre-Light Draw:  Earth and spice were predominant with a bittersweet taste left lingering.

Combustion:  Torch lighter.

Post Light Aroma:  Floral and hints of earth. 

Initial Draw:  Just slightly resistive with enough pressure to produce a fine draw.  The initial draw was that of jasmine combined with peat with a lingering and unpleasant bitter finish.  My censorious nature was peaked finding fault with the initial unpleasantness of the finish. Still a first impression, however first impressions are difficult be undone. 

First third:  Typical of Bolivar profile heavy earth, piquant spiciness, and rich tobacco married with jasmine lingered on the palate. Voluminous plumes of smoke poured forth filling the cloudless, breezeless sky.  The bouquet was delightfully floral and nimbly contrasted the deluge of earth and spice.  The burn was crooked rejecting all attempts to be corrected and the bitterness experienced from the initial draw refused subside the entire first third.

Second third:  Coming into the second third the unpleasant bitterness completely disappeared.  The opening intensity mellowed gracefully to a mild leathery earth with overtones of coffee and a pinch of cayenne.  In the twilight of the second third and approaching the final third the intensity of the opening returned.  The volume of smoke remained unchanged, as well as the stubborn burn.

Final third:  The final third married the intensity of the opening with the gracefulness of the second.  Rich and heavy toasted tobacco and coffee stained leather dominated the palate while a welcome return of jasmine and lighter floral notes tickled the nose.  The smoke did become noticeably thinner but the burn eventually submitted.  There was light grey ash with cavernous black gorges.

Synopsis:  Bolivars are a cigar unto themselves.  Perfect when earth, leather, and rich tobacco married with mild floral tones are on your menu.  Overlooking the uncharacteristic bitterness presented in the first third of this smoke the profile fit the Bolivar template splendidly.  The molasses sweetness of the Zaya 12 year old Guatemalan rum brought balance to the spiciness of the smoke.  Bolivars are splendid when fresh and divine with 5 years or longer of age.  Approachable to the trained and untrained palate alike.      

(Stored in cabinet humidor in a partially closed zip lock bag at 70deg/65RH)

Food: After a great pizza I retired to have a great smoke. I had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Drink: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale / Arrowhead bottled water

Location: Garage at my computer with the door cracked slightly for ventilation.

Pre light aroma: There were faint floral traces from the cigar although I had used a scented hand soap that interfered with the sensation of smelling the cigar truly.

Construction: This was a near perfect cigar, baring one very tiny tear in the foot. Coco brown wrapper and when cut drew very well. It just ever so slightly crackled between my fingers.

Light: The Xikar cigar made an exemplary cut. It left no jagged tears in the leaf and did not hamper the cigar quality in any way whatsoever. I used a Colibri torch lighter and toasted the foot. The cigar lit perfectly.

Taste: The initial draw was an immediate flavor of heavy cream and macadamia nuts. No change ¼ ways through the cigar. It had a nice grayish black ash that held tight. There was voluminous smoke upon each draw. I soon realized that the Pale Ale was doing NOTHING for this cigar and I switched to some bottled water. I had set the cigar down for about 5 minuets and it almost went out. Upon relight it was a little harsh so I relit and exhaled through the cigar for about thirty seconds. This seemed to help quite a bit. Half way through and the power started to kick in. It became slightly earthy and more leathery with the same heavy cream and nut flavor but had a slightly unpleasant aftertaste. Almost ¾ through the stick I came to realize that the “aftertaste” was akin to drinking whole milk which leaves a viscous paste lingering in your mouth. I can’t say I liked the aftertaste, but it only lingered for about 5 seconds after the draw. I had to correct the burn twice, but this cigar was rarely if ever rotated and that may be the cause of the uneven burn. I let the cigar expire on its own and the room smelled wonderful even after 20 minuets.

Synopsis: I enjoyed this cigar and while it may not be my “go to” piece I would not be against purchasing again. On a 1-10 rating with 10 being the highest I would give this cigar a 7.5. I was thinking it would be a perfect smoke for after a light meal, such as fish or grilled chicken. I would not have this after a big juicy steak. I would not recommend an IPA as a drink pairing.

Start: 11:15 PM Finish: 12:50 AM

Food: Proscuitto de Parma layered over fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on a bed of arugula with a splash of balsamic vinegar and cracked pepper (I love this salad and had to have it again tonight). Breaded 1 inch thick baked pork chop with sautéed spinach and an Indonesian rice pilaf. Desert was simple. 2 oz of organic dark chocolate and a 50 year tawny port.

Drink: S. Pellegrino over ice & Glenmorange 15 year old single malt scotch. Neat with 3 drops of water.

Location: Garage at my computer with the door ½ inch up.

Pre light aroma: This cigar was earthy with a healthy wallop of sweet spice.

Construction: This cigar appeared to be in good condition. It was ever so slightly box pressed. I was a little concerned with a small tear in the leaf near the band. It had the look rich leather and reminded me of a fine desk pad. When pinched it had just the right amount of give and felt properly humidified.

Pre Light: I made a clean cut with my Xikar cigar cutter and took a pre light draw. The pre draw revealed my second desert. Tastes of nutmeg and sweet earth rush to my palate! I was thinking that if this is the initial pre lit draw that I could hardly wait to toast this beauty! The draw was a tiny bit tight but was certainly acceptable.

Light: I used a Colibri torch lighter and toasted the foot. The cigar lit splendidly.

Taste: The initial draw was, well….heavenly. I was surrounded in sweet spice with the taste of Madagascar vanilla permiating the air. I was encircled in an aroma of syrupy ethereal smoke. I took each draw slowly as to savor each and every moment in time. I thought that if this was just the first 1/8 of the cigar I can’t wait to see how the rest unfolds! The tight grayish white ash was held in place with tiny black slits in contrast. While not as beautiful as the ash of the RyJ Ex#4 I had smoked earlier, it was a close second. The 15 year old single malt was a faultless accent to this cigar. It accentuated the hints of vanilla from the cigar. It was clean and had the taste of a refined smoke that is destined to improve with age. I smoked the entire stick without much of a change in the flavor profile. The strength was medium and never really developed into anything stronger. The flavor was maintained through the whole smoke and while I was hoping for something amazing to happen it never did. This was a fairly young stick and with a little age I could see that this could have some great potential. I want to lay these down for probably 3-5 years and revisit them. This was a joy to smoke.

Synopsis: This cigar is destined to stay in my. This is aproachable now, but I could only imagine what 3-5 years could yield! The argument for smoking right away is that you know what you are getting. You don’t have to concentrate on a complex flavor profile and can just enjoy the stick. This was a great cigar that can only improve with time.

(Stored in cabinet humidor 70deg/65RH)

Food: Grilled chicken sandwich with Provolone and mushrooms.

Drink: Pellegrino & Glanmorange 15 y/o

Location: Garage at my computer with the door ½ up.

Pre light aroma: This cigar was sweet with a hint of cinnamon and barley detectable earth.

Construction: This cigar was flawless. It held an even milk chocolate color. It was accented with a few tiny veins. When rolled between my fingers it made a lovely crackling sound that usually means proper humidification. It gave to the touch and was not spongy.
Pre Light: I made a cut with my Xikar cigar cutter. It was a cut that a surgeon would have been proud of. It cut with no tears, or even loose bits. I took a draw before lighting and could taste all the spices. It looked to be perfect in construction as I received just enough resistance.

Light: I used my pebble torch lighter and toasted the foot. It lit perfectly.

Taste: Fair amount of smoke and fair amount of earth. Through the entire cigar it provided a balance of slightly sweet earth and very tannic flavor.

Synopsis: This was a very earthy cigar toward the end. It was quite tannic and at the end had quite a bite. This young cigar shows good potential for aging nicely. While very different from the Monte #2 it shares the sense of strength and balance between power and a rich flavor profile. I will revisit this in six months.

Start: 11:42 PM Finish: 12:21 PM

Food: Spicy chicken and rice. Desert a tasty Ice cream cake with warm caramel glaze and fudge icing.

Drink: S. Pellegrino over ice

Location: Garage at my computer.

Pre light aroma: This cigar was bounding with floral notes mixed with the light smell of sweet tobacco.

Construction: This was in good condition save the foot had about a ¼ inch crack. It had a beautiful coco brown color and had no visible veins or discoloration. When rolled between my fingers the cigar gave off what I have found to be the trademark of a properly humidified cigar.

Pre Light: I made a clean cut with my Xikar cigar cutter and took a pre light draw. It was just slightly tighter than I would like, but was by no means plugged or difficult to draw. I could taste the sweetness of this cigar before I even lit the stick.

Light: As usual the Xikar cigar made an exemplary cut. It left no jagged tears in the leaf and did not hamper the cigar quality in any way whatsoever. I used a Colibri torch lighter and toasted the foot. The cigar lit, but the burn had to be corrected for the first few draws.

Taste: The initial draw was sweet wood. It was clean and had no aftertaste whatsoever. For having a damaged foot it presented no real problems. I did have to correct the burn for the initial draw but after that it corrected itself. There was no change ¼ ways through the cigar. It was mellow and at this point the sweetness and slight wood flavor stood in favorable balance of one another. It had a very tight grayish black ash. There was ample smoke upon each draw but was not overwhelming. I was considering cracking my door so as to let a little fresh air in the room, however upon taking in the stunning bouquet; all I wanted to do was sit back and enjoy. A little more than ¼ way through and I picked up on some hints of coffee with a little bit of cream. The smoke was still not as heavy as I would have liked, but was acceptable. I was ½ way through and I wish I had taken a picture of the ash. This cigar looked like a work of art. The ash went from a charcoal grey to a snow white and clung tight. There was a heavy taste of coffee and an aroma that only God could describe in detail. Still woody and a faint taste of ripe fruit. I couldn’t lay my finger on the exact fruit flavor but overall this cigar was magic that hung on my palate. Still ½ way in and no aftertaste present at all. This was one of the cleanest tasting cigars I had ever smoked. The ash finally gave way and fell off to reveal a razor clean edge that held straight the rest of the smoke. The last ¼ of the cigar picked up some power. Rich earthy tobacco, leather, and heavy cream began to pour over my palate. This was a significant change from the laid back nature the cigar had showed up to this point. This mixed with the intoxicating aroma lingering in the air made me nearly melt in my chair. I smoked this beauty till my fingers burned an with my head slightly buzzing I allowed the cigar to expire on its own.

Synopsis: To say I enjoyed this cigar would be an understatement. From the lovely bouquet to the complex taste I found this smoke a delight. This was a perfect cigar to compliment a lighter meal. My only complaint would be the volume of smoke produced. I tend to favor cigars that produce copious amounts of smoke and that was not the case with this RyJ Ex #4. That was however my only complaint and it seems trivial compared to the almost divine experience of smoking this fantastic cigar.

Start: 11:40 PM Finish: 12:45 PM

Appetizer: Mussels in a white wine sauce;
Soup: Minestrone;
Main course: Lasagna with 4 cheese & chicken.
Desert: Tiramisu

Drink: Zaya 12 y/o rum

Location: Garage at my computer with the door 1/8 up.

Pre light aroma: This cigar was earthy with a ever so light floral bouquet.

Construction: This cigar appeared to be in great condition. It held an even milk chocolate color. It gave to the touch and was not spongy.

Pre Light: I made a clean cut with my Xikar cigar. I took a pre light draw and tasted coco and hints of leather.

Light: I used my new Blazer torch lighter and toasted the foot. It lit perfectly.

Taste: The initial draw earth and leather. It was clean and had plenty of smoke. 2/3 of the cigar was for the most part the same profile. It was earthy with leather and hints of dark chocolate. It has the smallest suggestion of sweetness and was balanced very well with the choice of rum. The last third of the stick picked up a little steam but never was overpowering. I smoked it to the nub and it was pleasant all the way to the end. It left no residual unpleasant aftertaste and was perfectly clean.

Synopsis: I enjoyed this stick quite a bit. VR are a stick unto themselves. To my knowledge there is not another torpedo that compares. To me if a BBF and a Dip #2 had a child it would be the VR Unicos. What a tasty smoke and a great day!

URL: http://www.cubanlous.com/vegas-robaina-unicos-cigars-p-290.html

Start: 11:05 PM Finish: 12:01 PM

Food: Lemon Chicken with fried rice and vegetable potstickers

Drink: S. Pellegrino over ice

Location: Front of my house. No breeze and 72 deg.

Pre light aroma: This cigar was full of chocolate, spice, and the smell of sweet tobacco.

Construction: This was in great condition. It had a beautiful light coco brown color and had no visible veins or discoloration.

Pre Light: I made a clean cut with my Xikar cigar cutter and took a pre light draw. It was a perfect draw and promised to be a fine smoke even before my lighter ever came close to the foot.

Light: As usual the Xikar cigar made an exemplary cut. Feeling very “Tim the Tool man” I used a food prep blow torch to ignite the stick. No burn correction touch up’s were ever necessary.

Taste: The initial draw was cardamom, leather and allspice. It was as clean as the night I was smoking. There was no change ¼ ways through the cigar. After the first ¼ of the cigar dark coco became more pronounced and grew along with plenty of leather. It had a very tight grayish black ash the clung tight to the stick and was going nowhere. There was ample smoke upon each draw. The smoke started to build at the ½ way point and became a little peppery. This cigar looked like a work of art with its ash still in tact ½ way up the cigar. The ash was a light charcoal grey. Now coffee, leather and heavy spice permeated the air and my neighbor who does not enjoy cigars came out and asked what I was smoking. I replied a great stick and he commented on how wonderful the bouquet was. The spice clung to my palate and intensified through the rest of the stick. The ash finally gave way and fell off to reveal a clean edge that held straight the rest of the smoke. The last ¼ of the cigar picked up intense power. Were talking vitamin “N” here. Rich earthy tobacco, leather, and heavy spice. This mixed with the intoxicating aroma and a healthy dose of nicotine held me in place. I nubed this cigar and only as my fingers were singing did it get a tad harsh.

Synopsis: Phenomenal! From the lovely bouquet to the complex taste I found this smoke a delight. Smoke this cigar on a full stomach. My only complaint would be that it was only an hour. I could have smoked this till I turned green. A must have for any serious cigar aficionado.

URL: http://www.cubanlous.com/ramon-allones-specially-selected-cigars-p-222.html

Food: None

Drink: Caramel Latte

Location: At the park.

Pre light aroma: Floral with hints of spice.

Construction: One word, Flawless

Pre Light: I made a clean cut with my Xikar cigar cutter and took a pre light draw. It was a perfect draw.

Light: Blazer torch lighter.

Taste: If you have never experienced a Cohiba then you won’t really understand what I am saying. These cigars are works of art. I have never had a genuine Cohiba that disappointed, and I have had many. The flavor profile doesn’t change much through the entire stick although it does build some strength. I do not have the words to really describe the experience so I will use the best adjectives I can to scratch the surface to describe such a fine smoke. Honey, floral aromas, floral taste, like drinking vanilla straight for the mold that God made vanilla from, transports you to a different place, slows time and makes you never want to leave. Rarely needs burn correcting, perfect draw, perfect burn.

Synopsis: Try this cigar if you have not. You will NOT be disappointed. The only regret is that it only lasts 45 min. However, that’s why they make Siglo IV’s and VI.

URL: http://www.cubanlous.com/cohiba-siglo-cigars-p-37.html