The Perfect Draw » Short Cigar Review

Illusione f9 Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:41:05 +0000

0/3: This one is known as the f9 Finesse, which can lead to some lame joke making like “this cigar looks like it was made with a lot of finesse” or “there’s a real finesse to these flavors.” But you’ll get none of that here!

The cigar looks adroitly made by someone with a skillful hand. It’s oily, dark brown wrapper conceals filler and binder tobacco that is less densely packed than most cigars. A webwork of veins crisscrosses the wrapper.

And a big thanks to JJ for gifting me this cigar.

1/3: Yes, there is a reason why most other cigar smokers like these cigars. Salty leather, cherry and graham cracker. It’s a medium-full bodied cigar with very forceful flavors.

2/3: With flavors much like the first half the second half is continuing on in its goodness.

3/3: More of the same during this third. The only difference is a faint sweetness on the retrohale but it isn’t much.

4/3: I liked this cigar because of the leather and graham cracker flavors. The burn was pretty even but the draw at times just disappeared because it was too loose. That probably hurt this cigar more than I realized at the time. When it was going well it is definitely a very good cigar.

4 points

Ave Maria Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:41:30 +0000

Full Disclosure: I received this as a sample from Cigars Direct. All reviews are my own.

0/3: It comes in a coffin. The fact that some cigars come in “coffins” has always been a little disconcerting for me. Who wants to smoke something out of a coffin? But it’s a cool coffin because when you lift the lid there is this little piece of wood attached to top that raises the cigar from its slumber so that you can easily pick it up.

The cigar itself looks really nice. Very dark brown wrapper, almost mahogany. Looks well made and is very oily to the touch. There are some veins but what you will probably notice first about this cigar is its ostentatious band. It’s a mishmash of heraldic symbols from the Crusades. I wonder if this has gone over well with many of the brick and mortar cigar stores that are owned by people of Arab descent?

1/3: Very refined flavors hit my palette immediately. Slight black pepper on the retrohale that sticks around for a while, dry oak and a general warmness of flavors. It’s quite good.

2/3: During the second third a smoky woodiness starts to come through. The black pepper starts to fade into nothingness and there is a mild sweetness bordering on floral lurking in the background like a stalker (a fun one, if there is such a thing).

3/3: There really isn’t much of a change from the second to the final third. It’s still tastes very good.

4/3: Medium bodied with an excellent draw and a fairly even burn; this cigar is very good. Standing in your way is the fact that this is a fairly expensive cigar. The matter of value I leave up to you as I review only the cigar and not my perceived value of the cigar. All I can say is that I absolutely enjoyed it and thought it was a very worthy cigar.

4 points

La Aurora 107 Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:38:31 +0000

This sample comes from Miami Cigar & Co. All reviews are my own.

0/3: This is the La Aurora 107 corona, a cigar that I have smoked a number of times but only feel like doing a short review for right now. I have reviewed the La Aurora 107 before and I liked it. They are good cigars and I can honestly tell you that I have not heard anyone say anything truly negative about these cigars.

This cigar feels a little soft to the touch. A little veiny but not too pronounced. The wrapper is a little oily to the touch and it is pretty obvious that these cigars are well made.

1/3: One of the things that I like about smaller cigars is that it seems, to me at least, that the flavors are more concentrated and that is what I am getting with this cigar. While I liked the other vitolas that I tried the corona seems to be the best fit for me. Spice, buttered toast and some woody notes make up the bulk of the flavors for me.

2/3: This cigar seems to be a little stronger than the other vitolas as well. While not full bodied I would peg it in the medium-full bodied range. The flavors are still very strong during this third and it is a very enjoyable cigar.

3/3: While the final third stays pretty much the same as the previous two thirds I am not disappointed because the flavors were very enjoyable. Add to the mix the fact that this cigar has a good draw and burn there is nothing negative that can be said about it.

4/3: Very solid cigar, definitely my favorite size of the La Aurora 107s. And they smoke quickly too. So, if you find yourself with a lot of 30 minute to hour long gaps of time fill it up with one of these cigars.

4.5 points

Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ Maduro Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:01:53 +0000

I received this cigar as a sample from Cigars Direct; my reviews are my own.

0/3: To me, Don Pepin Garcia is the Samuel L. Jackson of the cigar industry. You know that he is great but he doesn’t get the credit that he deserves from some people. Don Pepin Garcia makes some delicious cigars and the DPG Series JJ Natural is one of them. But what about this cigar?

Well, it feels tightly packed and it looks good enough with only a couple of largish veins marring the appearance of the wrapper. A fair amount of oils gives the dark brown wrapper a nice sheen. The triple cap (just like the Cubans do it!) looks solid.

1/3: I like puros not because I’m some sort of tobacco supremacist – far from it – but because it gives you a better idea about how the tobacco from a certain area will normally taste. Sure, I know, there are many variations within countries and the kind of tobacco leafs you get from one farm can be significantly different than the leafs from another farm a few miles away. But, still, I think that there are some trademark differences between countries; like with this Nicaraguan puro with its bold spicy notes that relentlessly remind the nerve endings in my nasal passages that they recently blew by.

There are also notes of nutmeg, barley and maple. The first parts of the beginning third were amazing but it begins to slide backwards a bit by the end of the first third.

2/3: Even though it has regressed somewhat from the beginning the plateau from which it started was very high. Spice is still the main flavor but now the biggest supporting flavor is a sweet floral flavor. And then at about the halfway mark my enjoyment of the cigar picks up again.

Deep, soulful flavors centering around maple with a fringe of spiciness that sticks around all over. It has a lot of complexity to it – other flavors include floral notes, earthiness and cocoa – and the flavors work extremely well with each other.

3/3: And there is a change back towards that floral flavor, which, while disappointing, still isn’t a bad flavor. But that floral flavor is not all there is. There is mesquite, which is not a flavor I get all that often. It doesn’t end amazingly though, with the flavors dying somewhat.

4/3: “Perplexing” is the best word to describe this cigar. One moment I am in love with it and the next I am confused. Alternating between the great and the merely good is something that I have not encountered too much but, still, this medium bodied cigar with a good draw and burn is a cigar that you should try. Personally, I think the version with the natural wrapper has the edge.

3.5 points

Gurkha Crest Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:13:03 +0000

I received this sample from Cigars Direct, which does have a good selection of rare cigars.

0/3: Ah, another Gurkha. How many different lines do they have now? At least a couple dozen. I guess it is a sign of the times. Cigar companies, just like every other company out there, needs to do things in order to stay relevant and for many that means either line extensions (new vitolas or a different wrapper) or new products.

Back to the cigar now. It is a good looking torpedo. The wrapper is a little dry to the touch, the feel of the cigar is uniformly properly packed with just the slightest give and the wrapper looks mottled – vacillating between medium brown and dark brown. The prelight draw is a little tight.

1/3: The first third is enjoyable with soft spicy notes and bread. While the draw is a little tight it does not hamper the flavors all that much. There is also a bit of sweetness that is trying to punch through.

2/3: Spice continues with a small helping of sweetness that borders on cherry flavored. The tight draw is beginning to hamper the flavor development somewhat. There is a sharpness that is borderline unsavory to the flavor profile at this point. Wood is an addition during this third.

3/3: The final third sees a great increase in the intensity and the enjoyability of the spice. I would have to peg this cigar in the medium-full bodied range and it has a good burn with a somewhat tight draw.

4/3: Overall, I cannot say that this cigar justifies it’s very expensive price tag. The flavors, while good, are somewhat muted due to the fact that there is a tight draw. Additionally, the flavors are not all that complex and leave much to be desired. However, if this cigar is available in a sampler pack with some other sticks that you like do not be discouraged because it is a good cigar overall; just nothing special.

3.5 points

Patel Brothers Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:11:10 +0000

0/3: It looks like a fairly well made cigar. A little hard to the touch but it is still a visually appealing cigar. Not a lot of oils on the wrapper.

On a separate issue, is the point of the name – Patel Brothers – supposed to evoke longing memories of Mario Bros? Maybe whilst lighting the cigar you will be brought back to that time you ate the mushroom and squashed the spiked turtle – digitally, of course.

1/3: Starts out enjoyable even though the flavors are borderline harsh. By that I mean there is a separation between the flavors, which are earth, smokiness, and bitter cocoa; and the overall smoking experience, which is bitter.

2/3: A mild sweetness has started to come through during the second third. Strong and dark is the name of the game here but, so far, I am enjoying this cigar more than I thought I would. An extremely earthy cigar.

3/3: The sweetness is still a background flavor but it has grown in prominence and it is providing a decent counterbalance to the robust earthiness that is evident in this cigar’s flavor profile. The sweetness is a little odd: it’s closer to straight, natural sugar than to anything else I can think of.

4/3: Unless you want an extremely earthy experience this probably is not a cigar for you. It also at times harsh and, because of that, the flavors can come off as being overbearing and not good. Personally, I would smoke this cigar again but I will not be seeking this cigar out. If it’s part of a deal I wouldn’t balk at it though.

3 points

Emilio AF2 Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:03:04 +0000

With an average amount of veins running along the length of the cigar and some minor discolorations here and there I can honestly say this isn’t a great cigar to look at. Fortunately, I don’t smoke cigars because they’re pretty. And I didn’t buy this cigar anyway, it’s a sample from Emilio Cigars. And yes, that’s right, only one smoked. That’s why this is a short review folks.

The feel of the wrapper is a different story. There is a good coating of oils along with the tactile sensation of very fine fur. It’s an interesting feeling and, from my experience at least, makes me think this will at least be a good cigar.

Here’s some information about this cigar:

Our AF2 blend, produced and blended by A.J. Fernandez is certain to delight. Crafted from rich Nicaraguan fillers combined with the strength of Pennsylvania ligero and a beautiful Ecuadoran Habano Oscuro wrapper. These cigars are available in cabinet boxes of 20 in four sizes: Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, and BMF.

I’m smoking the 6×50 Toro for this review.

California Sucks Flame!

It’s good. Spice at its core; grass, bitter chocolate and some toffee give it support. An extremely interesting group of flavors here, kind of surprised. Well, I’m surprised because I had not heard much about this company before, that’s all.

The second third improves on the first third. It’s spicy core, which was a little wild and harsh during the first third has moderated and become a fuller experience. Hay and sweet grass have also come on. The smoke leaves a warm and dry feeling in my mouth and the flavors linger until the next puff.

During the final third the spice dissipates quite a bit. During this third I did recognize some chocolate but the main flavor was smoky hay. This is a medium bodied cigar with a great burn and draw.

4.5 points

G. De Graaff ‘S-Gravenhage Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:09:41 +0000

After my grandmother came back from her most recent sojourn, this time to see the Continentals amongst them a certain former foreign exchange student from Germany, she brought me this cigar for my birthday. As you can tell by the title of this review the cigar’s name is quite a mouthful. It looks like it is a house blend but beyond that I don’t have much information on the cigar. What I have found can be seen here.

Here’s a little bit of information from that site:

De Graaff cigars have been hand-made for generations by the old established house of cigar makers De Graaff, using only the highest grade tobaccos from Brazil, Cuba and Indonesia. The tobaccos are blended in their factory according to old family recipes which conscientiously are kept a secret. One of the advantages of their cigars is that no artificial tobacco is used, another that each cigar has its own particular sophisticated composition, resulting in an unique balance between fragrance and taste.

With all that being said I cannot vouch for the makeup of this cigar nor can I seem to be able to find the vitola that I smoked on their website. Here’s the basics: it’s a thick cigar measuring in at more than a 55 ring gauge I’m sure. The length is about 5 ½” and the only reason why I don’t know the exact length is because I was sure I would be able to find the vitola on their site, but I didn’t.

The cigar did get a little smashed in transit but there was no tearing of the wrapper and I do not think it had much of an affect on the performance of this cigar. It has a triple cap and the wrapper is medium brown with some smallish veins.

Friedman Flame!

Honestly, this cigar is starting off awesomely. Spice, grass and earth make up the core. Immense flavor in the early goings. Pretty intense though, hopefully it will mellow out a little bit as it progresses.

Burnt toast and sweet spice come on during the second third and they are tasty. The intensity has yet to flag, which I’m actually liking now with the new flavors on board. I would peg this as a medium bodied cigar.

Taking the band off of this cigar is proving to be a pain because the band does not reach all the way around the cigar and, to make up for this fact, the manufacturer has decide to use tape to bridge the gap instead of making a larger band. This is a problem because the tape has stuck to the wrapper. I am only able to remove the band at the expense of the wrapper, which has now been torn.

Charred meat is coming on strong in the final third, which is a flavor that I really like. There is also the sweetness but without much of the spice that was ever present during the first two thirds of this cigar.

In retrospect, my favorite third of this cigar was the first third where the flavors were perhaps a little wild but they were interesting. The second third offered a more well rounded experience that most anyone would enjoy. The final third took a step back in terms of f lavor and enjoyability but, overall this was a very good cigar and I bet many people would enjoy it.

4 points

Felipe Gregorio W20 Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:19:06 +0000

I received this cigar from the maker many months ago so it has the benefit of some rest time in the humidor. Let me see, besides that little tidbit I can’t find much on this cigar save for that the wrapper is Marron Havano 2000, if you know what that means please leave a comment telling the rest of us. Take a look on their page to see all the info on this cigar.

It’s a good enough looking cigar. Tightly packed throughout with some minor tears here and there. One medium sized vein runs from foot to cap and there is a rather largish 1.5″ length of vein stretching down from the foot. Well, lets see how this 5″ x 55 cigar tastes.

Tiki Bar Flame!

My first impression is that the flavors are going to revolve around sweet spice, which is fine with me. It’s a pretty enjoyable flavor with all things considered. Not much else going on early on.

The second third is much the same. The sweet spice is still going strong and it is somewhat better than it was earlier on. In addition to the spice there is some dry woodiness and, actually, the best way to describe this cigar thus far is dry. The flavor profile is completely dry with some above average flavors. Cigars like this do have their benefits.

Entering the final third and I do notice some changes like the floral flavor that has crept in and mostly replaced the spice. There are moments of harshness as well but they are minor.

This isn’t a force of a cigar. Medium-full bodied with a good draw and a decent burn. Overall, this is a slightly above average cigar and would probably be liked by people who like spice.

3.5 points

Cuba Libre Short Cigar Review

Travis Lindsay — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:58:03 +0000

This is a cheap cigar; $2.50 per stick or less when you buy it by the box. As long as cheap cigars are tasty they are worth it. If they aren’t tasty, well, I think you get the picture.

Very nicely made box pressed cigar. It is probably a little too tightly packed bit it does have a good amount of oils on the wrapper. No blemishes on the wrapper that I can see which is a good omen.

Thanks go out to Cigars Direct for this cigar.

Cigar Stats
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $50.00/Box of 20

Krish Krush Flame!

Earthiness is the first flavor to greet my palate. There is a slight coffee flavor there as well. Nothing spectacular with this cigar though. Good draw and burn, medium bodied.

Slow burning cigar with some good flavors. It’s not exactly the most memorable cigar though. The flavors aren’t boring, per se. They just are not all that lively.

A hint of charcoal starts creeping in near the beginning and takes on a more substantial role as the burn progresses. It’s a pretty good cigar.

Now that I have finished this cigar I can say that for $2.50 a cigar it might well be worth it. Don’t expect much from this cigar as it does not have much to give. Average is the best way to describe this cigar.

3 points