CAO Lx2 Cigar Review
This is a natural pick for me because this cigar has got some kick and some oomph. Or is it a natural pick for me? To find out read on and, oh, yeah, have a great New Year’s Eve!
A beautiful dark and oily wrapper is obscured by two ornate bands. I get it, it’s about marketing. You’ve got the big CAO with an LX2 on one band and “Forteleza Tres” on the second band (according to Brian Hewitt forteleza tres means triple the strength).
The feel of the wrapper is very oily. A couple of medium sized veins mar the surface of the wrapper. The cigar itself feels relatively tightly packed.
Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Nicaragua (Pueblo Nuevo) & Dominican Republic
Price: $7.10/Single | $112.00/Box of 20
Federation Flame!
Unrelenting spiciness is the theme for the first third of this cigar. Cherry would be the second flavor that I am picking up. Overall, the first third of this cigar has turned the intensity level all the way to 11 (that is the point of this cigar after all, right?).
I ran into a little bit of a burn issue during the transition from the first to the second third of this cigar. After smoking it a little after I made a course correction to the burn the cigar does not seem any worse for the wear.
Flavorwise, the second third does have some differences from the first third. That unrelenting spice has moderated some and that moderation has made it possible for some other flavors to come out and play. In addition to the spice and the cherry flavors, which were relatively minor during the first third and still are during this second third, there are some oak and some other minor fleeting flavors that I cannot quite pin down. My inability to pin those flavors down is because the spiciness, while it has moderated some, is still very strong.
The final third is a steady march of what has come before. Flavors have been all good but there needs to be a note of caution. This is a fairly strong cigar and the flavor profile could safely be described as being aggressive. That is why I like this cigar so much. There is some complexity in the flavor profile but what really sets it apart from other cigars is that it is exactly what it is advertised as being. Strong.
Other than the flavor the burn had some problems that I have already mentioned. After correcting it at around the transition from the first to the second third there weren’t any more major problems. The same could be said of the draw. It was a little tight at first but after correcting for the burn problem the draw was fine. In the end this is a delicious cigar that should be liked by fans of full bodied cigars.
92 points
Sencillo Short Churchill Cigar Review
Today we have a very special review from Danny (@dannysguitar is his Twitter handle). He’s a cool guy and he has done an awesome review of the Sencillo Short Churchill. Enjoy!
First off, I would like to thank Travis for inviting me for a guest review on his site. Today we have for you the Sencillo Short Churchill. I have smoked my way through a box of these and this is one of the last sticks I have. A little background on this cigar. Keith K Park, owner of Prometheus and God of Fire was looking for an everyday cigar to add to his portfolio. He contacted Christian Eiora of Camacho cigars to put together some blends for him. This is the one that was chosen. So let’s light it up!
Giving the cigar a good once over reveals a nice dark wrapper. Tightly packed, and heavy for it’s size. This particular cigar is a Honduran puro. Prelight smell is sweet tobacco on the wrapper. Almost like vanilla. The foot is more musty barnyard with a touch of spice, maybe cinnamon? I decided to use a punch on this cigar and the prelight draw gives me slight pepper.
Cigar Stats
Toro
Length: 6.25
Ring Gauge: 48
Wrapper: Honduran Habano de Jamastran
Binder: Honduran Habano de Jamastran
Filler: Honduran Habano de Jamastran and Honduran Piloto Cubano
Price: $7.95
The first few draws are natural tobacco with a slight pepper and a hint of bitterness. Actually a little dry. Tons of smoke with a nice easy draw. A few puffs later I get some nice spicy earthy flavors. On the retrohale and I get a little black pepper spice and a nice bitter chocolate or coffee. Not sure which. Burn is straight, and the ash is strong, holds on for about an inch. Chewy thick smoke. Medium to full body.
Heading into the 2nd third, the smoke changes to a predominately smokey wood flavor. The further down I smoke this, the more I’m begging for some sweetness to balance out these flavors.
Coming to the end and the flavors are about the same. Earth, bitter chocolate/coffee, wood, and a bit of pepper spice. The spice has ramped up a tad bit. I find these flavors to be very enjoyable, but this cigar still missing a little sweetness to make this the complete package. I think this cigar would go well with a nice bourbon or rum. Something sweet to contrast the flavors of the cigar.
Final thoughts on the Sencillo Short Churchill. I think it’s a pretty good smoke. Better than an average cigar. I’m kinda surprised one type of tobacco could produce so many flavors.
89 points
CAO La Traviata Cigar Review
I would love to say that my initial fascination with this cigar stemmed from something other than the fact that the cigar’s name has a striking resemblance to my first name (Travis) but that would be a lie. After I was done getting excited about a cigar from CAO having a similar name to my own I noticed some other things about this cigar, like the reasonable price and the nearly flawless construction.
For this review I will be smoking the La Traviata Favorito, which is a torpedo. The wrapper is a medium dark brown wrapper with a slight reddish hue. It is gleaming with oils and has been sitting in my humidor for a number of months now. Cannot honestly say anything negative about the appearance of this cigar.
Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 5 ½″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
Price: $5.25/Single | $110.00/Box of 24
400k Old Flame!
If you like it when your cigar could be used to set a smokescreen for your getaway then you should consider this cigar. Tons of smoke and it tastes good. Oak and leather figure prominently in the flavor profile for this cigar while spice is playing the part of rocket fuel. It is a very intense cigar flavor-wise; maybe a little too intense for some smokers.
Entering the second third now and the cigar is still performing extraordinarily well. The burn is perfect and so is the draw. This full bodied cigar has some strong flavors but I just don’t think that is enough to make a truly special cigar. Oak and leather are good, especially when paired with spice, but there just isn’t a lot of flavor range with this cigar. It’s… simple. And that is why I really like it.
Complexity in a cigar is preferable, there is not question about that in my mind. What this cigar lacks in complexity though it makes up with intensity. The flavors with the La Traviatas are definitely more intense than most cigars. In a way, this cigar is like a hot rod: it’ll go balls out over a straight quarter mile but if there is the slightest turn then, well, you get the picture.
While the last third still retains its intensity with the flavors I have so far outlined it has added on a flavor: a faint flowery sweetness. This fleeting sweetness, which is most apparent on the inhale, is a good counterbalance to the other flavors and does increase my enjoyment of this cigar.
Overall, this is a great cigar. Good flavors and smoking characteristics always are a good thing.
91 points
Padilla Series ’68 Short Cigar Review
First off, I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas. One in which you got twice as many cigars as you had hoped for and Santa even threw in a dependable lighter and a sharp cigar cutter. Oh, and maybe some liquor too if you were really good this year.
Full disclosure: I received this cigar from Cigars Direct. All reviews are my own.
Wrapper: Nicaragua | Binder: Nicaragua | Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto (robusto – 5″x50) | Price: App. $6.oo/cigar
0/3: This is one Padilla I do not have a lot of experience with. I love the Dominus, the 1932 and the Miami. It looks like a well made cigar and it has a waxy feel to it. Lots of veins and it has a triple cap. Well and evenly packed.
1/3: One of the things that I like about those three cigars I talked about above is that they are like the cigar versions of a recently broken wild horse. They’re awesome that way. This one, on the other hand, is a different type of cigar altogether. It doesn’t have that same reckless allure that the other cigars have; it’s more refined than that.
The flavors during the first third center around a grassy core that is tinged with spice on the inhale and the finish of the retrohale.
2/3: The second third is basically a continuation of the preceding third. There is a little bit of mint and the occasional wood note as well. The draw is good, maybe a shade too tight, and the burn is perfect. Medium bodied cigar.
3/3: Entering the final third and I am just not excited about this cigar anymore. I like the half-mad Padillas; maybe they aren’t as refined but this one just doesn’t have the same soul as those others. The big difference with this third is that the grassy flavor has disappeared and has left a mixture of wood and earth.
4/3: I have read some other reviews that rate this cigar very well. Personally, it isn’t in my flavor wheelhouse. Perfectly fine cigar but it does not do enough to excite me.
3 points – Try this sampler and compare the ’68 to the 1932 and the Miami. Tell me which is better.
Camacho Coyolar Cigar Review
About a year ago I did a Short Cigar Review on one of these and I gave it the most points possible, five points. That doesn’t mean I think it’s perfect but it is one of those cigars that I really think every cigar smoker should try. The Camacho Coyolar is extremely flavorful with pretty good smoking characteristics. Take a look at my previous review; now lets get on to a proper review of this cigar.
This cigar has been sitting in my humidor for nearly a year at this point. Part of a box I bought shortly after Christmas last year and this is the lucky one that is going to get reviewed. Hopefully that extra time in my humidor will have helped the flavors mature some.
Made in Danli, Honduras this cigar is not only a puro but all of the tobaccos used to construct these gems are grown on the same farm; the Coyolar farm. That’s pretty unique.
The wrapper is dark chocolate brown and has a good helping of oils. It feels a little fuzzy to the touch and this cigar is slightly underpacked, which seems common with Camachos. The look of the wrapper is marred by a couple of gnarly veins and a divot near the band which kind of reminds me of the divots left in the skulls of people who just had brain surgery back in the olden days.
Cigar Stats
Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 60
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras
Price: $8.00/Single | $170.00/Box of 25
Dark Passenger Flame!
Maybe something has been lost in translation but I just don’t feel the same way I use to about this cigar. It’s only the beginning, so things might change, I hope that they do, but it just seems different. There is spice that is most apparent on the sides of my tongue and it lingers and then there is also anise on the retrohale.
Alright, it just took some time to warm up because it is now beginning to remind me of those cigars I had a while back. The spice is picking up and there is some dark sweetness lingering in the background. Leather and meaty flavors are coming on strong after the first inch.
I’m looking back at the Short Cigar Review I did for this cigar and it’s matching up quite nicely, except for the added sweetness. More dark sweetness with this one than with the other one, which was the Rothschild (4 1/2 x 50). However, as was the case with the Rothschild, this Titan takes some time to develop. I’m a little past the halfway point now and it is immeasurably better than the first half inch.
A candied sweetness comes on strong during the last half of this cigar. It’s a change of pace that I was not expecting nor do I remember it from my previous dalliances with this cigar. It’s a good change of pace as well because it does bring some balance to this cigar.
What I like about this cigar is that there is a good deal of complexity to it. Spice, leather, meat and candied sweetness work well together. It is also smooth with the slightest tint of an edge to it, which is perfect in my book. The draw is great and the burn is pretty good, only requiring a couple of touch ups.
You know you are smoking a good cigar when you don’t want it to end. This nominally full bodied cigar is one of those cigars. It’s no wonder that these cigars are so hard to find; they’re just that great.
94 points
