Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ Maduro Short Cigar Review
I received this cigar as a sample from Cigars Direct; my reviews are my own.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan | Binder: Nicaraguan | Filler: Nicaraguan | Box of 24: $100.00 | 5 Pack: $24.00 | Robusto | 5″ x 50
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
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.
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut | Binder: Nicaraguan | Filler: Nicaraguan | Box of 10: $100.00 | Single: $28.00 | Torpedo | 6″ x 52
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
Felipe Gregorio W20 Short Cigar Review
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
Perdomo Habano Connecticut Short Cigar Review
Pre-Smoke
The light Connecticut shade wrapper that adorns this cigar has some discolorations. This Perdomo is packed nicely but there is not that much oil on it. Other than that, it looks like a well made cigar.
Beside the American wrapper, the filler and binder tobaccos are grown in Nicaragua (Esteli, Condega and Jalapa). For this review I will be smoking the robusto (5″ x 52), which retails for around $6.00 (the rest of the line will cost you more).
Smoke
Creaminess is the first noticeable flavor followed by oak. Those are the main flavors but there is also burnt toast in the background. It is a relatively smooth cigar but there is just something in the background that wants to burst out – sort of like a caged tiger or something like that.
At times I can almost taste the spice breaking through and then the mellow oakiness takes back over. Not a bad cigar by any means. It’s medium-full bodied, has a good draw and an even burn. And, truthfully, this cigar is growing on me. It’s laid back flavor profile is endearing.
After-Smoke
Overall, it is an enjoyable smoke. The flavors are more than adequate but there is not a lot of complexity with this Perdomo. I will say this: it is better than most of the Perdomos that I have smoked.
3.5 points
La Riqueza Short Cigar Review
Pre-Smoke
Sitting in my humidor this cigar did not look like much. The band is unassuming and the cigar is well crafted but rustic. Some oils on the dark US Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper give me hope even though the cigar seems a touch too soft throughout.There seems to be a slight box press to this cigar.
I am smoking the La Riqueza #4, which is a robusto measuring 5″ x 48. The binder and filler come from Nicaragua. This cigar should cost you about $9.00 per stick.
Smoke
Leather and tobacco with a meaty aftertaste. After the halfway point there is an herbal flavor. Some bitterness is evident on the tip of my tongue – not a negative in this case.
It starts out a lot better than it finishes. The beginning is an explosion of flavor that is very enjoyable. The second half becomes harsh at times but it still has it moments.
This is a medium bodied cigar with a good draw and an uneven burn.
After-Smoke
Truthfully, after the first couple of inches I was getting really excited about this cigar. The flavors were very enjoyable. I just guess I was expecting more from a cigar that costs nearly ten dollars.
3.5 points
