La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale Cigar Review
I received some samples from General Cigar for this review. My reviews are my own because I’m a moral person and because if I sold reviews no one would trust me. But mostly because I’m a moral person. Enjoy!
La Gloria Cubana has injected some nitrous into it’s line of cigars recently by launching line extensions like the La Gloria Cubana Serie N. It’s true, I didn’t particularly care for that cigar. But what about this cigar?
First off, here’s a little background info from La Gloria’s website:
Team La Gloria set out to break the mold with the blend of the Artesanos Retro Especiale by cross-breeding a Connecticut seed, which was then cultivated in Honduras. The maiden crop yielded a hearty, golden wrapper as noteworthy for its color as it is for allowing each of the cigar’s components to enjoy equal bearing on the overall taste of the cigar. Each of the frontmarks is uniquely packaged with a different design and bears a classic name that hearkens back to El Credito’s early days.
If this is a good cigar then some credit must go to Mendel for his pioneering genetic research with peas, Ricardo for providing the economic rationale for growing seed developed in Connecticut in the tropical climes of Honduras and most of the credit should go to the children because it is for them that we all smoke. Without their contributions this cigar and most of the others would not get made.
It’s a good looking cigar but I do not think that the wrapper is “golden.” Sienna maybe, but not golden. Oh, but that doesn’t really matter; nor does the tightness with which this cigar is packed. The two largish veins do give me some pause for concern but with all the samples I have smoked as of yet there have not been any problems with the draw or the burn; at least nothing too bad to make note of. Alright, now onto the review.
Cigar Stats
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Honduran Connecticut Seed
Binder: Nicaraguan & Mexican
Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican
Price: $7.25/Single | $101.00/Box of 25
Legendary Smoke!
The first flavor to greet my palate is bright spice that is bolstered by flowery sweetness. In the background there are rich maple notes that gives the flavor profile some heft and balance. Even with the maple this cigar is very light and refreshing; solid start.
Transitioning to the second third and the biggest difference is not in the composition of the flavors but rather in the intensity of the flavors from the first third. It’s sort of like when a car gets a super charger installed, the flavors are just more robust. And that is a good thing because, while these flavors are not extraordinary, they are very good. It’s a cigar that piques your interest and, even though there hasn’t been any evolution in flavors, it is able to keep my interest.
Unfortunately, as is sometimes the case with cigars, the final third was a bit of a letdown. It wasn’t bad, per se, but it was just a little flat with the spice vanishing like a Randy Johnson slider and the maple getting watered down. The floral flavor was still pretty strong and it did provide the lone bright spot for the final third.
Even though the final third did have its problems the first two thirds of the cigar were really good; a solid 91 point cigar. When counting the final third and taking into consideration the fact that this medium bodied cigar had a good draw and burn I am going to have to bring down the final score a little.
89 points
Cu-Avana Punisher Cigar Review
If you spend any time whatsoever searching through certain online retailers I am sure that you have seen them pushing the Cu-Avana Punisher. Chances are you have read something like this:
Be warned, Punisher is no joke. This full-bodied, potent blend of Nicaraguan ligero tobaccos is one of the strongest cigars we’ve ever experienced.
Obviously, the main selling point of this cigar is that you are going to get a major nicotine kick when you smoke this cigar. Perhaps it may even be the strongest cigar in terms of body that you have ever smoked. But is that a good thing? Should that even be something that you should consider when you are buying a cigar? Probably not but it did pique my interest and, anyways, I just wanted to see how strong this cigar actually was.
The Punisher’s wrapper has a greyish-brown hue to it and it only comes in one size: a 6″ x 52 torpedo, which is adequately constructed. As far as I have seen with the few of these that I have smoked there were no major problems with the construction of this cigar.
Cigar Stats
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: ?
Binder: ?
Filler: ?
Price: $100.00/Box of 13
Breaking Bad Sizzle!
[Aside: Usually, you can find information about the makeup of the tobacco used to make a cigar. In this situation, after minutes of exhaustive searching, I could not find any information on this cigar's makeup other than it was made at Nestor Plasencia's factory in Nicaragua and that this cigar contains a lot of ligero]
Even the prelight draw to this cigar is absolutely spicy. It feels almost like they dipped this cigar into a scotch bonnet pepper paste and that tingling on my lips and tongue makes me seriously wonder how they made this cigar. Could it be infused? Personally, I have only smoked one infused cigar and that was by accident early on during my cigar smoking tenure. Basically, I do not have enough experience with infused cigars to say one way or the other.
Actually, the tingling sensation is not completely off-putting. It is equal parts compelling and disgusting and just numbing enough so that I really cannot make any discernible flavors out during the first couple of dozen puffs. When my taste buds sufficiently revived themselves the flavors that I do get remind me of jalapenos and other more intense peppers.
Surprisingly, the flavors are not all that bad but they are definitely very one dimensional. If you are a person who loves the taste of peppers then this is a cigar for you. If you are a person that only wants to smoke the most full bodied cigars out there then you might want to think about another cigar. It’s full bodied but not overbearingly so.
Going into the final third now and I am struck by how pure the flavors are. It tastes almost like they were able to distill the flavor of peppers and instill it into this cigar. But this is a very specific cigar since it doesn’t have any evolution of flavors and because the flavors present are so intense. Both the draw and the burn have been excellent throughout and I would peg this as a full bodied cigar. But not overly full bodied, the flavors are just insanely close to the flavors of peppers.
“Unique” is the best way that I have come up with to describe this cigar. There is always the chance that you will be one of the people who would love this cigar because you are such a pepper fanatic. For example, if you have a framed chart of Scoville Scale in your office then you might be the type of person who will love this cigar. However, I cannot say that I am one of those people. I am glad for having tried some of these but there is no way I will ever seek them out again save, perhaps, on a lark. It was an experience though.
87 points
CAO La Traviata Maduro Cigar Review
I sit here wearing my CAO La Traviata Maduro hat given to me by Keith from Tiki Bar Online. Even though you might not think that is pertinent information I recall some English teacher I once had preaching about the importance of setting the scene. So there; the scene is set.
This is a perfect looking cigar. Black-brown wrapper with two very minor veins visible. Oily feel to the wrapper, it’s also slightly fuzzy. The cigar feels well packed, hard even. Can’t wait to smoke this cigar after resting it in my humidor for many months.
Cigar Stats
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
Price: $115.00/Box of 24
Canton Tower Flame!
If you are wondering whether or not I have smoked the CAO La Traviata with the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper you can take a look at this. If you don’t want to go through the bother of clicking on another link and reading another review then you should know that I liked that cigar, giving it 91 points. Leather, oak and spice were some of the flavors that I noticed and it was pleasantly full bodied.
The CAO La Traviata Maduro starts out with a dark and powerful flavor profile. Beef jerky is the center of the flavor profile surrounded by mahogany, salt and bitter chocolate. While the draw is a little tight in the early goings of this cigar it has not become much of a problem.
Smokiness along with dark flavors are pervasive coming into the second third. Beef jerky and smoky mesquite are the big flavors that I’m picking up now. It’s fine.
The somewhat tight draw becomes somewhat bothersome in the final third, but not in terms of flavor. That jerky flavor has receded into the background while the smoky mesquite has gotten stronger. Heavy cigar.
Without the tight draw, which I got over and over again with each of these cigars that I tried, this would be a 90+ point cigar in my estimation. Even with the tight draw it was an enjoyable cigar but, I have to say, the original La Traviata is my favorite. Medium bodied with a burn that does require some touch ups along the way, this is a cigar that maduro fans might want to give a try.
88 points
Casa Magna Colorado Cigar Review
Yes, I have reviewed the Casa Magna Colorado before but this is a different size and it has been quite a while since I reviewed one of these cigars. There’s that and the fact that Cigars Direct sent me this cigar and I am somewhat obligated to review it. Thanks guys!
The Casa Magna Torito is short and stubby measuring in at 4 ¾” x 60 ring gauge. While that is a little bit thicker than I prefer I have liked some cigars from this line in the past. Perhaps this one will surprise me.
Good construction with a fairly uniform medium-dark brown color to the wrapper. There is a small hole that is close to the foot of this cigar but that is the only imperfection worth noting.
Cigar Stats
Length: 4 ¾″
Ring Gauge: 60
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $27.00/5 Pack | $162.00/30 Pack
JJ for JJ Flame!
It’s starts out pretty good but I am trepidatious about how the flavor profile is forming up; almost like it is watered down. But the flavors I am getting are good. Mole sauce, dark wood and some nuts. Spice is prominent throughout the nasal passages.
Meat comes on during the second third along with a smoky presence as well. Tobacco flavors are also here. Flavors from the previous third are still there but not as much as before.
The last third is a diminished continuation of the last third. I fear that this cigar is just too thick and it has diluted the flavors. It is also a little harsh in the final bits.
Overall, this is a pretty good cigar but not as good as its thinner brethren. It has a good draw and burn and is in the medium-full bodied range. By all means, smoke some Casa Magna Colorados but pick something thinner.
89 points
Perdomo Habano Corojo Cigar Review
A rather thickish-looking robusto, this cigar has no visible malformations. Of course, like nearly all cigars, it has the stray bump but even those seem to be less bumpy than the average cigar’s bumps. Plus it is oily and nicely packed.
Cigar Stats
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $90.00/Box of 20
Gaiman Flame!
After getting it lit, which took longer than usual, I am welcomed with a bouquet of goodness. There’s a little bit of a zing followed by a floral sweetness, a bit of a cookie dough flavor, a touch of citrus and some barnyard for good measure. This is definitely a unique mix of flavors and, even though this cigar is in its infancy, it is shaping up to be a good cigar.
Now that I am a little more than an inch into this cigar I can still say that I like it. Citrus is playing the lead right now, which, while interesting, is a little odd. It’s not like the citrus flavor is bad but, well, it’s just unexpected. On the other side of the coin is a dash of spice; thankfully. That barnyard flavor, more like hay, is still present. That cookie dough flavor is not.
After the halfway point this cigar becomes a little bland. Citrus is gone and in its place is a full-throated hay flavor, which is boring. I had higher hopes at the beginning of this cigar but all my hopes seem to have gone down the drain after the halfway point.
It’s a medium bodied cigar with a good draw and a good enough burn (a couple of touchups were necessary during the middle third).
Three quarters of the way through and it does improve a little bit. A doughy flavor starts to come through and the hay takes on a burnt quality. Additionally, a nutty flavor has also entered the mix.
Alright, it is a fine cigar but it’s just nothing special. Like most other Perdomos it falls into that solid category.
88 points
