San Lotano Maduro Cigar Review
I like the look and smell of this cigar. It’s dark brown, almost black, and the tobacco gives a distinctive barnyard aroma to it. There is some spice in the smell as well, gives it a bit of zest.
The San Lotano Maduro is a box pressed beauty. From what I can see there is nothing more than a pittance of a flaw on the wrapper and that “flaw” is just a minor stretch mark about 1.5″ down from the foot. When you feel the wrapper it’s extremely oily and very smooth.
Here is what the cigar maker has to say about the meaning of this cigar:
San Lotano meaning “from San Lius” refers to Pinar del Rio´s most famous city and the birthplace of A.J. Fernandez. The San Lotano brand originated in pre-Castro Cuba under the direction of A.J.´s grandfather. Today the tradition continues in Nicaragua where San Lotano is made with the choisest, aged Cuban seed tobaccos all fermented using the secret Fernandez family process, wich has been passed on for over three generations. Let San Lotano gives you a glimpse into what real cigar making is all about, a atradition you can taste.
Now let’s smoke this baby!
Cigar Stats
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Mexican Maduro
Binder: Dual – Honduran & Dominican
Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua
Price: ~$7.00/Single
Movie Maker Flame!
This is another one of my cigars that have been resting in my humidor for a while now; this one at least seven or eight months. While the extra time maturing in my humidor has helped this cigar I don’t think it has made a tremendous difference – maybe more time would. But that doesn’t mean this is a bad cigar, not at all.
Creamy is the best way to describe the smoke’s texture. Smoke just goes everywhere and the flavors stay much longer than the flavors from most other cigars. Earth, mint, hay are chased by a small but lingering bit of strong spice. Interesting and complex at the beginning of a cigar usually portends good things for the rest of the cigar.
Some changes do happen during the second third. Sweetness begins to take over a little bit more, it kind of reminds me of caramel. Hay is still there and so is that spice on the end. Altogether, it’s still a pretty good cigar.
During the final third the sweetness basically vanishes and in its place is earth and some hay. The spice has also nearly vanished, but not completely.
Overall, it is a pretty complex cigars with some very enjoyable flavors. The draw is good but the burn does require some maintenance. This is a medium bodied cigar. My main problem with this cigar is that the flavors, while good, just are not what I am looking for in a cigar. I would have liked the spice to be a more central component to the flavor profile and less hay.
88 points
Monte Pascoal Cigar Review
About half a year ago I was contacted by a cigar maker of Brazilian puros. They ended up sending me three samples of their Monte Pascoal Double Coronas and this is my review of that cigar.
Honestly, when I first received these cigars I wasn’t expecting much because I can’t think of any good Brazilian puros. But they looked like they were well made. The parejo shape was pretty uniform but there are these bumps that dot the entirety of the cigar’s structure. It’s oily but it’s also a little veiny too, which could cause problems with the cigar’s burn. Here is what the makers of this cigar have to say about the tobaccos used:
The Mata Fina tobacco is characterized by complex aromas and an elegant bouquet, while the Mata Norte provides the full-bodied flavour most experienced cigar smokers enjoy.
Here is what they have to say about the blend:
All of the cigars in the Monte Pascoal line are blended with these two tobaccos, in different proportions, allowing each smoking experience to be completely unique from one vitola (size) to another.
That is basically true for every cigar: different vitolas deliver different flavors whether that is in intensity, nuance or proportionality. Alright, enough with this egregiously long preamble, lets get down to business.
Cigar Stats
Length: 7 5/8″
Ring Gauge: 49
Wrapper: Brazil Mata Fina
Binder: Brazil Mata Fina
Filler: Brazil Mata Fina & Mata Norte
Price: $34.00/5 Pack | $166.00/Box of 25
Hitchens and the Bible Fire!
Before anything else this must be said: it’s unique. The two major flavor profiles that I am picking up are sweetness and herbal and they are paired with this molasses after taste that isn’t altogether bad. Additionally, the flavors are not all that strong in the beginning (can flavors get lost over 7″ of cigar?).
During the second third, which takes a while to reach since this cigar is fairly long, sees an increase in the intensity of the flavors. Another change is that the flavors are now sweet and floral. While this isn’t exactly my idea of what constitutes great flavors for some it might be more appealing.
As the final third commences there is an oakiness that starts to come through but the main flavor is still that sweet floral flavor. This cigar has a slightly tight draw and the burn is good. I would peg it in the medium bodied range.
I have heard that some other people really like this cigar, which is something I can understand. It’s unique because it is a Brazilian puro and should be tried so that you can expand your cigar smoking horizons. Personally, I thought it was a decent cigar.
87 points
Punch Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary Cigar Review
I received some samples from General Cigar that I have used for this review. In the past when I have smoked some Punch Rare Corojos I didn’t think they were spectacular but they were solid cigars. This cigar might be a little better than solid.
The look of the wrapper is a mottled combination of mostly dark brown and some lighter brown. Box pressed, this cigar looks like the wrapper was stretched a little too much as there are a few instances of stretch marks near the veins of the wrapper. Other than that the cap cuts nicely for me and the wrapper has a moderate amount of oils on it.
Cigar Stats
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Connecticut Corojo
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican, Nicaragua & Honduras
Price: $6.50/cigar
It starts out very nice if not a bit too aggressively. According to the cover letter that was sent along with these samples spice is something that they strive for in the formulation of these cigars. Well, they achieved what they set out to do. What is nice about this version of spice is that while it is strong it is not crazily strong. Buffeting the spice is a nice mixture of cherry and oak. Even though I rarely drink wine that is the kind of fruity/oaky flavor that I think I am getting here. (Don’t ask me what variety of wine it reminds me of – suffice it to say it’s something red. Very tanniny I think.)
During the end of the first third the burn starts to go a little off. I have corrected it and I hope that it doesn’t affect the flavors too much because I am liking this cigar. I have run into varying degrees of this problem with the previous samples I have tried, so be forewarned.
The second third presents somewhat of a reversal of the first third in that the cherry and oak flavors are now dominant and the spice is taking on a lesser role. Actually, I almost think it’s more accurate to say that all three flavors are basically on equal footing here. What I am tasting here is very enjoyable and is in line with what I have experienced with my previous samples.
Harsh is not an unfair description of the final third. The main flavor is burnt hay but the cherry flavor still peaks through from time to time. It is a medium-full bodied cigar with a good-loose draw and the burn had to be corrected a couple of times. After that first significant adjustment to the burn during the first third there were a couple of minor adjustments.
Overall, I liked this cigar. The first two thirds were very enjoyable and I think nearly everybody can find something to like from them. The final third, on the other hand, did have some problems that I have already noted. Like my memories of the Punch Rare Corojo this is likewise a solid cigar.
88 points
Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Serie B Cigar Review
Here I sit writing this impassioned plea for legalizing cigar lounges in the great frozen north that I call Washington and I realize that I am not smoking a cigar. I don’t know about your moral convictions but from my point of view that is a sin! So that is why I am about to light up this surprisingly good Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Serie B.
Why surprisingly good when everything else from JDN can be consider good? Simple, it’s dirt cheap. Actually, it’s cheaper than dirt (seriously). For a mazo of 20 expect to pay around $50. That’s significantly cheaper than the Diesels that I really do like.
So, what about this cigar? Well, it’s been resting in my humidor for around a year at this point. It is the last cigar standing from its mazo and, to tell the truth, I haven’t smoked one in the past few months (I did keep some notes though). It’s the Corona Gorda (5×46) and it looks pretty good. It’s a dark brown wrapper with a moderate degree of imperfections ranging from the small light spot right next to one of the small veins to the inconsistency of the color in the wrapper.
Cigar Stats
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 46
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli, Jalapa & Condega)
Price: ~ $40/Mazo of 20
Nim Chimpsky Torch!
Right from the beginning it is as I had remembered it. An aggressive spice eagerly greats you from the first puff. Dry wood is the second flavor that I can really grasp. The first third isn’t all great though; I would have to say that the flavors are a little too simple and the cigar does tend a little towards being harsh.
But the second third is another matter. Whereas the first third was a pleasant take on spicy harshness the second third is a nuanced spiciness. Spice coupled with sweet wood and some fruity notes as well. The edge has been dulled enough so that this cigar neither assaults nor bores the senses.
The final third is basically a continuation of the second third, which is a good thing. The Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Serie B is definitely for the cigar smoker who likes spice. It is fairly full bodied and it comes with a good draw and burn. Overall, especially for the price, I definitely like it.
89 points
La Flor Dominicana Ligero Cigar Review
First off, I would like to thank Cigars Direct for sending me this cigar to review. Very kind of you all and, as always, if this cigar is horrible I’ll tell you. If it’s good, I’ll tell you. Just because someone sent me this sample doesn’t mean they’re going to get a good score.
I’ve got to be honest here: I like La Flor Dominicana cigars. They are Dominican, which is always good, and they have a little bit of strength behind them. This cigar, the La Flor Dominicana Ligero L-250 (henceforth known as the LFD L-250) is a decent looking cigar and it is also available with an oscuro wrapper.
The wrapper is oily but it is also marred with many a speckled light spots along with one oil spill-esque light brown spot. I don’t know what you think about imperfections like that; personally I’m of a mixed mind. On the one hand I don’t care about what the cigar looks like if it still tastes good. On the other hand ugly is, well, ugly. So, the look matters to me but not all that much.
Cigar Stats
Length: 4 ¾″
Ring Gauge: 48
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Ligero
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: $135.00/Box of 24
Spicy and full of dark, brooding flavors. There is also this minor annoyance of a flavor that, while not nearly as bad as bleach, is at least in the same family as bleach. Overall, it starts out decently during this first third.
The second third sees some significant improvement. In addition to the spice and the cessation of bleachiness there is a very nice plum sweetness. It is a great counterbalance to the spice that can be a little overpowering if left to its own devices. But it’s still very powerful and it is only growing in hefty strength.
During the latter part of the second third a hearty chocolate and hickory flavor meld starts to come through. I am actually pretty impressed with the LFD L-250 so far.
The final third reverted back to the spiciness that was so evident during the first third. I cannot say it was a great ending but, overall, it was a cigar that I enjoyed. With lots of flavor, a good draw and burn there isn’t too much I can say negatively about this cigar; except for the way it looked. So pick some up at Cigars Direct.
89 points
