Room 101 Cigar Review

I must admit that I am a big fan of Camacho cigars. They are full bodied and extremely tasty – basically what I am looking for in a cigar. So, when I found out that they were releasing a new line in collaboration with a Los Angeles jewelery maker, I knew I had to try a couple. (And if I liked those couple I would definitely be going back out to find some more!)

The Room 101 cigars that I smoked were the 305 (robusto) series. It looks good with a slight sheen of oils. Well packed, although on the verge of being too tightly packed. The pre-light draw is actually a little loose and there is a slight sweet taste to this draw as well. I just hope that this fusion of tobacco and style leads to a great cigar.

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Semilla 101 (Honduras)
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras, Dominican Republic
Price: around $7.00

Tricked Flame!

An effortless draw reveals what could turn out to be a very good cigar; even though, right now, it’s merely above average. There are a group of deep, dark flavors that add a certain grittiness to this cigar that I like. Chocolate and some spice add some of the accent flavors to what is an extremely earthy cigar. And, by earthy, I mean dirt – good dirt though. As was the case with the other cigar I have smoked it starts out really well after a brief lull in the beginning.

As the cigar progresses that “dirt” flavor only increases. Now, as a flavor in a cigar, I like dirt but this is a new frontier of earthiness for me and I’m not liking it all that much. Sure, the flavors are pure but is that really a good thing when that flavor is dirt? Luckily, the final couple inches of this cigar has a change in the flavor profile that I like.

Spice really starts to come through and it becomes a more robust, full bodied cigar. In addition to the reinvigorated spiciness there is an oak flavor. The draw, which started out effortless, has become a little too loose and, as a result, the cigar is burning too quickly. The burn itself is even. There is also a slight hint of an herbal flavor at this time.

As the final puffs of this cigar leave my mouth I am finding myself loving this cigar. But then I start to think of the dirt, which lasted for more than half of the cigar, and I realize that this cigar isn’t a great cigar for me. It was just too much dirt – rich, kind of tasty dirt, but dirt nonetheless.

If only the second one-third-plus of this cigar had been the flavor from start to finish I would have loved this cigar. The spice, with a little bit of dirt, and some oak really mixed well together. It was a dark, complex cigar nearer the end and that is what I liked about this cigar. Maybe I’ll pick up a few more if the price drops a little.

88 points

Cain Maduro Cigar Review

It is a nice looking cigar without much in the way of raised veins or discolorations. Not exactly the darkest maduro I have ever seen but it has a nice, chocolate hue to it. I am smoking the torpedo and I have noticed that most of the torpedos I got were cracking a little bit near the pointed foot of the torpedo. This is probably due to the care given to them by the cigar shop and, since the cracked wrapper is never too large, it gets cut off anyway. No harm, no foul in my book. It’s not very oily and has a number of soft spots throughout.

A lot has been made about the fact that this cigar is chock full with ligero tobacco from all the coolest locales. The little booklet that comes with a box of Cains states that it is “25% Esteli Ligero, 27% Condego Ligero, 30% Jalapa Ligero.” So, to put it bluntly, if you like a cigar that packs a punch then you would probably like Cain cigars.

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua Ligero (Esteli, Condega and Jalapa)
Price: around $7.00

Crazy Light!

Even before I gently torch the foot I can taste the strength. The center of my tongue lightly touched the newly cut part of the cigar and it stung a little. Knowing that I am in store for a full bodied cigar I light it and can immediately tell that it’s got a great draw. A couple inches into this cigar reveals a steady, even burn and a really strong ash. And, yes, it is a full bodied cigar but, to tell you the absolute truth, the strength isn’t bowling me over like the Cain F has (review forthcoming).

What is really impressive about this cigar is that with all the strength there really isn’t a foul note; it’s a smooth cigar. When I started smoking these cigars I was at least expecting some harshness and maybe some bitterness as well but they are nowhere to be found in the Cain Maduros I have smoked.

The second most impressive thing about this cigar is that it burns evenly. When I got these cigars I was fully prepared to do the occasional touch up but, for the most part, I haven’t had to touch up any of the Cain Maduros I have smoked.

Coffee, chocolate, a dirty earthiness and some other rich flavors lead the way with this cigar. The spice, which is a cross between cracked black pepper and a warmer spice like cinnamon, play well as a secondary (definitely not background) flavor profile. There is also an underlying sweetness evident in this cigar that works to accentuate the Cain Maduro’s overall robustness.

Interestingly, the spice, which is a strong supporting flavor profile, is what lingers the longest on my tongue, which is preferable to me.

After the halfway point the spice takes over the top flavor spot. There is also a nuttiness that starts to come through.

Overall, this cigar does not live up to the amazing amount of hype that has been heaped on it. While there is a lot of different flavors evident in this cigar none of those flavors really stand out. All of the different flavors play well with each other but it’s not amazing.

This all brings me to the conclusion that it’s a lot better to ignore the hype surrounding a cigar and to just appreciate it for what it is. It’s a semi-enjoyable cigar flavor-wise with a decent amount of kick. Don’t expect great things if you pick one of these up.

88 points

Arturo Fuente Rothschild Natural Cigar Review

Over the weekend I did reviews for the Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente with both the Sun Grown and Natural wrappers. The one with the natural (Cameroon) wrapper scored 87 points and the sun grown (Ecuador) wrapped cigar scored a low 84 points. I have no compunction to smoke the sun grown one again and there really isn’t any immediate need to go out and pick up the natural one either. Maybe the Rothschild, which is the same size as the two I have mentioned, will be better.

It has a different wrapper than the Chateau Fuente Natural, with this one having a Connecticut Shade and the Chateau Fuente having Cameroon (hat tip cigar family guy for the clarification), and the blend is different as well. The Rothschild is less spicy, which isn’t exactly a good omen for me.

The Arturo Fuente Rothschild Natural is a good looking cigar, well-made. A couple of raised veins and a firm packing being the only negatives I can find. The wrapper has a good coating of oils on it.

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 4 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: $4.40

Charm Flame!

Sure enough, it starts out milder than the Chateau Fuente Natural and Sun Grown. With that being said, the difference amongst the strengths is not too great with all of them being, basically, medium bodied. And, even though it is the weakest (strength-wise) of the bunch I have to admit that I am liking this one the most at this early stage (less than an inch in).

There is some complexity with this one. Rich, sweet wood notes (oak) along with some spice that I get mostly on my lips and the tip of my tongue. After 1 1/4″ a charcoal flavor starts coming through. There was something similar to that flavor in the other two cigars but this time this flavor is neutral if not a positive.

The draw is very good and the burn is even; no touch ups necessary. It looks like third time really is the charm. While I cannot say that this is a 90+ cigar it is very good. Either 88 or 89 points, not completely sure yet (almost to the nub now).

What I really like about this cigar is that the flavors are pretty strong and clean. The charcoal flavor, which could easily be a negative with most cigars, is actually pretty good with this one. I enjoyed it.

88 points

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Cigar Review

This cigar, the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Double Robusto, must have sat in my humidor for a very long time because I had completely forgotten about it. Like many cigars from the Fuentes this one is not the prettiest looking cigar ever. Holes and bumps abound on this lightly packed cigar. It is oily though.

According to the Arturo Fuente website, the tobaccos in this cigar are aged up to ten years, which at least makes the cigar more expensive (and, yes, aging cigars does help up to a point).

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5 3/4″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: $9.75

Jones Flame!

First set of thoughts: Good draw with some good flavors. Second set of thoughts: Smooth smoke with notes of sweet oak and heavy cream. Third set of thoughts: Medium bodied cigar with a foul aftertaste that is best described as just being harsh.

Alright, after about an inch that aftertaste largely goes away and lets the flavors, which are actually very strong despite this being a medium bodied cigar, take over. That creaminess is most evident in my mouth but is also clear in the retrohale (exhaled smoke out of my nose). There are also some spicy elements with this cigar as well. Nothing overbearing – a subtle spice that buttresses the dominant cream and oak flavors.

Around the halfway point the smoothness mentioned earlier adds on some wildness, which isn’t always a bad thing. Although, with this cigar, it is a slight negative.

One thing that I cannot say about this cigar is that it is not boring. It may not be a truly great cigar but, for my tastes, it’s well above average. And then….

About three quarters of the way through the cigar that foul aftertaste comes back with a vengeance. It tastes a lot like an overly charred piece of steak. While it definitely is not one of the worst flavors I have tasted in a cigar it does detract from my overall experience. One last note before I finish this review: a sweet floral note enters the mix after the three-quarter mark.

88 points

Camacho Havana Monarca Cigar Review

Camacho is one of those brands that I came into after smoking cigars for a while. For some reason or another they just weren’t carried in my local shops (not much is). I gave high marks to the Camacho Coyolar but just average ratings for the Camacho SLR Maduro and the Camacho Corojo Natural. Hopefully, the Camacho Havana will be as good as the Coyolar but even if it’s just as good as the other ones that will be fine with me.

It’s veiny, there are a bunch of bumps all over the place and there are a couple of holes in the wrapper. Not a good start. This cigar feels a little soft as well. The wrapper is rough to the touch but it is oily.

After looking at the Camacho website I found out that the tobaccos used in this cigar are grown in the Jamastran Valley, Honduras. The wrapper is criollo while the binder and filler tobaccos are corojo. It’s offered in 9 different regular vitolas and three special vitolas that are aged an extra three years. They are made in Danli, Honduras (satellite map).

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras
Price: around $5.35

Turbo Fire!

The first thing that is noticeable is the slightly loose draw. After that you will notice that this robusto produces more smoke than an old school bus that has been out of commission since the Clinton administration. And then comes the flavor.

It starts with a burnt graham cracker flavor. There is also a significant burnt flavor as well. Then comes a progressively strong candied cherry flavor. As you can imagine this is not the best mix of flavors that I have ever smoked but, on the whole, it isn’t bad.

One of the things that I am noticing about Camacho cigars is that their strength gradually builds. The Camacho Havana starts out medium bodied and then builds to being medium-full bodied. Not a big jump but a jump nonetheless. The burn is even.

88 points

CAO Mx2 Beli Cigar Review

Maduro wrapper and binder. Tightly packed with only a couple of soft spots near the cap. Bumpy and somewhat lopsided. Small amount of oil. This is a very thick cigar.

One of the many reasons why people like CAOs is because they are just interesting and the CAO marketing staff is great at telling a good story about their cigars. Having two maduro leaves for the wrapper and the binder is unique and does create a certain amount of interest just due to the novelty of the whole thing. What keeps people coming back is that CAO cigars are just plain good.

Flame!

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 7″
Ring Gauge: 56
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut
Binder: Brazil
Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru
Price: $5.00

Medium bodied cigar with some sweetness and earthiness. There is also a chocolate flavor as well. It has a good draw. I would have to say that the main flavor in this cigar, so far, is a grassy earthiness.

There’s also this bitterness; something akin to cocoa but not quite. In my estimation it’s a good accompaniment with the sweet and earthy flavors. It does smell like a barnyard though. [Side Note: If this is what all cigars smell like to you non-smokers I can kind of understand why you don't like being around smokers. Well, kind of, sort of - not really though. Have you non-smokers never smoked a cigar? What's wrong with you!]

Very, very slow burning. Very good as well. Pure flavors, creamy smoke and an even burn. Halfway through and chocolate has become the predominant flavor. I have to note that the bitterness is still there.

Nearing the end now and it’s still a good cigar. The purity of the flavors, however, has been muddled. A bad bitterness has taken place of the good bitterness that was present during the first half, three-quarters of the cigar. Too bad – was really liking this cigar. I’m still getting the chocolate flavor on the retrohale.

Takes a long time to smoke this cigar. Flavors are mostly very good, however, nearing the end of the cigar the flavors do take a wrong turn. Overall, I liked this cigar. The badness was isolated to the last inch and, since it is a rather longish cigar, it only deducts three or four points from my overall score.

88 points

CAO L’Anniversaire 1968-1998 Cameroon Belicoso Cigar Review

Yes, I just did a review of this cigar last week in which I gave it 92 points. It’s a good cigar but I smoked another one and the score came out substantially different so I decided to post this review as well. Here it is:

Looks like it has a slight box press. One small tare on the wrapper, not a major concern. The cap does not look good either though, which is somewhat concerning. There isn’t that much oil on the wrapper. Just drinking water.

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $8.50

Afternoon Light!

Great draw. Decent amount of spice at first but that quickly fades into the background. The main flavors are warm and strong but by no means overpowering. Solidly a medium-full bodied cigar.

There is this mildly sweet flavor as well. Sweet and bitter. Cocoa, that’s probably the flavor. I am also getting a good amount of spice on the roof of my mouth now that I am halfway through. Man, my mouth is really watery! Not a dry smoke at all.

It’s fair to call this a full bodied cigar after the halfway point because it has gotten somewhat stronger. I’m still tagging it as medium-full but it is a judgment call for sure. Another flavor that I am getting is graham cracker – never got that flavor from a cigar before. It gets mostly bitter three-quarters of the way through though – not good.

As I am nearing the end of the cigar that bitterness gets worse. Just like something that is too sweet a cigar can get too bitter. Maybe I just smoked it too long but it’s definitely going to hurt the score.

88 points

Sancho Panza Toledo Cigar Review

This is a cigar I smoked quite a while ago but I do have some notes on. It’s a gigantic cigar and very black. Box pressed with a good amount of oils. There is one minor blemish on the wrapper.

Cigar Stats
Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 60
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut
Binder: USA/Connecticut
Filler: Dom. Rep., Honduras, Nicaragua
Price: $6.00

Big Flame!

CAO Criollo Pato Cigar Review

It’s been a couple of days since I smoked this cigar and the thing I really remember about it is the pig tail on the cap. I guess I’ve already given away the fact that I didn’t absolutely love this cigar but it was pretty good. Here’s my review:

I smoked this cigar during the AFC Championship game between the Ravens and the Steelers. I am glad I finished it before that brutal hit on McGehee because after that happened I wasn’t in the mood for anything fun. Seriously, McGehee could have died but, thanks to God, he’s alive and will probably be fine.

This cigar shines with oil and has that aforementioned curly head. Perfect construction except for a tiny hole near the foot of the cigar. Medium brown color. Drinking a Cherry Coke.

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 4 7/8″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nic
Filler: Nic
Price: $6.00

Steel Curtain Fire!

Arturo Fuente Chateau Series King B – Cigar Review

Cigar Stats

Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 55
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Approximate Price: $10.00

The Chateau series from Fuente is the same as the Gran Reserva series except with a different wrapper. The Ecuadorian, sun grown wrapper is supposed to make these cigars more full bodied and spicier as well. The King B is the pyramid version of this series.

I have smoked a couple King Bs in the past and I thought they were great. This one has nearly perfect construction with only one pronounced vein and a couple of bumps. The wrapper has a dark, reddish hew to it. It smells a little sweet before lighting it up.

Light Her Up!

The cigar is a little rough at first. A little wild. Obviously strong and very spicy. It’s actually a little harsh right at the beginning so I knocked about an 1/8th of an inch of ash off and that seems to have erased the harshness. Still a very strong cigar.

There’s a hint of vanilla with this cigar. That’s actually a great combination here. Earthy notes as well also some sweetness. Just awesome.

As I near the end of this cigar it begins to burn a little hot at times. It doesn’t get to the point where it takes a lot away from the flavors but it is noticeable. And the burn can be uneven at times.

Overall, it is a perfectly good cigar. It would definitely be better if I had let it age a little while longer. The problems at the beginning and the end are what is responsible from knocking this cigar down a couple of points and out of the great category.

88 points.