Gurkha Legend Cigar Review

While watching a recording of Spartacus I got a hankering for a cigar. So I went to my humidor and searched for something that fit. After thumbing through a number of sticks I happened upon the Gurkha Legend with its (rather pudgy) warrior (harrier?) on the band. I received this cigar from one of my great advertisers, Cigars Direct, and thought that this would be the opportune time to smoke this cigar.

The Gurkha Legend is a great looking cigar. No seriously pronounced veins and it is well packed. There is a certain softness to the wrapper, a suppleness even. Oil? Yeah, but not the oiliest cigar I have ever had. The pre-light draw seems a little tight but, based off of my prior experiences with this cigar, that won’t be a problem once the flame hits the foot.

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: Box 20 – $200.00 | 5 cigars – $75.00

Majestic Torch!

There is something comforting about watching a sword and sandal show and hearing modern English accents. I don’t know why that’s comforting to me but smoking this cigar is pretty nice as well and it is a good accompaniment to Spartacus. There is some spice up front and an earthiness that I can only describe as the desert after its first rain.

It is a medium-full bodied cigar and the flavors are good. The draw is good and the burn, after some early hiccups, is fairly even. Shaping up to be a good cigar.

Behind all the other flavors is a baked French bread flavor, which is nice. The spice flavors take on a slight sweetness after the halfway point. But the spice is also getting stronger. All the flavors mentioned in this paragraph basically eclipse the bread flavor after the halfway point of the cigar. (Baked French bread? That’s the flavor I got from it.)

Nearing the end now and it is still a very enjoyable cigar. There has not been a foul note to speak of. I guess the only thing that might be off putting to some people is the fact that it is a rather dry cigar. Being dry is fine with me as long as the flavors deliver and they do deliver.

When I first got these Gurkha Legends I did not think that I was going to like them because I haven’t liked the other Gurkhas I have had in the past. This one was absolutely not like those. It was a well above average cigar and worth a try if you are in the mood for something flavorful with a little kick.

90 points

Cain F Cigar Review

A couple of weeks ago I reviewed the Cain Maduro and, even though I do think it is a solid cigar, it is not worth all the hype. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything about the Cain with the Habano wrapper since I have yet to have the pleasure of smoking one of those stogies. But I have smoked a few of the Cain F, which is only being offered in five packs right now (either as an incentive to buy a box of the two other Cain lines or to be sold on its own).

On a side note, over the past week and a half I have been sick (not H1N1) and didn’t have much of an opportunity to smoke any cigars. After a couple of days of recuperation I have smoked a couple of good cigars and now feel ready to really delve deep into another cigar. From what I have seen with the Cain F series is that they are above average cigars in terms of both flavor and strength, better than the Cain Maduros for sure. The only bit of advice I can give is that if you do get some of these cigars let them rest in your humidor for at least a month because they need the extra time.

All the Cain Fs, which are only being offered in one size right now, come unbanded. A dark wrapper glistening with oils holds together a lot of ligero tobacco. According to the box from which these cigars came from the tobacco in every Cain F is 32% Esteli Ligero, 25% Condega Ligero and 25% Jalapa Ligero.

For those of you paying close attention that means the percentage of ligero tobaccos is equal between all the Cain lines but each region imparts its own flavor. According to the educational booklet that came with my Cain cigars Esteli Ligero is a ball buster, Condega Ligero is strong but not insanely so and Jalapa Ligero is smooth (which would explain the smoothness of the Cain Maduro).

Beyond the genetic makeup of this cigars it does look and feel like it is very well made. The only soft spot is near the foot and even though it has its fair share of veins none of those veins are too pronounced and should not cause too many problems for the burn of this cigar. Having as much ligero as this cigar does can turn out to be a problem though and I do expect having to do a couple of touch ups throughout the course of this cigar.

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua (Fuerte)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua Ligero (Esteli, Condega and Jalapa)
Price: ???

21 Lights!

The pre-light draw is nice, maybe a little too loose. As a prelude of what is to come, my tongue is still stinging 30 seconds after my first draw. Should be interesting.

As expected, there is an onslaught of aggressively tasty spice. For my taste, it’s not on the edge of being too strong at all. The spice has a tinge of sweetness to it and is predominately a black pepper kind of flavor. I like it very much.

Unlike with the maduro wrapped Cain, the Cain F does not have a very smooth finish. That does not mean that I don’t like it though because I really do. It isn’t a complex cigar the first couple of inches but it is getting better. The spiciness is calming down and other flavors – nuts, oak, peppermint and earth – are coming into the mix.

The burn is surprisingly even with this cigar. With some of the others that I have smoked I have had to do a couple of touch ups. The draw is perfect. It is a full bodied cigar but not overly so.

I am somewhat conflicted about this cigar. Even though I did like it I just think that it was lacking in complexity. Working in its favor is the fact that the flavors that are there are very good, it burns well enough and the draw is quite good. In the end I can comfortably say that it is better than the maduro version of this cigar and I will not hesitate to smoke more Cain Fs if the price isn’t too extravagant.

90 points

Camacho Corojo Monarca Natural Cigar Review

A cursory inspection reveals a couple of raised veins that almost run the length of the cigar and, upon further inspection, that sums up all the negative things I can say about the look of this cigar. The construction is near perfect, it’s oily, there are no soft/hard spots and it even smells good having that kind of aroma that is powerful, yet refined.

Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to smoke a number of these cigars over the last month or so and I have even done a Short Cigar Review for this Camacho Corojo Monarca. My major complaint at the time revolved around my perception that this wasn’t an overly complex cigar. Spicy? Sure. Some other flavors? Yeah. But it just didn’t catch me as being well rounded enough. And it can be a harsh cigar at times.

My subsequent experiences with this cigar have been better than when I did my initial review where I gave this cigar 3 points (roughly 85-88 points or, to put it another way, an average cigar). It may be a little bit better than that and, who knows, this cigar could be awesome, but I am guessing this cigar will fall into the 89-91 point range.

This cigar has the natural wrapper. It also comes with a maduro wrapper. For more information on all the sizes go to the Camacho Corojo Page.

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Honduras Corojo
Binder: Honduras Corojo
Filler: Honduras Corojo
Price: $6.15

SAMCRO Torch!

Just finished having steak and mushrooms, which, now that I think about it, fits perfectly with this cigar. (What cigar doesn’t go well with steak?) It is a very rich cigar that overflows with white pepper, deep caramel, meat and a chorus of other flavors that meld wonderfully together. I know I said in my previous review that this wasn’t a overly complex cigar but this one definitely is.

The draw is absolutely perfect and the burn is relatively even. I’ll probably have to touch it up at some point. The slightly uneven burn can definitely be attributed to the fact that I am smoking under a patio cover in the rain so the humidity is probably pretty high right now.

While it started out as a medium-full bodied cigar after about an inch it has come off the fence and become full bodied. This may not be one of those cigars that will knock you out but it will let you know you are smoking a cigar.

My only major complaint about the Camacho Corojo Monarca is that the flavors do not meld together completely. For example, the sweetness from the caramel clashes with the white pepper creating a touch of harshness. It isn’t enough to significantly detract from my overall enjoyment of this cigar but it is noticeable.

That deep, caramel slowly morphs into a candied sweetness that is not altogether that bad. Oddly enough, I think it may actually meld better with the spice than the deeper caramel flavor.

Other flavors that begin to really come onto the scene after the halfway point include: earth and tobacco. Very good cigar.

90 points

Tatuaje Cojonu 2006 Cigar Review

Ah, finally! A torpedo. It’s actually been quite a while since I’ve had one and, since the torpedo vitola is my favorite, I’m excited about this cigar. Well, I’m excited because it’s a torpedo but, slightly more importantly, it’s a Tatuaje. I’ve smoked a handful of Pete Johnson’s creations (Tatuaje Havana VI Nobles and Tatuaje Reserva J21) and I’ve loved them all. Hopefully this cigar, which is made in Miami by master rollers from that island south of Florida, will be just as good.

From the Tatuaje site:

All Tobacco is 1^st Generation Cuban Seed Grown in Nicaragua.
Cigars are rolled in classic Cuban tradition by Master Rollers in Little Havana Miami, FL U.S.A.
Headed by Maestro Tobaquero Jose Garcia.
Cigars are rolled with a beautiful Cuban triple-cap and are Medium to Full in flavor.

Now onto what matters; the cigar itself. The Tatuaje Cojonu 2006 is a beautifully crafted torpedo that has a substantial coating of oils on its medium brown wrapper. Well packed and the shape is just spot on. Many torpedos tend to be a little lopsided because it is a more difficult shape to roll (I’m told – I’ve never actually rolled a cigar). My only qualm about this cigar are the two medium sized veins that are located right around where I’m going to be cutting it. Hopefully it does not turn into a big deal – that would be a shame.

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 5 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo 99
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $13.00

Nuclear Torch!

An effortless draw reveals some really solid flavors. There is some spice, hearty wood and a syrupy caramel flavor that is the most dominant flavor. Another sweetness joins this group after about halfway through the cigar; it’s close to a floral sweetness.

During the last half of the cigar some tobacco flavors do come on. It’s a very good cigar that is thoroughly enjoyable. Medium bodied with a balky draw at first that, thankfully, evens out after the first inch, inch and a half.

This cigar perplexes me. I’m enjoying it but there is just something missing. Maybe it has to do with the flavors not being as robust as I would have liked. Not quite sure actually but I just wanted something more.

90 points

Carlos Toraño 1916 Cameroon Cigar Review

From the Toraño website:

The 1916 Cameroon commemorates the beginning of a legacy with the year of Don Santiago Toraño’s emigration from Spain to Cuba. A slow burning, well balanced cigar, the 1916 is a medium-bodied blend with distinctive hints of pepper, caramel, nuts, and sweet spice. The premium Cameroon wrapper makes for a long and smooth finish which completes this irresistible smoke.

The wrapper is very toothy (lots of little bumps) so that means it is also very oily. It is somewhat veiny and a little misshapen nearer the foot. Tobacco packed well.

I had one of these a couple of weeks ago at a cigar event and it seemed like a great cigar. But, to be honest, I started smoking it after quite a bit of tequila so this could really be a horrible cigar. Something tells me it is anything but horrible though. I hope.

Cigar Stats
Churchill
Length: 7″
Ring Gauge: 48
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua and Honduras
Price: around $7.00

Tequila Torch!

Extremely creamy smoke. The main flavor is a sweet vanilla that is very rich. Almost tastes like cake batter.

After a while an unexpected flavor comes in: alcohol. I don’t know how to explain it; I am not drinking any alcohol with this cigar. Sort of like that sweet taste you get from a high proof bourbon. And let me be clear, when I say this cigar is sweet I do not mean the kind of sweetness you expect from a pixie stick. It’s an adult sweetness that, upon reflection, was a perfect match for the tequila we had a couple of weeks ago.

Past the halfway point and the vanilla flavor moderates and a couple new flavors enter the mix. Spice is evident in the aftertaste and gets stronger the longer I smoke this cigar.

What I really like about this cigar is that the flavors are alive and they linger. It’s not streaky and the flavors never fade. The flavors evolve from the sweet vanilla to a more spicy flavor profile.

Actually, some black cherry flavors are beginning to check in near the end of the cigar. It is a medium bodied cigar that has a good draw and burn.

90 points

Arturo Fuente Cuban Corona Cigar Review

Good looking cigar save for a large vein near the cap. Tons of oils on the wrapper. The cigar tapers down from the foot to the cap and I’ve got to say that the cap looks a little weird. But, since I’m going to be cutting it off shortly, I’ll let it slide. I should also note that I’m smoking the cigar with the natural wrapper, not the maduro version.

Cigar Stats
Corona Extra
Length: 5 1/4″
Ring Gauge: 45
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: $5.50

Baseball Light!

Great draw with an even burn. The two initial flavors are earthiness and roasted nuts. There’s also a subtle spice that lingers on the tongue. I’m going to peg this as a medium-full bodied cigar.

The spice is slowly becoming a bigger part of the flavor profile for this cigar, which is nice. No poor notes to mention whatsoever. The previously mentioned roasted nuts reminds me of almonds. When I inhale this cigar it comes in spicy and then when I exhale out of my nose it is nutty. The earthiness is a tertiary flavor at best. It’s a very good cigar.

I started out smoking Fuentes and, for the most part, they are solid cigars. And so is this one. While they do have high-end lines that are much better than the Gran Reserva line that I am smoking right now the Gran Reserva is good for its price.

Two-thirds of the way through this cigar and the nuttiness has almost completely dissipated. The spice has taken over where the nutty flavor left off; both when I inhale and when I exhale out my nose there is spice. That nutty flavor is present in the aftertaste, but barely. The earthiness is gone.

Even though it’s not possible to claim that this is one of the best cigars out there, it is solid. While the flavors are tasty they are not all that provocative and this isn’t an extremely complex cigar. It smokes well though and is worth smoking again.

90 points

Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Barcelona Cigar Review

I recently posted a Sancho Panza review and I thought it was a good cigar. It got 88 points. This will be my first Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte review and this one is better than it’s conventional brethren.

It has pretty good construction. Box pressed cigar with an imperfect cap. Deep, chocolate brown wrapper. Supposed to be a really full bodied powerhouse of a cigar from what I’ve heard. We’ll see. Drinking Wild Turkey and a Cherry Coke.

Cigar Stats
Toro
Length: 6 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 48
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Price: $4.00

Late Night Fire!

It is not overly full bodied – not nearly as strong as I was led to believe. Draw is a little tight but not too bad. Mellow maple syrup flavor. Smoky flavor as well.

Not burning evenly. Some kind of licorice tinged spice coming to the fore in this cigar.

A third of the way through and there is a mild sweetness to it. It really is beginning to smell like a barnyard. The burn has thankfully evened out though.

Two-thirds of the way through now and I have found that retrohaling it makes it a lot better, much more enjoyable. I was already retrohaling it (blowing the smoke through my nose) but now I’m concentrating on it more. When I retrohale I get mocha and some spicy notes. I’m glad I concentrated on retrohaling this cigar.

Nearing the end and I am getting chocolate notes when I retrohale. Very complex flavor profile. The flavors, individually, are not great but when you add them all up it becomes very, very good.

90 points

CAO L’Anniversaire Cameroon Robusto Cigar Review

This is one of my older reviews but I think it matches up fairly well with my previous reviews of these cigars. I gave the maduro version of this cigar (torpedo vitola) a 93 a little over a month ago. Here is the review:

Well crafted, I can only see one blemish. Solid brown wrapper and from a very solid lineage. Most CAOs seem to be very good.

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $7.50

Ze Lights!

Lots of smoke and an excellent draw. There is spice, which tastes like red pepper flakes, and the flavors are crisp – not muddied down at all. The flavors just explode on the tongue. It is medium bodied.

Like most CAOs this is a great cigar. It might actually be better than most I have smoked.

90 points

CAO Brazilia Samba Cigar Review

I smoked one of these a while ago and did a review on it. Here’s what I had to say about it:

Fortunately, this one was better. Here’s the review:

It has a little amount of oil on the wrapper. Very black wrapper. The construction looks good and I am having Wild Turkey and a glass bottle of Coke along with this cigar.

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Lenght: 6 1/4″
Ring Guage: 54
Wrapper: Brazil
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $7.00

Miss America Flame!

Notes of coffee and chocolate. Some spice. It has a great draw. There’s also an earthiness to this cigar. These flavors are good and true.

I am also getting this modicum of sweetness an inch in. There is also a welcomed bitterness here that moderates the slight sweetness.

The coffee is not that strong; it’s almost like it tastes like watered-down black coffee. This is a medium-full bodied cigar. When I retrohale the smoke I do get peppery notes.

It is burning evenly. The earthiness has almost completely gone away. The main flavor, thankfully, is coffee halfway through. Another plus is that it burns very slowly. Swimsuits – YEAH! Go Miss Iowa! (Yes, I was watching the Miss America pageant and, unfortunately, my pick lost.)

The last third the pepper really comes through. Good, evolving flavors. I like it a lot more than the previous one.

90 points

Padron 4000 (Natural) Cigar Review

The Padron 1964 Anniversary is my favorite cigar to date so I must admit that I do have high hopes for this cigar. No, I do not think it’s going to even come close to the 1964 Anni but I do expect great things from this one. But the presentation of this cigar has me a little worried. This cigar is very bumpy with some raised veins. There is also this small stretch mark near the foot. Very little amount of oils. Drinking Wild Turkey and a Cherry Coke.

Cigar Stats
Toro
Length: 6 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nic
Filler: Nic
Price: $7.00

Ball of Fire!

Leather and spice and everything nice. Perfect draw. More spice than leather, I have to say. Not burning evenly though. Wow, very spicy cigar and, as you may know, I really do like spicy cigars.

There’s also a steak flavor with this cigar. Meaty and slightly salty. Juicy even. Not a sweet cigar at all. Not as good as the 1964 but it is still a very good cigar. The burn isn’t even after 1 1/2″ but it isn’t too bad either.

Halfway through the cigar now. Had to correct the burn a little bit. That spicy flavor is almost gone now and I am a little disappointed about that. The meaty taste is what is strong now. Full bodied. The saltiness is even more pronounced at this point, which I am not ecstatic about. It’s not a big negative but it is a minor annoyance that the salt is coming through stronger.

Three quarters of the way through and the saltiness has, thankfully, vanished leaving the meaty flavor to take over. It’s a great cigar and I will definitely be smoking more of these in the future.

90 points