Graycliff Double Espresso Cigar Review
Ah, the Graycliff Double Espresso. This is one of those cigars that is touted for its exclusive tobaccos and its amazing flavors. Many people who I have talked with about this cigar say that they really liked it. Me? Well, that is another story (I gave it 86 points after smoking ten of them). But due to the positive reviews I have heard about this cigar there has always been this nagging suspicion left in my mind that I was the poor, stupid bastard that purchased the only ten Double Espressos that were bad.
Now I’m going to put that theory to the test by taking another look at the Graycliff Double Espresso (Thanks to Cigars Direct for providing the stick).
It’s not a site to behold. Snarled veins here and there, a wrapper that transitions from brown to a perceptibly darker shade of brown the closer you get to the foot and it is bumpy. Most of the deficiencies in appearance can be forgiven if the cigar tastes good.
Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 4.5″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Costa Rica
Binder: Costa Rica
Filler: Cuban Seed Corojo & Ecuadorian Ligero
Price: $18.00/cigar
Hunter S. Thompson Flame!
Honestly, it’s starting out well. Notes of chocolate and spice mainly. One of the things that I had a problem with previously when I smoked this cigar is that there was this general lack of flavor, which is something I don’t take too kindly for such an expensive cigar. Now the story is a bit different.
Let’s get one thing straight: this cigar is not a flavor bomb. What it is, so far at least, is a good mixture of flavors ranging from the aforementioned chocolate and spice to cedar and leather.
Things do pick up a little near the beginning of the second half in terms of both strength of flavor and strength of body. The main thing that I am liking about it at this juncture is that it is keeping my interest. The flavors are bouncing around like a ball in a pinball machine. One minor annoyance I have with this cigar is that I get this slight salty flavor that comes through. It’s not enough to ruin the experience for me but it’s enough to warrant a quick mention.
The final third does see some different nuances come into play. For example, there is some sweetness that comes on board. It is basically a sugary sweetness. There are also some coffee notes that are coming through.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this cigar. It is a lot better than I had remembered it being and I can see why so many other people like it. It’s full bodied, has a good draw and there a multitude of flavors that I always enjoy. On the downside the burn isn’t great and there was that salty flavor that was mainly apparent during the second third. With all that being said, it is a cigar many will like. Pick up a five pack here for only $40.
91 points
5 Vegas Relic Short Cigar Review
Thanks to the good folks over at Cigars Direct for this cigar. Now onto business. And this is going to be a Short Cigar Review not because the length of this post is short but because I only smoked one of these cigars.
You would be forgiven if you saw this cigar from across the room and thought that it was a good looking cigar. For one, it’s a figurado, which, while not a rarity, is a different pace. Another reason to appreciate its look from across the room is its dark and alluring wrapper. Alas, you will need to eventually cross the room and pick up the cigar if you are going to smoke it.
When you do that be prepared for a haphazard cacophony of black blotches on a muddied, dark brown canvas. Look closer and you will see a series of bumps and other misshapen portions of the cigar. It’s not totally gruesome but it is, charitably, rough looking.
On the plus side there is a goodly amount of oil on the wrapper. Well, that and it’s a cigar.
The prelight draw was, as expected, nonexistent. But I was able to get some chocolate flavors up front followed by some spice on the finish.
Cigar Stats
Length: 5.7″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Dominican Corojo
Binder: Dominican Piloto
Filler: Three kinds of Dominican: Piloto ’96, Corojo and Criollo
Price: $5.25/Cigar | $100.00/Box of 24
Mamet Fire!
Surprisingly, the draw starts out nicely. Even though it requires a little effort to get some smoke through I am able to pick up some sweet spice notes. That’s pretty much all there is until the burn reaches the meaty part of the cigar.
Once the burn reaches the meaty part of the cigar I’m better able to pinpoint that sweet flavor – it’s fruity, like a peach. As the burn progresses spice takes on greater importance and that chocolate flavor I sensed on the prelight draw also comes on, but barely.
That peachiness has (mercifully) faded into the background. Now the spice is really making its presence known. Chocolate only grows stronger.
This is a medium bodied, maybe medium-full bodied, cigar. The flavors are actually pretty good. Even that peachy sweetness wasn’t too bad. Couple all that with this being a fairly cheap cigar and it is definitely worth a try.
3 points – Average
Padron 1964 Anniversary SI-15 Maduro Cigar Review
Yesterday I posted a review for this cigar with the natural wrapper; it received 90 points from me. It was a very enjoyable cigar that exhibited flavors like chocolate and earthiness. The strength for that cigar can sneak up on you a bit because the flavors are fairly subtle and mellow. So, how is the maduro version different?
Honestly, I think the darker wrapper looks better. It feels velvety to the touch and gives off some oils. There is one moderately raised vein but no visible blemishes other than that (can you really call a smallish vein a blemish?). As was the case with the natural wrapper version of this cigar the maduro has a slight box press, which I think helps out the draw (maybe too much) and looks good as well.
This cigar was provided to me for review by Smoke Inn; all reviews are my own.
Cigar Stats
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 60
Wrapper: Nicaragua (maduro)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $92.50/Box of 5 | $277.50/Box of 15
Apeirogon Flame!
Right out of the gates there are significant differences between the two cigars. Whereas the one with the natural wrapper had flavors that held back too much for me in the beginning this one is bold. At first I thought the leading flavor was spice but that is not true. It’s a secondary flavor to this multifaceted earthiness and chocolate mixture. It is honestly bowling me over with the intensity of its wonderful flavors.
As the first third progresses there are some changes. Think mole sauce with some sweetness. This cigar is already pretty strong strength-wise.
The second third is continuing with where the first third left off. But then, about halfway through this third the flavors begin to revert back to that combination of earth and chocolate that was prevalent during the middle parts of the first third. These flavors can be experienced most fully during the retrohale.
The final third has chocolate and some grassy undertones. I was a little worried because the intensity of the flavors seemed to dim a little during the second third but they are coming back here. During the last half of the final third there is bitter cocoa along with that grassy undertone. It’s quite good.
Overall, this is a better cigar than its brother. The flavors are more alive and complex. One of my problems with this cigar and, in hindsight, with its brother is that the draw is too loose. The burn has been good with this cigar and I would peg the strength as being full bodied.
92 points
PS: You can preorder this cigar now from Smoke Inn and they will ship April 18th.
Padron 1964 Anniversary SI-15 Natural Cigar Review
A couple of years ago I fell over myself praising a Padron 1964 Anniversary with the natural wrapper. I absolutely loved everything about it ranging from its flavors (spice, earth, cocoa and a bunch of others) to just the way it smoked. I gave it 95 points at the time.
A couple of months ago I fell over myself praising the Tatuaje Anarchy, which was the love child of Pete Johnson of Tatuaje and Abe “Ming” Dababneh from Smoke Inn (I received that cigar as a sample and have since bought some more). It was all about the spice and the strength, which I thoroughly enjoyed. That cigar received 94 points from me.
Now here comes the newest edition of their fifteenth anniversary celebration from Smoke Inn: the Padron 1964 Anniversary SI-15, which is also a sample. Here’s their sales pitch:
In commemoration of our 15th Anniversary this year, we commissioned the Padron Family to make a special size exclusively for our stores. Jorge Padron’s face lit up when we told him our idea of a 6×60 Anniversary Cigar. What’s better than a Padron Anniversary Cigar, A BIGGER Padron Anniversary Cigar! This monster stick bellows smoke like a chimney. The sheer amount of tobacco used in this cigar creates a bold experience differing from the other vitolas in this line. All tobacco used in this limited production series is aged for four years, creating a smooth and complex flavor. There was less than 500 boxes produced of this limited edition, so don’t waste a second and get a part of cigar history today!
My major reservation about this cigar is that it has a gigantic ring gauge. 60/64ths of an inch is pretty thick for a cigar but, on the other hand, the Padron 1964s that I have had in the past have always delivered pretty good to great flavors. It’s obviously well made, it doesn’t have any imperfections on the wrapper and it does have a slight box press, which, I think, gives it a little extra elegance.
Cigar Stats
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 60
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $92.50/Box of 5 | $277.50/Box of 15
Pinch Flame!
It has a decent start to it. The flavors I’m picking up are dark chocolate, coco powder and some other flavors that all revolve around the unifying “earthy” flavor profile. While the flavors are all enjoyable during this third they are not extraordinary and I am hoping that they pick up in intensity.
The second third does show some improvement in the intensity of the flavors. The coco powder flavor is still present and so are the earthy flavors as well. Chocolate is the leading flavor so far. It’s a very soulful kind of chocolate flavor, the kind that you get in a good chocolate bar. It’s subtle and not bitter at all. This is also the third when this cigar starts moseying on over to being full bodied as well.
As the end of the second third came to a close and the beginning of the final third began the flavors do pick up quite a bit. The main flavors have shifted towards being earthy with a little bit of pepper in the background. It is a medium-full bodied cigar that has had a good draw and burn.
Overall, it was a pretty good cigar. If you are looking for a long lasting cigar with subtle but good flavors ranging from chocolate to earth then you should think about getting some of these cigars. And if you are into getting exclusive cigars then this would definitely be up your ally. For more info on how to buy these cigars head on over to Smoke Inn.
90 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
