CroMagnon Cigar Review
A few months back I ordered some cigars that a Twitter buddy makes. Probably every cigar smoker on Twitter knows who I am talking about: Skip Martin. Anyways, the cigar is named CroMagnon because, I guess, it sounds menacing and harkens back to a more primeval existence where men were men and cigars… I think you get the picture.
ROTT I smoked one of their Knuckle Draggers (4×52) and it was insanely powerful and very flavorful. Honestly, I liked the extra kick in the cigar but many others probably wouldn’t have. Fortunately, or, depending on how you look at it, unfortunately, every other cigar I smoked from my sampler of all the different vitolas never matched the raw power of that first cigar. They were all still powerful cigars but the main thing was that the flavors were better than I experienced during the first one.
For this review I am smoking a CroMagnon Anthropology. It’s extremely oily and has an almost velvety feel to it. Dark brown wrapper with some minor veins on the wrapper. The shape is spot on and there are no obviously hard or soft spots.
Cigar Stats
Length: 5 ¾″
Ring Gauge: 46
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $37.50/5 Pack | $236.25/Cube of 35
Pyongyang Flame!
After some months resting in my humidor it has lost that audacious amount of strength that nearly made me sick when I first smoked one of these cigars. However, it does still retain all of its flavor. There’s this dark sweetness that lingers on the tongue that is a nice counterpoint to the bright spice notes and there are also raisin and leather flavors as well.
The second third is a more well rounded experience. The sweetness has morphed into being more floral and the spice and leather are working together better now. Basically, it’s a savory sweetness in the mouth and a simmering spiciness on the retrohale. Very nice.
Nearing the end of the final third and, while it’s not as good as the first two thirds, it’s still a very good cigar. The flavors are just muted somewhat. It’s a full bodied cigar with a great draw and and burn. Overall, I really have liked this line of cigars and will go back to them frequently.
92 points
Padron 1964 Anniversary Series (Natural) Monarca – Cigar Review
[NOTE: originally I had this as a sun grown cigar. Actually, thanks to friends at A Cigar Smokers Journal and Stogie Review I have come to understand that it has natural tobacco as the wrapper. Sun grown means that it was grown in the sun as opposed to the shade. While this Padron uses a wrapper grown in the sun the wrapper is, indeed, natural. For further clarification head over to Padron's website HERE to really understand what goes into the making of this wonderful cigar.]
This was the first of two cigars I smoked on New Years Eve night and, without a doubt, it was the best cigar of the night. It might actually be the best cigar I have ever smoked bar none. Here’s my review:
Box pressed with a medium brown, sun grown wrapper. Extremely oily cigar. The appearance of this cigar is actually quite bad. There are stretch marks, divots and blemishes galore! This is supposed to be a great smoke and I hope it is since this is one of my last cigars for 2008. I’m drinking Wild Turkey Single Barrel with Cherry Coke and a water.
Cigar Stats
Grand Corona
Length: 6 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 46
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nic
Filler: Nic
Price: $11.50
NEW YEARS FLAME! part one
Oh… my… GOD!
I was going to say something derogatory about the look of the cap on this cigar but when it tastes this good who cares about a gnarly cap?
Tons of flavor: spice, earth, cocoa, coffee. The draw is perfect. It’s full bodied. Tons of smoke. Happy New Year to me!
Over a quarter of the way through now and this is easily the best cigar I have ever smoked. It doesn’t burn evenly though, pretty badly actually.
Fortunately, I was able to correct the burn. Half way in now and I have to say that the flavors have become milder. However, when I blow smoke through my nose, retrohaling the cigar smoke – if you will, all those amazing flavors are still present.
Here is my dilemma. The first half of this cigar was awesome, 97 points without a doubt. The second half of the cigar was still great but due to the flavors falling away somewhat I give that half 93 points. And then there is the whole thing about the horrible appearance and the bad burn for this cigar. Truthfully, I still think it’s the best cigar I have ever had.
95 points
