Graycliff Double Espresso Cigar Review
This cigar hales from the known cigar Mecca of the Bahamas – created by a guy who owns a five star restaurant and so on. Basically, the whole Graycliff line of cigars came about because this gustatory maestro didn’t think any other cigar in the world could stand up to his blue plate specials. My first encounter with these cigars came with the Graycliff 1666 Pirate. My opinion of that cigar can be stated thusly: It’s a lot less Black Beard than it is Somalia youth with an AK.
But I held out hope for this cigar nonetheless. I was told that it was quite good and that it warranted a smoke or two. Well, after a few more smokes I can safely say that it is nothing extraordinary. While it is better than the other Graycliffs that I have smoked I cannot say that it’s worth the exorbitant amount of money that it costs.
Anywho, let’s give it another shot. Maybe months in the humidor will have imbibed it with some extra flavor that I haven’t tasted before.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves here I should mention that this cigar doesn’t look special. It is very veiny but it is oily. Other than that, it does look like a fine cigar. The pre-light draw is open.
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
Expectant Flame!
The initial round of flavors centers on chocolate and coffee, which seems, to me at least, to be fairly run of the mill. What makes this cigar more run of the mill, like all the other Double Espressos that I have tried, is that the flavors are watered down. Think hot chocolate laced with a healthy helping of river water.
Another thing about this cigar is that it is billed as being full bodied. It’s not. I have to seriously wonder whether or not the retailers I’ve seen call it “full bodied” to trick people into buying this cigar. It’s a medium bodied cigar. Maybe a little stronger than that but not much more.
On the bright side the draw is very good. Resuming the parade of ill feelings now. The burn needs the occasional touch up. And the flavors only get further watered down.
Honestly, this is a ho-hum cigar.
86 points
For another opinion check out the Stogie Guys’ Review.
PS: For those of you who think I am being overly harsh on this cigar I have my reasons. It just wasn’t that good of a cigar. The flavors were lacking and for the price that they are charging for these things I expected something a lot better than what I got. That’s all.
Rocky Patel Puro Cubano Cigar Review
While it is not a particularly good-looking cigar I can safely say that I am not too worried. Sure, there are some rips in the wrapper, it feels dry, it’s a little misshapen by the foot and there are some pronounced veins on the wrapper. The reason why I am not worried about the quality of this cigar is mainly because it is a Rocky Patel (by the way, thanks to Cigars Direct for this cigar; much appreciated).
Recently, I decided to get a bundle of Rocky Patel’s “seconds.” These are cigars that didn’t meet his company’s stringent standards for a top flight cigar but are still good enough to be sold. It turned out that even these “rejects” were pretty good cigars.
Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
Price: $70.00/box of 20
Actuarial Torch!
A veritable bouquet of spicy flavors welcomes you in the beginning. Hickory, hay, a touch of a sweet spice, and a lot of accent flavors that are all wonderfully mixed together. Basically, if you want an idea of this cigar’s flavor profile all you have to do is go to your local spice shop and browse their offerings for an hour or so. Oh, and add in some leather flavorings as well.
The funny thing about this cigar is that it is nowhere near a full bodied cigar; it is comfortably medium bodied. Both the burn and the draw are great and the price, which is ridiculously cheap, all favorably recommend this cigar.
As far as I can tell there is nothing wrong with this cigar. Sure, it looked a little ragged (and that will hurt its final score a little bit) but the taste is simply great.
After the halfway point comes along the spice as it gently morphs into being sweeter. There were strong undercurrents of sweet spice during the first half but it is predominately sweet spice during the second half. I’ve seen on other reviews that there is also a coffee flavor that comes along with this cigar but I have yet to pick it up.
Nearing the end now and my main problem is that I’m trying not to burn my fingers. It really is a great cigar. The only drawbacks for me were the look and this cigar did require one minor touchup. The only thing left to say is: Try this cigar!
92 points
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
Cabaiguan Cigar Review
It’s got a pigtail – and we all know pigtails are cool – so it must be a good cigar. If you haven’t guessed it already I am smoking the Cabaiguan Guapos Rx, which is a robusto. Besides the pigtail the cigar looks great: it’s oily, not too veiny and the imperfections are kept to a minimum.
Here’s what Pete Johnson has to say about this line:
Blended in the style of the flavorful yet Medium Bodied Cuban Cigars.
Cigars are rolled in classic Cuban tradition by Master Rollers.
Headed by Maestro Tobaquero Jose Garcia.
Cigars are rolled with a beautiful Cuban triple-cap and are Medium to Mild in flavor.
Not having smoked a lot of Cubans in my life (maybe one? I know, sad) I won’t be able to tell you whether or not that claim is realized or not. But if it’s a good tasting cigar I don’t care what the style is!
Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5 1/4″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $9.50
Garage Light!
Three matches and it is lit (well, four matches if you count the one that went out before its flame could touch the foot of the cigar, which I won’t count)!
While the draw is somewhat too tight for my liking it isn’t tight enough to deny me the bouquet of flavors that comes from a Cabaiguan. Really earthy, hints of licorice and woody flavors. It’s a nice, medium bodied cigar. No real hints of spice or anything aggressive – this is the kind of cigar you can smoke with your morning cup of coffee.
Even though the draw is a little tight the burn is even.
This is a flavorful cigar but there is something missing from it. Like the earthiness and all the other flavors (which now includes oak, sweetness, some burnt tobacco and a general lightness of flavors) it is an enjoyable cigar. There’s just something that would have put it over the top.
During the second half of the cigar there is a transformation from the deep earthiness to a sweeter oakiness. It becomes a lighter cigar – not necessarily worse but not better either, not at all.
Around this time the draw gets a little tighter and the burn goes awry at times. Maybe it was a combination of these two things that makes the cigar take a downturn or not but the cigar does become less enjoyable.
Overall, it is a good cigar. The high points all center around that dark earthiness because it’s just such a good example of what an earthy cigar should be. But, to be honest, earthiness is not one of my favorite front line flavors. And, once you add in the second half’s oakiness, it just doesn’t work out all that well for me.
87 points
Tatuaje Series P Short Cigar Review
Pre-Smoke
The Tatuaje Series P is significantly cheaper than the other lines from Tatuaje. The robusto costs between $3.00 to $4.00 per stick, depending on how many you buy at one time. So, is it as good as it’s much higher priced brethren?
Just based off of looks and feel I would have to say no. It looks like a dried out leaf with only a slight sheen of oils. Beyond that, it does feel a little squishy to the touch. Not a good start for this Nicaraguan puro.
Smoke
With a good draw and burn and a medium body this cigar is starting off alright. While I don’t think it measures up to the premium Tatuaje lines (which is an unfair expectation considering the price) it is actually a somewhat enjoyable smoke at the beginning. A slight amount of spice, a decent helping of maple sweetness and woody flavors.
Working against it is that it is not a smooth cigar and the flavors don’t meld all that well together. In fact, as the cigar progresses it does get harsh and then it gets better and then it gets harsh all over again. Basically, it’s an inconsistent cigar that does have a couple of kind of good moments.
In addition to the aforementioned flavors there is a nuttiness and meatiness to it.
After-Smoke
Upon reflection, the best way to describe this cigar is that it is dry. The flavors are there but they are intermittently harsh. It’s a cheap cigar and it shows.
1.5 points
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