The Velvet Cigar

Posted By ironmeden on April 27, 2012

Since I just came back from Puerto Rico and purchased cigars from Don Collins, I thought I would spend the next couple reviews smoking tobacco from countries that have a history of growing and creating cigars, but don’t get a lot of publicity in the market.

This review will focus on Costa Rican tobacco and the company Vegas de Santiago.

Vegas de Santiago – D8

Wrapper: Ecuador Habano 2000 Sun Grown
Binder: Ecuador Habano
Filler: Costa Rica with Double Ligero

The D8 has a chewy looking dark wrapper. I’m smoking the Robusto measuring the standard 5 x 50. The band is pretty standard with a white background with gold, red and black accents. The D8 insignia is smack dab in the middle of the band.

I made a V-Cut to the head of the cigar and lit with a match. The first impression there is a sweetness that rolls off the wrapper. A nice rich leather, coffee and oak jump out and hit the palate. Its quite smooth at this early going.

Getting to the 1/4 mark, I may of puffing a little fast, the burn was a little uneven. I slowed down and at this point it began to even out. The sweetness still invites you back for each draw on the cigar. The deep leather flavor is probably the strongest note at this point.

Halfway through the cigar has more of a tobacco flavor with the sweetness and leather stepping back slightly, though they are still there.  I’m really taking my time smoking this cigar just because its such a smooth and relaxing experience. Though the burn has corrected itself, there is slight jagged edge.

At the 3/4 mark the cigar is getting stronger. All the way through the cigar until this point was medium in body, but the strength is picking up with a pepper note and anise making an appearance.

The Vegas de Santiago D8 is a pretty, pretty, pretty good cigar. The cigar is smooth throughout starting out with some fantastic flavors and ending on a spicy note. Now its hard to say how much of the flavors come from the filler which is from Costa Rica whereas the rest of the make up of the cigar is grown in Ecuador. Either way, this cigar gives the cigar smoker a taste of Costa Rican tobacco which isn’t normally available in large quantities on the cigar shelves, but if you enjoy smoking unique cigars I would certainly try and find this blend. I give this cigar a 4 out of 5. Rating:

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Posted By Elvis on April 24, 2012

It was good to see Ironmeden the other night as he returned from a vacation to Puerto Rico. I never really think of Puerto Rico as a cigar producer, maybe because the weather is too unpredictable with hurricane season and stuff, I don’t know. He was able to bring back a couple of PR made cigars he will probably blog about. But I was most appreciative that he shared with me a special edition 5-count box of Alec Bradley Tempus Magistri cigars. He paid around $50 which is probably a good deal, hell, anything is a good deal outside of 70% cigar tax land here known as Minnesota. The Magistri is a special figurado with a sharp, yet rounded, torpedo at both ends.

The really ironic part is that last week I had thrown caution to the wind and ordered a bundle of 20 Tempus “seconds” at www.tampahumidor.com. I didn’t know what size they were, they just mentioned torpedo. So I was shocked today when they arrived in my office and they were the Magistri size! I was under the impression that size was a very limited edition. But since they were called “seconds” I expected the wrapper to be dryer or a different shade or the cigars to just flat out not taste the same as the gem Ironmeden brought me all the way from Puerto Rico.

I was shocked when I went home and compared the two. Exact same shape, exact same wrapper shade, exact same weight in the hand, which is quite heavy by the way. And after I smoked both the second and the original, Shut the Front Door! This is the same damn cigar!!

I have never ever had success with so-called seconds. It’s often a gimmick used to sell a cheaper cigar that doesn’t have a band and might contain some scraps or some of the same tobacco, albeit not aged as long, as the original. But when someone like CI or Thompson is selling them online or in a catalogue, there’s no way in hell they can be honest seconds…..cigars that were made with the same blend, by the same rollers, with the same tobaccos as the original, but didn’t make the cut because of a slight imperfection. That’s the true meaning of the idea behind “seconds”. Unless your rollers are all rookies, there’s no way they could make enough mistakes to stock the cheap ass humidors of Cigars International or other giant warehouses.

In fact, I got an e-mail special on Monday touting Alec Bradley seconds for $20 for 10 count bundles from CI. I immediately cried foul and called Mike at Tampahumidor to ask him point blank if the Tempus seconds I just bought were honest to goodness seconds in the true sense of the term. He assured me when they get them, they sell out in a day or two because they don’t get many of them and then it might be months before they see more. He also said they would not call them “Tempus” if they were indeed some knock off. Good point, the CI special didn’t list a specific line for their “seconds”.

I write on this subject as just another warning to the buyer out there to beware and don’t always believe what you see advertised. When in doubt, call the retailer and confront them head on and the good guys will be honest with you. I’ve never found a more honest, hard working bunch than the guys at tampahumidor.com. Disappointingly, I actually asked Alec Bradley on their FB page if their seconds were really true seconds and as of this date, they have ignored my question. But I think they are one of the good companies out there who as of yet haven’t watered down their brand by introducing a new cigar every day and selling for pennies on the dollar to the giant warehouses out there.

I realize I have now given away a huge secret and will have to wait many months before I can buy the Tempus seconds again at Tampahumidor but part of being a cigar man is sharing the wealth. Enjoy these diamonds at only $2.50 per stick if they still have them!

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Posted By ironmeden on April 8, 2012

CAO – La Traviata Maduro

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican Republic

CAO Cigars has released a new size of the popular La Traviata Maduro. The Luminoso in the traditional Rothschild size of 4.5 x 50 has a very dark Maduro wrapper. There are a few light veins, otherwise the wrapper is smooth in appearance.  I clipped the head of the cigar and lit it with my Colibri Dual flame lighter.

Right away I notice a loose draw with lots of smoke. There is a light spice on the lips with a bitter/tart dark coffee flavor.

At the 1/3 mark, the spice  and bitterness disappears with the cigar smoothing out. The dark coffee is more bold with a deeper richness in flavor.

The 2/3 mark finds the cigar smoother with the spice making a reappearance.

The La Traviata Maduro Luminoso gets right to the point with its flavors. There is no waiting around for where the cigar is going when you light it up. Its a potent full flavor and body cigar. If your looking for a short cigar with lots of flavor this will be a certainly a go to cigar. I give this cigar a 5 out 5. Rating:

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Posted By ironmeden on March 26, 2012

Berger & Argenti Entubar V32

Tonight i’m smoking up the latest edition to the Entubar blends from Berger & Argenti. Albert sent along a few samples of the Entubar V32. The new blend comes in four sizes, Khilla Korona 4 7/8 x 50 and Rogue Rothschild 5 5/8 x 54, Tremendo Toro 6 1/4 x 56 and Bruto Belicoso 6 3/8 x 60. Like the other Entubar cigars, this blend features a unique half-inch 32/64 diameter channel of Ligero positioned in the center of the cigar barrel extending 3/8″ beyond the trimmed foot.

The Entubar V32 is a ‘puro’ from Nicaragua with aged filler and binder with tobacco from the Esteli, Condega, Jalapa and Jinotega growing regions which is wrapped with a Cuban Seed Maduro wrapper.

“This is the most difficult and explosive cigar i’ve ever produced, but i’ve done so without compromising the brand’s balance or complexity,” said Michael Argenti, President of Berger & Argenti. “I was only able to produce 80,000 cigars on a limited run due to the scarcity of top quality materials we’ve used to produce this exceptional cigar.”

Well lets find out if how explosive the cigar is!

I’m smoking the Khilla Korona size. It looks like a firecracker waiting to blow up in your hands. The two bands on the cigar cigar cover up most of the stick with the Ligero sticking out of the foot of the cigar. I would almost suspect it would take longer to put the bands on the cigar then the wrapper with the total of 3 bands.

The wrapper has a rougher appearance with a few dark veins. The head of the cigar displays a nice triple cap.

I clipped the head of the cigar and toasted the entire foot of the cigar with my Colibri dual flame lighter. On the lips the cigar has a sweet taste. The flavors jump right out, burnt toast, sweet coffee and anise.

At the 1/4 mark the cigar seemed to have a slight burn issue, but it evened up getting to this point. The cigar body is quite smooth with a slight pepper taste in the mouth after taking a draw. The flavors are not in your face as they were are the start, its mellowed slightly giving off a chewy dark cocoa flavor and I don’t mean the 60% cocoa, but the 80% cocoa.

Halfway through the cigar is getting spicier. The flavors get deep and richer with each draw.

At the 3/4 mark the spice is continuing nicely, the power of the cigar is growing towards the end. If you haven’t eaten a big dinner before smoking this cigar, that was a mistake.

The Entubar V32, I didn’t find it explosive but it is a full bodied stick with a nice spice throughout. It certainly is a different experience then the traditional Entubar line. This is good addition to the line and if your a fan of other blend, then you certainly will need to find the V32 before it disappears. I give this cigar a 4 out of 5. Rating:

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Posted By ironmeden on March 21, 2012

Its been a while since I mentioned Cigar Aficionado in a posting. I’m still a regular reader of CA over the years but I stopped subscribing years ago. The reason is because I felt like some of reviews of products were well out of my price range. I feel like the magazine doesn’t speak to the regular 9 to 5 cigar smoker.

Also one of the reasons I feel like they don’t talk to the cigar smoker at times are the people they showcase on the cover or in the magazine. There are times the person gracing the cover don’t even smoke cigars. One example I point to was the profile of Kurt Russell a few years ago. In the article he says that he doesn’t even smoke cigars.

In the recent April 2012 Editors’ Note, Marvin and Gordon mention “Some of our cover subjects have just been interesting people, not necessarily cigar smokers. They epitomize the idea that their lives might be of special interest to our readers, a diverse group of men and women from all walks of life who share a common interest: enjoying the good life”.

Now I find this a good explanation on why they profile people who don’t smoke cigars and then make it to their cover, but I thought hard about this and came up with an analogy.

As a guy, when you pick up a copy of Playboy and the model on the cover who is usually quite attractive is showcasing herself in a suggestive pose and you can’t wait to open that magazine and view the rest of her attributes. What if you opened up the magazine and there was just an article of her life story with pics of her fully clothed and she’s talking about politics, the PTA and her drive into work. Now we may appreciate the story, but that is not what I opened up the magazine for.

There are plenty of high profile cigar smokers around that are available for interviews, CA should in my opinion focus on these people and promote them and their movies, tv shows, books or whatever they may be promoting. Anything less can leave the reader feeling the shaft.

Liga Privada Unico Serie Ferel Flying Pig

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Viso
Binder: Brazilian Mata fina
Filler: Nicaraguan

The Feral Flying Pig is the newest addition to the Liga Privada series. The wrapper is dark with a smooth appearance inbetween a few big veins. The cigar is comes in at 5 1/4 x 60 at it’s widest portion of the cigar. There is a large, tightly rolled pig tail at the head of the cigar. The band is similar to the other Liga cigars, white and grey with the Liga Privada logo at the end of the band. The name “Feral” is in the center of the band.

I pulled the pig tail at the head of the cigar. It really didn’t give the head of the cigar enough area to take draws, so I clipped the head of the cigar. I lit the cigar with a table top lighter. The draw seems a little loose, but with it comes a deep leather, coffee and dark chocolate flavors. There is a ton of smoke coming from this stick.

At the 1/4 mark the cigar is slow burning. The wrapper looks quite thick as it burns away. The cigar is smooth with a good combination of the previous mentioned flavors.

Halfway through the cigar’s ash is holding strong. The flavors seem to draw down slightly, they are not as intense at this point, but the body of the cigar is still full in strength.

At the 3/4 mark the cigar hasn’t changed much, still full of body, smooth with the leather flavor jumping out at this point.

The Feral Pig is a good cigar but it doesn’t stand out from the rest of the Liga Privada cigars.  If i’m just reviewing this cigar on its own, this is a pretty good stick. There are rich flavors that come from this cigar as it’s smoked. I’m giving this cigar 4 out of 5. Rating:

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