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Michael Carfagna

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Drew Estate’s Connecticut Barn Smoker 2022 – The Estate Strikes Back!

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Using the Force

Friday, August 12th 2022,  was a hot and sticky day in the Connecticut river valley.  I should know.  I was just wrapping up harvesting eggplants at a vegetable farm and feeling dead-beat as I saw the sun retreating.  It was a long day.  Drew Estate’s Barn Smoker hadn’t graced this side of the North East since the pandemic put a pause on the whole world.  But today, it was BACK!  I was ecstatic to be covering the event for Fine Tobacco NYC, however, dehydration, a sore lower back, heat exhaustion, and the usual fatigue of a full week working manual labor had my spirits down.  Getting consumed in Hartford traffic on my way to the event also didn’t pick my mood up.  Tonight was the pre-party.  A VIP-only event.  I had to get my mojo going again.  Once I checked into my hotel, I gave the old cold-shower and electrolyte consumption a try, and WALLAH! I was good to go!

VIP Party – photo credit, Justin Hunter
VIP Party – photo credit, Justin Hunter
VIP Party – photo credit, Justin Hunter

 

The pre-party was hosted at the New England Air Museum which was located within the Bradley Airport. I was assuming it would be another maylay of traffic and taxi cabs, however, it turned out to be a very docile paved back-road that took me right to the property.  I cannot compliment the parking-lot staff enough!  They directed my vehicle and every other cigar craving maniac into a spot immediately at arrival, with a smooth and welcoming attitude.  The line to get in was also a logistical masterpiece.  Drew Estate representatives were ready, willing and able to help you with any questions as well as made sure you received the swag bag of your dreams.  If you participated in the last Freestyle Live event for the Nica Rustica Adobe, then you’re familiar with the sleek “DE25” black leather backpack stuffed with goodies, however, you probably didn’t receive the FOUR BOXES of event-only cigars! It was like Christmas Day in the middle of summer.  It was also a lot to carry.  Drew Estate staff, again, were conscious and caring enough to advise event goers to place the items into their car, before heading off into that night’s festivities.  The parking staff assured me they were keeping guard of the lot all night, and that brought some rest and assurance to this born and raised New Yorker who remembers finding his fathers car one morning parallel parked on cinder blocks!

Yoda makes a cameo

After weaving through the battleship-gray halls of the New England Air Museum only stopping to take pictures of to the wall-to-wall history of American aeronautical achievement and a cool selfie next to a WWII bomber plane, I was back outside on a sprawling green.  There was a red carpet with a Drew Estate backdrop for all your inner celeb photo-op needs, a huge tent housing a casino, three open-bar kiosks, long catering tables adorned with BBQ, and a professional grade out-door concert stage. I ran into my fellow reviewer Justin, and we grabbed some pictures and dined on smoked alligator loin, washing it down with cold adult beverages. So far I was impressed, but God, I NEEDED A SMOKE!  After using my city boy charm and my sad puppy dog eyes, I managed to score a LIGA 10 Anniversario which technically weren’t meant to be given out until later that night.  Lets just say I’m still quite the looker, even with a sunburn. I even managed to light the cigar in time for the main event!  Before I knew it, I was sitting in a comfy camping chair, front-and-center, to hear the legend himself, Jonathan Drew, deliver the night’s opening remarks.

Now, any smoker who at least has 20+ years under his belt, may have never seen Mr. Drew in the flesh, but you are at least familiar with how ACID and Liga Privada cigars not only changed the cigar industry- but also added to our community- keeping the pulse alive after a post-boom drought. Today, Drew Estate is the largest cigar manufacturer in the world, with a SKU for every palate on the planet.

When Jonathan Drew finally took the stage, it was straight to business.  He shared all the stories of Drew Estates’ grass-roots efforts and humble beginnings.  We were presented with a heartfelt slide-show of pictures that detailed Drew Estates’ rags-to-riches journey with a very authentic and emotional Jonathan Drew narrating every step of the way. You always hear from cigar manufacturers- especially nowadays with the glut of boutique brands- how hard it is to actually make it in this industry.  However, I think it’s safe to say that no non-Cuban start-up cigar company has ever traversed the wind and the waves- literally a hurricane- like Drew Estate did and still managed to build an empire. If this was a Billy Graham crusade or a Jim Jones Kool-Aid hand-out, I think I just saw angels descending from on high! Jonathan Drew deserves a medal of honor. Somebody, get me another Liga!

Jedi training camp

Saturday, August 13th 2022, was the first day of what is officially considered the “Barn Smoker.”  Drew Estate holds these in many different states, especially those with tobacco farming heritage.  If you’re not familiar with the terroir of the Connecticut river valley, just repeat after me, “SANDY-LOAM!”  In the wine world, sandy-loam is known to make vines thrive, especially cabernet.  In the tobacco world, more specifically in Connecticut, it makes for plentiful cash crops of shade wrapper and broadleaf.  Due to competition, supply and demand, and labor costs, Connecticut shade has mostly relocated to countries like Ecuador. However, because of companies like Drew Estate, who have brought heralded acclaim to broadleaf, a majority of the tobacco farmers who are left in the Connecticut river valley exclusively grow the sun-kissed sweet and rustic wrapper leaf we have all come to adore. The sandy-loam terroir only adds to its vigor and yields.  As a farmer myself, when I pulled up to the well-maintained acreage managed by Dunn & Foster LLC., I was again blown away at how meticulous the planting rows were kept, as well as the sturdy long-lasting construction of the curing barns. It was like taking a walk back in time while still being in awe of how current big agriculture companies pull off the feats they do every season to keep American GDP on top of its game.

photo credit Justin Hunter
photo credit Justin Hunter
photo credit Justin Hunter
photo credit Justin Hunter

Today the entry points were a little different then the pre-party.  There was a VIP line with swag and early-admittance to attend a breakfast party.  The general admission had to wait one more hour to enter, but AGAIN, attendees received the best looking man-purse I had ever seen and MORE FREE CIGARS!  I mean what other event do you know of, that will gladly hand you an extra large Boveda ziplock bag full of event-only cigars!  This was like celebrating your birthday the day after Christmas. All attendees received a raffle booklet complete with free cigar-coupons and cocktail tickets.

After enjoying a nitro coffee or espresso, that paired beautifully with the Tabak Especial natural or negro- both given to you at the breakfast kiosk- you were welcome to sit under the cool shade of a tent and were briefed on how the day would go.  All attendees were split into three groups, destined to travel between three “tobacco experience stations.”  Depending on what group you were in determined what “experience,” you were to have first.  Each station was manned by one of the top Drew Estate team-members (Willy Herrera, Pedro Gomez, or Jonathan Drew), as well as, one representative of Dunn & Foster LLC. There was a station covering the early stages of broadleaf cultivation (seedling, transplanting, etc.), another station that covered broadleaf harvesting and tobacco nuances, and a third station that was situated in an actual curing barn with an overview on all the final stages broadleaf goes through before us consumers get to enjoy a premium cigar. Event goers were encouraged to partake in a Q&A after each presentation before moving onto their next curriculum.

photo credit Justin Hunter
photo credit Justin Hunter
photo credit Justin Hunter
photo credit Justin Hunter

 A scrumptious BBQ buffet was served around noon and then it was off to event “activations.” This is where that raffle booklet and free cigar ticket combo came in handy.  There were multiple tents for attendees to enjoy a unique immersion in well established Dew Estate Brands like Deadwood, Undercrown, ACID, Herrera Esteli, and Pappy Van Winkle. AKA MORE FREE CIGARS!  There was even a Joya de Nicaragua booth in the house and a Subculture Studios tent where an old-school Soul Train line spontaneously broke-out and custom sneakers were being bedazzled with paint markers. DID I MENTION OPEN-BAR!

photo credit Justin Hunter

The Falcon on auto-pilot

Sunday, August 14th 2022, was a repeat of the previous day.  The only difference was that there was one general admission line with similar swag, and every one entered at the same time.  I was told that in the past, Drew Estate normally keeps the Connecticut leg of the tour to a one-day-only experience. This year , however, the company felt that there were still patrons of the brand that couldn’t quite make it on a Saturday, and perhaps would rather attend on a Sunday.  Speaking with my fellow reviewer Justin about this beforehand, we definitely felt there were more people in attendance then the previous day.  The atmosphere and vibe was also a little bit more laid back.  The same itinerary as Saturday was in store for the new group that just arrived, and since I had already experienced it prior, I took privilege as a so-called member of the press to interview some folks.  Every journalist craves a star-studded or presidential interview.  I was fine interviewing the guys I met in line.  There were lots of retailers in attendance throughout the weekend, and I just happened to run into a couple of fellas from my neck of the woods- Upstate New York – WOOP WOOP!  One of the gentlemen, an employee at a cigar lounge, had attended all 7 Connecticut Barn Smokers, while the manager of the same store was about to lose his virginity.  Like everyone else I had covertly put on the hot-seat that weekend, they had the same answers to my questions.  They are not only Liga fans, they are Drew Estate Fans! Even novice smokers I spoke with vouched for the consistency and diversity of the portfolio.  The brick and mortar crowd couldn’t imagine a spreadsheet that did not boast ACID as their shop’s top-selling cigars to date and year after year! 

In a galaxy far-far away

Back on my patio, a week after the event, I sit here finalizing this article and debriefing from one of the greatest moments I’ve ever had since beginning my cigar obsession years ago.  I’ve smoked most of my event-only cigars, and even rocked the man-purse and camouflage Barn Smoker hat together to make a bold fashion statement.  This was my first Drew Estate Barn Smoker.  I am forever grateful for the team at Fine Tobacco NYC for giving me the opportunity to attend.  I would be lying if I told you I didn’t want to attend the other two left in the pipeline for this year to be held in Kentucky and Texas. Before I had children, and had to have some semblance of a career, I had worked tirelessly in the marketing gig circuit, going from street promotions to handing out swag and attracting new potential consumers at various events.  I can bluntly say, Drew Estate knows what they’re doing.  From start to finish, I felt welcome with a family-like hospitality. The accommodations, which were all out-doors, were well maintained and kept orderly on all three days.  The staff was professional, available, and helpful.  The catering was delicious, the drinks never stopped, and there were more free cigars than a blue whale could stick in its blow-hole.  If you ask me for the one moment that stuck out the most from the whole weekend- it was definitely the VIP pre-party.  To actually hear Jonathan Drew speak with such gusto and a skin-in-the-game attitude was not just entrancing, but as mentioned, REVIVING!  Even after all this time, even after the Swisher buy-out, even after all the FDA drama, there is a man out there who still seems indomitable, focused, and hungrier than a rookie fighting for a spot on the roster. Also, it is great to see a company who has had such past success and fervor for their events, fearlessly reboot their community building soirees (just like other cigar festivals are planning to), but they even went a step further by adding the extra day for their fan-base.  Let me ask you something: “Who does that?!”  “Who does that in the midst of a current economic slowdown?!”  They even managed to raise $27,0000.00 in donations for Cigars for Warriors. As we head into the last months of this year, there is already much to be remembered of 2022.  But for us cigar enthusiasts in the North East, Drew Estate’s Barn Smoker 2022 is a crowning achievement shared not just among us cigar geeks, but for Drew Estate as well.  Thank you Jonathan Drew for making the world seem fun and inspiring again! See you all next year!

 

Blind Review: H. Upmann Classic 1844 Robusto

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The H. Upmann Classic 1844 Robusto is manufactured by Altadis SA at the Flor de Copan factory in Honduras. Historically a Cuban brand – founded and manufactured in Havana in 1844 by Herman Upmann – the company has gone through many revamps post-revolution and is still counted among one of the world’s oldest cigars brands available to date.  With a rich history of espionage involvement, world banking systems, and also being credited as the first manufacturer to offer cigars in a cedar box- if you haven’t smoked at least one H. Upmann cigar up until this point- DO SO NOW!

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: H. Upmann 1844 Classic Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
  • Binder: Honduran Broadleaf
  • Filler: Honduran Cuban-Seed
  • Size: 52 x 5

Blind Review Notes: H. Upmann 1844 Classic Robusto

Appearance & Construction

There comes a point in every man’s life where he just has to move on with things.  As he sets out on his journey for personal meaning and bad-assery, he often finds himself in darker times of impulse and crazy ideas. In other words: I am going to attempt living in a tent on my own front lawn.  As I sit back and ponder how to pull this off without my neighbors calling the cops or me freezing to death in the winter, it is nice to curl up with a cigar and pour some rich nicotine on my anxieties. This rustic light caramel beauty comes complete with a simple single cap and a delicate but heavily striated wrapper.  Its also a robusto, so it gets my immediate approval in the vitola department. It is packed well with an even weight in my hand.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigar has got a familiar corojo smell I know all too well with some faint cedar mixed in.  I apply a clean cross-cut and dig into a very spicy cold draw.  I go with my single flame torch and the cigar actually takes some time to toast.  A little more than usual.  It also takes some time to combust.  This sparks my curiosity as to what primings actually made it into the filler, or even what the binder leaf could be?  Maybe asbestos?!  A welding jacket, perhaps?! Anyway, once I achieve an even light on the cigar and it’s producing smoke, the familiar aroma of cedar fills the air.  Now that’s more like it!

The first third is a beautiful combination of green bell peppers, strawberry hard candy, and a chilli kick on the finsh. The expeience is very reminiscent of the many Corojo 99 blends you may come across on the market. The retrohale is sour and leafy like a lettuce sandwich.  “Lettuce Sandwich?!,” you ask. Yes, I indeed worked with a gentleman who ate one of these a week in our construction shanty during lunch time.  I guess that’s how he got his veggies in…?

The second third is even more interesting. Depending on how you draw on it- deep or shallow- you can pick up notes of a hazy IPA or just plain cumin and hazelnuts.  I like to call cigars that offer an experience like this a, “choose-your-fate-cigar.”  You dont get many of these on the market all the time, but when you do, they succeed at getting an old dusty boring smoker like myself excited without the use of a tiny blue pill. I’m totally digging the smoke.  Even the retrohale reminds me of beer hops. The cigar keeps a nice cool temperature throughout, so you can puff away as much as you like.

The last third gets a little funky.  I get flashbacks of X-girlfriends.  Have you ever dated a girl who loves air-conditioning no matter what time of year it is?  That same air-conditioner also adds to maybe a musty mold issue in the wall-to-wall carpeting that covers her living room floors? That same air-condioned home and musty carpeting is also bathed in ages of hair spray droplets that failed to land on her dyed blonde hair?  It’s actually a great smell!  And the two women who I knew, but who didnt know each other, but who should have known each other, manifest in the notes of this cigar.  Sorry to anyone who can’t realate- but trust me- there’s plenty of fish in the sea and not every cigar on the market can bring back the ghosts of two X-girlfriends- BUT I LOVE IT WHEN THEY DO! The only thing that snaps my palate back into reality is the taste of nail polish remover.  It’s even present on the retro.  Yeah, that reminds me of the X-girlfriend I didnt want to remember. Alright, so it burned a little hot towards the end. So what! This was a great stick.

Conclusion

The cigar in question was the H. Upmann 1844 Classic Robusto.  The light Ecuadorian shade wrapper covertly snuck in a Honduran broadleaf binder, and most definetley some Honduran corojo filler to the party. I’m a fan!  I normally wont touch any Ecuadorian wrapper with a 10-foot pole. I know it when I taste it! Or should I say, “I KNOW IT WHEN I DONT TASTE IT!”? In my opinion the cloud cover in Ecuador really steals from the marriage of terrior and sun in a tobacco leaf.  However, we know from experience that Ecuadorian leaves burn and combust great and are there to compliment the experience, without necerssarily adding to it half the time.  For a lifelong enemy of cloud covered tobacco in all varieties, this was the rare case where I saw a shade wrapper successfully support the unique and unorthodox flavors that Honduran tobaccos still produce to this day.  This H. Upmann 1844 Classic Robusto was also a redeeming smoke for me because I did not fancy the Nicaraguan blend AJ Fernandez manufactured for H. Upmann. If you’re revisting the H. Upmann line this year or finally trying them out for the first time, I would highly recommend this cigar.  ENJOY!

Final Score: 88

 

 

Blind Review: Davidoff Escurio Robusto

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The Davidoff Escurio Robusto is a made by Davidoff Cigars who is owned by Oettinger Davidoff AG, based in Basel, Switzerland. The brand is named after the “King of Cigars,” Zino Davidoff who owned and operated a tobacco specialist shop in Geneva, Switzerland from 1926 to 1994. Released in 2015, the Davidoff Escurio line features Brazilian tobacco hailing from the wet climates of the Bay of Todos os Santos. Presented in a beautifully aged Ecaudorian Habanao wrapper, this cigar blend is offered in 5 different vitolas.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Escurio Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
  • Binder: Brazilian Seco (harvested in the Bay of Todos os Santos)
  • Filler: Dominican/ Brazilian tobacco also from the Bay of Todos os Santos
  • Size: 4 1/2 x 54

Blind Review Notes: Davidoff Escurio Robusto

Appearance & Construction

Has your mother-in-law ever come to visit and you really needed an excuse to duck out in your garage the rest of the night? Well then, just become a cigar reviewer like I did and you will always have “important business to attend to that requires immediate attention!” No lie! I actually used that line!  I had to!  I’ve used all my other ones, and I had to think of something less suspicious than normal.

My “important business,” turned out to be a plump robusto with a dead give-away of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.  This is indeed a blind review, but that delicate sheen and true-to-color-palette brown hue is something I never mistake.  It is crisp, veiny, and thin skinned.  If this isn’t Ecuador Habono, I’d be surprised.  The cigar is sturdy in hand and packed well.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

I go with my usual cross-cut and enjoy one of the best cold draws I’ve ever had- sweet molasses and well-humidified cedar.  I toast and light with a single torch and the aromas I’m greeted with as I stoke the flame are baking-spices and wood.

The first third is very reminiscent of every coffee order I would have to, “REMEMBER, OR ELSE!,” as a young construction apprentice.  “Coffee, milk, NO SUGAR! You got that kid!” As if even a dash of Splenda would have been enough to overly sweeten the sugar-plum fairies of pile-driving foreman and journeyman that still dance in my head this many years later.

On its first impression, the cigar shows itself to be a cigar that you don’t have to babysit.  It beckons me to self-indulge in puffery and smoke ring tomfoolery.  You know… all these years of smoking cigars, and I still cant freaking blow one smoke ring!  I knew college was a waste of time and money.

The cigar maintains a very even and cool burn so far. The retrohale and aroma coming off the foot are the same as the cold draw- sweet cedar.

 

The second third opens with some more flavor notes- potting soil, fruit, and hazelnuts.  The aroma and retro remain the same-sweet cedar. The only thing of REAL importance that I pick up is that the cigar is getting stronger.  Before smoking tonight, I happened to bulletproof my stomach with a quadruple patty sharp cheddar cheese burger and a shot of rum. Now, lets see if this cigar can actually tip an elephant over.  I’m down to rock and roll! Its been awhile, goddamnit!

The last third maintains the cool and even burn.  There are no burn issues or draw issues.  It just keeps getting stronger. The flavors also turn harsh- coffee grounds, espresso beans, and burnt toast.  I HATE burnt toast…The aroma and retro surprisingly stay the same- sweet cedar.  As the cigar finishes, I find myself bored and my tongue cooked.  I just want a pint of vanilla ice cream and my mother-in-law to leave ASAP, so i can go back to walking around naked in my own house again. “LEAVE!”

Conclusion

The cigar I smoked was a Davidoff Escurio Robusto.  What do you know?!  The cigar DOES come wrapped in a beautiful Ecuador Habano wrapper and showcases exclusive tobacco harvested from the watery climates of the “Bay of Todos os Santos, Brazil.” “You can dress her up, but you can’t take her out!,” is a saying I’ve come to know all too well in this life.  First, if you’ve ever met any of the women I’ve entertained, and secondly, Ecuador Habano is notorious for covering up a poop stain.  Was it the sauna-like humidity of early August in my garage that made this new and interesting Brazilian tobacco produce a nothing-special yet stronger profile then was advertised?  The construction and combustion were some of the best I’ve seen in awhile, yet I desperately found myself bored and wanting more out such a beautifully presented cigar. The cigar crashed and burned with me hoping it would just turn into a nicotine bomb so I could at least have a good fire-fight story to share!  AND NOW, after finding out the MSRP for the stick, there’s no way I would recommend someone at least give the cigar a shot-EVEN if I had the hope that their smoking experience may fare better than mine just went! When it comes to new and interesting tobaccos, I am known as a smoker that goes where no smoker has ventured before.  As a farmer and winemaker by trade, I also appreciate the notion of terroir and want to see if I can taste the motherland.  With all that said, I have found that many new and interesting tobaccos are almost always hit-or-miss, SOOOOOO, I strongly feel you shouldn’t have to pay a ransom for potential volatility.  If you want something funky, out-of-the-box, unorthodox and different- with a better pricing scheme- I would totally recommend CAO cigars as an alternative.  For cigars similar in effort to this one: if you can snag something from CAO’s quick-t0-sell “Amazon Basin” line or their “Brazilia” brand- I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Enjoy!

Final Score: 79

Blind Review: La Palina El Diario KB II

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La Palina El Diario KB II is made by “negociant” cigar manufacturer La Palina Cigars.  The El Diario brand is a collaboration with the great minds at Alec Bradley and is made out of their Fabrica de Tobacos Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras. La Palina is a cigar manufacturer with roots that trace back to the USA, namely Chicago. Started in 1896 bv Sam Paley, La Palina, was a heralded cigar brand up until the Great Depression when his factory unfortunately closed. La Palina was revived in 2010 by his grandson, Bill Paley. Today Bill is the “principle and chairman” of La Palina with Samuel Phillips and Clay Roberts as the main “stewards” of the brand.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: La Palina El Diario KB II
  • Wrapper: Honduran Corojo ’99 Rosado
  • Binder: Honduran Criollo ’98 (Double binder)
  • Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98
  • Size: 6×40

Blind Review Notes: La Palina El Diario KB II

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a traditional corona vitola with a classy triple cap.  The cigar wrapper is a light beige with some green spotting reminiscent of a not-fully-cured Connecticut shade wrapper.  The wrapper looks dry and delicate. Featherweight in my hands and packed loose.  I have my reservations.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigar smells of old cedar.  Like an old dry cigar box that needs to be rehumidified.  I V-cut and cold draw, and experience the same old humidor that is in desperate need of seasoning. I guess that’s what they’re going for?

My soft flame licks the foot of the cigar and it combusts just fine.  On the palate I am immediately greeted with rod iron, graham cracker and sweet peppers.  Very interesting.  I’ve never tasted all those notes together before on a cigars’ introduction.  The finish is both salty and peppery with some hints of strawberry.  The first third has a nice body to the smoke and it is smooth and creamy.  I find that I do have to watch my smoking speed, as if I’m not already a slow smoker! The cigar is burning hot! Not much of a retrohale.  Not yet, at least- just some cedar steam.

The second third has notes of fried dough, more strawberry and chili.  Altogether it’s like you took a jalapeno popper and wrapped it in a fruit roll up, and then ate the whole thing at once without chewing.  I think I just nailed that perfectly in terms of description-PAT ON THE BACK FOR ME!  The retrohale finally emerges with peanuts.  There is a lingering black pepper and peanuts on the back of my palate.  The cigar is still too hot!  For a cigar that was stored properly, its burning like autumn leaves.  If you’ve ever smoked a dry cigar, especially if its one you’ve smoked before, you’ll notice the aroma coming off the lit foot of the cigar actually smells different.  Since, I have no clue what I’m smoking right now, I have to at least compliment this dried out stick for producing a nice cafe mocha ambiance in the air.  It leaves me wondering what the same cigar fully resuscitated would smell like.

As I enter the last third, I cant thank the cigar gods enough for producing the corona vitola.  It is a great vitola to watch the lightning bugs dance from a screened-in porch as I happen to be doing right now.  If you have no clue what I’m talking about, take one of the waterbugs that are coming out of your shower drain and duct tape a motion sensor LED to it.  SAME THING! Trust me.  The second third was very diverse compared to the last few puffs of this cigar.  This last third is very straight forward with some molasses and general tobacco taste.  The draw is also tightening as I puff away on it. Its still smoking way too hot and finishes harsh.  Nothing but burnt smoke hitting the tip of my tongue.  Not a fan.  This cigar needs to “purify in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.” “Purple Rain” was such a good film! You can tell by my attention span that I’m done.

Conclusion

This was my first La Palina cigar, EVER!  After doing some research on the “El Diario” line of cigars they offer, I am amazed to find out that this line is meant to be one of their stronger blends.  In my opinion it was mild-medium.  The La Palina El Diario Kill Bill II is only offered in the corona vitola and I’d love to see it folded in half to make a nice gordo. I think that THEN, we’d have better combustibility as well as the strength that is advertised.  What started out as a very traditional vitola with a very interesting flavor profile, was buried in a smoldering blaze I couldn’t contain- EVEN as a world renowned slow-smoker.  I, however, wouldn’t mind continuing to explore La Palina Cigars a little more to see if they have something just for me.  It seems that as a remerging company, they definitely hired the right people to bring the best smokes they can to market.  My interest has been peaked.  Enjoy!

Final Score: 85

Blind Review: Oliva Serie O Corona

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The Oliva Serie O Corona is manufactured by Oliva Cigar Co. at their factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.  Formerly launched in 1995 as an independent cigar company, their steady popularity lead them to be purchased in 2016 by J. Cortes Cigars which has continued the acclaimed production of the brand. However, to this day, all the Oliva family siblings are still at the helm of the tobacco growing and cigar manufacturing. Oliva Cigar co. is not to be confused with the other world-renowned tobacco farming family known as “Oliva Tobacco Co.” or the long established cigar brand “Oliveros.”

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Oliva Serie O Corona
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 6×46

Blind Review Notes: Oliva Serie O Corona

Appearance & Construction:

Whether your a traditionalist, a diplomat, or an egotistical guerilla who’s running-and-gunning through the jungles, nothing beats an old fashioned corona vitola. I prefer a petite corona if you ask me, but why not feel like “El Comandante” for a night?  The only thing I seem to notice off the bat, appearance-wise, is that one-half of the wrapper leaf is a shade darker then the rest of the cigar.  This could have happened anywhere out in the fields, barn, or factory and may have an effect on flavor, but not necessarily smokabilty.  Other then that, it is nicely packed and feels weightless.  Let’s see what happens.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics:

The cigar has a very strong and singular cedar smell to it.  I apply a cross-cut and experience more strong cedar on the cold draw. The cigar toasts and lights quickly with a simple soft flame. I mean how could I not go for a soft flame, on such a classic vitola?!

It combusts with charm as would be fitting for this cigar, and all I have to say is….”nnnnniiiicccceee.” Nothing but smooth cedar, and a phenomenal creamy draw.  The first third is speckled with notes of salt, perfume, and spice.  The tale end of the first third is chocolatey with a salty retro. Very good smoke production so far.  The whole time, there is that very unmistakable Habano-esque strawberry hard-candy aroma on the palate.  You know?!  Those strawberry hard-candies that old ladies always have on hand in some crystal dish or an ashtray when you visit their house?  You know?!  Because you happen to frequent the homes of old ladies….Anyone?! Anyway, remember how those candies were as fossilized as their owner, but kept that artificial strawberry glory on the palate?  That same flavor is here to greet your nostalgia or current fetish.

The second third is still a flavor bomb,  just less fruity and gerontosexual.  There is chili spice with some sawdust and mahogany.  Leather, potting soil, and cherry-cola on the finish.  Its becoming more refined, like your growing attraction towards peoples grandmothers everywhere.  The retrohale distinctly reminds me of receiving the Sunday Times. Remember how they used to come in those tight blue plastic bags. Now, I never delivered the newspaper myself, I would just smell the inside of the bags….and now I review cigars.  I’m looking for someone to relate to me here!

What we have here is a cigar that just keeps on delivering even in the last third. There are some routine notes, but also heavy whiffs of cumin, hazelnut coffee, nougat, and house plants.  My only complaint is that the cigar starts to pick up heat.  As expected, that might have to do with the last half of the leaf being a shade darker.  The cigar becomes harsher on the palate and its hard to keep the smoke cool.  Some people are into burning their victims alive just so they can see what they smell like.  Not me. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt…I hung my tough-guy boots up a long time ago.  I smoke it down to about an inch and let the cigar drown out in my ashtray. Oh well.

Conclusion:

Turns out, that I just smoked the Oliva Serie O Corona.  Its been a long time in my personal cigar journey since I smoked one of these.  Definitely better then I remember them.  Except for the construction hiccup I experienced at the very end, I didn’t have to deduct any other points.  The Oliva Serie O provides a great smoking experience with tons of mouth watering flavors.  The classic corona vitola is also a perfect fit for anybody grilling, chilling, or finally breaching your oppositions buildings.  Its cloaked in an Ecuador Habano but smokes just like any Nicaraguan corojo on the market.  That being said, you still shouldn’t pass up on such a legacy brand like Oliva Cigar Co. The Serie O would be considered their entry level cigar at the price point, and if you have never given the brand a try, I would heavily recommend beginning here. Enjoy.

Final Score: 90

 

Blind Review: Royal Jamaica Corojo Robusto

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Royal Jamaica Corojo is a Casa De Montecristo exclusive release blended by the industry-renowned Abe Flores at his PDR Cigars factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Started in 1935 by James Frederick Gore out of Kingston, Jamaica and in strong demand until Hurricane Gilbert ravaged its supply-chain in 1988, the Royal Jamaica was an iconic post-Cuban embargo brand. However, unlike the original blend, there is no Jamaican tobacco present in this current release. Under the direct ownership of Altadis, USA  or a franchisee, there are currently 29 Casa De Montecristo locations nationwide through which you can purchase this cigar.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Royal Jamaica Corojo Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cor0jo
  • Binder: Ecuador Habano
  • Filler: Dominican (Ligero, Seco, Viso Piloto Cubano)
  • Size: 5×52

Blind Review Notes: Royal Jamaica Corojo Robusto

Appearance & Construction:

Did I ever mention how much I love my new reviewing job?!  Its like being part of the Power Rangers, and nothing like being part of the Power Rangers in the least bit.  I’m a hopeless romantic, and things tend to go to straight to my head most of the time. Take for example, this gorgeous “Colorado Claro,” AKA “Rosado,” AKA “drool-worthy” wrapped robusto cigar I just received.  Its classically triple-capped with even one of those fancy wrapped footies.  That means I get to taste this majestic ruby-brown sugar specimen before the binder and filler kick in. What a treat! There is a slight prensando (cuban press) to the vitola which I am also very bias towards.  I feel it makes the cigar a more comfortable experience.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics:

The cigar itself smells like straw bales.  I throw a cross-cut on this puppy and take a sip.  The cold draw is not tight, nor is it loose.  Very reminiscent of baking spices like nutmeg. I flicker up the closed foot and take another drink.  It tastes like habano. Hmmmm.  I toast the rest of the foot and the cigar combusts fine.

The first third is savory.  Lots of salt and mesquite.  The smoking experience is what I like to call, “a double-puffer.” The cigar needs to be stoked constantly to not only keep the mojo alive but in fear that it might go out. I’m smoking in an ideal temperature and even left the cigar out to acclimate, so I suspect this might just have to do with the blend. Once I can get the cigar to heat up enough for me to retrohale, I can  make out hazelnuts, gun flint, and black pepper. However every flavor note is as bland as a pancake butt.

The second third is still struggling with a handicapped draw issue. There are no stems, tunneling, or even bunching issues I can see or feel for.  Again, this comes down to blending.  Smoke and heat production are M.I.A., but I don’t have to relight it, surprisingly. If a ghost were a cigar this would be it. Better yet, I want you to think of the most passive aggressive person you’ve ever come across. Come on! We all know at least one person like this!  Can you think of that one person?  Got them in mind yet?  Good!  If that person transformed into a cigar, this would be them.  All bark, no bite!

The last remains of the second third are an apparition of chocolate and wood.  However, my tongue may just be seeing things.  The only thing non-holographic that happens to the cigar at this phase is the heat production picks up drastically.  Now the cigar is too hot! As if all the tobacco oils weren’t spread evenly throughout the vitola.  Were these cigars aged upside down?!

The last third is even more specter-like then it was in the beginning and middle portions.  An unearthed lactating mummy has more flavor then this blend of foliage.  To save face, because I’m a good guy at heart, I will compliment the cigar for leaving a very pleasant aroma in the air from the lit end.  And for you competitive “my-ash-is-bigger-then-your-ash” influencers out there, the sturdy ash on this cigar is I.G.-worthy, indeed.  Get your phones ready if your thinking of smoking this stick.

Faint flavors of salt and mesquite continue towards the finish line, but really I’m reaching for straws here people. The retrohale is nothing but hot-air.  When I’m finished with the cigar it I feel like I just left my in-laws house.  Those that understand, know the feeling.  Throw me a wink, a nod, and maybe some baseball dug-out sign language when you see me if you can relate.

Conclusion:

The perpetrator in question happens to be a Royal Jamaican Corojo Robusto.  This is my lowest scoring cigar to date.  If you know me, you know I punish my taste-buds on a constant basis.  Between smoking cigars and wine drinking, I can really tire my palate out. So, for reviews I make the effort to fast from strong flavors and scents.  I didn’t drink or smoke anything for the 24 hours leading up to the review. That being said, it doesn’t mean my tongue doesn’t know exactly what it likes.  Its as calloused as a T-rex foot, but as sensitive as todays generation.  And for those that suspect I rushed the smoke, it took me about 90s minutes to review this stick. I spend the same amount of time on the regular to smoke through a Padron 2000 which is similar in size. I also smoke Nicaraguan and Honduran corojo on the regular, so I have my expectations. The only similar cigar to this that used Ecuadorian Corojo to some substantial success was LFD’s “Andalusian Bull”  Sorry Abe, Lito Gomez has you beat when it comes to meshing Dominican tobacco with a “chance-of-clouds” corojo.  This cigar was in much need of some cojones, even for a newbie smoker to enjoy it in my opinion.

Final Score: 70

Blind Review: Cohiba Nicaragua N54

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Cohiba Cigars USA, released by parent company General Cigars, is one of the many post-embargo Cuban brands reincarnated throughout various factories in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.  General Cigars has done a great job revitalizing the image of the Cohiba brand in the USA, despite its Cuban-tobacco-only heritage. To meet the increasing demand for fuller body smokes, it is good to see General Cigar finally taking its Cohiba label to task with embracing all the flavor profiles Nicaraguan tobacco has to offer.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Cohiba Nicaragua N54
  • Wrapper: Nicarauguan or Honduran Habano Oscuro
  • Binder: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
  • Filler: Nicaraguan (Jalapa and Esteli)
  • Size: 5×54

Blind Review Notes: Cohiba Nicaragua N54

Appearance & Construction:

Let me begin by saying, that as soon as I received this cigar, I was hyped! First and foremost, it is a robusto with a thick ring gauge.  Secondly, its a beautiful maduro with a toothy, oily, veiny, speckled wrapper.  It’s light as a feather but feels packed firm from top to bottom.  This is a working persons cigar! The type of stick that any blue collar life-form stereotypically has hanging out of their mouths while performing an oil change or smacking a zombie in the head with a nail riddled baseball bat.  Long story short, “snowflakes” melt before cigars like this.  Even now, the hairs on my chest are growing thicker, and before you know it, adamantium claws are emerging from between my knuckles.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics:

The cigar is very aromatic.  The foot and wrapper smell like raisins, cedar, and molasses- the holy trinity of well aged and fermented leaves.  I decide to go with a traditional guillotine cut. The cold draw is filled with more cedar and a spice that karate chops me in the throat. My smoking environment as of late is ideal.  The patio is warm with a summer breeze and the humidity level is perfect, so I’m going to light up with my butane soft flame.  Contrary to cigar snobs everywhere, super-dark and oily cigars will light fine under soft flame without you having to put a pyrotechnic expert on your payroll.  It toasts perfectly, but on combustion the cherried ash reveals some tunneling- Intro: funeral dirge…What a way to rain on my parade!  We will just have to see how it smokes regardless.

The first few puffs hit me with a psychedelic trip of flavors.  If I were Matt Booth, I’d compare this experience to a 4-way bukkake where the lead startlet didn’t read the film script before shooting began…pun intended…I’m experiencing chocolate, hazelnuts, cedar and hot pepper all at once.  Good God! What sorcery is this?!  However, as satisfied as I am without the flavor profile, the flawed construction is proving to be more problematic then ever.  There is not just one tunnel, or even two…THERE ARE THREE!!! THREE TUNNELS! AH AH AH! Where’s the Count from Sesame Street when you need him?!  The wrapper leaf is no longer combusting in tandem with the binder and filler.  I’ve had to relight it twice so far.  I am still able to make out the typical sweet maduro nuances and some hot pepper.  The retro is spicy.

Just before reaching the finish line of the first third, I break out my guillotine cutter and amputate myself somewhere into the second third.  Sometimes, this minor ER surgery can help bypass poorly bunched leaves.  For those that don’t know, buncheros hold the filler in their hands as well as they can, but overcoming evolution isn’t easy! Your opposable thumb is always stronger then your pinky and ring finger. Even after wrapping and molding, the bottom half of that filler bunch might still have gaps in the mix.

Anyway, removing Medusas’ head helps a little bit. The second third proves to be almost Cubanesque.  Think: slightly fruity and floral on the retro.  There is also molasses and pepper hanging in the wings.

I get frustrated again because the initial tunneling set the cigar off-kilter.  I lop off a little more and time travel into the last third.  Yes, your dinky cigar cutter can actually defy orthodox quantum physics models! The final third appears normal upon inspection. This bunchero most likely only had a thumb and possibly an index finger… Don’t look at me like you never saw a two-fingered bunchero before. THEY’RE EVERYWHERE!  As I smoke the remains of such a flavor bomb, I think about what woulda’, coulda’, and shoulda’ been.  The nublet offers up burnt fruit, roasted hazelnuts, and espresso beans.  The retrohale is non-existent.

Conclusion:

It has been revealed to me that I just smoked the Cohiba Nicaraugua N54.  This cigar was actually on my “give-it-a-shot-sometime” list.  American Cohibas aren’t that BAD!  I’m just glad that General Cigars decided to try something else then producing more flavorless “Red Dots.”  My peers commented that I may have been a little generous with my scoring.  I can’t trash such a flavorful cigar simply because the bunchero may have been missing some digits.  This Nicaraguan beauty- for us us who smoke puros on the regular- should fit in the daily rotation quite well.  The Cohiba Nicaragua N54 pulls no punches.  It is a very true representation of the Esteli and Jalapa terroirs that birthed it.  Also, for those who are strict devotees to CT broadleaf maduro- the Habano Oscuro wrapper on the Cohiba Nicaragua makes for a good runner-up if your local B&M only carries legacy brands. Remember kids, if you, “cant knock the hustle,” you cant knock sabor either!

Final Score: 85

Blind Review: Crux Limitada Redline (2019)

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Crux Limitada Redline cigars are made by Crux Cigars and are manufactured by Plasencia Cigars S.A in Nicaragua. Crux only produces 1,000 boxes annually of their Limitada line which features a proprietary Nicarauguan Enganoso wrapper leaf grown exclusively for them in Esteli.  The Limitada Redline is a box-pressed toro size cigar that also consists of a Connecticut Broadleaf binder with a blend of undisclosed Dominican and Nicaraguan filler.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Crux Limitada Redline
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Enganoso
  • Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
  • Filler: Dominican/ Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6 x 50

Blind Review Notes: Crux Limitada Redline

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a more slender box-press.  Almost rectangular. Think: “tampa-style” , “soft-press” or Padron “Series.” The combo of color and shape remind me of a UK-issued Cadbury “Flakes” bar.  The wrapper is rich and decadent and appears aged to perfection.  I always appreciate the aesthetics of a box-press. The way the veins in a wrapper leaf and how it was rolled come together to give off a criss-cross double-helix appearance.  It’s like looking at a well wrapped gift or even professional origami sometimes. The cigar is packed stiff at the bottom and looser at the top, yet has a good even-weight in my hands. I can actually cold draw through its double-cap without applying a cut. Cederary…

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics:

The cigar itself does not give off a strong aroma on its own.  I have to sniff it like it’s the last scene in Scarface and almost lick the wrapper to get the stogie to speak to me.  I can faintly make out straw bales, some honey, and pencil shavings.

I apply a shallow cross-cut (AKA “rose-cut” to you Brits) and begin to take in a more proper cold-draw.  It is now a strong cedar that smacks me back in the throat.  I didn’t get that when the cap was unpierced.

As I toast with a single-torch lighter, there is a distinct fragrance that reminds me of a mens cologne from yesteryear.  Think old-school Nautica when we all used to rock bubble jackets and holler at the upper-grade girls in the junior high parking lot…ANYWAY! The cigar is taking a while to heat up, but it combusts beautifully.  Let’s GO!

The smoking experience in the first third is nice and light.  There is chocolatey damp cedar on the front end and spicy pencil shavings on the back end. There is some curry powder on the retro as the tobacco oils begin to heat up.  I’m salivating.  The cigar is so far peculiar on its first impressions.  It covers some of the usual flavor profiles of a medium-full cigar, but in a very wistful and airy way. There’s chili and grit present, but by no means would I describe it as full-body. For example, even the smoke coming off the foot of the first third is very reminiscent of Swiss Miss hot chocolate packets and Lucky Charms marshmallows. Not really what the local biker gang ordered, but maybe they would, if you know what I mean? I wouldn’t. Motorcycles terrify me in a God-fearing way. More on that next time.

The second third shapes up to be a leathery and more creamy experience.  At first the leather note is not drying out my palate like it normally would on other cigars, but is actually making me salivate more. Quite unique.  I then notice that my palate begins to dry out and the body of smoke lends to a more creamy mouth feel. However, this cigar is no Connecticut. Very unusual. It’s enough to keep me interested.  I’m also impressed by the construction so far.  Since box-press cigars generally are 1-2 filler leaves less in construct, I often find myself having to adjust my puff speed so as to not overheat the tobacco.  Amazingly, this box-press is staying cool and the burn line illuminates no matter how hard or soft I draw on it. I like that. The second third raps up with the ash build-up being flaky.  My palate is filled with a strong hazelnut note, and from time to time I’m getting the taste of a potting-soil with vermiculite.  It makes me remember how far behind I am on my home gardening.  The retrohale is leather and spice.

The last third is nothing new.  The cigar is still consistent in what flavors it offers.  However, the spice and hazelnuts are less faint now.  It also goes out a couple times.  I had to relight and purge twice.  No big deal.  It helped refresh the experience and brought out some citrus aromas and better smoke production.  To be honest, the cigar, because of its length, was becoming a little boring until I had to apply some damage control.  I smoked it down to the size of a pinky toe.  It ends on a very savory note, like when you crack open a fresh Goya “Sazon” shaker.  There are also more hints of dirt and even espresso beans on the finish. The fragrance as it goes out in my ashtray still reminds me of that same thuggy pretty-boy cologne we used to use to cover up our adolescent acne and daddy issues. C’est la vie.

Conclusion

Aside from all Padron Cigars, Crowned Heads’ “Juarez ”, and Foundation Cigars’ “Menelik,” I generally am not a fan of box-pressed cigars.  They often feel clunky and remind me of being on the job holding a carpenter’s pencil.  I smoke cigars to forget the day, not to feel like I’m still on the clock. However, because of the more rectangular shape of the Crux Limitada Redline, all the hand and mouth-feel awkwardness wasn’t present.  As I smoked the cigar I kept it on its edge, instead of its belly, as well as when I held it between my fingers.  Ergonomic vitolas just might be the future of cigars everybody!

Overall, the Crux Limitada blend was nice. As mentioned, it had the flavors I find to be present in a medium-full body cigar, just in a very muted and passive presentation.  If you’re not the morning-type tough-guy, AND need the day to progress to build up your defense mechanisms, BUT still need something to remind you of who you wish you were while sipping your over-sweetened “tall hot latte”…GUESS WHAT!? This cigar may fill that void! As you smoke it, you will look forward to- AND might be better equipped- to handle “A REAL MANS CIGAR!,” later on that same day. I only deducted points for the flakiness of the burn and the fact that I had to relight it twice.  I smoked it almost down to nothing, and the changing flavor profile kept me wanting more. I’d personally like to experience the Crux Limitada again in a smaller vitola. At this cigar length, I felt it was a journey that went longer than it should have. Enjoy.

Final Score: 90

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