Not to be confused with its Cuban counterpart, Fonseca Cigars is also a Dominican company which produces smokes in the mild to medium bodied range. With the Fonseca Vintage, Manuel Quesada blended a cigar to produce a richer, medium bodied smoke utilizing an Ecuadorian wrapper and Dominican fillers. Manuel has produced some fine cigars of his own and has a skillful hand when it comes to producing flavorful smokes. So I was looking forward to making this my first cigar of the day in order to fully appreciate what it had to offer.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Fonseca Vintage Robusto
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: 5 x 50 Robusto
Appearance and Construction
The Fonseca Vintage has a light, silky wrapper with no soft spots and is packed with a medium amount of tobacco inside. The classic band of gold and black with the signature “F” is present, followed by a black and gold secondary band with “Vintage” in cursive. The secondary band is the only discernible difference in the labeling as the Fonseca band itself is the same as the other lines in their portfolio. The cigar’s construction is completely smooth and seamless.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
After I apply a straight cut to the Fonseca Vintage, the draw is perfect. Lighting it up, leather immediately comes through along with toast and cinnamon. While I puff away, a nice amount of smoke emerges, bringing with it earth and an underlying dryness on the finish. The Fonseca Vintage produces a beautiful white ash, though it’s not too firm. Some café au lait hits the mid palate and coats the mouth, which by this point is a pleasant change of pace. The finish is still a bit dry, but the upfront flavors are pleasant.
Around the midpoint of the Fonseca, I pick up malt and cereal notes, with tons of billowing smoke. Cocoa and cedar come through as well with a creamy finish. Additionally, there are woody flavors that intermingle with some salinity. Overall though, leather dominates at this point with some secondary tanginess.
In the final third of the Fonseca Vintage, the leather continues to be the dominant flavor along with some creaminess. The cigar does not deviate much in terms of flavors from the previous two thirds. But, the cedar does return with a touch of vanilla and leather once again enveloping the palate. A consistent medium bodied smoke.
Conclusion
The Fonseca Vintage is a great cigar for the smoker who enjoys light bodied smokes and would like to try a cigar with a solid medium flavor profile. Despite its lack of depth, it’s a nice smoke to help identify the balance between lighter and fuller bodied cigars. I believe this is the style Manuel Quesada was looking to achieve and it’s a testament to his range as a blender. The leather, cedar and vanilla are wonderful flavors and you will get plenty with the Fonseca Vintage.
There’s a certain kind of excitement that comes from opening a package full of Cuban cigars, especially from legendary brands like Montecristo, H Upmann, or Ramon Allones, the brand behind the cigar up for review today. There isn’t a cigar smoker alive in the USA who isn’t aware of the reputation Cuban cigars have as the forbidden fruit of the Caribbean.
Those who have smoked with me know that I don’t buy into the myth of Cuban cigars, for the simple reason that I’ve smoked so many bad ones, mostly due to under-aged tobacco and outright atrocious construction. That said, Cuban cigars also happen to represent some of my top rated cigars of all time.
The Ramon Allones Superiores isn’t a cigar I’ve smoked before, so I was excited to give it a shot.
Product Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Ramon Allones Superiores
Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
Size: 5 5/8 x 46 (Corona Gorda)
Appearance and Construction
The Ramon Allones Superiores is one of the more nicely branded Cubans out there, with a complementary color palette of red, white and gold. The double banding as well is a nice touch. The outer wrapper is a mottled light brown, with a few picked and one noticeable vein.
After using a straight cut, the draw proves to be very tight, about an 9/10 in terms of restrictiveness.
Cue blaring alarms. My guess is the tight draw will tank the smoke production.
And, because of the overly tight draw, the cold draw is hard to decipher, with some generic wood and faint hay.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
After a bit of work getting the cigar fully lit, the Ramon Allones Superiores produces a below average amount of smoke. Seems that I was right about the draw. As a result, the flavors are light and somewhat bland, with some almonds, damp paper, and light baking spices. The retrohale is mild, with some fermented grass that’s not enjoyable. Body and strength are both barely at mild. If the opening of the Ramon Allones Superiores portends the rest of the experience, I’m not excited.
By an inch in, the Ramon Allones Superiores is somehow producing even less smoke than before. The flavors are still somewhat bland, and there’s been no movement in terms of complexity. Some change finally arrives in the second third, the strength has inched up above mild, and a nice spice has developed on the tip of the tongue. The burn is excellent, but it doesn’t help the issues with the draw.
The final third continues the positively dismal performance of the Ramon Allones Superiores. Although the burn remains straight, the flavors are still bitter and flat. The temperature of the smoke increases quickly as I near the final inch, providing (another) reason to put this cigar down.
Conclusion
To say that smoking the Ramon Allones Superiores was a disappointment would be an understatement. Most of the issues this cigar faced undoubtedly came down to poor construction – an overwhelmingly tight draw and abysmal smoke production. In fact, construction played such a role that I considered not this review. Surely this single, poorly constructed cigar can’t fully represent the line, right?
There’s some truth to that – this single stick doesn’t represent the overall quality of the cigar. In fact, this cigar received positive reviews here, here, and here. Frankly though, I think cigar reviewers and enthusiasts have made enough excuses for the atrocious construction of many reputable Cuban cigars. 20% – 25% of all of the Cuban cigars that I’ve smoked in the last three months have been nearly or totally unsmokable, either because they were too young or so poorly constructed that they were impossible to smoke.
If these were common issues in major brands from DR/Nicaragua, I wouldn’t bat an eye. But I haven’t had construction issues like these even once in the last 12 months from reputable Dominican or Nicaraguan cigars. The Cuban cigar industry is out of excuses in my book.
In conclusion, give it a try. Maybe the Superiores you smoke will be wonderful.
Or maybe they’ll suck.
Should you decide you want to try the Superiores, you can pick them up at Montefortuna here.
Oscar Valladares has crafted some fine cigars under his own brands along with his premium LEAF by Oscar line. I have been fortunate enough to smoke several of his blends and have always found them unique and enjoyable. The Island Jim by Oscar #2 Torpedo is a blend created for a tobacco retailer Jim Robinson. There is only the #2 torpedo vitola with multicolored pieces to the wrapper in a purposeful attempt to make it look like a pencil. It’s a bright banded, loud looking cigar to say the least, and I was interested to see how the flavors compared to his other lines.
So let’s get to it.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Island Jim #2 by Oscar Cigars
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Size: 6 1/2 x 52 Torpedo
Appearance & Construction
The Island Jim #2 is a veiny, rustic cigar with a slightly dark wrapper along with a lighter claro piece just under the tip. It’s also flared at the foot. it has a bold looking band displaying “Island Jim” with yellow sunglasses and a Panama Jack hat. Island Jim sports flowing long hair, a whitish gray beard and a cigar clenched in his teeth. The cigar itself is firm and amply packed with tobacco. The words Island Jim are written underneath in gold lettering with a reddish background. Overall, they certainly the Jimmy Buffet/Tommy Bahama type of look they were going for.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The tip of the Island Jim is left open to smoke, and lighting it up shows a sugary sweet start with some grit. The claro piece gives way to pencil lead with a candied finish. As the burn heads to the darker portion of the wrapper, toast and cedar interplay. The draw is a little tight as the preclipped tip is pretty small.
Midway through Island Jim #2, I use a straight cut to open up the draw a bit. This helped somewhat, but the roll on this torpedo is tight. The second half delivers graphite, earth and a creamy finish. Construction wise, the cigar has a sharp burn with a dark gray ash. As the draw finally opens up, mint and cocoa emerge, changing the cigars profile completely. An interesting if unusual direction in flavor.
The final third of the Island Jim torpedo brings with it cherry wood and cedar. As the cigar slowly burns, there’s a flintiness, mint, and more pencil lead. On the palate, there’s more balsa wood than anything else that coats the mouth. The finish is salty and gritty, with a fuller body during the final few puffs.
Conclusion
Having no prior knowledge of the blend only knowing the various cigars Oscar has produced, I found the Island Jim all over the place in terms of flavors. Despite the fact the flavors were changing, I wouldn’t call it complex as I didn’t feel the tastes were harmonious. I can’t say anything was off putting or that there’s a lack of quality tobacco. I just felt the flavor profile didn’t work together to make it particularly appealing. It seems more time was spent on the concept of the cigar then working on the blend itself.
The Island Jim torpedo #2 Leaf by Oscar is novel in its approach and a well-constructed cigar, but I feel Oscar has more interesting blends out there to be had.
Up for review today is Yellow Rose from Crowned Heads. Following on the heels of Hawaii-exclusive and Tennessee-exclusive releases,the Yellow Rose was blended and released specifically for the Texas market. The name “Yellow Rose” fittingly refers to an old Texan folk song called “The Yellow Rose of Texas” that dates back to the early 1800’s. It’s actually quite a romantic song and worth listening to. Here are the lyrics to the first two verses:
There’s a yellow rose of Texas That I am going to see No other fellow knows her No other, only me She cried so when I left her It like to broke my heart And if I ever find her We never more will part
She’s the sweetest rose of color This soldier ever knew Her eyes are bright as diamonds They sparkle like the dew You may talk about your dearest May And sing of Rosa Lee But the Yellow Rose of Texas Is the only girl for me
Product Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Crowned Heads Yellow Rose
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6 1/4 x 54 (torpedo)
Appearance & Construction
Obviously, there’s not much to say about the branding, but the extremely dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is one of the most perfect wrappers I’ve seen in a long time. Zero major veins, and a light crystallization dusting the cigar from top to bottom. The cigar also has a great weight in the hand, which is a nice touch, though I’m sure not an aesthetically-driven decision.
Approaching the cigar, there are heavy aromas wafting up off of the foot. Barnyard, burnt toast, sweet wood, and some mild spices. The draw is a bit tight, about an 8/10 in terms of restrictiveness, with a cold draw consisting of granola, oats, some light white pepper, and wood.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
The Crowned Heads Yellow Rose doesn’t open up as strong as I was expecting, instead delivering measured, medium bodied smoke on the first few puffs. The profile is decently complex, with flavors striking a balance between sweet, bitter, and slightly salty categories. On the palate, there’s a heavy charred oak note layered on top of bitter earthiness, light pepper, coffee and some metallic notes. The aroma is a different story, with black coffee, cocoa powder, and a slightly bitter, almost yeasty note. Smoke production is well below average, and I’m worried the flavor experience will suffer as a result.
First impression: the Yellow Rose kicks off like a real after-dinner cigar, with sweet, creamy, and bitter flavors that suit desert well. The low smoke production, is a problem.
About 15 minutes in to the smoke, the ash comprises roughly an inch of the cigar. Although the smoke production is still insufficient, the profile morphs considerably. Body and strength are now in medium plus territory, moving quickly toward full. Flavors too are more concentrated and aggressive than before. Bitterness is the most prevalent flavor category, with plenty of coffee, leather, and bittersweet dark chocolate. There’s also a marked increase in spiciness, a kind of vegetal pepper that activates the middle of the tongue and is strong on the retrohale. Construction throughout the first third is good, with a bit of curving on the burn that’s easily fixed with a couple of purges.
In the second third, the pesky smoke production issue finally starts to level off, and smoke production increases. The palate is now dominated by assertive black pepper, hot peppers and charred wood, though there is a bit of sweetness to the peppers that balances the bitterness (though not completely). Body and strength are now firmly in full territory, and I’m surprised to already be feeling the nicotine. The retrohale simplifies a bit, taking on more of a charcoal flavor which doesn’t do much for the overall experience. I’m hoping the final third will offer more by way of complexity, because as enjoyable as the smoke is, it’s become a bit one sided.
Unfortunately, another 25 minutes reveals an almost identical experience to the second third, though with more smoke production issues. A shame really because otherwise the Yellow Rose would clearly have a compelling story to tell.
Conclusion
Yellow Rose from Crowned Heads is a good cigar but I’ve got to say I think it was more enjoyable to look at than it was to smoke, largely due to the overly tight draw which compromised some of the flavors. Otherwise, it deals up some seriously flavorful smoke that’s mostly balanced between bitter, sweet, and salty.
It’s not my cup of tea, but if you see it in your local humidor, I’d say why not, give it a try.
Up for review today is the newest from Montecristo (Altadis)—the Montecristo Nicaragua Series. The cigar was originally released in 2018, and we had the luck of hosting the New York launch of that event at The Carnegie Club (more about that event here).
If “Nicaragua Series” sounds familiar, there’s a reason for it. Many traditionally DR-focused brands have released “Nicaragua” blends in the last couple of years, including Davidoff, Aging Room, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, and a slew of others. It’s a transparent attempt to capitalize on Nicaragua’s growing reputation as the new epicenter of flavor and quality in the cigar world. Not all attempts have been successful (I don’t care for the Davidoff Nicaragua, for example), but I appreciate all of the attempts. Mainly because I love Nicaraguan tobacco.
In any case, the Montecristo Nicaragua Series is offered in four sizes, including:
Montecristo Nicaragua Robusto (5 x 54)
Montecristo Nicaragua Toro (6 x 54)
Montecristo Nicaragua No. 2 (6 1/8 x 52)
Montecristo Nicaragua Churchill (7 x 56)
Let’s see how this cigar smokes.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Montecristo Nicaragua Series Robusto
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Corojo 98
Filler: Criollo 98 / Dominican piloto cubano
Size: 5 x 54 robusto
Appearance & Construction
I’ve got to say, looking at the Montecristo Nicaragua Series, it’s definitely a step above many of the previous Montecristo USA blends in terms of how it’s branded. Instead of being a bit gaudy as other blends like the Espada Guard or the Pilotico which has a massive mid-cigar band, it’s got striking but conservative black, gold and red branding. It gives the cigar a sturdy look, makes it stand out, all without calling to much attention to itself. So props to the Montecristo branding team on this one.
The outer Eucadorian Habano wrapper is nearly seamless, with just a few small veins and an otherwise flawless appearance. When squeezed, the cigar has a fair amount of give and seems to be packed consistently the length of the cigar. Off of the foot is a nice array of aromas: where spice is the first aroma to meet the nose, it is followed by sweet cedar, hay, and salt and pepper and coffee. Nothing remarkable, but well balanced. The cold draw is a bit less expressive, but generally mirrors the aromas off of the foot.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The Montecristo Nicaragua Series opens with medium-plus bodied smoke. It’s got a lot of what I expect from Montecristo: earth, almonds, and cedar balanced by some creaminess. There’s also a bit of chocolate which edges in on the nose. Smoke production is a touch above average, meaning I’m not having to work too hard to product smoke and I’m getting the flavors as intended. The retrohale is a bit unwieldy, with a bit too much earth which compromises the smoothness of the smoke.
First impression: this is similar to Montecristo’s other core products, but with additional heft from the Nicaraguan tobaccos. It’s actually quite complex, with the earth being the only note that sometimes dominates too much.
At an inch in, the Montecristo Nicaragua Series has a razor sharp burn that’s still holding strong. I’m finding at this point that my favorite part of this smoke is actually the aroma. The scents are sweet but complex, with notes of almonds, floral and light milk chocolate. The almond note on the palate is fully in charge, though a rough textured earth elbows out many of the more subtle notes (cocoa, cedar, and baking spices). Translation: good complexity, but could use a bit more balance.
This continues up until a few puffs into the second third, where the Montecristo Nicaragua Series Robusto begins to come more into focus and more into balance. The heavy earth and spice on the retrohale mellows a bit, and the impressions on the palate are balanced between bitter, sweet, and spicy. The flavors themselves haven’t moved much, but the increased balance amplifies the enjoyment of the smoke.
In the final third, the Montecristo Nicaragua Series edges above medium in terms of body and strength. Sweetened almonds, cedar and burnt espresso are center stage, with baking spices and salt on the tip of tongue. It’s a pleasant enough profile, but it’s clear at this point that the cigar could benefit from more movements in flavor. Thankfully, the cigar manages to avoid the burst of harshness at the end that many fall prey to, providing for a nice close to the experience.
Conclusion
While the Montecristo Nicaragua Series doesn’t fly high in terms of balance, it does offer a nice take on the more traditional profiles of Dominican Montecristo cigars. It’s also a lot more elegant of a cigar than many other Nicaraguan blends that focus exclusively on producing high powered smokes. That being said, I’m still very particular to other Montecristo blends like the Espada, New York Series, and others.
Up for review today is a discontinued line from Matt Booth and Room101 called “The Big Payback.” I actually wasn’t aware of the cigar in its hayday, but my friend (and FTNYC event regular) Kevin generously gave me one of his last singles to review. Thanks Kevin!
Though currently unavailable, The Big Payback Connecticut was produced in three sizes:
Room101 Big Payback Connecticut Chavala (5 x 50)
Room101 Big Payback Connecticut Hueso (6 x 60)
Room101 Big Connecticut Payback 7×70 (7 x 70)
According to Halfwheel, the origin of the colorful name is Matt Booth’s desire to give back to his loyal customers by producing an excellent cigar at value prices (between $5 – $7).
Let’s see if he delivered.
Product Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Room101 The Big Payback Connecticut Hueso
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Mexico
Filler: Dominican Republic
Size: 6 x 60
Appearance & Construction
As you can see from the photos, Room101 is led by a man who knows how to brand a product. The lightness of the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper complements the gold detailing on the white band, giving the cigar a classic look. The wrapper is mostly smooth, with a two significant veins popping behind the band. When squeezed, the cigar is decently spongy and seems to be packed consistently the length of the cigar.
Smelling the foot of the cigar, I pick up a hefty amount of sweet hay, light cedar, and thick cream. There’s also a decent amount of a very fine spice that I’m not entirely sure how to describe. After cutting using a (large) straight cut, I test the draw which is a bit too loose, about a 4/10 in terms of amount of restictiveness. We’ll see if that becomes an issue later. On the cold draw, there’s a decent amount of spice that lingers on the cold draw, along with some dry cedar.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The Room101 Big Payback opens with with mild to medium bodied smoke that is big in flavor and toasty in texture. Smoke production is fantastic (as you’d expect with such a free draw), with the cigar delivering large plumes of silky-white smoke. Flavor-wise, the smoke primarily hits bitter, with a touch of salt and sweetness in the aroma. Notes include heavily toasted bread, bitter wood, lots of kitchen spices, minerals, and just a touch of creaminess that coats the palate. The retrohale is surprisingly strong, consisting mainly of white pepper and cedar.
At an inch in, the ash on the Big Payback is holding surprisingly strong given the large ring gauge. The spice–enjoyable as it was–has drawn down nicely, though it is still present. Additionally, the bitter flavors have been replaced by a more assertive sweetness. Flavors at this point include cinnamon toast, baking spices, light nuttiness and cream on the finish.
In the second third, the body and strength settle down a hair below medium. The texture of the smoke is a bit less toasty and more silky. That toasted bread note shifts towards something resembling vanilla cake, which is layered on top of creamy cedar, baking spices, and a very slight floral note. The retrohale is still at medium, with no change in flavor. Construction wise, the Big Payback continues to perform excellently, with a straight, razor sharp burn. Smoke production is still great, and the temperature of the smoke remains cool.
The final third of the Big Payback is a natural extension of the first two, with the smoke settled fully on a smooth, creamy texture. The flavor profile showcases vanilla cake, salted peanuts, and a healthy dose of white pepper in the aroma. Big Payback continues this way until the end, thankfully avoiding the high heat and overly bitter experience that characterizes the end of so many Connecticut blends.
Conclusion
I was pleasantly surprised by the Room101 Big Payback Connecticut. I was expecting a flavor profile that was too diluted by the 60 ring gauge. What I experienced instead was a flavorful, complex, mostly balanced experience with great construction. This cigar is worth pursuing if you can find it, and a quick google search shows some online retailers still have it in stock at the time of this writing.
What do you think of when you think about “Trinidad Cigars”?
A Cuban cigar brand? The island?
Until recently, the brand brought up almost nothing in my mind, save a few bad experiences with some Dominican versions in my early years of smoking. So when Eddy Guerra, Sr. Brand Manager at Altadis told me that the company had produced a full bodied Dominican puro using tobaccos from José Blanco’s farms, I was intrigued.
Enter Trinidad Santiago. Besides sporting a rough and dark Dominican Habano wrapper, the Santiago is smaller in ring gauge than a typical robusto. It also serves up some serious flavor. So let’s get to the review.
Product Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Trinidad Santiago
Wrapper: Dominican Habano
Binder: Dominican Habano
Filler: Dominican Habano
Size: 5 x 48 (robusto)
Appearance & Construction
No doubt about it, the Trinidad Santiago Robusto is a good looking cigar. The outer Dominican Habano wrapper is a rich, dark chocolate brown – much darker in fact than almost any other photo I’ve seen online, which I find quite odd. The gold and black double-banding is a nice touch as well – it adds a modern touch to an otherwise classic band.
In any case, the wrapper has just one major vein on the side opposite the band. Otherwise it’s flawless, with a bit of toothiness to the texture and an obvious layer of oil. When squeezed, the cigar is just a bit springy and seems to be packed consistently the length of the cigar.
Like an Ardbeg single malt, you can smell the tobacco without even putting the cigar up to your nose – an attribute you just wouldn’t find with a milder cigar. Smelling the foot, I pick up notes of leather, tree bark, cinnamon, and a nice sweet array of baking spices. After cutting the cigar, the draw shows itself to be just about perfect (7/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness). The cold draw has a long lingering spice, some earth, a bit of sweet natural tobacco, and touches of chocolate.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
Trinidad Santiago kicks off aggressively, with quite a bit going on. The cigar products more than ample smoke, with a combination of toasty earth and cream for texture. The flavors are dark and assertive, with flavors of charred wood, chocolate, toasted bread, savory spices and a healthy serving of black pepper that lingers on the tip of the tongue. The retrohale is at full strength, with a load of spice, minerality, and a sweet and savory cream that’s difficult to describe (very good though).
First impression: lighting up the Trinidad Santiago seems at once familiar and unfamiliar. Which makes sense to me given that Altadis was likely trying to produce a cigar that carries on a more traditional Dominican taste while offering something new. And this cigar really does deliver on offering something new. It’s been a long time since I’ve smoked a Dominican puro that’s so aggressive and spicy out of the gate like this. The question in my mind at about 15 minutes in is: with such a memorable start, can the Santiago keep surprising me?
By the end of the first third, it seems the answer is yes (for now). Smoke production is even better, the burn has remained almost entirely straight, and the flavor is firmly in full territory. Flavor has shifted, balanced between sweet and bitter, with a slight savory influence. I’d describe the flavors as a combination of dark coffee, leather, peppercorn, and cured meats.
The Santiago Robusto stays mostly the same through the halfway mark. Flavor and strength settle down to about medium, and the complexity drops a bit, with just some earth, black pepper, and some sweet stone fruits. Construction is still excellent, with the salt and pepper ash falling in one inch increments.
In the final third of the Santiago, some of the complexity returns, with an interesting spicy vegetable note that’s well balanced by cocoa powder and cream. The retrohale tones down as well, offering a finely ground black pepper that is subtle and nicely complementary. It’s a great way to close the cigar down.
Conclusion
I read Halfwheel’s review of this cigar, and I’m perplexed. They described this cigar as tasting like “sweat”, and though I can understand where that impression could come from (the spicy vegetal note I referenced above), the Trinidad Santiagos I’ve smoked have been viscerally enjoyable. I also disagree with the idea that this branding is boring. Is it simple? Yes. But I think illustrating the logo using the negative space on the gold background is a bold choice and fitting for the cigar.
To me, the Trinidad Santiago is a winner however you slice it. It’s the kind of cigar that comes roaring out of the gate with impressive flavor combinations, and, unlike cigars of lesser quality, continues to surprise throughout the course of the smoke. That said, it doesn’t score too high on complexity, which knocked off one or two points.
Either way, the team at Altadis got it right here, and it’s no surprise they received a Top 25 ranking in Cigar Aficionado for this cigar in 2018.
2018 was a fantastic year for new releases in the cigar industry. We saw some excellent portfolio additions at major companies like General Cigar and Altadis, as well as some very good boutique releases (see our Top 10 of 2018 here).
But, it’s a new year, and that means there is an internet’s worth of people wondering what the best new cigars are to smoke in 2019. We’ll be adding new cigars to this list as we review them, but for now, here are some of our all-time favorites which you should drop everything to smoke.
1. Aging Room Pura Cepa
Once again, Rafael Nodal of Aging Room has hit the ball out of the park. The Aging Room Pura Cepa makes the list of best 2019 cigars with notes of smoky wood that’s augmented by light chocolate, cream, floral, and leather notes. Impeccably constructed, this cigar achieved a score of 90 and we highly recommend it.
Strength: Medium
Box Price: from $234
Buy the Aging Room Pura Cepa from Famous Smoke Shop here.
2. Macanudo Inspirado Red
Macanudo is not a brand that we typically recommend, but parent company General Cigar Co has been on a tear with this brand over the last couple of years, most recently with the Macanudo Red. On the strength scale the Red falls right on the medium side of things, with bright flavors of cinnamon, oak, coffee, and toasted bread.
Strength: Medium
Box Price: from $120
Buy the Macanudo Inspirado Red from Famous Smoke Shop here.
3. Romeo San Andreas
One of the newest cigars from Romeo y Julieta, the San Andres features the legendary San Andres maduro wrapper, known for rich, robust flavors. With the Romeo San Andres, expect dark notes of earth, barnyard, dark cherry, chocolate, and pepper.
Strength: Full
Box Price: from $168
Buy the Romeo San Andres from Famous Smoke Shop here.
4. Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas
The Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Décadas presents a flavor profile that no JdN fan could miss: dark oak and charcoal, creamy cocoa, leather, and light spiciness. What Cinco Décadas achieves is to take the JdN flavor profile that we know and love and elevate it into the realm of art. We know that is high praise, but it is true, particularly given the cigar’s sheer complexity and balance. Highly recommended, and a no-brainer for a top cigars of 2019 list. You can read our full, 93-point review here.
Strength: Full
Box Price: from $152
Buy the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas from Famous Smoke Shop here.
5. Gran Habano Blue In Green
The newest from Gran Habano, the Blue In Green is one of the best mild-bodied cigars in recent memory. The cigar blew us away with great construction, cool smoke, and notes of toasted bread, coffee, and light spices. Highly recommended for new, occasional, or veteran cigar smokers.
Strength: Mild
Box Price: from $120
Buy the Gran Habano Blue In Green from Famous Smoke Shop here.
6. Warped La Relatos
Warped Cigars is a boutique brand that quickly developed a reputation for blending tremendously complex and enjoyable cigars. La Relatos (“The Stories”) is a revivification of one of the original warped releases, and it is damn good. A real connoisseur cigar, it astonished us with its notes of deep chocolate, baking spices, nuttiness, and perfume. Easily one of the top cigars of 2018, and will likely retain that position in 2019.
Strength: Medium to Full
5-Pack Price: from $42
Buy the Warped La Relatos from Famous Smoke Shop here.
7. CAO Nicaragua
You might know CAO as the brand behind cult classics like the “Brazilia” or the “Italia.” After resting on its laurels for a few years, the brand step forward again with the CAO Nicaragua. By our estimation, they nailed it. The cigar has consistently excellent construction, and features rich, complementary notes of cocoa, espresso, and leather. If you want a crowd pleaser, look no further.
Strength: Medium
Box Price: from $105
Buy the CAO Nicaragua from Famous Smoke Shop here.
8. Joya Silver
Joya de Nicaragua makes the list again with the Joya Silver. This is a cigar for the full-bodied cigar smoker – the veteran who wants more flavor and isn’t afraid of spice. Like other cigars on this list, Joya Silver is expertly constructed, so you won’t be dealing with any over-packed cigars with tight draws. From a flavor standpoint, Joya Silver delivers full bodied notes of leather, ground black pepper, and oak, with sweet balancing notes of dark cherry and creamy espresso.
There’s no other way to say it, Blind Man’s Bluff from Caldwell Cigars is a damn sexy smoke. Besides an obviously cool look, the cigar delivers an excellent medium to full bodied profile consisting of charred oak, earth, leather, and cocoa. Layered underneath are balanced secondary flavors of stone fruits and lemon peel. Definitely a smoke to try if you haven’t already!
Strength: Medium to Full
Box Price: from $140
Buy the Blind Man’s Bluff from Famous Smoke Shop here.
10. Diesel Whiskey Row
Diesel Whiskey Row is one of the few barrel-aged cigars on the market that we can truly recommend. While many cigars that utilize barrel aged tobacco deliver overly sweet, simplistic profiles, Diesel Whiskey Row delivers tons of complexity and bears the hallmarks of the Rabbit Hole Bourbon barrels its tobacco is aged in. If you are looking to branch out into a new experience, and can handle full-bodied cigars, this is one to pursue.
Strength: Full
Box Price: from $150
Buy the Diesel Whiskey Row from Famous Smoke Shop here
So there it is, our top 10 cigars to smoke in 2019. As mentioned before, we’ll be updating this list as 2019 releases are made available and we have a chance to review them.
One final note – for our purchase links, we’ve linked to Famous Smoke Shop, which we believe to be the best online cigar store currently in existence (read more on that here). If you’d like to support our work, be sure to use this link to purchase!
Is there a cigar missing from this list? Let us know in the comments!
Up for review today is “The Thorn” from Southern Draw Cigars. It’s a member of the Rose of Sharon brand from Southern Draw, and Robert Holt told me via Instagram that this is his personal favorite size of the Rose of Sharon. As you’ll read below, this cigar is very good. It’s also a downright gorgeously presented cigar, and I hope I captured some of it in the photos here. Read on.
Product Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Southern Draw Rose of Sharon “The Thorn” Review
Well what can I say. The Thorn is just a magnificently presented cigar. Everything about it, from the pink, gold, and black double bands, to the semi closed foot and the strange pig tail-like cap is done flawlessly. It really creates the feeling that this is a special, well thought-out cigar.
The outer Ecuadorian Sun Grown Connecticut wrapper is a light, golden brown with a few small veins and rolling seams. The cigar is slightly spongy when squeezed and seems to be packed consistently. A whiff off of the foot showcases notes of cedar, honey, mild spiciness, and baked bread. The cold draw is about a 7.5/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness, and gives notes of warm bread, light spices, and some sweet woodsiness.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The Thorn opens surprisingly robust, with concentrated flavors that are balanced between sweet, spicy, and creamy. Distinct flavors include buttered bread, spicy cedar, floral bouquet, vanilla, and a nice finely ground pepper. The retrohale as well is nicely balanced between sweet, toasted bread and light black pepper. Excellent flavor. I’d place The Thorn at mild to medium bodied at kick off. Construction wise, smoke production is excellent, and the burn seems to be progressing evenly.
Things start to change at the end of the first inch, with body and strength both jumping to medium. The character of the smoke has shifted to be a bit less buttery and a bit more dry, and the wood that was just minutes ago a supporting character is now front and center. Thankfully, there are plenty of great secondary flavors, including a stronger floral note, light chocolate, and a touch of citrus. It’s always a pleasant surprise when a cigar changes flavors so rapidly.
By midway the second third, The Thorn’s construction is still impeccable, with a straight burn and an ash that seems to want to stay on forever. Strength and body have both settled at medium. Flavors are a bit less distinct, with a substantial black pepper and charred oak.
In the final third, The Thorn turns a bit harshness – much to my own heartbreak given how great the cigar has been thus far. The gentler notes of before are replaced with charred oak, lemon peel, and burnt espresso. Construction thankfully is still excellent.
Overall, it’s a bit of a disappointing ending given how good the first two thirds of the experience is. Still, a cigar I’m grateful to have smoked.
Conclusion
Though not a perfect cigar, Rose of Sharon “The Thorn” has flavor and style in spades. It’s absolutely a cigar to smoke again. I was floored by the presentation, and the complexity and movement of flavors was downright addictive.
That said, the final third developed some harshness that hurt the overall experience. Regardless, this is a cigar to pursue (right now) before supplies are out.
We’re departing a bit from our usual marble background cigar shots for this review. Artwork courtesy of my wife Catherine – you’ll be seeing more of it!
A few weeks ago, I ran into a few photos of a cigar brand I hadn’t seen before: Campesino cigars. I got in touch with Luis Arguelles, the Sales Director for the brand and he was kind enough to send some samples for me to review. As a bit of background, Campesino cigars are produced by Tabaqueria 1844, a boutique cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. Although Campesino isn’t the only brand produced at the factory, it arguably is the most well-known. The name is a nod to the Dominican Republic’s tobacco farmers (“Campesino” translated as “Farmer”).
The Campesino Reserva Del Padre (“Father’s Reserve”) is the first of a few Campesino cigars that we’ll review. With that out of the way, let’s get on to the review (our final of 2018!).
The Campesino Reserva Del Padre has an elegant look, with a slate gray and silver band that features raised silver lettering. On closer inspection, the paper also appears to be nicely textured. I’d guess this is not a cheap band to produce. The outer wrapper itself is a marbled brown color, with some significant veins running the length of the cigar.
Taking a whiff off of the foot of the cigar, I pick up a unique sweet barnyard note, some hay, baking spices, and a bit of sweet cocoa. After cutting with a straight cut, I test the draw, which is a bit loose for my liking (abut a 5/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness). The cold draw is a mix of pleasant spices, raisins, and granola.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The Campesino Reserva Del Padre opens with excellent smoke production and an interesting combination of flavors and aromas. The texture of the smoke is smooth but toasty, and flavors initially lean toward the bitter end of the spectrum. Five or ten puffs in, though, the profile opens up and becomes more complex, with a balance of baking spices, savory spices, toasted bread, and cedar. Body at this point (about a quarter inch in) is mild with strength sitting a bit above. The retrohale is nicely matched with the palate and aromas, with some spice and dusty wood.
Overall, my first impression is that the profile leans toward bitterness, with slight savory touches. My sense is that this cigar produces more of an elegant, old world tasting experience (i.e. mild flavor-wise, with less reliance on sweetness or spice than many popular cigars these days).
At an inch in, the Campesino Reserva Del Padre is mostly the same, though there are two new flavors added to the mix: a bit of tangy citrus, and light leather. The ash at this point is holding strong, though I do notice that the filler tobacco doesn’t want to stay lit as long as the wrapper and binder, causing me to have to choose between smoking the cigar faster than normal or relighting the cigar.
By the second third, the strength of the Reserva Del Padre is inching up past mild and toward the lower end of medium. The palate and aromas are still nicely balance, with notes of bitter wood, baking spices, leather strips, and touches of sweet cream that offer a nice balance to the more bitter elements of the smoke. The burn wavers a bit more in the second third, needing one or two touch ups to keep the cigar from canoeing. At this point, I’d like the cream to be a bit more evident, as the bitterness can at times be overly astringent.
The final third of the Reserva Del Padre continues the themes developed in the first two thirds. Unfortunately, the heat of the smoke begins to increase fairly quickly, degrading an otherwise enjoyable experience. I make it to about the final inch before I’m forced to put the cigar down.
Conclusion
The Campesino Reserva Del Padre has a lot going for it. At its best, it presents an elegant set of old world flavors that are gentle but very discernible. Unfortunately, the bitter elements of the profile dominate the experience for much of the smoking experience, making the more enjoyable flavors difficult to sense. Still, I very much enjoyed the cigar and am looking forward to smoking more of what Campesino has to offer.
If you’re looking to see what boutique manufacturers in the DR are up to, Campesino is a good place to start.
