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Cigar Review: Viaje C4

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Viaje C4

Every now and again, a new cigar on the market really adds a bit of creativity to the spectrum of cigars and breaks the mold. This is the case with the Viaje C-4. I was originally turned on to this cigar by Billy at Cigar Inn, and after being a bit skeptical decided to give it a try. Having not smoked this cigar yet, I’m curious to see how it matches up with its $15 price point. I’ll also admit I’m a bit intimidated by the cigar. This is a white label project cigar, meaning very limited edition, and knowing Viaje’s tendency for full flavor and spice, C-4 could be a kick in the mouth.
Blend Specifics
Size : 5 x 56 box press
Wrapper : Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan

Appearance & Construction

The first thing you’ll notice about this cigar, aside from the plain white label loudly declaring “C-4” is the fascinating rectangular box press shape. You’ll also notice that both ends are capped, requiring a rare double-cut. Aside from that the cigar is constructed well, with a good draw. Prelight draw reveals heavy spice, granola, and leather.

Then I run into a surprise. As I’m inspecting the cigar, I find what appears to be a piece of grass sticking out of the wrapper, so I give it a tug and find that it runs under the leaf around the cigar. It appears (pictured below) to be a piece of plastic that was missed. What a bummer for any cigar smoker who accidentally smoked that plastic, and what a bummer for Viaje to have the probably one C-4 with plastic inside to be sold to a cigar reviewer.

Huh??

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

This cigar kicks off with loads of leather and spice. Not a whole lot else to report there. But about half an inch in, the smoke calms down a bit and the leather becomes prominent, which I’m happy about. I really enjoy the leather profile and have noticed it in other Viaje cigars.

Around halfway (this is a slow-smoking cigar), the smoke remains smooth and I pick up just a hint of honey, which pairs pretty nicely with the leather. The burn is beginning to skew a bit, requiring a few touchups.

Conclusion

For the price, this cigar just isn’t worth it. Though I’m a fan of Viaje Cigars, they’ll really have to outperform if they are going to sell their sticks at $10+. BUT, if you are a big fan of the smoky, leathery profile, you might give this stick a try.

Final grade: B-

The Viaje Website

Cigar Review: Padron 2000 Maduro

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Padron 2000 Maduro

It is a pleasure to review this Padron 2000 Maduro. David Alicea, FTNYC Event Coordinator and cigar broker, likes to say that one of the dreams of most serious cigar smokers is to find the perfect $5 cigar that you can smoke every day and not get bored. With respect, I’d like to say that the Padron 2000 is, for me, that cigar (right now anyway). Below is the review.

Blend specifics
Size: 5×50
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction
The first thing the regular cigar smoker will notice about the Padron 2000 is the bumpiness of the cigar. After smoking 10-20 of these cigars, it is a fairly consistent quality. Don’t let it fool you though – this cigar is well constructed, has a great burn, and almost always a good draw (sometimes it’s a bit tight). The stick sports the traditional Padron band. The prelight draw releases a bit of spice, natural tobacco, and coffee.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The 2000 opens up with the spice and coffee typical of the 2, 3, 6, and 7000 blends, but you’ll find that, though it is still bold, is a bit more laid back than its larger counterparts. As the cigar progresses, I’ve found that it steadily builds, adding notes of roasted nuts, dark chocolate, and leather. A really nice flavor profile.

What I find most impressive about the 2000, however, is its balance. Unlike the 6000 and 7000, it won’t overwhelm your palate and dry your mouth out, though I would still recommend pairing this cigar with a drink (for this review, I paired dark coffee).

Conclusion
For the price, this cigar is very, very hard to beat. It is one of the few cigars that I would consider purchasing a box, or multiple boxes. The 2000 is the perfect blend of strength, spice, flavor, and profile, all while maintaining an excellent smoothness of texture.

This cigar is available at Nat Sherman on 42nd and 5th ave. for around $5. A killer deal – I recommend dropping by and picking a few up soon.

Final grade: A+

Cigar review: Sublimes

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Sublimes Robusto

After seeing this beautiful cigar, simply labeled “Sublimes,” at Hoboken Cigars a few times, I knew I had to give it a try. Maybe I’m just a suck for a good aesthetic. In any case, after first smoking this stick at an FTNYC event at Hoboken Cigar, I grabbed another to give a more proper review. Paired with this cigar was a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, a 3/4 lbs steak, and some nice traditional Argentine tango music. The review is below, but first a bit from the Sublimes website:

“Having been sold mostly in South Florida since 2004, our decision to go national was the only natural retort to the years of mounting local demand and popularity. Skillfully hand-crafted in Little Havana, Miami, the end result is a cigar boasting a complex array of flavors that come together to produce an excellent medium to full bodied smoke. Sublimes cigars are truly the epitome of taste and excellence.”


Blend specifics
Size: Robusto: (4¾ – 50)
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador Rosado
Binder: Habano Nicaragua
Filler: Habano Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction

Most notable on this cigar is the gorgeous band – off white with elegant gold lettering, suggesting a sort of Latin sophistication. The color of the wrapper is a slightly dark, natural brown. The wrapper has lots of oil, and a bit of plume. Construction wise, the cigar is pretty much flawless, weighing well in the hand and with a well placed triple cap. The draw is perfect.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
This cigar opens up with smooth, slightly spicy smoke that hangs a bit on the tip of the tongue. Prominent notes are citrus, cedar, and as others have noted, hints of floral. As the cigar moves into the second third, a bit of black and white pepper are added into the mix. The cigar is medium to full bodied. At about halfway, the citrus really picks up. If this flavor sounds odd to you, imagine a dark chocolate that is married to orange peel. This profile has the same type of combo and is really enjoyable. The final third isn’t too notable, but as you can tell below, I smoked this till my fingers got singed. The ash held straight and tight all the way through.

Conclusion

Pick two or three of these sticks up. If you live in New York City, I’d suggest making the short trek to Hoboken Cigars to grab a few. This cigar would be good for veterans and novices alike.

Final grade: B+

Cigar Review: Man O’ War

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This Man O’ War cigar was given to me as a gift a few months ago. A.J Ferdenez is the blender behind the Man O’ War. I am relaxing on my favorite couch with a cup of coffee while I inspect the cigar.

Blend Specifics

Size: Toro 6.5” x 52”
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Appearance and Construction

The Man O’ War is well constructed with a toothy wrapper. The cigar is firm to the touch with no soft spots signaling that the Man O’ War should burn well. A modern label complements the thick oily habano wrapper with a gold Spartan helmet, black background with red and white, and “Man O’ War” in bold white below the helmet. Sweet spice and wood were dominant on the cigar’s foot. I used a straight cut and the cold draw was firm with flavors of pepper, earth, and wood. After lighting the foot, the aroma produced nuts and spice.

Taste and Smoking Characteristics

Upon lighting the cigar, the opening flavors were peanuts and spice followed by large plumes of smoke. Vanilla, anise, and cinnamon appear in the flavor profile balancing the cigar’s focus on spice.

The Man O’ War begins to calm down some as the spice retreats to the background. Flavors of bread and honey complement the other kitchen spices that are taking the forefront. On the retrohale spice dominates. There is a white ash that hold to 2” with an even burn.
The cigar is creamy marinating with distinctive spices. Cardamom and nutmeg emerge among the other baking spices with maple concluding a smooth finish on the palate. These additional flavors compliment and further the complexity of the Man O’ War.

Conclusion

I was very impressed with the Man O’ War’s complexity. The bouquet of cooking spices balance the sweet flavors in this medium-full bodied cigar. The Man O’ War reminds me of perusing my spice cabinet with the array of spices in this gustatory cigar. Overall, I highly recommend finding your inner Spartan warrior with a Man O’ War.

Final Grade: A-

Cigar Review: Padron 3000 Maduro

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Padron 3000 Maduro

In recent months, my cigar smoking has taken me away from the Cigar Inn on 52nd and over to the Nat Sherman townhouse on 42nd and 5th avenue. The store now features plenty of room to sit down and enjoy your smoke, and the world-class ventilation really helps keep the smoke enjoyable. I’ve recently been on a bit of a Padron kick, so I figured I’d give the Padron 3000 a short review.

 

Blend Specifics
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 5 1/2 x 52

Padron 3000 Maduro

Construction & Appearance
The 3000 has a similar appearance to other Padron maduro cigars. A dark, almost rustic brown Nicaraguan wrapper with tooth, a few veins, and the standard Padron band. With this cigar you’ll also find nearly perfect burn all the way down, usually requiring no touch-ups at all. The draw is slightly loose, which can account for the power I usually get from the larger ring gauges. Off of the foot of the cigar you’ll also notice a strong natural tobacco aroma that has heavy notes of leather and spice.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
This cigar opens up with a big, dry spice, with hints of sweet tobacco and some leather. If you’ve had the 2000, 6000, 7000, etc, you know that the size and ring guage on this cigar makes a big difference in the taste. As I move further in to this cigar, it is obvious that, though not as sweet and chocolaty as the 2000, this cigar has (in my opinion) better balance of flavors than the 6000 or 7000. At about 2/3, the strength and body of this cigar continue to build, with notes of coffee, cocoa powder, spice, and leather. My only complaint smoking this stick is that it, because of the ring gauge, this cigar can be a bit overpowering.

Conclusion
This isn’t, as other reviewers have noted, a cigar for beginners. The new cigar smoker will get smoked-out very quickly. But, for the veteran, this is a must-try. I’d also recommend the 2000 series.

Final Grade: B+

Cigar Review: Emilio AF2

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Emilio AF2 Toro

After reviewing the Emilio AF1 and finding it to be an absolutely fantastic cigar, I couldn’t wait to light up the AF2 and compare. That being said, you’ll notice a lot of comparisons to the AF1 in this review. Not to spoil things, but I’d recommend picking up a 5 pack of both blends.

I performed this review on my back patio with a cup of coffee and background music from my favorite Spanish guitarist, Jesse Cook.

The Emilio Cigars website says of the AF2:

Our AF2 blend, produced and blended by A.J. Fernandez is certain to delight.  Crafted from rich Nicaraguan fillers combined with the strength of Pennsylvania ligero and a beautiful Ecuadoran Habano Oscuro wrapper.  These cigars are available in cabinet boxes of 20 in four sizes:  Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, and BMF.

Blend Specifics:

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Pennsylvania USA

Appearance & Construction

The AF2 sticks with the minimalist theme laid down originally by the AF1. This stick, however, has a bronze fill with black lettering spelling “EMILIO AF2.” The aroma off of the foot of the cigar is a real treat, with really rich notes of natural tobacco, moss, and something resembling buttery caramel. I also pick up a spice that I’m not aware of until it hits my nose and I sneeze. Doh. As other reviewers have noted, it is interesting that the AF2’s oscuro wrapper is not darker than the AF1. Still, it is a rich brown, with lots of tooth that makes me want to light up.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Like the AF1, this cigar dishes up loads of tremendously smooth smoke after being lit. During the first third, expect to find a distinct mix of leather, spice, dried fruit, and a hint of that dark chocolate you’d expect from the AF1. Body and strength wise, this cigar is a solid medium. Imagine the AF1 with a faint spice and a bit more of an edge. At halfway through, the salt and pepper ash is holding strong and the burn is razor sharp. In the final third, the smoke becomes even more rich, and the notes of dark chocolate so evident in the AF1 come to the forefront. No complaints with that!

Conclusion

The AF2 does not disappoint. Between the AF1 and the AF2, I would probably have to recommend the AF1 first. It made quite a first impression. But, if you love the AF series from Emilio, the AF2 is a stick to keep stocked in your humidor. It delivers copious amounts of smooth, rich smoke and a flavor profile comparable to, but distinct from the AF1.

Final Grade: A-/B+

Cigar Review: La Aurora 107 Corona

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La Aurora 107 Corona

In the work of anyone reviewing cigars, chances are you’ll find yourself with many great cigars to choose from. In over a year and a half, I have, to my great shame, never reviewed a La Aurora cigar. So, after stocking up on a few of their sticks, my first up for review is the La Aurora 107 Corona. The 107 is somewhat legendary among seasoned smokers, and now I can say I know why. And now it is my pleasure to explain the reasons from my perspective.

The setting for this review will be hard to beat. A beautiful early-summer day with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline, Buena Vista Social Club in the background, and a hot cup of coffee all combined to make this a memorable experience.

Blend specifics:

Vitola: Corona (5.5 x 43)
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic/Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction:
I can’t say that the construction on this cigar is entirely flawless, but with how beautiful the dark, golden brown Ecuadorian wrapper is, I can’t say I care. The cigar invites the smoker in with rich color tones, slight toothiness, oiliness and a rough texture that feels good on the fingers. In fact, the cigar was so inviting that I almost slobbered on it when I put it in my mouth (ok, I admit it: I actually did slobber on the cigar – it smelled that good). It is triple-capped and slightly springy when squeezed gently. The cigar has a beautiful band, with a lion’s head taking center stage, flanked by red, white, and gold. The smell of the wrapper is exquisite – notes of sweetness, rich chocolate, and natural tobacco. From what I can tell, the draw on this cigar tends to range from perfect to slightly loose.

Taste & Smoke Characteristics:
The texture of the smoke all throughout this cigar is what I would describe as creamy smoothness. This is interesting considering the spice that builds throughout the cigar. I consider this to be a pretty complex cigar. The cigar opens with a very unique granola, which some reviewers have accurately described as having hints of cinnamon. About half an inch into the cigar, I’m surprised by a very interesting flavor that reminds me of the torched, top layer of creme brulee. Delicious. Throughout the smoke, though, one note eluded me – something like a lightly buttered caramel. As the cigar burns low, the spice picks up pleasantly. Then, the experience is over, and I am sad until I realize I have 5 more in my box.

The original cigar holder

Conclusion:
I would recommend this cigar to anyone. The price point is great, the cigar delivers huge amounts of flavor and complexity while not overwhelming the smoker. I’m looking forward to smoking many more of these.

Final Grade: A

Cigar Review: Reinado Habanito

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The Reinado “Habanito” (4×38)

After a few months on vacation from reviewing cigars (FTNYC has been busy hosting events all over New York City), it was with great excitement and a bit of apprehension that I chose to review the Reinado Habanito. Excitement because I’ve long been a fan of Reinado Cigars, and apprehension because I’ve found owner Antonio Lam’s cigars to be delicious, yet difficult to describe at times because of their complexity.

For a bit of background, I’ll quote from StogieGuys.com:

“Reinado, Spanish for “reign,” is gaining traction at tobacconists across the country as more and more cigar enthusiasts become exposed to the brand through mainstream cigar publications and the online community. I’ve been a fan since last October. That’s when I reviewed the Torpedo, a great smoke with notes of leather, espresso, and cherry.”

And now for the review.

Blend Specifics:

  • Size: 4×38
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan


Appearance & Construction:

The first thing that I notice about this cigar is the deep golden brown color of the Nicaraguan wrapper. There is a rich texture (including a bit of tooth) that makes the cigar very inviting to smoke. The label features a combination of deep red, gold, and off-white that I really enjoy and am glad is used across the board on Antonio’s cigars. The cigar is triple-capped, and there are a couple of substantial veins, though I haven’t found this to be characteristic of Reinado cigars in general. We’ll see how it pans out with the burn.

Pre-light draw:

The scent on this cigar is a kind of bright natural tobacco, which leads me to believe that this cigar will have the all of the spice characteristic of Reinado’s other sizes. On the foot I can smell granola, natural tobacco, and something resembling coffee.

Taste & Smoking Characteristics:

The cigar kicks off with a bit of pepper on the tongue and notes of coffee, a wonderfully smooth sweetness and a bit of floral on the back-end. And by the way, if that description didn’t make a lot of sense, I apologize. Every time I’ve smoked a Reinado cigar, I’ve been surprised by the smoothness, richness, and complexity of the taste, so much so that I have a difficult time describing it. Flavors tend to jump and pop. For a few minutes, I taste almonds, with floral fading in and out, and then the almost transition to coffee notes.

At the end of the first third, the body of the smoke picks up, and so does the spice. The cigar has required a minor touch up, but it hardly detracted from the smoking experience. Also in the mix of taste is a an enjoyable cinnamon, reminding me of fresh snickerdoodle cookies. At about halfway, the body continues to build, and the spice spreads over the palate. I found in the duration of the smoke that the body of the cigar increased, and so did the tastes of pepper and cinnamon. I was also surprised to find near the end that I received a pretty significant nicotine kick, which surprised me considering the size of the cigar.

Conclusion:

Reinado seems to have recreated their signature taste, with a few shifts in balance, that the discerning cigar smoker will find very enjoyable. My only regret was not pairing this cigar with a bold cup of coffee like I normally do with Reinado.

Highly recommended.

Final Grade: A-

Cigar Review: La Floridita Fuerte Robusto

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It’s a beautiful day out in Astoria, Queens – not a cloud in the sky, 85 degree weather, and a beautiful back yard to smoke in. I haven’t reviewed in a while, so I figured I’d give this La Floridita Fuerta sitting in my box a try. I didn’t pair any drinks with this cigar besides a glass of water.

 

Blend Specifics:

Wrapper: Honduras
Wrapper: Honduras
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Length/Ring Guage: 5×50

Construction & Appearance

On first glance, this stick seems to be very well constructed, has a good weightiness in hand, and has a great oily sheen. Unfortunately, after closer inspection, it also seems that it is packed a bit unevenly. I’m not a huge fan of the black, white and gold band from an aesthetic standpoint. “La Floridita” is displayed in large Times New Roman font, which makes it appear as if whoever created the label didn’t put a lot of thought into it. The aroma off the foot of the stick, however, is pretty good: hints of leather, a bit of spice, and dark chocolate.

 

Taste & Smoking Characteristics

I was a bit surprised with how this stick kicked off. From what I smelled off of the foot pre-light, I was expecting a bigger kick than I got. The flavor introduced itself as an earthy, bitter cocoa, lacking any of the spice I imagined would be there. The smoke has a certain heavy thickness to it that seems to mask some of the flavor. About a half-inch in, the taste opens up a bit, the earthy sweetness pulls way back to reveal what I’d describe as a sort of savory, meaty flavor with a bit of woodiness and spice on the retrohale. Unfortunately, there’s also a slightly fermented finish, which is probably indicative of a lack of time spent in the humidor – my fault!

 

At 2/3, I’m a bit torn. I’m tempted to say that I’m a bit bored with the flavor profile, but it is possible that this Ligero blend just isn’t my cup of tea. I would like a spice that’s a bit more discernable – at levels this low it just seems like the cigar can’t make up its mind! By about halfway through, I haven’t noticed a lot of change, except for a brief, maybe 2 minute transition into an earthy, sweet, dark chocolate that is very enjoyable. I can also say that the construction is excellent. At halfway, I still haven’t ashed the cigar and the burn is straight.

The final third is where this stick really picks up. The spice on the tongue increases, and the flavor profile becomes a mix of earth, leather, and pepper. Enjoyable, but a little too late in the game for me.

Conclusion

This is not a bad medium to full bodied cigar, and for $5 a piece, it won’t break the bank. There are, however, better sticks for the price. I’d say it is worth a shot if you want to try something new because it is unique, but I probably won’t be picking up any more with so many other great sticks out there that I know I can rely on.

Final Grade: B-

Cigar Review: Don Pepin Blue Label Generoso

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Unless you have been living under a rock for all of your cigar smoking life then the name José Garcia a.k.a. “Don Pepin” should ring bells. His cigar blends have reached cult status throughout the industry and throughout the world.  That being said, this stick has been on my “get to” list for some time now I was eager to get my hands on some, especially in the Generoso(Toro)  vitola.

Blend Specifics:
Toro(6×50)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Apperance & Construction

First look at this stick and I must say it just looks classy.  The band was well  balanced and elegant. The wrapper was clean, satin and chocolate in color, very smooth with a slight tooth with no visible imperfections

One classy band, even through the cellophane

Taste & Smoking Characteristics

First third: Consistent with Don Pepin cigars, this stick starts off zesty, with spice just dominating the palate and  rich creaminess, wood and leather in the background.  If your anything like me, you love to see great amounts of smoke and this stick proved to be very visually pleasing. As I progressed the burn was razor sharp and the bright white ash proof of excellent tobacco.  Close to end of the first third the spice starts slowly  to diminish leading into the second third.

Second Third: There was a slow transition from a zesty spice to a rich creamy flavor which I must admit I found delicious and entertaining. As I  proceeded the flavor would ever so slightly change between creaminess, wood, leather and a subtle tease of spice in the finish.

Final Third: The last third was a continuation of the second except that this time the flavor profiles were present for a longer amount of time as to give me there last hurrah or final appearance.   In the following order I bid farewell to the rich and creamy, the smooth leather and the shy zesty spice that was lingering ever so slightly in the background. Following this great show the cigar lost its energy and while never getting harsh, it did get woody and dry and due to respect I layed her down and watched another good stick turn to dust in the wind.

 Conclusion:

Overall, this stick was just shy of being full flavor and full strength. There was plenty of  complexity for those willing to pay attention and while the changes were subtle I believe they were enough to satisfy even a picky snob such as myself especially at the price point of  $10-12.  I absolutely recommend.

Final Grade: A-

Cheers,

Kelvin Batista

Mr.KelvinBatsita@gmail.com

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