Archive for February, 2011

Tatuaje Anarchy

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

The Tatuaje Anarchy is an exclusive cigar made for Abe Dababneh for his Smoke Inn stores. Basically Abe went to Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars and this is what they came up with. From what I understand, this is of limited production, and was released December 10h of 2010. Pete does say that there will be plenty for everybody though. I picked some up and it didn’t take long to see what all the hubub was about. As always, I paired this cigar with water offer you my review.

1_Tatuaje_Anarchy

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder/Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 6 1/8 x 48-52

Price: $10.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper looked nice, but it did have some good sized veins. The pigtail cap was perfect. The odor coming off of the wrapper was sweet with a mild spice. The foot had a similar odor but leaned towards earthiness. The cigar was pretty evenly packed, and bounced back when squeezed. The pre-light draw was free, and had a dark sweetness to it.

This slow burner required no corrections, and the ash held for over an inch.

2_Tatuaje_Anarchy

Flavor:

The first third started off with a dark woodiness mixed with an easy pepper. Up there in front was black coffee. After about a half of an inch, the pepper started to increase in strength with a nice kick. After really digging in to this third, dark chocolaty flavors entered the picture, and it had notes of that chocolaty bitterness (not a bad thing). The flavors stuck inside of the mouth long after the smoke was exhaled. I found myself craving a little water, but no cotton mouth.

3_Tatuaje_Anarchy

The second third really kicked up the chocolaty sweetness. Also at the front of the flavor profile was coffee. From time to time I picked up on woody notes. Through the nose, they pepper didn’t go anywhere. The smoke took on a thicker feel, and coated the mouth even more then before.

4_Tatuaje_Anarchy

The last third kept the same core flavors. What did change was the dominant flavor. Sometimes it was coffee, some times it was chocolate. Otherwise, the pepper stayed the same. The woody notes stull lurked in the background, and the aftertaste just stuck to the palate.

5_Tatuaje_Anarchy

Conclusion:

This was a great full bodied cigar. Now I know what all the hype was about. For $10.00 you get your monies worth. I know the flavors I describe are commonly found in many cigars. It was the way they blended together with the strength and body that made it great. I strongly recommend the Tatuaje Anarchy!

Cigars and the Big Game

Monday, February 7th, 2011

On January 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs met in the Los Angeles Coliseum in the first Super Bowl ever played. The Packers Max McGee caught seven passes for 138 yards as Green Bay took down KC, 35 – 10, and America unknowingly had a new national day of recognition. Yesterday the Pack won it’s fourth Super Bowl title as the people of our fine land celebrated the 45th rendition of the Big Game.

Super-Bowl-2011-Official-LogoSuper Bowl Sunday is the second biggest day for food consumption in the U.S., only surpassed by Thanksgiving. We chow down like mongrel maniacs, devouring a variety of multi-fattening goodness, which is generally washed down with many millions of gallons of icy cold brewskis. But for us cigar freakazoids, it’s a day to enjoy our most favorite smokes, before, during, and after the contest. And yesterday, we finally caught a break from the frigid temperatures as the mercury climbed into the low 40’s, making it feeling like a summer-time heat wave!

Let’s break down yesterday’s events and compare our notes, shall we?

Pre-game – I refuse to watch the hours and hours of hype that leads up to the game. I realized a long time ago that whatever any of those prognosticating, ex-jock blowhards say and predict means NOTHING whatsoever – just totally and utterly meaningless drivel of the first order. And I know I’ll probably piss off some, but that reading of the Declaration of Independence was a horribly colossal bore. One guy told me he was moved to tears. Dude…it’s football game fer crissakes. As for my pre-game smoke of choice, what better than to celebrate this glorious day of gridiron greatness than with a powerful Punch Champion!

National Anthem – Christina Aguilera looked simply hideous as she screwed up 2 lines in the song, while her over the top, over-blown ego felt it so important to change the melody while making it her own. Get over it, girl, YOU are not bigger than the song. A highly annoying performance. Francis Scott Key was bitch-slapping that self-absorbed skank from the grave.

Superbowl-commercials-2011The Commercials – As a whole: BORING & predictable, including the horribly inane Bud and Doritos spots. Okay, there were several I liked, but as a whole, I think it was a HUGE FAIL. The Doritos Spot with the jackass sucking the dude’s finger was disturbing. Then, sniffing the ass of his pants made me want to hurl my Chalupa. Across the net I’m reading that the ‘Darth Vadar’ spot was the favorite of the day… but… all over the internet I keep hearing about the Pepsi spots, the Dorito’s spots, the Bud Light spot… and… the Darth Vadar spot. Nobody is referring to it as the Audi Quatro spot. My point is that advertising is all about brand recognition… and that’s because it was a Volkswagon spot… just testing you.

Halftime – The Black Eyed Peas… all I can kindly ask is WTF is wrong with the people in charge of picking these Super Bowl acts? While Fergie is a hot hunk of tail, listening to their screaming techno funk-noise made me head to the garage for a cigar, REAL fast. And a delicious Montecristo Classic Robusto went oh so good with my Belgian Ale

The FOOD – It was a small gathering at my abode as we whipped up the classic collection of gastronomic delights – fart inducing, acid reflux producing Super Bowl chow and it was simply awesome… Cream cheese chili dip, homemade pigs in a blanket with big-ass Thumann’s dogs, homemade hot wings, homemade slaw, tater skins, and my daughter’s rockin apple crisp! Although I’ve made four trips to the porcelain and half a jug of Tums, it was still worth the pig-out. I’d seriously better hose down my chair with FeBreze if I know what’s good for me.

1.-Another-Good-Finished5Ben Worthlessburger – Big Benito has now played like crap in all 3 Bowl appearances.

Aaron Rodgers – Really threw some HUGE passes, including the 33 yarder at the end that sealed the game. He looked SO MUCH more comfortable than his Pittsburgh counterpart. Now maybe we can stop hearing about Brent Ferve for five minutes.

The BIG GAME Itself – An excellent and entertaining football game for those of us who didn’t give a flying Favre who won. Hats off to the cheese people. Vince smiles down upon you.

Post Game Smoke – I was a too awake and too full to hit the hay, so I down one final Super cigar after the game. A JR Ultmate Maduro robusto and a quick belt of scotch made for a great finish to a nice day of football fanatisism.

Til next week,

Tommy Z.

JR Cigars Blog With the Zman

PUNCH CIGARS

Handmade HON
Wrapper: ECSU/CTBL    Binder: CT    Filler: DR/HON/NIC
Medium-Full Bodied

PUNCHThe world-famous Punch brand is handcrafted with all-Cuban-seed black tobaccos. This blend is the benchmark against which all other Honduran cigars are judged, and has been satisfying experienced smokers for decades. The Champion is a little plum bob shaped figarado packed with a ton of tossty tobacco flavor. A real go-to smoke!

MONTECRISTO CLASSIC CIGARS

Handmade DR
Wrapper: CTSH    Binder: DR    Filler: DR
Mild Bodied

MONTECRISTO CLASSICJosé Seijas hand picked the highest grade Connecticut Shade wrappers and the finest blend of Dominican filler and binder tobaccos to create these classic, mild masterpieces. The perfect blend, solid construction, well balanced flavor and subtle sweetness of these beauties will create an unforgettable smoking experience for all. Not just a fine cigar, but the finest Montecristo yet.

JR ULTIMATE CIGARS

Wrapper: ECSU/CTSH/CTBL    Binder: CTB    Filler: HON
Medium-Full Bodied

JR ULTIMATEOur world famous brand, the J·R Ultimate, is 100% handmade using only the best, aged long filler tobaccos. This cigar is every bit as good as (or better than) any ultra-premium brand on the market – bar none. It is available in a vast array of sizes, shapes, and wrappers, from light-green, fire-cured candela to darkest oscuro. J·R Ultimates serve as proof positive that you do not have to spend a fortune to smoke the very best cigars. This brand has won an unprecedented 10 grand gold medals in international competitions.

WB Brand Robusto Maduro

Friday, February 4th, 2011

I have no idea who gave me the cigar up for review today. If it was you, let me know and I’ll give proper credit. I simply lost track of this one in the humidor. Anyway… I never heard of this brand until recently. They are based in Orlando, FL, and other then that, I know nothing more. You can read more at their website. As always, I paired this cigar with water.

 

Wrapper: Brazil

Binder: Connecticut from Ecuador

Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan

Size: Robusto 5 x 5o

Price: $7.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The oily dark wrapper had a smooth sheen to it that looked nice. There were really no flaws to mention. The odor coming off of the wrapper and foot was sweet earthiness with a tinge of poo. The cigar had a soft spot here and there, but nothing drastic. The pre-light draw had a little resistance, and a mild earthy and natural tobacco taste.

The burn required no corrections, and the ash held for an inch.

1_WB Cigars Robusto Maduro

Flavor:

The first third had an interesting sweet flavor with hints of earthiness. Coffee or espresso was prominent as well. Through the nose, there was a nice spice that had some peppery notes. The smoke feel was dry but I didn’t really crave water. At the tail end of this third, I started picking up mocha.

2_WB Cigars Robusto Maduro

The second third had the same coffee flavor. It was sweet and mingled with mocha notes. The spice was sweet and had a little punch. Earthiness almost went away completely. At times I found it hiding behind the dominant coffee flavors. The smoke feel was dry, and it started to distract me. It seemed to make the overall flavor profile feel scattered.

3_WB Cigars Robusto Maduro

The last third had that dominant mixture of coffee and mocha. The spice was very peppery at times, and sweet at other times. There was a distinct tingle left on the lips and tongue that had a tinge of sweetness. It wasn’t cinnamon, but it had that cinnamon feel if you know what I mean. The dryness didn’t distract me as much in this third.

4_WB Cigars Robusto Maduro

Conclusion:

This was a good medium bodied cigar. At times I found myself thinking “Meh…” but most of the time I enjoyed the experience. I think the $7.00 price tag is a little steep though. Leaving price out of the picture, in the end I enjoyed smoking this cigar. It’s worth trying.

Cohiba Extra Vigoroso

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

This is a first impression review that was given to me by Ed from St. Pete Cigar. While I normally smoke multiple samples before doing a review, this is an exception. And for the price of $15.00, I would expect consistency within the line. These are said to be full bodied and have complex flavors. As always, I paired with water and offer you my first impression of the Cohiba Extra Vigoroso.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder: Connecticut

Filler: Nicaraguan & Piloto Cubano ligero

Size: 6 x 60

Price: Around $15.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was nice and dark, a little toothy, and overall very nice and rugged looking.  The scent coming off of the wrapper and foot was barnyard. Basically a mild shit (this sometimes can mean a nice smoke is in store, don’t be discouraged). When squeezing the cigar, there were a few hard spots, but nothing of concern. The pre-light draw was free, and had a woody, earthy, natural tobacco flavor.

The burn required a couple touch-up’s, and the ash held for just over an inch.

1_Cohiba Extra Vigoroso

Flavor:

The first third didn’t have a lot going on. The dominant flavor was wood with hints of earthiness. Through the nose, I got some peppery notes. It was simple, but not bad.

2_Cohiba Extra Vigoroso

The second third again had a dominant woody flavor. The smoke feel became smoother and creamier. The aftertaste became sweet and lingered for awhile. It left a tingle on the lips similar to cinnamon. At around the halfway point, the sweetness mingled with the woody notes quite nicely. The peppery spice didn’t go anywhere, and had a little punch.

3_Cohiba Extra Vigoroso

Like before, the last third kept the dominant woody flavor. The other things taking place around it is what kept my interest. The immense smoke volume, creaminess, cinnimony tingle, and sweet peppery spice made it all worth while. They sort of swirled around that core woodiness. The earthy notes became a distant memory. Basically, I wish the whole cigar could have been like this third.

4_Cohiba Extra Vigoroso

Conclusion:

This was a good medium to full bodied cigar. It started off kind of “Meh…” but built into full bodied goodness. The price is was will deter me from ever buying this cigar. If it were in the $8.00 range, sure I’d try more. But for $15.00, I have a hard time justifying it. If price is no object, I’d have to recommend this cigar. Thanks Ed for letting me try the Cohiba Extra Vigoroso!

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