Archive for the ‘General_Cigar’ Category

La Gloria Cubana Serie R Esteli

Tuesday, October 15th, 2013

Thanks to General Cigar for sending me some samples to review. The Serie R Esteli was released in September, and is only available at brick and mortar stores. You can read more about it at their website.

 

Wrapper: Jalapa Sol

Binder & Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 6 x 54

Price: $6.49

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was dark, shiny, and flawless. It had a mild earthy and woody smell. The cigar was solidly packed, with a few soft spots here and there. The draw had the right amount of resistance, with a cedary pre-light flavor.

The ash held for just about an inch, and the burn required several corrections.

1 La_Gloria_Cubana_Serie_R_Esteli cigars

Flavor:

Without much delay, the first third opened up with woody and bitter sweet flavors. An easy pepper was noticed in the nose, and back of the throat. It had just the right amount of zing.

2 La_Gloria_Cubana_Serie_R_Esteli cigars

The second third took on a bitter sweet cocoa flavor, mixed with pepper and wood. From time to time, I swore that floral notes would appear, and quickly go away. As I approached the end of this third, the strength and body picked up, and coated the mouth and lips.

3 La_Gloria_Cubana_Serie_R_Esteli cigars

For the most part, the last third kept the same core flavors of bitter cocoa, pepper, and wood. There was an added peppery, cinnamony  tingle on the lips, and top of the mouth. The smoke feel took on a cooling effect. It was similar to menthol, but with a peppery zing.

4 La_Gloria_Cubana_Serie_R_Esteli cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good medium to full bodied cigar. I enjoyed the ramp up of flavor, body, and strength. Everything was balanced. I think the price point it spot on as well. For a good, reliable lunch or dinner smoke, this fits the bill.

CAO Flathead

Sunday, September 15th, 2013

Thanks to Victoria, of General Cigar Company, for sending me samples of the CAO Flathead. The namesake is a tribute to old school, hotrod motors. You know about flathead motors. The valves sit beside the cylinder, right under the combustion chamber. Much less efficient than current overhead valve motors. My introduction to these old motors were with old Harley’s from the 1930’s. Obviously I would be drawn to this gimmick, so on to the review.

 

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Ecuadorian Connecticut

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: V554 Camshaft 5.5 x 54

Price: Around $7.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The dark wrapper looked really good, and had a mild, earthy, hay aroma. True to it’s name, the head was flat, real flat. The cigar was solidly and evenly packed. The draw had slight resistance, with a woody, earthy pre-light flavor.

The ash held for about an inch. The burn required one major correction in the first third, but things calmed down after that. Basically it acted like a typical box pressed cigar.

1 CAO_Flathead cigars

Flavor:

The first third was pretty straightforward, with dry chocolaty flavors, along with earth, leather, and a peppery zing. The aftertaste had these same flavors, along with some wood.

2 CAO_Flathead cigars

The second third was basically the same as the first. There were minor differences, such as increased strength. The peppery zing increased, and the sweetness stood out a little more.

3 CAO_Flathead cigars

Dry chocolate increased in the last third. Otherwise, everything remained the same. Earth, leather, and pepper, just like before.

4 CAO_Flathead cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good medium bodied cigar. Picky smokers, this isn’t for you. There was no wow factor at all. It was basically one dimensional, which isn’t a bad thing. It had good, simple flavors, which is really all I require. I won’t go out of my way to get these cigars, but I would smoke more from time to time. For a predictable, easy cigar, this fits the bill.

Macanudo Maduro Vintage 1997

Friday, December 21st, 2012

I picked up the Macanudo Maduro Vintage 1997 from Ed’s shop. Obviously the first thing that caught my eye was the shiny metal band. Besides being a cigar holder, it makes you look cool too. Seriously though, it is claimed that the band can be used to determine the storage condition of the cigar. If it is too tight, the cigar is over humidified. If the band is too loose, the cigar is too dry. Naturally, mine was juuust right.

The Macanudo line has evolved past the traditional golf course, status symbol cigar. I can appreciate their attempts at targeting a broader fan base. As always, I paired this cigar with water. Is this just another mild, boring Macanudo? Read on…

5 Macanudo_Maduro_Vintage_1997 cigars

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Vintage 1997

Binder: Honduras

Filler: Nicaragua, Brazil, Dominican

Size: Perfecto 6 x 49

Price: $8.19

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was oily, yet velvety smooth. No flaws were seen, and it looked virtually seamless. I could only detect the smell of hay from the wrapper and foot. Overall, the cigar was consistently packed, with only a small soft spot here and there. The draw had slight resistance, which is right where I like it. The pre-light flavor was wood and coffee.

The ash held for an inch or so, and the burn required a few minor corrections.

1 Macanudo_Maduro_Vintage_1997 cigars

Flavor:

The first third opened up with black coffee, but it wasn’t too bitter. In short order, dark chocolate joined in, along with an easy peppery spice. Wood and earthy notes lingered in the background.

2 Macanudo_Maduro_Vintage_1997 cigars

The second third was dominated by dark, rich chocolate. It clung to the tongue and lips, and left a spicy, creamy tingle. Up next was coffee, with wispy notes of nuts and earthiness.

3 Macanudo_Maduro_Vintage_1997 cigars

The last third took on a drier smoke feel. This allowed the tingly spice to stand out a bit more. It remained sweet, with cocoa and coffee. Woodiness was hiding in the background, and it appeared from time to time.

4 Macanudo_Maduro_Vintage_1997 cigars

Conclusion:

This was a really good medium to full bodied cigar. I really enjoyed the rich, balanced flavor profile. This is easily my favorite Macanudo blend. The price is a little high, and the presentation is gimmicky, but it’s a very solid smoke.

Macanudo Gold Label Gold Bar

Friday, December 7th, 2012

Macanudo, while very popular, is often snubbed by the snobbiest of self proclaimed aficionados. For the record, I’ve been guilty of just that. But, after having some good to awesome Macanudo blends, I check em out from time to time. As I was browsing the humidor at a local shop, out of the corner of my eye was shiny things. Because of that, this review exists.

1 Macanudo_Gold_Label_Gold_Bar cigars

Wrapper: Connecticut

Binder: Mexican San Andreas

Filler: Dominican, Mexican

Size: 5 x 60

Price: $8.75

2 Macanudo_Gold_Label_Gold_Bar cigars

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The light wrapper looked nice, with small veins, and no major flaws. The scent of the wrapper and foot was so mild, I had a hard time picking up the aroma of cedar. The cigar was evenly and solidly packed, and the draw was a little snug. The pre-light draw was mild, earthy, and cedary.

The burn required a few good sized corrections in the first third, and the ash held for about 1.5 inches.

Flavor:

The first third was a fairly even mixture of nuts and earthiness. The finish was a mild and creamy.

3 Macanudo_Gold_Label_Gold_Bar cigars

The second third kept the exact same flavor profile. The only thing that changed was the strength. It increased slightly, but still remained very mild.

4 Macanudo_Gold_Label_Gold_Bar cigars

The last third: Copy and paste my description of the second third here. Saying anything more would be redundant.

5 Macanudo_Gold_Label_Gold_Bar cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good mild bodied, mild strength cigar. If I were to smoke more of these, it would have to be with coffee. The simple, one dimensional flavor profile demands it. I prefer something a little more bold, so this one will probably fall off of my radar. It wouldn’t be fair to snub this cigar altogether. Those who prefer a mild, simple smoke should check this one out.

Foundry

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

Foundry is a new boutique brand by General Cigar. I’m not exactly sure what the deal is with the band ornament. It is said that each year, a new blend will be released, along with a new band ornament. Eventually it will all mean something. Anyway… Thanks to General Cigar for sending me some samples of the Foundry. Let’s see how it smoked.

 

Wrapper: ?

Binder & Filler: ?

Size: Wells 6 x 50

Price: $7.95

2 Foundry cigars

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was oily, velvety smooth, and a little veiny. Cedar was the only aroma off of the wrapper, and the foot was a mild natural tobacco. Overall, the cigar was solidly packed, with some tight spots near the head. The draw was on the snug side, but it fell within my tolerances. The pre-light flavor was mild earthiness with wood.

The ash held for about one inch, and the burn required two minor corrections.

1 Foundry cigars

Flavor:

The first third was pretty mild and straight forward. Smooth cedar and earthy notes were dominant, yet mild. Through the nose, I could barely detect any spice or pepper, just woody notes. The smoke feel was very smooth and dry.

3 Foundry cigars

The second third basically kept the same flavors, but they crept up a notch in strength. Things seemed to feel more balanced in this third as well. An easy bitter sweetness, along with butter, joined in at the half way point to round things out.

4 Foundry cigars

The last third was status quo with the second third. There was a slight increase in strength, but things remained in the lower medium to medium range.

5 Foundry cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good, simple cigar. Advertising gimmicks aside, this is a cigar geared towards the mild to medium bodied smoker. Coffee would compliment this smoke nicely. Otherwise, it is a bit too mild and one dimensional for my taste. If you’re a mild smoker, or a beginner, this may be up your alley.

CAO Concert

Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

Thanks to General Cigar, owner of the CAO brand, for sending me some samples of the cigar up for review today.

Back in the day, pre-General Cigar buy out, CAO was known for it’s flashy packaging and presentation. It looks like General is returning to that with the CAO Concert. It is said that this is inspired by CAO’s roots in Nashville. The cigar band is basically a guitar pick, along with a couple of guitars, which are complete with an “F cut.” I only point this out for the music geeks out there.

In the end, I don’t care about any of this. Read on, and see if the cigar delivered where it counts.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Rosado

Binder: Connecticut

Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran

Size: Roadie 5.5 x 54

Price: $6.75

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was shiny, a little toothy, had minimal veins, and a mild earthy aroma. Off of the foot, I could only smell a mild cedar, and a touch of pepper. Overall, this cigar was solidly and evenly packed. This led to a draw that was a little on the tight side, but it was well within my tolerance. The pre-light draw had a woody and earthy flavor.

The ash held for just over an inch, and the burn required one minor correction.

1 CAO_Concert cigars

Flavor:

The first third had no buildup. Immediately I was greeted with a dark woody flavor. Up next was zingy pepper, followed by earth and hay. The smoke feel was thick, dry, and had a generic tinge of sweetness.

2 CAO_Concert cigars

The second third kept the same core flavors as the first third. The main difference was a bitter sweet note. The pepper lost a little zing, but kept enough so that I had to pay attention when retrohaling. The smoke feel wasn’t as dry, resulting in less craving for water.

3 CAO_Concert cigars

A bitter cocoa developed in the last third. It mixed with the ever present wood, earth, and peppery spice. The smoke feel remained dry, and bordered on creaminess.

4 CAO_Concert cigars

Conclusion:

While the CAO Concert didn’t bring anything new to the table, it was a solid medium bodied cigar. Construction, ash, burn, and flavor were all consistent. I think the price point was met, and if I see them on the shelves, I may smoke one from time to time.

Hoyo De Monterry Cigar Giveaway WINNERS!

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Back in July, General Cigar hosted a cigar giveaway here on this site.

Reposado_en_Cedros 3 pack cigars

Needless to say, 138 of you entered to win a three pack sampler (shown above). After some slacking, I finally drew 10 random winners. Eight of you get a three pack sampler of the Reposado en Cedros. Two of you are getting a sampler of other offerings from General Cigar.

Aaand the winners are:

Mike Sproat

Simon

Needle

Williamam

Randy Kong

Dan Dale

Steve

Matt Maronna

Joseph

Roguer

I will be emailing each of you for your mailing address. You may want to check your spam filters. I’ve been known to get filtered out from time to time.

Thanks to all 138 of you that entered the contest, and thanks to General Cigar for providing the smokes.

Hoyo de Monterrey Giveaway-ENDING SOON!

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

Just a reminder – The Hoyo de Monterrey cigar giveaway is ending soon!

Reposado_en_Cedros 3 pack cigars

Ten random winners will be picked.

If you haven’t entered yet, CLICK HERE!

Hoyo de Monterrey Cigar Giveaway

Friday, July 13th, 2012

This post will be stuck at the top of the site, until the contest is over. Reviews will be uninterrupted.

Cigars, lots of cigars need to be given away!

First, a huge thanks to Victoria McKee, of General Cigar, for sponsoring this contest.

Up for grabs is the Hoyo De Monterrey Reposado en Cedros. You read it right. Free smokes!

These cigars are aged in a proprietary “Inmersion Process.” As shown in the display below, the cigars are stacked on cedar shelves, and packed in cedar shavings for several months.

1 Reposado_en_Cedros box cigars

2 Reposado_en_Cedros box cigars

On to the cigar giveaway!

Eight winners will receive a three pack of the Reposado en Cedros.

Each pack has one of each size.

Reposado_en_Cedros 3 pack cigars

To sweeten the deal a little more, a couple of you will get sampler packs containing other offerings from General Cigar. The selection of cigars is yet to be determined!

Entering is simple enough. Leave one comment, any comment will do. The winners will be picked at random in a couple weeks or so.

Entry rules are as follows.

1 – You must be 18 years or older.

2 – Live in the United States of America.

3 – Leave a comment, any comment, here on this post.

4 – Please leave a valid email address, or I won’t be able to contact you.

5 – You can enter only once.

I will treat your contact information as I would want mine to be treated, confidentially. No spam, no signing up for newsletters, no strings attached, nothing.

ENTER NOW!

Partagas 1845

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Some of my early smoking consisted of the Partagas Black. This came years ago at the recommendation of Jerry from Stogie Review. Partagas fell off of my radar in recent years, until I got a sample of the 1845 in the mail from General Cigar. So without further ado, here are my thoughts…

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Viso

Binder: Connecticut Habano

Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan Ligero & Seco

Size: Robusto 5.5 x 49

Price: $6.49

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had a rugged look, with a couple decent sized veins, but no visible flaws were observed. The wrapper had a scent of mild barnyard and earthiness, and the foot had more of a woody, spicy odor. The cigar was was solidly packed and did not give when squeezed. This accounted for a draw that was on the snug size, but it fell just within my tolerance. The pre-light flavor was dark earthiness with some bitterness, similar to coffee.

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

1 Partagas_1845 cigars

Flavor:

The first third had pretty straightforward flavors. Earthiness and wood mixed together pretty evenly. There was an easy peppery spice that was easy to swish around the mouth and sinus.

2 Partagas_1845 cigars

The second third had a woody core, with a note of of bitter sweetness. The smoke feel became a little creamy, with an underlying sweetness. The peppery spice increased a little, but remained easy on the palate.

3 Partagas_1845 cigars

The last third basically kept the same pace as the second. The strength and body increased but remained well with the medium range. Nothing stood out over the other. Everything was just… Nice.

4 Partagas_1845 cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good medium bodied cigar. As you read, the flavors were very simple. Despite this, the cigar was enjoyable and relaxing. As for the snug draw, that seemed to be limited to the cigar that I reviewed. The others I smoked were fine. This would go nice with coffee, or make a good dog walker.

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