Archive for the ‘punch’ Category

Flor de Allones Cigars – A True Honduran Classic

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018
With so many great new premium cigars on the market today, it can be easy to overlook some of the tried and true classic brands

25 Best Cigars and Cigar Flavor Profiles to Smoke: Padron, Oliva, Cohiba, Montecristo, and More

Thursday, August 2nd, 2018

Whether you are a new cigar smoker or you have a packed humidor and just want a few new flavors, here’s a great list of some of the best cigars to smoke.

Best Cigars with Coffee

Tabak Especial Robusto Dulce: With a caramel-sweet coffee taste and Connecticut wrapper, it has an even burn and draw.

Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente: With mellow-medium strength, this popular Rothschild has an even burn, smooth draw, and cedar, leather, and pepper notes.

Oliva Connecticut Reserve Robusto: With Nicaraguan filler, Connecticut wrapper, a great burn, and draw, it’s mild-to-medium strength.

Best Chocolate Flavors

Romeo y Julieta Vintage III Natural: With mellow-strength, a Connecticut wrapper, and a good draw, it has cocoa and floral aromas.

La Gloria Cubana Wavell: With a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, medium-full strength, coffee, chocolate, nutty, and cedar taste, it has a tight draw with a good burn.

Partagas Black Label Clasico: Full-strength, it has a medio tiempo Connecticut wrapper and espresso, chocolate, leather, coffee, nut, and cocoa taste.

L’Atelier Maduro: With medium-strength, notes of spice, chocolate, and coffee, this Nicaraguan has a good burn.

Best Chocolate/Cedar Flavors

CAO Gold Robusto: This medium-strength Nicaraguan is creamy with a woodsy cedar and chocolate aroma, and has a slow burn.

Best Chocolate/Pepper Flavors

Oliva Serie O Robusto: With medium-strength, woodsy taste, dark chocolate, leather, coffee, and pepper notes, it’s a fan-favorite.

Arturo Fuente Hemingway: With mellow-mild strength, Dominican filler and Cameroon wrapper, it has a peppery spice, chocolate, and woodsy taste, and perfect draw. Serve with brandy.

Cohiba Dominican Toro Tube: With medium-strength and Connecticut wrapper, it has a great draw with pepper, cocoa, and brown sugar notes. Pair with Makers Mark bourbon.

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Exclusivo: This full-bodied Nicaraguan maduro has a woodsy, peppery, nutty, espresso, spice, and cocoa taste.

Best Earthy Cedar/Pepper Flavors

Fuente Opus X The Lost City: With medium-strength and notes of cedar, this Dominican has an earthy, peppery, spice and creamy caramel taste.

Punch Rare Corojo El Doble: This sweet and musky smoke has medium-full strength, Dominican/Honduran/Nicaraguan fillers, a good draw, and earthy taste.

Best Earthy/Nutty Flavors

  1. Upmann 1844 Reserve Robusto: It has earthy flavors, a nutty taste, medium-full strength, and a good burn and draw.

Montecristo Red Toro: With medium-full strength, it has earthy, nutty, cocoa, and spice notes, and a good burn.

JR Ultimate Belisco Cabinet: With medium-full strength, the oscuro Honduran has a woodsy, earthy taste.

Best Graham Cracker Flavors

Rocky Patel Fire: With spiced graham cracker, toast, brown sugar, cinnamon, and molasses notes, the full-bodied Nicaraguan has a good draw and burn.

Dunhill Heritage Robusto: With coffee, caramel, graham cracker, cocoa, and cinnamon flavors, Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, and medium-full strength, it has a perfect draw and burn.

Best Pepper/Leather Flavors

Partagas Naturales: With medium-strength, Dominican and Mexican fillers, and Cameroon wrapper, it has a peppery, leather taste.

Padron 1926 Series Natural: With a 94 Cigar Aficionado rating, full body, consistent draw, and great peppery, leather taste, this Nicaraguan’s a crowd-pleaser.

Muwat by Drew Estate: With medium-strength, a good burn and draw, this Nicaraguan has a delicious spiced-molasses, coffee, leather, and pepper taste.

Best Pepper/Nutmeg Flavors

My Father Flor de Las Antillas Belicoso: With hints of pepper and nutmeg, the medium-strength Nicaraguan has an easy draw.

Best Leather/Cedar Flavors

Ashton Symmetry Robusto Habano: This medium-full strength Dominican has a nice burn, and leather, floral, and woodsy notes.

Best Cedar Flavors

Montecristo White Series Toro: With an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler, its medium-strength with a good burn and creamy cedar flavor.

With so many great cigar flavors, you’re going to need a bigger humidor! Try any of these fine cigars that can be purchased right here at JR Cigars. JR Cigars specializes in the finest premium cigars deals and you can buy cigars online for your upcoming events or cigar tasting.

IPCPR: AJ Fernandez – Bellas Artes Maduro

Monday, July 23rd, 2018

AJ Fernandez has been quite busy the past few years.  Not only does he have his own, name brand cigars, he has been doing a massive amount of work for other manufacturers as well.  He has several new releases with General, such as a new Ramon Allones and Punch, as well as Altadis USA with new Montecristo and Romeo Nicaraguan additions being announced at the 2018 IPCPR tradeshow.  This doesn’t even include his work with Foundation and Southern Draw, for which he is a major part of their manufacturing effort.  However, AJ has not forgotten his fan favorite lines and this year we are pleased to see a new addition to his beloved Bellas Artes line.

AJ announced the new Bellas Artes Maduro at the 2018 IPCPR tradeshow.  It is hand rolled at the legendary Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in the heart of Esteli Nicaragua.  It uses aged Nicaraguan filler tobaccos as well as a rich San Andres binder.  It is then cloaked in a spectacular Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, which AJ does not normally use but felt was the perfect fit for this cigar.

It’s rich, powerful and almost perfectly constructed.  Each puff delivers a complex plethora of smoke with notes of dark chocolate espresso, and a delectable sweet spice.  This box pressed beauty showcases the versatility of AJ, using tobaccos he didn’t use to in order to create something new and exciting.

The 2018 IPCPR tradeshow has been a rollercoaster, with so many new and exciting cigars that it’s going to be hard to see which one would be my favorite.  However, its safe to assume that the new AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro is definitely going to be at the top of that list.  Check out this and all other new releases right here at JR Cigars.

Consuegra Cigars – The World’s Most Popular Factory Seconds

Thursday, June 28th, 2018

Now in their 25th year of production, Consuegra cigars remain the most popular line of factory seconds ever produced.  “Connies” as they are referred to by their throngs of loyal minions, are factory seconds from the makers of Excalibur, Punch, El Rey del Mundo, Hoyo de Monterrey and our JR Ultimate— Five of the biggest names in premium handmade Honduran cigars!

The Consuegra brand is the Holy Grail for those well-seasoned smokers who appreciate a full, rich-tasting, Cuban-style cigar sold at a deep discount. While these unique handmade cigars are segundos and production overruns, they still pack a delicious medium-full body profile and a superior quality that is rare among cigar seconds.

Like their original Honduran counterparts, Consuegra cigars are made with a blend of fully aged Honduran, Dominican, and Nicaraguan tobaccos, paired with your choice of an EMS Honduran, or a dark, oily, USA Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. At first glance, the wrapper may appear to be rather dry and veiny or have mild blemishes and sun-spots. They may also be slightly off size from one smoke to the next, but even the most discerning of cigar aficionados will find that these flaws only slightly, if at all, affect the cigars burning qualities or taste.

Consuegra cigars are sold in affordable 25-count bundles and come in a staggering array of shapes and sizes to appeal to every style of smoker. Some of our more experienced smokers have been able to figure out which “Connie” is a second to a particular brand, and they continue to order it faithfully. Others just enjoy them in various sizes and wrapper colors as their go-to everyday smokes.

Depending on the size and style that you choose, you can expect a host of flavors that include spice, nuts, chocolate, leather, earth, white pepper, and more.

Even if you are a high-end cigar connoisseur, Consuegra cigars are definitely worth picking up just to have around for those occasions when you know you will be busy doing other things but still want to smoke a great tasting Honduran cigar.

I Thank the Heavens for My Beloved Nighttime Cigar, by Tommy Zman

Friday, February 15th, 2013

I never can understand how anyone can not smoke—it deprives a man of the best part of life … with a good cigar in his mouth a man is perfectly safe, nothing can touch him—literally. ~ Thomas Mann (1875-1955) German author, critic

In these upside down, tumultuous times we live in, it seems that only a cigar could bring about an evening with such warm passion and fond, lasting memories . The cigar is simply the world’s most incredible relation and bonding tool. The alluring scent and ritualistic lighting and puffing can make the average night great, and a great night unforgettable. It is times like these that I am so grateful that I smoke fine cigars. I am so grateful that I have come to know the wonders of aged tobacco from far away lands basking in warm tropical breezes and indigenous island palms. No matter if strolling the Manhattan skyline or relaxing on your back deck, casting flies into a stream or a game of Texas Hold ‘Em with the guys, the cigar in your hand is the common thread that brings it all together.

I’ve found that there is absolutely NOTHING that can relieve the pressure’s and monotony of a long, hard work  day than tilting your head back and lighting up a premium hand rolled cigar. It almost doesn’t even matter how bad your day was because only five minutes into your ritual, your mind will unravel and your body will begin to melt into a state of euphoric relaxation. As the ash grows at the end of your stick and you watch the blue swirling smoke ascend into the heavens, there is NOTHING that can do you any harm at that moment. You are invincible to the chaos of the surrounding world as a force field of tobacco goodness keeps you safe from harms way.

I have often said that no $150 an hour session with a shrink or horse pill he would prescribe could replace what my nightly cigar does for me. I have read many of the books from the great positive thinkers and gurus of happiness, and while much of their advice has been beneficial to my well being, nothing transports my mind, body, and soul into to a state of sheer content than my Partagas, Perdomo, or Punch… NOTHING.

Now, in today’s world where so many are offended by our love for the cigar, great times may become fewer and far between. There are those in our political system who wish to eradicate smoking to the point of prohibition, and as history has shown us, that sort of thing never goes over very well. Human nature kind of says – tell someone they can’t have something and they want it all the more. We as a group – a brotherhood – need to stick together and do whatever possible to keep safe the hobby we love and cherish. We must defend the right to smoke our cigars at all cost because our relaxation and sanctity of life depends on it.

PLEASE SUPPORT Cigar Rights of America as they continue to deal with congress, the senate, and all US legislators who need to be made aware that our cigars are the best friends we know of and we will fight like hell to keep them in our lives! >>http://cigarrrights.org

Smoke ‘em cuz ya gottem my friends,

TZ.Sig.2

JR Cigars Blog with the Zman

> CLICK HERE to Check out this week’s J•R CIGARS Weekly Special

Don’t Let the Politicos Mess With Our Cigars!

Monday, July 25th, 2011

If you read this blog, then I have to assume that you love cigars. Now, I said love, not like, but LOVE.  For me personally, cigar smoking is a passion and a hobby like nothing else I have ever experienced during my multiple decades here on earth. It’s hard to explain why there is such a love affair between aged, handrolled leaf and myself, but I am admittedly both intoxicated by romanced by premium cigar tobacco… and something tells me that you are, too.

fda_cigar_sm-250pxOver the past few years I’ve talked a lot about the Smoke Nazis and the anti-smoking zealots who want to eliminate all forms of tobacco from the face of the earth, but I haven’t talked much about the people who wish to regulate it – and I’m referring to none other than the Food & Drug Administration.

This is a frightening thought, my fellow Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf. If the FDA has full reign over handrolled cigars, our smoking world may change like nothing we have ever imagined. Let’s face it – whenever government takes charge of something, it becomes an instant clusterf@#k, and the entire cigar industry is pretty damned worried and rightfully so.

freedom_means_choice_2_tshirt-p235564109691893157q6vb_400First off, the beautiful ornate cigar box packaging that has been around for over a century could be replaced by labels, warning of death and disease, in font sizes larger than your head. And cigars stores won’t be able to have any tobacco products visible within their premises, but instead hidden behind closed doors where you would have to ask for someone to retrieve your smoke for you. (With JR CIGARS being the largest walk-in humidor retail stores in the world, I sure as hell don’t have a clue how that would work.) These are just some of the things that have been discussed and I can’t even imagine how it is possible in a country that is blanketed in a flag that stands for freedom and living a life of personal choices.

jr_ultimateThe good news is, I have read that the cigar industry has pushed our senators and congressmen hard to have premium cigars NOT regulated the way other forms of tobacco are. Let’s face it, so much of this is about keeping tobacco out of the hands of children, and children simply do not walk into cigar stores to purchase Camachos, Pepin Garcias, Gurkhas, and Ashton VSG’s that cost them as much as a coveted XBOX game. Thankfully, there is now talk of premium cigars being exempt from the FDA’s rule, which would be a saving grace to the entire cigar industry. But we can’t sit back and just HOPE everything works out all right. It’s up to all of us to email, phone, or fax our government representatives and let then know that they CANNOT take away our passion – a 100% LEGAL product that employs tens of thousands of people in the U.S. and other smaller nations who depend on this export to survive!

Guys, it’s no secret that powerful lobbies like anti-tobacco groups put a proverbial gun to the politicians heads when it comes election time, and the politicos respond with harsh anti-smoking laws, even though just about every single on of them enjoys the rich, smooth taste of a JR Ultimate, Montecristo, Punch, or Trinidad. It is hypocrisy at the highest level, but that is certainly NOT a surprise when it involves those who are full-time holders of office in our nation’s capital. Let’s continue to fight the good fight, people!

TZ.Sig.2Tommy Z . JR Cigars Blog With the Zman

——————————————————————————

DON’T FORGET TO JUMP ON JR’S 99¢ SHIPPING! This deal is only good thru July 31st, so get your cigar orders in NOW!!!

And this week JR has two… that’s right TWO…Weekly Specials

JR has two weekly specials going to give you one last chance to take advantage of the 99¢ shipping.

Villar y Villar Cigars – All Sizes Just $15!

Picture 4Villar y Villar cigars are handcrafted in Estelí, Nicaragua, with a classic medium-bodied blend of tobaccos from three nations finished with Colorado Ecuador Sumatra wrappers that are available in both Natural and EMS. They are solid, no-nonsense cigars, packed with flavor.

This week JR is doing something unheard of and closing out the entire line of Villar y Villar. Every bundle of 25 is now JUST $15 BUCKS. Buy these before July 31st and the 99¢ shipping can get you a bundle delivered to your door for just $15.99!

La Primadora: Laguito & Presidente $10 OFF!

la_primadora_logoMade in Danlí, Honduras, this cigar is a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos with a charcoal-like flavor. The La Primadora is a consistent smoke at an economical price, and has proven to be a time-honored best-seller.

This week JR is closing out 2 sizes at unbelievable prices that make them under $2 bucks a stick! They are both available in natural Ecuador Connecticut and dark Mexican maduro wrappers.

Get ‘em now before they’re gone or before the offer expires on Wednesday, July 27th!

http://www.jrcigars.com/jr/index.cfm/hurl/evt=ws

Punch Rare Corojo 2010

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

The General Cigar Company sent me a few cigars to review, which included today’s cigar. The Rare Corojo is released annually. I’m not sure of the back story, and I wonder why there is no Corojo tobacco in this cigar. Anyway, I enjoyed the 2007, 2008 and 2009 releases of this cigar, so lets see how the 2010 treats me.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder: Connecticut broadleaf

Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan, Dominican (Piloto Cubano)

Size: Magnum 5.25 x 54

Price: Around $5.50

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had a couple medium sized veins, but no real flaws. The wrapper had almost no odor to it, and the foot had a mild earthy smell. I found the cigar to have a little sponginess, and it was consistent from head to foot. The draw was very free, and had an earthy/woody flavor.

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

1PunchRareCorojo2010

Flavor:

The first third: Smooth earthy notes combined with a woody flavor. A slight sweetness appeared after smoking an inch. The smoke volume was plentiful with a mild pepper.

2PunchRareCorojo2010

The second third saw a change in the smoke feel. It became thick and creamy. Woody flavors pretty much drowned out the earthiness. When exhaling through the nose, there was a nice smooth, sweet peppery spice that had very little kick.

3PunchRareCorojo2010

The last third didn’t have any major changes. Basically the earthy notes would come and go. The body crept up into the upper medium range. Other then that, it stayed consistent with the second third, which isn’t a bad thing.

4PunchRareCorojo2010

Conclusion:

This was a good medium to upper medium bodied cigar. The flavor profile, although simple, was enjoyable. There isn’t really anything more to add. I would recommend trying the 2010 Rare Corojo for a nice relaxing smoke. Thanks again to The General Cigar Company for sending these out!

Upper Cut by Punch

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Not long ago, Victoria from The General Cigar Company sent me a few cigars to review. Apparently they wanted to clarify the blend in the “Blogosphere” and of course get opinions on some cigars. I’m not one for major details on a cigar, but the Upper Cut features Ometepe tobacco, which they claim results in an intriguing range of flavors. Being a skeptic, I filled up a glass of water and put the Upper Cut by Punch to the test. Let’s see how it went.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan, Ometepe

Size: Grand Corona 6 x 45

Price: Around $6.50

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The dark wrapper was a bit rugged looking, but had minimal flaws. There were some medium veins along with a toothy (bumpy) appearance. Sniffing the wrapper and foot revealed a dark, sweet smell. The pre-light draw was free, and had a sweet natural tobacco flavor. I squeezed the entire length of the cigar, and found quite a few minor soft spots. It wasn’t extreme and nothing to be concerned with.

The burn would get wavy from time to time, but always corrected itself. The ash held for an inch before I tapped it off into the ashtray.

1PunchUpperCut 

Flavor:

The beginning of the first third started out with an interesting flavor. This is one of the few times I was positive that I was picking up nice leathery overtones. A fairly strong pepper was present when exhaling through the nose, and I could feel the spice on the inner lips. The leather calmed down as I progressed further into this third, and earthy coffee-ish notes entered the picture. The pepper started to calm a bit but certainly did not go anywhere. A nice zing let you know it was lurking. As this third came to an end, I picked up some nice sweet notes.

2PunchUpperCut

The second third well and overall mellowed out a bit. The peppery spice calmed and took on a sweet flavor. I picked up coffee, wood, and leathery undertones that were very pleasant. The aftertaste coated the inside of the mouth with the same core flavors I just mentioned.

3PunchUpperCut

Coffee was the core flavor in the last third. Wood followed, along with wisps of earth and leather. The spice lost some of it’s sweetness, but kept some of it’s zing. Unidentified sweet notes would come and go. It was mellow and relaxing.

4PunchUpperCut

Conclusion:

I really enjoyed this medium to upper medium bodied cigar. I thought it was interesting how the first third had all this stuff going on, but then changed as if someone flipped a switch. I wouldn’t call this a “WOW” cigar, but I think it was very good. Definitely worth trying!

Punch Champion

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

The Punch Champion comes in a double maduro or Sumatra wrapper. I chose the Sumatra wrapped version for today’s review. I try not to get too involved with the background of a cigar brand. I honestly don’t care most of the time. So I offer you a link to General Cigars website, where more info can be found.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan, Dominican

Size: 4.5 X 60

Price: Around $5.00

 

Pre-smoke & Construction:

Overall the wrapper had a nice look and was a little bumpy. Sniffing the wrapper and foot had a slight odor of cedar combined with barnyard hay. Squeezing the entire length of the cigar, I found it was tightly packed with no soft spots. The pre-light draw was a little stiff, with earthy and woody notes.

The ash held for a little over an inch. The burn required one correction in the first third, but that was it.

1PunchChampion

Flavor:

The first third had prominent earthy and woody flavors. As I progressed to the widest part of the cigar, I picked up a spicy pepper that was nice on the retro-hale. An unidentified sweetness became present as this third came to a close.

2PunchChampion

The second third began at the widest part of the cigar. The sweetness picked up in strength, but began to diminish as I smoked further into the smaller ring gauge. The peppery spice remained, but also diminished in strength as the ring gauge became smaller. The earthy flavors became earthy notes, and the woody component was in the forefront.

3PunchChampion

The last third continued its journey down the smaller ring gauge. The earthy notes picked up a little, and hid behind the cedar flavor. The peppery spice remained, but fell way to the background. The smoke feel took on a smooth, cooling effect, with a spicy feeling on the lips and tongue.

4PunchChampion

Conclusion:

I thought this was a pretty good medium to full bodied cigar. I wasn’t as impressed with the Champion as say the 2009 Rare Corojo, but it was still a good smoke. It offered good complexities and I never found myself getting bored. I definitely recommend giving this cigar a try.

Looking for something?

Use the form below to search the site:

Still not finding what you're looking for? Drop a comment on a post or contact us so we can take care of it!