Archive for the ‘smoke_inn’ Category

Sindicato Affinity

Thursday, October 10th, 2013

Thanks to Smoke Inn for sending me a couple samples to review. You can read more about the Sidicato brand at their website. The concept behind Sindicato is interesting, and it looks like they are trying to appeal to wide range of smokers.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan

Size: Corona 5.5

Price: Around $6.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was smooth looking, with no visible flaws. It had an earthy and nutty odor. The cigar was very solidly and evenly packed. This caused a draw that was on the tight side. It barely fell within my tolerances. The pre-light flavor was earthy, with cedar.

The burn required a couple small corrections, and the ash held for about 3/4 of an inch. It should be noted, after lighting up, the draw became much better.

1 Sindicato_Affinity cigars

Flavor:

The first third was a pretty even mixture of earth, nuts, and mild pepper. The smoke feel was very smooth, and bordered on creaminess.

2 Sindicato_Affinity cigars

The second third kept the same flavors, but there was an added sweet creaminess.

3 Sindicato_Affinity cigars

Yep, the last third was basically like the two before it. The big difference was strength and body. It became medium and smooth.

4 Sindicato_Affinity cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good mild to medium bodied cigar. For the most part, it was a typical Connecticut wrapped cigar. I could see this boring some of you picky smokers out there. As for me, I could see this being a good companion to a cup of coffee. Any time after lunch, and it may not do it for me.

Posted in Cigar Reviews, Cigars, Sindicato_Affinity, smoke_inn | No Comments »

Sindicato Hex

Friday, September 6th, 2013

Thanks to Smoke Inn for sending some samples for review. Sindicato is a new cigar company. Basically, a bunch of retailers got together and formed this brand. Retailers include Smoke Inn, Quality Fresh Cigars, Old Virginia Tobacco, Corona Cigar Company, and Nice Ash Cigars. Who better to collaborate on cigars than experienced retailers? This is an interesting concept, so enough rambling from me.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Size: Toro 6 x 54

Price: $6.95

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had an shiny, oily appearance. I picked up an odor of earth, barnyard, and mild spice. The cigar was solidly packed, with no inconsistencies. The draw had slight resistance, just the way I like it. The pre-light draw had flavors of dark chocolate, earth, and spice.

The ash held for just over an inch, and the burn required a few small corrections.

 1 Sindicato_Hex cigars

Flavor:

The first third started out with a dark, earthy flavor. Think of how rich, fertile soil smells. This is what it reminded me of. It was ultra smooth, and quickly developed black coffee notes. After about an inch in, a dark chocolate flavor joined in.

2 Sindicato_Hex cigars

A very easy, smooth pepper introduced itself in the second third. What really stood out was dark chocolate. Coffee was up next, but it had minimal bitterness. A note of cinnamon was noticed in the aftertaste. The smoke feel was very smooth and sweet.

3 Sindicato_Hex cigars

There was a cinnamon tingle in the last third. It accompanied the dark chocolate nicely. Coffee, and that easy pepper, remained in the background. There may have been subtle earthiness, leather, and wood. I had a hard time telling, due to the sweetness. This wasn’t a bad thing.

4 Sindicato_Hex cigars

Conclusion:

This was a very good medium bodied cigar. It was basically a candy bar. The flavors quickly established themselves, and subtle changes kept things interesting. I could smoke this at any time of the day. I’m curious to try their other lines. Stay tuned for that. As for the Hex, I’m sure you can tell, I really enjoyed it.

Posted in Cigar Reviews, Cigars, Sindicato_Hex, smoke_inn | No Comments »

Smoke Inn/TomsCigars Sampler Contest WINNER

Monday, August 19th, 2013

Let’s cut to the chase. The winner of the cigar sampler is Steve D. I will be emailing you for your contact info, so keep an eye on your inbox and spam filter.

TomsCigars_Money_Shot_Sampler cigars

Thanks again to Smoke Inn for making this raffle possible, and to everyone who entered. Don’t forget, you can purchase this sampler for yourself directly from Smoke Inn. CLICK HERE for more info!

Posted in Abe_Dababneh, Cigars, Contest, Money_Shot_Sampler, smoke_inn, Supporters Of The Site | No Comments »

Smoke Inn/TomsCigars Sampler Contest Ending Soon!

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Have you entered to win a free sampler of cigars? If not, time is running short. CLICK HERE!

TomsCigars_Money_Shot_Sampler cigars

Don’t forget, you can purchase this sampler at any time RIGHT HERE.

Any time now, I will draw a random winner. Thanks to Smoke Inn for making this raffle possible!

Posted in Abe_Dababneh, Cigars, Contest, Money_Shot_Sampler, smoke_inn, Supporters Of The Site | No Comments »

Smoke Inn, TomsCigars Sampler & Giveaway

Friday, August 2nd, 2013

This post will be stuck at the top of the site until the contest expires. New content will continue to be posted.

It’s true, I have my own cigar sampler. I am often asked what some of my favorite cigars are. While the list changes, I have some go-to sticks that I recommend to those who ask. Thanks to Smoke Inn, this sampler is available to everyone, at a reasonable cost (and no profit to yours truly). The whole concept behind this is to promote relaxation via fine cigars.

TomsCigars_Money_Shot_Sampler cigars

You may be asking, “So what’s in the sampler, where can I get it, and how can I win free cigars?” Read on…

The sampler is available for purchase at Smoke Inn right now. It’s that easy, click here! Before you do that, leave a comment on this post. You’ll be entered to win this sampler for free. It contains the following cigars, ranging from mild to full bodied and strength.

 

1 EPC Inch Maduro No. 64

1 Ortega Serie D Maduro No. 6

1 My Father Flor de Antillas Toro Gordo

1 Illusione Epernay Le Monde

1 Perdomo Champagne Robusto

1 Arturo Fuente Magnum Rosado R58

1 Kristoff Maduro Matador

1 Drew Estate Undercrown Belicoso

 

Standard disclaimers apply. You must be 18 or over, and live within the United States. Please only enter once by leaving one comment here. Make sure to enter your real email address in the email field. All contact information will be kept confidential. In a week or two, I’ll randomly pick a winner.

Posted in Cigars, Contest, Money_Shot_Sampler, sampler, smoke_inn, Supporters Of The Site, tomscigars | No Comments »

Room 101 Big Delicious

Monday, April 29th, 2013

Big Delicious is the brain child of Room 101 owner Matt Booth, and Smoke Inn owner Abe Dababneh. Smoke Inn has teamed up with various manufacturers in the past, to form what they call their MicroBlend Series.

As for marketing, hey, this is Matt Booth here (Psst! Call me <3 ). Match him up with Abe, and 70’s influenced shenanigans ensue. It is downright silly, but, when I think back to the 70’s, the flashbacks I have tie it all together. See the website for more details.

And finally… Thanks to Abe and Smoke Inn for sending me a couple samples to review.

Room_101_Big_Delicious Cigars band

Wrapper: Habano 2000

Binder & Filler: Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican

Size: Torpedo 6.25 x 42-54

Price: $8.95

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was velvety smooth, yet it had an oily sheen. Sniffing the wrapper and foot, I picked up a mild odor of wood and barnyard. There were some minor inconsistencies in the packing of the cigar, but nothing was of concern. The draw was just a tad snug, but fell within my tolerances. The pre-light draw was woody, leathery, and bitter sweet.

The ash held for over an inch, and the burn required a couple minor corrections.

1 Room_101_Big_Delicious Cigars

Flavor:

The first third opened up with a smooth woody flavor. Right behind it was an easy pepper, which was similar to cayenne. After about one inch, the spice developed a nice zing, and black coffee joined in. Earthiness was far in the background. The aftertaste was a subtle bitter sweetness.

2 Room_101_Big_Delicious Cigars

Bitter sweetness came through a bit more in the second third. Wood, pepper, and earthiness followed. The aftertaste became sweeter, and took on a slight creamy feel. It reminded me of coffee with a touch of cream.

3 Room_101_Big_Delicious Cigars

The last third had the same basic flavors as before. The biggest difference was the sweetness, which developed into a bitter cocoa. The pepper and bitterness became stronger as I got to the tapered torpedo head. Over all, the flavor profile was richer and fuller bodied.

4 Room_101_Big_Delicious Cigars

Conclusion:

All gimmicks aside, this was a solid medium to full bodied cigar. Looking back on all the Smoke Inn Micro Blend series I’ve had, my favorite remains the Anarchy. That isn’t to say this is bad, it’s just completely different. I think the Big Delicious is worth a try.

Posted in Abe_Dababneh, Big_Delicious, Cigar Reviews, Cigars, Matt_Booth, Room_101, smoke_inn | No Comments »

Tatuaje Apocalypse

Friday, November 23rd, 2012

Thanks to Abe from Smoke Inn for sending me a sample to review. The Apocalypse is a Smoke Inn exclusive, and the next installment in their MicroBlend series. It is also the sequel to the Anarchy, which is a favorite of mine. It should be noted that the band on my sample is from the original Anarchy. The Apocalypse will have a similar band, but reversed colors.

 

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan

Size: 5.25 x 48-52

Price: $8.95

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The dark wrapper was glistened with oil, and was topped with a pigtail cap. The aroma of the wrapper was dark chocolate and hay. The cigar was evenly and solidly packed, which led to a draw that was on the snug side. The pre-light flavor was dark chocolate. Think cooking chocolate, bitter, sweet, and dark.

The ash held for about an inch, and the burn required several corrections. The snug draw opened up in the first third, so that wasn’t an issue.

1 Tatuaje_Apocalypse cigars

Flavor:

There was no build up in the first third. I was immediately greeted with a nice peppery zing, cedar, and black coffee. After smoking about an inch, cocoa joined in and rounded things out.

2 Tatuaje_Apocalypse cigars

The second third had an increase in pepper. Coffee and cedar dominated the flavor profile, along with that peppery zing. Behind it was notes of cocoa and slight earthiness. Overall, the flavor profile felt richer and fuller bodied.

3 Tatuaje_Apocalypse cigars

The last third was very similar to the second third. What changed was the smoke feel. It became very crisp and dry. Otherwise, the same flavors remained.

4 Tatuaje_Apocalypse cigars

Conclusion:

This was a very good full bodied cigar. It was very similar to the Anarchy, but just different enough to set it apart. Is it worth the asking price? As a treat I’d say yes, but it definitely isn’t priced as a daily smoke. I think I like the Anarchy more, but that is based on smoking only one Apocalypse. No matter, I think this is worth a try at least.

Posted in Cigar Reviews, Cigars, smoke_inn, Smoke_Inn_Microblend_Series, Tatuaje_Apocalypse | No Comments »

E Doble by Erik Espinosa (SI Exclusive)

Friday, June 1st, 2012

Thanks to Smoke Inn for sending me a couple samples of the E Doble. Unlike other Smoke Inn exclusive blends, this is geared towards the budget smoker. It is made in Espinosa’s La Zona Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Many budget cigars tend to fall short, so I was curious how this would hold up. For the review, I paired with water. You know this.

 

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan

Size: Robusto 5 x 50

Price: $16.25 for a five pack

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The shiny, oily wrapper looked nice, with barely a flaw. I know this is going to sound bad, but the wrapper smelled like I went to a barnyard and sniffed a turd. Maybe you are asking… “How would he know what that is like?” Well keep wondering! Anyway… The foot had a medium earthy odor. The cigar was pretty solid and evenly packed. Any variances were minimal. The draw had slight resistance, with a woody and earthy flavor.

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

1 E_Doble_by_Erik_Espinosa cigars

Flavor:

The first third had a dominant woody flavor. Through the nose, there was a familiar pepper that had just a little bit of kick. I think the guys at Dog Watch coined the phrase “Nic Zing.” That’s what I got. There were also slight notes of earthiness. The smoke feel was dry and left me craving water.

2 E_Doble_by_Erik_Espinosa cigars

The second third didn’t really change. The dominant flavor was wood. The pepper with a slight zing was up next. The smoke feel remained fairly dry, but not quite as much as before. It wasn’t bad, but saying more would be redundant at this point.

3 E_Doble_by_Erik_Espinosa cigars

The last third kept the same profile as before. The only change was the body and strength picked up a little. It was nothing drastic, but worth noting.

4 E_Doble_by_Erik_Espinosa cigars

Conclusion:

This was a decent medium bodied cigar. For the price, I think it is worth every penny. It was one dimensional and simple, but had good flavor. This would be fine with coffee or something to impart more flavor. If you are in the mood for something complex, don’t reach for this cigar. If a simple, budget friendly smoke is something you seek, I’d recommend it.

Posted in Cigar Reviews, Cigars, Erik_Espinosa, E_Doble, smoke_inn, Value Cigar | No Comments »

Arturo Fuente Solaris (SI Exclusive)

Sunday, May 20th, 2012

Thanks to Smoke Inn for sending me a couple of these to review. This is another exclusive blend for them, and was completely created by Fuente. Carlos Fuente made a small batch of cigars over six years ago, and there they sat. Until now. I paired with water and got to smoking. Let’s see how it went.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown

Binder & Filler: Unknown

Size: 6 x 49

Price: $89.50 for a 10 pack

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had a smooth, oily appearance. There were no visible flaws, and the veins were small to medium. The smell of the wrapper was a mild cedar. The foot had almost no smell at all, perhaps a mild earthiness or hay. The cigar was well packed, with only minor hard and soft spots. The draw had slight resistance, and the pre-light draw had a sweet, almost honey flavor to it.

The burn required a couple corrections, and the ash held for about 1.5 inches.

1 Arturo_Fuente_Solaris cigars

Flavor:

The first third had a dominant flavor of cedar. Retrohaling revealed an easy pepper with a tinge of creaminess. There may have been a mild nutty component as well.

2 Arturo_Fuente_Solaris cigars

The second third was almost an even combination of cedar and nuttiness. Like before, the pepper was easy to swish around the mouth and sinus. I could only detect earthiness in the aftertaste.

3 Arturo_Fuente_Solaris cigars

The last third kept the same core flavors as before. The only difference was the smoke feel became creamy and sweet.

4 Arturo_Fuente_Solaris cigars

Conclusion:

This was a solid mild to lower medium bodied cigar. In typical Fuente fashion, it was consistent, easy to smoke, and construction was good. Unlike other Smoke Inn blends, this fits a different demographic than, let’s say, the Anarchy. For me, this is a breakfast or lunch smoke with coffee. If I had to complain, the price may be a little on the high end, for me at least.  I think they are worth a try if you appreciate mild to medium cigars.

Posted in Arturo_Fuente_Solaris, Cigar Reviews, Cigars, fuente, smoke_inn | No Comments »

My Father El Hijo-Smoke Inn Exclusive

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

The My Father El Hijo is the third installment in the Smoke Inn Microblend series. The first installment was the Tatuaje Anarchy, and the second was the Padron 1964 Anniversary SI-I5. As you may have gathered, these lines are exclusive to Smoke Inn. Back to the cigar at hand…

The foot was left unfinished so the first few puffs are wrapperless. The complete run is only 650 fifteen count boxes, which will be released August 12th, 2011 at Smoke Inn’s West Palm location. You can also order at their website. Now that we have the details out of the way, I paired up with water as usual, and smoked a couple of these cigars.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 5.5 x 52

Price: $9.75

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The dark brown wrapper had minimal flaws, and some medium to small veins. The cap lifted just a little but didn’t cause any problems. The wrapper had a mild earthy smell, while the foot was more spicy. The cigar was consistently packed, and bounced back when squeezed. The pre-light draw had slight resistance, with a dark coffee type of flavor.

The ash held for about 3/4 of an inch, and the burn required no corrections.

1 My_Father_El_Hijo cigars

Flavor:

The first third immediately started with pepper with a nice zing. A woody flavor accompanied it as well. After a few puffs I moved past the shaggy foot and got into the wrapper. From there the smoke smoothed out a bit. The pepper also calmed a little, but it kept it’s zing when passing smoke through the nose. The flavor profile settled in to cedar, coffee and wispy earthy notes. After about 1.5 inches in, the smoke smoothed out into a buttery, velvety smooth feel.

2 My_Father_El_Hijo cigars

The second third continued with that buttery smooth smoke feel. The main flavor was coffee and cedar. Through the nose, the zingy pepper remained but wasn’t hash. Sometimes there were hints of earthiness and an unidentified sweetness. At around the half way point the smoke became less buttery, not in a bad way. It simply dried out a little.

3 My_Father_El_Hijo cigars

The last third saw a return of that buttery smoothness. Some draws felt dry, others were not. The core flavors remained coffee and wood. Through the nose, the peppery spice calmed in to a sweet cinnamon. The zing was constant throughout, leaving a nice aftertaste. The sweetness developed into something similar to caramel.

4 My_Father_El_Hijo cigars

Conclusion:

This was a very very good medium to full bodied cigar. Thanks to Smoke Inn for sending me a couple samples to try. This is a slow burner with great construction characteristics and flavor. The price is on the high end of my comfort zone, but I think it delivers. I think they are definitely worth a try, especially if you are a fan of My Father cigars.

Posted in Cigar Reviews, Cigars, El_Hijo, my_father, smoke_inn | No Comments »

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