Archive for the ‘Value Cigar’ Category

Some Great Cigar Gift Ideas for Dad for Father’s Day

Monday, June 25th, 2018

At JR, we know that Dad is often someone’s favorite cigar connoisseur, but the task of buying him his favorite brand can be a difficult one, especially if you don’t know exactly what brand he smokes or if he likes to mix things up. So, to make life easier for you, while pleasing him at the same time, we have a vast selection of premium Cigar Samplers for him to discover and enjoy. You can assemble your very own sampler with single cigar selections from hundreds of premium brands to choose from, or order one of our many pre-made assortments carefully chosen for their fabulous construction, top-ratings, and great taste.  To get the ball rolling we have assembled some of our bestselling Cigar Samplers for you to select.

The Happy Father’s Day Collection would make the ideal gift for any smokin’ dad at a price that can’t be beat anywhere on the web! Along with 20 best-selling handmade cigars, you’ll get a black 20-count humidor and a Cigar Savor Double-Bladed Guillotine Cutter, all valued at $174.85, for only $49.95! That’s a massive savings of more than 70% off the regular retail price! Each combo includes 5 of each of the following terrific smokes:

La Finca Ammo Toro • 6.12 x 50

Oliva Serie O Churchill • 7.00 x 50

Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Robusto • 5.00 x 50

Maria Mancini Magic Mountain Maduro • 6.00 x 50

For our Ultimate & La Gloria Collection, we have teamed up two of our most popular cigar brands in one affordable 15-count pack. From la Gloria Cubana, he’ll get 5 of the Serie R Black #58 cigars, a potent Oscuro wrapped Nicaraguan powerhouse loaded with bold, heady flavors of licorice, white pepper, cedar, and espresso. Joining this gem, is our world-famous JR Ultimate # 5 Maduro cigar from Honduras, another dark beauty that’s full flavored and brimming with hearty notes of chocolate, leather, coffee, and spice. If pops enjoys his smokes dark and savory, this Sunday is going to be an extra-special day for him!

To offer him tons of variety, Our Terrific Twenty Collection features a top-rated assortment of full flavored smokes from some of the hottest names in the boutique cigar industry. You get 5 cigars each from Uncharted, Trinidad Santiago, Thunderdome, Boneshaker, and La Gloria Cubana Serie R. Although not for the faint of heart (or palate), If dad likes his cigars, bold, complex, and incredibly delicious, this affordable deal will make him very happy on his big day!

Not sure if dad smokes a mellow, medium or full-bodied cigar? Then why not cover all the bases and buy him the Romeo, Don Pepin and La Gloria Collection. With this assortment he gets the famous Romeo y Julieta 1875 Bully, a premium cigar beloved the world over for its distinct nutty character, lovely aroma, and smooth, easygoing, medium body strength. Bumping up the strength a notch is the medium to full body La Gloria Cubana Wavell, an earthy Cuban-style cigar with hints of coffee, leather, and cream. After his big Father’s Day meal and perhaps a couple of cold ones, the full-bodied Don Pepin Garcia Blue Toro Grande, a 62-ring masterpiece, will really hit the spot with its bold, yet refined flavors of earth, cocoa, sweet spice, cedar, and a zesty pepper finish.

Released just in time for Father’s Day, our Cigar and Humidor Combo 3 is a terrific present for any smokin’ dad, because he gets two special gifts in one— a top-quality humidor, and some awesome cigars!  Inside a stunning, airtight, glass top mahogany wood humidor rests 20 classic premium cigars from Maria Mancini, La Finca, and the world-famous Montecristo brand. All medium to full bodied and loaded with their own unique, hearty Cuban-style flavors, these fine premium cigars and this gorgeous humidor is truly a fantastic combo that he will be delighted to receive!

Still not sure which of these top-notch selections to pick? Then head over to our vast selection of Cigar Samplers on our JR Website, where you will have a staggering 16 pages of great Samplers to choose from! But hurry and order some soon, because the big day is rapidly approaching!

Alec Bradley Medalist Cigars – The Return of a Mellow Classic!

Monday, June 25th, 2018

If you were a premium cigar smoker in the mid- 1990s, you may recall the Alec Bradley Medalist brand. It was a popular mellow to medium body smoke, and one of the first brands to put this now famous cigar company on the map. Alec Bradley went on to create a portfolio of highly rated, full-bodied releases like Black Market, Maxx, Tempus, Prensado, to name a few, however, In January 2018, the company went back to its roots with the re-release of this old favorite brand, to once again capture the mellow cigar smoking audience.

The reincarnated Medalist brand consists of the same recipe of perfectly aged Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers, a Honduran binder, and a deep, reddish brown Honduran wrapper. And, much to the delight of its many former brand loyalists, the Medalist has returned once again affordably priced!

Alec Bradley Medalist cigars are available in four popular big ring vitolas, with a Gordo that weighs in at a hefty 6 x60-size— a wise choice considering big fat cigars are all the rage these days! As one would expect from an Alec Bradley offering, every cigar is flawlessly rolled, slow burning, and displays an effortless draw.

Flavor-wise, the Medalist does not disappoint, for its brimming with rich and rewarding tasting notes of cocoa, baking spices, leather, toast, cream, and some hints of zesty citrus to spice things up a bit.

This cigar remains one of the finest mellow cigars Alec Bradley has ever released, and thanks to its smooth easygoing character, it’s one of the few Bradley blends that’s newcomer friendly.

Unlike its long running predecessor, this Medalist is made in limited quantities, so if you want to experience what we consider the perfect all-day smoke, you shouldn’t hesitate to place your order.

Jose Marti Cigars – An Outstanding Everyday Value!

Friday, June 1st, 2018

Going old-school once again for this edition of our JR blog, we look at a premium cigar brand that has been around for so many years, that many current legal age smokers were still teething when it was first released!

Jose Marti cigars were named for a pivotal figure in Cuban history who led an insurrection that ultimately resulted in Cuban independence from Spain. Sparing you any more of this history lesson, Jose Marti cigars, available in Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Dominican blends has certainly stood the test of time, because this is an awfully tough cigar to beat when it comes to flavor, quality, and price.

First released in 1992, by NATSA, the talented folks who brought you some of our enormously popular JR Alternative brands, to name a few, the original Jose Marti Nicaragua consists of four big ring vitolas that are rolled with aged Dominican, Honduras, and Nicaraguan fillers, a Honduran binder, and a silky Ecuadorian wrapper. To accommodate Maduro cigar fans, the 4.5 x52-ring Jose Marti Robusto uses a dark, almost black Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper in place of the Ecuadorian leaf. Both varieties are medium body in strength, rich, nutty, earthy, and sweet, with the Maduro blend bringing some chocolaty goodness to the flavor profile.

Riding on the heels of its hot-selling Nicaraguan counterpart, Jose Marti Dominican cigars were made with the mellow to medium body cigar aficionado in mind. It features aged Dominican binder and fillers paired with the classic Connecticut Shade wrapper that is prized for its silky-smooth taste and feel. Those who love traditional creamy flavors that include coffee, leather, nuts, and spice, found on many of the top-rated high-end Dominican brands, will find this affordable Connecticut-style cigar a very satisfying everyday value.

It took a very long time, but in 2015 the enormously popular Jose Marti brand finally got a line extension produced in Honduras to cover all three popular Central American cigar growing regions. Jose Marti Honduran cigars feature a stunning Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, a sturdy binder from Honduras, and a complex blend of aged long filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua. To offer Honduran cigar fans their perfect style of smoke, it comes in a staggering eight size assortment that once again includes a dark, oily, Connecticut Broadleaf wrapped Robusto. Medium to full bodied and oozing with ample notes of earth, peppery spice, nuts, cocoa, cedar, and some chocolaty flavors from the Robusto, these Honduran gems pick up where its Nicaraguan cousin left off.

Now sold in 20-count bundles, the entire line of handmade premium Jose Marti cigars offer budget conscious consumers the quality and taste normally found on costlier cigars.

Alcazar No. 3 Maduro

Friday, September 21st, 2012

I often overlook the lower shelves at the local cigar shop. A couple of weeks ago, I reached down and randomly grabbed the cigar up for review today. I could find very little information on this smoke, so let’s get to it.

 

Wrapper: Connecticut Maduro

Binder & Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 6 x 50

Price: Around $3.00

1 Alcazar_Maduro cigars

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was a little rugged looking, but overall no major flaws were noticed. I could detect no smell off of the wrapper and foot. Squeezing the cigar revealed some lumps, but nothing extreme. The draw was a bit stiff, and the pre-light flavor reminded me of hay and earthiness.

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

2 Alcazar_Maduro cigars

Flavor:

The first half was earthy and had a touch of leather and hay. A slight pepper was noticed when retrohaling, and it stuck around in the aftertaste. The smoke feel was crisp, but to my surprise, it didn’t leave me craving water.

3 Alcazar_Maduro cigars

The last half developed a slight bitter sweetness. It leaned more towards the bitter side though. Like before, earthiness, hay, and a slight leather rounded things out. Pepper remained the same, as did everything else.

4 Alcazar_Maduro cigars

Conclusion:

What can I say… It was a $3.00 cigar. Construction, burn, and ash were good. The flavor was one dimensional. Basically, this is your run of the mill yard gar. As Ed would say, “It was just another cigar…”

C & C Corojo

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

When I reviewed the C &C Connecticut, I assumed it would be another ho-hum, cheap cigar, no feedback post. While that cigar wasn’t bad, it wasn’t anything special either. The feedback from a few of you surprised me though. Brad, who commented on the Connecticut review, said he enjoyed the Corojo a little more than the Connecticut. Based on his opinion, off to the shop I went. Let’s see if I agree with him.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Corojo & Cuban seen blend

Size: Robusto 5 x 50

Price: $3.65

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper had an oily, toothy appearance, and had no visible flaws. Considering this was a value cigar, it looked above the price range. Sniffing the wrapper, I could only pick up earthiness and cedar. The foot had more of a pungent earthy smell. This cigar was solidly packed, with only a few minor soft and hard spots. The draw was perfect, with only slight resistance. The pre-light flavor was a simple earthiness with wood.

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

1 C&C_Corojo cigars

Flavor:

The first third had a woody, tingly, spicy core. It wasn’t a straight black pepper, but it had an easy zing. The smoke feel was thick, and the aftertaste was earthy, with a little spice.

2 C&C_Corojo cigars

The second third had a creamy, sweet smoke feel. It mixed with tingly spice, and I can only compare it to a mild cinnamon. It wasn’t nearly as intense as cinnamon though. Behind that was wood and earth. As I progressed closer to the last third, the strength gradually increased, but stayed well within the medium range.

3 C&C_Corojo cigars

Spice calmed down in the last third. It didn’t go away, it just felt smoother, and it was easier to pass through the sinus. The smoke feel became dry and crisp, but kept that sweet component. Like before, wood and earthiness followed closely behind.

4 C&C_Corojo cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good medium bodied cigar. Like Brad, I enjoyed this more than the Connecticut. The flavors were pretty rich, especially for a cheaper cigar. There was no wow factor, but it did meet, and maybe exceed my expectations. I could see these being a good lunch smoke, especially for those on a budget.

C & C Connecticut

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

I found the C & C Connecticut while browsing a local cigar shop. I was in the market for a cheap, mild cigar. I often snub the cheapies in the humidor, but every now and then, I figure, “Why not?” At this price point I had little to lose, so I grabbed a few. Is this just another cheapie, or a diamond in the rough? Let’s find out.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Size: Robusto 5 x 50

Price: $3.65

1 C&C Connecticut cigars

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

A quick visual inspection of the wrapper revealed a nice, shiny appearance. There were some decent sized veins, but nothing that I would consider a flaw. The odor of the wrapper was cedar, with a sweet mild spice. I couldn’t get any smell off of the foot, perhaps a mild earthiness. Overall, the cigar was solidly packed, and had some variances in construction (lumps). The draw had some resistance, and was a little snug. The pre-light flavor was mild and earthy.

The snug draw wasn’t an issue once lit. The burn required no corrections, and the ash held for just around an inch.

2 C&C Connecticut cigars

Flavor:

The first half had a mild peppery spice on the retrohale. The main flavor was earthiness, subtle nuttiness, and a smooth buttery component. As I approached the end of this half, the strength increased slightly, perhaps to the upper mild region.

3 C&C Connecticut cigars

The second half took on a thicker, creamier smoke feel. The spice kicked up a notch, but remained easy and mild. Earthiness, along with a nutty note, remained the same. The buttery component remained, but took a back seat towards the end. A mild, spicy tingle lingered on the palate for a little while.

4 C&C Connecticut cigars

Conclusion:

I know many people don’t care to read reviews of cheap cigars. There is an undeniable market for them, so I’m going to give them a shot from time to time. So… This was a decent milder cigar. It was fairly one dimensional, but with coffee, I enjoyed it much more than the standard water. Burn, construction, and flavor, weren’t bad. It basically is a typical Connecticut wrapped cigar. It pretty much lived up to the price point. If you’re in the market for a cheap, decent Connecticut cigar, this is worth a shot.

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.

Padron Series Londres Maduro

Friday, May 25th, 2012

Not long ago I was looking for a smaller cigar at a decent price. Julia, from JuliaLightsUp, suggested the cigar up for review today. Being a fan of the Padron Series in larger sizes, it made sense to try this one. For the record, I paired this cigar with water.

 

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro

Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan

Size: 42 x 5.5

Price: $3.35

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper looked good, but I did notice it’s blotchy color and rustic appearance. The wrapper had the smell of barnyard. The foot had more of an earthy and woody smell. The cigar was a little lumpy when squeezed, but there was nothing of concern. The draw had slight resistance, and had a dark bitter cocoa flavor.

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

1 Padron_Londres cigars

Flavor:

The first third had a nice mixture of coffee, bitter cocoa, earthiness, and a nice peppery spice through the nose. The smoke feel was a bit dry and I craved water, but it wasn’t too drastic.

2 Padron_Londres cigars

For the second third, the cocoa increased in strength and dominated the flavor profile. Right behind it was coffee, and mild earthy notes. Pepper was mostly noticeable through the nose, and had a little zing. The smoke feel became creamy and sweet, which was reflected in the aftertaste.

3 Padron_Londres cigars

The last third had an even mixture of flavors most of the time. Occasionally cocoa would stand out, and sometimes coffee would. But for the most part, it was consistent with the second third. The strength of the flavors increased a little.

4 Padron_Londres cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good medium to full bodied cigar. The flavor profile, construction, and burn left me nothing to complain about. The price was appropriate as well, and worth every penny. If you only have 30-40 minutes to spare, but want a cigar that delivers, you may want to check this out. Needless to say, this has been my go to “Quick smoke” for a couple of months now.

JR Alternative–Padron Exclusivo

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

Today’s review is an ultra cheap bundle cigar offered by JR Cigars. They offer alternatives to dozens of cigars. My lifelong friend Jay gave me a couple of these cigars, which are an alternative to the Padron Anniversary Series 1964 Exclusivo. He was basically curious of my opinion. So here it is, my opinion of the JR Alternative Padron Exclusivo.

 

Wrapper, Binder, & Filler: ???

Size: 5.5 x 50

Price: Bundle of 20 – $31.95

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper looked good, with small veins and no noticeable flaws. It had a barnyard smell, and the foot shared the same odor. The cigar was a little spongy when squeezed, with some minor tight spots towards the head. The pre-light draw was free, and had an earthy and woody taste.

The burn required a few decent sized corrections, and the ash held for a bit over an inch.

1 JR_Alternative_Padron_Exclusivo cigars

Flavor:

The initial few puffs of the first third were earthy. Soon after, the flavor became a little buttery with some of the associated creaminess. The earthiness fell to the background, and I picked up some woody notes.

2 JR_Alternative_Padron_Exclusivo cigars

The second third kept the same buttery creamy flavor and smoke feel. When passing smoke through the nose, I could pick up slight earthy notes.

3 JR_Alternative_Padron_Exclusivo cigars

The last third developed a slight sweet spice, but otherwise remained the same as before.

4 JR_Alternative_Padron_Exclusivo cigars

Conclusion:

For a little over a buck, this cigar met it’s price point. Obviously it brought nothing special to the table. It was an OK mild to medium bodied cigar. I have run across much more expensive cigars that offer the same as this one does. Because of that, I say this is not bad. At least there were no bad flavors or harshness. How does it compare to the actual Padron? Give me a break, it isn’t even close. Clearly this is a gimmicky sales tactic, which I’m sure you’ve figured out by now.

Gurkha Park Avenue Maduro

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Since I enjoyed the Connecticut wrapped Park Avenue, I figured I’d give this one a try. You can find them online easily and at a pretty cheap price. It is claimed that only 5000 boxes were made. Once they are gone, they are gone. I paired this cigar with water and offer you my thoughts…

 

Wrapper: Habano Maduro from Jalapa, Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: Torpedo 6.2 x 52

Price: $3.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was blotchy looking and a bit ugly. For the price I don’t expect a pristine dark maduro look. The wrapper had a different smell to it. It was earthy with a mild soapy odor (I swear!). The cigar was rock solidly packed with tobacco. The pre-light draw was a little to stiff for my liking, which I found to be common with these cigars. The pre-light flavor was earthy.

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

1 Gurkha_Park_Avenue_Maduro Cigars

Flavor:

The first third started off with earthiness and a mild pepper. After an inch or so, a generic sweetness gradually made it’s way into the flavor profile. I also picked up a hint of woody notes.

2 Gurkha_Park_Avenue_Maduro Cigars

The second third had a dominant dry cocoa flavor. The earthiness fell into the background. The pepper stayed mild and was easy to move through the sinus. There were woody notes in the background. Simple but not bad.

3 Gurkha_Park_Avenue_Maduro Cigars

The last third continued with the dry cocoa flavor. It almost drowned out everything else, which isn’t a bad thing. The peppery spice through the nose remained mild and had a woody aftertaste.

4 Gurkha_Park_Avenue_Maduro Cigars

Conclusion:

This was a decent mild to medium bodied cigar for the price. It was pretty uneventful but the flavors were decent. The only bad aspect is construction. Out of the dozen or so that I’ve had, more then half of them had tight draws. I know this is a value cigar, but I expect a good draw. Over all, I prefer the Connecticut wrapped version of this cigar. The flavors just seem to be better and more refined. The Park Avenue is basically just another cigar.

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