Some Pics

As I've been moving up to Minnesota, I haven't had much time to review anything. Rather than post something really old, here's some pictures which may or may not interest cigar smokers.

I've completed the Xikar HC Red collection - cutter, pocket lighter, table lighter, ashtray, and cigar. Resting on the Xikar HC poster Xikar sent me.

Some of Sam Leccia's creations at a Cain event in Cigar & Tabac in Kansas City, KS.

Closeup of the Steeler's Nub.

Me lighting a cigar at one of the Outlaw Cigar events when it was cold out.

Declaration Iniquity Toro

Size: 5.5 x 50

Time Smoked: 1800

Date: 06/29/2010

Drink: Rum n' Gin

Before lighting, I noticed one bad spot in the wrapper, but it didn't effect the smoke at all. There was a very subtle barnyard smell. If I hadn't been sniffing for it, I wouldn't have smelled it. The cold draw was nutty.

On lighting, the nut stayed and was joined by a butter which then predominated. A dry nut flavor then took over - when I noticed its solid ash. Halfway a pepper takes over which strengthens through the finish when the butter joins back in.

Mi Barrio El Acere Toro

Size: 5.75 x 50

Time Smoked: 1315

Date: 06/19/2010

Last Meal Eaten: Lunch 1215

Drink: Skyy Vodka

This was a beautiful looking cigar with a dark silky wrapper giving off a light barnyard smell and just asking to be smoked. On lighting, there was a very strong pepper. This tamed down into a white pepper and a touch of citrus after a few minutes. Past halfway, the pepper strengthened and the citrus opened into a great umami flavor. The two-stage finish was umami giving way to a return of very strong pepper from the start. Yet another happy smoking experience from Pepin.

La Aurora 107 Belicoso

Size:6.25 x 52

Purchased: The Humidor - Wichita, KS

Time Smoked: 1345

Date: 06/09/2010

Drink: Coffee

I was glad to finally run across these since I wasn't able to make it to my local B&M when these were being given away. I bought it in Wichita and brought it home to sit for a few days.

When I took it out to smoke, I noticed the notch on the head along a vein in the leaf which is visible in the picture. However, cutting the cigar kept this from being a problem until the very end. The wrapper gave off a sweet barnyard aroma with the foot giving of a much stronger barnyard smell. The cold draw had a hint of citrus.

On lighting there was a sharp, almost lime, tang. It settled into a dry toast which dried out my mouth, but with a very dark ash. I slowed down, and the ash lightened up a bit, but there was still a brown tinge. A sweet butter developed which at halfway became stronger, almost a caramel flavor. The finish spiced up until I put it down because the vein from the crack in the head was poking me in the lip and became very irritating.

This was a decent cigar, but I need to have another of these with a different beverage. I think the coffee masked some of the flavors and the combination of the cigar and coffee was drying out my mouth.

Cusano Freedom Toro CRA Blend

Size: 5 x 50

Purchased: Free cigar with CRA membership

Time Smoked: 1800

Date: 05/31/2010

There was a light barnyard oder from the cigar pre-light. Overall the construction was great except for the cap which looked a bit rough. The cold draw was cream with a subtle grass undertone.

The first half inch was buttery cedar with strong bitters. After that the bitters dropped out and the cream from the cold draw took over and deepened as the cigar developed. Halfway through the length, some pepper tones underlay the cream. The finish had burning grass and became very sharp.

This is one of the random cigars from CRA. If you happen to get this one when you sign up, enjoy the body of it, but I would suggest putting down when the grass comes into the finish.

Jose M. Losa Petit Centros

Size: 5.75 x 44
Time Smoked: 2140
Date: 03/19/2010
Last Meal Eaten: Supper 2030

The cold draw was a strong bite and sharp. On lighting, the harsh stayed. As it developed, it was tannic. The finish was salt and bitters. The burn was uneven for the entirety of the stick. I'd be willing to try another one of these just to see if this one was an anomaly.

Joya Cubana Gran Merito Robusto

Size: 5 x 52 Toro
Purchased: Fuller's Pullers Dogwatch Cigar Radio Selection
Time Smoked: 1545
Date: 03/15/2010
Last Meal Eaten: Lunch 1230

This was an unknown band to me, but was a surprise.

Pre-light there was a subtle barnyard smell and a coffee flavor on the cold draw. On lighting a dry nutty flavor rather quickly developed into a sweet cream, almost a mocha. By midpoint the flavor was a solid dark chocolate. The finish was the same dark chocolate with a hint of spice.

A very pleasant and enjoyable smoke, well worth the time. If you can find it, buy it.

Matasa 30th Anniversary Toro

Size: 6.5 x 52
Purchased: Fuller's Pullers
Price: Dogwatch Cigar Bundle
Time Smoked: 2000
Date: 03/01/2010
Last Meal Eaten: Supper 1925

I would have called this a perfecto, but the sheet from Joe said it was a toro, so I'll go with that.

Paper and pepper greeted me when I lit this cigar, which for me boded poorly as I hate the paper taste in cigars. Later on the paper was replaced by leather, so it didn't haunt me the entire cigar. As I smoked it, I noticed the presence of nicotine on my lips, but overall the cigar seemed very mild. There wasn't much to the finish.

This cigar must have been past its prime or in a down slope with the aging, because (I'm sorry to say) it was a poor showing. Matasa produces other cigars I've really enjoyed. If I can get my hands on another of these (unlikely), I'll have to try it again to see if this was just a one-off (which happens).

Ashton VSG Toro

Size: 6.25 x50
Purchased: Cigar Rights of America
Time Smoked: 1230
Date: 01/29/2010
Last Meal Eaten: Lunch 100

This stick from the Cigar Rights of America Sampler Pack #1 has a soft box press. It started with a sweet herbal flavor, strong on the vegetal. Shortly after the start, the flavor becomes creamy which stays until the midpoint when it becomes spicy. The finish was a clean pepper, bold but not too strong. An interesting cigar overall.

Fuente Hemingway Masterpiece Maduro

Size: 9 x 52
Purchased: Outlaw Cigar South
Time Smoked: 1330
Date: 01/18/2010
Last Meal Eaten: Lunch 1200
Drink: Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile 2007)

Yes, I am qualified to smoke this cigar. If you don't understand that, I won't explain it.

This beautiful five hour (!) stick had a great cool smoke for the first few hours simply because of its length. The opening flavor was cocoa followed an hour later with pepper and toast. The last hour was a bit bland, but that just might have been that having smoked it for four hours my palate just gave up!

This is a great cigar for a lazy afternoon, just don't plan on doing much else.

Esencia LTD 2009 Corona Gorda

Size: 5.625 x 48
Purchased: Fuller's Pullers
Price: Dogwatch Cigar Club Freebie
Time Smoked: 1345
Date: 01/15/2010
Last Meal Eaten: Lunch at 1145
Drink: Water

Say what you will about big ring gage cigars, but I like the more traditional sizes and this cigar is an example of why. I'm writing this as I finish the cigar and its pushing 1700! Yes, three hours out of a normal sized cigar!

Anyway, to the review: You can see on the pic that there was a crack in the wrapper near the foot. It didn't impact the smoke at all, so I won't spend any more time on it. The cold draw was a nice flavor which blossomed into toast on lighting with a hint of pepper in the undertones. The body of the cigar moved back and forth between a sweet, almost syrupy, flavor and the toasty flavor. The finish was a buttery toast taste. A most fulfilling cigar.

Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Petite Robusto Extra

Size: 4.5 x 50
Purchased: April '08 Outlaw Cigar Party
Time Smoked: 1900
Date: 01/01/2010
Last Meal Eaten: Supper 1700

This was my New Year's cigar and it was a good choice. I've been sitting on this box of tiny beauties long enough for them to have begun blooming under the cedar sleeves.

Despite its size, this cigar brought an hour and a quarter of enjoyment. It started with cream and a light pepper. The cream really sits in the mouth, but the pepper leaves when the smoke is exhaled, leaving a smooth taste in the mouth. As it developed, the pepper disappeared and the cream becomes almost a subtle butter. The finish was a toasty flavor bringing the buttery flavor to a nice close with some grain flavors supporting it.

I'm excited to see what another three months will do to the rest of these.