Reviews by Brandon S

So, why would I write another review on this cigar after 3 years? I'm glad you asked and better still, I'm going to tell you...

Over the years I've tried many "new releases" that were excellent cigars and I'm sure you feel the same way. The trouble is that often after the lot of tobacco used to create that first batch has been depleted, the factories and blenders are left with the daunting task of producing the cigar again the following year with different tobaccos while maintaining the strength and flavor of the prior year's blend. This often leads to disappointment because subsequent batches lose that something special that was in the blend the first time out. Not so with the Centurian! No way, no how, no doubt about it! Each and every Centurian that I have enjoyed from that very first to today is perfectly consistent in every way, from the burn to the construction to the intense Cuban-esque flavor that each imparts. Mellow off the start with a hint of spiciness, the Centurian slowly builds into a full-bodied and full-flavored cigar with a complexity and richness that rivals even the most sought after Cuban cigars. Year over year you won't find that kind of consistency in any Cuban cigar these days. Sure the price isn't anything to sneeze at but if quality, consistency and a superior blend of tobacco is what you’re after, look no further because your search is over!

Like a monkey attracted to a shiny object, I first picked one of these up when the fabric band adorned with gold sparkly stuff caught my eye some years back. I love Maduro cigars and I also love full-bodied cigars and when I first laid my eyes on this beauty it was love at first sight! Oily, dark and superbly constructed, the ‘O’ Maduro is truly in a class by itself. A Nicaraguan puro, the ‘O’ derives much of its unique flavor and subtle strength from the five-year old Nicaraguan Habano wrappers that are often in short supply. I’ve been enjoying these for a few years now and most often will reach for one after a nice dinner when in the company of friends. In fact, I have a little story for you that has made me and my ‘O’ Maduros famous. Well, maybe notorious is a little more accurate...

I remember it vividly as we had just finished dinner at a local cigar bar famous for their filet mignon. Now, by “we” I mean 6 of my co-workers and their significant others for a healthy and rambunctious crowd of about 14 people. I had enjoyed a few cocktails over the course of the evening and had just pulled out an ‘O’ Maduro Ovation, clipped the top and begun to toast the foot. I should mention that I had just popped “the question” less than a month earlier and as luck would have it she actually said yes. Thoughtfully (or in retrospect, thoughtlessly) I gazed at my smoldering cigar and said to my fiancé, “do you see this band?” as I am pointing to the band on my cigar... “this band means as much to me as the one on your finger means to you” As I slowly realized what I had said, I looked up from my cigar to see every person sitting at the table with their mouths agape. I stuttered and reeled as I struggled to find the words that might help exonerate me from the world of trouble I now found myself in but the only thing I managed to stammer was “I...uhh...should go to the...umm...men’s room now...” and off I went. Fortunately for me my fiancé is very understanding and has grown accustomed my moments where my mouth is fully engaged while my brain is stuck in stupid.

So that’s my little story about my favorite Maduro that nearly ended my marriage before it ever began. But, the real point here is that this is a magnificent cigar and one that you really must try. Recently the bands have been changed from the beautiful blue fabric accented with gold to a less expensive paper version but no matter because what makes this cigar special is the blend of tobacco.

The Bottom Line: Rich in flavor, full in body and with just enough complexity to keep you guessing as to what comes next, the ‘O’ Maduro is as much a standout from the crowd as an elephant in a barnyard full of chickens.

I’ve honestly tried to give this cigar every opportunity to “blow my skirt up” (use your imagination) by smoking each of the Churchill, Torpedo and Robusto sizes on various occasions, with and without food and with a variety of my favorite spirits. Each and every time I found myself disappointed by the lack of flavor and complexity that this cigar delivers. Add to this a price tag of $18-$22 per stick and now we might be gaining some insight as to where the “nearly hallucinogenic” description came from! A 5-pack of these babies will lighten your wallet real quick leaving you feeling woozy just before your lights go out when you hit the floor like a ton of bricks. I know, I know, it’s a Graycliff and after masterfully crafting the Emerald, Crystal, Professionale and original lines you are probably thinking that it is a given that Espresso would deliver everything it promises and then some. Unfortunately, I’m sorry to say that’s not the case here. Maybe I’m being too harsh and if you truly do enjoy the Espresso then I digress. However, if you were contemplating a purchase or if you have oogled these cigars from afar uttering to yourself, “one day…one day you will be mine”, well then, my advice to you is to think it through before you pull the trigger on these. $100 can buy you one helluva of a sampling of some very tasty treats, or it can get you just one…single…5-pack.

So Chris, I pulled a 5-pack of my size of choice, the LGC Serie R #5 Maduro and got started with my note taking to produce the following review just for you my friend…

I think it goes without saying that the entire La Gloria Cubana line has become a staple in the cigar industry. It has been around for years and has garnered a reputation as being a consistent and reliable smoke year after year. Truth be told, I haven’t had an LGC in quite some time. My desk is typically piled high with new cigars and samples of cigars from factories and manufacturers looking for feedback on prototypes of new smokes destined eventually for full-scale production. I know, I know, I have a rough job!!

Upon pulling the first of the 5 cigars I purchased for this review, the very first thing I noticed was a wrapper that was both lighter than what I have come to expect from El Credito as well as much more veiney than what I remember. I shrugged it off and went to town first cutting the cigar with a guillotine followed by a torch to the foot and I was off and running. The first few puffs brought me back to the heady days of wandering into the CI retail store where I would stand in awe at the incredible variety of cigars to choose from. Although the smoke produced were not of the voluminous clouds I ordinarily like to see emanating from my mouth, the flavor was distinctly rich and slightly sweet. Truly indicative of a naturally fermented Maduro wrapper! A third of the way into this big boy and the burn went a bit awry with one side burning a little faster than the other which unquestionably impacted both the flavor and temperature of the smoke produced. One other note is that the strength isn’t what I remember it being. There was a time when an LGC would give me cause to have a seat but certainly not this time. Reflecting back and smoking an Edge Maduro as I write this review, I believe the reason for this is the recent trend towards “super-strong” cigars. What once was full-bodied now feels more like medium to full or perhaps just medium bodied.

The Bottom Line:

While there’s no doubt that La Gloria Cubana is a solid “go-to” cigar I think that the cost is somewhat prohibitive and the flavor a little, dare I say, boring. For this kind of cash I would suggest a little experimentation. Newer cigars like the Triple Ligero and Edge Maduro have enough body to put you to sleep for an entire day. Good stuff!

A while back we got our hands on a very nice, no-frills cigar from Gurkha called the Park Avenue Serie 44. Nothing too fancy, simply 25 cigars packaged neatly in a bundle with an elegant gold on copper band. When I saw the price I became very intrigued having always thought of Gurkha as a “high-end” maker of super-premium cigars. So, I pulled out my credit card and bought my first bundle of 25. I say “first” because if you were to look at my order history here at CI you would quickly realize that it is literally peppered with purchases of these cigars. As I have mentioned in past reviews – what typically impresses me with a cigar is a characteristic that makes it stand out from the crowd. It could be anything from an unusual level of complexity to a unique flavor or spice that I have never experienced before. That’s just what we have here…

Light this cigar up and you will likely think to yourself, “pretty smooth with just a bit of spice on the back of the tongue”. What is exciting to me is the gradual and consistent change in both strength and flavor as the Park Avenue continues to burn. It is deceptive how this cigar quietly evolves into a full-bodied and more spicier version of its former self. Certainly the spice is attributable to the Nicaraguan long-fillers that make up the filler in its entirety. Yet the unmistakable smoothness encountered at the start is no doubt due to the aged Connecticut Shade wrapper that is used to finish of the Park Avenue Serie 44.

Bottom Line: A tremendous value cigar that delivers cigar after cigar, bundle after bundle. At less than $2.80 per stick it certainly qualifies yet the construction and quality is everything you would expect form cigars costing 3 times as much!