Reviews by Jeff K
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A game-changer from Oliva.
Football’s back and some things never change. Seahawks look dominant on both sides of the ball. Romo takes all the blame. And the commish’s list of friends is dwindling with every passing day. But among the constants, there’s always change. The Jags show signs of life. Johnny Football has come to save Cleveland. And the Patriots hold sole possession of last place. New year, and a fresh fight for the crown. And never does a year go by without some serious surprises and sleepers emerging as contenders.
I could sit here and offer Atlanta and Tennessee as this year’s sleepers, and I’d like my chances. But I’ll just stick to what I know best and call out a deep sleeper in the cigar world that’s a total lock. The Reckoning by Studio Tobac: a bold, newer release from Oliva that somehow stayed very quiet.
As soon as you lay your eyes on it, you’ll know this puppy looks good enough to eat. Its dark, Nicaraguan Habano wrapper is gorgeous to say the least, but it’s the ligero-packed long-fillers inside that make the mouthwatering virtually unavoidable.
At first light your palate will be bombarded by heady notes of white pepper, earth, and espresso. As I puffed my way through the first third, I began to get concerned that the delicious, intense flavors swirling about would vanish quicker than David Carr’s career. To my relief, that didn’t happen, but instead, an intriguing change in flavors took place taking Reckoning’s complexity up one notch. Entering the mix were sweeter notes of leather and oak, but the intense pepper that started it all off still remained, just a bit more subtle. As I approached the nub, even richer, more complex nuances entered the fray, including wood and a slight black cherry note. Still, until the very end, the full-bodied strength and the same pepper that got my attention from the start maintained.
Do yourselves a favor, The Reckoning is one hidden gem and at under five bucks a pop, this is a late round steal that will have your friends furious they didn’t snag em’ first. Low risk and a huge payout with no drama, this sleeper’s the safest bet around.
90
Dunhill Aged Dominican
I’m bad at this. It’s been too long since my last review, but I’m making a promise to do better. So expect more this year, and if you’re bored, shoot me a request on a cigar you’re interested in and I’ll write something up.
Dunhill. It’s a brand you’ve likely heard of, but not necessarily for their cigars. They’re a pretty big company, with roots in pipes and now a full line of pricey men’s accessories ranging from custom-tailored suits to pens and ‘timepieces’ (see:www.dunhill.com). But despite their prominence in other things, their cigars are way under the radar. And one blend in particular has become a personal favorite of mine: Dunhill Aged Dominican.
Dunhill Aged Dominican is the flagship cigar in the Dunhill line, the descendant of a once-popular line of Dunhill handmades manufactured in Cuba. This Dominican-made blend features a perfect, blonde Connecticut shade wrapper grown in the USA and an aged blend of Dominican Piloto Cubano and Dominican Olor from Cibao. This combination delivers an elegant, high-end profile that goes down really easily. Notes of oak, cream, toasty tobacco, a nice black pepper quality and a hint of citrus on the finish are perfectly balanced and offer a Connecticut experience that’s far from ordinary. And that’s my favorite part. It’s mellow to medium-bodied, but with enough flavor and complexity to keep it interesting. Flavor, balance, perfect construction, a high-end look, and a great finish, Dunhill Aged Dominican is the complete Connecticut package. I’m a big fan and I always have some on hand.
And then there’s price. Full retail ain’t cheap, but fortunately, we sell it for much less. Starting at just over 5 bucks apiece and packaged in economical 10-count boxes.
91
CAO OSA Sol
OSA Sol marks CAO’s first major release in a couple of years – since La Traviata. And naturally, people are pretty excited about it, including myself. Well, I was excited….
Here’s what I liked about it: the construction, the burn, and the draw were perfect. Honestly, as good as it gets.
Here’s what I didn’t like: The flavor was ho-hum at best. An attempt to please palates of all types (my guess), leads to a flavor that’s lacking, and just boring in general.
Here’s the quick backstory: OSA Sol takes its name from the proprietary tobacco leaf which serves as its wrapper - a sun grown leaf from the Olancho, San Agustin region of Honduras. The guts are comprised of a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and a Nicaraguan and Honduran long-filler blend. Interesting enough.
Aesthetically speaking: OSA looks pretty good. Firmly packed, neatly capped, and boasting a medium-brown wrapper leaf that’s just slightly splotchy and slightly dry in appearance. The boxes are pretty attractive too (if you care).
Here’s what I got out of it: It begins with a noticeable herbal, woody character that’s interesting, but not necessarily to my liking. The flavor overall is very mellow and clean, just a few clicks shy of medium-bodied. Flat’s a good word, I guess. It’s not that the flavor is bad, it’s just missing something. And muted to a degree that makes it uninteresting. But as it burns, it does get better. Approaching the halfway point, I hit a little bit of added sweetness and richness to the original core flavor. And a touch of pepper too. But still, nothing overly exciting. Nearing the final inch, the bitterness built up quickly and I called it quits.
Overall: The flavor just wasn’t for me. It’s safe, and I know it has a place in the cigar world for that reason. Although considering CAO’s past, I guess I just expected more. But as I stated above, the burn, draw, and construction were paramount. The amount of smoke was perfect, the draw was just right, and the burn was straight all the way down - which definitely counts for something.
You’ll like it if: you prefer easy-going, mellow to medium-bodied cigars. And if you think construction and draw are the end-all, be-all. Just don’t expect a ton of flavor.
87
Hoyo Excalibur Cigarillos
With a small cigar, there’s really not much to say. So I’ll keep it short and sweet.
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Cigarillos are my favorite small cigar. In between my normal rotation, or when time demands something quick, these are my go-to. First, they’re all tobacco....no homogenized wrappers or even, God forbid, paper like some of the other stuff out there. Second, they taste great – big cigar flavor in a cigarillo size. The smoke is thick and creamy and the flavor is rich. Plus, they’re packaged in nice pocket-sized tins. So if you’re like me, a traditional-sized cigar guy who needs something smaller occasionally, Excalibur Cigarillos are the best I’ve found.
Note: I’ve tried the Miniatures too. And although the flavor is mostly the same, they’re extremely small and they burn hot. So I’m not really a fan.
89
La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor
La Aroma de Cuba has always been a brand to which I didn’t give much attention. But I’ve recently seen the light.
La Aroma de Cuba is an old Cuban brand with a great back story. Supposedly, the Cuban La Aroma de Cuba brand was a favorite of Winston Churchill. In 2002, Ashton released a Honduran-made La Aroma de Cuba which initially made a big splash. Quickly earning some impressive ratings, La Aroma de Cuba was generating some serious buzz. The artwork was beautiful, the cigars were made in the renowned Flor de Copan factory (home of Saint Luis Rey, Quintero, Romeo Habana Reserve, et. al), and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. I was excited to try one. So I tried about 4 and had a terrible experience each time – I had some serious issues with construction and the flavor was just average. Then I forgot about La Aroma de Cuba for a long time. A couple of years ago they launched La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial and while I enjoyed it, the price was a bit more than I cared for. But a new era of La Aroma de Cuba is here and they’ve calmed all my fears. The original La Aroma de Cuba is now made in Nicaragua by Don Pepin Garcia and the Edicion Especial has just experienced a drastic price decrease. Plus, they’ve just launched a new addition to the line – La Aroma de Cuba ‘Mi Amor’ – and the initial response has been tremendous. So once again, I was excited to one.
La Aroma de Cuba ‘Mi Amor’ is handmade in Nicaragua by Don Pepin Garcia and marks a drastic departure from the other blends in the line. The wrapper is a dark, ultra-thick Mexican maduro leaf that’s extra toothy. On the inside, a bold blend of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long-fillers. The whole thing is then gently box-pressed and adorned with the signature La Aroma de Cuba artwork. And I must say, it’s a good looking cigar.
Initially, the flavor is slightly dry with a rich, charred finish. That kind of sounds bad, but it’s an interesting taste that’s oddly delicious. As it burns, the flavor develops nicely and the taste balances. It’s extremely rich, with a supporting cast of espresso, pepper, spices, cedar, and a slightly sweet finish which rounds out the mix. It changes often and offers a ton of flavor, all delivered in a full-bodied, but refined manner. And the toasty, chocolatey aroma adds an additional layer to the experience. Smooth throughout with a slow-burn and tight, grey ash, La Aroma de Cuba ‘Mi Amor’ is a cigar I’ve been thoroughly enjoying.
It’s different than most cigars on the market, but a true premium with a ton of flavor. If you enjoy rich, full-bodied smokes, La Aroma de Cuba ‘Mi Amor’ is one that should definitely be added to your rotation. They’re not cheap, but for a cigar of this level of quality, they’re worth the asking price.
90
La Herencia Cubana
CAO Black
Humi-Care XG1000 Pro Humidifie...
Graycliff 'G2'
5 Vegas Triple-A
Magellan Dominicans
Ashton Cigars
Cain by Oliva
Rocky Patel Sun Grown
La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Fresh...
Hoyo Excalibur
CAO OSA Sol
Dunhill Aged Dominican
The Reckoning by Oliva
One Village Coffee- Latin Amer...
Bugatti Ambassador
CAO Pilon
Camacho Powerband
Joya de Nicaragua Red
Oliva Variety Sampler