Reviews by Jeff K

Over the last couple of years, Rocky Patel’s been a busy man. Decade, Patel Bros, 1961, Renaissance, and now, the upcoming 15^th Anniversary…in addition to the innumerable private labels that are popping up all over the globe. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just takes a little bit of luster off of the old. And if you’ve forgotten, his older stuff is exceptional.  Take Rocky Patel Sun Grown, a prime example of his early work that just made its way back onto my radar…and I’m glad it did.

Well over 5 years ago, Rocky Patel Sungrown hit the ground running with a set of highly favorable reviews and a tremendous buzz. But as the years passed, demand was usurped by the never ending stream of Rocky’s next release. And a little over a year ago, an issue with wrapper shortage left Sun Grown out of stock for numerous months, and led to Sun Grown’s even further backburnering. Don’t get me wrong, Sun Grown has its fans…and there’s plenty of them. But this is a cigar that deserves more. At least in my eyes.  

Rocky Patel Sun Grown is draped in a dark, ultra-oily, 5-year-old Ecuadorian Sun Grown Sumatra wrapper. This namesake piece is a truly gorgeous leaf and the crux of this handmades flavor. Inside, robust Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers are contained within a rich Nicaraguan binder. On paper, Sun Grown sounds pretty…and the real thing ain’t bad either. It’s firm, heavy in the hand and well put together as a whole.

At first light, Sun Grown will grab your attention. A generous dose of hearty spices are paired with a cedary note for a bold introduction. Initially it’s powerful, but the heat dies down quickly. As it burns, it mellows out nicely a flood of complex flavors come forth. Notes of rich tobacco, bread, sweetness and leather are backed by a peppery finish.  It’s smooth and the aroma is warm and rich. Towards the end, the flavor builds and the cigar never gets hot or harsh. The flavor is bold, balanced and complex, a hearty, traditional tobacco taste that’s interesting from start to finish.

Overall, Rocky Patel Sun Grown is the complete package. Ample good qualities and very few bad. If you’re looking for a quality, medium to full-bodied handmade that’s pure, flavorful and refined, Sun Grown fits the bill. And I’d suggest trying the torpedo size first, it’s far and away my favorite.

I must admit, when I first saw the advertisements for Cain I was completely turned off. I mean, c’mon the motorcycle….and is that the Undertaker? I don’t get it. But maybe I’m just out of touch.

So I held off as long as possible….until a couple appeared on my desk. And now I’m regretting not getting into these sooner. I should have known, because I can’t ever remember having a bad cigar from Oliva. But this just reeked of gimmick, and that’s not my bag.

So it’s time to eat crow. Cain by Oliva, more specifically the ‘F’ Series, is a good cigar. Actually, really good. Created with dark and oily Nicaraguan Habano leaf that’s smooth, even colored and extremely appetizing. Inside, a full-tilt mixture of ‘straight’ (actually 82%) Nicaraguan ligeros waits to deliver power and flavor in droves. The ‘F’ Series is basically an amped up spin-off of the original Cain….and it does have a little more pop. Flawlessly constructed, Cain ‘F’ Series is firm and dense with a meticulously applied wrapper. Visually, this cigar is as impressive as they come.

Through the first inch, the draw was just slightly tight. Not too bad, but enough to mention. And then it opened up perfectly. The aroma is rich, spicy and makes itself evident adding an important element to the experience. A complex display of black pepper, cedar, caramel, coffee and a smoky, almost burnt finish characterize the core flavors. Backed by a subtle sweetness and an overall rich tobacco tone, Cain shows an impressive depth of flavor. There’s a lot going on, but the smoothness and balance are unwavering. As promised, Cain is full-bodied. And it builds significantly in strength as it burns. I actually felt this one about halfway through.

Well blended, well made, intensely flavorful and brimming with strength, Cain brings the full, full-bodied package. I’d absolutely smoke Cain again…and again and I’d recommended it – I’m a fan. With prices between $6 and $8, I wouldn’t say they’re a tremendous value. But for an occasional treat or when they’re on special, I would definitely suggest it. It’s different, it’s strong, it’s a complete cigar – Cain by Oliva is easily one of the best new blends on the market. If you like full-bodied, full-flavored handmades, you’ll like Cain.

The Ashton Classic line has been a force in the world of mellow cigars ever since their release. They’re not cheap, but they deliver every time. A consistently well-made, smooth Dominican handmade that has a long-time reputation for quality. Ashton was one of the first cigars I really enjoyed, but I later dismissed them for being too gentle and uneventful for my tastes. I like Connecticut wrappers and I like mellow on occasion. But with prices upwards of $10, I just couldn’t justify the regular Ashton purchase. Recently, my opinion changed.

Last year, Ashton released a new size in their Classic line, the Ashton Majesty. This 6” x 56 vitola looks like all of the other sizes in the Ashton Classic line. Same bands, same box - just a bigger size. Not really that exciting. But when I actually got around to smoking one, I realized that this size is special. A little searching would reveal that the Majesty size employs a slightly different blend than all of the rest. It utilizes the same Connecticut shade wrapper overtop a tweaked blend of filler tobaccos. It’s still all Dominican, but the tobaccos included within considerably more rich and robust.

In appearance, the Majesty is a nice as any. Featuring a smooth, oily, chestnut Connecticut leaf and near flawless construction, this is obviously a well made, premium cigar representative of the Aston brand. When you get into it, you’ll realize that it definitely has some more body than the standard Ashton – more medium-bodied rather than mellow. But the extra flavor that’s included is what puts the Majesty in a different league. It burns straight, draws perfectly and has that creamy, smooth Connecticut smoke, but the underlying flavors are what make the Majesty so good. With a warm aroma, a decent amount of pepper, and a rich array of flavors including earth, cedar, cream, coffee, spices and a slightly sweet finish, Ashton Majesty is interesting and balanced. As it burns, it builds in body and the flavors intensify until an exciting finale. It’s hard to describe why its better, but it just is. It has more flavor, it has more strength, but it retains all of the same elegant and refined qualities as its smoother counterparts. That’s what is most impressive.

It’s hard to justify the nearly $10 per stick price, but I’ve really become a fan. There’s just something interesting and charming about this blend that keeps me wanting more. It’s perfect in the morning and can hold its own after a full meal. It’s surprisingly good anytime. So if you like Ashton, this takes it up a notch. And if you normally avoided Ashton, this size may make you think twice.

It almost feels a little weird to say this, but I actually like Magellan Dominicans.

If you had told me that I would actually enjoy a 55-cent, mixed filler, small corona that comes wrapped in a map (yes, a freaking map), I would have told you that you were crazy. But the truth is, Magellans are pretty good....actually better than a bunch of brands that cost a whole lot more.

When I first came on board at CI, I couldn’t believe how well they sold. Magellan easily ranks as one of our top-selling bundles and they’ve held that spot for years. At a glance, this brand looks like a turd. There’s even a note in the description that says the ring gauge is “sometimes as low as 38 and sometimes up to 44.” So my mind says - if the manufacturer can’t even get the size right, this cigar has to taste horrid. But the truth is, it doesn’t. Not one bit. I’ve burned through quite a few bundles to date and I’ve honestly enjoyed them. Don’t get me wrong; Magellan Dominicans won’t be winning any awards. But for a short smoke with smooth, decent flavor at a throwaway price, Magellan is a perfect fit. Great for 20-minute car rides, dog walks, or a post lunch break snack. 

Made with a somewhat decent looking Connecticut wrapper and a mellow blend of Dominican mixed-filler tobaccos, Magellan is mellow and smooth. This is actually one of the only cigars that I punch (I normally use a guillotine). The reason being, if you cut too much, you’ll get some loose tobacco pieces in your mouth. But a small punch or a really shallow cut gets the job done with no mess. Overall, they burn well, draw well and are consistently tasty. They’re cool, but not bland – creamy and smooth, with notes of cedar, pepper and a slight sweetness on the finish.

If you don’t like mellow, hate small cigars or otherwise, maybe Magellan isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for a something that burns well and tastes pretty good for just a few cents more than a postage stamp, give Magellan Dominicans a whirl.

It’s Christmas Eve and I’m feeling the holiday spirit all through my veins. Grinning from ear to ear, drinking eggnog, trimming the tree, decking the halls and singing Christmas carols all throughout the CI office. Actually I’m not, but I figured it sounded nice. In reality, I just sat down to do what I love – burn a tasty, tasty cigar. That puts a smile on my face every time.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve become quite attached to the newest installment in the 5 Vegas line – a rich, dark maduro beauty by the name of Triple-A. A new extension to the Series ‘A’ line, the Triple-A boasts a dark, oily and toothy Pennsylvania Broadleaf maduro wrapper that is simply oozing with richness. On the inside lies a hand selected collection of bold, Nicaraguan ligero long-filler tobaccos ripe with flavor.

Dressed in a mouth-wateringly handsome wrapper and complete with a two shiny, crisp bands (I like shiny!), the stout 5” x 56 Triple-A is quite a sight. Firm, dense, and heavy in the hand, Triple-A is well built too.

When lit, the Triple-A doesn’t disappoint, billowing out thick clouds of cool, velvety smoke. It’s surprisingly light on the palate, but there’s plenty of power waiting in the wings (just blow it through your nose and you’ll know). Sweet, rich and bready notes dominate initially before more intricate flavors come into play. As it burns, the flavors develop significantly into a truly complete smoke. Subtle notes of pepper, nuts, espresso and a long, toasty finish round out the mix. There’s a lot going on – tons of well-balanced flavors that mingle, harmonize and play off of each other well. And most impressively, despite the abundant flavor and full-body, Triple-A is impressively smooth and balanced. Never harsh, never hot, always delicious.

I like it, I love it, I want some more of it. Yeah, it’s good. 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ Triple-A is among the best. Elegantly refined, full of flavor, and interesting from start to finish, this is a good cigar. 5 Vegas Triple-A is a cool, slow burner that you will savor.

Enjoy a good cigar, enjoy friends and family, enjoy good food and drink, and enjoy the season - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.