Reviews by Keith

Draped in a smooth and even Connecticut shade wrapper with a lovely, golden-brown hue, Erin Go Bragh is downright picturesque. Adorned with a colorful orange, white and green band styled after the Irish flag and appropriately infused with authentic Irish whisky, its name – Erin Go Bragh – as most will know, means “Ireland forever.”

Slide it under thy flared nostrils and you’ll pick up a subtle pre-light aroma of sweet whisky and cedar…. distinct and enticing, if you ask me. I’m usually wary of flavored cigars. But this isn’t a regular flavored cigar. More subtle and nuanced, it more appropriately belongs in the “infused” or “gourmet” cigar category. Produced in the Dominican Republic at the prestigious La Aurora factory, the filler blend is composed of 100% Dominican long-leaf. At a glance, and after rolling it between forefinger and thumb, it has the look and feel of a quality premium cigar.

Surprisingly, the whisky taste is very subtle – just enough to let you know it’s there, and far from influential. The whisky manifests itself in the aroma, which offers a nice interplay of rich, sweet whisky with buttery, well-aged tobaccos. The profile is toasty and creamy with a little natural sweetness balanced by the real taste of tobacco – this crisp tobacco taste complements but doesn’t overpower the whisky infusion.

Characterized by an easy draw and dense clouds of white smoke plumes emanating from the foot, Erin Go Bragh is exceedingly mellow and smooth. The cigar itself is not overly flavorful but the mix of the distinct aroma and the creamy smoke make for a pleasurable experience. I love Erin Go Bragh as a golf cigar, or simply as an occasional and welcome change of pace. The whisky infusion is the key in this blend. Gentle and smooth enough to be your first cigar of the day but still has enough junk in the trunk to serve as a capable after-dinner treat.

File under tobacco hysteria: I read an article in USA Today recently how cigar smoking has wafted its way into “children’s” movies. The movies cited were Iron Man and The Dark Knight. C’mon! I liked those movies – but ain’t no way in hell they are children’s movies. And while the article’s author and grievance mongers he quoted huffed about seeing a cigar on screen, nary a word was spoken about the prevasive violence and adult themes in the rest of these flicks. Good grief….

Sorry, back to the review. Reposado, part deux. Not to be out done by its Habano brother, Reposado ’96 Connecticut is its attractive, smoother counterpart. With a chestnut-brown Connecticut wrapper that’s smooth and elastic with a nice sheen, this mellow sucker is a looker. Frankly, I’m a sucker for a good Connecticut with some chunkiness in the flavor and heft departments. Offering the same meaty goodness as the Habano, the Connecticut is full of promise, heavy in the hand. An inch in and it’s clearly well-made with quality tobaccos. It billows with thick, creamy smoke and burns like a champ, offering an undeniably distinct character with a mellow-medium body and a profile that’s cedary, toasty, nutty and a touch peppery. I’ve smoked about 12 of them so far and the biggest downside is some inconsistency. On some, I detect a touch of harshness and some variation in flavor from stick to stick. When it’s on – it’s a delicious, smooth-bodied treat with ample flavor. And given the flavor, 2-buck-a-stick price, and quality, the Connecticut it is a must for mellow to medium-bodied fans.

Furthermore, if you’re a patient lad, Reposado '96 Connecticut has great aging potential. Within those I smoked some were clearly better than others – some a bit smoother with more even balance and flavor. A few months of TLC and nap time in the humidor will bring out all the goodness and let these babies shine like they were born to. Since the Habano has just bit more body and richness, this allows any imperfections to hide, but the more open-book, smoother bodied Connecticut has no such advantage. Trust me on this one: while the Habano is great right off the truck, before summer is here the Connecticuts are going to smoke like a dream too.

Hoo baby! Reposado ’96 Habano Salomons are attention grabbing, 7.1” x 58 figurados. These beauties are dark, oily, toothy and down right attractive. Quite frankly, when I first saw these Reposados (knowing that they were going to be sold for only $2), I was floored. This cigar is a thing of beauty, a work of art, and a wallet-friendly crowd pleaser from AJ Fernandez. This Nicaraguan-bred monster is draped in a lovely Habano wrapper and generously filled with an all Cuban-seed long-filler blend from Nicaragua. Dig in! Spark it up and the fireworks erupt. With the first puff, I’m greeted by a truckload of lip-smacking flavory goodness. The draw is slightly tight, not problematic but a tad firm for the first half-inch. Predominant is a well-portioned dose of spice, some sweet mocha notes, and a leathery character. Once you burn through the little nub of a foot into the meaty section, the draw opens up, and like releasing the doves, the flavor changes perceptibly and for the better. The smoke is thick and exceptionally cool. Delivering a balanced array of soft, soothing flavors, this Habano-wrapped beaut quickly calms the troubled soul. With each passing inch, the flavors intensify. Exhibiting an earthy sweetness nicely offset by a black pepper spice and complemented by a cornucopia of flavors including cream, coffee and cinnamon, Reposado ’96 Habano offers ample complexity.

Medium to full in body, when you spark one of these you’re in for a serene, mind-easing 90-minute experience. Smooth and interesting for the entire 7” of this gloriously proportioned figurado, at a paltry 2 bucks this stick is a complete and utter no-brainer. In conclusion, you don’t have to go home – you’ve just got to go get thyself a fistful of these babies without delay.

I’ll remark on the Reposado Connecticut shortly.

Around the CI Campfire a debate has raged as of late - and it ain’t about politics. It’s about an interesting brand called La Herencia Cubana. It's one of those blends that 60% of folks absolutely love, but the rest hate - and not much in-between. It's a product of cigar maker AJ Fernandez, maker of a few Padilla and Rocky Patel lines, plus the exquisite Man O' War blend, among others. Since the day it first hit our catalog a few months back I raved about it because I find it to be a fantastic smoke. I am a cigar geek, 100% certified. "Guilty as charged, your Honor." Indeed, I eat, drink, and breathe cigars....and when a new one comes out, one I feel the CI Faithful will appreciate, I can't help but shout it from the mountaintop. Not just to be able to rub a few nickels together and pay the light bill - which is an added advantage - but mainly to expand the horizons of fellow cigar dudes (that's you). After all, you owe it to yourself to enjoy more than just one type of wine, one beer, one woman (ooops, cancel that one) or one type of food all day.

La Herencia Cubana is a genuine beauty. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Sumatra and is positively sultry, with an oily, slightly toothy, leathery texture and seamless appearance. So pretty - and combined with lovely, if understated, bands - that your expectations inevitably soar upon first glance. And after burning two boxes over the past month, there's no doubt this cigar deserves a few moments of your time. NOTE: it will take you a few sticks to appreciate its subtle nuances; in fact, it will take you at least an inch into the first one before the cigar's flavor really opens up, so be a tad patient. 

Each size is filled to the brim with premium Nicaraguan tobaccos from the country’s three growing regions, promoting a true Nicaraguan character: rich and aromatic. La Herencia's strength is deceiving, largely in part to the aged long-fillers....it's well-balanced, creating subtle and gradual changes throughout the burn. The cigar opens with some peppery notes that fade quickly, but not totally. A creamy core of tobacco and wood soon dominates. Alternativing hints of oak and cedar, oddly enough sometimes both at once. Midway through there’s a slight touch of coffee bean, just before the cigar really stretches its legs and becomes fuller in character

I understand all palates are different and not every enthusiast will fall in love with this cigar. I love it and therefore urge you to give it a shot. Considering our convenient return policy, it’s worth it and then some. Join the debate, men!