Reviews by Keith

The current cigar deal threat level is red. Red as in Bahia Maduro and its bright red bands, that is. She’s a beauty that Bahia Maduro, bringing brains, brawn, and good looks: quality construction, generous ring gauges, smooth, rich flavor…. to top it off she’s a cheap date. To be sure, for $2 to $2.25 per stick it’s in the running for top handmade value.

Bahia Maduro begins with an aged blend of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long-leaf tobaccos covered in an Habano leaf binder, and ends with a dark, marbleized Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper to complete the recipe. The wrapper’s not cosmetically perfect, but damn this thing looks good…..almost too good.

It burns even, draws perfectly. That alone would be good enough for a stick costing a buck-fitty. But the flavor profile brings a lot more. Medium in body with a dense, rich, and hearty flavor profile, at its core Bahia Maduro is defined by ample notes of cocoa, spices, earthiness and a peppery-sweet tobacco base. Combined with a smooth yet deliberate and slow burn, this sucker is memorable and downright lip-smacking. You’ll smoke it, you’ll nub it, and you’ll want more.

At full MSRP, it would be a regular in my rotation. But at CI’s prices, I will grope it amorously, early and often. In a world where the enjoyable sub-$2.50 maduro is soul-achingly rare, the Bahia Maduro blend is a prince among men. Maduro fans – this is a gift. Don’t pass it up.

“Wow” was the first thing that came to mind after lighting my first Reposado ’96 Maduro. Not because it’s an all long-filler 7.1” Salomon that retails for $2.50 (which is outrageously cheap). But because the onslaught of flavors that greet you right from the start is so astounding.

If you’ve browsed through the (brilliant!) archives of my past reviews, you know I’m a fan of the other two Reposado ’96 blends. These are the Big Hairy Beasts that rule the cigar value jungle. Solid flavor, excellent construction….pound for pound it’s one of the finest handmade values anywhere. The newest addition to the mix – complementing its Connecticut and Habano brothers – is the Maduro. It’s a homerun.

Draped in a naturally dark, leathery San Andres maduro leaf and packed with a flavorsome, flavoryific blend of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long-fillers, the stately Reposado ’96 Maduro Salomon is an impressive cigar bringing gobs of flavor. It’s actually surprising how quickly it develops. Almost instantly after lighting you’re greeted by a flood of rich and hearty flavors. With dense notes of coffee, caramel, spices and a toasty-sweet finish, Reposado ’96 Maduro coats the palate with a wealth of sensations. Adding to the experience is the warm, bready aroma that fills the air. Medium in body but overflowing with character….Reposado ’96 Maduro is a complete cigar. You complete me.

I burned it all the way down – almost two hours of work – and loved every inch. If I sold you this cigar for $5 or even $7, I bet you wouldn’t balk. But for $2.50? I give it extra points for price. There are a whole lotta cigars that cost a whole lot more, but aren’t nearly this good. So if you like maduro wrapped cigars, say hello to your new friend.

La Estrella Cubana's new Oscuro blend is an interesting handmade hailing from Nicaragua. What's extra interesting is that it's a quality handmade maduro costing you 2 bucks a stick (and under). That's a true rarity in these post-SCHIP days. In fact it could easily sell for $4 or $5.

La Estrella Cubana - “the star of Cuba” - is eerily reminiscent of Gurkha Doble Maduro, from aesthetics to flavor profile. It's put together - firm, heavy in the hand and seamlessly constructed, draped in a coal-black, slightly mottled Costa Rican maduro wrapper. This triple-fermented leaf is loaded with richness and flavor usually found on much pricier sticks. Inside there's a mellow blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers. After a quick glance of this ebony beauty you’d be tempted to think 'full-bodied'. But La Estrella is far from it. Rich and flavorful but mellow to medium-bodied....and extry smooth. Yes, extry.

From first spark up on the draw is on point - each puff releases thick clouds of aromatic smoke. The flavor remains fairly static throughout - not overly complex but quite tasty. Smooth and creamy with notes of coffee, cocoa, pepper and a toasty, semi-sweet finish. It’s gentle enough for burning in the morning with a cup o’ joe and rich enough for after dinner. The draw is good, the burn is straight, and the flavor is right....solid on all fronts. It's also prime for aging. If you lay a few down for a 6 month nap, you're in for a real treat.

Dollar for dollar, this is a killer. A well-made, mellow maduro for less than 2 bones? Winner winner, chicken dinner. 

New off the rolling tables in Esteli, Nicaragua comes Oscuro Fuerte, a gorgeous line extension from La Herencia Cubana. This rich, extra-strong LHC brings big flavor and knee-knocking strength. Take a seat son, this will only hurt a little. Indeed, Oscuro Fuerte is a powerhouse blend packing heat and bringing the thunder. Its potent, sumptuous PA Broadleaf maduro wrapper pairs with bold, searing ligero filler tobaccos from the growing regions of Esteli, Condega and Jalapa. All told, this LHC is visually striking to say the least, offering a deep, dark chocolate colored wrapper bursting with tooth and glistening with an oily sheen. In fact, before even sparking it up you can imagine the flavor within, just waiting to be uncorked and run roughshod over your palate. Rounding out its discernibly good looks is the cigar’s heft – well-packed, firm, heavy in the hand. Clearly this carefully constructed black beauty was designed for the seasoned cigar smoker.

From first light on, the draw is perfect and the smoke thick and dense. Not overly complex, it brings rich notes of espresso, licorice, spices plus a long and toasty finish. As it develops, a slight sweetness and increasingly pronounced spice becomes clearly noticeable. The first inch or so is medium in body, but as it burns the power increases markedly. Frankly, as it nears conclusion I can really feel the strength most noticeably in the gut. Not unbearably so, but enough to let me know who the alpha male is. A distinctly tasty profile from start to finish coupled with impressive strength and flawless construction make LHC Oscuro Fuerte a winner, winner, chicken dinner on all fronts. Considering you can pick up a box in the $3- $3.50 per stick range, it’s also a phenomenal value. C’mon. You’d be hard-pressed to find a cigar of this caliber for such a price at any store (other than CI of course, chum).

As a general rule, cigars with this type of deep black oscuro wrapper aren’t normally to my liking. I find that while they normally offer well-placed richness and strength, they linger on my tongue in unnatural form….making me want to scrape my mouth clean to rid myself of the troublesome beast. But that ain’t the case at all with Oscuro Fuerte. It’s strong and rich but feels properly fermented and utterly natural on the palate. It’s a bit heavy toward the end yet remains uber-flavorful and nicely balanced.

Fans of full-bodied maduros, feast! La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte delivers the goods.

Man O’ War Ruination. Oh yes. This holy cocktail of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan and Honduran long-leaf ligeros along with Habano Ecuador ligero leaf is a veritable powderkeg. Ligeros are the tobacco plant’s highest priming (the leaves on the top of the plant). This means more sun exposure which in turn leads to maximum strength and robust flavor. And since Man O’ War Ruination features both ligero filler and wrapper, I braced myself for a searing, flavor-packed powerhouse. It delivered…and then some.

Pre-Light: gorgeous. In the hand it’s a weighty, firmly packed stick with an impressive looking wrapper that’s deep brown in color and shimmering with natural oils. Even pressing the foot of the cigar to the nostrils yields an enticingly fragrant aroma. See it, touch it, smell it….you’ll know what I’m talking about son.

Strength: the power is all consuming and noticeable the instant you spark it up. An intensely heavy smoke along with a bold accumulation of spice and pepper characterize the first inch or so, but it mellows a bit from there. It never loses its zesty character – not by a long shot – but the strength settles to a point where it’s balanced and downright addictive.

Flavor Profile: strength aside, Ruination is no one trick pony. When the dust settles after the first inch, Ruination’s brilliant array of flavors take center stage. Its distinguished profile is characterized by notes of cedar, espresso, leather, spices and a long, toasty finish. MOW Ruination’s most cherished characteristic is balance. Just when the intensity teeters on overbearing, it settles into a smooth smoke brimming with flavor – and then the cycle repeats. Considering its complex and disarming multi-layered flavors and constantly shifting roller coaster of taste and strength, this blend is the complete package.

Conclusion: for dudes seeking strength, complexity and flavor all rolled into one tidy package – your search has ended. Man O’ War Ruination is the pinnacle of the cigar blending craft. A tad pricey fellas, but this is worth every penny.