Reviews by Keith

As the saying goes, "beauty may only be skin deep, but ugly goes right to the bone." But this is one beauty that's got a pretty face and delivers the goods, in all respects from substance to flavor to construction to price. Bold statement. If you're a maduro nut, the new El Mejor "Espresso" blend will wow you. I received a small advance shipment a few weeks ago (the full shipment to arrive next week) and I gotta tell you, I was blown away. Keep in mind, I approached this blend with caution at first based on my experiences with the old El Mejor. See, the old El Mejor - the original green label - always flummoxed me. When it was good, it was truly great....and if you were patient enough, 6-12 additional months of rest in your humidor without exception turned a great smoke into an almost legendary smoke. Yep, that's right old friend....bordering on legendary. But the thing is, it tended to be spotty. For some reason the consistency just wasn't there from shipment to shipment: see, some months they were simply stunning while others you went home disappointed. Inconsistency like that is a killer. A cigar can be the greatest in the world when it's on, but if it's only good half the time that's a sure way to frustrate a brand's loyal following (and I know because I read the countless letters!). Recognizing this, the green label has been phased out until those consistency problems were ironed down. No doubt it will be resurrected some day hence, but the point of my telling you all this is so you don't confuse the two.

Having bored you to tears, let's move on to the new El Mejor Espresso ("maroon label") line: Espresso is made by none other than Nestor Plasencia in Esteli, Nicaragua. At first glance this thing is really gorgeous: it offers a jet-black, smooth, chocolately Mexican maduro wrapper that's very appealing, thick, oily and black as night. And combined with its crisp, hospital-corner-esque, tight square-pressed finish, the Espresso series looks like a chocolate candy bar. Spark it up and it's got an initial smoky flavor and charcoal-like aroma. It settles down into a cool-burning cigar delivering deep, rich flavors including subtle nuances of cocoa and black coffee, even a touch of sweetness. smoother than you'd think, this lush, medium-bodied blend features a creamy texture and aromatic character. emitting incredibly viscous gobs of billowing smoke with each pull. The packaging? Well, it ain't sexy, just plain mazos of 20, nothing ornate. But the cigar speaks for itself and the incredibly reasonable price tag reveals nothing about the quality of the smoke inside. Highly recommended.

Until a year or two ago, I never viewed Natural as a serious, conventional cigar. In most consumers' minds it is so closely tied to Drew Estate's insanely popular, highly-infused ACID brand that the popular misconception holds that Natural is also such an "imbued" cigar as well. To be sure, Natural is made with unconventional tobaccos from such sources as Haiti and Turkey, as well as more common Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. But just the same, the Natural line can stand on its own two feet as a legitimate traditional cigar. Unusual? Yes, but a bona fide brand that conventional smokers will come to love. I'm a believer! Can I get an amen?

With Root, the tobaccos have been heavily fermented to offer a distinctly rich, deep leathery flavor. The notes of dark coffee and ripe smokiness are undeniable. It pumps out voluminous gobs of buttery, creamy smoke. Soft to medium-bodied in strength, ample in flavor. My personal favorites in the Natural line: Root, Dirt, Pimp Stick. Buy them early and often.

So on to the cigar: at first glance, Flor del Todo is certainly not winning any beauty contests. It is however one of Keith's top five knockaround cigars...cigars I burn when I'm putzing around the yard, on long car rides, playing golf, stuff like that. The Churchill is a meaty 7.25"x53 vitola packed to the brim with fillers. It feels like there's 2 cigars worth of tobaccos in here; in fact it takes a solid hour+ to burn it down to my knuckles. The draw is not effortless - not that it's a tough draw - but there's a little bit of resistance to it which I especially like in a knockaround cigar like this. The wrapper is a thick, double-fermented Ecuadorian leaf with a sort of marbelized appearance and rustic, chewy texture to it. The body is medium, the flavor smooth, slightly creamy, a little gritty on the tongue with a nutty character and pleasant aroma. The finish is very clean and crisp.

I give this one extra credit in the ratings category because of the enormous value - each stick costs around a buck each and that my friend, is unbeatable.

At first glance it's a little rough-looking in appearance, the wrapper very marbelized with several prominent veins, plus I noticed one soft spot in the midsection. I like this vitola, not grotesquely thick yet ample girth to showcase the blending abilities of maker Ernesto Carrillo. It produces abundant spice on the back of my throat from the get-go, frankly a little overwhelming for my palate at 9:00 in the morning. I know I know, go ahead and call me Sally. Let me get a refill of coffee.....okay I'm back! It settles down a bit from here but remains very bold and complex. The aroma is intoxicating and the big, creamy clouds of smoke are a treat. Around the mid-point however I experience some bite and a slight grassy taste as it begins to burn a little hot and harsh for just a brief spell, before evolving back to the more familiar rich, creamy, and full profile with distinct notes of cedar. The finish is long and lingering, tingling the back of the tongue.

The Serie R is a very good full-bodied cigar with ample complexity and flavor, one that deserves credit for helping to kick-start the trend toward heavier blends. Perhaps it has been eclipsed slightly by other, newer blends in the full-bodied department (CAO Brazilia, Edge, 5 Vegas 'A', Camacho, Joya Antanos, etc.) but should remain a staple in most humidors.

Don't get me wrong, the people involved in the making of Macanudo cigars are first class, and the factory that makes them cranks out some of the best blends in the market. To me though, Macanudo is the Coors Light of cigars: they taste the exact same every time, they'll work in a pinch, and they're so gentle to the point of being forgettable. Sure, I'd gladly quaffe a dozen at a cookout or throw a bunch back on a canoe trip, maybe even brush my teeth with it. But they're just not in my rotation. Taste of course is subjective and there's a time and place for all manner of blends. After all, Macanudo didn't get to be the biggest-selling handmade cigar in America by accident!