Reviews by Scott W.

Cohiba is one of those cigar companies that even non-cigar smokers seem to know of. The original Cohiba Red Dot has been mentioned in many of my conversations with customers as having been their first “real cigar”. Cohiba has branched out with multiple blends since the Red Dot, and since I typically smoke cigars on the fuller end of the spectrum, I decided to see where the Cohiba Black shakes out in the Cohiba lineup today.

The first thing I notice as I take the cigar out of the cellophane is the jet-black, oily nature of the Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper leaf. This is certainly one of the darkest Maduro wrappers I have come across in a while. The recent change in the ring design really pops on the cigar, a sophisticated black and silver design with a carbon fiber-like background. Back in black, done upscale. The presentation is on par with the price point of the cigar. It IS a Cohiba, after all. It looks really good, but it is time to light it up and see if tastes as good as it looks. 

I do a shallow straight cut with my trusty twin-blade guillotine cutter and fire it up. I am immediately greeted with a thick cloud of white smoke from the foot. Notes of semi-sweet chocolate and soft cedar appear on the palate, along with more soft cedar and black pepper on the retrohale. I am surprised at how much smoke is pouring off of the foot when I set it on the finger of my ashtray, as my initial puffs have me pegging this as medium-bodied. As I smoke through the first third, I am intrigued by how the ash is growing. On a lot of cigars with good construction, I often see what we like to call a “stack of dimes” growing as the ash grows longer. This Cohiba; however, has almost no ring-like appearance. Rather, the ash appears to be one solid cylinder of bright white ash – no lines at all – but is holding on impressively. Rock on, my column of ash! The body of the cigar increases from medium to medium-full by the end of the first third, while the pepper is receding from the retrohale and the cigar is finding more balance on the palate. The ash drops off just shy of the end of the first third, so it is not as fragile as I had thought despite its appearance.

As the second third begins, the cigar takes on more of a dark cocoa note balanced by an increasing sweetness, making it taste richer than before. As for the finish, it now ends with a soft, sweet cedar note that hangs on long after the smoke is out of my mouth. It’s been a while since I’ve smoked a cigar with a finish like this. Normally, I would find myself wanting a little more complexity in a cigar with this profile, but that finish makes me glad that they didn’t dial in more flavor notes in the blend. This is a rich, smooth, uncomplicated cigar. Time to set my Spotify station to AC/DC… I’m ready to rock! Speaking of AC/DC, did you know that AC/DC’s Back in Black album was their first album featuring Brian Johnson on vocals? Random thought and fact aside, the cigar’s body is now solidly in the medium-full domain.

The final third starts as a continuation of the second third. No real shift in any of the flavors or their balance, although the black pepper has completely left the retrohale at this point. I’m almost wanting to let the cigar get just to the point of needing to get a relight to allow that sweet cedar finish to linger for as long as possible. If I have one small nitpick this far into the cigar, it is that the ash has gotten a little flaky and I am getting it all over myself. Smoke enough cigars, and it will eventually happen to you too. I’m wishing I had Balvenie 12 scotch or a café mocha with me, as I imagine that both would pair well with this cigar in different, yet wonderful ways. Another thought suddenly occurs to me: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro has a noticeably heavy flavor to it, and yet, the cedary woodiness of the Dominican fillers is never drowned out to the point that I don’t know that it is there. It is a testament to the blending skill of Daniel Nunez that it is the cedar that lingers on the finish rather than the heavy cocoa note of the wrapper. I finish the cigar in just under 2 hours, enjoying that finish one last time.

We all know that Cohibas are far from the least expensive purchase one can make when going into any cigar store. My experience smoking the Cohiba Black has led me to the following conclusion: Anyone who wants to enjoy a well-balanced, smooth, rich, medium to full-bodied Maduro shouldn’t avoid the Cohiba Black because of its price point. We should all treat ourselves occasionally, so crank up the AC/DC to 11, and fire up a Cohiba Black the next chance you get! 

Diesel has long been one of my favorite “bang-for-your-buck” cigar brands. The Diesel lineup is well-known and respected by consumers who live to smoke full-bodied cigars. Building upon the success of the original Diesel, the Unholy Cocktail, the Diesel line has grown and expanded over the years, highlighting the quality tobaccos grown in Nicaragua by AJ Fernandez. The cigar I am reviewing today, the Diesel Wicked, is featuring a different tobacco – the Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro wrapper leaf. Can this leaf, grown within a 2 hour drive of the CI Hamburg Superstore, stand up to its Nicaraguan-grown counterparts? This guy is about to find out.

First off, the presentation of the cigar was well-thought out. The broad red band on the lower third of this torpedo pops against the dark, oily PA Broadleaf Maduro ligero wrapper, with Wicked spelled out in an old-style font reminding me of the branches of a gnarled old tree. Didn’t the Salem Witch hunters burn suspected witches at the stake beneath big, old, gnarly looking trees? If not, the band has sure gotten me visualizing something like that! The aroma of the wrapper leaf reminds me of the smell of the soft, dark leather of a couch or chair, very inviting. The foot offers a soft salty aroma, along with dark tobacco, pepper, and muted leathery notes. 

After making an angled cut with a twin-guillotine cutter, I invoke protection against any evil spells that might be cast upon me, then proceed to set the foot aflame. Immediately, I am greeted with leather, soft saltiness, espresso beans, and subtly sweet spice on the palate. Retrohales deliver black pepper, red pepper, and hints of cedar. I’m surprised by the difference in the experience of the smoke on my palate versus my nose. There is absolutely no doubt that this cigar is full-bodied. No doubt at all. As I continue with the first third of the cigar, I can tell that the flavors are beginning to creep up in intensity, yet they continue to be balanced. The draw has just the right amount of airflow, being neither too loose nor too tight for my liking. As the end of the first third approaches, the ash is still in one piece, attached, and has that “stack of dimes” appearance all the way to the razor-thin burn line. 

Getting into the second third, it’s clear that this cigar increasing in flavor and strength. The leather and espresso bean notes are more pronounced on the palate, joined by a soft damp earthiness. I’m wondering if my protection against evil spells is working, because the earthiness seems to make the leather and espresso notes even more enjoyable. The red pepper on the retrohale is beginning to overtake the black pepper note, but now there is a sweetness to the cedar keeping it in check. Smoke production is impressive, even while resting on the ashtray finger, as a constant thin stream of dense smoke keeps rising from it between draws. I think I’m falling under this cigar’s spell… 

Entering the final third, the build in flavor and strength continues to grow. The leather is still front and center on my palate, but the espresso bean seems to have shifted into the retrohale, replaced by a soft, sweet, dark tobacco note and a hint of black pepper on the palate. This sweetness on the palate is bewitching, as the taste honestly reminds me of the aroma of black cavendish pipe tobacco. How is this happening? Does PA Broadleaf Maduro ligero have magical powers? 

I finally finish the cigar after an hour and a half. The Diesel Wicked has proven to me that PA Broadleaf can definitely stand up to the hearty, bold tobaccos grown in Nicaragua. Next time, I won’t ask for protection from the Wicked. I’ll just ask for a nice peaty scotch to enjoy with this refined, delicious cigar. If you don’t know if you like PA Broadleaf, try the Diesel Wicked. You’ll be under its spell soon!

The Espinosa Laranja Reserva has been one of my go-to medium bodied blends since its release. Laranja is Portuguese for orange, and the name was given to the cigar because of the beautiful color of the wrapper leaf. Smooth and flavorful as the day is long, it’s a really easy cigar to enjoy at any time of day. As much as I enjoy it, I wondered what it would be like with a darker wrapper leaf. It’s almost as if Erik Espinosa read my mind, because he released the Laranja Reserva Escuro, clothed in a dark, beautiful Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper. Aside from being neatly box-pressed, the wrapper is the only change to the overall blend, fermented to the point of having the appearance of a chocolate bar. One of the questions we get asked from time to time at the store is, “Does changing the wrapper leaf really make a big difference in how a cigar tastes?” The answer is yes. The original Laranja Reserva has nice citrus, spice, and subtle leather notes. I’ve chosen the Toro size of the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Escuro to smoke for this review, cut with my favorite V-cutter instead of a double guillotine this time. Let’s see how the new wrapper has changed the profile of this blend…

The flavor is at once both darker and much richer than the original Laranja Reserva. Cocoa and espresso notes are dominant, with softer notes of leather and earth on the palate, ending with a soft sweet finish. Retrohales have baking spices, cream, and soft white pepper. A great first impression, but with noticeably more body than the original. I’d put the Laranja Reserva Escuro at the higher end of medium-full in body. If you’ve never paid attention to the texture of a cigar’s smoke before, pay attention to it with this one. The texture is velvety smooth, reminding me of the kind of thick, creamy smoke I’ve enjoyed in the past from aromatic pipe tobaccos. So far, the burn and draw are impeccable, and the growing ash has the appearance of being extruded, as there are no lines or the classic “stack of dimes” rings in the ash. I’m also digging the box-press of the cigar, as I seem to have fewer draw issues with box-pressed cigars due the slight underfilling necessary to create the shape.

Entering the second 3rd of the cigar, the body and strength seem to be taking a gentle tick upwards. This isn’t a mild cigar, but it isn’t sending any “Danger, Will Robinson!” messages to me like some of the full-strength cigars I like to smoke. I am starting to retrohale each draw, as I am finding sweet creamy cedar notes now that are perfectly balancing the white pepper. The sensation is hard to describe, but very pleasant. That creamy note is also creating an overall flavor profile on the palate that reminds me of taking a sip of a chocolate macchiato from my favorite coffee shop. After 45 minutes, I’ve reached the halfway point of the cigar. Performance from a technical standpoint has been very good thus far, with only one minor touchup to the burn being needed.

An interesting thing I discovered while researching this cigar was that it is not manufactured at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, like the rest of his premium cigar lines. This cigar is manufactured at the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua, owned by AJ Fernandez. Collaboration in the cigar community is something I’ve long admired, and speaks to the trust and respect shared amongst manufacturers in the industry as a whole. It’s not easy to put your baby in the hands of someone else, so when you do, you are very selective about whom you choose. Erik chose wisely, in my opinion, to have AJ and his staff to produce this blend.

Heading into the final third, the cigar continues to become smoother, with the flavor notes staying the same but growing in intensity along with strength and body. Thankfully, I happen to have a cup of coffee with me, and considering I normally think about enjoying an adult beverage with my cigars, I am happy to say that a simple cup of coffee is pairing very well with this cigar. After an hour and a half, I put the nub down just before it starts to burn my lips. 

So, does changing the wrapper change the cigar? Again, the answer is yes! In this case, the flavor profile has become darker, richer, and more intense. I’ve got another cigar to enjoy as part of my regular rotation. Try both versions of the Espinosa Laranja Reserva and decide which you like better. As for me, when it comes to the Laranja Reserva Escuro, wrap it up, I’ll take it! 

Let’s face it, we all have our preferences for brands and manufacturers. Our store regulars at CI Hamburg can probably tell you that mine are, in no particular order, AJ Fernandez, Southern Draw, Perdomo, and Padron. I have to admit, though, that I have sometimes bought a cigar just because it has a catchy name. The original Man O’ War Ruination by AJ Fernandez happens to be one of those cigars, and by getting caught in that simple trap, I found myself with a new addition to my go-to cigar lineup. I wondered, would the 10th Anniversary Ruination join that list, or would my expectations for the blend end up being ruined?

This box-pressed gordo is wrapped in a dark, oily, Ecuadorian Sungrown Habano wrapper. Soft leather and sweet aromas waft off the wrapper, while the aromas I get at the foot give a spicy warning that this is not the standard Ruination blend, but one intending to have more heft to it. Fair enough. Seeing that the blend has Nicaraguan and Honduran ligeros in the filler has me wondering just how strong this cigar is going to be. I have to admit, the broad ring has the coolest color combo to date in the Man O’ War lineup. A stunner, indeed. I want one poster-sized, signed by AJ, and framed for my man cave, if I am ever allowed to have one.

I give the cigar a straight cut with my twin guillotine cutter and toast the foot. I am greeted by softly tanned leather, natural sweetness, earth, and gently warmed yet creamy cedar on the palate. The retrohale delivers sweet cedar, white pepper, and sweet baking spices. I am genuinely shocked at how well-balanced everything is, and I am barely ½ inch into this cigar. The body of the cigar is definitely full, but the smoke has a creaminess to it that I am not used to getting on most of the full-bodied cigars I have enjoyed, which I am hoping will not work to deceive me as I am gauging this cigar’s strength. The draw is nothing short of perfect, by the way, which is always appreciated.

Honduran tobacco seems to be a double-edged sword for my palate. I have had blends heavy on it that seem to bring unpleasant bitterness that overwhelms the other flavors, while other Honduran-heavy blends have no trace of it whatsoever. This cigar is showing none of the bitterness noted above, but I am guessing that it is providing some of the earthiness in the cigar. Whatever the case may be, the blend works very well, and the flavors have remained balanced and consistent as the first 3rd winds up. Construction and burn are very good thus far.

The band is quite broad on this cigar, so I decide to remove it as I begin the second 3rd. No major changes present themselves, but I am beginning to notice the strength beginning to climb. The blend did say ligeros (plural), after all, so that is not coming as a huge surprise. This cigar is not for those desiring an hour or less of smoking time, as I am halfway through the cigar in just over an hour. While that is certainly less time than the 6 Day War between Israel, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in June of 1967, you still want to plan for more time than less if you want to enjoy a Ruination 10th Anniversary. 

One thing I have been thinking about is what beverage I would enjoy with this cigar. Something sweet, spicy, and having a woody note to it as well… a bourbon… like Elijah Craig. I can see the notes of each being very complimentary to each other…like Bogie and Bacall, Sonny and Cher, and Shaq and Kobe. Well, maybe not Shaq and Kobe…

Entering the final 3rd after an hour and a half, the strength continues to build. I notice a creamy coffee note joining the other flavors, and I am struck by how well it is balanced against them. In my opinion, far too many cigars with higher proportions of ligero are overly peppery and coat my palate with an oily sensation, but this blend is doing none of that. I don’t like to overuse the word “refined”, but that is exactly what this cigar has been as it has burned. When a manufacturer designates a blend as an Anniversary blend, I feel that you should be getting something special, not just having an excuse to use that word and slapping it on the product. AJ has definitely created something special here! 

It’s not a trap to see the words “10th Anniversary” on this cigar, but if somehow, in some way it is, it’s a trap you want to get caught in. Over and over again. Get more than one of these, get a 5-pack, a box, or more… consider yourself ruined if you don’t!

Not too long ago, there was buzz about a little company in the cigar industry called Southern Draw. In a very short period of time, Southern Draw has become a name that we now get asked about frequently. Throw in the fact that none other than AJ Fernandez makes the Southern Draw product line, and you will begin to get an idea of why this US Veteran owned and operated company has the buzz that it does...

This cigar is wrapped in a beautiful double-fermented Habano rosado wrapper. The wrapper has a beautifully soft, sweet aroma to it, with just a hint of spiciness. Underneath the beautiful wrapper lies a Mexican binder enclosing Nicaraguan grown Cuban-seed long fillers. The cigar is well rolled with no soft spots. I opted to do a straight cut with my twin-guillotine cutter.

After toasting, then puffing through the covered foot, I am initially greeted by a nice natural sweetness, warm baking spices, and earthiness on the palate. Retrohaling the cigar brings cedar and sweet baking spices, reminding me strongly of the aromas in the kitchen when my wife is baking a carrot cake. While I do enjoy the aromas of this treat, she knows I won't eat it, because I am a firm believer that all desserts should be vegetable free...

The sweetness found on both the palate and in the retrohale are definitely coming from that beautiful habano rosado wrapper. In my opinion, there are not a lot of manufacturers that can do a rosado wrapper without fermenting it to the point of making it thin and brittle. That is most definitely not the case here, as the wrapper seems sturdy and cut beautifully with no cracking. 

The earthy notes are what I have come to expect of Nicaraguan tobaccos. They're never overpowering, but rather beautifully balanced with the baking spices and natural sweetness of the wrapper. About halfway into the first third, the retrohale picks up a rather Cubanesque floral note, making me enjoy it even more. 

Construction and burn wise, this cigar has been nothing but stellar throughout the 1st third, staying lit even after an unintended 5 minute break on my part while holding an inch and a half of ash. My initial impression is that this cigar is solidly within the medium to full-body realm.

Entering the 2nd third of the cigar, I'm noticing something new. A very soft chocolatey note is appearing on the palate, something that I seem to pick up out of a lot of Mexican tobacco. It's almost as if this cigar is designed to allow one of the components to shine in each third.  

I am still getting all of the components I found on both the palate and the retrohale in the 1st third, although the floral note is a bit stronger now, relegating the cedar to a more minor role. The cigar is still wonderfully balanced overall.

Construction continues to impress me. The burn has a razor-thin carbon line, a great indication of quality wrapper leaf, while the ash continues to grow to over 2.5 inches of white ash so far, with no need to relight the cigar since I fired it up. The spices I am still getting now have me thinking of filler leaves from both Esteli and Jalapa in Nicaragua, considering there is both that sweet and spicy element to them. 

If you've met me at the Hamburg Superstore, or seen my Wet Your Whistle Wednesday pairing videos on our store's Facebook page, you probably know I've been thinking about a drink to enjoy with this cigar. Robert Holt believes that his cigars pair well with both craft beer and whiskeys. I would definitely agree with that for the Firethorn. My preferences would be to enjoy a Belgian-style beer for a spices to spices complimentary pairing, or go with Glenmorangie to boost sweetness and spiciness on both the cigar and scotch.

Robert Holt seems to have multiple reasons behind choosing the names for his cigars. Firethorn happens to be a beautiful, but non-native invasive plant species in the USA. For me, being an avid golfer, and in addition to Robert hailing from the state of Georgia, the name Firethorn always gets me thinking of hole #15 at Augusta National Golf Club, the home of The Masters. Hole #15 at Augusta is named Firethorn, and Southern Draw released a unique size of the Firethorn called the Augusta last year to honor Robert's Georgia roots, released rather fittingly the week of The Masters tournament. 

Entering the final third after an hour of burn time, I am noticing that there is a soft oaky note appearing on the finish after the smoke has left my mouth. A new flavor element for sure, but still solidly balanced against the rest of the spices, sweetness, and earthiness. This cigar is well-finessed to maintain flavor balances as it evolves. AJ Fernandez is a master of doing this, speaking to his skill as a blender. Strength, body, and flavor are all still solidly medium-full. My only concern is that the cigar is swelling just enough to make small cracks in the wrapper. Continuing on, the cigar is burning through them with no issues other than needing one very minor burn correction. 

To sum up, if you prefer flavorful, well-balanced cigars in the medium-full body range that can be paired with whiskeys and craft beer, the Southern Draw Firethorn is a very worthy addition to your rotation. My only regret is that I was unable to enjoy an adult beverage with this cigar while reviewing it... sigh...