Staff Reviews
Davidoff Maduro Series
So you may have noticed an increased number of staff reviews lately. You guys love’em, we enjoy talking shop, and our marketing guru Scott tells us that content is good for the site. It’s a win-win-win!
Scott, the marketing whiz I just mentioned 5 seconds ago, stresses SEO. That’s marketing speak for marketing stuff. Apparently our reviews help you find our site when searching The Google, help you find the cigars you need, and gets you the prices you want - everybody benefits. I have no idea how (Johnny Manziel) my reviews could increase our visibility on the interwebs, but I won’t hesitate to help everybody (March Madness) out, so I am game. Hence, I bring you another (Dancing with the Stars) review. This time, I’ll address a (Kim Kardashian) request from Keoki in Alaska.
So here I am with a Davidoff Maduro, courtesy of Keoki. Well not really courtesy of, this thing cost me nearly 20 bones. His request was simple. What are my thoughts, and is there anything out there like it?
First off, it’s hard to compete with Davidoff when it comes to quality and aesthetics. The Criollo Maduro wrapper is dark, even in color, and glistening with oils. It’s obvious....there were a lot of sorting processes to ensure the quality and appearance of this leaf, along with every other Davidoff Maduro in the box next to it. The cigar is solid from head to toe, and there’s a semi-sweet aroma with a touch of cedar and barnyard.
And with that, my uber-expensive cigar is lit. Initial thoughts? Pretty toasty, with a deep richness and a hint of being stronger than I know it is. There’s a woodsy taste and aroma that dominates upfront. These flavors quickly fade, however, giving way to Tabadom’s (Davidoff factory) token floral note. I am not overly fond of floral, unless it’s coming from an especially hoppy beer, but I paid too much for this cigar to stop now. Plus, there’s some other intricacies at play, albeit tiny intricacies. That’s redundant, but whatever.
Throughout the cigar, I pick up the slightest hint of dark cocoa. I also notice a slight nutty element. They’re very slight, but they are appreciated, considering the bouquet itself isn’t overly complex. In fact, I’d call this cigar quite straightforward. After about an inch, you know how the rest of the burn will go. It’s not bad, it just doesn’t change. Davidoff fans appreciate this, no doubt.
And, to be honest, that’s pretty much it. Davidoff Maduro. According to my palate, an extremely well-made, medium-bodied maduro, comprised of gorgeous wrappers and well-aged Dominican tobaccos. The quality is top-notch, and the flavor is straightforward but soothing and pleasing. Nothing special, outside of the name on the band. No bells, no whistles. Just a well-made, high quality cigar for those willing to ‘tro the coin on the table. Or in this case, the Jackson.
Now, for comparable cigars. If you’re a fan of big name brands, you could always go with Ashton Maduro. I love this cigar. Rich, sweet, mellow, and satisfying yet still mellow to medium in body. Plus, its quality is right there. Or, if you favor Davidoff but don’t like dishing out the money all too frequently, you could go with AVO Maduro. It’s a little bolder and richer, but you still get that woodsy, floral note that so many people are fond of when it comes to Tabadom. You know, same factory and all. If you want a step up in complexity and power, but a step down in price (always appreciated), I might recommend E.P. Carrillo Core Line Maduro. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo is well-known for making some of the tastiest, traditional Dominican handmades that truly personify the best in Dominican tobaccos....and his Core Line is no exception. Or, if you want to stay on par with Davidoff Maduro in quality with a slight step down in price, few Dominican handmades can match Aurora Preferidos Maduro (or the Ruby tubos). These cigars are fast burners, but they’re delicious.
88
Oliva Saison
Oliva. I’ve always loved the brand. Back when it was lesser known, and the Serie ‘O’ cigars came in felt bands and the maduro variety came in toilet bowl shaped boxes....yeah, I loved them back then. Some of you might remember the days I’m harking, some may not. Either way, most folks know the name Oliva, and the brand has been flourishing, at a feverish pitch, over the past 6-7 years.
Allow me to set the record straight. I am not a huge fan of the Oliva Serie ‘V.’ Gasp! I know, I know. 94-rated. #4 cigar of 2007. #12 cigar of 2008. #5 cigar of 2009. #22 cigar of 2011. #18 cigar of 2012. I get it. It’s good. It’s really good, and I would never deny that. It comes from Oliva, they make quality handmades, and people love it. In fact, they flock toward it, still today, 7 years later. But for me....well, my palate leans towards other cigars, and plenty of them come from Oliva. And that’s ok! There ain’t nothing wrong with that, and don’t let folks tell you otherwise. That’s the beauty of this fun little hobby of ours.
Now, let me bring up Oliva Saison. Saison is a term from the wine industry, and a method used by the Oliva family to craft this blend. Hence the name. Basically, in a tasty nutshell, Oliva took the finest yield of tobaccos, from all of their tobacco crops, from the same year. They carefully blended these tobaccos, and re-blended them, then re-blended them over and over until something truly special and unique was created. And that, my friends, is how Oliva Saison was born.
On paper, Oliva Saison sounds simple. A silky Ecuador Habano wrapper, overtop all-Nicaraguan long-fillers from Oliva’s farms in Somoto, Esteli, and Condega. But through careful blending and constant testing, the Oliva family has captured the deep, rich, prominent flavors of Nicaraguan tobaccos and delivers them in a bold yet graceful and exceedingly unique way. Upon lighting, pepper and earth smack the palate in robust fashion. No taste bud is left untouched, and the thick, creamy smoke fills the mouth and nostrils. Like many cigars, the pepper fades ever so slightly, making room for other nuances. Leather. Toast. Coffee. Nuts. Rich tobacco. These flavors mingle with the initial burst of flavor to deliver a medium-bodied bouquet that grows in strength as the slow burn approaches a nub-like state. Tons of flavor, delivered gradually and almost strategically, to complete a complex and eventful experience with no peaks or valleys. Just a consistently eventful array of flavor that satisfies from start to finish.
It’s really that simple. An incredibly difficult cigar to blend, but incredibly easy cigar to enjoy. That’s Oliva Saison. Yet another fantastic release from the Oliva family, and a shining addition to the award-winning, highly rated Oliva portfolio.
92
Dunhill Aged Dominican
I’m bad at this. It’s been too long since my last review, but I’m making a promise to do better. So expect more this year, and if you’re bored, shoot me a request on a cigar you’re interested in and I’ll write something up.
Dunhill. It’s a brand you’ve likely heard of, but not necessarily for their cigars. They’re a pretty big company, with roots in pipes and now a full line of pricey men’s accessories ranging from custom-tailored suits to pens and ‘timepieces’ (see:www.dunhill.com). But despite their prominence in other things, their cigars are way under the radar. And one blend in particular has become a personal favorite of mine: Dunhill Aged Dominican.
Dunhill Aged Dominican is the flagship cigar in the Dunhill line, the descendant of a once-popular line of Dunhill handmades manufactured in Cuba. This Dominican-made blend features a perfect, blonde Connecticut shade wrapper grown in the USA and an aged blend of Dominican Piloto Cubano and Dominican Olor from Cibao. This combination delivers an elegant, high-end profile that goes down really easily. Notes of oak, cream, toasty tobacco, a nice black pepper quality and a hint of citrus on the finish are perfectly balanced and offer a Connecticut experience that’s far from ordinary. And that’s my favorite part. It’s mellow to medium-bodied, but with enough flavor and complexity to keep it interesting. Flavor, balance, perfect construction, a high-end look, and a great finish, Dunhill Aged Dominican is the complete Connecticut package. I’m a big fan and I always have some on hand.
And then there’s price. Full retail ain’t cheap, but fortunately, we sell it for much less. Starting at just over 5 bucks apiece and packaged in economical 10-count boxes.
91
Gurkha Beauty
There’s a lovely young lady that stops by the CI Super-Store from time to time and, for the sake of anonymity, let us refer to her as “Lola”.
Lola is an avid Gurkha fan and has a way of pushing the brand on me (keep in mind, I’M the cigar salesperson and she’s the customer!) Days ago, she graced us with her presence at the shop and, while it’s tough to get my male co-workers to focus on other customers, it’s always a joy to have her in, no matter how much she busts our stones!
I'm enjoying a cigar that remains unnamed when that zealous Gurkha fanatic asks me, “Brock, what are you smoking?”
I briefly reply to her question, then as fast as I could take another puff, she scathingly states, “When you’re ready to smoke premium quality cigars, I will show you some Gurkhas.”
A Gurkha fan myself, I pay no mind to her contemptuous banter and continue with my daily routine.
Several days after my encounter with Ms. Lola, I'm in the squeaky clean stadium parking lot in Philadelphia tailgating with one of my best friends and his family. “Herby” and I are enjoying some fine tailgating cuisine, cocktails and people-watching as we're wearing our favorite jersey, #20, which is being retired at halftime.
As the smoke from the grill flourished into the air like the burgeoning smog in the Philadelphia city skyline, it's about that time to put some smoke of my own into the air.
Before I could pull out a cigar from my Diesel 2-Finger brown leather carrying case, Herby busts out his 15-count herf-a-dor and offers me a puro of his own.
There were some tasty morsels in there…5 Vegas Cask-Strength, Man O’ War Ruination, Punch Bareknuckle and so-on-and-so-forth. However, I recall my encounter with the Gurkha faithful days prior and spot a beautiful Connecticut Shade cigar known as the “Gurkha Beauty.”
Not wanting an extremely full-bodied cigar, I pass up on the aforementioned offerings and divulge my interest into that eye-catching Gurka Beauty. A corona guy, I tend to stick with thinner vitolas but there’s something about that rotund 6.5” X 58 size that has me dribbling all over my green football jersey.
After I toast the foot, I fire up this Nicaraguan gem with my double flame butane lighter. On a side note, I will never touch the flame of a butane torch directly onto the foot of the cigar as this can detrimentally char a significant portion of your wrapper leaf, thus, inhibiting the desired flavor. Plus, the wrapper is damn gorgeous!
The stunning, chestnut Connecticut-seed wrapper is grown in Ecuador, and then aged 7 years before being applied. It encompasses a rich blend of unidentified 5-year aged fillers.
The first half inch of this tasty treat features a bready flavor accompanied by an effortless draw. Into the middle third of this cigar, the flavor changes into a creaminess which is complemented by a nice, natural sweetness in the smoke. As I pass about 25% of the smoke through my nostrils, it is smooth and painless.
Between puffs, I take sips…well, take a drink…ok, a better word, quaff…ok, let’s be honest…I guzzle my rum and cokes while heckling the opposing fans in “blue” that walk by our tailgate party. It’s the kind of treatment one should expect if they come into Philadelphia wearing colors other than green.
As my jeers persist, so does the ever-increasing flavor and enjoyment I receive from the Gurkha Beauty. As I make my way into the final third of this well-aged masterpiece, I get a clean, slightly zesty finish which builds to the very last puff. Upon finishing the elegant Gurkha Beauty, I forcefully spike the remainder of my cigar on the withered, cracked pavement of the parking lot as if I just scored a touchdown. However, this smoking experience was worth much more than just six points.
If you like mellow, Connecticut Shade cigars such as Montecristo White, Ashton and Davidoff, this blend is for you. My smart shopper advice to you is this…never, I mean, NEVER purchase the Gurkha Beauty on its own. It’s fairly high-end and expensive but is available in numerous Gurkha variety samplers as affordable as $3.00 a piece!
In conclusion, I saw my Gurkha-smoking friend Lola a few weeks after enjoying that Gurkha Beauty.
I tell her, “Hey. I had a Gurkha Beauty the other day.”
Elated, she responds, “Awesome! How was it?”
My answer, “Meh. It was alright.”
Brock’s Rating: “90”
Expert Philosophical Insightful Inspirational Thought for the Day for your Personal Edification and Enlightenment: Before kickoff of this divisional football contest, the “normal” referees who had “locked out” for more money and a bigger pension ran out of the tunnel and took the field. Disgusted with the incompetent “replacement” officials who botched calls and altered game outcomes in weeks prior, the Philly faithful cheered the men in stripes. However, I, for one, did not cheer them and, as a matter of fact, I booed them. I yelled, “Why are you people cheering for these imbeciles!?!? Boo!” Collectively, I received the question back, “Why are you booing them?” My response was, “You will see.” Literally, after two minutes into regulation, the zebras made a call in favor of the visiting team and, ironically, the enlightened folks in Section 101, Row 9 said, “Hey this kid was right! Bring back the replacements!”
90
CI Knock-Offs: Cohiba
“Pequeno” in size, “Grande” in flavor…
For those who pay attention to detail, I whipped up this review the day after CIGARfest 2012, still jacked up from the weekend’s festivities.
As we wrapped up the CIGARfest 2012 aftermath, I was embarrassed, humiliated, and appalled at the fact that I didn’t smoke many cigars. Between drawing raffles, running between the band stage and the main stage, chatting with cigar customers and vendors, striking out with the lovely CI models, and performing my alter-ego “Cornelius Quincy Corne” for 3,000 people, there just wasn’t much time for me to enjoy a fine puro.
The life-saver for me was a tiny little morsel I like to call “CI Knock-Offs Cohiba” (Note: Cohiba is a registered trademark of General Cigar Corporation.) The size I prefer in this blend is called “Pequeno” which literally translates into English as “small” or “little”. These small 4.2 X 34 pequenos provided a nice, quick burn while I was on the fly. These little guys are a great value as they come in small bundles of 30 sticks for a little under a buck a cigar.
The Cohiba Knock-Off uses a chestnut Cameroon wrapper which exudes a hint of spice with ample sweetness. [Insert educational portion of cigar review here, Brock.] Ok folks, I’m being informed that I must “learn” you on tobacco in this portion of my analysis. The Cameroon wrapper is a rare wrapper leaf literally cultivated in small growing regions in the country of Cameroon, Africa. It is quite difficult for tobacco buyers and brokers to purchase this tobacco and, furthermore, requires a high level of carefulness during production. Due to its delicateness, only the most skillful “torcedores” (rollers) in a cigar factory are permitted to roll cigars utilizing Cameroon tobacco.
In many cases, Cameroon tobacco is used as binder due to its ugly appearance and lackluster vein structure. When used as a wrapper, numerous manufacturers use cedar or tissue paper to cover up the ugly vein structure and spottiness. However, the Cohiba Knock-off Pequeno uses no cigar band.
This Dominican treat is mellow in body but very flavorful. My only problem is the majority of these are rolled fairly loose which produces an easy, yet quite hot draw.
Let’s cut to the chase, I like this brand because it’s cheap, flavorful and has a true Cameroon taste. The flavor presents a hint of spice with an ample natural sweetness and just a small fraction of nuttiness. No bones about it, this is a good every day, coffee break cigar.
If you’re a fan of Cohiba, Rocky Patel Cameroon, or any kind of cigarillo that comes in a tin, this value is for you.
Brock’s Flavor Rating: “80”
Brock’s Value Rating: “92”
Expert Philosophical Insightful Thought for the Day: “Guy walks into a bar. Ouch!”
92