Staff Reviews

I have a friend who’s about the same age as me (for sake of argument, let’s call him Dos Cubos) but has easily smoked 4 to 5 times more cigars I have in my lifetime.  His knowledge in the industry is vast and if you have questions about a cigar, he has smoked it.  With this in mind, I find that Mr. Cubos really enjoys cigars that I hate and vice versa.  A brand that Mr. Cubos particularly enjoys is Gran Habano, a company out of Honduras who has produced numerous top-sellers for us in the retail division. 

About two years ago, I was fairly unfamiliar with the vast selection that Gran Habano had to offer.   But I unwillingly took Mr. Cubos' advice and tried the brand.  What I noticed is the more I smoked Gran Habano’s, the greater my appreciation grew for the product.  My admiration of the Gran Habano line grew fonder when a young man stopped by the CI Super-Store on a hot summer day, talked to me for about half an hour, purchased a couple cigars, then proceeded to buy me lunch from the local pizzeria.  Before he left the store that day, he introduced himself and said, “I’m George Rico of Gran Habano Cigars.”

Since then, I’ve been overzealous in regards to Gran Habano’s new releases, including the new Gran Habano Azteca Double Maduro Jaguar.  This tasty Honduran-made cigar is a densely packed 6”X54 vitola, similar to a standard Toro size.  The blend itself features a beautiful dark San Andres maduro (Mexico) wrapper AND binder.  This maduro wrapper looks different though…most maduros I see these days look jet black, almost as if there’s someone in the factory taking each puro and coloring them black with a Sharpie.  This San Andres wrapper has a nice tint of brown with a slightly bumpy texture.  Oddly enough, I look for this kind of color variation in my maduros.

The cigar itself is a “double maduro” which literally means it has a Maduro wrapper and binder.  Typically, double Maduros that I have smoked in the past have been relatively medium or medium-full in body with a distinct pepperiness.  The blend of fillers in the Gran Habano Azteca consists of Habano-seed Nicaraguan long fillers and a percentage of Panamanian tobacco as well.  This unique combination of tobaccos is another reason why I have enjoyed Gran Habano over the last few years; they have been consistently creative with their blending.

So I’m literally on the balcony of my apartment complex with my laptop and a glass of Flor de Cana 18 Year rum and Azteca in hand.  Pre-light, the cigar doesn’t have an overpowering barnyard smell but it’s light in the hand and very enticing.  I can’t really say that the band is an overly attractive work of art but it’s certainly distinct.  Regardless, it’s a comfortably warm night with a slight breeze and I’m ready to go.

Upon lighting the cigar, I expect big notes of pepper and leather, more traditional of a double maduro.  However, I get a very light smoke with a unique sweetness.  Heavy plumes of smoke are easily drawn from this 6”X54 vitola and the smoky, sweet rum is complimenting the cigar quite well.

After the first inch of the cigar I notice an interesting citrusy note to the blend which I RARELY pick up in cigars.  The construction on this thing is real solid, producing a generous white ash that just doesn’t want to fall.

Through the middle third of the Azteca the flavor remains fairly consistent, which is fine by me.  Normally I enjoy highly complex cigars but since the flavor is so unique I’m taking pleasure in the unswerving flavor, draw and burn.  This sounds really gaudy but I’m almost getting a chewy, graham cracker taste on the back of the palate. 

Upon the finish, a faint maple syrup aroma fills the air and my glass that once contained a copious amount of rum is empty.  I must say this was a highly enjoyable smoking experience.  The Azteca clearly separates itself from the other well-liked Gran Habano blends.

The most notable aspect of the cigar I must mention is the lack of pepper that was detected through the nose.  This was a rather smooth yet palatable cigar which will have me going back to it.

Expert thought for the day: “Cigars can’t go STALE!  The term ‘stale’ refers to a decayed, sour, musty entity.  ‘Stale’ also implies expiration.  When placed in a proper environment, cigars will last for eons!”

In this industry, I learn something new every day. Whether it’s from a cigar manufacturer, manager or co-worker, if you have something interesting to say about tobacco, I’m all ears. Believe it or not, one of my finer resources for good information is customers from the CI Super-Store. It amazes me how much these folks know about tobacco growing, fermenting, rolling and so much more.

Sadly though, a customer occasionally gets a hold of some bad info and ends up spouting it off to me, thus, resulting in a painful wince in my face as if I just changed a diaper. A loyal customer named G. swears that the Don Pepin Garcia Blue blend changes every time he comes into the store. His bewilderment is conceived by the fact that Pepin formerly applied a pale blue cigar band with normal manuscript font for the blend. However, more recently, the hue of blue has changed to a darker shade, while the gold font is printed in cursive. This makes G.’s head spin, elevating a state of confusion in his mind. Seriously, he stumbles down the CI Super-Store aisles as if he just got off the Tea Cup ride at Disney World.

I’m not comparing the cigars with two differing bands side-by-side because, honestly, it’s not that big of a deal to me. But G.’s baffling plight did spark an interest in me to rate the blend. Therefore, I am smoking the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Invicto (Robusto).

Before I spark this thing up, I’m excited. Not only do people rave about Pepin’s blends, the Blue is a cigar that receives an overabundance of high accolades, including a #8 rating as a top cigar in the world according to a well-known cigar publication. With this said, I expect greatness.

However, as I grab this Nicaraguan puro off the shelf, I need to be honest with you; this cigar doesn’t look overly appealing to me. It’s ok I guess. The Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper looks average at best and that original pale blue band with gold manuscript is somewhat lackluster. The ‘Invicto’ size is a standard 5”x50 robusto, a size that I prefer while at work. One thing I know is never judge a book by its cover, especially when it comes to a Pepin blend.

As I toss the vaguely yellow cellophane away (a sign of good age), I fire up the Blue with wooden stick matches. A pleasant, rich aroma fills the air but I’m greeted by a significantly tight draw. Listen, I can’t suck no golf ball out of a garden hose…if I could, it would be extremely questionable…and I’m not fixin’ to start practicing. I’ve had relatively good experience with Pepin’s products but a 12-year old must have been operating the Drawmaster during the construction of this cigar because I am getting minimal smoke. 

I quickly toss the cigar away and grab a new one. As I spark Blue #2 up, the draw is much better and I catch a nice leathery note at the start. Okay…now this is what I’m talking about! Through the first half-inch of the cigar a subtle spice changes into a bready flavor which I enjoy. Seriously, I’m getting notes of sourdough pretzel, but that could be due to the fact I ate 3 small bags of Anderson Buttered Balls…wow, that sounds awkward. Oddity aside, my happiness did not endure, for my Pepin Blue Invicto had extinguished without my doing. To blame it on myself could potentially be an erroneous accusation but I’ll take this one on the chin for the sake of argument. But while we’re at it, I did not catch many noteworthy changes of flavor throughout the rest of the cigar. Solid blend and flavor? Sure. Something that tickles my fancy? Not particularly.

I know…I didn’t give you much there. Sadly, I didn’t pick up on many notable characteristics that were singed into my memory. Moreover, I will not go on for two paragraphs barraging the cigar with disapproval. This cigar is medium-to-full bodied, though my friend G. really likes the Pepin Blue because it’s "mellow and smooth.” Epic fail, G.

Listen, I know this is a highly rated blend. Furthermore, I’m aware Pepin has been making incredible cigars for some time. Honestly, I’m just not on board right now with the Don ‘Pepin’ Garcia Blue Invicto. I ask of you to take my review with a grain of salt and, whatever you do, please do not lose confidence in my palate. However, at $7.50 a piece, it’s easy for me to chalk this one up as a FAIL.

Expert advice for the day: “If a lady gives you their phone number and it’s only 5 digits long, it’s fake!

With a small cigar, there’s really not much to say. So I’ll keep it short and sweet.

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Cigarillos are my favorite small cigar. In between my normal rotation, or when time demands something quick, these are my go-to.  First, they’re all tobacco....no homogenized wrappers or even, God forbid, paper like some of the other stuff out there. Second, they taste great – big cigar flavor in a cigarillo size. The smoke is thick and creamy and the flavor is rich. Plus, they’re packaged in nice pocket-sized tins. So if you’re like me, a traditional-sized cigar guy who needs something smaller occasionally, Excalibur Cigarillos are the best I’ve found.

Note: I’ve tried the Miniatures too. And although the flavor is mostly the same, they’re extremely small and they burn hot. So I’m not really a fan.

With CIGARfest this weekend, time is of the essence. We’re all pumped as hell to welcome 3,000 cigar lunatics representing all 50 states, but let’s face it: it’s a lot of work and takes a lot of prep time. Work that’s fully worth it, but work that leaves little time for a staff review. Fortunately, I have some added incentive to write this review. Some inspiration if you will.

You see, every time I drive to work I listen to ESPN radio. I’m a huge Mike and Mike fan. And not a day goes by that I don’t hear the same silly commercial. A winery comparing buying wines to buying cars. “You wouldn’t buy a new car without test driving it, so why buy a wine without tasting it?”

Really? Comparing a bottle of (soon to be gone) vino to a car purchase? Seriously? Let’s face it. A decent bottle of wine can cost you as little as $10, even less by the box....eh, eh? Then there’s the rule of permanency....since the first bottle usually doesn’t last past appetizers, is it really vital to taste the wine before breaking it open with a spaghetti dinner? If you’re buying wine that’s so expensive it must be tasted, no questions asked, this review probably isn’t for you. Surely you light your expensive pre-embargo Cuban cigars once owned by Mark Twain with $20 bills, and have no room in your household - let alone mind frame - for a solid, buck-and-change cigar with [gasp!] no band. If you’re in my camp, celebrating the success of finding a delightful bargain knowing you might hit a homerun, but strike out now and then....read on.

Onto my review: Blue Label ‘B2.’ Like the original Blue Label, this sales stud hails from the Gran Habano factory of Honduras. If you’re familiar with Gran Habano, you know they have a knack for bringing quality, Cuban-esque handmades to the table for minimal coin....they’re always consistent and always delicious. Despite the modest price tag, ‘B2’ is no different. Available in 4 generous sizes, Blue Label ‘B2’ is packaged up in aging room fashion: hefty Cuban wheels of 30 with no bells or whistles, just a simple blue ribbon for a band.

I have the 6”x60 Double Toro in my hand. The wrapper is silky to the touch, thick, and durable. Like a piece of leather hugging a truckload of Nicaraguan and Panamanian long-fillers. If you’ve ever held a Gran Habano cigar, you know they come packed to the brim, heavy in the hand, and solid from head to toe. I find this size to be very enjoyable. A tame, medium-bodied bouquet full of flavor and charisma.

The cigar opens with a rich, slightly peppery blast of tobacco flavors. Thick clouds of smoke fill my palate and the air above, releasing a lovely aroma that’s earthy and zesty. Awesome. After a few minutes of burn time, a dense core of earth presents itself. The spices move to the finish, complementing a lovely sweetness from the dark Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. Midway through, things really get interesting. The cigar becomes very complex, thanks to a thick 60-ring comprised of bold, contrasting tobaccos. Sweet cedar, coffee bean, and leather join the fray and hit different parts of my palate as a sweetness is left on the tip of my tongue. The velvety smoke clings to all sides of my mouth, leaving behind a tingly spice that lingers long after each exhale. Full-flavored and medium in body, a great combo you’ll find in the Double Toro size. While the other three sizes tend to gain strength as they burn, this 6”x60 beast remains mellow and tame, something you could puff on constantly without sacrificing balance for harshness. I love it. The quality, the flavor, the smoothness, the consistency....it’s hard to find a bad thing to say about this cigar, especially when you factor in price.

It sounds almost boastful to say, but I have had the pleasure of smoking each & every cigar brand & line that we carry in our retail stores.  If you take a look at our “Big List of Brands” section of our website you’ll notice that we have a list of 576 BRANDS that we sell online – plus we have quite a lengthy list of “in-store-only” cigars…not to mention the brands that we no longer carry.  The list of closeouts alone that we’ve handled over the 10+ years that I’ve been in the business has got to be in the 1,000’s, not to mention all of the sample blends that I get to “test” for research & development...most of which never even become production cigars.  Then there are the feeble attempts that I’ve made at blending cigars, using my vast knowledge of all the different types of tobaccos at my disposal during trips to Central America (not a-one has ever made it into production by the way – it’s a lot harder than most of you would think to put together the right 5 or 6 tobacco leaves in order to get a well-balanced cigar that’s actually smokeable, let alone tastes anywhere near good.)  So after a few quick calculations (using fingers and toes for this one) I can honestly tell you that I’ve tried about 4,321 different, unique blends of cigars in my career.  That equates to just over 8 different cigars per week….for over 10 years!  Man, my job is demanding sometimes, but someone’s got to do it!

So where am I going with this, you ask?  Well let me tell you.  It ain’t all fun & games trying all these different cigars day-in & day-out.  Sure, I’m constantly trying new stuff, but a lot of times the cigars I’m trying are pure dog-rockets or they are “prototypes” so strong or unbalanced that I sometimes almost lose my lunch after “testing” them.  Once in a while I’ll get a real treat when I try something new, but more times than not I’ve been let down by so many new cigars.  And then, of course I have my favorites which vary from 5 Vegas, Perdomo, Oliva (Studio Tobac) & A.J. Fernandez – it seems some of these guys just can’t make a bad cigar.  Their background in tobacco cultivation, curing, buying/selling & acquiring the best of the best of the tobaccos that are available today are one thing, but their ability to put those tobaccos together in a way that delivers a perfectly balanced cigar from start to finish demonstrates their love of the leaf & pure brilliance that they possess.

Out of all the blenders in this industry, A.J. Fernandez stands out for me.  He apprenticed in Cuba for many years under the legendary Cuban Master-Blender, Alejandro Robaina (Godfather of Cuban Tobacco.)  A lot of my favorites come from his blends, such as Man O’ War, Man O’ War Ruination, Diesel, La Herencia Cubana, Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, Ave Maria, and many more.  Out of all of A.J.’s phenomenal blends I’ve enjoyed over the last few years nothing stands out to me quite as much as his latest release, The Man O’ War Puro Authentico.  This cigar was THE BLEND, in THE SIZE that A.J. himself smoked on an everyday basis.  On one of our buyers’ many trips to Nicaragua someone finally convinced A.J. to let him sample one of his own, personal cigars (right out of A.J.’s pocket) & as soon as he fired it up he knew that CI needed this cigar to be available to our customers.  So after some serious wheeling & dealing A.J. started production of this blend for the Man O’ War line & it was aptly named “Puro Authentico.”

Now for the Review:

So I finally got my hands on my very own 10-count boxes for the Downtown Bethlehem retail shop & I feel like a kid on Christmas finding his first bike under the tree.  They’re really nifty slide-out 10-count boxes, and I immediately opened one up, pulled a cigar out from the loose tobacco that gently holds them in place & with much gusto fired it right up.  I was instantly in love!  As the shaggy foot of Esteli Nicaraguan wrapper leaf blasted me with intense Habano ligero goodness I knew I was in for a real treat.  FULL, intense, rich spicy-sweet flavor for the first few puffs & then I got into the “meat” of the cigar where the whole blend of all kinds of Nicaraguan Ligeros started burning harmoniously & the complexity was amazing for such a powerful cigar.  I was tasting every single thing I love about Nicaraguan tobacco in this one little corona sized cigar.  Sweet-spiciness, hints of leather with rich, almost creamy smoke plumes all around me.  I finished the first one in about 45 minutes, and I was truly amazed at how long this seemingly small cigar lasted me.  I quickly fired up another and I swear it was better than the one I just finished.  Within that same day I had so many customers ask me what cigar I was enjoying so much & after telling them what I had I sold through almost 3 entire boxes of singles that very day.  Joey B. from Wanaque, NJ (a longtime friend & customer of CI) happened to be in the shop that day & after trying one out with me, ended up going home with 3 boxes that very same day.  Prior to his introduction to the Puro Authentico, Joey B’s all-time favorite cigar was Drew Estate’s Dirty Rat.  Now, at half the price of the Dirty Rats he’s found a new favorite & they are widely available now (and like I said, AT HALF THE PRICE.)

If you’re a fan of full-bodied, full-flavored cigars with a lot of complexity then this cigar is a MUST TRY for you.  I’m amazed that these cigars are under 6 buck each.  Gotta be one of the best-buys of the year!  I’ve already filled up all the empty room in my humidor at home with these sweet little 10-count boxes so get yours now before more people find out about them.