Staff Reviews

Today has been a crazy cigar day. At 10am, I embarked on a daunting task of testing nine blends. However, I had to burn these nine cigars at the same time in an effort to find the best of the bunch. I’ll be honest....some were horrific. Those were sent home from the island with haste and pleasure. However, a few did stand out, so I had to cleanse the palate, grab some fresh air, and re-light a second batch of three cigars to pinpoint the winner. By 1pm I was done and in desperate need of food and coffee....after more fresh air to clear my swimming head. I’m now in the clear and about to dig into something from home – a nicely aged Rocky Patel Sun Grown Robusto.

I received this cigar on June 18th, 2005. I know this because the date is laser engraved....just below ‘Kevin and Maureen.’ Sorry guys, I’m about to burn your wedding cigar. I’ve held onto it long enough – probably much longer than the rest of your guests (even you Kevin!). It’s time for this cigar to succumb to it’s inevitable – and long overdue – fiery death.

The cigar is dark and leathery in appearance with a nice, oily sheen. The foot smells of sweet cedar – a product of sleeping on the top shelf of my desktop humidor for nearly 4 years. I’m excited to enjoy this cigar. I haven’t had an RP Sun Grown in almost a year, and I’m interested to see if it still contains the hearty array of spices I’ve always picked up from this cigar.

Instantly upon puffing I knew the spice was still there. However, what I really notice is a rich, leathery element dominates with each draw. The wrapper promotes a nice sweetness on the finish, which is quickly muted by a series of bold spices. To be honest, I’m surprised by how much spice is still present considering how long this cigar has been in the humidor. Through the nose it’s quite powerful and the aroma is zesty to say the least. I feel pretty relaxed. This cigar was a nice choice and my spent palate is still receptive of the complex flavors at play. Behind the leathery, spicy core I am able to detect sweet (but toasted) cedar and earthy tones. I’m now past the band and in the final stretch. This cigar still has legs....the finish is even spicier than the start....like red pepper hitting all sides of my palate. Man, what a treat. I don't recall RP Sun Grown being this strong, but who am I to complain?

Rocky Patel Sun Grown has been hard to come by lately due to a shortage in the Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper leaf. We received a few boxes here and there, but it’s nothing to write home about. However, I highly recommend you try this cigar if you haven’t already. Considering the ever-increasing size of the RP legion, I’m sure you have. If so, try it again. And again after that.

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.

Unless you’ve been asleep at the wheel the past few months, you know that SCHIP has hit home. This bill places a heavy tax on all cigars, and has resulted in higher prices starting 4/1. Some manufacturers are using this tax as a vehicle to introduce price increases that, in some cases, go above and beyond the level of the tax. In several cases, manufacturers have instituted multiple price increases on the same cigar, capitalizing even further. On top of this, some cigars are already quite expensive, and any new increases (whether it be additional costs or taxes) could possibly put them out of reach for the working man. In an effort to provide you with optimum value, I will be matching up two cigars each week. One expensive cigar and one lesser-expensive option, comparing them based on flavor, satisfaction, construction, and price.

– Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva and 5 Vegas Classic

Like previous SCHIP Buster reviews, this write-up will be difficult for many to stomach. Arturo Fuente has a diehard customer base, one that’s loyal to the core and swears by every cigar under the Fuente label. On the other hand, 5 Vegas Classic has quite the following as well, and it seems to be getting stronger by the second. The blends are very different, but both offer a solid, medium-bodied smoke that’s hella-consistent and of the highest quality.

Yes, I just said hella-consistent. Gonz, add that to your Gonzism list, I think it’s a winner. Anyway, let’s get into the cigars.

Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva – Everybody knows this name. And, like I said, many swear by it. In fact, folks walk into our shop asking for a particular vitola in a specific Fuente line. If we don’t have it, they simply walk away, despite having immediate access to every blend under the sun at comparable - if not better - prices. This Dominican brand as a whole is rated very highly....very often. The standard Gran Reserva line combines a toothy Cameroon wrapper with Dominican long-fillers to produce a consistent, well-made stick. I will be burning the 8-5-8, a popular, 6”x47 vitola.

5 Vegas Classic – This brand has become a monster. Hand-made in Nicaragua, the red label 5 Vegas is a 91-rated blend of dark Sumatra wrappers and Cuban-seed long-fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican. In fact, premium tobaccos from five different farms are utilized throughout this cigar, producing what is considered to be a complex and balanced, medium-bodied bang for the buck. To keep things as comparable as possible, I’ve chosen the Double Corona, an impressive 6”x48 parejo.

I’ve reviewed both of these blends several times in the past and am quite familiar with each, so a side-by-side comparison should be interesting. Without further ado, let’s dig deeper into the flavor and quality of these two popular cigars....

Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva – This cigar is already clipped and ready for my torch lighter. The pre-light aroma is that of cedar, with no hints of spice or pepper. The 8-9-8 is lit and away we go. The cigar begins with a heavy dose of cream which seems to magically disappear after each puff. A short finish. I am picking up notes of toast and cedar, with a crisp tobacco influence. Midway through, a new flavor enters the mix - a somewhat grassy note lingers on the aftertaste. This is pretty much how the story unfolds. Despite being delivered in a nice, toasty fashion, the tobacco and cedar flavors are crisp and sharp, only to be finished by a misplaced touch of grass. Definitely medium in body....but only by a hair. The all Dominican core resulted in a relatively straight-forwarded experience.

5 Vegas Classic – After cleansing my palate, it’s time for the 5 Vegas. The cigar is clipped and the pre-light aroma is that of baked bread. A slight tingling sensation hits my nostrils, hinting at a faint spice to come. Upon lighting, my palate is coated with a core of rich, creamy flavors. Early on, it’s difficult to pick out any one flavor, but the sensation is enjoyable. Shortly after, a strong backbone of coffee is clearly noticed, with softer notes of earth. The aroma is toasty with a little bit of zest. Midway through, I begin to pick up a little bit of peanut – it almost tastes like the toasty skin of a peanut. I also note a touch of pepper....a very faint touch. The cigar has been burning slow and smooth, and comes to a complex finish during the final inch without losing any balance along the way. The medium-bodied strength was apparent from the start and lasted through the burn. I think the Nicaraguan tobaccos helped add a pleasant level of complexity to this cigar.

Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva and 5 Vegas Classic. Different cigars from different countries. A true underdog, David and Goliath matchup....one would think. Both burned perfectly, with an effortless draw and razor sharp burn. Both seemed to be well filled from head to toe, and made with top-notch wrappers. However, one appealed to my finicky palate more than the other. Arturo Fuente, 86.

5 Vegas, 89.

Now let’s add price to the mix. Both of these cigars can be considered a good value. The Fuente 8-5-8 carries an MSRP of under $5 apiece, while the 5 Vegas Double Corona chimes in at under $3.50 apiece. What’s a buck and a half between friends, eh? However, the price for Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva has gone up due to SCHIP. 5 Vegas Classic is not. I think you know where this is going.

Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva: 86

5 Vegas Classic: 90

SCHIP Buster Series - Volume 4

Unless you’ve been asleep at the wheel the past month or two, you know that SCHIP has hit home. This bill places a heavy tax on all cigars, and has resulted in higher prices starting 4/1. Some manufacturers are using this tax as a vehicle to introduce price increases that, in some cases, go above and beyond the level of the tax. In several cases, manufacturers have instituted multiple price increases on the same cigar, capitalizing even further. On top of this, some cigars are already quite expensive, and any new increases (whether it be additional costs or taxes) could possibly put them out of reach for the working man. In an effort to provide you with optimum value, I will be matching up two cigars each week. One expensive cigar and one lesser-expensive option, comparing them based on flavor, satisfaction, construction, and price.

Volume 4 – Ashton and John Bull

Today’s review will be a tough one for some to swallow, largely due to the fact that John Bull is brand new and most of you have yet to try it. However, I can assure you, it’s a good match-up for Ashton. Ashton is a popular, expensive cigar that rivals the ranks of Macanudo and Davidoff. A smooth-bodied handmade crafted in the Dominican by the Fuente family. John Bull is another smooth-bodied cigar, but it is made in Nicaragua and comes equipped with a very low price point in value-sized boxes of 30.

Hopefully you’re still with me here. If so, let’s move on.

Ashton – When it comes to smooth, high-quality Dominican handmades, the classic Ashton is usually one of the first brands people speak about. The brand has enough ratings in Cigar Aficionado to field most of the NFL’s teams, and has been rated as high as ‘92’. Ashton combines a golden Connecticut shade wrapper with aged Dominican long-fillers. I chose the Double Magnum, which measures 6”x50, sits heavy in the hand, and offers a nice, glossy texture.

John Bull – This cigar is brand spankin’ new, and comes from Nicaragua. Out of the gates, it has already been called “the working man’s Excalibur.” It’s smooth in body, using a thick Connecticut-seed wrapper from Ecuador to conceal a mellow blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos. The wrapper is a few shades darker than the Ashton’s Connecticut leaf, with some tooth and oils to boot. To keep things comparable, I chose the 6”x48 Britannia.

Again, I hope you’re still with me here. Especially those that enjoy Ashton on a regular basis. I know there’s a good amount of you out there, so please read on as I break down the flavor and quality of each....

Ashton – Over the years, I have come to really enjoy smooth-bodied cigars. They offer a subtle, but sophisticated level of flavor and, when done right, today’s makers are producing mellow smokes that are really quite rich and enjoyable. The Double Magnum is smooth and shiny with no veins, and it offers a nice, cedary pre-light aroma. Off the bat, a creaminess coats my palate, followed by a toasty series of tobacco and cedar. The aftertaste sticks around just long enough to pick up more toast and wood on the tip of the palate. The cigar isn’t overly rich, but it’s balanced and pleasant. Ashton is known for consistency and quality, and this Double Magnum drives this point home. The flavor is consistently smooth and pleasant, while the burn remains slow and straight. A full-bodied fan may not reach for Ashton all too often, if ever, but I can easily find a spot for this cigar in my morning rotation, as I feel the crips (but creamy) flavors will pair nicely with a bold cup of coffee. The smooth-bodied character lasts throughout the burn, while the cigar continues to pump out thick clouds of creamy, white smoke.

John Bull – This cigar is brand new to us, and has only been featured in one catalog to date. So far, sales are promising and, based on the “working man’s Excalibur” comments from our retail store customers, the brand seems to be off to a good start. The cigar is pretty, with a dark, toothy appearance. Upon first light, I note an interesting mix of dark tobacco flavors and crisp, mellower tobaccos. This mix is a result of the Nicaraguan and Dominican leaves inside, and it’s complemented nicely by the Ecuadorian-grown wrapper’s rich, creamy influence. There’s some sweet cedary tones during each puff, while toasty remains on the exhale. The slightest touch of pepper is found when the smoke exits my nose. The Ashton fan might consider this to be mellow to medium. I say medium would be a stretch, as John Bull is a solid, mellow-bodied handmade with a good balance of contrasting flavors. The Britannia burns a little quicker than the Double Magnum, but I am not going to complain about that. This cigar can be enjoyed brainlessly, puffing away while doing just about anything, but enjoying it thoroughly.

Ashton and John Bull. Two very different cigars made in two very different countries of very different tobaccos and priced at opposite ends of the price spectrum. Ironically enough, they’re surprisingly comparable in terms of flavor and quality. That said, I’d have to give the Ashton the edge here with a ’90,’ while John Bull sits comfortably with an ’88.’

But, price is obviously part of the equation. John Bull carries an everyday price point. The MSRP for its largest size - a massive 7.25”x54 presidente known as the Prime Minister - is $4.50. Furthermore, the economical boxes of 30 allow us to sell this size for a paltry $2, which is becoming even more rare as the effects of SCHIP become increasingly more real. Ashton is expensive. We all know this, and the brand’s closest size – a 7.5”x52 Churchill – maintains an MSRP of $9.30. That’s more than double, and we sell it for a little over $8 apiece. A big difference.

Both cigars are gentle and pleasant, so this toss-up comes down to what you’re looking for. If you’re a stickler for big brand names and flashy ratings, Ashton is one of those brands that has established itself in that realm. However, if you’re just looking for a mellow smoke to enjoy on a regular basis, John Bull is a fine choice. Now that price has entered the equation, the tides have turned....slightly.

John Bull:

Draped in a smooth and even Connecticut shade wrapper with a lovely, golden-brown hue, Erin Go Bragh is downright picturesque. Adorned with a colorful orange, white and green band styled after the Irish flag and appropriately infused with authentic Irish whisky, its name – Erin Go Bragh – as most will know, means “Ireland forever.”

Slide it under thy flared nostrils and you’ll pick up a subtle pre-light aroma of sweet whisky and cedar…. distinct and enticing, if you ask me. I’m usually wary of flavored cigars. But this isn’t a regular flavored cigar. More subtle and nuanced, it more appropriately belongs in the “infused” or “gourmet” cigar category. Produced in the Dominican Republic at the prestigious La Aurora factory, the filler blend is composed of 100% Dominican long-leaf. At a glance, and after rolling it between forefinger and thumb, it has the look and feel of a quality premium cigar.

Surprisingly, the whisky taste is very subtle – just enough to let you know it’s there, and far from influential. The whisky manifests itself in the aroma, which offers a nice interplay of rich, sweet whisky with buttery, well-aged tobaccos. The profile is toasty and creamy with a little natural sweetness balanced by the real taste of tobacco – this crisp tobacco taste complements but doesn’t overpower the whisky infusion.

Characterized by an easy draw and dense clouds of white smoke plumes emanating from the foot, Erin Go Bragh is exceedingly mellow and smooth. The cigar itself is not overly flavorful but the mix of the distinct aroma and the creamy smoke make for a pleasurable experience. I love Erin Go Bragh as a golf cigar, or simply as an occasional and welcome change of pace. The whisky infusion is the key in this blend. Gentle and smooth enough to be your first cigar of the day but still has enough junk in the trunk to serve as a capable after-dinner treat.