Staff Reviews

Here’s the story of the best ashtray I’ve ever owned. 

The HERF Signature astray. What is it? A place to ash your cigars. A hunk of metal. A small weapon. All of these apply. I got a sample about six months ago and have been using it ever since. Here’s how it’s going.

Initially I was a little skeptical. The pitch I received was sort of like this: “Here’s a new ashtray we are going to carry. It's overbuilt, it's heavy, and the price point is around $50. Go test it out and tell us what you think.” It looked pretty nice, so I took the job, but all along I was thinking $50 for an ashtray? Half the time I use the seashells my wife collects at the beach, who wants a hunk of metal for that price! Fast forward six months, and now I get it. 

I left this ashtray outside, full of cigar butts, through a rainstorm for about a week. Instead of scrubbing it by hand, I tossed it in the yard and hit it with a power washer. Clean as a whistle with no cracks, dents, chipped paint, nothing. 

Last winter we had a lot of snow up north. A coworker left this ashtray outside and it got buried in snow. A couple weeks later that same ashtray was brought back into the office to shoot a video. Our photographer dropped it on a tile floor, and it took a chip out of the tile with no harm done to the HERF Ashtray.  

These are true stories. This ashtray is seriously tough and would take quite an effort to damage it. Durability aside, it has all the features an ashtray could have. A deep bowl that can handle all the cigars burned on poker night. It has four large cigar rests that can easily accommodate any size cigar (within reason) and even has raised grooves to make sure those cigars don’t slide off on a windy day. The ash knocker in the middle is a nice bonus, easy to roll those ashes off so they don’t end up in your lap. On the bottom are four rubber feet, so you can place it on a glass or wood table and not worry about scratching them up.

For me, this ashtray sits on my back porch at all times and even through a tough winter it’s still in great shape. The black and silver design is pretty sleek and would look great in a garage or smoking lounge if you’re so fortunate. 

My suggestion? Fork up the $50 and get one. It’s the best ashtray I’ve ever had by a longshot, and I don’t think I’ll need to replace it any time soon. 

I will openly admit right off the bat that I am addicted to Padron cigars. I smoke at least 1-2 per week and even then, it is not enough. The construction, the history, the burn, the flavors, I can go on and on about why I love all types of Padron cigars! But today, I am here to talk about the Padron Series 5000 in natural. This is considered their “entry level” or mainline cigar without the historically pricier cost as its relatives, the 1926, 1964, and other anniversary series sticks everyone loves. While this cigar may not be as expensive, it does not lack beautiful construction, wonderful burn time, and great flavors on the palate.  

 This cigar is a Nicaraguan puro, meaning the wrapper, binder, and long-fillers are all from Nicaragua. It is considered medium-bodied with a burn time of about 60-80 minutes. You will get a wonderful mix of earthy notes, natural sweetness, and hints of leather on the retro hale. This cigar burns very evenly, and not as quick as some of the anniversary sticks seem to do. While many people consider only smoking a Padron for “special occasions”, this cigar is truly a cigar you can add to your rotation of daily smokes. As my motto says, “Life is too short to have bad cigars” and the Padron Series 5000 is not only a good cigar, it is a great cigar. This cigar pairs very well with many spirits, including bourbon to pull the sweetness out of the drink and cigar; as well as Scotch, that will enhance the earth notes with a hint of spice on the tongue. So, grab yourself some of these amazing sticks and toast to life any day of the week, for any reason, with a beautiful Padron cigar that will not break the bank!

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!

AJ...AJ...AJ...that's all you hear about anymore!!!

That, my friends, is for a very good reason. Abdel Fernandez has been pumping out top flight cigars for over a decade now. How does he do it you ask?? Passion, discipline, and great tobacco. 

Introducing Ramon Allones Special Selection, Ometepe...Jalapa...Estelí Fillers, hugged by a Nicaraguan binder, all dressed up in a beautifully smooth Nicaraguan Habano wrapper. That's right folks, a Nicaraguan puro paying tribute to a legendary Cuban brand. "Wouldn't that make the cigar super spicy??" you may be asking yourself, normally you would be correct...but this is where the discipline and great tobacco come into play.

The growing region of Ometepe is considered to be the producer of some of the most potent tobacco there is for cigars, bold flavors of spice and nuttiness are to be expected when enjoying a cigar that has tobacco from this vega. Estelí Tobacco is not far behind Ometepe tobacco, but with more of a pepper-spice. Jalapa tobacco is typically very sweet and aromatic, and in this case acts as the balancer for the Ometepe and Estelí tobaccos. You add these all together and what do you get?? Well...

The initial light of this cigar hits you with a combination of that Esteli and Ometepe tobacco...a beautiful combination of red and black pepper, and a toasty tobacco finish. Not even two puffs later a cedar-like sweetness from the Jalapa tobacco comes in and mellows out those bold flavors. The burn line is razor sharp, and the ash hanging on like a champion. The aroma is almost floral. The first third of this puro is in line with most of AJ's cigars, a very bold introduction but quickly mellows into beautiful complexity. 

The middle of this cigar has me listening to Steely Dan or even Mad Season; just smooth melodies. Jalapa makes its presence known for sure here by introducing even more sweetness, telling Esteli and Ometepe to quiet down and and kick back a bit. Don't worry, the spice and pepper are still there, they're just taking a bit of a break. Razor sharp burn is not going away anytime soon, but I do have to ash the cigar after a solid 2-inch-long ash. I'm not the most graceful person, I'll admit.

As I'm still enjoying the middle of this cigar, I'm thinking of what beverages to enjoy with this cigar; Glenlivet 15 would enhance the spice and cedar of this cigar, Flor De Cana 18 would add more sweetness, and a straight cup o' joe would bring out a nice earthiness. Man, now I'm thirsty!!!

I was lucky enough to visit the base of operations for AJ Fernandez in Estelí, Nicaragua. It opened my eyes just how much goes into a product that we burn. The time and care that goes into every single cigar from this company is astounding. From the tiny little seeds that are barely bigger then the point of a sewing needle, growing as tall if not taller than 6 feet, the time spent in curing/fermentation, sorting, bunching and rolling..it is truly incredible. If you ever get the chance to visit AJ's factory, I highly encourage you to do so. It WILL make you appreciate cigars and the entire industry that much more.

Closing out the Special Selection brings out that spice again, with more of a focus on the cedar this time around, and a savory sweetness is making me wish this cigar never ended. If you're a fan of his Dias de Gloria, My Father's Flor de las Antillas, or Perdomo's 10th Anniversary Sungrown, I highly suggest you give this latest offering from AJ a try, I give you the Bobby B assurance you will not be disappointed!!

Before I get started, I already know what you’re thinking: “Davidoff? Why Davidoff?” Well, I am here to say “Why not Davidoff?” I will be the first to openly admit that for years, I was that person that stuck my nose up at the Davidoff line of cigars. Whether it was because I heard from others that you either “love them or hate them”, or that they were pricy, or that they are just not that popular. Well, I can finally state that four months ago, I started my own leap of faith and tried my first Davidoff cigar, the Davidoff Late Hour Toro. My mind was blown. How could I have not tried this cigar before? How could I have let so-called “friends” steer me so wrong and ignore this fine cigar? My love for this cigar has grown from trying it and loving it, to visiting the Davidoff of Geneva lounge in Las Vegas, to regularly purchasing and smoking these beauties several times a week!

Let’s start with its background and history. This cigar was developed in the spirit of the great Winston Churchill, who evidently did his best thinking and planning in the “late hour” of the night. The blend consists of a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan long fillers inside a unique Mexican binder, finished with an attractive Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Easy to light with a perfect balance of firm yet easy draw, you will find throughout the 70–90-minute smoke notes of leather and sweet wood, along with hints of mild spice and coffee. The tobacco in this cigar is aged in spent single malt scotch barrels, so naturally, any Scotch will pair very well with this cigar, my personal favorites being the Glenfiddich 12 or the Macallan 10. Given its subtle hints of spice and coffee, a morning coffee or Chai tea will also do just well if you cannot wait to smoke this beauty until the “late hour”. 

So, in the end, don’t be like me and wait any longer to try this amazing cigar! Put what you thought you knew about Davidoff cigars behind you and be prepared to be “wowed” by this medium to full-body stick!