Staff Reviews

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!

Nestor Reserve Maduro is a true undercover gem. These things showed up on our docks a couple months back and the boss man said they used to sell like hot cakes, and they’re now back in production. I took a risk and fired off an email to the lovely CI Nation…crickets. I guess you all forgot. So here I am putting my name behind them. 

There are definitely some solid contenders out there for best budget Maduro bundle brand. Brick House Fumas, Bahia Maduro, Perdomo Slow-aged, and HC Series Black all come to mind. But this one offers a combination the rest don’t. And that’s the money-making trio of an all long-filler blend, an awesome box-pressed shape, and a price point that won’t alert the wife on your next bank statement. 

The exterior wrapper is a deep brown Connecticut Broadleaf that sometimes has a nice oily sheen. This particular one I’m burning lacks the oily presence, but flavor is not affected. Initially I get some sweet chocolaty and bready flavors. The chocolate stays with you, but in the back half it offers some more earthy and peppery notes. I find it to be right in the middle of the spectrum at a solid medium body. 

The construction and draw are top-quality for a relatively inexpensive bundle brand, and the 6”x54 box-pressed torpedo shape is truly a pleasure to burn. If any of you moochers ever raided my humidor, you’ll surely find some Nestor Reserve Maduro in there. 

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! 

Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro 6x52
Burn Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Personal Score: 97

So, most of my staff and several customers have asked me why I have not done a review of the Southern Draw Rose of Sharon, a cigar that I have probably bought 30 boxes of in the past few years…Well, I guess I was just blind to the fact I had not written a review here, but I had done a 30 second review of this cigar on social media early on…so without further ado, here is my story of the Little Brand from Austin Texas…

Many years ago Bobby B. and I were working an evening shift when a tall gentleman walked in wearing a fancy shirt bearing the name “Chief Evangelist”. Bobby said “This guy looks important”! I turn around and across the store I see none other than Robert Holt, Co-founder and Chief Evangelist of Southern Draw Cigars. This was a bit odd to me, since at the time, Cigars International did not carry Southern Draw cigars…or so I thought. I had only enjoyed one Southern Draw Cigar, a Rose of Sharon that Rick N. from Operation: Cigars for Warriors gave me upon his return from CATS fest in Texas, just prior. I introduced myself to Mr. Holt and began a conversation with him about why he was in the store. Before I could get much in conversation wise, he was providing me my second only Rose I had ever lit. After putting fire to the closed foot, I asked him what brought him to our humble little corner of Pennsylvania. He stated we carry his cigars and wanted to educate us on the brand, mission, and cigars. Surprised, Bobby and I checked our point of sale system and sure enough, there were the SKU’s for the entire line of Southern Draw Cigars. That evening meeting would be the start of a long friendship with Mr. Holt, and served as the introduction to my ‘drive to work cigar’.

You see, I have a nearly 50 mile commute to work on Pennsylvania routes 22 & 78. Although not as bad as the 405 in LA, the Cross Bronx Expressway in NYC, or Route 95 in Florida, these roads I travel can get your blood pressure way up, combined with the fact that they are perpetually under construction. So, what does any of this have to do with a cigar review you may ask? Well, this 50 mile ride could take me forty-five or two hours! The way to keep my frustration level down is to enjoy a great morning cigar for the drive in…and what better way than one of my top three favorite Connecticut cigars.  

Named after Roberts’s wife and Southern Draw co-founder Sharon, and hailing from A.J. Fernandez’s factory, this cigar is draped in a silky smooth Ecuador Sun Grown Connecticut surrounding a Nicaraguan binder and Dominican Ligero and Nicaraguan long fillers, this light tan cigar can only be described as beautiful. The wrapper is nearly flawless, with very few noticeable veins and no blemishes. It has two Black, Gold, and Pink bands, one bearing the name of the company, Southern Draw and their moto Soli Deo Gloria, and the other the name of the cigar, Rose of Sharon. Perfectly rolled, uniformly round, and wonderfully balanced, this cigar boasts a closed foot. The purpose of this is that when you are lighting it, you do not toast it first…rather you light and puff right away. This gives you a nice taste of the wrapper right as you light it. This also means that the pre-light draw is slightly tighter than the average cigar, but fret not, any tightness will go away as soon as the matches lights this delightful foot. The notes I get upon puffing through the closed foot is nicely subdued floral, creaminess, and milk chocolate. Once the cigar gets going, there is a wonderful white pepper on the retro-hale, and cedar and oak, sweet cocoa, and hay on the palate. The finish in the first third is so short, it is nearly non-existent, once you puff the smoke, it is as if you are not even smoking a cigar. The body is mild to medium (3 out of 10) and the flavors are medium plus (7 out of 10) yet very balanced.

Before continuing on with this review, I want to speak about Southern Draw Cigars and specifically the Holts. Southern Draw gives back to the community and the factory workers all the time. They support many charities such as Operation: Cigars for Warriors and The Navy Seal Foundation to name a few. The company is owned and operated by Veterans. Southern Draw Cigars remains dedicated to producing unique blends of premium cigars, and providing the most consistent and sustainable products possible. Robert has stopped by the store many times on a social basis, when he is nearby, he will stop in the store and enjoy a cigar and beverage with the staff. Robert and Sharon have also done many events here in my store, including our Beerfest, CIGARFest ticket sales, as well as Thirsty Thursday, amongst others, and you will not find people as nice and as humble as these two. They are truly Southern Hospitality in a person, a true Lady and Gentleman.  

Getting back to the cigar, as the first third transitions to the second third, I found the retro-hale pepper getting much more pronounced, into a dried red pepper and spice. There is also some dried fruit sweetness on the retro and the flavors on the palate really bloom like a rose on a warm summer morning. I found oak, tea, caramel, cinnamon, cream, and sugar, so the middle third was nearly like a graham cracker…leaving me wanting more. At this point in the commute I am generally in the second of four construction zones, and this cigar is doing a fine job of keeping my blood pressure in check. As I pass the Pennsylvania State tree…the construction cone…I am reminded to relax and think of the good times I have spent with the Holts. The finish stays very clean at this point, I feel the body has become a solid medium (5 out of 10) and the flavors have moved up a notch to just under full flavor (8 or 9 out of 10).  

Generally as I pull into the parking lot, I am beginning the final third of this cigar. Often I want to just sit in my SUV and enjoy this until the end, however the work day must start, so I head into work as I head into the end of the cigar. I feel I am getting peanut butter, charred oak, and rye grain notes combined with the red pepper remaining on the retro. I can’t recall having to relight this cigar due to any construction issues, if I have had to relight, it has been due to stopping for gas or food in the morning, but construction as always been flawless for me, even burn, nice combustion line, strong white dime-stack ash, and a crisp and short finish. Unlike other reviews, I generally can’t pair this with too many adult beverages since I am generally driving, so it is often relegated to a soda or ice water. I have been told it works real well with coffee, however since I don’t drink hot brown liquids, I will take your word for that. I will say that in the evening I have sometimes enjoyed this with a Yuengling Lager or Golden Pilsner and it works just fine for that. The cigar finishes similar to the middle third on body and flavor. It is just enough to get me right in the morning, and if I have a case of the Mondays, I can at least be comforted in knowing that my Monday morning commute will be solid as long as I have my Rose of Sharon with me.

As I conclude this review, I am reminded that I need another box, so before I buy all of them, do yourself a favor and pick up a box of these cigars…the Rose of Sharon, like their namesake, is beautiful, and it will not let you down.

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.