Staff Reviews

Boy Howdy! If it could ever be possible to infuse a chocolate bar into a few leaves of tobacco and roll it into a cigar, it would unquestionably be called a Torano Exodus 1959! Now don’t get me wrong here because I’m not saying that this is a flavored smoke in any way. Instead, what I’m trying to get across to you without actually handing you one is the fact that this cigar truly has something unique to offer.

Take one from the box and the first thing you will notice is the chocolate-brown Habana-2000 wrapper which, upon close inspection hints at the care and quality poured into the creation of each cigar. Generally speaking, a cigar laden with bumps and veins is not particularly appealing and often leads to soft spots that ultimately promote a poor burn. However, you’ll find none of that here...from cigar to cigar and from box to box each Exodus 1959 is as smooth and soft as a piece of fine silk. Underneath these gorgeous and oily Habana-2000 wrappers lies an unparalleled blend of tobaccos from five (count’em…5!!!) countries. Farms from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa-Rica all contribute long-filler tobacco to the Exodus blend and when combined yield an amazingly complex yet smooth and rich flavor. Toast the foot and fire one up and you will first notice the rich and earthy flavor accompanied by a subtle chocolate-like note. Continue on and the complexity afforded by the five-country filler blend becomes more and more evident as the flavors change from subtle and rich to slightly spicy with creamy undertones. The chocolate nuances are now more pronounced and, as with all Torano products, the burn and draw are impeccable. Simply put, the list of factories with the ability to produce cigars this consistent in both flavor and construction year after year is very short. What’s infinitely more mind-boggling is the fact that a cigar like this can be had everyday without breaking your wallet. At less than $4 each Torano proves that you can have your cake and eat it too!

Truly an excellent value for the dollar, the Torano 1959 brings you quality, complexity and a robust array of flavors at a price that makes it a top candidate for an “everyday” smoke. My personal advice is to kick back and light one up, let it burn for an inch or so to acclimate your palate to the flavors and then set yourself up with a strong double-espresso for a cigar-smoking experience like none other. Trust me on this one, you won’t be disappointed!

I never quite understood why the Punch Rare Corojo is called, Punch Rare Corojo. After all, the wrapper is not Corojo. Rather, this box-pressed handmade sports a dark, oily Sumatra leaf from Ecuador. A head-scratcher indeed. Whatever the case may be, the Rare Corojo can be considered rare, since production is limited to just once per year, hitting retail shelves mid-to-late Spring.

A few years ago, we couldn’t keep this brand in stock. We would literally sell out within days, even before our catalog arrived in the customer’s mailbox. Boy, did we receive our share of hatemail! Fortunately, along with the addition of a new 6” x 60 El Doble size, production seems to have been juiced up a bit, making the Rare Corojo more readily available.

Punch is produced in the Villazon factory, a facility known for consistency and quality. The Rare Corojo is a step up from the traditional blend, featuring a rich, reddish Sumatra wrapper and robust tobaccos from Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican. Fresh out of the box, each cigar performs wonderfully. Slow, cool burns that run straight as an arrow and a draw that’s just right. The flavor, on the other hand, needs some time to mature.

Because of this, I forced myself to learn a little trick. Buy a box, sit on it for a year until the next release, then smoke it. In the meantime, buy a new box from the current production and repeat the process. It’s a chore, but worth it when you compare the flavor after a year-long nap. Given the right amount of time, these tobaccos marry to form a smooth, medium-bodied smoke that’s rich in hearty flavors, including subtle hints of wood and leather. The sharp, peppery notes mold into a subtle spice on the aftertaste, allowing me to appreciate the chewy flavors with each puff. Overall, it becomes better balanced, with a more gradual transition between flavors.

It’s inconvenient, and for that it suffers in the rating department. But, it won’t stop me from picking up a box each year.

Romeo y Julieta was one of the first cigars I've ever tried. Come to think of it, I believe it was numero uno. I was in Cancun - don't worry, I brought my own smokes - and had just a few too many Coronas, so my memory is a little hazy. Regardless, had I not enjoyed my first few cigars, I wouldn't have become the crazed cigar lunatic I am today. Therefore, I do give thanks to RyJ for beginning my allegience to the world of handmade cigars. It was the Bully, a 5"x50 robusto the represents the brand's top-seller.

Today, I decided to light up a Belicoso from the traditional 1875 blend of Romeo y Julieta. Aside from a few soft spots throughout the tapering barrel of the cigar, it appears to be made very well. The chestnut-colored Indonesian wrapper offers a smooth, silky sheen, but seems dry and 'hairy' to the touch. The pre-light aroma is short, and there is virtually no pre-light flavor. The 54-ring took some effort to light, but I’m off and puffing, filling the office with heavy clouds of light grey smoke. The straightforward flavor is toasty, with a distinct woody note and creamy texture. The finish is dry and lingers for about 10 seconds after each puff. Mild to medium-bodied, the Dominican fillers maintain a character that’s smooth and unobtrusive, without becoming harsh or overwhelming at any point.

Romeo y Julieta is a fantastic brand, one which everyone should try at least once. It’s well-made, super consistent and carries a solid reputation for top-notch cigars. However, over time, my palate has grown more complex, developing into a high maintenance menace that demands more with each cigar it consumes. While it was nice to revisit a cigar that introduced me to this exciting hobby of ours, I find myself looking for more interesting cigars, ones layered with flavors that change throughout the burn, growing more intense towards a satisfying finish.

Here’s the deal. I have just about every cigar toy imaginable, including countless cigar cases, caddies, travel-dors, etc. The only thing I never had was a 3-finger leather case. Why? Because I just couldn’t find one I truly liked and I was afraid I’d crush my cigars sitting down at the bar. Instead, I kept my 5-capacity Herf-a-Dor on me at all times, stocked with 5 cigars, even when the night only called for just a few.

Last year, we decided to carry the Envoy from Xikar. Finally, a stylish leather case that’s crushproof, yet slim enough to fit into my jacket or jeans pocket. Dressed in top-grain, black armada leather and fitted with metal caps on each end, this case fit the bill to a ‘T’. It’s lined with Spanish cedar and can hold three 54-ring cigars. With a quickness, I rang myself up for another employee purchase.

I’ll be honest; it took a good 4 months to truly appreciate this case. In January, a few of us went to see Arturo Gatti throw down with Thomas Damgaard in Atlantic City, NJ. Of course, the first thing I packed was my Envoy, and holy cow did I abuse this thing. It flew down the concrete steps just outside the arena, I accidentally kicked it down the steps inside the arena, sat on it twice at the arena and sat on it countless times at the Blackjack table. It took a pounding worthy of a heavyweight championship belt, while the cigars inside remained safe and sound. You may ask, “why were there cigars inside?” I’ll tell you: the freaking cigar Nazis wouldn’t let us smoke anywhere. At one point, we were hiding in the stairwell during the Undercard bouts, puffing away furiously to get back to the action. Even the Blackjack tables were smoke-free! What the hell is this world coming to?!

But I digress...the Xikar Envoy is one of the best purchases I’ve made to date. I couldn’t be happier with this buy, and am glad I held out to find the perfect 3-finger leather case.