Staff Reviews

My first sample was at the RTDA in New Orleans. After stopping by the Cusano booth for breakfast (in the form of a c10 Crown Corona), I felt I was ready to tackle the new Bolivar 2005. And so, we met with Marky-Mark, our favorite rep from General Cigar to have a sit down while burning through a sample or two. By looks alone, this new cigar could make a newbie run and hide. Dark, thick-ring, straight-barrel parejos adorn with the legendary Bolivar name. You instantly think you’re about to take a puff off the action end of a loaded shotgun. But fear not, this dog’s bite is not nearly as loud as its bark. While the flavor is nice, woody and sweet on the aftertaste, the smoke itself is a lot tamer than expected. A medium-bodied cigar from start to finish. No explosive introductions. No gradual buildup in intensity. No grand finale. I left my first sample in the ashtray feeling cheated and unfulfilled.

Fortunately, now that I know what to expect out of this cigar, I’ve come to enjoy it more. The construction is nice, delivering a solid performance with every burn, and the Nicaraguan and Dominican blend of long-fillers present a well-balanced, pleasant flavor that just about anybody can appreciate. It’s medium in strength and a super-slow-burner, making for a long-lasting experience. Unfortunately, it’s not the Bolivar I had hoped for. Maybe I just expect too much.

Ok, let’s get one thing straight right off the bat. This cigar is gorgeous. It has a pale, silky Connecticut shade wrapper that’s been flawlessly applied. The initial spark produces a pleasant aroma. A little woody, and very mellow. Right off the bat, the smoke fills my mouth with a thick, velvety texture that seems to coat my palate. The flavors are creamy and gentle. I notice a cedary-ness that’s complemented nicely with some spice. Not too much though, not as much as your ordinary Kaizad handmade. Considering his Centurian is one of my favorite cigars, I am not used to this. It uses a powerful, all-Dominican blend of filler leaves, which makes me expect a rich, rich flavor. It’s rich, yes, but not Perdomo or Indian Tabac rich. Truth be told, it smokes like an Avo or Davidoff, and I actually forgot what I was smoking halfway through. It’s pretty mellow, with a distinct creaminess that offers hints of wood and nuts. I think I found a new smooth recommendation for my ‘not so price sensitive’ customers. Just one recommendation though. Store them at about 65% percent. The thick filler leaves absorb a lot of moisture that can lead to a funny burn. Other than that, this pretty girl gets the homecoming crown!

Until a year or two ago, I never viewed Natural as a serious, conventional cigar. In most consumers' minds it is so closely tied to Drew Estate's insanely popular, highly-infused ACID brand that the popular misconception holds that Natural is also such an "imbued" cigar as well. To be sure, Natural is made with unconventional tobaccos from such sources as Haiti and Turkey, as well as more common Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. But just the same, the Natural line can stand on its own two feet as a legitimate traditional cigar. Unusual? Yes, but a bona fide brand that conventional smokers will come to love. I'm a believer! Can I get an amen?

With Root, the tobaccos have been heavily fermented to offer a distinctly rich, deep leathery flavor. The notes of dark coffee and ripe smokiness are undeniable. It pumps out voluminous gobs of buttery, creamy smoke. Soft to medium-bodied in strength, ample in flavor. My personal favorites in the Natural line: Root, Dirt, Pimp Stick. Buy them early and often.

I’ve never been a big fan of Partagas. To be honest, the only one I’ve ever truly enjoyed has been the Serie D #4. Because of this, I was hoping the official release of the Cifuentes Seasonal Blends would be as good as those tasty samplers. Let me tell you, they are. Actually, I think they might be better. Loaded with rich, spicy flavors and backed by a punch that’ll knock you out cold if you’re not ready for it. This is my kind of smoke. A slightly pressed, densely packed cigar that’s dark, bulky, and burns like a dream. It’s too strong to become part of my ‘every day list’, but I can easily find time to smoke one once a week, preferably after a tough day or a big meal. I’d like to thank Daniel Nunez and Benji Menendez for creating a legal Partagas that’s right up my alley!

note: this Staff Review was written in November of 2005, when the Partagas Cifuentes was originally released.

To legitimize my selection, I'll quote an email from one of my loyal readers (TC of Enid, OK) "you should review the Perdomo Cuban Wheel you guys sell - great product, great price, you can't go wrong!" I've been thinking the same now for months, but it's such a hard cigar to describe. OK, here it goes...

A few months back (at least 6 months or so), this little hottie from Tabacalera Perdomo's factory in Nicaragua was at our store rolling fresh-rolled cigars. She had a line out the door - no kidding, and I lined up with the rest of them to try one of her cigars. I was always told "don't buy those friggin' cigars just after someone has rolled them, they stink, don't burn, have a tight draw, and you'll just throw it out anyway." Well, I finally found a reason to take a chance. I found it to be a wonderful cigar, didn't burn poorly, had a different, kind-of "get up and dance" flavor, and a knee-knocking strength (oh, maybe that was the roller - never mind).

About a month later, we had hundreds of these fresh-rolled "cuban wheels" - 50 cigars in a bundle with a cute ribbon holding the thing together. Geez, someone must have really liked 'em (or her). Well, if that Nicaraguan hottie rolled 'em, I'll smoke 'em. Since then, I've smoked about 50 of these now. The bare bones bundles of 50 (yeah 50!) says it all. Made by Perdomo (who, last I checked has sold a gazillion cigars) lends itself to be a pretty powerful cigar.

Granted, this isn't a "holy crap, I've got to tell everyone about this cigar" cigar. But, I go back to it regularly. Why? $1.60 per stick, that's why. It's a legitimate premium that's been rolled well, burns well, and is guaranteed fresh.

But, what does "fresh" really mean? Pipe down, Francis, I'm gonna tell ya. Fresh doesn't mean you have to be standing there next to a roller lighting it up right after he puts the wrapper on. Close, but not quite. "Fresh-rolled" cigars often have about 3-4 weeks of aging on them (at least the fillers). The fillers are prepared and aged sometime before the wrapper is actually placed on it. Most of the popular "premiums" usually have a minimum of 6 months of aging.

That's why these have such a unique flavor b/c it hasn't fully matured yet and doesn't have the consistency from stick-to-stick, so don't expect it. They burn extremely well, but drag regularly, they're extremely moist and will go out a little quicker if you set it down for too long. The full-bodied flavor is very robust, no dry-mouth, but is a little rougher and sharper on the finish. A peppery spice will catch you mid-tongue. It really satisfies, and the construction is top-notch quality. Each stick might be a little different, you can almost expect it. And, as they sit in your humidor, they continue to age, so the flavor changes constantly. Once it hits that 6 month mark, they'll settle down a bit.

Smoke, chew, whatever, and as TC of Oklahoma said "you can't go wrong!".