Staff Reviews

It’s 3 in the afternoon and I’ve got a craving for a good smoke. Brandon was kind enough to give me a Sun Grown from his employee purchase, and although I’m on an empty stomach, I think it will fit the bill. Smell, snip, light and away we go. Right off the bat I am hit with an assortment of unique flavors. The dark sun-grown wrapper leaves a slightly sweet aftertaste on my lips while I pick up a subtle nuttiness, almost like toasted peanuts. Surprisingly enough, I’ve yet to receive any spicy notes and the strength is quite tame. I’m about 2 inches in and the flavor is quite mellow – a creamy earthiness dominates, while that subtle sweetness lingers after each puff. The burn is slow and true, and the cigar seems to ‘breathe’ relentlessly as it sits in my ashtray. Side note: when you see smoke coming from the head of a cigar, it’s ‘breathing’. About 75% of the way through my head starts to swim a bit. The strength is building, and the spiciness I expected up front has shown itself. The earthiness has grown richer, while the sweetness has been replaced with a definitive peppery flavor. Although this transition was gradual and balanced, it didn’t sneak up on me. Rather, the richness developed nicely, and then BAM, the spice kicks in towards the nub. The ending was phenomenal – robust and flavorful – a great way to finish a complex, well-made cigar. Good choice Brandon, and nice work Rocky. I’ll be gettin’ me some of these.

"Hey mon, ya wanna smoke some bamboo with us tooonight?" - a dark-skinned Jamaican student said to me during my first week of college 15 years ago. "Um, well, hmm, I'll, um, maybe, well, I promised my parents, um, well, hmm, smells good, well..." This time on Gonz's bargain train, I've got some Bohemian Bamboo "for ya mon". No, not the wacky-tobaccy kind, but a deal coming from Dominican Republic's Victor Sinclair factory. With a great array of mellow-to-medium bodied cigars such as Don Rafael, Victor Sinclair Connecticut, Bohemian, and the super-premium Serie '55' the Bamboo is distinctly different, producing a tamer smoke that slaps you with a complex depth of flavor that I didn't expect.

I'm only through my 5th Bamboo North Beach (5.0" x 54) but just couldn't resist writing about it. Simple aesthetics turned me on to give it a chance. First, I know the untrimmed foot is going to give me an easy light. No need to drag and drag...and drag....and drag...to get this lit. Plus, the curly head cap has a cutter built-in, just in case your guillotine eludes you. Twist, light, and go! Woohoo! The wrapper is a nice, silky, thick Connecticut shade leaf, not the typical paper thin one you're used to. A firm cigar chock full of tobacco.

The flavor profile is a hoot. Struck by the expectation of a very easy going cigar, the initial burn meets that description precisely. A fuller body erupts more quickly and without introduction, surprising the taste buds and tickling the fancy with intrigue. Not overbearing or pungent at all, but a nice body stubbornly works its way into the smoke, leaving a soft peppery finish that lingers, but a light smoke that disappears quickly upon exhale. Creamy, yet dry and slightly spicy - that about says it all.

The burn remains even, the flavor profile consistent, and the cost....$2 per stick. Alrighty then, a box for me and all my friends!

Light'em up!

In addition to being a regular investment of mine, the benchmark Puros Indios brand remains one of Rolando’s greatest feats to date. In true Reyes, Sr. form, the PI Bronco sports a blotchy, marbleized wrapper that catches your eye. I have to admit, it’s far from being the prettiest leaf that I’ve seen, but I’ll be damned if ain’t intriguing. It’s kind of like my dog – a purebred pug – so ugly you gotta get one. Only, a box of these ‘beauties’ cost a lot less than a pug and it doesn’t snore while awake. It’s comprised of a superior blend of Cuban-seed, Honduran-grown tobaccos and a shiny Ecuadorian Colorado wrapper. But the key to this cigar is the size. The Bronco weighs in at a healthy 6”x56. Normally, a cigar of this stature opens and finishes with an explosion of flavor and strength. Instead, this blend has been mellowed and masterfully balanced by an extensive aging process, making a soothing, slow burning smoke that never comes close to full bodied. Every now and then the burn may go slightly awry, but this can only be expected when this much tobacco is in play. Regardless, I always enjoy the depth of flavor it presents. A medium bodied firecracker that swarms my taste buds with an abundance of smooth, earthy flavors that start out subtle and creamy, becoming more and more rich as it burns. It’s not the quickest smoke in my humidor, but I try to make some time for this puppy on a regular basis. Its ample size and intricate blending allows me to fully appreciate everything that made Rolando Reyes, Sr. a legend within the industry.

Since I’ve been leaning towards the lighter side of cigars lately, I figured I’d treat myself to one I’ve never had. Indeed, finding one was a task in of itself, almost as difficult as forking out the dough to try the chosen cigar, Ashton Vintage, otherwise known as the Cabinet Series, or Cabinet Selection. Whatever you want to call it, Ashton is a consistent cigar that receives a lot of praise, so I thought it would be nice to sit back with the upgraded vintage version.

I chose the #1, a humungous 9”x52 figurado. This thing is huge, and the Connecticut shade wrapper is a work of art – smooth and shiny with no veins. The construction seems top notch - it’s thoroughly filled with 6 different Dominican tobaccos, leaving no room for a soft spot. After cutting the well-applied cap I light up and am on my way. The draw is tight off the start, making it a struggle to produce any smoke and pull in any flavor. My co-workers probably think I left for the day, since they’re used to seeing clouds billowing from my desk at any given moment. After a few minutes the draw opens up a little, easing my mind, and coating my palate with a light creaminess. For such a large cigar, the flavor is subtle and smooth, while leaving the slightest aftertaste on the tip of my tongue. Now that the draw has opened up a bit, I settle in for the ride feeling better about today’s pricey purchase.

After about 15 minutes I begin to realize that although the ride is free of bumps and potholes, I’ve yet to encounter any fun curves and hills. Instead, it’s a 45mph, cruise control drive on a long, straight road. The flavor is nice, but flat. One wouldn’t expect this from a cigar that employs 6 different tobaccos under this pretty wrapper. But, I give it the benefit of the doubt, keep my foot on the gas and continue on with tonight’s ‘gar de jour. There isn’t much more to report on this cigar. Other than a tight draw, it’s mellow, creamy and smooth, but rather one dimensional. If I were a golfer, I might bring one to the course with me, since it’s light enough to accompany a case out in the sun. But I’m not, so instead I’ll hand these off to my friends that don’t smoke too often - they’ll probably appreciate them more. After nearly 2 hours on the road with the Ashton Vintage, I’ve decided that I can do better for the price. Actually, I know I can.

The latest version of this brand was just released about a month ago and it does not disappoint. This time, a similar Dominican fill with just the right amount of oomph! that makes your tongue tingle, yet a very dark (almost black) maduro wrapper. It's not like a traditional, slightly sweet, CT broadleaf maduro. Rather, more like an extra-dark Sumatra wrapper. The Churchill I just lit torches up with incredible ease. The draw is easy, even at over 7 inches, and the smoke is not over-powering. I wish I could describe the flavor more poigantly. It leaves no chalky, dry throat aftertaste. It's just smooth and even better than I remember. It burns even and neat. The ash will hang until you're ready to push it off. The maduro wrapper feels slightly oily to the touch and very well-manicured.

This cigar is a great change of pace and will enlighten all of your senses. The Churchill seems huge, burning slow, giving you a solid 1.5 hours. I think this cigar would be perfect for a port wine or perhaps an after-dinner brandy. I wish I had one of those handy, but buying port wine or brandy just isn't in my vocabulary. So, I reach for Keystone Premium Lager (really, at $8.95 a case it does taste just like Coors.) The most surprising feature is the body. So easy going in flavor, it still offers that oomph! I knew from the Dark Shark of old. The maduro wrap softens it considerably, and it does seem mellower, but I'm just giddy how pleasant this cigar is.

So where does the bad and ulgy come into play. Well, in the name obviously. How does a company market the name Dark Shark with a goofy, almost cartoon image of a shark bursting through a hole on the box and label? Obviously, they give away freebies like a free t-shirt with every box. That's what we're doing. The sad thing is you shouldn't have to. The cigar speaks for itself, so try just a 5-pack and you won't be disappointed.

The finish is just as solid as the start. It might be a little green - I had to relight about 3 times, but give it a few weeks in the humidor and this baby will shine. I smoked it down to about 2 inches and it started to get a little hot, but the flavor held through and through. Well, my head is getting a little wobbly, so I better run.