Staff Reviews

For today’s review, I’ll be performing two cardinal sins of the uppity-up cigar snobs... that’s right, not only is this cigar a bundled option (gasp!) but it’s also flavored (oh no!). If you pop into your local cigar lounge and listen to the “experts” you’ll come away thinking that everyone only lights up Padrons, OpusX, and ultra-rare small-batch creations… but guess what? They’re lying. You see, I see the sales numbers, and numbers never lie. That’s why I know tons of people across this great nation enjoy bundled brands and flavored offerings day in and day out. To put it another way, if people were telling the truth and didn’t like Kuba Kuba, I wouldn’t have to purchase pallets of them at a clip. 

Today, though, we’re not reviewing an ACID, we’re looking at a line that’s much more affordable — Devil’s Weed Dark Brew Coffee Maduro. A mouthful of a name, that’s for sure, but this cigar lands comfortably at right around $3 a stick and is an absolute bargain at that price. Here’s the skinny. 

Devil’s Weed is manufactured at the world renowned Pinar del Rio factory in the Dominican Republic. You may not hear about this factory often, but let me assure you, they’re still alive and well and producing tons of affordable, delicious cigars on a daily basis. Devil’s Weed was originally brewed up about a year back, offered in a single, Connecticut-wrapped bundle. Recently, Abe Flores (owner and operator of PDR Cigars) let us know he’d be updating the packaging and that with it we’d be receiving two new blends: a “Natural” and “Dark” Brew version influenced by premium coffee. I asked him what on earth a “Natural Brew” meant, but am still just as confused as you are! Anyway… 

The repackaging feels fresh and modern, but you throw all that stuff out in the end, so at the end of the day I’m only really worried about the tobacco. That’s where things get good. Dark Brew Coffee Maduro features a smooth and oily San Andres wrapper – a particularly impressive feat when you consider how veiny and rough most Mexican wrapper leaf is by comparison. Underneath, a Dominican binder and carefully bunched Dominican long-fillers keep things interesting, with the Dark Brew delivering a profile that I feel comfortable calling medium to full-bodied. A real change of pace from many flavored options, which are typically heavy on sugar and light on everything else. 

Toasting the foot of this one, I was a little nervous – the cigar is softer and squishier (that’s a technical term) than I tend to prefer. But good news, this thing burns like a champ, giving off big clouds with every puff. I like an ACID every once in a while (sue me) so I was expecting tons of sugar on this sweetened cap, but it’s a much more subtle experience. Sure, the sweetness is there, but mostly I’m met with hints of dark roasted coffee smoothed out by lots of natural chocolate notes in the background. Some spice and black pepper pop up just often enough to vary the experience, but this certainly isn’t a “spicy “cigar. 

In short, if you love coffee, like flavored blends, or are just looking for a great value, I don’t think you can do much better for the money. Devil’s Weed Dark Brew is easily one of my favorite bundled cigars I’ve tried, and might be the best “bang-for-your-buck” when it comes to coffee-infused blends. My only negatives: the longer sizes are a little one-dimensional, and this cigar burns a bit quick… but those are both just me being nit-picky. Grab yourself a bundle today, and I’m sure you’ll add this one to your favorites. 

Look, I’ve never been into cigar reviews. Who the hell cares what some semi-bald, big-headed nerd thinks about a bunch of cigars? Right? But then it dawned on me. Not everyone out there is bombarded with hordes of premium cigars like I am (I know, first-world problems) and works in an environment where their co-workers burn down sticks faster than greased lightning. So I’ll admit it: I was wrong. The people need to know what’s worthwhile in the ever-growing expanse of the cigar universe. And I’m just the man to do it…

The first test-subject on the docket? Villazon Maduro. On paper, this one checks all the boxes. Pedigree? Check. These puppies are rolled at the famous Villazon factory (now renamed HATSA), where the likes of Punch and Hoyo de Monterrey are made. Price point? Check. These bundled beauties just landed here and start at a paltry $2 a cigar. Inexpensive, premium handmades from the industry’s most legendary factory? You have my attention.

Full disclosure: maduro-wrapped cigars are my go-to. No matter what, I was probably going to like this cigar more than the average cigar enthusiast. But believe me when I say it: this warlock is legit. Boasting a four-country, long-filler blend, this gem is as complex as they come. This potent cocktail is then finished with a thick, smooth Broadleaf maduro. The final product provides a fairly stereotypical maduro flavor up front; chocolaty, rich, etc. But as things progress, the blend gradually adds spice as you burn it down. Mix that with the richness of the wrapper and notes of cedar, earth, and citrus and you have a flavor firecracker that’s easily worth price of admission.

2003 — a momentous year for cigars. You see, fifteen short years ago is when the Five Hour Energy shot was first introduced to the market, and after becoming incredibly wired and going on a two week buying bender, the team at Cigars International began mutating into the deal-driven, price-slashing monsters we are today. Wait, wait, my editors tell me that’s not quite right. Ah, yes, in addition to our productivity increasing tenfold thanks to taurine-filled capsules of goodness filling our trashcans, 2003 is also the year that Rocky Patel began putting his name on cigars. 

Think on that for a minute. Sure, Rocky was making cigars in the 90’s, but it’s just fifteen years back that the man we all know now began his path towards household recognition. Today? Rocky Patel is basically the most recognizable cigar manufacturer on the planet, bordering on rockstar status. Indeed, I’ve witnessed grown men swoon upon mere sight of Rocky at our retail stores, like teenaged girls at a Backstreet Boys concert. And for good reason! Producing dozens upon dozens of blends, Rocky is inarguably in the top three most successful, prolific, and important cigar makers working right now.

That long lead in brings me to my review cigar today: the Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon. Phew! Only took me 200 words to get to the name of the cigar today – how’s that for short and sweet? Indeed, while my introduction might be overblown, let me assure you the hype for this blend is not. After sampling nearly every RP on the market (a task that would take you about seven months to achieve, if you tried one a day), the ’03 Cameroon remains my favorite Rocky to date. 

So what’s the big deal? Let me assure you: it’s no secret sauce, ancient Chinese secret, or treasured, proprietary fermentation process. Nope. It’s just age and quality. You see, each Vintage ’03 features an absolutely stunning African Cameroon wrapper leaf, aged a minimum of eight years. I don’t want to get too “inside baseball,” but I do want to impress upon you how difficult it is to find quality African Cameroon leaf. 

Here’s the quick facts. If you don’t care about this cigar “nerd”dom and want to get to the good stuff, skip the list: 

1.) Authentic Cameroon leaf is smaller than most of the other tobaccos on the market, meaning, quite simply, there’s less tobacco to work with.
2.) Its a toothy, veiny leaf. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, but cigar consumers demand a certain look to their wrappers, and it can be difficult to find Cameroon that works for it.
3.) The leaf is delicate and thin, almost like Candela, which demands that only the most skilled rollers craft the cigars.
4.) Finally, Cameroon leaf takes longer to ferment and age properly, so it requires a longer time (and therefore money) investment from manufacturers. 

To make a long story short? It’s impressive, requires dedication, and is rather rare. Combine the Cameroon with a Nicaraguan binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers, and you’ve got the beauty at hand today. Toasting this one up, you’re going to get a nice amount of rich, almost syrupy sweetness (that’s the Cameroon). As you progress, soft spice gets added to the mix, but not too much. If anything, the cigar starts to veer more towards a smooth, coffee-driven profile than a peppery one. As for the construction, I couldn’t ask for better. The ash holds on well, not flaking off, and the draw is flawless. Basically, exactly what you’d expect from an RP blend. 

By now, this review’s gone on long enough. So let me give you my final thoughts. Vintage ’03 Cameroon is not only an amazing Rocky Patel cigar, it’s one of the best Cameroon offerings on the market. If you’ve never tried it, do yourself a favor and pick some up: the unique blend will expand your cigar knowledge and let you try something new. Just don’t blame me once you get the craving for some more Cameroon in the future — finding a better cigar than this is gonna be tough. 

Let me start this review off with an apology. For the last year, I’ve been diligently reviewing cigars here, and to my surprise this morning I noticed only one of the cigars I reviewed (Oliva 2nds) has been an affordable option. My bad! Before you get the wrong idea, I don’t take down Padrons and Alma Fuertes everyday. No, in fact, my cigar rotation leans much more towards the “budget” side of the equation. So, as an apology to everyone’s wallets, my next few reviews will be focused on my favorite cigars you can get for $3 or less. And to start it off, we’re going to take a peek at Bahia Brazil. 

Some backstory for you: originally crafted by Tony Borhani in the cigar boom of the ‘90s, Bahia cigars were, at one time, some of the highest rated cigars in the world. Unfortunately, since then, the brand has taken a bit of a tumble, cropping up in new blends that come and go with the seasons… but three cigars have stayed true: Bahia Maduro, Bahia Trinidad, and Bahia Blu. These three bundled beauts represent the best mixture of affordability and flavor on the market – and they’ve all been fan-favorites of CI Nation for years. Indeed, those three cigars alone carry nearly 700 verified customer reviews between them at the time of writing this. 

When things like this work, you just don’t mess with them. No new sizes, no gimmicks, no packaging changes… just sell the cigars, and give the people what they want. So imagine my surprise when a brand spankin’ new Bahia bundle popped up on our docks a few weeks ago. Yes sir, Bahia Brazil is here, and it deserves its spot right along the original trilogy. 

Now my favorite Bahia has always been the Maduro, but after going through about half a bundle of Brazil, I may just have to change my mind. While the Maduro weighed in at a nice medium body, Brazil turns the dial up a notch, delivering a sultry medium to full-bodied profile that’s rife with complexity but stays uber-smooth simultaneously. 

On top of this gem sits a beautiful Brazilian Maduro wrapper leaf, each one a rich chocolate brown color with just a slight hint of oily sheen. Underneath, you’ll find Nicaraguan binder and long-fillers that have each been aged to perfection. And now for the best news — for all you who love big ring blends, and who truly want to maximize the bang for your buck, Bahia Brazil is offered in both a 5”x56 Robusto and 6”x60 Gordo. In many bundled blends, these sizes are ones to avoid: the lower quality filler leaves are more present in larger ring gauges, delivering a less enjoyable flavor. But not here. Bahia Brazil shines in its big ring offerings, and they top out at around $3 per cigar. 

Still with me? Good. Lighting this one up, I’ve got no real complaints. On the larger rings, the draw can be just a tad loose, but that’s typical for me with a 60rg cigar so I can’t really knock Brazil for it. The first half of this cigar delivers tons of spice with a chewy oakiness in the profile as well. As the cigar burns down (which it does very slowly, by the way) it mellows out, and the Brazilian wrapper starts to shine. Indeed, the back half of Bahia Brazil loses most of the spice that starts it off, replacing it with a rich, dark chocolate note and tons of toastiness. 

You want one of the best bundled cigars on the market? Look no further. I guarantee if you popped the bands off these bad boys and asked someone to guess how much they cost after enjoying one, they’d tell you $6-$7. Instead, you pay half of that, and come out on top every time. Enjoy! 

There’s a few types of people you run into when you work in a cigar shop. Guys that only like maduros, that only like big-rings, that swear by Connecticuts, that won’t touch anything unless AJ’s name is on it — the list goes on. But there’s one type of cigar enthusiast I’d like to shine the spotlight on today. The guy who hates popular brands. 

Maybe you’ve met this guy before: the resident hipster of the tobacconist, who’s always ready to tell you all about the super-limited-edition-ultra-rare-boutique-handmade from a company you’ve never heard of, based out of a fishing village in Peru that ages all their cigars in Alaskan soil under the watchful eye of a 110 year old Cuban grandmother. Yeah, right.

This guy may find some great cigars on his quest towards purposeful obscurity, but he’s making a huge mistake. You see, the Big Brands are big brands for a reason — because they’re time tested, and customer approved. Today, I’d like to visit one of those big brands, and review their (spoiler alert) fantastic new(ish) blend: Cohiba Macassar. 

You can’t smoke the packaging, but in this case it’s at least worth taking a look at. Cohiba Macassar is presented in beautiful 10-count boxes, constructed from the rare Indonesian ebony timber of the same name. Macassar takes inspiration from the limited-edition nature of this wood, ensuring that each tobacco included in the final blend are of the highest-quality, and aged extra-long, with a final year of aging in rum barrels. The result is a medium to full-bodied blend that immediately impresses: it’s gorgeous at first glance, and only gets better as you light her up. 

The wrapper leaf is grown exclusively in one small area of Connecticut, northeast of the Connecticut River Valley. Press releases claim that the “microclimate” in this region help to produce a richer, more flavorful tobacco, in trade for a lower yield per plant. I don’t know much about agriculture, but I can assure you this cigar is incredibly flavorful. In addition to the unique Connecticut Havano wrapper, you’ll find a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and a combination of Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers, each aged for a total of six years. 

But enough of the backstory… what’s this thing taste like? Firing up Macassar, I get the traditional smoothness you might associate with this brand from releases like Cohiba Red Dot, but if you blindfolded me I’d probably never guess this was a Cohiba. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. Extraordinarily unique, Macassar impresses with gobs of woody notes, slight black pepper, and a creamy, earthy mixture at the core that provides an enjoyably long and complex finish. 

Though it doesn’t come cheap, Cohiba Macassar is easily my favorite release from the Cohiba brand to date. Pick up a 5-pack when you get a chance, and if you’re looking for a size recommendation, I’d go for the Double Corona. I know, it’s the most expensive, but I promise – this cigar performs incredibly well in such a large size, offering plenty of time for you to appreciate the slow burn and balanced profile.