Reviews by Steve R

SPOILER ALERT: Rarely will you see me give a cigar a 94-point rating. But guess what, I just did. Here’s why.

Throw out what you think you know about Cuba Libre....even if you’re one of the many that enjoys this hearty stick on a regular basis. Cuba Libre One is bold, fresh, and entirely new. A bigger, darker, badder brother fully equipped to soothe your palate into submission. It’s rich. It’s eventful. And many will find it to be surprisingly potent.

Like its predecessor, Cuba Libra One is hand-crafted by Nestor Plasencia. However, it’s produced in his massive Nicaragua factory: a veritable fortress churning out delicious super-premium for more brands than you can even fathom. Fortunately, he has the manpower and the resources to make each and every cigar perfect; just as delicious as the last, thousands of cigars over.

This new breed of Cuba Libre is something I find gazing at for some time before even clipping the cap. The wrapper is dark, leathery in appearance, and oozing with oils. Then there’s the band....a crisp, glossy white band with impressive silver and blue accents – the band literally jumps off the dark Nicaraguan Habano ligero wrapper. A beautiful contrast. The pre-light aroma heightens the rituals, filling my nostrils with a warm, barnyard scent with a peppery tickle from the all-ligero blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran long-fillers. Oh yeah, this baby is a brute.

The cigar sits very heavy in the hand. Because, well, there’s a ton of tobacco rolled into each one. In addition to a thick wrapper leaf and heavy ligero long-fillers, each Cuba Libre One contains two binder leaves, a practice used not nearly enough in the industry - a feisty Habano leaf from Jalapa and a smooth Costa Rican leaf.

All these tobaccos produce an exceedingly complex cigar from first light down to the nub. Like most strong cigars, Cuba Libre One opens with ample spice. A big, peppery beginning coating the palate with spice and dark tobacco flavor. Flavors that linger long after each puff. Don’t worry, this opening merely awakens your taste buds, preparing them for a deep series of rich, velvety flavors. Roasted coffee tones meet bold earthy nuances, both of which are smothered in cream and delivered in chewy fashion throughout the burn. The finish is always spicy and sometimes sweet, while the bouquet is smoothly presented with perfect balance. And then, the power creeps in as the eventful array of flavor steals the limelight. What was once medium gradually approaches the full-bodied realm, just before a strong, spicy finish ices the cake.

Now that, my friends, is a cigar. I am well aware that not everyone will like this cigar. Hey, not every cigar is for every enthusiast. But I’ll be damned if 90% off full-flavored, boutique fans don’t add this meaty handmade to their regular rotation after trying just a couple.

(To Mr. Pete Johnson....I hope you enjoyed this review. Thanks for the request - keep'em coming.)

I’ve long been a fan of Alec Bradley Tempus. This 94-rated stud is damn tasty and always well-made. Especially the Quadrum size, which sits heavy in the hand and comes jam-packed with delicious tobaccos. I just received a Tempus Maduro in this very same size: 5.5”x55 Quadrum. It looks and smells amazing, offering a sweet tobacco pre-light aroma and a bready pre-light flavor that’s making my mouth water. I’m expecting good things here....and decided to write a review to let you know how my first experience with this new blend unfolds.

Side note: I was shocked to see I did not write a review on the original Tempus. I be slackin’, yo!

As I said before, the pre-light characteristics of this cigar really captured my attention. Upon inspecting the foot, I notice a modest mix of darker, ligero-esque tobaccos throughout the blend – foreshadowing of some strength ahead.

The smoke begins with a warm, roasted flavor. Almost like dark roast coffee, with a dry but toasty backbone of dark tobacco flavors beneath. This initial bouquet fills the palate with thick, creamy smoke. The exhale through the nose is surprisingly smooth. However, this all changes after an inch, as red pepper enters the fray....this pepper coats the back of the palate in smooth fashion and becomes a dominate flavor through the nose shortly thereafter. Interestingly enough, I am also picking up a slightly sweet touch of – what seems to be – caramel on the finish....just on the front of the palate. I don’t notice this new intricacy with every puff, but it’s certainly there.

I am midway through, and the power behind those darker tobaccos I mentioned earlier are shining through. This cigar is meaty. Rich, toasty to the core with dark tobacco flavors and a dash of pepper....the caramel is gone as the strength reaches my gut. I wouldn’t call this a full-bodied cigar (not yet, at least), but it is certainly satisfying on many levels with two thirds remaining.

The final stretch is pure maduro. A bold display of strong, but properly cared for tobaccos dishing out impressive flavors that linger long on the palate. Even the aroma has intensified. It was toasty and charcoal-like at first, but has now evolved into a zesty, somewhat oily aroma.

Wow. The darker side of Tempus has many faces. All of which are presented in balanced fashion despite their contrasting attributes. From spicy to sweet, dry to rich, the Alec Bradley Tempus kept me on my toes from start to finish.

A few days ago, my December issue of Cigar Aficionado was delivered. Today, I got around to leafing through it. Amongst the ads for countless items I’ll never be able to afford, something caught my eye, inspiring me to write this staff review. Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo received an ‘88’ rating. Wait a minute....

Let’s go back 10 years. An 88-point score would be a dynamite rating. I cry foul. Today’s rating system is seriously skewed – 91s and 92s are now commonplace, and we frequently see ratings as high as 93, 94, and even 95 – usually for the same brands or countries of origin, mind you. These new, bloated scores make an 88 seem so....well, mediocre.

So why was I inspired to write this review? Because the JdN Dark Corojo is a good cigar. A damn good cigar, and I disagree with the 88-point score in today’s rating scheme. I’ll explain....

Let’s face it, when it comes to full-bodied, full-flavored cigars, Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 is a frequent mention. This Nicaraguan puro may not be the powerhouse it once was – due to the influx of some seriously full-bodied blends now on the market – but the Antaño cigar brings the brass in a smooth, velvety fashion that almost anybody can enjoy. And, after years of experimenting, blending, and perfecting, the folks at Joya de Nicaragua have released an even fuller variety in the Dark Corojo, and it’s flippin’ good.

As one would expect from Joya de Nicaragua, the Dark Corojo is a brute, sitting heavy in the hand and jam-packed big boy tobaccos. The Corojo-seed wrapper is grown in Nicaragua, and has been carefully fermented to achieve a super-dark color and excessively oily sheen. The Nicaraguan long-fillers within contain plenty of ligero aged 3 years prior to rolling and expertly blended, producing a bold yet bready-sweet pre-light aroma that’ll make your mouth water after just one whiff.

My 5.5”x54 El Martillo is cut, lit, and already producing a ton of dark, thick smoke. My palate is greeted by a rich and creamy core of dense, deep tobacco flavors. This initially rush of Nicaraguan tobacco goodness is soon met with a toasty blast of wood – an oaky influence that’s like velvet, sitting heavily on the palate and clinging to the taste buds. There’s an underlying spice at play that’s neither moderate nor overwhelming. Just a gentle touch of pepper that teases my taste buds. And then, just as I'm kicking my feet up to savor this slow-burner, the ligero-laced power kicks in, soothing my senses with the possibility of modifying my motor skills. Hang in there Steve. Stick around for the long haul, because I'm in for a treat at the end. While the power doesn’t instensify, the flavors do, becoming more complex toward the nub. Indeed, this cigar has taken yet another turn, becoming richer in character with a hint of roasted coffee mixed in about an inch before risking your fingertips. No doubt satisfying, the Dark Corojo is a powerful, flavorful handmade I'll easily find myself craving again in the near future....after my motor skills are back.

Yeah....that’s my take on Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo. 88? Please. Let’s get serious here, folks.

To be honest, I have no idea why I am even writing this review. Watching truckloads of Gran Habano Corojo Vintage 2002 cigars hit our docks (seemingly) monthly tells me you already know about the brand. Hell, this cigar is nearly impossible to keep in stock, and writing a review could potentially make it even more difficult to maintain a decent level of inventory. But, I’ve been burning these bad boys like crazy the past 2 months, and I’ve got a few minutes to kill, so I might as well tell ya why I like’em so much.

Reason 1: I have good luck with Gran Habano....

First off, I’ve always been a fan of everything Gran Habano. There’s just something about the cigars coming from this Honduran-based factory. They’re always well-packed, slow-burning, and dish out a ton of soothing, Cuban-esque flavors. Whether’s it’s the flagship Gran Habano line or 3 Siglos (now known as 3 SLS), G.A.R. or Blue Label....I could burn cigars from the Gran Habano rolling tables all day long.

Reason 2: I love Corojo-wrapped cigars....

There are two wrapper varieties that I love. The first, as you may know, is a dark and oily maduro leaf, especially of the Brazilian Arapiraca or PA Broadleaf variety. The second – you guessed it – is Corojo, grown just about anywhere. Gran Habano’s Corojo leaf is a gem. A thick, toothy wrapper loaded with hearty goodness. And since this Gran Habano Corojo Vintage blend employs a Corojo leaf cultivated in 2002, I pick up a uniquely creamy bouquet with all the zesty, Cuban-esque qualities I’ve come to know and love from the flagship Gran Habano line.

Reason 3: The flavor is always on point....

In addition to making some seriously well-made cigars that always feel heavy in the hand and come jam-packed with tasty tobaccos, every Gran Habano cigar tastes exactly like the last. And fortunately for us, that taste is....well, uhmm....tasty! Every single time I pick up a Gran Habano cigar, I know exactly what my palate is in for. A rich and flavorful array of familiar flavors that never disappoint. Consistency is key, and never an issue from this factory.

Reason 4: The uniqueness of flavors....

One might think a cigar with such aged tobaccos will be mellow. Tamer in nature. Especially a Corojo which is traditionally quite full in flavor. This is not the case. Rather, the flavors are more balanced and refined. The zesty, Cuban-esque nuances are still there, but they’re backed by a unique creaminess not found in the standard #5 Corojo blend. This creaminess is a wonderful addition to the hearty undertones. A silkiness that lingers long on the palate, mingling with the subtleties of coffee and nuts perfectly and complementing the peppery-sweet finish in delicious fashion.

Reason 5: It’s still a little powerhouse....

Don’t let the age full you. This vintage variety still packs a meaty punch. Remember, the tobaccos within the aged wrapper are the same, so the dynamics haven’t changed all that much when it comes to potency. These rich, heady tobaccos still deliver that medium to full-bodied strength you’ve grown accustomed to – it’ll just sneak up on you this time.

Reason 6: Price

If you’re one of the countless CI Lunatics that’s had the opportunity to buy this gem, you already know the deal. If you haven’t, click the link and check the price. Nuff said.

There you have it. Gran Habano Corojo Vintage 2002 – a winner, all around.

New 2010 Release: La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor

As some of you may know, I was a HUGE fan of the old La Aroma de Cuba blend from Honduras. Chewy, rich, tasty....I loved this cigar and have missed it considerably ever since it left the market. Now, this brand is made in Nicaragua by Jose ‘Don Pepin’ Garcia, and it’s drastically different. Some claim it’s better, some claim there’s nothing quite like the original.

I now have in my hand the latest blend from La Aroma - Mi Amor - which I plan to take for a test drive. This new blend is very different in appearance than the other La Aromas on the market. The wrapper is a dark and toothy Cuban-seed leaf grown in Mexico - it offers a dark chocolate-brown hue with minimal oils. Smelling the unlit foot, I pick up a trace of baked bread - much like the aroma you’ll smell when walking through a tobacco curing barn. The slightest bit of spice tickles my nostrils, leading me to believe there’s a little ligero within this all-Nicaraguan long-filler blend, ready to smack my palate with a dash of pepper. I chose a punch cut - because somebody took my damn cutter off my desk - and am ready to go.

The first few puffs are very smooth, with a deep, roasted tobacco flavor and toasty influence. From the get-go, I notice thick and heavy clouds of gray smoke exiting the foot of this cigar. Dark, aromatic smoke with a warm, toasty scent. The faintest bit of spice lingers on the back of my palate after each puff, a spice which is more promiment through the nose. I’m just a half an inch in and I feel this cigar will surpass the medium-bodied range and reach full-bodied before the smoke is done.

An inch in, the deep, roasted flavors remain when the smoke is first introduced to your palate with each puff, however a rich, espresso-like nuance is left behind with each exhale, quickly followed by the subtle spice. The Mexican wrapper is true to its origin, a dense, earthy leaf offering an enjoyable, rustic tobacco flavor that hits the front of your palate everytime you draw on the cigar.

Midway through, the cigar becomes considerably smoother. The roasted influence seemed to have faded by now, allowing a rich, unsweetened touch of dark chocolate to surface. This nuance hit me mostly in the middle of the palate and on the sides, and does not overshadow the espresso flavors or slightly spicy finish. It’s actually a welcome change to the first half of the smoke.

By now, I feel the weight of this cigar in my belly and behind my eyes. I won’t go as far as saying this is a full-bodied handmade, but there’s no doubt some strength behind the blend. A full meal is not required prior to enjoying Mi Amor, but I wouldn’t recommend this as a morning smoke for first-timers.

The final third is quite rich, with a soft charcoal-like aroma that fills the room. Rich tobacco, dark chocolate, and espresso followed by that subtle spice I’ve been mentioning the entire time. All the while, this cigar has produced a flaky but firm, salt and pepper ash with a razor-sharp burn and easy draw. No one flavor dominates any significant portion of the smoke, and all are presented in a balanced and smooth fashion.

While La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor is still very different than the original, Honduran-made La Aroma that I loved so much, I did enjoy burning this cigar and will no doubt burn more in the future. It’ll never replace the original, but it’s great to see the new Nicaraguan-made La Aroma making strides in a tasty direction.