Reviews by Steve R

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.

Slow-Aged is a good looking bundled cigar, available in one size only, a 6”x52 toro called ‘Glorioso’. Prior to smoking my first 2, I knew nothing about this cigar. Since then, I’ve learned that the natural wrapper is a dark Connecticut shade leaf and the filler is a blend of three different Nicaraguan tobaccos. Perdomo, bundle, bargain, toro, complex...and I haven’t even talked about how it smokes, yet! So, I’ll do that now. It smokes great! I’m only about a quarter of the way through my bundle so far, but I can tell this one’s a winner. Each cigar performed beautifully. The burn was slow, cool and stayed even from start to finish. The flavor was rich and smooth. I noticed a unique trace of coffee and cocoa complemented by a slight creaminess that gradually became more robust as the cigar burned. Although Slow-Aged is not as full-bodied as the rest of Perdomo’s arsenal, it has some noticeable pop that will get’cha if you’re on an empty stomach or had your fill of Schlitzes. But the real focus with this cigar is on flavor. Well rounded, mature and never overwhelming, the Glorioso is a cool burning handmade that puts out a generous dose of refined flavor that’s easy on the palate. The aftertaste is subtle, but lingers just long enough to keep you satisfied. I like everything this cigar has to offer. The glossy, darker than usual Connecticut shade wrapper, the bold, complex flavors, the perfect draw. All this for a price that’s second to none. Once again, Tabacalera Perdomo scores big points.

Examining this cigar alone is enough to make you weak in the knees, especially the Gran Consul. Pick it up and see for yourself. It’s thick, dense and hosts a sizable portion of ligero. Look at the foot: you see that black tobacco? That’s ligero – AKA tobacco Novocain. The reddish Nicaraguan sun-grown wrapper makes this chunky robusto look and smell like an Ashton VSG on steroids. The abundance of ligero lends a peppery tinge to the pre-light aroma, which is subtle but nice. After a few minutes of preparation, including a bite to eat, it’s time to step up to the plate and get-gettin’ with this powerhouse. The initial draw requires a little effort and as expected the flavor is peppery off the start. Just as the spiciness begins to fade, the draw opens up a bit, allowing me to truly appreciate the fine qualities of this cigar. The Nicaraguan fillers are rich and smooth with hints of wood. The Nicaraguan-grown Ecuadorian wrapper offers the slightest bit of sweetness that’s easy to miss due to its robust, leathery profile. About 2/3 of the way through, I realize that the hidden power of this cigar has snuck up on me once again, and decide to put my double espresso aside for a bit. There’s no doubt the Antaño is strong. Even those that enjoy the strongest of cigars on a regular basis cannot deny its strength. But the lively taste is so involved it’s hard to focus on anything but the wealth of unique, interesting flavors. And last but not least, the thick ring gauge burns slow and cool, providing maximum time to appreciate the work put into the cigar. All this for just $3 a stick. Yeah, Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 definitely scores big in my book.

I picked up a 5-pack of the Double Chateau, an attractive over-sized toro wrapped in a cedar sleeve. I am a stickler for cedar sleeves. Anyway, it smells pretty good. The pleasant, slightly sweet aroma hints at a flavorful, balanced cigar. So far so good. And so I move on. It lights up like a champ and instantly burns even. The flavor off the start is nice. I am picking up some toasty, woody notes lent by the cedar sleeve and a little bit of pepper. Not much though. The ash burns white and firm, and the cigar emits an abundance of white smoke. Great construction. Unfortunately, the flavor just couldn’t keep up. The cigar became rather dull, losing most of the luster I noticed from the first 5 minutes. This not only disappoints me, it scares me, since the Double Chateau is 6¾” long and still has over 5” to go. As expected, based on my past experiences with this cigar, the flavor does not return. After the initial burst (read tease), the cigar becomes quite uneventful. I just puff air until I’ve decided on something else to satisfy my palate. I’ve noticed this with almost every Fuente I smoke, which is too bad, because they’re made incredibly well. They look great, smell great, and have a pretty band. But, it takes a helluva lot more to sell me than a pretty band with a famous name on it, especially at Fuente-like prices. Today’s test results are the same as before. I still don’t see what all the fuss is about with Fuente cigars. For those of you that swear by this brand, pick up a La Aurora, CAO Black or Pueblo Dominicano. Heck, come to our retail store, I’ll give you one of mine. Bring a friend. You’ll thank me later.