Bahia Blu

This cigar is still one of my favorites. I would like a bigger size though, I smoke these too fast.

From Cigars International:

Bahia Blu is a medium-bodied handmade from Nicaragua that’s priced to move. Dressed in a fairly attractive Corojo wrapper that’s smooth and glistening - under the hood is a blend of 5 to 6-year old long Nicaraguan long-fillers grown in Esteli, Jalapa, and Leon. The end result is a somewhat rich and toasty flavor with a sweet, cedary core, and crisp, lingering aftertaste. I’ve found a bit of a consistency issue from time to time but by and large a nice, everyday, handmade value.

Quorum

I am rating this one as being fair to poor and am falling out of love with it. This one was smoked while camping with the girls at the Granger KOA out by the fire. The nicotine was pretty intense and it took me a while to fall asleep that night.

From Tinderbox:

Quorum combines rich Nicaraguan tobacco fillers and binders with an Ecuadorian-Sumatran wrapper to create a satisfying smoking experience. The result is a smooth and dependable smoke at a great price. These medium to full-bodied strength cigars are expertly constructed to provide a smooth draw and an even burn.

La Aurora Leoninos

Very nice, no issues.



From Cigars International:

Leoninos is a special cigar from La Aurora - the Dominican Republic’s oldest and most respected cigar factory - and this was the first handmade to use the now-prized Dominican-grown Corojo wrapper, a gorgeous, rich, thick and flavorful leaf. The filler blend is combosed of Cuban-seed Dominican-grown tobaccos, plus Bahia and Nicaraguan long-fillers. The result is a lively, medium to full-bodied, succulent smoke loaded with spice, but smooth as silk....right down to the nub.

Tinderbox House Blend

The was one of their $2.65 house cigars and it was nice but a bit small for me. Not sure what the actual size classification is.

Quorum

Paid $2.45 and found it to be not bad. Burned fast and a tad peppery at first. Good nicotine. Overall not bad for price. Would buy again.


From Tinderbox:

Quorum combines rich Nicaraguan tobacco fillers and binders with an Ecuadorian-Sumatran wrapper to create a satisfying smoking experience. The result is a smooth and dependable smoke at a great price. These medium to full-bodied strength cigars are expertly constructed to provide a smooth draw and an even burn.

Padilla Edicion Especial 2006

I found this cigar a bit dry and harsh at first. Under humidified?

Calle Ocho

Nice, smooth, mellow smoke. Also had this on 7/5/2010. Small construction issue when the wrapper started to peal in the first 1/4 of cigar. Did not bother my stomach. Nice nicotine.

From Cigars International:

Stellar premium handmades from Nicaragua.

The luscious Calle Ocho Sumatra is a classic long-filler blend anyone can enjoy. Wrapped in a lovely wrapper boasting nice tooth and sheen, it’s a medium-bodied Nicaraguan blend with an earthy profile, complemented by a natural sweetness. In short, ample flavor but not overpowering.

Puros Indios Viejo

A dark but mellow cigar. A little harsh the first half inch then nice and mellow with no aftertaste. A fat cigar, and the draw was a little loose. Overall it was nice. It did not bother my stomach at all like some that I have smoked. Also, the nicotine seemed very low in this cigar.

From Cigars International:

When it comes to post-SCHIP-era monster deals on long-filler handmades, this one is a candidate for Cigarzilla. With prices that range from $29.99 - $39.99, Puros Indios Viejo feels like the good old days. Fittingly, Viejo means "old" in Spanish....and these puppies are literally just that. Featuring aging you simply can’t buy - these sticks were resting in Rolando Reyes’ aging rooms in Danli for, according to PI president Carlos Diez, "literally 6 years." The blend is composed of top-grade Sumatra wrappers and lush Jamastran long-leaf fillers.

Indian Tabac Cigar Co. Maduro

A little harsh at first but a nice smoke overall. But the nicotine kicked my butt. And this is one of those that seems to bother my stomach a bit.



From Cigars International:

Indian Tabac Maduro utilizes the same premium, aged long-fillers and carefully fermented wrappers as Rocky’s most expensive blends....but the cigars are half the price, if not less! Dark and oily Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrappers conceal a complex recipe of 3-year old, long-leaf tobaccos from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica. The smoke is rich and spicy, offering a deep, meaty core with toast, oak, and leather. The smoke grows more intense during the slow burn, completing an eventful medium to full-bodied smoke built with top-notch quality for half the price.

Cu-Avana Intenso

Dark, long, tight, hard draw but all in all nice full flavored smoke.



From Cigars International:

This is a powerfully full-bodied and extraordinarily flavorful beaut rising from the cigar capital of Nicaragua: Esteli, specifically Nestor Plasencia. The blend begins with a dark and redolent Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper grown from Habano-seed. Thick and oily, this leaf is a marvel to look at and bubbles over with flavor. The true power of this cigar is derived from its long-leaf combination: an extensively aged, all-ligero mixture of tobaccos from Peru and Nicaragua. Cu-Avana Intenso erupts on the palate leaving a hearty, spicy core with an underpinning of dense, oaky, earthy notes and a long, satisfying finish. Full-bodied from start to finish, the flavors evolve throughout the slow burn, becoming increasingly intense right down to the nub.

Punch Rothschild

Second cigar for the day. Well, technically I only smoked 1/2 of a cigar before this one. I bought this cigar at the local liquor store and they charged me double for it. Like $10.00!! They rang it up wrong and I did not catch it until I got home. Live and learn.

I like this one a lot. This was my first Punch.

From Cigars International:

Smooth with some spiciness.

With an excellent range of flavor but not overpowering, Punch cigars are superbly constructed and consistently delicious. Honduran, Dominican, and Nicaraguan filler, Connecticut binder and a dark wrapper. Robust and full-flavored - a world class cigar.

Punch has received countless 90+ ratings, including several 91s and ‘Humidor Selection’ honors, noting:
“This attractive, oily cigar has a rich leathery aroma. It’s full bodied and balanced. Flavors include leather, wood and earth. The finish is long.”

Gurkha Park Avenue (second 1/2)

Smoked the second 1/2 of the Gurkha that I started yesterday. Still nice even though it was a day old.




From Cigars International:

Superior quality and precision blending combine in this astounding value from Gurkha. Blended to perfection under the strictest standards by K. Hansotia of Gurkha Cigars. The “Rolls Royce of Cigars,” Park Avenue is a savory cigar appreciated by all palates. Handmade in Nicaragua, the blend consists of well-aged Cuban-seed long-fillers grown in the black soils of Nicaragua and lush tobaccos from the Cibao Valley of the Dominican Republic. On the outside, a flawless Connecticut-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador seals the deal, adding a pleasant, creamy component to an already complex bouquet. The smoke is leathery, with hints of nuts and baked bread, and remains smooth with a medium-bodied profile down to the nub.

Gurkha Park Avenue

Nice cigar, I enjoyed it.




From Cigars International:

Superior quality and precision blending combine in this astounding value from Gurkha. Blended to perfection under the strictest standards by K. Hansotia of Gurkha Cigars. The “Rolls Royce of Cigars,” Park Avenue is a savory cigar appreciated by all palates. Handmade in Nicaragua, the blend consists of well-aged Cuban-seed long-fillers grown in the black soils of Nicaragua and lush tobaccos from the Cibao Valley of the Dominican Republic. On the outside, a flawless Connecticut-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador seals the deal, adding a pleasant, creamy component to an already complex bouquet. The smoke is leathery, with hints of nuts and baked bread, and remains smooth with a medium-bodied profile down to the nub.

Gurkha Regent

Second cigar of the day. I think that this was the one that I smoked on the boat when we went out for an evening swim on our second to last night on Diamond Lake. I even tried to smoke the last few inches while swimming but my wife splashed me until it went out and I had to pitch it. I thought this was a great smoke, and another one that I wish I had taken better notes on.

From Cigars International:

Gurkha Regent was a labor of love for K. Hansotia and the Torano family. This milky smooth Honduran handmade offers gorgeous, dark Honduran wrappers that have a redolent, silken feel. The smoke delivers a panoply of toasty, leathery, medium-bodied flavors. It’s been called one of the tastiest Gurkhas you can find. All at prices unmatched in the cigar industry.

Cigar Aficionado rated Gurkha Regent a stunning ’90’, equaling Fuente Opus X and outscoring many other top brands:"This rich brown cigar burns evenly, with a fine draw. It’s elegant and balanced, with black cherry flavors, notes of sweet spice and a long, leathery finish. Smooth."

In addition, Regent has been named one of the year’s Top 50 Cigars.

5 Vegas Classic

No Issues. I wish I had taken better notes on this one but that's all I have.



From Cigars International:

5 Vegas is an exceptional smoke, rated the highest non-Cuban cigar in a Cigar Aficionado blind taste test.

5 Vegas is quietly one of the most consistently delicious and reasonably-priced cigars on the market. A robust and creamy medium to full-bodied taste, extensive aging, and a nice blend of Cuban seed Nicaraguan and Dominican long leaves, all wrapped in a dark and rich Sumatra wrapper leaf. Cigar Aficionado has praised 5 Vegas repeatedly, and among the consistently strong ratings are a 90, 88, and 87.

Indian Tabac Cigar Co. Box Pressed Super Fuente Natural

Second cigar of the day. A very dark looking cigar, but mellow and smooth. Another perfect cigar.

From Cigars International:

The Indian Tabac Super Fuerte line from Rocky Patel is a beauty. From first sight right down to the finger-burning nub, this cigar will captivate you. Handmade in Honduras, this gem employs an awesome blend of long-leaf tobaccos from Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras to generate voluminous clouds of thick white smoke and a creamy, rich flavor with hints of chocolate. To tame this robust blend, a luscious wrapper is applied - either a dark, Nicaraguan Maduro or a flavorful Cuban-seed Corojo - just before aging each cigar for a minimum of 4 years. This patient aging process leads to a mature, round character that’s buttery smooth and ultimately satisfying.

Indian Tabac Super Fuerte received a well-deserved ’92’ point score from Cigar Aficionado, which added:
"A dark, well-built cigar that draws well. The flavors are rich, round and elegant. The smoke is nutty and spicy, with a medium- to full-bodied character."

La Aurora Leoninos

Nice cigar.



From Cigars International:

Leoninos is a special cigar from La Aurora - the Dominican Republic’s oldest and most respected cigar factory - and this was the first handmade to use the now-prized Dominican-grown Corojo wrapper, a gorgeous, rich, thick and flavorful leaf. The filler blend is combosed of Cuban-seed Dominican-grown tobaccos, plus Bahia and Nicaraguan long-fillers. The result is a lively, medium to full-bodied, succulent smoke loaded with spice, but smooth as silk....right down to the nub.

Puros Indios Viejo

  A dark looking cigar but nice and smooth.



From Cigars International:

When it comes to post-SCHIP-era monster deals on long-filler handmades, this one is a candidate for Cigarzilla. With prices that range from $29.99 - $39.99, Puros Indios Viejo feels like the good old days. Fittingly, Viejo means "old" in Spanish....and these puppies are literally just that. Featuring aging you simply can’t buy - these sticks were resting in Rolando Reyes’ aging rooms in Danli for, according to PI president Carlos Diez, "literally 6 years." The blend is composed of top-grade Sumatra wrappers and lush Jamastran long-leaf fillers.

Connecticut by Rocky Patel

Perfect cigar.

From Cigars International:

Mild, smooth and loaded with crisp, soothing flavors that can satisfy just about any palate, the Connecticut by Rocky Patel is, simply put, another outstanding super premium from one of the hottest makers in the business today.

Calle Ocho

I liked this cigar. It was nice and smooth, mellow.

 

From Cigars International:

Stellar premium handmades from Nicaragua.

The luscious Calle Ocho Sumatra is a classic long-filler blend anyone can enjoy. Wrapped in a lovely wrapper boasting nice tooth and sheen, it’s a medium-bodied Nicaraguan blend with an earthy profile, complemented by a natural sweetness. In short, ample flavor but not overpowering.

Padilla Edicion Especial 2006

It's the 4th of July and we were at our favorite place on Earth, Diamond Lake, Michigan. This was a great cigar. I smoked it on top of the boat house that belonged to the house that we rented for the week. We watched fireworks. It was an awesome evening.

Graycliff G2

I loved it. Awesome cigar, my new favorite?

From Cigars International:

The cigar begins with a seamless, Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut wrapper, silky-smooth and an oily sheen. The aged mixture of long-fillers from Nicaragua are carefully blended with Cuban-seed Dominican tobaccos to promote a rich bouquet finished by creamy nuances. Notes of nuts and toast are noticeable along with a pleasant touch of leather and sweet elements plus a unique doughy aroma. Its richness becomes more present as it burns, bringing this mellow array of flavor builds from mild to medium in body toward the nub. Complex, yet sophisticated and well-balanced, the G2 is Graycliff’s ultimate anytime cigar.

El Mejor Emerald (second 1/2)

I smoked the second 1/2 of the El Mejor from the night before. Not a cigar that I really enjoyed. Too full and harsh for me.

From Cigars International:

The Emerald is composed of a deep, dense mixture of Nicaraguan long-fillers including a core of rich, searing Ligero tobaccos. These tobaccos are in turn cloaked by a tawny, lustrous Honduran-grown Corojo wrapper and together, after 6 months of box-aging, this formulation delivers a copious dose of rich, oaky flavors which swathes the palate before finishing with a feisty touch of spice. Medium to full-bodied throughout with a rich tobacco taste, it smokes gracefully smooth from start to finish. El Mejor Emerald is terrific right out of the box without a doubt, but also shows all the signs of incredible aging potential. Individually draped in cedar sleeves and finished with a ‘shaggy’ foot in true ‘old world’ fashion.

El Mejor Emerald

This cigar had a medium to full flavor. I believe that I still have over humidified my humidor and it made this cigar tough to draw. Not a bad smoke, although I found it a tad harsh. I only smoked 1/2 of it and placed the second 1/2 in the garage.


From Cigars International:

The Emerald is composed of a deep, dense mixture of Nicaraguan long-fillers including a core of rich, searing Ligero tobaccos. These tobaccos are in turn cloaked by a tawny, lustrous Honduran-grown Corojo wrapper and together, after 6 months of box-aging, this formulation delivers a copious dose of rich, oaky flavors which swathes the palate before finishing with a feisty touch of spice. Medium to full-bodied throughout with a rich tobacco taste, it smokes gracefully smooth from start to finish. El Mejor Emerald is terrific right out of the box without a doubt, but also shows all the signs of incredible aging potential. Individually draped in cedar sleeves and finished with a ‘shaggy’ foot in true ‘old world’ fashion.