Nub Habano

I smoked this, my favorite cigar, right after work. I went out to the patio on an absolutely beautiful Wednesday afternoon, V cut this Nub, took a test puff and then lit 'er up.

I relaxed on the patio under the shade of the patio umbrella for about an hour while I smoked this and drank a few Bud Lights.

It was awesome as usual. And wow, what a TON of smoke this thing puts out.

After smoking I mowed the lawn and enjoyed it more than ever.

From Cigars International:

Wrapper: Habano
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Experience: Rich tobacco influence with hints of nuts and bread. Smoky aftertaste.
Category: Medium to full in body

Nub started as a theory. Born in the Oliva factory, a cigar maker was hell-bent on proving he could capture the essence - the core - of a cigar’s flavor immediately upon lighting and throughout the duration of the smoke. Well, they nailed it.

Rather than wait for a cigar to develop and evolve, which typically occurs an inch to two inches in, the idea behind Nub was to specifically blend it to hit its sweet spot right off the bat and remain at its peak right through to the end. Each size is short and stout in stature. That’s by design - not for novelty - as blends and sizes were worked and re-worked a thousand ways from Sunday in order for Nub creator Sam Leccia and the Oliva family to capture the essence of each Nub blend. Anyone can create unusual shapes, each of the Nub blends and accompanying shapes was instead created to summon and deliver the blend’s sweet spot.

Habano - glossy, milk chocolate-brown wrapper. Rich tobacco core with a smoky aftertaste. Hints of peanuts are supported by a baked bread component. Spice through the nose. Medium to full-bodied with a rich, creamy character throughout.

Nub Connecticut 354 Natural (3 3/4 x 54)

The Nub Habano is my current favorite but I wanted to try the other wrappers so I bought a sampler with a couple of the other Nub varieties. I got a great deal on them. Six Nubs for $20.00 with shipping from http://www.famous-smoke.com through CigarMonster.com.

I enjoyed this one on the deck while talking on the phone and listening to podcasts. It was a crisp evening but not as bad as the previous night. I straight cut this one and gave it a test puff. The draw was very open and I felt like it was almost too open. I may want to go back to the V cut on these.

This cigar was the 54 ring gauge and this was smaller than the other Nubs I had smoked. I think it may have burned a bit hotter because of this.

The construction was impeccable, like the past Nubs that I smoked, and the cigar produced a nice amount of smoke.

I usually smoke the Habano and expected this lighter wrapper to be more mellow. It was not. This one had more of a pepper taste and hit the back of my throat more. It also started to bother my stomach when I ran out of Bud Light near the end. It took me almost exactly one hour to smoke this cigar.

It was pretty high up on the strength scale and one of those cigars that kept me from falling right to sleep. I don't think that this one should be smoked before bed.

Overall I liked this smoke and would buy it again.

Info:

Wrapper: Connecticut
Size: 3.75 x 54
Manufacturer: Oliva Cigar Co.
Strength: Mild-Medium

• Wrapper: Connecticut, Ecuador, Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Handmade in: Esteli, Nicaragua.

NUB Connecticut Cigars were introduced in 2008. It was a creation done by Oliva Cigars sales rep Sam Leccia. It was a cigar never seen before but well constructed with an excellent taste and aroma. NUB Cigars are like other great premium cigars and last just like them (Churchill, Presidente, and others) Most of the NUB Cigar Line are offered in boxes of 24 and are available in different wrappers.

Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo

I smoked this one on the deck while paring with a Bud Light and watching UFC 119 on my laptop. I enjoyed this cigar and would place it a notch above the Victor Sinclair Connecticut Yankee that I smoked the night before. I used a straight cut.

The Construction was fair with no wrapper tears or holes. There was a medium sized vein in the wrapper. The burn was only fair seeing as I had to correct it a few times. The draw was firm but not difficult and produced a moderate amount of smoke per puff.

It had a pretty powerful spicy and earthy flavor. The pepper zing hangs on the back of your throat throughout the smoke. The kick was pretty strong and by the end of the cigar I couldn't tell if I was shaking because of the 50 degree temps or the strong cigar.

Overall this was a pretty nice cigar when in the mood for a full flavor and pretty strong cigar.

From Cigars International:

Whether you’re a fan of Corojo tobaccos or just looking for a flavorful, satisfying cigar, I advise securing an order of these handmades pronto. Called Triple Corojo because it’s 100% Corojo - wrapper, binder, and fillers. The result is a firecracker of a smoke booming with chewy, rich, hearty flavors. A smooth, feisty bouquet of earthy flavors and ample spice. Full-bodied.

Victor Sinclair Connecticut Yankee

I had this cigar on the patio, with a fire and paired it with Bud Light. It was a cool evening and it was drizzly. My Mother in law was in town and she joined me for the fire.

I straight cut this cigar and loved every bit of it. I will put this one in the high side of the medium strength category. I have nothing bad to say about this cigar and am just about ready to move this into my "Favorites" category. It was perfect for me.

From Cigars International:

A genuinely unique cigar.

Victor Sinclair’s Connecticut Yankee features a Connecticut-grown Havana-seed leaf. Genuine Connecticut-grown, Havana-seed leaf is not common, as it is neither broadleaf nor shade-grown. However, 4 years ago Victor Sinclair purchased a small, experimental cache of this rare wrapper tobacco....and the results are nothing short of delicious.

Indeed, the wrapper delivers a distinctively smooth, rich flavor. And combined with its premium blend of aged Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers, Connecticut Yankee offers a medium-bodied smoke with a unique, mature bouquet of flavor including some rich, toasty and chocolatey notes.

Punch London Club

Second cigar of the (wedding anniversary) evening.

I finished up the Victor Sinclair Vintage while hanging out on my neighbor's patio but the party was still going and I wanted something else to smoke but I din't want something that would take another hour to smoke. So I ran home and grabbed the Punch.

I straight cut it with Pete's cutter and lit it with Pete's wind proof lighter.

This cigar was mild to medium for me with a nice smooth taste and a hint of spice. It was the perfect cigar for what I wanted it for and I totally enjoyed it.

Information:

A rough appearance on a decent smoke with a smooth draw. The flavor is simple and straight forward; some grass and wood flavors were noted.

Size: 5 x 40
Cigar Shape: Petit Corona
Cigar Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua, Dom. Rep.
Cigar Binder: Honduras
Cigar Wrapper: Ecuador
Country of Manufacture: Honduras

Victor Sinclair Vintage Select

Anniversary cigar!

It's our 15th wedding anniversary and we had a great dinner at Ruth's Chris steak house. We got home from dinner and my bride was not feeling well so she called it an early night. I went outside to finish the night off with a cigar.

I smoked this one on a cool Friday night. I straight cut it and lit it up on the patio next to the fire. I paired it with Bud Light. Perfect draw, nice mellow taste.

I smoked the last 2/3 of it on my neighbors patio while hanging out with him and his friends and Pete.

I enjoyed every puff of this cigar. I would place it in the low side of medium strength. A bit stronger than the Victor Sinclair Primeros I had the night before. I smoked this one down to a small nub

From Cigars International:

Milk-chocolatey goodness from Victor Sinclair.

Victor Sinclair Vintage offers a dark, delicious Brazilian maduro wrapper and supremely aged mix of all Cuban-seed Dominican long-leaf tobaccos. Light one up and you’ll see it’s chock full o’ soothingly rich, milky-smooth flavors but also fairly light in strength. Crisply box-pressed and meticulously constructed with a pleasant aroma and slight sweetness, VS Vintage is a bargain that’s priced well enough to be your ’everyday’ handmade.

Victor Sinclair Primeros

A few days ago I got a sampler pack of Victor Sinclair cigars from CigarBid.com. There are 8 cigars for $17.95 with shipping. When I got home from a meeting tonight I saw my neighbor sitting out in his driveway enjoying a glass of wine and a cigar. I have been meaning to have a cigar with him so I plucked one of these Pimeros out of my humidor, grabbed a Bud Light and walked over to join him.

He grabbed me a chair and I lit up. The draw was perfect. The cigar was well made and firm. It was a mellow, mild cigar with plenty of smoke. I really enjoyed the taste and it had and nice kick too. Great cigar, great conversation.

No issues, I can't wait to smoke another of these.

From Cigars International:

An eye-catching, mild-bodied gem from the Dominican.

For these seeking a mild-bodied cigar but with ample flavor, one that is priced right and consistent time after time, Primeros answers the bell. Loaded with smooth, creamy flavors, this pleasantly mellow smoke features a golden brown Connecticut wrapper and an aged filler blend of Dominican Seco tobaccos with a sliver of Ligero. A handmade light enough for rookie palates yet enough finesse and flavor to satisfy you grizzled veterans too.

La Gloria Cubana Serie R

Birthday cigar #2!

I smoked this one on the boat with friends. One of my friends gave me 3 La Gloria Cubana Serie R's (awesome guy that he is) and I pulled one out of the gift wrapped box, straight cut it and gave it a pre puff draw. The first thing I noticed was how well it was made and how nice and open the draw was. Perfect. And the wrapper smelled fantastic. I lit it up and was greeted with tons of mellow, smooth tasting smoke.

I started off pairing this cigar with a Bud Light and then switched to Coke about 1/2 way through. I was getting enough of a buzz from the stoggie.

I had some burn issues that I had to correct a few times but I am certain that this was from the wind caused from motoring around in the boat. Other than that, this cigar was perfect. Great taste, fairly short finish, nice kick.

I can't wait to smoke the other 2.

From Tinderbox.com:

Packed in dark mahogany, cabinet-style boxes, La Gloria Cubana Serie R cigars deliver their extra-bold bouquet as soon as the box is opened. Their full-bodied flavor comes from a special blend of long Dominican and Nicaraguan filler, superb Nicaraguan binder and a wonderfully aged and extra flavorful Ecuadorian wrapper. The result is a rich, full-flavored smoke unmatched by any other cigar. Designed for seasoned cigar lovers looking for the ultimate in bold flavor, Serie R cigars come in four full-bodied sizes, each one guaranteed to please even the most discerning seeker of rich, robust cigars.

Nub Habano

The Birthday Cigar!

It's my birthday and I bought 2 of my favorite cigars to celebrate. I smoked one of them while out on my boat on Diamond Lake. I took the boat out by myself and just relaxed. I had a Subway sandwich and then V cut the Nub and lit it up. I paired it with a Bud Light. It smoked easy and nice as always.

I put it out with a bit longer of a nub than usual because a friend of mine joined me on the boat and gave me 3 La Gloria Cubana Siere R's for my Birthday. Nice guy huh? I had to try one out ASAP. (See my review of that one in the next post.)

After smoking one of the La Gloria's I pulled the boat out of the water and tried to re-light the nub of the Nub. I smoked it for a few minutes but it was a bit harsh so I pitched it.

About an hour or so later I felt jittery and nauseous. I attributed it to relighting the Nub. This is the second time I have re-lit a strong cigar and gotten ill from it. I don't think that I will be re-lighting anything anytime soon. :)

All in all it was a great Birthday and I enjoyed floating around on the boat with friends while smoking a couple fine cigars.

From Cigars International:

Wrapper: Habano
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Experience: Rich tobacco influence with hints of nuts and bread. Smoky aftertaste.
Category: Medium to full in body

Nub started as a theory. Born in the Oliva factory, a cigar maker was hell-bent on proving he could capture the essence - the core - of a cigar’s flavor immediately upon lighting and throughout the duration of the smoke. Well, they nailed it.

Rather than wait for a cigar to develop and evolve, which typically occurs an inch to two inches in, the idea behind Nub was to specifically blend it to hit its sweet spot right off the bat and remain at its peak right through to the end. Each size is short and stout in stature. That’s by design - not for novelty - as blends and sizes were worked and re-worked a thousand ways from Sunday in order for Nub creator Sam Leccia and the Oliva family to capture the essence of each Nub blend. Anyone can create unusual shapes, each of the Nub blends and accompanying shapes was instead created to summon and deliver the blend’s sweet spot.

Habano - glossy, milk chocolate-brown wrapper. Rich tobacco core with a smoky aftertaste. Hints of peanuts are supported by a baked bread component. Spice through the nose. Medium to full-bodied with a rich, creamy character throughout.

CAO Brazilia Cariocas

Once again I smoked this one on the deck while working. I gave it a straight cut and paired it with Ginger Ale. I really like this smoke and this one was as perfect as the rest of the tin. And this was the last of the tin so I may buy some more.


From Tinderbox.com:

CAO Brazilia is an intoxicating blend of rich Nicaraguan tobacco surrounded by a gorgeous Brazilian Cameroon wrapper. With hints of exotic spices and a seductively floral aroma, its flavor captivates the palate. Extensive aging complements this powerful, full bodied smoke. CAO patiently planned the Brazilia for five years, ultimately creating this masterpiece with a complex and smooth flavor.

Bahia Blu

I like this cigar but I have struggle with each cigar I have smoked from this batch I bought on CigarBid.com.

I smoked this one on the deck while pairing with Bud Light. At first I gave it a V cut but the draw was too tight so I re-cut it and gave it a straight cut. The draw was better but still too tight. Barley any smoke came from this cigar in the first 2 thirds and it was work to smoke it.

The only saving grace was the nice mellow taste and the short finish. The was no horrible bubbling in the  wrapper like the last one I smoked. However, the draw was so tight that I tried to open it up with my pocket knife MANY times without much luck. So I straight cut it again (yes, a third cut) but up a little higher than the last cut. The draw was a little bit better but still not great.

Overall the cigar had a mellow taste that I enjoyed and had a short finish. The mild taste lasted up to about 2 inches and it got a little peppery at that point. At 2 inches it turned into a nice smoke with a lot more smoke. I thoroughly enjoyed it from 2 inches to the nub. A perfect kick. Nice cedar taste. The wrapper bubbled at the end.

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.

Conestoga Wagon

The cigar had two large veins running the length of the cigar but other than that the construction was nice and firm. I smoked this one on a cool night on the deck and paired it with Bud Light. I straight cut it and it had a perfect draw. The cigar had a slight pepper taste and was also little woody. It had a lot of smoke and a medium flavor.

In the last third I picked up some a bit more pepper and the kick (nicotine) picked up a bit too. No burn issues.

I put it out with about an inch to go because it was late at night and the kick was starting to get to me. I was worried that I wound not be able to sleep.

Overall, not a bad medium to full cigar for the money.

From Holt's Cigars:

These cigars are handmade in Nicaragua using rich, meaty Rosado wrappers and a velvety 4-country blend of aged long-filler tobaccos. The strength is medium-bodied and the flavors are well-balanced with solid notes of earth and cedar supported by hints of black pepper and caramel.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Rosado
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, Dominican, Brazilian

Herfdog

I smoked this cigar on the patio while enjoying a fire in the fire pit. It was a nice looking, very long, cigar and just a tad spongy. I gave it a straight cut and then a test puff. The draw was nice and open. After lighting, the cigar had a slight spice taste, and was mellow with a ton of smoke. I paired it with Wild Turkey at first and then Bud Light after I had finished the first 2 thirds.

During the last third the flavor picked up a bit more spice and got a little mushy.

The nub was fairly mushy and got a little hot and spicy and bit the the back of my throat a little. Up until that point it was a cool burning cigar.

A ton of smoke all the way down to the nub.

It had a short finish through the first 2 thirds and a  medium finished the last third.

Took about 1 and 1 half hours to smoke

From Holt's Cigars:

These mixed-filled mutts come courtesy of some friends of ours down in Nicaragua. Composed of bits of high quality Nicaraguan and Honduran wrapper clippings wrapped in a smooth Sumatra leaf, Herfdog has a consistantly smooth draw and a rich taste that is devoid of the typical short-filler bite. An easy no-brainer at less than a dollar per cigar.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran

Tinderbox House Blend 4 1/2 X 50

This is the fourth time I have picked up this cigar from the local Tinderbox, it cost $2.65. I like the construction and solid feel and the size is nice for times when I have less than an hour.

I smoked it on the deck while working. I straight cut it and paired it with coffee and then a Coke out of the can.

It started off pretty mellow tasting and had a good draw. There was a slight pepper taste in the first third that diminished in the last 2 thirds. Half way through the cigar the wrapper started to bubble. I think that it was just a bad spot in the cigar because it fixed itself quickly. The was the third cigar in 3 days where the wrapper bubbled on me. And one of those was not even from my humidor.

The last third produced lots of smoke and the taste mellowed a bit. The pepper gave way to a slight woody taste.

I like this cigar but don't LOVE it. It's OK for a quick morning cigar with just enough kick.

CAO Brazilia Cariocas

Once again I smoked this one on the deck while working. I gave it a straight cut and paired it with a Coke. I really like this smoke but the size is starting to bother me. It leaves me wanting more and it is too hard to smoke the nub. I still enjoy these.

From Tinderbox.com:

CAO Brazilia is an intoxicating blend of rich Nicaraguan tobacco surrounded by a gorgeous Brazilian Cameroon wrapper. With hints of exotic spices and a seductively floral aroma, its flavor captivates the palate. Extensive aging complements this powerful, full bodied smoke. CAO patiently planned the Brazilia for five years, ultimately creating this masterpiece with a complex and smooth flavor.

Perdomo Reserve La Tradicion Cabinet

I smoked this one at a Michiana TweetUp that was held at Club La Salle in downtown South Bend. The main reason that I attended this TweetUp was to check out the Club La Salle cigar bar that I had never had a chance to get to yet.

After snuffing out the Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Churchill that was too mellow for me a nice gentleman that I met at the bar ran out to his car and grabbed two Perdomo Reserve La Tradicion Cabinets, one for each of us. These are discontinued and are his favorite cigar. They go for about $9.00 a cigar and I considered it an honor to receive one from him.

I asked the bartender to give it a straight cut and I paired it mostly with an ice cold water. I really liked this cigar a lot. It was a medium to strong cigar with a full taste and a nice kick.

I smoked 3/4 of it in the bar and walked out with the rest. I continued smoking it in the car on the way home and didn't want to toss the nub out when I pulled into the neighborhood.

A great smoke.

The Epitomy Of An Excellent Cigar By Tabacalera Perdomo! An Exceptional Blend Of Cuban-Seed Filler Tobaccos Capped Off With Nick's Incredible Rosado -Or- Aged Maduro Wrapper For A Medium To Full Bodied Smoke!

Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Churchill (7.0" x 48)

I smoked this one at a Michiana TweetUp that was held at Club La Salle in downtown South Bend. The main reason that I attended this TweetUp was to check out the Club La Salle cigar bar that I had never had a chance to get to yet.

The cigar prices seemed a bit high but I found one for $10.00 that looked good. It was the Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut. I asked the bar tender to give it a straight cut for me and I ordered a Bud Light.

The cigar was nice and very mellow. Almost no taste. I smoked it down to about an inch or so and then put it out because it was not doing much for me. It was just too mellow for me. Oh, and the wrapper was splitting and bubbling just like the Bahia Blue I had the night before. What are the chances of getting two cigars to do this, two nights in a row? From two different humidors. The gentleman I was talking with at the bar was very knowledgeable and said that it was from being over humidified.

This may make a good morning cigar in a smaller size.

He ran out to his car to grab a cigar that he wanted me to try. One of his favorites. See the following post for that review.

From CigarsInternational.com:

Capitalizing on his unrivaled success of the 93-rated Vintage ’90 and ’92 series, Rocky has created the Vintage ’99, a tasty, mild-bodied morsel coated with a silky Connecticut shade wrapper. The ’99 Connecticut uses an exquisite 7-year-old Connecticut leaf to tame his award-winning mixture of 8-year-old Dominican and Nicaraguan long-leaf ligeros. The result is a hearty, slightly spicy cigar with creamy notes of earth and toasted wood. Enjoy this mellow change of pace from Senor Patel, a choice cigar to pair with your morning cup of coffee or workday commute.

Bahia Blu

I still love this cigar and especially in this torpedo size that I got from CigarBid.com.

I V cut this one and paired it with Wild Turkey and water on the rocks and smoked it on the patio while burning a fire. The draw was nice and open. This is a mild to medium cigar for me.

The one main issue I had with the cigar was that it bubbled and unraveled on me. I have since been told that this can occur when a cigar is over humidified. At first I thought that it was under humidified and that was causing the wrapper to peal and split. But a friend later told me that over humidification was the culprit and the water was trying to escape. It started almost immediately after lighting and got worse the entire time I smoked it. I enjoyed the cigar but it was a mess by the time I was done with it.

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.

Nub Habano

Yes, this is definitely my favorite cigar but something made this cigar even better tonight. It was FREE! My cousin Joe also smokes cigars and this is his favorite as well. We got together and he was nice enough to bring some smokes with him and he insisted that I take a Nub Habano off his hands. I felt a bit bad, taking such an awesome cigar from him, so I insisted that he take one of my Bahia Blues. I hope he likes it, but we both know that I got the better end of this deal.

I V cut this cigar and we smoked most of it in the front yard of one of our cousins house. I love this cigar more and more each time I smoke it. It burned pretty well, I only had to make one slight correction to the burn.

Great smoke as usual. 

From Cigars International:

Wrapper: Habano
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Experience: Rich tobacco influence with hints of nuts and bread. Smoky aftertaste.
Category: Medium to full in body

Nub started as a theory. Born in the Oliva factory, a cigar maker was hell-bent on proving he could capture the essence - the core - of a cigar’s flavor immediately upon lighting and throughout the duration of the smoke. Well, they nailed it.

Rather than wait for a cigar to develop and evolve, which typically occurs an inch to two inches in, the idea behind Nub was to specifically blend it to hit its sweet spot right off the bat and remain at its peak right through to the end. Each size is short and stout in stature. That’s by design - not for novelty - as blends and sizes were worked and re-worked a thousand ways from Sunday in order for Nub creator Sam Leccia and the Oliva family to capture the essence of each Nub blend. Anyone can create unusual shapes, each of the Nub blends and accompanying shapes was instead created to summon and deliver the blend’s sweet spot.

Habano - glossy, milk chocolate-brown wrapper. Rich tobacco core with a smoky aftertaste. Hints of peanuts are supported by a baked bread component. Spice through the nose. Medium to full-bodied with a rich, creamy character throughout.

5 Vegas Classic

After cutting this cigar with my new guillotine cutter I gave it a pre light puff and found the draw to be very loose. I then lit it up and was greeted with a slight peppery taste with a short finish but not much smoke. This cigar was smoked on my patio while I burned a fire in the fire pit. I paired it with a Bud Light. The cigar was pretty mellow at first and still produced very little smoke. There may have been a pin sized hole in the first third of the wrapper.

The second third was great with plenty of smoke. The last third was perfect. Overall, this was a pretty mellow cigar with nothing negative to say about it.

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.

CAO Brazilia Cariocas

I smoked this one on the deck while working. I paired it with a Coke and cut it with the punch. I had a hard time punching it because they are so small and the cap was so hard. I had to finish the punch by cleaning it up with my pocket knife.

Again, I love the smell of this wrapper. Good enough to eat.

It lit well and produced lots of smoke as usual. The draw was perfect. I got down to the nub in just over 35 minutes.

From Tinderbox.com:

CAO Brazilia is an intoxicating blend of rich Nicaraguan tobacco surrounded by a gorgeous Brazilian Cameroon wrapper. With hints of exotic spices and a seductively floral aroma, its flavor captivates the palate. Extensive aging complements this powerful, full bodied smoke. CAO patiently planned the Brazilia for five years, ultimately creating this masterpiece with a complex and smooth flavor.

Quorum $2.10

This is the smaller Quorum. I cut it with my guillotine cutter and paired it with coffee.

I am not sure that I like the guillotine cutter with this one. I started to get too much tobacco in my mouth. The cigar was constructed well and had a mellow taste with a hint of spice. It went out with about 3/ 4 of an inch left. It was a bit harsh after the relight, I took a few more puffs and then put it out.

This is one of those times that I felt a little wiggy for an hour after. It may not be a good morning/midday smoke for me.

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.

CAO Brazilia Cariocas

I smoked this cigar while working on the deck. I paired it with a Coke and cut it with a guillotine cutter.

I love this cigar as a morning cigar. This one lasted about a half hour. Nice draw, lot's of smoke.

My only frustration with this cigar is that I it is too small to smoke the nub down as far as I like.

From Tinderbox.com:

CAO Brazilia is an intoxicating blend of rich Nicaraguan tobacco surrounded by a gorgeous Brazilian Cameroon wrapper. With hints of exotic spices and a seductively floral aroma, its flavor captivates the palate. Extensive aging complements this powerful, full bodied smoke. CAO patiently planned the Brazilia for five years, ultimately creating this masterpiece with a complex and smooth flavor.

Nub Habano

This is still my all time favorite cigar. I paired this one with a Bud Light and guillotine cut it. This cut made the draw much more open that my previous V cuts with this cigar. I lit this cigar up while relaxing on the patio on Labor day. After a few puffs, I walked across the street to my neighbors house and smoked the rest of it (down to the nub) while visiting and talking with them. I enjoyed this cigar as much as always but this one burned pretty uneven the last third or so. It may have been because it was pretty breezy outside.


From Cigars International:

Wrapper: Habano
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Experience: Rich tobacco influence with hints of nuts and bread. Smoky aftertaste.
Category: Medium to full in body

Nub started as a theory. Born in the Oliva factory, a cigar maker was hell-bent on proving he could capture the essence - the core - of a cigar’s flavor immediately upon lighting and throughout the duration of the smoke. Well, they nailed it.

Rather than wait for a cigar to develop and evolve, which typically occurs an inch to two inches in, the idea behind Nub was to specifically blend it to hit its sweet spot right off the bat and remain at its peak right through to the end. Each size is short and stout in stature. That’s by design - not for novelty - as blends and sizes were worked and re-worked a thousand ways from Sunday in order for Nub creator Sam Leccia and the Oliva family to capture the essence of each Nub blend. Anyone can create unusual shapes, each of the Nub blends and accompanying shapes was instead created to summon and deliver the blend’s sweet spot.

Habano - glossy, milk chocolate-brown wrapper. Rich tobacco core with a smoky aftertaste. Hints of peanuts are supported by a baked bread component. Spice through the nose. Medium to full-bodied with a rich, creamy character throughout.

Boardwalk Churchill

I smoked this one on the patio while having a fire pit and drinking a Bud Light. The cigar had no construction issues and was nice and firm. This was the first cigar that I used a guillotine cutter on and I think I will use it more often because this cigar had a perfect draw. I enjoyed this cigar immensely. It had a nice mild taste and was medium strength. I have nothing bad to say about it and it is now one of my favorites and I would definitely buy it again.

From Holt's Cigars:

These cigars are handmade in Nicaragua using rich, meaty Rosado wrappers and a velvety 4-country blend of aged long-filler tobaccos. The strength is medium-bodied and the flavors are well-balanced with solid notes of earth and cedar supported by hints of black pepper and caramel.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Rosado
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, Dominican, Brazilian

Winthrop Admiral (Torpedo)

I smoked this one on the patio while enjoying the fire on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.

Paired with my usual Bud Light, I V cut it and lit it up. I was greeted with a peppery taste at first but it was not overwhelming and very short lived. The taste was nice and mellow and no bad aftertaste. This is not one of those cigars that stays with you for hours afterward. The first 2 3rds seem to burn very fast but then when I reached the last 3rd it was if time stood still and that last 3rd lasted forever. It was a great medium strength cigar down to the nub. And the fact that I can get them from Holt's for about a buck a piece makes them even more appealing. I am adding this one to the "Favorite" category.

From Holt's Cigars:

Winthrop is an old-timer's favorite. Creamy Ecuadorian wrappers embrace a mild blend of Dominican tobaccos. This is a no-nonsense value nut special. The flavor may be a bit mundane, but these cigars boast consistent construction and reliable smooth flavor every single time.


Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Mild to Medium
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican

CAO Brazilia Cariocas

I bought these so I could have a quick smoke on hand, something to smoke when I less than 1/2 hour to smoke it.  The tin of 5 cost about $17.00 at Tinderbox.

I pulled the cellophane off one of them and gave it a sniff.Wow, what a wonderful flavor. I could sit and just smell the wrapper of this cigar for hours. I am not good at describing smells but I think it smelled a little chocolatey.

I punched a hole in the cap and grabbed a Bud Light and headed out to the patio. It was a perfect night for this quick smoke. Drizzle was threatening and it was very cold and windy so I didn't want to spend an hour or more outside.

I loved the smooth taste of this cigar. Nice and creamy and I really liked the after taste as well. It produced lots of smoke and I was down to the nub in about 20 minutes.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the other 4. If they were a bit cheaper I would buy them regularly.

From Tinderbox.com:

CAO Brazilia is an intoxicating blend of rich Nicaraguan tobacco surrounded by a gorgeous Brazilian Cameroon wrapper. With hints of exotic spices and a seductively floral aroma, its flavor captivates the palate. Extensive aging complements this powerful, full bodied smoke. CAO patiently planned the Brazilia for five years, ultimately creating this masterpiece with a complex and smooth flavor.

Fine Catch Bass

I enjoyed this cigar while on the patio on a dark overcast night while sipping Early Times whiskey on the rocks. Pre light inspection showed no major construction issues. It was a bit vainey, mostly firm, just a little spongy at the foot.

I gave this cigar my usual "V" cut and lit her up. The first couple puffs were spicy but it quickly mellowed to a nice flavor that remained throughout. There was lots of smoke and a good draw.

This cigar took about 1 1/2 hours to smoke, and that was without putting it down at all. I smoked it down to a long nub, not my usual "finger burning" nub.

It was a very enjoyable smoke with a pretty hard kick. Almost too hard. When I smoke this one during the day it makes me crash for about an hour afterward. When I smoke it at night (like this one) it makes it impossible to fall asleep. While I definitely buy this cigar again, I have to find the perfect time to smoke it. And I have not found that time yet.

From Holt's Cigars:

Here is a deal for all the fisherman out there... Fine Catch is a fine cigar handmade in the Dominican Republic. Dark, oily Brazilian wrappers accompany a rich, creamy blend of 100% long-filler tobaccos. The flavor is medium-bodied and woody with zesty notes of leather and hickory nuts. As many of you will soon discover, this bundle is not only a fine catch but a fine purchase as well.

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Brazilian
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan

Tinderbox House Blend 4 1/2 X 50

This is the third time I have picked up this cigar from the local Tinderbox, it cost $2.65. I like the construction and solid feel.

I smoked it on the deck while working. I "V" cut it and paired it with a Pepsi Throwback out of the can.

I like the taste of this cigar. It starts with a slight tobacco taste and then mellows quickly. It had a fair amount of smoke to start. In the last 3rd there was less tobacco taste and just a slight pepper taste. It makes a nice lunch cigar. I burned it down to the nub in about 50 minutes.

Punch London Club

Smoked this one late in the morning on the deck while working. I "V" cut it and paired it with a Coke in a glass with ice.

The appearance was good and appeared to be well made but the first layer of the cap peeled off during my pre-light puff. Also, it was just a tad spongy at the foot.

A couple of puffs in and I inhaled a drag by accident. I think that this is the first time that I have ever done that. Being an ex-smoker, I think that this small ring gauge tricked me into thinking that I was smoking a cigarette. Yuk.

The draw was just OK. Not too tight and not too loose but bordered on too tight. Not a lot of smoke either.

I would say that this cigar was mild to medium for me with a nice smooth taste and a hint of spice. It took me a little over 1/2 hour to get to the nub and it finished up with a nice little kick.

Overall, I liked it but did not love it. I guess my search for that perfect lunch break cigar is still on.

Information:

A rough appearance on a decent smoke with a smooth draw. The flavor is simple and straight forward; some grass and wood flavors were noted.
Item# PNCH-LDNC-N-25
Package Qty: Box of 25
Size: 5 x 40
Cigar Shape: Petit Corona
Cigar Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua, Dom. Rep.
Cigar Binder: Honduras
Cigar Wrapper: Ecuador
Country of Manufacture: Honduras