Tatuaje Havana VI

This was my New Years Eve smoke. The last cigar of 2010. Cigar number 162 since I started getting serious and blogging my cigars in May.

December has caused my smoking to be cut in half. It has been too cold to regularly smoke outside and I have been traveling a lot. But I had to get this one last smoke in for the year. I have been wanting to try this cigar for awhile so I picked one up the last time I was at Holt's. It set me back $7.25.

This was a fairly short cigar but since I was smoking with some friends during a New Years Eve party I didn't want to be too antisocial and be out on the deck all night.

It was a very warm New Years Eve, around 50 degrees, so smoking outside was pretty comfortable. I brought a couple of Quorum's for any friends that wanted to join me. I had two takers, Ed and Jim. They seemed to like the Quorum's.

This Tatuaje was very nice. A nice mellow taste with lot's of smoke. A bit milder than my past Tatuaje's but I think this blend is supposed to be on the lighter side. It still had plenty of flavor and was a finger burner. I would definitely buy it again, maybe a bit longer size though.

Happy New Year!

From Holts.com:

Length: 4.5 Ring: 49

Our good friend Pete Johnson is taking the cigar industry by storm! For the past year or so, Tatuaje has been the hottest thing since sliced bread. Now Pete is looking to bolster an already potent arsenal with his brand new Havana VI! This is a cigar manufactured in Nicaragua from 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. It features a gorgeous chocolaty Corojo wrapper and a tasty binder and filler blend. The Havana VI is a completely different animal than the regular Tatuaje. It is blended in traditional Cuban fashion, but does not possess the strength and firepower often associated with the Tatuaje name. Instead of coming out with a cigar stronger than his previous one, Pete decided to flip the script and offer customers a lighter fare. The Tatuaje Havana VI is a medium-bodied cigar with rich earthy flavor and smooth subtle spice.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium to Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Hoyo de Monterrey - Double Corona

This is the second of this batch of 5 that I have smoked. The first one had some serious wrapper issues so I decided to let the rest sit in the humidor for a few weeks to see if that would help.

The cigar has a very tight and hard construction. No soft spots. A bit of a barnyard smell.

I straight cut it and smoked it on the deck in front of the heater. I paired it with a Framboise Lambic (Belgian Framboise Beer) and then a Great Lakes Christmas blend.

From the moment it lit it thru the first third there was plenty of smoke. I did notice a slight pepper bite at the back of my throat but nothing too annoying.

At the end of the first third the wrapper burst. The flavor is mild but nice, and the strength was mild to medium.

During the last third there were no wrapper issues and the strength picked up a bit and I would call it medium to full overall.

Overall I do like this cigar. It was a finger burner.

From JRcigars.com:

Origin: Honduras
Length: 6.75
Ring: 48
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper Color: Medium Brown (E)
Wrapper Type: Ecuador Sumatran
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: DR/HON/NIC

From Cigar.com:

Hoyo de Monterrey is one of the oldest cigar brands in the world, making its start in Cuba before expanding production to their factory in Honduras. Today it is one of the most famous brands on the Market.

Hoyo de Monterrey is one of the most recognized names in cigars. With deep roots in Cuba, this brand has consistently been one of the best cigars to ever come off the island. In 1969, after the trade embargo, production moved to Honduras and was first harvested from a Cuban seed smuggled out of Cuba in a diplomatic pouch.

The unique multi country blend used to make Hoyo de Monterrey is medium bodied with a solid creamy flavor and great balance. The cigar is currently made under the supervision of Estello Padron at the Villizon Factory where other big names such as Punch are made today. Estello's commitment to quality and perfection ensures that each Hoyo de Monterrey is worthy of the name. Hoyo de Monterrey is and always has been a classic. Smoked by new enthusiasts and aficionados alike, it has a versatile flavor that appeals to many palates.

La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor

I smoked this one after having dinner with my beautiful wife at Club La Salle. The club has been my favorite local indoor cigar hangout for a bit now but they are going smoke free on 12/31/2010. So I thought that I would go one last time and enjoy a cigar there.

For dinner I had the pork chop. I can honestly say that it was the biggest and best pork chop that I have ever had. Fantastic.

After eating, I straight cut this cigar and paired it the rest of my Great Lakes Christmas blend that I had with dinner and then with an Amstel Light.

It was a bit peppery at first but mellowed out quickly.

I love this cigar and when I want to smoke a $8.00+ cigar this just may be my new favorite. It has a great complex taste but not overpowering. Has an easy draw, medium strength and always a finger burner.

I had to put this one out a bit earlier than I would have liked to because my wife was starting to get overwhelmed by the amount of smoke in the club. I put it down with a little over an inch to go and it killed me to do so because it was getting really good.

From Cigar.com:

Handcrafted under the supervision of Don Pepin Garcia in Nicaragua, La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor is an excellent cigar, blended to create a complex experience that completely satisfies your entire palate.

La Aroma de Cuba is an old-time brand with a unique and dedicated following. The blends under this line all maintain light complexities while remaining medium-bodied to create a balanced experience between strength and flavor. Now made in Nicaragua at Don Pepin Garcia's new factory, the La Aroma de Cuba brand remains consistent from start to finish and features some of the best tobaccos money can buy.

Mi Amor is simply an excellent addition to the La Aroma line. The blend brings a full-flavored but medium-bodied maduro to the mix and creates a hearty finish. Outside, you'll find a dark Cuban-seed Mexican maduro wrapper that conceals a flavorful concoction of Nicaraguan long leaves from Nicaragua's top growing regions. As the blend burns, you'll find espresso and coffee-like flavors throughout, all masked by earthy undertones and notes of black pepper. With a smooth, creamy smoke and long-lasting finish, expect Mi Amor to increase in strength from head to foot while still producing a well-balanced finish that you'll want to experience again and again.

Victor Sinclair Vintage Select - Lonsdale

I straight cut this cigar and smoked it without a pairing. I took the girls out to Diamond Lake for a walk on the ice and grabbed this cigar on the way out the door. The temps were in the low 20's and there was a very light breeze.

It was the perfect cigar for what we were doing. It didn't require any special attention, no burn issues, etc.. I really enjoy these cigars for times when I don't have a lot of time. They produce a ton of smoke, have a mild taste, and usually have just enough strength to have a nice kick.

It was a great walk and an enjoyable cigar.

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 10th Aniversario

I smoked this one on the deck at night. It was 20 degrees outside and I dressed warmly and sat in front of the propane heater. I also used one of the "Hot Hands" hand warmers that I got for Christmas.

I V cut it and paired with a Great Lakes Christmas blend and then with Bud Light. This cigar produces a ton of smoke and had a nice medium to mild flavor at first. I can't put my finger on the flavor note that I am getting. Maybe cedar?

The First two thirds were great with a nice mild to medium flavor and medium strength. I had to purge a few times because it was getting hot and bitey. I did have to correct the burn once in the last third. This cigar does tend to get a bit hot in the last inch.

The entire cigar produced great thick smoke and lots of it. I smoked it down to the finger burning nub. It left me wanting more.

From CigarsInternational.com:

A lovely and well-aged Dominican puro.

Meticulously handmade, this Dominican beauty has turned heads, featuring all Dominican tobaccos, including a lovely, triple-fermented Corojo wrapper. The new crown jewel of the Victor Sinclair family of brands. The smoke is toasty and layered with balanced, pleasant flavors, finished by a peppery-sweet aftertaste and wonderful aromas.

From Cigar.com:

This exceptionally complex blend is one of the only Dominican cigars on the market rolled with a coveted Dominican wrapper, which is packed with flavor.

To celebrate their 10th Anniversary, the blenders at Victor Sinclair spent several years perfecting a dynamic mix of Dominican tobaccos to make an exceptional cigar that sells at a reasonable price. The resulting blend has been one of the best ever created by Victor Sinclair and is only sold to a small handful of special accounts, which include Cigar.com!

Victor Sinclair 10th Aniversario is full-bodied and full-flavored utilizing tobacco that creates robust notes of spice, which carry into a very long finish. Over the course of the smoke, the flavor undergoes several changes keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Very complex and definitely note worthy, this cigar is a must buy, not only for fans of Victor Sinclair but also for aficionados worldwide.

Avo Uvezian Heritage

I picked this one up while on my last trip to D.C. and it was suggested to me by a tobacconist at W Curtis Draper.

I straight cut it and paired it with Bud Light while smoking it on the patio at the fire pit. It was Christmas Eve and I had a nice little fire. I think it was in the 20's outside but I was dressed warm.

The cigar was medium flavor and nice and mellow with no bite. The strength was on the strong side but not too strong. I liked this cigar and would buy again.

From Cigar.com:

A phenomenal blend from the hands of Avo Uvezian in collaboration with Hendrik Kelner, Avo Heritage remains one of the most satisfying Avo cigars ever created.

Avo cigars hail from the Tabadom factory in the Dominican Republic. This notorious factory is the same location where Davidoff cigars are also produced, and is known throughout the world as one of the most premier cigar facilities currently still in operation. Each stick is carefully blended by Avo Uvezian and Hendrik Kelner; top industry specialists who are known for producing some of the finest, most premium blends on the market.

Avo Heritage utilizes the finest selection of Cuban-seed tobaccos in the business. This cigar is one of the most complex Dominican blends ever created as it features Cuban-seed Dominican long fillers all encased by a Cuban-seed sun grown wrapper grown in Ecuador. With a super smooth character and a full-bodied, full-tilt flavor, Heritage will satisfy the most discerning aficionados and still features a relatively affordable price point.

Alec Bradley Tempus Maduro Torpedo

Picked this one up from a recontamination from Walter at the JR Marriott around the corner from Shelley's Backroom in D.C.. I bought it at W Curtis Draper for about $8.00.

I smoked it at Shelly's while hanging out with some of my cigar smoking Twitter friends like Evan, Bird and Brett. I gave it a V cut and paired it with Bud Light.

It had a great draw from the beginning thru the first third and then got a little tight. So I then straight cut it in hopes of opening it up more. It worked. It was a great smoke. Awesome full flavor, medium to full strength. Great draw after straight cutting. No construction issues. Loved it. A finger burner for sure!

From CigarsInternational.com:

A 94-rated masterpiece.

Here it is, quite possibly the crowning achievement of Alec Bradley Cigars. Tempus is truly boutique, right down to the tobaccos used. The Habano-seed wrapper hails from a small tobacco field located on the border of Nicaragua and Honduras, capturing the rich, hearty flavors of Honduras. This leaf is dark and leathery, and conceals a complex mixture of Cuban-seed long-fillers grown in both Nicaragua and Honduras. The cigar explodes with rich, but smooth flavors noting toasted wood and nuts. The finish is long and peppery with an enjoyable sweetness.

Thanks to a well-deserved ’94’ rating, the Alec Bradley Tempus was named one of the Top 25 Cigars of the Year!
"Dark and attractive with an effortless draw, this cigar produces a rich, semisweet smoke, leaving balanced impressions of wood and nuts. Big, delicious flavor."

Tatuaje Miami 7th Natural

I Purchased this cigar from Holt's in Philly for $9.00. It had a perfect burn and a great taste. Full flavor and full strength. I straight cut it and smoked it at Shelly's Backroom in D.C. while pairing with Bud light. This was smoked after a meal with Mike and Dave at Capitol city brewery. Awesome cigar

From CigarsInternational.com:

A high-end, quality super-premium.

Tatuaje Miami is a highly sought after 90-rated blend made in Miami by Don "Pepin" Garcia. Made entirely of 1st generation Cuban-seed tobaccos grown in Nicaragua, expect a robust, medium to full-bodied smoke that’s leathery in character and loaded with earthy, woody undertones and pepper on the finish.

Tatuaje is made in extremely limited quantities in order to maintain its ultra-high level of quality and consistency, making this one of the rarest cigars on the market. Get’em while you can.

Nub Habano

Smoked this one at Shelly's Back room in D.C. after eating one of their great roast beef dips. I V cut it and paired it with Bud Light on tap.

It was a good cigar as usual but it had a bad burn. Uneven and had to fight to correct it many times. It maybe was due to the fact that I match lit it initially and did not get a great light. And there was a hell of a breeze from they ventilation system.

This cigar was purchased at Holt's of Philly for $5.65

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.

Cain F 6X54 torpedo

I loved this cigar. Absolutely perfect for me in every aspect. Strength, flavor and taste. Price was a bit high (at $8.00) to make this an everyday cigar, but would be nice for special occasions.

I smoked this one at the "B Bar" in the Borgata casino. It was a very nice place to have a cigar. I V cut it at first but realized that the draw was a bit tight so I then straight cut it and it was perfect. I paired it with Bud Light in aluminium bottles. Smoked it down to the nub.

From Cigar.com:

If you enjoy Cain by Oliva but wish it had a bit more power, then Cain 'F' is your answer. Considered one of the best new releases in 2009, Cain provides substantial flavor and body as it contains 100% Nicaraguan ligero long leaves from Condega, Jalapa and Esteli while maintaining a smooth character due to its triple-fermented tobacco. This blend was rated '92' by Cigar Insider.

The Oliva family has left a substantial mark on the cigar industry over the past five years. As one of the world’s most reputable cigar makers, their highly rated blends can only be found at the most reputable tobacconists throughout the world. In 2007, Oliva received an unprecedented 94 rating from Cigar Aficionado for their Serie ‘V’ line, which was also designated as the top new release that year.

Cain 'F' sports the same tasty Habano wrapper found on the original Cain blend in addition to the same choice triple-fermented Nicaraguan fillers. However, its chocked full of extra ligero leaves, more so than its counterpart, creating an incredibly bold, hearty character that blasts your palate with intense spice and pepper from head to foot. Be warned, this blend was made with the experienced aficionado in mind.

Perdomo Lot 23 Natural

Like the last time that I flew into PHL and drove to Atlantic City for work, I wanted to stop in at Holt's and buy some cigars. But this time, due to a day of canceled flights, I did not get to PHL until after Holt's was closed. So I went back to Philly on the night of my second day of the trip, just to go to Holt's. I bought a handful of cigars and then headed up to the whiskey bar above Holt's, Mahogany. It was my first time there and I really liked it. Dark wood paneled rooms with many leather chairs and couches. And they have over 140 whiskeys.

I grabbed the Lot 23 out of my bag (paid $5.05 for it), straight cut it and lit it up. I paired it with a Bushmills followed by an Amstel Light.

The cigar had a nice mild taste with good flavor and lots of smoke. Maybe a hint of a cedar taste. I really enjoyed the cigar, it was a perfect cigar for me. No burn issues, the flavor changed from mild to medium flavor with a short finish. The strength was medium. I smoked it down to the nub.

From Cigar.com:

Perdomo Lot 23 is an incredible value that rivals the finest Connecticut wrapped cigars at a fraction of the price.

In 2000, Nick Perdomo planted an experimental crop of tobacco on a small plot of land appropriately named Lot 23. It is here that the golden tobacco leaves of Lot 23 were harvested for extended fermentation. When the tobacco was ready for blending, Nick was shocked to find the cigar did not blend well with foreign tobaccos, but rather was ideal when blended with tobacco from the same field.

The resulting Lot 23 cigar is composed of 100% puro tobacco from one field in Esteli. Medium-bodied with a silky Connecticut-seed wrapper, this creamy cigar offers a cedar-like character with toasty nuances, culminating into one of the best-balanced Nicaraguan cigars on the market. At the RTDA tradeshow, Cigar.com aficionados ranked the Lot 23 as one of their top 5 picks for “best new release in 2006.”

Victor Sinclair Vintage Select

I smoked this one on my deck during a snow squall. It is the first real show of the season. The first time I have had to shovel this season. I smoked in front of my propane heater and it kept me comfortable. It was beautiful to watch the snow coming down like crazy the entire time.

I V cut the cigar and paired it with Bud Light. As usual, this was a great cigar. Medium flavor and medium strength. This cigar is always perfect for me.

It was a bit windy and I had to correct the burn a couple times. And the wrapper cracked once but nothing horrible.

A great relaxing smoke as usual.

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.

La Aroma de Cuba Marquis

This was my second cigar of the night. I was at Shelly's with Evan and Brett. my first cigar was the Lancero that Evan gave me. I had eaten a big sandwich and was drinking Bud Light.

I straight cut this one with Evan's cutter. I'd have to say, this was not much of a cigar. Especially for the $9.00 I paid for it. It was very mellow. Not complex. I kept hoping it would turn into something good and it never did. I put it out with a fairly long nub. Too mellow and no flavor.

I am torn on this one. I liked the first one I had but did not like this one.

From www.tampahumidor.com:

Ring guage - 48
Length - 5.7"

La Aroma de Cuba is as exciting to smoke as it is to view. The wrapper is made from carefully chosen dark Cuban seed Honduran tobacco with plenty of oils and sheen. The filler is a blend of rich Cuban seed Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos and the binder is Honduran. La Aroma de Cuba has an enticing aroma and is a medium to full strength cigar. It draws easily and offers a big, enchanting flavor delivered smoothly with lots of finesse.

The packaging is truly extraordinary. Utilizing original Cuban artwork with several modifications and enhancements, the dress box is simply gorgeous with its extensive gold embossing and rich colors.

La Aroma de Cuba was a turn of the century brand made famous in part by Winston Churchill who characterized the cigar as one of his favorites. The new La Aroma de Cuba is completely different but once smoked, its flavor and aroma will remind you of a taste from another era.

El Triunfador Lancero

I headed over to Shelly's Backroom after a day of meetings in D.C.. I met up with Evan and Brett.

I smoked this cigar after eating my favorite meal at Shelly's, the Roast Beef dif.

Evan gave me and Brett one of these cigars each. Brett smoked his while I ate and he raved about it. I couldn't wait to finish my sandwich and smoke it. It did not disappoint.

I paired it with Bud Light and cut it with Evans straight cutter. The construction was fantastic and it had a perfect draw with zero burn issues. The flavor was medium to full and the strength was medium.

I smoked it down to a finger burning nub and enjoyed every minute of it. I would definitely buy this one.

It was a great night with great conversation.

From Cigar Inspector (More Info):

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Lancero
Size : 7.5" x 38
Ring : 38
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10 each

Hoyo de Monterrey - Double Corona

This cigar was purchased in a 5 pack that I bought at JR Cigars in D.C..

It was Matt's birthday. We went to Black Finns after all day meetings on Eye street. Had some finger food and a couple Bud Lights. Later in the evening I went to Shelly's Backroom and smoked this cigar. I paired it first with a Rum and Coke and then a nice sipping rum. I think it was Zacapa 23.

The cigar started off pretty mellow, not much flavor. The wrapper was splitting right away and continued for the first two thirds of the cigar. There was a little bit of bite at the back of the throat. The draw was nice and easy.

In the last third it turned into a great cigar. More smoke and less wrapper issues. Still a bit of a bite but not bad. I am interested in seeing how some time in the humidor will affect these.

Overall I enjoyed this cigar.

From JRcigars.com:

Origin: Honduras
Length: 6.75
Ring: 48
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper Color: Medium Brown (E)
Wrapper Type: Ecuador Sumatran
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: DR/HON/NIC

From Cigar.com:

Hoyo de Monterrey is one of the oldest cigar brands in the world, making its start in Cuba before expanding production to their factory in Honduras. Today it is one of the most famous brands on the Market.

Hoyo de Monterrey is one of the most recognized names in cigars. With deep roots in Cuba, this brand has consistently been one of the best cigars to ever come off the island. In 1969, after the trade embargo, production moved to Honduras and was first harvested from a Cuban seed smuggled out of Cuba in a diplomatic pouch.

The unique multi country blend used to make Hoyo de Monterrey is medium bodied with a solid creamy flavor and great balance. The cigar is currently made under the supervision of Estello Padron at the Villizon Factory where other big names such as Punch are made today. Estello's commitment to quality and perfection ensures that each Hoyo de Monterrey is worthy of the name. Hoyo de Monterrey is and always has been a classic. Smoked by new enthusiasts and aficionados alike, it has a versatile flavor that appeals to many palates.