Herfdog

I smoked this one on the patio on a sunny Sunday afternoon while burning leaves in the firepit. I straight cut it and paired it with Bud Light.

This is the last of my Misers's Collection sampler from Holt's. Actuall, I do have one more left but I don't plan on smoking it. It was a cigar that I did not like at all.

This was a fairly well made, very long, cigar and just a tad spongy. The draw was just OK, and not as nice and open as the first one I smoked months ago. After lighting, the cigar had a slight spice taste, and was mellow with a good amount of smoke.

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.

I put it out with a fairly long nub. It was a good yard cigar.

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 consistently 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

Pancho's Reserve Toro

I smoked this cigar on the while keeping warm on the deck with the space heater. I straight cut it and paired it with Wild Turkey. It was pretty peppery on the cold draw and very spicy and peppery after lighting.

Half way through and it started to burn unevenly and it was hard to keep it lit. It also started to get a bit bitter.

Just past halfway and it mellowed out a bit and I had a bit of a buzz kicking in. I started to think that this may turn out to be a 1/2 way decent cigar. There had been lots of smoke from beginning to end.

I put this one out with about 2 inches left. The buzz started to kick in and, after the bad experience I had with this cigar last time, I was a little leery. And it just was not a great cigar.

I don't think I'd buy or smoke one of these again.

From Holt's Cigars:

Pancho's Reserve is an old-time brand that's all about value. Handmade in the Dominican Republic, these cigars sport Mexican wrappers and a simple, medium-bodied blend of Dominican tobaccos.

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Mexican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican

Puros Indios Especial #2

This was smoked on Columbus Day while playing 9 holes on the golf course. This was an exceptionally warm October day, I think it hit 58 for the 9. I had the day off so I went golfing at the Diamond Lake golf club with a friend.

This was my first cigar enjoyed while golfing. I even bought a little divot repair tool/cigar holder. It worked perfectly. I lit this up after the second hole. It was straight cut and I had 2 warm Bud Lights to pair it with while on the course. The cigar lasted the perfect amount of time, I think I put it out after Teeing off of 8.

It had a nice peppery taste and would call the strength mild to medium but more on the mild side. Nice draw, nice amount of smoke. The perfect golf cigar.

From Cigars International:

Made by Cuban-trained cigar making legend Rolando Reyes, Sr.

Puros Indios are handmade from Honduras with Cuba-seed filler, and a rich, oily Ecuadorian wrapper. The result is a spicy, medium to full-bodied, aromatic taste. Rated ’90’ by Cigar Aficionado.

Cuban-expatriate Rolando Reyes, Sr. has been called the world’s best blender on more than one occasion. In fact, his cigars are critically acclaimed for their raw richness and complex layers of flavor. Back in-stock and better than ever!

Black Sheep

Today is 10/10/10. Pretty cool. Binary day. 

This cigar seemed very dry and this is the second Black Sheep that I had with a crack in the cap. It had a bit of a spicy taste that hit the back of my throat. I straight cut this cigar and paired it with some cheap red wine while sitting on my patio and following @BlowinSmoke on Twitter for Blowin Smoke podcast #118. The draw was nice and open. Overall the black sheep was a pretty good smoke even though it seemed a little under humidified. Definitely a full flavor cigar. I enjoyed the entire cigar. It took about an hour to smoke and I only had to correct the burn once.

From Holts:

If you're in the market for an inexpensive Maduro then Black Sheep is just the ticket. Handmade in Nicaragua, these cigars sport oily Maduro wrappers and a toasty medium-bodied blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers. Rich notes of earth and cedar harmonize with creamy hints of apricot and leather.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Maduro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan

Boardwalk Churchill

I smoked this one on the patio while having a fire pit and drinking Wild Turkey on a Sunday afternoon. The cigar had no construction issues and was nice and firm. It had a beautiful, oily, dark wrapper. The draw was fine, I used a V cut this time. I really enjoyed this cigar. It had a nice mild taste and was medium strength. It was a great long lasting cigar with a perfect kick. I would love to buy a bundle of these.

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

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

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

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

Babalu Corona Gorda

Not sure I like this cigar too much. I paired it with cheap "Early Times" whiskey and gave it a V cut. The feel test revealed that it was a tad spongy. The 1st 3rd was horrible. It tunneled right away and came out a hole about 1 inch from the foot. The second third was great. The burn was nice, taste was nice. The last 3rd was hard to draw and harsh. The taste was peppery throughout. I smoked it down to about an inch. I would place this in the medium to full category for me. Nice little buzz.

From Holt's cigars:

Babalu is a brand new cigar handmade in the Dominican Republic. Lovely, gingerbread colored Ecuadorian wrappers marry a rich, medium-bodied blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers. The flavors are creamy and well-balanced with a smooth, toasty finish. Wholesome notes of oak, leather and peanut butter compliment crispy hints of peppers and gravy. The Holt's Tasting Committee thinks this new cigar is a dark-horse in our stacked stable of house-brands.

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

Angry Elf

I really like this as a morning or light daytime cigar. Mild taste, good construction, perfect smoke. Paired with a "throw back Pepsi" made with real sugar.

From Holt's Cigars:

These bad boys sport colorful, green Candela wrappers and a vibrant blend of creamy Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers. The flavors are mild to medium-bodied with a pleasant earthy richness, slight sweetness and a subtle dash of black pepper. Whether you're a regular Candela smoker, or looking to try a Candela-wrapped cigar for the first time, Angry Elf is an outstanding choice.

Country of Origin: Honduras
Strength: Mild to Medium
Wrapper: Candela
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan

Winthrop Admiral (Torpedo)

I smoked this one on the patio while enjoying the fire and the company of good friends. This was a very nice smoke and it went well with my pairing of whiskey (and later, Bud Light.)

I V cut it and lit it up. I was greeted with a peppery taste at first but it was not overwhelming. I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar and by the time I was burning my fingers and threw the nub in the fire I was ready to call it my new favorite. The cigar seemed to last for hours but I didn't time it. It produced lots of smoke and the flavor was enjoyable the entire smoke. I had a few cocktails in me by the time I lit this one up so that may have clouded my entire review of this smoke, so the next time I smoke one I will have to concentrate on a more detailed review. For now, let's call this one a winner! And the fact that I can get them from Holt's for about a buck a piece makes them even more appealing.

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

Benchmade Robusto

What a perfect cigar on this perfect evening. I smoked this one at Macri's on the patio while hanging with friends and listening to my favorite local band, Alligator Blackbird.

I paired this one with Bud Light on tap. It started with a mild peppery taste that was complex and full. I would place this in the medium strength category. I really like this cigar and have nothing bad to say about it. Construction is great, burn great, lot's of smoke, taste was great down to the nub. This is the second time I have had this cigar and both times I was not ready to give up on it even as my fingers were burning.

This is one of my new favorites.

From Holt's Cigars:

Benchmade is an exciting new brand manufactured by Pepin Garcia exclusively for Ashton. These no-nonsense handmades boast the flavor and construction of a super-premium cigar, yet the attractive price-tag of a value bundle. Crafted in Nicaragua, the Benchmade recipe includes a lovely dark-brown Nicaraguan wrapper, 2 sturdy Nicaraguan binders and a delicious sandwich blend of top-quality Nicaraguan fillers. The flavors are medium to full-bodied. A solid backbone of sweet earthy richness is accompanied by intricate layers of spicy complexity. These cigars come packaged in elegant cedar boxes and each cigar is finished with a pigtail top. Available in 5 traditional sizes, Benchmade is the new benchmark for the value cigar.

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

Puros Indios Especial #2

I lit this one up the evening of 8/25/2010 out on the deck and paired with good 'ole Bud Light. It was a good looking cigar, firm but I did notice a small hole about an inch from the foot. Probably from packing it in my suitcase on the trip from Philly to O'hare.

It had a nice peppery taste and would call the strength mild to medium but more on the mild side. I really had to work at drawing from this cigar. Little smoke. Plugged? Over humidified? The hole? Don't know. Smoked almost 1/2 of it and put it out in my cigar saver to finish it the next day. Overall I enjoyed it.

8/26/2010 - I pulled this one out of my cigar saver and lit it up on the deck and smoked it while working and paired it with my morning coffee. It was pretty hard to get relighted but I covered the hole in the last inch and got her going. I was greated with that nice peppery taste from the night before. It was still hard to draw even covering the small hole.

In the last 3 inches this turned into a really nice cigar and the draw was better too. I noticed a nice leathery taste with a hint of pepper.

Overall I enjoyed this cigar and would buy it again.

From Cigars International:

Made by Cuban-trained cigar making legend Rolando Reyes, Sr.

Puros Indios are handmade from Honduras with Cuba-seed filler, and a rich, oily Ecuadorian wrapper. The result is a spicy, medium to full-bodied, aromatic taste. Rated ’90’ by Cigar Aficionado.

Cuban-expatriate Rolando Reyes, Sr. has been called the world’s best blender on more than one occasion. In fact, his cigars are critically acclaimed for their raw richness and complex layers of flavor. Back in-stock and better than ever!

Angry Elf

This was a nice looking, well made cigar. It had a beautiful green candela wrapper. I was looking for a mellow, late morning/early afternoon cigar and this one fit the bill perfectly. It was just what I was looking for. It had little to no taste at first, maybe it was overpowered from pairing it with coffee? The draw was very nice, the smell was pleasant.

After I had smoked about 1/3 of it I started getting a bit of an earthy taste, that stayed with it for the duration of the cigar, but nothing so strong as to be unpleasant.

Overall it was a great morning smoke with the only drawback being that it took awhile to finish. At 50 minutes I still had about 3 inches left. I smoked it down to an inch and 1/4 in about an hour.

From Holt's Cigars:

These bad boys sport colorful, green Candela wrappers and a vibrant blend of creamy Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers. The flavors are mild to medium-bodied with a pleasant earthy richness, slight sweetness and a subtle dash of black pepper. Whether you're a regular Candela smoker, or looking to try a Candela-wrapped cigar for the first time, Angry Elf is an outstanding choice.

Country of Origin: Honduras
Strength: Mild to Medium
Wrapper: Candela
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan

Fumadores by Jose Pepin Garcia

I am really liking this cigar. I smoked this one on a pleasant Monday eve on my deck. The moon was full and there were just enough clouds floating in front of it to make it look eerie.

The cigar is pretty mellow for me. I would call it mild to medium but more on the mild side. Good amount of smoke. Smooth taste, not peppery at all. It's a fast burner though. I smoked it down to about an inch in less that 45 minutes. Maybe closer to 1/2 an hour. Perfect amount of nicotine. I would buy this one again.

From Holt's Cigars:

Fumadores by Jose Pepin Garcia

Our main man Pepin Garcia is a flat out stud. His brilliant style of blending has the cigar world awestruck! Pepin is currently gaining mass acclaim for his illustrious top-shelf cigars; however, his newest creation is a no-nonsense, mind-blowing value! The brand new Fumadores are handmade in Nicaragua and come in 3 fabulous sizes. Oily clay-colored Ecuadorian wrappers hug a scrumptious blend of Nicaraguan Corojo, Criollo and Habano seed tobaccos. The Holt's Tasting Committee has gone totally bonkers over these cigars. In fact, we think these gems could be the finest cigars for the money in the entire industry! They're constructed sandwich style, yet burn and taste like 100% premium long-filler. It's remarkable. When you first fire up one of these bad boys your tongue is immediately met with a barrage of spices. As you continue to puff, your nose and mouth get furnished with an earthy aroma accented by wholesome hints of oak, apricot and cayenne pepper. Overall these cigars are medium to full-bodied with a rich, hearty finish. Pepin is currently making a plethora of fine cigars, but when it comes to value our Fumadores are unbeatable!

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium to Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Corojo, Criollo, Habano

Pancho's Reserve Toro

The construction was fair, and a bit on the vainy side. Also the cap was sloppily put on, but it had a nice firm feel to it. I lit this one up very late at night on my deck after coming home from a back-yard barbeque. I paired it with what I had been drinking at the party, a Bud Light. I only smoked a little over 1/2 of it because it was getting too late. I put it out in my cigar saver and will smoke the rest tomorrow. It had a great full flavored taste and I would rank the strength as medium. It produced lots of smoke. I liked the first 1/2 and would buy this one again.

UPDATE: 8/22/10 - I smoked what was left from the night before with my Sunday coffee out on the patio. I did not have as good as an experience with this cigar as I did the night before. I had a tough time relighting it and it started to tunnel so I chopped off about 3/4 of an inch off the tip. It lit up just fine after that but I only had about 2 to 2 1/2 inches left at that point. It burned a little hot and harsh. Lots of smoke. Not a bad taste per se, but... it left me with a BAD buzz. Maybe it was because I was out partying the night before. Maybe it was because I do not usually smoke in the morning. Maybe it was the cigar. I don't know but I fely like crap for a 1/2 day after smoking this cigar. But before I make a final judgement on this cigar I will smoke one more to see what my experience is like.

From Holt's Cigars:

Pancho's Reserve is an old-time brand that's all about value. Handmade in the Dominican Republic, these cigars sport Mexican wrappers and a simple, medium-bodied blend of Dominican tobaccos.

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Mexican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican

Benchmade Robusto

Great smoke. Pretty firm but not hard. Not peppery or harsh, perfect smoke down to the nub. Lot's of smoke and an even burn. Surprised me when it went out unexpectedly but that was the only issue.

I smoked this one on the Freeland's deck after eating some great backyard barbecue. Paired with my old stand-by, Bud Light. I really enjoyed this one.

I gave Jim H. the Argyle and he seemed to like it. He said it was mellow as I had told him it would be. He does not have a cigar often and he smoked maybe 1/2.

From Holt's Cigars:

Benchmade is an exciting new brand manufactured by Pepin Garcia exclusively for Ashton. These no-nonsense handmades boast the flavor and construction of a super-premium cigar, yet the attractive price-tag of a value bundle. Crafted in Nicaragua, the Benchmade recipe includes a lovely dark-brown Nicaraguan wrapper, 2 sturdy Nicaraguan binders and a delicious sandwich blend of top-quality Nicaraguan fillers. The flavors are medium to full-bodied. A solid backbone of sweet earthy richness is accompanied by intricate layers of spicy complexity. These cigars come packaged in elegant cedar boxes and each cigar is finished with a pigtail top. Available in 5 traditional sizes, Benchmade is the new benchmark for the value cigar.

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

Black Sheep

I smoked this one while enjoying a fire pit on my patio.

The construction of this cigar was fair. Mostly firm with a couple of soft spots. Also, there was a small break in the cap. I got a bit of pepper taste just after lighting and then it became smooth and leathery. Definitely a full flavor though. I had to work at the draw quite a bit. Near 1/2 way through and I can definitely tell this is a maduro. Strong nicotine and it bothered my stomach a little. I got an uneven burn quite a few times and had to correct it often. I smoked it down to the nub.

Overall it was a fair cigar. Definitely worth the buck or so that I paid for this value cigar. I liked it.

From Holts:

If you're in the market for an inexpensive Maduro then Black Sheep is just the ticket. Handmade in Nicaragua, these cigars sport oily Maduro wrappers and a toasty medium-bodied blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers. Rich notes of earth and cedar harmonize with creamy hints of apricot and leather.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Maduro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan