Category — Cigar Reviews

In the midst of the cigar boom, Bauza was a bargain hunter’s staple. For a while, at least, it wasn’t widely known to be an A. Fuente product. The happy result was that while others were throwing elbows in the walk-in to grab short-stocked, marked-up Hemingways and DCs, you could have all the Bauzas you wanted at MSRP.

Over time, I even found that I preferred Bauza to the Cameroon-clad Fuentes. Unfortunately, I wasn’t too far ahead of the hordes. Before long my size of choice, the 5.5″ x 55 Pyramid, was backordered at JR. Bummer.

Mostly out of nostalgia, I revisited these about four years ago. Amazingly, the price was unchanged — $100.00/box 25. They were not as I remembered them, however. I found them bland and grassy. Maybe my palate had outgrown them or they were just young. I laid them down and didn’t pay them much mind.

Now, after a long rest, I figure they’re as good as they’re likely to get.

So is the Bauza Pyramid still the value it was a decade ago?

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Respected, but not quite coveted may best sum up the reputation of the El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme. I never hear anyone badmouth it, but it doesn’t show up on many wish lists, either.

Perhaps this Hermoso No. 4 (5″ x 48) is unheralded because it lacks the power of the big three robustos, the Partagas D No.4, Cohiba, and Bolivar Royal Corona? Or because it lacks the novelty of more recent entries such as the Montecristo Edmundo and RyJ Short Churchill?

Probably some of each. But as I become more militant about the virtue of balance over power, I find myself more enamored of the ERdM Choix Supreme.

My SLB of 50 is date stamped ABR 07 and first graced my humidor last November. The first samples showed an over-the-top floral, powdery component up front. Each settled into a more agreeable profile after an inch, but these needed some time. I’ve tried one every couple of months since with better results each time. Now, after 14 months of rest, it’s time for another go.

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I owe the Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 a debt of gratitude. It was this line that made me understand that pure power is a limited virtue.

Upon the Antano’s release in 2002, I sought only two qualities from a new smoke — stronger and cheaper. Early reviews of the Antano seemed to place it squarely between the Opus X and VSG, the market’s priciest, most coveted powerhouses. It earned impressive accolades, including a 91 mark from Cigar Insider and a 90 from Cigar Aficionado. This Nicaraguan puro may lack the sophistication of the Opus and VSG, I thought, but it should satisfy my lust for a cheap kick in the tastebuds.

And that it did. I bought a box of Belicosos, but each left me with the feeling Hunter S. Thompson once described as having one’s tongue chewed by an iguana. The tingle of spice I usually enjoyed was instead presented as a sting. The complexities of the blend, which I was sure were in there somewhere, were overwhelmed by raw bite. Was I turning soft? Or had my palate finally acknowledged the limits of pure power?

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Behold the mighty “A” size. It’s the 3 lb. Porterhouse of the stogie world — unwieldy, obscene, and usually pricy. But every now and again, it’s an act of manliness with no equal.

So on this lazy summer afternoon, my agenda is empty but for whipping up a habanero-mango sauce to go with some jerk chicken. Smoke an “A,” chop chile peppers, BBQ… Neanderthal Spa Day!

Fonseca’s Habana Seleccion is a relatively new blend from Manuel Quesada. Developed for Cigars International and released in late 2006, it is billed as a departure from Fonseca’s mild formula. It features an Habana Criollo ‘98 wrapper grown in Jalapa, Nicaragua, a Nicaraguan binder and five year-old Dominican fillers. The idea, according to Quesada, was to marry a spicy wrapper/binder combination with aged Dominican fillers he is accustomed to working with. Nine generations of test blends later, the result is a line of six vitolas including the 8.7″ x 48 Black Prince.

The Black Prince is decked out in a weighty, wooden box of 10. Each is signed on the inside lid by Mr. Quesada. Considering the rarity of wrappers large enough to cloak an “A,” the Black Prince is modestly priced at $80 per box and can be nabbed on C-Bid for much less (I paid $40 for this box).

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Ever since Ernesto Perez-Carrillo shifted most of El Credito’s production from Miami to the Dominican Republic in April 1996, a mystique has surrounded the handful of LGCs still produced on Calle Ocho. Some insist the Miami-born LGCs are stronger and/or better built than their D.R. brethren. Carrillo himself has stepped in to declare that the blends and construction standards are identical. But debate persists.

Before February of last year, I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t tried a Miami LGC. In part, that was because I’d smoked my share of the D.R. version and couldn’t see what the fuss what about. The LGC, I thought, was an average smoke at a fair price. Nothing more.

But on a visit to Miami in 2007, curiosity got the best of me. Like any jackass tourist, I bought a box from the factory under the pretense of investigating this Miami vs. D.R. controversy.

My first impression, though favorable, was that these needed time. The handful I sampled were surprisingly potent, if a little sharp. I didn’t recall the Dominican Wavell being this assertive.

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Now that daytime temps have dropped back into the 80s (after a rare and ridiculous spell of mid-90s), it’s comfortable once again to sit out back and enjoy a decent-sized smoke. And this is one I’ve looked forward to for quite some time.

Enough has been written about the Tatuaje brand and owner Pete Johnson that I can skip the preamble. I’ll just say that I’m not only a huge fan of his smokes, but I love that Pete bucks trendiness in favor of Cuban traditions, old and new. It’s evident in the style of his blends, of course, but also in his choice of sizes. For example, his forthcoming La Riqueza brand eschews forearm-sized ring gauges that have become the latest rage. Instead, Pete pays homage to some smaller, classic Cuban vitolas such as the Hermoso #4, a true corona gorda measuring 5.62″ x 46, and a 5.5″ x 52 belicoso fino.

Likewise, it is Habanos’ acclaimed regional releases that spawned the Havana VI Verocu East and West. A limited edition extension of the Havana VI line, the 6.25″ x 54 Verocu No. 1 “West Side” and 5.5″ x 54 Verocu No. 2 “East Side” are available only in cabs of 50 and retail at $10.00 a stick.

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When the “Favorite Budget Smoke” thread pops up like clockwork on the message boards, the Don Kiki Limited Reserve always gets a mention. Mild controversy typically ensues. Some swear by their value ($2.00 per stick), while others say they’re cheap for a reason.

So, which is it — two buck wonder or dog rocket?

Cigarmaker Enrique “Kiki” Berger’s eponymous Brown Label is made at his Tabacalera Esteli factory in Nicaragua, almost entirely from leaves grown on his 200-acre farm.

Berger first came to prominence making the original 5 Vegas. (The 5 Vegas brand has since been purchased by Cigars International and is now made by Nestor Plasencia.) Success with the cult favorite Cupido followed. Today, Don Kiki produces a wide selection of brands available through his Miami-based distribution arm, Cuban Crafters.

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I waited long enough to post a full review of a Pepin Garcia smoke, right? It might be a little sadistic to begin with the Achilles since (a) the days of Pepin-made budget smokes are all but over; (b) stock of the Achilles was swallowed up by greedy Pepin-whores some time ago. But let us wax nostalgic together…

The Padilla Achilles was made in one size, a 6″ x 50 toro, as an exclusive for Cigars International. This Nicaraguan puro, unlike prior Padilla-Pepin collaborations, was produced in Esteli, Nicaragua. CI’s website pegs total production of the Achilles at 50,000, other sources say 60,000. Either way, it wasn’t enough, as fans of Don Pepin still roam the net in search of hidden stash.

Aside from the limited production, the feature that made the Achilles noteworthy was the price. According to CI’s website, MSRP was an absurd $10 per stick. In practice, however, they went (in mazos of 6) for $2.00-$4.00 each on C-Bid. At a time when all things Don Pepin were blowing up in price and popularity, these were a steal rivaled only by the CI Legends Series Yellow Label.

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Yes, I did it too. In the haze of a C-Bid bender I couldn’t resist the allure of a gorgeous dollar maduro. Sure enough, when the DHL lady dropped them off, the El Mejor Espresso was every bit as stunning as it appeared in the photos — crisply trunk pressed, black and thinly veined.

So I smoked one. And another. I went through about five of them over a couple days before I faced reality — this dollar marvel was utterly flavorless. Some on Top25Cigar.com were raving about them, but I just didn’t see it. I stuck them in the Crap-O-Dor and largely forgot about them until now, 16 months later.

The El Mejor Espresso is made by Nestor Plasencia in Esteli, Nicaragua. As best I can tell, the brand is exclusive to Cigars International, and has become a calling card of their aforementioned auction site. It is a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler in a Mexican San Andreas wrapper. Top25Cigar lists the binder as Cameroon, but I was unable to confirm that. It is produced in four sizes — Robusto, Torpedo, Toro and Churchill.

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I’m on a bit of a Luis Sanchez kick. I reviewed the LTC Deluxe Anniversary two weeks ago, and today I have a more recent release from Sanchez-Romay, the JML 1902 Coronita. Big thanks to Jesse at Cigar Jack, who turned me on to these with his intriguing review last May.

Two words: Pennsylvania Broadleaf. And not just a little bit of it buried in the filler blend, either. This cigar is wrapped in PABL. The old Purofino Dom from the 90s (anyone remember those?) used a PABL binder, but I’ve never run across a premium brand using this wrapper. The filler is Dominican and the binder is Honduran.

The JML 1902, named in honor of Luis Sanchez’ grandfather, Jose M. Losa, debuted at last year’s R.T.D.A. show. The first thing I noticed upon cracking open my bundle was that these wrappers are, well, ugly. They’re not particularly veiny, but ruddy in texture and streaky in color. Nut brown with streaks of black. Maybe this is why we don’t run into more PA wrapper?

Not that it matters, but the bands are curious as well. Luis has taken great care in producing band and box art for his other brands, but he obviously punted on these.

Despite the dainty name, the Coronita is healthy-sized corona at 5.75″ x 44. It clips and lights without a hitch. The initial flavors are what you’d expect from a broadleaf — a healthy dose of pepper with woody undertones. First I detect a bit of dry cocoa on the finish. Again, typical of a broadleaf.

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