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.

The Brown Label Toro’s appearance doesn’t inspire confidence. The caps are crooked. While the sungrown Criollo wrapper has nice color, the texture is dry and gritty. You can see soft spots and lumps before even giving it the pinch test, and it is suspiciously lightweight in the hand.

Immediately after lighting, I note a too-easy draw and a little metallic funk. Underfilled. And it heats up right away. Shaking the flaky ash about five minutes later, I get visual confirmation of the problem — the dreaded donut hole in the bunch, as if it had been worked with a rather large draw poker. More likely, it’s the product of inattentive bunchers.

So I nurse the Brown Label along, walking the thin line between heating it up and letting it go out (which it seems to want to do frequently). For the moments between extremes, the flavors are good. There is ample spice and earth with brown sugar and bread notes — a solid medium body. But it’s just a matter of time before the bitter notes of an overheated smoke return, spoiling the experience.

The heartbreak of the Brown Label is that you’re tempted to fight it past the point of diminishing returns, convinced the worthwhile flavors can save the day. If the blend were straight-up bad, I’d have no problem pitching it. But I almost never do, because of the half-dozen I have smoked I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the couple that were properly built.

Like a plugged stick, there’s simply no redeeming an underfilled one.

To be even-handed, I feel like I should steer you toward Stogie Guy Patrick A.’s review of this same smoke. He gave it 4.5/5. On taste, I can’t really disagree with Patrick, but we had very different experiences with the burn.

CONCLUSION: The Don Kiki Limited Reserve Brown Label is a good blend that is marred, if not destroyed, by shoddy construction. Even at the tempting price point, I’d pass on another box of these.

SCORE: 79

Keepers of The Flame mourns the disappearance of the affordable Pepin and test drives a substitute Nicaraguan puro, the Famous Nicaraguan Corojo Corona.

Tom at The Smoking Lounge has the line of the week. In wrapping up a less than favorable review of the Te Amo World Selection Series Nicaraguan Blend, he writes, “Do not even approach this cigar without wearing a Haz-Mat suit.” Nice!

Cigar Jack’s newest contributor Alex reviews the Miami version of the La Gloria Cubana Wavell (N).

Happy Birthday to Matt at Matt’s Cigar Journal. The man knows how to celebrate in style. His smoke of choice? A 2005 Ramon Allones Specially Selected. Well done, sir!

At Stogie Review, Brian Hewitt tries the rare La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Lancero Cameroon.

Finally, the Bucs’ idiot coach Jon Gruden once again gravitated toward the player with an attitude problem and dirty urine, selecting CB Aqib Talib in the first round of Saturday’s NFL Draft. Talib flunked three whiz tests at Kansas. Brilliant. Just had to vent. Sorry.

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.

This is a good looking smoke, bearing an oily, nut brown corojo wrapper with moderate veins. Though this Achilles, like the mythical version, has its weakness — the wrapper is thin and prone to cracking. Minor changes in the storage environment cause cracks at the foot, and worse, fatal ones at the head. I have been forced to pitch a few.

The Achilles begins with the usual DPG peppery kick, but it is tempered by a creamy, vanilla note reminiscent of Connecticut Shade. It achieves a nice balance almost right away. The pepper is always present in the throat, but the Achilles doesn’t boast the dominant spice of a DPG Blue Label or 601 Red. It is more comparable to Don Pepin’s lighter fare like the DPG White Label, Vegas Cubanas, and Legends Yellow Label.

The CTS notes fade by the halfway mark, giving way to damp leather, a little wood and a faint hint of peanut (again, not unlike the Legends Yellow). The only off flavor is an occasional grassy note, but those are few and far between. The texture turns dry on the final third, so keep a beverage handy. The body remains in the medium range throughout, though it is extremely rich.

The Achilles burns and draws well, even when stored at RH levels that wreak havoc on other DPG smokes. This may indicate a lower ligero content, resulting in a more constant combustion rate between filler and wrapper? Only the blenders know for sure.

The recent split between Ernesto Padilla and Don Pepin ensures we shall never see this one again. No encores like Padilla’s other “Edicion Especial,” the Obsidian. But if you can get your hands on a mazo via mysterious source or trade with a B/SOTL, you’ll have a top shelf Don Pepin at a Don Tomas price.

CONCLUSION: The Padilla Achilles is a cult classic for a reason. The fragile wrappers are impossible to overlook, but otherwise it’s a gem. To my palate, it is one of DPG’s tamer blends, but you give up nothing in the way of flavor. It is medium bodied, rich and satisfying. Get them if you can.

SCORE: 88

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.

With a Mexican wrapper and Honduran filler, you’d expect the El Mejor Espresso to be robust and earthy. It isn’t. In fact, it’s a pussycat. Almost immediately, I detect raisin and light cocoa. More precisely, the raisin flavor is more like that of a cooked Ancho chile — slightly sweet and smoky with just a hint of heat.

At risk of wandering too far afield, Chef Tim Love of Iron Chef America fame makes an Ancho Chile Chocolate Cake, and the El Mejor Espresso instantly reminded me of it. The flavors of the El Mejor aren’t nearly as rich and dense, of course, but there is a similarity. (Yes, I’m perfectly serious. And you should try that recipe, BTW.)

The El Mejor is well built. The burn was cool and slow, requiring only one touch-up. For the most part, the draw is fine.

Unfortunately, the flavor doesn’t evolve much. It’s pleasant and mild, but static. I picked up none of the coffee notes suggested by the name or the colorful review on the Cigars International site. The finish is short and thin. The only off-note is a slight chemical taste when you hit it too aggressively. That’s easily avoided, however.

Finally, the color of the wrapper led me to suspect it was died. I’m happy to report, however, that these have never turned my lips or fingers black.

CONCLUSION: I’m glad I didn’t compost the El Mejor Espresso, as some good (if one-dimensional) flavors came out with age. If you like a mild maduro with an unusual profile, these aren’t a bad idea at $1.00-$2.00 a pop. Give them a year and you’ll have a respectable yard gar or something that pairs well with morning joe.

SCORE: 83

At Stogie Review, Brian Hewitt has a pre-release sample of the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami Churchill.

Matt’s Cigar Journal has the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Presidente.

At Cigar Inspector, Roadrunner reviews one of my all-time value favorites, the Camacho Havana H2. I’ve been meaning to review it one of these days, but I’ll skip it because Roadrunner nailed it.

Velvet Cigar’s Ironmeden finds the Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos to be tasty, but a bit young.

Cigarfan at Keepers of The Flame reports that two years of age does wonders for the Padilla en Cedro Robusto.

Lisa at Her Humidor has a near-religious experience with the Bolivar Petit Corona.

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.

(more…)

Cigar Inspector delivers on an excellent idea — an Online Shops Directory/Rating. I’ll refer to it often, benefit from the experiences of B/SOTLs, and save myself some headaches. Great work, Denis.

Matt of Matt’s Cigar Journal could use some help meeting his fundraising goal of $3,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Ride for Kids. Check out the details at his site, or go straight here to make a contribution. Matt’s giving away a few boxes of primo stogies to some lucky donors, and Tom at Keepers of The Flame generously sweetened the pot.

While you’re at KOTF, check out the review of the Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 48.

At Stogie Guys, George runs into an uncharacteristic construction issue with the Oliva Serie O Toro.

Lisa at Her Humidor lays down her $12 for the Cuvee Blanc Salomon.

At Cigar Command, Scott is pleasantly surprised by the Arganese Connecticut Ambassador Robusto.

Cigar Beat’s Stinkie tries the Don Pepin Garcia-made Troya Clasico #54. And after a spate of unauthorized cigar purchases, Mrs. Stinkie is really pissed!

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

I’m referring of course to auction sites. Seems like only yesterday that I got the CigarBid.com monkey off my back. Yet I have found a brand new excuse to flag 50 auctions at a time, live-snipe at 3 am and otherwise engage in antisocial behavior — vintage 35mm film cameras.

(What does this have to do with cigars? Nothing, which is why it’s listed in the “Just Plain Random Stuff” category. However, I suspect that many cigar nuts who have fallen prey to C-Bid know just what I’m talking about here!)

Props (or blame) to Trixy, who gently mocked my addiction to digital and sold me on the retro-cool factor of 35mm film. My father, himself an excellent photographer with an encyclopedic knowledge of model numbers, also encouraged my bad behavior. Dad egged me on with gems like, “Of course you need a third Minolta XE-7… for parts!”

Two months later I have accumulated more cameras than an Osaka pawn shop — an arsenal of cheap, bulletproof workhorses I barely know how to use.

Why? Because I have an unnatural interest in photography. Because there’s something wrong with me that compels me to “win” other people’s crap. And because vintage cameras are the best deal since those $9 mazos of Padilla Achilles. (Ah, remember those?)

(more…)

Though it never achieved the notoriety of its sibling brand, La Gloria Cubana, El Rico Habano was actually the first long-filler cigar to come out of Ernesto Perez-Carillo, Sr.’s El Credito Miami factory in 1970.

From its inception, El Rico Habano was a full-bodied, “Cuban-style” blend, even as most American smokers preferred their stogies on the mild side. “It wasn’t setting the world on fire,” Ernesto Perez-Carillo, Jr. once said of the brand’s early days.

After the introduction of the La Gloria Cubana label, El Rico Habano lumbered along as a distant second in sales for El Credito. In 1997, with the cigar boom in full swing, Perez-Carillo, Jr. halted the brand’s production because he wasn’t able to procure enough Nicaraguan ligero to maintain the consistency of El Rico’s potent blend. It wasn’t until 2001 that El Credito was able to reintroduce their flagship label.

El Rico Habano is currently manufactured at El Credito’s Dominican factory, using a sungrown Ecuador Sumatra wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler.

The 5.75″ x 46 Gran Corona starts with strong flavors of hardwood and a dry blast of white pepper. This dry character immediately suggests this a “love it or hate it” kind of smoke. With a cup of coffee at hand, I love it. For the first half it is powerful and unique, if not terrifically complex. The draw is near-perfect.

(more…)

Keepers of The Flame gives us a primer on wrapper blemishes — frog eyes, mold, bloom, water spots and most anything else that has made you go, “What the heck is that?”

Lisa at Her Humidor reviews one that I’ve been wondering about, the Te Amo World Selection Series Honduras Blend.

Cigar Inspector smokes an explosive (and not in a good way) Ramon Allones Small Club Corona.

Matt at Matt’s Cigar Journal adds his name to the list of Illusione cg:4 fans. I really have to try one of these.

Elvis at The Velvet Cigar tests the CI Legends Yellow Label by Don Pepin Garcia. Suffice it to say he doesn’t think as much of this smoke as I do. Check out my tasting notes here.

The Stogie Review’s Walt, previously unimpressed with Rocky Patel products, smokes an RP Edge Sumatra. He is still underwhelmed. FWIW, I think he’s absolutely right.

Finally, there was an interesting Associated Press story this week about farm privatization in Cuba. While the program is still small in scope, it struck me as having huge potential implications for the cigar industry. We’ll see…