Now, it was hard to name just 5, but I wanted to give a sample. Other companies like JC Newman, Torano, Padron, Perdomo, La Aroma De Cuba and Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur, etc make some great sticks at this price too. My point is, now, better than ever before, we have one great selection of cigars all priced for the different types of BOTLs in the cigar family. Something for everyone. Its a great time to be a cigar smoker!

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1. One of the questions we had for Rene was when the new Nestor Miranda Dominicano would be released. “The cigars are ready and just waiting for the 90 days of aging to be complete,” Rene says. “They will be released in March.” Rene also informs us that this blend will be the first foray into the use Dominican tobacco as a wrapper for legendary cigar maker Don Pepin Garcia. There will be two wrappers for this blend, much like that of the Nestor Miranda Special Selection line of cigars, to make two blends that will cover a wider spectrum of the body profile. Also intriguing to me is that this blend will be made with the left over wrapper tobacco from the La Aurora 100 Anos production.
2. Also coming in March look for a new release from La Aurora.
3. For the 2010 IPCPR, Miami Cigar is working on a repackaging effort for EO Brands 601 lines.
4. Also for IPCPR, look for a new budget ($5.00 range) smoke from La Aurora. This will be the first Miami Cigar made La Aurora made to fit into this price range.
5. Just another little (maybe insignificant) but interesting piece of information from Rene was that Tatiana, Miami Cigars line of flavored cigars, makes up 25% of their sales and is one of the top selling premium cigars in the nation.

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Resolution No. 1

I resolve to find my new favorite cigar. It’s so much fun trying new cigars or revisiting old favorites. In all of that sampling, I ‘d like to find a cigar that I have to keep on hand.

Resolution No. 2

I resolve to attend more B&M events, which should not be an issue now that one of my local B&M’s recently started holding events on a more regular basis. Events are great for meeting cigar “celebrities” but the true hidden value is sometimes being introduced to a cigar you would not normally try.

Resolution No. 3

I resolve to learn how to roll a cigar. As an enthusiast it’s great to see rollers in action, but to actually sit down and give it a try would be priceless.

Resolution No. 4

I resolve to make my man-cave (garage) more comfortable in the coldest winter nights and the hottest summer days. Since I spend a good amount of time in the garage smoking cigars It’s important that I make it comfortable. This includes finding an effective heating/cooling set-up along with a few other amenities.

Resolution No. 5

I resolve to hold a huge herf at my house in the hopes to raise money for charity.

What is your Cigar Resolution for 2010>

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No. 1 — Tubes

This was a big year for putting cigars in tubes. Fuente released its first cigar in tubes, the King T. Tatuaje released new versions of their Black and Verocu cigars in tubes as well. And Rocky Patel released several tubed version of his many cigars, including the Decade and Vintage 1990 and 1992.

No. 2 — Pennsylvania Broadleaf Wrappers

The Rocky Patel Winter Blend 2008 kicked off this trend in a big way. The Winter Blend’s spicy Pennsylvania Broadleaf maduro wrapper proved to be a big hit. The followed that up by using it as the binder for the Spring Blend 2009. The Lancaster County-grown leaf found it’s way into a permanent release from Rocky Patel, the Patel Bros. A.J. Fernandez used it on his new Diesel Unholy Cocktail cigar La Herencia Oscuro Fuerte, John Hay Statesman Series and others are just the tip of the iceberg for this flavorful leaf. With recent problems growers have been having in the Connecticut River Valley, I think we’ll see even more cigar makers turning to the Keystone State for their Broadleaf tobacco.

No. 3 — Value Priced Cigars

As SCHIP began, and the economy continued to flounder, cigar manufacturers began releasing new cigars in the $6 and under range. CAO’s La Traviata, Tatuaje’s Ambos Mundos, Illusione Cuchillo Cubanos, and the El Baton and Brick House from J.C. Newman, and others hit the market. Arganese developed a cigar called the S-THIS, which attaches two cigars into one larger cigar, but are easily broken apart. For taxes purposes, it is one cigar. For smokers’ purposes, it’s 2 cigars. And these just weren’t ho-hum cigars released just for their relatively low cost. They were flavorful, well made cigars at a very attractive price. This is the trend I think will really stick. After releasing cigars of this quality, at this price, it will be harder for companies to put out new cigars with high price tags.

No. 4 — The “Happy Medium”

2006 brought us big ring gauge cigars. Sixty ring gauge cigars popped up everywhere. 2007 saw the strength of cigars go through the roof. It seems some cigar makers wanted to see who could make the most smokers lose their lunch. 2008 was the reverse of 2006. Lanceros and their skinny ring gauge hit center stage. This year, I think cigar manufacturers went towards what I call the “happy medium” zone. Cigars that were full of flavor, but didn’t want to make you hurl with their strength. Classic, medium-sized vitolas like the corona, petite corona, and corona gorda held sway. This veer from the extreme to better balance has led to some excellent cigars. Even cigars that professed power and loads of ligero like the CAO Lx2 and Cain Habano delivered that power flavorful without killing smokers.

No. 5 — Smoking Bans

The trend we all wish wasn’t. But we’ve got to face facts, and see the freight train bearing down on us. Seventy-one percent of the U.S. population live under some sort of smoking ban. One of the latest bans was in the state of Virginia. Many thought an old tobacco state, a state that is home to massive tobacco conglomerate Philip Morris, wouldn’t happen. On December 1st, 2009, it happened. Earlier this year, I wrote about how my feelings changed regarding Cigar Rights of America. Please, join if you can, and hopefully we can derail that anti-smoking train.

What are your top trends of 2009?

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The views and opinions of this video are solely mine. Comments included do not necessarily reflect the views of Nice Tight Ash. Parental Discretion Advised.

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1. What do you get most out of cigar reviews in general? (includes all sites, blogs, mags, etc.)

    

2. What do you think of the general format of most cigar reviews?

    

3. What would you really like to learn when you watch a review? (What information are you looking for?)

    

4. What is your favorite flavor profile in a cigar and why? If you don’t want to reference a flavor profile, what is your favorite cigar and why?

    

5. What 2-3 cigars would you like to see talked about here on the site?

You can answer all or some of the questions. It’s entirely up to you. I am not looking for you to do our job for us but I am really interested to see what you guys and gals like and what you want to get out of the reviews on this site.  Either leave a comment or send us an email.  I will be discussing these questions and answers in a later review.

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Since today is the end of Daylight Savings Time, and we all gained an hour of sleep, I thought I’d list my top 5 short smokes to fit in that extra hour. You’ll notice I picked cigars that are full flavor, but not necessarily full bodied. If I only have time for a petite corona or short robusto, I want to get maximum enjoyment out of it. For a lot of us, this time of year also means the the start of cold weather, and having an enjoyable smoke that you can finish before frostbite sets in is helpful.

No. 5 – Escenscia Petite Corona

I’ve only had a few of these, but they knocked my socks off. The creation of Brothers of the Leaf, the manufacturers of the Palio cutter, this 5 1/8″ x 42 cigar is flavorful and full bodied.

No. 4 – Padron Delicias Maduro

A short, flavorful smoke that fits my desire for a lot of flavor when I’m smoking a cigar this small. I gave this cigar out in the natural wrapper at my wedding.

No. 3 – Oliva Special G Maduro

A short figurado measuring in at 3 3/4″ x 48 ring, it’s Nicaraguan Habano filler gives it a nice medium body while the Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper gives it a cocoa sweetness. A great cigar for your morning coffee.

No. 2 – Cuchillos Cubanos ~46~

A new entry to the market from Illusione, this mixed filler cigar packs a lot of flavor at a great price. The ~46~ is a short robusto-type format at 4 1/2″ x 46. Everyone I’ve given this cigar to, and anyone I’ve smoked it around, have complimented the aroma, even people who usually don’t like the smell of cigars. Dave did a guest review of the ~46~ for us back in June.

No. 1 – La Riqueza No. 5

Without a doubt my hands down favorite. The La Riqueza from Tatuaje is probably my favorite cigar in any vitola, and the No. 5 or Minuto is probably my favorite of them all the sizes. Available in either a box-press or round cabinet version, it sports a very flavorful Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Chris reviewed the short robusto cabinet version of the La Riqueza.

Unfortunately I had to leave off several other great short smokes, but this is the Sunday Fiver, and not the Sunday Five Dozen. I will list a couple more favorites though without notes and in no particular order: Illusione ~68~, Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 petite corona, My Father Le Bijou 1922 petite robusto, Davidoff Millennium petite corona, J. Fuego Gran Reserva Corojo No. 1 Minuto, La Flor Dominicana El Jocko Perfecto (both the natural and maduro versions), Tatuaje Havana VI Angeles, Cabaiguan Guapo Jr., and the Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Machito.

What are your favorite short smokes?

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A quick fiver of cigars stories for the week that caught our attention:

Cigar Weekly reported a special contest from General Cigars for a chance to win $1,000,000!
CWNews – Macanudo Millionaire Contest

Agent 6 over at The Cigar Spy reviewed the 5 Vegas Relic Figurado. The 5 Vegas Relic has really drawn quite a buzz lately.
Agent 6 – 5 Vegas Relic

The Stogie Guys review the newest addition to the Macando 1968 line – La Trompeta.
The Stogie Guys – Macanudo 1968 Trompeta

Barry at A Cigar Smoker’s Journal reviews the rare Oliva Cain F cigar. This cigar is only available to select retailers that took part in a special purchase order from Oliva.
Cain F

Tom at Tom’s Cigar Review reviews the Don Kiki Limited Reserve (Green Label)
Tom’s Cigar Reviews – Don Kiki Limited Reserve (Green Label)

Libations

Mark at Video Beer Reviews review the Flying Dog Dogtoberfest beer. @bikebeerBBQ on Twitter.
Flying Dog Dogtoberfest

Gary Vaynerchuk reviews the Top 100 Wines from Wine and Spirit magazine.
Wine & Spirits Top 100 – Part 2 – Episode #742

A whiskey review that recently caught my eye at Whiskey Connosr is a review the Dalmore Cigar Malt. A whiskey developed by the head blender of Dalmore to go specifically with his cigars. Regrettable, now discontinued.
Dalmore Cigar Malt

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Here at Nice Tight Ash

(1) Today is the last day to enter our 100th review contest.  Make sure you get over to Charlie’s review of the CAO Escaparate Costa Rican Maduro to see how to win a box of Corona Cigar Company’s 10th Anniversary Nicaraguans.  Also, just over a week left to enter to win a Gurkha travel kit.  Get the details for that contest here.

Cigar Reviews

Tom at tomscigars.com reviews the (2) G.A.R. from George Rico.  This cigar seems to get a wide range of reviews as it seems nobody can agree to what this cigar actually provides.  So head over and see what Tom thinks.

Agent 6 over at The Cigar Spy reviews the (3)  Tatiana Mocha Caramely.  Get his take on this infused cigar.

Cigar News

(4) A few links to some articles regarding some of the challenges we as cigar smokers are are facing this week:

a) Proposal of Smoking Ban Stirs a Sense of Tolerance

b) Avis Budget says smoking in its rental cars will set you back a whopping $250

c) New York Eyes ‘No Smoking’ Outdoors, Too

d) New Law Bans Smoking In Outdoor Dining Areas in Maine

Libations

Since we are now 2 days away from the official first day of fall, the Octoberfest brews, or Oktoberfest in some areas of the world, are in full swing.  One of my favorite sites to check out before I head out to the beer garden is Beer Advocate.  Beer Advocate has descriptions for most beers imaginable and allows users to submit reviews.  Check out the (5) Sam Adams Octoberfest page and go from there.

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Cigar Reviews

Jerry at Stogie Review smoked the new (1) Padron Family Reserve 45 Years, and gave it the Great Torpedo Seal of Approval. This stick comes with a hefty price tag, but it sounds like a winner as a celebratory smoke.

Adam over at Fire Up that Cigar smoked a personal favorite of mine, the (2) Illusione cg:4.

Agent 86 at The Cigar Spy debriefed us on the (3) Don Lino Africa. Agent 86 is looking forward to getting more, so maybe you should try a few also.

Commentary

Chief Hava of Smoke Signals always has something interesting to say. His latest article, (4) Points of Differentiation and the Future of the Cigar Industry is a perfect example of his insider take on the current state of Brick and Mortar cigar stores.

Spirits

As the weather continues to get cooler I’ll begin paring Port with my cigars. If you enjoy port as well you may consider taking a look at a review of the (5) Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port. This review can be found at Stogie Life.

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