5 Vegas “AAA”
I just can’t get enough of the Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro wrappers. So I’ll admit I’m on a bit of a quest to find any cigar that features that leaf. In my book any cigar is worth a try. So that what brings me to the 5 Vegas “AAA”. This was one of the sticks that made up the PA Broadleaf sampler I picked up a few weeks ago, and if it smokes as good as it looks and smells then I think I’m in for a real treat.
Roberto Cigars Blend Test: Reveal
Ok folks…here is the final episode of our series geared towards finding a full bodied blend for Roberto Cigars to add to their line. Here, we go through each blend and Bob tells us what the differences are in each and how they differ from the Standard and Robust Blends that Bob currently produces.
I hope you have all gained or learned something from this series. I had allot of fun doing it and it helped me tremedously in my never ending effort to learn about all things cigars. Be sure to check out Roberto Cigars if you are in the market for anything cigar related and I’ll see you next week as I get back to some regular reviews.
Roberto Cigars Blend Test: Reveal from Nice Tight Ash on Vimeo.
Cigar Review – La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero 660
Litto Gomez first started releasing mild La Flor Dominicana (LFD) when he first started the company, but as time went on, the customer’s taste changed to more full bodied cigars. The Double Ligero is one answer to the call for more full bodied cigars. This cigar is released in both a natural or maduro Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper with Dominican binder and filler made of ligero leaf. The DL660 just BARELY missed my Top 10 cigars of the year and lately I’ve been wondering if I was wrong leaving it off. I was lucky enough to get another maduro sample from @chiefhava on Twitter and decided I just had to review this cigar. How did it hold up? Watch the video and find out. Thanks to Skip Martin, aka @ChiefHava on Twitter, for the cigar!
Gran Habano Corojo No. 5 Robusto
Today Chris and Brian have a review on the road. As we take a trip to Richmond for a Rocky Patel Event, we decided to record a “mobile” review for you. Today we are smoking the Gran Habano Corojo No. 5 Robusto. Chris covers all of the particulars in the video so let’s get right to it and see how this stick performs and if we make to our destination in one piece.
Gurkha Empire I
Love them or hate them, there is no denying that Gurkha has a huge variety to choose from. Their extensive lines of cigars cover mild to full-bodied cigars, cheap to expensive, and traditional to flavored/infused. So chances are, if you’re a cigar nut, Gurkha might have a cigar that suits your taste.
The new Empire Series features six different blends. All six of these blends are packaged in 20 count boxes, and are currently only available in a 5.5 x 52 Robusto. The Empire I that I smoked for this review features a Honduran Habano wrapper, and a mixture of Nicaraguan and Peruvian Ligero for the filler. Esthetically this is a tasty looking cigar. The wrapper color closely resembles dark chocolate, and is absent of any major veins. With the exception of one hard spot, the cigar is solidly constructed. Pre-light aroma is sweet tobacco off the foot and hints of cedar off the wrapper.
Cigar Review – Ashton VSG Belicoso No. 1
The Ashton VSG was released in 1999 to much fanfare and was hard to find for years after their release due to their high demand. This was the first real cigar I ever smoked and it start a life long love affair with it and cigars. With such a great week, I felt like I need to smoke something special to me. That cigar is the Ashton VSG. This cigar has an Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper from the Oliva family and a binder and filler from the Fuente farm in the Dominican Republic. It took 2 years for the Levin’s and Fuente’s to come up with the perfect blend. This cigar is constantly in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of the Year. How does this cigar stack up to today’s super premium cigars? What the video and find out.
Pinar del Rio Oscuro
Pinar del Rio is still a relatively new brand, but looking at these sticks and the packaging it’s hard to tell. There is a traditional feel to these cigars that really interested me from the time they were released. These cigars are produced by Tabacos Don Leoncio, S.A., a partnership between Abe Flores and the Rodruguez brothers, in in the Dominican Republic. And although this cigar is labeled as an Oscuro, I was pleased to see that they did not have the overly darkened wrapper that is typical of many Oscuros in today’s market.
The Pinar del Rio Oscuro is a striking shade of medium to dark brown, that reminiscent of a chocolate bar. The wrapper has a delicate vein structure and is oily to the touch. Pre-light aroma is a complex combination of sweetness, leather and traditional tobacco. The cigar was solidly constructed and I could not detect any visible flaws on the wrapper. Once I clipped of the head of the cigar I took a few pre-light draws. The draw was excellent and yielded a deep earthiness with just a hint of spice.
Blind Exchange: Review No. 5
Today I’m wrapping up the final installment of the Blind Exchange. It’s been a great exercise/experiment, and I look forward to doing more in the future. Most of all I need to actually put together an un-banded fiver for Charlie to smoke through.
So the #5 cigar is a toro with medium shade brown wrapper. The wrapper has a delicate vein structure, and excluding the banged up section from where I dropped the cigar, it’s in very nice condition. Pre-light aroma is leathery with a hint of sweetness. I estimate the ring gauge to be 52.
Roberto Cigars Blend Selection: Samples 7-9
Ok folks, here’s the final episode of our cigar blend testing series in conjunction with Roberto Cigars. Here we have cigars 7-9. Look for the reveal of my favorite as well as how these blends differ from Bob’s original offerings in an upcoming post. If you haven’t already, check out #’s 1-3 here and #’s 4-6 here, as well as our reviews of Roberto’s Standard (Mild) Blend and his Robust (Medium) Blend. Check out Roberto Cigars website at www.robertocigars.com for cigars, humidors and accessories.
**Spoiler Alert**
If you would prefer to watch the video prior to seeing my results then watch now before you read on any further. If you are sick of my ugly mug, then you can just continue on with your reading.
Guest Review – Viaje 50/50 by Dustin
This is a guest review by one of our winners of the holiday review contest we recently held. Dustin submitted this review and we all thought it was well written and he included good pictures to go with it. Without further adieu, here is the review of the Viaje 50/50 by Dustin!
I originally found this cigar when I recently walked into a local B&M and asked for a cigar that was the kind of thing that maybe I wouldn’t ordinarily try. I’ve always found I like a great number of different cigars so I am always looking forward to smoking cigars I’ve never had before. So a when a couple of other fellow customers in the shop overheard me, they quickly suggested the Viaje Fifty/Fifty Black Label. I was told that it was an excellent cigar with a “variety of really excellent flavors†so naturally I was curious and had to purchase one.
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