Nestor Miranda Special Selection Coffee Break
First off let me apologize for not having a video review for this cigar, or pictures for that matter. With a wind chill in the single digits I sought refuge in one of my favorite B&Ms. I thought I would be able to shoot a video there, but the football crowd was huge, so the video and audio quality was less than acceptable. So I decided it was time for an old school written review.
The Nestor Miranda Special Selection Coffee Break is a petit robusto measuring in at 4.5 inches long with a 50 ring gauge. My first introduction to this blend was the Nestor Miranda Special Selection Lancero, which I felt was an excellent cigar. This cigar has is dressed in silky dark brown wrapper, which oozes with an obvious light oil. There is a small veiny structure to the wrapper which just seems to give this cigar some character.
Sunday Fiver- January 3, 2010
Since this is the first Sunday of 2010, and by this time most people have already broken their New Years Resolution, I thought I’d list my 5 Cigar Resolutions for 2010.
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>
Chris’ Version of a Top 10
This time of year so many of the cigar blogs publish their Top 10 lists for the year. And although I see how these lists are beneficial, I personally don’t feel like I can create a single list. Honestly, there are just too many factors to consider.
So, I decided to create two lists of five cigars that I decided were either a disappointment or a shocker in 2009. The criteria for these lists is actually quite simple and I explain it in the video. I’ve also included a brief explanation below of my choices.
Brian’s ’09 in Review
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE everyone! Let me first start off by saying that I was not planning on doing a top ten list as I feel they are entirely played out. A caveat to that is that despite my feelings on these lists, it sure was fun to put it together and look back at everything I have smoked this year. I would suggest to anyone to do this. You find yourself saying “oh yea…I remember that smoke†a lot. Like our reviews this list is entirely subjective. If you happen to find that your tastes line up with mine most of the time then you may find some value here. Anyway, it came down from above that I “do an f’n list and like it,” so here it is. I am going to do things a bit different and give you my top 5 new cigars and my top 11 cigars that I smoked this year regardless of release dates so you can see how I thought these new blends stood up to past proven performers. (Yes 11. These were too close to call)
Another reason I don’t like this idea is that I haven’t had a chance to fully sample all of the new blends and some that I have sampled have been in limited numbers so in full disclosure, here are the new blends that I have been lucky enough to try: Room 101, Camacho Connecticut, Tatuaje Drac, Ambos Mundos (both wrappers), Rocky Patel Winter Blend 2009, Patel Bros., Patel 1961, Padilla Dominus, Man O’ War Ruination, Diesel by AJ Fernandez, CAO La Traviata, Torano Exodus 50 years, My Father Le Bijou, San Cristobal Seleccion del Sol, Oliva Serie V Maduro ’09, Oliva Connecticut Reserve, Punch Rare Corojo ’09, and the JC Newman Brickhouse. Full disclosure #2: I am writing this list a week before it’s post date so I have no idea what the other guys will come up with. It will be interesting to see how our lists compare.
So here you are for what it’s worth. Be safe tonight and hope you all have a great 2010.
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Ben’s Top 10 Cigars of 2009
Well, it’s that time of the year again where we all put out our Top 10 cigars of the year. These cigars are the ones I’ve thoroughly enjoyed over the year. My criteria was taste, price, availability, how many I had over the year. I’ve got them arranged 1 through 10, but honestly, any one of these could be number 1. That’s how close I rate these cigars. This year the cigar smoker was extremely lucky. Manufactures came out with some amazing cigars this year and a lot like CAO and Camacho priced them for the average cigar smoker in the price sweet spot of $5-$6.
J. Fuego Gran Reserva Corojo No. 1
Here’s a special Christmas review with a very special guest. Please enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year or whatever else applies. Smoke ’em if you got ’em!
Troop Donation Update and Drawing for Give-Aways
Merry Christmas Eve NTA Nation! Just wanted to thank you all for supporting us this past year and a HUGE thanks goes out to all of you who donated to the troops. We shipped a total of 575 smoke overseas last week to 3 different detachments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, I highly recommend you support the manufacturers who stepped up and supported this effort. CAO, Xikar, and Lotus Lighters were all eager to help out this cause and that just shows that they have similar values to many of us and are willing to help out whenever they can.
In the video I draw the 6 names that will be receiving a package from CAO, Xikar or Lotus. I also give you a little “fly-over†of the donations prior to sending them out so you can see for yourself the generosity of our viewers.
I will be contacting people after the new year to arrange shipping. Thanks again to all of you and have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS from all of us at Nice Tight Ash!
Cigar Review – Murcielago Toro
This week, I review the new Murcielago from Espinosa y Ortega that was released at this year’s IPCPR in New Orleans. This new cigars from the makers of 601, Cubao and Mi Barrio blends are blended by Don Pepin Garcia. The cigar features an oily Mexican San Andreas wrapper, Mexican binder and Nicaraguan fillers. How does this cigar compare to some of the other great maduros that have come out this year? Watch the video and find out.
PS – Get well soon Dio!
Name: Murcielago Toro
Company: United Tobacco
Made in: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas
Binder: Mexico
Filler: Nicaragua
MSRP: $9.00
Comes in: Boxes of 20
Vitolas:
- Belicoso 5 1/2 X 52
- Churchill 7 1/8 X 48
- Robusto 5 1/8 X 50
- Rothschild 5 1/8 X 50
- Toro 6 1/8 X 50
Rocky Patel 1961
Rocky Patel has a new factory in Nicaragua, the Tabacalera Villa Cuba, S.A, and the first cigar to be made in this factory is the 1961. This cigar was created to celebrate Rocky’s birth year and features an Ecuadorian grown Habano wrapper. The first thing I noticed about this cigar was the incredible amount of oils on the wrapper. Secondly, I started to appreciate the dark reddish brown wrapper that had an incredible aroma that was nearly strong enough to be smelt through the cellophane wrapper.
Quick Ash: Punch Rare Corojo Rothschild
Today I have for you another quick ash. The Punch Rare Corojo is one of the most popular cigars in the US year to year. This year was no exception as some people said the ’09 version was the best they have put out in a long time. The Rothschild is a 4.5″ beauty that I have found to be the perfect length for a lunchtime smoke. Let’s see if the flavors stand up to those of the larger vitolas in the line.
Sorry about the video quality. I apparently need to clean my camera lens and pay a bit more attention to where the sun is. Hey, one day I’ll figure all this crap out.
