Roberto P Duran Cigars Signature Line Robusto 8/30/15

Appearance 

Light brown in color with only 1 prominent vein. Seams are tight and invisible. Very little sheen on the wrapper.

Aroma 

Earth and wood on the wrapper and earth wood and sweetness at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Sweetness and spice with a light floral scent.

1st

Starting off there are subtle notes of spice and also a mild tangy citrus note. The draw and burn start off perfectly but after a handful of puffs there is a V burn pattern following a vein. A half dozen puffs later the burn self corrects. 

2nd

The 2nd/3rd brings more spice in the warm cinnamon variety. The ash is a charcoal gray color and slightly flaky. The finish is medium in length with the prominent note of spice with a little creaminess. Near the end of the 2nd the spice dominates the flavor profile(not a bad thing). The strength started at a low medium but quickly moved to medium where it stayed. The ash holds on til I ash at each 3rd. 

Final/3rd

The spice mellows a bit at the start of the final/3rd to bring the flavors into balance. Overall the cigar provides an enjoyable smoking experience. Thanks to Carolee Martin(SW Rep) aka 50calcigargal on Instagram for the samples for review. You can follow the brand on Twitter @AzanCigars.

Virtuoso Cigars Double Maduro Robusto 8/23/15

Appearance 

Dark brown wrapper with a few prominent veins. Cap is a little rough on the edges. Low sheen.

Aroma 

Earthy, chocolatey on the wrapper. Chocolate and raisin at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Black licorice and Cocoa 

1st

The first puffs taste of sweet tobacco. Then a little mild spice(allspice) arrives. Draw is good, burn is off by 11 degrees. Ash is mostly light gray and slightly flaky. Cocoa notes help balance the blend. 

2nd

Starts off with woody notes. The flavors blend together nicely. 1/2 way thru the 2nd/3rd the burn has fully self corrected. The strength has been a solid medium from the start. The spice becoming more of a crushed red pepper by the end of the 2nd/3rd. 

Final/3rd

Flavors stay the same with the spice being dominant. A very enjoyable smoking experience. Thanks to Rob @TheSmokersHut for the samples for review. GoGetchasome™!!

Vicarias Black Label 8/11/15

Appearance

Chocolate brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tight and almost invisible. Not much sheen. More like a matte finish.

Aroma 

Earthy on the wrapper. Earth and wood at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Licorice and anise.

1st

There is a hint of spice on the tongue right away. The spice(black pepper) builds a little more. The ash is medium gray and fairly tight. The draw is good. The burn started off a little bit is self correcting. Smoke billows with each puff. About 1/2 way into 1st/3rd notes of espresso balance the black pepper. There is a chocolatey sweetness on the end of the long finish. 

2nd

The spice mellowed some. There are now some dark chocolate notes mingling with the espresso. Spice changes to more of a red pepper midway thru 2nd.

Final/3rd

Strength has gone from med to med/full. All flavors are melding together nicely. Well balanced.

Thanks to @VicariasCigars and my bro Josh @seas08ms3 for sending the samples for review.

Azan White Premium by Roberto Duran Cigars 8/14/15

Appearance 

Colorado red/brown in color. 2 prominent veins. It has a very light sheen on the wrapper that U have to really look for. The seams are tight.

Aroma 

Hay and earth on the wrapper. Cocoa sweetness at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Cocoa, spice & raisin.

1st

The Azan White starts with some floral notes mixed with a dash of white pepper. About halfway into 1st/3rd Cocoa notes arrived and balanced the white pepper spice. The ash is salt&pepper gray and somewhat flaky. The draw and burn are nearly perfect. 

2nd

The cigar has a long finish ending with the Cocoa sweetness. The ash seems to b ready to drop about 1" each time. The Cocoa seems to b the prominent flavor at the 1/2 way point of the cigar. Strength is about medium at this point. 

Final/3rd

The flavors balanced nicely late in the 2nd and carried over to the final/3rd. This Azan White Premium is a medium strength full flavor cigar with a nice long finish. Definitely something I will keep in the humidor. You should too!

Thanks to Carolee Martin (Az Rep for Roberto Duran Cigars AKA 50calcigargal on Instagram) for the samples for review.

GTO Cigars Connecticut Churchill Gold 8/14/15

Appearance 

Wrapper is a little mottled. 2 prominent veins, mostly fine. Tight seams. Very low sheen.

Aroma 

Barnyard. Mostly hay but a subtle sweetness also.

Prelight Draw

Hay and cedar

1st

Initially the draw is a bit snug. At 1/2" in the burn is spot on. The ash is salt&pepper gray and strong. The cigar has creamy notes of cedar.

2nd

The 2nd/3rd has leather notes joining the creamy cedar notes. Partway in a spice note develops. Reminds me of paprika. Strength has been medium so far. 

Final/3rd

The final/3rd was pretty much the same as the 2nd. This cigar was an enjoyable creamy smoke with a little paprika spice. Definitely something to try as a 1st smoke of the day. 

Thanks again to Oscar @GTOCigars for the sticks for review.

Vicarias Blue Label 8/10/15

Appearance 

Milk chocolate brown with a few prominent veins. A slightly oily sheen.

Aroma 

Barnyard on the wrapper. Faint sweetness at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Tangy sweetness

1st

Right away cedar notes show themselves. Draw is a bit snug. Burn is off just a little. Ash is salt&pepper gray and tight. About 1/2 way into 1st/3rd some spice notes arrive. 

2nd

I'm noticing some tea notes just into the 2nd. The spice(paprika) has faded at this point. Draw is getting better and burn line has evened out. Midway in this 3rd the spice comes back albeit a little stronger. 

Final/3rd

Coffee notes round out the flavor profile. The strength was medium throughout. This Viarias Blue Label was an enjoyable smoke from start to finish. Thanks to my bro Josh @seas08ms3 for hooking me up with the samples to review. 

Vicarias Cigars White Label 8/9/15

Appearance 

Ecuadoran Conn wrapp tan color. Mostly fine veins. There is a horizontal crack below the band.

Aroma

Hay,barnyard with a slight sweetness

Prelight Draw

Black licorice 

1st

First flavor that stands out is spearmint on the finish. The draw & burn are good at the 1/2" point. The ash is light gray and fairly tight. There is a mild spice. Not pepper but like cinnamon. The cigar produces a nice amount of smoke on exhale. Strength is mild.

2nd

A light coffee not enters the mix. Strength gets to medium by the end of the 2nd/3rd. Ash holds til I gently bump it off after each 3rd.

Final/3rd

The cigar did not add any new flavors in the Final/3rd and but was a nice morning smoke. It's definitely something that mild to medium smokers would enjoy. Give them a try.