Monte by Monte/AJ Fernandez Toro 9/16/17

 

Appearance 

A beautiful dark milk chocolate colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The wrapper does have a little mottling, making one of the seams not covered by a band visible. The seams are tightly wrapped with the exception of a small portion of the cap. The mostly matte finish wrapper leaf appears to be soaked in oil(yes that's a good thing). The filler is well packed with no apparent soft spots. The bands are very attractive with great contrasting colors.

Aroma

Earthy, sweet on the wrapper. Earth, cedar and sweetness with a faint hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earthy, spicy, cedar and dried red fruit.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earthy cedar and spiced espresso. The draw is just a tiny bit snug but I'm confident it will open up. The burn is mostly straight with a slight wave. The ash is light gray and mostly tight. At the 1 1/2" point the draw opens up nicely. Strength is at medium+ already. 

2nd

After removing the ash and inspecting the working end I notice the Ligero cone is off center causing the uneven burn. Smoke production is in the medium range. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, red fruity sweetness, espresso and  a nutmeg/warm cinnamon spice. The burn line is self correcting as the cone gets closer to center where it belongs. Dark chocolate notes join the profile. Strength moves to med/full. 

Final/3rd

Rolling into the final/3rd there are creamy cashew notes joining the profile. Now that the cone is dead center the burn is spot on and the smoke production picks up to the low end of high. Strength is at full. Great flavor right to the nub. 

Overall 

The Monte by Montecristo and AJ Fernandez provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very flavorful profile with nice complexity. Finally a non Cuban Montecristo that I enjoy. 

 

 

The Last Tsar Churchill by Caldwell Cigars 9/10/17

 

Appearance 

A reddish brown colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The seams are mostly tight. There is a bit of mottling as well as some tooth. There is a nice oily sheen covering the cigar. The filler is well packed with no soft spots. 

Aroma 

Barnyard, cedar and sweetness on the wrapper. The same at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, molasses, black licorice and spice

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar with a pinch of molasses sweetness and a dash of warm spice. The draw is just a tiny bit snug. The burn has a small wave. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Burn gets really erratic, about 60* and the ash curls in 2 different directions. I begin implementing simple physics immediately. Upon removal of the very suspect ash at the end of the 1st I inspect the working end and find 3 tunnels and the cone off to one side causing the erratic burn. 

2nd

Self correction continues and is down to 30*. Smoke production is at the high end of medium. The finish is long with notes of cedar, molasses, black licorice and red pepper spice with a dash of black pepper. The draw has opened up nicely. Ash has been very flaky. Late in the 2nd the burn has fully self corrected. Some nutty notes join the profile. 

Final/3rd

Flavor profile remains consistent into the final/3rd. Light coffee notes join the profile. Strength remained medium+ til now when it moves to med/full. 

Overall

The Last Tsar Churchill by Caldwell Cigars provides a moderately enjoyable smoking experience. With a nice flavor profile, good draw and erratic burn. A bit pricy for what it delivered. 

 

 

Guardian Of The Farm Apollo by Warped Cigars and Casa Fernandez Lonsdale 9/9/17

 

Appearance 

A light brown colored wrapper with a couple of thin veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. It also has a good amount of tooth. The cigar has a very light oil sheen.

Aroma 

Cedar, leather and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Closed foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, dried fruit, leather, graham cracker and a mild spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, leather and a mild cinnamon spice. There is a pinch of salt joining the profile. The draw is perfect and the burn is spot on as well. The ash is medium gray, stacked and a little flaky. 

2nd

The strength & body are in the medium range. Smoke production is low. The profile has a creamy texture. About the midway point dried fruit notes join the profile. The burn gets a bit erratic around the midway point as well. The finish is long with notes of cedar, light earth, mild dried fruit and cinnamon spice. Smoke production bumps up to medium. The burn fully self corrects late in the 2nd/3rd. 

Final/3rd

The cigar has been on the dry side on the palate causing me to sip water continually to moisten the palate. The spice becomes more like a crushed red pepper. The burn gets a bit erratic again due to a couple small tunnels. A very light coffee note joins the profile while most of the sweetness fades. Flavor remains consistent to the nub.

Overall

The Guardian Of The Farm  Apollo Lonsdale provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice albeit dry flavor profile with a great draw and mildly erratic burn. The cigar is a collaboration from Warped  Cigars and Casa Fernandez.

 

 

Macanudo Inspirado Black Revamp Toro 9/4/17

 

Appearance 

The wrapper is almost black, hence the name and there are minimal veins on the surface. There is a bit of mottling making the tightly wrapped seams easy to spot. It has a light oil sheen and a bit of tooth. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. 

Aroma 

Earthy, dark cocoa, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Cocoa, cedar and an almost fruity note at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

The draw feels a bit snug albeit tasty with dark cocoa, dark roast coffee, raisin and spice. 

1st

Took a bit of effort to get it lit but then the initial draws bring notes of earthy chocolate and cedar with a hint of spice. The ash is medium gray and mostly tight with a little stacking. The draw is snug and the burn is spot on. Draw has opened up somewhat. Ash held strong till removal.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end I find the cone at center and no tunnels, hence the razor sharp burn. Right away I taste a creamy nutty flavor(cashew) joining the profile. When it blends with the spice we get roasted cashews.(a fav of mine). So far the finish is short with notes of earthy, dark cocoa, cedar, cashews and cinnamon spice. Tasty, just doesn't linger very long. Strength & body are in the medium range. Ash is much more stacked than in the beginning of the smoke. Smoke production is medium also. 

Final/3rd

Rolling into the final/3rd no changes. The spice begins to ramp up leaving the balance behind. Also the ash tightens up. There are faint coffee notes joining the profile. A few minutes later we are at the nub.

Overall 

The Macanudo Inspirado Black Revamp Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A tasty & consistent profile with a perfect burn and great draw(once it opened up late in the 1st/3rd). Definitely a cigar to give a try. 

 

 

RP Fifty-Five Robusto 55 9/3/17

 

Appearance 

A milk chocolate colored wrapper with a red tint and a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight and barely visible. It has a nice oily sheen and a small amount of tooth. The cigar is fairly well packed but there are a couple of soft spots.

Aroma 

Chocolatey, earthy and spicy on the wrapper. About the same at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Chocolatey, earthy, cedar, coffee, raisin, black licorice and a hint of spice.

1st

Initial draws bring notes of tobacco and a dash of cinnamon spice. After the Prelight Draw I was expecting much more but we'll see. Draw is spot on. Burn has a bit of a wave. Ash is salt&pepper gray and fairly tight. Ash was looking suspect so I removed it at 1 1/4" mark. Then on inspection of the working end I noticed a large tunnel which was causing the wavy burn.

2nd

Smoke production is at the low end of high. Strength is a solid medium. Coffee notes join the profile. The Ligero cone is off center, in its place is a 5/16" diameter tunnel. Tunnel ended 1/2" later. 

Final/3rd

The finish is long with notes of tobacco, cedar, coffee and cinnamon spice. Strength moves to medium+. Finally some cocoa notes join the profile. The cone is back to center. The flavor profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall

The RP Fifty-Five provides a somewhat lackluster smoking experience. A nice flavor profile with a great draw and wavy burn. I was disappointed that the great flavors of the Prelight Draw did not come through in the profile. 

 

 

Guardian Of The Farm by Warped Cigars Robusto 9/2/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with almost no veins on the surface. The tightly wrapped seams are  difficult to find. The cap is beautifully done. The cigar has a nice oil sheen and a little bit of tooth. The cigar is well packed with filler with no apparent soft spots. It has a closed foot.

Aroma 

Light earthy, fruity, leathery with a hint of spice on the wrapper. Closed foot.

Prelight Draw 

Fruit, cedar, earth, nuts and spice. 

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earthy, leathery cedar with almonds and mild black pepper spice alongside. The ash is salt&pepper gray and flaky. The draw is spot on. The burn has a bit of wave to it. The ash dropped at the 1 1/4" mark.  Smoke production is in the medium range. 

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end(after removing the ash) I notice the cone is off center and a few tiny tunnels are responsible for the erratic burn. The black pepper is dominant. A 1/2" in the black pepper tapers back into balance. The burn is self correcting. Ash is still flaky. The Ligero cone is at center. Light roast coffee notes join the profile. The finish is long with notes of earthy leathery cedar, fruit, almond, light roast coffee and black pepper spice. A 3/16" tunnel appears on the slower burning side of center helping to correct the burn which has now fully corrected. 

Final/3rd

The strength has been medium from the start. The flavor profile remains consistent right to the nub. 

Overall

The Guardian of The Farm by Warped Cigars Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful profile with a great draw and erratic burn(until the final 3rd when it corrected). Not in my wheelhouse due to the amount of black pepper but if you're a fan of black pepper notes give it a try.

 

 

Romeo Nicaragua 505 Robusto 8/27/17

 

Appearance 

A chocolate brown colored wrapper with a couple thin veins on the surface of the wrapper. The seams are wrapped so well that at first glance it appears that there are no seams. There is a nice oily sheen and a bit of tooth as well. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. 

The band has great color contrast with orange, black and gold. 

Aroma 

Earth, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Earth, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earthy, cedar, brown sugar, spicy.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth and espresso alongside some brown sugar notes. The burn line got a bit erratic but appears to be self correcting with the help of simple physics. The ash is a very dark gray with a little bit of salt&pepper and stacked. Strength starts out at medium. Some cedar notes join the profile late in the 1st/3rd. Ash holds firm till removal.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end my suspicions are confirmed with a couple of tunnels on the faster burning side and the Ligero cone is off center. The smoke production is at the high end of medium. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, espresso, brown sugar and warm cinnamon spice. The Ligero cone is almost to center where it belongs.

Final/3rd

The flavors to this point have been in perfect balance. The strength moves to medium+. Burn is now fully self corrected. Smoke production is at the low end of high. 

Overall 

The Romeo Nicaragua 505 Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A very flavorful profile with a great draw and erratic burn. This is a collaboration cigar blended and manufactured at @PlasenciaCigars . The best non Cuban Romeo I've smoked! 

GoGetchasome™ and try it out for yourself. 

 

 

La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva Robusto 8/26/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple imperfections in the first inch. There are several prominent veins. There is also some mottling which makes the tightly wrapped  seams visible. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. The cigar has a nice oil sheen.

Aroma

Earthy, cocoa, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Earth, cocoa,cedar, dried fruit and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earth, cedar, dried fruit, black licorice, raisin and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earthy cedar. Draw is a bit snug. Burn is spot on. One half inch in the dried fruit notes join the profile but are nice and succulent. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. The spice is leaning towards nutmeg. Draw is opening up. The ash is tightening up. The ash was firm when removing and the Ligero cone was dead center.

2nd

The smoke production is in the medium range. The spice has tapered back. The finish is medium with notes of earth, cedar, succulent fruit and mild nutmeg spice. The smoke production moves up to the high end of medium. 

Final/3rd

A dark roast coffee joins the profile to start the final/3rd. The spice returns to just the right balance. The profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall

The La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very flavorful profile with a perfect burn and great draw after it loosened up midway in the 1st/3rd. A wise decision by La Gloria to do a collaboration cigar with Ernesto @EPCarillo

 

 

Gilberto Oliva Reserva Toro 8/20/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. I had to use a magnifying glass to find the seams which are tightly wrapped. It has a nice oily sheen on the wrapper. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Cedar, earth, spice on the wrapper. The same at the foot. 

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, earth, cinnamon spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar with a hint of the cinnamon spice on the lips and the roof of the palate. The draw is snug. The burn is spot on. The ash is light gray and stacked. The draw opens up midway in the 1st/3rd. The strength starts out at mild/medium. The ash holds firm till removal.

2nd

The spice becomes more prominent. A nice soft leather note joins the profile. Smoke production is at the high end of medium. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, leather, black tea and cinnamon spice. Burn is still spot on. The strength has settled in at medium. 

Final/3rd

The well balanced flavor profile continues into the final/3rd. Draw & burn still spot on. 

Overall 

Gilberto Oliva Reserva Toro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a great burn and draw. 

This cigar falls right between the G and the O in the strength and spicy categories. A great value smoke. 

GoGetchasome™!!

 

 

Gran Apertura Tradicionales Toro 8/19/17

 

Appearance 

Light brown in color, the wrapper has a couple prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has a light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. There is also a small amount of tooth. 

Very attractive colors and contrast on the bands.

Aroma 

Barnyard, cedar, sweetness and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Cedar and sweetness with a hint of spice at the foot.  

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, sweetness, a hint of licorice and nutmeg spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of creamy cedar with a pinch of nutmeg spice. The draw is perfect with just the right amount of resistance. The burn has a slight wave. The ash is light gray and is mostly tight. Burn has fully self corrected midway in the 1st/3rd. Some nice almond notes have joined the profile along with cinnamon spice notes. 

2nd

The smoke production is at the high end of medium. Midway in the 2nd the burn gets a bit wavy again. The strength which started at mild/med is at medium. The finish is long with notes of cedar, sweetness, almond, nutmeg and cinnamon spice. 

Final/3rd

The flavor profile remains consistent moving into the final/3rd. Strength moves to medium+. Flavors remain consistent right to the nub.

Overall

The Gran Apertura Tradicionales Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful profile with a great draw and mildly erratic burn. 

Thank you to @SitiRogers for the samples for Review. Give it a try.

 

 

Galano EVO Toro 8/12/17

 

Appearance 

A beautiful milk chocolate colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. It has a little mottling making the tightly wrapped seams visible. It has a nice oil sheen and is slightly toothy. 

Beautiful band as well. 

Aroma 

Cedar, barnyard and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Cedar, sweetness and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, raisin, dried red fruits and cinnamon spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of sweet cedar with a cinnamon spice in the background. The draw starts out a tic on the snug side, but there's plenty of time. A nice soft leathery texture enters the mix about 3/4" in. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. The burn which was getting wavy has fully self corrected. About 1 1/4" in there is a dash of black pepper joining the profile. Strength is in the medium range. Burn is getting off a bit. Smoke production is at the low end of medium. 

2nd

After removing the ash I check the working end where I find a 3/16" tunnel on the faster burning side. The ash has tightened up. The finish is long with notes of sweet cedar, leather and a spice combo of cinnamon and black pepper in equal parts. Draw opens up late in the 2nd/3rd. Dark roast coffee notes join the profile. 

Final/3rd

The aforementioned flavors roll into the final/3rd and remain consistent through to the nub. 

Overall 

The Galano EVO Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile with a snug draw and mildly erratic burn. 

A big Thank You to Josh @galanocigars for the samples for review. I'll definitely smoke another of the samples which I'm confident will provide a better draw & burn. You should give it a try as well. Available at the Galano Cigars website.

 

 

AJ New World Puro Especial Robusto 8/6/17

 

Appearance 

The wrapper is dark and chocolatey looking with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight and difficult to find. The wrapper has a nice oily sheen and there is a bit of tooth as well. 

The bands are attractive and what we have come to expect from AJ.

Aroma 

Earth, black walnut and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Very faint aroma's of earth and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earth, cedar, graham cracker,dried white fruit(banana,apple) and spice.

1st

Initial draws bring notes of spicy earth. The draw is perfect. The burn is off slightly. The ash is light to medium gray, very tight and a little stacked. Interestingly the tight ash is on the slower burning side. Strangely the spice has tapered way back. The burn has maintained a 10* burn line. Ash held solid til removal.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end I find a 5/16" wide tunnel which is the cause of the erratic burn. Smoke production is at medium. Strength which has been at the low end of medium moves to medium+. Spice seems to be returning in the form of cinnamon. The tunnel has reduced in size to 1/8". The finish is long with the earth & cedar being mild and the cinnamon spice being dominant. A dash of black pepper joins the profile late in the 2nd. The burn has finally fully self corrected thanks to consistent use of physics. 

Final/3rd

The profile of earth, cedar and spice continues into the final/3rd. With 1" left of the cigar a 1/8" tunnel at the center of the cone appears and remains to the nub.

Overall

The AJ New World Puro Especial Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A consistent profile with a great draw and erratic burn.