Glandon Family Sir Leland Connecticut Churchill 10/27/18

Appearance
A light brown/tan colored wrapper with a couple of capillary sized veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. It has a light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. The head of the cigar is unusual but well finished.

Aroma
Barnyard, cedar and a faint hint of spice on the wrapper. Cedar, graham cracker and faint barnyard at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Licorice, cedar, mild spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar with a mild spice in the background. The draw is effortless from the initial draw. The spice is a warm cinnamon with a pinch of black pepper. The burn is spot on so far. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. There are some subtle sweet notes blending in nicely with the cedar and spice notes all wrapped up in a nice soft leathery texture. The ash held firm til removal.

2nd
Strength is medium at this point. Almond notes join the well balanced profile. The smoke production is at the low end of high range. The finish is long with notes of cedar, a subtle sweetness, almond and a spice combination of warm cinnamon and black pepper all wrapped in a nice soft leathery texture. Burn is still spot on. Draw remains effortless.

Final/3rd
The Sir Leland Connecticut Churchill has a Connecticut wrapper with double Nica binder and all Nica filler. All tobacco’s are AA grade as usual. The spice is becoming more like nutmeg with a pinch of black pepper. Smoke production moves to the high range. The strength is medium+. Very flavorful and well balanced right to the nub.

Overall
The Glandon Family Sir Leland Connecticut Churchill provides an extremely enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, very well balanced and flavorful profile with an effortless draw and perfect burn.
A Big Thank You to my brother Alan Fonseca @The_DonFonseca for the sample for review.
Wait 4 It! Wait 4 It! BOOM!! The Sir Leland Connecticut Churchill gets The Chairmans BUY Signal™️!!
GoGetchasome™️!!

Affinity Maduro Corona by Sindicato Cigars 10/21/18

 Appearance
A dark chocolate colored wrapper with minimal veins. A beautiful smooth matte finish. If you look closely u can see the light oil sheen on the wrapper. Yes as a matter of fact I do use a magnifying glass.
The seams are tightly wrapped. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Chocolate, floral and earth on the wrapper. Chocolate, cedar and earth at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earth, chocolate and a hint of spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of earth and chocolate with a cinnamon spice kicker. The draw is perfect from the start. The burn has a small wave. The ash is almost white and tight. Strength is medium+. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range. The ash held firm till removal.

2nd
The burn was off by 30* late in the 1st/3rd and has been slowly self correcting. The flavor profile has remained consistent from the start albeit very tasty. The burn has fully self corrected.

Final/3rd
The spice ramps up to a cayenne pepper. Strength has remained medium+. Cayenne pepper and earth remain the dominant flavors right to the nub.

Overall
The Affinity Maduro Corona by Sindicato Cigars provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile with a perfect draw and erratic burn till the final/3rd.

Cigars Daily’s The Filthy Viking by Rocky Patel Toro 10/20/18

 Appearance
A light brown colored wrapper with a couple of thin veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. The cigar feels and looks very oily. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.
The band is beautifully done with nice color contrast.

Aroma
Cedar, light tobacco on the wrapper. Graham cracker, cedar at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Graham cracker, cedar and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar and a very creamy texture with a pinch of spice. The draw is a tick snug and the burn is mildly erratic. The ash held firm till removal. Upon inspection of the working end I find the Ligero cone off center and a few pinhole tunnels, the cause of the erratic burn.

2nd
The draw has opened up nicely. Smoke production is at the medium range. Strength started mild and hasn’t moved yet. The nutmeg spice is present but mild and in the background. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked with a bit of flake. Late in the 2nd/3rd mild roast coffee notes join the profile. The ash held firm till removal.

Final/3rd
The burn is almost razor sharp. The flavor profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Cigars Daily’s The Filthy Viking by Rocky Patel Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful and well balanced profile with a perfect draw in the 2nd & final/3rd’s and a mildly erratic burn til the final/3rd.
If you like a mild cigar to start your day, give this one a go.
Thank you to Tim at Cigars Daily for the sample for review.

Espinosa Red River Valley Toro 10/14/18

 Appearance
A typical San Andres wrapper. Rough looking texture, a few prominent veins and a nice oily sheen. The wrapper seams are tightly wrapped. It’s a little toothy as well.
The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earthy, fruity, chocolate and cedar on the wrapper. Earthy,cedar and fruit at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earthy, fruity, chocolate, cedar and spice

1st
The initial draws bring notes that are very earthy. Cedar notes are easily detectable as well as a fruity flavor with the spice arriving on the finish. The draw is perfect. The burn is slightly wavy but not bad. Strength starts out medium+. Smoke production is at the low end of high range. The ash is light gray and stacked. The spice is of the black pepper variety but it is not overpowering. There is a creamy texture to the profile. The ash holds firm till removal.

2nd
The profile rolls into the 2nd/3rd unchanged. Before the midpoint of the cigar the fruity notes become a bit more prominent bringing a better balance. The body is full and the strength still medium+. Unsalted peanut and cocoa powder notes join the already flavorful profile.

Final/3rd
The flavorful profile remains consistent into the final/3rd with some espresso notes making a quick in and out appearance. Flavorful right to the nub.

Overall
The Espinosa Red River Valley Toro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex and well balanced profile with a perfect draw and wavy burn.
These are a regional release for the Texas and Oklahoma markets to coincide with the College Football “Red River Rivalry” between the University’s of Texas and Oklahoma.

Blanco Nine JT Limitado 10/13/18

 Appearance
A milk chocolate looking wrapper with a few thin veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has a beautiful appearance with a nice oily sheen. There is a little bit of tooth as well.
The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. A good looking band with nice contrast.

Aroma
Earthy, cedar on the wrapper and at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earth, cedar, licorice and dried fruit.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of earth and cedar. The draw is snug. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. The burn has a bit of a wave. At 3/4” in there is a very mild cinnamon spice joining the profile. Ash held til removal.

2nd
Draw is still very snug. Burn is good with a slight wave. Smoke production is at the low end of medium range. There are some citrus notes joining the profile. The spice increases in intensity with a bit of crushed red pepper joining the cinnamon. Just before the midway point of the cigar the draw opens up. A few draws later the smoke production moves to the medium range. Near the end of the 2nd/3rd Black pepper notes join the profile.

Final/3rd
Profile remains consistent into the final/3rd. Burn and draw remain spot on. The profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Blanco Nine JT Limitado provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile with a great draw in the 2nd half of the cigar and a good burn.

Fratello Oro Robusto 10/7/18

 Appearance
A light brown colored wrapper with a few small veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Sweet graham cracker and cedar on the wrapper. Graham cracker, cedar and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Spicy, coffee, cedar and citrus tang.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar, light coffee and a pinch of cinnamon spice. The draw is perfect from the first puff. The ash is salt&pepper gray and tight. The burn is off by 10 degrees. Sweet chocolate notes join with the bitter coffee notes. Ash held firm till removal.

2nd
The chocolate disappears leaving the cedar, coffee and spice on the long finish. The burn has almost fully self corrected. Strength has moved from mild/med to medium+. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range.

Final/3rd
The cedar, coffee and cinnamon spice notes carry into the final/3rd. Burn is spot on. Profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Fratello Oro Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful and well balanced profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.

Southern Draw Firethorn Toro 10/6/18

 Appearance
A light brown colored wrapper with a couple of thin veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. Their is a light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, cedar and very faint spice on the wrapper. Earth, cedar and spice at the semi closed foot.

Prelight Draw
Earthy, spice, molasses, dried fruit.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of nuts, cinnamon spice and a leathery texture. The nutty notes are very almond like. The draw is a bit snug and the burn is nearly perfect. The ash is medium gray and stacked. Strength is medium. The spice has tapered back a bit. The ash was looking a little suspect and dropped as I was reaching for the ashtray late in the 1st/3rd.

2nd
The spice becomes more like Spanish paprika. The dried fruit notes join the profile but in a mild way. Strength is at medium+. Smoke production is at the medium range. The draw opens up nicely about a 1/2” into the 2nd/3rd. There are dark roast coffee notes joining the profile midway in the cigar. The finish is long with notes of cedar, almonds, dried fruit, dark roast coffee and paprika spice. The burn is still wavy.

Final/3rd
The spice picks up in intensity and becomes more like a crushed red pepper spice wrapped in a leathery texture. Strength moves to med/full. Profile remains flavorful right to the nub.

Overall
The Southern Draw Firethorn Toro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex and balanced profile with a great draw in the 2nd 2/3rds and a mildly erratic burn.
Definitely a cigar you should try.

M by Macanudo Toro 9/30/18

 Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple of thin veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. Their is a nice oily sheen on the wrapper. The filler bunch is well packed with a soft spot near the cap.

Aroma
Very aromatic! Coffee, floral and chocolate on the wrapper. Coffee, chocolate and floral at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Sweet coffee, chocolate

1st
The initial draws are very sweet, reminding me of infused cigars.( yes I’ve tried them once or twice, u know my motto. GottaTryEmAll) The Draw is snug. This is just way too sweet. The ash is light gray almost white and fairly tight. The burn is slightly wavy at 3/4” in. This is what I invision a “Starbucks” coffee tasting like with all that fu fu stuff in it. Strength starts out mild. Near the end of the 1st/3rd a mild cinnamon spice joins the profile. The ash held firm till removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a 3/16” diameter tunnel at the center of the cigar. It just hit me! This cigar flavor reminds me of the Kahlua cigar from 2003/4. Smoke production is at the medium range. Late in the 2nd/3rd the draw opens up and the burn evens out.

Final/3rd
Profile remains consistent into the final/3rd. Enough is enough.

Overall
The M by Macanudo provides a smoking experience that I never want to repeat. A snug draw and mildly erratic burn.

EP Carrillo TAA Exclusive Toro 9/29/18

 Appearance
The dark brown colored wrapper with a red hue has a couple of prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. It is an oily wrapper and there is a bit of tooth. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. The band is attractive.

Aroma
Barnyard, cedar, earth and spice on the wrapper. Coffee bean, fruit, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Licorice, cedar, coffee and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar and coffee with spice in the background. The earthy notes are present as well. The smoke production is high from the first draw. The draw is effortless. The burn has a slight wave. The spice reminds of paprika. The profile has a nice boldness to it. The ash is medium gray and stacked but fairly tight. The ash held firm till removal.

2nd
The flavor profile remains consistent and well balanced into the 2nd/3rd. By the midway point of the cigar the burn line is razor sharp. Strength is medium+.

Final/3rd
The spice becomes more like crushed red pepper. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, coffee, fruit and crushed red pepper spice. Strength moves to med/full.

Overall
The EP Carrillo TAA Exclusive Toro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very well balanced and flavorful profile with an effortless draw and mildly erratic burn for the first half and perfect burn in the second half of the cigar.
Well done Ernesto & Co.