Magnate Green Nicaraguan 6/18/16

Appearance 

The cigar has a medium brown wrapper with a few thin veins. It is a bit toothy. The seams are tight. There is a nice oily sheen. It has a nicely done 3-seam cap. 

Aroma

Light earth on the wrapper. Moist tobacco, cedar at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Light earth, cedar and a faint hint of spice.

1st

Initial draws have a light earthy flavor. About a 1/2" in a faint spice begins to develop. The ash is light gray and stacked. It has a snug draw and the burn is almost perfect. The spice is becoming like a mild cinnamon. The burn line is off about 11*. The ash is tightening up. 

2nd

The draw is opening up as is the flavor with the earth, cedar and spice all stepping into the bold category. What started as a mild almost bland flavor profile has stepped up to medium strength. The burn line has almost fully self corrected. At the halfway point of the cigar, the draw & burn are perfect. The finish is long with the earthy, cedar & cinnamon notes being joined by a light espresso and a bit of caramel. It produces a nice amount of smoke. 

Final/3rd

The strength moves to a medium+. The flavor profile has remained balanced and consistent. 

Overall the Magnate Green provides a pleasant smoking experience. A well balanced blend with a consistent flavor profile. 

Thanks to Najib Green(brand owner) @MagnateGreen for the sample for review. 

Cesar Cigars Maduro Robusto 6/12/16

Appearance 

The wrapper is a dark milk chocolate color with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight and it's a little toothy. There is a nice oil sheen. The band is beautiful. 

Aroma

Earthy chocolate and espresso with a hint of spice on the wrapper. Chocolate, earthy and black licorice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earthy, chocolatey, black licorice and a hint of spice.

1st

Initial draws are very earthy and thick. Dark chocolate shows itself on the long finish along with the initial spice notes. The burn at a 1/2" in is perfect leaving a tight light gray ash. The draw is snug so far. Some salty notes have surfaced as well. The cigar provides a good volume of smoke on expel. Espresso notes join the profile. The spice so far is of the white pepper variety. There is an underlying sweetness on the palate. 

2nd

The ash is still holding straight and strong but I will gently remove it soon so I don't end up wearing it. As I moved it over the ashtray the ash fell off on its own. Whew! Good timing. The strength is in the medium to medium+ range. Remember I do my reviews before breakfast. The draw has opened up. Nice roasted cashew notes join the profile. The chocolate tapers back a bit bringing the black licorice to the forefront. The long finish has notes of earth, espresso, chocolate, salt, roasted cashews, black licorice and spice. The spice which started as white pepper has become more of a warm cinnamon. The band removes very easily. 

Final/3rd

The strength is at med/full. The flavor profile which continues thru the final/3rd is very complex albeit well balanced. 

Overall the Cesar Cigars Maduro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. It's a very complex and well balanced cigar with great construction. 

Thanks go to Brad Berko @scottsdalecigar for the samples for review. 

Definitely a tasty cigar to have in the humi.

GoGetchasome™!!

Toraño Vault Blend D-042 Robusto 6/5/16

Appearance 

A medium brown milk chocolatey looking wrapper with a few prominent veins. Seams are mostly tight. The wrapper has a light oil sheen and is a little toothy. The band is very attractive. 

Aroma

Earthy tobacco with a hint of barnyard on the wrapper. Earthy with sweetness at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earthy,fruity,cocoa and cinnamon spice.

1st

The first draws yield a strong cedar presence along with a medium roast coffee with chocolate creamer added for balance. At this point the cinnamon spice begins to show itself. The draw is perfect. The burn has a slight wave but not bad. The ash is charcoal colored and stacked. The strength is in the medium range. 

2nd

Strength has moved to medium+. The finish is long with notes of cedar,coffee,chocolate and warm cinnamon spice. The ash has tightened up. A nutty almond note has crept into the profile. The ash holds til I remove at each 3rd. 

Final/3rd

Strength moves to med/full. The flavor profile has remained consistent through to the nub. 

Overall the Vault D-042 provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful well balanced cigar. 

The Angel's Anvil TAA 2016 6/4/16

Appearance

The cigar has a chocolatey  brown wrapper with a couple prominent veins. Seams are tightly wrapped and tough to find. It has a soft box press and a light oil sheen. It has a small amount of tooth. 

Aroma 

Earthy & sweet on the wrapper. Earthy & sweet with a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cocoa powder and black licorice with a hint of spice.

1st

Initial draws bring notes of very earthy tobacco with a nice mild cinnamon spice in the background. The draw is good albeit slightly snug. The burn line has a slight wave to it. The cocoa powder is gaining prominence and balancing the profile. The ash is light gray and semi tight. There is a sweet caramel like note joining the profile.

2nd

The strength is in the medium range. A well balanced profile. The finish is long with notes of earth,cocoa,caramel and warm cinnamon spice. Late in this 3rd the spice becomes more like a crushed red pepper. The draw has opened up nicely. 

Final/3rd

The strength is at medium+. The profile remains consistent with notes of earth,cocoa & crushed red pepper with the caramel fading bringing the black licorice to the surface.

Overall the Angel's Anvil TAA 2016 provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced cigar with a nice flavor profile. 

Thanks to Rick Hopkins owner of Stag Tobacconist and former president of the TAA for the sample for review.

These are available at any TAA shop. GoGetchasome™!!

A.Flores AFR-75 Sublime(Robusto) 5x56 5/30/16

Appearance 

The wrapper is a very dark oily San Andres Maduro with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and almost invisible. It has a coiled flag cap.

Aroma 

Aromatic earth with thick cocoa on the wrapper. Earthy, cocoa and fruit at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earthy, cocoa, lush fruit(plum) and a hint of spice.

1st

Initial draws bring some charred meat flavors coupled with the cocoa(an interesting combination). A little farther in some nice floral notes and aroma's come to the surface. Draw and burn are spot on from the start. It produces a high volume of smoke even between draws. Ash is salt&pepper gray tight and stacked(a mix of both). The spice, ramping up quickly is a black/cayenne pepper mix. Strength is medium+. I removed the ash but it would have held on longer. 

2nd

The charred flavor has gone  leaving a more balanced profile of earth,cocoa,bread and spice. The spice has tapered off a bit. Strength is up to med/full. By the end of the 2nd/3rd the strength is at full.

Final/3rd

The fruit notes(think apple & plum) are joined by dark roast coffee notes. The cayenne notes disappeared late in the 2nd but have rejoined the profile balancing nicely with the earth,cocoa,bread & mild black pepper. 

Overall the AFR-75 Sublime provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A complex blend full of flavor and strength. It is a bit pricey at almost $15 but you Gotta Try Em All™.

Romeo Y Julieta Capulet Toro 5/29/16

Appearance 

The wrapper is a light brown color with tight seams and a few prominent veins. It has a light oil sheen.

Aroma 

A very pungent barnyard aroma on the wrapper and the same with some added sweetness at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Dry hay and tobacco. A little bit of sweetness with a hint of spice.

1st

The initial draws yield notes of dry hay and wood similar to a white cedar. There is a hint of cinnamon spice off in the distance. The draw is good. The burn has been a bit wavy from the beginning. 

2nd

The ash is salt&pepper gray and slightly flaky. It holds on for about an inch at a time. Some peanut notes join the profile. The flavors are well balanced. Strength is mild. The burn has evened out and the draw has loosened up to make it just right. 

Final/3rd

The flavor profile, with notes of hay, wood, cinnamon spice & peanuts has been smooth and consistent and rolls into the final/3rd.

Overall the Romeo Y Julieta Capulet provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A mild cigar with a nice flavor profile. This would be a nice breakfast smoke or for mild smokers an anytime smoke. 

Thanks to my friend Cory Grover of Famous-smoke.com for the samples for review. 

If this cigar interests you, click on the link to see the great deals from my friends at Famous Smoke Shop. https://www.famous-smoke.com/brandgroup/romeo+y+julieta+cigars

BG Meyer Standard Issue (by Camacho) 5/28/16

Appearance 

The wrapper is a dark chocolate looking Nicaraguan Habano with a couple small thin veins. The seams are tight except for the cap which is loose on 1/2. Hopefully this does not affect the cigar.

It also has a nice oily sheen and is a little toothy.

Aroma 

Earthy with a hint of spice on the wrapper. With sweetness added at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

A little molasses with a hint of cinnamon spice along with earthiness. The loose half of the cap came off during the prelight draw.

1st

First draws find notes of very earthy tobacco with a hint of cinnamon spice. There was an interesting "jelly bean" note for a few draws. The ash is medium gray and a bit flaky. The spice becomes more prominent but not overpowering. The draw is just on the snug side of perfect. The burn has a good bit of wave to it. There is a good volume of smoke production. There are notes of cedar emerging near the end of the 1st/3rd. The burn was off by as much as 45* but has begun self correcting. 

2nd

There is a pinch of black pepper coming thru in the profile but cinnamon spice is more prominent. The ash is tightening up at this point. The strength is in the med/full range. It has a long finish with notes of earth,cinnamon spice,cedar and a pinch of black pepper. The burn has almost fully self corrected. 

Final/3rd

Notes of espresso have joined the profile. The burn gets off again but fully self corrects quickly. The profile remains consistent.

Overall the BG Meyer Standard Issue provides an enjoyable smoking experience with a well balanced flavor profile. Definitely a cigar u should experience.