Will Fidel Castro just Go Ahead and Die so we Smoke the Puppies?
By Matt Goldstein
When a friend smuggles Cuban cigars back to the U.S. from the Caribbean vacation one must jump on the chance to smoke the forbidden fruit. I won’t dime out my friend for smuggling these cigars, but Ken Sincavage of Hatboro PA should probably try and not break federal laws by breaking the embargo against those evil communist Cubans. Any who, one of the best cigars by Romeo Y Julieta, the handmade Churchill Cuban cigar is a creamy, smooth and flavorful cigar. Usually, Churchill Cigars are strong, and normally best for cigar smoking veterans. However, the Romeo Y Julieta Churchill is smooth, easy and subtle in flavor, perfect for any smoker. Burning consistently, this medium bodied cigar has notes of vanilla, coffee, and wood. This is an excellent cigar and we recommend it for any experienced cigar smoker.
Miami Cigars have produced a VERY LIMITED run of the Nestor Miranda Limited Edition Danno 2010 named after Nestor’s late son, Daniel. This Nicaraguan puro by Miami Cigar Co. is made in Don Pepin’s factory in Nicaragua and sports a high grade limited harvest of Ecuadorian Wrapper. The wrapper is toothy and oily with some veins on it.Taste-wise its creamy with peppery notes with coffee undertones. This danno cigar has a pigtail cap and can be twisted without using any cutter. The ash easily holds up to an inch or 2 and burned straight even. The ash turned white and the draw is exceptional. Price of this cigar is about 10 U.S Dollars.
I recently smokeda Ra Cigar from Brothers Cigar Co. The Ra Cigar brand has an interesting Egyptian theme behind it that should be mentioned: The eye of Ra or the Egyptian eye of Horus meaning stands as a symbol of protection and royal power. Horus was an ancient Egyptian sky god, with the head of a falcon. He was the son of Isis (a great matriarchal magician) and Orisis (the greatest of all the gods). The “all seeing eye”. The symbol is frequently used in jewellery made of gold, silver, lapis, wood, porcelain, and carnelian, to ensure the safety and health of the bearer and provide wisdom and prosperity. Overall the cigar has a good draw, nice appearance, and was consistent throughout. I smoked a corona with a ring size of about 45 and length of 6 inches, so I felt the strength of the tobacco but it wasn’t overly powerful-meaning it was fairly decent. This brand comes in three sizes (Strength, Hiram and Wisdom).
The first inclination in selecting a new cigar is the visual appearance. When I glanced at the Gran Habano Tordedo 3 SLS, they looked perfect, without any blemish or discoloration, and very smooth when I pulled it out of the plastic. I have heard that this cigar has no flavor, so I had to test it for myself. Before lighting the cigar, I noticed the excellent scent of cured tobacco. Also the Nicaraguan shade grown reddish-brown wrapper is flawless with awesome construction. The label 3 signifies three wonderful ligeros from three great tobacco farming regions countries, which means it’s a full-bodied cigar. The cigar when smoked has a beginning, a middle, and an end, so try to notice the taste at each stage. At the beginning, a light draw, and best to have with a beverage. At mid point the cigar really opened up and got stronger with a smoother draw. Towards the end, I got a creamy, coffee, and spicy full-body flavor. Overall, a great after dinner cigar!
Full Body Triple Ligero Wrapper – Corojo, Nicaragua Shade Grown Binder – Habano, Nicaragua Filler – Habano, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Cubita (Columbia)
Ever since I started smoking cigars I have heard great things about the Ashton. A few weeks ago I had the privilege of smoking what was arguably the greatest cigar I had ever smoked, an Ashton VSG. From the moment I lit this expensive baby up it lived up to its reputation. The Ashton VSG was silky smooth with a creamy butter flavor right out the gate.
Even though friends told me this is a robust full bodied cigar I just did not see it. It’s medium-full body with shades of full bodied here and there, maybe, but it’s not overpowering at all. The lack of punch doesn’t upset me all that much because this is a very complex and well balanced cigar that’s just smoking to smooth to complain. The draw is great and burning perfect and evenly. About an inch into the cigar it gets a little spicy but that quickly disappears and begins to tone down again. Wow! Talk about a perfect cigar with complex notes.
As I continued smoking the cigar I began envisioning myself sitting on a throne ordering young blonde sexy concubines of mine to belly dance, and they obliged. It was a great fantasy whiles it lasted. Anyway back to the cigar, I just can’t say enough about this cigar as it is the perfect cigar for the perfect occasion.
There is just one caveat, I would not recommenced this cigar to anyone expecting smoking this “on the go” as this is the creme de la creme of stogies and it should be enjoyed and savored slowly like a Russian flight attendant at the Sheraton (just kidding). I recommend everyone with a sophisticated palate to buy one, then turn off your cell phone and enjoy the ride.
Price: $9-$10.00 individually (substantially cheaper if purchased in bundle/box)
• Wrapper: Connecticut
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Binder: Dominican
• Size: Robusto 5×52
• Strength: Mild-Medium
I smoked my first Gurkha symphony in a sampler pack I ordered from an online catalog, and it was phenomenal to say the least. As long as I can remember smoking Cigars I have always heard customers throw the name Gurkha around. It was one of those things when you hear a name and want to ask but are too preoccupied with your own purchase to engage. A few weeks ago I finally decided to put an end to what all the hype was about with this boutique cigar; so I went ahead and ordered a sampler pack.
One of the first things I noticed about the cigar which is tattooed with a double band donning the fat Gurkha warrior on one and the signature of the boutique owner Kaizad Hansotia, on the other. The sandwich certainly looked the part of a premium cigar with the light Connecticut shade wrapper and fancy bands.
The Smoke:
The moment I lit this baby, it was evident I was not dealing with a bargain basement cigar. The moment the first jab (first draw) hit me I knew I was dealing with a major contender in the premium cigar market. This Cigar made its firm impression right of the bat, light, creamy and a draw that I can only beautifully describe as like straw.
This Cigar maintained a consistency that would have turned any Cigar smoker a believer. The 1/3 of the cigar had a mild smooth character that was surprising considering even the mildest of cigars start with some sort of punch so to speak, but this one maintained its integrity of mildness.
As I started the 2/3 of the cigar it was now clearly evident this cigar was not about to fold under the bright lights, it was here to stay, the cigar maintained the smooth consistent character without hesitation, the only thing that I found to be a bit disappointing was the uneven burn and ash which was not consistent. Notwithstanding it was on its way to a late round TKO victory in my book but we still had the final third. As the bell rang for the final third of the cigar it stepped up like a true contender and performed to near perfection with an immaculate finish that can only be described as light peppery, smooth, creamy and buttery to the point I thought I was smoking a stick of Land “O” Lakes butter.
I knew it was something special when I began to hear Etta James “At Last” Play in my brain. It was the exclamation point to a phenomenal cigar that I would recommend to any true aficionado that appreciates a premium mild cigar. The mild consistency of this Cigar is as intriguing as a Chicago 1920’s Brothel.
The outer plastic wrapper is a beautiful yellow-champagne color like a bottle of Crystal, and the large black and gold label matches well. The Perdomo Champagne Reserve is a tight role so it’s not soft like a normal cigar. Before lighting, the triple fermented wrapper smells sweet and tangy. The wrap is stiff, tight and slightly cracked. It lights easily and the draw is flawless. The beginning of the cigar has a light and smooth flavored smoke with notes of honey and wood. The cigar was dipped in Cognac and still has a subtle, light flavor. The middle of the cigar is much stronger with a thick robust and smooth aftertaste. The final 1/3 of the cigar had a slight hint of pepper and oak. Again, the draw is flawless. This cigar smokes very well.
The Amazing Story of Perdomo Cigars from their web site:
Our story traces its roots to San Jose de las Lajas, Cuba, an agricultural and industrial municipality located 27 kilometers southeast of Havana, where Silvio Perdomo was raised. He apprenticed first at Cuesta y Cia. in the early 1930’s before leaving to practice his art at the H. Upmann factory from 1937 to 1945; and at the famed Partagas factory until 1959. It is also where his son, Nick Perdomo, Sr. was born and began his apprenticeship in 1948 at the Marin & Trujillo factory before earning accolades for his craftsmanship and making his own way to join his father at Partagas. “Things were going so well then, my father and I were just beginning to establish ourselves and obtain recognition for our work,” said Nick, Sr., an imposing wrecking ball of a man with a soft voice and a heart as big as his frame. “But then Castro destroyed everything – our country, our lives and our freedom.”
A quiet and peaceful man steadfastly opposed to Castro and the communist revolution, Silvio Perdomo was soon arrested in his own home and quickly tried and incarcerated in the notorious Isle of Pines prison where he endured his harshest treatment. Three years later he was transferred to La Cabana, a murky 18th century fortress overlooking Havana Bay. For the next 12 excruciating years, Silvio suffered through squalid conditions, torture and near-starvation at La Cabana and four other Cuban prisons.
Nick, Sr. was also a target of the wrath and violence inherent in establishing Castro’s “New Cuba”. Ambushed by pro-Castro guerillas, he was shot and critically wounded – within view of the very home his father Silvio was arrested and abducted from. “The political views of my family and I were very anti-communist , and (then former president Fulgencio) Batista used to visit the factories frequently,” Nick, Sr. recalled. “Batista didn’t smoke cigars but, because it’s one of Cuba’s main exports, he was very interested in what my father and I were doing with the different cigar shapes and styles we were experimenting with.” Nick, Sr. then laughs gently, shaking his head. “The communists must’ve thought I was a close friend of Batista. I’ve still got two bullets inside of me to prove it.” Hunted while being cared for in the home of a close friend, Nick, Sr. managed to escape Cuba before fully recovering from his wounds through a sponsorship hastily arranged with the Catholic Church. His arrival in Washington, D.C. yielded a startling discovery. “I knew the streets weren’t paved with gold, but my sponsors had no place for me. Nowhere to live or eat. Nick Sr. now pauses and his eyelids narrow. “But I thank God for coming to America. It has given my family the precious opportunities of freedom they never would have had in Cuba.” Nick, Sr. now points at a large American flag he has on the wall of his office, “When I raised my right hand before this beautiful flag it was one of the proudest moments of my life. Even though I’m proud of my Cuban heritage, I bleed American red, white and blue.”
The first third of the cigar is very smooth and light with an excellent rich flavor. We dipped the tip of the cigar in Courvoisier Exclusif Cognac and the flavor matched very well with the African Cameroon wrapper. The middle and last third of the cigar are stronger and toasty. The aftertaste has a hint of coffee. This is a great smoke for the price and perfect for after dinner, especially if that was grilled fish tacos, and grilled turkey and beef fajitas marinated in olive oil, lemon, garlic and grill time dusted with a Taste of Texas seasoning. The Oliva Seri G Torpedo has great appearance, good burn, excellent taste, and good consistency with a solid draw. Overall, it’s a great cigar.
The 562 Torpedo Cigar by Maker’s Mark is a bourbon seasoned small batch hand made cigar from the Dominican Republic. The long leaf tobacco is grown with Cuban seeds in the Dominican, and aromatically seasoned with Maker’s Mark bourbon. The cigar is then sealed in a glass tube with the Makers Mark signature red wax. The seal is air tight so there is no need for a humidor.
The first 1/3 of the Makers Mark 562 Torpedo Cigar is smooth with slightly sweet smoke and a sweet flavorsome wrapper. The middle of the cigar brings a lot more flavor and is slightly dry with hints of wood. The 562 Torpedo smokes well and is a great cigar.
There are very rare products in the cigar industry that one can rant and rave about in regards to quality and price. Tony Borhani’s boutique Cigar Brands Bahia are on the list.
This well constructed Nicaraguan beauty is everything a man can want in a cigar with its great light up start that hints mingling notes of cedar, cinnamon and creamy butter. It has a great smooth light along with a consistent smoke that ranks up there with the very best of cigars. As I continued my beautiful journey smoking this cigar, I found myself in the jungle with a bunch of beautiful semi-naked Amazon women warriors….wait. I am sorry that was a different cigar and dream.
Notwithstanding I must say this cigar is my favorite everyday cigar. It has won my heart over, but I won’t get in too deep about the experience of our affair. Let’s just stick with the major points. This is without a doubt the best bang for your buck cigar in the whole cigar industry! The quality of the cigar is just way above anything one would imagine for the price it goes for.
I bought 3 bundles of 20 cigars for $29.95 each from cigars International which puts each cigar at a price point of $1.50 per cigar! Need I say more? Pound for pound this is the best cigar on market for the price hands down, and yes you’re an idiot of you don’t buy at least a few bundles for your humidor.
Will Fidel Castro just Go Ahead and Die so we Smoke the Puppies?
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