Now till Retirement

Cigar Name: 5 Vegas Gold - Churchill
Purchase Price: $3.50(shipped)
Location of Purchase: Local Tinder Box.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 6×50 .
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade.
Binder: Nicaraguan.
Filler: Honduran(aged for five years).
Appearance: Smooth and oily, a beautiful golden brown color.
Construction: firm, only a slight trace of veins.
Aged: However long it was sitting in the stores humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Cedar, nuts, and spice.
Method of lighting: Pre cut method(10 inch match, flame tip just under cigar foot while rotating cigar, cut cigar after cigar is lit).
Method of Cutting: Large ring punch.
Burn: Even.
Problems: Cap was a little to thin and brittle, cracked a tad when punching..
Ash Color: Gray.
Ash Structure: Flaky, but does not fall off easily.
Draw: Easy drawn, large white clouds.
Strength: Light to medium.

Tasting Notes:

First Third: Smooth and creamy with a hint of nuts.

Second Third: Smooth creamy, lots of buttery flavor, a taste of sugar and a bit of spice.

Finish: Creamy buttery, very sugary, and a tad spicy. Stopped at the band as the spicyness would have ruined my memories of the first two thirds.

Overall Impression: This is a great cigar… Hands down. You simply cannot go wrogn buying this stick be it a beginner or a seasoned veteran. It delivers loads of great tastes for very little in the way of an asking price, and if you pay attention to various online offers sometimes they can be had for next to nothing. I highly suggest to one and all to try the Vegas 5 Gold line of cigars.

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Cigar Name: Cigar Review: Don Barreto - Toro Flaco
Purchase Price: $1.00(shipped)
Location of Purchase: Famous Smoke.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 6×46 .
Wrapper: Dark Cuban Seed Nicaraguan.
Binder: Nicaraguan.
Filler: Sun Grown Cuban Seed Nicaraguan.
Appearance: Medium brown and slightly oily.
Construction: Solid looking but soft in too man yareas.
Aged: How ever long they spent in the famous smoke humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Hay and grass.
Method of lighting: Pre cut method(10 inch match, flame tip just under cigar foot while rotating cigar, cut cigar after cigar is lit).
Method of Cutting: Large ring punch.
Burn: All over the place.
Problems: Ash fell on me within a centimeter, burn was inconsistent and tunneling, unraveled.
Ash Color: Dark Grey.
Ash Structure: Flaky would fall off at random.
Draw: Easy draw.
Strength: Smoking a Burrito.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Grass clippings, a bit of newspaper, and a hint of garbage.

Second Third: See above.

Finish: Same as before with spice!

Overall Impression: When I saw this deal on famous for these Don Barettos, I thought how bad can they be? Well the answer is very! Lord Baretto should have been named Don Burrito, because this is probably what smoking a burrito would taste like. Our friend Don Burrito must make his profit by giving us newspaper clippings whiel saving the crop of tobacco for his own personal use. Stay away from the King of the Burritos.

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My cigar buddy Bret thought he would help me on this review. I mean, how often do you get to a review a Cuban cigar with a good friend. Enjoy everyone!

Cigar Name: Cohiba (Cuban) - Esplendido (Churchill)
Purchase Price: $11.00 (Box price was $275)
Location of Purchase: Cozumel, Mexico
Beverage: Llano Estacado: Sweetest Red (Bret switched in a Shiner’s Light for the finish)
Cigar Size: 7.0 × 47
Wrapper: Natural
Binder: Connecticut Shade
Filler: Cuban Leaf
Appearance: Leathery, well constructed, tightly rolled (DW) / Light brown, very well rolled (BH).
Construction: Few veins and tightly rolled (BH).
Aged: 3 years in a well kept humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Earthy, semi-sweet, very natural like.
Method of lighting: Non-torch flame from Colibri lighter, while heating the tip for approx. 10-15 seconds before allowing to contact cigar
Method of Cutting: V-cut (as if we use anything else lately)
Burn: Smooth and even (BH) / “I concur” (DW)
Problems: (BH) “Went out when I went to get Damon some ice for his wine…yes he put ice in a fine wine)” / (DW) “Mine went out 3 times for no particular reason at all. The ice was to tame the wine, which didn’t appear as sweet as it was pumped up to be….BRET!”
Ash Color: Light gray with streaks of black.
Ash Structure: (DW) 2 1/2″, very tight / (BH) 2″
Draw: Extremely smooth with no problems at all.
Strength: Medium/Full Bodied
Tasting Notes:

First Third: (DW) - Spicy yet smooth with earthy flavors and hints of nut / (BH) - “Ditto”

Second Third: Not quite as spicy, hints of sweet and coffee; creamy

Finish: (DW) Extremely smooth with a creamy finish / (BH) “Great finish, not spicy & smoke didn’t burn my eyes”

Overall Impression: (DW) I highly recommend you try this cigar. If you don’t, you’ll be missing a large part of life itself. It’s an honor to be able to smoke a Genuine (not counterfeit) Cuban cigar (especially a Cohiba) and is also a joy to share it with a friend. These will leave you extremely satisfied and they are well worth the price. I would say, if you don’t think you can afford it then sell a kidney and buy a box anyway. Life is too short not to enjoy satisfactions such as these. This was probably the second best cigar behind the one I will be reviewing next…so stay tuned!!
(BH) - GREAT cigar! Smooth and easy to smoke. It was a great way to start the year!

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Cigar Name: Helix X550 - Maduro
Purchase Price: $2.00(shipped)
Location of Purchase: JRCigars.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 5×50 .
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf.
Binder: Honduran(Talanga Valley).
Filler: Brizilian Mata Fina, Dominican Piloto Cubano, and Mexican tobaccos.
Appearance: Dark brown with a shine from the oils.
Construction: Very firm, veins are hardly noticeable.
Aged: A year in well kept humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Wheatgrass.
Method of lighting: Pre cut method(10 inch match, flame tip just under cigar foot while rotating cigar, cut cigar after cigar is lit).
Method of Cutting: Large ring punch.
Burn: Even.
Problems: Cap was a little to thin and brittle, cracked a tad when punching..
Ash Color: Light gray.
Ash Structure: Smooth and solid.
Draw: Super easy drawn, large white clouds.
Strength: Medium.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Sweet with chocolate and hints of nuts.

Second Third: Chocolate and sugar, with some wood mixed in… Awesome.

Finish: Sweet chocolate never ends, all the way to the nub even through the spices.

Overall Impression: Other have said it before but I will say it again… this is a quality cigar. Delicious every time. They are very consistent in their blends and they never stray too far away. The flavors are massive but not overpowering and the price point is excellent. It will probably run you four or five bucks locally, but wit hall the good input on this cigar all over the net you may as well just dive in a purchase a box. You will not regret it and your sticks will be seriously cheaper.

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Cigar Name: Cigar Review: JR Edicion Limitada Alternative - Montecristo C
Purchase Price: $1.55(shipped)
Location of Purchase: JRCigars.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 5.62×46 .
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatran.
Binder: Nicaraguan.
Filler: Nicaraguan.
Appearance: Chocolate brown, very smooth, very oily.
Construction: Very firm, slightest traces of veins.
Aged: Six months in well kept humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Dark tobaccos and woodsy.
Method of lighting: Pre cut method(10 inch match, flame tip just under cigar foot while rotating cigar, cut cigar after cigar is lit).
Method of Cutting: Large ring punch.
Burn: Pretty even all the way down past the band.
Problems: Ash fell off in lap even though it looked firm.
Ash Color: White ash with bits of gray.
Ash Structure: Looked perfect then fell off at half an inch in lap.
Draw: Easy draw, clouds come easily.
Strength: Medium full.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Bold taste of nuts with hint of sweetness.

Second Third: The sweetness has taken over as the primary flavor with hints of cream, and just a tiny hint of nuts and wood.

Finish: Super sweet and cream, with some spiciness past the band..

Overall Impression: This is a great cigar. For the price they can not be beat period. Premium tobaccos, quality construction, premium flavors… all under the JR name. This cigar is delicious and even though ti is a strong cigar, I don’t think a newcomer would be in over their head with this one…. as logn as they smoke it slowly. Over an hour of smoke and I didn’t want it to end.

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Cigar Name: La Vieja Habana - Fumas Bombero
Purchase Price: $2.25
Location of Purchase: Cigars International.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 6×50 .
Wrapper: Cuban Seed Corojo.
Binder: Nicaraguan.
Filler: Nicaraguan.
Appearance: Golden Brown very smooth and oily.
Construction: Good construction, not too tight.. not too loose.
Aged: Four months in well kept Humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Woodsy and with a good tobacco shop smell.
Method of lighting: Pre cut method(10 inch match, flame tip just under cigar foot while rotating cigar, cut cigar after cigar is lit).
Method of Cutting: Large ring punch.
Burn: Pretty even all the way down past the band.
Problems: Did not last until the end of time.
Ash Color: Gray.
Ash Structure: Held on for an inch before I tapped it, looked a bit flaky.
Draw: Very, very easy draw. Lots of smoke.
Strength: Medium full.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Sweet, sweet, sweet. The smoke may not smell it but this is super sweet. Tastes of sugar.

Second Third: Still really sweet with a bit of spice, I don’t want it to end.

Finish: Still tastes like I am smoking some sort of delicious candy, getting a bit spicy but the sweetness is overpowering right down till the nub.

Overall Impression: This is probably one of the best low priced cigar on the market. Drew estates made a real winner with this line and I am sure to buy more in the future. From the first draw till the last about an hour later I felt as if i was eating candy(without the calories). I was in a car and only brought one, I wish I had brought more as I desired another. I think I am going to have another right now.

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Cigar Name: Villiger Kiel - Export Maduro
Purchase Price: $0.60
Location of Purchase: JRCigars.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 4×37 .
Wrapper: Sumatra.
Binder: Natural Leaf.
Filler: Natural Leaf.
Appearance: Solid, chocolate brown, box pressed.
Construction: Very well constructed for a machine made, solid all around.
Aged: Six months in well kept Humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Nuts and dark tobaccos.
Method of lighting: Two wooden matches.
Method of Cutting: Not necessary.
Burn: Even to the last two centimeters
Problems: None.
Ash Color: Dark gray.
Ash Structure: Loose ash, tapped frequently to avoid it hitting other things then the ash tray.
Draw: Very easy draw. Lots of smoke.
Strength: Medium.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Bold and Nutty with hints of coffee and chocolate..

Second Third: More nuttiness with lots of coffee and chocolate..

Finish: Peppery with the coffee flavors and lots of spice.

Overall Impression: This is probably one of the best machine made cigars in the world, with the Havana version being slightly better(review on that to come). The flavors are consistent from stick to stick, box to box. Its a medium flavored cigar, but easy enough for a beginner and cheap enough as well. The second you unwrap this little chocolate delight from its tissue paper you are in for a quality smoking experience.

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Cigar Name: La Finca - Valentino
Purchase Price: $1.25
Location of Purchase: JRCigars.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 7×48 .
Wrapper: Nicaraguan.
Binder: Nicaraguan.
Filler: Nicaraguan.
Appearance: Medium brown and slightly veiny.
Construction: Good construction, just a tad looser than I would like.
Aged: Nine months in well kept Humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Wet earth and hay.
Method of lighting: Pre cut method(10 inch match, flame tip just under cigar foot while rotating cigar, cut cigar after cigar is lit).
Method of Cutting: Large ring punch.
Burn: Even about an inch and a half down, then stayed about a centimeter to a centimeter and a half difference for the rest of the stick..
Problems: Burnt slightly uneven the whole way down.
Ash Color:Medium gray.
Ash Structure: Ash held well till bout two inches, looked flaky so I tapped it.
Draw: Very easy draw. Lots of smoke.
Strength: Mild to medium.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Nutty and sweet with an earthy flavor.

Second Third: Still quite sweet, while the nuttiness starts to fade and a woodsy flavor takes over.

Finish: Still sweet and woodsy but starts becoming too spicy, I stop at the band rather then ruin the memory of the cigar.

Overall Impression: This is a very good stick. It can probably be had for about three to four dollars at a local cigar shop and is worth the chance. I am considering purchasing a full box, because at around two dollars a stick you cannot go wrong if they are like this cigar. I would have no qualms to smoke this stick again and I probably will in the near future.

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Cigar Name: Lew’s Smokers - 500 Long Filler
Purchase Price: $1.00
Location of Purchase: JRCigars.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 6×50 .
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade.
Binder: Honduran.
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Dominican.
Appearance: Medium brown with slight trace of veins.
Construction: Decently rolled, thick wrapper, looked sturdy.
Aged: One year in well kept Humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Woodsy and wet earth.
Method of lighting: Pre cut method(10 inch match, flame tip just under cigar foot while rotating cigar, cut cigar after cigar is lit).
Method of Cutting: Large ring punch.
Burn: Even about an inch and a half down, then stayed about a centimeter to a centimeter and a half difference for the rest of the stick..
Problems: Tunneled a bit after an inch and a half then left part of the wrapper not burning evenly until burnt off.
Ash Color: Medium to dark gray.
Ash Structure: Ash held well enough, not perfect. Tapped the ash every inch as I did not trust it.
Draw: Very easy draw. Decently sized clouds of smoke
Strength: Medium.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Starts off with a dry woodsy taste with some nuttiness to it. A toasty flavor is evident as well as coffee.

Second Third: Woodsy flavor persists, toast and coffee flavors still present, nuttiness has faded into a peppery taste .

Finish: The stick still has a woodsy flavor, just much more spicy with the pepper flavors. The coffee flavor is still evident .

Overall Impression: This cigar is usually quite a decent stick for the money spent, especially if one intends to age them for a length of time after their purchase. This stick had problems which led me to do something I hate doing to any stick… using a match to even the burn when part of the wrapper gets left way behind. The problem with the wrapper was due to a bit of tunneling near the beginning that the cigar never got over on its own and was likely caused by sub par bunching of the filler.

Though even with this problem I am going to say the stick was still worth a dollar as the flavors were quite delicious. A very consistent set of tastes that get stronger as you puff along with a bit of change to keep you amused. If medium strength is your thing, it wont hurt to buy a 10 pack and let them age for a bit in your humidor… the tobaccos used within are worth the cost, just expect that one or two will not be rolled as well a s they could be.

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Cigar Name: Victor Sinclair - Primeros - Churchill
Purchase Price: $2.75
Location of Purchase: Cigars International.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 7×50 .
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade.
Binder: Dominican.
Filler: Dominican Seco and Ligero.
Appearance: Golden brown, oily, with only a small trace of the veins showing.
Construction: Well rolled, thick wrapper. Firmly constructed.
Aged: Twenty two weeks in well kept Humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Light woodsy and nutty aromas.
Method of lighting: Pre cut method(10 inch match, flame tip just under cigar foot while rotating cigar, cut cigar after cigar is lit).
Method of Cutting: Squeeze the tip.
Burn: Even all the way down to the band.
Problems: None.
Ash Color: Off white.
Ash Structure: Nice firm ash, held to an inch before I decided to tap it.
Draw: Very easy draw, large clouds of smoke all the way down.
Strength: Mild to Medium.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Creamy, woodsy, buttery.

Second Third: Creamy, woodsy, buttery, with sweet undertones.

Finish: Creamy, heavier woodsy taste, slightly buttery, some sugar and spice.

Overall Impression: I have read quite a few things pointing at this cigar to not be worth their moderate price… I would like to say those other folks are wrong. This is a wonderful cigar for the money, and unless i got the one decent stick made in the line, I am almost sure that the other reviews out there smoked them fresh or directly after transit… I make it habit to not smoke cigars when they first arrive at my home lest they come from a local location, and if I do I certainly would not base my opinion on that stick as it would be an unfair judgment of the product.

This cigar is mild enough for a beginner, yet it has enough flavor and changes throughout for someone who has a heavier taste. Throughout the entire cigar great tastes were present in gigantic white clouds of smoke that filled the room. The flavors went from light to medium pretty smoothly as the flame traveled its way down the tobaccos towards the band. I will smoke this stick again(especially seeing as I have a box aging) and would recommend it to others as well. It will probably cost 5 dollars to purchase a single stick at a local shop, but I do not think you can stray too far wrong at that rate.

Merry Christmas everyone.

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Cigar Name: Hoyo De Monterrey - Excalibur 1066
Purchase Price: $3.75
Location of Purchase: Smoke Shop; Amarillo, TX
Beverage: Malibu Rum and Coke
Cigar Size: 7.2″×54 (Churchill)(Lancelot)
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Connecticut Shade.
Filler: Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan
Appearance: Oily brown wrapper, veiny
Construction: Nicely rolled, could have been a tighter
Aged: 2 1/2 years in my humidor
Pre-Light Aroma: Sweet and smooth with a slight aroma of chocolate.
Method of lighting: Non-torch flame from Colibri lighter, while heating the tip for approx. 10-15 seconds before allowing flame to contact cigar
Method of Cutting: V-cut
Burn: Fairly even throughout; about 1/3 of the way down started to started burning about 1/8″ to 1/4″ off. Did even out in the end.
Problems: Wrapper was somewhat cracking, and I know it wasn’t my humidor, as all other cigars were fine. Could have not been properly stored from purchase place.
Ash Color: Very light gray with very light traces of black. Black more apparent about halfway through.
Ash Structure: Fairly tight, but as I said could have been tighter. Had about 1 1/2″ of ash before I flicked it off.
Draw: Nice and smooth with no problems on the draw.
Strength: Medium/Full
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Creamy, sweet and smooth with coffee tastes and a few spices mixed in.

Second Third: More coffee flavors, still sweet but not as apparent with hints of nut.

Finish: A warmer creamy taste, a tad harsh but not to the point of non-enjoyment. Blended in nicely with all other flavors.

Overall Impression: I’ve always enjoyed the Excalibur series. They are fantastic, inexpensive cigar with a high quality taste. I’ve been smoking them for about 4 years, and will continue to purchase boxes after I empty the ones I have on hand. They are a very pleasing smoke and leave a nice aroma in the air. It’s a rich cigar and has never let me down yet. This was my Christmas Eve smoke, so it does rank high. Merry Christmas everyone!

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Cigar Name: Rocky Patel Vintage - 1990 Edition
Purchase Price: Gift from a Friend
Location of Purchase: Heroes and Legacies; Lubbock, TX
Beverage: Cosmopolitan
Cigar Size: 7×48 (Churchill)
Wrapper: Natural Broadleaf
Binder: Connecticut Shade.
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan Ligero
Appearance: Oily brown wrapper, smooth with few veins
Construction: Heavy wrapper, tightly rolled
Aged: 12 years
Pre-Light Aroma: Earthy and sweet.
Method of lighting: Non-torch flame from Colibri lighter, while heating the tip for approx. 10-15 seconds before allowing flame to contact cigar
Method of Cutting: V-cut
Burn: Almost perfectly even throughout entire cigar. Burned about 1/8″ off for around 2 minutes (only because I laid the cigar down while I left the room for a few moments)
Problems: None.
Ash Color: Light gray with few traces of black.
Ash Structure: Extremely tight. I was actually able to pick the fall off ash up in one piece with two fingers; ash was approx. 1 1/8″ before I tilted the cigar too high and had it fall off. No mess though, which was a good sign as well.
Draw: Extremely smooth. Did not struggle with a draw at all
Strength: Medium
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Creamy with hints of spices.

Second Third: Tapered down to a smoother, sweet taste with hints of coffee.

Finish: The coffee taste has now taken a large part, with light hints of spice.

Overall Impression: This was my first experience with a Rocky Patel, and I was privileged enough to have a Vintage reserve edition. It was a very enjoyable experience, and I couldn’t have asked for a better gift. Left a very pleasant sweet and coffee like taste in my mouth, which is always a good sign.The smoke was not too over-powering, and it had tremendous flavors and very pleasing draws. The consistency of the cigar was very thorough throughout the entire cigar. I smoked it down to the last bit, where it burns and permanently bonds with your mouth, which was no disappointment for me though. After all, what good is a cigar if you don’t take it to the limits? My chances of purchasing a box of these fine cigars is about 98% (in other words, should be in my humidor by next quarter)

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