Now till Retirement

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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Cigar Name: Hoyo De Monterrey - Executive Maduro
Purchase Price: $2.00
Location of Purchase: JRCigars.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 7×54 .
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf.
Binder: Connecticut Shade.
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Dominican long leaf.
Appearance: Oily black wrapper with no trace of veins.
Construction: Heavy wrapper, decently rolled. Could have been tighter but did not really cause problems.
Aged: Fourteen weeks in well kept Humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Earthy and sweet.
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: About a centimeters difference from top to bottom the whole length of the cigar.
Problems: None.
Ash Color: White.
Ash Structure: Tight and solid. Let the ash sit on for about two and a half inches before I tapped it.
Draw: Smooth and easy, delicious every time.
Strength: Medium, borderline heavy.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Creamy, chocolaty, with coffee.

Second Third: Still chocolaty, but now more of a peppery taste, with hints of nuts.

Finish: Somehow the stick returns to cream, chocolaty, coffee though it is now much stronger.

Overall Impression: Hoyo De Monterrey is one of my all time favorite brands. The cigars they produce are reliable to always be a great smoke if well cared for. If you are willing to buy in quantity as I do they are also a fantastic value. This cigar was a fantastic value, worth well more then the paltry sum paid for it. It has complexity and great flavor that I believe even a novice could enjoy despite it being a heavier smoke.

If you like large clouds of smoke, great flavor, an excellent price point, and consistency I recommend this stick… or any other Hoyo De Monterrey for that matter. This will not be the last Hoyo reviewed by me for the purpose of this blog.

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Cigar Name: Astral - Churchill Crystal
Purchase Price: $1.70
Location of Purchase: Deal of the day on CigarMonster.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 7×48 .
Wrapper: Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Shade.
Binder: Nicaraguan and Dominican long leaf.
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican long leaf.
Appearance: Light tan oily smooth wrapper.
Construction: Nice solid stick. Sturdy, well rolled.
Aged: Two weeks in well kept Humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Earthy with the smell of coffee.
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: Perfectly even from lighting to finishing.
Problems: None.
Ash Color: Light Gray.
Ash Structure: Tight and solid. Held on for two inches then I tapped it.
Draw: Smooth and easy, pretty darn close to perfect.
Strength: Medium.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Creamy, buttery, sweet, with coffee.

Second Third: Creamy, buttery, sweet, with coffee. Starts to get a little bit bolder with a spiciness added in.

Finish: Still creamy and sweet, but now the coffee tastes and spiciness have taken the forefront.

Overall Impression: This cigar was great. Every puff was one massive cloud of sweet, buttery cream. I has absolutely zero problems with this cigar and hopefully the other eleven sticks aging in the humidor will turn out just as beautiful whenever their day comes. Based on this single one hour experience with this cigar, I definitely cannot wait until the next time. The stick was worth the sum paid for it and then some. I highly recommend this Astral to new and experienced smokes alike.

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Cigar Name: Garcia y Vega Cigarillo (Slumming it)
Purchase Price: $0.05
Location of Purchase: Smiths grocery store, Las Vegas, NV. Were discounted to a dollar a package and each package had a 75 cents off manufacturer’s coupon placed on its cellophane.
Beverage: None.
Cigar Size: 4.5×30 .
Wrapper: Candela.
Binder: Homogenized Tobacco Leaf.
Filler: Caribbean Basin Cuban Seed.
Appearance: Light green oily wrapper with many tiny veins visable.
Construction: Loosely machine rolled.
Aged: No idea.
Pre-Light Aroma: Sweetened tea.
Method of lighting: Small wooden match with two puffs of flame.
Method of Cutting: Not necessary.
Burn: Always uneven but alternated which side was burning faster.
Problems: None.
Ash Color: Medium gray.
Ash Structure: Flaky and loose.
Draw: Smooth and easy.
Strength: Light.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: sweet and uninteresting.

Second Third: sweet and uninteresting.

Finish: sweet and uninteresting with an added tar taste.

Overall Impression: This is the kind of cigar I usually avoid… not because they are horrible smokes (not saying they are that good either), but because you usually end up paying a price that would equal a much better the cost of a premium cigarillo. For a nickel a piece though I could not pass these up.

For fifteen dollars I purchased 300 of these consistently mild flavor machine manufactures, while normally these sell for anywhere from 2.50 to 3 dollars a pack in most stores. These are great for smoking when you want a smoke and don’t have the time or desire to treat a better cigar as it deserves… but only if you can get em cheap enough, otherwise you may as well just smoke the premium cigarillos as they will be better.

If no better smoke was available and offered a Garcia y Vega I most likely wouldn’t turn it down, which I can not say for most other gas station cigars.

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Cigar Name: Cigar Review: Partagas - Chico (Cuban)
Purchase Price: $0.80
Location of Purchase: Greece.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 4.12×29 .
Wrapper: Cuban.
Binder: Cuban.
Filler: Cuban.
Appearance: Medium brown and oily, smooth wrapper.
Construction: Well rolled Cuban machine made cigarillo.
Aged: 2 years in well kept humidor.
Pre-Light Aroma: Freshly turned earth.
Method of lighting: Small wooden match with two puffs of flame.
Method of Cutting: Not necessary.
Burn: Perfectly even all the way down to the nub.
Problems: Absolutely none.
Ash Color: Dark gray.
Ash Structure: Firm ash.
Draw: Smooth and easy.
Strength: Strong.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Creamy woodsy taste with sweetness.

Second Third: Creamy woodsy taste with sweetness.

Finish: Still tasted like a creamy woodsy taste with sweetness… but started to get a little harsh at the end with the tar.

Overall Impression: Quite a good quick smoke. Lasted about 18 minutes and is a perfect in between time smoke. I have absolutely no complaints about this cigar save the fact each one I smoke is one less I will have aging in my humidor for future enjoyment. If ya can get em, I highly recommend them.

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Cigar Name: Aguilera - San Andres Caleria Veracruz - 1943
Purchase Price: $3.25(Free for me)
Location of Purchase: Co-worker gave me the cigar from box he just brought back from Mexico to review.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 5½ x 46 .
Wrapper: Mex.
Binder: Mex.
Filler: Mex.
Appearance: Light brown and oily, smooth wrapper with slightest hint of veins. Packaged in cedar slip.
Construction: Sturdy wrapper, well rolled. A little loose, but not enough to affect the cigar.
Aged: Absolutely no clue.
Pre-Light Aroma: Moist earth and wood.
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: Perfectly even all the way down to the nub.
Problems: Absolutely none.
Ash Color: Medium gray.
Ash Structure: Firm ash, held on for about two and a half inches.
Draw: Smooth and easy.
Strength: Started out strong then went down to medium.
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Started harsh..but i gave it an inch as it was a gift… glad I did as it turned into the following. Roasted nuts, woodsy, spicy, sweet.

Second Third: Roasted nuts, woodsy, spices, sweet, sugary.

Finish: Still tasted like Roasted nuts with a woodsy bit mixed in all the way down to the nub, but it also just kept getting sweeter and sweeter with lots of spice flavors..

Overall Impression: This cigar was not a bad cigar. It started out as one, and if it had not been a gift specifically to have my opinion on it I would have probably thrown it out. That being said, giving it a chance it ended up being a wonderful smoke, Somewhere near the first inch of burn it became a completely different cigar with the $3.25 or more. I just wish the whole cigar had been that way… because I could never bring myself to pay that much for these sticks when I know better exists at a lower price point. That really wont be an issue anyhow as I can nay find any information about this brand what so ever on the Internet. Apparently it is a popular cigar in my co workers home town, but seem to be that it is not anywhere else. If I am handed any more cigars from this box I will gladly take them and age them a bit to see how the bite of the beginning ages.

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Cigar Name: JR Alternative - Punch PITA Maduro
Purchase Price: $1.35 Shipped
Location of Purchase: JRCigars in the JR Alternatives Punch PITA Maduro Bundle.
Beverage: Diet Coke.
Cigar Size: 6.12 x 49 .
Wrapper: Varied.
Binder: Varied.
Filler: Varied.
Appearance: Dark brown and oily, perfectly smooth wrapper. Looked delecious.
Construction: Sturdy wrapper, rolled perfectly.
Aged: Seventeen months in a well kept humidor in cellophane.
Pre-Light Aroma: Sweet chocolate 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: Perfectly even all the way down to the nub.
Problems: Absolutely none.
Ash Color: Light gray.
Ash Structure: Tight firm ash, held on for over three inches and then fell off in a gust of wind.
Draw: Smooth and easy.
Strength: Medium
Tasting Notes:

First Third: Cocoa, sugar, sweet spices, nutty.

Second Third: Cocoa, sugar, light nuttieness, woodsy dark chocolate flavor.

Finish: Strong chocolate flavors while retaining the sugary taste I love, mixed in with a woodsy taste all they way down to the nub.

Overall Impression: This cigar was nothing short of perfect. I am a fan of the majority of JR alternatives I have purchased in the past. They are a great product for the money fresh and after beign aged they only get better. This stick was definatly worth more the $1.35 and I hope the rest of the bundle continue to age as well as this stick did. This stick reminded me why I buy a couple alternative bundles every month to throw in my humidor for aging.

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