Evil Twin?

Cigar Review: Foyle Toro Maduro

This is a cigar I could not figure out. I will explain my statement in the review.  There are cigars which almost off the bat you can get a handle.  That is, you immediately like it or not. For me even two weeks after I smoked it , the blend baffles me. Lets get to the nuts and bolts of this smoke and present my case or not.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua 
Size: 5.5 x 5.5
Wrapper: USA Broadleaf
Binder: Ecuador Sumatra 
Filler: Dominican/ Nicaraguan 

                                                                                   
                                                                                    Where and when smoked: Los Angeles Ca.  8/14/16  
I purchased this as part of a sampler from Cigarscity.com. I previously wrote a review about the Foyle Natural blend also purchased from Cigarscity.com. As always the review is my subjective opinion and suggest you make your own decision about any smoke but use my review as a guide. How or where I received the cigar does not impact my review.

Appearance/Construction : 

The cigar wrapper is  a very deep shade of brown, with some of the seams a bit off. Nice oily sheen to the touch and a good looking label giving it a good appearance over all.
Box pressed.
Flavor/Taste and Aroma: 

The smoke started out with a hot blast of spice with some hints of raisin, and nuts. It was a bit harsh to my palate but am hoping it will mellow down easy. Also in the mix was a medium coffee flavor.  My thinking is it's ok but hoping it will get better.
The second third was a nice interlude of smoothness, a pretty even burn with a cool after bite. The expectation for me is to  give me something more exciting  I can write about.
The last chapter lost it for me. The taste turned metallic, and bitter. I thought maduro cigars were designed for a smooth ride without any bumps.  It's not happening for me.
Conclusion/Overall impression:

This was a very confusing smoke. Maduro's are not a regular event for me but I expect the product to deliver a good overall experience.
Here is the kicker. Several days later I tried to robusto version of the Foyle maduro which was also part of the sampler. Sorry but it was pretty much the same result.

Final Thoughts: 

Appearance/Construction: 3 out of 5
                                                                                    Flavor/Taste and Aroma: 2.5 out of 5
                                                                                    Smoking Characteristics: 2.5 out of 5
                                                                                    Conclusion/Overall Impression: Final rating 2.5
                                                                                     out of 5 .

 Not a joyful smoke considering how much I liked the natural blend. I like to think the folks at Foyle might to rethink this blend and try to give it a tweak. It needs work.        

Keep Smoking

The Big Question/ not about the cigar

Cigar Review: Foyle Pudao

Before we start this review a few words about the impending FDA regulation changes.  The heavy hand of the FDA is about to come down hard on the cigar industry.
Much has been talked about , been written about but the real change is still open ended.  I am positive though business will be dramatically impacted.  My concern is  the newer and small boutique cigar companies will take the biggest hit. Companies such Alliance Cigars which distribute Foyle might not be around down the road. Cigar smokers must be on top of this by contacting their elected representative and let them know your thoughts. Do not stand silent and think someone will do it.  That is not going to happen.

I purchased a 4 pack sample from Cigarscity.com , an online seller.  My review as always is not impacted on where or how I received the products. It is my subjective opinion and thoughts. I suggest if what I write piques your interest , acquire the brand and make your own decision.

Where and When smoked:  Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge, Los Angeles , Ca. 8/6/16
Price $21.89 , sample of four, sale price from Cigarscity.com.

Appearance and Construction:

Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Criollo Honduran
Binder: Corojo Honduran
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Wrapper: Natural
Shape: Straight
Size: 7 x 52

Tight feel with a dark brown wrapper which looks powerful. If appearance if any indication of a strong smoke well watch out. The proof however is in the smoking. The cigar band is clean, direct and attractive.


Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:

Started with a nutty , chocolate infusion , very smooth . Tasted some oak , touch of spice but not over the top. Aroma of chocolate was very evident.  I would describe it as medium profile , sweet but not cloying.


Smoking Characteristics:

As we smoke the ash is dark grey with a even burn, gets a little bolder with a pepper hit.  It's a nice even kick with no strange developments happening. Even in the second third the combination of chocolate and nuts are still around.  We get a slight burn issue but this evens out as the smoke continues . The cigar stays cool.




Conclusion/ Overall Impression:

The Foyle holds it's own with most cigars I have had recently.  The issues are minor , the flavor is nice, not overwhelming with too much spice. Its definitely a medium blend.

Final Thoughts:

Appearance/Construction: 4 out of 5
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma: 3.8 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics:  3.5 out of 5
Overall: 3.8 out of 5

I hope Foyle is around for a good long time.  I also purchased a Maduro Sampler from Cigarscity.com too. This is a good buy and suggest you catch a sampler.



Keep smoking 

Quick hitter Foyle Cigars

Just smoked a Foyle maduro belicoso at the abobe which was a good way to spend an hour and change listening to the Red Sox make a great comeback over the Angels. The short take on this smoke was a full bodied , flavor bomb with a deep chocolate profile.  Bought a four pack of the maduro and natural sampler .Will give a full review of each down the road but no reason to doubt it will be a good cigar to have it in your humidor. I purchased the cigars at Cigarscity.com.

Keep smoking

A cigar with body and soul

This is the time of the year where cigar manufacturers are releasing hundreds of new brands. The powerhouse cigar companies, the boutiques, just about anyone who has developed a new product is touting it at the annual IPCPR convention. Perhaps one day I will be invited to this bash. Until then l will be reviewing cigars on a a more modest level.

Famous cigars has sent me a five pack of their exclusive blend Oliva Baptiste Torpedo gratis. As always every cigar I review is not influenced how I receive the sample.  Thanks to Cory Grover from Famous Cigars for them. 

OLIVA BAPTISTE TORPEDO

Link: https://www.famous-smoke.com/brandgroup/oliva+cigars

Strength: Full

Shape: Torpedo

Size: 5 1/2 x 54

Country: Nicaragua

Wrapper Color: Natural

Wrapper Origin: Ecuadorian

Wrapper Leaf:  Habano

Price: $81.99 box of 20

Where smoked: Los Angeles Ca. 7/24/16

Appearance/Construction:

This is a very dark chocolate wrapper with no apparent flaws or seams.  Solid , with a semi oily feel to the product. The oval shape is impressive and striking . The presentation if you find that important is first rate, and is very well made. The label also is well thought out with a bold looking font. Oliva cigars are known for careful construction and this is no exception.

Flavor/Taste and Aroma:

Using an Xikar cutter and lighter the smoke started with a very smooth taste of rich chocolate and coffee. Medium strength. I paired the cigar with a Sam Adams Boston Lager. I wanted to try a pairing of two dark products as see if they would complement each other.

Smoking Characteristics:

The cigar had a good burn with a slightly uneven profile. I think this was due to being outside while smoking and  a mild breeze was happening. This was a minor problem which was not impacting the taste. The cigar reminded me of a rich chocolate topping of ice cream as you dig in for the first scoop.   There also was a slight sweetness which makes sense. The blend was also giving me some slight spicy hits but they were not overpowering. It just made the experience more enjoyable.


Conclusion/Overall Impression:

Exclusive blends are usually priced to sell to consumers at a reasonable price point. The danger of this is the possibility the manufacturer might cut corners to make this happen.
I can say the quality  control, the taste and feel of the cigar shows this was not the approach.  This is a bargain, cigar with a high appeal quota. Oliva and Famous collectively are producing a superior product. Do not hesitate to buy it. Depending on your humidor capacity, try a pack of 5 and start from there.

Final Thoughts:

Here are the numbers:

Appearance/ Construction:  4 out of 5
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma: 4 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 3.5 out of 5.

You will like this blend. Let me know what your thoughts are.

Keep smoking.

Not pretty but.......

J. Fuego Origen, 4 pack Sampler

This is a very funky looking smoke with a quirky nature to it. However, what it lacks in looks, it makes up for flavor. Often times we desire a shorter smoke but do not want to give up what a higher price point cigar might yield.  This baby really kills it for me.  

It comes in four different blends as a sampler from Famous Cigars. The purchase price was on sale for $33.95 , in a petite corona size. This sampler might be the best deal in the market.  25 flavor bombs that please just about any palate. They are 5 x 44 and last about 30 - 40 minutes . 

A couple of point to note. It is best to let them sit in your humidor for several weeks. The construction may be tight and hard. Sometimes it may be difficult to figure out what end to light, they are already pre cut. This is not a problem, you can choose either end. 

If you are worried what your buddies think when smoking them, either hand them a freebie or get new friends.  This cigar is not going to win any beauty contests but who cares?

I am not going to give you a blow by blow review of this smoke. You can figure it out yourself. 

Here is my summary of this sampler.

1. They are funny looking

2. They taste great.

3. They are inexpensive.

4. I like the packaging.

5. I keep re ordering them

6. Famous Cigars better not run out of them.

7. J Fuego keep them in your line up.

8. The blends are different from each other.

9. If you don't like them, there is something wrong with you.

10. Keep your sense of humor when you smoke them.

Keep smoking

Cigar oasis in Watertown , Ma.

As much as I enjoy cigars, I enjoy meeting cigar folks even better. Going back to Boston to visit family and friends, I made  time to pay a visit to a fine B and M establishment in the

 Watertown , Ma. area.  If you are not familiar with the geography, Watertown has a common border with Cambridge and Belmont Ma. 

Made a short trip to the Cigar and Lounge shop , 56 Dexter Ave, Watertown , 02472. ,617-393-1645, I introduced myself to one of the co owners of the lounge who gave me a brief history of the place and a tour of the facility.  I am sorry but cannot recall if I met Mike or Demian but either way, the introduction was great.

I felt at home right away as if I knew the place for years. The humidor was well stocked and cared for with a good selection of product.  Prices were moderate which is of course always a plus.  I settled in to watch the Red Sox with two men who were regulars at the lounge.  My choice for the game was a Flathead 660, a large gauge smoke with a very dark wrapper. This cigar could easily last 2 hours.  In fact, I never finished it as I needed to leave a little earlier than I planned.  

Lounge area

Back to the lounge which was well appointed with leather chairs, couches and a very good ventilation system. The talk was good, the vibes were good, the cigar was good, so what's better than that?

For locals there is a frequent card game, a cooler with soft drinks, and a very clean restroom. Sounds silly but this touch makes all the difference.

I would suggest if you are in the Boston area, drop by  say hello, introduce yourself and plan to stay a couple of hours.  Parking is available on the street.  There are very few places in Boston where you can smoke in peace anymore, as restrictive laws are making more difficult to enjoy this pleasure.

Cigar display

             

                                                                                  

   

                    Keep smoking

View of the lounge

 

LA Cigar Blog: " The urban fishing pole ": Who is that bearded dude?

LA Cigar Blog: " The urban fishing pole ": Who is that bearded dude?: Cigar mavens take themselves sometimes far too seriously. We all like what we smoke and have opinions about our cigars  but if someone disag...

Who is that bearded dude?

Cigar mavens take themselves sometimes far too seriously. We all like what we smoke and have opinions about our cigars  but if someone disagrees , watch out. Caldwell cigars has a sense of humor about themselves which I appreciate. The names of their products proves this point. The cigar I just smoked and will review is called, Eastern Standard, Live East/Die Young. There may be a story behind this name or else the creators just are having fun. Either way, I like this approach.

Here is my take of this cigar. Caldwell cigars are hard to find at times but as they become more well know maybe your B and M can get them for you. I got this smoke from Cigarscity.com as a sampler pack of 6 cigars. This was a purchase and not given gratis. 

Brand Name of Cigar: Caldwell/ Eastern Standard, Live East/Die Young

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Size: 5.5 x 44

Wrapper: Connecticut hybrid Ecuadoriano

Binder: Habana Dominicano 2005

Filler: Criollo 98, Viso Dominicano 2008 30% , Habano Seco Nicaraguense 2007, 40%, Corono Dominicano Ligero 2006 , 30 %

Shape: Robusto

Part of a Sampler from Cigarscity.com

Smoked June 6, 2016, Los Angeles , Ca.

                                                              Appearance/ Construction:

The cigar band hits you right from the start. An impressive looking gent staring straight ahead, at  the cigar perhaps? Cigar wrapper is dark brown with a healthy appearance, no obvious faults or blemishes. Solid to the touch , like the short pigtail cap. I am ready to smoke.

                                                             Flavor/Taste and Aroma:

The cigar opened up with a mix of sweetness combining sugar, vanilla, and cedar. Maybe a maple note but not clear on this.  It's milder than I thought it would be which is ok in my book. Every cigar does not have to be a blast of spice and pepper. Smooth on the tongue .       Smoking Characteristics:

Dark grey ash with an even burn , had one re light during the second third. Still a relatively mild smoke with a hint of earthiness kicking in. Cigar burned evenly, staying with a very healthy ash. Easy draw with no issues of tunneling.

            

               

  Conclusion/Overall Impression:

               

 Caldwell Cigars make interesting products.  This is the third cigar I have tried of theirs and have a positive experience with all of them. However, this smoke is not very complex meaning it never developed any nuisances in it's flavor profile. It's smooth, on the milder side which is an appealing attribute on it's own right. Perhaps it is unfair to compare cigars which are not the same blend. Overall it has been a good mild cigar. 

My numbers look like this:

Appearance/ Construction: 3.5 out of 5

Flavor/ Taste and Aroma: 3.5 out of 5

Smoking Characteristics: 3.5 out of 5.

Overall : 3.5 out of 5

Final Thoughts: 

Good smoke, nothing exceptional. I would buy a couple every so often but not keep it as a regular. The price is a bit high but as part of a sampler , give it a shot.

Keep smoking.

Interesting name , interesting cigar?

It seems there are more and more cigars on the market. With boutique brands flourishing , and cigar giants knocking out countless products, how does a company capture new consumers?
One way perhaps is calling a cigar by a unique handle. I imagine the marketing team brainstorming names for a product about to be released. The names are flying out while someone is recording the session. " How about calling the smoke,  Easy wind?  " Maybe we should call it Knock on wood?
Another member of the team shouts out, " Give me Liberty or give me a smoke." You get the idea.
Without further adieu I present you : Blinds Man's Bluff, by Caldwell, a cigar with a unique moniker.

Cigar Review

Brand/ Name of Cigar: Caldwell Cigars/ Blind Man's Bluff
Country of Origin: Honduras
Size: 5 X 50
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Honduran Criollo 
Filler: San Vincente Viso ( Dominican Republic) Criollo Ligero ( Honduran Ligero )
Shape: Robusto
Price: Purchased as part of a Caldwell Sampler at Cigarscity.com. $41.67 sale price
Smoked: Los Angeles, Ca. 5/15/2016


Appearance/Construction:

With the whimsical cigar band the smoke feels very smooth, with a slight oily sheen.  Medium brown in color with several small veins in the body of the cigar. No hard or soft spots with a generally good construction approach. No obvious flaws or defects.

Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:

Right away got a good hit of pepper, with also a hint of vanilla and coffee. It has a sweetness which I did not expect. a good combination of  spice and sweetness. Smooth , no harsh pops or spikes or any sort. Smooth with a medium profile.

Smoking Characteristics:

Mostly had an even burn through the first two thirds but it went out of control in the last third. . No hot spots continued with a nice mix of the spice and sweetness.  The spice became less noticeable later in the smoke as it was replaced with a molasses and maple profile.

Conclusion/ Overall Impression:

Except for the end of the smoke which had the burn issue, this was a good overall product. Medium in scope, smooth with enough of a spice kick to make the cigar interesting. It was a good 45 minute venture into a pleasant afternoon sojourn.



The numbers and rating :

Appearance/ Construction:  4 out of 5 appearance,  3 out of 5 construction
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:  4 out of 5 
Smoking Characteristics: 3 out of 5
Conclusion/ Overall Impression: 3.8 out of 5

Final Thoughts: Caldwell cigars seem to be a small boutique that makes a good product.  This is my second Caldwell brand that I have tried and both have been winners. I will be trying the other cigars in the sampler in the near future.
Often times small establishments may have issues with quality control in their products. This has been my judgment but so far Caldwell appears to have a good handle of their process.  It is a cigar you should try and I believe will like. Support the boutique blends as often they are at the liberty to make a cigar different than the larger companies do. Less corporate makes for quicker decisions.

Keep smoking.

Looks aren't everything

Cigar Review

Some cigars look impressive. This was my  thought when I purchased the Casa Magna Magnus II Limited. I was scanning the humidor at the Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge in West Los Angeles looking for a new cigar to review.  I have tried several Casa Magna smokes before but it has been several years since my last taste.

Brand/ Name of Cigar: Casa Magna/ D. Magnus II Limitada
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua Jalapa Sungrown
Binder: Nicaragua 
Shape: Topedo
Price: $12.95 , Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge, 4/1/16

Where and when smoked: Los Angeles, Ca.  5/1/16

Appearance / Construction:

As I stated earlier I thought very highly of the look of the cigar. Dark chocolate wrapper with a band that creates a real eye grabber. Solid  , no soft spots, with an oily feel to the touch. Small veins with no discernible flaws. Overall it was a very bold looking cigar.

Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:

The initial flavor  had a combo of chocolate, coffee and a hint of maple. I was not expecting this as I was looking for spice and pepper. Yet, it was a strong taste and pretty bold but not overpowering,
The aroma was pleasant , nutty and sweet.














Smoking Characteristics:

The burn was uneven with a dark ash and cool burn. Flavor stayed on course with the same profile I started out with . More spice and pepper flowed through but I liked the overall mix of the blend. No relights but needed to make a correction to even out the smoke.

Conclusion/Overall Impression:

This was a tale of two different cigars. The construction looked very solid but had issues as the photos indicate. The flavor profile was good but also had bouts of bitter and harsh notes.  It was a respectable smoke but hoped for more.
















Final Thoughts:

At $12.95 it needed to be the "bomb." Too many issues to rate it as a must have cigar.  Here are the numbers.

Appearance/Construction: 4 out of 5
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma: 3 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 3 out of 5
Overall : 3 out of 5

Keep smoking