Review: La Duena by My Father

Cigar Name: La Duena by My Father
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf    
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf      
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 6” x 42 Petite Lancero # 7
Strength: Medium
Body: Full
Price: $6.00-9.00 (single)

Smoking Time: Hour and a half

La Duena means “The Boss” in Spanish and is a cigar made by Don Pepin Garcia at the My Father Cigar factory.  The cigar was however, blended by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje FOR Janny Garcia (Pepin’s daughter).  She has been active in the sales role for My Father Cigars for a while but this is her “big” introduction. 

Appearance: This has a gorgeous broadleaf wrapper that has no flaws.  The label is white on red with a silhouette of a woman.  It kind of reminds me of those old school broaches.  Very cool and classic looking.      9/10

Construction: Beautiful is an appropriate word for this.  It has just enough give and the pre-draw is fantastic.  10/10

Burn:   Sometimes broadleaf has so much oil on it, it is hard to burn, and this however does not.  It seems it has aged the tobacco to make it burn very consistently.      9/10

Aroma: There is a sweetness and a slight barnyard smell.  Pleasant but not overpowering.        8/10

Draw: Nice draw.  Just right.    10/10

Flavor: Where to begin?  Man this tastes great.  Meaty, gritty, earthy, chocolate.         10/10

Availability: You can find these almost anywhere and that makes me happy.  10/10

Personal Overall Experience:  This cigar is great for any time of day.  It is a great cigar to relax and just enjoy.  Once the funds become available, I will be buying a box.  I can’t say enough about these.  30/30.

Total: 96/100

Matt

REVIEW: SAN LOTANO HABANO

Cigar Name: San Lotano Habano
Wrapper: Brazil 
Binder: Honduran 
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, D.R.
Size: 6” x 54 Toro
Strength: Medium-Full
Body: Medium-Full
Price: $5.00-9.00 (single)

Smoking Time: Just over and a half

This cigar was made by A.J. Fernandez and I have reviewed his cigars before (Diesel, Man O War, Sol Cubano) and I have always liked his blends.  All of those cigars though were for big distributors (Cigar International, Cigar.com and Cigarbid).  This one is his own.    

Appearance: The wrapper is a milk chocolate, toothy, oily masterpiece.  The gold and green band is simple yet with the thick paper used, very elegant.  Simply gorgeous.      10/10

Construction: Every A.J. cigar I have had is very well made and this is no exception.  No seams, flaws, soft or hard spots.    9/10

Burn:   I think the oils in the wrapper makes the burn kind of jenkey but not too bad.  I had a couple of minor touch ups but nothing major.      8/10

Aroma: There are several aspects that I like for example the barnyard, a subtle sweetness and leather.      9/10

Draw: Dead nuts. 10/10

Flavor: There was some pepper but it wasn’t spicy.  This is a great example of medium bodied with a full flavor.  10/10

Availability: Unlike A.J.’s other offerings; you can get this one anywhere.  Alcorn’s has a great stock of these.      10/10

Personal Overall Experience:  While I like the Toro size, I would love to taste this in a lancer or corona.  That being said, you can’t go wrong with the Toro.  It was very enjoyable and it kept me interested the entire time.  Great cigar.  28/30.

Total: 94/100

Matt

Review: J Fuego Origen Originals

Cigar Name: J Fuego Origen Originals
Wrapper: Brazilian Corojo
Binder: Costa Rican Corojo
Filler: Honduras and Nicaragua
Size: 5” x 44 Petite
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Price: $11.50 (5-pack)

Smoking Time: 30-45 minutes

J. Fuego’s family has been growing tobacco and making cigars for over 100 years.  Several years ago he started working with Xikar and their cigar line, the HC series and made a name for himself (I guess they always flew under the radar).  He shortly came out with his own name brand and a couple of years later, came out with the Original series.  These are a cool little cigar that is sold in a 5-pack and it even has a little handle on the pack to carry.  The idea behind the cigars is that this size is the size and shape that he uses to blend new cigars.  Thus “original”.    

Appearance: This does have some unique packaging.  You can stick these in your front pocket and be good to go for the day.  The cigar itself looks like something Clint Eastwood would smoke in his old westerns.  Very rough looking but at the same time, there is a cool edge to it.  8/10

Construction: Like I said, very rough looking and these are soft to the touch.  You can tell the rollers did not take much time with these.  But then again, I think that is kind of the point.     7/10

Burn:   They burn a little hot, you need to take your time with these because of the looser roll.  6/10

Aroma: This is what this cigar is all about the aroma and flavor.  Coffee, leather, and tobacco.      9/10

Draw: I said it had a loose draw and with that, as long as you respect it and don’t smoke too fast, you will have no problem.  If you smoke this like a regular cigar, you will have issues with a loose draw.            6/10

Flavor: Like the aroma, this is what it is all about.  Nice pepper flavors, that shine about half way through.  More leather and coffee.  9/10

Availability: You can find these online and at some stores.    9/10

Personal Overall Experience: These are an outstanding value cigar.  Even for what they are, I would choose these over the MUWATB or even some regular sized cigars.  They are great to have around and wonderful to pass out.  I can’t recommend these enough.  Side note, these are PERFECT for a camping trip.  30/30

Total: 84/100

Matt

Review: Croned Heads - Four Kicks

Cigar Name: Four Kicks by Crowned Heads
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: Corona Gorda (5-5/8” x 46)

Strength: Medium
Body: Medium-Full
Price: $6.75-8.50 Each

Smoking Time: Hour and thirty minutes

Crowned Heads is a Nashville cigar company that has its roots in CAO cigars.  The founders used to work for CAO and when they sold out to Swedish Match they wanted to keep control and thus started their own company.  This is their first offering. 

Appearance: First of all, I love their sizes.  They stuck with traditional sizes and are for the time being sticking to it.  This has a very plain but simply stated red and gold band.  The wrapper is flawless with a little oil on it.  It is about the color of milk chocolate.    10/10

Construction:  These cigars are made at the EPC cigar factory so you know they are well made.  Firm, but not too firm and no patches to comment on.           9/10

Burn:   Perfect.  10/10

Aroma:  There is kind of a dirt smell with some hay.  It reminds me of springtime after a rain and is very pleasant.       10/10

Draw: Out of this world good.  I wish all cigars were this easy to draw.     10/10

Flavor:  There is some leather and just the hint of spice on the retrohale.  More grass and dirt, almost earthy notes.      10/10

Availability: Right now, this is a regional company but hopefully as they grow, so will their market.   7/10

Personal Overall Experience: I truly wish every cigar was this pleasant so enjoy.  From the look, feel and smell when I first cracked that box, I knew I would enjoy this.  I cannot wait until these are available in St. Louis.  In the next few weeks they will be releasing their second cigar the Hedley Grange and I hope I enjoy it as much.      30/30

Total: 96/100

Matt

Review: Drew Estate My Uzi Weighs a Ton Baitfish

Cigar Name: Drew Estate My Uzi Weighs A Ton-Baitfish (MUWATB)
Wrapper: San Andres Maduro 
Binder: Connecticut shade
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 4” x 44 Petite
Strength: Medium-Full
Body: Medium-Full
Price: $6.00 (single)

Smoking Time: 30-45 minutes

So, let’s get this out of the way.  The name is ridiculous.  Over the top absurd.  Drew Estate is like that though; they make some of the most popular cigars in their Acid (infused) line and have an ultra-premium in the Liga Privida line and last year they came out with the My Uzi Weighs A Ton line.  Most of them were on the larger ring size and honestly, because of the size, I never tried one.  Later in the year, they came out with this “baitfish” size with more Ligero leaf to give it an extra kick.  I do like this size because it allows for a quick smoke when you don’t have much time.  I have reviewed others like this (Italia) and will have more to review in the future (Tatuaje Verocu #5 and Tatuaje Petite Cazadores). 

Appearance: This does have some cool packaging (wrapped in brown paper sans box) and the cigar itself looks good.  Dark and toothy, the wrapper looks very rustic.  9/10

Construction: For a small cigar, this looks great.  I would like to see more oils.       8/10

Burn:   Nice burn, no touch ups needed.  8/10

Aroma: Leather, earth and some coffee.    9/10

Draw: This burned really well and the draw was really nice and easy.  Not too hard, not too soft.          8/10

Flavor: Meh.  I was expecting more pepper and spice with the extra Ligero but it really never came on.  More coffee and tobacco.  Nothing really that grabs you.  In fact, fairly mundane.        5/10

Availability: You can find these online and at some stores.  These used to be a store exclusive but they changed that up in January.  8/10

Personal Overall Experience:  I was really disappointed in these.  At $6.00 for a small smoke like this, it needs to have lots of flavor.  It never came on taste wise.  I was able to get these in a sampler but honestly, that was enough for me.  These were not bad, just not in my wheelhouse.  There are just so many BETTER cigars out there in this size that don’t cost $6.00.    21/30

Total: 76/100

Matt

Review: Tatuaje Monster Series Wolfman

Cigar Name: Tatuaje Monster Series Wolfman
Wrapper: Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Box Pressed Torpedo 7” x 52

Strength: Medium-Full
Body: Medium-Full
Price: $13.00 Each

Smoking Time: Over two hours

Tatuaje has had some of the most sought after cigars in the country and his Monster Series that comes out every Halloween is the MOST sought after of his cigars.  Only 13 retailers carry them in the country and there are only 666 boxes (dress boxes that is – he also has about 1000 boxes of 10 that are just plain-Jane).  These typically sell out within hours if not minutes of their release.  Right now you could go on e-bay and find sealed boxes in excess of 50-200% mark up.  Long story short, these are hard to get and if you can’t get them on the initial release, you will pay dearly for them.

2011’s “monster” is the Wolfman.     

Appearance: The first thing you notice is the shaggy foot (get it-wolfman-shaggy foot?).  It has a sharp box press and a really cool red on brown label.  I dig those colors.  This is a good looking cigar as you would expect at $13.00/each    10/10

Construction: It is a little spongy to the touch but not too much give.  No blemishes.          10/10

Burn:   Fantastic.         10/10

Aroma:  There is a soft sweetness coming off it (I love Sumatra) with some good coffee notes.  There was also a little bit of chocolate on the predraw.  9/10

Draw: Box pressed cigars are made with a little less tobacco than traditional cigars therefore they typically have a lot more give in the draw and the potential for a hot draw.  That being said, if you take your time with this, you will be rewarded (see flavor below).     10/10

Flavor: Boom shak-a-laka!  That is some nice spice coming off this.  Not overpowering but just the right amount.  With the Sumatra leaf sweetness, it tastes like jalapeño jelly.  Very unique and lots of floral notes.    10/10

Availability: Grrr.  Please read above for the low score on this.        3/10

Personal Overall Experience: I love this cigar.  Were it not for the availability, this would be much higher.  I understand why it is what it is; I just wish these were easier to come by.  Then again, I go searching for them every year b/c I am sure they will be great (and let’s be honest, as stressful as it is to go through this every year, it is fun to go through it).  30/30

Total: 92/100

Matt

Review: CroMagnon Cigars Cranium

Cigar Name: CroMagnon Cigars Cranium
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf    
Binder: Cameroon 
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 6” x 54
Strength: Full
Body: Full
Price: $5.00-8.00 (single)

Smoking Time: Hour and a half

I love reading other cigars blogs.  They give me so many different concepts to ponder and ideas on where and what to smoke.  While reading some of the bigger ones (and the ones I frequent most often) I came across the name of CroMagnon cigars.  Now, if that doesn’t scream “smoke me right now!” I don’t know what does.  I waited patiently until some more came back in stock at havacigarshop.com and picked up 5 samplers of each of the sizes.  This is a review of the big Toro size, the Cranium. 

Appearance: This looks like a baseball bat!  Big and stout, this oily cigar does not look to be trifled with.    9/10

Construction: Packed with tobacco this is solid.  The cap looks great and there are no soft spots, blemishes or veins.      10/10

Burn:   Knowing what I know from the other blogs that have reviewed this and the looks of the oils, I dry boxed this for a few hours and the burn paid off.  The burn was good and I had no problems with it.    9/10

Aroma: There was some charcoal and “meaty” flavors coming off this.      9/10

Draw: The draw was pretty good, not too tight and not too loose.  Just about right.  9/10

Flavor: Salty, meaty, and smoky.  This would be great with a smoke porter and a steak dinner.  There was a little bit of sweet malt and chocolate on the back third.  It was a nice evolution (see what I did there?) of flavors.       10/10

Availability: You can only get these right now at havacigarshop.com AND they are currently sold out.        6/10

Personal Overall Experience:  Dang, these are awesome. I rarely have a good 90 minutes or more to enjoy a big cigar like this but this is a treat.  I have heard these will be available at some different shops nationwide.  But until then, hoard all you can from Hava.    30/30.

Total: 92/100

Matt