Review: Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet

Cigar Name: Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras
Size: Churchill 7” x 47

Strength: Medium - Full
Body: Medium - Full
Price: $2.00-5.75 Each

Smoking Time: Hour and a half

I bought these cigars from CigarBid.com (Cigars International).     I have been enjoying these for several years now and really are my favorite go-to daily stick.  Nothing fancy, just good and consistent.  These are blended by A.J. Fernandez. 

Appearance: There are very few veins present and the wrapper is a golden brown.  The foot looks like there is a lot of tobacco.   9/10

Construction: The wrapper looks very thin and therefore probably very fragile.  These must be maintained pretty well.  Overall, there are a couple of sunspots but nothing to be worried of.  There are also a couple of softER spots, but nothing I would consider “soft” in itself.    8/10

Burn:   This is one of the highlights of this cigar.  These are so consistent in the burn that I have gotten spoiled smoking them so much.    10/10

Aroma:  Barnyard, hay and grass    8/10

Draw: Again, along with the burn flawless.      10/10

Flavor: Spice up front and mellowing as it burns.  It is not one dimensional but it is not a roller coaster of a ride either.  It is pretty smooth in its development    8/10

Availability: This is an internet exclusive so you can’t go into a brick and mortar store.  I like the pricing but I would like to be able to walk in and buy these if I needed them.  8/10

Personal Overall Experience: As I said previously, this is my go to daily cigar.  I won’t smoke these one after another and frankly if there was a special occasion that I wanted to smoke one for, this would not be my first choice.  However, this is and always will be in my humidor for the drive home or working in the yard.    27/30.

Total: 88/100

Matt

Liga Privida T52 Robusto

Cigar Name: Liga Privida T52 Robusto
Wrapper: American Habano
Binder: Brizil Mata Fina 
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican, Honduran
Size: 5” x 52
Strength: Full
Body: Full
Price: $9.00-$13.00 (single)

Smoking Time: One and a half hours 

The Liga Privida T52 uses a unique wrapper called a stalk cut Connecticut.  The guys at Tobacco University can explain it better than I:  “This term describes a plant which is harvested all at once by cutting the stalk, low to the ground. Unlike primed plants, all of the leaves are harvested at one time. This technique is common with Broadleaf and San Andreas tobaccos, which are typically used for Maduro and Oscuro cigar Wrappers.”  When I first heard about it, I wanted to try it badly because supposedly, all the “juices” will flow from the stalk down to the leaves leaving a thick, oily wrapper.  Let’s see if the hype stood up. 

Appearance: The dark brown wrapper has a lot of tooth on it and the oils are just oozing out.  The label is kind of cool too with T52 Hand written on it with a copper lion embossed.  9/10

Construction: No veins and PACKED with tobacco.  There is some heft to this thing.  You could use it as a billy club.      9/10

Burn:   Faboulous.  There was no issues and it stayed cool the entire way.  10/10

Aroma: You know that leather chair that sit in your grandfathers living room for probably 100 years.  Imagine that.  That is what you will smell when you pick up the Liga Privida T52.  Rich, powerful and nostalgic.      10/10

Draw: Great draw.  It was made very well.      9/10

Flavor: Lots of leather, subtle spice and umami.  Yup.  You heard me.  UMAMI.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami           10/10

Availability: These are very hard to find.  There is I believe one store in Missouri that carries them (Springfield, MO, Just for him) so you will probably have to find them online.  However, they are popular so if you find them you better get them.  That is a big downfall for me.  Plus, they are expensive.      7/10

Personal Overall Experience:  This is an excellent cigar.  I wish they were less expensive and I wish they were more readily available, however, for special occasions or to perk you up after a bad day, you can’t go wrong here.    28/30.

Total: 92/100

Matt

Review: CAO La Traviata Divino

Cigar Name: CAO La Traviata
Wrapper: Colorado Habano Ecuador
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Size: Divino (Robusto) 5” x 50
Strength: Medium - Full
Body: Medium - Full
Price: $5.00-$7.00 Each

Smoking Time: Just over one hour

I bought these cigars from Alcorn specifically for our May meeting.  I have had a few of them before and wanted to make sure everyone else got to share.  On to the review…  

Appearance: CAO is known for their consistency and each of the cigars that I purchased (7 total) were carbon copies of the next one.  A reddish Colorado wrapper with lots of oils and a gorgeous but simple label make for an impressive first impression.  10/10

Construction: Well made with a lot of tobacco crammed in.    9/10

Burn:   Flawless.  No touch ups needed and a couple of these I smoked while working on my deck with several moments in between puffs.  Not once did I have to relight.  10/10

Aroma:  Tobacco and leather.    8/10

Draw: No complaints.  It performed like a champ.       10/10

Flavor: Chocolate and some peppery spice.    9/10

Availability: This is a Brick and Mortar exclusive.  You are not (supposed to) able to buy these on line.  However, I have yet see a cigar store that does not carry these.  This is a wonderful idea to have such a value priced cigar ONLY at B&M stores as they are the backbone of the industry.           9/10

Personal Overall Experience: I was not blown away at this cigar.  I was however extremely pleased at two things:  1. The value.  You simply can not beat this for a regular production cigar in a store.  2.  The consistency.  Like I said, this will not blow you away, but it will give you the exact experience you are looking for with out any doubt.  This is like the Peyton Manning of the cigar industry.  A rock-steady performer.  27/30.

Total: 92/100

Matt