Matt's most memorable cigars of 2011

Another year has come and gone and it still is amazing how fast it all goes.  Thankfully I have a great family, a good job and my cigars.  I just wish the company I smoked them with was a little better...

For my list of most memorable cigars I really didn't have any rules I just kind of winged it.

1.  Tatuaje La Casita Criolla - This was my last review of the year but I have been enjoying these for months.  This opened up my mind to more medium bodied smokes and it was a great one.  I will never be with out one in my humidor.  Here is a link to my review:  http://originalchapterofthecigarsociety.blogspot.com/2011/12/review-tatuaje-la-casita-criolla.html

2.  Casa Magna Domus Magnus Limitada - We all know how much we all enjoy the Casa Magna Colorados.  Well think of that cigar and then multiply it by 3.  Holy cow what a luxury.  And for only $9.00! This is easily better than $15-30 smokes out there.  It is too bad these were a limited edition and from what I can tell, sold out.  I will have a review of these in 2012.

3.  Torano Single Region Serie Jalapa - I had my first one of these about 3 weeks ago at the Torano event at Alcorns.  I can't get enough of them.  Another GREAT value at only $6.50.  This has it all - Looks, aroma, construction, burn - you name it.  Another one for me to review in 2012.  Mark my words, this will be my first box purchase next year.

4.  Man of War Puro Authentico - What a little spice bomb!  You can get these on Cigar.com or Cigarbid.com and they are an excellent pick-up.  Expect to pay between $45-60 per box of 10 for the little corona size.  Totally worth it and yes, another review to come next year.

5.  Tatuaje Anarchy - I just did a review of this one as well but have had the box of cigars since Christmas of last year.  This is certainly not an every day smoke, but if you have the chance, burn it.  Here is a link to my review:  http://originalchapterofthecigarsociety.blogspot.com/2011/12/review-tatuaje-anarchy.html

Special mention - Tatuaje Verocu #5 - This little petite corona has become my go to smoke.  I pick up a hand full or more when I go to Alcorns and at $4.00 each (with the buy 7 get one free discount) you can't go wrong ESPECIALLY during the winter months for this little 4" x 40 bundle of awesomeness!  Another review to come in 2012.

That's it.  I'm out.  See you next year.

Matt

Review: Tatuaje La Casita Criolla

Cigar Name: La Casita Criolla
Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Binder: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Filler: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Size: Corona 5-1/8” x 42

Strength: Medium
Body: Medium-Full
Price: $7.00/each

Smoking Time: Just under an hour

The La Casita Criolla created a lot of stir at the annual tradeshow this year.  The main reason:  It was made with 100% Pennsylvania broadleaf tobacco.  Every part of it…  When I first had one in August, I thought I would like it because it was made by Tatuaje in the Don Peppin My Father factory, but I had no idea how much I would like it.  This cigar is a revelation to medium bodied smokes for me. 

Appearance: It is a little rustic looking and fairly toothy.      8/10

Construction:  Well made with no seams, stems, cracks or soft spots.          9/10

Burn:   The only drawback in this cigar is the burn.  Maybe it is the 100% broadleaf not allowing full combustion but on a couple of them I had to relight and keep an eye on.            7/10

Aroma:  Earth, hay, fresh cut grass, spring-time      10/10

Draw: Excellent.  While the burn was a little tough, the draw was perfect.     10/10

Flavor: This thing is crazy good.  There was more of the hay and grass.  Somewhat salty with a hint of fruit.  VERY unique flavor.    10/10

Availability: No problems.  If they are not sold out, you should be able to find them.         10/10

Personal Overall Experience: Dang.  What a great cigar.  This proves to me that you don’t need a spice bomb in order for me to like it.  It really reminds me of the first weeks of spring when you can smell Mother Nature begging you to come outside.  It reminds me of baseball, flowers and rainstorms all rolled into one.  I could smoke these all day and not get tired of them.  So rich and flavorful I wish I had more and could make this my everyday smoke.  30/30

Total: 94/100

Matt

Review: Tatuaje Anarchy

Cigar Name: Tatuaje Anarchy
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: Perfecto 6x52

Strength: Medium-Full
Body: Medium-Full
Price: $10.00 Each

Smoking Time: Hour and thirty minutes

I looked through my notes and realized I have not given this cigar a review yet.  My bad.  I received this as a Christmas gift from my wife in 2010.  This is a retailer exclusive at the Smoke Inn (smokeinn.com).  There was a lot of hype and advertisements before these came out to pump up the frenzy and I fell for it hook, line and sinker.  However, I believe these lived up to the hype. 

Appearance: What a cool, manly cigar box.  The band is black with the red Anarchy symbol.  The cigar itself is covered in oils and has a neat looking pigtail.  This is more of a figurado than perfecto but the foot is about 4 ring gauges larger than the head.  This thing is massive.    10/10

Construction:  A great example of what you can do with a cigar shape.  Beautiful.        10/10

Burn:   Razor-like.  I wish it produced more smoke though.           10/10

Aroma:  Earthy, chocolate.     10/10

Draw: Excellent.  By cutting off just the pigtail, you get in my opinion a perfect draw/burn ratio.  10/10

Flavor: Lots of chocolate, pepper, leather and coffee.  The great thing about this one was it kept changing.  Very complex and a roller coaster of a ride. 10/10

Availability: I have said it before and I will say it again, I do not like retailer exclusives.  This one is pretty easy to come by though.  They are still available.        9/10

Personal Overall Experience: The ONLY drawback on this cigars performance is the lack of thick smoke.  I really like it when cigars allow smoke to billow.  The Anarchy however only put out little wisps.  Other than that, perfect.  If you can, pick up a box.        28/30

Total: 97/100

Matt

Review: Olivia Serie V Lancero

Cigar Name: Olivia Serie V
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: Lancero 38 x 7”

Strength: Full
Body: Full
Price: $6.00-8.00 Each

Smoking Time: Hour and fifteen minutes

Olivia has been mentioned here before as a quality maker of cigars.  Their Serie V blend is by far their boldest.  Five years ago you probably would not have seen me smoke a Lancero size but man o man, they are one of my favorite now and the Serie V is at the top of that list too.     

Appearance: There is a reddish hue to this cigar with lots of oils present.    9/10

Construction: No flaws, blemishes or soft spots        9/10

Burn:   Like a gem.  Excellent burn.         10/10

Aroma:  It smells like dirt and hay.     8/10

Draw: The think I like about lanceros is they tend to bring out the best of the rollers.  It is hard to have a well flavored cigar in that small amount of space and Olivia did it just right with this one.       10/10

Flavor: It tastes like a well aged steak with horseradish.  Seriously.  This goes excellent with some peaty Scotch.  10/10

Availability: Easy to come by.      10/10

Personal Overall Experience: The lancero is my new favorite to this line.  I love them.  I can’t recommend these enough to a serious cigar smoker.  I say serious because there is some power here and it is concentrated with the lancero size.  Great cigar!  30/30

Total: 96/100

Matt

Review: Arturo Fuente Queen B

Cigar Name: Arturo Fuente Queen B
Wrapper: Sun Grown Colorado Maduro
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: Torpedo 51 x 5.5”

Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Price: $5.55 Each

Smoking Time: Hour and fifteen minutes

Arturo Fuente is arguably the most recoginized maker of cigars in the (non-Cuban) world.  One of the biggest reasons for that is the quality of their products.  Well, that and the fact that they make the Opus X.  They typically only release cigars around fathers day and Christmas.  Not that they are a limited production mind you, they just don’t rush things.  They take their time and make a good product.  Most casual cigar smokers will not have heard of the Queen B but they are probably familiar with the King B.  I don’t know why but the Queen is my favorite of the Fuentes’.    

Appearance: The cigar looks great in it’s cello sleeve with Queen B written in Gold.  The cigar itself if wrapped in cedar and has the famous red and gold Fuente label on it.  The wrapper is a dark chocolate color with several veins throughout.  Very toothy.  10/10

Construction: Well made with a good eye for detail.  None of the ones I have smoked have any flaws, blemishes or soft spots.        9/10

Burn:   I like to smoke these a little drier at around 63% humidity and the reason is b/c it is so packed with tobacco, it is hard to have good combustion much higher.  Flawless burn.       10/10

Aroma:  Lots and lots of chocolate and nuts.  Salt?     8/10

Draw: Perfect.       10/10

Flavor: More chocolate, more salty flavors.  Kind of savory and I think this would be great with some seafood on a beach.        9/10

Availability: I don’t see these too much online but Alcorns usually has them in stock.  Well, at least until I come in.      8/10

Personal Overall Experience: I love every second of these.  I had my first one of these about 3 years ago as a Christmas present and I have been hot after them since.  This is a top 3 cigar year in and year out for me.  Very consistent and very affordable.       30/30

Total: 94/100

Matt

Pairing review: Quesada Oktoberfest and Schlafly Oktoberfest

Cigar Name: Quesada Oktoberfest                                           
Wrapper: Dominican Republic                                      
Binder: Dominican Republic                                         
Filler: Dominican Republic                                             
Size: Bavarian 52 x 5.5”                                                                            

Strength: Medium – Full                                                                 
Body: Medium – Full                                                                                   
Price: $6.00-9.00 Each                                                                     

Smoking Time: Just over an hour

Beer Name: Schlafly Oktoberfest

ABV:  5.5

IBU: 25

Hops: Tettnang, Mittelfruh, Marynka

Malts: 2-row and caramel malted barley, Munich Malt

Yeast: German Lager

So this will be a little different.  When I first heard about Quesada’s Oktoberfest cigar coming out I was pumped.  Really pumped.  If you ask my wife she will back this up.  Simply put, Oktoberfest or Marzen is my FAVORITE style of beer.  My favorite pastime is smoking cigars.  So to have a cigar specifically made to go with my favorite style of beer, I was watering at the mouth just thinking about it.  Once I was able to get some at Alcorns, I decided to do a dual or pairing review along with my favorite domestic Oktoberfest beer, Schlafly. 

I like Oktoberfest for several reasons but one of the main reasons is that while it is a limited release beer (September through October), it is released EVERY year.  So when the leaves start changing and the weather gets a little bit cooler, I have something to really look forward to and enjoy.  That being said, I was a little bit skeptical about this blend.  It is made by Matasa who also makes the Casa Magna (one of my favorites as well) so I did have the history of enjoying their cigars, however Oktoberfest beer with its heavy malt and sweet aftertaste doesn’t seem (to me at least) to pair well with a cigar.  But then again, life is an adventure and I was looking forward to it.  For comparison sake, I smoked one cigar with out the beer.  I am doing two scores for this as well.  One for the cigar and one for the beer.  When it is all said and done, I will add the two together and divide by two to get a final rating. 

Appearance: The cigar had a dark, oily sheen and was a little veiny but it did look tasty.  The band of the cigar has the Red, Black and Yellow of the German flag which was pretty cool.  The beer was golden with a reddish hue and a nice heavy head.       C = 8/10    B =  10/10

Construction: The cigar has no blemishes or flaws to concern myself with.  It has a nice heavy feel to it.  The beer held its head for several minutes giving me a nice malty mustache.        

C = 8/10    B =  8/10

Burn:   I only had one issue with burn of one cigar and I attribute that to the fact that I was outside at an Oktoberfest celebration and it was windy.  It was very hard to keep lit, other than that one, they burned well.  I will use the term drinkability with the beer on this one.  The beer is DANGEROUSLY drinkable for me.  Again, ask my wife and she will tell you, I have gotten into trouble with this beer b/c of the smoothness of it.         C = 7/10    B =  10/10

Aroma:  The cigar smelled of tobacco and a little harsh with a hint of ammonia.  The beer smelled sweet like molasses and cereal.  C = 6/10    B =  8/10

Draw: The draw was very good on the cigar and the finish of the beer was light and refreshing.         C = 8/10    B =  8/10

Flavor: The first 2/3 of the cigar was very good.  Surprisingly good especially when you pair it with the beer.  It had hints of grain and hay.    The last 1/3 of the cigar was very bitter especially smoked by itself.  Very bitter.  With the beer is was much more enjoyable and the bitterness was gone.  C = 7/10    B =  9/10

Availability:  Like I said above, it is only out once a year but it is consistent.  Hopefully that will continue.      C = 6/10    B =  6/10

Personal Overall Experience:  This was a lot of fun to do.  I really enjoyed looking at both ends products and how they blended together.  Was it a home run?  No.  Was it a solid double and worth another five pack of cigars and six pack of beer, absolutely.   Prost!    

C = 22/30    B =  30/30

Total Quasada Oktoberfest cigar: 80/100

Total Schlafly Oktoberfest beer: 89/100

Combined Rating = 84.5

Matt

Review: Donkey Dropping

Cigar Name: Good Karma Cigar Donkey Dropping
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Corona Gorda 54 x 5.5”

Strength: Medium - Full
Body: Medium - Full
Price: $5.50 Each

Smoking Time: Hour and a half

I read several other cigar blogs and boards and kept hearing about these “DD” cigars.  I finally did a little research and found out the source of these.  Good Karma Cigars out of Texas   https://www.goodkarmacigar.com/   So I looked some more and couldn’t find these on their website.  I ended up calling and the guy said these are so popular; he only takes orders for them over the phone.  One thing I didn’t ask is why the name Donkey Dropping?  I can only imagine it is because of the supposed rough look to these.  It is a Nicaraguan Puro and currently is in fairly low production.  That will soon change.  As it was explained to me, these will become more and more readily available but only at Good Karma.  Anyway, I decided to get a 10 pack and see what it was all about. 

Appearance: This has a dark chocolate color to it and it has lots of oils.  There is no band.  There are a few prominent veins but nothing to worry about.  With a name like Donkey Dropping, I was expecting a perfecto and a rather rough looking cigar.  It is not.  If you were to put a band on this, it would look like a Fuente or Olivia.  The cigar looks powerful and in my eyes, very good looking.       9/10

Construction: This is a very solid, hard cigar.  Well made with a triple cap.      9/10

Burn:   No issues at all.  Good solid burn down to the nub.      10/10

Aroma:  Prelight there was a lot of barnyard and mustiness.  Post light there was more barnyard but also a LOT of chocolate.  Hints of hay and grass.  A very unique aroma    10/10

Draw: Outstanding.  No issues even with the tobacco PACKED.       10/10

Flavor: Lots of chocolate and even some fruit like apples or maybe pears.  Some spice in the middle third but not overpowering.      10/10

Availability: This is a store exclusive so it is very limited.  If these become available on their website and more become available, the score could improve.    6/10

Personal Overall Experience: This lived up to its hype.  It is a very unique aroma and flavor.  If this becomes more popular, it could score some major points on the other boards/magazine rating system.  I thoroughly enjoyed every minute with these.  These are also sold in wheels of 50 and I might just have to invest.    30/30

Total: 94/100

Matt

Review: Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo

Cigar Name: Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo
Wrapper: Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: El Martillo 5.5” x 54

Strength: Full
Body: Full
Price: $3.50 – 9.50 Each

Smoking Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Joya de Nicaragua is known for their well made STRONG cigars.  Recently they have made a lot of news because they are hiring a lot of people from their competitors or bringing them out of retirement.  That can only add to their excellent line of cigars.  I have long enjoyed the regular Antano line and was excited to try the dark.          

Appearance: The wrapper was a near black, toothy gem of a leaf.  It seems well made and has a nice looking gold and black band.     9/10

Construction: Seemingly well made with no soft spots and densely packed with tobacco.  There were a couple of spots where the wrapper seems to be unraveling (maybe it is just the pectin coming apart).  All in all, not bad but I am worried about the wrapper.      7/10

Burn:   My concerns were unfounded.  This burned with a great line and it needed no touchups.          9/10

Aroma:  Nice barnyard aroma with a hint of sweetness that smells like hard candy.      8/10

Draw: Draws exceptionally well.       10/10

Flavor: Bold and powerful but not OVER-powerful.  There is a sweetness on the back end that reminds me of sweet tea.  Very unique.  10/10

Availability: You can find these anywhere.  I got mine from Alcorns for about $8.00.  I certainly think this is a smoke worth the price.      10/10

Personal Overall Experience: I don’t know if this will make any top ten lists, but this is a good cigar that sits just right at the end of the day.  I could smoke these every weekend.  Nicely made, good price point and a very unique sweet and spicy flavor.     27/30

Total: 90/100

Matt

REVIEW: Nica Libre Potencia

Cigar Name: Nica Libre Potencia
Wrapper: Habano Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Churchill Extra 7” x 52

Strength: Medium-Full
Body: Medium-Full
Price: $2.50 – 8.01 Each

Smoking Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

The Nica Libre Potencia is an online exclusive (Cigar.com, Cigarsinternational.com, cigarbid.com) and is an extension of the very popular Nica Libre.  Where the Nica Libre is a very medium bodied, smooth smoking cigar, the Potencia promises to be stronger and spicier.  Made in the Olivia factory, this cigar has the potential to be a great value and one that will be a staple in the humidor.      

Appearance: The wrapper is a medium-brown, smooth looking piece of art.  No veins are present looks to be packed with tobacco.  The label is silver, maroon and gold.    9/10

Construction: Made by Olivia, this is a well made cigar.  A nice sturdy, double cap is present and there are no soft spots, hard spots or any other concerns about the construction.  10/10

Burn:   There was lots of smoke present with this cigar.  Thick, heavy smoke and it burned exceptionally well.  One of the cigars I had to let rest for a few minutes and when I came back, it started right back up.  The ash was about 1-1.5 inches long and was very gray and sturdy.  No flaking.         10/10

Aroma:  I was a little disappointed in the aroma as it was very plain.  Nothing but tobacco to note.     6/10

Draw: Draw was very good.  No hotspots and the line kept a very straight edge.         9/10

Flavor: Flavor was okay.  I guess I was expecting a larger profile from this (maybe from the looks) but it just didn’t appear.  A little bit of spice and coffee but not much else. 6/10

Availability: Again, online exclusive.      7/10

Personal Overall Experience: I got these for about $2.50 each on cigar bid.  I don’t think I paid too much but I just wish it had a better flavor and aroma.  For the price though, it was not bad at all.  I would not make this a special moment cigar but it could find a home in the yard cigar, poker game cigar area.  I can’t stress enough though as to how WELL it was made.  Nice job Olivia.   24/30

Total: 81/100

Matt

Tatuaje Petite Cabiaguan

Cigar Name: Petite Cabiaguan
Wrapper: Ecuadorian grown Connecticut-seed
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Petite 4.5” x 32

Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Price: $3.50 Each

Smoking Time: 30 minutes

Yea, so sue me, another Tatuaje review.  I can’t help it.  Pete Johnson and Don Peppin know how to make cigars that I like.  The Cabiaguan is different than their usual fair though.  It is more of a medium body.  And this little petite cigar is a perfect smoke when you don’t have much time.  I have been drawing myself more and more towards these and little coronas lately b/c of the time involved.  I still like to have good flavor though.  And that is why I bought these.    

Appearance: This is actually a rough looking cigar.  There is no label and it honestly looks like a little kid made these.  6/10

Construction: There were a few that had some soft spots and with as thin as these are, could mean some hot burning.      5/10

Burn:   Honestly, there were no issues until I got right to the very end.  These performed very well and I was surprised.        9/10

Aroma:  A little bit of hay and grass but not much.    8/10

Draw: Fairly loose but otherwise not bad for a little cigar.         8/10

Flavor: This is where this little guy shines.  Great plumes of smoke with lots of flavors.  Grapes (weird, I know), hay, grass and soil.      10/10

Availability: Good.  You can get these anywhere.    9/10

Personal Overall Experience: I am very happy with these.  It is not something I would smoke for a special occasion but for what it is (and the cost – I actually got a cabinet of 50 for $85.00 on cigar bid after I tried a few from Alcorns), it is a great buy.      25/30

Total: 80/100

Matt

Carlos Torano Exodus “50 Years”

Cigar Name: Carlos Torano Exodus “50 Years”
Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Robusto 5” x 50

Strength: Medium - Full
Body: Medium - Full
Price: $6.80 Each

Smoking Time: One hour

Carlos Torano, in my opinion, has always made an excellent cigar.  For whatever reason though, it is rarely in my humidor.  Maybe it is because their marketing is subdued.  I just don’t know.  I do know that whenever I have had one, it has been a pleasant experience.  That is when I picked up this 5-pack from Cigarbid.com, I knew I would be happy.     

Appearance: The wrapper is a maduro with a toothy appearance.  There is some oil to it and has some heft to it.  The Bronze colored label is very cool as well.    9/10

Construction: Well made, no flaws, soft spots or concerns.      10/10

Burn:   Flawless.        10/10

Aroma:  Prelight there wasn’t much.  Maybe some coffee.  Post light there some chocolate and more coffee.  8/10

Draw: Good.  No issues, just very consistent.       10/10

Flavor: Chocolate with a little bit of peat moss and soil.        8/10

Availability: I have not seen these in any locals but I know they can get them.  They are all over the internet.      8/10

Personal Overall Experience: Torano cigars remind me of a good friend.  Dependable, consistent and there when you need them.  The Exodus 50^th is no exception.  I really will try to make it a point to get more of these.      26/30

Total: 89/100

Matt

New Havana Cigar – ELO1

Cigar Name: New Havana Cigar – ELO1
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: No 1 (Toro) 6.25” x 52
Strength: Full
Body: Full
Price: $130/20 (bundle)

Smoking Time: One and a half hours

Ever since I have become a fan of Tatuaje cigars, I have been a fan of New Havana Cigar.  They are a small shop in Cleveland, OH with a big internet presence.  For whatever reason, they always seem to get large amounts of Tatuaje limited release and overruns (more on that later).  Now, I am all about a great cigar, but I do hate some of these marketing ploys to charge more for a “limited” release just because it seems like a good idea to make an extra buck.  That being said, you can find some good deals out there and this is one of them.  The ELO1 is actually the “same” cigar as the Verocu #1 Lado Occidental from Tatuaje in 2008.  You won’t find that written anywhere, but if you read between the lines, that is what it is.  I don’t know if this is an overrun, they found extra leaf and make these, these were already made and they found them buried in the warehouse or if the cigar fairy just waved her wand and “poof”.  Whatever the reason, this is the best tasting cigar I have had all year.  

Appearance: There is no band on this cigar but it has an oily, milk chocolate wrapper.  There are no visible flaws and it is good looking cigar, not great, but good.  8/10

Construction: No soft spots, just an even, solidly built cigar.  9/10

Burn:   The first half of the cigar is great, but on every one of the cigars that I have had, the last half has needed touchups.  Nothing terrible but just a little annoying.  However, I believe it is du to the massive amounts of Ligero in the last half.     7/10

Aroma:  Chocolate, leather, salt.    10/10

Draw: Excellent.     10/10

Flavor: The flavors coming out of this were somewhat overwhelming.  They were just coming at me from every direction.  It was a rollercoaster of a ride.  Salt, lots of earth, chocolate notes, hopps (fruity).  Just AMAZING!  10/10

Availability: Sold out. I will say, for the price per cigar, it wasn’t bad.  This is just one of those limited availability things.         5/10

Personal Overall Experience: I am going to savor every one of these suckers.  The first 3-4 I had were knock me on my arse strong.  And I love full bodied cigars.  They have mellowed over the last few months, but not by much.  Holy cow, this is an excellent cigar.  I have never had one so full flavored.  I wish I could give this a higher score overall, but with the availability, I just can’t.            30/30.

Total: 89/100

Matt

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