Seth's Humidor: Cigar Reviews

Habanos S.A. is always a couple years behind the American market in term of the sizes being used on their Habanos. I think it ranges from three to five years, and it is almost as if they want to see how successful a new vitola is before they put it on the market. I typically think Habanos is covered in the 40 ring gauge market, and that is why there has been an increase with the number of 50 plus ring gauges they are putting out there. We recently saw their first 58 ring gauge with the Cohiba Robustos Supremos, a 2014 limitada, and who knows when we will see them get into the 60 ring gauge market. Backup a few years though, and in 2010 and 2011 we saw Habanos S.A. release two Habanos with 54 and 55 ring gauges. It may not seem like anything now, but at the time it was a big deal. In 2010 they gave us the Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchilli, a 55 ring gauge offering, and a year later we got the Partagás Serie E No.2, a 54 ring gauge offering. I enjoy the Wide Churchill and think it does positive things for the RyJ brand, but today we look at the Serie E No. 2 and see what it does for the Partagás brand.

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Warped Cigars established itself as a company that is a blend of old and new, and a company that focuses on quality and craftsmanship above all else. With those two things in mind, you have to sacrifice some quantity for quality, and what better place to do that then at El Titan de Bronze. They will never be a factory that is known for producing a tremendous amount of cigars, but they are known for being a factory that produces high quality cigars. So, as a company, how do you keep to your mission statement of being a company that truly focuses on quality, show some old school and new school ways, and make a regular production cigar? The answer is to simply work with Casa Fernendez. With their own farms in Nicaragua and factories in Nicaragua and the United States, Casa Fernandez was the perfect pairing for Warped, and with their assistance, the company was able to create the Flor del Valle line.

Flor del Valle, Spanish for Flower of the Valley, is the most recent regular production line for Warped Cigars, and it is their first cigar to be made out of the United States. It is made in Nicaragua at TABSA, and is a Nicaraguan puro that is composed of entirely AGANORSA tobacco. It has a Corojo '99 wrapper from Jalapa, two binders that are Corojo '99 and Criollo '98, and a mixed filler blend that is not disclosed. It comes in two vitola offerings, and for this review I went with the Gran Valle which is 5.5" in length with a 50 ring gauge. The cigar features a dark Colorado Maduro coloring wrapper and is finished with a nice triple cap. It is firm in hand and it shows some veins throughout the wrapper. It has a texture that is slightly gritty while at the same time silky, and it gives off an aroma of rich earth, nuts, and damp tobacco on the foot. The wrapper is giving off some similar qualities, and there are some definite wood notes present there.

The cigar begins by showing some powerful spice notes, and I am getting a combination of spices that are showing pepper and anise qualities. There are some strong tobacco notes present with that, and it has some distinct barnyard traits too. Notes of rich manure are present on top of that, and this is a powerful and distinct smoke. You can get the AGANORSA flavors, and this is a solid blend overall. The construction is top notch on the cigar as well, and it is showing an even burn line with a charcoal ash on the end of the stick. The ash is holding on firmly and there is a great deal of smoke coming off of the cigar as well. I would classify the first third as having a full body level, and the strength is there as well. So far, this is a great cigar and it would be an everyday cigar for me if I did not smoke a variety of other offerings.

I am in the second third of the cigar now and it is showing a nice change in the flavor profile. I am picking up some definite chocolate notes, and they are pairing with those rich earth and manure flavors which are really meshing nicely. There is a little bit of spice present as well, and it has a faint touch of pepper on the conclusion. Tobacco notes are present throughout as well, and this is a really nice blend. It is a very Nicaraguan flavor profile, but a unique one at that, which is something I appreciate. The construction continues to be top notch in this third and it is showing a lovely charcoal ash on the end. The ash is holding on firmly and there is a great bit of smoke coming off of each draw. The draw is cool as well, and this shows the quality of cigars coming out of TABSA. I would classify this third as being medium-full in both strength and body, and this is a smoke I would come back to quite frequently.

When I get into the final third of the cigar it shows some additional flavors and it has a nice coffee and cocoa flavor profile. There are some rich earth notes present with that, and it has that manure like finish. There are some cedar and wood notes present on the finish as well, and it has lost that spice which was present in the first two thirds. I love the flavor profile present on the finish, and it is a smooth flavor profile that offers a nice conclusion for the smoker. The construction remains top notch in the final third as well and it is showing an even burn line with a lovely charcoal ash present on the end. The ash is holding on firmly and there is a great bit of smoke being produced with each draw. The final draw is cool and flavorful, and the cigar finishes at a medium level for both strength and body.

Flor del Valle is a good line from Warped Cigars and I love the Gran Valle offering. The cigar shows terrific construction throughout and it smokes cool, showing all the great flavors. It was a complex blend that had a lot of depth, and there was some transitioning present throughout which is what you need in a good cigar. I really like the flavor profile and it delivered that AGANORSA and Nicaraguan flavor profile while not being like any other blend that Casa Fernandez is putting out. With all the great aspects present, it is easy to give this cigar a high rating. It is a stick I will come back to more and more, and I would love to see the aging potential on this particular cigar. If he was looking for a terrific regular production line, he has that with Flor del Valle.I am giving this cigar a solid 90 rating and look forward to having more down the road.

Seth's Humidor Rating: 90

Caldwell Cigars is on fire right now and he is possibly one of the hottest companies in the Dominican Republic. Besides the fact that he is getting a lot of attention, he is not your typical Dominican brand owner/manufacturer. For the most part, the Dominican Republic is very old school and conservative, but that is not what Robert Caldwell is at all. He is young, bolder and flashier in his ways, and it is a nice addition for the country and industry. I think if he was in Nicaragua he would just blend in, but in the DR he can really stand out. He had a huge year last year launching six lines, and I have been a fan of all of them. I love Eastern Standard and Lone Live The King, those are my two lines, but he has a wonderful qualities in the other lines as well. The King Is Dead is my third favorite line from the company, and in that line is a specific cigar that is simply phenomenal. That cigar is a torpedo, a size I typically don't grab, and it is titled The Last Payday.

I look at The Last Payday as a modern take of a classic cigar. To me, it is a stronger and more flavorful Cuban Montecristo No. 2. Yes, it is a Dominican puro and not a Cuban puro, but it has a flavor profile that is very similar to the Monte. It shows some smokiness and at the same time it has some cocoa, creamy and coffee notes. I pick up some great hazelnut flavors with that as well, and it has a nice smooth and spicy finish. It is great from beginning to end, and over the past five months it has aged phenomenally. I believe it is going to keep that medium-full strength and body level for at least another year, and the flavors will be as bold as they are for that same period of time. With age, it will become very refined and I look forward to seeing where it is in a couple of years. The construction is great throughout, and this is one of my favorite cigars in his entire portfolio. The torpedo measures 6" with a 52 ring gauge and has a nice Dominican Negrito wrapper from 2008. The binder is Dominican Corojo from 2006, and the filler is 30% Dominican Corojo Ligero, 20% Dominican Negrito Viso, and 50% Dominican HVA 20/20. These tobaccos are 2006, 2008, and 2010 vintage respectively. If you have not smoked the line, The King Is Dead, grab it in The Last Payday format.

Review Here.

Cubanacan Cigars is a company that received a lot of attention in late 2014, and the attention has continued to remain with them into 2015. The attention comes from the announcement of their latest line, HR Habano Maduro, and it is a line that involves Hirochi Robaina, grandson of the famous Alejandro Robaina. With his involvement, he has taken the spotlight, but the light for the company needs to be shined on Omar González-Alemán. Alemán hails from Cuba, and hails from a tobacco family. His paternal grandfather was involved in the cultivation of tobacco, and that continued onwards to Alemán. Eventually he landed a position in the famous Partagas Factory, learning the ways of CubaTabaco before moving to run the well known factory today, La Corona. During his time there he learned of rolling and blending, and eventually he brought that to Cuabanacan Cigars when he left Cuba. The company has many blends that he has led to fruition, but today I look at Soneros Habano Claro.

The Habano Claro is one of the two offerings in the Soneros brand, and is the lighter offering in the brand. It comes with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and binder, and underneath that is a blend of Nicaraguan fillers. For this review I was sent the corona gorda offering, and it is a true corona gorda that measures 5 1/8" with a 46 ring gauge. The Corona Gorda comes with a lovely triple cap, and it is applied to a well rolled cigar. The cigar has a nice dark coloring to it, and I would classify it as a Colorado Maduro. There are some minor veins present throughout the cigar and it has a texture that is very smooth, showing no silky or oily qualities. The foot of the cigar shows an aroma of hay, grass and earth, and the wrapper is giving off notes of dried wood and nuts.

The first third begins by delivering some nice white pepper notes, and it is accompanied by some soft tropical fruit qualities. I am getting some cedar and toast qualities with that, and there is a nice nutty flavor profile that is present on the end. It is a somewhat dryer flavor profile, but it is one that I really like, and it is a nice beginning to the cigar overall. It is a complex flavor profile, and I would say it is fuller overall. The construction is top notch with the cigar as well, and it is showing a razor sharp burn line with a lovely charcoal ash on the end that is holding on firmly. The draw is cool, producing a nice bit of concentrated smoke on the palate, and this is a well made cigar. I would classify it as being medium-full to full in body, and the strength is at a medium to medium-full level. So far, a nice beginning to the corona gorda.

I am in the second third of the cigar now and I am finding the flavor profile to be fairly similar overall. There is a nice sweetness present a well in this third, pairs with the cedar and toast notes, and it pairs well with the nutty and tropical fruit flavors. There is a lovely white pepper finish to this third as well, and it is a nice flavor profile that is complex. There has not been an abundance of transitioning, but the flavors have had depth and are quite enjoyable. The construction overall is top notch and it is showing an even burn line with that solid charcoal ash on the end. The ash is holding on firmly, and the smoke production is perfect with the cigar. It is smoking cool overall and as I said earlier, this is a very well made cigar. I never automatically doubt quality of boutique cigar companies, but there are some concerns from to time, but I am pleased to say that is not the case with Cubanacan. The strength and body are at a level that is medium-full to full, and this is an awesome afternoon and evening smoke.

The final third shows some transitioning from the first and second third, and in this third I pick up a lot more dryer notes, and it is showing some white and black pepper qualities. It has a nice woody and leathery flavor profile to the cigar, and it has some nutty and toasty qualities on the finish. The cedar notes are present as well, but the fruit and sweet notes have faded away. I felt that the cigar grew properly in this third, and it grew as a cigar as a whole. There was depth throughout, and the transitioning in this third was important. The construction remains top notch throughout the entire cigar and it had a nice charcoal ash along an even burn line to the end. I smoked it down to the nub, and it was cool and flavorful on the finish. I would say the cigar finished at a medium-full level in terms of strength and body, and this was a perfect ending to the cigar.

I enjoyed the Habano Claro Corona Gorda and found it to be a well made cigar. I felt that it had a nice bit of transitioning throughout the entire cigar, and it delivered a flavor profile that was to my liking. It had a great body and strength level that went hand in hand with the flavor profile of the cigar, and it was all completed with great construction. I have not had the entire Cubanacan portfolio, but the offerings I have had have been really good cigars. They are a boutique company that is really getting attention right now, and it is always great to see that for smaller companies. If the rest of the portfolio smokes like this and the HR Habano Maduro, then consumers are in for a treat when the pick up the other lines. Overall, I give the Habano Claro Corona Gorda and 88 rating and look forward to coming back to it. It has the potential to age well, and I imagine in time it will be even better.

Seth's Humidor Rating: 88

*cigars for this assessment were provided to me by Cubanacan Cigars.

With La Palina teasing the new Goldie release recently, and me smoking a Goldie Laguito Especial after seven months of sitting in my humidor, I decided that the cigar deserved to be revisited. This is the third release in the Goldie Collection, and when it was first released it was disappointing when compared with the other two Goldie releases. It was not a bad cigar, it was just not what those initial two cigars were. What makes the Goldie Collection very special though is that the cigars are rolled by one roller, and are rolled in Miami, FL. Rolled by Maria Sierra, once a roller in Cuba who rolled Cohibas for Castro, she is a Level 9 Roller and rolls at El Titan de Bronze. Last year she rolled 25,000 of these cigars, and this year she will be rolling a similar number with the new Goldie.

The Goldie Laguito Especial is a "laguito especial," and measures 7.6" with a 40 ring gauge. It features Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco in the filler blend, and it has an Ecuadorian binder with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. It is finished with a nice fantail cap, and the presentation is great as presentation can be. Over seven months the cigar has aged quite well and it has a flavor profile that is really popping now. It is showing some great spice and tobacco notes, and it has some nutty, cream, and citrus notes with that. It produces some cedar notes on the finish as well, and it has some black pepper with that. The blend has really come together over the months and with the vitola offering presented, this is my new second favorite after the Goldie No. 2. If you have not yet smoked this, you can still get some, so grab them up because you are in for a treat.

Review Here.

Seth's Humidor

Week in Review (Volume 3, Issue 7)

This was a short week in terms of what I smoked, but the cigars I smoked were simply incredible. I revisited two sticks, sticks I love, and with that took on two new cigars. One of them I am already in love with, it is hard not to love the blends Dion puts on the market, and the other is a cigar that is crafted to be paired with whiskey. The concept of pairing cigars with beers, spirits, and wines is an interesting one, and the honest answer is that there is no correct or incorrect pairing. Yes, some blends do better with certain pairings, but we all have our own palates and preferences. I typically don't pair cigars with whiskeys, just not my cup of tea, but I did this week and it was a fun experience. Enough of this though, let's take a look at the Week in Review.

News This Week:

February 9th, 2015: Bellatto/Caldwell/Sears Announces 2015 Releases

Cigars Reviewed This Week:

February 9th, 2015: La Barba Purple Toro

February 10th, 2015: Partagás Serie E No.2

February 11th, 2015: Flor del Valle Gran Valle (Warped Cigars)

February 13th, 2015: Soneros Habano Claro Corona Gorda (Cubanacan Cigars)

Cigars Smoked This Week:

A couple weeks ago I received a package in the mail from DRAM Cigars. The concept behind them was for them to be paired with whiskeys, and there are four blends in all, all different. Each blend is blended to be paired with a certain profile that you get with certain whiskeys, and this week I lit up the Dram Cask No. 3. This is considered to be "spicier" rather than woody or smokey, and I felt that it had some smokey characteristics but was spicy overall. It has a Habano wrapper and underneath that is a filler and binder blend that is not disclosed. I paired it with a Bulleit Bourbon, and it was a fun experience. I felt that the bourbon smoothed out the cigar overall, and it provided a nice sweetness to the spicy and smokey flavors present. The pairing was nice overall and an enjoyable experience. I don't do pairings when trying to assess a cigar, I assess the cigar with water, but this was a nice change of pace. I need to try more Cask No. 3s and try the other blends as well, but overall this is a fun concept. I would be interested to see how the blend does on its own as well.

The latest release from illusione, the ~eccj~ 20th pays tribute to Cigar Journal's 20th anniversary. The ~eccj~ is a Nicaraguan puro and is finished with a Cafe Rosado wrapper. It is a similar blend to the Epernay line, but there is so much more going on with this cigar. It showed nice spice levels, and with that were honey, hay, cream, cedar, and tobacco notes. The cigar delivered excellent construction from beginning to end, and it had a nice medium-full smoking experience with that. Limited in numbers, this is a cigar that you need to get a box of. They are smoking great now, but I know they will age incredibly as well. With illusione releasing cigars like this to the market, it is easy to see why I am a fan of the brand.

Review Coming Soon.

If you ask me what Dominican puro you should smoke, the first cigar I am going to tell you is the Señorial 65th Anniversary Perfecto Elegance. I could say Ashton ESG or OpusX, but more than likely you all have smoked those and love them already. The 65th is a new breed of Dominican puros, and it is a blends that achieves greatness from the tobacco being used and the age of it as well. Dominican tobacco is a great addition to many blends, but when you make a Dominican puro, and you do it right, you will have a fantastic smoke. The 65th comes in a beautiful perfecto, and the perfecto delivers all the great tobacco that the cigar has to offer. You get a nice experience of the wrapper and filler tobacco, and with that is great construction. Given this is a limited cigar, and it is as good as it is, you would be foolish not to get a box of these. One of my favorites for this year, I will be coming back to it throughout the year for sure.

Review Here.

Probably my least favorite of the three premium lines from Calwell, I feel that The King Is Dead does not do justice the way Eastern Standard and Long Live The King do. With that being said, it is still a solid blend/line, and it has an incredible vitola in the line with that. It is your standard torpedo, and is title The Last Payday. To me, it is smokes like a modern take of the Montecristo No. 2, and is fuller at the same time. It is smoky while still showing strong hazelnut, spice, coffee, cream, and cocoa flavors, and it is a medium-full cigar in terms of body and strength. I could smoke this all day, throughout the day, and it is probably one my favorite torpedos and Dominican puros right now. The Negrito wrapper is great on the cigar, and this is a stick that is worth visiting often.

Review Here.

Most illusione fans know of the ~eccj~ that was released in 2008. To this date it is considered one of the best illusione blends to be released, and I believe it to be one of my favorite sticks as well. I was fortunate enough to smoke a couple, but that is all as I had to trade a good amount of sticks to get those two. It was very limited in nature, 4,500 cigars in all, and it solid out fairly quickly. The cigar was released to celebrate the 15th anniversary of European Cigar Cult Journal, now Cigar Journal, and what a release to have in honor of an anniversary. Over the years, consumers were begging to have a return of the ~eccj~, and in 2014 Dion delivered with the ~eccj~ 20th. The cigar was created to celebrate Cigar Journal's 20th anniversary this time, and was created in larger numbers than before. No other company has released a cigar of this nature, honoring a cigar magazine/journal that is, and I think it is a huge sign of respect to the magazine. I know Cigar Journal agrees, and today I look at the ~eccj~ 20th, and see what Dion has created to honor the magazines 20th anniversary.

Honoring Cigar Journal's 20th anniversary, the ~eccj~ 20th is the latest release from the company that was showcased at the 2014 IPCPR trade show. It is a Nicaraguan puro and is finished with a Corojo Cafe Rosado wrapper that is the same selection as the Epernay. This blend is based off the ~eccj~ 15th blend from 2008, and that blend was the basis for the well known Epernay line. The ~eccj~ 20th measures 6 1/2" with a 48 ring gauge, and it can be classified as a Short Churchill. The cigar features a solid triple cap and it has a beautiful colored wrapper. It is showing some light Natural coloring to it, and it is a solid color that is consistent throughout. The wrapper shows very few veins, and the veins present are minimal overall. It is silky in texture, and it has a nice firmness throughout. I am picking up an aroma on the wrapper that is of herbs, minerals, leather, tobacco, and cedar, and the foot is showing some similar notes with some sweetness and earthy qualities. The cold draw is perfect, and I am ready to light up this cigar.

From the get go, the cigar shows some nice Asian spice notes and I am getting some faint red pepper notes with cinnamon qualities. There are some almond and other nut flavors present as well, and it has cream, hay, cedar, and honey qualities with that. I am picking up some light tobacco notes on top of that, and it is a very flavorful smoke. Dion does a great job of making a blend that is flavorful and always balanced, and this is a great example of that. It has depth and complexity, but it is not over powering or too much. I would classify the strength as being around medium overall, and the body is at a medium to medium-full level. In terms of construction, the cigar is performing phenomenally and it is showing a dead even burn line. There is a nice light charcoal colored ash on the end, and the ash is holding on firmly. The draw is cool and smooth, and this is simply an incredible cigar. I was expecting a great cigar and this is just that.

I am in the second third of the cigar now and it is continuing to show the tremendous flavors from the first third. I am picking up some nice spice notes to begin with and it has some great almond notes along with that. There are some light graham cracker and honey flavors as well, and it has cedar, hay and tobacco finish. I am getting some minor cream and earth notes as well, and this is an awesome stick. The construction remains top notch in this third and it is showing an even burn line still with that lovely charcoal ash on the end. The draws are still cool, giving off the perfect amount of smoke, and it is showing a ton of flavors on the retrohale. I would classify the strength as being more medium-full in this third, and the body is right there as well. So far, an awesome cigar and I look forward to the final third.

As I enter into the final third I find that the spice notes continue strong and that they are pairing with those nutty notes from before. There are some toasty qualities present now as well and it is followed by some nice cedar, hay and honey notes. There is a nice bit of earth and tobacco qualities present on the finish and it is a nice balanced smoke. It has been complex throughout, and it has a lot of depth with that. I would say that it smokes at a medium-full level for both body and strength in the final third, and the growth in that sense to the end is terrific. The construction remains top notch throughout the final third as well and it continues to show that even burn line with a nice bit of smoke on each draw, The ash keeps that light charcoal color as well and the final draw is cool and above all else, flavorful.

This is simply a fantastic cigar and another great release from Dion. It was showcased in 2014, but with it being released in 2015 it will definitely grab the attention of many smokers earlier in the year and remain with them to December. It is a blend that shows flavors, depth, and complexity, and is balanced as well. Dion has the ability to make incredible cigars at all levels of strength and body, and this is fantastic medium-full cigar for body and strength. With cigars like Epernay and Fume D'Amour, Dion makes flavorful cigars that are fairly mild to medium overall, but the ~eccj~ is more of a medium-full cigar that is above those but below the fullness of the Original Documents. While the Epernay is similar to the blends of the ~eccj~, there is something special with this blend that makes it stand out. Given this is limited in nature, I will have to get as many as possible, and it is without a doubt a box worthy cigar. I am giving this cigar a 94 rating and it is the best cigar I have smoked and reviewed this year.

Seth's Humidor Rating: 94

The H. Upmann brand is a brand that earned its rightful place in the Habanos S.A. portfolio in 2007; and since it became a Global Brand that year we have seen Habanos put a lot of focus and time into it over the years. They added the Magnum 50 in 2008, and in 2011 we saw them release two new additions for the brand. One of them was a regular production vitola, the Half Corona, and the other was the Royal Robusto. The Half Corona has definitely made its mark on the industry in many ways, but today I am going to focus on the Royal Robusto which is a La Casa del Habano exclusive. I have had mix luck with LCDHs over the years, some great and some not, but today I see how the Royal Robusto is and if lives up to the greatness that is the H. Upmann brand. There are may who love this particular smoke, and today I share my thoughts on the smoke.

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As the 17th Habanos Festival nears, I felt it was an appropriate time to share some of the 2015 releases. We have already seen two hit the market, the Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta Añejados,but there are more exciting releases in the work. One of the biggest releases last year from Habanos S.A. was the Cohiba Robustos Supremos, a 58 ring gauge robusto, and continuing down the new trend of larger ring gauges, Habanos S.A. has announced the new Limitadas, Aniversarios and Gran Reserva,most of which are larger Habanos.

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Tomorrow, I am changing things up a bit, and instead of posting one review, I will be posting two. While that is not a big deal overall, I will be looking at how the two cigars compare to one another. Now, the comparison goes beyond my personal preference of two completely different cigars, but actually is a comparison of "the same cigar." You see, Davidoff announced its new Winston Churchill this year, and it was a project that involved a "complete overhaul" of the original brand. (I quote Cigar Aficionado there, as they worded it perfectly.) Tomorrow I look at the old Winston Churchill and the new Winston Churchill, and I tell you which one I believe is better. I will be reviewing the new Davidoff Winston Churchill first, that review will be up at 9AM, and the original Winston Churchill review will be up at 1PM. Tune in y'all, and see how this all works out!

One of the most famous cigar smokers of all time, it is hard to find a photo where Winston Churchill does not have a cigar in mouth or hand. Cigar Aficionado ranked him as the "top cigar smoker of the Twentieth Century," and it is said that he smoked between eight and ten cigars a day. He actually has a vitola named after him, the Churchill, and what a magnificent vitola at that. To honor this man, the legend Sir Winston Churchill, Davidoff created the Winston Churchill brand in 2007. The line paid respect to the life of Winston Churchill, but it never truly did him justice, so this year Davidoff announced that they would be giving the brand another try, and changing every aspect of it. From the packaging, to the vitolas, and the blend, the Winston Churchill was redone and is now called the Davidoff Winston Churchill. Today I look at the new brand, and to review the brand, I picked out the only appropriate vitola, the Churchill.

A slightly smaller Churchill, the cigar measures 6 7/8" with a 47 ring gauge. The cigar is draped with an Ecuadorian Rojiza wrapper, and underneath that is a Mexican San Andres Negro binder. The filler is composed of five different leaves: Dominican Piloto Mejorado seco, Piloto seco, a hybrid Olor/Piloto seco, and two seco leaves from Condega and Estelí. The Churchill is rolled quite well and it has a nice cap applied to finish off the cigar. The wrapper is very smooth and silky in texture, and it has a nice Natural wrapper coloring overall. It may show a faint amount of Colorado coloring, but nothing drastic. There are few veins present throughout, and the veins present are medium in size but not a problem by any sorts. The wrapper has an aroma of hay, grass, manure, and tobacco, and the foot is showing some noticeable cocoa and earthy qualities. There is a great cold draw, and I am eager to light up this cigar.

The first third has a tremendous beginning, and it begins by showing some nice raisin and tropical fruit notes. The raisin notes are so distinct, and they are pairing with some pineapple notes that really make for a great experience. There are some earthy notes with that, very rich flavors, and it is accompanied by some spice notes as well. It has a creamy and cedary finish, and it is a great start to the cigar. It is full flavored cigar, and I would say that it is medium-full in terms of body. The strength is right around a medium level, maybe a little bit more, and this is a beauty. This is a complex blend and really a great Davidoff blend at that. The construction is top notch as well and it is showing a near perfect burn line with a nice charcoal ash on the end. The draw is cool and smooth, and there is a nice bit of smoke being produced as well.

When I get into the second third of the cigar, I find that there is a nice transitioning in flavors. The raisin qualities have faded, along with the tropical fruit notes, but I am left with a nice smokey and lemon flavor profile. There are some toasty and nutty qualities present as well, and it has an earthy and black pepper finish which is very enjoyable. So far, it is shown a nice bit of transitioning, and it has a nice bit of depth and complexity. It is very different than a lot of stuff Davidoff has done, and that stems from the fact that it is not Dominican focused. The construction is nothing but incredible and it is showing an even burn line with a light charcoal ash on the end. The draw is cool and easy, and there is a good bit of smoke being produced with that. I would classify the strength as being medium in this third again, and the body is at a medium-full level.

I am in the final third of the cigar now and it is showing some more transitioning in the flavors. It is delivering those citrus notes from the second third and I would say they are more lemon focuses now than before. It has some sweet cedar notes with that, and it is a nice combination of flavors. There are some toasty and nutty note on the finish, and there are some slightly harsh hay and grass notes with that The construction remains top notch though in the final third and it has an even burn line with that light gray ash on the end. The draw is cool overall and with each draw is a nice bit of smoke being produced. It smokes cool to the end, and it shows those solid flavors to make for a lovely finish. The body and strength are at a level between medium and medium-full in this third, and it is a nice way for the cigar to finish.

The new Winston Churchill is a fantastic cigar and a great new release from the company. To me, it is far superior to the original Winston Churchill, but at the same time very different. This is a very "non-Davidoff" Davidoff. and with the tobacco being used it is something new for the company. In some ways, this is the most exciting blend from Davidoff that I have had in a while, and that is because it is very unique. The flavors delivered are complex, showing a lot of transitioning throughout, and it has a nice bit of depth with that. The construction is nothing but spectacular, and it shows an even burn line with a solid charcoal ash on the end. The draw is cool from beginning to end, and with that is a nice medium-full strength and body level. With a better price, and a new blend, I think this cigar will be very successful and begin to grab the attention of many more smokers. I know I look forward to my next one, and I am eager to light up the line in different vitolas. The cigar gets a solid 91 rating.

Seth's Humidor Rating: 91

This year, Davidoff announced the new Winston Churchill, and the line is a whole new Winston Churchill for the company. (I actually reviewed it earlier today) They changed every single aspect of the original 2007 line, and the cigars have begun to hit retailers across the nation. For a long time, smokers believed that the original Winston Churchill line was merely a Davidoff with a different band, myself included, and because of that, I believe there was a struggle in really pushing the line. The cigar was available to non Davidoff accounts, something great for the retailers that were not Davidoff appointed merchants, but overall a negative factor for the line itself. I was never one to really back the line, and recommend it to a lot of smokers, but with the new Winston Churchill hitting the market, I thought it was an appropriate time to revisit the line.

As mentioned earlier, the Winston Churchill was introduced in 2007, and was a cigar that was very Davidoff like, but not exclusive to Davidoff stores. It was originally introduced in five vitolas, but eventually a sixth vitola was added with a short corona. The line gave tribute to the history of Sir Winston Churchill, and the vitolas were named after places of Churchill's life. Today I look at the Churchill offering, and this cigar is called the Blenheim, honoring Blenheim Palace and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The Churchill measures 7" with a 48 ring gauge, and it is finished with an Ecuadorian Special Sun-grown wrapper that is Cuban seed. Underneath that is a Dominican Yamasa binder, also Cuban seed, and then a filler blend of 5 Cuban seed tobaccos. The Blenheim is a gorgeous Churchill and it has a wrapper that has a very light Natural coloring wrapper, It is silky and smooth in texture, and it shows no veins. The cigar is silky in hand and it has an aroma of hay, grass, and tobacco on the wrapper, and a lemony and toasty quality on the foot.

The first third opens up like a Davidoff and it is showing some hay and grass notes. There are some toasty and nutty qualities present with that, and it has a nice citrus quality with that. It is creamy as well,showing some cedar flavors with that, and it is very smooth and balanced. It is light overall, and a nice cigar. It is fairly complex overall, but nothing over the top. The construction is top notch with the cigar and it has an even burn line with that nice charcoal ash on the end. The draw is cool, producing a lot of smoke, and so far this is a nice first third. I haven't had one in a long time, and I am glad to come back to this smoke. It is smoking at a solid medium level for strength and body, and it is a nice morning and afternoon smoke.

The second third becomes quite creamy overall and it is showing some transitioning from the first third. It is still deliver those hay and grass notes though, and it has a nice nutty, pine, and toasty quality. There is a touch of lemon peel present on the finish as well, and it has some coffee flavors with that. Overall, I really enjoy the second third and like the direction in which the cigar is going. It has shown some growth as a cigar overall, and I am looking forward to where it is in the final third. The construction remains top notch in this third as well and it is showing an even burn line with a lovely charcoal ash that is firm on the end. The draw is very smooth and cool, and I am getting a great bit of smoke with each draw. So far, this is a solid medium body cigar and the same goes for the strength that is delivered.

The final third is fairly similar to that of the second third and it is showing a creamy, nutty, and cedar flavor profile. There are those hay and toast notes present as well, and it has a lemony and tobacco finish. It is not a harsh finish by any means, but there is a define dry and toasty quality that makes for a nice change up. It is a cigar that grows and changes throughout, and is a well made cigar. The construction is absolutely perfect throughout the final third and it has been that way since the beginning. The burn line is razor sharp and there is a nice charcoal ash on the end of the cigar. The draw is smooth and cool, and I am getting a great bit of smoke on each draw. I would classify the final third as being medium overall, and that goes for body and strength. All in all, a nice finish and a solid stick.

The Winston Churchill is/was a very Davidoff like product. It has some unique qualities to it, but it definitely tastes like a cigar coming out of Davidoff. I was never blown away by the line overall, I felt that it smoked similar to some other Davidoff offerings that were more my cup of tea, and it came at a similar price point as well. Along with that, I think Davidoff made a huge mistake of making these available to retailers who were not Davidoff appointed merchants. I believe if they had made them for only Davidoff appointed merchants, the brand would have been in a different place than it was before they "redid" it. Overall though, the cigar showed excellent construction, a nice body and strength level, and an enjoyable flavor profile from beginning to end. The Blenheim is a solid Churchill, one I would smoke again, and is a cigar I would recommend to particular smokers. Overall, I give the cigar a solid 88 rating.

Seth's Humidor Rating: 88

Last year, La Aurora celebrated it's 111th birthday, a truly remarkable milestone; and to celebrate that birthday, the company thought outside the box and created a more modern and edgier cigar. While the focus was on the well known La Aurora lion, it was a lion we had never seen before. La Aurora has always been viewed as a traditional Dominican company that is fairly conservative, something I appreciate, but to reach a new set of smokers, "the modern smoker," the company released a new cigar called Untamed. Everything about the packaging was new and something we have never seen before from La Aurora, and when looking at the font and the images, the first thing that came to mind was the 1994 arcade game, Primal Rage. Along with new packaging, La Aurora wanted to make a bolder and stronger cigar, something that would reach out to the modern smoker, and that is what Untamed is all about. With the vision clear, let's take a look at the La Aurora Untamed, and see how it smokes.

The Untamed comes in five vitolas, mostly modern vitolas, and for this review I was sent the robusto. It features tow bands, a foot band and your standard band, and the bands are covered with lion claw marks in red. The robusto is your standard robusto, measuring 5" with a 50 ring gauge, and production is coming out of E. Leon Jimenes Tabacalera. The cigar sports a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, and underneath that is a Dominican Corojo binder with a filler blend that Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco, The wrapper shows some major veins in the wrapper, but the wrapper is silky overall in texture. It has a very dark maduro coloring, and this is a classic La Aurora Broadleaf. There is a sweet aroma on the aroma and it is showing some strong sugar notes, milk chocolate, and cedar. The foot is showing some similar notes, and it has a nice sweet tobacco quality with that.

The first third opens up by showing some nice rich earth and cocoa notes. There are some fruity qualities present with that, and it has a nice oak barrel quality on top of that. I am getting faint spice notes, and it has a nutty and toasty finish. There is a creaminess present as well that is unique, and it is a woody creaminess which goes well with the flavors. So far, a very flavorful cigar and a nice Broadleaf offering. The construction is top notch in the first third of the cigar and it is showing an even burn line with a nice charcoal ash. The ash is holding on firmly and it has a draw that is cool and producing a good deal of smoke. I find that it is a fairly medium overall, and that goes for the body and strength of the cigar. So far, a nice beginning to the Untamed, and I look forward to the second third.

When I get into the second third of the cigar, I find that the flavors being delivered are fairly similar to that of the first third, but there is this chocolate cake batter present, and it is showing some buttery and cocoa powder flavors with that. I am still getting that oak, toast, nutty, and fruit quality as well, and it is a nice second third. It has a solid flavor profile that is fairly complex, but it does not have a lot of transitioning. The construction remains top notch in the second third and it is showing that even burn line with a razor sharp burn line. The ash is holding on firmly to the cigar, and it is showing that nice charcoal color. The draw is cool and smooth, and there is a nice bit of smoke being produced off of each draw. I would still say that the cigar is smoking at a medium level for body and strength, and I am interested in seeing where the final third takes me.

The final third is nearly identical to that of the second third and it has not shown any transitioning in terms of flavors being delivered. It still has a nice complexity level, and depth, but overall it is very similar to the previous third It is showing that chocolate cake batter flavor now, and it has a finish that is of oak barrels, fruit, nuts, and toast. It is smooth and flavorful to the end. The construction remains just as good as it had in the first and second third, and it is producing an even burn line to the nub. There is a nice charcoal ash on the end of the cigar, and it holds on well to the end. I am getting a cool draw to the nub, and it gives off a nice amount of smoke with that. I would say that the cigar finishes at a solid medium level in terms of strength and body, and it is smoking in the manner that it has from the beginning.

The Untamed line was a line I was really looking forward to, and I went into the cigar, hoping that it would deliver those excellent Connecticut Broadleaf flavors that La Aurora has shown with its other recent releases. Unfortunately, the cigar fell short of delivering those great qualities, and while it is not a bad cigar, it is lacking those qualities that truly make it special and great. The flavors are solid and complex from the beginning, but it does very little to grow off those flavors as the cigar progresses. It has a solid medium body and strength level throughout, something softer than what I was expecting and told, but it had excellent construction. Overall, the release is a solid release and I believe it will do well, but it is not a home run that I expected and what I believe La Aurora was hoping for. While the packaging may be a success for the overall market, I personally don't care for it. I love the traditional aspects that is La Aurora, and to me this is the company trying to be something they are not. With that being said, if the market is looking for this type of packaging on its cigar, I understand La Aurora intentions, but I quit. I am giving the cigar a solid 88; it was a good Connecticut broadleaf release, but not the best the company has produced over the past couple years.

Seth's Humidor Rating: 88

*cigars for this review were provided to me by La Aurora

Catfish and I have taken our time in reviewing the 2014 Limitadas, but we knew that when we were to begin the reviews of them, there was only one limitada to begin with. Cohiba is the flagship brand ofHabanos S.A., and it is a brand that has received much praise over the years. It has received its criticism as well, but more often than not, positive words fall upon the brand. It is a brand that is well known for its regular production vitolas, but it is with its limitadas that it really get the attention of aficionados around the world. The brand has had well known limitadas with the: Sublimes, Behikes, Gran Reserva Cosecha 2003, and Double Coronas, that is just naming a few, but today we look at the latest limitada, the Cohiba Robustos Supremos Edición Limitada 2014. Released last year with aPartagas and Bolivar as the 2014 limitadas, this was the main focus of the three. The Cohiba brand will always catch the spotlight, but what made this particular release so big was that this was the largest ring gauge to be released by Cubatabaco and Habanos S.A. to date.

CONTINUE READING

Davidoff has been doing some incredible things in the past three years, and they have become an exciting new company while at the same time remaining the classic matured one that they are. For a long time they were a stagnant company, and they were a company that in my opinion was making good cigars, but not cigars that they could truly make. They were diving a Lamborghini, but not going over 65 mph. The blends they have been releasing to the market recently though have been a breath of fresh air, and they have showed a whole new side of Davidoff. I believe they have really begun to produce Dominican puros like they can and should, but they have also ventured off in another direction and begun using tobacco from different countries. Davidoff Nicaragua was and still is very exciting, and when they announced the blend for the new Davidoff Winston Churchill, I was interested to see where the blend would take us.

As to be expected, the blend was something completely new for Davidoff, and very "un-Davidoff" overall. The blend shows the versatility of the company, and it shows that they are not limited to certain tobaccos like some companies are. There is something to be said about a company that leaves its "comfort zone," and that is what Davidoff did with the new Winston Churchill. Besides the fact that this blend is new and unique, I believe overall it is superior to the original Winston Churchill. The original Winston Churchill is in some ways, a classic Davidoff offering and because of that it is not appealing or sexy in some ways. What the new Winston Churchill does is reach out to a whole new set of smokers, but still deliver the super premium quality that is known with the Davidoff name. The use of tobacco from multiple countries was done well, and it was a blend that had the tobacco working off of one another to improve every leaf within the blend. It was Davidoff and at the same time un-Davidoff.

I could go on, and on, but there is really no point in doing so. The points I am making are that the new Winston Churchill is a magnificent blend, one that everyone should reach out to and smoke, and that Davidoff is finally driving that Lamborghini the way it was meant to be driven.

If there is one state in this great nation that is all about cigars right now, it is the great state of Texas. The state is home to some of the country's hottest cigar retail locations, and is also becoming a hotbed for the emergence of new cigar companies. The cigar smokers in Texas seem to be more united than any other state, and if you pay attention to social media you will see plenty of BOTL Texas Chapter stickers, and no BOTL stickers for the other 49 states. Feeding off of this trend, last year we saw the emergence of a new company hailing from Texas. The company is led by US Veteran Robert Holt, but it is more than a one man show and is also composed of other US Veterans. The company is called Southern Draw, and it is a company that's goal is to pay homage to Southern Culture. They kicked off their inaugural year with three lines: Kudzu, Firethorn, and Quickdraw, and today I look at their second line, the Southern Draw Firethorn.

Offered in three vitola offerings, all modern day traditional vitolas, I was provided the toro for review. The toro is your standard toro and measures 6" with a 52 ring gauge. It features an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper, and underneath that is a Mexican binder with Nicaraguan fillers. The cigars are made in Esteli, Nicaragua at Tabacalera Fernandez, and the cigar itself comes with a closed foot. There are two bands present on the cigar, and the color of the bands really match the wrapper coloring. The toro is rolled well and has a nice firmness throughout. The color of the wrapper is that of a solid Colorado, and it has a nice red clay coloring. The wrapper is smooth in texture and it has a few veins present throughout. The cigar shows an aroma of nuts, toast, and leather, and with the closed foot you are getting the same notes.

The first third begins by showing some quality tobacco notes, and it has some nutty and toasty qualities with that. I am getting some graham cracker, sweet spice, and caramel notes with that, and it is a solid flavor profile. It is a very balanced cigar in terms of flavors, and one that I could enjoy in the morning, afternoon, and evening. I would classify the strength and body of the cigar as being between medium and medium-full, and it goes well with the flavors being delivered. There is a cool draw with the cigar and it is producing a nice bit of smoke with each puff. The construction is dead on as well, and it has an even burn line with a nice charcoal ash on the end. So far, the cigar is off to a solid start and I look forward to the second third.

The second third is really divided into two sections, and that is when you begin to see some transitioning in flavors. The first half of the second third is very similar to that of the first third, and it is showing those toast, nutty, graham cracker, sweet spice, and caramel flavors, but as I move further into that third I begin to get some espresso and cafe mocha flavors. It is a nice second third, and it grows well off of the first third. The construction is top notch in the second third, similar to that of the first third, and it is producing that even burn line with solid charcoal ash on the end. The draws are cool, giving off a nice bit of smoke, and I would say that the strength and body are still at that level between medium and medium-full.

The final third is very similar to the second half of the second third, and it is showing some nice cafe mocha flavors with those toasty, nutty, and caramel flavors. There are some earthy aspects present as well, and it is showing a nice finish in terms of the flavors being delivered. Overall, the flavors have been enjoyable and fairly consistent, but the change up at the halfway point was great. The construction remains perfect in the final third of the cigar and it is showing that even burn line with solid charcoal ash on the end. The draw is cool to the nub, and it continues to deliver a nice bit of smoke with enjoyable flavors. It smokes at a level between medium and medium-full to the end, and it is a nice finish to the cigar.

Firethorn is a solid release and I believe Southern Draw is off to a good start with this being one of their first blends. I never expect a new company to have a home run in their first year, but it is very important that a company have a good foundation to build the brand off of for future releases. Firethorn is that blend, and it is a blend that makes me look forward to future projects from the company. The cigar itself delivers some solid flavors from beginning to end, and it is a flavor profile that I really enjoy. It is not overly sweet or spicy, but balanced and delivers a profile that many can connect with. Along with that, the cigar has excellent construction and a nice body and strength level to match the flavors. Overall, I give the cigar a solid 88 rating and I look forward to he company's next project and current production releases.

Seth's Humidor Rating: 88

* cigars for this assessment were provided to me by Southern Draw Cigars

To the excitement of many, Drew Estate and Smoke Inn Cigars announced today that Drew Estate would be participating in the Microblend Series for Smoke Inn Cigars. They join a group of some of the best manufacturers and brand owners in the industry, and this is possibly going to be the most exciting of the Microblend Series released. This release, the newest Microblend Series, will be titled Pope of Greenwich Village.

The Pope of Greenwich Village will be releases in a 6" by 40 ring gauge panatela, and will be solid in ten count "soft packs." The MSRP for one of these packs will be $85.00, and individual cigars will be sold at $8.50 per cigar. The blend features a Mexican San Andres wrapper, and underneath that is a Connecticut Stalk Cut Habano binder with Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan fillers. This cigar was blended by Willy Herrera, and Herrera is quoted in saying that the cigar "will appeal to fans of the company's other maduro blends, Undercrown, Nica Rustica, MUWAT, and Liga Privda." Herrera also commented on the blend saying that he did not go overboard with blend on the blend, but the blend is still very bold and balanced. Above all else, it "just really good."

The Pope of Greenwich Village will receive a pre-release launch at Smoke Inn's private VIP Dinner on February 20th, 2015, the nigh before The Great Smoke, and roughly 100 5-packs were released for the dinner. Abe Dababneh, owner and found of Smoke Inn, commented that he was very excited to be working with his close friends at Drew Estate, and that he felt the cigar delivered terrific "meaty, earth, and tasty qualities." The cigar will be available for pre-order soon, so don't hesitate as this will sell out quickly.

Seth's Humidor

Week in Review (Volume 3, Issue 8)

What separates cigar smokers from those who smoke cigarettes, is that we are not addicted to cigars. I don't need a cigar to make it through the day, month, year, etc., and because of that, I did not need to go outside with these freezing cold temperatures and smoke a cigar. What I smoked this week was quite a small number, so this will be a quick write up.

Cigar News This Week:

February 20th, 2015: Drew Estate Announces "Pope of Greenwich Village" (Smoke Inn Microblend Series)

Cigar Reviewed This Week:

February 16th, 2015: illusione ~eccj~ 20th

February 17th, 2015: H. Upmann Royal Robusto (LCDH Exclusivo 2011)

February 18th, 2015: Davidoff Winston Churchill Churchill

February 18th, 2015: Winston Churchill Blenheim by Davidoff

February 18th, 2015: Cohiba Robustos Supremos Edición Limitada (2014)

February 19th, 2015: La Aurora Untamed Robusto

February 20th, 2015: Southern Draw Firethorn Toro

Cigars Smoked This Week:

The new Winston Churchill is out and it is simply fantastic. Very different than the original Winston Churchill, this is not your everyday Davidoff, and it shows the diversity of the company. Composed of a variety of tobacco from the Dominican, Mexico, and Nicaragua, the blend is unique and very enjoyable. It shows excellent construction from beginning to end, and it has a nice medium-full body and strength level with that. I picked up nice spice, cedar, fruit, nutty, and cream notes throughout, and it was always complex with a lot of depth and transitioning. I think this is one of the most exciting releases Davidoff has had in a long time, and that means something after all of the amazing releases they have had in the past couple years. Definitely a cigar everyone should reach out to and smoke.

Review Here.

A company that needs no introduction, Warped Cigars is a true boutique company that is gaining ground across this great nation. They are in selected retail stores across the country, and the stores that are carrying them are some of the more prestigious and well known stores. I have found a lot of success with the lines and vitolas by Warped Cigars, and the company has been teaming with some of the best people in the industry, in terms of tobacco and rolling, to release some incredible blends. Today I come back to one of two regular production Miami lines, El Oso, but go with a cigar that is not as well known as some others. The line is composed of three vitolas, but what makes the line unique is that one of those three vitolas is a different blend than the other two. That unique cigar is the El Oso Mama, and today we are going to check out that cigar.

Not listed on the company's website, but just as available as the other El Oso blends, El Oso Mama is a lancero that measures 7" with a 38 ring gauge. Like the other two vitolas in the line, it is manufactured at El Titan de Bronze, and is made in limited numbers. What makes this blend unique to the other two vitolas in the El Oso line, is that this particular cigar is finished with a Mexican San Andres wrapper. Underneath that is an Ecuadorian binder and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco. The wrapper has a light maduro coloring, and it has an antique vibe to it. There are small veins present throughout the cigar, and the lancero is firm throughout with a lovely triple cap. I am getting aromas of nuts, toast, and lemon peel on the wrapper, and the foot is showing some similar notes with some earthy qualities.

The first third opens up by showing some noticeable spice notes, and it has a nice bit of black pepper present. There is a sweetness present with that, and it has a floral and herbal vibe going on. I am picking up some earthy qualities as well, and it has a distinct lemon peel flavor present as well, adding a nice complexity. The finish is showing some earthy qualities, and the pepper flavors are making another return. The construction is absolutely terrific on this lancero and it is producing a smooth draw that is very cool, and there is a nice bit of smoke with that. The burn line is razor sharp, and on the end is a small charcoal colored ash that is firm on the end. I would classify the strength of the cigar as being medium to medium-full, and it has a medium-full body level. So far, an awesome lancero and I love the wrapper being used on this vitola.

I am in the second third of the lancero now and it is continuing to show some amazing flavors. I find that they are fairly similar to that of the first third, but they are so great and complex, that transitioning is not a key point. I am picking up strong lemon peel flavors, and it is pairing well with some coffee, herbal, and floral qualities. There is a nice toasty, nutty and woody flavor profile present as well, and this is great. The spice and pepper notes have faded, and it has made a smoother second third. The construction remains top notch in this third and the draw is still cool and producing a nice bit of smoke. The burn line is razor sharp on the end and it has a nice charcoal ash that is holding on firmly. I would classify the cigar as being medium-full in strength and body, and I look forward to seeing where the cigar is in the final third.

The final third shows some transitioning from the first third, and it is in this third that I begin to get a lot more coffee notes, and they are paired with some nice lemon pepper qualities. It still has that herbal, floral, and nutty quality with the cigar, and the finish is toasty and earthy. It has a nice finish that is very smooth in terms of flavors, and there is a good bit of complexity present. The construction is top notch throughout the final third of the cigar and I smoke the lancero down to the nub. It has a cool draw from the beginning to the end, and with that is a nice bit of smoke being delivered on each puff. The burn line has been razor sharp from the beginning, and a firm charcoal ash remains on the end of the cigar. I would say the final third is more medium than anything else, and that goes for body and strength.

The Mama is very different than the Cub and Papa, so you can't really say that this is the best of the three vitolas, but I personally prefer this blend offering to the other two. There is a great flavor profile that is delivered with this San Andres wrapper, an in this small ring gauge, it is an easy and great smoking experience. I don't know how this blend would be in a different size, maybe not as good, but in this lancero format it excels. From beginning to end, the cigar delivers amazing flavors, excellent construction, and a solid body and strength level; all great qualities. The blend was complex with a lot of depth, and it is a cigar I could begin my day with or end my day with. El Oso kinda fell by the wayside when I compared it with La Colmena, but after smoking this offering, it can truly compete against that line. Coming in ten count boxes, this is a box worthy cigar, sand it is a cigar I will definitely be coming back to down the road. I am giving the El Oso Mama a solid 92 rating.

Seth's Humidor Rating: 92

Curivari is one of those true boutique brands that is so boutique, many people don't talk bout them or even smoke their product. Their product can be challenging to find, that is part of the problem, and finding a retailer that carries them and has them in stock regularly is nearly impossible. Seleccion Privada is a line of theirs that has been on the market sine 2010, and to many people, it has been classified as a Nicaraguan version of the Cuban Partagas. I think that comes from the band appearance and not the actual cigar, but more often than not, that is what I hear and see when people are smoking these cigars. I personally never thought of it like a Partagas, though I still enjoyed it, but to this day I hear people continuously say it reminds them of a Partagas. I am not here today to say whether it is or is not similar to a Cuban Partagas, but merely to smoke the cigar and provide my thoughts per numerous requests.

For this review, I went with your standard robusto, and the robusto measures 5" with a 50 ring gauge. The cigar is a Nicaraguan puro, and is composed of Cuban seed Criollo and Corojo tobacco. Production takes place in Nicaragua, and the presentation is simple and very reminiscent to the older Partagas bands. There is nothing about Curivari products that is wowing, but in simplicity is beauty I always say. The wrapper on the cigar is slightly smooth in texture, and it shows a little bit of grit here and there. There are some medium sized veins present throughout, and the wrapper has a nice Colorado coloring overall. It is firm from head to foot, and is finished with a lovely cap. There is an aroma of oak, vanilla, spices, and tobacco, and it is very balanced. I am getting a great cold draw with the cigar, so let's light up this stick.

The first third opens up by showing some soft spice notes, and it is accompanied by some toasty and nutty qualities. There are some earthy aspects present as well, and it has some faint stone fruit notes that are more that of peach and nectarines. There is a nice sweet white pepper finish to the cigar, and it is a flavorful first third. The construction is top notch thus far and it is showing an even burn line with a nice charcoal colored ash on the end. The ash is holding on firmly to the end, and I am getting a solid amount of smoke with each puff. I would classify the first third as being medium overall in terms of body, and the strength is slightly below that. It is a flavor focused cigar, and an enjoyable one at that. I am really looking forward to the second third.

When I get into the second third of the cigar, I find that there are some new flavors present, and I am getting some oak and vanilla notes. They are pairing with those lovely spice flavors from the first third, and the white pepper notes are still present. Bits of stone fruit are mixing in with that, and it leaves a nutty, toasty, and earthy finish. The construction remains top notch in this third as well, and it is showing an even burn line with that charcoal ash on the end. The draw is smooth and cool, and there is a nice bit of smoke with each draw. The retrohale is fantastic, and this is a complex smoke with a lot of depth. I would say that the cigar is remaining at a medium level for both strength and body in this third, and I am loving every aspect of this smoke.

The final third shows some transitioning in flavors and it has a nice finish overall. It is showing some oaky notes with spices, and I am getting that white pepper flavors from before. There is a nutty and toasty quality present as well, and it has a nice finish of coffee beans and earth. The stone fruit notes are not present in the final third, but with what is present it is very enjoyable and more than satisfying. I would say that the cigar is smoking at a medium level for strength and body in this third, and it is a complex cigar with a great level of depth. It has had transitioning since the start, and this is what a great cigar should do. The construction remains perfect in the final third and it is showing showing an even burn line with that solid charcoal ash on the end. The draw is cool to the end, and flavorful to the nub.

The Seleccion Privada is a solid line and another great Nicaraguan puro from Curivari. Curivari has a nice collection going for them, but with those nice set of releases is a very limited number. I always enjoy smoking them when the opportunity presents itself, but given that they are limited in production and not around all the time, it is hard to make them a daily smoke. I think Seleccion Privada is right in line with El Gran Rey in terms of ranking, and that is where the brand typically lies overall. The construction was top notch throughout the entire smoking experience, and the flavors very enjoyable as well. I find that a majority of their smokers are medium body and strength smokes, and that makes them appealing and friendly to a lot of smokers. The cigars are very price friendly though, and with them coming in ten count boxes, it makes them very approachable for box purchases. Overall, I give the cigar a solid 88 rating.

Seth's Humidor Rating: 88

Habanos Critic Review: Partagás Serie E No.2

Cigar Review: Flor del Valle Gran Valle (Warped Cigars)

Cigar Revisited: The King Is Dead The Last Payday

Cigar Review: Soneros Habano Claro Corona Gorda (Cubanacan Cigars)

Cigar Revisited: La Palina Goldie Laguito Especial

Week in Review (Volume 3, Issue 7)

Cigar Review: illusione ~eccj~ 20th

Habanos Critic Review: H. Upmann Royal Robusto (LCDH Exclusivo 2011)

Habanos News: Habanos S.A. Announces 2015 Limitadas, Aniversarios and Gran Reserva

Cigar Competition: Winston Churchill Blenheim vs. Davidoff Winston Churchill Churchill

Cigar Review: Davidoff Winston Churchill Churchill

Cigar Review: Winston Churchill Blenheim

Cigar Review: La Aurora Untamed Robusto

Habanos Critic Review: Cohiba Robustos Supremos Edición Limitada (2014)

Cigar Competition Winner: Davidoff Winston Churchill Churchill

Cigar Review: Southern Draw Firethorn Toro

Cigar News: Drew Estate Announces "Pope of Greenwich Village" (Smoke Inn Microblend Series)

Week in Review (Volume 3, Issue 8)

Cigar Review: El Oso Mama (Warped Cigars)

Cigar Review: Curivari Seleccion Privada Robustos