My 12 Days of Christmas: Unwrapping the Humidor & a Conclusion.

Six Geese through Twelve Drummers...

I come to you, my readers, bearing gifts. Twelve days of gifts to be exact. From now until Christmas, I'll be giving 12 reviews of cigars that have been in my humidor for various amounts of time. Nothing beats the gift of one's own humidor and the treasures that lay within. So, here we go.


Previous post(s):
A Partridge in a Pear Tree - 1961 Frank Llaneza
Two Turtle Doves - Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial
Three French Hens- Ashton VSG Wizard
Four Calling Birds- Alec Bradley Black Market torpedo
Five Golden Rings- Drew Estate Liga Privada L40

On the remaining days of Christmas, my humidor gave to me...

Six Geese-a-Laying...
A La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro robusto
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Ligero Sumatra
Binder: Dominican Sumatra
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
Time in my humidor: 5 months

You all know I couldn't do 12 days of cigars without a LFD, right?  This cigar is one of five that I purchased the day it landed at Town & Country Cigars in Euless, Texas.  The beautiful appearance and construction of this cigar begs to be smoked.  Lush oils cover this cigar right off the shelf, age only amplifies the richness.  This cigar is medium in body and strength, with a complex array of flavors on the palate ranging from dark fruit & orange peel to cedar & white pepper.  Total Rating: 9.4

Seven Swans-a-Swimming...
A Carlos Torano Vault Liga torpedo
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Shade Grown Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Omentepe
Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican
Time in my humidor: 2 months

This was another Town & Country purchase as soon as it was available after the 2011 IPCPR.  This smoke was an incredible surprise, that definitely exceeded my expectations.  The concept behind this cigar is what intrigues me most.  The foundation of this cigar was developed in 2000, but apparently there was a missing link.  Enter the Nicaraguan Omentepe leaf.  Eureka!  The Vault is born and a fantastic, rich bodied smoke with great flavor.  The palate is savory and the burn is immaculate. Total Rating: 9.1 

Eight Maids-a-Milking...
An Arturo Fuente King B
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sungrown Rosado
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Time in my humidor: 3 years 6 months

An instant classic as soon as it hit retailers in 2005, the Fuente King B is a great cigar that ages extremely well.  I kept the cedar roll around this stick for the past few years and had at the very bottom of one of my humidors.  The pre-light bouquet was enough to entice me to smoke this cigar.  The burn was a little off, but the mild  flavor was dead on with a nice, long peppery finish. Total Rating: 8.8

Nine Ladies Dancing
A 262 Ideology Churchill
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero, Mexican Ligero (San Andreas), Dominican Republic Viso (Piloto Cubano)
Time in my humidor: 8 months
You know Clint Aaron and the guys over at 262 are some of my favorite people.  I've been waiting for this smoke for a long time.  This was gifted to me by Clint and I've been holding onto it for a while.  I've had several Ideology cigars before, but never with much age on them.  I'd really like to see how years can affect this smoke.  The construction, draw, and burn are terrific and the flavors compliment the espresso that accompanied it.  The finish was nice and long with the beautiful bouquet lingering for a good amount of time.  Total Rating: 9.2

10 Lords-a-Leaping
A Camacho Triple Maduro toro
Wrapper: Jamastran Honduran
Binder: 3 Unknown Maduro leaves
Filler: Jamastran Honduran
Time in my humidor: 1 year 3 months

What a gorgeous cigar to look at!  This beaut is very dark with excellent construction and almost no visible veins.  The wrapper is quite meaty, with a fantastic sweet & peppery bouquet and palate.  The smoke was plentiful and the draw was a little tight, but it wasn't a total turn off.  The cigar ages great, and I think another year would do some wonders.  Grab it, hold onto it, and then...smoke it!  Total Rating: 9.2

11 Pipers Piping...
A Kristoff Sumatra toro
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Brazilian
Filler: Cuban Seed Dominican, Cuban Seed Nicaraguan
Time in my humidor: 7 months

Glenn Case and his Kristoff cigars are climbing toward the top of my list for a Go-to Smoke.  This cigar is very unique with a hearty foundation of oak and smoked mesquite.  Sounds like BBQ, right?  Well, the complex flavors that follow and build throw that idea out of the window.  Floral notes in the bouquet and sweet cinnamon & cardamon through the core, make this a very different smoke.  The rustic feel and appearance takes this cigar to a classic-style level.  Total Rating: 9.0

12 Drummers Drumming...
A Paul Garmirian Artisan's Passion super robusto
Wrapper: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Time in my humidor: 2 months

It's Paul Garmirian.  Period.  Ok, I should probably give you a little more than that, but its pretty self-explanatory.  The nose and bouquet from the smoke is an unbelievable mixture of pepper, dark fruit, almond, and light citrus.  The construction was flawless, but the draw left a little to be desired.  I can't wait to see what more age will do to this smoke.  Total Rating: 9.0

Well, there it is folks.  12 Days of Cigars to conclude the 2011 Holiday Season.  So, to all my readers Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings and have an amazing 2012!  Remember, there is nothing wrong with knowing you are the best!

Regards,
Bear

My 12 Days of Christmas: Unwrapping the Humidor.

...Four Calling Birds

I come to you, my readers, bearing gifts. Twelve days of gifts to be exact. From now until Christmas, I'll be giving 12 reviews of cigars that have been in my humidor for various amounts of time. Nothing beats the gift of one's own humidor and the treasures that lay within. So, here we go.

Previous post(s):

A Partridge in a Pear Tree - 1961 Frank Llaneza
Two Turtle Doves - Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial
Three French Hens- Ashton VSG Wizard

On the fourth day of Christmas, my humidor gave to me...

An Alec Bradley Black Market torpedo

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro

Binder: Sumatran

Filler: Panamanian & Honduran

Time in my humidor: 3 months

Alec Bradley was a cigar brand founded in 1996 by Alan Rubin, who recently sold his family import business.  Rubin named the cigar company after his two sons and partnered with Ralph Montero, who is now his Executive Vice President.  He sought the advice and guidance of renowned Henke Kelner, and the brand started to come into its own.

While the company had some early success with the Occidental Reserve and the Maxx, it really caught every aficionado's attention with the herald Tempus line.  Since 2007, Rubin and his crew have cranked out 90-rated smokes like clockwork.  The Tempus is in good company with Maxx Connecticut, Select Cabinet Reserve, & Prensado.

Rubin's newest creation, Black Market, debuted at this year's IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas and has been on the shelves since early September.  I grabbed a few of them right off the bat and the torpedo, is actually only the second one I have smoked.

Leathery! Leathery! Leathery! This may become the new HO! HO! HO!  A dominant leather flavor hits me on the dry draw and the foot has a strong note of pepper.  This cigar is rich with oils and I am very excited to see what extensive age will do to this smoke. 
The ash held well on this smoke, finally falling off in the middle of the smoke.  The first third of the cigar, while dominated by leathery flavor, does have notes of chocolate, pepper, earth, and clove.  The smoke is cool and delivers a strong, yet wonderful smelling bouquet. 

The cigar lasted me about an hour and a half that never had to be re-lighted or became bitter at all.  The finish was strong and stayed for quite a while. 

I paired this particular cigar with rum and I feel that a complimentary beverage, rather than contrast, would serve this cigar best.  I have a Real Ale coffee porter in my fridge right now that I think would go perfectly with the Black Market.

My Ratings:

Appearance - 10
Pre-light taste- 9
Construction - 10
Draw - 8
Burn - 8
Aroma - 10
Flavor - 9
Balance - 9
Finish- 9

Total Rating: 9.1

Rubin's story and journey into the cigar world is one of tremendous success.  His cigar creations and blends are some of the most talked about in the industry.  He doesn't have a name like Oliva, Garcia, or Padron - but his passion and drive have jolted him toward the upper echelon of the industry.

4 down...8 to go.  There's nothing wrong with knowing you are the best.

Regards,
Bear



My 12 Days of Christmas: Unwrapping the Humidor.

... a Partridge in a Pear Tree

I come to you, my readers, bearing gifts.  Twelve days of gifts to be exact.  From now until Christmas, I'll  be giving 12 reviews of cigars that have been in my humidor for various amounts of time.  Nothing beats the gift of one's own humidor and the treasures that lay within.  So, here we go.

On the first day of Christmas, my humidor gave to me...

A Frank Llaneza 1961 Cuban Corona

Wrapper: 1998 Ecuadorian Criollo

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican
Time in my humidor: 8 months

Frank Llaneza may have been born into the cigar industry, but he became a legend as he dedicated his entire adult life to art of cigar making.  He turned Villazon & Co. into an industry power and helped develop well-known labels of Punch and Hoyo de Monterrey after the Cuban Embargo.

On March 18, 2010, he died two weeks after his 90th birthday.  One of his final, of many, contributions to the world of cigars was a cigar that bears his name.

The Frank Llanzea 1961 line from Altadis, U.S.A., hailed from Nicaragua, was introduced at the IPCPR trade show in 2009.

When I first acquired a box of the Cuban Coronas I had various issues with draw, burn, and an overwhelming meaty flavor.  As I let the cigars age and rest in my humidor, over time, they have become much better.  I now have four left. 

After almost a year, the toothy wrapper has some present oils that permeate with creamy and coffee flavors on the palate of the dry draw.

A smooth, medium bodied nutty and creamy smoke comes through upon first light through the first quarter. The ash is light gray and sandy, and the cigars builds with impeccable consistency.  A peppery note starts to form as the cigars works into a fuller bodied stick.

The rich oils are quite impressive and remain constant as the cigar finishes.  The finish is quite smooth, long and peppery.  I can't wait to see what the remaining sticks will do and taste like over the next months and years.

My Ratings:

Appearance - 7

Pre-light taste- 9

Construction - 10

Draw - 8

Burn - 8

Aroma - 9

Flavor - 9

Balance - 10

Finish- 9

Total Rating: 87.8

Here's to Frank and his wonderful story, his amazing contribution, and his great cigars. 

One down.  Eleven to go.  Just think of Frank Llaneza, There's nothing wrong with knowing you are the best.

Regards,

Bear

Got Sol?

CAO Returns to the Scene with OSA SOL

"Brevity is the soul of wit." - William Shakespeare

Last year, the popular CAO brand of cigars became a part of the General Cigar Company. The first new blend of a CAO branded cigar since the merger debuted at the IPCPR Trade Show last month.  So, whatever your particular feelings on CAO are, throw it out the window.  Things are going to and have changed. 

If the CAO OSA Sol is a preview of things to come, then I am pretty excited.  

The OSA Sol is a medium to full bodied smoke that gave me pause to consider the new direction that CAO is now taking.  When I first heard of General Cigar's merger with CAO, I was concerned about the company's intention for the brand.  In the past, I haven't been a huge CAO fan, but it is an exciting brand that has seemed to have the pulse of the cigar community over the past few years.  The MX2, LX2 and Limited Release Sopranos edition in conjunction with the popular Brazilia line have proven fruitful for Ozgener, Huber, & Co. in the past few years, so let's just say I wasn't ready to say goodbye to CAO just yet.

General Cigar has since released OSA Sol and I was lucky to get my hands on one of these before its main release to the public.

OSA is an acronym for the region of Honduras where the blend of tobaccos for this cigar comes from. The Olancho and San Agustin valley produce unique leaves that contain lots of oils not found in other regions.  The wrapper is 2008 OSA. The Connecticut Broadleaf binder and blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler add to this cigar its complex character.

I smoked the robusto, which was five inches in length and had the traditional 50 ring gauge.  The ash has a very solid consistency and was light gray in color.  

The aroma was a little off-putting upon first light, but really settled into a perfect, well-balanced bouquet of rich, hearty earth, espresso, and oak.

The overall flavor and character of the cigar were surprisingly outstanding.  I am unsure what I was expecting, but this smoke definitely exceeded many of my expectations.  The rich flavor that protruded through the dark, oily OSA wrapper.  The construction held consistent and the burn was very forgiving.  

The smoke was plentiful and coated the palate with decadent flavor.  The medium bodied strength melded into some full body enjoyment by the end of the smoke as I took this stogie down to the nub.  

This cigar should retail for about $143.00 per 25-count box and should be a good value at that asking price.  Good Job CAO! Welcome back to the party.



My Ratings:

Appearance - 9

Pre-light taste- 8

Construction - 9

Draw - 8

Burn - 9

Aroma - 9

Flavor - 10

Balance - 9

Finish- 7

Total Rating: 8.7

Remember guys and gals, there is nothing wrong with knowing you are the best.

Regards,

Bear

Back from the Dead!



Manuel Quesada, me, & Manuel's rep, Brad

 "There are five things, above all else, that make life worth living: a good relationship with God, a good woman, good health, good friends, and a good cigar." -Prince Sined Yar Maharg


My sincerest apologies, readers, for my recent hiatus from blogging. I need to remind myself that not every post I write needs to be a novel or qualify, at least in my mind, for a Pulitzer.  However, just because I haven't been writing doesn't mean I haven't been smoking.

On the contrary, over the past few months, I have sampled some of the industry's best smokes.  In the past two weeks since the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) trade show last month in Las Vegas, it seems I've had a newly released cigar every day.

So, here's to reinvigorated inspiration, motivation and a love for one's passion.  And as always, remember guys and gals...There is nothing wrong with knowing you are the best.
Best Regards,
Bear