A Cigar Smokers Journal

Tis The Season Of Giving…

November 21, 2008

Cigar Reviews will return tomorrow, as I have solved my issue of smoking in the cold weather. For now I want to share with you all an event that a good fried of mine put together and he has brought me on board to help with the project…

The cigar community has been chastised long enough and it is time to make a good name for ourselves. So Pete decided to put together a little herf, and at this herf we will be holding a raffle in which the proceeds will go to buying a gifts for under privileged children.

Some great cigar manufactures have stepped up to the plate and have offered cigars to be raffled off for this great cause and some of the early arrivals will be given a bag of smokes as well.

So if you live near by, stop by and say hello. Ask for me (Barry) and if I am not there ask for Pete and tell him acigarsmoker.com sent you…

Date: Noverber 28th
Time: 1:00pm - whenever the owners kick us out
Location: 2215 Route 112, Medford, NY 11763
Parking: Small lot in front of the store, more parking on side and in back of the store
Directions: Take LIE to exit 64 South. Proceed about 3/4 mile and on your left hand side you’ll see a small park. Immediately after the park is a small shopping center. Goodfella’s in in there.

A special thank you to Steve from CAO, John from Altadis, Jim From Arganese, Xikar, and Goodfella’s Cigars.

No Comments » | Cigar Reviews | Tagged: altadis, CAO, Christmas, Goodfella Cigars, xikar | Permalink
Posted by Barry

Cigar Review: Casa Fuente

November 18, 2008

Casa Fuente

One of my favorite things to do is take part in cigar passes from various cigar message boards. You get to try new cigars that you might not have been able to purchase in your part of the world. That is sort of how today’s cigar finds me. I missed out on getting a Casa Fuente as the person before me took it. Soo Jitzy a user on the message boards and I worked out a 5 for 5 trade of various cigars with the Fuente being the focal point. Then to top it off, the cigar was from 2005.

Casa Fuente is supposed to be only available at Case Fuente as it is the house blend. The shop is located at Caesars in Las Vegas and the cigar itself is supposed to rival the Opus X. However, if you look hard enough there are some sites on the internet that have them in stock.

The cigar blend is supposedly secret, but many people say the filler and binder is the same as the Opus X.

Cigar: Casa Fuente
Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 5.38 x 52 (Belicoso Fina)
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican Republic (Unconfirmed)
Filler: Dominican Republic (Unconfirmed)
Strength: Medium to Full

Appearance & Construction (19/20): This cigar might have to serve as my bench mark for all things belicoso. With the exception of a slight imperfection in the leaf that could have occurred in the aging process this cigar is perfect. It has a impressive weight to it, no soft spots, a gorgeous Cameroon wrapper , and one of the best formed belicoso caps that I have ever seen. I did however have to deduct one point, for said imperfection.

Flavor/Notes (30/30): The pre-light notes at the foot and the draw were a nice sweet molasses that was incredibly well defined. Upon lighting the cigar, there was some pepper notes that quickly faded and as I began the first third the notes of molasses (a nice sweetness), and nuts (perhaps nutmeg) enveloped my palate and I was in heaven smoking this cigar. The second third while the sweetness remained notes of nuts and wood (cedar) were the dominant notes. As the cigar closed all 3 notes were working together so well that I did not want to the cigar to end. It turned a day of sadness into a nice relaxing reflecting day.

Burn/Ash/Draw (25/25): This cigar had a gorgeous white ash that held extremely tight. It offered no flake to it, and I was able to work on a nice long ash each time I started one. The draw was perfect and was yet another benchmark for me in terms of belicoso cigars. The burn line was so incredibly straight that people I with even commented on it and the oils on the cigar just above the burn line. This was perfection.

Overall: (23/25): I smoked this cigar on Satuday on what would of be my fathers birthday if he was still alive. In fact when I got the cigar from Jitzy back in August I knew I would fire it up on November 15th and it easily is the best cigar I have ever smoked. The drawback is the price and how hard it is to obtain, which forces me to drop 2 points in this section. Despite the price though, this is a smoke that should be tried at least once by any aficionado.

Rating: 97
Price: Gift, but retails for $23.00 a stick

1 Comment | Cigar Reviews | Tagged: 90+ Rating, belicoso, casa fuente | Permalink
Posted by Barry

Site News

November 17, 2008

I was going to post a review today for a Casa Fuente I smoked on Saturday but I do not have my crib notes with me so it will have to wait til tomorrow morning. It is getting r and harder for me to smoke on a daily basis due to the cold weather. This morning it was a crisp 33 degrees. That is 1 degree for the rest of the world since you all use Celsius.

In the meantime I created a facebook group called A Cigar Smoker. I invite all you facebookers to join!

No Comments » | Cigar Reviews | Tagged: facebook | Permalink
Posted by Barry

Cigar Contest Winner

November 16, 2008

Once again we at acigarsmoker.com want to thank Cigars Direct for sponsoring this site and a great contest.

The winner of the Short Story 5 Pack is….

Andrew Corlett of Glenmont, NY

(agctribefan)

1 Comment | Cigar Reviews | Permalink
Posted by Barry

Cigar Review: Carinos

November 14, 2008

Carinos

Today’s review is a cigar given to me by one of my sponsors, Famous Smoke Shop. In these difficult economic times, may I suggest the autumn sampler pack which can be purchased by clicking the link on the right in the sponsors section.

Cigar: Carnios
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa Claro
Binder: Brazilian Sumatra
Filler: Honduran Jamastran, Panama
Strength: Medium

Appearance & Construction (17/20): Some cigars despite being hand rolled have this uncanny perfect look about them. By this I mean the cigar has virtually no seems and the cap is so perfectly formed that you have to wonder how they could be hand rolled. The wrapper of this stick despite being properly maintained it looks a little dry and britle. It is a little bit light in weight and has some soft spots in the roll.

Flavor/Notes (24/30): The cigar has some sweetness to it in the pre-light phase, but upon lighting I was hit with some coarse pepper that felt like it singed the back of my throat. The cigar did smooth out after this though, and it felt like it was a Don Pepin wanna be or ject. The notes of the cigar were of nuts and spice throughout. None of which stood out very much. This cigar fit what you would expect the pricing profile to be.

Burn/Ash/Draw (25/25): Despite the soft spots in the roll, the burn line, ash and draw were the best aspects of this cigar. The ash held tight and was a medium color gray. The draw of the cigar allowed me to smoke without aggravation. The burn line was straight and true.

Overall: (20/25): On a raw November day the cigar did not quench my desire for an afternoon smoke. While it had some pleasing characteristics, it did not fit the profile I personally enjoy. For the price though, it was a good smoke, but I rather spend a little more $$$ and find something I truly enjoy.

Rating: 86
Price: $12.00 for a 5-pack

No Comments » | Cigar Reviews | Tagged: carinos, famous smoke, robusto | Permalink
Posted by Barry

Cigar Review: My Father (Don Pepin)

November 10, 2008

My Fathey by Don Pepin Garcia

Well the man with more blends on the market then anyone I can think of has done it again. Although this cigar was released in September, it is first showing up in cigar shops around town and on the internet as well. This blend is the result of a family effort as it is created by father (Don Pepin) and son (Jaime Garcia). It comes from the El Rey de los Habanos factory down Little Havana in Miami, Florida and is limited to 50,000 cigars per year. This small little factory has produced a lot of great cigars lately, will this one live up to the hype?

Cigar: My Father
Origin: Little Havana, Miami, Florida
Size: 5.5 x 54 (No. 2 Belicoso)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano with Criollo (Hybrid)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full

Appearance & Construction (17/20):I was a little shocked by the amount of veins in the wrapper as some of them were very prominent. It did not look like a cigar typical of this price range. The foot of the cigar was a little loose for my liking, but it was acceptable none the less. The band of the cigar is nicely done, though the pink was a tad feminine for a cigar being called “My Father”.

Flavor/Notes (26/30): The pre-light draw of the cigar offered some distinct notes of cinnamon. The same notes were available to the nose at the foot. Upon lighting the cigar, there is some of that trademark Pepin pepper but it is much more subdued then your typical Pepin smoke. The notes of the cigar at times were a bit all over the place for me, but there underlying base was cinnamon and mocha. Other notes were of wood, caramel, and espresso.

Burn/Ash/Draw (24/25): A nice gray ash accompanied this cigar that hell it’s ash very well. Despite a slightly jagged burn line I managed to hold on the my ash for almost half the cigar. The draw had a slight resistance that is to be expected with a belicoso and was very acceptable.

Overall (21/25): I smoked this cigar at the usual spot for me, and I can see now I will soon need to find a new location to do my reviews. The area is now pretty much in the shade and with temperatures this morning at my time of smoke in the mid to up 40’s it was a bit cold. The water on the horizon had a glacial feel to it, and the wind blowing was causing wisps of sands to blow across the sand. It reminded of me snow, and the winter months ahead. I share this because I feel the overall score the settings you smoke a cigar have to be taken into effect. Let’s face it an Opus X would be enjoyed much more among friends than with evil in-laws. As far as the characteristics of the smoke, they flavors were nice, but they jumped around for me a lot which gave me a headache. The price tag on this smoke it a bit hefty, and to be honest I do not think it is warranted. To me the La Aroma De Cuba Edicion Especial is a stick that is better and about 25% less in price.

Rating: 88
Price: $11.40 (Before Local Taxes)

2 Comments | Cigar Reviews | Tagged: belicoso, Cigar Review, don pepin, my father | Permalink
Posted by Barry

Cigar News: Win 10,000 Gallons of Free Gas from 2 Guys Smoke Shops

November 10, 2008

Salem, New Hampshire November 9, 2008 – One of the 414 guests at the 23rd Anniversary party of Two Guys Smoke Shops on November 19 will win 10,000 gallons of gasoline from the New Hampshire-based smoke shop chain with stores in Salem, Nashua and Seabrook.

“For $200 per ticket – and we have just a few more available - you get more than your money’s worth with 23 premium, handmade cigars, a five-course Italian feast, entertainment by the Rat Pack, raffles, cigar celebrities, plenty of prizes, surprises and fun plus the chance to win 10,000 gallons of gas,” said David Garofalo who founded Two Guys in 1985. The party will be held at DiBurro’s Function Facility in Bradford, Massachusetts.

Garofalo pointed out that the gas alone is worth $25,000 at today’s prices for about 12 years’ worth of gasoline or enough to drive around the world more than 10 times.

In addition, Two Guys is also giving away to all of its customers a free $10 gas card with every purchase of selected boxes of cigars.

“We’ve got 23 world famous brands participating throughout this year’s celebration,” he said. Participating brands include Avo, Punch, Cusano, CAO, Heaven, Chateau Real, Oliveros, Camacho, Arganese, Cuvee, Ashton, Tabac Especiale, Excalibur, Rocky Patel, Padron, Defiance, Tabaccos Baez, Oliva, among others. In addition to more prizes and surprises, guests will be able to visit with a broad array of cigar celebrities including Avo Uvezian, Jorge Padron, Michael and Joe Cusano, Gene Arganese, the Heaven Angels and more.

Tickets to the event are available at all Two Guys locations, by calling the catalog/mail order cigar line at 1-888-2-CIGAR-2 and on-line at www.2GuysSmokeShop.com.

Two Guys Smoke Shop locations are at 304 South Broadway in Salem NH; 15 Spit Brook Road in Nashua NH; and 741 Lafayette Road in Seabrook, NH.

No Comments » | Cigar Reviews | Tagged: cigar news, news, Smoke News | Permalink
Posted by Barry

Cigar Review: Tatuaje Frank

November 8, 2008

Tatuaje Frank

Today’s cigar is another Pete Johnson creation. I realize my blog is one step from a Pete Johnson fan site, but when he comes out with a cigar, I have to get my hands it as soon as possible. It has become an obsession. With this cigar being limited to 666 boxes of 13 I needed some help getting my hands on a few. Thankfully a BOTL from cigarlive.com hooked a brother up!

Each year at Halloween Pete Johnson releases a special blend for the holiday and names it after a movie monster. This year was The Frank for Frankenstein, and next year it will be The Drac for Dracula. I would assume next year will be a belicoso to recreate the fangs.

Cigar: Tatuaje The Frank
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 7.58 x 49 (Box Press Double Corona)
Wrapper: Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium

As of today I am using a new format for my reviews that will actually break down how I get my score. Let me know if you approve by voting on the poll at the bottom….

Appearance & Construction (20/20): The cigar has a nice slight box press appearance with a lot of veins, but being this cigar is meant as a tribute to Frankenstein it works very well. The cigar features a triple cap that is done to perfection. The wrapper has a silky appearance and an amazing amount of oils. Under close inspection the cigar has absolutely no issues what so ever.

Flavor/Notes (27/30): This is one complex cigar to break down. There are some underlying notes that make it very hard to pin down. The 1st third of smoke started off with a blast of pepper which is expected since Don Pepin Garcia had his hands on producing these. The blast of pepper seems to be his trademark. As we work our way down the first third notes of dark chocolate emerge with what reminds me of an almond extract which created a wow factor. The second third the notes of almond extract remain, but begin to fade. The dominant note is a rich dark chocolate that is so defined and so tasty it is better then any Halloween treat you got as a kid. The final third of the cigar some notes of leather creep in and I hope with some aging this will disappear. As I got near the nub the cigar was at it’s best and I was left with a nice dark chocolate finish.

Burn/Ash/Draw (23/25): The cigar had a really nice burn line that while not straight, it was never really jagged, nor did it need touching up. The ash was tight, white and held for long periods. At one point I had a nice 3.5″ ash. The draw was perfect throughout and if you add it all up it made the cigar a pleasure to smoke.

Overall (24/25): From start to finish this cigar was incredible. My smoking conditions added to it, with there being a fog over the water and an eerie quiet was at my smoke location with the only sound being breaking waves in the distance. This smoke had a lot of hype surrounding it, and very rarely does a cigar meet the hype in my opinion. This cigar however meets and exceeds the hype.

Rating: 94
Price: $13.00

3 Comments | Cigar Reviews | Tagged: Double Corona, pete johnson, poll, tatuaje, The Frank | Permalink
Posted by Barry

Cigar Review: Xikar Defiance

November 6, 2008

Xikar Defiance

Over the past few months my great country has been split on who to vote for. I have had people ask whose corner I was in but I never once put that on my blog. Now that the election is over, I will not hide the fact I voted for McCain. For me it was a matter of experience. It was that one point that made the choice for me. With that said and done, I think Obama has the potential of being a great president if he stays true to his platform. He is my president, although I did not vote for him. What disturbs me the most about this election is how many people bought into the emails going around calling him a terrorist, or that he was not born in the USA or what have you. The Internet has created a gullible society and I wish our President elect the best for if he does well, then my country does well and that is what matters most to me…

Today’s cigar I won in a bet with the owner of Barrister Cigars. We had a friendly wager of a cigar on who would win the Wolrd Series. This cigar was that payoff.

Cigar: Xikar Defiance
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 5 x 50 (The Renegade)
Wrapper: Nicaragua Cuban seed shade grown Criollo wrapper aged 4 years
Binder: Nicaragua Cuban seed sun grown Corojo binder
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium

Pre-Smoke: This cigar has been on my to try list for a while and I wound up with a nice aged cigar to sample. Normally I tend to smoke 2 or 3 of a cigar before reviewing it, but today’s cigar was a 1 shot deal since I cannot find anyone local to me who sells this cigar. The wrapper offered a musky scent which had me a little worried and the foot offered notes of a caramel and figs. Fig notes are one of the notes I go ga-ga over and I was ecstatic to get it off of this cigar. The pre-light draw offered the same notes as the foot.

Smoke: This cigar produced a lot of smoke, that I was thankful to be smoking it outside. It also smoked very slow and this robusto lasted me a solid 90 minutes. The draw was perfect with only the slightest resistance. The first third offered notes of wood and caramel with a slight fig in the background. The 2nd third of the smoke, the wood remained and it offered notes of nuts. At this point I had a phone call that I was on for about 20 minutes and my cigar needed a relight when I was done. The final third of the smoke the fig retuned in the background with notes of wood in the foreground.

Overall: The finish of this cigar was an interesting sweet wood that was so pleasing I can recall it very well 2 days later as I write this review for this exceptional cigar. Xikar has a winner on there hands, as this cigar should finish in my top 10 smokes of the year.

Rating: 92
Price: $6.50 (before local taxes)

1 Comment | Cigar Reviews | Tagged: politics, xikar, defiance, cuban seen, phillies | Permalink
Posted by Barry

Cigar Review: CAO Gold Toro Review

November 3, 2008

CAO Gold

First off my camera is on the fritz, so I had to use a stock photo from the Internet…

This past Saturday I took a drive out to Bayside, NY (Queens) to pop in and say hello to a friend of mine who just happens to be the CAO Rep in my area. Should I be so lucky as to land my dream job I hope I can be half the rep this guy is. If you read my blog on a regular basis you know I can’t speak enough about Steve the CAO guy.

So I headed to the Habana Hut which is a relatively new brick & mortar located at 214-09 41st Ave in Bayside, NY. The store is gorgeous, with a lot of flat screen televisions showing all the games for your enjoyment as you smoke your favorite stogie. Their humidor utilizes its space well with a large selection of smokes including Opus X.

I was hoping that they would have the new LX 2 from CAO but alas it was not out yet, so I picked up some standards from CAO and that is how we got today’s review…

Cigar: CAO Gold
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 6.5 x 50 (Corona Gorda)
Wrapper: Ecuador Grown Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Mild

Pre-Smoke: When I worked in a B&M back in the day and someone wanted to smoke something mild this was the go to cigar. Not only is it reasonably priced, it is a full flavor mild smoke. The cigar has a beautiful golden brown wrapper with some veins but nothing that stands out in an obscene way. It was well rolled with a decent weight to it and no soft sports to be found. I used a cat’s eye (v-style) cut on this cigar. The prelight draw and aroma were similar barnyard like notes of hay and earth which is usually the sign of a mild cigar.

Smoke: From the first light the CAO Gold is a smooth creamy smoke. The first third of the cigar offers some subtle notes of wood and nuts. The second third of the cigar the wood notes moved to the front with a hint of sweetness similar to caramel. The final third the wood remained but the dominant note was that of nuts which left me with a very enjoyable nutty finish. The cigar had a great even burn throughout that never needed to be touched up.

Overall: Sometimes it is nice to revisit some of the cigars that started it all of me as a cigar smoker. The CAO Gold is a mild cigar with a really good flavor profile that even a seasoned veteran can enjoy. I found it to be a very relaxing smoke on a cold drab morning.

Rating: 88
Price: $5.50

Reminder: Enter to win a chance to win a 5 pack of Arturo Fuente cigars, just click here to leave a comment before November 15th, 2008 at 9am.

No Comments » | Cigar Reviews | Tagged: CAO, cao gold, connecticut shade, mild | Permalink
Posted by Barry

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A Cigar Smokers Journal

Tis The Season Of Giving…

Cigar Review: Casa Fuente

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Cigar Contest Winner

Cigar Review: Carinos

Cigar Review: My Father (Don Pepin)

Cigar News: Win 10,000 Gallons of Free Gas from 2 Guys Smoke Shops

Cigar Review: Tatuaje Frank

Cigar Review: Xikar Defiance

Cigar Review: CAO Gold Toro Review

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