The Samuel Adams Winter Lager is know for its notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange, because of the hops this lager has the bitter sort that is close to an IPA.

Dion’s concept behind Illusione Cigars is to recreate a taste profile from years past, in this case before the Sandinistas took over Nicaragua in 1979, Nicaragua had been growing some of the best tobaccos. Illusione cigars are made from the prized fields in the Jalapa Valley and Esteli region. All of their cigars are made in small batches and deliver a taste and quality rarely found.

The Illusione Epernay Le Monde  lives up to the concept. The wrapper is beautiful, there is a sheen of oil, it is almost milk chocolate in color, and the note of the wrapper is a sweet cocoa. The foot of the cigar smells of chocolate and a slight coffee, leaning more towards latte.

The prelight draw is perfect, and tastes of cocoa and latte. The first puff is very rich and creamy, the smoke is medium bodied with a delicious mix of flavors, the most notable being cocoa as expected.

During the first third of the cigar the aroma of chocolate fills the air around me with undertones of coffee. The draw is excellent and there is a constant flavor of cream, and latte with an after taste of cocoa. The smoke from the cigar has an almost blue tinge to it. The strength is very mild, and the body remains medium, the overall flavors combine to taste something like a hot chocolate, perfect for the end of a cold day. The beer is providing a stark contrast because of the bitterness of the hops and the zest of the citrus.

As I move into the second third the cocoa seems to back off, and the taste of milk chocolate blends in. The smoke is still extremely creamy and rich and the flavors seem to meld perfectly together. Overall I’d describe this third with a single word, smooth. The draw is still perfect, the burn became wavy. The strength of the cigar picks up a little, becoming more medium. I was surprised to find the Winter Lager beginning to compliment this third, the flavor of the bittersweet chocolate in the cigar and the creaminess of the smoke helps to back off the bite of the hops, and the citrus flavor seem to refresh the palate.

Moving into the final 3rd the flavor of the bittersweet chocolate disappears being replaced once again with cocoa. The strength and body remains steady at a medium. It is just as rich and creamy as before, a very pleasant smoke. During this third I can taste the flavor of latte more acutely, leaving me very satisfied with the flavor profile. I smoke the Epernay down to the nub. Finding myself lost in the flavors, reality sets in with that finger burn at the last moment of my enjoyable smoke.

Overall I’d say I really enjoyed this cigar. It was rich and creamy for its entirety with the flavors of latte, chocolate, and cocoa fading in and out. With a bit years of aging the tastes have blended well together and make it an excellent cigar, the construction was fantastic, with minimal touch up. The beer did not pair as well as expected, the older Winter lager from Samuel Adams, which was more of a Bock mixed with malts and chocolate and far fewer hops would have most likely complimented this cigar better. The new version of the Winter Lager did provide an interesting contrast with the bitter taste of the hops and the citrus zest, however the contrast was a little too vast.

Rating 91/100

Size: 6¾ x 48 (Churchill)
Wrapper: Dominican (Habano Oscuro)
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Full
Body:Full
Flavor: Full
Factory: Tabacalera Ventura, Dom. Rep.
Vitolas: Corona, Robusto, Churchill
Cigars Smoked For Review: 1 (I smoked the Robusto before I decided to review)

Appearance and Construction: The cigar I received was “box pressed by UPS” but I will not discount that on the score. It is a beautiful dark brown with minimal veins and uniform in color and a nice dull sheen. The wrapper is much darker than the pictures convey. The cap is a mini pigtail but I chose to cut with a Xikar double blade cutter. The cigar felt firm and comfortable in hand and the cap extended well beyond the head of the cigar, a characteristic that is important to me as I am a biter and keep a cigar in my mouth for much of the duration of the smoke. This cigar did not come unwound.

Flavor & Notes: The prelight aroma from the foot was sweet and nutty and the prelight draw had mild spice to the lips with some hazlenut notes. While toasting the foot, pleasant dry notes of dark coffee are distinctive. The first draw confirms the toasting aroma. When retro-haled, the body of the smoke is a medium strength with mild pepper.

Smoking Characteristics: The first third of the cigar brought a mild pepper to the front of the mouth, not what I would expect from a cigar billed as full bodied. Woody notes and a subtle sweetness subside and begin to be replaced by more peppery but pleasant spice. The cigar smokes on the dry side but with no bitterness. The smoke is very complex with no predominant flavor and woody and earthy undertones. The aroma of the smoke is incredibly smooth and silky with a beautiful gray ash. The burn through the first third is a little uneven but catches up with no touch-up. The second third produces smoke with a beautiful brown tinge on exhale and is stark in contrast to the blue/gray smoke of the burn. The spice and strength continues to build with a perfect balance of flavors that are woody and earthy yet with a creamy pleasing finish and absolutely no bite. The ash falls as I enter into the last third of the cigar and the exhale smoke changes to more of a blue/gray like the burn. The spiciness becomes much sharper and the creaminess begins to disappear revealing the true strength of the blend. A tangy subtle sweetness begins to come to the palate and continues with an undescribable complexity. The ash continues to burn beautiful white/gray but the dead center of the burn shows a brown/taupe ash denoting a much different component at the center of the cigar. A defined nicotene buzz comes over me as the strength increases. As a rule, I drink water with my reviews, but despite my resistance I go for a sip of black coffee to compliment the spice and nuttiness I am tasting. The pepper concentrated at the front of my mouth upon first lighting returns as I smoke this cigar to the nub! Incredible!

Conclusion: With Nicaraguan powerhouses getting the lion’s share of attention these days, I think that George Rodriguez, William Ventura, and Rodrigo cigars could single handedly force a pendulum shift towards attention to Dominican Puros. I can’t wait to see the rest of the line and what else George and William come up with in the future

Rating: 92
Price: N/A cigar was sent as a sample. Thanks George!

Vitola: 6 x 60
Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca Sungrown
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Esteli & Pueblo Nuevo Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Factory: Danli, Honduras

Appearance: This viola has a beautiful dark brown silky finish with a triple cap that extends well below the top of the cigar. I cut this cigar with a large ring bullet punch. The foot exudes a subtle aroma of chocolate and a delicate sweetness. The prelight draw is the same with an absence of spice to the lips.

First third: Upon lighting, the aroma of leather and chocolate permeate the air. The first draw yields chocolate and mild pepper with bountiful amounts of smoke and leathery notes. The beautiful chocolate notes continue with no harsh pepper and a dash of cinnamon.

Second Third: With a nice cool burn still going, the same chocolate and cinnamon notes continue building with a flavor that is big to the palate. The cigar burned a little unevenly but caught up as the ash dropped at the halfway point of the cigar..

Last third: The cigar continued with wonderful pedictability through the finish with a smoking time of almost an hour and a half. It never overpowered and compliments the other violas of the Exodus 1959 50 year line.

Rating: 90

The 2004 is a smaller smoke as well and will be a smoke that is more time manageable at just beyond an hour.

Appearance: This vitola is gorgeous looking and is available in one size only. This Salamon comes in at 6.5 x 52 which is smaller than the Puro Vintage 2003. The wrapper has some medium sized veins and a rich reddish brown hue with a fair amount of oils visible to the naked eye. The band of the cigar has the new La Aurora look to it just like the Leon Jimenes Prestige I reviewed last week. In the hand the cigar feels a bit underpacked with some soft spots and a light weight to it.

Flavor: The cold draw of the Puro Vintage 2004 from La Aurora has a nutty note with some earthy undertones as well and is very appealing. The nose of the cigar is more earthy than anything else. As I smoked the first third of the cigar, I pick up notes of sunflower seeds that Barry Stein mentioned existed in the 2003. Perhaps, it was the power of suggestion but I could swear those notes filled my exhale. As the cigar makes its way into the second third the strength picks up and lets you know that this blend is stronger than the previous edition. Now, the 2003 has much more aging time (released in 2008) so the 2004 may smooth out as the flavors continue marry over time.  Continuing in the middle third, the notes are earth with a touch of coffee and a gentle spice through the nose. The final third of the cigar continues with notes of earth and coffee and a touch of nuttiness. The spice continues to develop through the nose without becoming overpowering. Overall, a pleasant smoking experience.

Characteristics: Further proof of the added strength of the Puro Vintage 2004 is the visible presence of some blue smoke which usually denotes Ligero tobacco. The higher primings have a higher mineral content. The draw is slightly loose but does not detract from the overall experience of this smoke. The cigar remained lit without touch up, and the ash, while a bit flaky, held on for nearly half the cigar. Just prior to the label I did touch up the stick slightly but I was sitting under a smoke eater so that could of played into the burn. I smoked the cigar to the end with water only but could see this cigar pairing well with a 12+ year single malt scotch.

Overall: At $16.00 this cigar comes in nearly $9.00 cheaper than the predecessor. However, it is a better cigar and a logical progression for the blend. The Puro Vintage 2004 has more power, more flavor and more bang for the buck. A truly enjoyable specimen that was worth the wait for its release. This is a limited edition, folks, so do not wait to long to get yours!

Rating: 90

You won’t go wrong trying at least one of these!

First of all, Barry Stein is now getting settled in at Miami Cigar & Company and I would like to pay tribute by reviewing one of the cigars that he will be selling. We showed the preview of the Prestige in our 2011 IPCPR La Aurora Preview last summer.

The second reason is that this cigar was given to me by Guillermo Leon himself at a reception I attended at the Grand Havana Room in NYC on October 26, 2012. The event was to celebrate the addition of Presidente Beer to the liquor lineup at the club. For those of you who do not know about Grand Havana Room, it is on the top floor of the Citi Building on 5th Ave at 52nd st in Manhattan. This exclusive club hosts many a famous member. The lounge area itsself boasts dozens of  leather chairs and cocktail tables to relax well into the evening.

The bar area looks over an incredible glass wall humidor housing an impressive wall of private lockers and a collection of prized vitolas. An entire corner of the club is dedicated to a formal reception banquet room that would impress even The Great Gatsby’s guests.

Upon arrival, each guest received a sampler of Miami & Company/ La Aurora cigars which included the Prestige. Other attendees included Michael Herklots from Nat Sherman, Ron Melendi from De La Concha, Rene Castaneda from Miami Cigars, and Mario Takayama from Cigar Explorer.

I have a particular fondness for being able to smoke a cigar with a blender or company owner. Who can better explain what they were trying to create with a particular cigar? So as I was being introduced to Guillermo Leon by Nestor Miranda of Miami Cigar, I asked Guillermo which cigar he preferred. He immediately pulled a Prestige from his jacket pocket and told me I should start with the Prestige. I gently toasted it and enjoyed a wonderful evening with the Miami Cigar – La Aurora family.

The second cigar which I had saved for a later time has now become the source for this review and so I shall begin.

CIGAR: Leon Jimenes Prestige Robusto Tubo
VITOLA: 5 x 50
WRAPPER: Dominican Corojo
BINDER: Dominican
FILLER: Nicaragua & Dominican

Appearance: The Leon Jimenes comes in a blue on blue metal tube with gold writing which is a nice modern look for an older brand. The cigar is nested in cedar and snuggly fits in the tube. When removed, the wrapper, nearly blonde, has some fine veins and tooth with a beautiful sheen from the oils. The cigar is rolled to perfection with a nice weight and a firm feel in the hand. There are no soft spots on this nicely rolled cigar.

Notes: The pre-light draw of the cigar is raisin and earth while the foot is nutty. The first third of the cigar has a significant amount of wood with a rich butter like smoothness.  In the second third the Prestige continues with the nutty notes from the pre-light with some bread notes and a subtle spice. The last third of the cigar builds with spice, but does not overpower with continued nuts and earthiness leaving a clean but pleasant palate.

Contstruction: The burn of the Leon Jimenes is a little off center but it burned all the way through without needing any touch up. The ash was firm and the draw perfect. The stick produced a fair amount of smoke with a subtle aroma.

Overall: The Leon Jimenes Prestige packaging breathes new life into an older brand. The Leon Jimenes Maduros were a favorite of mine in years past. While billed as medium bodied, the cigar is on the milder side of that spectrum but met all of my expectations of this cigar.

Rating: 90
Price: 8.50

Note: Although the cigar was given to me by Guillermo Leon, my impressions remain consistent after smoking this cigar a second time. Recommended for a lighter cigar smoker who is looking for more flavor or a great mid-day smoke without too much strength.

15. Cro-Magnon – I love it when a little guy, makes his mark on the world. In the world of cigars Skip Martin and Michael Rosales team up to give us the  Cro-Magnon and this full bodied smoke really delivered. It will put hair on your chest and turn you into a caveman if you aren’t careful.

14. Quesada Espana – This stick was created for the Spanish market, but it was met with great fanfare from the online community which forced the hand of Matasa to release this stateside. The sticks are available in a limited amount of stores so tracking them down can be difficult, but they are worth the effort.

13. Room 101 Namakubi – I had been disappointed with Room 101 and the releases they put out, but the Namakubi really changed things up for me as a consumer.  Namakubi turned out to be everything Room 101 wasn’t and brought forth a renewed interest in the brand.

12. EP Carrillo New Wave Connecticut – In any other year this smoke could of been a top 3 cigar. The EP Carrillo New Wave Connecticut might be the best Connecticut shade to ever grace the marketplace. Mild in strength but with a complex profile this cigar should be around for many years to come.

11. Casa Magna Dominus Magnus – Hanging out in Tobacco Plaza in Long Island, Pete Johnson told Manuel Quesada that he was crazy for making this a limited edition cigar and that it should be a regular release. Sadly, lack of tobacco prevented that from happening. A box pressed treasure is the best way to describe this smoke.

10. Jamie Garcia Limited Edition 2011 – At the Big Smoke in NYC I was in awe when Jaime Garcia recognized me with a salute through the crowd and was blown away when he stopped to talk to me with his wife. It’s good to see Jaime embracing the English language and I hope to have another conversation with him in the future when he realizes his English is better than he thinks.

09. Emilio AF 1 – The brand from Gary Griffith is a cigar that most people don’t know is around. This is a shame, as it is an epic cigar. Flavor, balanced and priced right this cigar should become the new wave of boutique cigars that will have everyone clamoring for more.

08. Undercrown – The latest from Drew Estate hopes to fill in the void for those who can’t get the Liga Privada No. 9. Full strength, and a nice profile the cigar delivers better then expected. Just be sure to smoke in a well ventilated area as this cigar produces some amazing volumes of smoke.

07. Fausto – Billed as a cigar where the strength goes to 11, I tend to disagree with it. It was also billed as being based on the same blend as the T110 and I tend to disagree with that. What I do agree with is that this smoke was a top 10 cigar for 2011, so the first two points are moot.

06. Illusione 88 Candela -Most Candela cigars that have been on the market since I began smoking in 1999 have been awful. In fact, I can’t think of one I would smoke again. That is until now. The Illusione Candela is a great cigar, and easily the best Candela ever made.

05. Litto Gomez Small Batch #4 – The small batch #4 forced me to rewrite my list, this cigar uses a Pelo de Oro wrapper and is a flavor bomb, the price however is a bit much in the New York market which kept it from ranking a bit higher.

04. San Lotano Oval – Made by AJ Fernandez the San Lotano Oval is an oval pressed cigar. It feels perfect in the hand with a nice profile and a good price. Remember the name, AJ Fernandez as I predict he will be a house hold name in the cigar industry within a couple of years.

03. Casa Miranda – Miami Cigar & Company stepped outside their relationship with My Father Cigars to release the Casa Miranda. Made in Miami by Titan de Bronze in Calle Ocho the stick is labeled Chapter One, so you have to wonder when Chapter Two will be on the market.

02. Four Kicks – I toyed around with naming this cigar, cigar of the year but in the end it comes in as #2. Made by EP Carrillo for Crowned Heads this stick was the first released from Jon Huber and the former CAO gang. Currently limited to 66 stores, the smoke should be a wider release next year.

01. La Casita Criolla – This pick is sure to get a lot of feedback. Within my circle of friends this cigar might be the most polarizing stick on the market. In fact, Pete mentioned a friend of mine texting him how much he disliked the smoke when it first came out on Stogie 411. For me however, this Connecticut Broadleaf Puro is so different than anything currently on the market that it keeps calling me back again and again.

For details on entering, read the post on their site, Smoke Signals…

Cigar: Litto Gomez Small Batch #4
Size: 7 x 52
Wrapper: Dominican Pelo de Oro
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

Litto Gomez Small Batch #4

Appearance and Construction: Like many of the Litto Gomez Small Batch cigars before it this stick looks special. The rugged looking wrapper has a slight tooth to it and a few veins to it, but that does not detract to the beauty. Like the rugged look of Al Pacino or Robert DeNiro this weathered look exudes a je ne sais quoi about it. The Small Batch #4 has a nice weight to it, with no soft spots and a well packed food. The gold and red band displays LG after the founder, Litto Gomez.

Flavor & Notes: The prelight cold draw through me for a loop. Especially after I was smoking to the local rep about how so many of Litto’s smokes have a molasses to them at this phase of the game. The cold draw here was predominantly earthy with only a hint of sweetness as an after thought. The foot of the cigar holds true to the statement however with a nice abundance of a sweet molasses to the nose. Once the cigar was lit, some of that molasses was clear on the first puff, which was a nice welcome. The first third has a wonderful taste that is different then anything I have experienced. The wrapper of Pelo de Oro plays into that as I have limited experience with the tobacco. There is a sweetness, earthiness and nuttiness present that is absolutely mouth watering. In the second third there was a hint of peppermint that lingered for a while and vanished almost as quickly as it arrived. The molasses notes remain and a nice nutty finish. As we enter the last third the distinct notes I attribute to the Pelo de Oro really begin to shine and the cigar is incredibly delicious. As we near the end some leather and earth join the mix with a nice short nut-like finish.

Smoking Characteristics: A slow burning stick with a perfect draw and a nice solid ash that holds on strong. The draw was perfect with the right amount of resistance and the aroma added to the experience as well. The burn of the cigar was crisp and it stayed lit from start til I couldn’t hold on to it anymore.

Conclusion: Pelo de Oro is becoming one of my favorite tobaccos, and getting to smoke it as the wrapper was a treat. I was growing tired of the Small Batch releases, but this one which uses tobacco harvested in 2006 helps re-invent the yearly release. One complaint is the price, but the cigar is so superior it is easy to ignore that when smoking a cigar of this caliber.

Rating: 92
Price: $18.00

When I was putting together my list of top cigars of the year I felt guilty that I chose to pass on these and didn’t smoke one for consideration. So for the second time in a week I am doing a review based on one cigar.

The Rocky Patel 50th is a limited edition cigar that celebrates the 50th birthday of this cigar icon. Available in 3 sizes; Robusto, Toro and Torpedo wtih each size limited to 2000 boxes.

Cigar: Rocky Patel 50th
Size: Torpedo
Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 1

Appearance and Construction: With the packaging mentioned above I’ll focus on the torpedo itself. There stick has a slight box press to it with a gorgeous oily wrapper that is absolutely flawless. The roll of the cigar is seamless and is easily one of the best looking torpedo smokes I have ever seen. In the hand the cigar almost feels like there is air between the wrapper and filler. I liken it to the feeling of bubble wrap. The Rocky Patel 50th uses a dual band system with the colors of orange, silver, bronze and black.

Flavor & Notes: The cold draw reminds me of lucky charms marshmellows, while the foot of the cigar has a nose reminiscent of a slight spice and floral notes. Once the stick was lit with a soft flame lighter I was impressed with the complexity of the cigar. Some notes of wood, leather, and coffee were instantly identifiable. Through the nose the smoke had a slight spice and some floral hints. Despite the hint of floral it was obvious this was one of the strong cigars in the Rocky portfolio. As I worked my way into the first third the floral notes quickly faded and the focal point was very nutty. As the second third of the smoke was breached the cigar took on a complexity of wood with and underlying sweetness similar to the cold draw of the stick. The final third of the cigar remains woody with notes that reminded me of a peaty scotch. The stick had a nice oak like finish that lingered.

Smoking Characteristics: The burn of the cigar started extremely lopsided and I was worried I would have a canoe on my hands but the cigar corrected it self and was burning perfectly 1.5″ into the stick. The dark brindle like ash was solid and held on well. The draw of cigar was a bit loose and smoked a bit fast. The aroma of the cigar was enjoyable and added to the experience.

Conclusion: The $30 price tag in New York translates to $22 or so in a state with no tobacco tax. So the question is, does the cigar smoke like one with the attached price tag. The answer is no. The cigar however is very good, and if it had a normal price tag I would smoke it regularly. However the flashy presentation appears to have been part of the reason for the hefty cost.

Rating: 90
Price: $22.00

I put off smoking this cigar because my experience with the Connecticut Broadleaf wasn’t to please, but I wanted to get through it to tell if it deserves consideration for my top 15 list at the end of the year. So with 3 hours to kill on a Saturday afternoon I sat down to smoke this monster of a cigar.

Cigar: The Digger
Size: 8.5 x 60 (The Digger)
Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 1

Appearance and Construction: For a cigar of this size I am shocked that the wrapper is nearly flawless. You would think using this much wrapper, there would be more flaws in the appearance. The veins are minimal at best, the color is uniform throughout, and the roll is perfect. While a cigar of this size is comfortable in my hand, it is not normally a size I would prefer to smoke. There is a ton of a weight to the cigar and there are no soft spots.

Flavor & Notes: One thing I love about La Flor Dominicana smokes is the rich molasses and sweetness the cold draw serves up. The nose of the cigar is among the best as well. Simply put, the pre-light ritual with LFD is among my favorite cigar experiences. Once the cigar was lit the notes with spice, wood and underlying note of molasses. As I worked my way into the first third of the stick the sweet molasses began to fade and notes of nuts, spice and leather began to take hold. The second third of the cigar continued with leather as the dominant note and some nuts with a distant sweetness. The last third of the cigar became a bit bitter as the leather notes were really the focal point, with a nutty finish.

Smoking Characteristics: I lit the cigar at 2:33pm and put it down at 5:40pm. At a little over 3 hours this was one long cigar. The draw was perfect though in the last third it became a bit loose. The burn of the cigar was good, as it never needed to be touched up which was impressive. The ash that started out strong, became flaky and didn’t hold well in the second half of the cigar. Lastly, the aroma was spicy but enjoyable.

Conclusion: With the marketplace thinking bigger is better these sticks fly off the shelf at my local shop. However, for me personally these cigars are just to long of a smoke. I’ll stick to the DL-700 over these any day of the week.

Rating: 88
Price: $10.00 MSRP (Before local taxes)