If it wasn’t for you the readers we wouldn’t be able to do this.. so the money earned will be given back to you in a series of give backs to people who have become friends and to those who remain lurking in the background…

So here is the deal…..

We are approaching the time of year where the top smokes of 2009 are being formulated. I will post my list around Christmas, but this year we will also post a list of what the masses think… To have the chance to WIN A $100.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE to famous-smoke.com leave a comment with your TOP 5 CIGARS of 2009. Do so in order, because they will be weighted when we tabulate the entries. 1st is worth 5pts, 2nd is worth 4pts, 3rd is worth 3pts, 4th is worth 2pts and 5th is worth 1 point.

This contest runs to 11:59 pm on Thanksgiving Day. The winner will be selected by random draw and will be announced around 12 noon on Black Friday.

Good luck!

Please Note: Only those who leave a top 5 list will be eligible to win. Multiple entries from the same person will result in each entry becoming invalid.

CAO Gold Vintage

I happened to be in Holts in Philadelphia this week and they were having an event for CAO. Besides picking up some La Traviata smokes I also picked up some CAO Gold Vintage which is based on the Escaparate CAO Gold from a few years back. Seeing these new CAOs caught me by surprise as I did not expect them to be out yet. So without further adieu I bring to you the review of the CAO Gold Vintage.

Cigar: CAO Gold Vintage
Size: 6.75 x 60 (Bouchon/Figurado)
Wrapper: 2004 Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras
Strength: Mild/Medium

Appearance and Construction (19/20): The CAO Gold Vintage features a 2004 Connecticut Shade Ecuadorian wrapper which was considered to be the best crop ever produced in the country. This figurado cigar has a flawless wrapper with a little bit of tooth. The roll of the cigar is absolutely flawless and has a nice weight to it with no soft spots what so ever. The wrapper of this cigar has an abundance of oils to it creating a nice inviting sheen. The band of the cigar is similar to the CAO Gold label but bigger. It features colors of red, black, gold. It also states Gold Vintage just under the CAO logo.

Flavor & Notes (27/30): The prelight draw on this stick offered and amazing buttery creamy note that reminded me a little bit of butterscotch. Right from the get go this cigar offered some really enjoyable notes that were easy to identify. There is a rich buttery note as the canvas which some nutty notes that compliment it well. There is definitely a note present that reminds me a lot of butterscotch making this a very flavorful stick. The second third of the cigar remains creamy with a buttery note, and the nutty notes begin begin to become the dominant note as the cigar picks up in strength becoming more a medium bodied smoke then a mild one. The final third of the cigar is very nutty albeit it slightly bitter which causes a deduction in score.

Burn/Ash/Draw (22/25): The cigar burns perfect on all the cigars I smoked in this line (three) but one of them burned really hot despite the fact I smoked it slow. The ash of the cigar held extremely well with only the slightest bit of flake in fact I was able to keep the ash for 3/4 of the stick. The draw of the cigar was idea.

Overall (23/25): It seems to me that recent CAO cigar production has stepped up a notch. This stick was a very flavorful smoke with a great burn. The last two entries from CAO have been winners. First the La Traviata and now the the CAO Gold Vintage. As a fan of CAO cigars I couldn’t be more pleased being able to add these cigars to my repertoire of daily smokes.

Rating: 91
Price: 8.00

Nub Connecticut 354

For the past week or so you might of noticed a new advertisement offering you to smoke something luxurious. Today we officially welcome the Chicago Cigar Company as a supporter of acigarsmoker.com. With the internet full of places to order your cigars the Chicago Cigar Co. stands out with it’s prices and amazing customer service. Started by two brothers David and Ed Snoble who share a passion for cigars will do everything they can so you can enjoy your smoke from start to finish.

Enjoy free shipping on all purchases by entering in coupon code ACSC at the time of your purchase as we welcome the Chicago Cigar Company to our family.

Cigar: Nub Connecticut
Size: 3 x 54 (Nub)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Mild

Appearance and Construction (18/20): A year ago the Nub cigar was all the rage thanks to a great marketing campaign and the fact that Sam Leccia was well liked by the cigar community. A year later, I decided to review another Nub cigar from the Chicago Cigar Co. to see if these cigars still back up the hype. This Connecticut shade wrapper virtually no veins and is well rolled with a nice looking cap. The cigar is well packed with no soft spots. The cream colored band denotes this is the Connecticut shade. The cigar also comes in Habano, Cameroon, and Maduro.

Flavor & Notes (26/30): The foot of the cigar offers some sweet earthy tobacco notes while the draw was very creamy and smooth. The first third of the cigar offers rich creamy notes with an abundance of cocoa that makes this cigar enjoyable. The second third of the cigar started to change offering notes of nuts and wood while remaining somewhat creamy. The final third of the smoke offered notes and a rich buttery finish.

Burn/Ash/Draw (24/25): The cigar burned exquisitely in true nub fashion and while I have never been able to do a nub stand the dark ash held on strong. The draw was flawless making this an enjoyable cigar to smoke.

Overall (22/25): The nub cigar is still worthy of being a staple in anyone’s repertoire. A consistent flavorful smoke that will suit anyone’s palette whether it be the Connecticut, Habano, Cameroon or Maduro. I know a lot of people shy away from it due to it’s size but it is a slow flavorful smoke that lasts longer then one would expect.

Rating: 90
Price: $25.00 for a Pack of 5 (Free Shipping, Enter ACSC)

Montecristo 75th Anniversario

My favorite B&M, Fume in Montclair, NJ recently got inthe Montecristo 75th Anniversario Desade 1935 in stock and I was happy to see the lancero included in this 5 pack sampler that has a beautiful presentation. The cigar is a celebration of this brands anniversary.

Cigar: Montecristo 75th Anniversatio Desade 1935
Size: 7.5 x 40 (Lancero)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Honduras and Nicaragua
Strength: Medium

Appearance and Construction (18/20): If not looking carefully one might think this is the Montecristo Cabinet Selection due to the similar band on the stick. The rich looking wrapper on this lancero is sweating oils that gives this cigar a wonderful appearance. The cigar has a seamless roll and a wonderful looking pigtail cap. There are no soft spots and the cigar has a nice weight to it.

Flavor & Notes (27/30): The prelight draw of this cigar has a delicious raisin note with some chocolate in the background. Once lit the cigar offers an incredibly sweet chocolate note along with some earth. As we enter the second third on this classy cigar the notes are that of raisins and earth with a little bit of mocha. The final third of the cigar was earthy with some enjoyable sweet notes in the background.

Burn/Ash/Draw (25/25): The burn line of this cigar was so incredibly straight that it might be the best burning lancero I have smoked to date. The ash is very tight and white that held on for almost half the cigar which is something I never experienced in a lancero. The draw was perfection making this an enjoyable smoking experience.

Overall (23/25): Hands down this was the best lancero I have smoked and best Montecristo as well. It was so incredibly rich and bursting with flavors that made the Montecristo 75th Anniversario a truly  memorable smoke.

Rating: 93
Price: $12.00

** Added 19:50 on 11/01/09 **

More information can be found at Cigar Law.

I spoke to the Rocky Patel representative the other day and she informed me that this year there will be no Rocky Patel Winter seasonal blend release. There is also a possibility that the Fall 2009 release could be the end of the seasonal blends. This is based on the fact that there is no Winter blend and was not confirmed by the rep.

I met the lovely Sharon from Perdomo cigars this week and she donated a T-Shirt and a couple of Perdomo Patriarch cigars for raffle that will start on Friday, November 6th. So be sure to check back for details.

Also some sadness hit the cigar world this week as cigar master Avelino Lara passed away. Mr. Lara was once the personal roller for Fidel Castro and was in charge of the Cohiba cigar. He moved to Nassau in the Bahamas where he helped create Graycliff cigars. Avelino Lara died from complications of thyroid cancer and was 88 years old.

The Sunday links:

• Cigar Choice offers up a take on the Boris from Tatuaje.
• Cigar Inspector offers up a review on the Alec Bradley Special Cabinet Reseve (SCR).
• Her Humidor returns with a review of the Liga Privada T52.

If you would like to be included in future Sunday links please contact us with the name of your website.

Tatuaje Drac

Happy Halloween! I decided to post a special cigar review this spooky weekend with the Tatuaje Drac. Every year Pete Johnson releases a cigar during Halloween that is part of the monster series with this years edition being the Tatuaje Drac. Packaged in a black box shaped like a coffin the cigar is an excellent presentation in marketing. The cigar this year was not without controversy. A lot of fans have not been able to get their hands on the sticks this year even with added shops getting the cigars. Hopefully next year Pete finds a better way to please his fans with the release of the leatherface cigar, but me personally I enjoyed the hunt to get these cigars. Thanks to Michael Herklots and his staff at Davidoff Columbus Circle for calling me up to let me know my name made the cut for those getting the Drac cigars. The question that remains is The Drac a trick or a treat?

Cigar: The Drac
Size: 6.75 x 52 (Torpedo)
Wrapper: Habano Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full

Appearance and Construction (18/20): The stick features a very oily maduro wrapper with some minimal veins. The roll of the cigar is is nice and clean but the one thing that stands out is how light the stick feels in the hand. A close inspection reveals a loosely packed foot, however there are no soft spots along the length of the stick. The band the cigar is on the foot and is colors of black and red.

Flavor & Notes (26/30): The foot of the cigar reveals notes of minty spices while the prelight draw offers notes of mint as well. As I smoked the first third of the cigar I noticed this stick was noticeably different then the frank. The first thing that hits me with this cigar is the strength. It is definitely a full body stick with notes of spices and faint chocolate note in the background with some wood notes. As we smoked the second third of the stick some notes of chocolate tried to emerge with some mint, but it failed to materialize into anything more then a wisp. The cigar had continued spices and pepper at this point. The final third of the cigar was full of wood notes, pepper and the occasional mint which gave this cigar a nice finish.

Burn/Ash/Draw (24/25): Despite being a little light the cigar burned nice and slow and was pretty even throughout. The medium gray ash was a little weak that fell off around and inch each time it grew. The draw was perfect.

Overall (21/25): This cigar is a little young and you can see where it could become a great stick it just wasn’t there yet. There were some people saying the cigar was a little wet so I let it sit in a untreated humidor for 24 hours prior to sparking it up.  While I personally preferred the Frank over the Drac it does have potential and should become a nice addition to the Monster Series.  On a side note I found the wrapper to be a little brittle so I will be careful as I age these.

Rating: 89
Price: $180 box of 13 MSRP

My Father Le Bijou 1922

Today’s cigar is a release I have been waiting for since it was announced. Le Bijou is French for “the jewel,” and 1922 refers to the year Jose “Pepin” Garcia’s father was born. The original My Father was created in secret by Pepin’s son Jaime, who conceived of the cigar as a tribute to his father. This new creation is Pepin’s way of honoring his own father.

The new cigars have an all-Nicaraguan blend. The wrapper is dark, called Habano Oscuro by the company. The original My Father has Nicaraguan filler and binder leaves, but an Ecuadoran wrapper grown from Habano seed. The sizes of My Father Le Bijou 1922 are Churchill (7 x 50), Petit Robusto (4.5 x 50), and a Toro (6 x 52). The cigars have a MSRP of $7 to $12 dollars.

The photo comes courtesy of ShowMeYourAsh.com since my camera is acting up.

Cigar: My Father Le Bijou 1922
Size: 4.5 x 50 (Short Robusto)
Wrapper: Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full

Appearance and Construction (18/20): This short robusto features a wrapper that is chocolate in color with some veins. It is exquisitely rolled with a well placed triple cap. The cigar has a solid weight to it with no soft spots however, the foot of the cigar reveals some stems which was a little disappointing. The band of the cigar is among the best in the industry and despite being a little busy it works. The Le Bijou 1922 features a secondary band letting the consumer know it is such. Prior to sparking it up, there are some visible oils on this stick that I hope are a sign of good things to come.

Flavor & Notes (27/30): Prior to lighting up the cigar the notes were of a sweet tobacco. There was some spices present but very faint. Upon sparking up the cigar I was surprised that this cigar lacked the typical Pepin wake up call of pepper. The stick starts off very smooth with some rich mocha notes and some subtle spices which ease you into the smoke. As we continue the first third of the smoke it slowly picks up in strength and the trademark Pepin pepper is there especially through the nose. The second third of the cigar the spices really begin to pick up. There is a slight mint here, and I have mixed feelings about the note. It’s interesting, but I think it would prevent me from smoking these on a regular basis.

Burn/Ash/Draw (22/25): The cigar burned with a slight waviness to it from start to finish. It never got out of hand, but I did make note of it. The ash had a brindle effect to it, and it held on for half the cigar with only the slightest bit of flake. The draw was perfect and the stems noted in the appearance section never really came into play.

Overall (23/25): This complex cigar was very enjoyable and despite the mint note it is definitely worth a re-visit. I plan to age the rest of the smokes that I have and revisit this cigar in 6 months. It is a nice addition to the My Father line of smokes.

Rating: 90
Price: $7.00

Davidoff Seleccion 702

According to the Davidoff website, The highlight of the year for Davidoff cigars is of course the Davidoff Limited Edition 2009. It radiates through an imposing and extraordinary format – a Toro Especial The subtly harmonized, more intense Piloto tobaccos are refined with the slightly smoother Olor and San Vicente from selected production areas. They result in an outstanding blend. The slightly oily texture of the wrapper awards the cigar with a shiny brillance. It reflects charming elegance, which is especially accentuated through the large format of the cigar. A perfect smoke indulgence – right from the first drag with decent notes of roasted coffee and cacao. In combination with the spicy blend the wrapper awards the Seleccion 702 – Sun Grown Ecuador of the Davidoff Limited Edition an indescribably, well-balanced and multi- faceted aroma.

Size: 6 5/8 x 48 (Corona)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium/Full

Appearance and Construction (17/20): The cigar features a clean looking sun grown wrapper that only has a few thin veins showing. Upon close inspection the wrapper had some poor cut lines but the cigar was rolled flawlessly. I’m not sure if this really bothers me though since the roll was exquisite, however I guess a bad hem can’t be accepted on a good suit, so I will deduct some points for this. There was an abundance of oils coming off this stick and that made it very attractive. The cigar features the classic looking Davidoff band with a secondary one denoting the cigar is the Seleccion 702.

Flavor & Notes (28/30): I am a firm believer that to truly enjoy a cigar one needs to go through the prelight ritual. This consists of smelling the foot, and taking a pull from the cigar prior to sparking it up. On this particular stick the foot offers some spices and some notes of oak while the draw offers the typical Davidoff notes of grass/straw/hay. The initial light of the cigar reveals some black pepper notes that slowly fade and mellow out revealing notes of cedar and earth with some light black pepper. As we approach the 2nd third the cigar takes on notes that remind me of a nice single malt scotch. There are some nice wood/oak notes here with some earth and spice making me wish I had a glass of Oban as I enjoyed this stick. As I smoke the final third of the cigar I am truly amazed by the oils on the wrapper. The final third of the cigar has notes of continued pepper with earth notes on the finish.

Burn/Ash/Draw (24/25): The cigar burns nicely throughout. There was never any type of bad burn going on as this cigar smoked nice and slow. The ash which was a mixture of light and medium gray shades that did not hold on as strong as I had hoped, but there was no flake here. The draw was perfect. The one thing you don’t want on a cigar of this price range is a cigar that has to loose of a draw where it would smoke to fast. This cigar was perfect when it came to the draw.

Overall (23/25): This is the type of cigar you only smoke on a special occasion or if you are financially secure as it’s 26.00 price tag makes it tough to swallow. Despite this I plan to buy a few of these to keep on hand as the cigar was among the best I have ever smoked. I look forward to smoking one with a nice glass of single malt in front of the fireplace. The price prevents it from scoring higher in this section.

Rating: 92
Price: $26.00

Tatuaje Boris

I was going to wait to Halloween to put the review of the Tatuaje Boris which is part of the Halloween release series from Pete Johnson but with The Drac on its way I decided to push the press day up. The Boris is billed as being The Frank out of costume. For those not in the know each year Pete Johnson has been releasing a cigar at Halloween with a name that can be attributed to the classic monsters of movie history. Last year was The Frank. This year is the Drac and the Boris. These cigars are heavily sought after by collectors and fans of Mr. Johnson. Thanks to Jerry Cruz over at The Stogie Review I managed to get a box of today’s cigar.

Cigar: Tatuaje Boris
Size: 7 x 49 (Churchill)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Rosada
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full

Appearance and Construction (18/20): The wrapper of the cigar has a rustic look to it. There are a few veins running throughout the wrapper but the cigar is well rolled with a nice looking triple cap. The wrapper has a fair amount of oils to it, and the cigar has no soft spots and a nice weight to it. The band of the cigar is simple on a white background with the word Tatuaje in black with various sizes of the Fleur dy Lys.

Flavor & Notes (29/30): The prelight draw is an amazing peppermint chalk that reminds me so much of those little candies that say “I Love You” on them that it blows my mind and takes me back to days of trick or treating. If your not sure what candy I am talking about you can take a look at them here. I hesitated on lighting the stick up as I took in this unbelievable sweet notes. As I smoke the first third of the cigar the notes are that of pepper and spice with some faint notes of the candy I described still hanging around and some nuttiness trying to emerge. As we smoke the second third of this cigar the peppermint candy remains in the background giving this cigar a unique flavor profile. There is also a continued spice and nuttiness that borders on almond along for the ride. The final third of the cigar has some notes of almond and spice with a touch of leather.

Burn/Ash/Draw (23/25): I had some burn issues with the smoke as it begun to slightly canoe on me so I decided to touch it up. The ash was incredible at one time it measured over 4″ and i accidently knocked into it causing it to fall into my lap. There was zero flake and it was light in color. The draw was incredible offering the slight resistance I prefer in a smoke.

Overall (23/25): I’m going to deduct some points due to the limited availability here. But overall this is a interesting stick that is a little different then the original Frank. I found the cigar to have a higher nicotine content that I would suggest eating something before smoking. I really enjoyed the flavor profile of the stick that should get better with age. So with the review written I will bury these in my humidor and smoke them again in about a year.

Rating: 93
Price: $120.00 box of 10