But here’s some basics of the blend itself. It is a 6×52 cigar of all Nicaraguan tobacco. So you know what that means- spice. And since it’s produced by the guys at Drew Estates, I went into this with a bit of hesitation. I’ve got a love/hate relationship with the Liga Privada Line. I love the #9 Robusto, but hate the #9 toro. I did not like the T-52, but I loved the T-52 flying pig. I LOVE the Dirty Rat and believe that it is literally cigar perfection as far as my personal taste and preference in size goes. I have seen pictures on the web and heard buzz about the LP Lancero, or whatever they are calling it. Haven’t tried it, but considering how good the Dirty Rat is, I can only imagine that a lancero is going to blow this blend up! But, I am a documented corona and lancero whore.

When I got the JD#4 I started to research the cigar a lot. It’s basically the 4th blend during the selection process of the T-52, for the curious out there, the third blend was released as the T52. So right off the bat I was thinking this was going to bomb. It is a large cigar than I prefer and a blend I am not fond of. Or so I thought.

This JD#4 blend packs the things in it that I love in Nicaraguan cigars- spice, great flavor transitions between sweet undertones and a drop dead beautiful Connecticut habano wrapper. If this cigar is released to regular production I would want a box, which is about as high a praise as I can give since my smoking habits are so scattered that in the years I have been actively smoking good cigars I have made TWO box purchases and that was the Anarchy and The Face. The total smoke time I got on this outstanding blend was just under an hour and a half. There were very few touch ups on the burn and for a large cigar, I was amazed at how I was not over powered. When you see them, grab them!

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The cigar that changed my opinion was the Oliva V Lancero. Since that time I have maintained a good supply of these relatively inexpensive smokes in my humidor. These cigars, like most Oliva products, really do not get better, or worse with time. They stay relatively consistent, so if you forget about them, it’s no big deal one way or the other.

For some basic information about the entire V Line, check out Oliva cigars website here: http://olivacigar.com/serie_v_oliva_cigar.aspx

What this cigar delivers is everything a full body smoker wants. Because of the small size, the complex flavors of the V are really at the front of every single puff. A lot of smokers will simply walk by a Lancero size, and grab something else. In the case of the Oliva V Lancero, you are really missing out if you enjoy the line. The size really did not warrant a long winded review, I just think it deserved a spot on my list. If you like a good ligero filled cigar, grab a few of these and puff away.

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This cigar has more than made it’s rounds on in the blog world. But I’ll give a little bit of information to give props to the man behind the curtain. This cigar was made by Pete Johnson and Don Pepin Garcia for Abe Dababneh the owner of Smoke Inns of South Florida. The information hit the web in July, but was kept under wraps as to where the cigar would actually drop and who it was for. Building both hype behind the cigar and some good suspense. All and all it was great marketing. Pre-orders were accepted starting on Black Friday and orders shipped out on December 13. It took a few weeks for some of the guys in the Nashville Cigar Club to order up, but now Anarchy is firm in several members humidors.

The first thing you will notice when you get the cigar is how perfect it looks. It borderlines on a larger size for my personal preference, but the pigtail cap, oily wrapper and odd size just drew me in like a moth to a flame. The first thing I thought immediately upon lighting this up was “Damn!”. And that would continue to be a repeated phrase through the entire smoke. This cigar nails you with pepper right at the front, before mellowing out to a very medium cigar. The size of the cigar allowed for one of the most flawless burns and perfect amount of smoke I have ever had. With winter upon us, I recommend either parking yourself at a good shop or you favorite indoor smoking location and sitting back for what turned out to be about an hour and fifteen minute smoke.

For those familiar with Tatuaje, you know there is always a hustle to get any of Pete’s Limited Releases. Most of these are normally small in number or spread out to some top Tatuaje retailers. This release was set for Smoke Inn, but is available in 15 count boxes with about 1500 boxes being made, which makes it a pretty large release for a limited edition. Still, don’t hesitate to pick these up, because once they are gone, they are gone. The words “Limited Release” can sometimes send shutters down the spine of cigar smokers and Tatuaje Fans, but keeping in tradition with the Pork Tenderloin, this Limited Release goes for about $10 a stick. Drop Smoke Inn a line and grab a 5 pack or box! I will recommend letting these rest for at least a month, as I intend to do. The cigar is still a little new to me, but I look forward to what it will bring to the table as it ages.

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For more basic information, including blending and sizing check out the company website at www.elogiocigars.com

But a quick run down of the quality can be found here:

“All Elogio Cigars are custom blended and hand made in Esteli, Nicaragua.  Our master blender is Carlos Pereda Robaina, grandson of legendary Cuban tobacco grower and cigar maker, Alejandro Robaina.”

All of EloGio Cigars products are works of art. Literally, this is one of the most beautiful cigars I have ever seen.

These cigars are a regular release but are only available at a few retailers. They are not a limited release cigar, but the quality and size of the production make them hard to find. I picked this cigar up from my local B&M, Uptown’s in Nashville, which at this time is one of the ten places these are available. I’ve got a pretty set pallet in what I like and do not like when it comes to cigars. So when Scott and Marcus at Uptown’s told me I had to smoke one of these, I knew it was going to be good.

The Elogio LSV Corona Extra is the perfect size for this blend. I’m a huge fan of the Corona size, and will rarely smoke a cigar over a 52 ring gauge. In many cases when I’ve picked up a corona or a lancero, the draw is simply terrible or there is inconsistency in the products from one to the next. In the case of the LSV, it was perfect. After smoking these on a regular basis, I have yet to hit one with any issues.

The complexity of the cigar and shifts of flavor really are not my strong suite. I tend to leave things like that to Tom and Allen. But while I can’t tell you the complex nature in transformation from nuts to espresso, I can tell you that this cigar is packed with a great balance between spice and a good cream flavor.

One of the best things about EloGio is that the brand isn’t going to break the bank. The Corona Extra rings in around $6.50, so it is a well priced cigar that simply blows cigars with a higher MSRP out of the water. Pick one up through one of their retailers if they are in your area, and if they aren’t, give the boys over at Uptown’s a call!

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Jerry responded to our conversation by meeting me outside and gifting me a La Palina 1896.  I asked him if I should smoke it then or if I should let it rest for a while, to which he responded, “smoke it now and see how it goes.”  The cigar has a nice oily wrapper that sports some veins and rough texture.  The pre-light aroma consisted nice sweet tobacco, a little spice, and cocoa.  The pre-light draw was a little loose and offered up notes of sweet tobacco followed by a lite cocoa note.  At this point I obliged Jerry’s kind gesture and sparked this beauty with my trusty Lamborghini Forza.

When I actually got into the cigar things only got better.  The cigar produced loads of creamy smoke that coated the palate with a wonderful sweetness.  I actually made the comment to several people that the first few draws reminded me of dessert.  I picked up lots of caramel notes, so much so that it reminded me of a bread pudding I ate once in Louisiana.  As the cigar progressed I started to pick up some of the cocoa that was present pre-light and a little black coffee.  The flavors were incredible and progressed nicely from start to finish.  I did have a few burn issues with my only sample, but I tend to place the blame on the terrible Tennessee heat and humidity that plagued us on Saturday.  This little issue is why I smoke multiple cigars for a full review, but in this case I’m excited because I’ll have to smoke a few more samples of a cigar I thoroughly enjoyed to produce a true review.

I’m not sure when I’ll be able to pick a few more of these up, but as soon as I do you can count on a full review to be posted.  The La Palina 1896 was really enjoyable and I loved the flavors that it produced.  If I had to give a bad mark at all it would be the price (MSRP of $19.00).  This one happened to be a gift courtesy of a kind BOTL so I can’t complain, but they are a little pricey.  But at the end of the day we all have different budgets so I would not hesitate to recommend this cigar, but for me it would be a special occasion purchase.  Stay tuned for a full review and thanks again to Jerry for sharing this beauty.

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• Cigar – Partagas Benji Menendez Master Series
• Filler – Dominican, Nicaraguan
• Binder – Connecticut Habano
• Wrapper – Cameroon
• Price – $9.95
• Shape – Majestuoso/Corona Gorda (6 x 46)

So I know it’s been a while since we’ve posted any new content and for that I apologize.  Today I’m posting a long overdue review of the Partagas Benji Menendez Master Series Majestuoso.  When this cigar debuted I was a little hesitant to give it a try based on previous experiences I’d had with other Dominican Partagas cigars.  However, after much persuasion from a fellow BOTL I decided to give in and give them a go, and man am I glad I did.

In 2009 Benji Menendez celebrated his 57th year in the cigar industry.  In the same year he introduced the eponymous, Master Series which he crafted to pay homage to the Cifuentes family.  This is a limited edition offering of only 5,000 boxes of 20 cigars.  For those that aren’t aware, Mr. Menendez has worked with some of the largest names in the cigar business and has blended and/or been responsible for some true gems and this cigar is certainly no exception.

The cigar has a beautiful chocolate brown Cameroon wrapper that sports a few fine veins and a some tooth.  It’s a little rough to the touch which I find a lot with Cameroon wrapper tobacco.  The seams on the wrapper and cap are nearly invisible.  It’s firm to the touch and is very well packed with no soft spots.  Honestly, the four cigars I sampled for this review were near perfect on the construction checklist.

Prelight the cigar offered up a variety of aromas consisting of earth, cocoa, cedar, and a slight spice at the foot.  The prelight draw was effortless and offered up the same peppery spice along with cedar and cocoa.  To be honest the amount of spice caught me a little off guard at first as it was completely unexpected, but it was really nice along side the cocoa notes.

After lighting the cigar produced large amounts of smoke that coated the palate with a wide array of flavors.  The first third offered up a lot of peppery spice, especially on the retrohale.  Following the pepper were notes of cedar mingled with the cocoa and coffee, finishing with a nice woodsy tone.  Even with all of these flavors swirling around the cigar maintained a very nice balance.  The burn was absolutely spot on perfect with a very nice gray ash.  The ash only held for an inch or so before I noticed it leaning ever so slightly, so I quickly tapped it off to avoid a lap full of hot ash.

The peppery spice continued into the second third along with the cedar and cocoa notes.  I did pick up some coffee notes midway into the second third, which melded nicely with the cocoa and cedar.  The cigar did maintain the same nice balance and was still burning perfectly with a nice gray ash that held on for a little longer than it did at first.

Into the final third the cigar was still burning perfectly, it was cool throughout, never once hot.  The peppery spice was there until the final puff along with coffee and slight cocoa notes that took a backseat to the predominant woodsy/cedar notes.  The finish was still very smooth and the flavor maintained the same great balance all the way to the nub.

Overall, I really enjoy this cigar and would recommend it to anyone without hesitation.  I’ve actually purchased close to two boxes of these cigars to date and will continue to do so until they are long gone from my local B&M.  To borrow a quote from Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of the Year edition, “this just might be the best Dominican Partagas I’ve ever smoked.”  Based on the balance of flavors and the box worthiness the cigar earns a whopping 9.5 out of 10.

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When I toured the humidor there was one new cigar that caught my eye; the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial.  I’ve been looking forward to sampling these cigars since first hearing they were being released.  I had also heard several good things about them a few nights before from several trusted sources.  I was a little disappointed that the Toro Gordo was the only size available because it’s not normally my first choice of vitola.  I was really looking forward to sampling the petite robusto which has been a favorite vitola of mine as of late thanks to the My Father Le Bijou 1922 offering of the same size.

The cigar was very well constructed, but I noticed it was a little wet which made it a little difficult to light.  However, once the cigar got going it produced loads of smoke and held a nice ash with very little flaking.  I picked up a nice sweetness right away which I’m sure was due to the wonderful dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.  The predominant flavors were cocoa and cinnamon along with a slight peppery spice.  The cigar almost seemed to flaten out a little toward the start of the final third, almost like it lost it’s oomph.  I still picked up a lot of the same flavors into the last third, but it never quite graduated to that “next level”.  I did purchase a few additional sticks so I could give this offering another try.  The flavors were nice and I think the cigar deserves a second chance, but I think I’ll dry box the next one for a day to prevent the same issue I experienced today.

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• Cigar – Serafin de Cuba
• Filler – Dominican/Nicaraguan?
• Binder – Dominican/Nicaraguan?
• Wrapper – Ecuadorian
• Price – $100 for Bundle of 25
• Shape – Churchill (7 x 48)

A Couple of weeks ago I contacted Arnold Serafin about possibly reviewing some of his cigars for the Nashville Cigar Club podcast and this site.  Arnold was most gracious and agreed to send us some samples for review.  The fact that the cigars came to us for review does not sway our opinion in the slightest.  We at cigarblog.net remain completely subjective, and regardless of price we can share a true opinion based on the smoking experience.

Serafin’s website has this to say about his creation. “Our Serafin de Cuba Cigars are entirely handmade in our factory in Florida in small batches by skilled Cuban Master rollers. Our cigars are all made from authentic Cuban seed tobacco imported from Nicaragua and The Dominican Republic and beautifully finished with Ecuadorian wrapper, one of the world’s best. This is a blend that can be enjoyed by all.”

Serafin de Cuba cigars are sold in Arnold’s stores in Tarpon Springs and Spring Hill, FL as well as through his website.  I think as any cigar lover would attest, it’s always nice to find something new and a house blend crafted by a Cuban Master Roller definitely fits the bill.  I was extremely excited to light the first of these beauties and see if they smoked as good as they looked and smelled.  The cigar itself is well packed with no soft spots.  The slightly oily caramel colored wrapper maintains a consistent color and does have a few small veins, but overall nothing to get in the way.

After clipping the cap I began my pre-light walkthrough.  The foot emitted aromas of sweet tobacco, hay, and earth.  The pre-light draw gave a little resistance which is always nice and offered up the same flavors with hay being predominant.  The first third of the cigar continued to offer the same notes of hay with the occasional hint of wood and roasted nut on the retrohale, while finishing with a nice creaminess.  The cigar produced loads of nice creamy white smoke and burned wonderfully, with the ash holding well over an inch with no flaking.

The flavor began to pick up a little into the second third.  I was still getting the same notes of hay, wood, and nuts with an occasional touch of black coffee.  The burn was great and the ash was still holding very well.  The cigar was still producing large amounts of smooth smoke which offered the same creamy finish as the first third.

Black coffee became the predominant flavor toward the end, followed still by notes of wood and roasted nuts.  The cigar did develop a little bitter “bite”toward the end, but if you like a nice strong cup of black coffee it was a nice bitter flavor.  I know that will make sense to those of you that enjoy a strong cup of coffee or espresso.  In spite of the bitter notes it still maintained the smooth creamy texture to the nub.  The cigar offered some nice changes from start to finish and is definitely a stick that I would recommend to anyone without hesitation.  I truly enjoyed these cigars and would safely rate the Serafin de Cuba Churchill a 9 out of 10.

So if you’re looking for a good cigar or just something new, look up Arnold Serafin and his Serafin de Cuba cigars and place an order.  He offers several different vitolas in both a Connecticut and Maduro wrapper that range in price from $100 to $125 for a bundle of 25 well crafted cigars.  The cigar offered great flavor and as you can see, the price is a steal for such a good cigar.

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Last night I had the pleasure of having a cigar with Mel Gonzalez, the president of Canimao cigars. I have had a Canimao Classic Natural before, but it was a little on the mild side and better suited for a morning smoke. I have only seen them at a few locations, and they are strict about allowing distributors and online retailers carrying their brand, which I respect a lot.

When I first sat down with Mel, I smoked one of the naturals they were handing out to try. He asked me what I thought about it, and I proceeded to explain that I liked the construction and burn, but that it was a little milder than I normally smoke. Then he suggested that I try the Canimao Classic Robusto Extra Dark.

I grabbed the cigar and went through my typical pre-light ritual. It had a very nice, dark wrapper, with a nice Cuban twist on the cap. A very well constructed cigar with a very nice aroma. I would have to describe it as earthy. I hit it with the torch and took my first draw and it smoked very well. Full clouds of wonderful smoke, and then it hit me. I have never tasted this before. I mean, when you smoke some cigars, they usually remind you of another cigar that you have had in the past. This one did not, which I really liked a lot, as the flavor profile stood on its own, just as a true boutique brand should.

Smoking the cigar, I never had to touch it up once. It burned even all the way to the end, and left me wanting more. It’s been a long time since I have had a cigar like this. If I had to describe it, it would be like the first time I tried a Tatjuae Unicos when they first came out. I’m not saying it has the spice/pepper, or full body of a Tat, but it did have a great flavor that I found very pleasant.
The flavor profile was noticeable at different stages, making it a nice, complex, cigar. When I said earthy, it’s more of a barn yard aroma. Some wood and chocolate from time to time, but not all at once. I would not hesitate to purchase a box of the extra darks, and it would be something I could smoke daily. It was that good.

While I was talking with Mel as I enjoyed this cigar, a funny thing I noticed was that we both said at the same time… “Passion”. He was discussing his passion for creating a good cigar, rolled in the old Cuban style. I had mentioned how much I enjoy the cigar culture and cigars. We both agreed that we shared the same passion for cigars, which I accept as a compliment.

Another thing we both agreed on was the impact that boutique brands were having on the market. He really has no desire to be a major brand, which I found refreshing. He does love his craft, history and care that goes into blending a well balanced cigar. If you get the opportunity to smoke a Canimao, and the chance to sit and meet with Mel Gonzalez, watch him smile when you tell him you like his cigars and you’ll know what I mean. He gets excited and actually throws his head back laughing while interpreting what we were talking about to his master roller, which didn’t speak English.

I really like the Canimao, and have a great deal of respect for the owner of the company. Seeing his passion about his brand made it all more enjoyable. I highly recommend that you try one of their cigars.

Color: Dark Natural   Size: 6 1/8″ x 52

Canimao cigars are made in Miami, Florida in a very small factory. The cigar is wrapped in an Ecuadorian wrapper, with fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder.

This cigar is mild to medium-bodied and has a great flavor. It comes in Double Corona (7 ½” x 50), Legendarios (5” x 50), Robusto (5” x 50), Robusto Extra (6 1/8” x 52) and Torpedo (6 1/8” x 52)

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Let me start by saying that I’ve been a huge fan of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s offerings for many years and was both sad and excited when he left General and his beloved La Gloria Cubana brand to “start over” with a new brand baring his name.  I was really excited to smoke the first offering from E.P. Carrillo (the Edicion Inagural), and have been even more excited to see how the regular production would perform.  So when I was told that a local shop had juest received their first shipment I made haste. 

The Short Run is an absolutely incredible stick, it’s very complex and full of flavor.  This medium-full beauty offers up notes of wood and a nice spice.  In my opinion one of the finest offerings I’ve seen hit shelves at the local B&M in a while.  I’ve made my first purchase of several to enjoy and I am patiently awaiting the next arrival which has a full box with my name on it!  This is definitely a must try, so if you haven’t done so, find them locally and BUY!

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