Cigar reviews – 99 words or less Cavalier White Series Toro How cool is gold leaf? It’s on sweets and desserts and in mixed drinks. But Cavalier took it one step further, adding the diamond-shaped smokable gold leaf to all of its cigars. Sebastien DeCoppet’s original blend resulted in a mild yet complex cigar. Wood and subtle barnyard notes pushed out from the cold draw. First light granted me bread trailed by the cinnamon goodness of a snickerdoodle. Luxurious cashew tinges mixed with cream for a rich treat before a smooth transition to latte. Some light spices picked up, leading into ..read more

Cigar reviews – 99 words or less Golden Churro Corona Gorda Privada Exclusive by Rojas Privada Cigar Club has grown substantially over the past few years, and it is partnering with cigar companies, big and small. Rojas cigars created the Golden Churro Corona Gorda in a recent collaboration, a nod to its Street Tacos series. A hefty helping of fresh-baked sourdough bread came across the cold draw. The first third handed out natural flavors of wood and grass. Bread-like notes pushed in, expanding to sweet cornbread. The sweetness stuck around, mingling with cedar at the midpoint, accompan ..read more

Cigar reviews – 99 words or less Traficante Vodoun Cadillac Jack Torpedo Immediately recognizable, the image on the band portrays a male voodoo charmer. The word “vodoun” is not so recognizable, a tribute to the historic proper name of the often misrepresented voodoo religion. The Traficante Voudoun Cadillac Jack torpedo brings a spellbinding combination of flavors to the palate. After a bland tobacco flavor in the cold draw, the cigar opened with distinct raisin notes. Cedar eventually moved in, bringing touches of leather. Then the profile shifted to coffee, first laced with chocolate ..read more

Cigar reviews – 99 words or less La Palina Bronze Label Lancero Bronze Age I love it when a TAA release cigar makes it into regular production. Such is the case with the La Palina Bronze Label. The Lancero vitola came about through a collaboration with Privada Cigar Club. Lots of bitter chocolate chip welcomed me on the cold draw. The first few puffs offered wood paired with butter popcorn. Wood continued and matured into cedar. As the midpoint passed, caramel and cream took over, carrying the flag for over two inches. Wood came back to finish things up, inviting mixed nuts to the party ..read more

Cigar reviews – 99 words or less Subterraneo Cobalum Robusto by Privada Cigar Club The team at Privada Cigar Club works exhaustively to build relationships throughout the cigar industry. Privada landed a whale when AJ Fernandez began working with the firm on the Subterraneo project. The label celebrates the mythical beings that dwell underground and tend to the soil. The Subterraneo Cobalum presented slight tinges of licorice on the cold draw. Distinct notes of black tea, complete with astringent tannins, greeted me in the first third. Mixed nuts provided a transition point to earth and ..read more

Cigar reviews – 99 words or less HVC Cerro Corojo Robusto Havana City Cigars (HVC) creates Nicaraguan puros that mimic the construction and quality of Cuban classics. The Cerro Corojo takes its name from El Cerro, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Havana. I tasted very bitter tobacco notes on the cold draw. The torch flame released a wave of cedar and spice in the first third. Cedar continued through the midpoint, along with splashes of leather. Then a turn occurred, steering the profile into wheat bread followed by wood. The Cerro needs some additional aging to allow the flavors to ma ..read more

Cigar reviews – 99 words or less Indomina Toro by AJ Fernandez While I smoke a cigar with the label on, I don’t know anything else. To my surprise, the Indomina Toro by AJ Fernandez sits in the bargain basement bin. It smokes like a $10 stick and should be added to your humidor immediately. Only tobacco tinges bowed in the cold draw. Coffee burst on the scene in the first third, trailed by hazelnut and cocoa – think Nutella but less sweet. Mexican hot chocolate took hold toward the midpoint, eventually relaxing into mocha. By the final third, the mocha shed any hint of chocolate, leavin ..read more

Cigar reviews – 99 words or less New World Puro Especial Robusto by AJ Fernandez Some of us dream of working with our fathers, creating something out of nothing, and sharing in the success. AJ Fernandez and his father, Ismael, collaborated on the New World Puro Especial. The cigar contains tobacco grown exclusively on AJ’s farms. The cold draw tasted of bitter chocolate. Creamy hot cocoa debuted briefly until a sudden change to cedar. As the cedar ebbed, wood and tobacco filled in. These flavors stayed way too long, lacking depth and flavor. Leather and earthy notes summed up the rustic ..read more

Cigar reviews – 99 words or less The Mansa by Alex Spencer Box-pressed Toro Who was the richest person who ever lived? It could be Mansa Musa. The Mansa, as he’s now called, reigned over Western Africa, a region rich in gold. Alex Spencer, a Cincinnatian, brought this legend back to life with his Mansa Box-Pressed toro. Candy bar-like flavors of chocolate and nougat poured from the cold draw. Nougat carried into the first third, mixing with wood and spices. By the midpoint, cocoa ruled, drawing cedar, hickory, and allspice by its side. A grand finale filled with chocolate and wood allow ..read more

Cigar reviews – 99 words or less Espinosa Murcielago Box-pressed Churchill The black bat against a holographic background looks so cool on the band of the Espinosa Murcielago box-pressed churchill. Erik Espinosa collaborated with AJ Fernandez to refresh the brand, launching this version a few years ago. They achieved an incredibly smooth and flavorful cigar. The cold draw handed over dark cacao, bitter and chalky. Then the chocolate party started. It opened with chocolate pie trailed by chocolate pudding. The creaminess eventually diminished, leaving chocolate bar. Some quick hits of bl ..read more