The Rocky Patel Emerald Toro is a standout offering that marks a notable shift in Rocky Patel’s portfolio—his first box-pressed cigar crafted to land on the lighter side of medium-bodied. The Emerald features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper complemented by dual binders—one from Nicaragua and another from Mexico. The filler predominantly consists of Nicaraguan tobacco, with the addition of a single leaf from the Jamastran Valley in Honduras Visually, the Emerald impresses right out of the […]
Cigar Reviews
Bandolero Premium Bravos by Selected Tobacco offers a refined and rare experience that lives up to its luxurious pedigree. Handcrafted in Costa Rica and aged for three years in cedar-lined humidors in Madrid, this cigar is the product of extreme attention to detail and old-world patience. This cigar is wrapped in an Ecuadorian Habano 2000 leaf, with a Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan Ligero and Peruvian fillers. The wrapper presents a glossy sheen […]
The Micallef Purple Toro is the latest installment in the Micallef Color Series, debuting in April 2025. A symbolic blend that marries the best of the Micallef Red and Blue (appropriately as—red and blue colors make purple), this cigar brings together a San Andrés Sumatra wrapper, a Broadleaf binder, and a filler mix of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Mexican tobaccos. From the outset, the presentation is elegant. The wrapper is a milk chocolate shade with a subtle […]
The Ozgener Karatoba Robusto is a box-pressed cigar crafted at the NACSA factory in Nicaragua. Cloaked in a dark Sumatra wrapper with an oily sheen and fine tooth, it boasts a rich, inviting appearance with visible veins hinting at the depth within. Its name, “Karatoba,” combines “Kara” (dark in Turkish) and “Toba” (a nod to Indonesia’s volcanic Lake Toba), a fitting title for a cigar that delivers a bold, complex experience from start to finish. […]
The EP Carrillo Encore Black, released in 2024, is a bold evolution of the original Encore line. Produced at Casa Carrillo in the Dominican Republic, this limited-production cigar showcases a richer profile, thanks to a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, a Mexican San Andrés binder, and a hearty filler blend from Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa in Nicaragua. Visually, the Encore Black is striking. The dark chocolate-hued wrapper has a soft box-pressed form that feels substantial in […]
Fuente Y Padron Legends: Fuente Cigar Review By Mr. J In a moment as rare as it is meaningful, two titans of the cigar world — Carlos Fuente Jr. and Jorge Padrón — came together not just to share a smoke, but to honor the legacies of their late fathers. What began as a conversation over cigars and scotch in early 2020 blossomed into one of the most significant collaborative projects in the premium cigar […]
La Gianna Havana Natural Toro is a cigar built on sentiment and legacy—originally created by David Garofalo in 1994 to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Gianna. This cigar carries with it not only decades of tradition but also a commitment to approachable, flavorful craftsmanship. Rolled in Honduras, it features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over Honduran binder and fillers. The cigar presents beautifully with a butterscotch, sandy brown hue. Its wrapper is smooth with a […]
The Bentley Green Edition Robusto is a Nicaraguan-made cigar that combines elegance and approachability in a well-crafted format. Dressed in an Ecuadorian Rosado wrapper, this Robusto immediately catches the eye with its smooth, reddish-brown hue. The wrapper is clean with minimal veins and tight seams, giving the cigar a refined appearance. It’s well-packed and feels substantial in the hand, promising a quality experience. Upon lighting, the first third delivers a burst of cedar wood that […]
The Don Lino Africa Punda Milia is a revival worth noting. Originally released by Nestor Miranda, this cigar was brought back by Miami Cigar & Company to commemorate their 30th anniversary, and it shows the brand is still very much in touch with what makes a cigar both memorable and accessible. Handcrafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez, it showcases an Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper, an authentic African Cameroon binder, and a global blend of fillers from […]
The H. Upmann The Banker DayTrader Toro pays homage to the brand’s financial roots with a modern twist—combining historical legacy with a bold, contemporary flair.Each DayTrader cigar features an Ecuadorian wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, & a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. From the start, it presents itself as a luxurious cigar: a thick, dark chocolate wrapper, slightly toothy with visible veins, and well packed. It’s a cigar that feels as substantial in the hand as its […]