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Cigar Reviews

Cigar Review | Camacho Ecuador

For me the Camacho Ecuador is the most attractive of the new Camacho branding with its colors of teal and black, my personal favorite color combination. Does packaging sell cigars, no, but it can lead you to try a cigar for the first time. From the second I saw the pictures I knew this was a stick I wanted to try. According to Camacho, “The Ecuador Habano leaf is one of the most storied tobaccos […]

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Hammer + Sickle Trademark Maduro Review

A month ago we took a look at the pre-release of the cigar once known as Icon with a maduro wrapper. The Trademark Maduro was officially released at the 2015 IPCPR in New Orleans and since it is now on the shelves we give it, its official review here at The Cigar Authority. Made at the Tabadom factory in the Dominican Republic the cigar is the latest release from Hammer + Sickle which also makes Vodka and Ginger […]

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Byron Distinguido Review

If you have been a reader at The Cigar Authority or listen to our weekly podcast then you know the name Nelson Alfonso as well as his brands Atabey, Byron and Bandolero. The cigars are amongst the highest we have ever rated with Atabey getting a 100, and Byron getting a 98. At the IPCPR this year, Selected Tobacco released a new size of the Byron called Distinguido that is part of the 21st Century […]

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La Imperiosa by Crowned Heads Review

In 2014, Crowned Heads released the first Las Calaveras which was made at My Father Cigars in Esteli, Nicaragua. In 2015 that limited edition cigar sees a regular release and new branding in La Imperiosa. La Imperiosa as a brand dates back to the early 1900’s where it was made in Cuba. The translation of the name is “the imperative” or that which is absolutely necessary or required. The cigar comes in 24 count packages and […]

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Asylum 13 Ogre Lancero Review

First off let me say that I consider myself a Cigar Geek. I embrace the term and even though some people think of it as a bad thing, I believe it to be a fair description. Cigar Geeks like myself seek cigars like the one in todays review, because of the size, a Lancero and the unique nature. However, many stores no longer carry the smaller ring gauge cigars because they do not sell. I believe it […]

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Fratello Bianco II Review

Earlier today, David Garofalo penned an article about boutique cigars. If anyone is looking to start a cigar company and wants a model to look at, Fratello is a company that is the perfect case study. Omar de Frias built Fratello with the mix of a really good initial release and the hustle that hasn’t been seen since Pete Rose. All while maintaining his regular job with NASA. The Fratello Bianco is the second release […]

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Undercrown Shade Review Pre-Release Review

Yesterday we reviewed one of two highly anticipated Connecticut shade wrappers to be released at the IPCPR. Today we take a look at the Drew Estate Undercrown Shade. According to the press release, ““Undercrown Shade” marks the first release blended by Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera not to fall under the Herrera Estelí brand family. Herrera’s continued involvement in blending and brand development within Drew Estate is evident with this new blend, as Herrera […]

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Padron Damaso No. 15 Review

There were a few new releases at the trade show that were highly anticipated and at least two of them were Connecticut Shade wrappers which given the direction of new releases lately seems pretty rare. Today we look at one of those releases, Padron Damaso. According to the Padron website where Jose O. Padron writes, “THIS CIGAR was named for my grandfather Dámaso, who was the first Padrón to arrive in Cuba sometime in the […]

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Foundation Cigar El Gueguense – Pre-Release Review

Since my co-workers returned from the trade show the number one question asked of me is; “Have you smoked the new Nick Melillo cigar?” Until today the answer was no, but after about 50 people asking for my opinion I decided to light it up today and smoke this pre-release from the man known as Nick~R~Agua on social media. The brand El Güegüense (Gwe-gwe-nse) translates into The Wise Man. According to a statement on the Foundation […]

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My Father Limited Edition 5th Anniversary Review

First introduced in 2010, the My Father Limited Edition is enjoying its 5th year. However, since they did not release a limited edition in 2014, it is only the 4th cigar in the series. In its inaugural release the cigars were rolled by father and son Don Pepin Garcia and Jose Garcia; the latter which is credited as the master blender and is denoted on the secondary band of the cigar. The limited edition comes […]

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