Browsing Category

Cigar Reviews

Arturo Fuente Short Story Cigar Review

In the cigar industry today, cigar geeks like myself chase limited edition cigars. Much was the same during the cigar boom for a different reason. People chased cigars that were hard to come by even if they were a regular release. One of those cigars was the Short Story from Fuente. It also led to a lot of gouging back in the day, where today’s cigar was often sold at double and triple the suggested […]

Continue Reading

Leaf by Oscar Sumatra Toro Cigar Review

One of the most intriguing cigar releases in 2015 was Leaf by Oscar. It was a cigar that wasn’t on our radar when we visited the show, but as our own Mr. Jonathan walked the trade show floor he was intrigued when he met “Island” Jim Robinson by the cigar that looked like one of the ugliest creations ever made. The cigar which is wrapped in a tobacco leaf instead of cello continues to perform […]

Continue Reading

Umbagog Toro Toro Cigar Review

One thing Steve Saka enjoys almost as much as cigars is fishing which is how this cigar got its name. It shares the name of a lake on the New Hampshire and Maine border and is consider one of the most pristine lakes in the country. The correct pronounciation puts the stress on the second syllable (um-BAY-gog) and is said to come from an Indian word that means, shallow water.   The cigar is the […]

Continue Reading

La Flor Dominicana 1994 Mamba Cigar Review

One of my favorite people in the industry isn’t a cigar maker or a brad owner. We first met when he was a cigar rep for another brand. He moved to La Flor Dominicana handling the Northeast before taking on the position of VP of Sales for the company owned by Litto and Ines Gomez. I ran into him a few times this week and had to reach for the winner of the 2014 Blind […]

Continue Reading

Big Papi by David Ortiz – Cigar Review

Back in 2004, the Boston Red Sox made history when they won the World Series after an over eight decade long “curse”. On the roster that year was designated hitter David Ortiz, also known as “Big Papi”. He left his home in the Dominican Republic to pursue a career in baseball, and he made his home in Boston. This year, almost 20 years since the start of his career, he’s released his very own brand […]

Continue Reading

Black Label Dictator – Lighter Review

Dictator… By definition, it means to have total power over a country. In the world of lighters, the Black Label Dictator gives you total power over your cigars. This is a lighter that will get the job done. Not only does it have a powerful flat flame single jet torch, but it also has a pop out punch cutter on the side for added convenience. First, let’s talk about the flame. The Dictator has one […]

Continue Reading

CroMagnon Aquitaine Knuckle Dragger Cigar Review

Skip Martin and Mike Rosales are part of the new school wave of boutique cigars. Their company Roma Craft Tobac has brought forth some strong, flavorful cigars in their 5 years of existence. With FDA Regulations in place, I find myself worried about the future for this brand, even if Skip Martin himself is not worried about the future. According to the Roma Craft website, “The Aquitaine contains the same long-filler, full-bodied blend found in […]

Continue Reading

Unicorn: The Atabey Lancero – Cigar Review

A few weeks ago, I saw our good friend Oliver post a photo on his Instagram (@HavanaDaydreamin) of a cigar I was familiar with, but had never seen. Showcased in the image was an Atabey in a lancero size, another beautiful piece of artwork by Nelson Alfonso. I had to have it for this review. So luckily, I was able to get my hands on one so I could share my thoughts with you. This […]

Continue Reading

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Robusto – Cigar Review

It’s been a while since I visited this brand, considering the last time I enjoyed one was probably back in July. And with the weather warming up slightly this week here in New England, I felt like something that would bring me back to those warm summer nights. Don Pepin Garcia is a legend in the premium cigar industry. He’s been blending and rolling cigars for many years, and recently, his son continued the tradition. […]

Continue Reading

Hammer + Sickle Trademark Connecticut Robust Cigar Review

This morning I had no idea what I wanted to smoke when I came in to work. That dilemma was solved when Eric Wentworth the sales manager for Klin tobacco walked in the door. I opted at that point to light up the cigar that was featured at my wedding back in September. According to the Hammer + Sickle website,  “Trademark series Connecticut is the quintessential mild cigar. Boasting a four-year aged golden Connecticut shade wrapper Trademark […]

Continue Reading