Boutique Blends is a company that is just that. Boutique. Over the years, they have released some highly sought after and award winning cigars. One of their most recent creations is a cigar that uses a hefty amount of Pelo de Oro, a tobacco strain that is tough to grow but offers plenty of unique complexities to go around. Brand owner Rafael Nodal utilized the help of A.J. Fernandez to acquire the leaf he desired […]
About a year ago, the Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged cigar made its debut with its new packaging and bands. At the time the wrapper I was looking forward to the most the Maduro didn’t hit me as I had hoped. At the time I wrote, “I’ve long been a fan of Perdomo Maduro cigars and while I expected this one to shine above the rest, I was a little sad not to pick up […]
It’s the holidays and everything and everywhere seems to be getting a little crazy. People are doing last minute shopping, fighting over parking spaces, tearing each other’s hair out for the last Furby… it’s like 1998 all over again. After it’s all said and done, most of us will probably feel like we need to be in an Asylum. Which perfectly segways into this review of the Asylum 13 Fifty. What am I smoking? Cigar: […]
At IPCPR 2016, Dion Giolito unveiled a new look for his Cruzado line of cigars. The cigars which were once packaged in the retail friendly 4 rows of 5 cigars has been replaced by a more traditional sized box with two rows of 10. Also gone is the cross on the box, replaced with hands bound together, with Cruzado above and an upside down Illusione beneath. Cigar: Cruzado Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo ’99 Rosado Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Length: 6″ […]
In 1926, Jose O. Padron was born in the country of Cuba. Fast forward to 1964 after immigrating to the US, he founded one of the worlds most successful brands of premium cigars in the city of Miami. Mr. Padron worked tirelessly over the years to build his brand, turning it into the icon it is today. After smoking the Padron 1964 Anniversary TAA Belicoso last week on TCA’s weekly podcast, I wanted to revisit one […]
I was rummaging through the humidor this morning looking for a cigar I haven’t had in a while. As soon as I saw a Via Havana peek out under some other sticks in my collection, I dug it out. These cigars come out of the country of Costa Rica and are made by a company called Cuba Rica Tabaclera, a brand which makes several different high quality blends. What am I Smoking? Cigar: Via Havana […]
This summer of 2015 saw the launch of Foundation Cigar Company by Nick Melillo who had his career start at the retail level while living in the state of Connecticut. From here he would go on to Drew Estate where he would oversee their factory operations and he was responsible for blending Liga Privada No. 9, T52, Dirty Rat, L40, Nica Rustica as well as others. Nick would eventually leave Drew Estate to start his […]
It’s starting to chill down up here in New Hampshire, so I was looking for something I could enjoy outside that wouldn’t take too much time. But I also wanted a cigar that was going to have the power I like. One of my favorites that fits both of those requirements is the CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger, a dark cigar that hails from Nicaragua made by Skip Martin and Michael Rosales of RoMa Craft. What am […]
Today we smoke the Via Havana which is a cigar from Costa Rica. It’s limited to just 200 accounts nationwide to control the production and make sure the cigars meet the high standards set by Steven Adib of Cuba Rica cigars. It’s a cigar that I never heard of until I moved to New England but I have smoked on a regular basis since I was introduced to them. Cigar: Via Havana Country of Origin: Costa Rica […]
Avo. A name synonymous with fine cigars and musical talent. Over three decades ago in the early 1980’s, Avo quietly entered into the premium cigar market only selling 120,000 cigars in his first year. Fast forward to 1995, Davidoff took over distribution for Avo Uvezian and sold over 2,000,000 cigars that very next year. In the past, Avo Uvezian primarily used tobaccos from the Dominican Republic for his blends. More specifically, he has not used […]