Review # 999 - Arturo Fuente Exquisito Maduro

2.2 years old; Medium Body; $2.00

Rating out 3.8 of 5  

Dominican Maduro Wrapper; Dominican Binder y Filler 

Construction - Lumpy rough dark 

Pre-light aroma was hay 

Pre-light draw was sweet hay 

Drink - E & J V.S.O.P. Brandy.

1/3 - Good - Dark sweet Maduro with some pepper.  Good draw and nice burn. 

2/3 - Very Good - More pepper now.  The Brandy brings it out with a sharp contrast. Burn continues well, though a touch up required after ashing to even it out. 

3/3 - Very Good - Much the same.  Tried a few RH at end, nice and sweet. 

Easy band removal

Buy Again? Yes

Future Aging? 17 aged.

Smoke Time: 1 hr. 

Smoked on a cold but sunny afternoon.  1st stick in a week due to illness and then eye surgery, which went well. Avoided RH's to prevent any issues with the eye. This is still one of my favorite go to short sticks. 

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Review # 998 - Alec Bradley Overture Robusto

2.1 years old; Medium Body; $4.15

Rating out 4.1 of 5  

Honduran Wrapper & Binder;  Honduran y Nicaraguan Filler 

Construction -  Beautiful dark brown oily 

Pre-light aroma was honey 

Pre-light draw was sweet hay 

Drink - Captain Morgan's Private Stock Rum - a nice pairing with the pepper on the stick.

1/3 - Good to Very Good - Slightly sweet and tangy wood flavors; Coffee and pepper on the RH; Good draw & peppery wood paper aroma. Uneven oily burn. 

2/3 - Very Good to Great - The sweet wood flavors improved in the RH's and the spiciness is still apparent. Not an overly complex blend of flavors but they do the trick for a nice smoke. Burn evened out as well.

3/3 - Great to Very Good - A real step up on the sweetness factor, especially in the RH. Getting some mild coffee mixed in.  Tangy as well with  pepper in background.  Nice aroma when the breezes cooperate. Burn went south so touch ups the rule.

Sweet wood and pepper finish

Easy band removal

Buy Again? Yes

Future Aging? 4 aged.

Smoke Time 1 hr. 20 min.

2nd stick of the day.  Taking advantage of a great afternoon -  Currently 55 degrees with some moderate winds wafting about. Not too shabby for the middle of January. 

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Review # 997 - Don Tomas Classico Maduro

3.3 years old; Full Body; $3; Rating 2.8 out of 5. 

A whopping .3 improvement from the last one I smoked in March 2012.
Connecticut Maduro Wrapper & Binder; Honduran y Nicaraguan Filler
Rough Lumpy Construction
Pre-light aroma was Hay
Pre-light draw was Hay
Drink - Coffee
1/3 - Fair - Mostly bitter with some pepper.  Bittersweet chocolate spicy RH - a tad harsh on back of throat.  Pepper aroma with good draw. Uneven rolled over burn requires touch ups.  Beautiful long white ash.
2/3 - Fair - Unfortunately no real improvements in the flavor department. Once and a while some hint of sweetness will creep in, but nothing to write home about.
3/3 - Fair to Sub-par - A Bitter Biter - now stinging my tongue while accosting my palate.  The RH is the only place where some semblance of sweet Maduro flavors try in vain to improve the experience. So why do I keep smoking this stick?  Why not squash it's leaves violently into the dust?  Hope sometimes is a strange bedfellow.  I keep hoping for improvements in flavor that don't materialize. But that is my nature. Reminds me of the line from the movie Van Helsing. When Dracula asks Igor why he keeps torturing the werewolf Igor replies "It's what I do."
Bitter cigar ashtray finish - yummy!
Easy band removal
Buy Again? Don't think so.  I have had other one's that were good before, but now two duds in a row. Not sure if my taste buds have changed over time. I used to be a much bigger fan of Maduro's - now not so much.  C'est La Guerre.
Future Aging? 2 more
Smoke Time 1 hr.
Another beautiful January morning with a warm sun and a cold breeze.
Happy Smoking
Don Ricardo

Review # 996 - Ashton Benchmade Robusto

3.1 years old; Medium Body; $5
Rating 4.2 out of 5

Nicaraguan Sumatran Wrapper; Nicaraguan Binder y Filler

Construction - Lumpy veiny oily wrapper. 

Pre-light aroma was hay

Pre-light draw was Sweet hay

Drink - Coffee with Brandy

1/3 - Very Good - Sweet and spicy wood with a bittersweet coffee finish. Raggedy burn - not surprised with the wind; Sweet RH; Good draw & spicy paper aroma.

2/3 - Very Good to Almost Great (How's that for waffling?) - A nice mix of molasses sweet wood with bitter coffee. A few touch ups required to keep the burn in line. RH'S have same flavors and are spicy to boot.

3/3 - Great to Very Good - The sweet and bitter contradiction rolls on intriguing my palate, lips and olfactory sensors (Is that too much information?)  Really nice finish and aromas - still some spiciness as well.  Touch ups required. 

Bittersweet finish

Easy band removal

Buy Again? I thought no with the first one because it had a hard draw making for a bitter stick. Now I think yes. Will pick them up if I see them and keep on aging them.

Future Aging?  None.

Smoke Time 1 hr. 25 min.

Early AM stick while the sun is shining on my emaciated body on a cold winters day.  Down another pound this week- woo hoo!! 

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Review # 995 - Punch Cafe Royal Maduro Glass Tube

3.8 years old; Full Body; $5.00

Rating 3.7 out of 5

Connecticut Maduro Wrapper; Connecticut Broad-leaf Binder; Honduran, Nicaraguan, Dominican Filler Construction - Veiny oily 

Pre-light aroma was Chocolate wood 

Pre-light draw was wood 

Drink - Coffee with Cognac

1/3 - Very Good - Dark chocolate flavors w even burn; Sweet Wood RH; good draw & spicy wood aroma.

2/3 - Very Good - Nice flavors continue  

3/3 - Good - Flavors still good, but it fell apart at the end.  Wrapper, binder, it all unraveled.

Easy band removal 

Buy Again? Yes 

Future Aging? One aged.

Smoke Time 1 1/2 hrs.

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Review # 994 - Oliva Serie V Lancero

2.5 years old; Full Body; $5.65; Rating 4.4 out of 5 Nicaraguan Sun Grown Wrapper;  Nicaraguan Binder & Filler 

Construction - Lumpy with veins

Pre-light aroma was sweet hay 

Pre-light draw was spicy hay 

Drink - Johnnie Walker Black - Neat

1/3 - Very Good - Really spicy w some background sweetness. Fairly even burn; Sweet spicy strong RH. good draw & pepper aroma 

2/3 - Fair - Plugged and going out - a real struggle to keep lit. Poor flavors as a result - not what I wanted in a good aged stick. 

3/3 - Good - Better flavors with improved draw.

Spicy floral finish

Hard band removal

Buy Again? Yes - One bad apple...

Future Aging? 7 other various sizes aged 

Smoke Time 1 hr.

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Review # 993 - Oliva Serie V Melanio Petit Corona

0 years old; Full Body; $9.00

Rating out 3.6 of 5  

Ecuadorian Sumatran Wrapper; Nicaraguan Binder y Filler

Construction - Smooth box pressed

Pre-light aroma was spicy hay

Pre-light draw was hay

Drink - Coffee

1/3 - Good - Spicy, but not as sweet as I was expecting from this wrapper; Spicy RH; Good draw & peppery aroma

2/3 - Good to Very Good - Flavors picked up a little.  

3/3 - Good - Not much changed

Finish - bitter sweet

Easy band removal

Buy Again? No Decision

Future Aging? 2 aging

Smoke Time - 1 Hr. 15 Min

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Review # 992 - Ortsac 1962 Toro

2.8 years old; Medium Body; $4 - love the bargain bins!!

Rating out 4 of 5  

Nicaraguan Corojo Wrapper;  Dominican Binder; Dominican y Nicaraguan Filler Construction - a few soft spot w allot of veins.

Pre-light aroma was Pipe Cigar

Pre-light draw was Hay

Drink - Coffee w Brandy

1/3 - Very Good - Initial flavors mix of pepper and sweet wood; Slightly spicy and very sweet RH; Firm draw & sweet pepper aroma. Crooked burn required touch ups.

 2/3 - Very Good to Great - Sweet flavors continue with some leather. The pepper flavors have faded. Nice creamy really sweet RH's. - like smoking a piece of candy. Some burn corrections still needed. Draw remains firm.

3/3 - Very Good to Good - not as sweet with more floral flavors now both in the draw and RH - which also has some clove in it from time to time. The draw got too firm so I had to cut it, which helped.  Corrective burns still the rule.  Also has a bit of a bite at the end.

Overall the finish was sweet - you think?

Easy band removal

Buy Again? Yes

Future Aging? None.

Smoke Time 1 Hr.  45 Min.

I saw on line that Ortsac re-released the 1962 at IPCR in 2012. This cigar was from 2010 at least so I am sure it does not have the same flavor profile.  The new one is made with Oliva tobaccos and wrapped with an Ecuadorian Sun Grown Habano wrapper - sounds good. .  If anyone has smoked the newer version please let me know how it was. Please don't confuse it with the San Andreas Maduro - not a big fan of Mexican wrappers  Meanwhile I am on the prowl for the old version.  I don't think I have ever had a Nicaraguan Corojo Wrapper that was this sweet.

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Puros Indios Toro Especial

3.6 years old; Medium Body; $5.00
Rating out 4.5 of 5  

Ecuadorian Sumatran Wrapper; Ecuadorian Binder; Brazilian, Dominican y Nicaraguan Filler 

Construction - Rough w some soft spots.

Pre-light aroma was Hay

Pre-light draw was Hay

Drink - Coffee with Rum

1/3 - Great - Flavor started out nice and sweet.  Very smooth and sweet coffee RH; good draw & great sweet paper aroma.  Ragged burn with super strong ash.

2/3 - Great to Excellent - Sweet flavors are still hard at work just not as vibrant. The RH's are marvelously smooth and full of sweet coffee and some floral nuttiness. Doing a Retro-hale with every draw now because it is so tasty.  The aroma is awesome as well.  Only downside is the irregular burn and the fact that it went out for some reason. When it did, after re-light I puffed it up glowing bright red. Usually I get some bitterness when I do that.  This stick got sweeter and creamier!

3/3 - Great to Very Good - Sweet flavors march on unabated.  Just a hint of a whisper of spicy bitter cloves in the RH.  Some wrapper unwrapping issues as well.  The cigar fell apart in the last inch.

Sweet coffee finish

Easy band removal

Buy Again? Affirmative - I look forward to introducing its brothers to my torch in the not to distant future.  Another Ecuadorian Sumatran winner! 

Future Aging? Not yet

Smoke Time 2 hrs.  Smoked in the cold moist night air. Where is all this warmth we were promised this weekend?

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Review # 761 - AF Rosado Sungrown Magnum R52

2 years old; Medium Body; $6.30

Rating 3.5 out of 5

Ecuadorian Sun-grown Wrapper; Dominican Binder y Filler

Construction Smooth

Pre-light aroma Molasses

Pre-light draw was Molasses

Drink Coffee w Brandy

Very Good - 1/3 Sweet n Spicy cigar w ragged burn; Strong sweet floral RH; good draw & peppery aroma; long solid white ash.

Good - 2/3 Bittersweet flavors now w no spiciness.  Burn still ragged. RH still strong.

Fair - 3/3 Same but stronger.  The stick fell apart at the end 
Sweet finish 
Hard band removal 
Buy Again? TBD 
Future Aging? Two 
Smoke Time 1 1/2 hrs
Happy Smoking
Don Ricardo

Drew Estates Tabak Especial Dulce Robusto

0 years old; Full Body; $6.50;

Rating out 3.0 of 5  

Construction - Slightly spongy

Drink - Water

Good - 1/3  Very sweet cigar with coffee infused.  Harsh RH.  Crooked burn requiring touch ups. Good draw & sweet coffee aroma

Good - 2/3 Flavors much the same.. still harsh.

Good - 3/3 Flavors much the same.. still harsh.

Sweet cigar finish

Hard band removal

Buy Again? Yes

Future Aging? Some Corona's aging

Smoke Time 1 hr.  15 min.

Smoked with a cigar newbie to ease him in.  Surprised at how harsh this was compared to a previous aged version I gave a 4.5 rating.  Need to be true to my goal of only smoking aged sticks.

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Cain F Habano Robusto

3.1 years old; Full Body; $Free;

Rating out 3.8 of 5  

Nicaraguan Puro

Construction - Lumpy

Drink - Coffee w Brandy

Good - 1/3  Slightly sweet w hint of (are you ready for this) cotton candy.  Also has weird burn - glowing brightly yet threatening to go out. The wrapper cracking as it burns; Strong pepper and floral RH - burning back of throat; Good draw & paper aroma 

Very Good - 2/3 Despite the cracking wrapper, the flavors are winning me over. Along w the elusive cotton candy allot of coffee showed up. Long ash is hanging on. The RH has smoothed out with a nice floral and coffee blend. Uneven burn requiring touch ups here and there. Enjoying the paper aroma.

Very Good to Good - 3/3 Flavors still good but no more cotton candy.  Cracking stopped and burn issues cleared up. RH has a little bitterness and bite.

Slightly sweet cigar finish

Easy band removal

Buy Again? Yes

Future Aging? None

Smoke Time 1 1/2 hrs.

Smoked outside on a dark, cold and rainy night - sounds like the opening line for a bad detective novel.

This is my 990th review. I am taking suggestions for my 1,000th stick. If I go with your suggestion you will win a free aged cigar if I score it 4 or higher!!  You should know what like by now so choose wisely.

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro Robusto

0 years old; Medium to Full Body; $9.75;

Rating out 3.5 of 5  

Nicaraguan Maduro Wrapper;  Nicaraguan Binder y Filler Construction - Slightly box pressed 
Pre-light aroma was hay 
Pre-light draw was hay 
Drink - Coffee w Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Bourbon - Not a good pairing.
Good to Very Good - 1/3 Mild chocolate flavors; Olvaltine RH; good draw & peppery aroma. Choppy burn.

Good - 2/3 Flat Maduro flavor w Floral RH. 

Fair - 3/3 Not much flavor and bitter.

Sweet maduro finish

Easy band removal

Buy Again? Yes 

Future Aging? None - Will need to age these.

Smoke Time 2 Hours

I smoked this unaged at the recommendation of a friend.  He gave his first smoke of this a 4.5.  He also experienced bitterness at the end of a second one he smoked so we believe there is a potential  inconsistency issue.  I will have to get some more and age them to see it this was a dud as he suggests. 
Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo

Nicaro Classico Anno IV Pryamide

0 years old; Medium Body; $Gift; Rating 4 out of 5 
Nicaraguan Rosado Wrapper; Nicaraguan Binder y Filler Construction - Lumpy w some veins
Pre-light aroma was hay 
Pre-light draw was sweet grass. 
Drink - Coffee w Rum
Very Good to Great - 1/3 Sweet grass w some pepper ; Creamy chocolate almond RH - quite tasty and unique; firm draw & great sweet paper aroma. Ragged burn w touch ups required and a flaky ash.
Great - 2/3 Floral honey flavors now w no more pepper. The RH's remain great w some buttery and mocha notes added in w the almonds. The draw is still firm but improved. The burn remains ragged. Some minor cracking of the wrapper as well.
Good - 3/3 Flavors mostly floral now w a little bitterness. Same for the RH's. Sweet grass & pepper finish
Easy band removal
Buy Again? Yes
Future Aging? Nine in the humidors
Smoke Time 1 hr. 45 min.
A description from the Internet.
"Extreme care and precision are put into every Nicarao cigar and Nicarao’s Classico line exemplifies that perfectly. This savory Nicaraguan puro is engulfed with in a smooth, flawless Rosado Habano wrapper from Jalapa. Complex, with medium-bodied spice and a floral aroma the blend finishes smooth and clean making you want to fire one up right after you’re finished with your first one.". 
I got a Christmas gift from a friend - a pack of 10 of these. I never heard of them before. I decided to try one young - glad I did.   I smoked out front in the Winter sun in the AM.  Nice and quiet w wind rustling in the trees and a few birds chirping about.
Happy Smoking
Don Ricardo

1st Review of 2013 - CAO Gold Maduro Corona Gorda

3.6 years old; Full Body; $4; Rating out 2.5 of 5  

Brazilian Maduro Wrapper;  Nicaraguan Binder y Filler

Construction - Solid lumpy

Pre-light aroma was wood

Pre-light draw was sweet wood

Drink - Coffee

Good - 1/3 Dark bitter sweet chocolate; Floral Chocolate RH; good draw & peppery aroma. Good burn.

Fair - 2/3 Flavors mostly bitter now

Bad - 3/3 Bitter and tasteless. Disappointing to say the least. Bitter finish

Easy band removal

Buy Again? No

Future Aging? None

Smoke Time 1 hr. 45 min.

Happy Smoking

Don Ricardo