Avo XO Intermezzo Tubo Review

XO Intermezzo Tubo
Made by: Avo
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 5 by 50

I have to say that the cigars that Avo puts out are usually very good releases. This cigar is a different vitola then the last XO I reviewed, I am excited to get to visit one of these again. Lets see what it has to offer with a Avo XO Intermezzo Tubo Review.

Prelight

The cap isn’t the best by any stretch, visible seams. Small to medium sized veins, and the pack is consistently firm. Very light tooth to the wrapper, the foot is giving off light white pepper, cedar, and cream. This is hinting at a lighter and more relaxing profile than the cigars that I have visited recently. Good cut, but there was a good amount of loose tobacco, the prelight draw shows similar notes as the foot. There is more of a mix of white and red pepper present as well as the addition of a light leather note. Lets get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

Very easy to light, tons of smoke production and great smoke thickness off the start. The 50 ring gauge is just a very appropriate size, it is a nice aspect of this cigar. Cedar on the front with light cream underneath, the center has a light leather note clearing the profile. The finish has the mixed pepper note consisting of red and white pepper. The red pepper is up at the moment and is making for a nice creamy mouth feel with some bite. Medium body and low strength, great start to the cigar.

2/3

The burn line has been nearly razor sharp, the smoke production has fallen a bit. The smoke thickness is still up there, the body has risen to medium plus and the strength is at a low to medium. The red pepper has continued to control the pepper and it has come up a bit more. The cedar has fallen to become an under note on the front. The light cream and light leather have moved up in the profile. As the center comes on cream and red pepper control the profile. The white pepper is muffled by the bite of the red pepper. The balance is really good because of the cream at the end of the profile. The smoke thickness and that cream are really impacting the profile.

3/3

As I am getting to the nub the body is back at a medium and the strength is almost equal. The front is a well balanced mix of leather and cedar, the center is back to light cream. The finish is more tame with the pepper back to a mix of red and white pepper. There is a light leather on the finish as well. The burn line was wonderful throughout the cigar and the smoke production stayed at a medium. The smoke thickness was at a high though. Really a great offering from Avo.

Smoke Time: 55 minutes

Conclusion: 88

It had a great profile, it was lacking in terms of aesthetics at the start. The flavors were very stable and delicious. The construction was very good, that burn line was great. The draw had some resistance but nothing unmanageable. The complexity could have offered more, and the transitions could have been stronger. However, in terms of a consistent medium bodied cigar. This performed wonderfully.
Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com

Warped Maestro del Tiempo – Just Arrived!

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium has just received the recently unveiled Warped Maestro del Tiempo.  They are available for purchase here.  The Warped Maestro del Tiempo has two sizes: 5205 (6 3/8 x 42 Corona), and 5712 (4 1/2 x 52 Robusto), each packaged in 25 ct. boxes.  A new beauty from boutique maker Warped, the Maestro del Tiempo is a Nicaraguan puro comprised of 100% AGANORSA leaves and made at Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA) in Estelí. TABSA also makes the Corto, Flor del Valle, Futuro and La Hacienda for Warped. The Warped Maestro del Tiempo has a Corojo ’99 Clara wrapper from Jalapa, a binder from Condega and filler filler blend composed of both Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 tobaccos.

Warped owner Kyle Gellis has said that the Warped Maestro del Tiempo was a long time in development and was finally unveiled at the 2016 IPCPR Convention. “I wanted to do this brand for a long time and it took that much time to get the blend down, through so many revisions, farm and lot changes, et cetera. In this industry time is something you need to be very at peace with and embrace because it takes a lot of time and patience to create a blend from the ground up. I was waiting to create this project so much that I just mastered time and learned how to embrace its length.”

The Warped Maestro del Tiempo is described as a medium to full-bodied blend.

Click Picture to browse the Warped Maestro del Tiempo at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

LFD Andalusian Bull – More Arrived at Anthony’s!

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium just received a few more boxes of the LFD Andalusian Bull.  The LFD Andalusian Bull are available for purchase here.

At the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, La Flor Dominicana showcased a new limited production cigar called the LFD Andalusian Bull.  While visiting a shop in Andalucia, Spain, Litto Gomez found a unique cigar mold that he purchased on the spot. He brought the mold back to his Dominican factory where he was able to replicate it.  The special mold he found gives these cigars a unique shape. The cigar is available in one size, a unique 6 1/2 x 52 x 64 vitola packaged in ten count boxes. The cigar itself has the look of a Salomon with a small portion that is cut off at the foot. The LFD Andalusian Bull will be an on-going limited production, similar to the La Nox and both Chapter one and two.  The LFD Andalusian Bull is made with select Dominican tobaccos from La Flor Dominicana’s farm in La Canela, D.R. with the wrapper leaf being a full bodied and spicy Ecuadorian Corojo.  La Flor Dominicana Vice President Jonathan Carney described the La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull as a “full-bodied, very smooth” offering.

LFD Andalusian Bull. Click picture to browse at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

Warped El Oso Papa Bear Review

El Oso Papa
Made by: Warped
Country: United States, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 48

The construction of warped cigars tend to be world class. Today I will be doing a Warped El Oso Papa Bear Review. This cigar is no exception, and the subtle band lets you know that this brand is not about prestige. It lets it’s blending and tobacco do the talking.

Prelight

Tons of tooth to the wrapper, visible seams, and a well done torpedo cap. The foot is giving off mixed stone fruit, coffee, and barnyard. That hints at a wonderful thick and full bodied profile. Small veins, and there are a couple little water spots from curing. Slightly spongy and consistent pack, this cigar has the makings of a wonderful experience. Great cut, very little loose tobacco. The prelight draw is consistent with the foots flavor. The coffee is showing through and there is a bit of pepper thrown in as well. Let’s get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

Dark chocolate with light peach underneath on the front. The center shows the dark chocolate turning to slightly bitter cocoa and light black pepper. The finish is the cocoa alongside dry cashew. There is a great array of complexity to the cigar, the smoke production is low to medium. The smoke thickness is medium, the burn line is going great. The cigar has a great draw and mouth feel. Medium plus body and low strength.

2/3

The cigar is very spongy, I would almost prefer a firmer pack. The flavor profile is exceptional though. Bitter cocoa has moved to the front with an oak undertone. The cocoa holds into the center and then light black pepper and leather shoe up on the finish. The smoke thickness has held at a medium but there is a good amount of cream to the mouth feel that is making this really enjoyable.

3/3

The bitter cocoa remains on the front, there is a light peach note. I think it’s peach, it’s definitely fruity, but it is alongside the oak underneath the cocoa. The center is showing more wood, with a mix of oak and cedar. And the finish is leather, light black pepper, and the great creamy mouth feel. Low to medium strength and medium to full body. Flawless burn line throughout the cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes

Conclusion: 92

Wonderful complexity and great transitions. I certainly went through it quickly but that is because it was simply delicious. I absolutely recommend this cigar, it is box buy worthy. Of course try it before you hop into that, but it isn’t something you will be disappointed with.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com

Illusione 33 Review

33
Made by: Illusione
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 1/2 by 32

This is not a pretty cigar. That is I would call it more of a twig. Coming in at a tiny 32 ring gauge the wrapper ratio is going to be this cigars stronghold. As far as a petite lancero would go this looks very well made, that is assuming this still would be classified as such. No band, but I have heard nothing but positive things about this blend. Let’s see what it has to offer with an Illusione 33 Review.

Prelight

Ugly, is the best word to describe this. Medium to large veins, almost invisible seams. Lots of tooth to the wrapper, the foot is showing sweet hay, cream, and leather. Spongy and soft throughout the pack. This sounds delicious so far, the cut was sharp and clean, very little resistance on the prelight draw. The cigar continues to show the sweet hay as well as the leather detected on the foot. Let’s get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

Boom, red pepper, leather, and cream. That red pepper is sharp, wonderful flavor medium to full bodied, low to medium strength. High smoke production and high smoke thickness, wonderful flavors. That red pepper and leather is a perfect mix.

2/3

Great burn line, great smoke production and thickness. The burn time is pretty quick so there hasn’t been too much in the way of flavor shifts. The red pepper has picked up more tongue bite. The burn line is razor sharp at the moment.

3/3

Great construction, no changes really it has just been a consistent and solid little cigar. The ring gauge and the softness are verging a different category of smoke. The leather is up a bit, the cream and red pepper are absolutely still there. Medium to full body and low to medium strength. This has been an interesting experience.

Smoke Time: 45 minutes

Conclusion: 86

This profile is something that consistently scores around an 85. This was above average for the red pepper and leather profile because of the perfect construction. The no loose tobacco and the flawless burn line made for a great cigar. This is something that I would put in the neighborhood of the Tatuaje Verocu No 5. A short smoke but a very good one. I would probably place this pretty high on a list of short cigars. Definitely something to try.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com

El Gueguense Review

El Gueguense
Made by: Foundation Cigars
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 56

By foundation cigars, this is an interesting cigar that has commanded attention lately. I can smell it while it sits on my desk. The band is quite elaborate, and the name is also demanding as it says “the wise man.” Let’s see if the blending is “wise” and expertly executed with a El Gueguense Review.

Prelight

Small to medium sized veins, not a perfect cap but it is decently done. Visible seams, there is fine tooth to the wrapper. The pack is firm with one softer spot, the foot is giving off a ton of barnyard and manure with some cedar in the background. This smells terrible by my own opinion. Which usually means the cigar is going to be pretty impressive. Pretty good cut with some loose tobacco. The prelight draw shows more woodsy notes to the profile. Let’s see if it can hold up to its recent popularity.

1/3

Wow, a powerful mix of white and red pepper that I was not expecting. That mix of notes holds through the center, then a sharp Cedar shows up. The cigar is a medium to full body, and a medium strength. It is very robust right out of the gate. Medium smoke production, higher smoke thickness. The cigar is pretty dry, there is it really an aspect of creaminess to it yet in the profile.

2/3

The cigar is proving to be a bit difficult to stay lit, it does require some care in the sense that I would not let it sit for long. The pepper notes that were on the front have calmed down slightly, the center now shows oak and cedar which are coming up. The finish is a nice balance of the mixed pepper and light cream. Smoke production continues at a medium, smoke thickness has actually dropped to a medium. The body is maintained a medium to full, and the strength has maintained a medium.

3/3

In the last third, the body has progressed to a full, the strength has come up to medium plus. Wonderful flavors, the mixed woodsy notes are now on the front, the mixed pepper actually fell throughout the progression of the cigar. On the center, the red and white pepper shows back up. The light cream is still present on the finish as is a reappearance of the Cedar note. Medium smoke production and medium plus smoke thickness. Great notes and good body. The cigar had an easy draw throughout and the burn was pretty stable. It was not razor sharp but it did not need any touchups.

Smoke Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Conclusion: 90

Great flavors and good construction, the complexity was above average. The best part of this cigar is the body and the strength that you get with the great array of flavors. This is a fiver cigar in my opinion. Something that would be nice to visit toward the end of the day and once every two weeks or so. Great offering from Foundation Cigars.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com

Opus X Lost City Lancero Review

Opus X Lost City Lancero
Made by: Fuente Fuente
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 7 1/2 by 41

For the last lance of the series, I will be doing a Opus X Lost City Lancero Review. There is one certain thing, the bands are beautiful. Naturally, with the price point it should be exceptional. Often times cigars like this are almost more focused on the name rather then the quality. It does vary significantly, lets see what this one brings to the table though.

Prelight

Nice small to medium sized veins, barely visible seams. There is an excess amount of rollers glue present on the cigar. The cap of the cigar is really nicely made, as you’d expect it to be on an Opus X. The pack is firm and consistent throughout the length of the cigar. The foot is giving off cinnamon and oak with some red pepper bite. Wonderful cut, very little loose tobacco. The pre-light draw shows lots of cinnamon and red pepper similar to an Altoid. There is a light amount of sweetness to the profile as well, it’s really a pleasant start.

1/3

Easy to get lit up, medium smoke thickness and medium smoke production. The front has a nice balance mix of Cedar and Oak. The cinnamon Altoid the note is really making this profile. Very light sweetness and the cinnamon bite is no doubt amplified by the red pepper. Medium to full body and medium strength at the moment, I expect both of those to rise. But I expect the strength to rise quicker. The burn line is slightly off, but it seems to be going back-and-forth and I forsee no touchups.

2/3

It’s not often that you can say the strength in a cigar is a good thing for the profile. But there’s something about this cigar that just hits you over the head like a mallet and makes you relax. That is not to say the strength is overwhelming, just really appropriate. The strength really hasn’t changed from a medium, but the medium to full body is blending perfectly with it. Oak is up over Cedar on the front, the cinnamon note has diminished a little bit but is absolutely still there. Smoke production and smoke thickness have both risen to a high. There is still a light sweetness to the profile on the finish with a light leather. The cigar is not boldly complex and in-your-face, there are good transitions going on but the overall feel of the cigar is calm. I do hope the cigar kind of levels out at this point, because the strength could pass up the body and diminish the experience. It’s not there yet though. The burn line is still going strong, and the draw is perfect.

3/3

The body is at a medium to full and the strength is at a medium to full as well. The transitions are very subtle and smooth. The cigar is doing a great job of showing that it is a great celebratory stick. Relaxing with an odd sense of accomplishment for some reason. The smoke thickness and the smoke production are still up at a high. The burn line continues to be pretty good it has improved significantly since the start of the cigar. The ash has been pretty compact for the first two thirds, but it’s gotten a little bit flakier as I’m getting to the end of the cigar. The balanced mix of Oak and Cedar is back on the front, there is a little bit of cashew underneath. The center is now light cinnamon, leather, and a little bit of white pepper. The finish is showing a mix of red and white pepper with leather. So the cigar has had decent transitions they’ve just been subtle and very smooth.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Conclusion: 94

This is a cigar that you can visit every day after a long day at work. That is assuming that it’s within your price target. It’s price point is quite high, but it is truly a great calming experience. There was a lot of different notes present in the cigar, but they were well divided and defined. So this cigar absolutely held its own against the El Triunfador, there is a huge difference in the type of experience though. This was relaxing and had subtle and smooth complexity, the El Triunfador was more bold and demanded respect and attention.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com

Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero Review

Black Petite Lancero
Made by: Tatuaje
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 38

The Tatuaje Black Label line has been out for a good amount of time. Recently they released new vitolas that have been well received. This is one of the older sizes, and something that I have yet to write on. These few days are being dedicated to the lancero size and will also be featuring an Opus Lost City Review.  However, lets throw this into lineup up with a Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero Review.

Prelight

Medium sized veins and a pretty consistent and firm pack. Visible seams, the cap is done very well on this particular cigar. I have seen the caps a bit offset on other specimens though. The foot is giving off notes of cedar and leather with light white pepper as well. There is some light tooth to the wrapper as well. The cut went well, there was some loose tobacco. The prelight draw had above average resistance, it showed more cedar and some cashew as well. Lets get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

As with a lot of lanceros, this cigar was fairly easy to get going. The front shows dryer cedar with cashew mixed in there. There is a cleaner spice note underneath that is carrying through the profile, it does seem to have elements of white pepper. Hopefully that develops more as the cigar progresses. The center is showing more leather and light sweetness, but the light herbal white pepper is carrying through as an undertone. The body is at a medium at the moment I do expect that to rise and the strength is at a low to medium.

2/3

The smoke production is at a medium and the thickness is about on par with that. The burn line is going well, not perfect but I do not foresee any touchups being needed. That herbal white pepper undertone has nice complexity to it, I am getting a light sweet fruit note as well. That flavor is so well mixed that its really just complimenting the other flavors that are more forward. The front has remained reminiscent of cedar, and the leather is coming up on the center where the cashew is now joining it. There is a bit of bitter macadamia nut in that mix, but the main takeaway is mixed nuts and leather over the more complex herbal white pepper base.

3/3

The body did get up to a medium to full and the strength stayed pretty consistent at a low to medium. The smoke production has risen and the smoke thickness is still at a medium. The draw is still a bit above average, and the burn line is going allright. The flavors have been wonderful, but as I am getting to the end there is a black pepper joining the white pepper undertone. That is diminishing the complexity of the cigar but the leather and cedar notes remain. They have come together and are mixing pretty well on the front and center, the nuts have dropped but they are still present.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 88

Overall, this was a pretty consistent cigar with good flavors and good construction. No touchups needed, the transitions were pretty subtle and less pronounced than more aggressive profiles. The pepper was really well mitigated for a cigar by Tatuaje. It actually served a good purpose to mix with the light sweetness and clean herbal notes that held as an undertone of the cigar throughout the entire experience. Absolutely worth trying, the price is right in this cigars case. I will certainly visit this again because in terms of price point and quality it does perform very well.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com

El Triunfador Lancero Review

El Triunfador Lancero
Made by: Tatuaje
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 7 1/2 by 38

This is an original release of the El Triunfador by Tatuaje featuring the broadleaf wrapper. The OR release is actually still in stock at the online store (at the moment). I will be doing a series of lancero’s the next few days, this is often a top pick for being one of the best overall. It will be interesting in terms of flavors, but also in terms of how it holds up in comparison to the Opus X Lost City Lancero that I will visit soon. Lets see what sets it apart with a EL Triunfador Lancero Review.

Prelight

Dark and very toothy wrapper with a cap done flawlessly. Medium and large sized veins, consistent slightly spongy pack. The foot is giving off a mix of jasmine and sweet thick syrup. I expect a good amount of leather and cream in the profile, but there seems to be lighter more complex notes woven in as well. Great cut, almost no loose tobacco. The prelight draw is pretty tight, jasmine and that sweet note remain with the addition of red pepper.

1/3

Pretty thin smoke at the start of this, which is a surprising characteristic. Very easy to light, nice mixed nuts on the front with a bit of the sweetness that the foot let on. Leather and dry cream are balanced on the center and finish with a light red pepper bite in the end. As I get into the first third the jasmine is coming up in the center of the profile. Medium to full body and low strength. The burn line is wonderful and the burn time is actually quite fast at this point. Great complexity, it did take a while to build, the transitions are occurring slowly and calmly.

2/3

Extremely solid and compact white ash. I feel like it could last a significant amount of time but I am unwilling to put it to the test in that regard. The smoke thickness has increased to a medium, smoke production is holding pretty high though. The burn line is perfect, almost no issues with the construction at all. Jasmine has moved to the front of the profile alongside mixed nuts. The center is now extremely clean and I am having a hard time classifying the note, I think it is a mix of really sharp clean cedar and jasmine. However, it comes out tasting like a floral perfume or a very dry and clean champagne. That is one of the best flavors I have ever gotten in a cigar. When blending this cigar it seems like they wanted to mess with the buyer because red pepper comes up and washes that note away.

3/3

Still at a medium to full body and the strength is at a low to medium, the burn line and construction are near perfect. The draw has a very appropriate amount of resistance. The sweetness and mixed nuts had dropped in the second third but the transition occurring now is interesting. The mixed nuts and sweetness are back on the front. Jasmine has fallen but cream is up to join it on the center and then the finish is red pepper and leather. Wonderful balance, complexity, and transitions.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes

Conclusion: 94

The construction was flawless, the flavors were delicious. One loss the cigar had was that the second third was so amazing I felt the first and last were lacking. However, on any day the profiles of the first and last thirds of this cigar are rare. So complexity was near perfect, transitions were balanced at first and then they came on with more force in the last third. This would be a great cigar to do a box split on with a couple friends. I can say that this is not a cigar I could smoke everyday because it is so rich and delicious that it almost becomes overwhelming. Definitely an experience, I could see this as a special cigar for moments you don’t want to miss because the cigar itself is quite unforgettable.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com

Warped Guardian of the Farm – Coming to Anthony’s Cigar Emporium

The Warped Guardian of the Farm will be coming to Anthony’s Cigar Emporium in October, 2016.  Casa Fernandez and Warped Cigars, who collaborated on the Warped Futuro line in 2015, are teaming up once again for a new release called Warped Guardian of the Farm. The Guardian of the Farm cigars use vintage AGANORSA leaves from the Fernandez family tobacco vaults that was reserved for its personal blends. At the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, the two companies showed off its second collaboration project called “Guardian of the Farm”.

Max Fernandez of Casa Fernandez and Warped Cigars’ owner Kyle Gellis unveiled the Warped Guardian of the Farm at this year’s IPCPR Convention however the cigars are not being released until October. The Warped Guardian of the Farm line is a tribute to the guard dogs of the AGANORSA tobacco farms in Nicaragua. Each of the names of the sizes correspond to one of the dogs: Campeon (6” x 52 Toro), J.J. (5 ¼” x 50 Robusto), and Apollo – Seleccion de Warped (6” x 44 Lonsdale). The Apollo Seleccion de Warped is a limited edition release and has a secondary band.

The Warped Guardian of the Farm is a Nicaraguan puro whose blend includes a Jalapa Shade Corojo ’99 wrapper, a Corojo ’99 binder, and a Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98 filler blend.

Each of the three sizes of the Warped Guardian of the Farm is packaged in 25 count boxes. The cigar is handmade at the Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA) factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.

Click to view the Warped Guardian of the Farm at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

Click to view the Warped Guardian of the Farm at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

Warped Guardian of the Farm Apollo – Seleccion de Warped Lonsdale, a limited edition vitola featuring a secondary band. Click to view the Warped Guardian of the Farm at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.