Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story Review

Hemingway Short Story
Made by: Arturo Fuente
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 4 by 48

Fuente cigars have a rich and vibrant history, they also have quite a reputation. This brand is extremely popular, both with people new to cigars and seasoned veterans. The short story is usually a go to cigar recommendation for both groups. There is something about this little figurado that balances satisfaction and flavor. Let’s see what this iconic cigar has to offer with a Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story Review.

Prelight

Small to medium sized veins, and barely visible seams. The cap is decent, the cigar overall is light. A good amount of tooth to the wrapper, hinting at a good mouth feel. Traditional Arturo Fuente band with nothing unique in that regard. White pepper with some herbal spice on the foot alongside some woodsy notes. Good cut with just a bit of loose tobacco, and a smooth easy draw. More herbal notes on the pre-light draw alongside mixed red and white pepper.

1/3

Easy to light, good smoke production and thickness both sitting at medium. The body is mild to medium and there is almost no strength. Dry leather on the front with a subtle jasmine on the center and white pepper coming in on the finish. That leather carries under the other notes throughout the profile. Very balanced, I want to say there is a woodsy aspect to that background note but it is not cedar or oak. Wonderful burn line, the cigar is delicious I am already wishing it was longer.

2/3

There has been a light red pepper coming up alongside the white pepper on the finish. The front has picked up more floral jasmine with that dry leather and woodsy undertone. The body has held constant at a mild to medium, and still almost no strength. The size of this cigar kills me because I feel like the story is just getting started and I am entering the last third. “Short Story” is a very fair name for this offering by Arturo Fuente.

3/3

The floral note has dropped in a strong transition move and the front is now a bolder mix of dry leather and wood, there are hints of the floral note on the center. The finish has dropped a lot of the pepper that it had. The white pepper is almost all gone and the dry leather and wood have replaced it. There is still a faint amount of red pepper that lets your tongue know it is there.

Smoke Time: 45 minutes

Conclusion: 90

This cigar could fit any occasion and deserves the recommendations it does get. My only wish is that it was longer. However, size is one of the attractive aspects of this cigar. A quick smoke like this rarely has this level of complexity. Great construction, great flavors, and yes this cigar does beat out some prestigious cigars and it deserves that identity.

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La Palina Black Label Robusto Review

Black Label
Made by: La Palina
Country: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 by 52 (Robusto)

A week of first’s, this is a label I have yet to visit for the blog as well. The most popular blends that the company puts out are the Mr. Sam and the Goldie, but let’s see what this blend has to offer with a La Palina Black Label Robusto Review.

Prelight

Mainly a spongy pack, but there are couple of hard spot. The cap is well-made, small veins and visible seams. Very light tooth to the wrapper, and the foot is giving off heavy wood with some black pepper. Easy cut, definitely some loose tobacco. Extremely easy draw, and the prelight flavors are similar to what the foot was putting off. Let’s get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

Tons and tons of smoke production right of the bat, the extremely easy draw is making this an interesting experience from the start. Cocoa and deep oak on the front with black pepper controlling the center and finish alongside the heavy oak. Flaky but compact ash, the burn line is slightly off but no touchups needed yet. Medium smoke thickness, medium to full body and medium strength. It seems to be burning quicker than usual for a cigar of this size. That is most likely attributed to the light pack resulting in the easy draw.

2/3

Cocoa is up on the front there is now a mix of oak and cedar underneath. The center is more pronounced now showing leather and deep oak. That black pepper and deep oak finish is still holding. The deep oak is a constant characteristic of this cigar and carries through the whole profile. Approaching full body but it’s not quite there, and the strength has stayed at a medium. The smoke production is still a lot and the smoke thickness is holding at a medium. Some decent flavor shifts but the overall flavor is being pretty consistent in this profile. The ash is still pretty flaking and it isn’t the best burn line, but the flavors are very present. The finish is a bit over pronounced but there are always areas for cigars to improve.

3/3

If you like black pepper then this last third would be perfect. The cocoa has fallen as the front as the black pepper is bleeding into the entire profile. There is a subtle mix of leather and oak under the pepper on the center and the finish now has characteristic of red pepper showing as well. The cigar did reach a full body and the strength got to a medium plus at the end of the cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Conclusion: 83

In my opinion the first two thirds of this cigar were pretty good. The black pepper was overwhelming in the last third. Definitely a cigar with more body and strength then usual which is something that a lot of people look for. Interesting and bold transitions and a fair amount of complexity within the flavors that the cigar did present.

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Perdomo Champagne 10th Anniversary Epicure Review

Champagne 10th Anniversary
Made by: Perdomo
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 54

This is the first Perdomo cigar that I have reviewed, and I think it’s one of the best blends put out by the company. This is a vitola that I have yet to visit, but my hopes are up. Let’s see if it can hold up to my memory with a Perdomo Champagne 10th Anniversary Epicure Review.

Prelight

Almost no tooth to the wrapper, very small veins. The cap is pretty well done but leaves some room for improvement. Slightly spongy and consistent pack, the foot is giving off cedar, hay, and black pepper underneath. Pretty good cut with just a little bit of loose tobacco, the pre-light draw has a little bit more resistance than usual. The flavors show more mixed pepper then the foot let on. Let’s get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

Easy to light, mild to medium body. Lots of smoke production surprisingly, smoke thickness is about a medium. Dry cedar on the front, with hay on the center and some subtle cocoa undertones. The finish is a balanced mix of red and white pepper. Good mouth feel, this cigar is starting off well, the body is rising slowly and the strength is staying at a low. Not a perfect burn line but it is going pretty well. Toward the end of the first third the body still hasn’t quite hit medium. There has been the addition of cream to the hay in the center of the profile.

2/3

Cedar and mixed nuts on the front now, cashew and almond. No further changes to the center, still a mix of hay and cream. The finish is even more balance then the first third still holding calm red and white pepper. The cigar is just hitting medium bodied, the strength has stayed at a low. The burn is still going well, no touchups needed.

3/3

As the last third burns the cedar is back up on the front as the mixed nuts are falling. Hay has come back up on the center as the cream is falling. The finish has lost a bit of balance as red pepper is coming up. The body has stayed at a medium and the strength has come up just a bit to a low to medium. The burn line is still going well no touchups needed throughout the cigar. This showed the tendency of returning toward the first thirds profile in the last third.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes

Conclusion: 86

The second third was this cigars sweet spot. A pretty good burn, not super unique flavors but they are presented smoothly and fairly balanced. This is a great casual cigar, not heavy in terms of body or strength. This would make a great breakfast cigar just due to the fact that it is on the lighter side. Perdomo did a good job with this blend.

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Crowned Heads Le Careme – Coming Soon!

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium will be ordering the Crowned Heads Le Careme at this month’s IPCOPR Convention in Las Vegas. The Crowned Heads Le Careme is named after Marie Antoine Carême, a pioneer in French cuisine during the 19th century whose long list of accomplishments includes popularizing the soufflé.  Le Carême is made at Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr.’s Tabacalera La Alianza S.A., the same factory that produces the Four Kicks, Headley Grange and J.D. Howard Reserve lines and The Angel’s Anvil TAA Exclusive for Crowned Heads.  Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. described the blend, saying, “it tastes like a chocolate soufflé.”  The Crowned Heads Le Careme uses a Connecticut broadleaf Grade A Dark wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder and Nicaraguan filler.  The Le Careme will be offered in four sizes: Cosacos (5 3/8 x 42), Hermoso No. 1 (6 1/2 x 48), Robusto (5 x 50) and Canonazo (5 7/8 x 52). All sizes are trunk-pressed, a soft box-press. The cigars are packaged in 24 ct. boxes.

Click to Browse the Le Careme at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

The Le Careme will be offered in four sizes: Cosacos (5 3/8 x 42), Hermoso No. 1 (6 1/2 x 48), Robusto (5 x 50) and Canonazo (5 7/8 x 52).

Viaje Juntos 2016 – Coming in thee weeks!

Anthony’s Cigar Emporium will be getting the new Viaje Juntos in  approximately three weeks.  Viaje is partnering with Quesada Cigars for the inaugural version of the Viaje Juntos 2016.   The Juntos is the third installment of the Viaje Collaboration series following releases from TABSA and PDR factoris, although Viaje had to change the name to Juntos (“together” is Spanish) from Collaboration due to a trademark issue.

The Viaje Juntos 2016 come in a cylindrical metal jar that contains two staking and interlocking tubes.  One tube has 10 6” x 54 Toros, and the other has 10 6” x 54 Torpedo.  Each cigar has a Dominican negrito wrapper, a Dominican criollo binder, and a filler blend described by Viaje as having criollo ’98 and ligero tobacco from Nicaragua.

Production of the Viaje Juntos is limited to 1,000 metal jars of 20 cigars (10 Toros and 10 Torpedos).  The Viaje Juntos is made at the Quesada Cigars factory in the Dominican Republic.

Browse the Viaje Juntos at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium here.

Click Picture to browse Viaje Juntos at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

The Viaje Juntos 2016 come in a cylindrical metal jar that contains two staking and interlocking tubes. One tube has 10 6” x 54 Toros, and the other has 10 6” x 54 Torpedo.

My Father Le Bijou 1922 Limited Edition 2016 Review

Le Bijou 1922 Limited Edition 2016
Made by: My Father
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 1/2 by 52

This is the Limited Edition Le Bijou 2016 offering from My Father. The normal vitola’s offered of the 1922 are world class. So it is expected that this cigar will at least meet that standard. Pelo de Oro is the magic contributor that is in the mix of this cigar, that leaf will no doubt make this an enjoyable experience. Lets see what it has to offer with a My Father Le Bijou 1922 Limited Edition 2016 Review.

Prelight

The wrapper of this cigar is gorgeous, tons of tooth and a couple medium sized veins. The pack is slightly spongy, the bands are ornate and well stated. The cap looks like there was a good amount of time put into it, the wrapper leaf being as thick as it is created a bit of a lift to the cap. This lift could cause issues, but given the price point and standard to which I believe this cigar was made it should not be an issue. Sweet syrupy honey and cocoa coming by off the foot, I can guarantee cream and leather in this profile as well. The cut went well, no cap issues. There was a bit of loose tobacco on the cut, the prelight draw has a good bit of resistance. The flavors are consistent with the foot with the addition of some red pepper which has been a theme in the cigars reviewed this week it seems.

1/3

Thick creamy smoke with a slick oily mouth feel, medium smoke production. Sweet honey and leather on the front which is interesting. The center is a heavy cream that washes the front’s notes out. And the finish is a dark chocolate with light red pepper and bitter macadamia nut underneath. Clear and distinct segments to the flavor profile, pretty high complexity right off the start. Medium to full body and medium strength, those characteristics are pretty consistent with the normal 1922 line but the complexity is on another level in this version. Smoke production is increasing as I get to the end of the first third.

2/3

Pretty good burn line which is a bit surprising for this thick of a wrapper. Huge transitions up to this point. The current profile is coffee and light leather on the front, the center is heavy cream and the sweet note that was present in the first third has moved to the center alongside the cream. The finish is very soft, a balanced and smooth mix of red pepper, macadamia nut, and leather. The body and strength are matching at a medium to full now. As I am reaching the end of the second third the smoke production is back down to a medium and thickness is still up allowing for that creamy center.

3/3

The burn line is holding pretty constant not perfect but good considering the thick wrapper. Smoke production is still at a medium and the thickness has actually fallen a bit. The front is almost getting to an expresso like flavor followed by lighter cream on the center and the finish is now a mix of leather and red/black pepper. A bit of an odd note I am picking up is a hint of celery hidden in the finish. I can’t explain that but it is definitely there. Great complexity and good transitions in this cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes

Conclusion: 93

Really good, it’s body and strength was nice and consistent raising just a bit throughout the experience. The complexity was there and the transitions were on point. Good smoke time, good aesthetics, the flavors were unique. It left some room for improvement, but it hit right at its price point and it was what you would expect from a cigar of this caliber. So worth buying? It was absolutely worth having at least one. I could see keeping a fiver on hand, if you like the body and strength balance it could even justify a box purchase. As always I suggest trying the cigar, but this one is a step above your run of the mill LE so if it’s available I highly recommend it.

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Joya De Nicaragua Antano 1970 Review

Antano 1970 Robusto Grande
Made by: Joya De Nicaragua
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 1/2 by 52

This cigar is known as a pretty full bodied go to when you’re looking for a cigar that won’t break the bank but will still deliver in terms of flavor, body, and strength. This review will be going over the grand robusto size, this is a vitola that I have not visited before so the only way to know what this has to offer is by getting this started. Lets see what it can do with a Joya De Nicaragua Antano 1970 Review.

Prelight

The cap is decently constructed, small to medium sized veins and there is light tooth to the wrapper. Barely Visible seams, the foot is giving off leather and mixed pepper. There does appear to be a bit of complexity to the blend, but the only way to truly tell is to get this lit up. Pretty firm and consistent pack, and there is a slight box press. Little bit of an issue with the cap, a bit fell off on the cut. Despite that, there is barely any loose tobacco which is highly impressive. Good resistance on the prelight draw, lots of red pepper and the draw is showing woodsy notes alongside the leather.

1/3

Just as the prelight draw was showing, there is tons of red pepper throughout the profile the finish includes just a bit of black pepper. Slightly bitter leather and mixed wood on the front, that leather carries through the center till the red pepper takes complete control. Medium to full body and medium strength at the moment. I expect both to reach full, the flavors are very pleasant but bold. Medium smoke thickness and medium smoke production. Did I mention red pepper? Because that is the main takeaway at the start of this cigar. Nice solid compact ash, and a pretty good burn line.

2/3

This isn’t a cigar that likes sitting so it does require attention. Smoke thickness has increased and is creating a nice mouth feel. This increase has also let cream creep into the center of the profile. Make no mistake, the red pepper has not gone anywhere it is still controlling the finish with the subtle black pepper lingering. The front is pretty distinct now, leather and oak with a spice that is separate from the red pepper. That little spice note is sharp and clean almost approaching a brief appearance of mint. Great distribution of flavors and it has improved as it has burned down. No changes to the body or strength surprisingly. Still medium to full body and medium strength. That red pepper tongue bite is still present, it will remind you if you forget.

3/3

One note, the cigar does seem to be getting soft a bit earlier than I expected. It became noticeable about 2 and a half inches out. The cigar is really beginning to push full body but it hasn’t hit it. The red pepper alone is pushing that characteristic, the strength has come up to a medium to full. Leather and light cream control the front and then strong red pepper and subtle black pepper come in at the center through the finish. Still a good mouth feel, but the red pepper bite is beginning to outdo the mouth feel. In typical fashion the pepper has come up at the end. Overall, it was a wonderfully blended cigar. Not a perfect burn, not perfect construction, but really good for its price point.

Smoke Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Conclusion: 87

These cigars are often praised for being budget friendly consistent flavor bombs. To tell you the truth I think that’s pretty valid, given their price point. Balance at a higher level of body and strength is hard to come by and this does a pretty good job. This is a cigar that would make a great traveler, something that you wouldn’t feel bad about if it got beaten up. It would certainly be satisfying, and probably even be smoke-able if it did have a couple issues in the midst of travel. The red pepper accompanied by the mouth feel make this a great offering. There are better cigars out there, but this does a great job in the genre it fits into.

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CAO Flathead V660 Carb Review

Flathead V660 Carb
Made by: CAO
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 60

CAO cigars puts out some interesting lines, from my own experiences the notable ones are the Lx2 and the Brazilia. This cigar is from the flathead releases, this ring gauge is on the larger size and I believe I have had a couple before. However, I recall them being decent but not really memorable. Let’s see if this can outperform my expectations with a CAO Flathead V660 Carb Review.

Prelight

Visible seams, small to medium sized veins. The wrapper has a good amount of tooth to it, the cap decently done but has been compressed by the box press. The box press is pretty sharp, almost square. The band is pretty simple, a fruity sweetness on the foot with sweet cream and leather. The cut was not very good, I would probably recommend a punch on this cigar. The cap fell of and there was a slight amount of unraveling. Extremely easy draw, and sharp red pepper on the prelight draw, I hope the pepper does not overwhelm the rest of the notes.

1/3

Slightly difficult to light, the light sweetness that was on the foot is still present, there is a very subtle note underneath. That note is heavy oak and it is slightly bitter. Leather and a mix of black and red pepper on the finish. Heavy smoke thickness high smoke production. Good body coming in at a medium to full and low to medium strength. Cream isn’t really effecting the profile despite the tooth of the cigar. At the very end of the first third nearing the second, leather is up on the front alongside a bitter cocoa, the finish has actually transitioned significantly it is now black pepper forward. It is still a mixed note the red pepper is much more soft them the black, but is still notable on the wrapper. Sturdy ash and the body is maintaining a medium to full, strength is rising slowly but hasn’t yet reached medium.

2/3

As I enter the second third the burn line has been constantly good throughout the cigar, the ash is slightly flaky but holds very well, about an inch and a half. Still high smoke production smoke thickness is increased slightly. That pepper continues to rise in the finish. As I reach the end of the second third the cigar is still a medium to full body and the strength is up to a medium. Not the most interesting flavors but it is building and body and strength as the cigar burns down. Dry leather is now on the front and the mixed pepper still controls the finish. The sweetness seems to still be present but it is significantly subdued. The mixed pepper note is still black pepper forward and red behind.

3/3

In the last third the dry leather continued to be prominent on the front with the pepper notes controlling the finish. There is still an oak in the background, the sweetness is gone though. Till the end the body maintained at a medium to a full and the strength held at a medium. The nub did get squishy and hot. The burn line was not razor sharp, but held pretty straight through majority of the cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes

Conclusion: 84

This is a bit of a large ring gauge for a cigar that is box pressed. An interesting thing is that the band acts as a good grip if you normally hold the cigar between your index and middle finger. Overall it was a decent cigar, not exceptionally complex. The transitions were good, the flavors were bolder justifying the medium to full body. This would be a great cigar for a day working on the yard. I don’t want to call it a yardgar, because it is better than the usual yardgar. Decent price, this is one of those offerings that should be tried out. This line has quite a following, if you like the ring gauge I could see it being attractive as something less attention grabbing but still maintaining a good body.

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Tatuaje Black Label Corona Gorda Review

Black Label Corona Gorda
Made by: Tatuaje
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 5/8 by 46

Today I’ll be going over an offering from Tatuaje. The Black Label Corona Gorda is a consistently good cigar from this company. At least that’s been my experience with these in the past. I would even put this cigar past their Brown Label line. So let’s see what this has to offer with a Tatuaje Black Label Corona Gorda Review. Remember, in previous years the black line was only available in the corona gorda size. As of this summer it is available in 5 sizes in regular production.

Prelight

Lots of tooth to the wrapper, medium size veins. The foot is closed and giving off wonderful mixed pepper, chocolate, and a lighter almost floral note. Needless to say I am expecting complexity from this blend. Superb triple cap, with a nice little bump to add to the aesthetics of the cigar. The band is simple but elegant, just the right amount of bling. You don’t even need to hold the cigar near your face to smell it, wonderful cocoa/chocolate bleeding off of the wrapper. A less developed blend would show this note as more of a barnyard/manure, but this is appropriately aged and well-balanced. Slightly spongy pack, the cut was great with just a little bit of loose tobacco. The pre-light draw shows more chocolate and mixed pepper with a bit of herbal/floral notes underneath. Let’s get this started and see how it performs.

1/3

Just as the foot let on, the front is dark chocolate with a hint of sweetness, the center is a mix of cream and light jasmine. The finish is a well-balanced fully mixed pepper (red, white, black). Great thick smoke production, with a wonderful heavy mouthfeel. Not an overwhelming amount of smoke, but it is certainly heavy and thick. Medium-plus in terms of body at the moment, the strength is at a low to medium. I expect both the body and the strength to rise. Not the straightest burn line, but I don’t foresee any touchups.

2/3

Still super heavy thick creamy smoke with a magnificent mouth feel. The burn is pretty sharp but not perfect, medium to full body and it is just reaching medium strength. Dark chocolate with a bit of sweetness remains on the front, but it has also picked up a subtle leather note. The center fades quickly but the light jasmine is still present, and the finish is still that very well balanced mixed pepper all at equal power.

3/3

The burn line is going is still going wonderfully, the smoke thickness has been spectacular throughout the experience. Leather and cocoa are not controlling the front. The floral jasmine is gone, and the finish is a mixed pepper but red pepper is forward. That red pepper is accompanied by a good amount of cream, the cream having been a great characteristic throughout the profile. Medium to full body and medium strength through the end of the cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Conclusion: 91

This cigar is absolutely a great offering from Pete Johnson and Tatuaje. Wonderful burn line, and a great mix of complexity throughout the cigar. Good transitions, this is a cigar that you want to keep special. However, it would be easy to slip into the habit of picking one of these up very frequently. It is important to recognize that as with most Tatuaje lines, there is a good amount of pepper accompanied with the body. And in my own opinion, this blend does a wonderful job of balancing it’s ratios of pepper, body, strength, and complexity.

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Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 yr Kraken Review

Cellar Reserve 15 yr Kraken
Made by: Gurkha
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 6 by 60

A Gurkha review! This is a first, I have heard mixed opinions about this cigar. In the end cigars should always be tried to see if it does fit an individual. So I am going to approach this blend with an open mind. With that I do have to say, as with several of the cigars that Gurkha produces, the band is very extravagant. My question is, does the tobacco back that presentation up? Lets see with a Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 yr Kraken Review.

Prelight

In my opinion a cigar over a 52 ring gauge is a tough area to get into. At that point firmness becomes a more important characteristic. The pack on this cigar is quite acceptable for this ring gauge. Slightly spongy and a velvet like wrapper. As for the cap, this cigar has a pigtail but it is quite crude as far as the construction of these go. Never the less it is an indication of extra time being put into a cigar. As for the wrapper it is full of medium to large veins and there are many bumps from the binder. Rough looking aesthetics with a beautiful band. The wrapper has less tooth then I would expect but I do hope it maintains higher cream and a good mouth feel. Sharp bold cedar on the foot, seems almost forced, there is a sweetness underneath that shows promise for some complexity. Good cut, and not that much loose tobacco, but what was left of the cap did fall off. The biggest note on this cigar on the prelight draw is the spongy give the pack has. This cigar is packed perfectly for a 60 ring gauge in my opinion, cedar and that sweet note remain present on the prelight with the addition of a black pepper.

1/3

Took a second to light, and the first observation is that the wrapper is leaking smoke where this cigar gets back to a 60 gauge from the smaller foot on this figurado. Tons of smoke production, thick smoke but not too much in the way of mouth feel. There is cedar on the front, closer to almost a dry sawdust, and the finish is bitter black pepper. Not the best burn line at the moment, as I thought the transition from the figurado foot to the 60 ring gauge body is proving difficult for the cigar. It did need a touchup to come back to normal. I am not going to lie, at this point the best part of this cigar is the band. It is just under a medium body at the moment, and no strength at all. As I get to the end of the first third the cigar is coming together a bit more, it seems as though it needed some time to warm up.

2/3

The front has calmed down a bit, it is a mix of cedar and oak. The finish is showing more of a bitter macadamia nut, and it is more balanced then the first third. The black pepper has calmed down a lot and is allowing the other notes to get through. The best way to put it, the cigar is improving. A bit of aging may balance out the front, the sawdust/cardboard note that was present in the first third is gone which is great. The cigar is at a medium body and the strength is up to a low to medium. The burn line has maintained a lot better in this third.

3/3

The flavors are beginning to wash a bit, but in a good way. The notes are blending to be a mix of the macadamia nut, cedar/oak, and subtle black pepper. The smoothness of this cigar improved dramatically from the first to last third. The body has maintained at a medium and the strength never passed the low to medium. The burn line had no issues past the first third. Satisfying end to this cigar, very interesting transition from not something worth smoking into something that I may actually revisit after some age. I can understand how some people could develop a loyalty to this cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Conclusion: 81

This cigar started off shaky but got better as it burned down. In terms of image this cigar looks rough and glorified from the band and the wrapper. It could use some rest to balance out the first third. This was a chimney from the start, really in my opinion this is a good cigar for an occasional cigar smokers or as a beautiful looking hand out to friends. For heavily developed cigar smokers this won’t really hit the flavors and expectations. Still I do have to say I did enjoy smoking this for some reason, really aesthetics add to the experience and in this case that band was helpful.

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