Illusione Fuma d’Amour Lancero Review

Fuma d’Amour
Made by: Illusione
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 7 1/2 by 40

At 7 1/2 by 40 this lancero is looking delicious, the only other lance that I have had by Illusione is the Holy Lance release. This cigars band is understated, I have reviewed another vitola of this release and it was a decent offering. This I expect to be significantly different due to the wrapper to filler ratio. Lets see what it has to offer with a Illusione Fuma d’Amour Lancero Review.

Prelight

Barely visible seams, small veins, and an expertly done cap wonderful dark dry cocoa and cashew coming off of the foot. Almost no tooth to the wrapper, very consistent slightly spongy pack. Clean cut, just a small amount of loose tobacco. A bit above average draw resistance. The prelight draw shows dry cocoa and white pepper. Let’s get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

There is a mix of cocoa and cashew on the front, with leather on the center, and white pepper closing the profile out. Thick creamy smoke and medium smoke production. There is a nice thick mouth feel which is the best part about this cigar currently. Slightly flaky loose ash, but a good burn line. The front is controlling the profile at the moment, overall this is a good start.

2/3

Cocoa is up as I get into the second third, the cashew has died down a bit. Leather and cream are on the center, and white pepper continues to round out the profile. Still burning well, the ash is falling off in 1 and 1/2 inch chunks. Medium smoke production, but thick smoke allowing for a great mouth feel.  Forward the end of the second third cashew and a slightly bitter macadamia nut are overpowering the cocoa on the front. Leather and cream control the center and most of the finish but that white pepper is still hanging around. Watch the ash, it is worth knocking off very easy to ash on yourself. Medium body and low to medium strength, no changes to that. This has been a pretty consistent cigar.

3/3

The first real transition happened cocoa and cashew remain on the front balanced closer to their range in the first third. The leather has retreated and been replaced by oak on the center the creaminess and white pepper remain. No changes to strength or body, great burn line, overall solid flavors and a stable cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hours 20 minutes

Conclusion: 88

Good cigar, great profile, I believe Illusione puts a lot of time into their lancero blends because between this and the holy lance they are on a roll. There were not a lot of major transitions but the flavors that it maintained were delicious. Great construction, this is something I would revisit occasionally. Absolutely worth trying if you’re looking for something to change up your usual routine.

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

Davidoff Chefs Edition

As a Davidoff Appointed Merchant, Anthony’s Cigar Emporium is receiving its latest 2016 Limited Edition. For the first time in history, Davidoff’s master blenders have collaborated with six of the world’s renowned chefs to create Davidoff’s latest creation, the Davidoff Chefs Edition, that is intended to be the most perfect, medium-bodied after dinner cigar.  The Chefs Edition is a  Gran Toro format (6″ x 54) and packaged in boxes of 10.  Production of the Davidoff Chefs Edition was limited to 1,500 boxes.  

From Davidoff: “The Davidoff Chefs Edition is the equivalent to a memorable culinary masterpiece. Like a perfect meal the cigar begins gently with complex layers of subtle flavors, and builds up to a sublime and unforgettable crescendo.  Robust and complex blend beginning with subtle nutty and sweet flavors that erupt into an intense peppery, yet mildly sweet gratifying Grand Finale.”

The Davidoff Chefs Edition uses a Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper, a unique Ecuadorian Connecticut binder, and a Dominican filler blend of  San Vicente Mejorado Seco, San Vicente Mejorado, Visus, Piloto Visus, and San Vicente Visus.  It is the perfect gift for cigar and gourmet food connoisseurs.

Click picture to browse the Davidoff Chefs Edition at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

Casa Cuba Doble Tres Review

Casa Cuba Doble Tres
Made by: Arturo Fuente
Country: Ecuador, Dominican Republic
Vitola: 5 1/2 by 44

A line that is an extension of Arturo Fuente, I do not have much previous experience with this line. Not sure what to expect, it looks well-constructed thought. An understated band, hopefully the tobacco can justify that. Well let’s see what this has to offer with a Casa Cuba Doble Tres Review.

Prelight

Slight box press to the wrapper, visible seams. Light tooth on the wrapper and medium sized veins. Well applied clean cap and that resulted in a nice cut. The foot is giving off sweet hay, a deep woodsy note, and some nuttiness. From the looks of the cigar I am expecting quite an enjoyable experience. The pack is interesting, firm on one side of the box press and spongy on the other side. This is resulting in above average resistance on the draw. The prelight draw is on track with the foot showing oak and sweet hay, just a bit of red pepper in the mix as well.

1/3

Extremely easy to light, lots of smoke production but about medium smoke thickness. Oak and sweet hay on the front with a bitter macadamia nut coming in to control the finish with a light red pepper tongue tingle. The flavors are producing a heavier feel to the cigar, but the body is holding at a medium and low strength. The best way to put that is that the cigar smokes like it should be higher body and strength. As I move down the first third a light cream is appearing in the center of the profile as the smoke thickness increases.

2/3

Interesting transition, oak is holding onto the front, but the center is picking up a spicy floral note. A mix of red pepper and a clean jasmine is making a great note. That note hangs around through the finish but the bitter macadamia nut is still noticeable as the profile rounds out. This is a tasty cigar, pretty good burn. The body hasn’t moved from the medium and the strength is still at a low. Still an above average resistance on the draw, but it’s not an issue. Oak, red pepper, and jasmine are controlling the cigar and the flavors don’t seem to be shifting. I am really enjoying the profile so that is not a problem. The finish still has the bitter macadamia nut, but it is much softer then the first third.

3/3

Consistent, which is something I haven’t had from a cigar in a while. Normally that’s a detractor, but the profile is so enjoyable that that consistency is making for a great cigar. Medium bodied and low strength, no changes to that throughout the cigar. As I get into the last third oak and the bitter macadamia nut are on the front and red pepper is up on the finish as the floral jasmine is dying down. Good burn, still good smoke production but the thickness has fallen back down. The cigar did get pretty hot and squishy at the nub, but by that time the flavors were deteriorating.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 89

This cigar outperformed my expectations, great notes and a good balance. I loved the red pepper and jasmine at the start of the second third. Absolutely worth keeping at least a fiver around to change up your cigar rotation. It could justify a box purchase if you are an everyday cigar smoker. This definitely impressed me, give it a shot. Great burn time for the size as well. The prelight smell off the foot was misguiding the sweet hay ended up being the floral jasmine, this cigar had good complexity.

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

Caldwell Eastern Standard Manzanita Review

Eastern Standard Manzanita
Made by: Caldwell
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 4 by 42 (Manzanita)

This is a short cigar by Robert Caldwell, and I can’t say that I have had anything near this size from the producer. I am expecting great construction and an interesting experience. I have enjoyed all of the vitola’s of the Eastern Standard, hopefully with this Caldwell Eastern Standard Manzanita Review I will have another to add to the list.

Prelight

Mainly small veins, but one large that may cause a burn problem. Great cap with a well done pigtail. The foot is giving off sweet grass, hay, and cedar. Smooth and easy cut. Slightly spongy pack, cedar and white pepper on the prelight draw. The draw has above average resistance, but not in a bad way. I am going to do this in halves due to the size of the cigar. I am expecting the burn time to be quite short.

1/2

The front has a celery and bitter oak with a light white pepper finish. Odd flavors, medium body and low strength. High smoke production and medium thickness, and compact layered ash. I feel like this cigar needed some rest, but they are pretty robust unique notes as they are. Surprisingly this is not really reminding me of the other vitola’s of the Eastern Standard. Smoke thickness is coming up and leather is mixing in with the white pepper on the finish. The fronts flavors are dropping and losing some complexity, they are now reminiscent of sour grass and oak. This is preforming well for its size, great burn line.

2/2

Oak has taken control of the front and leather, macadamia nut, and light white pepper have the finish. Strength has risen to a low to medium and body has held at a medium surprisingly. Great burn, no issues with the large vein. Caldwell did a good job putting out a satisfying short smoke. I do think the blend is deserving of its own name though. That flavor profile held as the finish rose in power. Great little short smoke.

Smoke Time: 35 Minutes

Conclusion: 85

As far as short smokes go this was pretty good. It’s a harder category to rate because burn time is inherently shorter, and transitions can only do so much in the three inches this cigar has. With what it had, it did great coming in at medium body and low strength. It certainly put itself apart from the other Eastern Standard vitola’s.

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

Opux X Lost City Robusto Review

Opux X Lost City
Made by: Arturo Fuente
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 5 1/2 by 50

Opus X, these are with no doubt, great cigars. However, there are many factors that play into who will enjoy them. To new cigar smokers that have no experience, this would not be something I recommend off the start. High complexity, usually high strength, it may not give you the experience you want at a special moment. For seasoned cigar smokers, absolutely worth the money and worth having. Me saying that won’t be news to anyone’s ears. Why, is the question though, in this Opux X Lost City Robusto Review I hope to show just why these cigars are coveted like they are.

Prelight

Slight tooth to the wrapper, small veins. Barely visible seams, and a well-constructed cap, not perfect but almost there. The foot is giving off a significant floral note alongside citrus and has a thick sweet note underneath it. There is an oak or woodsy base, but that will only come out once a lit.  Great cut, very little loose tobacco. Citrus with a bit of cayenne on the front of the prelight draw, there is an oak undertone and sweet syrupy leather. Interesting and very complex notes. Expecting medium strength and medium to full body. Let’s see how it performs.

1/3

Medium smoke production, medium smoke thickness. Cedar and light citrus on the front with a sweet hay on the center and leather and bitter macadamia nut on the finish. Great draw, full body and medium strength. Pretty quick burning, light cream, but there is a clean white pepper rounding out the profile. Highly complex, but absolutely possible to separate the notes. Smoke thickness is increasing as the first third burns down. Already transitioning, cedar on the front citrus has dropped. The sweet hay center has almost disappeared, as leather and a minty herbal white pepper come up on the finish. Strength is holding at a medium no changes to body.

2/3

Beautiful cedar, smooth floral jasmine on the front. Leather on the center but then the flavor drifts into a sweet candy note, similar to Swedish fish with an extremely balanced mix of white and red pepper. Wonderfully smooth, excellent experience, this is rivaling the angel share opus release in my opinion. Thick smoke with a great mouth feel. Holding at a medium strength and medium to full body. The body has dropped a bit and I expect the strength to pick up in the past third.

3/3

Cedar and oak on the front, the center has deteriorated, and the finish is a leather with floral jasmine. White and red pepper linger in the mouth until the next draw. Medium to full strength and back to full body. Great complexity and solid transitions, good burn and great smoke production and thickness. Absolutely worth the price point.

Smoke Time: 1 hour

Conclusion: 92

Pretty quick burn time, it could have been due to the fact I was enjoying it, but from the start it did appear to burn quickly. The strength was there, I little bit lower than some other opus lines I have had but still coming in at full strength in the end. Wonderful complexity and transitions, without everything blending together and washing distinct flavors out. The cigar is absolutely 93 material, the price point of these cigars always seems a bit high. But in truth, you know what you are getting with this brand. Definitely for the more seasoned smokers, if somebody new to cigars is coming into this territory they better be ready for the strength. I gave one to a friend recently and he didn’t fare so well, which was a shame for the cigar to not be finished. Also unfortunate for him but, it is important to know what you are getting yourself into and know what you are smoking. This was a great offering from Fuente Fuente Opus X.

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

Las Calaveras EL 2015 Review

Las Calaveras LE 2015
Made by: Crowned Heads
Country: Ecuador and Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 52

Since 2014 Crowned Heads has been putting out a Las Calaveras edition. This is a Las Calaveras EL 2015 Review, the ones that will be available this year are the 2016. These cigars can still be found, lets see what they have to offer. They are always worth trying while you can find them, as with most limited production cigars Jon Huber of Crowned Heads puts out.

Prelight

Perfectly constructed cap, being a limited production by Crowned Heads this cigar has a lot of effort put into it. A couple of medium sized veins and nearly invisible seams. The foot is giving off a light fruity aroma with subtle cedar and more prominent leather. Just a bit of tooth to the wrapper, well stated band. Firmer than usual pack, lots of nuts and leather on the prelight draw. Interesting mix of notes, there also seems to be a clean dry cedar underneath.

1/3

Very easy light, great smoke production and thickness. Lots of creamy leather on the front with a slight salted peanut coming up in the center but then slightly bitter leather comes back on the finish. There is a bit of red pepper zing on the finish as well but leather is heavily dominant in the profile. Medium body and low strength at the moment. There is a good amount of cream playing on the front despite the stick not having a ton of tooth to the wrapper. This characteristic must be coming from the binder or filler. As I get into the first third, it may need a touch up. A bit of an off kilter burn line but great flavors. Cream and leather remain on the front, salted peanuts and cashew in the center with the leather carrying through. The finish is red pepper and leather. Interesting that the leather note goes through the whole profile. No change to body or strength.

2/3

Cream and cedar on the front now, the leather has dropped a bit. The salted peanuts have been dominated by cashew in the center, and the finish is staying at red pepper and leather. Medium body and low to medium strength. Still good smoke production and thickness. Great red pepper bite on the finish, the burn is going well now. Solid cigar and an interesting profile. The burn has gone a bit off again at the end of the second third.

3/3

Cashew and cedar on the front now, and that moves to leather and red pepper on the finish. No fruit to this profile, just on the foot before lighting. Medium body and low to medium strength still. Not a perfect burn, but no tough ups needed since the first. At the nub cashew and salted peanuts were on the front with leather and red pepper on the finish. The cigar did get a bit squishy.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 87

Great profile, and wonderful visual construction but it did need a touch up. Clear and distinct transitions, wonderful smoke output. Overall a good year of production in my opinion. If you can find them it’s absolutely worth picking up a fiver. If you like the profile a lot then that could push it into box territory.

Click on the picture to find this years 2016 LE cigar at anthonyscigars.com

Las Calaveras EL 2016 from Crowned Heads

The Crowned Head’s Limited Release Las Calaveras EL 2016 is coming in June!  The best limited release cigars to recently hit Anthony’s Cigar Emporium was the Las Calaveras EL 2014 and EL 2015 with boxes selling out within three weeks.

Crowned Heads Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2016 
Made by: My Father for Crowned Heads
Country of Manufacture: Esteli, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Grade A Dark Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Dimensions: LC46 (6 x 46 Corona); LC50 (5 x 50 Robusto); LC54 (5 1/2 x 54 Toro)

Beginning with the Edicion Limitada 2014, Las Calaveras is an annual release that is a respectful homage to Day of the Dead celebrations to honor those who have passed away in the year before and is intended to be a celebration of their lives and remembrances, rather than a mourning or a symbol of sadness and death. With each year’s annual limited release, the blend and presentation of Las Calaveras will be altered.

The Las Calaveras EL 2016 features a Grade A Dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, different from the 2014 Ecuador Habano Oscuro wrapper and the 2015 Habano Rosado.  The filler and binder are still a very strong all-Nicaraguan blend. Crowned Heads described the Las Calaveras EL 2016 as “big, bold, and muscular with an abundance of white pepper, complimented by a subtle molasses-like sweetness. Crowned Heads has switched up the sizes again for the Las Calaveras EL 2016; the LC46 is a bit longer, LC50 is the same, and now there’s a new LC54 wich measures 5 1/2″ x 54 (Robusto Extra).

A total of 4,500 boxes of Las Calaveras EL 2016 were produced, and, like the previous years’ ELs, the Las Calaveras EL 2016 is made at the My Father factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.  Crowned Heads is adding a special vitola to its Las Calaveras 4-Cigar Sampler that includes a LC46, LC50, LC54 and a sampler-exclusive 6 1/8” x 52 Piramide

The Las Calaveras EL 2016 Lineup from Jon Huber’s twitter.

Las Calaveras is packaged in 24-count boxes, each containing 3 rows of 8 cigars. The 3 rows represent life’s cycle of a beginning, middle, and end. In biblical terms, the number ‘8’ signifies new beginnings, and in mathematical terms an ‘8’ laid on its side symbolizes “infinity,” as in eternal life.

Order Your Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2016 Here Today!

My Father La Duena Review

My Father La Duena Review
Made by: My Father
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 by 50

In this My Father review I will be covering the La Duena. Slowly but steadily I am reaching the different cigars from this company. So far, as unbiased as I can be, my favorite is the Martino. Simply because I think that size best brings out the flavors offered in the 1922. In either case, this is a cigar that I have not had in a long while and am looking forward to revisiting. Lets see what it has to offer with a My Father La Duena Review.

Prelight

Tons of tooth to the wrapper and barely visible seams. Consistent spongy pack, and a couple of wrapper flaws. A very well constructed cap, and the foot is giving off oak and almost a sweet graham cracker aroma. Clean cut with just a bit of loose tobacco, the prelight flavors showed oak and black pepper not really showing the graham cracker that the foot had. Medium to large veins, lots of tooth I am expecting quite a lot of cream and a very thick mouth feel from this cigar. Lets see how it performs.

1/3

Tons of smoke right off the bat, wonderful thick cream on the front. There is a deep oak note on the front with a heavy bitter macadamia nut in the center. Black pepper lingers throughout the profile. Medium bodied and low strength. There is a bit of harshness to the cigar currently but I am expecting that to drop. Wonderfully thick smoke that seems to be this cigars strong point as I get into the first third not much in the way of transitions. The profile is enjoyable though.

2/3

At the start of the second third there is still a good amount of dry oak on the front but now there is a bit of herbal mint in the center of the profile. The finish is a bit of the bitter macadamia nut accompanied by the slightly harsh black pepper. Toward the center of the cigar the cream is really shining through. Maintaining a medium body and low to medium strength.

3/3

Dry oak has stayed on the front throughout the cigar, the center has returned to a bitter macadamia nut and the mint has retreated. The finish is a really dry black pepper, the flavors haven’t changed much but they have been good. At the nub the macadamia nut is really showing through. Very dry but pleasant flavors, really an interesting cigar. It held at medium bodied and low to medium strength, and good burn line and smoke production through the end.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 84

A good cigar, lacking a bit in the area of complexity, but overall solid flavors and a good burn time. Good construction, and wonderfully thick smoke output. This would be a great box buy for a small family event or something along those lines. The consistency of the profile may be appealing to some people as well, on that note this may have a variety of patrons. Overall, not a bad cigar, and absolutely worth the revisit at its price point.

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

Davidoff Special R Review

Davidoff Special R Review
Made by: Davidoff
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 4 7/8 by 50

The Davidoff of the week, at least that is the pattern that I have seen the past several weeks. This is a general alternative to the Davidoff 6000, which is another offering I hope to review in the upcoming months. The Special R is acknowledged as one of the more frequently visited Davidoff cigars by my coworkers. Lets see what the fuss is about with a Davidoff Special R Review.

Prelight

The foot of this cigar is hinting at a great mix of notes. Dry cedar, slight citrus mixed with a floral note. There does seem to be some nut qualities as well, that’s a great sign for the complexity of this cigar. Small to medium veins and barely visible seams. Nicely applied cap, the cigar has a nice consistent pack and not to firm. Almost no loose tobacco on the cut. Heavy cedar on the front of the prelight, floral jasmine and light citrus on the center. This finish has very significant white pepper. All of these characteristics are good signs. Let’s see if that’s the case by getting this lit.

1/3

Dry cedar on the front, there is a light mix of jasmine and citrus in the center but it fades quickly. The finish is a very clean white pepper, this cigar tastes very clean and dry. Right away I can tell this is going to be an enjoyable smoke. Smooth and balanced, great thick smoke production. As I get into the first third that interesting center note fades as cashew starts to drown it out. The finish is a wonderful almost herbal clean white pepper. The dry cedar front did make me grab a cup of water though.

2/3

Cedar has come up still clean and dry, the center has morphed again. It now has a bitter macadamia nut note with the jasmine lingering. The white pepper finish has dropped in power while the front has control. Medium bodied and low to medium strength, and a perfect razor sharp burn. I am impressed with this cigar so far, great overall flavors. The transitions are mainly occurring on the center of the profile. Cream has entered the profile toward the end of the second third.

3/3

The front is still holding dry cedar, the center has changed again to be a mix of macadamia nut and cashew. The floral/citrus note is completely gone and the white pepper finish has dropped and leather has come up. Great transitions and complexity. At the nub the nutty notes and leather control the profile, quite a shift from the starting notes.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Conclusion: 91

Great cigar, I was expecting a less impressive smoke in truth, but yet again this is a great offering from Davidoff. This is a cigar any level of smoker could enjoy, and the flavors speak for themselves. This surprisingly beats out some other cigars that I would have assumed to outperform this.

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

Caldwell Eastern Standard Manzanita – Just Arrived!

Robert Caldwell, owner of Caldwell Cigar Company, made a small batch release of just 500 boxes of the Caldwell Eastern Standard Manzanita (4″ x 42 Petite Corona) for a handful of his favorite retailers.  Anthony’s Cigar Emporium now has these Eastern Standard Manzanita boxes in stock.  They are avaliable at our online store here. The MSRP is $5.99 and come packaged in 27 ct. boxes.  The Caldwell Eastern Standard Manzanita is a very affordable way to get a quick Eastern Standard taste.  The smooth creaminess in a 4″ x 42 Petite Corona size does well with a morning coffee.

Manzanita is not displayed on boxes. They are short run and the boxes are basic flip tops,