Caldwell Eastern Standard Maduro Review

Eastern Standard Maduro Midnight Express
Made by: Caldwell
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 6 by 49

Caldwell, every time I think of this brand I now think perfect construction. That’s probably not a good thing for the sake of reviews I conduct on their cigars because it means I am immediately holding their cigars to a higher standard. But I believe my expectations are justified given the experiences I have, had going over their blends. Lets see if this new release from the company can hold up to the name. The event that Anthony’s held in honor of the release was very well organized and enjoyable. Wonderful company that night and quite entertaining conversations. Let’s get this Caldwell Eastern Standard Maduro Review started.

Prelight

The cigar is made in a Pyramide vitola, visible seams. Small to medium sized veins, the cap is well constructed, I don’t forsee any unraveling issues with it. There is just a slight bit of tooth to the wrapper. The foot is giving off a very clean cedar note with a floral white pepper and a hint of apple sweetness. That gives me the impression that this is going to be a delicious cigar. Needless to say my expectations are high given the record of Caldwell cigars that I have reviewed. It is not often I get to say this, but the cut was clean and there was no loose tobacco. The pre-light draw confirms the foot’s notes. A slight bit of apple sweetness, the floral white pepper, and a woodsy cedar undertone. Let’s get this lit and see how it performs.

1/3

Took a bit to get lit, some great complexity off the bat. Cedar is on the front but is pretty quickly followed by a jasmine with light white pepper. And there is a slight sweet note on the finish with the lingering light white pepper. I can’t call it a apple it’s more of a light syrup at the moment. I expect the finish to develop with time. The cigar was packed quite firmly and the burn line is razor sharp. I continue to be amazed with the construction of Caldwell cigars every time. Medium smoke thickness, medium n smoke production, I do hope the thickness of the smoke increases. The resistance on the draw is a bit above average at the moment. I am noticing dry mouth coming on as I get down in the first third. The cedar is dropping on the front and the jasmine and light white pepper have control of the profile. The slight syrupy sweetness is still on the finish but a macadamia nut is coming up alongside that note.

2/3

The body has held at a medium until this point. I have noticed absolutely no strength at this point. This has been a wonderfully smooth and relaxing cigar. But very complex and attention grabbing. Smoke production is down a bit but smoke thickness is up which is an interesting change. The cedar is coming back up as the floral jasmine drops and the white pepper rises above it in the center of the profile. Macadamia nut remains on the finish, the sweetness has dropped. And the white pepper lingers in the mouth as the dry aspect comes on. At the end of the second third there is all sorts of change occurring. Cedar and light white pepper on the front now. The center is a perfect balance of cashew and macadamia nut. And the syrupy sweetness is back on the finish tasting like a slightly sweet pine tree. I haven’t ever eaten pine tree sap however I would imagine it would be like the finish right now. And the dry mouth comes back and the light white pepper lingers. Amazing profile, this is one special cigar.

3/3

Medium to full body now with low strength, that gap between strength and body is rare. Smoke production is still pretty low but the thickness is still up. Absolutely perfect burn throughout the cigar. The cedar is controlling the front and white pepper is coming up and drowning out the nutty notes in the center of the profile. The pine has dropped on the finish and it’s back to the light syrupy sweetness alongside light macadamia nut. The dry mouth is actually less intense then earlier in the cigar and the light white pepper still hangs around in the mouth. This cigar is an absolute winner.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Conclusion: 94

This is high on my list of favorite recent cigars. Delicious flavors, medium body almost pushing medium to full. Low strength allowing for absolute focus on the profile. Flawless construction, as far as the companies I have been reviewing Caldwell has the title of the most consistent and best flavors in my opinion. That does drop slightly with the cheaper lines they produce. But at that price point for the JV cigars they do magnificently for the cost. The review speaks for itself, buy these and you are going to love them. I could smoke this cigar over and over.

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

Brickhouse Traveler Tubo Review

Traveler Tubo
Made by: Brickhouse
Country: Brazil, Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 50

I would classify this as a fairly consistent and enjoyable “yardgar,” but then again this is a vitola of the Brickhouse that I have yet to have. This main difference with this release is the Tubo. The only real way to see if there is a quality or complexity increase would be a review. So with that lets see what this has to offer with a Brickhouse Traveler Tubo Review.

Prelight

Well-constructed cap, small to medium sized veins. There are a couple of lumpy spots to the pack. And the foot is giving off cinnamon and oak. That’s a bit of an odd profile but let’s see if those notes hold. Barely visible seams and there is a bit of excess rollers glue. Clean cut with a bit of loose tobacco. The foot notes hold on the prelight draw as well. Some fiery cinnamon with an oak undertone. This will be an interesting cigar, it has my attention.

1/3

Easy to light with medium smoke thickness, but it does have good smoke production. Right at medium bodied and low strength. The front tastes like a blast of cinnamon candy, light sweetness but nice robust cinnamon. The center is held by an oaky note and leather rounds out the finish. That initial fiery blast lingers in the mouth and on the tongue. Interesting profile something I don’t see as very common. Great start, it’s preforming wonderfully.

2/3

As I reach the second third the cinnamon has deteriorated and revealed its makeup. Heavy red and white pepper, there is a very slight sweetness with it as well. Oak has come up and is overpowering the leather. That pepper has complete control of my mouth though, if you like pepper and heavier woodsy notes this is a real winner. Holding at a medium body, and the strength is up to a low medium. Smoke thickness is coming up slowly, the burn has been all right. No touch ups needed, it has been leveling out consistently. At the end of the second third that pepper is holding the power.

3/3

The underlying notes have developed a bit more. A cream has entered the profile coming from the increase in smoke thickness, the leather is back up over the oak on the finish. The main thing is that the red and white pepper is still on the front and strong. This would be a very enjoyable cigar for a pepper lover. Body has risen to a medium full and the strength has gotten to a medium as I finish up the cigar.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes

Conclusion: 87

There isn’t a better way to put it other than saying this is a very good cigar for people that like a specific profile. Pepper lovers will really appreciate the white and red mix on the front, the first third is where that shined in my opinion. The underlying flavors of oak, leather, and the addition of cream in the end, make this more complex than just a pepper bomb. Good blending here, absolutely a must if this is a profile you enjoy. And worth trying if you are curious about peppery profiles.

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

Montecristo No 2 Vintage Belicoso Review

No 2 Vintage Belicoso
Made by: Montecristo
Country: Dominican Republic, Peru, Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 50

This is the General Cigars production of the originally cuban Montecristo brand. I feel the need to express that information. So as a separate entity, this brand operates by using alternative tobaccos then the original company uses. This is a limited run by the company advertised as a “Vintage Connecticut.” That may be a bit misleading though because the blend does contain a mix of Nicaraguan, Peruvian, and Dominican tobaccos. I am expecting a medium bodied and well performing cigar. Let’s see what this has to offer with a Montecristo No 2 Vintage Belicoso Review.

Prelight

Most of the cigar is shrouded in bands, the cap looks like it was applied very firmly and tightly. That’s not always a good thing though, this may be an unraveling wrapper. There are a couple of blemishes in the wrapper however I don’t expect those to be an issue. The bands are deductive in terms of aesthetics in my opinion, small veins and barely visible seams. The foot is giving off a cedar and black pepper note. There is a light sweet hay in there as well but overall, I am not getting the feeling this is going to be complex. Lots of loose tobacco on the cut, which is concerning again for the quality of the cigar. The prelight draw confirms the foots flavors. Cedar and then a mixed pepper black forward. Sweet hay is in the background. Let’s get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

Took some work to get it sufficiently lit. Good smoke production and pretty thick smoke which is a pleasant surprise. Straight cedar, with a black pepper finish. Medium bodied, the finish does have a bit of harshness to it. One of the least complex starts I have had in a long while. Low strength, this would make a good cigar for lawn mowing at this point but that’s all. The finish is the cigars biggest struggle right now, just harsh, bitter, black pepper and not enjoyable. Delicate thin wrapper, little holes in it were present under the bigger band. Not a good start at all.

2/3

I wish I could say that this was improving. Creaminess is bringing to work into the profile with cedar on the front. There is a herbal white pepper under the harsher black pepper finish. Mild to medium body now and no strength. White ash, I have no doubt the tobacco used in this was good just the blending is not up to par. As I get to the end of the second third there is a bit of cashew present after the front, but still the main notes are cedar and pepper. That harsh finish is an issue, the cigar needs more balance. It is possible that could come with time. Good burn though, I do wish the wrapper was thicker though.

3/3

Beautiful ash, the body has come back to a medium and the flavors are holding just the same. Cedar and the the harsher mixed pepper finish, which is still mainly black pepper. The strength came back to a low. Not a very attention grabbing cigar. It began to get pretty warm at the nub and any hint of complexity died.

Smoke Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Conclusion: 67

On the positive side it was consistent and had good yardgar qualities. I wasn’t very impressed. Cedar and pepper where pretty much the notes. To each their own flavors, but in my opinion this is not ideal at all. Try it out and see what you think, but if you are going to do a box buy of these I highly recommend trying one and making sure it matches your tastes.

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

Avo Nicaragua Syncro Toro Review

Nicaragua Syncro Toro
Made by: AVO
Country: Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 54

Several weeks ago I reviewed the Avo Nicaragua in Robusto. This will be a comparison of the cigar across vitolas. I don’t expect many large differences. My main concern is that the Robusto was very balanced, in that I feel that a larger vitola might dilute the blend. Lets see what this has to offer with a Avo Nicaragua Syncro Toro Review.

Prelight

A bit of excess rollers glue near the cap. Great rectangular box press, visible seams, and small to medium veins. It’s got a very velvety and slightly toothy wrapper. I can tell the mouth feel is going to be delicious. Sweet cocoa powder on the foot with and leather and oak undertone. The cap wasn’t good enough, and fell off on the cut, that’s not normal for Avo’s that I have had in the past. Loose tobacco, but not a ton of it. Really easy prelight draw, the cap is not going to be an issue. Cocoa and leather are coming forward on the prelight draw. Let’s get this lit and see how it performs.

1/3

Easy to light and high smoke production off the start. Thick creamy smoke. Lots of cocoa almost verging a dark chocolate note on the front with macadamia nuts and leather in the center of the profile. The finish is a light white pepper with the macadamia nut lingering. Medium bodied and low to medium strength. At the end of the first third cocoa is up on the front with leather following it up. Macadamia nut has dropped as has the white pepper but they are there in the background.

2/3

Allright burn and the smoke production and thickness are holding. Body is coming up to a medium full and strength is approaching medium. The ash fell off at the third, macadamia nut is coming back up. The note is blending with the cocoa and the leather. Great mouth feel coming from that thick smoke. At the end of the second third the macadamia nut is balanced with the cocoa on the front. The finish is leather and white pepper. It’s been a good profile with allright construction and great smoke production.

3/3

Medium to full bodied and medium strength. The cocoa is back controlling the front and macadamia and leather are mixed in the center of the profile. The finish is up and it is white and red pepper. Nice rounding out to the end of this cigar. That little red pepper tongue bit is a nice touch. No touch ups needed throughout the cigar, and it kept up a high smoke out put the entire time with a great mouthfeel.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Conclusion: 86

I have to say that Avo did a good job keeping true to the flavors that were present in the robusto size. I did have to dock the score for the starting construction issues. But it was a great profile and solid flavors. Picking between the robusto and the toro is a hard call. There wasn’t a big time difference between the two either. This was an example of good consistency among vitola’s for Avo.

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

El Centurion TAA 2016 – Arriving in May!

My Father Cigars is once again releasing a limited edition cigar for TAA Members.  Anthony’s Cigar Emporium is one of 80 retailers that belong to the Tobacconists’ Association of America.  The El Centurion TAA 2016 will be a 6 1/2 x 52 box-pressed Torpedo, the format that earned My Father the No. 1 Cigar of the Year 2015 from the Le Bijou 1922 line.  The El Centurion TAA 2016 will be the third size of El Centurion H-2K-CT, featuring a sun grown Habano 2000 hybrid Cuban-seed wrapper leaf from the Connecticut River Valley over an all-Nicaraguan binder and filler. Except for the exceptional wrapper, the tobaccos for the El Centurion TAA 2016 are grown by the Garcia family and made at its My Father Cigars S.A. factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.  The El Centurion H-2K-CT has garnered rave reviews since its introduction last year in a 5 1/2 x 48 Corona and 6 x 52 Toro (both are also box pressed) and has earned very high ratings from many publications.

Make sure that you reserve a box from Anthony’s Cigar Emporium here.  All El Centurion TAA 2016 boxes come with free shipping.

Click here to browse all El Centurion vitolas at Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 8-8-8 Review

Anejo No. 8-8-8
Made by: Arturo Fuente
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 6 5/8 by 44

My last Fuente review went all right, but left me wanting more from the company. This is a special release labeled Xtra Viejo. It’s a very unique size, coming in at 6 and 5/8 by 44. Not thin enough to be considered a lancero, but too long to be a Lonsdale. I am looking forward to this, hopefully it smokes as great as it looks. Let’s see what it has to offer with an Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 8-8-8 Review.

Prelight

Very dark wrapper, small veins, and like the Don Carlos this also has an excess of rollers glue present on the wrapper. Visible seams especially due to the rollers glue. Consistent and firm pack, with an interesting cap that is slightly open. Lots of tooth on the wrapper so I am expecting tons of thick smoke from this cigar. Hopefully it holds up to that. The foot is giving off cocoa and some leather notes with an almost syrupy sweetness. The cut was very clean, very little loose tobacco. The prelight draw shows more cocoa and sweetness. This seems much more developed and carefully blended versus the Don Carlos Belicoso.

1/3

Thick creamy chewy smoke, great start tons of smoke production sweet dark chocolate with a fruity undertone. Cedar is at the base of the profile. It feels like I am eating dark chocolate, great smoke thickness. Medium to full body and medium strength. This cigar is showing that it doesn’t need to warm up, it is well developed at the get go. As I get into the first third the cigar is picking up a meaty taste, similar to peppered beef jerky with a hint of sweetness. Of course there are a lot of sub-notes making this flavor up, but they are blending nicely. High complexity, the main notes are dark chocolate, fruity sweetness, cedar, and light white pepper. I don’t know if the blended flavors are going to separate but I hope they don’t. This chewy flavor bomb is delicious right now.

2/3

The burn line hasn’t been perfect but the flavors have been exceptional. The cedar has come up in the profile in the second third and the dark chocolate has dropped as has a lot of the fruity sweetness. Leather and white pepper are up on the finish and the thick smoke still has a great mouth feel. Medium to full body and still medium strength. It does seem to be building slowly in those categories though.

3/3

As I am getting into the last third it seems like the excessive rollers glue was hiding a small wrapper flaw but it’s not causing issues. All right burn line, the body has reached a full and strength has come up to a medium to full. But it’s manageable and enjoyable at those levels. This has been a great heavier smoke. It would make a great dessert cigar after a large dinner. The last flavor update, dark chocolate and leather are back on the front. The woodsy notes have developed and oak and cedar are blended alongside the fruity sweetness that was present in the first third. And a black pepper has come in with the white pepper on the finish but all that is saying is that the cigar is coming to an end. The front and center of the profile are dominate and the finish is shorter so the pepper is downplayed.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 94

I liked this cigar a lot more than the last offering from Fuente. The quality increase exceeded expectations. This cigar performs above price point, if you find them buy them and enjoy them. The flavors are well developed and there is good complexity to the cigar. This is a well-blended cigar.

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

Avo 90th Classic Covers Volume 3 Review

90th Classic Covers Volume 3
Made by: AVO
Country: Ecuador, Mexico
Vitola: 6 by 54

Avo has done some great cigars, I am really looking forward to this blend, but with that I have some pretty high expectations. I couldn’t list all of the cigars that I consider a success by this company. My only question is why these cigars aren’t as widely popular as they deserve to be. Well let’s see if this can further justify my comments with an Avo 90th Classic Covers Volume 3 Review.

Prelight

Barely visible seams and an almost invisible cap. Small to medium veins, and firm stable pack. The foot gives off a cedar with a lightly minty herbal note. Slight white pepper in the background. The cut went well, definitely a bit of loose tobacco. Good draw with lighter resistance. The cedar and herbal spice are detectable on the prelight draw. It’s tasting like cilantro and a mix of other fresh herbs. I am expecting a pretty complex cigar at this point. Let’s get this lit and see what it can do.

1/3

Airy smoke very light, mild to medium body. Good smoke production but thinner smoke. Lots of cedar on the front with the mixed herbs underneath. Cilantro and mint are creating an interesting green note, that is not to say that it tastes young. It doesn’t, it just tastes very unique and wonderfully balanced. Light white pepper finish to round out the profile. The herbal flavors in the center are the best part currently. Low strength, sharp burn line so far. For being a lighter body stick this has some good flavors, I could see it moving to a medium body in the second third. Great flow to the profile, consistent flavors as I approach the end of the first third. Cedar on the front, cilantro-citrus moving to a mint in the center, and then white pepper rounding it out. In the category of mild to medium cigars this is the best I have had in a while. If the body does move up it would have to gain complexity and smoke thickness to contend with other medium bodied cigars.

2/3

Great sturdy ash, perfect burn which is a nice change. A lot of reviews I have done lately have had “OK” burn lines, this one is flawless. Just as I wrote that down the ash fell just at the start of the second third. Smoke thickness is up a bit but the body remains at a mild to medium. The cedar is maintaining the front and the odd cilantro note has dropped. There is still a bit of mint before the white and red pepper finish takes over. The finish has come up which has pushed the center notes down a bit. The cigar is smoking very smooth though, that white and red pepper finish usually has a bit of harshness to it when I have encountered it in other blends. That is not the case with this cigar, good balance. As I am getting to the end of the second third the oak is matching the cedar on the front. Cashew is replacing the mint in the center of the profile and the mixed pepper maintains the finish.

3/3

Great touch to the aesthetics of the cigar to note is the secondary band’s message after removal. The backside reads “It’s not about how the legacy you leave. It’s about the one you share.” I love it when companies do things like that. Cedar has regained power on the front as the oak falls. Strength has come up a bit to a low medium. Cashew is dropping as the cilantro comes back alongside the mint. And the mixed pepper remains on the finish. This blend is a work of art, the body did hit medium at the end. Great cigar in the mild-medium category but it was pushing medium body. Strength continued to rise a bit just hitting medium at the end matching the body.

Smoke Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Conclusion: 93

I took my time smoking this because I was enjoying the profile a lot. Great construction, great flavors, and great complexity. If you have the chance to try one of these I would certainly encourage you to do so. This is another wonderful cigar produced by a wonderful company.

Find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com (I attatched the link where the 2016 Vol. 3 should be when they are up)

Davidoff Box Pressed Nicaragua Toro Review

Box Pressed Nicaragua
Made by: Davidoff
Country: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Vitola: 6 by 52 (toro)

It’s time for another Davidoff Review! I recently did another vitola of the Davidoff Nicaragua. This is a box pressed toro size of the same line and it will be interesting to see how that changes the profile. Let’s see how it performs with a Davidoff Box Pressed Nicaragua Toro Review. And then I’ll connect it back to the other vitola in terms of finding some differences.

Prelight

Small to medium veins with visible seams. Well done cap, with Davidoff’s this can be an issue area hopefully that goes smooth though. The foot is giving off a deep cocoa/cedar with light leather and a tangy almost sour note. And not in a bad way, the sour note is quite a welcome addition to that profile. Clean cut with some loose tobacco, slightly below average resistance on the draw. The tangy note is still noticeable on the prelight draw as is the cocoa/cedar and a light red pepper on the lips.

1/3

Extremely easy to light, medium smoke thickness but tons of smoke. Cedar on the front with cocoa and macadamia nut underneath, that tangy note is the finish. The best description of that is lemon rine, the macadamia nut carries into the finish as well. One thing I am noticing off the bat is that this is more developed then the normal vitola’s in this line. Medium body and low strength. The cigar is burning pretty quickly. I expect the body to rise to a medium full. Not a perfect burn line but no issues. That tangy finish with the macadamia nut is delicious. There is a low black and red pepper that lingers in the mouth after the other flavors have retreated. Cedar and the undertone of cocoa remain on the front. In all honesty I would be fine with the cigar holding this profile the entire smoke.

2/3

Watch the ash it does fall off in thirds and it almost got me because I thought it was sturdier. As I am getting into the second third the nutty notes are coming up as the cedar/cocoa falls. Cashew and macadamia nut are the notes that control the mixed nut flavor. The tangy note on the finish alongside the macadamia nut remains. And the pepper note is now red pepper forward with black in the background. Great mouthfeel but still medium smoke thickness. High smoke production, the strength is still at a low. The body has reached a medium full and the strength has gotten to a low-medium. Wonderful strong flavors, much more defined then the normal lines.

3/3

The body is holding at a medium to full and the cedar/cocoa has returned to the front of the profile as the nuts retreat. The tangy note is starting to die down as the mixed pepper begins to take the finish. The pepper note is holding the red forward characteristic. Strength has come up to a solid medium. Smoke production and thickness is constant. If I had to pick a vitola out of the Davidoff Nicaragua’s to smoke. This would undoubtedly be my go to.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 90

There were a couple of profile changes mainly with the power of flavors between this and the previous Davidoff Nicaragua that I reviewed. In either case this is another solid blended cigar by the company holding true to Nicaraguan flavors with a slight twist. Smoke one of these if you are picking a vitola of the Nicaragua. And they absolutely justify a box purchase if you enjoy the flavors. I love that tangy note.

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

Caldwell Eastern Standard Cake Walk Review

Eastern Standard Cake Walk
Made by: Caldwell
Country: Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Vitola: 6 by 50

The construction of Caldwell cigars is impeccable. Not even getting into the description of this cigar, any time I think of this brand now, that is my initial thought. I have produced a lot of reviews for this company’s cigars and they have done a great job with their set up. The JV line is lower on the transitions and complexity and it rises with each step up in the company’s cigars. Whether that be to their regular lines or the limited run cigars. This is a regular line cigar, the Eastern Standard, and I know I am in for a treat. Let’s see what it can do with a Caldwell Eastern Standard Cake Walk Review.

Prelight

Very firm pack and an exceptionally well done cap. Barely visible seams and small veins. The foot is giving off cedar and a sweet hay note. Clean cut, and the prelight draw flavors show the cedar, sweet hay, and a light white pepper. There seems to be a light citrus note in there as well. Some loose tobacco was present after the cut. Easy draw, good start overall. Let’s get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

Took a while to get lit, medium smoke thickness and great draw. Cedar and the citrus note on the front with a well-balanced light white pepper finish. Mild to medium body and low strength. There is a bit of the sweet hay subtle in the center of the profile but it is being dominated by the front and finish. That citrus almost herbal note alongside the cedar on the front is delicious. As the first third progresses the front is controlling the profile and that’s working wonderfully for the blend. The sweetness is still present in the center but still muffled. The light white pepper rounds it out nicely. At the end of the first third the citrus is retreating and the woodsy note is developing to be a mix of cedar and oak.

2/3

The cigar is almost to a medium in body at this point but I don’t expect it to make it there. Great burn line, the cedar and oak mix is up on the front. The sweet hay note has come up to be more recognizable in the center of the profile, and the light white pepper finish has fallen but is present. Toward the end of the second third the cedar is up and the oak has fallen on the front. The citrus has returned alongside the sweet hay toward the end of the profile and it still is rounded off with that soft white pepper. The blend has great balance. The body did hit a medium, and the strength came up a little bit to a low-medium.

3/3

Still medium smoke production, and medium smoke thickness that makes a decent mouth feel. The flavors have been this cigars biggest asset, that and the great construction. Due to the tapering ring gauge the wrapper’s characteristics are coming out and shining. The citrus has blended back alongside the mixed cedar and oak on the front. The light white pepper finish has picked up a bit of black pepper but it’s not a detractor from the blend. The sweet hay is gone, or at least retreated significantly. Those changes are allowing for a good closing to the blend. Great cigar, interesting how the wrapper’s impact was noticeable at the very start. I would imagine the larger ring gauge would make it more subtle, but it did shine at that segment as well as the last third.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 89

Pretty good transitions, great complexity, this cigar’s construction is magnificent. This would rival any other cigar at this price point and beat most of them. That is as long as you are all right with the mild to medium body. That is the intention for this line and it does a great job. For being that level of body, it really accomplishes a lot with it. Spectacular blending, another great cigar from Robert Caldwell.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com (note: I believe the cake walk and the cypress room are switched at this time, I am looking into that)

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Belicoso Review

Don Carlos Belicoso
Made by: Arturo Fuente
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 5 3/8 by 52

This will be the first review conducted on something from Arturo Fuente. This is a popular cigar for the occasional cigar smoker. Or a friend that recognizes it when they walk into a small cigar shop. I have had mixed experiences with these cigars in the past, not this particular one though. Let’s see if it is worthy of it’s often recommendation with a Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Belicoso Review.

Prelight

Visible seams and medium veins, there’s a slight tooth to the wrapper. Well done cap, but I have had unraveling issues with these cigars in the past. Clean-cut this time, the foot is giving off hazelnut and leather with a hint of black pepper. Firm pack with a couple of soft spots, the prelight draws resistance is about medium. The draw also shows more of the hazelnut and leather, also hinting at more pepper then the foot suggested. The roller used a bit too much glue on the cigar but that’s just a little hit to its aesthetics.

1/3

Medium body to start, the hazelnut with a light sweetness is on the front with leather following and then a mixed white and black pepper finish. The mixed pepper is a bit harsh but I believe that will calm down. The front of the profile is very balanced, low strength at this point. Good thick smoke output, the burn line is slightly off but it seems to be self-correcting. Flavors are holding at the end of the first third.

2/3

At the start of the second third a cashew note has joined the hazelnut to make a nice mixed nut note. With leather and a light cedar accompanying that flavor. And the pepper finish has calmed down it is still present though just better balanced. The burn line is still struggling but due to the medium veins I was expecting that to be the case. Pleasant flavors but not any real defined transitions. Very consistent and balanced currently.

3/3

As the cigar comes to an end the cedar has come up on the front, the mixed nuts have fallen a bit as has the leather. The finish still holds a black and white pepper mix, and that is rising slowly. The body is at a medium plus, I just can’t call it a medium full. Low strength remains, nothing attention grabbing that way. At the nub the pepper notes have risen further, and the front has changed slightly again incorporating more leather to the profile.

Smoke Time: 1 hour an 15 minutes

Conclusion: 83

Consistent but nothing exceptional, not much in the way of defined transitions. The complexity was all right, but left a lot of room for improvement. For a cigar on the lighter side, and a recognizable brand, this preformed mediocre. There are a lot of cigars that shine at this price point in comparison. But the popularity of the brand would be the reason for the attention in my opinion.

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