CAO Amazon Basin Daggers: Built short, stays true to original.

The CAO Amazon Basin Daggers immediately surprised me with how much flavor could come from such a compact cigar.

At 4 × 38, it is built for a shorter smoking session, but it never feels like a watered-down version of the original Amazon Basin. From the first few draws, I got rich earth, dark cocoa, and a warm peppery spice that made the cigar feel much bigger than its size.

As it settled in, the smoke became smoother and more complex. Espresso and roasted wood moved to the front, while a subtle sweetness helped balance the darker flavors. The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper adds plenty of character without making the cigar harsh, and the Nicaraguan binder gives it a solid backbone. The Brazilian Bragança tobacco, along with Colombian and Dominican fillers, creates the exotic depth that makes the Amazon Basin blend so distinctive.

What impressed me most was how quickly the Daggers developed. There was no long warm-up period or flat opening. The cigar delivered full flavor almost immediately, moving between earth, coffee, cocoa, cedar, and spice throughout the smoke. I would place the strength between medium and medium-full, with enough intensity for an experienced smoker but enough balance to keep it approachable.

The construction was also excellent. The draw stayed open, the burn remained consistent, and the cigar produced a satisfying amount of thick smoke. Even though it is a small format, I never felt rushed while smoking it. It offered the concentration and complexity of a much larger cigar without requiring a long commitment.

For me, the Amazon Basin Daggers are ideal when I want bold Amazon Basin flavor but do not have time for a full-sized cigar. It is rich, distinctive, and more refined than I expected from such a short smoke. This is not simply a novelty size—it is a legitimate addition to the Amazon Basin family and one of the most flavorful compact cigars I have smoked.

I smoked the new AVO Expresivo, and this is definitely a bolder side of AVO than what a lot of people may be used to. It still has that smooth, polished AVO feel, but there is more body, more depth, and more flavor behind it. This one is made in Honduras with an Ecuadorian wrapper, Honduran binder, and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers, so it has a richer, more expressive profile right from the start.

The first thing I noticed was the earthy depth. It opens with darker notes of earth, dark chocolate, and roasted nuts, but it does not come across harsh or too heavy. As the cigar develops, the flavor gets warmer and more structured, with leather, wood, and a smooth creamy note that keeps everything balanced. That is what I liked most about it — it has more strength and personality, but it still feels refined.

By the final part of the cigar, the spice starts to build and the finish gets more interesting. I picked up touches of dried fruit, floral sweetness, leather, and lingering spice, giving it a nice long finish without overwhelming the palate. It feels like AVO made this for smokers who already appreciate their craftsmanship but want something fuller and more modern.

Overall, I think AVO Expresivo is a great new direction for the brand. It is fuller, warmer, and more flavorful than the classic AVO profile, but it still keeps that balance and elegance that makes AVO so dependable. If you like AVO but have ever wished for a little more depth and body, this is absolutely one to try.

My Rating: 92
Strength: Medium-Full
Best Notes: Earth, dark chocolate, roasted nuts, leather, cream, dried fruit, and spice
Best For: AVO smokers who want something bolder, or anyone looking for a refined fuller-bodied cigar.

I’ll be honest, Liga Privada 10 Aniversario feels like one of those cigars you light when you want something with real presence. From the first few puffs, it comes in bold with pepper, spice, and that deep Liga Privada richness, but it never feels messy or harsh. It has a serious full-bodied personality, but there’s enough balance and smoothness to keep it enjoyable instead of overwhelming.

What I really like about this cigar is the way it builds. The beginning has that peppery kick, then it settles into darker notes of earth, espresso, wood, and a little natural sweetness underneath. It feels rich and layered, like a cigar that was made for someone who already knows they love Liga Privada and wants something a little more special.

For me, this is not an everyday casual smoke. This is a sit down, slow down, and enjoy it kind of cigar. It has strength, depth, and a beautiful anniversary feel without being just a gimmick. If you like bold cigars with spice, complexity, and that unmistakable Drew Estate Liga character, Liga Privada 10 Aniversario is absolutely worth making time for.

Rating

Flavor: 94/100
Construction: 95/100
Draw: 94/100
Burn: 93/100
Complexity: 94/100
Strength: 92/100
Value: 90/100

Overall Rating: 94/100

La Gloria Cubana Intención scores high because it delivers a lot of cigar for the money. At under $9 suggested retail, it gives you a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, an Indonesian binder, and a serious filler blend from Nicaragua and Honduras. That is a strong formula for the price, especially for smokers who like darker flavor without jumping into the $12–$18 range.

Flavor-wise, this cigar leans into earth, cocoa, leather, spice, and dark natural sweetness. The San Andrés wrapper gives it that rich, slightly sweet and rustic character, while the Estelí and Honduran tobaccos add strength, pepper, and body. It is not overly complex like a high-end limited edition, but it has enough depth to keep the smoke interesting. For the price point, the flavor is very respectable.

The biggest strength of La Gloria Cubana Intención is balance. It feels medium-to-full bodied, bold enough for experienced smokers, but not so strong that it becomes rough or tiring. The sweetness keeps the darker earth and spice from getting too heavy. That makes it a very good everyday full-flavor cigar: flavorful, affordable, and easy to recommend.

Detailed Ratings

Flavor: 8.5/10
Rich, dark, and satisfying with cocoa, earth, leather, and spice. Very good flavor for the price.

Complexity: 7.6/10
Not ultra-complex, but there is enough movement between sweetness, pepper, earth, and leather to keep it interesting.

Strength: 8.0/10
Medium-to-full. Enough power to feel serious, but not overwhelming.

Smoothness: 8.2/10
Fuller-bodied, but still approachable. The sweetness helps round out the darker San Andrés character.

Construction Expectation: 8.3/10
Feels positioned as a dependable everyday cigar, and the large-ring sizes should appeal to customers who like an easier draw and longer smoke.

Value: 9.3/10
This is where the cigar really shines. For under $9 SRP, it delivers a dark wrapper, a four-country blend, and a fuller profile that feels like more cigar than the price suggests.

Overall Rating: 8.6/10
A strong buy for smokers who want bold flavor, fair pricing, and a classic La Gloria Cubana feel.

Flavor-for-Value Rating: 9.2/10
This is the key score. La Gloria Cubana Intención may not be the most luxurious cigar on the shelf, but for the money, it delivers exactly what it should: dark flavor, solid body, good sweetness, and satisfying strength.

For the price, La Gloria Cubana Intención punches well above its weight — dark, flavorful, medium-to-full, and built for everyday smokers who still want serious character.

Caldwell Crafted & Curated Savages Malpensante — Cigar Review

The Caldwell Savages Malpensante is one of those cigars that feels different before you even light it. The name, the artwork, the limited production, and the whole Caldwell attitude all give it that boutique, slightly strange personality that Caldwell fans look for. This is a 6 x 54 Toro made with a Habano 2000 wrapper, Sumatra binder, and Dominican filler, and with only 400 boxes of 10 released, it has that small-batch feel without feeling like a gimmick.

On the first light, I get cedar, leather, cream, and a little pepper right up front. It starts smooth but not boring. The spice is there, but it does not take over the cigar. As it opens up, the profile gets richer with notes of coffee, cocoa, earth, roasted nuts, and a touch of sweetness. The Habano wrapper gives it some bite, while the Dominican filler keeps everything balanced and clean.

The middle of the cigar is where it really settles in. The smoke gets deeper and a little darker, with more espresso, wood, leather, and baking spice coming through. I would put it around medium to medium-full, with enough strength to keep your attention but not so much that it wears you out. It burns like a cigar you want to take your time with, not rush through.

Overall, Savages Malpensante is a very solid boutique smoke. It is flavorful, limited, and has that offbeat Caldwell personality without becoming too weird or too heavy. This is a great cigar for someone who wants something with character, something you do not see every day, and something that feels a little more special than a regular shelf smoke.

Rating: 91/100
Strength: Medium to Medium-Full
Best Time To Smoke: Evening, after dinner, or when you want something a little different
Main Notes: Cedar, leather, cream, coffee, cocoa, earth, pepper, roasted nuts, subtle sweetness

Cigar Review

Presentation: 9/10
Before I lit the Warped El Oso Papa Bear, the cigar already had that classic Warped feel. The presentation is simple, clean, and boutique without trying too hard. The 6 x 48 belicoso size looks sharp, and the darker wrapper gives it a rich look right away. It feels like the kind of cigar made for someone who enjoys a smaller-production smoke with some character behind it.

First Third: 9/10
Once I got into it, the flavor was rich but not over-the-top. I picked up cedar, cocoa, leather, coffee, roasted nuts, cream, and a little warm spice. There was also a slight sweetness that helped keep everything balanced. It did not come across as harsh or heavy. Instead, it smoked smooth, polished, and very controlled.

Second Third: 9/10
As the cigar opened up, the profile stayed steady. This is not a cigar that changes every five minutes, and honestly, that is not really the point. It is more about balance. The flavors stay in that darker, woodsy, creamy lane, with enough spice to keep it interesting.

Final Third: 8.5/10
The final third kept the same general profile, with cedar, cocoa, leather, coffee, and warm spice still leading the way. It did not become harsh, which I appreciated, but it also did not make a huge jump in complexity. It finished smooth and enjoyable, just not dramatically different from where it started.

Strength: Medium to Medium-Full
I would call this medium to medium-full, but not something that is going to knock you over. It has enough body to feel satisfying, while still staying refined and easy to enjoy.

Construction: 9/10
The construction was very solid. The draw felt focused from the belicoso shape, the burn stayed steady, and the cigar smoked clean. It had the kind of performance you expect from a boutique, Miami-made release.

Flavor Profile: 9/10
The main notes I got were cedar, cocoa, leather, cream, coffee, roasted nuts, and warm spice. The sweetness was there, but it stayed subtle. This is not a sugary cigar. It is more dark, creamy, woodsy, and refined.

Overall Experience: 91/100
My honest take is that the El Oso Papa Bear is a very good cigar, especially if you already like Warped. It is refined, flavorful, and has that small-batch Miami-made feel. I would not call it the loudest or most dramatic cigar on the shelf, but I would call it a cigar with class. It is one of those smokes that rewards you more for slowing down than chasing big power.

Best For
Warped fans, boutique cigar smokers, and anyone who likes a darker, refined profile without it becoming too heavy.

Not For
Someone looking for heavy pepper, big strength, or constant flavor changes.

Final Word
At the price point, I think it makes the most sense for someone who appreciates boutique cigars, limited releases, and a more polished flavor profile. If you like cedar, cocoa, leather, cream, coffee, roasted nuts, and warm spice, this is absolutely worth smoking.

Before I even lit it, My Father La Promesa made a strong impression. The box and band feel serious, classic, and meaningful. Nothing about it feels flashy just to be flashy. The presentation has that old-world My Father look, but with a darker, more emotional tone. It feels like a cigar built around a story. It feels like The Garcia Family wanted the name Promise to mean something before the cigar ever touched flame.

In the hand, the cigar looks beautiful. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is Dark, oily, and rich-looking, with just enough rustic character to remind you this is real tobacco with real soul. The band stands out, but the cigar itself does most of the talking. It looks refined. It looks bold. It looks like A Darker Side of My Father. Right away, I was expecting Old-World Passion. New-World Power.

Then I lit it up, and the cigar backed up the presentation. Right away, the smoke was Rich and Dark. There was pepper up front, but it did not take over. Then it opened into wood, leather, cocoa, earth, and a little sweetness. The wrapper brought depth, while the tobacco from Nicaragua gave it backbone. In other words, this was Ecuadorian Habano. Nicaraguan Heart.

As it burned, it stayed steady and smooth. It was bold, but not rough. Strong, but still refined. This is A My Father Classic With Soul. It has Pepper, Wood, Leather & Promise. It feels personal. It feels honest. And by the final draw, the message was clear: The Promise Was Kept.

Rating Grid

Pretty much everyone in this business knows Oliva Serie V as one of the benchmark cigars in the modern Nicaraguan category. It’s bold, dependable, and built around the kind of rich tobacco flavor that made Oliva such a respected name. The Serie V line is known for using high-priming Nicaraguan ligero, giving it that fuller body, deeper strength, and darker flavor profile.

Before I even light it, the cigar already gives off a serious impression — elegant band, dark gourmand colors, and that classic red-brown box that matches the richness of the wrapper. The cold draw has a little resistance, but it feels controlled, with notes of tonka bean, pistachio, and cinnamon coming through before the flame ever hits it.

Once lit, the first third opens with a bold woody profile. I get mahogany, coffee bean, and black pepper, with the pepper staying present without becoming harsh. As it moves into the second third, the wood note softens into something more fragrant — closer to rosewood — and a creamy molasses note shows up. It is not overly sweet, though. The black pepper keeps it grounded and gives the cigar its backbone.

The final third gets darker and deeper. The wood shifts again into oak, while cocoa nibs and toasted coffee bean come forward. The smoke has a smooth, velvety mouthfeel, leaning a little dry but still balanced. What I like most is the way the cigar develops without losing its identity. The wood, pepper, coffee, and cocoa stay connected from start to finish.

Construction is one of the big strengths here. The draw stays consistent, the burn is mostly straight, the smoke stays cool, and the ash holds firm. It is a cigar you can settle into for a long smoke — around 90 minutes — without constantly fighting touch-ups or uneven performance. That dependable burn is part of what makes Serie V feel so polished.

Overall, the Oliva Serie V is bold, reliable, and surprisingly versatile. It has enough power for experienced smokers, but it is smooth enough for someone stepping up from milder cigars into fuller-bodied territory. I would smoke this in the late afternoon, after dinner, or with something rich like espresso, dark chocolate, grilled steak, Cognac, or an Islay Scotch. It is not the most wildly complex cigar in the world, but it is balanced, strong, flavorful, and dependable — and that is exactly why it remains a modern classic.

Rating: 92/100
Strength: Medium-full to full
Flavor: 92
Construction: 93
Draw: 91
Burn: 92
Best Notes: Coffee bean, black pepper, mahogany, molasses, oak, cocoa nibs
Best Pairings: Dark espresso, rib-eye steak, dark chocolate, Cognac, Islay Scotch

I’ve smoked plenty of cigars that take their time warming up, but Oliva NUB is built around a completely different idea. This cigar is made to get straight to the good part. The short, thick shape is not just a gimmick. It helps the cigar deliver bold, concentrated flavor from the first draw instead of making you wait for the blend to open up.

What surprised me most is how long NUB smokes for its size. Even though most of these cigars are around 4 inches long, the large ring gauge and dense construction give it a slow, cool burn that feels much closer to a full-sized cigar experience. Reviews often praise the line for clean construction, easy draw, big smoke output, and reliable burn quality. Cigar Advisor notes strong construction, near-invisible seams, a good draw, and heavy smoke/flavor notes in its NUB review guide.

The flavor depends heavily on the wrapper, which is one of the best parts of the lineup. The Connecticut is the smoothest and easiestgoing, with cream, cedar, nuts, and a little spice. LM Cigars described the NUB Connecticut 354 as creamy, nutty, and balanced with cedar and subtle spice. The Cameroon brings more classic cigar character with earth, nuts, sweetness, and a little leather. The Habano is bolder, peppery, savory, and more intense. The Maduro is the richest of the bunch, with coffee, dark chocolate, wood, and sweetness; recent reviews of the Maduro 460 highlight creamy chocolate, pepper, coffee, good construction, and strong ash performance.

To be fair, NUB is not the most complex cigar in the world. Some smokers may find the large ring gauge a little awkward, and the flavor can stay fairly steady instead of developing dramatically from third to third. But that is also the point. NUB is not trying to be a long, slow, evolving cigar. It is trying to deliver the sweet spot right away and hold it. On that promise, it does a very good job.

For me, Oliva NUB is a dependable, flavorful, and fun cigar. It gives you a lot of smoke, a satisfying burn time, and enough wrapper variety to match different moods. The Connecticut is smooth, the Cameroon is balanced, the Habano has attitude, and the Maduro brings the darker flavor. It is a cigar that knows exactly what it wants to be: short, bold, and straight to the point.

Ratings

Wrapper Ratings

Final Verdict

Oliva NUB earns an 89 out of 100.

It is not perfect, and it is not trying to be overly fancy. But it is consistent, flavorful, well-built, and memorable. The whole concept works: big flavor, short format, no wasted time.