Oliva Master Blends 3 Robusto ('08) Quick Review

I have always loved this stick, from the first one I smoked a few years ago.  Right after I realized how much I liked them I was able to pick up an almost full box of '08s from a BOTL on the forums, and have enjoy them periodically since.  Now that I'm getting down to the end of the box I figure these deserve a review, so lets see how one of my favorite everyday sticks does!

Smoking outside tonight on the porch (it has been raining all week.. blah) with a glass of water after a beer.  Cut with a Palio, lit with matches.

First Third

-Starts with dark, roasty flavors of raw tobacco, wood, creamy cedar spice and earth

-Light draw with very thick smoke

-Rich, complex and medium+ in body so far

-Construction is great, as to be expect with all Oliva products

Second Third

-Similar flavors to the first third, now with some added coffee notes and even some malt

-A wonderfully balanced smoke

-D/A/B still flawless

Third Third

-The wood, coffee, tobacco and spice flavors melt together towards the end

-Body has increased a bit, though still only on the fringe of full

-Construction is still great

Conclusion and Score

This cigar has it all- interesting flavors, great balance, and fantastic construction.  I love oval shape, the leathery rough wrapper, and particularly the dark coffee and tobacco flavors.  Age has certainly treated this stick well;  the body has gone from full to medium+ but the flavors and finish became creamy smooth.  My only issue was a bit of nicotine-bitterness at the end, though this is to be expected with many beefier Nicaraguan sticks. Definitely worth a 93 point rating, and I so wish I had more!

Viaje Scull and Bones 'Daisy Cutter'

A while back when these were released (since, there have been 3 new vitolas in the S&B line) I picked up some of these limited release Viajes with the intention of doing a 'new stick' type of review.  I ended up forgetting about them for a while (always a good thing with cigars) and figured I would do a 'Where are they now?' review.  I'm looking forward to seeing what the stick, released as a powerhouse of nicotine in a small package, has turned into after almost a year of humidor time.

Pre-light - This small vitola has a rich chocolate wrapper with a very smooth feel.  The pre-light draw provides a bit of tug and some mild sweetness.

First Third -The cigar starts with some sweet wood, a bit of cedary spice, raw tobacco, and a dry, smokey (as in food) flavor.  Drawing is not an issue in tug or feel, despite it's girth, and the smoke is fairly dense.  As it progresses, some coffee like creaminess enters.  Despite the heavy nature of the flavors and the imminent strength of the stick, I wouldn't say it is the least bit overpowering, something one might expect.  Definitely not full full-bodied in the first third, more like medium+

Second Third - This third find the flavors mellowing into a complex, creamy fusion of leather, wood and cedar.  Construction is still great, as with most Viajes I have found, as the ash held over an inch before I clumsily dropped in on my white shirt.  It could just be the massive hunk of delicious cow I ate for dinner, or the humi time, but I'm honestly not feeling a huge nic-kick thus far...  Not that that has any bearing on the quality of the cigar.


Third Third -   I must say the progression in this cigar is awesome. It has finally hit full-bodied, and not just with a tap- the strength here is pretty apparent.  The flavors in the last third come out of their shell a bit from the last third, but remain fairly consistent, though there are a bit more spice and tobacco notes.  The last whole third is so rich and complex I wish it had been longer!

Conclusion and Score - Granted I haven't been smoking much lately because I've been crazy busy, so anything would be at least somewhat enjoyable, but this cigar was absolutely phenomenal.  The flavor profile was rich, complex, and full, while the construction was perfect.  While it was a strong little stick later on, it wasn't the beast I was expecting.  But nicotine bomb or not, no question this was a great cigar and worth 93 points in my book.

PS I remember Brooks from SmokingStogie.com saying that this stick and the similarly sized/strength Tatuaje T110 (which I reviewed a while back, one of the few sticks I hoard) were totally different, and he was spot on.  

Johnny-O Cazadores

 
I got this cigar a while back from one of my good BOTL, but have little background on it.  From what I understand they are custom rolled sticks (by Johnny-O of course) made from Cuban tobacco.  I've heard mixed opinions on the actual pedigrees of the tobacco, so we'll just have to see how it smokes.  'How can I tell if these Cubans are fake or not? -SMOKE IT!'

It's a bit chilly out tonight, but not bad enough to stop me from enjoying a cigar.  Lighting with matches for a change tonight, and drinking water.

Pre-light - A very rugged, leathery wrapper covers this smoke, in a dark, almost black color.  The pre-light draw is light and gives a ton of sweet tobacco.

First Third - The easy draw gives way to tons of smoke, and boasts a cedary spice over sweet tobacco, leather, and coffee.  The flavors are much fuller in body than I had expected and lie between medium and full at the moment.  The Cazadores' texture and flavor notes seem to remind me a bit of the Drac, though not as complex.  Though the draw is on the lighter side, the burn is sharp and the ash (though looser) stays on well.

Second Third - The spice has died down, leaving more leather and some chocolate in it's place to mingle with the coffee and tobacco flavors.  The body has mellowed out a bit now, as the flavors start to blend together more.  D/A/B are still great.

Third Third - The flavors have stayed fairly consistent from the first third, though I'm getting a bit of bitterness here and there.  Not a huge turn off, but for the sake of full disclosure...  The construction is still great, and the coffee notes are hitting the spot right now.

Conclusion and Score - I enjoyed this cigar, as it had plenty of tasty coffee, cedar, and tobacco notes.  I can't honestly say that it tasted like exactly like Cuban tobacco, but there were some hints of 'Cubanesque' flavors.  The construction was immaculate and the wrapper had a nice rough, leathery feel to it.  I would give this stick an 89 rating- if the bitterness towards the end had been absent (might have to grab some for aging to see), it could easily break the 90s.

Ramon Allones Superiores

Headed over to the shop today to enjoy a smoke, and decided to have something out of my 'good stuff' stash and picked out the Ramon Allones Superiores from the 2010 La Casa del Habano release.   This cigar is a Corona Gorda a with a beautiful, leathery, light brown wrapper, and only had a production size of 5000 boxes of 10.  As a lover of all things Ramon Allones and Corona Gorda, I'm really looking forward to this smoke!


Pre-light - Not much smell, but a bit of sweetness and grass.  The draw has a perfect tug to it.


First Third -The Superiores starts out with a blast of hay, leather, and creamy coffee it a fitting light-medium body.  The draw is fantastic with thick smoke and a very nice dark gray ash.  About a half inch in some heavier leather and coffee flavors come out, though balanced by creaminess. 

Second Third - There is a bit of spice and nuttiness in this third, combined with the still tasty creamy coffee and some hay.  The body is still medium-ish and the construction continues to be spot on.  It is an effortless, tasty smoke!


Third Third - The flavors in the last third are similar to the second, with a bit more sweetness added to the coffee, leather, nut and creamy flavors.  Definitely a complex combination that flows together perfectly.  Construction is great, and the draw produces a cool smoke even to the nub.

Conclusion and Score - I absolutely loved this cigar.  The rich, complex mix of creamy and hay flavors with the darker nut and leather notes created an exquisite experience.  Certainly not as full in body as the regular production RA, the Superiores was light-medium, though not losing anything in the flavor department.  I'd love to see these become a regular size, as I loved the size of the stick (and obviously the flavors.)  For me this was worth a 94 point rating, one of the best I've had in a while! 

Tatuaje Anarchy

Earlier 2010 (last year now!) Pete Johnson of Tatuaje blended a 'secret' cigar called the Anarchy for Smoke Inn in Florida.  Details about the sticks were leaked over time through Pete's Twitter and Facebook, and the sticks were fully released for sale in early December.  Some are still available, but it is a limited production cigar so they won't be around too long (though not as limited as the Halloween releases).  The shape is an interesting figurado hybrid- tapered at both ends but a larger gauge at the foot.  It also sports an interesting pigtail and a very dark Ecuadorian wrapper.  I have read a few reviews, ranging from good to excellent and am looking forward to seeing for myself!  Thanks to my awesome brothers at CS, I received a whole box for my birthday, and since that is tomorrow, I figure it's time for a review!

Pre-Light -  The wrapper is a beautifully dark chocolate color that is plenty oily.  It smells of a creamy tobacco, and the pre-light draw is medium with some sweet notes similar to the Drac when it was first released.

First Third - The first puffs crackled (odd, I know) with a full bouquet of leather, wood, oatmeal and some mildly spicy earthy notes.  The body seems to be lighter than I had expected but the flavors are certainly full.  The draw has a perfect tug, and the burn is very straight so far.  The initial blast of flavors cools down to a relaxing (but not boring) profile after an inch, dominated by leather, wood and some cream.

 Second Third - The individual flavor have morphed into a concoction tasting of woody leather with some molasses.  The D/A/B have all be great so far with no need for touch-ups.  Though still quite tasty, there are puffs in which the flavor is muted, something I have seen other reviewers note... not sure if this is just a fluke of something age may iron out.   

Third Third - Similar leathery wood flavors to the second third with a bit of nutmeg in the background in this third.  The D/A/B have been consistent throughout and I am really enjoying this cigar.  Definitely worthy of nubbing.

Conclusion and Score - I love the leather and wood flavor of the Anarchy and the other notes that popped up throughout.  The construction was top notch, and the size quite fun.  Looking forward to seeing how these will age as they seem like a great candidate.  I would rate it a 92 with a possibility for some more points if the small kinks in the middle can straighten out... great stick now though too, track some down!

Tatuaje Petit Cazadores Reserva

This new size from Tatuaje, smaller than a Petite Corona at 4x40, sports the Broadleaf wrapper that Pete Johnson has had so much success with.  It has a wrapped foot (which I am a huge fan of) and should be the perfect size for temperatures in the 20s!  Lets see how it smokes..

First Third
-Full bodied right off the bat, a huge blast of flavor
-Dark, complex flavors with wood, cedar, some cocoa, and a hit of leather
-Draw is a bit tight, but ash and burn are perfect
-There is a hint of 'cubanesqueness'


Second Third
-Similar flavors to the first third, with black coffee now, and more wood and leather
-Got a hint of bitterness... nicotine build up?  A fresh cut fixed that
-Ash held for over an inch!
-Phenomenal with a cup of coffee
-Smoking slowly

Third Third
-Very beefy flavors, great nutty wood and coffee along with the other flavors
-D/A/B still spot on
-Definitely full bodied
-No bitterness
-Great finish, enjoyable down to the nub

Score: 92
Can't wait to pick up some more of these (cab worthy!), loved the complex, full bodied, dark flavors in this little guy.  Great smoke in a small package, and with a cup of coffee- the breakfast of champions!  I bet these will be great with age.

Bolivar Petit Belicosos EL 09

This short belicoso shaped Bolivar was one of the three Edicion Limitadas for 2009, along with the

H. Upmann Magnum 48 and RyJ Duke.  The wrapper is a dark, almost maduro color with a lumpy, leathery feel and some veins.  Bolivars tend to be hit or miss for me, so we'll see how this stick smokes a year after its release.

First Third

-Strong wood, spice, cedar, and some leather explode in the first few puffs
-Thick clouds of smoke and a nice draw, on the loose side
-Definitely a fuller bodied cigar, though not a beast
-Construction is good minus a slightly crooked burn

Second Third

-Flavors haven't changed too much, but the spice is less pronounced

-Needed a bit of relight to keep the burn straight, great draw and ash held to over an inch

-A nice sweetness in the background, going well with a Becks Dark

Third Third

-Leather, wood and even a nice tangy flavor take the lead in this third

-D/A/B are all spot on, nice sturdy ash too

-Has a dark, full-bodied finish

-Slightly harsh towards the nub

Score: 89
Definitely a good smoke, but not yet in its prime- give this another few years and it will be a gem

Guillermo Leon Signature Corona

**Its freezing out, so I would like to use my hands as little as possible for this review (and probably many more over the winter months), so I'm going to try a short, quickie review version that I hope will still give you a taste for the stick while keeping my hands warmer!

This is a fairly new smoke to the market, released at this year's IPCPR by Guillermo Leon and La Aurora.  I'm smoking the Corona size, gifted to me by Steve over at SmokingStogie after I won a drawing.  Lets see how this stick burns!

First Third
-Starts off with a medium body and light smoke
-Leathery, wood, and nutty flavors
-Getting some coffee and sweetness in the background
-Construction is good

Second Third
-Similar flavors as the first third, though a bit less defined
-Enjoying the nutty and leathery notes
-D/A/B still on target
-Picking up a bit in body, still only medium+ though

Third Third
-Getting more wood and some spice in this third
-Construction is great, just left it for 10 min and still burning!
-Definitely nub-worthy
-Tiny bit of harshness at the end, my only gripe

Score: 90
-Go try one, great stick that is very well priced

Tatuaje Face - Monster Series LE #3

The third limited Halloween release from Tatuaje, "The Face" (after Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre), is a large stick at 6 3/8 by 56 sporting a Mexican wrapper.  The band is actually a piece of tobacco in a lighter shade to mimic the look of the monster who it is a tribute to.  Only 666 coffins were released, though 1300 ten count plain boxes were produced, making this the largest Monster release yet.  The stick itself is truely a beast, and judging from other sources, seems to be a great smoke.

Pre-Light - The large size is very imposing on this cigar, and the gnarly uncut foot and tobacco band make it an interesting sight.  The smell is fantastic, and the pre-light draw gives a little sweetness with a nice lighter draw.

First Third - The first puffs are heavy with woody earth, dark sweetness, some spice and a bit of raw tobacco in billows of thick smoke.  The spice is muted, more of a tingle on the tongue, while the darker earth and wood take the lead.  Though it is certainly a jaw breaker, I'm enjoying the size, and it is a bit stronger than I had expected. 

Second Third - Not much spice in this third, while the earthy, tobacco and sweet flavors really shine.  The strength is definitely picking up (though I though even the first third was medium-full) and the construction proves to be excellent- the ash lasted close to 2 inches. 

Third Third - Definitely picking up more sweetness in this third (even some cocoa), as well a more wood, some nut and a bit of pretzel.  Draw, ash and burn are still going strong, just like the body.  I love the strength and dense, full flavors in this third, with the Mexican wrapper's sweetness being a real treat.  Definitely a great ending to a great stick!

Conclusion and Score - Though I've just got a soft spot for these Halloween LEs, I loved this cigar.  The sweetness of the Mexican wrapper was huge for me, as I love the type of dark, cocoa sweetness that this cigar so wonderfully exemplified, not to mention an ass-kicking body that got progressively stronger throughout.  Along with the sweetness, there was a complex mix of wood, earth, nut, some spice and raw tobacco that didn't once get dull.  On top of that, the construction (D/A/B) were all terrific.  Definitely a cigar worthy of a 93 rating, that will hopefully only get better with age.  Find some if you can, and have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Tatuaje Boris - The 'Frank Out of Costume'

Last year Pete Johnson released a slightly different version of the famed Frank from Halloween of 2008, with a different wrapper, called the Boris (after the actor who played Frankenstein in the movie).  Since Halloween is coming up this year, I figured I'd finally get around to smoking this LE!

Pre-Light - No noticeable smells, but the wrapper is a beautiful coffee colored brown with minimal veins and a leathery touch.

First Third - Right away I can taste the slight minty note that I've heard so much about in this stick, combined with a mild-medium bodied earthy tobacco flavor.  The smoke is abnormally cool, similar to a dry wine.  The draw, ash, and burn are fantastic thus far, and the smoke itself is thick and white.  A slight nutty spice character adds to the complexity of what seems to be a great cigar, though with a body lighter than I had expected.

Second Third - The body has beefed up a bit though the complex mix of flavors continues to be a mix of tobacco, mint, nut and some earthyness.  I am in awe of the perfection achieved in construction by Pete on this stick, its is a joy not to have to baby the stick or worry about a tight draw. 

Third Third - Moving into the last third, a cool spice takes the lead with some creamy nut and earthy flavors right behind.  The texture of the smoke is continuing to intrigue me, and D/A/B are, big surprise, still great.  I'm not noticing any heat near the nub, as the cool flavors and smoke seem to be consistent throughout.  Definitely worth nubbing. 

 

Conclusion and Score - This cigar was really 'different' for me (as I would expect from an LE), and it fits into a niche that I could see myself yearning for on occasion in the future.  The smoke itself was cool, minty and dry, while the flavors included a complex mix of earth, mint, raw tobacco, nut, and spice.  Construction was superb, and I really did enjoy this cigar, though it could have used a bit more in the body department.  Even still, I would rate this stick a 91 and look forward to seeing it progress over time.