CAO Brazilia

Got one of these with my Cigars International starter kit. It is an OK cigar, but nothing notable about the flavor. I just did not seem go notice that these were supposed to be a much spicier cigar. It seemed to be too mild. I had the anaconda size.

Cigar.com had this to say:

The Brazilia is the fuller-bodied side of CAO. Its dark and spicy wrapper make it very flavorful with a long earthy finish.
CAO is the maker of some of the highest rated brands in the world. Previously best known for making pipes, the Nashville based company broke into the cigar industry with authority. The attention they have attracted has not just been from their first rate tobacco either, their concepts and cigar packaging are trendy, appealing to a new generation of cigar smokers.
For years CAO dreamt of a cigar that uses premium Brazilian tobacco, but finding good Brazilian leaf at the end of the cigar boom was not an easy task. At the time Brazilian tobacco was not at the top of its game. However, CAO stumbled on a beautiful dark wrapper leaf from the coveted Bahia region and the rest is history. After its launch this cigar brought attention back to Brazilian tobacco and essentially was the rebirth of Brazilian cigars in the US cigar market, as other cigar makers flocked to South America in attempt to recreate CAO’s success. The rich Brazilian wrapper gives the CAO Brazilia a full-bodied and full-flavored aroma that carries a long and spicy finish. It is a truly unforgettable cigar, and a powerhouse addition to the humidor.

ARTICLE: Cigar Counterfeiting Must End

WWW.CIGAR.COM
This was a great article on counterfeiting from cigar.com. I am on their mailing list. You can go to link above to go to their site.

Counterfeiting has always been a serious problem in the cigar industry. Manufacturers put in countless hours blending, aging, and marketing their cigars to be purchased by enthusiasts all over the world. With that in mind, it is no wonder why companies like Altadis and General Cigar go to extreme lengths to not only find and reprimand guilty parties, but to also prevent their products from becoming targeted. The cigar industry has been picking up speed; expanding to new lengths and becoming more involved with creating more unique blends based strictly on quality, which has put even more emphasis on preventing counterfeits from appearing. However, counterfeiting unfortunately seems to be a problem that will likely never go away completely.
There are too many brands to name that have been "knocked-off" and sold as originals. Some of the more popular brands include Cohiba, Arturo Fuente, Montecristo, and Romeo y Julieta. In fact, in recent news, Altadis USA (makers of Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta) have recently gone on the offensive and tracked down individuals selling counterfeits. The most popular case to date would be the arrests of Allen Boyd and James David Joiner. Boyd was a manager at the Carolina Cigar Company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Joiner was the owner of the Smoke Café, also out of Fort Lauderdale. Both individuals were secretly selling counterfeit Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and H. Upmann cigars at their shops. More in depth, the two would disassemble and reassemble the boxes in the back of their shops and get them prepped for sale to the unsuspecting consumer. Representatives of Altadis visited each shop with undercover investigators who made purchases of the counterfeit product. On a side note, the investigators did not have to pay taxes on the cigars since the shop representatives waived the fee due to a cash payment. Each box was valued around $200 to $300 and was taken back to Altadis for a thorough examination. In conclusion, every box purchased was bogus. Both Boyd and Joiner were arrested and their counterfeit products were confiscated by authorities before any further harm could be done.
It is very hard to comprehend the mentality needed to rip off a premium cigar company; a group of individuals dedicated to providing cigar enthusiasts with a special luxury unlike any other. Likewise, cigar rollers work long and hard to meet the demands of their respective factory in regard to quality, construction, consistency, etc. The cigar industry supports hundreds of thousands of people, most of which live outside the United States. It is not a business for most of these individuals; it's a way a life. Given the levels of tradition and pride involved in creating a handmade cigar, counterfeiting can be considered an insult to the makers, as well as the end consumer.
Counterfeiting places a dark cloud over the art of a fine cigar, which has become a highly rewarding way of life for all of us, whether we are making the cigars or enjoying them. A cigar band represents more than a cigar, for it symbolizes proud, cigar making families and generations of passion, loyalty, and a commitment towards a time honored pastime. The counterfeit process hurts the entire industry, from the individual planting the first seed to the enthusiast enjoying their cigar on a warm summer evening. As a consumer, you too can help eliminate counterfeit cigars by supplying information on any cigar shops, stores, companies, or associates who are known for selling counterfeits. With the entire cigar community's assistance, the act of counterfeiting could be reduced to an absolute minimum.

Churchill Rejects

Saw these at Cox's Smoke Shop and John and I picked up a couple. They run about $1.50. What can you lose. Smoke this one after the ACID(see below) on the back 9. I have to tell you, this one is still much better than some of the more expensive Cigars I have tried. I may have to stock up on some of these for the golf course. You really can't go wrong at that price.

ACID BLONDIE

Got this one from my friend Dale Darnell. Do you get the idea that I don't need to buy cigars anymore? Anyway, I smoked this one while playing golf on Saturday. This one is in line with the other ACID's I have tried. They are an infused Cigar of different flavors. The only thing I don't like about these it that the taste of the outer wrapper can hurt the taste of the cigar flavor from the smoke. The infusion flavors can stay on the lips and make it more difficult to enjoy the cigar. Still, it is better than some cigars that are bitter tasting.

Snow and Cigars

J. Shepherd Cigar Boutique Louisville

Jason Shepherd just opened his store at 1429 Bardstown Road. Tim, my son-in-law and I paid him a visit on his grand opening. It is a 1,200 square foot store with a walk-in humidor. He currently stocks all the favorite premium cigars, plus a series of accoutrement's such as lighters, cutters, ashtrays, and gifts. Unique is the artwork he will be showing by local artists(a la' Starbucks) This seemed like an ideal location and has a lot of walk by traffic. Unfortunately, Louisville does not allow indoor smoking, but supposedly there will be a private smoking lounge opening somewhere in town soon. Not soon enough for me(see the smoke alarm incident below).

POWER 15th Edition

Got this one from my friend Jason, the tobacconist at the newly opened J. Shepherd cigar store. He asked me what I have enjoyed so far and he picked this out for me. I had not heard of this brand so was excited to try it. I was very pleased with this. The taste was great to the end. My son-in-law Tim and I were able to enjoy a cigar in the cool evening while walking up and down Bardstown road by the shop enjoying the sights. I am marking this one a must have for my humidor stock.

From the Felip Greorio web site:

Felipe Gregorio is celebrating his 15th anniversary with a premium cigar like nothing the market has ever seen. Introducing the Felipe Power, and Pelo de Oro, featuring an exclusive Costa Rican wrapper, derived from ancestral pre-embargo Cuban seed. The variety is Pelo de oro (Golden Hair), and tobacco from these seeds has not been available anywhere—not even Cuba—since before Castro seized power. It turns the clock back 50 years to Cuba's Golden Age of cigars. The opulent taste and aroma, combined with this new an exciting strain of Havana tobacco, is sure to raise the bar in taste and manufacture alike.!

Cigar cyclopedia had this to say:

If you’re expecting an overpowering smoke that sets your palette on fire, forget it! The Felipe Power is full-bodied and comes in a series of large ring gauges, the smallest of which is 50. But it offers a light, even flavor with a slight lean toward caramel that provides an intriguing contrast with its presence in the mouth.%%pagebreak%% There’s an unusual sweetness to this blend that’s unusual and satisfying, due directly to the unique Pelo de Oro – “Golden Hair” – wrapper of ancestral Cuban seeds grown at the Tabacos de Cordillera in San Jose, Costa Rica. Wynne is the first manufacturer to create new blends with this leaf, but he won’t be the last.The smoothness of the flavor and consistency of the smoking experience are also remarkable. This is a mellow cigar that will be much better enjoyed indoors than outside so that the delicacy of the taste can be appreciated. There are plenty of sizes in the line, ranging from $10 to $15 before local tobacco taxes and packed in boxes of 26.Overall grade: A: Exceptional.

Gurkha Legend Titan

John smoked this one the other day. It was the first cold snap we had here, so we had to try and use my garage and turn the heater on. He was having a little problem with the draw on this one(we really like the Gurkha brand and feel this is unusual). Anyway he was in the process of relighting it and I told him to make sure and get some good puffs in to get it lit well. Heck, who remembered the dang smoke detector that is connected to the whole house was right above him. Anyway, needless to say, the girls did not find it humorous when it went off.

5 Vegas

John, my future son-in-law who continues to ply me with cigars as long as I keep saying 'Yes, I am paying for the wedding!', brought me this one to try. It is an OK cigar. Nothing to write home about, just blog about. It has the same kind of taste that a Fuente reminds me of. A mild cigar by far, but I am not sure I liked the wrapper.

Here is what cigar.com has to say:

An old Cuban tradition, the 5 Vegas Classic is a medium bodied creamy smoke with a great everyday low price.
This cigar captures everything about a high end premium cigar, except for the price. 5 Vegas has answered the age old question “Can’t someone make a cigar that sells for $3.00 but tastes like a $10.00 cigar?” Well folks, clear room in your humidor. 5 Vegas has a creamy medium body that is accentuated by its Dominican and Nicaraguan long fillers and finished with a Sumatra wrapper. Each 5 Vegas is meticulously crafted by expert cigar rollers to ensure a top quality product.
You will find subtle complexities about this cigar that make it consistent box to box and deliver quality and value every time. Earthy and toasty with a medium finish, it won’t take long for this cigar to become one you can enjoy everyday.