Boston health board may stamp out cigar bars

In the cozy confines of a former speakeasy in Boston’s North End, men and women gather nightly to sip cognac and savor a cigar.
But these days, Stanza dei Sigari, the cigar lovers’ respite on Hanover Street, isn’t so relaxed.
On Thursday, the Boston Public Health Commission will vote on a tough smoking ban that could put this cigar bar, and others like it, out of business.
“I think it’s kind of unconstitutional, telling people not to smoke in a controlled environment,” said Linda Riccio, one of the owners of the dark-paneled saloon.
“Where will it end?” she asked. “Are they going to tell people they can’t smoke on the streets?”
The city’s health officials may expand Boston’s ban on workplace smoking by prohibiting smoking in cigar and hookah bars, on restaurant patios and loading docks.
The proposed rules seek to ban tobacco sales on college campuses and in drug stores, too.
While critics say the move goes too far, Roger Swartz, director of the health commission’s community initiatives bureau, said the new rules are intended to protect people from the ills of tobacco, in all its forms.
The proposal has sparked an outcry among cigar aficionados.
Since September, when the health commission gave preliminary approval to the new regulations, the commission has received hundreds of complaints.
Most are protesting the proposed smoking ban in cigar bars, health commission spokeswoman Ann Scales said.
To Riccio and other supporters, this ban would unnecessarily limit a beloved adult activity.
Riccio’s clients include businessmen, doctors and guys from the neighborhood.
“They come here to smoke, and they know what they are doing,” she said.Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1137759

Makers Mark Seasoned 74.915

My wife bought this and thought I would enjoy it. I have always heard this was not a very good cigar, and I do not like 'boutique' type cigars or flavored cigars in general. I much prefer a cigar that has tastes that differ because of the different tobbacco's used in the filler and wrapper. Anyway, I was actually suprised that this was not a lousy cigar and was fairly mild. You can taste the flavor they tried to impart on the wrapper, but let me tell you, it is nowhere near the good flavor of Makers Mark Bourbon. I am glad to have tried it, but there are a lot better cigars out there for the $14.00 price tag on this. I gave this one a low appearance rating because the wrapper was a little loose and caused it to have a canoe effect while smoking.

Romeo Y Julieta Torpedo 78.08

What is it with torpedo's that have a hard draw. The taste of this cigar was ok, but even cutting the foot at an angle did not help the draw on this cigar. It maintained its flavor throughout the smoke and was a nice looking cigar. Stogieguys.com had this to say:

Once lit, the wrapper combines with Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian filler to create tasty nut and coffee flavors. Like many Maduros, this is an earthy smoke; unlike many Maduros, it’s light-bodied with a short finish. So, if you’re looking for a powerhouse, this isn’t your cigar.
My experience with Romeo y Julietas had me expecting a well-constructed cigar, and I was not disappointed. The burn remains even, the gorgeous white ash holds firm, and the foot manages to stay lit – even when left unattended for periods of five minutes or more.
I should mention, however, that this is a tightly-packed cigar, and the draw can be a bit difficult.
At about $5.50 apiece, this cigar is a good value. Despite a salty disposition and a firm draw, the Romeo y Julieta Reserve Maduro Robusto has a lot to offer.

Zino Platinum 85.08

I was actually expecting more from this Zino given the Davidoff reputation. I thought it was a good smoke, but nothing that would make me want to run out and stock up on these. It was well made and smoked ok, but I could not tell any specific tastes given that this is labeled as a stout cigar.

This is what cigar.com has to say, however they do sell these:

It does not get any nicer then the Zino Platinum Scepter. The cigar was made for cigar enthusiasts who only smoke the best and most unique cigars.
Blended by master blender Hanky Kellner and rolled at the famous Tabadom Factory, there is nothing missing from this cigar. A Connecticut shade grown Ecuadorian wrapper covers a mix of Peruvian and Domincan fillers that are aged over four years.
As soon as you light up a Platinum Scepter a burst of flavor explodes on the palate. While the cigar is smooth, it is one of the most complex cigars made in the Dominican Republic. It is medium bodied yet full flavored. This combination creates a pleasant aroma without the harsh or long finish that some cigars are plagued with. The Zino Platinum Scepter is the best and only way to spoil yourself on those cigars that warrant only the finest cigars.

VigilantE Sun Grown 81.74

I picked up a box of 25 of these that cigars international had a sale on for $32.00. For the price these were not a bad cigar, just not a lot of flavor. However, I think they will need at least a year of aging to let them mellow out a little and let the flavors blend in.

Origin: Honduras

Size: 6.25 x 50

Wrapper: NicaraguanBinder: Ecuador

Filler: Nicaragua / Honduran Sun Grown
The VigilantE is blended by Rocky Patel and is aged 5 years.

My Brother Pete at London Cigar Store

It is great to have the whole family involved in the love of a fine smoke.

JFK cigars story from about.com

Cuban H Upmann Petit Upmann Cigars.

Here is the full story behind President John F. Kennedy's love for Cuban Petit Upmanns and the signing of the Cuban Trade Embargo, according to an email message received from Dick DiMeola in response to cigar.com review of the H Upmann Corona Major cigar:"I retired as COO of Consolidated Cigar Corp., predecessor to Altadis USA, in 1998, having been in the cigar business since 1956 (I still dabble in it). In my early years, I worked for Faber, Coe & Gregg, Inc., the country's premier importer and distributor of Cuban cigars, among others. What you say about JFK's love of H. Upmann is true, and it is also true that an aide purchased 1200 H. Upmanns for Kennedy just prior to his signing the Cuban Embargo in 1962. That aide was his press secretary, Pierre Salinger, who confirmed the story in a speech at a Cigar Association of America annual meeting, I believe it was in 1987, at which I was present. But the cigar was not the Petit Corona, which in that era was 5" x 41r and retailed for 40¢, it was the Petit Upmann, which was a machine made cigar, 3 3/4" x 32r that retailed for 25¢."
As an aside, although the H. Upmann Petit Upmann is the size mentioned by Salinger, I was in charge of inventory control for FC&G at the time and we did not import that cigar under that name. It was sold in the U.S. under the frontmark, Demi Tasse. Perhaps Salinger was confused because it was called Petit Upmann in England, Cuba and the rest of the world."

After Obama win, goodbye to Cuban embargo?

–Bernd Debusmann is a Reuters columnist. The opinions expressed are his own–
By Bernd Debusmann
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - If votes in the United Nations serve as a gauge of global opinion, 98.9 percent of the world opposes the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, a measure imposed 46 years ago to isolate the communist-ruled island and bring down its leaders.
It failed on both counts. As far as international opinion is concerned, the country that is isolated is the United States, not Cuba. In the latest of 17 successive U.N. General Assembly resolutions on lifting the embargo, Washington mustered only two allies — Israel and Palau, a Pacific island nation difficult to find on a map. It has a population of 21,000.
The Marshall Islands (pop. 63,000), which had voted with the United States from 2000 to 2007, unexpectedly and without public explanation broke ranks this year and abstained in the vote, a non-binding resolution taken a week before the U.S. presidential election.
The count — 185 countries in favor of lifting the embargo, three against — speaks volumes about a bankrupt policy stuck in the Cold War era.
Will that kind of America versus the world line-up change under Barack Obama? Not necessarily. The man who made history on Nov. 4 by becoming the first black to be elected president of the United States has promised to “ease” sanctions if Cuba took “significant steps toward democracy, beginning with freeing all political prisoners”.
He has not said what it would take for the United States to end the embargo, kept in place by 10 successive U.S. presidents, both Democrats and Republicans.
During the Cold War, when Cuba was a heavily-armed outpost of the Soviet empire just 90 miles (145 km) from Florida, a majority of Americans agreed with a hard line on a Communist government that violates human rights and holds political prisoners. That attitude has been changing since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
According to a Zogby poll taken a week before the election, 60 percent of Americans believe that Washington should revise its policies towards Cuba. In particular, 68 percent thought Americans should be allowed to travel to the island and 62 percent said U.S. companies should be allowed to trade with it.
If that happens, it won’t be soon.
Latin America in general and Cuba in particular are not likely to figure high on the agenda of a new president who is inheriting two wars and the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. American presidents tend to promise greater attention to southern neighbors but usually do not follow through.
“I’m not so idealistic as to think that the embargo will be lifted immediately,” Cuban dissident and writer Jorge Olivera told Reuters Havana correspondent Jeff Franks.
“But I expect better times as much for the United States as for Cuba. I don’t want to die without seeing an end to this conflict that began when I was born.”
Worth noting: Under a 1996 law, the president needs congressional approval to lift the embargo or to recognize any government that includes Fidel Castro, who officially stepped down in February, or his brother Raul, who took over from him.
STATIC AND COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE
In the past, the most fervent opposition to ending the embargo — the effects of which have punished the population for the actions of a leadership it did not elect — has come from the Cuban-American community in South Florida. But even this is changing.
“U.S. policy towards Cuba is at best static and at worst counter-productive, a source of increasing frustration to many Cuban Americans,” Jorge Mas Santos, chairman of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), wrote late in October in a Washington Post opinion column that endorsed Obama.
CANF was set up in 1981 by Mas’s father, Jorge Mas Canosa, with the express aim of overthrowing the government of Fidel Castro. For years, the group exerted enormous influence on Washington policy makers — as well as on presidential candidates keenly aware that winning the White House without winning Florida is a very difficult undertaking. Obama won the state comfortably.
Cuban exiles, numbering around 650,000, account for just over a quarter of the total population of the greater Miami area. In the past, the Republican Party took the loyalty of most of them for granted — Cuban Americans have traditionally voted four to one for Republicans.
The three Miami-based Cuban American Republicans who serve in the House of Representatives — all supporters of the embargo — were re-elected. Their votes against changes Obama might propose once he takes office on Jan. 20 can be taken for granted.
Some of the most pointed criticism of the embargo has come not from Democrats but from conservative businessmen who resent the fact that American business has been kept out of Cuba while most of the world is engaged there.
In the words of Tom Donohue, CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “All you have to do is go over to Cuba and watch how the Spanish, the French, the Latin Americans and everybody else on the globe are building resorts or trying to invest, and we are sitting here with a 50-year-old policy that doesn’t work.”
The prime beneficiaries from an end to the embargo would be American agricultural exporters. “But just about every industry could benefit,” according to Donohue, “for the simple reason that there is such pent-up demand. Look at the cars they are running — Jack Kennedy was in office when half of them were sent down there.”

Cigar.com article on Habano leaves

If you have not subscribed to the newsletters on cigar.com you need to. They always have interesting information. Below is info from their newsletter:

Looking back on my experience in this industry, both as a hobbyist and as a career, I have come to many conclusions about cigars. One of my biggest revelations, due mostly in part to marketing, is how things in this industry appear far more complicated than they really are. Let’s look at Habano seeds, for example. Nearly 50 years ago, Carlos Torano brought some of the first Cuban seeds to the Dominican Republic after the Cuban Embargo was set into place. These seeds were true ‘Pelo de Oro’ and today, you read about literally dozens of different types of Cuban seeds and tobaccos. I think it is high time to set the facts straight on Cuban-seed tobacco and hopefully clear the air on this confusing subject. During the mid 20th century and coincidentally, relatively around the same time as the Cuban Embargo, plants grown in Cuba and in other parts of the world from Cuban seeds became increasingly susceptible to disease; you may have heard of these nasty killers, known as “Black Shank” and “Blue Mold.” By the 1970s, Cuban seeds had spread all over Latin and South America and issues with sick plants began to spiral as farmers would lose entire crops in a matter of days, once signs of disease set in. The increased severity led to initiatives by agronomists in Cuba and all over the world to begin development of new, genetically engineered seeds, which had a natural resistance to known diseases that effect tobacco plants. In the interim, research was also being done on pesticides and fertilizers that helped combat these crop killers. While many purists stuck to their Pelo de Oro seeds, new technological advancements were making way for genetically enhanced seeds that not only proved more resistant to disease, but also yielded larger leaves and healthier plants. By the turn of the 21st Century, there were dozens of varieties of Cuban seeds from H2000, Criollo, Criollo ‘98, Corojo, Corojo ‘99 and a host of lesser-known variations. Suddenly, Cuban-seed tobacco was no longer simply “Habano;” it had taken the form of “super seeds” with complex names and was being sold to farmers in tobacco growing nations throughout the world. In fact, today a market exists strictly for the sale and distribution of tobacco seeds, which is quite profitable. While the obvious advantages of these brave new seeds were welcomed as they increased yield for farmers, cigar enthusiasts were inundated as brands touted their new “Habano XYZ” as the best Cuban wrapper on the market. The public was quickly made to believe that the flavor and appearance of these leaves were vastly different from one another. After nearly 10 years, the results were finally in and the differences between these “varieties” were negligible. In fact, the market is finally going back and reclaiming the word “Habano.” I, for one, could not be happier. The bottom line is this folks – Habano-seed is Habano-seed. People talk about Corojo, Criollo and use fancy numbers, when at the end of the day, I don’t know a single individual that can truly look at or smoke a leaf of these “different” tobaccos and actually tell the difference. On my many visits to Nestor Plasencia’s tobacco facilities (Nestor Plasencia is the largest grower of Cuban-seed premium tobacco in the world) throughout Latin America, the workers and managers routinely, simply refer to the materials as “Habano” and nothing more. So, "what matters when I am looking at Habano leaf" you ask? Like any other seed, the region it is grown plays the biggest role. From the key regions of Nicaragua, Honduras, Columbia, Panama, and Ecuador, the flavor and appearance are largely dependent on the climate and soil. It is not simply limited by country either, as many tobacco growing nations have several regions. In fact, between Nicaragua and Honduras alone there is Jalapa, Esteli, Somoto, Pueblo Nuevo, Ometepe, Condega, Jalapa, Copan, Talanga and San Agustin, just to name a few. These specific areas impart a certain fingerprint on Habano-seed leaves and their unique characteristics can be both seen and tasted.

Age of your Cuban cigar box

http://www.nationalcigarmuseum.com/Dating/Dating_Cuban_Boxes.html
This site was mentioned on Ebay so I thought I would share it with you.

Sancho Panza Dulcinea Torpedo 89.255

Smoked this one after putting up my annual Halloween display. Hence my friend in the picture enjoying a smoke. I was very pleased with this cigar. I usually don't like torpedo's because they can tend to have a hard draw, but this one was handmade very nice. I have several of these aging in the humidor so I look forward to smoking some more. Nice flavor and wrapper had a great taste.

Cigar.com says:

With an everyday low price, Sancho Panza is all about value. These box-pressed Nicaraguan cigars have received top marks by industry publications.Crafted by Estelo Padron, the revered Honduran Cigar Master, these cigars are superbly constructed, draw perfectly and provide exceptional flavor - befitting a cigar named for Sancho Panza, the memorable literary figure created by the great Spnaish author, Miguel de Cervantes. Manservant to the famed Don Quixote de la Mancha, Sancho Panza personifies trustwothiness and reliability - attributes you will find in these cigars bearing his name. A cigar of uncommon character and taste, worthy of its Cuban heritage, Sancho Panza is carefully grown with Cuban-seed filler tobaccos and a rich Connecticut Broadleaf binder. Wrapped with a seamless Connecticut leaf, Sancho Panza provides a light body with full flavors of cedar and earth.

COHIBA EXTRA VIGOROSO 80.08

I was suprised that this cigar was more milder than I would have

expected. It was still a pretty good smoke, though I prefer the regular red dots. I like the little disclaimer label. The Cohiba name fight continues.

The Bonita Smoke shop has this to say:

The Cohiba XV Vigeroso cigars are blended by the famous and talented Cigar master Señor Daniel Nuñez. Señor Nuñez set out to create an extension of the successful Cohiba cigars line. The result are Cohiba XV cigars, an Extra Vigoroso cigar made with all the inspiration and dedication to quality that have made Cohiba one of the most respected premium brands in the country. The most distinctive leaf of Cohiba XV cigars are it's sun-grown Sumatra wrapper from Ecuador. These leaves are harvested only from the tops of the tobacco plants. Each of these wrapper leaves is aged in tercio for three years. The flavor is then enhanced even further by aging all of the leaves again for six months in crates of fragrant cedar. In crafting Cohiba XV cigars, the most flavorful Nicaraguan Ligero and Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero are bound with the richest three-year-old Connecticut Broadleaf. The result is a cigar that is made, not only to please, but also to impress. Every inch a Cohiba in terms of its tobacco selections and craftsmanship, Cohiba XV vigoroso cigars will deliver you the richest, deepest cigars you can find with the, true to tradition, Cohiba flavor in a bold and beautiful way.

Golden Zeus 14K

Saw this article on the Golden Zeus cigar at the millionaires show in Germany.
I can see the ratings on this one "Tastes a little too rich for my blood, and has a slight
tinny taste that I can't quite put my finger on." I think I will just wrap one of mine in aluminum foil and call it close enough.

Rocky Patel vintage 1990 79.575

This was an ok smoke, but did not stand out in my mind. It was a very mild cigar, and I tend to lean toward stronger cigars.

H.Upmann vintage cameroon 1844 92.255

I have several of these in my humidor that I have been aging. I smoked this one while eating some of the doves we shot in September along with some fish from this summer. My neighbor even complimented me on the great aroma coming over the fence. Anyway this is one I will want to get a whole box of and store. I still am a great fan of these Cameroon wrappers now. It really adds a great taste to the cigars. This one in particular is just the right ring size to really enjoy a good draw.

Here is a stogieguys.com review also:

Immediately after toasting the foot with a wooden match, the cigar produced a harmonious floral flavor that was pleasing to my entire palate. The combination of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Peruvian fillers yielded pleasing notes of jasmine.
In the second phase, the taste shifted from floral to fruity with significant hints of citrus and pear. With such pronounced flavor I expected this stick to be a bit harsher, but the taste remained smooth and creamy. Like many cigars, however, this parejo became quite spicy towards the end of the smoke.
On construction, this stogie earns high marks. It lit quickly with a few wooden matches (I was outdoors), it burned evenly, and the draw was easy with a bit of resistance – just the way I like it. My only complaint is that it went out once mid-smoke after I had failed to puff for about three minutes.

Camacho Maduro 77.575

Thought I would try this robusto version of Comacho. It was a good smoke but not as flavorful or enjoyable as I thought it would be.

fummeworld has this to say:

The Camacho SLR’s (Special Limited Reserve) are a fantastic blend made with a hefty dose of Corojo filler and wrapped in a beautiful Honduran grown Cuban seed wrapper, or the US Connecticut Broadleaf maduro. These superbly balanced blends offer a ton of flavor, with noticeable coffee and woodsy notes.

COHIBA SIGLO MMH-HMM rated by Miguel Angel Jimenez

Was getting Miguel Ángel Jiménez autograph at the Ryder cup on Tuesday during practice rounds. I asked how he like the Cohiba(Oh well, so what if the Europeans can get the Cubans).

His response, with cigar still in his mouth was, 'MMH-HMM'. I take it that he liked it.

Here is a pic I got.

Ashton VSG 76.74

Had this one in the humidor for while and decided to finally give it a try while out walking the dog around the neighborhood. This was another mild smoke with some nice aroma, but not the best I have smoked. I don't know that I could tell it was "Virgin Sun Grown" from other cigars.

From the uptowncigar.com site:

ASHTON CIGAR VIRGIN SUNGROWN

For those who desire a powerful and intoxicating flavor with a complex rich finish, look no further than the Ashton VSG Cigar. The VSG is blended exclusively for Ashton by Carlos Fuente Jr. using 4 to 5 year old aged Dominican tobacco taken from the finest and most fertile plants. The distinct flavor of VSG comes from its wrapper grown on a private estate in Ecuador owned by the Oliva family where this proprietary wrapper leaf is grown for the Fuente Family exclusively for Ashton VSG. The leaf is taken from the higher primings and matures slowly by sunlight filtered through the region¹s natural cloud covering. The result is the rich intoxicating wrapper which has made the Ashton VSG Cigar the most in demand cigar on the market today.

Gurkha Legend 84.42

I have been having trouble with Gurkha's lately with having a hard draw. I found this one smoked very nice and I enjoyed it very much. I have found that the longer I leave these in the humidor the better they smoke. So I am going to put some of these away for a while to try down the road.

Bolivar Dominicana 79.58

Enjoyed this mild smoke and the Gurkha rated next while out Dove hunting with my son-in-law.

Did not catch the limit on birds, but have enough to have another nice cookout. Basically, you just sit out in a field and wait for the little suckers to fly over and everyone starts shooting. Then you try and claim that it was your great shot that brought the bird down. Anyway, in between birds, a nice cigar is a great way to pass the time. Our drink of choice is always a native Kentucky ginger ale called Ale-8-1. Then of course, a nice bourbon after the shooting.

From cigar.com:

Originally founded in Cuba, the Bolivar is a tribute to its Cuban heritage with a medium bodied mix of robust tobaccos from the Carribean and Central America.
Like its flavor, the Bolivar history is also very rich. The brand got its start in Cuba at the turn of the 20th century. Since day one on the market they have been highly sought after and recognized as a fine premium cigar.
Today"s blend is hand rolled in the Dominican Republic and is crafted in an effort to recapture the original Cuban blend, which in 1901 was smooth yet very robust. To succeed in doing this, legendary cigar maker Daniel Nunez utilized a wide range of tobacco leaves including rare fillers from Isla de Ometepe. The resulting cigar has received great praise from industry experts. The blend starts with fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras and is held together with a Connecticut medio tiempo binder. This binder is similar to the wrapper that is used on the full-bodied and world-renowned Partagas Black Label. To finish the Bolivar, a Honduran grown San Augustine ligero wrapper is added providing that last shot of spice. Although full-flavored, the Bolivar is not too overpowering, providing hours of enjoyment with a long finish.

cigarman redware

Got this off of Ebay. He looks great sitting on shelf above my humidor.

TeAmo World Selection Nicaragua 78.75

This was the best out of the three WSS cigars. It still had a little problem with the draw however.

I am keeping others in the humidor a lot longer to see if that loosens them up a bit.

CAO CAMEROON 73.74

Smoke this the other night while sitting out on my patio enjoying the nice summer evening.

The flavor of the wrapper was just great and the smoke was nice. I had a little problem with the draw on this one. It was box pressed and I think it restricted the leaves a little too much. I am going to let my other ones sit for at least six months before smoking to see if it loosens up the cigar a little bit. Then it will probably get a much higher rating.

Montecristo Habana #2 87.585

My daughter and son-in-law just got back from a 2 week honeymoon in Europe. And somehow a couple of these Montecristo cigars showed up in my humidor. This was a torpedo. It was pretty much as expected since I had read reviews of this cigar prior to my lighting one up. It was a good smoke, but since they use Cuban wrappers, binders and filler it limits the amount of flavor you can obtain by taking advantage of leaves from the various countries that now grow great tobacco. I think a lot of these is still the mystique of it not being readily available in the states.(I give it 5 years at the most that this will change). Anyway, I am glad to have had the chance to try this so I have a comparitive for other cigars.

Cohiba Black Label 79.575

John and I both enjoyed one of these the other day. He was able to pick 6 of these Pequenos that are great for a quick smoke.

Nice little cigar.

From cigar.com:

The Cohiba Black is one of the newest additions to the Cohiba family. With a dark maduro wrapper and aged Dominican Piloto binder, the Cohiba Black has a rich and complex flavor that appeals to even the most discerning aficionado.
As perhaps the most recognized name in cigars worldwide, Cohiba has been an icon for what many consider to be “the best.” Debuting in Cuba shortly after Castro came to power, Cohiba cigars were made from the country’s top 1% of leaves harvested and the cigars were reserved for diplomatic gifts and government VIP’s. In fact, speculation exists that the brand was initially made for Fidel Castro who considered the blend his favorite.
Cohiba Black was introduced at the 2006 RTDA show in Las Vegas. As one of the most popular super premiums, the Cohiba Black follows its predecessor, the Cohiba Red Dot, which is also made in the Dominican Republic. The cigar features a multi-country blend with a rich and dark Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper. However, perhaps more exciting than the oily wrapper is the filler, which encompasses leaves from the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Montecristo Habana #2 87.585

My daughter and son-in-law just got back from a 2 week honeymoon in Europe.

He will be posting some of his cigar finds soon. However, somehow, some

Cuban cigars ended up in my humidor. Anyway, decided to light up my first Montecristo

torpedo. It was actually pretty much what I expected from reading other reviews online.

Given that Cuban cigars have a Cuban wrapper, binder, and filler, it does not give you much of

a chance to mix leaves and flavors to achieve a great smoke like they can do with Dominican, Honduran, Sumatra, and even African leaves now. All in all it was still an ok smoke.

Cohiba Dominicana 95.09

One of the highest ratings I have given yet. Just really enjoyed this cigar from start to finish. Burned well and kept a good ash.

You could taste a little peppery flavor at times and then chocolate. It also produced very prodigious smoke. My dog even let me pet her, many times she does not want to be near the smoke, so I assume even she appreciated this one. I guess a four paw rating. I may want to try some more for consistency and then age some in the humidor and have them on hand.

Origin: Dominican Republic
Length: 7.00
Ring: 49
Strength: Mild-Medium
Wrapper Color: Medium Brown (E)
Wrapper Type: Cameroon
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Dominican Republic
Shape: Parejo

NUB Cameroon 68.07

This was my first NUB. It was started by the Olivia company. The intent is to have a large ring gauge cigar that will burn almost as long as a churchill. It did have a nice burn, however the large ring gauge did take a little getting used to. Unfortunately my cigar had a slight tear as if it was over humidified and had cracked a little. The one thing I like about churchill size cigars is that by having a good ash, it tends to cool the smoke down a little as you draw in. By the time you get a good ash on the NUB you have already smoked half the cigar. Cameroon is my favorite wrapper at this point and I was a little dissapointed in the quality of the wrapper on this. It did not seem to hold up very well. I am not sure I will do NUB's on a regular basis or stock up on them.

Smoking Yoda

Found this on http://www.cigarweekly.com/. A good site to get and receive cigar info.

Gurkha Special Edition Crest 63.07 73.74

These cigars are aged 8 years. They are a very mild cigar even though the wrapper on this one was darker than normal. There just was nothing exceptional about this cigar to justify the price. I have been very dissapointed in the Gurkha line so far. I am starting to get upset that I have about 10 more of their cigars in my humidor left.

This is also the second one that had trouble with the draw. It just seems it is rolled too tight and will not let you enjoy a smoke without having to suck on it like a Hoover(and/or Dyson). I have talked to others who have been trying to let their Gurkha's sit in the humidor to let it expand as much as possible because of the same issue.

Here is a second smoke score, still a problem with draw and a canoe issue. Just not good rollers at the Gurkha plant.

CIFUENTES PARTAGAS PADRE 1845 91.255 Rating

Just finished this one today. This was a slightly different Fuentes than I had tried before and I really liked this one. My golf sucked really bad, but at least the cigar gave me some moments of calm. My golfing partner even commented on what a nice smell this cigar gave out. Some cigars seem to really have some 'bite' or a sour taste from the wrapper, but this one just seemed to have a nice chocolate/coffee taste that was really pleasant.

Partagas CigarsThe secret of today's rich Partagas cigars lies in their wrapper leaves. Grown in Cameroon, the Central West African country where the steaming, sub-tropical climate unique to the fourth parallel is ideal for growing superb wrapper leaves, Cameroon wrappers have no equals for rich flavor. Indeed, Ramón Cifuentes determined that he could begin producing his Partagas cigars again only after he had discovered, years after the Cuban embargo had begun, that the best wrapper leaves were being grown in Cameroon rather than in Cuba.

Partagas Cifuentes Blend is a limited-availability extension to the Partagas portfolio of cigars. It builds upon the legacy of Ramon Cifuentes by introducing a cigar specially blended for the Fall season by Ramonos proteges, Daniel Nunez and Benji Menendez. Cifuentes Seasonal Blend cigars are medium-to-full bodied, rich in flavor, and use a special Honduran Medio-Tiempo wrapper, as well as Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos.
These cigars bare the name of the Cifuentes family, the legendary makers of Partagas in Cuba. In a tradition that spans a century, the masters of Partagas would create cigars under their name with a unique and distinct character from all others readily available. That tradition continues with Partagas Cifuentes Blend.
Its deeply satisfying, full, rich taste is derived from a limited crop of sun-ripened Honduran wrapper leaves. The extra aging on the plant gives the wrapper leaf flavor characteristics like no other. And naturally, the quality and craftsmanship found in these cigars is everything you'd expect from a Partagas. This is a cigar that Ramon Cifuentes himself would have been proud to offer.