Stogie Blog

Update

2010-05-25T02:06:00.001-04:00

Hey all,

Havent posted here in awhile being I'm working on setting up a review website with a fellow botl. Once its up and running I'll make a post and give you all the link :)

Pre-Release Review: La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Robusto

2010-01-10T22:53:00.002-05:00

Size: Robusto 5x50

Wrapper: Habano

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Est. Retail: $7.00

Nice oily looking cigar with 2 relatively large veins near the cap. Otherwise a wonderfully rolled stick.

Prelight: The draw has a bit of resistance but nothing to complain about. The prelight draw was a bit woodsy with a little bit of cocoa and coffee.

1/3 After lighting I could tell that this would be a wonderful cigar. Almost immediately I got some nice woodsy flavors with a bit of toasted nuts, coffee and a bit of dark chocolate. Inititally there was almost no spice to speak of but about 1/2" in the spice kicked into high gear. Unlike a lot of other spicy smokes this was very balanced and went well with the flavors and balanced the cigar out very nicely. The burn on the cigar was absolutely perfect throughout the first 3rd.

2/3 The flavors have been changing wonderfully throughout this stick. The spice seems to calm down and then pick back up again throughout. The woodsy flavor intensifies and the coffee and cocoa seem to drop a bit into the background on the finish. The balance of this stick is amazing with a nice smooth tongue tingling spice and wonderful flavors. The burn and construction on this stick is absolutely perfect. The burn is razor sharp and perfectly straight and the ash didn't drop until just past halfway.

3/3 As with the rest of the stick the flavors are wonderful. The woodsy, herbal flavors dissipate a bit and coffee and chocolate pick up throughout the final third along with a nice sweet nutty flavor on the finish which seems to last forever. This stick never got overbearingly hot even down to the nub. The burn started to wave a bit but almost immediately corrected itself. The construction was amazing, the stick didn't ash throughout the whole final half.

Overall Impression:

Balance Balance Balance! This stick was amazingly balanced with all of the wonderful flavors and the nice bite of spice. The flavors seemed to fade in and out and switch places through the whole stick and made it a very enjoyable down to the nub. The construction on this stick was downright amazing and something that you won't see on many sticks over twice this price. The burn was wonderful throughout with only a bit of wave that corrected itself very quickly. Overall this is a wonderful stick which I will most certainly consider keeping in my regular rotation.

Appearance: 12/15

Construction: 24/25

Flavor: 23/25

Overall Impression: 34/35

93/100

Update

2009-12-07T00:07:00.002-05:00

Hey all,

I know I've been lacking on the blogage but I will be picking that back up soon. Look for the following upcoming review....if i can remember :) Tatuaje Frank, Padron 1964 45th, LFD El Museo, and of course a few other little treats :)

Steve aka CG88

Ashton VSG Corona Gorda

2009-07-19T20:50:00.007-04:00

Country Of Origin: Dominican Republic

Size: 5.7 in.

Ring Guage: 46

Est. Price: $8.25

Good looking cigar with a little bit of box damage but good construction overall.

Prelight: The draw was a bit tight but nothing to really complain about. I couldn't distinguish any flavors on the draw.

1/3: After lighting the draw was still tight but nothing bad enough to annoy me and it produced a lot of nice thick white smoke. The flavors off the bat were a bit of coffee and cedar and the finish was very long. Initially there wasn't much spice through the nose but about 1/4" through it really picked up. About 1" through I was able to pick up a little sweetness and a nice creamy mocha flavor. The ash would have lasted about 1 1/2" to 2" except the cigar fell off the table and knocked a bit of the ash off.

2/3: The flavors really picked up in the second third. The creamy mocha increased with a little more chocolate. Moving into the final third the coffee flavor increases.

3/3: The mocha with an intense coffee flavor but closer to the last 2" it started to get a bit harsh.

Overall Impressions: a good cigar with a excellent burn... Would be a good
smoke with a nice cup of coffee

Final Score: 89

Nub Maduro Review....cut short

2009-07-17T19:45:00.004-04:00

By request of Dan aka Toomanycolors from Aficionado and Asylum I decided to review the Nub Maduro only to have the smoke cut short by rain...UGH. I figured I'd post what I have so far.

Prelight: Cut with my Xikar Xi Ti cutter. Draw was effortless and the flavor seemed to be a bit of chocolately sweetness.

1/3 Lit very easily and started off with a lot of dark chocolate and sweetness. A bit of cedar and nuts popped in on the finish. Right from the start the cigar had a good amount of spice on my sinuses but not too much to burn too much. The burn was absolutely perfect. One thing that was quite interesting is a vein line going through the ash which is shown in one of the pictures.

Just as I finished the 1/3 it started to rain so I had to cut the review short. Got a few good pictures tho :)

new humidor :)

2009-06-12T23:43:00.002-04:00

Got my winecooler in and its completely full. Mainly because I got a bunch of free boxes from my shop and filled them with my singles until I can get my trays made.

Box Purchases

2009-06-05T21:55:00.003-04:00

On top of another box of oliva V maduro I ended up picking up these beauties :)

Tatuaje Angeles from JUN 07 and Original Release eccj's :)

Monthly Lottery Winnings

2009-05-07T11:00:00.001-04:00

Yet again I won the Monthly Lottery on Cigar Aficionado. Apparently my luck hasnt run out :) I will get pictures up as soon as I can :)

Crowder:
Partagas PC (CC)
Tat East Coast
El Triunfador
RP Olde World Reserve Maduro
AF Don Carlos Belicoso
AF Hemingway Maduro Classic

Wai...aka the package I've been afraid of since I bombed him 2 weeks ago:
Tatuaje Cojonu 2009
Tatuaje East Coast
Ashton ESG 21
OPUS X FORBIDDEN X TORO

Updates to come later alone with pictures

Kickass Old Shit!

2009-05-03T18:03:00.002-04:00

Happened to find in a BOGO section of the shop here in Syracuse some Joyo de Nicaraguas (10+ years old). Decided to try one before I bought them all and it was damn tasty! :) The cello is nice and yellow :)

Num Yummy!!!

2009-05-03T15:47:00.001-04:00

Muy tasty pickup today....DUN DUN DUN!!!!!

LFD SALOMON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Package Today!!!!

2009-05-01T00:53:00.004-04:00

Got my long awaited package from bcb07 on CA forums today. 5 Cohiba Siglo VIs and a 3 pack of Montecristo #2s :)

Vithoun's BMF-in Hit

2009-04-18T16:01:00.003-04:00

Vithoun is insane. His first PIF ever he sends me a bomb like I've never seen before. Now he sends me THIS!!!!:

Camacho Triple Maduro

Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos

Cohiba Siglo II

Montecristo 4

PAN 1926 #9 (07 cigar of the year!!)

Tatuaje Reserva SW

This is not the end Vithoun.....just wait....once I get money in the summer YOU GOIN DOWN!!!

Payback's a Bitch!!!

2009-04-15T16:26:00.005-04:00

So I went to my mailbox this afternoon and saw 3 slips for packages so I went to my main desk to get them. I got all of them and brought them up to my room...I opened one of them and they all went off leveling my entire dorm along with the frat across the street...heres the damage:

Quarterifecrisis said he would pick up a FEW Edge sumatras to try to see if I wanted to get more and this is what he sent:

10 Rocky patel Edge Sumatra (5 torps and 5 toros)

RP Decade torpedo

ITC Split decision toro

2 Fonseca habana selection coronas

2 La Gloria Cubana Medaille D´Or No. 4 (CC)

Unknown Person from florida...Johnnie420??????:

El Triunfador

La Aurora 1492 robusto

Partagas PC

2 RYJ Habana Reserve (Toro and Churchill)

Sixpacksunday and "anonymous" came with the following note:

An anonymous member wants you to know that IJoeG is... IN DEBT TO NO MAN!!!

Already expecting:

Partagas Culebra

Tat Black

Tat reserva J21

3 Tat Noella Reservas

unexpected:

Extra Tat black from "Anonymous"

Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial torpedo

Thanks to all!!! Just wait....paypack's a b*tch

bad cigar night

2009-04-14T21:48:00.004-04:00

Ugh. It would be my luck that I would pick 3 bad cigars in one night...especially when I have a paper that I'm putting off doing. First I grabbed 2 thinking that if one was bad I could toss one of them and have a backup...my choices Punch Selection #11 from 2002 and a Tat Regios from 07. BOTH WERE PLUGGED!!! Not a happy camper

So I had to go around my dorm and up into my room again to find another cigar. This time I grabbed an Oliva V Lancero. Went downstairs and outside, cut it, took a draw....It was like trying to suck ice cream through one of those little brown coffee straws. I ended up getting through the first third and then I gave up....looks like I shouldn't be putting off my paper. FML

Oliva V Maduro Story

2009-04-14T17:10:00.006-04:00

Over Xmas break I bought a box of Oliva V Maduros that didn't have the ribbon in them. I contacted Oliva Cigar. Jose emailed me back saying that I should send the box back and he would replace it. Well I got the box today and lets just say I was more than satisfied. The box included

The Box of Oliva V Maduros ( not pictured)
an Oliva Cigars Ashtray
2 cutters
and a box of matches!!!

I would like to thank Jose Oliva and Oliva Cigars for being so generous!!

Aging Humidor up in running :)

2009-04-14T17:04:00.002-04:00

Being I was completely out of room in my main humidor I decided to fix the humidor that was broken in shipping from a trade with Smoketime08 on CA forums. The front panel had broken off and just needed to be re-guled. I finally got it glued and seasoned and now here are the pictures with it all full :)

Top Tray: Cubans, GOF coffin, and La Aurora Tubos

Bottom Left: Box of Oliva V Maduros, LFD Los Perfectos Sampler, Opus A

Bottom Right: Assorted Opus's and other NCs

Padron 1964 Anniversary Principe Maduro

2009-04-09T01:21:00.003-04:00

Well I took a look at the weather report and it seemed to be warm enough to actually enjoy a cigar. I decided to pick a PAM 1964 Principe. It seemed to be a little dry but I figured I might as well try it

Prelight: Cut it with a nice cheapo cutter I got from my B&M back home and the wrapper cracked a bit of it fell off...no biggie. The draw was effortless as usual. Prelight draw flavor seemed to have a little chocolate and cedar.

1/3: Started off nice with lots of chocolate, espresso, and woody flavors. The burn started off a little crooked due to iffy lighting skills up and windy conditions but it evened out nicely.

2/3: About 1/4 into the 2nd 3rd a nice cherry flavor appeared and seemed to stay. The chocolate and espresso flavors intensified.

3/3: The burn stays nice and straight which was surprising due to the windy conditions tonight. One flavor that showed up was a little hint of cedar. All of the flavors from the 1st and 2nd 3rd stayed right up until I tossed the cigar.

This cigar was a little flavor bomb with lots of chocolate, espresso, and cherry flavor that lasted throughout the entire cigar. The burn stayed perfect and the draw was perfect throughout. This little Padron was one heck of a flavor bomb. Great cigar!!

92 Points (93-94 if the wrapper didn't crack)

forgot more purchases

2009-04-08T17:33:00.002-04:00

I forgot I also got a 5ver of Punch Seleccion No.11 from Eron and a free 5ver from Johnny420 on CA. FML :)

Wed, April 6th

2009-04-08T16:58:00.002-04:00

The weather lately here in Syracuse sucks therefore no cigars....and surprisingly no cigar shipments. I was hoping to get my package from Jose Oliva replacing the Oliva V Maduro box that I sent back for lacking a ribbon. O well.

I finally got the shit with Cigars Direct finished yesterday about the Opus A's they sent me

Here's the story:

I ordered a total of 4 Opus A's and 3 of the 4 were cracked. I received my first shipment which included 1 Opus A and an Opus Scorpio. The Scorpio was in perfect shape and a beauty. I opened up the A and noticed the thing had cracks running up the wrapper from the foot...not too bad but still unacceptable for a cigar that I paid $45 for. It was obviously overfilled by AF. Called the company and they said they would ship me a replacement and I could keep that one. The day before I ordered another 3 A's so when those came in I was hoping they would be fine...no such luck. One of them had no cracks but one blemish on the cap which I figured was better than a crack so I didn't really mind. One of the others had a crack through the whole cap and the other one had cracks running all the way up the cigar.

I called them up again and the guy I spoke to seemed to be very suspicious about me telling him these cigars were cracked especially being the first one was cracked. He said that I should send the cigars back for them to be inspected. I did that afternoon and the next day I got the replacement and that one was cracked too. This was last friday so I had to wait until monday to deal with them. I shot the guy an email saying that the replacement was also cracked and that they should open the coffins and inspect the cigars BEFORE they ship them to me. I got an email Monday afternoon stating that it is impossible to do that and they would be refunding my money for the cigars (not including the shipping for sending them back). I said ok whatever I don't really need them....I decided to send him an email saying that I would like for the last one to be replaced because I needed to ship one to a friend for a bomb.

He replied saying that he is already out 3 cigars and AF will not refund his money after they are opened and he basically just said no. I sent him another email saying that it wasn't my fault I was getting damage merchandise. (Now I don't know what AF's policies are with retailers but that policy is bullshit especially if they are factory caused errors.) I said It is impossible to inspect the Opus A because its sealed in a coffin and you don't know what you're getting until they're opened and AF should realize that. I paid for a perfect cigar and thats what I should get especially being I paid $20 OVER retail ($45 instead of retail $25). It's not like I'm physically cracking the cigars myself and saying "Oh, I got the cigars and they're cracked...can I get a new one?" I don't really consider them at fault for this especially if AF has this policy. It seems I'm just unlucky I guess....

Well being I'm getting a refund I decided on getting in on a Cohiba Sig VI box split, getting 3 Monte #2s, and picking up 3 Tatuaje Regios Reservas from Serious Cigars.....Now I just need to find room for these along with the Tatuaje Noella Reservas and Partagas Culebra that Logan is sending me....Good thing I'm fixing that humidor I have :)

Humidor Busting at the seams

2009-04-05T18:50:00.000-04:00

Bottom:

Top Tray:

Non-Cubans

2009-04-05T18:11:00.001-04:00

81 Total

La Flor Dominicana Los Perfectos Sampler:

1. Double Ligero

2. Unreleased blend

3. Coronado By La Flor

4. Unreleased blend #2

3. Ligero

Casa Magna Robustos

Arturo Fuente and Ashton

1. AF Don Carlos #3

2. AF Hemingway Classic Maduro

3. Ashton Heritage Churchill

4. Ashton Heritage Belicoso

La Flor Dominicana and Litto Gomez

1. LFD Double Ligero Oscuro Lancero

2-3. Coronado by LFD Lancero

4-5. LG Chisel Puro

6. LG Oriental

Padilla:

1. 1932 Robusto

2. Miami Corona

3. 1932 Torpedo

Pepin

1. My Father lancero

2. DPG Black Label Lancero

3. Ambos Mundos toro

4. El Triunfador Lancero

5. Tatuaje Especiales (08)

6. Tatuaje Unicos (08)

7. Tatuaje Reserva SJ 21

8. Tatuaje Cojonu 2003

9. Tatuaje Cojonu 2006

10. Tatuaje Havana VI Noella

11. Tatuaje Havana VI Angeles

12. Tatuaje Havanna VI Verocu #9

Rocky Patel:

1-3. Decade Toro

4. Decade Torpedo

5. Decade Lonsdale

6. Edge Corojo

7. Edge Maduro

8. Edge Sumatra Toro

9. Edge Sumatra Torpedo

10. Vintage '92 Petit Corona

Oliva:

1. NUB Cameroon

2. Master Blend III Torpedo

3. V Maduro Torpedo

4. V Torpedo

5-6. V Lancero

7. G perfecto

8. G torpedo Maduro

9. O torpedo Maduro

CAO:

1. Mx2 Robusot

2. Soprano's Boss

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami Elegante

Illusione:

1. HL

2. CG:4

La Aurora Preferidos Tubos:

Emerald- Ecuadorian Wrapper

Gold- Corojo Wrapper

Ruby- Brazilian Sun Grown Wrapper

Liga Pravada #9 Robusto

MISC

Habanos

2009-04-05T17:21:00.001-04:00

32 CCs total (all thanks to the wonderful members of CA Forums)

Romeo and Juleta

1. Coronitas en Credo

2. Short Churchill

H. Upmann:

1. Majestic

2. Regalias

Hoyo de Monterrey:

1. Petit Robusto

2. Churchill ('99)

Ramon Allones:

1-6. Specially Selected (JAN 08)

7. Small Club Corona (08)

El Rey del Mundo:

1. Choix Supreme (Jun 08)

Juan Lopez:

1. Seleccion No.2 (08)

Saint Luis Rey:

1. Serie A ('00)

Montecristo:

1. A (1999)

2. Especial #2 (JUN 05)

3. Edmundo (OCT 05)

4-5. #2 (#4 JUL 05 )

Vegas Robaina:

1-2. Classicos (#1 - 1999)

3. Unicos (FEB 06)

Partagas:

1. Aristocrat

2. Serie P #2 (JUN 06)

3. Coronas Junior

Bolivar:

1. Belicoso Finos (2004)

2. Royal Corona (FEB 06)

3. Petit Corona

Punch:

1-2 Punch Punch (#2 JUL 05)

High End NCs

2009-04-05T17:02:00.001-04:00

Top:

1. 3-FF Opus X Perfexcion A's

Left to Right:

1. 3- FF Opus X #2

2. FF Opus X #4

3. FF Opus X Super Belicoso

4. FF Opus X Scorpio 2005

5. FF Opus X Double Corona

Padrons:

1. PAM 1964 Superior

2. PAM 1964 Principe

3-4 PAM 80th Anniversery (yes I know the 2nd looks a bit light but its a maduro)

5. PAM 40th Anniversery

Don Carlos'

1. Don Carlos Edicion de Anniversero 2007 Double Robusto

2. Prometheus God of Fire Don Carlos Blend Robusto Coffin 2005

2 Arturo Fuente Anejo #77 Shark

The Tools of the Trade

2009-04-05T15:35:00.000-04:00

My Cutters:

1. Cheap scissor style Double Guillotine

2. Cheap Double Guillotine from my B&M

3. Xikar XI Titanium

4. Palio Black

Lighters:

1-2. Ronson Jetlites

3: BIC (my only soft flame)

4. Colibri POS (first lighter)

5. Blazer PB-207 Clear

Humidor:

1. El Diablo 300ct from CI