Cigar Review: Alec Bradley Tempus

Alec Bradley Tempus

I have been spending a lot of time on twitter lately and today’s suggestion comes from a regular reader of acigarsmoker.com via suggestion from the social networking platform. I was surprised to see that I had not done a review of this very hyped smoke that has scored big in magazines around the globe. The word Tempus means time which is important when creating a fine cigar.

Cigar: Alec Bradley Tempus
Origin: Honduras
Size: Nova Terra 5×50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Honduras Criollo 98
Binder: Honduras Criollo 98
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction (20/20): For me this is where a band on a cigar is important. I have been smoking these cigars before I was aware of the reviews because I was attracted to the band. It is a little big, but the gold and purple is eye catching. When we get down to the wrapper of cigar you can tell this is a high end premium cigar. The triple cap and flawless roll draw your eye to this chocolate colored wrapper that has a touch of reddish hues.  The cigar has plenty of oils and upon close inspection there is a silkiness about the wrapper. The wrapper is nearly flawless with only a minimal amount of veins.

Flavor & Notes (28/30): The criollo wrapper for me has a very distinct richness about it, and most of the time that is enjoyable. This is one of those cigars where it is enjoyable. The 1st third of the smoke features a very rich earth note with some wood and nuts in the background.  As we get to the 2nd third of the smoke I beginning to pick up some cocoa with faint spices as wood becomes the dominant note. We finish the smoke with notes of earth, spices and some nuts. I am not a huge fan of cigars that have so much earth in the flavor, but with this cigar it really works for me.

Burn/Ash/Draw (22/25): When I smoke a cigar for review I tend to smoke 2 cigars unless it is so rare I try to get away with smoking just one. In the past I never had a draw issue with the Tempus, but both smokes were a little tight on the draw. It was annoying, but I was able to get through it. The ash was a medium gray that held on tightly and I only lost the ash when I made the decision to loose it. The first third of the cigar I had a little bit of a burn issue, but a quick touch up corrected it and I was fine til the nub of this smoke.

Overall (23/25): When I geared up for this review I was asked if I felt the cigar was over-hyped. I feel it was, and the 94 that Aficionado was a little bit crazy. But when I sat down and crunched the numbers I guess they weren’t that far off after all. Despite all the hype and industry buzz this cigar is very good and it is worth keeping a few on hand

Rating: 93
Price: $9.00

Cigar Review: Padron 1926 40th Anniversary

Padron 40th

After suffering a sprain of my left foot last night I decided to drown my  pain in the Padron 1926 Serie, 40th Anniversary Natural cigar. The Padron 40th Anniversary Torpedo is part of the exclusive Padron 1926 line and is even more rare, with only 16,000 released every year. Cigar Aficionado made the Padron 40th Anniversary Torpedo the “Cigar of the Year” for 2004 and claims it, “may be the best cigar Padron has ever made.”

Cigar: Padron 1926 Serie 40th Anniversary
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 6.75 x 54 (Torpedo)
Wrapper: Nicaragua “Natural”
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction (19/20): There are two sides to this box pressed cigar. On the top and bottom the cigar is silky smooth with a few oil showing on the natural wrapper. The sides of the box press reveal a different look, one that is quite toothy with many bumps and ridges. The label features the classic look Padron 1926 Serie, with a secondary band denoting “40 Years”. The cigar has a nice weight, no soft spots, and a perfect pre-light draw.

Flavor & Notes (29/30): The prelight draw reveals notes of earth and a touch of chocolate. As we continue smoking the first third, notes of cocoa and coffee develop both of which are extremely pleasing to the palette. The second third continues to be a journey of rich cocoa and pleasing spices that are incredibly pleasing to the palette that is quickly making this one of the best cigars I have ever smoked. As we reach the final third of our journey cocoa remains with some coffee and leather notes.

Burn/Ash/Draw (24/25): The ash is medium gray in color and it reveals little magnesium pimples as well which is very common for a Padron cigar. The draw can be described with just one word, “Fantastic”. The thing that prevents this section from being perfect is the wavy burn line which I did not expect for a cigar in the price range despite it being box pressed.

Overall (22/25): The price of this smoke brings down the rating some but despite the number this is one of the best cigars I ever smoked. It is easy to see how it once won cigar of the year. While too pricey to be an every day smoke, this cigar deserves to be in your repertoire for special occasions.

Rating: 94
Price: $25.00 a stick at Cigars Direct

Cigar Review: Oliva V Lancero

Olive V Lancero

First for starters let me say, a person with shaky hands such as myself should not be taking pictures of their cigar with the camera on their phone. They need to create a digital card reader that connects to your phones USB port so I can take good pictures and upload them to the my phone.

Anyway, there is a craze going on for some time now over the lancero size of cigars. Everyone and their mother is coming out with the size. While I have not been a fan I find of the vitola I find myself buying into the hoopla and trying them more often.

Cigar: Oliva V
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 7 x 38 (Lancero)
Wrapper: Habano Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligero

Appearance & Construction (19/20): The Oliva V Lancero sports a veiny wrapper, that while showing some oils it had a little bit of a coarse feel to it. The roll was flawless, however about a 1/2 inch below the cap there was a slight patch job that did not effect how the cigar smoked. The cap was nicely done, and well centered. If not for the patch job on this particular stick I would of scored it a perfect 20.

Flavor & Notes (30/30): On the pre-light I was a little concerned about the flavors of this smoke as the notes I got were a little bit barnyard like. Thankfully once it was lit that was not the case.  The first third of the smoke was lacking in definition and I had to really concentrate to get notes of subtle pepper and wood. It wasn’t til the second third of the smoke that the cigar came alive. There were notes of pepper joined by wood notes that were very well defined. The notes reminded me of a fireplace burning somewhere in the neighborhood on a cold winter day.In my mind I had the vision that was reminiscent of a post card. A sled pulled by horses across a snow covered field while the smokestack from the homestead showed the effects of wood burning in the fireplace. It is amazing when a cigar can trigger such vivid images. The final third of the cigar the strong wood notes remained and the only trace of pepper was through the nose.

Burn/Ash/Draw (21/25): The draw was nice but at the same time it felt hollow which is typical of every lancero I’ve smoked. It plays a huge part in why I do not consider myself a fan of the vitola. The ash was very light gray bordering on white. It was however very flaky and did not hold well. The high point however is the burn as it was perfect. Almost too perfect, if that is possible.

Overall (24/25): As I stated earlier I was never a big fan of the lancero but since they are “in” I find myself trying them from time to time. Of all the lancero’s I smoked this one so far has been the most enjoyable but it is still my least favorite size. Even with that I believe this smoke could become a staple in my repertoire.

Rating: 94
Price: 8.00

Cigar Review: Winston Churchill No. 10

Winston Churchill No. 10

I found it so much easier to do cigar reviews in the summer. With the cold weather the places to smoke are limited, and my schedule has been so hectic lately that I have had to neglect the site. Excuses, excuses but it is true. Hopefully once Ashes is open I will be able to devote an hour every other day to smoking a cigar for review.

Today’s cigar comes from Davidoff of which I am a fan. However, at an AVO event the other night at Barrister cigars I was told that Davidoff likes to toy with their blends from time to time and not make the changes public. For instance the Davidoff line no longer utilizes Connecticut wrappers because they do not like to deal with General Cigar’s ownership of the tobacco plantations that supply that leaf. So they moved to an Ecuadorian wrapper instead but did not bother to inform their customers. Instead they slowly made the transition until all the lines that utilized that wrapper were changed.

Cigar: Winston Churchill No. 10
Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 5.25 x 52
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Mild

Appearance & Construction (17/20): I will admit I am not a fan of the Ecuadorian tobacco leaf. In general I find them to be thin and frail and that was evident in this cigar. There was a small split at the foot, and when I clipped the cap the cigar split some more. I know it was not user error as I keep my cigars in the best conditions possible. The cigar had some veins, but nothing major to question the quality of the leaf other than the general weakness the region offers. The cigar had a nice balanced weight, and the band was a classy red and gold.

Flavor & Notes (29/30): I find that generally speaking most Davidoff products (Avo, Winston, Davidoff, Etc) all have similar qualities in terms of the pre-light. They seem to all share a barnyard like scent of dry grass and hay. There was some cedar as well, but I will attribute that to it being without the cello in my humidor for about a year. The notes of the cigar were consistent throughout and were very pleasant to the palate. The first third of the cigar was wood with a touch of brown sugar. During the second third the notes changes places with brown sugar taking the lead and wood taking a backseat. The final third of the cigar was wood, with some spice and sweetness to it.

Burn/Ash/Draw (25/25): Despite the split at the foot, the cigar burned even throughout. The cigar offered a nice light gray ash that held very strong which was nice since wearing ash is not something I enjoy. The draw like most Davidoff products was free and easy. There was no effort required here to enjoy this smoke.

Overall (21/25): The biggest problem I have with all cigars from Davidoff is the price. They are over-priced because of the name that is known worldwide. At 15.00 American there are so many more smokes at a lower price that are equally enjoyable, but they do not carry the prestige this brand carries. I guess that is why I choose to visit this stick from time to time.

Rating: 92
Price: 15.00

Cigar Review: Cruzado

Cruzado

For me my world changed when i was introduced to cigars that were not common place in many cigar ships. Cigars by Dion Giolito fit that bill. The creator of Illusione cigars is at it again with the Cruzado cigar. This cigar was introduced at the IPCPR trade show earlier in 2008. The sizes are in the forties (ring gauges) which complement the complex flavor:

I picked up a couple of these beauties from Silo Cigars which is one of my favorite sites to order “boutique” cigars from on the Internet.

Cigar: Cruzado
Origin: Honduras
Size: 5 5/6 x 46 (Marelas Perfecto)
Wrapper: Nicaragua Criollo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua & Honduras
Strength: Medium

Appearance & Construction (20/20): At times I feel a little repetitive in this section due to the types of cigars I smoke, but this cigar was flawless. The wrapper was perfect and glistening with oils. For a small ring gauge the cigar had a nice balance and weight to it. Even the band was stunning with majestic medieval look to it of black silver & gold.  The cigar was brilliantly rolled and I felt like I was committing a crime cutting it.

Flavor & Notes (29/30): OK, this is where I question my sanity. When I clipped my cigar and began the prelight ritual I had notes of rye which caused many looks of bewilderment with the people I was with. It even prompted the question, “What did you have for breakfast”. The answer to that is an English Muffin. Anyway, the note of rye was so defined and so wow, I thought I might of been delusional. So after a few minutes of sitting there questioning myself I lit my cigar and sure enought the 1st third of the cigar offered notes of rye and chocolate which was a really nice combination.  The middle part of the cigar the notes of chocolate were joined by a subtle leather. The final third of the cigar was notes of leather and a heavy spice. As I approached the end of this cigar I was looking for  push pin to continue smoking it. I had to put it down when there was nothing left to hold.

Burn/Ash/Draw (23/25): For a cigar with a small ring gauge the burn of this cigar was really slow and it lasted quite some time. The burn line was perfect all the way around. The ash however was a bit dark for my liking and despite being a little flaky it held on well. The draw was pleasant and offered no problems.

Overall (24/25): Ladies and Gentlemen we have a new cigar in the mix for A Cigar Smokers Journal cigar of the year. This stick was amazing all the way through and it just left me floored.

Rating: 96
Price: 9.00

Cigar Review: Casa Fuente

Casa Fuente

One of my favorite things to do is take part in cigar passes from various cigar message boards. You get to try new cigars that you might not have been able to purchase in your part of the world. That is sort of how today’s cigar finds me. I missed out on getting a Casa Fuente as the person before me took it. Soo Jitzy a user on the message boards and I worked out a 5 for 5 trade of various cigars with the Fuente being the focal point. Then to top it off, the cigar was from 2005.

Casa Fuente is supposed to be only available at Case Fuente as it is the house blend. The shop is located at Caesars in Las Vegas and the cigar itself is supposed to rival the Opus X. However, if you look hard enough there are some sites on the internet that have them in stock.

The cigar blend is supposedly secret, but many people say the filler and binder is the same as the Opus X.

Cigar: Casa Fuente
Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 5.38 x 52 (Belicoso Fina)
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican Republic (Unconfirmed)
Filler: Dominican Republic (Unconfirmed)
Strength: Medium to Full

Appearance & Construction (19/20): This cigar might have to serve as my bench mark for all things belicoso. With the exception of a slight imperfection in the leaf that could have occurred in the aging process this cigar is perfect. It has a impressive weight to it, no soft spots, a gorgeous Cameroon wrapper , and one of the best formed belicoso caps that I have ever seen. I did however have to deduct one point, for said imperfection.

Flavor/Notes (30/30): The pre-light notes at the foot and the draw were a nice sweet molasses that was incredibly well defined. Upon lighting the cigar, there was some pepper notes that quickly faded and as I began the first third the notes of molasses (a nice sweetness), and nuts (perhaps nutmeg) enveloped my palate and I was in heaven smoking this cigar. The second third while the sweetness remained notes of nuts and wood (cedar) were the dominant notes. As the cigar closed all 3 notes were working together so well that I did not want to the cigar to end. It turned a day of sadness into a nice relaxing reflecting day.

Burn/Ash/Draw (25/25): This cigar had a gorgeous white ash that held extremely tight. It offered no flake to it, and I was able to work on a nice long ash each time I started one. The draw was perfect and was yet another benchmark for me in terms of belicoso cigars. The burn line was so incredibly straight that people I with even commented on it and the oils on the cigar just above the burn line. This was perfection.

Overall: (23/25): I smoked this cigar on Satuday on what would of be my fathers birthday if he was still alive. In fact when I got the cigar from Jitzy back in August I knew I would fire it up on November 15th and it  easily is the best cigar I have ever smoked. The drawback is the price and how hard it is to obtain, which forces me to drop 2 points in this section. Despite the price though, this is a smoke that should be tried at least once by any aficionado.

Rating: 97
Price: Gift, but retails for $23.00 a stick

Cigar Review: Liga Privada #9

Liga Privada #9

It has been a while since I have been able to smoke a cigar for review as allergies this year have been particularly brutal for me in the Northeast (New York to be exact). From congestion to a cough to endless sneezing it has taken a toll on me. But this past week at an event for Drew Estate I managed to pick up a couple of Liga Privada #9 cigars to review.

These cigars have been sought out by me for a long time giving them almost an Opus X appeal to them in terms of difficulty of locating them. No local shops have them in stock and to be honest it is a bit upsetting. Drew Estate has long been a cigar I stood away from. The aromatic cigars such as the Acid do not work for me, but I did admire their construction and packaging so when I found out they produced a mainstream cigar I was dying to smoke them. However making them this difficult to track down I feel prohibits Drew Estate from escaping the profile of an aromatic cigar company. Or perhaps the exclusivity will help them. I never took a marketing class but as a consumer I would want them to be more available.

Cigar: Liga Privada #9 by Drew Estate
Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 6 x 52
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua grown Cuban Seed
Strength: Full

Pre-Smoke: This my friends is one quality rolled cigar right down to the triple cap. The dark maduro wrapper has some brindle effects to it, and is virtually without veins. This is one classy looking cigar that is packed with tobacco. In your hands the cigar has a nice weight to it and is very well balanced with no soft spots to think of. I would easily classify this as one of the 10 best rolled cigars I have ever had in my posession. The prelight ritual reveals notes of coffee and nuts. I felt like I was comitting a sin cutting my cigar because it is truly a masterpiece.

Smoke: The draw of the cigar was incredible. Not to loose, and not to tough. The burn line was true and it held on to its ash very well. The cigar offered some complexity to it and it was a pleasure to identify the notes on my palate. The 1st third offered notes of coffee and nuts that were joined by some chocolate that was at times a bitter chocolate in the 2nd third. A few times I thought I noticed some fruit like notes but they did not hang around long enough to identify. The final third of the cigar offered notes of leather and espresso mixed in with some remaining chocolate notes.

Overall: This is hands down one of the best cigars I have ever smoked. It was the perfect welcome back cigar from my hiatus during allergy season. I read somewhere that this cigar is limited in production to just 85,000 and I pray that is not so. For such a cigar to disappear after a limited run would be sad to see. To sum it up this cigar is simply incredible!.

Rating: 95
Price: $10.50 Retail

[Edit: According to the local Drew Estate rep these are indeed a limited edition cigar as only the Corona Ligero leaf is used in making the cigar and until they can obtain enough wrapper to to meet demand it will remain a limited edition]