Thursday, October 23, 2008

Oliva Master Blends 1

Oliva Master Blends



Size: 7 x 50 Churchill
Wrapper: Nicaragua

Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Body: Medium-Full

Strength: Medium

Humidor Time: 5 Months


I was walking around a B&M and saw this gem, not knowing much about the cigars except that these are highly rated and on my list to buy. After I had this in my humidor for the last 5 months, I decided to do some research on this, little did I know I had grabbed a Master Blends 1, these are no longer produced and the current market is now selling the third blend. I put this in my travel box and as I contemplated smoking it, knowing these are not made and this is truly a rare cigar, I told myself that there is no point in waiting or else I will not be lighting it up.

First impression, this stands out, the band is colorful and the tattoo is awesome, check this out:


Oliva Master Blends

From what I gathered, this is laser etched on the wrapper. Would this not be cool to see as a band, nothing to remove, just smoke right through it?


The wrapper is a very nice brown colored leaf, smooth to the touch with smooth veins, only one or two small ones stand out, which happened to come from probably the binder instead of the wrapper. The cigar is firm, giving a firm draw with a pre-light flavor of cocoa and coffee.


Starting off, this cigar lit nicely giving of pepper and coffee flavors first. The smoke was thick, with a good solid texture that allows the smoker to fully enjoy the flavors emitting from the quality tobacco within. The coffee flavor increased with a woodiness making its way into the forefront of flavors. and cocoa on the finish.


As I made my way into the body of the cigar, the flavors are really strong, they are not over bearing. The ash was white, the burn was a tad rocky, with some rotating I was able to keep it from getting out of hand. Through the body of the cigar, the woody coffee flavor was rather consistent, the pepper flavors from the start quickly faded into the background. The aroma was awesome, it was like incense and filled to area with a wonderful scent.


As I was making my was through into the final half and reaching the last third of the cigar, I was given a new flavor to enjoy, licorice. The smoke became really creamy and the body picked up into the full range. This cigar was not going out without a bang, the flavors became much more pronounced, cocoa was hidden behind coffee and wood with a touch of that licorice. This cigar was just getting better as I kept smoking.


So here I was, I just finished an amazing cigar, knowing I will probably not get the chance to smoke another, but pleased to have been able to enjoy this now. I am relaxed, happy as I smoked this with friends at our local herf. It was a perfect time to light this beauty.


Recommended?
Oh Yeah!!!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Leon Jimenes

Leon Jimenes

Size: 5.5 x 50 Robusto

Wrapper: USA Conneticut Shade

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler: Dominican Republic

Body: Medium- Full

Strength: Medium

Humidor Time: 6 Months


This was gifted to me some time back and I have been a tad hesitant to light it up, not sure why, but it has been giving me attitude and I have decided it was time to smoke it. The wrapper is a nice dark brown, not what I am used to seeing in a Connecticut shade. The wrapper is rough to the touch but extremely oily. The veins are not prominent but has a similar look that maduros have. The cigar responds with a nice rebound when squeezed. The pre-light draw tasted of mild cocoa, the air traveled nicely, not too loose, just right for me.

As I set the flame to the foot of the cigar, I was given a nice creamy cocoa flavor right off the bat. The foot did take a bit longer to light than I had anticipated, but the flavor from the start easily compensated for that. With a lot of thick smoke billowing out, the texture was creamy and smooth.


The ash held strong, the burn on the other hand was a bit rocky, I did not have to touch it up, but a good amount of rotating was needed to keep it from burning uneven.


As I was moving further into the body I was picking up a citrus flavor that mingled rather well with the cocoa flavors, this was enjoyable. The finish was nutty with a sweet aftertaste.


Every now and then I would get a light touch of pepper, I notice this would happen as I smoked too fast and heated up the cigar, so I backed off and the pepper would slip away and allow the cocoa citrus to remain the main flavors I tasted.


With only an inch left, I let this cigar rest in the ashtray and prove to me that this was no ordinary smoke, it was one that needs to be respected for the quality that it is. I was pleasently surprised and now want to make sure I have a few more of these on hand.


Recommended?
Absolutely!!!

5 Vegas Cask-Strength

5 Vegas Cask-Strength



Size: 5.75 X 54 Toro
Wrapper: Cuban Seed Dominican
Binder: Dominican Corojo
Filler: Brazilian ('99), Piloto Cubano ('99), Nicaraguan('99)
Body: Med-Full
Strength: Medium
Humidor Time: 2 Months


After seeing these when they first came out I have been wanting to get my hands on them. These are 5 Vegas fullest cigar. The tobaccos were harvested in 1999, so what is to be expected is a good smooth solid smoking cigar, right?

Right from the start this is a beautiful cigar, a nice brown wrapper that is smooth with a light showing of veins. This cigar is rather heavy for it's size and solid, very little give when squeezed. The draw is surprisingly loose allowing air to freely draw through. The pre-light draw gives off strong tobacco and cedar flavors. the cut was with ease and the foot toasted up quickly.

My first taste was a woody pepper start, not to be confused with a spice, but nice pepper flavor. The smoke was thick and abundant, the loose draw really produces a lot. As I made my way into the body of the cigar I was given a strong robust coffee flavor with a creamy aftertaste, the pepper is still there but not on the front of the flavors.

The ash is gray and solid only falling when tapped off, the burn is perfect.

The body is turning out a lot of woody flavor, like the cedar I noticed in the pre-light taste. It is light in the woody department, but strong in the coffee. Every now and again I do get a slight cocoa touch. Throughout the cigar I do taste a lot of that coffee with a pepper background.

Reaching the final third of the cigar it was getting rather hot. The pepper was picking up and the coffee was becoming a hit and miss. I decided now would be a good time to let this one go out.

I probably should have let this cigar sit in my humidor for a longer time before smoking it. With such old tobacco together, I did expect a better cigar, this was not bad at all, but did not seem to have enough time to rest. As nice as it is to know that 9 year old tobacco was used for this blend, it would have been far better, I think, if the cigar was rolled 9 years ago and sat for the time to allow the leafs to marry the flavors together.

Recommended? Yes

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Ratings and Point System

I have decided to do away with my point system for now. It seems like a hassle. When I read a review I get the idea of what to expect from the cigar, so what I will do is add whether I recommend the cigar, or not, after my review.

Peterson- Gran Reserva

Peterson Gran Reserva

Size: 6.125 x 52 Belicoso
Wrapper: Cameroon

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran

Body: Full

Strength: Medium

Humidor Time: 3 Months


This toothy cigar comes from Peterson, a well know tobacco company; in the pipe world. They have made a cigar that looks well presented and smells of good quality tobacco. The wrapper is rough in touch, but elegant in appearance, very few veins, just smooth to look at.


As I have stated before, I am not a Cameroon guy, so this will be interesting for me. The draw is very loose, having read this is full body I will be smoking this a bit slower than usual. This lights up easily and I am given a good amount of thick smoke with a lot of flavor.


From the beginning the smoke is smooth with a nice earthy flavor followed by a sweet finish. This is an interesting cigar as I get a flavor that I cannot quite place. The aroma is quite pleasant; the cigar is burning really well and producing a lot of smoke. The smoke is creamy with a butter texture.


The ash is gray and does not hold much at all, it drops easily from the end of the cigar. The burn is even and unfortunately faster than I would prefer, though not heating up the cigar.


Halfway into the cigar I finally was able to pin point that odd flavor, it is vanilla. For some reason, I am not surprised and it reminds me of pipe tobacco again. That is a recurring thought that keeps coming to mind as I smoke this cigar. As good as it is, it tastes like it is made of pipe tobacco. This becomes a monotonous flavor after a while.


I ended up putting this down with about 2 inches left; the flavor just became boring to me. I kept wondering if there was a leaf in the cigar that was treated like Cavendish.
I wanted to be smoking a cigar, not a pipe.

Recommended?
Yes, but remember that this is a pipe company’s cigar.



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