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

Taboo Twist

Size: 6x58 Toro
wrapper: Connecticut Shade and Maduro
Binder: ? No Info
Filler: ? No Info
Body: Medium
Strength: Mild-Medium
Humidor Time: 4 Months

This is a hefty cigar and probably one of the most beautiful barber pole cigars I have seen to date. The colors of the Connecticut shade and maduro wrappers are such a sharp difference that one cannot help but notice the beautiful workmanship. The construction is pratically flawless. The smell of tobacco lofting from this cigar is intoxicating, the smell of maduro is prominent. I am anticipating the oportunity to enjoy a cigar that others have enjoyed so much.

As I moistened the cap, the very top of the cigar came loose, which is a Connecticut circle used to cap off the cigar, it was not a big deal as the top was removed completely when clipped. This was easy to cut and light, the foot lit up without hesitation, this was a bit of a surprise as larger ring gauges typically take a few extra passes with the match to light.

The start was peppery with a finish that tasted of burnt paper. Within a couple of puffs the pepper started to subside and a creaminess is being created. As the pepper faded away, I got a distinct soapy taste and the finish was acrid. I am still working through the first quarter of the cigar, this has a lot of potential that will probably even this out.

The aroma from this cigar reminds me of a maduro Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur, the acrid touch I am getting is reminiscent of an Arturo Fuente cigar. As I reach the body of the cigar I am picking up a buttery texture and flavor. This is not that bad.

Now that I am into the body of the cigar I notice that the lighter wrapper is burning faster than the maduro. The burn is off, with the maduro burning even and the Connecticut burning rocky, but I have come to expect that from barber pole cigars. The flavor is powdery and perfumy, that burnt paper taste still remains, but the acrid touch fades in and out. This is really not agreeing with my taste buds.

The ash is dark and solid, holding firm as to not drop until I tap in on the ashtray. As I am reaching halfway into the cigar, the burn is starting to even out.

The acrid flavor will not go away, I getting hints of flavor that want to emerge, but I cannot get past this acrid taste. There is a sweet almond touch I can pick out and some cocoa, but I am getting so much of a burnt rubber that I am having trouble concentrating on the good flavors. There is a creamy aftertaste and the smoke is buttery smooth. Unfortunately as I am getting through the center of the cigar the burn is turning choppy again.

Still a bit soapy with an acrid finish and a creamy aftertaste. I am trying to enjoy this, but I cannot finish this cigar, with about 3 inches left I let it go out. What a disappointment. Well, you win some and you lose some, that is an important aspect of this hobby that I respect. I would have a hard time recommending this cigar to those that do not like Arturo Fuente's, these seemed too similar for me and just did not suit what I enjoy.

Appearance 2- Beautiful
Construction 3- Solid
Burn 1.5- Took a while to burn straight, then picked up a vein and burned uneven again
Ash 2.5- Really held on well
Flavor 0.5 - Had potential but I could not find it
Smoke Profile 2- Smooth Easy and Nice
Aroma 2 - Enjoyable, this is not overpowering, nice and mellow



=13.5 Points

Punch Gran Puro - Sierra

Size: 6.5 x 48 Sierra (Toro)
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras
Body: Medium- Full
Strength: Medium-Full
Humidor time: 3 Months

This firm cigar is covered with a veiny wrapper and has a good draw. From what I have had with Punch cigars, quality seems to be good every time. I noticed from the start that this cigar was made of quality. This cigar started off with a lot of pepper encompassing the coffee and almond flavors. These flavors were enjoyable.

The gray ash was solid dropping when I wanted it to. The burn was even and stayed so burning the duration of the smoke. Once into the body of the cigar the coffee and almonds were abundant when I picked up a bitter flavor with a sweetness in it like truffles. I think I am tasting truffles recently because we have been getting a lot of them at work from our clients. There was a lot of smoke that was chewy and smooth. The aroma was of a floral fragrant that was pleasing to those around me.

I have been told that these are powerful cigars in both strength and body. I was told that it carries an abundance of spice and pepper. I am am thinking that the reason others find these strong is due to being smoked fresh from the box. I did not rest this one for very long, three months is not a lot but if I were to have waited, I am sure these would smooth out even more. The price is right on these too, on sale one could pick these up for just under $3 a stick, otherwise they are under $5 a piece.

I can recommend these cigars to about anyone, but there is something about this cigar which keeps me from returning to them. The smell left on the skin, it is quite putrid, it smells like something the ashtray threw up. You have been warned.

Appearance 2-I Liked It
Construction 2- Good
Burn 2- Perfect
Ash 2- Wow
Flavor 3- Great smoke, lots of flavor
Smoke Profile 2- Perfect, no harsh spots at all, smooth and nice
Aroma 1.5- Enjoyable fragrance, but stinks up the skin

=14.5 Points

Te-Amo - Anniversary Vintage '99

Size: 6x50 Toro
Wrapper: Mexico
Binder: Mexico
Filler: Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua
Body: Medium
Strength: Mild


These are good looking cigars, the wrapper is dark and even. The Vintage '99 is different then standard Te-Amo cigars, they are not a Mexican puro that Te-Amo normally produce. I have not had a regular Te-Amo, I guess that would be good to compare this Vintage '99 to the regular Mexican puro, either way I smoked this one anyway. I had this in my humidor for 3 weeks, just enough time to adjust to the surrounding climate before being put to the test.



The cigar was not all that firm, it was soft, when I gave the cigar a squeeze, it lacked some life. The wrapper had some spice to it's tobacco flavor and the draw was extremely loose. Lighting was easy, the soft tobacco did not argue and performed quickly.



This cigar did not impress me one bit. The flavors were basic tobacco. The smoke was a bit harsh, it got in the way of enjoying the smoke. When I would try to run through flavor to pick up the nuttiness and coffee that most cigars taste of, I would be bothered by the roughness in the smoke's texture.



The ash was gray and held to the cigar, the burn though was uneven through the whole smoke. One side would burn a little faster then the other, not wanting to cooperate. The flavors would vanish quickly and I would be left with a cotton-mouth flavor and texture. I was disappointed in the cigar. There is no need for me to recommend this cigar, there are far better cigars with vintage tobacco in them that taste and perform far better then these. The price was average, so one could easily get a better cigar for the same price.



Appearance 2- I Liked It
Construction 1- Could be Better
Burn 0- Is It Burning? With friends I laugh, in public I am embarrassed
Ash 1- Holds okay but falls easily
Flavor 1- The perfect "yard gar"
Smoke Profile 1- Smokeable, maybe a harsh spot or two, chalky
Aroma 2- Nice and not overpowering, Aromatic, enjoyable fragrance
=8 Points