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| Volume 3 Number 1 | January, 1998 |
Every time I walk into a cigar store anymore the topic of conversations seems to always turn to one issue: How all these "damn new cigar smokers are ruining our enjoyment." Some old timers assert that all of these new smokers are nothing but "Cigar Wanna-be's" who have only started smoking cigars because it is currently fashionable. As a result, the newbies have ruined their chosen passion with shortages and outrageous prices. What amazes me is that the many cigar rookies just sit there and take this abuse - frozen like a deer caught in headlights.
So what if a guy is in his early twenties and starts trying cigars because he saw a Cigar Aficionado cover? I mean isn't that how we all started figuratively - for example I began down my path to cigar enlightenment at the age of 19 by wanting to emulate a crusty old Senior Chief in the Navy. I didn't know a damn thing when I smoked my first cigar, but was quick to learn that I loved it. For the first couple of years I bit the ends off more el cheapo bundles than you can imagine, hell I use to keep my cigars in an ammo can with a salt paste to regulate the humidity at a damp 75%.
My attitude is "hey, welcome aboard." Sure the price hikes have hurt, but that is already beginning to change. And even with the flood of lousy new brands, there have been some really great smokes developed as a result of this recent boom. Honduran Saint Luis Rey, larger Don Carlos smokes, Habana Vegas Robainas, etc. etc. Plus there is a burgeoning number of new places in which I can enjoy a meal and a smoke afterwards without the continual barrage of grief. Naw, folks the boom has been good to us cigar smokers by providing us more choices of smokes, detailed and informative literature to read, numerous new tobacconists to visit, and so on. If anything, all the "newbies" have really helped to kick into a high gear an industry that was fading fast, and we all are reaping the benefits. Anyone that frequented cigar stores pre-1990 knows exactly what I am talking about - there was a malaise of demise within many segments of the industry, and I take great joy in seeing what a robust growth it has enjoyed over the last few years. The new blood has really invigorated this business and I for one, am thankful that so many people are discovering the joys of a good smoke.
This month's MOTT tasters were:
- David Hilburn
- Ed Sullivan
- Bernie Torvik
All three tasters took their taste testing duties seriously, and put considerable effort into their reviews. At first I thought they just wanted to see me have to work harder, but the truth is they did a bang-up job for us. I thank them for their efforts on our behalf.
These are written by each taster to give you a quick insight to their likes and dislikes.David Hilburn
"Began smoking cigars in the early 80's at Baylor University, discovering "real" cigars in the process. Cigars have become a regular part of my life at monthly "B.H. Carroll Parties," named after the founder of the world's largest Baptist seminary and a cigar smoker himself. His portrait in the seminary rotunda originally had a cigar, but fundamentalists blacked it out some years after it was painted. During law school, cigars were part of weekly study groups and I also used them to relax after a long day or night of studying. I prefer medium strength cigars, especially Puros Indios (I have never experienced the tight draw problem), LGC Churchills, ERH, ERDM, and Padron and Padron Anniversarios. I will try almost any cigar from Honduras (thanks Lew) and now that Nicaragua has gotten more consistent, I find myself trying more of those. I average 10-20 cigars per week, depending on the circumstances, and I prefer naturals and EMS to maduro."
Ed Sullivan
"When I quit smoking cigarettes about 6 years ago, I began smoking cigars occasionally. About 2 years ago, I started smoking cigars more frequently. When I discovered ASC a year and a half ago, cigar smoking became an obsession. My current favorite cigars are the LGC Churchill with a Maduro wrapper and the Fuente Don Carlos Presidente. Other recurring smokes include Padron (especially Anniversarios), El Credito Small Churchills, Fuente Hemingways, J.R. Ultimates, Punch/HdM Rothchilds, Maduro Conquistadors and El Rico Habanos."
Bernie Torvik
"I generally prefer a full bodied smoke. I normally smoke two cigars a day. I enjoy many "island" smokes, El Rico Habana, La Gloria Cubanas, Saint Luis Rey, Padron, Puros Indios, V. Centennial, the "every ugly" Henry Clay and others. I've smoked cigars for about 10 years but only got into true premium cigars about 4 years ago. I've met alot of nice people and made some good friends through the internet, cigar crawls, etc. I find cigar smoking to be a pleasurable relaxing experience and a great hobby to boot. Thanks for allowing me to participate in the 'MOTT'."
The five cigars each of them blind taste tested for us were:
All of the particulars were rated within a simplified "check the appropriate box" type scheme, and each taster was encouraged to make personal comments. The comment section is typed just as it was written, with typos and errors, so that it is verbatim for everyone's review.
And finally on to the taste test!
made in: Miami, FL
size : 5 x 50
wrapper: USA/Conn Shade
filler : DR, Honduran, & Nicaraguan
binder : Ecuador
price : $5.00
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx David said - Beautiful colorado wrapper. Wrapper was a little loose about halfway up this robusto. No veins to speak of. Small blemish on the wrapper. Ed said - Medium brown, smooth wrapper. Extensive network of small veins. Kind of bland looking wrapper. Bernie said - Nice dark wrapper, very little veining, and flaws or blemishes in wrapper, cap blended well.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : xx ------ xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx David said - Firmly packed, but wrapper was unraveling somewhat. Cap was a little skimpy - good thing I used my 44 magnum cutter. Ed said - Well constructed, firm cigar in about a robusto size. Bernie said - Nice solid feel, well rolled-fairly tightly packed, nice "spongy" touch, pronounced ligero center after smoking awhile.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled David : xx Ed : Bernie:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: [no comment]
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged David : xx ----- xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: [no comment]
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Taste = David said - Milder than I expected, slight peppery flavor. Taste was somewhat one dimensional. Light finish with no aftertaste. Ed said - Immediately after lighting, the cigar tasted distinctly Mexican. However, the taste quickly changed from a ragged San Andreas tobacco taste to a smoother, more complex flavor. The cigar remained earthy tasting with lots of tongue tingling smoke. Bernie said - Mild to medium strength early, yet had a little bite to the aftertaste, gained in strength towards the end - the last third was actually quite powerful.
Overall Impression = David said - Slightly tight draw that loosened halfway through. Good morning cigar, but I generally prefer a little stronger smoke. Ed said - This cigar tasted a lot like a Conquistador. I would likely prefer it with a maduro wrapper. Bernie said - Good volume of smoke, quite smooth, although it left a somewhat "hot" aftertaste - reminded me somewhat of a Fuente and/or Hoyo Epicure tastewise, finished very well! Very interesting cigar.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.) David said - yes Ed said - yes Bernie said - yesSCALE ============= YOWZA!!! Great Smoke Good Cigar <--- David, Ed, & Bernie Decent/Worthy Ho-Hum Blah... Dog Rocket! Editor's 2 Cents - The La Tradicion Robusto Natural was introduced in early 1996 by Nick Perdomo of Nick's Cigars in Little Havana, Miami, USA. Originally all of his cigars were made in Florida, but due to the high labor cost most of the cigar rolling is now done in their own family run factory in Nicaragua under the watchful eye of Nick's father, Senor Perdomo. These are a well rolled robusto with a very smooth capa which has a nice feel in your hand. The construction is consistently sound with a good draw and an even burn. It begins mild, and builds steadily in strength as you smoke. This cigar produces a thick dense smoke with the distinct flavor of cedar. Also, I find the sweet mouthwatering flavor of the Nicaraguan tobacco really asserts itself in this cigar, but none of the tasters noted it. My only complaint regarding this cigar is that sometimes the ash tends to scale and flake, but considering the tantalizing finish this stick delivers I can endure this minor inconvenience. I agree wholeheartedly with our tasters final assessment: this is a good tasting medium-bodied smoke well worth your sampling. FYI, this same cigar was rated in Cigar Insider with a high scoring 88, but in Cigar Aficionado the exact same smoke only garnered a paltry 78. Personally I find this ten point spread absurd, under no circumstance has any La Tradicion that I have smoked deserved such an anemic score.Back to Top
made in: Miami, FL & Villa Gonzales, DR
size : 6 1/4 x 46
wrapper: Equador
filler : Nicaragua
binder : DR & Nicaragua
price : $4.00
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx David said - A beautiful cigar...almost a shame to burn it. Nice round cap large enough to be clipped without unraveling. Nice wrapper - beautiful rich cocoa color. Ed said - This lonsdale sized cigar had a medium brown wrapper with a multitude of tiny, unobtrusive veins. The wrapper had a slightly oily sheen. Bernie said - Nice general appearance, pretty much a standard brown wrapper - medium color, no blemishes or blatant imperfections.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : [no comment] Ed : xx Bernie: xx David said - Appearance and construction reminds me of a Fuente or a Cuban - very little to find anything to complain about. Firm cigar with no soft spots. Ed said - This cigar was very firm and evenly packed. The cap was slightly uneven, but I was able to cut it without incident. Bernie said - Again, pretty standard fare, medium roll - not real tight or loose - burned very well, good solid ash, didn't have to relight.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled David : Ed : [none reported by any taster] Bernie:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white David : xx Ed : xx -------- xx Bernie: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Taste = David said - Nice flavor that started mild, then grew more full-bodied. Vegetal? I don't know what it means. Some grassy flavors. Cigar got spicier with each puff. Ed said - This cigar was mild with subtle cedar notes. The taste was straightforward with little depth. There was some spice to the smoke that prevented the cigar from being bland. Bernie said - Medium body and flavor, good volume of smoke, no particular nuances, pretty straightforward cigar.
Overall Impression = David said - I really, really like this cigar. It looks good and smokes very well. Ed said - The cigar was too mild for my tastes. Someone who enjoys fairly mild Dominicans might like this cigar. Bernie said - Nice smoke, smooth, nice draw, good quality smoke, but no real distinguishing characteristics - last 1/3 finished strong!
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.) David said - yes Ed said - no Bernie said - yesSCALE ============= YOWZA!!! Great Smoke <--- David Good Cigar <--- Bernie Decent/Worthy Ho-Hum <--- Ed Blah... Dog Rocket! Editor's 2 Cents - Bigger than a lonsdale, but not quite a churchill, the La Gloria Cubana Extra Natural is a nice size cigar that fills a niche. It remains elegant in appearance, but is thick enough to deliver a full flavored smoking experience. These cigars are typically overshadowed by the popularity of other El Credito made LGCs like the Torpedo No. 1, Churchill, and the Wavell. The cigars used in this taste test were 5+ years old, and all of their youthful edges were long lost. The wrapper was smooth and a slight oil made them look scrumptious. I expected these pre-boom cigars to be a homerun with all the tasters, but it wasn't. Ed found it rather dull and Bernie acknowledged it was good, but not that good. Only David found it to be a great smoke. Honestly, I thought they were an excellent smoke, with delicate flavors of chocolate and cedar intertwined on a solid core of subdued spice. Given their age though, they were far subtler than those freshly rolled, thereby making them a difficult cigar to blind taste test. You really need a clean acute palate to have picked up the pluses of this well aged cigar.
made in: Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras
size : 5 x 52
wrapper: Equador
filler : Honduras
binder : Honduras
price : $7.00
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx ------ xx David said - A rough looking little cigar - very dark. Lot of veins in the wrapper, but none of them were very large. Not very pretty, but it does look intriguing. Ed said - This cigar had a dark maduro wrapper. It was somewhat splotched with darker, Oscuro patches. There were a lot of veins, but they were predominantly small in size. Bernie said - Very dark wrapper - double maduro/oscuro - smooth & oily, very tightly packed - very imposing looking cigar - will the flavor live up to the appearance - reminds me of a Lars Tetan.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx David said - Would have received a better rating, but the taper towards the cap was a little crooked and the wrapper was unraveling near the cap. Very tightly packed. Ed said - This was a small pyramid-like shape. I say pyramid-like because the cigar was quite misshapen. One side was sharply angled to the cap while the other side went straight back to the cap. This cigar looks like it wanted to be a Petrus Antonius, but failed on both appearance and construction. Bernie said - Well put together - sort of an "elegant" Henry Clay if that's not an oxymoron.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled David : Ed : xx Bernie:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx -------- xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid David : [no comment] Ed : xx ----- xx Bernie: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub David : [no comment] Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful David : xx --- xx Ed : xx ---- xx Bernie: xx ---- xx
Taste = David said - Initially the taste took me back to the days of my youth when I used to smoke grapevine or other crap. Very one dimensional. Ed said - This cigar was not subtle. It had one note, strong taste that remained fairly consistent throughout the smoke. This cigar might improve with aging. Bernie said - Definitely some herbal/spice nuances, smooth with a fairly easy draw - flavor much tamer than the imposing dark appearance of the wrapper, but interesting.
Overall Impression = David said - Hate to be too hard because tastes may vary, but I did not like this one. Very flat taste. Ed said - If this cigar is in the $3 price range, I would recommend it as a lawn mowing/outdoor cigar for those that like strong tasting Honduran smokes. Bernie said - Interesting smoke, complex flavors - reminds me of Lars Tetan, but herbal characteristics are more subtle and subdued than the ones I tried - it gained strength final 1/3 - burn similar to "island" smokes - very interesting ash - mixture of colors from light to very dark grey.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.) David said - no Ed said - yes (if $3 range) Bernie said - yesSCALE ============= YOWZA!!! Great Smoke Good Cigar <--- Bernie Decent/Worthy <--- Ed Ho-Hum Blah... <--- David Dog Rocket! Editor's 2 Cents - The Petrus Antonius Maduro is a unique shaped short torpedo with a wrapper that is as dark as a moonless night. It is a pretty intimidating looking smoke with a very earthy (read: barnyard) pre-light bouquet. The common tendency to burn unvenly makes the construction of this cigar suspect. Once this figurado gets going it has only one flavor: harsh. The 'blend lacks complexity and character relying on only its strength to satisfy the smoker. I agree with David on this cigar except that "Blah..." is too generous in my opinion. Our other two tasters found worth in this torpedo; Bernie actually enjoyed it. Different smokes for different folks, and with this in mind all I can do is suggest you try it for yourself - just don't say I didn't warn you.
made in: Havana, Cuba
size : 6 1/8 x 52 torpedo
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $16.00
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx David said - Gorgeous pyramid/torpedo, no veins in the wrapper, but there were 2 small tears in the wrapper at the foot. Ed said - This was a very good looking cigar, with a claro wrapper and sparse, small veins. I smoked this one first, mostly because it was the best looking of the five. Bernie said - Very similar in size and appearance to a M.C. #2 (wrapper slightly lighter). It even had a couple of small green water marks characteristic of Cubans.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : xx --- xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx ------ xx David said - A little square (box-pressed). Soft spot beneath the band. Ed said - The construction was excellent. I'm a sucker for box-pressed cigars, especially a pyramid. Very consistent, firm, well rolled cigar. Bernie said - Nicely rolled - good feel.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled David : xx -------- xx Ed : Bernie:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white David : xx Ed : xx --------- xx Bernie: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid David : xx Ed : xx ------- xx Bernie: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful David : xx ---- xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Taste = David said - Mouth got watery before lighting it, and the flavor did not let me down. Peppery smoke with lots of spice. Flavor got a little harsh at the end due to concentration of tars. Ed said - This is a rich full-bodied, Cuban tasting cigar. It started off with a definite bite, but smoothed and mellowed nicely. It had a woody taste with hint of cedar. The last third had a subtle, nutty taste. Bernie said - Great full bodied flavor with lots of sassy spice taste - heavenly! Finished with a real kick - worthy of a Bolivar.
Overall Impression = David said - Little white specks in the wrapper's ash, tunneling during last half of smoke, which took some of the joy out of this cigar. Last third of cigar was not pleasant - too bitter. Ed said - Although I smoked it at 7:00 AM, this cigar would be best suited as an after dinner smoke. It would stand up well to an after dinner cognac or espresso. Bernie said - Tasted like a cross between a MC & a Bolivar. I hope this is a legal smoke. I will be sure to buy a box or two.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.) David said - yes Ed said - yes Bernie said - yesSCALE ============= YOWZA!!! <--- Bernie Great Smoke <--- Ed Good Cigar Decent/Worthy <--- David Ho-Hum Blah... Dog Rocket! Editor's 2 Cents - This new line of Cuban cigars was introduced in Spain during the Spring of 1997. The Vegas Robaina selection is named in honor of Alejandro Robaina, an infamous tobacco grower in Cuba's fertile Vuelta Abajo region. He is noted for bringing in huge harvests of the finest capa which is utilized on many of the benchmark Cuban cigars. The packaging even immortalizes him with an excellent pen and ink drawing of him standing amidst his fields of tobacco. I love the artwork and name, but I am genuinely surprised that Habanos SA would give such credit to a single individual - it seems so un-communist! The Habana Vegas Robaina Unicos is an impeccably crafted box pressed Cuban torpedo. It features wrapper leaves from Senor Robaina's own vega, and is rolled at the Jose Marti factory which is noted for rolling the finest torpedoes in Cuba. Now with all of that said, how does it taste? This is a serious connoisseurs cigar with strong tastes of coffee, wood, and spice. The smoke is lush with a peppery edge that can pack a serious wallop, particularly the finish. This cigar was definitely blended with the serious smoker in mind. The only thing holding this cigar back from being exceptional is its youth. Most on the market today are either too bitter and/or suffering through their "period of sickness" where they taste flat. After a couple of years though I expect this cigar to age into a delightful smoke. I highly recommend you buy them, and forget about them for awhile. Of course, this advise is only for non-Americans... Kudos to Bernie and Ed for ID'ing the origin of these torps.
made in: Danli, Honduras
size : 7 x 50
wrapper: Honduras
filler : Mexico
binder : Honduras
price : $3.75
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : xx Ed : xx --- xx Bernie: xx David said - Looks like an El Rico Habana to me - not very pretty. A couple of large veins in the wrapper and a few water spots. Rich dark color is not uniform. Ed said - This cigar had an appealing looking reddish brown Colorado wrapper. There were a couple of lighter spots on the wrapper and a large vein running around the cigar. Bernie said - Very dark, oily wrapper, uneven cap line, rugged appearance.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect David : xx Ed : xx --- xx Bernie: xx David said - Can't grade it any higher due to the veins in the wrapper. Slightly out of round. Compared to #2, this cigar has a way to go appearance and construction wise. Ed said - This Churchill sized cigar had a couple of soft spots - one at the cap and another near the foot of the cigar. The wrapper was also somewhat loosely applied near the middle of the cigar. Bernie said - Fairly pronounced veins, flecks of light tobacco.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: [no comment]
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled David : xx Ed : xx Bernie:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged David : xx Ed : xx ----- xx Bernie: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: [no comment]
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful David : xx Ed : xx Bernie: xx ---- xx
Taste = David said - Full-bodied smoke with a lot of spice. Good thing I was sitting down for the second half of this cigar... a lot of pop. Went well with a glass of Booker's neat. Gum used to seal the cap was sweet and atypical. Ed said - Prior to lighting the cigar I noticed a distinctly sweet taste to the cigar. It seemed almost too sweet to be just the wrapper itself. Upon lighting, the cigar had a floral taste to it, almost perfumed. The smoke became somewhat bitter about 2/3 of the way through. Bernie said - Relatively mild taste for such an imposing looking cigar, a touch of herbal and vanilla flavors early.
Overall Impression = David said - It's a shame this cigar is so ugly and did not burn well. A little tight on the draw, but packed with flavor. Would have scored higher if not as ugly and not as tight a draw. Ed said - Not a cigar I ever need to smoke again. This cigar gave me no satisfaction. In fact as soon as I put it out, I fired up an LGC Churchill. I normally don't chain smoke churchills, but this cigar left me unfulfilled. Bernie said - Decent smoke, a little milder than I prefer, a little disappointing - appearance suggested more than the cigar delivered.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.) David said - yes Ed said - no Bernie said - yesSCALE ============= YOWZA!!! Great Smoke Good Cigar <--- David Decent/Worthy <--- Bernie Ho-Hum <--- Ed Blah... Dog Rocket! Editor's 2 Cents - The Baccarat Churchill Maduro is one of the few cigars that have endured the test of time with the American consumer. Introduced in 1978, these mild sweet stogies have legions of devoted smokers that buy by the box week in and week out. In the late eighties they almost faded out, but have been making steady gains ever since. Given the current state of the market and the plethora of new cigars that fade into nowhere within months, it seems amazing that a single brand could survive so long. The key to its success is consistency and value. For two decades this cigar has been a very mild, smooth blend with a sweet tasting wrapper that is reasonably well constructed and priced below the average cost of similar cigars on the market. The sweet taste of the head is the result of a specially sweetened vegetable gum being used to apply the cap. This is a trait that you will either really like or dislike, in my case I dislike it. As for the smoke itself, it is mild smooth blend - it is hard to believe that this is actually a Honduran cigar. My sentiments mirror Ed's, as this cigar leaves me unsatisfied and craving something more. However, this cigar is the chosen daily of many consumers and should be afforded a fair shot. Given its consistency and price, this a great cigar to buy if you find it a pleasurable smoke.
Another MOTT in the hopper! This months highlights were definitely the La Tradicion Robusto Natural and the new Cuban Vegas Robaina Unicos. As I am certain you noticed, this month's tasters were split on the other three, and my own opinions didn't always coincide with theirs. This is why even when I don't recommend a cigar I consider it important for you to sample it. The only true judge of whether a cigar is good or bad is your own palate.
The drawing for next month's MOTTley crew of tasters yielded the following names:
Congrats to you three, and your cigars are on their way!
To enter Saka's Monthly Officious Taste Test pool all you have to do is fill out the automated entry form by selecting the "become a taster" icon at the top. Your entry will be added to the pool from which I draw the names each month. Also if you haven't read the previous Monthly Officious Taste Tests then I suggest you give them a look over with a cigar in hand.
As always, thank you for your readership and I wish everyone a healthy and happy 1998!
Steven T. Saka
saka@cigarnexus.com
http://www.cigarnexus.com
©1997, 1998 Nexus InterMedia LLC. All rights reserved.
MOTT is a trademark of Nexus InterMedia LLC
