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Avo
Domaine Avo <10>
made in: Santiago, Dominican Republic
size : 5 1/8 x 50
wrapper: USA/Conn
filler : Dominican Republic
binder : Dominican Republic
price : $6.85
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - Fairly flat natural wrapper with fine veins.
Kelly said - Minor discoloration of the wrapper. Could see the
roughness of the binder or filler through the
wrapper.
Bruce said - A little veiny, but an attractive cigar.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx --- xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - Very solidly put together. Barely noticeable
seams. Nice density for its size.
Kelly said - Generally firm with a couple of pronounced soft
spots. Two very large veins/stems running through
the binder. Very noticeable to both sight and
touch.
Bruce said - Well made cigar. Excellent cap, perfect foot.
The ash remained intact * way down the cigar.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Alan : xx
Kelly:
Bruce:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx -------- xx
Bruce: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Alan : xx ---- xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Taste =
Alan said - Solid core of earthiness and spice. Got quite
potent towards the end.
Kelly said - Creamy texture with a good volume of smoke. Medium
finish. Flavor stayed mild the entire length of
the cigar didn't build at all. The cigar stayed
"cool" with no harshness.
Bruce said - Pepper to start, then smoothes out to a slightly
sweet/honey taste. Appears to be Dominican in
origin. Slight grassiness detected mid 1/3rd. Too
mild for my taste, but would make a good
"breakfast smoke."
Overall Impression =
Alan said - Good smoke, a little too strong for me, but I
would certainly recommend it.
Kelly said - Mild smoke a little lacking in complexity and
flavor.
Bruce said - Good mild morning smoke. Although it's been awhile
since I've smoked a Davidoff Special R, this cigar
reminds me of one.
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.)
Alan said - yes
Kelly said - yes
Bruce said - yes
Avo
Domaine Avo <10>
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke
Good Cigar <--- Alan & Bruce
Decent/Worthy <--- Kelly
Ho-Hum
Blah...
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - The Avo brand was launched in 1988
by Tabacos Dominicana SA, commonly called "Tabadom"
- the name of their first factory where the Davidoffs are rolled.
The Avo line is actually made in their second factory, Villa
Gonzalez, along with other brands such as Paul Gamirians, Griffin's,
and Troya. The blend was created by and is named for the very
gracious and elegant pianist, Avo Uvezian.
The Avo Domaine Avo <10> was created in celebration
of the brand's tenth anniversary and sports a beautiful purple
and silver ring. This new cigar is meant to offer the smoker
a richer fuller taste than the original blend. It is a nice looking
robusto with a toothy wrapper and an excellent pre-light bouquet.
Easy drawing and producing large volumes of smoke, this cigar
offers a lot of flavor on the palate. It begins with tastes of
white pepper followed by nuances of oak and sweet herbal tastes
taking center stage. Burning cool and even, it leaves a solid
white ash. It also has a slight leathery character that really
sets it apart from the original blend. Kudos to Bruce for drawing
the tasting parallel to its sister brand.
Although fuller in flavor, it still retains the mild-medium
strength that is traditional for the brand. I have smoked a few
that have tended to be grassy, but I have dismissed this to their
youth. Currently this cigar is offered only in a long robusto
shape, but the intent is to expand the line to include seven
different vitolas. Although this cigar may disappoint some smokers
desiring more strength, I regard the Avo Domaine Avo <10>
as a very good cigar and highly recommend it to those who enjoy
any of the brands with Tabadom's pedigree.
Monte
Carlo Churchill
made in: Danli, Honduras
size : 7 x 48
wrapper: Honduras
filler : Honduras
binder : Honduras
price : $3.10
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx --- xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - Gorgeous, glistening wrapper with no detectable
flaws.
Kelly said - Nice chocolate brown wrapper. Fairly even in
color. There was some "spotting" on the wrapper.
Bruce said - Dark brown wrapper is dull, not visually
appealing.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - No soft spots, very cool smoking.
Kelly said - Some softness at the foot. Several stems/veins
protruding through the wrapper.
Bruce said - Sloppy cap, wrapper seams very visible. Did not
produce much smoke - had to "double draw" to get
an adequate amount of smoke. Started to unravel
1/3 way down.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Alan :
Kelly: xx xx
Bruce: xx
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Alan : xx -------- xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx ----- xx
Bruce: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx ----- xx
Bruce: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Taste =
Alan said - Straightforward tobacco flavor with a little
citrus edge. Nice, but not too complicated.
Kelly said - This cigar started well with a nice spiciness and
a medium finish. Toward the middle of the cigar
there was a harshness on the back of my throat
maybe a sign of young tobacco. The cigar didn't
end well: harsh with a slightly sour aftertaste.
Bruce said - Started out with some spice, showed potential at
first, then went down hill from there. Young
tobacco flavors, bland/dry tasting. Not an
enjoyable cigar to smoke.
Overall Impression =
Alan said - Not bad, but I wouldn't swim across an ocean for
it.
Kelly said - Not the cigar for me spent quite a bit of time
picking tobacco bits out of my teeth.
Bruce said - Poor quality, uninspiring smoke.
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.)
Alan said - yes
Kelly said - no
Bruce said - no
Monte
Carlo Churchill
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy <--- Alan
Ho-Hum <--- Kelly
Blah... <--- Bruce
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - In the softening wake of the Cigar
Boom's thunder, the Monte Carlo was one of the few brands launched
in 1998. Sporting red and gold rings and glamorizing the image
of Europe's most famous gambling city, this young Honduran tries
to establish itself amongst those few new brands to survive the
slowdown. The line utilizes a Connecticut Seed Honduran grown
wrapper and Honduran filler and binder on all six sizes within
the brand.
The Churchill is the largest of the line measuring in
at 7 x 48. A dark colorado wrapper with even darker blemishes
and a slight sheen of oil adorn it exterior. There was a considerable
amount of stem in all the samples I cut apart and/or smoked.
Also, I found this new cigar tended to go soft and hot as I smoked
it down. It offered a lighter than usual flavor for a Honduran
puro with very thin smoke. This churchill was pale tasting with
a dry hay-like aftertaste. They are of variable construction
also, some burned uneven, others were too tight, and a few possessed
a very flaky ash.
This cigar found little favor with our tasters and absolutely
none with me. It is a poorly made boring cigar that is not worthy
of your time or dollars. The Monte Carlo Churchill is like betting
the "horn" at the Craps table - it is always a sucker's
bet.
Roller's
Choice RC Robusto
made in: Santiago, Dominican Republic
size : 5 x 50
wrapper: USA/Conn
filler : Dominican Republic
binder : Dominican Republic
price : $2.95
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx --- xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - Flat, veiny wrapper with a couple of blemishes.
Otherwise ok.
Kelly said - Rough lumpy binder detracted from what could have
been a very smooth wrapper. Some uneven coloring.
Bruce said - A bit rustic, veiny, some oils visible in wrapper.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - Heavy, beefy feeling robusto. Very solid.
Kelly said - Solid. Only one or two minor soft spots. Decently
constructed cap.
Bruce said - Seems to be a solid cigar, slight box press, ok
cap.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Alan :
Kelly:
Bruce: xx
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Alan : xx ---- xx
Kelly: xx ---- xx
Bruce: xx
Taste =
Alan said - Toasted nut and coffee flavors dominate. Mild and
flavorful. Liked it a lot.
Kelly said - Very light very little flavor short finish.
While it was not hot or bitter, it didn't build in
flavor or intensity.
Bruce said - Grassy to start, young tasting tobacco, one
dimensional/sour taste.
Overall Impression =
Alan said - Not for the power brokers, but this one was just
to my liking.
Kelly said - Firm draw (which I like) and a decent volume of
smoke, but a lackluster cigar. If you like mild
cigars, I think you can find better.
Bruce said - Young, sour, grassy cigar void of good flavors.
Not enjoyable.
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.)
Alan said - yes
Kelly said - no
Bruce said - no
Roller's
Choice RC Robusto
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Alan
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum <--- Kelly
Blah...
Dog Rocket! <--- Bruce
Editor's
2 Cents - The Roller's Choice line is one
of the most famous and widely distributed "seconds"
on the market. It is manufactured by MATASA and is a true second
of their Fonseca and Cubita blends. A "true second"
is a cigar that was made with the intention of it becoming a
premium "first," but was rejected by quality control
for one of many possible reasons: poor appearance, slight size
deviation, improper bunching, undesired flavor, etc. Rather than
destroy these less than perfect cigars, they are bundled and
sold as seconds at typically half the hallmark brand's price.
The Roller's Choice RC Robusto is specifically the second
of the ever popular Dominican Fonseca 5-50. Because of their
very nature, it is difficult to write a review of this cigar
since they can vary drastically from cigar to cigar. Sometimes
they look great and offer the smoker a mellow Dominican flavor
with notes of wood and sweetness leaving the smoker wondering
why they are seconds in the first place. Other times they are
lumpy with ugly blemished wrappers and have a strong grassy flavor
that is very off putting to the palate. However, more often than
not they will fall somewhere between the two extremes.
Seconds can go a long way towards helping to stretch out
your cigar smoking budget. When smoking seconds I think the most
important thing to determine beforehand is whether you like the
flavor and body of the "first." So in this case, if
you are a fan of the Fonseca 5-50 and you are looking to save
some dinero than I recommend you give the RC Robusto a sample.
If you don't want to be bothered with the occasional off-cigar
then I suggest you pass on these.
H.
Upmann Sir Winston
made in: Havana, Cuba
size : 7 x 47
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $22.00
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - Dark, matte finish to the wrapper. Nice cap. Very
pretty.
Kelly said - Some uneven coloring in the wrapper. A slightly
lumpy binder.
Bruce said - Triple cap, dark oily wrapper - looking forward to
this one!
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - Perfect density for its size. Nicely applied
wrapper. No discernable plugs or soft spots.
Kelly said - Generally well packed. A couple of minor soft
spots. Best constructed cap of the group.
Bruce said - Excellent cap and foot.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Alan :
Kelly: [none reported by any taster]
Bruce:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Alan : xx ----- xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Taste =
Alan said - Not horrible, but too mild and uninteresting.
Macanudo-like in intensity.
Kelly said - Full bodied from the start. Few "hints" of
anything with this cigar it comes right at you
as a no-nonsense full bodied cigar. Medium to long
finish with no harshness.
Bruce said - Good Cuban spice, not the most complex Havana, but
very good. A little aging will help this cigar.
Overall Impression =
Alan said - Can't say I cared for this one. Needs a bit more
punch. Got soft towards the end.
Kelly said - A nice, full bodied cigar. I liked it, though it
is not for the weak of heart.
Bruce said - Good mild/medium Havana!
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.)
Alan said - no
Kelly said - yes
Bruce said - yes
H.
Upmann Sir Winston
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke
Good Cigar <--- Kelly & Bruce
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum <--- Alan
Blah...
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - The German Banker Herman Upmann
made cigar history in 1844 when he began placing Cuban cigars
in colorful printed boxes and using them as promotional items
for his bank. The idea was wildly successful and not only established
H. Upmann as one of the oldest Havana brands, but also the practice
of packaging cigars in dress boxes adorned with beautiful vistas
and eye-catching artwork. I must admit I relish the notion of
opening a new account and having the choice of either a new toaster
or a box of H. Upmann Havanas.
The Sir Winston is the benchmark size for this expansive
handmade and machine made Cuban brand. Currently, there are nearly
sixty different sizes within the line which are constructed at
nine different factories. The best of the Upmanns are made at
the famed Jose Marti factory as were the Sir Winstons used for
this taste test. Oddly enough, the Sir Winston has little in
common with most of the line. It is much mellower than the majority
of Cuban H. Upmanns and my hat is off to Bruce's ability to recognize
this as a milder Havana. It is a medium bodied cigar that offers
a soothing caramel and blonde cocoa flavor. Slowly it builds
to a stronger spicy, almost biting, conclusion more in keeping
with its namesake's other smaller vitolas.
For some Havana smokers, the initial mildness of this
churchill is unsatisfying. Personally, I enjoy the leisurely
polished smoke the H. Upmann Sir Winston provides. Its lulling
softness is a trait that is sometimes perfect for my mood and
I highly recommend it as a cigar to try.
Gispert
Habanero No. 2 (1989)
made in: Havana, Cuba
size : 4.75 x 38
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $4.00
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx --- xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - Toothy and rustic, quite appealing actually.
Kelly said - Some large veins in the wrapper.
Bruce said - Rustic looking smoke, but the box press has
sparked my interest.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Alan said - No soft spots, slightly box pressed. Should be
interesting.
Kelly said - Well packed for a smaller cigar. No noticeable
soft spots.
Bruce said - Cap was a little sloppy, but the cigar smoked like
it was constructed well.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx ------ xx
Bruce: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Alan :
Kelly: [none reported by any taster]
Bruce:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx ------ xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx ------- xx
Bruce: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx
Bruce: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Alan : xx
Kelly: xx ---- xx
Bruce: xx
Taste =
Alan said - What taste? Mild to the point of non-existence.
Put some tobacco in this cigar for Pete's sake!
Kelly said - Not much complexity. Rather flat. Cigar got a bit
sour the last third.
Bruce said - Started out with a good dose of Cuban spice, then
turned into a smooth earth flavor. Age does not
seem to be a problem. Slight sweet earthy taste
down to past the band. Stayed smooth and even.
Overall Impression =
Alan said - Don't waste your time.
Kelly said - Middle of the road on this one. Just didn't do
anything for me. I think you can find a better
small cigar.
Bruce said - As with most Havanas, the smaller smokes pack a
big punch! This was a very enjoyable short smoke.
Reminds me of a cigar from the Partagas line.
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.)
Alan said - no
Kelly said - no
Bruce said - yes
Gispert
Habanero No. 2 (1989)
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Bruce
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum <--- Kelly
Blah... <--- Alan
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - The Gispert is a Havana brand that
has almost faded into obscurity over the last decade. Originally
introduced in the 1940's by Simon Annoys Pelaez, this brand dwindled
to only three handmade sizes. In 1994, all three sizes were converted
to hand finished cigars, and today the brand is down to only
the Habanero No. 2 size with it being both machine bunched/hand
finished and solely machine made. Over the last year or so these
machine-mades have been finding their way to tobacconist's shelves
in Canada and Europe.
The cigars used in the taste test were a decade old and
"totalmente a mano" - totally by hand. This cigar was
and is commonly referred to as a "farm" cigar. This
typically implies that it is a lesser priced, seldom exported,
stronger blend that is preferred by the locals, however I think
this mostly to due to their cost rather than their flavor. Although
time subdued this petite cigar tremendously, its origin was undeniable.
It provided the palate with a spicy core and a sharp aftertaste,
however time had left it somewhat hollow, dry, and flat. At best,
this was a one dimensional cigar with Cuban notes.
Although I was thankful to be afforded the opportunity
to share this unique vintage cigar with our tasters, I would
be hard pressed to recommend it even at the $4.00 price. One
of the new machine mades is very similar but with more body and
bite. It can provide a quick potent hit of Cuban nicotine, but
otherwise it isn't much of a cigar. The Gispert brand seems destined
to becoming one found only in old cigar reference books unless
something positive is done with this brand fast.
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