Jose
L. Piedra Robusto
made in: Cuba
size : 4 7/8 x 50
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $6.50
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - A very well-made cigar. The wrapper is slightly
veiny, but shows the telltale green spots of a
Cuban.
John said - Looks like a young Bolivar robusto - the Cuban
version; some green spots, a little veiny, but a
nice sheen.
Dennis said - Nice oily reddish wrapper. One prominent vein
running the length of the cigar.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - Very well rolled and finished with a triple cap.
John said - A few loose spots, but a good cap and well-rolled
cigar. I thought this might loosen up a bit after
I got into it, but it stayed firm and kept it's
shape nicely.
Dennis said - Well constructed with some flaws in the wrapper,
but had no effect on the taste and enjoyment of
this nice robusto.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx (slightly)
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Matt : xx (minor)
John :
Dennis: xx
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Matt : xx ----- xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx ----- xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Matt : xx
John : xx+
Dennis: xx ---- xx
Taste =
Matt said - Nice tobacco flavors with some spice, pepper and
cedar. Almost no harshness or bite.
John said - Started out young, salty, brash. Mellowed out,
built into a spicy, complex smoke with a smooth,
huge volume of smoke. This is not a cigar for
your kid sister. Nothing like a full-bodied
robusto like this after a big meal.
Dennis said - Started out slightly harsh, then mellowed into a
smooth taste with good undertones, built into a
nice spicy taste.
Overall Impression =
Matt said - Very good cigar!
John said - I wish I could smoke a couple of these a week,
but I'm certain that I can't find one of these at
my local tobacconist. Drats!
Dennis said - Just the way I like a cigar. Started mellow and
built gradually with a great finish.
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.)
Matt said - yes
John said - yes
Dennis said - yes
Jose
L. Piedra Robusto
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Matt, John & Dennis
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum
Blah...
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - Jose L. Piedra was until just recently
an all machine-made line comprised of only six vitolas. Made
in the provincial factories in the Santa Clara region this brand
has been a perennial favorite among the Cubans themselves for
their own consumption. In a quest to increase their exports,
Habanos S.A. has started shipping five new handmade sizes under
this trademark. These are intended to be a "value priced"
handmade Cuban cigar, but many Americans will still regard them
as pricey.
The Jose L. Piedra Robusto is rather coarse dull cigar
whose wrappers vary greatly in color and quality. It certainly
does not look like a premium Cuban cigar except for its crude,
but still apparent triple cap. However, upon lighting and first
draw it pedigree is obvious to those with experience. It begins
with a slight harshness, but quickly settles into becoming and
easygoing medium-bodied Havana. The flavor is a straightforward
Cuban tobacco taste with little complexity, but it does build
in spiciness as you continue to herf it.
This handmade robusto is very similar to the machine-made
vitolas in the line, but with less bite. All three of our tasters
enjoyed this new cigar - they even gave it better marks than
I anticipated in the appearance category. Although, the Jose
L. Piedra Robusto lacks depth, it proves to be a good smooth
smoke for those who want Cuban flavor at a value price.
La
Flor Dominicana Maduro No. 3
made in: Santiago, DR
size : 5 x 48
wrapper: Mexico
filler : Dominican Republic
binder : Dominican Republic
price : $7.50
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - A dark box pressed cigar - a bit rustic looking
with a veiny wrapper.
John said - Really nice, box press maduro. Oily, rich feel
and a leaf that is blemish-free. Looks and feels
alot like a Padron 3000 maduro, same attention to
detail.
Dennis said - Nice chocolate colored, slightly box pressed
maduro.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - No complaints before lighting.
John said - Great wrapper, very uniform and firm to the
touch. Impressive cap, hard to tell where it
meets up with the body of this cigar. Pretty
little thing!
Dennis said - [no comment]
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Matt :
John :
Dennis: xx
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Matt : xx------xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Taste =
Matt said - The cigar seemed to be smoking a little hot,
otherwise it was enjoyable.
John said - Chocolate, a little salty, with a short finish. A
very mellow, comfortable smoke that is subtle and
a great choice for an everyday, non-intrusive
stick. A very fine aroma, with a good volume of
smoke.
Dennis said - Not much underlying taste, slightly harsh, left
unpleasant aftertaste.
Overall Impression =
Matt said - I'm probably wrong, but I can't shake the feeling
that this was a Padron 3K, one of my favorites.
Once the draw loosened up and produced more
smoke, it was a pleasant cigar, but if it was a
3K, it was not up to usual standards.
John said - The people who make this cigar can be very proud
of their product. The quality is outstanding;
it's just a solid, good cigar.
Dennis said - I didn't care for this cigar, little or no taste.
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.)
Matt said - yes
John said - yes
Dennis said - no
La
Flor Dominicana Maduro No. 3
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke
Good Cigar <--- John
Decent/Worthy <--- Matt
Ho-Hum
Blah... <--- Dennis
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - This expansive line of cigars is
manufactured by Litto Gomez using an excellent grade of Cibao
Valley Cuban seed Dominican filler. Originally this brand was
called Los Libertadores, but the brand change names to La Flor
Dominicana a few years ago. In addition to the name change, the
have also replaced the ring with a more vibrant one. Their large
offering of cigars includes six different series ranging from
mild shade wrapped vitolas to their newest line, which sports
the H2000 variety of wrapper. The Maduro Especiales series encompasses
only three different sizes: a Lonsdale, a Torpedo, and the Robusto
we taste tested.
The LFD Maduro Especiales No. 3 is a dark rustic-looking narrow
box pressed robusto with a coarse wrapper. The cigars used in
the taste test still retained a green bouquet even though they
were allowed to age for well over a year. The construction was
solid throughout and it delivered an easy draw and even burn.
This smoke is medium in strength with mellow flavors chocolate
and a distinct earthiness that comes from it's Mexican wrapper.
Light in body this robusto has a short finish that leaves a salty
somewhat medicinal aftertaste against the palate.
Overall this is a decent cigar, but not a barnburner.
It is an easy cigar to smoke, offers a decent amount of flavor,
and never fights the palate. This maduro robusto might make a
decent afternoon diversion for some or it might be a nice step
up from milder Dominican cigars for others. However, it is not
a cigar that I would opt to smoke regularly, particularly given
it $7.50 price tag. Personally, I find this to be a ridiculous
price for this vitola. So even though this cigar has it merits,
I am very hard pressed to recommend the LFD Maduro No. 3 to anyone
at this cost.
Punch
Royal Coronation Natural
made in: Confradia, Honduras
size : 5 1/4 x 44
wrapper: Ecuador
filler : DR, Honduras, and Nicaragua
binder : Honduras
price : $3.50
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - Oily-dark wrapper. One prominent vein.
John said - Nice cigar to look at, good heft in the hand,
oily wrapper with a triple cap, this cigar has
promise.
Dennis said - Very nice oily, light brown wrapper.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - Well finished- a couple of minor soft spots.
John said - Very consistent uniform construction. As I said,
triple cap and the leaf is nice and clean except
for a few green spots. Kinda reminds me of a
Cohiba Lancero.
Dennis said -
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Matt :
John : [none reported by any taster]
Dennis:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Matt :
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Matt : xx
John : xx+
Dennis: xx ---- xx
Taste =
Matt said - A bit harsh and grassy. Is this a young cigar?
The second half livened up a bit, with some
creamy flavors.
John said - Very smooth, spicy start to this cigar. A rich
perfumery taste developed, with a little bite to
it. By the end of this cigar, the taste was sweet
and it tasted a lot like an Opus X, without the
kick. Pretty delicious.
Dennis said - Very nice straight forward taste with decent
undertones.
Overall Impression =
Matt said - A good cigar overall - I would like to try
another after 6-12 months in a humidor.
John said - Top shelf cigar. Has a rich, complex flavor
without a Cuban wallop, so I could do this one
daily.
Dennis said - A decent smoke to add to the rotation. Nothing to
rave about, but a decent everyday 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.)
Matt said - yes
John said - yes
Dennis said - yes
Punch
Royal Coronation Natural
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke
Good Cigar <--- John
Decent/Worthy <--- Matt & Dennis
Ho-Hum
Blah...
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - Punch is one oldest cigars brands
in existence having been created Cuba in 1840 by Juan Valle.
This brand has been made by legendary cigarmen including Manual
Lopez and Fernado Particio over its long history. It was originally
developed for the British market and is named in honor of the
19th Century character Punch the Puppet. Due to Castro's nationalization
of the Cuban cigar industry the Punch brand has been split into
one still made in Cuba and beginning in 1969 one made in Honduras.
The Honduran blend is made by Villazon's contemporary cigar legend,
Frank Llaneza. His skill and knowledge has made this into one
of the superior fuller bodied brands available in the US market.
The Punch Royal Coronation is a hefty corona with an oily
burnt sienna Ecuadorian wrapper. My experience has been that
the color does varies significantly from tube to tube. However
the construction is sound every time regardless of the cigar's
appearance. This large corona is a classic Honduran blend that
begins with a spicy bite, but quickly settles into becoming a
smooth creamy smoke. Medium in both body and strength it is an
enjoyable half-hour or less herf. My only complaint is that I
wish the finish was a bit longer.
This cigar is an unusual size for the US handmade market,
but I believe it really helps to fill a niche. And I find the
tubo packaging to be very convenient, as these are great cigars
to keep in a variety of places for whenever you need a quick
smoke. The Punch Royal Coronation is a good solid corona extra
size cigar that can be ideal for a post lunch herf, while you
are waiting for a friend, or any other time you crave a smaller
cigar.
Ashton
Virgin Sun Grown Sorcerer
made in: Santiago, DR
size : 7 x 49
wrapper: Ecuador
filler : Dominican Republic
binder : Dominican Republic
price : $9.00
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - Smooth, slightly oily wrapper, box pressed? Looks
great.
John said - Nice looking leaf, maybe a little veiny - good
cap, clean look to this cigar. Oily wrapper.
Dennis said - Churchill with a slightly rough brownish wrapper.
Ever so slightly box pressed. One hole in the
wrapper, just below the band. Very nice pre-smoke
aroma.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - A couple of soft spots, but no real complaints -
this was a nicely made cigar.
John said - Solid, good balance to it, no soft spots very
firmly packed. Has a lot of promise.
Dennis said - Nice cap, firm from start to finish, plenty of
smoke.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Matt :
John : [none reported by any taster]
Dennis:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Matt : xx-----------xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Matt :
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx ---- xx
Taste =
Matt said - Initially bland, this cigar warmed up and became
an enjoyable cigar, though not as complex and
flavorful as I would have expected.
John said - Yowza! Started out a little harsh, a little one
dimensional, but in a few puffs, turned into a
spicy, peppery, fruity cigar that was nothing
less than great.
Dennis said - Started out with great taste, went a little flat
in the middle. And then picked up with a flourish
of spice in the last third while getting very
full.
Overall Impression =
Matt said - The flavors of this cigar did not live up to its
looks.
John said - This stick took me out to the woodshed and
pummeled me but good. And I loved every minute.
Who's your Daddy? This cigar...
Dennis said - Great smoke, started with good flavor, slowed a
little and finished with a burst.
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.)
Matt said - yes
John said - yes
Dennis said - yes
Ashton
Virgin Sun Grown Sorcerer
SCALE
YOWZA!!! <--- John & Dennis
Great Smoke
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum <--- Matt
Blah...
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - Ashton began as the house brand
of Philadelphia's famed Holt's Cigars in the mid-eighties. Over
the last fifeteen years it has grown to become one of the most
popular mild blends in US today. All Ashton cigars are manufactured
by the Fuentes and the blend boasts of being made from six different
tobaccos. Currently there are four separate lines under the brand:
Ashton, Ashton Aged Maduro, Asthon Cabinet Selection, and the
new Ashton Virgin Sun Grown series.
Being someone who had pretty much dismissed the Ashton
line of cigars as good, but too light for my personal tastebuds
I must admit this new offering caught me by surprise. The Ashton
VSG Sorcerer comes wrapped in a beautiful hand-selected sun grown
Ecuadorian wrapper that is silky to the touch. The prelight bouquet
is tantalizing and the construction is exceptional. This is a
masterful blend that is intricate and rich with so many different
intertwined flavors that it is difficult to distinguish the individual
notes. The smoke is heavy and dense against the palate. While
the box insert claims this cigar has the "kick of a mule"
I find it to be a medium to full body cigar that is incredibly
smooth - a wonderfully sublime balance of strength and flavor.
I wholeheartedly agree with John and Dennis' final rating
of this cigar as it truly is a world class smoke. This is one
of the finest cigars yet to come from the non-Cuban realm, and
it is a compelling challenger to many of Havana's best vitolas.
The Ashton Cabinet VSG Sorcerer is well deserving of space in
any connoisseur's humidor. Highly Recommended.
Moore
& Bode Flamboyan Dark Corona
made in: Miami, Flordia
size : 6 x 46
wrapper: Unknown
filler : Unknown
binder : Unknown
price : $6.00
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - A slightly rough-looking wrapper, but well
finished.
John said - Dark, off-color wrapper, lots of veins.
Dennis said - Nice brownish wrapper, somewhat veiny, nicely
applied cap. A few water marks on wrapper. Very
"flavorful" pre-smoke aroma.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Matt : xx --- xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Matt said - The cigar was finished well, but the filler was
not rolled well.
John said - Not well-wrapped - the wrapper had separated in
two places, and some very obvious soft spots -
under-filled.
Dennis said - Very well constructed, maintained firmness from
start to finish.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Matt :
John : xx
Dennis:
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Matt : xx -------- xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx ----- xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Matt : xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Matt :
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Matt : xx ---- xx
John : xx
Dennis: xx
Taste =
Matt said - Hints of chocolate and vegetal flavors initially,
turning to slightly creamy tobacco flavors.
John said - Not bad - a little one-dimensional, but never
harsh. Spicy and flavorful, with a short finish.
Not much volume to the smoke.
Dennis said - Undertones of spice that kept trying to come
through, and finally developed into a medium
spicy taste during the last quarter.
Overall Impression =
Matt said - The draw tightened up 1/3 of the way. Despite the
promising hints of chocolate and spice, a bad
burn and the draw problems forced me to give up
on this sample.
John said - Not a bad stick, but construction was
disappointing. Too bad, it had some taste.
Dennis said - While this was a decent smoke, if the full taste
had developed sooner it would have been a great
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.)
Matt said - no
John said - no
Dennis said - yes
Moore
& Bode Flamboyan Dark Corona
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy <--- Dennis
Ho-Hum <--- John
Blah... <--- Matt
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - Moore and Bode Cigars is the quintessential
"boutique cigar factory." This small galleria is located
in the heart of Little Havana, Miami. For over a decade the wife
and husband team of Sharon Moore and Robert Bode have made cigars
of exceptional flavor and quality. Unlike most other factories
they did not gouge their customers during the boom, nor do they
use pesticides to fumigates their tobacco, instead they freeze
them. Devout attention to detail is the cornerstone of this small
family owned and operated company and in turn, they have a tremendously
loyal customer base - myself included.
The Moore & Bode Flamboyan Dark Corona is actually
a more so thick lonsdale rather than being the traditional corona
(5 1/2 x 42) in dimension. The wrapper is a dull colorado-maduro
that is rough beneath the fingers. Typically the construction
of Moore & Bode's cigars are excellent, but those used in
this sampling were blow their par. This smokes begins very smooth
with hints of chocolate and slowly builds in spice. However,
the finish is extremely dry and short with a slightly bitter
aftertaste. Also there is a distinct vegetal note to this smoke
that is unappealing to my palate. I know this is going to sound
strange, but if someone asked me to describe this blend in one
word it would be "puritanical." It just seems too clipped,
too reserved, too fordable...
I happen to be a huge fan of the Moore & Bode Miami
blend in this very size, in fact it is one of my favorite mild
cigars. Regretfully the Flamboyan Dark does not measure up to
this standard as I find this wrapper/blend combination to be
unpleasing to my tastebuds. Although one of our tasters rated
it "decent" I doubt the Moore & Bode Flamboyan
Dark Corona will find much favor with most cigar smokers. I suggest
you try their original Flamboyan Corona in lieu of the Dark.
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