I have smoked a tremendous number of different cigars over the years as part of my daily routine. Many are new cigars that others wish for me to sample and assess, and honestly most are ho-hum smokes. Every once in awhile though, I come across a cigar that I find to be real joy to smoke and I add it my rotation along with my old time favorites. Below are three cigars that I consider worthwhile - some are new, while others are time tested veterans. I can not promise you will like them all, but I regard each as fine cigar well worth your sampling. I offer them as smokable suggestions.

La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro

Cuesta-Rey Pyramid No. 9

Habana Bolivar Coronas Gigantes

La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro

Ernesto Carillo's concept behind this new cigar is quite simple... beef up the traditional La Gloria Cubana blend by adding more ligero leaf to the filler and wrap with an ultra dark natural leaf. The result is simply fabulous. The heft of this stout 54 ring robusto is great in the hand and the silky wrapper is pleasing to the eye. Normally I am not a fan of cigars this wide, but this stogie proves to be a real treat to smoke. It begins smooth and subtle, but builds with robust tastes of coffee, earth, and dark chocolate. I have been a big fan of LGCs for years, but without a doubt this blend is even better. Ernie is one of the few guys in the biz that truly knows how to make a cigar that will satisfy even the most hardcore Habana smoker and the Calidad Suprema Serie R is the proof.

Cuesta-Rey Pyramid No. 9

I gotta admit this new cigar took me by surprise. Although a well made cigar brand, I find most Cuesta-Reys to be too light for my palate. Also I have always been turned off by the slight grassy flavor that is prevalent in almost all Connecticut shade wrapped cigars. So when I first sparked this new Pyramid I expected it to be a decent cigar, but not one for me. Point blank, I was wrong. The No. 9 treated my taste buds to a polished symphony of flavors: mocha, woods, and cream. The smoke is thick yet remains mild without any of the expected sour grassy flavors I typically associate with shade wrapped Dominican cigars. I was so surprised by the taste that I asked its maker Carlos Fuente about the transformation to which he replied that he added more body to the blend to the owner Stanford Newman's approval. And mine too I might add - this figurado is full of flavor without ever being aggressive delivering the smoker a wonderfully tranquil cigar experience. In short, it is one of the best mild cigars I have smoked in years.

Habana Bolivar Coronas Gigantes

This 7 x 47 Cuban-made Churchill is the epitome of big brash Havana parejos and as such is cherished by sophisticated aficionados worldwide. It dark wrapper serves as foreshadowing to the full-bodied flavor it will render on your palate. The smoke is thick enough to chew and hangs heavy in the air. It possesses a complex pungent taste of rich loam and dark roasted espresso with a spicy edge. Its heavy aroma will fill your nostrils with the scent of earth and leather. And with each draw, this cigar will build in strength leaving even the most jaded smoker spent and satisfied by its end. This is a cigar for the experienced connoisseur who not only appreciates, but craves boldness in his cigars - novices need not light.