The Expert Review Library
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Alex - La Aurora10/24/2011
Super-premium all the way baby. La Aurora is one of the oldest brands in the Dominican and their Preferidos blends are some of the best to leave the country. They’re handmade by La Aurora’s best rollers, in a separate room, heck, a separate building for that matter, making Preferidos La Aurora’s finest gem. If you hand this cigar to someone and they don’t like it, tell them to call me... I’ll set them straight. -
Andrew - Obsidian10/24/2011
Obsidian, for those who don’t know, is a type of black volcanic glass whose shards can be sharper that most any blade. The name suits this great perfecto as it’s draped in a deep, dark maduro with ash that falls as if it were cut with a knife. Starting off smooth and building in flavor, the strength is deceptive with minimal spice and mixed notes of peat, coffee, and leather. Light up one of these when you need to take the edge off a rough day.
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Bryan - Java Mint by Drew Estate09/29/2011
Just when you thought Java couldn't get any better! Enter Java Mint, a sweet treat from the Drew Estate team that combines the pleasantly rich cocoa flavors from Java with a unique touch of mint and sweet vanilla.
Drew Estate is certainly one of the most unique cigar makers and Rocky Patel remains one of the top enforcers of quality control. Together, Drew Estate and Rocky Patel collaborated to create this excellently constructed and equally tasty blend. Their use of infusions and rare small batch productions enables them to make cigars unlike anyone else in the world. Drew Estate is best known for their ACID line, but have since created hundreds of blends that have a cult like following while Rocky Patel is noted for his 90+ rated blends.
Java Mint sports a premium Brazilian Mata Fina maduro wrapper, aged 3 years, concealing long fillers from Nicaragua's premium growing regions. This medium-bodied blend experiences the same infusion process as Java but premium mint was added to create a cigar unlike any other. You'll almost feel like you're eating mint chocolate chips as you draw the smoke into your palate. The finish is refreshing, leaving a crisp, cool feel with hints of vanilla left over. If you enjoyed Java or if you're just discovering this brand, you'll agree it is not only one of the best-tasting infused cigars on the market, but it also offers some of the most unique cigar flavors you'll ever experience. -
Dave - Cu07/01/2011
You'll either love or hate this cigar with no middle ground inbetween. If you enjoy ridiculous amounts of hearty, heavy spices, full-throttled flavor, and a tingly sensation on your lips then you'll love Punisher. Bold is an understatement here. As soon as the cigar touches your lips you'll feel the power of this magnificent but super powerful blend. No exaggeration here, this is quite possibly the strongest cigar we've ever rated.
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Andrew - Perdomo Reserve Champagne 10th Anniversary06/17/2011
Light on the feet and sure to please. This lovely Connie was once rated cigar of the year by the prestigious Robb Report. The supple Connecticut and delectable long fillers add up to a cigar that's mellow and supremely smooth, offering notes of wood, hints of nuts, and just a touch of earthiness. Crack open the Champagne when you need a little tobacco intoxication - its ok to tie one off before noon. In fact, I recommend it.
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Josh - Gurkha Beauty06/17/2011
This one's a monster that takes at least an hour to properly enjoy so be sure to carve out some time before lighting up this Beauty. I love medium to full-bodied cigars but Beauty is a fantastic departure. Its wrapper comes aged seven years and its filler no less than five. This means you get a full-flavored but super smooth experience. The massive 58 gauge keeps a cool, even burn and releases thick, milky smoke. Keep this one for yourself.
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Alex - El Triunfador06/17/2011
El Triunfador caught my palate, amazingly enough, due to its natural sweet character. The stick looks amazing; oily, toothy, nearly seamlessly wrapped...just begs you to light it up. Once you do, you're met with a mellow to medium body that brings an earthy core of premium tobacco flavors to your palate. On the finish, Triunfador's naturally sweet nuance brings a smile to your face as you realize just how perfectly balanced it is.
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Matt - Man O' War Virtue06/17/2011
I'll admit, when I first heard about a mellower Man O' War hitting the market, I was a little skeptical. I should have known better than to doubt AJ and less than a minute after lighting up Man O' War Virtue, all my doubts were washed away. Virtue is incredibly smooth and creamy with just enough Nicaraguan ligero to add a feint touch of pepper and keep it in the mellow-medium category. Even you full-bodied guys will love Virtue.
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Matt - CAO America05/23/2011
CAO America tastes just as unique as it looks. This medium to full-bodied Honduran is held together with a Brazilian binder and topped off with two beautiful, oily wrappers; a Connecticut-shade and a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro leaf that spiral around the cigar in pinstripe fashion. Expect tons of rich, creamy smoke with a nice woody undertone. The perfect memorable cigar for you and dad this Father's Day.
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Alex - E.P. Carrillo05/23/2011
Ernesto Perez Carrillo is the man responsible for the famous La Gloria Cubana brand and now he's released another winning blend —one so good he put his own name on it. I really enjoy this cigar because it employs vintage Nicaraguan and Dominican Piloto Cubano tobaccos with a 3-year-aged Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. It's zesty, yet creamy. It's robust, yet smooth. It's both hearty and soothing at the same time. It's exceptional.
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