The Expert Review Library
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Bella - Rocky Patel Flor de San Andres03/30/2017
The latest release from the industry titan utilizes a Mexican San Andrés wrapper that is prized by many. Flor de San Andres is a perfectly balanced, medium-bodied blend with a rich espresso core and hints of spice and leather on the finish. Sugar skull or not, these cigars are truly a sweet deal.
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Daniel - Enclave by AJ Fernandez03/30/2017
Enclave uses an oily, Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper, binder leaf from Cameroon, and a delicious blend of Nicaraguan fillers. Hints of chocolate, cedar, cinnamon, and a creamy cashew note create one wonderful, medium to full-bodied blend. The finish adds a peppery kick to a premium that’s definitely worth adding to your collection.
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Tim - La Gran Llave maduro by AJ Fernandez03/28/2017
Why did I find myself surprised, after the first dozen or so puffs, at how much I was enjoying La Gran Llave Maduro when right there in the name, it’s clearly stated “BY AJ FERNANDEZ?" Knowing full well what Fernandez is capable of with tobacco and time, I should have expected this all along. La Gran Llave Maduro is fantastic, with a concerted creaminess throughout the whole experience that’s rare of any blend, for any price. It’s in this velvety mouth feel of lush smoke that really separates and lifts the LGL above the maduro majority. I found the Corona Extra size to be the perfect conduit for maximum flavor, with the chocolaty character of the San Andrés wrapper really shining through from start to finish. Could I have appreciated a bit more spice or complexity? Sure, but I also could use 5k in my bank account and a new Mazda. In my experiences with La Gran Llave Maduro, flavor consistency was present and that flavor was great. If complexity were a criticism, it’d be nattering nitpickery, good for only the raising of serious doubts to be had concerning the source critic. I am not that critic, I’m just a strangely surprised fan of La Gran Llave Maduro.
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Dave - Oliva Saison02/16/2017
This Oliva everyday premium delivers each and every time. Reliable and unbeatable for the price, the impeccable construction is evident as soon as you pick it up. A gorgeous, Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is perfectly applied around a robust blend of Nicaraguan fillers creating a smooth character mixed with zesty notes of cedar and spice.
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Andrew - Ave Maria Divinia02/16/2017
Crafted by AJ Fernandez, Divinia takes things to another level. this Cubanesque premium features a hefty amount of Nicaragua tobacco. It opens up with a full hit of spice that mellows gradually into notes of leather, earth, and a mix of woody notes. Certainly full-bodied but heavenly smooth, Divinia is a blessing to have in your humidor.
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Michael - Padilla Habano02/16/2017
Padilla Habano offers excellence from the very first draw. A tantalizing blend of Cuban-seed tobaccos are draped in an oily, Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Offering subtle hints of spice and chocolate with a nice little kick of pepper on the finish to keep your taste buds fully awake, this is the must-have cigar to relax with at the end of your day.
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Bella - Diesel Heart of Darkness02/16/2017
Allow me to introduce Diesel's newest offering, Heart of Darkness. This full-bodied Nicaraguan beauty is encased in an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper. Experience flavors of espresso, leather, wood, and spice. Raising the bar once again, this complex Diesel blend will satisfy the most discerning connoisseur.
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Daniel - Montecristo Media Noche02/16/2017
This out-of-this-world blend features a three country mix of premium fillers draped in a dark and oily Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper. Consistent with an impeccable burn and draw, this premium is balanced yet full of complex notes of pepper, progressing into a creaminess accompanied by hints of vanilla and cocoa.
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Tim - Alec Bradley Coyol02/09/2017
Alan Rubin is no stranger to using Honduran tobaccos in his blends to award winning results. His Coyol is no exception to this strategy, as the Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos used in this recipe combine to create one of my new favorites. Grabbed one out of the humidor for two reasons: #1 – the brand… I have loved the Tempus and Prensado for years, and have really enjoyed the few Mundials I’ve recently sampled. #2 – the size. A petite lancero is rather unique in today’s cigar scene, and seemed like a good choice for my afternoon session. Smoked slow and deliberate, the Coyol exuded big flavor and character from the get go. There’s a pleasant sweetness throughout, but not saccharine-y or overbearing. I usually get a savory, almost meaty nuance from other Alec Bradley blends, not so much with this lancero. I wasn’t pairing this with tea, but I kept coming back to that type of flavor sensation – slightly tannic, slightly astringent, with an herbal heavy finish. Very fresh and clean tasting; this blend is bright without many of the “dirty” earth flavors that can muddle a complex profile like this. Nubbing both samples of the Coyol I acquired for this review, I can say they were consistent, medium-bodied, unique, and enjoyable. Acquire a few for yourself, no regrets.
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Dave - Erin Go Bragh01/03/2017
Grab yourself a Guinness or an Irish coffee for this one. Erin Go Bragh is an exceptional choice for aficionados looking for a well-made, flavored premium. The infusion of Irish whiskey melds perfectly with the Dominican fillers and a silky smooth Connecticut wrapper, finished with a lightly-sweetened cap.
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