The Expert Review Library

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GURKHA HUDSON BAY

Alex | 4/27/2015 | Great Everyday Option

Maybe it’s just me but I’m really into this packaging. The crisp, clean design and the elegant logo caught my eye right away amongst a sea of new products in our conference room. But great packaging usually doesn’t translate into a good cigar. The blend is combination of hand-selected Nicaraguan Cuban-seed long-fillers. It’s then finished with a San Andres wrapper that is extremely smooth to the touch and loaded with natural oils. Construction-wise you can’t really ask for more.

Upon lighting the cigar, it hit my palate with a blast of spice. Not the best start but serviceable. As it progresses, that spice subsides into a medium-bodied profile with earthy and oaky notes. Those notes remain prevalent throughout most of the smoke but I ended up getting subtle hints of spice towards the end of the cigar. While I didn’t have glass of bourbon on hand, I suspect it would have improved the overall experience. Overall, not the best blend I’ve ever had but for the price I’ll happily pick up a box and use them as an everyday option throughout the summer.

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Maybe it’s just me but I’m really into this packaging. The crisp, clean design and the elegant logo caught my eye right away amongst a sea of new products in our conference room. But great packaging usually doesn’t translate into a good cigar. The blend is combination of hand-selected Nicaraguan Cuban-seed long-fillers. It’s then finished with a San Andres wrapper that is extremely smooth to the touch and loaded with natural oils. Construction-wise you can’t really ask for more.

Upon lighting the cigar, it hit my palate with a blast of spice. Not the best start but serviceable. As it progresses, that spice subsides into a medium-bodied profile with earthy and oaky notes. Those notes remain prevalent throughout most of the smoke but I ended up getting subtle hints of spice towards the end of the cigar. While I didn’t have glass of bourbon on hand, I suspect it would have improved the overall experience. Overall, not the best blend I’ve ever had but for the price I’ll happily pick up a box and use them as an everyday option throughout the summer.

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AVO XO

Dave | 4/24/2015

AVO XO was one of the first premium cigars I ever had. They began selling in New York in 1988 following a relationship between master cigar maker Hendrik Kelner in the Dominican Republic and the musician and cigar aficionado, Avo Uvezian. A smooth and seamless Connecticut wrapper is rolled flawlessly around a complex, five country long filler blend. The strength is on the lighter side of medium the cigar offers smooth, earthy flavors mixed with hints of cedar and toasted nuts. A slight spice is noticed on the finish occasionally and a subtle floral aroma fills the air. While the ash is a bit weak and flaky at times, the burn is always even and the draw is effortless. AVO XO is a very balanced, smooth Dominican blend with complex flavors and a delightful aromatic quality. I enjoy these as a morning or mid-day indulgence when I’m looking for something with a ton of flavor without all the strength.

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AVO XO was one of the first premium cigars I ever had. They began selling in New York in 1988 following a relationship between master cigar maker Hendrik Kelner in the Dominican Republic and the musician and cigar aficionado, Avo Uvezian. A smooth and seamless Connecticut wrapper is rolled flawlessly around a complex, five country long filler blend. The strength is on the lighter side of medium the cigar offers smooth, earthy flavors mixed with hints of cedar and toasted nuts. A slight spice is noticed on the finish occasionally and a subtle floral aroma fills the air. While the ash is a bit weak and flaky at times, the burn is always even and the draw is effortless. AVO XO is a very balanced, smooth Dominican blend with complex flavors and a delightful aromatic quality. I enjoy these as a morning or mid-day indulgence when I’m looking for something with a ton of flavor without all the strength.

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E.P. CARRILLO CARDINAL MADURO

Dave | 4/23/2015

This cigar features immaculate construction and a dark, oily wrapper. Zero soft spots were detected throughout and the wrapper was applied seamlessly. Once lit, powerful notes of espresso and spice swarm the palate along with a slight sweetness from the wrapper. The performance of this cigar in terms of draw and burn were highly manageable. It produces thick clouds of intense smoke that filled the room resulting in a satisfying aroma. E.P. Carrillo Cardinal Maduro is a strong cigar with a complex flavor profile yet remains balanced due to a harmonious blend of tobaccos. This is one of E.P. Carrillo’s strongest releases and quite possibly his finest. Certainly a cigar that stands out from the crowd.

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This cigar features immaculate construction and a dark, oily wrapper. Zero soft spots were detected throughout and the wrapper was applied seamlessly. Once lit, powerful notes of espresso and spice swarm the palate along with a slight sweetness from the wrapper. The performance of this cigar in terms of draw and burn were highly manageable. It produces thick clouds of intense smoke that filled the room resulting in a satisfying aroma. E.P. Carrillo Cardinal Maduro is a strong cigar with a complex flavor profile yet remains balanced due to a harmonious blend of tobaccos. This is one of E.P. Carrillo’s strongest releases and quite possibly his finest. Certainly a cigar that stands out from the crowd.

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ROCKY PATEL ROYAL VINTAGE

Kirsten | 4/13/2015 | Savory Sumatrans

Savory Sumatrans

expert picks

Of the near endless Rocky Patel blends, Royal Vintage consistently gets rave reviews from my VIP’s. They appreciate the fact it doesn’t go over the top strength and spice. Royal Vintage has everything a cigar should have: fantastic flavor, perfect construction, and easy on the eyes - so you should have one, too!

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Of the near endless Rocky Patel blends, Royal Vintage consistently gets rave reviews from my VIP’s. They appreciate the fact it doesn’t go over the top strength and spice. Royal Vintage has everything a cigar should have: fantastic flavor, perfect construction, and easy on the eyes - so you should have one, too!

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LA GLORIA CUBANA SERIE R

Alex | 4/13/2015 | Savory Sumatrans

Savory Sumatrans

expert picks

In this industry, so often it is all about the next best thing. On the contrary, I enjoy classic blends that have stood the test of time, and few have maintained a loyal following quite like Serie R. This Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapped beauty from La Gloria Cubana is bold and rich, yet refined and smooth. It’s time to take a much closer look at Serie R.

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In this industry, so often it is all about the next best thing. On the contrary, I enjoy classic blends that have stood the test of time, and few have maintained a loyal following quite like Serie R. This Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapped beauty from La Gloria Cubana is bold and rich, yet refined and smooth. It’s time to take a much closer look at Serie R.

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LA AROMA DE CUBA NOBLESSE

Bryan | 4/10/2015

La Aroma de Cuba’s Noblesse is pretty legit. This blend was definitely filed under “office favorite” after we got a couple of samples from IPCPR. But what surprised me about the cigar was how lackluster the dull, Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper looked when I took the cello off. There are some blends that look so appealing I start to fumbling around with my lighter and cutter because I can’t wait to start smoking. Noblesse is not one of those blends. Frankly, I even debated passing on it for one of the many other new cigars from IPCPR.

Thankfully, I went ahead with the review. From the very first puff, I knew I had something special. The draw was effortless. And even though it’s packed with some potent Nicaraguan fillers, the cigar remained incredibly balanced. I was surprised, for a Pepin blend, there wasn’t as much spice as I expected. Noblesse has a dry, smooth flavor and I experienced notes of cedar, leather, and earth. The flavor built as the burn progressed but I wouldn’t say its complex. The only real complaint I have is the price tag but that’s what you get when only 3,000 boxes are made. Definitely try to pick one of these up before they’re gone.

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La Aroma de Cuba’s Noblesse is pretty legit. This blend was definitely filed under “office favorite” after we got a couple of samples from IPCPR. But what surprised me about the cigar was how lackluster the dull, Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper looked when I took the cello off. There are some blends that look so appealing I start to fumbling around with my lighter and cutter because I can’t wait to start smoking. Noblesse is not one of those blends. Frankly, I even debated passing on it for one of the many other new cigars from IPCPR.

Thankfully, I went ahead with the review. From the very first puff, I knew I had something special. The draw was effortless. And even though it’s packed with some potent Nicaraguan fillers, the cigar remained incredibly balanced. I was surprised, for a Pepin blend, there wasn’t as much spice as I expected. Noblesse has a dry, smooth flavor and I experienced notes of cedar, leather, and earth. The flavor built as the burn progressed but I wouldn’t say its complex. The only real complaint I have is the price tag but that’s what you get when only 3,000 boxes are made. Definitely try to pick one of these up before they’re gone.

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