More Reviews By Dave

As Black Ops most premium release to date, this bold looking torpedo features a large, gold foot band to mimic a .50 caliber bullet. It is a bit soft to the touch but no major construction issues. Right off the bat there is an onslaught of dark chocolate notes mixed with some espresso and black pepper. Housed in genuine ammo cans, the bar has just been raised. Black Ops Rubicon is an exceptional value with a great blend and unique packaging.

Covered in a dark brown Connecticut seed wrapper, this cigar could easily be mistaken as a Habano. The construction is great except for some minor discoloration and a soft spot down by the foot. On the low side of medium-bodied this Connecticut blend was a nice change of pace and impressive for the price. It delivers smooth and creamy flavors. It’s not overly complex but works nicely as an everyday, go-to blend.

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. 

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.

It’s no secret we love Diesel around the office. And when we look at sales numbers, we can see you agree with us. So naturally, when Diesel Uncut hit the docks, they moved out pretty quickly. So now that the dust has settled a bit, it’s time to fire one up for a review.

Diesel Uncut wasn’t what I expected. It’s got a rich cedary core that gives off a semi-sweet finish. And the finish is excellent. Just incredibly smooth and pairs really well with light coffee. I expected a ton of spice but didn’t really detect any until halfway through. And even then, it’s subtle and sits on the back of palate. Also, the unfinished foot provides for a nice, easy light. With cadre of cigars to choose from here, I’ve found myself coming back to these over and over. There are better cigars to enjoy over the weekend but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better everyday option that’s easy on the wallet but heavy on the palate.

Robusto (5.0”x52): Naturally the best size to start with any cigar line, the robusto comes out of the gates flawlessly. A rich aroma mirrors the almond and espresso notes up front and I’m thinking this could be my new favorite Rocky blend. After about an inch, however, the cigar starts to burn hot and the rich flavors of before are replaced by an unbalanced harsh smoke. What happened? 87/100 [Buy Now]

Toro (6.5”x54): In my opinion, the Toro size doesn’t stray too much from the robusto. Starts off amazing, ends up being disappointing. The last two-thirds just emits a harsh, light smoke that I can’t imagine too many enthusiasts will find appealing. 86/100 [Buy Now]

Colossal (7.0”x62): Naturally, I wasn’t too pleased to fire this size up as my last sample. Am I just going to get more of the same? In a way, yes. The cigar starts off magnificently and then turns. Yet, with the monstrous ring gauge, the harsh smoke of the smaller sizes burns cooler. And while the strength is still amped up, it’s pretty appealing. If you have a lot of time on your hands, this will pair nicely with a rum and coke.

Corona (5.5”x44): I always like to start a blend off with the corona size if possible. Even with all the “you-can-taste-the-components-better” argument, I think the coronas offer an enthusiast a nice appetizer of what’s to come from the blend. The corona size doesn’t disappoint. Wafting waves of spice and rich espresso sweetness, this size offers a nice kick start to your relaxation. 90/100 [Buy Now]

Robusto (5.0”x50): Jumping up in ring gauge, the robusto size offers a semi-diluted taste to what the corona brings. The spice is toned down but the espresso qualities shine through more. Overall though, you’d expect more from a cigar dubbed “Triple Maduro”. 88/100 [Buy Now]

6.0”x60 (well, I’m sure you can guess): To me, this is where Triple Maduro shines. There’s minimal spice on the finish and your palate is bombarded by rich, maduro flavors. While any copy will tell you this is a full-bodied cigar, this size is so smooth and chocolaty you barely recognize the strength. This blend is something you can get lost to and truly relax.

Potent, spicy, but incredibly smooth on the finish, this is one of the best Punch cigars we've ever experienced. From the packaging to the bands to the blend, everything is top notch here. Expect a massive complexity that builds and builds into a finale of epic earthiness followed by pepper and a hearty aroma.

Robusto (5.5”x50): A really great start to testing the blend. The size is very conducive to the blend and the rich, semi-sweet Cameroon wrapper shines the most here.

Churchill (7.0”x48): Definitely the surprise of the bunch. The 48 ring gauge allowed for a ton of flavor and it only got stronger as the cigar burned. While it’s a long smoke, you’ll enjoy it right down to the nub.

Torpedo (6.25”x52): The shorter size seems to work better with the 52 ring gauge for some reason. Flavors seem to be more pronounced and this is a solid hour and half smoke.

Toro (6.5”x52): The fatter 52 ring gauge allows for a cooler smoke than the 50 ring gauge. Flavors are nice but slightly muted.

Sixty (6.0”x60): Blend tastes very watered-down with this size. Easily the size with the least flavor in the line, yet, we could see this being a nice blend for the golf course due to the long smoking time and light flavors.

Robusto (5.0"x52) Very nice cigar. Full-flavored and full-bodied but it doesn't overwhelm your senses. You'll notice ample spicy characters and a semi-sweet finish for a well-balanced experience.

Churchill (7.0"x52) Due to the 7-inch length, you'll find the power of this cigar continues to increase as the blend burns. By the time you reach the fourth inch, you're palate will be coated with oily notes of pepper and you won't find any sweetness. Recommended for experienced aficionados. 

No. 2 Belicoso (6.1"x52) Great size but not for this particular blend. It delivers complex flavors and keeps your interest from head to foot but avid enthusisasts may consider this a medium-bodied cigar since it's super smooth. We recommend cutting a lot off the head of this belicoso as it'll create a stronger, full flavor and an easier draw.

Toro (6.0"x52) Great size for everyday enjoyment or to hand out. Offers the best in terms of balance as you'll find sweetness, pepper, spice, earth, and cedar. Only downfall is the fact that this stick never progresses into a stout, super-complex and full-bodied blend such as the robusto and churchill sizes.