The Expert Review Library
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Bella D. - Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaragua 55608/10/2017
Talk about a real Nicaraguan through and through? The Nat Sherman Timeless Nicaraguan 556 is a box-pressed delight. This puro is simply mouth-watering with hints of chocolate, molasses, coffee, spice, and a bit of woodiness in both flavor and aromatics. Hats off to Nat Sherman, this tasty addition truly is Timeless.
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Tim - Gispert Intenso07/13/2017
For those of you familiar with Gispert, you know that its original blend is on the mellow to medium side. It’s a great cigar that’s well made and has elegant notes of cream and leather, but it’s not exactly the most complex cigar you’ll ever enjoy, and while I appreciate this cigar’s accessibility, I like something with a little more oomph. Apparently others feel the same, and Gispert heard the calls for a bolder blend. The company collaborated with tobacco master AJ Fernandez, who has quite the track record for making beautifully complex, full-bodied cigars. After careful planning and meticulous sampling, AJ and Gispert released Intenso to please the masses.
Intenso’s Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is a deep chestnut brown and has a rustic quality to it. That’s the nature of this leaf: it’s thick, leathery, and tough as nails, adding a natural spice and sweetness that no other tobacco offers. Tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican comprise the filler, and when combined with the Broadleaf wrapper, it produces prominent tasting notes of oak, espresso, and leather. It’s bolder than the original for sure, and more complex, but it won’t knock you off your feet with spice and strength. I’ve partaken in a few of these, and I intend to enjoy many more. This cigar is a great collaboration from Gispert and AJ Fernandez, one which I would highly recommend trying.
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Daniel - Macanudo Cafe Hyde Park06/29/2017
Macanudo Café is fantastic for anyone who appreciates a cigar that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. It has a consistent burn and draw with a rich and smooth profile that is never overpowering. This cigar leaves a clean finish on the palate with nutty notes, earthiness, hints of coffee, and cream.
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Bella - Rocky Patel Connecticut Torpedo06/29/2017
Rocky Patel Connecticut is my go-to cigar for mornings on the lake during fishing season. This mellow blend is just perfect for pairing with coffee. A smooth start gives way to notes of nuttiness, earthiness, with hints of subtle leather and spice. Superior construction and effortless draw makes this a truly satisfying Connecticut.
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Andrew - Hoyo Excalibur Epicure06/29/2017
Hoyo de Monterrey offers a solid lineup of cigars, including one of my standbys: Hoyo Excalibur. A Connecticut leaf surrounds Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers for a combination that gives this blend a medium body. Notes of spice and wood which are complemented by a satisfying creaminess, this is a cigar that will never disappoint.
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Michael - 5 Vegas Gold Toro06/29/2017
5 Vegas Gold is one of my favorite cigars and is perfect for any time of the day. Honduran tobacco that is aged for 5 years is paired with a beautiful Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper. You can be sure that 5 Vegas Gold will have you feeling like a winner every time.
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Dave - Gurkha Symphony Double Perfecto06/29/2017
While I don’t find myself reaching for Gurkha cigars all too often these days, it’s impossible to forget how good this ‘91’ rated gem is. Symphony has become one of the most popular Connecticut-wrapped cigars in our inventory. Superb construction and every smooth puff makes Gurkha Symphony a must-try for every aficionado.
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Romeo505-Tim06/08/2017
Romeo y Julieta is a brand that needs no introduction. It’s had staying power in a crowded field, simply because its cigars are timeless blends that enthusiasts have flocked to for over 130 years. The brand wanted to appeal to enthusiasts who prefer bolder flavors, so it branched out a few years ago with its Romeo line-up. Which brings us to its newest release: Romeo 505
Named for Nicaragua’s country code, 505 is distinct among the brand’s portfolio for a couple of reasons. First, it’s the only Romeo blend that is primarily sourced in Nicaragua. Secondly, it’s a lot bolder than any of the brand’s offerings to date. A combination of rich fillers from Jalapa, Esteli, and Condega are wrapped in a dark and oily Habano Jalapa leaf, which is smooth to the touch and has rich a aroma with sweet notes of leather and cedar.
I tend to gravitate toward bolder cigars, so this seemed right up my alley from the start. After taking a few puffs, it was clear that this cigar stands out from Romeo’s other cigars. It definitely lives up to the hype with ample sweetness, spice, and earthiness. This is not a cigar you would want to enjoy on an empty stomach, because as promised, it packs the punch you would expect from a full bodied cigar.
I enjoyed the hell out of 505 and I can say with certainty that it appeals to anyone who prefers full bodied cigars with tons of flavor and quality construction. Hats off to Romeo y Julieta, this is a cigar that I can see myself lighting up again in the very near future.
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Dave - Rocky Patel Cri-ojo05/10/2017
This is Rocky Patel's aptly dubbed Cri-ojo, a unique hybrid wrapper leaf featuring a mix of both Criollo and Corojo seed offering a one-of-a-kind experience. I never thought such a balanced, medium-bodied cigar could pack so much flavor from an earthy spice up front to a touch of natural sweetness on the finish.
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Andrew - Graycliff Professionale PG Robusto05/10/2017
Graycliff is one of the highest quality cigars on the market and the Profesionale line is no exception. Fillers from four countries are wrapped in an Ecuadorian Sumatra Intermedio leaf. The overall experience is smooth with tasting notes of leather, earth, cedar, and hints of spice.
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