The Expert Review Library
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Daniel - CAO Italia Ciao05/10/2017
This 90+ rated CAO is a one-of-a-kind blend packed with Italian, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian long-fillers. It's wrapped with a dark chocolate, oily Habano leaf. This first draw surprised me when strong notes of pepper hit my palate, but then opened up with dark chocolate, earth, peat, leather, and spice. All of these flavors melded together beautifully.
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Bella - La Herencia Cubana CORE Toro05/10/2017
Made by AJ Fernandez, this cigar is a box-pressed, full-bodied beauty! The Habano Ecuadorian Sun Grown Ligero wrapper appears marbled and smooth. This cigar offers notes of pepper, balanced with earthiness and coffee. It was a fantastic cigar that I would recommend to any enthusiast who prefers a full-bodied experience.
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Michael - Lucious Lyon No.305/10/2017
From the hit television series, Empire, comes Lucious Lyon! This cigar is a classic Connecticut-wrapped gem with an expertly detailed mixture of Dominican, Honduran, Mexican, and Nicaraguan long-leaf fillers. This handmade is gentle, smooth, and mellow.
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Tim - Viaje Full Moon Collector’s Edition04/27/2017
I’ve been a Viaje fan for some time now. The brand’s Exclusivo is among my favorite cigars on store shelves right now. Despite my affinity for Viaje, Full Moon Collector’s Edition somehow went under my radar. Yes, I know this is a Halloween-themed cigar, so call me late to the party but, I just wanted to share my delight in finally giving this cigar a go. Let’s start with aesthetics - the cigar is wrapped in a gorgeous deep brown Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper that has an earthy and spicy aroma. The pigtail cap is a nice detail that I’m a total sucker for, so this experience is already off to an amazing start. Upon first light, Full Moon has a ton of flavor. Thick mouthfuls of pillowy smoke exude intense flavors of spice, earth, and cocoa. I was expecting an extraordinary cigar and somehow my expectations were blown out of the water throughout the burn. Full Moon is fantastic from top to tail, with a beautiful creaminess reserved for the very best cigars. Is it a surprise that I enjoyed this cigar as much as I did? Not really. The only surprise here is that spring has sprung and it somehow took me this long to sample Full Moon Collector’s Edition.
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Michael - CIGAR.com Signature Habano03/30/2017
This chunky robusto is rich and complex while remaining very balanced. There is a nice amount of sweetness and spice that lingers on the front of the palate, not to mention a one-of-a-kind flavor from its Honduran wrapper, unique Peruvian fillers, and filler leaf from the Pueblo Nuevo region of Nicaragua.
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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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Dave - HC Series Gran Limitado03/30/2017
A must-have in my humidor, a Nicaraguan wrapper drapes five-year-aged ligeros and barrel-aged Nicaraguan long-leaves. Offering subtle hints of coffee and earthiness, HC Series Gran Limitado will satisfy even the most complex of palates. Add this to your rotation today or keep it around as a special treat for guests!
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Andrew - Gurkha Governor's Private Blend03/30/2017
This is one limited edition Gurkha that you want to get your hands on. With a deluge of various flavors, this medium-bodied blend offers some exotic spices up front with a mellow backbone of coffee, wood, and touch of natural sweetness. The double perfecto is easily my favorite vitola within the line and makes for a great mid-day indulgence.
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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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