The Expert Review Library
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Dean - Obsidian01/06/2016
Pinar del Rio has released some extraordinary cigars, but the Obsidian would have to be their coup de grace. The secret here is the dark and oily Brazilian Habano ligero wrapper. This exterior leaf offers ample complexity with sweet, spicy, and hearty notes. It’s rich, balanced, and highly approachable. -
Sean G - Gurkha Yakuza12/24/2015
Gurkha’s Yakuza is stunning. Yes, even for the brand known for their extravagant packaging, they’ve actually outdone themselves with an elaborate, unrivaled, hand-carved box. Even though the most hardened enthusiast’s jaw would still drop upon first sight of this beauty. But you know the old adage, “You can’t smoke the packaging…”
We’ve seen this before from Gurkha, right? Stunning design, average blend, right? Wrong. Yakuza was a surprise from the first moment I fired one up. Coming across as full-bodied, Yakuza has this subtle creaminess to the blend that keeps it from becoming too over-powering. Otherwise, your palate gets hit with notes of spice, espresso, and oak that really drive home a relaxing feeling. This paired really well with a nice bourbon and is the perfect nightcap to a long day. My only complaint? The price. These beauties will set you back a few coins but these are one of the few cigars that actually live up to the price tag.
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Sean G - Caldwell Blind Man's Bluff11/20/2015
My first impression of Caldwell’s Blind Man’s Bluff is how beautiful the cigar looks. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is simply stunning. A little rough to the touch but rolled seamlessly and dripping with natural oils. It’s easy to see why there’s so much hype surrounding this brand. And that hype is almost justified when I first fire one up. Smooth, crisp notes of pepper, cedar, and hints of espresso are present and make for an incredible opening to the cigar. Unfortunately, for me, that’s the highlight. As the cigar burns, I don’t notice many changes and the overall experience feels a bit lackluster. I get why everyone is drawn to Caldwell’s cigars; they’re made well, look great, etc. After enjoying a few of these, the results are always the same for me.
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Tim - Brick House11/12/2015
She’s a BRICK… HOUSE! From the makers of Diamond Crown comes the wildly popular Brick House brand. Under an oily Havana Subido wrapper leaf, the all Nicaraguan filler blend provides some power yet remains balanced and smooth with a slightly sweet finish. Well deserving of a ‘92’ rating and Cigar Aficionado “Best Buy” honors. Santa will be wrapping a lot of these this year.
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Alex - Dunhill Heritage11/12/2015
Known for mellower blends, Dunhill switches gears and pays tribute to Cuban heritage with this release. More full-bodied, this blend features an Ecuadorian Habano ligero wrapper, a Nicaraguan Jalapa binder, and a mix of long-fillers from Ometepe and Estelí, Nicaragua and the Jamastran Valley in Honduras. This potent new Dunhill is up my alley with plenty of spice and pepper.
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Andrew - Ramon Bueso Genesis Habano11/12/2015
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Dave - E.P. Carrillo Dark Rituals11/12/2015
Dark Rituals was a limited release years back and sold out virtually overnight. Back and better than ever, this rich, full-bodied blend from E.P. Carrillo features an extra-fermented Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper and a bold mix of Nicaraguan long-fillers. Its complex character is evident with each draw as delicious notes of coffee, leather, and spice entice the palate.
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Sean L - Rocky Patel Vintage '9011/12/2015
Vintage 1990 is the perfect medium-bodied blend. Draped in a 12-year-aged Honduran Broadleaf Maduro wrapper and brimming with 5-year-aged long leaf fillers, this cigar maintains a perfect balance of flavor, complexity and richness, offering strong earthy notes with a subtle espresso and dark chocolate undertone. A sweet finish allows for a thick and milky smoke throughout.
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Sean G - Padilla Hybrid10/23/2015
Full disclosure, I used to love Padilla Hybrid. I’d fire one up most mornings when I got into the office and pair it with a nice, dark espresso. Needless to say, when I saw these hit our docks again, I rushed to stock up. SPOILER ALERT: They’re still delicious. Hey, knock me for being biased but I’d be hard-pressed to find a cigar this good starting at $1.99 each. The mellow to medium-bodied blend hits all the right spots with rich smooth notes of cedar, almonds, vanilla and hints of spice on the finish. A great morning cigar for an enthusiast who normally enjoys fuller-bodied cigars. Sure, I won’t be firing one of these up on a special occasion but enjoying one every morning makes it feel like every day is a special occasion.
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Tim - Romeo y Julieta Viejo09/23/2015
Romeo y Julieta is known for their use of Sumatran and Connecticut wrappers, but not until the introduction of the Viejo did they become well-known for using a San Andres maduro wrapper, masterfully at that. Expect a sweet aroma reminiscent of fresh, baking bread and smooth, savory cocoa and cream flavors.
![Caldwell Blind Man's Bluff [HAB]](https://www.cigar.com/dw/image/v2/BKCV_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-stg-master-catalog/default/dwaf5b39da/CCOM/CS-CW7.png?sw=300 "Caldwell Blind Man's Bluff [HAB]")
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