The Expert Review Library
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Sean L - Man O' War Armada04/13/2015
The Man O' War Armada is arguably one of the finest cigars to leave Tabacalera Fernandez. The secret to its success can be contributed to the elusive and coveted ligero sun grown wrapper. Rich notes of almond, cedar, and leather abound making this one of the most decadent and appealing cigars to hold the Man O’ War name. -
Andrew - E.P. Carrillo Cardinal Natural04/13/2015
The Cardinal series runs a bit of the stronger side yet the smoke is rather smooth. Even though this blend is light on spice the power is still there, so don’t let it fool you. Leather is in the forefront of this cigar with a toasty bread note with just a hint of coffee and earth. For heavy hitters out there, this blend packs one serious punch.
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Alex - La Gloria Cubana Serie R04/13/2015
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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Bryan - La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse04/10/2015
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. -
Bryan - Don Tomas Clasico Maduro03/28/2015
Talk about a cigar I never thought I would purchase. Don Tomas may have been an industry giant at one point in time, but in the 10+ years I’ve been enjoying cigars, ‘The Don’ has remained pretty quiet. Maybe it’s the band that reads ‘Don Tomas’ or is it ‘Don’t Omas?’ My subconscious has always replied, ‘Ok, ok, I won’t.’ Until two weeks ago anyway, when I was offered one Don Tomas Clasico free of charge and prepared to step into uncharted waters.
ConstructionThe wrapper looks a bit marbled and it’s a thinner leaf than most of the newer Habano-seed wrappers on the market. With a gentle squeeze, the cigar felt firm to the touch with no soft spots. The cold draw was perfect and I knew at the very least this cigar would burn properly. At these early stages of my experience with Don Tomas Clasico, I was still a skeptic.SCORE: 11/15
Flavor & BodyUpon first light, I’m hit with notes of hay, cedar, and leather. It’s rich, it’s delicious, and the finish is light and clean. It’s immediately apparent that the tobaccos inside have had some serious age on them, and that is a good thing. As I get about halfway in, the blends sweetness begins to shine which adds a nice balance into the mix. With each puff, the cigar gets creamier and the flavors are melding together well. Here I am, completely confused, and borderline upset. My intuition has deceived me; Don Tomas Clasico is a wonderful medium-bodied blend. It has plenty of subtle flavors without all the strength.SCORE: 23/25
Smoke & BurnThis cigar was built to burn well and it shows. What I mean – today’s full-bodied blends are so loaded with thick ligero leaves that you need to either re-light them frequency, draw on them constantly until they burn too hot, or smoke the cigar on the dry side. Don Tomas requires none of that. The thinner Habano-seed wrapper burns razor-sharp along with the rest of the tobaccos. The ligero center of the fillers keeps the cigar lit even when you set it down for a minute. This allows the cigar to burn cool and evenly, and the flavor really shines as a result. The ash is white and a little flaky, but it doesn’t detract from the experience one bit.SCORE: 24/25
ImpressionI like Don Tomas Clasico. Enough to purchase a whole box in fact. Is it my favorite blend of all time? No. Have I started thinking about replacing my morning Connecticut with Don Tomas to accompany my coffee? Yes, absolutely. In an industry dominated by extremes (the mellowest or the strongest), it’s rather difficult to pin point a good medium-bodied blend that you can rely on. Don Tomas makes quick work of filling that need. Clean, crisp, balanced, and highly flavorful, that is Don Tomas Clasico.SCORE: 32/35
OVERALL SCORE: 90/100
This cigar was rated Cigar Aficionado Best Bargain in 2006 and now I know why. If you goal is strength then you’ll probably want to sit this round out. If you are a looking for a hearty, medium-bodied no-nonsense blend at a fair price, take a look at Don Tomas Clasico. Pick up a single or 5-pack and let me know what you think. -
Dave - Diesel Uncut03/19/2015
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. -
Alex - Oliva Serie 'O'03/02/2015
The flagship blend from one of the most renowned families in the cigar business, this Nicaraguan puro exhibits top-notch construction with a Cuban-esque flavor profile of spice and rich cedar. Its oily habano wrapper is always impressive and meshes perfectly with a hearty blend of fillers grown in Esteli, Condega, and the Jalapa Valley.
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Tim - Diesel Unlimited03/02/2015
With so many limited edition releases clogging up the sales chute these days, it’s refreshing to have a reliable, everyday cigar that is always available. Dressed in a stunning Ecuadorian habano wrapper, this gem from AJ Fernandez is my ‘go-to’ blend when I need a stogie break and might be the best damn cigar you can get.
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Kirsten - Tatuaje Tattoo03/02/2015
Hailing from Estelí, Nicaragua, Tatuaje Tattoo was created with the everyday enthusiast in mind. The construction, body, and flavor is what you’d expect from Pete Johnson and Don Pepín along with a welcomed attribute of value rarely mentioned in the same breath. This approachable Tatuaje blend hits the spot every time.
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Sean L - Brick House03/02/2015
J.C. Newman is America’s oldest cigar company and with age comes wisdom. One of their very first releases, Brick House remains strong with a ‘92’ rating from Cigar Aficionado. Bursting with Nicaraguan long fillers and draped with a propriety Havana Subido wrapper, this medium to full-bodied cigar is always consistent and oozing with complexity.
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