The Expert Review Library
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Dave - Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo07/17/2010
Poderoso (6.0"x54) This torpedo is super smooth yet maintains that robust character you're searching for when picking up an Antano. You'll get ample notes of spice and pepper but a semi-sweet finish leaves your palate feeling crisp.
Azarosa (4.5"x52) Recommended for those trying this blend for the first time. Spicy and robust with a clean finish. Expect a true, even burn with an effortless draw as this stick gains complexity from head to foot.
Pesadilla (4.7"x60) This thick perfecto creates a ton of complexity from the start with semi-sweet nuances throughout that intermingle with earthy, cedar-like flavors as the cigar burns. The second half of this beast is potent, strong and super full, which keeps your interest. Not balanced.
El Martillo (5.5"x54) The compliment to the Azarosa size, El Martillo is bold. While Azarosa creates a great balanced between spice, pepper and sweetness, El Martillo focuses on strength and a hearty character. Recommended for those who enjoy thick, full-bodied, full-tilt robustos. Offers a smooth finish.
Peligroso (5.0"x44) A firecracker to say the least. If you prefer a plethora of spice and pepper up front with no relief, this is your stick. Lost points due to a tight draw and it burns slightly hot, especially the last 3 inches. -
Dave - Cain 'F' Nub by Oliva07/02/2010
Robusto (5.7"x50) Perfectly balanced which makes this size a real treat. The initial flavor presents a bouquet of earth and black pepper while drastically building in strength from start to finish. The finish offers no sweetness as its hearty, thick smoke engulfs your palate. Great stick.
Torpedo (6.0"x54) Complex and robust from the start. Intense notes of spice and pepper mask any earthy nuances while the finish remains bold with notes of cedar. Be sure to cut the head more than 1/4 inch down to ensure an effortless draw. Ages very well.
Double Toro (6.0"x60) Strong, potent, robust, powerful and recommended on a full stomach. Seriously, you'll feel the strength of this size in your head as well as your gut so we recommend enjoying this one after a heavy meal. The blend is complex, but its strength overpowers. If you like full-tilt, full-bodied cigars and care little about their complexity, go with this size. -
Sean G - Diesel06/21/2010
If you're looking for the full-bodied, spicy counterpart to Diesel, this is it. The flavor changed drastically from the original Diesel blend due to the 4.5"x60 parejo frame. You're immediately met with potent spices and notes of pepper from the start while the strength slowly builds. Still maintaining the same filler blend and wrapper as the original Diesel, Shorty Ltd. Edition also has a semi-sweet finish and comes perfectly balanced. Great smoke.
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Sean G - La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte04/17/2010
Toro (6.5"x50) Great burn and draw. Created thick, creamy smoke and a ton of complex earthy nuances with a rich, flavorful after taste. Maintained a medium finish with a medium body and can be enjoyed any time of day.
Belicoso (5.0"x56) Burned slightly uneven but corrected itself immediately. Produces a ton of smoke while burning cool from the start. Offers an effortless draw and creates an incredibly full character while leaving an oily feel on your palate.
Salomon (7.1"x58) Tight draw at first, due to the shape of this cigar. Toast the end well to prevent an uneven burn. The blend really opened up after two inches, creating hearty, earthy flavors with some pepper flavors mixed throughout. Will burn for at least 70 minutes.
Robusto (5.5"x54) A decent 45 minute cigar. Not as complex as the other sizes but maintained a consistent flavor from start to finish. You'll notice this size offers a sweeter character on the finish and does not burn as robust, keeping a smooth mellow after taste from the start. -
Bryan - El Mejor Espresso04/02/2010
Torpedo (6.5"x54) Potent and supremely rich from the start. This size keeps the sweet-characters to a minimum while producing a hearty, yet mellow earthy flavor with a touch of pepper that rests on the back of the palate. You'll experience many competing espresso notes that keep your interest from the start. Impressive.
Robusto (5.5"x50) Smooth and mellow with soothing full flavors. This 45-minute stick contains many more sweet nuances than the other sizes and presents complexities during the first two inches. The final three build in strength for a medium finish while the smoke leaves an oily feel on your palate.
Toro (6.0"x52) Well-balanced, maintaining the same flavor from head to foot. Up front you're met with a sugar-sweet nuance that slightly masks its hearty and bold earthy core. Remains rich throughout and offers a long-lasting finish.
Churchill (7.0"x50) Not our size of choice but a perfect blend if you enjoy chewy, thick smoke with robust, hearty flavors throughout. This stick offers very little in terms of sweetness and just builds in strength without ever becoming full-bodied. Burned unevenly and the ash did not hold for more than an inch. -
Bryan - Drew Estate Liga Privada T5203/16/2010
Toro (6.0"x52) Packed full of flavor from the first puff to the last. Pepper hits your palate up front as cedar and earth take over after an inch. The Habano wrapper provides ample hearty nuances that keeps your palate entertained for an hour. Perfectly constructed with no soft spots, this beautiful cigar offers little in terms of sweetness but packs a robust, incredibly flavorful punch.
Robusto (5.0"x52) Burned cool and slow. Seemed slightly less robust compared to the toro size with less complexities. There are many earthy and cedar-like nuances throughout with less of an emphasis on spice. If you prefer a smooth, medium-bodied blend with only light complexities, this is your stick. -
Dave - 5 Vegas Triple02/15/2010
The wrapper is incredibly oily with light veins and a smooth, seamless appearance. Very attractive. Upon lighting, light earthy nuances exist as thick smoke engulfs your palate. Cycle the smoke through your nose and you'll find sweet, coffee-like flavors on the finish. Expect a cool burn and effortless draw due to the thick ring gauge as the strength increases from medium to full as the blend burns. Rich and complex, this cigar is easily comparable to Camacho Triple Maduro or Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Maduro. Excellent.
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Dave - Tatuaje Havana VI01/04/2010
Artistas (6.2"x52) This torpedo features a sturdy frame and exudes a ton of thick, creamy smoke. You'll taste a good amount of pepper during the initial light but the blend only slightly builds in strength, providing a great balance between body and flavor.
Hermosos (5.6"x46) Great after dinner. The length creates full flavors and allows for a slightly stronger body, making this size robust and complex. The ring gauge keeps the stick burning slow, even and creates hearty nuances with a lengthy finish.
Nobles (5.0"x50) A great 45-minute indulgence. Consistent in flavor from start to finish with many competing nuances of earth throughout. Light spices grace the palate for a medium finish while the smoke emitted is thick and aromatic.
Almirantes (7.0"x47) With a perfect balance between flavor and strength, this size burns like your standard churchill. Expect at least 70 minutes of enjoyment as the blend burns clean and even. Pepper and rich notes of cedar intermingle throughout. Enjoyably complex.
Victorias (6.0"x38) If you enjoy long cigars and relatively quick smokes, then Victorias is your size as it only burns for about 30 minutes. Very robust and incredibly potent, this almost tastes like a different blend since its long length and small ring gauge create a full body with an exorbitant amount of pepper left to tantalize your senses. Burned hot and slightly uneven.
Angeles (4.6"x42) A perfect winter blend. You'll only need about 25 minutes to enjoy this size. The flavors produced are potent and earthy, maintaining a great character, but the cigar burns incredibly hot. -
Sean G - Diesel11/03/2009
The first puff overwhelms the palate with rich smoke as earth and sweet cocoa intermingle for a great flavor. The cigar becomes robust as it flawlessly burns from inch to inch but still maintains a perfect balance with underlying hints of black pepper. The finish is relatively long but enjoyable as espresso lingers on the palate. Excellent.
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Dave - CAO Brazilia09/15/2009
Gol! (5.0"x56) The big ring allows for a cool,even and effortless burn and draw. The complexities of this size overwhelm the palate with rich nuances and a sweet aftertaste. Enjoyable.
Amazon (6.0"x60) A little longer than the Gol!, this size really opens up after an inch and continues to build in complexity as the cigar burns. Very rich with full flavors.
Lambada (6.0"x50) Offered less pepper up front and burned slightly uneven. The wrapper looked great, however, and the cigar emitted a fantastic aroma.
Ipanema (7.0"x50) This size you'll need at least an hour to enjoy but it doesn't get too exciting until the final 4 inches, where it just builds in strength to become a full-bodied powerhouse towards the nub. Make sure you have a full stomach before trying this one.
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