The Expert Review Library
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Lindsay - Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli09/23/2022
This ‘93’ rated spin-off of the original Black Market was Cigar Aficionado’s #9 of 2018. Sourcing prime tobaccos from the Plasencia family, this handmade utilizes a double binder (Honduras and Nicaragua) amid a Nicaraguan wrapper and long-filler bunch. Medium to full-bodied, it contains a consistent woodiness, with notes of caramel, cashew, cocoa, and a bit of raisin on the finish.
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Kelly - 5 Vegas Cask Strength09/23/2022
5 Vegas is a brand that delivers fantastic value for a premium brand. Cigars that will easily fit into your daily rotation. 5 Vegas Cask Strength weighs in as the strongest blend in their best-selling portfolio. The blend consists of all-Ligero tobaccos that are finished with a red-hued Nicaraguan wrapper. You’re going to want to want to have a full stomach for this powerhouse!
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Michael - Kristoff Maduro08/12/2022
The Kristoff Maduro is a boutique-made premium that does not lack flavor. This full-bodied cigar is everything a premium cigar should be. It has a Brazilian Maduro wrapper, Cuban-seed Dominican Olor binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. With notes of toasted nuts, spice, and a slight bit of sweetness on the finish, the Kristoff Maduro pairs perfectly with a classic brandy Sidecar.
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Quinn - Caldwell The King is Dead08/12/2022
The ‘93’ rated Caldwell The King is Dead sources some of finest and most unique Dominican tobaccos. Medium-bodied and well-constructed to provide a thick, balanced smoke, this premium exudes notes of cedar, earth, chocolate, and subtle hints of spice. This is a great cigar to pair with a cup of coffee, or your favorite libation!
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Lindsay - La Palina El Diario08/12/2022
El Diario in this instance means “daily,” so welcome to your everyday La Palina indulgence. This ‘93’ rated blend gets its spice from the top-choice Nicaraguan long-fillers, and its natural sweetness is courtesy of the Honduran Rosado wrapper. Offering up dense smoke and a fluid draw, expect notes of earth, cedar, pepper, nuts, and stone fruits.
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Kelly - La Herencia Cubana CORE08/12/2022
Normally, when you attach AJ’s name to a blend, it instantly puts it on the map. But La Herencia Cubana’s CORE line still flies under the radar. Why? As one of AJ Fernandez’s earlier releases, AJ’s celebrity hadn’t taken off quite yet. But let me tell you, this one deserves your attention. A bold, rich beauty ripe with notes of dark chocolate, spice, and hints of cashews.
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Bella - Toraño Casa Toraño08/12/2022
I admit, I’m not much of a morning person. So I definitely need that cup of coffee when I wake up. But what’s a good cup of coffee without a cigar to pair with it? And there’s few better than Toraño’s Casa Toraño. A smooth, mellow classic that provides crisp notes of almonds, earth, and hints of cream on the finish.
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Quinn - CAO America Potomac07/01/2022
It’s pretty easy to get behind this one, huh? Nothing says 4th of July like a CAO America! But all patriotism aside, this cigar is the real deal. This ‘92’ rated stunner comes equipped with a four-country blend of tobaccos finished with a sleek barber pole wrapper (maduro and Connecticut). Starting off with a hearty spice, the blend transitions to a rich dark chocolate note while offering brief notes of vanilla throughout.
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Lindsay - Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 '50 Years' Robusto07/01/2022
This ‘93’ rated premium marked the golden anniversary of the Toraño Exodus line – a blend commemorating all cigar families forced to flee Cuba. A toothy Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper atop long-fillers from two prized Nicaraguan regions dance on the palate with notes of earth, baking spice, black pepper, and turbinado. Medium to full-bodied, a long finish awaits all who enjoy it.
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Kelly - Alec Bradley Connecticut Toro07/01/2022
The after-dinner cigar gets all the credit. To me, it’s the morning cigar that gets me going. Pour a nice cup of coffee, fire up a Connecticut-wrapped gem, and gather my thoughts…an exceptional way to start the day. So, this month’s Alec Bradley Connecticut really resonates with me. A complex blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos finished with a seamless Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.
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