More Reviews By Michael

The Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut is another outstanding cigar in the Vintage series and an excellent any-time-of-day cigar. This mild to medium-bodied smoke features a seven-year-aged Connecticut Shade wrapper, encasing a Nicaraguan binder and a complex blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican Ligero fillers, giving this cigar rich notes of cream, nuts, and toast. It’s the perfect pre-dinner cigar to pair with an Apple Spiced Martini.

The Romeo y Julieta Reserve is a ‘90’-rated blend handmade in Honduras from premium Nicaraguan and Honduran binder and filler tobaccos covered by an oily Nicaraguan wrapper leaf. This perfect blend of premium tobaccos gives this cigar notes of leather, cinnamon, and almonds. The Churchill size is perfect for the golf course and afterwards pairs well with a Continental Sour.

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.

The Camacho Pre-Embargo cigar is a truly unique gem that needs to have a place in your humidor. This flavorful cigar is covered in a Jamastran Corojo 99 wrapper leaf which encases Honduran tobaccos and a few leaves of pre-embargo Cuban tobacco. Giving this cigar a rich, medium-bodied smoke with notes of cocoa, nuts, and cedar. To pair with this beauty, I suggest a Negroni.

Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne is definitely worth a spot in your humidor. Not a wimpy Connecticut, this mellow to medium-bodied smoke has an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and Cuban-seed Nicaraguan binder and filler, giving it a rich, smooth smoke with notes of cream, oak, and cedar. The perfect cocktail for this cigar is a Kentucky Mule.

This '92' rated gem ranked Cigar Aficionado's Top 25. Made in Nicaragua with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler gives it complex notes of wood, vanilla bean, and toasted nuts with a smooth caramel finish. I'm breaking out the bourbon for this one and pairing it with a Scofflaw cocktail.

Another winner from cigar industry icon, AJ Fernandez, Hoyo La Amistad Gold is a '90' rated medium to full-bodied smoke packed with flavor. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper drapes a complex Nicaraguan binder and filler producing earthy notes of spice, cocoa, and pepper—perfect for an early evening smoke paired with a vodka Ruby cocktail.

Governor's Private Blend is another Gurkha gem. This cigar features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Dominican binder, and Columbian Corojo filler. Once lit, this medium to full-bodied smoke features complex notes of cedar, spice, and coffee. Very smooth, well-rounded, and perfect to enjoy with hot Spiced Apple Twinings of London Chai Tea with Jim Beam Whiskey.

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real is a creamy smoke that's a must-have. The Connecticut Shade Ecuadorian wrapper is enhanced by the Nicaraguan binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers, resulting in notes of roasted nuts and slight spice on the finish. On a chilly night, I like to pair this with a Maple Old Fashioned.

If you're looking for a medium to full-bodied cigar that's smooth, look no further than E.P. Carrillo Capa de Sol. Featuring a sun Grown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper surrounding choice Nicaraguan binder and fillers, this blend gives you wonderful notes of coffee, cocoa, and a slight peppery finish—perfect to pair with a premium brandy, neat of course.