More Reviews By Michael

This '90' rated beauty might be a Nicaraguan puro but its soul is Cuban. With notes of cedar, coffee, and a bit of spice, Plasencia Alma Del Campo will definitely find a home in your humidor. With a medium-bodied profile, pair this premium with a peaty Scotch like Laphroaig on a chilly evening.

This '91' rated beauty from Erik Espinosa is a medium to full-bodied smoke that tastes as good as it looks. 601 Green has a dark, oily Habano Oscuro wrapper blended with well-aged Cuban-seed tobaccos from Nicaragua. This blend yields complex flavors of earth, leather, and dark chocolate. Pair this cigar with Macallan Highland 12 year Single Malt Scotch.

When the weather starts getting chilly, this is the cigar to reach for. Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua is a medium smoke that is extremely complex. It features a dark Nicaraguan wrapper, a Cuban-seed Brazilian binder, and fillers from the Dominican, Nicaragua, and Brazil. Imparting notes of oak, espresso, and black pepper, pair it with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.

Oliva Serie 'O' garnered multiple '90' plus ratings, and for good reason. This Nicaraguan puro is a perfect balance of tobaccos from three different growing regions in Nicaragua, giving it complex, layered flavors. With distinct notes of pepper, dark chocolate, and spice, this medium-bodied robusto pairs perfectly with an Italian espresso coffee or your favorite stout.

Camacho Connecticut is the mellowest in the Camacho portfolio, but don't take that for having a lack of flavor. This '90' rated gem has great balance, delivering notes of cedar, nuts, and a bit of pepper on the finish. Boasting an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, it's perfect when you're teeing off on the front 9.

Don Pepín García Blue is a smooth and rich powerhouse with a '93' rating from legendary Jose Pepín García. Blended in classic Cuban tradition at the prestigious My Father Factory, this all-Nicaraguan blend has notes of red peppers, cocoa, cedar, delivering a rich and spicy finish with a perfect draw. Pair perfectly with a single malt Scotch.

La Aurora Preferidos Cameroon Platinum is a '91' rated smoke that should be a staple in any humidor. This beautifully-crafted figurado features a toothy Cameroon wrapper and specially aged Dominican binder and multinational filler. It's then aged several years in oak barrels, giving it notes of coffee and chocolate with a smooth, sweet, yet spicy finish.

Blended by Master Blender Willy Herrera, this '91' rated smoke is a perfect example of a Connecticut Shade-wrapped cigar that isn't wimpy. The blend of Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Sumatra binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers gives you lush and smooth flavors with notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and a pop of pepper.

'95' rated Rocky Patel Decade is beautifully constructed with Nicaraguan fillers and binder, then draped with a dark and oily Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. This box-pressed beauty is complex and well-balanced with flavors of bourbon, black pepper, and coffee, finishing with hints of ripened cherry. Perfect to pair with a nice stout on a chilly afternoon.

Reserva Real hits the mark with an unmistakably beautiful, golden Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf, while the Nicaraguan and Dominican blend surpasses expectations with an amazing combination of mellow complexity which generates profound flavors that excite the taste buds. Make sure to keep them on hand in your humidor!