The Stogie Life

Fine Cigar Reviews and more

[adamscigarsreview]

Flor De Las Antillas

It was a warmer (ish) winter night in the Midwest. Chose this stick in the classic box-pressed Toro size. I drank a Johnnie Walker Black Label with this.

Producer: My Father Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder (2): Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan

This double binder cigar is produced by My Father Cigars, based in Estelí, Nicaragua. Jose “Pepin” Garcia, who fled Cuba when he was young, has developed the Tatuaje and Flor de Las Antillas brands, with the help of his son Jaime, after which their Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial line is named after. This is a great stick, pre-light draw is strong, with spice and nuts taking the forefront. I light up and it starts to get strong pretty quickly, almost to the point it’s concerningly powerful. Then it just stops and stays there, fortunately. This is a medium to full bodied cigar and the first third is full of pepper. It remains full bodied and complex. It slowly transitions into more nutty and earthy notes but the pepper takes the forefront. Some reviews mention a sweetness coming through but I didn’t pick up on this at any point. I never had to correct the burn.

Conclusion: A peppery flavor all the way through, with nuts and earthiness dropping in along the way. The scotch wasn’t a good pairing but this is a great cigar and I never had to correct the burn. It would pair well with a merlot, or better yet a Dr Pepper, Coke, or Ginger Ale. I have 4 more in my humidor and I look forward to smoking them.

89 RATING

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Padron 2000 Maduro

Swung by a new lounge today and grabbed a Padron 2000 Maduro. I’ve smoked the 3000 Maduro previously and was curious how this would compare.

Producer: Padron Filler: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan Wrapper: Nicaraguan

If you’ve ever smoked a Padron X000 then you know consistency very well. While they are not complex cigars, they are balanced and consistent most of the way through. It’s medium to full-bodied with a beautiful and slightly toothy wrapper, unlike the 3000 Maduro. It really delivered. After a nice smooth guillutine cut, the pre-light draw had those powerful chocolate and coffee undertones that are a common theme with Padrons. I paired this with a ginger ale and it really brought out the flavors of the cigar. This was a smooth consistent burn and required no touch ups. It never became bitter. Towards the last third, notes of leather and cashew came through and unlike most sticks, never became too hot. After 90 minutes I put this stick down at the nub, fully relaxed.

Conclusion: This is an incredible cigar. I paid $8 for this and yet it smoked far out of its price range. While not a luxury stick, it’s consistent, tastes great, burns even and pairs with just about anything, especially coffee and, surprisingly, ginger ale. 90 RATING

[adamscigarsreview]

Illusione Fume D’Amour

Tonight I went for the Short Churchill of a Fume D’Amour by Illusione. It was paired with a Balvenie 12 year Scotch.

Producer: Illusione Filler: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan Wrapper: Nicaraguan

This is a unique cigar because the wrapper was not made with a ligero leaf, the traditionally flavorful and upper leaf exposed to the most sunlight. In this case, cigar master Dion Giolito focuses on lower leaves to produce the flavor profile. The cigar is oily, easy to cut, and feels great in the hand. The band is sleek as well. The pre light draw was particularly sweet, both nutty and tasting similar to honey. After lighting, the first third burned quickly and was rather peppery. Still burning surprisingly hot, it remained peppery for most of the next third. As the cigar cooled off, I consciously puffed slower, and the ash held longer, more earthy notes of wood and leather came through but remained overshadowed by the pepper. Typically a cigar’s profile deteriorates in the final third near the stub but this remained remarkably strong without being too bitter or hot. I’ve had the Fume D’Amour before but this one was not as memorable or as mild as some of the others.

Conclusion: A little disappointed it did not live up to its predecessors but it was still an enjoyable smoke in great company. Great stick if you love earthy tones and a very peppery profile. 85 RATING

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Padron 3000 Maduro

Today I went camping and smoked my favourite go-to sticks after dinner. This is a Padron 3000 Maduro.

Producer: Padron  Wrapper: Nicaragua  Binder: Nicaragua  Wrapper: Nicaragua

Lemme start off by saying this is an underrated cigar. When I first started off smoking cigars, many guys I asked in the lounge said that this was their favourite cigar to smoke. While I have smoked a Padron 3000 before, this is my first review on it. I cut it and decided to take a pre-light draw. Strong notes of cocoa, chocolate, and coffee. The band, to me, came across as a bit dull and boring. This is a Nicaraguan cigar, and therefore I do not understand why there is an image of the country of Cuba on the front. It´s like driving around with a license plate on your car of a state you have never lived in, Simply absurd. Anyway, I lit up and it did not disappoint. From start to finish, it had a strong chocolate flavour and I noticed some spices and coffee on my palette at times as well. I would say this is a medium bodied cigar and quite tasty. My burn was even and it never got to hot. It did get a little bitter at the end though, which is puzzling since it wasn´t burning too hot. As far as flavour goes, it was really quite impressive. This is consistently good as well. I’ve never smoked a bad Padron 3000.

CONCLUSION: This is always good and you really can’t go wrong here. The thing I would praise most about this cigar is the value. I paid $8.25 for this and I have smoked cigars for $18 that don’t even come close in quality to this. While this is by no means a cigar meant to be smoked by royals, it is a fantastic value and worth every penny. It has great taste and is constructed very well. But the fact that a picture of Cuba is on the band of a Nicaraguan cigar really bothers me. What´s wrong with a picture of Nicaragua? 88 RATING

[adamscigarsreview]

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial

Today I sucked down a Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial

Producer: My Father  Filler: Nicaraguan  Binder: Nicaraguan  Wrapper: Nicaraguan (Connecticut Broadleaf)

I got this for a friend to smoke at our homecoming tailgate before the game, and liked it so much he told me at the dance the next day how great this stick was. I had to try this thing. I’ve had the El Hijo from My Father and it was average at best so I wasn’t sure about this. I immediately fell in love with it though. This is the little-known Marilyn Monroe of cigars. Simply gorgeous. The wrapper is a dark Maduro colour, is very smooth, smells absolutely fantastic, and the band is very classy and masculine. I lit it up and felt immediate pleasure and satisfaction. It was very spicy and the black pepper was very apparent. It had a rich Maduro chocolate flavour, and by that I mean that hard to find extra dark chocolate flavour. Then came the coffee notes. Dark roast. The taste then transitioned to very earthy, leathery, and woody. The black pepper remained very strong for the entire smoke though. The draw was flawless, further proof that it is constructed perfectly. The burn was even the entire time, ash held very firmly, and not to mention the beautiful curling clouds of white smoke. This would’ve paired very well with a glass (or three) of Merlot. This is full of very deep, rich, earthy, and spicy flavours. Without a doubt a full-bodied smoke. This took me a solid 2.5 hours to smoke and I wanted another immediately. My buddy was correct about this one; I bought him a damn good cigar for homecoming and I wish I had smoked it sooner.

CONCLUSION: My mind is blown. I’ve never smoked a cigar as good as this one. There is nothing to negatively critique about the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial. Perfect appearance, flavour, strength, construction, draw, buzz, and price. Nevermind getting married. I am in love with this cigar. I will smoke one every chance I get and I highly encourage you to try one. You will not regret it. This is a cigar sent from the gods. 92 RATING

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Illusione cg:4

A few days ago I smoked an Illusione cg:4

Producer: Illusione  Filler: Nicaraguan  Binder: Nicaraguan  Wrapper: Nicaraguan (Natural)

The only Illusione I have had prior to smoking this one was the Fume d’Amour, which wasn’t as good as I expected it to be. But I gave this one a go anyway. It looks good. Smooth, clean, and a simple but sophisticated band made it pretty appealing. I took a prelight draw on this and couldn’t distinguish any one flavour in particular. So I figured I should probably light it and found out. If only it had been Christmas time; nutmeg and cinnamon were noticeable. They remained for the rest of the smoke, but that is nothing to complain about. This really had a little bit of everything. Throughout the smoke I noticed hints of cocoa, coffee, black pepper, leather, and earth. The only thing missing was the saltiness sometimes found in Cubans such as Montecristos. It was complex the entire time. Ash held well, and the burn was mostly even. I only had to correct it twice. It didn’t turn bitter or burn too hot either. Very pretty white smoke but not a ton of it. More complex than the Fume d’Amour and a better nicotine buzz.

CONCLUSION: This is a medium-bodied smoke, and took about 2 hours. Alot of complexity but it also had alot going on at the same time, which left my mouth and nostrils confused about what it was tasting and smelling at times. It was a good smoke, but I’ve always found Illusiones to be overrated and a bit overpriced. They just aren’t my thing. I liked this cigar, but I didn’t love it. If you are a fan of Illusione, this is a great cigar for you and on the same level as the Fume d’Amour.  83 RATING

[adamscigarsreview]

La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor

Today’s smoke was a La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor.

Producer: Ashton  Filler: Nicaragua  Binder: Nicaragua  Wrapper: USA/Connecticut Broadleaf

I’ve smoked this stick several times before, so considering I picked it again, it must be good. First of all, this is an incredibly beautiful cigar and I love the elegance of the band, perhaps my favourite thus far. The wrapper leaf is smooth and dark. Some say presentation is everything in life. Well this one’s first impression is darn near flawless. I gave this robusto a nice punch cut and lit up. Upon lighting, I caught brief notes of spice. It wakes you up but isn’t overwhelming. For the first half, that spice began to fade and it became quite creamy and chocolately in some regards. The buttery sweetness is what I always look forward to when smoking this one. The ash buildup was firm and never fell. I had to knock it off myself. As the burn progressed, it became less sweet and more earthy and woody. It was pleasant however and maintained a creaminess. About 2/3 of the way through, the burn began to canoe and I had to correct it. The draw was a little tight at times, but I would attribute that to a poor punch cut by myself. In the past, these always have a flawless draw. Toward the end it became spicy, and there was a distinct nutmeg flavour. It did not become bitter or hot and I smoked this down to the nub. This is a full-bodied cigar and took me a solid 2 hours to smoke without relighting.

CONCLUSION: Consistency can be expected from the Ashton line, and I’m not sure I’ve ever had a bad La Aroma de Cuba. This cigar had a few minute issues; the burn wasn’t even the entire time and the draw was slightly tight at points. Otherwise this was as good as usual. Full-bodied, flavourful, and while it might not be a memorable smoke, it’s honestly a memorable cigar. You will remember the creamy, buttery sweetness encountered halfway through. This is my go-to cigar because I always know what to expect and it is always very enjoyable. I highly encourage giving this one a try.  86 RATING

[adamscigarsreview]

Montecristo White Series

Today’s smoke was a Montecristo White Series Corona

Producer: Montecristo  Filler: Dominican Republic  Binder: Dominican Republic  Wrapper: Connecticut Shade

Well I kept hearing things about how great Montecristos are. Or at least their Cubans. Anyway this one was interesting. I’m not a fan of Connecticut wrappers. I find them flavourless and uninteresting. Before I lit this up, it had a strong cedar-like sweet scent with maybe even a bit of honey. Quite appealing. The first part of the smoke was pleasant. It had a slight peppery zing to it and it wasn’t overwhelming. This cigar, by nature of its wrapper, is a very mild smoke, so I took a chance and paired it with a Budweiser. Cigars are good. Beer is good. Pairing them is hit and miss though. Today I hit. Mild and mild, they went well together. The ash held firmly and the burn was very even. The second third introduced a unique sweet n’ salty component. While it wasn’t enough to keep your attention, it was a rare gem of a flavour for non-Cubans. The final third died out a bit as far as complexity was concerned. The finish however was smooth and creamy; it did not burn hot nor turn bitter. 

CONCLUSION: Well its a Connecticut shade wrapper. To me they always have a mild and generic tobacco taste... *yawn*... It was uninteresting for 60 of the 80 mins it burned. I would like to take a moment to personally  thank the Budweiser for making this cigar seem nicer than what it really was. The slight saltiness was kind of cool, but I felt a little salty myself after I realized I blew $14 on that stick. I do not plan on smoking this for that price ever again. Go get an Ashton instead. Overall it was a cigar worth smoking. Once. Frankly it was dull and boring. 78 RATING

[cigarsandwhiskeys]

#Repost @sir_leone ・・・ Good Morning 👊🏻💨 #Stogie #Robusto #Cigar #Cigars #CigarAficionado #Cigaroftheday #Botl #Solt #CigarLife #CigarLover #CigarPorn #Partagas #Cohiba #Bolivar #Behike #Montecristo #CigarCutter #Humidor #Cigarsandwhiskeys #Bourbon #Scotch #SingleMalt #Whiskey #Whiskeys #Whisky #Rye

[adamscigarsreview]

Ashton Maduro No.20

Today’s smoke was an Ashton Maduro No.20.

Producer: Ashton  Filler: Dominican Republic  Binder: Dominican Republic  Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Hand rolled, medium bodied, and in a corona format, this was much like Anne Hathaway; a little aged but long, thin, and very attractive. Ashton is perhaps one of, if not THE best Non-Cuban cigar maker in the world. Anyway this is a gorgeous stogie. It smells a bit earthy with hints of cocoa on the pre-light. After lighting up easily I picked up some subtle notes of spice, specifically cinnamon. After only a few minutes it quickly transitioned to a chocolate flavour, which slowly strengthened, accompanied by that distinct Maduro taste. The chocolate remained a pretty consistent flavour throughout the entire stick but strong enough that it kept me interested. Ash held very well as I puffed out great clouds of white smoke. It was a very even burn and I didn’t have to worry at all about correcting it. I want to make a point on the draw here.... WOW. One of the best draws I’ve ever made. My guillotine cut was fast and precise so props to me on that but the construction of this cigar is flawless, inside and out. Smooth draw the entire time, requiring no extra or unnecessary effort. It burned hot at the end but was not bitter. 

CONCLUSION: This is a very good cigar and Ashton prides themselves in these. While it wasn’t necessarily complex, it was very balanced with it’s background notes of spice and earthiness among the strong chocolate Maduro taste. While often I prefer Nicaraguan seed over Dominican seed, this was an exception. It also reminded me why I love Maduros so much. I honestly have nothing to complain about regarding this one. Well done Ashton. 89 RATING

[adamscigarsreview]

Leaves of a Cigar

Today’s topic is some basic information on the type of leaves used in cigars and the wrappers. There are 3 parts to a cigar and 4 general types of leaves.

Parts of a Cigar

Filler: Uses 3 types of leaves. This is the tobacco on the inner-most part of the cigar. Hugely important and gives more flavour and aroma than the other parts.

Binder: Lead that wraps around the filler leaves and holds them in place. Gives the cigar its shape. This is the most important structural part of a cigar.

Wrapper: Goes around the outside of the binder leaf and gives the cigar its colour. Very thin and mostly used for appearance. 

ALL OF THESE MUST STAY HUMIDIFIED to prevent it from drying out.

Leaves of the Tobacco plant used.

Volado: The lowest leaf on the plant. Very combustible and is used for both fillers and binders. Mild flavour for the most part and receives less sun than any other part of the plant. Usually aged for one year. 

Seco: MIddle leaves. More aromatic than the others and is used in medium-bodied cigars. Usually aged for 2 years.

Ligero: Very flavourful. Full-bodied and adds strength to the cigar. Slow burning. Usually aged for 3 years.

Medio Tempo: Very small highly prized top leaves of the plant. Often gives off unique flavours and aromas. Must be aged very carefully. 

There is your Tobacco Biology 101 for the day. Enjoy.

[cigarsandwhiskeys]

#Repost @seamar5130 ・・・ A short little mid-week smoke. #cigar #cigars #cigarlife #cigarporn #cigarporn #nowsmoking #botl #cigaroftheday #cigaraficionado #instacigar #cigarsnob #cigarlover #oliva #olivacigars #serieo #whisky #whiskey #ageyourown #woodinville #woodinvillewhiskey #whitedog #smallbatch #craftwhiskey

[casadisartoria]

Name all five habanos you see here. #habanos #cigar #cigars #cigarlife #cigarporn #cigarlounge #nowsmoking #humidor #lounge #smoking #tobacco #botl #sotl #cubancigar #stogie #friendsofhabanos #gulf #gcc #cuba #travel #world #luxury #jetset #cigarsmokingmodel #daily #instadaily #lifestyle #cigaraficionado #weekend

[cigarsandwhiskeys]

Wise words from the wise man himself @mr_cigarman !!👍👌💨😃

#Repost @mr_cigarman ・・・ It’s #Saturday which means it’s time to head to Alexanders Cigar Merchants and join us for a cigar and a coffee!! www.cigars.com.au

[cigarsandwhiskeys]

#Repost @kokingz1 ・・・ Breakfast at 3 p.m.😂 strong burger and light smoke. Enjoy your sunday

[cigarsandwhiskeys]

#Repost @tripolicigars ・・・ 8yr old VSG by the pool with the brothers #ashtoncigars #ashtonvsg

[bdlux-deactivated20240122]

Let the record state I’m in debt to @bznupe18 lol. Thanks for the birthday smokes, I’m looking forward to enjoying these. #HappyBirthday2015 (at Prince Place Cigar Bar and Bistro)