Initial Thoughts The Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose Lonsdale is a great-looking cigar. The pink and black on the paper label provide a nice contrast, and the wrapper leaf is as smooth as silk. Visually, the Desert Rose Lonsdale has both a pigtail tip and a closed foot. Both features are somewhat common, Read more…
Tag: Smoke Time: 60 Minutes
Cigar Review: Drew Estate Factory Smokes Sun Grown Robusto
Initial Thoughts In some situations, you might say someone spared no expense to create something. Well, in the case of the Factory Smokes Sun Grown Robusto, Drew Estate spared every expense to create one of the cheapest, most budget-friendly, moderately premium cigars possible. Other than being about as plain-looking as you can get, the first Read more…
Cigar Review: Founders Roosevelt Maduro Robusto
Initial Thoughts In the business world, there’s a saying that goes like this, “It’s better to be different than it is to be better.” In other words, different is better than better. And today we’re smoking a cigar that’s definitely different, the Founders Roosevelt Maduro Robusto. Hopefully, it’s also better. The Founders Roosevelt Maduro Robusto Read more…
Cigar Review: Ponce Robusto
Initial Thoughts When I first got the Ponce Robusto (yes, that’s the full name) for review, I was immediately impressed by the aroma of the wrapper leaf and the simple but beautiful label. The Ponce Robusto was a good-looking cigar. It was short and dark and the veins on the wrapper leaf were well dehydrated Read more…
Cigar Review: Plasencia Alma Del Fuego Panatela
Initial Thoughts When I first reviewed the Plasencia Alma Del Fuego Panatela way back in 2019, I was just starting my cigar review journey. Now, three years and thousands of cigars later, we’re going to take another look at this Nicaraguan puro from the volcanic soil of Ometepe Island. The Plasencia Alma Del Fuego Panatela, Read more…
Cigar Review: Caldwell The Last Tsar Corona Gorda
Initial Thoughts Robert Caldwell claims that The Last Tsar is such a bold, nicotine-fueled cigar that you need a full stomach and something to put your feet on before you smoke it. Well, I have neither of those things, but let’s dive in anyway. The Caldwell The Last Tsar Corona Gorda was a good-looking cigar. Read more…
Cigar Review: Drew Estate Factory Smokes Maduro Toro
Initial Thoughts: We’ve smoked and reviewed a lot of cigars. Some of those cigars are super-premium with price points over $25. Other cigars we’ve reviewed are right in that $10-$15 sweet spot. But today we’re smoking what might be the cheapest cigar we’ve ever reviewed, the Drew Estate Factory Smokes Maduro toro. Visually, the DE Read more…
Cigar Review: Deadwood Sweet Jane Corona
Initial Thoughts: Today we’re going to talk about and review the Deadwood Tobacco Sweet Jane Corona, a cigar that’s NOT infused, but does have a sugar tip. I’ve never been a fan of infused or flavored cigars. In my experience, the tobacco in those cigars is often mediocre at best, but then an infusion or Read more…
Cigar Review: Room 101 Doomsayer Passive Toro
Initial Thoughts: Today, we may or may not be smoking the Room 101 Doomsayer Passive Toro (get it?), that’s got a companion called the Doomsayer Aggressive. Both cigars come from Matt Booth’s brand Room 101 Cigars. While the Aggressive I reviewed had some issues, I’ve got high hopes for the Ecuadorian Habano-wrapped Doomsayer Passive. However, Read more…
Cigar Review: Island Jim by Oscar #2
Initial Thoughts: While all cigars are works of art, some are the Sistine Chapel, and others are barely worthy of a refrigerator magnet. But today’s cigar, the Island Jim by Oscar #2, falls somewhere in between. However, despite its raggedy looks and #2-pencil-shape, the Island Jim by Oscar #2 (like the pencil) is a cigar Read more…
Cigar Review: Room 101 Namakubi 2021 LE Ranfla
Initial Thoughts: Today we’re going to take a look at the Room 101 Namakubi 2021 LE Ranfla, a cigar that’s been double wrapped in paper. During the first few weeks of March, I started tasting my way through Room 101’s cigars. With a sense of adventure, I explored the twisted mind of Matt Booth, and Read more…
Cigar Review: Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Series Toro
Initial Thoughts: I don’t normally put much stock into top 10 lists, and I rarely care what other “experts” have to say about cigars. But, when Cigar Aficionado put out their Top 25 Cigars of 2021, one of the cigars caught my eye. So today, we’re going to review the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Series Read more…
Cigar Review: Arturo Fuente Opus X Angel’s Share Robusto
Initial Thoughts: Today we continue our series of blind cigar reviews, where our goal is to provide you with a totally objective, completely neutral review of a cigar. Ellory went into this review completely blind; that means without knowing what it is, who made it, how much it costs, or what’s in it. To see Read more…
Cigar Review: H. Upmann Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage Toro
Initial Thoughts: In early 2022, when we decided to open our own cigar shop, we had to take a hard look at the cigars we wanted to keep in stock. And today’s cigar, the H. Upmann Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage Toro, was one of the cigars we hoped to evaluate. Over the past several months, Read more…
Cigar Review: Room 101 Farce Original Lonsdale
Initial Thoughts: Matt Booth, the founder of the Room 101 Brand and Room 101 Cigars, has a lot going on. From premium jewelry to premium cigars, from being a guy to hanging out with Guy Fieri, Matt must never sleep. Oh, and he blended today’s cigar, the Room 101 Farce Original Lonsdale. The Room 101 Read more…
Cigar Review: Quesada 40th Anniversary Salomon Press
Initial Thoughts: Before smoking it, I’d had the Quesada 40th Anniversary Salomon Press for right about a month. And, with each passing day, the 40th Anniversary looked more and more delicious. Let’s dive in. The Quesada 40th Anniversary Salomon Press is a very interesting-looking cigar. At first glance, the medium-brown wrapper leaf has quite a Read more…
