B&J Reserva Especial (6 x 58)

Video review HERE.

These cigars are new to me. I was asked to review them to bring awareness to the  masses about them. Little Cigar Box is a distributor for these cigars and sent me the samples. 

The B&J Habano cigars are wrapped in a Ecuadorian Habana Wrapper, HVA binder grown in the fields of El Cibao, the filler is Cubano San Vicente, Olor Dominicano and Criollo 98, also grown at El Cibao fields.

The cigar is well made with a slight sheen to the wrapper. It has a very dense feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was a bit firm. The initial flavors were a bit odd but nice. They were a sweet strawberry preserves flavor mixed with some boysenberry notes, coffee and earth at the base with black pepper rated at a 7 1/2.

A little over an inch in the flavors are about the same but you can add light leather, which took the place of the earthy notes. There is also a touch of buttery cream attached to the sweeter flavors. The cigar is medium bodied at best. The finish is a lightly toasted cream with some lingering black pepper; not a great deal.

At the midpoint the flavors have not changed but the amount of them has. The sweet strawberry notes are prominent while the boysenberry notes have just about gone away. There is still a touch of buttery cream. The leather notes are subtle and the coffee is still the base. The cigar is still medium bodied. The finish is unchanged. 

With about 2 inches remaining the strawberry notes are still the main flavor with the touch of buttery cream. The leather is very light and adds a little something to the coffee at the base. The pepper is still good. The cigar is still medium bodied but seems to be wanting to head in the direction of medium to full.

The cigar ended with the strawberry notes the lead player. That's the good point. The negative is there are not enough lower level flavors to equalize the extreme sweetness. However, this has been a pretty good cigar. The price point of these is fantastic; $3.69 each and that price lowers with larger quantities. You can buy these cigars at The Cigar Box.

Score: 89

Carnage Robusto by Nestor Plasencia for Famous Smoke Shop (5 x 54)

Video review HERE.

Carnage cigars are here, and they're ready to wreak havoc on the cigar industry with hard hitting flavor. From blending mastermind, Nestor Plasencia, this incredible cigar uses a mixture of Nicaraguan seco, viso, and ligero fillers for an exquisite balance of strength and flavor, a Honduran Connecticut binder for a perfect burn, and a flavorful Habano wrapper to round out the smoking experience.

Carnage is available in 4 sizes:

Churchill 7x50 $69.95/box

Magnum 6x60 $76.99/box

Robusto 5x54 $63.95/box (REVIEWED TODAY)

Toro 6x52 $69.99/box

All Carnage boxes contain 20 cigars.

The cigar is a dark brown and has an oily sheen to the wrapper.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were a leathery sweet cedar with some high pitched cherry notes, dry wood, and sweet cream. The pepper was a white pepper rated at a 7 1/2. 

About 1 1/2 inches in I had a major burn issue. It was bad enough that I decided to touch it up. The flavors were just like they started but there is now some coffee at the base. The leather is very prominent. It's a clean leather but very noticeable. The cedar/cherry mix is still the main sweet flavor with the sweet cream giving it some added sweetness. The cigar is full bodied already. The finish is a mix of cherry and sweet cream with some nice lingering pepper.

The cigar did not change until the end. The flavors are pretty much the same throughout but the cherry notes took the lead over the sweet cedar. The leather toned down a bit and the cream notes were still there. The burn issue resolved but it was a major burn issue. The finish was unchanged. The pepper seemed to change to a black pepper somewhere around the midpoint. The cigar had good flavors but the major burn issue really bugged me. I had one other cigar previously and had no burn issues so give them a try and see how you come out. These cigars are available here.

Score: 90

Miura 12 Anos Robusto (5 x 50)

Video review HERE.

This is the new cigar from Miura Cigars. To be honest I don't know much at all about it either. All I really know is it's made in the La Aurora factory.

Last year I reviewed the La Patrona which was my number 3 overall cigar of the year. That cigar was Geidy's cigar, Jorge's wife. The Miura 12 Anos is the follow up cigar.

The cigar is well made and has a slight sheen. It is a dark brown and had a nice dense feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were a sweet, tangy orange citrus with a dash of cherry, dry wood, brown sugar, marshmallow cream, and black coffee. There was a ton of black pepper rated at an 8+.

About one inch in the sweet orange and cherry mix is changing over to a sweet cedar. The marshmallow cream is still prominent and the brown sugar is also. The dry wood and coffee are somewhat subtle. The finish is a very sweet cream with nice lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied but it shows signs of moving to medium to full The cigar is burning very evenly.

Just past the midpoint the cigar has changed over to a sweet cedar but it also has a little sweet cherry. The brown sugar is still prominent while the marshmallow cream is somewhat subtle. The dry wood is a little more noticeable and the coffee is still the base. The pepper is still very good. The finish is unchanged. The cigar is now medium to full bodied. The cigar is very sweet with some nice darker notes.

As the cigar ended it had a lot of sweet cedar with a touch of cherry, brown sugar, dry wood, and coffee. The marshmallow cream is hardly noticeable at this point. The pepper was very good throughout. It actually topped out at the beginning and went slightly down as it burned but never lower than a 7.5. This has been an excellent cigar. Once again Miura Cigars has come out with a great cigar. Look for them at local shops and ask for them if you don't see them!

Score: 93

Famous Smoke Shop announces #Famous, a new cigar in collaboration with Nestor Plasencia

#Famous has been a highly anticipated release in the cigar industry due to its immense flavor and nearly flawless construction. This line has been blended by Nestor Plasencia and rolled in his factory in Nicaragua using a flavorful and semi-spicy Nicaraguan wrapper along with a mild blend of filler tobaccos to mellow the smoking experience out while still maintaining a taste that appeals to mild to full bodied smokers alike.

Cigar Advisor Copywriter and Cigar Reviewer Jonathan Detore said of #Famous ‘This is one of the most revolutionary cigars to hit the market in a long while. The flavor is a mix between creamy, nutty, vanilla, with a sweetness that brings all these notes together for a smoking experience that is nothing short of spectacularly relaxing. It’s great in the morning with a cup of coffee, preferably with some cream and sugar, or even at night after a meal as a dessert cigar. Really, it’s a great any-time of day smoke. What’s even better is the humidification jars these stellar cigars come in. It’s an air tight humidification jar that ensures each shipment of cigars is fresh from Famous shipping the cigars, to the customer receiving the cigars. For the price, you can’t get much better than #Famous.”

#Famous cigars are now available at Famous Smoke Shop, and is packaged in innovative humidification jars with the 4 x 38 Petite Corona vitola coming in a jar of 36 cigars, and a 6 x 50 Toro vitola coming in jars of 19. The individual MSRP on the Petite Corona is $2.28 and the MSRP on the Toro vitola is 4.14. People interested in learning more about #Famous Cigars or Famous Smoke Shop should visit Famous-Smoke.com or call 800-564-2486. For those interested in learning more about Cigar Advisor, log on to www.cigaradvisor.com.

Cunning Robusto by Joya de Nicaragua for Famous Smoke Shop (5 x 50)

Video review HERE.

The Cunning is the second cigar that Joya de Nicaragua made for Famous Smoke Shop. I previously reviewed the Merciless robusto which received a score of 93. 

(from the Cigar Coop website)

“This cigar offers what I consider to be the best of both worlds,” Famous Smoke Shop editor and cigar reviewer John Pullo remarks on the Cunning. “The immense flavor that pours off this cigar is unbelievable, and the wrapper is perhaps one of the biggest players in this blend. When mixed in with an all Nicaraguan core, and you have the perfect recipe for a relaxing yet not overpowering smoke. So in essence, what you have is a cigar that borrows the smoothness of a Connecticut wrapper grown in the fertile soils of Ecuador for beefed up flavor, along with a complexity courtesy of Nicaragua which grows tobaccos similar to that found in Cuba for an overall and undeniable flavor bomb. It certainly gets two thumbs up.”

The Cunning definitely has the look of a Connecticut with a light brown wrapper color. The cigar is well made and has a nice feel in the hand.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Joya de Nicaragua SA)

Robusto: 5 x 50 (REVIEWED TODAY)

Toro: 6 x 50

Magnum: 6 x 60

Churchill: 7 x 50

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good with just a touch of firmness. The initial flavors were orange citrus, boysenberry, sweet cream, and a lot of white pepper rated at an 8. The finish is a thick toasted cream which reminds me of a tapioca pudding. There is also a lot of lingering white pepper. The cigar is medium bodied at this early stage.

1 1/2 inch in the burn is almost perfect, just as the Merciless had. There is some coffee at the base and a touch of butter on the cream. The front end flavors combine to give a caramel-like flavor. The boysenberry notes are lighter but still detectable. The citrus notes and buttery cream is very nice. The pepper remains very good. It is up to an 8 1/2 now. The cigar is still medium bodied.

At the midpoint the buttery cream is now tasting like a buttery toffee. That's the only change on the front end but it really impacts the overall flavor profile. The finish is unchanged. The cigar is moving to medium to full bodied.

The cigar ended with more of a sweet cedar rather than a citrus. The toffee has a toasted flavor attached to it. The pepper has dropped down a tad but not enough to hurt the cigar. The finish is still a toasted cream with a slight toffee flavor. The lingering pepper remained very good. The cigar reached medium to full bodied. This has been a very good cigar. For a Connecticut shade cigar it had some power and very nice flavors. Of the two, I prefer the Merciless over this cigar but it was very good and well worth a try for those times when you want a lighter cigar with ample power and great flavors. To try the Cunning in a 5 pack or box go HERE.

Score: 91

Foundry Heritage Bolivar 550 (Robusto) (5 x 50)

Video review HERE.

It starts with an optical lesson in history. Right on the box, bolivar cigars are named for Simon Bolivar. The legendary liberator who led wars of independence in South America. The brand began in Cuba in the 1900's. Its classic taste reimagined by Foundry Tobacco Company. The cigar contains tobacco from six countries.

Wrapper: USA Habano Connecticut

Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico & Nicaragua

Available in these sizes:

660 6x60 $7.49

652 6x52 $6.99

550 5x50 $6.49 (REVIEWED TODAY)

I previously reviewed the sister cigar to the Bolivar, the Ramon Allones. Both are new cigars from Foundry Tobacco Company for General Cigars.

The cigar has a nice oily wrapper. It also has a nice pigtail cap and an unfinished foot.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were dark notes; black coffee, dark chocolate, sweet boysenberry, and a touch of molasses. There was black pepper rated at a 7 1/2. 

Just over an inch in there are some flavor changes. The sweet boysenberry notes now have a sweetness from a marshmellow cream. The coffee is a nice level at the base. The dark chocolate notes are secondary to the sweeter flavors. The molasses notes are overshadowed by the other sweeter notes. The black pepper may have ticked up a notch. The finish is a toasted cream with some nice lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied.

The ash remained intact until close to the midpoint. The boysenberry notes are transitioning into a straight sweet cedar. The marshmello cream is still attached. There are quite a bit of the dark chocolate notes. The black coffee is now even in strength to the sweeter flavors. There are flashed of dry wood from time to time. The cigar is medium to full bodied at this point. The finish is unchanged.

The cigar ended around the 45 minuted point. I enjoyed the sweet notes of marshmellow cream on the boysenberry and cedar. The coffee was very good and the black pepper was also. The finish was unchanged, but nice. This cigar is similar in many ways to the Ramon Allones that I previously reviewed; very dark noted. The price point is very good and well worth a try.

Score: 90

9TH ANNUAL PORT AUTHORITY POLICE HISPANIC CIGAR SOCIETY NIGHT UNITES CIGAR COMMUNITY

The group known for their fundraising activities, hosts event October 3oth for a great cause


(Miami, Florida) October 15, 2015— The 9th Annual Port Authority Police Society Cigar Night,  taking place on Friday October 30, 2015, brings together consumers, manufacturers, and personalities of the cigar industry for a great cause. Event to take place at the Graycliff Banquet Hall 122 Moonachie Ave Moonachie, NJ 07074 from 8PM to Midnight.

Juan Cancel, organizer of the PAPHSINC said:” I can't recall seeing an event with so many cigar companies, coming together for such a noble cause. At our first event, nine years ago we had 75 guests. Today we have 350 supporters attending, with tickets selling-out within a couple of weeks.”

This year’s event will feature a welcome cocktail hour, courtesy of La Hoja Cigars, four-course dinner, and live music.  Event goers will receive over 20 cigars, courtesy of the 30 plus cigar sponsors. Guests will have the opportunity to dine, smoke, and mingle, with “cigar royalty”.

Proceeds from tickets sales will benefit PAPHSINC and their humanitarian endeavors locally and abroad.  The overall goal is to change the lives of children, who suffer social and economic difficulties. Some of the work they do include: working closely with the Boys and Girls Club of America, with programs to prep young students for the SAT’s. Funds are also used to sponsor inner city little leagues, field trips and, they also provide a yearly scholarship to a community college for a young adult in the field of criminal justice. From helping to build homes or paying a teacher’s salary for an entire year in the Dominican Republic, the overriding goal of the PAPHSINC is to change a Child's future and aiding them to rise above the challenges they were born into.

Those who wish to keep the party going can attend the “official after party” at Cigar Emporium from 12:30AM to 3:30AM.  The after party will feature an event by A.J. Fernandez himself. Expect live music, lite bites, and refreshments. Cigar Emporium is located at 607 Ridge Rd, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071

For tickets and more information about The 9th Annual Port Authority Police Hispanic Society Cigar Night please visit: http://berkeleyhumidor.com/items/pahscigarnight



Cigar Sponsors to include: Nat Sherman, Drew Estates, Rocky Patel, General Cigars, Viva Republica, Gurkha, Espinosa Cigars, Black Label Trading Company, Foundation Cigar Company,  Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, Flor De Gonzalez, Hermosa, Villiger, Ventura Cigars, Arandoza Cigars, MoyaRuiz, Caldwell, Primer Del Mundo, Epic, Boutique Blends, La Hoja, Que Vida, El Galan, Dominican Big Leaguer, Capa Dura, Sosa, Alec Bradley, Franklin Cigars, Puros De Santiago, Cubariqueño Cigar Company, Kuuts, Crowned Heads, Headlines, AJ Fernandez, Fuente, Dram, Roberto Duran, Enki, Tatuaje, Ortega, Cigar Dojo, Adelphia Cigars, La Flor Dominicana, D'Crossier, Asylum, Cubanacan, XIKAR La Sirena , Debonair , La Barba Boutique Cigars, Padilla, CAO, CigarSnob Magazine



For media inquiries: please contact Creativas Group Public Relations via:  info@creativasgroup.com.

CAO CIGARS ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP OF AMAZING SURF ADVENTURES’ OPERATION SURF PROGRAM

Richmond, VA – CAO Cigars announces that the brand will donate a portion of the proceeds from its small batch cigar called CAO Honor to the Amazing Surf Adventures (ASA) Operation Surf program benefitting wounded military heroes.

CAO’s donation will support ASA’s 13th Operation Surf event which will be held starting today through October 19, 2015. Twenty four wounded active-duty and veteran heroes from various branches of the U.S. Military and the United Kingdom will take part in the epic, life-changing experience at beaches across the Central Coast of California. The weeklong program will be led by Van Curaza and a team of world class surfers and instructors.

Ed McKenna, senior brand manager for CAO Cigars said, “Over the past several years, we’ve been involved with Operation Surf in small ways, and we wanted to make a push to help out in a much bigger way via CAO Honor. The work that the folks at Operation Surf do in helping wounded heroes cope with physical injuries and PTSD through surfing is incredibly impactful, and we are proud to contribute.”

“We are grateful to CAO for their support,” said ASA President and Founder Van Curaza. “This donation will provide the funding needed to hold more surf clinics for our active duty military and veteran heroes, thereby allowing us to continue providing a life-changing experience for them, one wave at a time.”

CAO Honor is a limited edition cigar handcrafted in Nicaragua of the finest, hand-selected tobaccos. A bold smoke with pronounced notes of leather and spice, CAO Honor is now available at cigar shops across the U.S. This limited edition release comes packaged in a 14-count box that prominently features the stars and stripes. The cigars will sell for $8.50 apiece at retail, or $119 for a box.

Working with the Brooke Army Medical Center, Help for Heroes and the EOD Warrior Foundation, ASA provides brave men and women the opportunity to experience adaptive rehabilitative and recreational recovery through surfing, camaraderie and an unforgettable experience. The seven-day event includes five days of surf instruction.

“No matter what your injury is,” said thirty-seven year old Jason M., “it’s nice to know you can be successful at a sport. Participating in Operation Surf helped me realize that my brain injury and paralysis don’t limit my dreams. Just a bump in the road. Keep doing what you’re doing with the clinic; it was a great stepping stone for me.”

About Amazing Surf Adventures

Amazing Surf Adventures (ASA) develops community programs which utilize surfing along with other activities, to help individuals change their perspective and overcome their particular life challenges. We are dedicated to helping them by providing opportunities to reach their potential, accept their past and break through their perceived limitations by changing lives one wave at a time. Operation Surf is a program of Amazing Surf Adventures, a California 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Tax ID 26-3661313.

About CAO Cigars

Handcrafted by artisans in Nicaragua, CAO is recognized by cigar lovers worldwide for its innovative blends, superb quality and unexpected packaging. The brand continually receives top ratings from cigar media across the globe, and enjoys a devoted fan base. For more information, please visit www.caocigars.com.

Merciless Robusto (by Joya de Nicaragua for Famous Smoke Shop) 5 x 50

Video review HERE.

Famous Smoke Shop introduces a couple of shop exclusives from Joya de Nicaragua. Cunning will offer a milder offering in a Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper blend while Merciless will feature an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper blend and be geared more toward experience cigar enthusiasts. The cigars are available now online. 

Both cigars are described as small batch limited production releases, but are not one time releases either.

Today I am reviewing the Merciless robusto.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Nicaraguan

Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Joya de Nicaragua SA)

Available in boxes of 20 in these sizes:

Robusto: 5 x 50 (REVIEWED TODAY)

Toro: 6 x 50

Magnum: 6 x 60

Churchill: 7 x 50

The Merciless is made in the Joya de Nicaragua factory and is well made. It has a nice oily wrapper with an average dense feel in the hand.

The Joya de Nicaragua logo is seen on the Merciless band.

The test draw after cutting the cap was excellent. The initial flavors were a tangy orange citrus with roasted nuts, leather, coffee, and black pepper rated at an 8. The cigar tastes like it will be full bodied soon. I would call it medium to full bodied as it is now.

About 1/2 inch in the cigar settled down nicely. There are now sweet, tangy orange citrus notes with cinnamon notes. The leather notes have really come forward and the black pepper has increased to an 8 1/2. The roasted nuts and coffee are still there. The finish has some citrus and cream and a lot of lingering black pepper. The cigar is moving toward full bodied. This cigar has a lot of Joya de Nicaragua flavors.

2 inches in and the burn is almost perfect. The leather is very prominent and there are now nutmeg notes mixed in. The citrus notes are sweet but they are overshadowed by the leather. There are still cinnamon, roasted nuts, and coffee notes. The finish is unchanged. The pepper is very good on both ends. This is shaping up to be a nice surprise. The cigar is now full bodied.

With about 2 inches remaining the roasted nuts have made a move forward to go along with the heavy leather and nutmeg.. There are coffee notes at the base. The leather is 70% of your upfront flavor with the sweet citrus and cinnamon the other 30%. It's actually a good mix. The finish is unchanged.

The cigar ended with a little nutmeg on the finish. This has been a good full bodied cigar. The heavy leather and nutmeg mixing with the sweet, tangy orange citrus and cinnamon with roasted nuts made for a nice cigar. If you like full bodied cigars put this one on your radar screen. It's a must-try cigar. The price point is also very good. You can purchase these cigars HERE. Very good house cigar from Famous Smoke Shop.

Score: 93