Avo Syncro Nicaragua Robusto (5 x 50)

Video review HERE.

The Avo Syncro Nicaragua debuted at the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show.

The Avo Syncro Nicaragua is a box-pressed offering that incorporates Nicaraguan tobacco into the blend. While it is not the first box-pressed Avo Cigar (that would be the Avo Movement TAA Limited Release) and it is not the first Avo to contain Nicaraguan tobacco (the Avo Classic Covers 2015 had Nicaraguan tobacco), it is the first regular production line to contain both of these characteristics.

The name “Syncro” is a play on the theme of synchronization in music.

While the name is “Nicaragua”, the blend is actually a four country multi-national blend with tobaccos from Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Nicaragua. The Nicaraguan tobacco originates from Ometepe – a volcanic island located in the middle of Lake Nicaragua.

Wrapper: Connecticut Ecuador

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Ometepe, Nicaragua; Olanco, Peru; Dominican Republic, (Piloto, San Vicente Mejorado and hybrid Olor/Piloto)

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

The Avo Syncro Nicaragua is available four box-pressed vitolas. Each of the sizes is offered in a twenty count box.

Short Robusto: 4 x 52

Robusto: 5 x 50 (REVIEWED TODAY)

Toro: 6 x 54

Special Toro: 6 x 60

The cigar seems to have a reddish hue to the wrapper. It is well made and has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were boysenberry and orange citrus notes along with some sweet cream. There is a little black coffee at the base. There is also a white pepper rated at a 7.

Just over an inch in the flavors are pretty much like they started. The boysenberry and orange citrus notes are much sweeter now and there is a touch of butter in place of the sweet cream. There is a touch of dry wood also. Coffee holds the base. The finish is a sweet cream with a touch of citrus and some lingering white pepper. The cigar is medium bodied at this point.

A little over the midpoint the flavors are a little different. There is now a heavy presence of brown sugar to go along with the orange citrus. The boysenberry notes are much lower but still there. I still get a little dry wood too. The butter notes seem to have decreased. Coffee still at the base. The finish is still sweet cream with citrus but there is also some brown sugar there too.

With about 1 1/2 inches remaining I noticed the buttery notes are not gone. They are still there mixed with the brown sugar. The orange citrus is the main sweet flavor and the boysenberry notes seem to have gone away. There is a dry cedar flavor also which could be the mysterious dry wood note I was getting earlier. The finish is unchanged. The cigar seems to be inching toward medium to full bodied but it's still around medium bodied. The cigar has made several changes along the way.

The cigar lasted about the average time for a robusto. The flavors continued to the end from the last segment. I enjoyed the sweet citrus with brown sugar and a touch of butter. The boysenberry notes were nice while they were around. There was a little black coffee at the base but not too much. The white pepper increased as the cigar burned and topped out at an 8. The white pepper really came out on the finish. This was a tasty cigar that made several changes. The flavors were very nice but not quite as intense as I would have liked. Good cigar and well worth trying.

Score: 91

CAO Stingy Scrooge (6 1/2 x 52)

Video review HERE.

This is the first review for the 2016 review year!

CAO has rolled out its annual Christmas / Winter Themed releases for 2015; the CAO Wicked Winter and the CAO Stingy Scrooge. This marks the third consecutive year CAO has done a seasonal release. The top picture shows both cigars.

To start things off I decided to go with the Stingy Scrooge.

Wrapper: Connecticut Habano
Binder: Brazilian Arapiraca
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, Dominican
Toro: 6 1/2 x 52

The Stingy Scrooge is a dark cigar with an absolutely huge band. Needless to say it won't be on long.

Here is a shot of the foot.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were a sharp, sweet boysenberry with black licorice and black coffee. There was black pepper rated at a 7 1/2. This will be a dark noted cigar.


About one inch in there was some sweet cream and it was very noticeable. It went nicely with the boysenberry. The licorice and black coffee notes are at the base. I want to see if the sweet cream develops into something else. The cigar is a low level medium to full bodied. The finish is one of cream and dry wood. Odd, yes, but that's what it is. There is a little black pepper on the finish.




Approaching the midpoint the buttery notes expanded and the flavors now taste more like a sweet, milk chocolate with a slight buttery flavor and black coffee at the base. The black pepper has increased on both ends. The cigar is a solid medium to full bodied.

At the one hour mark I noted some sweet cedar mixing in with the milk chocolate and coffee. There is still a touch of butter; not much but it's there. The finish is unchanged.

The coffee notes really came out at the end. There was still milk chocolate with a touch of butter. There was still a touch of cedar also. The pepper increased to an 8 rating. This was a good cigar and well worth trying. Since it's a seasonal blend they may not be around very long but any shop that sells CAO Cigars will have them. Give it a try. A good dark noted cigar.

Score: 88

Top cigars of 2015

This was a good year for cigars. I smoked some very good cigars. In total there were 73 cigars reviewed. I had scores ranging from 88 to 95. I will show you all the cigars I reviewed with their scores and will highlight the top 20. Links to each top 20 cigar are shown. (The format is cigar name, size, date reviewed)

Video review of Top 10 cigars of 2015 can be seen HERE.


No. 20
La Aurora Untamed Robusto (5 x 50) 2/8/15

No. 19
Psyko Seven Toro (6 1/4 x 48) 1/24/15

No. 18
601 La Bomba Sake Bomb (4 1/2 x 42) 5/31/15

No. 17
Dunhill Heritage Robusto (5 x 50) 9/27/15

No. 16
1502 Nicaragua Churchill (7 x 48) 6/27/15

No. 15
Perdomo Small Batch 2005 Sun Grown Belicoso (5 x 54) 5/10/15

No. 14
Nomad C-276 Toro (6 x 50) 5/2/15

No. 13
Merciless Robusto (by Joya de Nicaragua for Famous Smoke Shop) 5 x 50 10/11/15

No. 12
Miura 12 Anos Robusto (5 x 50) 10/24/15

No. 11
PRE-RELEASE REVIEW: Dunhill Signed Range Seleccion Suprema (6 x 50) 8/29/15


No. 10

Vega Fina Nicaragua Gran Toro (6x52) 1/31/15




No. 9

Epicurean Carnavale Toro (6 x 52) 3/14/15




No. 8

Guayacan Sabor de Esteli Maduro Toro (6 x 52) 4/25/15




No. 7

Arandoza Cigars Defcon Toro (6 x 50) 11/21/15




No. 6

Roma Craft CroMagnon Aquitaine Cranium (6 x 54) 1/18/15




No. 5

My Father "S" Special (5 x 50) 2/15/15




No. 4

La Musa Melete Lancero (7 x 40) 6/14/15





No. 3

Roma Craft Neanderthal HN (5 x 52/56) 6/6/15





No. 2

Viaje Holiday Blend 2014 (4 1/2x56) 1/25/15




No. 1

Viva Republica Advanced Warfare Corona (5 1/4 x 43) 8/30/15




Manufacturer of the Year:

With two cigars in the top 10 it was a no brainer. Roma Craft Tobac is this year's Manufacturer of the Year. They had the number 3 cigar; Roma Craft Neanderthal HN, and the number 6 cigar; Roma Craft CroMagnon Aquitaine Cranium. Congratulations and I look forward to trying your next blends.

An Honorable Mention goes to House of Emilio who had 3 cigars in the top 10 that were rated just behind the Roma Craft.




All cigars reviewed in 2015:

95
(No. 1) Viva Republica Advanced Warfare Corona (5 1/4 x 43) 8/30/15

94
(2) Viaje Holiday Blend 2014 (4 1/2x56) 1/25/15
(3) Roma Craft Neanderthal HN (5 x 52/56) 6/6/15
(4) La Musa Melete Lancero (7 x 40) 6/14/15
(5) My Father "S" Special (5 x 50) 2/15/15

93
(6) Roma Craft CroMagnon Aquitaine Cranium (6 x 54) 1/18/15
(7) Arandoza Cigars Defcon Toro (6 x 50) 11/21/15
(8) Guayacan Sabor de Esteli Maduro Toro (6 x 52) 4/25/15
(9) Epicurean Carnavale Toro (6 x 52) 3/14/15
(10) Vega Fina Nicaragua Gran Toro (6x52) 1/31/15
(11) PRE-RELEASE REVIEW: Dunhill Signed Range Seleccion Suprema (6 x 50) 8/29/15
(12) Miura 12 Anos Robusto (5 x 50) 10/24/15
(13) Merciless Robusto (by Joya de Nicaragua for Famous Smoke Shop) 5 x 50 10/11/15
(14) Nomad C-276 Toro (6 x 50) 5/2/15
(15) Perdomo Small Batch 2005 Sun Grown Belicoso (5 x 54) 5/10/15
(16) 1502 Nicaragua Churchill (7 x 48) 6/27/15
(17) Dunhill Heritage Robusto (5 x 50) 9/27/15
(18) 601 La Bomba Sake Bomb (4 1/2 x 42) 5/31/15

92
(19) Psyko Seven Toro (6 1/4 x 48) 1/24/15
(20) La Aurora Untamed Robusto (5 x 50) 2/8/15

(other 92 score cigars)
PDR AFR-74 Robusto (4 ½x50) 2/1/15
Rocky Patel Prohibition San Andres Toro (6 1/2 x 52) 2/7/15
Villager Cigars Cabarete Maduro Toro Largo (6 x 54) 2/28/15
Flores y Rodriguez 10th Anniversary Reserva Limitada Robusto (4 1/2 x 52) 3/1/15
Punch Signature Robusto (5 x 54) 3/22/15
Perdomo Small Batch 2005 Connecticut Toro Especial (5 1/2 x 54) 3/28/15
Drew Estate Nirvana Robusto (5 x 52) 4/12/15
Nomad Esteli Lot 8613 Robusto (5 x 50) 4/26/15
A. J. Fernandez New World Brute (6 x 66) 5/25/15
Inferno 3rd Degree Toro (6 x 50) 5/30/15
E. P. Carrillo La Historia Regalias de Celia (5 7/8 x 58) Pre-Release Review 6/7/15
Ezra Zion Tantrum PA (6 1/2 x 44) 6/13/15
Perdomo Special Craft Series Amber Epicure (6 1/2 x 54) 6/20/15
Camacho American Barrel Aged Toro (6 x 50) 7/11/15
Las Calaveras EL 2015 LC50 (5 x 50) 7/12/15
Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut Double Corona (6 1/4 x 50) 8/1/15
La Aurora Untamed Extreme Robusto (5 x 50) 10/6/15
Immortal Robusto (5 x 54) 11/17/15
Foundation Cigar Company El Gueguense Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) 11/22/15
Room 101 Johnny Tobacconaut Ranflactic (5 1/2 x 30 x 50 x 19) 11/28/15


91
Ventura Cigar Co. Project 805 Cubra Maduro Robusto (5 x 50) 1/4/15
Rocky Patel Decade Cameroon Toro (6 1/2 x 52) 1/10/15
Mia Dora Toro (6 x 50) 3/7/15
San Cristobal Revelation Triumph (7 x 50) 4/4/15
Ezra Zion Honor Series Reagan 40th (6 x 52) 5/3/15
La Aurora Puro Vintage 2006 Salamon (6 1/2 x 60) 5/23/15
Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Aging Room Small Batch F25 Capriccio (6 x 54) 8/8/15
El Centurion H-2K-CT Toro (6 x 52) 9/26/15
Cunning Robusto by Joya de Nicaragua for Famous Smoke Shop (5 x 50) 10/18/15
Cabreras Cigars Sumatra Robusto (5 x 50) 11/1/15
La Mission du L’Atelier 2009 (6 1/2 x 56) 11/14/15


90
Romeo Anejo Toro, by Romeo y Julieta (6 x 54) 3/21/15
E. P. Carrillo La Historia El Senador (5 3/8 x 52) 3/29/15
Cigar Bundles of Miami Made in Miami Habano Robusto (5 x 50) 5/17/15
A. J. Fernandez New World Connecticut Toro (6 x 52) 7/18/15
Uncharted Robusto by A. J. Fernandez (5 x 52) 9/13/15
Foundry Ramon Allones 550 (5 x 50) 9/20/15
Macanudo Estate Reserve No. 9 (5 x 50) 10/4/15
A. J. Fernandez Enclave Robusto (5 x 52) 10/10/15
Foundry Heritage Bolivar 550 (Robusto) (5 x 50) 10/17/15
Carnage Robusto by Nestor Plasencia for Famous Smoke Shop (5 x 54) 10/26/15
Tarazona XTC Robusto (5 x 50) 11/29/15
Camacho Ditka Game Time (6 1/2 x 54) 12/12/15

89
La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse (6 1/2 x 50) 1/3/15
Viaje Stuffed Turkey Dark Meat (5 x 58) 1/11/15
Sublimes Double Robusto (5 3/4 x 54) 3/8/15
Perdomo Small Batch 2005 Maduro Belicoso (5x54) 6/21/15
Leccia Luchador El Gringo Frog Splash (4 1/2 x 70) 9/19/15
Torano The Brick robusto (5 1/2 x 56) 10/4/15
B&J Reserva Especial (6 x 58) 10/31/15
Vudu Dark Robusto (4 3/4 x 50) 11/27/15

88
Headlines Second Edition Page 1 (5 1/2 x 60) 2/21/15
Room 101 El Mas Chingon #3 (Double Toro) (6 1/2 x 60) 5/16/15


Thank you for logging on to my blog this year and watching the YouTube videos. I hope you will join me again in 2016 as I review more fantastic cigars.

If you would like to send cigars to be reviewed contact me at ticotych@hotmail.com and we can discuss it. Thanks to everyone who sent cigars to be reviewed this year.

I look forward to reviewing more cigars in early January, 2016.

SANTA JULIA MAKES A COMEBACK

PRESS RELEASE
12/14/2015
For Immediate Release

Miami, Florida - December 14, 2015 - Antillian Cigar Corporation, also known as Sosa Cigars, has developed a year-long project in celebration of their 50th Anniversary making cigars. As many already know, part of this celebration has included the "returning to their roots" campaign where they have re-established older cigar brands that made them who they are in the cigar industry today. This year has already seen the successful rolling out of their Imperio Cubano Miami brand and the Macabi USA brand. The next portion of this project will be reviving the brand, Santa Julia.    

Santa Julia was the name of the farm the Sosa family owned in Taguasco, Cuba. In the 1920's, Don Juan Sosa bought the Santa Julia farm with his son, Arturo Sosa. They grew Sun Grown tobacco to be used as fillers and binders for cigars. The breath-taking Santa Julia farm encompassed over 900 acres of land, and employed mostly Sosa family members and some locals. Unfortunately, this farm was lost to the Castro regime.


As part of the Sosa's celebrating their longevity and consistency in the cigar industry, Arby Sosa felt is was time to re-introduce Santa Julia as a cigar brand. Santa Julia is being made out of La Vega Cubana in Clearwater, Florida. The wrapper used is an Ecuador Habano Oscuro, the binder is Honduran and the fillers are from the Dominican Republic and the quaint village of Condega in the Esteli region of Nicaragua. Santa Julia will be limited to two (2) sizes, Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52) and Toro (6 x 50), and will only produce 20,000 cigars. The first batch will be released in late January 2016. The remainder of the production will be released throughout the upcoming year. M.S.R.P. for the Torpedo size will be $9.90 and the Toro will be $9.60.

About Antillian Cigar Corp:

Antillian Cigar Corporation is the manufacturer of the popular brands of Sosa Classic, 60 by Sosa, Imperio Cubano and Macabi. The Sosa family has been in the cigar business for 4 generations, more than 70 years. The Sosa cigar tradition began at the turn of the 19th century with Don Juan Sosa, a small tobacco grower in the fertile Taguasco region of Cuba. By the 1920's, that farm was one of the largest tobacco-producing haciendas in Cuba. Over the next 30 years, Don Juan's son, Arturo, and grandson, Juan, continued growing and selling their tobacco. Exiled from their homeland in Cuba in 1962, the Sosa family opened their first U.S. store in 1964 in Miami, FL. The Sosa's currently have 2 stores in Florida, including the shop in Downtown Disney. They have their line of cigars in 300 stores across the country. Today, the legacy of quality, handmade cigars made in the Cuban tradition continues with master blender, Juan B. Sosa, alongside his wife, sons and nephews.


       

Camacho Ditka Game Time (6 1/2 x 54)

Video review HERE.

The Game Time becomes the seventh blend to be released under the Ditka brand – named for NFL Hall of Famer, Mike Ditka.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina

Filler: Dominican, Honduran

Country of Origin: Not Disclosed

Vitolas Available

The Ditka Game Time is available in one size – a 6 1/2 x 54 Gigante. The cigars will come in 20 count boxes with a total of 2,500 boxes being produced. Each cigar will have an SRP of $11.00.

The cigar has a nice feel in the hand. Here is a shot of the foot.

The test draw after cutting the cap was effortless. The initial flavors at light up were a very sweet, sharp orange citrus with a touch of boysenberry and massive amounts of black pepper rated at an 8. 

About 3/4 inch in the flavors are starting to develop. There is now brown sugar attached to the sweet, orange citrus and some white chocolate notes along with dry wood. There are also black coffee notes at the base. The cigar is medium bodied and I expect it to move up soon. The finish is very much like a white chocolate with some lingering black pepper but not a large amount.

About 2 1/2 inches in the flavors are about the same but I noticed changes in intensity of them. The lead flavor of orange citrus with brown sugar is pretty much unchanged but the dry wood and white chocolate notes seem to fight for dominance. There is an effervescence feel to this cigar much like you would experience in a soft drink. The finish is now more of a toasted cream with sweetness. It reminds me of a vanilla wafer. The lingering pepper is elevated. The cigar is now medium to full bodied.

The cigar continued along the same path for the majority of time from the last segment to the end but there was a change with about 2 inches remaining. The dry wood and coffee notes became very elevated and tried to dominate the sweeter orange citrus. The white chocolate notes were still noticeable but they too were overshadowed. This major change seemed to hinder the cigar. The first half of the cigar was much better.

Score: 90

New York City trip; December 6-9, 2015

This was out second trip to the Big Apple. Last year's trip was a birthday present from my wife where we attended the Big Smoke New York and did a little sightseeing. We enjoyed our trip so much that we wanted to go back, this time for more sightseeing. It's not like you can see the city in 2 or 3 days in one trip. So, Sunday morning we flew out of Columbia heading to our layover at Reagan International Airport. But, the weather had other ideas. When we approached Washington the fog was over the runway so we were deserted to Dulles Airport. We were told that we would be there long enough to refuel and then fly back to Reagan Airport. We sat on the runway for what seemed like hours (in reality it was about 45 minutes to an hour). Then the pilot came in to tell everyone that we were to disembark the plane to take a bus back to Reagan. The ride was about 30 minutes by bus but we got a chance to ride by some famous Washington sights like the Pentagon. Once at Reagan Airport we went to the American Airlines counter to get another flight to New York City since our original flight had already left. We were lucky and got a flight that was leaving in only 40 minutes. The flight to NYC was much less exciting. We landed, albeit about 3 1/2 hours later than we had originally planned. We quickly grabbed a cab to our hotel.

We stayed at the Row NYC on 8th Avenue just a block from Times Square. Originally Connie had wanted to hit the ground running but since we were so far behind we decided to take it easy. We could catch the hop on/hop off bus tomorrow. We decided to get something to eat and then walk down to Cigar Inn cigar shop at 1016 2nd Avenue. It's about a 30 minute walk. We were very familiar with the walk as we did it several times last year. As soon as we walked in to door I recognized a very familiar face. I decided that I had to speak to him and introduce myself. So, I walked over and stood before him. He looked up and I said, "Mr. Giuliani, hi, big fan of yours." He was so accommodating. He immediately started a conversation and we talked for several minutes. Of course, I worked politics into the conversation. It's no surprise that we agreed on just about everything. I had heard he dropped by Cigar Inn from time to time so I was not totally surprised that he was there. He told me that he had a locker in every cigar lounge in New York City. You might be interested to know that on the table in front of him were several cigars, 2 of which were the 601 Blue. He told me that he likes fuller bodied cigars. After a few minutes we left him but I sincerely appreciate his time. He took a minute to take a picture with us.

Connie, Rudy Giuliani, me

After a couple hours we walked back to our hotel feeling completely safe on the streets of New York. Perhaps I should point out that there were police everywhere around the city. There were many people walking around the city, as there always are.

Our first full day was bright and sunny. After a workout at the hotel gym we went to get our tickets for the hop on/ hop off buses. Being a former student of architecture I really enjoy looking at the massive structures New York City has. Everything from ornate old style to modern sleek new age looking buildings. Here are some of the sights on our uptown bus loop.

The Ciroc ad on this building looks like a standard billboard ad but it's actually a painting! They change the ad every 2 weeks and it takes the crew of painters 2 days to paint the ad. Quite impressive.

The massive Macy's department store.

It was a chilly morning for us.

We went by the iconic Empire State Building and the Flat Iron Building; both impressive sights.

We made our way into China Town where Connie wanted to make a small purchase from the local street vendors. You know, when in Rome... Well, she was met as she stepped off the bus by one of the local ladies. She and Connie went across the street where the quick purchase took place. Here is Connie just after her purchase.

The streets of China Town.

Our next stop was the Freedom Tower. It is a fantastic looking building with new construction all around it. You really have a somber feel walking around the grounds.

More sights along the way aboard the bus.

The bus rode past the famous Trump World Tower, home of Mr. Donald Trump.

The streets close to Times Square were packed with people. After all, it is Christmas time in the city!

On the agenda today was a trip to Rockefeller Center and a ride to the "Top of the Rock". It's a quick elevator ride to the top. Once there the views are simply spectacular.

Once it was dark we walked around the city again. There were Christmas lights everywhere. Here are some we passed.

On our second full day in the city we boarded the bus again for the downtown tour. 

We wound our way to the tomb of Ulysses S. Grant.

Across the street was the massive church, St. John the Divine. A beautiful structure.

We left the bus behind and walked to find the famous Tom's Restaurant, made famous on the Seinfeld TV show. I did not know it was located right on the Columbia University campus.

Inside Tom's

We sat at the counter, had coffee and a chocolate cheesecake slice, and thought about the Seinfeld characters.

We set out to find our next cigar shop to visit; Papa Juan's Cigar Lounge in Harlem. it was about a mile away. 

Once there we met the owner, Francis.

Papa Juan's is a beautiful lounge with heavy wood accents.

A patron of the shop, Juan. Not the Juan the shop is named for but this Juan was full of helpful information. He even convinced us to ride the subway back to the city.

This is a wood sculpture of THE Juan.

Being true tourists, here we are at the subway waiting for our train.

We got off the subway on 59th Street at Columbus Circle. It was near there that our next cigar shop stop was located; Davidoff of Geneva on 59th Street. Amber met us and showed me to the humidor. 

Davidoff of Geneva was a modern looking cigar shop.

When we left Davidoff of Geneva we walked back to the hotel and passed hundreds of Christmas lights.

T

Wednesday morning we flew back home but the memories of our trip will last forever. Somehow, I feel like we'll be back again one day.