1502 XO Toro (6 x 50) sn 162487

Video review HERE.

The 1502 XO is the newest edition to the 1502 line and Enrique Sanchez Icaza. It is a limited edition cigar. The total boxes produced were 1502 boxes of 10 cigars. Each cigar has it's own serial number. This cigar is number 162487.

The cigar is very well made and box pressed. The wrapper is oily and very dark. Not much is known about the blend but the cigar incorporates 18 year old tobacco. You can be assured that it contains some of the best Nicaraguan tobaccos. Enrique had this to say about his new cigar:

"I have always strived for perfection in my life. Perfection cannot always be rushed. The 1502 XO achieves the perfect balance of flavor and strength, attained, in large part, by the use of well aged, rare 18 year old tobacco. Let the 1502 XO, our masterpiece, help you relax and enjoy the wonders of what life has to offer."

This cigar uses the cigar lock, a partially closed foot that Enrique is known for.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good with a touch of firmness. The initial flavors were a very sweet pink grapefruit, brown sugar, and black coffee.


About 2 inches in there is now a thick, white chocolate presence at the base. The other flavors of pink grapefruit and brown sugar are still the primary flavors. There was black pepper rated at a 7 1/2. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is a sweet cream with some citrus influence.

At the midpoint the percentage of flavors is changing. The brown sugar and white chocolate are the lead flavors with the pink grapefruit coming in a distant third. Black coffee continues to hold the base. The cigar is full bodied at this point. 

With about 1 1/2 inches remaining the coffee notes have really come out. The secondary flavors are now the brown sugar and white chocolate. The pink grapefruit notes are becoming quite faint. The cigar continues to be full bodied.

The heavy coffee notes continued to the end. The other flavors remained about like they were in the previous segment. This is a cigar that Enrique was lacking. It is full bodied and very different for him. These will be on shelves at shops that carry 1502 cigars March 5th. Be sure to try these before they are all gone! Very good cigar. 

Score: 93

Famous Smoke Shop Announces the Exclusive Release of the Romeo y Julieta Capulet and Montague 75th Anniversary

Easton, PA – With over 75 years of serving the industry, Famous Smoke Shop has been a leading online distributor of discounted premium cigars, with its humble roots tracing back to a small shop in New York City. The company specializes in offering the web’s widest selection of cigars at the lowest prices. It is with great excitement that Famous has just announced the release of two exclusive limited edition special-sized cigars to help celebrate Famous Smoke Shop’s 75th anniversary, both of which are line extensions of the widely popular Romeo y Julieta Capulet and Montague lines. Offered in a rarely seen 6 1/2 x 54 vitola, the first shipment has just arrived at the company’s warehouse and is currently available for sale on their website. The company has expressed that the new brand will be available in limited quantities, but is not a one-time release and will be a consistent offering for the foreseeable future.

The Romeo y Julieta Capulet 75th Anniversary features Honduran and Nicaraguan longfillers, and a Nicaraguan binder, all wrapped in a massively flavorful Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper for a smoke that’s easy and smooth, yet loaded with enticing flavors. The Romeo y Julieta Montague 75th Anniversary is a bolder blend than its sister cigar with a hearty blend of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and creamy Brazilian longfillers, a Dominican Olor binder, and a Brazilian Maduro wrapper. The result is an astoundingly rich and complex cigar from start to finish.

“75 years is a major achievement for any company,” Cigar Advisor reviewer and Famous Smoke Shop copywriter Jonathan Detore remarked. “But to remain family owned throughout all those years makes this occasion that much more special. And what better cigar to celebrate with than the Montague or Capulet? Both have been stellar lines since their release, and this limited edition size will only offer more of that impeccable core flavor to the mix. I was especially excited to try out the Montague because of the Brazilian longfiller which was outstanding, but the Capulet was a rock star in my taste tests as well. Very well done by the men and women at Romeo y Julieta, and a big thank you for commemorating our anniversary with this specialty cigar.”

Both Romeo y Julieta Capulet and Montague 75th Anniversary cigars will be offered in a special 6 1/2 x 54 Double Toro. With Famous’ special full box pricing, customers can enjoy this new offering with individual retail prices which range from $5.85 to $6.40 per cigar respectively, with production being limited to 1,000 boxes in the Capulet blend, and only 500 boxes in the Montague blend. People interested in learning more about Romeo y Julieta cigars or Famous Smoke Shop should visit www.Famous-Smoke.com or call 800-564-2486.

Asylum Lobotomy Toro (6 x 50)

Video review HERE.

Famous Smoke Shop has just released a new cigar line in collaboration with Asylum Cigar Company, under the leadership of founders and cigar experts Tom Lazuka and Christian Eiroa. 

Asylum Lobotomy cigars follow suit with the national brand of Asylum cigars by being full flavored and more full bodied, yet offer an enticing blend of all Nicaraguan tobaccos for a flavor unlike anything else in the cigar industry. The core tobaccos are a mix of various Nicaraguan tobaccos from around the country, with a spicy/sweet Habano Maduro wrapper.

Asylum Lobotomy cigars are available in four sizes:

7 x 70 Large Cigar

6 x 60 Double Toro

6 x 50 Toro (REVIEWED TODAY)

4 x 44 Petite Corona

Each offer 10 cigars per box, with the Petite Corona offering 20 cigars in a bundle. 

Individual retail prices range from $4.30 to $6.70 per cigar. 

The cigar is very dark and well made. I love the name! Here is a shot of the foot.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were black licorice, dark chocolate, coffee, and black pepper rated at a 7 1/2.

***NOTE*** Add 5 minutes to time shown in pictures. I forgot to start the timer!

Add 5 minutes to time.

Just over an inch in there are now buttery cocoa and brown sugar that has appeared. The black pepper on the finish is amazing! I rate it at an 8 1/2. The finish is one of a cream with some dry cocoa. The front end flavors are nice; buttery brown sugar, licorice, cocoa, dark chocolate, and black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied.

Add 5 minutes to time.

At the midpoint there has been an elevated amount of the buttery brown sugar. The licorice is still there but the cocoa has just about disappeared. The dark chocolate and coffee hold the base. The cigar is very close to full bodied. The pepper on the front end has elevated but the pepper on the finish is great.

Add 5 minutes to time.

The buttery brown sugar is very nice at the end. The dark chocolate really came out at the end also. The cigar is full bodied. The pepper remained very good on both ends. This has been a very good house cigar for Famous Smoke Shop. I would highly recommend you try these; perhaps a 5 pack to start with. I really enjoyed the buttery brown sugar and the massive black pepper. You can purchase these cigars by going HERE.

Score: 92

Punch Rare Corojo Returns with A New Frontmark

General Cigar announces that Punch Rare Corojo has begun making its annual return to retail. The seasonal collection welcomes a new, limited edition frontmark, while one of its original sizes will be retired this year.

The 2016 release of Punch Rare Corojo marks the addition of Regalias Perfecto, a 7.25” x 54 perfecto, available exclusively as part of a trade offer. Regalias Perfecto will be packaged in a sleek wooden box containing 10 cigars and will sell for an SRP of $7.99 per cigar.

The Double Corona size (6.75” x 48) will retire this year, once the limited allotment of this vitola has been depleted.

Punch Rare Corojo is handcrafted in Honduras and features a lustrous Sumatra wrapper cultivated in the mountains of Ecuador. Grown only in limited quantity, these rare, reddish leaves give Punch Rare Corojo its uniquely smooth taste. Bound with hearty Connecticut Broadleaf, the blend features a spicy blend of Nicaraguan, Honduran and Dominican tobacco for a uniquely-flavored, complex smoking experience.

Ed McKenna, senior brand manager for General Cigar’s Punch brand said, “The trend of seasonal cigars started with Punch Rare Corojo, and each year, cigar lovers eagerly anticipate the return of this exceptional blend. Given the range of frontmarks and the addition of Regalias Perfecto to this year’s lineup, we are confident that the limited supply of Punch Rare Corojo will be depleted quickly.”

Reintroduced in 2001 after a shortage of wrapper leaves caused the product to disappear at retail for several years, Punch Rare Corojo sold out as quickly as it returned that year. Since then, General Cigar has been able to secure a sufficient amount of the rare Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper for a limited annual release of Punch Rare Corojo. This year’s allotment is available in nine sizes, ranging in SRP from $4.19 to $8.29 per cigar.

Vudu Priest No. 3 (4 3/4 x 50)

*Note: Score revision; see end of post.

Video review HERE.

Famous has just released the third line in their exclusive VUDU cigar brand. The new release is the VUDU Priest following the wildly popular Dark and Sacrifice lines. All three are blended and produced by one of the best names in the industry J Fuego.

The cigar uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. The binder and filler are unknown.

Each size aside from the Corona comes in a reusable vacuum sealed humidification jar to keep your cigars fresh on arrival, and to allow each customer to store these cigars safely without taking up room in their humidor.

VUDU Priest cigars are available in four sizes – 

4 ¾ x 50 Robusto (#3) (REVIEWED TODAY)

5 ½ x 46 Cuban Corona

5 3/4 x 50 Toro (#7)

6 3/4 x 50 Churchill (#9)

Each offer 19 cigars per humidification jar, with the Cuban Corona size offering 13 cigars in a bundle which does not include the jar. Prices range from $3.80 to $5.15 per cigar. 

The cigar is a golden color and rather light feeling in the hand. Here is a shot of the foot.

The test draw after cutting the cap was effortless. The initial flavors were dry cedar, dry oak, and cream. There was black pepper rated at an 8. The cigar is coming across as medium bodied.

About one inch in I can already tell this will be a short smoke. There is now brown sugar giving the cigar much more sweetness. The pepper is very good on the finish also, which is one of a sweet cream. There is now black coffee noted at the base of the front end flavors. This appears to be a good morning cigar with a little power. The lingering black pepper is very nice.

Close to the midpoint the cedar and oak are getting secondary to the sweet cream and brown sugar. The coffee held the base. There is now a touch of butter on the cream which gives the cigar a slight richness. The pepper is increasing on the finish, which is very good.  The cigar is at the upper end of medium bodied.

The dry wood came out a little more at the end. The sweet, slightly buttery cream and brown sugar continued to be very nice. The pepper continued to increase on the front and back end. Pepper fans should like this cigar. The cigar is very close to medium to full bodied. You can feel a little of the ligero. This was a pretty good cigar. I am convinced this would be a good morning cigar. This cigar had good flavors and good strength for a Connecticut. 

You can purchase these cigars by going HERE.

Score: 88

*Note: Originally this cigar received a score of 91 but after smoking several others I noticed that if you do not have a very clean palate you will miss a lot of the flavors I described. Therefore, I am downrating it to an 88. (Feb. 23, 2016)

Henry Clay Stalk Cut Toro (6 x 54)

Video review HERE.

(Description portions taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)

Altadis debuted this cigar in January touting that this will take Henry Clay to the next level. The new line is the latest creation from Atladis’ Grupo de Maestros team.

Stalk Cut is a harvesting method where the entire stalk, containing all of the tobacco leaves is cut (as opposed to priming the leaves individually from the stalk). The stalk is then air cured in a curing barn. 

The Henry Clay Stalk Cut features a 2012 vintage Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over a 2010 Vintage Dominican Piloto binder, and a filler consisting of 2012 Vintage Dominican Olor, 2012 Vintage Dominican Piloto, and 2013 Vintage Nicaraguan Criollo.  The cigar will be available in three sizes – a Gran Corona, Robusto, and Toro.

The Grupo de Maestros represents some of Altadis’ most skilled cigar makers. Over the past few years, they have been involved on some high profile Altadis releases

Blend Profile:

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf, 2012 Vintage

Binder: Dominican Piloto, 2010 Vintage

Filler: Dominican Olor, 2012 Vintage; Dominican Piloto, 2012 Vintage; Nicaraguan Criollo, 2013 Vintage

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera de Garcia)

Vitolas Available:

The Henry Clay Stalk Cut is available in three sizes. Each cigar features an uncut footer. The cigars are packaged in 20 count boxes with the cigars divided into two ten count bundles.

Gran Corona (w pig-tail): 6 x 46

Robusto: 5 x 50

Toro: 6 x 54 REVIEWED TODAY

The cigar is nice looking with a shiny, oily wrapper. It is box pressed with an unfinished foot. It has a nice, dense feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were sweet blackberry with brown sugar, sweet cream, and dark coffee notes. There is a lot of sweetness in this cigar and it comes across as dark noted.

About one inch in the notes are like I described but now there are additional orange citrus notes and butter notes combining with the cream. The pepper is a white pepper rated at a 7 1/2. The finish has a lot of blackberry notes with cream and some lingering white pepper; not a lot of pepper but some. The cigar is medium bodied. There is quite a bit of sweetness on both ends.

At the midpoint you can tell you will get a lot of burn time. Nothing has changed in regards to the flavor notes but you get more of the citrus notes and butter notes. The other flavors are the same but you get a little more of these two. The cigar is still medium bodied. It is slowly moving up the scale but at this point is is medium bodied.

The cigar ended at around 1 hour 45 minutes. You really get your money's worth. Things have changed from the midpoint to now. The pepper has changed over to a black pepper. The blackberry notes and citrus notes are almost overshadowed by the brown sugar notes. Some may say it tastes more like a sweet cedar but I can still pick out the blackberry and citrus notes. The butter notes and coffee notes really came out in the final third. The finish is unchanged. The cigar ended at medium to full bodied and it hit around the final third. To be honest, I am surprised at this cigar. Henry Clay has been around a long time but it was never a "big" cigar but this cigar breaks that mold. It was very good and had some very nice flavors. The only negative I could say is I would have wished the strength had moved up sooner. The price point is very good at $8 to $8.50 each depending on size. This has been a very good cigar. Look for them anywhere that sells Altadis cigars, and that's just about everywhere.

Score: 93

Cancun trip; Feb. 1-6, 2016

We stayed at a fantastic resort, The Royal Sands Resort and Spa, in Cancun. It was our first time there and it exceeded our expectations. Our room was beautiful and we had a huge balcony. Our room was one of a few that had a basic balcony with stairs leading down to a ballroom size deck with amazing views. The food was very good and the staff was amazing. There is no doubt that we will go back.

Plus, the La Casa del Habano was a 15 minute walk away. David, the owner, gave us a ride back to the hotel every time we dropped by his shop.

Following are pics of the trip with plenty of pics and info on the LCDH.

The view from inside our room looking toward balcony.

Stairs from our balcony leading to large lower balcony.

View from our balcony.

Back of the resort as seen from the beach.

Sunset in Cancun.

Panoramic shot of inside the La Casa del Habano

Bar

Humidors/gifts

Back deck of La Casa del Habano

Pool at La Casa del Habano

"Guard dog"

On the dock in back of the La Casa del Habano

Cancun La Casa del Habano humidor

David with the Partagas Humidor, for sale in his shop. Selling price: $5000
Made in the likeness of the Partagas factory in Cuba.

David and I

This was from our first trip to the LCDH in 2006. It was less than 3 months after David purchased the Cancun
La Casa del Habano.

And this is us from this trip. We are standing in the same point in the shop 10 years later.

When we met David in 2006 he had 2 shops, the LCDH in Tiajuana and Cancun. 

Today he owns 7 shops. Here is a list:

Habanos S.A. has 3 levels of cigar shops. Not only are there La Casa del Habano, which is the highest level, they also have Habano Specialist and Habano Point. All the shops must sell products from Habano S.A., which means actual Cuban cigars.

(from the Habanos.com website)

Habano aficionados can find three tiers of Habano specialization in the retailing outlets, broken down from top to bottom in the following manner: La Casa del Habano, featuring a direct franchised and contractual relation with Habanos S.A.; the Habanos Specialist, and the Habanos Point- the last two hold no direct contractual relationship with Habanos S.A. because the program is applied locally by the Habanos Exclusive Distributors.

David has 3 La Casa del Habano shops including Cancun, Tijuana, and Cozumel.

He also has 3 Habano Specialist shops; 2 in Puerto Vallarta and 1 in Isla Mujeres

When you find yourself in this part of heaven make sure you visit one of his shops.

Enjoying the beautiful beach.

I'm not one of those foodies but we thought this was picture worthy. It's a pineapple
chicken salad served by the resort.

This was a guy selling fake Cuban cigars on the beach. They are the typical glass top boxes.

Here is a close-up of the boxes.

Sunrise as seen from our balcony.

Panoramic view at night from our balcony.

One last view from our balcony.

As you can see this was a beautiful resort. The trip to the LCDH was amazing. Seeing David

again was great. We are already making plans to return to this resort. I can

highly recommend it. It is beautiful!