Well, it's time; probably past time. It's time to retire the old red review shirt. Yes, it's been through a lot. It's full of holes and rips but it has served me well. Today, as promised, I retired it and debuted the all new review shirt!
I also debuted my first video using Wevideo and my new Chromebook. The sound was a little choppy but I think the first video came out pretty good. See what you think.
Here is the debut video of the new review shirt!
Welcome to TINY TIM'S CIGAR WORLD! No agenda, no rules. The place for "no fluff" cigar reviews. Straight to the point.
JC Newman
December 31, 2016
December 21, 2016
All Out Kings Shipping March 2017
Tuesday, December 20, 2016 — Miami, FL – Caldwell Cigar Co. and Drew Estate announced today that All Out Kings would be shipping in March of 2017, slightly delayed from the anticipated shipment date of November 2016. All Out Kings is a collaborative project between the two companies that was announced early in 2016, and formally released at the 2016 IPCPR Convention and Tradeshow held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
All out Kings will be shipped in four sizes: Smash (5 x 52), Give me your Lunch Money (5 ¾ x 46), Foreverlast (6 ½ x 54), and The Fourth Pose (6 x 54). The project is packaged in 20 count boxes.
Jonathan Drew was good and amped up when we caught him in front of the Wynwood Safehouse, quoting the lyrics of Biggie Smalls song Sky's The Limit "Stay far from timid; Only make moves when ya heart's in it; And live the phrase "Sky's The Limit". The Founder went on to say, "Because working so closely with Caldwell and Herrera results in a raw expression such as AOK, the extra wait is acceptable to me ... It's about the style in which we destroy, more important than the turns or money. I truly believe that Caldwell lives his brand the way we do Drew Estate."
Robert Caldwell noted, “The orders we have received on this product have been insane. When Willy approached me to let me know that he wanted to delay the shipment of AOK because he had wanted to age the cigars more, I was a bit hesitant, but ultimately I agreed it was the right decision. AOK is a special cigar. Willy knows the tobacco much better than I. I am excited for the March shipment”
From Little Havana, Miami, Willy Herrera stated, “When Rob and I began blending this project, we had to meet in the middle in terms of the strength of the cigar so that it was something Rob would enjoy as he is not typically a maduro smoker. We selected specific primings of Connecticut Habano wrapper that would be a bit more subtle, yet flavorful. This has taken a bit more time at the sorting tables and in addition the wrapper is extremely oily by nature, which has added to the aging process. I know everyone has been waiting and I’m causing additional stress for Rob, but I won’t let them out of the aging room until I feel they are ready.”
About Drew Estate, Inc.
Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under their mantra “The Rebirth of Cigars”TM, Drew Estate has led the “Boutique Cigar” movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with their unique tobaccos and blending styles that have attracted new and traditional cigar enthusiasts. In their Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Herrera Estelí Norteño, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Natural by Drew Estate, Nica Rustica, Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, Tabak Especial, Undercrown, and Java by Drew Estate.
December 19, 2016
CRAIG REYNOLDS ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY OF ENTIRE NORTH AMERICAN BUSINESS (SCANDINAVIAN TOBACCO GROUP)
Press Release 19 December 2016
SCANDINAVIAN TOBACCO GROUP FORMS CLUSTER OF ITS NORTH AMERICAN BUSINESSES FOR CIGARS, PIPE TOBACCO AND FINE CUT
As of 1 January 2017, General Cigar, Cigars International, STG Lane and STG Canada reinforce their leading positions under one leadership. The change thereby improves the world-leading cigars and pipe tobacco business’ product offering across all customer segments.
“We are leading in handmade cigars, pipe tobacco and fine cut in the US. In every one of our business entities, we have specialised in bringing either handmade cigars or pipe tobacco and fine cut to specific customer segments.
Advancing our collaboration between entities allow us to bring products from across our tobacco categories to all our customers. We believe that this will benefit our customers and drive further growth for our business in the US,” says Craig Reynolds, Executive Vice President for Scandinavian Tobacco Group in North America.
Craig Reynolds assumes the leadership of the North American cluster when it is formed on 1 January 2017.
CEO Niels Frederiksen says: “Craig Reynolds has successfully led our entire global handmade cigars business. Today, the handmade cigar category is a growth engine in our business and accounts for more than one-fourth of our net sales and profit. We want to reinforce this development by extending Craig Reynolds’ leadership to our entire North American business.”
General Cigars holds a leading position in the US market for handmade cigars. Cigars International has built a marketleading position in online and catalogue sales of handmade cigars and pipe tobacco to consumers in the US. STG Lane is the leading manufacturer of fine cut and traditional pipe tobacco in the US. STG Canada is leading in cigars and pipe tobacco in Canada.
The four entities continue to be run as separate, stand-alone businesses with Regis Broersma, Kelly Michols and Sylvain Laporte being presidents.
December 18, 2016
Top cigars of 2016
Video review HERE.
2016 had some very good cigars hit the market. I reviewed a total of 78 cigars this year, primarily new releases, with 22 of them scoring 93 or above. Today I am highlighting those cigars scoring 93 or above in my top 10. All the cigars I reviewed this year are shown below with links to the top 22, which scored a 93 or above. Without further adieu here are my top cigars of 2016.
Size: 6 x 52
Score: 96
Date reviewed: 11/12/16
Size: 5 1/4 x 48
Score: 95
Date reviewed: 10/1/16
Size: 7 1/4 x 40
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 1/9/16
Size: 6 3/4 x 52
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 1/30/16
Size: 5 3/4 x 48
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 11/5/16
Size: 5 x 50
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 3/25/16
Size: 4 1/2 x 50
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 9/4/16
Size: 5 x 40
Score: 94
Date reviewed: 3/13/16
Size: 6 x 50
Score: 93
Date reviewed: 2/28/16
Size: 6 x 52
Score: 93
Date reviewed: 4/16/16
There were other cigars that scored a 93 which are shown below with their ranking. A link to each of these cigars is provided. (format; name/size/date reviewed)
Score: 93
11. Joya Black Double Robusto (5 x 56) 9/5/16
12. Avo Syncro Nicaragua Fogota Short Torpedo (4 1/2 x 52) 7/16/16
13. Foundry Tobacco Co. Time Flies 550 (5 x 50) 9/25/16
14. Henry Clay Stalk Cut Toro (6 x 54) 2/13/16
15. El Oso Belicoso by Warped Cigars (6 x 48) 5/15/16
16. Warped Cigars Corto X46 (4 1/2 x 46) 7/31/16
17. MoyaRuiz Dim Mak (5 x 54) 8/28/16
18. Laranja DeSocio (5 5/8 x 54 Perfecto) 4/2/16
19. Joya de Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco Reserva Especial Doble Robusto (5 x 56) 1/23/16
20. Viaje Farmer Bill Hatchet (4 1/2 x 52) 11/26/16
21. La Aurora 1962 Corojo Robusto (5 x 50) 7/3/16
22. Sobremesa Short Churchill (4 3/4 x 48) 12/4/16The remaining cigars reviewed with scores, sizes, and date reviewed are shown below.
Score: 92
Viaje Holiday Blend 2015 (5 x 54) 1/1/16
L’Atelier SEC (6 x 50) 1/16/16
Perdomo Factory Tour Blend Sun Grown Toro (6 x 52) 1/17/16
Asylum Lobotomy Toro (6 x 50) 2/20/16
King's Cigars El Duque (4 x 50 Figurado) 3/6/16
PRE-RELEASE REVIEW: Hoyo Robusto (5 x 54) 3/26/16
Espinosa Especial No. 4 (5 x 52) 4/10/16
Black Works Studio NBK (6 x 46) 4/23/16
Black Works Studio Killer Bee (4 1/2 x 46) 4/24/16
La Hacienda Gran Robusto by Warped Cigars (5 1/2 x 52) 5/14/16
Flor de Gonzalez Spectral Aton (5 1/2 x 44) 5/22/16
Caldwell Cigar Co. Long Live the King Lock Stock (5 x 52) 5/29/16
Campesino Toro (6 x 52) 6/4/16
Fratello Toro (6 1/4 x 54) 6/12/16
Viaje Cigars TNT 2016 (6 1/4 x 54) 7/9/16
Ezra Zion Brass Knuckles XL (6 x 54) 7/30/16
Anastasia Opera by Caldwell Cigars (6 x 52) 8/13/16
Caldwell Savages Toro (6 x 54) 8/27/16
Caldwell Cigars The Last Tsar Toro (6 x 50) 9/3/16
Crowned Heads Las Mareas Olas (6 1/8 x 46) 9/13/16
Stack Cigars Lancaster Toro (6 x 50) 9/24/16
Cohiba Macassar Toro Grande (6 x 52) 10/8/16
Partagas RyR Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) 10/15/16
Dunhill Aged Maduro Short Robusto (4 x 54) 10/23/16
Crux Guild Toro Extra Marblehead BP (6 1/2 x 52) 11/19/16
A. J. Fernandez Bellas Artes Gordo (6 1/2 x 58) 11/25/16
Lucious Lyon Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) 11/27/16
Mi Querida Fino Largo (6 x 48) 12/3/16
Score: 91
Avo Syncro Nicaragua Robusto (5 x 50) 12/27/15
CAO Wicked Winter (6 1/2 x 52) 1/2/15
Davidoff Escurio Robusto Tubo (4 1/2 x 54) 1/3/15
Crowned Heads La Imperiosa Magicos (4 1/2 x 52) 1/10/16
Drew Estate Undercrown Shade Robusto (5 x 54) 1/24/16
Espinosa Habano No. 4 (5 1/2 x 50) 3/22/16
Murcielago Nocturne (5 1/2 x 56) 4/3/16
Warped Cigars Futuro Selección 109 (6 x 52) 4/30/16
Last Call by A. J. Fernandez (4 1/2 x 48) 6/5/16
L’Atelier Côte d’Or (7 x 47) 6/11/16
La Aurora 1987 Connecticut Robusto (5 x 50) 7/10/16
Flor de D’Crossier Selection No. 512 Corona Gorda (5 1/2 x 46) 7/23/16
Caldwell Cigars Eastern Standard Midnight Express Pyramid (6 x 50) 8/14/16
Macanudo Mao No. 10 (5 x 50) 10/16/16
CAO Consigliere Associate (5 x 52) 10/30/16
Warped Cigars Villa Sombra Mecedora (5 1/2 x 50) 11/20/16
Score: 90
Bloodline OPA Habano Stemma (6 1/2 x 44) 3/19/16
Villiger San'Doro Claro Toro (6 x 50) 6/25/16
Ezra Zion All My Ex's Toro (6 x 52) 7/2/16
Torano Exodus Robusto (5 x 54) 11/13/16
Score: 89
Renzulli Cuz by Espinosa Cigars (6 x 54) 5/21/16
Fratello Bianco II (6 x 50) 6/18/16
Camacho Powerband Toro (6 x 50) 6/26/16
The Hurdler from Hurdler Cigars (6 x 58) 10/22/16
Score: 88
CAO Stingy Scrooge (6 1/2 x 52) 12/26/15
Vudu Priest No. 3 (4 3/4 x 50) 2/14/16
Hammer + Sickle Berlin Wall Robusto (5 x 50) 7/17/16
Score: 87
CAO Honor Toro (6 1/2 x 52) 3/5/16
There are still many cigars that I will be reviewing from this year's IPCPR. There are also some Cuban cigars that I picked up at the Cancun LCDH that will be included in the 2017 reviews. Since I try to review primarily new cigars from this year's IPCPR the end of a calendar year is only halfway through the process since the new cigars come out in July or thereabouts. So, even though this is my year end review it is not the end of the reviews of new cigars that came out this year. 2017 will begin with more new releases so stay tuned for more reviews! Thank you for viewing my blog this year and I hope you return for more in 2017.
December 04, 2016
Sobremesa Short Churchill (4 3/4 x 48)
Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)
Just prior to the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, Steve Saka‘s Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust announced two line extensions to its Sobremesa line. The two new sizes introduced were the 7 x 50 Elegante en Cedro (Double Corona) and the 4 3/4 x 48 Short Churchill. While these cigars keep to the core tobacco components used in the rest of the Sobremesa line, the blends for these sizes were tweaked to be bolder. Saka has referred to these tweaks as “poco más intensa” – meaning “a little more intense”. With the Sobremesa Short Churchill, this has become a “go to” cigar for Saka himself. Saka had been known to smoke the Liga Privada Unico Serie Dirty Rat on a daily basis, but also gone through quite a bit of his remaining personal stock of that cigar. As a result, the Sobremesa Short Churchill has taken on the role of Saka’s daily smoke. Recently I’ve had an opportunity to smoke the Sobremesa. Overall Sobremesa has been a fantastic debut, and with the new Short Churchill offering, this one adds another outstanding offering to the line.
In the press release, additional background on the name of the first cigar Sobremesa was given:
Sobremesa, “over the table”, has no precise English translation, perhaps because there is no cultural equivalent in the US. It is an idiom used among the Latin culture to describe the leisurely time spent tableside after you have finished dining, but before you rise. It is the experience of lingering casually with family and friends in conversation, relaxing, drinking, smoking, and enjoying each other’s company. Sobremesa is one of life’s simplest, yet greatest pleasures.
Recently on his Facebook page, Saka explained what Poco Más Intensa means:
“poco más intensa” – my way of describing the new Sobremesa Elegante en Cedros and Short Churchill ligas – they are still the core blend, but tweaked to be a bit stronger. I did this for my own smoking pleasure to satisfy my cravings for a cigar with a more pronounced pepper note within this marca.”
Blend Profile
Sobremesa is a multi-national blend with tobaccos from four countries – Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, and U.S. (Pennsylvania). As we noted, the blends for the Poco Más Intensa (Short Churchill and Elegante En Cedro) are tweaked from the other sizes to produce a bolder cigar.
The cigar is produced at the Joya de Nicaragua factory. During the process of coming up with Sobremesa line, Saka has been hands-on involved with the process – including the procuring of tobaccos and development of the blend.
Wrapper: La Meca Ecuador Habano Grade 1 Dark Rosado
Binder: Matacapan Negro de Temporal
Filler: Nicaraguan GK Condega C-SG Seco, Nicaraguan Pueblo Nuevo Criollo Viso, Nicaraguan La Joya Esteli, C-98 Viso Nicaraguan ASP Esteli Hybrid Ligero; USA Lancaster County Broadleaf Ligero
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Joya de Nicaragua SA)
Vitolas Available:
The following are the two Poco Más Intensa offerings in the Sobremesa line:
Elegante en Cedros: 7 x 50
Short Churchill: 4 3/4 x 48 REVIEWED TODAY
The Elegante en Cedros is packaged in 13 count boxes, while the Short Churchill is packaged in 14 count boxes.
The following vitolas are the first six vitolas that were first released in 2015. These offerings are available in 25 count boxes:
Corona Grande: 5 1/4 x 44
Cervantes Fino: 6 1/4 x 46
Robusto Largo: 5 1/4 x 52
El Americano: 6 x 52
Torpedo Tiempo: 6 x 54
Gran Imperials: 7 x 54
The cigar looks very nice. The gold crown band looks very regal. Here is a shot of the foot.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors were boysenberry, heavy sweet cream, brown sugar, and a ton of black pepper. I rate it at a 9. Yes, really. It may tone down but for now, at light up, it's fantastic. The boysenberry notes are almost in the direction of a black licorice.
About one inch in there are now buttery cream notes with brown sugar. The boysenberry notes did not last. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is a sweet cream with a nice amount of lingering black pepper. 
Very close to the midpoint the buttery cream is so sweet it's coming across as a white chocolate. There are flashes of cinnamon with the brown sugar. The pepper has toned down to an 8. Retro haling really brings it out! the finish is unchanged; a sweet, thick cream. The cigar is medium to full bodied but it's moving up.
With only about an inch I noticed the cinnamon notes are gone. The white chocolate is secondary to the heavy buttery brown sugar. The pepper remains very good on both ends. The cigar is now full bodied. 
The heavy brown sugar with buttery notes continued to the end. I seem to get hints of caramel but they were faint. The pepper was one of the stars of this cigar. The finish was unchanged. The cigar was full bodied from about the 3/4 point onward. This was a very good cigar with plenty of sweetness and black pepper with some nice power. Very good cigar.
Score: 93
December 03, 2016
Mi Querida Fino Largo (6 x 48)
Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)
At the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, Steve Saka and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust showcased several new lines, but the one that was front and center was Mi Querida. This is a cigar that according to Saka is the type of cigar most people have expected from him.
Saka says Mi Querida as a very different cigar than Sobremesa, his debut release with Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. He described the cigar as more gritty and a bit dirtier – but at the same time full of flavor. This profile also plays into the cigar’s name. When translated literally “Mi Querida” means “my dearest”, but it is also a term commonly referred to a husband’s mistress. In particular, in Nicaragua it refers to one’s “secret mistress” (since it is often common for a wife to know about the mistress”). This secret mistress is the “dirty little secret” and thus plays into the connection of the cigar’s profile.
As for the cigar itself, Mi Querida utilizes a wrapper that many will often associate with Saka – Connecticut Broadleaf. The remainder of the blend is all-Nicaraguan. For Mi Querida, Saka chose to use NACSA (Nicaraguan American Cigar S.A.) to handle production of his blend. Back when Saka launched Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust, he had selected Joya de Nicaragua to make Sobremesa, but also stated he would not be single factory focused. This is what he said at the time he launched his company:
This decision was made to keep the Mi Querida under ten dollars.
Blend Profile:
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (NACSA)
Vitolas Available:
The following are the four regular offering by Mi Querida. Each of these are offered in 20 count boxes:
Fino Largo: 6 x 48 REVIEWED TODAY
Ancho Corta: 5 x 52
Ancho Largo: 6 x 52
Muy Gordo Grande: 6 x 56
The following are the four limited offerings that are planned. All are planned to be in 20 count boxes except for SakaKhan and Mas Sucia which are planned to be in 10 count boxes.
Pequeño Pequeño: 4 x 44
Gordita: 4 x 48
SakaKhan: 7 x 50
Mas Sucia: 7 x 64
The cigar is very dark and has an oily wrapper. It has a nice feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors were molasses and dark coffee. There was a ton of black pepper rated at an 8 1/2.
1 1/2 inches in the molasses notes have separated into the flavors of brown sugar, chocolate, and dry cocoa. The pepper remains very good. The finish is a cream with a little aspect of chocolate with nice lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium to full bodied and moving rapidly toward full bodied. The cigar is rather full bodied yet smooth.
About 2 1/2 inches in there are flashes of blackberry notes. They are not in abundance but I get flashes here and there. The cigar is now full bodied. The other flavors are still there; dark coffee, brown sugar, light cocoa notes and chocolate., plus the pepper remains very good. The finish is unchanged. The cigar is very dark noted.
With about 1 1/2 inches remaining I noticed the sweetness has decreased as the cigar goes along. There is also an earthy note that goes along with the dark coffee. The brown sugar and chocolate is still there but they are now out manned by the heavy earthy coffee. Perhaps this is playing off the "dirty" aspect of the description of this cigar. The cigar is still full bodied. The cigar has changed from one that was fairly sweet to a heavy, earthy coffee noted cigar.
At the end I got a few notes of dry wood to go along with the other notes. The cigar remained heavy on an earthy coffee with light brown sugar and chocolate notes. The pepper actually decreased slightly to a 7 1/2. The finish was unchanged. This was a good dark noted, full bodied cigar. Those of you who like Steve's style will no doubt enjoy this cigar.
Score: 92
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