Cigar Break

The Punch Champion is an easy cigar to spot among a whole line-up. The odd shape, 30 gauge at the foot going all the way up to 60, makes this perfecto very unique. At only 4 and a half inches, it’s also a quick smoke as well, making it great for a great cigar for a lunch break. The price is good too, so you’ll probably always keep a few of this sitting around in your humidor.

The Punch Champion consists of an Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper, which gives it a darker brown shine and a nice smooth feel. The filler consists of a variety of tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic, which gives it a good variety of flavors and notes. The binder is a Connecticut broadleaf, making this a very diverse stogie to smoke.

The first third is very smooth, with a mix of woody and nutty flavors. The burn was very good, nice and even throughout the whole cigar. You can vary the clip on this shape, but overall the pull was a little tight. The Punch Champion did produce a fair amount of smoke though, so it wasn’t disappointing. The first third was a very good way to start this stogie.

The second third had more flavors of leather and wood. In contrast to the first third, it also picked up a lot of spicy notes. The spice notes of the second third don’t overpower the woody flavors, but they’re definitely noticeable. The final third cools off on the spice, and the earthy and woody flavors really pick up again. The Punch Champion really leaves a smooth feeling in the mouth at the end, which makes it great to smoke during a lunch break.

Anyone who has had a Punch Champion probably keeps a couple in their humidor. They’re inexpensive, which makes them guilt free to smoke even if you have to nub it early. The flavor progression is really good too, and the notes all work well together. Overall, it’s a very good cigar for someone who’s new to the world of stogies, or if you just need something to give to those who are just looking for something easier.

Useful links:

• Compare prices on Punch Champion cigars here
• Another Punch Champion review

The Oliva Serie O is a very nice reimagining of one of Oliva’s favorite cigar blends. Oliva has been making exceptional cigars, winning a lot of awards and high praise from Cigar Aficionado over the past several years. The Serie O is a very tasty stogie that is good from the first light through the nub. With a 92 rating from Cigar Aficionado, it also makes it a great buy for the price.

The Serie O cigar is a Nicaraguan Puro. Wrapper, filler, and binder are Nicaraguan habano seed grown in various regions around Nicaragua. It produces a very distinct flavor similar to the style of cigars in the Cuban style. The wrapper is a nice brown color, which comes from the sun-grown habano wrapper. It’s very silky, and has good color and shine.

The draw is very clear and smooth, and there’s plenty of smoke from this stick. The burn stays even for most of the cigar, but you may need to touch it up as you go, so keep that in mind. You may not have to touch it up at all, since it did have a fairly even burn, but just keep the lighter around in case you do have it stray a bit.

The flavors of the Oliva Serie O are a favorite for people who like the line. It starts out with a nice coffee taste, with a sweet spice undertone. The second third has lighter coffee tones, and flavors of cedar and caramel, with nutty tastes as well. They all mix really well, and make a very smooth and tasty transition from first third to second. The final third is a bit sweeter, which gives a really clean and smooth finish. Woody flavors, and a stronger sweet note on the palette from the smoke.

Cigar Aficionado named this one of the top 50 cigars, period, which says something about the flavors. It really is a tasty stogie that’s got a lot of flavor, but isn’t overwhelming. The flavors are really enjoyable, and don’t hide, but they aren’t going to overwhelm you either. The flavor notes all mix well together, and the smooth draw makes it a pleasant smoke.

Useful links:

• Compare prices on Oliva Serie O cigars here
• Another Oliva Serie O review

Maduros are becoming more popular.  The small powerful palette of these cigars can turn off some newer smokers from them, but those aficionados who are looking for something with a big more punch are out searching for the perfect maduro for their after dinner collection.  I first saw these cigars available at Famous Smoke Shop. Cubao has been around for several years making quality cigars, but this is their first maduro, and so far the reception has be great.

The wrapper is an Ecuadorian broadleaf maduro wrapper.  The wrapper is dark brown, oily and smooth, with a nice sheen to it.  The filler and the binder are both Nicaraguan tobaccos mixed by Don Pepin Garcia, and create a unique flavor different from any of his tobacco blends.  The cigar is rolled to a 5.5×52 belicoso, making it a nice hefty cigar for after dinner.

The draw and burn of this cigar is very easy and enjoyable.  The draw is very smooth, but there is a very small drag to it.  You won’t struggle and fight to get some smoke out, though.  The burn is very even as well, for the most part.  You may want to keep your lighter handy in just in case, but otherwise it’s a nice smooth smoke.

The flavors of the Cubao Maduro start off very strong.  The first third can be described mostly as spicy, with peppery notes like red pepper.  But as you go through the second third, it moves to something a lot smoother.  Leather, cocoa, and occasionally spices like clove and nutmeg, follow through the second third of the cigar.   These flavors really mix well with the spiciness of the beginning, and pick up in strength as you smoke the cigar.  The flavors never really go away, but keep building and building as you smoke the cigar.

Overall, it’s a very good maduro, nice and strong with great flavors.  The ash is really good in this cigar, too; long enough to go over an inch before falling off.  If you’re looking at a nice strong after dinner cigar, then you’ll really enjoy the Cubao Maduro.  The flavors shift well as you smoke it, and mix really when you finally nub it out.

Useful links:

• Compare prices on Cubao Maduro cigars here
• Another Cubao Maduro cigar review

Felipe Gregorio has been making cigars for over 20 years, and their Icon derives its name from the many icons we see smoking cigars. The Twain is a torpedo roll, measuring 6.5×52, and received a formidable 91 rating from the cigar of the month club. Cigar is large and flavorful, and the many places that the tobaccos and wrapper are derived from are what give the cigar its wonderful and complex flavors.

The wrapper is a Costa Rican Maduro wrapper which gives it a rich, dark, leathery feel that often people say resembles that of a candy bar. It also has a nice shine, which makes it more and more enticing. The filler is a mix of Cuban-seed Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos, and the binder is Nicaraguan. The burn is even and the draw is outstanding, not too tight or too loose. It’s just perfect. It burns fairly evenly, and you should only need to touch it up mildly if at all to keep it going. And the ash is a wonderful, long, silver color.
The palate starts out sweet like you’d expect from a cigar that looks almost sweet enough to eat. There are hints of mocha and cocoa throughout, with small bursts of pepper. As you progress, the notes still remain, and some flavors of leather start to get brought together. As you get through the second third, you should have a complex mix of coffee, leather, mocha, and a little touch of pepper. The cigar ends sweet again, with notes of mocha and vanilla, and a touch of pepper here and there.

Even with the medium to full character of this stogie, because of the mildness of the early flavors, it’s never too much to handle. It transitions well between all the flavors, and should probably get more attention that it has. But take the opportunity to stick a couple of these in your humidor, and swoon over how good they are while you wait for other people to begin discovering them as well. You’ll find that these are especially great after a large meal, and you’ll be smoking these instead of going in for desert.

Useful links:

• Compare prices on Felipe Gregorio cigars here

Oliva is a name you want to look for when finding a top quality cigar. They’ve one Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of the Year award for 4 years straight for their cigars. The Serie G was intended as a medium body blend, and with how it was rolled, its flavor changes very little with aging. Which means this cigar is just as enjoyable straight out of the box as it would be years in the humidor. Whether you appreciate that or not, you’ll appreciate the flavor and quality of the Series G Figurado.

The wrapper is made from African Cameroon, making it rich and strong. The binder is a Cuban-Seed Habano, and the filler is a Nicaraguan Habano. The roll of the cigar gives it a kind of funny shape, making it look like a Short Story, only longer. The ring is a 60 gauge, with a pyramid head to toe. Even with the difficult shape, the burn is nice and even. And the draw is not as tight as you’d expect, but gives a little resistance.
You’ll notice the Cameroon at the start, giving it a rich, creamy beginning. The second third moves into flavors of wood, like cedar, and into other spices, such as cinnamon or cloves. As it ends, you’ll taste the notes of coffee and a cedar overtone that takes over, but doesn’t over power. It’s a medium body blend, so it’s not too powerful and spicy. It’s very mellow and has a nice heady aroma.

If you’re looking at premium cigars, the Oliva Serie G is a great place to start. It’s not too robust, but gives a great taste of what you could expect from Oliva. The strange shape of it may mask the different flavors of the pre-draw, but it makes up for it in the quality of the burn and the creamy, rich smoke you get. It’s a great cigar if you’re looking at something to add to your rotation, because although it is considered a premium cigar, it does not come with the premium price.

Useful links:

• More Oliva cigar reviews
• Compare prices on Oliva Series G cigars here

Rocky Patel promised the cigar world a cigar that would cater to the tastes and palate of the professional smoker; someone who probably spends more than they should, and truly enjoys teasing out the different flavor notes. The Edge line from Rocky Patel caters to those few who really enjoy cigars. It is a truly robust cigar with strong flavors that leave even the most seasoned smoker weak in the knees. The Edge lacks a band around the body, so it’s easy to pick out this beast of a cigar out from a crowd.

The Rocky Patel Edge Toro is wrapped in a Maduro wrapper, which give it a nice oaky brown color. They have a nice oily sheen. The Toro is 6 inches long with a 52 ring. It’s a little bigger, but that just leaves it with more room for the blend of Nicaraguan/Honduran Ligero and the Nicaraguan binder. It’s aged 5 years, so it is full flavored, with an earthy, bold smoke. It has a nice even burn, with a light gray ash that is fairly solid. The draw has a little resistance to it, but when you smoke it, it doesn’t really feel tight.

The Edge Toro begins with rich and bold flavors of sweet, with some hits of sweet peppers and coffee, and has an earthy overtone. As you get to the body, the flavors get stronger, and begin adding notes of spice in with the coffee. As you finish, the spice takes over and the smoke has a rich, full body. It’s the kind of cigar you’ll want to be sitting down for when you finally nub it out.

When Rocky Patel introduced the Edge line in 2004, it instantly became a hit. Cigar Aficionado gave this particular stogie a 90 rating, which is great to consider when you look at the low price. You may not add this to your list of favorites, but it’s a cigar you’ll keep around. The cigar is a great choice for after those big meals when you need a full bodied cigar to finish off.

Useful links:

• Another Rocky Patel Edge review
• Compare prices on Rocky Patel Edge cigars here

The Padilla cigar company was started back in 2003, and grew quickly into a point of prominence among cigar lovers. Their Signature 1932 Churchill is their flagship cigar, and it showed with the 90 rating they received from Cigar Aficionado. It only took them 3 years to achieve this rating, which is definitely a sign that they make a very high quality cigar. If you’re looking to find a great Churchill with strong, earthy flavors, than this may be what you should put in your humidor.

The Padilla Signature 1932 is made from Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo tobacco. The wide use of the Corojo wrapper can be traced to Padilla cigars. It’s a darker wrapper, very leathery looking, but a nice oily sheen from head to foot. You may notice a bit of a fruity bouquet, which is a good way to start this cigar. The band is an ornate red, brown, and gold.

The Signature 1932 Churchill is large, so it’ll give you a good hour and a half before you’ll nub it. The draw is free, and the taste will start out earthy, with wood, spice, and leathery notes. The Criollo gives it some sweeter notes, such as coffee, nuts and chocolate, which are mostly prominent throughout the second third. The Signature has a great burn, so you won’t find yourself having to touch it up and relight, and you’ll have a rich, full smoke. The ash is tight and compact, as well.

By about the time you nub this cigar, you should feel the cigar shift notes, leaving you with a nice, heavy, woody flavor, and not taste the leathery taste that remained through all the notes. The palate shifts as you finish the final third, from a very crisp feeling in the beginning, you’ll end it slow and heavier. The Padilla Signature 1932 slows to the finish, rather than an abrupt ending.

It’s a great cigar, which shows in the few years it took to run to the top, being named one of Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of the year for 2006. Since it is a bit more expensive, it may not become a favorite to smoke, but it’s definitely something you’ll find yourself keeping in your humidor for special occasions.

Useful links:

• Another Padilla 1932 review
• Compare prices on Padilla 1932 cigars here

The 5 Vegas Series, pronounced Cinco Vegas, is one of those cigars that is great enough to have in the humidor at all times, but still cheap enough to smoke every day. 5 Vegas is the highest rated non-Cuban cigar, and this Nicaraguan cigar is as robust and full of flavor as the city itself.

The 5 Vegas is a truly beautiful cigar to look at. The Costa Rican maduro wrapper gives a dark, smooth, and oily look. The black and gold wrapper is a sight itself across the foot of this stogie. The filler is a mix of fillers from three different countries, and each has been aged for 4 years. As you strike it up, it will light fairly easily, and keeps an even burn with a solid white ash. The draw is perfect, giving the smoke plenty of air to mix with it, making the smoke lighter, even though it’s a fuller cigar.

The Series ‘A’ Alpha has a variety of different flavor notes. It begins with a bit of leather and spice, with a hint of molasses in the first third, too. As it goes along, you’ll notice a certain saltiness in the notes, one that you’ll notice with any maduro, to go along with the changing palates. It moves into a stronger taste of spice and sweet of coffee and chocolate. The final third has a few more earthy notes, with charred cedar coming into the palate and notes of espresso.

The 5 Vegas is the cigar that you’re going to want around when you aren’t sure what you should smoke. The flavors of this cigar are great, and if you’re living in the U.S. is probably one of the best cigars you’re going to find. To top off this cigar, the price is very low, so you’ll find yourself enjoying them more and more. It’s a robust cigar that isn’t harsh, and still has great flavor. You’ll find them making their way to the top of your humidor because you never want to be too far away from this stick.

Useful links:

• Another 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ review
• Compare prices on 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ cigars here

The new line of cigars from Joya de Nicaragua, Antano 1970, is intended to be reminiscent of the cigars that they were famous for in the 1970’s. When the U.S. began it’s embargo against Cuba, the Joya de Nicaragua was brought in to replace the cigars that were no longer available. They were a big hit, but now the company is trying to bring their cigars back to the level of quality they were once known for. They came out with the Antano 1970 as a way of reminding people of the cigars they used to be so popular for.

The wrapper for this cigar is a Nicaraguan Habana Criollo, and a Nicaraguan Habana tobacco as a binder and filler. This puro has a red to dark brown leaf and is very aromatic. These stogies can be a bit of a tight draw, and the smoke may not be as thick. So even though this particular cigar is an extra full bodied belicoso, the flavors may not be as strong as you would expect. The burn is nice and even, and you’ll probably be able to nub it out after 45 minutes to an hour.

The first third of cigar is different from others. It’s a more creamy and thick beginning than the more robust cigars usually are, and it eases you into a more harsh second third. The second third is fairly peppery. And unless you’re used to more robust cigars, this cigar may give you more of a kick than you were hoping for. Before you reach the final third, you’ll notice it slip back into some sweeter flavor notes of coffee and cocoa. But all the while, you’ll still taste that peppery body through till the end.

The Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Belicoso received a 91 rating from Cigar Aficionado. Though some people will say that this cigar was possibly a bit too tight of a draw, it’s something that slows you down and really makes you enjoy it. It’s a very robust cigar, and if you’re not used to it, it can take you out. Because of the robustness of the cigar, it makes for a great stogie to enjoy after a large meal, to fully enjoy it.

Useful links:

• Another Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 review
• Compare prices on Joya de Nicaragua Antano cigars here

C.A.O. Cigars have been around for a long time. Originally starting out in Cuba in the 20th century, when they tried to revive the company, they kept the name the same, and tried to bring the cigars back to the old flavors of Cuba. The La Traviata is CAO’s attempt to make a cigar that would bring you back to the pre-embargo Cubans. Though you may find that it does not deliver in this sense, the blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos does give this cigar great flavor.

The CAO La Traviata is made with a Ecuador-grown Habano see, a Cameroon binder, and filled with a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. This will make for a very complex palate later on. The wrapper is gleaming and has a nice, leathery sheen. The band is a simple, classy gold with a little bit of red. And it’s got a nice, firm feel too it. The draw was nearly effortless, maybe a little dense, and it has a good long burn.

The flavor progression of this cigar would make it great for maybe after a big dinner. It starts out with some peppery and leathery notes, and you made find some sweetness hidden in the flavors. As you move into the second third, you’ll find a richer, earthy flavor, with cedar and leather in the notes. Finally, this cigar will nub out with a creamy, smooth finish. It may start out a little harder, with both pepper and cedar, but by the end, you’ll find it very satisfying.

C.A.O. La Traviata is a great choice for its price. If you’re looking for a cigar that is under $6.00, your local cigar shop will probably have this one. Though, you may want to let this one sit in your humidor for a little bit, because it can be a little bitter if it’s not aged at all. Overall, though, it’s a great cigar to have in your humidor for smoking after a big dinner. The sharpness of the beginning balances out with how it ends and is very satisfying to smoke.

Useful links:

• Another CAO La Traviata review
• Compare prices on CAO La Traviata cigars here