La Gloria Cubana Retro Especial Habanero
A very long time ago, I used to smoke La Glorias on a regular basis. We’re talking about 25 years ago, before the cigar boom. The cigars were made in Miami by Ernie Carrillo and his rollers on 8th street in Little Havana. Then something good happened for the cigar industry — the boom. Struggling small businesses all of a sudden couldn’t keep up with the demand for...
Las Ramblas, Maduro
This is the third and last toro size offering in Ventura’s Las Ramblas line. This 6 1/2 X 50 cigar was quite firm (as in tightly wrapped) and slightly veiny in its construction, suggesting that the draw could be tough, but that was not the case. However, the firmness called for a closer look at the construction. As can be seen in the photo, some “twigs” appear in the center...
Gurkha Cellar Reserve — A Vintage Cigar
The Gurkha Cellar Reserve is a new release from the recently renamed Gurkha Cigar Group. As soon as I received this stick I was curious both because of the interesting shape of the cigar as well as the complex label. The label is large with lots of information. It tells you that the cigar is a Dominican puro, and the tobacco has aged 15 years. I was also looking forward to a nice long...
Punch Uppercut – An Uppercut without Punch
If memory serves I have had one of these cigars a few years ago but didn’t have a real recollection before unwrapping this one. Uppercut, a sub brand under the Punch line is made using tobacco from the Ometepe region of Nicaragua that for a time was exclusive to General Cigar, the makers of Punch. The region has very rich soil resulting from the volcanic activity in the area....
Las Ramblas Connecticut Toro
This is an attractive cigar with a light color that suggests a taste that tends towards the mild side. The construction was firm but not stiff and the cigar kept its shape throughout. The 6 1/2 by 50 size was easy to hold and the general aroma before and after lighting was pleasant. The ash was firm and an attractive colored grey/white. The flavor did tend towards the medium body taste...
Torano Vault -Vaults to the Top
How does a cigar gets its name? Last week I had the opportunity to sit down for a chat with Jack Torano of Torano Cigars. Jack has recently returned to the family business to work for his cousin Charlie as director of marketing. We sat down to talk in the conference room at their facility in Miami. Before I could even settle in my chair, Jack asked what I wanted to smoke, or rather...
