Cipriano – Bellisimo

Cipriano – Bellisimo

Jan 07

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.  We’ve heard that all of our lives and this cigar was a prime example.  I got this stick at the IPCPR trade show in Orlando last summer and it has been gently resting in my humidor since.  It rose to the top for no other reason than position recently.  And, when I went to do some research I wasn’t able to find out much. At first...

Reinado – Grand Empire Reserve

Reinado – Grand Empire Reserve

Jan 02

I always like to start my reviews with a little something about the cigar, the cigar maker, or the company.  But, honestly I don’t know much and their website hasn’t really helped.  But, that doesn’t make this a bad cigar.  In fact, I rather enjoyed it.  Perhaps at some time in the future I’ll have an opportunity to review more of their cigars and be able to...

AKA Hybrid – Nothing to Scoff At

AKA Hybrid – Nothing to Scoff At

Dec 21

AKA is a tobacco company based in Texas.  The initials stand for American Kick Ass.  That tells you a lot about the sticks.  They intend to take it to you delivering great cigars.  It’s a refreshing take on the industry where they are right in your face.  Still, the cigar has to speak for itself. When I first looked at my stick I was impressed.  It had a toothy feel to the medium...

CyB by Joya de Nicaragua

CyB by Joya de Nicaragua

Dec 20

When I was at the trade show last August, the folks at Drew Estate were talking about a new stick that they had.  It was made at the Joya factory in Esteli.  They called it Cuenca y Blanco after the owner and cigar makers.  Unfortunately, there was a problem with the name.  So, the stick ws renamed CyB by Joya de Nicaragua.  Departing from Joya de Nicaragua’s tradition of crafting only...

Gurkha – 125 And Going Strong

Gurkha – 125 And Going Strong

Dec 17

The year 2012 commemorates the 125th Anniversary of the Gurkha cigar, where it was this year back in 1887, at the height of the British rule that colonial soldiers first began to smoke and enjoy their own cigars from local tobacco. The fondness of the British for these legendary Nepalese fighters inspired them to name their cigars ‘Gurkhas’. “We are very proud to continue the legacy and...

Diesel – Lets an Old Man Feel Hip

Diesel – Lets an Old Man Feel Hip

Dec 12

I am a traditional sort of guy.  Staid, conservative, New England through and through.  So, I was surprised to like an upstart, edgy, hip cigar so much.  It had been resting comfortably in my humidor since the summer trade show, and I finally decided to give it a try.  This cigar is made by AJ Fernandez, who makes many other cigars most notably the Latano line.  Given his many years of...