Epic’s Really Dark Maduro Reserva
Epic Cigars launched their first products in 2012 and they have staying power. I saw them at the 2014 IPCPR where they were introducing their new Maduro Reserva made in the Dominican Republic. The Reserva has an Arapiraca wrapper, Cameroon binder and a blend of fillers – from the Domican – Piloto Cubano, Seco, Ligero and a viso from Nicaragua. Epic provided me with their 5 X 52 robusto...
Total Flame Bobber – a Ride on the Dark Side
In 2011 a pair of Russians riding motorcycles through Texas decided to expand their cigar business into the US and Total Flame was born. They launched a number of blends and we reviewed 2 of their cigars in 2013. At the 2014 IPCPR Total Flame gave us a cigar from their Dark Line, a super robusto called Bobber. To motorcyclists, a bobber is a minimalist bike with no front fender, short rear...
Epic’s Corojo Reserva is a Good Opener
Epic Cigars launched their first products in 2012 and they have staying power. They have 2 offerings, a Maduro Reserva which I reviewed and enjoyed and a Corojo Reserva. Epic provided me with a Corojo Reserva at the 2014 IPCPR. The Corojo was a robusto measuring 5 X 52 and it had an interesting dark wrapper from Ecuador although it is not a maduro. The binder is a Dominican Olor and the filler...
Headlines Cigars – A nice obscure smoke
Every once and a while I sort through my humidor. I go looking for sticks that have been put away for later review. In our review policy, we have a somewhat randomness to the order. Unless we are given something by a forend that we judge to be too good or bad, we generally don’t write immediately. Rather, we let the cigars rest gently in our humidor. From time to time we go...
Battleground Cigars Presidential Offering – the Lincoln
Battleground Cigars is a boutique cigar operation based in Connecticut. When we think of cigars and Connecticut, the very popular shade tobacco immediately comes to mind. Combining battleground and Connecticut brings forth the revolutionary war, yet Battleground Cigars is focused upon the Civil War because one of its prominent citizens and businesses played an important role in that war....
Crave the Clave from Cordoba & Morales
Cordoba & Morales are known for continuing the Cuban traditions in cigar making. At the 2014 IPCPR they provided us with a sample of their Clave Cubana Etiqueta Blanca (white label), whose production is limited to 1,000 boxes. The Clave comes in 3 vitolas (robusto, toro and toro gordo) and our sample was the toro, a 6 X 54 box pressed cigar. The clave is a musical instrument – a pair of...
