REVIEW: Illusione 88 Candela

We don't see a lot of green between December and February here in Columbus, so for today's review, I thought I get my fill by trying the new candela leaf-wrapped Illusione 88 from Dion Giolito (@vudu9 on twitter), owner of Illusione Cigars. Earlier in the year, Illusione put out another vitola with this wrapper (the HL) which received decent reviews. I smoked a few of them and thought they were very interesting; perhaps not an everyday kind of cigar, but something fun to mix it up. I asked Dion why he did the candelas via twitter and his response is below:

I've just always liked candelas. It's olde tyme flavor. Back in the day, all of the old cats that hung out in the casinos smoked them. --Dion Giolito


The "regular" Illusione 88 has been a staple in my humidor ever since I received a box as a wedding gift. It's not a vitola in the core Illusione line that gets a ton of praise around the web, but I have always been a big fan and try to keep some on hand (note to self: I am out - order some more). With all that said, this is my first time trying the blend with the candela wrapper, so let's see how it goes.

On to the review.

Specifics  
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Candela
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $??
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://www.illusionecigars.com/


Pre-Light 

The waxy green wrapper color is a pretty crazy sight to behold on the Illusione 88 Candela. I smoke a lot of Illusione products, so seeing a very familiar band with a very unfamiliar color definitely made me take a extra minute or two staring at the cigar before cutting it. With that said, the color does stand out, but what also stands out just as much is the STRONG pre-lit aroma. I could be nice and say it smelled like hay, or barnyard, but really it smelled just like walking into the elephant house at the zoo. A little off-putting, yes, but we've all smoked cigars that smell awful before lighting them, and then the flavors are great after. The cigar cut easily and the cold draw tasted of natural tobacco mixed with some grassy notes.

First Third

The Illusione 88 Candela lit easily with my soft flame lighter and immediately produced thick clouds of smoke that had an interesting aroma. It was not a grassy aroma like I would expect from the cold draw, but more of a earthy aroma that you sometimes smell at your local garden nursery. The initial flavors were black peppery spice with hints of leather and earth on the front, but on the finish was where things got interesting. After blowing the smoke out of my mouth and nose, I was left with a sweet taste that reminded me of raw sugar; not so sweet that it was sickening or gross, but a nice, natural sweetness that is an unusual taste in cigars. Lots of cigars have sweet flavors, but not this flavor. When you smoke one, I think you will know what I'm talking about. The draw and filler burn of the stick was perfect in the first third, but the wrapper leaf had some issues burning straight. I'm not an expert on candelas but I would venture to say that this is common with that style of wrapper. The body was in the mild to medium range.

Second Third

In the second third of my Illusione 88 Candela, the flavor profile changed up a bit. On the front, the black peppery flavors diminished and the strong flavor coming through now was leather. I still got the tingly sensation on my taste buds that the pepper normally gives, but the taste of it was gone. The finish again was where this cigar was most interesting. Along with that natural sweetness from the first third I was now tasting some green tea flavors. I'm not sure if the color of the cigar played tricks on my flavor palate or what? But if you have ever had an Arizona Green Tea from your local corner shop, this is the flavor I was tasting. My smoking partner commented that the mixture of the sugar with the green tea reminded him of green tea ice cream. Again, just like the first third, the draw and filler burn were spot on, just the wrapper leaf needed a touch up here and there with my lighter.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

The final third of my Illusione 88 Candela was pretty much the same as the second third, except for the strength seemed to pick up quite a bit. I would put this part of the stick solidly on the medium range, if not reaching into the medium to full area. The flavors were like before, strong leathery tastes on the front, sweet sugar and green tea on the finish. Something I have not mentioned is just how clean tasting this cigar was. The smoke does not leave any heavy or thick feeling in my mouth, which for me is unusual for a cigar with a predominantly leather taste. Just something I thought worth mentioning. I nubbed the stick and never felt any heat or harshness at the end.

My final thoughts on the Illusione 88 Candela? This was a fun and easy cigar to smoke. Aside from the few touch ups to keep the wrapper burning straight, I never had any problems with the construction or getting full draws of smoke from the cigar. The flavor profile was pretty classic Illusione 88 style with that crazy finish (although I didn't get the black cherry flavor that I normally get when I think of this blend, maybe that's all in the wrapper?) . It was a nice change up from what I normally smoke and a great stick for sitting around with a friend and having a conversation.
 
Would I buy it again? Sure I'd buy a few of these to keep on hand. As I wrote in the top potion of this post, I am a big fan of the 88. I don't think this cigar replaces the regular 88 for my favorite in the blend, but it's still nice to have something different now and then.

Would I buy a box?  I don't think I'd buy a full box of these cigars. I did enjoy smoking it very much, but if I had to choose, I'd still go with the regular 88 in a box purchase. I hope other people review this cigar because I'd really like to read other peoples' experiences and see if they are similar.

Dan

REVIEW: Padron Family Reserve 46 Year

Up for review today is this year's Family Reserve release from Padron. Last year, as most of you probably know, the Padron Family Reserve 45 was awarded Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year. It was certainly a great cigar, so I am excited to see how this year's release stacks up. The particular cigar I am smoking came in a three pack of sticks that was available at the Padron holiday party held at Casa De Montiecristo on December 16th. The Cigar Explorer crew was invited to the event and managed to get our hands on one of these three packs.

A little bit about the cigar. Padron uses only their finest tobacco when it comes to the Family Reserve. If you look around the web you can find quotes from Jorge Padron stating that this year's stick uses some of the oldest tobacco they own. When Mario from Cigar Explorer was chatting with Jorge at the event, he expressed that what makes Padron have great cigars are the raw materials they utilize. I would say that the quality construction plays into it, also, but Jorge insists it's the materials. 

The Family Reserve line of cigars is the flagship stick for Padron and with them comes a hefty price tag.  Last year's stick was worth the cost. Let's see how this year's release measures up. On to the review...
Specifics  
Vitola: Corona Gorda
Length: 5.5
Ring Gauge: 56
Wrapper: Niaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $25.00
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://www.padron.com/

Pre-Light 

The first thing which caught my attention about the Padron 46 was how much bigger it felt in my hand compared to the Padron 45th. The ring gauge is bigger, but I think it is more to do with the stick being only slightly boxed-pressed, rather than the hard press of last year's release. The wrapper is a toothy, dark brown color that is 100% consistent all the way around the cigar. There are a few veins, but they are so small that you really have to inspect the cigar closely to pick them out. The pre-lit aroma is of aged tobbacco, with some hints of espresso closer to the open foot.  The cap clipped easily and the cold draw tasted of sweet tobacco mixed with some coffee flavors.

First Third

I lit my Padron 46 with a soft flame lighter and the cigar began to burn beautifly. Seemingly with some sticks, you really have to torch them to get the going correctly; this one was quite the opposite. The initial flavors on the draw were a warm cinnamon spice which was most apparent on the top of my tounge, mixed with aged tobacco. On the finish was a light cocoa flavor that didn't last too long, but made for a interesting waiting period between puffs. The smoke was very clean and didn't leave a heavy or filmly feeling on my palate. As to be expected after smoking last year's releases, the constuction of this cigar was impeccable. The ash was bright white, the burn was straight, and the draw effortless. I would plant this cigar in the medium strength body range at this point.

Second Third

The second third brought a new flavor to the show that immediately took enter stage. The finish was similar to the first third with light cocoa flavors, but now on the front of the profile came a very strong, woodsy, cedar flavor. It was almost like a switch had been thrown with this taste because it was, by far, the dominate flavor of this part of the cigar. I also need to mention here just how unbeliveably good the resting smoke from this cigar was. The aroma was mostly of high quailty cedar, but with hints of floral notes and (call me weird)...I smelled jasmine. Toward the end of the second third, some of that warm spice started to show through the strong cedar flavor again. Nothing very spicy, just enough to warm my palate. This part of the cigar was where I felt like I was smoking something special. Again, the draw/burn/ash...all Padron Family Reserve perfection.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

In the final third of my Padron 46, it was the finish on the flavor profiles' turn to change up a bit. The front was still the warm spice, mixed with strong cedar notes. (I hope everyone that smokes this cigar gets that flavor because for me, it was very enjoyable.) The change here was the finish went from a light cocoa taste into more of a rich dark chocolate flavor; almost so dark it could have been baking chocolate. With that flavor change, the length of the finish also seemed to last longer between puffs. The body stayed a consistant medium and the constuction was spot on. When nubbing the cigar, the dark chocolate took over not only the finish but also the front end of the profile. This was a fine way to end the smoking experience.

My final thoughts on the Padron Family Reserve 46 Year? Smoking this cigar just makes you feel classy. The taste and the aroma of the smoke is complex and sophisticated. I kept thinking that this is the kind of cigar you would smoke after a formal dinner on a old-fashioned cruise ship. The construction is what you would expect from a cigar of this calibur and the burn never even hinted at needing a touch up. Is this cigar better than the "cigar of the year" from last year? I would say yes. Like I wrote above, last year's was a great cigar, but for me, this year's had just a little more to it...of what I'm not sure, but something was there. 
 
Would I buy it again? It is hard to think of a cigar that is better than this one for a special occasion. With that said, the occasion has to be the right one. An outside party or a night at the smoke shop where there are lots of people smoking is not what this stick is for. This cigar should be experienced by yourself or with just a few other BOTLs relaxing at the end of the day. The short story? Yes, I would buy more.

Would I buy a box?  I wish! These are way out of my price range for box purchases, but if money is no object, I would suggest buying a box and putting it away for those "special occasions".

Dan

REVIEW: 2010 Viaje Holiday Blend

Today's cigar review is something I have been looking forward to ever since the weather started to get cold and the holiday lights started going up on the houses around mine. The Viaje Holiday Blend was a great stick last year, and when I heard that this years version was going to be made in one of my two favorite sizes, my anticipation was heightened. Below is an email I received from Andre Farkas, owner of Viaje Cigars:

I decided to use a different wrapper this year (Holiday Blend) to switch up the flavor a bit; select Criollo98. Still the same core as last year's release. We will probably tweak the cigar a hair, so each year will be a little different than the last. For those that grabbed a 2010 enjoy and happy holidays. 

Thank you Andre for taking the time to answer my email. Enough chat, lets see how the 2010 smokes.

Due to the size of this cigar, this review is only in two parts instead of the traditional thirds.

Specifics  
Vitola: Petite Robusto
Length: 4
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Niaraguan Criollo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $9.25
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://www.viajecigars.com/

Pre-Light  

I chose to buy My Viaje Holiday Blend 2010 in the petite robusto size because it's one of my favorite vitolas. (I picked these up at New Havana Cigars, but I am pretty sure he is sold out of them.) The combination of the small size, with the pretty large band, really made this cigar look tiny. I smoke a lot of petite robustos, but this one really looks "petite". I could tell when squeezing the cigar that is is fully packed and well-constructed. The foot of the stick is closed tightly, with the wrapper covering any sight of filler tobacco. The wrapper itself has a lot of tooth seeming to be in random places all over the leaf. A lot of times you see uniform tooth on wrapper leafs, but not with this stick. The pre-lit aroma was very leathery with earthy undertones. Not much of a cold draw on this stick (closed foot), but the wrapper left a earthy taste on my lips.

First Half  

I lit my Viaje Holiday Blend 2010 with some wooden matches because I didn't want to scorch the closed foot with my triple flame. The first few puffs were WOW, a fire cracker of warm spice and smoke exploding all over my taste buds. Just like I wrote in a past review of a Viaje cigar, this stick roared out of the gate and came to the show in full strength. Speaking of strength, right from the first puff I could tell that this was a full body cigar. You know those cigars that when you light them, you just know what you are in for? This is one of them. The volume of smoke was large and the draw was excellent. After about 3/4 of an inch in, the spice started to transition to the finish of the flavor profile and brought a strong cedar taste to the front. The cedar was not only prevalent in the taste, but also in the resting smoke between puffs. My smoking partner commented that it was a "sophisticated" aroma that reminded him of a high-quality walk in humidor. As you can see in the picture above, the construction was fantastic and the ash held very strongly for over half of the stick.

Second Half and Final Thoughts  

The second half of my Viaje Holiday Blend 2010 had some changes in flavors and more of a mellowing out of the smoke. When I write mellowing, I don't mean in strength (it was just as strong as it started)...I mean more in the flavors becoming one, and not as distinct to pick out.  I was still getting a lot of cedar on the front of each draw, but on the finish, it was a mix of warm spice, hints of mild American-style coffee, and something else I couldn't put my finger on. Toward the nub, this mystery flavor got even stronger, but I still can't put a name to it. All these flavors blended nicely and made for a smooth and relaxing finish. The cigar burned perfectly all the way to the nub, never picking up any heat or harshness. I only ashed this cigar once before putting it down, so I'd say that is a testament to it's construction. Warning again...FULL BODY. My heart was well racing from the nicotine by the time I put this little guy down. It was not to much, but in a bigger size, it might be.


My final thoughts on the Viaje Holiday Blend 2010?  Just like most other Viaje limited release sticks, this is not for the novice smoker. The power in this cigar is very evident from the first puff and, if you were not ready for it, I think it my throw you for a loop. Once you look past the strength, the flavors were enjoyable, especially in the second half when the cigar mellowed a bit and became very full and rich in taste. I still am not sure what that mystery flavor is I was tasting towards the end, so I look forward to reading other reviews to see what my fellow smokers get out of this cigar. Awesome construction, perfect burn, enjoyable FULL BODY cigar.
 
Would I buy it again? I still have a few of these left, so I don't think I would search for more at this moment. While I enjoyed the cigar, there are other rare/limited releases from Viaje with similar power that I enjoyed a bit more. Those would be the ones I hunted for before this one.

Would I buy a box? I could not afford these in box quantities, but if I was a rich man it, would be fun to buy a box to sit on for years, simply because it's for the holidays. It would be great to pull out a full box 5-10 years from now in December and remember back to 2010.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Dan 

REVIEW: La Aurora Guillermo Leon Signature

Today's review is my last in the series of new releases from the distributor Miami Cigar Company. The Guillermo Leon Signature was released at this past year's IPCPR show and is the newest product to come from the oldest factory in the Dominican Republic-- La Aurora. The cigar carries the name of the the Vice President of La Aurora,Guillermo Leon (@GuillermoLeon_ on twitter.) I had been emailed a press release about this cigar directly from Guillermo, noted below:

“Obviously, this cigar is personal for me. It is part of my family’s legacy for the past 107 years. In this cigar, I wanted something with deep complexity yet also a stronger smoke than most of our offerings. I think this is something that will please today’s smokers.” -- Guillermo Leon

From the sticks I have smoked recently, I think Miami Cigar Company and La Aurora have really been on point. I am excited to try yet another new cigar from them, so...on to the review.

Specifics  
Vitola: Gran Corona
Length: 6
Ring Gauge: 47
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habana
Binder: Double binder, Corojo and Cameroon
Filler: Dominican, Peruvian, Nicaraguan and Brazilian
Price: $8
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://www.miamicigarandcompany.com/ 
Manufacture's Website: http://www.laaurora.com.do/

Pre-Light 

The first thing that caught my eye while looking over my La Aurora Guillermo Leon was just how smooth and evenly colored on the wrapper was. The color was light brown with just a hint of redness, when the light hit it at a certain angle. The veins that were in the leaf were minimal and smooth to the touch. I smoke a lot of "ugly" broadleaf cigars, so seeing this stick was quite a change. The pre-lit aroma was of earthy tobacco with hints of hazelnut closer to the open foot. The cold draw taste proved my nose correct and tasted heavily of hazelnut. It's the holiday season and during this time, we have some baskets of mixed nuts around the house for snacking on. Maybe this helps my palate pick up these flavors more. Who knows?

First Third

After evenly lighting my La Aurora Guillermo Leon, I was easily puffing large volumes of smoke from the cigar. The smoke was thick with a creamy texture which lightly coated my taste buds with earthy, woodsy flavors. Along with those flavors, there was just a hint of warm spice on the finish that tingled just a bit. I'm more than likely going to repeat this in every section, but the construction on this cigar was top of the line. The burn was razor straight and the ash was more solid than I have seen on any other stick this year. I'm not sure if it's to do with the double binder, but I only ashed this cigar 3 times and, every time, I think it could have held on for longer. The body was in the mild range.

Second Third

The second third of my La Aurora Guillermo Leon brought on a change in the flavor profile of my cigar. The hazelnut flavors I picked up so strongly initially in the cold draw were now back and as potent as ever. On the finish, I started getting kicks of sweetened coffee which created a very nice compliment on the front. The spice and woodsy flavors I had before dissipated, but what did not dissipate was the large clouds of smoke this cigar produced on every draw. Again, the smoke was very creamy. Mix the smoke with the hazelnut and coffee flavors and it began to taste like something you would get from your local coffee shop, not a cigar shop. Like mentioned above, the construction was perfect. The body stayed in the mild range.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

The final third can be described in one word: smooth. Now that I've told you how it went in one word, let me entertain you with a few more details. The flavor profile stayed pretty much the same as the second third, with the hazelnut and coffee tastes. I felt, however, that the cigar blended out better in the final third, without much changing, rather just melted together. The body maybe picked up slightly into the medium range, but I would say it was a mild medium if that makes sense. Again, prefect burn and solid ash.

My final thoughts on the La Aurora Guillermo Signature? This is a very easy cigar to smoke. The smoothness in the texture of the smoke is easy on the taste buds and the mild body never effected my system. The flavor profile, especially in the final third where the stick shined for me, was a great blend of strong flavor that left me feeling satisfied. 
 
Would I buy it again? Just like the other sticks I've smoked from Miami Cigar Company and La Aurora, I would buy this stick again. I think this could be a great cigar to hand out to almost anyone from an experienced smoker to a newbie.

Would I buy a box?  I personally tend to lean towards more medium-full body cigars, so I'm not sure I would buy a full box of these for myself to smoke. But if you are a mild to medium body cigar smoker, I don't think you'll find to many better than this one in that profile.

Dan

REVIEW: La Sirena

Today's review is for another new cigar from Miami Cigar Company. The La Sirena was released in Chicago on November 19th, 2010, at a party hosted by our good friends at Casa de Monticristo. The entire crew from Miami Cigar Company attended the event, along with my partners from my sister site Cigar Explorer. Below is a press release from Miami Cigar Company about the cigar and the party.

MIAMI, FL – It’s believed that life on earth originated in the ocean, and now Miami Cigar & Co., makers of the highly-acclaimed Nestor Miranda Collection and Tatiana flavored cigar line, has brought life to a new full-bodied cigar selection inspired by a mythical sea creature. Blended and manufactured by Don Jose “Pepin” Garcia in Nicaragua, La Sirena cigars, Spanish for “mermaid,” will make their Earth debut in Chicago, IL on Friday, November 19 at Casa de Montecristo. The launch will be attended by newly appointed Brand Ambassador, Ms. Arielle Ditkowich. Ms. Ditkowich will also be traveling nationwide to help introduce and promote the La Sirena line.

“We are very happy to finally have that full-bodied cigar in our portfolio,” said Rene Casteneda, Miami Cigar Vice President of Sales. “We have never produced a full-bodied cigar of out the My Father Cigars factory until now, I am very excited to finally enter this market.”

To achieve La Sirena’s full-bodied flavor, Don Pepin has used Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 & Nicaraguan Corojo ’96 as filler, plus a dual Nicaraguan Habano & Nicaraguan Corojo binder, rolled in a lush Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper.

Since Cigar Explorer was at the event, they were able to pick up a box of these sticks and bring them back to Columbus for reviewing.  Enough typing, let's get to smoking.

Specifics  
Vitola: Corona
Length: 5 1/2
Ring Gauge: 42
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $8
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://www.miamicigarandcompany.com/

Pre-Light

I have to point out right away what everyone says when they first see this cigar. Yes the band is really that big. On a corona sized stick, it is slightly overkill, but the glue holding the band together has not been heavily applied on any of the sticks I've smoked, so removing it is no issue. The wrapper on my La Sirena was dark brown and very rustic looking. There was a significant amount of tooth and some pretty large veins...all the things that most of us know and love about broadleaf.The pre-lit aroma was mostly barnyard smells, mixed in with just a hint of coffee. The triple cap clipped easily and the cold draw consisted of sweet tobbacco mixed with some leather notes.

First Third

Pepper bomb! After lighting my La Sirena the first 5 or 6 draws were an absolute classic Don Pepin blend pepper bomb. The flavors were extremely stong and tingled the top my tongue. The draw was free and the stick gave off a medium amount of smoke...pretty much the amount of smoke you would expect from a cigar of this size. About an inch into the stick, the finish flavors started to come forward and stand out from the pepper. I started tasting a lot of sweet raw honey on every exhale, which really worked well to balance out some of the spice. Slightly further into the first third, the front of the flavor profile started to change too and I could taste some hints of coffee.

Second Third

The second third of my La Sirena is was what I referred to my smoking partner as "where this cigar developed to greatness". This has to be where Pepin, or whoever else was on the taste testing crew for this cigar, realized they were on to something good.  Similar to the first third, I was tasting a lot of peppery spice on the front (which I love), and sweetend honey on the finish, but now the black coffee flavors had also developed into a strong characterist of the cigar. Every draw on the cigar produced a complex flavor mixed on my palate that made me want to rush to the next puff. The smoke volume picked up a little which might have helped the flavors be just that much more intense. I want to point out here that, althought the flavors were extremely strong, the finish on the cigar was clean and did not leave my mouth feeling dirty or burnt. This is a hard thing to do with broadleaf and reminded me a lot of the finish on the NHC Reserva from New Havana Cigars. The body was in the medium range for me.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

The final third and things just kept on going perfectly. The flavor mix was almost the same as the second third, with pepper, coffee, and honey, but now every once in awhile I got a slight bitter chocolate taste. This flavor did not come through on every draw, but when it did it, added just another dimention to the flavor profile that was already well established. The cigar burned excellently from start to finish, never requiring any touch-ups. I smoked this stick to the nub and it never got hot or harsh. I know the press release for this cigar says it's a full body smoke. For me, it was more in the medium range; fuller than other sticks from Miami Cigar Company, but I never felt that nic kick that I get from real full body cigars.

My final thoughts on the La Sirena? If you took the time to read this review then you will not be surprised when I say that this new favorite is one of the best cigars I have smoked all year. It's Decemeber...save the best for last, maybe? While I am not yet ready to crown it king of 2010, it will certainly be in the royal court. The flavors were extremely strong, yet evenly balanced, keeping me wanting more the whole time. Yes,  I am a sucker for broadleaf and for the Pepin peppery spice, but this stick not only had that, it also had some serious depth in the flavors that may have been missing from some of his other blends this year. 
 
Would I buy it again? Being that this is one of the best cigars I have smoked all year, I see myself buying more of these time and time again. I currently do not have anymore, and I'm not sure if anyone local is selling them yet, but I will be on the hunt and I think you should be too.

Would I buy a box?  I would buy a box of these without hesitation.

Dan 

REVIEW: Tatuaje Anarchy

Today's review is the latest in the ever-expanding line of single shop release sticks from Pete Johnson (@tatuajecigars on twitter), owner of Tatuaje cigars. Pete has been taking some heat online recently about the amount of "limited release" sticks he has been putting out, but my feeling is "the more the merrier." The Tatuaje Anarchy was made exclusively for Smoke Inn Cigars in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Abe Dababneh (@tatuajeanarchy on twitter) was kind enough to send me a sample of this stick to review before they are released to the market. Included in the package was a letter from Abe explaining more details of the cigar, which I have included with this review below.

November 17, 2010
RE: Tatuaje Anarchy

Dear Brother of the Leaf,
You and your site have been chosen to be amongst the first in the country to sample the new Limited Edition Tatuaje Anarchy. Back in the spring of 2009, I approached my good friend Pete Johnson regarding the idea. Pete was immediately on board. After about 6 different attempts, we felt Pete & Pepin struck gold with a blend that we were proud of.

The wrapper used is a very special proprietary crop of Ecuadorian Habano leaf that Pepin & Pete personally chose for the project. The binder and filler is Nicaraguan, and blended to perfection. This is a something we are very proud of and hope you enjoy the smokes. You are one of a very select few of the bloggers we felt would appreciate and be worthy if this package.

The National Release Party will be held December 10th at our West Palm Beach location with both Pete Johnson & Pepin Garcia in attendance. Pre-orders will be taken at our website, beginning midnight Black Friday, November 26th. Boxes are 15 count with a retail price of $149.85 per box. All orders will be guaranteed to ship beginning Dec. 13th, just in time for the holidays. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me personally.

Reguards,
Abe Dabaneh
Smoke Inn

Thanks Abe for the kind words and personal letter. I appreciate the opportunity to do this review.

Now that we all know when and where to get them,  let's see if the Anarchy is worth digging into your holiday funds for...and on to the review.

Vitola: figurado
Length: 6 1/8
Ring Gauge: 48 – 52 tapered
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $10
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://www.tatuajecigars.com/ 

Pre-Light

The first thing that stood out when looking at my Tatuaje Anarchy was the elaborate pigtail on the cap of this stick. I've read others describe it as looking like a rolled pastry and I don't think there is any other way to describe it. Along with its tapered shape, there is no mistaking this cigar for another -- even if it were unbanded. The darkish brown wrapper is very oily and had medium-sized veins. The pre-lit aroma consisted of some sweet scents mixed with some stronger hay notes. The cold draw was a little tight for my liking and tasted sweet with hints of cocoa. I'm sure the tightness on the draw was due to just how packed this stick was. Squeezing the cigar, it had almost no give to it.

First Third

I lit my Tatuaje Anarchy with a single torch and the first few puffs were full of a sweet spice that coated the top of my palate and the back of my tongue. The spice was not the typical Nicaraguan peppery zing, but more of a warm cinnamon. The stick was drawing a medium amount of smoke, but giving off tons while resting. About a half inch into the stick, the flavors started to mellow and the smoke got very sweet. On the front, I got mostly muted nut flavors and on the finish, just some sugary sweetness. The flavors were there but it was really mild, nothing like the fist few puffs. The burn had no problems and the body sat in the medium range.

Second Third

The second third of my Tatuaje Anarchy is where the stick took a different direction and really took off. The muted flavors I got in the first third were now gone and, again, I was getting a lot of strong cinnamon spice mixed with what I would call toasted marshmallow or burnt sugar. The flavors on the finish were now strong, too, and were a mix of more sugar and some hints black coffee. This part of the cigar was excellent and a treat to smoke. The body in the second third also started to ramp up and I would call it more in the full range.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

The start of the final third wasn't what I had expected, as it went back to what I was getting mostly in the first third. The stick went quickly from that really strong, in-your-face flavor of the second third, back to the muted profile of the sweet flavors both on the front and the finish. I was a little disappointed until I burned to about an inch and a half left of the cigar, where it took yet another turn. It was like going to a different cigar with those last puffs as I then got the really strong, traditional Pepin black pepper flavor that I love. I actually looked at my smoking partner and said, "Wow, what happened?" I could see that the color of the ash had changed too, into a really dark, almost black color. The body was now well into the full range and I was happy that I had eaten a big pasta dinner to counteract some of this power. The burn was perfect all the way to the end and never required any kind of touch up with my lighter.

My final thoughts on the Tatuaje Anarchy ? This is a complex cigar blend that when it is on, it's really on. And when it's not, the flavors are a little muted. In this single experience with the stick, the flavors just seemed to be all over the place at different times. Maybe Anarchy is a fitting name? I think with age and some more mixing of the flavors in the different tobaccos, it could turn into something that is great from start to finish. Smoking this cigar was very interesting and I don't think I've ever written so many notes in my review book. It should be noted, again, that at the end of this cigar it was VERY strong. Make sure you plan accordingly. 
 
Would I buy it again? The price is right (if not cheap) for a cigar this size coming from Pete Johnson. I would buy more and let them rest in my humi for awhile and revisit them in a few months.

Would I buy a box?  I'm not sure I'd jump on a box of these right away, but if you don't, there might not be any left to have. I'll be looking to do a split with some other BOTLs.

I want to say thanks again to Abe from Smoke Inn for including me in his list of people he sent samples to. It's my favorite thing to smoke new cigars and to get one from one of my top favorite brands, I couldn't be more grateful.

Dan   

REVIEW: Nestor Miranda Art Deco

Today's review is a newly released (I'm not sure where you can get them) cigar from Nestor Miranda, founder of Miami Cigars, and Don Pepin, creator of Don Pepin Cigars, amongst many others. As most of us know, Pepin is regarded as one of the masters of Nicaraguan blends. The story behind this cigar goes like this: With this cigar, Nestor wanted to give Pepin a challenge to use Domincan tobacco and still come up with something great.
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"We wanted to get Pepin out of his comfort zone, which is using Nicaraguan tobacco," said Nestor Miranda. "He accepted the challenge and came out with an amazing blend using 40% Dominican tobacco."

I am a huge Pepin fan, so after reading about this stick (and finally getting my hands on one), I am very excited to light this up and see what comes of it.

Vitola: Robusto Grande
Length: 5.5
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo '06
Binder: Dominican Corojo '98 & Nicaraguan Habano '00 (duel binders)
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
Price: $7.50
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://www.miamicigarandcompany.com/

Pre-Light  

My Art Deco from Nestor Miranda had a inviting, smooth, chocolate-brown wrapper. The cigar was fully and evenly packed with just a slight bit of a give when pinched. The pre-lit aroma was very peppery with just a hint of a scent of sweetness -- an aroma I have come to really love, as it is present in most of Pepin's blends. The large cap on the stick clipped easily and the draw was excellent, tasting of hay with some natural tobacco flavors.

First Third

I lit my Art Deco with the normal triple torch I use for bigger ring gauge sticks and the cigar starting drawing effortlessly. I've really been having a great run of cigars recently when it comes to the draws. Not only with the sticks I write about, but also with the ones I've smoked for more casual purposes. All have been winners in the last few weeks. The starting flavors on my cigar are mild, but still easy to pick out. The classic Pepin pepper is there, but more muted than normal. On the finish I picked up some hints of coffee, but they were very slight. Like I wrote above, the flavors are mild, but not boring in anyway. The burn is a little crooked, but
nothing to be worried about at this point. The body was in the medium range. 

Second Third 

The second third of my Art Deco brought on a lot of changes from the first third. The distinct peppery flavors had subsided and now a strong, sweetened coffee and cream taste was what this cigar was about. The finish was very clean and, with the creamy notes, left my palate feeling refreshed. It was a drastic change and happened pretty much between one draw and the next. Speaking of the draw, the cigar was once again drawing perfectly, producing huge clouds of smoke. The ash on this stick held on for just over an inch before falling off. The body was still right in the medium range.

Final Third and Final Thoughts  

The difference in the final third of my Art Deco was not what the flavors were, but just how powerful they came through. The sweet coffee and cream flavors were in my face and lingered on the finish for well over a full minute. It might sound overwhelming, but the flavors were so smooth that it never felt like too much. The construction was perfect and the draw never got hot -- even all the way to the nub. Toward the end, the body stepped up to what I would call the medium-full range.


My final thoughts on the Nestor Miranda Art Deco? Even though I was looking forward to a spicy Pepin blended cigar, and got quite the opposite, I was not disappointing at all in the Art Deco. This is a wonderfully strong-flavored cigar that really takes off in the second third. As I burned through, the flavors just got stronger and stronger, so if you are smoking one and think it's weak, give it time

Would I buy it again? This is the second review in a row I have written where I think I would pay more than what the MSRP is listed. I noticed on my cheat sheet that this stick comes in a 4.5 x 50 vitola, too. I'm a big fan of that size, so next time I think I'd like to try that one out.

Would I buy a box?  This is a box-worthy cigar.

Dan  

REVIEW: La Aurora 107 Lancero

I fell a little behind on my reviews last month (I had spent most of my time on my other project cigarexplorer.com), so by now I'm sure I'm close to last on reviewing the much talked about "Twitter cigar". Just in case you have been living under a rock and have not heard about this stick, the La Aurora 107 is a popular blend from Guillermo León (@GuillermoLeon_ on twitter) that had so many requests for it to be made in a lancero vitola, that "the dream became a reality". A lot of those requests came to Guillermo via  twitter, so it only seems fitting that the name of this cigar is The "Twitter cigar".  

OK, now that we have that out of the way, let's get on with the important part...the review.

Specifics 

Vitola: Lancero

Length: 7 Ring Gauge: 40
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
Price: $7.00
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://rediscoverlaaurora.com/

Pre-Light

My La Aurora 107 lancero was a great looking cigar. The wrapper was a nice oily, medium brown color with only one noticeable vein. For it's slender size, this cigar had some serious weight to it. I could tell by pinching the stick from head to foot that is was evenly packed, and packed about as full as it could be without bursting. The prelight aroma was interesting because, at first, all I could smell was earthy tobacco, but after a few whiffs I started to get a orange peel scent. The pigtailed head clipped easily and the cold draw tasted of clean tobacco. One thing to note for certain is, even with how packed this cigar was, the draw was exceptional and required no effort.to pull air through the stick.

First Third 

I lit my La Aurora 107 lancero with a single torch and like in the pre-light, was impressed with just how easy the cigar was drawing. Lanceros, due to there size, can be a bit tight on the draw if not done by someone with some serious skill.  It is obvious to me that La Aurora has some talented rollers. The cigar produced a lot of smoke and burned very well. The initial flavor was mostly earthy tobacco, but just on the front of each draw, there was a kick of black pepper. The ash of the cigar was typical of a small ring gauge and held on for just over half an inch before falling into my ash tray. The body started out in the medium range, but the flavor strength was very full.

Second Third   

The second third of my La Aurora 107 Lancero really changed up the flavors on me. The slight black pepper kick is now completely gone and the earthy tobacco now took more of a clean richer tobacco flavor. To add to that change, the most noticeable difference was the flavor in the finish. After exhaling each puff, I could taste a very distinctive orange peel flavor that was not present in the first third. This sweet flavor mixed in with the rich tobacco, playing very well together to a created a very interesting and enjoyable smoke. Again, I have to rave about the effortless draw on this stick. I can't stand a cigar with a tight draw and this was definitely not one of them. The body was that same as the first third -- medium.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

The final third of my La Aurora 107 Lancero was very similar to the second. The flavors were maybe just a little less strong than they were before, but I would not call them weak in the slightest. I was still getting a nice rich clean tobacco taste on the front, with the sweet orange peel on the finish. The cigar never got hot and, even after the photo above was taken, I picked the stick back up and smoked it further to the nub.

My final thoughts on the La Aurora 107 Lancero? This is a nicely flavorful and expertly constructed cigar. The blend of natural tobacco tastes mixed in with the sweet orange peel notes made for a relaxing and almost palate-cooling smoke. The thing I can't say enough about this cigar is just how effortless it was to smoke. This is the easiest smoking lancero I have smoked in awhile, and maybe even ever. I could pull huge clouds of smoke out of this stick with just the slightest draw. To me, that really adds to the smoking experience.

Would I buy it again? At 7 bucks a stick, I would for sure buy this cigar again. I think this stick is worth more than that. If I can find more, I will definitely pick some up.

Would I buy a box?  I don't think I could smoke this cigar everyday, but I do think it would be a great cigar to share with others. For that reason, I could see myself getting a box if they were available.

Dan

REVIEW: Illusione HL Maduro

It has been awhile since I have done a review of a stick from Illusione Cigars,so when I got my hands on a limited edition version the HL "Holy Lance", I thought it perfect for a review. If you are a follower of cigar news, you may have heard about two new limited releases from Dion (@vudu9 on twitter) in the HL line. One in particular stands out  because it is wrapped in a bright green Candela wrapper, but the other (which is the one I am smoking for review) is different because of its wrapper too -- because it is a Maduro.

Some more info on the HL Maduro from the New Havana Cigars website: A special run of -hl- available with a maduro wrapper! Limited availability. Dion Giolito blended these cigars using tobacco from first generation Corojo '99 and Criollo '98 seeds. They are beautifully constructed, featuring a Maduro wrapper and a cuban style triple cap. Made at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras from 100% Nicaraguan tobacco.

This stick was given to me by Dan (@nhcdan on twitter) owner of New Havana cigars. If it tastes as good as it looks, I think we might be in for another fantastic cigar from Illusione. Let's get to smoking.
 
Specifics

Vitola: Lancero
Length: 7.5
Ring Gauge: 40
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $9.35 each in full boxes of 24
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://illusionecigars.com/

Pre-Light 

My HL Maduro was a very rustic-looking cigar with a fantastic pig tail sticking out of the triple cap. The wrapper was a nice medium brown with a lot of tooth and oil. There were some pretty sizable veins in the leaf, but all seemed to be smoothed out nicely. The aroma off of the wrapper was faint, but smelled slightly earthy. The cap clipped easily and the cold draw was free with just a little resistance. I have smoked my fair share of lancero-sized cigars and the draw on this stick was one of the best I have had in awhile. The flavors of the unlit cigar were a mixture of floral and black cherry notes. The wrapper itself left a very sweet taste on my lips that is hard to describe, but I would say it was almost like a sweetened Chap-stick.

First Third

After lighting the HL Maduro, my taste buds were hit right away with some very refined white pepper that zinged all over the front of my palette. I, literally, looked at my smoking partner Mario and said, "Wow, that's a lot of flavor." Within the white pepper kicks were hints of black cherry, which melted nicely and balanced out what could have been a spicy start. The draw was fantastic, producing an average amount of smoke on each puff. About an inch into the cigar the flavors had already started to add a new dimension -- a chocolaty sweet finish. The burn was a little wavy, but did not require a touch up; it corrected itself going into the second third. The body was a solid medium.
     
Second Third

 Starting into the second third, that switch up of flavors to this new sweet chocolate finish was really in full gear. In my opinion, there was no mistaking that this wrapper was complimenting all that I love in the HL blend just that much more flavor to play with. The front still had the white pepper mixed with the black cherry, and now, like I wrote above, the sweet chocolate was strongly present on the finish. Even with the amount of flavor happening, the tastes were very clean on the palette. I would describe the texture of the smoke as syrupy, but not heavy. The construction was top notch, now with the burn line having straightened itself out. As far as the amount of smoke I was getting on each draw, it was average and on par with what you would expect from a lancero.The body was still in the medium range.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

The final third of my HL Maduro was similar to the second third in that it had all of the flavors, but the white pepper picked up quite a bit and started to slightly overpower the black cherry.On the finish was the sweet chocolate that cooled off any spice from each draw. During the final third, I felt a significant increase in the body and would put the end of this smoking experience more into the med-full range. Something I did not mention above was just how slow this stick burned for me. I was drawing on the cigar at a normal rate and it still took me a good hour and forty five minutes to nub. I've found a lot of lanceros burn quickly because of the small ring gauge, but that is not the case with the HL Maduro. This long, thin stick is packed full.

My final thoughts on the Illusione HL Maduro? This is a complex flavor bomb of a stick. In the first few puffs, my palette got kick started with the white pepper zing and then was encased with enjoyable flavor after flavor the rest of the way. I would say the best part of the stick for me was right in the middle when all three of the most prominent flavors were really kicking in full gear and keeping me very interested with every draw. Even though the smoke was very clean and light feeling, I can still taste the sweet syrupy flavors from the finish an hour after putting the cigar down.

Would I buy it again? Unless Dion plans on releasing this as a full line it's going to be difficult to keep any significant stock of these in my collection. Dan at New Havana Cigars still has some up for sale on his site so I'm sure I will grab a few more before they are all gone.

Would I buy a box?  I would say that this is a box-worthy purchase if you can afford it and can find them..

Dan

Review: Liga Privada JD#4

Thursday September 9th, 2010 was the official release and launch party date of the much anticipated Liga Privada JD #4. Held at Casa de Monticristo in Chicago, the party was attended by Jonathan Drew (@jonathandrew1 on twitter) and a few others from the Drew Estate company.  I was unable to attend the party this time, but my partners at Cigar Explorer were there in full force and kindly brought back one of these sticks for me to review.

From what I am told, the LP JD#4 uses the same wrapper as the LP T52 but an entirely different binder and filler. The make up of the stick was not fully disclosed at the party and a lot of it seems to still be a "secret" that has not been made public (or even leaked).

Personally, I have not been overly impressed with the Liga line of cigars, but I am always excited to try any new blend from a top manufacturer in the business. Let's see how the LP JD#4 burns.

Specifics
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Connecticut Habano "stalk-cut"
Binder: ?
Filler: ?
Price: $? each
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://www.drewestate.com/

Pre-Light 

When first inspecting my LP JD#4 I noticed immediately how big the triple cap was on this stick. Almost all of the cigars I smoke these days seem to be triple-capped, but none have caps this big. I wonder if people will hack off close to a quarter inch of this vitola when cutting it because of this. This should go without saying, but DON'T DO IT! The wrapper was a nice dark brown with a lot of tooth and some decently-sized veins running around the middle of the leaf. The pre-lit aroma coming off the wrapper was very strong and had a perfume-y scent to it that reminded me of the Drew Estate Acid cigars. Don't let that scare you away because this is not a flavored cigar; when taking a whiff of the open foot, the aroma was much more normal and tobacco scented. The cold draw was nice, free, and tasted of mixture of cedar notes and sweet tobacco flavors.

First Third

My LP JD#4 opened up with almost an obscene amount of smoke, both off the draw and while resting. I know I have said a lot of cigars I have smoked recently have large volumes of smoke, but I am sure this is the biggest. The initial flavor I got from the stick was a very muted pepper note and I actually felt them smoke more than tasted it. By that, I mean the taste buds on my tongue tingled a lot on each draw and my mouth salivated quite a bit, but as far as flavor goes, there was not much to write about. About an inch into the stick, I picked up some cedar tastes to mix with the pepper, but again, these were very muted and secondary to the physical reaction my palate was having. The construction/burn on the stick was perfect and the ash held strong for about an inch before I knocked it easily into the ashtray. The body was in the medium to full range.
     
Second Third 

Starting into the second third, those minor flavors started to change up, producing more sweetness in the smoke, as opposed to the pepper from the first third. I was still picking up some cedar hits on the front, which mixed nicely with the sweetness, but the strength of the flavors were still very weak. What was not, however, was the body of the stick. Right from the beginning of the second third, the power of the nicotine kick this cigar was putting off became very apparent. It wasn't extremely uncomfortable or sickening, but it did have me waiting between puffs an extra minute or two that I wouldn't normally take. Again, the construction was dead on, and the ash was solid and never worried me that I could be wearing it if I was not careful. Toward the end of the second third, the flavor on the finish of the stick delivered some coffee notes.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

The final third of my LP JD#4 finally brought that long, lost stronger flavor, which had been missing up to this point. The coffee taste that ended the second third were now dominate, not only on the finish, but also on the front. I have to say this was the most enjoyable and exciting part of this cigar for me. Truth be told: If this final third had continued in the same manner as the first two, I would have been very disappointed. Near the nub some of the pepper flavors reappeared, but only for a handful of draws before the cigar had to be put down. The body was way into the full range and I was glad I ate a big beefy dinner before I smoked this stick. I never had to relight this cigar; the burn/draw were perfect the whole way so A+ for construction.

My final thoughts on the Liga Privada JD#4? Overall this was a decent cigar, but far from anything to write home about. This stick, in my opinion, is better than the T52 and the #9 from LP, but not as good as the Flying Pig. I wish the first and second third had produced as strong a flavor as the final third, but it just wasn't there for me. Myself not being the biggest LP fan, I'm sure there are others that will call me crazy, and this will be on the money for them. I've still not tried the Dirty Rat, so maybe that will be the gem in the LP line for me.

Would I buy it again? This would depend on the price. If I'm not mistaken, these are not currently for sale and only come as a gift when you buy other boxes of Liga Privada cigars. If this stick falls  in line comparatively with the others from LP, I think I would pass on buying more.

Would I buy a box?  See above comments.

Dan

REVIEW: Viaje Satori

Today's cigar review is for a stick which was brought back from the IPCPR trade show by one of my partners at Cigar Explorer. (@Cigarexplorer on twitter, please follow us!) Many people are beginning to recognize the Viaje name and understand that Andre Farka's cigars are primarily micro-batch releases. Yes, Viaje does have 3 core lines (Platino, Oro, 50/50), but it's in these highly-limited releases that the company has been making the biggest impact. The Satori, meaning state of sudden spiritual enlightenment in Japanese, falls right in line with only 150 boxes of each of the three sizes being made. I'm not sure if the samples from IPCPR count towards that exclusive 150 box count, but I'm pretty excited to get my hands on one either way.

For more information on Viaje there is a great interview with Andre in this months Cigar Press magazine.

I'll admit upfront that I have truly enjoyed everything I have smoked from Viaje and hold them to a pretty high standard. The Skull and Bones and the Double Edged Sword are most likely going to end up in my Top 10 (if not Top 5) cigars of the year -- both of which I am out of, so if any readers have some they want to trade please let me know. Let's see how the Satori stacks up against my expectations.

Specifics
Vitola: "Nirvana" (Toro)
Length: 6
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua "Super special" Oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $? each
Smoking Location: Explorer Lounge
Beverage: water
Manufacture's Website: http://viajecigars.com/

Pre-Light 

My Satori from Viaje was a very different looking cigar. The "super special" Oscuro wrapper was very dark and reminded me of black leather. The cigar felt smooth to the touch, which added to that leather description, but when inspected closely had a lot of tooth and tiny bumps. Another aspect of this cigar that stood out right away was just how tightly this stick was rolled. I was a little nervous about the draw before testing it, but after clipping the head, all those worries went away. The draw was just how I like it, free with some light resistance. The cold draw tasted sweet with raisin and coffee flavors. The pre-lit aroma was faint, but what was there was of typical aged tobacco.

First Third

This Satori lit up easily and started producing bold flavors from the first puff. On the front of the flavor profile was a nice black pepper note that woke up my taste buds and, on the finish, was a weaker sweetened black coffee taste. The cigar produced a lot of smoke, both on each draw and while resting, which easily filled up the lounge within minutes. After getting about an inch into this stick, the flavors started to change up. The black pepper faded off a bit and was balancing more evenly with the coffee taste on the finish. Simply put -- it mellowed out a bit. The burn on the stick was a little wavy but not problematic, with the body falling right into the medium range. 

Second Third 

The second third was different than the first third in that the smoke seemed to get very creamy and have a smooth feeling on my palette. I'm not saying the first third was dry or harsh, I'm just saying the cigar was noticeably smoother in the second third. To go along with the very enjoyable smoothness were very strong flavors that even a beginning cigar smoker would pick up on. On the front of each draw, I tasted a lot of milk chocolate notes, which blended awesomely with the black coffee finish. The second third of this cigar was just like a mocha, frappa, whatever they call them at Starbucks...very enjoyable and relaxing. Another difference in the second third from the first third was the body, now rocking more into the full range. Not so full that it gave me the spins, but I could definitely feel the nicotine kicking in. The burn remained slightly wavy all the way through the second third, but again, nothing that needed a touch up with my lighter or anything like that.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

In the final third of my Viaje Satori, the creaminess from the second third faded off a bit, but the strong flavors of milk chocolate and black coffee kept on coming. The flavors were possibly even stronger now than they had been the entire stick and almost made me wish I could eat the cigar -- it was that good. Something I have yet to mention about the finish on this stick was just how clean it left my mouth feeling after each exhale. For such a strongly flavored stick, I would've expected more of a heavy after-smoke taste, but this cigar left none of that. The body in the final third was just like the second third in that it was FULL body. Much like the Viaje Daisy Cutter boasted a "be warned" stamp on the box, I think the Satori could warrant that same packaging. A very relaxing cigar, but not for beginners.


My final thoughts on the Viaje Satori? Another winner for Andre. The flavor profile is maybe not the most complex stick I've ever had, but the strength of the chocolate and coffee flavor blend make for a very enjoyable smoke. I am very interested to get my hands on the other sizes and see how they stack up. Specifically, the box pressed double torpedo which looks to be a truly masterpiece of a cigar (just as I thought the Viaje Double Edged Sword was, which is of a similar shape.)

Would I buy it again? If I get the chance and my cigar budget is there, I will buy more Satori. These are not an everyday smoke, but great for a calm evening after dinner on the deck.

Would I buy a box?  I'm not sure I would run out and buy a box right away (like I would if there were more Skull and Bones released, hint, hint), but after trying the other sizes I wouldn't put off buying a box in the future.

Dan