Heading to the Drew Estate Factory in Nicaragua

It's time to hit the road again and go on another Cigar Adventure. This time, Mario and I are both traveling to Nicaragua to attend the Drew Estate Cigar Safari. We were lucky enough to do this trip once before in 2011 and I must say that it was a hell of a good time. This trip will be different though because unlike last time, we actually know all of the other guys who are "Safari-ing" with us.

The list of people attending this trip (and their twitter accounts) so you can follow them for updates:

Dan Reeve @reeve11
Mario Takeyama @cigarexplorer
Ben Lee @NTA_Ben
Thor Nielsen @cigarpress
Tony Casas @tonycasas
Brooks Whittington @elbrooksie
Charlie Minato @elninodiablo
Jay Luto @jerseyjay
Jerry Cruz @jcruz
Brian Hewitt @brianhewitt

(sorry if I missed someone)

Since all of these guys (except Thor) are bloggers, I'm sure this trip will be covered at great lengths over the next month or so. I'm really looking forward to getting back to Nicaragua, as it's a country that I have grown to love. It feels like my home away from home.

Catch you all next week.

Dan and Mario

Review: Viaje Exclusivo Robusto 2012

It's a beautiful day today in Columbus, so I took the dog to the park and decided to do a review of the new release in the Exclusivo blend from Viaje. In the past, the Exclusivo line had been my favorite from Viaje and it has never disappointed. This is the third time this line has been released in the robusto format which is a bit more traditional than the other shapes we have seen in the past. For a good picture of all of the different sizes of the Exclusivo, check out the blog Halfwheel's photo here.

Well the dog is off and playing, so it's time to get this stick fired up and see what the 2012 Viaje Exclusivo has in store.

Specifics
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo
Binder:Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $9.20
Smoking Location: Wheeler Dog Park, Columbus, Ohio
Beverage: water

Pre-Light 

First off, the black and silver Viaje logo on this band is what I consider the best graphic Viaje has. It looks classy but also slightly edgy. It reminded me of the Raiders of the NFL color scheme. The wrapper leaf was a medium brown color with some darker spots in random places around the cigar. There were a lot of very small veins running all over this wrapper, but they were so small it didn't really take away from the look of the stick. The cap had a tiny pig tail which also added a little bit visual of interest. The aroma coming off the unlit cigar was very pungent and smelled like coffee and hay. The cap clipped easily and the cold draw had some pepper and earthy flavors.

First Third

Instantly when the cigar was lit my palate was bombarded with a strong, spicy black pepper taste. There was so much pepper that not only did it make my tongue tingle, but also the roof of my mouth. I like this type of start to a cigar so everything was all good so far for me. The smoke volume was a little on the small side and the draw was a little tight, but it was nothing too troublesome. What was a bit of an issue was the burn line. I had to correct the burn during the first third of the cigar multiple times to avoid it running on me. About an inch into the cigar, the pepper calmed down a bit, especially on the finish, which now had a lot of oak flavor characteristics. The nicotine strength of the cigar was a solid medium.        

Second Third

The second third of my Viaje Exclusivo saw a big shift in the flavor department. On the front of each puff, I got a lot of twang that had a dark stone fruit taste. I was hoping this would show up because this is the flavor I have always associated with this line and why I like it the most out of all Viaje products. It's a very interesting flavor and one that I think is unique to this blend. The finish also changed up from the oak flavor into a more dark earthy taste. I'm not sure that taste was the best balance for the front end twang, but it still worked and was not off-putting in any way. Construction-wise, I still had a lot of crooked burn issues with, but the tight draw loosened up and with it, the smoke volume increased. I started to get a bit of a body buzz, so I would say the nicotine level had moved more into the med-full range during the second third. 

Final Third and Final Thoughts 

The final third of my Viaje Exclusivo had the same flavor profile as the second third, just stronger. The twangy stone fruit taste was in full effect and, toward the nub, started to even dominate over the earthy finish flavor. The smoke volume stayed consistent with the second third, but, unfortunately, so did the burn. Annoying to keep having to reach for my lighter.. yes, but I'll give it a pass because of how good the cigar tasted. The nicotine strength stayed in the lower full range. 

Final thoughts on the Viaje Exclusivo Robusto 2012? This cigar confirmed what I already thought about the Exclusivo line from Viaje; that it's Andre's best. The twangy flavor is very unique and it suits me well.  I wonder though if this cigar could be blended to add a bit of sweetness on the finish, as I think that could create more balance to the second and third parts of the stick. That said, even without that, it's a solid release from the Viaje camp.

Would I buy it again? yes

Would I buy a box? Pricy for a robusto, but box worthy.

Dan

Review: E Doble by Erik Espinosa

Last week I received a package from Smoke Inn which contained two of the cigars up for review today. I honestly hadn't heard of these cigars until they were on my doorstep. Erik Espinosa was one half of the popular, but now defunct, EO brands. I had been a fan of EO for a long time so I'm happy to see that both Erik with this E Doble and Eddie with his Serie D are still in the  tobacco business. One thing to note is I do not know who is making this cigar, but I do know that it is not where the EO brand cigars were made in the past. I'm sure someone knows who is making it, and if you are reading this, please add a comment with the answer. On to the review.

Specifics
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder:Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $2.50
Smoking Location: NHC Office
Beverage: water

Pre-Light 

This cigar had a very attractive wrapper. The color tone was mostly a medium brown but had some red hues in it too. There was a pretty big seam on the stick, but that's never bothered me -- not nearly as much as a big ugly vein anyway. The pre-lit aroma had a nutty scent, but also slightly off-putting sour notes. The capped clipped cleanly (even with the very dull cutter I was using) and the cold draw had a very dark, earthy flavor. This flavor was very strong and, even without lighting the stick, it coated my mouth.

First Third

Lighting up my E Doble was no problem and the cigar plumed smoke nicely. The starting flavor profile I got was a vegetable-like taste on the front with a dark charred wood finish. Not what I was expecting at all from the cold draw and was slightly disappointing. The smoke on each draw, although there was a lot of it, was very airy and left my mouth feeling a little dry. The construction and the draw on this first third was perfect. The cigar had a razor thin burn line. I would say the nicotine strength was in the medium range.     

Second Third

In the second third third, I had a bit of a change on the front of the taste profile with hints of citrus mixing in with the veggie flavor. That part was not all that bad, but, unfortunately, the charred wood finish continued to be heavy and dominate. That is not a flavor I really like and was definitely putting me off this cigar. The construction, like the first third, was perfect and never needed a re-light or touch up. The nicotine strength stayed at a consistent medium.

Final Third and Final Thoughts 

There really isn't anything else for me to write in the final third that you haven't already read in the first two. The flavor profile was the same with veggie/citrus front and heavy, think char on the finish. The nicotine strength never rose above medium and the performance of the cigar never wavered from excellent.

Final thoughts on the E Doble by Erik Espinosa? This is not a cigar for me. Although it burned a draw beautifully, the taste profile is not my style at all. I kept hoping some of the heavy burnt char flavor would lighten up or turn peppery, but it never did. That said, if you like a dark profile flavor cigar, you might just like this. And they are really inexpensive. Here is a link to Smoke Inn which is the only place you can get these.

Would I buy it again? no

Would I buy a box? see above

Dan

Review: Padron 2012 TAA

My review today is the 2012 release from Padron for the Tobacconists' Association of America, Ltd.  According to their mission statement, the Tobacconists' Association of America (or TAA) is a membership group of select retailers and manufacturers that get together to:

To provide an open forum of ideas, strategies, and problem solving between retail tobacconist and vendors to the trade.

I don't know much about the TAA, as I have not really looked into the group because of its primary focus on retailers, however I do know that some of the manufacturers make a special cigar for each shop in the group and in the past some of them have been very well received.  Let's get this cigar fired up and see what Jorge and the Padron crew have in store for me this time. On to the review.

Specifics
Vitola: Toro
Length: 5 1/2
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder:Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: ?
Smoking Location: My Back Deck
Beverage: water

Pre-Light 

The first thing I noticed about this TAA edition (and the first thing anyone familiar with Padron cigars will notice) is this cigar was not box pressed. I'm sure there has to have been other Padron releases that were completely round, but I can't think of one off the top of my head that I have smoked. The wrapper was a perfectly consistent medium brown color with very minimal veins. The rolling of the wrapper on the cigar was impeccable and looked to have no seam at all. The pre-light aroma smelled sweet, with a mixture of earth and cocoa scents. The cap clipped with no problems and the cold draw had a heavy cedar flavor. I find this fascinating because I know this cigar has never been in a cedar box. The strong flavor was unmissable though.        

First Third

My TAA lit up easily and started producing a strong cocoa flavor from the first puff. Mixing in the front of the profile with the cocoa was a warm cinnamon spice that reminded me once again of the hot chocolate ice cream I have mentioned in previous reviews. The finish on the cigar was long and tasted like powered sugar. It was a strong finish flavor that lasted the entire time until my next draw. The burn on the cigar in the first third was a little crooked but easily corrected with my torch. I'd put the nicotine strength in the medium to lower full range.    

Second Third

If the first third was not great enough, the second third took it up a level. The front of the profile lost a bit of the cinnamon heat but was replaced nicely with a bite of espresso. I am a big espresso fan so this suited me well. Not to be overshadowed on the front of the profile was that very rich cocoa flavor that continued from the first third. The finish flavor again was very powered sugar-like taste which added some nice balance to the espresso. The ash on the cigar although appearing very flaky, held on strong and I only ashed this cigar three times. The nicotine strength at by this point of the cigar had reached into the full range and I could start to feel some of the effects of it in my system. It was not a body presence but more of a head buzz.

Final Third and Final Thoughts 

The final third, and especially down toward the nub, the spicy heat pick back up and mixed in nicely with the cocoa and espresso. A pretty big difference in this third, though, was the finish profile of the stick. The sweet powdered sugar flavor had completely dissipated and I was left now with a dominating leather taste. In my opinion it was not as nice a balance as the first two thirds, but it was still a very pleasing flavor. The burn was excellent during this part of the cigar, never having had to reach for my lighter. The smoke volume picked up even more in the final third which might have added to the fact that the nicotine strength was now waaaaaay into the full range. This was a very strong cigar in its closing stages, so be ready for it.

Final thoughts on the Padron 2012 TAA? The Padron Anniversary1964 blend has never disappointed me in the past and I can 100% say this one did not either. In fact, this blend in this shape/size could be my new favorite release of Padron Anniversary blends. If you read my best of 2011 list back in December, you'll have seen that the Padron Anniversary1964 in the 6 x 60 size made my number three cigar of the year. I'm comfortable in saying that this one is even better -- a true flavor bomb of a cigar.

Would I buy it again? yes

Would I buy a box? Well worth it.

Dan