Cigar Assessor's Top Ten Reviewed Cigars for 2013 - Non Cuban

2013 was an incredible year for Cigars.  This was my first year reviewing cigars and these are my top five cigars that I reviewed for the year 2013. Most of these are cigars I purchased many times and I also feel they were consistent and worth the money I paid.I also feel these cigars are easy to get. An all around great smoking experience. I linked the reviews to name of the cigar so click on the name to read and watch the review. Enjoy!

No. 1

Alec Bradley Fine & Rare

Size: 6 X 52

Wrapper: Honduran

Binder: Honduran / Nicaraguan

Filler: Seven different leaves and it's a secret.


No 2.

 

AJ Fernandez - Man O' War Dark Aged Maduro Robusto

Size: 5 X 52

Wrapper: Brazilian Habano Wrapper

Binder: ??????

Filler: Nicaraguan


No. 3

Padron 1926 No.9 Maduro

Size: 5 1/4 X 56 Boxed Pressed

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan


No 4.

Alec Bradley Mundial No.5

Size: 5 1/8 X 52

Wrapper: Honduran Trojes

Binder: Honduran/Nicaraguan Double Binder

Filler: Honduran/Nicaraguan

No. 5

 

Alec Bradley Nica Puro 1685 Robusto

Size: 5 X 50

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

No.6

Wilson Adams No. 2 Robusto

Size: 5 X 50

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan


No. 7

La Duena Belicoso No. 2

Size: 5 1/4 X 54

Wrapper: Connecticut Broad-leaf

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan


No. 8 

Romeo y Julieta Romeo Robusto

Size: 5 x 54

Wrapper: “Select” Dark Ecuadoran Habano

Binder: Dominican Olor

Filler: Dominican Piloto and Olor 

No. 9 

Raices 1941 Robusto

Robusto: 5 1/4 x 52

Wrapper: Honduran

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan



No. 10

MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured - Just A Friend

Size: 6 X 52

Wrapper : Kentucky Fire Cured

Binder: Kentucky Fire Cured

Filler: Kentucky Fire Cured

Cigar Assessor's Top Ten Cigars of 2013 - Non Cuban

2013 was an incredible year for Cigars.  This was my first year reviewing cigars and these are my top five cigars that I reviewed for the year 2013. Most of these are cigars I purchased many times and I also feel they were consistent and worth the money I paid.I also feel these cigars are easy to get. An all around great smoking experience. I linked the reviews to name of the cigar so click on the name to read and watch the review. Enjoy!

No. 1

Alec Bradley Fine & Rare

Size: 6 X 52

Wrapper: Honduran

Binder: Honduran / Nicaraguan

Filler: Seven different leaves and it's a secret.


No 2.

 

AJ Fernandez - Man O' War Dark Aged Maduro Robusto

Size: 5 X 52

Wrapper: Brazilian Habano Wrapper

Binder: ??????

Filler: Nicaraguan


No. 3

Padron 1926 No.9 Maduro

Size: 5 1/4 X 56 Boxed Pressed

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan


No 4.

Alec Bradley Mundial No.5

Size: 5 1/8 X 52

Wrapper: Honduran Trojes

Binder: Honduran/Nicaraguan Double Binder

Filler: Honduran/Nicaraguan

No. 5

 

Alec Bradley Nica Puro 1685 Robusto

Size: 5 X 50

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

No.6

Wilson Adams No. 2 Robusto

Size: 5 X 50

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan


No. 7

La Duena Belicoso No. 2

Size: 5 1/4 X 54

Wrapper: Connecticut Broad-leaf

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan


No. 8 

Romeo y Julieta Romeo Robusto

Size: 5 x 54

Wrapper: “Select” Dark Ecuadoran Habano

Binder: Dominican Olor

Filler: Dominican Piloto and Olor 

No. 9 

Raices 1941 Robusto

Robusto: 5 1/4 x 52

Wrapper: Honduran

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan



No. 10

MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured - Just A Friend

Size: 6 X 52

Wrapper : Kentucky Fire Cured

Binder: Kentucky Fire Cured

Filler: Kentucky Fire Cured

La Sirena and Miami Cigar Press Release

La Sirena and Miami Cigar

Press Release

 

NEW YORK, NY – December 12, 2013- Following a successful three-year partnership with Miami Cigar & Company, La Sirena Cigars will become independently owned and operated by Arielle Ditkowich as of December 31^st, 2013. Ditkowich will remain at the helm, continuing to produce new and exciting blend profiles. Arielle is excited for La Sirena's continued growth and looks forward to 2014 projects, industry shows and travelling to retail events.

 

Ditkowich is extremely grateful for everything Nestor Miranda and the entire Miami team has taught her during their partnership and will always look at the Miranda family as an extension of her own. "Miami [Cigar & Company] saw the potential in me to create a boutique brand in a challenging business dominated by men. We worked tirelessly to create distinct blends that appeal to aficionados looking for something unique" Said Ditkowich.

 

Distribution of La Sirena and Merlion Cigars will remain under the Miami Cigar & Co. umbrella until December 31^st, 2013. Starting January 1^st, 2014 distribution will be handled by La Sirena. La Sirena Cigars will continue to work with the Garcia Family at My Father Cigars and Guillermo Leon at La Aurora Cigars to make the current Sirena and Merlion Blends respectively.

 

La Sirena Cigars will be announcing more exciting updates, find out first by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @lasirenacigars

 

La Sirena Cigars was founded in 2009 by Arielle Ditkowich in partnership with Nestor Miranda of Miami Cigar & Co. The La Sirena Original blend, available in six vitolas debuted in 2009 and is rolled in Nicaragua at My Father Cigar Factory. The brand followed up with its second release in 2012, The Merlion, created by La Aurora in the Dominican Republic with the medium bodied, full flavored smoker in mind. La Sirena brand cigars are distributed nationwide and available at over 300 retail stores.

Romeo y Julieta RyJ Toro

 Size 6 X 52

Wrapper: Nicaragua

Double Binder: Estelí and Jalapa

Filler: Vintage 2010 Aged Fillers, Nicaraguan Esteli, Nicaraguan Jalapa and Nicaraguan La Mia

Vintage 2010 Aged Fillers: Nicaraguan Jalapa, Nicaraguan Esteli, Nicaraguan La Mia - See more at: http://www.montecristosocialclub.com/ryj-romeo-julieta/#sthash.j14pBkKB.dpuf

I received three Romeo y Julieta RyJ from Altadis and was excited to smoke this cigar. The first one I smoked on a walk and the second I smoked at XO Fine Cigars where I set up my camera to video a review. The presentation is beautiful. Nice looking stick with a bands at both ends on the cigar. White band with red and gold letters and accents.

I slipped this cigar from it's cellophane and took a sniff of the foot and smelled chocolate and sweet cherry scents. I also smelled cherry from the stick along with tobacco and a slight barnyard smell. This milk chocolate colored cigar was well constructed with minimal veinage. No spots or defects. I clipped the cap with my Colibri Slice cutter and got a nice clean cut. I took a nice open draw of chocolate and spice which reminded me of the chocolate bars with cayenne pepper I eat on occasion. I toasted the foot with my single flame torch Colibri Eclipse lighter and tasted cedar from the first few puffs of smoke. I prefer to use a single flame lighter because I find triple torch lighters tend to overheat the foot and at time burn the wrapper. For me this affects the taste and I like my ritual of slowly toast the foot.

Colibri Slice cutter.

Colibri Eclipse Lighter

Later in the first third I tasted floral notes along with hints of white pepper and nuttiness. The burn was almost even and the ash was grey, dense and held it's form. The smoke was full and creamy.

The ash fell the first time about a third of the way in. The burn was slightly uneven due to the mild breeze blowing outside. The smoke was pumping out full and creamy. Woody notes along with citrus and molasses were the dominant flavors I tasted in this third of the cigar.

The last third and I was able to take off the band without incident of sticking. There wasn't any cracks, defects or glue underneath. The burn became a little hill and valley but it didn't effect the taste or smoke. I tapped off the ash into an ashtray as it was about to fall off. White pepper and molasses rounded off the last third of this cigar. I smoked this fine stick until I couldn't hold it anymore.

These cigars just hit the stores and you should be able to find them at most cigar shops. The Romeo y Julieta RyJ is a Cigar Assessor Approved Cigar. Pick one or two up and give them a try. You'll be glad you did. - December 7th, 2013

Video Review

RyJ by Romeo y Julieta – Taste the magic of Nicaragua.

RyJ– Taste the magic of Nicaragua.

Altadis USA continues with its renaissance and takes another step forward to capture the heritage, luxury and passion of Romeo y Julieta with its new RyJ by Romeo y Julieta – a new 100% Nicaraguan blend.

Full bodied, rich and spicy, the Nicaraguan made cigar features a special wrapper cultivated and grown exclusively for RyJ.  With a sophisticated double binder which marries rich leaves from Estelí and Jalapa  with aged filler tobaccos grown in Esteli, Jalapa and La Mia, the new RyJ is complex, deeply aromatic and wonderfully robust. 

RyJ by Romeo y Julieta is launched in three front marks:

- Piramide – 52x6 1/8”

-Toro – 52x6”

-Bully Grande 54x5”

Country of Manufacture: Honduras

Boxes of 20 and ranging from $8.00 to $8.75.

We hope you all enjoy our new cigar – R y J – a new 100% pure Nicaraguan puro!

Best regards,

Jose M. Fernandez-Daza

Premium Cigars USA

Altadis U.S.A. Inc. | An Imperial Tobacco Group Company

5900 N. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Office(+1 954) 772-9000 x 2025

Cell  (954) 235 9814
http://www.altadisusa.com

Alec Bradley Fine & Rare Video Review

Size: 6 X 52

Wrapper: Honduran

Binder: Honduran / Nicaraguan

Filler: Seven different leaves and it's a secret.

Video Review

Kristoff Galerones Intensivo 660

Size: 6 X 60

Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan Cuban Seed

Filler: Nicaraguan Cuban Seed, Dominican Cuban Seed and Honduran Cuban Seed.

Intensivo is Kristoff’s first box press cigar and full of flavor. The Galerones is a much anticipated new line by Glen Case and will be well received by fans and cigar smokers alike. I smoked the Galerones Sentido a couple weeks ago and really enjoyed it. This is the second cigar of this new line that I am smoking and reviewing at ShamLux Cigar lounge in Granada Hills, CA. ShamLux is a great cigar lounge.

This box pressed stick is a well constructed, chocolate brown, minimally veined cigar. It is double banded with Kristoff Galerones Series on a large band of red, black and gold and Intesivo on a smaller band with the same colors. I smelled a floral and earthy scent from the foot and barnyard from the stick. After clipping the cap with my Lamborghini Les Mans cutter, I took a dry draw of spice and floral notes. The draw was smooth and open. I toasted the foot with a single torch Forza and hints of cedar and cocoa was what I tasted in the first few draws of full creamy smoke. The grey dense ash falls before the first third and the burn line is almost even. Notes of nuts, white pepper and honey are the flavors I detected in the first third.

The second third and a saltiness adds to the flavors on my palate with sweetness and coffee notes. The burn continues to be almost even and the ash holds it's form and doesn't fall. Full creamy smoke continues to pump out. The bands come off without incident of tearing. No cracks or defects underneath. My only minor complaint is about the larger band. It was too close to the end and my lips were constantly feeling it.

The last third and the smoke remained full and creamy and the burn line is even. White pepper and a sweetness round off the last part of this cigar.

 
Another great cigar from Glen Case and a Cigar Assessor Approved Cigar. I smoked this cigar until my fingers couldn't hold it anymore. These cigars are just arriving in stores. If you see them grab a few. You'll be glad you did. - November 2, 2013

Video Review

ShamLux Cigar Lounge

 17529 Chatsworth Street

Granada Hills, CA 91344

Juan Lopez Robusto

Size: 5 X 54

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

A few weeks back, I received a box with cigars from Altadis to review. The only problem was that UPS crushed the box and the Juan Lopez cigars inside. I put in a claim with UPS and Yasemin sent me out another sample pack so I could review them. I let the cigars sit in my humidor for a week or so. Today, I was excited to find the time to sit down for a cigar review. I paired this cigar up with a Virgil's Orange Cream Soda.

The Juan Lopez is a well constructed, chocolate brown, minimally veined cigar without discoloration spots or defects on the wrapper. The cigar feels nice and has a mild sheen to it. I smelled the foot and the aroma of hay and barnyard entered my nose. The stick had a strong smell of barnyard. I clipped the cap with my Tonino Lamborghini cutter. A beautiful cutter with a smooth guillotine action. I took a dry draw of spicy chocolate. I toasted the foot with my new Colibri Eclipse single torch lighter and took a nice open draw of full creamy smoke. Hints of cedar and wood are the notes I tasted. The grey dense doesn't fall during the first third. Full smoke continued to pump out and the burn was even. Nuts, citrus and white pepper notes fulled out the flavors of the first third. 

 
The dense grey ash stayed attached to the stick close to the halfway point before it fell. The smoke remained full and the burn even. Toward the last part of this third the burn became slightly wavy.  Hints of leather along with a nuttiness fill out the second section.

The last third and the band comes off without incident. No tearing, cracks or defects underneath. The burn evened out and the smoke continue flowing full and creamy. A sweetness along with spice and citrus is what I tasted. I smoked this robusto cigar until I couldn't hold it anymore.

This stick should retail between 5 - 6 dollars in most places. A good value for this cigar. It comes in three sizes. 5 X 54, 6 X 54 and 6 X 60. I smoked a couple and feel confident giving the Juan Lopez cigar the Cigar Assessor Approval. Give this cigar a try. You'll be glad you did. - October 19, 2013

Video Review