AJ Fernandez Pinolero Gran Toro

Size 6 X 60

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Cuban Seed Nicaraguan & Fernandez Family Secret.

Smoked this cigar April 12, 2013.

Not size being reviewed here.

After smoking and enjoying a Pinolero during a San Lotano event at my favorite cigar shop, Old Oaks Cigar Company, I decided to pick up another one and review it. I will be drinking Virgil’s Black Cherry Cream Soda while smoking this cigar.

I put Jazz Radio on my computer, I pull this well constructed, nutty brown colored stick with minimal veinage out of its wrapper and take a sniff of the foot. I smell hay from the foot and the aroma I smell off the stick is barnyard and hay. The band is very colorful with it's two women mashing corn(?) I clip the tiny pigtail with my cutter and take a nice open smooth dry draw of spice and sweet hay. I toast the foot and taste a wood note. Other flavors in this first section are black pepper and cocoa. The smoke is nice and full but not dense and the burn is almost even. The grey ash with spots of black is holding its form.

The nice grey ash fell about halfway in and didn’t fall apart like powder. Notes of leather, wood and black pepper are the flavors I taste during this part of the cigar. Also a strong saltiness enters my palate. Burn is a little uneven like a child’s rollercoaster. The smoke is still kicking full.

 

The last third and the burn is even and I taste black pepper and cedar. As I removed the band, it stuck to the cigar and created a minor tear in the wrapper. Nothing bad and it didn’t affect the cigar. The smoke still pumped out full. I smoke this stick until I feel the heat on my lips.

This medium flavored cigar is a real nice smoke and a nice addition to the AJ Fernandez line of cigars. If you see them anyplace that has cigars, pick a couple or few up and put them in your humidor. You won’t be disappointed. - April 14, 2013

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

Video Review

 

AJ Fernandez Pinolero Gran Toro video review

Size: 6 X 60

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Cuban Seed Nicaraguan & Fernandez Family Secret

-April 14, 2013

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

 

Kristoff Glen Case Signature Series Robusto Video Review

Size: 5 1/2 X 54


Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro


Binder: Cuban Seed Honduran


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

San Lotano Maduro Robusto

 

Size: 5 ½ X 54

Wrapper: San Andres

 Binder: Honduras

 Filler: Nicaragua / Honduras

 

Being a fan of the San Lotano line as you can see from my earlier review of the Habano and Connecticut, today I decided to review the San Lotano Maduro Robusto. I pour a splash of Glenlivet 18 into a glass, put on some jazz and sit back and relax.

 

I pinch the cigar from its cellophane wrapper and smell chocolate from the foot. I take the cigar completely out and the aroma I get from sniffing the stick is chocolate and hay. This box pressed chocolate colored cigar has minimal veins and is well constructed. I clip the cap with my Xikar cutter and take a nice dry draw and get a spice taste of pepper. I toast the foot and a nice open draw of strong cedar flavor enters my mouth. The smoke is medium full and the draw is smooth and open.

 

The first third of this smoke and notes of espresso and black pepper are the dominate flavors. The burn is almost even and the smoke is now kicking full and creamy. The grey ash is holding strong and staying in form.

 

 

 

The second third and notes of leather is a new flavor I taste along with the spicy pepper. The ash held on until almost half way into the smoke before falling. The burn is still slightly uneven. Both bands come off without problems and no defects or cracks underneath.  

 

The last third and the flavor becomes bitter. Bitter coffee has taken over with hints of leather. The ash fell again and the burn becomes uneven. The smoke becomes medium full.

 

Being a fan of both the San Lotano Habano and Connecticut, I feel they could have done better with the Maduro. It’s not a bad cigar but after smoking a few of these I wouldn’t place it in my top Maduro cigars and would pass on it. This stick always left me unsatisfied and my head slightly spinning when I was finished smoking. -April 7, 2013

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

 

 

 

Garo Maduro Soprano

Size: 6 1/2 X 52

Wrapper: Brazilian

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Piloto Cubano

 

Today, I smoked a Garo Maduro Soprano given to me by Dr. Garo. I set my office by the pool with a cup of Starbucks Italian Roast coffee. The nicely constructed cigar is milk chocolate in color with a light sheen, a reddish brown sheen. It reminds me of a weathered leather look. The band is a nice band with its fleur-de-lis design with red, white and gold colors is very nice.

 

 

I smell the foot and a sweet hay aroma entered my nose. On the stick I smell a strong barnyard aroma. I clip the pointed cap and take a dry draw of hay with a light spice of pepper. I toast the foot and taste notes of cedar. The smoke is full and creamy. I also taste hints of cocoa, nuts and one time salt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grey ash with streaks of black fell around a third of the way in and notes of cedar pop back in along with hints of leather. The burn is a little uneven but it doesn’t affect the flavor.  The white smoke is still kicking full.

 

The last third and the burn is almost back even and the ash fell again. The band slides off without any problems or damage. I taste notes of roasted coffee and cocoa. Nutty and leather flavors return toward the end of this smoke.

 

This bold stick was a joy to smoke. This was the third Garo Maduro Soprano I smoked and found a consistency in the smoke, flavors and burn.  If you get a chance to buy a Garo cigar grab a few and put them in your humidor. You won’t be sorry you did. - April 4, 2013

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

 

Miami Cigar & Company Añoranza Belicoso

 

Size: 6 ½ X 54

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro

Binder: Nicaragua (Dual Binder)

Filler: Nicaragua

 

Today is April Fool’s Day, so after playing some April Fool’s Day jokes on my friends and family, I figured I would smoke a Miami Cigar & Company Belicoso cigar sent  to me from Miami Cigar & Company while listening to some jazz and videoing and writing a review. I will be drinking a Virgil’s Root Beer soda. It’s a tad bit windy today on this sunny 65 degree day by the pool.

 

I push the milk chocolate colored cigar out of its wrapper and smell hay and nuts at the foot and barnyard on the stick.  I look it over and it has minimal veinage and is well constructed. No cracks or defects. The band is nice and elegant looking.

 

I clip the pointed cap with my cutter and take a very open smooth dry draw of hay. I toast the foot and taste cedar from my first few draws. The smoke is full and creamy and the burn is even. I later taste notes of citrus and leather from the first third.

 

The next section of this cigar brings forth nutty notes and a tangy flavor. The smoke is still pumping out full and creamy.  The soft multicolored grey ash with spots of black holds on until almost half of this cigar before it falls and breaks apart. The burn continues to be even.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last third of this even burning stick and the dominate flavors are leather and a mild spice of pepper. The ash fell again right around this section.

 

 

This stick was an enjoyable mild smoke with full creamy smoke and nice flavor notes. This would be a great morning or early afternoon treat. I would also recommend it as a very good entry level cigar for someone looking to try cigar smoking. It won’t scare them away like a strong bold stick would.

                                                 Robert Anthony Meyers

                                              robert@cigarassessor.com

 

Liga Privada No.9 Robusto

Size: 5 X 52

 

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

 

Binder: Brazilian

 

Filler: Honduran and Dominican

 

Yesterday, I received my order of cigars from my friends at Tampa Humidor which included the Liga Privada #9 Robustos. I been hearing many good things about these cigars and will finally be able to put one to the test.

I set up shop in the carport section of the apartment building I reside, set my camera on video so I can video this review and turn on the jazzradio app on my smartphone and click on the Paris Cafe tab to get the tunes going. On this 60 degree overcast evening, I pour some Talisker Distillers Edition single malt scotch into a glass neat to accompany this cigar event.

 

This dark chocolate cigar with minimal veinage comes bareback. I smell cocoa from the foot and chocolate from body of this stick. The construction is very nice on this cigar. It has a humble white band and the name looks hand written on it. There is a small section on the band with the logo and number nine in silver against a black background. The logo reminds me of the Lowenbrau beer logo.

 

 

I clip the cap with my cutter and take a dry draw of cocoa and a bit of spice. The draw is a bit tighter then I’m use to but not bad. I toast the foot and get wood notes and pepper spice. The smoke is full. I taste toast, nutmeg and leather notes in this first third.

 

 

The second third and the grey ash with streaks of black is holding onto its form and even burn. The smoke is still full and creamy. I taste notes of wood, pepper, sweetness and salt. Hints of cocoa also pop in around the halfway point. The draw opened up in this section and was very smooth.

 

The long ash fell after almost making it to the band.

The last section and the burn remains even, the smoke is still kicking full and creamy and the flavor notes I experience are roasted coffee and cocoa.

 

This was a very enjoyable smoke and it does live up to the hype in my opinion. I have a couple more in my humidor and will be enjoying the next one without my pad and camera.

 

 

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

 

 

The video review.