Alec Bradley Nica Puro 1685 Robusto

Size: 5 X 50

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

I was introduced to this cigar by Maurice Karroum who gave me one to try while hanging at his cigar shop, Havana Cigars in Studio City. I liked it so much, I purchased another one for this review. I will be paring this cigar with some Virgil's Root Beer and Trader Joe's Dark Coconut, Caramel Bar.

I pinched this nicely sheened, darkish chocolate, well-constructed, minimal veined stick from it's wrapper and smelled hay and earth from the foot and earthy baseball field from the stick. It is double banded. Very nice and colorful bands. I clipped the cap and got a burst of spice from the nice open draw. After a couple of peppery dry draws, I lit the foot and tasted cedar from the full creamy smoked flowing from the stick. Later notes of coffee and caramel join strong cedar in this section. The nice grey medium dense ash held it's form for a third of the stick before it fell. The burn was a little uneven, but this could be due to the wind on this day. **The other ABNP 1685 that I smoked inside had a perfect burn.

The second third and roasted coffee, sweetness and salt were the notes I tasted. The draw was still open and the smoke kicking out full. The burn was still a little uneven. Both bands came off easily without an incident of tearing and there wasn't any defects underneath.

The last third and the burn almost evened out after a touch up. The nice grey ash fell again during this section and the white smoke was still pumping out full and creamy. Flavor notes of leather, citrus and toward the end a nice sweetness to finish the cigar.

I smoked this cigar until I couldn't grasp it with my index finger and thumb anymore. I didn't want it to end. This could be my favorite cigar of the year so far. I wish I had a few more in my humidor. If you see this cigar grab a few and try them out, you won't be disappointed. This is definitely a Cigar Assessor Approved Cigar.
-May 21, 2013

                                           ** The first cigar I smoke a few days earlier.

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

 

Video Review

Liga Privada UF-13

Size: 5 1/2 X 52

Wrapper: Connecticut Broad-leaf

Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina

Filler: Honduran and Nicaraguan

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon when I decided to go for a ride on my motorcycle, Maxine down Sunset Blvd to the Pacific Coast Highway to Topanga Canyon and then onto Mulholland Drive and Highway to the famous motorcycle hangout called the Rock Store. Luckily, I took my Liga Privada UF-13 with me. I found out you can smoke outside the establishment. So, I set up my camera and mini tripod on my bike's saddle bags and decided to record the review of the cigar I purchased specifically to review. No chocolate or drink with me so it will be all cigar. 

 

This dark chocolate well constructed, minimal veined cigar has a pigtail that looks like a mini fan. 

The band has a simple factory look and as if someone hand wrote UF-13 with a sharpie on it. I sniffed the foot and smelled cocoa and hay. A smell of sweetness and hay flowed from the stick. I clipped the cap with my Xikar cutter and the cap piece unraveled. I moistened it and put it back on. I tasted old damp basement from the first dry open draws. First time for that. I lit the foot and white  full smoked kicked out from the start and I tasted a strong cedar flavor and citrus.I noticed a small crack between the cap and band. Later in this section, I got hints of nuts, salt and molasses. The nice dense grey ash held on through this section and the burn was slightly uneven. 

The second section is where the grey dense ash fell for the first time, a little before the halfway point. The burn was almost even and the nice white smoke still pumping out full and creamy. Notes of nuts, cedar, leather and bitter coffee was the flavors I tasted.

In the last section I took off the band and the ash fell for a second time. I noticed the tear I saw earlier continued from under the band. It didn't affect the cigar in any other way than appearance. The burn was almost evened out and the grey ash with streaks of black was still dense and holding on. 

This cigar was a very nice smoke, however the price point and marketing has a bit to make me happy. After reviewing the Liga Privada No.9 and Drew Estate Undercrown, I wanted to review another Liga Privada and couldn't find them anywhere I purchase cigars. I finally found them at one shop and paid almost $19.00 for this stick. This after paying $12.50 a piece for a few No.9.

Now that will affect the way I view this stick because that is a lot of money for this cigar and it isn't worth that kind of money in my opinion. I enjoyed the No.9 much more and the UF-13 doesn't live up to the L.P. lines hype at that price and availability. -May 20, 2013

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

Video Review

1502 Ruby Robusto

Size: 5 X 50

Wrapper: Eucador

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

This is my second 1502 brand cigar. After enjoying the 1502 Emerald Toro, I was looking forward to smoking the 1502 Ruby Robusto. So after smoking two 1502 Ruby cigars, I decided to write and video the third time smoking this cigar. I rode my Royal Enfield Motorcycle to the cigar room at my lodge and set up shop. I decided to pair the medium to full bodied cigar up with a Starbucks Latte and a chocolate mint cookie from Bar Dolce. I picked Henry Armburg Jennings album, Out Of The Starting Blocks as the music to listen to during this event.

The honey, nut brown colored box pressed cigar was well constructed with minimal veins running through it. The wrapper on this cigar reaches over the foot and covers a portion of it. Enrique Sanchez calls it his, "Cigar Lock." This lock it supposed to prevent the cigar from tearing and cracking and promote a more even burn. So far it has in all the 1502 cigars I smoked. The band is a nice red/burgundy in color with gold letters, logo and framing.

I sniffed the foot and my nose detected hay and cocoa. The stick had smells of strong barnyard and sweat. I clipped the cap and got a nice open draw of hay and cocoa. I lit the foot with wooden matches and tasted notes of cherry and mild cedar in my first puffs of full creamy smoke. Later I tasted notes of cinnamon.

The burn was pretty even as the smoke continued to pump out full.  The nice grey medium dense ash fell about halfway in. I tasted notes of  sweetness, caramel and leather in this second section. The band came off without incident of tearing, sticking and no defects underneath it.

The last third and the burn was still pretty even and I tasted notes of coffee, leather and citrus spice. The smoke continued to kick out full. The grey ash fell again in during the last part of this smoke. It was a wonderful smoke and paring with the chocolate mint cookie from Bar Dulce and latte from Starbucks was a good idea.

I really enjoyed all three of the 1502 Ruby cigars I smoked. If you see these 1502 Ruby cigars at your local cigar shop, you should try it and pick up a few for your humidor. You won't be disappointed. - May 15, 2013




Feel free to comment and let me know what you think about this cigar and my review.

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

Video Review

Saint Luis Rey Gen 2 SLR Toro

Size: 6 X 54

Wrapper: Dark Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran

Today I was surprised when the UPS driver pulled up and and I received a package address to me from Altadis. I opened the box and pulled out 3 Saint Luis Rey Gen 2 SLR toro cigars. Did that make my day! I put two in the humidor and grabbed a Virgil's Orange Creme Soda and Vosges, Mo's Dark  Bacon Bar and went to the pool.

This well constructed milk chocolate colored cigar with minimal veins has two bands. The top band which is colored silver, red and orange red is the band for Saint Luis Rey. The second band is silver, black and red and has Gen 2 SLR.

I pinched this stick form it's wrapper and smelled cocoa and sweet hay at the foot and barnyard on the stick. I clipped the cap and took a nice open draw of spice and caramel. I lit the foot and tasted mild cedar. Notes of wood and citrus joined cedar in the flavors I tasted in this section. The burn was even and the ash was a nice dense grey ash with some streaks of back. The smoke was full and creamy.

The grey ash held its form until about halfway when it fell and the burn was a little uneven. Hints of saltiness, leather and wood were the dominate flavors in this second section of the smoke. The smoke was still kicking out full. The first band came off without incident of tearing, glue with no defects underneath the band.

The smoke was still pumping out full in the last section of the stick and the burn evened out for the rest of the cigar. Notes of cedar, cinnamon, spiciness and caramel were the flavors I tasted during the last part of this smoking experience. The second band also came off without incident. Very nice.

This cigar was a very pleasant smoking experience and the Saint Luis Rey Gen 2 SLR Toro is a winner. If you see these cigars at your local cigar shop or the internet store you purchase your sticks, grab a few and put the in your humidor. You won't be disappointed. The Mo's Dark Bacon Bar and Virgil's Orange Cream Soda were a nice pairing with this cigar. - May 10, 2013

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

 

 

Video Review