Cigar Assessor

Cigar Assessor

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Davidoff 25th Anniversary Geneve 1980 - 2005 Limited Edition


Size: 6 1/4 X 40

Wrapper: Connecticut

Binder: N/A

Filler: N/A




On my recent trip to London, I along with my friend Joe Mosca were walking around Piccadilly Square and took a turn down St. James's Street and saw this Cigar Shop on the corner of Jermyn Street and St. James's Street with a big Davidoff Fine Cigars sign. I walked in and met the owner Edward Sahakian. He is a very nice, cool, knowledgeable man who I enjoyed talking with. He handed me a Davidoff 25th Anniversary cigar after a nice conversation about cigars. A cigar only available in London. Today, I decided it would be my first review of 2014.


This well constructed, nutty brown cigar had minimal veinage and a tiny pigtail at the cap. I sniffed the foot and smelled hay and cinnamon. From the stick came the aromas of sweat, hay and barnyard. I clipped the cap with my Colibri Slice cutter and took an open dry draw of sweetness and hay. I toasted the foot with a Colibri Maui single torch and tasted sweetness from the first few draws and then some hints of nuts.


The burn was even and the nice dense grey ash held its form and the smoke was full and creamy. Hints of nutmeg, wood and a mild sweetness were the flavors I tasted in the creamy smoke. 




The second third and the ash still didn't fall. The burn was still and remained even. The ash did fall off about halfway. Full smoke still kicking out and mild white pepper and molasses are the flavor note I tasted. The first band came off without incident. No cracks, tears, defects or glue underneath.






The last third and the second band came off also without incident. No tears, crack, defects or glue. The burn is and has been even throughout the smoking experience and the smoke continued to be full and creamy. Hints of orange peel, sweetness, white pepper and espresso round off the flavor notes in the last section.





There was a smooth transition between the flavors in this medium to full bodied cigar and it was an excellent smoking experience. The Davidoff 25th Anniversary cigar is a beautiful thing and a Cigar Assessor Approved Cigar. If you get a chance to visit Edward's shop I suggest you do. It's a great shop. Ask about this cigar and if he has some, give it a shot, you'll be glad you did. - January 4, 2014

Video Review

robert@cigarassessor.com

Saturday, December 21, 2013

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




Wednesday, December 18, 2013

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






Wednesday, December 11, 2013

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 31st, 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 31st, 2013. Starting January 1st, 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.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

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















Thursday, November 7, 2013

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


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

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