Drew Estate Herrera Esteli Toro

Size: 6 1/4 X 54

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Honduras

Filler: Nicaraguan

The cigar I reviewed today was a recommendation by Michael Howe owner of Tampa Humidor. The Drew Estate Herrera Esteli has been receiving a lot of buzz in the cigar world so I decided to review the toro stick. I paired this cigar up with some Sumatra iced coffee with beans roasted from Coast2Coast Roasters in Arcadia, CA.

This well constructed, nice honey/nut brown cigar had minimal veins and felt good in my hand. The band is humble and retro in style.  I took a sniff of the foot and smelled mild cocoa and hay and an aroma of sweat and barnyard from the stick.  I clipped the cap and took a dry draw of hay. I lit the foot and tasted cedar at first and then nuts in the first few puffs of full white smoke. The draw was nice and open. Later in this first third I tasted notes of sweetness and salt adding to the cedar and nutty flavors. The dense ash was a nice grey in color with a few streaks of black. The burn was even.

The nice dense ash fell around a third of the way in and the burn was even. The smoke continued to pump out full and the flavors I tasted were leather, wood, spice and nutty. The ash fell again before the last third.

The last third and I tasted hints of cedar, wood, honey and a mild pepper flavor. I was able to take off the band without incident. The burn was a little uneven and the smoke was kicking full. I was surprised to see that the cigar's wrapper cracked and split in this section toward the end of the smoking experience. It didn't affect anything but the appearance.

Overall this was a very nice smoking experience and a great cigar. I can say without  doubt, this is a Cigar Assessor Approved Cigar. (CAAC)

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

Video Review

Alec Bradley American Sun Grown Blend Robusto

Size: 5 X 50

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Today was a day to smoke one of the cigars from my Father's Day present of Alec Bradley Cigars. I received a box of Alec Bradley Nica Puro Toros and a 5 cigar Alec Bradley sampler came along with it. I chose the American Sun Grown Blend Robusto to smoke and review. I will be paring this cigar up with some Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Coconut Caramel bar and Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Vanilla Cream Beer (Non-Alcoholic.)

This beautiful dark brown cigar was well-constructed and minimally veined. The band on this cigar is a piece of artwork and a pleasure to look at. I smelled dark cherry from the foot and sweet barnyard and cherry from the stick. I clipped the cap and took a dry draw of cinnamon. I toasted the foot and got a nice open draw of cedar and full creamy smoke. Later in this third, I tasted hints of coffee, espresso and sweetness along with the cedar flavor. The burn was almost even and the nice light and dark dense grey ash held on during this section.

The burn was burning a little uneven into the second third and needed a slight touch up. The grey ash held on for almost all of this section. I tasted cedar, wood and coffee notes as the white creamy smoke continued to pump out full. It was in this third that I paired up the Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Coconut Caramel bar and it was very delicious pairing. Mixed with the cigar it gave me a coconut mocha flavor in my mouth.

The last section and I tasted citrus, cocoa and an earthiness. The nice dense ash fell right before this section and the smoke was still kicking out full. The burn still wasn't evening out. However it didn't affect the cigar smoking experience.

This cigar was a very nice bold smoke and the nicotine in this robusto smoke was also bold and left me slightly light headed. Don't smoke this cigar on an empty stomach. Another great smoke from Alec Bradley. If you like a nice bold strong Nicaraguan stick, I would give this one a try. You won't be disappointed. -June 17, 2013

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

Video Review

1502 Black Gold Torpedo - Video review at the Side Walk Cafe

Size 6 1/2 X 52

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

 Robert Anthony Meyers & Kip Rolfe

robert@cigarassessor.com

coast2coastroasters@gmail.com

Side Walk Cafe

2057 Los Robles Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91104

626-797-9255

Ashton VSG Spellbound

Size: 7 1/2 X 54

Wrapper: Dominican

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Today, I reviewed another cigar gifted to me from my friend Nate. An Ashton VSG Spellbound cigar. I don't remember ever smoking an Ashton so this will be my first. I paired this cigar up with Reed's Original Ginger Brew Ginger Ale and some Trader Joe's 72% Dark Chocolate.

This big 7 1/2 X 54 well-constructed, chocolate brown, minimal veined cigar is a boxed pressed stick made up of Dominican tobaccos selected specifically for this cigar by Carlos Fuente Jr.

I smelled the foot and chocolate aroma filled my nose. I smelled Barnyard and cocoa off the stick. I clipped the cap and took a dry draw of pepper and a mild tanginess. I toasted the foot and tasted  cedar in the full smoke. Later in this section a light pepper flavor added with the cedar. The nice medium dense grey ash, held on solid for this section and fell off soon after. The smoke was pumping full and the burn was slightly uneven.

The second section and the cedar and pepper notes continued to dominate the flavor of this cigar with citrus and an earthy note popping in temporarily. The burn was evening out and the smoke continued to pump out full.

The last section and hints of salt, roasted coffee and leather add to the underlying cedar and pepper flavors. The grey ash fell off again and the smoke was still full. The burn evened out by this point. I took off the band without incident of tearing. No defects or glue was found underneath. The cigar started to make me a tiny bit light headed in this third. I smoked this bold stick until there was about an inch left.

I enjoyed this cigar very much and it was about a 75 minute smoke for me. Would probably be longer if I was hanging out with friends and not reviewing. If you see the Ashton VSG at your local cigar shop pick one up and give it a try. A very enjoyable smoking experience and you won't be disappointed.

 Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com

Video Review

Illusione Ultra No.4

Size: 4 3/4 X 54

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan


After sitting in my humidor for a few months it was time to pull out the Illusione Ultra No.4 cigar. A cigar recommended to me so I bought a couple and smoked one earlier. I am smoking this one for the review. I paired this cigar up with some Glenmorangie sherry wood finish 12 year single malt scotch.

This well-constructed, box pressed, chocolate colored cigar has minimal veins in it. The band is simple and straight forward. Black background, white trim and lettering. I sniffed the foot and smelled sweet hay and a sweet cherry aroma from the stick. I clipped the cap and got a blast of pepper from the first open dry draw. It mellowed and mixed with a hint of cedar. I toasted the foot and tasted flavors of cedar and cocoa. Later, I tasted notes of dry ginger, citrus and bitterness. The burn was uneven, probably due to the light breeze and the nice grey ash held it's form nicely. Smoke was full and dry.

The light dense ash held on almost halfway before it fell and the burn almost evened out. Pepper,  mild saltiness, bitterness and wood were the flavors I tasted. In the second section. I encountered a cigarette taste in my mouth when I wasn't smoking the stick. The smoke was full and dry, making the top of my mouth feel like chalk.

The last section and the small band came off without incident of tearing or glue blobs. No defects underneath. Wood, bitterness and dryness is what I tasted. The burn remained a little uneven. I started feeling heat in my mouth and a burning on my lips way before I should have. I put it down early and stop smoking. Someone walked by and thought I was smoking a cigarette because of the smell.

I smoked another one of these cigars about a month ago and had the same experience. At $11.00 or higher a stick, I can't recommend this cigar. There are so many great cigars out there I would pass, even for free. -June 10, 2013

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com