August 27th, 2018

Size of cigar: 7 inches by 48 ring gauge

Every cigar smoker knows that the Davidoff Company stands for high quality, complexity and, yes, cost. When I was given the opportunity to review The Late Hour, I jumped at the chance. This was my first experience smoking a barrel-aged cigar, and it did not disappoint.

Davidoff ages the three-country blend of tobacco for six months in single malt Scotch whisky casks prior to the fabrication of the cigar. And the Scotch flavor can be noticed throughout the cigar, giving the customer a very unique smoking experience.

August 20th, 2018

Size of cigar: 6 inches by 52 ring gauge
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras

Wrapper

The wrapper is dark brown and smooth looking. It has thin veins, and is a bit dry to the touch. The wrapper is gorgeous and inviting in appearance.

August 13th, 2018

Quite honestly, I didn’t know anything about this cigar before going into it. I knew that I liked most sticks from Erik Espinosa and his crew, but I didn’t have much to go on before smoking this sample. The fact it was labeled with a blending band made it feel like I was getting a glimpse into the future. While I don’t know if this cigar ever came to be commercially or not, it was handed out at the 2017 IPCPR event. (Yes, I know... quite late! Sorry guys!)

Pre-light

The HUA33 is a 5 inch by 54 ring gauge Robusto with a light brown wrapper and a triple cap. The wrapper contained a few veins, but they were harmless and did not impact the smoking experience. The HUA33 passed the pinch test with flying colors, and a few dry pulls proved that it was filled perfectly. Pre-light draws gave off sensations of hay mixed with barnyard and a slight tingle of spice.

August 6th, 2018

Perhaps the hardest thing about this review was deciding which one of Salamanca’s excellent cigars to select as the subject. Being that I've smoked more boxes of the Matthew than the others, I chose to review it this time around.

A wise man once told me that the most important thing a reviewer can tell the reader is if the cigar in question is worth buying and, more importantly, buying a box of. Well, in keeping with those words of wisdom, I'll tell you that I've smoked at least a half-dozen boxes of this Nicaraguan Beauty.

The Colorado Habano wrapped Toro (measuring a 54 ring gauge by 6 inches), which is sourced from the Plasencia Farm in Nicaragua, is really as wonderful to look at as it is to smoke. This seven-element vitola is the creation of Alan Fonseca.