Size: 6 inches x 54 ring gauge

I've often been asked, "Why are your reviews so short?" The answer is simple. Any idea should be expressed plainly, and in as few words as possible. This isn't Penthouse Forum, and I don't see any reason for over analyzed purple prose. I'm not being paid by the word. Actually, I'm not paid at all. So I'll leave those wordy critiques for the true masters, and take care of the short, quick reviews. Today, I'm reviewing one of the cigars from Punch's new Sucker Punch line, the King Hit.

Size: 6.5 inches x 53 ring gauge (Figurado)

When you're walking the dog or doing yard work, you smoke cheap cigars – the bargain bundle kind – and swig a cold beer. 

But when you want to unwind after a grueling week of work or celebrate a special occasion, you treat yourself to something better. That is, you choose a really special cigar, and pair it with your very favorite adult beverage. The Tempus Magistri is clearly one of the cigars you might choose.

I've been smoking cigars for quite some time. That said, I have not smoked a ton of Perdomos. From my limited experience with the Lot 23s, I'm aware the brand is known for great construction and consistency. Therefore, I'm quite excited by the opportunity to review the Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Epicure Champagne.

Size: 6 inches x 54 ring gauge (Toro)

I don’t live on the leading edge of cigar culture. Oftentimes, the latest and hottest cigars don't make it to my area for a long, long time, if at all. Some of you likely have the same problem. You hear all the hype about a new release, but can't get your hands on it. Such was the case for me with this offering. 

The Small Batch M356 was the darling of the year-end ratings back in 2012, but it took me well into 2014 to find any. And Aging Room has had two more successful product launches since then – the Quattro F55 and the Haveo.

Size Reviewed: 6 inches x 64 ring gauge (soft box pressed)

When I hear the name King of Kings, I think of the obvious biblical reference as well as the sonnet Ozymandias about the great Pharaoh Ramesses (or Ramses) II, penned by the early 19th-century English romantic poet, Shelley. "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings; Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" In my view, any cigar with that name has quite a reputation to live up to.

Until fairly recently, I did not know much about Kings Cigars. However, some careful research on the Internet (along with speaking to a cigar aficionado friend) helped to enlighten me about the company. Kings Cigars is a relatively new company, which started up in 2010. It offers a line of royal-themed, handmade cigars from Esteli, Nicaragua and Santiago in the Dominican Republic. This firm seems to have quite an interesting variety of cigar lines to meet a broad spectrum of tastes.

Size reviewed: Toro – 6" x 52 ring gauge

Some years ago, I read a book entitled The River of Doubt, by Candice Millard (2006). Millard described Theodore Roosevelt and his son Kermit going on a dangerous yet adventure-filled expedition to the Amazon River in 1913-14. In doing so, Theodore and Kermit survived terrible extremes and discovered a new river, which to this day is named for the famous former U.S. President.

My experience with the CAO Brazilia line has also, at times, been 'dangerous' – but always an adventure. This particular cigar (the Amazon Basin Toro) is no exception, and it reminds me of that line because of the Brazilian tobacco used.

Size: 5 inches x 52 ring gauge (Robusto)

Most of the time, I initially learn of a new cigar online, in the journals or in the catalogs – well ahead of actually finding it at my local tobacconist. This was not the case with the Hex line of cigars. I actually found them in my local liquor store humidor not long after I had first heard of them. I was surprised to say the least. How did something like this new Hex wind up next to the Punch and Partagas? As it turns out, the makers of Hex are a group of veteran industry folk and retail insiders with chops. Distribution is not a problem for them. Neither, apparently, is their ability to make a good cigar.

Size: 6½ inches x 53 ring gauge (Torpedo)

Many of us are familiar with the Gurkha line of cigars. Depending of which one of the thousand or so varieties we are speaking of, the cigar in question could either be ‘eh’ or ‘holy smokes’! It might be a $2 bargain bundle special or one of their 95+ rated, excellent, high-end offerings. In fact, there are so many Gurkhas (and associated lines) that one practically needs a program just to keep track of all of them.

Several cigar dealers are making a grand fuss about Ramon Bueso and his history with the Villazon factory. They claim that Bueso was, as a close confidant and partner of both Estello Padron and Frank Llaneza, instrumental in the manufacture of some of the free world’s oldest, most influential cigars - and arguably some of the finest. In this day of new, wonderful cigar brands and line extensions being created on a weekly basis (as well as, admittedly, a slew of losers), thousands of consumers still choose to purchase Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, El Rey del Mundo and other well established marques.

I bought the Ramon Bueso Genesis on a gamble, having little idea what to expect other than a decent amount of Connecticut broadleaf character melded with Honduran flavors. I wasn’t disappointed, and got exactly what I was expecting. That said, and despite its pedigree, this cigar does not, in my view, represent serious competition for a Punch or any of the other Villazon products.