Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Cigar Review

This cigar has a bit of a history behind it. It is said that this was one of the first cigar factories in an area of Nicaragua with the perfect soil and tropics for growing tobacco. This is prior to 1970 when the original factory was founded. The brand is Joya de Nicaragua. The "Joya de" means The Jewel of. I believe the Ant part of Antano means old days, yore, yester and most should already know that ano means year. So I have the privilege of smoking a reproduced jewel from the remnant's of Nicaragua's history.

Everyone knows that great powers influence. In this aspect, I mean great powers as in countries like England, Spain, France, America, etc. You can say it destroys a country's original culture or you can say it helps advance it's civilization; in this case, the controlling powers took it's resources. Nicaragua was a colony of Spain and when Nicaragua gained their independence, they were not completely free, other nations had imposing influence, like the United States. The United States was defending against Socialist and self interest. Just as in the case with many other countries, the United States is there with terms. Basically like in many other examples, the United States called shots on who would control the government. Indirectly or intentionally the Nicaraguan government became a dictatorship. Even in freedom, they were not free from their own and it decimated the country. That's why you see countries like these poor because of rebellion and civil war. The 1970 labelled on the band defines a time when the cigar was considered prominent before the socialist gained control.

This is not the first Joya de Nicaragua I have smoked, matter of fact I have enjoyed these as one of the first premium brand cigars I came across when I started. On the shelf of a local cigar lounge, a box sits on the shelf of the humidor with a price tag of $30 each. Is that an original one from around the 1970s? Nah, I think it would go for way more if in good condition. The one that sits on the shelf is probably the same as the one I smoked or another blend, one rolled in recent years. I love cigar lounges but hate their mark up prices.
 
I would have reviewed the Celebracion blend but did not have one. For this Christmas, that is the Sunday before Christmas Eve, I bring to you the review on the Joya de Nicaragua Antano in a Robusto size. I wish all readers a Merry Christmas and Happy 2013 to come.

Vitola: Robusto Grande (5.5" x 52RG)
Price: $6-$7 stick

Wrapper: Nicaraguan (Criollo Habana)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaragua

Aged in Humidor: 5 months

Appearance and Construction:

The cigar looks basic as does the band. The wrapper is dark brown, though, not deeply. It is constructed smooth with veins that fade right into the wrapper, no leafy look to the wrapper. My stick had no construction issues, not even a nick. The cap is on if part of the body. It isn't firm but not soft, it bounces back ever so slightly. I toast it evenly and lights easily.

Draw: Slightly snug on first puffs but perfect draw there after
Aroma: It does not resonate strongly but a cocoa smell is there when brought close to the nose
Ash: Even waves forming an almost perfect grey cone indicating rolled well; the first log of ash falls at the end of the first third, a little short of the 2" mark
Fumes: When lit it does stream out but when it mellows out, no smoke
Burn: Even and consistent, never went out when left alone
Strength: Medium to Full, I ate dinner lit it at 10:30pm and finished it at 12:40pm, I felt light headed and a tad nauseous afterwards; you won't notice it while smoking it but after you might feel it a little

Tasting Notes:

The scent that it emits out of the hole on the foot while the cigar is still in the clear cellophane cover is of light raisin on tea or tobacco mixed in with oak. The cold draw is similar: raisin on hay or oak. On lighting, it produces notes of sweet tobacco and over baked raisin cookies on the retro-hale. I also get notes of interchanging oak and leather included with those last notes. On the initial light, I get no spiciness.

1 cm in: again more baked raisin cookie accompanying sweet tobacco, you can even say there is hints of black cherry.

1 inch in: it gets peppery and the strength is getting stronger with every puff. I am tasting notes of oak or cedar and leather. Basically the first third is composed of this tasting profile.

The second third in is sweet tobacco, black cherry on cedar (almost like wine), leather and pepper. By close to the end of the second third it mellows out very nicely. At this point, it's like the blend decides to come together and even out the tasting notes. I mean I can still get the taste of leather, raisin, oak but they seem to be more subtle. Yes and the cocoa aroma has come back.

By the end of the second third and into the final third the mellowing of the cigar still has deep notes but changes a little to espresso, mocha and a tad tad tad hint of chocolate. This is when the Joya de Nicaragua Antano is at it's best. Ironically, when I get to the end at about an inch and a half left, when most other cigars begin to get harsh and bitter, this retains it quality tasting notes. It was never harsh or bitter and at this point I had made up my mind that this is a great cigar, great with some roasted chicken. I rate it a 91. It is rich and deep in quality until the very last inch when I have to say goodnight.

My Uzi Weighs A Ton Cigar Review

Nice name for a cigar; like it's niche name of a brand it comes from: "Subculture Studios" a division of Drew Estate in conjunction with Joya de Nicaragua. The cigar is dubbed this for I guess honoring the subculture of art and music. I've smoked a few Joya de Nicaragua cigars but only recently heard of Drew Estate for their La Privida due to Undercrown, No. 9 and their flavored brands like Java. If not for both their reputation, I would think it's a gimmicky class blend like the Cuban Honey cigars. Looking at the band, which I don't base a cigars quality by, it is designed like an ad for a concert billboard... for Public Enemy No. 1...

Play: My Uzi Weighs A Ton by Public Enemy No. 1...when I light this cigar up. Whether the cigar is named after the song or as I have read named Uzi and then when the cabinet was picked up, it weighed a ton, thereafter it was branded My Uzi Weighs A Ton. Whatever, I like the name, marketing, producers and the cigar.

 

Vitola: Toro (6" x 60RG)
Price: $6-$9+ stick

Wrapper: San Andres (Maduro)
Binder: Ecuadorian version of Connecticut
Filler: Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan

Aged in Humidor: Read Below

This cigar has only been sitting in my humidor for 4 months in it's clear cellophane cover. When I take it out, I get a good whiff of strong dark chocolate and brownie scents. The cold draw is of the same but comes with an extra spice like an off version of turmeric. On examining the one I smoked to find it is packed tight, solid (no soft spots), like a log and with no construction flaws except for a couple of tiny apostrophe sized scratches. The veins are lightly present on the noticeable leaf like wrapper: dark brown with a reddish hew and black shading. I like how this fat 6" x 60 feels in my hands (total opposite of a Corona in 42RG). It lights very easy unlike some other cigars I have come across. The draw is right in the middle. Notes on the side of a bit of flavored coffee hit me, like French or South Asian bean, on the initial draw. One centimeter in is espresso in the draw. That slightly offbeat coffee note is not rich at all; you will get a repeat of that last statement. After mostly coffee and espresso, the end of the first third brings a short spell of ammonia which never appears again. ---The fumes are not light nor overwhelming ---The ash ripples of grey and waves of black ---At one inch in it holds of a solid cone ---Part of the wrapper, at this point, has a particle hanging but burns even by itself right away The beginning of the first inch is of dark cocoa and then dark chocolate. The retrohale does not hit me with much spice or kick like some other cigars but does retain that dark chocolate taste. ---At one and a half inch, the ash retains the ripple of black and grey but now has a tone of brownish, rust like color ---The ash limps sideways ---Two inches in the ash falls Two inches in is a creamy tobacco (not the bitter kind) with dark coffee bean in the retrohale. As I do most cigars, I put it close to my nose every once in a while as it burns for it's aroma: again just like the retrohale: creamy tobacco and dark coffee. The beginning of the second third gets a light cocoa aroma. As I am smoking this I am waiting for my order of food. I am smoking this outside a bench of a smokehouse. The cigar pairs okay with a light beer but not BBQ. I think it pairs well with a Frappuccino with bits of chocolate inside, which I grab later and am pretty much up to the final third. That's right this cigar burns at a good two and half plus hour pace. At one point it was dying out after leaving it for a bit over five minutes and it only took a few puffs to come back alive. I relight anyway to get the full burn back. It comes back with a bit of caramel and a barnyard scent then that dark chocolate and creamy tobacco is back in full force. Near the last inch and a half comes a little bitterness but goes away to present a grilled meat like taste. That dark chocolate taste is still there and I am now outside a Starbucks with my Frappuccino, it pairs well with my drink. Final notes on this cigar is that I would order it again because it's a cigar I place as medium in strength. but for the price of $6-$9 a stick, I find others to be more worth while, I put this at $5 a stick. My rating of it ranks it at the bottom of my top 15 with a 89; I would love to see an enhanced blend of My Uzi. ---The burn, draw, tasting notes, ash, construction and visual appeal of this stick is excellent ---The cigar is not very aromatic, it lacks that aroma that hits your head back to relax - I have had some that by the half way point, I was almost knocked out ---The cigar is dark with only a tad of richness ---The cigar is smooth without any harshness or bitterness
---The cigar is not very complex
---Like the fumes as stated earlier, the entire cigar is not overwhelming

If you want to see the details on this stick feel free to view:

Set of Photos of the My Uzi Weighs A Ton Cigar

J'ai Obtenu Cette

"Ridin' through this world, all alone
God takes your soul, you're on your own
The crow flies straight, a perfect line,
On the devil's bed, until you die

Gotta' look this life, in the eye"

-Intro song to Sons of Anarchy


I'm a fan of the FX network's show Sons of Anarchy because I am a fan of being a bad boy and I like motorcycles. Though, logically, detrimental acts have their reaction. Those who live detrimental lifestyles have those reactions catch up with them and that lifespan is shortened. J'ai Obtenu Cette is the title for this weeks episode and it translates in French to supposedly: "I Got This". In a previous episode one member of the motorcycle club, Tig Triger, killed the daughter of a big time crime boss, Damon Pope. In retribution for the death of Damon Pope's daughter, Pope wanted Tig's head but Jax wasn't ready to give him up. So the temporary alternative, by the order of Pope, was to have one out of four motorcycle club members locked up in jail die instead, because someone had to die in revenge for his daughter's death. Opie stepped up and died. Opie is the right hand man (since childhood) of Jax Teller (current President of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original). Whose fault was it? The one who caused the catalyst: Tig Trager or the one who ordered one of the four to die: Damon Pope. In an outlaw world someone had to pay for the death of Pope's daughter, that was Opie and someone had to pay for the death of Opie, the choice for Jax was Tig or Pope. Jax's decision was to follow and give up Tig or change the course of the game, lesson 1. The J'ai Obtenu Cette is meant for Jax's unsaid way of killing Pope, the man issuing the rules: to follow. But in real life, revenge in this savage manner, killing another person, there are more serious consequences.

"To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings of arrows or outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep,
No more, and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to: 'tis a consummation
Devouty to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep, perchance to sleep - ay, there's the rub:
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil..."

When you are young the curiosity of what will happen when you rebel against the rules and regulations of your parents, in most cases, your answer is disciplinary action or punishment. That is the same case when you are an adult, so why do adults do it? Shouldn't they have already learned from the lessons of childhood, if they were fortunate to be present? Three answers to the previous questions. The first answer is the good, morals and love are no longer there or never was. The second is since they have little or nothing to lose, since the love is not there, the end is what they embrace and their selfish view is all that matters or focused on, their actions on others do not matter. A third view is that they have no understanding of right or wrong, it's just not there. Negative actions are based on ignorance or a lack of a positive. But if you have something there, even a little love, care or morals (a conscience), (something my old pastor said:) you cannot serve two masters: walk either in the foot steps of good or suffer the consequences.

Sons of Anarchy is a mind trip of drama for those that like the bad ass life, kind of like the television show All My Children was to house wives. Sons of Anarchy has extreme violence but it is not without a good mix of scenarios or examining the consequences of a detrimental lifestyle.

A few notes from this week's episode:

---The old lady of Jax is having a moral conscience to go good for the future of their children rather than to stay with the motorcycle club, she gives him an ultimatum to go with her or stay without her. But her love for him had her act on a situation earlier which stopped her from escaping that lifestyle. It was stated in a conversation earlier in the episode between Jax and Nero Padilla (Jimmy Smits) that letters Jax are writing are for his son to read only, just like Jax's father had wrote... for him? Jax has an opposite intent than his old lady, to continue the lineage. Lesson 2, this episode showed Jax's old lady (Tara) and Clay (the mischief causing former President) getting arrested, taken out of the picture. The recently assigned Vice President (Bobby Munson) of Jax takes off his V.P. patch because Bobby doesn't like that Jax is turning out to be too much like Clay. Jax says "maybe I'm not so different". It would seem at the end of last seasons finale, the portrait was of the new leadership: Jax and old lady at the helm of the table, but at the end of this episode is of a portrait of Jax Teller and his mom (Gemma Teller, Katey Sagal). What this few second freeze frame indicates is that the Queen bee influencing the hive is not the new game changer, Tara, but with certain individuals that cause road blocks in the club out of the way, the lineage remains, Gemma.

---This character Juice is weak, how can you whimper, cry and fall to demands of anyone else (even under manipulation) if you choose to join an organization known for bad deeds, e.g. a motorcycle gang. Juice reminds me of the movie Savages where this young guy is watching over Ophelia and he feels sorry for Ophelia being kidnapped and shows her compassion. The young character in Savages is shot because "it didn't work out, you're too sensitive". Lesson 3, in the game of being a bad ass is that you do not crumple, if you enter the game of death, you should be ready to die or take what comes at you. If you feel you no longer wish to be in the game, you better take care of loose ends, and toughen it out until the window opens.

---This television show is bullshit because these are staged plots, anyone taking this show for more than it being entertaining with action, violence, drama and acted scenarios is suffering from delusions, please refer to my first paragraph. Life doesn't go as planned, period. There was a part of the show where in order for a plan to work out Tig Trager had to be caught off guard, with a gun in his hand and be turned over to Damon Pope. The show had Tig put his gun down when Jax was pointing his at Tig and screamed. But what if like a true rebel the plan didn't work out for Tig to put down the gun, instead raise it and shoot at Jax.

---Lesson 4, in the game of being Sun Tzu, sorry I mean being a bad ass, you have to be smart like Jax, conniving with your plans. Like in war, the game of being a bad ass, respect your enemies because if they don't kill you, they can teach you as much as they can hurt you, just like your friends. Just like how Gemma betrays Clay, you have to watch a few episodes to understand that Gemma and Clay were in supposed love, what happens in this episode? Gemma didn't back him no more, the new one for the Black Widow is Nero or is it her son.

---But sometimes you have to keep life interesting.


Not exact wording...

Gemma: "Do you want to be with me or not"
Nero: "I don't know if I can give you everything you need"
Gemma: "What do you think I need?"
(Something is said about love)
Gemma: "Only men need to be loved, sweetheart"
Gemma: "Women need to be wanted"

Peg Bundy, I mean Gemma is back in position of Queen (or Black Widow) of the bees, for now. First it was with Clay, but he's out, now it's her son. She also has Nero in her webs.

The Insight of History

I took Hurricane Sandy very lightly as the forecast reached me that Friday night, right into Saturday and even Sunday night's dinner out at East Bistro, 6-7 miles away from home. After dinner, I relaxed with a Bolivar cigar, sitting back from a normal meal, just watching how the streets had become scarce, left only with people like myself (not worried about the forecast) or scurrying home. The sky had blocked even the moon's reflection onto the streets and sidewalks. The Monday morning of October 29th, 2012 I was told not to go to work and woke up to mild winds and rain. That evening Hurricane Sandy hit and knocked on my house bumping and rattling, but nothing major. Tuesday, some of the aftermath had hit the news resulting in power lost, damaged property, many destroyed homes and 30 reported deaths. The death toll would eventually reach 40 and the actual picture of those in New Jersey, Staten Island, Coney Island, the Rockaways, especially those closest to the coastline and even the effect on the flooded New York City Subway system was a display of what Sandy caused.

On Wednesday, October 31st, 2012 (Halloween), the Tri-state was still recovering from this mild spurt of "Mother Nature's Frankenstorm". I was driving in the Eastside of Manhattan with the extra built up traffic lined for blocks from those trying to get Downtown from the upper 70s to 80s. I thought nothing of this as I had an appointment Uptown and headed home southward.

What I didn't know at the time was I was wasting gas. I never fill up until the arm in the fuel meter reaches rock bottom, close to empty. This is not a habit fruitful on my part because on Thursday, as my tank dropped below a quarter tank of gasoline, the news had announced gas stations everywhere in New Jersey and New York had closed. There is now a gas shortage due to power failure and disruption to the gasoline distribution. This gas shortage did not impact until the next two days when you could see 50 cars lined up around the block or down the street waiting for the handful that were open with supply; the only ones like Hess or BP. Shell, Exxon, Getty and many others closed off by yellow tape like as if someone had died there. Luckily there was no violence or chaos, everyone understood the circumstances but like I said this is a mild spurt of nature. The storm only lasted one day and the recovery took a week to get things back to normal. Imagine the disruption to society if there were a major gas shortage or example food/water shortage? I was discussing this with a family member who said "You're right this world is too dependant on gas".

I am watching the History Channel, a series about "The Men Who Built America". One of the portraits is of how John D. Rockefeller came from an almost bankrupted small oil producer to one of the richest men through associates and competitors. Rockefeller was given an opportunity to be a sort of supplier for Cornelius Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt, at the time one of the richest railroad tycoons. The railroads needed to stay in operation in order to keep the massive over building profitable. One source would be from Rockefeller's perfectly located oil supply. The country had a demand for oil. This would land a perfect deal between the two for both their companies to be profitable, but in the long run more so for Rockefeller. Rockefeller would eventually grow bigger than Vanderbilt and started monopolizing all the competing oil companies. In out growing Vanderbilt, Rockefeller makes a deal with another railroad tycoon, Tom Scott. But Rockefeller eventually grows even bigger, his ego with it. Knowing the railroad giants were in need of his product to keep their rails operating, the show states Rockefeller has the railroad companies in his pockets. Vanderbilt, not to be outwitted forged a united alliance with the other railroad companies, specifically with Tom Scott, to not deliver Rockefeller's oil, hoping to put a stop to oil distribution, thus growth of Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. It was stated on the show, this meant war to Rockefeller. He figured out a way around the railways, he started building pipelines to move his oil as far as they could reach and it worked. The massive need of railway operation had halted causing a fear that railroads would become useless. This caused the high prices of railroad stock to plummet down to nothing, causing a Depression, the stock market closed for days and jobs were lost, riots taking place, collapsing the massive railroad operations. Rockefeller would eventually remain on top, Vanderbilt would eventually die and Tom Scott would follow.

The massive railroads would eventually be replaced by cars and airplanes, but the need to move them remains. Rockefeller, now but just a name and a legacy has been renamed but it's still the same product. It was only a three day interuption to the gas supply. It caused men and women to stand or wait in cars for hours, lines of 50 each, at gas station that even had their short supply. I know I waited my hour and twenty minutes to be eventually told "we are out".

The point of this article isn't really what will happen when we run out of gas, I am sure the minor chaos that will be caused in it's after effect will be relieved by brilliant organizors that will move to an electric form of energy. Just like when Rome died, the United States was formed, and when the United States dies, there will be another empire to take it's place but the struggle to find a way ahead, like the concept of the aqueducts, will remain. But right now oil and gas shortage is in it's first week.

Bolivar Cofradia 554 Cigar Review

I bought this cigar at a local store that sells almost everything. I was far away from my humidor, was craving a smoke and overpaid for it. I knew nothing of the stick except it was a Bolivar and had the logo of Simon Bolivar. I had to do some research on what the name of this cigar really was because I had bought it solely knowing it was a Bolivar. I could only find the Non-Cuban Bolivar ones with the golden band of a shield and medallions. I had to dig to reference this Non-Cuban because the Cuban version has the same band only with Habana below Simon Bolivar's image. This one has Since 1895 below Simon Bolivar's image.

Cuban Bolivar band: "Habana" text below the image of Simon Bolivar

Non-Cuban Bolivar band (blended by Estelo Padron): Image of Simon Bolivar, no Habana text, instead shows "Since 1895"
Non-Cuban Bolivar band (blended by Daniel Nunez): Golden shield with medallions below

Above Source in Bold: NCRadioMan from www.cigarasylum.com for this clarification.

Vitola: Parejo (Closes to a Robusto though slightly larger in length=5" and ring gauge=54)
Price: $4+/- stick

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Connecticut
Filler: Honduran, Nicaragua

Aged in Humidor: N/A

Appearance and Construction:

You look at this stick and to put it bluntly and potty mouthed: it looks like a big piece of molded turd with a band around it. It reminded me of a bigger, uglier version of the Cohiba Red Dot I smoked last month. The wrapper appears more Maduro than Sumatra, it's deep brown. The veins do show themselves to present the wrapper as a leaf but not heavily. The cigar is symmetrically proportioned, the cap smooth and bonds with the body. It is solid, heavy and big. The filler has a lighter tone of light brown. The draw is good, it burns at a moderate pace and ash stays at a cone shape with bits disappearing but holds from one inch to two inches.

Tasting Notes:

I smell it before lighting, the wrapper is giving off a light scent of spicy caramelized fermented tobacco leaves. The filler from the foot where you light gives off a slightly different scent: tobacco leaves mixed in with a rawer version of warm bread. The first draw gives off flavors of tea and toast. I begin to think this might be an okay cigar based on the first draw. However, the first inch and a half showed to be terrible, there was no flavor aspect except notes of tobacco. The first phase was almost pungent, made me want to give up and toss the whole thing out. But I decided to hang in there and let it burn for a while.

With now two inches burnt out, remember this is only a five inch stick, I am beginning to get leathery and spicy notes. The tobacco flavor is hitting hard and this is where I can call it meaty in terms of smoke, remember 54RG, and charcoal burnt meaty. This is the point where it becomes good, it now gives off aromas of roasted cashew and hints of a very light floral aroma, rose like, rotating in with pepper on my tongue and hints of cinnamon without any sweet notes to it. The cigar is still very meaty at this point.

I take it to the nub until it begins to get bitter and dump it. I was curious to find it's complete flavor spectrum. This is a strong cigar, with bold flavors, subtle in complexity and you will have to be patient and hunt for the flavors. It gave me a light headed spell and made me walk a little wobbly after smoking it for a bit over an hour. Luckily, I was close to home and when I went home, that 30 minute nap was so nice. This cigar is terrible, on the good side. I am going to give it two ratings: a 77 for enjoyability, complexity and flavor. It gets a 84 for being harsh, abrasive, subtle and strong.

Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve Churchill Cigar Review

The Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve was my first box of cigars ever, not counting 5-pack boxes. I purchased a 27 count box of Churchills online for a tiny amount over a hundred bucks. I have smoked enough of these (before I sold the rest) to know there is a stable consistantcy with both flavor and construction. Not everyone is exactly the same of course and may be a bit off here and there slightly but you can expect quality control from the rollers with this bunch.

Vitola: Churchill (7" x 54RG)

Price: $3-$4 +/- stick

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran

Aged in Humidor: Varies
(From right out the box on the first day to over a year)

Appearance and Construction:

Great! The box is well design and when you open it, each one in their own clear cellophane cover are lines up uniform like even heighted soldiers. Even the caramel complexion is smooth and uniform. It's not a toothy or veined up stick at all. The cap blends in so well as if part of the body. There aren't out of place leaf endings on the bottom where one lights it. What consistantcy!

The ash does not hold more than an inch or an inch and a half, nor is it a perfect cone. They do not have solid ash. The draw is absoluetly free flowing. On an occassional Churchill (because they are long) I might have to cut the cap twice, that is a little deeper to get a wider hole for that easier draw, but not on these sticks. I cut a pretty narrow opening and it provides a good draw. The nice draw could be due to the fact that they aren't rolled super dense, firm but not packed tight, no soft spots or flaws in the wrappers. Every aspect is really smooth, all the way down to the golden medallion looking band with "Reserve", as if reserved for VIP.

Set of Photos of the Romeo y Julieta Habana Rerserve

Tasting Notes:

Prelight aroma from the wrapper has a smooth earthy but with sweetened tea scent; combined with notes of tobacco leaf (without the burn) plus light hints of fermentation and a light hint of a piece of milk chocolate kind of mix. The cold draw is an enhanced version of that note. I toast the cigar in an even circular motion and it burns light and evenly. The first note of flavor is dark cocoa, damn it is robust and deep in tastiness. The only issue is that this taste does not stay throughout the entire stick. These notes of flavor come and go on the first third.

On the second third: that dark cocoa is still there going in and out but includes a tad of spicy tobacco flavor, not bitter at all. Yes like almost every other cigar, there is a duration where the burn brings a smooth and tranquil sail of flavor, this one definitely has that. It also brings sneaky hits of wood and leather notes, just like every other stick, it's just less so in the Romeo y Julieta Habana. The remainder third does not change much, though the end did lose quality but not by that much. The wrapper gave (only by a little bit) stronger strength than that of a Conneticut grown variety. Usually expecting Nicaraguan filler to be stronger, I guess that Habana seed blending soften this cigar up a bit.

If I use the word smooth to describe many aspects of this cigar, it wouldn't be over using the word because it fits the bill. Each aspect is smooth including the construction, appearance, draw, burn and flavor notes. It is a great value on the price. The only reason I rate this a 85 and not higher is because it's on the mediocre side, it does not stand out much. The lack of complexity and strength, though enjoyable traits, make it drop a few bars in points.

Montecristo Classic Churchill Review

Vitola: Churchill (7" x 54RG)

Price: $10+/- stick

Wrapper: Conneticut

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Aged in Humidor: Six Months

Appearance and Construction:

The color of the wrapper is resembling of peanut butter with light, barely noticeable, veins. The band is of the same color as the Cuban version, dark red (maroon). Also the same design of white trims and a simple logo. However, this Dominican version has gold etching along the white, unlike the Cuban version. The band is on there snug. The cap matches the body as if part of it. It's smoothly built as it smoked: smooth.

The fumes were not overwhelming at all or too light, it burnt at a good rate and touch up not required. The ash didn't hold to well kept burning or flaking off and it burnt slightly uneven but...

Tasting Notes:

The initial smell right out of the cellophane wrapper before I put it into my humidor to rest a bit is of a strong fermented tobacco leaf scent, it brings me to an image of the fermentation process. It has a refined sweetness with a bit of a good ammonia scent. The aroma can be said to be an earthy reminder of lightly sweetened tea, the closest comparison would be a light peanut butter and tea infused with a bit of balsamic vinegar. After six months, it toned down. The cold draw before lighting is cinnamony.

I light up and the initial draw is of light leather. But about a little short of an inch in it gets pretty good. I can then detect a creaminess of cocoa. This is not a bold or strong cigar, it's medium in body. Yes there is the earthy side to this but also the contrast of cinnamon and roasted almond. The combination of the Connecticut wrapper and Dominican binder/filler made it smoke like it looked, peanut buttery creamy. Sometimes there is that bitter tobacco taste but it's not overwhelming or often present, the most prevalent flavor is of creamy, cocoa or a light nuttiness/woodiness. It is pretty consistent in flavor all the way through with flavor changes of the aforementioned.

I do recommend this cigar but not for $10.00 as the listed price. It would make a nice $4.00-5.00 smoke on a Sunday afternoon where you want to stay relaxed, which it did for me after work.

For it's enjoyment, flavor and overall smoke, rated a 88. I rated this an 88, the same as I did the Cuban Montecristo No. 2 because both were good, but just like the Cuban Cohiba and Dominican Cohiba, both are built differently. I thought the Cuban Montecristo No. 2 was strong with deep/dark notes of flavors and the Dominican Montecristo Classic Churchill to be medium in strength, creamy and more soothing flavors. Again, aspects regardless of size.