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Drew Estate Natural Big Jucy Review
“The Rebirth of Cigars” is the mantra of Drew Estate, purveyors of such cigars as Acid, Liga Privada and Undercrown. Well, one of their newest creations has me baffled and intrigued. If the Natural by Drew Estate is the rebirth of cigars, then the rebirth is in for an interesting ride. The Natural comes in 7 sizes ranging from a tiny 3×38 to a healthy 6.5×54, but the interesting thing about this smoke is the blend, in that it has a traditional Nicaraguan binder but the filler and wrappers vary from different countries as Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, U.S., Spain, Italy, and others.
The cigar I smoked from the Natural’s selection was Big Jucy, a 5×46 corona with a mouth full of taste. Though it doesn’t explicitly say on Drew Estate’s website that it’s infused or flavored with anything, the Big Jucy’s taste in the first third can best be described as smoking a fruit roll up. It’s not a bad flavor, just very powerful and you can even get a little bit of the flavor on the pre-light draw. The construction of the cigar is great in the first third, as there were no problems with the draw or the burn.
In the second third, the tobacco flavors are still overpowered by the fruity notes of the cigar; it is much more manageable now and not so overpowering. Being that it’s a smaller smoke, it does smoke quickly as it didn’t take me long to get through the first two-thirds. Burn and draw are still perfect on the Big Jucy.
Now the last third of the Big Jucy was the best part in that the fruit flavors mellowed out and became more of a tobacco sweet taste that was rather enjoyable. The burn and the draw were great and despite not being a fan of really sweet cigars, most of the Natural was enjoyable. Overall all I’d give 3 out of 5 flames and would definitely recommend to anyone that is into flavored or infused cigars.
Until next time, Happy Smoking!
The Mayor
Reposted with permission from thegarshop.com
Tatuaje El Triunfador “Old Man and the C” Review
I admit it; I’m a sucker for unique packaging when it comes to cigars. I’m an even bigger sucker when I find out that the unique cigar inside the unique packaging is actually a phenomenal smoke. This was the case when I smoked the Tatuaje El Triunfador Old Man and the C. To explain the Old Man and the C, it’s basically a coffin in which you get a 2008 El Triunfador lancero (which is the original release year of the El Triunfador) and then you get three more lanceros wrapped in a culebra (basically three cigars wrapped together and tied at both ends so they stay together). Now with the Old Man and the C, you’re supposed to smoke the lancero and pass the culebra amongst three friends, so I was lucky enough to have three friends, Matt, Steel Curtain Joyce and JoePa to share my cigars with.
Now I reviewed the 2008 lancero, which has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and filler and sits at 7 ½ x 38, so it’s a tall, skinny sucker. The El Triunfador has a ton of flavor and it seems like it alternates between spicy and sweet on every puff. This trend continues into the second third when the sweet and spicy flavors die down a little bit, but keeps the same pattern of alternating between spice and sweet while a bit of cocoa after taste remains. The burn and draw are perfect through the second third.
In the final third, the smoke transitioned to a very strong sweet flavor that is akin to a dark fruit of some type while the spicy notes mellow out. The draw and the burn remain perfect. Overall, the 2008 El Triunfador lancero is an absolutely fantastic medium to full bodied smoke that I’d have no problem paying $30 for, especially since you’re getting four cigars in the coffin. Overall, I’d give it 4 flames. That does it for the Old Man and the C, so let us know what you think and until next time – Happy Smoking.
The Mayor
Reposted with permission from thegarshop.com
Crowned Heads Four Kicks Corona Gorda Review
Let’s face it, everyone has a rebellious streak in them. Whether you’re 16 and “We’re not going to take it” is your anthem or you’re a cigar exec that’s tired of corporate America. Well, Jon Huber, formerly of CAO, recently found his rebellious streak and fortunately for cigar lovers worldwide, the result is the Crowned Heads Four Kicks. “Four Kicks is about turning your back on the corporate machine and making your own rules.” Is how Huber describes his new cigar, which is blended and rolled by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. The stats on this smoke are as follows: The corona gorda is sized at 5 5/8 x 46, has Nicaraguan binders and fillers wrapped in Ecuadorian Habano and retails for around$7.
Now for the good stuff, the cigar! In the first third, the Four Kicks gives a square kick in the mouth with a lot of spice and earthiness and stays that way up until the end of the first third, to which it mellows out. In the second third, the smoke stays mellow and smooth through the first half of the third, then the spicy flavors pick up again, but not quite as strong. To this point the draw is effortless and the burn is a little crooked, but good.
In the final third, the Four Kicks finished with a mild spiciness and earthiness. Overall, it’s a very smooth, medium bodied cigar with a good burn and effortless draw. A solid three flames on the Mayor’s scale.
Until next time, Happy Smoking!
The Mayor
Reposted with permission from thegarshop.com
601 Oscuro Trabuco Review
Before I get into the review, here’s the stats on the 601 Green Label. The Trabuco is a 6 1/8 x 58 and it’s from Nicaragua. It is wrapped in a beautiful Nicaraguan Habano Oscuro wrapper and is filled and binded with Nicaraguan tobacco.
Now for the fun stuff, the smoke. The first third of the 601 Green Label is super strong and very full bodied to the point of you don’t want to smoke one on an empty stomach, which is true of all the cigars in the 601 line. The flavor profile of the Green Label is spicy but definitely has notes of cocoa and coffee. It has a lot of flavor for a big cigar.
The second third remains very strong yet it is very smooth for a full bodied smoke. The spicy flavor remains into the second third, but the cocoa and coffee notes diminish greatly. The burn on this smoke is great and the draw is easy.
The Green Label finishes very smooth, yet never lacked strength. The spiciness remains throughout the entire cigar, while some sweetness comes through in the end. Overall the 601 Green Label is an awesome full bodied cigar, a solid 4 ½ out of 5 flames cigar.
Until next time, Happy Smoking!
The Mayor
Reposted with permission from thegarshop.com
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic Sun Grown Review
The Hemingway series is one of Fuente’s premier lines that are special because it’s one of the few smokes that are rolled in the old school perfecto shape and up until now have come in either a Cameroon natural or maduro wrapper and uses Dominican filler and binders. The Hemingway Classic is a 7 x 48 Churchill and its sun grown wrapper is almost maduro dark.
I will say that I have had a lot of experience with both the Hemingway Classic natural and Maduro, which is one of the best constructed cigars I have ever smoked. What’s new about the Sun Grown is that in the first third, it is a lot stronger than the maduro and the smoky sweet flavor is more prevalent than in the other two versions.
About half way through the cigar, the smoke transitions to a mellow spicy flavor with some smokiness akin to burning cedar. The draw is tough in the beginning of the smoke, which is common for the perfecto shapes, but by the second third it is nice and effortless. The burn of the Classic S.G. is impeccable, a common trait among Fuentes.
Now the last third of the Classic S.G. was mildly bitter, which was disappointing, but overall still a good smoke. It burned great and the draw was effortless past the first few puffs. Overall I would give the Hemingway Classic Sun Grown 3 out of 5 flames.
Until next time, Happy Smoking!
The Mayor
Reposted with permission from thegarshop.com
Vero Beach Cigars, Cigar Accessories, Premium Cigars 