Month: February 2009

8 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Cigar Reviews

Cruzado Dantes

cruzado1

Cruzado cigars were introduced to the world in an unorthodox fashion last summer when the cigar’s creator, Dion Giolito of Illusione fame, decorated his booth at the IPCPR with pictures of the cult leader Jim Jones. There were those in attendance who immediately condemned this as offensive and in poor taste, which of course it was. But it was more than that, I think. Instead of drawing customers in with the treacle of bikini girls and tv celebrities, he seemed to be challenging us with a twisted kind of advertising archetype, an image of charismatic evil. Instead of hawking his new product (which is what the show is for)  he was offering a crowd of starry-eyed cigar fans an opportunity for self reflection, if not outright criticism. At the very least it was unexpected.

Ultimately it was more of a comment on the cigar industry (and perhaps the show itself) than anything else. If it showed disrespect for anyone it was the ad execs who drive the cigar business, or whoever the guys are who mix the industry’s Kool Aid. And while I can see his point (without taking it quite so seriously) I think letting Jim Jones to do the talking was a somewhat sideways approach. Provocative, yes, but maybe more dramatic than necessary.  Gutsy though, definitely gutsy.

Later in the show a sign appeared plastered over the multiple faces of Jim Jones : SOLD OUT. I found this ironic on about seven different levels, but I’ll spare you the post-modern mumbo jumbo.

Since then the controversy has subsided and the reviews of Cruzado have been almost uniformly excellent — the cigar has scored very well with the mainstream press, the blogs, and the guy in the shop who told me I was really going to like it.  (Okay, maybe the last guy was selling me a little Kool Aid. But it did win the Zennie for 2008, which carries more weight with me than a retail pitch.)

Illusione is a pretty punchy cigar. Cruzado was designed by Giolito and Arsenio Ramos of Raices Cubanas to be a little less potent  than Illusione by substituting viso for ligero in the filler and by easing up on the corojo content in the blend. As Giolito told Blog of the Leaf:

Whereas Illusione is a corojo blend with one component of criollo, Cruzado is a criollo blend with one component of corojo. Illusione exhibits an earthy sweetness in the olfactory sense. The profile of Cruzado is more forward on the palate with leather and spice.

Six vitolas are available, all of which have relatively narrow ring gauges:

  • Avalitos: 4 x 46 (petit robusto)
  • Dantes: 5 x 48 (robusto)
  • Domenicos: 5 5/8 x 46 (corona gorda)
  • Elitas: 6 1/4 x 44 (corona larga)
  • Marios: 7 x 47 (churchill)
  • Marelas: 5 5/6 x 46 (perfecto)

They are produced at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras using Nicaraguan criollo wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler from both Nicaragua and Honduras.

The Dantes is Cruzado’s robusto entry, though the 48 ring makes it seem almost like a short churchill. The wrapper is rustic, a little rough, and the bumpy texture of the binder beneath is easily seen on the surface. The head is triple capped with an attractive pig tail.

cruzado2

The pre-light characteristics are unremarkable, but the draw is spot on perfect. It lights up easily and gets things started with a bang — I was expecting a milder entry compared to the Illusione line, but the peppery overture with which this cigar starts is every bit as bold.

After half an inch or so the Dantes eases up a little and the differences between this and Illusione become evident. Cruzado lacks the same hickory/hazelnut flavor that makes Illusione so distinct. Instead I pick up freshly cut hardwood with an elusive sweetness on the edge. I’m not sure what it is…caramelized sugar maybe? Occasionally I’ll pass a little smoke through my sinuses to aid in my investigation, but I found the Cruzado to be a little too strong to do this comfortably.

The aftertaste is long and earthy, and it stays that way for the duration. The Dantes burns slowly and evenly, wavering only a little here and there, and builds a solid dirty gray ash.

The mid-section brings out some cocoa/chocolate flavors and continued earthiness on the palate. The last third is almost Honduran tasting — thick lashings of leather and pepper, almost like a Camacho Corojo, but lighter and more refined. And finally, as the band approaches, there are some hickory notes on the nose that are reminiscent of Illusione.

My expectation was that Cruzado would be a much lighter cigar than Illusione, but that was not my experience. It may be a tad lighter, but not by much, and it’s certainly not a lighter formulation of the Illusione blend. (For that, I might recommend the Illusione ~mk~, which is a brilliant cigar in its own right.)

The Cruzado Dantes wins big points for complexity and style — there are some distinctly unusual flavors here, and they’re all balanced very well. Keep in mind that this is still a very Nicaraguan cigar and it comes with the bite — and the buzz — typical of the breed. Like Illusione, Cruzados are not easily found, but at around 8 dollars per stick they should be in the sights of medium to full-bodied cigar fans everywhere.

cruzado3

Final Score: 88

~cigarfan


Other Reviews

Matt gives the Elitas an A+ but has some trouble with the Marelas

Barry awards the Marelas a whopping 96 points

A nice guest review of the Marelas at Stogie Review

Doc give the Dantes a thorough physical for the Stogie Fresh 5

2 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Camacho, Cigar Reviews

Camacho Havana Monarca

camhavana

I make no apologies for being a cigar fiend, but I’m aware of the impact that fiendish behavior has on the cigar market. If it were just me and a handful of fanatics, it wouldn’t be such a problem, but it’s not. It’s you. And you. And you. The root of the problem is that cigar fiends like us are always on the prowl for a new blend, regardless of the number of sweet smokes already available. Hence old companies with reputations that have stood the test of time must needlessly reinvent themselves, trowel vanishing cream over well-earned wrinkles, test out new crops, whip up new blends, and conjure up flashy new ad campaigns.

Or sometimes, they just repackage the brand and get a new band design.

It’s hard to believe, but the Camacho Havana cigar has been around for over forty years.  I would guess that the blend has changed somewhat over that span of time, but from talking to old timers it sounds like it hasn’t changed that much. Back then it was considered more of a full than a medium-bodied cigar, but that was before the heyday of the heavyweights. By comparison with Camacho’s Corojo and Coyolar (and Triple Maduro and so on) the Havana is a sweetheart. But it’s still fairly steely when compared to the mainstream blends popular a few decades ago.

Like the majority of Camacho’s blends, this is a Honduran puro– the wrapper is a Criollo leaf from Jamastran and the innards are Honduran corojo. Available in twelve (count ’em) twelve sizes, there is a stick to match any desired duration. Today’s target is the 5 x 50 Monarca.

In 2007 the boxes were reengineered to display better on retailer’s shelves, but I’m not sure why the bands were changed. Perhaps to appeal to the short attention span of your average cigar fiend? Lookie! It’s NEW!

The new gold band surmounts a mediocre looking cigar — the wrapper is lackluster and the roll a bit lumpy, but the cap is triple wrapped and tight. After slicing off the cap with a guillotine cutter I notice the draw is free and easy. Maybe a little too much so.

camhavana2

The first flavors out the gate are earth with a touch of pepper. Compared to the Camacho Corojo toro I smoked last weekend, the Havana is positively friendly. There’s no fight to this guy at all — just an easy cruise down the boulevard with the top down.

To accompany the loose draw is a fast burn, but it never overheats or gets bitter. It’s just a little too quick for my liking. The ash also has a tendency to blossom — the wrapper ash curls out and either breaks off or blows away.

Midway through the cigar I notice a creamy texture to the smoke — a little unusual for this brand. The flavors are still earthy — mineral and salty notes — and the aroma is slightly sweet. I noticed this with the aged Camacho Havanas I had last year — the aroma is of mild ginger and wood. A more powerful filler blend would overwhelm these delicate elements, but there’s a fine balance here.

I wouldn’t call the Camacho Havana a terribly complex cigar, but it has enough weight and spice to keep my interest for the 30 minutes it takes to smoke one — my only complaint is that 30 minutes seems unduly short for a robusto sized cigar (for me, anyway.) I think the Corojo will remain my mainstay blend from Camacho, but the Havana is a worthy medium-bodied alternative.

Prices vary, but it looks like a box of 25 is running around 100 bucks. Eminently reasonable, and a steal at any lower price.

camhavana3

Final Score: 83

~cigarfan

3 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Cigar Reviews, Don Pepin Garcia

Cabaiguan Petite Cabaiguan

cabaiguanpetite

I’ll admit it. I’m no Shackleton. With a little nip in the air this week I’ve been reaching for the small stuff — RP Sungrown PCs, AF Hemingway Short Stories, and these Petite Cabaiguans — in an effort to grab a quick smoke without freezing my phalanges off.  I mean, seriously, it’s been in the low 40’s. It may be a cliche, but it’s true about the desert: it’s not the cold, it’s the aridity.

shack1

Not Pete Johnson

And even though I miss having my long leisurely apres dinner smoke, I’m happy to say that all of the small sticks I’ve had this week have hit the spot, including this Petite Cabaiguan.

Most folks are familiar with this line by now — it’s made by Pepin Garcia’s crew for Pete Johnson, best known for his Tatuaje cigars. It’s usually characterized as a milder version of Tatuaje, but I think the blend really stands on its own without that comparison.

The filler and binder are Nicaraguan, though I have to wonder how much of each is required for a cigar this thin. The wrapper is a gorgeous Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf that ultimately steals the show.

The only problem that I’ve ever experienced with Cabaiguan is the occasional tight roll. I’ve had no such trouble with these unbanded 4 1/2 x 32 Petites. Every one has drawn perfectly. They’re rolled firmly with the expected triple cap (even on this tiny vitola they cut no corners) and are as attractive in miniature as my preferred Corona Extras.cabaiguanpetite2

The Petite Cabaiguan has a crisp flavor that will be familiar to anyone who has smoked the full size cigars in this line — it starts out cedary with a citric accent and a delicately floral aroma. The smoke is creamy and about medium in body, though less so in strength. The smoke production is limited by the ring gauge, but there is still plenty of flavor to go around.

For a small cigar, the Petite is quite complex — cedar, earth, citrus and floral qualities all emerge at different points in its 20-minute career. Despite the lack of a transition in flavors it’s a far more interesting smoking experience than anyone has the right to expect from such a little guy.

Aside from its role as my inclement weather friend, the Petite Cabaiguan would be perfect for a coffee break smoke. At 150 USD for a box of 50 it’s not exactly a budget quick smoke, but given the quality of this cigar the asking price is within reason.

cabaiguanpetite3

Final Score: 88

~cigarfan

5 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Bargain Cigars, Cigar Reviews

Troya X-Tra Cetro

troyaxtra

When Britain’s Imperial Tobacco swallowed up California’s tiny Lignum-2 last summer for a paltry $22 million they were primarily interested in Lignum’s budget cigarette line called “Rave.” I’d never heard of Rave, nor have I any interest whatsoever in cheap cigarettes, but I was momentarily alarmed by the news because Lignum-2 owns one of my favorite premium cigars: Troya Clasico.

Imperial’s acquisition means that Altadis USA will take over distribution. When I saw an Altadis sales rep in the B&M the other day I had to ask him about the fate of Troya Clasico. He said “I think that’s the one they’re keeping,” and that the other lines would most likely be re-blended, or dropped and replaced with other lines.

Which makes sense — if they are going to keep any of the lines it has to be the one Don Pepin Garcia makes. It’s the only DPG blend Altadis owns. Even if it isn’t their best seller, it might be their best cigar.

So it was no surprise when I began to see Troya X-tra Cetros for under 2 dollars a stick in clearance sales and on the auction sites.  A premium cigar for under two bucks? Hell, I’ll try it, even if the line is on the endangered species list.

The traditional Troya is a mild-mannered Dominican blend that was unveiled way back in 1985. The X-Tra was released in 2004 in response to the demand for fuller bodied cigars — it’s a Nicaraguan puro featuring a Corojo 99 wrapper and binder surrounding a criollo filler in the core.  Sound familiar? According to the manufacturer, Pepin had a hand in the early development of the X-Tra, though he was not the sole blender.

The X-Tra line is available (for now) in five sizes which are numbered, as all Troya cigars are, in rather mysterious fashion:

  • No. 18 – Robusto
  • No. 54 – Toro
  • No. 63 – Churchill
  • No. 81 – Torpedo
  • No. 45 – Cetro

The first four are standard size vitolas, but the Cetro is a little unusual. At 6.2 x 45 it’s basically a gran corona.

The wrapper is a rich dark colorado maduro with a few veins and a grainy texture. It’s not the prettiest wrapper around, and the cap is nothing to look at either — just a single flap slapped on tight. But the roll is solid and the cap shears off nicely. The prelight scent is horsey.

troyaxtra2

I’ve tried these in batches of five from three different boxes and have found the draw to be a little inconsistent. Some of them had a perfect draw, some were a little tight. The tight ones were still smokeable, if a little annoying.

First light impressions were that this is a nice medium-bodied Nicaraguan style cigar — lots of corojo sweetness over a base of leather. The coffee and caramel notes that are typical of Nicaraguan corojo are the primary players here.

Aside from the minor draw issues that some of these exhibited, construction values are good: most of them burned plumb-line straight, and the resulting ash is strong and tight.

The mid section seems to me a little juicier than the first, almost fruity at times. As it winds down to the close there isn’t too much of a transition and the cigar doesn’t get much more complex: just continued caramel-tinged coffee that combines with the leathery aroma to create a satisfyingly simple package. It’s somewhat similar to an aged Famous Nicaraguan Corojo.

If there’s anything “extra” as this cigar burns past the secondary band it’s a slight burn at the back of the throat — this is typical of  mid-range Nicaraguan cigars, and is quickly cured with a swig of iced tea or cold beer. That’s really the only fault I could find with this cigar.

The Troya X-Tra is a pretty decent smoke at its regular price, but at closeout prices around 50 USD for bundles of 24 it’s fantastic. If you’re looking for a deal on medium-bodied Nicaraguan corojos, this is a nice pickup. Better be quick about it though.

troyaxtra3

Final Score: 88

~cigarfan

6 Comments Posted on by cigarfan Cigar 101

Cigar Wrapper Colors

wrapper-colors

Cigar Wrappers from Light to Dark

The old saying about being able to judge a book by its cover is dead on when it comes to cigars. Forget about the box, forget about the band; the outside of a cigar—its wrapper—will tell you more about how it will smoke than anything else will. You won’t find a full-bodied, spicy cigar cloaked in light green. And a mild smoke in an inky-brown, oily wrap is a rare thing indeed.

Cigar manufacturers have identified some hundred or so different wrapper colors and names over the years, but they basically boil down to eight basic categories. There are some variations in each—what one company will call a Colorado Claro might be classified as a plain Claro by another—but typically not enough to result in a discernable difference in strength and flavor.

In general, the darker the wrapper the fuller-bodied and sweeter the smoke, thanks to the greater concentrations of sugars and oils from longer sun exposure and curing.

Double Claro—Also called Candela, or Jade, ranging from very light green to light greenish brown. Very mild and bland; the leaves for these wrappers are picked before they’re fully developed and quickly heat-cured to develop their distinctive color. This wrapper was very popular in the U.S. in the 1950s, so it’s sometimes also called American Market Selection, or AMS.

Claro—Shade-grown, light tan to yellow tan in color. Neutral in flavor and a mild, smooth smoke. The color of many Connecticut Shade wrappers.

Natural—Also called English Market Select (EMS), grown in the sun and ranging from medium tan to brown. More oil than Claro; still a mild, smooth smoke.

Colorado Claro—Natural with a reddish tint (Colorado means red in Spanish).

Colorado—Also called Rosado. Medium to medium dark red-brown. Wrappers grown in Cameroon and the Dominican Republic often sport this color.

Colorado Maduro—Dark brown with a reddish hue. Often seen on cigars from Honduras, Nicaragua and Cameroon.

Maduro—Dark brown to very dark brown, heavier textured and typically with more visible veins. Often somewhat oily-looking, but not necessarily so. Sometimes called Spanish Market Select (SMS). Maduro is also a type of leaf processing that involves intense fermentation — here the term refers to color only.  (A wrapper leaf processed as a maduro is usually maduro in color as well, but not always.)

Oscuro—The darkest of the dark, very dark brown to almost black. Like Maduros, some manufacturers use the SMS designation for Oscuros.

Just remember: these terms refer to the color of the leaf only. One of the cigars pictured below is a maduro; the other two are dark corojos. Can you tell which is which?

maddie-or-corojo

~sponsored by our friends at Cigars Direct