At the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, PDR Cigars launched a new line known as El Trovador. This was a brand that PDR Cigars owner and master blender Abe Flores took inspiration from a couple of sources – his musical roots and from a trip to Cuba. While many know Flores as a cigar maker who previously […]
Agile Cigar Review: Espada by Montecristo Estoque
William Cooper Agile Cigar Reviews, Reviews No Comments 3.0 - The Fiver, 88-90, Agile Cigar Review, Altadis, Assessment Update, Montecristo
Agile Cigar Reviews replace what we termed “Assessment Updates”. The concept is the same, but the name is different. Agile Cigar Reviews use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring […]
Cigar Review: Liga Maestro Doble Robusto
William Cooper Reviews 2 Comments 3.5 - Box Split, 88-90, Mombacho, Review
Early in 2016 Mombacho Cigars SA announced it was releasing its second regular production line called Liga Maestro. While it was a new regular production offering, this was not a new blend for Mombacho Cigars SA. Liga Maestro is a collaboration between Mombacho President and Master Blender Claudio Sgroi and cigar luminary Stefano Bertin. Back in […]
Cigar Review: Padrón 1926 Serie No. 48 Maduro (TAA Exclusive)
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 2016 TAA Exclusive Series, 3.0 - The Fiver, 88-90, Padron, Review, TAA
The Padron 1926 Serie No. 48 is the fourth installment in the Tobacconists Association of America (TAA) series by Padron Cigars. The No. 48 introduces a 5 1/2 x 60 vitola in the Serie 1926 line. This is not Padron’s first 60 ring gauge in the 1926 Serie as back in 2013 the Padron 1926 Serie TP40 was released […]
Cigar Review: Nicoya Robusto Medio
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 3.0 - The Fiver, 88-90, Nicoya, Review
The Nicoya Robusto Medio is one of two blends launched by newcomer Nicoya Cigars in 2016. Nicoya Cigars was founded by Australian entrepreneur Gerard Hayes. Nicoya is best known as the name of a large peninsula located on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica. It was also a part of Nicaragua until 1824. For this project Hayes […]
Cigar Review: E.P. Carrillo Dusk Solidos
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 3.5 - Box Split, 88-90, E.P. Carrillo, EPC, Review
The E.P. Carrillo Dusk is a new line by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo that made its debut at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show. Dusk was one component of what was a deeper strategy by the E.P. Carrillo – namely a full overhaul of the products in the E.P. Carrillo portfolio. This consisted of a combination of re-blends, re-packaging, […]
Cigar Review: Tabaquería 1844 Campesino Series Robusto Definitivo
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 3.5 - Box Split, 88-90, Review, Tabaquería 1844
The Tabaqueria 1844 Campesino is a small batch cigar by Tabaqueria 1844 based out of the Dominican Republic. The rise of boutique and small production cigar brands has often been associated with Nicaragua, but the Dominican Republic certainly has also its share – and Tabaqueria 1844 is a good example of one. Tabaqueria 1844 was founded by […]
Cigar Review: La Barba One & Only
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 3.0 - The Fiver, 88-90, La Barba Cigars, Review
The La Barba One & Only is the third line released by La Barba Cigars. It is the company’s first limited edition cigar. La Barba Cigars is a company founded by Tony Bellatto and Craig Rossi. Over the past few years, La Barba Cigars has been working with Tabacalera William Ventura to make its blends. During […]
Cigar Review: Viaje Birthday Blend 2016
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 3.5 - Box Split, 88-90, Review, Viaje
Back on Episode 192 of Stogie Geeks, Viaje President Andre Farkas discussed a new project he was launching at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show known as the Viaje Birthday Blend. The Birthday Blend draws its inspiration from Old Forester’s Birthday Bourbon, which is an annual release to commemorate Old Forester founder George Garvin Brown’s birthday. […]
Cigar Review: Smoke Inn 20th Anniversary by Davidoff
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 3.0 - The Fiver, 88-90, Davidoff, Review, Smoke Inn Microblend Series
The Smoke Inn 20th Anniversary by Davidoff is termed the eleventh installment in Smoke Inn’s MicroBlend Series. The Smoke Inn Microblend Series concept involves the South Florida retailer teaming up with some of the biggest names in the cigar industry to produce a small batch limited run exclusive to its shops. The series was originally launched late […]