Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we 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 or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we […]
Cigar Review: H. Upmann 1844 Classic Toro
William Cooper Reviews 1 Comment 88-90, Altadis, Buy Multiples, H. Upmann, Review, Tabacalera USA
Just prior to Tobacco Plus Expo 2021 (TPE 2021), Altadis USA announced a new expansion to its H. Upmann 1844 line known as the H. Upmann 1844 Classic. The H. Upmann 1844 Classic adds a Connecticut Shade wrapped offering into the portfolio. The H. Upmann 1844 line is pretty much the bread and butter […]
Cigar Review: Asylum 13 BigTime Tommie 70 x 7
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, Asylum Cigars, CLE, Review, Try a Sample
If there is one thing that is guaranteed to get both people in the cigar industry or hard-core cigar enthusiasts excited, it is when they see a premium cigar product make it into mainstream channels. Look no further when a team wins a championship and is smoking a cigar – often the question on many […]
Cigar Review: Protocol J Train
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Buy One, Cubariqueño Cigar Company, Protocol, Review
I’m very impressed with what Protocol Cigar has accomplished in the past six and a half years. The company has put together a portfolio of eleven regular production blends and has released over twenty limited edition cigars. One thing that Protocol has incorporated into its business model is producing cigars for online communities. In the […]
Cigar Review: Liga Privada Unico Serie Year of the Ox by Drew Estate
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Drew Estate, Liga Privada, Review, Try a Sample
Early in 2021, Drew Estate quietly released an addition to its Liga Privada Unico Serie known as the Year of the Ox. The Year of the Ox continued Drew Estate’s delivery of special offerings for the international (non-U.S.) market. Late in 2020, the Liga Privada Unico Serie Bauhaus was released for the European market. The […]
Cigar Review: Southern Draw Manzanita Toro
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, Not Recommended, Review, Southern Draw
Late in 2020, Southern Draw Cigars launched a new regular production line known as Manzanita. The name Manzanita means “little apple.” Southern Draw Cigars is known to name its cigars for flowers and plants. Not only do apples grow on trees, but Manzanita also refers shrubs and small trees that often have a reddish bark. […]
Cigar Review: AVO Improvisation LE21
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, AVO, Davidoff, Review, Try a Sample
2021 marks the 21st consecutive year that AVO Cigars has released an annual limited edition cigar. It also marks the start of the third decade of this series – an incredible feat in itself. For the first 14 years (2001-2014), the cigar was positioned as a birthday cigar for the late Avo Uvezian. In 2015, […]
Cigar Review: La Gloria Cubana Spirit of the Lady Toro
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 82-84, Forged Cigar Company, La Gloria Cubana, Not Recommended, Review, Scandinavian Tobacco Group, STG
Early in 2021, Scandinavian Tobacco Group announced it was splitting the brands of General Cigar into two entities. Several brands that were previously in the General Cigar Company portfolio were moved into a new entity known as Forged Cigar Company. Forged Cigar Company would essentially become its own distribution company complete with its own sales […]
Cigar Review: Abuelo Padre by United Cigar
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Buy Multiples, JRE Tobacco Co, Review, United Cigar
In 2021, United Cigar relaunched a brand known as Abuelo. The Abuelo is a brand that was released over 20 years ago when United Cigars owner David Garofalo’s brother-in-law John was going to become a grandfather. Shortly after the brand’s release, John passed away and the brand essentially became dormant. Fast forward to 2021, […]
Agile Cigar Review: CLE 25th Anniversary 50 x 5
William Cooper Agile Cigar Reviews, Reviews No Comments 88-90, Buy One, CLE, Review
Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we 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 or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we […]