In 2020, Gurkha announced it was re-releasing a cigar known as San Miguel. San Miguel is a grandfathered brand that was a part of the Gurkha portfolio. The San Miguel would be given a facelift, including a new blend. This was not a new strategy, as for the past few years Gurkha has been reaching […]
Cigar Review: 601 Black Toro by Espinosa Cigars (2020)
William Cooper Reviews 1 Comment 601, 91-93, Buy Multiples, Espinosa, Review
In 2020, after several years of anticipation, the 601 Black made its return. The 601 Black is a cigar that traces its roots back to EO Brands, the partnership between Espinosa Cigars’ founder Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega. 601 Black was one of the original 601 blends released in the EO portfolios. At the time […]
Cigar Review: Diesel Whiskey Row Sherry Cask Holiday Edition (2020)
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Diesel, Forged Cigar Company, General, Review, Try a Sample
Late in 2020, General Cigar Company announced a special limited edition release for the Diesel brand know as the Diesel Whiskey Row Sherry Cask Holiday Edition. For the most part, it was an offshoot of 2019’s Diesel Whiskey Row Sherry Cask but would incorporate a barber-pole style wrapper. In addition, the Holiday Edition would feature […]
Cigar Review: La Aurora 107 Nicaragua Robusto
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Buy One, La Aurora, Review
Early in 2020, La Aurora Cigars announced it was releasing its first all-Nicaraguan cigar. The cigar would be released under the 107 brand and was appropriately dubbed the La Aurora 107 Nicaragua. The cigar would be the creation of La Aurora’s Master Blender Manuel Inoa and would allow Inoa to answer the challenge of whether […]
Agile Cigar Review Herrera Estelí Miami Piramide Fino by Drew Estate
William Cooper Agile Cigar Reviews, Reviews No Comments 88-90, Buy Multiples, Drew Estate, Herrera Esteli, 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 rescoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we […]
Cigar Review: E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 91-93, Box Worthy Consideration, EP Carrillo, EPC, Review
The E.P. Carrillo Pledge is the third installment in E.P. Carrillo’s Perez-Carrillo Series (also called the Family Series). The Perez-Carrillo Series is probably the collection of cigars in the E.P. Carrillo portfolio that has garnered the most acclaim. The first installment was the La Historia. Released in 2014, this is a blend highlighted by a […]
Cigar Review: Zino Platinum Crown Series Limited Edition 2020
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 85-87, Davidoff, Review, Try a Sample, Zino
Late in 2020, Davidoff announced a new offering under its Zino brand known as the Zino Platinum Crown Series Limited Edition 2020. Zino is the brand that carries the namesake of Davidoff founder Zino Davidoff. It’s been positioned as a more contemporary premium brand in its portfolio. Throughout the history of the brand, it […]
Cigar Review: Rocky Patel TAA Exclusivo (2020)
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 2020 TAA Exclusive Series, 88-90, Review, Rocky Patel, TAA, Try a Sample
In 2020 Rocky Patel Premium Cigars would release its fourth cigar exclusive to Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA) retailers with the Rocky Patel TAA Exclusivo. TAA Cigars fall into several categories – exclusive blends, exclusive sizes, and early releases. In the case of the Rocky Patel TAA Exclusivo it would be an exclusive blend – […]
Cigar Review: Crowned Heads La Coalición Siglo
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 91-93, Buy Multiples, Crowned Heads, Review
If you have followed the evolution of the first seven years of Crowned Heads Cigars, it was a company that established manufacturing partnerships with two cigar factories: Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr‘s Tabacalera La Alianza and the Garcia Family’s My Father Cigars. The latter part of 2018 would be a very important one for Crowned Heads as […]
Cigar Review: Protocol Paddy Wagon (Toro)
William Cooper Reviews No Comments 88-90, Box Worthy Consideration, Cubariqueño Cigar Company, Protocol, Review
Over the past four years, Protocol Cigars has released quite a few single-store exclusive and event-only cigars. However, when it came to the Protocol Paddy Wagon, an exclusive cigar to Caravan Cigar Company in Bath, Pennsylvania, this would be a very different project compared to the others. While the other limited cigars were one-and-done releases, […]