Herf 30 – Braving the Cold

December 6th, 2009 – Shoreline, WA

In attendance were Fernand, Robert, John L., Joe, Bruce, Patrick (via Skype), Peter, and John H. As usual, we gathered to enjoy a recently recommended cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group-tasting' following dinner.

The seven of us in Shoreline dined on smoked pork roast, wasabi coleslaw, garlic-cheese grits, green beans & shallots seared in soy sauce, tequila sweet potatoes, and a mixed green salad. Once dinner ended it was time to brave the cold huddled under the patio heater and do our best in the sub-freezing outdoors.

Our selection for this herf was the Padilla Signature 1932 Torpedo. Though no longer made by Don Pepin Garcia, since 2008, we were lucky to obtain these first generation smokes. The Robusto version of the Padilla ‘32 was our Cigar of the Week back on November 9th. The previous Cigar Aficionado rating for the Pepin-made Torpedo was 92 (May, 2007).

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting while enjoying a few microbrews, Aberlour Scotch whiskey, Crown Royal, and eventually (as we got colder) some piping-hot cider, spiked with a little Captain Morgan’s Tattoo.

The texture and appearance was pretty rough on many of our cigars, with bumpy veins clearly visible. In fact, the Appearance and Construction category earned the lowest percentage of points possible, 87%. The roll quality seemed well-crafted due to it’s beautiful torpedo shape and a fine draw.

Most burned really well producing very pleasant smoke and some of the longest ashes we’ve seen this year, as is evident in these photos. In contrast to texture and appearance, the scoring for smoking characteristics came in highest, earning 92% of the points possible.

The flavors were instantly enjoyable; no bitterness or harshness whatsoever (or at any point, for that matter). The initial tastes led off with gentle cedar, but we were prepared for the intensity to ramp up quickly. That increase never materialized. Instead, what we got was a very nice, mild-to-medium cigar with mellow flavors; not particularly discernable, but definitely enjoyable nonetheless.

After throwing out the highest and lowest, then averaging the remaining scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Padilla Signature 1932 Torpedo is 89. An excellent cigar.

Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 13 pts (87% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 23 pts (92% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 31 pts (89% of the points possible)

In the end, the flavor profile just wasn’t very complex. We all agreed that it was a smooth and easy smokin’ cigar, but some of us were left wanting a tad more. Still, 89 is not too shabby. We do recommend you pick up a couple the next time you want a break from full-bodied sticks.

It should be noted that one cigar did emit a glob of bitter tar at about the halfway point, but this appeared to be an isolated incident. Unfortunately, it meant the end of the ride for that particular taster.

Thanks to J & J Cigars for giving us such a good deal on these cigars!

See you at the next herf, January 3rd.

.

Photo credit to club co-founder Robert.

© 2009 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Cigar Review – Avo No. 2

by club charter member Pat

This is the final in series of reviews of cigars given to us by the good folks at Cigars Direct. Featured this time is the Avo No. 2.

Vitola: Corona Gorda
Origin: Dominican Republic
Length: 6”
Ring Gauge: 50
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Wrapper: Ecuador
Strength: Medium
Price: $162.95 (box of 25)

Inspired by legendary, Armenian jazz legend Avo Uvezian, this brand is produced by OK Cigar Corp. It features a beautiful Ecuadorian wrapper and a reliable parejo shape.

Following Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) I conducted this tasting back in July.

The appearance on this cigar was a not quite up to the usual Avo standards. There was a pretty large ridge visible under the wrapper leaf and unfortunately, the sample I received had a crack at the foot.

The cigar drew pretty well, but had a little more resistance than I would have preferred. It did burn pretty well too. The smoke started out thin, but luckily improved by the half-way point.

This cigar began very smooth. A gentle spice eased in at around the end of the first third, something like nutmeg, but subtle. While never getting all that complex, it was easy smokin’ and pleasurable all the way through.

My rating for the Avo No. 2 is 83.
Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 11 pts (73% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 30 pts (86% of the points possible)

The Avo brand is a very good cigar that I recommend you try.

Thanks again to Cigars Direct for allowing me to try this very interesting cigar!

© 2009 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Cigar Review – Sol Cubano Maduro Torpedo

by club co-founder Robert

Another in our ongoing series of reviews of cigars given to us by the good folks at Cigars Direct. Featured this time is the Sol Cubano Maduro Torpedo sent to us back in May of this year.

Vitola: Torpedo

Origin: Nicaragua

Length: 6.5”

Ring Gauge: 50

Filler: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro

Strength: Medium

Price: $69.95 for a box of 25

This Sol Cubano features a dark, Nicaraguan wrapper and a rustic torpedo shape. It’s produced by Oliva for Abdel (A.J.) Fernandez, the Cuban expatriate who, like Don Pepin Garcia, travelled to Nicaragua to start his own cigar business. AJ is considered a master blender of tobacco, having studied under the renowned Cuban tobacco grower Alejandro Robaina.

Following Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) I began the tasting. As usual I rated this cigar while enjoying some Aberlour 12 year old scotch (neat).

The Sol Cubano “Cuban Sun” had a pleasant pre-draw aroma that reminded me of silage, that sweet summer barnyard smell of straw and feed. The appearance was a little rough, with some wrinkles in the wrapper and a slightly dry look.

The initial 1/3 was smoothed out after a rather uneven start. The flavors of leather and impression of silage continued.

The second third was also smooth tasting, pleasant enough, with consistent flavor. I usually don’t mind touching up an uneven burn if the taste is there, but this got a little annoying.

The final third didn’t last, that nice leather and a little hint of cocoa flavor gave way to harshness and ended up tasting ashy. Perhaps it was the repeated touching up to keep the burn even.

My rating for the Sol Cubano Maduro is 78.

Here's the points breakdown:

I. Appearance & Construction: 11 pts (73% of the points possible)

II. Flavor: 23 pts (92% of the points possible)

III. Smoking Characteristics: 17 pts (68% of the points possible)

IV. Overall Impression: 27 pts (77% of the points possible)

Though my scoring may seem a little tough, I did like this cigar (except the burn). It produced big mouthfuls of smoke and a good strong ash. The flavor was good, and that’s what really counts for me. Consistent taste in the first and second thirds, and you know, for under three dollars you can easily just put it down if the flavor goes away. I’ll try another one and see if it burns a little more even next time.

© 2009 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Herf 29 – John’s Garage

November 1st, 2009 – Woodway, WA

In attendance were Fernand, John, Joe, Bruce, Peter, Mark, and Jim. As usual, we gathered to enjoy a recently recommended cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group-tasting' following dinner.

The seven of us were treated to a feast; John’s Asian Ribs were heavy, hearty, and dripping with a sweet Asian sauce. On the side were salad, potatoes, and some piping hot rolls made by John’s lovely bride. With several guys absent, there was plenty to go ‘round and even more left over. We wasted no time in tearing through this meal and were soon ready to head out to John’s garage in short order.

Our selection for this herf was the Ambos Mundos Habano Robusto, also referred to as the No. 1, or ‘white label’ in contrast to it’s Ecuadorian wrapped brother, clad in a red band (the No.2). This Nicaraguan puro is a slightly rustic looking parejo measuring 5 inches long by a 50 ring guage. It contains no short filler, like that seen in the Series P (both Tatuaje products) but still goes for around $5 due to it’s B & C grade leaves. The Toro version of this Ambos Mundos was Cigar of the Week back on September 14th.

Following Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting while enjoying fine home brewed IPA and also a little single malt Scotch whiskey.

Probably half of our robustos displayed rough veins, stain spots, or even cracks in a few cases. The cigars did not seem densely packed and this was reflected in easy draws amongst the lot. Most burned pretty evenly and the quantity of smoke produced was impressive, as were the long, stable ashes that we observed.

The flavors were instantly enjoyable; no bitterness, rather sweet. Warm spices were noted; like clove, cinnamon, and eventually something a bit chocolaty. The strength was mild enough to escape comment, perhaps mostly medium. Back in June, Cigarfan (at Keepers of the Flame) nailed it with this summary, “The Habano reminds me of some of Pepin’s milder offerings, but with less complexity.”

After throwing out the highest and lowest, then averaging the remaining scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Ambos Mundos Habano Robusto is 84. A very good cigar.

Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 12 pts (80% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 29 pts (83% of the points possible)

It must be stated that this is a better cigar than an 84 might suggest. The rustic appearance and minor damage brought down our average a bit. The loose draws may have taken away from the ‘premium’ expectation. The flavors were clearly pleasant and the lower price point was certainly welcomed by our group of tasters. The Ambos Mundos is definitely worth trying, if you haven’t already.

Thanks to J & J Cigars for giving us such a good deal on these cigars!

See you at the next herf, December 6th.

© 2009 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Cigar Review – Diamond Crown No. 4 Maduro

by club co-founder Fernand

Another in our ongoing series of reviews of cigars given to us by the good folks at Cigars Direct. Featured this time is the Diamond Crown Robusto No. 4 Maduro, given to us back in the Spring of 2009.

Vitola: Robusto
Origin: Dominican Republic
Length: 5 ½”
Ring Gauge: 54
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Strength: mild-to-medium
Price: $148.95 (box of 15)

Produced by Tabacalera A.Fuente y Cia. for the Newman Family, it features a dark, rich looking Connecticut broadleaf wrapper and leaves some of which have five years of age on them.

Following Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) I sat down to rate this cigar while enjoying a glass of bourbon.

The beautiful dark wrapper gave pre-light aromas of clove, while the foot smelled of cedar. The draw was a bit firm for my liking, but it certainly didn’t interfere with the burn which was stellar through the entire experience. In fact, it was one of the best burning cigars I’ve seen. The smoke was a bit thin, undoubtedly a product of the tight draw. The ash was quite strong, never falling, and requiring a bit of effort to ‘break off’ now & then.

The flavor started out like smooth wood. About an inch into it, leather was hinting every so slightly. The mild profile had me intrigued having mostly enjoyed stronger cigars lately. Later a gentle spice teased me a bit as well. At one point I even had hints of dark berries. In the end, I found it a little dry on the finish, occasionally metallic. Finally, it warmed to a dry, slightly bitter, conclusion which left me feeling like I needed to try more, one of these days.

My rating for the Diamond Crown No. 4 Maduro is 86.
Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 15 pts (100% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 29 pts (83% of the points possible)

Thanks to Cigars Direct for giving us the opportunity to try this cigar. Give the Diamond Crown maduro a try.

© 2009 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Cigar Review – Gran Habano No. 5 Corojo

by club co-founder John

Another in our ongoing series of occasional reviews of cigars given to us by the good folks at Cigars Direct. Featured this time is the Gran Habano No. 5 Corojo, sent to us back in the Spring of 2009.

Vitola: Churchill
Origin: Honduras
Length: 7”
Ring Gauge: 48
Filler: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico
Binder: Ecuador
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium to full bodied
Cost: $71.95 (Box of 20)

Produced by Gran Habano, it features a dark, rich looking Nicaraguan wrapper in a hefty Churchill shape. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 90 (Aug, 2006).

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) I sat down to rate this cigar while enjoying a the champagne of beers, …that’s right a cold can of Miller. I know, I know, it’s not the fancy libation you had expected, but I was camping with my buddies… so give a guy a break!

This cigar was a really well constructed Churchill; flawless wrapper, few minor blemishes, and a nice firm roll. The smoking characteristics almost matched the appearance. It produced thick mouthfuls of smoke with a long ash (dark) and only just slightly too tight of a draw

The flavors were bold and interesting and kept coming on; first licorice and cedar with full-strength and taste, and finally a hint of manure/silage during the second half (I never would have thought that I would appreciate a hint of horse apple in a cigar, but it really was tasty and rich!).

My rating for the Gran Habano Corojo No. 5 Churchill is 88.

Here's the points breakdown:

I. Appearance & Construction: 14 pts (93% of the points possible)

II. Flavor: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)

III. Smoking Characteristics: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)

IV. Overall Impression: 32 pts (91% of the points possible)

Overall, this was a really good cigar, a nice long, rich smoke, and great for the price!

Thanks again to Cigars Direct for giving us the opportunity to try this stick. Fortunately, they’re a bargain, so don’t hesitate to find out for yourself.

© 2009 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Herf 28 – Meat Lover’s Paradise II

October 4th, 2009 – Woodway, WA

In attendance were Fernand, John L., Joe, Tom, Bruce, Patrick, and Peter. As usual, we gathered to enjoy a recently recommended cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group-tasting' following dinner.

The seven of us were treated to Tom’s famous smoked meats, a meat-lover’s extravaganza that we’d been looking forward to for many weeks. Tom smoked beef & pork loin all afternoon and went the extra mile to include side dishes of a chopped salad along with his mother’s secret recipe creamed rice with mushrooms. Outrageous!

At various times throughout the meal all you could hear were either moans of ecstasy or the soft silence of focused chewing. After packin’ away the meat and washing it down with a wonderfully bold syrah supplied by club member Peter, it was time to begin the cigar tasting session and continue the evening’s relaxation and camaraderie.

Our selection for this herf was the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 3, a finely-crafted little corona measuring 5 1/2 inches long by a 44 ring guage. It contains tobaccos aged for up to ten years and goes for around $9. This Don Carlos was Cigar of the Week back on August 24th. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 90 (May, 2009).

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting while enjoying a little Yamazaki whiskey, 12-year, brought by club member Patrick.

Fine Fuente craftsmanship is instantly apparent upon first examination. A few of these coronas did have slight rough spots or traces of excess wrapper gum, but the roll quality was uniform and attractive across the board.

Likewise, the draw was very good across our seven cigars. Only a couple burned a bit uneven, most of them burned beautifully. The quantity of smoke produced was impressive for cigar of this size and to see how the ash held together had everyone commenting.

Now regarding flavor, we’re not exactly known for the most ‘flowery’ of descriptions (like some nationally-recognized publications) but this time we had more difficulty than usual discerning identifiable tasting notes. Initially, there may have been a soft spice, but all we got following that was woody, toasty, pleasant tobacco flavor. We all liked it, just couldn’t relate it to any comparable flavors. Intensity did ramp up a bit toward the ending, but should be categorized firmly in the medium body range.

After throwing out the highest and lowest, then averaging the remaining scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Don Carlos No. 3 is 88. An excellent cigar.

Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 13 pts (87% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 23 pts (92% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 31 pts (89% of the points possible)

All in all, a well-liked, well-made cigar that’s easy smokin’ – not to mention a great performer! Pick some up and see for yourself.

See you at the next herf, November 1st.

© 2009 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Gift Review – My Father No. 4

Another in our ongoing series of occasional reviews of cigars given to us as gifts. Featured this time is the My Father No. 4, given to me by my good friends at 10-7ha back in January of this year.

Vitola: Lancero
Origin: Nicaragua
Length: 7 1/2”
Ring Gauge: 38
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador
Body: Medium-to-Full
MSRP: $10.43

Blended by Jaime Garcia as a tribute to his father ‘Don Pepin’, it features a Habano seed Ecuadorian wrapper and a skillfully executed triple cap. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 88 (Feb, 2009). As I stated in my previous review on the No.1 (robusto) perhaps the greatest significance of this new blend is it’s containing the new filler tobacco grown by the Garcias on their own farm in Nicaragua.

Following Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) I sat down to rate this cigar while enjoying a glass of Scotch whiskey.

As was the case with the robusto, this was a specimen of the skill that few possess, like the Garcias do. The wrapper was gorgeous, the roll exhibited expert-level quality (more difficult with lanceros) and crowned with a perfect, pig-tail triple cap.

The draw was just a bit firm, which I find somewhat more appropriate for lanceros as a good limiter to keeping their slender ring gage from overheating. The burn was picture perfect the entire time, though I would liked to have seen thicker smoke come through. The ash was uniform and lightly shaded, but not as stable as others I’ve seen; perhaps a product of the smaller ring gage.

The flavor started out of spicy earth, then mellowed to toasty, with an underlying white pepper. In the second half, leather dominated, culminating in a cayenne and wood ending.

My rating for the My Father No. 4 is 89. An excellent cigar.
Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 15 pts (100% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 31 pts (89% of the points possible)

My final impression is of a cigar that was a great performer, was medium body in the first half, medium-to-full in the second half, and rallied to a complex ending.

© 2009 The Cohiba Club - All rights reserved.

Cigar Review – Cohiba Black – Part 4

This is the fourth and final in a 4-Part Series of reviews dedicated to exploring a single cigar size across each of the Cohiba brands offered by General Cigar. It’s been our pleasure to sample robustos from all four Cohiba lines.

This extensive survey was made possible by Victoria McKee, Director of Public Relations at General Cigar Company.

Featured this last time is the Cohiba Black Tubo Crystal, a robusto we received from General Cigar back in May of this year.

Vitola: Robusto
Origin: Dominican Republic
Length: 5 1/2”
Ring Gauge: 50
Filler: Dominican (Piloto Cubano)
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Strength: Medium
MSRP: $117.52 (box of 8)
Average online price: $76

Produced at the General Cigar Dominicana factory, the Cohiba Black features one of the darkest looking wrappers we’ve seen, in crystal tubes, in boxes of 8. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 86 (Aug, 2007).

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) seven of our club’s members took part in the tasting survey for this review.
A few of these Black robustos did exhibit inconsistencies in roll quality, such as tight draw or the occasional soft spot found under the cigar’s wrapper. In fact, an overly-tight draw was attributed to five of our eight samples. Combustion faired a little better with only about half the cigars burning erratically. Fortunately, the quality of smoke was not grossly affected by the tight draws and the ash produced was actually somewhat impressive.

The flavors were hard to pin down for some of our tasters, with several noting that distinction was difficult or that the notes were monochromatic at times. Some described it simply as: toasty, woody, peppery, or favorably “dark & rich”. Others found a bit more definition, such as spicy hot coco or tannic initially - mellowing to a smooth alder plank.

Ultimately, this seemed to be a case in which a few of us really liked it, while the remainder were not quite there. For those among us, perhaps further study is the remedy we need.

After throwing out the highest and lowest, then averaging the remaining scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Cohiba Black Robusto is 86. An excellent cigar.

Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 14 pts (93% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 29 pts (83% of the points possible)

Again, we should be reminded that ratings in the mid-to-upper eighties are not insignificant and that consumers should not rush to dismiss such scoring. It is our good fortune today, as cigar lovers, that there is such an abundance of high-earning cigars out there to choose from - thus enabling us to be so discriminating.

SUMMARY
The Cohiba Club awards the following ratings to the four Cohiba robustos:
89 for the Cohiba (Classic) Robusto.
84 for the Cohiba Puro Dominicana Robusto.
85 for the Cohiba Extra Vigoroso Robusto.
86 for the Cohiba Black Robusto.

The standard Cohiba line has beat out its bretheren in tastings conducted by our club members. This is certainly not the outcome that many of us would have predicted. Of course, you don’t have to take our word for it. Next time you’re in your local B&M, pick up a bunch and conduct a brand tasting of your own.

We are grateful to General Cigar for giving us the opportunity to conduct this tasting survey of all their Cohibas. We learned a lot about their cigars in the process and we urge you to do the same.

Visit Cigar World to learn more about General Cigar’s product lines.

© 2009 The Cohiba Club - All rights reserved.

Herf 27 – Smoking Chickens

September 6th, 2009 - Seattle, WA

In attendance were Fernand, Robert, John L., Joe, Bruce, Patrick, John D. (our host), Peter, and Pat (remotely from PA - pictured right). As usual, we gathered to enjoy a good cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group tasting' following dinner.

The eight of us in Seattle were treated to a smoked chicken extravaganza, served up by our skilled host John D. His mammoth outdoor smoker had us all salivating as several whole chickens emerged from it’s cavernous walls. Alongside was fresh homemade cornbread, baked potatoes & sweet potatoes, and a luscious green salad.

After thoroughly stuffing ourselves with as much smoked chicken as we could hold, it was time to do a little smoking of our own, so we retired out to John’s back patio to conduct the cigar tasting session and continue the evening’s relaxation and camaraderie.

Our selection for this herf was the 601 Maduro Toro, the blue-label. A well-built looking robusto with a triple-seam cap and measuring 6 1/4 inches long by a hefty 54 ring guage. It’s a Pepin-blend made in Nicaragua and goes for around $9. This 601was Cigar of the Week back on July 6th. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 91 (Jun, 2009).

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting.

The gentle box press had everyone interested right off the bat. The dark, chocolaty color of the Nicaraguan maduro wrapper makes you almost want to take a bite.

The draw varied a bit among our cigars; a couple were a bit tight, and a couple seemed a little loose. Likewise, a few required multiple touch-ups to keep the burn in check as the evening went along. The quantity of smoke produced and the quality of the ash could have been a little better as well.

Everyone agreed it was not as spicy, initially, as other Pepin blends we’d had. It’s pleasant smoothness was appreciated as we moved past the first inch. Flavor impressions ranged from vanilla bean, to leather, to a touch of bitterness toward the end.

After throwing out the highest and lowest, then averaging the remaining scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the 601 Maduro Toro is 86. An excellent cigar.

Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 14 pts (93% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 20 pts (80% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 30 pts (86% of the points possible)

Ultimately, a couple guys said they’d buy more, while a few said they wouldn’t. See for yourself, this 601 is worth a try for sure.

See you at the next herf, October 4th.

© 2009 The Cohiba Club - All rights reserved.

Cigar Review – Alec Bradley Tempus Genesis

by club member Patrick

Another in our ongoing series of reviews of cigars given to us by the good folks at Cigars Direct. Featured this time is the Alec Bradley Tempus Genesis.

Vitola: Corona

Origin: Honduras

Length: 5 ½”

Ring Gauge: 42

Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras

Binder: Indonesia

Wrapper: Honduran Criollo ‘98

Strength: Medium-to-Full

Price: $6.00

Produced for Alec Bradley at the Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas, it features a medium-brown Honduran wrapper that is very unintimidating and inviting. The Corona shape is a bit smaller than my normal preference, but it’s roll quality and style made me feel quickly at home with it. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 90 (Aug, 2008).
Following Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) I sat down to rate this cigar on a sunny day while occasionally sipping a Diet Pepsi.

An almost perfect roll job, save for two tiny spots on the wrapper where it looks like one of the leaves had either come unglued or been scuffed ever so slighty.

The draw on the cigar was almost flawless – just tight enough to let me know that the filler had been packed in, without being so tight that it would make me break out in a sweat. I wouldn’t have minded a bit more smoke, but it was not a significant enough issue to raise a stink about. Warm, nutty flavors became most noticeable both at the start and towards the half-way point, moving into a lighter, toastier direction. What seemed to be headed for a heavier, meatier cigar turned much lighter in the second half. There was a slight return to a nutty flavor – visions of warm chestnuts came to mind as I rounded the corner for home on the Genesis. A burnout just shy of the label and a bit of a harsher taste failed to wrap up an otherwise enjoyable cigar, although it appears it may have been just a rough patch that I hit, as an enjoyable, creamy smoke appeared in the final draws. Lasting notes of a slighty salted caramel stayed with me after I’d finished the cigar.

My rating for the Alec Bradley Tempus Genesis is 86.

Here's the points breakdown:

I. Appearance & Construction: 14 pts ( 93% of the points possible)

II. Flavor: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)

III. Smoking Characteristics: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)

IV. Overall Impression: 29 pts (83% of the points possible)

Overall, an enjoyable cigar, one that I would return to although not in this current size. The Centurion , with a slightly larger ring gauge and a long, 7” length, seemed to expose more of the better qualities of this cigar, which has consistently earned good marks. While starting strong, the remainder of the ride wasn’t as fulfilling as I had hoped. There was a brief moment of bitterness that disappointed me, and the cigar never exposed me to some of the flavor notes that I seemed to remember from other sizes of the same blend. A well-blended medium bodied cigar that should earn at least your consideration and a trial purchase, if not a few spaces in your humidor.

Cigar Review – Cohiba XV – Part 3

This is the third in a 4-Part Series of reviews dedicated to exploring a single cigar size across each of the Cohiba brands offered by General Cigar. As it happens, it’s robustos that we’re sampling from all four lines of Cohiba.

This extensive survey is made possible by Victoria McKee, Director of Public Relations at General Cigar Company.

Featured this time is the Cohiba XV 550, a robusto we received from General Cigar back in May of this year. The XV stands for Extra Vigoroso.

Vitola: Robusto
Origin: Dominican Republic
Length: 5”
Ring Gauge: 50
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero and Piloto Cubano Ligero
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra (SG)
Strength: Medium-to-Full
MSRP: $215.80 (box of 20)
Average online price: $169

Produced at the General Cigar Dominicana factory, the Cohiba XV 550 features a gorgeous, rich-looking wrapper with plenty of that heady aroma of thorough fermentation. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 84 (Oct, 2007).

From the manufacturer’s website:

In response to the rising demand for fuller-flavored cigars, cigar master Daniel Nuñez set out to create an extension of the successful COHIBA line. The result is COHIBA XV, an Extra Vigoroso cigar made with all the inspiration and dedication to quality that have made COHIBA one of the most respected premium brands in the country.

The most distinctive leaf of a COHIBA XV cigar is its sun-grown Sumatra wrapper from Ecuador. Harvested only from the tops of the tobacco plants, each of these wrapper leaves is aged in tercio for three years. The flavor is then enhanced by aging all of the leaves again for six months in crates of fragrant cedar. In crafting COHIBA XV cigars, the most flavorful Nicaraguan Ligero and Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero are bound with the richest three-year-old Connecticut Broadleaf. The result is a cigar that is made, not only to please, but also to impress.

Following Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) ten of our club’s members took part in the tasting survey for this review.

First impressions of the wrapper were: dark, rich, and velvety-looking! Only a couple of the cigars displayed minor visual imperfections. As is evident by our high scoring of Part I (below) this is one well-crafted beauty.

Similar to the high quality appearance, most of these XV’s drew effortlessly. Fortunately, only a couple faltered by drawing too tight, and as one club member put it, “…really held the cigar back.” Likewise for combustion; a few didn’t burn very well, but most did just fine. There were no issues with regard to the ash that could be considered detrimental.

The flavors were a bit of a mixed bag for our group of tasters. A couple guys found their cigars growing harsh mid-way through, a couple found the XV mediocre, and six of us classified it as ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’. Tasting notes ranged from hickory to dark chocolate and coffee.

After throwing out the highest and lowest, then averaging the remaining scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Cohiba XV 550 is 85. A ‘very good' cigar.

Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 14 pts (93% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 29 pts (83% of the points possible)

Strangely, as fondly as many of us reported liking the Cohiba XV, it didn’t score phenomenally high. Not to be dismissed, however, a rating in the mid-eighties is a high accolade indeed. Too often these days, a cigar buyer’s first instinct is to only shop for cigars rated 90 or higher, which has it’s own share of controversy, but that’s a discussion for another day. In any event, we do recommend that you give it a try and see for yourself.

To recap the first two Cohibas, which scored as followed:
89 for the Cohiba (Classic) Robusto.
84 for the Cohiba Puro Dominicana Robusto.
…it is apparent that our group prefers the standard Cohiba line – so far! There is one more to go after all.

Check back here in the coming weeks for the fourth and final post on the Cohiba Black Tubo Crystal – again in robusto size.

And speaking of Cohibas, visit your local cigar shop soon for the latest Cohiba offer! General Cigar's Cohiba Lifestyle contest, which will be exclusive to brick and mortar stores, features a Buy 3 Get 1 Free pack of Cohiba cigars. You’ll also be able to enter a drawing in which the grand prize will be the ultimate dream vacation in a private jet for one customer and six friends, with a total prize value of $75,000.

Credit to Cigar World

© 2009 The Cohiba Club - All rights reserved.

The Cohiba Club Membership Policy

Because we've been asked by many guys in past months, it's time to publicly state our membership admission policy.

We started out (in the Spring of 2007) as merely a collection of friends. Additional friends of current members are still admitted occasionally, when openings arise, with only modest screening and limited concensus needed for admission to be granted.

The following is intended for outside parties whom are not known to the club. Fortunately, it's not complicated - only three aspects of it exist:

1. Opening
This may sound obvious, but it's worth mentioning because of the simple reality that there are not always openings for new members. This is due to the fact that the club's founders sought early on to keep the club from growing too large. Instead, quality members forming a cohesive unit is more desirable than massive numbers. So from time-to-time, the founders may announce an opening and take applicants under consideration.

Another reason for limitting the membership count is the nature of our herf structure. We often hold our monthly gatherings at our own residences. We take turns hosting the group. Simply, too large a group makes this difficult to accomodate. Other times, we occasionally dine together at local restaurants and have found that even our group of twelve can sometimes make it challenging to get a reservation, let alone the trouble we'd have if we were 25 or 50 in number.

2. Application
A formal application must be submitted. A document exists, to be completed by applicants, that is made available upon request. It provides the club's founders an opportunity to learn a bit about an applicant; attributes such as cigar experience & preferences, hobbies, interests, background, etc.

3. Introduction
Applicants will be permitted (and required) to attend two herfs as a 'guest', to meet the members, and to allow the founders to assess the applicant's compatibility with the culture of the club. This last step is no less critical than the preceding requirements, for a good fit of personality must be determined prior to formal and permanent admission into the club. This is necessary to protect, not only the well-being of the club, but the interests of the applicant as well.

As our members will attest, joining The Cohiba Club is a meaningful and worthwhile endeavor due, in large part, to the quality of its members. These deliberate, mandatory steps will ensure our original goal of maintaining the strength of a viable and active club for many years to come.

On behalf of Co-Founders Robert and John,

--Fernand

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Update - 10/26/09

From club member Patrick:

"Being a part of the club has been absolutely wonderful and is everything and more that I hoped it would be when I first contacted you almost a year ago, and it is directly attributed to the great guys who compose the membership. I hope you and all the guys know how much I appreciate and look forward to the herfs and the great food, cigars and conversation that come along with them."

Cigar Review – Avo Signature Belicoso

by club charter member Joe

Another in our ongoing series of reviews of cigars given to us by the good folks at Cigars Direct. Featured this time is the Avo Signature Belicoso which we received back in May of this year.

Vitola: Figurado
Origin: Dominican Republic
Length: 6”
Ring Gauge: 48
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Wrapper: Ecuador
Strength: Medium
MSRP: $12.80

Produced by OK Cigar Corp., it features a gorgeous Ecuadorian wrapper and a straight forward torpedo shape. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 88 (Aug, 2007).

Following Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) I sat down to rate this cigar while enjoying a glass of summer ale.

Though obviously well-made, my cigar had a crack running upwards from the foot about 3/4 of an inch. The draw was pretty good, as was the amount of smoke produced. The burn got slightly uneven, but never out-of-hand.

Flavors started out a little woody & dry, but warmed to a nice sweetness, before it began to spice up a bit in the second half.

My rating for the Avo Signature Belicoso is 84. A very good cigar.
Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 12 pts (80% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 20 pts (80% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 31 pts (89% of the points possible)

As you can see by the overall impression score, this cigar was actually quite enjoyable despite some of the cosmetic or performance shortcomings of this particular stick and I look forward to more of these wonderful cigars.

Thanks again to Cigars Direct for allowing me to try this very high quality cigar!

© 2009 The Cohiba Club - All rights reserved.