Herf 32 - The Vertigo Effect

February 7th, 2010 – Seattle, WA

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

This herf marked our first (hopefully of many) to be held at The Vertigo Club. Clubmember, and official club tobacconist, John (also a Vertigo member) was kind enough to host is there for this splendid evening.

The dining portion of this herf differed from our usual approach. Instead of one of us hosting a home-cooked meal or dining out together at a local restaurant, we each brought hors d'œuvres to The Vertigo Club, potluck style.

Our selection for this herf was the Illusione Epernay La Ferme. This robusto was our Cigar of the Week back on December 21st. Recently named the #19 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado, the La Ferme holds a current published rating of 92 (Dec, 2009).

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting while also enjoying some Elysian winter ale and Aberlour Scotch whiskey.

Upon initial examination of these Epernay’s looked beautiful; few defects noted. The wrapper texture was smooth and uniform, with skillfully applied caps and only the slightest bumps or rough veins detected. Typical Illusione quality shone through in this attractive example of how cigars premium should be crafted.

Most of these cigars drew and burned pretty well. A couple drew a little tight and a couple burned a little crooked. Most of us had to perform a re-light or two along the middle portion and into the final third, but it wasn’t enough to be a nuisance.

The flavors were mild and enjoyable right off the bat. Floral notes and pleasant, woody flavors dominated with subtle complexities abundant to keep things interesting through the first third. The middle third saw things simplify a bit, which one of our tasters described as monotone. Fortunately, the final third brought back some richness and complexity that once again brought our attention back to this very captivating blend. A few of us did record brief periods of a slightly bitter, citrus sort of character that was not dominant, and fortunately gave way to eventual savory and rich.

The volume of smoke produced sufficient, for the most part. We would liked to have seen the ash a bit more stable, but in all honesty, that’s being a bit picky.

After throwing out the highest and lowest, then averaging the remaining scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Illusione Epernay La Ferme is 90. An outstanding 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: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 32 pts (91% of the points possible)

What an easy recommendation to make. This cigar was never overpowering, making it an alluring choice for fans of mild-to-medium strength sticks. Anyone yet to experience an Epernay should add this to their ‘must-try’ list.

Thanks to John of J&J Cigars for giving us such a good deal on these sticks and for hosting us in an unparalleled environment as The Vertigo Club. It was truly a pleasure!

See you at the next herf, March 7th.

© 2010 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Gift Review – CAO Criollo Conquistador

Another in our ongoing series of occasional reviews of cigars given to us as gifts. Featured this time is the CAO Criollo “Conquistador”, given to me by club Charter member Pat back in December of ‘08.

Vitola: Figurado
Origin: Nicaragua
Length: 6 1/8"
Ring Gauge: 52
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
MSRP: $8.85

Produced by CAO International of Nashville, this Nicaraguan puro features a dark, rich looking Cuban-seed wrapper and a skillfully tapered torpedo shape. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 88 (June, 2004).

As is typical with our reviews, I followed CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression). In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that I actually conducted this tasting back in October of ‘09. The holiday season has been busy so I’m just getting around to this posting.

With a severe conical-shaped head, it appeared very well-shaped. The wrapper was toothy like a coarse sandpaper. Unfortunately, there were some unsightly ridges beneath the wrapper. The draw was a little firm for my liking, but manageable. The ability of this cigar to burn is where things soon went downhill. Also the smoke produced was a bit thin, undoubtedly due to the firm draw.

The flavor started out woody and sweet like hickory chips then it changed to a slightly more pungent cedar with a bit of silage (fermented grain). The second half showed stages of bitterness.

Getting back to the burn, it was nothing short of atrocious. The constant relighting and coaxing was an incredible drag.

My rating for the CAO Criollo Conquistador is 78.
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: 17 pts (68% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 27 pts (77% of the points possible)

All in all, a very demanding effort just to keep the cigar going; which really hurt the experience. Too bad because there was definitely some complexity to the flavors which probably warrant a second try.

Thanks Pat, for the Christmas gift!

© 2010 The Cohiba Club - All rights reserved.

Cigar Review – Room 101 Robusto "305"

This is the first in a new series of reviews of cigars given to us by J&J Cigars of Shoreline. We're very pleased to have this relationship with such a fine tobacconist and are looking forward to reviewing many great cigars from his vast stock in the months ahead. Featured this time is the Room 101 “305”.

Vitola: Robusto
Origin: Honduras
Length: 5”
Ring Gauge: 50
Filler: Honduras, Dom. Rep.
Binder: Honduras
Wrapper: Semilla 101 (Honduras)
Strength: Medium
Price: $7.50

Produced by Camacho Cigars for brand owner Matt Booth, it features a dark, rich looking wrapper called Semilla 101 selected just for this cigar. Musician and accessory apparel designer, Booth also crafts sheik cigar cutters and lighters clad in sterling silver; among other luxury items.

Conducting this review was Cohiba Club Charter Member Joe and fellow club members Bruce and Peter. As is our usual method for reviewing and rating cigars, they followed Cigar Aficionado's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression).














With a sturdy looking parejo shape, the appearance is initially pleasing to the eye. The head’s cap did look a little rough around it’s circumference. The texture was a tad dry to the touch, but smooth, and no offending veins were observed. The only troublesome attribute may have been a few soft spots or voids detected beneath this pretty wrapper.

The draw was very free flowing, in fact too fast on a couple of these sticks. The burn was mostly even and needed little or no re-lights along the way. One upside of the fast draw was voluminous smoke it produced. The ash was very stable, holding on for an impressive length.

The flavor for Pete and Bruce was mostly woody, a little dry, giving way to some bitterness near the end. Joe, on the other hand, found it beginning rich and dark in character, then mellowing as he got into the middle portion. He added that there were some intermittent fruity tones at one point. The three of them experience quite a bit of variation in their tasting impressions, with assessments ranging from ‘average’ to ‘very good’. Clearly the difference in palates was showing through here.

After averaging their scores, our rating for the Room 101 “305” is 84.
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: 21 pts (84% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 29 pts (83% of the points possible)

In the final analysis, this cigar inspired a mixed response. One of our tasters liked it, the other two (these guys grade tough) need to try more before making up their minds. Good advice, indeed – for all of us!
Head over to J&J Cigars in Shoreline and pick up a few.

Thanks to John of J&J for giving us the opportunity to review this intriguing cigar!

Photo credit to Room 101 Cigars.

© 2010 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Herf 31 – Welcome Back, Jak!

January 3rd, 2010 – Snoqualmie, WA

In attendance were Fernand, Robert, John L., Joe, Bruce, Patrick (remotely), Peter, John D., and Daniel (10-7ha). As usual, we gathered to enjoy a recently recommended cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group-tasting' following dinner.

Seven of the nine of us had dinner at Jak’s in Issaquah on the way to the herf. If you’ve never visited this house of beef, you are missing out on one of the true pleasures in life; ranking right up there with cigars, naturally. Just walking through the door virtually guaranties you one of the best meat experiences you may ever encounter. Best of all, you will leave with not only your appetite fully satiated, but also your wallet mostly intact. The popular dish of the night was their signature Cowboy Rib-Eye with Potato Pancakes. Incredible!

Our selection for this herf was the Xikar HC Habano Colorado Belicoso. This figurado was our Cigar of the Week back on December 7th. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for the HC is 92 (June, 2009). With dinner behind us, it was time to head down the freeway a few exits to Snoqualmie Casino.

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we settled in at Lit Lounge to begin this tasting, enjoying the respite from the cold weather herfs we’d been having during the previous months.

Upon initial examination of these HCs, a few of us immediately notice cracked wappers. Most were about an inch long and near the foot. The texture was toothy, velvety with a very nice roll quality featuring a skillfully tapered head. The veins that did jump out at us were moderate at worst. Only a couple of our nine samples were without flaws, unfortunately, which leaves one wondering about the state of Xikar’s quality control.

Most of these cigars drew and burned pretty well. A couple, however, drew too tight and needed continuous touch-ups or even re-lights. The quality of smoke and ash varied considerably, with some producing little or thin smoke along with ash that flaked and fell without warning. About half performed beautifully while the others were pretty poor.

The flavors were mild and enjoyable to start off, with very easy-going, mostly woody flavors. The first third seems to have faired the best, ultimately, with smooth, creamy impressions across our group of nine tasters. Some of us began to sense a little driness through the middle. A couple of us found slight notes of chocolate or vanilla bean, but not much more. The latter portion of these sticks seemed to get a little bitter for most of us. The common theme that resulted for our group was one of being underwhelmed. It just didn’t give us enough in the flavor department to consider trying it again.

After throwing out the highest and lowest, then averaging the remaining scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the HC Habano Colorado Belicoso is 80. A good, but not great, cigar.

Here's the points breakdown:

I. Appearance & Construction: 12 pts (80% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 20 pts (80% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 20 pts (80% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 28 pts (80% of the points possible)

At the end of the night our experience with this cigar was a bit off from the 92 awarded by CA. Actually, in all honesty, a couple of us did have that experience, but the majority did not. Most of us were left wanting more. Still, a very enjoyable evening spent in the company of friends! What's not to like.

Many thanks to Josh and his staff at Lit Lounge for catering to our every need! The humidor showcases many fine brands and the bar is well-stocked. You’ll be greeted with a friendly face and every effort will be made to ensure your comfort.

See you at the next herf, February 7th.

Photo credit to Daniel of 10-7ha.

© 2010 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Herf Cigar of the Year for 2009

Here at The Cohiba Club, we do our COTY at little differently. Instead of arbitrarily picking what we think is the the best cigar from the vast number of available prospects, we make our selection from the cigars jointly enjoyed at our herfs, held during the past calendar year.

For this past year, that means we went back and looked at the results from Herfs 20 through 30. Yes, that's only eleven herfs for the last 12 months. We weren't able to hold one in July because too many members were out-of-town for the July Fourth holiday weekend.

The cigars considered for 2009 were as follows (with our ratings for each):

Casa Magna Gran Toro (88) – herf 20
Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label Lancero (83) – herf 21
Oliva Serie V Lancero a score (85) – herf 21
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Legend Challenger (82) – herf 22
Vegas Cubanas Robusto (89) – herf 22
LG Diez 2008 Chisel Puro (88) – herf 23
Pinar Del Río Habano Sun-Grown Double-Corona (83) – herf 24
Cabaiguan Guapos Junior (90) – herf 25
Rocky Patel Decade Robusto (93) – herf 26
601 Maduro Toro (86) – herf 27
Don Carlos No. 3 (88) – herf 28
Ambos Mundos Habano Robusto (84) – herf 29
Padilla Signature 1932 Torpedo (89) – herf 30

That's 13 cigars for 11 herfs because, as you can see, two of the herfs (21 & 22) featured two cigars pitted against each other in a blind tasting format.

After much deliberation, the winning cigar chosen by the club's founders is...









This cigar won not just because of it's high rating of 93 (averaged from our group of tasters at herf #26, but also because on looking back upon what we thought of that Decade, it was plainly obvious to us that there simply weren't many deductions one could make of that cigar. Thus it was unanimous that our Cigar of the Year is the Rocky Patel Decade Robusto. A great cigar indeed, and if you haven't tried one yet, get crackin'.

Honorable Mention goes to:

Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label Lancero (herf 21)
Cabaiguan Guapos Junior (herf 25)
Padilla Signature 1932 Torpedo [1st Gen., by Pepin] (herf 30)

All great cigars, deserving of our praise. What a great year of cigars, 2009. One can only imagine the year of great cigars ahead.

2010, here we come! We can't wait to see what you've got in store for us...

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.