Our Top 3 Cigars for 2008

It's that time of year. Everyone is releasing their best-of results for cigars smoked in 2008.

Not to be outdone, the founders of The Cohiba Club have gone back and taken a look at the cigars featured at our monthly herfs to pick the best-of-the-best for this past year.

The Cohiba Club's Top 3 Cigars for 2008
(in chronological order)

From Herf #12 - Oliva Serie V Torpedo

Figurado

NICARAGUA

Rated 94 by Cigar Aficionado

LENGTH: 6"

RING GAUGE: 56

FILLER: Nicaragua

BINDER: Nicaragua

WRAPPER: Nicaragua

$6.75

The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Oliva Serie V Torpedo is 90. An outstanding cigar.

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

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

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

Overall Impression: 31 pts (89% of the points possible)

From Herf #13 - Rocky Patel Decade Torpedo

Figurado
HONDURAS
Rated 95 by Cigar Aficionado

LENGTH: 6 1/2"
RING GAUGE: 52
FILLER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Ecuador
$10.50

The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Rocky Patel Decade Torpedo is 91. An outstanding cigar.

Appearance & Construction: 14 pts (93% of the points possible)
Flavor: 23 pts (92% of the points possible)
Smoking Characteristics: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
Overall Impression: 32 pts (91% of the points possible)

From Herf #17 - Alec Bradley Tempus ‘Centuria’

Churchill

HONDURAS
Rated 94 by Cigar Aficionado

LENGTH: 7"
RING GAUGE: 49
FILLER: Nicaragua, Honduras
BINDER: Indonesia
WRAPPER: Honduras
$8.25

The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Alec Bradley Tempus ‘Centuria’ churchill is 91. An outstanding cigar.
Appearance & Construction: 13 pts (87% of the points possible)
Flavor: 23 pts (92% of the points possible)
Smoking Characteristics: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
Overall Impression: 33 pts (94% of the points possible)

Herf #20 - A One-Two Punch

January 4th, 2009 - Snoqualmie, WA

In attendance were Fernand, Robert, John, Pat, and Joe. As usual, we gathered to enjoy a good cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group tasting' following dinner.

The five of us dined at Jak’s steakhouse in Issaquah, where the steaks were downright unbeatable! Punch number one. The great food was paired with wine, Scotch and a couple beers, before heading over to the “Lit” lounge inside the newly opened Snoqualmie Casino. Our first time there, this '2nd punch' of the night proved to be a knockout; a superb place to conduct the cigar tasting session and continue the evening’s relaxation and camaraderie.
(excuse the dark photos)

Our selection for this Herf was the Casa Magna Gran Toro. A nice, fat parejo measuring 6 inches long by a whopping 56 ring guage. This Casa Magna is the big brother to the robusto that was Cigar of the Week back on December 1st which received a 92 from Cigar Aficionado's expert tasting panel.

Made by Nestor Plascencia in Esteli, Nicaragua, this cigar’s beautiful colorado wrapper had a consistent appearance and a smooth texture; very well-crafted indeed. The overall roll quality was as good as any we’ve seen.

The cigars all drew easily, well one of them drew a bit too easily, but there were no construction issues to speak of. Everyone quickly commented on what a pleasurable flavor profile it started out with. Adequate amounts of smoke were produced and the ashes were mostly stable and rather light in color. The cigars burned true and even, though a couple did require touch-ups toward the end.

The flavors were consistent the whole way through, but not particularly inspiring by the end of the night. A clearly identifiable 'leather' flavor was predominate for most of us. There was perhaps a bit of wood in there as well, with a smooth and tasty finish that was easy going.

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting. This proved to be a pretty well-liked cigar among our group of tasters.

After averaging our scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Casa Magna Gran Toro is 88. An excellent cigar.

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: 31 pts (89% of the points possible)

All in all, a very enjoyable cigar which we highly recommend.
See you at the next herf, January 31st.

--Update: 10jan09--
No, we didn't know about Cigar Aficionado's choice for Cigar of the Year (2008) when we selected this herf cigar, nor when we smoked it; not even when we posted this herf report.
--Fernand

Herf #19 - Not Ready Yet

December 7th, 2008 - Shoreline, WA

In attendance were Fernand, Pat, Joe, and Tom. As usual, we had gathered to enjoy a good cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group tasting' following dinner. This was a scaled-down herf, a little more informal than usual, after we decided to postpone our Snoqualmie Casino visit due to several of the members having travel conflicts. So we opted to settle for the low-key alternative of sitting under Fernand’s patio heater.

We ordered a big meat-zza from Pagliacci and washed it down with some of Joe’s excellent home brew, an IPA. Next we were off to Fernand's back patio where Pat provided hot buttered rums for us to sip. This was the perfect compliment to the patio heater for keeping us comfortable on a cool December evening in Seattle (and went well with the cigar too, of course).

Our selection for this Herf was the San Cristobal “Francisco”. This corona (distributed by Ashton) measures 5 1/2 inches long with a ring guage of44. It was Cigar of the Week back on October 20th, 2008 which received a 90 from Cigar Aficionado's expert tasting panel. They list for $7.25, but we got ours for about $6.50.

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

The corona size seemed the perfect choice for a winter herf. Right off, we noticed how tightly packed it appeared to be for a relatively small cigar. The exterior attributes appeared very-well crafted. The dark Corojo wrapper was beautiful! Once cut, all agreed that each cigar’s draw was rather firm (tight).

The first puffs packed a punch, then calmed down. Flavors were leathery and woody. A very dark-roasted, often bitter coffee bean flavor was dominant with smoked wood backing it up. Unfortunately, this was about all it amounted to.

The cigars did burn wonderfully, but the smoke was a bit thin – no doubt a product of the tight draw. The ash wasn’t exactly the most stable we’ve seen either, falling repeatedly and catching us unawares.

The Francisco, as we experienced it, seems a little young. It’s fairly bitter, a little sour, almost metallic at times, and not really any sweetness to speak of. Perhaps, if the cigars were aged for some time, and these flavors mellowed and refined a bit, the richness would be able to shine through untainted.

After averaging our scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the San Cristobal ‘Francisco’ corona is 87. A good cigar… with potential.

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: 20 pts (80% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 30 pts (86% of the points possible)

Incidentally, I had another Francisco, alone, a few days following this herf and experienced a very nice draw. The same flavors were present, however, thus reinforcing our group’s observations above. I’ll stand by my recommendation for additional aging.
--FR

Cigar Review - Ashton ESG Robusto

by club co-founder John

Another in our ongoing series of reviews of cigars given to us by the fine folks at Cigars Direct. Featured this time is the Ashton ESG (Estate Sun Grown) Robusto given to us in November 2008.

Vitola: Robusto

Origin: Dominican Republic

Length: 5.25

Ring Gauge: 52

Filler: Dom. Rep.

Binder: Dom. Rep.

Wrapper: Sun Grown Rosado from D.R.

Strength: Med.-Full

Price: $25.00

Produced by Tabacalera A.Fuente y Cia, it features a rich looking rosado wrapper and a nicely constructed robusto shape. 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 Syrah Port and a cup of fresh coffee with my good friend Fernand on his back porch.

This cigar’s appearance got my attention right off the bat. It appeared well constructed, with a nice wrapper and a well-executed cap. I took off 2 points for minor blemishes and slight mottling of the wrapper near the foot.

It seemed firm throughout, in fact, I was a little worried that the draw would be too tight, but my concerns were soon allayed. I was very pleased with the roll (In general, I do prefer my cigars slightly tighter than some.)

The burn was also right on, with an easy light, a consistent burn throughout its length, producing plenty of smoke, and leaving a nice long and stable light grey ash.

The flavor was of a rich and creamy throughout. It started out a little sweet, wafting prune and molasses in the first third. Towards the second third, it eased into some leather and oak flavors, still very smooth, and finally ended by adding a little hint of pepper, but never too spicy or hot. In fact, the whole cigar was delicious, with subtle changes in flavor, and never overpowering. I’d say it was medium to full strength. The smoke itself was rich, plentiful, and silky, even towards the end. The flavors were complimented very nicely with the coffee and port.

This was one smooth and fine-flavored cigar. It was the kind of smoke that left me satisfied and without any lingering “taste bud hangover” half an hour later. My wife didn’t even voice the usual post cigar complaint when I climbed into bed…now if that’s not a good endorsement, I don’t know what is!

My rating for the Ashton ESG Robusto is 95.

Here's the points breakdown:

I. Appearance & Construction: 13 pts (87% of the points possible)

II. Flavor: 24 pts (96% of the points possible)

III. Smoking Characteristics: 24 pts (96% of the points possible)

IV. Overall Impression: 34 pts (97% of the points possible)

(click on images to enlarge)

© 2008 The Cohiba Club – All rights reserved.

Review – God of Fire by Carlito, Piramide 2006

This is the first in a new series of reviews of cigars given to us by the good folks at Cigars Direct. Featured this time is the God of Fire by Carlito, Piramide 2006.

Vitola: Torpedo

Origin: Dominican Republic

Length: 6 3/8”

Ring Gauge: 52

Filler: Dom. Rep.

Binder: Dom. Rep.

Wrapper: Cameroon

Strength: Medium-to-Full

Price: $285.95 (box of 10)

This cigar is produced in the Dominican Republic at Tabacalera A.Fuente y Cia. for Prometheus. It features a beautiful Cameroon wrapper and a skillfully executed torpedo shape.

God of Fire is the creation of Keith K. Park, founder and CEO of Prometheus International, Inc.; maker of fine lighters, humidors, and ashtrays. Keith’s start in the lighter business dates back to 1992, in partnership with his brother and father. He set off on his own in 1997 and first teamed up with Carlos Fuente Jr. (‘Carlito’) in 1999 on a special project to make a limited edition OpusX humidor.

In 2003 Keith and Carlito forged the idea of creating a line of cigars for Keith’s fast-growing Prometheus company. The God of Fire cigars come in only two blends, one designed by Carlito and the other by his father, Carlos Sr. Carlito’s blend is described as being the stronger of the two. Carlos Sr.’s blend of the 2005 vintage, in the robusto size, recently received a rating of 93 by Cigar Aficionado. This torpedo, the Piramide, is a new addition to the line, making it’s debut in the 2006 vintage, and in Carlito's blend.

(click on images to enlarge)

Two bands adorn the God of Fire cigars. The first and primary band depicts the Greek tale of Prometheus, punished by Zeus for giving fire to humans. The second band lists the vintage (the year the cigar was rolled) and also the name of the blender (Carlito or Carlos Sr.).

The current release boasts two years of aging, as is customary for the line, having been rolled in 2006 and held until this year to achieve a level of refinement rarely seen in these high-demand, fast-paced times. The benefit is obvious. The cigars regularly receive accolades, such as the “Best of the Best” award given by Robb Report back in June to the Double Robusto by Carlito.

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 Glenmorangie "Port Cask" Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The construction on this Fuente-made cigar is as good as any. The wrapper was smooth and shiny with a bit of tooth visible. The foot smelled of dark caramel. The pre-light draw added a tea character to the caramel. Only a slight modeled pattern in the wrapper, near the foot, detracted from it’s elegant appearance. To my great satisfaction, it drew and burned perfectly, so clearly roll quality was right on. This cigar produced a satisfying amount of smoke and the very white colored ash was one of the most stable I’ve seen in a long time, holding on for well more than 0ne and a half inches.

The flavor started out surprisingly smooth, no doubt indicative of the two years of aging. At the one-third mark, mild sense of coffee was soon joined by anise. At the half-way point, Carlito’s strength came to bear and the flavors intensified; the subtle anise now joined by leather. Never dry on the palate, it continued on like this to the end.

My rating for the God of Fire by Carlito, Piramide 2006 is 92.

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: 25 pts (100% of the points possible)

IV. Overall Impression: 31 pts (89% of the points possible)

It’s not every day you get an opportunity to experience a cigar rarity such as this. Fortuantely, Cigars Direct has the ten-count boxes and also convenient 5-packs. Get your hands on some while they’re still available.

© 2008 The Cohiba Club All rights reserved.

Herf #18 – Back to Basics

November 2nd, 2008 - Shoreline, WA

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

The nine of us dined at nearby Saltoro in Shoreline, where steaks and burgers were ordered all around. The great food was paired with wine, Scotch and a couple martinis, before heading over to John’s place to begin the tasting session and enjoy some much needed relaxation and camaraderie.

Our selection for this Herf was the Padron 6000 (natural). A sharp-tipped torpedo measuring 5 1/2 inches long with a ring guage of 52. This Padron was Cigar of the Week back on October 13th which received a 91 from Cigar Aficionado's expert tasting panel.

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting. This proved to be a very well-liked cigar among our group of tasters.

After averaging our scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Padron 6000 (Natural) Torpedo is 89. 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: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 31 pts (89% of the points possible)

Made by the Padron family in Nicaragua, this cigar’s wrapper had a consistent, yet robust look to it, indicative of solid craftsmanship. The roll quality was a display in art with a beautifully executed taper complimenting a moderate firmness throughout.

All but one of these cigars drew freely (a couple actually drew too freely) while one had a plug. Everyone quickly commented on how relatively mild this cigar seemed in comparison to some of our previous herf selections. Adequate amounts of smoke were produced and the ashes were mostly stable and rather light in color. The burn on our samples was mostly quite even, though a couple did require re-lights toward the end.

The flavors were pleasant, but not particularly inspiring. A basic ‘tobacco’ flavor was predominate for most of us. There was perhaps a bit of wood in there, with a smooth and easy finish that was somewhat on the dry side. Everyone agreed on it starting out mild and progressing to no more than medium strength and body.

All in all, a very enjoyable cigar which we highly recommend.
See you at the next herf, December 7th.

Cigar Bars - Victory Bar & Cigar

Victory Bar & Cigar

56 Shrewsbury St.

Worcester, MA 01604
(508) 756-4747

Club member Robert recently observed, "They ask that you purchase your cigars there. Have no fear, it has a top-shelf selections with reasonable prices. Even my favorite Don Pepin is well represented alongside Oliva, Davidoff, Ashton, CAO, Monte Cristo, Gurkha and H Upmann. Excellent beer and wine selection and the best smoke filters I've come across. Definitely stop by."

From their website:

When in Worcester, we invite you to discover our lounge and smoking rooms. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a premium hand rolled cigar with your favorite spirit. We guarantee a very comfortable environment and you will always receive a great value at the Victory Bar & Cigar in my home town of Worcester, Massachusetts. If I can be of service, please feel free to call or write anytime.
Sincerely, Mark W. Piscillo

www.victorycigarbar.com

Casa Fuente Cigars Revisited

Excerpted from "Desert Leaf " by Aaron Sigmond

The Casa Fuente cigar from A. Fuente -- exclusive in more ways than one. (click image to enlarge)

For most Fuente cigar enthusiasts, a visit to Las Vegas would be incomplete without venturing over to the world's only Casa Fuente, a trip itself incomplete without smoking at least one (one box, that is) of their favorite Casa Fuente "house" cigar.

What's more, the cigar is sold exclusively at the cigar bar and boutique; they don’t accept Web or phone orders. As managing partner Michael Frey told me when Casa Fuente first opened: "You either need to come here and buy them yourself, or have a friend in Vegas if you want the Casa Fuente cigars. Period. If not, then you're out of luck."

With a Cameroon wrapper and Dominican binder and filler, the cigar continues in the tradition of the Don Carlos and Ashton Heritage lines, albeit with some unique taste notes. It may take a little doing to get your hands on these sticks, but since they are available in a full seven sizes, once you do, there's most assuredly a size for you.

Belicoso fino: $23

Robusto: $21

Corona Gorda: $18

Double Robusto: $22

Churchill: $25

Double Corona: $28

Pyramid: $26

Credit to Cigar Report Daily

Gift Review – Padilla Series ’68 Torpedo

Another in our ongoing series of occasional reviews of cigars given to us as gifts. Featured this time is the Padilla Series ’68 Torpedo, given to me by club member Pat back in March.

Vitola: Torpedo
Origin: Honduras
Length: 6 1/8”
Ring Gauge: 52
Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo & Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo
Wrapper: Corojo
Strength: Medium to Full
Price: around $6.00

Produced for Padilla by Flores Tobacco in Honduras, it features a medium-colored Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper and a skillfully executed torpedo shape. The current Cigar Aficionado rating for it is 87.

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 glass of Bacardi 8 Rum.

Despite a few rough veins in the wrapper, it appeared very well-constructed. Unfortunately, the draw was way too tight. This affected the amount of smoke I was getting out of it, of course. I also found the ash a little on the darker side of grey, but it was stable enough.

It’s too bad I had so much trouble with the draw because the flavors were quite nice. An initial spice yielded to leather & wood, before the ending became peppery. All in all, however, it just wasn’t that great of a cigar smoking experience due to the draw being so tough.

My rating for the Padilla Series ’68 Torpedo is 81. Still a 'very good' 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: 19 pts (76% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 28 pts (80% of the points possible)

Herf #17 - Gentle Giant

October 5th, 2008 - Shoreline, WA

In attendance were Fernand, Pat, Joe , Tom, Peter, and Bruce. As usual, we gathered to enjoy a good cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group tasting' following dinner.

The six of us were treated to a very special dinner prepared by Fernand’s wife, Debra. It featured her famous bourbon glaze salmon, a tantalizing fruit-topped spinach salad, and a very creative sun-dried tomato and pepper couscous. There was not so much as a crumb left. Once everyone had their fill, it was time for the tasting session. Beverages included beer, wine, bourbon, port, and rum.

Our selection for this Herf was the Alec Bradley Tempus ‘Centuria’. A dark looking, sweet smelling churchill measuring 7 inches long with a ring guage of 49. This Alec Bradley was Cigar of the Week back on September 15th which received a 94 from Cigar Aficionado's expert tasting panel.

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting. This proved to be a very well-liked cigar among our group of tasters.

After averaging our scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the Alec Bradley Tempus ‘Centuria’ churchill is 91. An outstanding cigar.

Here's the points breakdown:
I. Appearance & Construction: 13 pts (87% of the points possible)
II. Flavor: 23 pts (92% of the points possible)
III. Smoking Characteristics: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 33 pts (94% of the points possible)

Made by Alan Rubin in Honduras, this cigar’s wrapper had a dark, well-aged look that gave off a sweet smell; rich from fermentation. The texture was smooth and velvety and the roll quality was firm and uniform across the group of our six samples.

These cigars drew perfectly. Everyone commented how it was just the way they liked it. Ample amounts of smooth smoke were produced. The ashes, however, could have been more stable and maybe even a little lighter in color. The burn was very even, though a few did require a couple re-lights as things progressed.

We all got some spice initially, but that soon calmed down nicely. The flavors were rich & meaty and the intensity would come and go. At one point I actually got the notion of meats over smoldering wood chips in a smoker with even a subtle garlic in there. Everyone kept commenting how smooth it was for such a full-bodied cigar.

All in all, a very enjoyable cigar which we highly recommend.
See you at the next herf, November 2nd.

Cigar Bars - The Occidental

The Occidental Cigar Club
471 Pine St

San Francisco, CA 94104

Phone: (415) 834-0485www.occidentalcigarclub.com

Cohiba Club co-founder Robert says,
"A great atmosphere and friendly regulars. Limited selection in the humidor, but very good scotches as well as other liquors, and an extensive wine list.
Don't worry about the limited cigar selection, Grant's Tobacconists has a great walk-in humidor just a short walk away at 562 Market St.
Bring your wallet, it's San Francisco."

Herf #16 – How Sweet It Is

September 7th, 2008 - Edmonds, WA

In attendance were Fernand, John, Pat, Tom, Peter, and Bruce. As usual, we gathered to enjoy a good cigar and give our opinion on it by holding a 'group tasting' following dinner.

The six of us devoured every last morsel of Pat’s home-made lasagna (heavy on the meat). Combined with salad and garlic bread, it was a meal just begging for a good after-dinner stogie. Once everyone had their fill, it was time for the tasting session. Beverages included beer, Syrah, Cognac, port, and Scotch.

Our selection for this Herf was the LA FLOR DOMINICANA LIGERO OSCURO L-250. A dark looking, sweet smelling robusto measuring 4 3/4 inches long with a ring guage of 48. This La Flor was Cigar of the Week back on August 18th which received a 90 from Cigar Aficionado's expert tasting panel.

Following CA's 4-part rating system (Appearance & Construction, Flavor, Smoking Characteristics, and Overall Impression) we began the tasting. This proved to be a very well-liked cigar among our group of tasters.

After averaging our scores, The Cohiba Club's official rating for the La Flor Dominicana L-250 robusto 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: 22 pts (88% of the points possible)
IV. Overall Impression: 32 pts (91% of the points possible)

With a dark, seductive-looking wrapper that gave off a sweet, rich smell, the anticipation was instant and unanimous. The wrappers may have been a little rough looking, but the roll quality was firm and uniform across the group of our samples.

These cigars drew perfectly. Everyone commented how it was just the way they liked it. Ample amounts of smooth smoke were produced and the ashes were quite stable. The burn was very even, for the most part, just wavering a bit (and requiring a couple re-lights) toward the end.

The flavor was tasty right away, sweet and rich, with a great balance of gentle spice and a background strength that came and went as we progressed. Though the label reads Ligero, we were all pleasantly surprised how smooth and easy smokin’ these cigars were. No one complained of excessive strength and most of these got pretty short, capping off a beautiful September evening.

All in all, a very enjoyable cigar which we highly recommend.
See you at the next herf, October 5th.