Archive for category Cigar Photographs

Hoyo de Monterrey Edicion Limitada 2003

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It is time for another ‘forbidden fruit.’ This week we are photographing and reviewing Hoyo de Monterrey Edicion Limitada 2003. Looking across HdM, this was the first and is one of the figurado shaped Edicion Limitadas.

From cubancigarwebsite
2000 – Edición Limitada – Grand Corona 47 x 235 (9.3″)
2003 – Edición Limitada – Pyramid 52 x 156 (6.1″)
2004 – Edición Limitada – Robusto Extra 50 x 141 (5.6″)
2007 – Edición Limitada – Corona Extra 46 x 137 (5.4″)
2011 – Edición Limitada – Petit Pyramid 46 x 135 (5.3″)



Visually, one is introduced to a relatively dark, aged for 2 years, oily wrapper with a lot of visible veins and seams. After clipping it, excellent draw. Considering inconsistency and construction problems, good draw in a cuban cigar puts a smile on my face. Great start ! Pleasing flavors right out of the gate. Enjoyable chocolate morphed into an espresso like taste. In addition, I was able to extract a bit of cinnamon, woodiness, and hints of sweetness on the lips. To balance it, there was a hint of spice / pepper, especially toward the end. Along with a great draw and a bit unexpected, thick, rich smoke that made photography session that much more enjoable. The burn line was a bit wavy at first but then corrected itself and progressed exceptionally well. The ash, as depicted below, was simply superb.


I absolutely enjoyed Hoyo de Monterrey Edicion Limitada 2003. Considering sweet chocolaty flavors, this cigar reminded me of Cohiba Genios and its maduro characteristics. I had couple samples of HdM EL ’03 couple years ago and recall similar experience. After reading latest reviews on this specimen, I was expecting a lot less flavors and strength. Although I agree with the latter, I believe that this pyramid is still packing quite a bit of flavor. If you can find singles or a box, I strongly recommend it.


Country of Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
Length: 6.1″
Ring: 52

Construction > Good
Burn > Great
Enjoy > Absolutely
Recommend > Absolutely
Buy > Absolutely


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Studio Tobac Exclusive Collection

This week we are photographing, not reviewing, the latest project from Studio Tobac’s stable – ‘Exclusive Collection.’ I was gifted this sampler by Ian Hummel – Oliva’s Regional Sales Manager couple weeks ago at the Big Smoke in NYC. The concept of the Exclusive Collection was born during Studio Tobac’s Executive Board meeting at the IPCPR. There were 500 boxes made. The Exclusive Collection is shipping now and will be offered to the top Studio Tobac retailers in the US – $120 per box MSPR. The box itself contains 9 cigars: 4 x Cain F lancero, 4 x Cain Daytona lancero, 1 x Culebra.



Cain Daytona lancero (* Nicarguan Cigar of the Year by the European Cigar Journal)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Jalapa ligero
Length: 7″
Ring: 38

Cain F lancero
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 7″
Ring: 38

Culebra – a special, custom blend exclusive to the Collection.



Please consider the following post:
* Oliva Cain F lancero
* Studio Tobac Tour

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God of Fire Serie B

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! Giveway !

Leave a comment (no rules) and be eligible for one 3-pack of God of Fire Serie B (robusto gordo). Deadline – 11:59pm EST on 12DEC. Random selection and announcement will take place on 13DEC. Perfect Holiday Gift !!!

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This week we are photographing and reviewing a God of Fire Serie B (robusto gordo 54), a product released through collaborative effort between Keith K. Park of Prometheus and Carlos Fuente Jr. Serie B will be available this holiday season in two vitolas: robusto gordo (54×5.5″ – $22 msrp) and gran toro (56×6″ – $24 msrp). Release quantity – 10,000 each. God Of Fire Serie B line, produced in Dominican Republic at Tabacalera A.Fuente y Cia, will come in two different blends.

GOF Serie B ‘Robusto Gordo 54’ is using an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper. GOF Serie B ‘Gran Toro’ is using a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. We have released two Serie B vitolas for this holiday season. In 2012, we will be adding couple more sizes to the Serie B line. – Keith K. Park



Similarly to the God of Fire by Carlito 2007 review, the overall presentation of God of Fire Serie B ‘robusto gordo 54’ was near perfection. That goes for the box design, packaging and band story. There is a bit of a departure when it comes to cigar’s construction though. If I was to compare visual presentation and construction of the GOF Serie B (robusto gordo 54) to the GOF by Carlito 2007, I would identify the former as “bold / edgy” and the latter as “refined / smooth.” GOF Serie B ‘robusto gordo 54’, as stated above, was sporting a thick, rugged looking, Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper with plenty of thick veins and clearly visible seams. After clipping it, easily detectable peppery spice on a cold and free flowing draw. In flavor department, I was able to extract the following: earthiness, woodiness, black pepper and hints of sweetness on the tip of the tongue and lips. The Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper triggered sharp increase in the strength department. Retrohale was an experience in itself. Ash, although not as good as GOF by Carlito 2007, was still holding-on fairly long and needed couple extra taps to fall off. Burn line from the beginning to the end was a bit wavy on the first smoked sample but perfect on the second.


This was surely an interesting and a bit unexpected experience. I always thought of God of Fire cigars as smooth, refined, etc. That was not the case with GOF Serie B ‘robusto gordo 54.’ The latest project is edgy, bold with “dark / deep” flavors. If you are a God of Fire follower and always wanted a similar experience with an extra kick, don’t look any further. Having said that, what also comes along with Serie B is a familiar price tag ($22 / $24 depending on vitola). I was very pleased with GOF by Carlito 2007 and its price tag didn’t scare me away. I don’t think I feel the same about Serie B ‘robusto gordo 54.’ Your mileage may vary ! Perhaps for me, it was the Ecuadorian Sun Grown finish that put a spin on the experience. I understand that my fellow photographer / blogger (Brooks from smokingstogie.com) enjoyed his ‘Gran Toro’ with Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper quite a bit. I have a soft spot for Connecticut Broadleaf so for now, I’m looking forward to trying the Gran Toro !


Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Length: 5.5″
Ring: 54

Construction > Decent
Burn > Good
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes



* DISCLAIMER: God of Fire Serie B cigars were gifted by Keith K. Park of Prometheus. Keith’s generosity had no impact on the actual experience.

Please consider the following post:
* God of Fire by Carlito 2007

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Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘Feral Flying Pig’ – prerelease

This week we are photographing and smoking the latest project out of the Drew Estate stable – a pre-release of Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘Feral Flying Pig’ (FFP). This is a follow-up, in my eyes, to the successful ‘Flying Pig’ (FP) project which was photographed and reviewed by cigarphoto.net as well (No9T52). Although both versions of the FP have received plenty of accolades, many, including yours truly, have expressed a constructive feedback regarding “ergonomics” and the size of the cigar. I’m not sure whether that feedback was considered or the follow-up project was already in motion, I am, however, pleased to see Drew Estate’s reaction and increase in the FFP’s length.

Let me be clear about the Feral Flying Pig (and any Flying Pig Family for that matter) in regard to aging. The Feral Flying Pig is the VERY BEST PIG we have ever done and quite possibly the very best cigar we have ever made (in my opinion of course). These will only get better with age, and might, just might, become an all time classic with a year or two on them. – Jonathan Drew

In my opinion this is by far and away the best Flying Pig blend – the taste and proportions are just perfect. They will be more expensive having just looked over the final cost, but I think those who are fans of this oddball will feel like they got a better value when they buy a box of these. The blend is so righteous we are right now working the tobacco schedule to see if there is anyway to make the FFP an ongoing vitola even if it is in a really limited capacity. First batch in late November – it will be released in waves of about 800 – 1000 boxes a month for the next 4 months or so as they age/taste right. We have decided to NOT make this a one-time batch release like the previous FP releases – rather we will continue to make it in small lots like we do Dirty Rats. – Steve Saka



Conceptually, the FFP looked very much like the FP: perfecto on steroids with a sexy pigtail. If you had a pleasure of enjoying the FP No9 and appreciated the wrapper and construction, you will definitely not be disappointed with the FFP. Work of art without seams and no visible veins ! In the FP T52 review I’ve noted extremely toothy wrapper and in the FP No9 review, “silky” smooth wrapper. Although Jonathan Drew had stated that FFP is wrapped in the No9 capa, I found its texture to be similar to the FP T52 – very toothy. After clipping the head, perfectly flowing draw. In flavor department, notes of wood / cedar at the beginning with a touch of chocolate / sweetness in the middle and increase in flavors toward the end. Definitely spicy / peppery finish on the palate, especially on retrohale. Although there was a decent amount of flavors in the FFP, in my personal opinion, most were muted compared to the FP No9. However, when it comes to the strength and the kick, the FFP shined like a glowing star ! This cigar had some kahunas. Full Stop !!! As mentioned in all previous Liga Privada reviews and as expected, the FPP produced an incredible amount of thick smoke. The burn line was top notch as depicted below. Ash, as with both FPs, could not have been any better.


Overall, another successful release from folks at the Drew Estate. If you are into big ring gauges, have enjoyed FPs (both flavor profile and shape) and appreciate an extra strength kick, I see FFP flying (* literally) off the shelf like its predecessors. After appreciating all three FPs, I’m still partial to the FP No9. I believe there is a bit more flavor and a bit less strength in the FP No9 and that combination agrees more with my palate.


** Thanks to Charlie Minato from thecigarfeed.com for w/b/f confirmation.

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5 3/8″
Ring: 60

Construction > Great
Burn > Great
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes



Please consider the following post:
* Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’
* Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’
* Liga Privada No9 ‘Flying Pig’

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Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’

This week we are photographing and smoking one of the latest projects out of the Drew Estate stable – Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40.’ This long time coming lancero has been dreamed and talked about in many cigar lounge circles. Looking horizontally and vertically across Liga Privada brand, including core as well as Unico Serie, a lancero was the next logical, in my opinion, project to be tackled by the creative minds of the Drew Estate. As per cigar spec sheet located on the Drew Estate blog, ‘L40’ refers to the slightly larger ring size than your typical lancero. The additional girth was necessary to accommodate the desired blend of 5 tobaccos. The ‘L40’ recipe was in development for 2+ years prior to release.


One has to appreciate the look of the full box of Liga Privada. The ‘L40’ lancero is not any different. Fifteen well rolled, shiny, oily, veinless, full of aroma cigars are gracing the Unico Serie box. The selected specimen had few visible seams but overall excellent construction and well applied cap. After clipping it, excellent draw. There is nothing more annoying than plugged and excessively soft lancero, fortunately ‘L40’ had scored highly against those two requirements. In flavor department, a spice bomb out of the gate on the first few puffs. Definitely black pepperish lingering in the back of the throat. Mixed with the spice were hints of coffee, chocolate and clearly noticeable (periodically) sweetness. That intense spice level had cooled off in the second / third part of the cigar. Toward the end, coffee / chocolaty / sweet flavors were replaced with wood and cedar. Burn line was relatively acceptable, considering it was lancero. It was wavy but no manual intervention was required. Ash – surprisingly flake-less but DIRTY and when I say dirty, I mean exactly that. The color of the ash looked like someone dipped the tip of the cigar in the mud. Having said that, who cares ! One can not complete a review of the Liga Privada without talking about the smoke, the cloud, the atomic bomb mushroom cloud ! Like the rest of the Liga Privada, especially No9, ‘L40’ produced a ton of smoke which made photography session that much more enjoyable.


Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’ was definitely an enjoyable experience. I have not had a chance to sample the pre-release so I can’t comment on improvements, if any (* check Tony Casa’s thoughts on the pre-release at
casasfumando). If you enjoy lancero vitola, I would recommend searching them out and experiencing it for yourself. I understand both Jonathan Drew & Steve Saka of Drew Estate have stated that Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’ is a unique blend, differing from other Liga Privada blends. I can appreciate that statement but I can not look at the Liga Privada brand and not compare Unico Serie ‘L40’ to my favorites: Unico Serie ‘Dirty Rat’ or LP No9. I think we, the mainstream cigar smokers, often fall in the trap of forcing already excellent projects into other vitolas. Many of us love corona gordas, coronas, lanceros without fully appreciating the existing work. In my humble opinion, Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40’ is another well executed project but when it comes to the Liga Privada brand, my go-to will continue to be No9 toro and Unico Serie ‘Dirty Rat.’ In that order.



Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Habano Leaf
Binder: Plantation-Grown Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: 3 Extra-Choice Nicaraguan Cuban Seed
Length: 7″
Ring: 40

Construction > Great
Burn > Good
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes



Please consider the following post:
* Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’
* Liga Privada No9 ‘Flying Pig’

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