And the winner of the Tatuaje ‘Celebracion de Cinco’ 3-pack giveway is …
Thank You all for participating. Cigar smoking is about enjoying as well as sharing. Going forward, if my coolidors / humidors agree, I would like to continue with 1 giveaway per month. Cigars, Photo prints, etc. Conceptually, not too many limits. Everyone is welcome back to ‘play’ again. I have received quite a bit from the cigar industry and local B&Ms. It is time to Pay It Forward. Enjoy !
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! Giveaway !
Leave a comment (no rules) and be eligible for one 3-pack of Tatuaje ‘Celebracion de Cinco’. Deadline – 11:59pm EST on 29FEB2012.
Random selection and announcement will take place on 01MAR2012.
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This week we are photographing and reviewing the Tatuaje ‘Celebracion de Cinco.’ This exclusive and limited edition is a collaboration between Pete Johnson of Tatuaje and Cigar Mas Fino – a cigar shop located in Fresno, California operated by the Soza Family. This 2011 project was released to commemorate Cigar Mas Fino’s five years in business, hence ‘Celebracion de Cinco’ or ‘Celebration of Five.’ This robusto vitola came in a box of 24 / only 100 boxes produced. When asked about the makeup, Pete responded with the following:
A slightly stronger noble. Same base blend with a brown label priming for the wrapper. – Pete Johnson
Visually, another well executed blend by My Father Cigars stable. Dark, oily, toothy wrapper with well applied triple cap and unfinished foot. The cigar had no visible veins and extremely tight seams. Great start ! Tatuaje ‘Celebracion de Cinco’ was sporting a standard Havana VI band as well as a secondary band signifying Cigar Mas Fino’s ‘Celebracion de Cinco’ designation. That specific band reminded me of Cuban Regional Edition presentation. I have smoked a total of five samples for this review. I wasn’t trying to match the ‘Cinco’, it was purely a coincidence. Interestingly enough, I was able to experience different / unique flavors in one of those samples. Most delivered good amount of earthiness, espresso, dried fruit (like raisin), and some pepper on the finish. One of the samples lacked most of those flavors and was overpowered with woodiness. All Tatuaje ‘Celebracion de Cinco’ samples delivered good amount of smoke and decent ash. As for as draw / burn goes, unfortunately mixed feedback in this department. Few samples were spot on, yet other experienced the infamous tunneling which subsequently impacted existing flavors.
If it wasn’t for good performance in selected samples, I would have marked this release (or perhaps my box) as questionable. I will continue to sample the rest of the box and continue to evaluate the construction. Overall, despite couple hiccups, another good release by Pete Johnson.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5″
Ring: 50
Construction > Good
Burn > Mixed
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes
Please consider the following post:
* Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 Rosado
* Tatuaje ‘M-80’
- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)-
Jan 11
This week we are photographing and smoking the Viaje Exclusivo in corona gorda format by Andre Farkas of Viaje. This specific vitola is not available for regular sale / distribution but it is available, fortunately, at Viaje events. Some have reported that Viaje Exclusivo CG was only available as a giveaway from Andre himself however at the latest Viaje event at the Cigar Republic (NY) store – a retail face of the Atlantic Cigar Company, I was able to purchase an entire bundle. The cost of the bundle – $220 / 25. Andre Farkas has confirmed that Viaje Exclusivo CG is available for sale at every Viaje event he attends. It is my understanding that the following Viaje cigars are available in the Exclusivo line:
Exclusivo Lancero – Atlantic Cigar Co 15th Anniversary (exclusive)
Exclusivo Robusto box-pressed – Tower Cigars 45th Anniversary (exclusive)
Exclusive Double Perfecto Double Edged Sword
Exclusivo Corona Gorda
Exclusivo Robusto
Exclusivo Shorts
Exclusivo Chiquito
Construction of the Viaje Exclusivo CG was visually pleasing with minimal veins and very tight seams. There is something about that ‘fancy’ finish and today’s cigar, like few other within that line, was sporting well applied pig-tail. The cigar had no soft spots and foot gave the impression of well bunched tobacco. After cutting and lighting, good draw with decent amount of smoke. In flavor department, blast of spice and blast of savory, rich earthiness. Similarly to Exclusivo Shorts, I was able to extract woody / leathery notes in the background. Definitely a noticeable increase in strength when compared to recently smoked Exclusivo Shorts or Exclusivo Tower 45th. As for as the burn and ash, pretty satisfactory experience, as depicted below.
I have put down 3 samples for this photo / review entry and although above comments are overall positive, I did wanted to mention the fact that the first sample had some not so favorable qualities. Not only did I experience that ‘alligator’ looking finish with the ash (similar to Exclusivo Shorts), the middle 2″ or so had a noticeable tunnel which negatively impacted the flavor department. Fortunately, the other two samples had no construction / burn hiccups. If you find the flavor profile up your alley and / or you are a Viaje Exclusivo fan, this is definitely a vitola to seek out. Considering how Viaje cigars are priced and what I have paid for the bundle, Exclusivo Corona Gorda is a no brainer.
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Length: 5 5/8 ”
Ring: 46
Construction > Good
Burn > Good
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes
Please consider the following post:
* Viaje Exclusivo Shorts
- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)-
Jan 10
And the winner of the Four Kicks (corona gorda) 3-pack giveway is …
Thank You all for participating. Cigar smoking is about enjoying as well as sharing. In 2012 and going forward, if my coolidors / humidors agree, I would like to continue with 1 giveaway per month. Cigars, Photo prints, etc. Conceptually, not too many limits. Everyone is welcome back to ‘play’ again. I have received quite a bit from the cigar industry and local B&Ms. It is time to Pay It Forward. Enjoy !
Jan 4
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! Giveaway !
Leave a comment (no rules) and be eligible for one 3-pack of Four Kicks (corona gorda) by Crowned Heads. Deadline – 11:59pm EST on 09JAN. Random selection and announcement will take place on 10JAN.
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This week we are photographing and smoking the latest creation out of the Crowned Heads stable – the Four Kicks. In the last few months, there has been a lot of chatter about the Four Kicks project in the social media circles. Kudos to Jon Huber and Mike Conder for creative and successful marketing campaign. Both individuals and their fellow business partners have shifted their creative minds from one established cigar company to a brand new cigar venture with a catchy label – the Crowned Heads. I can continue to summarize the history, the meaning, the approach or I can simply provide a link to the Crowned Heads website. I will choose the latter since one has to and will appreciate the amount of effort it takes to launch a premium cigar company from the ground floor up after watching numerous videos, reading blog entries, and absorbing all other information. A must read !
Packaged in 24-count boxes, Four Kicks is available in four shapes: Corona Gorda (5 5/8″ x 46), Robusto (5” x 50), Sublime (6” x 54), and Piramide (6 1/8” x 52). The suggested retail price ranges from $6.95 to $8.65 per cigar and is available through the following retailers.
The Four Kicks corona gorda, manufactured at Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. under the supervision of one of the cigar industry’s true icons, Ernesto PerezCarrillo, was sporting an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with clearly visible seams and veins. After clipping the tripple cap, I was introduced to a perfect draw – pretty much an expectation from Ernesto’s work. Pleasing blast of spice on the initial draw and throughout the experience. The spice (pepperish) was definitely heavily concentrated in the back of the throat. In flavor department, hmmm, where should I start ? I have smoked through 3 samples in preparation for this entry and each one brought something additional to the table. There was definitely plenty of woodiness and earthiness throughout the smoke. Previously mentioned spiciness was balanced with less muted, but oh-so-enjoyable, sweetness. Few days prior to the Four Kicks marathon, I have smoked through few good quality CCs and I swear, on more than one puff, I felt that ‘cubanesque’ taste. Whether that is a compliment or an insult, I won’t digress but personally, I found that extra ‘bonus’ to be quite enjoyable.
The Four Kicks in corona gorda vitola is a box worthy purchase. Full Stop ! Whether you are a collector interested in an inaugural release and / or a smoker who finds above flavor description up their alley, you should consider seeking a box, or at least a sampler. I’m patiently awaiting Crowned Heads’ encore but until then, I will continue to enjoy the Four Kicks in my favorite vitola – corona gorda.
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Length: 5 5/8”
Ring: 46
Construction > Great
Burn > Great
Enjoy > Absolutely
Recommend > Absolutely
Buy > Box-worthy !
Please consider the following post:
* CAO La Traviata
- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)-
