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Posts Tagged nicaragua

Tatuaje ‘Celebracion de Cinco’ – cigar giveaway

Mar 1

Posted by admin in Tatuaje ‘Celebracion de Cinco’ | Comments off

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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Tatuaje ‘Celebracion de Cinco’

Feb 25

Posted by admin in Tatuaje 'Celebracion de Cinco' | 40 Comments

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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)- 
 
 
 

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EP Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 (Exquisitos) – prerelease

Feb 13

Posted by admin in EP Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 (Exquisitos) - prerelease | 5 Comments

Today we are photographing and reviewing a prerelease of the New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 (Exquisitos) – the latest short run project from the master blender Ernesto Perez Carrillo. Based on the success of the New Wave Connecticut and the Core Maduro lines, EPC Cigar Co decided to experiment with mixing the tobaccos from both of these lines. The outcome of that is today’s release which consists of the wrapper from New Wave Connecticut and binder / filler from Core Maduro.

Based on the huge success of the New Wave Connecticut and Core Maduro lines, we decided to experiment with mixing the tobaccos from both of these lines. The New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 captures the best of both lines – it is packed with flavors and strength, and is probably our best Short Run yet ! This Short Run will come in the typical 3 Short Run sizes, and we’ll be making 1,000 boxes per size. – Ernie

Vitola Size Packaging Retail
Exquisitos 4 7/8 x 50 Box of 24 $152.40 / $6.35
Invictos 5 7/8 x 52 Box of 24 $170.40 / $7.10
Reinados 6 1/4 x 60 Box of 24 $206.40 / $8.60

Visually, New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 (Exquisitos) was near perfection. The cigar was sporting an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, well applied triple cap, invisible veins and extremely tight seams. The entire length of all three samples was relatively soft to the touch. After clipping the cap, perfect draw as one would expect from Ernesto’s previous releases. Great start, indeed ! In flavor department, New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 opened up with woodiness, earthiness, nuttiness and hints of dried fruit. There was an evident spiciness on the finish as well. Normally I don’t experience dry mouth during smoking but this cigar definitely gave that impression. Not a negative observation though. In the second half, present flavors as well spiciness increased it’s intensity. The burn was good, considering I have smoked my first sample the day after it arrived in the cold North Jersey. It went wavy couple times but corrected itself without manual intervention. The amount of smoke was photo-friendly and the ash … well, photographs below speak for themselves. An amazing construction execution resulted in +2″ of grayish ash.

Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. in the Dominican Republic has another winner, full stop. Ernesto Perez Carrillo continues to innovate and his projects are agreeing with my palate. Can’t beat that. I have smoked Exquisitos for The Review but also sampled Invictos in hopes that the latter will deliver that sweet spot. I can say that it did. Exquisitos was more aggressively spicy, almost too spicy for my taste. Invictos, delivering just as great flavors, was more balanced and refined. As for as constructive feedback, I would appreciate a smaller ring gauge version of the New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012, ala Regalias Real. I have smoked through my share of New Wave Connecticut Stellas (5 1/8 x 42) and Core Maduro Club 52s (5 7/8 x 52) / Core Maduro Regalias Real (5 5/8 x 46) and I believe one can place New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 somewhere in the middle. NWC in the morning, NWC SR’12 in the afternoon, Core Maduro in the evening = magic !

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Length: 4 7/8 ”
Ring: 50

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

Please consider the following posts:
* EP Carrillo Short Run 2010 No.4
* EP Carrillo Core Maduro

* DISCLAIMER: New Wave Connecticut Short Run 2012 samples were gifted by EPC Cigar Co. Ernesto’s generosity had no impact on the actual experience. The cigar spoke for itself.

- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)- 
 
 
 

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EP Carrillo Short Run 2010 No.4

Jan 24

Posted by admin in EP Carrillo Short Run 2010 No.4 | 11 Comments

This week we are photographing and smoking an EP Carrillo Short Run 2010 No.4. This corona vitola, made by the master blender Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, is an exclusive release for Federal Cigar – New Hampshire chain owned by Rick Gadway. EP Carrillo Short Run 2010 No.4 comes in the box of 20 and will set you back $110. As the name implies, Ernesto has expanded 2010 Short Run line by adding No4 vitola. The following additional sizes in the same line are available to the mass market:


Populares – 4 7/8 x 50
Delirios – 5 7/8 x 52
Doninantes – 6 1/4 x 60


EP Carrillo Short Run 2010 No.4, manufactured at Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. in the Dominican Republic, was sporting an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with couple visible veins and well blended seams. The cigar was tripple capped and ~%95 of it was well constructed. Based on relatively thorough inspection (12 out of 20), tip of each cigar was under-filled and felt very soft to the touch. I have inspected few other EP Carrillo cigars from my humidor and none were constructed the same way. Perhaps done intentionally ? After clipping the cap, Short Run 2010 No.4 had a perfect draw. Not too loose, not too tight. Just what the doctor ordered. In the flavor department, intense experience as expected from No4 ring gauge. Cedar mixed with a bit of sweetness / saltiness. Hints of earthiness and coffee. If you enjoy spicy finish on the palate, Short Run 2010 No.4 will deliver just that. Burn line and ash were of good quality, as expected from industry’s true icon – Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. Don’t let the size fool you ! This relatively short / thin vitola was packing some heat ! I would place it close to the full category.


Overall, EP Carrillo Short Run 2010 No.4 is another successful release. Rick Gadway was generous enough and gifted few samples couple months ago which were burned right off the truck. Both the pre-release and the regular production smoked great but I believe resting them for couple months may be beneficial. Considering the other Federal Cigar exclusive – Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 Rosado / Reserva, Rick Gadway is on the roll. I’m looking forward to upcoming Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s projects and Rick’s exclusives.


Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Length: 5 1/8 ”
Ring: 42

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


Please consider the following posts:
* EP Carrillo Maduro
* Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 Rosado

- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)-

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