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)-
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)-
Feb 10
How often were you told that a given cigar is covered with Plume (or Bloom) only to find out, based upon closeup inspection, that you are dealing with a Mold ? I was on multiple occasions. 9 times out of 10 it is unfortunately the latter – the infamous Mold or simply – fungus.
Mold appears on the surface of cigars and will form irregular, fuzzy, patchy clusters. Although normally mold forms on the surface, it can also be found on the foot and within the filler. Mold can appear in various colors: gray, white, blue, green, yellowish. High humidity (80% and above) or wet spots in cigar containers are the root cause for the Cigar Mold. Inspect your humidors frequently, especially during summer when temperature and humidity levels are high. Folks often debate whether moldy cigar should be destroyed or salvaged. First, remove questionable cigars as soon as possible and inspect the surrounding. Introduce circulation, rotate your cigars and boxes from time to time, and keep humidity in check. Some salvage their moldy cigars by simply wiping that nasty fungus off and subsequently smoking it. I, personally, don’t see the need to salvage mold / fungus. There is plenty of other cigars to choose from. I chuck it and move on.
Plume (or Bloom) is a happy place to be. Unlike patchy and fuzzy mold clusters, Plume will look like a dusty layer throughout the cigar. Initially formed as tiny crystals, Plume is a naturally occurring by-product of long-term cigar aging and rising of essential oils to the surface of the cigar. There is no negative impact on smoking as for as I know. Many cigar smokers cherish cigars covered with Plume and label them as a successful aging project.
- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)-
Feb 1
It is time for another ‘forbidden fruit.’ This week we are photographing and reviewing H. Upmann Sir Winston. This pre-1960s release, packaged in a cabinet of 25, was named after former British Prime Minister – Winston Churchill. H. Upmann Sir Winston, hand rolled with premium tobacco leaves from the Vuelta Abajo region in Cuba, has been label as the best Julieta No.2 vitola Cuba has ever produced. With the high expectation, let’s get right to it, shall we ?
Visually, one is introduced to a silky, oily wrapper with excellent cap finish, no visible veins and well blended seams. Based on up-close inspection, H. Upmann Sir Winston was a well rolled firm product without any soft or hard spots. After clipping the cap, slightly tight draw. Fortunately with some manual intervention the draw improved. In flavor department, grassy / floral, almost dried fruit alike, pleasant taste which ultimately morphed into woodiness. Hints of sweetness, especially on the lips, and milk cocoa. There was also some spiciness on the retrohale but nothing like advertised. Burn line was decent, nothing exceptional. It started off a bit wavy and uneven, then corrected itself in the middle only to go down south once again toward the end. I had to relight couple times. The amount of smoke was excellent after draw intervention and ash, as depicted below, was superb.
Overall, good smoke. One has to appreciate the fact that this is a churchill – a smoke that will take you for a couple-hour ride. I normally don’t smoke churchills nor double coronas (non-cubans or cubans) so H. Upmann Sir Winston is not something I will reach for too often. Others have reported a full body experience which I personally can’t relate to. It had a little bit more punch, no pun intended, but definitely not a nicotine bomb. I have smoked quite a bit of H. Upmann Magnum 50s and 46s and I see myself reaching out for those more often than H. Upmann Sir Winstons.
Country of Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
Length: 7″
Ring: 47
Construction > Good
Burn > Good
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Yes
Buy > Yes
- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)-
