Forgot to mention that I am on vacation.  While I will enjoy a great many cigars, I forgot how spotty the Internet is.  I will post on Saturday when I return.

Thanks all, and long ashes!

-Joe

For me, my passion for cigars- and it is a passion, it’s something I see a lot of beauty in- and I think that this passion stems from more then just calming down with a smoke, and certainly not an addiction. I think that for me, I love cigars because of the artistry of the product. Each cigar is hand made, each cigar is a product of a very long, very careful process that just seems amazing to me as I sit and enjoy the end product of what is essentially a labor of love in a very tough industry. I also love cigars because of the history, which is very rich, interesting, and extensive. I actually had a talk with ChiefHava over several games of Modern Warfare 2 with the CGAR Clan about the history of the cigar industry. He’s a great guy, incredibly interesting, and one of the most knowledgeable people I’ve had a chance to talk to, in reference to both the cigar industry, and ridiculous jokes. That conversation, which I mostly just listened to, was an excellent reminder as to the biggest reason why I love this hobby, and really, this lifestyle: the people. There are, of course, total douche bags who smoke cigars, and you need to put up with them, same as anywhere else in the world. However, I’ve met some people that have been very good to me, and provided me with a whole new outlook on things I’d never questioned in my life. Topics ranging from cigars (of course) to politics, religion, movies, cooking, and just about every subject under the sun are all things you’ll find yourself discussing over a fine cigar. My girlfriend put it really well when she said that cigars just seemed to sort of activate your mouth, and make you ready to talk. The people at my local B&M are incredibly close. It’s to the point where many of the wives will often call the place to talk to their husbands, since they know they’ll be there. We cook out back, we drink together, and I know if I ever needed something, they’d be there in a second, as I would for them (though they all really need psychologists, especially Jay.) Online, through the wonders of the internet, I’ve spoken, tweeted, emailed, video chatted, and messaged with leaders in the industry, some of the best bloggers out there, people who have the same drive and passion for cigars as I do. These people are all individually awesome to talk to, and I think my favorite thing about cigars is that if you are a cigar smoker, you have several hundred thousand brothers and sisters of the leaf. And that’s pretty damn cool.

I don’t see cigarettes having that kind of community. I know the health impacts are different, and that alone sets these two apart, but beyond that, there is so many other differences between the two products, I can’t even imagine how anybody can see them as the same; it’s a form of ignorance that would be on par with taxing soda as beer because they’re both drinks. I know I’m biased, but that’s just how I see it. I can understand a tax on cigars because they are a luxury, but taxing them with SCHIP seems a little odd, and even more so, creating other taxes with health reasons and such involved seems a bit ridiculous. I’ve yet to see a report that isn’t dubious at best.

In order to break this myth, or misinformation, or whatever you want to call it, I think we as a community need to dispel this notion. I don’t really remember why I started writing this article, but I know that I’ve brought it up with CRA; we need to expand our views to beyond our small minority, and really try to bring about change in the community as a whole. You can read my article on the New York Tax, which is a perfect example of how taxes on cigars that are lumped in with cigarettes (and really, those taxes as well) are going to hurt everyone, not help. We will lose because we wont be able to afford cigars in NY, and we’ll buy online. NY will loose tons of money off of this tax. I don’t know, I’m repeating myself now, so I’ll stop. I’d love to hear other thoughts on this, though, since it’s an interesting issue. Leave comments below, and I’ll add the interesting ones to the article. Thanks guys, long ashes and smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.

God of Fire by Don Carlos/Carlito

I was lucky enough to have the incredibly generous Keith K. Park send me a sampler of God of Fire cigars for review. I decided the best thing to do with these is review them heads up, and compare the differences between the two. God of Fire cigars are the first release from a partnership between the Fuentes and the cigar accessory company Prometheus (who is, not so coincidentally, the God of Fire) and are the 2006 rendition. Each is named for its blender, either Don Carlos or Carlito Fuente. Each creates their own, ideal blend and they are released in extremely limited quantities each year. The year on the band signifies the year in which it was actually made.

God of Fire, by Don Carlos, 2006

God of Fire Don Carlos; Strong ash, wickedly even burn.

The Don Carlos is swathed in an Ecuadorian wrapper. Cutting it goes very smoothly, and the test-draw is very firm.

The first notes are very, very sweet cedar and an under current of an almost olive flavor. The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper is very, very sweet. There are nuances of nuts, white pepper, and a hint of vanilla. Everything mixes together to create a very complex experience, and I do stand corrected that this is a medium-bodied cigar. There is also a flavor that is almost similar to saffron. The burn is, as always, the definition of even, and the ash is well-compacted and strong.

The second third still has the main flavor of a sweet, sweet cedar and vanilla mixed with a bit of espresso on the finish. The nuttiness component stays there, and the white pepper deepens into a darker, black pepper. The Don Carlos develops a very strong woody character deeper into this stick, and continues to keep very sturdy smoking characteristics (nice, even burn, with a stiff draw.)

Very complex, sophisticated cigar so far.

The final third opens with dark cedar, a little vanilla sweetness, and some grassy flavors on the finish mixed with espresso. The flavors progressively darken to make the end of the Don Carlos just a little bit stronger, a little bit bolder, and leaves on a great note.

Too good not to nub!

Ubi Cigar Quick Notes

God of Fire, by Carlito, 2006

God of Fire, by Carlito

The Carlito blended cigar is gorgeous looking, swimming in oils with a nice toothy Cameroon wrapper. Cutting it and test-drawing treats me to a very loose draw, and I touch flame to the foot of the cigar with great anticipation!

The first third starts out a lot stronger than the Don Carlos, still in the medium range but leaning closer to full. The flavor is a strong, black pepper and leather mixture with a sweet finish, like brown sugar, alongside some floral notes. The draw, which I thought would be too loose at the beginning, actually firms up with the smoke, and sits in a perfect place for me. The power really comes through the nose, and leaves and almost whole-milk like nuance and consistency. There is much more smoke from the Carlito as well. Notes of citrus creep in after an inch or so, and I find myself enjoying this cigar very much.

Crooked ash, but straight burn.

The second third has a nice woody flavor with more coffee flavors and a beautiful balance between the darker flavors and the sweetness on the finish. The sweet flavors are very much similar to honey, and the finish is incredibly smooth. Often, cigars can leave a bit of a rough, dry feeling in the mouth, and the Carlito God of Fire blend actually does the opposite.

I just love how the ash looks.

The final third is loaded with cedar and cinnamon, with some raisin notes on the finish. There is also a strong flavor of nuts, like unsalted cashews and almonds crumbled down. There is plenty of rich, aromatic smoke and the draw and burn both remain perfect. The flavor stays consistent right down to the beautiful end!

The end of two great smokes.

Final Judgement: Both are very sweet cigars, but for myself, the Carlito blend is the one that stands out. It has more of a balance, and brings a little more funk to the table with spicy notes that the Don Carlos didn’t have. Curiously enough, the Ecuadorian Sumatra of the Don Carlos tasted more like Cameroon leaf then the Cameroon wrapper of the Carlito, and vice versa. However, both cigars are very unique. The true barrier for most will be the price point, which is from 20.00-27.00 dollars a stick. That is very steep, and many (myself included) will argue that no cigar is worth that. If, however, you want to treat yourself to a taste of luxury, and you want to smoke something very unique, this is a fantastic special occasion cigar, and every God of Fire I’ve smoked (and I’ve smoked around a dozen of them) have burned razor-sharp, and unfailingly don’t go out or have construction issues.

Alternate View/Reviews: Stogie Review (Carlito), Cigar Advisor (Don Carlos.)

Questions or comments? Leave a comment here or email me at ubicigar@gmail.com!

13th Floor Foundation Blend

13th Floor is a brand new, slick-looking cigar coming out of the El Titan de Bronze Factory factory in Little Havana, Florida. I’m smoking robusto’s for this review, and the Foundation Blend as a whole has a very nice rosado Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Ecuadorian Binder, and Nicaraguan filler. I actually got three of these sent to me by way of Cigar Burn’s Lindsey, who I worked out a trade with a while back. She event send me the stogies in the 13th Floor Box that you see pictured above. The cigar doesn’t have any chips or mars, and is nice and pliable to the touch, with no obvious defects. I cut the triple cap cleanly, and after drawing some prelight notes of cinnamon raisin, I put cigar to flame!

The first thing I noticed was a brilliant charred cinnamon flavor, which is complimented by crisp cedar flavor and a bit of vanilla in the finish. There is just the faintest wisp of black pepper as well. Exhaling through the nose gives a very strong, vibrant nutty flavor for most of the first third as well! The finish toward the end of the third is a little like a spice market exploding in your mouth; the flavor is so complex that it actually takes me a little bit to figure out.

Flaky ash, but good burn to this point.

The flavors at the start of the second third are those spice market flavors, an incredibly rich and complex smoke that is somehow still of a medium body. There is a good sugary component on top of notes of sage, cumin, chili powder, and rosemary. All of this changes somewhat throughout this third of the cigar, but the same flavors remain with just each coming and going a little more or less prominently. I do need to start touching up the cigar at this point, a little more often than I’d like, and a slight metallic twang floats in for a few puffs.

Burn issues begin, but the complexity still remains!

The metallic taste clears for the final third, and is replaced by vegetal and floral notes. There isn’t much change from here on out, and it does get a little harsh at the end so I lay it to rest a little early.

Burned it down to The Foundation.

Final Judgment: Stellar first and second thirds with remarkable complexity. However, the unimpressive final third held it back for me. The metallic taste was just in this cigar, but it does have a habit of needing to be touched up near the end. That all said, I still enjoyed this cigar, and would smoke one again, especially at around $8.00!

Alternate View/Review: Puffing Cigars

Ubi Cigar Quick Notes

Questions or comments? Please leave them below in the comments or email me at ubicigar@gmail.com!

Litto Gomez chopping vegetables.

Litto at the grill, with Jack Joshi, owner of Maxi's.

Great backlit shot of Mark, Litto, and Jack!

The photographer pausing to enjoy an LFD Airbender.

Grill action, mixing sausage in with peppers and sauce.

Another great shot of Litto and Jack!

Litto said that cooking was one of his big hobbies, and he enjoys it a lot!

Me and the man himself!

And finally, the whole group!

Thank you to Sylvana Tapia, who photographed the event. Her work can be found at her website.

Jamie Garcia Reserva Especial

Jamie Garcia, son of cigar legend Don Pepin Garcia, hit the market running when he released the My Father line a few years ago. Since then, he’s gotten involved with more projects using the My Father Cigar Company. The second release to his name is the Jamie Garcia Reserva Especial, a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapped cigar that retails just under seven dollars. Remember, though, that it isn’t made by  Don Pepin Garcia; it isn’t the traditional Pepin cigar.

Impressive ash, great construction and burn.

The cap cuts cleanly and gives a prelight draw of spicy, dark chocolate. Lighting up, you might get a little confused, since the first notes are decidedly Don Pepin Garcia: big, hearty black pepper flavors and a touch of red-hot capsaicin create the body, with a still-black-peppery aftertaste. You feel it initially like a shot to the solar plexus, but it quickly dials it down, adding a touch of class with a creamy body and a very strange nuance of basil that creates a unique overall flavor profile. Toward the end of the third, a little sweetness emerges as well!

Burning it down to the finish...

As I said before, the strength dials down but the complexity rises in its wake. It is very vegetal, and contains dark, bitter chocolate flavors, along with some vanilla in the body to balance it out. The cigar slowly turns into a very woody one, with oak and dry cedar being the primary flavors. On the tail end of those flavors comes a nice, espresso finish. I think I can say safely that I don’t like to pair wine and cigars, but a fruity red or dry white would suit this stick pretty well. The ash finally breaks at the end of the third, and the burn is pretty much spot-on.

The last third keeps consistent with how the second third ended; lots of dry wood and earthy flavors. The Reserva Especial is a very bitter cigar, which some people like. I think that these flavors and characteristics stem from the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, which is not one of my favorite things. For me, this isn’t a cigar I think I’d visit again, since it leaves my mouth feeling dry. As the last inch burns away, a slightly metallic flavor emerges, so I put it down, Old Yeller style.

The remains.

Final Judgment: It’s a good cigar. Not the kind of thing I smoke, but for people who like Connecticut wrappers, this could very well be your bread and butter.

Alternate View/Review: A Cigar Smoker’s Journal

Ubi Cigar Quick Notes

Questions or comments? Leave them in the comments box or feel free to email me at ubicigar@gmail.com!

La Aurora 107 Corona

I have previously smoked, and enjoyed, the La Aurora 107 blend in a toro vitola; recently, I received five more La Aurora 107′s in a new corona format. These measure 5.5 x 43, and the narrower build allows for a greater percentage of the wrapper flavor to come through. I generally don’t like cigars with smaller ring gauges, but aside from the Opus X, this would prove to be one of the few cigars to break that rule for me.

The wrapper is a truly beautiful Ecuadorian leaf which contains Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. I should put out there that I’d already smoked four of these before I decided to review it, so I am pretty familiar with the cigar. I’d shared it with my girlfriend, who will take a puff from time to time, and she ended up stealing most of the second one I’d smoked, since she really enjoyed it.

The cigar opens up with a whole mess of spices; sage, a nuance of rosemary, black pepper, cinnamon sugar, and cloves coat your mouth in a rich, tangy swirl of flavor. This cigar instantly makes me remember the other 107 vitolas, but just more so. For instance, every flavor and nuance is there, but just a little bit stronger. This wrapper truly is a beauty, and it is what makes this vitola so successful!

Moving on with a razor-sharp burn, the 107 smokes beautifully into the second third. I’m not really pacing myself or smoking slower, like I usually would when smoking a narrower cigar but the 107 holds up beautifully. There is a sort of smoked hickory flavor that rolls in on the top of the tongue, and a finish that is both toasty and spicy. Smoking this is like smoking a barbecue all at once.

The final third of these is always tough for me, because I ALWAYS find myself considering smoking a second straight off (that’s how I smoked the second and third!) It’s even more sad now since this is my last one! The best part about the 107 corona is that it doesn’t get dirty. There isn’t a dry feeling in my mouth, like most corona’s leave, and there isn’t a sort of harshness that comes from smoking too fast; no, with the 107, it goes down fighting like Bruce Willis in every movie he’s ever been in.

The sad, sad farewell.

Final Judgment: The 107 is a fantastic blend, and the corona is the best vitola I’ve had so far. There is some talk of a lancero, but that would certainly require a reblend. If you can find a place to snatch one of these up, go for it; at around $6.25, grab a few! Certainly one of my favorites so far this year.

Alternate View/Review: A Cigar Smoker’s Journal

Ubi Cigar Quick Notes

Questions or comments? Leave ‘em in the comments section, or send me an email at ubicigar@gmail.com.

Diesel Shorty

The Diesel came out of the gates in a big way last year, getting high marks across the board. It was a full flavored beauty of a cigar, which really introduced the PA Broadleaf Maduro wrapper that has now been popularized by the 5 Vegas AAA, the La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte, and the new Limited Edition Diesel Shorty. The filler hails from all three major growing regions in Nicaragua (Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa!) This edition was created to be Shorty Rossi’s personal day-to-day cigar. Shorty Rossi is the reality TV star of “Pit Boss,” which airs on Animal Planet. The Shorty runs the same blend with a touch more ligero (I think, can’t confirm this just yet.) The Shorty comes in at 4.5 x 60, and features a double band, including a “Shorty Edition” band underneath the primary Diesel one. It’s a great looking and smelling cigar that I was very excited to try, having been a fan of the original Diesel.

The wrapper crack is the only flaw on this cigar.

I smoked a pair of these for review, and the one I smoked with photos did have a bit of a wrapper issue; when I cut the cap off, the wrapper cracked and peeled a bit. However, I get the sense that this particular stick just had a fragile wrapper; the other five all seemed fine, and the first one I had smoked did indeed cut perfectly. Upon lighting up, the first thing that strikes you is the smoke. The draw is beautiful, with billows of thick, potent smoke that smells exactly like the cigar tastes. Word of warning, the Shorty packs a punch, with tangy flavors, rich black pepper, leather, and a variety of wood flavors, particularly oak. The tangyness can be described in a similar manner as a horse radish based glaze for short ribs; you actually can almost taste that exact, same flavor.

Beautiful almost white ash against the dark maduro wrapper looks fantastic.

The ash breaks away for the first time right at the two-thirds mark, and the cigar really opens up, with layers of different pepper flavors, a hint of rum or maybe a rich Malbec wine, and a fantastic, flavorful finish that matches the core flavors perfectly, with a bit of oak peppered into the finish as well. That initial rum/wine flavor progressively changes to a modestly lighter, sweeter flavor that is almost like mead, but with all the rich dark pepper and earthy components to this cigar, it creates a very tasty balance. The construction is also very good so far, despite the opening cracked wrapper, and the first band comes off without a hitch.

Good burn so far, just before the first band comes off.

The last third opens up with that perfect balance, which lasts for another inch, combining with it a sweet, vanilla-like flavor on the finish. I say vanilla-like, because it isn’t exactly vanilla, but with the rest of the flavors, it matrices to sort of seem like it. Through the nose, there is excellent flavor, and the smoke is still potent and aromatic. As you progress down the last third, however, a bit of bitterness comes out, which makes me put down this cigar a little earlier then I would have liked. Still, with the Shorty smoked, I find myself itching for another. The fiver I bought of them won’t last me through the week.

Laid to rest; The Diesel Shorty is a must-try.

Final Judgment: Another impressive cigar from AJ Fernandez, and even though it’s a separate size off an existing line, it deserves to stand on its own. Slightly more powerful, and at the same time, more flavorful, this is a must-try for anybody who appreciates a full-bodied cigar!

Alternate View/Review: None yet, email me at ubicigar@gmail.com to get your review linked here!

Ubi Cigar Quick Notes

Questions or comments? Leave them in the comment box below or email me at ubicigar@gmail.com!

Room 101

One of the coolest concepts to come out of the cigar world in the past couple of years. In terms of swagger, the Room 101 blend walks the walk. The brainchild of artist Matt Booth (of the 101 Collection) with tons of support from Christian Eiroa of Camacho, the Conspiracy rocked the cigar world, winning over old aficionados and bringing new cigar smokers into the fold with gorgeous artwork and packaging. I have now smoked all but the 702 vitola of this cigar, and today I’ll be revisiting the 305, otherwise known as a robusto.

Funky burn, but not unmanageable, and fantastic flavor.

As far as looks go, I’ve already stated that the 101 is a hell of a looker. The band contains an array of symbolism drawn from inspiration from the Far East. Matt Booth was stationed, as a marine, in Asia, and the Room 101 Collection, cigars included, contain a blend of that spirit, and the lifestyle of living in LA. The wrapper is unflawed, though relatively veiny. A quick cut, and I’m ready to roll.

One hell of an ash. I've noticed Camacho generally excels in production quality.

The first word that comes to mind is bold. This cigar is bold and flavorful, with a core of black pepper, leather, with a very savory, tangy finish. There is also hints of sage. The flavors in the Room 101 are incredibly savory, and coat the mouth like a wet blanket of tasty smoke! A subtle sweetness also slowly builds throughout the first third, and lasts until the end of the cigar.

Sweet cedar invades the flavor profile, and the black pepper remains to create a nicely balanced cigar. Though the Room 101 is complex, it is also very consistent, and keeps a relatively level set of flavors. The finish is leathery, and there is a hint of spices, almost like mulled apple cider, right when it’s hot. There is a bit of a dark, oak-cask flavor in the background as well.

The ash finally breaks!

The burn is also wonderful, with the ash lasting well into the final third before finally crumbling in the wind. The flavors keep going strong, and I’ve found that I enjoyed this smoke even more than I had the last time I’d smoked the robusto! The core flavors are leathery, with oak and an almost raddishy spice to it as well. The burn has yet to require a touch-up, and as it draws to a close, I only wish it had lasted a little longer.

Nice way to unwind after a stressful day. Very enjoyable throughout.

Final Judgment: An excellent cigar, accessible to just about anyone. And you look and feel damn cool smoking it.

Alternate View/Review: A Cigar Smoker’s Journal

Ubi Cigar Quick Notes

Questions or comments? Post them below, or email me at ubicigar@gmail.com!

Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary

The Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary cigar is set to be released July 30th, and Rocky Patel recently had a release event at The Cigar Inn. A friend of mine (Barry from A Cigar Smoker’s Journal) grabbed a few of these prerelease specials, and gave one to me. As a note, the actual 15th will be box-pressed, the prerelease is just a round toro-style cigar. It remains to be seen how that may affect the overall characteristics of the cigar, so take this review knowing that.

Even burn on this beautiful cigar so far.

The wrapper on this is a beautiful Ecuadorian habano that encases a lot of Nicaraguan ligero tobacco. As I lit this up, I was immediately surprised by the power and flavor of what I was smoking. The 15th Anniversary is totally different from anything I’ve tasted by Rocky Patel so far. To me, all of  Rocky’s cigars fall into the archetypes of either the Rocky Patel Decade (chocolatey, coffee flavors, sweet) or the Edge (spicy, robust, powerful) but the 15th branches out in a whole new direction. It is very, VERY similar to a Don Pepin Garcia cigar, and opens with some powerful black pepper and leather notes. There is nuances of both cloves, and honey. It’s similar in complexity to the AVOLE10, which is a very favorable comparison. The flavor I get just makes me sit down and think about how much I love cigars. Toward the end of this third, there is a leathery body with a nice, floral finish.

Strong ash, I can't wait to try the box-press.

The burn is flawless and the ash strong straight through to the second third. The flavor profile changes somewhat, but stays powerful and flavorful, with a leathery, peppery body and a floral finish. There is a slight bit of celery salt and nuts mixed in as well. As the 15th burns down to the last third, it loses a bit of it’s former complexity.

At an end; cigar mellowed out a bit too much for me.

The last third is pretty unremarkable. The flavors are watered down, much more mellow, much less flavorful. There is slight hints of leather and nuts, but the pepper and the sweetness is gone. This is just a review of a single cigar, so it might not be so for the regular production line; this isn’t even in the finalized format. I can imagine that cigars with a box-press, and thus more dense tobacco might pack a bit more flavor in the end, but that’s a pretty uneducated guess.

Final Judgment: The 15th Anniversary packs a fantastic opening and a great body, but the last third leaves something to be desired. If the box-pressed format can contain more of the flavor, then this will be a winner of a cigar. A good edition to Rocky’s portfolio regardless.

Alternate View/ Review: A Cigar Smoker’s Journal

Ubi Cigar Quick Notes

Questions? Comments? Leave them in the comments section or feel free to email me at ubicigar@gmail.com!