5 Vegas Shorty (Petite Torpedo 4.2" x 40)
Being as I have liked everything I have tried from 5 Vegas, I chose this cigar next out of the bundle of fine stogies sent by Sammis. Also, I am inexperienced with cigars this small and wanted to try it just for the size.
The 5 Vegas Shorty looks exactly like a 5 Vegas Miami that has been shrunken down in size; it measures 4.2" x 40. It is made up of Honduran tobaccos in a Cameroon wrapper. I am assuming this actually is the 5 Vegas Miami in a smaller size; someone correct me if I am wrong.
I held the little fella under my nose, and it had a rich aroma that was slightly cedary. The cigar was slightly rough in texture but very even and solidly built. I cut the cap without incident (Again?! I’m on a roll!), and the prelight draw was medium, perfect in fact, and tasted a bit chocolately and cedary at the same time. Toasting the foot was pleasing to the nose, and the cigar was lit.
The first puffs were a bit... complex. It is hard to describe, but I tasted wood, and a straight tobacco flavor, and a faint metallic tang. I think there was a bit of coffee in there, and kinda sorta perhaps some dark chocolate. Maybe. The volume of smoke was as one would expect from such a little stick, that is, a lot less than a robusto or corona, but still quite enough to enjoy. The metallic tang disappeared after the first puff or two and did not return until near the nub when the cigar was burning pretty hot.
The first third immediately made clear one of the differences in sizes of cigars: smoke temperature. This cigar’s smoke was as warm from the start as a robusto would be when I am rushing it and it’s time to let it cool off for a minute. The burn line was very sharp and totally even, and the ash was a very pale gray and solid, with black streaks showing through the cracks. The cigar started to take on a dusty sort of undertone in addition to all the other subtle tastes.
I found the middle third beginning with a fading away of most of the “up front” (beginning of the puff) taste profile that was so hard to describe early on in the first third. However, the finish and the aftertaste, practically absent in the first third, were beginning to get strong and hot and leathery. Smoke volume increased quite a bit, and the ash fell off at about half an inch and sat in the ashtray a small unbroken cylinder.
The final third was very similar to the middle third, with some intensification of the flavors and a bit of a build in strength. (I found this stick to be medium in body.) Smoke volume increased still more, and the smoke got very hot at the end (which was to be expected) somewhat to the detriment to the flavor.
Overall, this is a nice little cigar, and better than I expected for the size. (I don’t remember ever being terribly impressed with a small cigar, and that might be caused by a defect in my approach to them. I’m willing to submit to the tutelage of anyone who has more experience with them.) I have had a couple of 5 Vegas Miamis in the more conventional sizes, but it was a while ago and I do not remember how I felt about them. Score: 78. I found the flavor profile a little less than impressive after the first few puffs; there was a nice burst of flavor in the last third as well. I think I failed to respect the cigar’s size, and rushed it. I’ll have to go more slowly with the next one. I can certainly commend the makers of this cigar for the lovely prelight aroma, though, and flawless construction. Very nice. Many thanks to Sammis.
Someone help me out here: I know this is a boutique brand for Famous Smoke Shop… but a little birdie told me that this brand is blended for Famous by Don Pepin Garcia. Can someone confirm or deny this for me?
La Riqueza #3 Tatuaje 5.5x46
Ashwhuper dropped this one on me in the Pryme split. One of the benefits of trades and splits when one can enjoy many of the fine cigars available today.
Made by Pete Johnson and Don Jose "Pepin Garcia" you would expect something great. The name translates to "The Riches" in Spanish. These are Nicaraguan puros and like the other Tatuaje series are spicy, sweet, with filled with flavor. The dark Connecticut wrapper is somewhat oily and toothy. Consistantly firm role, perfectly even burn and sweet mellow finish make them a treat above many others. They are medium bodied but deliver a cloud of rich, thick smoke. The robust flavors stack slightly toward the very end but not unlike other medium bodied smokes.
Although there are many excellent blends available, I'm all for a good puro, be it Nicaraguan, Dominican or whatever. There is just something rewardingly different when smoking a puro.
On a scale of 1-10 I rate this cigar 9.1. :smiley20:
Perdomo Fresco Toro (6x50)
Having reviewed a Perdomo last week, I decided to go back to that well and try the Perdomo Fresco in the Toro vitola, kindly donated by Sammis.
The Perdomo Fresco wears a Connecticut shade grown wrapper. According to another Web site, the wrapper is a Criollo ’98. This may be the same thing, I’m not sure. The binder and fillers are from the Jalapa Valley in Nicaraga. This cigar comes garbed in a wide, modern, funky, dark-but-multicolored festive band. It sort of reminded of something one would see at a Mardi gras party.
The wrapper was dark brown with a nice oily sheen, slightly rough but not coarse, and construction was otherwise good, firm but not hard. There was a slight ridge in the cigar from about the middle to the head end, but it could not be seen, only felt. This stick felt a little light in the hand for its size, and I expected it to have a relatively short burn time even though it was a sizable Toro.
The unlit aroma was dark and rich and reminded me slightly of bitter chocolate. I helped it doff its cap, and the prelight draw was a little tight. The taste was again chocolatey. I toasted the foot, which brought no particular aroma to the room. The cigar lit readily, as if eager to be smoked. Smoke volume was huge, and the mild smoke tasted a bit dry and dusty at first, with not much else going on, except maybe a little nuttiness. The smoke hanging in the room gave it a pleasant aroma. The draw was nice, not as tight as I feared it would be.
In the first third the dustiness faded and the plain tobacco taste was very smooth. The burn line was very sharp and only slightly uneven. The ash was light gray with slightly darker streaks and held firm to the cigar. The nuttiness increased as the cigar continued its journey to the nub. The overall flavor profile included just a shadow of acidity and bitterness. The ash was still holding on as we approached the middle third until I dropped the cigar from mouth height into the ashtray, knocking the ash off and cracking the wrapper from the (nicely cone-shaped) coal to the middle of the cigar, about 1.5 inches. Yes, I know I’m a clumsy fool.
In the middle third the nuttiness of the flavor intensified very nicely and added a tiny bit of chocolate, and despite my fumble I was enjoying this cigar quite a bit. The acidity and bitterness were gone and the flavor was nutty and still a bit dusty in a positive way, and maybe was starting to become leathery; the aftertaste, heretofore unnoticeable, was starting to build and was nutty and perhaps the slightest bit metallic. The volume of the smoke remained quite admirable. The crack in the wrapper did not expand beyond its original dimensions; the Perdomo sailed past it as if allowing me to take a Mulligan, just this time. By the time I had reached the very center of the stick the crack was history; I was quite impressed!
The second ash fell off at a full two inches in length, perhaps a bit more.
The final third was much of the same, with the flavors jelling a bit more and smoothing out a bit. The body climbed well into medium near the nub. I was wrong about the expected short smoke time; this cigar lasted me an hour and 15 minutes.
The Perdomo Fresco is a decent, well constructed mild-to-almost-medium-bodied cigar that’s priced for everyday consumption. The flavor profile, while not terribly complex, did show some nice evolution, even if the flavors were a bit discordant at times. There was a lot of change back and forth between flavors, especially in the middle of the cigar; these changes were not always consonant, and jangled the senses a bit. I likened it to a band of talented musicians that have not quite jelled with each other yet. Much like other Perdomos the flavor profile is on the vegetal side and lacking in leather. Perhaps I was weak this afternoon or this stick has quite a bit of nicotine despite its mostly mild body; my head was swimming a bit at the end.
It’s an enjoyable smoke. I scored this stick: 16.05 (x5) = 80.25, gaining a half point for a very nice unlit aroma and losing a half point for a weak start. I added three-quarters of a point for the way the cigar brushed aside my dropping and cracking it for a final score of 81.
Many thanks to Sammis for this relaxing afternoon.
Olor Fuerte Bellicoso (6 x 54)
A gift from my friend Deedubya.
This evening I smoked an Olor Fuerte in the bellicoso/torpedo size (never could tell the difference, really). I saw a review of this cigar by Logan37, and it seems he found it to be a complex stick with a “dark” taste. I thought I saw a review of this by Deedubya as well, but I could not find it. Perhaps I am mistaken, there.
The cigar is made up of Dominican, Nicaraguan and Brazilian fillers with a Mexican San Andreas binder and a dark Talanga Cubano wrapper. The cigar was slightly rough but with a very oily sheen asd a solid heft. The unlit aroma was rich and dark, and the smell of cherries (mentioned by Logan37 in his review) was strong and clear.
I cut the cap, and the prelight draw was delicious, like chocolate and cherries. I contemplated the serious-looking black and gold band as I toasted the foot, and drew in the first couple of puffs of smooth, voluminous smoke. It tasted like more chocolate, and the cherry flavor was there, too, and as Logan37 mentioned, sweet leather.
The opening third saw in increase in leather; the sweetness started to fade a bit, the cherry flavor was nearly gone, and the cigar started to settle into a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and a rich leathery aftertaste with a slight note of that cherry flavor at the very end. The ash held on for the ride to a length of more than an inch and was solid and light gray. Smoke volume was really pleasantly big.
The middle third was mainly a continuation of the first third, with the flavor profile holding steady. The final third showed an increase of leather and a strengthening of body. The cigar showed a smooth, gradual, undramatic evolution from a memorable start to a strong finish. The draw was perfect throughout.
The Olor Fuerte is a fine, medium-bodied stick with abundant, consistent character and a long lifespan, and well worth the asking price. I had this cigar with a low-budget Pilsner, but I would hazard a guess that a strong red wine would be a better pairing with this stick; I would stay away from whiskey, which I believe would tarnish the sweetness in the aftertaste.
I saw some complaints online about construction problems with this variety, but I did not encounter any problem; construction of this stick was absolute aces. Also touted was the cigar’s complexity, and I agree with that for the most part. Some retail outlets advertise this as a full-bodied cigar, but I think medium would be a better categorization. I scored this stick a solid 84, plus one point for the fabulous unlit aroma and prelight draw and another half point for the aftertaste of leather and cherries. I added yet another half point for a stylish start, for a final score of 86.
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Winston Churchill Marrakesh 6x50
New Year's Day
My sweet sister bestowed upon me a very much appreciated Christmas gift. Created by Davidoff these Winston Churchill Marrakesh are one of four vitolas produced to honor the legendary Sr. Winston Churchill. Each is dedicated to a particular time or place in his life and love for cigars. Marrakesh was a place that he loved to relax and paint and of course smoke cigars.
The Marrakesh is a handsome cigar, not too smooth and pretty like some Davidoffs but somewhat veiny and toothy. The roll however is very uniform with a perfect cap. They consist of a "secret blend" of 5 diverse Dominican Cuban-seed fillers, bound with a Dominican Yamasa' Cuban-seed binder, and finally wrapped with an Ecuadorian special sun-grown leaf. The roll is medium firm and makes for a very easy pre-light draw. Also, I savored the clean, earthy scents of the wrapper. I like to breathe on the wrapper as one would fog his glasses to clean them and then sniff the length of the cigar. It seems to enhance the aromas.
Having consumed a very hearty Standing Rib Roast, candied yams, black-eyed peas and all the trimmings I was primed and anxious to give one a try. I v-cut, toasted and immediately achieved a perfect coal. I knew with the first puff that this was going to be special. Earthy, rich, thick and creamy best describes it with my limited vocabulary. That special essence of the aging process is most evident. The flavor is full yet mild, spicy and delicious. Although I am not one for exhaling through the nose, this would be a candidate for getting that extra pleasure.
I enjoyed this wonderful cigar for about an hour but could have easily stretched it an extra 30 minutes. All the while the beautiful crisp, light gray ash held firm, tipping it only twice. The flavors grew slightly bolder toward the end but totally without any bitterness. The scrooge that I am, I nubbed it until my fingers were smoking, still enjoying the rewards of a nobleman.
Having only smoked one of the series (Blenheim, Chequers, No. 10, & Marrakesh) I can only commend Davidoff for it alone as a tribute to the great Statesman. However, I will soon sample the remaining vitolas. At $415/box, they are quite pricey and I hope to find a sampler pack with all four. Cheers. :smiley20:
On a scale of 1-10 I rate this cigar 9.3.
