Samuel's Picks

Samuel
SAMUEL
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TASTE:Natural tobacco / anything new
HOBBIES:Video games, dogs, documentaries, smoking new cigars
STRENGTH:Medium to full
FAVORITE BRANDS

Oliva Serie V Melanio

ADVentura the Navigator

Crowned Heads Mil Dias

Aladino Cameroon Robusto 5" * 50

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Aladino Cameroon Robusto 5 * 50
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JRE's Cameroon Robusto is a Honduran puro. Consisting of a (you guessed it) Cameroon wrapper and corojo binders and fillers. This stick has a creamy smoke texture, a slightly resistant draw that opens up quickly, and a perfect burn line. I would say the construction and curing process are excellent! For flavors, I picked up a moderate sweetness, cedar, nuttiness, and a gentle peppery spice. With a friendly price structure, premium build, and experienced farmers behind it this blend didn't have a downside for me. The spice, while present, was tame and is unlikely to offend. With lots of flavor, but none of it over bold, I think this cigar could be recommended to anyone who will smoke a half step above true mild. Picked on 06/11/2024

Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown Torpedo 6"1/2 * 54

Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown Torpedo 61/2 * 54
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Perdomo's 20th Anniversary Sungrown Torpedo is, well, I guess its all there in the name. If you look at the effort that went into this cigar and the price tag on it we really find why Perdomo is a name most of know. The tobaccos selected for this cigar are 8 years aged, high priming, and topped with a bourbon barrel-aged wrapper. This cigar really nailed the sungrown experience of cedary, spicy, with a sweet finish. The extra kick on the front end of this cigar is a great way to get your mouth glowing but as the palate adjusts to the experience it tames out nicely into a medium to full strength stick. The sweet finish blends into earthier notes at end of this cigar and the spice softens keeping this stogie flavorful but balanced throughout. Burn time at 50 minutes, no construction issues, friendly price, bold but not unhinged. I would recommend this cigar to any sungrown fans and Perdomo as a whole to those who don't know it. Great cigars, great prices, and an easy to navigate product line. Cheers! Picked on 02/20/2024

La Galera Maduro Vitola No. 1 3"1/4 * 50

La Galera Maduro Vitola No. 1 31/4 * 50
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La Galera Maduro No. 1 is a short, flavorful, and well balanced medium to full bodied Dominican. Wrapped in a nice maduro San Andreas wrapper that acts the part carrying a rich, but not overbearing flavor profile including coco, cedar, a gentle spice (not the kind that you feel in the throat), and a light natural sweetness. The vitola smoked for this review was the No. 1, at 3.25 inches and a 50mm ring gauge it is short enough to fit in at lunch, but has a standard girth. Total smoke time for me was just under 20 minutes and with the gauge I got the draw and feel of what I’m used to without the 45-60 commitment. Burn, draw, and construction were perfect and it did not get bitter or harsh towards the end. If La Galera is a brand you’re unfamiliar with, the blender behind the scenes is Jochy Blanco. Still lost? Jochy has been a part of the creation of many staple names in the boutique marketplace, including but not limited to La Flor Dominicana, Aging Room, Kristoff, and Matilde. With approachable single pricing, and box pricing to die for this is a great try for any medium or full strength smoker. Picked on 11/03/2023

Punch Grand Cru Maduro No. II 6"1/8 * 54

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Punch Grand Cru Maduro No. II 61/8 * 54
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Here's a cigar we've had more than 10 years to get a hold of. Whether you're having your first, just recently been introduced, or perhaps had it and forgotten we are all in for a treat. Punch's Grand Cru Maduro No. 2 is going to be an easy try for all but the mildest of smokers. Even then, I would encourage my mild friends to give this cigar a try as well. It is completely devoid of peppers, spices, and the bolder flavors that linger on and dominate the pallet. This cigar will be a great way to approach some of the flavor notes which can be difficult to get from a true mild such as natural floral sweetness, coffee, and coco. With a Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a three country filler blend (Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan) there’s a lot of flavor in this silky smooth medium bodied cigar that will satisfy a broad range of smokers. Burn time on this 6 ? x 54 stick was past an hour and came with an easy draw. Construction, draw, and flavor profile were stable through with no major corrections needed or bitterness detected. The mix of an easy draw and flavorful but smooth profile may encourage some of us to smoke too fast, give this cigar time to burn cool and enjoy! Picked on 08/14/2023

Cuba Aliados Natural Toro 6" * 52

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Cuba Aliados Natural Toro 6 * 52
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Cuba Aliados Natural is a Honduran cigar featuring a Habano wrapper with Corojo fillers and binder. This is a remake of a cigar from the mid 90s by Rolando Reyes Sr and if you've been in the game for a while you may recognize this name or Puros Indios. We can thank Rolando for that! Now the fun part, smoking! This Oliva owned cigar cut nicely, and having smoked alot of JRE tobacco (the company responsible for growing and constructing) I recognized the quality of roll right away. Slightly resistant but completely unobstructed cold draw was a good start. When I lit my new friend up a modest (but not sharp) spice was right up front. Within a 1/4 inch the rest of the flavor profile started to come through with cedar, hay, and a faint natural sweetness being the most note worthy. The light spice really smoothed out for me by the end of the first 3rd and was that dry spice that's welcomed by a nice cold drink that gives the yin and yang mouth experience that entertains but doesn't dominate your sensory experience. The cedar, hay, and natural sweetness stayed pretty consistent throughout the cigar. Total burn time on this toro was the norm at a little over 45 minutes and required only one small touch up by the time the burn got to the band. Overall experience on this cigar was really pleasant. It packed a lot of flavor for a cigar that registered on my pallet as mild to medium, had a reliable construction, industry standard pricing, and is made by stable players in the market. I could see this cigar occupying a regular place in the lineup for people who enjoy fuller bodied tobaccos but are looking for a milder experience that doesn't bore, like it will for me. As well as the true mild smoker who wanted something with a little kick to cap off a big meal with a couple fingers of whiskey. A worthy relaunch! Picked on 06/13/2023

West Tampa Tobacco Company Red Toro 6" * 52

West Tampa Tobacco Company Red Toro 6 * 52
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West Tampa Tobacco Co.'s newest standard line release is the Red. Sporting a San Andres wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler. My first impression was good. It felt good in the hand with a firm pack, handsome band, and a medium complexion San Andres wrapper. Simple straight cut and a cold draw confirmed we were on the right track. The cigar lit easily, stayed lit, and had a perfect little bit of resistance to the draw. Without babying it, my first ash was at two inches and was the nice white we like to see. A genuinely well constructed cigar. Earth, coco, a subtle streak of sweetness, and a little pepper to keep my lips in the game with the rest of my pallet did our beloved San Andres wrapper proud. Slightly front loaded strength that mellowed into medium plus until the nub where it predictable turned full again for the last inch and a half. Exactly what the doctor ordered for a smoker like me. Total burn time was about 45-50 minutes. Overall impression is a yes! For the medium to full smoker I have a hard time finding a reason not to try this one. Industry standard pricing, excellent construction, and a good representative of the tried and true San Andres/Nicaraguan archetype. Picked on 05/03/2023

Kristoff San Andres Robusto 5"1/2 * 54

Kristoff San Andres Robusto 51/2 * 54
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Kristoff's San Andres Robusto is a medium to full bodied cigar comprised of Nicaraguan and Ecuadorian Habano fillers and binders underneath a dark oily Mexican San Andres wrapper. I smoked two of these for this review and had a consistent experience across both tries. Burn time was about 45 to 50 minutes. It was front loaded with a good amount spice that mellowed out after the first inch or so as is normal for tobacco varietals that carry spice, as both Habano and San Andres tobaccos do. Coco and coffee notes were readily available as soon as the cigar warmed up and remained through the smoke. Burn lines on both cigars were almost perfect and required no touch ups. The shaggy foot on this guy seems to light up easily but make sure you really get this thing going before you get distracted. I let my first one go out a couple times and learned my lesson for the second. With a decently resistant draw, this cigar wants you to smoke it, its not one of these fast burners that smokes itself. If you like spice, coco, and coffee give this a try. Picked on 02/10/2023

Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2022 LC52 5" * 52

Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2022 LC52 5 * 52
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The Las Calaveras line is an annual release from Crowned Heads. The skull on the band is inspired by Dias de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), a Mexican holiday meant to honor those who have passed. The 2022 version is the first of the line to be a Nicaraguan puro. It is composed of a Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and fillers. As expected from the corojo wrapper the initial light brought a modest, not at all overpowering, spice that quickly turned to an easy and enjoyable cinnamon. Primary tasting notes throughout the smoke duration include leather, hay, a light earthiness, and the previously mentioned cinnamon. As I progressed into the second and final thirds I discovered coffee coming through more and more, especially on the retrohale. A word to the wise, this cigar had a fairly open draw, it wanted to burn and I was having such a good time with it I had to resist the temptation to smoke it too aggressively. Starting off at a true medium, the Las Calaveras 2022 LC52 crossed the finish line just a slight step above a medium. This cigar is for all but your mildest smokers, if a Corojo wrapped Nicaraguan puro is your thing, or you haven't tried this make before I would encourage you to try this one as it's flavor profile will have a broad appeal compared to many bolder Nicaraguan Corojo offerings. Total burn time was about 40 minutes and I had absolutely no construction problems. I don't know if it was the theme of the cigar (honoring the departed), the holiday spirit carried by Christmas jazz, or getting to work early with my favorite cafe con leche, but this cigar was an awesome ride for me and helped me find a little Zen in this crazy world. We're all lucky to enjoy such fine things as cigars and loved ones. Happy Holidays everyone! Picked on 12/06/2022

Matilde Limited Exposure No. 1 Toro 6" * 50

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Matilde Limited Exposure No. 1 Toro 6 * 50
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Matilde's Limited Exposure No. 1 weighs in at 6" by 50 and is composed of San Andres Wrapper with HVA, Piloto Cubano, and Corojo fillers. This particular cigar was made in 250 boxes of 20 and was released in September of 2021. When I went in for the cut I noticed without trying to, that the triple cap on the cigar was very well constructed and made for a very easy and effective straight cut. The initial light brought some pretty solid spice that after about a 1/4" mellowed. The draw was perfect for me, the slight resistance of a well but not overly packed cigar is a great way to start any stick. As soon as the cigar warmed up it developed a very nice creamy texture that lasted throughout and the rest of the profile emerged. Throughout the cigar I found a consistency of a modest spice, wood, and leather. I started to notice the coco off the San Andres coming through into the second third and a light earthiness into the middle of it. Predictably, the cigar got stronger the more it burned with coco and earth becoming more abundant. Had absolutely no problems with the construction of the cigar; it burned straight, great draw, long ash, healthy and easily cut cap, chef's kiss! I have to say, for a medium to full bodied guy like me this was really a nice one. If you like some spice (not overpowering) and enjoy the adventure of trying different cigars, I hope you're able to get your hands on this one because for 10 bucks the flavors and quality of construction will make this a reliable and entertaining experience from a group you probably haven't tried. Looking forward to trying more from Jose Seijas's Matilde! Picked on 10/25/2022

Punch Rare Corojo Pitas 6"1/8 * 50

Punch Rare Corojo Pitas 61/8 * 50
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Punch's Rare Corojo Pita, measured at 6"1/8 by 50, is a flavorful 5 nation blend with a remarkably smooth taste. Surprisingly economical, this cigar's quality well exceeds its price and is a worthy buy that my humidor will now feel empty without. Comprised of an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, USA Broadleaf binder, and a three-nation filler (Honduran, Dominican, and Nicaraguan); this cigar offers a depth of flavor that will keep the pallet entertained without being overly bold. Upon initial light the cigar carried a modest spice that quickly mellowed and stayed slight through the rest of the burn. Retrohaling this cigar was surprisingly tame and sealed the deal for me on tasting notes. The floral nature and slight sweetness we expect from a Sumatran wrapper were a pleasant compliment to the leather and coco that became more noticeable the closer I came to the finish line. Total smoke time was about an hour and a half. I smoked two of these for this review, and the construction on both was flawless. This stick burnt with the best of them. For those of you looking for a new medium to full bodied cigar with some natural sweetness and a very light spice, look no further. As an annual release, Punch's Rare Corojo is one to grab when you have the chance. Picked on 08/07/2022
Samuel

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