Review: Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2011

Background

I thought I would post this weeks second review a day early due to the holiday here in the states. My thought is many people have taken today off from work or if they are working, like me, are not feeling really motivated. What better way to waste time than to read some cigar reviews? So a very happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Now onto the review!

A few weeks back I posted a comparison review of the Oliva V Serie Maduro Especial from 2008 and 2009. As I mentioned in that review, Oliva switched from using a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper to a Mexican San Andreas wrapper in 2010. Oliva has continued the use of a Mexican wrapper in the recently released 2011 maduro and changed the vitola from the torpedo to a toro. After letting the fourth installment of this cigar rest for a couple of weeks, I sat down last Sunday afternoon to enjoy some much needed smoking time. Let's get to burning!

Stogie Stats

Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligero
Strength: Medium/Full
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6.00 x 50
Age: N/A
MSRP: About $9.00

Review

As I mentioned, the 2011 release changed from a Torpedo used during the last three releases to 6 x 50 Toro. The stick is beautifully wrapped in a rich milk chocolate wrapper. It is firmly packed throughout and has a luscious aroma full of earth and chocolate. The pre-light draw is a little tight but is full of rich flavors.

After toasting the foot, the initial draw welcomes me with a lot of dark chocolate and some pepper. This quickly progresses with the addition of leather and espresso. There is a lot of salt on the finish and I am unsure how I feel about this, as it is quite pronounced. Additionally, I notice some nice sweetness that appears periodically every few draws. The draw is perfect and the ash is a dirty gray color. The ash holds for about an inch before falling and thus far there are no issues with the burn. The first third continues on with the dark (bittersweet) chocolate and espresso flavors. The leather is coming and going and the salty finish is still present. Needless to say, I am drinking a fair amount of water with this stick.

At the beginning of second half the espresso becomes a bit more dominant to the dark chocolate. This is a very enjoyable beginning of second third. The leather continues to trade places with these flavors. The draw is still great but the ash will not hold longer than 3/4 of an inch. The stick is pouring smoke on every pull but remains cool. The salt on the finish disappears but then re-emerges at the end of second third. The strength is a solid medium but I would rate the flavor profile as medium/full thus far.

The last third starts with the same flavors as the second but the salty finish has disappeared again. The burn remains straight. The leather is coming on strong now and I notice some spice on the finish. This continues throughout the final third. The flavors remain in the medium/full range but I never feel a nicotine kick. It is a nice end to a beautiful cigar as I nub it down to about the last inch.

Conclusion

I think the Toro is a good size for this blend. The cigar lacks some of the complexity when compared to 2009 maduro but I liked it better than the 2008 or 2010 releases. I would have enjoyed it more if not for the saltiness during the first third. I felt this took away from the otherwise pleasant flavors during that part of the smoking experience. The second and last third really shined, however. In conclusion, I would give the Oliva Serie V Maduro a Stogie Geeks Rating of “The Fiver”. MSRP is reasonable and it was an enjoyable smoke. Check it out if you get the chance. Now can someone pass the stuffing and gravy? Salud!

Review: Partagas Benji Menendez Master Series Collection (2011)

Background

The Partagas Benji Menendez Master Series Majestuoso was originally released in limited quantities (5000 boxes) as a 6 x 46 vitola in 2009. The cigar was a hit and landed the number fifteen spot on Cigar Aficionado's Best of 2009 list. Some say it was the best Dominican Partagas ever released. I first came across this stick at my local Brick & Mortar about a year ago. After having one, I immediately bought every last one they had and squirrelled them away. The following excerpt is from my tasting notes of the original release;

Balanced and smooth, flavors include wood and a classic Cameroon spice with a nice cherry sweetness on the finish. There are hints of pepper. Perfect burn and draw. Fantastic stick!

Sadly, there are only two remaining in my humidor. I have been keeping a watchful eye out for more with the hopes of stumbling upon a dusty box in the corner of some random B&M or online retailer. Over the Summer, while I searched online for more, I came across the following press release from General Cigar;

Benji Menendez is a true a legend whose storied career in the premium cigar business spans more than 50 years. The 2009 limited release of his namesake Master Series earned the cigar a spot in Cigar Aficionado’s coveted Top 25 cigars of the year and depleted the supply from tobacconists’ humidors. In honor of the industry’s most beloved cigar master, General Cigar proudly presents a one-time issuance of the “Toro” front mark, protected in a handsome “book” box to add to the discerning cigar smoker’s collection. This special offering will be unveiled in November, for a suggested retail price of $124.99.

So after patiently waiting for five months, I was ecstatic to get my hands on the re-release at my local Brick and Mortar last week. This release is in a larger vitola (6 x 54) and while I am unsure how many gift boxes are available, they still seem widely available on the internet.  Let's see what this re-release has to offer.

Stogie Stats

Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Cameroon Binder: Habano Connecticut Filler: Dominican Republic (piloto cubano), Nicaragua (Esteli Ligero and Ometepe) Strength: Medium Vitola: Toro Size: 6 x 54 Age: N/A MSRP: $124.99 (Gift Box of 12 Cigars)

Review

The cigar is uniformly firm and has a spicy scent. One thing I immediately notice when comparing it the original release, is the larger size of the cigar and the appearance of the wrapper. The wrapper appears think, heavy, and strong. A slightly lighter shade from the original, it contains the same toothy and oily appearance. The pre-light draw is full of spicy tobacco flavor and seems perfect. The cigar band remains unchanged and is identical to the original.

The first third opens with wood and spice. The draw is a little tighter than I prefer but this is more of a personal preference as it does not seem to hinder the burn. There is a fantastic amount of spice on the retrohale, which is very enjoyable. The finish is short but smooth. The ash is holding about an inch and the the burn is a little jagged. It is at about this point I begin to detect that familiar cherry sweetness on the finish. This is one of the reasons I loved the original release and I am happy it has made an appearance. The stick is pouring smoke at this point.

The second third begins with the same flavor profile. The flavors are very balance but I am feeling a bit of a nicotine kick at this point. All the same I am enjoying the finish and large amounts of smoke on each draw. The spice is not as strong as I remember and I question if the larger ring gauge and consequential, lower wrapper to filler ratio, may be at fault. The ash is holding for about an inch before falling and the burn has straightened itself out. The cherry finish is becoming more dominant as the second third ends.

At the onset of the last third, the Cameroon spice really kicks up a notch and I am really enjoying it when I pass the smoke through my sinus'. The burn and draw continue to be great and I nub the stick. The nub remains cool and firm.

Conclusion

Partagas did a great job with the re-release of the blend. Although I feel I enjoyed the original 6 x 46 size more. I thought the Cameroon spice was a little more muted in this release and the cherry sweetness was more dominant. It is difficult to say if it was due to the size difference or just the two years of age on the 2009 release. I do think the re-release, like the original, will only get better with age. Consequently, I am going to give the 2011 Partagas Benji Menendez Master Series a Stogie Geeks Rating of "Box Worthy". If you enjoy the unique spice of a Cameroon wrapper, the 12 count box is certainly worth the MSRP. You may want to act quickly, however, as I am sure these will go fast.

Stogie Geeks Podcast Episode 4 - "Killer Spiders and setting Dave on Fire"

Download Episode 4 Here

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Stogie of the Week

Montecristo Edmundo

Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
Strength: Medium
Vitola: Robusto(ish)
Size: 5.3 (135mm) x 52
Age: N/A
MSRP: $12.00

This weeks beer is the Narragansett Porter.

Paul's This Week In Smoke

Alec Bradley Fine and Rare - Very interesting smoke with 10 different types of tobacco. I should have paid more attention to the flavors, as the changes were subtle. This is a medium bodied smoke that smokes forever (smoking time for me was almost 2 hours, but I was talking a lot during the smoke). You should buy at least 2 of these, one to smoke and one to age. One of the better AB's I've ever tried.

Partagas Serie D #4 - I have to agree with Cigar Aficionado, this is a great year for Cuban cigars. This particular smoke is exceptional. They are smoking so awesome right now. This has to be one of my most cherished robust size cigars. Considering some of the construction issues with cigars from this country, I've had great luck with this size and brand. Complex flavors, hints of sweetness and other flavors that I can't pinpoint, but for sure this is a box-worthy purchase. This one was not aged long, box dated Oct 2010 or so. My sister, who is not a regular cigar smoker, was impressed and raved about this stick!

Opus X Robusto - I actually smoked two Opus X cigars recently. Both were very good, the sizes escape me at the moment, but they were smaller robust size Opus. Both presented the typical leather flavor profile you get from Opus, burned great with a little help, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Many people knock this blend, preferring Anejo or the Casa Fuente blend. All in all I enjoy Opus, the regular line of sizes are great, and the "Love Affair" is still by far my favorite Opus in the world.

Viaje Satori Zen (original release) - Despite the cracks in the wrapper, this was still a great smoke. The first 3rd was medium body with some earthy flavors, and I was only mildly impressed. However, this cigar came alive in the second half with some awesome toasty, dark, rich flavors, worthy of burning my fingers to crisp to finish it.

Camacho Liberty 2010 - I am going to say it, I love plume. The oily resin turned to a powdery dust is just so appealing. The 11/18 size this comes in makes for an outstanding smoke.

EP Carrillo Short Run 2010 (Toro) - I smoked two of these lately and its becoming one of my favorite medium body smokes. Great earthy and woody flavors, burns great too.

Tim's This Week In Smoke

Arturo Fuente Short Story Maduro – Thanks Stogie Santa! Finally had the opportunity to try one my favorite AF Hemingway sizes in the maduro wrapper. Classic, savory, maduro flavors. Less spice than the Work of Art Maduro but equally enjoyable. Extremely difficult to find but if given a chance I would buy a box of these!

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Exclusivo – Pulled some of these out of the back of the humidor where they haven't seen the light of day in about a year. Great Padron flavor and quality. I forgot how much strength this cigar can have though and probably should have waited until after dinner. Check out our review!

Viaje Skull & Bones ? (2011) – Meh. Lot of power but the flavor just wasn’t there for me. I have found previous Skull & Bones releases to be more enjoyable. The box pressed torpedo was a little better than the regular short torpedo but in the end I finished neither.

Ashton Estate Sun Grown 21 Year Salute – Reviewed the Robusto release of the Ashton ESG series. It is a complex and flavorful cigar but suffered from some construction issues. In the end, I gave it a Stogie Geeks rating of “The Fiver” with the caveat of the price.

Lots of Petit Corona’s – In preparation of our Winter Smoking: The Petit Corona post this week I probably smoked about a dozen petit corona’s in a few days. If you are looking for short, delicious sticks that can be smoked in 30-45 minutes, then this post is for you!

Stogie Tech Segment

Best and worst places to smoke cigars, according to Paul.

Chicago, IL - Up Down Cigar, nice folks, awesome selection, long history. Not much of a lounge to sit and relax, but a really cool shop with a wide variety of super cool accessories. No eating or drinking in the store though. As a side note, Chicago is one of the most unfriendly places for a smoker. The people there really hate smokers, and take great joy in telling you that you can't smoke in the restaurants and bars.

Charlotte, NC - Cutter's Cigar Bar in the Marriot downtown, nicest people I've encountered at a lounge. High prices, decent selection. You can smoke and eat in the same place, love it!

Baltimore, MD - Cross Street Tobacco - The owner is a spurt nice guy, good selection (Padron, Opus and more). Great atmosphere and they serve coffee.

New York City, NY - Carnegie Cigar Lounge - Where Paul and Tim had cigars together for the first time!

Providence, RI - Cigar Masters - Expensive, but nice scenery. Best part is they are open late, which is awesome.

Washington, DC - Shelly's Back Room in DC is by far one of my most favorite places to visit and smoke cigars.

Belgium - Fell short of visiting a shop as it was closed, but thanks to some great friends I was able to sit outside, have dinner, and then enjoy a nice Romeo and Juiletta.

Review: Gurkha Evil Robusto

Background

I honestly don't have a lot of background about this cigar. After spending an hour searching the internet, I will share what I do know. The Gurkha Evil was released at the 2009 IPCPR in New Orleans. There are five sizes in the series including the XO (6 x 60), Torpedo (6.5 x 53), Toro (6 x 50), Churchill (7 x 52), Corona (5 x 43), and the Robusto (5 x 50). Most retailers list the stick as being full in body and strength. The Gurkha website doesn't have much information on the blend but I did find some marketing material that described the flavor profile as 'evil". Um, OK. Lets just get to burning!

Stogie Stats

Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Brazilian
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium/Full
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 x 50
Age: N/A
MSRP: $7.00-$8.00

Review

The pre-light aroma is full of sweetness and earth. The wrapper is a milk chocolate brown, oily, and has no visible flaws. The cigar band covers about a full third of the length of the stick and is printed in a newspaper type fashion. The presentation is well done and this stogie looks and smells fantastic! The cigar feels rock hard and after cutting the cap, the pre-light draw does feel a bit tight. What little flavor I detect mirrors the smell.

After thoroughly toasting the foot, the initial draw is perfect and I am greeted with a lot of earth. As the first third proceeds, the draw continues to prove my initial assessment of being tight wrong and I begin to pick up some subtle sweetness and nuttiness. The earth is still the dominant flavor and the finish has some wood and dryness to it. The ash seems to only want to hold for about 3/4 of an inch before falling but I would rate the burn as above average.

The second third continues with the same earthy core, subtle sweetness, and occasional nutty flavors. Burn and draw are still great but I am beginning to get bored with the flavor profile. Unfortunately, the flavors never change up for me.

The last third continues along this route with the exception of more dryness and wood on the finish. It borders on harshness but isn't too over the top. I stop at about 1 1/2 inches from my cut due to boredom and frustration with the flavor profile, however. The cigar ends with me wishing I had a second glass of water to counter the dryness.

Conclusion

I know its a short review, but what can I say? While the Gurkha Evil provided a unique flavor profile, it just didn't keep my attention. The construction was good but due to the lack of complexity and the dull flavor profile, I am giving the Gurkha Evil Robusto A Stogie Geeks Rating of "The Angler". It was enjoyable enough to smoke while working around the yard, fishing, or doing some other activity, but not worth my undivided attention on a Friday evening. The price point is a bit high in my opinion but I you can find them for a reduced price on occasion. Grab one, try one, and you decide!

Winter Smoking: The Petit Corona

Background

With the cold weather bearing down on us here in the North East, I thought it would be fun to post a quick run down of some of my favorite Winter smokes. More specifically, some of my favorite Petit Corona's. The American Market Petit is officially considered to be a 4 1/2 inch by 42 ring gauge. You will find that many petit corona’s (as labeled by the manufacturers) will vary from this, however. Moreover, a traditional Cuban Petit (Marevas) is much larger (5 1/8 x 42). An example of a very enjoyable smoke I recently reviewed in this vitola was the Tatuaje Seleccion de Cazador Noellas. Regardless of the size differences, I decided the following would be the criteria for this post

1. Must be labeled a Petit Corona (for what that is worth).
2. Can be smoked in under 45 Minutes (after all we are talking single digit temps here).
3. All can be obtained easily in the USA (ff you get my drift).
4. I have enjoyed on a regular basis during the Winter months.

All the petit corona's on this list are between $4.00 and $8.00. A word of caution however, all these cigars pack some punch and I would describe them as Medium/Full in terms of strength and flavor. So without further ado, in no particular order, lets get to burning!

The Smokes

K.A.Kendall 7-20-4 Dog Walker

Origin: Honduras 
Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina
Binder: Columbia
Filler: Nicaraguan, Mexican and Honduran
Strength: Medium
Size: 4 x 40

You have heard us talk about K.A. Kendall's smokes on the podcast before. Same great flavors and construction in a smaller size. A much smaller size. Lots of rich tobacco with hints of wood, spice, and bread. Whether your walking the dog or just standing on your deck freezing your ass off, you can't go wrong with this stick! With a smoking time of well under 45 minutes, it’s a no brainer.

Illusione ~68~ (Bombone)

Origin: Raices Cubanas Honduras
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium/Full
Size: 4 x 44

Holy white pepper bomb batman! Incredible full body smoke for this vitola. Flavors include white pepper and wood with some leather and nuts as it progresses. Construction has always been perfect me. The flavor profile varies so widely from anything else in my winter smoke rotation that I always make sure I have some of these on hand. I especially enjoy the large amounts of white smoke that pours from this fire cracker on every pull.

Tatuaje VI Verocu #5

Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium
Size: 4 x 40

The newcomer to my rotation and most likely the least expensive (about $18 for a five pack). But don't let the price fool you. This little stick is packed with flavor! A beefed up version of the Tatuaje Havana VI (more ligero), this petit has lots of cedar and spice with hints of cinnamon here and there. A nice creamy finish rounds it out. The burn and draw have been A+ on every one I have smoked. Be warned however, the nicotine kick can sneak up on you with this little guy. All the same, I am glad I hunted these down.

Ashton VSG Tres Mystique

Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador Sun Grown Natural
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Strength: Medium
Size: 4 3/8 x 44

The largest and most expensive of this list. It is a bit milder than some of the others. It also may or may not make it under my 45 Minute smoking time requirement but I felt I really had to include it. This vitola happens to be my favorite size in the Virgin Sun Grown (VSG) series. The flavors really come through on the smaller sizes of the VSG's IMHO. Wood, nuts, leather, and a unique, refined, spicy zing that I have only experienced with VSG's. Yes it is a little pricey considering the size but due to its high quality construction and unique flavor profile I keep them in rotation. Winters are long here in the Northeast and the VSG Tres Mystique helps me keep my sanity.

Tatuaje Petit Cazadore Reserva

Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium/Full
Size: 4 x 40

A favorite of mine. I smoked dozens of these things last Winter after it's 2010 IPCPR release. I smoked so many I took a break all summer from them just so I could look forward to them now. The most rich flavored stogie I have tried in this size. The only broadleaf maduro on the list, flavors include caramel, coffee, cocoa, leather, and pepper with a long creamy finish. Draw and burn are fantastic. This made it to my top ten 2010 releases for a good reason.

Conclusion

Unless you lucky enough to have a smoking lounge in your home, a great B&M across the street, or a really understanding wife, I think any of these aforementioned sticks will serve you well during the rough winter months ahead. As always, I am looking for great short smokes for this time of the year, so if you have suggestions, feel free to comment. Keep burning and keep warm my friends!