Cigar Reviews

Review: Tobacconist of Greenwich Rare Finds Blend 1011-42

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Today, I’m reviewing the Rare Finds Blend 1011-42, a cigar crafted by Henke and Klaas Kelner exclusively for The Tobacconist of Greenwich. This cigar, aged 3-5 years, hails from the Dominican Republic, continuing the legacy of quality tobacco from the Kelner family, renowned for their work with Davidoff and their own Kelner Cigars, S.A.S. in Santiago de los Caballeros​​​​​​.

Product Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Rare Finds Blend 1011-42
  • Format: Robusto
  • Size: 55 x 5.5
  • Origin: Dominican Republic
  • Aged: 3-5 years

Appearance & Construction

There’s no other way to say it – this is an elegant cigar, with a unique band that seems intent on helping to justify the high price point of the cigar – we’ll see if the cigar performs! Otherwise, the construction is great. No soft spots, nice and firm, with a good, average draw..

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

First Third: The journey begins with a light body but a boldness in strength that defies expectation. High smoke production envelopes the senses with sweet almonds, leather, and toasted bread, all underpinned by a hint of bitter black pepper. The aroma is particularly striking, offering a sweet, nutty, and floral contrast. Delicious.

Second Third: As the experience continues, the aroma evolves, gaining sweet spiciness and a touch of cream. The palate is centered on a spicy, savory, and slightly bitter profile, where black pepper becomes more pronounced, leaving a lingering spice on the tongue.

Final Third: predominant notes of almonds and wood, accented by dashes of spice. The construction remains flawless, characterized by a razor-sharp burn and continued excellent smoke production.

Conclusion

The Rare Finds Blend 1011-42 is a remarkable first release from The Tobacconist of Greenwich. It’s a cigar that demands a slow, sipping approach, allowing the flavors to develop without overheating the ember. The flavors on the palate are delightful, but it’s the aroma that truly distinguishes this cigar. Priced at $48, it stands tall amongst high-end offerings, demonstrating its value through an exquisite smoking experience.

This is an excellent cigar. Well worth pursuing. You can purchase it on the Tobacconist of Greenwich website here.

Final Score: 92

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Review: Lihtun Double and Triple Jet 5-in-1 Lighters

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In the world of cigar accessories, it’s often a choice between low-priced, subpar tools and high-priced, high-quality ones. Finding a brand that strikes the perfect balance between quality and affordability is a rare gem. LIHTUN, a sub-brand of Xifei Cigar Accessories, offers a selection of innovative cigar tools that are built to last without costing an arm and a leg.

LIHTUN Double Jet 5-in-1 Lighter

The LIHTUN Double Jet 5-in-1 Lighter stands out as a solid product in their lineup. Priced between $30-$40, this versatile tool offers an impressive range of features without compromising on quality.

This lighter features dual torch flames with a unique inward angle, allowing for precise lighting and ensuring an even toasting of your cigar. The slight inward angle may seem insignificant, but it’s actually huge, because you can have all the torch jets in the world but if you can’t stop the lighter from scorching the wrapper leaf (like those annoying tabletop lighters), what’s the point of buying a decent accessory to begin with?

Other features that set it apart include its built-in V cutter and punch cut, providing versatility for cigar enthusiasts who prefer different cutting methods. Additionally, the lighter comes equipped with a cigar pick, a tool that can help free up the draw of your cigar if you’ve got a tightly rolled cigar. An added thoughtful touch is the top, which doubles as a cigar rest, adding convenience to an already feature-packed tool.

LIHTUN Triple Jet 5-in-1 Lighter

For those seeking an even more powerful flame and a heavier build, the LIHTUN Triple Jet 5-in-1 Lighter is a fantastic choice. This three-torch lighter is designed to provide a consistent and controlled burn for your cigar. Compared to the Double Jet lighter, it’s quite a bit heavier, in part due to its attached V Cut. It has an impressive weight in hand and just feels good to use. And, as you can see, has a totally different design. Between the two, I prefer this lighter.

With its triple torch flames, all angled inward, lighting your cigar (even with wind) is easy. Just like its sibling, the LIHTUN Triple Jet Jet 5-in-1 Lighter includes a V cutter and punch cut, offering the same versatility for a perfect cigar cut every time. Additionally, it features a cigar pick, allowing you to fine-tune your cigar’s draw to your liking. And lastly – the lighter button is shaped in a way that allows it to be used as a cigar rest. Pretty cool.

LIHTUN, a sub-brand of Xifei Cigar Accessories, has succeeded in finding that elusive balance between quality and affordability with their LIHTUN Double and Triple Jet and 5-in-1 Lighters. These tools offer precision torch flames, versatile cutting options, a cigar pick, and thoughtful design features without the premium price tag.

You can learn more about Xifei Cigar Accessories and shop their entire catalogue by visiting their website.

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Blind Review: Penn Standard Pennsylvania Broadleaf Robusto

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Budget friendly brand Penn Standard is cigar using a Pennsylvania Broadleaf maduro wrapper. I haven’t smoked this brand before and I tend to shy away from “budget” smokes as they tend to be under fermented or underfilled. I’d rather spend more on better tobacco and enjoy the time I have to smoke. That being said if I ever find a cigar that has quality and value I am all over it. This being a blind tasting, I could only see at the beginning that it’s a dark robusto that is waiting for me to smoke. 

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Penn Stand Pennsylvania Broadleaf Robusto
  • Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua, Pennsylvania 
  • Size: 5″x 50 Robusto

Appearance and Construction

This is a very veiny dark maduro with a rounded head and molted wrapper. To the touch it is rock solid as I give it a squeeze. Its a bit dry looking and as I give it a roll in my palm I can feel the veins in the wrapper. The foot smells of prunes and a dusty note.

Taste and Smoke Characteristics

Using my Xikar scissors I clipped the round head and the dry draw is of prunes and a bit sour. My single flame torch evenly lights the foot and the first puff is gritty and sour. I’m getting some tanginess on the end which is off-putting. The mouthfeel is chewy and the retrohale I take has a burnt almond taste that end soured. The burn line is perfect and the ash is becoming whiter. The profile is in the medium range although there isn’t a substantial amount of smoke which surprises me as the cigar seems packed with tobacco. 

The middle starts to develop an oak character with vegetal notes. There’s a dustiness and tangy finish as take a slow draw and allow the smoke to waft into my mouth. The draw begins to become uneven and I pick up graham cracker and more wood. The retrohale brings white pepper and cedar with a short finish of balsawood. More smoke begins to appear as the robusto burns leaving a dense meaty flavor to it. The ash now turns gray with spots of white and continues its medium profile. 

As I make my way to the last third there are hearty flavors of meat and oak which turn sour similar to the first half of the cigar. Over roasted coffee beans dominate the smoke and gives a burnt finish. Once again the retrohale gives white pepper and cedar without much complexity thus far. The grittiness returns with pencil lead and a longer finish than before. With a final draw the cigar dies off leaving a charry oak and cherry note that sat on my palate for a while. 

Conclusion

As I said initially I am hesitate with “budget” cigars as even though I’m not expecting the most complex smoke, I find bitter notes off putting. This robusto had too many tangy and sour points for me to enjoy it as much as I could. What did appeal to me was the white pepper and cedar along with the graham cracker when it came around. Finding out this was a J. Fuego cigar and the price point I’ll give it credit for its efforts however I’d seek out another cigar of better quality and value or spend a little more for something I will enjoy while I carve out a moment for a cigar. 

Final Rating: 86

Blind Review: Montecristo Platinum Robusto

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The Montecristo Platinum Robusto is meticulously crafted in La Romana, Dominican Republic by Altadis, a subsidiary of the British conglomerate Imperial Brands. This brand boasts a rich heritage, traditionally renowned as one of the most coveted Cuban cigars globally. Interestingly, it’s worth noting that the Montecristo brand has a dual existence, with the Cuban version under the ownership of Habanos SA, and a completely distinct Dominican counterpart under Altadis.

The Cuban iteration’s origins date back to July 1935, when Alonso Menéndez acquired the Particulares Factory. A year later, in July 1936, Menéndez established a new venture with a partner, christening it Menéndez, García y Cía. Following their departure from the turmoil of the Cuban revolution, Menéndez and García rekindled their brand in the Canary Islands and subsequently in La Romana, before eventually being acquired by Altadis S.A. The brand’s name is an ode to The Count of Monte Cristo, a masterpiece penned by Alexandre Dumas père.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Montecristo Platinum Robusto
  • Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Peru, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic
  • Size: 5×54

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a tipple capped maduro robusto.  The wrapper leaf is paper thin. The cap is a darker shade than the rest of the wrapper.  The cigar is packed tighter at the bottom and looser at the top.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper and foot smell like a combo of Cinnabon’s and hay bales.

The cigar has a very loose cold draw with molasses on the breath. Sweetness….

First puff is faint.  Sweet leather and mesquite.  Leather aroma.  Toasty retro. Great smoke production. Good heat maintenance. The smoke has a very light body to it that is dominated by cedar, leather, and baking spices. Burn line could be better.

Second third starts off with some canoeing that I have to touch up. The smokes body is still faint with nuances of leather, sweetened coffee and cinnamon. Ash buildup is flaky.  Good heat maintce and smoke production.  Burn line is still struggling. A little marshmallow as we go into the final stretch.

Last third needed another touch up for more canoeing.  The smoking experience is still very singular and airy.  Baking spices and leather nuances but nothing overpowering. Black coffee and pepper finish. Leathery retrohale and aroma.

Conclusion

In conclusion the Montecristo Platinum Robusto wasn’t a great smoke but it wasn’t an absolute failure.  The Montecristo Platinum Robusto is definitely an anytime smoke, but not a smoke for somebody looking for complexity or a thicker more flavorful body. Touch ups don’t bug me too much, I’m used to it at this point in the game, but I can see that bothering some people.  If you like leather and baking spices give the Montecristo Platinum Robusto a shot. Just don’t tell anybody I was the one that recommended it. Enjoy!

Final Score: 80

Blind Review: Davidoff Signature No.1 Limited Edition

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When Davidoff announced they were rereleasing the discontinued Davidoff Signature number one I was anxiously awaiting to try it. The lancero format is one of my favorite sizes as I feel you get a nice taste of the wrapper and with the concentrated tobaccos in the filler you can really pickup nuanced flavors. That’s not to say all lanceros are the best as it still needs the skill of a blender to be able to use the right components to have this vitola shine through. Regardless whenever I see a lancero I am eager to try them and with this blind tasting I couldn’t wait to light up

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff Signature No.1 Limited Edition
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut 
  • Binder: Ecuadorian
  • Filler: Dominican 
  • Size: 7” ½ x 39 (Lancero)

Appearance and Construction

The lancero is a claro wrapper that’s a bit pale and veiny. As I squeeze the cigar it is noticeably soft in several places. The pigtail stands out with a coil truly that of a pig. The foot brings cedar, barely wine and pepper that tingles my sinus. The roll on this cigar flows nicely in hand and is a good looking light cigar. 

Tasting and Smoke Characteristics

The cut slices the pigtail cap easily and the draw is perfect. With a puff there is leather, hay and some salinity to it. With my single flame Xikar I light up and the first flavors are sweet sandalwood, caramel and toast. The body of the cigar is more intense than I assumed from the wrapper and is in the medium to full range. A retrohale has oak and walnut with wheat flowing through. A flaky dark grayish ash begins to form with subtle smoke emanating at this point. There’s a floral note which brings about a tart fruitiness that finishes long. The burn is a bit fast.

In the second half I take a slow draw as to not to have the cigar move too quickly and miss some of its flavors. There are some more floral tastes which surprisingly bring in white pepper for an added change in the profile. The cigar continues to deliver a heartier strength than I had perceived and the ash is really beginning to flake off. The retrohale has walnut and a creamy finish that lingers which reminds me of an aged “Cubanesque” profile. The white pepper that was initially there is now black pepper that covers the sides of my mouth with a zippy acidity. 

Despite the cigar burning faster than I enjoy, the flavors have turned to a creamier mix with toffee and nuts on the long finish. Cedar returns along with the barley wine smell from the foot with a leather that leaves the drying sensation as the smoke is exhaled. I get sweetness from the wrapper along with a mustiness that at times has a mushroom/earthy quality to it. Another retrohale gives off more earth, pencil lead and pepper which gets a bit muddled at its end. The burn is sharp even with the ash not holding on well and the strength settles into a medium body. Coffee and wood return with a shorter sharper finish than I’ve experienced before. A final puff initiates a waft of smoke with some sweetness and an herbaceous note that elongates its finish.

Conclusion

This was a well-constructed lancero with a slightly fuller body than the wrapper would indicate. This proves that the appearance of a cigar whether darker or lighter, does not necessarily give a clue as to how strong a cigar will be. The sweetness, wood and pepper that seemed to permeate throughout the cigar was pleasing as well as the long finishes. The change in the last third gave a more earthy profile ending in a sweeter finish. Finding out this was a Davidoff No.1 was quite pleased they brought these back as even though it’s not the most complex cigar the flavors are there if you smoke it slow. I would certainly recommend picking a few up. 

Final Score: 90

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