Arturo Fuente Rosado Gran Reserva Magnum R54 Sun Grown Toro Grande Review

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Arturo Fuente Rosado Gran Reserva Magnum R54 Sun Grown Toro review

Arturo Fuente is known for making great cigars regardless of price range. The average cigar smoker has no need to go all out with an Opus X to have a knockout cigar experience. He can just as easily do so with a regular Gran Reserva or a Short Story at a fraction of the cost. That’s why I’m excited to have this handsome toro in my hand. If the Fuente family is holding its own, then I’ll be most glad that I didn’t burn a gaping hole in my wallet on that Opus!

Product Specs

  • Cigar Reviewed: Arturo Fuente Rosado Gran Reserva Magnum R54 Sun Grown Toro
  • Vitola: Gran Toro (6 1/2 x 54)
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Rosado Sungrown
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican

Aesthetics, Construction & Feel

The Magnum’s appearance is deceptive in a good way. Sporting a flat cap and thick veins, the wrapper looks quite rugged, almost jagged, at first glance. However, the wrapper also sports a texture that’s highly velvety and smooth. The Magnum further distinguishes itself by its body; it expands and contracts with pressure like a pillow while constantly maintaining structural integrity and having virtually no soft spots whatsoever. But the best part of all is the cold odors. A sultry combination of sweet earth and chocolate on both the wrapper and the foot makes for a much-appreciated first in my 3 years of cigar reviewing. At this point, I simply can’t wait any longer, so let’s get on with it.

Arturo Fuente Rosado Gran Reserva Magnum R54 Sun Grown Toro

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

First Third

The Magnum hits hard right off the bat with a strong and rich pepper note in the foreground, supported by a spicy wood note in the background and an equally spicy retrohale. The smoke clouds are nice and thick, and the draw is initially seamless, though it eventually contracts somewhat noticeably. Each and every puff indicates that the tobacco has been aged to complete maturity; none of the quasi-gasoline tastes characteristic of under-matured cigars are to be found here. Admittedly, I made the mistake of being careless when lighting the foot, resulting in an uneven burn. The problem is exacerbated by the Magnum being unable to correct itself. Fortunately, this does nothing to get in the way of the flavor itself.

Second Third

Just before the first third is cleared, a delicious chocolate note appears subtly in the background, and spends the second third making its way into the foreground, eventually going toe-to-toe with the spice. Meanwhile, the background acquires a salty essence that compliments the spice quite nicely. The retrohale also begins to change around this time, morphing from its initially spicy essence into a peppery one. The burn is still unable to even itself out, and the draw begins to tighten again, but these inconveniences are mitigated by another first for yours truly: the aroma of the smoke clouds, which still maintain their thickness, sports a lovely cinnamon sugar note that is simply to die for.

Final Third: Point of Convergence

The point of convergence is slightly anti-climactic. The draw doesn’t loosen up as hoped, though it should also be noted that it doesn’t tighten either. The spice and the chocolate that have dominated the foreground begin to merge together into a flavor that gains strength, almost to the point of singing the palette. The background, meanwhile, holds steady with its spice and salt, and the retrohale does the same with its pepper; prominent, but not offensively so. The smoke clouds remain thick to the end, making for an overall satisfying finish in spite of the stubborn draw and burn.

The Final Verdict

The Fuente family promises on their website that the Magnum offers a creamier and smoother experience without sacrificing flavor. In spite of the difficulties encountered with the draw and the burn (the latter of which was partly your truly’s fault anyway), the Magnum lives up to its promises quite well. The sheer abundance of flavor, the texture of the draw, and the maturity and diversity of the flavor profile was enough to surprise even this longtime Fuente fan, and I have no doubt that most other Fuente fans will feel the same way. The Magnum certainly has its issues; fortunately, they appear to be exclusively in terms of structure and assembly, something that is far easier to fix than a flavor problem.

Final Grade: 90

Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes

Moore & Bode Candela Review

6 1 5.2k

Moore and Bode Candela Cigar Review

Up for review today is a cigar by a relatively unknown brand called Moore & Bode. Though you may not have heard of it, the company is not new to the cigar world. The Florida based company has been in operation since 1990. The website claims that Moore & Bode “remains a privately held cigar manufacturing company with some of the most sought after products in the market. Among these is the Moore & Bode Mark of premium handmade cigars acclaimed for absolute excellence in manufacturing and uniquely beautiful flavor and aromatic qualities.”

Since receiving a package of cigars for review from the company, I’ve been looking forward to reviewing the Candela. Not only is it a beautiful cigar, but one whiff off of the foot told me that it would provide a unique smoking experience. The question of course is, “in a good way, or bad?”

Let’s find out.

Product Details

  • Cigar Reviewed: Moore & Bode Candela
  • Size: Toro (6 x 50)
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Candela
  • Binder: U.S. Dark Fire Cured
  • Filler: Europe and Caribbean Islands

The company holds most other details secret. According to the website:

The origin and details of Moore & Bode’s leaf tobacco sources are kept secret. Together with excellence in manufacturing, it is this unwavering commitment to privacy that secures its cigar products’ distinct identity and position in a very competitive industry…

For its current production the company sources tobacco varieties from regions across the globe delivering an attractive and complex range of character to the consumer.

Moore and Bode Candela Cigar Closeup

Appearance & Construction

The Moore & Bode Candela is striking first and foremost because of its bright green candela wrapper. The wrapper itself is quite beautiful, with a few significant veins, light oil, and a velvety feel on the fingers. The black and white band, though a bit blurry, complements the green candela wrapper well.  The cigar is very soft when squeezed, and its consistent down the length of the cigar.

The foot gives off extremely unique aromas, dominated by a strong herb note. On top of that are bright touches of white pepper and garlic. The pre light draw is about a 6/10 in terms of the amount of restrictiveness. It’s very clean, with the slightest touches of grass and sweetness.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Moore & Bode Candela kicks off with mild bodied, smooth smoke (and great smoke production). The finish is extremely clean, and the smoke is highly aromatic. Initial flavors include oak, sweet spices, herbs, and cream. The retrohale is pleasant, with touches of white pepper and sweetness.

By an inch in, the burn is almost completely straight and the mostly white ash is still holding on. My only complaint at this point is that it seems that the cigar has trouble staying lit past about a minute or so.

Heading into the second third, the flavor and body builds from mild to about halfway to medium, though the texture remains very fine. No change in flavors, save a bit of cinnamon entering the aroma. The cigar continues to have a tough time staying lit, but never goes out completely.

In the final third, herbs and grass notes become prominent in the overall profile, along with leather and a stronger spice on the retrohale. The oak which had rounded off the flavors in the first half of the cigar is much less significant than before.

Conclusion

The Candela from Moore & Bode delivers a pretty awesome smoking experience. Mild but robust, clean but flavorful. Most importantly, the cigar introduces flavors that consistently complement each other well.

This cigar is not easy to find. If you are interested in purchasing Roy & Bode Cigars, contact their team via their website.

Disclaimer: this cigar was gifted for review by Rob Moore of Moore & Bode cigars. Fine Tobacco NYC retained all editorial rights in writing this review.

Final Score: 91

7-20-4 Lancero Review

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7-20-4 Lancero Review

I’m a true fan of the Lancero size (aka “Connoisseur’s Smoke”) for its ability to yield concentrated flavors with its thinner ring gauge and long leaf wrapper to filler ratio. That is of course if it is done well.  Kurt Kendall who’s made many quality smokes in a short amount of time has hit another bullseye in his 7-20-4 lancero. Made in Honduras, this cigar offers bountiful flavors with each puff.

But let’s break that down a little in the review.

Blend Specifics

Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina Maduro

Binder: Costa Rican

Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduras, Columbian, Mexican

Size: 7 ½ x 38 Lancero

Appearance & Construction

The cigar has a cedar sleeve with a classic red ribbon wrapped around the foot. Sliding off the cedar the Brazilian wrapper is dark and gorgeous. The pigtail cap is stout and sturdy. There are minimal veins and the construction is excellent from top to bottom.

7-20-4 Lancero Review Closeup

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The 7-20-4 gives off initial flavors of cocoa and coffee. The smoke is rich and there is a creaminess on the palate with some vanilla notes. The retrohale brings out roasted coffee along with Spanish cedar. The 7-20-4 has a smooth draw that works well in marrying the flavors of this vitola.

Midway the cocoa and cedar become more pronounced, creating a sweet chocolate and toasty profile. The light gray ash holds on for quite some time which gives me evidence of superior rolling along with well grown tobacco. There were savory qualities on the palate that lingered nicely on the finish.

In the final third, the 7-20-4 lancero delivers a complex combination of coffee, earth and chocolate with that same savory finish. An excellent smoke.

Conclusion

I thought the 7-20-4 lancero was complex, savory and extremely tasty. Kurt Kendall is producing some elegant and flavorful cigars with wonderful balance. If these cigars improve with age then I can only imagine what the profile will be like. I enjoy the lancero size and this is a perfect example as to why. I am picking up a box myself although I do not think they will last long in my humidor. This cigar was a treat.

Tatuaje Regios Reserva Broadleaf Review

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tatuaje regios reserva broadleaf

I recently made a stop at the Nat Sherman Townhouse and after finding out that no new shipments had come in since my last visit, I decided to try something from Tatuaje, a brand which I’ve generally overlooked after a handful of less than stellar experiences. The result is what’s up for review today: the Tatuaje Regios Reserva Broadleaf.

Right off the bat I can tell you that this cigar does deliver some of what you might be accustomed to with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper: lots of richness alongside sweet chocolate and coffee notes. But there’s a lot more to this cigar than any typical flavor profile, so let’s get on to the review.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar reviewed: Tatuaje Regios Reserva Broadleaf Review
  • Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 5 1/2 x 50

tatuaje regios reserva broadleaf review

Appearance and Construction

The Tatuaje Reserve Broadleaf features a somewhat rough, decently veiny Broadleaf wrapper. Branding on the cigar is your standard Tatuaje labeling with the additional Reserva Broadleaf band. The cigar is slightly springy when squeezed, and this is consistent down the cigar. Off of the foot, I pick up dry wood, some spice, and a slightly berry-influenced coffee. The draw is perfect, just the right amount of restrictiveness. The pre light draw is spicy, with a musty texture and aromas of dry wood.

Flavor and Smoke characteristics

The Tatuaje Reserva Broadleaf opens with rich, slightly textured, medium bodied smoke. Flavors include black coffee, dry leather, snickerdoodle cookies (cinnamon, sugar, some salt), and touches of sweetness and white pepper on the retrohale. Smoke production is solid. Certainly above average.

At an inch in, the retrohale is now shifting between white pepper and sea salt dark chocolate. The burn is perfect.

So far, I’m impressed.

At the beginning of the second third, leather is prominent, along with lemon peel and dry wood. The profile is considerably drier than the first third, though strangely the retrohale has settled down considerably.

At halfway, the smoke is musty and flavor is down to the lower end of medium. Notes include dry wood, black coffee, and touches of milk chocolate and cinnamon. Enjoyable, but I’m hoping the body and flavor make a comeback.

Moving into the final third, the earlier snickerdoodle note has morphed into a graham cracker flavor, and I’m picking up a spicy pickle flavor that works surprisingly well alongside the drier woodsy notes. Unfortunately, the remainder of the cigar (about the last 15 minutes) becomes bland, with dry wood as the only dominant note.

Conclusion

The Tatuaje Reserva Broadleaf is an enjoyable cigar, with a decent amount of complexity and a good story to tell. I really enjoyed the interplay between the dry notes (wood, pepper, leather) and the richer notes (chocolate, cinnamon and sugar). At times though, the smoke fell out of balance or became a bit bland. I may not be returning to it soon, but I’d recommend trying it to see if it’s right for you.

Final Score: 84

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review

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Four Roses Small Batch Review

With over thirteen decades making whiskey, Four Roses is a whiskey brand that is both revered and vehemently defended by its fans. Though I always have enjoyed Four Roses, my journey on the global whiskey trail took me a bit too quickly out of Kentucky so I’m taking the first few months of 2018 to revisit this brand and taste its core line again.

First up for review is Four Roses Small Batch, the midrange of the core line, priced in at about $30 a bottle.

With all that said, let’s get on to the review.

Four Roses Small Batch Review

Four Roses Small Batch Closeup

Product Specs

  • Distiller: Four Roses Distillery
  • Age: No Age Statement (NAS)
  • ABV: 45% (90 proof)

The Four Roses mashbill calls for Corn, Rye, and Malted Barley (in that order). The distillery also boasts that it uses five yeast strains that help lend each Four Roses bourbon its unique flavor profile. Four different barrels of whiskey are blended to create Small Batch (with up to 10 being used in the production of standard Four Roses).

Appearance

Four Roses Small Batch is packaged in a bottle that is perhaps the most distinguished in its core line. Tall, with a gently rounded frame and the traditional rose bouquet in center. The whiskey itself is a deep amber, and when swirled in my glass displays moderate to full viscosity.

Nose

The nose is deep but bright, with a moderate amount of ethanol intensity. I pick up aromas of apricot, butter, spiciness (rye), and touches of pepper and smokiness.

Four Roses Small Batch Whiskey in Glass

Palate

Smooth and soft on entry. The mouth feel is medium bodied and round, with notes of caramel, oak, cinnamon, corn, and vanilla. This is a whiskey that expands and coats the entire palate.

Finish

The finish is my favorite part of Four Roses Small Batch. Where the mouthfeel on entry is very soft and round, the finish is bright, long, and spicy (with a bit of breadiness), never veering into harsh territory.

Conclusion

Four Roses Small Batch is a whiskey you can come back to time and again and always know you’re in for a great experience. Is it the most complex whiskey? Nope. But it is complex, delicious, and avoids the cheap finish that many whiskies in this price range fall into. For $30, Small Batch is a no-brainer.

Disclaimer: Though by no means my first ever (or second or third ever) bottle of Four Roses, this bottle was gifted for review by the Four Roses Distillery.

Final Score: 91

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