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Cigar Review: Padron 1926 Anniversario No. 2 Maduro

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Below is another guest review by Charlie Freeman, a NYC based cigar enthusiast who works at Ash Cigars on Washington St. in Hoboken

It’s a windy Monday afternoon at Ash Fine Cigars in Hoboken as I start my closing shift. One of my two bosses, a full-blooded Cuban-American, is in the mood to smoke and asks me to join him. As an extra incentive, he offers me whatever cigar in the shop I choose on the house. The decision requires little to no thought. I immediately go for a cigar that, substance aside, is positively Cuban: The Padron 1926 Anniversario No. 2 Maduro.

Blend Specifics

Wrapper: Esteli, Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Esteli, Nicaragua
Filler: Esteli, Nicaragua
Dimensions: 5 ½ x 52
Vitola: Belicoso

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Appearance, Construction and Feel

First and foremost, this stogie bears the name Padron, a name which guarantees consistent precision and beauty in the construction. Thus not surprisingly, the construction of this cigar is impeccable. Yet the ’26 No. 2 itself takes the appearance & construction aspect and kicks it up a notch. Though the wrapper is rather rough, there are practically no veins visible on it and there isn’t a single soft spot to be found on this box-pressed beauty. The absence of soft spots in particular is a very good sign; guaranteeing that the stogie is fully packed and therefore won’t burn out or canoe as easily. What is also worth noting is how the stick holds up after being cut: after being dealt a swift V-cut, there is not a single scar to be found outside the cut itself; it’s as if the nub was never touched. This should be good.

 

Smoke and the Flavor

Armed with a piece of cedar wood as my torch, I light up and quickly find the draw to have such low resistance that it is almost transparent. This causes me to wonder for a split second if I had suddenly forgotten how to puff a cigar. However, my confidence in my long-term memory is just as quickly restored as I am greeted by a thick, smooth and aromatic cloud of smoke. While it’s important for a cigar to breathe freely, a certain amount of resistance in the draw is needed in order to create the sensation that guarantees that the stogie is indeed being puffed. For good or for bad, this is the first time that I’ve had this kind of experience with a premium cigar.

Flavor: another key aspect in which the No. 2 Maduro takes Padron’s excellence to the next level. The unusually natural sensations and accents of wood that are typical of a Padron cigar are ever-present, of course. But this little gem has another peculiar note within the mix: a slight sweet sensation that is somewhere between raspberry and cherry. These two opposing forces balance each other out for the entire length of the cigar, making for a well-balanced and most enjoyable smoke.

The Final Verdict

I prefer to give the bad news first, so here it is: I found the draw to be subtle to a fault, which keeps it from earning an A+. However, it should be noted that you can’t knock something until you try it. Hence I encourage you, the reader, to smoke it yourself and give your own verdict, for not every smoking experience is exactly the same. That being said, let’s hear the good news: This cigar defines excellence in all other conceivable aspects; construction, flavor, aesthetics, aroma, you name it. You know a cigar is good when you end up smoking it all the way to the nub, despite your burned fingertips, with the ash still holding on all the while. I used to be all about the Padron 1964 Anniversarios. But as great as they always will be, I have since found a new favorite Padron.

Final Grade: A

Tips for a Perfect Smoke Experience

  • No drink required for optimum enjoyment. You can easily enjoy this smoke without having to worry about a dry pallet, thanks in no small part to the subtle draw.
  • However, pairing this beautiful belicoso with some red wine and some rainbow cookies is no sin either.

 

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Cigar Review: Hispaniola Tres Carabelas

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Tres
This past week I was luckily enough to meet with the creators of the Hispaniola brand of cigars. Hugo F. Melo, a modest gentleman described with passion his families long history in the Dominican Republic working tobaccos. After generations of distributing aged product for other cigar companies Hugo felt it was time to venture out with his own brand that is Hispaniola cigars. Recently FTNYC had reviewed Hispaniola’s El Trabuco 1844 which received high praise from our staff. Today I smoked their Tres Carabelas cigar and my findings did not disappoint. Enjoy.

Blend specifics:

Wrapper: Havano Oscuro Vuelta Arriba

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Size Robusto- 5″ x 55

Appearance & Construction:

The wrapper of this cigar had a nice oily sheen and shows the classic dark color of a Havana Oscuro wrapper. The cigar had some slight veins and a few soft spots to the touch however the foot showed some nicely packed tobaccos. This was extremely well rolled and visually appealing.

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Taste & Smoking Characteristics:
The dry draw showed wonderful coffee and wood notes with a salty finish. Upon lighting the cigar offered some dark espresso, oak and leather flavors. The finish was salty which is something I really enjoy in a fine smoke. Midway a bit of spice kicked intermingling with espresso and a touch of graham cracker. The leather seemed to pick up a bit with the salty finish balancing it out. The final third delivered espresso character at its fullest with leather in the background. A well balanced cigar from begin to end.

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Conclusion:
The breadth of knowledge from the good people at Hispaniola shows in their Tres Carabelas blend. The draw was superb and the robusto size is a perfect showcase for the tobaccos in this cigar. Tres Carabelas gives a medium to full bodied smoking experience and can easily be appreciated after a fine meal. For those who want an elegant experience in cigar smoking Tres Carabelas is a cigar you need to get your hands on.

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Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Torpedo

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The following review is another from Charlie Freeman, a New York City-based cigar enthusiast who, in his relatively short smoking career, has demonstrated an amazing ability to discern quality product and help others find the perfect cigar for them. You can read his first review of the Padron 1964 Anniversario Diplomatico Maduro here.  You can also read my review of the Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 here. 

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It’s a pleasantly mild Friday evening. I recline into one of the many comfy chairs at Cigar Inn’s brand new Upper East Side location on 334 East 73rd, coming face to nub with a cigar that has proved itself to be a most polarizing blend. The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 line has garnered both love and contempt among cigar smokers with very little middle ground. Our own Matthias Clock knows of this story firsthand, having reviewed the ’90 Churchill years before. So why review it again? Because the Vintage 1990 is like a great mystery; it’s an unusual cigar that rightfully deserves to be looked at from more than just one angle. Thus, I’m taking on the Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Torpedo this evening.

Blend Specifics

Wrapper: Honduran Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican/Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Dimensions: 6.25 x 52
Vitola: Torpedo Box-pressed

Appearance & Construction

Upon removing this handsome medium-bodied stogie from the cellophane I am immediately struck by the precision of its box-pressed construction. There are almost no detectible flaws in its shape. The edges are so pronounced that I’m almost afraid to touch it, lest I get my fingers cut. I also find that this torpedo is packed to the brim. This stick has no flexibility whatsoever, being able to hold its form no matter what. So what does this entail for the smoke experience? Let’s find out.

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The Smoke and Its Flavor

And we’re off! The first couple of puffs come easily enough, with some thick smoke to match. Unfortunately, this easy puffing does not last very long. Soon enough, the draw becomes gradually more resistant and constricted. This makes puffing a more laborious process as the smoke clouds get thinner.

All the while I find my every other thought being centered around whether or not the stogie is going to go out. Not exactly the kind of thing you want to be thinking about when you’re trying to relax. Fortunately, the draw begins to breathe much more freely as I approach the nub, ensuring an easy and comfortable finish.

While the draw leaves much to be desired, the flavor is a worthy consolation. Upon lighting up, I am greeted by a lovely touch of cinnamon, which stays at the forefront for the first few puffs.

In the main section the cinnamon takes a back seat to another, more earthy taste that I can’t quite put my finger on. I continue to the last quarter of the stick and I’m still trying to figure out this mysterious flavor. Even in hindsight I haven’t a clue what that flavor was, except that it drew a picture of hickory wood in my mind with every puff.

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The Final Verdict

At the end of the day, I can easily see why the ’90 has garnered such mixed reactions in the market. The draw was a noticeable struggle, and I also lost part of the wrapper on the nub. Yet, the flavor was quite satisfying. And unlike with the ’90 Churchill, the ’90 Torpedo’s flavor didn’t change based on how quickly or slowly it was smoked, and its structural integrity held throughout, allowing for the Torpedo to be enjoyed in its entirety. Thus, the final verdict is as follows: If you like a hard draw and an earthy flavor and are willing to put up with losing part of the wrapper because of how hard you have to puff, this is the cigar for you. As for me, I don’t always smoke the Rocky Patel Vintage 1990. But when I do, I prefer the Torpedo.

Final Grade: B+

Tips for a Perfect Smoke Experience

No medium to full-bodied cigar is complete without dark chocolate and a cup of coffee, and the Vintage 1990 Torpedo is no exception.

  • Order of Procedure: 2-3 puffs, one bite-sized piece, one sip of coffee
  • Espresso in particular will do the trick best.
  • As with the ’90 Churchill, don’t take any chances. You are advised to smoke this torpedo slowly and fully to get the best flavor.
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Cigar Review: Aging Room M356 Forte

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Aging Room Small Batch M356 Forte_Kasse_Føniks Cigar Import-p
I was lucky enough to smoke another one of Rafael Nodal’s Aging Room creations in this beautifully constructed perfecto vitola the M356 Forte. Rafael of Boutique Blends has hit the mark with his small batch Aging Room cigars and thus far I haven’t found a blend that I didn’t enjoy fully. The M356 line features an extremely limited blend of tobaccos from the Dominican Republic with a Habano seed wrapper and the taste profile was something else. Enjoy.

Appearance & Construction:
The cigar has a lovely sheen to the wrapper that is silky smooth to the touch. A noticeably firm cigar that seems full of tobacco with no soft spots. There were some slight veins around the stick but that didn’t detract from the classic appearance of this well rolled perfecto.

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Blend specifics:

Wrapper: Dominican Habano Seed

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Size Perfecto- 5 7/8 x 40/56

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Taste & Smoking Characteristics:

As I gave a nice size clip to the tapered end of the cigar I got a firm draw that gave a toasty dry draw of nuts and earth. Upon lighting I was greeted with toasty oak and earthiness. As the cigar developed spice and graham cracker intermingled around the coating of my mouth with a roasted nuttiness on the finish. The draw continued to be firm yet delivered a cacophony of flavors ranging from earthiness, spice and some full tobacco notes. Midway the Forte had flavors of hay, cinnamon and a bit of citrus on the end. The final third is where the Forte shined as the roasted nuts and spice returned to offer a satisfying finish to the cigar. The stick throughout was a medium plus for me and provided flavor profiles I enjoy the most in a cigar. Although the burn could have been better I smoked this stick down.

 

Conclusion:

Rafael Nodal has impressed me once again with his Aging Room Boutique Blends. Despite a firm draw which can be typical for this vitola, the quality of tobacco was stellar. The changes in flavor as the cigar progressed showed craftsmanship in the blend and made for a truly Small Batch stick. If your local tobacco shop carries Aging Room I would recommend grabbing any blend as everything I’ve smoked in the line is smoking well right now. Grab a BIG batch of these!

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Cigar Review: Padron 1964 Anniversario Diplomatico Maduro

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This cigar review is a guest post by Charlie Freeman, a good friend of mine from my college days. Charlie is an avid cigar smoker and also works at Ash Fine Cigars in Hoboken, NJ. 
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Up for review on this sunny Tuesday afternoon is a cigar that is turning twenty this year. It is a line that has consistently scored between 90 to 93 points in Cigar Aficionado magazine ratings; it has constantly earned a high place in the CA’s top 25 Cigars of the Year list; and for all these reasons and more, it is a personal favorite of yours truly. Bearing a name that has become synonymous with precision, tradition and all-around excellence, the Padron 1964 Anniversary Series cigar line has rightly taken on a life and legend of its own.

Blend Specifics

  • Wrapper: Esteli, Nicaraguan Maduro
  • Binder: Esteli, Nicaragua
  • Filler: Esteli, Nicaragua
  • Vitola: Double Corona Box-pressed
  • Size: 7” x 50

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Appearance & Construction

As is the standard for all Padron Cigar, the ’64 Diplomatico is blessed with a brilliant appearance; carefully box-pressed in accordance with Cuban tradition, and beautifully adorned with a wrapper whose perfection lies in the subtle irregularities of its structure, giving it a truly natural appearance that no cigar smoker of any caliber can resist.

Smoke and Flavor Characteristics

Upon lighting up, I am greeted by a slightly thin, yet smooth smoke. The smoothness of the smoke induces a feeling of relaxation and comfort. At the same time, the subtle thinness of the smoke leaves me wanting more with every puff. This brilliantly complex smoke remains consistent throughout the length of the cigar.

The flavor can be summed up in two simple words: dark, and natural. From beginning to end the Diplomatico’s flavor is everything its exterior appearance suggests, with unusually natural sensations of nutmeg and wood at the forefront and the occasional note of coffee subtly working its way into the mix.

After a lovely hour and a half, the Diplomatico is on its last puffs, with the spicy sensation that is typical of Nicaraguan tobacco dominating the final moments.

The Final Verdict

While I am used to a Padron being a slightly thicker smoke than what was presented, the Diplomatico still remains a winner in every sense of the word. It is a delicious, brilliantly constructed cigar that holds its form and doesn’t canoe, ensuring that whoever smokes it will be able to enjoy what’s happening around him without having to worry about manually maintaining the integrity of the cigar. Without a doubt, the Padron family has scored yet another home run with the ’64 Anniversary Diplomatico.

Final Grade: A-

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Tips for a Perfect Smoke Experience

Complement this dark and earthy cigar with a rich cup of coffee (no sugar, cream is optional) and a bar of Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate.

Order of Procedure:

  1. Take two to three long, full puffs
  2. Have a single square from the Hershey bar
  3. Take a sip of coffee to wash it all down
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