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Cigar Review: La Sirena “The Prince”

2 4 6.1k

I would be lying if I said that I reviewed this cigar tonight because I’m behind on my reviews (although I am). I decided to review this cigar because, all joking aside, I was really, really excited to smoke this cigar.  A few weeks ago I ran into Barry from acigarsmoker.com, and he gave me some pretty glowing remarks on the new La Sirena line. So, when I found a few of these sticks in the mail when I returned from my Christmas travels, I dropped everything, even postponing cleaning my apartment (pretty impressive, huh?) to smoke this stick.

Part of the Miami Cigar portfolio, La Sirena cigars are a result of the masterful blending technique of Don Pepin Garcia of My Father cigars, and the new cigars were well accepted at ICPCR.  On hand with this smoke was a glass of cognac, music from Pink Martini, Melody Gardot, and Coldplay.  I also brought along a copy of one of my favorite books, Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton (take a week and give this book a read – it is well worth it).

Specifics:
Size: 5 x 50 (The Prince)
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Appearance & Construction:

Wow! What a label! It easily takes up half of the cigar and features an oceanic theme with a silver mermaid, an anchor on top and a helm on bottom. Attempting such a daring theme for a label could have been dangerous, but the designers at Miami Cigar pulled it off well. On an unrelated note, I am also a big fan of the name of this particular cigar, only because it is named after one of my all-time favorite works of political philosophy by one Niccolo Machiavelli.  But to get back on track: the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is a gorgeous, well textured dark brown with minimal veins and clean lines – well put together. The foot of the cigar smells faintly of berry granola, natural tobacco, and a good deal of spice. The draw was excellent, and I couldn’t wait to light this cigar up.

Flavor & Smoking Characteristics:

The first puff of this cigar told me that this was going to be a truly special stick. The taste was flavorful, complex, with dark chocolate, coffee, and a hint of spice taking the spotlight. These flavors were accented with a savory aroma. I’m not sure it is an accent I liked, but I was sure willing to investigate further after such a great opening. About half an inch in, I picked up a bit of leather which is a nice addition, and the savory aroma moved more to mirror the taste – dark chocolate and leather – a bit more enjoyable. I really enjoyed the richness of this cigar. The smoke was smooth and sweet, the burn was great, and the smoke stayed cool. A great combination.

Great burn!

At around 2/3, I turned the lights off and enjoyed the complex flavor and aroma of the cigar. Pink Martini playing in the background was a perfect compliment. I can’t say that I was taken to an underwater wonderland (that wouldn’t jive well with the physics of smoking a cigar), but in any case it was a great place to be. The more I think about it, actually, the more this cigar reminds me of one of my all times favorites, the Casa Magna Colorado (the Cigar Aficionado 2008 cigar of the year). Both cigars have impeccable construction, weigh well in the hand, and generate ultra-complex flavors.  At the last third, the spice picked up a bit, and unfortunately so did the heat of the smoke. The cigar was enjoyable down to the end, but wasn’t quite how I would have liked it to end.

Conclusion:

I’ve got to agree with Barry’s review of this stick and say that it is simply a stellar smoke.  This La Sirena cigar is complex, full bodied, and has a great flavor profile. The construction is great too. The only complaint that I have is that at a few points the savory aroma became a bit too prominent and (to me at least) threw the balance of the cigar off.  Even in light of that, I enjoyed this cigar immensely and was sad when the smoke ended.  I’ll definitely be buying more of these in the future and recommend you to do the same.

Final Grade: A


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Broadway Cigar Co. – A Northwest Cigar Enthusiast Hangout

2 0 5.2k

 

Broadway Cigar Company - Portland, Oregon

Due to the incredible generosity of a few anonymous people at my college, I had the great opportunity to go home to Portland, Oregon for the holidays to see my family and friends.  As my plane neared PDX, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of cross-country visit it would be without visiting one of the best cigar lounges on the west coast: Broadway Cigar Co. So this afternoon I headed off to Portland’s Hollywood district with a few good friends, grabbed a few sticks (including an Oliva Serie G), and kicked back in the shop’s warm environment.

My first smoke – the Oliva Serie G

From the outside (above), the main Broadway Cigar location near downtown Portland is pretty humble. No log cabin Northwest or East Coast sophisticate look to it.  The shop actually opened just two years ago in the space once occupied by a furniture retailer.  Inside, however, you’ll find a really wonderful environment that although sophisticated still stays true to the rugged spirit of the great Northwest.  The shop is divided into three main sections. Through the front door is a public lounge with lots of natural sunlight, old shoe-shining chairs, couches, the front counter, and a walk-in humidor with a substantial selection (there is also a premiums case on an adjacent wall).

Welcome to the West
The walk-in

A doorway at the back leads to a very large public lounge space that is dimly lit and complete with leather couches, barbers chairs, a kitchen area, and a big screen TV.  I kicked it there for about an hour until one of Broadway’s employees named Carl warmly introduced himself and asked if I wanted to take a quick tour.  I told him yes, and he graciously took me to the private VIP lounge that is accessible by a keycode that only Broadway Cigar Co. employees and members know.  Carl explained that, using their keycode, lounge members have private parking and 24 hour access to the massive VIP lounge lounge in the back. Repeat: 24 hour access to the VIP lounge. There’s no other way to say it: that is totally rad.

The VIP lounge is pretty much massive and has a similar collection of couches, TV’s, and a refrigerator.  Probably the most impressive part of the VIP area is the decoration. The large wall separating the VIP area from the cozy private lounge is covered in taxidermy, with a huge Elk head at the top center.   I would have gotten pictures of it, but the camera on my phone didn’t work too well with the ultra-low light.

The long-story-short of it is that Broadway Cigar Co is an excellent place for new and veteran cigar smokers to kick back and enjoy a stogie. Prices are about average or slightly above, but the atmosphere is well-worth it. The employees are nice, the regulars are friendly, and the decor is stylish but still true to the shops Northwest location.   Of course, you shouldn’t just take my word for the quality of Broadway Cigar Co. Their success and quality is also reflected in the fact that they’ve just opened another cigar lounge just a few miles away in Lake Oswego.  That will be my next visit for sure.

If you are ever in the Northwest neighborhood, I would highly recommend a visit to Broadway Cigar, located in the Hollywood district of Northeast Portland. Below is the contact info for both store locations:

Portland Location:
3615 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Phone: (503) 473 -8000

Lake Oswego Location:
15562 Boones Ferry Rd, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Phone: (503) 594-5000

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Following FineTobaccoNYC just got that much easier!

2 0 3.0k

The past two months have found me completely inundated with college work. My senior thesis, finals, and a stack of topics to write papers on. In that time, I haven’t set up many events, but I have put some serious work into improving the website and expanding FTNYC into more online venues – more on our other sites later.

The most important update is that I just added a nifty new tool to the FTNYC Facebook page that makes it that much easier to join the event mailing list. You can still send me an email at matthias.ftnyc@gmail.com to join, but now interested individuals can simply submit their emails through the Facebook page. Individuals can also register to hear about events on the “FineTobaccoNYC Events” page that has a form like this one:

Error: Contact form not found.

So, you can now connect with FineTobaccoNYC through:

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Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Churchill

1 3 12.2k

The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990

There is no way around it: this is a controversial cigar.  A brief glance around the online cigar community indicate that some people love this cigar (Barry at acigarsmoker gives it a 93), and some people are lost as to what makes it so special (one Puff user called it “a total disappointment”). Beyond dispute, however, is the consistent acclaim that this cigar has received from a variety of online and in-print reviewers – one reason I was so excited to smoke this cigar. I have to say, though, that after smoking four of these I can identify with both camps. Read on to find out why, and also to find out how you can enjoy this cigar more, perhaps even as much as the critics have.

Blend Specifics:

  • Wrapper: Honduran broadleaf Maduro
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan

Some obvious problems with the cap

Construction & Appearance:

This cigar comes in a beautiful, semi-pressed shape that is incredibly comfortable in the mouth.  Paired with the incredible scent of caramel, nuts, and cherry, I have to consciously stop myself from chewing this cigar like a candy bar when I put it into my mouth. It’s just that good. Construction is ok; there are a few blemishes near the cap, and the wrapper cracked. Unfortunately, when I applied a straight cut, the wrapper decided to split and fray, as you can see in the pictures above and below. This is uncharacteristic of Rocky Patel cigars, but I’ve had the same problem with this cigar more than once. The draw is firm, which is a reminder of the Rocky Patel tradition of excellent packing.

This is one of the most attractive, best smelling cigars out of the cellophane that I know of. Unfortunately, smoking this cigar did not reflect this.

The crack on the back became very noticeable

Taste & Smoke Characteristics:

The first third of this cigar is mild to medium bodied and opens up with a few distinct flavors. Dominant is a woody, salted nut taste (roasted nuts in smell). Behind those two flavors is a really wonderful, mild sweetness. The flavor profile is complex and complete, much like Velvet Cigar’s Bowery.  My only complaint in the first third of this stick is that the smoke volume is a bit low. I also notice that this is not a cigar to rush. In fact, in order for it to consistently taste as good as other reviewers describe, it must be smoked slowly. Heating up the tobacco too much degrades the flavor pretty dramatically. The flavor moves from cool, woody, rich, and sweet a sort of fermented saltiness that is very dissatisfying.

At about two thirds, it remains clear that this cigar needs to be smoked slowly. Every time I puff more than one or two times a minute, the unpleasant taste returns. Smoked slowly, the cigar is excellent. The woody flavor has hints of coffee and caramel, and the smooth smoke has a creamy texture.

Unfortunately, the last third of this cigar confirmed which side of the RP Vintage 90 debate I fall on: the dissatisfied side.  In spite of trying to smoke this cigar slowly, the final third of the cigar became (with multiple sticks) harsh and acidic.  Twice I lost my patience and put the cigar down.

I let this stick go early

Conclusion:

If you want to enjoy this cigar, you must smoke it slowly. After some experimentation and observation, the tobacco in this cigar seems to be especially vulnerable to a hot ember.  The fact that this cigar is so high maintenance pushes it into the realm of the ‘less enjoyable.’ There were also some consistent construction issues, which is out of character for Rocky Patel, and surprising to see in such a famous blend.

All of the hype aside, I can’t give this cigar an A rating (the equivalent to a 90% or above). The cigar is consistently frustrating, produces less than ideal smoke, and the taste oscillates between heaven and hell. Don’t take my word for it though – I’m new to the cigar reviewing world, and others have loved it. Give this stick a try – just don’t buy a box before you do.

Do you have comments or suggestions? Let me know – I’d love to know more about this stick.

Overall Grade: B

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Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Vudu Robusto

2 3 5.9k

Tonight I finished my review of the Amilcar Perez Castro 12 cigar sampler with the Rocky Patel Vudu. In the past two weeks I’ve been able to review the four cigars featured in the sampler, the Patel Bro’s Next Generation, Rocky Patel Famous Signature, Rocky Patel 1961, and now the Vudu.  Overall, it has been an excellent sampler for the money, and I highly recommend heading over to Famous Smokes and buying it. The two best sticks in the sampler were easily the Next Generation and the Vudu.

On the menu musically tonight was Pink Martini (my favorite), Frank Sinatra, some old school Steven Curtis Chapman, and Melody Gardot. The Vudu that I smoked tonight was really excellent and featured a flavor profile of natural tobacco, rich earthy sweetness, and a hint of berry early on (as mentioned in the Toasted Foot review of this cigar).

Specifics for this blend:

  1. Wrapper: Mexican Maduro
  2. Binder: Nicaraguan
  3. Filler: Nicaraguan

Appearance & Construction:

This is for the most part a beautiful cigar. The Mexican Maduro wrapper is a deep, rich brown. This stick had two noticeable blemishes, but I haven’t found that to be characteristic of this line in general.  I’m really not a big fan of the label. It is simply too dark to make out the words very distinctly (I still don’t know what it says underneath “Vudu”). The draw is really excellent, and the stick has a springy feel. Throughout the cigar, the burn was pretty bad. I didn’t ash the cigar for the entire first third of the smoke, and it never really leveled out, so it required a few retouches. The ash was a salt and pepper mix.

Taste & Smoking Characteristics:

This cigar opens with a big spice that lessens during the first few minutes of the smoke. Flavors range from natural tobacco with a rich, earthy sweetness. I don’t sense the berry flavor to the same degree that Toasted Foot does, but there is a slight, discernible berry impression early on. The rich, earthy aroma of the Mexican Maduro wrapper compliments the taste very well. The richness of the smoke reminds me a lot of the CAO Italia, another excellent cigar that I recommended last summer. The second third of the cigar brings a moderation of all of the flavors, and a total disappearance of the spice, which returned in full force in the last third.

Conclusion: A-

This cigar was a real pleasure to smoke, and has been every time I’ve had it. This cigar runs about $4 a stick, and I recommend giving it a try, whatever your tastes.

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