Casa Magna Colorado Boxed Pressed Toro Review

4 0 3.5k

Casa Magna Colorado Toro Review 2

The Casa Magna Colorado brand is a joint blend by Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plascencia. It’s a Nicaraguan puro created to deliver lots of flavor and a full bodied smoking experience. Both cigar makers are true craftsman and adhere high quality standards in their individual blends and the Casa Magna Colorado is no exception. I was looking forward to revisiting this smoke as it has been a while.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Casa Magna Colorado
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 5 ½. x 53 Robusto

Appearance & Construction

The Casa Magna has a dark wrapper with few veins although it’s smooth to the touch. The Casa is an expertly crafted boxed press cigar with a soft spot in the middle. The label is stunning with gold adorning the top and bottom with “Casa” emblazed in gold behind a white backdrop and “Magna” underneath in gold inside a black banner. The words “Colorado” are at the bottom in a smaller font with gold and red. A well-made cigar band that grabs your attention.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Using a straight cut, I light up the Casa Magna and am instantly met with a blast of black pepper. During the first few puffs, lots of leather coat the mouth. I detect some earth, and notes of cashews and other nuts on the retrohale.

At the halfway point, the Casa Magna changes profiles to reveal cocoa and cedar. A bit of Swiss chocolate and cream resonate on the finish as the light gray ash and razor sharp burn develop at the foot of the cigar. A few puffs later, some dark cherry comes to the forefront, but quickly dissipates into sage and cedar. This is quite a complex cigar.

Towards the final third of the Casa Magna Colorado, the leather returns, along with a heavy dose of cedar and spice on the retrohale. The intensity of the cigar at this point is full bodied and the flavors really are “in your face.” Coffee on the mid palate builds up to espresso bean and some oak. Leather rounds out the profile with a rich, creamy finish.

Conclusion

It’s been a while since I’ve smoked a Casa Magna Colorado and it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to try it again. Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plascencia have a reputation for quality and their Casa Magna continues to demonstrate what master blenders can do. The Casa Magna Colorado gives you a full bodied smoking experiences encased in leather, pepper, cedar and espresso. It was a wonderfully balanced cigar and if you haven’t tried  one you need to pick up a few or a box.

Final Rating: 90

Reviewers note: this is a non-blind review.

Wynwood Hills Mayhem Robusto Review

5 0 4.5k

Wynwood Hills Mayhem Review4

Christian Eiroa and his C.L.E. Cigar Company have revived their defunct Wynwood Hills project into a three-blend robusto line. Their seemingly manic sounding brand has names of “Mayhem” “Unhinged” and “Deranged.” The differences are not just the blends, but the wrapper leaves as well. The Mayhem is dressed in a Corojo wrapper grown in Honduras, the Unhinged wears an Ecuadorian Sumatra and Deranged a Connecticut Broadleaf. I was able to sample the Mayhem for review and see just how “Crazy” the line is. Read on!

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Wynwood Hills Mayhem
  • Wrapper: Honduran Corojo
  • Binder: Honduran
  • Filler: Honduran
  • Size: 4.5″x50” Robusto

Wynwood Hills Mayhem Review5

Appearance & Construction

The Wynwood Hills Mayhem robusto has a smooth Claro wrapper with no veins. The roll feels good and to the touch the cigar is firm and full of tobacco. The band is circular red and gold with a red background and four points. “Wynwood Hills” is atop and “Established 1976” is on the lower part. The band accents the claro wrapper in a keen fashion.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The straight cut of my Xikar is clean and the dry draw delivers hay and graphite.  As the Mayhem takes to the flame, there is drying on the palate followed by some leathery notes. The smoke to start is minimal, and as the cigar toasts I picked up a syrupy sweetness. Along with sugar some grittiness develops, and hay gives way on the retrohale. At this point, the burn line is razor sharp with a nice gray ash. As the ember burns, sweetness and earth interplay and the smoke intensifies.

Wynwood Hills Mayhem Review3

As the Mayhem robusto progresses into the second third, I pick up rich tobacco notes along with cedar on the retrohale.  The interplay of wood, tobacco and some mustiness develops even more which made for a curious profile. The sweetness returns along with nougat that intensified throughout the smoke as it burns. The finish though is savory, with the nuttiness lingering on. Construction wise, the ash remains solid which was a testament to the cigar’s construction.

With the last third of the Wynwood Hills Mayhem underway, there’s a toastiness and distinct notes of cashews. The cigar continues to produce billowing smoke and a clean burn line. The mouthfeel transitions to become more creamy at this point, with cedar dominating the finish. Then, near the end of the smoke,  earth and spice hit me and the Mayhem seems to live up to its moniker. While the spice enlivenes the senses, the wood character returns, rounding out the end of the cigar.

Conclusion

I was certainly interested in the rebirth of the Wynwood brand after its short lived artisanal run. While the names of the line don’t appear too shocking or original these days I will say the Mayhem with its Corojo wrapper did offer transitions.  From pencil lead, leather, sugar and nuts, the cigar kept me interested for the duration of the smoke. I didn’t feel the Mayhem stood out with particular flavors that “Wowed,” but it was enjoyable cigar from beginning to end and I’d be interested in trying the other wrappers in the line.

Final Rating: 89

Reviewers note: this is a non-blind review.

Viva La Vida Cigar Review

4 2 6.2k

Viva La Vida Cigar Review

If you smoke cigars and live in New York City (or travel there), you know about Cigar Inn. Founded by Billy, Gus, and Bass Fakih, the shop was home to the official “Cigar Aficionado Lounge” and one of the most well-stocked humidors in New York City. The lounge was considered by many (including me) to be the cultural capital of cigars on the East Coast. But earlier this decade, the brothers sold the lounge and moved on.

Fast forward a few years, and Billy and Gus Fakih have reinvented themselves as the masterminds behind Artesano Del Tobacco, their new cigar brand. Their first blend: Viva La Vida, a Nicaraguan puro blended by AJ Fernandez.  I had the privilege of helping to launch this cigar in New York City at The Carnegie Club, and was impressed by the early pre-release blends I smoked.

So today we review the fully released Viva La Vida from Artesano Del Tobacco. I’m going to do my best to be unbiased!

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Viva La Vida Robusto
  • Wrapper: Habano Oscuro 2000
  • Binder: Corojo 99
  • Filler: Criollo 98
  • Size: 5 x 50 robusto

Viva La Vida Cigar Review

Appearance and Construction

From a branding standpoint, Viva La Vida doesn’t have a hard time standing out in the crowd (which is a very good thing for retail sales). The dark Habano Oscuro 2000 wrapper is just about flawless, but what’s most surprising is just how much weight the cigar has in my hand. I can tell that it’s been packed with a lot of tobacco, definitely more than average.

Almost as surprising is that on the four samples I smoked for this review, all of them had a perfect or near-perfect draw. The cold draw brings forth notes of light spices, cocoa, and a wood that reminds me of the forest back in Oregon.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

As I light the cigar, Viva La Vida kicks off with rich medium-bodied smoke showcasing chocolate, assorted nuts, wood, hints of cinnamon, finely ground black pepper, and floral perfume. The buttery nuttiness really makes itself known mostly in the aroma which is just marvelous. The smoke is tremendously sweet as it hits the palate (rare for even sweet cigars). The draw as well is perfect and produces torrents of flavorful smoke. The retrohale is rich but smooth, summoning charred wood and more chocolate. It’s a pretty great lift off for Viva La Vida, and that’s only the first ten minutes!

At an inch in, the burn has developed a bit of waviness which corrects itself roughly five minutes later, and the ash drops. The spice on the palate begins to hit the nose a bit before dropping off, and the flavor palette settles on mostly sweet, with a slight savory character.

Viva La Vida Cigar Review

As the cigar nears halfway, the wood note steals the spotlight, with the spice and sweet chocolate playing supporting roles. The cigar is still performing excellently in terms of construction and smoke production–and the smoke is remarkably cool.

As the Viva La Vida enters the final third, the milk chocolate note shifts toward semi sweet dark chocolate and espresso, adding an enjoyable bitterness to the experience. Meanwhile, a maple syrup note has emerged, layering nicely on top of light baking spices and black pepper. It’s only in the final inch that the black pepper really takes the reigns and becomes prominent, with a bit of harshness entering in. Both body and strength increase substantially, pushing the last part of the cigar close to full in terms of body and strength.

Conclusion

Well what can I say? The Viva La Vida proves itself to be an inaugural blend from Arteseno del Tobacco that’s damn near impossible not to enjoy. I also think that the Robusto is simply the perfect size for this blend — I just can’t imagine it being improved.

Besides a great sweet profile of chocolate, wood, and nuts, I love how the spice and pepper play thoroughly supporting roles throughout, instead of dominating the profile as they do on so many other blends.

I highly recommend seeking this cigar out at a tobacconist near you.

Final Rating: 93

Fonseca Classic (Connecticut) Review

3 0 4.2k

Fonseca Connecticut Review

Up for review today is the Fonseca Classic Lonsdale. Manuel Quesada’s Dominican version of the Cuban counterpart is illustrated in its more classic profile. This vitola in the original Fonesca lineup is blended to deliver a lush creamy smoke for those who enjoy a light bodied cigar. Draped in a Connecticut wrapper, the cigar gives the appearance of a more subtle smoke and would seem quite inviting to the novice cigar enthusiast. However the proof is in the smoking so let’s light it up!

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Fonseca Classic Lonsdale
  • Wrapper: Connecticut
  • Binder Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican
  • Size: 6.0″x 43 Lonsdale

Appearance & Construction

The Fonseca Lonsdale has a very pale almost anemic looking wrapper. It is smooth to the touch with slight veins and a few soft spots when pressed. The cigar is well constructed and the roll is effortless. The band is the traditional Fonseca “F” which is synonymous with the brand.  As with all of the Fonseca lines I have smoked, the appearance and care in the rolling makes this a premium cigar.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

After using a straight cut, the dry draw is loose and flavors of hay and tea are prevalent. As soon as I light the cigar, lots of tea came through with a good amount of smoke. The first few puffs transitioned from tea to leather with a short finish. Overall, the Fonseca Connecticut starts out as predicted in the light bodied range. A few puffs later, clotted cream envelopes the palate, though the quickness with which it dissipated is disappointing. Hay and leather blend together with a billowing of smoke as the cigar continues to develop, with the retrohale displaying hay and grass notes.

Fonseca Connecticut Review

At about halfway through the Fonseca Connecticut, nuttiness with an emphasis on cashews comes on strong with a creamy finish. I find this flavor profile quite enjoyable, but it doesn’t last. The buildup of the cigar becomes a tad green and bitter which is never welcome to the taste buds. The cigars burn is straight with a whitish gray ash. While the cigar rounds out forest floor and tanned leather are front and center revitalizing my palate.

The final third of the Fonseca Connecticut sports a nice firm ash and ample amounts of smoke. I pick up lots of bing cherry upfront with pencil lead on the finish. Another retrohale which ramps up in intensity enhances the cherry notes. As the cigar comes to an end, the finish is of café au lait lingering on the palate. A mild, predictable smoke.

Conclusion

While I do enjoy a mild bodied cigar from time to time, I usually expect a little more flavor and complexity out of a great cigar. The Fonseca Connecticut Lonsdale delivers a consistent light bodied experience, but the flavors are less than harmonious and the green notes were unsettling. I’m always wary of such a pale wrapper as it makes me suspect on the amount of aging and proper fermentation techniques applied. Having said that the tea and leather notes where pleasant, and when the finish was creamy, it was quite enjoyable. I’d probably recommend this cigar out on the golf course as it’s not overwhelming or perhaps on the porch with some coffee or espresso.

Final Rating: 86

Reviewers note: this is a non-blind review

Other Fonseca cigars reviewed include:

Fonseca Cubano Limitado Robusto Review

3 0 4.0k

Fonseca Cubano Limitada review2 (1)

As a man known for his blending skills and distinct lines, Manuel Quesada has put his mark of quality on the Fonesca brand. The incarnation of the Fonseca Cubano Limitado seeks to deliver a medium to full bodied smoke with balance and complexity. Manuel has a talent for producing many cigar lines yet at the same time giving each one a distinct flavor profile. In keeping yields and production low, the end result usually delivers a satisfying experience. Let’s find out if Cubano Limitado achieves a similar result.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Fonseca Cubano Limitado
  • Wrapper: Habano
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Dominican
  • Size: 5 x 50 robusto

Appearance & Construction

The Fonseca Cubano Limitado robusto comes wrapped in a gorgeous dark chocolate wrapper. It’s silky to the touch with minimal veins. Squeezing the cigar, I get a firm feeling that lets me know this smoke is packed full of tobacco. It’s expertly rolled and the quality visually is excellent. The cigar’s band has the traditional gold and red with the Fonesca “F,” along with a secondary band that is black and gold with the words “Cubano Limitado” and then “Fonseca” right underneath.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

Using a straight cut, I take a dry draw on the Fonesca Limatado and the taste of cedar is present along with a bit of salinity from the wrapper. As I light the cigar and take the first few puffs, black pepper hits me straight away along with spice on the tongue. The saltiness from the wrapper returns with an leathery finish as the cigar becomes fully lit. A quick retrohale brings spices to the nostrils and a creamy finish on the palate.

Fonseca Cubano Limitada review (1)

A fair bit into the cigar, the Fonseca Cubano Limitado develops a nice grey ash with a straight burn line that shows off its quality in the roll as well as the fine tobacco utilized. The saltiness is ever present on the palate, while earth and cashew cascades around the mouth. At midway, I’m greeted by a dusting of cocoa powder and a slight nuttiness on the mid palate. Overall thus far, the blend has stayed on the medium to full range without overwhelming the senses.

In the final third, the salt and earth combination transitions to cedar and hay. Body-wise, the cigar is now at solid medium, with toasted oak and cocoa resonating on the palate. The finish is bitter despite my smoking the cigar slowly. In the last few puffs, the salinity hangs on with bitterness lingering on the palate, providing a good opportunity to put the cigar down.

Conclusion

The Fonseca Limitado Robusto did indeed stay within the medium to full bodied range as what was intended by its creator. The salinity—which I usually enjoy in a cigar—overwhelmed the other flavors at times. The development of flavors from pepper, leather and spice to earthiness, nuts and cocoa was pleasant towards the midway point, but the last third hurt the cigar with the constant bitterness on the finish. While the balance from medium to full body was there, the final puffs of the Fonesca were not as pleasing.

Overall a pleasant smoke to start, but I would caution to smoke it as slow as possible in the hopes of not having the Fonesca burn hot, thus hurting the flavors.

Final Rating: 87

Reviewers note: this was a non-blind review

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