EP Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2010 (First Impressions)

Back in August, Jerry, Brian, and I were fortunate enough to cover the annual IPCPR convention. While there we had the opportunity to sample a variety of cigars. Since the trade show, I’ve been telling anyone that would listen how much I enjoyed the EP Carrillo Core Line. I was able to weasel about five of those cigars but only a single sample of the EP Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2010.

Due to my experience with the Core Line, …

Red Lion Habano Rosado – First Impressions

Wrapper : Ecuadorian Habano Rosado
Binder : Brazilian
Filler : Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran
Source : gifted from Sir Stogies

I have a special cigar for you today, I say special, since it shares the name of my home town, Red Lion. This cigar is produced by Heavenly Cigar and is their first venture into a non flavored cigar. These are available with a Connecticut Maduro and an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper and can be purchased in three different …

Nestor Mirananda Art Deco Gran Toro

Though it’s not officially released yet, small quantities of the Art Deco have been sneaking onto the shelves of select retailer(s) in a low-key bundled format recently. As a result, I’ve had the opportunity to smoke a number of Nestor Miranda’s stylish new smokes, at retail, since IPCPR. And as we all learn quickly, trade show samples are great, but it’s what arrives at the cigar shop that counts.

When they do hit your local brick and mortar on or …

Nestor Miranda 2010 Danno – Buckhead Blend (First Impressions)

A couple fo weeks ago I was on he lookout for a box of CAO La Traviata Maduro. Not being able to get my hands on them locally, I decided to get in touch with Mike from Buckhead Cigar Store in Atlanta. I had the opportunity to hang out with Mike and burn a few cigars during the last two IPCPR conventions in New Orleans and thought a purchase from his establishment was long overdue.

Along with my …

Red Lion Maduro – First Impressions

Wrapper : Connecticut broadleaf maduro
Binder : Brazilian
Filler : Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran
Source : bought at Sir Stogies

I have a special cigar for you today, I say special, since it shares the name of my home town, Red Lion. This cigar is produced by Heavenly Cigar and is their first venture into a non flavored cigar. These are available with a Connecticut Maduro and an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper and can be purchased in three different …

Drew Estate Dirty Rat (First Impressions)

In my quest to turn all of my IPCPR Samples to ash, the time has come to light up the Drew Estate Dirty Rat. After being wowed by the Drew Estate T52 Flying Pig, I had high hopes for the latest Drew Estate release. When it was all said and done, I thought the Dirty Rat was a good solid smoke but didn’t compare to the T52 Flying Pig.

Video runs roughly five-minutes and focuses on a single …

La Aurora 100 Anos – Robusto (First Impressions)

Several months ago I was speaking with Jose Blanco about the La Aurora 100 Anos. I had virtually no experience with the line and Jose wanted to remedy that, as well see me do some sort of vertical tasting with them. A short time later I received a box of about eight La Aurora 100 Anos in various sizes.

It has been tough getting back into the full swing of things with my daughter having been born, but I …

Illusione 888 – Slam

Wow! I like wow cigars! I’m not going to beat around the bush. While the Illusione 888 Slam is just a concept cigar, its exactly what I look for when it comes to a cigar! Flavors galore! Slam is a nickname that Dion uses to describe bench press cigars. Kind of like how cars are “slammed” to make low riders. According to New Havana Cigars Dion had to remove a leaf from the filler in order to get the bench …

Gurkha Grand Reserve – Robusto

Origin : Dominican Republic
Wrapper : Connecticut Shade
Binder : Dominican Republic
Filler : Dominican Republic
Source : self bought with my wife’s money

Pre-Light

Welcome to this review of the Gurkha Grand Reserve in the robusto size. This cigar is available in three sizes, robusto (6×50), torpedo (6.5×53), and a churchill (7.5×52). This is the single infused version as opposed to the Platinum being triple infused and then they have others that I …

Liga Privada T52 Flying Pig by Drew Estate (First Impressions)

Up until recently my experience with Drew Estate product was very limited. Not having had a very memorable experience with the Liga Privada No. 9, I was never very eager to give the Liga Privada T52 line a try. It wasn’t until a recent show of extreme generosity that I got my first taste of the T52. I was left wowed and was eager to fire up a Liga Privada T52 Flying Pig sample I was given during IPCPR …