Mike’s Top Cigars of 2011

First off I have to take my hat off to Walt for coming out and telling how it is. I don’t understand the major misconception that all bloggers get showered with free items all the time. Most of my cigars are bought from my own money or have been graciously sent to me by my viewers or friends.

Secondly, Walt is absolutely correct in his idea for a top list. If a cigar is in your top (whatever number) you …

Walt’s Favorite Cigars from 2011

It is that time of year again, where Top 10 Lists are in abundance and manufacturers salivate at the opportunity to Re-Tweet, Share, and +1 all of the praise that their cigars receive. I generally enjoy this time of year and am eager to put a list of my own together. This year, however, I am absolutely dreading it.

In years past I would open up the Cigar Review Index and take in all the cigars we’ve reviewed throughout the …

EP Carrillo Edición Limitada 2011 “Dark Rituals”

Following right on the heels of my first impressions video for the EP Carrillo Short Run 2012, this week I’m reviewing the EP Carrillo Edición Limitada 2011, also know as the “Dark Rituals.” Having not yet tried them myself, but based on very strong recommendations from everyone I spoke with, I picked up a full box of the Dark Rituals at the recent EP Carrillo event hosted by W. Curtis Draper in Bethesda. I had …

Contest: Win a Black Label Table Torch

A few weeks ago our good friend Steven, from Lighters Direct, asked me to review a lighter, the Black Label El Presidente. Along with that lighter, Steven sent along two others for us to give away.

The first of those lighters is a Black Label “Bombay” Table Torch (Model LBLT100). Entering is very simple, all we ask you to do is “Like” Stogie Review on Facebook. You can do so with the widget down below. If you …

Macanudo Vintage 1993 Number 1 – First Impressions

Wrapper : CT Shade
Binder : Mexican San Andreas
Filler : Dominican/Mexican
Source : Gifted from Rob Griff

Cigar

Not going to be a big write up today as it is Christmas Eve and watching my video on the Macanudo Vintage 1993 Number I is so much better than reading my drivel.

I will say I think the cigar has sat too long and lost a lot of flavors because if this is how it tasted in the beginning, nobody …

Top 10 Cigars – TGT Edition (2011)

Man where did 2011 go? Seems like the older you get the faster time goes by. Before 2012 gets here its time to look back at 2011. 2011 was another awesome year for cigars! I’m anxious to see what Walt, Brian, Mike and Charlie have listed this year. This year is no different than previous years. I had a difficult time paring the list down to just ten. To help me pare the list down, I limited it to cigars …

El Primer Mundo Epifania

It’s the time of year for festive gatherings, and I’ve been to a few recently. And so has local cigar maker, Sean Williams, owner of El Primer Mundo. At one of the parties we were talking about future cigar releases when I realized I completely forgot to review his new one for 2011, the Epifania. (You had your chance, Jerry.) So as the year comes to a close, it’s time to handle some unfinished business.

When Sean talks about …

EP Carrillo Short Run 2012 (First Impressions)

All of my recent posts these last few weeks have been late, but each time I’ve had a legitimate excuse (not that it really matters). This week was no different: my in-laws were visiting this past weekend, and I had to fly out to the Midwest on Monday for a family event. However, this trip to Chicago presented me with a great opportunity to record a video review with my good buddy Mike (aka @YoungBuckBOTL) from MikesStogies.com. Mike …

Undercrown by Drew Estate

Introduced at this year’s IPCPR Trade Show is the Undercrown by Drew Estate. Jonathan Drew gave us one of the most enthusiastic interviews we’ve ever had on the site and the Undercrown was one of my top cigars that really impressed me at the show. Its hard to believe no one has beat me to reviewing it. The story of the Undercrown is well documented. If you think the Undercrown is made with the left over scraps from the …

The Art of the Raffle

Cigar event raffles is a topic that seems to keep coming up in conversation. Jerry, Walt, Mike and I shared our favorite and least favorite prizes in a YQMA episode a month or two ago, and I used the opportunity to complain about winning baseball caps. I’m sure it was good for a few chuckles, but it probably wasn’t useful to anyone really thinking about organizing a raffle. I started thinking more seriously on the subject when a cigar rep …