The Reviewers

Don "Cruz"ado

enjoying cigars since 1996

has written 300 articles

Walt

enjoying cigars since 2005

has written 704 articles

Brian Hewitt

enjoying cigars since 1997

has written 150 articles

59 Comments

  1. OlivaSerieV says:

    Nice review guys. I like the joint review format but it would be nice to find a way to keep the background noise out… a more peaceful environment maybe. Get Buckhead to give you a key and you can do these before the shop opens.

    Whenever someones cigar at a cigar shop starts to run like Rich’s did I have to restrain myself from correcting the burn for them.

    Secret message… I think you two must have implanted subliminal messages in there at the 18:36 mark as I have been on a strange cartoon network Flintstones bender ever since I watched the review.

  2. Joe(capnpfff) says:

    Nice review. I can’t wait to try one so I can see what Pepin has done with his first time using Dominican tobacco. I don’t know what the code word is but I am going to guess that it is Fred Flinstone. Nice job with the dual cameras.

  3. Rob (rgianelli) says:

    Awesome job guys..Really enjoy having 2 perspectives on a cigar…To me the band looked like a “Pemican Beef Jerky” label..and speaking of Fred Flintstone..does anyone else think Rich could be Bam Bam’s great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandson..LOL
    Hope to see more of these types of review from you guys..
    Great job..
    Rob
    rgianelli

  4. A well aged Cuban says:

    At the risk of boring myself as well as everyone else, I really think Brian should do more of this kind of thing. Very well done both of you…cheers.

  5. Tony says:

    Great video guys! Funny stuff. The music was a nice touch.
    The secret word is: Corn chips, Frosted Flakes, Fred Flintstone, or Bedrock….one of those sounds good! haha!

  6. As mentioned above I too think Brian should do more video reviews, really nice to watch this one!

    An thank you for the preview.

  7. beaverc32 says:

    Enjoyed the review! “All you white people look the same to me” — LOL.

    My guess is that the word was “Bedrock”. If I’m wrong, then send me those cigars as punishment :)

  8. Oats says:

    Nice to see a Brian video. And Rich, you look nothing like what I imagined. I’d say 14:15-15:05

  9. HomeBrewer says:

    Nice review guys…. I definitely like the joint review format. Only BootyRockRich would refer to a cigar having a “Bedrock” theme LOL (at the 17:23 mark I might add)

  10. Billy says:

    Nice review. Great team effort. Secret word flop at the end.

  11. Gary J. Arzt says:

    If theLa Aurora has cient ano wrapper to give to Nestor Miranda for this cigar; why has La Aurora stopped making the Cien ano? They have reportedly made 20,000(800 boxes) Lanceros out of the last of the wrapper.

    • Josh Sarkella says:

      You were just there Gary, so was I and I know the answer to this….

    • Gary,

      I’m sure La Aurora hasn’t “given” them anything…I’m sure that wrapper cost Nestor a pretty penny. That aside…The rumors/speculation we had heard prior to filming/editing this video were that it “Could be” the same wrapper.

      Brian put an email into the local Rep to find out what he could, and maybe he got back to him with confirmation that it was the Cien Años wrapper.

      Though

      That can mean a WHOLE lot of things in “factory speak”
      It could mean:

      A) It is the Exact same wrapper, it is left over from the Cien Años line.

      B) It is the same “wrapper” leaf, it is grown/harvested/fermented in the exact same way as the Cien Años wrapper (but a new crop)

      C) It is from the same plant specie (different crop, different process), only thing that is the same is that its same specie of Corojo

    • Brian Hewitt says:

      Yep, it’s as Rich stated, Josh, the area rep indicated it was the Cien Años wrapper.

  12. Josh Sarkella says:

    PRE-RELEASE!!! Key words, Brian was fortunate enough to enjoy one of these samples, “smuggled” from the DR. These samples made there way un-humidified through many hours of plane travel and 2 days of ground.
    As far as notes of this or that in the cigar, remember personal taste reflects on our own interpretation of flavors experienced when smoking cigars.
    I have smoked a good half a dozen of these in BOTH wrappers. Rosado and Oscuro. My experience was of both a rich and complex cigar. I did not experience any dryness in the finish, though my previous nights sobriety may have led to my being more physically humidified.
    Brian and I will be having a sit down to discuss new products coming from Miami Cigar & Co. later this week and to touch base on his experience with the Nestor Miranda Dominicano…

    • Thanks for the comment Josh…

      You are absolutely right! Personal tastes do matter the most…
      That’s the main thing I like about Stogie Review’s (reviews) is that they always leave it open ended for peoples personal takes.
      By no means are we trying to blackball the Dominicano or any other cigar for that matter.

      For the record Everyone (full disclosure and all)… JOSH is the local rep here in the Atlanta area…so keep in mind he WORKS for Nestor Miranda, just as our review is PRE-RELEASE, Both significant keywords when it comes to our opinions!

      • Gary J. Arzt says:

        Those that I smoked, and am still smoking, Josh, are rather excellent from combustion to finish. And, I am burning my fingers to enjoy every last millmeter.

      • Josh Sarkella says:

        Thanks Rich. My comments only come from my experiences with the cigar, and yes I do work with Miami Cigar & Co.
        I only feel that if we are here to educate smokers that we should do our research thoroughly on all products that we sample . IE. The line is called Nestor Miranda Special Selection ( not Coffee Break which is a specific size ) and the “samples” that you guys smoked were kept about as well as a pack of back woods in a local 7/11.
        I really appreciate the non-bias reviews on SR but also appreciate well educated smokers who do not form opinions on a single smoking experience with a certain cigar. I personally feel it takes multiple times to get the full effect that a cigar has to offer. Keep up the good work and smoke well….

        • Don’t be so offended by our little review here… I doubt that it will have much effect on whether or not someone tries the Dominicano.

          We CLEARLY stated MULTIPLE times that it was the first time we smoked it, that it was in “transit” virtually the whole way into our hands, and that we would both pick it up again on its official release.

          What education would you have us have? I could give a shit about what the wrapper is… Its not going to change my opinion whether its connecticut, or corojo, or whatever. Who cares what the size is? This size was nice for 2/3rds, then went to hell, is that the norm…probably not… but it happened.
          And don’t tell me that Miami Cigar’s brands don’t give sticks hot off the tables to people and say “what do you think?”… thats all that happened here.

          I understand that you feel the need to defend a brand that you represent…but belittling us by calling us uneducated is out of line…and unnecessary.

          You’ve had the opportunity to smoke loads of these sticks… GREAT!

          We haven’t… and we stated that VERY CLEARLY.

          • Josh Sarkella says:

            Wo, Wo, Wo, no one is calling you un-educated. And I am not offended by your review. The education comments were for all cigar smokers not directed at you guys, with the exception of the correction on size versus brand name.

            We in the cigar industry are very passionate about our craft. We love to hear peoples opinions both good and bad, it is what keeps us fresh and interested in creating great products.

            By no means do I feel you guys are lacking in education and did not mean for it to seem that way.

            To share opinions is what comment forums are all about. And these just happen to be my personal opinions.

          • Cool…

            Thanks for clearing that up… Things can get EASILY misconstrued when read and not heard…

            I respect your opinions Josh, and have no doubt you know more than I’ll ever know about this particular brand, and that’s cool.

            As I mentioned before, both Brian and I look forward to giving this cigar another try when it is officially released.

            As far as the name of the size…It is ignorance, on our part… Boram smokes so many NM Coffee Breaks that it’s become synonymous with the brand in the shop….I think one person even referred to a “coffee break Danno”. looking back it does sound uneducated lol, since I’m sure everyone else in the world is used to saying NMSS. We are hicks… don’t forget that!

            We cool Josh.

    • Gary J. Arzt says:

      “Given” was politesse, Rich. I could have said “sold,” as easily.
      But that’s not really about the cigar, so the comment becomes superfluous.

  13. Mike says:

    Just a great review guys! Glad Rich was there to carry that Brian guy!! :)

    Sounds like a decent cigar, but I am hoping that final third gets situated with a bit more aging and less traveling.

    Mike

    Brian – gotta love the dual reviews when the other guy has to do all the work =)

  14. Dalamscius says:

    Great job guys! Really enjoyed watching it! Yet another brand that I never see in Canada :(

  15. JaimeVR says:

    Loved the review. I looks like the first two thirds have the kind of flavors that I look for in a cigar. A shame the cigars took a bad turn in the last third. Hopefully with some aging they will become better. Loved Brian’s comment about the Flintstones look at 17:35. Keep up the good work and keep on smoking.

  16. Matt Masters says:

    It was nice to see a review where you guys are out and about! Seems like a really good cigar, maybe with a little more time in the humidor the burn issues will go away and give it more lasting flavor.

    The secret word is “Fun” at 18:01

  17. OlivaSerieV says:

    Maybe Josh can provide 5 packs to give away to those of us who watched the review… That way we can judge for ourselves what we think!

  18. slaneyg says:

    Nice review guys, i like the dual viewpoint presentation. I think the whole is larger than the sum of the parts, if you get my drift. btw, I understood the pre-release qualifications; i offer that as a man on the street, just walking by impression.

    Like most readers here, I will go for a single or a 5er to see for myself when they are released, thanks to the public service that you have provided.

    The secret word has to be Walnuts

  19. Edward Fernandez says:

    Good job on the review, the comical moments just add to the review. Secret word if I had to guess is flavor.

  20. Edward Fernandez says:

    Or Dominicano LOL.

  21. 858 Nick says:

    I’m guessing the secret word is “Dog Rocket” it happened whenever you pulled out the box of Room 101’s

  22. Dalamscius says:

    I’m gonna go with “Flop” or “Doom”, both near the end

  23. Joel says:

    Brian,

    Love the two camera concept! It worked out great! Oh and I also would say Fred Flinstone (LOL).

    Stew

  24. stogielover says:

    Great review guys, I loved the format for some reason, really different with the two cameras in the same place, kinda cool. Anyway my guess is Bedrock.

  25. Jannskee says:

    Great review!! You guys gotta make this a regular thing.. The humor and the 2 cameras really make it great! I agree with the previous post, Rich has got to be in Barney Rubbles family tree. He could easily be a descendant of Bam Bam’s.
    I think the secret word is peninsula, as how Rich described his burn issue. LOL
    Keep up the great work.

  26. Logan says:

    Good review, hope there are more like it, and hope next time you figure out a way to tame the background noise, my guess is fun.

  27. JJ23 in Chi-Town says:

    Nicely played boyz. Those Room 101 cgars would make an awesome 42nd birthday gift (which I’ll be celebrating on 2/10 when you randomly pick the winner … wink, wink). OK, nuff with the begging. My guess at the secret word or words is “cornchip barnyard compost combination” which Brian came up with about 5 minutes 59 seconds into the video. Absolute money!!!

  28. Did you guys smoke it when you were hungry; did you smoke it when your appetite is sated? Did you smoke it at different times of the day? Did you smoke it when you were ebullient; when you are ‘down’? Are you considering all the elements – construction, burn, appearance, draw, strength, flavour? How many boxes of these did you guys smoke?

    Ooops…there I go again flaming the fire…

    In all seriousness…well done! I hope the three of us can do something similar when I’m down in the ATL next week.

  29. HabanoHam says:

    Great Review Guys! I’m interested in giving these a try once they get released in march. I think the the secret word is “RichFatty” at 6:08 LOL

  30. dj says:

    That was great! (Well, ‘ceptin’ for the background noise… not your fault).

    I like ole Nestor… good guy; good smokes.

    “Just say da secret woid”: I’m going with “peninsula” at 11:30 (although bedrock at 17:55 was a close contender!).

  31. Tom says:

    I liked the dual camera/dual reviewer format. Cool concept I’ve wanted to try for awhile now.

    As for the contest, don’t enter me, because I don’t have a clue what the word is!

  32. tx_tuff says:

    Great tag team review guys! Will pick one up and try it out when it hits the shops, I love the coffee break size and am glad this cigar will come in it. I have had another Pepin cigar go dead on me at the end before. Was the JJ Maduro and it was a freaking awesome cigar the first half, but at pretty much the half way point it just died and had no taste the rest of the cigar.

    As far as the secret word, I think you guys back tracked and it came early in the video between around the 4 to 6 min mark. I didn’t go back for the time, hope that is ok. But I think the secret word is “Walt” when Brian called Rich that by mistake.

  33. DrJoeDyke says:

    Hey guys,
    Thought you both did awesome. Some good on camera chemistry there and it was a good watch even with the background noise. I watched this vid three times trying to figure out the secret word and the best I can do is “fun” at around 18 mins. There was a change of facial expression and then “that was a good word” was mentioned. lol I’m probably way over thinking this. Anyways, I’ll be sure to go out and get a couple of these sticks when they are available online or in my smoke shop. Great work again and keep doing that voodoo that you do so well.

  34. Thanks for the kind words guys!

    hmm not many official entries into the contest…

    *protip* the more observant you are the better your chances.

    Also, remember that we need the word and the time (we’ll give you a cushion of +/- 5secs)

  35. Walt says:

    Excellent review guys. Loved the duel camera concept and think Rich did a very good job of switching back and forth when it came time to edit.

    Looking forward to the next one and thanks for Buckhead for donating the box of Room 101 as a contest prize

  36. Dalamscius says:

    ok let’s try this again. “Doom” at 22:11

  37. DavefromPhilly says:

    i’ve never seen so many panties in a bunch over a cigar.

    regardless im looking forward to trying one of these, i smoked a couple of the 4.5×50 nestor miranda special selection about 4 or 5 months ago and really dug them. i honestly didnt know pepin had anything to do with the nestor miranda line, i thought it was jusy a nestor and la aurora thing. whatver, im in.

    on a side note, im an art director by profession. And as much as i love the special selection band, im not a fan of the dominicano band, i think the font cheapens it. just a thought, josh.

  38. Ryan says:

    Thanks for the review. My guess is for the word flop which occurs at 18:38 and 18:41

  39. Ryan says:

    I meant 23:38 and 23:41. Typo.

  40. Dalamscius says:

    “bedrock” at 17:21
    “flop” at 23:38 and 23:40

  41. Bradinbuffalo says:

    Fun at 18:05, yeah thats a good word….

  42. Joel says:

    Ok lets try it again. Fred Flintstone at 17:07 in the video (LOL). Now give me my box (LOL).

  43. Keith1911 says:

    I’m going to guess Dominicano at 17:28

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