Big Al's Cigar Blog

Bellas Artes AJ Fernandez Maduro Robusto Cigar Review 10/31/2022 Yes, another AJ Fernandez cigar from Nicaragua.    How many cigars has this guy made? I have no idea.  I like Nicaraguan cigars and I've never had a bad cigar from him, so this should be good, priced pretty high at about $9.   Box pressed, very firm feel.    Brazilian wrapper, San Andres binder, and Nicaraguan fillers from AJ's own fields.   It's Halloween, kids are in bed, already finished the trick or treating, ate a bunch of candy, drank some tequila, now ready to end the night with a good smoke.    Just smelling this one pre-light, it should have good flavor.    Pre-light smell is not always a good indicator of a great smoke, but if I had a walk in humidor, I'd want it to smell like this.  It's a good draw, starting off medium with slight cedar and spice.    Slightly sweet and earthy.    With the firm box press, it is full of smoke. I've only had a few months, but I can imagine what it might be

H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon Toro Cigar Review 10/29/2022 Been smoking this cigar for 10 years or so.    This is my 3rd box and 1st with the new brown bands.    I really liked the red banded one.    Still have a couple left over, but will review the newer cigar.    I think it's the same blend: Cameroon wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and filler with Dominican / Nicaraguan / Peru tobaccos.    It's always been a medium smoke that was full of old style flavors. It's priced around $7 now, which is reasonable.    Let's see if this new one lives up to the old style reputation. Right away it has an old style flavor of cedar, leather, and caramel.    Medium profile, easy draw, full of smoke.    Burning evenly.    I'd say most cigars that burn unevenly do it the first inch.    Usually, if no issue the 1st inch, you're good.     I just reviewed the H. Upmann 1844 Reserve, same Toro size, and it was plugged.    Not this one.    This one has about 6 months aging in my humidor, 5

Joya de Nicaragua Antano Connecticut Toro Cigar Review 10/28/2022 Joya de Nicaragua has been around a long time and has consistently been a top brand know for strong cigars. I'm personally familiar with their original Antano 1970 line, which will make you lay down to recover from its strength if you're not ready for such a strong cigar.   But this is a Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar so it shouldn't be super bold, but I'm betting it still has strength. I got a 5 pack and this is first I've smoked after 2 months in the humidor.  I didn't pay too much , not the $9 that they're going for now.   Starts off with a little spice with a smooth draw. Definitely I can taste Nicaraguan tobaccos, already leaving an earthy toasty taste on your palate. Friday night is usually 4 Rose bourbon for me, but this one, I'd say, would probably do better with a strong beer, like a porter or ale. I'd don't usually drink beers late at night, so I'll keep my

Oliva Serie G Churchill Cigar Review 10/26/2022 Let me say that I have been and continue to be a huge Oliva and Cameroon fan.    Everyone knows Oliva tobacco and branded cigars are always making high ratings.    They have been behind many of the top rated cigars.    The Serie G is priced very reasonable, can be had for about $5 to $7 a stick, and sometimes cheaper if you shop  around.    I've been smoking these for years and I'm on my 3rd box of different    sizes.    Let's light it up on this Wednesday night.  Right away I can taste that signature cedar sweetness of the Cameroon wrapper.    This is a medium smoke that starts off pretty mild but flavorful.    This Churchill, to me, is longer and skinnier than most.    A spongy feel, but not loose like a Fuente.    This one will burn longer and I think the box press gives a little slower burn.     It's a little cold out tonight, dropping below 50 now.    Good thing I already made my fire Monday when it was too warm to li

H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Toro Cigar Review 10/24/22 Let me say Altaldis makes some nice smokes.    Usually, they are a cigar catalogue brand that is a bit overpriced, but delivers a good cigar, not cheap, but usually top notch smokes.    This one is not priced too high, about $7 per smoke when you buy a box.    In today's prices, that is middle priced and maybe cheap compared to the now popular "good" smokes.   I've been smoking the older version of these for years, along with the Cameroon version.    This one is renewed in 2021.    It is produced in Honduras at the Flor de Maestros factory.   Sporting a shiny, brown Ecuadorian Connecticut shade grown wrapper and Honduran binderand filler.    I admit I don't see many Honduran tobaccos these days, so, to me, this one is unique.    I usually prefer the more recently popular Nicaraguan tobaccos.    I still have some of the older Dominican filled smokes and highly held those to high standards that H. Upmann deserves.  

Southern Draw Firethorn Toro Cigar Review 10/22/2022 Southern Draw is totally new to me.    I think the Robert Holt brand has only been around a decade or so and aims to promote southern culture and promote recognition you our dedicated servicemen, which he is a veteran.    Sounds all good to me.     This one is a Habano Rosado wrapper which is supposedly double fermented.    Mexican San Andres binder with Nicaraguan fillers, sounds like a very flavorful combination.    Also, I didn't mention AJ Fernandez helped put this together.    Everything sounds like a winner.     Price ain't cheap, but a reasonable price around $8 - $10. I usually age my cigars a few months before smoking. But this one has only 2 weeks time in my humidor, bought from a 15 pack sampler.     First few puffs seem a little dry, decent draw.    Been drinking some George Dickel Rye whiskey which is strong and sweet, chased down with coke.    This should go well with this one on a great Saturday night for smoki

Romeo Y Julieta Romeo San Andres Piramides Cigar Review 10/21/2022 This is a stronger and very different blend to the normal Romeo lines.    Every who has smoked a dozen smokes in their life has heard of this brand.    They've always been a decent mild and medium smoke that just about anyone can enjoy at any budget.     This one is a team up between Altaldis, AJ Fernandez, who recently is a cigar superstar, and Aging Room,s Rafael Nodal.     What invited me to this one was the San Andres wrapper from Mexico.    Some of my favorite cigars wear this wrapper.    I hope this one is similar.    The binder is Nicaraguan and fillers from Nicaragua and Dominican Republic.     Also, recently the price is right.    A box for around $90 works out to $4.50 a piece.  Box says 2018 packing, if I'm reading it right.    I've let the smokes age out of the cellophane 2 weeks.   Let's light this pyramid up.    It's more of a Belicoso as the shape is the same the whole cigar past the b

Partagas Black Clasico Cigar Review 10/19/2022   Let me start by saying that I'm a huge Partagas fan.    My go to smokes over the last 2 decades have been the regular Cameroon line and the Spanish Rosado San Augustin, which the latter unfortunately has been discontinued for many years now.    Very flavorful cigars and a great value.     Now, the Black series has a great reputation, but I've never cared for it.    It's about a $6 or $7 smoke. I bought a 20 pack that came with the sweet Partagas humidor in the picture.    I bought it for the humidor like 15 years ago and I still have some cigars left.    After 15 years, these cigars have maximum age.    Let's revisit one and see if it has improved.  Well, it's cold out tonight, about 45 degrees, so will add more wood to the fire.    No wind though, so should be good smoking weather.    This is supposed to be full-bodied.    It has a very dark, shiny Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper that is sun-grown.    Dominican binder