Big Al's Cigar Blog

La Aurora 1495 Churchill cigar review 12/21/2022   First, I guess I need to call this a "vintage" cigar review.    These smokes may be close to 10 years old.    Nobody reviews old cigars. It's a real shame because,if you are a true cigar smoker, you should charish for a really old smoke that's aged to perfection.    That's what I do.    My average cigar is over 5 years old.    It's like wine.  But, it's the digital age and you don't review something obsolete or not available.    Who's going to advertise on that webpage? People want the Justin Bieber of cigars.    We'll, f that.    F you, if that's what you want to read.    I like great smokes that are perfectly aged and I don't care what anyone else thinks.    It's my Stash and I'll smoke what I think is best.   So, these are not expensive and age quite well.    You can still buy them cheap and they are great.   It's a more Dominican flavored profile, more mild to medium. Af

H. Upmann 1844 Vintage Cameroon cigar review  12/19/2022 This is the 2nd of a box I bought a few months ago. The first one was was smoked almost 2 months ago and was plugged. It tasted great but wasn't satisfying due to the plugged issue. Let's give it a redo with some more aging time. By the way, I always, when first receiving new cigars, I take them out of the cellophane to start aging.  After a few minutes it is smoking, still seems plugged. I hop it can open up a bit or I will be sticking a pin down it to open it up. All my years of smoking I've only had a few plugged cigars. The few that had were from a low cost unknown brand that were just inconsistent in the rolling. To have a whole box of plugged smokes from one of the largest brands is ridiculous. It'd be like Toyota selling a car with sticky brakes, which just doesn't happen.  Shit, I've already cracked the wrapper trying to massage it. I guess tomorrow I'll be contacting the selling and

Montecristo Platinum Series Toro cigar review   12/19/2022 Ive had this one aging a good year or so.    First lighting, it is tasting pretty strong.    Most of the Platinum line have been pretty mild to medium, but this one seems different.    Most that I've smoked have been from 5 to 10 years ago, although smoked recently.    I think I got this one a year ago.    Maybe they spiced it up, as I definitely taste some strong pepper and earthy flavors.    It's like a full flavored Nicaraguan, which I think is what this really is.   It's pretty good.    If you want to know about my previous H. Upmann Cameroon experience, you can read about me throwing that one away into my backyard as it was unsmokable.    But I'm not omparing this to a crap smoke.    This is a top notch smoke and it is really good so far.   It's another cold night here in Georgia, 35 to 40 now.    No wind, big fire, so I'm enjoying myself with my tequila and music playing outside.    No work tomorro

Oliva Serie V Diadema cigar review   12/17/2022 I've had this one sitting in my humidor for over a year just waiting for me to smoke it.    This one is 7 inches long and has a beautiful Habana sun grown wrapper.    The cigar smells great.    I got this one from a sampler, which I have 2 of, so I can try it again.    It seems the Diadema has a 7 inch and a 6 inch.    This is the larger one.  I guess I should mention it is cold here in Georgia tonight. About 34 now.    I chopped a bunch of wood this afternoon just to make sure my fire was super hot.    No wind though, so won't be that bad.   I like a figuardo as it is easy to light.    Right away I'm enjoying some caramel and woodsy flavors.    As my jaw chatters and my arms shake.    Damn it's cold.    Thank God for my torch to get the fire roaring.  With the torch, only need 5 minutes and I'm feeling some heat.   Cigar tasting great.    Only 7 minutes in and I'm tasting some spice, a little cedar, and some toast

 12/12/2022 Looking back, I reviewed this one a month or so ago and gave it a 94.  Damn that's high.  It must have been really good or I was really drunk.  We'll, that's why I bought  a box.  Let's find out.   Let me say first, I just rehydrated all my humidors today and some were a bit dry.  This one may be dry, but I'd rather have a slightly dry one than a overhumified one that is hard to smoke.  If it was still somewhat green, it may be aged just right.  If was already aged enough it could just be dry.  Let's find out.  So far, the first few minutes are pretty mild and tasty.  A tad dry, but pretty good roasted nut flavors with a hint of cedary spice.  I'm not going to reread my previous review so that I get a true review of this one after a month or two sitting in my humidor.  A good cigar should sit and get better.   Taste many nut flavors.  Pretty good so far. Not really sweet, but taste cashews and walnut tones without any bitterness or harshness.  An

Rosa De Guadalupe Exclusivo Toro cigar review 12/9/2022 That's right. Another AJ FERNANDEZ cigar that deserves some attention. This one features the Mexican San Andres wrapper that, lately, I'm a huge fan. If you like this flavor, try the Esteban Carreras Hellcat, Romeo San Andres, or the top notch AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro.   This one is price mid-notch at about $5 to $6 a smoke. Just smelling and looking at the wrapper, it should be nice. Enough talk, let's light her up.  It's Friday night. I had a great night. Home cooked filet mignon with a low country boil. Yes. It had 3lbs of snow crab, a lb of fresh head on shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. Oh yeah, I ate good tonight.  It's late now and my cigar is lit after chopping up a large piece of wood for the fire. So it just rained really hard. Everything is wet, but not the inside of my wood just split. 5 minutes later, it is burning nice and I'm starting to taste some flavors from this large

Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Toro cigar review 12/5/2022 Got a sampler of these Southern Draw cigars and have been somewhat impressed.    This is the first time smoking this Connecticut Equadorian grown wrapped smoke.    Like all of Robert Holt's cigars, they are Nicaraguan origin with Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. Price at slightly below $10 a stick, they ain't cheap but have rave reviews.    My reviews have been mixed but favorable.   Named after Robert's wife, I think he's not foolish enough to make this one not good.    I know if I put my wife's name on something I made, it better be the best I got.    I can't even think of an excuse to explain that one if it flops.    I'm gonna bet this one is one of his best.    The guy seems pretty smart. Lights up easily and has an easy draw of smooth mellow smoke.    So far it is delicious.    This might be the best start to any cigar Ive smoked.    But I've had cigars go south quick.    It's burning wit