Big Al's Cigar Blog

Gurkha Status Torpedo Cigar Review 10/17/2022 Gurrkha is a brand I just haven't quite figured out.    I think I've sampled a few cigars from Gurkha going back 15 years and can't say anything good or bad about them.    I've only smoked a few of each from samples.    I don't remember them being good or bad, but that was many years ago.     This one is advertised as a 'super premium.'    I got 4 of these from a sampler and I don't remember paying too much.    Cigar International has these currently for like $9 a piece.    That's a lot for a cigar that doesn't have any real credentials.    And it's a mild cigar with Connecticut wrapper and Dominican binder and fillers.    Doesn't sound like a $9 smoke unless from a very well known brand.    Well, let's see.   Starts off somewhat mild with some spices.    It's a pretty strong spice, not tingling my tongue, but more on my nose.    Right away I can taste cream soda and cedar.    Really s

Oliva Master Blends 3 Churchill Cigar Review 10/15/2022  These are expensive smokes and supposedly rare, but I've acquired 20+ of these for like $4 a piece. I will rate it as a $8 smoke to be fair. Most retailers want $10 to $12 when you buy a box. Just looking at it, you can tell it's top notch. No loose roll, it is oval pressed and very firm throughout its length. This is an all Nicaraguan, supposedly with ligero fillers and a sungrown broadleaf wrapper. This one I'm smoking is brown, but the latest one's I've bought are dark, almost black.  This one has been aging in my humidor maybe a year. I'm hoping for a complex full bodied smoke tonight. I had a full day this Saturday. I got up early, ran a 5k, took 2nd place, ate a huge country fried steak lunch, followed by a grilled chicken dinner. I'm on my 5th shot of George Dickel Rye whisky and did I mention it's late Saturday night? It perfect 60 degree weather outside for a light fire with m

Partagas Rothschild Fresh Packs Cigar Review 10/12/2022 Partagas Cameroon wrapped cigars have been one of my favorite cigars going back at least 15 years.    My go to cigar was the Robusto.    They were small, but packed a good 50 minutes of smooth, spicy, flavorful medium smoking pleasure.    I bought a few boxes like 10 or more years ago.    Then, it seemed the quality and flavors were a bit lacking so I turned elsewhere.    Then, 5 or so years ago, Partagas offered the fresh packs of 6 Rothschilds for more than a buck less than the box prices per cigar. I can't remember the price, but it was such a bargain that I bought like 6 packs.    I'm still smoking the more than a dozen cigars left.    Most, I pulled out the fresh packs in order to age them.    If you've bought a box of these Cameroon cigars, you already know they need like 6 months of aging before they get good.    We'll, these should be ready. Right after lighting, I taste cedar and sweetness. Pretty mild but

Esteban Carreras Habano Maduro Robusto Cigar Review 10/10/2022  Have I stated that I'm a big fan of Esteban Carreras cigars? I think every review for the 3 different cigars from them I've reviewed I have raved about them. All 3 I have bought boxes after trying them and I bought a box of these for $80 and I knew they'd be good. This may be about the cheapest cigar they make, but I don't think they make a bad cigar. This is only the 2nd one from the box I've smoked. The 1st one was great and I will review in detail this one. It is all Nicaraguan with a dark and oily wrapper. The band says aged 13 years. Can't find much info on what is aged that long. But it tells me these cigars like age and I like to buy a lot cigars so that I can age them for many years, sometimes up to 15 years.  Lighting her up I can tell that this is more fuller in profile than most cigars. You don't usually call it Habano and make it weak, unless you are a gimmic

  Alec Bradley Maxx Culture Review 10/8/2022  Bought a box of these about 4 months ago. Ive recently been becoming a big fan of Alec Bradley cigars. Most of the AB cigars that I've smoked have been top notch, except for only a few. The Prensado and Tempus are the best, but also at the top of the priceline. The Maxx is still a $7 smoke, but middle of the line for AB. This one supposedly has a Nicaraguan habano wrapper, Costa Rican binder and a 4 country filler of Columbia, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua tobaccos.  After lighting, right away taste some spiciness and some dark chocolate flavors. Good draw, burning nice with no runs. Been drinking tequila chased with coke earlier. I'd say this one pairs better with a strong bourbon, but the tequila might bring out more spice. Got an inch ash and, so far, very smooth barely medium profile. No bite or harshness at all.  Picking up a little more spiciness. After 20 minutes, dropped its ash, barely a cone st

Montecristo Classic Churchill Review 10/7/2022  I've had this one in the humidor for a year or two from a 5 pack. I've always liked the Montecristo line of cigars going back 20 or so years. I guess they introduced me to the premium mild cigars when I first started getting into cigars 20+ years ago. I still remember the artisan cigars with the fancy boxes and artwork. Seemed like a gimmick, but those were some of the smoothest smoking cigars that I can remember. Lately, it seems you got to pay way too much to get a good Montecristo. But, they still make fine cigars, but prices are way up there for a decent smoke.  Let's review this one that is priced like some kind of rare boutique premium. It's a beauty of a stick, but I must note that a few of them had some cracks in the wrapper after sitting undisturbed in my controlled humidor. If it still smokes good, I won't knock it down. I understand premium wrappers are very delicate, but come on, f

  La Perla Black Pearl Morado Toro (double?) Review 10/5/22 I first must say that I have been smoking these for many years and have bought 3 boxes of different sizes over the last 2 to 3 years.    Why not? For like $50 to $60 a box.    I've seen seconds for this price that had you spitting out chunks of short filler.    This has a real cameroon wrapper with the rest Nicaraguan tobaccos.    It's got to be good, which it is.    I'm smoking what I think is a Gordo (6 x 60), but can't find the size searching the internet.    Maybe it's the Toro, but it's definitely much larger. Anyways, I've had what is left from the box for over 2 years.    It's a medium flavor and body from what I remember.    Haven't smoked one in like 9 months, but I remember that it is an enjoyable and consistent medium smoke. These get better with age. It won't turn into a gem, but definitely smooths out and develops a more complex profile.    For the price, why not try? F

  Kristoff Corojo Limitada Torpedo Review 10/1/2022 This is first Kristoff I've smoke in like 15 years.    I still remember the Maduros I bought like 20 years ago that I really like when I was a rookie smoker.    I guess those were mild cigars, but very flavorful. This one is a Corojo, which has not been my favorite. I've had some really bad Corojo cigars in the past, but it seems the latest Corojo wrappers are much better.  It's a Saturday night for me and I'm hoping for a strong showing of some good bold flavors out of this one.    I usually don't comment on the pre-light aroma as I like the smell of every cigar, but this one almost has a infused smell to it, like the Acid brands (which I'm not too fond of). I only bought one, from a sampler, but these can be found for around $8.  Right off it is smoking with a good draw, already tasting cedar and toasted marshmallow flavors.    Very smooth, can puff it strong and taste caramel flavors. Pretty mild, ve

  CAO Consigliere Robusto Review 9/30/2022 I've smoked many CAO cigars over 2 decades now and they consistently send out top notch cigars. I got a 10 pack of these 6 months ago for $40.    Smoked a few and they are very average, but not bad. I've smoked some good CAO cigars, like the Gold or Brazilia, but never found them worthy of buying a whole box.   The first inch starts out with little cedar and some toasty flavors.    Maybe a medium flavor profile. Burns and draws well.  20 minutes in and flavor is still mellow, maybe more leathery taste.    Pretty smooth, very subtle flavors. Not the most interesting cigar. Kind of a dry leathery taste.     Burning pretty fast. Leaves a decent aftertaste.    It's definitely a perfectly rolled cigar.    To me, it's not great. It is satisfying, but doesn't have any outstanding flavors.    Maybe not for my pallet.   It's late Friday night and was hoping for a quick strong bodied smoke and this ain't it. It's n

  Punch Gran Puro Toro Review 9/28/ 2022 Looking at band of this one, it is of the older version of Gran Puro line of all Honduran tobaccos.    I don't know when they changed the design, but I think I bought a box of these like 5 years ago.  This one has at least 5 years of aging.    I've always liked most of the Punch line of cigars, liking this one and the Gran Cru the best.    Punch is known as a strong cigar, but to me, there are many stronger brands, such as Joyo De Nicaragua.    So, if you think Punch is too strong, that is just an urban legend.    Try one out. Starts off pretty mild and mellow.    Not too much going on, except a major run on the burn. I have think fast and do the old school spit on the finger wipe on the bad spot trick and light up the other side.    Got a good one inch ash now, starting to add strong toasty graham cracker flavors.  You can see in the picture, the crooked ash. But I think this is past us, we'll, let me touch it up a bit to make