Big Al's Cigar Blog

  Acid Def Sea Perfecto Cigar Review 11/7/2022 First off, I'm not a fan of flavored cigars.    I've smoked a few Drew Estate cigars and some are good and some bad.    The Natural line has a few decent smokes.    I think I remember smoking a fat robusto called the Root that was really creamy anf full of puffy smoke.     This one is supposedly one of their top selling infused cigars.    Sports a Sumatra wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and fillers.    Can't be that bad.   Right away it tastes just like it smells.    To be honest, it smells like a cheap stripper trying to cover up her stank.    Not something I want near me or my mouth.     It is burning good. I've had this one stashed away for years.    I think I got it free from some kind of sampler, I don't know.    Very mild but with a weird sweet aftertaste.    Can't say I like it so far.    It does pull easily lots of smoke.  Well, it's Monday night. I'd be pretty pissedif this was my Fri night smoke.   

Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Toro Cigar Review 11/5/2022 This is my 2nd Southern Draw cigar that I've ever smoked.    Check out my review of the first one from October 22nd.    These are from a sampler pack that cost me $7 - $8 a cigar.   This one has an oily dark broadleaf wrapper from Pennsylvania.    Yes, that what I said.    Not Connecticut.    USA Maduro binder and Nicaraguan fillers.    This one again is made with AJ Fernandez and Robert Holt, the owner.   Usually I age new cigars a few months, but from what I've read, these can be smoked immediately.    I got not even a month on these.  A few minutes in and this one seems a little stronger than the SD Firethorn I previously smoked.    That one was medium throughout.    This one starts out similar, a little dry with some roughness, but building subdle flavors.    Easy draw and lots of smoke on the 65 degree 100% humidity night.    No fire tonight, wood is too damp and 65 is nice.   Slightest run that I touch up.    Pepper

Gurkha Master Select Perfecto Cigar Review 11/4/2022 Its Friday night, long week, had my steak dinner, usda prime New York strip.    Drank enough George Dickel to kill a lightweight.    It's time to smoke a special cigar.    I've got many cigars, some almost 20 years old.    I'm looking deep into my humidors and the first cigar that catches my eye is the perfectly rolled Perfecto.   I don't know much about Gurkha.    I read good and bad.    I've only smoked a few and have had good and bad experiences.    I researched    this one and it originated in 2001 and supposedly is made by Oliva.    Says it has equadorian wrapper and Honduran binder with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers.    Says medium.    With 10+ years aging in my humidor, it should be smooth.   It takes a skilled roller to roll one like this, so it would be a shame to age it all this time and it be a dud.   It's burning good on this 62 degree night, no wind.    Pretty smooth.    Taste the paper like ta

Joya de Nicaragua Antano robusto cigar review 11/4/2022 Sorry, this is not a full review. Threw out my previous    cigar and lite this one up.    It's been in my humidor for 10+ years.    Back then, I didn't prefer full bodied cigars.    Still prefer medium or medium    to full.    With all this age, it should have smoothed out.    And this particular cigar had a it's foot cracked pretty bad.     But it is burning good now and much better than the piece of mild turd I was smoking.  I've smoked an inch now and it is not that strong so far.    Taste slight pepper and lots of earthy flavors.    Not hoping for much, just want to finish a good night with a decent cigar.   Dropped the one inch ash and has a decent cone.    Still    not much flavor.    Pulling good amounts of smoke.    My palate is changing from bad tastes of the previous Gurkha I tried to smoke to better flavors of caramel and    toasted nuts.    It might take a while, but much better.  Picking up strength. 

El Rey del Mundo Robusto Lara Cigar Review 11/2/2022 If you haven't smoke this brand, you are missing out.    El Rey del Mundo has been around forever and continue to deliver great cigars at cheap prices.    I've bought 3 or 4 boxes over the last 15 years and every cigar has been very consistent and satisfying.   The Robusto Larga is basically a Toro.    Usually you can pick these up for $3 to $4.    They are listed as medium - full, which they are not.    All the ones I've smoked were pretty mild.    You can call it medium.    They are wrapped in paper, which is different    and I can't really say why or why not.    I think these are just old school style cigars and they stick to that old tradition.    Nothing wrong with that.  First inch is mild overall. Can taste many flavors all at once.    Does have a slight hot, harshness.    Maybe that's why they call it med-full, to make you think that bite is boldness.    But, I do taste cedar, pepper, chocolate, and sligh

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