Big Al's Cigar Blog

 12/11/2023 Yeah this is one of the better Alec Bradley smokes.  I have like just about every one of his.  This one is a little smaller than my preference, but it is cold out tonight and I plan to keep it quick when it's 36 F out.  Everybody knows this brand and it is Honduran with said wrapper and Honduran Indonesian  onder with Honduran Nicaraguan fillers.  These ain't cheap but priced at the mid high tier range of like $200 a box of 20.   First puffs had a pretty robust earthy and woodsy flavors that was both smooth and flavorful.  It then went a little milder for a few minutes.  Now it is kicking back in after about an inch ash and 10 to 15 minutes.  It has picked up a little caramel sweetness that sits nicely on top of a layer of aged oak.  So far I'd call this medium from beginning until now.  Nice smooth smoke but not clouds of smoke like some of my favorites.  I guess it's slightly creamy but for $200 I think ...

 12/8/23 I just recently smoked the regular Maduro version from Kristoff and I thought it was really good but I was wanting a little more strength.  I hope this one is same but having a little more.  A dark and oily Brazilian wrapper looks good and this thing smells even better. Burns pretty mild and super creamy first inch. About as smooth as it gets.  Only taste creamy toasted marshmallow and light chocolate.  Still very mild at first.  I was drinking some Margaritas and one shot of Don Julio silver.  Switched to a charred wood tasting Mezcal shot with some Coca-Cola.  Now drinking a wheat beer, Blue Moon.  What does that have to do with cigar? I don't know.  All I know is I got a lot of flavors going on and I like it   This cigar is burning perfect.  No runs, burning slow, and full of smoke.  Should squeeze an hour of it.  It's building a little more flavors.  Same flavors.  Not quite half in and this is ...

 12/6/2023 I'm a huge fan of the Gran Habano  Corono #5 , but I admit I haven't tried too many of their other many varieties.  This one has been aging about 4 months in my humidor.  I only have one from a sampler.   It has a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper with Costa Rican and Nicaraguan binder fillers.  As of today it seemsany places have these as obsolete, but I see some places still have these at some cheap prices, like less than e bucks.  If good, better order up now before they're gone. Did I mention it's cold as hell tonight?  Gonna smoke a little early as it is supposed to drop to the 20's tonight.  That's what what a good fire pit is all about.  Do you want to know a simple trick to get your fire going quickly?  Dump a few ounces of bacon grease into some parchment paper and light it up under your wood.  Oh yeah, a propane torch helps get it going. Alright, I'll light the cigar up now.  I'm not gonna lie.  The ...

 12/2/2023 I'm starting to become a big Kristoff fan.  Every cigar I've smoked from them has been excellent.  They have many flavors and each one is different but always a great flavor and very satisfying.  This is my first Maduro from them.  First few puffs are very smooth, almost like a graham cracker dusted with cocoa powder but pretty mild.  Got to take some points off for a super quick run that I touch up twice with my spit.  Let's see if it continues.  I've had 'em run and then correct themselves.  I've yet had to burn off one side to keep it straight.  Got an inch of ash and it is still pretty mild.  Starting to pick up some white pepper.  Who's watching football?  Yeah, I'm outside trying to type this during the halftime of the FSU game.  I thought I choose this cigar because I thought a Robusto would be quick, but I think this one is going to burn much slower than most.  I definitely prefer a slow burner...

La Aroma de Cuba Monarch cigar review 10/30/2023 This may be first times smoking one of these.    I've enjoyed a few Don Pepin Garcia smokes and admire his ability to make some great full flavored cigars.    This one is all Nicaraguan with    an oily Connecticut broadleaf wrapper.  I've had this one aging like a year so it is primed for smoking.    Can be had for like $7 when you buy a box.   It's pretty windy here in Georgia on this night before Halloween.    Cold front moving in, but about 60 out now.    Wind calming, pretty good smoking weather.   Lots of flavor at first.    Has a lot going on: spice, sweetness, fruit, dried fruit, and some cedar.    To me it is intriguing, strong, and great, but not my favorite flavors so far.    But I love a complex smoke so I like it so far. If it can develop those earthy Nicaraguan flavors, it may be a winner.  Burning damn good...

 I've never written a conglomerate of my reviews. Trying to keep it straightforward.  But for reasons everyone knows, smoking is a preference  and everyone has their favorites, this is my go to list of what has been the best cigars I've smoked this year.   1) Esteban Carreras Hellcat Chupacabra Toro 2) Gran Habano Corojo #5 Churchill  3) Oliva Master Blends 3 Churchill  More to come  These are to smokes that always deliver such great flavor and long satisfaction.  If I can only choose a few smokes to keep in my collection and continue to smoke, this is it.  Gran

Esteban Carreras Mr Brownstone Speedball Robusto Cigar review  6/3/2023 Sounds like a strong addicting cigar.    I'm a huge Esteban Carreras fan and this one has a equadorian Habano binder, Nicaraguan fillers from Condega and Jalapa, and a Connecticut broadleaf Maduro wrapper.  It's pretty mild at first, but has some good flavors.    Very smooth and lots of smoke.    I taste    dark caramel and slight spices.    Not strong like molasses but I hope it strengthens to it.   Let me say that I hate spices rum, as Captain Morgan just tastes like chemical shit to me.    But, this one kind tastes like what I think a good spiced rum might taste like.    I have been drinking some decent runs lately, like Appleton Estates and Carupano.    Next time I will pair this cigar with some rum.    I'm drinking Cazadores tequila which doesn't really pair with this one.   The tequila is try...

Gurkha Castle Hall Nicaraguan Reserva Especial Toro cigar review  5/27/2023 I got these cheap.    But they've been aging for at least 6 months in my humidor.    Never been a fan of Gurkha, but I am very open minding and will smoke every cigar I have.  Starts off medium with spice, cedar, and earth.    Yep, just like most Nicaraguan smokes.    Not too bad.   Most Gurkhas taste alright the first third and turn to really terrible, but, like I said, I will honestly review any cigar.    If this one stays consistent then it is a decent smoke.   I taste a slight caramel taste, but it is burning kind of hot.    It is really windy tonight.    60 degrees out.    Windy and cool enough to start a small fire.    What's does have to do with how this is smoking? Nothing.    It is burning hot and a little harsh, but maybe it will mellow out. Half way through and it is mostly...

La Aurora 1495 Series robusto review 5/24/2023 This blend has been around a long time. I'm reviewing what I think is a 10+ year old one from a box I bought.    They still s2ll them now for about the same or maybe less than back then, about $3 or $4 a piece.  A toothy Ecuadorian wrapper with corojo, Dominican binder and Dominican, Peruvian, and Nicaraguan fillers.    It's a medium smoke, not meant to be a full bodied smoke.  Starts off pretty mild with a slight bite of spice and charred wood.    It's a slightly complex flavor and not smooth and mild like the regular La Aurora Cameroon line, which are awesome mild smokes in my opinion.    To me, these have a slight bite of harshness, which might be covered up if it had more body.    But it's a mild smoke trying to add complex flavors.    Not bad so far, but not great. The spice and cedary wood flavors have taken over.    The bite has almost disappeared.  ...

Montecristo Churchill cigar review 5/19/2023 I've had a few of these big Montecristo smokes aging for a few years now.    I thought they were all churchills but some are longer and some fatter.    This one I'm smoking is the smallest.    It's the one on the right. I recall my review back in October last year of a newer bigger one with the extra yellow classic band.    It was super strong, really unlike most of the Montecristo cigars I've smoked.    I believe to be a regular Churchill.    The bigger ones I can't find any reference to on the internet.    This one is smaller and fits the 7x50 size.  Starts out really mild, but with good subtle flavors or caramel and nuts.    But, you can barely tell you're smoking it, just subtle flavors left on your pallet.    It's definitely a mild Connecticut smoke.    Not really my type of smoke, but it is great so far for delivering easy smooth fla...