Big Al's Cigar Blog

Fonseca no band toro cigar review 3/12/2025   I wish I was writing this review and 1,000's of people would be like yeah I remember those. I bet nobody remembers these from like 15 years ago. You could only find these as part of a sample pack of like 20 to cigars for like $30. I don't think it was 4 different cigars x 5.  2 of them were like a $4 smoke when you buy a box, one was like $3 and this one which was never really sold except for like a special throw in deal.  I remember these as mild to medium with a little bit to it like a typical Dominican.   Before lighting it up I notice how heavy and dense it is.  For a 15+ year old cigar it is burning great. It is pretty mild.  Now I remember these.  It's better now. It has a green tea and grassy taste.  Imagine a very strong candela. When they were green it wasn't good, but I remember they got better with age.  This one is good. It is really medium with mild flavorss.  I'd say all Do...

 Kristoff Connecticut Toro cigar review    3/25/2025 I really like all of the Kristoff cigars.  If Atlantic cigars keeps selling the 10 packs cheap, this brand will continue to be one of my favorite and a regular in my routine.  I have saving this one for maybe 2 years or more.  Not because I was treasuring it. I mainly like stronger medium to full smokes.  I think this one is mild to medium.  I figured it is a great smoke but I always grab a stronger one and set this one back.  Well I haven't smoked one in 5 days so I'd figure I could smoke a mild one since my smoking pallet is lost recent memory.  First inch is very smooth and burns great. Not hot at all like many Connecticut smokes.   After an inch or so it has kind of mellowed out but has a deeper flavor. Still mild.  Damn this is one of the smoothest cigars I've smoked. Has a deep flavor of oak and sweet spice with a slight sugar cane flavor.  Very subtle but can...

Villager Cuellar Black Forest Churchill cigar review 11/25/2024 I've had some pretty good Villager branded smokes in the past.  They have always been smooth, flavourful, and easy smoking.  Not great but a pretty good cigar.  This one says it has a San Andres wrapper and the rest I take is all Dominican.  The wrapper looks pretty good. It kind of has a stinky flavor.  I usually don't comment on the smell but I love the smell of a really good cigar before I lite it up.  This one I can't say it smells good but I don't comment as I've learned it doesn't have much correlation to the overall taste. It tastes pretty good and smooth first inch.  Not a lot going on but it is cool and smooth.  Not a lot of smoke, have to really draw it hard to get some taste.  But it is burning slow.   It's definitely a good Dominican flavor.  Really barely medium profile and flavor.  Not too complex. Just a good cedar and oak taste.   I a...

 Monticristo White Series Double Corona cigar review  11/8/24 Been at least 2 years since I've smoked one of these. I think I got this one from a 3 pack that I got from a sampler. I remember it nice and smooth and very good flavor.   Hey I do like that it is all fancily wrapped and I can easily slip off the bottom band and the big ass middle band has already been slightly opened at each end to help you tear all that damn packaging off the cigar.  Alright, how does it smoke? Right away. Pretty damn good. First inch is very smooth and mellow but a good medium body. It does have aftertastes of cedar and fruity flavors.  I'm not going to lie. This is a damn good cigar.  I can pull it hard and it delivers plenty of clouds of smoke.  It's still medium. Maybe lighter flavors now but still good flavors are apparent. No wind out tonight.  It's 65 and awesome t shirt weather.  Can't get better smoking weather.   Getting close to the midd...

 Had this one like maybe 2 years aging.  I don't even remember where I got this one but I have been saving it to age and I about forgot about it.   I'm expecting a strong smoke on this Saturday night.  I'll probably be biased if this is a mild smoke tonight.   First inch is nice and smooth.  I'd say a good medium smoke.  I was drinking some fine rum but now sipping on a Modelo Negra.  This cigar is very mellow in flavor.  Lots of cedar and very slight sweet toffee on top of a slightly dry taste.  It's pretty good so far.  If it can keep it's smoothness and strengthen that toffee and rich tobacco taste I think this can be great.  Finally flicked the ash.  Slight cone and it's pulling clouds of smoke.  Yeah it was rolled perfect.   It's definitely picking up strength not only in power but adding so straight in flavors.   Damn it smoking way too quick.  I got to take the band off before...

 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...