Big Al's Cigar Blog

Zino Platinum Grand Master cigar review 6/24/2026 I've had this one for a few years. Might have got it from an atlantic.com grab bag, can't remember. It's made by Davidoff in the Dominican Republic. It ain't cheap. Dominican and Peruvian fillers, Connecticut binder, and Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. It's a classic Dominican smoke when they were known for the best Connecticut wrapped mild to medium smokes. They still are, but just not as popular.  It lights up easily and starts off pretty tasty. I taste a mild spiciness that leaves a good sweet flavor in your mouth. It's really smooth.  It did need some touching up. It's smoking great but seems has a weird spot burning at the tip.  It tastes great. It is mild to medium the first inch. Think of how the old Monticristos used to taste 20+ years ago. This reminds me of those. A very smooth, creamy smoke with a slight woodsy spice. I wouldn't describe it as sweet, but it will bring out the sweetness in your...

Montecristo White Series Toro cigar review 6/19/2026 I've been hoarding this one for a long time, maybe 5 years. The White Series has always been one of the best and smoothest medium smoke you can get. Super consistent.  It seems Connecticut shade wrapped smokes just aren't as popular as they once were. I think it's because there are so many great, mostly Nicaraguan, smokes that are easier and cheaper to make. But there's a reason why these used to be and continue to be popular, while still demanding a top tier price.  Let's light it up. Lights up easily and immediately it's tasting good. I like how it is a little spongy. I don't feel I will crack it. It definitely has some cedar flavor with easy drawing puffs of clouds if smoke. That's the difference between a pretty good cigar and a great one. If it can make clouds of smoke easily and still be smooth. So far this one's doing it.  This cigar is going great with my Chinese liquor. Most people have ne...

Partagas Robusto cigar review 6/8/2026 I haven't smoked a Partagas Robusto in a long time. This used to my go to smoke. It was the epitome of what a Dominican Cameroon wrapped smoke is supposed to be. I probably bought 3 boxes about 20 years ago at $88. They are like double the price now. They got too expensive and I got to where I liked a longer smoking smoke, so I haven't bought. Let's try this one from a 2 pack I bought.  If you don't know, Partagas was known for their Cameroon wrapped smokes, same as Fuente, but I liked Partagas better. Seems not as popular as in the past but they have stayed consistent to their core of making fine smokes at reasonable prices. But I remember only the Robusto was good. I tried many other sizes like the Rothschild, which was good but had a paper like taste.  Lights up good and, yep, it has good taste immediately as I remember. This one is all about that spicy Cameroon wrapper taste. If I remember it is Mexican binder with Dominican...

Alec Bradley Superstition Robusto cigar review 2/23/26 Never had a bad Alec Bradley cigar. Even the ones I've gotten cheap have been excellent.  I think I got this one from a sampler, probably for cheap.  I think these are about $4 or $5 a stick.   It's a short smoke. Nicaraguan habana wrapper with binder and long filler of Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Dominican tobacco.  Starts off with a definite Nicaraguan flavor. Has that leathery, charred oak flavor, but definitely smooth. Just like all the other AB cigars I've smoked.  All different but different flavors and profiles.  Is it good the first inch? Hell yeah.  Did I mention it's cold out?  Yeah, about 28 now.  That's why I chose this short smoke.  By the fire it's not too bad.  And that's why you prepare your fire before. A propane torch a few minutes on your small pieces of wood, super hot in just a few minutes.  Pretty windy though. Bad smoking weather. But it's burning ...

Acid Plush Maduro cigar review 2/9/26 Not going to lie, I'm not really into the flavored cigars and I've smoked a few Acid smokes.  They've been popular for like 20 years.  Drew Estate makes some fine smokes. His Natural line have been good.  I think I've smoked one called Root that was pretty good. This one is same Robusto size but flavored.  I think it's a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper and the rest is Nicaraguan.  These are made in Esteli, Nicaragua.  Perfect night for smoking. 55 degrees out, no wind.  Don't judge this one on how it smells. It smells awful. I've had it aging at least 5 years, so it should have settled down some on the funk. Hard to describe the smell. Like a mix of old gym clothes and the perfume from a cheap stripper. What's not to like?  Wow, a ton of sweet flavor as soon as I light it. Like a Baccarat cigar that was dipped in sugar. Now it seems plugged but it's smoking like crazy but seems like I'm smoking through a filter...

Brick House Maduro Robusto cigar review 2/2/26 Only smoked a few JC Newman smokes. Not bad from my memory but none have I wanted to go out and buy again. Let's see with this one. It is a little pricey at like $8 a smoke when you buy a box. Looks good, smells good, pretty thick, and seems densely packed.  Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro wrapper with a blend of Nicaraguan long-fillers and a Nicaraguan binder.  What is Arapiraca? I have no idea. Let me look. Oh, its an area in Brazil. Oh, ok.  Will it go with the tequila I'm drinking? Let's see. These are supposed to be strong.  Starts off pretty strong. Right away it has some subtle sweet caramel taste and can taste it on the aftertaste.   Burning good. I do slightly touch it up to keep it burning square. Its burning a 30 degree angle. Let me touch it some more.  Yeah I got it burning damn good now.  Seems rolled well. It's a robusto so it's not going to burn too long. But it's earning it's worth. Lots o...

Tatuaje Tattoo by Pete Johnson robusto cigar review  1/14/2026 This might be my 2nd smoke ever from Tatuaje. I've read good reviews and such but these are not popular and don't know much about them. Got this from a sampler many years ago. Should be aged well.  It is supposedly all Nicaraguan with a Ecuadorian wrapper. I  think they are like $5 a piece.  Wow, as soon as I lit it I get not one canoe but two canoes on the tip. Never had that before. I touch it up with some spit and relight it with my torch lighter and get it burning good.  Is it any good? Damn I don't know. I can't taste it yet. Seems pretty mild.  It's now smoking good. I can start to taste a mellow and creamy , somewhat sweet taste.  Definitely a mild to medium smoke.  Basically a mild flavor with a sweet and spicy aftertaste.  The spice heats up. Still mild but a lot spicier flavor. I guess I do like spicy cigars because I do start to like this one.  I should complain ab...

  AJ Fernandez Small Batch Toro  12/19/25 Damn it's cold out, like 40 and dropping, but no wind. With a heat source it's some good smoking weather. Been waiting to smoke this one for like 2 years. AJs are always one of top 10 cigars I smoke routinely.  Mexican San Andreas wrapper, one my favorites. I think the rest is Nicaraguan. Right away it makes good smoke and easy pulls. Medium body. Burns a little sideways, but can touch it up my lighter. Pretty smooth and maybe a little creamy taste.   Putting out tons of smoke but burning pretty quick. I like it. Gots a good aftertaste.  It's Friday night and chose a cigar to go a good hour or so. Yeah it's cold out but with a propane heater, 300 watt speaker system, and football on my outside tv, I think I can enjoy a cigar.  Pairing it with an Aldi brand stout beer. Damn, I poured it in a glass and it looked like stale coke, not one bit of foam. Come on Aldi. It does go good with it though. Great flavor be...

 Montecristo Nicaragua Toro cigar review 12/5/25 Been a long time since I've done a cigar review. That doesn't mean I haven't been smoking some really good ones and some new ones that you should be anxious to try. This is not a new one but a smoke by AJ Fernandez for Montecristo that is guaranteed to be good. First time trying so I'm expecting a 95+ smoke.  I'm a huge AJ fan.  This one is all Nicaraguan. And it's Montecristo so it should be guaranteed to be be flavorful and burn perfectly.  It's a cold night out, about 43, but not too windy. Was trying to watch college football but let's be real. Who wants and who cares to watch the American and Sun Belt conference? Join the FCS. Not going to lie, being from south Georgia, I could make a team of high school players in my region that could beat half these teams.  Anyways, let's light it up. Right away it is burning good with lots of smoke. Good medium wood and leather taste but subtle. Just burns pret...

Esteban Carreras Unforgiven Toro Grande cigar review  5/5/2025 Cinco de Maya  Alright. Yes I'm drinking tequila.  What kind of lightweight drinker doesn't drink some type of Mexican alcoholic beverage on Cinco de Maya. I'm drinking my favorite Cazadores reposado.  And I had homemade fire roasted salsa. But enough about my eating and drinking.  How about this smoke? If you read my reviews youll hear me praise this brand.  Every one I've smoked has been excellent and very complex. This will be first Toro I've smoked of the Unforgiven. I bought a 10 pack of the gordos and liked them although way too big. Toro is probably my favorite size smoke.        It starts off pretty mild but pulling tons of smoke. Lots of sweetness and creaminess.  Very easy smoking. Has a bit of spiciness but more woody tasting.  It's like 62 out. Got a small fire. Got my new custom built speaker box jamming in the backyard.  Probably too lou...

Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Robusto cigar review 12/18/2023    Good strong flavors at first.  Somewhat strong. Has a slightly chocolate and slightly sweet taste with a little woodsy aftertaste. Pretty strong flavor at first. Now has mellowed at the half way point. Like a Maduro now with smooth deep dark flavors.  Pretty good and really smooth.  The burn is not the greatest but haven't had to touch it up.  Lots of smooth cool smoke and it's a medium profile . Lots of dried fruit flavors.  Like a tangy sweetness.  Goes great with my Belgium beer.  Picking up strength.  It's definitely a complex well developed smoke made to deliver many flavors.  I'd say it's not too strong for me, but it's definitely medium to full now. Not overpowering,just good smooth smoking throughout. I think it's even smoother now than before.  Lots of spicy cedar now on top of the chocolate and dried fruit.  Full flavor now and damn good.   Wor...

 Rockey Patel The Edge cigar review. 12/30/23 I think this is the 3rd smoke from my Costco $35 10 pack.  This one has a blue label on no other naming indication.  This one feels denser and slightly thicker than some of the other ones.  All are same length, a thin Robusto. The first 2 I smoked pretty quick.  This one should last longer.  Great start. Smooth and cedary with slight sweetness.  At first it has a good red pepper taste that is flavorful but not too spicy.  (The ash is hanging at like an inch and a half.  But let me say that the last 3 or 4 cigars all been long ash hangers.  I think my humidors are all in perfect conditions.  If it ain't burning perfect, either your humidor is off or smoking a crappy cigar.) Ash still hanging while I puff it hard.  It was pretty spicy but now transitioned back to sweetness.  It like a sugary caramel.  I have been drinking Knob Creek 9 year and it goes perfect with it. ...

 Rocky Patel 1992 Robusto cigar review  1/3/24 First review of 2024.  I had just smoke a great RP smoke and really like it new years eve.  I remember it and this one so far is just as good.  First inch is spicy with a good sweet dark caramel taste.  This one is box pressed and very firm.  It's smoking quicker than the previous one but still smoking slow enough with full draws of medium flavored smoke.  This one a little milder.   Still pretty spicy.  Has a red and a black pepper taste.  Sugary cedar aftertaste.  Still medium at the half point.   I think it's burning a little slower and is transitioning to more roasted sugar cane.  I think a fine rum would marry nice with this one.  I'm drinking Dickel Rye whiskey which also compliments it.   If you like em spicy and medium, try this one.  I think I taste pears in my nose.  My mouth and tongue are tingling.  No bad aftertaste, ju...

 Esteban Carreras Unforsaken Gordo cigar review  1/12/24 Finally a night not super cold. I'm going to smoke my 2nd one of these since my first one around Christmas.  This is a huge Nicaraguan smoke.  I like the larger sizes but this one is so big it hurts my jaw to try to put of teeth on it.  But for the price and amount of smoke you can get out of it,it a damn fine smoke, even it's like twice the thickness of a regular smoke.   It lights up easily and is pulling good.  Pretty mild at first with good cedar and sweetness.   Let me also go ahead and complain about the cedar sleeve, which I think all smokes should come with.  This one, however, seems to be stuck to the wrapper and you have to peel all of the bands off to get it off.  Make it easier to remove damn it.  Anyway, the cigar is smoking great these first 10 min.  Still mild and very smooth.  Like I said it's a huge smoke. It ain't just a thick one to get a...

 Alec Bradley the Lineage Robusto cigar review  1/19/24 I think first time smoking one of these Lineages.   Starts off a little mild and then kicks in lots of cedar and sweet spice. Very smooth and creamy.  It's a very mild spice that allows the cigar to remain smooth and cool.  Pulls very easy.  It's about 28 degrees out here by my fire.  I'm warm though.  The cigar is smoking pretty quick with a few runs that need fixed.   But I got it smoking good. Not a ton of smoke but it lingers a good tingling taste.  Same flavors as before, but stronger. It's builds more spicy rum barrel like taste. Still medium.  Not a strong smoke.  A good smoke.  If you get these cheap, I'd smoke them regularly.  But maybe can't get these cheap.   40 min in and I think I can get 10 more min.  It's light enough that you can type with both hands and just keep puffing it nonstop.  Complexity this cigar is not but ...