Big Al's Cigar Blog

La Gloria Cubano Esteli Toro cigar review 8/15/26 I'd say La Gloria Cubano is one of the most consistent and best bang for the buck cigar brand in the last 30 years. This one is a Maduro Nicaraguan Jalapa Valley wrapped smoke with a Honduran binder and fillers of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco. If you like Nicaraguan smokes, these are your go to smokes  Lights up easily. Starts off really smooth, medium profile. Good amount of smoke. Not a lot of dominant flavors but just a good medium flavor. Basically tastes pretty good.  It's been pretty tame so far. Starting to pick up some cedar flavors. It's smooth and easy smoking. I'm probably smoking it too fast. It's pretty good.  It's smoking pretty fast but is never hot and always smooth.  Starting to get more rich in flavor. Can really taste it now. It has a sweat wood taste with strong body of just good tobacco taste. That's why I love this brand. They always have such great overall flavors. Never harsh and a...

Kristoff GC Signature Robusto cigar review 8/3/26 If you haven't tried a Kristoff smoke, you are definitely missing out. They are one of my favorites. Shout out to Atlanticcigar.com for selling 10 packs for like $45. I think I bought this 10 pack from cigarbid.com for even cheaper. At those prices, I'd say it's the best bang for the buck out there. Most Kristoffs have a similar profile, medium flavor and strength, similar Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Honduran fillers.  But the wrappers and binders are all different and give each a unique flavor. This one is a Brazilian dark wrapper. Looks and smells delicious.  It starts off pretty smooth, medium flavors, burns pretty good. Has a dried fruit, woodsy taste. You can pull it hard and it leaves a good sweet, spicy aftertaste.  It's really smooth and good flavor. Not a ton of smoke but will get plenty of smoke if you pull hard, and never burns rough or hot no matter how hard you puff it. Just good flavors.  It's definitely...

La Herencia Cubana Toro cigar review 7/27/2026 These are not well known , but everyone knows the creater, none other than A J Fernandez. Produced at the same factory as Man O War, San Lotano, and New World, I can tell you it will be rolled perfect and burn good.  These are economical, can be had less than $7 and even cheaper if you shop cigarbid.com like I did.  It's an oily, dark Maduro wrapper from Pennsylvania. I think the rest is a combination of Nicaraguan tobaccos.  Might have almost a year in the humidor for this one.  Pretty good night out for smoking. Probably got 2 inches of rain the last 2 days. Still really humid but not super hot. Actually it's 83 out with no wind. Damn let me get the box fan out to blow some breeze. Can't smoke with this stuffy, humid air.  Alright, I finally got it lit. It lights easy and starts pulling a ton of smoke. It's starts off with a dark wood and dried fruit taste. Definitely a Nicaraguan profile, which I like. Did I ment...

Cohiba Blue Robusto cigar review 7/22/2026 Who doesn't know and recognize Cohiba as one of the most famous and best cigars?  I've smoked a lot of them and just realized I haven't written one review for them.  They ain't cheap but you will be guaranteed a perfectly rolled and smooth smoking experience. The Dominican brand always delivers a smooth smoking experience.  No, it's not like the Cuban brand, but still keeps the prestige of the name.  I bought a 20 cigar sampler of all robustos, 5 of each flavor. This one is about a half inch longer than the other robustos and has a Honduran San Agustin sun grown wrapper with Honduran binder and Honduran, Dominican, and Nicaraguan fillers. I think it's been resting in my humidor a good year.  Check out cigarbid.com for some deals. I think I paid about $3 a piece. Not bad considering they are almost $10 a stick at most websites.  These have always burned good and keep an even burn without issue.  Lights up easy ...

La Gloria Cubano Society Toro cigar review 7/10/2026 La Gloria Cubano is one of my longtime favorite brands. I can confidently say I've never had a bad one. This one is a smaller batch from their regular blends. Supposedly they surveyed smokers to make the ideal smoke and this is it. It turned into a Maduro Honduran wrapped with an Equadorian Sumatra binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers.  Sold in boxes of 10. Priced around $110 a box. Yes, I got a deal on a box and have been enjoying these a lot.  Starts off a little mild and light draw. After a few minutes it brings in some spiciness. It burns a little weird at the foot. But it them evens itself out after a few minutes. Hasn't affected the smoking though. It's starting to smoke good now. Has a good sweet taste with a lingering spicy and earthy profile.  Still burning a little weird, as in it has a huge foot. But it's building up more flavors. Still mostly medium profile.  I hope it builds up. It's Friday nig...

La Gloria Cubano Classic Maduro Robusto cigar review 7/8/2026 To me, La Gloria Cubano has been one the most consistently respected and best value of top smokes for over 25 years. That sounds like a paid ad, but they deserve the praise. They don't have any gimmicky adds or specials. They don't have the actual cuban heritage in their family history. I think they started out in Miami in the 70's and have always been one of the best premiums at a reasonable price. And I've never had a bad one. Actually every one I've had has been really good. One a few brands can accomplish that and I'm going back 25 years. I put this brand up there with Padron.  This one is similar to the original classic with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, Nicaraguan binder, but with a dark Connecticut broadleaf wrapper.  Starts off strong. It's supposed to be medium but seems a little stronger the first inch. And it's super smooth. That's why I'm a big fan. Never had a bad one,...

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...