Today’s featured review comes from the Texas cigar blogger Tony Casas. He was kind of enough to take the time to review our latest release from the STK cigar line – the G..A.R. Opium. We especially love his reviews because he uses the opportunity to pair his cigar with a unique beverage and in this instance he went with “Prickly Passion Saison” beer. As usual we will post some segments from his review and we urge you to visit his website (link at the bottom) for the full reading.

“… The wrapper on this cigar gives off a very interesting sweet pine aroma while the foot produces nothing more than a bold tobacco scent… Instead of getting the run of the mill tobacco flavor I was anticipating the G.A.R. Opium let loose this crazy spicy, sweet, cedar flavor with even a bit of pepper on just the cold draw alone.”

“…I was welcomed with a very sweet tobacco flavor with a bit of honey, cinnamon and some subtle cedar with a bit of pepper that only teased my lips and tongue. The draw on this cigar is dead on, filling my mouth with tons of thick smoke with every puff.”

“…Along with the sweet tobacco, cedar, and honey I am not picking up some interesting floral and citrus notes…The retrohale is a nice addition to the experience to coating my nasal passage with a very bold, sweet cedar. ”

“Gran Habano is a company that sometimes gets passed by cigar smokers. Just because they are affordable doesn’t mean they aren’t supburb cigars and the Opium is a perfect example of that. Perfect construction, great flavors, complex yet smooth. It really doesn’t get better than that. This is a perfect cigar for any occasion.”

Head on over to CasasFumando.com to read the full review on our STK Opium.

Cigar blogger extraordinaire, G.C. Puffs, recently took the opportunity to review one of our newest releases of 2011 – the Gran Habano / G.A.R. Zulu Zulu Habano. The STK Zulu Zulu Habano measures 7 ½ x 40, uses a Nicaraguan wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan filler. It is also a special release for us because a portion of the sales are being donated to the Invisible Children project. With that being said, allow us to share a few snippets from this review followed by a link G.C. Puff’s fabulous site:

“…the first few draws from the cigar abruptly caught my attention as I was met with a very pleasant mix of spice and dark roasted nuts, with the spice having not a black pepper taste but more of a spice mix of black and red pepper.”

“…dark roasted nuts were met with hints of creamy coffee and the spice mix was working between them giving a very succulent combination.”

“The richness of the dark roasted nuts was working wonderfully with the coffee which at this point became more of a dark roasted affair, with touches of leather beginning to creep in. the spice had become more delicate in the mix of flavors but still made its presence known, as did the creaminess of the smoke.”

“Grand flavors flowed superbly together of leather, nuts and dark coffee with the spice speaking more of itself at the end. The last puff gave a complete overview of the complexity of the smoke as flavors spun and mixed together in that last wonderful draw.

The Gran Habano Zulu Zulu Red is a flavor treat, loads of taste that do not stop, and a joy to smoke.”

You can head on over to GCPuffs.com to read the full review on the Zulu Zulu Habano lancero.

For this weeks Gran Habano update we would like to focus on one of the most recent reviews we received from SethsHumidor.com. They took the time to smoke and review the Corojo #5 Churchill for their readers. And we would like to thank them for all the kind words they shared with everyone. So what exactly did they say?

To begin with they gave us quite the introduction: “I will say that this is one of the best corojo cigars made. This is a cigar that you buy boxes of, and enjoy everyday. Every person I have ever talked to about this cigar has loved it, and if they have not smoked it they soon love it. To this day I can’t find anyone who has not enjoyed this cigar, and if you are one of those people you need help. I am serious, this cigar is amazing! The cigar has been on the market since 2003, and to this day it is still rocking! I love Gran Habano Cigars as a company, and a part of that comes with the fact that they make great cigars.”

They continue to go on and describe the smoking of the cigar in segments before finally giving the overall smoking experience 93 points. During the breakdown SethHumidor.com uses some descriptive words such as “perfect”, “complex”, “awesome” and … well .. you’re going to have to read their full review to see exactly what they said.

Read the full review directly on SethsHumidor.com website.

The following review was brought to you by Straight Up Cigars: Read the original review here.

Cigar: Azteca Fuerte
Maker: Gran Habano
Size: Torpedo 6×52

Prelight Inspection:
Here we have a nice oily maduro wrapped cigar. After taking off the cedar sleeve I can see that the wrapper is placed very well with small/hardly visible veins and and nice tight roll. The Azteca band is identical to the boxed as is the wrapper and binder. Overall this looks like a very well made cigar. After giving it a slice with the trusty Palio the draw is perfect. A very nice buttery aroma is present on the cold draw.

1st Third:
Right away I’m getting tons of smoke on the draw laced with sweet earthy notes. There is a touch of spice in the sinuses but overall it is starting off very smooth. About a quarter inch in it is already picking up a toffee note near the finish. The smoke is really coating my palate and giving it a smooth buttery texture. Burn is progressing very well and nearing the 2nd third the ash is still holding on.

2nd Third:
Still a ton of sweetness up front which is complimented nicely by the toffee which has now become the dominant flavor. There is also a cinnamon spice which has now crept up and lingers on the finish. The cigar is still quite smooth and buttery. This stick started in the Medium range and has now crept up into the Med/Full range. Burn is great. Ash held on for almost two inches.

Last Third:
The cigar is definitely warming up a bit. Draw is still good though. The cigar has taken on a darker tone with the toffee changing over to espresso. The spice is also a little stronger now and leaves a very pronounced cinnamon flavor on the finish. I would definitely say that it is now in the full bodied range. Surprisingly it has not gotten bitter only stronger, so I will try to nub this one.

Conclusion:
I have had the pleasure of smoking the boxed version of this cigar and as far as I can tell it is almost identical in construction and flavor. The wrapper is a shade or two lighter and it seems to burn a bit quicker. If I were to speculate I would say that at some point when the tobacco is sorted before rolling, some of the “not so perfect” leaves are set aside for this cigar. So basically, if you want the same smoking experience at well under half the cost then snatch some of these up pronto.

Rating:
Flavor and Taste: 17/20
Construction: 10/10
Wrapper: 5/5
Price Point: 9/10
Would I buy a box: 5/5
Total: 46/50

The following review was brought to you by Straight Up Cigars: Read the original review here.

The Wine
Vision Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir
Coster Vineyard
Russian River Valley
Vision Cellars
Rutherford, California, USA
Visioncellars.com
14.2% abv
$42.00 a bottle
Visit visioncellars.com and read about the owners interesting story.

Appearance: ruby pinot color with a light amber edge

Aroma: big summertime plum, touch of berries, and a hint of spice. Delicate bouquet.

Flavors: dark cherry adds a nice sweetness, plum helps to lighten up the body, black raspberry, a Dr. Pepper quality, nice light touch of spice.

Mouthfeel: velvety smooth, perfect for a relaxing evening. Lingering berry/cherry notes. Tannins are light.

My Strength Rating: 3.5 – velvety, silky, satiny whatever you want to call it’s just damn smooth – I’ll just say it is just plain sexy.

You want to impress your date or mate, buy this bottle. Just don’t forget to open it. And, that is easy – it is a twist off.
93 pts. Wine Spectator
91 pts. Wine Enthusiast

The Cigar
Gran Habano Cabinet Selection Gran Consul

Wrapper: Corojo

Fillers: Nicaraguan

Size: 4.7 x 60 box-pressed

Off the Light: tasty forest floor earthy notes right off the bat. Around the first inch mark I start to notice a toasty cashew nut quality. An easy, smooth, medium bodied smoke at this point.

Mid-Point: nice firm salt and pepper ash. The forest floor earthy tones have evolved into a light mineral rich soil note. There are toasty grains (oats?), pecan, fennel, and a dusting of cinnamon. I have never had this cigar before but, from this impression I may have a new favorite. I am glad I bought two sticks.

The mouthfeel is very pleasing, rich, smooth leather, inviting, and I am thinking about a 4.5 or a 4 for my strength rating at this point.

Down the Stretch: the rich soil becomes a little firmer; there is still a good mineral quality to the smoking experience. The sweet spice is just a hint, the toasted grains become a bit stronger. The mouthfeel is clearly in the medium body range. A firm 5 on my strength rating.

The Pairing
This is one tasty combination. The complex flavors of the cigar mingle eloquently with the smooth and sexy style of this Pinot Noir. The rich earthy tones, tasty toasty grains, and sweet spices of the cigar are lavished with the wines wonderful dark cherry, ripe plum, black raspberry and Dr. Pepper likeness. This is bliss. I don’t want it to end.

Read the original review here.

Matt, Terry and Darren from StraightUpCigars.com (link below) selected the Gran Habano Azteca to review for one of their most recent online HERF’s. Check out the website for a complete chat transcript and find out what they felt about the Azteca.

We don’t want to leave you completely hanging so here is a summary of what they thought: “If you would like to skip straight to the juicy part, here it is: this was a great cigar. All three of us were very impressed with this medium/full bodied cigar. Toasty, spicy, and sweet for the first couple of thirds with the last third being dominated with espresso and spice.”

Please take the time to read the StraightUpCigars.com review!

It’s a fiesta!… Heck, it’s “Dia De Los Muertos” (Day Of The Dead), the day that Mexico pays honor to those that have passed on with incredibly colored, yet macabre art pieces, “ofrendas” (food items prepared for the deceased) as well as a time to celebrate their loved ones lives…

So, what better day than today to smoke & review George Rico’s new full-flavored, medium-bodied Gran Habano Azteca Jaguar (Toro)… Gran Habano makes some tasty cigars such as the Corojo #5 & the 3 SLS (and a secret “shaggy” private blend I will be reviewing soon)… now they’ve killed 2 lines (the aforementioned 3SLS & Cabinet Selection) in order to introduce a new line, the Gran Habano Azteca…

Encased in a pyramid shaped, bright orange box, once you open the lid you are presented with cigars wrapped in a deep oscuro Mexican maduro wrapper, each encircled with a golden band embossed with the Aztec calendar (shades of 2012?)… the sticks are nicely wrapped, lightly veined and quite firm, with a semi-oily & inviting sheen to them… underneath is another layer of the San Andreas maduro used for the binder… this adds even more flavor to the cigar…

The pre-draw has a sweet cinnamon, cocoa nib, coffee & apricot note to it… it invites you to light it up and discover the flavors hidden inside & within it’s smoke…

Upon lighting the Jaguar produces nice amounts of creamy smoke, and the flavor notes literally perform an aficionado fiesta in your mouth – dark, pungent coffee, cinnamony Mexican chocolate (like the “Abuelita” brand used for hot chocolate), tamarind, dried plum, sweet roasted chili-spiced almonds, cereza negra & uvas pasas (black cherry & raisins), mole poblano, Spanish leather, piloncillo (coned unrefined cane sugar), champurrado… the flavors roll one after the other, each puff providing a new one to discover and enjoy…

I was amazed at how delicious this cigar was… I’ve smoked tasty cigars before but this cigar was a true treat… it burned well, with a grey/white ash and good burn ring… I didn’t have to touch-up this cigar once… the Azteca line comes in 3 vitolas – The aforementioned “Jaguar”, the “Aguila” (5.5×52) and the thick “Puma” (6×60)… it is a cigar that those that are looking for a good full-flavored stick will truly enjoy… pricing is not bad at around $6 – $8 MSRP… and yes, this is a box-worthy cigar… Grab one, enjoy it and celebrate El Dia De Los Muertos whenever you want!…

Please take the time to visit the 365Cigars.com website!

I spent probably two-to-three minutes just smelling the foot prior to lighting the cigar because it had the most pleasant aroma of rich chocolate coupled with the smell of mineral-esque manure. (Now I know what you’re thinking when I said “manure,” but in terms of the quality of the soil the tobacco came from, this smell is a good sign. If you don’t believe me, then ask José Blanco of La Aurora.)

I’m not going to lie when I say I was skeptical because I’m not a big fan of Honduran tobacco — it is either cured and fermented beyond oblivion or as a natural wrapper too sweet for my palate– and despite its hybrid wrapper, Los Nietos labels this as a “Honduran Selection”. On the flip side from the second I lit this cigar is when I had to discard many of my prejudices towards the tobacco used in this blend. Prime example: you know when you first light a stick and it’s just this massive abundance of unmarried flavours before the oils in the leaves fully heat up? For some reason beyond my knowledge the Luca del Toro does NOT do this and is smooth and flavourful from the first puff with zero bite.

The best way for me to describe the Luca del Toro is that it is an adventure in chocolate. The first two inches or so there is this beautiful bounty of rich semi-dark chocolate marked with smokey undertones of chipotle pepper. (If you have experience with true chocolate — not the crap Hershey’s puts out — then you’ll know how well darker chocolate works with hot peppers.) The pepper here is just prominent enough that I got a slight tingle on my lips. The longer I smoked the pepper slowly disappeared, but in return the cigar kept developing and throwing off hints of increasingly darker cacao. At its apex it was like smoking 80% pure African chocolate where the overall bittersweet taste real cacao is known for also gave off the slightest hint of sweet cedar in the back of the draw.

I smoked the Toro Pequeño down to the nub and as the cigar itself began to wind down, so did the chocolate nature that had been so prominent throughout. Another positive sign for me in terms of good blending was that the paramount notes here did not just die, but rather they gradually calmed down and bled into this milder, more peaty and earthy finish that sat well on my palate even after I had finished smoking.

Overall Assessment: The Luca del Toro from Los Nietos Cigars is a must-try and a must-buy: inexpensive, tasty, well-made, and quite honestly that makes for a great everyday smoke to have in your humidor. This cigar proves exactly what is preached in the food world and that is something does not have to be overtly complex to be good and enjoyable; in fact, it takes a lot more skill and understanding of your ingredients to make something well that is for all intensive purposes “simple,” rather than throwing a whole bunch of things in a pot hoping they work well with one another. The cigar industry today seems to have turned into this competition for complexity and that does not always result in a solid product. Very rarely do I give this much praise, but kudos to George Rico for his work and to Ron Andrews for choosing a blend that is truly a breath of fresh air.

Please take the time to read the full review on the Luca del Toro from Los Nietos!

Today we bring you a review from one of our favorite travel destinations – Sin City. Justin Holman of LasVegASHTV.com sits down with a Robusto Grande G.A.R (White Label) and shares his thoughts.

I don’t want to take much of his “thunder” before everyone watches the video. But I think it is important to share a few key points from the review:

The Robusto Grande takes over an hour to smoke and Justin makes note of how much tobacco is actually packed into the cigar.

Mr. Holman makes mention of our “really cool packaging” and likes the white box and foot band.

He says the flavors are “earthy smoke”, woody-hay tones and really enjoyable. The body was in the full range for Justin.

Our favorite quote from the video: “Hour and a half of just pure enjoyment”.

So enjoy the smoking good review from Justin and type LasVegASHTV.com into your browser to check out all the cool articles and videos.

P.S.
Justin, in the beginning of the video you wanted to know where the G.A.R. name originates from. I took this question directly to George A. Rico who said it was important that we keep the mystique behind it so, unfortunately, we are unable to share that information.

Enjoy the video:

Before we begin, allow us to introduce you (via his own profile) to our reviewer: “Daniel Temos (a.k.a. Dalamscius) is an IT Professional from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He enjoys cigars, scuba diving, hockey, fishing, nature and anything that challenges his mind. If he’s not sitting on his big comfy couch or at work you can usually find him in a boat on top of the water or 100ft under the water enjoying a dive. He is engaged to a wonderful Fiance and looking forward to his wedding. And make sure to follow him on twitter http://twitter.com/Dalamscius”

CasasFumando.com (Dalamscius in this instance) does a great job of describing and documenting the cigars they review. In this review they were gracious enough to post some great pictures of a crazy looking (but strong and white) ash.

Here is part of the final thoughts directly from the website: “It offered a full bodied smoke with lots of flavor and spice to it. The variety of vitolas available will also satisfy any cigar enthusiast allowing them to choose their favorite. It surprised me that such a full bodied and inexpensive smoke had no harshness right down to the nub, even after re-lighting. The length of the burn time was also quite good for this vitola, coming in at 1.5 hours. The name might be a little misleading, I don’t get 1.5 hour lunch breaks!”

So go check out the website, read their review, and pick up a Lunch Break Corojo #5.