Camacho American Barrel Aged Robusto

Today we have the Camacho American Barrel Aged Robusto.  This cigar has a dark brown wrapper with visible veins and seems, the cigar appears very rustic and rough.  It comes in at 5 X 50.  After lighting, the draw is almost plugged.  Smoke output is at a minimum.  The draw has black pepper spice and earth.  The finish has a smoked wood taste with black pepper flavor and tingle sensation.  A bitterness is present as well and it dominates most of the finish flavors into the next draw.  The cigar is currently at a medium to full in body.  The burn through the first inch is slightly wavy but not an issue so far.

Just over one inch down and not much has changed, unfortunately.  The draw did open up slightly and the cigar is now producing slightly better smoke output.  The draw flavors are still the black pepper and earth.  The finish continues the bitter smoked wood taste.  Its an odd flavor and to be honest I don't care for it very much.  Its been tough to keep the cigar going.  The body is now up to a full.  The burn is still wavy and did require one touch up.

With Just under two inches left I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 1 hour and 4 minute mark.  The flavors did shift slightly at the end.  A leather and earth finally took over for the bitter smoked wood flavor.  Overall, this cigar wasn't my favorite but may sound good to some people.  I however am not a fan.

Price: $ 10.25

Appearance: 8/10

Draw: 15/20

Burn: 15/20

Flavor: 16/20

Complexity: 14/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  78 / Mediocre Cigar

Gilberto Oliva Reserva Corona

Today we have the Gilberto Oliva Reserva Corona.  This cigar has a medium brown wrapper with a few visible veins and seems. IT comes in at 5.8 X 43.  After lighting, the draw is slightly snug but is producing adequate smoke output.  The draw flavors are cedar and a little earth.  There is no pepper to speak of so far.  The finish ins straight cedar.  The body is at a mild to medium.  The burn is slightly wavy but not an issue through the first inch.

Two inches down and some flavor shifts occur.  The draw still has a lot of cedar.  Some pepper has started coming into the mix as well.  The finish has the cedar, earth, and a bit of sweet tobacco.  The flavors are are fairly light.  The body is still at a mild to medium.  The burn still is not razor sharp but is not present any issues.  The draw also loosened up slightly and is now puting out more smoke.

Three inches in and little has changed.  The black pepper has come up a bit on the draw and finish and is mixing well with the sweet tobacco on the finish.  The draw is still putting out better smoke.  The body is now at a solid medium.  The burn remains wavy but not an issue.

With just under two inches remaining I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 53 minute mark.  Overall, this cigar had nice flavor but it left me wanting more of it.  The flavors were nice, however they were to faint on the palate for my taste.  Had the flavors been a little more bold this cigar probably would have been one of my new favorites.

Price: $ 5.25

Appearance: 8/10

Draw: 17/20

Burn: 17/20

Flavor: 16/20

Complexity: 16/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  84 / Enjoyable Cigar

Padron Londres Natural

Today we have the Padron Londres Natural.  This cigar has a light brown wrapper.  The cigar is lumpy in appearance and has visible veins and visible seems.  The cigar measures in at 5 1/2 X 42. After lighting, the cigar has a perfect draw and is producing a large amount of smoke output.  The draw flavors are a sharp black pepper flavor and tingle sensation on the palate.  The finish is a sweet earth and tobacco with the black pepper coming back in towards the end.  The flavors are staying on the palate into the next draw and are at a medium body.  The burn through the first inch is razor sharp.

 

Just over an inch down the cigar and some flavor changes start to happen.  The black pepper is still present but is not as intense as it was on first light impressions.  The finish still has the sweet tobacco and earth.  A leather flavor mixed with a light hint of coco have come in as well.  The coco is the flavor that lingers on the palate till the next draw.  The body is still at a medium.  The burn remains razor sharp.

Three inches down and some more flavor shifts have happened.  The black pepper is still on the draw, earth and light coco is now present as well.  The finish now has earth, leather, and coco mixing with a burnt caramel flavor.  It tastes better than it sounds.  The cigar is very desert like.  The body is staying at a medium and the burn remains razor sharp and perfect.

At the 50 minute mark I sat the cigar down for the last time.  Overall, this cigar was a flavor packed little stick.  I was not expecting this many different flavors from a cigar so small.  Its also on the cheaper budget side of Padron.  But judging by the flavors budget does not mean less for Padron.  This was a great cigar!

Price: $ 4.75

Appearance: 8/10

Draw: 20/20

Burn: 20/20

Flavor: 17/20

Complexity: 17/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  92 / Great Cigar

Padron Serie 1926 90 years Maduro

Today we have the Padron 1926 90 years in Maduro.  I am reviewing this cigar in honor of Jose Orlando Padron who recently passed away.  This cigar has a very dark brown wrapper with lots of tooth.  It has a few noticeable veins and no visible seems.  It measures in at 5 1/2 X 52.  After lighting the draw is semi loose and is producing large smoke output.  There is a slight bitterness on the draw.  The draw flavors have the bitterness, a big blast of black pepper and some earth.  The finish continues the black pepper and bitterness.  The body is at a medium to full and the burn is fairly sharp through the first inch of the cigar.

Just over an inch in and the cigar starts to change.  The bitterness is starting to fade away on the draw though it is still present.  The finish has the black pepper flavor and tingle sensation at the beginning, then transitions to earth.  At the tail end of the finish a leather note has started to come forward.  The burn line remains razor sharp. The body is staying at a medium to full.  Overall construction has been excellent.

Three inches down and not much has changed.  The draw continues to produce large amounts of smoke output.  The finish has seen a light coco note come in and out between draws but never stays around long enough to dominate the finish.  The black pepper, leather, and earth has been the star of the show during my experience with this cigar. The burn remains razor sharp and the body has finally moved up to full.

With just over an inch to go I sat the cigar down in the ashtray for the last time at the 1 hour and 35 minute mark, which is a good time for a robusto size cigar.  Overall, for the price of this cigar I was hoping that it would have more to offer in the flavor department.  The flavors were present and the entire smoking experience was quite smooth but it left me wanting more from the flavors.  I will age the other one that I purchased in hopes that it rounds out and maybe the bitterness will go away.

Price: $ 19.50

Appearance: 10/10

Draw: 20/20

Burn: 20/20

Flavor: 15/20

Complexity: 15/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  90 / Good Cigar

Stogie Binks Top 5 Cigars of 2017

I did not get to review as many cigars as I would have liked to this year.  Life gets in the way of our hobbies and this year took its toll on this blog.  With that being said, here are my top 5 favorites I reviewed this year. CLICK CIGAR NAME FOR FULL REVIEW AND SCORE.

#5

Crowned Heads Angels Anvil TAA 2017

#4

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Robusto

#3
DTT Sobremesa Short Churchill


#2
Nomad C-276 Toro

#1

Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2017