Man O War Robusto

Tonight we have the Man O War in Robusto. This is a Cigars International exclusive cigar blended by A.J. Fernandez. It's a dark brow stick that has a few visible veins and seems running down the length of the cigar.  It comes in at 5.5 X 50. After lighting a nice black pepper flavor and zing are present on the draw. The draw is pretty snug and its hard to get a good amount of smoke output here in the beginning. The finish is the black pepper flavor and zing with a raisin like sweet cedar that dominates the finish.  The flavors last till the next draw and are at a medium body. The burn is slightly wavy but not an issue.

An inch down and there are a few slight changes.  The draw remains snug but more smoke has started to come out. The draw is still the black pepper flavor and zing. The finish is a semi sweet raisin and cedar that finishes earthy. The body is still at a medium and the burn is still wavy but not an issue.

Two inches in,  the draw flavors remain the same. The draw has now opened up and is producing lots of smoke. The finish is still the semi sweet raisin and cedar with a earthiness note rounding it out at the end. A few more puffs ans a nice leather flavor dominates the finish.  The other finish flavors remain but are quickly dominated by the leather. The burn is still wavy and I did I have to give it a slight touch up.

With just over two inches to go the black pepper has picked up in intensity on the draw. The finish is a earthy leather that transitions to black pepper on the finish. A few more puffs and the cigar has gotten mushy and warm and the black pepper and leather are dominating the draw and finish. I sat the cigar down for the last time at the one hour and 25 minute mark.

Price: $6.45

Appearance: 92

Draw: 87

Burn: 84

Flavor: 91

Complexity: 83

Burn Time: 94

Overall Score: 88

Oliva Serie V Melanio Petit Corona

Tonight we have the Oliva Serie V Melanio Petit Corona. This little cigar has a caramel colored wrapper with a few visible seems and no veins. It comes in at 4.5 X 46. At first there is a little black pepper flavor and zing on the draw. The finish is a sweet creamy cedar with a light coffee note. The Black pepper flavor finishes out the flavors and fades away before the next draw. The body is at a solid medium. The draw is slightly snug but putting off excellent smoke output. The burn is razor sharp.

Around a half inch in some earthiness is accompanying the black pepper flavor and zing on the draw. The finish flavors change every few puffs. One puff it will be a earthy pepper and coffee. After a few puffs the finish changes to a peppery and sweet leather and caramel note. All the finish flavors are semi sweet and are finished by a black pepper flavor. The finish flavors last on the palate till the next draw and is at a medium to full in body. The burn and draw remain excellent.

Two inches down and the cedar is now back accompanying the earth and black pepper on the draw. The finish has changed to a baking spice note, most resembling nutmeg. There is also some black pepper flavor with some cedar and leather as well. Th  body has stayed at a medium to full ans the burn and draw are still great.

With a inch and a half left the draw and finish flavors started to get warm and bitter. The cigar became mushy so I sat it down in the ashtray foe the last time at the 47 minute mark. For such a small cigar there was a ton of good flavor packed in to it. I highly recommend this cigar!

Price: $8.75

Appearance: 95

Draw: 94

Burn: 92

Flavor: 94

Complexity: 94

Burn Time: 86

Overall Score: 93

Alec Bradley 1997 Harvest Selection Toro

Today we have the Alec Bradley 1997 Harvest Selection in Toro. This is one of my favorite go to cigars. This particular one has over a year of age. They stopped production and sales of this cigar in March. It was a CI exclusive. I have around a half box left. I am looking to trade or buy from anyone who May have some and are willing to give a few up. This cigar comes in at 6 X 50. It has a light brown wrapper that is flawless. It has no real visible veins or seems. At first light a nice cedar, earth, and black pepper flavor and zing are present on the draw. The finish is the black pepper flavor and no zing with some creamy cedar on the end. The body is at a solid medium. The burn is razor sharp and the draw is near perfect.

 Two inches in and the draw and finish flavors remain the exact same. The only difference is a smooth vanilla on the tail end of the finish. The flavors are all getting more smooth and intense. The body is still at a medium body but is ramping up. The Black pepper is starting to turn into a  cayenne  pepper flavor and bounces back and forth between the two. The draw and burn are both still near perfect.

Two more inches in and the ash is still holding on strong. Some flavor changes are starting to happen. The draw flavors are the exact same but the earthiness has come way up on the finish and is mixing well with the reoccurring  cayenne pepper and sweet vanilla. The body is now inbetwween medium and full and some  mild strength has built up as well. The burn and draw have stayed near perfect.

With just over two inches left a extremely warm cayenne pepper and earth are the only draw and finish flavors left. I sat the cigar down at the 1 hour and 11 minute mark. This cigar was incredibly smooth and flavorful. It's a terrible shame they have stopped making them.

Price: $ 4.25

Appearance: 10/10

Draw: 18/20

Burn: 20/20

Flavor: 18/20

Complexity: 18/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score: 94 / Great Cigar

PDR 1878 Capa Oscuro Reserva Dominicana Lancero

Tonight we have the PDR 1878 Capa Oscuro Lancero. It has a dark brown wrapper with slightly visible seems and a few veins.  It comes in at 7.2 X 38.  After lighting there is a nice coffee and cedar with some black pepper flavor and zing on the draw.  The finish is a smooth cedar and black pepper zing.  The flavors and pepper zing last on the palate until the next draw and is at a solid medium in body.  The draw is perfect and the burn is slightly wavy but not an issue at this point.

Two inches down and some more flavors come into the mix.  The draw flavors have remained the same.  Now there is a nice leather flavor that has come in on the finish.  There is also a interesting creamy citrus that coats the palate to round out the finish flavors. A few more puffs and a heavy earthiness has taken over the finish.  The flavors stay on the palate well into the next draw and are now at a medium to full in body.  The draw is still perfect and the burn is still slightly wavy but not an issue.

Four inches down and some changes occur.  The draw is now black pepper flavor and zing followed by some coffee notes.  The finish is the leather and the creamy citrus and an intense black pepper flavor and zing that is overwhelming through the nose on the retro hale.  A few more puffs and the black pepper flavor on the finish has dropped off almost completely.  Now a creamy citrus, leather, and coffee are present.  All the flavors are mixing together very nicely and are very desert like. The earthiness is still in the background but not a big flavor. The body is still and a medium to full and the burn and draw are still doing fine


With just over two inches remaining the flavors are getting washed out by heat and are becoming bitter.  I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 1 hour and 10 minute mark.  This was a very good cigar with good flavors that are not unique but quit enjoyable.  I will definitely be looking for some more.

Price: $6.25

Appearance: 93

Draw: 95

Burn: 89

Flavor: 90

Complexity: 88

Burn Time: 92

Overall Score: 91