This was an great cigar. This is one cigar that you can’t judge based on appearance. This cigar ramped up quickly on the strength aspect but was never harsh. This cigar was a recent purchase and did not have much age on it. I am curious what aging would do to these. I enjoyed the flavor profile throughout, while the cigar didn’t drastically change the core flavors would come and go throughout. I will definitely be picking up a fiver.
I'll preface this by admitting full well that I don't generally enjoy larger RG cigars, and typically smoke 46RG and below. That being said, this cigar blew my mind. I've always had fondness for the Neanderthal line, and with this cigar, I think Skip and Mike finally distilled their goal into the perfect package. It's squat and buff, in your face and unrelenting, and yet you keep wanting to come back for more. My total smoke time was 1 hour 55 minutes, but with a nubbing tool I could have squeezed another 10-15 minutes out of it; very impressive for such a short cigar. If you're a fan of strong cigars with a complex variety of flavors, regardless of vitola preference, I recommend you get your hands on one of these as soon as you can.
Cigar Info Nicaragua has a rich and complex history. I remember growing up in the USA and frequently hearing about...
It feels like most barber pole cigars are more of a conversation starter in public places. They're nice to look at but they're usually just for looks. This one was both attractive and a great cigar. The draw was perfect. The construction was top notch in terms of roll and ascetics. The flavors were crisp and the transitions kept it interesting through the almost two hours it took to smoke. I'm also more heavily swayed by the quality of smoke as well as the flavors that I get from it. This one delivered on both fronts. Usually, it's pepper that gives most of the bite but this one was much more baking spice which gave it a bit more uniqueness.
To celebrate the milestone of 10 years for El Primer Mundo Cigars, Sean Williams introduced the EPM 10 Year Anniversary cigar. It was released in June of 2016 and will be available at a very select group of retailers by invitation only. The cigar features a Rosado wrapper from Nicaragua, San Vicente binder, and Ligero Criollo, Ligero Negrito, and Corojo 2006 filler. It it made at the De Los Reyes SA factory in Dominican Republic. The EPM 10 Year is available in three vitolas. A 6x54 (MSRP $9.75) Toro, 5x50 Robusto (MSRP $8.75), and 5.5x42 Corona (MSRP $8.50). The cigar sampled for this review was the Toro vitola.
I have always enjoyed the idea/premise of the chef's editions. Everyone loves a good cigar pairing be it a pairing with bourbon, whiskey, beer, or even my favorite. Coffee. One thing we do not get a chance to do is pair cigars with food as it's not easily done in today's world. I was excited to see the chef's for this year's edition as it has Masa Takayama on the panel who by all rights is very much a true cigar smoker. You can't google his name without stumbling across him with a cigar. I have had the pleasure of smoking the chef's editions the last few years and this hands down is the best yet.
I really dug the flavors I got right off the bat as well as the pepper that was there for the first inch or so. After everything mellowed out, it became a little less interesting. Slight transitions of creaminess went along with the wood. Not a bad cigar when wood was the dominant flavor, just not as desirable as the previous flavors.
The Double Black Añejo from Blue Mountain Cigars measures in at 6”x54 and carries an MSRP of $8.00. The cigar has a Brazilian Maduro wrapper.
This cigar was so much better after a couple months of rest. When I first smoked it, I knew it was good, but not as special as I hoped. This time it was special. This 20th Anniversary Opus is nothing like the regular opus. It is medium bodied and nuanced, not in your face strength. The construction was almost perfect and the flavors were balanced. I only look forward to how this will age years on. Definitely recommend if you can find them.
Cigar Info Earlier this month, Drew Estate announced the “Freestyle Live Event Pack.” This interesting concept is meant to coincide...


