General Cigar has announced a new series in the CAO brand: Arcana Series. The first release in this new line is called Mortal Coil. The purpose of the Arcana Series is to "highlight the secrets and traditions of old-world tobacco processing methods, passed down from generation to generation to bring out the best in native tobaccos from across the globe."
"Let me start off by referring to my statement about being glad I had a good meal beforehand. This couldn't have been any more true here, as this cigar really builds up and leaves it all on the table. Definitely not a cigar for the faint of heart, but a very rewarding cigar nonetheless. You can't go wrong with notes like charred meats and red pepper, and then coffee and chocolate. I'd have no problem smoking this again, but would save it for a time I could really enjoy its nuances. I paired it with water to ensure I could pick up all the notes, but could easily recommend pairing it with a solid pour of bourbon to really ratchet up the chocolate note. " -Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
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·Black Label Trading Company celebrated their 10-year anniversary with a new cigar, La Madonna Negra, which has a bold and refined profile. Its blend combines a Connecticut USA Broadleaf wrapper, Ecuadorian Habano binder, and Nicaraguan and Pennsylvanian fillers. Reviewers appreciated its distinct flavor profIle and consistent performance.
For the second year in a row, Crowned Heads is partnering with Drew Estate for their annual "Paniolo Especiale" Limited Edition cigar. This is an exclusive to the state of Hawaii. Paniolo Especiale 2020 is rolled at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Esteli, Nicaragua and is a corona gorda measuring 5 3/4 x 46. The blend is similar to last years using a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Mexican San Andres binder, and filers from Nicaragua, and Dominican Republic, but this year features tobacco from Brazil. The Paniolo Especiale 2020 comes in boxes of 10 and have the same price of $9.80. Production is smaller this year at 5,000 cigars compared to 4,000 in 2019.
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·"Luckily, the bitterness that I encountered most of the first third is definitely dying down as I enter the next third. However, the draw now seems to be having a problem. I cut the cap with my V cutter and this definitely opened it up significantly. The harshness is still present and seems to coat the back of my throat. The predominant flavor is that of leather and cedar with some hay like quality. So far the cigar has been plagued with a lot of issues. The burn line continues to be straight and once the draw issue is better the smoke is good and creamy." -Sandeep (Djangos)
"Never judge a cigar by the wrapper. Based on my initial observations, I would have skipped over grabbing this cigar. The flavors, however, were very well balanced and offered a nice smoke. While not a lot of dimension, I could see keeping some on hand to enjoy while grilling or golfing." -Gregg (McGreggor57)
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·"Exceptional smoke in my estimation. Reminded me quite a bit of a Padron 1926. Big flavor, powerful, lots of smoke. Great flavors of chocolate with some background spice and sweetness. Not really a lot of transitional flavors, but the core of this was so enjoyable I really wasn't interested in going anywhere else. I enjoyed every second of this, and I'm ready to go buy a bunch more. " -John I. (John I.)
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·"As noted in my tasting notes, each flavor was just as I expected . Dark chocolate and coffee with a slight earthiness all creating a notable smoking experience . I'd easily give this a 95. Great cigar that is box worthy for sure. " -Kevin J. (maninblack77)
Crowned Heads has announced the return of the Le Carême Belicosos Finos. Le Carême Belicosos Finos LE 2022 makes the fourth release of the limited edition cigar in the last five years. The shape was originally inspired by the iconic Cuban Bolivar Belicosos Finos. It measures 5 1/2" x 52 and is a round cigar unlike the regular production Le Carême line which is trunk-pressed.
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·Crowned Heads will release La Coalición at IPCPR this year, a collaboration with Drew Estate. The companies have collaborated previously on All Out Kings.

