"I feel like this cigar may have been a little young or ran into some issues during its aging. The opening has a strong sour flavor, and the finish is dry and chalky. It gave me classic signs of a young stick. While smokable, and I didn't have to put it down, the only flavor I could get between those two issues was a nice classic light earthy flavor. I'd like to try this stick again with six months to a year of age on it to see if that was the issue." -Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
"After leaving the blocks a little slow this cigar found its stride in the second third and never looked back. It is a refined smoke that will only get better with time. There were a few rough edges earlier on but ultimately the smoking experience was very pleasant. This would a great cigar to start your day with a beverage of the smoker’s choice. The profile is easily approachable for any level of smoker. I would seek it out again once I know what it is." -Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
Powstanie has announced the Corona Gorda Habano and Broadleaf as an exclusive for Hogshead Cigar Lounge. The new sizes will be abailble starting May 19th. To celebrate the release, Owner Mike Szczepankiewicz of Powstanie as well as A Cigar Hustlers Podcast team, including @cigarhustler_bdp and @cigarhustler_industry, will be in attendance to meet with customers and share their expertise.
Foundation Cigar Company has announced a new vitola of the Menelik for The Humidour Cigar Shoppe of Cockeysville, MD. The limited-edition Foundation Menelik Corona Gorda is a collaboration with the Humidour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the store.
"This was a good cigar. There were several flavor elements, and the retro kept changing on me starting with peanut butter and ending with floral. There was black pepper, sweet caramel as well as nuttiness flavors throughout. This is a perfect morning cigar that I would like to pair with coffee. I would definitely pick up a fiver. Check em' out." -Mickey T. (irratebass)
"The overall notes were smooth and sweet. With hints of a peppery bite on the tongue. The cigar transitioned beautifully from a sweet cedar to a warm bready, cabinet slice delight. Each third of the cigar revealed its beautiful constitution with great transitional changes over the course of the smoke. It was a superb example of what a transitional smoke experience should be." -Bradlee W. (Brad W.)
"Overall it had good flavors through and through. The strength of this cigar was more then I was expecting. The smoke output was a lot. The smoke texture was thick and really stuck to the palate. Musty mineral and rich earthy coffee notes. No sweetness to this smoke. Retrohale was very strong musty black pepper." -Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
Fratello Cigars is adding a new size to the Arlequin line: Arlequin Corona Gorda. The new vitola will make its debut June 2023. The Arlequin was first introduced as part of the Fratello Space Fresh Pack in 2019 and later as a regular production in a box press format in 2020.
"This was a cigar that offered up some good notes of salted nuts, warm baking spices, and the tartness of plums. It also hit a high note of pepper towards the end that hit with just the right amount of pop. While the notes were strong enough and moderately complex, the construction issues really took away from the experience. With all of this being said, I could see checking these out with a couple singles and see if it hits within your wheelhouse." -Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
"The beginning notes of vanilla, raisin, roasted coffee, and leather and how it transitioned from the first to the second third really kept my interest. Packed full of flavors. The burn and draw were perfections. This is a cigar I would definitely try again and recommend to any cigar Smoker. Very well done overall. " -Kevin J. (maninblack77)