The Knuckle Sandwich maduro might be my favorite cigar of the last year, and this one comes close to it. It is more refined, but without the power and spice that define the Knuckle Sandwich Maduro. I only have one of these cigars and I can't wait to pick up more to age and enjoy. This collaboration between Espinosa and Guy Fieri knocks it out of the park at every opportunity, and everyone should try a Knuckle Sandwich whether it's this one, or one of the other options.
AlanAllBlind Cigar ReviewsChurchillDianaDunbarton Tobacco & TrustEmmettFeaturedHabanoMatthew T.NaturalNicaraguaSteve Saka
·"All around a great cigar. The flavor profile could have had a bit more of an evolution, but the core flavors were quite enjoyable though out and the retrohale provided a nice change from the standard draw. The creaminess of the smoke could have been a little more consistent as parts of the cigar produced thick creamy clouds but a lot of the time it was a little but thin. Overall a very good cigar that I would definitely smoke again. " -Alan (Eulogy)
AllConnecticut BroadleafDunbarton Tobacco & TrustEmmettFeaturedFiguradoNicaraguaQuick Cigar ReviewsSteve SakaZane G.
·While the Diademas size was amazing I always find them a struggle with construction, burn, etc. This cigar from a construction point of view was on point. The burn was great, and the cigar smoked perfectly. Would I spend $100 on this cigar if it was regular production? Of course not. Definitely a treat to smoke and I was happy to get the chance. I give this a score of 93.
This was a really good cigar, not overpowering, but lots of flavor. It changed quite a bit throughout the thirds, but was always balanced. Construction was superb with an even burn and tight but good draw, think Cuba. Glad I bought a box.
Yes, I knew what I was smoking. Yes, I am a fan of Drew Estate, especially the T-52 and also blends from Willy Herrera. Yes, I am a fan of Caldwell, especially The King is Dead and The Last Tsar. Take all of that into account, and call me a fanboy if you want. I just don't care, because this was an excellent cigar.
AlanAllBlind Cigar ReviewsDaniel S.Dominican RepublicEmmettFeaturedHabanoIconic LeafIsaac M.John I.LanceroNatural
·"If I were to make my own cigar, it would look much like this. It was almost painful to put this cigar down. The savory qualities kept me coming back to it, distracting me from other things (like the kiddo crying about her ball rolling into the street.) It wouldn't be hard to put this cigar into regular rotation, and when this is posted, I'll probably find a box. While there wasn't a whole lot of transition in flavors, what flavors it has keeps you coming back for more." -Isaac M. (The Nothing)
This was a fast burner. For its size, I would have expected a longer smoke. It was a really good cigar, but for something so special, I wanted a little more. Hopefully with age, things get even better and make it more special. I enjoyed this cigar and am glad I got more to age.
Since I have already been to some cigar factories, I had some idea what to expect. What was so wonderful about the tour at the Don Lucas cigar factory was the close family atmosphere. While it is a small factory by some standards, they do not cut corners on quality or final product. They meet or exceed some quality control and aging standards that I have seen from other manufacturers. They don’t disclose what daily production rates are, but they vary. It all depends on what leaf they have in stock that day that is ready to be rolled. They do not base anything off production quotas, but only on quality standards. I greatly admire that practice, especially considering how rare it is becoming in the cigar industry.
Muestra de Saka is a collection of different cigar blends from Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust, each to be released at separate times throughout the next year. It was unveiled at the 2016 IPCPR and Muestra de Saka translated means “Sample of Saka".
For the most part, this tasted like a Cohiba, and not the best one I’ve had. I had expected a lot more from a special edition. The flavors were not all that complex and the transitions were moderately noticeable. Perhaps with some more time this would be something special, but for the moment, I doubt it will justify the hefty price tag it will take to get one.