Spring 1996 Volume II Issue 2

Spring is in the air, and it's the perfect time to head outdoors with your favorite cigar. Over the cold winter months, our panelists have been busy sampling dozens of different brands of cigars and feverishly jotting down their impressions for your benefit. Our second review brings you 32 premium cigars in four classic shapes: Double Coronas, Robustos, Petite Coronas, and Lonsdales. Every cigar smoker should have all of these shapes in the humidor. "A cigar for every occasion," as it were. A nice, quick Petite Corona for the morning; a full-flavored, smoky Robusto for the late afternoon; a Double Corona to puff contentedly on long after you've finished dinner; and an elegant Lonsdale, for anytime at all. This review brings you cigars from every corner of the cigar-producing world, including the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Panama, and the U.S. We think you'll find a lot of surprises in the following pages... so, sit back, light up your favorite rope, and shop from a selection of 32 fine hand-rolled cigars from around the world!

This medium-bodied Dominican drew praise for its mild smoke and "soft" flavors. Despite some minor construction flaws occurring in about 5% of the samples, the Numero Dos received uniformly excellent reviews, making it good cigar for the money.

Panelists uniformly praised the straightforward, medium-bodied flavor of this Honduran, although minor inconsistencies in draw and construction were noted throughout a few of the samples. The distinct, rich flavor of this cigar, combined with its light finish and reasonable price make it an excellent "everyday" cigar.

Although the Hemingway's unique old-fashioned foot enabled a few panelists to correctly guess the cigar's make, it only added to its uniformly excellent reviews. Most smokers found the shape fun to smoke, and commented on the consistent construction and flavor from stick to stick. This cigar can be enjoyed by novices and longtime smokers alike because of its classic flavor and quality draw. Scores high in the value-to-price ratio. Stock up if you can.

This renowned super-premium Dominican offers traditional, rich, straightforward flavor and elegantly flawless construction. However, this cigar may not be ready to smoke now. Let these cigars age in their cedar cabinet for at least one year, and they will blossom into the marvelously complex, flavorful cigars that Davidoff is world-famous for producing. Highly recommended.

Although some reviewers tended to regard the Executive as a young cigar, uniform comments stressed its rich, complex flavors and unique character. Definitely ready to smoke now, but will become even more remarkable with some time in the humidor. Like all Padron cigars, the Executive excels in the "bang for your buck" category, and its Nicaraguan tobacco gives it a distinctive flavor. This well-constructed cigar will captivate the beginner, but will be more appreciated by the experienced smoker who yearns for traditional, "Havana-like" flavors and complexity Highly recommended.

These cigars were the least expensive of the double coronas, and received some negative reviews regarding their somewhat loose construction. However, the majority of tasters approved of the full-bodied flavor and pleasing aroma of the Guardsman No. 2, despite some minor construction flaws. It is interesting to note that one of the panelists considered it the best of the lot! Bottom line: A decent $2.00 double corona is tough to find. If you happen to love the P&K Guardsmen, your wallet will thank you.

It is not surprising to note references to brandy, cognac, and "caramel-like" flavors in the El Sublimato, as they are made from fine Dominican filler tobacco cured with 50 year-old Noces d'Or cognac. Uniformly excellent reviews touted the unique, somewhat sweet flavor of these double coronas, and their quality construction. Purists may balk at the idea of an additive-laden cigar, but the ingredients are of the highest quality, and make for an intriguing smoke.

The Punch Double Coronas, often overlooked for the more popular Hoyo de Monterrey DCs and Partagas Lusitanias, inspired some passionate reviews, most of which centered around their ability to provide many complex and interesting flavors throughout the smoke. This rich cigar will provide an intriguing hour for any experienced cigar smoker. To truly appreciate this complex cigar, don't mix with coffee or brandy - smoke it by its lonesome, or with only mineral water.

The overall consensus of the panel seemed to be that the PG Petit Corona was a light, straightforward smoke of peerless construction that tended to burn at bit hot at the end. As it is a quick smoke that does not offer complex flavors, this cigar may be well suited for the morning. However, there are many other cigars that offer more for the money.

This is a light-bodied Dominican cigar with a very straightforward, uncomplex woody flavor. Despite a few soft spots, panelists felt that this was a quality cigar with an even burn and fragrant aroma. Smokers accustomed to strong, brash flavors won't enjoy this subtle cigar - it is for those seeking milder flavors. Conclusion: This cigar holds its own with other, more popular "English-style" and Jamaican cigars, and is priced competitively. Try 'em.

The Royal Jamaica is a favorite brand among those who enjoy mild cigars, and a great introductory smoke for the beginner. Although it has generally straightforward flavors, subtle undertones of spice and fruit are present. Offers a rich smoke for its size. A quality cigar at an excellent price, suitable for everyday consumption.

This small Nicaraguan manages to pack a lot of flavor into a small package. Surprisingly for its inexpensive price, these are well-constructed cigars that look and feel good in the hand. All serious cigar smokers should get to know the flavor of Nicaraguan tobacco, and these are a good starting point. The war is over, so look for more - and substantially better - cigars from Nicaragua now and in the near future!

Shorter in length than a traditional petite corona, the Juan Clemente Demi-Corona offers smokers a rich and surprisingly long smoke. Most panelists enjoyed its easy draw, strong robust flavor, and quality construction. These mid-priced little cigars are fun to smoke, and they don't take up much room in the humidor. But, beware: This little Dominican cigar can be deceiving, possessing strong flavor characteristics unusual for their minute size.

The Don Lino is somewhat typical of small Honduran cigars: Hot and robust, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. The Smoke panel was evenly divided on this cigar, with some enjoying its strong characteristics, and others finding it a burden on the palate. Lovers of strong, straightforward flavor will be rewarded. A snifter of brandy or liqueur will offset the acidulous finish on this modestly-priced cigar.

This is a very popular cigar, and with good reason: the price is right, and they are consistent box after box. H. Upmann petite coronas are a somewhat softy constructed cigar with an easy draw that will appeal to most smokers. This isn't a very elegant cigar, and continues to find its niche among "everyday" smokers seeking more value for their money.

Superior construction and rich, traditional flavors make the Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona a perennial favorite among lovers of Cuban cigars. Heed the advice on the box: "They should be smoked either within one month of the date of shipment from Havana or should be carefully matured for about one year." Drive to Canada now!

Robustos

Tony Borhani's Bahia robustos, launched in December of 1994, are both good looking and good tasting cigars that offer complex flavors and a mild aftertaste. Although one panelist felt that they were "a little green," the majority disagreed, commenting extensively on this cigar's appealing mix of medium-bodied flavors and quality draw. Limited production make these tough cigars to get a hold of, but don't pass up the opportunity to try a high-quality Costa Rican cigar.

The Cuba Aliados Rothschild starts off mildly, steadily developing a straightforward, unsubtle, and strong earthy flavor that persists throughout the smoke. The fact that it is a Honduran robusto suggests a powerful smoke, and this cigar is no exception. This cheap but well-constructed cigar may appeal to smokers who enjoy intense flavors.

Most found the Pluton to be a light-bodied robusto of uniform construction with matte flavor characteristics. However, because of it's very easy draw, this robusto will smoke hot and turn bitter if rushed. These Dominicans come packaged in an attractive humidified cabinet which ensures their freshness, and are a surprisingly good value. Recommended.

With it's intriguing blend of Isabela Superior Fina from the Philippines, the Double Happiness provides smokers with full, pronounced flavors that may overwhelm the occasional smoker. Experienced smokers who enjoy bold, pronounced flavors will love these well-constructed cigars. Buy these in bulk - they come in gorgeous boxes hand-carved from solid Narra, a dense wood indigenous to the Philippines. Recommended.

This is another strong, straightforward cigar with primary flavors of spice and nuts. Like many Mexican cigars, it offers brash front-forward flavors that will not be appreciated by novice smokers, or those who prefer milder cigars (the Robusto especially). The erroneous assumption that "all cigars from Mexico are lame" is clearly refuted by this all-Mexican treat from the famous San Andres Valley

The Romeo y Julieta Vintage III is the classic light-bodied Dominican robusto: It offers complex flavors and a perfect draw, without smoking too hot or overwhelming the palate. These cigars come in a cedar cabinet replete with a small Credo Precision 70 humidifying device. They are in extremely limited supply right now - if you manage to find a box, buy them. Highly recommended.

Panelists were evenly divided on this cigar; some found it far too strong, while others cherished it for this very fact. The Choix Supreme has long been known as somewhat "light" for a Cuban cigar ... however, this batch seems to prove otherwise! Lovers of rich, intoxicating smoke will overlook some uneven burning and minor construction flaws and truly enjoy this powerful, intoxicating smoke. Experts only!

Formerly known as the Prince Charles, the Bolivar Royal Corona is a classic Cuban robusto that is heavy yet surprisingly complex. Soft spots that occurred after lighting did not seem to detract from this cigar's uniformly excellent reviews. These cigars are expensive, and it's tough to get a hold of a properly aged box because of high demand. If you manage to secure a box, they may need a few months in the humidor before they're ready to smoke.

Uniform reviews stressed the mildness of this Dominican lonsdale, and most smokers agreed that it's solid construction and mild flavor would make it an ideal morning or "beginner's" cigar. Although it is the most expensive of the lonsdale category in this review, the Butera Royal Vintage is not overpriced, and most reviewers found the cigar extremely consistent in flavor and construction. A few mild cigars are essential for every humidor, and these are an excellent choice.

Only one out of the five reviewers disliked this cigar; the majority enjoyed the straightforward, "woody" flavor and enticing aftertaste. Sherman's "Exchange Selection" line is fairly light, especially in the lonsdale size, and has garnered many fans who appreciate a mild smoke with flavorful undertones. An interesting cigar with a reasonable price - suitable for everyday smoking.

Uniform comments stressed the Ashton's excellent construction and medium bodied, complex flavors. The 8-9-8 is a nice cigar that is always consistent in both quality and flavor. It will appeal to beginners and veteran smokers alike. A good smoke at a great price.

Savinelli, the well-respected pipe company, has turned out a rich and flavorful cigar of solid construction. Although one out of the five panelists disliked the cigar as a whole, the majority found this to be a pleasant, medium-bodied smoke with an "almost perfect" draw. This cigar is in the 5- to 6-dollar range, and matches up well against cigars in that price category. Recommended.

Despite a plethora of minor construction problems, the Baron will appeal to smokers seeking light-bodied, mild flavor and an easy draw. At it's inexpensive price, this cigar may well find a home with lovers of "English-style" cigars. Appropriate for the morning or early afternoon.

It is always refreshing to see a cigar that retails for under $2.00 kick ass in a cigar review, and the Calixto Lopez lonsdale certainly does. This bold, full-flavored, and well-constructed cigar from the Philippines will appeal to smokers seeking strong flavors and a persistent aftertaste. Proves that money isn't everything, especially when it comes to cigars. Highly recommended.

Although smokers experienced some minor uneven burning throughout the samples, the Jose Llopis drew well and produced fairly straightforward, rich flavors. This cigar is one of very few cigars manufactured in Panama, and offers interesting flavors that should be experienced by every well-rounded cigar smoker. Another good value for the money.

Despite its loose ash and somewhat soft roll, the Canaria d'Oro displayed a medium-bodied, peppery flavor and discreet aftertaste that appealed to most reviewers. Here, General has created a decent, inexpensive Dominican cigar that can be smoked anytime, anywhere. This really cannot be considered a good candidate for aging; it is a inexpensive cigar meant for immediate consumption. Smoke these with a beer and a ball game.

Editor's note: Our online summary of each review serves as a handy guide of our panelist's comments. Any "recommendations" within are made solely by the panelists, and DO NOT necessarily represent the opinions of SMOKE's editorial staff.

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