Summer 96 Volume I Issue 3

Summer's here, and it's time to stock up the humidor again. We've been busy filling the humidors of our brave new Cigar Review Panel - this time, full of Gran Coronas, Gigantes, Petite Panatelas, and Gran Panatelas. As usual, this review brings you cigars from all over the planet, from Los Angeles to the Canary Islands.

These brief overviews provide general information on each cigar's blend, relative strength, and smokability, and - most importantly - help you determine whether or not the cigar is worth buying.

From the smallest Petite Panatelas (N4ontecristo Joyitas) to the largest Gigantes (Dominican Original Fat Tubs), you'll be sure to find your favorite Summer smoke 'm this expanded review of over 40 premium hand rolled cigars.

One of the slimmest of the Cuban gran panatelas, the RG Slenderellas are uncharacteristic for their ring gauge in that they draw extremely well and produce plenty of flavorful smoke. Because of their easy draw, these panatelas will quickly become acidulous and hot if rushed - puff lightly on them to ensure a cooler, more even burn.

With its fine claro wrapped blend of Dominican filler tobacco, the Carrington is a classic mild gran panatela. Only one out the five tasters disapproved of its extremely discreet taste; the rest were uniformly impressed by the Carrington's near-flawless construction and smooth, subtle flavor. A light, yet intriguing cigar perfect for the morning or afternoon.

These handmade Hondurans have everything in them but the kitchen sink: Filler from the DR, Honduras, and Nicaragua; Mexican binder; and a beautiful, if slightly inconsistent-looking, Connecticut Shade wrapper. The combination provides a great medium-bodied smoke that has garnered many fans since its introduction in late 1993. Recommended.

Made of Cuban seed tobacco grown in the Philippines, the Flor de Manila Cetros Largos offer straightforward flavors of pepper and spice. These roughly-constructed cigars seemed to hold up well despite their deceiving exterior, and should reward strong cigar fans with lots of heavy 'spice" flavor.

Uniform reviews praised the straightforward, earthy flavor of the Florez Cabinet Selection gran panatela. It draws quite well, prompting one panel member to note, "just slender enough to choke down the flow of smoke and strengthen the flavor." With it's blend of fine Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos, and spicy Ecuadorian wrapper, these American-made beauties will have no trouble keeping your attention for a good 40 minutes. Highly recommended.

With its subtle mix of filler tobacco from the DR, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and an Indonesian wrapper, the Flor de Palicio No. 1 provides a medium-strength, robust smoke with complex flavor characteristics that reflect its multi-regional heritage. A truly elegant cigar with a price tag that takes the pain out of a full-box purchase.

Calixto Lopez has done it again - receiving uniformly excellent reviews across the board in every category This line of cigars simply must be considered one of the best in its price range, and matches up well against cigars costing even 15 times as much. Once again, highly recommended.

Somewhat loose construction caused these gran panatelas to burn hot, and produce acidulous, bitter flavors if rushed. The majority of panelists enjoyed full-bodied flavor, and a rich, lingering aftertaste. Patience and an easy draw will elicit classic Dominican tobacco flavor from these tremendously popular cigars. Recommended.

If you like hard-to-find La Gloria Cubanas, you'll love the Don Capitano Private Selection line. The two brands are produced in the same factory (El Credito) and share remarkably similar taste characteristics. Buy them, literally, by the bundle.

The La Native Modernos are as light-bodied as Honduran cigars get. These tightly-rolled cigars will soften during smoking, and provide straightforward flavor that stays constant throughout. Panelists found the Modernos consistent from cigar to cigar, and recommended them for "everyday" smoking.

Although somewhat soft - almost machine-rolled - in texture, the Upmann Demi-Tasses burn perfectly, and provide surprisingly rich flavor for their tiny size. These medium-bodied cigars are produced in mass quantity, and are almost always consistent from one cigar to the next. Recommended for everyday smoking. UPMANN HAS RECENTLY REPLACED ITS TRADITIONAL CAMAROON WRAPPER WITH INDONESIAN LEAF. TASTE REMAINS LARGELY UNAFFECTED - PERHAPS EVEN IMPROVED.

Private Stock cigars are the factory seconds of Tabacos Dominicanos SA, the world-famous factory that produces the Davidoff, Avo, Griffin, and PG brands. Although you can never be certain what blend you'll be smoking, one thing is for sure: Even this manufacturer's seconds are top-quality. These cigars could easily retail for twice the price, so it's okay to feel smug when you tell your friends how much they cost.

Think "small Jamaican cigar" and adjectives such as "mild" and "buttery" usually come to mind. Not in this case, however - the Temple Hall 500's interesting mix of Dominican and Mexican filler produces medium to full-bodied straightforward flavors, delivering an exceptional smoke for its size. Recommended.

These are strong little Cuban cigars with tons of bold, front-forward flavors. Don't be fooled by their charming appearance - these tiny smokes attack the palate with rich flavors of earth and spice which will definitely not appeal to the casual smoker. Experienced smokers who enjoy bold flavors will cherish the Joyitas - a small Havana with a big attitude.

Credo, widely known for their line of quality humidifying devices, has produced a delightful little cigar in the Jubilate. A combination of Dominican filler tobacco, Mexican binder, and a near-perfect Connecticut Shade wrapper adds up to a fairly straightforward medium-bodied smoke of solid construction. Nary a negative comment from the panel on this one. Highly recommended.

Bering No. 8s come pre-cut in tin packages of eight, and are one of the few natural-leaf wrapper cigars in mass-market production. While obviously not a top-bracket contender in the hand rolled category, the Bering No. 8s are a fine alternative to other machine-rolled, tin-packaged cigars in their price range. A good "go-to" smoke, perfect for fishing and the racetrack.

The Academy No. 2's mild blend of Dominican filler tobacco makes for a light-bodied smoke of fairly straightforward flavor that appeals to most smokers. Sherman is known for producing well-constructed cigars, and these were no exception. Recommended. SMOKERS SEEKING STRONGER, MORE COMPLEX FLAVORS IN A PETITE PANATELA ARE WELL- ADVISED TO EXPERIMENT WITH NAT'S "HUDSON," A HONDURAN CIGAR FROM THEIR HOST SELECTION.

The panel seemed to enjoy these tiny Honduran cigars, remarking on their light and earthy flavor, and high-quality construction. Samples burned evenly and well, and panel members remarked on the Duchess' consistency from cigar to cigar. The Petrus line has steadily gained popularity among serious cigar smokers, so availability is sure to be limited. Recommended. LOOK FOR THE PETRUS ANTONIUS, A 5x52 FIGURADO CIGAR ADDED TO THE LINE THIS YEAR.

The Epicure smokes like a big cigar in a small package, offering complex flavors of pepper and spice, and solid construction. A touch of sugar in the vegetable gum used to seal the wrapper may account for some "sweetness," which perfectly offsets the cigar's robust body. Highly recommended.

Gigantes

These huge Honduran bombs impressed the hell out of our blind panel, displaying full-bodied flavors of earth and spice and superior construction throughout the samples. Like their Cuban namesakes, these Hondurans provide a similarly pleasing "punch" that is ultimately more suited to mainstream tastes. Considering the choices in the upcoming election, this may be the one President every American can agree on. Definitely recommended.

A major portion of a cigar's flavor comes from the wrapper. The Mystique capitalizes on this fact, layering flavors over the smoker's palate that alternate from mild to robust. Cigar purists will scoff at these fascinating cigars, but they are indeed a testament to the rollers and should be experienced at least once. Recommended. THE VAST HUGO CASSAR BRAND INCLUDES HIGH-QLIALITY HONDURAN AND DOMINICAN CIGARS, AND A LINE OF MEXICAN PUROS THAT ARE ARGUABLY SOME OF THE BEST MEXICAN HAND-ROLLEDS AROUND.

The Fundadores Jamaica King Ferdinand is a great example of a fundamental cigar fact: big doesn't necessarily mean powerful. These are exceptionally mild Jamaican cigars, well-constructed, with a predominately coffee-like flavor. Lovers of medium- to heavy-bodied cigars just won't enjoy this cigar. However, fans of "English-style" cigars will appreciate a gigante that retains its mild, straightforward flavor and smooth draw right down to the nub.

This all-Nicaraguan gigante displayed extremely complex flavor characteristics, which varied from cigar to cigar. Some inconsistencies in draw were also noted, and an extremely powerful aftertaste. Nicaraguan cigars keep getting better and better, and the Casa de Nicaragua line, with its exceptional quality and reasonably priced cigars, is winning over a lot of smokers. Recommended.

While not the classic Churchill size (7"x 47 ring gauge), this CAO cigar is aptly named, as its elegant construction make it smoke more like a Churchill than a gigante. Mexican and Nicaraguan filler, Honduran binder, and a beautiful Connecticut Shade wrapper blend well, producing a rich, medium-bodied smoke with straightforward flavor that builds steadily. A great "special occasion" cigar. Highly recommended.

At 9"x 60 ring gauge, the Havana Classico Malecon is a gigante in the true sense of the word. It didn't seem that daunting to our panelists, however, who uniformly praised its substantial construction and excellent draw. These full-bodied cigars displayed rich, complex flavors, and finished with a mild aftertaste. Take some time out of your schedule for this monster cigar. Recommended.

These light-bodied, cool-smoking gigantes began with a tight draw, but loosened considerably after smoking. Very simple, straightforward flavors characterized the body of this cigar and its mild aftertaste. For smokers who prefer large mild cigars, the Le Club makes for a nice introduction to Honduran flavor, without overwhelming the palate.

Handmade in Honduras, the Habana Gold features a mix of Nicaraguan binder and filler, and an Ecuadorian wrapper that provides surprisingly mild, light-bodied flavor that will appeal to most smokers. With the exception of a tough initial draw, construction appeared to be excellent, facilitating a long, even smoke. The Habana Gold line is also available in a Nicaraguan wrapper (White Label), and is definitely worth trying. Recommended.

At 10"x 66 ring gauge, the "Fat Tub" is one cigar that has no trouble living up to its name. Obviously, this leviathan is not marketed to appeal to "cigar-snobs" or to those seeking an understated appearance. The open-minded smoker will find that the Fat Tub smokes cool, with an easy draw and mild flavor. Unlike the "gag" or "souvenir" cigars it resembles, you can actually smoke the Tub - just be sure to have a large enough ashtray.

Until recently, La Plata has been a relatively unknown brand outside the California area. Nearly 50 years after its start as a hand rolled cigar maker in Los Angeles, La Plata has begun marketing a limited number of shapes on a national basis - to rave reviews. These cigars are in limited distribution right now. If you can't find them in your area, it may well be worth a trip to L.A. to get your hands on a few boxes!

Gran Coronas

The Fonseca 7-9-9 is a well-constructed, mild cigar that offers singular flavor and a light aftertaste and aroma. Best suited for morning or afternoon smoking, or as an introductory smoke for beginners. You would be hard-pressed to find a higher quality cigar in its price range.

Despite some minor construction problems throughout the samples, the Carlos V met with approval from the panelists due to its bold, complex flavors. This is a fairly new line that may require some time to achieve overall consistency of manufacture. These high-quality cigars will, given time, find their niche among other popular Dominican brands.

It's pretty obvious that the tasting panel enjoyed tasting these cigars. Complex and full-flavored without being too harsh, these smokes offer construction of the highest quality, and the right price. The perfect smoke for lovers of strong cigars; excellent for those who smoke medium-bodied cigars; and a great introduction to complex, rich cigars for the beginner. Highly recommended.

The only inconsistent feature of this great cigar is its incredibly low price! At slightly over $2.00 apiece, Aguila delivers classic, straightforward Dominican smoking pleasure for a lot less than many cigars in the same category. Still largely unknown, this brand is beginning to attract a following among devotees of other light-bodied Dominicans. Stock up now before the they become too popular. Recommended.

Very slight inconsistencies in draw were overcome by what turned out to be a cool-smoking but full-bodied cigar with a mild, unobtrusive aftertaste. For fans of Dominican cigars, the Lamb's Club line is a great moderately-priced alternative to similar cigars in the "super-premium" category.

The Canary Islands have long been known for producing cigar tobacco with unusually flavorful properties. Dunhill's Corona Grandes combine filler and binder from the Islands and a light Cameroon wrapper to produce straightforward flavors, primarily of light pepper and wood. A nice, refreshing change from light-bodied Dominican cigars, especially in the morning.

Despite one panel member's assertion that the Rectangulares were "bland," overall reviews uniformly praised these medium-bodied Hondurans, commenting extensively on their unique box-pressed construction. Honduran filler and binder tobacco and a dark Ecuadorian wrapper provide good, straightforward flavor and an exceptionally pleasant aroma. At their inexpensive price, you don't have to be "The King of the World" to enjoy this high quality, box-pressed cigar. Recommended.

At $2.00 apiece, the Santa Rosa Regulares is a very nice smoke for the price. While retaining the traditional full-bodied flavor characteristic of most Honduran cigars, this brand will not overwhelm the palate, making it a perfect introduction to stronger cigars for the novice smoker. Minor construction flaws - mainly soft spots - were noted throughout the samples, but not enough to make it an issue. Recommended.

The Epi #1 is everything a good, strong Cuban cigar should be: Extra complex, rich and spicy, and persistent in aroma and aftertaste. While definitely not the strongest of Havanas, this brand still may overwhelm the casual smoker. A great after-dinner smoke.

This cigar is a wonderful example of how small "micro-brands" are entering the market successfully. Currently, the Key West Havana Cigar Co. is turning out a wonderful array of well-constructed, mild cigars with noticeably "creamy" flavor characteristics and an easy draw. Many of these cigars come packaged in beautiful Amatista jars, making them a great gift - especially for yourself. Highly recommended.

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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