Dominican Olor binder, Piloto Cubano filler and a great-looking Connecticut Shade wrapper distinguish this new entry in the Dominican cigar category While panelists uniformly praised the Yumuri's solid construction and burn, smoker's seeking rich, complex flavors won't find it here. This is a straightforward, somewhat mild cigar, recommended for morning or afternoon smoking.

The Excalibur has long been one of the most popular cigars, and with good reason: excellent construction, consistent flavor, and a very reasonable price. Unfortunately, as more and more smokers discover the Excalibur line, availability has become somewhat limited. Recommended.

Another winner from Splendid Seed. The Philippines is known for rough-looking and powerful cigars - the Fighting Cock captures this in a way that is surprisingly subtle. A slightly difficult draw was overlooked in favor of rich flavors of spice and a powerful aftertaste. Recommended for the more experienced smoker.

Following on the heels of Santiago Cabanas and Havana Classico, the Calle Ocho is the Caribbean Cigar Factory's latest super-premium entry. This is a robust cigar that is subtle enough to be enjoyed by novices and longtime smokers alike. Best of all, this high-quality cigar is made in the U.S.A. Recommended.

Despite minor inconsistencies, these American-made toros garnered excellent reviews from a majority of the panel, and displayed rich, complex flavors. Topper is the one of the oldest American cigar manufacturers, and its first foray into the hand rolled category looks like a complete success. At around $3.50 a pop, this an excellent cigar for the money.

At over $7.00 each, the Butera Royal Vintage is one of the few cigars in its price category that actually merits the expenditure. Smooth and mild, yet highly flavorful, is what you expect from a vintage cigar, and the Butera delivers.

All five reviewers absolutely loved this cigar without reservation. This cigar captures the tradition of its powerful, full-bodied Cuban namesake, and it looks dan-Ln good in the hand. Presented in lush wooden cabinets of 25, these cigars are recapturing cigar tradition. Very highly recommended.

Despite somewhat loose construction, these toros burned perfectly, displaying quality construction and a good draw. With a near-perfect Connecticut Shade wrapper, the Gotham #711 provides a mild yet flavorful smoke that makes for a classic Dominican cigar. Be sure to also try the Gotham #1400, the same blend in a long corona size. Recommended.

Just recently introduced to the American market, Tabantillas have been enjoyed in Europe for many years. Pronounced, earthy flavors may overwhelm the occasional smoker, but for those who enjoy full-bodied cigars, these provide plenty of rich flavor without overwhelming the palate. A good value for the money.

While the H. Upmann line seems to have improved in construction with the introduction of the new Indonesian wrapper, it seems as though the blend has suffered. If you can find them, the H. Upmann Cabinet Selection Corsarios (5.5/50) are somewhat better. Not recommended at this time.

This is a very mild cigar with subtle flavors of earth and spice. These well-constructed smokes are perfect for the beginner or for those who smoke several cigars a day. Brandy or cognac may overpower this cigar; try these with a glass of ale or a crisp white wine.

Don Pepe is the first hand rolled Brazilian cigar to hit the mainstream American market. Manufactured by Suerdieck, famous for their excellent dry-cured cigars, the Don Pepe is made from all-Brazilian filler and binder and Sumatra-seed wrap. This cigar will appeal to fans of mild - to medium-bodied cigars.

Of all the great Cuban brands, Hoyo de Monterrey is perhaps the one best suited to mainstream tastes. The Double Corona is a medium-bodied, exceptionally well-made cigar with complex flavor characteristics. A great introduction to Havanas for the uninitiated.

The Dominican Partagas No. 10 is a world-class cigar, possessing full-bodied complexity rarely seen in a Dominican smoke, Don't kill yourself trying to get a hold of the 150 Signature Series - these blow them away. Highly recommended.

The La Boca offers superb quality, an above-average draw and classic Dominican flavor. It is extremely mild, however; lovers of deep, complex flavor and strength will not find it here. Highly recommended for fans of mild cigars and the beginning smoker.

Unfortunately, construction problems were noted throughout the Moreno Maduro samples, the least expensive in the double corona review. Despite this, the majority of the panel enjoyed good light-bodied flavor dominated by a creamy sweetness. This is no after-dinner cigar - smoke these on the boat, or on the back nine.

Above-average construction, mild flavors, and overall consistency characterize the Leon Jimenes DCs. Like the La Boca, these cigars are best suited to smokers seeking a light-bodied cigar that will not overwhelm the palate. Good after a light lunch or with morning coffee.

A beautiful Ecuadorian wrapper distinguishes the Lamb's Club from other Dominican cigars. Heavy, full-bodied flavors of spice characterize these moderately-priced, premium smokes. The Corona Extra (6.25/45) makes for a quicker, and equally interesting smoke.

Mexican cigars, especially of this size, usually conjure up adjectives such as "harsh" or "bitter" in a review. This all-Mexican puro proved otherwise. Light-bodied and mild, Cruz Real is bringing some genuine subtlety and well-rounded flavor to Mexican smokes. Recommended.

Obviously, Padron's 30th Anniversary Series is no secret. This is one of the very best cigars available on the market, and has an army of loyal devotees. If you don't love these classic box-pressed Nicaraguans, you just don't like cigars. Strenuously recommended.

These cigars have the unfortunate distinction of being among the very best Dominican cigars around and, therefore, one of the most difficult to obtain. If you can squeeze a box out of your local smoke shop, you'll be the envy of every cigar smoker in your town. From the near-perfect construction to the insanely elaborate band, this cigar positively reeks of elegance. Just be sure to hit the ATM before you go to the store. Highly recommended.

The Flor de Florez Rothschild offers a fairly straightforward, medium bodied smoke with predominantly tart and spicy taste characteristics and a light aftertaste. For the beginning smoker, a great introduction to Honduran flavor; for the experienced smoker, the perfect afternoon treat. Recommended.

Hailing from Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, the Aguila combines medium-strength filler and binder tobacco with aged Connecticut Shade wrappers of superior quality to provide a flavorful, consistent smoke. An excellent outdoor smoke, recommended for all smokers.

Unlike the Double "R" reviewed in Spring '96, the smaller Special "R" proved to be well-aged and ready to smoke. Davidoff is world-famous for producing elegantly crafted cigars with flawless wrappers, and this batch was no exception. Well-balanced medium-bodied flavor and a subtle aftertaste make these one of the classic Dominican smokes. Highly recommended.

The Consul starts slowly, gradually developing full-bodied straight-forward flavor that persists throughout smoking. Sturdy construction and a great draw make this an excellent outdoor smoke, perfect for the beach or walking the dog.

Despite some unpredictable construction and a loose ash, the Epicure #2s remain one of the classic, full-bodied Cuban robustos. While less complex in flavor than the Cohiba robusto or the Partagas Series D No. 4, the Hoyo robustos will provide 45 minutes of pure enjoyment for any experienced smoker. Not recommended for beginning smokers or those with a preference for milder cigars.

La Diva is the recent incarnation of El Sublimate, and continues to feature aged Dominican leaf cured in vintage cognac. Panelists enjoyed consistent, medium-bodied well-balanced flavor throughout the samples, and a full aftertaste. Can be smoked after dinner, as it burns slowly for its size.

The Savinelli ELR excelled in every category, offering delightful full-bodied flavor in a mild cigar - the ideal combination for a Dominican robusto. Unfortunately, "Extremely Limited" is more truth than marketing gimmick. These are tough cigars to get a hold of; give them away grudgingly, or not at all. Recommended.

The Licenciados Wavell is a solid, middle-of-the-road cigar offering a slightly complex, medium-bodied smoke. At approximately $3.00 a stick, they match up well against many cigars costing three times as much. The smoke to have when you're smoking more than one.

A strong, acrid beginning settles down into a rich, yet somewhat mild mannered, straightforward smoke. Construction was acceptable throughout, and panelists commented on an easy, full draw. Handmade in Tampa with aged Dominican filler tobaccos, the Rolando is one of few cigars that uses Connecticut Shade in both the wrapper and binder. This cigar continues to get more refined each year, and offers a great smoke at the price.

Hugo Cassar's recent foray into figurado-shaped cigars is proving to be a success. These maduro-wrapped pyramids showed consistency throughout the samples, and several panelists commented on its pleasing shape and appearance. Plus, they taste damn good! Try 'em, buy'em.

Although one of the panelists seemed to enjoy these Honduran torpedos, the majority found inconsistency and construction problems throughout. Otherwise, the panelists seemed to enjoy fairly complex, medium-strength smoke.

With a ring gauge approaching that of the largest marketed cigar in the world, Tony Borhani's immensely large Don Tonioli Super Pyramid is one formidable stogie. However, those bold enough to fire it up will be rewarded with a surprisingly mild-tempered, flavorful, and long-lasting smoke.

If you don't like Havana cigars, you sure won't like the Montecristo #2. This cigar is about as subtle as a train wreck. With much more strength than flavor, this is a great cigar to smoke with cognac or a peaty single-malt Scotch. Like it or not, you're just not experienced until you've smoked this legendary cigar.

These Cuban belicosos were manufactured in September of 1995, making them a bit too young to be judged fairly. Nevertheless, with some age, this is a very smooth and complex full-bodied cigar - of far more refinement than the Montecristo #2. Highly recommended.

An interesting mix of Mexican and Nicaraguan filler, Honduran binder and a silky Connecticut Shade wrapper, give this C.A.0. pyramid a full-bodied, complex flavor that can be appreciated by novices and longtime smokers alike. Traditionalists may balk at its odd "baseball bat" shape, but it has all the makings of a truly classic cigar. Recommended.

If you're going to name a cigar after your wife, it better be a good one. The Flor de LaVonda is. Mild in strength but not in flavor, the entire El Rey del Mundo line is comprised of great cigars that won't shock your wallet, as per the instructions of its owner, Lew Rothman. According to him, "The only good deal on a $10 cigar is if it's rolled up with a five and two ones." His opinion notwithstanding, this cigar comes highly recommended.

Los Libertadores fans, don't despair! Although the name has changed to La Flor Dominicana, the only thing different about these cigars is the label. As always, a high level of craftsmanship is evident in the construction of these mild- to medium-bodied cigars. Recommended.

The Baccarat Polo is a supremely mild-mannered and light pyramid offering adequate construction and an effortless draw. However, even those panelists who expressed a preference for milder cigars found the Polo ultimately too light to enjoy. This cigar needs a lot more boldness in the blend to round it out.

Since its recent inception in March of 1996, Havana Sunrise has quickly advanced into the top tier of the premium cigar category, garnering many fans with its medium-bodied yet smooth flavor and excellent construction. A careful blend of Dominican and Honduran filler gives this cigar a unique character that will be appreciated by both connoisseurs and those seeking a medium-strength cigar. Availability, however, is extremely limited. 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.

For complete details of this month's reviews, see the Fall '96 issue
of SMOKE Magazine - available at a tobacconist near you.