Seth's Humidor, In-Depth Cigar Reviews

Don Carlos Edicion de Anniversario 2007

When it comes to special and limited release, I don't think anyone can compete with the Fuente Family.  They are a company that holds on to so much tobacco, and age so many cigars that there is bound to be a year where the company has something special that they crafted years before. Sometimes these releases are cigars that have been crated with a different wrapper, and sometimes these releases are cigars that were crafted and never released. Typically these cigars have been rolled and just aging in their many cigar vaults waiting to be smoked. I am typically a fan of these limited releases and special cigars, and I believe these cigars are what make Arturo Fuente what they are today. One special release of theirs was crafted in 2006, and was laid to rest three years before releasing. This cigar was the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Edicion de Anniversario.

Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary

EloGio

Escogidos

La Aurora is a company that needs no introduction. They have been around for many years, and have been a company that cigars smokers throughout the world have enjoyed. When I think of cigars being made in the Dominican Republic I think of La Aurora, and when I think of Dominican tobacco I think of La Aurora once again. They are a company that has reached out to cigar smokers, and really educated them on what goes into making a great cigar. In the past couple years we have seen a transformation for the better in the company, and we have seen this in their production and re-branding of the company. They have always been a cigar company that has captured those "traditional" qualities to a cigar, but they have begun to intertwine the old ways with more modern and hip practices. With them being most known for their "preferido" vitola, they have also released major lines that have becomes successes overnight, and remained popular throughout the years. One of their more newer releases is a cigar that is incredibly exclusive, and it is a cigar that is to be given out only by Miami Cigar & Company representative, or while in the La Aurora Factory in Santiago. The cigars is La Aurora Escogidos Maduro Robusto.

Lou Rodriguez

With more and more people preferring larger ring gauge cigars, I am going the complete opposite direction, and going for cigars that are more in the Petit Corona and traditional Corona Gorda vitola spectrum. I have always felt that with a smaller ring gauge you could truly enjoy the cigars flavors, and also get the great wrapper flavors as well. I know that this is not the norm with today's society, but oh well. Along with that, there has been one company that has been capturing my attention of late, and while they are not brand new, they are fairly new to the market, and new to me. The company is Lou Rodriguez Cigars, and they are a company that is capturing everything that I look for in a cigar company, and in their cigars. Just recently their Marketing Head was in Havana Phil's and I had the pleasure of sitting down with him and discussing their cigars, and also sampling some of their cigars.    

~1~

Whether you think of Heracles and Atlas, Odysseus and the Cyclops  or even David and Goliath, there has always been a challenge between big and small or even brains and brawn. That is why when I looked at the two vitolas left in the Illusione core line for me to review, and I found myself paired with the biggest and the smallest, I thought of those relations. I do realize that I have not reviewed the box pressed versions of the 4/2g and 888, or even the 2/3 Culebras, but I am looking at those main vitolas right now and the Culebras are currently unavailable. With that being said, I begin one of my last reviews on the Illusione core line, but not the last time in any means that I will smoke these cigars. These are cigars that I hold onto in my humidor at all times, and I always will, so without further adieu, I begin my reviews of the Illusione ~1~ and  ~mk~.

~mk~

Fifteenth Anniversary

When you say the name Rocky Patel, you are probably saying one of the biggest names in the cigar industry. Rocky Patel is a manufacturer that has connected with every type of cigar smoker, and spends an equal amount of time with any person. I don't care if you drive a Ferrari or a Ford Pinto, Rocky Patel will treat you both with the same respect and on the same playing field. I have had the pleasure of meeting him several times, and each time he has been nothing but kind and considerate. You can really talk to him about anything, and he can partake in the conversation with the best. With that being said, he is a manufacturer that has proven himself in the industry, and has overcome obstacles that many could not. Because of this, he has released two lines that honor this achievement. The first was the Decade, and the second was the Fifteenth Anniversary. 

Viaje

When it comes to well known and popular boutique cigar companies, Viaje is most likely at the head of the pack. They really became well known in 2010 when they got major recognition from Cigar Aficionado, and since then they have not been on shelves often before being picked up. Headed by Andre Farkas, Viaje Cigars teamed up with the team of Casa Fernandez to make great cigars in the Cuban fashion. More often than not his lines are Nicaraguan puros, and emphasizes the use of Criollo and Corojo tobacco. He is most likely well known for his core Viaje Platino and Oro lines, but he has also gotten attention from his unique bands and names for his other lines. I have been smoking several of his lines when I can, and one that has really caught my attention because of concept is the Late Harvest.

Grand Reserve 2012 band art

With the 2012 IPCPR coming up, we will begin to see manufacturers discussing new releases and tease cigar smokers throughout the nation and world. I have been fortunate enough to receive such information from the well known Barry Stein at Miami Cigar & Company, and this go around I have received information in regards to a second release of an initially great smoke. The Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve was released last year, and due to high popularity and success Nestor Miranda has decided to release the second version.

The new version will be similar to its predecessor in the sense that the cigar will feature a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and Nicaraguan filler and binder tobacco, but will have a little more kick to it. The company decided to add a little more Nicaraguan ligero in the filler, and is aimed to please the common cigar smoker in today's market. The cigar will be box pressed and have the dimensions of 6 1/8" with a 52 ring gauge, and will be packaged similarly in boxes of ten and be limited to 1,500 boxes. The cigar is still going to be produced in the My Father Cigar Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and will retail for around $12.00. The cigar is going to be released at the IPCPR, and the company is looking forward to seeing the reaction of consumers with the cigars "new dimension."

Lou Rodriguez

When it comes to the Lancero vitola, people are really up in the air. You either love them or hate them, and more often than not people do not care for them that much. I have heard some manufacturers that there are areas of the country that prefer cigars of that caliber, but I can tell you that in Greensboro, NC most of the people are gravitating towards the Toro vitola. I am the odd one out when it comes to that at my local shop, and a large fan of the Lancero vitola. Along with the Lancero vitola being less popular than other vitolas, I have seen more and more cigar manufacturers gravitate towards Habano and Maduro wrappers. While Connecticut use to be the popular wrapper of choice, it has decreased some during the years and has become a wrapper that is not frowned upon, but shown less respect as other wrapper choices.

Flores Y Rodriguez

When it comes to Dominican cigars you will always have La Aurora and Arturo Fuente. Those two names have been around for so many years that I would be surprised if a cigar smoker anywhere in the world has not smoked one. The two companies are most likely named first when discussing Dominican cigar companies, but over the past years there has been a rise in a new name that has captured all the great Dominican qualities with a twist and sense of boutiqueness. This company is Pinar Del Rio Cigar Company, and though the factory has been around for over eighty years, it is just recently that they became their own company. Established eight years ago, PDR Cigars is now its own separate cigar company and led by three men. You most likely have heard the name Abraham Flores, who is one of the companies blenders and "face man," but there are two other men involved, the Rodriguez brothers.

The most famous cigar band of the 21st Century

Lou Rodriguez