Guest Review by Jason Platzner
Origin: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican/Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Beverage: Water
The overall appearance and construction is pretty spot on. Used a V cutter which I have been starting to use alot lately for most of my smokes.
Pre-Light: On startup for this RP, I get a blast of pepper/spice that made me think this was going to be a full-body cigar.
First Third: Pepper blast was only temporary. It dies down and I start getting more of a earthy note of wood. I begin to have burn issues but nothing major yet. Ash seems a bit loose but still holding on an inch and half into the smoke.
Second Third: Very enjoyable now. Getting a nice smooth and creamy nut kick now. Still having burn issues and a touch up was required. But at this time, I was still satisfied with the smoke.
Last Third: Not really much was going on here. I was getting some pepper that was hitting the back of the throat but no new flavor profiles which disappointed me.
Overall, the Rocky Patel 1961 was a decent smoke. Aside from burn issues and a last third that was a dud, it doesn't qualify for an everyday smoke for me but given the chance I would give this stick another shot.
Jason Platzner
Follow Jason on Twitter @jplatz863.
If you would like your cigar review featured on The Cigar Report, please email me at JB@thecigarreport.com.
Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Torpedo Natural - REVIEW
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Length: 6
Ring Gauge: 52
The Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Torpedo Natural has been rated as high as 93 by Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider. The 1964 Anniversary line of cigars has scored more 90+ cigar ratings than any other cigar in the world.
This Nicaraguan puro has a wrapper that is a medium-colored, beautiful brown that is silky smooth to the touch. The torpedo is a wonderful example of a perfectly sized, well-constructed cigar. Simply put, the appearance of this cigar amazing.
The first third is a strong, full-bodied offering with the peppery notes coming though. The cigar is burning even and drawing nicely.
The second third is mellowing to a medium, creamy smooth smoke. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’d have to say it is like hazelnut…very nice, indeed. The burn and draw are still near perfect.
Coming down the home stretch, the last third was very nice. The spice started to pick up a bit and had a nice, but very subtle, coffee taste to compliment. The draw and burn remain near perfect as it has throughout. The smoke production and spice pick up and the flavors finish well together.
The Padrón ’64 is a sweet, peppery, thick and rich stick with complex flavors of coffee, hazelnut and even a hint of chocolate. I highly recommend any experienced cigar smoker take the opportunity to try a Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Torpedo Natural.
Please send your cigar reviews, pictures, comments and questions to me at JB@thecigarreport.com or hit me up on Twitter @thecigarreport.
Orange Bowl Buckles Under Pressure, Nixes Camacho Cigars Sponsorship
I love college football and cigars. I didn’t realize they had to be mutually exclusive. According to Orange Bowl officials they are stating they have scrapped a planned sponsorship deal with Camacho Cigars as reported the Associated Press. Orange Bowl spokesperson Larry Wahl told the AP that after mutual review, it was determined that it would not be appropriate to go forward with the sponsorship.
In early December, Camacho Cigars which is owned by Florida based Davidoff of Geneva, and the Orange Bowl Committee announced a new three-year agreement that would have made Camacho Cigars a corporate sponsor of the Orange Bowl Festival, which included the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Discover Orange Bowls and 2013 Discover BCS National Championship.
The sponsorship included a large presence at several game-day events at Sun Life Stadium leading up to the 2012-2014 Discover Orange Bowls and 2013 Discover BCS National Championship. Football fans, VIPs and Committee members would have had access to onsite Camacho lounges where premium cigars could be enjoyed throughout the day. At the Orange Bowl Game Day Fan Zone, the Orange Bowl’s largest pregame event, guests could relax before kickoff in the Camacho Club Lounge. There would also have been two cigar lounges located in the designated smoking areas of the stadium on the Club Level for attendees of the Orange Bowl VIP pregame party.
Last week, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Cancer Society and eight other groups sent a letter Orange Bowl officials and organizers that raised concerns over the deal. The letter claims, "The association of cigar smoking with one of the nation’s top collegiate sporting events sends the wrong message to impressionable young fans and helps market cigars as athletic, masculine and cool. Linking tobacco use to sports also downplays the serious health risks of tobacco products."
Pressure continued to be placed upon Orange Bowl Committee decision makers when Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called upon the NCAA and the Orange Bowl Committee to reconsider a three-year agreement with Camacho Cigars making them a corporate sponsor of the Discover Orange Bowl. The Senators claim, "Tobacco has no place in sports, and the promotion of cigars at the Orange Bowl sends the wrong message to young fans. A tobacco company’s sponsorship of the Orange Bowl undermines a premier collegiate sporting event and promotes tobacco use to young fans, putting them at risk of developing an addictive and dangerous habit.”
Kevin Godbee, Publisher & Editor in Chief of Cigar Chronicles Magazine commented, "For anyone that is even slightly educated on the realities, and not brainwashed by propaganda, this situation is completely bizarre at best. There are so many fallacies here that I could write a book, but I will try to be as brief as possible. First is the colossal mistake of thinking the following logic is even close to correct; Cigarettes = Tobacco = Cigars. Throughout the letter, these words are used interchangeably, but in reality they are not the same thing. Here’s the same logic using drugs; Heroin = Drugs = Aspirin. If you’re truly educated on cigars, and not just reciting rote evangelism, then the following statement in the letter would either make you fall off your chair, or not know whether to laugh or cry ‘Cigars contain the same toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarettes, are addictive and harm health in many ways.’ Wrong. Premium, hand-rolled cigars, which are what Camacho makes, contain no chemicals or additives. They are 100% natural. They are not addictive. Many people know, and even cigarette smokers will admit, that cigarettes are all about delivering nicotine. When someone needs to smoke a cigarette, they really need to smoke a cigarette. A premium hand-rolled cigar is something that most people enjoy once a day or less; sometimes only once a week, as a treat after a long hard work week, or in celebration of a job well-done, or as a desert with a scotch after a hearty meal.”
The letter also claims, "It is also important to note that cigar smoking is not limited to adults; it is the second most common form of tobacco use among youth." Wow. Seriously? When I go to my favorite brick and mortar to enjoy a Camacho Triple Maduro, I don’t see a long line of teenagers. Not only would anyone under age 18 not be allowed in an establishment selling cigars, it is laughable to suggest the youth of America wants expensive, premium, hand-rolled cigars.
You might be surprised to find on the Orange Bowl website www.orangebowl.org, several sponsors that sell alcoholic beverages: Bacardi, Bud Light, Stella Artois and Corona Light. The Orange Bowl committee Officers and Board of Directors do not seem to have any problem with these sponsorships. For the record, Officers include:
- Jeffrey T. Roberts President & Chairman
- O. Ford Gibson Chairman-Elect
- Andrew P. Hertz First Vice-Chair
- Luis E. Boué Second Vice-Chair
- Lee E. Stapleton Secretary
- Shaun M. Davis Treasurer
- Antonio L. Argiz Immediate Past President and Chair
- Eric L. Poms Chief Executive Officer
And the Board of Directors includes:
- Timothy A. Battle
- Michael B. Chavies
- Shawn D. Crews
- Alfonso A. Cueto
- Albert E. Dotson, Sr.
- Larry Gautier
- Sara B. Herald
- Laura Morgan Horton
- Christopher E. Knight
- Peyton White Lumpkin
- Matthew E. Morrall
- Sean Pittman
- Jeff E. Rubin
- John P. (Jack) Seiler
- Douglas P. Wiley
- J. Hayes Worley, Jr.
On the eve of this year’s Orange Bowl which pits #23 West Virginia (Big East Champion) against #14 Clemson (ACC Champion), I am very confused about the message sent by the Orange Bowl Committee cancelling the sponsorship with Camacho Cigars. Is it when enough pressure is placed on us, we will cave? Is it alcohol is fine, but cigars are evil? Their decision simply doesn’t make sense.
Toro y Leon – Habano Claro Dorado No. 2
From the website of the makers of Toro y Leon, Tabacos Santandres:
“This exceptional cigar is a mélange of carefully selected and extremely aged tobacco leaves from our fields in Estelí and Jalapa Valley in Nicaragua. Born from our best Cuban-seed long-filler and binder they are all draped in a rare Habano-seed “desflorado” wrapper. The plants require constant vigilance and when the flower buds are just getting ready to bloom they are cut off giving the tobacco an extra rich and smooth flavor, making this type of wrapper to be among the best and the most expensive available anywhere. Our Catadores recommend this Nicaraguan Puro as the ultimate after lunch or dinner indulgence.”
The Cigar Report’s review:
Toro y Leon – Habano Claro Dorado No. 2
Size: 6 x50
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
This beautiful cigar from Tabacos Santandres has a golden brown wrapper with small to moderate veining with a very nice overall construction. The Toro y Leon is consistently packed with no soft or hard spots. Right from the start, it has a very easy draw with plentiful plumes of smoke. The first third offers up a creamy, nutty flavor with a hint of cedar too. I have a nice even burn with a solid white ash.
The second third transitions to a spicy, black pepper and there’s no mistaking the strength of the ligero. This delicious puro offers a nice “kick” but is still a smooth, effortless smoke. The burn and ash are still in great shape heading into the final third.
In the final third, I am really appreciating the superior craftsmanship as I stare at the near perfect burn and feel the flawless Nicaraguan leaf in between my fingers and thumb. This cigar is reminiscent of the Oliva Serie O which is high praise for sure. I smoked the Toro y Leon down to the nub and thoroughly enjoyed every inch.
Overall, the Toro y Leon Habano Claro is a full bodied offering with notes of dark tobacco, black pepper, spice, cedar and a creamy, nutty smoothness. While I would label this a full bodied cigar, it is not overpowering. The construction and feel is superb, the draw is effortless and produces volumes of thick, flavorful smoke. I highly recommend this cigar to those who enjoy a medium to full bodied flavorful smoke. Thank you to my friends at Toro y Leon for this delightful offering!
For more information, follow @Toroyleon on Twitter and go to www.tabacosantandres.com.
Gurkha Class Regent - 58% Off!
After 5 years of blending Class Regent is one of the most admired blends Gurkha offers. From the Honduran long fillers to the dark smooth wrapper these handmade medium-bodied cigars will satisfy! A leathery, toasty flavor with a wood aroma covers your palate creating a substantial finish. Named one of the year’s top 50 cigars and rated 90 by Cigar Aficionado, these cigars are limited so you will not want to pass them up. A box of Gurkha Class Regent makes a perfect gift for the cigar lover! Go to StogieBoys to get your box today!
Perfect Holiday Gift
The CAO Sampler and commemorative DVD "Seed to Soul" is the perfect holiday gift for the cigar enthusiast in your life! Experience the passion and pride behind CAO cigars firsthand with a behind-the-scenes documentary and enjoy seven top-rated premium cigars including...
1 - CAO Brazilia Samba
1 - CAO Cx2 Beli
1 - CAO Criollo Pato
1 - CAO Anniversaire Cameroon Belicoso
1 - CAO Gold Maduro Churchill
1 - CAO Gold Label Corona Gorda
1 - CAO Italia Ciao
The CAO Sampler and DVD are only $37.95 (30% off). Go to StogieBoys to get yours!
Padilla Hybrid Review
Wrapper: Connecticut
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Length: 6.2
Ring gauge: 52
A 90-rated Padilla for $2/stick? I had to check it out…
Padilla makes amazing cigars such as the Miami and the 1932, but what makes the Hybrid special? The name ’Hybrid’ comes from a mix (or hybrid) of Cuban seed and Connecticut seed leaves grown in Ecuador. The wrapper is a lovely golden color and silky smooth to the touch. The construction was firm and only very slight veining.
Getting started, the draw was smooth and easy with large plumes of smoke. There were mild spice and light pepper notes consistent through the first third. The ash held solid well past an inch and the burn was almost perfectly even. The second third offers more complexity with cedar and spice notes…a pleasant surprise! The draw, burn and overall experience continued to impress. The spice notes build through the final third to the finish. I was amazed to find this level of complexity in a “mild” cigar with such a low price point.
My only complaint is the huge band, not just the appearance but it seems there is too much glue because I consistently get a small tear on the wrapper.
I typically prefer a more full-bodied stick; however the extremely low price point and smoothness guarantees a stash in my humidor. If you are a mild cigar fan, need a new morning cigar or simply want a change of pace, give the Padilla Hybrid a try. At this amazingly low StogieBoys price of $39.95 for a mazo of 20, you can’t pass up this deal.
Please send your cigar reviews, pictures, comments and questions to me at JB@thecigarreport.com or hit me up on Twitter @thecigarreport.
The Cigar Report Goes Global...
http://www.worldofperdomo.com/forum/topics/the-cigar-report-reviews-perdomo-lot-23-maduro-toro?xg_source=activity
$10+ premium cigar for a paltry $3 per stick!
To be honest, I'm not sure what the StogieBoys are thinking...a $10+ premium cigar for a paltry $3 per stick! Seriously? Yep, that just happened!
Nestor Miranda 1989 is a newer blend, created by Nestor Miranda who created such premium stars such as Don Lino. These rich, delicious handmades are manufactured in the famed Nicaraguan cigar factory of Don Pepin Garcia.
The 1989 is a robust, medium bodied smoke with a crafty blend of Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos from the Esteli and Jalapa regions. The wrapper is a beautiful natural Rosada leaf. The tobaccos are all well aged and well blended to create an incredibly well balanced cigar. And it is very attractively priced.
The Nestor Miranda 1989 Sampler includes 5 cigars (Robusto, Toro and Belicoso sizes). At an amazing $15.95 price, go to StogieBoys quickly before the guys come to their senses or these 5-packs fly out the door and you are stuck with the dreaded "Back Order" button.
