Tagged "Cigar Review"


Tabak Especial Cigars, Blowing Smokers' Minds Since 2008!

Posted by freedomcigars on

[caption id="attachment_347" align="alignleft" width="53" caption="Tabak Especial Robusto Negra at My Discount Cigars"]Tabak Especial Robusto Negra at My Discount Cigars[/caption]

Jonathan Drew and the Drew Estate team do it again! Another successful infused blend by Drew Estate that appeals to cigar lovers AND coffee drinkers all over the world.  The Tabak Especial cigar is the culmination of Drew Estate taking the art of blending coffee and cigars to new heights. The process involves slowly infusing rich tobaccos with the finest Fair Trade harvested coffees from the fertile mountains of Nicaragua into the Tabak Especial line. Drew Estate has created a smoking experience that is pure tobacco velvet upon the palate with the perfect nuance of luscious espresso coffee. The combination results in pleasing yet not overpowering flavors of coffee beans and milk chocolate mixed with savory sweetness and the most enticing aroma.

The Tabak Especial line was designed by Drew Estate as a bridge between the smokers who are used to infused cigars, such as their ACID line, and the more traditional cigars that are not infused, like their Chateau Real line. The Tabak Especial cigar comes in 2 lines, the Dulce (Natural) line and the Negra (Maduro) line. Your choice of either extra-dark Connecticut Broadleaf or natural Connecticut Shade wrappers envelop a Sumatra binder and Nicaraguan Criollo filler leaves. Before aging, the cigars are slowly infused with Nicaraguan estate-grown coffee.

The Tabak Especial comes in several sizes both in the Dulce blend as well as the Negra blend. Here are just some of the sizes available:  Belicoso (5 x 54), Cafecita (4 x 32, 10-count Tin), Corona (4 3/4 x 46), Robusto (5 x 54), Toro (6 x 52), Negra Sampler (5 various Negra cigars), and the Dulce Sampler (5 various Dulce cigars).

[caption id="attachment_346" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Tabak Especial Robusto Dulce Cigars At My Discount Cigars"]Tabak Especial Robusto Dulce Cigars At My Discount Cigars[/caption]

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Flavor: Dulce - Mild to Medium, Negra - Medium to Full
Wrapper: Dulce - Connecticut Shade-Grown, Negra - Extra Dark Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua Sumatra
Filler: Nicaragua

The cigar smokers who miss the discontinued Drew Estate Kahlua brand, the Tabak Especial cigar is the blend that replaced them. The two blends are nearly identical in flavor. Tantalize your taste buds with a velvety sweet, perfectly balanced Tabak Especial cigar, it's the bomb, we promise. If you have a sweet tooth the Tabak Especial cigar is the cigar for you (you won't even crave dessert after smoking this treat)… it will appeal to even the most die-hard traditionalist!

The Tabak Especial blends are available here at MyDiscountCigar.com.

To read more about the Tabak Especial cigars, please visit DrewEstate.com.

~ Peace, Love, Cigars ~

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Drew Estate's Tabak Especial Toro Negra Cigar Review by Tony Casas

Posted July 13, 2009
This week’s review will be that of Drew Estate - Tabak Especial line. I have made a decent sized purchase from cigar.com as of late, and couldn’t decide which one I wanted to hit first. I was VERY tempted to try the Cafe con Leche, as I have yet to try this one. But seeing how I was pre-paired with dark beers, I didn’t want to get lost in its smooth flavor.

So I decided on the Tabak Especial Toro Negra:

Drew Estate - Tabak Especial - (Image courtesey of cigar.com)Drew Estate - Tabak Especial - (Image courtesy of cigar.com)

Just like last time cigar.com was really good about shipping these ASAP. If I’m not mistaken they ship from Pennsylvania, and since I live on the western most tip of Texas, I didn’t expect these anytime soon (especially since I’m a cheapskate and shipped value). Again, I was pleasantly surprised to receive my shipment only 3 days later. Each set of 3 cigars came wrapped in cellophane, then placed in air-tight ziplock cigar bags along with humi-care gel packets. Then each bag was shipped in separate boxed filled with air-filled protectant pouches. Pretty impressive.

The Good Stuff:

Strength: Medium  -  Size: 6 x 52  -  Country: Nicaragua  -  Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro  -  Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan Sumatra / Nicaraguan Criollo

The Tabak Especial Toro Negra cigar is yet another amazingly constructed cigar by Drew Estate. It’s very rare that you get less than perfect from them. One of the first noticeable difference between this cigar and many others is the fact that it supports what is called “shaggy foot”. What a shaggy footed cigar is a cigar that’s inner filler tobacco leaves extend far further than the wrapper itself. Although it looks a bit funny it holds a purpose. By constructing a  cigar this way you enable the smoker to enjoy the tastes of both the binder/filler tobacco separate than that of the wrapper. Along with this it is believed that it gives off a much more even burn as well.

Prelight: Again, the Tabak Especial Toro by Drew Estate cigar sports a flawless construction. The wrapper is a deep, extremely dark maduro which makes even the smallest flaw stand out. The Tabak Especial’s aroma consisted of very strong coffee with hints of cedar and cocoa. Unlike most other Drew Estates this cigar carries with it a dual band. One on the neck, and one at the foot of cigar. I am assuming this has something to do with the shaggy foot technique. The Tabak Especial Toro has a very well construction rounded cap, and a very oily wrapper. There were no soft spots. Again I am trusting my Cuban Crafters Perfecto double blade cutter, and a standard single flame Colibri torch.

First Smoke: First of all the Drew Estate Tabak Especial Negra Toro cigar was incredibly easy to light. This again, has to do with the shaggy foot. The toasting of the cigar was effortless, and resulted in a complete, perfect burn. The first scents were that of milk chocolate, lined with coffee, and of course tobacco. Unlike the Drew Estate – Rocky Patel Java, this cigar was much more mellow, and a lot sweeter. The cigar produced a very large draw right off the back , with large hefty smoke accompanying it. To my surprise the ask only held on for a little over 3/4 of an inch before releasing into my ash tray. The cigar was moist, so this was a shocker.

Halfway There: One great thing about the Tabak Especial Negra Toro cigar is even halfway through and further the draw doesn’t change, and neither for the strengths and flavor. Tabak Especial is a lighter strength cigar making the smoke very easy and relaxing. The ash is still spilling off quickly, but this is not bothersome in anyway. The cigar remains intact and there is absolutely no unwrapping of any kind.

Finish: As stated in previous posts, I’m not a nub smoker. I usually give in with an inch or so still left. I don’t know if it was the amazing conversation or the fact that this Drew Estate Tabak Especial Negra Toro cigar is so remarkable, but I took it all the way down to nothing. Literally, I burned the tips of my fingers trying to get every last drop outta this thing. This cigar is remarkable. It finishes just as easy as it begins holding its flavor all the way through. Absolutely no signs of unwrapping.

Overview: What can I say?! Drew Estate delivers again. The Tabak Especial Toro Negra is a remarkable cigar, from the burn, and construction to the draw and the flavors. I can honestly say even the most die-hard non-infused cigar smoker would be stupid not the at least give these a run.

On a side note: Recently I reviewed a Rocky Patel – Drew Estate – Java Maduro Box pressed cigar. To sum the differences up is pretty simple. Tabak Especial is a lot creamier, sweeter, and lighter than the Java line. Java boasts HUGE draws, and in your face strengths. Both come from opposites ends of the “coffee infused”  spectrum.

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Thanks for the great review and insight, Tony!

 

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Alec Bradley Cigars Take the "Cigar of the Year" Title for 2011!

Posted by freedomcigars on

Our staff would like to extend a great big congratulations and pat on the back to Alec Bradley Cigars for earning the most prestigious title in the cigar industry  -  The Alec Bradley Prensado Churchill cigar was awarded "The 2011 Cigar of The Year" by Cigar Aficionado!!  Congratulations to Alan Rubin, founder of the Alec Bradley Cigar Company, and his staff! Their company is distinguished as a world-class boutique cigar producer and purveyor in the premium cigar industry.  The company is named after his 2 sons, Alec and Bradley. Alan started his cigar company in 1996 and has come a long way in 16 years. His company was the first to create a triangular shaped cigar. Alan hit it on the head in 2007 when he introduced the Alec Bradley Tempus and only 2 years later he created the Alec Bradley Prensado blend.

[caption id="attachment_327" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Alec Bradley Prensado Cigars at My Discount Cigars"]Alec Bradley Prensado Cigars at My Discount Cigars[/caption]

The Alec Bradley Prensado is blended using Central American tobacco exclusively, including a very dark wrapper leaf grown in a southern area of Honduras called Trojes.  The Alec Bradley Prensado is handmade at the Raices Cubanas factory in Danli, Honduras. It embodies the epitome of cigar perfection with its picture-perfect head, its stunning oily, practically veinless wrapper, the skillfully placed triple-cap, and its elegant and colorful band.  But more than its stunning presentation it is the incredible flavors and excellent draw that make the Alec Bradley Prensado a true classic!  The Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos are blended in a harmonious way presenting hints of chocolate, leather, spice notes and a lush, long finish. A perfect description of this beauty, "A richly colored cigar with superb construction. The first puffs are sweet and leathery, then turn toasty and nutty with a chocolate note. Sophisticated."

The Alec Bradley Prensado line is available in 6 sizes: Churchill, Corona Gorda, Double T, Gran Toro, Robusto and Torpedo are the first all box-pressed selection from Alec Bradley Cigars ("prensado" means pressed in Spanish) and by far their fullest-bodied blend. This blend will definitely give you something to sink your teeth into with its smooth buttery notes of rich and deep roasted coffee flavors and a dash of sweet pepper. The Alec Bradley Prensado will undoubtedly leave you thoroughly impressed proving why it got some of Cigar Aficionado's highest ratings!

[caption id="attachment_326" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Alec Bradley Prensado Cigars at My Discount Cigars"]Alec Bradley Prensado Cigars at My Discount Cigars[/caption]

RATED 91-96 BY CIGAR AFICIONADO and TOP 25 CIGARS OF 2011, #1 FOR THE ALEC BRADLEY PRENSADO CHURCHILL!

Country of Origin: Honduras
Flavor: Full
Wrapper: Trojes, Honduras
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Trojes, Honduras and Nicaragua

The Alec Bradley Prensado cigars are available here at MyDiscountCigar.com.

To read more about the Alec Bradley Prensado blends please visit AlecBradley.com.

~ Peace, Love, Cigars ~

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CIGAR REVIEW OF THE ALEC BRADLEY PRENSADO ROBUSTO BY CIGARFAN

The Trojes revolution that started with the Tempus blend in 2008 is still going strong. Not long after the Tempus was released, Alec Bradley unleashed the Trojes-wrapped SCR (Select Cabinet Reserve) and about a year later the Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto appeared on the shelves. Since then, leaf from this small Honduran village has almost become synonymous with Alec Bradley.

Las Trojes is a tiny border town about 40 miles east of Danli, the heart of cigar making operations in Honduras. The Jalapa valley is just across the border in Nicaragua, and Esteli is a few more miles down the road, or what passes for a road in this part of the country. This is solid tobacco country, and Alec Bradley seems pretty happy with it. They’ve gone so far as to trademark the name Trojes, so it seems certain that this isn’t the last we’ve seen of this fine leaf.

For the Alec Bradley Prensado the blenders have chosen an aged 2006 Corojo wrapper from Trojes, a binder from Jalapa, and a Nicaraguan-Honduran filler combination. The cigar is pressed, which is nothing new for the company (remember the Trilogy?) but this fact is emphasized by the name — prensado means pressed in Spanish.

The cigar is made in the Raices Cubanas factory in Danli, where the Tempus is also made (along with many other cigars for various manufacturers.) Six sizes are in production:

Churchill – 7 x 48
Torpedo – 8 1/8 x 52
Gran Toro – 6 x 54
Corona Gorda – 5 5/8 x 46
Robusto – 5 x 50

Double T - 6 x 62

Construction Notes

The Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto is clearly pressed, but it’s not a severe press — a little more than box-pressed, but not a lot more. The wrapper is a dark colorado maduro with some inconspicuous veins. The head of the cigar is somewhat flat with classic Raices Cubanas finishing, including a smoothly executed triple cap. The draw is excellent and the burn is slow and mostly even. The ash is dirty gray, striated with black, and holds well.

Overall construction: Excellent.

Tasting Notes

The pungency of the pre-light tobacco comes through almost immediately as leather, and the smoke has a lengthy finish from the start. There is a peppery edge to it, which is supplemented by a sweet, nearly fruity accent. It is full-bodied, but smooth.  The combination of flavors here is impressively complex, which is unusual for the first inch of a cigar.

Flavors of cocoa or chocolate emerge after an inch or so into the cigar. The leather remains in the background while the pepper fades a bit. The fruity accent seems to evolve into a minty, cameroon-like flavor. Taken as a whole, the combination of flavors here is really interesting.

The Alec Bradley Prensado sails into band territory balanced and smooth, but it still hasn’t completed its voyage. The cocoa takes on a caramel-like tone, over which is laced a touch of vanilla. The cigar gets a bit sharp at the very end, but this is after an hour long journey with some gorgeous vistas.

Conclusion

The Alec Bradley Prensado is a fantastic cigar with a rare combination of complexity, smoothness, and body.  What is even rarer is that it wastes no time in getting to work — from first puff to last there is something to savor here. We’ve all had the “sweet spot” experience, but the Prensado seem to be all sweet spot.  The combination of leather, cocoa, sweetness and spice is extremely well balanced, and the construction is just about perfect.

The Alec Bradley Prensado Robustos are in the 7 to 8 USD range, and I’d say they’re worth the expense. It isn’t often that I enjoy a cigar from beginning to end, so I feel like I definitely got my dollar’s worth out of this one. The only thing I didn’t like about the Prensado is how long it took me to discover it.

Final Score: 93

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Superb review CigarFan!  Thanks!


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Bursting with Mega Flavors! Cigar Review of the E.P. Carrillo New Wave

Posted by freedomcigars on

[caption id="attachment_295" align="alignright" width="150" caption="E.P. Carrillo New Wave Cigars at My Discount Cigars"]E.P. Carrillo New Wave Cigars at My Discount Cigars[/caption]

E.P. Carrillo New Wave, rated 91 by Cigar Insider, is the newest addition to the E.P. Carrillo line. The E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigar is mild to medium-bodied, bursting with nutty, creamy, sweet and slightly spicy flavors, it is reasonably priced, sophisticated with a refined and long finish. Created by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo (originally known for the La Gloria Cubana cigars), one of the industry's finest cigar artisans, the E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigars are wrapped in a hand-selected, silky Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper, filled with Nicaraguan and Dominican Cuban-seed longfillers, and the finest Dominican binders to create a savory and memorable smoking experience.

The E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigars permeate of honey, hay and wheat. They are a sight to behold with their sheen and silky smoothness to the touch.  Upon lighting the E.P. Carrillo New Wave you are met with intoxicating flavors of cedar, earth, and nutmeg and it holds the consistent medium body throughout the smoking experience. Prepare to be impressed and blown away as the flavors play off each other as you smoke your way through the E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigar experiencing notes of cream, wood, and nuts on the palate, then switching gears to cloves and cinnamon in the second half.

If you tend to favor cigars packed with flavor over body the E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigars are definitely perfect for you! Treat your palate with an array of incredible flavors and spring on a whole box of the E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigars! They are available in 5 different vitolas from the Brillantes (Robusto), Divinos (Toro), El Decano (Double Toro), Gran Via (Churchill) and Stellas (Corona) and come in a white wooden box and white bands (not to be confused with their original line with the black bands). The E P Carrillo New Waves are quite the treat!

Rated 91 by Cigar Insider!

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Flavor: Full

Body: Mild to Medium

Wrapper:  Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler:  Nicaragua, Dominican Republic

E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigars are available online here at MyDiscountCigar.com.

To read more about the E.P. Carrillo please visit EPCarrillo.com.

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The E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes Cigar Review by Jameson Santos de Miami of Toasted Foot Cigar Reviews

EP Carrillo New Wave Connecticut 2 555x253 Cigar Review: EP Carrillo New Wave Connecticut

Size: 5×50, Brillantes

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican

Strength: Medium

Price: $4.50-7

Grade: 9.2

The E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Edition is one of two new releases from the Carrillo family, the other being the Elencos Series, which is the same blend as the Edicion Limitada 2010 Elencos. These two blends are being released now to B&Ms.

The E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigar is available in five sizes and is priced very well. This will be a full addition to their portfolio and will be available year round.

  • Stellas: 5 1/8 x 42 ($4.50 retail)
  • Brillantes: 5 x 50 ($5.25 retail)
  • Divinos: 6 x 52 ($6.25 retail)
  • Gran Via: 7 x 49 ($7.00 retail)
  • El Decano: 6 x 60 ($7.75 retail)

The EP Carrillo New Wave Brillantes brand has done nothing but blow us away here at Toasted Foot, with ratings of 9.2, 9.2, and 9.3. Their Inaugural Edicion 2009 is still one of the more complex and well balanced cigars I’ve ever had and easily ranks in my Top 10 all time. We’ve also reviewed the Core Line and the Short Run.

We are big fans and the anticipation for the New Wave is even higher for me, as I count Connecticut wrappers as my go to smokes. Now, on to the toast!

Pre-light, 1.7:
The first thing I notice on my two samples of the E.P. Carrillo New Wave Brillantes cigars is a very thin wrapper, that causes cracks across one sample and a very loose foot on the other. Moving beyond this however, there is little else that is negative. A subtle triple cap, an elegant band, and smooth almond colored wrapper highlight the EP Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes. The aroma on the E.P. Carrillo New Wave Brillantes cigar is incredibly strong – it is in fact one of the strongest cigars I’ve smelled. The pre-light aroma can be deducted from several feet away and has interesting, erratic, and at times musty notes of crisp hay, mild spice, nuts, and a cream that reminds me of a root beer float. This is one of the more lively profiles I’ve smelled in some time and at times is even pungent. Though that may sound negative, it in fact shows the depth of this cigar’s aroma. On the draw, the notes are much more subdued than the aroma and the primarily flavor is of nuts, or cashews specifically. The cut also reveals an open pull.

Burn, 1.7:
Though the one sample had cracking along the bottom half, it still managed to burn well and keep a steady draw. I will say that my two samples were shipped several times, as the first time they were sent to my old mailing address. It does still seem that the wrapper is a bit thin on the New Wave and will require some special care when stored. Overall, this is a clean burning cigar.

Flavor, 2.9:
The initial burst on the E.P. Carrillo New Wave Brillantes cigar is full of sugary cream and a smooth, underlying nuttiness. Moving into the first third, the balance on the cigar is wonderful, with thick creamy notes of butter and cedar. The second third provides a bit of transition, with a slightly fuller and more developed taste that shows all of the flavors merged into a steady profile of roasted nuts and butter. The last stretch of the New Wave is incredibly smooth and holds the most interest for me. Though the flavors are not quite as complex as I anticipated from the aroma, this is still an incredibly well balanced and medium to full flavored cigar, which is rather stunning for an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapped cigar. The E. P. Carrillo New Wave Brillantes cigar is smooth throughout and at times the finish is incredibly light, almost disappearing between draws. The Nicaraguan binder and the mixed Nicaraguan and Dominican binder do very well to complement the typically less flavored Connecticut shade wrapper. This is without question a winner in the flavor category.

Overall, 2.9:
This is not your usual Connecticut cigar and stands above most of what is on the market in this category. Though the burn was troublesome in spots, I attribute this to the shipping errors and not to the quality or construction. The flavor is full while the strength remains in the high Mild to low Medium spectrum. Add to that an excellent value, with the Robusto coming in at under $5, and you find an excellent cigar. I keep waiting for the Carrillo family to miss the mark somewhere, but it just hasn’t happened! If your B&M has these E.P. Carrillo New Wave Brillantes cigars, pick up a 5 pack and enjoy it with a nice cup of coffee. If you're unhappy with them, shoot me an email – I’ll gladly buy them off you!

(Total: 9.2)

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Jameson, an excellent review!!! Thanks!


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Review of The Highly Anticipated Liga Undercrown Cigars

Posted by freedomcigars on

[caption id="attachment_267" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Liga Undercrown at My Discount Cigars"]Liga Undercrown at My Discount Cigars[/caption]

The much-anticipated Liga Undercrown cigars by Drew Estate debuted in September, 2011 all across the country.  Co-founder, Jonathan Drew describes the Liga Undercrown cigars as an "inverse Liga Privada."  The Liga Undercrown cigar is blended with several of the same tobaccos found in Drew Estate's Liga Privada No. 9 cigar and the T52 lines but with a twist.

The story behind the Liga Undercrown cigars goes like this… The torcedores at the Drew Estate cigar factory were smoking far too many Liga Privadas so they decided to blend the Liga Undercrown line for their personal use after they were asked to stop smoking their way through the Liga Privada inventory.  Instead of using the short supply of Connecticut wrapper used on the Liga Privada blend, the rollers decided on an equally oily and dark Mexican San Andreas Negro wrapper for the Liga Undercrown cigar. The torcedores took an extra step and inverted the Liga Undercrown cigar's binder and filler tobaccos using the same leaf in a Liga Privada blend but from different vintages and primings from the plant.  As an example, the Connecticut used as a wrapper in the Liga Privada T52 cigar is the binder in the Liga Undercrown blend.

The wrappers on the Liga Undercrown cigars are not harvested right away, instead they delayed the process by 4 weeks allowing the natural sugar content to be higher which results in a richer and creamier flavor on the finished product.  Along with the Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan longfillers, the T52 Connecticut stalk cut and cured Habano binder the Liga Undercrown  cigar delivers a medium to full-bodied, complex, smooth and sweet smoking experience with hints of coffee and spice.  We have great faith in Drew Estates's rollers, and if they approve, we approve too! Try a Liga Undercrown cigar in one of the 5 sizes available (2 more sizes to be added soon) at My Discount Cigar today and see what the buzz is all about.

Liga Undercrown cigars are available online here at MyDiscountCigar.com.

Read a great review on the Liga Undercrown Belicoso cigar at PUFF.com.

For more information on other Drew Estate cigars and products visit them at DrewEstate.com.

 

CIGAR REVIEW OF LIGA UNDERCROWN BELICOSO BY SETH'S HUMIDOR

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Flavor: Medium to Full
Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas Negro Maduro
Binder: Connecticut River Valley
Filler: Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Cuban Seed

It is safe to say that the Liga Privada lines/brand are one of the most popular brands on the market. I remember when it was first released in 2007, and it was still a low profile cigar on the market. In fact, I remember in 2008 when I was up in Bethlehem, PA at Cigars International and the No. 9 was still no where near as popular as it is now. I believe I had my first No. 9 in the Cigars International Super Store while taking with Marvin Samel about the SCHIP tax, great guy by the way! Throughout the years, the Liga Privada lines have become comparable to Fuente Fuente Opus X in the fact that you can never really get them, and when retailers get the cigars in, they are gone as soon as they got there.

With the growing popularity of the Liga Privada lines, Drew Estate asked their most skilled torcedores who rolled the Liga Privada lines to cut back on their smoking of them. As we can all imagine, they got upset, and instead of them enjoying their Liga smokes, they began rolling their own line, the Liga Undercrown Cigars line. The Liga Undercrown cigars were composed of most of the same tobaccos, but were made with tobacco that was of lower primings, and different vintages. The Liga Undercrown cigar became so well known and popular that Drew Estate decided to produce the cigar for all of us cigar smokers and still give the credit to their torcedores. The Liga Undercrown cigar has had lots of publicity in the media since it was first announced, and I am hoping the cigar lives up to those comments.

The Liga Undercrown line is very similar to the other Liga blends in the fact that the cigar is made with extremely limited and rare tobacco, offering the possibility for a great cigar. The wrapper to the cigar comes from Mexico and is a unique strain of San Andreas Negro maduro seed grown exclusively for Drew Estate. The harvest is intentionally delayed by several weeks to allow for additional field and sun time resulting in a higher natural sugar content and a richer, creamier flavor. The leaf is called Otapan Negro Último Corte. Otapan is the name of the vega, farm, in which the tobacco is grown, and Último Corte is Spanish for last cut, and is a reference for the delayed harvesting in which the tobacco is cut. The binder is the same wrapper that is used on the T52, and is a Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut that is cured Habano. With all that great tobacco listed so far, we now look at the filler which is composed of selected Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Cuban Seed tobacco.

The Liga Undercrown cigar is beautiful to look at, and I love the packaging. To begin with, I love the band and logo of this cigar. The lions/dragon head with the upside down crown underneath is awesome, and is one of the coolest bands in the cigar market right now. Now the Liga Undercrown cigar itself is also gorgeous, and the wrapper has a really dark brown almost black color to it, Maduro almost Oscuro. There are some veins throughout the cigar, and it is also toothy to touch. Holding the Liga Undercrown cigar to my nose I pick up wonderful aromas of dark cherries, chocolate, wood and anise. For this review I smoked several of the Belicoso vitola formats which measures 6" and have a 52 ring gauge.

When I light up the Liga Undercrown cigar I let it get some way into the first third before beginning my review. The cigar begins by showing  wonderful notes of cream, coffee, cocoa, wood, stone fruit, nut and spice. Along with those tremendous and balanced flavors there is a slight finish of mint, and I must say this cigar is amazing. The Liga Undercrown Belicoso cigar is burning wonderfully, and it has a perfect burn line. The ash is very white, and is very firm on the cigar. It is a solid medium smoke, and with all the flavors balancing one another the cigar is tremendous. I must say that this first third is really impressing me, and when I first read about the cigar I was not to sure of it given the hype, ... I was wrong.
In the second third of the cigar the flavors are remaining strong and the cigar is so enjoyable. The flavors are fairly similar to that of the first third, but because of how complex the cigar is I am picking up new flavors here and there. It begins by showing lovely notes of almonds and cedar, and then I begin to get hints of rich cream and espresso before getting a soft spicy and sweet finish. This is an incredible smoke, and I am loving the flavors that it is getting off. The smoke is still a constant medium, and wonderful and easy. The burn line on the cigar is absolutely gorgeous and I am still holding on to the tight white ash that I have had from the beginning. I am finding this cigar to be their best yet, better than the No. 9 and T52. I know some will think that is crazy, but it is very consistent and flavorful, and this is more my type of cigar.
I am coming to the end with this cigar, and I am ready to light up my fourth Liga Undercrown Belicoso cigar by Drew Estate. I have been smoking the Liga Undercrown Belicosos all day, and every one of them has provided tons of flavors and a great strength. There is a return of the mint flavors that I had in the first third, and it is paired wonderfully with the cocoa, stone fruit and cream notes I am getting. The finish is of spice and a soft sweetness, and every draw is amazing. Throughout this third I was getting coffee and nutty flavors, but they were very subtle. The cigar is still smoking around medium body and when I get it down to the nub, the cigar is still burning cool when I put it down. The ash was still holding strong throughout the smoke, and even though I put down the ash from earlier I am sure the white ash could have held on much longer.

The Liga Undercrown Belicoso was a wonderful cigar, and I will say that I was very surprised every time I lit this stick up. The cigar was packed with wonderful flavors throughout the smoke, smoked wonderfully, and was always at a constant medium strength the whole way through. I will say that I think this is the most consistent cigar of theirs I have had, and it was one of the best made cigars I have had as well. I love that this cigar was very complex with its flavors. The cigar didn't change character dramatically a lot, but what it did do was constantly provided you with tons of flavors making you have to really take your time and analyze the smoke. I think this line is going to be very popular, and deservedly so. The pricing is perfect on this cigar, and everything about it yells quality! My only concern with this cigar is that it might some day turn into the rest of the Liga Privada lines and become very limited, but if that does not happen this will be an amazing cigar all the time. I look forward to trying all the other sizes, and also look forward to reviewing it again in a couple months. I am giving the Liga Undercrown Belicoso cigar a 93 and I love the Mexican San Andres wrapper on this cigar. Great job Drew Estate, continue your great work!

Thank you for the indepth review Seth!!!

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Cain Daytona Cigars Race to the Finish

Posted by freedomcigars on

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Cain Daytona My Discount Cigar"]

Cain Daytona My Discount Cigar[/caption]

Cain Daytona My Discount Cigar

Cain Daytona Cigars available at My Discount Cigar

Cain Daytona cigars have recently been released as a new brand for the Studio Tobac project. Cain Daytona have a very smooth complexity that varies from all other Cain cigar blends. The Oliva cigar family has earned an impressive reputation in the world of premium cigars over the last 5 years. As one of the cigar world's most notable cigar manufacturers, their impressively high rated cigars are generally only found at the most premium of cigar retailers world wide. In 2007, Oliva Cigars received an incredible  '94' rating from Cigar Aficionado for their Oliva Serie ‘V' line of cigars. They have also put out a series of  highly acclaimed blends with Cain, Cain 'F,' and Nub. Cain Daytona cigars come from Nicaragua. The filler is an impressive blend of long filler full-bodied ligero leaves from the Jalapa Valley in Nicaragua, but the cigar is wrapped with a milder Habano wrapper for a mellow, medium-bodied smoking experience. If you've tried the other Cain blends within their lineup and have found that it's a bit too strong or overwhelming - then the Cain Daytona Cigars are the blend you should try.

 

Cain Daytona Cigar Review by A Cigar Smoker's Journal:

Cigar: Cain Daytona 646
Size: 6 x 46 (Corona)
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
Binder: Nicaragua Habano
Filler: Nicaragua (100% Jalapa Valley)
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Cain Daytona Corona 646 My Discount Cigar"]Cain Daytona Corona 646 My Discount Cigar[/caption]

 

Appearance and Construction: I really dig the shade of orange used on the band, which is on the foot of the Cain Daytona. I’ve said it before, so I’ll say it again. I think some of the Studio Tobac colors and designs would look sweet as a NASCAR sponsor and I am not a fan of the sport. Once the first few laps pass, and there are no major wrecks I lose interest. I’m not looking for anyone to get hurt, but there are only so many left hand turns you can watch. As for the cigar itself there are a few veins present on the Cain Daytona some of which run vertical which I don’t see to often. The cigar is rolled well, though the foot seems to be a little bit loose.

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the Cain Daytona cigar is a little bit musky to the nose but there is also a slight berry like existence present as well. The draw from this cigar serves up notes of earth with a classic barnyard edge to it and an underlying sweetness. Once lit there is some spice present and a red pepper through the nose, but it doesn’t wreck you. As I smoke the first third of the Cain Daytona, notes of espresso are dominant and are compliment with some nuts and some caramel sweetness. As we approach the second third the nuts begin to take center stage with some spices and a continued sweetness.  The final third has some floral notes especially through the nose. Also present in the Cain Daytona are some caramel and nuts with a slightly earthy finish.

Smoking Characteristics: The Cain Daytona Corona 646 had a perfect draw that produced a nice volume of thick smoke that had a toasty aroma to the nose. The cigar produced a mostly light color ash with some salt & pepper effects to it that held on very well for a corona. The burn was crisp, but the carbon line stood out some, perhaps suggesting the cigars were a little young and could use some more aging.

Conclusion: The Cain Daytona is the perfect answer for those who felt the Cain was too strong and was all about strength, not flavor. This medium bodied smoke has a nice subtle complexity and is extremely smooth. I forsee a box purchase for myself in the near future and it left me anticipating future releases from Studio Tobac.

Rating: 91

Thanks for the Cain Daytona cigar review Barry!

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