Cigar reviewer and host of An Evening with The Don - Hosted Cigar Parties. Cigar Reviewer of the Year 2015 Cigar Reviewer of the Year 2016
Before we kick into it, I realised last week that my reviews no longer explain the review criteria, and that that may be very confusing for people wondering how I come to my score. So I’m fixing that today! My reviews rate each cigar on 10 factors and each
New from the legend the is A.J Fernandez is the Días de Gloria, said to be a throwback to the good ol’ days of Cuba. “These are the four oldest farms I own,” says Fernandez, “and I’ve been setting aside tobacco from each farm and aging it for
Project 40 is the search to find a deeper understanding as to why cigars have a positive cognitive impact on the mind and body. Similar to music, cigars have a calming effect that allows us to feel in control as well as feel rewarded. A proper blend, price, and experience
Now this isn’t a new cigar… or even new to NZ. But somehow its managed to go un-reviewed by me (even though I have smoked a good few) and if my memory serves me, it definitely doesn’t have the stature it should have here. “The Rocky Patel Vintage
“It was 1895 when Hungarian émigré Julius C. Newman founded a cigar company in his family’s barn in Cleveland. Today his grandsons Eric and Bobby run what he began, making J.C. Newman one of the oldest cigar companies around.” so there you go, that’s why Caeser is
The first line I ever read about this cigar was enough to make me want to smoke it. “The fullest and darkest Punch to date” lets take a look at what makes this just that. BrandPunch LineDiabloSizeDiabolus 5 1/4 x 54WrapperEcuadorian SumatraBinderConnecticut BroadleafFillerHonduras & Nicaraguan If that wasn’t
Having smoked many of the original blends of the Guardian of the Farm I was excited to hear of the new release then reading the details of this stick pre-release I have to say I was pretty damn eager to get my hands on some. Let’s take a look
I am damn excited about this cigar! The first edition of the Private Keep (the Aqua) was outstanding! So good in fact that I rated it the best cigar of 2018! Round 2 the Viaje Private Keep Tangerine is once again a nica puro, produced at Tabacos Valle de Jalapa
Camacho – Nicaraguan Barrel-Aged Camacho has always been a brand of consistency and quality IMO. I have never had one that was bad. Sure some of their line are better than others but all of them are rolled perfectly and smoke great. This Nicaraguan barrel aged is the less common of
JOYA Silver Cigar Aficionado magazine 90-points This was the last release in the JOYA range by Joya de Nicaragua; cigars blended and priced for the everyday aficionado. JOYA Silver cigars are a great example of Joya de Nicaragua’s continual quest to provide you with a truly unforgettable smoke. Silver
After a few years hiatus the Viaje C-4 has returned this year but it’s a little different than ever before. It’s always been a good cigar but I have to say that the changes for 2019 make me damn excited to smoke this stick! First major change is
Blind Man’s Bluff maduro by Caldwell The blind man has landed! This is the 3rd edition of this blend and all 3 have been outstanding! This stick uses a Pennsylvania maduro wrapper over a Sumatran binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic. Get them while they last as they
Arturo Fuente Especiales – Conquistador’s Budget friendly oversized-cigar from the Fuente’s This is a $36 cigar, 5 1/2″ by 56 and box-pressed; wrapped in that famously Fuente Cameroon wrapper, but it utilises mixed filler from the high-end Fuente’s rolled at the factory. Never had one burn badly,
I’m excited because Sumatra wrappers are one of my all-time favourites and I’ve never had a bad stick from Oscar! New to NZ with a stack of other great sticks by Oscar Valladares this Sumatra covered Leaf looks just like the Leaf Maduro apart from the word Sumatra
If asked I would say that I’m a fan of Oscar Valladares cigars but now that I think about it this might only be the 3rd blend I’ve actually smoked… I love the leaf and have smoked many of them and cosmetically this has many similarities to the
Welcome back to another review! It’s Sunday, the sun is out and I have some lamb in the Weber for a 6hr braising… seems like an ideal time to try out the MASSIVE cigar that is the Big Johnny by Oscar. This cigar looks massive! I’m a big
