Oliva V Melanio - One of the Best I have Ever Smoked!

Wow!

Ok, enough said. Thanks for reading... Of course I am only kidding. Though, then again, if all my posts were

this short, I might have a lot more hits!

This is a beautiful cigar. The wrapper of the Oliva Series V Melanio is a gorgeous leathery brown. It is veined, but not heavily and it is smooth to the touch with an subtle earthy smell. I mean, look at this thing! it is a perfect example of a box pressed jewel! Every aspect of its construction seems to me to be flawless. Even with my crappy camera phone, my mouth drools while just looking at this cigar. (Pavlov has nothing on me!)

If you have been smoking cigars for any amount of time you will know that Oliva makes some of the best cigars out there, but this one has is by far the best that I have tried from this icon of Cigar history. I don't personally take a lot of stock of Cigar Ratings... I like to smoke what I like to smoke... and I have personally smoked several 94 rated cigars that i thought were dirt! So if you take anything away from this post, a gating might be a good guide, and may entice you to pick up a stick that you otherwise wouldn't try, you don't have to like it just because it had a 90+ rating!

After cutting the cap the pre-light draw is amazing. for a full strength cigar the taste is subtle, and mild. Flavors like leather, earth and wood come through but in amounts that make you just want to torch the foot of this bad boy and dive right in! Even with only clipping the slightest amount of the cap, the draw was still smooth, easy, not too tight at all. With a bit of toasting, the flavors warmed and intensified even sweetening a bit. Mmmmm... Heaven in a stick!

It should be noted that this is not an everyday smoke unless you are fairly well-to-do and light your cigars with flaming 100 dollar bills (if you are, I highly recommend that you give me the hundreds, and I will personally hand craft you some fine cedar punks to light your cigars instead). These run about $13 bucks a stick at my Local Cigar Store and you can get them for about 10 a stick online (in box quantities). But if you are looking for a treat be sure to pick one up!

upon lighting you will be surprised by how smooth this cigar is, but not because it is a mild blend, but because the blending has been done so expertly, the tobaccos selected so carefully and the construction has been done with such care. The taste of leather, wood and earth intensify followed by just a hint of spice. It is very well balanced, perfectly smooth with power on the palate.

The version I am smoking today is the box pressed churchill, so there is a lot to enjoy! 7 inches of smoking bliss. I love a box pressed cigar... There is something comforting about the feel and texture. If feels good in my hands and better on my lips.

The first quarter smoked exceptionally smooth but you cannot mistake the full strength of the of the tobacco that underlies the mild taste. I personally feel the pepper intensifies a bit the farther down you smoke it, but never to a point that it becomes overpowering. It remains a subtle aftertaste, and a nice finish to each draw. I also feel as though the leather subsided to more of a wood and natural tobacco flavor. It is quite pleasant, even if you don't prefer a full flavored cigar you will enjoy this smoke. I may leave  you with your head spinning a bit, you will enjoy the flavor from beginning to end.

By the end of the first half the flavors have mellowed even more as well as melded together to surprise the palate with a cornucopia of enjoyable flavors. I am not sure if mellowed is the right word, because the flavor is bold yet smooth, strong yet subtle, complex and simple... I really cannot find the words to describe it. TRY IT. I really have to get my hands on a Maduro version of this cigar!

As you work this stick slowly to the nub, it never gets harsh or bitter. This is a real plus for me. I hate smoking a cigar and end up getting down to the last quarter and that great smoke suddenly overwhelms you with bitter tastes of concentrated oils and harsh smells of burning wood.

Final word on this cigar: Two thumbs up! give it a try.

Studio Tabac Cain "Daytona"

I was excited to find this stick in my humidor at the Cigar Cave the other day. I had read about the Cain, but had not yet had the opportunity to try one. If you have not heard of the brand, Cain manufactures on of the only 100% Ligero cigars on the market. The Daytona is comprised of 100% Jalapa Ligero, which is the smoothest of the Ligero cigars produced by under the Cain logo.This is one of the milder cigars that Cain produces, but the Cain Daytona still promises to be a fairly strong cigar.

Now for a bit of education... No, don't go running for the hills, I will keep this short. The Ligero leaves on a tobacco plant are those leaves growing at the top of the plant. They are smaller than the leaves near the bottom and as a result they are provided with much more sun. This makes them thicker, and fills them with more nutrients than the leaves near the bottom of the plant which, in turn, makes them much more powerful when wrapped into a cigar.

The version I smoked was a Corona 6 X 46 version. It was very nicely constructed! the wrapper was very smooth, and the cigar

was devoid of any irregularities... No hard spots, no soft spots. Always a plus when selecting a good hand-made stick! The smell was very mild, slightly woody (mostly dry oak to me) with hints of cedar, possibly from curing. The cap was well adhered, kudos to the man or woman who built this one!

The pre-light taste confirmed my initial smell. The pull was easy and provided a nice woody taste, not overpowering of tobacco. With my first match I toasted the foot, and much to my pleasure the flavors intensified even more. There was the undeniable small of  woody tobacco. You judge for yourself, but I still swear to dry oak with hints of cedar. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest I have smelled my share of Oak (any maybe your share too!).

The cigar lit very evenly and burned quite readily making me think it may have been slightly under-humidified. I had only left it in my humidor for about a week at 72% and 70*. I know some of you may think this is a bit high, but the is Southern Oregon, and we don't have a lot of natural humidity to take advantage of! The firt flavors to hit my palate were very smooth, smoother than I expected for a 100% Ligero cigar! I was expecting a power-house cigar!

As I burned the first half inch, I was quite pleased. The flavors were very balanced with just a hint of spice on the exhale. If you like a smooth smoking stick, you may want to consider this jewel. The flavor was not as complex as many cigars out there with blends of tobacco from different regions of the world and different parts of the tobacco plant. Exactly as you would expect. I actually considered this a plus. I don't consider this a detriment... I have said this before, but my palate is not overly refined, and I cannot pick up half the flavors many cigar aficionados can from their smokes!

This is considered a medium full cigar, and I think that I would agree with that assessment. It is full, but not overpowering and smoother than most strong cigars that I have tried.

As the Cigar burned down, the woody flavors consolidated a bit, but the cigar didn't become strong or bitter. It burned exceptionally even like an expensive hand rolled cigar should, but this wasn't (from my limited research, more on this later) a 12 dollar cigar. The cigar did not produce a large volume of smoke (also a plus in my book), and the ash was tight, white and held on for well over an inch and three quarters!

As the cigar continued to burn, the flavors continued to intensify a bit, but never really evolved, just got a bit more powerful. It is, in my opinion a very monochromatic cigar. I think this may appeal to many cigar smokers out there as you know what to expect from the last draw from the first... I actually like my cigars to evolve just a bit... Maybe transitioning from slightly spicy to smooth and nutty... This cigar did not do that. This is what I would call a great "golf" cigar as you would not miss the transitions and subtle tasting notes that many cigars provide but you would still get the pleasure of a great tasting cigar while hitting the front or back nine!

Have I mentioned how well it burned! Even from the first light to the nub! I can't tell you how much I appreciate this in a cigar. There is nothing worse than a cigar than burns down one side and then the other... I may add a few of these to the humidor for a good general purpose smoke. There is not a lot I can say that is a negative. And, at just over 5 bucks a stick (online for a five pack, 5 for 26 bucks) I don't see how you can go wrong with this one.

Final thoughts on this cigar? It is a good "every day" smoke. It burns incredibly well, the flavors are smooth, balanced, yet strong for those of us that like the powerful sticks. Its flavors are mellow, consisting of mostly wood, perhaps a hint of coffee and just a smattering of pepper on the aftertaste. It was a good smoke from the initial dry taste to the nub. I would give it a shot if you are looking for a new experience.

Cheers! Jm

A Drawer Full of Options...

My Sparsely Filled Humidor

Look at that selection of smokes! I know it isn't the best stocked humidor, but it is MY humidor, and not too bad for a poor working stiff like me!

I am contemplating the next review... and I think the CAIN "Daytona" is gong to win. Since I read about the CAIN I have been eagerly awaiting the perfect time to sit and enjoy this 100% ligero cigar. That time is is quickly approaching! Saturday or Sunday for sure. Thanks to the great guys at the Cigar Cave for this one!

since I have started writing these reviews, I have been reading a lot of cigar reviews. It is funny to me the "complex" flavors that many reviewers seem to taste in their cigars. My flavor palate is not nearly so discerning. The flavors that I most taste in cigars are spice (especially with the dark maduro wrappers that I seem to prefer), wood (cedar and oak), coffee and tobacco... (go figure!) But what I tell all my friends that don't regularly smoke cigars try several, smoke what you like and don't worry about whether or not the industry considers it an award winning smoke.

What I look for when I peruse the humidor at my local cigar shop is a well formed, dark cigar that is firm to the touch (no overly hard or soft spots) and a "warm" inviting smell. Yes, I like to smell a cigar before I buy it which is difficult with some of the cellophane wrapped sticks you get today.

So what's in that meagerly stocked humidor you ask... well there are a couple Undercrowns (one of my faves), a CAO Sopranos (limited edition), an Acid Toast and a few others... missing from this photo is my all time fave the Cohiba Black (I have one left, but it was still in my travel humidor that I took playing golf the other day...).

As you go into your weekend, stop by your local cigar store and pick up a stick, something you would not normally try and enjoy!

Cheers
Jm

Partagas 1845 Crystal

Today's cigar is the Partagas 1845 Crystal which is the tubed version of the Rubusto. This was my first Partagas stick ever, and... spoiler alert... it was quite good. The packaging was superb, and the cigar inside hand picked to be the best that Partagas had to offer.

The cigar sports a dark brown/ aged copper hued Dominican wrapper over a Connecticut binder with a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. With ingredients like that you know you are dealing with a strong cigar! Execution in the construction of this smoke was of the highest caliber. The wrapper was pretty smooth, a bit heavy on the veins for a "perfect" wrapper, and the cigar was firm from end to end. No soft spots, no hard spots. Just a nicely rolled, hand constructed smoke from a top-notch manufacturer.

I am a bit odd when it comes to enjoying a cigar... I like to savor the entire experience. The feel, the smell, the tastes, the plume of smoke, the ash... everything you can think of when it comes to a fine cigar. I must say when I pulled this cigar from the glass vial it was shipped in, the smell was amazing. I couldn't quite place it, but it took me back somewhere to early childhood and some great memory that was just beyond latching on to. It had a sweet tobacco smell with earthy overtones of oak and cedar. Not over-powering, but just the right blends of olfactory stimuli.

Nipping the head, I was a bit dismayed that the draw was a bit tighter than I had hoped, but not excessively so (I hoped). My first pre-light draw was nice, very nice. Those initial smells were rewarded with a dry taste that matched... Slightly sweet tobacco, perfectly aged and cured with hints of earth and wood.

After a light toasting of the foot, which released even more of those great pre-light aromas, the cigar sprang to life. I mean this is the reason we buy these things, isn't it, to smoke them? My first impression was quite a surprise! the first draws revealed quite a creamy, earthy lightly woody taste with strong natural tobacco overtones. There were not a lost of spice notes, just a hint in the aftertaste. Wow, what a nice blend!

The first half inch burned a bit uneven, but it quickly corrected itself and burned straight and true for the remainder of the smoke. I did find the draw a bit too hard for my liking, but in looking, I had barely snipped the cap so I elected to open it a bit more... After cutting this stick a second time, I was still within the shoulder of the cap and the opening was quite a bit larger. But still the draw was a tougher than I prefer. That being said, It wasn't so hard it could not be smoked, just not as easy as I prefer... We all have our little peculiarities when it comes to our cigars, don't we?

As I worked my way through the fist inch and into the second, I was pleased to find that the flavors, though evolving, stayed very consistent. You could tell this was a powerful cigar (medium-full if you read the literature), but it smoked more like a medium to mild cigar! The cigar produced a nice amount of smoke, and the ash was tight and held on to the end of cigar nicely. To those of you that like a smoke that stays consistent as it burns, with flavors that evolve very little, you may want to pick on of these up. While the flavors do change from beginning to end, the evolve quite slowly, and never end up harsh or bitter.

As I passed the halfway point of the 1845 I was thinking to myself that this is a really good cigar for its price point! A quick internet search showed a price point of about four bucks per stick for larger quantities, you can expect to pay a bit more for singles at your Local Cigar Shop. But still an affordable cigar, and quality in an inexpensive cigar is hard to find.

The flavors at three inches had added a taste of nuts, still quite creamy, but strong tobacco and woody flavors continued. This really didn't smoke like a strong cigar, but that feeling that you get when you smoke a REALLY strong cigar was there, what was missing was that powerful punch with every inhale that you normally get. very nice.

As I neared the last inch or two I kept waiting for the flavor to sour... you know what I mean, we have all had "that" cigar... The one that concentrates all the flavor into the nub and the taste gets stronger and more bitter the farther down the smoke you get... But that is not this cigar. The Partagas 1845 was well balanced from beginning to end. The flavors did get stronger, but remained smooth and creamy from tip to nub!

I am glad the guys at the Cigar Cave recommended this stick to me. I am not sure it is one that I would have chosen for myself. The wrapper isn't as dark as I usually like them, the strength is a bit lower that I normally pick (I love a full strength cigar!) and the price was indicative of a cigar that was not manufactured with the best materials... Man, was I ever wrong!

So bottom line, this is a great smoke at a dang decent price. The lesson for me was don't be afraid to try something new. Go out on the edge, pick a stick you would normally not choose. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Cheers!
Jm

The Drew Estates Tabak Especial cafe con Leche - The Review

Drew Estates Tabak Cafe con Leche

This has been a hard review to write! I think I have smoked 6 of these bad boys, and each brings me a new experience! In my opinion, which isn't overly experienced, this is a GREAT cigar. It is almost perfectly crafted, perfectly balanced, perfectly flavored cigar.

So... before you read much farther, if you are not a fan Drew Estates infused variants of cigars you may want to give this review a pass.

However, if you would like to try something new, something strong, yet smooth. Something with not to subtle hints of coffee and cocoa and slightly sweet. Read on and pick one of these up from the guys at the Cigar Cave and enjoy!

So I am sitting on the Cigar Porch, the Traeger is smoking away on some baked potatoes and chicken and the weather has turned a bit towards rain. It is the perfect time to sit outside, a stout cup of coffee in hand, laptop at the ready and light up a cigar.

The first thing you notice when you pick up the Cafe con Leche torpedo shaped Tabak is how well crafted it is. It is perfect! the wrappers are smooth and void of any heavy veins, bumps or ridges. Note how well they Maduro and Connecticut wrappers blend; the line is nearly seamless The blending of the two wrappers provides a unique smoking experience: a strong initial light, from the 1/2 inch Maduro foot it then mellows for the next two thirds of the smoke before getting back to the strong, oily Maduro wrapper.

Smoking this cigar is a pleasure. From the first inch to the last nub, it never is harsh or bitter. I would class this as a medium to mild cigar, though I believe it is officially classed as a medium-full bodied smoke. Maybe I am getting desensitized by all those full powered sticks I seem to like!

The flavor of the coffee infusion really comes through when you smoke it. The infusion is complete, but subtle enough that the great tobaccos that Drew Estates are known for come through. Flavors abound in this stick! Once you get past the coffee, there are hints of cream, vanilla, and a touch of spice.

...Well, the first half has flown by far too fast! One of the nice things about these cigars is that because they are such a pleasurable experience to smoke that I never want to put it down! Consequently it smokes far too fast!

One of the things I look for in a good cigar is how well the ash clings as I smoke. Like every Drew Estates cigar I have smoked, the ask on the Cafe con Leche clings and clings and clings... I usually get over an inch and a half before feeling compelled to flick it off into the ashtray (the wife hates it when it falls onto the deck. The ashes seem to stick to the Trex decking as well as they do to the end of my smoke!)

A few more GREAT features of this cigar:

•  The cap is really well attached. I don't know about you, but I hate it when you make the perfect cut on the head of a cigar and spend half the time peeling bits of cap off your lip because it wasn't adhered well enough to the wrapper. This is not the case with ANY Drew Estates cigar that I have smoked (and I have smoked a few!).
• The Label. I know it sounds corny, but here is another area where Drew Estates has the competition whipped. They make a great label. I know the label seems like a small thing, but the detail that goes into each of their labels is just indicative of the great care and quality that they put into all their cigars. They choose the best tobaccos, they spend copious amounts of time to age and prepare them, they take pride in rolling some of the finest examples of hand rolled cigars I have seen, and the label just is the icing on the cake.
• From beginning to end its flavors are balanced and complex; even when you are down to the nub!

Another one bites the dust!

As I said, this was a hard review to write because the cigar is a very good smoke. Complex, smooth, tasty. I couldn't really wrap my brain how to describe it. Am I ready to put a box of 25 of these in my humidor? probably not. But, will I make sure there are always a few on hand to break out when the mood strikes? You bet!

If you are looking for something new, with a medium flavor, be sure to pick up one or five of these to try. You will not be disappointed! I have yet to not take one of these to a nub!

And to all my Southern Oregon reader, be sure to get by the Cigar Cave and check out the whole Drew Estates line-up!

Cheers!

Upcoming Review - Drew Estates Tabak Especial Cafe con Leche

Wow!

... Just Wow! Maybe it was just a whimsical first impression, maybe I was just tires and my judgement skewed, maybe my taste buds have finally failed me...

Maybe this cigar was just that good!

What ever the reason, I have got to get another one and make sure that I was not just mislead by the late hour, a long day of golf and a great dinner that was still settling! But this Drew Estates Tabak Especial Cafe con Leche was a great review. From the first draw to the nub I left in the ash tray as I made my way off to bed.

I will post a full review of this cigar this week! Keep your eyes posted!

Saison by Oliva

I have to admit that I am fairly fond of Oliva Cigars as the first real cigar that I smoked in adulthood (and liked!) was an Oliva. What series I do not know, only that it was big, had what I later learned was a dark maduro wrapper and was powerful enough to make me sit up and pay attention!
Lesson No.1: DON'T (I repeat) DON'T INHALE! And from that first painful inhale I grew to love a great cigar. I think my wife would prefer that I didn't like great cigars, but good or fair cigars instead as the price point would be far better! However, why smoke a rag when you can actually enjoy the taste and aroma of a finely crafted hand rolled cigar.
So to today's cigar selection... This one came to me through Cigars International (a kind gift of 8 cigars a month from my loving wife!) and you can read their colorful review here.
The first thing you notice about this, like most Oliva cigars is its flawless construction. The wrapper is smooth and flawless, it is quite firm when squeezed (gently I promise!) and the cap is well attached. The Habano wrapper has a nice even color, lighter than I normally prefer, but leaning towards darker well aged wrappers that I normally prefer. The gauge is not too large (52 x 6"), I start to shy away as the gauge gets too large, but this stick is nicely proportioned and screaming to be lit!
So I always challenge myself to taste the flavors that all those high paid cigar reviewers claim are in the cigars that I am smoking. To be quite honest, I don't think my palate is quite that discerning. After a slight toasting with a wooden match the stick lit right up and the first half inch burned even and smooth. I picked up a fairly strong taste of pepper (or spice if you prefer), but totally missed the leather (who wants to smoke leather any way!), earth, coffee and other flavors that cigar reviewers seem to rely on. As it burned, it did take on a smoother, woody flavor that is not un-enjoyable at all. It was a fairly hard draw, a fact that did not surprise me given the firmness of the cigar before lighting. It was not so hard that I felt I needed to cut a larger opening, or pierce the center to promote better air flow.

The first inch and a half is done, and the pepper has subsided and the flavor has improved. I really like it when a cigar does that! The flavor is now distinctly woody with just a like "bite" on the exhale, not at all bad for a five dollar cigar (when bought 20 at a time!).

The ash keeps hanging on! ... and on... and on... and on... This is a well made cigar! 2+ inches and I had to knock it off for fear of spilling it on my precious laptop!

I don't know if this is one that I will run out and stock my humidor with, but a couple hanging around in there might not be a bad thing. The Saison by Oliva has finished much smoother than it started, and with only two inches left, it still hasn't smoked "hot" or gotten overpowering (like I was smoking the resins from the previous 4 inches!) which is exactly what I look for in a fine cigar.

Another great evening on the deck, enjoying the setting sun, a tasty adult beverage and a great cigar!

Cheers!