Cigar Blog

Size: 5 1/2" x 54
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano (Dark Natural)
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan

With the weather finally warming up, that can only mean one thing - you can now smoke more cigars! Since a lot of cigar smokers will be picking up some bundles for their everyday summer smokes, I wanted to go with a bundle cigar this week. The Famous Nicaraguan 3K Torpedo isn't just any bundle cigar, it's just an awesome cigar. Made by one of Nicaragua's leading manufacturers, (who prefer to remain anonymous), these cigars boast superb quality and really put out in robust, spicy flavor.

Size: 5½" x 50
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed
Filler: Dominican (six varieties)
Binder: Dominican Havana-seed

This is one of my all-time favorite cigars, and one of the reasons I made the Avo XO Intermezzo my pick this week was I had one this morning after a much too long hiatus. Not surprisingly, it was rich, creamy and as flavorful as ever. One of the reasons I enjoy this particular Avo is, outside of Avo's annual Anniversary editions, the XO is the most complex and well-balanced of the main lines. (Between you and me, Avo, himself, once told me the XO Intermezzo is one of his daily smokes.)

The core consists of no less than six different Dominican-grown tobaccos, which remain anonymous. The binder is a Dominican Havana-seed leaf, and the wrapper is a slightly darker than usual Connecticut-seed leaf grown in Ecuador. The result is a full-flavored, medium-bodied cigar.

I generally consider myself a pretty cool cat, especially when it comes to criticism. As someone who has spent most of my life as a creative person, I learned that not everybody is going to like you, and I've always respected actors, artists, et. al. who didn't take their critics seriously, or who avoided reading their notices entirely. The same goes for working with a team of creative people, as I do at Famous Smoke Shop. If you think that every headline and copy block I've ever written about cigars was a gem, you are sorely mistaken, which brings me to why today I popped my cork.

This morning I received the following (now deleted) Cigar Advisor comment from "Jon" on this week's newsletter feature story, an interview with Berta Bravo, "The Guayabera Lady:"

"You have got to be kidding me? This is interesting?? An article on a woman in the clothing industry who happens to smoke cigars. So you have joined the 'make a woman the most important thing' category. Alright, I can find all my cigars at other vendors...let the women you are trying to impress support you; I hope all the men go elswhere."

For one, I think Jon's got a serious problem with women for some reason (not to mention spelling), but I'm not qualified to play psychologist. Secondly, I'm well aware that most of my audience is comprised of men. Moreover, who are these women that I'm trying to impress? Being single, I'd certainly like to meet them.

Size: 5 5/8" x 46
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Honduran Trojes Viso
Filler: Honduran Trojes & Nicaraguan Jalapa
Binder: Honduran

Having just released their latest series, American Classic Blend, Alec Bradley Cigars has achieved some of the highest rating scores for their cigars over the past four years, and to their credit, have really found their groove. It all started when their Tempus Centuria received a 94 "outstanding" rating in Cigar Insider, which brings me to my pick of the week: the Alec Bradley Overture Corona Gorda.

What I like about this cigar is it's very similar in character and blend to the Tempus line. And when you compare it by size to the Tempus Inceptio (5 5/8" x 46) you may be impressed at the difference in price point, as well. To be fair, both blends have their own distinctive set of flavors, but if you're a fan of the Tempus cigars, or Alec Bradley Cigars in general, the Overture Corona Gorda is worth checking out. Moreover, I really like how this particular length-to-ring size smokes.

E.P. Carrillo Elencos Don Rubino
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 5 1/4" x 50
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Dark Brazilian Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Dominican
Presentation: Box of 20 cigars

Recently, I was sent a couple of new release samples from EPC cigars (a.k.a. E.P. Carrillo Cigars). One of them was the E.P. Carrillo Elencos series "Don Rubino," a 5¼ x 50 Robusto. My notes follow, with a tip of the hat to Señor Carrillo. He's still got it.