312 Line by DeSiena

DeSiena 312 Line Review

Almost a decade ago the DeSiena family travelled 'en mass to their native Italy. The family has owned Doc James Cigar and Golf for years, and for much of that time they have debated starting their own line. The family trip is what pushed them over the edge. They not only decided to make their own brand, they decided to give it the family name, and their crest. I like that.

I respect people that are willing to tie their reputation to the product they produce. In an age where big box stores have eliminated mom and pop businesses it's great to see someone planting the flag, tying their name to the cigars they make, and making them better than they have to because of it.

I tried a 6x60. I'm a Robusto guy. I do not like bigger ring gauges. They sacrifice flavor for size in my not so humble opinion. I like robustos because a 45 minute smoke fits my lifestyle and attention span. I tried the 6x60 anyway. I'm glad I did.

The DeSiena's are made in Placensia's Tobacos de Oriente factory in Danli Honduras. The Blend is as follows:
Filler: Viso Colombia, Viso Jalapa Nicaragua, Ligero Esteli Nicaragua, Ligero Honduras.
Binder: Honduras
Wrapper: Viso Habano wrapper grown in the Jalapa Valley, Nicaragua.

Yeah, the DeSiena family weren't about to tie their name to an average cigar. Good for them.

They wrapper was oily and virtually veinless. The construction was classy. It smelled sweat and tasty. When I fired it up there was an initial wave of white pepper that faded into a smooth cedar flavor. The medium/full strength was attention getting but never overpowering.

Half way through the stick shifted gears. It became very aromatic and smooth with hints of nutmeg and cocoa. The finish was creamy, so creamy I wanted to stick a toothpick in the nub and smoke it to the final millimeter.

I am a lucky guy. I get to smoke and review cigars all they time. Lately I've had a lot of good ones. This one isnt good.....it's special. It is made like someone was putting heir reputation at stake. The DeSiena family should be proud. In fact, I hope they take another family trip soon.

www.docjames.com


Construction. 4.8
Draw. 4.5
Ash/Burn. 4.6
Smoke. 4.5
Flavor. 4.8
Value. 4.6



Overall. 4.6

Asylum 13 Review

Asylum 13 Review Podcast

I don't like cheap cigars, but I love affordable ones. Some of the makers out there make cheap, poorly constructed cigars and sell them at premium prices. Others, like Asylum, do the opposite.

I tried the Asylum 13 recently, drawn to it by its low price and interesting band. With so many different lines out there the new sticks on the market need a hook to draw you in. The name asylum and the ominous band did it for me. I would have bought the cigar at eight bucks, but was happy to try it for six.

The 13 is a sexy looking 5 by 50 puro with very few veins, an oily wrapper the color of chocolate cake, and a well constructed triple cap. All tobacco is from Nicaragua, and the wrapper gives off a sensual coffee scent.

The draw on this stick is solid, but eases up as you go along. It produces a good volume of smoke, and the smoke rolls off of the tip impressively when held. The ash was medium grey and held on well enough to suit me.

The flavor was spicy, and very full, with just a touch of white pepper. Between the spice and the fullness my tongue tingled after a few puffs, which left me impressed at the strength of this cigar.

The spice faded some at about a half inch in, opening the cigar up to some rich, dark coffee overtones. By the half way the coffee was dominate and the ash was holding on I pressingly. The flavor was full, and very rich.

The final third added nuttiness to the flavors that were already present, mingling nicely with them. I was very impressed.

All in all this was a nice cigar. It wasn't the most complex cigar I have reviewed, but it was damned tasty, and well worth the six dollar investment.

Construction. 4.5
Draw. 4.4
Burn/Ash. 4.5
Smoke. 4.6
Flavor. 4.5
Value. 4.7

Overall. 4.5

Cuban Stock Royal Selection

Cuban Stock Royal Torpedo Review

You know, cigars are often marketed as being in the possession of a classy guy. We've all seen the pictures of a guy reclining in a leather hair, bow tie undone, blowing smoke.

Well I'm not a classy guy. I'm a dirt ball biker who hasn't worn a bow tie since my mommy made we wear a clip on at Easter one year. I was three. I do, however, know a classy stick when I see one. Cigars are my passion. I smoke them joyously and review them for fun. Everyday, when I wake up in the afternoon anticipating working graveyard shift I go to the door to find packages there from cigar companies. You would be amazed at how many I throw away. They come in Manila envelopes, wrapped in newspaper. Cracked and broken in shipping.

I don't review those cigars. If a company sends a shitty product to a review they are going to send a shittier product to you. I refuse to enable those kinds of companies. Fortunately, Cuban Stock Cigars isn't one of them.

The package was a cardboard box. The smokes were sealed in a vinyl pouch and packed in bubble wrap. The shipped it UPS. I knew before I smoked one it would be good. These guys take pride in their product.

Their pride showed in the foot band and embossed band. It showed in the oily, mearly veinless, Ecuadoran Wrapper. It showed in the high level of construction. It shows in the box pressed shape and the fact they age their tobacco for six years in oak barrels. They make a great looking cigar and ship it with care. They get it.

The wrapper smelled like sweet Java and the ash held on for almost two inches. There were no construction issues, no cracking or flaking. The draw was great and the burn razor sharp. They get it.

The earthy flavor at first mingled with pepper. It got my attention and midway it turned to a deep, full coffee flavor. I used to have a friend with a coffee shop. he roasted his own beans. he gave me one covered in milk chocolate to eat one time. it was a lot like that.

The final portion was oak and dried fruit (apples?) with a soft,sweet, nuttiness that gave the stick complexity.

This is one hell of a cigar. In two days I'm meeting my son. I was separated from him 22 years ago. He is twenty five now and loves cigars. I'm taking him this series to try. It's that damn good!

Construction 4.8/5
Draw. 4.6/5
Burn/Ash. 4.8/5
Smoke. 4.6/5
Flavor. 4.7/5
Value. 4.7/5

Overall. 4.7/5

My Father Robusto #1

My Father Robusto #1 Podcast Review

The story of the naming of the My Father line is near legendary. Jaime Garcia named the line in honor of his father Don "Peppin" Garcia. If have a lot of friends that smoke them, but somehow, all these years, I somehow avoided them, choosing others instead. I wasn't prejudiced against them, and I loved the story, but somehow my fingers always found another stick in the pile instead.

Eventually I submitted to the collective nagging of my pals and tried them, taking notes as I went. Here is what I found. The Ecuadoran wrapper was a beautiful chocolate like shade Ii found it just a bit toothy, with a few veins present. All in all the appearance was mouth watering, from the detailed band that looked like it was from another era to the sweet smell of the wrapper I started really looking forward to this cigar.

The predraw was full of sweetness and rich tobacco. Once I fired it up i found the draw to be good, if not great, and the smoke output was decent also. I found the first few puffs to be peppery with leather thrown in, though the pepper faded soon enough.

About halfway in the stick became smooth and creamy. The smoke really rolled at this point. It was quite nice and I left myself a note to write about how much I enjoyed This portion of the cigar. The note was unnecessary, as the memory of this part of the cigar lingered.

Unfortunately, at this point the stick was canoeing and there was flaking pretty much all the way through. This was by far the worst thing about the cigar, and it dimmed what was an otherwise enjoyable experience. I did contact several friends that enjoy My Father Cigars and they each said that my experience was atypical. I am grading in the curve a bit. Flaking and canoeing are annoying, but those faults were far outweighed by the wonderful flavor.

The finish was dry and sweet, with just a touch of what might have been cedar. The retrohale had a similar flavor and I ended up smoking the Robusto for a memorable 45 minutes or so. The smoking time makes a robusto perfect for my busy schedule, and this one fit it perfectly.

Taken as a whole this cigar was very good, if not great. Was it a Helluva cigar? Maybe not, but it does stand out from a herd of quickly forgettable smokes. I liked it and would recommend it at the $8 a stick price.


Construction. 4.4
Draw. 4.6
Burn/Ash. 3.9
Smoke. 4.2
Flavor. 4.8
Value. 4.7


Overall. 4.5

1502 LINE FROM GPC

The 1502 Ruby from GPC Podcast Review

Enrique Sanchez acts like he has a lot to prove. As the president of a small cigar company he is trying hard to build a reputation and under his vision at Global Premium Cigars the 1502 line has launched to rave reviews. The idea is simple, so much so that you would think that someone would have done it earlier. The line, named after the year Columbus discovered Nicaragua, divides into three different categories, each named after something precious, each building on the other.

Many smokers start the day with their mildest cigar and build in strength as the day goes on. The Emerald line from 1502 is their mildest, and I can attest that it is a great morning smoke. The Ruby, my favorite, is stronger. Each cigar starts where the other left off in strength and complexity and builds upon it. Neat huh?

I have tried two Emeralds and two Ruby's, and today I want to focus on the Ruby. It had few veins, a beautiful chocolate wrapper and a great draw. The first puff was stronger than I expected. It was as if the stick was commanding my attention before easing off into rich tobacco and after tones of roasted cashews.

The wrapper seamed a bit fragile, cracking on one stick, but other than that I had no problems. It produced an amazing volume of smoke and the ash hangs on a very long time.

At the midpoint it gained steam, building in rich flavor and complexity, ending in a very full, rewarding finish. This cigar evolved as it went on, delivering flavor all the way through. I found myself relaxing on the front porch, waiting for the next act out of this cigar, and enjoying each transition of flavor that unfolded.

Yeah, Enrique Sanchez may act like he has a lot to prove, but he doesn't have to prove it to me. I'm sold.

I liked this smoke a lot, and recommend it heartily. This is one Helluva Cigar!

Construction. 4.4
Draw. 4.7
Ash/Burn. 4.7
Smoke. 4.8
Flavor. 4.6
Value. 4.6

Overall. 4.6

Boba Who? Bobalu!

Bobalu Double Maduro Podcast Review

Yesterday was the very first spring-like morning here in the Hoosier state, and it afforded me the opportunity to sit out on the porch with my mutt and enjoy a cigar. I tried the Bobalu Double Maduro Robusto.

Now, before I go much further I need to take a minute and tell Bobalu's story. Bobalu is a cigar shop in Austin Texas where cigars are hand rolled while you wait. It's a novel concept, and when I inspected the double maduro I could see the craftsmanship that was taken. You could tell rom the oily, leathery wrapper that this wasn't a cigar manufactured by the millions. The band was simple, no pressed printing, no elaborate design, no hologram. It was simple, designed not to take anything away from the stick itself.

There were very few veins present and the wrapper was just a little toothy. There is a lot of misinformation about the double maduro. some say that it is double wrapped. Some believe that double maduro means that the wrapper and the binder are maduro. The answer is none of the above. It simply refers to the color of the wrapper. Maduro is Spanish for mature, and it refers to the extra time spent allowing the wrapper to age and cure. Double Maduros are typically darker, more like an obscuro.

Now that I'm off that soapbox let's talk about the stick itself. When I lit it up I was surprised. It was mild and earthy. Within a half an inch the leather and light spice came in. The burn was as close to perfect as one could ever hope for and the ash held on very well. The one and only flaw was that a sliver of the wrapper came undone after lighting. That's it. Other than that it was exactly what one would expect from a fine cigar.

The second portion of the cigar picked up steam just a little, becoming sweet and spicy. This stick is very complex, and I found pinning the flavors down difficult. I found myself sitting down, enjoying the breeze and the moment. In the future when I think of early spring I will think of the flavors blended in the cigar.

It ended full and spicy, building from the mild first puffs to a full rich finish. I could enjoy this cigar with a good straight whiskey, but it wouldn't go well with a weak drink. On a scale of one to ten in strength it started a four, quickly became a six and ended a solid eight, building in strength and complexity throughout.

This my friends is the kind of cigar we look for. It's not overpriced and resting on a reputation earned decades ago. It's about a lone man rolling cigars in a small shop, doing so with skill and craftsmanship to create not a cigar, but a moment, a memory. All that for seven bucks a stick.

You can order Bobalu cigars from their website, www.bobalu.com , and they can be found in some stores, though they are more of a regional phenomenon. Check them out. My friend Evo Tera persuaded my to give them a try, and I was very impressed. This gents, if one helllluvvvvaaaa cigar!

Construction 4.5/5
Burn/ash. 4.9/5
Smoke 4.6/5
Flavor. 4.8/5
Value. 4.8/5
Draw. 4.7/4

Overall. 4.7/5

Two Cigars Enter One Cigar Leaves: Everyday Smoke Matchup

Two Cigars Enter Podcast Episode

Many cigar smokers have humidors full of fine cigars. Many that I know save those cigars, and keep others around as "everyday smokes". C'mon, you know what I mean. It's the cigar you smoke while you're puttering around the garage or mowing the lawn. You might not smoke it at a guys night out to on the links with your friends, but hey, it scratches an itch occasionally and it does so on the cheap. It's usually inexpensive and not very memorable, but every now and then you find a diamond in the rough that's worth buying in bulk and hanging onto.


The Flor Fina 8-5-8 is designed to be that kind of cigar. This particular cigar is a 61/4x47 ring gauge with a Cameroon wrapper. I grabbed one to smoke at a bar on a lazy Friday afternoon and decided to take a few notes.

The construction left quite a bit to be desired. It was rumpled on the outside and toothy, with a fair amount of veins present. I thought what the hell, it didn't cost much, and sometimes appearances can be deceiving, so I went ahead and gave it the whiff test. It smelled like, well, tobacco. There was no hint of spice of pepper. Just sweet tobacco. Huh, ok, well I fired it up to see what was hidden inside.

The initial draw was easy enough and there were some notes of cedar in the first puff. The first third was mild and the flavors were cedar and sweet tobacco. There wasn't a lot of mystery or surprise in the first third of this stick.

The medium gray ash held on well enough. There was a little flaking and some correction was required. The second third had a nutty flavor and produced a great deal of  thick blue smoke. It was better than the first third, but still, not much to write home about.

The final third was peppery, which was good. Any flavor at that point would be a welcomed distraction. It ended up burning hot, and I put the cigar down early. I know it must sound like I'm just teeing off on this cigar, and I don't want to give you the impression that I am picking on it. As I said earlier I was looking for a diamond in the rough, and sadly, this cigar was just another lump of coal.

This cigar is designed to be a value, but value is a tricky thing. I would rather pay $10.00 for one good cigar than $1.00 for ten lousy ones. Was this cigar lousy? No it wasn't, but it could have been much, much better. You can find these things in every shop, but you can also find better cigars at the same $5.00 price point in most shops.


Construction.     3.0/5
Draw.                 4.0/5
Flavor.               3.0/5
Burn/Ash.          4.0/5
Smoke.              4.0/5
Value.                3.5/5

Overall.              3.5/5


.

The other cigar in this matchup is the Brickhouse Toro by J.C. Newman. The Brickhouse was an old Cuban line that has been resurrected of late. The Toro sports a Subido wrapper that looks like dark chocolate with a splash of red. There were some veins present, and the wrapper had a gorgeous oily sheen.

The predraw raw aroma was sweet, and once I fired it up i found the draw to be even, if not exceptional. The smoke output was fair, and the first couple of inches were sweet and spicy. The sweet flavor reminded me of brown sugar or maple syrup.

About an inch in smoked wood came to the top, and within another half inch cedar notes came through. At this point there was some canoeing that didn't return after I corrected it. The ash was light grey and held on very well with no flaking. When the ash finally gave way it left a nice cone, which showed that the Nicaraguan binder held well and the fillers were packed just right.

The midpoint delivered rich flavor with slightly more fullness from the cedar notes. I really liked this portion of the stick. The final third faded over to spice and pepper. The smoke output became heavier and hung lightly in the air. The cigar finished hot, and I had to put it down sooner than I would have liked. Still I found this cigar very enjoyable.

The bottom line is this, the 8-5-8 is a waste of time at any price, but the Brickhouse is a real value at $5 a stick. The Brickhouse Toro is one Helluva cigar!


Draw. 4.4/5
Burn/ash. 4.0/5
Flavor. 4.25/5
Value 4.75/5
Construction 4.2/5
Smoke 4.4/5

Overall 4.3/5

What kind of cigar smoker are you?

Viaje Honey and Hand Grenades Review

Honey and Hand Grenades Podcast Review

I tried the Honey and Hand Grenades Rapier by Viaje yesterday. The cigar's red foil outter wrapper stood out on the shelf, and I love to try new things, so I gave it a shot. I'm certainly glad that I did.

Viaje is Spanish for journey and this company's journey is certainly worth noting.  They make small batch botique cigars. The Honey and Hand Grenade line is produced in boxes of  25, with only 3,000 boxes of each produced for a total of 75,000 cigars. Their goal is to increase quality and demand by limiting the amount produced.

The cigar I tried was the Rapier (61/2x44) a beautiful vitola  (reverse torpedo) that is wrapped in a medium brown criollo wrapper. The wrapper, like the filler and binder, are from Nicaragua. The prelight smell yeilded a spicy aroma. The wrapper had few veins present and I couldn't find any construction issues. It was sealed with a triple cap that had a pinhole in it. Overall I was very satisfied with the construction.

The first draw was a bit firm due to the pointed  foot of the cigar. Had I trimmed it a bit the draw might had been more even and once the cigar got going a bit it opened up just fine. The flavor was medium in strength with hints of spice and pepper. Rich tobacco was present in every puff and smoke hung in the air after I exhaled. The first few puffs left me intrigued and looking forward to what was yet to come.

The burn was slow, and very even. I have heard that others had to correct their burn or had found construction issues, but thankfully, I had neither problem. The burn produces a light gray ash which hangs on forever. I have included pictures so that you can see just how impressive the ash is. There was no flaking.

The initial third continued the spice and pepper flavours, along with the richness I mentioned earlier. It didnt take long to realize that this cigar was something special, and I found myself hoping that I wouldn't be let down later into the experience. I wasn't. I should also add at this point that I have been asked a few times whether this cigar has been infused with honey, it has not. Enough said.

Midway the flavours changed. The pepper faded, allowing sweetness and cedar to come through. It was the type of flavor that makes one want to kick back and savor the moment over a brandy or rum. I found this part of the cigar to be relaxing and most enjoyable.

The final portion brought back the spice I mentioned earlier in spades. The sweetness faded and the pepper returned. The richness never left this cigar, and the flavours have to be experienced to be appreciated. I smoked it down to the last inch, when it became to hot to handle, and sadly I set it in the ashtray to die. I immediately wanted more.

This cigar was really enjoyable,and given the limited quantities it is produced in I recommend that you pick some up soon. They are exactly what their name implies, honey and a hand grenade. Quality and flavor, construction and taste. This is a wonderful cigar, and I look forward to hearing more from Viaje in the future.

Construction.    4.5/5
Draw.                4.5/5
Ash/Burn.         4.75/5
Flavor.              4.75/5
Smoke.             4.5/5
Value.               4.75/5

Overall.             4.7/5

Gurkha Wicked Indie Review

Wicked Indie Review

I recently had a chance to try the Wicked Indie by Gurkha.This stick is part of the East India Trading Company line that was recently expanded by adding the Red Witch.

In the past I have found Gurkha cigars to be hit and miss. there were some smokes that I really enjoyed, like the Grand Reserve. The Grand Reserve was the celebratory cigar shared by Seal Team 6 after taking  down Osama Bin Laden. It was also, allegedly, the cigar from the infamous Monica Lewinsky affair, which means in that case that the wrapper President Clinton enjoy was flavored with more than Louis XIII cognac. Enough said about that smoke, that is one helluva cigar!

However, some of the cigars from Gurkha just don't sit on my palate as well. When a buddy recommended this  one I just rolled my eyes and gave him a "whatever" look. He insisted, and I decided to pick one up.  I grabbed one at the local cigar shop for 6.95. They can be had for around five bucks online, but online cigars usually require some time in the humidor and I wanted to sit down with the guys and watch the NCAA tournament at Carmack's, so I paid extra.

I tried the toro (6x54) and prayed that I wouldn't be let down. The wrapper is an oily Nicaraguan Habano, there were a few veins present but nothing excessive.  The binder and fillers also Nicaraguan and according the their website the fillers are aged 3 years. It had a double cap, and the predraw was earthy in flavor. Once I lit up I found that the flavor was medium in strength with spicy overtones.

This stick produced an outragous volume of smoke and burned evenly at first, but a slight correction was required at about an inch and a half. No further corrections were required.The ash was light gray.

Before I continue let me say that the flavors in this smoke are hard to pin down. If my experience isn't described the way you would explain it that may be why. The hard to describe flavor was one of the things I liked about it. I found myself closing my eyes several times and analyzing it, but eventually I decided to knock it off and just enjoy it.

The second portion of this cigar was really smooth with some wood flavors and slight waving. I really enjoyed this portion of the cigar, and found that flavor to be very enjoyable. That being said, the best was yet to come.

The end of the cigar had some nice cooking spice overtones and a stronger finish than the rest of the smoke. It burned cool, allowing me to smoke it down to the nub. The ash hung on very well also. I posted some pics below that you can use to judge the quality and burn of the cigar by. The cigar lasted about 90 minutes, and burned a little fast for my taste, but was still enjoyable.

This smoke would go well with a mixed drink, say a whiskey sour, but probably not as well with a strong whiskey. It would be great with a dark lager or i.p.a. It would also match well with a pino grigio.

Now, lets get down to the nitty gritty. Was this a helluva cigar? Well kinda. At $7.00 a stick it was a good cigar. At the $5.00 online price it would have been one helluva cigar!  That being said, I watched some good basketball and got to hang out with the guys, which was well worth the extra premium.

I liked it well enough to grab a second stick to put in my humidor and I will probably order a five pack soon to keep as occasional smokes.

Construction   4.5/5
Draw              4.5/5
Smoke            4.5/5
Burn/Ash       4.0/5
Value             4.0/5
Flavor            4.25/5


Overall          4.25/5

Gurkha Wicked Indie Review