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Continue reading →: A Different Perspective on PlumeBrian Desind called them flavor crystals. I knew exactly what he was talking about: those tiny flecks that catch the light on an oily wrapper. I’ve seen them myself, especially on well-aged cigars, and they’ve usually been a sign of something good. But were they really crystallized oils? And did…
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Continue reading →: Some Cigar Brands…Ask enough questions about cigar brands and you learn which ones will talk your ear off, which ones guard basic details like state secrets, and which ones I’ll buy blind even when I have no plans to buy another cigar. I’ve spent enough time with them to notice a few…
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Continue reading →: Review: Privada Killer CameroonWhen I found out that the Killer Cameroon was going to be wrapped in Raul Lanuza’s Cameroon Negro leaf, I perked up. I’d smoked it in the Super Sea Monkeys and wanted to see what Raul would do with it next. The Super Sea Monkeys set a high bar. Would…
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Continue reading →: Review: Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1950Transformative. Transcendent. Those aren’t words I use lightly. But after 20 months of home aging, the DPG Cuban Classic 1950 has reached heights few cigars ever attain.
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Continue reading →: IGM Cigars Flor de Puriscal ToroAfter reviewing the IGM Zarpe, I was excited to try the Flor de Puriscal, which sits at the other end of IGM’s offerings. At $6/stick, it’s squarely in the affordable range. It’s also a Costa Rican puro built around an unusual idea: IGM chose to honor the tobacco flower that…
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Continue reading →: Review: Puros Mantis Habano CoronaYou can’t buy this Puros Mantis Corona at retail. But smoking it fresh and then returning to the blend after two months gave me the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the concept behind *Cigars Need Time to Marry*. This was a real-life look at the difference between a freshly rolled cigar…
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Continue reading →: Review: H. Upmann 1844 AñejoThough I’ve reviewed this stick twice before, those reviews were based on sticks with at most a couple of months of age. This review stick has over a year of age on it. I’ll give away the farm here: What it has become is magnificent!
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Continue reading →: Cigars Need Time to MarryWhat actually happens when a cigar’s tobaccos “marry”? Here’s a fascinating glimpse into how a freshly rolled cigar develops into the expression a blender is ready to release.
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Continue reading →: Before You Take the First StepTaking that first step is easy. Getting to it is where we usually get stuck. The real challenge starts before we ever move.
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Continue reading →: Review: IGM Cigars ZarpeI’ve smoked a bunch of IGM cigars, but the Zarpe is the standout among them. Medium-strength, full-bodied and full-flavored from foot to nub. This cigar was a great way to rediscover IGM.




