Review: Crowned Heads Moonflower Toro
I was impressed by the Robusto’s smooth, balanced profile. The Toro is on another level entirely: smoother and even more expansive. At least for now, this vitola is setting the bar for the Moonflower.
Review: Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Sun Grown Epicure
I’ve smoked this cigar before, and my response was tepid at best. This time, I sat with its dark, imposing presence long enough to understand it. Beneath that raw power is remarkable complexity, and by the last inch, I knew this one was going into my regular rotation.
Don’t Let Those Special Moments Pass You By
Life can turn upside down without warning, which makes the moments in front of us worth noticing. Too often, though, we assume there will always be another cigar, another conversation, or another quiet morning. Next time is never promised. Don’t let those moments pass you by.
What Do We Really Mean by Boutique?
When we think of the word “boutique,” what do we really mean? After a lot of thought, I realized the waters are a lot murkier than I thought.
A Different Perspective on Plume
Brian 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 they eventually become plume? I…
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 patterns. This is what I…
Review: Privada Killer Cameroon
When 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 the Killer Cameroon live up…
Review: Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1950
Transformative. 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.
IGM Cigars Flor de Puriscal Toro
After 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 most growers remove.
Review: Puros Mantis Habano Corona
You 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 and one that had been…
Review: H. Upmann 1844 Añejo
Though 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!
