The Expert Review Library

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  Dave - Macanudo Cafe

  Dave

  09/20/2016

  

  This Dominican blend is a classic and one of the world’s best-selling cigars. If you thought mellow-bodied cigars weren’t your thing, there’s a good chance Macanudo Café will prove you wrong. It’s one of the most consistent cigars ever made and delivers an ultra-smooth experience from start to finish. Perfect for any occasion, Macanudo Café offers creamy notes of almonds, cedar, and vanilla.

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  Dean - Rocky Patel Vintage '03 Cameroon

  Dean

  09/20/2016

  

  Vintage 2003 begins with a perfectly balanced blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers that offer a wonderful aroma and flavor. The icing on the cake is a Cameroon wrapper, aged for eight years, which adds a nice hint of sweetness with some lighter notes of pepper and cedar. Enjoying this cigar with your favorite Octoberfest style lager will make for a great evening on any fall day.

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  Michael - Trinidad Reserve

  Staff Review

  09/20/2016

  

  You can taste the Cuban tradition in this Honduras blended Trinidad Reserve. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper encases a robust blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers that make this full-bodied cigar smooth and complex with a hint of sweetness. This is a great cigar for after lunch. Just break off the pigtail, light it up and enjoy.
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  Tim - Punch

  Tim

  09/20/2016

  

  I know a thing or two about getting punched, let’s just say I have one of those faces.  That said, this Bareknuckle blend from Punch is enjoyable through and through. Featuring an oily and redolent sungrown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and aged ligero long-leaf fillers, Punch Bareknuckle provides layers of spicy nuances and a strong yet pleasant aroma. You’ll be glad you got in the ring with this hard hitter.

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  Dave - Hoyo La Amistad

  Dave

  08/24/2016

  

  Developed by the Cuban cigar maker, AJ Fernandez, who has produced some of the finest cigars in Nicaragua, Hoyo La Amistad is a bold move for the legendary Hoyo de Monterrey brand. I have to admit, when I first heard that AJ Fernandez was teaming up with Hoyo for a release, it had me scratching my head, but at the same time I couldn’t wait to light one up. After hearing that AJ Fernandez and his family grew up very near to the Hoyo de Monterrey farm in Cuba I knew he had put his all in this one.

  The cigar features perfect construction. Once lit, you know you’re in for a bold and full-bodied treat. While the cigar is strong, it is nowhere near overpowering and there are some nice sweet and spicy notes mixed in that help to balance out the palate. While I didn’t find the blend to be overly complex or change much throughout, Hoyo La Amistad certainly lives up to its historic branding and delivers a classic, Cuban-esque experience that even the most discerning aficionados can enjoy.

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  Andrew - Man O' War Ruination

  Andrew

  07/27/2016

  

  This is hands down my favorite blend out there. Man O’ War Ruination is a perfect Nicaraguan blend featuring an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. It comes on strong but remains well-balanced with notes of cedar, leather, pepper, and a slight mix of nuts. If I had to choose one cigar to have every day for the rest of my life, this is it.

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  Dave - Latitude Zero Excursion

  Dave

  07/27/2016

  

  A bit of a hidden gem within the cigar industry, Latitude Zero is crafted in Nicaragua by the world’s most premier tobacco growers and broke out onto the scene last year with an exquisite blend featuring a top-grade Habano Ecuador wrapper. This time around they turn their focus to a maduro leaf and simply nailed it out of the park. Dressed in a dark and toothy US Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and packaged up in handmade leather pouches, this cigar is quite a looker. But it’s the flavor that truly wows you. This medium to full-bodied cigar offers up hearty notes of chocolate and coffee right off the bat. Followed up by undertones of earth, leather, and some pepper, this cigar is incredibly rich yet always smooth.

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  Dave - Ramon Bueso Olancho Vintage

  Dave

  07/27/2016

  

  Featuring an oily, Sun Grown Ligero wrapper, purposely under-fermented to create a unique flavor, the latest from Ramón Bueso will instantly grab your attention. It begins with a blast of pepper. As it settles down, notes of chocolate and spice appear with slight hints of raisin. This medium to full-bodied cigar has an aroma that sets it apart from any other cigar I’ve had.

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  Dean - CAO Extreme

  Staff Review

  07/27/2016

  

  CAO Extreme became a mainstay in my humidor immediately following the first one I lit up. This flavorful premium features four different doses of ligero tobaccos and a beautiful Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. You’re met with a potent spice, hints of espresso, and a leathery finish making this a perfect full-bodied, after-dinner treat.

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  Michael - Dunhill Heritage

  Michael

  07/27/2016

  

  Dunhill Heritage is wrapped in an Ecuadorian Habano ligero wrapper, which encases a Nicaraguan Jalapa binder and fillers from Ometepe and Honduras. Blended in Honduras, with Cuban heritage, this cigar pairs fantastic with a single malt scotch. Watch the pairing video at CIGAR.com/HERITAGE