EP Carillo, MBombay, Henry Clay, and Señorial Cigars

After today’s post, the next time you’ll hear from me will be Friday’s kickoff of the 12 Spectacular Days of Cigar Giveaways!  I don’t want to hype it too much, because the last couple years have set the bar pretty high, but I don’t think there will be too much disappointment.  As usual, I stress out about things, getting photos and presents and having posts written and ready to go, but as my wife always reminds me, usually the only way people know there were problems is if I tell them, otherwise it looks like everything goes off without a hitch.  There are always things that make me crazy, but it’s too much fun to give up on. The upside for me is I get a bit of break from having to pay attention to the cigars I smoke over the two-week period, and I try, whenever possible to smoke what’s being given away. Anyway, I know you all are looking forward to the chance to get some great cigar goodies for the holidays, and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you.

 

EPCarillo_RoboloI managed to smoke a few interesting cigars this week, and one of them was an EP Carillo Robolo, which is an exclusive size for Best Cigar Prices, who shared some samples with me. The Robolo size is 4½” x 60, and I have to admit, I really enjoy the size. It’s a happy medium ass far as I’m concerned. It’s a little longer than the Nub sizes from Oliva, it’s not the time commitment of a 6″ x 60, and most of the examples I’ve smoked in this series have smoked very well. Best Cigar Prices has just about every major brand you can think of made just for them in this size, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Alec Bradley, Boutique Blends, the works. Anyway, I found the EPC Robolo to be quite delicious, it had some woody notes, and sweet creamy coffee. I liked it a lot.  I’ve been pretty much un-Wowed by the EPC offerings, which is odd considering I am/was such a big La Gloria Cubana fan, but this one does it for me. Don’t forget you can use the code CRAIG1099 at BestCigarPrices.com for a discount and cheap shipping!

 

MBombay_VintageReservaKeSara_NikkaI also received some MBombay KeSara Vintage Reserve Nikka samples last week, and after a rest in the humidor I decided to give one a spin this week. This cigar is a very col size, 6½” x 46, with a pigtail cap. The tobacco in this Vintage Reserve line is aged three years longer than that in the regular KeSara line, and the Ecuador Connecticut wrapper is aged in hybrid Spanish Cedar and Sandlewood boxes for up to none months. I can’t pick out Sandlewood in the flavor, but I will say that the cigar is quite tasty and burns perfectly. I love the size, it’s a very elegant and refined cigar, and of the highest quality. I’ve enjoyed many cigars from this company, I think their regular old Connecticut Churchill is one of the best in the category of Connecticut wrapped cigars. It may be an obscure brand right now, but they make some great smokes. By the way, these come from the same factory in Costa Rica that makes the Selected Tobacco cigars (Atabey, Byron, Bandolero) and Vegas de Santiago. Very high quality cigars come out of that facility.

 

HenryClay_TattooI had a cousin of mine comment that I should get a hand tattoo since I post pictures on Facebook and Instagram with a cigar in my hand, so the only tattoos I am likely to get on my hand are going to be in my hand in the form of a cigar, in this case, the Henry Clay Tattoo. Not that I’m anti-tattoo, it’s just not my thing, I’m a live and let live kinda guy. I bought a couple of these cigars a few months ago at The Humidour in Maryland, and the one I smoked there was great, it just burned a little wet, not much, but a little. After a few months in the humidor, this cigar was perfect. Unlike the original Henry Clay cigars that Pete Johnson modeled this after in his collaboration with Altadis, it’s aesthetically beautiful. The Henry Clays I remember from the 90s came tied in a wheel of 50, and were packed wet, so they came in all kinds of gnarly shapes.  The Broadleaf wrapper on this was dark and oily and had a nice sweetness, while it still had a heavy, savory meatiness that is quite satisfying.  These were a limited edition that sold out at the trade show, so I’m not entirely sure how many of these you’ll find in the wild, but it’s a great smoke, try one if you find them.

 

Senorial and JoseYesterday we stopped in at The Wooden Indian in Havertown, PA where Jose Blanco and his wife, Emma Viktorsson were having a Las Cumbres Tabaco event. Little did I know, there was also a four store cigar crawl going on where four stores in the area had a van load of customers travelling to one  another’s stores. While we were there the bus from Sir Stogies in Gilbertsville, PA showed up with about 15 guys. I ran into Walt White from Stogie Review who is a regular up at that shop, who I hadn’t seen in a long time. We got the heck out of there before the buses from Cigar Mojo and Top Shelf Cigars got there. I kinda would have liked to have known about this event in advance, it seems like a fun day, although we already had plans later on. Maybe the next time. Anyway, I bought some Señorial  maduros in the lonsdale size (and I have a mental block with the name, I always spell it Señoreal, which is incorrect. It’s right there on the band, I don’t know what my deal is with that) and some Freyja “Sessrúmnir” Corona Largas, and lit up the Señorial maduro. What a great medium bodied smoke with loads of flavor, although what would you expect from Jose Blanco? Dave always puts on great events at The Wooden Indian, and Jose and Emma are great folks.  We left there and went to a great Beatles symposium in New Jersey (“Ticket to Rider” review here) to cap off a great Saturday.

 

That’s all I feel like writing about now!  I need to do some more prep work for the contests and get to spending a relaxing Sunday at home! Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

 

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16 Comments

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16 Responses to EP Carillo, MBombay, Henry Clay, and Señorial Cigars

  1. Brian I.

    Excitement is building for the 12 days. Can’t wait.

  2. Matthew Denico

    Have you smoked the Pedro Martin Ruby Toro?

  3. Thanks in advance Craig for all you do for your followers! Kinda sounds like a cult.👀 Awesome!

  4. Charlie H.

    Henry Clay Tattoo = worst cigar I have smoked all year :'(

  5. Jared

    You’re a tease!!!!

  6. Dan Colley

    Craig, I saw the photo you posted on Facebook earlier today and I’ve not been able to get rid of the jealousness. That Senoral Maduro is a beautiful smoke. I need to get serious and find some that I can get through the mail. My B&M manager doesn’t even know who Jose’ Blanco is !!! Last year, a friend gifted me with the one with the natural wrapper and I was stoked. Being the maduro freak that I am, I just know that Jose’ hit a home run with it. Let me be early and wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

    • How can someone be in the cigar business and not know who Jose Blanco is??

      • Patrick

        Arby Sosa of Sosa cigars carries Senorial in his Miami hideaway shop. Antillian is the web name, I don’t want to advertise, just help a brother out. He sends out post free. Or call him, he’s a wonderful man. He is good friends with Jose and also a friend of mine. Hope this is ok to post Craig.

  7. Jeff K

    I loved those old gnarly Henry Clays! Will have to try one of these new fangled ones.

  8. Looks like a good week in smoke. I can’t wait to try the new Henry Clay

  9. Jerry

    Don’t sweat the small stuff Craig. You always do a great job.

  10. paul1954

    your wife sounds like a very smart lady. you better keep her! I hope you enjoy the contest as much as we do.

  11. Patrick

    Jose and Emma are humble family people. The senorial natural and now the Maduro are solid cigars to have in your rotation. Emma’s first attempt to blend her own cigar is a very nice mild/ med blend. And anyone who smokes many different blends have burned a cigar made by Jose. I’m proud to call them friends.
    Life is good.