This Weeks Cigars: Chateau Real, Tabak Especial, Hamiltons House, CAO, NUb – Sunday, September 26, 2010

I had to dig into some of the new arrivals here this week, first of which was the Chateau Real Small Club Corona Maduro. This 4″ x 44 cigar is just a little thing, but it’s loaded with flavor. Looking back on the last year or so, it seems that I’ve sampled more than my fair share of cigars from Drew Estate, and I think the reason is that the quality is exceptional. An even burn and a good draw really enhance the smoking experience for me, and the cigars from the “Gran Fabrica” always seem to be perfectly made. These Small Club Coronas are no exception and were an absolute steal at under $2.00 each.

Sunday morning was absolutely stunning so it was coffee on the deck with a Tabak Especial Dulce Colada. Yes, another Drew Estate product and a flavored cigar, which is not standard fare in my rotation. I do enjoy these on occasion though and this one was nice while I read the Sunday paper (just the important parts). I could do without the sweet cap, as I take my coffee black, but it’s tolerable on the rare occasions that I fire one of these up. I had purchased a few of these back in May when my son and I went to a Drew Estate event at a local shop.

Later in the week I dug into the newly acquired box of Hamiltons House Selection Torpedos and lit one up.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect from these considering the price point, but I was pleasantly surprised.  While the construction was on the soft side, the burn was good.  I’m going to send some of these out in the very near future (leave a comment on the George Hamilton Interview page for a chance to receive one) so I won’t go into much more detail than that.  I look forward to seeing what other folks think of this one.  I will say that I don’t feel like I wasted my money on this box.  I’ve paid a lot more for cigars I enjoyed less.

Friday night brought some enormous pork ribs on the grill followed by a CAO Italia robusto.  I really want to like these, I don’t quite know why exactly, but I do.  After smoking several examples, I think I’m going to stop trying to like these.  I’ve been plagued with poor burns, and the flavor just doesn’t suite me enough to put up with the frequent touch ups (this one strayed almost an inch from one side to the other before it went out and I re-lit the long side).  The flavors aren’t bad, but there’s an acidic bite that is off-putting to me.  Lesson learned I suppose, once in a while there’s a cigar that just isn’t for me!  For the price that these cigars command, it should burn well at the bare minimum.

Saturday evening brought a NUb Habano 460 that Sam Leccia laid on me when I saw him at the IPCPR show.  I’ve come to enjoy these quite a bit, although I really do wish they were longer.  More cigar math:  If I put a 4″ cigar down after only smoking three inches I feel bad.  I’ve only smoked 75% of the cigar.  If it’s a 6″ cigar and I put it down with an inch left I’ve smoked a significantly higher percentage of the cigar and I feel like I’ve gotten more value.  If the NUb was 5 inches I’d feel like I got my money’s worth, but the 4″ I feel like I just got started.  I’m sure this is just my own perception.

Enough rambling from me this time, until the next time,

CigarCraig

Share

4 Comments

Filed under Review

4 Responses to This Weeks Cigars: Chateau Real, Tabak Especial, Hamiltons House, CAO, NUb – Sunday, September 26, 2010

  1. dj

    Aw, c’mon.. you KNOW you liked that Tabak! It’s okay, admit it!

  2. I have recentlyt tried the Nub (Habano) and found that I like its flavor and smaller size. I am not sure the adds are correct when they say the smoke starts right at the “sweet spot” of the cigar…Think that is more of a marketing ploy. I do think it makes the perfect golfing cigar. Stays lit even in the worst weather here in the UK. I can even put it down on any fairway as I hack away, and I still pick it up…wipe off the grass…and continue puffing right wher I left off…Tuff little stogie!

  3. Joel Scott

    Morning Craig,

    I enjoyed the new intro with the cigars making out the name of your blog. That must have taken you awhile to do! Have you smoked any Vegas de Santiagos lately? I’m going to have to order some soon! Keep up the good work.