Category Archives: Review

August 15, 2021 · 10:33 am

A Padron Damaso at Diner en Blanc and a Couple of New All Saints Cigars

Thursday evening my wife and I attended the Philadelphia Diner En Blanc, which is a large, organized pop-up picnic of sorts. This is something that happens in cities all over the world where everyone has to wear white, bring their own tables and chairs and a picnic dinner, and meet at pre-arranged spots in the city where they guide the groups to a “secret” location. It’s usually a historic landmark, in years passed it was Philadelphia’s Boathouse Row, City Hall, and the Art Museum steps (think “Rocky”). We’ve been doing it for the last several years and it’s a hoot, and, of course, I work cigars into it and I try to make appropriate choices. This year I packed my travel humidor with the Macanudo Inspirado White Robustos that I had gotten for the event two years ago (of course, last years was canceled), and left said travel humidor at home. What a dunce. Of course, I didn’t realize this problem until we had finished eating. Fortunately, the secret location was Rittenhouse Square in Center City Philadelphia, and I realized in time to walk 2 blocks to Holts. Of course, the only cigar they had with “white” in the name of the cigar was the Montecristo White, which is one of the few cigars I actually dislike, and just about every cigar with a white band is a Connecticut shade. So I went with some Padrón Dámaso No. 8s since I had not smoked the Dámaso yet amazingly enough. There have been venues in the past where smoking was a problem and this one was not one of those venues, and the folks around us were very cool, so I was able to enjoy t

hat Dámaso comfortably seated at our table. It was quite warm, high eighties at night, so we weren’t wandering in the crowd (3000 people, limited by the pandemic, it’s been upward of 6000 in the past), or dancing or anything, and I really enjoyed the cigar. It was very rich in flavor, the cocoa one expects from a Padrón, with the creamy, nuttiness of the shade wrapper. It was perfect for the occasion! I’ve actually grown quite apathetic where Holts retail store is concerned, but them being the

re saved the day for me! 

 

I received a message a few days ago from Mickey Pegg of All Saints Cigars that he left a couple cigars for me at the new Son’s Cigar Lounge in Exton, which is up the road from me. Funny thing is, Mickey would have pretty much driven past my house going home from Son’s, but he doesn’t know that, and I appreciate it because it gave me an excuse to stop in to see Vince and Brian now that the place is actually open. They still need to stock the front with accessories, and the humidor is maybe 15% filled, but they still have a great selection as it is. Mickey left me his newest cigars, which I promptly smoked. Actually, the Saint Francis looked so good I bought a few assuming I’d dig it, more on that later. I ran home and fired up the newest size of the All Saints Dedicación, the Mitre. This is a 5″ x 54 torpedo in the round, which I note because I believe the rest of the vitolas are box pressed. It has a San Andrés wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers and is made at TAVICUSA. I cut this to leave about a 13mm opening, which worked well. 13mm is a guess, I didn’t measure.  This is a nice smoke, medium bodied, with a little more punch than the other sizes, save maybe the Berkey. More earthy than sweet, I enjoyed it. I like the fact that it’s named after the Pope’s hat. 

 

The other cigar Mickey left for me was the newest line in the All Saints portfolio, the Saint Francis. This is the one I picked up a few in the Toro size on speculation, Mickey left me a Churchill which I eagerly smoked last night. This has dark, oily Ecuador oscuro wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and fillers, it’s a beauty. The Churchill is 7″ x 48 and box pressed, making it feel closer to a traditional 47 ring Churchill. This is the best cigar I’ve smoked all week. My instinct was correct in buying some of these, it remains to be seen if I should have gotten Churchills, but I know where I can get them! This cigar had the quintessential flavors I love: the dark, rich coffee, cocoa, dark fruit flavors. Construction was perfect, it was, overall, an ideal smoking experience. This is my new favorite All Saints cigar, and it’s a sure thing one of those Toros will go up in smoke later today. This is on the CigarCraig recommended list, smoke with confidence. I liked it. 

 

Contest

Last week I had a contest for the Wooden Indian Exclusive Cafe Cubano LCA cigar and Coffee. I’ve consulted the random number generator and paul1954 is the winner! Please send your address! I’ll get your package out and see what else might fall in the box out of my humidor while I’m packing it up! That’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

Share

3 Comments

Filed under Events, Review

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

August 11, 2021 · 9:35 pm

The American Double Robusto by J.C. Newman

I recently had the opportunity to smoke the newest vitola of the American by J.C.Newman.  This is a cigar made in the U.S. from all American tobaccos, here’s the information from J.C.Newman: 

 

Handcrafted in J.C. Newman’s histo

ric El Reloj cigar factory in the “Cigar City” of Tampa, Florida, The American is the first 100% all-American cigar. This new vitola (5.5” x 56) is the thickest The American cigar to date. It is packed in boxes of 20 with a suggested retail price of $17.50.

“The United States has a rich tradition of cigar making dating back to the first crop of tobacco planted in Virginia in 1612,” said Drew Newman, fourth generation owner of J.C. Newman. “Cigar to

buy celexa online http://francisholisticmedicalcenter.com/resources/html/celexa.html no prescription pharmacy

bacco was grown in every American Colony and many Founding

Fathers, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were tobac

buy cymbalta online https://policies.medicine.iu.edu/doc/docx/cymbalta.html no prescription pharmacy

co farmers.”

The American is rolled with an exclusive Florida Sungrown wrapper, a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a blend of Connecticut Havana and Pennsylvania Mennonite filler tobaccos. With a thicker ring gauge, the Double Robusto has an extra le

buy oseltamivir online https://auraderm.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/png/oseltamivir.html no prescription pharmacy

af of Pennsylvania ligero tobaccos, making it the strongest The American cigar. All of the packaging, from the wood in the cigar boxes,

buy biltricide online http://francisholisticmedicalcenter.com/resources/html/biltricide.html no prescription pharmacy

to the paper for cigar labels, to the cellophane that protects each cigar, is made in the United States as well.

Cigar enthusiasts who visit J.C. Newman’s 111-year-old El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa can see The American being rolled and learn about the history of American cigar making in the J.C. Newman Cigar Museum.

 

This is not only a cool project by J.C. Newman, but I have a personal att

buy vidalista online https://auraderm.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/png/vidalista.html no prescription pharmacy

achment to it because some of the tobaccos are grown not twenty-five miles from where I live now, and only a few mile from where I used to live. I can remember driving past the fields of tobacco 20 years ago. Of course I’m a big fan of Connecticut Broadleaf, and I have an affinity for the PA leaf, it has a special flavor. I smoked a couple of the Double Robustos, which are a really good size for me.

buy robaxin online https://policies.medicine.iu.edu/doc/docx/robaxin.html no prescription pharmacy

The Florida Sungrown wrapper has a mottled appearance, and the cigar starts with a bit of a sourness, but sweetens and has an earthiness throughout. the construction was very good. I only have one robusto to compare to, but I do think this was stronger, owing to the extra liger

o, although it wasn’t excessively strong, it was very well balanced. Pennsylvania ligero can be very strong in my experience. This was an excellent cigar, many thanks to J.C.Newman for sharing these with me. 

 

That’ all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig 

 

Share

Comments Off on The American Double Robusto by J.C. Newman

Filed under Review

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

August 8, 2021 · 10:51 am

Cafe Cubano: Wooden Indian Cigars LCA Exclusive and a Contest

Yesterday the Wooden Indian in Havertown PA (and worldwide on their website), launched an exclusive cigar with the Limited Cigar Association, the Cafe Cubano. This is a 5″ x 50 with undisclosed parts. They also have some coffee to pair along with it.  Before I get into the cigar and coffee, as I’m smoking one as I type, let me tell you about something I did yesterday. For Father’s Day, my son got me a session at a “float spa”, as I had said it was something I’d be interested in giving a shot. This is a place where you spend an hour floating in an epsom salt solution in an senso

ry deprivation tank. I didn’t consider the fact that I’m pretty claustrophobic, and thought it would be cool the shut everything out for an hour. I went in with an open mind. I freaked out within the first minute. As soon as it was pitch black

I felt like I was spinning out of control. Of course, I had no idea where the button to turn the light on was, which is not easy to push anyway, so I pushed the lid of the pod open, then found the button. I closed the lid, then recomposed myself and tried to relax for the next 59 minutes. It was pretty cool, as it felt like laying in a big memory foam mattress, and if I had been able to ease into the whole darkness thing it might have been better. I was able to reflect upon how I’ve become dependent upon outside input, be it from TV, or devices, as I lay there listening to my tinnitus for entertainment. Anyway, it was an interesting experience, but I think a traditional massage is more to my liking. 

 

OK, so Dave, Dan and the staff at Wooden Indian, some of the best in the game, I might add, were very kind to me and sent over a few cigars and some coffee for me, so I brewed up the coffee in my Bialetti and made a failed attempt at Cuban Coffee. I screwed up the espuma somehow, I’ve managed to get it right in the past, but it didn’t work this time. It tastes good though, and should get me through the day. It does pair well with the cigar, although that’s kind of like saying peanut butter pairs well with jelly, or bacon pairs well with eggs, isn’t it? The Cafe Cubano is burning well, and is tasty. It’s aptly named, as it has rich espresso flavors, maybe some toastiness, or some Honeynut Cheerios (or that could be my breakfast spilling over…they keep my cholesterol down!). I have said in the past that I’m not always a fan of the branding the LCA does, but if they help out retailers like the Wooden Indian, well more power to them. I just don’t like seeing branding that can be perceived as marketing to youth. This is a very good cigar, not that the guys at Wooden Indian would have it any other way!

 

Contest

So, would you want to smoke one? The gang there sent an extra set with a cigar, coffee and stickers to give away! There will be a Wooden Indian LCA Exclusive Cafe Cubano cigar, a packet of Cafe Cubano coffee and some stickers, and, you know me, some extra cigars out of my humidor. Usual rules: leave a comment on this blog post! Of course, these are available at the Wooden Indian’s website, which is an excellent place to shop, by the way. One entry per person, must be of legal age, yadda, yadda…what the heck, everyone is eligible (in the US, I ain’t made of money). I’ll pick a winner next Sunday.

 

OK, looks like a beautiful Sunday, I have a cigar to finish, I doubt I’ll be taking a nap today (or sleeping tonight) after drinking a pot of my version of Cafecito, and some stuff to get to, so until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig 

Share

10 Comments

Filed under Contest, Review

Tagged as , , , ,

August 1, 2021 · 11:15 am

Cubanacan Maduro, Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection, and CAO Cigars

I was wandering through one of the humidors and c

ame across a few cigars leftover from the 2020 TPE show that I had forgotten about.  I had run into Lawrence from Cubanacan and he had given me a few cigars, and, for whatever reason they had gotten buried. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what’s up with Cubanacan. Over the years they seem to come and go. Lawrence is a great dude, but I see him here and there (not that I get around a lot), for instance I remember meeting him at one of the Delaware Cigar Festivals in 2012 maybe, then I might not have seen him again until last year. It’s highly likely we just miss one another. That being said, I just don’t hear a lot about Cubanacan cigars, and the last thing I think I heard wasn’t particularly great. I don’t judge based on things I think I might have heard though. I smoked a Cubanacan Maduro in a Lonsdale size. This must be special, because it only comes in a ten count box, per the website. This has a San Andrés wrapper, Ecuador binder and Nicaraguan fillers. After 18 months in the humidor it smoked very well. It tasted pretty much like I expect a cigar made from those tobaccos would taste like, some earth, spice and espresso. I like the lonsdale size, and it was quite satisfying. I suppose I need to dig around and see what else is in there that I might have forgotten about!

 

One I hadn’t forgotten about, but had recently bought in a sampler from Fox Cigars. I can’t remember why I got this sampler and what all was in it. I added it on to the purchase of the Plasencia sampler, and Maybe this was in it that I wanted, or it priced too good to pass up, or something. For some reason when I received it I set this cigar aside as I had already smoked the rest of the cigars. They all must have been oned I liked. I don’t know, I make strange purchasing decisions some times. It’s CAD, Cigar Acquisition Disorder, and it’s real.  The support group meets here every Sunday and Wednesday. Hello, my name is CigarCraig. The cigar in question is the Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Robusto. For whatever reason they ch

oose to cover up this nice looking caramel colored Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper with gold foil, a nice, yet unnecessa

ry presentation. This seems to use all Aganorsa grown tobacco with the sevres sauce being some Media Tiempo, the rare top, top priming above ligero. This was a nice cigar, medium bodied, with some richness, with a feeling that the wrapper was grown under shade. It was creamy with some leathery kinda notes. Good cigar, which nicely filled my afternoon. I wish I could remember what else was in that sampler! 

 

I wrapped up last night with a CAO Amazon Basin Orellana. This was the fourth cigar in the Amazon Basin trilogy, wait, that’s not right. I thought it was a trilogy, then they goofed it up by adding a fourth! I wasn’t overly fond of the original Amazon basin, although some people lost their minds over it. Didn’t hit me right. The Em Corda, and Anaconda hit me right, I loved them. I don’t like the name of the Anaconda, because I hate snakes, but I get it with the whole Amazon theme. I originally thought the Orellana was closer in flavor to the original Amazon Basin, and I still think it probably is, but I like it more with some age. I still like the other two more, but this has matured, whatever sour notes that I didn’t care fr aren’t there any more. It was a rather enjoyable cigar, al

though, in retrospect, I should have chosen a shorter cigar, and I’ll elaborate. I got off to a late start, and, hence, a late end.  The Orellana is a toro sized cigar, and since I finished late, I had a hell of a time falling asleep. This means I’m going to have to take a nap today, when I could be smoking a cigar! Then I might be up late again and the whole cycle continues!

 

I bought a bike yesterday to ride to work, maybe I’ll ride to the cigar shop today. If it stops raining, that is…I made sure to buy one with an ashtray holder. That’s all for today, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

Share

4 Comments

Filed under Review

Tagged as , , , , ,

July 25, 2021 · 10:31 am

Smoking Through a Cain Cigar Sampler

Last week I was auditing some of my advertising partners (OK, that’s a euphemism, I was shopping…), and I picked up a couple Cain samplers from CigarThief.  This happens all the time, I start browsing and see something that I don’t need or have room for and the price is too good to pass up, I’d be nuts not to buy it, so I do. I then have to worry about where to put the stuff later. In this case it was the five cigar sampler of Cain cigars from Oliva. It arrived the next day. I remember walking in to my local shop at the time and the proprietor, fresh back from the trade show, said to me “throw away your Cubans, you gotta try this new cigar called “Cain”. This guy was a guy who was into Havanas too, he had gotten into some trouble years earlier with the BATF for having them in the store. This was a major boast coming from this guy. Of course, I had to wait for them to come in. Turns out that this was another bra

buy tirzepatide online https://ozgurmd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/png/tirzepatide.html no prescription pharmacy

nd that Sam Leccia was behind, following his success as the brand ambassador for Nub with Oliva Cigars. He would continue to do rolling events featuring both cigars for a few years until his unceremonious departure. I was a fan of the Cains early on, smoked a bunch of them, I was especially fond of the Cain F Lancero, which is what prompted me to take this little sentimental journey. 

 

Cain Cigars are made by Oliva Cigar Co., although you wouldn’t know it looking at their website. I can’t figure this out. Is Cain still in production? It seems like they are still widely available. I just can’t find them on a website anywhere. It’s a cigar they should embrace! I started with the original Habano 550. Their sizes are confusing, because this one is 5¾” x 50, which is pretty close to a toro, which is like, but it ain’t 550. I’m not sure what they call the 5″ x 50, which they clearly have in the portfolio. This is where having them listed

buy aurogra online http://francisholisticmedicalcenter.com/resources/html/aurogra.html no prescription pharmacy

on the manufacturer website comes in handy. Retailers websites aren’t always all-inclusive.  I seem to recall the old Studio Tabac website having a breakdown of the blend, with percentages of the ligero too.  These were billed as “Straight Ligero”, which, of course, didn’t mean they were 100% ligero. They are bold cigars, and the Habano was excellent. It took me back to one of my very first blog posts, where I was celebrating the birthday which I received the CigarCraig.com domain as a gift with a Cain Habano. Deep, rich earthy flavo

buy zoloft online https://ozgurmd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/png/zoloft.html no prescription pharmacy

rs.  These remain very good cigars. 

 

I deviated from the chronological order of the brand’s releases by smoking the Cain Daytona next. I believe this cigar came after Sam’s departure. This was a little bit mellower representation of the Cain blend, maybe more sophisticated. This one, whatever they called it, was definitely 5″ x 50, has a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan fillers. This is probably better suited for a sunday morning with coffee cigar, but it was a great cigar for a Saturday afternoon after cutting the grass and running errands, before taking a nap. Just enough strength and loads of flavor. Definitely a solid robusto, and I am fairly certain I have an old lancero or two in the humidor.

 

Last night I tackled the Cain Maduro. I’m pretty sure this is a the same blend as the Habano with a Madur

buy tamiflu online http://francisholisticmedicalcenter.com/resources/html/tamiflu.html no prescription pharmacy

o wrapper, although,, lacking information on a manufacturer’s website, I have no way to verify that. As a maduro lover, I have to say that I can do without this cigar in the line. It’s a good cigar, if it was the only Cain, I’d be happy with it, but I think the other iterations are better. The wrapper adds the espresso component, but I actually prefer the Habano wrapped version more. If I’m picking Cains, I admit that the Maduro is on the bottom of my list. Weird, huh? It’s still a pretty strong cigar, having a high percentage of Ligero. 

 

Sometime around 2012 They came out with the Cain F. I think the F stood for Fuerte, maybe Sam had his hand in it before h

buy super viagra online https://nationalconferen

ceonems.com/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/png/super-viagra.html no prescription pharmacy

e left,  I don’t recall. By 2013 they had replaced Sam with a guy named Byran Scholle. They had trained him to do rolling demonstrations something like Sam did, without the artistic flair. Bryan’s signature was. rolling a cigar he called the Cain FU, which was an amped up Cain F, which I smoked fresh and it wasn’t all that ass-kicking. I am smoking the Cain F 550 Robusto as I write this and it’s a rich, flavorful cigar, with a fair amount of strength, especially for a Sunday morning. It’s especially good with coffee, and I’m glad I had a heaping bowl of Cheerios! I can’t tell you how many Cain F Lanceros I’ve smoked over the years, and I still have a couple squirreled away, so I’m fairly familiar with the cigar. I like it a great deal. I don’t know why I like it , I just do, it checks all the boxes for me. It’s burning perfectly for me, although I have let it go out a few times. It’s a good way to start the day! I’m glad I picked up a few of these samplers! It’s been a fun trip down memory lane! 

 

That’s all for now, until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

 

Share

1 Comment

Filed under Review

Tagged as , , , , , , ,