Ave Maria Crusader

Deus Vult! God wills it, and so as not to disappoint I have made the Ave Maria Crusader the next cigar I'll review.  The Crusader, Ave Maria's appellation for their 5x52 robusto, is one of those special cigars that gave me a good feeling the moment I laid eyes on it.  The Ecuadorian habano wrapper is well rolled with a few veins and was adorned with one of the most beautiful cigar band's I've ever come across.  The band is trimmed in golden foil, and features a Templar Knight in full regalia. The pictures hardly do it justice, and it really is a wonder to behold.  One of the most interesting features, and one I cannot claim credit for noticing, were the words "Deus Vult" raised out of one of the golden borders.  My Latin being a bit rusty, a quick google search revealed that this was the rallying cry of Pope Urban II at the start of the first Crusade.  Clearly the creators of Ave Maria put a lot of effort into the creation of this band, and it really makes for an enjoyable start to the smoking experience.

The pre-light aromas are of rich, natural tobacco and a subtle nuttiness. On lighting my palate was greeted with medium bodied flavor with notes of oak and subtle spice.  This was very pleasant, and was without any harshness.  The first third was much the same, and as it rounded into the second, the spices mellowed out leaving the woody notes and rich tobacco goodness for the rest of the cigar.  In the final third, the body slowly increased and the cigar finished out somewhere between medium and full-bodied.  This was my second experience with this blend and honestly, this is definitely one that is worth multiple samplings. 

The smoke had a creamy mouth feel, and the finish, although not particularly long, was a pleasant one.  I found that some of the nuances, such as the subtle spiciness in the first third, were easier detected if the smoke was allowed to linger longer on the palate. The draw was, in a word, perfection.  I used a straight cutter, and the slightly longer than usual taper of the Crusader allowed for what I would consider ideal air flow.  The burn was decent, although I did make a small correction to a wayward wrapper in the final third.  This likely speaks more to my lack of attention to the burn than the cigar itself, but it is worth noting.  The ash on this cigar was a nice light gray color and held on for about two  to two and a half inches, which seems to be typical for this cigar.

As for what to pair with this cigar, I went with a cup of medium bodied Colombian coffee, which complemented the woody notes of the cigar nicely.  Another option I would like to explore would be a nice glass of Maker's Mark Bourbon.  The warm notes of oak and the spiciness of the drink would complement this cigar nicely, and play upon its strengths. 

This is one of those rare instances where the beauty of the cigar band accurately reflects the beauty of the cigar.  At around seven dollars each these cigars are a steal, and quite frankly I would probably pay more for them if I had to.  This is another one of those cigars I can see myself enjoying for years to come, so rather unsurprisingly a box of them may be in my near future.  As always, enjoy your stogies!

A Cut Above

At long last, a post about cutting cigars!  At the request of several people, I will now take the time to give a little background on common cigar cutting methodology and some of the benefits and drawbacks of each method.  When cutting a cigar, there are essentially two things you want to consider: ensuring proper air flow; maintaining the integrity of the cap.

The way you cut a cigar is almost directly related to the draw once you start smoking.  If you cut too much off, your draw will be really light and the cigar may smoke hot or you'll draw too much smoke.  If you don't cut enough off, the opposite is true.  To be honest, nothing impairs my enjoyment of a cigar like a draw that is too tight.  If I have to go blue in the face to get any smoke from a cigar, I'm generally not a happy camper.  

On to the second consideration: the cap.  For those who may not be familiar with cigar anatomy, the cap is the part of the cigar that you put your mouth on, and it keeps the cigar from unraveling.  If you accidentally cut the cap off, you'll notice that the wrapper will start to peel off or flake.  This can be really unpleasant, especially if the whole cigar starts to fall apart.  The cap is usually easy enough to identify and you want to make sure that when you cut into it that you leave some behind to keep the cigar together.  You also want to avoid squishing the cap, by using a cutter that is appropriate to the individual stick you are smoking. Certain cigars, such as those that are box pressed, are not round, and as such using a rounded cutter would likely cause the cap to deform slightly, and so a different cutting method may be more appropriate. Some oft used cutting methods are detailed below.

To start, one of the most common methods of cutting a cigar is by using a straight guillotine cutter.  These cutters can be either single or double bladed, and consist of a razor blade making a straight cut across the cap.  These cutters tend to give decent air flow and can be used to cut most cigars including tapered cigar sizes such  as a torpedo.  Some double guillotine cutters, such as the one shown below, have rounded razor edges and as such aren't easily sharpened, nor are they ideal for square or box pressed sticks. 

Another common cutter is the wedge-cut or V-Cut.  This cutter takes a "V" shaped slice out of the cigar while keeping the cap intact.  Wedge cuts tend to allow for more airflow and the controlled depth of the cut makes taking the cap off nearly impossible.  Wedge cuts can be used to cut a box pressed cigars if they are of small enough ring-gauge, although other methods may be preferable. 

The last method I'll detail here is the punch method.  A cigar punch is inserted into the cap of the cigar, and it makes a small hole in center of the cap.  Multiple or overlapping holes can be made on larger sticks for increased airflow if necessary.  This is, in my opinion, the ideal method for cutting box pressed cigars, because it keeps the cap from being deformed and allows for a more customized draw. 

Source: famous-smoke.com

So there you have it, a short and sweet post on cigar cutting for those just getting their feet wet in the world of fine tobacco.  Enjoy your smokes!

Beauty: by Gurkha

Beauty by Gurkha: a light silky Ecuadorian wrapper, aged seven years, encases aged Dominican binders and Nicaraguan filler tobacco which makes for a light-bodied counterpart for the Beast, undoubtedly a play on the traditional French fairytale.  This dichotomy seemed too perfect not to explore, and so I chose the Beauty as the next Gurkha I would review.

When I first grabbed one of these sticks out of the humidor, I was struck by how heavy it felt in my hand.  At 6.5x58 these Beauties aren't exactly petite, but more to love right?  The Beauty features on it two bands: the large one which Gurkha seems to put on all of it's super premiums and a second one which reads: Beauty.  The Ecuadorian wrapper had a silky quality to it, and had a single vein under the band, much like the Beast did. All in all, a well constructed cigar.

Then came the time to light up.  The pre-light aromas are of mild tobacco and a slight floral aroma.  After the foot was toasted I took my first puff and got almost no smoke.  I have a penchant for a firmer draw, but this was so bad I couldn't enjoy the opening moments of the cigar.  Even though I used a straight cutter, I had to cut it a second time to improve the airflow, and after a little bit the draw relaxed and allowed me to explore the flavor profile.  In the first third the light smoke carried with it notes of graham cracker, light tobacco flavors and hints of nutmeg.  As the cigar rounded out the first third, I also noted some cinnamon flavors which complemented the nutmeg nicely.  It was around the halfway mark where I stopped noting changes in the flavor, so the Beauty starts off with some complexity and then delivers smooth mild flavor right to the end.  As you can see from the pictures the burn was decently even and the head retention was excellent, hanging on for almost half the cigar.

I paired this with a cup of medium bodied coffee which helped to draw out the cinnamon notes in the cigar but while I was discussing this cigar with my brother, he suggested tea.  I have never heard of anyone pairing cigars with tea, but honestly I think this would do nicely with a cup of Earl Grey, as the light flavors of the tea won't overwhelm the flavors of the cigar.

Now for the big question: is this cigar worth the price tag?  Honestly I find myself hard pressed to recommend this cigar simply because you could get several cigars for the same price, and hours more enjoyment.  It wasn't bad by any means, but the problems I had with the draw were somewhat off-putting for me and honestly I tend to be partial to medium to full-bodied cigars that are full flavored, and this cigar doesn't really fit the bill. At no point was I unhappy with the flavor, but I found that at times it wasn't exciting enough to keep me focused on it.   In short, if you have a lot of money to throw around, then give this one a try.  If not, then you'd be better off looking somewhere else. 

... And the Beast: Gurkha Beast

A couple of months ago I was sitting around a fire pit in a buddy's backyard, a situation which begs for fine tobacco.  We found ourselves high and dry without stogies, as yours truly had forgotten to stop by the humidor on the way out of the house.  His father, however, was kind enough to let us raid his humidor and told us to grab whatever sticks we wanted.  My friend walked outside with a Montecristo #3, and I found myself holding a Gurkha Titan.  It was one of the finest smokes I've ever had, and I filed the Gurkha name away as a maker of excellent cigars.  Fast forward a couple months, and after a bit of a shopping spree, I find myself ogling my humidor, packed with twenty premium Gurkha smokes.  Gurkha only makes a thousand boxes of this blend each year, and the suggested retail price for a five pack is $102.  Definitely pricey, but is the price worth it?

When deciding which one of these sticks to review first, my eye was immediately drawn to the imposing figure that is the Beast.  An impressive cigar, measuring in at 6.5x58, this mammoth boasts a smooth, dark wrapper and feels quite heavy in the hand.  The band is characteristic of many of Gurkha's offerings, and features what appears to be a fierce (undead?) warrior brandishing a knife.  Below this is a second band with only a single word: BEAST.  These are well constructed sticks, and I found only one vein along about two thirds the length of the cigar.  The pre-light aromas are somewhat earthy, and this impressive stick seems to promise full-bodied goodness just sitting on the table.

After carefully toasting the foot, the cigar lit nicely and with a pleasant light flavor.  It was at this point that I began to wonder: is the Beast really just a gentle giant?  The first third carried on much the same way, with rich tobacco flavors and notes of toast and a woodiness I would characterize as oak.  Definitely a pleasant start, but not at all what I expected from such a large, dark cigar.  Many of these flavors continued into the second third, and were joined by subtle notes of leather and pepper.  The body seemed to be slowly filling out as the stick progressed, but at the midway point I would still characterize this as a medium bodied smoke.  That all changed though as the Beast entered the final third.  It was as if someone hit the throttle, and in about a half an inch the cigar blossomed into full flavored goodness, which continued to strengthen as the head approached my fingers.  The finish was long, and it seemed the longer I went between puffs the more distinct the individual flavors became.

Cutting the Beast was an interesting undertaking, as my double guillotine is only designed to cut 54 ring gauge cigars, although a slight taper at the end allowed for a nice clean straight cut.  Ideally I would have punched this cigar, as the draw with the straight cut was a bit on the light end of the spectrum and I tend to prefer a heavier draw.  The ash was a nice light gray color, and held on for about two inches, in spite of the breezy conditions I found myself in.  The burn was definitely affected by the wind, and did require one correction just after the ash fell off.

While I did not pair this cigar with anything, as it was my first of this blend, I took some time to consider what I will pair with the other four maturing in my humidor.  The first thing that came to mind was a cognac.  I sampled some the other day with another cigar and think it would pair lovely with this one as well.  While normally I'm not a huge fan of pairing cigars with beer, I felt part way through that this stick would be excellent with a malty beer like a Sam Adams Oktoberfest.  And last but not least, and no surprise coming from a caffeine addict, this cigar would pair nicely with a cup of medium bodied coffee, to help balance out the full bodied cigar. 

All in all, this was an interesting smoke, full of complexity and surprises, but one question still remains: is it worth the hefty almost twenty dollar price tag.  The answer isn't quite a simple yes or no, but if you're someone who enjoys a truly full bodied cigar then I'm sure you would find it's worth every penny.  Those of you who are newer to cigars would likely be happier with some of Gurkha's other offerings, which are a little lighter on the pallet, and on the wallet.  Stay tuned for reviews of some of those stogies in the coming days and, as always, enjoy your smokes!

Location, Location, Location

One of the most important and perhaps least discussed aspects of cigar smoking is the circumstances that you find yourself in when you decide to light up.  Think back to one of your favorite smoking experiences like the first time you puffed on what is now a go to favorite smoke, or maybe your first cigar, and think about the situation you found yourself in.  More likely than not, you were in a really positive atmosphere: be it celebrating a promotion at work; the birth of your first child, or simply relaxing alone on the front porch in the summertime watching the sunset.  These sorts of situations are quite conducive to an enjoyable cigar experience and blends we smoke during these times tend to carry with them positive associations into the future. 

Beyond these associations, the location in which we smoke our cigars plays a large role in how we go about doing that.  In the summer time, weather permitting, you can smoke just about anywhere.  There's nothing like having a couple of friends over for some grilling and stogies.  Smoking outside also means, in most instances, that you don't have to be tremendously worried about making sure you make it in the ash tray.  As if we needed another reason to smoke outside when the weather is nice.  But what about during the winter months, when the weather here in the good ol' Northeast isn't quite so friendly?  In such circumstances, I have found that my local cigar shop/lounge is just the place to enjoy a tasty stogie and some exceptional company.  The ambiance of many a cigar lounge is just the right balance of relaxation and refinement, which is sure to make your cigar smoking experience that much better. 

In short, there are a lot of places in which you can thoroughly enjoy a cigar, so leave your problems at the proverbial door and let the positivity flow like the smoke from your stogie!

Size Matters: Making Sense of Cigar Sizes

Looking back on my first cigar experience, a Vega Fina by Tabacalera Garcia enjoyed at a friend's camp on Lake George which I purchased at the suggestion of the girl behind the counter, I recall enjoying the cigar immensely.  A few days later curiosity got the best of me and I looked online to try to find a review, to see if what I had enjoyed so much was actually a "good" cigar.  When I began to sift through these reports, I found myself glazing over words like robusto, Churchill, and petit corona.  I figured they must mean something, but unwilling to admit I was in over my head I trudged on trying to make sense of what I was reading.  All this time later, a friend who is new to cigars was reading a post on here and asked what I meant by "robusto."  It reminded me of my own struggles with new terminology, so in the interests of accessibility I've decided to do a series of posts on here regarding the fundamentals to help those new to cigars adapt to the good life that is fine tobacco.   

Before we get to all of the fun names, it is important to understand just how cigar size is measured.  There are two principle measurements that determine the size of a cigar: the length and the ring gauge.  The length of a cigar is rather self-explanatory and is usually, at least in the United States, measured in inches.  The ring-gauge is a measure of the thickness of a cigar in 64ths of an inch, so a 64 ring-gauge cigar is 64/64, or one inch in diameter.

Now on to the fun names!  While it would seem easier if cigar sizes were simply conveyed in their two principle measurements, it would be rather time consuming to continuously spit out dimensions while on the factory floor, and so there exist special  appellations for many of the most common sizes.  Here I have collected some of the more common sizes and their names for easy reference.  These sizes aren't absolute, as every cigar maker has their own take on them, but these will help the novice cigar smoker navigate his or her way around a cigar shop.

Petit Corona: 5 x 42
Corona: 5.5 x 44
Robusto: 5 x 50
Toro: 6 x 50
Churchill: 7 x 48
Presidente: 7-8.5 x 52-60
Torpedo: 5.5-6 x 50 (this is a cigar with a tapered end shaped much like a cone)

While this isn't an exhaustive list, it covers a wide range of sizes that one is likely to encounter on a trip to the tobacconist. 

There are, however, additional aspects to consider when discussing cigar sizes.  Let us for the sake of example consider a King Havanos Oscuro cigar.  This cigar has a very dark wrapper which has a distinct flavor that contributes to the overall taste.  In a size with a smaller ring-gauge, like a petit corona, the wrapper constitutes a larger percent of the total cigar and will therefore have a larger impact on the flavor.  Consider the same blend but this time in a Churchill size, and the wrapper will constitute a significantly smaller percentage of the total cigar, and therefore will have a smaller effect on the taste.  In short, ring-gauge can seriously affect the flavor profile of your favorite stick. 

Additionally, the length of a cigar can play a role in how a cigar smokes.  Longer cigars tend to burn more slowly, as there is much more tobacco to consume.  Combined with the slower burn, the additional length gives the air passing through your cigar longer to cool before it reaches your mouth.  This extra airflow has another effect.  As smoke passes through the tobacco along its journey from the tip of the cigar to your mouth, it imparts some of its flavor profiles as it goes by. Whether this is a good or a bad thing tends to be up to personal preference, but knowing about it makes those choices a little bit easier. 


Now that we've taken some of the mystery out of cigar sizes, stay tuned for more posts tagged "Novice" to help those who are new to the world of fine tobacco find their way around.  Enjoy your stogies!

Don Pepin Garcia 1979 Black

I first encountered the Don Pepin Garcia's Black line while visiting a friend in Boston.  Our timing was fortunate because he had just received a "groupon" for half of $50 of sticks at Cigar Masters, a tobacconist in the vicinity of the Prudential Center, and on a recommendation from a friend picked up a pair of these beautiful cigars.  My first experience was so nice I had to have a box of them, and coughed up $124 for a box of 20 as a treat to myself.

After removing this robusto cigar from its cellophane blanket, I found it well constructed, with no noticeable soft spots or deformities.  The corojo wrapper was well rolled and there were no large veins.  There are two bands on this cigar, a larger one which bears the Don Pepin name and a smaller one which reads "Cuban Classic."  The large band was interesting in that it had four small circles surrounding the main logo in which there were on the left an American flag and a picture of the statue of liberty, and on the right a Cuban flag and what I can only assume is a family crest.  These labels give the cigar a nice appearance, but does the quality of the band reflect the quality of the cigar?

In a word: yes.  The pre-light aromas smell of fine tobacco, cedar and a sort of exotic bouquet which is difficult to describe.  Upon lighting the cigar, it was rather remarkable that there was no bitterness which sometimes accompanies the process of lighting, but rather a smooth cool smoke which was quite pleasant.  The thick white smoke had a creamy mouth-feel but was not overly heavy.  The first third of the cigar had a subtle spiciness which was accompanied by hints of what I can only describe as honeysuckle: a rather unexpected but not unwelcome flavor. This taste faded and was replaced by notes of espresso and an increase in peppery spice notes which blossomed beautifully as the cigar entered the second third. At this point there were also woody notes of cedar, and which I found balanced the spiciness nicely.  This combination of flavors finished out the stick, which I could scarcely put down and smoked to a nub, although it is to be noted that the stick did develop some sharpness of flavor as it approached the tips of my finger.  The finish is a long one, which some may view as a negative, although I did not find it to be unpleasant.

Having smoked almost three quarters of the box I have found that these sticks are consistent in terms of flavor, but less so with regard to an even burn.  This particular cigar was one of the ones which required some tending to burn evenly, although some require little to no effort at all.  The draw on these tends to be somewhat firm, and very occasionally I have had a heavy one, and as such I recommend a wedge cut to ensure proper airflow.  The ash on this cigar is a nice white color and the head tends to fall off after about two inches or so, but this particular head lasted a bit longer than that as can be seen in the accompanying pictures.

As for what to pair with this cigar, I would recommend a robust coffee.  Such a pairing can help to balance the woody and spicy notes and can bring out different aspects of the cigar depending on how you take your coffee.  Another option I have tried with this cigar is a glass of dark rum on the rocks.  The molasses in the rum tends to accentuate the cedar notes well, and what better to accompany your tobacco than a drink that originates in the same area of the world.


Overall, this cigar is one which I would recommend to those who are looking to expand their tastes into heavier cigars, as it is full of rich, complex flavors without knocking you out.  While it is a fine blend, I would be hesitant to hand one to a friend who had never smoked before, as typically new smokers like lighter tobacco and these robust gems are anything but. Needless to say, this full flavored medium to full bodied cigar is one which will have a place in my private stash for years to come.

Oliveros King Havano Oscuro

And now on to lighting our first cigar: the King Havano Oscuro by Oliveros.  My buying experience with these was the quintessential impulse purchase.  While checking out at an online cigar retailer, with the intent of simply buying a new cutter, my eye was drawn to the section marked "suggested for you" where among the selections I noticed a box of twenty of these triple fermented maduro beauties.  Having previously smoked the King Havano Dark Knight, I had some notion that these would be something that I would enjoy, and so I jumped at offer, paying around $80 for a box which retails for $136.  At four dollars a smoke, I figured even if they were mediocre it would still be a decent value.  It turned out far better than I had expected.


I decided to make this the first cigar I would review on here because I've smoked four of these in the last five days, and felt it appropriate to share this gem of a find before other more well known cigars.  To start, the band on this cigar is one I find quite beautiful.  It sports the King Havano name and is trimmed in a shiny gold color which really makes these sticks look nice in my humidor.  There is also a smaller band on the foot of the cigar which denotes it as an Oscuro.  These bands are a nice touch, and you can tell that time was taken in their design.





The construction of these cigars is another area which demonstrated the care that was put into crafting these cigars.  The stick was firm throughout, and the wrapper was free of major veins.  The triple fermented maduro wrapper has a nice dark coloring with a slight sheen to it. The size of this cigar is 5x48 which Oliveros have dubbed their "Squire" size, although one may appropriately call it a somewhere between a corona gorda and a robusto. The pre-light aromas were slightly earthy, and I couldn't shake the sense of a subtle sweetness about the wrapper.



On first light the cigar opened slightly harshly, but mellowed almost instantly with a slight cedar taste perhaps acquired in the humidor.  The initial retrohale didn't offend the nostrils and enhanced the bouquet which was quite aromatic.  This cigar then displayed its primary characteristics which it maintained throughout, which included notes of coffee and an almost semi-sweet chocolate flavor.  I also detected the slightest hint of spiciness, which was very mellow but ever present.  The maduro wrapper complements the Nicaraguan tobacco excellently, and really helps to round out the flavors.  The stick maintained most of these qualities throughout and although it was not a terribly complex cigar, it was certainly a pleasure to smoke. 

Having smoked it using both a double guillotine straight cutter and a wedge cut I can say the draw was moderate, although the wedge cut allowed for more air flow and therefore a slightly lighter draw. The ash was a light gray color and has a habit of falling off the cigar after about an inch and half. The burn was not fantastic at first but evened out decently after the head fell off.  While we could discuss the merits of ashing one's cigar versus letting the head fall off naturally, it came as an unpleasant surprise when it landed in my lap. That with the more even burn post ashing makes me advocate knocking the ash off this one early, and then tending to it as necessary for a more pleasant smoking experience.

Right after it ashed in my lap. Not an awful burn but might bother some

As described, the burn evened out

As for what to pair with this cigar (and there are as many schools of thought on pairing as there are cigar smokers) I have had a couple interesting experiences.  As previously mentioned, I've smoked four of these recently and have paired this stick with a couple of different beverages.  The first one I tried was an Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon.  What I found interesting was that the cigar brought more flavors out of the bourbon than vice versa, drawing notes of fruit out of the bourbon.  What I found to be more appropriate, however, was a coffee/cappuccino drink my girlfriend made me.  The coffee's robust flavors mellowed by the semi-sweet cappuccino paralleled the flavors of the cigar and made for quite the experience.  Adding a little cinnamon and nutmeg also brought out that hint of spiciness that is inherent to the cigar, which was a nice surprise.  

All in all, this medium strength, full flavored cigar provides a pleasurable smoking experience and makes me glad that occasionally I don't regret my impulse purchases.

To Kick Things Off

To start this blog off, I ask one thing of my reader: that he approach this blog like he would a cigar.  As a cigar enthusiast I have found that I enjoy the moments before I begin to light my cigar; taking in its form and savoring the excitement that comes from trying something new. So as we sit now in what are the pre-light moments of this blog waiting for our first real taste, let us hope that it brings with it all the delights that accompany the smoking of fine tobacco.