This is the final review of the Los Blancos Premium cigars. You can see all of the Los Blancos reviews by clicking here.  I want to say thanks to David Blanco of Los Blancos for sending these samples to me and for being so patient waiting for the reviews.  That being said, this cigar was held to the end because, well, I’m just not a huge fan of Connecticut wrapper cigars.  David told me he hopes that in this case, “[I've] saved the best for last.”  Let’s see…

Appearance: The band is the same as on all the other premium blends, only this time it’s blue, my favorite color.  Go figure.  The light wrapper has very few and very sleight veins.  The wrap is very well done and is almost seamless.  The cap was excellently done as well.  This is a fantastic looking cigar.

Taste: This started out with a very strong sweetness that I’m not accustomed to with Connecticuts.  If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought it was sugar-tipped.  Of course, it’s not, so the intense sweetness wasn’t unnatural nor unpleasant.  It was very welcome.  Eventually, some woodiness came through and took over, but it wasn’t the harsh wood that I usually associate with Connecticuts.  Some leather peeked its way in there towards the middle too.  The leather and wood held for the remainder of the smoke.

Aroma: Holding this to my snoz, I got a strong scent of wood and honey.  Very nice.  The smoke’s aroma is nothing to concern yourself over.  It won’t get you smoking in the house, but it won’t get you kicked out of the garage either.

Construction: The burn for the first inch was razor sharp.  It fell off after that but never got to the point where I’d be concerned about construction.  The ash was firm and would hold for an inch or more without dropping.  The draw was fantastic.  Very easy but not loose.

Overall Impression: Okay, okay…  I liked this smoke.  D’ya hear that, David?  It’s a mild to medium body, and that sits well with me for a Connie.  I could see this being an occasional morning smoke for me.  The construction is great and it’s a great looking cigar.  The blue band sits on the light wrapper well.  The flavors weren’t overpowering like I find other Connies, in fact, they were just right.  I can count the number of Connecticut wrappers that I really like on one hand, and while this one fits on that hand, I can now count it.

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This review is brought to you courtesy of Cigars Direct.  They’ve sent me a good line-up to bring to you over the next few weeks, and to start it out I decided on the Henry Clay Brevas.  I’d never tried any of the Henry Clays before, so I was excited to see exactly how Henry Clay has stayed around so long.  This is an Altadis brand now, but it has a long history, and is even part of a famous quote by Rudyard Kipling: “There’s calm in a Henry Clay.”  Well, we’ll see, won’t we Mr. Kipling.  Let’s get to it:

Appearance: This 5 1/8×42 box-pressed cigar with a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper has an old-style band keeping in mind that Henry Clay has a long tradition in the cigar industry.  Nothing fancy or flashy, just a band that says “Henry Clay.”  The wrapper is smooth, but with large veins.  It also has a mottled appearance of dark browns and darker browns.  Not an even coloring throughout.  I will say, however, that this cigar intrigued me with its unkemptness.

Taste: Pre-light draw gave me no hint as to how this cigar would be, but after lighting it, I was hit with spice and leather.  And it’s the kind of spice that rests on your lips like you just ate some jalapenos.  And you could tell right away that this was no sissy cigar.  I was looking for some chocolatey cocoa-ness, but didn’t find it here.  After the first inch, some of the leather went away as did almost all of the spice, and some earthy goodness kicked in.  It maintained that earth taste with the undercurrent of leather most of the way through, and I have to say it was very good.

Aroma: This is probably where my intrigue started.  Pulling this out of the humidor, it smelled like one of those chocolate bars your kid sells for school fundraisers.  It didn’t have that fake aroma of a flavored cigar, but rather this smelled of rich, premium chocolate.  I’ve not had a cigar that smelled so much like chocolate.

Construction: Feeling along its length, there was consistency in its firmness.  The foot looked like the tobacco was evenly rolled, and this thing had a good solid weight to it.  The draw was firm and it took a bit to get it properly lit, which means that it may have had too tight a roll.  Once it got going, it was a good burner and held a good firm ash that held reliably.

Overall Impression: I’m liking this.  It was full-bodied, but not too overpowering.  This reminded me of the much loved EO 601 Oscuro (green label). There was good flavor, good construction, and it was an overall good experience. Maybe Kipling knew what he was talking about.

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I don’t smoke enough Avos.  There’s no particular reason why, because I do like Avo cigars.  Especially their 787 that just came out over a year ago.  So, when reaching through my humidor yesterday during a beautiful afternoon and spending too much time on Twitter, I pulled out this tubo that has been in my humi for a few months now.  I can tell you it’s been over a year since I’ve smoke an Avo, so I was looking forward to this one.

The No. 5 is a 6 7/8×46 cigar with a Connecticut wrapper and Dominican filler and binder.

Appearance: First, I love the presentation of a tubo.  It just makes the whole experience better.  But when I pulled this cigar out of its tubo, I was greeted with the much-discussed plume of a finely aged cigar.  Now, I always caution people when they say they see plume, because 9 times out of 10 when they show me what they’re talking about, it’s really mold.  But this light dusting of plume was a joy to my eyes.  The wrapper had no tooth and barely any veins.  It was well wrapped, but the cap was a bit sloppy.

Taste: The pre-light draw didn’t give any hint as to what the cigar would taste like, so it was quickly to flame. I always get a woody flavor with Connecticut wrappers and this didn’t fail me.  At first it was a very mild woodiness…very light.  But it wasn’t long before the wood jumped onto my tongue claiming its territory on my taste buds.  As it was dancing around, some spice decided to jump into the mix.  Unfortunately, that’s all there is to this cigar.  It’s consistent in flavor throughout, so if this flavor combo is for you, well, that’s a good thing.

Aroma: My sense of smell must be off, because I got nothing from this.  The smoke was nice and light, but even that didn’t have too much of an aroma.

Construction: Avo seems to not be as consistent in this area.  It’s been a problem with most of the Avos I’ve smoked.  The burn was inconsistent on this: weaving back and forth, side to side.  It never reached the point where it needed a touch-up with the lighter, but it’s not as good as it should be.  The draw was good though, on the medium to easy side.  The ash would hold to almost an inch before it fell off each time.  I almost wore it a couple of times.

Overall Impression: I’m torn because Avo makes good cigars.  Really good cigars.  The Classic, being a Connecticut, isn’t my favorite of his line.  At around $7 a stick for the No. 5, I can think of many other cigars I’d reach for before this one.  I’d also rather pay the higher price for the 787 if I’m going to get an Avo.  So, take it for what it’s worth.  However, the construction aside, this thing gave off smoke like a forest fire, which is always a plus for me, cause I love making smoke rings.  Again, I’ll come back and have this again, but it’s not on the top of my Avo list.

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I was sent a couple of these cigars from our sponsor, Tex Cigars.  When I got them, I was really impressed with the quality of the wrapper, and construction.  They look really tasty for a nice morning smoke.  It’s about 7:30am on Friday October 3rd, and I thought this cigar would go well with a nice cup of coffee.  Its also been a while since I have done a review for you guys, our loyal readers, so here we go!

Pre-light: As I pulled this out of my cello, the first thing I noticed was how well constructed this cigar was.  The wrapper was nice and smooth, with no major veins, and the wrapper was almost perfect. So far, judging by the appearance alone, this is going to be a nice smoke.  I ran it along the length of my nose to get a feel for how the smells came at me.  The first thing I noticed was that there was not a whole lot of smell coming from this cigar.  I did notice a slight creaminess with some spicy and light leathery notes, but they were not very strong.  I clipped this cigar with my newly sharpened Xikar cutter, and lit it up with my Ronson JetLite.

1/3: As I lit this cigar up, and took a few puffs, I got a nice hit of creamy smoothness, that I have come to expect in the lighter cigars.  As I continued down the cigar, the creaminess was consistent, without too many other flavors.  In an attempt to pull a few more flavors out of the cigar, I retrohaled it through my nasal passage.  Upon doing this, I got a little spiciness mixed in with that creaminess.  So far its been an enjoyable morning smoke.  The ash is firm and the burn is even.  After this 3rd, I decided to knock the ash off so I don’t drop it all over myself.

2/3:  As I continued on this cigar, the first thing I noticed was that the burn started to get a little wavy, but it wasn’t enough to worry about yet.  I was still getting the same creaminess flavor, with a little bit of leather on the background. The smoke was still very abundant, and I was enjoying this with my cup of coffee.  So far, if there is one word to use about this cigar… Its consistent.

3/3:  As I finished up this cigar, something was a little bit disconcerting.  I noticed a DARK DARK spot at the head.  It was leaking a dark fluid from it, almost like a dye, but  I am not really sure what it is.  I dried it off, and continued to smoke, but I found it odd that this spot came about.  If anyone knows what this might be, please let me know.  Here is a picture of the head and the dark spot:

I was really still enjoying this cigar, even with the small dark spot problem.  It was nice and creamy all the way down to the end.  The burn was still a little wavy, but the ash was holding tight, and I had to really knock it off the cigar to get it to drop.  So far I am impressed with this cigar.

Overall Impression:  Overall, first I want to thank Tex Cigars for the opportunity to smoke this cigar.  I usually smoke stronger cigars than this, but I was pleasantly surprised with the flavors, and the construction of this cigar.  I will smoke a few more of these I am sure.  If you like mild cigars in the morning, head on over to Tex Cigars and buy yourself some Monaco cigars!

-Scott

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Pre-light: I ran the cigar across the length of my nose on the pre-light, and got some faint hints of light coffee, and cream. This was smelling like just about every other connecticut wrapped cigar I’d ever had, so I wasn’t really sure I was going to like it. I clipped it with my palio cutter, and toasted the foot.

1/3: As I got into this cigar, the first thing I noticed as I started puffing on it was the strong creamy smoke coming from it. It wasn’t spicy, but it was there in abundance. Fairly sweet, with lots of creamy undertones, I was liking these first couple of puffs! At this point, the cigar was burning perfectly, with solid ash, and lots of smoke.

2/3: I continued to smoke this cigar while playing darts at the cigar shop. I found myself getting distracted from my game of darts because the flavors that were coming from this cigar were just THAT good. I was starting to get a hint of pepper/spice and that creaminess was still there in the foreground. I also noticed a few hints of coffee. This is a good cigar thus far, and I am now thinking about how I can make a purchase of a box.

3/3: I finished up this cigar wishing for more. not much changed between the 2/3 and this portion. I was still getting that creamy flavor with hints of coffee and pepper.

I nubbed this one until my fingers burnt. The contruction and burn were perfect all the way down to the end, and the flavors were great! I recommend you pick one of these up if you have the chance. I liked it so much, I got my local shop owner to order a box!

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This was another smoke that was given to me by Sam Leccia. I was awarded this smoke for participating in a video contest over on www.nublive.com, so I thought I would fire it up, and review it for our loyal readers. Here we go!

Pre-light: As I walked out to the deck with my laptop and the smoke in hand, I was excited. I don’t usually smoke the Connecticut wrapper smokes, as I find them a bit mild for my tastes, but I was really looking forward to this one, with my coffee.

I ran the cigar the length of my nose, as usual, and got some nice hints of light cocoa and creaminess. I cut the cigar with my ever trusty Palio cutter, and even though the ring gauge was a hefty 54, the palio had no issues cutting it. I took the cigar to my mouth, and performed the usual pre-light draw. I got those cocoa and creamy flavors in abundance, and knew this was going to be a good one with my coffee.

1/3: As I toasted the foot of this cigar with my tried and true Ronson Jetlite, I had to click the igniter a couple of times to toast the entire foot. This is no small cigar! As I lit up, right from the first puff, it was pure creaminess and cocoa enjoyment. The burn was a little wavy, but the ash was compacted tight. Thus far, this cigar was going great with my Jose’s Vanilla coffee.

2/3: As I got into the second third of this cigar, I almost forgot to take pictures because I was immersed deep in the flavors that started to come out. I was getting that cocoa and creamy flavor, along with a slight hint of woody earth and leather flavors. At this point, I am very impressed with this cigar, and I can see it becoming a regular in my rotation. As you can see in the picture below, the ash is holding pretty well at the middle of the second third. I finally ashed the cigar toward the end of second third.

3/3: As I was finishing up this cigar, it was apparent that I needed another one to light up right afterward, as I was seriously not looking forward to this cigar ending. I was getting alot of the creaminess, and the smoke was very smooth. The burn straightened out quite a bit, and the cocoa and leathery flavors had faded back into a background. I puffed on this thing, and pulled all the great creamy smoke I could out of this cigar.

All in all, I really enjoyed this cigar as a morning cigar, and I can see this definetly having a place in my morning smokes rotation. Once again, I feel like the Nub has hit it on the head. The fact that I don’t have to push through the first 1/4 inch to get to the good stuff, like I do with most cigars, is enough for me to REALLY enjoy it. If you haven’t tried a Nub yet, you don’t know what you’re missing, and I suggest you pick up a few boxes when they are released on April 1. Here is how it ended for me:

Just for fun, I had to try and stand it on its ash. I’d seen this done quite a few times, so I tried it just before the halfway mark with this cigar. Here is a fun picture of the result:

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Appearance: This is an average looking cigar. It won’t scream expensive and it doesn’t particularly scream tasty either. Its Connecticut wrapper is well wrapped even if it’s a dull matte that doesn’t show any hints of oils. There are few light veins, but all in all it’s quite a smooth-looking cigar.

Taste: This is where we start to have a problem. This is a mild cigar that has the signature Connecticut flavors of cedar and leather. Unfortunately, there was an unpleasant tannic undertone that followed each puff that only grew in intensity as I smoked this down. It overpowered any of the flavors and it has a finish that stays with you.

Aroma: Pre-light this had a slight grassy smell with a sweetness. The smoke, of which there was plenty, was light and not harsh.

Construction: Feeling along the body of this stick showed some inconsistencies. It was looser in some parts than in others and this showed in the burn which would turn haggard then correct itself and then turn haggard again. The loose ash was deceptively tricky as it would fall off onto my shirt even when it looked tight enough to hold for another puff. The draw was decent: not too loose, not too tight. I think that this could have been rolled better.

Overall: The tannic taste overpowered this cigar and made it too harsh to smoke. I had to put it down with a little more than two inches left. The construction problem could just be indicitive of this stick since I only had one to do the review with, but it was definitely a case of a poorly rolled cigar. At about $4 a stick it might be a bit too pricy to be a golf cigar for those of you that golf. I won’t judge the whole Olor de Cibao on this one stick, but so far the showing isn’t where I expected it to be.

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Size: 50×5 1/2 Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Connecticut – Ecuadorian Grown Binder: Sumatra – Mexican Grown Filler: Dominican Republic

Appearance: Coming in a nice glass tube, this cigar always looks great. The Connecticut wrapper is smooth and veinless. Today’s sample had hint of wrinkles where the wet wrapper dried after rolling. The double band adds to its visual appeal. This is a great gift cigar for the smoker who doesn’t smoke often and will truly appreciate the packaging.

Taste: A year in the humidor helped bring a little strength around to this stick. My first experiences with these showed an extremely mild cigar. It definitely ranged in the medium-body category today. After cutting this at an angle, which is how I prefer cutting torpedos and perfectos, I held it to my lips and took a pre-light draw. Spicy butter. Yes, that’s what I said. I lit it and immediately a dry, woody taste covered my tongue. Eventually a strong floral overtone would add into the mix with a hint of pepper popping up every now and then. Very smooth. Eventually the floral moved to the foreground and stayed there for the duration.

Aroma: Holding the wrapper to my nose, a light cedar wafted into my nostrils. Smelling the foot of the cigar brought the scent of roasted nuts. Mmmm. Upon lighting, the plentiful smoke smelled of light tobacco that wasn’t unpleasant.

Construction: I’ve not had a problem with The Griffin’s ever. Feeling the cigar, it was consistent in construction, not too firm yet not very giving. Even being a perfecto, this burned extremely well, the wind was the factor in any inconsistencies here. The snow white ash held wonderfully needing a forceful tap to break it. This cigar definitely holds up to the standards I hold for a Special Edition cigar.

Overall: I don’t know that I’d hold onto these any longer as the aging didn’t really affect much with this cigar except to add a little strength, but I do know that I’ll smoke these again. I’ve still one left and they can still be found at around $100 for a box of 10. Like I said, this makes a perfect gift cigar, and well, it is the season for giving, right?

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Appearance: This is a nice looking Connecticut wrapped cigar. Except for the band, which I think could be better printing quality (but hey we’re not smoking the band, right?), this cigar looks to be well rolled. The wrapper had a few prominent veins, but the wrapper was tight with no blemishes. Smooth and pristine, this cigar just looks good.

Taste: Now, admittedly, I’m not a huge Connecticut wrapper fan. But this cigar surprised me. Not complex at all, it delivers a consistent mix of earth and leather that just warmly sits on your tongue. Very smooth. It’s a mild cigar, to be sure, but flavorful..and did I say consistent? I was pleasantly surprised at how this cigar maintained it’s integrity throughout the whole of the smoke.

Aroma: Not a strong smelling cigar, holding the foot up to my nose I garnered the aroma of toasted pepper. Pleasant and not pungent. The smoke smelled like, well…smoke. Just pure raw tobacco aroma.

Construction: These things are just well made. Of the three that I had, they all burned wonderfully. A consistent, firm feel to them when squeezing with no soft spots or plugs. As I said, they burned wonderfully. Crisp and even the whole way through. Even when it was a little windy outside. The draw was firm but smooth and even.

Overall: This is a good slightly above average cigar. Consistent in flavor and construction, this cigar reminds me a lot of the Casa Torano, and at a slightly lower price tag. These are $79.99 for a box of 20. For the mild cigar lovers, or someone just looking for a good morning smoke, I suggest you try these out.

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