Ashton VSG Belicoso No. 1

Wrapper: Ecuador Sun Grown
Filler: Dominican Republic
Size: Belicoso (5.25×52)
Strength: Full

Ashton VSG Belivoso is one of my all time favorite cigars. I was looking for a good way to introduce the VSG to you, the readers, but could do no better than the Ashton website it self. And after reading about who is involved in creating this amazing stick - you too will realize that the Ashton VSG is something special:

“For those who desire a powerful and intoxicating flavor with a complex rich finish, look no further than the Ashton VSG. The VSG is blended exclusively for Ashton by Carlos Fuente Jr. using 4 to 5 year old aged Dominican tobacco taken from the finest and most fertile plants. The distinct flavor of VSG comes from its wrapper grown on a private estate in Ecuador owned by the Oliva family where this proprietary wrapper leaf is grown for the Fuente Family exclusively for Ashton VSG.”

Construction: Dark, spicy, and perhaps rugged are just three words I would use to describe the look of the Ashton VSG wrapper. The Ecuadoran Sun Grown wrapper has an oily sheen that not only looks amazing, but makes this cigar such a great build. Little veins run through the firm stick but do not effect the cigar in a negative way. Smoking down to the nub will not be an issue with this perfectly rolled stick.

Draw: Belicoso shapes do not leave many options for obtaining your draw: Cut or V Cut.  Choose your preferred method of cutting and enjoy because the draw is perfect. In reality this is the kind of draw I wish every cigar had.

Burn: How picky do you want me to be about the burn? Had this cigar been in the 5 dollar range - I would say it was perfect. Except this cigar sits in the $10-$12 range (depending on markup, taxes, etc) so I have to say… the burn is good.  While it does get a little off track the stick did a great job of correcting itself.

Taste: Let’s start by giving the Virgin Sun Grown cigar the “nose” test. Doing so will give you an indication of the spice you will soon encounter, the sweetness, and what I would call a light moca smell.

The 1/3 of the cigar punches you with an amazing amount of spice - it is a medium-full bodied smoke from the start. Once you overcome the spice you get an amazing nutty flavor with a hint of coffee - or perhaps a light chocolate(?). The smoke is full and flavorful giving you a nice creamy finish and a firm white ash.

At the 2/3 point (midway of the cigar) the spice of the Ashton seems to die a bit and take backseat to a sweeter taste.  This “sweet” taste only introduces what’s to come: leather, woodsy,  and cedar like notes. The body is now in the full spectrum and the smoke is just as creamy. The ash is still white and firm but burned a little uneven.

Grand Finally: The VSG is still in the full range and the leather flavor is what dominates the smoke. The leather taste is supported by the spice (this spice never fades) and something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Perhaps it is a sweeter cedar - but it compliments it very nicely making the Ashton VSG easy to smoke to the nub. Again the smoke is creamy and the ash is firm and white. I would like to note the uneven burn corrected it self.

Verdict Is: This is a cigar you should have in your normal rotation and can easily be found in many retail tobacco establishments. I also found that the VSG is even more amazing when aged. So while this is a bit expensive to some (or anyone who smokes everyday) it is okay to buy some and save the VSG for that perfect day.

Other Cigars:

At this current time the only other cigar I can recomend (as in same spciy taste, full body smoke, and quality) is the Opus X.

Cubao #6

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Robusto #6 (5.5 x 52)
Strength: Full

Walk through any cigar bar, cigar lounge, or plain tobacco shop that sells cigars and you will see a plethora of cigar boxes. Some of the cigar boxes will have bright vivid colors splashed across the front, maybe they have a unique shape, or you see a combination of both.

What you might not notice is a box built with rough wood - that really looks like it has been sitting in the sun for years. Once you pick this up you will have two thoughts running through your mind: 1. This cigar is a low quality sham or 2. This stick has to be something great, and they can get away with it.

You can make your own decision, but before you do let me provide you with some information about the cigars inside the beat-up box: They are made by United Tobacco (the same company who makes 601), blended by Pepin Garcia, and wrapped with a Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper . Welcome to Cubao.

Construction: Milk Chocolate. That’s how I would have to describe the Cubao wrapper in two words. After smoking many of the Cubao’s and looking at the other cigars in the family I can tell you that the construction is high quality. Small veins seem to crawl the non-oily wrapper and you can usually see one going down the cigar - but it doesn’t effect the actual smoking. When the “pinch test” was done the Cubao felt a little less firm then I would have liked but does not come undone during smoking.

Draw: For most of the smoke sessions with the Cubao a punch was used (maybe I feel bad about making the robusto any shorter?). The draw was absolutely perfect but I tend to think cutting the cigar made it maybe a little too easy. Either way you will get a full mouth of thick, white, lovely smoke.

Burn: Cubao started the burn off a little bit jagged and seemed to stay that way throughout the smoke. It was really nothing to worry about. The rate of burn was perfect and it created a peppery ash that was easily removed with a simple tap.

Taste: Pre-light of the #6 was just as exciting as the actual smoke. I was instantly hit with a freight train of pepper.

First third of the cigar kept the pepper taste in full force. Each puff brought my pallet lots of enjoyment and ended with a bit of sweetness. There is something else to this great cigar that’s hard to pinpoint. It was complex. Smoking this Cubao reminded me of some Cubans other well traveled cigars I tend to enjoy.

Moving on to the middle of the robusto the enjoyment only continued. The complexity continued to increase as the smoke became more flavorful and full. Chocolate and coffee displaced the pepper as the primary flavor coming through. A “hoppy” beer is something that comes to mind when I try to discribe the other bitterness that comes through. Do not let the word “bitterness” scare you - It is a good addition to this cigar.

Eventually you will come to the final third of the cigar (its sad, I know). Chocolate and coffee remained as the primary flavors. You will find the “bite” of the Cubao #6 really pick up and stay with you a little longer with each draw. The smoke leaves a really creamy finish that, enjoyably, lingers.

Verdict Is: If you love complex, full bodied, perfect cigars - then go buy this now. This is a great buy that everyone should have in the humidor. Cubao #6 is only a $6 cigar that will put up a good fight, and win, against all the higher priced sticks.

I will buy even more boxes of the Cubao. Aging these cigars, while not necessary, should be amazing.

Other Cigars: I will edit this post when I can find cigars similar, and in the lower, same, higher price ranges. The only thing that comes to mind is the Oliva V.

Oliva Serie V Lancero

Wrapper: Habano Sun Grown
Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligero
Size: Lancero
Strength: Medium-Full

Bigger is better! To keep up with my true American way of life I have to have the big things. This includes a big million dollar house, next to my big powerful red 69 Camaro, protected by my big Rottweiler, and I need to smoke a big fat cigar: Oliva V. The only problem is I do not have the house, car, dog, and well… to go with the flow I’ll ditch the big cigar too (in terms of ring gauge).

Allow me to introduce you to the Oliva V Lancero. Seven inches in length and with a ring gauge of 38 this tasty Oliva cigar brings a slightly different taste to the “V” series of cigars. The reason is simple: There is more Habano Sun Grown relative to the Jalapa Valley Ligero filler.

Construction: The wrapper is a dark brown in color with a hint of oils on the wrapper (as this should describe any full-bodied cigar).  I would say this cigar is not as firm as other Serie V in larger sizes, but at the same time this was not a “loose” cigar. It was packed just right for the size.

Draw: Many people have expressed concern when I inform them of my intentions to smoke a lancero because sometimes you may get that “dud” that just wont draw. I think this only happens on the lower quality sticks. The V has given me no problems, ever. I have complete confidence in this stick as the draw has always been perfect.

Burn: My favorite quality about the lancero, especially one constructed as well as the Oliva V, has got to be the burn factor. I always have grate luck with this cigar burning even and at just the right rate. Obviously your cigar ash will not be as large/long as the fuller sized brothers - but I don’t care.

Taste: First puffs on the Serie V brings about a nice prominent woody profile with some very enjoyable nutty tones. You will also notice that this stick packs a great spiciness that really ties everything together.

The second third of the Oliva looses much of the spice, nut, and woody profiles.  Coffee and cocoa kick in that make the middle the most enjoyable (in my opinion).  A sweeter type of spice is still in the mix with the woody/nut hints protruding every so often.  Again this happens to be my favorite part of the cigar - and lets be thankful this section is so long.

The final third of the cigar is when the body really becomes “full“. You still have the great cocoa, woody, spice - just kind of hidden.  I want to go out on a limb and say that I was getting leather flavors but I’m not sure that was the case for every cigar. Oliva V is a quality cigar that ends very well and you will have no problem nubbing the smoke all the way down.

Verdict Is: Buy this. As stated in the introduction to this cigar you have more Habano Sun Grown wrapper relative to the Jalapa Valley Ligero filler. This means that the taste is somewhat different than what you might know as the “V” taste, or cigar profile.

So give this a shot and see where it fits with you. You may think it has that same V taste or maybe you will side with me and think of it as a whole new cigar that has its appropriate time to smoke. EITHER WAY: you are going to love this cigar - just get over the “ring gauge” issue . I took the liberty of going down to my local B&M and picking up a whole box to age (just to see how the cigars change).

CAO LX2 PRE-Review

CAO’s LX2 cigar line had much buzz at the 76th Annual IPCPR event.

I put some people to work and was able to obtain 20 CAO LX2 sticks in the Robusto size.

About the Cigar: As you may, or may not, know this is the new cigar by CAO that was created to hit the full-bodied market. The  CAO LX2 will combine a Nicaraguan wrapper and a Honduran binder. The filler is: Two different ligero fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua (hence L-X-2).

The Marketing: CAO always has great marketing behind it. The boxes are white based, black graphics, beautiful and unique looking. The bands, print material, and everything else about this cigar is very dark and clean. Heck, even if you don’t want to smoke this cigar you cant help but pick it up and look at it.

Quick Smoke: Let me start off by telling you that the CAO LX2 does the job and gives the full-bodied smokers attention. However as I have smoked about 3 of these CAO LX2 cigars so far I have to tell you this: The cigar was rushed out for the show.

You can taste how young the cigar really is and I know I am not getting its full effect or taste.

I could provide you with what I have experienced thus far but I do not want to give off the wrong impression.

Verdict Is: The CAO LX2 is really too new, too rushed, and not ready to smoke. I have put the cigars to rest in the humidor. I will let you know how they are prior to the official release date (no specific date was mentioned).

Punch Rare Corojo

Wrapper: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Honduras
Size: Double Corona
Strength: Full

It is said that the Punch Rare Corojo is a “rare” cigar that is limited due to the type of the reddish Sumatra wrapper leaves that are grown in the mountains of Ecuador. The Punch Rare Corojo was so rare that I was only able to find it in every cigar shop, multiple cigarette shops, and quite a few bong shops (when dialed).

Punch Rare Corjo is also not really a “corojo” because the wrapper is from Ecuador.

* Marketing students take note *

Construction: Overall a beautiful dark reddish boxed press cigar. The Punch box pressed design feels absolutely great in your hands. Wrapper wise it was perfectly wrapped, not too night and not loose in the least. The wrapper stays together perfectly while smoking.

Draw: The draw on the cigar was perfect and the right amount of smoke came through with each puff.

Burn: Again - just right. The ash even stayed on for about 50 minutes.

Taste: The moment you go to light the cigar you get an immediate sense of the spicy wrapper. I was excited, I was ready for a super spicy cigar! I was quickly disappointed. From the moment it was lit the Punch Rare Corojo started giving me a very distinct, horrible after taste. The smoke it self provided no real taste, no complexity, nothing for the pallet. Just the horrible aftertaste that I hope no other smoker ever experiences.

Cigars I would rather smoke:
Higher Priced - Ashton VSG
Same Price – Oliva G
Lower Priced - JFR