Canimao Torpedo

6 x 52 Torpedo

Wrapper - Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder - Ecuadorian Sumatra

Filler – Dominican and Nicaraguan

Strength – Medium

MSRP – $7.00

MADE IN MIAMI, USA

I first had the chance to smoke a Caniamo cigar 3 years ago at the 2007 IPCPR show in Las Vegas.  I distinctly remember them at the show for one, I loved their cigars, and two, we had the chance to sit and talk with Mel Gonzalez, President of Canimao Cigars.  Mel is very passionate about his cigars and takes pride in everything about them  He was very interested to watch our reactions to the cigars and studied us carefully. It was a great experience.

The brand name comes from a legend about a great Indian warrior named Canimao who sacrificed his life for the health of his beloved. Its actually a great story and you can read more about it on their website.

The torpedo is a 6 x 52 with a nice, fairly vein free Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper.  The Wrapper is light brown in color with a bit of a reddish tint to it. The band is simple and elegant, and is very easy to on the eyes.  Very attractive cigar all around.

The Torpedo is sturdy in your hand with no soft spots and seemed to be packed with tobacco.

When I first lit up this cigar the first thing that hit me was a blast of toasty woody flavors accompanied by a creamy finish.  The smoke was dry and abundant and after about a half of an inch into the Canimao, I picked up a very pleasant sweetness that went great with the toasty flavors of the cigar.

The aroma of the Canimao was absolutely amazing.  It had a sweetness to it that was very pleasant and inviting.  I’m not one to go out and describe the flavors and aromas of cigars with crazy descriptive nonsence that most couldn’t ever pinpoint but with the Canimao I picked up a very distinct roasted marshmallow aroma from the cigar.  It was very nice and very light.

At about the halfway point the cigar had not really changed, which wasn’t a bad thing at all. The cigar was still very toasty and I could feel the finish stay on my tongue.  The burn to this point was sharp, for the most part, and I think I corrected it one time throughout the cigar.  The ash was an impressive bright white and held strong.

The Canimao Torpedo finishes medium bodied with just a hint of pepper but for the most part doesn’t change much throughout, which like I said earlier, was not a bad thing.  It was extremely pleasant and burned for about and hour and 20 minutes.  This cigar is definitely for everybody.  It has complexity and great flavor yet is fluffy enough for the mild smokers to enjoy.

I was very pleased with this cigar.  I will definitely be smoking it again.

Like all great super-boutique cigars, the only downfall I can find in them is that they are hard to get your hands on. Still, at 7 bucks, its a no brainer.  I suggest you find some if you can, they are definitely worth it.

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]]> http://puffingcigars.com/cigar-reviews/canimao-torpedo/5185/feed/ 0 http://puffingcigars.com/cigar-reviews/dcrossier-golden-blend/4784/ http://puffingcigars.com/cigar-reviews/dcrossier-golden-blend/4784/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:00:01 +0000 Rob http://puffingcigars.com/?p=4784 Wrapper: Ecuador
Filler: Costa Rica & Dominican Republic
Size: Torpedo (6 1/8×52)
Strength: Medium

Today’s cigar up for review is the D’Crossier Diplomacy Series Golden Blend. I have been letting my box rest in the humidor for about 6 months due to the lack of time to really sit down and enjoy the smokes. However it appears like fate wanted me to enjoy these today as puffingcigars.com received a request to review it just as the weather cooled down, I finally got around to packing the samples for a friend on twitter (jnbcigars) and I received a phone call  from Santana (the owner of the brand) to talk…. cigars. So without further ado let’s talk about the D’Crossier Diplomacy Series Golden Blend torpedo.

From the D’Crossier Website:
“This eloquent and rare pyramid is inviting in its reddish colored wrapper. Enrobed in earthy and hazelnut notes it offers subtle sweetness to the palate with intermittent hints of spice. Typical of this complex and balanced blend, the smoke released is opulent, heady and almost intoxicating. Aromas of toasted chocolate and peppery caramel whisk you away to a majestic place. The nutty and cool finish remains in your memory, along with its tantalizing aroma. The head should be cut with measure to allow for maximum appreciation of the heady flavors.”

Construction: The D’Crossier website describes the cigar best as “inviting” with its “reddish colored wrapper“. Generally you will be able to locate a medium sized vein or two but they will not cause any issues during the burn process. It was a densely packed cigar that allowed just a bit of movement during the standard pinch test. You will not find soft sports or any other inadequacies with the cigar.

Draw: This specific D’ Crossier Golden Blend I was smoking is a torpedo (as you can tell from the size listing and pictures) so you have to use scissors or a regular cutter to get her open. Now that the obvious has been said you can rest assured that there will be a perfect draw. It requires just a bit of a tug and you will be rewarded with impeccable spicy, yet slightly creamy, smoke.

Burn: I always like to point out the pictures, that can be found below the “Final Verdict” section of this cigar review, so that you can get an immediate visual analysis of the burn. I would still like to tell you that the D’Crossier burned creating a slightly jagged edge but required no touch-ups via the lighter. The peppery ash was very thick and held on passed the midpoint of the cigar.

Flavor: I will not break the D’Crossier Diplomacy Series Golden Blend flavor section down to sections because it was so consistent from start to finish. However I do not want you to misinterpret that as the cigar was boring – it was a phenomenal smoke.

What I do mean by consistent is that the cigar had the primary flavors (for lack of better words) of tobacco, a subtle sweetness, a medium body peppery  spice and caramel. All of these flavors seemed to intertwine each taking front stage at different points of the smoke keeping my palate very happy. The smoke delivered was semi-creamy and smooth while the body always stayed in the medium range.

Final Verdict: I wholeheartedly suggest everyone goes out and tries the D’Crossier Diplomacy Series Golden Blend cigar. It has just the right amount of spice, sweetness and tobacco flavors that everyone with palates in the medium to full body will enjoy it. Additionally the flavor is so unique and smooth (all the way down to the nub) you can always go to it for variation in your smoking lineup.

Revolution 262 is a new cigar company that was formed in 2009 but seem to be taking the online cigar world by storm in 2010 with the release of the 262 Paradigm cigars. The company takes their name from the date of the Cuban Embargo (Feburary 1962) and has a “Manifesto” that calls for cigar smokers to “keep the freedoms and rights“.

Cigar information from the 262 website:
“Assembled in Honduras, this well-balanced cigar starts off with 3 fillers coming together to create a rich array of tastes. The Seco and Ligero tobaccos from the Esteli and Jalapa valleys in Nicaragua are blended with a Cubito tobacco, a Cuban-seed leaf grown in Columbia. The binder for the filler blend is Honduran with a Brazilian wrapper that pulls everything together to deliver notes of citrus, coffee and a dark chocolate finish.”

You can find out more about this new company, buy some cigars or check out the cool swag by visiting their website at http://www.smoketherevolution.com. Additionally you can connect to them socially via Twitter (revolutioncigar).

Construction: The 262 Paradigm Torpedo is a very beautiful stick. There are zero veins, it’s rolled very cleanly, the amount of tobacco is perfect to the touch – wow. Color on the 262 Paradigm Torpedo is the standard Brazilian dark brown and is again perfect (no splotches, streaks, etc).

Draw: With a torpedo cigar you really don’t have any options but to use the good ol’ guillotine or scissors and with that I have to say “Pick your poison“. 262 Paradigm Torpedo requires just a slight tug and generates the right amount of smoke.

Burn: I should admit that I am not quite the stickler when it comes to the burn of a cigar. As long as I don’t have to keep correcting it every 10 minutes I am happy. Needless to say this cigar burned just a little jagged. That’s it – nothing that effected the beautiful white ash or required any extra work during the smoking session.

Flavor: The 262 Paradigm Torpedo is not a very complex cigar. However when you have a great blend in the proper size you do not need it to change at every segment, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

During the first 1/3 of my 262 Paradigm Torpedo my palate was only getting a sense of the Brazilian wrapper that was used. I guess this is best described as that “Brazilian sweetness” and that’s just kind of the general flavor many cigars will generate using this wrapper.

However during the middle portion of the smoke I was able to pick up a very dry chocolate and maybe a hint of coffee. You are still going to pick up the “Brazilian sweetness” but it is being complimented very well. Overall the smoke is really smooth and easy to enjoy.

The final third (or so) of the 262 Paradigm Torpedo is perhaps my favorite section of the cigar. The body has slightly increased into the more full range. The wrapper or “Brazilian sweetness” has subdued, the dry chocolate is still in play and there is a very slight (yet enjoyable) bitterness.  Overall the smoke continues to be smooth and fulfilling after a great dinner or stiff drink.

Final Verdict: Paradigm is a brand new company that’s trying to get their foot in the door. So at this current time you just about have to buy the cigars from them directly (As an official B&M supporter we won’t hold that against them). This torpedo has a box price of $160 or about $8 a stick.  I think for the construction, amount of tobacco and the overall smoothness this is something you should pick up to add to your humidor. Especially to all of the Brazilian fans out there – you can’t go wrong.

In the world of cigars there is always a passion and love for tradition. Heritage and craftsmanship are the hallmarks of a strong line. When it comes to new lines and companies, there is often a sense of wariness attached to the viability of the new cigar product. It’s the old axiom of the young go-getter having to earn their stripes. Ascendancy to the pantheon of cigar greats is not guaranteed; it’s earned.

George A. Rico is one such heir apparent. He is probably best known for his 3 Siglos cigar, which was a blend he put together for his family line of Gran Habano. It received a warm initial reception and planted the seed (no pun intended) for him to branch out and start his own company G.A.R. G.A.R. are the initials of his name, George A. Rico, and it has the added affect of having a sonorous quality about it, that produces an edgy appeal.

Everything about his line is appealing to the younger generation, from his aggressive name and branding which is a faded heraldic shield enshrined by victors leaves, to his trendy webpage which encourages a life and culture of a life aggressively, and well lived. With all of this swagger and style, one question immediately comes to mind…

“Does his cigar deliver, or is it simply a case of style over substance?”

Construction: Every cigar lover knows that the key to a great smoke is great construction. The G.A.R. Vanguard has the beginnings of great construction, and falls short in only a few areas. The binding of the vanguard is tight, and the filler was packed in a pattern that allowed for maximization of a smooth draw. I would say the chief downfall of the cigar construction is in its wrapper. The wrapper at both ends was unraveling, and this caused for some initial burn problems. Another deficit with the wrapper is its generally pronounced veins, as this was the cause of the unraveling and tears that I and my compatriot experienced while smoking the vanguard. To be fair to G.A.R. though, the cigars were a day or two off the truck, and Arizona climate can be a tough acclimation process for any cigar. Regardless the binder and filler are well crafted, but the wrapper could use some work.

Draw: The draw of the G.A.R. Vanguard has an amazing profusion of smoke that pours through the channels of filler effortlessly. Throughout the process of smoking the Vanguard I had no relights or troubles with the draw, which is a testament to its solid craftsmanship.

Burn: The burn of the Vanguard brings up mixed emotions. For the first part of the cigar the ash was loose, and tended to dust off without encouragement from the smoker. Upon20reaching midpoint the story changed and the cigar had better ash construction that was solid and grey. Another aggravation of any cigar smoker is when they have to perform “surgery,” surgery is the process by which a smoker creates an even burn, when an uneven island of tobacco begins to form. The initial unraveling created an environment out of the gate that made for an uneven burn; upon a few microsurgeries I was able to obtain an even burn for the rest of the stick.

Flavor: The flavor of the G.A.R. Vanguard was consistent. Consistency is good, especially for the beginnings of your own line. The Vanguard is definitely a cigar of leathery notes and subtle initial spice. At first the palate is greeted with a hint of spice, but that quickly takes a back seat to the leather tones, as is reminiscent of walking into a men’s fine shoe store. There is a pleasant association rooted in a man’s psyche with olfactory smell that is wafted into his palate when greeted by a fine leather product. Perhaps it goes back to his hunter instinct, but whatever it is it speaks to a primal place, that makes a man feel right at home.The Vanguard does that well, but unfortunately where it falls a little short is the end.

A race is not told in the steps, but rather in the finish, and unfortunately just like with good writing, a good cigar wants to leave its audience with a strong finish. The vanguard burns hot at the end, and creates a singed palate, which in return compromises the taste previously developed in the earlier smoking experience. So while the cigar is a strong consistent flavor for the majority, it falls short in the endgame.

Overall Opinion: I appreciate young blood, and heir apparent scenarios. George Rico is carving a niche for himself in the cigar world one stick at a time. The Vanguard is a great start to what will inevitably be a bright future, but there are hurdles to overcome. The Vanguard is a great consistent cigar with a handful of areas to improve upon. Anyone who likes consistency will appreciate this cigar, and anyone who likes a cigar with distinct leathery notes will also appreciate what this stick brings to the table. While this is not the finest stick I have ever smoked, it is a work in progress and a good first step. So the final verdict is that it is good, but takes some work to truly enjoy it, and is ultimately a cigar that could benefit from a little redesign.

Siglo Limited Reserve is the new line of cigars being introduced by the Altadis U.S.A. cigar company. The Siglo Limited Reserve cigar line is a prime example of just how Altadis has put forth zero effort to be different in the cigar world.

They took the opportunity to name the cigar line after another cigar in Cuba called the…Siglo. Altadis was even kind enough to give it the same numbering structure using roman numerals. Making this cigar a complete knockoff is the band which happens to be the same layout/design and more importantly using the same symbolic colors.

Did you pay Cohiba for their ideas? Maybe just send a thank you card?

I wasn’t able to dig up too much information on this, surprisingly, really good smoke. The only lounge, retailer, or website that seemed to have any information was this short story I found about the new Siglo Limited Resrves.

“This is the first time they are making an exceptional Nicaraguan Cigar, handcrafted under the guidance of celebrated master blender Frank Llaneza. This cigar, characterized by it’s extraordinary boldness, complexity and a rich, fuller body. Siglo Limited Reserve’s bold flavor is derived from the finest Broadleaf binder and hand-selected Dominican and Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos, highlighted by a robust Ecuadorian Cubano wrapper.”

Construction: Your eyes will focus on nothing but the bright yellow shiny (and impossible to photograph) band. Shortly after you will say “Wow, that’s a rough looking cigar.” At least that’s how my first impression went on the Siglo Limited. The wrapper is semi-oily with a nice medium color. Veins can be seen and felt around the wrapper along with the wrap lines created by the rollers. It’s rough.

Draw: The Siglo Limited Reserve X has the perfect draw. Each puff will create lots of smooth slightly peppery smoke.

Burn: I don’t know why but I expected a Cuban wannabe  cigar to have a really ugly burn. Maybe it’s the memories of friends smoking fake Cuban cigars from Mexico. Either way this was not the case. You get a nice, even, perfect burn with a peppery colored solid ash.

Taste: As soon as your remove the cellophane wrapper from the Siglo Limited your nostrils will flare and a raw tobacco smell will enter your nose.

So let me just cut to the chase: The Altadis knockoff creation is a consistently good smoke that just delivers the flavors of cured tobacco leafs. It’s the no BS, give me what I want, keep it simple, don’t forget the silky-smooth smoke type of cigar that everyone can enjoy from time to time.

For everyone who wants some more specifics on the Siglo: A light spice will sit in the back of your throat until you finally put the nub down. At the midpoint you have a slight woody flavor that is quite enjoyable. The ending will deliver a nice leather flavor that barely increases the body.

Final Verdict: Siglo Limited Reserve can be had online and at the local B&M in the $5.xx-7.xx price range. Get over the rip-off design, forget the attempt to reference Cuban cigars, just ignore everything that is annoying and smoke this stick. Pick up the Siglo for your humidor and enjoy this good creation from Altadis. I also want to make note that the Siglo Limited and the “raw tobacco taste” does really well with some age.

The Oliva Serie G Maduro is a world class cigar that has a pricing point anyone can afford. I do not have much of an introduction to this amazing cigar. Read the review and follow my advice at the end.

Construction: Dark, oily, and looks like silk. Oliva G has got to have one of the best wrappers for the price of this cigar. I happened to smoke the torpedo during the photo session (actually remembered my phone) but every cigar in the line feels and looks absolutely wonderful. The lines on the wrapper were clean and the maduro cigar felt firm, but not too tight. There were no wrapper issues during smoking.

Draw: By the feel of the cigar I thought the G would have a slightly rough draw. I was wrong. Sorry for the doubt Oliva; this produced a perfect draw.

Burn: Perfectly even throughout the entire cigar, nice white ash that stays on, and it didn’t get too hot. Can I say anything else?

Taste: Oliva G Maduro gives you the full maduro taste without being overpowering, even for people who are not used to smoking maduros. From start to finish the G is just super creamy and leaves your pallet wanting more. Throughout the smoke you get a hint of coffee and dark chocolate. The spice from the Nicaraguan filler was introduced in the beginning of the cigar but seemed to fade out as I continued to smoke. Around the mid point of the cigar I would say the G really graduates to the big boy club. Everything that I thought was fantastic – turned GREAT.

Verdict Is: GET THIS CIGAR NOW. Add some to your humidor if you don’t have any already. This is the kind of cigar that you purchase by the box. If you must try it out first, which is understandable, you will also notice that this stick retails for about $4.00.

Again, if you are new to cigars, new to maduros, or afraid to try it because of the wrapper – don’t be. This is a great cigar that everyone will love.

Other Cigars:
Higher Priced: Casa Fuente by Arturo Fuente
Same Price: I would also consider the JFR Maduro by Tabacalera Tropical.
Lower Priced: Yet to be discovered.