Humidor English John

The wrapper is a nice rich brown colour and smooth, the fill is slightly spongy so should burn well. The wrapper has a faint coffee-like smell and the cold draw is very free and has a tannic slightly coffee taste to it. It lit easily and appeared to burn well at first with a nice even edge. The taste was as expected, tannic and woody with a fruity exhaled smoke. Like many non Cubans seem to do the loose medium grey ash dropped at 1cm when I put it down. It produced an adequate but not voluminous amount of smoke but required a relight at the 25 minute mark. At about half way I noticed it started to burn down one side but I didn't bother correcting it as it didn't appear to be that bad. It got a little harsh around mid way so I tried a trick I read on an American website and blow back through the cigar. To my surprise it worked and the harshness disappeared, definitely one to remember. At the 2/3 point it tried to go out again so I tapped it off and sucked it back into life (we all know how that feels!) but the side burn got worse and then corrected itself at the very end. This cigar was very one dimensional and the flavour stayed the same throughout. I'd smoke one if offered but I won't buy another.

I was sent these in error instead of the Maduro version but decided to smoke them anyway. The construction is excellent, the outer is slightly veined but the cigar is very well packed with a slight bounce when squeezed. It burns very well with a compact light grey ash that didn't drop till it was half way through. It has a definite peppery taste that increases as it burns. If you take it all the way to the end it will last about 45 minutes and at 1.5 euros each these are great for an everyday smoke. I still prefer the sweetness of the maduro wrapper though.

As the name suggests its a maduro through and through (although a light version) and it looks gorgeous. It measures 13.8cm in length with a diameter of 1.51. After my last two disappointing smokes I was hoping for something good and I wasn't disappointed. The wrapper is smooth and dark with no trace of the oiliness I have read about from maduro wrappers. The label is very attractive indicating that it is hand made and it has an extra sleeve to indicate that it is the 2011 limited edition. The wrapper has a very slight scent of chocolate to it but the cold draw is slightly earthy. It lit very easily from the first match and the early indication were wood and spice and leather with the exhaled smoke having a definite fruity edge to it. It burned nicely with an even edge that never needed correcting and a very light ash, the first time I put it down it dropped its ash with a centimetre on it. It needed two relights, one at half way and then again at two thirds through but relit easily. A slight peppery taste began to develop around halfway and that got stronger towards the end but overall it was a good ninety minute smoke. The ash got denser in the final third and didn't drop so easily.

The first two of these I smoked had a distinctly sweet wrapper that made them very attractive to a newbie like me but this one was completely different. It was very nicely wrapped with no imperfections but it seemed firmer packed than usual with very little bounce when squeezed. Pre-lit it drew air freely with a hint of earth in the taste. I spoiled myself and lit it with a cigar match and it lit up very easily and started to burn very evenly, the exhaled smoke had that hint of sweetness I remembered but the overall taste of the cigar was woody but mild. This was the first time I have actually tasted a woody cigar. The little buggar started to burn unevenly at about the half way mark and went out. When I relit it, it continued to burn unevenly and after the next ash drop I noticed a hollow through the centre. It started to get warm for the last third and the taste changed to peppery so I bailed out at about the twenty minute mark. I've got another two of these as well as a corona and a toro so it will be interesting to see how they turn out.

The well read amongst you will recognise this as Cigar Aficionado's cigar of the year 2012 which was the reason I wanted to try it. At 15.24cm long and 58 ring size this box pressed cigar is the biggest I have smoked so far and the square shape did feel a little odd in my mouth at first. The cigar is a little overdressed in its presentation, it is cellophane wrapped and as well as its label it has a burgundy satin ribbon around the tip like a Rocky Patel. I have to say the label is beautiful and the first I have been inspired to remove and keep. The wrapper is very smooth with one or two visible veins and when moist it appeared that it has at least two caps. It was very well packed with a nice bounce when squeezed and the pre-lit draw was very free. I don't have that developed a palate yet but the pre-lit scents were definitely coffee and chocolate, a real mocha blend. I didn't get any of that when it was alight though. That easy draw made lighting it simple and my initial impression was that it was quite peppery but after the first inch that disappeared and the smoke was very smooth and mellow all the way to the end. I didn't really get any predominant flavours from it but what I did register was that it was a very clean and light taste and the smoke was very fragrant. The burn produced a nice firm ash but it didn't burn that neatly and required a little correction at first. After a while I just thought 'what the hell' and let it go how it wanted. I didn't notice any change in flavours and I'm glad to say that it didn't get hot but after 45 minutes and about 5cm from the end the damn thing went out. Now here's a contradiction, I think that I smoked this too fast but the ash drop was ragged and uneven which suggests it was too slow, opinions invited there guys. The RyJ Mille Fleurs that I had on holiday lasted well over an hour and was a smaller stick and burned much more evenly. One thing I will say is that it produces a massive nicotine hit so have something sweet to hand to contradict it. The jury is still out on whether to buy another.

For any of our readers that don't already know Drew Estate's Unico Series is what they do with their experimental cigars that don't fit in any other line but are too good to ditch such as the Feral Flying Pig. The L40 is John Drew's stab at a lancero which he doesn't actually favour. It is technically not a lancero as the ring gauge is 40 not 38 (hence L40) because he felt that he couldn't fit the blend he wanted into a 38 ring gauge. The length is 7" and the smoking time about two hours. This is billed as a strong cigar and not for beginners so take your time or greet the toilet. I did the former. The wrapper looks like a Maduro but it is patchy in colour almost like a bad dye job but apparently it is a Connecticut leaf. It was quite soft to the touch and had a sweet cocoa scent. Once cut the draw was very light and tasted of earth and pepper. This cigar lit easily and was soon producing lots of smoke and I mean lots. Even at rest it was billowing forth. The ash was a dense almost white and had the same texture as a Montecristo that I smoked a few weeks ago. The ash dropped at an inch and then every inch after that. The burn line was perfect and for the first five inches I could just walk away and leave this without fear of it going out like some that die when you look away from then. In fact it was so good that I sorted out all my packaging collection (boxes and bubble wrap) in the back of the garage. However when it got to the final two inches it wouldn't stay alight despite three relights so I let it go. As for the flavour? It started out mild with a nutty flavour and a hint of pepper on the finish. After the first inch it became more creamy with that same peppery finish. Into the second third and it developed a mineral like taste for a while until the creaminess reasserted itself at the half way mark. The pepper went away for a while and the nuttiness returned till the final third when the mineral taste and pepper staged a comeback necessitating a purge to take the edge off it. In summary this was a good cigar overall with transitions and interesting flavours but give me a Cohiba Lancero any day.

It's a good looking torpedo measuring 5.5" x53 with a slightly toothy Colorado Claro wrapper with a slight spring to it and a sweet Cuban tobacco smell. The construction looked perfect with a slightly splayed foot and once cut the cold draw was smooth and the wrapper had a little saltiness to it, not much in the way of flavour unlit. The cut end revealed a very tightly packed filler. It lit easily and was soon producing lots of smooth creamy smoke with a leathery flavour and the saltiness from the wrapper also persisted for a while. The ash dropped in my lap at around the inch mark and the burn needed correcting about half way down. This stick needed three relights and was getting quite soft but not hot towards the end. After the half way mark sone distinct toasted nut flavours developed along with a little pepperiness that increased into the final third. Overall a very nice cigar that lasted me a good ninety minutes but with so many more cigars to taste I wouldn't go so far as to get a box yet.

This cigar will be familiar to many of you but this was my first and smoked at JJs where it was recommended by the member of staff who served me. It was an unbanded stick selected from a cabinet of 50 but I didn't think to ask the age. It measured 5" x 60 and the wrapper was almost paperlike in texture with a sweet Cuban tobacco scent. I didn't notice any sweetness at first but taking a draw immediately after tasting Mark's RASS I immediately noticed the delicate sweetness of smoke that was recommended to me. The overall flavour for me was mild and leathery until about half way through when I was surprised by a transition that was almost pine-like in its astringency. What I enjoyed most about this cigar was the total lack of pepper all the way to the end. Smooth and mild throughout, just how I like it.

The wrapper is a classic dark maduro colour which was oily with a bit of tooth to it. The scent was pure rich chocolate and the cold draw was very light and dry with a light mocha flavour. It took two attempts to light but humidity was very high in my garage which probably contributed to the need for frequent relights. Once lit and put down it smoked like an Autumn bonfire and smelt rich and fruity. For the first time I experienced an oily feel on my lips which was very pleasant and the smoke was light, sweet and clean tasting. After 25 minutes it started to develop coffee flavours too. The ash was a very light grey and compact and it held on well. The burn started to go slightly askew after the first inch but it corrected itself with no help needed. This cigar lasted me two hours and that clean mouth feel is still with me two hours later, highly recommended.

Here's a petit corona that will be known to a lot of you I suspect. Measuring 5.12" with a ring gauge of 43 this is a firmly packed little stick, no softies here though maybe a little springiness when squeezed. The wrapper was quite rustic looking with an oily look and the smell was simple good Cuban tobacco, I couldn't detect any flavour notes on this one. Once cut the unlit draw offered a little resistance and tasted peppery with a hint of caramel and gave my tongue a little chilli sting. The first few draws really surprised me because they were ever so slightly salty, haven't tasted that before. It settled down a very creamy and smooth smoke which needed a good drag to keep it going. This cigar wasn't plugged but she was going to make me work for it. The ash was a dark dirty grey and the burn was dead straight all the way but she needed a few relights, possibly due to the ambient humidity which was around 84%. The pepper increased throughout the hour and a quarter that it lasted and it started to get a bit bitter in the final third despite being purged. Not a cigar that I would turn down but equally not one that I would seek out.

The fill on this corona was very loose and springy and the wrapper really had no discernible scent, not even the cedar lining of the tubo. Once cut the draw was light and easy but once again I couldn't make out any real flavour. It lit very easily and burned nicely all the way to the end with no need for a relight despite the humidity in my garage being at 91%. The burn line remained clean and sharp and the mid-grey ash dropped at about an inch. The initial taste was light and leathery and the exhaled smoke had a definite dried fruit scent to it. Into the second third and the taste became creamy with a hint of pepper at the back of the palate. The final third became more peppery and started to become bitter and with just over an inch to go it started to get warmer than I like so I left it there at 42 minutes. My initial thought was that this would be a nice reasonably priced stick to pick up if I was out and about but afterwards I noticed a cigarette like aftertaste that has put me right off.

This petit corona measures just over 5" with a ring gauge of 42 and took me an hour and a quarter to smoke with a few relights. We are all familiar with the Cohiba band and I had no worries about this being a fake as it came in the preservador that my wife bought me from our sponsors. The wrapper was quite bumpy with an oily appearance and the fill was soft. It had a rich sweet scent and once cut the cold draw had a hint of toast with a little pepper or chilli on my tongue. The cold draw was the tightest I've experienced so far. Once lit the flavour was initially woody with a hint of creaminess and the burn line was sharp and defined. After about 20 minutes I could taste a flavour like a mild smoked tea and very nice it was too. I have noticed that Cubans appear to hold onto their ash longer than the NCs and I was just about to take a photo when it dropped in my lap at about an inch, good job I wasn't indoors. After 30 minutes it needed a relight and once again I got the flavour of toast for a short while. Half way in it developed a little pepperiness then the smoked tea flavour returned for the last third till it got a bit harsh around the final inch. Like my previous review I would definitely accept one of these if offered but they won't be high on my 'to buy' list.

If you're looking for dramatic flavour changes and strong ones at that then Cuban is not for you but if you want an hour and half of smooth creamy mellow smoke then this could be right up your street. The Regios comes in at 5" with a ring gauge of 48, it will just fit the average cutter. The wrapper is a light caramel colour and has a light caramel scent to match. Mine was well packed and firm, the cap looked particularly neat and tidy and there was a small split in the wrapper half way down where it had taken a knock but I wasn't worried, it burned right through it with no problems. The cap punched very cleanly with no effort but I forgot so taste it cold, sorry guys. Once lit the draw was very free and easy and it produced plenty of smooth and creamy smoke. Apart from a little burst of fruitiness at the 25 minute mark and a little pepper towards the end it stayed smooth and creamy for the duration. Unlike the NCs I have smoked the ash was in no hurry to drop off and was white in colour. It burned a little to the side at the 45 minute mark and needed a relight at 53 minutes so I combined that with a correction and it was fine all the way to the end burning right through the split as I mentioned. Worth mentioning that this cigar has a very nice clean aftertaste, you won't be reaching for the mints with this one. I shall definitely being buying some more of these.

This is my first cigar from Ecuador and it wasn't bad at all. Hand made it has an Ecuadorian wrapper and binder but is filled with tobacco from the Dominican Republic. It measures in at 13cm long with a diameter of 1.83cm. The label is smart and modern in red and silver with an extra band on the foot. It is very nicely constructed and the wrapper is very smooth and a chocolate brown colour. The wrapper smells faintly of leather and the initial cold draw is definitely earthy. It took two goes to light it and the first taste was creamy and smooth with no pepper at all, the exhaled smoke was fruity and rich. Like a lot of NC cigars the ash dropped at about a centimetre when I first put it down. The overall taste for the first third was tannic and leathery but mild. I noticed a tendency to burn a bit lopsided but found that if I put it down with the unburned side up it corrected itself nicely and it never required any relighting. Into the second third and it started to get a little peppery but to my surprise just after the half way mark it went back to the smooth and creamy taste again. After an hour and a quarter I could feel the nicotine starting to kick in so I let it go but it would have gone a good hour and a half. This would be a nice cigar for fellow newbies wanting to try something non-Cuban but I probably won't buy another.