Humidor Short Dog

This is my 198th review here. Cannot say I am an expert, but definitely can say I have tried some cigars until now. And after reviewing 198 sticks... I think I have found the holy grail. Last year I have smoked the Black Market Esteli in Diamond size and absolutely loved it. Now - trying this version that staid quite a while in Cigar World's humidor - I was blown away. I was absolutely amazed how a 9 Euro cigar can be so...perfect. Let me explain. Smoked it for exactly 120 minutes and I was not taking it easy because it was so delicious. Imagine. A robusto lasting 120 minutes. This says a lot about its consistency and quality. The cigar. It looks good and feels good quality, but cannot say it says much other than...a decently made cigar with a great consistency. Then you light it up and... the journey starts. First part is a great mixture of flavours like raisins, toasted caramel, coffee, chocolate, wood, light black pepper (becomes stronger towards the end but in a good way). It feels oily to the touch but when you smoke it? My God what a fantastic feeling of rich oily creaminess - more like buttery oilness. Thick, consistent and delicious smoke from toke one to the last one. And there's more to the flavour. As you smoke it you discover it's somehow simple to detect the flavours but they are so many and rich. Roasted coffee and mild citrus and fruity flavours kick in after the first third. And it burns slow and even. No need to relight. No need to do anything to it just to enjoy. And what an enjoyment it is. Pure relaxation. And yes it is strong. Medium strong - but doesn't bother the back of the mouth like other stronger smokes do. Character. This is the word. A cigar with character. All in all it feels like happiness. And happiness is not something you can even buy or feel too often or find it on the street. And this little piece of happiness cost only 9 Euro?! I've smoked cigars 3 times the price that were nowhere near this one. Hell - I'm even afraid to post this review because now everyone will want to buy it and there won't be enough left for greedy me. I'd order a box right now but both my humidors are pretty packed. Ordering a few anyhow just to be sure. A cigar I recommend to ANY smoker. You don't even need fancy drinks and bullshit so called special occasions for it. Just get it. Get a glass of coffee, juice or hell even water or tea. Go on your terrace, balcony or whatever just light it up and... if you don't like it drop me a message and call me a lunatic. Peace and love, people!

Just when I was about to think that cheap cigars are crap...I bumped into Casa Culinaria Connecticut Belicoso and I was simply blown away. So smooth. So fruity. So aromatic and creamy - I think it's the first fruity cigar I ever smoked. Absolutely gorgeous from start to finish. 70 minutes smoking time. I feel like it is the type of cigar one can smoke on a daily basis - and goes great with easy drinks like wine or a juice. All in all - reminded me of a particular spring day when I was walking with my kindergarten colleagues - smelling the blossomed trees. Tasting the air. Innocent. Not knowing what life would bring and wouldn't even care back then. I'll definitely give more kisses to this delightful Belicoso. I recommend it with all my heart. Peace and love, ladies and gentlemen!

It is not an everyday thing for me to write about things that make me trip on life. Those I love and lost. Where I come from. Where I am. Love. Pain. Lust. Anger. Freedom. Hope. What a cigar, my friends. What a ride. Solid. Heavenly due to the thick smoke tickling senses in a raw, crude way. Hellish due to its rough thick smoke keeping your feet down to earth. Constructed to perfection. Not a single flaw. Burn is even and constant. Even after 2-3 minute pauses it keeps on delivering without needing lighter aid. Reminded me of the Sergeant in Toro size. Luciano are masters and the Underrated name is a precise description of what this cigar can do to a smoker. Smoked cigars 4 times the price that are little sissies to this proper smoke. Wood is king here. A mix of hard essence wood, cane, dry tree bark, toasty old leather, dark wet soils and some hints of dry fruits and hay. Punchy on the senses that are alive. A morning call to the taste buds. Reminds me of my good Grandfather I miss so much. Hard essence. Thick spine. Lover of life. I just hope you don’t smoke cigars and never tried a Luciano. Peace and love!

Got this in the Seleccion Sampler and hei - a very nice surprise for the money. And it's enough to give people a taste of the cubano flavours and mildness - which indeed is very different to most New World cigars. Smoked it for about 30 minutes. Processing is ok - with quick but even burn, easy to light and smoke - yet too airy and light for my taste. Aromas are there regardless of what I've been reading about it. Grassy, slightly creamy, fruity (summer fruits) and even sweet which I found weird but not unpleasant. There's some toasted chocolate hints and vague muddy soils flavours kicking here and there. All in all it feels like that guilty pleasure of eating McDonalds ice cream with caramel - a cheap looking cheap tasting cheaply priced desert that works so well sometimes. I think it's a good starter cigar as it's so mild. And for the money? Nothing more to ask really - yet it's not worth more. A morning coffee smoke if you ask me. Nothing fancy but nothing wrong with it. Especially for those who had no chance to try cubanos before the price craze - go ahead try it. I have a few more in the humidor to store for a while and see how they evolve. Peace and love and stop fronting be good to each other life's too short for bullshit.

Hats off, Luciano Cigars. By far one of the best if not the best cigar I have smoked in this price range. I've got it as a gift from a fella I've met in the CigarWorld lounge - hats off to you too, Sir. Smoked it for about 90 minutes and I was totally blown away from toke one to the very last. The stick looks solid, and it is also constructed that way. No flaws in the rolling, consistency and its overall looks. Cold draw already hinted this would be beautiful - with strong wood, leather and spicy aromas. Was easy to light up, with excellent draw and even burn. Already a big plus for a Toro priced at 10 Euro. Now the taste. To me this is what a cigar should be about. It somehow manages to englobe the strong tones of cigars like smoked wood, dried nuts, old leather, fertile brown soils - all mixed with dark chocolate, coffee and very subtle but key player dried fruits and dried flowers aromas. Creaminess is there also - just in the right amount considering the strength of the stick. I have smoked cigars at least double the price who delivered less on all fronts. An undeniable gem! All in all it felt like I felt after many years of psychoanalysis therapy - present. True to self. Built on solid ground. Ready to enjoy life in simple ways. And this my friends is one of the most fair cigars I've ever tried. Humidor full right now but planning to order a box to store for a while. And if you haven't tried it go ahead - and if you don't like it - drop me a message and call me cray-cray. Peace and love!

Quality/Price GEM alert! One of the very pleasant surprises. Smoked it easily for 2 full hours. Very well rolled, super condensed (which adds a bit of a disadvantage to the draw unless you stick it), good quality tobacco and a very pleasant, creamy and hefty smoke. Taste evolves around the dark fertile wet soils area, sprinkled with wood, nuts coffee, chocolate and leather. There's a bit of a toasty touch to it also, very light hints of pepper and a super pleasant vibe of exotic fruits kick your senses here and there. The mix is fabulous because it feels like a proper smoke. Heftiness is the word here. It simply satisfies a smokers desire without being too pretentious, but delivering very good quality for the money. All in all it feels like those pants you bought at a random tailor somewhere in Saigon - for which you paid a very good price but the quality and comfort last for years. Had no idea Villager can be so decent so yes I will smoke this again and will try more from them. Little issue as mentioned earlier with the draw because it is so condensed, but I d rather prefer stabbing a smoke a bit than having it too airy - only leaving me to wish for more. And yes - go ahead- try it if you haven't. Slim chances you would be disappointed. Peace and love!

When you are lucky enough to be able to test a wide range of cigars, rare moments occur when you bump into a true hidden gem. Plasencia Reserva 1898 Robusto is one of the most surprising discoveries in my quest for the perfect smokes. 70 minutes of pure smoking pleasure. And for the money - this is going to easily become one of my "alltime favs". Manufactured "by the book", with an excellent tobacco consistency, easy to light up and to smoke - although the burn is not perfectly even. Taste wise - you feel a punchy coffee feel from the first draw. Spiciness, roasted dark aromas (chocolate, wood, leather) and hints of nuts - yet a bit creamy - which only makes it better. It is not a pretentious flavour mix but it delivers exactly what the senses seek for in a perfect daily smoke. All in all it feels like life feels in those rare moments one can experience simple happiness. It feels like the Balloo bear from Jungle Book feels when he sings the famous "bare necessities" song. I will smoke it many times more and is already in my top cigar list. Again - probably the best cigar for the money I have tried so far. Full recommendation. Peace and love!

Now this is an excellent cigar. Hats down to the producers. 9.2/10. Smoking time approx 100 minutes. Built to perfection. Burning is excellent and draw is easy although it is a pretty strong cigar. The amount of smoke is absolutely impressive and the taste is delicious. Coca, little pepper, soil, nuts. What a delight! Also the labels are good quality and for this price it is an absolutely must have and smoke. All in all it felt like the first time in my life I've got a raise at work. Everything just felt right in that day. I felt confident, optimistic and strong. I will smoke it again for sure and recommend it 100%. Peace and love!

Maria Mancini is already on the top of my cigar producing companies. And this stick gives it the right to be there. And for the money - it is a steal. Duration approx 80 minutes. Well rolled, consistent and plenty of creamy smoke, light taste of grass, fruits and a bit of pepper. It is a wonderful simple smoke - great for the everyday. All in all it feels like those days when you walk down the street hand in hand with your significant other and... you just feel warm and proud and thankful about it all. Will smoke it again and again and again and I fully recommend it. Especially to beginners. Peace and love!

I already know from own experience that Maria Mancini produces super good cigars for the money they ask and this one is THE definition of value for your money. Approx 70 minutes of pure pleasure. The stick is dark and looks dangerous, but it is mild and pleasant to smoke -easy to be approached by beginners too. The manufacture of this joint looking cigar is impeccable. Cigars costing more than double the price are rolled with less care. The burn, the draw and the amount of smoke - all A++. Creaminess is there and the fruity aromas dominates the rest. All in all this is like my lucky coin.Not the most precious or best looking, but well done, always by my side and always delivering what I expect. This smoke goes straight in my permanent to have in the humidor. Great everyday smoke too. Full recommendation. Peace and love!

Now this is what I call value for your money. A delicious stick smoked for about 90 minutes, with a close to perfect construction, impeccable burn, easy to draw and a fabulous amount of creamy, slightly aromatic smoke. Reminds me of the AJ Fernandez New World Order sticks, only for a much better price. All in all it felt like the day I realised life is easier than I imagined as long as I also give and not just expect. A punchy, enjoyable epiphany. Will absolutely smoke again and you my dear reader should try it at least once. Peace and love!

Oh my. A very good smoke for 5.4 Eur. Enjoyment time: approx 80 min. Light, not the strongest aromas ever, but good hints of nut, hay, toast and wood. Very well built for the category of price, excellent burn, good ash collection and super awesome amount of smoke. Bit creamy too. All in all it felt like a cozy afternoon in the winter back in the 90s when I was a kid and was playing without a care on my parents carpet in the living room. Care free. Warm. Playful. Nothing out of the ordinary- yet everything you need. I ll try more from the brand and am fully recommend mending it - also good for beginners. Peace and love!

Excellent aroma blend, perfect creamy smoke amount, super well built, with nice ash building. Very good everyday smoke which is good for beginners too. See my other Maria Mancini reviews for more details. Fully recommended and price per value ratio is A++ Peace and love!

Such a lovely surprise. Smoking time approx 120 minutes. Excellently built, good leaf consistency and great quality overall. Burns nicely from start to finish, ash collection is like it should be and the amount of smoke is just right. No problems relighting it and combustion was constant and uniform all the time. The smoke is mildly creamy, and the flavours are just in the right mix - non of them being too strong or too hard to detect. Chocolate, a bit sweet, nuts, wood, a bit of soil, coffee, toast and even leather. Gorgeous smoke for a good price. All in all it felt like a four star hotel that really delivers fully on those four stars and doesn't leave you wondering what exactly is it that you paid here for. Will I smoke it again? 100%. Do I recommend it? A clear yes. I am planning to test other Kanedas really soon. Peace and love!