Carlos Torano Noventa Latin Torpedo Review

This is a large torpedo.  6.5X54 to be exact.

It has a light brown Nicaraguan wrapper with only small veins.

This thing is really tightly packed and has  no hard or soft spots.  It is a  really nice feeling cigar – it is quite heavy.

The Noventa smells very pungent but slightly sweet as well.  The smell reminds me of vinegar.

The first third is very mild smoke with a great cedary creamy and sweet flavor.  It has a slightly peppery finish that really lingers.  The draw started off very tight – it was much better after some rolling between the fingers and chewing.

The second third had a toasty sweet cedary core with a slightly bitter and peppery finish.  The finish reall lingers and could trick you into thinking this is a stronger cigar.  Despite this, it is still only in the medium range.

In the final third the wrapper and binder have begun to split on both of the samples I smoked.  This makes it a real struggle to smoke and is tunneling down one side.  This caused the draw to be difficult and the flavors to be dominated by very bitter pepper.

The Carlos Torano Noventa started of as a fantastic mild/medium cigar that was primarily sweet in flavor, and ended as a construction nightmare with full bodied bitter smoke.  This may be fantastic in a smaller vitola, but the samples I smoked were too big for their own good.  This cigar is also expensive at $8 to $10.  Make sure to buy in a small vitola if picking up one of these!

Rating:

Flavor and Taste: 16/20

Construction: 4/10

Wrapper: 5/5

Value: 6/10

Would I buy a Box: 3/5

Total: 34/50

]]> http://straightupcigars.com/?feed=rss2&p=1111 1 http://straightupcigars.com/?p=1103 http://straightupcigars.com/?p=1103#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:13:39 +0000 Matt http://straightupcigars.com/?p=1103

Cigar: Vengeance Maduro Ligero

Maker: Exclusive Cigars

Size: Super Toro 6 ¼ x 52

Prelight Inspection:

This is one of the best looking maduros I have seen since the release of the Pennsylvania maduros in the last couple years. It is thick enough to give it a leathery appearance but also has a decent amount of sheen to it. It is very firm and I really can’t find any flaws in the construction. The band is colorful, but also very dark so it does not detract from the maduro wrapper leaf. After the cut I am getting a nice medium pull, just enough restriction to let me know it is packed well. I am picking up a little bit of leather and spice from the wrapper, and a little sweetness is added when I sniff the foot. Well then, lets move on and get this sucker lit shall we.

1^st Third:

This cigar lit very well for an all ligero. I’m getting lots of smoke from this one. Initial flavors are a smooth leather base with some roasted nuts and a pinch of spice. The burn is starting off really well. After about a half inch I am starting to get some sweetness but it is very light and doesn’t hang around long. The finish is short and leaves me with a tangy, nutty flavor in my mouth.

2^nd Third:

Almost all at once the sweetness came right to the forefront. It tastes a lot like black cherry! Wow, I am really liking this flavor. After a few more pulls I am picking up some chocolate. The mixture of these flavors is really amazing. Burn is slow and near perfect. I don’t know how they did it, but this is the best burning ligero I have has thus far.

Last Third:

The trasition from the previous third added some coffee to the picture. These flavors are not overwhelming whatsoever. Every draw I take is loaded with smooth creamy flavors and I am only now starting to feel the ligero in my gut. This has really been similar to the Oliva Serie V in that the strength slowly creeps up on you. The cherry flavor is now slightly more tangy. Other reviews have stated that it has a dried apricot flavor, which I would have to agree with at this point. There is also a little more spice now, and I only detect some pepper when I retrohale. It’s not heating up at all so I am going to nub this one.

Conclusion:

Exclusive Cigars really have a winner here! This is the best maduro ligero I have had to date. All the classic maduro flavors are there with a very smooth character to bring down the strength. And the cherry flavor that comes in the second third really seals the deal. I realize these are hard to get because I was forced to buy a box just to try them. I took a gamble and it paid off big time. This is truly a WOW cigar…. Must Try! Look for these on cigarauctioneer if you want a good deal on a fantastic cigar.

Rating:

Flavor: 20/20

Construction: 10/10

Wrapper: 5/5

Value: 8/10

Would I buy a box?: 5/5

Total: 48/50

Bucanero Full Sail  Maduro Box Pressed Toro Review

This offering from Bucanero features a very dark, close to black, maduro wrapper with only very small veins.

It is packed very evenly and does not have any hard or soft spots.  I chose a punch and it really has a great draw when punched.

It has a very pungent barnyard smell from the well aged leaf.  It tastes very spicy when I am puffing on it before lighting.

I lit it up and found that it has really thick oily smoke – really pungent.  It is medium in body.  The first third had a very earthy core flavor with some bitter coffee and a hint of sweetness (maybe brown sugar) on the finish.

The second third increased to medium-full body.  It continued to have primarily earthy flavors and almond with some black pepper creeping into the lingering sweet, buttery finish. This reminded me of the taste of Nutella.

The final third started with a burn correction – the burn was nice  after the correction.  It  was quite full bodied, especially by the time it got down to the nub.  Lots of pepper with a deep coffee core and almond.  There was no more sweetness in this third, the finish spicy and slightly bitter.

The Full Sail was a nice peppery maduro that started out earthy and sweet, then ended spicy and full bodied.  It produced a lot of smoke – this made it really enjoyable.  The construction was decent with a great draw and 1 burn correction.  This is not a unique maduro, but you can tell that the tobacco was well aged and well rolled.  These factors add up to the Bucanero Full Sail being an excellent budget maduro!

Rating:
Flavor and Taste: 16/20
Construction: 8/10
Wrapper: 5/5
Value: 8/10
Would I buy a Box: 5/5
Total: 42/50

]]> http://straightupcigars.com/?feed=rss2&p=1093 3 http://straightupcigars.com/?p=1084 http://straightupcigars.com/?p=1084#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 06:18:53 +0000 Matt http://straightupcigars.com/?p=1084

Here comes another giveaway!

This time will be a little different… I have some extra goodies this time.  First and foremost, 3 cigars: Padilla Achilles, Cu Avana Intenso, and Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Maduro.  Next, a SUC t-shirt.  I have 3 sizes available: L, XL, and XXL – each in a few different colors.  Finally, a digital hygrometer with thermometer.

To enter, just let us know your favorite cigar.  This could be your go to cigar, or the best one you have ever had.  Just type it into the comments.  I will choose a winner at the time of my choosing, so don’t delay entering!

In order to enter, you must live in the states and be of legal smoking age.

Don’t forget to check out the forum and chatroom while you are here!

Cigar: Flor De Gonzalez Selection

Maker: Flor De Gonzalez

Size: Robusto 5×50 (Box Pressed)

Prelight Inspection:

The first thing I notice is the bright red band that immediately draws your attention. There is simple gold lettering on the band showing only the cigar name with three tobacco leaves. The words “Hand Made” and “Long Filler” appear on the back of the band. The wrapper leaf is a very thin, shiny Habano 2000 leaf. There is one small hole in the middle of the cigar but hardly any other flaws can be seen. Only a couple very tiny veins can be seen and they only run a few inches. This is a box pressed cigar and even though it looks firmly packed I found it to be just a little spongy. I was relieved after cutting the cap to find that the draw was not too open, just in the light to medium range. The aroma is very smooth with hints of a sweet spice. Lets light er’ up.

1^st Third:

This one lit very easily and looks to be burning true. Right of the bat I am getting a nice smooth earthy base with some nuts mixed in. There is almost no spice or pepper, just nice smooth medium bodied flavors. There is lots of smoke and this one is a good candidate for retrohaling. I’m liking it so far.

2^nd Third:

Smooth and creamy all the way. At some point a molasses flavor started edging in and is now leaving a nice subtle sugary taste on the finish. Combined with the earth and nuts it is a very tasty mix. After about 4 or 5 draws the molasses has started to fade out and the nuts have really pushed to the forefront. I am definitely getting an almond flavor now. As I approach the last third the molasses is back. This one is really fun and I like the complexity. Burn has been good although the ash is just a little loose and is only holding for about an inch before falling off.

Last Third:

The molasses has left the picture again and has been replaced with a coffee flavor. It is not overpowering and I would say it is still somewhere between medium and full bodied. As I approach the nub I am getting a little more of a toasty finish which gives the nuttiness more of a dry roasted flavor. Also there is now just a little pepper that is tingling the top of my gums. It is still very enjoyable and I am going to nub this one.

Conclusion:

This is one of the best medium bodied cigars I have had the pleasure of smoking in awhile. The flavors were smooth and refined and the burn was good. I enjoyed all 45 min. of this robusto. And the price point is really the icing on the cake. This size can be easily had for less than 3 bucks a stick. I was actually able to get mine at about 2 bucks a stick by bidding on them. For you medium bodied cigar fans this is a must try and at this price point you will probably want to get several and add them to your rotation.

Rating:

Flavor and Taste: 18/20

Construction: 8/10

Wrapper: 4/5

Price Point: 10/10

Would I buy a Box: 5/5

Total: 45/50

Rocky Patel Puro Cubano Robusto Review

The RP Puro Cubano was intended to be a full bodied cigar when it was being blended, but is being tagged as a medium body cigar.

The wrapper is a light chocolate brown with only very small veins, it really looks nice.

The cigar is packed very tightly but even all the way down.  I chose a punch and found the draw to be a bit loose, but not bad.

The wrapper of the Puro Cubano smells strongly of cedar and spice while the filler is very peppery.  It was very peppery when held in my mouth.

After lighting I was greeted by a cedar core with toasted almonds and a peppery finish.  The smoke was mild/medium in body.  The as was flaky and light gray – the first ash fell off very early.

The second third was a cedary cream with with toasted almonds and a peppery finish.  It was mostly the same as the first third.  It remained medium in body, but it is worth noting that it packed a significant nicotine punch.

The final third was once again mostly the same as the first and second, it had more black pepper and a strong spiciness crept into the finish.

Overall the Rocky Patel Puro Cubano was a one dimensional cigar, but was quite enjoyable.  Some may find this cigar boring, but it is a really a good smoke.  The burn was very close to perfect and did not require any corrections.  It also produced a lot of smoke.  With all of this in mind, don’t expect too much from it, but these are a good value.

Flavor and Taste:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14 15  16  17  18  19  20

Construction:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Wrapper:  1  2  3  4  5

Was it Worth the Price?  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10

Would I Buy an Entire Box?  1  2  3 4  5

Total Score:  41 out of 50

Chatroom was added about a month ago.  This has been a very successful addition, it is here to stay.

The t-shirts in the store have been updated with a white background around the logo.  You can now see the logo much better on the dark shirts.  Also, prices have been lowered!  Keep an eye out for free shipping deals through spreadshirt.  Also, I will be giving away a shirt very soon when the next shipment of them arrives.

Feedjit traffic feed was added to the sidebar.  I love this thing… it tracks who is visiting, when, where they are from, and what they view.  Fun to watch!

Tonight I added a game room.  Let me know if you think this thing is goofy, but I like it!

Today jonesie informed us on the forum that SUC has been ranked 21 in the top 50 cigar blogs… I’m stoked!  You can read more here

As always, new reviews coming right up!

Joya De Nicaragua Fuerte Serie B Robusto Review

This is a new cigar from Joya De Nicaragua that I am very excited to try!

The Colorado shade grown wrapper is a stunning dark brown color with only a couple of medium sized veins.

It smells really fantastic with a pungent spicy smell with a bit of peppermint.  I could not wait to get this thing lit up!

There is one hard spot in the middle of the cigar, but it is very firmly packed all the way through while remaining light in the hand.  I chose a punch and was surprised that the draw was as loose as it was – remember, this cigar feels very firmly packed.

After lighting I was hit with an incredibly bold start.  Full body right off the bat.  Pungent spicy pepper with a lingering bittersweet butter finish.  By the end of the first third a rich espresso flavor crept in.

The ash fell off early, but by the time the second third came around the flavors had really shifted.  It had a very chewy walnut flavor, still earthy and pungent, with a peppery spice finish.  The lingering bitter sweetness was still there as well!

The final third had a VERY bold and rich earthy, buttery coffee core followed by a slightly bitter pepper finish.  This third was full bodied to the max, but remained complex – a rare combination.  It burned evenly all the way down.

The JDN Fuerte Serie B takes complexity to a whole new level.  This is truly a fun smoke that remained full bodied the whole way.  This is not for the faint of heart, but if you are in for an adventure you have got to try one of these.  On top of all that, you can find them for about 3 bucks!

Flavor and Taste:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18 19  20

Construction:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10

Wrapper:  1  2  3  4  5

Was it Worth the Price?  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Would I Buy an Entire Box?  1  2  3  4  5

Total Score:  47 out of 50

Carlos Torano 1916 Robusto Review

I am back with a review of the Torano 1916 cameroon cigar.

I removed it from the cedar sheath and found that the cameroon wrapper is a beautiful chocolate brown with only a couple of medium sized veins.

The construction is nice – evenly packed and the slightest bit spongy.

I chose to cut this cigar and the draw was a little stiff.  After being cut and mouthed a bit, the wrapper at the head became loose, but never completely unraveled.

It has a very nice smell, lots of cedar with some peppermint.  Soft smelling, but smells good.

I lit it up and found the draw to be manageable, but tight.  The first third’s medium body smoke was exceptionally smooth and creamy.  It produced an overall flavor that I would liken to chicken broth.

The second third really got interesting – the 1916 produced tons of medium/full body smoke.  The second third was dominated by a toasty and earthy core with a buttery pepper finish.  I also tasted some vanilla in there.

The final third really kicked it up a notch to full body.  It still had the buttery and toasty flavor, but it developed a very spicy pepper finish.

Overall, this is a good cigar.  The construction was good with an even burn and lots of smoke.  The flavor was not complex, but far from dull.  It was not so powerful a cigar that it would knock anyone off of their toes, but it did reach full body strength by the time the final third rolled in.  I think most would enjoy this cigar.

Flavor and Taste:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16 17  18  19  20

Construction:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10

Wrapper:  1  2  3  4 5

Was it Worth the Price?  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10

Would I Buy an Entire Box?  1  2  3  4 5

Total Score:  42 out of 50

Cigar: LFD Ligero

Maker: La Flor Dominicana

Size: L400 (5.75×50)

Construction:

First thing I noticed was the very smooth and tightly wrapped Sumatra wrapper. It has a very even color and has absolutely no blemishes with only very small veins. Nice gold lettering on the band but still simple and classy. Looking at the foot I can see several shades of tobacco in the filler that are packed well. There are no soft spots anywhere. Basically this is a perfectly constructed cigar. After removing the cap with my Xikar the draw is pretty firm. It is not plugged but definitely requires a harder pull that I am comfortable with. We will see if it opens up when lit…..

1^st Third:

This cigar was a little hard to light and didn’t burn very even at first. Initial flavors are a cedar base with a decent amount of creaminess to mellow it out. There is just a hint of pepper with quite a bit of spice that lands squarely on the tongue. After a touch up the cigar is burning very well going into the second third.

2^nd Third:

The cigar has mellowed out even more. The draw has started to open up a bit and is helping to bring out more flavors. The pepper is almost gone now with the addition of some mixed nuts. Also this cigar is leaving a very light finish. Instead of the richness I get with most ligeros I am getting more of a citrus type of flavor coming through now. It keeps the cigar very fresh and light on the palate. I really can’t even put it in the full bodied category yet. It definitely does not lack any flavor or that ligero kick, but with the creaminess and the slight citrus flavor it really pulls back the intensity.

Last third:

Burn has continued very well with no more touchups needed. The ash has been a little flakey but really held on well. Base flavors are still cedar and spice with some mixed nuts. The citrus flavor is also a little stronger and lingers on the finish a little. Also, I am now detecting just a hint of mocha but it never builds to the level of the other flavors. This cigar has not been too complex but the overall flavor profile has been very enjoyable. I’m definitely gonna nub this one.

Conclusion:

This is a very well constructed cigar with a very unique flavor profile, especially for an all ligero blend. If you are someone who has been itching to try a little bolder cigar than this would be a great choice. It reminds me of the Oliva Serie V in that it remains mostly creamy and never really leaves the medium bodied category, yet has lots of spice and some of the ligero kick. I would have liked the draw to be a little more open but it did improve enough to make the last 2/3 very enjoyable.

Rating:

Flavor and Taste: 17/20

Construction: 9/10

Wrapper: 5/5

Price Point: 8/10

Would I buy a box 4/5

Total: 43/50