Review of the Padilla Corojo Edicion Especial 2006

-by Kingjoey

     I got a box of these in from Cigars International as a "daily smoke" (not that I smoke cigars everyday, but you get my point).  As the supply of Padilla Achilles is getting scarce, CI sent me these Corojos instead.  These seemed like a well-made cigar, but had a hint of green when smelled so I set them in the humidor awhile to let them smooth out a bit.  Over the past few weeks I've been having one of these occasionally to see how they've been progressing.  Overall, this has been a surprisingly good stick.  It has a very mild flavor yet is very complex.  It has a slight nutty note and hints of pepper and cedar with a little greeness peeking through as well.  Although the wrapper is corojo, it has slight notes similar to that of claro wrappers, which was really odd yet pleasant.

     The filler is moderate in density yet the press seems a little uneven.  When initially lighting it takes a few minutes to develop an steady and even burn, with slight uneveness ocassionally but nothing requiring a touch-up.  The cigar is a good smoke, best taken slowly to ensure a cool burn.  The tobacco is Nicaraguan, but lacked the strong notes and spice typical of leaf from that country.  I would have guessed it to be Honduran in origin by the flavor.

     These cigars are a very good value, but not as good as the Pepinesque "Achilles" torpedoes that I was ordering it.  Great daily smoke and excellently priced, but not as good as most of the Padilla line.  Lots of cigar critics have given this one high marks, but I was only moderately impressed.  I guess those of us who have to buy the cigars we critique are a little harder to impress.  Good smoke for the money and will definitely be in the humidor here as long as they are available, but overall it is a moderately good cigar IMO.

Pricing: (10/10) With a per stick price of about $2.50 from CI, its an excellent value, tough to find good cigars at a "daily smoke" price.

Flavor: (7.5/10) As stated earlier, it had subtle notes that were great, but overall the smoke was a little tart and unfulfilling.

Construction: (8.0/10) Well rolled, the wrapper is pretty smooth with no pronounced veins or oily texture.  As stated earlier, the filler is a little uneven and can cause a slighly uneven burn at times.

"Wheelchair Weed" Factor: (6.0/10) Considering that Padilla normally rolls a pretty mean stick, this one is pretty tame.  I'm not Winston Churchill, but I could smoke these all day and not be any worse for wear.



Review of Perdomo Reserve Maduro 10th Anniversary

-by Kingjoey

     Picked up this one at House of Cigars in Mesa the other night.  After letting it sit in the humidor for around a week I decided to bust this gem out today while doing some office work (gotta love my job).

     I'm not a huge fan of Perdomos, but this one was pretty impressive.  The filler is moderately dense, not too tight as to create a hard draw, not too loose as to cause a hot burn.  A momentary roast was sufficient to light this beast and it quickly developed a nice even burn line, didn't have to touch up with a match at any point in the session.  Roll quality was very good and the wrapper was dark, with just a hint of veins and oil.

    The first thing I noticed about this cigar was that it was very full-flavored, right on the verge of being overpowering.  This is definitely not a stogie for the uninitiated, the flavor was wonderful and complex yet very, very strong.  I would say that a good comparison would be espresso versus coffee, same basic ingredients and flavor, just vast differences in concentration and potency.

     I was a little concerned at first, worrying that the flavor was going to build up into a tart and tarry mess by the time I neared the end of the session, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the flavor stayed pretty consistent and didn't get unpleasant at any point.  Sort of like running an engine with an 8000rpm redline at 7900rpm for an hour, this cigar ran "balls out" the entire session.

     This cigar is Nicaraguan wrapped with Nicaraguan filler.........for those that know anything about Nicaraguan tobaccos, it should give you a pretty good idea of the strength of flavor and effect.  This was reminiscent of an Joya de Nicaragua with an even stronger kick.  By taking my time and smoking this slowly, the flavor was consistent and the cigar had time to burn off any oil and tar buildup and not get any hot or ashy draws.

     Overall I was pretty impressed with this stick, reasonably priced and good quality, a little strong flavored for my liking but I will definitely get a few more in to enjoy at a later date.

Pricing: (8.5/10) For a cigar in this category the pricing isn't bad, at about $8/stick at your local shop and about $6/stick if you order in a box, its not a daily smoke but its a good value and a lot of cigar for the money.

Flavor: (9/10) Very strong flavored, may be overpowering for some.  I found the flavor to be distinctly Nicaraguan with coffee notes and a hint of pepper.  Didn't build up on the palate and would probably go well with about any beverage surprisingly, I would probably pair it with a lager.

Construction: (9/10) Very well rolled, straight as an arrow and very evenly filled.  No voids were noticed and the filler was fairly dense.  No issues of the cigar trying to unravel at any time.

"Wheelchair Weed" Factor: (9.5/10) This one packs a helluva punch, wasn't brutal but still not one to be trifled with.  Take your time enjoying this little gem or you're going to wonder why the floor keeps moving.  Smoke this with the same patience that you would a JDN Antano 1970 and you'll be pleasantly surprised.



Review of Strongbow Cider

-by Kingjoey

     As a long-time fan of hard ciders, this one is pretty easy review.  This isn't a "beer guy" trying something different, this is a review coming from a "beer guy" who also is a seasoned "cider guy" (and "scotch guy" for that matter).

     Strongbow is a cider that has been around for years but is finally getting some traction here in the US.  One of the few truly good things made in England, a country not really known for flavor or cuisine, this beverage really hits the spot.  This is definitely a cold-weather beverage, having a bit more sugars than your average lager it can seem a bit "heavy" in warm weather.  Usually around Thanksgiving I cut back on the lagers and pale ales and switch to ciders and stout beers which tend to go down better in cold weather and keep your belly warm.

     This cider fills a nice void between Woodpecker English Cider which tends to be a little "watered down" and bland, and Woodchuck Vermont Cider which tends to be a little "syrupy" and overly sweet.  The flavor is crisp and semi-dry but doesn't tend to be overpowering in any particular aspect.  Like most other canned beverages, this should be served cold and in a glass, not consumed directly from the can.  Not too acidic, not too sweet, this goes down smooth and doesn't leave you with "sweetbelly" after a few pints.  Strongbow is becoming more easy to find, with most finer stores having it on the shelves lately.  Even our local "Frys" grocery stores in AZ are carrying it now.  Some pubs even have in on tap, which is a real treat.  Even after a few quarts, this is still surprisingly easy on the stomach.

     In my opinion, this is best served in a cold quart mug and is a perfect compliment to pizza, steak, or anything else not terribly greasy or spicy.

Overall rating: 8.0 out of 10

"Election 2012" (or "why we're gonna get pooched again")

     It seems that we are heading for yet another trainwreck of an election this year.  In its infinite stupidity, the GOP is offering up a wide array of RINO's, has-beens, and nutjobs when they really should have been looking for someone a bit more "Reaganesque".  The current administration has put this country on the fast-track to hell and we need someone with the testicular fortitude to say "enough of this crap" and make the responsible budget decisions (like cutting gov't spending in half) before this country ends up bankrupt.

     The core problem is that politicians don't have their constituents well-being or viability of the country in mind.  They just hope that the country doesn't crash on their watch, sort of like a big game of "musical chairs" except we'll all be broke when the music stops.  We need someone to get in the White House and start investigating (and prosecuting) the corruption done by the current administration, instead of giving them a "free pass" like every prior successor has.  The corruption has boiled to the surface and we keep letting these idiots raise the debt limit so they can funnel more money into scams like Solyndra.  Enough is enough, vote for the optimal candidate, not the one chosen for you by the babboons in the GOP decision-making committees.  A political party is nothing more than a union for politicians, its time to look past the distraction of party shenanigans and demand real change in this country.  If Reagan was alive today I think he'd be sorely disappointed that we went from fighting Communists to electing them in just a few short years.



Review of Cohiba Black Gigante (6"x60)

-by Kingjoey

    Was actually a bit surprised at this one, I'm not normally a fan of most Cohibas and find them to be a bit overrated (and overpriced) for what they are.  This one was purchased in Puerto Rico and allowed to rest in the humidor awhile before enjoying.  With its dark maduro wrapper and pungent filler, I was expecting this big stick to be the legal equivalant of "wheelchair weed" like the LFD Double Ligero 700, it was actually quite smooth and didn't make my head or stomach woozy.

     First impressions.....difficult to light with a match, there's a lot of filler rolled up fairly tight, definitely need a torch to roast this stick properly.  Burn was a bit uneven for the first inch, looked like there may have been some slight voids causing issues near the end.  After that first inch, the burn improved dramatically and the smoke and draw was smooth and consistent.  As the session progressed, I found that the smoke stayed very consistent, and definitely letting you know there was plenty of dark leaf filler in there, full flavored yet not sour or tarry.  At the last bit of the session, the cigar quickly developed tar build-up which could not be flashed off for long.  About the time it got near where the band would be, the cigar let me know in no uncertain terms that the session was over.  The most surprising thing was how short the session was, total time was around 45-50 minutes.  For a cigar of that size, density, and darkness, I was really expecting closer to 90 minutes of smoking enjoyment.

     Overall, it was a great cigar.  Not too strong and very consistent.  Was really surprised at how tame it was, the flavor was lighter than the Cohiba XV even though this cigar was larger and darker.

Pricing: (7/10) Like all Cohibas, they tend to be a bit pricey compared to similar quality cigars.  I would definitely buy these by the box, at an average of $15/ea on a single stick basis, the $11/ea box price makes the pocketbook cringe a little less at the prospect of buying Cohibas.  Still, at $11/ea there is plenty of other cigars out there that are comparable and damn near half the cost.

Flavor: (9/10) Unlike most Cohibas, this had a distinctly wonderful flavor without much buildup on the palate.  Could have easy paired this cigar with a Newcastle Ale or Boddingtons and been in no danger of either one overpowering the other.  A truly heavy cigar that doesn't require single-malt to scrub the palate.

Construction: (9/10) Very well rolled, as stated previously there seemed to be some mild voids near the end, but overall it seemed top notch.  The density and shape were damn-near perfect.

"Wheelchair Weed" Factor: (7.5/10) As stated previously, I was really expecting this one to be a "wrecking ball".  After 15+ years of smoking cigars I still occasionally find one that knocks me in the dirt, but this one was not in that category.  Smooth smoke that didn't make my head or stomach feel amiss.  Left me with a smile on my face and feeling sharp.

Review of Gurkha Triple Ligero (6.1"x52)

-by Kingjoey

     Was shopping around on Cigars International when I stumbled across the Gurkha "Triple Ligero".  With my love for all things ligero and with how much happiness one can have with a double ligero cigar, I figured a triple ligero cigar should bring about 50% more happiness.  Considering that Gurkha tends to roll a pretty decent stick and with a triple dose of ligero leaves tucked in there for good measure, I got a box of them in.  I let them rest in the humidor for about 3 weeks to ensure even moisture content throughout the cigar since I was anticipating this being what I like to refer to as a "religious cigar", meaning that after smoking it you will see Buddha, Moses, Confucious, and lots of other people you wouldn't recognize.

     First impressions........lit really easily and even, developing a very crisp burn line all the way around within the first few puffs.  The initial inch of the stick was smooth but slightly ashy in flavor, but the cigar was letting me know that the stage fright was almost over and there was a helluva show coming soon.  By mid-session the flavor was full and complex, hints of earthiness let you know this cigar has that distinct note unique to Honduran tobacco.  The Brazilian maduro wrapper has a moderate amount of oil but isn't greasy to the touch, a very unique wrapper which adds a subtle spicy note to each draw.  Towards the end of the session, the flavor gets a bit overpowering and slightly tart, but fortunately this occurs right about the time your fingers are getting singed.  Pretty consistent flavor and draw through 3/4 of the session, and the punch of the ligero leaves is mild yet appreciable.  It left me with a calm stomach, feeling like the room may be trying to move but not succeeding, and with a slightly lopsided grin on my face.  Not the brute tour de force I was expecting, but still a potent smoke.  Total session time runs right about 40-45 minutes.  Definitely will be keeping a few of these in the humidor for the foreseeable future.

Pricing: (10/10) The per stick cost on these beauties was right at $4/ea from Cigars International, which is a phenomenal price for a good ligero cigar.  Its a little too pricey to fall into "daily smoke" territory, but then again, smoking a strong ligero cigar like this is generally reserved as an occasional treat.

Flavor: (8.5/10)  This is a strong full-flavored cigar, but the tones inherent in Honduran ligero can be a bit overpowering in large quantities.  Generally for ligero-heavy cigars, I prefer the smoother Nicaraguan or Dominican fillers.  All in all though, the flavor was pretty smooth from beginning to end, just a little too feisty towards the end.

Construction: (8/10)  The cigar is well-rolled and has a very straight profile, however, the maduro wrapper is a little more veiny than I'd expect from Gurkha and the filler seemed to make for a slightly uneven burn just outside the core which made ashing a little inconsistent at times.

"Wheelchair Weed" factor: (8/10)  This stick was potent, but overall it was surprisingly tame.  Definitely packs a punch, but it was pretty mild compared to something like an LFD Double Ligero of similar ring size and length.  It reminded me a lot of the Oliva Cain, strong but not a hard-hitter.  Definitely wouldn't want to smoke two of them back-to-back, but was expecting a little more of a dumb grin on my face than I got.  My stomach was a little unhappy, but I hadn't eaten much so that was to be expected.  Had another one the following day with a full stomach and felt great.