IPCPR is only days away and for most bloggers thats the trip we most look forward to every year. At one point I probably felt the same way. Nowadays I’m a fan of smaller, regional, local events. Last year we had that Atlanta Cigar Tweetup and I hope that event goes on again later this year. New to my calendar is an event, that even though Stogie Review is listed as a co-host, our friends at the Tiki Bar Online have really done all the work. The event is the Chattanooga Cigar Tweetup to be held next month between August 12-13. I’ll have an actual post detailing the events but wanted to put a heads up here. I’ll be there and I also think Brian Hewitt will be attending. The highlight for me is checking out the Chattanooga Lookouts (a minor league baseball team) and enjoying fine cigars. I’m also hoping to hang with some of the fine ladies from the Lady Cigar Smokers of Chattanooga club.
Jose Seija – I’m not exactly sure what the actual/official name of this cigar is as far as it’s line but it was pretty darn enjoyable. I have no idea where/how I acquired it. Obviously somewhere in my travels a BOTL gifted it to me. Solid medium body cigar, razor sharp burn and nice saturation of coffee and nutty flavors. I’m not often surprised by a cigar but this Jose Seija definitely surprised me.
Partagas Benji Menendez Master Series – Wow! Wow! What a cigar!? The only said part about the Partagas Benji Menendez Master Series is its limited edition status. If you see them anywhere, jump on them. The blend, anchored by a beautiful chocolate brown Cameroon wrapper, only gets better and better as time goes by. Seriously, if you see them someplace, let me know.
La Palina 1896 – La Palina has been a big supporter of Stogie Review the past year. I’ll be honest, we probably couldn’t continue to upgrade our servers without them. That said, I’m always hit or miss with some of the La Palina line but when it comes to the 1896, our friend Bill Paley hit a grandslam. The 1896 is one of those cigars that cannot/will not be rushed. The best time to enjoy a La Palina 1896 is with a blue sky breeze and when your only worry in the world is if the tide gonna reach your chair.
CAO La Traviata Maduro – In its year on the market, the CAO La Traviata Maduro has quickly become a classic cigar. Featured many times here in the Week in Smoke. Its something that I crave every time I see them. All the praise its received is spot on. One of my favorite blends thats definitely easy on the wallet. Now I can only hope that at IPCPR this year they announce they will be releasing the Maduro in my favorite Animados size. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Turns out the Animados size of the Maduro version has already been released…I just haven’t seen it in the wild yet. Thanks to jjo for pointing this out.
Nestor Miranda Dominicano Ruky – The shape of the Ruky is always a shape that definitely catches your attention. I’ve never really been a fan of the Dominicano line but this day, this size, the Dominicano Ruky really shined for me and I honestly can’t explain why but it was impressive.
Zino Platinum Z Class – Surprisingly I bought a box of these solely based on Brian Hewitt’s review and I think he got it right. Simply a stellar combination of a sweet molasses nutty flavors that are amazing. Love the blueish tint to the smoke and the aroma is killer. Definitely a cigar that you will probably see on a few Top 10 lists at the end of the year.
Jerry,
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but the La Traviata Maduro has been available in the Animados size for a while now. I mean, I have some of them in my humidor. Please check out cigarplace.biz (and don’t buy them out). 🙂
I’m going to sound like I’m talking to my wife here but you’re right. I was wrong. Thanks for the correction. Now I just need to find them locally.
Can’t blame you. CAO doesn’t even have it listed on their website.
Jerry is this a slow cigar week 🙂 some really interesting cigars in that line up and I’ve not tried any of them. Going to have to broaden my horizons a bit.
Correction, I’ve smoked the La Troviata Maduro. That a new band?
Nope. Same ole band as before. Maybe the creative filters applied to the photo make the band look different.
The Partagas Benji was a recently acquired stick that surprised me also. Local B&M had a couple of boxes sitting out back I grabbed a couple, smoked them, and promptly cleaned them out of the last 6 sticks they had.
I agree if anyone stumbles upon them, jump on em.
did I catch some Zac Brown Band lyrics at the end of the la palina review! I love the Partagas Benji, I’ve seen them at Holts in Philly a few months back but that’s it.
I will have to give the Zino Platinum Z Class another try. I thought the first half of the smoke was fantastic with lots of sweet cocoa. BUT the last half became muddled and funky. ? who knows I will dive back in on another.
As for the La Traviata Maduro..have smoked twenty+ in the last year and always can’t wait for the next. SO super solid on every level. Hope the all the change over at CAO will not mess with my “Go To” smoke.
Thanks as always Jerry for WIS