It’s been over two months since my last Week/Month in Smoke, so I figured I was overdue for another one. Here’s a recap of some of the cigars I’ve smoked over the last few weeks, in addition to any I evaluated for a full review or featured first impressions. Some of these cigars may have […]
Dona Flor Alonso Menendez Series (Guest Review)
If memory serves me correctly, January 2008 was Ed and my first review here at Stogie Review. We reviewed the Dona Flor back then, and now we are re-visiting the brand and another blend. Dona Flor was in limbo for awhile as two companies disputed who had rights to the brand. Now that the issue […]
Rocky Patel Fifty Toro – First Impressions
Wrapper :Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro Binder : 2 binders both secret Filler : secret Nicaraguan Source : local shop paid $22 Coming back to cigar reviews with a special edition cigar, the Rocky Patel Fifty. This cigar was produced to celebrate Rocky Patel’s fiftieth birthday and was in development for four years and uses tobacco that […]
Tatuaje Cojonu 2012 pre-release (plus giveaway)
Back in October, I met up with Pete Johnson at a Tatuaje Cigars event hosted by Holt’s in Philadelphia. As one of the promotions at the event, customers received a three-pack pre-release sampler of the Cojonu 2012 with each box purchase. I jumped at the opportunity to try some cigars that won’t be released until […]
Week in Smoke – TGT Edition
Thanks for the feedback in the last episode of Week in Smoke. I do plan on doing more “themed” Week in Smoke episodes both for boutique and main stream cigars. I’m actually in the process of planning out the next episode with a focus within a certain General Cigar brand. If you have been around […]
La Aurora Cameroon Robusto
I found it interesting when I heard La Aurora was reblending their Cameroon line. For years now, when asked for an example of a great Cameroon cigar, La Aurora one of the names that passed my lips. Why change a good thing, I wondered. But when I thought about about it a little more, how […]
An Afternoon with Pete Johnson (Part Four)
Part Four, the final chapter. Lots of great discussion here about tasting cigars off the bench and envisioning how they will taste as they age, too many 90 plus ratings? Joya de Nicaragua in the 1970’s, more advice for bloggers and the benefits for manufacturers. Cigar technology, dying of cigars, consumer education, sorting tobacco, seed […]
An Afternoon with Pete Johnson (Part Three)
This is Part Three focusing on questions from the audience. Is Pete still having fun? Times of crisis? Experience working with The Garcia Family. Second guessing blends, more info on Little Monsters, and blogger’s responsibility in the industry? Note to self, gotta invest in a third microphone for audience use. Same format as an An […]
An Afternoon with Pete Johnson (Part Two)
This is Part Two of Four and has a lot of great content. The story of La Verite, the “romance” in the cigar business, a Tatuaje farm, who is to blame for current pricing, could the cigar industry self regulate itself, the golden age of cigars and an explanation on fermentation. Same format as an […]
An Afternoon with Pete Johnson (Part One)
Same format as an An Evening with Benji Menendez and An Afternoon with Ernesto Perez Carrillo. This weekend Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars was in Washington DC and Bethesda MD celebrating the start of W.Curtis Draper 125th Anniversary year with the release of the Cabaiguan WCD 120 Redux. Towards the end of the afternoon, Pete […]