It’s once time again for another issue of Brian’s The Week In Smoke. In case this is your first Week in Smoke, be advised that it covers many (though not necessarily all) of the cigars I’ve smoked in the past week (or the past month, or however long it has been since the last issue), along with a couple of quick thoughts that came to me at the time. These are not full reviews, but quick blurbs based on a single smoking experience. As such, they may be influenced by the natural variations that occur from one cigar to another. Your mileage may vary. (If I know the cigar well enough to comment, I may mention if an experience strays from what understand to be the norm.)

An appearance in The Week in Smoke does not preclude nor guarantee a future in-depth review. Whenever possible, I’ve linked to more a thoughtful and thorough review of the cigar in question. (Or maybe I’ve linked to a photo of Jerry The ‘Stache. You won’t know until you click.) Enjoy!

Cabal Esoteric Robusto (IPCPR Sample) *
My first experience with the Cabal was a pretty positive one, and I expected something along the same lines with the Esoteric. I was in for a surprise, the two are night-and-day different. If the Cabal is the “night” part of that saying, then the Cabal Esoteric is the “day”. No heavy, meaty flavors here, I noted lighter earthiness, a touch of funkiness, cream, cedar, savory spices and cinnamon. It was a really enjoyable smoke to pair with that first cup of coffee.

Camacho Mike Ditka Throwback Edition *
Somehow I missed the details on the Mike Ditka Throwback Edition, and had no idea what it was when friend handed it to me recently. It was uncellophaned and sans coffin when I received it, so it’s not clear where it came from originally. But these things don’t matter so much as does the oodles of rich, sweet earth, chocolate, pepper, “woodsy” tobacco and cinnamon flavors this smoke dumped on my palate. This throwback was pretty damn good, and had it been without band, I might have confused it for a Liga Privada blend.

Four Kicks Mule Kick **
To get myself to light up one of these hoarded gems, I had to ask myself, what good is this cigar if I never smoke it? Though the picture doesn’t show it (I forgot to take one, so I’m using an old picture) the cigar was dusted with plume. So if you take the rich cocoa, nuts, pepper and spices and add to that cedar that tastes like it’s covered in cake frosting, you wind up with something pretty incredible. They may not have the tobacco required to duplicate this cigar, but I kinda wish they’d try anyway.

La Aurora 107 Lancero
It’s hard to believe that the 107 has been out for 3 years already, man time flies. In a clever bit of marketing strategy, the folks at Miami Cigar seized October 7th as the official 107 day on social media, marking it with the hashtag #LaAurora107. It had been a while and seemed like a good idea so I picked one up. The flavor was the familiar profile of sweet citrus, grass and cedar with a touch of earthy spice. Still a good smoke, though I have to admit that if I had one, I would have lit up with the 107 Maduro instead.

La Flor Dominicana Suave Grand Maduro #5 *
I believe this is the first LFD Suave I’ve encounter, and it did seem a little more laid back than a Double Ligero pepper powerhouse. Though I’d hesitate to call it anything less than medium in body. And it did have familiar flavors: Peppery tobacco, cedar, lingering black coffee a touch of both creaminess and sweetness and some aromatic spices. I enjoyed it. I guess you could call it a La Flor for people who are still on that pre-dinner cocktail.

Ortega Cigars Serie D Natural No. 8
It’s easy to forget about cigars, even some of your favorites in the unending flow of new products hitting the market each year. Though one of my top ten smokes of 2012, it had been months since I lit up a Serie D Natural. And you know what, it’s still a pleasure to smoke: Cedar, sweet almond, earth, cedar, coffee and a touch of chocolate. I know the Maduro is more popular, but I’m sticking with the Natural.

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* Big Brother would have you know these cigars were gifts or free samples, and that my opinions on them is suspect. My opinions (and this bottle of bourbon) are my own, your response to them is your own. The latest snarky comment belongs to Walt.

** I have too many smokes, and this denotes that the smoke in question has been sitting in one of my humidors for at least a year, and thus qualifies as “aged”. If my collection continues to grow, the chances are good I’ll be on that Discovery Channel show about people who hoard stuff and face eviction.

Some of the pictures in Brian’s The Week In Smoke first appeared on twitter. If you’d like to see these lists constructed in real time, follow Brian on twitter. If you don’t, you’ll make the Fail Whale cry.