Ben’s Week in Smoke – Bayou Edition No. 12

It’s been awhile since I did a Week in Smoke, but it has been a hectic week which means I wasn’t able to smoke as many cigars as I would have liked.  With the temperatures reaching into the high 80s and even, some days, reaching the lower 90s, it’s been difficult to smoke in my man cave.  This means I’ve been trying to capitalize on opportunities to smoke in air conditioning when I can, whether that be in my truck or at The Cigar Shop in Biloxi, MS.  Here are some of the cigars I’ve had to the chance to smoke this week.

CLE Signature PLdM Corona

I really love this cigar.  CLE makes this cigar in Miami at the old Wynwood factory from a secret blend.  Its a truly tasty cigar with notes of cedar, cream, roasted nuts, coffee, black pepper and cinnamon.  Like I said, I really love this cigar, but I still prefer the Eiroa blend over this one which is about 2/3rds the price.

Illusione HL lancero

I haven’t had one of these in quite awhile and, to be honest, I don’t know why.  Its one of my favorite lanceros with notes of cedar, honey, white pepper, cashews and floral notes.  It reminds more of the Eperney line than the regular line.  Its an amazing cigar, but, to me, Dion doesn’t make a bad cigar.

La Flor Dominicana LG Diez Americano 2012

For me, this is one of the forgotten lines in LFD portfolio.  I don’t seem to grab for these as much as other lines and I think it’s because I think of LFD with a single flavor profile.  I love the rich coffee and chocolate notes I get from the Double Ligero maduros or the LFD Cabinet maduro lines so that’s what I think of when I want to grab a LFD to smoke.  Its a shame because these are fine smokes in their own right.  With notes of cedar, leather, coffee bean, earthy flavors with spices notes of paprika and allspice, these are as good as anything else in the line.  Especially with a medium body, these are probably the most approachable cigars in the LFD line up.

Camacho American Barrel Aged Toro

As a bourbon drinker, I love these cigars that are released that has something to do with bourbon.  Nothing infused, mind you, but like these Camacho American Barrel Aged which have tobacco aged in old bourbon barrels.  One of my favorite cigars, that is now discontinued, was the Perdomo Exhibicion Sun Grown which had 10 year old tobacco aged in bourbon barrels as well.  Both of these cigars have notes you get out of good bourbons.  You get notes of rich oakiness, vanilla, pepper, leather and earthiness which builds as the cigar burns.  I really love what Camacho has done with this cigar and cannot wait to smoke more.

H. Upmann Connoisseur No. 1 (Nov 2011)

This cigar is from November 2011 and its age shows.  It has a nice mild, creamy vanilla, cedar, honey and almonds.  It was an excellent cigar, but it would be even better with some age on it.  Still, H. Upmann is probably my favorite Cuban line as it has an amazing flavor profile throughout the line.  With the Mag 46 being the most heralded cigar in line, this vitola gets over looked which makes it the smart buy.