I’ve been saying it for a while: If you’ve gotta make a 6 x 60, make it in a shape that’s comfortable to smoke. Say for example, a flattened box press, or in the case of the Padilla Studio Tobac Special Edition Figurado collaboration, a girthy figurado. Heck, I’d even try a cigar with the […]
La Aurora Escogidos Maduro Robusto
Many moons ago, I came across the La Aurora Escogidos in a small mall shop on a visit to Miami. At the time, there was only the Cameroon-wrapped version, and it was said to be a cigar only available to visitors of the La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic. Sensing opportunity, I did what […]
New Romeo Y Julieta and Montecristo Epic 2007
I’ve found that avoiding the record levels of pollen here in Atlanta really limits your cigar smoking opportunities. Especially when your main source of ventilation is an open window and a fan. Unfortunately that also means another week without my trademark Tower of Burn. But, as luck would have it, I do have a little […]
Brian’s The Week In Smoke, Issue 12
Back once again here’s 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 […]
Dunhill 100th Anniversary Edition (First Impressions)
With time running short again this week, I searched through my coolidor for some potentially interesting subjects for a first impressions video. I offered a few options to my fellow Stogie Review compadres, and the nearly unanimous choice was the Dunhill 100th Anniversary Edition. I’d never smoked a Dunhill before, let alone this special limited […]
Arturo Fuente 858 Sun Grown
The holidays are over, and with them passes another season of rare Arturo Fuente cigars. But don’t be sad, Fuente fans, the word on the street is 2012 will be a big year for rarities. But in the meantime, before the local supply disappeared I grabbed a couple handfuls of 858 Sun Growns to burn […]
EP Carrillo Edición Limitada 2011 “Dark Rituals”
Following right on the heels of my first impressions video for the EP Carrillo Short Run 2012, this week I’m reviewing the EP Carrillo Edición Limitada 2011, also know as the “Dark Rituals.” Having not yet tried them myself, but based on very strong recommendations from everyone I spoke with, I picked up a full […]
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Untold Story Maduro
It’s that time of year again. And I’m not talking about trees, lights, shopping sprees and loosened belts. I’m talking about rare Fuente smoke season, where cigar geeks and Fuente fanatics across the country dash to their nearest B&M to see what presents Santa Carlito left on the shelves. This year, along with the annual […]
Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve
In the chaotic weeks that lead up to this review, I’ve been smoking Nestor Miranda’s Grand Reserve with intention of putting up a review. Unfortunately, life and schedules haven’t been cooperating lately, and this already limited release has become even more limited in availability. Fortunately the 10,000 sticks that were produced haven’t vanished from the […]
1143 Seconds with Pete Johnson
Last week, the night before I left for an overseas business trip, I sat down with Pete Johnson at a Tatuaje Cigars event hosted by Holt’s Cigar Company in Northeast Philadelphia. We talked about a lot of things going on in the Tatuaje universe, including the upcoming Cojonu 2012s, future installments of the Monster series, […]