$6.95 MSRP per cigar for the Cavalier Genève Tres Delincuentes Habano Robusto. Let that soak in. In 2023, there is a cigar that is $6.95 that beats the majority of $15 plus priced cigars. Not just beat, but demolish. Watch out Illusione Rothchild, there's a new kid in town.
Overall, the Sencillo Black Lancero was a good cigar. Bolder and rustic delivery of mala dried red pepper spice, earthy dirt grit, and softened nicely by naturally sweet and creamy mixed nuts. This isn't the type of flavor profile that I necessarily enjoy, but the delivery of the bolder flavors mixed with softer flavors was well done. And a great burning and drawing lancero to boot.
At this point in time, i.e. smoking the cigar for review about 3 months after release, the cigar is average tasting. Interestingly enough, I smoked this cigar at a local cigar shop about 2.5 months ago and the cigar was much more enjoyable. It has the overall Tatuaje ID of great body and heavier and bolder flavors, but it's not packaged well yet. I know it will get better with some time.
This Caldwell Long Live The Queen Queen's Crown is the exact profile of Caldwell cigars that I enjoy. Cigars that are first and foremost undeniably full of flavors. The flavors in themselves meld well with the softer and spikier notes. The stronger strength is not typically there but the strength never took away from the focus of the flavors. Well done.
This Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Short Churchill G is new(er) age Connecticut shade done right. That is, a baseline profile that is full of soft flavors touching on sweetness, creaminess and nuttiness. The newer age side of it being a bit more spice than your traditional old school Connecticut shade. Pleasure to smoke and will be back for more.
Cohesive, balanced and just a delicious flavor profile. I can go on and recap about the flavor experience, but this time, the highlight is really the factory of NACSA. The cigars out of there simply do not miss. I'm starting to think it's a safe bet to try cigars coming out of NACSA in general.
Celebrity backed brands like this are rarely something that I get excited about. Most of the time, the celebrity doesn't know a damn thing about what a good cigar/product at hand is. I can confidently say that the Blackened by Drew Estate M81 Robusto isn't in that scenario at all. Deliciously bold with earthiness, yet balanced with softer flavors. Nicely done.
This E.P. Carrillo Allegiance Sidekick didn't quite do it for me. While the interplay of spice and roasted nuts gave it's best look within the second third, for the most part, the profile weighed too heavy on spice. For me, a flavor profile needs more than that to layer into the fold. It's a good baseline of flavors, just needs to build on it.
Fitting to the name, this Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Stillwell Star Holiday Y2022 reminds me of Christmas and the general winter holidays, enjoying delicious festive sweets. I also think this is probably by far the best representation of utilizing other tobaccos to pair with traditional cigar tobaccos. I never felt like the pipe tobacco overtook the cigar tobaccos (or vice versa). They actually complimented each other quite well.
A couple main thoughts on the Espinosa 10 Years Anniversary. First off, this is very familiar Espinosa territory given it's flavor profile, which is a good thing. But how is this 10 year anniversary special? The good thing is, the cigar is well priced, pretty much in line with their regular production Habano offerings. Special "anniversary" aside, I recommend this one.
