The La Aurora Family Creed Series Perseverancia Box-Pressed Robusto is a good little cigar, and I don’t think I would have this blend in another vitola. The cigar would either lose its qualities with a larger ring gauge and/or be too much for me to even smoke. Great flavors of rich earth, leather, warm spices and pepper.
The Curivari Gran Reserva Edición 2025 552 is an average cigar. It has a good start, but the second and final third don’t deliver the qualities in the first. The flavors don’t completely fall off, but they go down just enough to take away from this cigar being good. I am not sure if this is a cigar I would seek out, but depending on the blend, I can see myself picking one up to try again down the road.
The Apostate The Liahona delivered a profile built around sweet tobacco, musty wood and restrained earth, with very good balance from the outset. The first third was the most complex portion of the experience, showcasing a pleasant combination of sweetness and musty wood that closely mirrored the aromas from the pre-light inspection. While the profile was enjoyable, it never developed much beyond those core flavors.
The Don Pepín García Clásico 20th Anniversary is an average to good cigar. I enjoy the flavor profile, but with a cigar of this size, it needs more depth and complexities. The flavor profile in general would be great in a smaller offering, but with a cigar of this size I need some transitioning. I am interested in the blend and brand, but I would definitely come back to this cigar.
The EGM Ninfa managed to maintain enough flavor interest to earn a Good overall rating. The combination of unusual paper and cardboard notes with strong baking spices, black pepper, bread and sweet tobacco made this a cigar that was more memorable than its construction issues might otherwise suggest.
The Fermin Perez Classic Connecticut Toro is a dependable and well-executed cigar. It may not push boundaries in terms of complexity, but it delivers a consistently balanced and enjoyable experience, making it a solid choice when you’re looking for something reliable and easygoing.
This HVC La Decoración Churchill was an enjoyable blend that was nuanced enough. The combination of herbs, creaminess, earthiness and spice was well composed and balanced. And for a bigger size (toro-ish), it was just enough to satiate the palate. I'd definitely go for more of these.
Monthly, we will put together a list of all of the cigars that were released, or announced to be released, in the previous month. This should give you an easy way to stay in tune with new releases.
Overall, this Black Label Trading Co. Macabre Corona Gorda was a well-balanced, nuanced cigar with enough unique characteristics to stand apart from the typical profile, earning a solid Good rating despite a finish that couldn't quite maintain the momentum established during the first two thirds.
The Rocky Patel The Edge Corojo Toro started pretty average, focused around the toasted cedar and earth. It increased in enjoyment in the second third as the black pepper returned, rounding out the profile a bit more. It took a step back in the final third as the wood bitterness increased and the pepper mellowed. This is a serviceable lower priced offering. While I wouldn't see myself really coming back to it with any frequency, for those that like a cedar and earth flavor combination and prefer lower cost offerings, this might fit the bill.