blog - Page 17 of 324 - Developing Palates - Cigar, Beer and Spirit Reviews and Ratings

Team Cigar Review: Chesterton and Co. Pints with Aquinas Toro

The Chesterton and Co. Pints with Aquinas Toro started off with some promise, offering a nice mix of nuts, wood, and a gradually building spice profile that showed flashes of richness as sweet tobacco and dark roast coffee came into play. Unfortunately, after that initial momentum, the cigar settled into a more linear experience. The second and final thirds were dominated by earth and coffee with a drier profile overall, never quite recapturing the complexity of the opening.

John McTavish, December 12, 2025

Team Cigar Review: RoMa Craft Intemperance Volstead VO 1920 Judas Hole

The RoMa Craft Intemperance Volstead VO 1920 Judas Hole delivered an engaging and consistent profile of creamy bread, pastry sweetness and evolving spice expressions. The transitions from cayenne to baking spice and red-hot candy added enjoyable complexity without ever becoming overwhelming. The Volstead is already in my regular smoking rotation, now it's just a matter of narrowing down what my favorite vitola is.

John McTavish, December 10, 2025

Team Cigar Review: Cachitos Connecticut

I love every aspect of the Cachitos Connecticut. I love the flavor profile, strength, price and overall performance. I even love the little dark circle on the cap. I don’t know what that is all about, but I dig it. It’s a quick smoke, but that is great for this time of the year. There is a nice bit of strength and body with this Connecticut wrapper, and the filler tobacco compliments the traits of Connecticut Shade. Cream, cedar, cocoa, spices and earth throughout. I really hope these stay consistent over the years.

Seth Geise, December 8, 2025

Team Cigar Review: MBombay Kesara Toro

The MBombay Kesara Toro had a nice start with a fair number of flavor components and transitions. It dropped a level in the second third as some components mellowed and dropped oy and maintained that level the rest of the way. I was really hoping for a longer experience with the first third as the combination of flavors were working well, but it faded back as it went along. The pricing is a bit high, so it's not something I'd come back to frequently, but I'd be up for it on occasion.

Aaron Loomis, December 5, 2025

Team Cigar Review: My Father Blue Robusto

I really enjoyed the My Father Blue Robusto, and it is a blend I have returned to many times since released. It is a balanced blend, and I love how the Honduran tobacco smokes with the CT Broadleaf wrapper. My Father does so much with Nicaraguan tobacco that it is interesting to see how they blend with Honduran tobacco while also using a wrapper they know how to use very well. Lovely Connecticut Broadleaf, fun new release when looking at the blend and who produced the cigar, and a nice addition for My Father.

Seth Geise, December 3, 2025

Cigar News: Cigar Release List – November 2025

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.

Aaron Loomis, December 2, 2025

Team Cigar Review: Villiger La Capitana Lonsdale

I found this Villiger La Capitana Lonsdale to be both unique and delicious. The mixture of savory, herbal and sweet qualities worked really well off each other. The only complaint that I really have is, what's with the band artwork? It doesn't follow anything along the Villiger profile.

Jiunn Liu, December 1, 2025

Team Cigar Review: Broncano Classic Silver Toro

The Broncano Classic Silver Toro is a solid cigar that would be on a whole other level if the second third was the profile throughout. It took some time for the cigar to take off, and unfortunately it had a slight downhill in the final third, but the middle portion was very enjoyable. It’s a cigar I would come back to, and one of the better Mexican San Andres releases I have had recently. I am a fan of the Broncano brand so far, and I look forward to their next release.

Seth Geise, November 28, 2025

Team Cigar Review: Mexigars HBA

The Mexigars HBA executes delivering earthiness and spice very well, but the culprit is the dry and stale mouthfeel throughout the entire smoking experience. Because of this, the flavors themselves all taste monotone and flat. This is not something I would be interested in returning to.

Jiunn Liu, November 26, 2025

Team Cigar Review: Diamond Crown Tampa

The Diamond Crown Tampa had a nice start, with a good combination of flavors. The profile took a step down in the second third as the earth and toast levels were increasing and remained that way for the rest of the cigar. Overall, a fairly average experience. Add in the very high price point and it's not a cigar I'd see myself coming back to.

Aaron Loomis, November 24, 2025