Cigar Reviews Archives - Developing Palates - Cigar, Beer and Spirit Reviews and Ratings

Personal Cigar Review: Aging Room Blue Amber Blue Maestro

The Aging Room Blue Amber Blue Maestro started with an average flavor profile, focused around toasted cedar, earth and creamy black pepper. It took a step up in the second third as the coffee joined in and the creaminess was helping the whole profile. It took a step down in the final third as the earth moved up and the black pepper waned. This is a very expensive cigar and the flavor profile doesn't do enough to justify that in my eyes. Not something I'll likely return to.

Aaron Loomis, November 13, 2026

Team Cigar Review: MBombay Mora Toro

The MBombay Mora Toro is an average blend with a familiar profile. It delivers rich earth with some tobacco, warm spices and cocoa throughout the cigar. It is not overly complex, but it has a solid profile that keeps me entertained from beginning to end. Cool finish on the blend with amazing construction.

Seth Geise, November 11, 2026

Team Cigar Review: El Mago The James Avenue Habano

The El Mago The James Avenue Habano was a very nice cigar that showed me (total guess here) the more refined side of Nicaraguan made cigars. The flavors worked in harmony and were balanced, almost making me smoke it with a pinky up. Would definitely smoke more of these.

Jiunn Liu, November 9, 2026

Team Cigar Review: CAO Surplus Sweet Robusto

The CAO Surplus Sweet Robusto is a simple, easygoing cigar that leans heavily on its sweetened cap to define the experience. It doesn't offer a great deal of complexity or evolution, but it remains balanced and enjoyable for those who appreciate sweeter cigars.

John McTavish, November 6, 2026

Team Cigar Review: LaVega Il Cane

The LaVega Il Cane never quite finds the balance suggested by its initial combination of sweet tobacco and baking spices. There are moments of interest, particularly when the baking spices and tobacco sweetness are working together through the first third, but those moments are increasingly overwhelmed by dry, tannic wood as the cigar progresses.

John McTavish, November 4, 2026

Team Cigar Review: Villiger 1888 San Andrés Toro

This Villiger 1888 San Andrés Toro was a good one to sit back with while enjoying some fall football (best time of the year). While the flavors weren't all that complex, it sang beautifully and kept the engagement for the vast majority of the cigar. It's also a nice bonus to have a heftier body, which enhances the flavors of the cigar.

Jiunn Liu, November 2, 2026

Personal Cigar Review: Macanudo Cafe Hyde Park

The Macanudo Cafe Hyde Park had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted cedar and earth. The supporting notes didn't really do anything to elevate the profile. The cigar smokes pretty smooth and I can understand why this is well received amongst brand loyal smokers. It just doesn't do enough to make me want to come back to it though.

Aaron Loomis, October 30, 2026

Team Cigar Review: OZ Maracana Robusto

Wonderful sweet and creamy nuttiness up front but the staleness in cedar wood was too impactful and disappointing. Without that, this OZ Maracana Robusto would have been a great desert like cigar with all the sweetness and coffee tones. A pass for me.

Jiunn Liu, October 28, 2026

Team Cigar Review: Joya de Nicaragua Joya Red White & Blue

The Joya de Nicaragua Joya Red White & Blue offers a solid progression of sweet tobacco, bread, wood, baking spices and earth, but the profile gradually becomes more dominated by tannic wood and increasingly aggressive spices. The excellent construction helps the cigar considerably, but the increasingly tannic and spice-driven character keeps the overall experience in the Average range.

John McTavish, October 26, 2026

Team Cigar Review: Room101 Namakubi Chingon

In the end, the Room101 Namakubi Chingon is a cigar that shows flashes of richness and complexity, particularly early, but ultimately settles into a more average experience as it progresses.

John McTavish, October 23, 2026