The Davidoff Corona Cigar Exclusive 2026 Belicoso is a good cigar. I would like a little more complexity and depth to my cigar, but this is a good smoke. It’s a good Connecticut with a solid profile and amazing construction. It’s hard to find any true faults with this cigar.
The CAO Arcana Stokk had an average flavor profile throughout although it had the unique components of the smoky oak and smoky meatiness. I've always been intrigued by this style of cigar, but it seems very hard to put it all together and have it deliver a full cigar that is enjoyable as it usually ends up as a profile that only excels in small doses and this cigar was no different. The combination just didn't lend itself to this size of cigar and it isn't something I'd see myself returning to.
This Stolen Throne Castle 919 Belicoso is another winner created at Rojas. The combination of barnyard funk and meatiness was a delight and wins my palate 10 out of 10 times. Fans of Noel Rojas blends as well as appreciating balanced flavors should definitely check this out.
The Drew Estate Liga Privada Unico Serie Pancetta 2023 delivered medium-full flavor intensity through most of the review experience, with interesting and engaging flavor combinations. Both the burn and the draw were perfect through the review. Given the exclusive nature of the cigar, the price point is quite reasonable and this is something I would happily return to in the future.
The Maya Selva Flor de Selva 2012 No. 15 had a nice start, with a good combination of flavors and smooth delivery. It took a step down in the second third as the earth joined and built up and maintained that level the rest of the way. This is a decent Honduran puro and I'd be open to coming back to it from time to time. Definitely a step up for me over the newest rendition of the blend.
Maya Selva once again delivers an enjoyable cigar experience with the Maya Selva Flor de Selva 2023 No. 15. The first and second thirds were the most engaging for me, with the last third taking on some hay and wood components that distracted from the other flavors. I would enjoy smoking another Maya Selva Flor de Selva 2023 No. 15, and it will be interesting to contrast this experience against the 2012 offering.
The Hooten Young Operation Gothic Serpent 30th Anniversary had some interesting herbal tobacco combinations in the first third that kept me engaged. The second third was still pleasant, but wasn't as dynamic and that continued through the last third. This is my first experience with Hooten Young, and while it was pleasant enough, it didn't do quite enough for me to want to return to this release.
The El Baton Belicoso started out with engaging flavor combinations in the first third. By the second third, it became wood forward, and while pleasant, I didn't find it dynamic enough to stand out. The last third started out with interesting flavor combinations but settled into wood and baking spices. While the price point on the El Baton Belicoso is attractive, I'm not sure the flavor profile was engaging enough for me to return to.
The Viaje Birthday Blend Gold 2022 started well and I was enjoying the punchiness of the spice. In the second third, when the spice mellowed and the earth gained a bigger role, the profile dropped a level and maintained that the rest of the way. This cigar is a step up from some of the more recent Viaje's I've smoked, but still not a level of something I'd come back to all that often.
This Crowned Heads Le Carême Belicosos Finos 2022 LE was a fantastic belicoso. Great flavors of rich earth, strong spices, sweetness, mocha and espresso. Great evening cigar. Would highly recommend, smoke again and would love to age. Fantastic Connecticut Broadleaf.