I wasn't blown away by the My Father Flor de Las Antillas 10th Anniversary. I have never been crazy on the line, but I would have expected more with this being a 10th Anniversary blend. Of course, it could be because I just was not one for the line from the get go. However, I have found My Father to do very well with anniversary cigars, even if I did not enjoy the core line blend as much as I cared for the limited offering.
I enjoyed the Casa 1910 Revolutionary Edition Tierra Blanca. You got that Mexican San Andres quality, and I could pick up the Sumatra qualities though grown in Mexico. A Mexican experience, and one that I enjoyed. It delivered that richness with balance. Earthiness and spices. Would smoke again. Would be interested to see how the cigar ages.
The La Flor Dominicana Solis had a nice start, but as the earth began increasing in the second third, it dropped down a level and maintained that the rest of the way. This was an interesting cigar to smoke. I could see it doing well, as it's a lighter offering than a fair amount of LFD's portfolio. I probably wouldn't see myself coming back to it all that often, but I would smoke it again.
The VegaFina Emperadores 56 Exclusivo Francia started well with a nice combination of flavors. It dropped to average in the second third as components began dropping out and maintained that level the rest of the way. Overall, the cigar was at the level that I've been experiencing for this brand for the International market. Not anything that is mind blowing, just a serviceable cigar. Not something I'd be in a hurry to revisit.
The West Tampa Attic Series Attic started with a nice combination of flavors and balance. As the earth took the lead in the second third, the profile dropped a level and was fairly mundane the rest of the way. The cigar carries a fair bit of strength to it, so something to watch out for. I don't see this as a cigar I'd come back to with any frequency as it wasn't very interesting after the first third and the strength was too much for the flavor profile.
The Casa 1910 Cavalry Edition As de Oro had a nice start with a nice combination of flavors. From the second third on though, the profile was less dynamic and fairly linear and mundane. Paired with the high price point, it's not a cigar that I'd see coming back to all that often.
The H. Upmann Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage Toro had a nice start with a vibrant set of flavors. The second third saw the vibrance wane a fair amount and maintained an average profile from that point on. The price point is attractive, but even with that, the overall smoking experience wasn't one that would bring me back to this cigar with any kind of frequency.
The Army of Angel's Connecticut Toro did a great job of marrying some initially intense spice flavors with other nuances of bread, chocolate, hay, creaminess and wood. There were traditional Connecticut elements of bitterness, hay and tannins throughout so I think there's a lot here to please a wide range of cigar smokers. I would definitely reach for another Army of Angel's Connecticut Toro again.
The CAO Arcana Firewalker was fairly mundane throughout. It was a basic flavor profile with not much transitioning and was just boring. The strength did build up as the cigar went along and finished at medium-full. I don't see myself coming back to this cigar.
The Illusione Gigantes had a fairly average flavor profile throughout. Just simple flavor components that didn't do anything to elevate the cigar. The price point is fairly attractive for the size, so if you're a fan of larger ring gauges, this could be something to try. It didn't seem to translate the similar blend from the Rothchildes vitola and I'd go to that offering over this one.