Passable Fuente Corona Imperial Natural

I've been rather hard on the Fuente brand when it comes to the Hemingway series, which I find overrated and lacking in flavor. But what about the "everyday" Fuente cameroons? Once again, the folks at Cigars Direct have given me a chance to sample another specimen from this well known and feted brand.

In particular, the Arturo Fuente Corona Imperial natural, a cameroon-wrapped, extra-long lonsdale (46 x 6.5) that looks exactly like a Hemingway minus the tapered ends. Even though this is supposedly the "workingman's" Fuente, the price is not exactly rock bottom - about $100 for a box of 25. Nevertheless it is a bargain compared to the Hemingways, which get bid up beyond comprehension at sites like cigarbid.

The Fuente Corona Imperial Natural looks just as good as a Hemingway and is constructed equally as well. It lights easily and burns perfectly, no touch-up required. And the flavor? Well, that's my sticking point, because I find the flavor nearly identical to the Hemingway cameroons, that is, not particularly splendiferous. At best, it's Hemingway watered down with a little cardboard. Better than your average Connecticut shade cigar, but that isn't saying much. Medium strength (not mild, as some of the websites would indicate) and a "general cigar" flavor of cedar and straightforward tobacco. Once in a while you'll get a doughy sensation of lushness and exuberance - but not often.

I expect more strength and development from a cameroon. Technically, this cigar performs well from beginning to end. If you like the this kind of flavor, you will want to buy this cigar over and over again. I find it rather plain, so in the words of Lyle Lovett: Once is Enough. Thank you Cigars Direct for the opportunity to try.

Camacho SLR Maduro Rothschild Revisited: Not a bad cigar

It's been over a year since I first reviewed the Camacho SLR Maduro Rothschild, after trying one back in April 2009 and having a harsh, unpleasant experience. The long humidor rest did the trick, however, and my remaining 4 sticks have smoked very well.

After a year, these SLR maduros are no longer harsh. They are medium bodied, pleasant short cigars with nuances of red pepper, mineral and spice. These are not fantastic, knock-you-out-of-your-chair Camachos, mind you, and not worth bidding sky high on cigarbid. I won my 5-pack for $13 and wouldn't pay that much again. However if one happens to fall into your lap, you probably won't be disappointed, especially if you let it rest for a few months before lighting.

If you like light bodied maduros you might really enjoy these. They do get enjoyably stronger in the middle. By the last third they turn bitter and you can't smoke them down to the nub. Not a record-breaking cigar and of course I always expect the world from Camacho. Don't let that deter you: Just because I was disappointed doesn't mean you'll be. Even a mediocre Camacho is better than 90 percent of the cigars on the market.

Great Low-Buck Stogie: El Mejor Espresso Churchill

The El Mejor Espresso Churchill is a nice box-pressed Churchill that's dark and mean-looking and, last time I checked, available for the low price of about $45 a box online. Friends of mine are winning these like mad on cigarbid, and so I managed to get my greedy hands on one.

This is not a bad cigar for the price. In fact it would even be a decent cigar at twice the price - this time the marketing catalogs aren't lying.

The one I tried had a perfect draw and smooth, potent maduro flavor right off the bat. It reminded me of the lower-end Padron maduros (londres, ambassador, etc). Somewhat sweet, woody and salty, the flavor got more intense as the cigar burned down, maintaining quality until about the last third, which is about the most you can expect from a Churchill. The burn was a bit jagged and needed a touch-up or two, but I've had expensive Camachos that burned worse.

Worth a try. You might find yourself buying a whole box when you're done.

Finally a Good Hemingway: Short Story

Had my second Fuente Hemingway "Short Story" (teeny mini-perfecto) since trying one about 2 years ago and being generally unimpressed. This time I had to admit it was a quality smoke. It's the first Hemingway I've had that's burned right and tasted good from beginning to end.

I might change my opinion on the Hemingway cigar hysteria if I start getting more experiences like this. One thing I did differently was snip a tiny bit off the tapered foot so it would light easier. I've never had to do that with other perfectos, but it really seemed to make a difference on this one. The burn was consistent and the flavor stayed rich and robust.

I got this one from Cigars Direct and they take obvious care in their warehousing and shipping.

A nice little 30-minute cigar if you can afford it.

The Hemingway Myth, Confirmed Again

Another chapter in my ongoing Fuente Hemingway story of vexation: Why do people buy into the myth of these overpriced, underperforming cigars?

Case in point: The Hemingway "Best Seller," a 4.5 by 43/55 ring perfecto that I happily obtained from Cigars Direct. This expensive little specimen is hard to light, burns unevenly, requires boatloads of touchup, is inconsistent in flavor (one puff excellent, next puff bitter) and can't be smoked to the nub. Tell me again why I would want to pay $8+ to have this experience, over and over again?

Thousands of Fuente Hemingway smokers can't be wrong, can they...?

Folks, buy yourselves a bundle of Rocky Patel Vintage 92 perfecto factory seconds for $45 and you'll get more out of them than the Hemingway Best Sellers. Heck, you can win the RPs on cigarbid for $35 or less.

If you absolutely refuse to spend less than $6 on a 4.5 inch cigar, try a Casa Magna Pikito. Get a little enjoyment while projecting your purchasing power and worldly sophistication. At least Casa Magna delivers quality for the price.

Every year I give a different Hemingway vitola a try, and every year I shake my head and sigh. Am I the only cigarhead in the world who thinks this emperor is wearing some mighty shabby clothes?

Padilla Signature 1932 Robusto - Worth the Price?

The Padilla Signature 1932 robusto is a fairly expensive cigar - $270 for a box of 25 online, last time I checked at Cigars Direct. I'm not sure it's worth that price, mainly because it performed well only to the halfway mark then turned bitter.

That's a lot of dollars for 2.5 inches of smoking pleasure.

Those 2.5 inches are excellent, don't get me wrong. This is a great-looking, medium-bodied jewel, perfectly constructed, with lots of cinnamon & nougat nuance in its gentle, layered flavor profile. The draw was not as loose as I would have preferred, making this a less powerful smoke than it wanted to be.

I would love this review to be based on more than just a single stick. However at these prices I'm unlikely to try another Padilla 1932 robusto. Better luck to the rest of you; maybe I just had a bum stick.

For a much heartier cigar with a similar but bolder flavor profile, try the excellent Cuvee Rouge robusto by Cusano. You can get these for $150 per box of 24 and they are well worth it - full body and flavor with a hint of cinnamon and fruit. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it.

Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ Selectos Maduro

The Series JJ Selectos Maduro (i.e. robusto size) is a perfectly constructed, fine burning cigar that chunks out flavorful, full bodied smoke from beginning to end and requires little if any touch-up. Another great selection from the CigarsDirect vault.

I found it a little wanting in the flavor department. It has a flat maduro flavor rather than one with a sweet tinge that makes a maduro special, in my opinion. Your taste may be different than mine, and if you like other Pepin maduros you might like this one. I prefer the Pepin "Blue" and "Cuban Classic" maduros to the Series JJ. Also the mind-blowing Series JJ Corojo, which I believe is one of the finest corojos on the market today.

The Series JJ Maduro reminded me a bit of:

• 5 Vegas Relic
• Oliva Series O Maduro robusto
• La Flor Dominica Grand Maduro #6
• Montecristo Media Noche Edmundo
  

All of which are high-quality, premium cigars whose flavor just happens to not be my bag. If you like the flavor profile of any of those, you will probably like the JJ Maduro.

G.A.R. nicht!

Recently was able to smoke a G.A.R. by George Rico robusto that was shipped to me by Cigars Direct. It is a fine-looking, well-constructed corojo that burns well and is medium to full bodied. However I found the flavor lemony and harsh, verging on bitter. Very similar to the Felipe Power robusto. This cigar did not improve in flavor or body as it burned down. I abandoned it shortly after midpoint.

I cannot recommend the G.A.R. robusto, but if you like cigars such as the current 5 Vegas Classic (i.e. not the good ones from before 2007) and the Graycliff Turbo, this might be right up your alley. Also reminded me of Perdomo 2 Limited Edition Cameroon epicure and Camacho 1962 Lonsdale.

Opus X No. 5: Number 2 on my list

If I hadn't smoked the magnificent Casa Magna Pikito a week ago, I might have been more generous in my review of the similar-sized Opus X no. 5. But I did, and the results are inescapable: In the petite corona size, Opus X just can't live up to the flavor and consistency of the Casa Magna.

I will say that the Opux X no. 5 is the strongest small cigar I have ever smoked with such cool and balanced flavor. I would challenge anyone to find a stronger petite corona that could be smoked with such pleasure. The description at the Cigars Direct website is not misleading: The Opux X no. 5 is made with rich, seasoned tobaccos and deserves its place among the world's finer cigars. However the one I smoked required several touchups, and the last 2 inches began to exhibit bitter notes.

The Casa Magna, while not as strong, was equally magnificent in the flavor department, performed longer and better, and required no touchup. If I had to choose, the Opux X would come in second. Sorry, Fuente freaks. The no. 5 is one of the best petite coronas out there, especially if you love strength above all else. But for all-around performance and finesse, the Casa Magna is a finer smoke.