Montenegro President Series Cordial

Heat right from the start — chilli spice immediately coating the tongue. This cigar comes in swinging and never bothers asking permission. Don’t know what happened to the photo, so here is one I borrowed. Zesty as hell. At first it’s hard to pin down exactly what’s happening because it just assaults the senses in […]

Narcos RL

This cigar is another secret blend provided by Privada Cigar Club. The Dominican Republic is renowned for producing exceptional cigars, so I was hoping this one would live up to expectations. The draw was quite light from the start, but it still produced plenty of smoke. I’d been cooking a brisket for most of the […]

Plasencia Alma Fuerte Generacion V Salomon

I don’t know why I sat on this review for the last two years, but here we go. Tonight I pulled out this beautiful cigar to celebrate my 45th birthday. Honestly, there’s no better occasion for an amazing smoke. The timing could have been better though — the rain started rolling in and my balcony […]

Tabernacle Broadleaf Corona

This is one firmly packed cigar, but the cap cut cleanly and the draw was spot on from the very first puff—thankfully. Wrapper: Connecticut BroadleafBinder: Mexican San AndrésFiller: Honduras & NicaraguaLength: 5 1/4 inchesRing Gauge: 46Vitola: Corona Extra This is a great-looking cigar with a dark, toothy Broadleaf wrapper and an elegant band. The pack […]

Sake Nigiri

This is the last of the three cigars in the Privada Sushi range. Vitola: 6 x 46Wrapper: Ecuadorian HabanoBinder: Ecuadorian HabanoFiller: Especial Right from the first draw, this cigar is impressively smooth. I often find the opening puffs of most cigars to be the least enjoyable, but that is not the case here at all—this […]

field scout

From the fresh draw, there is a light sweet barnyard aroma, which translates perfectly into the flavour once lit. Knowing this cigar comes from Privada, there is a strong chance of an AJ Fernandez collaboration. On this occasion, the wrapper, binder, and filler are undisclosed—and probably for good reason. Within the first 10 minutes, I […]

Evil eye

This Costa Rican toro certainly looks the part. The wrapper has a smooth, attractive sheen and the cigar is expertly rolled. Savoury notes lead from the start — a touch herbal with hints of leather and cedar. As the cigar develops, I’m getting some cereal vibes: honey-nut flakes, a bit of nuttiness, and even a […]

The 200

This example has been aged for 6+ years — and it definitely smells like it. Most cigars mellow with age, but the scent on this one is still intense: dark, rich, and very reminiscent of pipe tobacco. The draw started a little tighter than expected, though smoke output was still solid. Early on I picked […]

Focaccia Sarda

Pretty sure this one came from the Ninja Turtle pack — and if the turtles love pizza, that’s good enough for me. This is an interesting cigar. Mild overall, but the smoke is dense and almost “chewable.” Notes of toasted bread, a touch of hay, and a muted nuttiness throughout. The flavour profile stays consistent […]

AJ Fernandez Scrooge

And here it is — the Scrooge Cigar.In true Scrooge fashion, I paired it with the cheapest whiskey Dan Murphy’s has on the shelf… fitting, right? I’ve always found that certain vitolas carry their own signature character. Sure, each cigar is different, but sometimes the size and draw give a vitola a familiar “through-line” of […]