Weller by Cohiba

This was my celebration cigar for becoming a father of two. My little son, Finn, is now a week old, and with it also being Father’s Day, it really doesn’t get much better than this. The cigar itself is beautifully presented with an exceptionally firm pack, producing incredibly smooth smoke right from the first draw. […]

Aganorsa La Radiante Nacionale

This will be the last cigar I smoke before the birth of my second child. We’re incredibly close now, and not even the comfort of a good cigar can help me relax. It’s go time. Aganorsa is an outstanding cigar company and has produced many of my personal favourites over the years, so I was […]

Champagne Corona

What a stunning cigar. Fine, elegant, Champagne. First impressions: this is one zesty, pepper-forward cigar — no complaints so far. The profile is showing nutty notes with a touch of caramel sweetness. It’s quite smooth, with a solid burn and decent smoke output. A very mild white pepper lingers on the finish, adding a nice […]

Candy corn

This is one of Privada’s Halloween releases, and it looks fantastic. Pictures really don’t do it justice — the beautifully mottled dark wrapper gives it a striking appearance that stands out immediately in hand. This cigar comes at an interesting time for our family. We’re expecting a new addition within the next four weeks, and […]

Not Tony by Jochy Blanc

This cigar comes out swinging, delivering a generous dose of spice from the very first draw. The construction is exceptionally firm—perhaps even slightly overpacked—but it initially provides a good draw and plenty of smoke output. Early on, I pick up subtle preserved fruit notes layered over a foundation of aged tobacco and black pepper. There’s […]

Gratiot Ave Coat Of Arms

I was a little concerned when I first lit this cigar because the draw was all air. It was so loose that I wasn’t sure it would even stay lit. Five minutes later, though, the cigar came alive and began producing a full, rich, savoury smoke. The 5 x 50 format is a fantastic size, […]

Curivari Epitome 550

I’ve had this cigar resting in my humidor for almost exactly three years, so it felt like the right time to finally break it out. Advertised as a “Cuban seed” cigar, anything with “Cuban” in the marketing doesn’t really sway me one way or the other these days. Winter has properly arrived again and it’s […]

Birthday cake

Very light draw from the start, paired with a larger ring gauge than I would normally gravitate toward. The wrapper began to peel slightly at the cap, though I suspect that was more a result of my cutter than the cigar itself. At $21 USD, it’s on the expensive side for the U.S. market, but […]

El Buble

Nicaraguan puro, say less! The first impression was a good one, with a solid draw and plenty of smoke production. Unfortunately, about 20 minutes in, the draw tightened considerably and the smoke output dropped off a cliff. A recut and several purges helped, but it took the better part of 20 minutes to get the […]

Don Toirac

First of all, the size — this has to be close to the perfect cigar format. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy cigars big and small, but visually this vitola just looks spot on. (6 x 52) And speaking of visually perfect, have a look at this band. Absolutely stunning. Very regal, with a classic […]