CAO Gol!

Size: 5 x 56
Shape: Robusto
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Filler:  Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Strength: Full
Price: $6.80 online

This week I purchased some nice cigars produced by CAO.  The first stick in the of the group that I enjoyed is the Brazilian Gol!.

The stick has a wonderful sheen emanating from the dark maduro wrapper.  There are a few veins on the cigar adding to the it's beauty, and after cutting the cap the quality of the construction remains true.  The prelight draw is silky smooth, and delivers flavors of wood, leather, and nut.   The foot toasts quickly and evenly, and the first draw delivers a pleasant smoke laced with peppery spice.  The spice remains one of the dominant flavors for the first few draws, lending some strength to the mild flavors at the start.  As the first 3rd nears completion, the spice fades to the background and a more powerful smoke quickly develops moving it well into the full flavor realm.  I come quickly to the realization that this is one of the strongest cigars I have ever smoked.

Moving through the second 3rd the complexity of the flavors begin to build.  Heavy wood and leather flavors are accented by a mild mocha note and the beginning of some coffee on the outer edge.  These strong flavors and deep complexity develop further during the final 3rd, but with a substantial increase in the coffee to that of a dark roast.  The spice continues its presence on the pallet, and deep toasted malt builds in to the blend.  As the end of the cigar nears I become fully aware of the definition of a full strength maduro cigar.

Being that I am still fairly new to cigars, this one tested my will to the end.  It is a fabulous smoke on occasion if you frequent cigars, but it may not be a good choice for lighter smokers.  CAO makes some great cigars, and this full flavor maduro hits the quality standards dead center.

Romeo y Julieta Bully

Size: 5 x 50
Shape: Robusto
Wrapper: Indonesian Natural
Filler:  Dominican Long
Binder: Dominican
Strength: Medium
Price: $4 online

I purchased a mixed 5-pack of cigars online, and one of the sticks in the set was a Romeo y Julieta Bully.  Aftger resting in my humidor for a few weeks, I have decided that this would be a good night to give the stick a try.

The pre-light inspection reveals a pleasant amount of veins in the wrapper, which also presents a nice natural tobacco color.  The stick gives a little when pressed, but is not overly spongy.  As I cut the cap to prepare the cigar, I am impressed with how clean the cut goes leaving a clean cap.  The cigar takes a nice coal when toasted, and releases a delicious aroma into the air.

The draw is smooth, producing nice clouds of smoke with each puff.  There is an initial spice in the smoke, but the dominant flavors of smooth tobacco quickly push the spice to the  background.  The cigar starts out mild, but working through the first 3rd into the second 3rd the smoke builds into a medium strength.  The flavors at this point are fairly simple, but as the second 3rd transitions into the final 3rd some sweeter notes develop, with a bit of creamy coffee and a touch of coffee on the finish.  As the cigar comes to an end, the stick begins to burn hot, requiring care in the last few draws to avoid a bite.

The burn remains sharp through the entire smoke, and no touch ups are needed.  The Romeo y Julieta Bully is a good daily smoke that will not break your budget. 

Vigilant Smoke Shop at Julio's Liquors

Ten times today I looked at an offer to purchase cigars online, and ten times I found myself side tracked to a work project that kept me from making the purchase.  At the end of the day I needed the instant gratification of a purchase, and pulled into Julio's Liquors, and more specifically the Vigilant Smoke Shop.

I have been spending some time in brick and mortar shops lately trying to identify good from bad, and by far Julio's Vigilant Smoke Shop is one of the good.  Located on Route 9 in Westborough, Massachusetts, Julio's Liquors is a full service beer, wine and liquor store with one of the best smoke shops in Metro West.  Inside the liquor store, and placed prominently at the front, Vigilant Smoke Shop boasts a great selection of cigars in their counter humidors, and has the bonus of a decent walk in humidor packed strategically with some of the best sticks available.  The prices for these cigars are far from unreasonable, and those prices are accompanied by a great tobacconist in Cullen Burke.

Upon approaching the counter I am greeted warmly by Cullen.  His simple question of "can I help you?" quickly flows into a great conversation about cigars, cigar accessories, and local shops that leaves me feeling absolute confidence in his skills as a tobacconists.  We discuss the true value of the Xikar travel humidor, with it's ability to preserve cigars for the short time one is away from home. We delved into the new technology in cigar humidification, discussing the DryMistat Tube and the Boveda humi packs.  He introduced to me the My Father Limited Edition Toro cigar in it's individual cedar box, and the special honor of this My Father being hand rolled by the master Jose Don Pepin Garcia himself.  And after admitting to Cullen my discomfort in the box pressed shape of cigars that have become so popular over the last few years, the adept tobacconists recommended a wonderful box pressed Alec Bradley Prensado Robusto that felt as comfortable in my hand as a traditional cylindrical cigar.

I purchased both the Alec Bradley Prensado ( my review of this splendid stick will be along shortly), and the My Father Limited Edition Toro (a gift that I will be giving as a Secret Santa on Ward B).  The cost of the purchase was more than I would have spent online, but had I made my purchase online I would not have discovered these great new cigars and I would have missed out on what makes the brick and mortar shops so valuable: the knowledge of a great tobacconist.  You can enjoy the same experience at the Vigilant Smoke Shop Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 10 PM, and on Sunday noon to 6 PM.

L.J. Paretti Company- Great Selection

Boston is a great city, where a person can find almost everything they may need.  For me, that extends to finding a good selection of cigars, and I found it at L.J. Paretti Company.

Located at 2 1/2 Park Square in Boston, the L.J. Paretti Company has been a part of the city for the last 140 years.  As you walk through the door, you feel all those years of history open up around you.  On nearly every wall is a humidor, and the store has two walk in humidors in the back for the storage of tobacco and cigars (sorry, not open to patrons).  Only one wall is not lined with a humidor, and that one contains an impressive display of pipes and smoking accessories for sale to the public.  Above the humidors on the  high walls are the decor from years of selling tobacco, tastefully displayed and lightly aged from years of tobacco exposure.

As I browse through the humidors, one thing becomes clear; the proprietors of this shop take very good care of their products.  Their is not a dry cigar in the shop, and I was even able to note some bloom on more than a few.  Bloom is the result the essential oils of the cigar rising to the surface, which often appear as tiny crystals making the cigar look dusty.  More advanced bloom gives the cigar an opaque white look.  This is not harmful to the cigar, but is an indication that the cigars have  been maintained at 70+ RH for a long period of time.

I have already decided on a Brick House Churchill and potentially a Hemingway, when one of the tobacconists asks me if he can help me out.  Deciding that this would be a good opportunity to try something new, I tell the tobacconist my cigar mood, and he recommends an Ashton VSG.  I pay for the Brick House and the Ashton, and the tobacconist asks me if I want it cut.  The answer of course is yes, and I remove the cello and toast the foot.  A master of his trade, he has chosen for me just what I wanted.

There are benches out front of the shop, but I decide to take one of the comfortable chairs inside.  There are ashtrays around within easy reach, and a few other patrons have decided to rest a bit with their own purchases.  Relaxing with my cigar, this is the first time I notice the light jazz music playing softly in the shop, a nice touch that adds beautifully to the afternoon in the city.

If you find yourself in Boston and are looking for a good selection of cigars, stop by L.J. Paretti Company.  They are open Monday through Friday 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM, Saturday from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, and on Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM.

Rocky Patel Edge Lite

It is a cool, overcast, fall afternoon in Massachusetts.  Kick-off of the Pats/Chargers game is about an hour away.  A good time to plug in the radio for a little pre-game banter, and of course some time for a cigar.  Today I have chosen the Rocky Patel Edge Lite Robusto.

As with most RP cigars, the pre-light inspection reveals quality.  The wrapper is natural, and glows with nice a nice sheen and very few noticeable veins.  The cigar is soft to the feel, but springs back when pressed.  The cut goes well, and the cigar takes a good coal from the toast.

The draw on the cigar is very smooth, with little effort needed to produce huge clouds of smoke.  The initial flavors are very light with some wood notes and a slight creamy smoothness attributed to the natural wrapper.  As the cigar burns through the first 3rd into the second 3rd, the burn remains sharp and a tight gray ash develops.  The flavors build a bit at this point, with strong wood and toasted nut dominating with a bit of a charcoal on the finish.

At the final 3rd of the cigar, the charcoal builds to be the dominant flavor; a bit unpleasent.  This can be mitigated a bit if you purge the cigar (to purge: blow out through the cigar to remove the standing smoke rather than continue to draw in), and after purging the cigar develops sweet threads in the wood and nut flavors making for a more complex pallet. 

Every RP cigar I have smoked needs to be drawn carefully during the final 3rd to avoid producing bitter flavors on both the flavor and finish, and this cigar is no different.  Having this knowledge has improved my experience with Rocky's cigars, and will help your experience as well.  As for this stick; a good smoke with strong flavors, and one I would recommend to both the amateur and aficionado.

Churchill's Lounge at David P. Ehrlich Co.- A Place to Relax

While wondering around Boston, MA on a warm fall afternoon, I decided that it would be nice to find a nice cigar bar for a little break.  Standing in Quincy Market, my choice was to visit Churchill's Lounge at David P. Ehrlich Co. at 40 North Street.

Upon entering the door, patrons find themselves facing a large walk-in humidor.  I checked the door, and it was locked.  Before I could even turn to ask for help, the proprietor, Barry Macdonald, was there with the key.  He unlocked the door with a smile and offered a hello, then returned to his place behind the bar.  I went in and viewed the selection, not entirely sure what I was looking for.  The selection was not the largest I had seen, but after browsing through and assessing the inventory I found it to be of high quality with selections for nearly every smoker.

I picked out a cigar, and head to the bar to pay for the stick.  Greeted with a smile, Barry process my purchase quickly.  He tells me that Churchill's has been in business for about 11 years, and judging by the look of the establishment it has been a successful 11 years.  A comfortable half-moon bar with tall high back stools is the start of the location.  The room then opens up and is filled with an array of comfortable leather furniture, and inviting cafe tables.  In the back is a set of humidor lockers, though shamefully I admit I did not get around to inquiring about rental.

I did not get to stay long, as I was in town for a training and only had an hour for lunch.  If you find yourself in town, and looking for a relaxing spot to enjoy a beer and a cigar, stop down to Churchill's Lounge- you will not be disappointed.  They are open from 9 AM to midnight on Monday and Tuesday, 9 AM to 1 AM Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 AM to 1 AM on Saturday, and noon to midnight on Sunday.

Davidoff Special "R"

One of the most important aspects of any cigar is the quality of the construction.  Manufacturers that miss this important step can leave the customer frustrated when the stick unravels and loses the edge.  Davidoff proves proves that they are above all a producer of quality in the focus on construction.

The Davidoff Special "R" is a beautiful cigar.  The Connecticut wrapper is bright and inviting, and the simple white band sets off the color wonderfully.  The stick cuts perfectly with no evidence of shredding.  The foot toasts smoothly taking a solid coal very quickly.  The draw is smooth, and the edge remains razor sharp from begging to end.

The cigar is mild to medium in strength, and displays notes of wood throughout the smoke.  As I move into the second 3rd of the smoke, the ash is tight and uniform in color, again a solid statement on the quality of Davidoff's construction.  The smoke starts to develop hints of sweetness on the fringes of the pallet, a trait that I enjoy in many cigars but one that fails to fully develop in the Special "R".  This finish on the smoke is still quite strong in wood flavors, remaining at this one dimension through to the end of the smoke.

The superb construction of this cigar, matched with the mild strength and low complexity make this cigar a great choice for those who smoke infrequently.  It is also a fitting choice for anytime a seasoned aficionado is seeking something a bit more simple but still of high quality.