Davidoff Millenium - Petite Corona

Ah winter time is here and I'm enjoying lots of alone time in my cigar lounge which I have recently created in my garage.  After a morning trip to Walmart and a breakfast of eggs, cheese, corn tortillas and habanero sauce it was the perfect time to settle in to a fine cigar. I put on some phish radio based off my favorite song as of late entitled "Miss You" and selected a Davidoff cigar to smoke

Pre-light

The davidoff millenium petite corona is quickly becoming one of my favorite morning cigars with a good strong cup of coffee. The time is 8:30 AM and I get a pleasant manure smell off of the foot of the cigar before lighting it up. The pre-light draw is just about as perfect as it gets and I get that wonderful saltiness on my lips along with notes of cedar.

I decided to go with a punch cut as I typically do for these smaller form factor cigars as I feel that allows for the most flavor to come through. It makes for a bit of a tighter draw though but that isn't a problem at all on these Davidoff cigars as the draw is about perfect.

First Third

The smoke off the foot gently burns my nostrils upon first light in a subtle way and the salt on m lips is very good. The first few puffs yield a very creamy mouth feel, hints of cedar and chocolate cocoa.

Second Third

Not much new is happening on the second third at first but as I get further into the pepper spice ramps up a little bit and nuts and caramel come into the picture. I literally say "This tastes like a snickers bar out loud". Now I'm hooked. What a lovely cigar.

Final Third

The sweetness has faded and the cedar comes to the forefront. The strength has ramped up and the nicotine buzz is perfect to carry on with the rest of my morning. I have smoked a few of these cigars in the last few weeks and also made notes of the following flavors: sweet spice, coffee, cinnamon and cedar.

Final Thoughts

This cigar is more than box worthy and I will be purchasing a box so I can put it into my regular morning rotation. 

The cigar could really be an anytime of the day smoke for me but I particularly like it when I want a quick smoke that is luxurious at the same time and allows me to escape the world.

Specifications

Strength: Full
Shape: Corona
Size: 4 1/2 x 41
Country: Dominican Republic
Color: Natural
Flavor:
Wrapper Origin: Ecuadorian
Wrapper Leaf: Hybrid

Purchase from Famous Smoke

Avo Classic No. 2

Background

I've enjoyed quite a few Avo Classic's over the years and it is definitely in my list of favorite morning smokes. That being said you can rest assured that this cigar is enjoyable anytime of day. Today I lit this baby up at 7 a.m. with a cup of espresso and had a most relaxing experience.

History

Avo started making his cigars in Puerto Rico and selling them while he played the piano. The Avo Classic No. 2 was the original blend and size that they personally selected. In the first year they sold a mere 17,000 cigars a year.  Last year they sold over 2 Million cigars!  

  
 

Vitals

Gauge:50
Length:6"
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Sungrown
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Mild
Purchase From: Famous Smoke

First Third

The first third of the cigar starts off very sweet and creamy. Towards the end of the first third notes of a very light cocoa come into the picture. I detect a very light cinnamon spice on the retro hale as well as some cedar in this beautiful cigar. 

Second Third

The flavors from the first third of the cigar continue into the second third and the sweetness becomes honey like.

Final Third

The burn gets a little wonky in the final third of the cigar and the cinnamon spice becomes more noticeable through the retro hale but is still very subtle. I enjoy this smoke very much and it is definitely worthy of a box purchase or at least a five pack.

Buy a box or 5 pack now from Famous Smoke  

My Father Cedro Deluxe Cervantes

History

Jose Pepin Garcia started rolling cigars at the age of 11 for his father and after 30 years of rolling cigars he achieved a torcedor ranking of 8 which is the highest achievable. He ultimately opened his own cigar factory in little Little Havana called El Rey De Los Habanos in 2003. Jaime Garcia, Jose's son got into blending cigars and took a trip Nicaragua to create a cigar to honor his father.  Jose and his family were impressed and  decided to change the name of the company to My Father Cigars in 2008.  On a side note as I smoked his cigar I was watching an interview with Don Pepin and he said thanks to Pete Johnson from Tatajue as well as Ashton cigars who ultimately elped put him on the map  internationally.  Ok, enough history let's get into the My Father Cedro Deluxe Cervantes.

Vitals

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado / Criollo;
• Filler:Nicaraugan Size:6 1/2 X 44
• Paring : Sumatran Coffee
• Start Time : 9:30 AM
• End Time : 11:00 AM
• Purchased from Famous Smoke

Cut and Pre-light

The cigar has a heavy and solid feel to it.  It is most certainly packed full of premium Nicaraguan long filler.  I decided to go with a punch cut and I detect hints of cedar on the pre-light draw as well as on the foot.  The pre-light draw is a bit tighter than I like but have a feeling it will free up as it has been my experience with this cigar.  The punch cut on these smaller gauge cigars is my preferred cut as it seems to really concentrate the flavors more which is quite nice.

First Third

On first light of the cigar I immediately get a taste of cedar and cream. This one has some age on it and perhaps that is why I didn't detect any of the signature Pepin spice on the initial light. I also took quite a few puffs before remembering to retro hale and then the pepper spice showed up.  The spice level can be easily controlled by the tempo at which you smoke it. Want more pepper?  Just puff on it a little more aggressively.  I like a more balanced smoke and prefer to slow down to get the most out of any cigar but noticed more so on this one. Wrapping up the first third and the mouth feel is luxurious and buttery.  I also begin to detect a hint of leather.

Second Third

So far consistent with the first third which in my opinion is a good thing.  As I concentrate more on the long finish the coffee notes are more prevalent as well as a detection of dark cocoa. It could be the coffee pairing bringing out these additional flavors but regardless it is very pleasant. As I wrap up the final third I was missing the pepper spice so I puffed on it a little more aggressively and had another retro hale.  The pepper spice is still there but more in the background.  The draw is still a little tight but not as tight as the pre-light.  Perhaps I will try a straight cut next time.

Final Third

In the final third the cigar is starting to heat up a little bit but nothing unbearable.It could be my rate of puffing is picking up as I am really enjoying this cigar.  Pepper spice and leather begin to come to the fore front and the flavors from the first 2/3rds are also still there.  I run out of coffee so have to run inside to grab a bottle of water. As I come back into my lounge (the garage) the room note is a very nice cedar which is worth mentioning.  The band peels off relatively easy which is always a bonus since I like to save them.

Nub Worthy?

Absolutely and the picture below is worth 1,000 words. You know it's a good cigar when you get out the corn cob holders for a roach clip :D 

You Can Purchase a 5 pack or a box from Famous Smoke here.

Drew Estate Undercrown Shade Corona (5.6"x46)

Shape Corona

Wrapper Ecuador Connecticut

Origin Nicaragua

Binder Sumatra

Available at Famous Smoke (18% off right now)

Filler Dominican, NicaraguaI've really been enjoying these morning cigar and coffee sessions and today I reached for this Undercrown Shade Connecticut that I picked up at Famous Smoke a couple of years ago.  The Foot smells of hay and raisins. Some white pepper on the pre light draw.  

The first impression is that this is a very mild stick.  There is a creaminess to the finish that I don't remember from last time I smoked it.  I want to call it a butter cream almost and it is very delectable. 

There is not much else going on with this cigar so far with the exception of very mild cedar notes and a wonky split ash; it's burning fine though. 

As I get deeper into the first third some spice starts to introduce itself on the tongue and for a brief moment I tasted a zest of lemon.  This is a first but maybe just an anomaly.   The cream is falling to the background as notes of cedar come to the front. I'm really starting to enjoy this mild cigar and the ash is holding nicely. 

The ash finally fell off after about two inches but it was very entertaining while it lasted.  I wanted to get up for more coffee but w as mesmerized. The pepper spice is finally picking up here a bit especially through the retro hale.  Not overpowering at all but just right. Some nuttiness has made an appearance on the finish as well. This is shaping up to be a fine morning smoke. 

Wow as I finish up the final third and walk inside to grab another cup of coffee my palette is greeted with a taste of cinnamon and graham cracker.    I didn't expect much more change in this one but what a nice surprise.  

Summary

Great mild morning smoke, good construction.  Cream, cedar, white pepper, cinnamon, Graham cracker.  Paired nicely with coffee ☕ 

La Gloria Cubana Médaille d'Or No. 4

Country of Origin: Cuba

Factory: Fernando Perez German

Wrapper: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Filler: Cuba

Size: 6 Inches

Ring Gauge: 32

Vitola: Slim Panetela

Est. Price: $7.00 (Boxes of 25, $175)

Release Date: October 2008

This cigar has some really nice tasting notes but is quite delicate.  When smoked slowly I get great notes of Creamy, buttery, cedar goodness but it has a tendency to go out so I smoke it faster and it can overheat. Probably just a user error and my lack of experience with this vitola.  It's also burning a little wonky.  I will have to revisit it when I have more time and patience. 

Update 12/13/2021

Smoked another one of these cigars at our christmas party on Saturday and it was plugged.  Disappointint to say the least!

VEGUEROS ENTRETIEMPOS

Length 4 1/3

Ring Gauge 52

Shape Petit Robusto

Taste Vegetal

Strength Full

Savoring the sun rise this morning in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago and enjoying what is probably one of my favorite but lesser known Cuban cigars;  the Vegueros Entretiempo. Please find my tasing notes below and let me know if you have smoked one of these fine cigars and what you thought of it.  

Pre-light

I didn't get mutch off the pre light draw or the foot other than a light cocoa, some hay, and I want to say manure but more like a barnyard.

First Third

It's a chile morning so I fire her up inside while a grab a cup of coffee so I can enjoy this fine smoke on my southern facing deck while the sun rises.  Immediately upon first puff I can taste the infamous cubenesque twang and vegetal notes I love about this cigar.  It's mild to medium at this point in the game to me with notes of coffee and milk chocolate coming through.  The burn is razor sharp but the ash does fall after only a quarter inch. 

Second Third

Getting deep into the second third the flavors haven't changed muched but I kind of enjoy the consistency in a morning smoke with a cup of Joe.  I'm getting some cedar or other woodsy notes along with the milk chocolate fading into more of that cocoa and the coffee notes aren't really around anymore.  The burn got a little wonky as I was distracted but it corrected itself swiftly. 

Final Third

In the final third I would say the strength has definitely ramped up to a medium, maybe even medium full.  The smoke is still cool and the burn is nice.  Not razor sharp but self correcting which is nice. Some pepper spice through the retrohale has made an appearance in a very subtle yet enticing way.  I find it hard not to puff on this fine cigar at to quick of a pace. 

Tasting notes:  Cuban twang, vegetal, coffee, milk chocolate, wood, cocoa, pepper

Final thoughts and rating:

If you like Cuban cigars and value you cannot beat this stick.  It's a great morning morning smoke.  Not a ton of complexity but enough for me to process in the morning with a cup of coffee.  

Any cigar that is nub worthy and makes me want to get out the roach clips to finish is worthy of a 96 I'd say.  Have a glorious day and celebrate life. 

Leccia Tobacco White Little Guy

This is another one that's been in my humidor for a few years and it was a great little lunch time smoke. Medium to full strength, flavor didn't change much throughout with the exception of an interesting tang halfway through which I couldn't put my finger on. For a second I tasted barbeque or a grilled steak. I know it doesn't have fire cured tobacco like the Leccia Black so it was a different flavor than that but definitely something I haven't tasted typically in a cigar. The cigar had a nice creamy, smoky, cedar flavor that interchanged between puffs which was nice. There was always a nice white pepper flavor on the long finish.

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva Connecticut Stella

 

Asylum 2012 4 X 44

Pepper Bomb

So it's lunch time and I had a nice healthy meal of baked chicken, rice and vegetables and I wanted something for dessert. Of course being on a diet a nice cigar is the obvious choice so I went digging in my humidor to find a quick smoke since I need to get back to work afterwards.

What do I find? 

A nine year old Asylum 4x44 cigar that's been in my humidor since 2012 peeks my interest. Wow, I love finding these old cigars and revisiting them. The bad part is it was my last one so I had the internal battle of whether to smoke it now or save it. Well it's a beautiful and sunny 65 degree autumn day here in the Chicago suburbs and you only live once so I decided to fire it up.

First third

At first light I got a blast of pepper, I would call it ceyanne pepper and it was strong but very pleasant at the same time. You know on the next puff I had to retro hale immediately and I could already feel the nicotine and a rather inense tingling in my nose holes. After I got into the first third a little bit the pepper lightened up and turned into a more black pepper on the front and a lingering white pepper along with some leather and chocolate notes.

The Rest

Well it's a quick smoke so I take a few sips of my Coke zero in between puffs to cleanse the pallet. From here on out the smoke didn't change too much. In the middle of the cigar the pepper sort of faded away and I mostly got a leathery woodsy taste (maybe cedar) with some chocolate in the background.

The stick stayed pretty cool throughout the smoke and the pepper blast did make a return in the final third. I was finished after about 30 minutes and very satisfied with the flavors and the nicotine buzz.

If you have any suggestions for other great lunch time quick smokes please let me know as I am running out of my favorites that have some age on them.