CAO Cameroon Box Pressed Robusto

CAO Cameroon - Box Pressed 

Robusto 5.5 x 50

Wrapper: West African Cameroon

Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan 

Paid: $11 CDN from local Holy Smokes (Loblaws Superstore) 

Drink: Diet Pepsi

Smoked this one a few days ago, and never got a chance to post about it.

I continue to try and find a Non-cuban I can love, and hold to call my own.  The box press is very cool looking, and feels great in the hand.  It has a rich chocolate aroma coming off the wrapper, and is very well made.

I clipped this one a little too much, and the draw was very loose, though as you'll see, I don't realize it till later.  I started smoking it, and it was really hot, and dry.  I went through half the cigar, and was getting no flavour.  Just bland smoke.  I was about to set this thing down, when I decided to change up how I smoked it.

I began to draw really slow.  This change up made a huge difference.  It was then that I realized that I opened it up to much, and/or was drawing to hard on it.  With the slow controlled draw I all of a sudden had a very sweet creamy flavour, that I would describe as caramel.  There was also a wood flavour in there too.

Shortly after the last third, I unfortunately had to walk away from this thing right as I was enjoying it.  I was just overwhelmed by it's strength, and had to go lay down.  I've never been that f*cked off a cigar.  I felt a huge weight in my stomach that lasted well into the next day.  I think the loose draw, mixed with a strong draw was my downfall.  It's said to be a medium strength cigar, but sure seemed very strong.

I really want to try this one again down the road with a slower/tighter draw, and really take it easy.  I think it may be a really good smoke, but perhaps not for a newer smoker.  I'll keep my eye out for a deal.

Montecristo Petit Edmundo

Montecristo Petit Edmundo

4 1/3 × 52 

Made in Cuba

Paid:  $19

Drink: Diet Pepsi

I'm quickly becoming Monte fan boy.  I have a half box of Edmundo's that I splt with a co-worker, and planned on lighting that up today.  I reached for this instead, as it's been sitting in the humidor alone for awhile.

Like with all Monte's, I find the construction, and feel of the cigar to be perfect.  It lights nicely, and burns even start to finish, without ever getting to hot.

Right off the bat I'm hit with strong wood cedar flavour, that can't be mistaken.  About an inch in, the wood softens, and lets a slight earth in, if I exhale a little out the nose.  It's very creamy, and coats the entire mouth.  There is a definite cocoa or chocolate in there, but I don't get it every draw.   The smoke is nice and thick. 

By the last third all the flavours mellow out, and I get a slight fruity taste added in.

Now a lot of reviews also describe pepper, and spice.  I don't really ever taste those in a cigar, other then the tingling sensation similar to pepper in the nose, if I exhale out the nose.  If that is indeed what people are talking about, then there is a slight pepper in the nose, that gets stronger in the last third.  The spice thing I still don't get.

I would consider this a mild cigar.  I've smoked a Hoyo Petit Robusto, and Bolivar Royal Corona.  The Royal Corona was very strong, and I feel that this was more mild then the Hoyo.

Another great Monte, I highly recommend.  Having not smoked the Edmundo yet, my thinking right now is to try and see if I can get someone to split a box with me.  

Montecristo No. 4

Montecristo No 4

5 × 42 

Made in Cuba
Paid: $15 CDN

Drink: Water

I can't believe this wasn't my first blog review.  I've had a several of these, and right now it's my go to cigar.  I ended up buying a box, dated OCT09, and while I don't know the box dates for the few I smoked before it, the experience has always been consistent.  That's part of the reason why I love them... No surprises.

These things are made great, and smoke great.   From start to finish I find you get a perfect balance and blend of earth, and wood.  It's never overwhelming.  As long as I keep my draw slow and smooth, on the exhale I  get the tasty aroma of the wrapper, mixed with a kinda chocolate/cocoa taste that just sites on the back of my tongue on the exhale.  Makes me salivate.

It doesn't produce a whole lot of thick smoke compared to a lot of other cigars, but the aroma is pleasant.

The only downside I consistently find with this cigar (and quite a few other Cubans), if I draw to fast, and let it burn to hot, it will get this bitter, varnish type flavour, that takes the place of the chocolaty taste I mentioned earlier.  Completely ruins the smoke.  I really have to take my time with it, and not ever rush it.

I think this is one of the best cigars I can recommend to a beginner, as its flavour is smooth, and the tobacco kick is mild.  You just can't go wrong here.

Bravos Nicaraguan Robusto

Bravos Nicaraguan Robusto 
Robusto 5.5 x 50
Wrapper: Appears to be a corojo

Binder: assuming Nicaragua
Filler: assuming Nicaragua
Paid: $5 CDN from local Holy Smokes (Loblaws Superstore)
Drink: Diet Pepsi

I smoked this one last week, and never got around to typing up a review.  You can't find much on the web about this brand, other then people asking for information about this brand.  It looks like the label has been knocked off a Cubao band.  Perhaps it is a factory second of Cubao.  Loblaws carries a few different labels that are known to be factory seconds, rejects.

The construction is pretty nice, and has leather pre-light aroma.

Upon lighting, the dominant flavour in this thing is ashtray.  I could really taste nothing else.  My first thought was 'Its a short filler machine made cigar'.  That's the only time I have ever tasted anything that awful

I gave it to the half way point, and had enough (including a headache).  I cut it open to confirm my suspicion, and to my surprise it was actually long filler.  I ended up talking to the guy who sold me it at Holy Smokes, and he was shocked by my experience.  He chalked it up to a bad stick, and kindly fronted me a second at no cost.

My second experience was better, in that it didn't taste like an ashtray, but it was still really dry, and bland left me parched.  You got a slight earth, and some pepper in the nose, but barely enough to mention.  I still have a Maduro which looks to be a Corona Gorda left.  I'm not looking forward to the day I have to light that up.

Partagas Mille Fleurs

Partagas Mille Fleurs 
Petite Corona 5 1/8 x 42
Made in Cuba
Paid: $10 CDN from Cigar Studio (February Special)
Drink: Diet Pepsi


Lit this one up today, on a whim.  Wasn't planning on smoking but found myself with some down time so I grabbed this Partagas, as I have yet to try anything from the brand yet.

On a side note, this cigar is a corona, don't know why a 42 gauge cigar over 5" is deemed Petite.  Yet they call a 4" x 42 cigar petite as well.  Whatever, its a size I enjoy all the time.

It lit, and burnt great, and the pre-light aroma, like with the majority of Cubans was nice.  The construction felt, and looked good..

The taste is a different with this one.  The dominant flavour was a rich woodiness that I couldn't pin down to a specific wood.  It didn't have a remote hint of earth, that I find almost guaranteed in Cubans.

Now I had read a few reviews before lighting up, and quite a few mentioned a floral taste.  Not sure if the name 'Fleur' influences that, and in turn influenced my own taste; but I actually did get a hint of what I would describe as light floral taste.  If I didn't read that going in, I'm not sure I would have picked up on it, or if I just made it up, as it was in my mind.

I found it to be mild to medium strength.  Nice rich creamy smoke.

This was a decent smoke.  If I could find them by the box for significantly less then the $10 a stick I paid, I would certainly consider getting a box, or splitting with someone.

Alec Bradley Family Blend

Alec Bradley Family Blend 
Robusto 5.5 x 50
Wrapper: Honduras CriolloBinder: Indonesia Embetunado
Filler: Jalapa, Nicaragua, Trojes, Honduras
Paid: $11 CDN from local B&M  (Cigars for You - I think)
Drink: Diet Pepsi

I have been excited to smoke this for awhile.  The construction is great with the added pigtail.  What got me most excited was the pre-light aroma.  With a beautiful aroma of strong leather, slight chocolate, and tobacco, I would often take this cigar out just to hold, and smell.  It lit well, and the burn was pretty good, but thats where it ends.

From start to finish, this smoke was really bland.  Quite the disappointment.  Other then a slight earthiness, I got nothing else.  If there is one thing I have begun to learn, it's the pre-light aroma has absolutely nothing to do with the flavor once lit.


This cigar seemed to burn really hot, and fast.  Due to its size, I really took my time with it, but it always had a bright amber.  I think this also caused it to be a really dry smoke, constantly drying out my mouth.


It was about a medium strength cigar, and I put it down with about an inch or so left.  Just too flavorless, and hot.

Montecristo No. 2

Montecristo No.2

6 1/8 × 52

Made in Cuba
Paid: $22 CDN from local B&M.

Drink: Spiced rum, and cola.

I've smoked a few cigars since my last review that I have notes, but have not yet posted.  I smoked this cigar tonight, and couldn't wait.  I had to post right away while it was fresh in my mind.  What a great cigar.  The best cigar I've smoked to date.

I've been wanting to smoke this cigar for awhile, but was a bit worried, as I get pretty buzzed off a robusto size, and was unsure if I could handle a cigar of this size, and enjoy it.  Not quite the case here. While I was feeling the nicotine by the end, the overall experience was amazing.

The size is perfect.  It rolls around in the hand with a natural fit.  Great construction, and draw.  It does not quite give off the thick smoke I would expect from a cigar like this, but who cares.

This Monte #2 was so smooth, and earthy from start to finish.  It had a very slight ammonia scent by the half way point, but very subtle.  Overall, start to finish the flavor was consistant, and left not even a trace of aftertaste in the mouth.

The burn was amazing.  It canoed slightly in the middle, but corrected itself when I set it down for a couple of minutes.  I don't know what else to say about this cigar.  I hope this is the common experience for the vitola.

Hopefully I can get back to the place I bought it from soon, and check the box date, to buy a box with close to the same date.