Foundation 'Charter Oak' Grande. CT Broadleaf. 6x60. Excellent construction with well subdued veins and ends. Medium-dark brown wrap with darker shades. Cut and lit well. Straight cut provided an easy draw pre- and post-flame. The wrapped foot roasted well, readying the cigar promptly. 

First third tastes of cedar, almond, faint sweet bread, earthy spice on the exhale. Second third includes fresh leaf, pepper notes, walnut, botanical herbal. Final third has more wood expression, further walnut and pepper but still balanced well. 

Mouthfeel was creamy from midway through the first third, continuing well to the band. Overall taste was mild-plus, round, balanced. Ash was clean, holding two inches with ease. Burn was mostly even, particularly in the second third, with little maintenance on my part. 

This is an excellent cigar at any price point, but stands tall within its value range. It smokes and tastes like an exclusive, expensive cigar. It’s also one of those smokes that has no “put it down” point. It never goes over the cliff with strong bitter pepper. From end to end, it’s rich, creamy, woodsy, spiced, and slightly sweet, developing a balance throughout. 

The combination of Connecticut broadleaf with Nicaraguan fill makes for a medium-to-full bodied smoke with an inviting rich taste that’s bold but not overpowering, a taste that both a long-time connoisseur and a first-timer can agree upon. A superb smoke that made for a nice lunchtime break. Highly recommended.

From the company:

"Foundation Cigar President Nick Melillo announces the completion of his newest brand, Charter Oak, set for release at the 2016 IPCPR Show in Las Vegas. Charter Oak also pays tribute to Melillo’s grandfather, who while earning a modest salary working for the Winchester Repeating Arms factory after WWII, smoked exclusively, broadleaf cigars manufactured by FD Graves on State St, while, no joke, Rick Ardito’s grandfather, a guard at Winchester, also smoked FD Graves biggest selling broadleaf, Muniemakers."

[source: foundationcigarcompany.com]

Villiger 'Cuéllar Connecticut Krēmē  Toro Gordo. 6x54. Good build, smooth veins, straight lines. Light brown wrap. Good cut and light. Medium draw pre-light, easier post-light.

First half tastes of light toasted wood, earthy spice, medium mild leaf. Second half tastes of herbal leaf, slight pepper notes. Rich aroma, creamy taste, flat herbal expression. Dense pack to the band that never compromises the draw. Ash is well marbled, holding two inches. Burn is even from end to end.

This is a fine cigar, well crafted, with nice mild tobacco taste and light herbal notes. It prides itself on being creamy, and indeed it is once you are near the midpoint. For my taste, a creamy cigar starts as such rather than build to it. Still, this was a pleasurable hour session that I would try again. Recommended.

From the company:

“Named after Diego Velazquez de Cuellar, the Spanish conquistador who visited the new world with the crew of Christopher Columbus’s second voyage in 1493. Villiger Cigars North America has developed a luxurious brand Cuellar, the name is a tribute to the historic explorer. Cuellar combined the complex 1998 Cuban seed criollo from Jose ‘Jochi’ Blanco’s private farm in Jacagua Domician Republic. The cigar is blended with only the best Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper in order to make it a fabulously silky smooth to create a creamy smoking experience. Jochi Blano has inspired the creation of many top-notch premium cigars and has won impressive awards. He has created a stellar success with the creation of our new Cuellar cigar. This mellow smoke is absolutely exceptional and perfect for the everyday smoker. The flavors will invite you along on our voyage to taste perfection, discovery, and the creativity of our heritage and rich history with aged tobaccos.”
[source: promo]

Gispert Connecticut Robusto. 5x54. Medium brown color. Excellent build with straight lines. A couple of veins in an otherwise smooth wrap. Perfect cut and good light. Medium draw pre- and post-light. First third taste of creamy smoke, some bright notes of spice on the back. Second third continues from the first with a more mellow tobacco flavor underneath the spice.

Toward the band, the taste was very rich and creamy, earthy, herbal. Burn was even across, though it did take a touch of maintenance. Ash was clean with some slightly darker shades, clinging well over an inch.

This is an truly enjoyable smoke. The creamy wrap, mild fill, and spice notes join together to offer a well made, solid cigar. There's just enough punch in the taste to rise this mild stick above the norm. Recommended.

From the company:

"Gispert cigars, handmade in Honduras and packaged in beautiful semi-boite nature boxes, blend a golden Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper with Honduran binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. Smooth and creamy, with a cedar-like finish, these milder and moderately-priced cigars have a storied pedigree that traces back to 19th century Cuba."
[source: gispertcigars.com]

Oliva Connecticut Reserve Robusto. 5x50. Good build, smooth wrap with moderate veins. Light brown wrap. Cut and lit nicely. Medium draw and nice even burn across the stick. Taste of mild leaf, background walnut. More robust on the exhale with pepper notes on the back end. Ash is marbled, mostly darker gray, holds to an inch before the drop.

This is a good, mild, creamy cigar that is not as fine as its premium brethren, but is definitely worth your time. Recommended.

From the company:

"Connecticut Reserve is blended from Nicaraguan long fillers and binder. Finished with only the finest Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, this medium-bodied cigar shows rich flavors as a smooth, silky smoke."

Montecristo Premium Connecticut. 6x60. Connecticut shade wrap with Dominican bind and fill. Light brown almost wrap. Excellent construction with moderate veins. Superb cut and light. Easy draw pre-light and throughout. Perfectly even burn to the band. Mild, creamy taste on the wrap. Mildly sweet flavor on the intake with the flavor becoming rich and robust down the first half. Ash is marbled well, dropping reliably an inch at a time. This cigar ends sooner than expected for such a big stick. Still, this is an extraordinary smoke, one of the best I’ve had. It rivals the genuine Cubans I’ve had. Highly recommend.

From the company:

"Montecristo premium cigars, sometimes referred to as Montecristo Yellow, present the legendary Cuban cigar in a mild Dominican “exile” series that defies comparison to the Havanas. Each rich-tasting cigar sports impeccable construction with a silky, golden wrapper that burns beautifully, a marvelously sweet aroma, and the creamy finish tells you you're smoking one of the world's great cigars. Considered one of the finest cigars on the market, they are a “must have” for cigar lovers of every experience level. Make sure you always have some Montecristo cigars in your humidor. These excellent cigars are available online and in-store."