J.Fuego 'Americana' Petit Corona. 5x44. Dark Maduro wrap. Nice rugged construction, almost cheroot. Mostly smooth lines with a couple of pronounced veins. Double tapered shape lies somewhere between a presidente and a perfecto, with an open crown. Easy draw pre- and post-light. Lit well.

First half tastes of dark herbal, toasted hard wood, walnut shell, earthy spice notes over a distant pepper exhale. Second half is well cured roasty leaf, dark wood, with more of a pepper/spice expression that is balanced well. Medium-full body. Creamy, toasty, nutty sustain. Ash is well marbled, holding over an inch with ease. Mostly even burn all across with little maintenance.

This is an excellent cigar, a leisurely smoke that I managed to enjoy on my lunch hour. The taste is creamy, roasty, with herbal notes and a well balanced background pepper all across. A full-bodied smoke to be sure, one with plenty to maduro qualities, yet balanced enough for those who enjoy milder sticks. Would be a great bridge to darker, more robust cigars.

Lastly, this cigar is one of those precious few stogies that has no "turning point," no point at which the taste becomes bitter or over-the-cliff peppery. The flavor is pleasurable and fairly consistent from end to end, and I tend to smoke my sticks down to the nub. A wonderful lunch-hour smoke. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to Gary of Perfect Blend for providing this excellent new cigar. They're one of my regular cigar lounges in the heart of the Tower District, and this cigar was featured at their recent CigarFest event.

From the company:

"Jesus Fuego, owner of J. Fuego cigars stopped by not too long ago and luckily he was not empty handed. He was packing his newest creation, the J. Fuego Americana. This cigar is a super premium blend made in small batches featuring a Pennsylvania Sun Grown Broadleaf wrapper paired with a Corojo binder from Costa Rica and a filler blend of Honduran Corojo and Nicaraguan Criollo. The J. Fuego Americana is a bold, full-bodied cigar, featuring a perfect dose of pepper spice from the Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper, while the filler blend rounds out the strength from this powerhouse wrapper giving the cigar wonderful balance. The J. Fuego Americana will be released in four sizes: 5 x 50 Robusto, 6 x 54 Toro, 7 x 58 Grande and the popular 5 x 44 Originals size that come in the paper-wrapped five-packs. All sizes besides the Originals come in twelve-count boxes. For those of you who like bold full bodied smokes, don't sleep on this cigar."

[source: atlanticcigar.com]

"True Americana wrapped to order. With the history that Jesus Fuego has under his belt, it’s safe to say he has tobacco coursing through his veins. Boasting a lineage running back to 1876, the Fuego family has been knee deep in the leaf since Mark Twain was riding steamboats down the Mississippi. Today, J. Fuego continues to shell out one tremendous blend after another. And the cigar on the chopping block in front of us is described by J. Fuego as being satisfyingly rich and full-bodied (a statement not to be taken lightly coming from the man himself), enter J. Fuego Americana. Gently wrapped in a Pennsylvania Sun Grown wrapper leaf, and housing a sturdy Costa Rican binder, Americana play host to a bevy of potent long-fillers including Nicaraguan and Honduran Corojos. A dual band design scheme accents the gorgeous wrapper leaf perfectly, giving Americana a unique look all its own. Its flavor profile is showcased by hearty notes of sweet spice, oak, and leather, with a hint of black cherry hitting the tip of the tongue. A true winner for ‘Merica and every other country that has the privilege of enjoying this gem, J. Fuego Americana is a must try."

[source: cigarsinternational.com]

Cheap Bastard Corona. 5.5x42. Good build with straight lines and smoothed veins. Medium brown wrap with scattered dark shades. Cut and lit well. Cigar came pre-punched but I cut it wider at the shoulder. Smooth draw pre- and post-light. Lightweight, loose fill.

First half tastes of mild leaf, light wood, earthy. Second half includes mild herbal spice, thin leather, walnut on the back end. Flavor was pleasant down to the band with no harsh bitter tastes. Slight oil feel on the wrap. Ash was clean, holding over an inch. Burn was mostly even throughout with a few corrections needed.

This is a nice little cheap cigar, often the cheapest in the shop. It has a very easy draw, mostly due to its very light fill, with plenty of mild flavors throughout. None of the flavors sing, but there are enough to keep the smoke interesting. This stick comes from a cigar shop, but is priced like a gas station stogie. Not a great smoke, but worthy for its price point. Recommended.

From the company:

"If ever there was a time for a good inexpensive cigar to come along...it's now. Cheap Bastard Cigars to the rescue. 100% hand made Dominican Republic cigars rolled in the traditional Cuban Sandwich style. With a silky Sumatra or Maduro outer wrapper and a special blending of three select tobaccos of medium and long filler, the Cheap Bastard Cigar delivers a mild to medium smoke with lot's of flavor, smoothness, even burn and great aroma that is not only easy on the palate, but most importantly... easy on your wallet."

[source: factorydirectcigars.com]

Punch 'Elites' Double Maduro Corona. 5.25x45. Good build with straight edges, though veins and ends were too pronounced for my taste. Dark sweated wrap. Lit well. Cut was poor, resulting in a bad unraveling of the crown and careful handling for the entire session. Easy draw pre- and post-light.

First half tastes of roasted, almost burnt walnut, hard wood, almond notes. Second half is wood, bitter herb, notes of black coffee, allspice on the exhale. Ash was clean, nearly white with gray striping, holding near two inches. Burn was mostly even across, though some course correction was needed mid way. Draw was consistently easy to the end.

This is was an enjoyable cigar with the one build flaw of its wrap at the crown. Even the sloppiest of cuts should not result in a complete unravelling of the wrap. Throughout the cigar, I had to pay careful attention to the wrap to keep it in check. Other than this, the cigar was good with a standard of quality that I come to expect from Punch. I will have this cigar again in the near future, to test whether or not the rookie wrapping was a fluke. Recommended.

From the company:

"A go-to brand among tenured smokers since its introduction in 1969, Punch cigars are a classic. The brand lives up to its name with a bold, full-flavored taste derived from its Ecuadorian wrapper and rich blend of Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos. The large-ring Magnum and uniquely-shaped Champion frontmarks have earned high praise from Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider, with 90 and 91 ratings, respectively. Cigar Cyclopedia concurred, and gave the collection a stellar A rating."

[source: punchcigars.com]

"Smooth with some spiciness, a Punch cigar will fit everyone's palate. With an excellent range of flavor but not overpowering, Punch cigars are superbly constructed and consistently delicious. Honduran, Dominican, and Nicaraguan filler, Connecticut binder and a dark wrapper. Robust and full-flavored - Punch is a world class cigar. Punch cigars have received countless 90+ ratings, including several 91s and ‘Humidor Selection’ honors, noting: 'This attractive, oily cigar has a rich leathery aroma. It’s full bodied and balanced. Flavors include leather, wood and earth. The finish is long.' "

[source: cigarsinternational.com]

Foundry 'Chillin' Moose' Corona. 5.5x42. Medium brown wrap. Good build with smoothed veins and leaf ends. Cut and lit quite well. Medium draw pre-light, slightly easier draw down the burn. First half tastes of very mild leaf with a bright pepper back end. Aroma of toasted light wood. Second half offers a rounder tobacco taste with a subdued note of pepper. Burn is even across. Ash is clean, light gray, holds an inch and a half before the drop.

This is a well crafted cigar, medium bodied, with a taste that progresses nicely. The tobacco flavor heightens while the background spice-pepper mellows by the midpoint. Excellent little smoke break. Recommended.

From the company:

"Why a moose? And why is he chillin'? It’s because he knows a secret – you don't need an expensive cigar to have a good time. Available in three sizes, Chillin' Moose gives you more bang for your buck. So kick back, light up, and stop worrying about your wallet."

[source: foundrytobaccocompany.com]

I enjoyed this Chillin Moose corona al fresco on a lovely day in the Tower District.

J.Fuego 'Heat' Corona Gorda. 5.5x46. Nice construction, with mostly straight lines and subdued veins. Dark brown roasted wrap. Cut and lit well. First half tastes of cured dark wood, fresh black pepper, roasted walnut. Second half is roasted herbal, bitter leaf, hard wood. Ash is clean and striped well, holding at over an inch. Burn is mostly even throughout.

This is a fine cigar, offering a consistent toasty woodsy flavor across the stick down to the band. There is a slight spice at the front, and an aroma of cured wood and rich tobacco from the second half on. Worth your time for a brief break. Recommended.

From the company:

"Meticulously blended, HEAT offers a smooth, deep, medium-bodied flavor brought together by an exceptionally attractive Corojo wrapper."

[source: jfuego.com]

"If you can't take the heat, steer clear of the latest release from J. Fuego. The Fuego family calls Cuba home, as so many names in the cigar business do. Five generations of tobacco growing means that Jesus Fuego is a veritable master of the industry, and well equipped to dream up exciting, innovative new projects. Jesus made a trek to Central America in hopes of uncovering the perfect Corojo crop. After searching high and low, he finally found it, and this blend was born. The star of this show is the flawless Honduran Corojo wrapper leaf, a thing of beauty that's impossible to deny. It delivers generously to the flavor profile, which includes plenty of creamy-sweetness along with an ample kick of pepper. A mix of Nicaraguan Criollo long-fillers along with a Nicaraguan Corojo binder adds just the right amount of fuel to this fire. Complex, medium-bodied, and smooth from start to finish, this premium handmade is worthy of all the praise."
[source: cigar.com]

Montecristo Fer de Lance. 5x44. Petit Corona. Solid build from the box press construction. Medium brown wrap was smooth and perfectly straight with flush veins and leaf ends. Cut well. Light took a minute with a flame lighter. Draw was fine pre-light, more relaxed across the burn. Burn was even from start to finish. Intake taste on the first half was woodsy, earthy, with strong pepper notes. Toward the mid point the flavor turned to deep tobacco, leather, bitter spice. Exhale taste had more strong wood, bitter herbal, peppery to the edge. Ash was a marbled light gray that hung nearly two inches. Had to relight halfway down, despite consistent puffs of the stick, but it wasn't a deal breaker. No harsh flavors from the second light. Medium-full body. Ample smoke, particularly in the first half. This is a solid little stogie, not in the same league as Montecristo's main line, but still worthy of your time. And at 5x44, it's a good quick break for tobacco purists. Recommended.

From the company:

"With its rich history and reputation, Montecristo has become one of the most popular cigars in the world and the standard by which all other cigars are judged. Meticulously hand-crafted at the Tabacalera de Garcia factory in the Dominican Republic, Montecristo cigars are available in a variety of premium blends for all different tastes."

La Aurora Doble Corona. 7.5x50. Good construction and color on the mostly smooth Cameroon wrap. Cut and lit well. Medium draw pre-light and across the stick. Clean ash that drops at an inch. Even burn until first inch ash drop, but not a deal breaker. Earthy, mildly spicy taste on the intake, dry woodsy tobacco flavor on the exhale. This is a decent value smoke that would be fine with a summer brew.

From the company:

"La Aurora S.A is the oldest cigarmaker in the Dominican Republic, having rolled cigars there since 1903… La Aurora Traditional (is) the first cigar manufactured in the Dominican Republic, it is the result of the dedication and excellence of more than a century of tradition. Expert artisans who use the best selection of tobaccos harvested in the plantations of the El Cibao Valley make these cigars."

PDR 1878 Reserva Dominica Capa Oscura Corona. 5x52. Dark, oily wrap. Good build with a mostly smooth surface, dark leaf with some almost black notes well marbled. Nose of leather and walnut. Excellent cut and light. The burn was uneven at first but was quickly back on course. Good draw pre-light and throughout. Ash is clean and white and falls at an inch. First half tastes of warm spice, walnut, slight sweetness from the heavily sweated leaf. Mid-way down the taste becomes richer, with more nutty, woodsy overtones. The wrap is mildly oily across the cigar, giving it a touch of sweet dark herb with each puff. Though more mild that some maduros, this is an excellent example of an oscuro cigar, with a consistently fine, oily taste that follows you to the band. Another fine smoke from Pinar Del Rio. Strongly recommend.

From the company:

"This started as a limited production run. Some people know it as the Holiday blend. Some blends just stand on their own and we believe that this blend does just that. Here are some facts for this blend. Its a Dominican Puro, it is one of very few Oscuro wrappers grown in the Dominican Republic, and one of the fullest bodied Dominican Puro’s to be released from the Dominican Republic in many years. One of the most beautiful dark and oily Habano Oscuro wrappers that you will ever lay your cigar loving eyes on. We put a lot of time and work in fermenting and aging this wrapper leaf to pass along what nature has given us. We wanted to add as much wrapper leaf as possible so we added a pig tail on the cap and a closed foot, just making her beautiful to cut and light. Because the way we bunch the filler tobacco, this is a slow burning puro that produces volumes of smoke and that makes us happy to put our name on. This cigar is blended for the medium body cigar aficionado. Grab a drink, cut and light!"