Villiger 'La Capitana' Robusto. 4.75x52. Medium brown wrap. Decent construction with straight lines, some prominent veins and ends. Footer tapers to a box press. Cut well. Light took a few extra rounds but roasted well once lit.

First half tastes of bright herbal spice, earthy tones on fresh leaf. Second half tastes of leather, light wood, almond. Slight bitter finish toward the band. Full body. Aroma is roasted hard wood. Ash was light gray, chunky, flaky. Burn was uneven in the first half, evening out mid point.

This is a nice bright session smoke, strong for its shade with plenty of spice and fresh tobacco taste. The build quality was not pristine but worthy with a decent burn. Far from world class, but still a nice 45-minute smoke that has some nice quality. Mildly recommended.

From the company:

"Oh captain, my captain. The Villiger legacy can be traced all the way back to 1888, and even in present day the company is family owned and operated. La Capitana is hand-rolled with perfection, while keeping great focus on quality. La Capitana features a luscious dark chocolate colored Habano-seed Colorado wrapper overtop a bold mix of Nicaraguan long-fillers. Notes of spice and citrus with a slight hint of chocolate are present in good measure, and the overall flavor experience is bold and eventful. This Nicaraguan puro is powerful and memorable, much like the mighty sea. Set sail to flavor town and enjoy smooth sailing from here on out."
[source: cigarsinternational.com]

Los Statos Deluxe Robusto. 5x52. Good construction with straight lines, some prominent veins, sharp bumps from the filler. Medium brown wrap with a few dark spots. Moderate draw pre- and post-light. First half tastes of mild leaf coupled with bright bitter floral spice that nearly drives off the cliff. Second half has a milder tobacco taste with a subdued spice profile that comes across more earthy, woodsy. Burn is even throughout. Ash is mostly clean, marbled light and medium gray, holds two inches well.

This is a nice smoke with a spice bite on the first half that gradually falls to a relatively milder taste. The build is good, with a nice burn and decent ash. However, the sharp taste is of the first half is on the border and may be too much for some folks. Recommended, particularly if you like slightly aggressive peppery smokes.

From the company:

"Created in the famed La Gloria factory in 2012 and named for a popular pre-revolution Cuban brand, this long-filler blend of super-well-aged tobaccos is enclosed in a double dose of impressive golden brown Habano Connecticut leaf. This very well packed cigar is medium bodied in flavor and exhibits great balance with flavor notes of earth, cedar, and a dash of zesty spice on the palate. If you are looking for a solid everyday smoke that is very reasonable priced, and created at the same factory that produces some of the world’s most renowned brands, then try this cigar!"
[source: jrcigars.com]

La Gloria Cubana 'Wavell' Maduro. 5x50. Dark brown Maduro wrap. Good build with some veins. Cut was poor with some unravelling of the crown. Light took  some time but was fine once it started. Medium draw pre- and post-light. Mostly even burn across. Ash was nicely marbled, mostly clean, cling over an inch with ease.

First third taste of rich roasted leaf, pepper. Second third is a boost of bitter spice, the taste of the Maduro wrap coming through nicely. Near the band, the taste mellows a bit, a milder smoke with notes of wood and leaf.

This is a solid cigar that started out uncertain with the less than favorable cut and light but soon improved with its refined flavor and steady burn. I've had better from LGC, but this is still an excellent stick. Recommended.

From the company:

"La Gloria Cubana has become a favorite of cigar smokers everywhere. Available in an array of sizes, in both Natural and Maduro varieties, La Gloria Cubana’s special blend delivers a uniquely balanced and unmistakable flavor. Rich, flavorful and refined: These words perfectly describe La Gloria Cubana’s taste experience. Once Little Havana’s best kept secret, La Gloria Cubana has become the cigar of choice for cigar smokers the world over who appreciate a richer, fuller-bodied smoke."

[source: lagloriacubana.com]

Jolly Pumpkin 'La Parcela' Artisan Ale. 5.9% abv. 18 IBU. Sour beer. Orange honey color. Thin white head that remains a collar off the tap. Low retention, good lacing. Nose of sweet pungent fruit, tropical, pineapple. Front taste of citrus, orange, faint background pumpkin. Tart, bright fruit flavors. Aftertaste of tropical fruit, bright berry notes. Medium body. Mouthfeel is light, tacky, warm.

The description promised "pumpkin, spices, and cocoa notes" of which I detected little to none. That being said, it's a good, bright sour beer. Recommended if you like sours.

From the brewery:

"OK, so the joke was Jolly Pumpkin doesn't brew a pumpkin beer. Well, now we do. Packed with real pumpkins, hints of spice, and a gentle kiss of cacao to liven the soul. Aged in oak barrels. Bottle conditioned. An everyday easy way to fill your squashy quotient. Guess now folks will have to find something else to joke about. Cheers and Mahalo plenty!"

La Flor Dominicana Suave Robusto. 5x48. Comes in a cedar-lined hard case. Good build. Marbled light color. Superb cut and light. Semi-even burn. Medium draw. Strong pepper/spice taste. Clean ash that sticks an inch. Second half grows aggressive after the drop. A decent smoke that I would try again after sampling the others in the series.

From the company:

"Our first blend, Connecticut shade wrapper and Dominican filler and binder. It’s elegantly mild, with a good balance of smooth flavors."