Nestor Miranda 'Doppelbök' Robusto. 5x50. Superb construction with straight lines, smoothed veins and leaf ends. Dark chestnut color. Cut and lit perfectly. First half tastes of almond, cedar, scorched oak, notes of allspice. Second half tastes of walnut, roasted tobacco, bittersweet herbal on the exhale.

Ash is clean with some light gray striping. Easy drop at an inch. Burn was mostly even, with some correction needed shortly after flame. Once the minor correction was made, the burn was perfectly even to the end.

This is a great mild smoke with plenty of woodsy, nutty flavors mingling about. Roasty taste, background spice, and herbal notes make this a well-rounded, solid cigar. Well recommended.

From the company:

"The Nestor Miranda Collection is comprised of four great brands all manufactured in Esteli, Nicaragua and one special edition cigar, the Grand Reserve."

[source: miamicigarandcompany.com]

"After a slew of highly rated releases, Nestor Miranda transitions to something a little easier on the wallet. But that’s the only difference – the flavor and construction are still on par with its counterparts. The Doppelbok is hand-crafted with a dark, leathery Habano wrapper that’s loaded with oils cloaking a unique blend of Nicaraguan long-fillers, making it a flavorful and interesting smoke throughout. Look for notes of nuts, cedar, and earth overlaying a rich tobacco core. This medium-bodied smoke is smooth, creamy, and mellow. Panelists were most impressed by its burn and draw. One characterized them as “amazing,” another said, “This cigar burned better than many cigars four to five times the price point.” So look for it to burn relatively straight, at an ideal rate and temperature and to require few touch-ups. As Goldilocks would say, the draw is just right, not too loose and not too tight. Enjoy this one with the Sunday paper and your favorite cup of java."

[source: cigarofthemonthclub.com]

Cuba Libre 'One' Robusto. 5x52. Medium-dark brown wrap. Excellent build with nearly perfect lines and smooth veins. Cut and lit well. Medium draw pre-light, slightly easier soon after flame. First half tastes of cedar, pepper, leather. Espresso notes on the exhale. Second half tastes of sweated leaf, walnut, cedar. Ash is very clean with nice marbling, easily holding at an inch. Perfect even burn throughout.

This is a superb cigar. The taste is rich, woodsy, spicy, with a creamy mouthfeel and wide aroma. The dark notes of coffee and earthy herb are just a touch on the back of each puff. Nice balance and body. Well recommended.

From the company:

"Cuba Libre One is a stellar new handmade from Nestor Plasencia, finally released after two years of work, now available to all (all those with a pulse and a checking account that is). An ultra-bold, mega-flavorful super-premium, this Nicaraguan's most apparent trait is its thick, dark Habano-seed ligero wrapper - a gorgeous leaf grown in the Jamastran Valley of Honduras that's brimming with flavor and giving off an oily, flawless appearance. Below the surface is a robust blend of Cuban-seed ligero long-fillers from the Esteli and Condega paired with additional ligeros from Honduras. It has two binders: a Habano leaf from the Jalapa Valley and a flavorful Costa Rican leaf. From first light to final puff, Cuba Libre One is rich, complex, and balanced. It's powerful but balanced, and layered with notes of coffee, earth, pepper, and cream complemented by a spicy-sweet finish. Strong, delicious, refined. A traditional and Cuban-esque blend with some punch and zest you won't soon forget.​ A deliciously stout, 4.5"x60 vitola was crafted for those seeking the ultimate in full-flavored goodness. It's known as 'The Brute' and it's downright tasty. Layers of deep, concentrated flavor are waiting."

[source: cigarsinternational.com]