Cigars

Kintsugi by Alec Bradley Cigars
Kintsugi Alec Bradley

Now here is a cigar that is super interesting; the name alone “Kintsugi” is pretty remarkable on its own when it comes to naming a cigar. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold – a metaphor for embracing your flaws and imperfections. Kintsugi teaches you that your broken pieces make you stronger and better than ever before. When you think you are broken you can pick up the pieces, put them back together, and lean to embrace the cracks. 

I can certainly express one thing, I embraced every puff and draw during this tasting of “Kintsugi”. Kintsugi is an elegant, multifaceted medium bodied cigar created by Alec and Bradley Rubin. They had created this cigar to pay homage to the ancient Japanese art form which in turn joins pieces of ceramics back together with gold lacquer-making them even more beautiful. Cigars, like the gold lacquer, are a bonding agent-bringing people from all walks of life together. With a Honduran Habano Wrapper and Honduran/Nicaraguan binders & fillers, being produced at the Raices Cubanas factory in Danli, Honduras, “Kintsugi” certainly was created to celebrate camaraderie! 

Being that the two brothers (Alec & Bradley) grew up in the cigar industry and under the guidance of their father (Alan Ruben), they have learned to appreciate the tradition of cigars (the history, the blending, the agriculture, the social significance) their very first release back in 2018 was the “Blind Faith”. Then in 2019 their second release was the “Gatekeeper” and of course their third release in 2020 was none other than the “Kintsugi”. That’s enough history let’s get into my review of this wonderful cigar. 

Before lighting up, I took a few moments with some dry pulls. My immediate sense of taste went to milk chocolate, cardamom, toasted cashew, and a very light essence of sweet cream. In my opinion, my palate was pleased and my glands started to salivate before lighting up. Let’s see what the next step has in store. 

Upon Lighting up, some floral notes hit me with a hint of white pepper, a swirl of milk chocolate and believe it or not, because I have not thought of this particular snack in quite some time but I’m sure you have heard of or at least tried, Asian snack mix? (You know that Asian version of our Chex mix except it has that sugary glaze on them on peas in that mix.) Well, if you’ve tried them then you know you get that toasted, grainy, sweetness that makes you want more. At least for me anyway, I always want more. Now if you have not tried that type of mix, as I described, it has a toasted grain with some sweetness. It’s such a unique taste that A: you should definitely try some and B: I’m wondering if having that snack mix to snack on while smoking this cigar would enhance. Hmm… maybe next time I’ll try that. Anyway, onward to the first third of this cigar. 

Carob Chips come to mind. Another flavor profile I have not thought of in awhile. What are Carob Chips you ask? Carob Chips are from a sweet pulp that is dried, roasted, and then ground into a powder. Carob is less bitter than chocolate AND is not made with added sugar but while I continue to smoke the first third there is some sweetness with a hint of cedar creeping through. 

Continuing on down to the second third of “Kintsugi” most of the profiles are remaining present. Although, some new flavor profiles joined the palate party; picking up some woodsy earthiness along with a subtle hint of saffron. Maybe it’s the floral note that remained present is why I tasted saffron. The toasted notes continued to please my palate but it certainly transits from cashew, to almonds, to that Asian snack mix. 

Reaching the last third of the cigar the richness of everything came through and then some; notes of coffee, salted dark chocolate, cedar and leather, all of which had that sweetness to keep the glands salivating. Overall, this is a very good cigar. In my opinion I’m giving it a 4.3 out of 5. Now, I’m partial and enjoy smoking Honduran tobacco so this rating maybe higher than what you would rate it as. With that said, “Kintsugi” comes in four different sizes for you to try: Corona Gorda (5-5/8 x 46), Robusto (5×50), Toro (6×52), and Gordo (6×60). 

If you enjoy Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco then there is a good chance you will enjoy this cigar. Most certainly this cigar is moderately priced ranging from $7.40-$10 (depending on what state you are in prices may vary) so only one last thing to do. Go and purchase one for yourself and give it a try!

Wrapper –  Honduran Habano

Binder – Honduran/Nicaraguan

Filler – Honduran/Nicaraguan

Website: www.alecbradley.com

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 pints.

Guaimaro from Esteban Disla
Guaimaro from Esteban Disla

Good day Ruffian nation, T Money back for another cigar review. Today we’ll be tackling the Guaimaro from Esteban Disla. This name may be somewhat familiar to you. He is the co-owner and factory manager of Nica Sueno. Nica Sueno produces Roma Craft and also Powstanie. Oddly enough, this cigar isn’t sold through Roma Craft. The name Guaimaro comes from a nickname he was given in Cuba by none other than Sergio Cuevas. The name is an affectionate moniker that was given to skinny, dark complexioned boys that worked the farms of Cuba. (Guáimaro is also a town and municipality in the southern part of Camagüey Province in Cuba.) It is located between the cities of Camagüey and Las Tunas.He says he owes all he has to Sergio and couldn’t think of a better way to honor him. Now, let’s get into the nuts and bolts of this cigar. It is a 5×52 soft box-pressed cigar. It has a Mexican San Andres wrapper, Brazilian Arapiraca Castano binder with fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It has a lighter hue to it than most San Andres wrappers and has a bunch of visible veins throughout. This was originally released in November of 2016 with an MSRP of $7.50. This cigar was given to me by El Prez, Mitch, so I’m not sure of the amount of aging this specific cigar has. I used my new cigar scissors to slightly clip the cap off. The cold draw is wide open and has some chocolate sweetness and dark sod right upfront. Without further ado, let’s light this bad boy up.

Guaimaro 5×52 Soft Press

Right off the bat is a huge blast of earth and leather. The earth is so deep that it’s hard to taste anything else. Has a decent smoke output while the retrohale has a sharp horseradish sting that made my eyes water. If this holds through the cigar, it’s going to be a nicotine monster. Some semi-sweet chocolate is starting to show through the earth a bit further into the cigar. Some dried nuts are also lingering, but the earth is definitely the biggest flavor by far. Getting towards the end of the third, it has a wonky burn but nothing that needs to be addressed at the moment. The draw is excellent, while the strength and flavor are around medium.

Getting into the second 3rd, a smoked meat flavor is leaking into the picture. It’s not the greatest flavor, but nothing to dock in points. Slight cinnamon is mingling with the earthy flavor and the retrohale has calmed down to just a small horseradish bite. Not much transition going through the rest of the 3rd. The word of the day is definitely earth! Finishing up, the cigar is still about medium in strength and flavor. Burn has evened out nicely and the draw is still impeccable.

Rolling along into the final 3rd, a floral note comes to the forefront. It’s a welcome change from the earth bomb that was overtaking the cigar from the beginning. Retrohale is more of a white pepper bite than a horseradish bite like most of the cigar. The floral note continues, while the earth hangs on to let you know its never going away. Not much change until I finally nub it and send it to the bottom of the Stinky ashtray. The cigar ended up around med/full in strength and medium in flavor.

Well, truly not much to dissect with this one. Pretty straightforward stick throughout. Tons of earth dominated most of the stick, with some floral notes bringing it to the end. A few notes about the cigar that aren’t taste-related. As with most cigars out of Nica Sueno, the band was impossible to remove and ended up cracking the wrapper trying to get it off. Also, was a really wavy burn that took a couple of relights, but nothing too crazy. Other than that, not much to complain about. T Money score: 3.5 out of 5. Rebuy 5 pack.

If you like a tasty, earthy forward stick without a bunch of frills, this will be right up your alley. It would be a great stick if you’re reading or have something else you’re focused on. There are many still available on the market, so it shouldn’t be an issue getting your hands on a few to enjoy by yourself or with your best friends. I paired the cigar with coffee, but the earthy profile would be great with some scotch or even a floral gin. Until next time, remember to do something nice for someone and treat everyone like you want to be treated. Cheers family!

Wrapper –  Mexican San Andres

Binder – Brazilian Arapiraca Castano

Filler – Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic

Website: None available but you can find these on https://www.famous-smoke.com (DR Members don’t forget we have a 17% discount if your purchase in over $50. Contact Distinguished Ruffian if you need that discount code.)

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 pints.

  • Travis Peterson AKA T Money is the Co-Captain of the Arizona/New Mexico Chapter of Distinguished Ruffians. He started his cigar journey in 2007 and hasn’t looked back. Outside of cigars he has a passion for brewing beer, playing guitar, bowling and golf. He is also a self proclaimed grilling and smoking expert. 

Umbagog From Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
Umbagog Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust

When this particular cigar entered the market I was working in a cigar shop and remembered when it hit the shelves. I was thinking “Umbagog, what an interesting name”. Even though I had been smoking cigars on and off for 18 years, I just smoked cigars. I didn’t really read or look into a cigar as much as I do now. Friends would share cigars with me, I would purchase one from time to time and if the cigar was good it was good. It wasn’t until a year or two later when I REALLY started to get into cigars; saving labels, writing notes, heck, even when I went to apply at the cigar shop I worked at, my resume was my book full of labels and notes. My foot was in the door and had no idea the exponential growth my journey would take me on. This brings me to this cigar “Umbagog”. 

Going back to when I first smoked it, not knowing anything about the cigar I enjoyed EVERY puff, draw, retro, right down to the nub. What an amazing cigar, sold a lot of them actually because it wasn’t just about how good the cigar was, but the price was phenomenal. In fact I had read that Steve Saka himself had referred Umbagog as his “version of an economy minded cigar”. With a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and a Nicaraguan binder and filler one might think “How can this cigar be a budget or an economy cigar?” Well, the story with Umbagog goes back to the production of Mi Querida. During the quality control process, Saka felt that some of the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper he was using was not aesthetically up to the standards of Mi Querida. While the wrapper wasn’t as pretty as Saka would like, the tobacco was still good. Rather then discard the wrapper, Saka decided to use the wrapper for another cigar. He chose to call it “Umbagog” and sell it at a lower price. To offset costs, Saka decided to package the cigars in bundles instead of boxes. 

This is where it really gets exciting to not only know what’s inside this beauty but the meaning of the name. Now, reiterating that when I first smoked this cigar I had zero knowledge of this cigar, yet; now, here I am, feeling blessed and honored to type out a review in hopes that you all enjoy the read, learn as much as I did in regards to “Umbagog”, and perhaps even smoke a Umbagog while reading this article.

Umbagog is a wilderness lake located in Coos County, New Hampshire and Oxford County, Maine. It is one of the most pristine lakes in the state of New Hampshire. The word itself is said to come from the Abenaki Indian Tribe which means “shallow water” and properly pronounced (um-BAY-gog) but as Steve Saka likes to pronounce it (along with most of us out there including myself) “Oom-BAH-gog”. Umbagog Lake is actually one of his favorite fishing lakes. This cigar is meant for the great outdoors; hiking, fishing, camping, whatever you might like to do and as Steve Saka says “This is a cigar that doesn’t pretend to be special or seek to elicit the ‘oohs or aahs’ of the cigar snobs. It is an honest, hardworking cigar that is meant to be smoked, chewed upon, and lit however many times you wish”. Speaking of lit, let’s get into this cigar. 

Before lighting up, as you know, I have to take a couple of dry pulls just to see if this cigar is really going to get me into the “Great Outdoors” mood. Leather, dark chocolate, coffee, earthiness, even a hint of molasses hit’s my palate. Yep, now I’m ready for a campfire right by the lake. Even if you can’t sit next to a lake right now, this cigar will definitely take you there, at least that’s where it took me. Upon light up, copious amounts of earthiness, espresso, oak, toasted almonds, and leather spring into action on my palate. Not really knowing what to expect, yet, if I was to anticipate a certain profile but, THIS is exactly how I would hope it would be. 

Smoking into the first 1/3rd of this cigar the Leather and Oak really stay prominent yet with a tad bit of spice coming through with a layer of cocoa. At this point of the cigar, as I continue to smoke into the second 1/3rd, I start thinking about campfires, the smells, the foods we might eat, the drinks that might be had, or just the essence of being outdoors doing whatever it might be that we love to do. Maybe it’s a psychological thing since “Umbagog” has got me wishing I was by a campfire the taste of s’mores comes to my palate. graham cracker, chocolate, toasted marshmallow and that smell of campfire smoke hit’s my nasal senses while sipping on some coffee. This is really a treat to be experiencing the journey this cigar is sharing with me. The flavor profiles continue to remain the same and to put Steve Saka’s words to the test “ hardworking cigar that is meant to be smoked, chewed upon, and lit however many times you wish” I wanted the cigar to go out a few times just so I can relight and see if I get the same flavor profiles. Steve Saka was NOT wrong. Absolutely positively true in every way, flawless, especially smoking into the last 1/3rd of this wonderful masterpiece! Toasted almonds, oak, leather, milk chocolate, fire toasted marshmallow, like having a creamy mocha, it’s rather unbelievable but oh so true to my palate. At least now I know what cigar I will be sure to have in my travel case the next time I go camping. 

Because “Umbagog” has the less atheistic Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, the production of this cigar has been somewhat limited. Yet, Umbagog does come in six sizes; Corona Gorda (6×48), Robusto Plus (5×52), Toro Toro (6×52), and Gordo Gordo (6×56), Churchill (7×50), Short and Fat (4 ¾ x 56). Steve Saka wanted to also point out that even though this cigar is made in the NACSA factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, that this cigar blend is not identical to the Mi Querida. Umbagog uses different priming’s and occasional “broken” (long filler with breaks in one half of the leaf). So you know what this means, if you have not tried this cigar then it’s certainly a must try! Because I’m giving this cigar a 5 out of 5!!! Why?? You might ask, smokes well, relight’s good, it is rugged, the flavor profiles are amazing, the experience, AND the price. MSRP for a Corona Gorda is $6.45 (bundle of 10 @ $64.50) up to the Churchill size at $8.95 (bundle of 10 @ $89.50) It’s kind of a no brainer and to leave you with the words from Steve Saka “Cigars without compromise: This is an expression of our closely held ethos and states in just three simple words everything we wish to accomplish here at DTT. Cigars are more than just a passion for us; they are our life.”

Wrapper –  Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder – Nicaraguan

Filler – Nicaraguan

Website: www.dunbartoncigars.com

Rating: 5 out of 5 pints.