Boutique Cigars

Alma Del Fuego From Plasencia

Plasencia Alma De FuegoAlma Del Fuego or Soul Of Fire is the third in a line of five Alma themed cigars from Plasencia. Don Eduardo Plasencia began growing tobacco in Cuba in 1865 and has been one of the worlds leading growers ever since.  Continuing this heritage now in Nicaragua they are in their fifth generation of tobacco growing. One such area is the Ometepe island where they began cultivation in the 1990 and is where half of the filler and half of the binder leaves have come from. The reason this is important is that on Ometepe Island there are two volcanoes which have created very rare and special soil conditions leading to a great place to grow tobacco. These leave used have been aged for seven years prior to being rolled.

This boxed pressed cigar is covered in a dark brown wrapper that has a touch of mottling. There is a noticeable oily sheen to it along with thin but visible veining and the seams are tight and well hidden. It feels dense and well rolled and has just that little bit of give between the wrapper and body that a pressed cigar should have. There are odors of wet earth and leather from the body and foot and the pre-light draw is easy and has the flavors of dried tea leaves and cinnamon.

In the first half there are lots of earth notes with spicy finish. Smoke production was plentiful and medium in weight. The burn stays straight and requires no touch ups..

Moving into the second half a predominately woody flavor takes over with more of a nutty finish however the spice remains as well. Normally I don’t normal discus retrohale as I do not find a lot of new flavors and some people don’t use this technique however, in this cigar this is where I find some citrus notes so it’s worth noting. Smoke production continues to be the same and the burn never wavers.

There was never a shortage of flavor with this cigar and it truly does show the difference that well aged tobacco from Ometepe can give. Medium full in strength it makes for a great way to start your day or a nice stick to pair with a bourbon or rye in the evening with your friends.  While the price point might make you want to save these for more special occasions there should definitely be a few in your humidor at all times

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun-Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: Around $13.00 – $15.00 a stick depending on vitola.
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 pints

 

Protocol’s Sir Robert Peel Maduro

Sir Robert Peel MaduroIt’s been nearly a year since the initial article announcing the release of Protocol’s Sir Robert Peel went up so it felt like it was time for a review. The Sir Robert Peel marks another police themed cigar from Bill Ives and Juan Cancel, owners of Cubariqueño Cigar Co. These themes are fitting for them being that both are now retired LEOs. Created at the La Zona factory in Esteli, the Protocol Sir Robert Peel comes in a 6”x52 box-pressed toro size and is offered in both a natural wrapper as well as the maduro.

The wrapper has a lovely dark brown color with just a hint of red to it. The seams are tight and most of them are difficult to find, there is some veining but not remarkable making this a smooth feeling cigar in general with a soft velvet like finish to it. The firmness is what you would anticipate from a boxed pressed style and adds the the overall handsome look to it.

From the body I get notes of wood, chocolate, spice and dried fruit from the foot. The cap cuts causing no damage to the construction. The cold draw is easy and gives flavors of cedar, earth and some chocolate.

The first half is loaded with a creamy, spiced flavors leaving me wondering how to accurately describe it. The best I can come up with is spiced butter you would spread on toast. (I know, I know, I try to stick to realistic flavors of tobacco when describing cigars, none of that fresh baked blueberry muffins with a dash of all spice shit, but in this case the butter reference is really the only way I can describe how smooth this smokes.) The smoke production is plentiful and the weight of it on the tongue adds the the over all creaminess feel of the smoke. The burn has a bit of wave to it but no need for a touch up.

In the second half the spices start to retreat a to the back and a decided cedar and earth note comes to the front. Thanks to the ample soft weighted smoke production the smoothness of this cigar remains for the duration. Since the draw is on the light side it makes it easy to get full pulls off of it filling the senses with flavor however, restraint has to be used not to plow right through it. The last have burns evenly and the ash holds tight.

You don’t have to be a detective to figure out that the Sir Robert Peel from Protocol is truly a great stick. This cigar comes in at what I feel is medium full in strength and lands between medium full to full in flavor which is right up my alley. While it might be a bit more than your novice smoker might go for I would say to stay away from it, after all how can you expand you’re palette if you don’t try something new. If you see this in your shop grab some and if you don’t see them in your shop ask them to bring them in.

Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: Around $10.00 a stick.
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 pints

 

New World Oscuro From AJ Fernandez

AJ Fernandez New World OscuroThe New World line from AJ Fernandez marks the first time he and his father Ismael have worked together to make a cigar. They consider this line to be a nod to the discovery of tobacco by Christopher Columbus and its introduction to the rest of the world in 1492. This core line debuted in 2014, then followed by New World Connecticut in 2015 and New World Puro Especial in 2017.

This cigar comes covered in a dark chocolaty wrapper that has very little veining and feels smooth to the touch. The seams are hardly visible and has the expected firm feeling from being box pressed. The body has the smell of cedar, earth and a bit of sweetness. The cigar cuts easily causing no damage, the preflight draw is easy and there is a noticeable flavor of dried apricots.

The first half inch has a good pepper kick to it but quickly settles into a more mellow smoke. It has a fresh baked bread like feel to it with chocolate and pepper on the finish. The smoke production is ample and it burns even requiring no touch ups.

The second half finds the spice and pepper intensifying again, there are loads of pepper with just a touch of sweetness and ends with the flavor of dark chocolate and pepper. Others have equated it t a Mexican hot chocolate and I’d say that’s probably a pretty accurate description. There is plenty of heavy weighted smoke given off and a burn that remains perfect for the entire cigar.

When it comes to finding cigars that are good but won’t break the bank the choices start to dwindle however, with the New World line you’re in luck. The chance to get a complex yet smooth cigar for under $8.00 is not easy these days. I felt this cigar landed on a profile of medium full to full combined with what I think was a fair amount of nicotine strength (everybody’s opinion is different on this and this is just mine) made this a great cigar. When you see them in your shop get at least a handful, at this price you can’t lose.

Wrapper: Dark Nicaragua
Binder: Jalapa
Filler: Ometepe, Condega, and Estelí
Price: Around $7.00 – $8.00 a stick
Website: Ajfcigars.com
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 pints