Cigar Enthusiast

Davidoff Escurio

 

Davidoff EscurioDavidoff Escurio was initially released at the 2015 ICPCR being their second cigar to don the black label band. Inspired by the intense atmosphere of Rio, Brazil they deserved the name by combining Escuro and Rio to end up with Escurio. “A cigar kissed by the rains and born by the Bay of Todos Los Santos in Brazil. The climate gives Escurio its distinctive sweet original taste and rich aroma. This blend is crafted with Cubra and Matafina tobaccos from the Bay of Todos os Santos in Brazil, along with tobacco from Dominican Republic and Ecuador. The climate gives Escurio cigars their original taste and rich aroma.” For this article I chose the Corona Gorda.

The cigar is a dark chocolate brown with noticeable veining and gleaming oily sheen. It feels full between the fingers but but slightly lumpy. The smell is floral and sweet with some cedar and a hint of caramel. The cap cuts fine with no damage to the construction. From the pre-light draw I pick up sweet flavors, a hint of spice and of course tobacco, the draw is a bit on the tough side it is workable.

The first half is decadent with its sweet and salty flavors and a touch of red pepper on the finish. It has excellent medium weighted smoke production and clean burn although it did require a touch up. The ash holds for about 1/4″ at a time until falling off.

Once reaching the second half the flavors become more earthy and espresso like with the saltiness still present on the roof of the mouth but the pepper backing off quite a bit. This flavor stays for the duration. The smoke production continues at the same pace and the burn after the touch up has remained even for the rest of the cigar.

In all the well balanced flavors of this cigar make it easily smoked by anyone. While the price point removes this from being an everyday smoke it’s something you’ll want to have around for special occasions or when you just feel like being a bit extravagant for the day. I would say it’s worth picking up a couple when you see them and have them on hand when you feel like having a fancy day for yourself.

Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano

Binder – Brazilian Cubra

Filler – Brazilian (Cubra and Mata Fina), Dominican (San Vicente, Piloto and Olor/Piloto Seco)

Price: Starting at $17.00 a stick.

Website: us.davidoffgeneva.com

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 pints

 

Lunatic Hysteria By Aganorsa

Lunatic Hysteria Aganorsa Aganorsa Hysteria is third cigar that Aganorsa Leaf (formerly known as Casa Fernandez) has created for Famous Smoke Shop, joining the Aganorsa Famous 80th and Siboney Reserve. Created to expand their Just For Retailers series and inspired by the Def Leopard song it is the one of the newest installments in the series. (OK maybe the Def Leopard thing inst true but it should be.) Incase you didn’t know the Just For Retailers series are cigars made exclusively for brick and mortar stores to help support them. So you might think, “Wait a minute, if these are to support B&M shops why does Famous have an exclusive blend for them when I buy cigars on line from them?” Well if you’ve never been there Famous has a large B&M along with a large restaurant attached at their warehouse in Easton PA and has been gracious enough to host several DR Meetups there. If you haven’t had the chance to go there I would recommend making the trip.

The wrapper is dark bronze in appearance with medium veining, nearly invisible seams and a closed foot. It feels firm to the touch with little yield when pressed between the fingers. The construction is solid and the cap cuts fine leaving no damage to the body. From the body I smell a lot of hay and cedar. The cold draw offers lots of licorice, tobacco and sweat tea flavors with a resistant pull.

As soon as it is lit the first few draws are loaded with pepper. Quickly the pepper drops to the backgrounded a more earthy flavor come to the front. The burn is even and the smoke production is plenty and light on the tongue. As I am a fast smoker I found the draw to be a little tight but after relaxing how hard I was trying to pull, it became easier to smoke.

When I reach the second half of the Lunatic Hysteria it becomes more full bodied and spicy. it is still earthy but with nuts with plenty of spice on the finish making it a real delight. Burning evenly through the entire session and loading the room with great smelling smoke I bring this one down to a nub.

Even though this is a JFR cigar the advantage of making an exclusive for Famous is that you have access to them even if you’re not in PA. With a full body and flavor its a great cigar that’s flavors make it enjoyable to anyone. Whether you’re in Easton or you have to hop on to their website at least pick up a fiver of these, you will not be disappointed.

Wrapper – Mexican San Andrés maduro

Binder – Nicaraguan

Filler – Nicaraguan

Price: From $26.00 for a five pack and $100 for a box of 20

(Available exclusively at Famous Smoke Shop.)

Website: Aganorsaleaf.com

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 pints

 

Aganorsa Leaf Signature Selection Maduro

Aganorsa Signature Selection MaduroAganorsa Leaf has been in the game for a while, I just didn’t know how much they were into it… until recently. While smoking a few of their cigars I decided to do some homework and, before I get to the review, here’s a bit of what I found out.

Originally named Casa Fernandez it was in 1998 that Eduardo Fernandez went to Nicaragua with a dream: to grow the finest tobacco in the world that captured the very essence of the Cuban cigars of old.  To do this, he traveled to Cuba and assembled a world class team of Cuban agronomists who worked at the highest levels of Cubatobaco, in many cases for over half a century, and brought them to Nicaragua.  These men oversaw the production of tobacco during the heyday of Cuban cigars, knew exactly the taste they were famous for, and recognized they could recreate the style and aroma of Cuban leaf using traditional Cuban methods in conjunction with the resources available to them in Nicaragua. The tobacco they cultivated is named Aganorsa Leaf as an acronym for his farm named Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A.

As a vertically integrated company, Aganorsa Leaf oversees the entire production process—from seed to ash—guaranteeing every cigar consistently produces maximum pleasure. Every cigar rolled in their factories in Nicaragua and Miami is composed their highest grade Aganorsa Leaf, and is crafted under the watchful eye of Eduardo, his son Max, and their team of Cuban supervisors. When you smoke one of our world class blends, you will experience the difference between ordinary tobacco and Aganorsa Leaf. Try one today and taste the superior flavor of AGANORSA.

OK, on to why you’re really here, how was this cigar?

Visually the Signature Selection Maduro is a great looking cigar. The wrapper is dark brown in color with hints of red when the light hits it just right. Light veining and seams that you have to search to find. It has a soft velvet finish to it and the body feels dense. The cap cuts easily and creates no damage to the body. The smell offers aromas of hay, cedar and leather with these notes stronger at the foot. The preflight draw had earthy flavors and a hint of cocoa.

The first half tasted of chocolate, earth, and a white pepper finish. With a profile in the medium body range it’s a smooth smoking cigar. It provides plenty of pleasant smelling smoke that has a good weight to it, burns evenly and produces a light grey ash that holds on for about an inch.

The second half is where the fuller flavors start to come into focus. at this point it transitions into flavors of coffee and chocolate with a spicy pepper finish. While these flavors are full it never feels overwhelming and remains a easy smoking, medium bodied cigar. Then burn is nothing short of perfect and the smoke gets more heavy and dense as you smoke, filling the room with its aroma.

In the end I thought this was a great cigar to smoke and now wish I had picked up more than just a few. I grabbed the Belicoso size and but I’m sure each size is equally as good. After looking into the blend I found that for this cigar they are using medio tiempo, which is not only rare but, very rich in flavor. If I had to guess this is the secrete ingredient to rounding out the overall flavor f this smoke. From novice to expert this is a solid stick to try out. When you see these in your local B&M make sure to pick some up.

Wrapper – Nicaraguan Corojo

Binder – Nicaraguan

Filler – Nicaraguan

Don’t Forget Medio Tempo is added in there

Price: $10.00

Website: Aganorsaleaf.com

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 pints