Cigars

Rocky Patel Super Ligero

IMG_7056In the past I’ve smoked my share of different Rocky Patel cigars and have been pleased with most of what I’ve smoked but have always wanted something a bit bolder from them. So as someone who smokes ligeros on a near daily basis I was excited to try their new Super Ligero to see how it stood up in flavor to the others.

Inspection of the cigar reveals a well-constructed stick with no empty or dead spots along it found when applying pressure. It is firm but gives enough so when squeezed it doesn’t crack or feel over filled. The smell of leather, coffee, and rich tobacco can be noticed along the cigar and of course is stronger from the foot.

It lights easily and burns evenly from the beginning. The taste is lighter than expected at first but IMG_7012quickly the power of the ligero can be noticed. A heavy full flavor of pepper and oak are in the forefront with a slight hay flavor hidden in the back along with an almost sweet aftertaste. The cigar continues these flavors throughout the entire stick with little to no variation in flavor. It burns evenly with no tunneling through the cigar (which with the slower burning ligero can be a problem sometimes). It maintained a nice dark ash that is tight but doesn’t hold for any great length and produces a good heavy dense smoke.

If your looking for a new ligero to try and want something that you can sit back with for a but of time and have consistent flavor I would suggest picking up one of these. With the sticks in the $8.00 range you can’t really go wrong.

 

Wrapper: Saint Augustine Habano

Filler: Costa Rica & Nicaragua Triple Ligero

Binder: Habano

 

Sizes: Lancero, Sixty, Toro and Robusto

 

Website: RockyPatel.com

 

Rating: 4.4 pints out of 5

Whiff Out Ashtray Deodorizer

IMG_5805A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Michael from Whiff Industries with the opportunity to test out their Whiff Out Ashtray Deodorizer. At this point the only thing I knew about them was the bit I had seen on Insatgram so I decided to do a little research before the samples arrived and headed over to their website.

I was surprised to find out that they started in Pennsylvania over 50 years ago with the idea of making affordable deodorizers using only natural ingredients. While spending time over the years creating home and industrial deodorizers in the 1990’s they were approached to create a private label carpet powder. Soon they began offering custom scented deodorizing powders, still using the purest natural ingredients followed by the creation of the Whiff Out Ashtray Deodorizer.

I smoke in my car and in enclosed spaces nearly everyday so when the Whiff Out arrived I was fairly anxious to try it out and see how it would work. To avoid overloading the car I sprinkled just a bit (maybe a teaspoon) of the fine powder on the floor of the drivers and passenger side figuring I could always add more if it wasn’t enough. About an hour later I had to go for a few errands and was surprised that the smell of smoke was no longer in my car. For once it didn’t smell like an ashtray but had a light clean smell to the air that was not just cigarette smell covered by perfume.

Next up was the small room environment. For this I used a little more Whiff Out was used in the ashtray mixed with a bit of sand. The ratio was about ¼ Whiff Out to ¾ sand. It was allowed to sit for a day before smoking in the room again. When I returned the next day there was the same pleasant odor as the car. After smoking a few cigars that evening and returning to the room the next morning I discovered that the smell was gone again.

In these two environments, Whiff Out is a great working product. It has a great smell, is reasonably priced, and doesn’t take up a lot of room for storage in your cabinet. Not to mention it’s made in America, they use recycled packaging on all of their products, use natural materials to produce eco friendly products, and all products are manufactured using 100% renewable wind energy for all electricity uses.

 

Website: http://whiffindustries.com

 

Where To Buy: Coming soon to CigarsInternational.com, Cigars.com, pipesandcigars.com, meierdutch.com

 

Cost: $7.50 – $30.00

 

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 pints.

Jericho Hill Willy Lee by Crowned Heads

20150127_150037The Jericho Hill was the Crowned Heads fourth regular production release as well as their second release out of the My Father’s factories in Estelí, Nicaragua, following the Las Calaveras.  The Jericho Hill line was inspired by “The Man in Black”, Johnny Cash’s song, “The Cocaine Blues”.

Pre Light Inspection

The Willy Lee is a beautiful box press with a deep dark maduro wrapper that has a decent amount of little veins, and some noticeable tooth to it.  The pre light draw was very smooth and had rich tobacco, cocoa, and a hint of spice to it.

1st third

Upon lighting, I was immediately impressed with the draw and classic My Father’s spice and pepper.  There was leather, wood, and a sweet molasses notes that I really enjoyed.  The pepper and spice remained on my palate between draws.  The leather and wood really took center stage for the first third of the cigar.  The strength was medium, and the burn and ash were on point as well.

2nd third

The strength has now begun to pick up.  The flavors really started to evolve.  I have noticed that the pepper and molasses slowed down and cocoa and leather have taken center stage.  I’ve also noticed a slight citrus note.  Still a nice amount of pepper on the retrohale.  The ash has fallen off and the burn needed a minor touch up about halfway.

Final third20150127_155304

The strength has jumped into full gear, changing from medium to full flavor.  I started to notice some tar bubbling out of the punch cut opening with about 3 inches of the cigar left.  The cigar has now taken on a bitter tar taste.  I tried my best to smoke through it, but had to put it down about a half inch away from the band.  This is very unfortunate.  The other vitolas I have smoked in this line smoked perfect from start to finish.  While this will not change my attitude toward Crowned Heads cigars, this particular one ended early for me.

Overview

The whole cigar has amazing transitions in flavor and strength.  However, this one wasn’t what I am used to when I smoke a Jericho Hill.  It was an explosion of great flavors that I enjoy.  I have yet to smoke anything from Crowned Heads that didn’t leave me wanting more in my humidor.  I recommend the 4 pack sampler with all the vitolas of the Jericho Hill line.

20150127_155614

This cigar would go well with a stout beer or a good scotch.  I of course paired it with a local craft root beer.

 

Jericho Hill Willy is a 2 out of 5 pints for this cigar in particular.  The tar issue made a serious impact on the 2 pints score.  Still going to smoke more of these, just maybe not the Willy Lee.

 

 

Website: Crownheads.com

Size: 6”

Ring Gauge: 54

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Vitola: Toro Box Press

Rating 2 out of 5 pints.