Cohiba Gran Reserva Siglo VI

Size: 150mm x 52

Vitola: Canonazo

Wrapper: 2003 Habano

Origin: El Laguito

Age: Tobacco – 7 years, Cigar  – less than a year

Only 5000 boxes were made, harvested from the best tobacco of the 2003 crop, the Gran Reserva signifies the best possible product from Cuba. Here’s more about this special smoke: Habanos Press release. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to smoke a cigar of this magnitude, even at nearly a dollar per millimeter of tobacco.

As I take it out of my trunk humidor, I can’t help buy notice how unassuming it is.  The wrapper looks like any other Habano, light brown and thin with very little visible veins – just a little more red in color.  I expected it to be more hefty than it is, most Cohibas are packed very tightly, but not this one.  Upon clipping it, I notice the pre-light draw is very easy – different from most Sig VIs.

I toast the foot and begin to draw in the best that Cuba has to offer.

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Updated New Releases for 2010

Here’s the list as it stands.  It’s quite impressive already, and this is before the IPCPR!  Some are still unconfirmed and/or holdovers from last year’s list.

2010

90 Miles – This new line from the folks at Flor de Gonzalez will come in 4 sizes with an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper.  The name refers to the distance between Cuba and Key West.

Alec Bradley Mudial – no info yet.

Andiamo – a new line with two different wrappers from the folks who brought you La Perla Habana and Black Pearl.

Aurora 107 – this new blend is dedicating the 107th (?) anniversary of the La Aurora line.

Camacho Plus – a more novice-accessible Camacho.  Press.  Haven’t heard much more about this, not sure if it’s still coming out.

Cohiba Behike “BK” – a new three-size line from Habanos but not as limited as the original Cohiba Behike.  Info here.  Take a loan out on the house to pay for these bad boys…

Davidoff Puro d’Oro – the long awaited and delayed Dominican puro from the Master Henke Kelner.

El Triunfador – Once a secret release LE cigar from cigar-star Pete Johnson, this will now be available in six sizes with a Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.  Great flavor w/ a medium body, this my favorite line from Pete to date!

Esteban Carreras 187 – two size value priced line w/ a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper.

Esteban Carreras 5150 – two size value priced line w/ an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper.

Garcia y Leon – a collaboration between La Aurora and My Father Cigars, the blend will be created by Leon but will be made in Pepin’s My Father factory.

Gran Vida by Rocky Patel – a new three size line featuring a Pennsylvanian Broadleaf wrapper.

Gran Vida Habano by Rocky Patel – similar to above but w/ a Habano wrapper.

Graycliff Heritage Royale – once called “Project X” , this will feature a Costa Rican wrapper.

Gurkha Havana Legend – a new value conscious line with a Nicaraguan wrapper.  Here’s the press release.

Gurkha Monogram – a new value conscious line with a Connecticut wrapper, similar to the Elegance.  Here’s the press release.

Gurkha Nautilus – a new value conscious line with a Nicaraguan H2000 wrapper.  Here’s the press release.

Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo – stronger than the original Antanos – with 75% ligero!  This is JdN’s best to date!

Joya de Nicaragua Cabinetta – a mellower line that’s half maduro wrapper and half claro.  These are really great flavorful cigars.

Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Series B – a bundle line from JdN.

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender – features the best wrapper out there – Litto’s Ecuadorian Habano!  This is one very good cigar!

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros – a dual wrapper cigar – 1/3 Connie Shade, 2/3 Sumatran.

La Palina – an old Clear Havana line resurrected by the folks at Graycliff.

Legend-Ario Connecticut – a new wrapper for Camacho’s answer to The Edge.

Nestor Miranda Selection Dominicano – a new blend from Miami Cigars blended by Pepin with a Dominican wrapper from La Aurora!  Press Release.

Nosotros – can’t wait for this one.  Here’s the release.  The pre-release I tried has some serious potential!

Quesada Tributo – a new release from MATASA with a (surpirse!) Ecuadorian wrapper, check more out here.

Ramones – and old name once owned by Simon Camacho in the 60’s  makes a return with two wrappers – an Ecuadorian Connecticut and Honduran Habano.  This value-priced blend will be made by Camacho.

Rocky Patel Vintage Signature – no info yet.  This was a hold-over from last year.

Sencillo – a new brand from Prometheus made by (gasp!) Camacho and will be a Honduran Puro.  Sencillo means “simple” in Spanish.

Limited Editions:

• AVO LE10 – the newest birthday smoke for Mr. Uvezian.  The filler is all ligero! 
• CAO Escaparate Blend #7 – a new blend available at Butthead’s Tobacco in Connecticut.  This is the original blend for the Vision.
• Carlos Torano Roots Run Deep Tour Cigar – a special churchill made for the 2010 Tour.
• Room 101 LTD Conjura (by Camacho) – avaiolable in 4 sizes, stronger than the original 101’s with box artwork by some tattoo guy.
• Tatuaje La Verite – a special release featuring leaved grown all from one farm.
• Viaje Double-Edged Sword – a super limited edition perfecto.
• Viaje Exclusivo Robusto – these LEs came in a cool mason-style jar!
• Viaje Reserva Oro – a one size line, box pressed w/ aged tobacco.
  
• Viaje Reserva Platino – a one size line, box pressed w/ aged tobacco.
• Viaje Skull & Bones – super secret new blend!
  

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Matt’s Ride for Kids Raffle – Opus X Love Affairs!

Please check out my buddy Matt’s fundraiser for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.  Donations go to this cause and enter you in a raffle to win a box of Opus X Love Affairs!  Click on the link below for all of the details.

Matt’s Ride for Kids Raffle

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AVO LE10 Exclusive Review

Size: 5 1/2″ x 55

Vitola: Robusto

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown

Origin: Tabadom, DR

Age: Super Fresh

I was lucky enough to receive a pre-release sample of the new Avo “birthday” cigar, the LE10.  This year, they made a monster of a cigar, a chunky 55 ring gauge behemoth, where all of the filler is Dominican Ligero!  This came via my new best friend, Eddie Simon, Brand Manager for Avo. Thanks, Eddie.   I also got a few other goodies that I’ll review soon. After my experience with the Davidoff Selecionne 702 last year, I couldn’t wait to fire this up.

I’m a huge fan of Ecuadorian wrappers, and this one is a beaut.  It’s dark and oily, if it tastes as great as it looks, I’m in for  treat.

The Pre-Release LE10

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Aurora 107 Anniversario – Coming Soon!

This just in from our friends at La Aurora:

Santiago, DR…12 March 2010…As with their very successful Preferidos, Cien Años and 1495, La Aurora has taken their time in the next step in their 107 year history as Dominican’s oldest cigar maker.

“We had defined our goal early on,” said Guillermo Leon, La Aurora VP, “and that was to bring the smokers a medium bodied, richly flavoured smoke with a fair amount of spice – at a very attractive price.”

Using Dominican, Nicaraguan and Ecuadorian tobaccos, the blending process went through dozens of iterations before achieving a cigar that brings a balanced flavour that is peppery, sweet and provides toasty notes.

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Joya de Nicaragua Antano Gran Consul

Size: 4 3/4” x 60

Vitola: Torpedo

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Havana-seed

Origin: Nicaragua

Age: couple months

The Antano!  One of the most powerful cigars on the market.  I n fact for many years it was THE most powerful cigar around.  Here’s some info from the manufacturer:

Antaño in Spanish means “yesteryear” a name that is a tribute to the Joya de Nicaragua cigar of the 70’s when the brand became one of the favorite smokes in the US market.

This is a full bodied cigar, made totally by hand with 100% Nicaraguan tobacco. The filler, binder and wrapper are Havana Criollo seed grown in Nicaragua. The shiny Colorado wrapper and the complexity of the blend give a very distinctive personality to this cigar, created to satisfy the most exigent smoker who looks for a strong cigar, rich in taste and aroma. Introduced in 2002, Antaño actually is one of the favorite cigars in the American Market and is a symbol of the true Nicaraguan puro. [Source: joyadenicaragua.com.ni]

I’m not normally a fan of big ring gauge cigars, but there is something special about the Gran Consul that sets it apart from the smaller sizes in the Antano line.

This beefy cigar is very oily looking and has a nice dull point to the torpedo end.  The cigar clips easy and the pre-light draw is very easy; but not due to being under-filled as this cigar is very densely rolled.

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