Friday

Relaxing Moments with a Cuddly Friend, New World Cigar by AJ Fernandez


You know those kind of friends, the ones that you instantly feel relaxed with the moment you all get together in a room? There is no competition, no showy attitude, just smooth relaxation, gentle laughter, and knowledge that you will have a purely good time.

That's the way I feel about New World by AJ Fernandez. The 3 cigars I smoked for this review were all (5.5 x 55) with a Nicaragua Oscuro Wrapper, Jalapa Binder and Condega, Ometepe, and Esteli Nicaragua Filler. Nicaraguan goodness here.




AJ Fernandez New World is so good looking. A box-pressed beauty with slightly wrinkly, dark and rich looking wrapper. The scent is amazing ... with a cold draw of raisins, cocoa and earth. As I settle myself on my porch, I notice the beautiful uniformity of every New World stick and this size fits perfectly in my hand and feels comfortable between my lips.



Each of the three cigars smoked, I used a different method of cutting: straight slice, v-cut and perforation device. I didn't find any difference between the draw in the beginning with all three, but later on, the perforated cigar needed to be redone half way through. As with all cigars I review, I was drinking filtered water.

As I light the cigar, a delicious aroma wafts out from the cigar, and immediately scents the entire area around me. The 1st Third cuddles me immediately with a deep tobacco taste, pepper, hay with cocoa drifting in the background. My body begins to warm up as New World caresses my mind while pure relaxation begins to flood my body. New World knows exactly how I like our interludes ... comfortable, a little spicy, warm with a touch of sweetness --- but not too sweet.

As I sink deeper into my seat, the 2nd Third delivers this creamy chocolate, with a touch of coffee bean, leather and a delicate hay in the background. My body begins to melt with New World. He releases the most DELISH flavors in this part of the smoking experience, that I don't want this time to end.  I hold onto him, admiring his dark wrapper and dreamily inhaling the perfume smoke drifting from the cigar. I don't want this part of our union to go away. Uhhhh so good.


New World Cigar with #RodneyThePug


Halfway through I detect a fading floral taste in 2 of the 3 cigars. It stays for  couple of puffs, but then dissipates just as quickly as I detected.




With satisfaction draped around me, the Final Third stays consistent with pronounced coffee bean, cocoa and sweet hay. This long smoke (about 1.20 hours) was like a big hug from an old friend who knows you well enough to sit close and be engaged. My love affair with New World holds my interest, smokes rich and balanced and gives me a thoroughly enjoyable experience that I'd be happy to enjoy over and over. The only draw-back for me, is I usually enjoy a cigar that is unpredictable with flavors that constantly change. So I categorize this stick as a consistent dream. Sometimes I want to reach for a reliable hunny.

When I know I want to relax with a good friend, even one with these kind of benefits that helps ease my mind, relax my neck, lean back and just let the day fall away from my shoulders ... it's New World that I want in my hand. Consistent and yummy.

Thank you Craig @Mad_Bricky for suggesting this stick to me. It's been love since first puff.

All about AJ Fernandez: http://ajfernandezcigars.com/

Wishing you long ashes --

Robusto Cigar Babe

@RobustoBabe 

Wednesday

Autumn & Nica Rustica Cigars Are Perfect Combo

This cool and rainy September afternoon reminded me of the best side of Autumn - rustic beauty, brown leaves falling and slight musty smell of the season. It's also the day I met my new afternoon luvr. It was unexpected. I didn't really know what I was looking for when this dark and lovely looker caught my eye at Carmine's Cigar Lounge in Staten Island. 

Not my usual type ... he had a rustic, carefree, and bold look. But I knew the moment I picked him up and breathed in deeply that I could fall for him. And OH did I ever.



Nica Rustica, made by Drew Estate, has an unrefined Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with a Mexican San Andreas binder and Nicaraguan (Esteli & Jalapa) fillers. Dark and robust, this medium to full strength cigar presents with pigtail cap and 6 inches x 52 ring gauge that fits perfectly between my lips. Cost? $12

Not in looks, but more in flavor & profiles, the Nica Rustica reminded me of Undercrown and Liga Privada.  Delicious preview of rich flavors during the pre-lit draw was earth & cocoa. Upon lighting, the Nica Rustica  kept a terrific burn line, slightly flakey ash, with tremendous smoke output. 


Once I had my hand on him I just knew we were meant for each other. Upon lighting, I drew in the rich tobacco, savoring the first delicious puffs. Full of flavors, my new cigar luvr teased my palate first with unsweetened cocoa and wood, then opening up with black pepper that balanced the taste. Not as dense as No.9 or as sweet as I find the Undercrown can be, the Nica Rustica is consistently good. He slowly released a tasty goodness making me want him all the more. What girl doesn't like to be teased with treats and goodies? With Nica around, who can even think of another cigar luvr ... I only want him. 

Nica builds with potency ... He's robust, but gentle and oh so fulfilling.  Midway through our encounter, his earthy flavors develop into a slightly sweet tobacco taste. The final third rounds out with a touch of smokey BBQ wood flavor and I just knew I don't want my date with Nica to end. 


Sitting back in my chair, Nica in hand, I can't take my eyes off this delicious new luvr who caught my attention and held me fast for about an hour and twenty minutes. Even when it was over, my thoughts went back to Nica and our relaxing, flavorful afternoon together. Believe me when I say I'll be adding him to my rotation of cigar luvrs.

Nica ... yeah... he stays on my mind. 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Nica Rustica.

For more information about the Drew Estate Nica Rustica Cigar go to  http://www.DrewEstate.com


Wishing you long ashes -- The Robusto Cigar Babe

chat with me on Twitter: @RobustoBabe
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Creamy? Absolutely! The La Careme by The Crowned Heads Gives It All

Sometimes simple, plain and elegant cigar bands can appeal to the cigar smoker and in the case of the La Careme, it worked perfectly for me. In fact, the name is sexy. I was attracted to the look of this cigar long before anyone mentioned a word about it online.



The Look of the La Careme is very impressive. The dark brown wrapper has very few small veins and the box-pressed feel of the cigar, fits very nicely in my hand. It feels velvety and sleek. The simple band looks elegant sitting upon the dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. 

The Scent of the wrapper has cocoa, earth, and tobacco. 

This is one of my favorite parts of the cigar review experience. The Cold Draw yields a sweet chocolate and spice on my lips. 

The First Third starts off with a blast of Black pepper. The spice is very prominent and is joined by a strong earthiness. 




Ten minutes in and the pepper is fading with a dark coffee flavor joining with cedar wood balancing out the profile. A few more puffs in and a creamy cashew nuttiness has joined adding a little sweetness and cocoa to the profile



It could be the chilly breeze but the ash is flakey and the cigar is very smoky. Pepper and wood have moved into the background with the sweet chocolate and cream tantalizing my palate.  Several minutes go by and the consistent flavors in this First Third are Cocoa, vanilla, cream, wood and pepper. This is one very smooth and delicious cigar.



Into the Second Third, the cocoa and coffee are prominent for a while and then a smoky molasses sweetness comes into the profile with an earthy balance and spice. The coffee then moves to the finish and the creaminess is very welcome and delicious. 





The creaminess carries well into the Last Third with chocolate balancing the cigar out beautifully. Later into the middle of the Last Third, the earthiness, spice and wood pick up till they are prominent in the profile. The cigar finishes off with a lovely vanilla latte flavor that makes it very hard to put down. 




Absolutely luscious and delicious! I always keep this cigar in my regular rotation. The Robusto size has more spice and the larger vitolas have more cream and chocolate but all are fabulous. 

Wishing You All Long Ashes ...


Robusto Cigar Babe

@RobustoBabe 




Thursday

When All You Really Want is Flavor ... the EP Carrillo Oscuro Does It!





Everyone was talking about EP Carrillo and I needed to find out for myself what was all the fuss about the Oscuro.  Rugged, dark and commanding of attention, the EP Carrillo drew me in quickly with the look, but it was what it did to my palate that made me never want to let it go ...



I bought my stick at Cigar Aficion cigar lounge in Staten Island, New York City. Grabbed a dark roast from Tim Hortons and settled in amongst friends to review the stick.

The Look of the EP Carrillo is very dark chocolate in color with visible seams and veins. 

The Foot and Wrapper give off a Cocoa, Spice and Tobacco scent

Upon Lighting there is definite spiciness and a slight sweetness, along with a luscious tobacco taste. Cedar joins in a few puffs later. This cigar has tons of smoke! 


As I smoke into this First Third, the dominant flavors are Cedar, Pepper and Earth. 

                                           

Into the Second Third, the ash drops, the flavors stay consistent, and then a salty Hazelnut joins the profile, and this cigar really starts to develop!






Half way though the cigar, a licorice joins the profile, the spice picks up giving the cigar a spicy, salty nutty flavor, with an earthy undertone. 



The Last Third rounds out with a deep earthiness, spice and cedar. There are plenty of flavor additions along with balanced flavors to keep me happy throughout my smoking experience. 



The EP Carrillo Oscuro burned slowly with lots of smoke, great burn and draw and all the delicious flavors I love in a cigar. Definitely worth keeping a box on hand at all times. Go get yourself some of this yummy cigar

Wishing You Long Ashes ....

Robusto Cigar Babe

@RobustoBabe