Name: Rocky Patel Twentieth Anniversary Maduro Toro

Country: Honduras

Shape: Parejo

Size: (6 inches x 52)

Strength: Medium to Full

A BOTL suggested I try this stick. He pointed at the cigar he was smoking and said, “This is wow.” He didn’t need to say anything more. The way he said it made it clear that I had to light one up right there and then. And that’s what happened.

–

Branding: Loved the silver and gold branding. The gold makes it look like a prize-winning stick. The grey, however, reminded me of a gravestone, especially with the 1995 – 2015 on it. But it only makes the cigar look more serious.

Construction: Well-built. Wrapped firmly and beautifully. No comments.

Pre-light: Medium-roast coffee, leather, pine.

Cut: Straight cut.

Burn: A little uneven when I lit it, but it was all good before I reached the first third.

Duration: I smoked it slowly. Almost 120 minutes.

Draw: Great.

Smoke: Medium. Could have been thicker.

Ash: Good.

Flavor: Coffee, leather, licorice, pepper.

Name: Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 55 Pyramid

Country: Dominican Republic

Shape: Pyramid

Size: (6 inches x 55)

Strength: Medium to Full

I paired this beautiful cigar with espresso and sparkling water. Everything was great about it except the smoke that came out of it. If the smoke were a little creamier, it would have made this cigar the best I smoked this year.

–

Branding: Classy. Majestic.

Construction: Near perfect.

Pre-light: Barnyard, cognac, carob.

Cut: Straight cut. (I could have gone with a V-cut, too.)

Burn: Slow. Balanced. Even.

Duration: 90 minutes.

Draw: Good. A little firm.

Smoke: Could have been better. I expected to see a more generous smoke.

Ash: Perfect.

Flavor: Wood, earth, prune, black pepper.

Name: Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro

Country: Dominican Republic

Shape: Parejo

Size: (5 1/2 inches x 58)

Strength: Medium

A year since I smoked my last Escurio.

It’s a good cigar. It burns well and produces a decent amount of smoke. I wonder why I don’t smoke it more often.

–

Branding: The branding is what it is. It’s Davidoff. Classic.

Construction: No weaknesses.

Pre-light: Barnyard and cappuccino.

Cut: Straight cut.

Burn: A little offbeat during the first few minutes. After that, it was all good and even.

Duration: 90 minutes.

Draw: Good.

Smoke: Decent amount of smoke. Generous. Peaceful.

Ash: Good.

Flavor: Wood, pepper, cedar, lemon zest.