Name: Maleko Grandioso

Country: Costa Rica

Shape: Parejo

Strength: Medium to Full

Here’s a budget cigar that I was impressed by. It was big, aromatic, and fun to smoke. The notes I got were cocoa, leather, hazelnut, and blackberry. And all those flavors were followed by a fatty and milky aftertaste. The burn wasn’t always even, but that wasn’t a dealbreaker.

I paired the Maleko Grandioso with lager and smoked it in the sun while starting my good old charcoal grill. The smoking time was 60 minutes, enough time for me to grill the meat and enjoy a couple of cold ones.

Name: San Lotano Oval Maduro Toro

Country: Nicaragua

Size: Toro (6 inches x 52)

Strength: Medium to Full

Good cigar. Excellent construction. The San Lotano Oval Maduro by A.J. Fernandez was a happy discovery. This is a good reminder that trying new things is often rewarding. It’s also a good reminder that one shouldn’t always stick to the sticks he knows.

I paired my San Lotano Oval Maduro Toro with a glass of Irish whiskey. It burned evenly and lasted a little more than 90 minutes. I liked the draw and the amount of smoke it gave. The notes I got were cocoa, dark roast coffee, oak, and white pepper.

I’d give it a good 85/100, and I wouldn’t mind burning one occasionally.

Name: La Aroma Del Caribe Edicion Especial No. 3

Country: Nicaragua

Shape: Parejo

Size: Toro (6 inches x 50)

Strength: Medium to Full

I have smoked the corona vitola of this line before, so the pleasure I derived from the Toro was not completely new. Although the last time I smoked an Edicion Especial was months ago, the earthy, leathery, and nutty harmony of notes was quite familiar.

Paired with Ketel One vodka and 7 Up, in the company of good friends at a bar in Mar Mikhael, I had a very good experience overall.