Name: La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro No. 5

Country: Dominican Republic

Shape: Parejo

Size: (5 3/4 inches x 60)

Strength: Full

Cigars give you the chance to turn long-lost friends into friends again. Old friends become new friends. And this happened to me more than once. It is almost unbelievable.

The other day, I sat down with someone who used to be my classmate. “How long has it been?” I asked. “It’s been more than a decade.” Can you believe it?

We sank in the leather armchairs of the cigar lounge and smoked cigars.

Who are you now?
Do you remember who we used to be?
Who are you planning to be?

One of the best things smoking cigars ever gave me is time with long-lost friends.

Name: AJ Fernandez New World Navegante Robusto

Country: Nicaragua

Shape: Box-Pressed

Size: Robusto (5 1/2 inches x 55)

Strength: Full

A masterfully crafted, good-looking, box-pressed, Nicaraguan cigar. Out of a friend’s humidor. I knew it was going to be something special even before I took it out of the cellophane. It had a perfect draw, and it produced a lot of thick, creamy smoke. I paired it with whisky after a heavy meal and got notes of dark chocolate, earth, espresso, prunes, and wood.

It was a good night filled with laughter, drinks, great conversations, and clouds of excellent smoke.

Name: Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown Magnum R Vitola Fifty-Four

Country: Dominican Republic

Shape: Parejo

Size: (6 1/2 inches x 54)

Strength: Medium to Full

A good smoke. Nothing to complain about here. This isn’t the best Arturo Fuente cigar that I’ve smoked, but it was a good one nonetheless.

I smoked it in the lounge and paired it with an espresso. I got notes of Crème Brûlée, caramel, wood, earth, and subtle hints of pepper.

The BOTL I was with smoked the same cigar, which, of course, made the experience more enjoyable.