Name: Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente King T Natural
Country: Dominican Republic
Shape: Parejo
Size: Churchill (7 inches x 49)
Strength: Medium

I paired this medium-bodied cigar with espresso and sparkling water.

Branding: 90/100
When I walked in the lounge’s humidor, I wasn’t planning to light an Arturo Fuente. I was looking for something big — a toro or a double toro — with a maduro wrapper. But the Chateau Fuente King T’s Churchill-sized tube made me wonder what’s inside. And that was enough for me to pick it up.

Construction: 80/100
Good construction, but it did have some imperfections. (Jokingly, I’d say it looked like a Cuban.) Like many works of fine art, however, it is the imperfection that gives it its final character. If all cigars were perfect, then all cigars would taste the same.

Experience: 90/100
Smooth. Nice and even burn. Excellent draw. Good smoke. Average ash. Nonetheless, a great smoking experience overall.

Duration: I smoked it slowly. It took me 120 minutes to finish it.

Flavor: I got notes of earth, cream, oak, and spices. Some sweet, gamey hints here and there — like grilled meat dipped in honey.

Pairing ideas: Medium-complexity single malts, lagers, or medium-bodied red wines like Pinot Noir.

Name: Joya Black Toro
Country: Nicaragua
Shape: Parejo
Size: Toro (6 inches x 52)
Strength: Medium

A flavorful, medium-bodied cigar that pairs well with blended Scotch.

Branding: Here’s an attractive cigar. The band gives it a bad boy vibe. (Because it’s named Black, I felt like pairing the first third with a glass of Johnnie Walker Black Label.)

Construction: Masterfully rolled, the Joya Black has no weaknesses.

Pre-light: Promising a rich experience full of flavors.

Cut: Straight cut, as always.

Burn: Great and even burn.

Duration: 90 minutes.

Draw: Firm draw. Could have been a little looser.

Smoke: Good.

Ash: Good.

Flavor: Coffee, leather, and hints of pepper.

Name: Brick House Maduro Mighty Mighty
Country: Nicaragua
Shape: Parejo
Size: Gordo (6 1/4 inches x 60)
Strength: Medium to Full

I paired this cigar with espresso and sparkling water and smoked it in good company. Overall, although it wasn’t the best smoking experience, I’d say that I wouldn’t mind smoking the Brick House Maduro Mighty Mighty again. For its price, it’s a good cigar.

Branding: A J.C. Newman cigar. I wasn’t able to recognize the cigar from where I stood in the walk-in humidor. But since the cigar bands looked fairly attractive from afar, I had to come closer to the box to see what wss in it. And that’s how I met the Brick House Maduro Mighty Mighty.

Construction: Not so great, but good. It could have been more firmly wrapped. The cigar started collapsing during the last few draws of the final third.

Pre-light: An earthy smell and a chocolaty flavor.

Cut: Straight cut.

Burn: It did not burn evenly 100% of the time, yet I wouldn’t say it was a mess.

Duration: 75 minutes.

Draw: A good draw. Easy.

Smoke: A generous amount of smoke.

Ash: Average.

Flavor: Chocolate, earth, pepper.