Name: Bellas Artes Maduro Toro

Country: Nicaragua

Shape: Box-Pressed

Size: Toro (6 inches x 54)

Strength: Medium to Full

With my wife and friends, having drinks and smoking cigars in a lounge on a Saturday evening.

My first cigar was done, and I was ready to light a second one. I walked in the humidor and spent a good ten minutes there. I had no idea what I wanted other than I felt like smoking something new. I looked around. One of the shop owners was there trying to help me by showing me the new arrivals, but I wasn’t in the mood to try something too new or too fancy. Then I spotted the Bellas Artes Maduro Toro and picked it up.

“This looks good. A brand by A.J. Fernandez? Never tried it. I’ll give it a try now.”

–

Branding: Shiny and classy. Impressive name.

Construction: No weak spots. Very well done.

Pre-light: I got notes of sugar cane, Arabic coffee, and vanilla.

Cut: Straight cut.

Burn: Even throughout. Never went off.

Duration: 90 minutes.

Draw: Good, but a little firm.

Smoke: Good, but it wasn’t generous until the second half.

Ash: Beautiful.

Flavor: Notes of earth, sugar cane, light roast coffee, and black pepper.

Name: Varadero Robusto

Country: Honduras

Shape: Parejo

Size: Robusto

Strength: Medium

I couldn’t find much about this cigar online. All I know is that it’s a cigar by Leonardo S.A.R.L called Varadero.

–

Branding: Mediocre. There was nothing impressive about it and no story behind it. And there was nothing I could find online. A good cigar brand must have a good story.

Construction: Good.

Pre-light: Earthy. Woody.

Cut: Straight.

Burn: Burns slowly and evenly. I didn’t have any problems.

Duration: It’s a relatively short cigar, but it lasted for about an hour.

Draw: Firm draw.

Smoke: Okay.

Ash: Good.

Flavor: Hints of leather, earth, hazelnut, wood, and oak.

Name: Caldwell Eastern Standard The Cypress Room

Country: Dominican Republic

Shape: Parejo

Size: Toro (6 inches x 54)

Strength: Medium

This is the third Caldwell cigar that I try. But it’s the first time I try an Eastern Standard stick. Going with a Scotch seemed like a good choice, so I had a couple of glasses of Johnnie Walker Black Label with it. And, every now and then, I took a sip of sparkling water to reset my palate.

–

Branding: I like how Caldwell uses faces on their cigar bands. It gives them a nice touch. I’m not a big fan of faces myself, but I like that they have a style.

Construction: Good. I usually prefer my cigars to be rolled a little firmer.

Pre-light: Fresh. Barnyard.

Cut: Straight.

Burn: Mostly even.

Duration: It’s a big cigar, but it burns fast. I was done in less than 60 minutes.

Draw: Good. Not too loose, but a little loose.

Smoke: It produced a decent amount of smoke.

Ash: Good.

Flavor: Nutty notes. Hints of oak, wood, light roast coffee.