The Glory of La Gloria Cubana!

The newest cigar from La Gloria Cubana is the Artesanos de Tabaqueros from the new Artesano line. It's predecessor is the Artesanos de Miami which was rolled at the El Credito factory in Miami. It is a true success made by the 10 roller team that produced this cigar. La Gloria Cubana upped the ante with an 18 roller team to create a dual wrapped masterpiece, the Artesanos de Tabaqueros.

Before even picking up the cigar, the box is gorgeous. I opens in the middle with a lighter shade on the bottom panel, darker on the bottom which mirrors the division of the look of the cigars placed inside. The wrapper is a smooth, flawless Connecticut shade tobacco at the foot of the cigar with a dark, rich, oily Ecuadoran Sumatra in the top two thirds. The binder and filler are Dominican and Honduran tobaccos. All tobaccos that make up this cigar are aged for at least five years according to www.teamlagloria.com

There are three sizes, simple enough, as they are named after their dimensions. The 650 is 6 inches in length with a ring gauge of 50. The 652 Belicoso is 6 inches in length and has a ring gauge of 52. Finally, the 750 is 7 inches by 50.

I purchased the 652 Belicoso for $9.00 for my review. This cigar was constructed beautifully. The transition between the two wrappers is practically seamless. No splitting in the wrapper, no flaking at the foot.



The cut was firm but not overly so with no peeling of the cap. I took a prelight draw, which pulled slightly, minimally tight. The toasting of the foot was even as was the light. I immediately noticed the smooth woodiness of the Connecticut wrapper, starting off very mild. The burn remained consistent with a little shakiness after the first inch, which quickly and easily corrected itself. After this point, the ash started to curve slightly but it never flaked.



As I got closer to the Sumatra wrapper, the strength of the cigar began to pick up with the notes of wood graduating into a more leathery experience. The burn developed a slight curve, but no big deal!





Once I smoked down to the last two thirds, the Sumatra, the taste experience changed drastically and took me by surprise, actually. I immediately experienced notes of coffee and spice, which woke my tastebuds right up! The smell of the smoke was wonderful as the spice tingled my nostrils. Shortly after this point, the ash finally fell, into my lap! I brushed myself off and continued to enjoy my cigar. After the first third, the spices began to mellow a bit and the leather and coffee become more dominant on my palate.

I never had to touch up the cigar with my lighter, never had any draw issues, no flaking of the tobacco. The Artesanos de Tabaqueros is a work of art and a treat graduating from mild/med to full bodied. I look forward to smoking more of these and I can't wait to see what else La Gloria Cubana has in store for their Artesano line!

Go here to read the blog by David Savona of Cigar Aficionado with a video featuring Mike Giannini of General Cigar.

Video: How I Light a Cigar by Mydsooner44

Very Instructive! Have a listen!:)

The (naked) Cigar Review

Some of you may be listeners on the CigaRobbie Radio Program ( and if not then you should be! Catch him Saturdays at 3pm EST. Listen live online at wsrqradio.com ) and may have already heard my cigar reviews. If not, you are in luck! I have vowed to post them here as well!

My first review on the CigaRobbie Show was of the Coronado by La Flor Dominicana. This is not the first time I have smoked this cigar, nor will it be the last! It has quickly moved to my top ten. Ratings for this cigar have all be in the 90s! La Flor has once again created a fantastic cigar!



I chose the Double Corona. Personally, I love this size. It really makes for a lovely, long and enjoyable smoke. It's 7" by 50 with Dominican Sumatra and Piloto Cubano for a filler, a binder of a Dominican Corojo and it is cloaked in a wrapper of Habano Sungrown Nicaraguan Tobaccos.

Now for the catch...

I removed the wrapper!!!

It is truly amazing to see how much the choice in wrapper can really effect a cigar. It is about 60 to 80% of the flavor blend of a cigar.

In this case, the sungrown is what adds the spice. The wrapper and binder are the foundation. The choices of tobaccos for the binder and filler in the Coronado make for the groundwork that is woody and earthy as well as robust. The notes changed very little through this experience, it was very consistent. The burn was also surprisingly even, eventhough a naked binder is far less pleasing to the eye.

Doing this has really enhanced my cigar experience. Blending cigars is truly an art form. There is so much thought and effort that goes into the process of choosing the tobaccos.

Eventhough it was a pleasurable experience, it was very clear that there was something missing from the cigar. The sungrown wrapper really rounds out the flavors. The Coronado is a strong, spicy smoke that also has a smoothness and consistence that is lacking in many blends. La Flor Dominicana has truly mastered this art with the Coronado.

If you have not tried this cigar yet, I recommend you do so. It is a great treat!

In the Welterweight Division It's Arturo Fuente VS San Cristobal!!!

Since Ashton's release of the Seleccion Del Sol, I have heard it compared to the Arturo Fuente Cuban Belicoso Sungrown. Let's see if this claim can win the championship belt! Here it is: Blow by Blow. As Micheal Buffer says "Let's get ready to RRRRRRRRRUMBLE!!!!"

Arturo Fuente Cuban Belicoso Sun grown 5.7”x50 Wrapper:Ecuadorian Sungrown Binder: Dominican Filler:Dominican Strength: Medium Price:$6.50 Appearance: Very well constructed cigar,no noticeable seams,few veins all small Prelight: The belicoso shape makes the cut easy. The cut is slightly firm, no flaking from the tobacco. The draw is a little tight, but barely, nothing to hinder smoke. Burn: Easy, even and consistent throughout entire cigar. Smoke: Copious amounts of thick spicy smoke throughout Flavor: An immediate presence of a peppery spice that mellows slightly throughout the cigar. Notes of cedar are consistent, which is not surprising as it is wrapped in cedar. The woodiness becomes more noticeable towards the end but not overbearing. Ash: Solid, very few flakes Summary: Very rich, robust full bodied smoke. Very well constructed. The draw can be a little tight but still produces plenty of spicy smoke.

San Cristobal Seleccion Del Sol 5.5”x 52 Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun grown Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Strength: Medium to Full Bodied Price: $7.25 Appearance: Smooth, even, well constructed, very few small veins, no seams noticeable. Prelight: Easy, firm cut, no seams no unraveling or flaking of tobacco. Open and easy draw sure to create plumes of smoke. Burn: Easy, even and consistent throughout almost the entire cigar. Was a bit uneven towards the end, evened out almost immediately. Smoke: Copious amounts of rich smoke. Hints of spice. Flavor: Mild notes of pepper and spice a woody, cedary undertone that picks up notes of leather. The flavors are very consistent throughout the entire cigar for the most part, the peppery spice did pick back up towards the end which made for a very pleasant finish. Ash: Mostly solid, slightly flaky Summary: I would rate this as a more medium bodied smoke. It’s lacking the expected Pepin spice but it is still a wonderful treat with plumes of Smoke.

In conclusion, really the only discernable difference is strength. The Fuente Cuban Belicoso Sungrown is a good cigar for those of us with a lead stomach. I have known too many people who have sucked down one of these treats on an empty or sensitive stomach and regretted it. The San Cristobal Seleccion Del Sol claims to be more medium-full bodied, however, I would have to label it a medium body cigar better served for a more sensitive or medium palate. It is not lacking in flavor though. Both of these cigars are on my favorites list. Both balanced, flavorful, great construction, good burn. I can't find anything negative to say about either. I guess in the end it's Judges decision! :)

Ladies and Gentleman, you may smoke!

Well, I may have made a small addition to King Edward VII's quote. This was stated after assuming the throne from Queen Victoria. She had banned smoking in the court during her reign. IMAGINE!

Actually, I can imagine. Smoking bans are a plague a cross our country. Instead of maintaining well ventilated smoking sections so that we can enjoy one of our God given rights, such sections are being removed. In some places, like college campuses, smoking is being banned on the grounds! We can't even smoke in open air anymore?? Are you kidding me?

We are all adults. We know the risks. We know the consequences. We know how therapeutic settling in with a favorite cigar and a Jim Beam Black and Diet Coke can be. However, it should absolutely be our priority to educate our children on the risks as well. In the end, as adults, it is our own choice, our own right, our own pleasure. And it is being threatened and taxed.

I won't stand for this.

Will you?

That's why I am here, to make a stand with all Cigar Aficionados.

But that is not the sole purpose of my blog. I am not here to stand on a soapbox (but I will from time to time). I want to share my experiences, reviews and hear from fellow brothers and sisters of the leaf. I want to help and be helped.

I always appreciate feedback. And I hope you enjoy mine.

Good night for now!