Featured Cigars

December 2007

Featured Cigar	Shape	Size	Strength	Country	Panel Rating
601 Series Connecticut Robusto	Robusto	5.0 x 50	6.5	Nicaragua	88
Camacho Coyolar Super-Toro	Toro	6.5 x 52	9.0	Honduras	90
Memoria de Cuba Corona	Corona	6.5 x 42	7.0	Nicaragua	88
Montecristo Media Noche Edmundoo	Robusto Grande	5 x 55	9.0	Dominican	91
Slow-Aged 826 by Perdomo	Churchill	7 x 52	7.5	Nicaragua	89

601 Series Connecticut Robusto

Introduced in 2006, the 601 Series Connecticut Robusto from United Tobacco's EO Brands is handmade in Pepin Garcia's new Nicaraguan factory. The rich-looking smooth Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper has a beautiful sheen—just looking at this baby makes you want to light up. With its solid construction and perfect draw, the 601 Series lives up to its maker's reputation for quality. The smoke is creamy; the taste is rich with a dominant spice flavor throughout. A dirty grey ash stays with the cigar until you force it to leave, another sign it's a Pepin Garcia creation. Look for a surprising kick midway through. Medium-bodied, this stick will leave some of its spiciness on the palate. For even richer flavors, leave this one in the humidor for the next six months. The 601 works well with a hoppy India Pale Ale or a full-bodied bourbon.

 

Camacho Coyolar Puro Super-Toro

A first in the cigar industry, the Camacho Coyolar Puro boasts a wrapper, filler, and binder all grown on the same farm in Danli, Honduras, the Coyolar farm. (Since "puro" describes a cigar that's been made entirely from the tobaccos of a single country, perhaps we should call the Camacho Coyolar Puro a "puro-plus"?) The farm, owned by the Eiroa family, is in a remote region of the country known for the most ideal soil for growing fine tobacco leaf in all of Central America.

This full-bodied bold blend is comprised of 100%, Honduran-grown, Habano-seed ligero tobaccos. Brace yourself. The first few puffs really pack a punch but about 1/3 of the way into it, it settles down leaving you with a pure rich smoke. Expect peppery, spicy flavors with earthy nuances that linger on the palate, puff after puff. The draw is easy, the burn even. If our panelists had any complaint about the Camacho Coyolar it was that it's too short! Honored as the #1 full-bodied cigar in the world by Cigar Cyclopedia, the Camacho Corojo virtually shouts, "More!" Consider pairing it with a high-quality Australian shiraz such as the Hunter Valley one featured in this month's International Wine of the Month Club.

 

Memoria de Cuba Corona

The founder of The Felipe Gregorio factory in the Dominican Republic, Philip Wynne was born and raised in Switzerland. Because he grew up in Europe where Cuban cigars were legal, he went into the cigar business with a desire to produce cigars similar to the many Cuban brands with which he grew up. Some of Felipe Gregorio's creations rank among the finest and most expensive top-tier handmades in the world—Pelo de Oro and Power come to mind. But their Memoria de Cuba is proof you don't have to spend top-dollar to enjoy the quality and consistency of their cigars. The artfully balanced blend, sporting a stunning Connecticut shade leaf wrapper, consists of aged Dominican long-leaf tobaccos. Expect a smooth, hearty, flavorful, medium-bodied smoke with slight hints of spice and a distinct leathery flavor. Well-constructed, the cigar burns well, never getting hot or overly harsh. Enjoy Memoria de Cuba with Balvenie or your favorite musky, single malt scotch.

 

Montecristo Media Noche Edmundo Robusto Grande

Montecristo stands for quality, flavor, and consistency among both cigar aficionados and the top manufacturers in the world. Not surprisingly, it has become one of the most recognized brands worldwide. From its humble beginnings in the early 20th century through today, the brand has exploded into a variety of line extensions in both Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

"Noche" means "night" in Spanish and Media Noche, one of the more recent releases from Montecristo, is one dark cigar! Roll it between your fingertips and feel the soft, silky texture of its Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper. Then take a whiff. If you were lucky enough to have been on a farm in your childhood, the sweet pre-lit aroma, with its slight barnyard influence, may trigger warm memories. Packed solidly, the medium-bodied cigar features a blend of tri-country fillers—tobaccos from Nicaragua, Peru and the Dominican Republic. Settle in with this stogie on a cold winter's night and discover a veritable chimney that fills the palate with thick, chewy smoke and leaves billowy clouds overhead. The burn, somewhat slow, creates a dark grey ash that's a bit flaky but strong. The smoke is leathery in character with toasty notes. A hint of cedar sneaks in just before a sweet, long aftertaste takes center stage. Rich and cool down to the last inch, the Media Noche finishes with such a bang it creeps into the full-bodied realm. A full tawny port or VSOP Cognac are the only way to match this stogie's prowess.

 

Slow-Aged 826 by Perdomo Churchill

Here we have yet another Nicaraguan gem by Perdomo. Although Slow-Aged 826 is not as full-bodied as the rest of his arsenal, it has some noticeable pop that will get'cha if you're on an empty stomach or had one too many beers. The medium-bodied Slow-Aged 826 is a solid cigar chock-full of an extensively aged blend of four different Nicaraguan filler leaves. These super-rich tobaccos include an extremely rare and expensive type of ligero leaf that adds a distinct zest and noticeable strength to the blend. Note the gorgeous sun-grown, chestnut-brown Connecticut natural wrapper, glistening with oils. It helps round out the stogie's complex cocoa and espresso bean notes. Mid-way through this extremely smooth smoke, the richness mellows a bit—you can burn this baby to your fingertips! The ash holds firm to well over an inch with little flaking. A little intense for your "morning cup & paper" cigar, Slow-Aged 826 works well with a boldly brewed cup of coffee after a meal.