Cigar Reviews
Most of my cigar shopping happens at
cigarsinternational.com
where they have good cigars at a very reasonable price. Been to
other cigar websites and while they may have offered a
different selection (there are just so damn many kinds of
cigars!) the other sites were more expensive for the same
brands. Plus the CI guys just seem to enjoy what they're
doing... maybe a little too much.
Another thing - it wasn't until I got my act together and put a calibrated hygrometer inside my humidor that I began to get consistent smokes. Keep the humidor between 68-72 degrees, and don't smoke any new sticks until they've rested inside for at least a week.
Last tip - get a humidor with a glass top and put the hygrometer inside where you can see it without opening the lid... 'nuff said.
Anyway, here's a quick take on my recent smokes...
Padron Anniversary Serie 1926
Quite simply the best. I had a gift card
and bought two of these from Mission Pipe Shop in San
Jose. There was something about it in the display case that
oozed quality and so I took a chance... VERY nice. Box pressed,
medium to bold flavor, packed tight but not too tight, and was
an absolute dream to draw. Padron Anniversary's are limited
production so not easy to come by. To quote cigars.com:
This is the cigar upon which all others I've smoked will be measured, and so far nothing comes close.
5 Vegas Miami
Very nice cigar, medium strength, with a VERY good draw. Not as well packed as I like but the draw was just perfect. This isn't box pressed (my real weakness) but very good cigar just the same.
CI Anniversary
One of my favorite cigars. And truth be
told, when I first fired one up I was not pleased. But that
probably had to do with not storing them in a calibrated
humidor. Once I put these in a controlled environment they
became a cherished favorite. Box pressed and a little spicy,
but they draw real well and have a weight to them that speaks
quality. Remember - this is a house brand... but I think the
house scored a game winner with this one.