Expert Cigar Reviews

Plasencia Alma del Fuego

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Jalapa Binder: Nicaraguan ~ Double Binder Ometepe (aged 7 years) & Undisclosed Filler: Nicaraguan Ometepe (aged 7 years) & Undisclosed Size: 5 X 50 Candente ~ …

Davidoff Puro Dominicano

Wrapper: Dominican Yamasá Binder: Dominican Martín García Filler: Dominican Villa González, Mao, Piloto, Navarrete Size: 4.5 x 52 Robusto Strength: Medium/Full Price: $19.80 Date Released: April 20…

Rocky Patel The Edge Candela

Many of the cigars we review offer more interesting flavors than what I found from the Rocky Patel The Edge Anniversary 20th Toro, but few make it as easy to taste the flavors as this cigar did. While there were plenty of times when I had to think about what exactly I was picking up, I never had to go searching for flavors, a process that involves really isolating my mind to a specific flavor or place in the palate to investigate further. Instead, this cigar just laid them all out on the proverbial table and more or less said, take it or leave it. Looking back at my original review, it’s interesting to see how many of the same flavors were present, though I’m struck by just how much fuller this cigar was. That’s especially interesting because my concern ending that review was that the cigar would get too mild with time. While the individual flavors may be less detailed than they once were, the overall profile got amped up in the humidor.

Arturo Fuente Cigars Fuente Fuente OpusX (Original)

Today we review the Fuente Fuente OpusX 25 Aniversario El Tributo (Churchill). This is a line that commemorates 25 years of the OpusX brand. Key flavors: Natural Tobacco, Cedar, Earth, Baker’s Spice, Pepper.

Alec Bradley Thirty Years

Thirty years is a significant milestone in any business, and perhaps even more so in the premium cigar industry. In 2026, Alec Bradley Cigars celebrates three decades since Alan Rubin founded the company in 1996 and named it after his sons, Alec and Bradley. To commemorate the occasion, the company introduced the Alec Bradley Thirty Read more about Cigar Review: Alec Bradley Thirty Years Toro – Rated 94[…]

Macanudo Cigars M by Macanudo

Davidoff Cigars Zino

After enjoying the Zino Nicaragaua as much as I did, I have been looking forward to trying the next release for under the Zino brand. I found the Zino Honduras extremely enjoyable, with notes of oak, almonds, sourdough bread and cocoa nibs, along with some great graham cracker sweetness on the retrohale. Having said that, I did run into some issues in the second third of two cigars, albeit nothing that could not be easily addressed. Cigars that have great flavors, a balanced profile and decent construction at a sub-$10 price point seem to be a dying breed these days, but the Zino Honduras Robusto proves that it is still possible.

Viaje Honey Bale

The Viaje Honey Bale is a solid cigar, offering full, rich flavor from start to finish, highlighted by a few touches of what I would call a smoked honey sweetness that really makes this cigar sing. I wished there was more of it, and with each successive cigar, I made sure to slow down and savor it for as long as it was around. Beyond that, there are what I would call a hallmark Viaje flavor profile, with sufficient amounts of pepper, earth and then some creaminess that creates both an great complement to the flavor, as well as becoming a point of back-and-forth tension at the start of the second third. Construction was also pretty solid, not perfect, but also pretty good among cigars I've smoked lately. I'd certainly recommend trying one or two of these, just pay close attention for when that sweetness arrives in the profile.

AJ Fernandez Cigars Nasser The Goat

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo Filler: Nicaraguan Estelí, Condega and Jalapa Size: 5 x 54 Robusto Strength: Medium/Full Price: $15.00 Date Released: January 2025 Quantity Rel…

Rocky Patel The Edge Corojo

The Rocky Patel The Edge Corojo Toro started pretty average, focused around the toasted cedar and earth. It increased in enjoyment in the second third as the black pepper returned, rounding out the profile a bit more. It took a step back in the final third as the wood bitterness increased and the pepper mellowed. This is a serviceable lower priced offering. While I wouldn't see myself really coming back to it with any frequency, for those that like a cedar and earth flavor combination and prefer lower cost offerings, this might fit the bill.

Rocky Patel Royal Guard

Today we review the Rocky Patel Royal Guard. This is an exclusive cigar made by Rocky Patel Premium Cigars for Smoke Inn, the South Florida. Key flavors: Herbal, Earth, Fruit, Cream, Coffee Bean Pepper.

Villiger 1888 Nicaragua

Villiger Cigars has a history that stretches back to 1888, and that founding year serves as the namesake for the company’s 1888 line. The latest extension takes the blend in a darker direction with the Villiger 1888 San Andres. The cigar has blend described as: The cigar is produced at the Villiger de Nicaragua factory Read more about Cigar Review: Villiger 1888 San Andres Toro – Rated 93[…]

Asylum 13

I will start by saying that this was a situation where I think the order in which the three cigars were smoked made a bit of a difference. When it came to showing what makes this blend unique, the third cigar was head-and-shoulders above the first two. I am left to wonder if I had smoked it first, if my mind and senses would have been more primed to pick it up. What I will say is that the third cigar is the one I would want to smoke again, as it got me excited about some flavors and aromas I rarely pick up in cigars, almost as if I had found a new piece of the flavor wheel to explore. That said, when that flavor isn't as prominent, what's left is a bit more pedestrian. It's still very good and has a remarkably smooth profile—something I don't get to say often enough—but it lacks the star power that would have me searching out the cigar. I'm excited to see if the blend details eventually come out, and if CLE and Asylum blends begin using whatever it is that makes the Asylum 13 Signature Series by Tom Lazuka blend distinctive. For now, I feel like it might be worth seeking out some more of the line in all three sizes to figure out just what all I was getting from this undisclosed blend.

Room101 Johnny Tobacconaut Maduro

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Size: 5 x 50 Robusto Strength: Medium/Full Price: $10.29 Date Released: June 5, 2026 Quantity Released: Regular Production Factory: …

Black Works Studio Tigersaurus

I ended my original review hoping that the first third of the Black Works Studio Tigersaurus would evolve over time and become a bit more complex and nuanced. Almost a year later, the total story is a bit more nuanced. While the combination of charred meat and oak remained the main note in that first third, there was a new rich coffee bean note on the finish that stuck around for most of the first half, a brown sugar sweetness that was not present the first time around and less black pepper. Interestingly, the second half changed and included a new roasted peanut note as one of the main flavors along with a substantial amount of cinnamon on the finish. This is a better cigar than it was 10 months ago, and I would not be surprised if it continues to improve in the next 10 months.

Villiger San'Doro Claro

Today I’m smoking Villiger San’Doro Claro, a basic, mellow smoke handcrafted at the Villiger factory in Nicaragua. To evaluate this blend, I’m smoking a standard 6-by-50 Toro. Thanks to recurring discounts from your friends at Holt’s, Villiger cigars have carved out a consistent niche among budget-conscious smokers and volume buyers. You’re probably not popping a bottle of Champagne to sip with a Villiger cigar, but they taste great any time with an everyman beer. Founded in 1888, the Swiss-based Villiger brand is best known for its machine-made cigarillos, such as Villiger Export.

Cohiba Serie M

Today, we review the Cohiba Serie M Reserva Plata. This is the 2026 installment of Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG)'s Cohiba M series. Key flavors: Coffee, Damp Earth, Cedar, Roasted Pepper.

Eiroa Dark 30th 50x5

I would have loved to have smoked three cigars without major combustion issues as I’d have a much clearer picture of what I imagine is a way more complex second half flavor profile than what I experienced. In the early parts, when the cigar is given time to cool without risk of combustion issues, there’s a contrast between the lighter, nuanced flavors and an old-school thump that most of the stronger cigars of the modern era don’t have. It was quite good, but short-lived. Unfortunately, what I’ll remember most from this review is that I got a batch of cigars with problematic filler. The original Eiroa Dark has been my favorite CLE cigar, and the new one might be able to give it a run for its money; it just has to burn right.

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua

We review the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Profundo Toro Size from Altadis U.S.A., the latest addition to the Reserva Real line. Key flavors: Coffee, Dark Chocolate, Earth, Cream, Pepper.

Plasencia Triunfal

TATUAJE HAVANA VI 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Heavy dose of earth; oak hangs way back. Slight resistance on the draw.Clean earth through the retrohale. Milk chocolate, earth, and subtle oak linger on the palate.Smoke output ramps up as the draw loosens.The other day, I realized I’m at a stage in my life where I laugh almost every time I hear a heavy metal song, especi

Viaje Zombie Habano

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Size: 5 x 52 Perfecto ~ Box Pressed Strength: Full Price: $13.50 THE WHOLE MEGILLAH: Andre Farkas, and his brand Viaje, has become one…

Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas

Wrapper: Undisclosed Binder: Undisclosed Filler: Undisclosed Size: 6 x 54 Soft Press Toro ~ El Fundador Strength: Medium/Full Price: $24.50 Date Released: 2018 Quantity Released: Regular Production…

Tatuaje Cigars Creature From Tatuaje

To put it bluntly, the Creature from Tatuaje simply left me wanting more. More flavor, more complexity, more of the things that have made so many of Tatuaje’s blends not just good, but award-winning. In the first half, the profile hit me with a pretty simple combination of earth and creaminess, shifting to earth and pepper in the second half, while sprinkling in a little chalk and rockiness along the way, before finally finding its stride at the very end of the cigar. Having reviewed the Tatuaje Monster Mash Creature, I was expecting more of the Nicaraguan terroir and earthiness, though there are similarities in the creaminess and chalk. This cigar simply needed more of a solid base instead of the thin, underdeveloped terroir that I got from all three cigars. In short, this is a skeletal version of what Tatuaje and My Father Cigars S.A. can do and has done before. If you have the versions of the Creature from the samplers, enjoy them, as this latest version falls short of the mark set by those two cigars.

AJ Fernandez Amar

The Amar by AJ Fernandez is a regular-production Nicaraguan puro produced at the San Lotano Factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua. Created in response to the support received following the 2025 factory fire in Estelí, the release combines a personal backstory with AJ Fernandez's long-established focus on Nicaraguan tobacco. The profile moves from Mexican hot chocolate, baking spices, and sweetness into cedar, coffee, pecan, and bread notes before finishing with a drier combination of nuts and pepper. Excellent construction and a balanced medium-plus profile make Amar an interesting addition to the AJ Fernandez portfolio while offering a more nuanced experience than some hobbyists may expect from the brand.

Gurkha Tres Decadas

Gurkha Cigar Group introduced the Tres Décadas in 2026 as a limited-edition release honoring Juan Lopez, Gurkha’s Vice President of Sales, and his 30 years in the premium cigar industry. The cigar made its debut at the 2026 PCA Trade Show in New Orleans. The name Tres Décadas translates to “Three Decades,” reflecting Lopez’s three Read more about Cigar Review: Gurkha Tres Décadas Toro – Rated 93[…]

La Aurora Family Creed Perseverancia

We review the La Aurora Family Creed Perseverancia Robusto. Perseverancia is the second installment in La Aurora's Family Creed series. Key flavors: Coffee, Earth, Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon, Mineral, Pepper.

AJ Fernandez Amar

I'm sort of battling myself with this AJ Fernandez Amar Torito. Typically, I have a strong dislike for highly earthy (dirt/soil) type cigars. But even though this cigar had that, there was a richness in other flavors (spice, sweetness, barnyard) that kept me engaged in every draw. Given this, I want to smoke more in the hopes of finding consistency.

AJ Fernandez Cigars Viva La Vida Connecticut

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Seed Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Size: 5 x 54 Robusto Strength: Medium Price: $16.00 Date Released: April 2025 Quantity Released: Regular Production Factor…

Black Label Trading Co. Cigars Eletto

We review the Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) Eletto Short Robusto. The Eletto celebrates 10th anniversary of BLTC's Fábrica Oveja Negra. Key flavors: Cocoa, Cedar, Prune, Cream, Earth.