Cigar Review: La Flor Dominicana, L-500 Cabinet

6" x 60 ring gauge, approx. $8.50
What makes a cigar your favorite? Is it some magical or mystical combination of flavors that hit your taste and olfactory sense just right? Combine that with just the right setting in which you enjoyed the cigar at some point in the past, helping to trigger good memories each time you smoke it. Throw in a price point that is not-too-high that you can't enjoy the stogie on a regular basis and a dedication on the part of the creator to giving customers a great experience every time...put all those things together and I think that will just about do it. The LFD Ligero Cabinet line has been a favorite of mine for close to 2 years, and the L-500 is my favorite vitola in that line. Every now and then I think it pays to re-examine your favorites, though, and see whether they are still...well, your favorites! Tobacco growing conditions change from year-to-year, meaning that the available tobacco that goes in to your favorites will change in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. This will cause the creator to tweak the blend every year to try to maintain consistency, but it is inevitable that some change will occur over the life of a cigar line. What is also inevitable is that your palate will change; I find myself really enjoying the regular Padron series at this point, whereas in the past, I couldn't stand them. So I began the smoke for the evening with a question: is the L-500 Cabinet still my favorite cigar?

Not surprisingly for a company with the name "La Flor Dominicana" the filler and binder of the Ligero lineup are Dominican. The wrapper for the Cabinet version is an Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf that has had a special process done to it...don't ask what that process is, I asked the rep one time and he said "I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." Suffice to say, that the end result is a dark and oily "oscuro" leaf. The L-500 can best be described as "large and in charge": the cigar is a very hefty 60 ring gauge and 6 inches in length is not exactly a Nub. There is plenty of oil on the wrapper along with some big bumps that mean large veins in the filler, although no huge veins were showing on the wrapper itself. The aroma from the body has a little barnyard and some leather; from the foot the aroma has coffee, light cocoa and hay notes.

The prelight draw was fantastic and featured a lot of cocoa and a little coffee. My newly-purchased Vector triple-flame torch made short work of lighting this cigar--by far the fastest I have every gotten one of these bad boys going. After a few puffs, I got mostly sweet chocolate flavors with a bit of bitter black coffee. The smoke is thick and oily, but thanks to the extra-thick ring gauge coupled with medium-long length, the smoke is very cool and smooth.

The first time I had this cigar was just after the Big Smoke 2007. I remember finding a pair of them in my bag when I got home and loved them from the start. I have since received them as gifts (thanks again, Keith!), I hunted them down on C-Bid, and I purchased them during Crazy Tuesdays at Vendome (Buy 2, Get 1 Free!). At the Big Smoke 2008, I got to shake the hand of Litto Gomez and tell him "thank you" for creating my favorite cigar. I tried pretty much all other other sizes in the Ligero line and even tried the Natural wrapped version, but I have kept coming back to the L-500 Cabinet.

The first third was dominated by cocoa flavors along with the supporting flavors of coffee and dried fruit. The draw was consistently easy and the burn line was jagged but overall even. During the second third, the black coffee flavor moved to the front, swapping placed with the cocoa, which took on a more supporting role. There was also some roasted nut flavor on the retrohale.

In the last third, the black coffee was still dominant and there was just a little spice to go with it as well. To answer the question I posed at the beginning of this review--yes, this is still my overall favorite cigar. I have had some sub-par examples in the last 2 years, but this was not one of them. To me it seems like these cigars do best when you buy them and smoke them within 2 or 3 months; I've had a few that I aged and they just do not seem as flavorful after a year or more. When you get them in the prime of their life, though, they are flavorful and enjoyable to the very end. I find the Ligero line to be a step down in strength from the LFD Double Ligero line (although many people say the Ligero line is stronger), so this offers a full-bodied, full-flavored smoke that is unlikely to overwhelm you and leave you feeling ill at the end of the day.

Body: 8/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 9/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 10/10

October

Fall is falling everywhere you look right now...October is ready to start and that makes me happy. It's always been my favorite month of the year, not simply because it is the month in which my birthday falls, but because it is a transitional month, even in California, signaling the change from summer to other (California never had "winter" to speak of, but I experienced plenty of "other than summer").

For my birthday and for my favorite month, I am designating October as "La Flor Dominicana Month" here on the Tiki Bar Online blog. At the time of this writing, I have 17 LFD cigars resting in my humidor, waiting to be smoked and reviewed. Everything from the old-familiar L-500 Cabinet to the powerhouse DL-Chisel Maduro to the rare LG Diez (2 varieties!!!) and the very special Museo. I have sticks I've smoked plenty of times before, like the Coronado and DL Lancero, and sticks I've rarely or never had, like the Jocko or Grand Maduro. Lots of smoking to do...I'm looking forward to it.

Friday Funnies: Mac vs. PC

I know, I know...these are old and the OS wars are over anyway (yeah, right)...they're funny no matter which side you fall on, IMHO:

Cigars for the Recession: Gran Habano, Habano #3

Robusto, 5" x 52 ring gauge, $1.67
The Habano #3 is part of the same Gran Habano sampler from which I picked up the 3 Siglos for last week's Bargain Cigar review. The GH Habano #3 is a "classic cigar" featuring "a medium body with a smooth and balance taste" according to the company website. It consists of filler from Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua; the binder and wrapper are both Nicaraguan Habano. The wrapper is a medium-brown with quite a bit of mottling, but no real flaws or defects. The cap is very generous for a bargain stick. Veins are visible but not large. The aroma from the body of the stick is barnyard and humidor, while there is more compost and cocoa from the foot. The wrapper has a very oily feel, which was particularly nice after having spent over a year in my humidor.

The prelight draw was easy and had some mildly sweet fruit flavors. Initial flavors after lighting were leather and earth. During the first third that was mostly the name of the game--leathery and earthy--but there was some chili spice on occasion to liven things up. The draw was great and the burn line needed only a minor touch-up.

During the second third, the spiciness increased some although not completely overcoming the leather flavor. The burn line developed a slight problem on one side that had to be touched up a couple more times, but overall this was still a nice smoke.

By the time the cigar was done the spice had disappeared leaving a much more earthy flavor. This is a very decent stick that fails to blow you away on any level except price. It is good but by no means great and makes a very good cigar for those times you do not want to concentrate on flavors, like when mowing the lawn or playing golf, or perhaps as your fourth or fifth stick of the day when you have had too many for it to make much difference.

Grade: B

Cigar Review: Gurkha Evil

Robusto, 5.0" x 50 ring gauge, approx. $4.95 online when purchased in a box of 20
Another new release debuting at this year's IPCPR show is the latest from Gurkha: Evil. I was present at one of the first public herfs of this stogie at CBC/Burns on August 27 and got a chance to talk with the local rep about this stick. According to him, a group of Gurkha reps went to company owner, Kaisad Hansotia, to tell him they felt the company was missing out on a large segment of the market: those B&M shoppers that wanted a quality cigar fir $10 or less. He instructed them to blend it, so they went to the Central American factory (I forget the country) and did so. The result in the Evil, a medium-to-full bodied smoke that retails from $5 to $10 depending on the size, where you purchase and how many you buy at a time. I got two sticks that night; the first was a bit dried out and the wrapper became disconnected with the rest of the stogie, so I let my second stick rest for an additional 2 weeks in my humidor before this review.

The band of the Evil is rather understated for a Gurkha; it is made of light-brown paper with black ink and some metallic gold splashed of ink randomly mixed in. It is a rustic look for a company that normally tries to exude luxury, but I like it. What I do not like is that the band is about 1.5" tall, obscuring a good portion of the body of the stick; this will make it hard to spot flaws on individual sticks before purchasing. The wrapper is a very nice dark brown color and this example looks flawless. My previous cigar emphasized the fact that this Brazilian wrapper is extremely thin and delicate so I tried to be extra careful removing the band. The aroma of chocolate is easily the most prevalent, from the wrapper it is more of a subtle milk chocolate, while the foot is a richer mocha. The cigar feels quite solid; hopefully this does not portend a draw problem.

To keep wrapper damage possibilities to a minimum, I elected to punch the Evil. The ended up with no cracks in the cap and what seemed like a decent draw that had subtle cocoa and coffee notes. After lighting, though, I did not like the draw, so I opened up the original hole with my scissors and got a much better burn. Right away, the Evil presents a nice peppery blast along with some cocoa, which can especially be tasted on the restohale. The first time I smoked an Evil, my thought was "very full-bodied...for a Gurkha." This one actually struck me as quite full-bodied by any standard, at least in the early going. This contributed to an underlying black coffee bitterness that became very apparent once the pepper settled down a bit.

During the second third, the body eased up a bit and more chocolate flavors were evident. The construction was very good so far--slightly tight draw, but very straight burn line and solid ash that grew to an inch or more before letting go easily.

By the time the last third came around, the Evil was still medium-to-full in body with plenty of chocolate and some nice black coffee notes. The smoke had gotten very creamy as well. On the whole, a very tasty cigar that will surprise Gurkha fans and critics alike: a well-rounded, flavorful stogies with a decent amount of strength and body and a very reasonable price point.

Body: 7/10
Strength: 6/10
Complexity: 7/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Summer Collection 2009

Toro, 6" x 50 ring gauge, approx. $11.00
Recently, I have said more nice things about Ted Kennedy than about Rocky Patel...and anyone who knows me would say that means nothing good for the Rock-ster. Of course, what does he care? I'm just a lowly consumer of cigar products that makes my views known to the entire world...if they would only have the decency to read this blog. So, I was trepidatious at the prospect of even trying this new Summer 2009 blend, especially since last year's Summer was so disappointing. This year's model reportedly sports a Nicaraguan wrapper around Nicaraguan and Ecuadorian filler and rates as a "full-bodied" smoke. Lots of people have loved it--I'm anxious to see if it can save my very low opinion of this whole risky Seasonal Blend scheme.

To start, the appearance is very nice--a medium brown color that has a reddish tinge in natural light. It is very even colored, without blotching or blemish. There are a few light veins and at least one large one that runs most of the length of the stick. The wrapper is shiny and oily to the touch. The aroma from the body is rich tobacco and a little leather; from the foot there is a faint chocolate smell with plenty of barnyard and composty aroma. The feel is neither rock hard, nor spongey, which bodes well.

Prelight draw was about as close to perfect as you could find--not too tight or too loose. The flavor on prelight was sweet hay mostly, but there was definitely a spicy tingle on the lips, too. I found the first few minutes difficult to characterize: there was some spice, but not overwhelming; there was a smoothness and an earthiness, but it was hard to say exactly what I was tasting. It was very good, though, at this stage of the game.

Through the first third, the Summer 2009 displayed quite a bit of black pepper along with earthy and leathery notes. The smoke was creamy and thick and the draw was very good, with just a slight canoe that corrected itself fairly quickly. The ash held on for as much as inch which inspired confidence, but that feeling was brought down when I took off the dual bands and found the wrapper cracked and peeling underneath--the band was actually holding it together!

The second third started out with an increase in spice and some definite coffee overtones. The body was quite full and I did start to feel some kick by this point, too.

By the time the last third rolled around, the RP Summer 2009 really did exhibit some strength. It was definitely full-bodied as well as being full-flavored and it may have been a mistake to have this one as a morning cigar. The earthy/leathery flavor profile that dominated most of the way is not my favorite type of smoke, but there was enough spice, coffee, and the occasional hit of cocoa to make things very interesting. The only hits I have against it were the split wrapper and the price, which will keep it from becoming something I would regularly enjoy.

Body: 9/10
Strength: 8/10
Complexity: 9/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 8.5/10
Note: the split wrapper did not further unravel or affect the burn, so I only marked off .5 point. Without that issue, the Construction score would have been 2/2, resulting in a 9/10 total.

Book Recommendation: Liberty and Tyranny

If you happen to glance over the New York Times Bestseller List (or practically any other bestseller list, for that matter) you will see the Hardcover Non-Fiction list dominated by conservative books almost all the time. Granted, you will see the occasional Al Franken or Bill Clinton polemic, but for the most part, in the last 15 to 20 years, these lists are dominated by Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Dick Morris, Bernie Goldberg and Michelle Malkin. One of the latest of these bestselling tomes is also perhaps one of the most important: Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto by Mark R. Levin.

Levin is a radio talk-show host and his previous best-selling book was Men in Black: How the Supreme Court is Destroying America. His latest book seeks to define and frame the argument of left vs. right, Democrat vs. Republican, in a new style and with some new terminology. He starts out by proclaiming that "There is simply no scientific or mathematical formula that defines conservatism." He claims no "new theories" but wants to clarify where he stands, where he believes our founding fathers would have us stand, and how we can get there.

The book is loaded with personal observations and discussions of philosophies of our founding fathers and those whom they took their philosophies from (Adam Smith, John Locke, etc.). There is a continuing compare-and-contrast between the forces that would uphold the founding fathers' beliefs ("the Conservative") and those who would tear them down ("the Statist"). Indeed, Levin can be rightly credited with re-introducing the term Statist into the popular vocabulary, especially as he has sold over 1 million copies of this book to date.

Chapters deal with immigration policy, enviromentalism, federalism, welfare, and the true meaning of "free markets." And wrapping it all up is a manifesto of sorts: an arrow pointing the way out of the mess our country is currently wrapped up in. Levin offers guiding principles for taxation, environmental concerns, judges, education, immigration, and other pressing issues. As he promises, there is really nothing new here; rather, this is a concise and cogent argument for the Constitution of these United States of America. Well worth reading...and reading again...and sharing with friends and family.

Cigar Review: Cain Maduro

Torpedo, 6" x 54 ring gauge, $7.30
The Cain Maduro comes with the same 82 percent ligero content of the Habano, this time wrapped in an almost-black maduro leaf. There are some visible veins, but they feel almost flat under your fingers. The wrapper has a slightly sweet aroma that is reminiscent of a walk-in humidor while the foot has more of the chocolate that is so familiar in Nicaraguan stogies. The prelight draw is rich with dark chocolate flavors as well as some nice dark-roast coffee and it left a spicy tingle on the lips.

From first lighting, it is easy to see similarities and differences between the Maduro and Habano expressions of the Cain. They both have a fullness of body that is just astounding; they both are very smooth for such strong sticks, but have some raw, harsh edges, too; they both have oily, thick smoke that lingers and stings the eyes. The Maduro is noticeably sweeter, though, with much more cocoa and coffee right out of the chute.

The second third seemed to smooth out somewhat, as it did on the Habano, but the strong coffee flavor here was supplemented by a distinct sweetness from the maduro wrapper that made the overall flavor better. The body is still very full, although the smoke volume does not seem as great on this stick--the draw seems a bit tighter, even after recutting during the first third. This could partially be due to the maduro wrapper which tend to be moister than other varieties and could be causing some restricted airflow.

Finishing this cigar, I got the sense that the body lightened up and it was overall less powerful than the Habano, despite what the marketing and website claim. The flavor was more consistently pleasing on this stick, though, and it would have to be my favorite of the two. The one drawback was the less-than-perfect draw--something that I will have to re-evaluate on repeated smokings...sounds like fun!

Body: 10/10
Strength: 8/10
Complexity: 9/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/5
Flavor: 5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10

Cigar Review: Cain Habano

Torpedo, 6" x 54 ring gauge, $7.15
In 2008, the cigar world got to know Sam Leccia through his original creation, the Nub, a cigar specially designed to get to the heart of the flavor from the first moment you sent first to it. This year, working with the Oliva Cigar Company again, Sam has created Cain, the cigar that was all the rage at this year's IPCPR. They are billing this cigar as "Straight Ligero," although that is a bit of a misnomer as the cigar is really only about 82 percent ligero with some seco and viso tobacco blended in to ensure that the thing will actually burn. Perhaps a better appellation would have been "Max Ligero." This cigar features tobaccos from the Jalapa Valley, Condega, and Esteli regions of Nicaragua; curiously enough, these last two regions are the origins for two of the three ligero tobaccos in CAO's LX2. The Cain comes with either a fuller-bodied maduro wrapper or the "slightly milder" Habano wrapper that I smoked for this review.

The Cain Habano looks flawless upon inspection. The wrapper has a nice oily sheen and there are no defects. There are visible veins but they are hard to feel; the wrapper is toothy and slightly lumpy in places. The aroma is of barnyard and cigar-store humidor from the wrapper with a richer coffee and cocoa mixture from the foot. The feel is slightly soft toward the foot, but nothing unusual. The prelight draw had some chocolate along with some sweetness and spiciness and some other element that was hard to put a finger on.

Saying the Cain is full-bodied is a bit of an understatement. The flavor is almost thick enough to cut with a knife right from the get-go. The smoke is oily and smoother than you would expect from the reputation this cigar already has; there are some harsh edges to it from time-to-time, though. It was easy to taste both black pepper and a different "chili pepper" spice at the same time along with notes of dark roasted coffee. The ash fell off after about an inch which means no "Cain-stand" photos. :) Midway through the first third my impressions were of dark, dark coffee and black pepper; the body of the stick is pretty much off the scale--the smoke leaves the mouth feeling coated and slightly overwhelmed.

By the time the second third got underway, the Cain got a little smoother and smokeable while not lightening up in the body area one bit. The smoke is still very oily and tended to hang around the head where it stung my eyes more than any cigar in recent memory. The draw had been flawless so far and the burn line was very straight. The second third was stronger in the coffee flavor, but the pepper and spice practically disappeared.

The last third started with some bitter/sour flavors that thankfully went away quickly. The Cain returned to its strong coffee flavor and massive body. Overall, this is a very good cigar that lands somewhere between the Oliva V and the V Maduro in flavor, body, and strength. The price is simply awesome for such a flavorful and powerful stick and I will definitely be adding this to the rotation as an "after a big steak dinner" smoke. Definitely not for newbies unless you need a laugh and want to see them get green and spew.

Body: 10/10
Strength: 9/10
Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10

Cigars for the Recession: Gran Habano, 3 Siglos

Robusto, 5" x 52 ring gauge, $1.67
I purchased this 3 Siglos robusto as part of a Gran Habano flight sampler last autumn and the price was truly remarkable--12 sticks (3 each of 4 varieties) for $20, or $1.67 per stick. The Gran Habano website describes the 3 Siglos as a full-bodied Triple Ligero blend with filler from Colombia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, a Nicaraguan Habano binder, and a Nicaraguan shade-grown Corojo wrapper.

The aroma from the body was sweet tobacco with a little barnyard; from the foot the aroma is very faint, but by being patient, I could detect some notes of chocolate. The cigar seemed to be well-made and very attractive unless you looked too closely; that's when you will see hints of its bargain nature in the wrapper: small blemishes, stretches, jagged trim lines, etc. The point, though, is that you do have to look hard to see this.

Construction and draw seemed very good as I lit up the 3 Siglos. There was some pepper initially along with leather and sweet tobacco. A very nice flavor although I would hesitate to say "full-flavored." The smoke was fairly thick and oily and had a relatively long finish, so it could probably be classified as "full-bodied," but just barely so. By the time the first third ended, the pepper had diminished to just a few occasional notes; the leathery flavor had continued, however, and there was sweetness, almost a fruitness, present as well. The second third was much the same.

And the last third did not change much, either. In all, this is a very good-tasting cigar that lacks much in the way of complexity. It is fairly full-bodied and has a decent amount of strength, though, which is fairly unusual in a bargain stick. The problem I have with it is "where does it fit?" It is too good to be a "lawn-mowing cigar" and stronger than I prefer in an early-morning smoke. This leaves it in a place where it would compete with other medium-to-full bodied smokes that might cost just a little more, but exhibit a wider range of pleasing characteristics (Benchmade or Padron regular series, for example). It's a good stick, but I have trouble seeing a time of the day when it would be something I would gravitate toward.

Grade: B

Friday Funnies: Literal Videos

Being an avid music fan, I have often been mystified by the imagery of some music videos. Well...others felt the same and took the time to re-interpret the songs to match the video imagery. Thanks to Tracy, fellow herfer from the CBC, for telling me about these...

P.S. Kudos to anyone who got the link in the 3 songs: all three were written by Jim Steinman, best known for his work with Meatloaf, but also the writer of ultra-dramatic fare for other artists.

Cigar Review: Padron 2000 Maduro

Robusto, 5" x 50 ring gauge, approx. $6 - 7
The 2000 is the name for the robusto in the original Padron Series, which was first developed in 1964 and has been evolving every since. The Padron Series are Nicaraguan puros, featuring all sun-grown habano tobacco aged for a minimum of two-and-a-half years. This review features the maduro wrapper; I originally got it from the Big Smoke last November and it had been resting comfortably in my humidor ever since. There was a time not so long ago when I used to say "I've never had a Padron I liked" but that feeling was skewered by the 1964 and 1926 cigars that I had the privilege of smoking. Before picking up this smoke, I still had not had a regular Padron that I had enjoyed.

The aroma from the body of this smoke has notes of coffee and chocolate and the foot has a rich chocolate smell that almost knocks you over. The wrapper is a very dark brown and not at all smooth, but the roughness does not detract from what appears as a rugged, rustic, Cuban-style cigar all the way down to its simple band.

It took forever to get a clean cut on this stick, but once I did the prelight draw was very nice and had chocolate and coffee flavors plying the lead roles. About 7 minutes in, the flavors of dark-roast coffee and black pepper reigned supreme and a rather large canoe had developed in the otherwise superbly-performing stick.

By the beginning of the second third, I was experiencing a harsh edge to the cigar. Not a full-blown harshness like I've had from cigars like the Oliva V Maduro or Camacho Triple Maduro, just a touch of harshness on the finish. The flavor of coffee still dominated, but there was also roasted nuts in there, and hits of pepper from time-to-time. The draw continued to be great and the cigar burned straight since the time I touched it up.

At the end of the day, I will admit to enjoying this far more than other regular Padrons I have smoked in the past. It was full-flavored with lots of coffee, some pepper and chocolate notes, and it was medium to full-bodied. I can see picking these up in the future, whereas I have always passed them by before; amazing to see what some time and experience can do to your palate. This is a really solid smoke and a great price and sure to please all by the novice smoker.

Body: 7/10
Strength: 6/10
Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10

Obama and Racism

The new call-to-arms in liberal circles is that any and all opposition to President Barack Hussein Obama is based on American's inherent racism. Despite the fact that over 50 percent of the country voted for the man...despite the fact that his approval ratings were above 70 percent early in his administration...I call shenanigans!

So, former President and worst-ex-President-every Jimmy Carter is no repeating that call, claiming that Joe Wilson's "You lie!" outburst was racially motivated. With all due respect, Mr. Carter (and not much respect is due to you), that is a load of horse excrement. All these claims of racism being the prime motivation are completely bogus and are instead a political calculation to try to quell the enormous amount of opposition Obama is facing after trying to remake America in his image.

After 9 months full of TARP mismanagement, Porkulus, S-CHIP increases, proposed new regulations on financial institutions, auto maker takeovers, ACORN scandal, czar-mania, and massive pushes for takeovers of large parts of the American economy with Cap-and-Trade and the Healthcare "Reform" packages, the American people are turning on a person that has been shown to truly be a Marxist. When a black lady who described herself as an "Obama delegate" shows up at the Washington 9-12 Tea Party and no longer supports her candidate, you know he's got trouble. But I guess she was racially motivated.

The true racists are the ones who throw the "racist" label around with such abandon as to completely dilute its true weight and meaning. Van Jones, Al Sharpton, Bob Beckell, and Jimmy Carter are the ones who immediately come to mind, but there are many others. They basically tell people: "If you don't agree with this President, you must be a racist...and don't bother arguing otherwise!" But they are the ones who look no more than skin deep. They are the ones who are judging Obama by the color of his skin and not the content of his character, because deep down, Mr. Obama is showing that his character is not one that America should be proud of or emulate. In their zeal to elect a person of color to the highest office in the land, they chose one who "talks pretty" but has the manners of Al Capone and the backing of the some of the most radical Marxists to ever live in this country.

Honestly, I couldn't give a crap about the color of Mr. Obama's skin (half-white, by the way). I would gladly vote for Alan Keyes, Michael Steele, Bobby Jindal, Thomas Sowell, or Walter Williams for higher office, not because of their skin color, but because of the soundness of their ideas and beliefs...the same reason I would vote for Tom McClintock, Mark Levin, or, for that matter, Glenn Beck.

Cigar Review: Illusione MJ12

The Majestic 12, 6" x 54 ring gauge, approx. $12
Illusione Cigars was founded in 2004 by Dion Giolito, who wanted to recreate a flavor profile that he felt had been lost when the Communists (Sandanistas) took over Nicaragua in 1979. After years of re-cultivation, Giolito was proud to present a line of cigars made completely with first-generation Corojo 99 and Criollo 98 seeds and wrapped with grade-one Cafe Colorado wrappers.

The MJ12 is the only Illusione to come in a silver foil wrapper. The name "Majestic 12" or "MJ12" comes from a secret group of scientists formed by Harry Truman to investigate UFO activity around Roswell, NM in the late 1940s. One of the enduring pieces of the Roswell episode was the silver foil coating of the alleged flying saucer...thus our MJ12 is wrapped in silver foil. Silly, but fun. Peeling off the silver reveals an absolutely beautiful reddish-brown wrapper with veins that are visible yet smooth to the touch. The aroma is hay and leather; from the foot there is rich chocolate and hints of coffee. The prelight draw give up some spice and a bit of dried fruit along with cocoa and coffee flavors.

Initial lighting brought out a very peppery flavor along with the coffee and it seemed like there was just a hint of something else--maybe the cinnamon or nutmeg alluded to on the website. Right from the start, though, the MJ12 was full-flavored and intensely interesting. During the rest of the first third, the cigar was redolent with black pepper and an undercurrent of black coffee. The draw was very nice and the burn stayed pretty even with no need to touch it up.

As the second third started the coffee took center stage and the pepper assumed more of a supporting role. The body so far was definitely on the full side and the quantity of smoke was very good from the start. I did touch up the burn line at this point, too.

The good times continued on into the last third as the MJ12 showed itself to be a bit of a powerhouse; not nausea-inducing, mind you, but it packed a good punch. The flavors toward the end had more of a creamy coffee aspect while maintaining a touch of pepper. There was also a little of the nutmeg from time-to-time. Excellent cigar for the experienced smoker, although too expensive to make a habit of.

Body: 9/10
Strength: 8/10
Complexity: 9/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 5/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 9.5/10

Cigar Review: Diamond Crown

#4 Robusto, 5.5" x 54 ring gauge, approx. $18 - 20
At the 2007 Big Smoke, Diamond Crown's presence was made known by their display of humidors and other accessories; in 2008, though, they felt more generous and actually gave out some of their cigars. Diamond Crown is part of the Newman family of cigars and is handmade in the Dominican Republic in conjunction with the Fuente family. It was developed by the Fuentes in 1995 to celebrate the Newman family's 100th year in the cigar business. It features the highest grade of Connecticut shade wrapper that is fermented twice to achieve a light rosado color and develop a sweeter flavor; it features Dominican filler and binder.

The wrapper of this stick is not up to the standards you would expect in a cigar this expensive. The color is nice, but mottled in places; there are a couple flaws and the roll looks stretched in one area. The cap is the same color as the wrapper, however, and blends in nicely. It could be argued that since this was a give-away at the Big Smoke, they may have hurriedly made a bunch of sticks that do not adhere to the higher standards that they achieve when they sell them, but to me, that explanation would be unacceptable--the point of giving out cigars at an event like the Big Smoke is to entice people to buy them all the time. If the quality is sub-standard for a super-premium priced stick, I will not be enticed to buy. The stick does not feel overly firm or spongy and the aroma is a very pleasant hay from the body. From the foot, the aroma is more of a rich barnyard, with hints of chocolate and coffee.

The prelight draw was very nice and had sweet hay and honey flavors. After lighting, the flavor of hay came on strong along with a sweet creaminess and just a hint of pepper on the finish. The first third was best characterized as extremely smooth and wonderfully creamy. The flavors are actually outstanding--easily beating Davidoff in this price range. The construction is just about perfect, as well, with a flawless draw, razor-straight burn line, and ash that held on for at least an inch.

The second third was equally excellent with some subtle spice like nutmeg creeping in from time-to-time to enhance the smoother creaminess that continued to flow. The construction continued to be superb as well.

As the final portion progressed, the Diamond Crown picked up a little more pepper while still maintaining a creamy feel. This is definitely a fantastic mild smoke and it is a shame it costs so much. For the money it beats the pants off of Davidoff or Winston Churchill, but that price also sticks it firmly in the "special occasion only" category.

Body: 4/10
Strength: 4/10
Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 1.5/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 5/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 9/10

Aged: Oliva Serie V Maduro

I guess at some point there was somewhat of a foolish debate on whether or not the regular Oliva V was strong enough, so Oliva decided to blend a maduro expression of the cigar and released it in autumn 2008. It was released only in one size, a torpedo measuring 6.5" by 52 ring gauge, and I heard it was to be an annual special release, possibly in a different size each year; I have not heard anything about it this year, so I do not know if that annual release rumor will bear out. While very flavorful, I found the V Maduro to be harsh and quite overwhelming. Over the course of several cigars smoked, I frequently had tar build-up on the head while smoking, leaving an awful taste in my mouth. I bought a box of 10, though, so I was stuck with about 5 or so left to smoke. I decided to let them sit a while and see if they would mellow out.

The wrapper of this cigar was still very oily and also had some bloom on it. There was plenty of toothiness and some visible veins althought they were fairly smooth to the touch. The aroma from the body was earthy and leathery; from the foot there was some chocolate and some rich earth or compost. The last time I smoked one of these the draw was horrible, so I decided to take off more than I normally would for a torpedo. The resulting pre-light draw was effortless and featured coffee and cocoa flavors.

Minutes after lighting up, the flavor of black pepper and other spice dominated, with hints of coffee weaving in and out as well. There was a certain harsh element to the smoke right from the start, but I would have to wait to see if it would become too harsh to enjoy. The body was very full and I could not help but be reminded of the Cain Maduro I had smoked just a couple days before--except that this is like the Cain on steroids.

Into the second third, I had not had the construction problems of last time or the extreme harshness I have had in practically every experience with these sticks. The flavor was mostly of very strong, black coffee with the bitterness that is implied in that. A little sweetness from the maduro wrapper would be nice to counterbalance the bitter, but there just was not any at this point.

But, by the time the final third came up, the bitter aspect had mellowed significantly, and some dark chocolate sweetness came through. This was a relief really, as this Serie V Maduro was starting to be less a pleasure than a chore. The cigar finished strong, dry, and well-balanced. I had no major construction issues and no tarry building on the head, possibly as a result of the deeper cut I took at the beginning. These cigars are aging quite nicely and are already much more enjoyable than when first purchased, leading me to wonder if Oliva should have sat on them longer before releasing them in the first place. I also wonder how much better they might be next year at this time.

Body: 9/10
Strength: 9/10
Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

Friday Funnies: LOL Cats

Some new favorites from icanhaz...whatever, just click the link:

Cigars for the Recession: Rocky Patel Edge

Corojo Perfecto, 6" x 60 ring gauge, $3.30
The Rocky Patel Edge has earned a reputation as a powerful cigar at a bargain price, but that price rarely gets better than this. I picked up these sticks on Cigar Bid about 15 months ago for less than $3.50 per stick, although the normal price is just about $4 apiece.

The aroma from the wrapper is classic humidor with a little chocolate; from the foot there is more chocolate. The perfecto/missile shaped is unusual in that it is so pronounced and the uncut tip comes to a rather sharp point ("you'll put your eye out, kid!").

Even after a year of sitting in my humidor, the predominant flavor upon lighting is a nice peppery blast. There was also some coffee and wood in the early going. By the halfway mark, the pepper faded a bit, but there were still plenty of cedary notes and an occasional hint of nutmeg.

In the second half of the Edge, the pepper and spice pretty much disappeared and the dominant flavor was wood. Overall, not a bad stick; it had plenty of spice at the beginning and an interesting progression of flavors along the way (we call that "complexity").

Grade: B+

Smoke One For...

Last night, President Barack Hussein Obama (hey, Van Jones called him that...why can't I?) launched a brutal, partisan attack on conservatives and Republicans. It was riddled with half-truths, inconsistencies, deceptions, obfuscations, and outright lies. And at least one unveiled threat when he told people that did not adhere to what he was spewing that they would be "called out" for what they were saying.

Fortunately, not all Republicans are lily-livered and weak-hearted. Joe Wilson, congressman from South Carolina, had the gonads to actually stand up and call shout "You lie" at the President. Was it civil? No. Neither were the boos, accusations, and insults hurled at President George W. Bush on numerous occasions by liberals and Democrats, even during his speeches. It was truthful, though, in a way that no one else was in that chamber last night. Yes, he later had to apologize for it...after all, with those Chicago thugs running the White House, his wife and kids probably were not safe if he did not say "sorry."

Joe Wilson (not Mr. Valerie Plame)...you are a hero, sir, for standing up to fascism in America and daring to declaim it in the most public of ways. When you get a chance, smoke one for Joe!

Cigar Review: La Aurora 1495

Robusto, 5" x 50 ring gauge, approx. $8
La Aurora debuted the 1495 Series in 2005, and it is made at the oldest factory in the Dominican Republic. The filler is Nicaraguan and Peruvian ligero along with a Dominican Piloto Cubana leaf for balance. The binder is Nicaraguan Corojo and the wrapper is an Ecuadorian sun-grown Sumatra leaf. The 1495 commemorate the year Columbus landed in the Dominican Republic, founding the city of Santiago de los Caballeros.

The wrapper is very nice-looking except for a dark area that looks like a tear just below the band. The aroma from the body is earthy with just a hint of cocoa. From the foot, the chocolate aroma is much richer. This cigar seemed to be well-packed, exhibiting no soft spots, but no rock-hard spots, either.

The prelight draw was fairly easy, just a little resistance and the flavors were primarily chocolate and a little coffee and leather. This cigar took a serious amount of effort to get lit--more than an LFD Double Ligero or Oliva V! Once going, though, the smoke was smooth and fairly full-bodied with the chocolate flavors coming to the fore, supported by a very creamy aspect. The rest of the first third was very much the same: chocolately, creamy with a little coffee and occasional touches of cinnamon and nutmeg. To put it mildly, I really was enjoying this cigar--more than many I had smoked recently.

During the second third there were also occasional hints of black pepper. The only flaw I could find so far was construction: the draw was tight enough for the stick to almost go out if I left it un-puffed for 30 seconds and the ash was crumbly and tended to split apart after a quarter-inch or so.

By the time the last third started, the flavor of coffee dominated and the chocolate had become more of a bitter cocoa. The burn was less-than-perfectly straight and had to be touched up a couple times. The draw continued to be a bit of a drag--literally!

Final thoughts: this cigar was great tasting but the construction issues prevented me from enjoying it to the fullest extent. I would like to try it again and see if the construction problems were just an anomaly--I would love for this to go in my regular rotation.

Body: 8/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1/1
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8/10

Book Recommendation: Relentless

Relentless by Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz has been one of my favorite authors for over 20 years--ever since I read and Watchers and Lightning back-to-back. Through the intervening years, I have read pretty much everything he's published, with a few minor exceptions. I have marveled at his evolution as a writer from a talented by fairly nondescript thriller writer with books like Shattered and The Face of Fear to being lauded as the next Stephen King with Midnight and Hideaway. It was in the early to mid-90s, though, that I feel Koontz finally found his best voice when he started writing runaway thrillers that grabbed you by the throat in the first chapter and did not let you go until you were begging for mercy. My favorite example is Dark Rivers of the Heart; others include Intensity, Velocity, Fear Nothing, and Odd Thomas. What most of these have in common is a distinct lack of supernatural occurrences (although Odd Thomas does have his ability to see ghosts and the Chris Snow books have more than a little sci-fi component) coupled with a palatable mistrust of big government. One of the other hallmarks of Koontz's fiction for the last 20 or so years has been his relentless optimism in the face of very dark times.

That optimism is shared by the main character in Relentless, a writer named Cubby Greenwich. It makes him a target for the menace of a brutal book critic named Shearman Waxx. As it turns out, Waxx's sword is just as mighty as his pen: soon he has taken after Cubby and his family, trying to destroy them emotionally and physically. It makes me wonder what the name of the critic was in real life...you know, the one that ticked off Koontz enough for him to write this character.

I will not delve into the plot anymore with hopes of avoiding spoilers; suffice to say, I really enjoyed this book and finished in about two days (I read slow...my wife finished it in about 5 hours). I believe this book cries out for a sequel and seeing Koontz's output of late, I do not find that something hard to imagine happening. Judging from some of the content of this book in regard to out-of-control, secret government black-ops agencies, I wonder if Koontz is setting up a "world" of some kind in which he is trying to play out some larger storyline, with Relentless, Dark Rivers of the Heart, and some of his other novels all existing in the same universe. Time will tell on that, I suppose.

Cigar Review: A. Turrent 6th Generation

Corona, 5.5" x 44 ring gauge
The 6th Generation by A. Turrent celebrates the many generations of cigar-makers in the Turrent family since Alberto came to Mexico in 1880. He planted Cuban-seed tobacco in the San Andres Valley's volcanic soil and the family has continued making cigars since; today they are sold and marketed through Altadis. This is a Mexican puro, actually a San Andres puro to be precise, with a maduro binder and a sun-grown, corojo wrapper.

I picked up this cigar at the Big Smoke last November, so I have no idea of price point--this size is not even listed on the Altadis website. The wrapper is a nice even shade of medium-brown with a few veins causing it to be rather lumpy in places. The aroma from the body is a nice tobacco/humidor smell and from the foot there is just a hint of barnyard, but nothing strong.

I did not get much from the prelight draw, maybe a little hay and leather along with something slightly astrigent. After lighting, the flavors of hay and leather remained along with what I could only think of as ammonia. Definitely not a great flavor to look for in a cigar, but it was fairly faint and I wanted to see if it would fade. The body was mild-to-medium to begin and the draw was great although the burn line went awry less than a quarter inch in.

By the beginning of the second third, the ammonia essence did fade and a pleasant spice cam through--more of a chili pepper than black pepper. This helped the cigar to immediately become more interesting. The burn line also started to get more even. The other construction issue of note was the tendency of the wrapper to "banana peel" as it burned and for ash to flake off--very messy and unattractive.

The last third was much the same--leathery and spicy and a little hay that is more characteristic of many mild smokes. The 6th Generation was not a bad cigar but it did not blow my socks off, either. It was smokeable without being memorable.

Body: 4/10
Strength: 4/10
Complexity: 5/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1/2
Flavor: 3/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 6.5/10

Spirits Review: Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon

Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon is made by the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. It is made from of mashbill of 60 percent corn, 35 percent rye, and 5 percent malted barley. It is positioned near the top of their lineup of whiskey offerings and is priced here in Tennessee in the mid-$30 range.

My initial impression upon opening the bottle was that the scent was extremely delicate; so much so, in fact, that I could not identify anything specific. In the glass, the best descriptor I could come up with was "floral"; quite ironic considering the name of the company. This was totally unlike anything I have experienced before in whiskeys--completely different from the Maker's Mark and Russell's Reserve that I usually enjoy so much.

The first sip I had had a huge rush of vanilla along with some honey. After swallowing, the pleasant numbing burn spread through my mouth and over my tongue. The label attached to the bottle mentioned notes of nutmeg or cinnamon and I swear I could just faintly taste them--almost like the ghost of spices past.

The first time I enjoyed this bourbon, I paired it with the Don Pepin-created Benchmade cigar, and I thought it went together very well. Of course, my philosophy with bourbons is that because of the mix of sweet and spice in them, they generally tend to pair well with almost any cigar (except flavored ones).

This bourbon was sweet initially, but had quite a bit of bite and some spice that made for an enjoyable sipping beverage. Adding a little water mellowed out the spice a bit, but I prefer it straight. At this price, for a bourbon, it definitely is not something I would consider an every day sipper, but it is a nice one to have around for those times when you want something a little extra special and the price does not break the bank, either.

Cigars for the Recession: Curlyhead

Fuente Curlyhead Deluxe Natural, 6.5" x 43 ring gauge, $2.75
Perhaps best known for the super-hyped Opus X line of stogies, the Arturo Fuente cigar company also inhabits the lower-priced end of the humidor with the Curleyhead. I paid almost $3 at my local B&M, but you can find these for less than $2 if you buy by the box online. I have had good and bad experiences with these sticks, so I do not normally keep them as a normal "bargain stick" in my box.

The appearance of this cigar is such that is wouldn't look out of place next to a Backwoods or on a beginner's table at the Big Smoke's rolling competition. Seams are haphazard, veins are prominent, the foot is simply folded in toward the center and the cap is pretty much non-existent. The body is soft and spongy and the aroma coming off it is barnyard and tobacco. Honestly there would be no reason to even look twice at this cigar is not for the Fuente name and chap pricetag. If it tastes as good as it looks...we're in trouble!

Despite clipping the head twice and the foot once, the draw was pretty bad at first. The flavors were better, though, exhibiting cedar and leather notes with a mild-to-medium bodied creamy smoke. The flavor was good enough, but I hoped the draw would loosen up as time went on.

One thing to remember with just about any cheap stogie, but especially the Curlyhead, is a two-word phrase: short filler. In other words, never try to win a long-ash contest with one of these. Not that this affects the flavor so much (except when you get some chewing tobacco to go with your smoke), although if you're not careful it can cause the cigar to smoke hotter, which could adversely affect flavor. A good one to practice your "slow smoking" skills on.

The terrible draw continued on through the first half. Turns out there was an almost complete plug about an inch and a half from the head; my Xikar Multitool "draw opener" could not reach it so I eventually went back inside for my pipe tool which did fix the problem. Maybe this is just a problem with short-filler smokes, but it really gets in the way of enjoying a cigar.

In the second half, there was leather and wood as well as some coffee and a little black pepper from time-to-time. Overall, not a bad smoke, but there are better ones out there for just a bit mor cash, including the Benchmade, my new favorite bargain smoke. If you can get them for less than $2 per stick, though, this would make for a great "lawnmowing" smoke.

Grade: B-

Friday Funnies: Fail!

Today, a selection from the Fail Blog:

Movies That "Mean Something"

A while back someone said "Babel is a really great movie." Being the curious type, I put it on my Blockbuster list and finally got to watch it this past week. Babel is a sprawling, worldwide, non-linear story about how lives of different people in different parts of the world interconnect in ways they can't imagine and how language and cultural differences get in the way sometimes. The acting was great, the directing was great, the dialog was mostly believable.

What bothers me with Babel, though, is the same thing that bothered me about Crash. Both movies try so hard to say something important, deep and meaningful, that I was left wondering if they had really even accomplished that much. Neither movie would be something I would strictly call "entertaining" and the ardent struggle to be profound was, in my opinion, a failure. They did not really say anything new or all that interesting.

My real response is...I want my two and a half hours back...

Cigar Review: Perdomo Habano, Maduro

Gordo, 6" x 60 ring gauge, $6.85
The Perdomo Habano was officially introduced to the world in a press release dated August 2007. This is a Nicaraguan puro, blended by Nick Perdomo, featuring Cuban-seed tobaccos from 3 different regions of Nicaragua: Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa. For the Maduro variety, a triple-fermented maduro wrapper is added for "rich, bold flavors with a smooth, satisfying finish." Thisis a large cigar with a classy look for a relatively low price.

The wrapper on the Habano Maduro is dark with a nice oily sheen. The veins are visible, but can hardly be felt. There are no obvious defects in the wrapper, just some bumps and bruises that could be from normal wear and tear of a cigar's journey from factory to shop to one person's hands to that person's personal humidor back to that person's hands as he hands off to a friend then that friend takes it home and puts it in another humidor...something like that, anyway. The wrapper aroma is leathery with hints of "classic humidor;" the foot aroma is rich with chocolate and some barnyard.

The prelight draw was very nice and open; the flavors were sweet hay and milk chocolate. This cigar tasted so good unlit that it almost seemed a shame to have to set fire to it...but since that is really the only way to thoroughly enjoy a cigar...set fire I did. The initial flavors were leathery and nutty with undertones of coffee and baking cocoa. The smoke was voluminous and full-bodied right from the start and there were no draw problems whatsoever.

As the Habano Maduro moved into the second third, I noticed that the flavors had sweetened a bit. The cocoa had morphed into a more chocolately flavor and the coffee was stronger. The leather had faded, too, leaving a smoother, richer flavor overall. This cigar reminded me quite a bit of the LFD L-500 Oscuro, but without quite the same amount of power.

The last third started off with the flavor of black coffee; the chocolate took a back seat. Unfortunately, this is where the draw started going wrong, too. It did not plug up, but it got "iffy." At some angles, plenty of smoke came through; at others, almost none did. I made no attempts to correct it and it got no better or worse before I put the stick down. On another construction issue, I found the burn line got a little ragged from time to time, which I did correct with a quick application of flame.

The good times ended with about 3/4 inch left; it was there that the flavor suddenly turned bitter and I put the cigar down before the good experience was ruined. Not a great way to finish a cigar, but it gave over an hour and a half of great smoking, so I will not complain about the unsmokable nub--truth is, I was ready to head in for the night anyway.

Overall, this was a very good cigar that performed more than adequately in every fashion until I hit the nub. There were a couple minor construction quibbles, but it was by no means unsmokable or overly bothersome to deal with. I liked this stick and I really like the price. I would recommend this to almost anyone, but especially to the smoker who has graduated beyond the "novice" category and wants something flavorful and impressively large that will not result in a nicotine overload.

Body: 7/10
Strength: 5/10
Complexity: 8/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10

Superman Endorses ObamaCare

Simply priceless...

Album Review: Daughtry

Leave This Town by Daughtry
After Chris Daughtry finished 4th on American Idol in 2006, he formed the band "Daughtry" and become one of AI's most successful alumni, with the band's debut album selling over 4 million copies and was Billboard magazine's top-selling album for 2007.

Hopes were high, therefore, for the sophomore album from Daughtry, Leave This Town. In my opinion, they have mostly delivered on the promise of the sound encapsulated in the first album. The main problem with that first album (Daughtry) was that all the songs tended to sound the same. There was a little too much over-thinking and over-production by the record company execs and the result was great-sounding, but somewhat homogenized. While the songs on Leave This Town have a distinct "band sound" they are different enough from each other to be memorable. There are several songs I have found running through my head in the last few weeks as I've listened to and absorbed this collection of songs.

The album kicks off with hard rock in "You Don't Belong" before going into the still-rockin' hard, but feelin'-hard-too ballad (and single) "No Surprise." This is a seriously catchy song. There are a few rock cliches on the album, like "Life After You," where the lyrics read "I'm out here alone just tryin' to get home / To tell you I was wrong but you already know." Not a bad song, just not the most original. Then you get something like "What I Meant To Say," where the singer realizes that he shouldn't have said something..."Sorry." He adds that "all this sucking up to you is just getting old." Who hasn't wanted to have the guts to say that to someone you've been in a relationship with?

I like the originality also of "Open Up Your Eyes," which tells the story of a woman who watches her husband pass away, but realizes that now "For the first time you can open your eyes / And see the world without your sorrow / Where no one knows the pain you left behind / And all the peace you could never find." A beautiful picture of waking up in heaven after suffering on this earth...and the best part is that the husband is waiting for his wife after she passes on, too. Not something you typically hear in secular rock music, and a lyric that's a little too bold in some ways for most Contemporary Christian Music.

Daughtry even gets a little country influence on "Tennessee Line." The singer's past catches up with him as he drives across the country to L.A. (Chris Daughtry is originally from North Carolina, so the first state line on the way to L.A. would be Tennessee). He realizes that he has to follow his heart...although where that takes him is a little vague. He also gets some help from Vince Gill on harmony vocals for this song.

Overall, this is a really great album that I expect I will enjoy for years to come. It is far better than the first album...and I liked that one! In the last 3 years, the band has had the opportunity to gel and make their sound really "theirs." If they continue to make such great albums as this, they could end up being the biggest thing to come out of American Idol.

Grade: A

What's Been Happening at the Tiki Bar

In this installment of "What's Been Happening at the Tiki Bar"...

I was very happy to gather with all of the Tiki Bar's regulars in Southern California a little over a week ago. I had opportunity to be in SoCal for a few days and was able to herf non-stop while I wasn't working. From the time I left my home in TN until the time I drove back into the driveway, I smoked a grand total of 16 cigars, including several LFD Habano Corona's (thanks, Keith!), a Graycliff Double Espresso, a God of Fire, a Dona Flor (thanks, Thomas!), an MX2 Cuban Press, and several other cigars I can't remember off the top of my head. It was a great weekend and it was wonderful to see all the guys again. One day, maybe we'll have the opportunity to have a real Tiki Bar gathering here at the East Coast location!

Just a week after the IPCPR, the first of the new sticks is hitting the stores: Cain by Oliva and Sam Leccia. I picked up a Maduro and a Habano and reviews will be forthcoming. My local store's manager also tells me that CAO's La Traviata should be in stock within a couple weeks, and practically guaranteed that he will be getting the "Drac," Pete Johnson's Halloween offering.

I've been reviewing some great cigars for the month of September and it seems many of them have come from last year's Big Smoke. I can't believe I still have so many sticks left over from November, but...I won't by the end of this month. I've reviewed Aurora 1495, Winston Churchill, Diamond Crown and Padrons from that big event and still have a few more to go. Upcoming this month is a review of 4 Roses Single Barrel bourbon, as well as a couple reviews of books I've read recently, and the new album from American Idol alum, Chris Daughtry. There are a few bargain cigars in the mix and the Friday Funnies are looking funny, indeed.

So...enjoy...summer's almost over...at least if you don't live in California. If you do live in SoCal...well, the fires will mostly be out by the end of the month, so don't despair! Autumn is right around the corner and my favorite month, October, is going to be a good one...more on that in about 30 days!

Cigar Review: Winston Churchill

Marrakesh, 6" x 50 ring gauge, approx. $20+
The Winston Churchill line of cigars was introduced last year by Davidoff and is reputed to be the only cigar besides the famous "White Label" made at the Cigars Davidoff factory in the Dominican Republic. The Marrakesh is named for the city in Morocco that Churchill loved for its sun and heat. There is no specific info on the tobaccos in each size (each size has a unique blend), but the Winston Churchill line uses leaf from the D.R., Peru, Nicaragua and Ecuador and covers it all in an Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper.

This cigar is as impeccable in appearance as you would expect for a cigar costing $20 or more. the wrapper is smooth in texture and color and there are no tears or blemishes. The aroma from the body is cedar and grass; from the foot, there was a little cocoa and some barnyard.

The prelight draw has the slightly sweet hay flavors I associate with milder sticks like a Davidoff, along with just a tiny, lingering, spicy tingle in the lips. After lighting there are flavors of roasted nuts and wood along with a creamy smoke. In the first third the Winston Churchill exhibited flavors of hay, roasted nuts, and a little sweet spice, maybe nutmeg. It started off mild in body and the smoke is quite aromatic with a creamy quality. Construction was, as expected, perfect with a fabulous draw and the straightest burn line I have seen in quite a while.

During the second third, there was not much else to report--it was still nutty with hay overtones, but there was also a bready quality that made its presence known. The burn line stayed remarkably even, showing a fantastic attention to detail and construction quality.

The last third showed little change as well. Nutty, bready, creamy, smooth. Actually a very, very nice mild-to-medium smoke that would be appreciated by beginners and long-time smokers alike...except for the price point. There is just is no way that this cigar is worth the price when you can buy mild to medium cigars with every bit as much (or more) flavor for a third or even a quarter of the price (Camacho Connecticut and Oliva Connecticut immediately spring to mind). If I could give negative points for value, I would in this case.

Body: 3/10
Strength: 3/10
Complexity: 5/10

AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 0/1
Total: 8/10