 |
| thetastings |
|
American cigars - part two
You’ve seen them in Hollywood movies and The Sopranos – now they’re here. At last, some of the most popular and impressive cigars on sale in the United States have found their way to Britain. They’re actually the product of Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic and are imported by two main companies, Tor and Loretta. And as you’d expect for a discerning cigar market like the US, there isn’t a bad smoke among them.
|
Country codes
CO - Connecticut
CR -
CU - Cuba
DR - Dominican Republic
EC - Ecuador
HO - Honduras
IN -
ME - Mexico
NI - Nicaragua
|
| Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic |
9.3 |
| Brand |
Arturo Fuente |
Region |
Dominican Republic |
| Importer |
Tor Imports (01626 866 422) |
| Length |
7 |
Ring Guage |
48 |
| Wrapper |
CA |
Binder |
DR |
| Filler |
DR |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Bitter sweet, medium, individually cellophaned, well-made figurado that starts off slightly harsh and eventually settles down into an interesting, smooth, spicy smoke |
|
|
|
| Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story |
9.5 |
| Brand |
Arturo Fuente |
Region |
Dominican Republic |
| Importer |
Tor Imports (01626 866 422) |
| Length |
4 1/4 |
Ring Guage |
49 |
| Wrapper |
CA |
Binder |
DR |
| Filler |
DR |
Type |
Figurado |
| Comments |
Bitter sweet, medium, smooth, spicy figurado that would go well with Papa Hemingways’ famous short stories, after which it was named. |
|
|
|
| Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature |
9.3 |
| Brand |
Arturo Fuente |
Region |
Dominican Republic |
| Importer |
Tor Imports (01626 866 422) |
| Length |
6 |
Ring Guage |
47 |
| Wrapper |
CA |
Binder |
DR |
| Filler |
DR |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Smooth, lovely, sweet, spicy medium figurado that smokes very well. |
|
|
|
| CAO Black Gothic |
10 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
6 |
Ring Guage |
52 |
| Wrapper |
EC |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI, HO, ME |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Beautifully presented, sweet, smooth, perfectly rolled, medium bodied, elegant cigar with wrapper made from Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut seed tobacco. Classic cigar. |
|
|
|
| CAO Black Mosaic |
9.5 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
6 |
Ring Guage |
42 |
| Wrapper |
EC |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI, HO, ME |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Beautifully presented, sweet, spicy, smooth, perfectly rolled, medium bodied, elegant cigar with wrapper made from Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut seed tobacco. Classy smoke. |
|
|
|
| CAO Black Storm |
9.5 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
5 |
Ring Guage |
50 |
| Wrapper |
EC |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI, HO, ME |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Beautifully made and presented medium strength cigar.
Smooth, sweet/bitter/salty taste and spicy aroma. |
|
|
|
| CAO Brazilia Gol! |
9.1 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
5 |
Ring Guage |
46 |
| Wrapper |
CA |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Chunky, medium cigar with a dark, chocolate coloured, Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper. Smooth, sweet, spicy and complex. An easy, highly enjoyable smoke. |
|
|
|
| CAO Brazilia Piranha |
9.2 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
4 1/2 |
Ring Guage |
46 |
| Wrapper |
BR |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Very sweet, slightly spicy, smooth, mild-medium cigar which doesn’t quite live up to its exotic name and bite back. Beautiful, perfect Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper. |
|
|
|
| CAO Cameroon L'Annieversaire Corona |
9.5 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
5 1/2 |
Ring Guage |
42 |
| Wrapper |
CA |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Individually cellophaned, well constructed, beautifully inished, sweet, smooth, medium cigar with smooth Cameroon rapper. Very pleasant aroma and taste. |
|
|
|
| CAo Cameroon L'Anniversaire Box Pressed Tubo No 1 |
9.1 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
5 1/2 |
Ring Guage |
46 |
| Wrapper |
CA |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Distinctive, medium cigar with smooth, sweet taste and dark coffee-coloured Cameroon wrapper. Starts off a little tarry but improves enormously about halfway through. |
|
|
|
| CAO Cameroon L'Anniversaire Rothschild |
9.2 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
4 1/2 |
Ring Guage |
50 |
| Wrapper |
CA |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Smooth, perfectly rolled, attractive, full bodied, bitter/salty cigar with perfect Cameroon wrapper. |
|
|
|
| CAO Criollo Bomba |
9.5 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
6 |
Ring Guage |
50 |
| Wrapper |
NI |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI, HO, ME |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Well constructed, fine, sweet, smooth, slightly salty, light to medium cigar with perfect draw. Very tasty. |
|
|
|
| CAO Criollo Pampa |
8.6 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
4 |
Ring Guage |
40 |
| Wrapper |
NI |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI, HO, ME |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Peppery, creamy, well-balanced medium cigar spoilt by very tight draw. |
|
|
|
| CAO Criollo Pato |
9.5 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
4 7/8 |
Ring Guage |
50 |
| Wrapper |
NI |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI, HO, ME |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Smooth, sweet, complex, perfectly rolled cigar in a beautiful wrapper. |
|
|
|
| CAO GOld Label Churchill |
9.5 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
7 |
Ring Guage |
48 |
| Wrapper |
EC |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Long and lovely, beautifully constructed, smooth, mild to medium cigar that takes a while to get started. The last third delivers a smashing smoke. |
|
|
|
| CAO Gold Label Corona Gorda |
9 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
6 1/2 |
Ring Guage |
50 |
| Wrapper |
EC |
Binder |
NI |
| Filler |
NI |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Smooth, well constructed cigar that starts slightly harsh, smooths out and towards the end turns bitter. |
|
|
|
| CAO Maduro L'Anniversaire Robusto |
10 |
| Brand |
CAO |
Region |
Nicaragua |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
5 |
Ring Guage |
50 |
| Wrapper |
CO |
Binder |
EC |
| Filler |
NI, DR |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Tasty, smooth, sweet, complex, medium to full strength, perfectly rolled cigar with dark wrapper, aged by the ‘Spaetlese’. Lovely blend. Real hit of tobacco, not for the fainthearted. Close your eyes and it could be a Havana. Classic cigar. |
|
|
|
| Macanudo Hampton Court Tubed |
9.3 |
| Brand |
Macanudo |
Region |
Dominican Republic |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
5 1/2 |
Ring Guage |
42 |
| Wrapper |
CO |
Binder |
ME |
| Filler |
DR, ME |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Very pleasant, mild, tangy-sweet cigar with perfect draw, and a bit of an edge. Dryish wrapper. The ladies would love it. |
|
|
|
| Macanudo Hyde Park Maduro |
9.1 |
| Brand |
Macanudo |
Region |
Dominican Republic |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
5 1/2 |
Ring Guage |
49 |
| Wrapper |
CO |
Binder |
ME |
| Filler |
DR, ME |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Smooth, well constructed, mild cigar made in the Dominican Republic. Aged for two years. Very sweet undertones. Smokes well. |
|
|
|
| Macanudo Petit Corona Tubed |
9 |
| Brand |
Macanudo |
Region |
Dominican Republic |
| Importer |
Loretta Cigars (020 8731 3400) |
| Length |
5 |
Ring Guage |
42 |
| Wrapper |
CO |
Binder |
ME |
| Filler |
DR, ME |
Type |
|
| Comments |
Sweet, smooth, mild cigar, with dry-ish wrapper. |
|
|
|
|
| thetastings |
|
 |
