Cigars International

La Perla Habana

TL;DR - mellow hay and leather core. Not bad, though not that interesting either. Definitely NEEDS aging at least 8 mos. I recommend Pass 👎 This one is aged 10 mos ⏳️ and is the last of 2 La Pearla Habana Black Pearl test boxes: one Morado and one Rojo. Both are made well and burn correctly. The Morado wasn't too impressive. It's defining experience is anise. Given the cigar's general bitterness, the anise didn't add enough to make it worthwhile. This smoke, the Rojo, was supposed to be spicy, but instead ends up as a pleasant-ish mix of hay and leather. Somewhat enjoyable with coffee ☕️ I'd say skip the Morado, but the Rojo might be a decent choice for someone's cheap "yard 'gar". As for me, I've had enough, I would not accept if offered, and won't buy more.

La Perla Habana

Last of the Morado box. They've been an OK smoke. From a flavor perspective, some taste better than others from the same box. They're also inconsistent from a burn perspective. Sometimes fine, sometimes very wavy. In all, certainly not the worst I've had but I don't need any more of these.

Just Pleasure

A very surprising super-budget smoke. The flavors are very mild but consists of hay & sweet bread. The retro is actually smooth with zero harsh tones. The ash proved that either the blend is made with long filler or just rolled very well. Still a cheap smoke but above expectations.

Drew Estate

Loved this little guy. Flavorful. Light. Sweet. Chefs kiss.

Mark Twain

Smoking the Mark Twain Memoir No. 3 (50 x 54). Bold and earthy with notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and black pepper. The Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper adds a touch of molasses sweetness that balances out the spice. Burn needs a few touch-ups, but the draw is smooth. Puts out thick, heavy clouds of smoke, making for a rich and satisfying experience. Solid budget Maduro with good depth.

La Herencia Cubana

Very good. Sweet like sugar cane.

Rocky Patel

Aged 5mo. Punch cut. Draw and burn both excellent 👌. Medium bodied with rich and balanced flavors. Flavors of cedar chocolate and spice. A favorite.

Oliva

Aged 5mo. Draw on the tighter side. Burn a bit uneven. Mild cigar. Mostly taste cedar with a touch of spice and coffee.

Romeo y Julieta

Draw great burn was wavy. Medium bodied. Flavors of cedar nut and spice. Went well with a Rum and coke.

Cohiba

Aged 4mo. Bit of a tight draw, burn a bit uneven. Medium bodied, smooth and creamy. Flavors of cedar pepper and a touch of sweet.

Rocky Patel

Aged 4mo. Burn a little uneven, draw great. Bold rich and smooth. Flavors of chocolate, espresso, pepper and earth. Great pairing with a mild black coffee.

Gurkha

Mild, smooth and tasty. Cocoa, caramel, cedar, and a touch of spice. Great burn and draw.

Punch

Aged 4mo. Burn wavy draw good. Spicy peppery kick for 1st inch. Then mostly cedar and leather with a subtle sweetness. Overall smooth and enjoyable.

Macanudo

Rested 1mo. Draw tight used Perfecdraw. Burn a bit wavy but no touch ups needed. Ash dropped at end of 1/3. Wrapper had a few splits but it didn't affect the draw. Mello and smooth with creamy nutty and a touch of oatmeal and sweetness.

Liga Privada

1mo rested. Burn and draw great. Ash tight and fell at halfway point. Interesting overall flavor, has a slight bitter taste. Notes of cedar, grass, nut, cream, spice, and citrus.

Oliva

1mo rested. Great draw. Burn a bit wavy. Flavors of chocolate, coffee and spice. The cognac helped bring out the chocolate and coffee flavors.

Oliva

Rested 4 months. Burn and draw both great. Flavors of mostly cedar, earth, and spice with a touch of leather and coffee. Definitely has a bold overall flavor. The ginger ale did bring out a bit of sweetness.

La Herencia Cubana

Tl;dr: disappointing. Aged 5 mos. This cigar had a catastrophic core burn that can only be attributed to a bad role. Clearly a factory issue. The tobacco flavors are unbelievably good as expected. Generally, the smoke was disappointing. This was mainly because I had to spend so much time relighting and trying to fix the core burn issue.

AVO

Aged 4mo. Smooth and creamy. Cedar nut and sweetness. Great burn and draw. Paired with chamomile tea for a relaxing Sunday evening.

Rocky Patel

Creamy, nutty, and slightly spicy. Burn good. Draw excellent. Paired with rye whiskey.

Gurkha

Great burn and draw. Lots of smoke. Mild and smooth. Cedar and nut and leather. A touch of sweet and spice. A slightly bitter after taste, not sure what flavor that is.

La Herencia Cubana

Prelight is nothing special, but it is nice. There is a slight floral. Construction seems to be very good. Goldilocks draw. It lights perfectly the first time. And while brief, the first impression is dark chocolate. It is smoking wonderfully. Puffy clouds of smoke. I'm getting some toasted wood and toasted nut. Let's call it Hickory and hazelnut. There might be some coffee there, too. I'm getting 0 spice, and it's not creamy. But it is rich and smooth. I think a favorite whiskey would pair well. Halfway through there's a light tobacco spice that develops on the tongue and the roof of the mouth. Satisfying finish. This is quality tobacco and a great blend. Recommended.

Rocky Patel

3 month in humidor. Vcut. Good draw. Burn wavy. Flavors of pepper, cedar, chocolate and a little caramel. No pairing.

Rocky Patel

2 months in humidor. Great draw, burn, and flavor.

Cohiba

Construction and burn are good. OK flavor, though unremarkable. Not sure why these are priced so high. I'll finish what I have. Though I don't see any reason to buy any more of these.

Ave Maria

Best I can say is that it's not the worst I've had. Two of us tried these and we both discarded about half way through.

Alec Bradley

First impressions - I like the long band on it. Very veiny wrapper. First third - Incredibly tight draw. Pepper and earthy but not in the good way. Second third - Same, but mellower Final third - Same Final notes - Really not a fan. Had to relight it multiple times, the draw was a huge turnoff, and the flavor just wasn’t doing it for me.

Trinidad

First impressions - Love the band, the pastel abstract design is very nice. First third - This thing is BOLD. Absolutely packed with flavor. It has a very savory smoke. Definitely getting the pepper and toast that’s described online. Second third - Mellows out a bit, but the full flavor is still there Final third - Same as second Final notes - Not much variation, but that’s not a complaint. This cigar came on strong and carried itself all the way to the end. Only had to relight once at the very end. Great flavor, great construction, great experience overall.

Alec Bradley

First impressions - Love the band. The cigar has a nice soft smell to it. First third - The draw is very tight. The smoke, however, is very smooth. Picking up on leather and hints of spice. Second third - Started getting spicier. I’m normally not a spice guy but this is a very mellow yet present spice that I’m enjoying. Final third - Final notes -

CAO

First impressions - A cigar that stands out. The large box pressed shape, the dark wrapper, and the unique band is immediately intriguing. First third - Immediately noticed the very tight draw. Took a few puffs before I started noticing the flavor, which very quickly presented as a lot of pepper/spice with a creamy finish. Second third - Entering the second third it almost seems to be a bit drier. Started picking up on bits of cocoa. I can’t pick out all of exactly what I’m tasting but it’s a very full flavor, with the same pepper from before. Final third - A continuation of the second. Final notes - The ash is incredibly sturdy. This was a great cigar, but it is definitely one that I feel you have to be in the mood for. It’s very full bodied with a strong flavor, and I will certainly have more - I think this would pair amazing with a complex bourbon.