Review of Drew Estate’s Java – Mint Flavored cigar

                    Drew Estate’s Java – Mint

Origins: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Brazilian

Filler/Binder: Nicaraguan

Shape/Size: Corona, Gordo, Robusto, Toro

Strength: Medium

Box/Bundle: Box of 24

Flavored: yes – Mint

Box Pressed: Yes

Price: $7.00 to $10.00 per single - $150.00 to $180.00 per box

 

If you’re a flavored cigar fan than Drew Estate is your company. Drew Estate has a great selection of flavored cigars; the latest is the Java Mint.

 

 This is a Medium strength cigar made with Nicaraguan tobaccos and a Connecticut Ecuadorian leaf with a dark rich Maduro wrapper. I have done nothing but rave about Drew Estate cigars over the years, but as with everything you can’t be 100% on the edge without falling off once in a while, and for me that is what this one does.

Drew Estate Java - Mint Flavor
 

 

 The Java Mint is not one I will smoke again nor will I recommend it to anyone…good concept, bad cigar.

 The Ash is not typical is seams very flaky to me, the flavor although ok at first is not throughout the whole cigar it is only on the tip of it so it gets bitter fast, the box press shape I am also not a fan of.

For me $170.00 for a box is way out of line on this one. Even a 5 pack is 25 bucks, want to try it buy one and see if I am right? Than go to any Brick and Mortar’s (store) they should carry them and they should be about $9.00 to $10.00 each. Remember just because I didn’t like them doesn’t mean you will dislike them. Don’t be afraid to try things.

 

 I rate this one a 4 out of 10, Sorry Drew Estate.

~ CigarAsh~

Vote for The Best of the Best for 2014

                     
   Favorite Cigar of the Year – 2014

1.     Drew Estates - Islas Del Sol
2.     Puros Indios Maxima Reserve’ 2003
3.     5 Vegas - Gold
4.     Bahia - Maduro
5.     Diesel
6.     Tabak - Cafe’ Con Leche
7.     Gran Habano - Vintage 2002
8.     Arganese - Maduro
9.     Gurkha  - Park Avenue
10.   C.I. Legends Series – Copper
11.   Gurkha – Black Ops
12.   Fonseca – Arana
13.   J. Fuego – Corojo Oscuro
14.   Xikar – HC Series – Maduro
15.   Drew Estate – Java
16.   CAO – Brazil
17.   Baccarat
18.   CAO – Italia
19.   Cohiba – Red dot
20.   “write in your choice”

                              Favorite Cutter

1.     Punch

2.     V-Notch

3.     Guillotine

Where did you do most of your cigar purchases?

1. Store or Online Site
2. Write in your Choice
   

CigarAsh's Review of the Indian Tabac Maduro

                                  Indian Tabac maduro

Origin: Honduran

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler/Binder: Costa Rican, Honduran & Nicaraguan

Shape/Size: Pyramid – Robusto - Toro

Strength: Full

Box/Bundle: Box of 20

Flavored: No

Price: $2.20 per single – per Box $54.00 to $59.00

 

 

 

Indian Tabac Maduro comes in 3 sizes Boxer (4.5x50), Teepee (5.5x52) and Tomahawk (6x52). And these yummy black heathens come in a box of 25.

 These Full bodied dark bad boys are smooth, rich and have a hint of spice and sport and even burn, great construction and a nice solid ash that doesn’t even consider flaking out on you.

They are made with 5 year aged Nicaraguan, Costa Rican and Honduran fillers with Nicaraguan Habano binders and a Connecticut maduro broadleaf wrapper.

 

Ever since purchasing the Brad Rocky Patel has just left it as is and that shape is fantastic! They are price very reasonable that range from $54.50 to $59.50 for a box of 25 so they won’t break the bank.

 If you are a fan of Full bodied cigars this is the one for you, give 1 a try and I bet you will try them over and over again. They are a little strong for an everyday cigar, but they well worth the weekend warrior smoker.

 

 Want a medium or mild version of this great cigar they are available in the Classic line of Indian Tabac.

I rate this one 6 out of 10

Happy Smoking

~CigarAsh~

H2O Please!

As we all know Cigars need humidity, too little and they are dried twigs that taste bitter and much like yard waste, too much and they become a soggy mess you can’t keep lit and they taste like wet yard waste.

 

 How do we achieve the perfect humidity and what do we use to gain this ultimate perfection? H2O . . . you know water!

However not just any water will do, it needs to be Distilled water. Tap water is no good because of the minerals; spring water has additives in most brands these days and as far as purified water goes that is just regular water cleaned by chemicals and minerals. Good old distilled water is nothing but pure water vapor nothing but 1 part Hydrogen and 2 parts oxygen.

Cigar Juice
 

Cigar Juice
 

  The industry has 2 ways to get your cigars moist and both ways are widely disgust and many have differences of opinions on the two ways. On one hand you have the modern thinkers that recommend humidifying through a chemical called “juice” or “cigar juice” and on the other hand you have the cigar purist that insist that distilled water is the only way you should humidify your cigar so as you can see they have very different opinions on this matter.

 Who is right, who really knows, but all I will say is that Distilled water adds NO chemical to your cigars and therefore shouldn’t change the taste of your cigars or cause any adverse effects to you other than what Smoking can do to your body in the first place. For me adding chemicals to your cigars means adding it to your body as well and I for one am doing a bang up job on that without adding yet another one if I don’t have too.



good old H2O
 

 So in closing I say Juice No . . . H2O

Remember folks this is only one persons opinion take a look at things see both sides and choose for yourself. Until next time Brothers of the leaf . . . Happy Smoking.

~CigarAsh~

Sosa Family's - Sosa Cigar Review

Sosa Cigars

Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler/Binder: Dominican & Honduran

Shape/Size: Robusto, Toro, Belicoso & Churchill

Strength: Medium

Box/Bundle: Box of 20

Flavored: No

$2.50 singles - $45.00 to $55.00 per bundle

 

 

The return of the king… When I started out smoking cigars eons ago, there were some big names like Arturo Feuente, Romeo and Juliette and Cohiba, there was also Sosa.

 The Sosa family had some of the smoothest and rich cigars for affordable prices, but unfortunately back then not everyone carried all the brand and you had to order in catalogs or like me be lucky enough to be in Florida and stumble into one of the Sosa Family stores, I dropped some coin that day I tell you, but I was set for quite some time for cigars while I was down there.

And now Sosa has reemerged with its first United States public offering, entitled simply “Sosa”. I have only seen them listed in 2 catalogs so far, and they were listed at a nice price of $45.00 for a bundle of 20. I expect some old timers such as myself to find the brand and stock up with this Central American treasure.

 The Size I like is the Toro size (6x52). The cigar is a well constructed medium smoke that has Dominican and Honduran filler with a dark maduro wrapper, with a nice ash with no flaking. The flavor is smooth and earthy.

I hope Sosa is making a comeback, but it’s my opinion that if they don’t get a boost buy the brick and mortars they will fade back into the dark closet of other Brand names that have faded into obscurity.

I have to say I am slightly disappointed with this cigar, it was dry and then the 2^nd time I smoke one it was better humidified, but it still seemed to lack in flavor. I hope they do better in the next Sosa offering

 I rate this Cigar a 5 out of 10.

Happy Smoking

~CigarAsh~

 

CigarAsh Reviews the Drew Estate Isla Del Sol cigar

Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Sumatra

Filler: Nicaraguan

Size/Shape: Gran Corona (5x44) Robusto (5x52) Toro (6x52)

           Churchill (7x50)

Strength: Mild to Medium

Box/Bundle: Box

Flavored: Mocha and Coffee

 

 

Isla Del Sol

Drew Estate cigars are known for their infused flavored cigars, they have many shapes sizes and flavors. Isla Del Sol is the economy version of the Java.

Isla Del Sol is a Nicaraguan cigar with Nicaraguan long leaf filler wrapped with a nice light brown Sumatra wrapper and infused with coffee and chocolate. It’s a nice smooth mild to medium smoke, the construction is good, typical Drew Estate quality. The ash is on the flaky side, but don’t let that sway you from this tasty cigar.

They come in a 20 count cardboard box lined with tobacco leaves, but don’t let that put you off either that is how they are keeping the price down to a respectable $55.00 to $63.00

You can find this line of Drew Estate’s in most Catalogs and in some stores; however I have not see a store that carries them on a regular basis.

 

So for that low price you are getting a major manufacture’s line of flavored cigars that exceed the normal puny size of 34-38 ring gauges, fair construction and a tasty treat. My favorite is the Toro (6x52)

I rate this cigar a 5 out of 10

Happy Smoking

~CigarAsh~

Snub the NUB

 I am sure you have heard of the expression “good to the last drop”, or “great to the last” well that was the idea behind the NUB cigar. It was said by someone, that the best part of the cigar is the last part, where you get the entire flavor and the best burn and why wait through a whole cigar when you can just smoke the best part all at once and immediately.

 

 I call Bull-shit on this one, sure I agree that there are some cigars where the best part is from the middle to the end of the cigar, but it’s the buildup of the flavor of the leaf and the wrappers that make that last part the best, without the build up what is the sense. Now as far as why waste your time smoking a whole cigar, I say why smoke one at all if you are in such a hurry. Not to mention the NUB is not that inexpensive that you are getting a deal on them. So I say SNUB THE NUB and get a size you like. Smoking a NUB is like hearing only the punch line to a joke; it takes the fun and enjoyment out of the whole process.

 

 For the folks that say try it and you will like it, I give this as my review of the nub.

It was OK that is all, not enough of a cigar to give you my honest opinion, and it was gone before I could tell what I tasted or where it was from. All I will say is it did not fall apart probably due to the fact there wasn’t enough of a cigar to fall apart and it burned even.

 Here are the Stats on the NUB, a NUB Size is 4 inches with a ring gauge of 60 they come in a box of 10 and go for $64.00 to $70.00 dollars U.S.

 Don’t like my opinion on the NUB try one and see what you think, and let us here at the Cigar Stop hear from you.

Thanks for reading see you next time

B.T.O.L.

~CigarAsh~