Garo – Double Habano

Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Habano (Connecticut Oscuro)

Filler/Binder: Ecuadorian Habano

Shape/Size: Robusto-Toro-Torpedo-churchill

Strength: Medium

Box/Bundle: Bundle of 20

Flavored: No

 

 

 I consider myself the King of the budget Bundles and I have to say that I have found one I like very much and in fact I am on my 3^rd order of them as I do this review.

 The Garo Double Habano is well constructed with one of my favorite wrappers the dark and oily Habano Connecticut Oscuro, with an Ecuadorian Habano binder.

  This Central American smoke is a rich medium to full bodied cigar, with an earthy, woody flavor to it. I have not found a bad one in 3 bundles and 2 sizes (6x50 Toro and the 6x52 Torpedo), that’s not to say it will always be that way. It just means that at the very least this Budget bundle is still putting quality with its economically perfect price tag of $30.00 to $40.00 per bundle of 20.

These are hard to find in a Brick and Mortar (store) but they are listed in 2 different company’s catalogs and are well worth a try in my humble smoke filled opinion.

The ash is solid, not flaky at all and the feel of the cigars is firm and has a slightly bumpy feel, but don’t let that scare you they are tasty.

 There is one thing I do suggest and that is the you crank the humidifier up to 72% humidity, they are much better when they are very humidified, I have noticed that if the humidor drops to 68% humidity they get a small bite to them.

 

I rate these 5 out of 10

Happy Smoking –

~CigarAsh~

 As I post this review I am sadden of the news that the Garo Double Habano has met its untimely end, they have discontinued this fine budget bundle. I will smoke my last few and saver each puff.

CigarAsh reviews Torano's Hogs Head Cigar

Torano Hogs Head Cigar Review

Origin: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican and Pennsylvania broadleaf long fillers

Wrapper: Brazilian maduro

Size: 6.5 x 54

Shape: Torpedo

Strength: Medium/Full

 

 I do not mind telling you that at first sight this bundle scared me, it came in a burlap bag, What I will also say is that  the budget bundle is back with this medium/full flavored selection from the Torano family cigars.

The “Hogs Head” from the Torano Cigars is claimed to be a rich flavored cigar with a blend of Nicaraguan, Dominican and Pennsylvania broadleaf long fillers with a dark Brazilian maduro wrapper. The cigar itself has good construction, firm without being too stiff and has hints of coffee bean, black pepper, maple and cedar, or at least that is what they will let you think your pallet tastes.

 For me I got no maple flavor, no coffee bean flavor and maybe a ever so slight hint of cedar, Mostly I got the black pepper spiciness and what I can only describe as a gritty earthy taste to it, in fact the bundle comes in a burlap bag and if you smell the bag that is what the cigar slightly tastes like. It is a bit too earthy for my tastes. The spice of the pepper hits you right off and then fades as the cigar mellows. The construction is good and the ash is solid with no flaking. The 2 Torpedo’s (6.5x50) I had burned very even without canoeing and it never burned hot and never burned out, so it has that going for it.

  The Hogs Head will run you about $45.00 for a burlap bundle of 20 in most places I have seen them listed. I would try it again, but not sure if the Hogs Head would make my rotation in the everyday smoke department, however it is a good buy and would make my list of top 50 Budget Bundle cigars. Don’t be afraid of it give it a try for yourself and see if I am correct, everyone has different taste and I do not want to scare you off, but I do stand by my review.

 

  On a personal note there were 9 of us that tried these and more than half of us liked them and would purchase or smoke them again, which just proves my point as to I am just a regular guy and I don’t want to sway you or try and sell you on anything… it’s just my point of reference to help you make your choice on things.

 Over all I would give this cigar a rating of 4 1/2 out of 10 on taste and 8 on construction.

 Thanks for reading

B.O.T.L.

~Cigar Ash~

CigarAsh Reviews The Black Ops Maduro Cigar

Black Ops – Maduro

Origin: Nicaragua

Fillers: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf, Maduro

Strength: Medium-Full

 

 Gurkha Cigars came up with the Black Ops brand about 2 years ago and since then it has increased its offerings to 3 (Connecticut, Habano and Maduro) and has really gained in popularity and pushed its way to the forefront of the Bargain Bundles sales and giving stiff completion to Puros Indios and other brands.

 

 Today we are focusing on the Maduro. The Maduro offering is nice it starts off a bit peppery and finishes smooth with an espresso flavor and notes of sweetness with a touch of honey and chocolate. For me I don’t get the Honey or the Chocolate finish, however it does get smooth after a bit, I do have to say you get the spice from the peppery blending of all Nicaraguan binder and fillers tobaccos and the Maduro wrapper. It also has a heavy smoke so it is best for a less active occasion for smoking.

 I like this one and I would never say no to it and it goes great with a whiskey, but it would not be my pick for an everyday cigar. I think the Habano blend is far superior to the Maduro, but please try them for yourself and you tell me what you think. Also I have found the brand to have a few too many veins in the wrapper leafs and that is a shame due to the fact it can inhibit the burn and the flavor.

 On the Cigar Stop Rating Scale this one gets a 5 ½ above average and a nice smoke.

See you next time

B.O.T.L

~Cigar Ash~

CigarAsh looks at 1844 – Anejado 50-xtra

                         1844 – Anejado 50-xtra

Origin: Nicaragua

Shape: Perfecto

Size: 6 x 50

Wrapper: San Andres

Filler: Nicaragua

Strength: Medium-Full

 

 

This is the my first experience with the 1844 brand and all I can say is wow…This is a medium to full bodied cigar leaning more to the full than medium, but not so strong you get light headed despite the long leaf Nicaraguan filler with a strong San Andres maduro wrapper. You get an earthy flavor to it with a small peppery flavor and a hint of a cedar finish.

 The 1844 is now in my regular rotation, the smoke is dark and a bit heavy, the ash is a dark grey ash with no flaking at all, the cigar produces a heavy ash so it may burn a bit hot at times. The constructions is perfect, chunky and with the small rolled tip at the end makes it is easy to light and helps for an even burn, the “perfecto” style shape feels great in your hand and in your mouth.

The size that I have chosen was a No.50 xtra which is a 6 x 50. I have seen these cigars in a local “brick and mortar” as well in multiple mail order catalogs so they are not real hard to find.

 I think the only bad thing I found with this cigar is it is only packaged in a box of 18, but still that will not sway this cheep bastard from purchasing them on a regular basis. The average price for this one is $50.00 U.S. and as of the past month I have seen them listed at sale prices of $40.00 bucks a box… Time to stock up on this one.

I would have to rate this stick a happy 6 1/2 out of 10.

B.T.O.L.

~Cigar Ash~

Cigar Ash Looks at the Puros Indios Reserva’ Maxima ‘03

Puros Indios Reserva’ Maxima ‘03

What can I say about this brand besides, it is one of the most consistent brands I have had the pleasure of smoking. It may not me the highest on the Cigar Brand totem pole, but it is far from the bottom.

 The brand does have one blemish on their reputation with their Puros Indious Vejeo, but that is a review for another time.

 So here is the skinny on these sticks. This Blend of Puros Indios is the brain child of Rolando Reyes Jr. and his 70 years of experience. This specially aged puros is called “Anejado 2003” and has a blending of Brazilian, Nicaragua and Dominican longleaf tobaccos’ with a Ecuador wrapper that is just a great tasting smoke. 

 Five years the cigars aged in boxes and I have to say that I would buy these often and keep them in stock. They are inexpensive at $29.95 for the Rothschild, $34.95 for the Toro and $39.95 for the Churchill.

 The Maxima ’03 has good construction with very minute if any blemishes and veins in the leaf. There is an earthy and light woody taste to it and so far after smoking 5 to 8 of them at this point I have not had one canoe or unravel. The Head of the cigar is nice and tight as well, I have used a Cigar punch and a V-notch on the cigar and the head of it has stated pretty much in tacked and had a nice smooth draw to it throughout the whole smoke. This cigar gives you a light aroma with a solid light grey ash not flaky at all.

 I would give this cigar a rating of 6 ½ out of 10 for Price, Taste and Quality. This is a perfect everyday cigar choice.

See you next time

B.O.T.L.

~Cigar Ash~