And The Winner is . . .

Well we have hit that time of year where everyone from TV to Music to Motion Pictures is doing their Best of the Best list or their top “whatever” for 2014, so I guess a band wagon jumping we shall be.

 We posted on here and sent out to our Club Members a list of the top cigars that we have sampled this year, the cutters they have used and the online store they liked the most (we did not include local Brick and Mortar (Stores) because members are spread out all over 3 states.

 So without further blabbering, The Winner for top cigar of the 2014 cigar season is . . . 

·        The Drew Estates; Tabak Limited - Cafe’ Con Leche.

This is the first time a flavored cigar has won Favorite cigar of the year. Being although I too voted, I would have to agree 100% with the vote the Runner up was the

CAO – Itallia.

·        The best cutter award goes to the V-knotch, no surprise there.

·        The best online store to buy cigars this year went to Cigars International, 

with Famous Cigars

and

CigarBid.com tying for second place.

 Best Cigar of 2014:

The Drew Estates; Tabak Limited - Cafe’ Con Leche.

Best Cigar Cutter:

V-Knotch (Any Brand)

Best Online Store:

Cigars International

So as we Blow out our 2014 smoke rings and get ready to breath in 2015’s offerings, I say thank you to one and all that has read, reviewed or participated in our cigar blog and would like to remind any of the readers to hit that “Follow” button and don’t be afraid to make a comment or submit a question for us here at the Cigar Stop. Also Thanks to

The Dead Ringers Cigar Club for hosting some fun events this year and helping keep this blog somewhat interesting (I hope).

 

Until next time

B.O.T.L.

~CigarAsh~

The Cigar Stops review of Drew Estate’s Tabak Especial Limited – Café’ Con Leche’

Name: Drew Estate’s Tabak Especial Limited – Café’ Con Leche’

Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf & Ecuador Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler/Binder: Nicaraguan

Shape/Size: Belicoso (5.5 x 54)

Strength: Mild, but can Vary due to infusion 

Box/Bundle: Box of 20

Flavored: yes (coffee – Espresso – milk chocolate)

 Price:  $12.00 per single $100.00 to $125.00 per box

 There are plenty of flavored cigars out there, but if you are looking for one that is not over powering with sweetness, while maintain great construction, this is the one you want, however I must warn you, you will pay a pretty penny for this one. This cigars is one of 4 that I would empty the piggy bang for every once in a while.

 This is a duel wrapper so it starts off sweet with hints of coffee and chocolate, then it tappers down to a nice mellow inviting smoke and at the very end of the cigar it gets sweet again so that you have a great finish and it doesn’t taste like wet dog like most flavored cigars when you get down to the end. With this one you never want it to go out, but alas how you would get to light another one if the first one doesn’t go out!

 So there always is a sad note and this one is in the all in the name… “Limited” that’s right the reason for the expense and the rare availability is due to the fact that they use two premium wrappers and that the whole cigar wrapper and filler is all infused and aged. If there were a King of Infuse cigars that king would be Drew Estates and if there was one flavored cigar that was to be held high on a pedestal it would be this one. 

If you are a fan of infused cigars or flavored cigars try this one and you tell us here at the cigar stop if we were wrong in our review. 

I rate this cigar a 8.5 out of 10

B.O.T.L.

~CigarAsh~

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~

CigarFest2:Clash of the Stogies - The Event of Smoke

So we are a mere week away from CigarFest2: Clash of the Stogies,

 I don’t mind telling you I was on edge a bit, running your own “HERF” is not easy, you have to have several back up plans in place incase participation is not up where is should, and doing one  that is 100% voluntary is tough, no venders to help you and you have to find yourself a hook. Lucky for me I have a solid cast of characters that all want to participate.

Last year was the first one I organized and it went well with a small group of 8, this year we have 10 men and 4 women so I am interested to see how things go. We will see how this one goes get some feedback and see what we can do to make next years as good as this one.

 The Cigar list for this year reads like a who’s who of cigars, as you can see by the list we have quite the array and variety of choices and every one of them is a new cigar for each of us. This year instead of all the members of the Dead Ringers Cigar Club getting together and picking cigars, we had each member purchase their own to share and with all the members in but one, it looks like a great success, so long as they don’t forget then at home the day of the event. So here is a revamped list of cigars sans one member who is operating on the fly. I will have more soon. Happy Ash to all you “B.O.T.L.” out there.

 Cigar Roster

Tabak Especial – Café’ con Leche - Belecoso

 Gurkha Park Avenue Maduro

 Arganese Maduro

 Black Ops Maduro

 Puros Indios Reserva Maxima 2003 - Maduro Toro...

 Carlos Torano Hogshead - Toro

 5 Vegas Gold Robusto - Natural

 Gurkha Master Selection Torpedo #2

 Baccarat Rothschild Natural

 5 Vegas Series 'A' Special Edition Animal

 CAO Lx2 Robusto