The Cigar Stops Top 20 Budget Bundles of 2014

Most of our readers already know we love our Budget Bundles of cigars, you get your money’s worth and the cigars taste good. You do not have to buy expensive cigars in a box to be able to have premium cigars that will not wipe out your wallet. To be a Budget Bundle the price of between $29.00 to $69.00 U.S.

 So here at the Cigar Stop we are going to give you what we consider the top 20 Budget Bundles of 2014 in no specific order.

  If you have one you would like to recommend to us or the readers post it to share, we appreciate your input and would love to hear from you.

1.     Gran Habano Vintage 2002

2.     Arganese: Maduro – Nicaraguan Habano & Connecticut

3.     La Perla Habana: Morado & Classic Maduro

4.     Pirates Gold

5.     La Herencia Cubana

6.     Gran Habano’s Blue Lable – B2

7.     HC Series by Xikar

8.     Torano’ Dominican selection

9.     Bahia: Maduro, Blu & Trinidad

10.      Gurkha: Park Avenue:  Natural (EMS) and Maduro

11.      Victor Sinclair: Tripple Corojo & Connecticut Yankee

12.      Fonseca: Arana

13.      J. Fuego: CoroJo Oscuro

14.      Garo: Double Maduro & Double Habano

15.      Pinar Del Rio: Reserva Limitada

16.      Oliva” Viejo Mundo

17.      Graycliff: Turbo Edicion Limitado

18.      EP Carrillo: Maduro & New Wave

19.      Sosa

20.      Purios Indios

These are the top 20 Budget Bundles we have Sampled this past year, out of all of the cigars we have had thus far these are our favorites this year and we will strive to give you a review on each one of them and  in some cases we have already.

See you next time

B.T.O.L.

The Cigar Stop Blog Team

2014 Cigar Tasting

A little Taste goes a long way . . . 

 Our little Local Cigar Club decided to have a Cigar tasting Event to end the summer. It was originally going to be just a cigar event, but we changed it a few weeks before the date to “Cigars, Bratts and Beer”.

  Each member was asked to bring a 10 count of cigars that they have not tried before and we will divide them up and trade with the other members that are participating. As well as Bring a Beer they have not had, mostly Micro Brews and some kind of Bratwurst or Sausage.

 There was coffee and whiskey on hand as well as some cheese and crackers, pretzels and pumpernickel and onion sticks and assorted veggies and dips.

 Here is a list of what was on the tasting roster.

·        Black Crown’s Sons of Anarchy - Toro

·        Cu-Avana – Maduro - Toro

·        Carlos Torano’s Loyal Aged Ligero 52’s – Robusto

·        Puros Indios – Gordo

·        Gurkha – Black Dragon Solomons

Here is a few Photos of the members that were at the “Smoking Troll Bar and Grill” participating in the 2014 cigar tasting.

 This will be the last Official Dead Ringers Cigar Club event of the 2014 year, although as usual we have a couple of “meetings” Planed in the “Cigar Garage” before the end of the year.

On a side note, Due to weather and time constraints and location we only had 4 members of the Dead Ringers participating in the cigar tasting, but I can tell you they all tasted good, stay tuned for reviews on all the cigars in the next few months.

 See you next time.

B.T.O.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~