Thanks Shawn. Which one you enjoy the most? Though both are good but the 52 has a different charm to smoke. IMHO, 52 is more dense and lush compares to 54 and 56. They are all excellent.
zeebra:
fantastic review!! I love both the 52 and 54's!! your review is making me want to light one up tonight.
Thanks Shawn. Which one you enjoy the most? Though both are good but the 52 has a different charm to smoke. IMHO, 52 is more dense and lush compares to 54 and 56. They are all excellent.
zeebra:
fantastic review!! I love both the 52 and 54's!! your review is making me want to light one up tonight.
I've only had the 52 and 54 and can say I preferred the 52. For me, the 56 is a bit bigger than I like, though I would try one to see how it compares.
The Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro first reached cigar shops on September 8, 2010 the 45th anniversary of the creation of Padrón Cigars Inc. by José Orlando Padrón. The 83-year-old Cuban émigré is the embodiment of the American dream, having come to the United States in the early 1960s with nothing more than a few hundred dollars, a solid work ethic and the burning desire to make cigars that tasted as good as the ones he smoked as a young man in Cuba. The image of a hammer on this special release commemorates a most precious gift given to him by a friend when he was virtually penniless—the tool allowed him to eke out a living as a carpenter, money he saved to form a small cigar company. The cigar smokers of the world owe that benefactor a great debt, for the Padrón family continues to give us one brilliant cigar after another. The first of the Padrón's Family Reserves were torpedos made from very old tobaccos, served only for special occasion dinners and never sold at retail. While the 45 shares the original's old tobacco, it's a slightly different blend and an entirely different shape, being a severely pressed parejo. While the majority of Padrón Family Reserve No. 45s are made with maduro wrappers, some are wrapped in natural leaves. The cigars come in tidy boxes of 10, the cover of which bears the signature of the Padrón clan. “This is something you carry in your blood,” says José Orlando Padrón about making cigars. “I was born in the middle of all that and that is why I love it so much.” [Source: Cigar Aficionado] It is a beautiful box pressed cigar and feels good in hand. The wrapper is dark milk chocolate with almost no veins and little oil on it. The wrapper has a sweet- spicy hay, grassy scent. The foot has mild spicy, aromatic scent. The pre-light draw is effortless and has subtle aromatic woodiness. There is no soft spot and the construction is impeccable. The natural is less available than the Maduro and Padron also produces less Natural because of the shortage of this wrapper. The wrapper, binder and fillers- all are 10 years aged. The draw and burn is perfect. It is complex and rich with flavor and aroma. This is from 2010 release. When I smoked it the first time, I found mild harshness in the blend but now after two years of age it is completely smooth. It mellowed out and almost there. The flavor profile is combination of black pepper, leather, earth, cedar, roasted almond, citrus, milk chocolate, vanilla, medium cocoa-coffee with a hint of sweet nuttiness. The flavor and aroma harmonized with great balance and rich sweet-spicy long finish. The ash is little flaky. Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua 1/3: It starts with effortless draw and releases several flavors from the first puff. The top of my tongue is full of black pepper spice, the middle of my tongue can feel the spicy leather, roasted almond, citrus, cedar with spicy kick at the back. The spicy pepper is little overpowering but settle down within couple puffs. I let the cigar rest for a minute. This is not unusual with any aged top line Padron, except the Millennium. The back of my tongue can feel the aged sweetness of the tobacco with super mild leather bitterness. What an interesting start...in fact, it is great start. It starts with medium body. The balanced complexity and finish is very enjoyable. The strength is perfect which helps to enjoy the intense flavors and aroma with subtle touch. Indeed, the best Nicaraguan cigars made by the Padron family. 2/3: At this stage, the flavor and aroma starts to develop fully with round and mouthful texture but not creamy or buttery kind. It has the dense and lushness but not exactly thick and buttery. The cigar is completely smooth and mellow. The spicy kick through the nose is very enjoyable. There is a significant difference between harshness and mellow spice through the nose. The smoke is little dry but flavorful. The top of my tongue is still feels the distinctive black pepper spiciness with a mild citrus sweetness. The middle of my tongue can detect milk chocolate, vanilla, sweet leather, cocoa powder with a sweet nuttiness at the back. The 1/3 flavor profile is still there with the new flavors. The back of my tongue is full of distinctive aged tobacco sweet- bitterness which is a good thing. It is still developing and gathering the complexity with long finish. I am still retrohaling and enjoying the subtle spiciness through my nose. It is like spread a dash of white pepper on a fish fillet to boost the aroma- very delicate touch. I think this cigar is the perfect example of subtle spiciness. The milk chocolate, vanilla flavor is the dominating element at this stage with a delicate touch of cinnamon powder and almond note. The intensity is astonishing. The full two years of age made the smoke very enjoyable. I think I can write couple pages to describe 2/3 stage. A great cigar always gather it's intensity at the 2/3 stage. Unfortunately, during take off the second band I cracked the wrapper a little though it is not hampering the smoke. Final/3: Coming into this stage, the cigar is super complex, balanced with long finish. I am getting tingly, crispy feeling in my mouth which I always look from a top grade cigar. The strength is still medium and allowing me to enjoy the delicate flavor and aroma profile. This cigar has been rolled perfectly without a glitch. The top of my tongue is really enjoying the delicate sweet-spicy pepper note, the texture is still round and mouthful with 1/3 and 2/3 flavor profile but I am detecting more cocoa powder and medium coffee flavor with sweet nuttiness. The layers and layers of flavors and aroma are floating in my mouth- yahoo! I am really enjoying the smoke. The beautiful part is, though the cocoa and medium coffee flavors are more distinctive at this moment but it doesn’t undermine the other flavors and aroma. The blender did a magical job with this cigar. The back of my tongue is really enjoying the sweet- bitter aged tobacco taste. The strength is medium to full at this moment and the spiciness is more dense. All I can say is - Thank you Padron for creating such a great cigar.
Final thought: This is definitely in my top 10 non-Cuban cigar list. I am sure some of you are wondering what is the significant difference between Padron Family Reserve 45th Natural and Maduro. Maduro has the similar flavor profile with little more strength and dominant espresso and sweet coffee flavors. other then that they are pretty close. Both are great cigar. if you read my review on Viaje Oro #5 2010 release, I put VOR # 5 ahead of Padron Family Reserve 45 Maduro in terms of price but not quality. However, Padron FR 45 has a distinctive delicacy which I can't find in VOR #5 or in Padron FR 45 Maduro. This is where I prefer Natural over the Maduro version. Both are excellent smoke. I just got a box of the Padron FR 45 Natural from 2011 release and aging them. I always prefer to age Padron to enjoy it's mellow and roundness. Padron is unique when it is properly aged. The top Padron Millennium is still developing even after 18 years of aging. Padron has been always one of my favorite non-Cuban brand. I respect them for their business ethics, quality control and for stick with the core line. Few cigar makers can do it now a days. I visited Padron factory several times last couple of years and they still maintain the same business ethics. I appreciate Padron for their continuous development and effort.
Oh I forgot to mentioned that the Padron Family Reserve 45 Natural uses a hybreed Habano wrapper and the fillers are from Esteli and Jalapa ligeros with a double Nicaraguan binder.
rzaman:
The Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro first reached cigar shops on September 8, 2010 the 45th anniversary of the creation of Padrón Cigars Inc. by José Orlando Padrón. The 83-year-old Cuban émigré is the embodiment of the American dream, having come to the United States in the early 1960s with nothing more than a few hundred dollars, a solid work ethic and the burning desire to make cigars that tasted as good as the ones he smoked as a young man in Cuba. The image of a hammer on this special release commemorates a most precious gift given to him by a friend when he was virtually penniless—the tool allowed him to eke out a living as a carpenter, money he saved to form a small cigar company. The cigar smokers of the world owe that benefactor a great debt, for the Padrón family continues to give us one brilliant cigar after another. The first of the Padrón's Family Reserves were torpedos made from very old tobaccos, served only for special occasion dinners and never sold at retail. While the 45 shares the original's old tobacco, it's a slightly different blend and an entirely different shape, being a severely pressed parejo. While the majority of Padrón Family Reserve No. 45s are made with maduro wrappers, some are wrapped in natural leaves. The cigars come in tidy boxes of 10, the cover of which bears the signature of the Padrón clan. “This is something you carry in your blood,” says José Orlando Padrón about making cigars. “I was born in the middle of all that and that is why I love it so much.” [Source: Cigar Aficionado] It is a beautiful box pressed cigar and feels good in hand. The wrapper is dark milk chocolate with almost no veins and little oil on it. The wrapper has a sweet- spicy hay, grassy scent. The foot has mild spicy, aromatic scent. The pre-light draw is effortless and has subtle aromatic woodiness. There is no soft spot and the construction is impeccable. The natural is less available than the Maduro and Padron also produces less Natural because of the shortage of this wrapper. The wrapper, binder and fillers- all are 10 years aged. The draw and burn is perfect. It is complex and rich with flavor and aroma. This is from 2010 release. When I smoked it the first time, I found mild harshness in the blend but now after two years of age it is completely smooth. It mellowed out and almost there. The flavor profile is combination of black pepper, leather, earth, cedar, roasted almond, citrus, milk chocolate, vanilla, medium cocoa-coffee with a hint of sweet nuttiness. The flavor and aroma harmonized with great balance and rich sweet-spicy long finish. The ash is little flaky. Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua 1/3: It starts with effortless draw and releases several flavors from the first puff. The top of my tongue is full of black pepper spice, the middle of my tongue can feel the spicy leather, roasted almond, citrus, cedar with spicy kick at the back. The spicy pepper is little overpowering but settle down within couple puffs. I let the cigar rest for a minute. This is not unusual with any aged top line Padron, except the Millennium. The back of my tongue can feel the aged sweetness of the tobacco with super mild leather bitterness. What an interesting start...in fact, it is great start. It starts with medium body. The balanced complexity and finish is very enjoyable. The strength is perfect which helps to enjoy the intense flavors and aroma with subtle touch. Indeed, the best Nicaraguan cigars made by the Padron family. 2/3: At this stage, the flavor and aroma starts to develop fully with round and mouthful texture but not creamy or buttery kind. It has the dense and lushness but not exactly thick and buttery. The cigar is completely smooth and mellow. The spicy kick through the nose is very enjoyable. There is a significant difference between harshness and mellow spice through the nose. The smoke is little dry but flavorful. The top of my tongue is still feels the distinctive black pepper spiciness with a mild citrus sweetness. The middle of my tongue can detect milk chocolate, vanilla, sweet leather, cocoa powder with a sweet nuttiness at the back. The 1/3 flavor profile is still there with the new flavors. The back of my tongue is full of distinctive aged tobacco sweet- bitterness which is a good thing. It is still developing and gathering the complexity with long finish. I am still retrohaling and enjoying the subtle spiciness through my nose. It is like spread a dash of white pepper on a fish fillet to boost the aroma- very delicate touch. I think this cigar is the perfect example of subtle spiciness. The milk chocolate, vanilla flavor is the dominating element at this stage with a delicate touch of cinnamon powder and almond note. The intensity is astonishing. The full two years of age made the smoke very enjoyable. I think I can write couple pages to describe 2/3 stage. A great cigar always gather it's intensity at the 2/3 stage. Unfortunately, during take off the second band I cracked the wrapper a little though it is not hampering the smoke. Final/3: Coming into this stage, the cigar is super complex, balanced with long finish. I am getting tingly, crispy feeling in my mouth which I always look from a top grade cigar. The strength is still medium and allowing me to enjoy the delicate flavor and aroma profile. This cigar has been rolled perfectly without a glitch. The top of my tongue is really enjoying the delicate sweet-spicy pepper note, the texture is still round and mouthful with 1/3 and 2/3 flavor profile but I am detecting more cocoa powder and medium coffee flavor with sweet nuttiness. The layers and layers of flavors and aroma are floating in my mouth- yahoo! I am really enjoying the smoke. The beautiful part is, though the cocoa and medium coffee flavors are more distinctive at this moment but it doesn’t undermine the other flavors and aroma. The blender did a magical job with this cigar. The back of my tongue is really enjoying the sweet- bitter aged tobacco taste. The strength is medium to full at this moment and the spiciness is more dense. All I can say is - Thank you Padron for creating such a great cigar.
Final thought: This is definitely in my top 10 non-Cuban cigar list. I am sure some of you are wondering what is the significant difference between Padron Family Reserve 45th Natural and Maduro. Maduro has the similar flavor profile with little more strength and dominant espresso and sweet coffee flavors. other then that they are pretty close. Both are great cigar. if you read my review on Viaje Oro #5 2010 release, I put VOR # 5 ahead of Padron Family Reserve 45 Maduro in terms of price but not quality. However, Padron FR 45 has a distinctive delicacy which I can't find in VOR #5 or in Padron FR 45 Maduro. This is where I prefer Natural over the Maduro version. Both are excellent smoke. I just got a box of the Padron FR 45 Natural from 2011 release and aging them. I always prefer to age Padron to enjoy it's mellow and roundness. Padron is unique when it is properly aged. The top Padron Millennium is still developing even after 18 years of aging. Padron has been always one of my favorite non-Cuban brand. I respect them for their business ethics, quality control and for stick with the core line. Few cigar makers can do it now a days. I visited Padron factory several times last couple of years and they still maintain the same business ethics. I appreciate Padron for their continuous development and effort.
Thanks Shawn. Which one you enjoy the most? Though both are good but the 52 has a different charm to smoke. IMHO, 52 is more dense and lush compares to 54 and 56. They are all excellent.
zeebra:
fantastic review!! I love both the 52 and 54's!! your review is making me want to light one up tonight.
I actually keep going back and forth on the 52 and 54. When I smoke the 52, I like it better, then the 54, same thing. So I keep both of them. Have 2 boxes of each size, one from 2010 and the other from 2011. But if you also have the Siglo VI with a few years on it, they are pretty damn good as well for a bit less. But who am I to save a few bucks when all these smokes are exceptional. I loved your review and hope one day I can do a one even remotely close to the details you provided. Next time I light one up, I'm going to read your review to see if I get the same notes. I'm not a big fan of the 56, but I've only smoked one of those and didnt grab a box of those, so I cant say I hate them just yet.
Well said...I had couple of Behike 56 but I get tired at the end. I agree it is a monstrous size and the nicotine really hits me hard. If you really want to detect the flavor and the notes then please smoke the cigar after a full breakfast with clean palate. While smoking just drink iced water. I am very curious to know about your experiment.
zeebra:
rzaman:
Thanks Shawn. Which one you enjoy the most? Though both are good but the 52 has a different charm to smoke. IMHO, 52 is more dense and lush compares to 54 and 56. They are all excellent.
zeebra:
fantastic review!! I love both the 52 and 54's!! your review is making me want to light one up tonight.
I actually keep going back and forth on the 52 and 54. When I smoke the 52, I like it better, then the 54, same thing. So I keep both of them. Have 2 boxes of each size, one from 2010 and the other from 2011. But if you also have the Siglo VI with a few years on it, they are pretty damn good as well for a bit less. But who am I to save a few bucks when all these smokes are exceptional. I loved your review and hope one day I can do a one even remotely close to the details you provided. Next time I light one up, I'm going to read your review to see if I get the same notes. I'm not a big fan of the 56, but I've only smoked one of those and didnt grab a box of those, so I cant say I hate them just yet.
Back in 1995, General Cigar offered an extremely limited-edition cigar to commemorate the 150 years that Partagas had been in production. At that time, Cigar Master Daniel Nunez had the foresight to set aside a limited quantity of smaller and medium size wrapper leaves for continued maturation. Then, 10 years later, using the same rare vintage Cameroon wrapper from 1977, General launched this series of sought-after beauties made by the same Daniel Nunez in tribute to his mentor Ramón Cifuentes. Blended with Dominican Piloto Cubano and Mexican San Andrés filler tobaccos, these cigars have been sorted three times to intensify the flavors of the tobaccos. The result is a cigar connoisseur’s delight—a medium-bodied, well-balanced, extremely rich and creamy smoke. Because of the limited availability of the tobacco. The Partagas 160 Signature Series of cigars was released in 2005 from the Dominican Partagas brand to celebrate the 160th Anniversary of the Partagas brand.[source: online publications] The cigar has a simple and plain golden-red band. Almost like a size of double corona but Paratags official name is Cefuente Especiale. The vintage wrapper from 1977 is chocolate brown sort of brown paper bag, very fine vein with a little oily hue. It has a triple cap, well constructed and feels good in hand. I am carefully handling the cigar because Cameroon wrapper is very fragile, specially the aged one. The cold draw has distinctive cedar-oak notes. The foot has aged tobacco sweet-spiciness which I love in a cigar. The cigar has perfect construction, draw and even burn. It is a straight medium bodied but very rich, aromatic and flavorful smoke. The flavor and aroma profile is combination of wood(oak-cedar), earth, aromatic-fruity(close to Chinese pear), caramel, distinctive cinnamon- cloves sweet spiciness, slight peppery and vanilla. The best part of this cigar is it’s richness but the flavor and aroma works in the background. It is not a overly complex cigar but skillfully blended for rich flavors and aroma. It is super smooth, close to creamy and very enjoyable morning cigar requires clean palate to enjoy the delicate background notes, mild flavors and aroma. This is not a smoke for those who enjoy strength in a cigar rather then it's delicate flavor and aroma in a mild to medium cigar. Wrapper: 1977 Cameroon
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano / Mexican San Andres 1/3: It starts as a mild smoke with signature top quality Cameroon sweet- spiciness. Within few puffs the sweetness goes in the background and taken over with mild vanilla, pear like sweet and aromatic fruitiness. What a wonderful complexity however it stays there for a while. The top of my tongue has very fine sweet- spiciness, the texture is medium creamy with delicate above flavors and aroma. The back of my tongue has no aftertaste. This is a sign of aged wrapper and tobacco. Now, I will go little deep into the flavor profile- what makes this cigar so special then other Cameroon cigars? usually, we feel the distinctive flavor, texture, aroma at the front but this cigar flavor profile plays more delicately in the background. Numerous time I have mentioned that a cigar can be strong but at the same time flavorless or a cigar can be mild but at the same time very flavorful. This a good example of a mild-medium strength cigar with full of rich flavors. I am in love and really enjoying my smoke this afternoon. I am retrohaling each puff because it is completely smooth without a any sign of harshness. 2/3: The strength and body is medium at this stage. However, the dominant flavors are mild earth, caramel, clove- cinnamon kinda sweet-spiciness. I am really enjoying the smooth pepper note through the nose. It is a delicate smoke with rich aroma and complexity. The top of my tongue can feel mild spiciness, the middle of my tongue is really enjoying the above flavors and aroma with medium finish. The slight tingly feeling is there but I wish it had little more tinglyness. The back of my tongue has super mild aged tobacco bitterness. Again, the best part of this unique cigar is the rich flavors and aroma in the background not at the front. The retrohale through the nose is simply enjoyable. The peppery note is more like the white pepper not black- it is spicy but delicate. Final/3: At this stage, the sweet- spiciness is strong and the body is straight medium. I wish this start was at the 2/3 stage. This is where it lacks the charms of the 150 release. Until now, I didn't have to relight the cigar, the draw and burn have been perfect. I do not detect any new flavor or aroma but the richness and density of smoke is more concentrated with powerful clove- cinnamon sweet and spiciness. The tingly feeling is more strong. It is dominating the font and the vanilla, cedar, earth, caramel notes are in the back. What a great smoke! Though the complexity is medium but the finish is long with sweet- spicy, aromatic fruity zestiness which reminds me a little bit of Cuban like feeling. I really enjoy delicate sweet- spicy aromatic fruitiness in a cigar and this is also the primary reason why I am a huge fan of Cuban cigars. The tingly feeling is in every corner of my mouth and I find it fascinating. The white pepper spiciness through the nose is very crispy and clean. Overall, the cigar is very smooth, clean and flavorful from the start to finish. Great smoke!!!
Final thought: I have smoked many Partagas 150 and 160. I do like 150 over 160 but both are excellent. Partagas 150 is more complex with longer finish. However, that doesn't undermine the charm of 160. One of my top favorite Cameroon in the market plus has some Cuban kinda aromatic flavor and aroma. Once I smoked a cigar with Cuban fillers and binder with Cameroon wrapper. It was rolled for a prominent cigar Aficionado /collector and was not for commercial release. I wish Cuba could have released something like it in regular basis. In reality, Cuba does not want to use foreign wrappers so Partagas 150 and 160 are my only option to remember that beautiful memory. I will definitely buy more of Partagas 150 and 160 if I can. I have a decent stock but not enough. Please try it whenever you have a chance.
Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba in 1886. His growing operations were suspended while he fought in Cuba’s War of Independence. After returning from war Melanio resumed his operations. In the early 1920’s Melanio’s son Hipolito Oliva took over the growing operations. Hipolito cultivated the Oliva family fields for several decades. As Cuba became over-run by communist the tobacco landscape changed. Hipolito’s son Gilberto Oliva shifted from growing to brokering tobacco. In the early 60’s the pressure became too great and Gilberto traveled from country to country in search of the distinct Cuban taste. His travels took him to Honduras, Panama, Mexico and even the Philippines. Gilberto finally found fertile ground in Nicaragua. Today Gilberto along with his family are Nicaragua’s second largest grower of Cuban-seed tobacco. [Source: Oliva cigar] Master Blends 3 is the third offering in a series of limited artisanal blends. Liga Maestra is specifically blended to deliver the richest characteristics of Nicaraguan ligero fillers and Connecticut broadleaf sun-grown wrappers. The cigar looks solid, heavy and feels good in hand. The shape is interesting- rounded boxed pressed, very close to oval shape. The wrapper is dark chocolate color, almost no vein or oily sheen on it. The fillers are Nicaraguan ligero, aged over six years. The band is very attractive and well represent Nicaraguan natural tropical beauty. The cigar smells sweet, molasses, damp earth, hay. the foot has a damp sweet scent. It has good draw with some burn irregularities. I had to touch up few times. This is a straight full bodied and bold cigar. The flavor and aroma profile is combination of earth, sweet, cedar, distinctive coffee, chocolate, molasses, cocoa, leather with distinctive spiciness. I did not enjoy retrohale the cigar because of the harshness. Indeed, sign of Nicaraguan Esteli and Jalapa ligeros- strong, spicy, sweet. I bought the box almost two years ago. The cigar did not mellowed out as I expected. This cigar need to be smoked with full stomach. I felt the nicotine and the power of Nicaraguan ligero. I picked up to smoke this cigar because the forum is discussing a lot about this cigar recently. Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Sun-Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero 1/3: It starts with spicy kick with chocolate and coffee flavors. The spicy leather note with harshness is very dominant. I tried to retrohale but it's hurts my nose and irritates my throat. However, after few puffs the sweetness comes forward and makes it little smoother and round. The top of my tongue feels the leather spiciness, the middle of my tongue feels the round sweetness with above flavors and aroma. The back of my tongue feel the harsh tobacco aftertaste. I have to mention that the sweet damp earthy, almost compost kinda note is interesting. It is medium-full in strength. 2/3: The cigar performs well at this stage. It is more round and mellow but retrohale is still a challenge for the harshness. the draw is also little tight but does not hamper the smoking experience. The leather note is almost gone. More profound dark chocolate, cocoa, molasses sweetness is dominating the flavor profile and aroma. It has a nice toasted nut aroma in the background- nice twist. The burn is little irregular. The top of my tongue feels the sweet-black peppery spiciness, the middle of my tongue feels the thick texture with above flavors and aroma. The back of my tongue still feels the harshness of the tobacco. I am not retrohaling any more. I lightly inhale smoke through the nose and enjoying the toasted nuttiness in the background with sweet coffee, caramel aroma notes but had to stop quickly for the harshness. It has a nice medium- long finish but no tingly feeling. I licked my lips and felt bitter-sweetness to it. The subtle cocoa aroma is very enjoyable. It is medium- full in strength at this stage but more subtle and full of rich above flavors and aroma. Final/3: The cigar is picking up more strength. The top of my tongue can feel the clean spiciness. Apparently the sweetness is in the background. The middle of my tongue can feel round, subtle thickness which is very enjoyable. The flavor profile is dominated with aromatic cedar with rich coffee flavor. The sweetness is weak and the back of my tongue can feel the spicy tobacco note. The smoke is kinda one dimensional and lost it's complexity. The finish is very short. However, it is bold. I can feel that little age may improve the cigar further. It is powerful and bold in strength. Though it mellowed out at this stage but at the same time became one dimensional.
Final thought: This is a good smoke and offers good value. This is a perfect cigar who looks for strength, distinctive coffee note and intensity. I would recommend this after a heavy meal. There is a miss conception that this a Nicaraguan Puro but it is not. The wrapper is Connecticut Sun Grown. It is definitely a improved version from number one and two with more richness and flavors. I am not going to buy a box rather than one or two sticks here and there.
Interesting final thoughts. I felt that Master Blend 1 was superior the 2&3. I suppose we each have different criteria that make a blend good though. Good review as always Rip.
Thanks Joe, agree with you completely about the individual criteria. This is a reason why I rarely score a cigar rather than lay down the flavor and aroma profile. As always, cigar taste is subjective and individual.
j0z3r:
Interesting final thoughts. I felt that Master Blend 1 was superior the 2&3. I suppose we each have different criteria that make a blend good though. Good review as always Rip.
These ultra-premium beauties are handcrafted in the Dominican Republic by a team of the most experienced tobacco experts under the direction of Daniel Nunez. Perfectly aged Dominican, Nicaraguan and Mexican filler tobaccos are skillfully blended together and paired with Dominican Havana seed binders that were aged in Tercios (bales wrapped in palm leaves) for 2 years. The vintage, Connecticut shade wrappers from the 1992 crop that have been cloistered for almost 15-years, give these mild to medium bodied, complex masterpieces the perfect harmonizing finish. Antonio Stradivari was born in Italy in 1644 and would become the definitive violin-maker. The violins that the Stradivari family would build, would be called the Stradivarius. These violins are the most sought after stringed instrument in the world, and among the most expensive. The Hammer, for example, is worth an astounding $3.6 million dollars. The sound that comes out of a Stradivarius is something that has not been replicated since the 1700s, as modern research tools can not fully explain the reasoning behind the instrument. Not only are there violins from the Stradivari family, but also Violas and Cellos, as well as a few Guitars, Harps and Mandolins. When Angel Nunez and General Cigar decided to produce a new, ultra-premium cigar, the name Stradivarius fit. The Stradivarius de los Maestros was released in 2007 in the RTDA show. [Source: various on-line articles] Wrapper: 15 Year Vintage Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican Havana Seed (Aged in Tercios for two years)
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Mexican
Country: Dominican Republic
Factory: General Cigar Dominicana The cigar has one the best presentation in the market. It comes in a beautiful coffin that includes a purple ribbon with middle age style wax seal. Ten of these coffins comes in a humidor quality marble look wooden box. Overall, has a very classic, regal and top notch look. The cigar is solid, long and feels heavy in hand. The wrapper color is pale brown, smooth, almost no vein and oily. The wrapper has hay and light earthy scent. The dry draw has a delicate cedar sweetness which is a sign of aged Connecticut shade grown wrapper. This is a mild-medium cigar and requires clean palate as a morning smoke to enjoy its delicate, super smooth, creamy flavors and aroma. I choose this cigar this morning because I really wanted to enjoy the morning quiet time, birdsongs and light tropical breeze in my garden. The world is sleeping and enjoying a lazy Sunday morning but I wanted to enjoy my alone time with nature. I had a light Danish breakfast with a cup of delicate First Flush Darjeeling tea. Overall, a perfect time to enjoy a mild flavorful cigar and retrohale the aged smoothness of it. The flavor profile and aroma has a wonderful combination of creaminess, vanilla, white chocolate, nuts, cardamom-cinnamon powder, light cafe latte with a zing of sweet-bitterness, mild aromatic cedar sweetness to it with a savory, smooth and buttery texture. It is a complex cigar with medium to long finish with a twist of crispness without a full tingly feeling. This cigar is for them who enjoy soft, delicate, creamy, complex flavor and aroma which opposes strength and power. 1/3: The first puff has mild strength with soft sweetness of Cafe latte to it with distinctive vanilla and cardamom powder notes. The sweetness has a mild bitterness in the background which is expected taste from a Connecticut wrapper. This is a reason why some people do not like this wrapper- the bitterness to it. The cigar is completely smooth and creamy in texture. The top of my tongue is enjoying the delicate sweet-white peppery spiciness. The middle of my tongue is full of creamy and buttery texture with cafe latte, nutty flavors with distinctive vanilla and cardamom powder notes. The back of my tongue is enjoying the soft delicate touch of aged tobacco bitterness. I am retrohaling from the first puff and enjoying the white peppery soft spicy kick through the nose. All I can say is - mmmmm. The cardamom note works interestingly after few puffs with a light touch of cinnamon power. If you are familiar with Indian creamy chicken Reshmi kabob then you may remember they use cardamom and young cinnamon stick powder to inject a delicate sweet-spiciness into the meat. Though it is a mild cigar but it has a robust flavors and aroma from the beginning. 2/3: As I enter to this stage, the cigar is waking up with mild- medium strength. It has the complete 1/3 flavors and aroma but now it has distinctive white chocolate, toasted nutty flavors with a more profound sweet cedar note in the back. The best part is it's texture- completely subtle, round, mouthful, creamy, buttery and silky smoothness. I am really enjoying the retrohale and inhale some smoke through the nose. The sweet-Connecticut bitterness is simply awesome and relaxing. I am completely captured by it. All the above flavors and aroma are coming forward back and forth distinctively- what a complex cigar. The only flaw is the finish is medium to long. Though I am fully captured with it's flavors and aroma but it is difficult to keep track of the changes. However, the top of my tongue has a nice sweetness without any aftertaste in the background. This is the magic of the aged tobacco. This a perfect example of a complex mild cigar. The best part at this stage is the layers and layers of cardamom, cinnamon and white peppery delicate touch locked in a buttery texture. The entire flavor and aroma profile is inside a soft creamy texture shield. I am not sure why I am feeling the strength is medium though I had a full bodied and bold Oliva MB 3 last night. What a divine and delicate smoking experience! It produces a lot of smoke at this stage with above flavors and aroma- yum yum.… Final/3: As I am approaching to the final stage, the cigar is performing even better with more complexity and longer finish with crispness. It is spreading a mild tinglyness in my mouth but as a mild- medium cigar it was expected. Master blender Daniel Nunez did a great job with this blend. I can tell that this cigar was created for a niche market for developed palate. Daniel always does a great job with blending Mexican, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. In fact, most of his top cigars have fillers from one of these three countries. He is an expert utilizing aged Connecticut shade grown and Cameroon wrapper. I believe few Master blenders understand Connecticut wrapper as him. After the economic embargo both Daniel and Frank Llaneza understood that Connecticut was the only hope to recreate or replace the reddish light sweet Cuban wrapper. However, the bitterness of Connecticut has been always unavoidable but they both tried to infuse some sweetness into the fillers to balance the weaknesses of Connecticut wrapper. The history of Connecticut grown wrapper has been always fascinating to me and I am still learning how different blenders are trying to utilize it with sweet fillers. Another successful and creative Master blender is E.P. Carrillo who understands Connecticut very well and moved to Dominican Republic to utilize it's world famous Piloto Cubano tobacco leaf. I apologize for too much talk here about the wrapper rather than the cigar itself. I believe the early morning quietness and meditative environment made me talk too much-sorry. I am just simply enjoying the complexity of the cigar at this moment. I love Stradivarius on a special moment and highly regard it's magical flavors and aroma. Though it doesn't have many flavors but it magically utilizes the complexity with medium to long finish with complete flavor and aroma profile of 1/3 and 2/3. The strength is straight medium at this stage. The one I am smoking has been aged almost five years after 2007 release. In a general rules, Connecticut wrapper is not for aging but Stradivarius is different because of the fillers.
Final thought: Though this cigar was created for the niche market but the MSRP is simply not justifiable. It shouldn't be $30 rather than $12-15, at the same time I also understand that it is expensive to age tobacco in the U.S for it's high labor cost. If you like strength in a cigar please do not waste your money on it but if you enjoy creamy, delicate flavors and aroma then you should at least smoke one as a morning smoke. You will not be disappointed. I can assure you my statement because I have smoked many Stradivarius and always maintain a good stock. Have a wonderful Sunday and wish you a productive week ahead. Thank you!
Snoop Dogg once asked Hugh Hefner if he ever gets tired of sleeping with beautiful women and sleep with an ugly one just because.
Rip, you ever smoke a budget sticks/yard gar just because? Or will you only smoke "beautiful women"?
Rip,
Great article, as always. I've never heard of that cigar. Thanks for showing it to us.
So many great sounding cigars to keep an eye out for. I appreciate these articles.
Rip,
Great article, as always. I've never heard of that cigar. Thanks for showing it to us.
So many great sounding cigars to keep an eye out for. I appreciate these articles.
LOL...I didn't know that Snoop Dogg asked that question to Hugh Hefner...I am curious to know Hugh's answer.
Daniel, I would never use the word yard gar for any cigar. Taste is subjective and individual, I respect every opinion. To answer your question, wherever I have given a cigar by someone, no matter the quality and price, I always cherish and smoke it. To me gift always comes with sincerely. A gift is a silent language of pure friendship and I always smoke them. I won't deny that when I buy a cigar, I try to stick with my personal like. At the same time respect others taste and choice. One more thing, I have a decent life but it came with a lot of hard work. I stilll remember those days when I couldn't buy something I really wanted to. You can see that I am a happy man because I cherish everything I have in life. Life is too short not to cherish the good thing we have around us.
AgaIn, thanks for your kind note my friend.
danielzreyes:
Snoop Dogg once asked Hugh Hefner if he ever gets tired of sleeping with beautiful women and sleep with an ugly one just because.
Rip, you ever smoke a budget sticks/yard gar just because? Or will you only smoke "beautiful women"?
LOL...I didn't know that Snoop Dogg asked that question to Hugh Hefner...I am curious to know Hugh's answer.
Daniel, I would never use the word yard gar for any cigar. Taste is subjective and individual, I respect every opinion. To answer your question, wherever I have given a cigar by someone, no matter the quality and price, I always cherish and smoke it. To me gift always comes with sincerely. A gift is a silent language of pure friendship and I always smoke them. I won't deny that when I buy a cigar, I try to stick with my personal like. At the same time respect others taste and choice. One more thing, I have a decent life but it came with a lot of hard work. I stilll remember those days when I couldn't buy something I really wanted to. You can see that I am a happy man because I cherish everything I have in life. Life is too short not to cherish the good thing we have around us.
AgaIn, thanks for your kind note my friend.
danielzreyes:
Snoop Dogg once asked Hugh Hefner if he ever gets tired of sleeping with beautiful women and sleep with an ugly one just because.
Rip, you ever smoke a budget sticks/yard gar just because? Or will you only smoke "beautiful women"?
yet another awesome review. thanks for sharing
Just a random sidenote. Snoop Dogg changed his name to Snoop Lion. Also I have one of these suckers aging in my humi
LOL...I didn't know that Snoop Dogg asked that question to Hugh Hefner...I am curious to know Hugh's answer.
Daniel, I would never use the word yard gar for any cigar. Taste is subjective and individual, I respect every opinion. To answer your question, wherever I have given a cigar by someone, no matter the quality and price, I always cherish and smoke it. To me gift always comes with sincerely. A gift is a silent language of pure friendship and I always smoke them. I won't deny that when I buy a cigar, I try to stick with my personal like. At the same time respect others taste and choice. One more thing, I have a decent life but it came with a lot of hard work. I stilll remember those days when I couldn't buy something I really wanted to. You can see that I am a happy man because I cherish everything I have in life. Life is too short not to cherish the good thing we have around us.
AgaIn, thanks for your kind note my friend.
danielzreyes:
Snoop Dogg once asked Hugh Hefner if he ever gets tired of sleeping with beautiful women and sleep with an ugly one just because.
Rip, you ever smoke a budget sticks/yard gar just because? Or will you only smoke "beautiful women"?
yet another awesome review. thanks for sharing
I totally agree Rip. Life IS too short not to cherish the good things we have around us. That's why when I get asked at Mcdonalds if I want it supersized, I always say yes. I love America.
Comments
The Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro first reached cigar shops on September 8, 2010 the 45th anniversary of the creation of Padrón Cigars Inc. by José Orlando Padrón. The 83-year-old Cuban émigré is the embodiment of the American dream, having come to the United States in the early 1960s with nothing more than a few hundred dollars, a solid work ethic and the burning desire to make cigars that tasted as good as the ones he smoked as a young man in Cuba. The image of a hammer on this special release commemorates a most precious gift given to him by a friend when he was virtually penniless—the tool allowed him to eke out a living as a carpenter, money he saved to form a small cigar company. The cigar smokers of the world owe that benefactor a great debt, for the Padrón family continues to give us one brilliant cigar after another.
The first of the Padrón's Family Reserves were torpedos made from very old tobaccos, served only for special occasion dinners and never sold at retail. While the 45 shares the original's old tobacco, it's a slightly different blend and an entirely different shape, being a severely pressed parejo. While the majority of Padrón Family Reserve No. 45s are made with maduro wrappers, some are wrapped in natural leaves. The cigars come in tidy boxes of 10, the cover of which bears the signature of the Padrón clan. “This is something you carry in your blood,” says José Orlando Padrón about making cigars. “I was born in the middle of all that and that is why I love it so much.” [Source: Cigar Aficionado]
It is a beautiful box pressed cigar and feels good in hand. The wrapper is dark milk chocolate with almost no veins and little oil on it. The wrapper has a sweet- spicy hay, grassy scent. The foot has mild spicy, aromatic scent. The pre-light draw is effortless and has subtle aromatic woodiness. There is no soft spot and the construction is impeccable. The natural is less available than the Maduro and Padron also produces less Natural because of the shortage of this wrapper. The wrapper, binder and fillers- all are 10 years aged. The draw and burn is perfect. It is complex and rich with flavor and aroma. This is from 2010 release. When I smoked it the first time, I found mild harshness in the blend but now after two years of age it is completely smooth. It mellowed out and almost there. The flavor profile is combination of black pepper, leather, earth, cedar, roasted almond, citrus, milk chocolate, vanilla, medium cocoa-coffee with a hint of sweet nuttiness. The flavor and aroma harmonized with great balance and rich sweet-spicy long finish. The ash is little flaky.
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
1/3: It starts with effortless draw and releases several flavors from the first puff. The top of my tongue is full of black pepper spice, the middle of my tongue can feel the spicy leather, roasted almond, citrus, cedar with spicy kick at the back. The spicy pepper is little overpowering but settle down within couple puffs. I let the cigar rest for a minute. This is not unusual with any aged top line Padron, except the Millennium. The back of my tongue can feel the aged sweetness of the tobacco with super mild leather bitterness. What an interesting start...in fact, it is great start. It starts with medium body. The balanced complexity and finish is very enjoyable. The strength is perfect which helps to enjoy the intense flavors and aroma with subtle touch. Indeed, the best Nicaraguan cigars made by the Padron family.
2/3: At this stage, the flavor and aroma starts to develop fully with round and mouthful texture but not creamy or buttery kind. It has the dense and lushness but not exactly thick and buttery. The cigar is completely smooth and mellow. The spicy kick through the nose is very enjoyable. There is a significant difference between harshness and mellow spice through the nose. The smoke is little dry but flavorful. The top of my tongue is still feels the distinctive black pepper spiciness with a mild citrus sweetness. The middle of my tongue can detect milk chocolate, vanilla, sweet leather, cocoa powder with a sweet nuttiness at the back. The 1/3 flavor profile is still there with the new flavors. The back of my tongue is full of distinctive aged tobacco sweet- bitterness which is a good thing. It is still developing and gathering the complexity with long finish. I am still retrohaling and enjoying the subtle spiciness through my nose. It is like spread a dash of white pepper on a fish fillet to boost the aroma- very delicate touch. I think this cigar is the perfect example of subtle spiciness. The milk chocolate, vanilla flavor is the dominating element at this stage with a delicate touch of cinnamon powder and almond note. The intensity is astonishing. The full two years of age made the smoke very enjoyable. I think I can write couple pages to describe 2/3 stage. A great cigar always gather it's intensity at the 2/3 stage. Unfortunately, during take off the second band I cracked the wrapper a little though it is not hampering the smoke.
Final/3: Coming into this stage, the cigar is super complex, balanced with long finish. I am getting tingly, crispy feeling in my mouth which I always look from a top grade cigar. The strength is still medium and allowing me to enjoy the delicate flavor and aroma profile. This cigar has been rolled perfectly without a glitch. The top of my tongue is really enjoying the delicate sweet-spicy pepper note, the texture is still round and mouthful with 1/3 and 2/3 flavor profile but I am detecting more cocoa powder and medium coffee flavor with sweet nuttiness. The layers and layers of flavors and aroma are floating in my mouth- yahoo! I am really enjoying the smoke. The beautiful part is, though the cocoa and medium coffee flavors are more distinctive at this moment but it doesn’t undermine the other flavors and aroma. The blender did a magical job with this cigar. The back of my tongue is really enjoying the sweet- bitter aged tobacco taste. The strength is medium to full at this moment and the spiciness is more dense. All I can say is - Thank you Padron for creating such a great cigar.
Final thought: This is definitely in my top 10 non-Cuban cigar list. I am sure some of you are wondering what is the significant difference between Padron Family Reserve 45th Natural and Maduro. Maduro has the similar flavor profile with little more strength and dominant espresso and sweet coffee flavors. other then that they are pretty close. Both are great cigar. if you read my review on Viaje Oro #5 2010 release, I put VOR # 5 ahead of Padron Family Reserve 45 Maduro in terms of price but not quality. However, Padron FR 45 has a distinctive delicacy which I can't find in VOR #5 or in Padron FR 45 Maduro. This is where I prefer Natural over the Maduro version. Both are excellent smoke. I just got a box of the Padron FR 45 Natural from 2011 release and aging them. I always prefer to age Padron to enjoy it's mellow and roundness. Padron is unique when it is properly aged. The top Padron Millennium is still developing even after 18 years of aging. Padron has been always one of my favorite non-Cuban brand. I respect them for their business ethics, quality control and for stick with the core line. Few cigar makers can do it now a days. I visited Padron factory several times last couple of years and they still maintain the same business ethics. I appreciate Padron for their continuous development and effort.
Back in 1995, General Cigar offered an extremely limited-edition cigar to commemorate the 150 years that Partagas had been in production. At that time, Cigar Master Daniel Nunez had the foresight to set aside a limited quantity of smaller and medium size wrapper leaves for continued maturation. Then, 10 years later, using the same rare vintage Cameroon wrapper from 1977, General launched this series of sought-after beauties made by the same Daniel Nunez in tribute to his mentor Ramón Cifuentes. Blended with Dominican Piloto Cubano and Mexican San Andrés filler tobaccos, these cigars have been sorted three times to intensify the flavors of the tobaccos. The result is a cigar connoisseur’s delight—a medium-bodied, well-balanced, extremely rich and creamy smoke. Because of the limited availability of the tobacco. The Partagas 160 Signature Series of cigars was released in 2005 from the Dominican Partagas brand to celebrate the 160th Anniversary of the Partagas brand.[source: online publications]
The cigar has a simple and plain golden-red band. Almost like a size of double corona but Paratags official name is Cefuente Especiale. The vintage wrapper from 1977 is chocolate brown sort of brown paper bag, very fine vein with a little oily hue. It has a triple cap, well constructed and feels good in hand. I am carefully handling the cigar because Cameroon wrapper is very fragile, specially the aged one. The cold draw has distinctive cedar-oak notes. The foot has aged tobacco sweet-spiciness which I love in a cigar. The cigar has perfect construction, draw and even burn. It is a straight medium bodied but very rich, aromatic and flavorful smoke. The flavor and aroma profile is combination of wood(oak-cedar), earth, aromatic-fruity(close to Chinese pear), caramel, distinctive cinnamon- cloves sweet spiciness, slight peppery and vanilla. The best part of this cigar is it’s richness but the flavor and aroma works in the background. It is not a overly complex cigar but skillfully blended for rich flavors and aroma. It is super smooth, close to creamy and very enjoyable morning cigar requires clean palate to enjoy the delicate background notes, mild flavors and aroma. This is not a smoke for those who enjoy strength in a cigar rather then it's delicate flavor and aroma in a mild to medium cigar.
Wrapper: 1977 Cameroon
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano / Mexican San Andres
1/3: It starts as a mild smoke with signature top quality Cameroon sweet- spiciness. Within few puffs the sweetness goes in the background and taken over with mild vanilla, pear like sweet and aromatic fruitiness. What a wonderful complexity however it stays there for a while. The top of my tongue has very fine sweet- spiciness, the texture is medium creamy with delicate above flavors and aroma. The back of my tongue has no aftertaste. This is a sign of aged wrapper and tobacco. Now, I will go little deep into the flavor profile- what makes this cigar so special then other Cameroon cigars? usually, we feel the distinctive flavor, texture, aroma at the front but this cigar flavor profile plays more delicately in the background. Numerous time I have mentioned that a cigar can be strong but at the same time flavorless or a cigar can be mild but at the same time very flavorful. This a good example of a mild-medium strength cigar with full of rich flavors. I am in love and really enjoying my smoke this afternoon. I am retrohaling each puff because it is completely smooth without a any sign of harshness.
2/3: The strength and body is medium at this stage. However, the dominant flavors are mild earth, caramel, clove- cinnamon kinda sweet-spiciness. I am really enjoying the smooth pepper note through the nose. It is a delicate smoke with rich aroma and complexity. The top of my tongue can feel mild spiciness, the middle of my tongue is really enjoying the above flavors and aroma with medium finish. The slight tingly feeling is there but I wish it had little more tinglyness. The back of my tongue has super mild aged tobacco bitterness. Again, the best part of this unique cigar is the rich flavors and aroma in the background not at the front. The retrohale through the nose is simply enjoyable. The peppery note is more like the white pepper not black- it is spicy but delicate.
Final/3: At this stage, the sweet- spiciness is strong and the body is straight medium. I wish this start was at the 2/3 stage. This is where it lacks the charms of the 150 release. Until now, I didn't have to relight the cigar, the draw and burn have been perfect. I do not detect any new flavor or aroma but the richness and density of smoke is more concentrated with powerful clove- cinnamon sweet and spiciness. The tingly feeling is more strong. It is dominating the font and the vanilla, cedar, earth, caramel notes are in the back. What a great smoke! Though the complexity is medium but the finish is long with sweet- spicy, aromatic fruity zestiness which reminds me a little bit of Cuban like feeling. I really enjoy delicate sweet- spicy aromatic fruitiness in a cigar and this is also the primary reason why I am a huge fan of Cuban cigars. The tingly feeling is in every corner of my mouth and I find it fascinating. The white pepper spiciness through the nose is very crispy and clean. Overall, the cigar is very smooth, clean and flavorful from the start to finish. Great smoke!!!
Final thought: I have smoked many Partagas 150 and 160. I do like 150 over 160 but both are excellent. Partagas 150 is more complex with longer finish. However, that doesn't undermine the charm of 160. One of my top favorite Cameroon in the market plus has some Cuban kinda aromatic flavor and aroma. Once I smoked a cigar with Cuban fillers and binder with Cameroon wrapper. It was rolled for a prominent cigar Aficionado /collector and was not for commercial release. I wish Cuba could have released something like it in regular basis. In reality, Cuba does not want to use foreign wrappers so Partagas 150 and 160 are my only option to remember that beautiful memory. I will definitely buy more of Partagas 150 and 160 if I can. I have a decent stock but not enough. Please try it whenever you have a chance.
Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba in 1886. His growing operations were suspended while he fought in Cuba’s War of Independence. After returning from war Melanio resumed his operations. In the early 1920’s Melanio’s son Hipolito Oliva took over the growing operations. Hipolito cultivated the Oliva family fields for several decades. As Cuba became over-run by communist the tobacco landscape changed. Hipolito’s son Gilberto Oliva shifted from growing to brokering tobacco. In the early 60’s the pressure became too great and Gilberto traveled from country to country in search of the distinct Cuban taste. His travels took him to Honduras, Panama, Mexico and even the Philippines. Gilberto finally found fertile ground in Nicaragua. Today Gilberto along with his family are Nicaragua’s second largest grower of Cuban-seed tobacco. [Source: Oliva cigar]
Master Blends 3 is the third offering in a series of limited artisanal blends. Liga Maestra is specifically blended to deliver the richest characteristics of Nicaraguan ligero fillers and Connecticut broadleaf sun-grown wrappers. The cigar looks solid, heavy and feels good in hand. The shape is interesting- rounded boxed pressed, very close to oval shape. The wrapper is dark chocolate color, almost no vein or oily sheen on it. The fillers are Nicaraguan ligero, aged over six years. The band is very attractive and well represent Nicaraguan natural tropical beauty. The cigar smells sweet, molasses, damp earth, hay. the foot has a damp sweet scent. It has good draw with some burn irregularities. I had to touch up few times. This is a straight full bodied and bold cigar. The flavor and aroma profile is combination of earth, sweet, cedar, distinctive coffee, chocolate, molasses, cocoa, leather with distinctive spiciness. I did not enjoy retrohale the cigar because of the harshness. Indeed, sign of Nicaraguan Esteli and Jalapa ligeros- strong, spicy, sweet. I bought the box almost two years ago. The cigar did not mellowed out as I expected. This cigar need to be smoked with full stomach. I felt the nicotine and the power of Nicaraguan ligero. I picked up to smoke this cigar because the forum is discussing a lot about this cigar recently.
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Sun-Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero
1/3: It starts with spicy kick with chocolate and coffee flavors. The spicy leather note with harshness is very dominant. I tried to retrohale but it's hurts my nose and irritates my throat. However, after few puffs the sweetness comes forward and makes it little smoother and round. The top of my tongue feels the leather spiciness, the middle of my tongue feels the round sweetness with above flavors and aroma. The back of my tongue feel the harsh tobacco aftertaste. I have to mention that the sweet damp earthy, almost compost kinda note is interesting. It is medium-full in strength.
2/3: The cigar performs well at this stage. It is more round and mellow but retrohale is still a challenge for the harshness. the draw is also little tight but does not hamper the smoking experience. The leather note is almost gone. More profound dark chocolate, cocoa, molasses sweetness is dominating the flavor profile and aroma. It has a nice toasted nut aroma in the background- nice twist. The burn is little irregular. The top of my tongue feels the sweet-black peppery spiciness, the middle of my tongue feels the thick texture with above flavors and aroma. The back of my tongue still feels the harshness of the tobacco. I am not retrohaling any more. I lightly inhale smoke through the nose and enjoying the toasted nuttiness in the background with sweet coffee, caramel aroma notes but had to stop quickly for the harshness. It has a nice medium- long finish but no tingly feeling. I licked my lips and felt bitter-sweetness to it. The subtle cocoa aroma is very enjoyable. It is medium- full in strength at this stage but more subtle and full of rich above flavors and aroma.
Final/3: The cigar is picking up more strength. The top of my tongue can feel the clean spiciness. Apparently the sweetness is in the background. The middle of my tongue can feel round, subtle thickness which is very enjoyable. The flavor profile is dominated with aromatic cedar with rich coffee flavor. The sweetness is weak and the back of my tongue can feel the spicy tobacco note. The smoke is kinda one dimensional and lost it's complexity. The finish is very short. However, it is bold. I can feel that little age may improve the cigar further. It is powerful and bold in strength. Though it mellowed out at this stage but at the same time became one dimensional.
Final thought: This is a good smoke and offers good value. This is a perfect cigar who looks for strength, distinctive coffee note and intensity. I would recommend this after a heavy meal. There is a miss conception that this a Nicaraguan Puro but it is not. The wrapper is Connecticut Sun Grown. It is definitely a improved version from number one and two with more richness and flavors. I am not going to buy a box rather than one or two sticks here and there.
I've been considering this cigar and this helps a lot.
These ultra-premium beauties are handcrafted in the Dominican Republic by a team of the most experienced tobacco experts under the direction of Daniel Nunez. Perfectly aged Dominican, Nicaraguan and Mexican filler tobaccos are skillfully blended together and paired with Dominican Havana seed binders that were aged in Tercios (bales wrapped in palm leaves) for 2 years. The vintage, Connecticut shade wrappers from the 1992 crop that have been cloistered for almost 15-years, give these mild to medium bodied, complex masterpieces the perfect harmonizing finish. Antonio Stradivari was born in Italy in 1644 and would become the definitive violin-maker. The violins that the Stradivari family would build, would be called the Stradivarius. These violins are the most sought after stringed instrument in the world, and among the most expensive. The Hammer, for example, is worth an astounding $3.6 million dollars. The sound that comes out of a Stradivarius is something that has not been replicated since the 1700s, as modern research tools can not fully explain the reasoning behind the instrument. Not only are there violins from the Stradivari family, but also Violas and Cellos, as well as a few Guitars, Harps and Mandolins. When Angel Nunez and General Cigar decided to produce a new, ultra-premium cigar, the name Stradivarius fit. The Stradivarius de los Maestros was released in 2007 in the RTDA show. [Source: various on-line articles]
Wrapper: 15 Year Vintage Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican Havana Seed (Aged in Tercios for two years)
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Mexican
Country: Dominican Republic
Factory: General Cigar Dominicana
The cigar has one the best presentation in the market. It comes in a beautiful coffin that includes a purple ribbon with middle age style wax seal. Ten of these coffins comes in a humidor quality marble look wooden box. Overall, has a very classic, regal and top notch look. The cigar is solid, long and feels heavy in hand. The wrapper color is pale brown, smooth, almost no vein and oily. The wrapper has hay and light earthy scent. The dry draw has a delicate cedar sweetness which is a sign of aged Connecticut shade grown wrapper. This is a mild-medium cigar and requires clean palate as a morning smoke to enjoy its delicate, super smooth, creamy flavors and aroma. I choose this cigar this morning because I really wanted to enjoy the morning quiet time, birdsongs and light tropical breeze in my garden. The world is sleeping and enjoying a lazy Sunday morning but I wanted to enjoy my alone time with nature. I had a light Danish breakfast with a cup of delicate First Flush Darjeeling tea. Overall, a perfect time to enjoy a mild flavorful cigar and retrohale the aged smoothness of it. The flavor profile and aroma has a wonderful combination of creaminess, vanilla, white chocolate, nuts, cardamom-cinnamon powder, light cafe latte with a zing of sweet-bitterness, mild aromatic cedar sweetness to it with a savory, smooth and buttery texture. It is a complex cigar with medium to long finish with a twist of crispness without a full tingly feeling. This cigar is for them who enjoy soft, delicate, creamy, complex flavor and aroma which opposes strength and power.
1/3: The first puff has mild strength with soft sweetness of Cafe latte to it with distinctive vanilla and cardamom powder notes. The sweetness has a mild bitterness in the background which is expected taste from a Connecticut wrapper. This is a reason why some people do not like this wrapper- the bitterness to it. The cigar is completely smooth and creamy in texture. The top of my tongue is enjoying the delicate sweet-white peppery spiciness. The middle of my tongue is full of creamy and buttery texture with cafe latte, nutty flavors with distinctive vanilla and cardamom powder notes. The back of my tongue is enjoying the soft delicate touch of aged tobacco bitterness. I am retrohaling from the first puff and enjoying the white peppery soft spicy kick through the nose. All I can say is - mmmmm. The cardamom note works interestingly after few puffs with a light touch of cinnamon power. If you are familiar with Indian creamy chicken Reshmi kabob then you may remember they use cardamom and young cinnamon stick powder to inject a delicate sweet-spiciness into the meat. Though it is a mild cigar but it has a robust flavors and aroma from the beginning.
2/3: As I enter to this stage, the cigar is waking up with mild- medium strength. It has the complete 1/3 flavors and aroma but now it has distinctive white chocolate, toasted nutty flavors with a more profound sweet cedar note in the back. The best part is it's texture- completely subtle, round, mouthful, creamy, buttery and silky smoothness. I am really enjoying the retrohale and inhale some smoke through the nose. The sweet-Connecticut bitterness is simply awesome and relaxing. I am completely captured by it. All the above flavors and aroma are coming forward back and forth distinctively- what a complex cigar. The only flaw is the finish is medium to long. Though I am fully captured with it's flavors and aroma but it is difficult to keep track of the changes. However, the top of my tongue has a nice sweetness without any aftertaste in the background. This is the magic of the aged tobacco. This a perfect example of a complex mild cigar. The best part at this stage is the layers and layers of cardamom, cinnamon and white peppery delicate touch locked in a buttery texture. The entire flavor and aroma profile is inside a soft creamy texture shield. I am not sure why I am feeling the strength is medium though I had a full bodied and bold Oliva MB 3 last night. What a divine and delicate smoking experience! It produces a lot of smoke at this stage with above flavors and aroma- yum yum.…
Final/3: As I am approaching to the final stage, the cigar is performing even better with more complexity and longer finish with crispness. It is spreading a mild tinglyness in my mouth but as a mild- medium cigar it was expected. Master blender Daniel Nunez did a great job with this blend. I can tell that this cigar was created for a niche market for developed palate. Daniel always does a great job with blending Mexican, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. In fact, most of his top cigars have fillers from one of these three countries. He is an expert utilizing aged Connecticut shade grown and Cameroon wrapper. I believe few Master blenders understand Connecticut wrapper as him. After the economic embargo both Daniel and Frank Llaneza understood that Connecticut was the only hope to recreate or replace the reddish light sweet Cuban wrapper. However, the bitterness of Connecticut has been always unavoidable but they both tried to infuse some sweetness into the fillers to balance the weaknesses of Connecticut wrapper. The history of Connecticut grown wrapper has been always fascinating to me and I am still learning how different blenders are trying to utilize it with sweet fillers. Another successful and creative Master blender is E.P. Carrillo who understands Connecticut very well and moved to Dominican Republic to utilize it's world famous Piloto Cubano tobacco leaf. I apologize for too much talk here about the wrapper rather than the cigar itself. I believe the early morning quietness and meditative environment made me talk too much-sorry. I am just simply enjoying the complexity of the cigar at this moment. I love Stradivarius on a special moment and highly regard it's magical flavors and aroma. Though it doesn't have many flavors but it magically utilizes the complexity with medium to long finish with complete flavor and aroma profile of 1/3 and 2/3. The strength is straight medium at this stage. The one I am smoking has been aged almost five years after 2007 release. In a general rules, Connecticut wrapper is not for aging but Stradivarius is different because of the fillers.
Final thought: Though this cigar was created for the niche market but the MSRP is simply not justifiable. It shouldn't be $30 rather than $12-15, at the same time I also understand that it is expensive to age tobacco in the U.S for it's high labor cost. If you like strength in a cigar please do not waste your money on it but if you enjoy creamy, delicate flavors and aroma then you should at least smoke one as a morning smoke. You will not be disappointed. I can assure you my statement because I have smoked many Stradivarius and always maintain a good stock. Have a wonderful Sunday and wish you a productive week ahead. Thank you!
Rip, you ever smoke a budget sticks/yard gar just because? Or will you only smoke "beautiful women"?
yet another awesome review. thanks for sharing
Great article, as always. I've never heard of that cigar. Thanks for showing it to us.
So many great sounding cigars to keep an eye out for. I appreciate these articles.
LOL...I didn't know that Snoop Dogg asked that question to Hugh Hefner...I am curious to know Hugh's answer.
Daniel, I would never use the word yard gar for any cigar. Taste is subjective and individual, I respect every opinion. To answer your question, wherever I have given a cigar by someone, no matter the quality and price, I always cherish and smoke it. To me gift always comes with sincerely. A gift is a silent language of pure friendship and I always smoke them. I won't deny that when I buy a cigar, I try to stick with my personal like. At the same time respect others taste and choice. One more thing, I have a decent life but it came with a lot of hard work. I stilll remember those days when I couldn't buy something I really wanted to. You can see that I am a happy man because I cherish everything I have in life. Life is too short not to cherish the good thing we have around us.
AgaIn, thanks for your kind note my friend.
Just a random sidenote. Snoop Dogg changed his name to Snoop Lion. Also I have one of these suckers aging in my humi