Length/Ring-6x56
Shape- Toro
Wrapper- Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Filler/ Binder- Dominican Republic
Strength- Medium-Full
Flavor- Full and complex
Country- Dominican Republic
Factory- Tabacalera A. Fuente
Blender- Carlito Fuente
Price- $15.00
History-
Released in 1999 the Ashton Virgin Sun Grown boasts the most successful product introduction in the companies history to date. With a special sun grown wrapper from one of the Oliva family farms in Ecuador and specially selected filler and binder tobaccos grown on the Fuente farm in the Dominican Republic the VSG has a wonderful balance of power and finesse. Said to be one of the front runners of the full bodied cigar revolution the VSG has proved that you can create a full, rich tasting cigar without the harsh finish. Offered in ten sizes (Belicoso No.1 being my favorite) the Wizard 37 is the newest. With Ashton’s unrelenting dedication to consistency the VSG will continue to be one of the most sought after cigars in the industry.
The Smoke-
A very nice looking cigar with a slightly rough, oily wrapper finished with a regal looking band adorned with two lions facing a golden crown. The cigar feels well constructed and cuts easily. The draw is flawless. Flavor off cold draw shows notes of cedar, espresso, and bitter chocolate. After light-up the chocolate and espresso flavors balance blissfully with a finish of cedar and mild spice. The smoke is rich and silky coating the palate for a long finish. The ash is smooth and bright grey holding on for an inch or so before falling. Into the second third of the cigar the spice starts to build but stays balanced with the coffee and chocolate notes. The final third of the cigar keeps the same balance of the second with a more prominent flavor of the cedar in the finish. The finish is long with the spice and cedar notes lingering the longest. Overall I very much enjoyed this cigar. It was well constructed and had a consistent burn throughout. I would recommend this to any moderately experienced cigar smoker who is looking for a stronger cigar without too much bite.
Liked/Recommend/Buy it again- yes
Length/ Ring- 6 1/2x52
Shape- figurado
Wrapper- Nicaraguan
Binder- Honduran
Filler- Nicaraguan/Dominican Republic
Flavor- Full
Strength- Med- full
History:
The LX2 was introduced at the last IPCPR in Las Vegas in 2008. It is the final of the trilogy of “X2” (MX2, CX2, LX2) cigars CAO is going to produce. LX2 (Legero times two, referring to the two types of legero that are in the filler of the cigar) is the eleventh CAO brand to receive a rating of 90 by Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider, an unachieved feat by any other brand. According to Tim Ozgner, the president of CAO, the LX2 was inspired by the tobaccos from a small 140 acre farm out side of Condega, Nicaragua. This is the fullest cigar that CAO has developed to date but still holds good balance and complexity of flavor. A truly evolving company, I look forward with great anticipation to more new and exciting product from CAO.
The Smoke-
A fair looking figurado with a rough cap. It is double banded with a somewhat tribal looking design on a black and silver band with gold lettering and a crown in the middle of the top band. The draw is nice and full with a good amount of resistance. Flavor off the cold draw shows flavors of tart pepper and sweetness with a light cedar finish. Flavor on light up shows bolder notes of the pepper with a solid woody core and a kinda sweet tart- full finish. The pepper holds on for the full length of the first third but starts to fall on the back burner in the second third allowing flavors of coffee, cinnamon, and some cream on the finish. The burn has been consistent with the splotchy grey ash holding on for almost two inches before falling. Into the final third the pepper still holds on with the coffee resting more on the back with a bitter chocolate finish. The power is more evident now and is starting to pack a bit of a punch. Overall this was a very well made cigar with a great burn. I would recommend this for any full flavored/bodied cigar lover. Not a cigar for the weak of heart.
Liked/Recommend/Buy Again- yes
Size- Robusto
Ring/Length-5x50
Wrapper/Binder/ Filler- Honduran Corojo
Body- Full
Flavor- Full
Company- Oettinger Davidoff/ Camacho Cigars
Blender- Christian Eiroa
Price- 10.00
History:
Camacho Cigars was founded in 1961 by Simon Camacho. Simon joined up with the Eiroa family when Julio Eiroa founded Caribe Importers Inc. in 1987 and later sold the cigar company to Julio in 1994.
Julio Eiroa fled Cuba in the early 1960s during the mass exodus of cigar manufacturers and tobacco growers and settled in the Jamastran Valley of Honduras. Tino Argudin, who discovered the Jamastran Valley, said: “We will never find neither soil nor region as similar to Vuelta Abajo (Cuba) as the Jamastran Valley in Honduras”. The Eiroa family has proved that with their incredible authentic Corojo cigar tobacco and innovative growing techniques, fermentation, and aging. With Julio in charge of the tobacco growing and Christian (Julio’s second son) in charge of the cigar production and marketing this dynamic duo will surely have continued success in their efforts to create great cigars.
The Smoke:
The cigar cuts very nicely. The draw is flawless with just the right amount of resistance. Flavor of the cold draw shows bold notes of black pepper and cedar. The immediate flavor after light up is bold pepper, cedar, and coffee. There isn’t much complexity in the cigar at this point in time and so far the best way to describe the smoke is heavy… really heavy. I'll just go ahead and say it, if you don’t like full bodied/favored cigars this is not for you. The ash is light and flaky not holding on for more than half an inch or so. Into the second third the cigar is burning slightly lopsided but starts to even out when I let it rest a little more in between puffs. Flavor in the second third is still dominated by the pepper notes but an introduction of leather and some nuttiness really balance the boldness out. The last third builds in power but maintains the flavor of the second with the pepper playing more of a minor roll in the final production. The finish is long and bold with the pepper and leather being the most prominent flavors.
Overall:
I really enjoyed this cigar. Very well made with a perfect draw, in many ways I couldn’t ask for anything else. The pepper was a little overwhelming at first but after everything balanced out it was very tasty. I would recommend this cigar to any fan of full bodied smokes but like I said before if you don’t like the in your face type of flavor profile then this cigar may turn you green.
Liked it- very much Recommend it- yes but selectively Buy it again- yes
Size- Robusto
Length/ring- 5x49
Wrapper- Cameroon
Binder- Indonesian Jember
Filler- Dominican Pilato Cubano
Country- Dominican Republic
Company- General Cigar
Price-$14.80
The Cigar
A moderately attractive cigar with some prominent veins on the wrapper. The color of the wrapper is mottled with brown spots. Feels well constructed and cuts easily. The draw is surprisingly tight. I opted to cut a little more off to get a better draw but didn’t improve anything. The flavor on the cold draw is mellow and shows flavors of roasted nuts. Upon light up the tobacco swelled up making it almost impossible to draw any smoke at all. I felt down the body of the cigar and found the obstruction around the band area and opted to cut again, still no improvement. After struggling to smoke the cigar for about twenty minutes I threw in the towel and set the cigar down. Truly a sign that not all super premiums are worth the money so be sure to choose carefully. This cigar goes down as the second most disappointing construction a cigar has ever had that I have tried to smoke. All in all the flavor of the smoke I was getting was pretty good and had a smooth creaminess with a good core of toasted nuts, but the poor construction has killed the experience for me. I know this is a hit and miss type occasion. I also know from personal experience you can have the best cigar in the world sitting right next to the worst. Just because I had a bad experience does not mean that you will so don’t write this one off before you try it. Just a friendly reminder that before you fork out fifteen bucks for any cigar feel it up to make sure it is well constructed and you will never have to experience something like this.
Overview
Liked it- not really
Buy it again- it deserves another try so yes
Recommend it- only with a lot of consideration