The Cigar Journal

Cigar Review of the Week - Rocky Patel Decade Robusto

Impressive-looking box-pressed stick. Interestingly the wrapper is a little short, revealing about a milimmeter of filler/binder at the foot. PERFECT draw. Blasted lots of black pepper up front, along with flavors of flint/charcoal when passed through the sinuses, although at this point it's not very complex. After an inch the flavor opens up to reveal bitter chocolate and dark-roast coffee flavors with an earthy base, the faintest touch of sweetness, and a medium finish. The aroma is predominantly leathery and spicy. Halfway through, the burn has really straightened out and the flavor has mellowed, taking on dry texture that causes me to salivate - not unlike the tannins in a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.

After a purge, the flavors renew, revealing strengthened leather and sweetness. The flint and charcoal flavors have also returned, and I sense the cigar is reaching its coda. Smoked to the nub, I'm entirely satisfied with this cigar. I found great prices on this great stick at Thompson Cigars, and they offer free shipping on certian deals...You can beat that!

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The Rocky Patel Decade Robusto recieves a rating of 4.5 out of 5 smoke rings!

Appearance: 9
Construction: 9
Burn: 8
Draw: 10
Flavor: 8
Aroma: 8
Final Score: 8.6

Other Cigars Sampled

Partagas Black Magnifico

The name itself suggests quality and demands respect. From the very first cigars Don Ramon Cifuentes produced until this day Partagas has been a bench mark for other brands. The Partagas line of cigars is considered to be in the mild to medium body range, however the Partagas Black Magnifico breaks tradition with a bold full body and strong cigar utilizing a special Sun Grown Medio Tiempo Maduro wrapper from the Connecticut River Valley. Robust and enjoyable in larger ring gauges and offering flavors of dark chocolate, espresso and spice this cigar should be in every cigar smokers rotation. I give the Partagas Black Magnifica a 4 out of 5 smoke rings.

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure

The Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure cigar is a 5 1/4 x 50 and is made by the General Cigar Company. This maduro wrapper is very well matured, not veiny, and has a nice oily sheen. At first draw off this unique cigar, you get a sweet taste of espresso coffee.
The cigar draws beautifully, and burns perfectly. The ash is milky white and very compact. The Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure cigar is not very full of deep flavors as you would expect the maduro’s to be. The cigar starts out with a espresso flavor and then opens up to a chocolate essence. Towards the end of the cigar, the cigar burned warm and had full flavor. The Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure is a very enjoyable smoke. I give the Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Epicure a 4 out of 5 smoke rings.

Bolivar Cofradia No. 554

The 54 ring gauge Bolivar Cofradia No. 554 has Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos that yield heavy aromas of spice and earth. This stogie sports a dark, rich-looking Ecuador Sumatran wrapper with a few protruding veins. After cutting this cigar, the leaf began to unpeel and resulted in some loose tabacco floaters. Even with the poor wrapper, The Bolivar Cofradia No. 554 has full flavors with a hint of rye toast and clove. This cigar is very pleasing with earthy flavors that were balanced by some sweet tastes.

The burn on the Bolivar Cofradia No. 554 was a even burn and was easily attained and maintained. the draw was clear and produced a lot of smoke. Overall, this cigar performed quite well – I give the Bolivar Cofradia No. 554 3.8 out of 5 smoke rings.

Cigar Information and News

Cigar Lounge Revew-Buena Vista Cigar Club

The Buena Vista Cigar Club offers a mysteriously dark storefront, where inside cigar czar Rigo Hernandez provides a smoking sanctuary for aficionados and in-the-know locals. This perfect cigar location has a warm, hospitable lounge where you are free to sit back and relax among the numerous tables and comfortable club style chairs, large flat-screen TVs and thief-worthy ashtrays collected by the owner himself. The lounge boasts a self-standing cigar shop with a variety of high end cigars and tobacco products. Evenings offer a livelier bar atmosphere of Cuban music and socializing around the day's hottest sporting event. I highly recommend the Buena Vista Cigar club for anybody looking for a good cigar, good conversation and/or a place to relax with a good glass of scotch. Location: 9715 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Phone: (310) 273-8100

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New! Vodka Review

Toxic Vodka 80 Proof Pure Vodka

This review is based on an new Vodka that I have never tried or even seen at my local liquor store, its called Toxic Vodka (www.toxicvodka.com). I won't lie; the main reason I wanted to try it is because of its unique name and eye-catching label.
I found Toxic in a casino bar in Las Vegas (no names mentioned) watching a water show with the background music of Ol' Blue Eyes, The Chairman of the Board, Frank Santra! I asked the bartender to give me a background on Toxic and I found that its new line that goes against the current trends in the Vodka world. He explained that Toxic is the anti-traditional Vodka with flavors that include plain, star fruit, litchi, and even berries that I never heard of before. However all they had in stock was just straight 80 proof, clear Vodka.

I first tasted Toxic Vodka as a shot to taste the vodka itself. The first sip is very smooth. It does not have a harsh flavor right off the bat, like the bite that a lot of vodkas can give. After a few seconds the vodka flavor is strong, but not overpowering. For a vodka taste it is very bearable and it does not burn on the way down. The best part about this vodka, for me, was that there was not much of an aftertaste. After a minute or so the flavor went away, and it did not linger for too long.
I later tried Toxic Vodka in a mixed drink. I ordered a Toxic Spill! What a great name, it had three different fruits and a generous pour of booze! As well all know, some vodkas are very overpowering when you mix them, but Toxic has a very soft vodka flavor when it is mixed. It is just enough to taste it, but not enough to dominate the drink. Toxic Vodka was also very kind to me the next morning. I did not have any ill effects from drinking it the night before and I felt fine the next day. I had no headache or sick feelings.
Toxic Vodka, with its great name and label and smooth taste reminds me of Chopin, but for less than half the price. I fully recommend it, and will share more details if I ever find it again!