Gran Habano Mega-Sampler, 20 cigars only $39.99

Cigar International is offering a special on a 20-cigar Gran Habano sampler. Gran Habano has emerged as one of the top small-production, boutique brands around. Its recent 90-ratings and 'Best Buy' designations have finally caused folks to take notice. This outstanding 20-cigar collection - priced at a measly $39.99 - should get your attention.

Each Gran Habano offers bold, extensively aged tobaccos and carefully selected wrappers, creating a full-flavored, smooth, balanced smoke that's heavy in the hand and slow-burning to boot. From the original Gran Habano blends to the delicious 3 Siglos, this Mega-Sampler showcases them all....and for just two bucks apiece you will be thoroughly pleased.

Gran Habano Mega-Sampler includes 20 cigars:
5 - Gran Habano 3 Siglos Robusto (5" x 50)
5 - Gran Habano #1 Connecticut Robusto (5" x 50)
5 - Gran Habano #3 Habano Robusto (5" x 50)
5 - Gran Habano #5 Corojo Robusto (5" x 50)

20 cigars spanning the finest from Gran Habano - at 52% below normal retails. Click here to order your cigars.



Source: GLuxe.net

Ghurka Master's Select

It's another Saturday and once again I'm on my couch doing my favorite thing: smoking a fine cigar with a nice cup of coffee. Seriously, is there anything better in life?

This morning I decided to break out the Ghurka Master's Select Robusto #4 that has been marinating in my humidor for the past month. When I first bought the cigar, I was somewhat taken a back by the strong floral smell. I was actually concerned that it was too perfumey (not sure that's an actual word). The last thing I wanted was to be smoking a flower.

After the first light, my fears were alleviated. Far from being too florarlly, the sweet scent transformed into a wonderful, lush aroma that lasted throughout the smoke. The draw was perfect and the ash burned fairly evenly. The dark Habana 2000 wrapper made it look as good as it tasted.

Not only is this a great cigar but also a great value. You can buy a pack of 10 for only $50.

Overall rating: 8.5 out of 10

Check out our new site for luxury bargains: GLuxe.net

Gurkha Symphony Robusto #4, 12 cigars only $29.95

Cigar International just released their weekly special: get 12 Gurkha Sympony Robust #4 cigars for only $29.95. Amazingly, that's only $2.50 per stick for one of the best Connecticut shade blends going. That's 75% off the original price of $120.

BONUS OFFER: in addition to the 75% savings on Gurkha Symphony, they are offering an optional bonus deal: add a 5-pack of 90-rated Gurkha Class Regent Toros (worth $52.50) for only $12.99 more.

Click here to order your cigars.

Source: GLuxe.net

Ashton

Happy belated MLK day everybody. It's a great holiday for a great man. I'm spending a lazy day today with my ex/lady up in Los Angeles. After two straight days of lounging in my boxers, she somehow convinced me to get my butt off the couch to go on a walk with her and her 8 lbs little dictator, aka Chemical Ali, aka Jihadi, aka Niko. The only reason I agreed was that I knew it would be the perfect time to light up my first cigar of the long weekend. I had brought a bunch of my current favorite cigars but decided to go for an old classic that I had thrown into my travel humidor at the last second.

The Ashton is a dependable classic that will never go out of style. It has a mellow, cedar flavor and a nice aroma. Ashtons are typically well-made cigars but this particular corona seemed to have extra staying power. Eventhough I was walking fairly briskly, the ash on the cigar held firm. In fact, I was able to keep the first piece of ash going until almost half-way through the cigar. Pretty impressive.

While the classic Ashton is a bit too mild for me, I still think this is a very good cigar. Newbies or those that prefer a smooth, balanced cigar should buy a box.
Speaking of which, you can buy a box at Tinderbox.com for $146.25.

Overall rating: 7 out of 10

One day special on La Aurora cigars at Cigar International

Cigar International is having a special one day sale on a sampler of 20 La Aurora cigars. For the record, among the blends below only one is rated 89, the rest are rated 90+, including two well-deserved 93 point scores. Normally, the package would retail for over $130. You can order this sampler until January 22 for only $59.95.

La Aurora Super-Premium Mega-Sampler includes:
5 - La Aurora 1495 Series Robusto (5" x 50)
3 - La Aurora Preferidos Robusto (5" x 50)
3 - La Aurora Cameroon Robusto (5" x 50)
3 - La Aurora Maduro Robusto (5" x 50)
3 - Leon Jimenes Robusto (5.5" x 50)
3 - Leon Jimenes Maduro Robusto (5.5" x 50)

Click here to order.

Source: GLuxe.net

Pioneer Valley Maduro

Well it's been a number of days since I posted a new cigar review, but rest assured that it wasn't cause I wasan't sucking on some good tobacco. I've fallen in love with the Perdomo Habano Maduro and have been smoking those bad boys non-stop. My buddy also bought me a handful of VSG's for my birtday (after reading my recent post, what a sweetheart). Tonight I decided to break out a new cigar out of my humidor. I went for the robusto sized Pioneer Valley (maduro) that I got at the Las Vegas Big Smoke.

Pioneer Valley is a lesser known Dominican cigar maker that, as it turns out, makes a pretty good tasting cigar. The robusto I'm smoking has a beautiful, dark Connecticut shade wrapper. Rich tobacco flavors and a sweet aroma made this a very pleasant smoke. I usually hate reviewers that say cigars smell or taste like lillies and all that other non-sense, but I swear there were hints of berries in the aroma.

Overall, a good smoke especially considering you can buy a box of 20 for $85.

Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars of 2007

I just got my February issue of Cigar Aficionado and it looks like they've come up with their top 25 cigars of 2007. I'm never sure how much of the list is influenced by advertising dollars since there are some prior picks that I strongly disagreed with. Last year, they named the Coronado by La Flor Dominicana as the #2 cigar of 2006, a ranking that I thought was completely unworthy. I thought it was too overpowering and I couldn't even finish smoking the cigar.

This year they named the Padron Serie 1926 No. 9 as the #1 cigar. The last time I smoked the Serie 1926 was a couple years ago and I thought then that it was an average cigar at best. For the price of the cigar, and the fact that it was made by one of my favorite cigar makers, I had expected a great smoke. I was very disapponted. I have a Serie 1926 in my humidor and I'll give it another try over the next few weeks. We'll see whether I change my mind.

Without any more delay, here is Cigar Aficionado's top 25 cigars of 2007:

1) Padron Serie 1926 No. 9 (yeah right)
2) Fuente Fuente OpusX PerfecXion No. 2 (I think OpusX's are over-rated and over-priced)
3) Montecristo No. 2 (a great cigar)
4) Oliva Serie V Torpedo (I love this cigar)
5) Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Torpedo (VSG's rule!!!)
6) Cohiba Madura 5 Secretos
7) Illusione cg:4
8) Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Maduro Epicure
9) CAO Vision Prana
10) Dunhill Signed Range Toro
11) Montecristo Petit Edmundo
12) San Cristobal Monumento (tasty heaven)
13) Camacho Select Torpedo
14) La Flor Domincana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro
15) Tatuaje Havana VI Angeles
16) Punch Double Coronoa
17) Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1979
18) Felipe Power Robusto
19) Romeo y Julieta Aniversario Corona
20) Gran Habano 3 Siglos Gran Corona
21) Sosa Wavell
22) La Gloria Cubana Selectos de Lujos
23) Padilla Signature 1932 Lancero
24) The Edge Sumatra Toro
25) Zino Platinum Grown Special Wrapper Chubby

Five Cohiba Lonsdales for $24.95

Here is a special I received in my email this morning: you can buy a 5-pack of the Cohiba Lonsdale for $24.95 at Thompson Cigar. They normally would retail for $70. I haven't actually smoked this cigar but Cigar Insider rated it a 92.

MAXX 2nds by Alec Bradley

I found this great deal at Cigar International: MAXX 2nds by Alec Bradley for $2.50 a stick

"The guys at Alec Bradley are very picky. Even if there are but slight cosmetic flaws in their prized Maxx cigars, they reject them. Naturally, CI being a champion of the people, we gathered up the best of the 2nds - the “factory selects” - and bring them to you for a fraction of the price. Maxx 2nds are truly a great way to get acquainted with the delicious Maxx blend from Alec Bradley. Delicious, complex, medium to full-bodied, smooth as silk, and filled with toasty flavors and a natural sweetness. All this for around two-fitty per stick!" - Cigar International

I reviewed the MAXX 1sts a few weeks ago and gave it an 8 out of 10. The customer reviews of the 2nds also seem pretty good. I think I'll pick up a bundle.

Ashton VSG

It'll be my birthday in about half an hour but I couldn't wait till then before lighting up one of my favorite cigars. The Ashton VSG is truly a great cigar and deserves to be saved for those special occasions in life. Luckily for me, I grade on an easy curve when it comes to special occasions so my 31st birthday is a good enough reason to light up a VSG.

Everything from it's beautiful Ecuadorian wrapper to it's luscious tobacco flavors make this one of the best smokes of the past decade. I'm currently smoking the robusto that measures 5.5 x 50. I picked up this cigar as part of the Holt's holiday sampler. The cigar is well made, although I did notice a slight uneven burn on this particular cigar I'm smoking. Cedar is the predominant flavor and a nice sweet woodsy aroma rewards you with every puff.

This is not a cheap cigar, nor is it easy to find. Most retailers also limit the number of sticks you can buy. The robusto retails for just a little over $9 per cigar. Considering it's half the price of many Cubans (and tastier than most in my humble opinion), I still think this is worth every dollar.

Overall rating: 9 out of 10

Montecristo #2

This legendary cigar is the second Cuban cigar of my Cabo trip. I’m at the bar of the ME Hotel watching Michigan battling it out with Florida at the Capitol One Bowl (Michigan ends up winning, screw Florida!!!). More importantly, I’m with the fellas celebrating one last great cigar before my boy Drewsky gets married. Needless to say, this was a special moment.

Unlike the Sancho Panza I had smoked a day earlier, the Montecristo is a great tasting cigar with rich tobacco flavors and a sweet aroma. This is also a beautiful cigar encased in a wonderful brown wrapper. The only flaw I noticed was a slightly uneven burn. I smoked this bad-boy all the way down to the nub. At twenty bucks a stick, this probably won’t ever be an everyday smoke except for the most wealthy of us. But for special events like today, it’s perfect.

Overall rating: 8.5 out of 10