 Plus: General Cigar getting “fired up”
Los Angeles, October 19 – Now we’re in the top 20 of our rankings of the best full-bodied cigars available in the U.S. and this group of five shows how difficult the process was. To place stories names like Excalibur, El Rey del Mundo and Fuente Fuente Opus X no higher than 16th is a demonstration of the wide variety of ultra-high-quality cigars available today. So here goes, from no. 20 to no. 16:
No. 20: Fuente Fuente Opus X (Dom.Rep.)
The Tabacalera A. Fuente makes six of our top 30 and will have two of the top five places, but the hysterically-sought Opus X ranks no. 20. It’s a cigar for adults, for sure, showcasing a woody body accented with strong flavors of spice and pepper. The balance is complex and refined, showing its class, but its mood is more somber than celebratory. Well made, it’s appropriately priced at its suggested retail prices of up to $14.50, but not at the wildly-inflated prices it usually draws.
No. 19: Excalibur (Honduras)
This off-shoot of the Hoyo de Monterrey line has earned an enviable reputation for quality and depth and it did not disappoint us. It’s rock solid in the hand, but has an easy draw that underlines its excellent construction. Especially in the maduro-wrapped editions, it offers enormous depth with its taste of dark fruit with a slight peppery undertone. The finish has a caramelized sweetness which makes the taste unique and subtle, and a must-have for any serious connoisseur.
No. 18:El Rey del Mundo (Honduras)
Made side-by-side with Excalibur, Hoyo de Monterrey and Punch in the Villazon factory in Cofradia, Honduras, “The King of the World” displays a balanced, fruit-like flavor at the start with a long finish that offers a note of sweetness. It’s more tempered in mid-course and has an enjoyable, toasty aroma. Very well made, an excellent value; a perfect afternoon cigar to enjoy while watching the world go by.
No. 17: Puros Indios Maxima Reserva (Honduras)
Outstanding line from the legendary Rolando Reyes, offering a stunning value for anyone who wants to experience a top-quality, full-bodied cigar. The Maxima Reserva line presents a near-perfect balance of toasty and peppery flavors that’s astonishingly light on the palate and a pleasure to smoke. The mildly peppery aroma and flat finish make this a cigar that goes very well with heavy meals and with a strong after-dinner drink. Viva Rolando!
No. 16: Indian Tabac Vintage ‘92 and Indian Tabac Super Fuerte (Honduras)
Both created by the energetic Rocky Patel, there was no way to separate these two in our scoring, so we left them together. The new Vintage ‘92 burns slowly and you must be patient to appreciate its clean, caramelized flavor that lingers in the mouth. It is rich, it is seductive and gorgeous in its box-pressed format. Take your time and you will be rewarded.
Patel’s Super Fuerte line has been around for a while and is more medium-to-full in body than the Vintage line. Here the emphasis is on smoothness, with a gentle, fruity taste that is extended by the sweet finish offered on the maduro-wrapped shapes. The aroma is nice and toasty and the easy draw quickly draws the attention away from the cigar and to an evening of pleasant memories. Not as strongly promoted as the Vintage right now, there are bargains to be had on this brand if you look closely.
The New “Diablo” Coming to a Humidor Near You:
I know it’s almost Halloween, but I almost fell over in terror (?) when I ran into a near-life sized devil in one of my favorite smokeshops here in Southern California. There was “El Diablo” himself, announcing the coming debut of General Cigar’s new “Diablo” brand.
Made in General’s Dominican factory, the blend is reportedly medium-to-full in body with a spicy finish. It’s offered in four sizes, all named with Spanish words for heat: Caliente (5 inches by 50 ring), Gran Fuego (6 x 60), Picante (5 x40) and Pimiento (6 1/2 x 45).
It should be available right around the end of the month and we’ll have a tasting soon, if we can work up the courage to ask for one!
Steals and Deals:
We’re updating our Comparison Shopper spreadsheet on our CigarWire subscription service several times a week now, and we now post the date of update for each of the eight top national retailers we chart at the top of the page.
Over the weekend, we found some interesting deals when revising our lists for AtlanticCigar.com, Abner’s World, J-R Cigars and Mike’s Cigars:
> AtlanticCigar.com:
• Camacho Corojo Gigantes and Figurados, down from $101.25 the box to $95.20 each;
• Camacho Corojo Diploma, down from $122.40 the box to $110.16;
• Camacho Corojo 07/05, down from $134.30 the box to $120.87;
• Camacho Corojo 11/18, down from $137.70 the box to $123.93
• Master Blends by Oliva Torpedo, down from $116.00 the box to $104.00.
> Abner’s World:
Rare availability on Padron 30 Aniversario Torpedos, with prices lowered from $279.95 to $269.95 on the natural-wrapped selection and from $319.95 to $299.95 on maduros, in boxes of 20.
> J-R Cigars:
Nice new sampler packs on two of the best brands available anywhere:
• Trinidad Robustos (5 x 54) now in a four-pack for $29.00;
• El Rey del Mundo Flor de Llaneza (61/2 x 54 torpedos) now offered, seven for $37.95!
> Mike’s Cigars:
Perdomo fans get ready! Excellent sale on:
• La Tradicion Cabinet Series, were $96.25 to $123.50 the box, now $75.00 while supplies last!
• La Tradicion Cabinet Series Vintage, were $93.95 to $118.95 the box, now $75.00 while supplies last!
• La Tradicion Cabinet Series Perdomo Reserve, were $84.95 to $122.50 the box, now . . . $75.00, of course only while supplies last.
Coming tomorrow: Full-bodied rankings from 15 to 11!
~ Rich Perelman
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