I’ve been on a maduro torpedo kick this week. After Saturday’s Diesel Unholy Cocktail, I followed it up on Sunday with a very nice CAO Brazilia Samba. The Samba is a 6¼ x 54 torpedo with a Brazilian wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler. I enjoyed this cigar quite a bit. It burned very evenly and was on the stronger side of medium bodied. Cocoa, coffee and some spiceyness were the dominant flavors, ones that I expect and enjoy in this line. I am pretty sure I got this one at the CAO party at the Palms in Las Vegas at the 2008 IPCPR show. They handed out a handful of CAO, Toraño, and Henri Wintermans cigars at the door and Lynyrd Skynyrd provided the entertainment. Quite a cool evening.
Last night I picked out a Toraño Exodus 1959 – 50 Years Torpedo. Slightly shorter than the Samba at 5½ x 52, it also sports a Brazilian wrapper and Nicaraguan filler, but with a Honduran binder. Similar in flavor to the CAO, but I found it milder. I was a little disappointed by this one, I expected stronger flavors. The construction was top notch of course. I’ve had good experiences with this line, too bad this one didn’t live up to my expectations. I picked this one up at Cigars International last fall when they had a Toraño event at the Superstore in Bethlehem. I have a couple Casa Toraño Maduro Lanceros for which I have high hopes.
After all the dark wrapped torps this week I decided I needed to change it up a little tonight and grabbed a Camacho Corojo Candela Monarca. I know, I should have saved this for March 17th, it being the appropriate emerald green for St. Patrick’s Day. The cigars from this box have all been rather loosely rolled, giving them a very free draw. I found out some time ago that if I pierce the cap with a Cigar Spike, it makes for a perfect draw. These are a strong cigar, although the candela wrapper tempers the power that the Corojo line is famous for a little. These can still overwhelm if one isn’t careful. I find them a nice change of pace. I still have several from a box I purchased a few years ago from Rock’s Smoke Shop in East Stroudsburg, PA. so smoking one next week isn’t out of the question.
Don’t forget, only a couple day left to get your entries in for this month’s contest. Click here and leave a comment with your guess! Thanks once again to the fine folks at Drew Estate for providing outstanding prizes!
Until the next cigar,
CigarCraig