Tag Archives: Umbagog

by Craig Vanderslice | March 24, 2019 · 10:51 am

Rodriguez Cigars, a Few Favorites and a Kentucky Fire Cured Revisit

Spring is upon us finally, although we got through this winter relatively easily. I always look forward to warmer weather! This week I enjoyed a few cigars I really love, the Umbagog Toro Toro, and the E.P. Carillo Seleccion Oscuro Especial No. 6, both 6″ x 52 parejos that’s my preferred size, and both maduros, with the former being Connecticut broadleaf and the latter being Mexican San Andrés Negro. The two cigars aren’t that similar, but both overwhelm the palate with rich flavors and have heavy espresso notes in common, with Umbagog being sweeter and the Oscuro Especial being earthier and dirtier. I love them both, and never have regrets when I light either one up. They are two cigars I could see having in a rotation (of about 20) if I were to hang up my blog hat and settle into some normal semblance of cigar consumerism. As it is, I like to enjoy one of these every now and again, they are both so good.

For some reason I have been wanting to revisit a Drew Estate MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured lately, and I’m not sure why. I actually really like the Swamp Thang line extension now and then, heck, I’ll just say it, I’d smoke it more than now and then, I don’t so the novelty doesn’t wear off. I didn’t care for the KFC when I smoked a prototype at the factory in Nicaragua in 2013, it was too campfirey for me, but I’ve grown to enjoy the production version after some humidor time, and I have a handful that have been in the humidor for quite a while. So I went all in and grabbed a “Just a Friend” which is the 6″ x 52 toro, again, a size I like, and “fired” it up. I have a couple smaller vitolas, including a Flying Pig, floating around, but I figured I’d commit. It had the campfire on the pre-light, but no hint once lit, which is fine by me. I would put this cigar on the savory end of the spectrum flavor-wise, maybe leathery. It’s good, enjoyable, but I think I like the what the Candela adds to the blend in the Swamp Thang version better, it’s just a little more interesting to me. It’s not a cigar that I’d avoid, that’s for sure.

Last week I saw an article on Cigar Aficionados website about the formation of the Coalition of American Cigar Rollers, and one of the companies mentioned was Rodriguez Cigar Factory in Key West, Florida. I hadn’t heard of this factory until a few months ago when my neighbors who winter in Florida happened to send me a box of five of their Reserva Privada series Torpedos from a visit. I had set this little box aside in the humidor not knowing how long it had been out of proper conditions, and kinda forgot about it until this article reminded me of it, so I figured last night would be the right time to give one a try. The Reserva Privada has a four year aged Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, which is on the darker side in my opinion (I wasn’t sure it was Connecticut until looking it up actually), with Nicaraguan fillers and binder, rolled in Key West. The torpedo is a perfectly formed 6″ x 52 with a pointy head like a Perdomo torpedo and burned perfectly with an ideal draw, even though I snipped a rather small bit off the end to start. I was very impressed with this smooth, rich tasting cigar. It was elegant, with a caramel sweetness that was enjoyable. I am a bit jaded, and often go into cigars like this wondering if they will be either just another cigar, or worse, but this was a very nice smoke, and worthy of attention. It’s even priced well for a U.S. manufactured product.

That’s enough from me for now. It’s supposed to be nice today, and I have some things I want to get done in the yard, and I have the day off, so there are cigars to smoke too. Until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as cigar, cigars, Coalition of American Cigar Rollers, drew estate, Dunbarton, E.P. Carillo, Kentucky Fire Cured, KFC, MUWAT, Rodriguez, Umbagog

by CigarCraig | June 10, 2018 · 11:00 am

Gran Habano, La Palina, Umbagog and Xurvivor Cigars

I smoked a few cigars from long time supporters of the site this week, by accident mostly, it just so happened that cigars I grabbed were mostly from friends who happen to advertise with me.Â Gran Habano is the newest of the bunch, advertiser, that is, they are one of the more established cigar companies out there. While I don’t see a lot of Gran Habano cigars in my local shops, they are readily available, and they make many tasty cigars. I smoked the unbanded Gran Habano Persian King Rajah, a 6″ x 50 Nicaraguan puro made in Honduras with what appears to be a shade closed foot with a knot on the end. It’s been my experience that cigars with this kind of foot are what leads to holes in shirts if one isn’t careful upon lighting. This was a very nice smoke and well-behaved, on the high side of medium bodied despite the company’s description as full. Perhaps I’m jaded. I liked it, and if the little bit of shopping around I did is right, these can be had around $5 and are a very good value. this cigar has apparently been around for quite a while.

I came across some IPCPR samples from La Palina that I hadn’t gotten to and smoked a pre-release No. 1Â (I’ll revisit that later, not that there was anything wrong with it) and the La Palina Classic Natural. Because I’m a geek, I can guess upon looking at this cigar that it’s made at the General Cigar factory in Santiago, DR. The round head is the giveaway. The Classic Natural has a Wrapper and Binder from Honduras and fillers from Nicaragua and Dominican Republic and is a tasty smoke. The Classic line came out in 2012 and was made at the PDR factory, but was revamped and moved to the General Cigar factory in 2017. I personally have preferred the later versions, and this natural was no exception. It’s smooth, with some nuts and spice and earthiness. The construction was perfect and it was very satisfying. La Palina was one of the first cigar companies to advertise with CigarCraig.com, and I greatly appreciate their support.

Next up isn’t from an advertiser, but a long time friend and someone who without his early encouragement, I may never have put myself out there in the way that I have today.Â In 1996 a guy was doing a “Monthly Officious Taste Test” on a usenet newsgroup which I was lucky enough to be selected to take part in, and it kick started my interest in yammering on about cigars. Twenty-some years later here I am smoking one of his cigars and enjoying the crap out of it, as I do most of his creations.Â I smoked an Umbagog Toro Toro this week, and this is just about the perfect cigar for my palate. It’s maybe the less sophisticated sibling of the Mi Querida, similar blend with the wrappers deemed by Saka to be not attractive enough for the Mi Querida, which, from what I’ve seen is balderdash. OK, I saw what looks like a water spot the size of a pinhead near the band. I’ve said before that Steve will tell you I like cheap cigars, and while the Umbagog isn’t cheap, it is the low-end of the Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust line, and worth every penny. Loads of my favorite espresso and cocoa flavors, the 6″ x 52 size is my jam, and it’sÂ just the right strength. Thanks Steve! Umbagog is a damn great cigar!

Finally, is a relatively new brand that’s made in the USA.Â Xurvivor Cigars is a factory in Ybor City that’s making some very good cigars. This brand was previously known as Galano Cigars, and changed names last year. I’ve smoked a couple of the Xurvivor Americano 2018 and really enjoyed them. I smoked one yesterday, and intended to smoke a Galano Primero, which you can read about here, but I was left quite satisfied after the Xurvivor Americano that I wasn’t feeling the need for another cigar! Here’s the details on the Xurvivor Americano 2018 as I was given them: “The Americano 2018 has a Maduro wrapper from Nicaragua, with a binder from Ecuador, and aÂ Nicaragua & Dominican filler blend”.Â Maybe I’ll grab one of the Galano Primeros today, I don’t recall there being a lot of similarities in the blend, and the Xurvivor Americano is much more reasonably priced at just under $10, than the Galano Primero was (they were in the $26 range if memory serves). Ironically, I think the Galano had a PA Broadleaf wrapper, and the Americano has no US tobacco, but $10 for a USA rolled cigar is pretty impressive, and the cigar is quite good. It’s on my recommended list. Hopefully this small company gets the recognition it deserves.

That’s all for today. Still working on the podcast concept, feedback is appreciated. Best value smoke of the week goes to the Macanudo Inspirado Red Gigante with a nearly three-hour burn time and great flavor. I continue to be impressed with that cigar in all sizes, but that 6×60 burns forever! Until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as cigar, cigars, Dunbarton, Gran Habano, La Palina, Persian King, Umbagog, Xurvivor

by CigarCraig | May 20, 2018 · 10:17 am

An Evening at A Little Taste of Cuba and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Cigars

The last month or so I’ve been resisting going out to cigar shops. I’ve been antisocial, careful with dollars, and busy hunting for the next opportunity. I still get my daily walks in with a cigar, but have been laying low as far as cigar events go. Last night my wife and I took a drive to Princeton, NJ to A Little Taste of Cuba. You may recall last year we visited the A Little Taste of Cuba in New Hope, PA to meet up with Kevin of CigarProp fame. A Little Taste of Cuba is owned by Jorge Armenteros, who is the guy behind Tobacconist University, which is a course that teaches about everything cigar, pipe and tobacco. Jorge describes the Princeton store the flagship store, and it’s a very nice shop. It’s New Jersey, so I had a little sticker shock being used to PA prices, but they offered a Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust sampler with a Sobremesa Short Churchill (which I smoked first), Mi Querida Ancho Corto (smoked second) and Gordito, Todos Las Dias Double Wide Belicoso and an Umbagog Short and Fat. Honestly, I would have bought a handful of Umbagogs and been happy, but the price of the sampler versus the price of the Umbagogs made the sampler a better value. Of course, the two cigars I smoked were fantastic. Unlike the New Hope shop, the Princeton store has a lounge a half a flight up from the store area. The seating was comfortable, and the smoke eaters were noisy, but effective. There were a dozen to 15 people in there smoking over the course of the evening and it wasn’t that bad.

Did I mention Steve Saka and his wife, Cindy, were there? It was a casual non-event event, they were just there to hang out and we decided to run out there and hang out with them. Steve was losing his voice, which made it hard for me to hear all the nuggets of wisdom emanating from him, but a lot of it I’ve heard before. My hearing is impaired, so the combination of the drone from the air cleaner and Steve’s gravely voice made it hard to follow any one conversation, but I was enjoying the crap out of the cigars I was smoking, so it didn’t much matter. It’s always great to spend a little time with Steve and Cindy, terrific people. I also ran into my old friend Alex Martinez, who I met back in 2013 when I was up in the Lyndhurst, NJ area for a few days. Always nice to reconnect.

Two more quick little things n my mind: First, we were out at a fabric store yesterday with one of our granddaughters getting her some patterns and fabric for projects, and I came across some interesting fabric. Fabric stores make me anxious since childhood, not sure why, maybe it’s the overwhelming variety, or the cluttered feeling, but I’m uncomfortable in them. So I wasn’t just pacing around with my hands in my pockets, my wife told me to go look for some cigar fabric, and don’t you know I found some, and bought the whole bolt! Oddly, there’s a billion patterns for women’s clothes, but only like seven for men. I guess we buy our clothes as opposed to making them! Second, I once again found that smoking a strong cigar late at night gives me some weird-ass dreams and isn’t good for my sleep! No cigars after 9pm, I guess! Crazy!

That’s all for now, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as A Little Taste of Cuba, cigar, cigars, Dunbarton, Mi Querida, Sobremesa, Todos Las Dias, Umbagog

by CigarCraig | November 29, 2017 · 9:29 pm

Todos Las Dias Double Wide Belicoso and an Umbagog Cigar

A couple of weeks ago I smoked a Todos Las Dias from Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust in the Robusto size that Steve gave me at the IPCPR show after testing the internal humidity (video here), ironically the cigar smoked wetter than I’d like. I saw the promise, and was anxious to revisit the cigar. While I was at 2 Guys in New Hampshire last weekend I picked up a couple of the Double Wide Belicoso, the 4.75″x 60 figurado which is identical in size to the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Consul and the Rosalones 460, using the same molds and made in the same factory. The Todos Las Dias (Steve’s Spanglish for “All the Days”) is a Nicaraguan puro, with a sungrown Nicaraguan wrapper, and fillers from Esteli and Jalapa. I’m sure I’m oversimplifying as I don’t have the farms and primings that Steve usually supplies. So, I did something I don’t usually do this week and smoked the two Double Wide Belicosos I brought back from New Hampshire.

Let me preface what I’m about to say with this: Saka has been telling me for years that his cigars aren’t for everyone and he’d rather make cigars that some people love than something everyone likes, or something like that. I found that I wasn’t getting this cigar, which is why I’m smoked two. It’s got some strength, that’s for sure, but I found it more on the savory side, lacking the sweetness I like in a cigar. I missed the dark chocolate and chili pepper that I should’ve gotten, per the info from Dunbarton. The burn was great, and I smoked it to a nub, and didn’t feel any effects of the strength. I still have a couple more in the humidor that I look forward to smoking in a few months. Perhaps I’ve finally found one of Steve’s cigars I don’t love. I’ve loved his other offerings, perhaps my expectations were too high? Just because I didn’t love it doesn’t mean others won’t

Tonight I went for a cigar I do love, the Umbagog Corona Gorda, the 6″x48, which is the ugly sibling of the Mi Querida Fino Larga. The Umbagog uses the same Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper as the Mi Querida that Steve deems too unattractive to use on that line. I don’t know what he’s looking at, there was not a damn thing wrong with it. Certainly it’s a hearty leaf, and the fillers may not be exactly the same as the Mi Querida, which I smoked and enjoyed last week. The Umbagog smoked great, it was exactly what I like in a cigar, rich, sweet and well-behaved. Since these are fairly limited due to production being predicated on wrapper being the rejects of the more expensive line, and costing the same, if Steve lowered his standards they would be even more scarce. He won’t lower his standards though. The Umbagog, like the Mi Querida, is one of my favorite cigars.

Here’s a couple of links to check out when you get a chance:

https://cigarsforbeginners.famous-smoke.com/

https://www.holts.com/clubhouse/

There’s only a few days left to get in on the CigarCraig.com Secret Santa exchange. We need an even number so I can jump in! Email me your name and address!

That’s all for tonight, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as cigar, cigars, Todos Las Dias, Umbagog

by CigarCraig | June 21, 2017 · 11:01 pm

Umbagog and Tatuaje Pudgy Monsters Cigars and Fratello News

Last week I bought some of the Fratello Fire Crackers from 2 Guys Cigars when they went on sale, and while I was at it, I added a few of Steve Saka’s Umbagog Corona Gordas to my order as I was itching to try them out. The Umbagog is almost the same blend as the Mi Querida, utilizing Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers that weren’t as pretty (in Steve’e estimation, who else could tell?) as the wrappers on the Mi Querida. I love the Mi Querida, so chances were good that this was a safe buy. The advantage is that the Umbagog is a little less expensive, although I would be hard pressed to tell the difference in a blind tasting. Like the Mi Querida, the Umbagog is made in the NACSA factory in Nicaragua. I mistakenly thought I got the Toro Toro, but upon reflection, I had the Corona Gorda, I thought it looked thinner than the Ancho Larga in its sister line. The Corona Gorda is 6″ x 48, which ten years ago would have been a toro for the most part. It had one of the better burns I’ve had in a non-Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust cigar, they all seem to burn perfectly, which goes along with Steve’s Puros sin Compomiso mantra. It was loaded with sweet espresso and cocoa flavors that I enjoy, and, with the exception of its plain band and odd name, was as great a cigar as I’ve smoked. I’m waiting for the right time (and company) to smoke the Muestra de Saka I have, and continue to gravitate toward a cigar from this company when I want a sure thing. The Umbagog is a winner, pick them up when you can as they are limited to the “reject” wrappers!

Tonight I grabbed one of the Tatuaje Pudgy Monsters that was in the Oh F*ck I’m Lost pack I got at an event a while back. I had the Drac and the Wolf to choose from and went with the Wolf. I’ve smoked the Wolfman, the 7½” x 54 big old torpedo with the shaggy foot that I want to say was the fourth release in the Monster series back in 2011? The Pudgy Monsters version is a 5½” x 52 belicoso with the same shaggy foot, that is the wrapper is cut back a half-inch from the end. It’s fun the be able to taste when the wrapper flavor kicks in and understand how much that thin leaf adds to the flavor. This one has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, and the rest is Nicaraguan. I remember really enjoying the larger format (TY to Will Cooper, I think it was in a sampler he sent for my 50th birthday, which was a handful of years ago now!). This one had a smooth, nutty, grain flavor with some mellow coffee in the second half and was a really flavorful and pleasing cigar. Burn was flawless. Dammit, now I’m going to have to keep an eye out for more of these, I suspect the samplers are still around, but I’d certainly buy a few of these if they were available singly, which I don’t guess they are. I’m doing pretty good this week, two spectacular cigars!

I mentioned the Fratello Firecracker earlier, this is a 3″x 50 format with a long pigtail “fuse” that is a 2 Guys exclusive, and every year it’s made by someone else, Don Pepin Garcia, La Flor Dominicana, RoMaCraft…this year’s is made by Fratello. These usually are a strong blend, I’ve smoked the LFD and Cromagnon versions and look forward to trying Omar’s version, I’m sure it’ll be great. But Omar de Frias has a new Fratello cigar debuting at the IPCPR show that sounds interesting. This one is called the Fratello Naveta, which is Italian for “shuttle” and is a nod to his years at NASA (where he makes a space shuttle look small).

“Blending Fratello Naveta was special as I wanted to translate the ultimate celebration our men and women of the space program felt after a successful mission”. “After being part of over 21 missions nothing beats the feeling of getting our astronauts home safe to their families” said de Frias.

“Colleagues of mine would get together and smoke a very special cigar to commemorate the occasion. This very special blend carries the ultimate feeling of innovation, duty, honor and success” said de Frias.

Blended with an Ecuador oscuro wrapper the blend will be featured in 4 vitolas.

– Robusto Discovery (5 x 50) 10.50

– Toro Endeavor (6 ¼ x 54) 11.25

– Gordo Enterprise (6 x 60) 12.00

– The Boxer Atlantis (6 ¼ x 52) 12.50

Fratello Navetta will be manufactured at Joya de Nicaragua and will be available for shipment in September. Omar de Frias worked at NASA for 12 years prior to leaving to focus full-time on Fratello.