I kind of got stuck in the General Cigar tray of the humidor this week and revisited a few cigars that I may not have really liked the first time around (or subsequent times as it turns out). I started out with the Toraño Exodus on Sunday, not even thinking that it might have been the only cigar in my humidor that was seasonally appropriate. Someone brought this to my attention and I quipped that I had passed it over several times over the past few months since I didn’t really like it the first time I smoked it last summer. Age has benefited this cigar, that was an IPCPR show sample in the 5″ x 54 robusto size. This latest version of the Exodus, the first since General Cigar bought the brand, has a Honduran San Augustin wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Dominican, Honduran and Mexican fillers. I didn’t care for this the fist time I smoked it, but this one six months later was pretty darned tasty, it still started off a little sour, but it was greatly improved.
I followed that later in the day with a CAO Consigliere Associate, the robusto in the line that is basically the return of the Sopranos line, without the licensing fees that went along with the original. This is a 5″ x 52 robusto, and the first time I smoked this was in Las Vegas the night before the trade show opened when I ran into Rick Rodriguez and Ed McKenna of CAO at the Circle Bar in the Venetian Hotel. I had not previous experience with the Sopranos line, and I was told that this used the same blend as the original, Brazilian wrapper, Honduran binder and Colombian, Dominican, Nicaraguan fillers. I like sweetness in a cigar, and this cigar doesn’t have much sweetness, but it’s a god smoke if you like cigars on the savory end of the spectrum, which will come up again. Monday I went with one of my favorites from CAO, the Flathead in the v660 Carb size, the one that placed high in Cigar Aficionado’s list a couple of years ago, I really like the Flathead line, although the 770 is a bit unwieldy. I still liked the Consigliere, it was a nice cigar.
Last night I went back to the Punch Signature Pita. I’ve liked a lot of Punch cigars, I should like this one too, but it’s another one that doesn’t hit my palate right, I’m afraid. It’s a classic 6″ x 50 toro, with a Ecuador Corojo wrapper, Connecticut Habano binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, what’s not to like? I’ve smoked this in this size and the Robusto size, neither of which tripped my trigger unfortunately. It was lacking any sweetness and was very leathery to me. Certainly there are people who like this profile, it doesn’t thrill me. I can’t tell you how many Punch Rothchilds I smoked in the 90s!
Tonight I picked out a year old Hoyo Robusto, the first couple I smoked last year I had draw problems with, I’ve also enjoyed a great many Hoyo de Monterrey cigars over the years, and the newest Hoyo La Amistad General Cigar made with AJ Fernandez last year is a really good smoke. This Hoyo has a Habano shade grown wrapper from Esteli, an Ecuador Sumatra binder, and Esteli, Ometepe and Pennsylvania fillers. I enjoyed this cigar a lot more now that it draws right, although it’s another cigar on the savory side, but it smoked well and I enjoyed it. I think I would still lean toward the La Amistad when making a choice, but the Hoyo exceeded expectations.
Contest!
Since I smoked a bunch of General Cigar products this week, and I have some goodies still hanging around, it’s a great time for me to have another giveaway! This is the last of the goodies I received a few months ago, we have a cool CAO Flathead Steel Horse metal sign, a Punch bobblehead, a Macanudo Colibri cutter (similar to the CAO cutter I used all week which worked great!) and a pair of La Gloria Cubana Cigar Scissors. As sometimes happens around here, I get sloppy when I’m packing the box and cigars fall in, previous winners can attest to this. Usual rules apply, leave a comment on this blog post to enter, I’ll select a winner next Wednesday, April , 26, 2017.
That’s all for now, until the next time,
CigarCraig
You rock, Craig!
Great blog post!
Yes Yes Yes!!! If that Robusto of the Consigliere, try the Toro! Its the best in the line for sure! SOOOOOO YUMMY!!! =)
I love the hoyo Amistad. …great smoke.
Haven’t smoked any of those yet but I’ve been meaning to get to them someday.
Nice blog post. May have to give a couple of these cigars a try!
I had similar experiences with the Punch Signature, but I’ve really enjoyed the Hoyo 150!
Of course I’ll chime in when General Cigar is involved. Let’s see if 8 is a lucky number
great work, as always, Craig!
You easily have the easiest contests. Thanks for the chance!
Very cool Craig, thanks for the chance to win these nice gifts and Go Army!
Thanks Craig!
Very informative comments as usual
Very interesting article. Always a pleasure reading your blog.
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I haven’t tried the Exodus, yet, but, I have enjoyed other Toranos.
Just recently picked up some Consigliere Associates and the first ones I’ve tried didn’t seem to live up to my memory of the Sopranos, but not bad. Maybe with some age on them…
Looks like a great contest, count me in!
Nice to know the Consigliere is the same blend as the original Sopranos line. Smoked a few of those and kinda just forgot about them. Worth revisiting.
Thanks for all your great work.
Thanks for the contest Craig! That sign & bobble head would look pretty nifty in the man cave.
Craig, I always liked the Sopranos line. It was one of those cigars I smoked early in my cigar experience. Maybe a bit underrated?
As always, enjoy your comments. Thank you your contest.
Enjoying a Steel Horse on this wonderful evening .
Love the blog; love the contests. Maybe the random number generator will throw some love my way. 🙂
the Punch bobble head will fit perfectly on my desk!
Those Punch Rothchilds back then though, oh yeah! I don’t know if it’s my palate or the tobacco being used these days, but it doesn’t seem like the same cigar nowadays.
Thanks for the chance to win some great swag love the blog
Thanks for the contest. Your blog is the best ever. Great info that can be used every day.
As usual a great read, Thanks Craig
Great blog….been following for years and enjoy the reviews. Thanks for the contest and great reading.
I also liked the Hoyo robusto. I got some from General Cigar in a gift a couple of years ago and smoked my last one about a month ago. Age made a huge difference in the draw. I, too, had issues when it was ROTT.
Cool stuff.
I enjoy the blog. I will have to give some of these cigars you recommend a try!