Poor Man's Cigar Review thread

[beyond the band]

Quintero Robusto Natural Box Pressed
Wrapper: Honduran Cubano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Honduran and Nicaraguan
MSRP $4.00
Medium-Full bodied

The construction wasn't great, but the taste really made up for it.
It had a pretty rough cap, but other than that the appearance was fine.
The band itself is definitely visually appealing and adds to the appearance.

Pre-light, it had a somewhat tight draw with a taste of tea and pepper.
After torching the foot, the draw opened up slightly to reveal hints of tea and wood, and a decent amount of pepper.

A third into the cigar, there was a hint of chocolate that really added to the complexity of it. The burn was nice and even, with a flaky white ash. The draw was still a bit tight, but not bad.

I smoked the one you gave me the other night Sunday morning.

Definatly a great smoke with a cup of coffee and the Sunday paper.

I must add it was "toothpick worthy"
Thanks brother.

Halfway though, the woodiness disappeared and was replaced with a hint of grass. Burn was still really even, and the draw opened up perfectly.

The last third maintained the chocolate and hint of grass, but it started to burn hot and the pepper became more intense. It was still a nubber and kept the good draw and burn to the end.

Overall, this is a fine smoke, that kept a nice balance (until the over-powering spice last 1/3) and complexity. Definitely a good everyday smoke IMO.

 

[wavescrashing]

Matt, glad you enjoyed it brother.

 

[NASTY]

I keep getting outbid for these. :laugh:

 

[wavescrashing]

La Carolina Gran Robusto
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
MSRP: $4.80
Length: 5 1/2
Ring Gauge: 50
Manufactured: handmade
Strength: Medium bodied

After reviewing the Cupido Criollo, I recently found out through the vendor, that the old Cupido line that was discontinued actually uses the same wrapper, binder, and filler for La Carolina. So as you read in my earlier review, I was a fan of the Cupido Criollo. Let's see if the La Carolina stands up to the test. This particular stick seemed up a bit lacking as far as oils are concerned, was very firm, and had some thin veins. It's overall appearance wasn't something to marvel over.

Pre-light, the draw was just a little tight, but it didn't feel like I'd be fighting with it throughout the smoke. I could taste a strong sweet flavor coming from the wrapper and rich tobacco. The aroma was a bit grassy with a hint of spice that tingles your nose.

After torching the foot, the draw was slightly tight, but still produced good thick smoke. I could taste flavors of leather and a hint of spice this early on, and of course the sweet wrapper, which added a fruity taste, but at this point wasn't taking away from the smoke.

A third into the cigar, the leather flavor was dominant, but the spice remained and I was now getting a earthy and floral hints. The draw felt slightly tight at this point, but wasn't bad enough to really take too much away from the smoke. The burn was slightly uneven with a firm white ash that held for about an inch and a half at a time.

Halfway, the flavors of spice and flowers intensified. The sweet wrapper mixed with the sweet wrapper reminded me of a spicy Jolly Rancher during a few puffs. The leather backed off a bit, but was still detectable. The draw opened up just right, allowing for even thicker beautiful smoke. The burn was still slightly uneven. So far so good with a smooth tasty balance.

Last third, the spice died down a bit and the leathery taste was gone. A smooth creamy flavor mixed in nicely with the dominant floral flavor. The draw was perfect at this point and the burn finally evened out nicely.

Overall, this was a nice balanced smoke that got better as it burned down. It was somewhat complex in that the first half reminded me of a refreshing summertime smoke and the second half (which was equally as good) shifted into a warm creamy winter/campfire smoke. In a blind test I'd assume this would be a $6-8 stick. My only complaint would be the burn, which took almost the entirety of the smoke to even out, but other than that, this is a great everyday cigar.

 

[wavescrashing]

Cardenas Belicoso Maduro
Wrapper: Dominican (I believe, I still have to verify with Cardenas over the phone next week)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
MSRP: $3.50
Length: 6
Ring Gauge: 52
Manufactured: handmade
Strength: Medium bodied

The appearance of this cigar looked pretty nice with a smooth torp cap, a couple of large veins, and a nice dark wrapper with a tiny amount of oil. Overall it had a nice construction.

Pre-light, the draw was perfect, revealing small hints of spice and sweetness on the lips with a rich tobacco flavor. The rich tobacco aroma was a nice bonus.

After torching the foot, the cigar opened up with a great draw, producing beautiful thick smoke. I immediately picked up a small hint of spice mixed with a sweetness, giving off a taste of cinnamon. Leather was the dominant flavor with a few puffs giving a hint of coffee.

A third into the cigar, the sweetness was gone, and a hint of spice still remained mixing well with leather and rich tobacco flavors. The draw felt ws still fantastic, with a firm spotty white ash that held an inch at a time. The burn was also razor sharp.

Halfway, the spice was now gone, leaving rich flavors of leather and coffee, with floral hints. The burn became a bit uneven at this point.

Last third, spice picked back up pretty intensely.The flavor was pretty consistent with leather and coffee. The stick finished out with an uneven burn, but the draw stayed flawless throughout.

Overall, this cigar had a lot of nice complex flavors. It was well balanced and the leather and coffee never became to intense to offset the flavor. I'd definitely get a box of these for the price. It's a great breakfast smoke.

 

[TheVitaleMob]

This one sounds right up my alley. I'll have to check these out.

 

[wavescrashing]

This one sounds right up my alley. I'll have to check these out.

I definitely recommend it. Not sure if you've searched, but if you're curious, this is the only place they can be found.

 

[wavescrashing]

Cigar Factory Outlet (CFO) Cheap-Ass Corojo
Wrapper: Ecuador Corojo
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Ecuador/Nicaragua/Peru
MSRP: $1.40
Length: 6.00
Ring Gauge: 50
Strength: medium-bodied

This stick had a nice cap and smooth wrapper with small light brown veins. It had a bit of sponginess when squeezed, but it wasn't too soft. It had a pretty solid overall construction.

The pre-light showed some potential with nice pepper and chocolate aromas, flavors of pepper, chocolate, and light tobacco, and a very good draw.

After putting it to the flame, the pepper was non-existent with a rich corojo flavor and hints of grass and coffee. The draw was outstanding thus far, producing a beautiful thick smoke.

A third into the cigar, a leathery flavor introduced itself and was dominant at this point. I picked up hints of coffee every few puffs, but unfortunately, it wasn't a smooth undertone, thus creating a bitter aftertaste occasionally. The burn was even with a thin burn line and a light-gray flaky ash that held about an inch.

Halfway, coffee was dominant, with the leather dying down a bit and earth and grassiness popping up every few puffs. The burn was still spot on.

Last third, hints of dirt and earthiness crept in. the leather and coffee flavors toned down a bit, which allowed for a smoother finish than the rest of the smoke. Unfortunately, that was short lived once I got towards the end of the stick as a bitter ammonia taste drowned everything else out, forcing me to call it quits.

Overall, it had mild complexity and was decently balanced until the halfway mark. The last third really killed the enjoyment for me. It went from a once a week stick to a once a year stick at best. Hopefully some age will cure the worst part of the flavor, ammonia. Not my cup of tea...or corojo.

 

[wavescrashing]

Tio Pepe
Shape: Torpedo
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
MSRP: $3.00
Length: 6 1/8
Ring Gauge: 52
Strength: medium-bodied

This stick had average construction with a rough cap, lots of small veins, and a nice sheen.

The pre-light had a sweet tobacco aroma, tiny hints of spice on the lips, and a sweet tobacco flavor. The draw was perfect.

After torching the foot, the flavor kicked off with smooth and rich tobacco flavor, with hints of sweetness and creaminess. The draw was great, producing thick rich smoke.

A third into the cigar, the sweet creaminess turned into a smooth chocolate flavor with a creamy aftertaste. A tiny hint of pepper on the back of the tongue was now noticeable.
The burn was razor sharp at this point with a spotty light-gray ash that held for about an inch.

Halfway, the sweet creaminess has become dominant. The Hint of chocolate was no longer there, but the bit of spice was still noticeable.
The draw was still solidly even.

Last third, the spice was now non -existent. This portion of the cigar was smooth and sweet with the creamy flavor being dominant. A few puffs revealed a hint of leather. The draw and burn stayed perfect throughout.

Overall, this stick wasn't too complex, but had a great balance that could be defined by three words: Smooth and tasty! The draw and burn were spot on. This balanced and flavorsome stick really fooled me with the price tag. This one is definitely worth getting a box. A solid everyday smoke IMO that is a steal at $3. What's better is that it can easily be found for about half of that.

 

[wavescrashing]

I didn't realize how late I posted the last couple of reviews last night. Topping for the afternoon readers.

 

[lherzolite]

La Carolina Gran Robusto

I was gifted one of these (think it was either a toro or churchill), and remember it being a good decent smoke. Nice job on all the reviews.

 

[wavescrashing]

La Carolina Gran Robusto

I was gifted one of these (think it was either a toro or churchill), and remember it being a good decent smoke. Nice job on all the reviews.

Thanks. I was surprised to see that these were less than $5, being that they're custom-rolled and the main source of income for that shop. Definitely a good deal. I can't vouch for all the other vitolas in their line, but I'm sure I'll review more of them as the opportunity arises.

 

[AndrewGBob]

I really enjoy reading your reviews here. I love finding great deals on great smokes and you are really helping me out. Thanks!

 

[wavescrashing]

La Cuna Bin No 85 Habano
Size/shape: Robusto
Wrapper: Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
MSRP: $5.00
Length: 5
Ring Gauge: 50
Manufactured: handmade
Strength: medium bodied

This cigar had a nice cap with small light veins and a smooth wrapper with light oil. This one was as solid as a rock; no sponginess.

Pre-light, the draw was good with a taste of pepper on the lips and throat. It had a leathery aroma to it as well.

After lighting, the draw was great, producing a nice thick smoke. The flavor was earthy with hints of sweetness and a creamy aftertaste.

During the first third, the draw was slightly tight, the burn a bit uneven with a flaky white ash, and the head unraveled a bit just beneath the band. The flavor was very creamy at this point, with light hints of leather and a strong earthy taste. The sweetness was no longer detectable and a slight harshness popped up every few puffs.

Halfway, a hint of saltiness mixed in with the earth and leather. This didn't help the occasional harshness too much. The burn evened out for the most part, and the draw opened back up perfectly. Not great so far, but not horrible.

Last third, the salt and earthiness were the dominant flavors. There was no longer a harshness, but the burn was terrible at this point. There were tiny hints of spice. This seemed to be the most balanced and tasty part of the smoke.

Overall, this cigar isn't too complex, but had somewhat of a decent balance. The burn was the biggest problem. For the retail price, I wouldn't bite, but I'd say it's worth trying off the truck, then aging a bit if purchased online (typically in the $1.50-$2 range). I would've enjoyed this cigar a lot more if the whole cigar resembled the final third.

 

[wavescrashing]

Don Tomas Sun Grown
Size/shape: Robusto
Wrapper: Honduran Jamastran
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
MSRP: $3.35
Length: 5
Ring Gauge: 50
Manufactured: handmade
Strength: mild bodied

This cigar had a slightly rough cap with mid-sized veinds, a smooth oily wrapper, and was firm when squeezed. Overall great construction.

After cutting, the head unraveled just below the band. The draw was good with a hint of spice on the lips and a light tobacco flavor. It had a floral aroma.

After lighting, the draw was nice, producing a light amount of smoke (most likely due to the crack at the foot). The flavor was immediately a thick woodiness wit a tiny hint of spice and a smooth aftertaste.

During the first third, the draw was still nice, the burn a was razor sharp with a thin burn line and a firm light gray ash. The flavor was dominantly woody and the spice was now replaced with earthy and buttery undertones.

At this point, a small field mouse ran into my garage (where I was smoking and jumped into my recycling bin full of paper). I set my cigar down and spend about 2 minutes chasing the little bastid out. The cool thing was, my cigar was still lit and producing a nice amount of smoke. Keep in mind, this is the only mouse I've ever seen in my smoking area/garage, so my rating of Don Tomas Sun Grown cigars may have just dropped a bit considering they may attract rodents (j/k).

By midpoint, the flavor stayed virtually the same other than the return of a hint of spice and(which is good in this case). The balance so far is nice and the burn is still even.

Last third, the burn and draw were great. The spice picked up a bit and the woody flavor started to leave a harsh aftertaste. Towards the end, the smooth buttery flavor helped balance that though.

Overall, this cigar is pretty predictable, but other than the last third, had a really smooth balance that makes it a nice golfing or chore cigar. For the price, this isn't a bad stick to have for outings where you won't be focusing on the complexities of an outstanding smoke. On that note, it's not an everyday smoke for me either due to the mildness and the whole mouse-attracting aroma.

 

[wavescrashing]

I really enjoy reading your reviews here. I love finding great deals on great smokes and you are really helping me out. Thanks!

Glad I could help. Stay tuned for more to come this week.

 

[wavescrashing]

Por Larranaga Panatela
Size/shape: Vegueritos
Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban short-filler
MSRP: $2.00
Length: 5
Ring Gauge: 36
Manufactured: handmade
Strength: mild-medium bodied

This cigar had a rough cap and wrapper with a bunch of small veins. There wasn't much sheen to this one. It had a tiny bit of give when squeezed, but not much. Overall the construction wasn't bad, but the appearance was pretty rough.

Pre-light, The draw was pretty tight with a hint of spice on the lips and a light tobacco flavor. It gave off a grassy tobacco aroma.

After torching the foot, the draw was better, but still a little tight. For such a small stick, this produced nice thick smoke. There was a hint of spice with a smooth woody flavor that left a toasty aftertaste.

During the first third, the draw opened up perfectly which really allowed me to enjoy it a lot more at this point. The burn was nice and even with spotty gray ash that only held for half an inch. The woodiness stayed dominant and hints of earth and smooth Cuban tobacco balanced it nicely.

Halfway, the burn and draw are still spot-on. The dominant flavor is balanced between woodiness and tobacco. The earthiness was now replaced by floral hints which started to linger as the aftertaste as well.

Last third, the burn and draw were still perfect. The spice picked back up a tiny bit and the floral flavor became quite a bit stronger, but did not become overpowering because of how well it mixed with the woodiness and earth, which were now undertones.

Overall, the balance is surprisingly smooth considering how complex this little stick is. It's not a powerhouse, but I would consider it between a mild to medium bodied smoke. All the undertones and profile changes fit nicely throughout this cigar. This cigar is easily worth the $2 and would stand up to quite a few $5 sticks in a blind taste test IMO. This could serve as an everyday breakfast or break cigar as it took me about 25 minutes to smoke. My only complaints are that the ash falls too quickly and easily and that this tasty little smoke should be larger (more to enjoy).

 

[wavescrashing]

Perdomo Lot 23
Size/shape: Churchill
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan Cuban seed
Filler: Nicaraguan Cuban seed
MSRP: $4.75
Length: 7
Ring Gauge: 50
Manufactured: handmade
Strength: medium bodied

This stick had a decent cap and a smooth wrapper with one large vertical vein. There was a tiny bit of oil visible on the wrapper. It had a tiny bit of give when squeezed, but not much at all. I also like the simple design of the band. Overall the wrapper construction was nice and the appearance was good as well.

Pre-light, The draw was perfect with a bit of restriction, but just right (not too open, not too tight). It had a hint of spice on the lips and a woody and grassy flavors. It gave off an aroma of hay.

After torching the foot, the smooth pepper jumped out at me and left on the back of the tongue. The strongest flavor was an earthy finish with hints of woodiness and a semi-sweet buttery finish. The draw was still great, producing beautiful thick smoke. By this point, my thoughts that the pre-light hay aroma would shape into a very grassy post-light were gone and I was pleasantly surprised thus far.

During the first third, the great draw helped reveal hints of cream mixed with the pepper, wood, and earthiness The aftertaste was now a nutty undertone. The pepper was no where to be found on the wrapper as the kick could only be felt towards the back of the throat, but was lighter than at first. The burn was razor sharp with a smooth thin burn line and a tight spotted white ash that held for about an inch.


Halfway, the burn and draw are still great. The woodiness is the most dominant flavor at this point as the earth backed off a bit. The pepper is still light and the nutty finish faded, now leaving a buttery aftertaste once again.

Last third, the burn and draw stayed spot-on. The pepper was now gone. The woodiness was now very dominant and a little harsh on a few puffs. The buttery finish smoothed that harshness out when it popped up though. This part of the cigar, which coincidentally was the least complex, brought it from medium bodied to mild.

I had heard good things about this stick, but I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it turned out. The balance was smooth and tasty at almost every single puff and the complex flavor twists were a pleasant surprise. The construction reminds me of an $8-10 stick. Overall, I'd say this cigar is worth the MSRP and can be had for much less (around $2-3 on various sites). It's not the best Poor Man's Cigar I've had, but I'd definitely consider picking up a box!

 

[wavescrashing]

Sancho Panza Box-pressed Natural
Size/shape: Glorioso
Wrapper: Honduran Connecticut
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan
MSRP: $4.50
Length: 6.1
Ring Gauge: 50
Manufactured: handmade
Strength: medium bodied

This cigar had a rough double cap and a rough wrapper with a bunch of small veins and lumps in it that looked as if the filler was trying to burst through. There was a light oily sheen visible on the light brown wrapper. It had some give when squeezed. Overall the wrapper construction was pretty rough and the appearance was decent at best.

Pre-light, The draw was pretty tight. It had a flavor of rich tobacco. It gave off aromas of hay and leather.

After torching the foot, there was a dominant woody flavor with a light hint of leather. These two flavors balanced nicely and left a toasty finish. The draw opened up just right, producing a decent amount of smoke.

During the first third, the draw stayed perfect and burned nice and even with a flaky light gray ash that held about 3/4 of an inch. The woody flavor was now joined by a hint of earth and a creamy aftertaste. The leather was gone, but the balance was still very nice.

Halfway, the draw is somewhat tight again, but the burn is still pretty even. The woodiness now had a hint of bitterness mixed with the light tastes of earth and semi-sweetness. The sweetness created a nice finish.

Last third, the burn was still great and the draw stayed opened back up again to reveal a hint of spice at the back of the throat. The spice wasn't too strong, so it didn't unhinge the balance of this stick. The woodiness couple well with hints of earth for the most part, but left a bitter aftertaste on just a few puffs that was reminiscent of accidentally chewing on a burned/unpopped popcorn seed. Other than that awkward taste every so often, the semi-sweet creamy finish really smoothed the balance at this point.

I'd always been a fan of Sancho Panzas, but had never tried this so I decided on this one for the review. Overall, this stick lacks complexity and is very predictable, but is smooth and well balanced. There were some minor draw issues, but they can most likely be contributed to the fact that this one was smoked and reviewed off the truck. These can commonly be had for around $2 a stick, but even at the retail price point, I'd pick some up to smoke. This one rates as decent smoke to have a couple times a week IMO.

 

[wavescrashing]

I won't be doing any reviews until this weekend on account of a new semester of school that started on Monday, but I'll be doing more from this weekend onward. What, a jarhead needs his ejamucation too!