Daniel Honigman

Brand: 5 Vegas
Line: Miami
Vitola: Toro (6 x 48)
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan, Dominican
Body: Medium-to-full
Strength: Medium-to-full
Cigar Price: $135 (Box of 20)

Another day, another cigar by “Don” Pepin Garcia. Not that I’m complaining.

The 5 Vegas Miami cigar has an attractive, toothy wrapper and a spicy pre-light scent with hints of cocoa.

Once lit, the cigar had an even burn, a good draw and solid, dark-gray ash. It also gave off a ton of sweet smoke.

Verdict: It’s a good cigar that’s not complex. It tasted a little spicy, a little leathery, and not bad. If you don’t feel like shelling out for a stick from Garcia’s El Rey de los Habanos brand, reach for the 5 Vegas Miami.

Now, I smoked five of these things, and they were all consistently good. But some inconsistencies have been reported around the blogosphere. I didn’t experience any of that.

Similar cigars: It’s a slightly milder version of the Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic.

(Note: This review originally appeared on CigarJack.)

Brand: Exclusive Cigars (Kristoff)
Line: Criollo
Vitola: Churchill (7 x 50)
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Criollo
Binder: Cuban seed Orlor Dominican
Filler: Cuban seed Orlor Dominican, Nicaraguan
Body: Medium
Strength: Medium

As you know, not every cigar is a Cohiba or Montecristo, and part of what makes cigar smoking an interesting hobby, I believe, is when one discovers new and boutique brands.

With that, I recently met Glen Case, president of Aurora, Ill.-based Exclusive Cigars, at a local herf featuring his line of Kristoff cigars. Since I had a small lunch, I chose to light up his Criollo stick. (I’ll be reviewing the Kristoff Maduro at a later date.)

The Kristoff Criollo has a slightly veiny, oily wrapper and a bit of a spongy feel, reminiscent of a Graycliff. Its pigtail and shaggy, closed foot give it a rustic, old-time look, but you’ll immediately be drawn towards the Kristoffs because of its box, which features unfinished wood lined with loose tobacco.

Anyway, the first half of the Criollo is spicy, with hints of toasted almonds, but it smooths out in the second half. It’s still spicy, mind you, but the aftertaste is reminiscent of dried fruit and caramel.

Verdict: The Kristoff Criollo is a complex, enjoyable, tasty stick, that I would recommend to experienced smokers. It has an even burn, and some nice white ash, but you may find the draw a tad inconsistent. I smoked four of the Kristoff Criollos, and three of them drew completely well. The last one, however, was a bit plugged.

Anyway, three out of four ain’t bad, and maybe there are some construction issues to work out. In the meantime, I’d smoke Kristoffs again in a heartbeat, depending on the price.

Similar cigars: It’s a bit stronger and more complex, I think, than the CAO Criollo.

(Note: This review originally appeared on CigarJack.)

Brand: Bobalu
Line: 91 Aged Dominican
Vitola: Toro 6 x 52
Origin: United States
Wrapper: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Body: Medium
Strength: Medium
Box Price: $165 (box of 25)

Once again, I find myself back with a cigar from the Austin, Tex.-based Bobalu Cigar Company. Bobalu rolls about a dozen of its own lines, and the company prides itself on its rollers. (Check out the RollerCam live stream here.)

I reviewed the Bobalu Wedge a few months back, so when I sat down with the 91 Aged Dominican, which features all aged Dominican tobacco from 1991, I knew I was in for a different experience.

The Bobalu 91 Aged Dominican cigar has a beautiful wrapper — not too veiny, not too smooth — and a nutty scent. The prelight draw was a bit tight, but that opened up a bit once it was lit. It started off a bit tangy, but then it smoothed out to give me hints of toast and almonds, and the last third of the stick had a fairly sweet finish.

I usually don’t pay much attention to a cigar’s ash, but I noticed the 91 Aged Dominican had some very solid white ash almost reminiscent of angel food cake.

Verdict: Even though the Bobalu 91 Aged Dominican gets a bit hot at the end, you’ll want to smoke it down to the nub. It’s a good smoke with a ton of flavor.

Then there’s the price. I’ll be frank: At almost seven bucks a cigar, you could probably get a better deal elsewhere. But it’s easy to understand why a small shop — one that rolls its own cigars, mind you — has to charge a bit more for its sticks. There’s still something about a good cigar being made stateside.

Similar cigars: Where the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real is a touch spicy, this is a bit sweet. But there are similarities: the aged Dominican tobaccos and the tangy, toasty start.

(Note: This review originally appeared on CigarJack.)