Avo Classic Robusto Review

Posted on April 5, 2018 by thecashkeepers

I have only smoked a couple different Avos so when a friend of mine came to town and offered me a chance at an Avo classic, I said YES! So here we are, I got to smoke a cigar and you get to read about it.

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Republic of Dominica
Vitola: Robusto, 5×50

Appearance & Smell
This is a good looking cigar! A light brown color that isn’t as light as most Connecticut wrappers. The veins are prominent but really take away from the look for me. I really like the subtle band, it’s a far cry from what Davidoff has done with the Camacho line. Instead it looks… classic! How fitting?

Smoke Preparation
If you have been following me, you already know I tend to gravitate to a flat cut, so why change now? I used my Xikar Xi1 to put a flat cut on the cap and my Xikar Enigma double torch to get it lit.

Burn & Draw
I could not have asked for a better burn and draw! I didn’t have to touch up this cigar once because it burned so evenly. I was even outside on a windy day and with a little cigar rotation the burn stayed perfect. The ash held on very well, the construction was fantastic. The draw was in that perfect medium range, not too loose and not too tight.

Strength & Body
I felt that the entire cigar was mild through and through. This cigar didn’t have a lot of complexity but I was okay with that. The notes I was picking up on the cigar made it good that it wasn’t changing constantly like other cigars. The body was really creamy, with fresh dirt and some cedar.

Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this cigar! The construction was flawless and that helped make it a good experience. I would definitely purchase this but strictly for mild cigar moods/events. Events like golfing, when you are outside on a sunny hot day, or if you are purchasing for a friend who doesn’t smoke very often, this would be a great cigar to grab. If you are into heavy smokes, spice, or a lot of complexity, this cigar probably isn’t for you. For those of you who do smoke it, let me know what you thought about it!

Source: Gift from a friend
Brand Information: Avo Cigars

Dunhill Pipe Refurb

Posted on April 5, 2018 by thecashkeepers

I have had the opportunity to work on a couple different Dunhills and they are always a pleasure to work on. Before you think to yourself, “Well of course it is because of the prestige and the price tag! It’s really more about the reasons that Dunhill maintains the prestige and such a high price tag: Quality materials and craftsmanship. I can tell the difference in vulcanite stems that I work on and overtime I touch a Dunhill, I can feel the quality. Well, this refurb was for a friend and I hope you enjoy the before-and-after pics and he enjoys the smoke. Cheers!

Stem
The stem just needed a good cleaning with oxidation removal. I wet-sanded the stem with the grits of 500, 1000, and 1200. The stem was then sanitized and cleaned in the airway. The finishing touches were a buffing of both red tripoli and carnauba wax.

Bowl
I reamed the bowl and was surprised to find the first mistake I had ever seen in a Dunhill! When drilling the shank into the bowl, they slightly over-drilled and went a little bit into the far side of the bowl. It wasn’t by any means a large drill mark but when being smoked, it created a bigger “hole” if you will. I don’t usually like to bowl coat Dunhills but I did on this one. After the reaming, sanitizing, and cleaning, I put in a professional grade bowl coating to help prevent that imperfection from getting worse or spreading. I then worked on getting some of the grime off the top of the bowl without hurting the rustication. I used a lot of q-tips and vodka. The shank was also cleaned and sanitized. The finishing touches were again buffing with both red tripoli and carnauba wax. Man! That really made the silver shank band shine!

Here is the finished product:

Thanks for looking!

La Aurora 107 Robusto Review

Posted on April 3, 2018 by thecashkeepers

I remember smoking a La Aurora 107 about 5 years ago. I remember it was a sample and that I really liked it. It was so long ago that I no longer remembered anything about the flavor or the strength. Recently a friend hooked me up with this cigar and I couldn’t wait to get into it!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaragua, Brazil, Peru, Dominica
Blend note: The fillers are all aged for 6 years.

Appearance & Smell
This has a deliciously brown toothy wrapper without too many surface veins. The wrapper almost has a tinge of red to it. The smell is strong, definitely has some spice, little bit of cedar, and a whole lot of cocoa.

Smoke Preparation
Sticking with my recent routine, I used my Xikar Xi1 to flat cut the cap and my Xikar Enigma double torch to get it lit.

Burn & Draw
What’s not to love about a well-rolled cigar? This cigar burned like a champ. It had a slightly tougher draw than many cigars I have smoked but I didn’t mind it or think that it was too tight. I enjoyed having to pull a little harder rather than having a cigar with too easy of a pull that makes it burn too quickly. This cigar held it’s ash very nicely.

Strength & Body
I was impressed by the complexity of this cigar. The flavor transitions are their but they all meld nicely. The rich earthiness with cocoa and a little spice in the background kept me wanting more. It started off as a medium, by the time I was getting to the end it felt like more of a medium-plus.

Final Thoughts
If you want a powerhouse of a cigar that is necessarily just stuffed with nicotine strength but it has the flavor to make you want to grab it again, this would be a great smoke for you! I suspect that if I were to smoke one of these a day for five days, I would pick up more complexity and flavors everyday. The combination of using four tobaccos from different countries really made this a fun smoke. I believe they retail for around $7-$8 per cigar for the robust and is worth it.

Sourced: From a friend
Brand Information: La Aurora Cigars

CAO Zocalo 6×60 Review (Pre-Release)

Posted on April 3, 2018 by thecashkeepers

So this review is going to be a little different than some of my others because I am missing quite a bit of the information. The reason I am missing the information is because this cigar has not been released yet. I was told that they haven’t even started shipping yet! Let’s get into it!

Blend Profile
I have exactly zero blend information on this one so I am flying blind.
Vitola: 6×60

Appearance & Smell
This cigar had a nice rich, brown wrapper that has a nice toothy feel to it. There was also a fair amount of oil on the outside of the wrapper. The band is interesting, big, and bold. I look forward to hearing more about how the label came about. The smell is earthy and has some cocoa. There was also a faint hint of spice.

Smoke Preparation
I seem to be in a habit lately… I once again used my Xikar Xi1 to put a flat cut on the cap and my Xikar Enigma double torch to get it lit.

Burn & Draw
This cigar kept a very nice even burn throughout the whole smoke. I know it had to be a sample but it didn’t seem to need any extra rest to burn correctly. The draw was great for a 6×60.

Strength & Body
This cigar was in the medium to medium-plus in terms of strength for me. The body was there and it had a nice complexity of flavors that did change a little bit throughout the smoke. After the initial lighting I was picking up more of the spice that I had smelled. As the cigar went on, I got more of the cocoa and earthiness.

Final Thoughts
The truth is: I’m not a big CAO fan. I never really have been. I enjoyed the America and the Brazilia and that was about it. This cigar seemed to sway me to think a little more positively of CAO. I was impressed by the flavors and the great construction of the cigar. I have no information about the price point but I am really curious to find out how much these will retail for and which other vitolas they will roll out. Keep it on your radar and see what you think if/when they pop up at your local retail shop! Cheers!

Source: It’s a secret.
Brand Information: CAO Cigars

Aging Room Solera Sun Grown Review

Posted on April 2, 2018 by thecashkeepers

Like most tobacconists, I like to try a cigar before I make the decision to bring it into my humidor. No one wants to be stuck with a box of cigars that just simply does not move. When I saw this cigar, I made the snap decision to bring it into my humidor before I even had the chance to smoke it. I just had a gut feeling about it! Well, here is the review and I can tell you that I am happy with my decision!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Dominican Sun Grown
Binder: Dominican Habano
Filler: Dominican Habano

Appearance & Smell
Wowza! This has rich and earthy notes before lighting. I picked up quite a bit of cedar too. The pre-light smell really made me want to get into this smoke.

Smoke Preparation
I went with my trusty flat cut by using a Xikar X1 to cut the cap. I lit the cigar with my double torch Xikar Enigma.

Burn & Draw
This cigar was awesome when it came to the burn and draw. It burned very evenly throughout the whole cigar with zero touch-ups. The draw was just a treat because I didn’t have to pull too hard but there was enough resistance to keep this burning evenly for a long time.

Strength & Body
I would definitely consider this a medium to a medium-plus cigar. The Sun Grown wrapper mixed the Habano really gives a nice body to this smoke with some real complexity.

Final Thoughts
This cigar was a treat! I am very pleased to see Aging Room going in this direction. Between the complexity of the flavors, the perfect burn, and the strength, I couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon smoke. For a $7 cigar, this was one I would definitely pick up again!

Sourced: Locally
Brand Information: Aging Room Cigars

Camacho Candela Robusto (Limited) Review

Posted on April 2, 2018 by thecashkeepers

I am absolutely positive that I am not the only cigar smoker who has pre-conceived notions that all candela wrapped cigars are going to be mild. So before you skip this review, let me assure you that this was not your “typical” candela cigar. Read on to get the low down on this interesting smoke!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Honduran Criollo Candela
Binder: Honduran Original Corojo
Filler: Honduran Original Corojo
Country of Origin: Honduras

Appearance & Smell
The wrapper had a bit of hay/grass smell to it. There were some veins but overall a very pretty cigar. When smelling the foot I got more earthiness and cedar notes. I love the green band but I am probably partial because green is my favorite color!

Smoke Preparation
I went my traditional route and put a flat cut on this cigar with my Xikar Xi1. I also lit it with my double torch Xikar Enigma.

Burn & Draw
This cigar was easy to light and keep lit. The draw was perfectly in the middle, not too tight and not too loose. I only had to touch it up once but that was when I let it sit for too long. The ash held very well and I didn’t find myself struggling at all with the construction.

Strength & Body
Here is the surprising part of the candela, the strength really is a medium to a medium-plus. By using the original corojo blend, it really boosts the strength of the candela. The body is all there and it was a nice departure from the typical mild candela cigars.

Final Thoughts
I went in expecting a mild smoke which has become standard for candela cigars. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this cigar had more kick and a lot more flavor than other candelas I have smoked. It still carried some of the hay/grass taste but it really was a secondary flavor. The corojo really takes the front seat and the candela seems to meld very nicely by adding some nice contrast to the smoke. So before you roll your eyes and run away thinking this is “just another candela”, give it a shot and see what you think. It retails for about $7-$8 and I think it is worth the money. Plus, there were only 4,000 boxes made, why not give it a try before they are gone?

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand Information: Camacho Cigars

Oliva Serie V No.4

Posted on March 23, 2018 by thecashkeepers

The Oliva Serie V is a cigar that I come into this review fairly familiar with. I have never smoked the No. 4 size/shape though! I ordered it for my shop because I thought it might be handy to have some shorter smokes on hand for my customers. It has worked out very well and the feedback has been great. Since my customers are loving it, I figured I should find out how it smokes with a smaller gauge and a little bit shorter.

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: No. 4, 5×43

Appearance & Smell
The wrapper has a deliciously dark and toothy wrapper. Some noticeable veins are on the wrapper. The pre-light smell gives me some notes of cocoa and earthiness. The label is simple but elegant,

Smoke Preparation
I used a Xikar Xi to put a flat cut on this cigar. The cold draw gave me some earthy richness. The cocoa notes are very subtle.

Burn & Draw
I couldn’t ask for more from a cigar in terms of the draw and burn! The draw was the fantastic middle ground between too tight and too easy. The burn was very nice as well. I love when I get a cigar that is rolled perfectly so that the draw and burn both combine to make a great smoking experience. The smoke had a creaminess to it that was just a delight with every puff.

Strength & Body
There is no denying that even in a smaller size, this cigar can pack a punch. The Broadleaf wrapper really lends itself to add that extra kick of strength. With the smaller gauge, I can really taste more of the wrapper. Which changes the overall taste of the cigar by quite a bit. The flavor an body are great. That earthiness and cocoa stay consistent throughout but it doesn’t become stagnant. Some of the other notes include pepper, cream, and leather.

Final Thoughts
I knew that I had liked this blend in the past but I had always smoked a bigger ring gauge. This cigar was a really pleasant surprise in the smaller/shorter shape! The No.4 still packs the strength of some of the bigger gauges but it also brings more of the wrapper flavor into the blend. I really enjoyed the flavors and the time that it took to smoke it. It took me approximately 30 minutes to smoke this (Side Note: I was outside and it was windy). I would consider this cigar blend in this size to be a medium plus in terms of strength. If you happen to see this size of the Oliva Serie V in a shop near you, I strongly suggest giving it a try if you enjoy medium to full-bodied cigars!

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand Information: Oliva Cigars

JC Newman El Baton Robusto Review

Posted on March 15, 2018 by thecashkeepers

The reason this review comes about is because a customer asked me to bring this cigar into my shop. I try to be as accommodating as possible for my customers when I have the shelf space. I brought in the El Baton Robusto and Belicoso. Both retail for $6.99 which I think is a good deal for an “everyday smoke”. I decided to give the robusto a whirl and here we are!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
The El Baton website does not give specifics about what type of tobacco from Nicaragua they use, just that it is from Nicaragua.

Appearance & Smell
This has a toothy, medium brown wrapper. It has some veins but the veins seem very fitting and not overbearing. The smell is earthy and a little oaky.

Smoke Preparation
I used a Xikar X1 to put a flat cut on the cigar. The cut was good and appears to have no construction problems.

Burn & Draw
The lighting process was easy and the cigar seemed to take an immediate and even light. The draw was nice, not too easy and not too hard, just an easy medium. As the cigar went on, it did start to burn unevenly a bit. You can see the unevenness in the picture above. Then it even back out which you can see in the next pic.

Strength & Body
Immediate impression is that it is a medium. As it goes on, it gains a little more strength. So medium plus at max. There was not a lot of complexity in terms of flavor variation and transitions. It was rather bland overall.

Final Thoughts
This cigar had good construction which is expected of anything coming from JC Newman. When it came to flavor and actually enjoying the smoke, it really wasn’t there for me. I found it to be bland and boring. Would I smoke it again and give it another chance? Yes. The notes of earthiness and oak weren’t bad but it got boring. I would be willing to give them another shot to see if my palate picks up something new. At an “everyday smoke” price, it’s well constructed and would be one that I could give out at any occasion and not feel bad about price or strength. Perhaps I will give it another chance soon!

Sourced: Locally
Brand Information: El Baton Website

Peterson Tankard Pipe Refurbish

Posted on February 2, 2018 by thecashkeepers

A friend sent me a Peterson Tankard that he had picked up. He asked me to make it shine like new again. So here are the before and after pics of the process! It’s hard to tell in the before pictures but there was a decent amount of oxidization that had occurred to the stem. I usually get better pictures than this so I’m sorry for the poor lighting/pictures. Trust me though, it really was an awesome refurb!

Stem
Even with the flash on my camera, it’s hard to tell that there was quite a bit of oxidation that needed to be removed. I wet sanded the stem using 500 grit, 1000 grit, and 1200 grit. The stem was then sanitized and cleaned on the inside. The stem is finished with a buffing of red tripoli and carnauba wax.

Bowl
This bad boy was pretty clean on the inside. There wasn’t a lot of carbonation that had to be removed. BUT the bowl had some serious ghosting, whatever tobacco that was smoked in this pipe before was very strong. So I reamed the bowl down and added a professional grade bowl coating after sanitation to help dispel any remaining ghosting (per request of my friend). The shank was then cleaned and sanitized as well. The metal ring was shined up with some fine steel wool. The bowl was finished with a quick buffing of red tripoli and carnauba wax.

I’m sorry that the lighting isn’t that great in these pictures. The transformation really was awesome! My friend will receive his pipe back soon and I can’t wait for him to light it up. Thank you for reading about this refurb and let me know your thoughts! Thanks!

Nub Connecticut Review

Posted on January 21, 2018 by thecashkeepers

The Nub Connecticut is not new for me but it has been awhile since I smoked one. I decided that I wanted a morning smoke with my coffee. The shorter size of the Nub line lent itself to be a great option for starting the day off right! Here are my thoughts on this cigar!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Appearance & Smell
The pre-light appearance is a smooth, tan wrapper that looks delicious. The pre-light smell has creaminess and some cedar notes.

Smoke Preparation
I used my Xikar Xi1 to put a flat cut on the very end of the cap. I also used my Xikar Enigma double torch to get the cigar lit.

Burn & Draw
This had a great draw for a morning cigar. It was a little bit easier to pull through than I like my other cigars but it was nice to have an easy smoke in the morning. Burn stayed mostly even. You can see some slight unevenness in the picture above but it was never enough that I felt like I needed to touch it up,

Strength & Body
I found this cigar to be mild to medium. The Connecticut wrapper keeps it like but the Nicaraguan filler has a little more strength to it. The flavor was great! It stayed pretty true to the pre-light smell, lots of creamy richness, cedar notes, and a little bit of nuttiness.

Final Thoughts
This is definitely a smoke I would have again as a morning cigar. It paired very well with my coffee, the draw was easy, the strength was never overwhelming. Overall, I found it to be a great way to start my day and I would definitely buy some more of these! I will note that this cigar might be a little more mellow than other Nub Connecticuts because it was in my humidor since 5-18-16.

Source: Purchased Locally

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