Alec Bradley Coyol Robusto Review

Posted on November 29, 2017 by thecashkeepers

When I first started smoking cigars, the Alec Bradley Tempus and Prensado were making big waves in the cigar industry. They were both getting high ratings, reviews, and accolades constantly. I could not get enough of the Tempus and I then fell in love with the Black Market as well. I really enjoyed the whole Alec Bradley line at that time. The last 2-3 years I haven’t been as impressed with their new blends and releases. Hopefully the Coyol will bring me back into the fold!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Honduran Trojes
Binder: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Filler: Nicaraguan and Honduran
Country of Origin: Honduras

Appearance & Smell
This cigar has a very gritty and unpolished appearance. It did not look very smooth at all. Having two labels helped to dress it up a bit though. The smell has a very strong hay and earthiness to it.

Smoke Preparation
I found myself away from home with only an inexpensive plastic double cutter, so that’s what I used to get a flat cut on the end of the Coyol. I also used a no-name quad torch to get the Coyol lit and burning.

Burn & Draw
In this first picture after being lit, you can see that it started to burn a little bit crooked. This was a trend that continued throughout the entire cigar. The draw was nice and the smoke was thick and tasty. Having to repeatedly touch up the cigar was pretty frustrating though.

Strength & Body
This cigar stayed at a consistent medium and towards the end of the cigar it because a little more medium to full. It did keep a consistent body, not too much flavor variation as the smoke went on. The cigar started with a bit of spiciness and did incorporate the hay/earthiness that I smelled prior to lighting. After a bit the spiciness wears off but the hay and earthiness continued until the end of the cigar.

Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, I don;t think this cigar is the one to bring me back into the Alec Bradley fold again. It wasn’t a terrible stick but it is one that I probably wouldn’t pick up again for myself. Having to fight to keep the burn even was bothersome, the lack of variation in taste, and the overall lack of depth pushes me away from the stick. I did enjoy that Alec Bradley is experimenting with newer tobaccos and really going outside of the box to push the uniqueness of the Coyol, this blend just wasn’t my cup of tea though.

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand Information: Alec Bradley

Gispert Intenso Cigar Review

Posted on November 19, 2017 by thecashkeepers

Some of my best friends have been bragging about the Intenso cigar since the cigar dropped this spring/summer. I haven’t had time to get to it but it had been on my list. Well, I was at a cigar event and I decided that it was time! Here is the rundown of the Intenso!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Vitola: Belicoso 6.13×52
Blended by: AJ Fernandez

Appearance & Smell
Ooooooo weeeeeeee! This has a nice toothy wrapper! It also has a little bit of a veiny appearance. The texture feels nice in the hand though. It feels well-rolled, not too soft and not too firm. The smell is rich and earthy with a hint of clay. The picture above shows the belicoso with a flat cut already.

Smoke Preparation
With the belicoso I opted for a flat cut with Xi1 from Xikar and lit it with a generic no-name triple torch that I had on hand. Pre-light cold draw was giving me notes of earthy pepper.

Burn & Draw
This cigar lit evenly and the draw was perfect. There were many times I got caught up in conversation, it stayed lit the whole time. I didn’t have to touch it up once or re-light at all. When I encounter a cigar that is this well-rolled, it really does make it so much more enjoyable. The ash held on well, there were no problems with flakiness.

Strength & Body
This is definitely a full bodied smoke! Most of the Gispert line is all milder, so they went a little bit in a different direction with AJ Fernandez’s influence. The pepper stays consistent throughout. This cigar stayed smooth throughout the whole smoke. Sometimes peppery cigars can get bitter towards the end but this one never did that.

Final Thoughts
I have heard a few of my friends compare this cigar to the Padron 1964. I will admit that it had a lot of the same tastes and smoke. I wouldn’t say it’s exactly the same as a 1964 BUT I will say that if you like the 1964, you will like the Intenso. In most shops it is a $7 cigar, so it helps with the budget too! I loved the full-bodied, creamy smoke and I think it is safe to say that I would definitely purchase this cigar again. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand Information: Altadis USA

H. Upmann Banker Ingot Rose (Limited)

Posted on October 4, 2017 by thecashkeepers

Back at it with a new cigar! This cigar was just released this summer and it is a limited release. It’s the H. Upmann Ingot Rose! The original Banker line has been out for about 3 years now. Last summer they released a limited edition version of the Banker called the “Ingot LE”. This year the limited edition is called the “Ingot Rose”.

I love the original Banker blend but I missed out on the limited Ingot LE last year. I was excited to get into this Ingot Rose this year and see what all the fuss is about! So here we go!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Dominican Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Peru
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Churchill, 6.75×48

Appearance & Smell
I can tell a difference in the smell between the original Ecuadorian Habano and this new limited edition Dominican Habano. The Habano smells more earthy than the original. The cigar appears to not have as much oil on/in the wrapper as the original. It also appears to be slightly lighter in color tone. The logo and paper all have a rose-gold type color to them and it definitely catches the eye.

Smoke Preparation
For this cigar I chose to use a flat cut with a Xikar Xi1 cutter. The pre-light cold draw was surprisingly mellow and there were not any prominent flavors that stood out. I lit the cigar with a Xikar Enigma double torch lighter.

Burn & Draw
This cigar lit up with ease and immediately started giving off a decadent aroma and smoke. The draw was perfect for my preference, not too hard and not too easy. The airflow to the draw was good and helped to keep an even burn throughout the entire cigar. The smoke was rich and plentiful! The ash also held well throughout the smoke, I was able to do 1 inch ashes and could have gone longer.

Strength & Body
This cigar was a solid medium in the strength department. There was not a lot of deviation throughout the cigar when it came to the strength. Some cigars really pick up strength but this stayed very consistent. The body wasn’t overly complicated by any means. There weren’t a bunch of flavor changes or complexity. With the straight forward flavor profile, it is what I would call an “easy” smoke. Anyone could smoke it. It had some nuttiness, little bit of sweetness, and definitely cream. This would be a delicious after-dinner smoke with an evening drink!

Final Thoughts
As a fan of the original Banker line I definitely came into this smoke with high expectations! With that being said, I did expect a little bit more from the Ingot Rose. It was a good smoke. Solid construction. Solid burn. I think I just expected more in terms of flavor complexity. Maybe a little more nuttiness or spice would have built it up a little more. I plan on buying at least two more to possibly age and I might buy another couple to re-review due my bias coming into this first smoke.

Have you smoked one yet? What did you think? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below! Thanks!

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand Info: Altadis- H. Upmann

CLE Corojo 11/18 Cigar Review

Posted on September 23, 2017 by thecashkeepers

I have indulged previously in a couple of CLE cigars but this blend was a brand new one for me. It has been in my humidor for at least a few months. I forgot to put my label on it so I don’t know the exact time when I put this in my humidor. With all that being said, I was excited to get into this new-to-me blend!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Corojo
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Country of Origin: Honduras
Vitola: 11/18 6×50

Appearance & Smell
The wrapper was much smoother than most cigars I have smoked. Not very many veins, only one really noticeable one. There was no toothiness to the wrapper by eyesight or to the touch. The wrapper has a very medium brown appearance. I really dig the gold and silver label they put on this one! The smell was very earthy and rich with a little bit of a creamy undertone.

Smoke Preparation
I used my favored Xikar Xi1 cutter to put a flat cut on the cap. Pre-light cold draw gave me the same earthiness that I picked up on the smell of the wrapper. I lit this cigar with my Xikar Enigma double torch.

Burn & Draw
WHOA! The rich earthiness can definitely be tasted immediately upon lighting. This cigar had a fantastic velvety smoke to it. Thick smoke that just rolls of the tongue. The first third presented a bit of spice that played nicely with some undertones of creaminess. The draw was great! Not too tight, not too loose, but the smoke time was amazing. It was an easy hour and a half smoke and I wasn’t trying to go slow. It started to burn slightly crooked but it corrected itself without a touch-up.

Strength & Body
This smoke is definitely a medium to full. It’s not overwhelming by any means, but that corojo wrapper packs a bit of a punch. I wouldn’t really categorize this as a complex smoke. It had very pleasant aromas and flavors but it didn’t change a great deal throughout the cigar.

Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this smoke! If you are into really earthy cigars with some creaminess and a tiny bit of spice, then this might be the cigar for you! If you tend to look for complexity or constantly changing flavors, you might want to skip this one. I personally tend to love corojo wrapped cigars, so for me, this is one I would pick up again. I enjoyed the rich earthiness with creaminess and spice! As you can tell, I smoked it right down to the nub and I enjoyed every bit of it!

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand Information: CLE Cigars

La Palina Nicaragua Oscuro Robusto

Posted on September 18, 2017 by thecashkeepers

La Palina has really started to make some waves in the cigar industry! More shops are picking up their blends than ever before. I have had the La Palina Nicaragua Oscuro sitting in my humidor for a few months and decided it was time to give them a little space on the blog. Check out the review and let me know what you thought of the cigar!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto, 5×52

Appearance & Smell
The wrapper is a beautiful mocha color! The wrapper feels good to the touch with a little bit of oil but not too much. There are noticeable veins but nothing too big. The wrapper seems to be well rolled and the seams are not noticeable at all. The pre-light smell gave me some notes of dark cocoa, earthiness, and brown sugar.

Smoke Preparation
I used my faithful Xikar Xi1 to put a flat cut on the cap. The pre-light cold draw gave me some black pepper, earthiness, and a hint of sweetness. I lit the cigar with my Xikar Enigma double torch.

Burn & Draw
Oh man! This cigar packs a delicious punch! The burn was pretty even throughout the cigar. I had to re-light once because I got distracted but the taste was perfect even on the re-light. The earthiness really lingers on the tip of the tongue through the entirety of the cigar. In the retrohale there are notes of brown sugar, hay, and black pepper. I was pleasantly surprised with the complexity of notes and flavors I picked up.

Strength & Body
I would consider this cigar a medium to full, medium-plus. The strength grew as the cigar burned. It was definitely fuller by the end of the smoke. The oscuro really adds to the kick and the strength of this cigar. The earthiness is consistent throughout the smoke. The black pepper comes and goes and transitions with a sweetness that reminded me of brown sugar. This cigar has a fair amount of complexity to it. I am sure that I would pick up some subtle other notes if I were to smoke it again. It’s always fun to find a cigar that has extra to unpack when it comes to extra tastes.

Final Thoughts
I haven’t smoked a great deal of La Palina cigars, so I came into this smoke without knowing a lot about what their blends are like. This was a great smoke! The robusto had a good draw and burn time. The cigar is produced by A.J. Fernandez and everything he has touched the last two years turns to gold. The average retail price for the robusto is about $8. I would definitely purchase this cigar again!

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand information: La Palina History

Gurkha Assassin Robusto

Posted on September 13, 2017 by thecashkeepers

Gurkha is a well-known name in the cigar world. The company has carried MANY different lines over the years. This little beauty was in my humidor since 2-28-2014. I have never smoked this one before, so I was looking forward to lighting it up!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Peruvian/Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Robusto, 4.7″x50

Appearance & Smell
The wrapper was nice and toothy, good feel and look to it. The cigar felt well constructed and the seams weren’t noticeable. The wrapper did not display or feel like it had a lot of oil on/in it. The pre-light smell was earthy, rich, and it had definitive cocoa notes.

Smoke Preparation
I used a Xikar Xi1 cutter to put a flat cut on the cap of the cigar. Pre-light cold draw brought up some pepper notes and that cocoa was very present as well.

Burn & Draw
The first few draws did not disappoint! The pepper was there but not overwhelming. I thought the cocoa would be much stronger since it was so strong on the smell and the pre-light but it was mellow once lit. I like the way the pepper and cocoa mingled. I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of this stick. The cigar burned evenly throughout the entire smoke. The ash held together very well without much flaking as it burned.

Strength & Body
This cigar was definitely a medium to full in terms of strength. I feel as though the strength actually stayed consistent throughout the smoke rather than building like other cigars. It starts medium plus and stays medium plus. The pepper and cocoa stay throughout the whole cigar, they don’t really diminish. I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a complex smoke but I will say it was a tasty one!

Final Thoughts
The truth is that I’m not a big Gurkha fan, I never really have been but this cigar exceeded my expectations! I usually grab the toro size for my smokes but the robust was a really good size for this blend with the strength and body it possesses. It is important to note again that this cigar was aged for 3 and a half years which can significantly make a difference on the smoke. I smoked it until it started burning my fingers. The truth is I loved it and I would gladly purchase it again!

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand Information: Gurkha Cigars

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Toro

Posted on September 11, 2017 by thecashkeepers

I must admit that I have smoked this cigar before and I enjoyed it the first time! This one has been in my humidor since 6-27-2015. I decided it was time that this one met a cutter and lighter. I was kicked back watching the football games yesterday with a Warsteiner beer. Let’s get into the cigar!

Blend Profile
The Honduran Corojo wrapper is aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels.
Wrapper: American Broadleaf
Binder: American Broadleaf
Filler: American Broadleaf, Pennsylvania Maduro, Honduran Corojo
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Toro, 6×50

Appearance & Smell
The wrapper has a few visible veins. Overall it felt well rolled and the seams were small. The pre-light smell had a touch of dark soil and definitely sweetness from the bourbon barrel-aging. It did not give an overt bourbon smell.

Smoke Preparation
I used a Xikar Xi1 to get a flat cut on the cap. Pre-light cold draw tasted a bit sweet and a tiny bit of black pepper taste. I lit the cigar with my Xikar Enigma double torch.

Burn & Draw
This cigar was definitely well constructed! It was a perfect draw, not too tight and not too loose. The ash held very well without flaking and dropping. I was able to ash about every inch. The burn was very even and didn’t go crooked, I never had to straight it up or touch it up.

Strength & Body
I found this cigar to be a medium to full (medium plus, as I call it). Not too full but definitely built in strength as I smoked it. I would say it started as a medium and when I hit the last third is had progressed more towards the fuller range. The flavor range was fantastic in the body. Some really nice sweetness and pepper throughout.

Final Thoughts
I have immensely enjoyed the rebranding of the Camacho line and the blends they have established. They definitely did a fantastic job with the American Barrel-Aged! The two years of age have seemed to make it a little bit smoother than I remember it being the first time. This was a very delicious smoke and I think that this blend is surely worth purchasing a box!

Source: Purchased locally
Brand Information: Camacho Cigars

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