Tag Archives: #briarnation

Sirena Lago Green Pipe Refurb

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This was a fun project that I picked up in a lot purchased online. This was also my first time staining a pipe bowl green. Check out the process and finished product below!

Stem: The stem had quite a bit of oxidation and a few teeth dents. I wet sanded the stem with 500 grit, 1000 grit, and 1200 grit sand paper. It took off the oxidation and sooth out to tooth marks because they weren’t too deep. I then took a q-tip with high-proof vodka to the filter section of the stem. Then I took hard bristle pipe cleaners with high-proof to the rest of the inside of the stem.

Bowl: I started on the bowl by reaming the inside. I cleaned the inside of the bowl and shank with high proof vodka, q-tips, and pipe cleaners. I then tackled to ugly outside. I wet sanded with 500 grit, 1000 grit, and finished with 1200 grit. Once I got the bowl down to the bare briar, I re-stained the bowl with green Fieblings leather dye. After the stain dried, I put a bowl coating in the bowl to smooth out any imperfections and help the next smoker to get a good cake started. The bowl was finished with a buff of red rouge and a buff of carnauba wax.

Here is the finished product:

Dunhill Pipe Refurb

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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!

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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:

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Thanks for looking!

Oliva Serie V No.4

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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.

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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.

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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

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