Tag: Cigars

Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2024

Reflection and contemplation tend to go hand-in-hand with pipe smoking.  They pair together like peanut butter and jelly, or bacon and eggs. As I recollect and recount the many tobaccos I have had the privilege of enjoying this year, I found that my palate continues to gravitate toward similar blends and compositions that it has in past years.  However, I will admit that I was much more specific this year when it came to selecting pipes to enjoy those tobaccos.  Although I have an extensive cellar – that continues to expand even at my wife’s disapproval – I also have a pipe collection of more than 100 pipes that I am proud of.  Do I need 100+ pipes?  No.  But each of them has meaning, value, or purpose that if I attempted to explain to a non-pipe smoker, they would surely believe me to be crazy.  I do plan to write about this unique behavior in the future here on The Pipe Professor website, and possibly for the North American Society of Pipe Collector’s (NASPC) Pipe Collector publication; but, for the time being, here are some small snapshots of my collection (Note: some pipes not pictured due to a media disclosure form not being on file…in all actuality, not all of my pipes will fit on this one shelf).  

So why do such a list each year?  Bottom line is I enjoy putting together a compilation of my favorite blends and sharing it with others.  Am I asking for validation on the list?  No.  Do I feel you should agree with each selection?  Not at all.  Do I recommend using this as a potential starting point for exploring blends you may not know about or haven’t tried?  Absolutely!  Furthermore, I enjoy watching how my palate changes and adjusts year in and year out.  As Nathaniel Hawthorne notes, “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.”  I hope these pipe tobacco reflections are the shadow I can leave behind each year, and that others may have the opportunity to dabble into the enjoyments I have experienced over the past 365 days.  Wishing each of you a wonderful and joyous 2025 and thank you for reading my nonsense for another year.        

Without further ado, I present my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2024.  Enjoy! 

Tobacco #5 for 2024

L.J. Peretti’s Midnight 

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: L.J. Peretti

Category: English

Blend Components: Black Cavendish, Latakia, Perique, Virginia 

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: 1oz, 8oz can, or 1lbs can

Price: $5.65 USD per ounce

Tobacco Notes:  For anyone who does not believe Latakia/English blends do not age well, think again.  I ordered an 8oz tin of Midnight seven years ago and just opened it in spring of 2024.  This tobacco is so good I only have a bowl or two remaining from the entire eight ounces.  The blend has been nothing short of magical and I placed a restock order through L.J. Peretti during the summer as I hope to start the aging and settling process for my new 8oz tin immediately. L.J. Peretti Midnight is an all-black tobacco mixture that offers the pipe smoker a thick, rich, smokey experience.  If you enjoy the burnt wood campfire essence mixed with a natural creaminess, this tobacco is for you.  Full flavor, strong aroma (that may not be appreciated by non-pipe smokers) L.J. Peretti’s Midnight reignited its spot in my regular rotation.  Simple and delicious!

Tobacco #4 for 2024

Sutliff Molto Dolce 

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Sutliff Tobacco Company 

Category: Aromatic

Blend Components: Black Cavendish, Burley, Virginia 

Flavorings: Caramel, Honey, Vanilla

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: 1.5oz tin

Price: $10.41 USD

Tobacco Notes: By now I’m sure you have heard that Sutliff tobaccos has been bought out and will begin to cut their portfolio beginning…..NOW!  This is highly unfortunate for us pipe smokers and potentially damning to the hobby as a whole.  Only time will tell.  With that being said, even prior to any announcement regarding the upcoming changes, I found myself continuously going back to Molto Dolce throughout the year for a sweet and flavorful aromatic smoke.  This tobacco is a high-class aromatic and clearly provides the smokers with notes of vanilla, cream, light roasted coffee, and caramel sweetness.  Want to turn others on to pipe smoking?  Light up a bowl of Molto Dolce….just don’t tell them it’s going away.      

Tobacco #3 for 2024

Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake 

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Samuel Gawith  

Category: Straight Virginia

Blend Components: Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $14.15 USD

Tobacco Notes:  To start, the “pop the top” video review of me sampling Samuel Gawith’s Best Brown Flake can be found here, or, you can read my the full review on The Pipe Professor website here.  To summarize, SG Best Brown Flake greets your palate with a light pepper spice (tingle on the palate), dried fig, and brown sugar, all wrapped around a tight nutty core.  On the retro-hale you will get an aged leather characteristic that is not present in the tastes while puffing.  Aromas are a rye bread and maple syrup mix.  An overarching chocolate scent will also be found by those with a keen sense of smell.  A wonderfully sweet and subtle smoke.  Easily approachable and crafted for those who enjoy loading a bowl and sitting back to puff on a fine pipe tobacco for an extended period, Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake is delicious and savory.  Highly recommended for beginning and veteran pipe smokers alike.  

Tobacco #2 for 2024

Esoterica Penzance

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: J.F. Germain & Sons

Category: Balkan

Blend Components: Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia

Flavorings: None 

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 50g tin or 8oz bag

Price: Varies due to limited availability 

Tobacco Notes:  I can already hear the grunt and gruff of this tobacco being placed on the list.  Get over it.  Is the tobacco difficult to obtain?  Yes!  Will you probably overpay for a tin of this wonderful Balkan mixture?  Yes!  But it’s not impossible to find and Germain’s/Esoterica is still producing the blend (although in small quantities).  If you are looking to find Penzance on a more immediate basis, I would recommend visiting the Pipe Stud website run by Steve Fallon (www.pipestud.com) or heading over to Tin Bids and finding an auction for a tin or two (www.tinbids.com).  Yes, prepare to pay a premium, however, Penzance is typically available on one website or the other.

What can you expect in this blend?  Silky, smokey richness, that will coat your palate with tastes of wet earth, musty antique books, dried oak, and an over ripe natural fruit sweetness.  The aroma is reminiscent of an antique bookshop with a mix of black tea and damp pine woods.  This tobacco has been a favorite of mine for much of my pipe smoking journey, however, for 2024 I found my enjoyment for this glorious tobacco only exemplified.  If you have never tired Penzance I highly recommend doing so.  If you enjoy quality Balkan blends, this is a must especially if you can afford to splurge on the experience.  A true treasure tobacco.            

Tobacco #1 for 2024

Hearth & Home WhiteKnight

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Scandanavian Tobacco Group

Category: Balkan

Blend Components: Latakia; Oriental/Turkish; Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Coarse Cut

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $14.25 USD

Tobacco Notes:  Okay, first and foremost, I once again knew Hearth & Home’s WhiteKnight was my #1 pipe tobacco of 2024 well before any announcements about Sutliff and Mac Barren were made.  Knowing that two of the top five on my list will be phased out and no longer produced is extremely disheartening, however, if you have the opportunity to try this glorious mixture before it’s gone, do it!

Being a part of their Marquee Series, and blended by Russ Ouellette, WhiteKnight is produced to be a substitute for the Original Balkan Sobronie Smoking Mixture.  Unfortunately, I was not a pipe smoker during the time of the original Balkan Sobronie white label – in fact I don’t think I was born – however, many posts on tobaccoreviews.com and the Pipes & Cigars website attest to the amazing similarities this blend exhibits. 

Cool and slow burning with notes of earth, floral/herbs, natural tobacco sweetness, mild spice, and charred barrel/wood, this tobacco is in a class of its own.  The strength is medium and the body mild to medium.  No tongue bit and just a solid smoking experience, Hearth & Home’s WhiteKnight is my Pipe #1 tobacco of 2024!  If you are looking for an all-day smoke that offers a decent level of complexity, WhiteKnight is a definite win.  I’ve made sure my tobacco cellar is stocked and can only hope this tobacco is saved from the impeding tobacco cuts to come.           

Top Two Tobacco Disappointments of 2024

Disappointment #1 for 2024

Cornell & Diehl Small Batch Steamworks

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Cornell & Diehl 

Category: Oriental

Blend Components: Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia 

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Broken Flake

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $14.55 USD

Tasting Notes: Not sure because the three tins I’ve opened this year have been full of mold…. I have no words.  Get it together Cornell & Diehl.  What a complete waste…

Disappointment #2 for 2024

Sutliff Maple Shadows II

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Sutliff Tobacco Company

Category: Aromatic

Blend Components: Burley, Kentucky, Virginia

Flavorings: Maple

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: 8oz tin

Price: $23.04 USD 

Tasting Notes: I had high hopes for this blend as Sutliff tends to be up and up on their aromatic game, however, Maple Shadows fell way short for me.  The description reads, “…seasonal blend inspired by the eerier aspects of the Fall season. The blend is a rich and complex aromatic mixture of Black Cavendish and Dark-Fired Kentucky topped with sweet maple notes, creating a smooth smoking experience redolent with earthy spice and subtle sweetness.” I smoked several bowls and never got even an inclining of these flavors or essences.  Bland.  That’s the best way to describe this tobacco.  Bland and flavorless.  If I wanted a dry smoke that lacks flavor, I would reach for an over-the-counter drug store burley pouch tobacco (no insult intended to the pipe smokers who only smoke OTC pouches).  Ridiculous and a complete marketing trap.  This tobacco can just stay in the shadows.   

And that’s going to do it for my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2024.  Thank you again for visiting The Pipe Professorwebsite.  I hope you have enjoyed the list and stay tuned for more reviews and exciting content in 2025.  So, all my readers know, it’s my pipe smoking resolution to contribute to the website on a more regular and consistent basis.  Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me over the years.  I wholeheartedly appreciate your support.  As always, I hope each of you has a blessed new year and until next time, cheers!

* All tobacco/tin pictures and blend information (excluding tobacco notes) were taken from tobaccoreviews.com, tobaccopipes.com, pipesandcigars.com, and smokingpipes.com.  The writer of this post is not the owner of the above photos/blend information related to each tobacco and does not take credit for their creation. 

Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake

Summer of Sammy G Series – Tobacco #1

Established in 1792, Samuel Gawith tobacco company, an offshoot of Gawith Hoggarth and Company, is one of the oldest and most well-known producers of pipe tobacco and nasal snuffs in the world.  It comes as no surprise that their tobaccos have remained highly sought after by luxury tobacco enthusiast for 232 years.

As I came across a recent drop of their pipe tobacco blends on smokingpipes.com, I had a crazy idea to purchase one of each available tin and do a simultaneous review of the entire portfolio (or at least those I could access and purchase).  As of the writing of this review, the Samuel Gawith pipe tobacco portfolio, according to tobaccoreviews.com has included 117 blends since their inception.  For this Summer of Sammy G Series, I will be smoking through and reviewing 15 of these blends in search of the best of the best in their current production portfolio.    

The first tobacco we will examine in the Summer of Sammy G Series will be Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake.  For reference, I plan on doing pop-the-top tin reviews on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel and following up those initial impressions with a full review here on The Pipe Professor website once I finish each tin.  If you would like to view my Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake first impressions video prior to reading the following full review below, the video may be accessed here: https://youtu.be/Wfm-8KQZgFM?si=usBOVO2ZqfMwYdxN

Continue to check back as I will be posting reviews of the Samuel Gawith pipe tobaccos on a regular basis throughout the summer and beginning of fall. 

Info & Overview

Brand: Samuel Gawith

Category: Virginia

Blend Components: Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 50g tin or 250g bag

Price: $14.15 USD

On to the review…  

From the Tin: Beautiful presentation of thinly stacked dark brown flakes.  The colors of the tobacco remind me of a mosaic with hints of light and medium browns sprinkled throughout a canvas of rich, dark Virginia tobaccos.  The smell from the tin is a dry grassy straw barn with mild earth and dried prunes.  The flakes are extremely moist and need plenty of time to be prepared and dried out. 

Tasting Notes: The tobacco is very deep, dark, and rich for a Virginia flake.  When the name says full, they mean it.  The body and strength of the smoke were both in the full range with a noticeable nicotine punch being present.  Note, if you are a veteran tobacco user, and have established a nicotine tolerance, you will be fine, however, newbie pipe smokers be warned.  This one can, and does, pack a punch in the nicotine department.  

Flavors of the tobacco were very enjoyable with tastes of ripe dark fruits, earth, tangy citrus, and new oak barrel to match an aroma of baked brown sugar, biscuit/bread, and molasses. The tobacco burns down to a nice white, gray ash mix and due to the high moisture content level, this tobacco must be smoked with a slower cadence to avoid tongue bite.  There were several instances, when smoking, where my tongue reminded me that he is no superhero, and that I needed to slow down or pay the price.      

Overall Impression: Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake is a classic tobacco that continues to perform at a superior level.  With a market that is constantly being assaulted with new blends that are “the best ever” or “super rare and small batch” any sensible pipe smoker would be silly to not gravitate toward Full Virginia Flake.  I guarantee you won’t be dealing with mold issues due to poor manufacturing practices and will enjoy the savory smoke that this tobacco offers in every time.  I recommend that all pipe smokers try Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake at least once and am confident that more will be purchase once its classic characteristics are experienced.  I will certainly continue to have a few tins in my cellar for rotation and enjoyment for many years to come.  If you come across this tobacco, pick a tin or two up.  I believe you will be pleasantly surprised at the distinctions this tobacco has to offer.  Excellent start to the Summer of Sammy G Series!          

Tobacco Score: 4 out of 5 pipes

Interested in seeing the video review for this blend? Visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link for a first impressions video review of this tobacco: https://youtu.be/Wfm-8KQZgFM?si=usBOVO2ZqfMwYdxN

This review is a part of the Summer of Sammy G Pipe Tobacco Review Series.  More information on this project and other Samuel Gawith pipe tobacco reviews can be found here: https://youtu.be/bniYy0MJmwI?si=lBjqfkSe5iPcSnLB

Until next time, don’t forget to slow down, simplify, and smoke a pipe.  Cheers!

Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023   

We have finally arrived at the moment of truth.  The Pipe Professor’s Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023.  Those that follow The Pipe Professor webpage regularly (thank you!) know that there was no Top 5 Pipe Tobacco list for 2022.  Why?  The answer is two-fold.  Firstly, 2022 was without-a-doubt a cigar year for me.  I simply enjoyed many, many more cigars than pipe tobacco last year.  Did that trend reverse back to “normal” for 2023?  YES!  Secondly, in 2022, I purposefully focused on enjoying pipe tobacco blends that are regulars in my cellar and rotation.  Afterall, there’s no point in collecting, or “hoarding” as my wife would say, all these wonderful tobaccos if we are not planning to ever smoke and enjoy them.  That’s precisely what I did in 2022.

With that being said, I indeed managed to relish a fair amount of glorious pipe leaf in 2023.  Below I have outlined my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023 along with my 2 biggest disappointments.  Understandably, as I have often alluded to, taste and enjoyment of fine tobaccos, top shelf spirits, vintage wines, and gourmet foods, are completely subjective.  What I may enjoy in my bowl may be the complete opposite of what you enjoy.  And that’s ok!  In fact, that’s one of the characteristics that makes this hobby so enjoyable.  The variety and options of available pipe tobaccos on the market are more than any one individual could ever smoke in their lifetime (although I believe JimInks I is getting rather close—see tobaccoreviews.com for proof).  The point, if there is one, is to share my experiences in the hobby with each of you, in hopes that we can expand the dialogue around the pastime of pipe smoking that each of us enjoys.  Therefore, if you don’t agree with this list, that’s ok.  If you haven’t tried any of the tobaccos listed below, give them a go. If you’ve had similar or different experiences with each, leave a comment and let me know.  But, no matter what the outcome, please continue to love and support this amazing hobby and community.  If we don’t take care of that which we have been given responsibility, who will?  Someone took the time to protect this pastime, let us continue that sharing and celebration for many years to come.  Merry Christmas and happy new year!   

Without further ado, The Pipe Professor’s Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023! 

Tobacco #5 for 2023

Dan Tobacco Devil’s Holiday

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Dan Tobacco

Category: Aromatic

Blend Components: Black Cavendish; Virginia

Flavorings: Blackcurrant; Fruit

Cut Type: Coarse Cut

Available Packaging: 50g tin or 250g package

Price: $17.50 USD per 50g tin

Tobacco Notes:  Admittingly, I found this blend to be best enjoyed in my bulldog meerschaum pipe.  Smokers will immediately note the fruit/berry topping, which is a quality topping, not a generic cherry found in many OTC blends.  Further, similar to other Dan Tobacco blends, the Virginia tobaccos are of a higher quality than most aromatics on the market.  Essentially, this is a wonderful aromatic that will offer a sweet aroma while providing a savory grass note on the palate.  I’ve smoked several bowls in a single day and never experienced tongue bite.  If you are an anti-aromatic pipe smoker, I would encourage you to take the leap and give Dan Tobacco’s Devil’s Holiday a try.  This is easily an everyday smoke to be enjoyed by pipers and non-pipers alike (the room note is not offensive).  

Tobacco #4 for 2023

Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls 

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Peterson

Category: VaPer

Blend Components: Virginia; Perique

Flavorings: None 

Cut Type: Curly Cut/Coin

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $22.50 USD per 50g tin

Tobacco Notes: Rich grassy sweetness, bready, yeasty, with an undertone of brown sugar and molasses.  Peterson De Luxe Navy Rolls is a true treat!  This tobacco is what spirit enthusiasts would consider to be “top shelf” and that is further reflected in the price.  In fact, when it came down to finalizing my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos, price was one of the main reasons this tobacco didn’t find itself higher on this list.  Yes, this tobacco is pricey, but if you can afford adding a tin or two to your next order, do it.  I promise this is a very special blend that will deliver nothing but satisfaction for the rookie and veteran palates.  

Tobacco #3 for 2023

Presbyterian Ordained 

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Sutliff Tobacco Company  

Category: Virginia

Blend Components: Virgina

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $16.07 USD per 50g tin

Tobacco Notes:  To start, the “pop the top” video review of me sampling Presbyterian Ordained can be found here, or, you can read my full review here.  To summarize, this Virginia flake is indeed downright delicious!  The tobacco burns extremely well delivering a memorizing savory room note of vanilla cream, rich baking spices, with hints of a yeasty/fresh bakery sweetness.  Flavors you will experience include a grassy/hay opening, which continues throughout the smoke, a cashew nuttiness, and a finish of toasted vanilla wafer and brown sugar.  Something to note, and understandably one of the major reasons why I could not award a higher rank to this tobacco is its availability.  Although Presbyterian Ordained was in reasonable supply at the beginning of 2023, it is no longer available at the time of this writing.  I am not sure if Ordained was a limited release by Presbyterian or not, however, I would highly encourage Sutliff to not only bring this blend back to market, but also make it a regular production blend.  I was able to hold back about 8 tins total (I have smoked 4 ½ tins of Presbyterian Ordained thus far in 2023) and will be very intrigued to see how some age morphs this amazing blend into further bliss.  If someone from Sutliff happens across this post, from one pipe smoker to another, PLEASE!  PLEASE! PLEASE! Bring back the Presbyterian Ordained and make it a regular in your portfolio.       

Tobacco #2 for 2023

Boswell’s English Biscuit

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: J.M. Boswell  

Category: English

Blend Components: Latakia; Toasted Virginias; Cavendish

Flavorings: None listed, but I suspect a mild vanilla

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: bulk by the oz

Price: $5.35 per oz

Tobacco Notes:  I honestly do not believe Boswell’s tobacco gets enough credit in the pipe smoking community.  It seems that everyone who experiences Boswell’s tobaccos has a positive experience.  Truly, you never hear of anyone not finding a Boswell’s blend they don’t enjoy.  With that being said, I happened across this English (although I suspect it’s an English Aromatic) in September of this year.  Since finding this blend, I can’t get enough as I have almost smoked through a full pound.  I must admit that I have, and continue to, enjoy this blend most in a cob.  Specifically, my Missouri Meerschaum Charlestown Cobbler.  This tobacco is unique in that it has many flavor layers throughout smoking.  You can expect to experience a rich campfire essence, tangy, earthy, and mild sugary cream notes on the palate.  The aroma is mesmerizing and would not overly offensive to a non-smoker.  I do detect slight vanilla and warm baked butter notes on the nose/room note which makes me suspect there is some type of light topping added to the tobacco, however, upon researching the Boswell’s webpage, nothing is noted that would indicate this to be accurate.  Either way, Boswell’s English Biscuit is a very enjoyable tobacco that will be sure to please your palate, regardless of if you are an aromatic junky, VaPer snob, or crotchety English codger.  Pick some up.  I guarantee you will be quick to order more!        

Tobacco #1 for 2023

Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Cornell & Diehl 

Category: Balkan

Blend Components: Latakia; Oriental/Turkish; Perique

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Flake

Available Packaging: 2oz tin

Price: $11.90 USD per 2oz tin

Tobacco Notes:  Ok, first and foremost, we must bring forward the fact that this tobacco is indeed, not a flake.  Cornell & Diehl is notorious for claiming many of the tobaccos in their portfolio to be flakes, however, Sunset Harbor Flake is not an actual flake (like Dunhill Flake or Samuel Gawith Full Virgin Flake or Presbyterian Ordained Flake).  At some point in the production process, this tobacco very well may have been in flake form, but do not be surprised upon opening a tin, when you are met with very, very broken flake pieces.  Now, does this affect the overall product?  Absolutely not!  But I would ask that C&D stop calling tobaccos flakes that are not in flake form….What is Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor flake?  An exceptionally flavorful, well-balanced smoke.  In fact, C&D Sunset Harbor Flake is indeed downright delicious.  Often wine drinkers will talk about the balance in a wine.  Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake is precisely that, balanced.  The strength, the body, the nicotine, the aroma, and the flavors offered are a delectable harmony for the pipe smoker.  Once again, like many blends listed above, and on my past lists, this tobacco was most enjoyed in my Rusticated/Craggy Peterson Meerschaum straight billiard pipe. 

Since finding this perfect pair of pipe and tobacco, I now exclusively smoke C&D Sunset Harbor Flake in my Peterson Meerschaum.  It truly is a match made in Heaven.  Flavors (Tastes + Aroma) that you can expect from this tobacco are campfire smoke, perique spice, frothy cream cheese, woody/earth, and a ginger citrus zest.  Very complex and best enjoyed with intentionality and focus.  Further, the tobacco burns slow resulting in a cool, dry smoke that lingers on the palate for a long finish well past finishing the bowl.  I honestly took a random chance on this tobacco after seeing Mike, from the Pipe & Tamper Podcast, post a picture of the blend on his Instagram raving about how good.  So, if you happen to read this Mike, thank you for exposing myself and others to a wonderful tobacco.  Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake is an extraordinary tobacco that is much deserving of The Pipe Professor’s #1 tobacco of 2023.         

Top Two Tobacco Disappointments of 2023

Disappointment #1 for 2023

John Cotton’s Double Press Creme

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Sutliff 

Category: Aromatic

Blend Components: Black Cavendish; Virginia

Flavorings: Vanilla

Cut Type: Krumble Kake

Available Packaging: 50g tin

Price: $15.55 USD per 50g tin

Tasting Notes: Full of sweet vanilla cake flavors and wonderful baking fragrance aromas this tobacco is not.  You read that correctly.  Those flavors do not exist in this tobacco.  In fact, not many tastes are apparent at any point.  Further, when I read vanilla to be one of the toppings added, I would at least expect to find hints lingering in the room note.  Nope.  This tobacco is truly not much of anything.  Granted, the tin krumble kake presentation is very eye appealing but similar to women, it’s only looks that are pleasing.  Further, what makes this even harder for me to accept is the fact that I’ve generally had wonder experiences with the John Cotton lines, with John Cotton’s Number1 being my #1 Pipe Tobacco in 2017.  The Double Pressed Crème, not so much.  And for the price, there are many other great tobaccos on the mark to choose from.  Take my failures with this blend as your wisdom in tobacco selection and pass on this blend.  Nothing to be missed.  

Disappointment #2 for 2023

7-20-4 Briary Blends Boston Tea Party

Info & Overview

Manufacturer: Cornell & Diehl for Briary Blends 

Category: Burley

Blend Components: Burley, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia

Flavorings: None

Cut Type: Ribbon

Available Packaging: 2oz tin

Price: $15.00 USD per 2oz tin

Tasting Notes: Similar to other tobaccos on this list, I came across this blend while swiping through Instagram.  Not having had a Briary Blend tobacco before, I reached out to the Briary Tobacconist store and placed an order for a few tins.  All I can say is, I just don’t get this one?  It’s not that the blend is flawed or has a problem, it’s just….bland.  I have smoked almost an entire tin of Boston Tea Party and have never experienced any amazing flavors or distinctions listed in the description, not even once.  According to the tin, Boston Tea Party “begins with a medium-bodied feel, slowly increasing to a medium-full as you progress down the bowl. Hints of cedar and nuts are accompanied by sweet hay and citrus flavors. A nutty, caramel-like sweetness rounds it out with a pleasant black tea flavor on the finish. A bright and flavorful blend that evokes the spirit of New England.”  Every bit of this sounds right up my alley when it comes to flavor, but none of it exists when smoking.  At least not to my palate.  Maybe I’m missing something, however, this blend just has not hit any of the right notes with me.  Now, I do have a few tins put away in my cellar, and will certainly revisit it in future years, but as for now, 7-20-4 Briary Blends Boston Tea Party is no party at all.  Just another silly “revolution” in the vast world of pipe tobaccos.        

And that’s going to do it for my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos for 2023.  Thank you again for visiting The Pipe Professor website.  I hope you have enjoyed my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023 and please stay tuned for more reviews and exciting content in 2024.  As always, I hope each of you has a blessed new year and until next time, cheers!

* All tobacco/tin pictures and blend information (excluding tobacco notes) were taken from tobaccoreviews.com, tobaccopipes.com, watchcitycigars.com, and smokingpipes.com.  The writer of this post is not the owner of the above photos/blend information related to each tobacco and does not take credit for their creation. 

A Pipe Smoker’s Inquiry: How I Determine my Top 5 Lists

I must admit that I find this time of year both interesting and exciting, not only because of the holidays, but also because of the finality the calendar year brings.  And in the most unique circumstance, this closure prompts individuals and organizations to reflect upon the items, goods, and services most enjoyed over the course of our journey around the sun. 

Although we could question why the end of the year is utilized for such peculiar behavior, I would be regressive in this writing to entertain such inquiries.  Therefore, I will rejoin the conversation topic by stating how much I enjoy seeing and reading these Top 10, Top 25, Greatest of All Time, Best of Year, etc., lists.  Do these “expert” lists influence my own purchasing in any fashion?  Admittedly, sure.  However, I find it somewhat fun to entertain what others have found satisfying over the twelve-month time continuum.

With that being said, I too enjoy creating and contributing to this semi-absurd behavior with my own Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos, Top 5 Cigars, and My Favorite Things columns.  As a side note, if you haven’t read or seen my videos related to these topics, feel free to browse The Pipe Professor website, or visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel for more content.  

As I currently work to narrow down my selections for each category, I figured it would be fun, to share with each of you, how I go about narrowing my top five choices and explain the process in a smidge greater detail.  Before beginning, I do want to preface that this is my method, and in no shape, form, or fashion do I consider it to be the best or most reliable.  Arguably, all of these lists and awards are no more than opinioned indexes of goods (in which some companies pay to ensure their name brand item appears on the lists).  Do note, that although I have had companies contact me regarding payment for review of their product(s), I have never been paid, or allowed the offer, to influence any of The Pipe Professor Top 5 lists/reviews. I always give my honest opinion.  

Now that we have discussed an overview, and attempted to examine the “why” of this unique pastime, let’s get into the details of how I pick my Top 5.  I came to the determination long ago that if I waited until the exact end of the year to determine my Top 5 lists, the tobaccos, cigars, and spirits that hit the market in late fall, early winter, were not given a fair “shake” as I had not been able to enjoy them throughout the year similar to other products.  Because of this fact, I now make October 31st, Halloween, the cut-off for allowing new tobaccos to be considered for the current year’s list.  To break it down further, any tobacco that is released in November or December becomes a part of the upcoming year’s contender list.  This allows me to enjoy the tobacco for more than a few weeks before making a final assessment.  Yes, there have been exceptions to this rule depending on specific circumstances, however, more often than not, I have a hard stop on adding new tobaccos for consideration after October.  What happens from here?  Great question, and I’m glad you are still interested in reading a piece about how this process works.  Seriously.  You are still reading?  Thank you!

From this point, I utilize the entire month of November, and approximately half of December, to smoke through the tobaccos and blends I found to be very enjoyable throughout the year.  If you keep up with The Pipe Professor rating scales, any tobacco or cigar that scores five pipes or boxes, is automatically placed in the Top 5 running by making the final December cut (more explanation to come).  Pipe tobacco blends and cigars that score four on the rating system (or 4.5 in some cases) are entered into the “first round” of elimination (November round).  These are the tobaccos I smoke first, with the goal of determining which are the best and could stand up to any five-star blends.  On most years there are only two or three blends, if that many, that will move on to the second round (this is a very tough competition – only the strong survive).  From there, I begin to smoke each blend on a rotating basis utilizing a cob, briar, and meerschaum pipes.  Over the course of approximately four weeks, each blend gets smoked a minimum of three times with five total bowls of each blend being the average.  As the blends are smoked in rotation, there are always a few that stand out from the rest of the pack, and easily make it into the top five.  However, as in years such as 2023, there have been several blends fighting for one or two spots in my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos list (same for the cigars).  Here is a breakdown of the numbers from this year for reference:

Pipe Tobacco

Total # of different pipe tobacco blends smoked this year: 36

Total # that made the November cut: 11

Total # of pipe tobaccos that received a 5-star rating this past year: 4 

Total # of pipe tobaccos remaining at the start of December: 7

Note: three blends carried forward from the initial eleven in the first round – four automatically made the final round (five star rating) for a total of seven top five contenders.

Cigars

Total # of cigars smoked this year: 137

Total # that made the November cut: 14

Total # of cigars that received a 5-star rating this past year: 6

Total # of cigars remaining at the start of December: 10 

Note: four cigars carried forward from the initial fourteen in the first round – six automatically made the final round (five star ratings) for a total of ten top 5 contenders. 

In order to clarify things further, if a tobacco blend or cigar received a 5-star rating during the year, it guarantees the product makes the final December cut. However, it does not automatically qualify it for a final Top 5 spot.  In fact, once the final smoking and elimination begins (December round), all previous ratings are disregarded, and the open assessment progress begins.  Secondly, although the final round for determination begins in December(*), the reality is it actually starts the weekend after Thanksgiving.  This allows breathing room in the calendar and more time for me to thoroughly narrow the lists.  

To provide some foreshadowing on this past year’s countdown, there were seven total pipe tobaccos that made the cut to December*.  Out of these seven tobaccos, three were a definite on the list, one was comfortable but not guaranteed, and the other three were all jockeying hard to ensure their name made the Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023.  If I were to attempt an explanation at the amusement and joy I get from having these blends “battle it out”, the readers of this writing would probably call for a psychoanalysis of my mental stability.  No fear, I only mildly answered and/or responded to myself when talking through ratings aloud.  

Traveling to the cigar side, we find the story to be a bit different from the pipe tobacco showdown.  For the cigars, there were only ten that made the cut into my December* finals.  This should let you know that although there were several really good cigars I smoked this year, a majority of them were just that…good…not great. Out of the 10 making the finals, only two had guaranteed spots on the Top 5 Cigars of 2023 list (spoiler – when the lists publish, they are cigars #1 and #2 of the year on the list) with eight others fighting it out to take the final three spots.  In all honesty, any of these eight cigars would be worthy to be on the list, however, at The Pipe Professor website, we put on the big boy britches and make the final cuts!  

There we have it.  Without going into extremes, this is the general process for how I determine my Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos and Top 5 Cigars each year.  Is it a flawless process?  Heck no.  Is it something I find fun to do each year?  Absolutely!  And, for those choosing to follow along, below is a schedule for when the lists will be released on The Pipe Professor website and YouTube channel.     

Top 5 Cigars of 2023: Friday, December 8th

Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2023: Friday, December 15th

My Favorite Things 2023 Edition: Friday, December 22nd (The Pipe Professor website only)

Pipe, Cigars, and Tobacco New Year’s Resolutions: Friday, January 5th

That’s going to do it for this post.  Thank you sticking with it and I hope you will join me in the coming weeks as we celebrate the great gifts of 2023 and prepare ourselves for a vibrant start to a new year.  In the meantime, I hope each of you has a wonderfully fulfilling holiday season and don’t forget to slow down, simplify, and smoke a pipe (or cigar)!

Cheers!

Video explanation of the process can be found here: https://youtu.be/-4rwVhCbmbA?si=S85gUWkmpuIOBs8R

Montecristo Espada Guard   

Made at the Plasencia factory in Nicaragaua, the Montecristo Espada Guard is certainly a cigar with style and class. Available in beautiful 10 count boxes, the Montecristo Espada is part of the ever-growing Altadis USA portfolio. From the Altadis USA website: 

“Constructed with 100% vintage Nicaraguan tobaccos specially aged by the Plasencia family and expertly blended by the world famous Grupo de Maestros, Espada by Montecristo offers a bold, spicy and deeply satisfying smoke. Espada, which means “sword” in Spanish, is the first Montecristo with all of its tobacco coming from Nicaragua – a country celebrated for its robust and mellow tobaccos. Espada by Montecristo is a cigar of pure taste and true elegance”.

Being named to Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 (number 20) in 2015, I found this cigar catching my eye while at my local Brick & Mortar store this past week. Let’s find out what this sword swinging stick is all about.

On to the review….

Montecristo Espada Guard Attributes

Size: Toro (Guard)

Length: 6 

Ring Gauge: 50

Wrapper: Habano Jalapa Vintage 2010

Binder: Habano Jalapa Vintage 2009

Filler: Habano Jalapa Vintage 2008; Ometepe 2008; Condega 2008

Country: Nicaragua (Plasencia)

Price: $16.20 USD each

Aesthetics [Construction/Shelf-Appeal/Pre-light]: The Montecristo Espada is almost completely covered with bands, three in total. I’m typically leery of bands covering most of a cigar’s body as you never know what is to be found upon removal (like a Christmas present), however, after removal of foot band and middle band, the cigar showed a nice milk chocolate colored wrapper with several veins throughout. The cigar’s cap was perfectly rounded, and no soft spots were found as I rolled the cigar through my fingers. The foot was jam packed and the pre-light smell was of rich tobacco with feeble woody notes. Cold draw was loose and showed very faint tastes of sweet wood.

Performance [Draw/Burn]: The draw of the cigar was perfect and easy throughout the entire smoking experience showing almost no resistance. The smallest of draws produced a lot of creamy white smoke, and I would classify the cigar as medium/full in body. Burn was wavy throughout the entire smoke and required several touch-ups and one re-light. Ash was a flakey mix of light and dark greys.  I did use a V-Cut for this cigar due to the perfectly rounded cap. The Montecristo Espada was a medium strength smoke.   

Flavor [Tastes/Aroma]: Throughout the smoking experience I mainly encountered heavy black walnut and dry wood characteristics with leather, faith vanilla, a meaty chewiness, and sweet cedar aromas finding their way to my senses.  Not overly complex in the flavors and easily detected tastes were evident throughout smoking the cigar.

Overall Impressions [Value/Experience/Pairing]: My final assessment of the cigar is best summarized as solid. The cigar isn’t amazing, but it’s also far from awful. It’s a market solid cigar that will no doubt be consistent for those finding the flavor profile to fit their wants and needs. The biggest hinderance for me is the price tag. At the higher end of the premium level ($16.00) I can easily find other Nicaraguan puros that will give me a more enjoyable smoking experience. Is this cigar bad? No. Would it be better if the price tag was dropped? Absolutely! In fact, if this cigar were a $10.00 to $12.00 cigar, I would probably smoke it on a regular basis.

For reference, I paired the Montecristo Espada with black coffee and water, therefore, no pairing report was noted. 

Cigar Score: 3 out of 5 boxes

Rating Chart Reference

Top 5 Cigars of 2022

Have you ever felt drawn to one form of tobacco over another?  Or, to put the question straight forward, do you ever find yourself having stretches where you gravitate more toward cigars, or more toward pipe smoking, or even periods of dry nasal snuff use?  Without a doubt, I do.  In fact, 2022, for the most part, has been a cigar smoking year for me.  Why?  I don’t know, however, as of the writing of this piece, I have smoked over 197 cigars since April 2022.  That roughly equates to approximately 5 cigars per week for 37 straight weeks.  Is that too many?  For some folks that may seem extreme, whereas for others, they may enjoy five cigars per day.  

Similar to the subjectivity associated with tasting tobacco, the quantity of tobacco products one enjoys should be their own preference.  With that being said, I do support the belief that moderation must be followed, not just with tobacco, but in all aspects of life.  Regardless, no matter your thoughts on quantity, the question we are addressing with this list is the quality of cigars.  Below, I have presented my Top 5 Cigars for 2022.  Although the list could have easily been extended to include 25 cigars, I feel that anything past five just becomes grouped into a larger pool of good quality smokes.  The five cigars presented below have consistently battled their way into the top spots, or in some cases, held the lead from the get-go to prove their worth, and I highly recommend readers of The Pipe Professor website make it a point to try each stick. 

Before moving on, I will admit that although I have very much enjoyed cigars for the better part of this year, I am now trending back to my pipes and tobaccos.  To be completely forthright, I have been enjoying dry nasal snuff more than any other time in my luxury tobacco journey.  With that being said, I will present my Top 5 Nasal Snuffs on Friday, December 23rd and Top 5 Pipe Tobaccos of 2022 on Friday, December 30th here at The Pipe Professor website.  Stay tuned for the next few Fridays!

Without further ado, here are my Top 5 Cigars for 2022. 

Cigar #5:  Padilla 88 Anniversario Robusto

Manufacturer: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez (Ernesto Padilla) 

LH: 5

RG: 52

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Havana

County of Origin: Nicaragua

Price: $12.35 ea., $117 Box of 10

Notes:  The Padilla 88 Anniversario Robusto was #21 on the 2021 Cigar Aficionado Top 25, which is where I learned of its existence. The following is from the Cigar Aficionado website, “this cigar was created to honor the 88th birthday of his father Heberto Padilla, a famed Cuban poet who was imprisoned in 1971 for criticizing the Cuban government, sparking what became known as “The Padilla Affair.” The smoke is gorgeous, made in Nicaragua by A.J. Fernandez, with a beautiful Ecuador Havana wrapper and a touch of Pelo d’Oro filler in the blend, a fickle seed varietal that’s tough to grow.” I found that it was not always easy to locate this cigar and just received a restock earlier in December.  Prior to that, I only had the two five packs that I purchased in early 2021 and have had to ration accordingly.  However, the Padilla 88 Anniversario Robusto is a wonderful cigar and worth the hunt.

Tasting Notes: Tasting notes include, earth, dark chocolate, honey, damp forest floor, and leather.  It is to be noted that this cigar does pack a punch in the nicotine department and is not for the faint of heart.  Seasoned cigar smokers should be fine, newbies be warned.   

Cigar #4:  Aladino Queens Perfecto

Manufacturer: Aladino (JRE Tobacco Company, Julio R. Eiroa)

LH: 5 ¼ 

RG: 46

Binder: Honduran

Filler: Honduran

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut 

County of Origin: Honduras

Price: $6.75 ea., $125.00 Box of 20

Notes:  From the 2guyscigars website, the “JRE Tobacco is a family centered company, founded by Julio R. Eiroa and his son Justo M. Eiroa, together they manage all aspects of the cigar growing and manufacturing for your enjoyment. This is a crop to shop operation as we like to call it. As the premier Corojo grower in the industry, Julio Eiroa, Master Cigar Blender and Tobacco grower, guarantees that all their brands will provide you the opportunity to enjoy an Authentic Corojo taste, the same as cigars from the 1960’s.” Making a debut in April of 2019, the Aladino Connecticut line includes four sizes, Churchill (7 x 52), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), and the Queens (5 ¼ x 46).  To be completely honest, if I had to pick a line of cigars that would qualify as the “line” or “brand” of the year, it would be Aladino.  The Aladino Corojo Reserve #4 was a very close candidate to making this list, but the Queens was able to squeeze in the win at the end.  

Tasting Notes: The Aladino Queens is a very soft subtle smoke that offers notes of rich buttered toast, vanilla cream, mild earth, fresh dried grasses, and wheated graham cracker.  

Cigar #3:  Montecristo Edmundo Tubo

Manufacturer: Habanos S.A. 

LH: 5 3/8 

RG: 52

Binder: Cuba

Filler: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

County of Origin: Cuba

Price: $38.00 ea., $540 Box of 15 (5 Cartons of 3)

Notes:  According to the Cigar Aficionado website the Montecristo Edmundo, “was introduced in the spring of 2004, but it has only recently begun to come into its own. The cigar measures 5 3/8 inches long by 52 ring gauge and is produced primarily in the H. Upmann factory, which is in the neighborhood of Nuevo Vedado in Havana.” It is true that Cuban cigars carry an inconsistency not typically found in new world sticks, but the Montecristo Edmundo Tubo consistently fired on all cylinders this year and offered its own special smoking experience unlike any other cigars I smoked.    

Tasting Notes: The Montecristo Edmundo showed notes of salted cashews, leather, hay, assam tea, cedar, and sweet cocoa powder. Although there were times when the burn would be wavy on one of the sticks, the overall satisfaction I gained from the cigar was not just enjoyable, it was memorable, and I am glad I now have enough put back in my collection to rotate in these memories for the next few years.  

Cigar #2:  Bandolero Firecracker

Manufacturer: Select Tobaccos (Nelson Alfonso) 

LH: 3 ½ 

RG: 50

Binder: Ecuador

Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Undisclosed

Wrapper: Ecuador

County of Origin: Costa Rica

Price: $9.00 ea., $180.00 Box of 20

Notes:  From The Cigar Authority website, “In 2006, from the creative mind of David Garofalo, the Firecracker line was born. The first cigar on the market with a long piece of tobacco at the head was shaped like a ‘wick’ or ‘fuse’ to capture the name of the line; Firecracker. After a few years on the market, the limited release Firecrackers came to life as United Cigars collaborated with a new manufacturer every year to create a celebration cigar for the nation’s Independence Day.  This year in 2022, United Cigars tabbed Nelson Alfonso and Selected Tobacco to produce the limited edition cigar of which only 1,000 boxes of 20 have been made. The regular production Bandolero is available in three different series, but the Firecrackers pulls from two them to create this unique cigar. The blend for the Bandolero Firecracker is derived from the Clandestino line (Series C) that uses filler leaves from Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and undisclosed tobaccos. The filler is held together with an Ecuadorian binder and a dark Ecuadorian wrapper that is typically used on the Aventureros line (Series A).”  I will admit that I have purchased more boxes of Bandolero Firecrackers than any other brand or line this year.  The cigar is a pure superstar and I wish it would become a regular production stick. Nothing against any of the other cigars in the Bandolero portfolio, however, the Firecracker is a super flavorful, slow smoking stick that is the most consistent cigar I have ever smoked.

Tasting Notes: This little stick yielded big flavors with notes of earth, cedar, mild black pepper, raisins/figs, black coffee, and molasses.   

2022 Cigar of the Year:  Atabey Delirios

Manufacturer: Select Tobaccos (Nelson Alfonso) 

LH: 5 ¾

RG: 55

Binder: Undisclosed

Filler: Undisclosed

Wrapper: Undisclosed

County of Origin: Costa Rica

Price: $32.00 ea., $799.00 Box of 25

Notes:  From the 2guyscigars website, “the name Atabey has ties to the Taino Indians and the cigar culture. It all began with Cohiba which referred to the circle the tribe would gather in to pray. They would offer their prayers to the leader known as Behike who in turn would deliver those prayers to the Goddess Atabey. Atabey Cigars comes to us from Nelson Alfonso and is made in Costa Rica where the blend is only known by a select few.”  I honestly came across this cigar by accident when I was in Liquor Barn picking up some delicious wines and spirits.  Like any good cigar aficionado, I always take a gander at the humidor before heading to the checkout.  The Atabey line was on full display that day, and although carrying a hefty price tag, I decided to pick up three different sizes to give the line a try.  My palate is surely glad I did, my wallet, not so much.  Atabey cigars not only taste incredible, but they also perform/burn phenomenally, and are masterfully crafted with beautiful golden wrappers, offering the seasoned smoker a perfect smoking experience.    

Tasting Notes: The Atabey Delirios are buttered cream, sweet molasses, dried grains, bready yeast, and fresh yellow cake. Fantastic smoke that has truly elevated the bar for what a quality cigar should be. Without a doubt, the Atabey Delirios is The Pipe Professor’s 2022 Cigar of the Year.

That will do it for my 2022 Top 5 Cigars.  If you would like to watch the video presentation of these Top 5 cigars, please visit The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/Ve5XwpQQNv0   

Stay tuned for the Top 5 Nasal Snuffs and Pipe Tobaccos in the upcoming weeks.  As always, thank you for visiting The Pipe Professor webpage and I hope you find you way back soon. 

Cheers!

Rocky Patel Sixty

Created to celebrate Rocky Patel’s 60th birthday in 2021, the Rocky Patel Sixty pulls out all the stops to honor the man, myth, and legend in the cigar industry, Rocky Patel.  Aged a minimum of 2 years in the Rocky Patel headquarters after being rolled, these cigars are said to have some of the oldest tobaccos in the Rocky Patel warehouse portfolio.  For detailed information and videos of Rocky and his team creating the Sixty line of cigars, visit the Rocky Patel website at: https://www.rockypatel.com/cigar-campaigns/sixty-by-rocky-patel/  

On to the review….

Video Review: If you would like to watch the video review of the Rocky Patel Sixty, please visit the following link.  While there, don’t forget to like and subscribe!

Rumble: https://rumble.com/v185u62-rocky-patel-sixty-cigar-review.html

Rocky Patel Sixty Attributes

Size: Gordo (Boxed Press)

Length: 6 

Ring Gauge: 60

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres (Maduro)

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Country: Nicaragua (Rocky Patel Factory)

Price: $18.00 USD each

Aesthetics (Construction/Shelf-Appeal):  Three beautifully detailed bands almost completely cover the cigar. Very eye appealing from the consumer’s point-of-view with gold embossing and excellent color scheme.  Very dark, smooth, maduro wrapper, however, the cigar felt light or under filled in my hand. Fantastic square box press with nice tight visible seams. Cap was a triple seam and overall cigar was beautifully made.  

Performance (Draw/Burn): Very, very loose draw, to the point that it was a wind tunnel requiring no effort to smoke. Burn was extremely wavy throughout the smoking experience needing to be touched up several times. Ash was a wonderful white with mixed of gray sprinkled throughout.  Smoke was a thick, soft, creamy white.

Flavor (Tastes/Aroma/Body/Strength): Cold draw was a dark fruit raisin taste accompanied by a small hint of earth and spice. Smoking taste profile noted cereal, buttermilk biscuits, earth, wood, and leather.  Aroma was woody and savory with a creamy, soft texture. Body was full throughout the smoking experience and the strength I would classify as medium.

Overall Impressions (Value/Experience/Pairing): The Rocky Patel Sixty is a very good cigar, however, the size, looseness of the draw, price, and burn issues do not justify a second purchase for me, at least at the Gordo size.  These characteristics make it seem that the cigar was under-filled and a bit expensive in the pricing category. The tastes were nicely refined, and I did enjoy the body to strength smoking ratio. I do plan to try this cigar in the robusto format and hope some of the performance issues are resolved with the smaller size.

I paired my Rocky Patel Sixty with a Versailles Brewing Company (VBC) Legit Kentucky Cream Ale. The beer and cigar paired well together with the beer offering an opposing balance to the heavy flavors and body the cigar presented on its close. The VBC Legit was crisp and refreshing, with nice light malty flavors and plenty or carbonation. It reminded me of a nice refreshing champagne. 

I’m glad I was able to try the Rocky Patel Sixty and was able to confirm that the larger ring gauge cigars are not for me. I do look forward to trying the Sixty in other vitolas but will not be picking up any more of the 60 ring gauge samples.  

Cigar Score: 3 out of 5 boxes

Aladino Corojo Reserva

Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto

Sometimes you happen upon a diamond in the rough.  Indeed, that is the case for me and the Aladino cigar line.  I cannot recall exactly when, or where, I saw the brand for the first time, however, admittedly, the simple labeling and packaging reminded me of some familiar Habanos S.A. brands for a time long gone (old Montecristo bands).  Anyhow, I decided to pick up a few different options of the Aladino line at my local tobacconist and give them a try.  Before going any further, let me be clear, I have yet to be disappointed with the cigars in this brand.    

Aladino cigars are produced by the JRE Tobacco company, a father/son operation dedicated to growing and producing the best Corojo cigars from Honduras.  The following message about the company and their mission can be found on the JRE webpage (https://www.jretobacco.com) and reads as follows: 

“JRE Tobacco is a family centered company, founded by Julio R. Eiroa and his son Justo M. Eiroa, together they manage all aspects of the cigar growing and manufacturing for your enjoyment.  This is a crop to shop operation as we like to call it.  We are fully committed to providing sustained quality and satisfaction on every Aladino, Rancho Luna and Tatascan we make.  This self-impossed standard covers the entire cigar manufacturing process.  Our commitment to quality and consumer satisfaction is never compromised or circumvented.  As the premier Corojo grower in the industry, I, Julio Eiroa, Master Cigar Blender and Tobacco grower, guarantee that all our brands will provide you the opportunity to enjoy an authentic Corojo taste, the same as cigars from the 1960s.  Join us on this journey and be part of a history-making cigar smoking experience like no other.”

The Aladino Corojo Reserva portfolio contains the following sizes and are readily available at your local brick and mortar store or friendly online tobacconist.

  • Corona 5 x 44 (Limited Production)
  • Robusto 5 x 50
  • Toro 6 x 52
  • Box Pressed Figurado 6 ¼ x 54 (Limited Production)

On to the review….

Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto Attributes

Size: Robusto

Length: 5  

Ring Gauge: 50

Wrapper: Honduran Corojo

Binder: Honduran Corojo

Filler: Honduran Corojo

Country: Honduras

Price: $11.50 USD ea./$215.00 Box of 20

Pre-light Inspection: Although the bands are simple in nature, the tissue paper added to the body of the cigar gives the consumer a feel of delicate elegance.  The cigar’s wrapper had a few veins running throughout and the cigar was very firm to the touch yielding no soft spots.  The cigar displayed a Colorado colored wrapper leaf and the cap on this example was an uneven, lumpy, double seam.  The cold smell showed sweet cedar and chocolate notes and the cold draw was medium tight with cold sweet notes of fresh Earth. 

Opening and First Third:  Cigar opened with a bold spice and lots of thick, full, white smoke.  The draw gave almost perfect resistance, and the burn did require a touch up, however, nothing that would negatively impact the cigar’s overall performance.  Tastes in the first third noted an earthy forward taste with touches of cocoa powder and splashes of pepper spice (similar to a clove). Aroma was outstanding, yielding sweet, creamy, bready notes.  Cigar’s strength and body were both medium/full moving to the full range.

Second Third: The second third of my Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto continued to have a magnificent aroma of sweet cream and baked deserts.  Truly wonderful!  The burn on the cigar continued to be wavy but did not require any touch-ups.  The pepper and spiciness of the cigar enhanced during the second third with the chocolate/cocoa tastes fading away.  The earth notes remained solid, and a minor floral note began to appear as the cigar moved into the final third.  Body of the cigar remained medium/full while the strength of the cigar actually pulled back to be straight medium.  

Final Third: The final third of my Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto was nothing short of amazing.  The aroma continued to be memorizing with its creamy, baked sugar sweetness.  The Earthy tasting note persisted throughout the entire smoke and was truly the foundation for the cigar’s flavor profile.  Notes of mint and chocolate splashed in and out during the final third and a very, but pleasant, buttered, nutty sweetness started to stand out near the finale.  Cigar closed more toward full in body with continued mouthfuls of creamy, thick, white smoke, and the strength I would classify as a solid medium.  The burn remained wavy and required two more touch-ups to close out the smoking experience.  

Overall Impressions: Overall, I must admit that the Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto is very much in the running for my 2022 Cigar of the Year.  The cigar has just enough complexity to remain interesting, while offering a very enjoyable smoking experience.  I would be remiss to not tell everyone that I have indeed ordered a full 20 count box of this cigar as it is very much box worthy.  If you are looking to get someone into cigar smoking, or would like to impress a guest with a quality cigar without breaking the bank, the Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto is a perfect match for you.  Pick some up and give them a try for yourself.  It will be a guarantee payback on your investment of time and money.    

Cigar Score: 4 out of 5 boxes

A full video review of the Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto cigar can be found on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/qHXuCzMw5fw

Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Cigar Review

Pappy Van Winkle Tradition

Happy National Cigar Day!  Or at least I think I read that somewhere… Even if it’s not, we have beautiful weather in my part of the world, and a lazy Sunday calls for a good cigar.  

Most of us probably associate Pappy Van Winkle as one of the most sought-after, high-end bourbons in the world.  Admittingly, I have had the fortune of sampling some 10-year-old Pappy and although it was very smooth, it’s by far, not the best bourbon I’ve ever had.  As we will note later in this review, don’t get caught off guard by the hype associated with a brand name.  

With that being said, the Pappy Van Winkle line is rolled and produced by Drew Estate Cigars at La Gran Fabrica in Esteli, Nicaragua.  The Tradition line debuted in 2018 and includes the following vitolas:

  • Corona 5 ½ x 44 (Exclusive-not marketed)
  • Coronita 4 x 46 ($15.00)
  • Robusto Grande 5 ½ x 54 ($22.00)
  • Belicoso Fino 5 x 50 ($25.00)
  • Toro 6 x 50 (Exclusive-not marketed)
  • Churchill 7 x 48 ($24.00)

The Tradition line is the second release in the Pappy Van Winkle Cigar portfolio, with the first being Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented.  I was a bit worried that being produced by Drew Estate, the company would attempt to infuse some type of bourbon flavoring into the cigars, similar to their Acid line, however, this is certainly not the case.  So, let’s jump in and see what the Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Cigar is all about.     

On to the review….

Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Attributes

Size: Robusto Grande

Length: 5 ½   

Ring Gauge: 54

Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano Oscuro

Binder: Indonesia

Filler: Dominican Republic; Nicaragua

Country: Nicaragua

Price: $22.00 USD

Pre-light Inspection: Cold smell yields a nice rich tobacco and earthy barnyard mix.  The wrapper is a medium to light brown in appearance with minimal veins.  Cap is pristine and the large double bands display a picture similar to the bourbon outlined in a cardinal red.  Cold draw did not yield any specific tastes and the draw seemed initially tight. 

Opening and First Third:  The cigar opened with a spicey black pepper and moved its way into a leathery dry toast.  First third was medium in both strength and body.  The burn a bit wavy but needed no touch-ups producing a very pure white powdery ash.  The draw was not tight as I though on the pre-light and instead could be defined as effortless. 

Second Third: Moving into the second third, I had to remove the first, smaller, label identifying the cigar as Tradition.  I was very careful to remove the band, however, the cigar started to split once the band was removed and continued this trend the remainder of the smoking experience.  Tastes continued to show a nice toastiness that was complemented in the room note.  The aroma, coupled with the toast, reminded me of a nice bakery.  There was an awkward metallic taste note that sporadically appeared in the second third.  A mild hint of soft red wine, similar to a pinot noir, appeared at the end of the second third and my hopes were that this continued into the last part of the smoke.  Body and strength continued to be medium and the burn was very wavy due to the split wrapper.     

Final Third: I ended up touching the cigar up heading into the final third in hopes of stopping the split.  This did help initially, but the cigar had to be touched up a few more times in order to make it a successful finish.  The toastiness continued through the end with the aroma reminding me of sweet graham.  The metallic taste decided to show up on a more frequent basis in the final third but was also accompanied by a unique nutty almond paste note.  The body of the cigar finished out medium/full while the strength boasted itself into the full category.  

Overall Impressions: The Pappy Van Winkle Tradition was a nice cigar and I’m glad I had the opportunity to smoke it.  Like the bourbon, I feel this could be a hyped-up line due to its name and tradition.  Would I recommend other folks try the line, absolutely as it is a good cigar.  Would I fill my humidor with a box for aging, probably not.  At a price point of $22.00 each, this is a good cigar but not worthy of a second go in my rotation.  To be clear, there are a lot of other cigars on the market, in the $8 – $10 price range, that I enjoy on a much more regular basis and that I would reach for before the Pappy Van Winkle Tradition.  Would I suggest maybe picking one up to enjoy on the golf course or with some buddies?  Sure!  But for the long term, this will probably be my one and only Pappy cigar.   

Cigar Score: 3 out of 5 boxes

A full video review of the Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Robusto Grande cigar can be found on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/DeNx1DThurs

Padron Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro

Padron Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro   

Happy 2021!  I am excited that the first cigar I am blessed to smoke and review this year is the Padron Family Reserve 50-years Maduro No.50.  I purchased a 10-count box of these cigars back in 2015 and yes, am just now opening them for enjoyment.  Before getting to the review, lets discuss a little about this cigar and its significance in the Padron portfolio.  

In celebration of their 50th year in the cigar production business, the Padron family chose to celebrate the milestone with the creation of a regular production cigar line, Family Reserve.  Finding their beginnings in 1964 by patriarch Jose O. Padron, immigrant to the United States from Cuba, the Padron cigar company is currently based in Miami, Florida with crop growth and production occurring in Estelí, Nicaragua.  It goes without saying that Padron cigars started as a family endeavor and continuous as such to this day.  Although 2018 saw the passing of founder Jose O. Padron, the company continues its forward motion and success under Jorge Padron, son of the late Jose O. Padron.  The following are the six lines in the Padron portfolio, all of which encompass various shapes, sizes, and wrapper leaves (natural or maduro).  

  • Padron Series
  • Padron Damaso
  • Padron 1964 Anniversary
  • Padron 1926 Serie
  • Padron Family Reserve
  • Padron 50th Anniversary

For more information of the Padron family story visit their website at: https://padron.com        

On to the review….

Padron Family Reserve 50-years Maduro Attributes

Size: Robusto

Length: 5  

Ring Gauge: 54

Wrapper: Nicaragua 

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Country: Nicaragua

Price: $25.00 USD ea.; $250 USD 10ct. Box

Pre-light Inspection: The Padron Family Reserve 50-year sports a gorgeous box press, similar to most cigars in the Padron line.  The deep, dark, smooth wrapper leaf has minimal veins and provides an unlit aroma of sweet cocoa and rich earth.  The bands are extravagant and easily accent the specialness of the cigar.  The upper, main band is a deep wine red embossed with gold lettering depicting the Padron name and Family Reserve label.  Underneath the main band we are presented with a number ID band typically of Padron’s 1964 and 1926 lines.  These secondary ID bands help prevent counterfeiting of the cigars and personalize the smoker’s experience with the stick.  The second band is cream colored with gold lettering displaying 50 years.  The cap of the cigar is smooth, round, and well-applied.  The solid roll showed a jam-packed foot with no soft spots detected on the pinch throughout the cigar’s body.  Upon cold, pre-light draw I was presented with an effortless resistance, typical of most Padron cigars.  Cold tastes showed hopeful notes of earth and leather (similar to a new leather belt). 

Tasting Notes and Performance:  Throughout the smoking experience the cigar never required a touch up and the burn was suburb and straight the entire time.  The cigar produced a medium gray ash that showed beautifully stacked, wavy layers.  The tastes I noted throughout were earthy barnyard, dark cocoa powder, black coffee, and a mild pepperiness, all wrapped in a thick, creamy, white smoke.  The cigar was very well balanced in its tasting profile, however, very typical of a Nicaraguan maduro (certainly a Padron cigar).  The cigar provided a full-bodied experience and was medium-full in strength.  It’s easy to understand this is a cigar to be savored, not smoked like a steam engine.  The room aroma was a mix of sweet tobacco and soft yeasty bread.  Total smoking time was 74 minutes.             

Overall Impressions:  I have high expectations cigars that costs $25.00 a piece, and the Padron Family Reserve 50 Years Maduro delivered on this expectation.  With that being said, at this price point, this cigar is certainly not an everyday smoke.  I am pleased with the balance and eloquence the cigar shows and look forward to dipping into the box on special occasions or with friends over dinner and drinks; however, if given the option of spending $250 on another box or putting that cash toward a 25-count box of Cubans, I will stick with the latter.  The only negative point against this cigar is the price.  However, luxury experiences call for a luxury price tags and if you have some extra dough laying around, I can assure you that investing it on a Pardon Family Reserve 50 years will pay you back with an extraordinary smoking experience.  If you have the opportunity to pick one up, do so.  It will be worth your time and money.   

Cigar score: 4 out of 5 boxes

Until next time, stay blessed. Cheers!