Certified Tobacconist’s Review: Licenciados Supreme Maduro No. 200

Mike
-
0
Certified Tobacconist’s Review: Licenciados Supreme Maduro No. 200

Brand/Line:  Licenciados Supreme Maduro

Vitola:  Corona

Name:  No. 200

Size:  5 ¾ “x 43

Packaging:  Cellophane wrapped singles

Country of Origin:  Dominican Republic

Wrapper:  U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder:  Dominican Republic

Filler blend:  Dominican Republic

Manufacturer:  MATASA, S.A.

Blender:  Manuel Quesada

Distributor:  Mike’s Cigars

Appearance:   The Licenciados Supreme Maduro No. 200 comes wrapped in a dark and slightly marbled, thick maduro wrapper.  While a little rustic in appearance, this heavy leaf has a fairly heavy grain to it.  The cigars are wrapped perfectly with a slightly flattened cap while the foot reveals a good distribution of the filler leaves and nice bunching.  As with all of the Licenciados lines, save the Anniversario, the Supreme Maduro line bears the classic yellow band with a carriage, a play off the Cuban Diplimaticos brand cigars.  A matching bold yellow dress box completes a striking presentation.

Construction:  Like most every product of the MATASA plants, the Licenciados Supreme Maduro No. 200 is a very well made cigar.  Every bit a premium cigar, there are no soft or hard spots to be found.  There are some slightly thick veins in the wrapper, but not so much so as to affect the burn of the cigars.  Overall, these are very well made.

Cut and light:  The cap of the Licenciados Supreme Maduro cuts easily and cleanly with a double blade cutter and provides a free and easy cold draw which has a slightly sweet, rich tobacco flavor to it.  Lighting the cigars with a single jet torch lighter produces blue, wispy smoke that carries a sweet aroma and is indicative of the sweet smoke to come.

The Smoke:  From the start, the Licenciados Supreme Maduro produces a thick, rich and heady smoke.  Spice with an underlying sweetness predominate the first inch or so of the cigar complemented by a rich finish.  As the cigar progresses, the spice fades to a pleasant background player as the natural sweetness of the wrapper begins to really show its character.

Woody and sweet, the cigar continues on a medium bodied path as the spicy component fades more.  About half way through, the cigar takes on an even more sweet and woody profile with the spicy notes fading almost, but never entirely, away.

A beautiful, bluish smoke is produced at the foot which permeates the smoker’s surroundings with a soft and enjoyable aroma.

Smoke time:  40 minutes (smoked slowly and deliberately)

Discussion:  While not overly complex by nature, the Licenciados Supreme Maduro is not the kind of cigar that need be.  With a consistency in both flavor and aroma that persist nearly throughout the entire smoke the Licenciados Supreme Maduro is the type of cigar you simply light, sit back and enjoy.

At a great price point, the Licenciados Supreme Maduro No. 200 represents a great value in premium cigars.  Several comparable smokes I have enjoyed carry prices up to two times the cost per stick and while it may not make Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of the Year list, it is a cigar that every serious smoker should try, if for no other reason than to see how the Licenciados stacks up against some higher priced, premium maduro cigars.

Why I like this cigar:  Living in the Great White North of Wisconsin, I am always on the lookout for cigars that are well suited to winter smoking.  Since I am no fan of winter weather, I tend toward shorter vitola in the cold, specifically those with a heavy wrapper leaf such as this Licenciados vitola.

The thickness of the wrapper on these cigars stands up well to the shock of going from the warm, toasty, humid confines of my humidor to the stark cold and dry air of a typical Wisconsin winter.  Many other cigars with similar wrappers come in at a significantly higher price point, making the Licenciados Supreme Maduro an even better choice for these inhospitable conditions.

While not the most complex cigar on the market, I personally find this a plus, especially when working in the deep-freeze.  This is not to say that the Licenciados Supreme Maduro line of cigars is lacking in any way; to the contrary, I feel that this makes the Licenciados Supreme Maduro line an even more important member of my cigar family.

These are great cigars, made by a great manufacturer, for a great price…  What more could you ask for?

Author: Marty Klausmeier

Licenciados Cameroon Robusto Cigar Review

Mike
-
0
Licenciados Cameroon Robusto Cigar Review

[Editor’s Note:  I first met Tony in 1985 in US Army Basic Training at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas.  He and I were both from Milwaukee and were both going on to the Medical Corps after basic and became friends.  After basic training, Tony and I met up again in Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.  It’s here that he and I smoked our first cigars together, the year was 1986.  The Cigar Boom was a few years off and neither Tony nor I knew anything about premium cigars at the time beyond what Finck’s Cigars in San Antonio had to offer for about a buck.  He and I smoked nearly every brand Finck’s carried within our meager price range during the months we spent there, often accompanied by the cheapest beer to be had at the PX.  After training, Tony went east, moving to Brooklyn while I returned home to Milwaukee.  Tony and I keep in touch regularly and as his job entails frequent trips back to Milwaukee.  Tony and I continue to get together for cigars as often as we can.  And although we don’t smoke nearly as many Finck’s brand cigars anymore, we still fire up a good old, and I mean old, Havana Blend for sentiment’s sake from time to time.  This first article opens with a recent discussion Tony and I had about the Licenciados Cameroon Robusto and finishes with Tony’s review.

(Scene:  Inside garage, two men seated in folding chairs with cigars; cutters, lighters, and drinks lay around their feet….)

Marty:  Hey Tony, have I got a deal for you…

Tony:  Un-huh, deal… I know your deals.

Marty:  No, really.  I’ve got the perfect cigar for you… all you’ve got to do is sit here and smoke it, then tell me what you think about it.  That’s it.

Tony:  Un-huh, don’t believe you…. There’s got to be more… there’s always more with your “deals.”

Marty:  Yeah, so anyway, here’s the cigar.  It’s a Licenciados Cameroon Robusto from Mike’s down in Miami.

Tony:  Great, so your idea of a perfect cigar for me is a store brand?  (Punch; right in the arm….Did I mention that Tony was a boxer?)

Marty:  Ow, bastard!  No, it’s not a “store brand,” it’s made by Manuel Quesada at MATASA down in the Dominican Republic.  You know Quesada, he makes Casa Magna…  I know you like those.

Tony:  So, you don’t bring me a Casa Magna (punch; in the other arm) but this is made by the same guy?

Marty:  Ow, damn it, stop!  Yes, same guy.  Actually, this cigar even reminds me of you a bit.  It’s short, dark, the wrapper’s from Cameroon, strong cigar, heavy smoke, great taste.

Tony:  Well, dark, and strong with great taste does sound like me, but I don’t care for that short part.  (Punch; back to the first arm again…)

Marty:  Son of a…… will you quit hitting me, dammit…  Trust me on this one, you’ll like the cigar.

Tony:  Yeah, well we’ll see.  (One final punch to the other arm….)

So, the other day, I get a call from my old Army buddy, Marty.  He told me he found a new cigar for me to try; one that reminded him of me.  I have to admit, my curiosity got the best of me, so a few days ago I stopped over at his place for a smoke.

The cigar he produced was a Licenciados Cameroon Robusto; an admittedly short, thick cigar with a dark brown, Cameroon wrapper.  He told me that the cigar reminded him of me because of its short stature, thick body, and dark wrapper.  First I punched him; then I tried his cigar…

The Licenciados Cameroon Robusto was a thick, short cigar, but it is this that made the flavors and aromas of the cigar shine through.  The cigar started out a bit mild, but quickly became more full bodied and rich.  The smoke was thick and smooth with a strong spicy component in the nose.

The cigar gained intensity and complexity as I continued to smoke it, turning into a medium to medium/full body with tons of spice and just a touch of sweetness.

For a “store brand” the Licenciados Cameroon Robusto surprised me.  It smoked great, produced tons of sweet and spicy smoke with a good amount of body to it.  The flavors and aromas built in intensity ensuring continued interest throughout the entire smoke.  The quality and construction were what I would expect from a great shop like MATASA, whose Casa Magna Oscuro is one of my favorite smokes.  Then, when I went online and looked at the prices at Mike’s Cigars and found that the Licenciados Cameroon Robusto are a mere $92.95 per box of 25 (a paltry $3.70 per stick) and that was the icing on the cake; I ordered a box.  You should too!

–  Tony Short

The Short Report – Flor de las Antillas Toro

Mike
-
0
The Short Report – Flor de las Antillas Toro

When I got my hands on the Flor de las Antillas toro, the first thing I noticed was the very fancy band on it. It’s ornate and very well made out of higher quality paper. The Flor de las Antillas is a box pressed, 6 x 52 cigar with a Nicaraguan sun-grown Cuban-seed wrapper. The cut was easy with no damage to the head of the cigar. It was wrapped very well and allowed an easy draw.

The Flor de las Antillas lit easily and the first few puffs invited you to keep smoking. The smoke was light and even though there were two of us smoking in the room, there was no need for major ventilation. The taste wasn’t harsh which could be expected of a “medium-bodied” cigar.  This tasted like a mild cigar which is not bad if you can’t handle a heavier cigar. The burn was good right up until the end. The ash on the cigar was real flaky and made a mess as it smoked. I wouldn’t recommend keeping the ash on the end for very long.

Overall the Flor de las Antillas was a great smoke and would recommend this for anyone looking for a cigar for an event with friends who may or may not smoke.

by Travis J. Howell

Alec Bradley Coyol Belicoso Cigar Review

Mike
-
0
Alec Bradley Coyol Belicoso Cigar Review

The Alec Bradley Coyol caught its inspiration from a single farm in Honduras and was later on introduced at the IPCPR 2014. This medium-to-full bodied cigar was named after the Coyol tobacco.

Here’s what Alan Rubain, President of Alec Bradley had to say on the Coyol cigar to Cigar Aficionado Magazine:

Sometimes tobacco has great aroma or great flavor, but rarely does one have both. That is what makes Coyol so unique. The blend for this new cigar is designed around the Coyol tobacco, which is why I had to name the cigar Coyol.

blog-review-pictures-alec-bradley4

First-Third

The Honduran wrapper has a nice brown semi-oily wrapper with some vain. Taking a cold-draw, there is a nice aroma of barnyard, woodsy notes, and hints of toast. The construction is on-point and it is complimented with a beautiful cigar band with retro-style font and colors. Even the Alec Bradley logo has a slight alteration. Normally, the initials for Alec Bradley has a Vertical red banner style behind it. On the Coyol band, it resembles a shield instead. All interesting details that we hope is also conveyed in the cigar profile.

The first puff is filled with rich vanilla and cocoa notes with a nice creamy smoke. It settles in nicely with a nice complexity with creaminess complimented with caramel, cedar and espresso.

blog-review-pictures-alec-bradley3

Second-Third

Tons of creamy taste with a mix of cocoa and white pepper with a great construction that makes it seamless to smoke. The vanilla, cocoa, and caramel notes because profound yet smooth. Between breaks, surfing online, I put the cigar down and a minute late I can pick it up and continue puffing my cigar without missing a beat.  Nice mix of vanilla, black cherry, earthy notes, nuts, toast and white pepper with rich black pepper to add depth to the flavors. So far it’s been an excellent smoke with profound taste of cocoa, barnyard and creamy smoke. Medium to full range with tons of great smokes.

Final-Third

The Coyol still has great smoke with a slight toast. I had to re-light it once without a problem and there is still plenty of creamy smoke. Great construction, didn’t need to fix the light. The earth notes moved secondary and were joined by some nut, pepper, and cherry sweetness. All in all, great smoke…

blog-review-pictures-alec-bradley2

Conclusion

Excellent price point. Bang for your buck. Alec Bradley has created an excellent cigar that delivers in complexity, balance, and enjoyment. Outstanding draw. Never too loose or tight, just right.

 

Blend Details: Alec Bradley Coyol Belicoso 5 1/2 x 58

Time: 2:45 hours/min??

Price: $8.50

Wrapper: Trojes, Honduras

Binder: Jalapa, Nicaragua and Trojes Honduras

Filler: Esteli, Nicaragua, Condega Nicaragua, Trojes, Honduras

blog-review-pictures-alec-bradley

Sharpening Cigar Scissors

Mike
-
0
Sharpening Cigar Scissors

Cigars scissors, once mastered, are elegant, precise and able to incise the head of nearly any size premium cigar from the thinnest panatela to the largest of the new, 60+ ring gauge vitola in fashion today.

Cigar scissors are also very easy to maintain.

Like any other style cutter, cigar scissors are prone to the accumulation of small amounts of sticky residue from the cigars you cut and like any other sharp bladed instrument, they tend to lose their edge with use.  Thankfully, unlike other cutter types, the cigar scissors are quick to sharpen at home.  Here’s what you’ll need:

2 – Isopropol alcohol wipes
1 – Sheet fine grit (200+) aluminum oxide sandpaper (I use automotive finish grade)
1 – Dry towel

Start by wiping both sides of the two blades with an alcohol wipe and allow to air dry.  Next, make several cuts (3-4) into the sheet of sandpaper. Hold the sandpaper taught and make slow, straight, and deliberate cuts.  Finish the process by re-wiping the blades with the second alcohol wipe and drying with a clean towel.

By cleaning and sharpening your cigar scissors frequently you can expect many years of fine service, sharp cuts, and “good smokes….”

Using a Guillotine style cigar cutter

Mike
-
0
Using a Guillotine style cigar cutter

The guillotine style cigar cutter is most likely the most popular type of cigar cutter available.  Featuring either a single or double-blade the guillotine cutter is designed to remove a thin sliver of wrapper from the cap of the cigar creating a wide opening and an ample draw.

To ensure a good cut with a guillotine style cigar cutter, just follow these simple instructions:

1.  Begin by placing your thumb and index or middle finger into the finger holes of the cutter.

guillotine-cutter-step-1

Place your fingers into the cutter and open it fully

2.  Open the guillotine cutter by pulling apart your fingers.  Ensure that the cutter is fully opened before inserting a cigar.

guillotine-cutter-step-2

Open the guillotine cutter fully before “loading” your cigar

3.  With a firm grip on your cigar, introduce the head of the cigar into the opening of the guillotine cutter, only until the very tip of the head is within the cutting path of the blades.  Remember, you only want to remove a thin slice from the head of the cigar.  DO NOT REMOVE THE ENTIRE CAP OF THE CIGAR.

guillotine-cutter-step-3

With a firm grip on your cigar, insert only the very tip of the head into the cutter

4.  With gentle pressure, bring the blades of the guillotine cutter into contact with the wrapper of the cigar and with a slight twist of the hand, score the wrapper leaf where you intend to cut.

guillotine-cutter-step-4

Use gentle pressure to bring the blades to bear and twist to score the wrapper leaf

5.  Once the wrapper leaf at the head of the cigar has been scored, apply swift, firm pressure to complete your cut.

guillotine-cutter-step-5

Maintain pressure on the cutter as you swiftly cut through the cap

With practice, you will become expert using your guillotine cutter to prepare your favorite premium cigars for enjoyment.  Just remember, don’t remove the entire cap of your cigar or it will unroll; score the wrapper at the head and apply quick, decisive pressure for a perfect cut every time.

Good smoking!

Using a Grip style cigar cutter

Mike
-
2
Using a Grip style cigar cutter

The grip style cigar cutter is a relatively new invention and is based on the same principle as the guillotine cigar cutter.  Featuring a double-blade system, the grip cutter is designed to remove a thin sliver of wrapper from the cap of the cigar creating a wide opening and an ample draw similar to a guillotine cutter.

To ensure a good cut with a grip style cigar cutter, just follow these simple instructions:

1.  Begin by opening the blades of the cutter and holding the cutter as shown in the photo below.

grip-cutter-step-1

Begin with a firm grip on your cigar and the proper grip on the cutter.

2.  With a firm grip on the cigar, line the head of the cigar up with the opening of the cutter.

grip-cutter-step-2

Lining up the cigar with the grip cutter for the cut.

3.  Introduce the head of the cigar into the opening of the cutter only up to the very end of the cigar’s head and bring the blades of the cutter into contact with the wrapper leaf.  With a slight twist of the hand, score the wrapper leaf where you intend to cut.

grip-cutter-step-3

Bring the blades into contact with the wrapper and twist to score the leaf.

4.  Without releasing pressure on the blades, apply swift, firm pressure to complete the cut.

grip-cutter-step-4

Without releasing pressure, close the blades of the grip cutter and complete the cut.

The opening created by a proper cut with a grip cutter rivals that of any other cutter.

grip-cutter-step-5

The opening created by a properly used grip cutter should allow a great draw.

Once are comfortable with the feel and function of the grip style cigar cutter, you may just find, as I did, that it will become a favorite.  As always, remember not to remove the entire cap of your cigar or the wrapper will unroll; score the wrapper at the head and use quick and decisive pressure for a perfect cut every time.

Good smoking!

Using a “V” style cigar cutter

Mike
-
2
Using a “V” style cigar cutter

The “V-cutter” style cigar tool has been around for years and years.  The blade of a v-cutter is bent to about a 30 degree angle which creates a wedge-shaped cutting surface.  This blade is held in a frame and spring loaded so that one can plunge the blade down, through the cap of a cigar and allow the blade to return.  The cut left by a v-cutter resembles a missing piece of pie.

To properly cut a premium cigar with a V-cutter, you must start with a sharp instrument then follow these simple instructions. (Note: if you have a guillotine style V-cutter such as the Colibri V-Cut cutter black, follow the basic  instructions for using a guillotine cutter here.)

Caution:  V-cutters do not usually do a good job cutting pointed head cigars, proceed at your own risk!

v-cutter-aperature-profile

A closer look at the business end of a V-cutter and its blade.

Begin with a firm grasp of the cigar in one hand.  Grip the V-cutter with the other as illustrated in the photo below.

v-cutter-step-1

Grasp the V-cutter in one hand as shown in the photo and the cigar in the other.

Line the head of the cigar up with the opening at the end of the cutter, not he side holes.  (The holes on the sides are designed to cut pointed head cigars, but usually tear the wrappers.  Again, proceed here at your own risk!)

v-cutter-step-2

Place the head of the cigar fully into the opening of the V-cutter.

Introduce the head of the cigar into the opening of the V-cutter as far as it will go, gently.

v-cutter-step-3

Holding the cigar straight, quickly plunge the blade through the head of the cigar.

When using a V-cutter, unlike other cutters, scoring the wrapper leaf with the blades is not possible.  To make a proper cut, always apply swift, firm pressure with follow through to complete the cut.

Finally, release the blade and allow the plug of cut tobacco to fall free.  Blowing over the cut surface gently will help dislodge any tobacco fragments left by the cutting blade.

v-cutter-step-4

Release the blade mechanism and let the cut plug of tobacco fall away.

When sharp, the V-cutter creates a more than adequate opening in most cigars.  For those cigar aficionados who prefer this style cutter, there is no equal.  Many smokers are discovering the “Cross-cut” method, which creates an “X” shaped opening in the head of a cigar using two perpendicular slices with a good, quality V-cutter.  This cut is especially effective with some of today’s 60+ ring gauge cigars!

As always, remember not to cut below the shoulder of your cigar or the wrapper will unroll; use quick and decisive pressure and follow through the cut for a perfect V-cut every time.

Good smoking!

Using a cigar scissors style cutter

Mike
-
1
Using a cigar scissors style cutter

Using a cigar scissors is, without doubt, the most elegant method of removing the cap from a premium, handmade cigar.  With models ranging in price from a few dollars to hundreds, cigar scissors come in a wide selection of models, but the basic principles for their use are universal.

Cigar scissors can be used to open any vitola, rounded or pointed head, with ease.  Most cigar scissors can accommodate any ring gauge cigar further increasing their utility.  These capabilities make the cigar scissors one of the most useful tools any cigar aficionado can own.

Using a cigar scissors does take practice.  However, once you’ve mastered these simple steps, you will be able to open your cigars with flair and dazzle your cigar smoking friends.

To make a proper cut using a cigar scissors, just follow these simple steps:

Begin by placing the scissors comfortably on your hand as you would any other scissors.  Open the scissors completely.

cigar-scissors-step-1

Place the scissors on your hand comfortably and open completely

With a firm grip on the cigar, introduce the head of the cigar into the opening of the scissors until only the very end is in the cutting path of the blades.  Remember, you only want to remove a thin slice of the wrapper leaf from the head of the cigar!

cigar-scissors-step-2

Hold the cigar firmly and introduce the head into the opening of the cigar scissors

Bring the blades of the scissors into contact with the wrapper leaf covering the head of the cigar and with gentle pressure and a slight twist of the wrist, score the leaf with the blades of the scissors.

cigar-scissors-step-3

Bring the blades into contact with the wrapper and twist slightly to score the wrapper leaf

Without releasing pressure on the blades, snap the cigar scissors closed completing the cut.

cigar-scissors-step-4

Maintain pressure on the blades of the cigar scissors and snap closed swiftly

Open the cigar scissors and allow the cut end to fall away.  The cut from a cigar scissors should leave a wide opening in the head of the cigar and an ample draw.

cigar-scissors-step-5

The finished cut made by a proper cut using a cigar scissors

With practice, with a cigar scissors you will be able to perform surgically precise cuts when opening your premium cigars.  Like Tom Cruise in “Cocktail,” you can swing your scissors from your fingertips, spin them in dazzling circles, and even flip them from hand to hand, creating an almost mystic air to your opening efforts.

Keep in mind the basics when using a cigar scissors; do not cut below the shoulder of the cigar as this will cause the wrapper to unravel ruining your smoke, score the leaf at the head prior to cutting to prevent tearing, and use a quick, firm snap when you close your scissors to complete the cut.

Good smoking!

Using a Punch style cigar cutter

Mike
-
3
Using a Punch style cigar cutter

The cigar punch is the most basic of cigar cutting tools.  Made up of a cylindrical cutting tube with a sharpened end, the cigar punch creates a clean, uniform circular opening in the head of the cigar for smoking.

To ensure a proper cut with a cigar punch, just follow these simple instructions:

1.   Open the punch revealing the cutting portion of the tool.

punch-step-1

Opening the cigar punch to reveal the cutting cylinder.

2.  Align the punches cutting edge with the center of the cigar’s head.  (Note: cigar punches should not be used on pointed head cigars.)

punch-step-2

Align the cigar punch with the center of the cigar’s cap

3.  With a slight twisting motion, press the cigar punch into and through the cigar’s wrapper.

punch-step-3

With a twisting motion, press the cigar punch through the head of the cigar

4.  With continued pressure, push the cigar punch into the cigar up to the collar of the punch.

punch-step-4

With continued pressure, press the punch into the cigar fully

5.  While continuing to twist the punch, pull back on the tool to remove the cut portion of the cap.

punch-step-51

While still twisting remove the tool

6.  Replace the cigar punches cover releasing the cut piece of wrapper and covering the cutting blade for safety and protection.

punch-step-6

Replacing the protective cover releases the punched cigar wrapper

Now all that’s left is to light up and enjoy!

Good smoking!

1...141516...25Page 15 of 25