Cigar Review: Summer 2021

by Steve Rowbottom

Buffalo Trace Churchill
Dominican Republic                7.0” x 49                 Medium-Full                   93-Rated

Bourbon, good. Cigars, good. Buffalo Trace cigars, good. Real good, in fact. I love this cigar’s complexity. Oily Sumatra wrappers from Ecuador blanket a Nicaraguan and Dominican long-leaf recipe inside a Brazilian Arapiraca binder. I get rich tobacco and toast, with a definitive nutty note. The wrapper offers a touch of sweetness on the finish. But the highlight is the aroma – an oily, charcoal-like scent, like the result of barrel-aging the Dominican Piloto Cubano leaves. This cigar is no gimmick and is destined for bourbon pairings.

Caldwell Hit & Run Super Toro
Dominican Republic            6.0” x 54                Medium-Full                  93-Rated

Everything about this cigar had me at hello. From the glossy, milk chocolate brown Ecuador Habano wrapper, to the beautifully printed wine stock band. But, most importantly, the cigar tastes and burns as good as it looks. I note a mid-range strength, with silky hints of caramel and roasted cashew, complemented by rich tobacco and a creamy sweetness on the finish. I find this cigar to be a truckload of savory flavors inside a smooth, luxuriously soothing 60-minute break from reality.

Diesel Crucible Toro Box-Pressed
Nicaragua                                6.0” x 52                               Full               94-Rated

In most things – beer, coffee, scotch, wings, etc. – I prefer flavor overpower. Cigars are no different. Crucible, however, marries bold flavors with enhanced power while maintaining perfect balance. This makes it an extraordinary experience that most cigar enthusiasts can enjoy despite its strength. All Habano tobaccos from Nicaragua create this well-pressed Toro and deliver big notes of leather and coffee bean. Midway through I note toasted peanut, and a subtle dash of pepper closes the occasional puff. Consider this your perfect post-ribeye cigar.

Partagas Legend Toro Leyenda
Dominican Republic                            6.25” x 54                               Medium-Full               92-Rated

Sweet, rich, and earthy. That’s Partagas Legend, every time I light it up. But what’s most pleasing about this cigar is the burn time. Every size burns slow and cool, allowing subtle flavors like leather and white pepper to work their way into the fray from time to time. The smoke is medium to full in body and layered with satisfying flavors. A testament to the superior Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers and vintage Piloto Cubano long-fillers employed.

Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Connecticut Robusto 
Nicaragua                           5.0” x 56             Mellow-Medium               93-Rated

Perdomo cigars always hit my sweet spot in preference…especially those featuring a Connecticut wrapper. Rich, bold, Nicaraguan flavors delivered in smooth, creamy fashion. This Double Aged 12 Year is no different. The smoke is complex, offering softer notes of cream and caramel with richer notes of black tobacco and espresso. Throughout the burn I pick up sweet cedar, adding yet another layer of flavor. The strength is perfect to pair with that morning coffee, while the flavor profile can stand up to your bourbon nightcap. Enjoyable. 

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