Cigar Review: Java Maduro

Sweet and mellow dark chocolate...That is exactly how I would describe the Java Maduro by Drew Estate and Rocky Patel. I reviewed the Java Connecticut shade earlier and I have to say I really like them both. The maduro is made with a sweet Brazilian maduro wrapper. It makes the flavor seem a little more bold and earthy. It is exactly like comparing milk chocolate to dark chocolate . I really like both cigars, it is hard to tell you  which one I prefer more. I would say the maduro is a more enjoyable on a cold winter night after a rich meal. The Java Connecticut is great for that after work treat! That is how I would compare them! The actual cigar itself is amazing.

The cigar had stellar construction, a medium slow burning draw, and a great overall presentation. Upon lighting you are pleasantly surprised by how mellow the taste is. It is a little stronger than the other Java cigar but offers a little more in complexity. It really takes on the espresso taste a little after an inch of burning. After this, it offers a deep chocolate and oaky taste. Towards the nub I started to notice the tiniest peppery finish. It was great, a little bit of everything, yet not too much. It was a really good cigar and I can't wait to smoke the others. They would make a great gift for others too. They are not very strong or offensive and can be given to anybody. The more experienced cigar smokers will enjoy its complexity and the novices can still love that great chocolate taste. Overall I give this one a 9.1 of 10, that is .1 higher than the lighter Java because I think the maduro version offers a touch more complexity! mmmmmmm tasty...

Cigar Review: Tatiana Mocha

I really like the Drew Estate Tabak Especial and the Java, so I decided to try another flavored cigar like those two. I decided on the Tatiana Mocha. It looked great and sounded delicious! When it arrived it was dark and heavy, very well made and had a great label and presentation. I couldn’t wait to smoke it!

It cut well and lit fairly easily. I noticed something interesting right away. It burned very strangely. It had a light colored ash, a very faint tan compared to a normal ash color. It was one layer of ash though, the other layers of the cigar ashed normally, it was just this one layer that burned a tan color. It tasted great initially, very faint traces of that mocha and it was very smooth. It was very enjoyable. As it got towards the middle the cigar, it really took on a nice mocha/chocolate flavor and was great. Compared to the Tabak, it was a little less flavored and more mellow. I then started to notice something very strange. It had a blue color to some parts as it burned?! It was that chemical blue that you get when you burn magazines! It freaked me out a little bit, not only am I exposing myself to burnt tobacco but now there are strange burning chemicals?! Not cool. Anyway the flavor started to get a little dull and chemically as well. Similar to the nub end of Acids. Acid cigars are great till the very end where they get a peculiar chemical taste. The Tatiana followed the same path. It had some burn problems as well and was very hard to keep going.

Overall, I give this cigar a 6 of 10. It had a great beginning and end, with a smooth mocha taste but the burn problems really took away from my experience. I was also a little freaked out by the blue hue that the ash took on. I hope my second picture portrayed that! I probably will not purchase again. I will stick with my Java’s and Tabaks when it comes to chocolaty cigars!

Whisky Essentials: A Whisky Bible

One of the easiest ways to enjoy whisky like a pro is to learn about the drink first! There are many "Whisky Bibles" out there but I have found Jim Murray's to be the best. They are filled with every dram under the sun, and a huge number of distilleries. It really helps when you want to get the most out of your drinks. Seeing what the "experts" say first, is a good place to start.

 It shouldn't affect your own personal tastes, but should be used as a guide to see what there can be. I like to read up what Jim thinks a whisky tastes like then dive in myself and see how my tasting compares. Generally he is spot on and it is very interesting to see how he names the tastes and smells you are experiencing. There are occasions where I think the artist in him gets away, and he starts getting a little too fancy with the descriptions.  There are tastes that are just too simple to be fully extrapolated like he does.All in all, he does a great job and at the beginning of every chapter he talks about the regions and trends in the whisky business and it is very interesting to read about it. I would recommend a book like this to novices and pros alike, it just makes sense to listen to a man that has tried 'em all!

Cigar Review: Padilla Obsidian Especial

This one was very similar to the Greycliff 1666. Its oily maduro wrapper and smooth taste really did a good job in comparing to my new favorite, the Greycliff. This padilla was excellent though. It had some more spice than I enjoy but man, what a great cocoa flavor! The ligero wrapper and Nicaraguan & Honduran filler was a great mix and match of flavors and it provided a very complex smoke. I have really grown to like the rich dark maduros like this one and it definitely did not disappoint. It had a very earthy after taste but it had a great thick smoke. The burn was so so and uneven but I blame the slight wind and not enough time to mellow out after arriving in shipping. I will definelty buy this again and will have to try the Padilla Miami, which gets great reviews as well. Overall i give it a 8.5 of 10!

Cigar Review: Cain

Mmmmm this was a great cigar! I heard many things about the brand and was really excited to try it out! It was New Years Eve when I lit this Cain  cigar up. The Cain series comes from mastermind Sam Leccia. He is also responsible for Nub I believe. The Cain cigar was very balanced and perfectly constructed for a great burn.

It uses straight ligero leaves from 3 regions of Nicaragua. This is supposed to achieve a more smooth taste despite the strength of the ligero itself. Well it worked! It was initially very spicy but mellowed off a bit, for nice clean finish. The finish was very lite compared to the initial onslaught of flavor! It was a great strong smoke and it appealed to even the novice smokers I was with. Its bold flavors were well constructed and didn't overwhelm the senses. It was a clean crisp finish and the smoke itself was a nutty cedar taste. I was really impressed and the size of this thing lasted for an hour among 3 guys! I will definitely get this again, and it definitely lived up to the hype! I give this new creation a solid 9 of 10.