Monthly Archives: November 2012

Nov 29 2012

San Lotano Oval Box-Pressed Torpedo Cigar Review

Notes:

Bought this from a cigar lounge, hence making this stick a 1st. Excellent construction and beautiful shape- I would expect no less from a fancy cigar lounge/wine bar, my favorite lounge due to no coincidence. Box-pressed, so fits well between your fingers and in your mouth (yea that’s what she said ha ha very funny). Torpedo, so you know it has some hard work rolled into it. Rich, dark colored wrapper. No veins or any visual blemishes whatsoever. Wrapper is not as oily as you would expect with such a dark oscuro stick. The texture is smooth in regards to bumps and veins, and feels like very fine grain sandpaper. At the same time, the cigar is not “toothy” either. The pre-light odor is rich, but not pungent.

First Third:

Cut just a little bit off the top, maybe about one-third of an inch. I personally like my draw a little tighter, as it paces me so that I don’t puff too fast and waste a nice cigar. After toasting the foot, we’re in business. The first puff is normally bitter in cheap cigars, and as expected, the first puff is excellent. The initial flavors are lighter than expected. Very slightly sweet tobacco taste. The miniscule sweetness, accompanied by a pleasant bitterness, creates almost a chocolatey taste, that of a very dark 86% cocoa bar. Sweetness is fleeting with every finish, but it is there in every puff. There is also a hint of coffee, I think. If not coffee, some kind of nice, savory roasted flavor. Delicious. The ash is not the firmest, but still holds on for a good inch or so. Perhaps it’s because it is box-pressed.

Second Third:

Right on the dot, just as I enter the second third, the pleasant bitterness becomes more pronounced. The sweetness is completely gone, but the smoke is still savory. I sense a little bit of pepper on my palate as well. An interesting change in flavor. Now the savory taste is receding as well, leaving behind the pleasant taste of well-aged tobacco. Notes of leather and wood are picking up, and the scent is surprisingly light and floral, not what one would expect of such a dark cigar. The lack of oil makes the cigar burn a little faster than originally anticipated, but that is alright with me. The burn is not as clean cut, but I have faith in the roller and the burn will hopefully correct itself.

I am now a little less than halfway through the second third. The burn still has not corrected itself, but it isn’t heinous enough for a touch up. The flavor is still that of straight tobacco and leather. The peppery spice is becoming more and more pronounced on the palate. The bitterness left on the lips is a different kind of bitterness compared to what I am used to tasting. I daresay it reminds me of a smooth brandy, which would without a doubt go well with this cigar.

The burn has slowed down considerably as well. The length of my paragraphs describing each third should be a good indicator of the speed of the burn in each respective third. Surprisingly, I can now sense the taste of cognac on my palate, the majority of it replacing the peppery spice- a pleasant invasion, I might add. Speaking of invasion, I’m also beginning to taste a savory, proteiny undertone, perhaps that of roasted nuts. The burn has corrected itself beautifully, though it did take a little longer than I expected. I am currently tasting a combination of leather, nuts, tobacco, and cognac- a very interesting myriad of flavors.

I have about…less than a quarter of an inch to go on this long second third. The heat is picking up a tiny bit now, and pepper also makes its return to my palate. Still no sweetness though.

Final Third:

Finally in the last third. The current flavors are tobacco, pepper, and leather- a paradoxically pleasant harshness. I’ve noticed that the transition of flavors alternates between acrid and pleasant, and though it’s probably a bad comparison, it feels like the “good cop, bad cop” treatment. It’s actually kind of funny, really. But by no means is the cigar distasteful.

The flavor of roasted nuts is back in the picture, replacing the pepper once again, though subtle. The cognac and leather are ever-present. The flavors and the bouquet are once again a little more floral, for the lack of a better term.

I’ve smoked this cigar down to about an inch and a half, and I am surprised by the relative coolness of the smoke. I imagined it would be unbearably hot at this point, but it is still very much palatable.  The exotic flavors are beginning to slowly die down though, and I am left once again mainly with the clean taste of tobacco (it occurs to me that a non-smoker would find this description outrageously nonsensical, and I am once again humorously reminded that this is definitely an acquired taste). The smell is still very much floral and light, a relatively clean finish.

Verdict:

I humbly admit that I am an amateur aficionado at best, but this cigar is definitely not a smart choice for an amateur. But any seasoned smoker would greatly appreciate the pleasant, savory, and floral notes, as well as the acrid, peppery, bitterness that alternates with them. As I have mentioned, I imagine this cigar would make a nice pair with a half-cup of cognac on the rocks (not so much whiskey though, as the burn of the alcohol would effectively mask the delicate flavors). Pricey, but nevertheless a great smoke.

Total Smoking Time: 1 hour and 9 minutes

Nov 28 2012

Fumari: Ambrosia Hookah Review

Long, long ago, there was a time when I loved to smoke Starbuzz brand shisha (not to hate on Starbuzz fans). However, those days have long gone. Many of the flavors are overpowering. The tobacco is prone to burning due to lack of glycerin and moisture in general. Also from what I’ve heard, Starbuzz sprays perfume into their cans of shisha, often advertising misleading scents to the inexperienced buyer. Many of the flavors are hit and miss. There are those that are pretty good, and those that are absolutely terrible. One is inclined to stick with what he or she knows, and is discouraged from experimentation.

Enter Fumari, a diamond in the rough, a rose among thorns, and my personal favorite flavor, Ambrosia. In Greek mythology, Ambrosia is the nectar of the Gods, which grants immortality to any mortal who can get his hands on it. This, my fellow smokers, is an extremely bold name for a flavor of shisha.

I first learned about Fumari online, while on my quest for milky white clouds without the harshness. I also learned that Fumari was a local brand, mixed and packaged here in beautiful, sunny San Diego. I visited the Fumari lounge and feasted my eyes and nose on a myriad of sample flavors. Ambrosia instantly caught my eye, and it was the first Fumari brand shisha I have smoked.

As cliche as this may sound, it was love at first puff. Lovely, milky-white clouds of smoke that can cover your friend’s face, and an absolutely decadent (but nowhere near overpowering) melon and cantaloupe flavor on the palate. Truth be told, I did not even know what flavor I was smoking until I visited the Fumari website. I was shocked to learn what flavor I was smoking, as I am not very fond of melon. Fumari shisha, as you may have read in my buddy Kyle’s shisha review, is very moist and chock-full of molasses, glycerin (the reagent that creates the smoke), and flavor. Sure, you can buy glycerin at your local supermarket in the baking section and drown your shisha in it for heavy smoke (trust me, I’ve done it), but the flavor becomes extremely soapy and disgusting, as glycerin is a component of soap. But Fumari provides massive clouds of thick smoke and light but pronounced flavors that are not overpowering even if they DO linger on your palate. There are not many flavors of Fumari I have smoked that I thought was less than great, and absolutely none that I thought were terrible.

For those who are looking for the perfect bowl of hookah: the thickest clouds you will ever see and great flavor, your search ends here! With the combination of a Sahara Vortex bowl, the right packing technique, the right hole-punching pattern, a frozen hookah stem, an ice-filled base, ice hoses, and a diffuser, you WILL be smoking the best hookah in your life. This I can say with confidence, because all of the people from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Dubai who I have ever smoked out, have told me this. (Those who wish to learn or challenge my hookah setup technique, feel free to let me know in the comments section.)

But there you have it folks, Ambrosia, my number one favorite shisha ever, and if I may be so bold, the shisha of the Gods.

Nov 26 2012

Man O’ War Puro Authentico Maduro Cigar Review

This is my first review of a cigar. Kyle and I will both have different styles of reviewing, so expect a variety of observations and notes. Please feel free to provide constructive criticism- though we may have smoked hundreds of cigars, we still have much to learn regardless. Thanks.

Notes:

Interesting construction. Annoying packaging. Rich, dark color, strong (but good) pre-light odor. Smooth wrapper, minimal veins. Little bud of tobacco protruding out of the head. Wrapper intentionally hangs over the foot of the cigar and is sort of folded over the foot and tapered off. I had to cut the tip of the foot off to light and draw. This is apparently AJ Fernandez’s everyday go-to blend.

First Third:

I used a guillotine cutter, as I’ve had bad experiences trying to punchcut a small cigar. First few puffs are very strong and peppery. Almost charred. Incredible amount of spice. The smell of the wrapper is of savory tobacco. About halfway through the pepper recedes. Introduction of a strong flavorful coffee note which simmers down just a little bit. Nice clean draw, lots of smoke output for a small cigar. Very good construction. Aftertaste is pleasantly peppery.

Second Third:

A nice but very subtle oaky scent introduced. I believe it is pretty common for the Man O’ War line. Rich coffee flavor is still predominantly the main flavor, along with that of savory, dark tobacco. Pepper and oak are still there. Ash clings well and is solid white. Coffee tones down a bit more and a nice, nutty flavor develops on the palate along with the pepper. The burn also slows down considerably and the bouquet also leaves behind a set of very peppery nostrils, which I personally like.

Final Third:

The sweetness of the scent has subsided, though the flavorful coffee is still ever-present. The nutty flavor has become more pronounced. It should be a nice downhill ride from here. Peppery aftertaste has also subsided considerably and I am left with a pleasantly oaky, smoky finish. All the flavors in general have lost their bite and are now smooth and flavorful. Oh, and I forgot to mention that the burn is razor sharp. Had a miniscule amount of canoeing but it corrected itself almost immediately. I’ve smoked down to a little over an inch. It is very hard to put down. Very tasty. It might just be me, but the last few puffs had slightly salty and leathery finishes. A very nice way to finish up. Would go very nicely with a cup of black coffee.

Verdict:

A very flavorful but strong cigar. The Man O’ War Puro Authentico Maduro is only a corona, but it packs one hell of a punch. Would not recommend to amateurs who are new to smoking. But for an experienced smoker, this little stick is surely a prize cigar. It has a lot of kick, so don’t be surprised if you get a headrush from it. These stogies were about 6-7 bucks a stick on sale, but were totally worth the buy. If you’re looking for a short but hard kick in the head with a blast of flavor, these little stogies are perfect for you.

Total Smoking Time: 37 minutes

Nov 26 2012

Gurkha Doble Maduro Review

Gurkha has become quite a staple for me. Many experienced cigar smokers look down on this proud line-up of tobacco sticks, but for their price, I find them hard to beat. Tonight’s smoke  was the delicious Gurkha Doble Maduro. I stand by the reasoning that you should never judge a cigar by its wrapper, and this bad boy exemplifies that perfectly. Reminiscent of the excellent Cohiba Black, the doble maduro is deceptively flavorful and light, quite at odds with its oily, dark wrapper. I’d like to break up the major points of the cigar and go into each more in depth.

Vitola:

This monster sports a 58 gauge and is 6.5″ long. Not for the faint of heart. Not only is it a long cigar, but the thicker gauge means you’re looking at an hour and a half smoke, minimum. If you’re a new smoker, I’d look at something a bit smaller to get your feet wet.

Dry Draw:

I used my Colibri double guillotine to cut my stogie. Pre-light draw was very smooth and easy. Ease of draw is a major factor for me. Any tension in the draw will, over the course of your smoke, fatigue your jaw. Nothing serious, but cigar smoking is intended to be an enjoyable pastime after all, so avoiding this is important to me. A quick draw leaves a little sweetness on the lips, with just a hint  of woodiness. Possibly cedar, but hard to tell without lighting up.

Smoke:

Smoke throughout the entire cigar was thick and white. I don’t usually worry too much about my cigar producing copious amounts of smoke, but it’s always nice to see those thick, white plumes. Smoke aroma is very enticing. The room note is sweet, with a fruity tartness that makes me think of raisins.

Ash:

I don’t usually make a point to discuss the ash of my cigars, but the doble maduro really surprised me. Ash was a lovely speckled grey, and it clung to the cigar in 2.5″ segments before falling off. The only problem I encountered was a slight “pointing” of the cigar (the opposite of tunneling). I attribute this,however, to the fact that I may have smoked a little quickly at first, thus not allowing enough time for this wider gauge cigar to burn towards its middle. A slight pause in smoking and the burn corrected itself.

Flavor:

Now we get to the heart of the matter. The cigar started with a warm, clean tobacco taste. Many people emphasize flavor, but sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy the taste of tobacco leaf. After a few puffs the tobacco taste gave way to a sweet, cocoa flavor. This would dominate the cigar until the final third. Typically I like to see flavor progression in thirds of the cigar, but when you come across  something as nice as cocoa in a cigar, I don’t mind it lingering. The final third was very evident as the cocoa gave way instantly to a woodiness, definitely cedar. Cedar is usually accompanied by a creamy sweetness, and the doble maduro definitely did not disappoint.          Faint traces of the raisin notes I detected in the aroma earlier arrived in the back of my mouth, very light but quite nice.

Drink accompaniment:

I usually like to drink something with my cigars, and tonight’s choice was a couple fingers of Zaya rum. This is an excellent 12 year aged rum that starts with a smooth vanilla flavor and finishes with a satisfying oakiness. This is probably the best rum I’ve had yet, and is a great choice for a sweeter cigar. I wouldn’t consider other rums with cigars however, as the Zaya’s aged nature gives it a fuller body and less of a sweet bite. A  drink that is too sugary or sweet will overpower your cigar.

Overall I would say I am very pleased with the Gurkha Doble Maduro. A hefty cigar with very enjoyable flavors made all the better by its reasonable price point ($4-6 online).

Nov 26 2012

Fumari Apple Mint Hookah Review

Hello all, and welcome to Mr. Aficianado! I’m proud to be writing the first of many smoking reviews for our new site. First up on the docket is a brand of shisha (or hookah tobacco) I’ve come to love called Fumari. I’ve smoke plenty of shisha. Actually, a LOT of shisha. The prime brand that comes to everyone’s mind is always Starbuzz. While I do love Starbuzz (you can’t skip out on the classics), I was introduced to Fumari several months ago and it has really changed my hookah experience. Fumari comes in attractive, black, satinized baggies (as opposed to Starbuzz’s well known tins), which are resealable. I prefer the bags to the old Starbuzz tins for a few reasons. First, they simply take up less space. Doesn’t seem like a huge deal, but when you’ve got 3+ flavors at a time like myself, those tins start to add up. Second, the resealable nature of the Fumari bags seems to keep the tobacco fresher, longer. The first thing that strikes me when opening the bag is the overwhelming aroma. Fumari’s flavors are tantalizing, and I often have to resist the urge to lick my fingers when preparing a fresh bowl of Fumari. Apple mint, true to it’s name, smells very strongly of apple (Granny Smiths come to mind, though not as sour). The mint is very light, and actually balances the apple quite well. I had been worried the mint would simply overpower the apple flavor, but this would prove not to be the case later.

My first drag on the hookah was simply divine. The thing I’ve really come to love about Fumari is that their flavors are very distinctive, but light. One of the problems I often have with Starbuzz is that, though their flavors might be quite tasty, often they are very strong. This strength tends to make me feel sick after too long; an hour long bowl is perfectly fine, but smoking a 250g tin of one flavor can get old before you’ve used it all. I’ve yet to have such a problem with Fumari, and I am consistently sorry to see each empty bag in the trash can. As I was saying, the apple is very light on the palate, consistent with a green apple without the sour bite. The mint serves mostly to cool down the back of my throat rather than alter the flavor, helping to keep each puff smooth and cold (I often say there isn’t much worse than warm hookah smoke). It seems to me that Fumari shisha is juicier than most brands and the added juices not only help to provide thick smoke, but it also keeps the tobacco moist, preventing burning (and subsequently harsh smoke). If  I had my way, I’d smoke nothing but Fumari from here on out. Their flavors consistently beat out my favorites from other reputable shisha companies, and often you can find good deals online for them. The Fumari lounge itself is located in San Diego, and I hope to go sometime soon.