Panel Notes:
Note a handsome, rustic, oily wrapper before you light this one. We found it rich and medium-bodied, with a fair amount of depth. It's complex flavors include a hint of creaminess and spice. Overall, a great blend, and well made. Smoke it with your favorite bourbon or scotch.

The Cupido factory is located in the Jalapa Valley. They clearly take great pride in creating what we feel can only be described as the best brand currently produced in Nicaragua. Generations of family secrets relating to curing and farming techniques have been carefully guarded and soon you'll taste why. The Cupido Criollo line debuted at the 2001 RTDA show and were an immediate success. Fuller bodied than Cupido's standard line, the Criollo line is rolled from an all Nicaraguan blend, a true Nicaraguan puro.

Panel Notes:
We found Cupido's Criollo figuardo to pack a real punch, yet it did so while maintaining a nicely balanced flavor and no harshness what so ever. Note earthy, burgundy color, representative of the rich, fertile, soil of the Jalapa Valley. Look for a spicy aroma and a cool smoke. Consider pairing it with a smoky, peaty Scottish ale.

The Diesel line is the brainchild of the more widely known Indian Tabac Company and blended by legendary master blender, Augusto Reyes. While Indian Tabac is known for producing full bodied smokes, Reyes comes to the table with an outstanding reputation as one of the best blenders in the Dominican Republic. Their goal when creating the Diesel label was to develop a powerhouse of flavor in a smooth smoking cigar. It's rolled with a combination of Nicaraguan Ligero binders and fillers and encased in a handsome dark Brazilian Maduro wrapper.

Panel Notes:
Immediately note a dark, oily inviting Brazilian wrapper. It felt substantial in the hand and we were all primed to light it up. While this is in fact a strong cigar, it smoked very nicely and showed no signs of bitterness. Overall, very full-bodied, flavorful, and complex. Pair it up with your favorite pale ale.

A relatively new release from La Luna, the African Fuerte is the 2nd in the "Fuerte" trilogy from La Luna. A full bodied blend is promised in the name and La Luna delivers nicely. The African Fuerte line is named for its East Cameroon Kett wrapper leaf, a tobacco prized for its rich taste and oily sheen. The torpedo featured this month is rolled from a blend of Mexican binder tobaccos and Costa Rican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran fillers.

Panel Notes:
Wow! Expertly constructed. A very even burn and effortless draw. This cigar is packed with flavor that builds as you get into it and keeps coming long after. We found it quite a wonderful experience, one of the more potent and full-flavored non-Cuban Cameroon cigars in the world. It would pair nicely with an oaky Cabernet Sauvignon.

This cigar has proved to be our all time most re-ordered cigar in over seven years! And there's a reason for it. It's simply a great tasting smoke. Nick Perdomo, in our opinion, is one of the hottest cigar manufacturer’s in the world. Perdomo's cigars have been highly accoladed in Smoke Magazine, Cigar Aficionado, Cigar Insider, and many other trade publications. In fact, 4 of the top 14 cigars rated by Cigar Insider are Nick's. Don't take our word for it though. Check it out for yourself and you'll be calling to place an order for a box too!

Panel Notes:
One of our all time favorite cigars. What a sharp rosado box pressed presentation. You almost don't want to light it and just admire it for a short period. And we do mean a SHORT period! Note an exceptionally rich flavor with hints of spice and a naturally chocolaty sweet taste. We found the aroma earthy and spicy-sweet-spicy. Perfectly constructed with an easy draw and plenty of smoke. It's both easygoing and complex. You're going to love it. Smoke it with an oatmeal stout.

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