Appearance: The removal of the cedar sheath reveals a medium-brown, mottled wrapper with minimal veins and a slight tooth.

The Smoke: The Reposado en Cedros starts off with very little spice, some creamy sweetness, a hint of floral and, of course, cedar. For the remainder of the smoke the flavors remain, for the most part, the same, with the pepper kicking it up a notch.

Verdict: The Reposado en Cedros, while not super complex, is still a well-constructed, very pleasing, medium-bodied smoke that won’t break the bank.

HOYO DE MONTERREY BOX A DAY GIVEAWAY
To celebrate the launch of the new Hoyo de Monterrey website, General Cigar is rolling out a “Box a Day Giveaway” to share the unique flavor of the Hoyo Monterrey Reposado en Cedros brand with cigar lovers across the U.S. From now through July 31, consumers of legal smoking age are invited to visit the website (www.hoyodemonterreycigar.com) to enter to win a box of Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros cigars. Winners of the Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros “Box a Day Giveaway” will be announced every Monday on the brand’s website, as well as on the brand’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.

Cigar Stats: As part of the ever-expanding 60 ring gauge universe, the Cafe Gigante sports a Connecticut Shade wrapper enclosing a binder (San Andres) and filler (Piloto Cubano) grown in Mexico. It is produced at General Cigar’s factory in the Dominican Republic.

Appearance: This hefty stick has the light brown color one would expect from a Connecticut wrapper, with a few small veins, and the classic understated Macanudo label. It has a pleasant, springy feel to the touch.

The Smoke: The Cafe Gigante exudes a rich pre-light aroma, and the draw is easy, but not non-existent. When the flame enters the picture, some early spice quickly gives way to a smooth, creamy taste with some woody (cedar, mostly) notes. And that’s where it stays for the duration of the hour-long smoke. One can occasionally detect some sweet notes as well, but the cream and wood predominate. The burn line and draw are consistent throughout the smoke, a testament to the cigar’s construction.

Verdict: When done right, mild taste most definitely does not mean no taste. And the Macanudo Cafe, which carries a $7.99 MSRP, is done right. It may not be the most complex stick you ever try, but you won’t be shortchanged. It’s something to have in your humidor for those times when you’re hankering for an easy, straightforward smoke. For more information on the Cafe Gigante, or the entire line of Macanudo cigars, visit www.cigarworld.com.

Cigar Stats: The C&C Corojo sports an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, a Dominican binder, and Cuban-seed Dominican long-fillers. It is offered in three sizes: Churchill (7×50), Toro (6×52), and with an MSRP of $3.99 a stick, today’s selection, gifted to me by Kevin Paige at Butthead’s Tobacco Emporium in Danbury, the Robusto (5×50).

Appearance: The wrapper is reddish brown with a few minor veins roadmapping their way through the leaf, and a clean triple cap to top it off. There is a very slight tooth to the wrapper and not much oil. The stick is a tad spongy but not enough to be of concern.

The Smoke: The C&C Corojo starts off with a fair amount of spice and some roasted nuts. The draw is nice and easy, but not loose. The burn line is straight and the smoke is abundant. The spice, from the initial light, hangs on the back of the throat for much of the first half before some floral sweetness and wood are added to the mix. I can’t tell you whether the wood is cedar or oak, just that the aroma reminds me of a backyard fire pit. As the review nears its conclusion the spice and sweetness fade and the roasted nuts and burning wood take me to the finish line.

Verdict: The C&C Corojo may not be the most complex cigar on the market, but at $4 per stick it’s a solid smoke that should be on everyone’s must-try list. For more information on the C&C Corojo and the entire line of C&C Cigars, visit candccigars.com.

That’s why most of us have a go-to “short smoke” stick when time is of the essence. One such option is the CAO La Traviata Luminoso, which weighs in at 4½ by 50, a perfect size when you have only a half-hour or so to spare.

Cigar Stats: The popular La Traviata line has been around for several years, and CAO this year added a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro version in the Luminoso size to go with the original Ecadoran Habano, giving smokers a choice of wrappers and tastes. Inside the wrapper, the cigars are the same: Cameroon binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican filler.

Appearance: The Habano and Maduro are similarly constructed – tightly rolled, firm, and with a noticeable vein or two. The Maduro, naturally, is a much darker brown. Think baker’s chocolate.

The Smoke: Both have a strong pre-light aroma and firm draw, and both deliver satisfying medium- to full-bodied taste and plenty of rich smoke when the match gets involved. The Habano serves up a blend of wood and earth notes, while the Maduro adds a layer of sweetness and hint of coffee that one expects from that wrapper. In both cigars, the draw is consistent throughout the smoke and the burn line is spot on.

Verdict: At the suggested $5.10 retail price, the Luminoso merits a place on your must-try list. To these palates, the Maduro offers a more savory blend of tastes, but you won’t go wrong with either option. For more information on the La Traviata, or the entire line of CAO cigars, visit www.caocigars.com.

Cigar Stats: The Seduction’s filler is a Columbian Corojo, surrounded by a Dominican, Olor binder and finished with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. It is offered in four sizes: Churchill (7×55), XO (6×60), Toro (6×55), and with an MSRP of about $6.85 a stick, today’s selection, the Robusto (5×55).

Appearance: The wrapper is a rich, dark chocolate, with minor veins present here and there. There is a slight tooth to the wrapper but not much oil. The stick is slightly spongy but still has a good pack to it. The band, which is actually two bands, one layered on top of the other, is foil stamped in gold, and really quite attractive.

The Smoke: The Seduction starts off mild, with a slight, very pleasant buttery texture coating the mouth. An inch or so in we get some sweetness, very faint, bordering on floral. At the midway some nuttiness enters the mix and stays for the remainder, along with varying amounts of leather. The draw and burn line are perfect, with the ash holding until we tapped off, and the smoke is sweet-smelling and abundant.

Verdict: With a reasonable price tag and an abundance of flavors that will appeal to all palates, the Gurkha Seduction is a must try, and definitely box-worthy, in our opinion. For more information on the Seduction, or the multitude of Gurkha cigars, visit www.gurkhacigars.com.

Cigar Stats: This is a big, beefy cigar, a Salamone weighing in at 7 x 58. Made in Esteli, Nicaragua, it features Nicaraguan filler and binder with an Ecuadoran Habana wrapper.

Appearance: The wrapper is a rich, dark brown, with a vein or two. The stick has a springy feel with some lumps, giving it a fresh, rustic attitude. It may not be the most elegant cigar you’ll lay eyes on, but it’s inviting nonetheless.

The Smoke: The pre-light aroma is quite rich, and the taste is on the sweet side, with a hint of cocoa/coffee. And that’s what the Skull delivers when the flame enters the equation. There is plenty of rich smoke from start to finish, accompanied by a sweet taste with strong notes of coffee. As the smoke progresses, woody flavors – cedar, predominantly – come to the fore. Throughout the 90-minute or so experience, the Skull delivers a consistent combination of taste and aroma on the medium- to full-bodied range of the spectrum.

Verdict: At prices ranging from $9-13, you are going to expect a lot from these cigars. And they are going to deliver. As the temperatures rise and brighten the outlook of all New England cigar smokers, you won’t go wrong adding a Stulac to your to-do list. For more information on the Stulac line, visit paulstulac.com.

Cigar Stats: The Angelenos blend features Dominican binder and filler tobaccos with an Ecuadorian wrapper. It’s offered in six sizes, with the Robusto Gordo JM weighing in at 5½ x 54. Other sizes are Robusto (5¼ x 50), Toro (6 x 50), Lonsdale (6¼ x 44), Gran Toro (6½ x 54), and Double Robusto (5¾ x 52).

Appearance: The golden-brown wrapper is a bit oily and quite smooth, and the construction is firm with a little spring to the touch. It is impeccably rolled, with a flawless cap and minimal veins.
the smoke: The pre-light aroma won’t blow you away, but that’s masking what happens when you strike the match or flick the lighter. There is plenty of rich aroma from start to finish, and it’s one of the cigar’s strong points. As for flavor, the stick falls on the mild- to medium-bodied end of the spectrum, but it is still full of flavor. In the early going, it is quite creamy with notes of citrus and cedar, but what really makes this a satisfying smoke is that the second half delivers just as much flavor and smoothness as the beginning.

Verdict: At about $10 a stick, you should expect a rewarding experience. You’ll get it here – a good 90 minutes of smooth, consistent flavor on a par with the best Connecticuts, and a rich aroma that will linger in the nose and on the fingers. For more information on the Robusto Gordo JM and the entire line of Angelenos cigars, visit www.angelenoscigars.com.

Cigar Stats: The line consists of two blends, a Habano wrapper and, today’s selection, a Connecticut-seed Ecuadorian wrapper. The filler blend for each consists of Piloto Cubano Ligero, Seco Cubano, Olor Dominicano, and Ligero Nicaragua, and an Olor Dominicano binder. Both blends are available in eight sizes: Robusto (5×50), Toro (6×52), Torpedo (6×52), Short Pyramid (5×51), Corona (6×43), Robusto Gordo (5×60), Toro Gordo (6×60), and today’s selection, Churchill (7×48), with an MSRP of $6.50 to $7.25 per stick.

Appearance: The Rock-A-Feller has a medium-brown shade, some minor veins, a minimal amount of oil, and is firm to the touch.

The Smoke: The first two inches of this stick produces zero spice, some tea flavor, and a pleasant buttery texture that coats the mouth. As we approach the mid-section, all of the earlier flavors remain, while also adding a hint of almonds and some straight-up, mild tobacco. And while it is this section of a cigar that usually produces the most flavorful part of the smoke, it is the last third of the Rock-A-Feller that amps up the tobacco, adding just the right amount of spice to the existing flavors.

Verdict: The Rock-A-Feller Churchill is a mild, well-balanced cigar that is a great choice for newbies or even the experienced puffer looking for a pleasant smoke to go with their morning coffee. Anyone interested in trying one out can visit The Carolina Tobacco Emporium, located in the Manchester Parkade, where they’re having a Rock-A-Feller special: Now, through March 17, buy any 3 Rock-A-Feller cigars (Connecticut or Habano) and get a Short Pyramid, either wrapper, free.

Cigar Stats: The Master features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over a binder from Esteli, Nicaragua and fillers from Esteli and Jalapa, Nicaragua. It is available in four sizes: Robusto (5 x 50), Torpedo (6.25 x 52), BFC (6 x 60), and Churchill (7 x 50). We sampled the Torpedo that was gifted to us by Marketing & Customer Relations Manager, Jack Torano.

Appearance: The Master is a beautiful looking cigar with excellent construction that is firm from head to foot. The medium to dark-brown Habano wrapper is slightly oily with a little bit of tooth. The band, which some would call plain, is simple and clean-looking.

The Smoke: The pre-light of the Master is heavy on the hay but, once lit, it is the spice and black pepper that grab your attention. Mixed in with all that power is some wood (cedar, we think) and leather. After about an inch of burn, the blast of pepper mellows and some almond and floral notes arrive, with the leather a constant in the background. The remainder of the cigar brings back the spice, but also adds the new flavors of wood fire and roasted coffee. The draw, which started a bit firm, ends just fine, and the salt-and-pepper ash holds for an inch-and-a-half, even in a stiff New England wind!

Verdict: The Master, which starts out medium-bodied and builds to full-bodied, doesn’t let the spice overpower the other flavors, making it a very well-balanced cigar. And with the recommended price ranging from $5-$6, how can you go wrong? For more information on the Master and the entire line of Torano Family cigars, visit www.torano.com.

Cigar Stats: The AF1 is produced at Fernandez’s tabacalera in Esteli, Nicaragua, and features a Nicaraguan filler and binder wrapped in a San Andreas maduro from Mexico. It comes in four sizes: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 X 50), Torpedo (6½ x 52), and BMF (6 x 58). We sampled the Toro.

Appearance: This cigar has a no-nonsense look. Its deep brown wrapper has a couple of prominent veins, and while it may contain a lump or two, it’s tightly wrapped. The black-and-gold band is a model of understatement.

The Smoke: The pre-light draw suggests a lot of taste and aroma, and the stick delivers when the flame arrives, particularly in the aroma department – it’s deep and rich from start to finish. There’s a bit of spice and coffee at the start, but it soon develops a very woody (cedar, it seems) taste that is not harsh at all, with some chocolate thrown in. The maduro wrapper adds a nice counterbalance of sweet aftertaste. The draw is a little on the loose side when a cutter is used, but firms up a bit with a punch. The whitish ash holds together for quite a while, and the burn line is flawless. No touchups required.

Verdict: The buzz generated by the AF1 in 2011 was well-founded. This is a tasty, medium- to full-bodied experience. In the $7-9 range, it’s an excellent value. For more information on the AF1 and the entire line of Emilio Cigars visit emiliocigars.com.