Cigar Review: El Triunfador #2

Country: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano
Length: 5 1/2 x 52
Body: Medium
Price: $8
Rating: B

Pete Johnson is among my top 5 favorite brand owners, his Tatuaje Cazadore line (Brown Label) being one of my favorite cigars. Being a big fan of Tatuaje I was excited when Johnson released the first of his El Triunfador line in 2008 but then disappointed to learn that the vitola chosen for this release was a lancero, easily my least favorite cigar shape. Despite my misgivings I did try a couple of the lanceros but came away from the experience unimpressed. So imagine my anticipation upon learning earlier this year that Johnson would be extending the El Triunfador line to include 5 additional sizes and once again having Pepin Garcia blend and create the cigars at his My Father factory.

Because the El Triunfador line is reasonably priced I picked up a box of robustos and a box of belicosos back in the spring. I finished the robustos off earlier this summer and have 4 belicosos left. For my money the belicoso size in this line is the best choice and so I have chosen to give it a brief review.

Presentation and Packaging
Johnson seems to always pay respect to tradition with his choice of shapes and sizes for his cigar lines and with his choice of labeling and packaging. The 2010 El Triunfador brand extension uses traditional cardboard boxes natural color with decorative red and gold borders and sealed with both the My Father and El Triunfador stamps. The boxes are dated, a practice that should be adopted across the board. My box was dated 3/22/10. There are 25 cigars to a box each one cellophane wrapped. The cigars are adorned with a single simple band red with gold trim and white lettering, again a tip of the hat to tradition. You can remove the band easily with no tearing. The overall packaging succeeds in building the anticipation of sampling the first cigar.





Prelight Observations
The El Triunfador #2 is one stunningly beautiful belicoso with its smooth and shiny chocolate brown wrapper, the box press, and the understated blunt triple cap at the foot. I did notice the presence of one or two pronounced veins on almost all the robustos and belicosos I smoked. While only slighty detracting from the appearance the veins have no impact on the burn quality. A glance at the foot seems to confirm the absence of ligero tobacco as the coloration of the filler tobacco appears uniform. The smell of the foot is muted. I seemed to pick up the smell of hay perhaps. The triple cap is precisely placed and easily removed. I picked up a more pronounced smell of grass off the head. The cold draw has a slight resistance, maybe a little less than desirable. The overall weight of the cigar seems a bit light and while the feel is consistent from head to foot, it feels like it is not as fully packed as I typically prefer.

Smoking Characteristics
The El Triunfador lights very easily by simply taking 30 seconds or so to toast the foot with a soft flame lighter or match, more evidence that the filler contains no ligero. The first puff yields the flavor notes of coffee and cream along with very mild spice. The aroma is wonderfully nutty. This is exactly what you would expect with the seco leaf filler and the Habano wrapper. At this point you have to resist the urge to smoke to quickly, which will serve to ruin the taste. So far everything about this cigar spells winner!

About an inch or more in I noticed that the burn line was moving evenly leaving a slightly flaky yet firm-enough ash. I typically ash these cigars about 1 or 1 1/4 inch mark. At this point there is a faint caramel note detected and the mild spice has subsided. At the halfway point the spice is again noticeable, the coffee and cream notes have faded, and a taste of cedar is detected. The aroma is still best described as nutty although not as rich as in the beginning.



Past halfway mark the taste of the El Triunfador changes noticeably and, for me at least, not in a good way. The coffee, cream, and caramel notes are gone. The nuttiness is now faintly discernible in the aroma of the smoke. Mild spice is still detected on the tongue as is cedar and maybe grass. Not bad mind you, just not as interesting or maybe a better way to say, not with the same fullness. The spice seems to pick up some as you move toward the band. The burn continues to move along evenly.



As the burn line approaches the band, the flavor on the tongue is unchanged but the nuttiness has regained strength in the resting smoke aroma, a welcome return! The head is beginning to feel warm but not hot. One thing I failed to mention is that the finish over the last half tends to be a bit dry. After the second ash drop there is about 2 inches of cigar left. I typically smoke about another inch and then let it it rest as the flavor at this point has become bland. It tastes a bit hot and there is some faint bitterness appearing. The cigar remaining feels spongy.

Overall Impression
Overall the El Triunfador is an enjoyable cigar that can be enjoyed at any time of day due to its mild to medium body. On the plus side the appearance, first-half flavor, burning characteristics, and plentiful smoke make this experience memorable. On the other hand, the change in flavors over the last half are a bit one dimensional and the last 2 inches forgettable. And finally a little fuller fill would be appreciated. I do recommend El Triunfador as a milder alternative to the Pete Johnson brands and I will continue to buy them as finding mild to medium cigars with any flavor is challenging.



Smoking Hints
As I mentioned at the beginning, the cold draw and feel of the cigar gives the impression it may be slightly underfilled. Smoking this cigar too quickly will cause it to burn too hot and ruin the oils containing the rich flavors. If you do smoke it too quickly the last half will strike you as bland. A slower pace maximizes the flavor profile. Additionally, try to keep the ash intact for at least 1 to 1 1/2 inches over the last half to help preserve the right temperature. This will enhance your overall experience with the El Triunfador. You may not nub it but with patience you can enjoy it down to the last inch.

Cigar Review: E.P. Carrillo Edición Inaugural 2009 "Encore"

Country: Dominican Republic
Binder: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Length: 5 3/8 x 52
Body: Medium
Price: $13
Rating: A

Released in 2009 the EPC Edición Inaugural 2009 is just that, the first cigar released by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo under his new family-owned brand. Like many I was first attracted to Mr. Carrillo's blends created for General Cigars, especially the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami released in 2008, and looked forward to sampling his new creation.

This is not only an inaugural edition cigar for the EPC family, but also a limited edition. I understand that the Ecuadorian wrapper for this cigar was limited in quantity, and perhaps not available again until 2012, and total production was limited to 150,000 cigars. I have smoked 14 EPC Edición Inaugural 2009's and found the overall quality consistently high from appearance to construction to flavor and aroma.

Presentation and Packaging


The presentation quality of the EPC Edición Inaugural 2009 is first-rate. There is a genuine wow factor when you open the box for the first time! It makes you wonder whether the cigars themselves will live up to the marketing package. The decision to limit the cigars to 10 per box makes a box purchase much more affordable for cigar smokers on a budget. The EPC Edición Inaugural 2009 is dressed in two attractive bands which are easily removed.



Prelight Observations
The EPC Edición Inaugural 2009 has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper medium brown in color with a nice oily sheen and minimal veins. The feel of the cigar is solid, no soft spots, and appropriate weight. The cap is applied with precision and easily removed. The cold draw has the right amount of resistance and the foot smells of barnyard, not quite as strong as the organic fertilizer I use on the yard, but in that direction.

Smoking Characteristics
Using a soft flame lighter my experience with the Edición Inaugural 2009 is that it takes approximately 90 seconds to light. Lit properly this cigar will burn evenly to the nub. I also noticed on the first few samples that the wrapper leaf is slightly fragile and will develop cracks if you use a torch lighter. The cigar burns evenly with a burn line that is minimally jagged. The draw indeed has the right amount of resistance evidencing a well-packed filler resulting in a cool burn right down to the nub. The ash is light gray and solid holding up to an inch and a half.



In terms of flavor, the Edición Inaugural 2009 has some complexity though not as much as some other cigars in the price range. Upon lighting I noticed some spice and a flavor that reminded me of oats. It has a creamy texture on the tongue and throat. Just prior to the halfway point the one major shift in taste is the addition of citrus notes on the finish, which really seals the deal for me. It is the aroma, however, which really fulfills this cigar's promise of a super-premium smoking experience: it is toasty, nutty, and luxurious. This cigar needs to be experienced indoors to fully appreciate its character.

The Edición Inaugural 2009 is billed a medium body smoke. I would classify it as just to the left of medium. It is an excellent smoke for early in the day especially considering the fact that you typically sacrifice flavor and aroma when smoking medium to mild cigars. Definitely not in this case!

Smoking Hints
I did come across two minor issues which the smoker will want to keep in mind. First, although the label can be removed cleanly, be sure to remove it carefully. On the first two or three that I sampled removing the label included removing a small patch of the wrapper. This can be avoided though by removing the label with care. Second, smoking this cigar too quickly or lighting it with a torch lighter may make it burn too hot resulting in wrapper splitting. Again, use a soft flame lighter or matches and go at a slow, leisurely pace.

Overall Impression
The Edición Inaugural 2009 is a first-class, top shelf cigar. It is absolutely worthy of its beautiful packaging and its price. I have been smoking one of these a month for several months now and always look forward to spending an afternoon with it.

Tatoo Tuesday: Reviving the Concept of Personal Responsibility

Tuesdays are dedicated to the "tatoo," Tatuaje cigars that is. Tonight I fired up my last Tatuaje RC184, that hard to find 7.25 x 57 mammoth perfecto from Pete Johnson and Pepin Garcia. I find it a helpful companion as I peruse the various political and economic articles out on Real Clear Politics.com and Real Clear Markets.com.

Our country would be so much stronger if people would take responsibility for their actions. I sent a letter to our congressman, Michael Burgess, Sunday a week ago asking him to encourage Congress to handle the problems in the financial markets responsibly, laying aside partisan finger-pointing and leveraging economic experts to uncover the underlying issues that need to be addressed. I do not favor a financial bail out or any form of government interference in the markets. I do favor reforming government policies that contributed to the problems.

Overall I continue to believe the fundamentals of the economy are fine and the markets are functioning the way they should, despite the fact I'm personally down 25% this year. The markets go up. The markets go down. Long live the markets!

So, I spotted two articles that report what I have believed to be true written much more skillfully than I could ever dream. First, Jonah Goldberg writes on how both political parties contributed to the present problems in an article entitled "No one's clean in this mess." We need more balanced reporting like Goldberg provides.

My favorite article of the evening though comments on something no one is willing to talk about, personal responsibility. Written by Michael Graham, "Bear market for personal responsibility" lays the blame squarely at the feet of all those people who chose to walk away from their financial obligations. He points out the ever-growing pattern of people walking away from their responsibilities whether its their marriage, their bills, their children's education, or their lack of attentiveness. Walking away from their home mortgages is just another part of the pattern.

He writes:

"America is experiencing a collapse of the ethics market. Belief in the notion that people should be responsible for their own actions, or pay their own bills or keep their promises has plummeted. It’s time to pump moral and ethical capital into the idea of individual responsibility."

He concludes:

"This isn’t a failure of finances. It’s a failure of character."

Too bad we and our political leaders cannot show the same level of personal responsibility leading this country as Pete and Pepin show making great cigars.

Review: Arganese Nicaraguan Torpedo (Presidente)

Manufacturer: Arganese Dominicana S.A.
Country: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Repulic
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Size: 6 7/8 x 52
Overall Impression: B

You have to love entrepeneurs like Gene Arganese. Here's a man with a passion for cigars who transitions from having his own private blend to starting his own cigar company. A man committed to quality and affordability, Arganese has based his operations in one of the best regions for cigar growing in the Dominican Republic, hired the best torcedors, and personally oversees every aspect of production. He also has a natural gift for developing a compelling product line.

In the flagship Arganese line all cigars use Dominican tobacco for the filler and binder while providing smokers a choice of wrappers: Nicaraguan corojo, Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade, or Brazilian Matafina Maduro. The filler tobacco is 100% 1st generation Cuban seed. The Nicaraguan version is billed as a full-bodied cigar, however at most it is medium-bodied, which is not a criticism at all.

Appearance: The appearance is light brown with rough looking veins and a soft delicate-feeling wrapper.

Construction: The construction is the only real draw-back to the Arganese Nicaraguan Torpedo. I smoked 5 of these over a 2 month period with much the same result. Upon clipping the head, I found the prelight draw not so much tight or blocked, but limited. Once lit the draw produced little smoke. In each case the wrapper began cracking 1" in. I keep my cigars around 66% rh, so maybe these need a bit more humidity? The last two I tried, I cut the head a little further with no improvement. Despite the perception of a draw problem the burn line progressed evenly leaving a sturdy gray ash a bit over an inch in length. The cigar never required correction or relighting. Once nursed past the halfway point, the wrapper stopped cracking and proceeded normally.

Flavor: The flavor is the highlight of the experience and the reason I will continue buying Arganese cigars. It has complexity delivering a distinct nuttiness along with cedar notes and a creamy finish during the first half. Halfway through the nuttiness dissipated and some faint notes of chocolate were detected along with citrus. The aroma was cedary and nutty. Over the last third, it developed a nice salty finish.

Overall Impression: I rated the Arganese Nicaraguan Torpedo a solid B with points subtracted for appearance and construction. The flavor, though, is very enjoyable and I wish the draw would open up so I could enjoy more of that rich flavor and aroma. The price which is around $5 is a bargain. All in all Arganese is a very exciting newcomer to the premium cigar market. I'm anxious to sample his new lineup for 2008 especially the ML3 and CL3.

StogiE's Top 5 for August

When spreading the good news it's sometimes helpful to list and summarize that which you think will benefit others. So, sharing a monthly top 5 is my way of recommending my favorite cigars for the month. In no particular order here are my favorites for August:

1. Cubao No. 1 (Churchill 7 x 49) a Nicaraguan puro by Pepin Garcia for United Tobacco. I love these guys! Medium-bodied. Introduced this past summer at the RTDA. My rating: 91.

2. Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ Maduro Belicosos (Figurado 5.75 x 52) a Nicaraguan puro by Pepin Garcia for El Rey de los Habanos. My rating: 92.

3. 601 Green Label Oscuro La Punta (Perfecto 5.5 x 52) a Nicaraguan puro by Pepin Garcia for United Tobacco. Did I mention that I love these guys? These guys referring to Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega (and of course Pepin Garcia). Full-bodied. My rating: 91.

4. Illusione 2 "and crowned of thorns" (Figurado 5.25 x 52) a Nicaraguan puro from Fernandez y Fernandez for Illusione Cigars. Medium-bodied. The most popular size in the Illusione line appears to be the CG:4, which is an excellent cigar. BTW, has anyone figured out the code? My rating: 91.

5. La Flor Dominicana Cabinet Maduro No. 6 (Figurado 6.25 x 52) Binder and Filler from the Dominican Republic with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper from Litto Gomez for La Flor Dominicana. Medium to full-bodied. My rating: 91.

Nicaragua is the country of choice for me when it comes to cigars with the Dominican Republic second. Since I tend to enjoy medium to full-bodied smokes the products developed by Pepin Garcia most suit my taste.

My favorite producer is currently United Tobacco. With the 601 line (love the Blue and the Green labels) and the newly introduced Cubao line and Mi Barrio this company is consistently producing high quality, top-shelf cigars.

My favorite beverage for August, by a long-shot, is the Barbera 2006 from Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. This full-bodied red pairs perfectly with full-bodied cigars.

Review: La Aurora Barrel Aged Belicoso

Manufacturer: La Aurora S.A.
Country: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Repulic, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Corojo Oscuro (Dominican Republic)
Size: 6.25 x 52
Overall Impression: B

I first heard about the new Barrel Aged line from La Aurora last year when reading reports from the 2007 IPCPR. Being a big fan of the Preferidos line I was very anxious for these to become available. Patience is a virtue as the Barrel Aged did not start shipping until March 2008. Barrel Aged takes it name from the fact that all the tobacco used is aged four years in barrels previously used for aging rum.

I have sampled 6 or so of these and decided this medium-bodied cigar would be the perfect choice after my 30 mile bike ride along the Trinity Trail in Fort Worth. I had one left that has been resting in the humidor for a couple of months at 66% rh. I paired it with fresh ground Columbian coffee and the Eagles-Steelers football game. Fortunately (or not) the cigar proved to be more interesting than the game.

Appearance: La Aurora has done a great job with presentation on the Barrel Aged. The cigars are very appealing to the eye with a milk chocolate wrapper that is very smooth to the eye and touch with very faint veins. The band has the look of a barrel with shades of orange and red lettering.

Construction: I have found the Barrel Aged cigars to have solid construction with no soft spots or visible flaws. After clipping the head I found the prelight draw to have the right resistance. After lighting I found the draw to be just right resulting in lots of white billowing smoke. The burn line, though not razor sharp, was even from start to finish. No corrections or relights were needed. The ash was light gray and held to a tightly wound 1-1.25 inches.

Flavor: I found the flavor to be pleasant but not overly complex. Initially I detected wood and spice. About an inch in the flavor of dark-roasted coffee kicked in along with the wood. The finish was creamy with a touch of spice. The aroma was also pleasant and seemed to have a hint of sweetness in the nose. This flavor profile continued througout the remainder of the smoke with some mild spice appearing briefly at points along the way.

Overall Impression: I have rated the La Aurora Barrel Aged Belicoso a solid B. I have to admit to being a little bit disappointed, mostly because I have been spoiled with the high quality of the La Aurora Preferidos. Still, the Barrel Aged is a quality product and delivers a pleasant smoking experience. I will continue to purchase these individually.

On Change #1

Exactly when should we believe the politicians are serious about change? It has been nothing but more of the same. Do you realize the politicians laugh at us because we swallow their lies so easily.

How's this for change: House Majority Leader Pelosi showed us more of the same today on a matter that should concern all of us most. As reported in The Hill:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when asked Tuesday whether Democrats bear some of the responsibility regarding the current crisis on Wall Street, had a one-word answer: “No.”

Pelosi (D-Calif.) ripped President Bush’s “mismanagement” of the economy and a lack of regulation that led to the current situation.

Here's my opinion of change.

Change occurs when leaders stop shifting blame. When mistakes happen true leaders are willing to acknowledge their contribution to the problem. This is a good example. Pelosi ripped the president for a lack of regulation. Let me ask a question. Who is responsible for creating laws, Congress or the President? Correct, Congress. If we are lacking in sufficient regulations for the financial markets, the failure is with Congress. Pelosi, as Speaker of the House, bears responsibility in this regard, not the president.

When it comes to shifting blame, Pelosi once again proves she offers no change we can believe in, just more of the same.

A political party that claims to bear no responsibility for the problems facing this country is a political party incapable of solving the problems this country faces. Why? Because they are more interested in laying the cause of every problem at the feet of their opponents to gain electoral advantage.

They don't care about solving this country's problems. They care only about winning an election.