La Aurora Puro Vintage 2004 Preferido

04/13/2012: What a nice cigar--the brand new La Aurora Puro Vintage 2004 Preferido (Belicoso 6.2 x 52). I felt that this cigar was constructed with precision. The flavor was great, smooth not peppery. It wasn't a powerful cigar--I would say medium-bodied. It was a little pricey ($12.99), but I enjoyed it. Smoking this cigar allows one to feel sophisticated, but with the pleasure of enjoying a good cigar.

A Color-full Weekend

Without intention, my weekend took on a colorful theme.


After a busy week at work, and an even busier Friday, I went to Tobacco Leaf in Lawrenceville for a relaxing smoke to take the stress away. I started the weekend with a cigar I had been meaning to try for a while. I opted for the Alec Bradley Black Market Torpedo (54 x 6 1/8"). The cigar had just enough power that it wasn't overwhelming. There were no tastes that stood out right away although it had some spice to it. As I progressed with the smoke, it developed a mild aftertaste. As for the construction, the cigar bowed as I got through the first inch or so. It was annoying, but it could have been worse. The wrapper was oily and dark, one of my favorite qualities in a cigar. The price was affordable, and I would definitely smoke this one again.

Continuing on with the colorful weekend, we made our way into Newtown, PA, for a Saturday lunch and a stroll in-town. We ate lunch at Isaac Newton's where I was eager to try a couple of drafts from the tap. This place has an impressive selection on their permanent taps, and the rotating taps complement it. I started off with the Allagash White Belgian Wheat Ale. The beer was a crisp and refreshing (overused terms for beer, but well needed to describe this one). It was incredibly smoky. I paired it with a burger, but I think it would pair better with grilled chicken or shrimp. Next, I enjoyed a Green Flash West Coast IPA. Talk about hoppy. This IPA was full of hops...pungent flavor was met with a creamy texture and a slight delay in developing a citrusy and floral aftertaste. This was the perfect complement to the burger, but also paired well with the Belgian-style fries. Note: If you end up going to Isaac Newton's, make sure you get the fries. Even if you only order soup or salad, get a side of fries. They are some of the best I've ever had.

Lastly, I stopped in at the Tobacco Leaf in Newtown. I bought a Partagas Black Label Clasico (54 x 5 1/4"). We arrived back home and I was still incredibly full from lunch. I had some work to get done, so I took my computer outside and braved the cool breezy afternoon to enjoy this smoke. The immediate taste I got was a spicy, yet sweet, blast of flavor....think black pepper mixed with 70% chocolate. As much as I enjoyed the flavor of this smoke, the construction of the wrapper left somethings to be desired. Immediately after I lit it, the wrapper began to crackle. A seam opened up as I finished the first half of the cigar, and it began spewing smoke from the side. The crack in the side turned me off and I quickly lost interest in the cigar. Overall, the cigar was medium-full bodied at best (although the website decribes it as full-bodied). It maintained it's flavor for the entirety of the smoke. The cigar was decently priced, so I didn't feel like all was lost. In the future, I might try this again, but it won't be my first choice.

Stay smoky my friends.

Flying Dog Raging Bitch

Just so ya'll know, my blog isn't just about cigars. This entry will be about beer.

That being said, last night was my first foray into the world of pulled pork. My wife found an ultra-easy, 3-step recipe. I used about 8 oz of Stubbs BBQ sauce and 10 oz of Emeril's BAM BBQ sauce. I mixed in about 1/4 cup of white vinegar and about 1/8 cup of yellow mustard. The result was some darn good pulled pork. If you know me, I usually prefer beef, but I wanted to try this recipe. I'm glad I did.

I created my own cole slaw recipe (that still needs perfection on the execution) to accompany the sandwiches. E-mail me or comment to this post if you want the recipe.

Finally, once it was time to serve dinner, I opted for Flying Dog Raging Bitch (a Belgian IPA). I first heard of this beer from my friend Jason. I bought the six pack for New Year's Eve, but only managed to drink 2 of them. Still, as a fan of many different IPAs, this one exhibited the hoppiness you'd expect from an IPA, but had a subtle sweetness (think trippelbock) to it. I wouldn't go as far as calling it toffee-like, but the aftertaste was more than pleasant. It's heavy enough to satiate, and the ABV (8.3%) gives it just enough power. I will finish this six-pack, and then I'll probably go buy another one.

Happy Sunday everyone. Enjoy the last game of the divisional playoffs (go Pack!). Cheers.

Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 48

I just had to tell ya'll that I had, scratch that, rather I experienced an Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 48 (7" x 48) yesterday. The body of the cigar was just "full" enough, but never became overpowering. The flavor was magnificent, though. This was the first Fuente cigar I've tried, but I'm hooked. I even purchased a No. 49 (7 5/8" x 49) for later.


The cigar is finely constructed with the same filler as the Opus X, only it's wrapped with a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper. I recommend this cigar for anyone seeking a medium to full-bodied experience.

Currently, you can find the No. 49 at Tobacco Leaf in Lawrenceville, NJ. I purchased the last of the No. 48 in stock, but I'm sure he will replenish his stock around Father's Day.

Cheers!

A Weekend of Smoke

Rather symbolically, the transition from 2011 to 2012 was masked in clouds of illustrious smoke. With a slower week at work, I was left with some extra time to enjoy a few cigars with some old friends and some new friends.

Wednesday, December 28th

It was a chilly day in Central New Jersey, so time spent outside was going to be short. Luckily, a Viaje Skull & Bones "Little Boy" was residing in my humidor. This was a powerful, short smoke. To steal a line from my friend, Ed, "That one had my legs shaking." For such a small cigar, this one packed a lot of power. Every now and then, I like a full-bodied smoke, but this one was slightly overpowering.

Thursday, December 29th

As a farewell to 2011 with my friend Ed, I treated us both to a nice smoke. Ed smoked a nice Rocky Patel Decade that I set him up with. I sat down with the CAO OSA which I originally had liked. I found that the flavor had dwindled or that my palette may have become bored with the flavor. Although I was in good company, I just didn't enjoy this smoke. I haven't heard too much from "Joe Consumer" on anyone else's enjoyment of this cigar, so if you have a comment please let me know.

Friday, December 30th

My last visit to Tobacco Leaf (for 2011). As the perfect end to my last day of work for the year, I met my wife for a quick, but well-needed lunch date. Once she returned to work, I pampered myself with a haircut and the purchase of a six pack of beer to be enjoyed on New Year's Eve (keep reading for the outcome of that). I found myself with a couple of hours to spare, so I paid a visit to my local cigar retailer. Jolly (the store owner) set me up with a nice cigar--Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ. This cigar was perfect for my palette. The oscuro wrapper was creamy, and the flavor was very smooth. What I haven't mentioned is the perfecto shape. In my own amateur opinion, this was a well-rolled, well-constructed cigar that burned evenly and never warranted a re-light. I will be smoking this cigar again.

Saturday, December 31st

We spent New Year's Eve with our friends in Flemington. I don't know about you, but we were blessed with a mild evening. I spent some time with a Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo that had been aging in my humidor since September. The cigar had dried out a little bit, but after about 5 minutes, the flavor I had originally experienced finally developed. The chocolaty undertones mixed with a creamy smoke really make this a pleasant smoke. I recommend the robusto for a quick, yet enjoyable experience.

Sunday, January 1st

On a day full of football, I needed to escape from the first round of games. In my humidor, I had been storing an A. Turrent Triple Play Maduro for a friend for over a year. It turns out that he passed up a great opportunity. The cigar kept very well. Once again, it was fairly mild in the afternoon, so I was comfortable sitting outside catching up with family and friends. To my surprise, the cigar still maintained its flavor. I imagine that some of the flavor may have deteriorated, but nonetheless, I was satisfied with the flavor. The cigar maintained a steady draw, although it was a little loose. It burned very evenly, and I never needed to relight it. I think the next cigar I buy will be a fresher version of this smoke (stay tuned for an update).

If you're reading my blog, I would like to wish you a Happy New Year and hope for prosperity as the year progresses. Please leave a note as I like to hear people's thoughts and opinions on what I'm writing.

What is your top 5?

Since I'm bored, I decided to list my top 5 favorite cigars as of today.

1) La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros 652
2) Nub Cameroon 464T
3) 5 Vegas Classic Robusto
4) Fonseca No. 1 (Cuban)
5) Perdomo 10th Anniversary Reserve Maduro Robusto

What are some of yours?

F.A.T. 06/24/2011--Double My Pleasure

"Save it for a rainy day"

My early Friday became an excellent Friday. I was able to spend some time on the back patio with a couple of smokes.

The first cigar was a 5 Vegas Classic Robusto. I have to admit, I wasn't sure if I'd like this one. From the start, it was very pleasant. The smoke was very smooth on my palette, and it had a nice even draw for the entire time. I think 5 Vegas just gained a fan.

The second smoke was a La Aurora Series 107 Robusto. This had a very full flavor. This one gave me a nice buzz as I enjoyed a brief thunderstorm. As brief as the storm was, this cigar burned very quickly. Not that I time myself, but I finished this cigar in only 45 minutes. I can't say it was worth the money I spent. I purchased this one from a local cigar store a few months ago, and it's sat in my humidor for this whole time. I don't know if I'd buy this one again, but if you're looking for a full-flavored, short smoke, this is for you.

Still, any time spent smoking cigars is better than any time spent working on a Friday. Have a great weekend everyone.

JZ