Reviews by Brandon S

El Mejor, literally translated means “the best one’ or, “the great one”. Truly a fitting moniker in this case because the El Mejor Espresso is an excellent cigar no matter how you “cut” it. Nicaraguan cigars are most often likened to the Cuban cigars of old. They are typically stereotyped as being medium to full-bodied and spicy with a rich and robust flavor profile. While these kinds of smokes are still readily being produced and exported from Nicaragua it is, in my opinion, unfair to blindly label all Nicaraguan cigars as full-bodied and peppery because it just ain’t true. Case in point, El Mejor…

These gorgeous smokes are indeed rolled in Nicaragua but they are anything but spicy. Comprised of a select blend of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan and Honduran long-fillers and finished off with one of the most oily Mexican maduro wrappers you are ever likely to see, these cigars just scream “smoke me!” Pick one up and you’ll see what I mean. I’ve become very accustomed to the 6.5X54 Torpedo size which starts off with a mellow, chocolatey burst and then quickly transforms into the roasted coffee-like flavor not unlike a heavily roasted espresso bean. I’ve come to enjoy this particular flavor very much and as a result it has become my new “go-to” cigar. Interestingly enough, the El Mejor is not an overly complex cigar. At the half-way point and even approaching the nub, the flavors are very much the same as they were an inch in. The ash is as solid as cement and requires a firm strike to break it loose; clear evidence of the quality and care put into the creation of each cigar. Lastly, at between $2 and $2.25 per stick these cigars are nearly addictive….but in a good way I assure you!

Bottom line: If you’re a fan of rich and creamy maduro cigars, El Mejor is a “must try”. Shake up your magic 8-ball if you must but even it will agree that “all signs point to yes”.

Boy Howdy! If it could ever be possible to infuse a chocolate bar into a few leaves of tobacco and roll it into a cigar, it would unquestionably be called a Torano Exodus 1959! Now don’t get me wrong here because I’m not saying that this is a flavored smoke in any way. Instead, what I’m trying to get across to you without actually handing you one is the fact that this cigar truly has something unique to offer.

Take one from the box and the first thing you will notice is the chocolate-brown Habana-2000 wrapper which, upon close inspection hints at the care and quality poured into the creation of each cigar. Generally speaking, a cigar laden with bumps and veins is not particularly appealing and often leads to soft spots that ultimately promote a poor burn. However, you’ll find none of that here...from cigar to cigar and from box to box each Exodus 1959 is as smooth and soft as a piece of fine silk. Underneath these gorgeous and oily Habana-2000 wrappers lies an unparalleled blend of tobaccos from five (count’em…5!!!) countries. Farms from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa-Rica all contribute long-filler tobacco to the Exodus blend and when combined yield an amazingly complex yet smooth and rich flavor. Toast the foot and fire one up and you will first notice the rich and earthy flavor accompanied by a subtle chocolate-like note. Continue on and the complexity afforded by the five-country filler blend becomes more and more evident as the flavors change from subtle and rich to slightly spicy with creamy undertones. The chocolate nuances are now more pronounced and, as with all Torano products, the burn and draw are impeccable. Simply put, the list of factories with the ability to produce cigars this consistent in both flavor and construction year after year is very short. What’s infinitely more mind-boggling is the fact that a cigar like this can be had everyday without breaking your wallet. At less than $4 each Torano proves that you can have your cake and eat it too!

Truly an excellent value for the dollar, the Torano 1959 brings you quality, complexity and a robust array of flavors at a price that makes it a top candidate for an “everyday” smoke. My personal advice is to kick back and light one up, let it burn for an inch or so to acclimate your palate to the flavors and then set yourself up with a strong double-espresso for a cigar-smoking experience like none other. Trust me on this one, you won’t be disappointed!

So, why would I write another review on this cigar after 3 years? I'm glad you asked and better still, I'm going to tell you...

Over the years I've tried many "new releases" that were excellent cigars and I'm sure you feel the same way. The trouble is that often after the lot of tobacco used to create that first batch has been depleted, the factories and blenders are left with the daunting task of producing the cigar again the following year with different tobaccos while maintaining the strength and flavor of the prior year's blend. This often leads to disappointment because subsequent batches lose that something special that was in the blend the first time out. Not so with the Centurian! No way, no how, no doubt about it! Each and every Centurian that I have enjoyed from that very first to today is perfectly consistent in every way, from the burn to the construction to the intense Cuban-esque flavor that each imparts. Mellow off the start with a hint of spiciness, the Centurian slowly builds into a full-bodied and full-flavored cigar with a complexity and richness that rivals even the most sought after Cuban cigars. Year over year you won't find that kind of consistency in any Cuban cigar these days. Sure the price isn't anything to sneeze at but if quality, consistency and a superior blend of tobacco is what you’re after, look no further because your search is over!

Like a monkey attracted to a shiny object, I first picked one of these up when the fabric band adorned with gold sparkly stuff caught my eye some years back. I love Maduro cigars and I also love full-bodied cigars and when I first laid my eyes on this beauty it was love at first sight! Oily, dark and superbly constructed, the ‘O’ Maduro is truly in a class by itself. A Nicaraguan puro, the ‘O’ derives much of its unique flavor and subtle strength from the five-year old Nicaraguan Habano wrappers that are often in short supply. I’ve been enjoying these for a few years now and most often will reach for one after a nice dinner when in the company of friends. In fact, I have a little story for you that has made me and my ‘O’ Maduros famous. Well, maybe notorious is a little more accurate...

I remember it vividly as we had just finished dinner at a local cigar bar famous for their filet mignon. Now, by “we” I mean 6 of my co-workers and their significant others for a healthy and rambunctious crowd of about 14 people. I had enjoyed a few cocktails over the course of the evening and had just pulled out an ‘O’ Maduro Ovation, clipped the top and begun to toast the foot. I should mention that I had just popped “the question” less than a month earlier and as luck would have it she actually said yes. Thoughtfully (or in retrospect, thoughtlessly) I gazed at my smoldering cigar and said to my fiancé, “do you see this band?” as I am pointing to the band on my cigar... “this band means as much to me as the one on your finger means to you” As I slowly realized what I had said, I looked up from my cigar to see every person sitting at the table with their mouths agape. I stuttered and reeled as I struggled to find the words that might help exonerate me from the world of trouble I now found myself in but the only thing I managed to stammer was “I...uhh...should go to the...umm...men’s room now...” and off I went. Fortunately for me my fiancé is very understanding and has grown accustomed my moments where my mouth is fully engaged while my brain is stuck in stupid.

So that’s my little story about my favorite Maduro that nearly ended my marriage before it ever began. But, the real point here is that this is a magnificent cigar and one that you really must try. Recently the bands have been changed from the beautiful blue fabric accented with gold to a less expensive paper version but no matter because what makes this cigar special is the blend of tobacco.

The Bottom Line: Rich in flavor, full in body and with just enough complexity to keep you guessing as to what comes next, the ‘O’ Maduro is as much a standout from the crowd as an elephant in a barnyard full of chickens.