Tried this one on a whim. Very "oaky" with a finish that has a distinctive "black pepper" taste. Did not like the first half-inch - but it soon mellowed out and was enjoyable. Not my favorite smoke. But, one I would buy if none of my favorites were available - and certainly one I would accept as a gift. Overall I would give it a B+.
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...and certainly NOT cigar of the year :-) ... but an enjoyable smoke. Thanks for the review.
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yeah, I've avoided buying any of these until now even though my local b&m has them and I will probably continue to do so. not to change the subject but does anyone know how CA votes on things like this? I mean, I'm sure this isn't a bad cigar but, best in the world?
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You could add the create a poll option to a thread if you want people to vote on it.
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I agree, i found it was an ok-good smoke but nothing remarkable.
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Agreed, much better smokes for the money. Ambos Mundos comes to mind....

And welcome to the asylum, from a local!
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I was gifted a couple of these by NCRadioGuy last year and found them to be an excellent smoke, very much to my liking. Not sure how CA arrives at their rating, but I would definitely buy them if someone around here carried them.
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If its just a good smoke, then how did it get Cigar of the year 2008? Are we to believe that we can not trust Cigar Aficionado?
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You can trust them to have an opinion... just like anyone else.
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We sell these in the shop were I work JUST based on the fact that we have a "Cigar Aficionado #1" tag on the box. Ridiculous.
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Anyone find these smokes to last ridiculously longer than normal?
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Maybe that's why Aficionado likes 'em. Not only are they cheap, they're two cigars in one!
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I just had my first one today (thanks Bob). I really liked the flavors. It had some burn issues but I blame that on a windy day.
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Saw the thread title and thought to myself, 'I gotta finally try one of those.' Then I thought the next moment, I have already. LOL. :-)
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We refer to them bastages as cA in these parts. :-)

As for the smoke, I've been looking for a single in a couple B&M's close by for a while now and haven't seen it available. Does this stick have a limited distribution?
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You guys do know that CA owns this brand, which to me explains their ratings for it. But I still want to try it.
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Its a shame this happens. To a more inexperienced smoker, cigar Aficionado is the place to start. I know I started there. But everything must be taken with a grain of salt. No one should sell a stick just because 1 magazine rated it as the best. As the great Zino Davidoff once said, "The greatest cigar to smoke is the one you are currently smoking". Its all personal preference, and the only influencing force to buy a cigar should be personal curiosity, not because a magazine told you. Although the Aficionado's Cigar Companion is a great read :-)
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couldn't have said it any better :-)
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Maybe this was the case in the first 4 or so years of the mag, but I can't see how it could be now. Good luck even finding a word printed about cigars in the editorial of that thing. Their name change to "How To Timeshare a Private Jet To a Golf Course In Las Vegas Magazine" is long overdue.
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They take into account flavor, construction and affordability. Or so they say. No, you cannot trust that rag, imo.

We have that problem as well. Too many people put too much stock in the ca's ratings. Although we sell quite alot of the Magna's.

Please elaborate. To my knowledge, they are the result of a joint endeavor between Manuel Quesada, maker of Fonseca and the founder of MATASA, and Nestor Plasencia and poduced by Plasencia’s Segovia factory in Esteli:

Couldn't disagree more. This and other boards like it is the perfect starting place. Besides, Smoke, Cigar, Cigar Press and The European Cult Cigar Journal are all much, much, much better.

:-) With about 14-18% actual cigar content in a rag called "Cigar Aficionado" is a joke.


These are good cigars but like all Nic puros, they must be stored close to 60% rh for them to shine.
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