June 4th 2012 - Tabak Especial Red Eye

Today I'm wrapping up my favorite cigars for this summer with an infused addition with the Tabak Especial Red Eye in it's only offering a 4.5x54 vitola. Drew Estate is known for their infused cigars and the Tabak Especial line is one of their coffee infused line. The Red Eye was introduced to be the espresso version. It features triple the amount of ligero used in the original Tabak Especial cigars. It features all Nicaraguan tobaccos. It has great flavor notes of coffee, espresso and a chocolaty sweetness.

June 3rd 2012 - Room 101 San Andreas

Today I continue my top cigars for the summer series with what is in my opinion the top pre summer release of the year in the Room 101 San Andreas. Matt Booth decided to add a maduro cigar to his lineup and he went big. The San Andreas features a San Andreas Maduro wrapper from the Turrent family with the rest of the blend consisting of Corojo and Criollo tobaccos from the El Corojo farms. It's got great flavors of classic tobacco and earth with pepper, spice, chocolate, coffee.

June 2nd 2012 - La Herencia Cubana Dos Capas

Today brings us another addition to my top smokes for the summer in a dual wrapper, La Herencia Cubana Dos Capas in a 6x52 Toro vitola. The La Herencia Cubana Dos Capas comes from Tabaclera Fernandez in Nicaragua. This cigar features the wrappers from both the La Herencia Cubana and La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte. One is a Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro and the other is an Ecuadorian Sumatra Wrapper. The two cigars that had their wrappers combined to make this one featured the same Nicaraguan long fillers so combining them was only natural. This is a fantastic smoke that features an earthy, spicy, woody, nutty core that when combined with the sweetness from the sumatra wrapper and the peppery finish from the maduro wrapper makes this cigar a terrific smoke.

June 1st 2012 - Kristoff Sumatra

Continuing with my top smokes for the summer today brings us a sumatra addition to the list in the Kristoff Sumatra in a 6.5x56 Matador vitola. Kristoff has quickly become a big name in the industry with the high quality of cigars they're producing. The Sumatra features a Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, a Brazilian binder with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The Sumatra has core flavors of earth and spice with hints of wood and leather throughout. I'm a huge sumatra fan and this one is one my favs.

May 31st 2012 - Crowned Heads Four Kicks

In my top cigars of the summer today brings us a habano edition in the Crowned Heads Four Kicks in a 5x50 Robusto vitola. Crowned Heads hit the scene in 2011 and really made a big splash. The company was created by Jon Huber, Nancy Heathman, Mike Conder, Michael Trebing and company after the sale of CAO Cigars. Their first release is the Four Kicks. Hailing from Tabacalera LaAlianza S.A. in the Dominican Republic it features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with it's binder and fillers coming from Nicaragua. You get an earthy and woody core that is complemented by sweet spicy flavor notes that is well balanced and complex.

May 30th 2012 - Liga Privada Undercrown

Continuing my top summer cigars today brings us a very smooth and flavorful maduro the Liga Privada Undercrown 5x54 Robusto vitola. The Liga Privada line is a major departure from what Drew Estate is known for, their infused cigars. The Undercrown was developed by the rollers at Drew Estate. They were smoking the No. 9 so much that they were told they had to stop as the tobaccos used for the No. 9 are hard to come by. As a result they created their own blend using different primings from the tobaccos for the No. 9 and then they topped it off with a new wrapper. The Undercrown has a San Andreas Maduro wrapper, a Brazilian Mata Fina binder with Dominican and Honduran fillers. The Undercrown will not disappoint with great flavors of cedar, spice, pepper, coffee, nuts and a classic tobacco sweetness.

May 29th 2012 - Cigar.com American Label

Today I'm starting a series of my top smokes for the summer. Today brings us the top yard work cigar for this year in the Cigar.com American Label in a 6.5x42 Corona vitola. Cigar.com's house blends are some of if not the best value smokes out there. The newest addition to the line that features all American tobaccos. The American Label features a Connecticut Shade Leaf wrapper, with a Wisconsin binder with Connecticut Broadleaf and Habano fillers. It's a cedary, nutty, earthy and creamy cigar that was fuller in body than I expected.

May 28th 2012 - Room 101 Namakubi

Today brings us the Room 101 Namkubi in a 4x48 Roxxo vitola. The Namakubi is a special limited release blend by Matt Booth. The Namakubi has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with a Honduran binder with Honduran and Dominican fillers. The Namakubi features notes of espresso, wood and leather throughout with a slightly sweet finish to round out it's balanced complexity. I chose this to be today's Memorial Day Cigar. Matt Booth is a veteran of the Marine Corps Infantry so I saw no better cigar for today. I hope everyone and their families have a great and safe holiday weekend. I ask that you all take a moment and remember why it is that we have Memorial Day. Many brave Americans have fought for our freedom and have paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for their country. You may be gone but you and your sacrifices will always be remembered! Thank you for all you did...

May 27th 2012 - 5 Vegas Cask Strength II

Today brings us the 5 Vegas Cask Strength II in a 6x60 box pressed Firkin vitola. I can honestly say this has to be one of my favorite 5 Vegas cigars. They come package in a mini barrel when purchased by the box. It has a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper with multi country fillers to include Nicaragua and the Honduras. You'll get an earthy, leathery and chocolaty cigar with the Cask Strength II. I chose this to feature today as two major races are both happening today with the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca Cola 600.

May 26th 2012 - La Reloba Seleccion Mexico

Today brings us the La Reloba Seleccion Mexico in a 5x50 Robusto vitola. The La Reloba line comes to us courtesy of the My Father Factory. Given that it has high expectations and it does not disappoint. The Seleccion Mexico has a Mexican San Andreas Maduro wrapper with it's binder and filler being Nicaraguan. It's got a classic maduro sweetness with earth, pepper, spice, wood and nuts. I chose this to feature today as a blind grab out of the humidor.

May 25th 2012 - San Lotano Maduro

Today brings us the San Lotano Maduro in a 5x52 box pressed Robusto vitola. San Lotano is brought to us by AJ Fernandez. It features a San Lotano Maduro wrapper, a Honduran binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, the Honduras and Nicaragua. It's earthy and peppery with spice, chocolate and coffee that all work with each other to give a great full bodied experience. I chose this to be today's cigar because on this day in 1977 Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope was released. What has happened since nobody could have imagined. Star Wars has become one of the most popular and profitable movie series of all times.

May 24th 2012 - Outlaw 13

Today brings us the Outlaw 13 in a 6x52 Toro vitola. The 13 was a 2010 release by Outlaw Cigar Co. The story as I understand it is that Dion Giolito, of Illusione, and Jonathan Drew, of Drew Estate, got together and created the Nostros cigar. After receiving the cigar Dion decided that it wasn't what he was looking for and sent them back to JD. Then Outlaw swooped in and snatched up the stock and thus the 13 was born. The blend is being kept secret by Outlaw. What I do know is that it has a classic tobacco core with pepper, spice and a nice sweetness to it as well. I chose this to feature today as the Brooklyn Bridge was opened on this day 1883 after 14 years of construction.

May 23rd 2012 - Rocky Patel Decade

Today brings us the Rocky Patel Decade in a 6.5x52 Toro vitola. The Decade has long been regarded as one of the best cigars produced by Rocky Patel. He created it to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Rocky Patel Cigars. It features a Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with Honduran long fillers. Pepper, leather, wood and coffee make up the flavor profile. I chose this to feature to pay homage to Owen Hart who lost his life on this day in 1999. Owen was a great wrestler who was always entertaining. Thanks for all the great memories!

May 22nd 2012 - 5 Vegas Series 'A'

Today brings us the 5 Vegas Series 'A' in a 4.5x44 Anomaly vitola. The people behind 5 Vegas wanted to bring a full bodied maduro to their line up and thus the Series 'A' was born. It has a Costa Rican Maduro wrapper with a three country blend to make up it's filler profile. You'll get a leathery and chocolaty core with earth, pepper and spice. I chose this to feature today to pay my respects to those lost and to those still recovering from the damage of the F5 tornado that ravaged Joplin, MI and took the lives of 116 people. I can't imagine what they've been through but wanted to let them know there are those of us who are still keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.

May 21st 2012 - Tarazona Classic

Today brings us the Tarazona Classic in a 6.5x52 Torpedo vitola. Eddie Tarazona owns and operates Tarazona cigars. He is a great guy. He donates $5 from every box to the Miami Humane Society Animal Rescue. I can't help but to love and respect that he does this. Ok so onto the cigar the Tarazona Classic features a Sumatra wrapper with it's binder and fillers coming from Nicaragua. It's a creamy, spicy, peppery, earthy and sweet cigar with classic tobacco that comes through to complement the other flavors. I wanted to feature this today to celebrate the 60th birthday of the one and only Mr.T!!!

May 20th 2012 - Berger and Argenti Entubar

Today brings us the Berger and Argenti Entubar in a 5 3/8x54 Robusto vitola. Berger and Argenti is a newer company to the cigar world being founded in 2009. The Entubar is one of the most creative designs I've ever seen in a cigar, which causes it to have an Advisory Foot Band. There's a center tube that sticks out from the foot and runs through the whole cigar. This tube consists of all ligero tobaccos. The fillers and binder that surround it are Nicaraguan and it has a Ecuadorian Connecticut Desflorado wrapper. You'll get a peppery, nutty, toasty, spicy and sweet cigar with the Entubar. I chose this to be today's cigar to be homage to Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receiving their patent for blue jeans with copper rivets. They revolutionized jeans with their design and I feel like the Entubar design is revolutionary as well.

May 19th 2012 - Gurkha Beast

Today brings us the Gurkha Beast in a 6.5x56 vitola. The Beast is a limited production cigar by Gurkha with only 1000 boxes being produced annually. The Beast is wrapped in a well aged Costa Rican Maduro wrapper with it's fillers being a mix from the Dominican Republic, the Honduras, and Columbia. You'll get a chocolaty, earth and woody smoke with a full classic maduro sweetness to it as well. I chose this for today's cigar to celebrate London Fletcher's 37th birthday. London is a beast of a LB and has had a very long and productive career. I may not be a Redskins fan but I enjoy watching him play on a weekly basis. Happy Birthday London!

May 18th 2012 - Tatuaje T110

Today's brings us the Tatuaje T110 in the only size it was ever made, 4.3x52. Only 200 boxes of 25 cigars, 5,000 total, were made and were all sold by a single cigar shop in Hawaii. Hailing from Nicaragua the T110 features all home country tobaccos in it, which just so happen to be all ligero. The T stands for thermonuclear and the 110 is the MM of the cigar. This cigar is a total beast! With booming pepper, leather, pepper, spice, pepper, a chocolately sweetness and pepper this cigar is a power bomb on the taste buds. I chose this to feature today to pay tribute to the Apollo 10 Mission which launched on this day in 1969.

May 17th 2012 - Oja Oscuro

Today brings us the Oja Oscuro Destacado in a 6x52 Toro vitola. Oja is a new boutique cigar company with their factory being in Esteli, Nicaragua. They have 3 cigars and 3 different vitolas for each, Destacado which is a 6x52 Toro, a Distinguido which is a 6x54 Torpedo and the Artefacto which is a 6x60 Corona Grande. The Oscuro features a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper. You can expect a full bodied cigar with earthy and coffee flavors with a classic maduro sweetness and hints of spice throughout. I chose this to feature today as I was just gifted it from a great BOTL and am very excited about it.

May 16th 2012 - Intemperance BA XXI

Today brings us the Intemperance BA XXI Avarice in a 4.5x52 Short Robusto vitola. Intemperance is brought to us by RoMa Craft Tobac. The BA XXI has a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper and comes to us from their factory, Fabrica de Tobacco NicaSueno in Esteli, Nicaragua. You'll get a woody and nutty core that has flavors of coffe, earth, chocolate and pepper to compliment it's core flavors. I chose this to be today's cigar to pay my respects to Spc. Leslie H. Sabo, Jr whose widow is being presented with his Medal of Honor from his actions in Vietnam. While on patrol Spc. Sabo and his fellow soldiers were ambushed he charged the enemy position and killed multiple enemy soldiers. He then protected another soldier's life by throwing a grenade that landed near them and shielding the other soldier with his own body causing injuries to himself. Then after being shot multiple times he crawled to the enemy bunker and tossed in a grenade that killed the remaining enemy fighters and it took his life as well. A true American hero was finally given the award he so courageously earned over 40 years ago.