Staff Picks

Our hard-working staff is busy smoking dozens of cigars, so you don't have to! Each week, they choose their favorite stick from the bunch.
Rene
AGE:30
TASTE:Wood, Earth, Leather
HOBBIES:Guitar, Beer, Sarcasm
STRENGTH:Medium/Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro
Liga Privada No. 9
Eiroa CBT Maduro
Kristoff GC Signature Series
Tatuaje Miami Seleccion del Cazador

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FSG by Drew Estate Robusto 5" * 54

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FSG by Drew Estate Robusto 5 * 54
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I am beyond excited to present to you the Florida Sun Grown (FSG) by Drew Estate! Willy Herrera collaborated with the owner of Corona Cigars to bring this Floridian tobacco onto the palates of smokers looking for something new and exciting. This is the first time in nearly 40 years that Florida tobacco is used in making a cigar, and it definitely deserves your attention; I can't rave about this cigar enough. From the first puff, you are met with a rich toastiness that leads way into some of the most delicious earthy notes I've experienced in recent memory. Notes of wood and the slightest amount of spice were present, and towards the end the cigar brought back that warm toastiness with a vengeance. The burn remained perfect throughout the entire session, and no relights were needed. Interestingly, there is no mention of Drew Estate anywhere on the band, but rest assured - the quality you've come to expect from them over the years remains in tact. Without a doubt, one of my new favorites that I gladly recommend to everyone who comes into the store. Clermont, Florida. Who'd have thought? Picked on 10/21/2017
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Shelly Kingsberg
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Blanco Nine Lancero 7" * 38

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Blanco Nine Lancero 7 * 38
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I am a big fan of a Nicaraguan Puro--hence I decided to pick the Blanco 9 to review this week. This cigar is made with an Oscuro Corojo wrapper and triple ligero -- wow! Upon first light, the cigar opens with a perfect draw and large amount of smoke output. It was a little bitter at the beginning but quickly disappears as cocoa and black coffee notes take over along with a slight pepper. The cigar is extremely smooth and creamy. Into the second third, the notes shift from spicy to nutty and leathery. The ash holds on strong and long throughout. The strength is amping up from a medium to a med/full body smoke. Into the final third, same notes still hanging around -- black coffee/cocoa--still smooth and creamy. It gets a little hot towards the end but that is typically normal with lanceros. For something different, I would recommend you try this enjoyable med-full bodied cigar. Picked on 10/18/2017
Older Picks
Marianela Mena
TASTE:All
HOBBIES:Reading, running and smoking good cigars
STRENGTH:Medium-Full and Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Liga Privada T52
Eiroa by CLE
Tatuaje Miami Seleccion del Cazador
Aging Room Quattro F55
Ashton VSG
Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo

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Liga Undercrown Sungrown Belicoso 6" * 52

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Liga Undercrown Sungrown Belicoso 6 * 52
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This cigar features a beautiful oily Ecuadorian Sumatra sun grown wrapper with a nice reddish hue, inviting and attractive to the eye. The cigar smells of earth and cocoa butter. Upon lightning I detect a floral scent and some zesty notes with hints of pepper here and there. The second third, a dash of citrus and spice with an increase of the cocoa butter/chocolate flavors make a great combination and create a more interesting smoking experience. Last third the sweetness is all gone and one can taste natural tobacco and some black pepper as predominant notes. Great burning with a gorgeous grey ash, excellent draw. Medium to medium plus on strength this cigar is a good addition to the Undercrown family and without hesitation I can say it’s my favorite of them all. Picked on 10/15/2017
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Danilo
TASTE:I just like cigars…
HOBBIES:Shooting, Gunsmithing, Bonsai, Cigars, Formula 1
STRENGTH:Medium to Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Tatuaje Reserva
Don Pepin Garcia Blue Edition
Herrera Esteli
My Father

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Illusione Fume D'Amour Lagunas 4"1/4 * 42

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Illusione Fume DAmour Lagunas 41/4 * 42
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This is another of those cigars that I just cannot get enough of! This cigar has a light and inviting aroma, but it is not as light smoking as it looks though, coming in at a medium-full body with lots of great flavor. Most notable are the floral notes, which are subtle at first and keep you guessing. There are hints of cedar, white pepper and a very light spice on the lips. Gladly this comes in a 50 count box! Picked on 10/10/2017
Older Picks
Elvis Batista
TASTE:Anything but BITTER CONNECTICUT
HOBBIES:Cooking, Swimming, Cycling, Racing Sports & Cigars
STRENGTH:Depends on the day, but usually from Medium to Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Liga Privada T52
Aging Room Quattro F55
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Natural
Camacho Nicaraguan Barrel Aged

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FTC Time Flies Toro 6" * 52

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FTC Time Flies Toro 6 * 52
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Cigars are like fortune cookies, they always bring a message, either on the outside or in the insides and communicate thru smoke, this Foundry Tobacco Company "Time Flies" reads on its label : 'Impress Yourself - Raise some eyebrows - Challenge the World - Just Go - Seize the Day - Expect the Unexpected" and these messages really pulled me to try this Chocolaty Brown Habano Wrapper Cigar, at first light the cigar gives hints of white pepper and cedar woods, the cigar is a medium body stick that burns consistently and is a flavorful smoke that i enjoyed thru the thirds with much pleasure. Does have a bit of a kick towards the last third that really makes you look at the watch to see if you have time for some more, because truly as the label reads smoking this cigar, TIME FLIES" Picked on 09/04/2017
Luz Normand
TASTE:Earthy, Pepper
HOBBIES:Cooking, Reading, Traveling
STRENGTH:Medium

FAVORITE BRANDS
Arturo Fuente
Tatuaje Black Label
La Aurora Preferidos Cameroon Platinum
Montecristo Espada
Crowned Heads Headley Grange

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Patoro Corona 5" 1/2 * 43

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Patoro Corona 5 1/2 * 43
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If you've read my reviews you'll know I am a fan of this size so this little Patoro Corona was just calling my name from inside the humidor...I had been aging it for about 3-4 months. The dark Brazilian wrapper contrasts nicely with the orange band, I just wish the band was sexier so it loses a couple of points in appearance, but it definitely more than makes it up on taste. As I said, the wrapper has a nice chocolate brown color and this made me think the cigar would have some sweetness, which was spot on! Along with the sweetness, I am delighted to find some black pepper and woody notes in the mix. To top it off, the cigar just burns and draws flawlessly. In terms of strength, I would rate it as medium bodied but it is definitely full flavored. Very nice and smooth! Picked on 08/31/2017
Older Picks
Daniel Gutierrez
AGE:26
TASTE:Wood, Cream, Cedar
HOBBIES:Painting, Animation, Music
STRENGTH:Medium/Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Padron 1926 Serie Maduro
Partagas
Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X

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La Gloria Cubana Coleccion Reserva Torpedo 6" * 54

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La Gloria Cubana Coleccion Reserva Torpedo 6 * 54
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I’ve heard a lot of people talk about how La Gloria Cubana use to taste back in the late 70s, and 80s. “The blend isn’t the same when EP left.” -Customers. Carrillo and General Cigars has heard your cry for a classic. “The blend is very much in keeping with the spirit of the original La Gloria.” -Perez-Carrillo. Thus, the Colección Reserva was born. A soft looking Sumatran-seed wrapper and viso, ligero, from Nicaragua. Which makes this a nice, smooth, and medium to full bodied cigar.The first light and inch was very subtle, with some pepper and light cumin. I was actually expecting a lot of spice, but it’s a nice change from a blast of spice like a Don Pepin, who is notorious of. Second to three quarters, it turned to cedar and nut-brown notes, but smoothly, no spice. Forth and passed the band gets interesting. The cigar opens up beautifully, with sweet undertones like dark molasses, almost like sugar being cooked to an amber toasty finish. I really recommend this cigar to those who miss the old blend and new comers to enjoy and appreciate. Picked on 08/12/2017
Older Picks
Michael Diaz-Silveira
AGE:22
TASTE:Wood, Leather, Nut, Maple
HOBBIES:Guitar, Football, Basketball, Volleyball
STRENGTH:Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Herrera Esteli
Eiroa CBT Maduro
Liga Privada No. 9
Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Connecticut
CAO Amazon Basin


BONUS
Adrenaline Junkie!
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Ashton VSG Robusto Especial TAA 5"1/2 * 50

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Ashton VSG Robusto Especial TAA 51/2 * 50
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The Ashton VSG TAA Robusto Especial is an excellent cigar. At a glance it is quite dark, contrasting with a beautifully crafted band emphasizing the wrapper color. The construction is flawless and burn is even; ashing only when directed to. I even left the cigar for a little came back and it was still lit! The cigar boasts rich flavors of molasses, nuts and slight pepper. It was delicious from the very first puff to its very last as I was practically burning myself trying to savor every last puff. Picked on 06/25/2017
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Adam
AGE:38
TASTE:All
HOBBIES:Music, Reading, Art, Nature, Craft Beer, Slacking
STRENGTH:All

FAVORITE BRANDS
Tatuaje Black Label
Liga Privada No. 9
Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970
Arturo Fuente

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Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Gran Perfecto 6" * 60

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Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Gran Perfecto 6 * 60
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Though this cigar has been on the market for quite a while now, it has not lost any of its appeal. It is a big, fat (perhaps not by today's standards, but still...) Nicaraguan Puro that is well packed and feels heavy in the hand. Its reddish brown chocolaty wrapper is beautiful and flawless. Be patient when you first light it as the draw will be tight until you work through the tapered foot. Once it opens up however, it will open with a bang. You will be hit with an intense and wonderful aroma followed by flavors of spice, cocoa, molasses, raisin, cedar, earth and licorice. The spice will get more intense as you work your way through the stick, but it at no point does it override the other flavors. The ash is sturdy and white. When you figure out just how good this cigar is in combination with its very reasonable price tag...you will understand why there are always at least a few of them in my humidor. Much like a 64.5 Mustang or a well worn pair of Levy's, this cigar is a classic. Picked on 04/02/2017
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