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.
Mari Mena
FOLLOW

Guardian of the Farm Cerberus Toro 6"1/4 * 52

(12)
Guardian of the Farm Cerberus Toro 61/4 * 52
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
The Guardian of the Farm Cerberus is a beautiful looking cigar…Just the name causes an impression and makes you want to know a little bit more about it. The Cerberus is the most recent addition to the Guardian of the Farm line, and of course pay tribute to the dogs in charge of guarding the fields at the Aganorsa plantation. Is a Nicaraguan puro that utilizes tobaccos that were all cultivated on Aganorsa farms. Like its name, this is a powerful blend. And I’m not talking about strength here, the power of this cigar resides on how flavorful, complex and easy to smoke it is. The wrapper leaf is a Corojo 2012, underneath, a group of ultra-premium tobacco leaves, medio tiempo leaves among them to add some deepness on flavor and strength. Everything combines for a flavorful medium-bodied experience. Upon lighting, you are met with notes of cocoa, walnuts and espresso and some white pepper that complement really well the flavors, enhance the aroma and give a new dimension to the retrohale. These flavors intensify throughout the smoke. In the second third some toasted almonds notes appeared and espresso notes are stronger and more dominant now. The second third is all about the same predominant notes but with some added spice. Easy draw and perfect burn line, I paired with Zafra Rum and I can say they go really well together. Picked on 06/30/2022
Older Picks
Robert Vallee
TASTE:Coffee, dark chocolate, earth
HOBBIES:Smoking, making music, playing cards
STRENGTH:Medium to Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Padron 1926 Serie Maduro
Punch Diablo
The Tabernacle

FOLLOW

Partagas Black Label Magnifico 6" * 54

(52)
Partagas Black Label Magnifico 6 * 54
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
Despite being one of the highest selling and most recognizable brands in the cigar world, I have yet until today experienced the delight of smoking a Partagas cigar. For a long time I have been admiring this cigar from a distance until today where I decided to give the Partagas Black Label Magnifico a try. I have always loved how pretty this cigar looks from the sleek black leathery USA Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, which is particularly the type of wrapper I prefer, to the solid construction I could already tell I was in for a good time before striking a match to it. The cold draw was reminiscent of cedar, dried oranges and dark chocolate. One thing I did not expect from this cigar was the spiciness of it. Honestly I was looking for more of a smoother cigar but this spice was still tame enough for a guy like me who doesn’t typically enjoy spicy cigars. Even though spice is a strong note through the first half of this cigar as you keep on puffing you will be quite surprised how creamy this cigar actually is, I was getting notes of dark chocolate, espresso, black licorice and leather. The further you go the flavors become more pronounced and the spice becomes muted almost all together resulting in a smoother experience than I was expecting. From this cigar expect a lot of billowing thick smoke, I definitely recommend eating a full meal before smoking this one. This works perfectly as an after dinner cigar, I could see this going down really well after a nice 8 oz grilled steak . After all the hype I have heard from customers and coworkers, I can finally join the parade of other aficionados who have nothing but high praise for this cigar. If you can get around some of the spiciness of it, I think all in all this is a very rewarding experience for fans of bold, full body, but also smooth cigars and a worthy addition to anyone’s regular humidor rotation. Picked on 06/30/2022
Older Picks
David Williams
TASTE:Anything and everything, I’ll try anything once.
HOBBIES:Collecting coins, basketball cards, cigars, cigar swag and playing video games
STRENGTH:Mild in the mornings and medium to full in the afternoons and nights, depending on my meals.

FAVORITE BRANDS
Liga Privada T52
Casa Fernandez Maduro
Foundation Charter Oak Maduro
Muestra de Saka
RoMa Craft Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794

FOLLOW

The Tabernacle Corona 5"1/4 * 46

(39)
The Tabernacle Corona 51/4 * 46
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
Being in a wonderful industry of endless blend combinations and pairings, The Tabernacle never disappoints. Nicholas Melillo AKA Mr. Broadleaf has been making some awesome cigars for over 20 years. Forming the Foundation Cigar Company in June of 2015, I figured I would honor their anniversary by smoking their most talked about blend since its release, the Tabernacle Broadleaf Corona. This cigar has a sweet but strong pungent smell of fruit cake. I know, I know, eww fruit cake... but I like fruit cake and it reminds me of Christmas in the 80s, so it brings back good memories of simpler times. I made a straight cut with my trusty Xi cutter and started toasting the foot. The first puff is smooth and creamy with a dash of pepper on the retro hale giving me a raisin-like sweetness. After the first 15 minutes I was given a smooth caramel that never faded. Not once did it turn off or wither in taste. More than half way into the cigar it flips a little and builds up in smoke output flavor. As it almost burned the band, I started to get hints of toasted marshmallows and cocoa notes. Of course, I start smoking more and then burning my fingers. With literally barely enough to hold between my thumb and index finger, I placed the nub down. I smoked this cigar for about an hour and was pleased and loved every puff of it. I paired this with a glass of Havana Club Anejo Especial which paired perfectly. I highly recommend The Tabernacle to lovers of rich, bold smokes. Get yours now and celebrate 7 years of Foundation Cigars. Bottoms up! Picked on 06/29/2022
Older Picks
Rene L.
AGE:35
TASTE:Wood, Earth, Leather
HOBBIES:Guitar, Beer, Sarcasm
STRENGTH:Medium/Full

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

FOLLOW

Nub Cameroon 466BPT 4" * 66

(33)
Nub Cameroon 466BPT 4 * 66
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
Regarding cigar selection, I've always said it's good to branch out and try different things. In order to practice what I preach, I opted to venture out of my comfort zone in not one, but TWO ways. The Nub Cameroon 466BPT is a charming little cigar made by Oliva that features box-pressed construction along with a torpedo tip (you now may be able to figure out what the BPT in its name stands for). The reason that this is out of my norm is due to the wide 66 ring gauge and the sharp torpedo tip. Due to personal preference, I usually avoid cigars with a gauge bigger than 56, and torpedos are not my preferred vitola because sometimes the draw can leave something to be desired. However, I could not resist the adorably unique size and shape of this Nub - it truly stands out on the shelf. Once cut, I attempted a dry draw and was ecstatic to find that the pull was extremely open, simultaneously noticing a note reminiscent of toffee. Once lit, I was chucking clouds like a dragon! I can't recall the last time a cigar gave me such a nice and easy open draw, and I'm also very impressed by the flavor from start to finish. Coffee, cedar, and even the occasional graham cracker found its way into the blend, and the Cameroon wrapper gave a deliciously subtle sweetness to the retro hale. I have also officially changed my feelings towards torpedos and their draw, although I feel the only reason the fat ring gauge didn't bother me was ironically BECAUSE of the sloping torpedo tip. My only knock to this HIGHLY enjoyable cigar is that it's gone after only about 35-40 minutes. Oh well... more reason to buy a box ;] Picked on 06/29/2022
Older Picks
Jose Alonso
TASTE:All
HOBBIES:Watching movies, listening to music, spending time with family, reading, writing, photography
STRENGTH:Any

FAVORITE BRANDS
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real
Liga Privada Unicos
Davidoff 702 Series

FOLLOW

CAO Session Garage 5"1/4 * 54

(23)
90
CAO Session Garage 51/4 * 54
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
Appearance
In my never-ending quest to find a great everyday smoke, I stumbled upon the CAO Session Garage. The size fit my criteria: not too long, not too short, and not too thick. It was something I could enjoy in 45 minutes or so. Its dark chocolatey broadleaf wrapper was surprisingly smooth in texture, and it had a little sheen to it. The construction was firm with a little give. The aroma off the foot and body was a little grassy with some earthiness too. When lit, the earthy aroma prevailed, and I picked up some sweetness and a bit of nutty notes. Halfway through a warm tobacco aroma took over and some spicy notes introduced themselves. The draw was easy, and the burn was sharp. At some point towards the end, I picked up some of the earthiness, but the tobacco flavor stayed the course. Overall, this one’s a keeper if you’re looking for a great smoke at an affordable price. Picked on 06/29/2022
Older Picks
William Lazo
TASTE:Nutty, woody, pepper, cream
HOBBIES:Video games, watching football and MMA, movies
STRENGTH:Medium-Full
FOLLOW

Perla del Mar Corojo Robusto 4"3/4 * 52

(10)
90
Perla del Mar Corojo Robusto 43/4 * 52
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
You've no doubt heard the expression "Diamond in the Rough"... well, I'm here to share with you a "Pearl of the Ocean". The English translation of this Spanish-named brand is quite fitting, as this is a gem of a cigar that is luckily also easy on the wallet. The Perla del Mar Corojo is a wonderful cigar, with the first half consisting of leather, some spice, and a little bit of coffee notes. Both the flavor and the strength have proved themselves to be a medium to full. Once you hit the second half, the draw and burn become truly amazing, while the strength remained the same (which I was surprised by but loved). At this point the flavors intensified, giving off notes of figs, cocoa, and coffee, which were an amazing mix. Entering the final stretch, the spice starts to mellow out and the coffee and cocoa notes start to stand out more, which honestly made me slightly upset since I was almost finished! I suggest pairing this cigar with a big, tall glass of Guinness so you can get all of those darks notes to really float to the surface ;) Enjoy. Picked on 06/28/2022
Mauricio
TASTE:Woody, spicy, peppery
HOBBIES:Archery, photography, cooking, reading
STRENGTH:Medium to Full
FOLLOW

Macanudo Inspirado White Minis 3" * 20

(12)
Macanudo Inspirado White Minis 3 * 20
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
I always love smoking a nice toro-sized cigar to relax and take my time with, but I also am a huge advocate of the various cigarillos we keep behind our counter! After trying out the many options available, I found myself coming back to the Macanudo Inspirado White. The mix of Nicaraguan and San Andres fillers, sweetness, body, and aromatic notes is an incredible creation from the Macanudo brand. This cigarillo brings you the mellow flavor of Macanudo Inspirado White cigars with a certain sweetness added on the wrapper in a convenient 3x20 quick smoke that you can enjoy if you are on the go or have a small amount of time. It is super creamy with very soft spiced notes and earthiness to it, it also features some fruity tastes and cedar tones to the mix, making it a very complex cigarillo. Now you can enjoy this incredible flavor and richness in a 10 minute smoke that is easy to take and to protect, a perfect companion to travel and enjoy. Don't leave home without them... I sure don't. (Pro-tip: no cutter needed!) Picked on 06/28/2022
Older Picks
Shelly Kingsberg
FOLLOW

Gurkha Cellar Reserve 18 Year Solara 5" * 58

(44)
Gurkha Cellar Reserve 18 Year Solara 5 * 58
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
The Gurkha Celler Reserve 18 Year is made with a Corojo wrapper and Dominican fillers and binder. It has a beautiful pigtail top along with the perfecto shape. Due to the shape of the cigar you definitely need to give it time to open up. Upon first light,notes of leather and wood are upfront joined with some light pepper. The draw is beginning to open up perfectly. Into the second third, the woody notes are prevailing while the pepper is in the background. Up to this point the strength has been a true medium. Construction is perfect. Into the final third, pretty much the same notes are swirling around, but the strength has amped up to full. The smoking experience was smooth sailing throughout. Construction was also problem free along with a great aroma! This cigar is a small compact perfecto. While not overly complex, I enjoyed this from start to finish. All levels of cigar smokers can enjoy the adventure. A definite must try!! Picked on 06/27/2022
Older Picks
Adam Stewart
AGE:42
TASTE:All
HOBBIES:Music, Reading, Art, Nature, Craft Beer, Slacking
STRENGTH:All

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

FOLLOW

Crowned Heads Juarez Jack Brown 5" * 56

(36)
Crowned Heads Juarez Jack Brown 5 * 56
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
If you are looking for an everyday smoke that is well made, tasty and affordable, look no further. I present to you the Juarez Jack Brown. It is not a pretentious cigar, and it might not be the most complex beast in the forest either. However, it is not at all boring, and will provide the smoker with interesting notes of leather, gingerbread & campfire. The combo of a Mexican San Andres wrapper and an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder draped on top of a mix of both Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers creates a good balance sweet and spicy notes, neither seeming to overpowering the other. They are of medium strength and good just about any time of the day. I have enjoyed a number of these, and construction has been consistently solid, draw fairly effortless, and issues scarce. For the money, these really are hard to beat. Bonus points because its name is a tip of the hat to the one and only Johnny Cash. Live dangerously and pair it with a copita (or two or three) of Mezcal. Cheers! Picked on 06/25/2022
Older Picks
George P.
TASTE:All. Except soft
HOBBIES:Smoking good cigars, watching movies, Jazz music, spending time with family
STRENGTH:Medium , Medium to full, Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Oliva Serie V
La Flor Dominicana Limited Edition
Espinosa Habano
CAO Flathead
New World
Asylum 13 Ogre
La Galera Habano
CLE Prieto

FOLLOW

Caldwell Lost and Found One Night Stand Toro 6" * 52

(7)
Caldwell Lost and Found One Night Stand Toro 6 * 52
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
Not all one night stands have to be a mistake. Caldwell has made one that you will no doubt enjoy. The Lost and Found One Night Stand Toro is a Dominican puro that has had me curious for a while now, so I decided to give it a chance. Besides the nice brown shade on the wrapper, the label is also an eye catcher. Upon first light, a nice mellow flavor of cedar and earth notes are introduced. Small hints of pepper and spice are making their presence felt. The draw on the cigar is great, nice and easy. At the halfway point, a tasty hint of nuts have now made their appearance. The spice notes do go down a bit, while the pepper notes go up a bit to compensate. The earthy notes are still present, while the cedar notes have lessened a bit. At this point, it is still a very enjoyable smoke. Towards the end of the cigar, all the notes are still present, but firing on all cylinders together. The combination of the earthy notes, pepper and nut made this a flavorful experience. If you enjoy a drink with your smoke, try a nice glass of Tomatin to enhance the flavors. Take a chance with this One Night Stand... you won't be ashamed to tell your friends about this one. Picked on 06/25/2022
Older Picks
Luz Holguin
TASTE:Earthy, Pepper
HOBBIES:Cooking, Reading, Traveling
STRENGTH:Medium

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

FOLLOW

Warped La Hacienda First Growth 4" * 50

(12)
Warped La Hacienda First Growth 4 * 50
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
I love the short robusto format of this "First Growth" cigar from the Warped La Hacienda line. The wrapper, a beautiful medium brown and reddish Corojo, pairs perfectly with the elegant blue band. The pre-light aroma is fresh like hay, and there is a fruity sweetness as well. Initially, the cigar is medium to full, and black pepper is prominent in the flavor profile. As the smoke progresses, some earthiness sneaks in. You can also taste citrus and cedar notes throughout, while the body remains quite strong with pepper in the background. Towards the end, the cigar becomes more creamy and woody. The burn was solid, the ash was tight, and the stogie produced plenty of smoke. When you try this cigar, take your time to smoke it slowly, as this short stick can fool you, it can last over one hour. At $8.50 per stick this is a great value! Picked on 06/23/2022
Older Picks
Martin Ruiz
TASTE:All
HOBBIES:Sports, video games, food, good beer
STRENGTH:All

FAVORITE BRANDS
Liga Privada No. 9
Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X
Padron 1926 Serie Natural
Flor de las Antillas

FOLLOW

Liga Undercrown Maduro Gran Toro 6" * 52

(69)
Liga Undercrown Maduro Gran Toro 6 * 52
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
The Liga Undercrown Maduro Gran Toro caught my attention just from its history, especially for the reason it was made. This blend was made by the rollers at Drew Estate to be similar to the Liga Privada line since they were not allowed to smoke the Liga Privada cigars, and then tweaked to perfect the blend. This beautiful looking cigar has an oily Mexican San Andreas Maduro Wrapper, which just happens to be my favorite wrapper making it a huge plus. A Habano Connecticut Binder and Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Habano filler make this the perfect trio. As soon as I lit this cigar I already knew it was just that, notes of chocolate and a good amount of pepper right off the start, with an amazing smoke output as well. The cigar transitions into a bit of earthiness in the middle, but the strong chocolate notes are still there with a hint of cocoa. As the cigar hits the end, a bit of what seems like vanilla and just the right amount of pepper stays lingering, but the chocolate notes are still dominant and the smoke output is beautiful. This cigar is medium to full body and would pair absolutely lovely with a good whiskey. Picked on 06/14/2022
Older Picks
Joseph Pizzuto
TASTE:Nutty, creamy, woody, leathery
HOBBIES:Rap, making music, basketball, comedy
STRENGTH:Medium to full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Natural
Davidoff Nicaragua
Liga Privada Unicos

FOLLOW

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Sungrown 6" * 46

(52)
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Sungrown 6 * 46
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
Ah at last! As a new face to the cigar world, I am finally diving into the Hemingway Sun Grown from Arturo Fuente! Due to the recent worldwide events, this once easily sought after cigar became somewhat coveted. I had heard quite a slew of people comment highly regarding the Hemingway line over the course of my short time here at Neptune so trying it out was a must. Upon first light, almonds and soil touch my palate, as well as a mild spice to the tongue. Appearance wise this cigar has a sleek perfecto touch giving it such a smooth draw from start to finish! A delicate sweetness can be detected for the first half of this stick. For the second half, I start to detect much more oaky notes as well as a beautiful aroma of toasted almonds. "Man, this is a phenomenal gar!" There was a slightly noticeable uneven burn throughout but the overall quality of this stick out rules this factor, I almost smoked this one down to the tip! All in all, I'm happy I finally got to try out this requisite stick, and I can fully understand what all the hype is about! Pair with some quality cognac for the ultimate experience... Picked on 06/14/2022
Curtis Yap
TASTE:Spice, Sweetness, Oak, Roasted nut, Coffee
HOBBIES:Smoking excellent cigars, Cooking, Going to new restaurants and bars, Playing badminton, Muay Thai, Always enjoy a good whiskey, scotch or tequila
STRENGTH:All

FAVORITE BRANDS
Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X
Illusione "Original Documents"
Illusione Maduro
Davidoff Nicaragua
El Gueguense
Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour

FOLLOW

Warzone Toro 6" * 52

(12)
89
Warzone Toro 6 * 52
Appearance
Draw
Burn
Aroma
Taste
When I heard General Cigars and Espinosa were teaming up to create a cigar, utilizing their own unique styles, to say I was excited would be an understatement. I couldn't wait to get my hands on one. The cigar is constructed nicely, and I appreciate the thought process that went into designing the band, and the Warzone has a beautiful one. The cigar has a Cameroon wrapper, with a Honduran binder and a filler from Colombia and Nicaragua. The Warzone is a medium to full-bodied cigar with notes of white pepper, cedar and cocoa. On the cold draw you will pick up on the cocoa and cedar. As the cigar is toasted, you can smell the cedar. The first third lends itself to the cedar. As it transitions into the second third, the cocoa and white pepper become more prevalent especially on the retro hale. On the final third, the white pepper stands out a bit more but not to overwhelm your senses. The Warzone pairs well with a dark rum. It’s a good cigar to end your day. Picked on 01/03/2020
Older Picks