Joseph's Picks

Joseph
JOSEPH
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TASTE:Nutty, creamy, woody, leathery
HOBBIES:Rap, making music, basketball, comedy
STRENGTH:Medium to full
FAVORITE BRANDS

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Natural

Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro

Liga Privada Unicos

Davidoff Nicaragua

Saga Short Tales TOMO IV 4" * 44

Saga Short Tales TOMO IV 4 * 44
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Man, do I have a great one for all you "small commitment" smokers! I give you the Saga Short Tales TOMO IV. I really found this size to be quite perfect for convenience purposes, and it may even seem a bit familiar to you, being a similar vitola to another small Dominican cigar with "Short" in its name... I myself am not the type to usually commit to longer smokes so this one quickly found a home in my humidor. After smoking this shorty for the first time, I experienced a lot of interesting notes throughout. Beginning with subtle floral & cedar notes, it balanced out with some dried fruit notes and a touch of spice, leaving a pleasant overall taste. Upon entering the second half of this smoke, the complexity deepened. From that florally fruit profile we transition into a more tobacco-forward profile with some notes of cocoa as well. It carried these flavors throughout the rest of the cigar for the most part and overall had a great draw and construction the entire time as well. Overall, the Saga Short Tales TOMO IV is definitely one for the "books" if you ask me! It's a winner from start to finish. Picked on 02/20/2024

Warped La Hacienda Gran Robusto 5"1/2 * 52

Warped La Hacienda Gran Robusto 51/2 * 52
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I would like to start this one by saying the brand Warped as a whole is phenomenal! Without further ado I give to you the La Hacienda Gran Robusto. This wonderful stick gave me a pleasant experience from start to finish. Before even cutting and lighting, I was already getting a very nice aroma of cedar, and after cutting I took a dry draw that met me with notes of spice & dried fruit. After the first draw taken upon lighting, I could already tell I was in for a good one with how nice and open the draw was! As I smoked the first half of this stick I experienced spice, toast, a light cedar, and some notes of graham cracker. As I shifted into the second half it retained some of the spice but transitioned into more noticeable notes of earth, dried fruit and some floral notes as well. I'm telling you, you need to try one of these if you haven't already! All in all I smoked this one down to the nub so that should tell you something. I definitely recommend having this stick inside your humidor at all times, and try pairing it with a coffee for an even more delicious experience. Picked on 01/16/2024

HVC Black Friday 2023 Petit Gordos 4"1/2 * 56

HVC Black Friday 2023 Petit Gordos 41/2 * 56
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Alright! Yes, that time of the year every savvy shopper loves to see pop up on their calender: Black Friday! Let's just say I have the perfect way to enjoy it... Without further ado, I give you the HVC Black Friday Petit Gordo! Sounds like the perfect pair wouldn't you say? With a dimension of 5 by 56, this cigar is a great size to light up and enjoy while doing your bulk shopping here at Neptune during the holidays. After the first pull upon lighting, I was met with a very robust cedar flavor complemented by a gentle white pepper at the back of the palate, providing you a pleasant first act. Making my way into the mid point of this stick, a subtle transition is noticed from that woody profile found in the beginning to a bit of cocoa and leather being introduced into the background of your experience. You will definitely notice throughout the entire smoke session that you will be able to draw with ease as the construction and burn on this one is a 5 out of 5 for me! Man, who would've thought Black Friday would be this easy! For the grand finale, this smoke becomes a bit more subtle towards the end, giving off a smooth, toasty and nutty finish perfect for leading into the Christmas festivities! Enjoy with a coffee or quality rye to maximize your smoking enjoyment. Picked on 11/20/2023

EP Carrillo Allegiance Confidant Toro 6" * 52

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EP Carrillo Allegiance Confidant Toro 6 * 52
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I pledge allegiance to the Allegiance! Wow, lets just start off by saying EP Carrillo never misses with his releases. I have yet to come across a bad smoke from his blends, and personally this one might sit up top 3 from the brand, sitting along side the Pledge, and Encore! From first glance you notice a light box press and some veins with a vibrant green and gold band and footer that really catches your eye off the shelf. Within the first couple draws upon lighting this stick I was met with a combination of deep cedar and black coffee notes. After getting about a quarter of the way through you start to feel more of that white pepper on the retro hale. As always with any Carrillo, the construction seems to never fall short. A very smooth and clean draw from start to finish almost 100% of the time when lighting up one of these bad boys. Now some cigars have a very one dimensional flavor profile, but this one will leave you amazed with how it transitions from mainly cedar and pepper to a smooth toasted almond profile. Finally as you make your way through the home stretch one final change in flavor from almond to expresso is heavily noticeable and will keep you smoking till you're burning your finger tips. The EP Carrillo Allegiance Confidant is a terrific addition to the famed Family Series by Carrillo, and you should make sure to add it to your humidor rotation today. Picked on 09/17/2023

Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf Robusto 5" * 50

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Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf Robusto 5 * 50
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Alright folks! In need of a great Maduro for your late night smoke? Looks like you are in for a treat with the Double Broadleaf from Alec Bradley. I have already had this smoke several times and let me say it still holds true. With an appealing toothy dark brown wrapper, this one is guaranteed to entice you. You light this bad boy up and instantly you are pleasantly greeted with warm cinnamon and subtle pepper underneath. Some earth and soil can be detected as well through out first half of this stick. Yes this cigar is a bit full bodied so just make sure you had a nice meal prior! As you start hitting the half way point, it really opens up into a strong Mexican chocolate on the palate, still giving you a bit of that pepper backing it but leaving your mouth watering for more. You’ll also notice a very sturdy and white ash throughout the majority of your smoke session granted you’re not relighting over and over again! Now I will mention that towards the end, the draw tightened up a little bit on me but nothing that was going to stop me from finishing! To wrap things up if you are going to pair with a liquor, best pairing would be either a good spiced rum or a heavier beer such a Guinness to compliment the rich dark notes of this cigar. Picked on 07/25/2023

Perdomo Habano Maduro Robusto 5" * 54

Perdomo Habano Maduro Robusto 5 * 54
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Man! Let’s just start by saying this stick is full of rich flavor. I've seen plenty of people purchasing this cigar throughout my time at the store, so I couldn't help but quench my curiosity. From start to finish, I was loving this full bodied Nicaraguan cigar. Exploding with notes of nuts, cedar, and dark chocolate this one can be a fan favorite for most! I was even greeted with some spice and raisins mid way through, and for being under $10 this definitely meets the criteria for almost all smoker's budgets, packing authentic flavor for a great price! In fact, this is a perfect candidate for a good and reliable daily smoke. This being a robusto size cigar, you truly can appreciate all the nuances and flavors intended to hit the palate offering the smoker the best experience. If you are a rum drinker and interested in trying something new, I paired this Perdomo Habano Maduro with Bumbu, a Caribbean spiced rum which gave me the perfect combination. Sit back and enjoy! Picked on 06/13/2023

Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown G660 6" * 60

Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown G660 6 * 60
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Okay, no need for any filler or elaborate introduction on this one. Without further ado, here is a tried and true classic - the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown! Let’s just begin with the fact that the wrapper is aged in bourbon barrels, giving this cigar an overall creamy and smooth consistency all the way through. When I sat down to light this one up last night, I was a little weary about it being a 60 gauge, seeing as how that is not normally my preferred size, but let me say, I was glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and ended up a bit surprised at how explosive the flavor was and how smooth and comfortable of a smoke it was. I was greeted with nutty and earthy notes to begin with, and then it slowly transitioned into more of a nutty/cocoa combination. Some slight spice accompanied this very tasty cigar, and let’s not forget to mention that this stick sells for under 10 dollars! Truly a great choice for buyers not looking to hurt your pocket too much. I also noticed that towards the end of the smoke, it held a very consistent burn, with very little issue. For those not familiar with the brand, I think it's time to discover one of the greats. And if you happen to be in South Florida, come and stop on by at our new Pinecrest location to pick one up and experience your own today! Picked on 03/14/2023

Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Churchill 7" * 50

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Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Churchill 7 * 50
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To the average smoker this name might strike familiarity. The Oliva Melanio Serie V. But, most are probably unaware of Melanio maduro! This flavor bomb blasts your palate away with many notes right off the bat such as cocoa, dark oak, and white pepper. A maduro San Andres wrapper with a beautful dark chocolate hue is used to cloak this exquisite stick. Upon reaching the end of the first half, you are introduced to new notes of light cinnamon & toasted vanilla. This, for a lack of a better word, makes for one tasty cigar! You'll notice that as you keep puffin' this stick down that it carries a consistently smooth draw with no flaws in its construction. From start to finish your mouth will be left watering. As you start creeping towards the end you are greeted with leather notes which compliment this rich stick. These flavors swirl your palate leaving nothing but enjoyment on your mind! Now, being that this is a Churchill you will definitely want to make sure you have time to really sit down and enjoy! Suggested pairing option to accompany this phenomenal cigar would be a spiced rum. Picked on 12/28/2022

Ozgener Bosphorus B50 4" * 50

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Ozgener Bosphorus B50 4 * 50
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Here we go, the Ozgener Bosphorus B50! This short stick is packed with an assortment of flavor. Before lighting this one, I was greeted with alot of nutty notes on the dry draw. Upon my first light I was met with an overwhelming leather and cocoa profile. Throughout the first half of the cigar I was pleased with the smooth draw and great construction. "Man! What an amazing burn!" (which stayed that way all the way down to the nub.) Being a small vitola size it is perfect for a 20 to 30 minute smoke, taking me only 25 minutes! About halfway through, a subtle transition is noticed from the leather and cocoa to more oaky and earthy notes. Interesting switch, and overall just a great small cigar offering everything one could need as a full body smoker. Being that this stick didn't burn hot towards the end, you can literally smoke this one to your fingertips! Highly recommend this short smoke for anyone's humidor. Picked on 10/07/2022

H. Upmann Herman's Batch Toro 6" * 52

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H. Upmann Hermans Batch Toro 6 * 52
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Welcome to Herman's Batch! Let's jump right into this fabulous smoke. With a beautiful shiny light brown wrapper, this cigar gives you a milk chocolate look, pleasing to the eye. Unlike many other cigars where you would get leather notes towards the end, this one hits you with them right off the bat. An overall tasty Dominican stick bringing you mild cocoa flavor as well as a peppery backing, just like Mexican chocolate! For an average smoker you might say this is not a heavy cigar but be aware that this stick does carry a bit of a punch for a medium-body smoke. As I made my way to the mid way point there was a subtle change in flavor as I really started to experience a lot of oak and cedar. Still holding on to the aforementioned cocoa and peppery notes, this was making for a great combination! But wait! There's more. Just when I thought it was over, a new flavor made its way to my palate. A pleasant toasted cashew and walnut was present as well towards the end. Definitely one for the books for a smoker in need of a complex stick full of flavor. From beginning to end, Herman's Batch greeted me with note after note, all of which were delicious. And if you're a coffee fan, smoke this stick paired with an espresso or black coffee to really set it off. Picked on 08/08/2022

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Sungrown 6" * 46

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Sungrown 6 * 46
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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
Joseph

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