Cigar: Guantanamera 'Minutos' (5/10)

We reviewed the Guantanamera 'Cristales' a while back: http://cigarsandpipes.blogspot.com/2009/02/cigar-guantanamera-cristales.html and unfortunately they were not really up to scratch, scoring only a 4/10. The Cuban company's newest cigar, the 'Minuto' scores only slightly better, a paltry 5/10.

The problem with the Guantanameras (both the Cristales and the Minutos) is that they are extremely light-bodied. I'll admit, some people like a mild cigar, but far too little flavour has no excuse; there's light-bodied, and then there's anorexic. Nevertheless, I have absolutely no negative comments about the little flavour there was; they are certainly smokable, just failing to impress.

The Minutos are petit coronas (4 inches long and 43 gauge), and unfortunately smoke rather quickly for their size. Once again, the prices vary between Europe and the UK (€2,50 for a pack of three on the continent, and about £3.50 for a single cigar in the UK).

• Smoking time: 15-20 minutes
• Flavour: 2/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 4/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 8/10
• Value for Money: 4/10
• Indulgence Factor: 4/10
• Overall Rating: 5/10

Pipe Tobacco: Gawith and Hoggarth Bright CR Flake (8/10)

Yes, I am posting another Gawith and Hoggarth, and for those who do not have access to these tobaccos, I apologise. But they form the majority of the bulk tobaccos available at the Durham tobacconist, so naturally they are what I buy. Worry not however, we'll have a few tinned and/or widely available pipe tobacco reviews up soon!

The Bright CR Flake is yes, a Gawith and Hoggarth Kendal pipe tobacco, but it is superb! (I do not know what the CR stands for, and if anyone can enlighten me, I'd really appreciate it). The tobacco is a fine Virgina leaf; it tastes light and mild, but nevertheless gives you a strong nicotine buzz. It is neither sweet, nor dry, but well-balanced, and there is a slight hint of raisin.

I very much enjoyed this tobacco, and I will certainly be buying it again. Because it is light and mild, I also would recommend this as a must for beginners! Definitely give this one a try!

• Flavour: 5/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 5/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 5/10
• Value for Money: 5/10
• Indulgence Factor: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

Cigar: Toscano Classico (7/10)

I'd like to make an analogy: some cigars are like a Bentley or Rolls Royce, and some are like a Catarham R500 (and some are like an old rusted Fiat but that is beside the point). Bentleys and RRs have their time and place, but so does a rough yet fun kit car.

The Toscano Classicos are like the Catarham; they are rough, earthy cigars, that, although you won't be seeing them at a white tie gala, are still bloody good. Maduros, and aged for four months, the flavour is very rough, or 'edgy,' but definitely nice, even to a refined smoker's palate. These are Italian- made in Cava dei Tirreni and Lucca and although machine-rolled, it is difficult to tell- they are tightly and consistently packed. The Classicos are 6 inches and 38 gauge- nothing massive, yet they smoke for a surprisingly long time.

I most definitely recommend these cigars, and I look forward to trying the rest of the Toscano range (the Classicos are the cheapest of the range, and if they're this nice, then their other cigars must be excellent). Having said that, although they are roughly only €5,50 for five (a great value) on the continent, they are going to be at least £16 for a pack of five in the UK (due to our ridiculous taxes).

• Smoking time: 35-45 minutes
• Flavour: 8/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 4/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 6/10
• Value for Money: 5/10
• Indulgence Factor: 5/10
• Overall Rating: 7/10

Pipe Tobacco: Gawith and Hoggarth No. 25 Blend (5/10)

I realise I've been inundating you all with many middle-of-the-road scoring tobaccos, and the No. 25 Blend by Gawith and Hoggarth is unfortunately another to add to the growing list, scoring 5/10.

The major problem with the tobacco is how thinly cut it is- indeed I suspect one could use it in a rollie. As a result, it smokes quickly and quite hot, which is unfortunate. When I did manage to slowly puff my pipe at a decent temperature for this tobacco, the flavours were really quite nice. The blend contains 53% Virginia, 17% light burley, 10% dark sun-cured and what really gives it a kick; 20% Latakia. Latakia is quite possibly the most intensely-flavoured tobacco in existence- Indeed most people cannot stomach smoking pure latakia, but in this particular blend, it is very nice. I would also add that the blend has no harsh or undesirable aftertaste. If it didn't smoke so damned hot, it would be really nice.

• Flavour: 7/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 4/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 5/10
• Value for Money: 5/10
• Indulgence Factor: 5/10
• Overall Rating: 5/10

Cigar: Real Feytoria 'Reserva' (5/10)

Well, once again we bring you a review of an acceptable, but in no means great cigar. Real Feytoria is a Portuguese company producing cigars and cigarillos on the Azores, and while readily available in Portugal, might be a bit hard to find in the UK or US. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view), this isn't really a shame...

They are made of a hybrid filler, and come pre-cut. I found them to be quite dry and smoke quite quickly. They do have a definite 'cigar' flavour of pretty much pure tobacco, so if you like a cigar that has a strong flavour, unmuddled by any additives, you may like these. Personally I think they are, for the most part, very average.

These will cost you about 7.50 euros for five corona-sized cigars; not a bad price. Of course, we would expect them to be more expensive in the UK due to taxes.

• Smoking time: 10-15 minutes
• Flavour: 6/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 2/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 8/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Indulgence Factor: 3/10
• Overall Rating: 5/10

We're Back!!!

My deepest apologies to our avid readers out there for the lack of new posts in quite a while... a long while... sorry...

Thankfully, we now have several new tobaccos to review, so please keep reading and enjoying your ability to smoke a fine cigar, or a Peterson pipe- for it won't be long before there is a complete ban on our civil liberties (I'm a cynic, but hey, most smokers are...).

Cigar: Don Julian No. 1 (6/10)

Don Julian is a cigar manufacturer operating in Spain and Portugal, and their cigars can be found in most tobacconists on the Iberian peninsula, and quite possibly in some UK ones as well. The No. 1 coronas we tried (pre-cut and machine-rolled, but well-sealed) were made of Sumatran tobacco, and were ridiculously light in flavour; a very 'blond' smoke. Though I generally like my cigars to be pungent, thick and flavoursome, these were not bad- certainly there were no negative flavours at all.

My colleague (who tried more of these than I did) told me that he had a couple good ones, but a couple bad ones as well, so unfortunately we are left with another one of those inconsistent manufacturers. Give them a try if you like, especially if you prefer a very light smoke. A pack of five will cost around 10 euros, and a bit more in the UK.

• Smoking time: 10-15 minutes
• Flavour: 3/10
• Smoke Sweetness: 5/10
• Tar (1=very wet, 10=very dry): 5/10
• Value for Money: 6/10
• Indulgence Factor: 6/10
• Overall Rating: 6/10