SticksWithMe

 Viaje - Hamaki, box-pressed torpedo The initial nose on this gave me apple sauce and strong fertilizer. From the scent and the soft box-press I'm guessing there's a fair amount of aging on this. My initial cut was too shallow to get a proper draw so I went in another 1/4 inch and it opened right up. Early flavor in the first third exhibits leather, cedar, pepper which opens up to light ginger. This was a gift from a friend who has an adventurous palate who had been aging this stick since 2019. I met Nick on a virtual-herf and immediately thought of what Seth McFarlane might look like if he survived a camping trip in the woods.  It's a real gift to share a cigar with someone and have it hit their palate perfectly. The wrapper on this is thin, possibly cameroon or claro and I'm concerned the cracking will effect the burn. My neighbor decided to stretch for his run and complain about crypto right next to me and the wind is starting to push out a little bitterness. Time t...

  La Moneda - Cameroon Cabinet (25 Year). Churchill I am absolutely a fan of these. I found a 25 count bundle on clearance and took a chance on them. The band isn't fancy. The packaging is just cellophane in plastic. Some of the wrappers are cracked, Cameroon's are thin, this can happen. I've disappointed myself taking these types of chances before and on initial inspection thought these might just be keeping my humidor balanced. I took five with me to Palm Springs for a three day trip. I got to two over the stay and enjoyed both. Tremendously. The first thing I noticed is how aged the cellophane was. Deep yellow, a good sign. I don't know if it's my fascination with a bargain or discovering unsung gems, or both, but I find myself coming back to this over and over. I bought enough to share a handful with friends. I've sent those out and will learn soon how similar our palates are. It's a risk sending an unknown to a daily smoker with a honed palate. Hopefull...

 Illusione Ultra #8 - video review Battled the wind a bit on this bad boy but enjoyed it nonetheless. Plenty of wine in here, cocoa and leather made up most of the flavor's base with cedar sneaking in under tart-fruity notes, like a hint of mango.  On the video you can see I really had to hack at the burn to get the center and exterior to realign but by the final third the whole thing came together magically and made for a really nice smoke. In fact, it's making me want a cigar right now. Time to grab another stick and head out.

Opening the burlap sack I first notice how solid these 5x54 Robustos feel. They’re thick and dark with a stiff wrapper showing some features and veins but no bumps or spots.   A hogshead refers to something aged in a liquor barrel which gives this stick a perfect name. Three longfillers from Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Pennsylvania are tucked inside an Arapiraca wrapper from Brazil. For me, this is a satisfying smoke. Not sophisticated, not special, but quite satisfying. It’s not an oily wrapper, nor is it dry. This was stiff in form but had just a little give and was dusted with plume while holding a very tightly packed range of shades in leaf. The first smell gave me oak and hay. An unlit draw delivered early flavors of oak, merlot casks, and a whiff of alfalfa. The draw was slightly resistant but not enough for concern. The foot toasted up nicely and initial draws had strong cedar and merlot. The wind on my patio sent it into an instant half-inch run and the flavor got bi...

Tatuaje Karloff - quick review Thanks for enjoying another Stick With Me! I found this to have a fresh assortment of vegetation flavor at the top. Picked up plenty of spice in the first third, mostly chili pepper with a very light undertone of peanut. Plenty of leather with a touch of cocoa toward the middle, still predominantly spice though. Exceptional construction throughout. Medium heading toward bold on the body. Since I'm smoking outdoors I run into burn issues often, today it was a touch of tunneling in the final third. That said, I enjoyed it up to the nub getting a load of toasted caramel right at the end. I'll be looking for more of these. What would you like me to review next?

This is the stick that started my love of handmade premium cigars. It wasn't my first cigar but it was the first one I fell in love with. Punch Pita Toro - Ecuadorian Sumatra Wrapper This Honduran blend with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper is one of my daily favorites. This particular one has a sturdy crown, a rough foot and some mottles along the wrapper edge toward the foot. Typically they are featured but elegant. Today, mine is  dusted in plume.  It’s reddish brown wrapper is just a little bumpy but even in coloring.   The sturdy construction holds up well on my windy patio.   The first draws are cedar and pepper at full flavor and it never backs off. It’s complex and sophisticated without being obtuse. Toward the middle I get honey, leather, and coffee hints. Nothing strong. The burn stays even, piling up stripes of white ash which falls to a cone at the first third. So far, so good. And the flavor picks up even more here. I really enjoy giving these to new cigar ...