Cigar of the Week - Guantanamera 310 Robusto   We were introduced to this cigar through our good friend Frank Herrera (CigarLaw) at the 2009 IPCPR.  Guantanamera is a target of Habanos S.A. and Altadis for using the Guantanamera name. According to www.cigars-review.org, the Guantanamera line was announced in 2002 and released shortly after that in Cuba.  Reported to be very mild cigars with tobacco from the Vuelta Arriba region and available in 4 vitolas - Campay, Cristales, Decimos and Puritos - all small ring gauge and 5" to 6" and machine made. Recent reviews (up through Oct 2009) don't rate the Cuban version very high (2.5 to 4.3 out of 10) and complain of poor construction and low quality tobacco. Much worse reviews than other mm Habanos like the J. Piedra (6.1 to 6.9) or Los Statos (6.3 to 7.8).
Bob has a relaxed conversation with Willie Herrera of El Titan de Bronze Cigars.
On the Dark Side - PUNCH ROYAL SELECCION NO 11 - Royal Selección No. 11 Cab 25, Corona Gorda, 14.30 CM / 5.6 INCHESx46-
Punch is one of the very oldest Habano brands. Don Manuel Lopez of Juan Valle & Co founded it in the mid 19th Century with an eye to the booming British market where a humorous magazine of the same name was much in vogue.
A contented Mr Punch, the clown who personified the magazine, is still featured on every box, cigar in hand, and surrounded by 19th Century images of cigar making that remain virtually unchanged over a century and a half later.
In 1925 the Punch moved to the factory where Hoyo de Monterrey was made and this long association continues to the present day.  Created in 1840 by Manuel Lopez, this line takes its name from the popular character of Punch so widely seen in English puppetry in the 19th century. Today's lithographed boxes still show the comically-dressed Punch enjoying a cigar while his faithful pet stands by, questioning why he is wearing a rainbow-coloured collar. The cigars are quite popular, with the Punch Punch model the object of affection by many devoted followers. This full flavoured brand was made by Corujo y Cia. after 1859 and prior to nationalization, was owned by F. Palicio y Cia.
What else have you been smokin' Dale?- 

Nic La Aroma de Cuba Monarch - 6x52 - Great draw, oily dark wrapper. Earthy flavors dominate; leather, peat, black tea and malted barley. Heavy bodied; thick dense smoke coats the mouth & sinuses on the retrohale. Very balanced with lots of pepper & spice in the last 3rd & on the finish.        
 
Room 101 by Camacho, 213 Corona - Honduran & D.R. fillers, Honduran binder with a Semilla 101 wrapper leaf grown just for this cigar line at Camacho farms. Nice draw, cold draw taste is sweet & nutty. Very woody throughout, oak is the dominate flavor. Coffee & licorice accent the oak in the middle of the cigar. Body settles in at med-heavy. Spices start sneaking in about halfway & really come on strong in the last 3rd. A long spicy finish with a unique herbal room aroma.                                

 El Titan de Bronze Redemption Maduro Corona Gorda - Excellent Nicaraguan tobaccos rolled in Miami & covered in a San Andres Maduro wrapper. Excellent draw! Flavors of dark chocolate, espresso and hazelnuts. Exotic spices play in & out, and there is some tangy citrus notes on the back end. Some creamy sweetness lies underneath. Med bodied, full flavored and medium in strength. Great example of that Nic Zing I love in a balanced yet complex cigar.
What else have you been smokin' Bob? -

Gurkha G5 - Nicaraguan Wrapper, Nicaraguan Binder,
Nicaraguan Filler. Not for amateurs.

Aruhiba - a new cigar on the market from Aruba made from all Aruban tobacco, grown and rolled by Benjamin Pedrosky.  Big selling point is that it is organic.  So what? So are the premium cigars we are used to smoking.

Jose L Piedra Cremas - Pretty much a waste of your time to smoke.  It does not demonstrate any of the traits of a Cuban or any other cigar.  Lacks flavor, lacks aroma and lacks interest.
Origin:    Cuba    Manufactured: Machine Made
Gauge:    Thin    Length:    134
Format:    Cremas JLP    Ring:    39
Weight:    8,63 gr.    Score:    6.2
Presentation: Bundle of 25 cigars

AVO Domaine - The tobacco for the Domaine AVO cigars comes from the "Domaine AVO," a finca that belongs to Avo Uvezian. The wrapper leaves were developed especially for this series. They originate in Ecuador, where the special climate lends them their distinctive colour and the typical characteristics of a wrapper leaf. These wrapper leaves, described as “sun grown,” are fermented a second time in Santo Domingo. These wrapper leaves give the tobacco composition its unique, pronounced and yet well-rounded aroma note.
Format:     Robusto
Length:     13,0 cm / 5 1/8"
Diameter:     2,0 cm
Ring Gauge:     50
ECCJ One Year Subscription Contest - This week's winner is......John Digiacomo
Music provided by 25 Smokin' Figurados and The Surfonics.

Get the MP3 HERE!