What's hot? What's not? By determining taste, smell, and overall construction, I will rate my selections for the month of November. Unlike many monthly cigar publications, my opinions are strictly based on my own personal experiences.
Jericho Cigars
My first selection is Jericho cigars, recently purchased by Camacho cigars. It is handmade in Honduras, with a natural wrapper. I was excited to try this cigar in hopes of it having the same Camacho “kick”. I however was disappointed in several categories with this cigar. The flavor was very bland, almost a cigarette blandness. Not offensive, but not worth it at all.
The aroma was a bit better than the taste., which is true with many cigars, and vice versa. However, it wasn't any sort of saving grace. The only plus I could find with this smoke was the construction. Very well rolled, and burned almost perfect with very little touching up necessary. I guess you could say it'll save on fuel costs! Retailing at $69.95 a box for the Churchill size, I can't recommend this cigar. For a few dollars more, you'd be better off with a sure winner like Punch or Padron.
I give this cigar a 3 out of 10. The only reason it gets any points in my book is for construction and that it is not completely offensive, but I wouldn't want you to waste your money, unless you like the taste of wet cardboard!
Padilla Hybrid
My second and featured selection this month is the Padilla Hybrid. This is a cigar I have smoked in the past, and have recently revisited. In my three years of serious cigar smoking, I have found that Ernesto Padilla is one of those overlooked, under the radar, all around excellent cigar makers.
The “Hybrid” is on of my favorites. This is a medium bodied smoke is composed of a sun grown wrapper, which is both Cuban seed and Connecticut seed. It is a blend of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Peruvian long filler. Basically it's a mutt! The taste is sort of creamy and well, just a delight to your taste buds. It has a semi loose draw, which I am a fan of, but not a flaky ash. And finally, the aroma is just magnificent.
This is not by any means the best cigar out there, just the best under rated smoke you will probably find. The Hybrid goes for $69.95 for a box of 20 Churchills. The box itself is a trapezoid shape, which I find quite neat. This is a huge bargain and I recommend it to someone who is just starting out, and doesn't wanna make a big investment, or for budget smokers, who want something tasty and affordable. I give this cigar a 8 out of 10 rating. You won't be disappointed, I assure you.
I hope that I have shed some light on your cigar smoking experience. With thousands of cigar makers out there, it can be difficult weeding out certain brands that just wanna make you vomit, as well as finding those brands that are tasty and affordable. I am not an “expert” by any means, but what is an “expert” really?? It comes down to individual likes and dislikes.
I encourage all readers to read as many reviews as possible to help guide them in the right direction. It can be a costly journey with lots of disappointment if you go it alone. Take it from me, the average Joe Blow cigar smoker: high price does not equal good cigar!
