Tatuaje Havana VI Artistas

Tatuaje Torpedo

6 1/8 x 52 ring

Wrapper: Nicaragua Havana VI Artistas

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Info: This cigar is produced in Nicaragua by Pete Johnson. It is the first cigar produced at the new Don Pepin Garcia factory in Nicaragua. He also produces the Cabiaguan, a great smoke. They are blended in the old stlye of Cuban Cigars. This is a true puros cigar, meaning the cigar has all its tobacco blended from a single country.

Appearance: A dark reddish wrapper with large veins running throughout it. It has some give to the stick but has no blemishes. The stick has a very nice peppery smell to it. It has a thin red and white unassuming looking band. Very basic looking.

The Smoke: I must say I am a big fan of the Cabaiguan. After reviewing the Cabaiguan I could not wait to review the Tatuaje Havana. I pull out my double guillotine cutter and my trusty Vector Tizo blow torch. Initial reaction WOW a nice spicy / peppery flavor just what I like in a good stick. The draw is not bad with nice thick smoke. The burn was pretty much even with a couple slight correction. A nice smooth flavor with no harsh after taste. It lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Review: Grab your car keys and head to your local smoke shop NOW. Pick up this stick and the Cabaiguan and while your at it grab some Don Pepin cigars too. This is a plain looking cigar with a plain band DO NOT let that full you, we all know a good looking band does not make a good smoke and vice versa. This was a nice medium flavored cigar with some nice spice and pepper flavors. Please do yourself a favor and try both of these cigars you deserve it. This stick will definitely be a regular in my humidor.

Reviewed by Ken

Rating: 9.4

Price: $7.00 to $7.50

Well worth it

Gurkha Ancient Warrior

Gurkha Ancient Warrior Torpedo

6 x 54 ring

Wrapper: Brazilian

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Honduran / Dominican

Info: Gurkha cigars are made in Miami by Torana family. The name comes from the people of Nepal know as Gurkha warriors. They where known for their loyalty and aggressive fighting style.

Appearance: A dark and oily Brazilian wrapper with small veins running throughout. A nice firm stick with no soft spots or blemishes. It has a purple, yellow and gold band.

The Smoke: I pull out my double guillotine cutter and my trusty Vector Tizo blow torch. Initial reaction is a full body Brazilian cigar full of flavor. It has a nice draw and had to make a couple correction through out the stick. This stick is full of spice and hints of pepper. It is a full body smoke but not to heavy or over powering.

Review: A full flavored smoke that lived up to the hype. It was not harsh or a bitter aftertaste, just a nice full flavored smoke that lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes. If you like a full body smoke I would suggest that you try this stick. I will definitely buy this cigar again. I personally like the COA Brazilian a little better but for the price you can not beat this stick.

Rating: 9.1

Price $5. 50 to $6.00

Rocky Patel Vintage 1992

Rocky Patel Vintage 1992

61/4 x 52 ring

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumtra

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Dominican / Nicaraguan

Info: This stick has a 10 year old Ecuadorian Sun Grown Sumtra wrapper with filler tobacco that is 8 years old. This is one of the most popular sticks Rocky has produced. It has a bit more flavor than the 1990 version.

Appearance: A good looking chocolate colored sumtra wrapper with small veins running throughout. Nice firm cigar with no blemishes or soft spots. Once again another quality stick by RP. It has the Rocky red and gold band.

The Smoke: I pull out my double guillotine cutter and my Vector Tizo blow torch. Initial reaction when I think of a med/full this smoke sums it up. It has a nice draw and an even burn. No harsh after taste or bitterness. Just a nice smooth enjoyable smoke. The stick lasted just over an hour.

Review: For medium to full cigar lovers this is the stick for you. If you have been smoking for a while and have not tried this one I do not know what the hell you are waiting for, go to your local smoke shop and pick a couple up. I am a big Rocky fan and this stick will not let you down. Rocky is one of the most popular cigar makers today and this stick is one of the reason why. This is a good cigar to give to a friend that loves medium/full cigars.

Rating: 9.2

Price: $8.00 to $9.00

Cabaiguan Imperiales

Cabaiguan Imperiales

7 x 47 ring

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua


Info: This cigar is blended by Jose Pepin Garcia made in the old world Cuban style. They are hand rolled in little Havana in Miami. He is the owner of Don Pepin cigars and makes Tatuaje cigars. It has became a popular smoke in the last couple years.

Appearance: A light shade wrapper with some small veins. There is a slight tear at the base of the cigar. It has no soft spots and looks to be a nice smoke beside the slight tear. The band is kind of boring.

The Smoke: I pull out my punch and trusty Vector Tizo blow torch. Initial reaction a very smooth medium flavored cigar. It has a nice draw and a slight peppery flavor. No harsh after taste what so ever. It lasted about an hour and 20 minutes and was smooth throughout.

Review: This was a very good cigar, I would recommend picking one up. It appears to be a plain looking cigar but we all know a band does not make a cigar. I was told to try this by Tampa Humidor (the Mecca of cigar bars in Tampa, Fl). I had smoked a Don Pepin cigar and liked it. Now I am a fan of the Cabaiguan and can not wait to smoke the Tatuaje. In the words of the great philosopher Jimmy Walker this cigar is "DYNAMITE". I will definitely stock my humidor with this cigar and tell my friends about it.

reviewed by Ken

Rating: 9.3

Price: $8.00 to $9.00

Macanudo Maduro

Macanudo Maduro Hyde Park Robusto

49 x 5 1/2 ring

Wrapper: Maduro

Binder: Mexico

Filler: Dominican / Mexico

Info: It was introduced in 1999 with wrapper grown in the Andres Tuxtla valley in Mexico. It is Mac anudo verison of a medium to full stick with a dark Maduro wrapper.

Appearance: A very dark, almost black wrapper with some small veins. Very firmly packed cigar with a black, gold and white wrapper. It appears to be a full bodied smoke.

The Smoke: I pull out my punch and trustee Vector Tizo blow torch. Initial reaction, a very poor draw so I pull out my cutter to see if I can get a better draw. Not much for flavor what so ever and a mild Maduro. I am not impressed at all. After 45 minutes I had enough.

Review: Macanudo is a name that brings back memories of when I first starting smoking. I think every virgin smoker has had a Macanudo. Unfortunately this stick does not live up to those memories. I love a nice Maduro stick like CAO Brazilia one of my favorite sticks. This maduro did not even come close. I guess if you never smoke a maduro cigar and are not used to something medium to full, this might be a cigar to bridge that gap. This is definitely a one and done smoke. Do not waste your money when there are much better maduro cigars.

reviewed by Ken

Rating: 8.1

Price: $5.25

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Toro

6 x 54 ring

Wrapper: Connecticut shade Ecuadorian

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Dominican / Nicaraguan

Info: Romeo y Julita has been making cigars in Cuba since 1875 and has been one of the most popular cigars. Reserva real came out about 5 years ago and has been a very popular stick.

Appearance: A light Connecticut shade wrapper that is beautifully constructed with no blemishes. It has the red, white and gold wrapper.

The Smoke: I pull out my punch and trustee Vector Tizo blow torch. Initial reaction this smoke has a very good draw with a mild to slightly medium flavor. It has a nice smooth flavor with no after taste. It had a smooth very pleasant flavor, that lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes. I can see what the hype is about.

Review: I had this smoke a couple years ago, then it was good and today it was still a good stick. If your not looking for a heavy cigar this is the one. The smooth / non over powering flavors last through out the stick. This is one you can give to someone that has just started smoking cigars. It lived up to the hype. I personally like something more medium to full body but there are times I want a lighter cigar and this is a good one for that occasion.

Rating: 9.0

Price: $6.00

H. Upmann Cabinet Seleccion

H. Upmann Cabinet Seleccion Robusto

5 x 52 ring guage

Wrapper: Connecticut

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Dominican/ Nicaraguan

Info: This is a limited addition stick. There is four makers in the series H. Upmann, Romeo, Monticristo and Por Larranaga. I have reviewed the Por Larranaga and loved it. Can not wait to review the other two.

Appearance: A light Connecticut shade wrapper with thick veins running through out. The stick looks to be well constructed, with no soft spots or blemish. It has the white, gold and black wrapper like the rest of the series.

The smoke: This is a medium cigar with a nice creamy/ sweet flavor. It has a nice draw and an even burn but had to make one little correction. The cigar is a very smooth cigar with NO bitter or harsh after taste. It"s creamy flavored lasted through out.This is a damn good smoke.

Review: H. Upmann Cabinet Selccion is a DAMN GOOD smoke. I would say it was slightly better than the Por Larranaga Cabinet Seleccion. Again I would strongly suggest picking up the entire collection of Cabinet Seleccion. My local cigar shop (Tampa Humidor) suggested trying this series because they where very good sticks and they were right. I must say the series has hit a home run with me. I hear the Romeo is even better, I can not wait to review it. This stick has found a home in my humidor until the series runs out. Go to your local smoke shop and pick this smoke up, you will not be let down.

Rating; 9.2

Price: $5.50

great smoke/great price

A great sports weekend

A great weekend for a sports fan

It all started Friday night when my son and I went to the Rays game. We sat on the third base line. It was a great game with a 14-3 Rays victory. We got to see a grand slam followed up with a homer. The best part is when I caught a fly ball. I have been to three games this year and have caught 2 fly balls. My son now thinks it is a given that when you go to a baseball game you will always catch a fly ball. Even better the Red Socks lost and those damn Yankees are done. Put a fork in them. Nothing better than New York teams losing.


Then on Saturday night my family and I went to the USF bulls football game. My son had his hair painted green with a fo hawk. We got season tickets and can not wait for the 12th when we play Kansas Jay Hawks. I am a huge football fan/geek. It was my sons first football game ever and at first he was a little disappointed that he was not allowed to go on the field or caught some footballs. It was a good game for the bulls with a 56-7 win, scoring on the first three drives. As a big sports fan this was a great sports weekend and even better the NFL starts in three days.