Size: 6 inches by 52 ring gaugeAvailable in boxes of 20 cigars The OPK Torpedo is marketed by Connecticut Valley Tobacconist, located in Enfield, Connecticut. The next two paragraphs are quoted directly from the firm’s website: “The inspiration for this cigar comes from Colonel Augustus Hazard who owned and operated the fabled HAZARD GUN POWDER COMPANY, in our home town over 150 years ago. Legend is this area produced 40% of the gun powder used during the Civil War. The powder works blew up long ago, only the village of Hazardville remains.” “This long filler cigar is made from a blend of Central American tobaccos, a local Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Maduro Corojo wrapper. This cigar is "THERMO NUCLEAR". Not a breakfast cigar by any means. Rated one of the "Best Full Bodied" cigar by Perelman Cigar Cyclopedia two years running!” Cigar name: NoventaCigar brand: ToranoWrapper: Nicaragua (Habano)Binder: NicaraguaFiller: NicaraguaVitola reviewed: Toro (6 inches by 52 ring gauge)Strength: Medium +Body: Medium +Price: Varies

Looking over the milk chocolate color wrapper on this cigar, I am amazed at the very tight and barely visible seams. There is a slight tooth and some small veins on the wrapper. The construction is solid, with a firm feel to the cigar. The scents coming off the wrapper provide for a pleasant aroma. Notes of coffee, chocolate, brown sugar, cream and cinnamon rise to the top, and create interest in what is to come. The foot gives me flavors of cinnamon, cream, hay, licorice, vanilla, raisin and honey. Cigar name: Archetype Sage AdviceCigar brand: Ventura Cigar Co.Wrapper: Ecuadorian HabanoBinder: Dominican RepublicFiller: Dominican RepublicVitola reviewed: Toro (6 inches by 52 ring gauge)Strength: Medium+Body: Medium+Price: $11.99 Upon visual inspection, I find an oily wrapper with a milk chocolate color. There is a slight tooth, and the seams are almost nonexistent. I also note a couple of small veins running along the outer leaf of the firm stogie. The wrapper gives off nice scents of leather, dried fruit, cinnamon, cedar and earth (dirt).

The foot brings fragrances of chocolate, raisin, grass, flowers, cocoa and coffee. After cutting the stogie, I take my usual puffs before lighting. This cigar brings on flavors of cocoa, chocolate, peanut and cinnamon. Cigar: Partagás LusitaniasCode: ECA JUL 02Format: Prominentes (Double Corona)Size: 194mm (7.625 inches) x 49 ring gaugeDate smoked: 09/11/2016 The Lusitanias owes its name to the ill-fated RMS Lusitania, the British luxury ocean liner sunk by a German U-Boat during WW I.* On May 7th, 1915, while en-route from New York to Liverpool, England, the Lusitania was hit by an exploding torpedo off the coast of Ireland, and sank in a scant 20 minutes. 1,100 of the 1,900 passengers and crew perished that day, including 120 Americans. Though it would take another two years before the US officially entered WW I, the sinking of the Lusitania played a key role in turning public opinion against Germany, both in the US and around the world. The Partagás Lusitanias are available in 25-count dress boxes (which is where this specimen originated) and in 50-count cabinets.

10-count dress boxes were introduced in 2006. The cold draw of my sample was perfect, though dispatching little taste or aroma at this stage. avent combined steamer blender irelandThe fire from my torch lighter quickly formed a nice cherry at the foot of the cigar, and the episode was on.ninja single serve system pulse blender target Cigar name: Media NocheCigar brand: H. UpmannWrapper: Pennsylvania BroadleafBinder: Dominican Republic PilotoFiller: Dominican RepublicVitola reviewed: Robusto (5 inches by 54 ring gauge)Strength: MediumBody: Medium+Price: $7.00kitchenaid 5-speed blender with 56-ounce polycarbonate pitcher This is a cigar that immediately catches your attention. magic bullet juicer infomercial

There is something about the way the wrapper and band come together that just jumps out at you. The wrapper is dark brown, and has a slight tooth to it. There are tight seams and two prominent, medium-sized veins running along the firm cigar. The scents coming off of the wrapper include chocolate, leather, cedar and coffee. The foot brings notes of raisin, barnyard, cream, butter, floral, black pepper, musk and caramel. All of these fragrances come together nicely, and give me hope of a pleasant smoking experience. This cigar is one of the ‘gourmet series’ I received from the kind folks at Cigar Weekly. To be honest, I didn't know at first what that meant. Now, however, I’m aware that these are limited, special cigars, which explains why I couldn't find much information about them since their being introduced at the IPCPR last July in Las Vegas. The name Hammer + Sickle (and the Moscow reference on the side of the band) made me very curious. So I started to smell the cigar, and hoped to determine the origin of the blend.

Ask any member of Cigar Weekly familiar with my taste preferences, "Who makes my favorite cigars?", and they will quickly identify Punch and Hoyo De Monterrey (HDM). There is just something about these Honduran-made cigars that works for me. While I certainly enjoy cigars made in other locales and by other cigar makers, Punch and HDM cigars are the ones that I keep coming back to. They are definitely my go-to cigars. And it’s not just one or two types of the Punch and HDM cigars that I like. I like them all. That cannot be said about other cigars. For example, one of my favorite cigars is the CAO Brazilia Gol. But all of the other CAO cigars, including the different sizes within the Brazilia line, are not amongst my favorites. It’s not that those other cigars are necessarily bad. It’s just that they don’t keep me coming back. When you’ve been smoking cigars as long as I have (more than 15 years), you’ve tried just about everything and you know what you like. I like the Punch and HDM cigars.

It's early afternoon and time to get a review in. The sun is definitely over the yard-arm, but not quite far enough yet to justify an adult beverage. So I'll opt for a soft drink of my youth, Big Red. Now, I know some are already cringing and rolling their eyes. But I've had any number of people mention how much they enjoy root beer or cream soda with a cigar... so why not a Big Red? This offering from Casa Turrent is the Serie 1973, in Robusto size. The '1973' celebrates the year of birth of Alejandro Turrent. The cigar features a Mexican San Andrés Criollo wrapper with San Andrés Crillo binder and a combination of Nicuraguan and Mexican Criollo fillers. The cigar is expertly made, exhibiting a firm feel and nice heft. The wrapper is Colorado Maduro in color, and shows very little veining. Casa Turrent is proud of their tobacco grown in volcanic soil, and I must admit there is normally a distinct flavor I associate with Mexican tobacco. So I am anxious to give this Robusto a try.

Occasionally, I am asked to do a 2-in-1 review. Today’s column is one of those reviews. I will be looking at two cigars from Xiphos, and seeing how they compare. We are going to have some fun! Cigar name:NR MaduroCigar brand: XiphosWrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf MaduroBinder: IndonesiaFiller: Nicaraguan Viso and Seco, Ligero from Esteli and JalapaVitola reviewed: Robusto (5 inches by 54 ring gauge)Strength: Medium+Body: Medium+Price: $9.50 As I look over this sample, I take note of the construction. I find a dark chocolate colored wrapper with several small veins. I also find unevenness, but the cigar is firm. The scents coming off the wrapper are of a wide variety. I pick up fragrances of barnyard, earth, espresso, hay, tobacco, crushed red pepper, leather, and oak. The foot brings me black pepper, espresso, grass, butter, honey, walnut and BBQ. Cigar name: INCH ColoradoCigar brand: E. P. CarrilloWrapper: Ecuadorian ColoradoBinder: NicaraguanFiller: NicaraguanVitola reviewed: Gordo (about 6 inches by 60 ring gauge)Strength: MediumBody: FullPrice: Unavailable at time of review