As noted above, my original plan for this sampler was to keep a few then package the rest along with the herf-a-door as a gift.
Well, after breaking down and smoking the Gurkha (ugh), I changed my mind. Since I was the one touting this sampler and as it is still available [
https://www.cigarsintern...grade-samplers/2013615/ ] I thought I should do a quick review of the smokes in the deal for the newbies and others that might be interested.
As it turns out, I sold the herf-a-dor for $15 so, even with shipping, the cigars were just about free!
So here it goes, the 8 for $10 review. Note: I notice that several of these cigars have been going for right around (and sometimes even under) $2 a cigar on Cbid so, if you like any of them, there are deals to be had.
Gurkha Sherpa Orange: As noted above, this one is not very good and I would not smoke it again if it was given to me. All that can be said is that it is not the worst Gurkha I have had.
NEWBIE NOTE: If you don't like this one, you learned something important: Gurhas suck. Welcome to the club! You can now freely bash Gurkhas like the rest of us. If you did like it, you also learned something important: Don't waste money on any cigars above the 2 for 99 cent ones you get at the gas station....
Villazon Fabrica (natural). This was a strange cigar. It was mild, not unpleasant, not very much smoke but had some flavor that was worthwhile. For those that like a mild cigar in general or in the morning, it would be fine except that it got overheated very easily. Just several good puffs in succession and it got very very bitter. Had to pamper this thing very carefully throughout the smoke. One puff, fine. Two easy puffs, maybe ok, but give it a firm draw or puff it just a few times in a row and it was nasty. I read some comments of people saying that this cigar would suddenly get very strong at times and they didn't like that. I suspect that what they were experiencing was not any increase in strength but the nasty bitter taste when it overheated. In all, this one was fine when left to rest a lot and smoked slowly with plenty of time between puffs, but it was too much work for what you got.
NEWBIE NOTE: If you liked the non-bitter aspects of this cigar, do not despair, there are many mild but still flavorful smokes out there that do not get out of hand with just a couple of deep puffs!
Bahia Red Maduro. Finally a cigar I definitely enjoyed. This was a very typical Nicaraguan Maduro profile – you know, coffee/espresso/cocoa/etc. But it was pretty good with it. Not complex at all and stayed the same throughout but it did what it was trying to do pretty well, just nothing above and beyond what so many others of the same ilk do. Since there are a lot of other cigars that do what this does, IMO, even better and with more complexity for just a little bit more, I would not ever buy a large batch of these. However, I would certainly be happy to have them in a future sampler or even buy one at a B&M shop when on the road and looking for something I can trust that is not too expensive.
NEWBIE NOTE: If you liked this, there are many, many, other Nicaraguan Maduro's out there, start sampling them and you will find many that are like this and even better.
Cao Columbia. This is an unusual blend with a Honduras/Nicaraguan wrapper, a Cameroon binder and filler from Brazil and Columbia – that is going to be hard to find anywhere else. The problem with most Caos, it seems, is that the initial release was great and then, after that, they go downhill. Not sure what this one was like at the beginning, but the stick in this sampler had serious construction issues. It burned unevenly, had a bad tunnel spot where there was a big void from poor rolling and had to struggle a number of times to keep it lit despite constant attention. In the end the thing just went out on me. That being said, the thing tasted really good. Nutty, woody, a bit of salt and white pepper a touch of sweetness at times and good tobacco flavor throughout. “Savory” is the word I would use overall. If this thing had been built better it would be a very good cigar.
NEWBIE NOTE: I will not be dropping money on a box of these right away, but I will try to pick up a single or 5'er at some point to see if the construction is bad on others or if I just got a one-off bad one. I would suggest you do the same even if you got lucky and had a well-made one in your sampler. Get a few more to see how they are made before getting a box of them.
Macanudo Cafe. This is probably the quintessential mild Connecticut-Shade style cigar. Very likely a large percentage of the population that smoke premium cigars started out with one of these. To be honest, this is not my preferred style of smoke. I pretty much only have something like this when sitting outside at the Lake in the morning with a cup of coffee – when I do not want something strong or powerful that early in the day. Since I have had these before and know what to expect, I gave it a fair trial by having it out on the porch with a fine cup of Brazilian coffee. It was exactly as expected. Very mild, a bit of very-very faint spice at times, perhaps some cedar flavors. In all not a lot there, but pleasant with the coffee. The construction of the cigar was perfect, easy light, perfect burn, good solid ash, nice draw. In many respects this cigar was just the opposite for me of the Cao whose flavors I liked a lot but that was constructed poorly. In all a pleasant morning smoke but there are a lot better out there. If I am going “mild” I still prefer some complexity and more flavor, perhaps a cafe au lait profile, even something – I know some folks hate the term - “creamier” than this cigar provides.
NEWBIE NOTE: If you like this cigar, good for you. You like a quality cigar that is well made and very consistent, but do not stop here. There are many, many other Connecticut-wrapped cigars out there (including the next review) many of which you might find you like better. Indeed Cigar International often has a good deal on a Conny bundle that includes a lot of different variations on this theme. Consider trying that out sometime.
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur. Now this is a Connecticut wrapper cigar that is much more to my personal liking. Still not overly strong but much more flavor than the Cafe. A good deal more spice -red and black pepper (but never overpowering) some saltiness, at about that halfway point some creamy coffee notes come through. Although stronger than the Cafe, it is still mostly mild, but with more flavor and complexity. However this cigar was not nearly as well put-together as the Macanudo. This example burned unevenly and was packed rather loosely so did not last nearly as long as you might expect.
NEWBIE NOTE: Try this cigar right after you smoke the Cafe if you can and you will notice the difference right away.
Arganese Habano. We now move from the more mild cigars to the stronger ones in the sampler. I would guess that if you really-really liked the Macanudo Cafe, there is a pretty good shot you WON'T like this one and visa-versa. But that's OK as this is what makes this sampler a great starting point for folks new to premium cigars or those trying to branch out to try new things – a nice variety of styles and strengths. The Aranese is a fairly strong smoke and seems even stronger if you light it up after having one of the Connecticuts above. Heavy dark tobacco flavor dominates along with some leather and just a touch of spiciness at times especially the aftertaste. You can defiantly get a nicotine buzz of of this one if you smoke it down to the nub. This sample was heavy and very densely packed - so much so that I thought the draw would be quite tight - but that turned out not to be the case. While a tighter draw than say, for example, the Excalibur, it was not bad at all.
NEWBIE NOTE: This is NOT anywhere near the strongest cigar you can get, but it is a pretty good introduction into the stronger, fuller-bodied, choices that are out there, so if you liked this one you know you can handle ones like it.
Sancho Panza Triple Añejo. I saved this one for last as I have bought bundles of these before from CI and elsewhere when they were on special for $3 and under with free shipping and knew I liked them pretty well. It is also a stronger, full-bodied, cigar but with more complexity and flavors than the Arganese. This cigar has a thick rich profile with a spicy start that then goes into a dark roast coffee flavor with a very slight touch of dark cocoa sweetness. After a while you also pick up some leather and cream notes that go in and out with coffee and cocoa The aftertaste is also nicely rich and creamy. On all of the ones I have had of these -this sample included - the burn gets a bit uneven about a 1/3 of the way in requiring a touch-up at some point, but after that it it is fine. The ash is firm and gray and you really have to give it a good bump to knock it off. This Cigar was (still is?) exclusive to CI and its affiliated companies and came out of the Blendlab department that CI used to have where manufacturer's experimented with new and different blends.
NEWBIE NOTE: This cigar is a good beginner-example of what people mean when they talk about a cigar being complex or one that evolves through the smoke. Unlike most of the other cigars in the sampler, the Sancho doesn't just have one flavor profile that stays the same throughout the smoke – it changes in a good way. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot MORE complex, flavorful, better burning (and expensive) cigars , but this gives you a pretty good taste of what is out there when you really explore the different blends.
Well, that's all folks. In summery, the CI 8 for $10 sampler is a pretty good deal for those wanting to check out some different strengths and blends, and an even better deal if you need a travel humidor for the extra $5 (or can unload it for the cost of the sampler!). The package would have been a lot better though if it had the pictured HC Black instead of that nasty Gurkha. For me that pretty much makes it $10 for 7 cigars. Of the above, I might order more of the Sancho Panza's again if under $3 per including shipping and wouldn't mind keeping a couple of the Excaliburs on hand for that occasional early morning smoke. The Bahia is a pretty good standard Nicaraguan Maduro cigar I would be happy to smoke if the price was right or if it came in a package deal. The Cao would be good if it had not been put together so poorly so I might give it one more chance someday. The others...for me...meh. With MB3's available for $3 per (on the good deal) and 101 closeouts for around the $4 mark or so, its hard to justify spending a lot on any of these right now.