Dips were born to be the affordable Monte

Shaun. My dip 2 vendor has them in stock, reasonable prices

I smoked a LFD Petite LaNox to test out my capacity for a cigar, was a little rough but I will get to this ASAP.

Only my second or third cigar in 2018. I'll write the post as I smoke.

Jamie's number one cigar which is not a Gurkha. Light colored robusto, slightly spongy, ok by me, I prefer a more open draw.

Smells like dry tobacco. barn/hay/crap Wrapper's nothing special to look at, and the weight vs size in the hand is really skewing my impression to yard gar before I've even cut the cap off.

Cut the cap, cold draw is dried tobacco - sweet and raisin

First light brings me back to my first few premium cigars. When you haven't smoked a while, there's certain flavors that come out that are just lost when you smoke more often.

First inch is already going wrong. Had a good toast and even light, but only half of the cigar wants to burn. One side is 1/2: down, the other is well over an inch canoe burn. Tried to correct but it's already souring. I'm gonna cut off the foot a half inch past lowest burn line, see if I can't get more smoking time from it.

Flavor is inoffensive, but not much there. Harsh on retrohale but not a peppery bite, more like a horseradish burn - no discernable flavor, just burn. Lingering flavor in the mouth is burnt wood. Overall that's really the only flavor coming through is burning leaves/twigs.

I cut it off and re lit.

On the restart it's still struggling to burn straight. I can feel a good bit of heat about 2" from the head. Definitely some tunnel burn happening. It's pretty foul at this point and I"m going to toss it. He says it's not a Gurkha, but it smoked like one. Only about 15-20 minutes smoking time.

Without hesitation I'm calling this yard gar. I think if I got one without the burn isssues it might work as a yard gar, it's a pretty straightforward flavor. Inoffensive but unimpressive. Think this may be an Alec Bradley or a Kristoff product, it mirrors my experience with them - could be good, but construction is seriously lacking.

Cigar #1 is Yard Gar.

Enjoying these reviews...👍

These reviews are the closest things to cigar porn I've ever seen.
Amazing how specific you guys are about flavors you're tasting.

Personally I've never tasted any of these nuanced flavors that you all talk about.
I wish I could but can't.
I've always joked to myself that 'any real smoker can't taste anything'
But damn, apparently I'm more than just a little wrong.

Reviews are great.
Smoke on!

Cigar #3 - a beautiful toro pigtail that looks more like a fishtail. A dark San Andres like wrapper. Mottled color with some veins.Firm hard roll.

Prelight - chocolate! ....first draw - no pepper...picks up a little pepper as it starts out......mostly on back of tongue.

Now getting into it, it develops a meaty spiciness. Burn a little uneven, perfect draw.

During first third - spice attack on pallet! Burn corrects itself. flaky white spotchy ash.

Start of second third - cigar like steak on grill.....further develops into steak sauce flavor

Intensity comes and goes - am enjoying but wondering if this is too much for me. Not quite in my wheelhouse but I can enjoy and appreciate unique in your face flavor.

1/2 way - minor tunnel and relight. Nic is coming on strong. I grab a lemon lime soda. I have never had a Liga Privada but this is what I would imagine one go be like.

At last third, I had to put it down and stumble to bed.

Next morning could not resist lighting it up. A good cigar seems to be able to have a second life. Wow really enjoying a fresh start on this dead soldier. A nice blending and evening of all the flavors from last night.

This must be the high end.


Cigar #2 - punch cut.....all these were punched.....a test of a cigar that draws well with a punch.

This one seems to be a firm well constructed robusto. Fine bumps and veins.This has a very multi colored dark and lighter wrap...almost barberpole looking but not. Dark Splotches remind me of an aged sungrown wrapper.

Prelight - slight bitter on lip and an unidentifiable nice flavor.

First draw Strong pepper kick....nice though

Nice burnline not perfect.......lots of smoke for a punch.......wavy black and white ash

1 1/4 inch in....pepper is mellowing......ash hanging good

Second third - getting soft but straight Edge burn.......went out once - relight

Rest of cigar was enjoyable but nothing new. By last third, it was real squishy and lost its original firmness. I let it go out.

Cigar #1 - Natural wrapper toro. Roll seems reasonable but a nick in wrapper and a soft soft spot.

Prelight - slightly sweet tobacco flavor

Initial flavors - salty roasted nuts, pepper cardamon..........promising

Now a cracks develops and more, bigger soft spots. Still draws fine but I have to handle it like a flute. A finger on every leak.

1 1/2 inch in and cracks getting worse. Cigar getting hot an inch or more from coal. Flavor suffers.

Cigar bitter and hot. I cut off end thinking there was tunneling but no. Trying straight cut. Relight and hope for better.

1/2 way through. - behaving a little better. No flavors like at beginning. Some serious soft spots now. I put it down - not worth hassle. I call this one the yard gar based on my experience on this but maybe it is not.


Enjoyed that Partagas while doing this write up. Thanks. Can't wait to hear what they were.

Great reviews Tom. Spot on on all 3.
#3 was a LP UF-13
#1 Fuente R44
#2 Tatuaje P2- I liked your visual of blocking the leaks. Sorry it didn't hold up.

Glad you enjoyed the liga. They are by favorite my favorite flavor profile. You might like a smaller rg a little more. Lp-dirty rat has a small rg.

And yes. I will tackle an authentic Cuban sandwich . Being close to NYC we can get most.authentic anything. But I like to cook and always to try to recreate traditional foods.

Cigar numberr 2 from Jamie is a dark chocolatey colored salomon. Per routine, I'll live post my impressions.

Feels and smells fantastic. Smells lightly of barnyard, the roll is exceptionally tight - concerned with draw once I get it going. I've had issues with most of the semi-closed tapered foot cigars I've had in the past. They never seem to light straight. I'm going to give this one a standard light and see how it does. Pretty sure it's the high end just off look and feel.

Cut the torpedo cap off on an angle. Cold draw is a huge load of black pepper. Made my eyes water and triggered a sneeze. Some raisiny sweetness in there as well.

First light is a huge blast of black pepper, with some cedar wood in the background. It's already burning very unevenly, got past the nipple tip and one side's running away while the other is stagnant. Attempting touchup, it's now close to an inch difference.

Touchup was successful,it's now at the widest part of the bulb and fairly even. The foot puts off a lot of smoke, but the draw is not a huge smoke volume. It's strong. Already feeling it. Putting my feet up and swinging the recliner back.


It's a lot sweeter now. Sweet cedar wood, some nutty bits but big pepper on retrohale. Mouth feels coated in oils. I'm digging it. Money's on this being Dominican by the flavor profiles, and I'd bet it's an LFD. Fuente's IMO are less spicy and more savory while LFD is the opposite.

Working its way back up the taper it's picked up a lot of sweetness. Buttery vanilla pecan like nutty flavors linger. Still has the big pepper and cedar but it's much more balanced now. Had to do another touchup but the cigar took it well.

This is a phenomenal smoke. It's the high end.

About halfway. The sweeter savory bits are more prominent but retrohale still makes my eyes water with the pepper. Cedar and pepper big up front on retrohale but when it settles it's just very rich savory pecans and butter/vanilla. Feels like my mouth has a layer of lard everything's coated.

Retouched again, and recut the head to a straight cut. Again the cigar took the touchup in stride and is burning evenly without change in flavors.

I can't say enough about this rich savory flavor. It's like I had a stick of butter in my mouth, everything's oiled up. Without a doubt this is the high end. Cedar wood, black pepper, pecans, butter, vanilla. High end Dominican flavor profile. This would pair really well with a strong dry drink dry red wine, or neat bourbon. I only brought a Dr Pepper with me to the garage.

Gonna cut the review now, got about 2.5" left but I'm gonna pull up something to watch on my laptop and just enjoy the remainder without worrying about continuing the review.

Thank you ZRX for this fantastic smoke. I'm pegging it high end, LFD or at least from DR. If this is from anywhere else I'll eat my shorts. It's also got a fair bit of age under it.

Wrapped up the cigar watching Southpark.

It finished the same, but ramped up drastically in strength.

Finished out with the same savory rich creamy flavors, the pepper died down on retrohale but I had a hard time getting out of my recliner. Way stronger than I could handle, but it was good.

Still standing by premium, Dominican, and LFD. Smoked this for an hour and 45 minutes. Can't recall the last time I put that much time into a cigar.

Thanks again Jamie.

Thank God it was better than #1, I felt awful reading the review!

I assume you meant to transpose #1 and #2 correct? As in the exploding one was the Tat? . Bought a box of these tats before and always liked them at first but disappointed later....but never as bad as that one. I love the brown label and red label tats though.

Now I can't believe I didn't guess Fuente R44 as I buy lots of those and the look and flavor fooled me. I always experienced a creamy vs a pepper flavor before and the rosado wrapper not usually so varied in color. Also I didn't notice the light box press I am used to seeing. I almost dropped one in your package but grabbed the 858 sungrown instead.

I read a lot of reviews on LP and have always meant to try so glad I did. Lucky guess. I think I had a Papa Fritas once but not impressed. Definitely going to try some rats.

Glad you enjoyed the Black Diamond as it seemed to fit your profile....you might have enjoyed the Hedley grange better with less age. Mine have lost a bit of kick after 2 years.

Cigar #2 review - Robusto

Had the day off and found time to get into it this afternoon.

Prelight - light and grassy a bit of a floral undertone. Draw a bit tight. Wrapper is shiny.

1/3 no real powerful flavor - no pepper, spice or sweet. On the far left end of mild. Taste is solid, but nothing that says wow. I paired with a Sun King Wee Muckle as I had a growler fill that needed finished and it was way overpowering for this cigar. I never realized how much I paired my drink to compliment what I'm smoking before now. So far 0 for 2.

2/3 staying one dimensional floral grassy flavor staying consistent.

3/3 slight change in flavor, not really bitter maybe I should say citrus notes on the floral.

I kept trying to think of things to write but it would be an embellishment. It's a solid mild cigar, one to pass out to buddies playing golf or cornhole. It's a good one to start with but would want to have another for a night cap.

This is the yard gar and just to take a guess on what it is I'd say Montesino.

Thanks Shaun. I'm looking forward to #1. The girls are having cousins over for a sleepover so hopefully I get to it tonight.

Well I should have read up on the montesino before guessing and posting. Other than being the mild that I remember the profile doesn't fit so I'm definitely wrong... cant wait to see what it is.

if you ever have another, do not corn hole it.

Would that be considered a back door lewinski?

Do I dare ask what that is?

If you have to ask...

Nah, I'm just gonna assume it's similar to a back door Lewinsky...

It's a Sneaky Pete.

Or a lucky Pierce if you're Victor