Today Cigar Aficionado came out with their top 25 cigars of 2013 and number 8 on the list was a cigar that I can say without a doubt was one of my favorite cigars this past summer, the Herrera Esteli Piramide. I lucky enough bought a box (25) of these a few months back and the day before Thanksgiving I enjoyed one with The Glacier and Turbo at Wabash Cigar.
Country: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Equadorian-Habano
Price: $10.75
Strength: Medium-Full
Length: 6
Gauge: 52
Manufacturer: Drew Estate
Master blenders from the famed El Titan De Bronze factory in Little Havana, Willy Herrera assumed the same title for Drew Estate in 2012. The first project to bear his name for Drew Estate is the Herrera Esteli: a cigar that has taken nearly a year to blend and produce. Comprised of Ecuadorian, Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos, the Herrera Esteli in unlike anything to ever come from the Drew Estate factory. According the Herrera “it’s Cubanesque in natureand described as well rounded and flavorful but not too powerful”!
Earlier this summer I had the pleasure of trying my first Herrera Esteli in the robust size. I bought a 5 pack from Emerson Cigar and they were fantastic, the Piramide was even better. This cigar was a powerhouse of flavor and was a fantastic smoke. At 6 inches in length it was IMO the optimum size to enjoy the fantastic blend of tobacco that the Piramide packs. The construction of the cigar was awesome with a nice cap and caramel colored wrapper. I gave it a double cut and the dry draw was damn near perfect.
Upon lighting the cigar produced thick, dense-white smoke. Right off the bat there were notes of spicy-earth with maybe hints of cinnamon and cedar. As the smoke progressed there were notes of pepper and leather which played well together on the palette. The draw continued to be amazing. I had to slow down because I was smoking the cigar too fast, it was that good. The burn was perfect. Not once did I have a runner and have to even it up! about halfway through the cigar became almost creamy smooth with hints of vanilla...eventually those notes gave way to a strong tobacco taste towards the end. This was a powerful cigar as well. The bill says medium to full. I would err on the side of full because I had a little buzz towards the end.
I highly recommend this cigar. Past reviews of mine haven't been kind to Drew Estate, but their acquisition of Willie Herrera was a great move because this guy is a fantastic blender and I think the sky's the limit for he and Drew Estate Cigars!
Cheers!
I'm a huge Davidoff fan. Despite the price I believe Davidoff is one of the few cigar brands where you in fact get what you pay for. For the first time in it's history Davidoff decided to produce a Nicaraguan Puro cigar and I was excited to get a few and try them.
Country: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Strength: Mediumm-Full
Size: Robusto Tubo
Length: 5
Gauge: 50
Price: $13.90
Davidoff Masterblenders, led by Hendrik "Henke" Kelner, went on an exploration for a new type of blend that would stimulate both the bitter and sweet taste buds. This relentless pursuit took them to Nicaragua and the fiery volcanic soil of the Esteli, Condega, Jalapa and Ometepe regions.
With time, patience and perseverance the team crafted The Davidoff Nicaragua. with 10 years of preparation, curing and aging the Davidoff Nicaragua delivers an exceptional blend with all the intensity, excitement and refined sophistication aficionados would expect from Davidoff. Handmade in Davdidoff's dominican facilities, it's quality and exceptional craftsmanship are unsurpassed.
As I mentioned in the intro I was excited when Davidoff released their take on a Nicaraguan. I went so far as to preorder a 4-pack. When I got them in they were great looking. Davidoff's presentation is always top notch and this was the case with the Nicaraguan. Davidoff cleverly packaged these cigars in a matte black box with matte black tubes and finished it off with a matter black band around the cigar. They're fine looking all around. At 5 X 50 these are around my favorite size to smoke. The dry draw was ok, not tight but not great. I detected heavy hints of tobacco and leather with the dry draw. After the first few puffs post lighting the Nicaraguan didn't exhibit the bitter start of most Nicaraguans. The burn was even and mostly true. Well into the cigar I noticed subtle hints of spice and pepper with notes of cocoa and coffee. The cigar never got too complex. 3/4 through the cigar there were more hints of pepper but subtle.
I was disappointed in the Davidoff Nicaraguan. Maybe it was because I built it up too much do to all the fantastic cigars from Davidoff I've enjoyed in the past. I guess I expected a more refined and complex cigar in the Nicaraguan. Don't get me wrong it was a great cigar, but at $13.90 a stick I think I can find way better Nicaraguan offerings from the likes of Tatuaje, and My Father Cigars. I would't recommend the Davidoff Nicaraguan until they refine the blend and/ or commit to making a more powerful cigar which I doubt they will. However with Davidoff acquiring the Camacho family of cigars I think that might go a long way in helping Davidoff create and explore new blends for future releases!
Cheers!
Here's a beer that I picture a bunch douchey goth phags drinking as they sit in a dark night club looking all sinister and pale! Sadly I wasn't doing all that shit when I enjoyed this beer. I was with my girlfriend in the comfort of my own home. I bring you Vampire Slayer by Clown Shoes Brewing!
Beer: Vampire Slayer
Style: American Imperial/ Double Stout
ABV: 10.0%
Brewery: Clown Shoes, Massachusetts
Beer Advocate: 92 Outstanding
This was a fantastic double stout. I got this beer at Binny's and to be honest I only bought it because of the goofy name. I've had other beers from Clown Shoes and they were all great so I figured Vampire Slayer was gonna be solid. Vampire Slayer poured a deep dark coffee color with little to know head. What head it did have was a caramel color and not foamy but very bubbly. The first taste yielded notes of coffee and dark chocolate with hints of smoke. As the beer got warmer the chocolate notes became stronger. The beer had a dry almost metallic aftertaste which at first I didn't care for, but it soon faded and coffee flavors emerged. I'd buy this beer again to be honest. It's a solid stout. I'd put it in the upper, 2nd tier of stouts above that of Guinness and Murphy's but below the Yeti family of stouts.
Cheers!
Earlier this summer I had the pleasure of trying my first Herrera Esteli in the robust size. I bought a 5 pack from Emerson Cigar and they were fantastic, the Piramide was even better. This cigar was a powerhouse of flavor and was a fantastic smoke. At 6 inches in length it was IMO the optimum size to enjoy the fantastic blend of tobacco that the Piramide packs. The construction of the cigar was awesome with a nice cap and caramel colored wrapper. I gave it a double cut and the dry draw was damn near perfect. 
