Cigar Companero Premiere Editon 2008 Cigar Reviews

Puros Indios Viejo Limited Edition 1999 Nacional
6 1/2 x 42
Country of Manufacturer: Honduras
Wrapper: 7 year aged Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Brazil

Marc:
What a fantastic old world smoke, just like Grandpa used to smoke but with class. This awesome 6 1/2 by 42 cigar with a smooth natural taste is one of the best old world class cigars to date. With an elegant taste of finely aged natural tobacco this cigar makes anytime the best to smoke, right now I am enjoying a mid morning smoke suited with a diet coke and this cigar takes me back to the times when I sat with my grandpa in the old warehouse in Florida in the 60's and smelling his cigar smoke and having a coke while sitting on a crate and watching him at work at his desk. I don't know how they do it but to make a cigar taste like it was from the old times but still fresh to the market is a huge accomplishment. The cigar starts light with a hint of hay, and turns to the old world taste with the true strength of tobacco. A very fine turn I might add. The draw is very refined and natural and the burn ha just a slight black ring around it showing this cigar will smoke well. The ash is completely grey and not too tight and not too loose. The Viejo gets a bit bold towards the middle and rightly so as this cigar has to be one of the most natural tobacco tastes I have ever tasted. The strength I am sure comes from the aging hence the name Viejo, meaning aged in Spanish. After halfway this cigar mellows into a smooth old world taste of fine aged tobacco, not too strong but just enough strength to remind you of yesteryear. Ending with a little taste of sweetness and class and a lot of smoke and taste this cigar is top of it's class.

Jeff:
I have always enjoyed the Puros Indios brand. The only problem I recall was with a few brittle and weak wrappers.
I was recently gifted a Puros Indios Viejo. Nice looking smoke, with a cinnamon-colored, goose-bumped wrapper, with thick pronounced veins. Easy clip, easy pre-lit draw with a dry hay taste. Upon lighting, I was surprised on how smooth it tasted right out the chute. Ah, the flavor of well-aged tobacco is hard to beat! And, combining it with dry barnyard flavors made for a great beginning. Throughout the first half, the flavor remained constant, almost too one-dimensional for me.
About the half-way point, it picked up a fine touch of black licorice. The licorice flavor became more noticeable, and a pepper spice began to pick up, actually tingled my lips just a bit. As I continued to smoke, the flavors began marry quite nicely, and the finish was mighty fine and much more complex! It left a very nice and long-lasting aftertaste.
This cigar produced a ton of smoke! Not a single problem with the burn, ash, or construction. About 40 minute’s worth. Bottom line: Good solid smoke!!

Rocky Patel Signature Series
6.5 x 52
Country of Manufacturer: Honduras
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: ?
Filler: Central Amercian
Medium Body

Jeff:
I was recently gifted one of these hard-to-come-by Rocky Patels, the Siganture Series! This stick only comes in the Toro size (6.5 x 52). Nice beefy-looking smoke! Beautiful construction with faint veins spiraling toward the top! Pretty cool looking!! Easy clip with a pre-lit draw flavor of tobacco! My lips detected pepper, as they started to tingle immediately. The draw was too easy, very airy! Easy light, and tons and tons and tons of smoke! This pup is going to smoke quickly!!
Initial impression: This is going to be a great smoke! First few puffs were magnificent! A hearty tobacco flavor held throughout and it didn't really change at all. I was fairly bored around the first half. I stuck it out, hoping other flavors would emerge… didn't happen. Bummer. It showed so much promise, then kind of died on the vine. Medium-Full strength all-the-way!
I was right,,, this cigar smoked very fast, less than an hour. The ash was a bit flakey and dropped with the slightest nudge.
I will pass on this one in the future. I was really trying to like it, but it was too much of the same.

Marc:
Unlike Jeff, I loved this smoke, and Jeff's right; it bellowed with smoke. This cigar can only be found now through a catalog internet store and there are only 500 boxes of it made. I only have about 3 left out of the box and it is a perfect after dinner or morning smoke. It beat out my usual morning Monetcristo even. With a hint of cream at lighting I expected the usual Rocky patel pepper taste but it was very subtle. The Signature had a huge rich taste and was a very smooth cigar for being medium bodied. Once about 1/3 of the way in the flavor really started to tingle my taste buds, the creamy buttery taste of aromatic wood and nuts was begining to make this a real enjoyable cigar. About half way it began to get a little richer and a bold taste of wood but with a distinct creamy taste. This cigar has to be the top of all cigars with me. It ends with a hint of cinnamon and light pepper. I really like the way it smoked, I smoke cigars slow and they always seem to lose their bellowing capabilities but this one holds all the way to the end.

Graycliff Pearl Label Crystal President
7 x 48
Country of Manufacturer: Bahamas
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sungrown
Binder: Indio
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican, Brazilian, Grecain
Strength: Full Body

Marc:
Setting the stage for this awesome smoke it is mid morning and I just finished up a slice of banana loaf and setting on the back patio with a Vanilla Frappuccino with a Pearl Labeled Crystal President. Here lies the president of cigars, priced at a little over $20 that would scare aware most novice smokers this is a cigar that is to be sat and well enjoyed. A nice full body cigar with nothing but sophistication in mind. First lighting up I thought I had taken a drink of cocoa that led into a nice smooth blend of cream, cocoa, woodsy cedar, and spice with light pepper. The Grecian leaf really adds a unique taste to what would be a normal creamy woodsy cigar. The peppery bite comes from the Grecian spice and is well moderated to not be overbearing. Towards the end there was a slight taste of green mint picked up. This complex taste is well blended to make the a unique taste that is not found in your normal cigar. This is first class all the way. The heavy smoke and perfect draw of this cigar makes the enjoyment of smoking well worth the price. Throughout the cigar the creamy, woodsy, spicy taste is brought back and forth to the palate almost mind boggling as a 6 course meal.

Jeff:
First Graycliff I've smoked, so they wait is over! I was recently gifted a Graycliff Crystale! About a Churchill size…. What a good looking smoke. An easy tan finish, barely traceable veins, and well-packed - a nice hefty smoke! Easy clip, giving me prelit draws of light hay. Excellent draw. Upon lighting, I detected the barnyard flavors along with a very mellow tobacco flavor. The hay flavor was the most prominent, though it too was very very smooth! This remained throughout the remainder of the smoke. It never really changed, but it never really had to. Didn't get hot, didn't get chewy, didn't need relighting, didn't get harsh… ever! I enjoyed it all the way to the end. No burn problems at all! Lots of smoke throughout!! Nice thick ash that held firm. I'd say medium on flavor, light on strength. A little over an hour with this one! I'd smoke it again! Really looking forward to trying the other Graycliff's!

Montecristo Afrique No.444
44 x 4 1/4
Country of Manufacturer: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Cameron ,Nicaraguan, Peru, Tanzania
Strength: Medium to Full Body

Jeff:
I love this smoke! A nice, quick, STRONG, fireplug. The construction was perfect! A deep brown seamless wrapper that was oh-so smooth!! Easy clip, giving me prelit draws of rich tobacco and deep dark chocolate. Nice tight draw, but not too tight. Upon lighting, the tobacco flavor dominated the scene. I detected a bit of cocoa, and just a touch of coffee! The cocoa and coffee flavors intensified, and married quite nicely with the tobacco - the full flavored tobacco!! This remained throughout the remainder of the smoke. It mellowed out so much toward the end it actually became creamy, like a rich coffee mocha. Very, Very Nice!! Great finish, smoked it all the way down!!!No burn problems at all! Tons of smoke throughout!! Nice thick ash that held firm. Full flavored, medium strength. About 30 minute's worth. Did I mention that I love this smoke?

Marc:
Montecristo has no problem making good cigars in fact once in a while the make a great one. With a Cameroon wrapper that provides even a more exotic flavor to this cigar being one of the most rariest and expensive wrappers on the market. This Monetecristo is worthy of more than just the morning coffee, with it's complex taste that is tryly a rarity. This blend gives the Afrique name a sound base for it's taste. This short smoke has a nice burn all the way throughout. Upon lighting a full blast of cocoa and chocolate is rich to the palette, and a strong taste of almost exotic wood that I have never tasted before. Throughout this cigar my Columbian coffee starts tasting even sweeter. About halfway through the Afrique 444 holds a distinct taste of sweet wood and the exotic aroma fills my throat. This cigar is a definte go to for when yu want to change up on tastes as I do often, just to keep the palate fresh with new tastes. Towards the end the raw taste of strong tobacco and wood fill the senses and make the last few sips of my coffee tantalizing to light up another. I like this cigar for the strength and uniqueness of taste. A definite must to all humidors.