03rd Apr2012

Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela

by GoodFellasCigars

Wrapper: Candela

Binder: (Possibly the same as the Camacho Corojo) Honduran

Filler: Honduran

Shape: Monarca (most likely Robusto)

Size: 5″ by 50 ring gauge

Country: Honduras

Strength: Medium

Spring is increasingly in the air (for those in the northern hemisphere) which means that plants are going to become more and more green. So, why not celebrate this with a candela cigar? The Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela fits the bill for such a celebration. Read on see what this green stick has to offer.

The Look: The Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela is 5 inches by 50 ring gauge robusto. The wrapper is the color of dried green grass with some leafy veins but are not incredibly prominent. The more noticeable veins appear lighter than the wrapper. The Pack is fairly firm with no soft spots and has a nice amount of give. This cigar may be decorated with either two nearly identical bands but with different coloring. One band green and white and the other band brown and a gold-cooper color (see below).

Bands of the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela - Not actual size

 

The Start: The foot of the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela had an aroma of light earthiness like fall leaves. The wrapper had an aroma of light peppery spearmint. The pre-light draw was very grassy, had a slight spice that could be described as cracked pepper. The initial draw had flavors of toasted gram cracker, spiciness, and grassiness.

The Beginning: As the first third was burning the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela the flavor profile was a pleasant creamy grassiness, with some spiciness. After this came the finish of grassiness, and green olive that tamps down with the grassiness with cracked pepper. The draw was good and the burn was somewhat wavy. The ash was mostly light gray to tannish gray and darker gray. It was holding well and was somewhat flakey. The flavors the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela seemed to suggest that this cigar could be paired with a bloody marry and maybe it is not a coincidence that this cigar loosely looks like a pickle.

The Middle: In the second third of the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela all the flavors are very smooth. No one flavor is over powering the others which are toasted walnut, smooth black pepper, and grassiness. On the retrohale warm smooth black and pink pepper are present. The finish is composed of earthy grassiness, green olive that again tamps down the grassiness with green pepper, and walnut. The draw is good and burn is fairly even but a bit wavy and ever so slightly jagged. A nice aroma of fermented tangy leaf was coming off the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela. During the second third I was pairing the cigar with water like I was in the beginning but, I in the second third I also paired the cigar with a bloody marry. The bloody marry made for a great paring as it shared some of the same flavors and complemented grassiness of the cigar.

The End: The final third of the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela was a bit bolder than the previous portions of the cigar. The flavor consisted of dark cracked pepper, earthiness, and toasted dry grass. The finish had grassiness, a light green olive zing, and faint cracked pepper. The draw was again good and the burn was going fairly even but, here was less jagged and less wavy.

Final Thoughts: Candela cigars are a nice departure of the norm of smoking other cigars that are nothing near candela. I found this cigar to be quite good but with most candelas different than what I am normally used to. Some may not like the Camacho Corojo Monarca Candela as the grassy taste could be offsetting but, if this does not dissuade you give this give a try and perhaps pair this very green cigar with a very red bloody marry.

Category : Camacho
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3 Comm
17th Jan2012

Panacea Green Broadleaf

by GoodFellasCigars

Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf

Binder: Dominican Habano

Filler:  Dominican and Nicaraguan

Shape:  Toro

Size:  6 x 52

Country: Dominican Republic

Strength: Full

Price Range: Approx $6.40

The Panacea Green Label uses a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper and the filler is a triple ligero so from that I can tell this cigar is going to pack some punch! The leaves they use for this cigar are fermented in Bucks Country, PA. Here is more information on the company itself if you would like to know –> Flatbed Cigar Company. The wrapper on this cigar is a chocolate brown with peppered dark spots and some thick veins running up and down the length of the cigar. It also has a clean cap and an oily sheen to it.

The foot and wrapper to the Green had a strong smell of spice to it. As for the pre-light draw it really had no flavor to it and the draw itself took pretty much no effort, very smooth. Which kind of made no sense because this is a triple ligero.  The initial draw was a different story though. It had a mild tobacco as the base flavor and prominent leather as the main flavor. The draw really required little to no effort still and when resting in an ashtray it produced a decent amount of smoke.

Going through the first third each draw produced a good amount of smoke and the strength in flavors begin to ramp up and tingle the tongue. A spice is introduced during the first third that is really strong when retro hauling. Also I begin to pick up a lite amount of vanilla bean along with the main leather flavor, which I can tell is on the up rise. The ash on this stick is for the most part black, firm, and stays on for quite some time.

The second third is where you really notice changes. The smoke here begins to become alot more creamy with the vanilla becoming alot more noticeable and the leather smoothing out along with it aswell.  Only down part here is I needed to correct the burn because it became really jagged. Overall I’m really enjoying this stick, it has an excellent blend of spice, vanilla, and leather that makes for a very creamy smoke. Plus I think this is the first time I’ve ever had Pennsylvania Broadleaf as a wrapper on a cigar…usually not that common and also stating what I stated before it’s made in the US which is another plus. This cigar would also compliment a nice, rich coffee.

Approaching the final third the vanilla is taking on a small amount of bitterness, which is a sign it’s starting to die down. While going making my way threw the final the vanilla continued to go down in exchange for the spice which was going up. The leather still remained the main flavor though. The burn was still up and down but, didn’t get to the point where it needed corrections again. As for the finish it was leather follow by spice. In total the Panacea Green Broadleaf was an excellent smoke especially those out there that are looking for a strong smoke that will give about and hour and a half of enjoyment.

 

Category : Panacea
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0 Comm
30th May2011

Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 Claro

by GoodFellasCigars

Wrapper: Candela

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Shape: Toro

Size: 6×47, 8-5-8

Country: Dominican Republic

If your looking for something a little different and cheaper than your normal smoke look no further. The Arturo Fuente Flor Fina has a unique green wrapper otherwise known as a candela wrapper. This is also a great smoke for someone that is kind of inexperienced because it is a very mild smoke with a very mild body too. The candela wrappers used to be more common in the cigar world but, these days they have taken more of a backseat. Don’t let that deter you from trying one of these because candela cigars bring a lot of different flavors to the playing field that one may have not experienced before. This cigar is triple capped with very good, firm construction. The pre-light flavors are of tobacco and a cool earth which gives a smooth draw aswell. The initial draw is smooth and creamy with a sweetness that is balanced with notes of floral. The first third has a greater strength of floral notes but, nothing that is overwhelming and creamy thick smoke that still remains. This cigar is also one of those you can set down for a while and pick back up and use very little puffs to get it going once again. Traveling through the second third I was able to pin down the sweetness which was a butterscotch. The second third brought in more flavors which were a light cedar and a crispy wheat. The burn line throughout all of this has remained even with no touch ups needed. As for the final third and the remainder of the finish the subtle floral notes in this cigar take center stage but, once again not in an overwhelming  sense. The Flor Fina didn’t disappoint at all. It’s a great stick for the one that enjoys a very mild smoke or one that wants to experience something a little different from the norm.

Category : Arturo Fuente
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0 Comm
07th Mar2011

Viaje White Label Project

by GoodFellasCigars

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Country: Honduras

The Viaje White Label is a test line that will change with every new batch released. In a sense these cigars and future ones will give us a sneak peek for what is in store for future main blends. This is the first White Label Viaje has released and right off the bat has done something new or should we say old? This cigar features a candela wrapper also known as double claro, jade, or second most commonly American market selection. This kind of cigar was once the best selling cigar in America hence, American market selection. These cigars sport a light green wrapper unlike other cigars that have light brown to black wrappers. The difference is that candela wrappers are picked before maturity and supper heated very quickly to dry and so stops any fermenting. This process traps the chlorophyll in the leaf giving it its distinctive green color and  flavor.

The Viaje White Label departs from other candelas in that it does not have a dominate grassy flavor instead it features floral, and plant stem flavors, with hints of earthiness, pepper, and light citrus. The draw is virtually effortless and produces a ton of smoke. The level of body is medium. The construction is flawless and feels a little coarser than paper. While smoking the cigar one notices a pleasant kind of dryness that coats the mouth; similar to the Brick House but not as filling. Three fourths of the way through the floral flavor with hints of grass becomes stronger that creeps up gradually. Stop smoking at the band to avoid more intense plant flavors and a higher level of body or, keep going if you are the more adventurous type. Overall this cigar was a joy to smoke and we hope it is incorporated into Viaje’s main product line. Viaje has produced yet another winner.

Category : viaje
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