Alec Bradley at Oktoberfest (Greek Mike)

Brand: Alec Bradley
Line: Jam
Length x Ring Gauge: 6 1/2 x 52 Toro
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (filler, binder and wrapper)
Strength: Medium
Date: October 7, 2012

Notes:

   A few months ago I wrote about a somewhat lackluster debut of Alec Bradley's Jam. After 3 months of aging in the humidor (giving the tobacco leaves a chance to emit their oils), I decided to give these cigars another go.

Cigardoc fans enjoying life at Oktoberfest

  The venue: Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains NY; The event: Oktoberfest; Beer of choice: Sam Adams Oktoberfest (the superior oktoberfest this season, sorry Brooklyn Lager) and Vegetable of choice: awesomely delicious bratwurst.

  The aged Alec Bradley added to the aforementioned experience. The sights, the sounds, the smell, it was truly Oktoberfest ala cigardocs. The smoke was smoother and less ashy towards the end. The draw was consistent (aged or not aged). The plume was rich and the bouquet was complex and aromatic. Aging definitely improved the experience of smoking this cigar. As far as libations, I feel this is definitely a beer cigar. I look forward to aging these Jams for NEXT Oktoberfest. I predict they will be phenomenal.

Overall: 8 out of 10 (3 months aged).

Onyx, Beer and the Jets, oh my! (Greek Mike)

Brand: Onyx
Line: Reserve
Length x Ring Gauge: 6 x 50 Toro
Country of Origin: Binder and Filler: Dominican Republic; Wrapper: Connecticut Broadfleaf Maduro Wrapper
Body: Full
Date: September 30, 2012
Notes:

  Football, beer and cigars help prepare one for the inevitable challenges during the approaching workweek. You can find all three at Sullivan's on Bell Boulevard. Sullivan's is a well known anchor, almost an institution, on Bell. They have open air seating along with a designated smoking section (which is a tad on the drab side, but beggars can't be choosers). The food is typical bar fare, beer is decent but there are tvs aplenty and the atmosphere really sets this place apart from other bars on Bell. If you are nice enough, you are welcome to smoke cigars at the outside bar (instead of the smoking section).
  Watching the Jets lose wasn't as painful when smoking an Onyx Reserve. I had purchased this maduro cigar back in 2006 and has been aging in my humidor since then. The even burn gave way to a rich plume of smoke with a deep, toasty bouquet. The draw was excellent, and the buzz was not too overwhelming. Towards the end of the cigar, the draw was not too hot, and the taste was not ashy. This cigar truly improved with age.
 Straight from the box, an Onyx reserve is a good smoking. Aging this cigar makes it even better (or at least better than an aged CAO maduro, and at a fraction of the price).

Overall: 9.5 out of 10 (mainly due to the aging of the cigar)

Diesel Unlimited D7 Churchill (Greek Mike)

Brand: Diesel
Line: D7
Length x Ring Gauge: 7 x 58 Churchill
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: FULL bodied
Date: September 14, 2012
Notes:

   *CAUTION, NOT FOR THE WEAK* This is by far one of the strongest, most full bodied cigar I have ever smoked. With a dark brown, oily smooth wrapper, a rich aroma and a full body (emphasis on full), this cigar will easily incapacitate you in a nicotine-induced euphoria. I have had this cigar with beer, with red wine, with a scotch.... the cigar held up with all three libations. This cigar is so well constructed that it never gets hot or ashy, even when you are brave enough (or have the constitution) to smoke this monster to the nub.
     In order to diversify the opinion on this blog, I presented the Diesel d7 churchill to a close friend of mine while vacationing in Florida. I believe that he summed it best "If a 1992 Rocky Patel Reserve and a Hoyo De Monterray had a baby and that baby was raised by Chuck Norris, we would have the d7 churchill".
    To capture the sheer force of this cigar, you would have to imagine Mike Ditka fighting a hurricane named Ditka during Armageddon. The cigar is that strong, and that awesome.

Ditka vs Diesel d7

   Overall, the cigar was flawless. Its strength, its taste (some hints of chocolate), the smooth draw, the aroma, the bouquet.... I would have to say that this is the perfect cigar. I have smoked this brand and line on three different occasions. All three were consistently awesome. This cigar is a force to be reckoned with.
Overall: 10 out 10 (perfect cigar)

CAO Maduro, aged (Greek Mike)

Brand: CAO
Line: Maduro
Length x Ring Gauge: 5.5 x 42 Corona
Country of Origin: Fillers: Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Strength: Full bodied
Date: August 25, 2012
Notes:
    Fidel Castro had a great philosophy. You smoke a cigar to commemorate a victory or lessen the impact of a defeat. I decided to smoke a CAO Maduro that I had in my humidor since 2007. I cannot disclose the purpose of my indulgence but, I can say that I enjoyed a smoke with a buddy of mine.
  Drinking a refreshing IPA is quintessential for a cool summer evening, however, the cigar was a little disappointing. There is no doubt in my mind that CAO makes quality cigars (albeit on the pricey side). I often enjoyed CAO cigars (Maduro, Extremes, Golds). I allowed this maduro to age 5 years in my humidor as an experiment to determine the effects of cigar aging on taste. While it works quite well on some cigars, it does not work well for this one.
   The burn was even, but the ash wasn't long. Plume was rich and thick (as characteristic of a maduro), with a leathery note. Draw was smooth. However, the last third of the cigar was extremely hot and ashy to the point of annihilating the taste. While I was expecting an oily, slow burning, cool smoke (i.e. as an Onyx Reserve), I experienced a leathery turd (sorry CAO). While the aged cigar was not that great, it is still better than a Galleon, or a Helix. I would not recommend aging this one.

Overall: 5 out of 10

Like this, only eligible for social security

Getting Diesel with Diesel d.x. (Greek Mike)

Brand: Diesel

Line: d.x

Length x Ring Gauge: 5.75” x 56 belicoso

County of Origin: Honduras (wrapper), Nicaragua (binder and filler)

Strength: Full bodied

Date: August 18, 2012

Notes:

                Sitting on a leather couch, sipping on a Manhattan while the James Bond classic “For your eyes only” plays in the background. A woman in a red cocktail dress leans over to ask if there would be anything else. It is here, at Hudson Bar and Books that you can enjoy the opulence of a cigar in the lower west side, within a stones throw of the famous Belgian beer bar, Vol de Nuit (another one of my favorite haunts).

                The cigar which complemented the Manhattan (followed by a glass of Pinot Nior) was the Diesel d.x.  This cigar offers a very smooth smoke and consistent draw throughout. Even when you smoke this to the nub, it does not get hot or ashy, as a testament to its fine construction. The draw is easy and so smooth that you only notice the taste. The plume is rich and thick, offering an earthy bouquet. The taste, at first subtle, builds intensity over time. Notes of leather and spice become evident. This was truly an enjoyable and versatile smoke. The Manhattan (two parts rye whiskey, one part vermouth and some bitters) did quite well, but a wine pairing (the pinot nior, a light red wine that does not mask any cigar flavor) was more appropriate.

                This particular cigar had been aging for over 14 months in my humidor. Aging definitely improves the quality and taste of this smoke. I would recommend this cigar and age it gracefully for good things truly come to those who wait.

Overall: 9.0 out of 10

Alec Bradley's Jam (Greek Mike)

Brand: Alec Bradley

Line: JAM

Length x Ring Gauge: 6 ½ x 52 Toro

Country of Origin: Nicaragua (filler, binder and wrapper)

Strength: Medium

Date: July 21, 2012

Notes:

            The cigar of the weekend was Alec Bradley’s Jam. I smoked this cigar at Studio Squared in Astoria. Studio Squared is another beer garden that a little more stylish than my beloved bohemian beer garden. The crowd is rather brusque than other places in Astoria, which is why I do not frequent it as much. The second time I tried this cigar was in a club that shall remain nameless (for obvious reasons).

            I tried this cigar with beer on both occasions. In all honesty, I feel a nice, rich red (read: cabernet sauvignon or even a spicy shiraz) would be more adequate. The cigar itself is very well constructed. The burn is even, giving off a rich plume and a nice long ash. The taste seemed rather immature. I didn’t detect any of the notes mentioned in other reviews. It seemed that this cigar should age very well in my humidor and develop a rich, complex taste. While it is a decent cigar right now, it should be phenomenal once it is aged.

Overall: 6 (grade pending on the age of the cigar)

Acid Opulence 3 (Greek Mike)

Take 1 boot and 1 cigar and call me in the morning.

Brand: Acid

Line: Opulence 3

Length x Ring Gauge: 6 x 54 Toro

Country of Origin: Filler and Binder: Nicaragua; Wrapper: Mexico.

Strength: Medium Bodied

Date: July 14, 2012

Notes:

     Plattsdeutche, "The place of Germans", is a beer garden located in Franklin Square, NY. They have an excellent open-air park where you have the freedom to smoke while enjoying beer and bratwurst. Last Friday, I had the pleasure of rediscovering Acid cigars (Complemented by a boot of Paulner Hefeweizen) at the Place of Germans.

    Acid Cigars are made by Drew Estates. They infuse their tobacco with botanical spices. These spices give the cigar a unique and characteristic bouquet (in the past, I have compared it to potpourri). Unfortunately, I have not had a great history with Acid cigars. In 2005, I tried the Acid Nasty. The cigar did live up to its name (its "botanical spice" may have been ass). I was heartbroken, disappointed and completely turned away. In a naive state of mind, I wrote off all Acid cigars until last week. I decided to be a little adventurous and try the Acid Opulence 3 (their rarest line). 

    You experience the Opulence 3 with all your senses. This medium body cigar was well constructed with a great draw and an even burn. It looked great. The plume was rich and thick, with a characteristic bouquet. Smoking the cigar left a sweet taste in your mouth with a buzz that was nice but not overpowering. Drinking the Paulner Hefeweizen did not take away from the cigar at all. I am not implying that it was like peanut butter and jelly, but the combo worked. Neither the beer nor the cigar overpowered one another.
   I would definitely recommend the Opulence 3 cigar on a warm summer evening while drinking your favorite beer. Acid cigar....welcome back!
Overall: 8.5 out of 10