5 Vegas Miami, torpedo 6.1x52. Strong pepper and spice off the light. Mellows into nice spicy flavor through for the remainder. Smooth and packs a punch.  Not for an empty stomach.  All in all a really good smoke.

Paired with margarita followed by mango V8 Fusion and Malibu rum and Brugal rum.

84 degrees, no breeze, but seems cooler.  Nice evening.

Man O' War, toro 6.5x52.  Nutty woody spicy flavor, very nice and smooth.  Finishes sweet and spicy, always woody.  Very very nice cigar.

Paired with 2004 Rosenblum Richard Sauret Zinfandel.

85 degrees on a beautiful evening.

5 Vegas Series 'A', Anomaly petite corona 4.5" x 44.  Quick little lunch smoke.  Full of good maduro flavor, spicy with just a little pepper.  Smooth and full of smoke.  These series 'A' are nice.

Paired with grapefruit soda.

73 degrees nice day at noon.

Joya del Jefe, Presidente 7.0" x 52.  Leather and tobacco taste.  Smooth and mild with good burn. Was expecting the worst, but it isn't terrible. Not too bad for an extremely cheap cigar.

Paired with 2007 Villa Mt. Eden Pinot Noir.

83 degrees on gorgeous afternoon.  Light breeze.

Alec Bradley Tempus, quadrum 5.5x55.  This was an overhumidified cigar from a box that had got soaked through and through.  I have been drying this box for a week or so.  No mold or cracking has appeared, but the cigars are discolored.  This was one of the driest so far, though it was still pretty wet.  Had to relight a few times.  The flavor was OK off and on.  The draw was difficult at times as the cigar was still too wet.  Will have to experiment with the rest of the box to see if they can be saved.

Paired with Kiwi Strawberry soda and 2007 Villa Mt. Eden Pinot Noir.

74 degrees on a cool evening.

La Herencia Cubana, torpedo 6.5" x 52.  Decent meduim robust cigar, tobacco and wood flavor.  Best flavor toward the nub. Overall unremarkable, but decent enough. I wouldn't pay more than a couple bucks for one.

Paired with diet Pepsi.

77 degrees on a cool windy evening.

Cohiba, "Red Dot" Dominican churchill 7x49.  Creamy and cedar wood nutty flavor after a little pepper.  Smooth smoke, with woody nutty flavor throughout.  The pepper subsided quickly but remained in the exhale.  This is a pretty good, if expensive, smoke.

Paired with pineapple juice and Malibu rum, after pineapple meatballs in cilantro and lettuce wrap, and Malibu rum soaked watermelon.

85 degrees with slight breeze, a perfect evening.

Tatiana Mocha, Stabona 5x58. Coffee and chocolate aroma. A great breakfast cigar. Very mild, goes so well with coffee in the morning.  Love this big fat vitola.

Paired with Dominican coffee after fresh strawberries and waffles.

65 degrees on a beautiful morning.

Alec Bradley Select Cabinet Reserve, robusto 5x50.  Very smooth woody toast flavor.  Soft smoke that turns a little nutty but still toasty.  Really nice cigar right down to the nub.

Paired with Imperial lager.

91 degrees with slight breeze.

5 Vegas Series 'A', Anomaly petite corona 4.5" x 44. A little flavor bomb.  Great series 'A' taste in a small package.  Sweet spice and chocolate, lots of smoke. Not too strong, but not too medium. Nice smoke.


Paired with 2007 Villa Mt. Eden Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.


90 degrees on a warm nice evening.

Camacho Triple Maduro, robusto 4.5x50.  Overwhelms with spice and pepper.  Smooth smoke but so very strong.  This one kicked my ass about half way in, got me very lightheaded.  A very very strong cigar, but pretty darn good.  Don't smoke these on an empty stomach!

Paired with ice water.

89 degrees on a perfect afternoon.

Tatiana Mocha, Caramely, 6x50. Favorite breakfast cigar.  Chocolate aroma, mild semi-sweet flavor. Volumes of smoke.  Love 'em.

Paired with Dominican coffee after oatmeal pancakes.

67 degrees on a warm, breezeless morning.

Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, magnum 6x50.  Nutty spice off the light, a little harsh, but quickly settles into a mellow spiciness.  Nice flavor, decent smoke.  Not complex, but solid if not a little boring.  Picked up a little chocolate toward the nub.  Medium strength, kinda mellow for an AJ Fernandex blend. The wrapper split a inch in or so but the burn remained consistent and fine. Good cigar, especially considering the low price.

Paired with ice water.

87 degrees, slight breeze, beautiful.

Padilla Miami, churchill 7x48.  Wonderful nutty flavor, complex cocoa and spice.  Robust but elegant, this is one fine smoke.  Great cigar.

Paired with 2002 Franciscan Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, after a dinner of a friend's homegrown heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and smoked salmon.

81 degrees on a nice evening, slight breeze.

Partagas Black, quatro 5.5x50.  Wow, a really nice cigar.  Rich strong coffee and chocolate off the light, then mellows a bit, then turns into a strong spicy licorice flavor the rest of the way, with the chocolate in the background.  Velvety wrapper, smooth rich smoke.  This is a great cigar that I should have tried earlier.  Fantastic.

Paired with Miller Genuine Draft 64 beer/water.

80 degrees on a calm warm evening.

Don Rafael, toro 6x50.  Non-descript wood and tobacco flavor, medium in body.  Got harsh toward the last third until I had to dispose of it with a few inches left.  Not so good.

Paired with mango juice and rum

88 degrees with light breeze.

Romeo Y Julieta Vintage, Medallas de Oro, Vintage III robusto 5x50.  Very mild, unremarkable smoke.  Smooth and enjoyable, but no complexity.  Average more or less.

Paired with grapefruit soda.

96 degrees on a hot, calm afternoon.

Isla del Sol, Gran Corona 5x44.  Sweet little coffee flavored cigar, pairs very well with coffee for breakfast.  Smooth smoke and nicely made.

Paired with Dominican coffee and coconut pineapple pancakes.

Cold windy foggy morning on the coast.

5 Vegas Series 'A', Apocalypse 6x58.  Wonderful spice and pepper flavor.  Meaty toast, caramel, spices but very smooth and sweet.  This is a great great cigar at this price.

Paired with 1995 Ferreira Vintage Porto, stilton cheese and chocolate.

Clear cool night on the coast, the fog lifted and the stars came out.  Very slight breeze.

Alec Bradley Tempus, quadrum 5.5x55.  Very sweet spicy bold flavor.  Strong, robust, but very balanced and complex.  Velvety smooth smoke with strong chocolate especially on the exhale.  This is one of the best cigars made.

Paired with 2006 Peirano Estate Muscat Canelli Lodi.

Cool and still foggy on a lazy Saturday afternoon at the coast.  No wind or breeze at all.

5 Vegas Gold, No. 1,  7.5x54.  Big but oh so mild and mellow.  Nice tobacco flavor, slight spice, but very smooth, creamy and mild.  Fine after breakfast cigar.

Paired with Dominican coffee and lemon ricotta pancakes.

Chilly morning on the coast.  Still calm and no wind.

Graycliff 1666, Edicion de Aniversario, Presidente 7x48. Smooth, nutty, with some wood and cedar.  Smoky good flavor.  Not a bad cigar, not great.  Smokes well.

Paired with 2008 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir after a 2003 Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zinfandel.

Very foggy cool breezeless evening on the coast.

Gurkha Legend, robusto 5x50.  Pepper, spice and a well balanced smoky woody flavor.  This cigar is smooth but with some bite, well made.  A fantastic cigar.

Paired with Domaine Carneros champagne, after shots of Brugal rum and some Grande Absente Absinthe.

Very cool afternoon, about 3pm, on the coast in the fog.  Calm with no breeze.

Gurkha Sherpa Cafe, torpedo 6.25x52.  Creamy and toasty, somewhat mild to medium.  Considering the price not a bad cigar.

Paired with an appletini or two.

93 degrees on a calm hot evening.

La Gloria Cubana, Churchill Maduro 7.0" x 50. Pepper and spice off the start. Then quickly softens into balanced cedar, dark chocolate and a little spice. Very fine cigar. Really good.

Paired with Amstel Light.

91 degrees on a hot evening without the slightest breeze.

La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte, Robusto 5.5" x 54.  Pepper and spice in a well balanced flavorful cigar. This is really a bold strong gem.

Paired with 2003 Fairview Jakkalsfontein shiraz.  Nice dry South African red, cellared well.

81 degrees on a warm calm evening.

Diesel, torpedo, 5x56.  Bold spicy peppery smoke, great flavor, perfect burn.  Very very nice cigar.

Paied with 2007 Villa Mt. Eden Pinot Noir.

80 degrees on a very cool very windy evening.

Rocky Patel I-Press, toro, 6x52.  Nice maduro flavor, leather and tobacco. Smooth fine smoke.

Paired with appletini.

92 degrees with slight breeze.

Bahia Blu, U700 churchill, 7x50.  Nutty woody flavor, with hints of cedar.  Almost herbal or floral.  Average cigar.

Paired with ice water.

81 degrees on a beautiful warm afternoon.

Isla del Sol, Gran Corona 5x44.  Sweetened tip and mild coffee and chocolate flavors make this a pretty decent breakfast cigar.

Paired with Dominican coffee after pineapple coconut pancakes.

68 degrees, but warming up fast.

Man O' War Ruination, robusto No. 2, 6x60.  A big fat flavorful wonderfully spicey and full bodied cigar.  Never overwhelming, sort of a mama bear of the bold robust cigars.  Perfectly made, smooth but strong smoke.

Paired with margaritas after a dinner of tilapia and black beans and rice, a throwback to our Costa Rica trip a few years ago.

95 degrees on a warm, calm evening.

Tatiana Mocha, Caramely, 6x50.  Super mild breakfast cigar, pre-light aroma is incredible,  Upon lighting, the flavor is mild and nothing like the fudgy brownie aroma was, which can be disappointing.  But for a mild slightly non-sweet chocolatey and coffee flavored cigar it can't be beat.  If you don't want a sweet flavored cigar, this is like a "cardboard brownie".  Most cigar purists hate them.  I love 'em.

Paired with Dominican coffee.

62 degrees on a rapidly warming morning.

5 Vegas Gold, No. 1, 7.5x54. Mild smooth creamy smoke. Flavor of light tobacco, cinnamon and leather.  Nice mild cigar.

Paired with Dominican coffee after strawberry ricotta pancakes.

63 degrees on warm morning.

Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Prensado, 6.1 x 48.  Velvety smooth oily dark maduro wrapper and velvety smooth smoke.  Not a lot of flavor to start, but oh so creamy smoky tobacco.  Very well made box pressed stogie.  As it burns down, a little spice on the exhale.  All in all mellow and nice.

Paired with ice water.

83 degrees on a warm sunny afternoon.

Perdomo Reserve Ltd. Oscuro, 'C' churchill 7 x 50.  Nicely balanced, slight spice to start, very mellow spice throughout.  Hints of chocolate and some sweetness.  Nice cigar.

Paired with Pyrat XO Reserve Rum.  Extraordinarily sweet.

79 degrees on a blustery evening.

La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte, Robusto 5.5" x 54.  Nice dark PA broadleaf wrapper, dark chocolate and strong spice with a little pepper thrown in.  This is a great cigar, especially considering the price.

Paired with Hall 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.

87 degrees on a beautiful warm evening.

Tierra del Sol, torpdedo 6.1x54.  Smooth and toasty.  Quite mellow and mild making for a nice morning smoke.  This is a blend from Perdomo, the quality is great for an inexpensive cigar.

Paired with Dominican coffee after golden malt waffles.

65 degrees on a warm morning.

Man O' War, robusto 5.5x50.  Strong pepper for the first few puffs, then quickly mellows into a satisfying, full bodied flavorfest.  Spicy and robust.  Great cigar.

Paired with 2001 Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel.  This was hiding in my cellar and is a little long in the tooth, but still barely drinkable.

95 degrees on a very warm calm 4th of July evening.

5 Vegas Gold, toro 6x50.  Smooth, mild but flavorful smoke.  Tobacco flavor delivered in an extremely creamy and smooth smoke.  Nice morning smoke.

Paired with Dominican coffee.

81 degrees on a warm breezy morning.