Arganese -- CL3 - Torpedo

Eh.

OCCASION: Weekend morning with coffee	PRICE: $3.50
BRAND: Arganese - CL3

GAUGE: 52	LENGTH: 6 - 7/8"
SHAPE NAME: Torpedo

FILLER: Corojo ligero
BINDER: Corojo ligero	WRAPPER: Corojo ligero

APPEARANCE: A nice oily sheen with a consistent medium brown wrapper. Minor veins for the most part. A few ripply veins similar to an old person's ankles...gross, I know. I could see two longitudinal lines or creases in the cigar body from the cigar mold. Wrapper torn under band due to the glue. I've seen this on a few other Arganese cigars so it must be a manufacturing issue.

CONSTRUCTION: Loose at the foot and firm at the head. Noticable spongy spots along body. Cap wrapping well constructed on this torpedo.

DRAW:
START: Average	1/2: Average	3/4: Average

BURN:
START: Even	1/2: Uneven	3/4: Uneven

TASTING NOTES: Initial light spicy flavor with some leathery notes. Very earthy and woody, almost oaky. Picked up on some straw hints as well.

OTHER NOTES: The burn was uneven for most of the cigar and this really drove me crazy as I tried to right the wrong. The ash was loose and didn't hold very long.

EVALUATION: Inexpensive cigar but not a real taste pleaser. The cigar is average at best but for an everyday budget cigar I suppose it would fit the bill. I personally wouldn't smoke it again. StogieGuys.com have a pretty good review giving the cigar average and good ratings.

CAO -- America - Monument

CAO America isn't as bold and full bodied as its namesake.

OCCASION: Weekend	PRICE: $8.64
BRAND: CAO America

GAUGE: 54	LENGTH: 6 - 1/4"
SHAPE NAME: Monument

FILLER: Nicaragua,Dominican Republic/Italy/USA
BINDER: Brazil	WRAPPER: Connecticut (double)

APPEARANCE: A patriotic band and edge collar nicely complements the lighter shade grown Connecticut pinstripe that runs around the length of the cigar. The wrapper leaves were a deep, dark and rich chocolaty brown. Some of the wrapper leaves had broken off near where the the band was attached but otherwise the wrappers were flawless.

CONSTRUCTION: The cigar was firm for the entire length and the cap was nicely wrapped with no lumps or bunches.

DRAW:
START: great	1/2: great	3/4: great

BURN:
START: even	1/2: even	3/4: even

TASTING NOTES: There was a bit of a peppery taste at the beginning that quickly evolved itho a woody taste. Minor hints of leather and roasted nuts went well with my Sumatra Blend coffee. The cigar was a smooth experience with no harsh tarry aftertaste. The taste was consistent for the entire cigar.

OTHER NOTES: The aroma was pleasant and produced a good amount of smoke. The draw was great throughout, even to the nub and the burn remained even. Picked this one up at Shades of Havana. The tobacconist there was extremely knowledgeable and helpful and supplies great and unpretentious boutique cigars.

EVALUATION: I was really hoping this would be a great cigar. One that could become my go to cigar and I could feel comfortable handing out to folks for special occasions. Unfortunately, for the price, this cigar fell short. I now know why a local tobacconist only carries them around this time of the year.

Perdomo -- Nick's Sticks - Toro

Search for the best budget cigar starts here! First up, the all new Nick's Sticks Little Havana Blend from Perdomo.

OCCASION: Building a work bench for the garage	PRICE: $4
BRAND: Nick's Sticks Little Havana Blend - Sun Grown (from Perdomo)

GAUGE: 54	LENGTH: 5-1/2"
SHAPE NAME: Toro

FILLER: Cuban Seed Nicaraguan
BINDER: Cuban See Nicaraguan	WRAPPER: Sun Grown

APPEARANCE: There were a couple of small blemishes in the wrapper. The wrapper was tawny colored, with minor veins.

CONSTRUCTION: The cigar was well made, and had no hard or soft spots.

DRAW:
START: Good	1/2: Good	3/4: Good

BURN:
START: Even	1/2: Even	3/4: Even

TASTING NOTES: The spicy sun grown wrapper really shined in the stick, and especially at this price. Lots of woody cedar, earthy flavors with the sun grown wrapper providing a bright, spicy backdrop. Even with the spice of the sun grown wrapper, this remained a medium bodied cigar that even new puffers would find easy to smoke.

OTHER NOTES: Nick's Sticks Little Havana Blend cigars are also available in a Maduro or Connecticut wrapper.

EVALUATION: Overall, for the price point, I thought this was a wonderful, very flavorful cigar. This puro had lots of good flavors, a spicy character, was well constructed, and burned even throughout the smoke. This little sun grown stick is going to be hard to beat!

EO Cigars -- Murcielago - Robusto

This bat produced a home run.

OCCASION: Lazy day	PRICE: $6
BRAND: EO Cigars - Murcielago

GAUGE: 52	LENGTH: 5 - 1/4 "
SHAPE NAME: Robusto

FILLER: Nicaraguan
BINDER: Mexican	WRAPPER: Mexican maduro

APPEARANCE: Dark, rich brown sheen. Bumpy with minor veins.

CONSTRUCTION: Great construction. No bunches, no wrinkles, flawless triple cap and box pressed. Firm to the touch with some give.

DRAW:
START: great	1/2: great	3/4: great

BURN:
START: good	1/2: good	3/4: good

TASTING NOTES: Peppery and hint of sweetness at the start. Smooth with a bite of pepper after-taste. Midway through I began to experience the initial sweetness fade to a toasty, then woody taste finally finishing off with a black pepper taste in throat. There was no long after-taste and no thick tar buildup in my mouth.

OTHER NOTES: Earthy and old leather scent before lighting. The draw was cool throughout and produced a decent amount of smoke.

EVALUATION: All in all I thought this was a very pleasurable medium bodied cigar. I have experienced others that were not as pricy that were just as good but I had to try the Mexican binder and wrapper grown in volcanic soil. Who wouldn't want to try that? For all the fuss out there about how horrible Mexican cigar tobacco is should try the Murcielago.