Cain Maduro, robusto 5.7x50.  Spice and pepper off the light, then spice throughout in a flavorful nice burning manner.  A really good cigar.

Paired with 2008 Ca' del Solo Muscat.  A slightly off dry Muscat (not sweet) that has a lot of mineral and citrus flavors.

87 degrees on a warm late evening.

Padilla Habano, torpedo 6x52.  Slight spice and pepper off the light, with a little chocolate mixed in.  Nice spicy flavor perfectly complimented by the Islay scotch.  Well made cigar, long ash and very pleasing taste.  Very nice.

Paired with Ardbeg Uigeadail.

78 degrees, cool with a light breeze.

601 Green Habano Oscuro, tronco robusto 5x52.  Pepper and spice off the light, cedar and other wood comes in as it smooths out.  The pepper remains as the spice varies, but never is it overwhelming.  Very nice smoke.

Paired with a margarita.

75 degrees on a warm breezeless evening.

Tatiana Mocha Eden, 5x46.  Mild chocolate infused cigar, very mild taste, although a lot of smoke.  Good enough for the second breakfast smoke of the day.

Paired with Dominican coffee.

63 degrees on a warming morning.

5 Vegas Gold, No. 1, 7.5x54.  Mild tasty smoke, notes of cinnamon, wood, and cedar, but very light notes.  A good cigar when you don't want something that punches you in the stomach, light enough for breakfast.

Paired with Dominican coffee after Lingonberry buckwheat pancakes.

58 degrees on a chilly morning.

Oliva Serie 'V', torpedo 6x56.  Strong bold cigar, spicy and full of pepper.  This is one you can't smoke on an empty stomach.  Volumes of smoke and the spice and pepper vary throughout this very complex smoke. You feel this deep in your stomach.  One of the best super strong cigars I've had.

Paired with strawberry margarita.

78 degrees on a blustery afternoon.

Tatiana Mocha, Stabona, 5x58.  Fat oily chocolate infused cigar, the flavor is quite mile despite the strong fudge chocolate aroma.  My favorite breakfast cigar.

Paired with Dominican coffee.

59 degrees on a chilly summer morning.

Gurkha Legend, robusto 5x50.  Good pepper, spice and a smoky woody flavor. This cigar is smooth but with some bite, it has a deep smoky satisfying flavor.  Very very nice cigar.

Paired with lemonade and Sailor Jerry spiced rum.

74 degrees on a cool windy evening.

TTT Trinidad, robusto 5x50.  Fruity spice throughout, hints of chocolate.  The spice is not peppery but very pleasant.  Nice tobacco notes.  A pretty good cigar.

Paired with  Ron Zacapa Centenario Reserva 23 Años rum.

88 degrees on a cooling breezy evening.

Rocky Patel Decade, toro 6.5x52. Chocolate and sweet spice off the light, turning very velvety smooth and creamy, with sweet spice throughout.  Produces an incredible amount of smoke.  This is a fantastic cigar.

Paired with 2006 Yalumba Shiraz Viognier.

103 degrees on a hot hot evening.

5 Vegas Series 'A', Anomaly petite corona 4.5" x 44.  Spicy little cigar, full of flavor.  Some pepper and coffee/chocolate notes.  Produces a lot of smoke in a small package.

Paired with 2006 Yalumba Shiraz Viognier.

98 degrees on a hot evening.

Padilla Obsidian, belicoso 6x54.  It sure looked good, dark with nice hay smell and some chocolate.  On the light it had some coffee and a little spice, but no where near the flavor it's dark wrapper would suggest.  The overall flavors remained calm, but enjoyable.

Paired with 2007 Lirica Plavac Mali, a Croation offspring of the original Zinfandel grape.

86 degrees on a nice evening.

Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, churchill 7x47. Nutty spice off the light, mild enough for a nice after breakfast treat.  But enough body to enjoy.  These are pretty decently flavored inexpensive cigars that are worth it.

Paired with Dominican coffee after oatmeal pancakes.

62 degrees on a warming up morning.

5 Vegas Limitada 2008, belicoso 6.2x52.  Hay and barnyard smell, with some chocolate prelight. Starts off with a little pepper and quickly settles into a sweet spicy complex of flavors, including hay and some wood.  A nice medium bodied cigar with good flavor throughout.

Paired with 2006 Breggo Farrington Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2006 Breggo Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir.

Very warm evening in Sacramento.

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos, Double Robusto, 5.75x52.  Woody and sweet, nicely complex flavor.  Smooth with some earth, but mostly notes of wood.  Very decent.

Paired with 2007 Villa Mt. Eden Pinot Noir and 2008 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir.

Warm afternoon in Stockton.

Partagas Black, Cabinet De Cincuenta 747, 7.0" x 47.  Oily dark chocolate with strong pepper and spice, smooths out into a spicy goodness a little way in.  Very nice smoke.

Paired with 2007 Villa Mt. Eden Pinot Noir.

Warm afternoon in Stockton.

Isla del Sol, Gran Corona 5x44. Sweet coffee flavored cigar, very, very mild.  Makes for a great breakfast cigar.

Paired with Dominican Coffee.

62 degrees on a cool morning.

Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, Magnum 6.0" x 50.  Nutty taste, with some chocolate a few inches in.  Flavor varies throughout, with some nut and wood mixing with slight deep chocolate.  A pretty good cigar.

Paired with 2006 Yalumba Shiraz Viognier.

78 degrees on a warm afternoon.

Tatiana Mocha, Caramely, 6x50. Mild after breakfast cigar, the pre-light aroma is an incredibly strong brownie smell. After the light it tastes very plain, slight chocolate, very smooth and voluminous smoke.  An easy cigar without complex flavor.

Paired with Dominican coffee.

62 degrees on an early warming morning.

5 Vegas Triple-A (AAA), 5x56.  Very strong pepper and spice off the light. Mellows into a spicy chocolately nutty toasty flavor, including some espresso or coffee. Wonderfully complex tasty cigar.  A great one.

Paired with 2009 Pacific Rim Sweet Reisling.

89 degrees and hot in the evening.

5 Vegas Classic, double corona 6x48. Very mild but full of creamy flavor.  Some grassy herbal notes.  Mostly tobacco and very subtle spice.  Nice cigar considering the price.

Paired with V8 Mango Splash and Malibu rum.

81 degrees on a cool evening.

Leon Jimenes, Robusto 5.5" x 50.  A bit harsh, not a lot of complex flavors, just OK.  Earthy and a little sweet, nothing special.

Paired with a margarita.


87 degrees, warm and a bit windy.

Perdomo ESV '91,  Regente 5.0" x 54. Nice cigar, leather and earth in a smooth blend, some spice.  A finger burner, flavorful to the nub...where the flavor got very deep, rich, and smooth.

Paired with 2004 Bonny Doon Viognier Doux,  a sweet crisp nice vino.

82 degrees on a warm night.

Man O' War Ruination, Robusto No. 2, 6.0" x 60. Spice and wood, oaky toasty flavors throughout.  Not a lot of pepper, but maintains a nice spicy oak.  Big fat well made cigars that burns perfectly.

Paired with various ParaVi wines, including the delicious 2005 Primus Merlot.

83 degrees in Camino, CA. 

Partagas Black, Cabinet De Cincuenta 747,  7.0" x 47.  Very oily dark goodness, chocolate and spice flavor throughout.  Smooth smoke, perfect burn.  A very nice cigar.

Paired with Ron Zacapa Centenario Reserva 23 Años.  This is the smoothest, best tasting rum I have ever had.

83 degrees on a nice afternoon.

Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, Magnum 6.0" x 50.  Started off a little harsh, but quickly mellowed into a nice chocolately nutty taste.  Smoothed out and smoked well to the nub.  Nice for an inexpensive cigar.

Paired with Dominican coffee, after strawberry pancakes.

68 degrees on a warm early morning.

La Gloria Cubana, Churchill Maduro 7.0" x 50. Oily dark bitter chocolate taste and aroma, pepper and spice overtake through the nub. Really nice smoke.

Paired with margarita.

83 degrees, slight breeze on a nice evening.

Montecristo Classic, robusto 6x50.  Mediocre flavor off the light, grassy and tobacco notes through nub.  Nothing special, just OK.

Paired with 2007 Peirano Estate Six-Clones Merlot.

86 degrees on a warm, breezeless evening.

Diesel, torpedo, 5x56.  Pepper and spice, subsides slightly as the cigar smokes down.  Great flavor throughout, perfect burn. Very very nice cigar.

Paired with appletini.

75 degrees on a nice evening.

Fonseca, 5-50, 5.0" x 50.  Nice medium body, flavorful robusto.  Creamy nutty taste, nothing extraordinary.  Just a good slightly above average cigar.


Paired with ice water.


73 degrees on a windy evening.

Cohiba, "Red Dot" Dominican churchill 7x49. Creamy and cedar wood nutty flavor.  A little pepper off the light but quickly mellowed into a nice smooth flavorful smoke, slight spice.  These are nice cigars.

Paired with 2007 C.G. Di Arie Sierra Foothills Zinfandel followed by 2004 Bonny Doon Viognier Doux.

73 degrees on a cool windy evening.

5 Vegas Series 'A', Anomaly petite corona 4.5" x 44.  Flavorful little smoke, nice quickie if you like the 5 Vegas Series 'A' line.  Maduro wrapped, spicy and a little pepper with volumes of smoke.

Paired with diet Pepsi and guacamole.

75 degrees, a breeze but still warm.

Tatiana Mocha, Caramely, 6x50.  Chocolate aroma, mild subtle chocolate and smooth tobacco taste.  Smoke this for the smell.  It goes great with coffee.

Paired with Dominican coffee after cibatta bread french toast with fresh strawberries, peaches, and blueberries.

65 degrees on a warming summer morning.

Gurkha Legend, Aniversario Perfecto, 6x60.  Well made fat oily cigar.  Strong spice, a little pepper, that mellows into a hearty robust very concentrated nut flavor.  Almost meaty.  These are nice cigars.  Don't pay attention to the MSRP for these, they can be had for a decent price.

Paired with Kirin beer.

81 degrees on a nice evening.

5 Vegas Gold, No. 1, 7.5x54.  Mild cigar with smooth cinnamon and tobacco flavor.  Very subtle, good tasting mild smoke.

Paired with Dominican coffee

68 degrees on a warm morning.

La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte, Robusto 5.5" x 54.  Well balanced spice and strong pepper.  This is a Pennsylvania broadleaf wrapper flavor bomb.  For the price, a great cigar.

Paired with a margarita.

83 degrees, slight breeze and kinda cool.

Perdomo 2 Limited Edition, Epicure 5.5" x 54.  Box pressed, smooth with slight sweet spice throughout.  Nice cigar.


Paired with 2008 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir.


81 degrees on a nice evening.

Alec Bradley Tempus, Quadrum 5.5x55.  Very smooth, full of smoke.  Wonderfully balanced spicy flavor, with other subtle flavors coming through.  I smoke a lot of these, and get banana, licorice, cherry, and other flavors periodically.  Just a totally flavorful cigar.  A great one.

Paired with 1995 Ferreira Port.

91 degrees on a warm evening.

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos, Double Robusto, 5.75x52.  Sweet tobacco flavor, smooth and woody.  Extremely complex, with all sorts of flavors coming through, mostly wood, cherry, some cinnamon, and very light sweet spice.  This is a wonderful cigar. The burn was perfect, the ash stayed on to the band.  Expensive, but what a nice smoke.

Paired with Heineken Light beer.

89 degrees on a warm evening, slight breeze.

La Aurora Cameroon, Preferido, Robusto, 5 x 50.  A little harsh and bitter off the light.  The bitter tastes goes away quickly to a more creamy hay or grassy flavor.  After a little more scotch, the flavor became somewhat nutty and pretty nice.  I have mixed feelings about this one.  Not a huge fan, but I appreciate the complexity.

Paired with The Macallan 12 year.

87 degrees on a hot evening.

Alec Bradley  Harvest '97, robusto 5x50.  Nice smooth flavorful cigar.  Toast and a little spice.  Decent medium body.

Paired with 2007 Renwood Orange Muscat Amador County.

80 degrees on a warm nice night.

La Gloria Cubana,, Churchill Maduro 7.0" x 50.  Dark bitter chocolate taste, oily with a little pepper and spice.  Medium spicy flavor down to the nub.  Fine cigar, a little expensive, but very nice.

Paired with Kirkland Sonoma Brut Sparkling Wine.

84 degrees, no breeze, warm lovely afternoon.

Isla del Sol, Gran Corona 5x44. Sweet with coffee flavor cigar, very mild.  A nice breakfast cigar.

Paired with Dominican coffee after lemon ricotta pancakes.

65 degrees on a cool morning.

Cain Maduro, robusto 5.7x50.  Lot's of spice and deep oily chocolate and tobacco flavor.  Strong spice flavor and smooth to the nub.  A very nice cigar from Oliva.

Paired with V8 Fusion Mango and Malibu rum

81 degrees on a perfect afternoon.

Tierra Del Sol, box pressed Torpedo, 6.1x54. Smooth chocolate and coffee flavors in a mild decent morning smoke. Nice for inexpensive Perdomo.

Paired with Dominican coffee.

63 degrees on a warm morning.