Alec Bradley Tempus, quadrum 5.5x55.  Velvety smooth pepper and spice that quickly settles into spicy full bodied goodness.  Volumes of smooth velvety smoke to the nub. Absolutely wonderful cigar.

Paired with Pyrat rum.

71 degrees with a light breeze.

Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet Seconds, fundadore 7x40.  A little peppery and harsh to start.  Spicy and harsh pepper through a quick burn.  Not great.

Paired with ice water.

68 breezy degrees.

Man O' War, Robusto, 5.5x50.  Peppery with complex sweet nutty flavor.  Excellent cigar.

Paired with The Macallan 12 year single malt.

63 degrees after an afternoon rainshower.

Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Maduro, mini belicoso 5.5x52. Smooth earth, wood and sweet chocolate tobacco flavors with a long perfect burn.  No bitterness at all...a very very nice cigar.

Paired with Pyrat rum.

66 degrees and warm.

Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Champagne, robusto 5x54.  Pepper and spice prelight, but very mellow after lighting.  Smooth creamy tobacco and nut flavors.  Very velvety and smooth to the finger burnin' nub.  This is an excellent cigar.

Paired with 2007 Berryessa Gap Tempranillo.  I am beginning to really enjoy the Tempranillo varietal.

67 degrees on a warm evening.

Cohiba, "Red Dot" Dominican churchill 7x49. Pepper to start then quickly settles into musty cedar and wood taste.Complex but not strong or very bold.  Much better cigars are available for the price, though it was't bad.

Paired with smoked oysters and Golden Cadillacs.

75 warm breezeless degrees, then the wind came up.

Tatiana Mocha, caramely 6x50.  Strong chocolate aroma makes for a great breakfast smoke.  I smoke a lot of them.

Paired with 100% Kauai Coffee and blueberry pancakes.

Very windy 61 degrees after breakfast.

La Gloria Cubana, Churchill Maduro 7.0" x 50.  Strong pepper prelight, with pepper and spice off the start.  Mellows into balanced cedar and a little spice. Very fine cigar.  Very fine.


Paired with Gloria Ferrer 2000 Royal Cuvee champagne after a sushi dinner (rainbow roll and fesh crab roll).


55 chilly degrees between cold May rains.

Nica Libre, Exclusivo 5.5" x 50.  Smooth balanced medium body.  Velvety cocoa and nutty flavor with a little spice.  Nice cigar.

Paired with Kauai Coffee.

63 degrees on warm sunny morning.

TTT Trinidad, robusto 5x50.  Nice cherry and fruit spice, with hints of chocolate.  Excellent balance through the middle, a little vanilla and cocoa at the nub.  Very fine cigar.

Paired with 2004 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino, a most excellent wine.

67 degrees in sporadic sunshine.

Gurkha Legend, robusto 5x50. Meaty and woody. Chocolately prelight and off the light, then bold fruity spice.  I smoke a lot of these fantastic cigars.

Paired with The Macallan 12 year single malt.

68 degrees with a slight breeze tonight.

5 Vegas Gold, Double Nickel 5.5" x 55.  Smooth and very mellow mild cigar.  Excellent value.

Paired with Dominican coffee.

64 degrees out on a warm morning.

La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte, Belicoso, 5x56.  Always consistent burn and smoke.  Slight pepper and well balanced spice.  Fantastic cigar.

Paired with ice water.

80 degrees on warm evening.

Isla del Sol, toro 6x52.  Coffee and chocolate flavors.  A nice mild after breakfast smoke.


Paired with Dominican coffee.

71 degrees on warm morning.

Brazilian Label from Cigar.com,  Churchill 7.5 x 50.  Good maduro, with strong flavor but not overwhelming.  Coffee and spice throughout an enjoyable cigar.

Paired with Rosenblum 2007 Contra Costa County Zinfandel.

Tatiana Mocha, caramely 6x50.  My goto after breakfast cigar.  Chocolate aroma and mild taste.

Paired with Dominican Coffee.

62 degrees in the sunshine.

Casillas Hand rolled, Casillas Cigars, Sacramento, CA.  Got this as a gift, has medium body and good cedar and woody/nutty flavors.  Smooth and tasty.

Paired with bloody mary.

57 degrees after a day of off and on rain.

Alec Bradley Tempus, quadrum 5.5x55.  Pepper and spice that quickly settles into spicy full bodied goodness.  Never harsh.  This is the best cigar out there for the money, and I smoke a lot of them.

Paired with ice water.

66 degrees on a beautiful afternoon

Isla del Sol, Gran Corona 5x44.  Nice smooth sweet coffee flavor.  Good morning smoke.

Paired with Dominican Coffee.

60 degrees on a warm morning.

Graycliff 1666, Pirate torpedo 6x52.  Nice balanced spice, not overwhelming.  Good maduro flavor.

Paired with ice water,

Warm night in Placerville.

Man O' War Ruination, robusto No. 2 6x60.  Nice spicy start, then balanced spice throughout.  Great cigar.

Paired with ice water.

Warm evening in Placerville.

Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet, churchill 7x48. Nice smooth nutty flavor. Excellent cigar for the price.

Paired with Rosenblum 2003 Rockpile Roads Vineyard Zinfandel.

Warm afternoon in Placerville.

Oliva Series O, toro 6x50. Wood and nutty flavor, very medium in strength.  Smooth smoke.  A fine cigar.

Paired with Rosenblum 2003 Rockpile Roads Zinfandel.

Warm evening in Placerville.

La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte, Belicoso, 5x56.  One of my daily smokes, and one of the best.  Flavorful balanced spice, a little pepper, and a perfect construction and burn.  The wrapper is oily and wonderful.

Paired with Dows 20 year Tawny Port.

Warm afternoon in Placerville.

Rocky Patel Decade, Toro, 6.5x52.  Velvety smooth well made cigar.  Very nice chocolate and wood.  Spice kicks in at the end.

Paired with Dows 20 year tawny port.

BBQ in Placerville on a beautiful afternoon.

Tatiana Mocha, caramely 6x50. I've done many reviews on these...nice chocolate aroma.

Paired with Kauai Coffee and blueberry pancakes.

61 degrees in the sunshine.

Camacho 1962, torpedo 6x54.  Velvety smooth smoke off the light, cedar and earth woody flavor with just a bit of pepper in the background.  Smooth throughout, cedar wood flavor in the middle.  Then the slight pepper comes back at the end with a little cocoa.  Very interesting and fine smoke.

Paired with gin bloody mary.

76 degrees on a warm evening.

Alec Bradley Tempus, quadrum 5.5x55.  Pepper and spice off the light, then settles into spicy full bodied goodness.  This has become my favorite cigar.

Paired with ice water..

72 degrees as the sun sets.

Famous Nicaraguan Corojo, torpedo 6x52.  Spice and pepper to start.  Cedar and wood after the light.  Smoked this one a little dry and the wrapper blew up about one third in. Not bad for a generic.

Smoked while mowing with an Amstel Light lager..

73 degrees but seems warmer.

Cu-Avana Intenso, torpedo 6x54.  Bold strong pepper and spice from the start.  Nutty and robust strong flavor through the middle.  Slight canoeing required some touch-up. Wood and spice stay strong to the nub.  A very nice cigar.

Paired with Amstel Light lager.

80 degrees on a warm evening with only a slight breeze.

Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Maduro, Selectos 5x50.  Overwhelming pepper prelight and for the first half inch, quickly settling into a robust spice and pepper smoke.  Sweetness creeps into a flavorful leathery finish.  This is one fine cigar.

Paired with Amstel Light lager.

82 degrees on a warm evening, with a very light breeze.

La Herencia Cubana, torpedo 6.5x52.  Creamy tobacco and hay flavor.  The wrapper blew apart and draw was hard.  Not a great smoke.

Paired with ice water.

81 degrees and very sunny, slight breeze.

5 Vegas Series 'A', archetype 6x50.  Fantastic cigar.  Oily, chocolatey spicey flavor from the start, robust but not at all overwhelming.  Smooth and sweet burn to the nub.  This one of the best cigars at this price point.

Paired with a gin bloody mary.

78 degrees, breezy afternoon.

Perdomo Tierra del Sol, torpedo 6,1x54.  Smooth mild after breakfast smoke.  Slight chocolate and cedar flavor.  Not a bad cigar.  Slightly above average.

Paired with Kauai coffee.

71 degrees on a windy morning.

Duque, Torpedo 6x52.  Mild, slightly harsh average cigar.  Nothing special.

After a crazy great dinner of cioppino and 2008 Kosta Browne Sonoma County Pinot Noir followed by a  2001 ColdiSole Brunello di Montalcino.  My first Brunello and it was fantastic.

Warm evening beginning in Petaluma.

Tatiana Mocha, caramely 6x50.  Favorite chocolate aroma after breakfast smoke.  Love 'em.

Paired with 100% Kauai Coffee and Coconut Pineapple pancakes.

Very warm 71 degrees after breakfast.

Gran Habano 3 Siglos, Torpedo, 6.1 x 56.  Medium flavor full body smoke.  Tight draw.  Slight spice with coffee flavors behind it.  Nice above average cigar.

Paired with ice water.

73 degrees in the early evening.

Man O' War Ruination, Robusto No. 2, 6 x 60.  Full of flavor from the start.  Never overwhelming, but strong spice and some pepper.  Solid through to the nutty sweet nub.  Very good cigar.

Paired with A&W root beer.

69 degrees on a sunny afternoon, slight breeze.