halfwheel

Review: Oliva Serie G Maduro Belicoso Round

In July 2012, we broke news of a new event-only sampler that would be coming from Oliva that would feature five never before released cigars, four of which come from existing lines and one of which would be a concept blend. The event-only sampler has become a staple in Oliva’s marketing plans, primarily in their STUDIO [...]

Review: Davidoff Puro d’Oro Gordito (Prerelease)

Earlier this month, Davidoff announced it was nearing the eighth release of its Puro d’Oro line, the Gordito. The cigar begins shipping to retailers this week, meaning the 3 3/4 x 58 vitola will begin arriving in stores just before March.  Davidoff’s press release covered the basic details: Davidoff “Puro d’Oro” Gorditos: a new addition [...]

Redux: Partagás Serie D No.4 Reserva

In 2003, Habanos S.A. released the first in a series of Reserva releases, using tobacco aged at least three years, the Cohiba Reserva Selección. Two years later, in 2005, the second cigar in the series was released, the Partagás Serie D No.4 Reserva. Only 5,000 boxes of cigars were made featuring the normal Serie D No.4 band and [...]

Review: San Cristóbal Oficios (2009)

First released in 1999, the San Cristóbal line is the newest Cuban line. When it was first introduced, the brand had only four different vitolas. Each of the original cigars were named after different forts that protected Havana in colonial times. Three more sizes were added to the line in 2004 when Habanos S.A. released the San [...]

Redux: Viaje Exclusivo Corona Gorda

Of all of the blends and releases that Viaje has produced, the Exclusivo line is not only one of the most liked, but is also one of the populous. Although supposedly made for the personal consumption of Viaje owner Andre Farkas, there are now more than ten releases in the line, with more confirmed to [...]

Review: Tatuaje Mission Pipe Shop CQ1 Belicoso

Today our review will focus on another one of Pete Johnson’s single store Exclusive Series releases called the Mission Pipe Shop CQ1, which was made for Mission Pipe Shop in San Jose, Calif. Back in November of 2012 we had the story about its official unveiling although some details had been floating around the Saints [...]

Review: Oliva Master Blends 3 Corona Gorda

In 2003, Oliva released the first in the Master Blends line, followed by the Master Blends 2 in 2005 and the Master Blends 3 in 2006. Intended to be the flagship line of the brand, the length of updates since the introduction of Master Blends 3 has meant it has fallen slightly out of notoriety [...]

Review: Padrón W. Curtis Draper 125th Anniversary Maduro

It took nearly one year from announcement to arrival, but in mid-January, W. Curtis Draper in Washington, DC finally took receipt of the final cigars for its 125th Anniversary Series, courtesy of Padrón. Its arrival follows the 2012 appearances of the Cabaiguan WCD 120 REDUX, a small batch of the original La Aurora 100 Años and the Arturo Fuente W. Curtis Draper [...]

Redux: Hoyo de Monterrey Short Hoyo Pirámides (EL 2011)

Habanos S.A.’s Edición Limitada program has been well documented since launching in 2000, evolving into its current format of a trio of cigars launched annually that uses tobacco aged for two years to create a limited production of cigars that often come at a sizable markup from the marca’s regular production cigars. As has become standard, 2011 [...]

Review: Sancho Panza Escuderos (ER Germany 2011)

Despite being one of Habanos S.A.’s oldest brands, established in 1848, Sancho Panza has one of the smallest portfolios of any of the Habanos lines. In 2010, when Habanos S.A. released the Sancho Panza Quijote for Altadis S.A., the Spanish distributor of Cuban cigars, it was the first Sancho Panza Edición Regional and quite possibly [...]