MikesStogies.com

Wrapper:  1999 Cuban Seed, 2007 Crop, Corojo

Binder #1: 1999 Cuban Seed, 2007 Crop, Corojo

Binder #2: 1998 Cuban Seed, 2006 Crop, Criollo

Filler: 1999 Cuban Seed, 2007 Crop, Medio Tiempo, Viso, and Ligero

Size: Exquisito 52 x 6.25

Pre Light

This cigar has an oily wrapper with a rich brown color.  It has a double binder and a triple cap.  The foot band kept the tobacco safe and undamaged.  I used a punch cut on this one which opened up a perfect draw.  I pick up hints of cocoa and light spice on the cold.

1^st Third

After lighting up I initially get the light spice I was getting on the cold draw.  The spice is met with cocoa and a creamy coffee flavor with lots of heavy smoke coming off of every draw.  The cigar is burning cool and even with a great draw.

2^nd Third

I am still picking up the cocoa and coffee but the spice has kind of disappeared.  The draw and burn continues to be perfect.  I was so into the cigar I almost burned right through the 2^nd band.

Final Third

Here in the final third I start to pick up a nut and wood flavor with the coffee and cocoa still hanging around but fading into the background.  Even down to the end the burn was razor sharp.

Overall

I really enjoyed this cigar.  I wish I would’ve smoked this before last week because it definitely would’ve been in my top 10 of the year post I had.  The flavors were rich and complex, the construction was perfect and the double binder totally changed the cigar.

Keep em burnin’

Griff

So as many of you viewers know pretty much every site has come out with their Top Cigars of 2012 and I am no different except my list is a Top Five and may or may not have a surprise or two in there. So let’s see what I thought were my Top 5 cigars I smoked in 2012.

Coming in at NUMBER 5.

The L’ Atelier Lot 54 by Pete Johnson is in my opinion the sleeper cigar of the year and by that I mean I really didn’t hear much chatter in the early stages of this cigar when it came out and now it seem’s I’m hearing tons of great feedback and I am not surprised. This cigar rocks with flavor’s of spice,cedar,chocolate and earth. Modeled after the Cohiba Behike this cigar has a price point that makes you go out and grab a box. Check out this cigar and you wont be disappointed.

NUMBER 4.

Ortega Series D

My number four is the Ortega Series D the first release from Eddie Ortega on his own. First thanks to Matt at http://www.cigarporn.com for the photo as I made a newbie move and deleted my photo’s from my review lol. This cigar has amazing flavors of cocoa,cedar,leather and spice. Great medium body smoke that all can enjoy. I think Eddie has a great start on his own with this smoke.

NUMBER 3.

CYB aka Cuenca Y Blanco

Man between this and my number two cigar it was very close but someone had to be third which isn’t a bad number at all. The man behind Joya de Nicaragua, Dr. Alejandro Cuenca and Jose Blanco created a winner in the CYB. This cigar I am not shocked has made several blogger’s Top 10 with its amazing flavors of coffee,nut’s,leather and spice. Look for more great cigars coming out of the Joya de Nicaragua company.

NUMBER 2.

La Duena

The La Duena by Janny Garcia and blended by Pete Johnson is one kick ass smoke it smokes very smoothly and had some awesome flavor notes of espresso,cedar,leather and spice. This cigar has beautiful Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and the cigar alone has everything you would look for in a well-balanced cigar. Put this one in your rotation and you wont be disappointed.

Ok we have arrived at Number 1 and if you are a follower of mine here and on twitter then you wont be surprised by my Number 1 pick. I’ve seen some people state this cigar lacked flavor in the second part or it diminished and I’m not sure what they were smoking but to each their own. This cigar in my opinion was the staple of what I look for in a perfect, complex well-balanced smoke.

NUMERO UNO.

The Headley Grange by The Crowned Heads is my Number 1 cigar for 2012. As you may know I wasn’t a huge fan of their first release the Four Kicks as I stated to Jon Huber that for my flavor profile it was a little flat with complexity and I admit Jon was more than a gentleman with my honest thoughts, so when the Headley Grange came out I went into it hoping it had what I was looking for and man this cigar blew me away. As you know I am a huge fan of the Illusione Epernay and was wondering for the past two years what would knock it off my Number 1 list. Well it’s here folks go smoke the Headley Grange and see for yourself the great complexity,smoothness and flavors of this cigar.

Today I’m bringing you another favorite “shorty”, the Liga Privada Papas Fritas. This cigar measures in at a 4.5 by 44 and is a short filler cigar. Yes, that’s right, a Liga Privada short filler cigar. Now you may be thinking that’s something that would only happen when pigs fly but Drew Estates already made that happen.

So what makes the short filler extraordinary enough to be in the ranks of the Liga Privada line? That would be the fact that the filler is second cuts of the No. 9 capa with a Brazilian Mata Fina binder and a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. Pretty bad ass for a petite corona, I think.

The wrapper and foot of the cigar smell of rich cocoa, earth and wood. The cold draw has the same notes with a hint of sweetness. It’s very rich in flavors from my first puff with notes of spice, cocoa, earth and a woody finish. The retrohale has a good amount of spice and the draw starts out a bit tight. After a half inch, I notice a bit of roasted almonds on the back of the palate.

As I smoke into the middle third of the Papas Fritas, the ash is holding on and the draw has opened up. The spice picks up a bit more heat in the retrohale and mid draw. I still notice cocoa, wood and almonds, making it a rich, flavorful smoke.

The final third brings notes of cocoa to the front of the palate. The almonds have subsided but the wood, earth and spice are still noticeable. The burn has remained perfect throughout.

Don’t discount the flavor and quality of short filler petite coronas. The Liga Privada Papas Fritas is like the Napoleon of cigars, short but it’ll invade your palate with flavor. From beginning to end this was such a consistent cigar, savory and a perfect 40 minute cigar. These medium to full bodied cigars are now on the market in packs of four at under 25 bucks a pack. Definitely give them a shot if you’re looking for a delicious, quick cigar.