Original Gentleman's Cigar & Suds Club

Good day everyone!  This time around, we were able to try the Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial.  We were all excited for this medium to full bodied gem, as it proved itself to be, because of all the positive feedback we found from other bloggers, reviewers, and so fourth. 

The pre draw was very easy.  Not a single one of us, that's eight gentlemen this time around had a tough draw at all.  The cigar gave off small chocolate, cocoa notes, but was mostly woody.  Surprisingly, there was hardly any spice or pepper left on the lips that we've encountered in the past.

The first third of the cigar started incredibly well.  A very delightful and delicious taste of a mellow chocolate covered the palate first, followed by a very subtle earthy, almost grain-like taste with hardly any spice followed behind, making this cigar sweetly complex to start.

The second third of the stick was everything the first third was, with a little more pop on the tastebuds.  The woody/earthy tones kicked up quite a bit, but was not overbearing of the cocoa aftertaste.  At this point, the cigar was still leaving a very delectable, lingering taste that was quite enjoyable.

The final third of the cigar finished incredibly well.  The spice finally made its way around and sat on the lips and tongue throughout the final flavor profile puff.  The woody/earthy notes died just a little bit, but did so to easily notice the enhanced spice and almost oily type finish.  

The Saint Luis Rey Reserve Especial was a delicious, solid cigar, and for the price, you cannot go wrong with getting a stick to enjoy for youself!

The gentlemen assembled tonight to smoke the Don Tomas Cameroon Collection.  The pre-draw had hints of wood and pepper.  However, the eight of us gents all had significant trouble with the draw.  It was surprisingly tough, which could have been due to many things, but we'll continue.

Upon first draws, we tasted a very earthy, oak, smooth smoke with a subtle spice on the lips.  At this point, we all immediately had torn wrappers and caps.  Tonight, we paired the cigar with a Sierra Nevada Tumbler brown ale.  The brew masked some of the spice from the cigar, creating an earthy type taste that lingered on the palate.  

The second third toned down quite a bit, but remained consistent from the first third of the smoke.

The final third of the Don Tomas was a creamy smoke, paired with some heavier wood notes, yet had little spice on the lips.

For tonight's meeting, we got our gentlemanly mitts on a Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro toro, box pressed to perfection.  Before we even clipped the cap, the aroma of a very dark chocolate or espresso and subtle wood notes left our mouths salivating.  Without surprise, the pre draw was an excellent mix of the aforementioned tones, including a nice undertone of pepper.

The first draws were literally effortless.  It was clear to us that the makers knew exactly how to roll this beauty.  The cigar produced a very noticeable caramel/espresso flavor, intertwined with a subtle Sandalwood aftertaste in its very abundant, creamy smoke.

The second third of the cigar was just a bit heavier on the draw, while the pepper and coffee flavors increased quite a bit.  Even the wood flavor kicked up a notch to almost a cedar note.

The last portion of the cigar was nothing less than phenomenal.  The spicy pepper and coffee hit is climactic point, while staying incredibly creamy and smooth to the very last puff.

Throughout the night, the gentlemen sipped on a Kona Pipeline Porter, an excellent beer brewed with coffee beans.  During this time, the Rocky Patel brought out all the hidden spices brewed within the beer that you wouldn't necessarily taste by itself, and the beer definitely brought much emphasis to the coffee and smoothness of the cigar.

All in all, the Olde World Reserve, paired with something as simple as the Kona Pipeline Porter, is enough to consider this cigar as one of our favorites, as well as a gem waiting to be discovered by the working class man or woman.  

For our second Gentleman’s club meeting we indulged in a La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor.

The pre-draw was smooth with an alluring hint of coco and cedar. The first third was a light creamy smoke, with hints of biter chocolate, spicy pepper, and an end note of leather.  We paired our cigar tasting with a white Russian.  The Cigar brought out the coffee in the Kahlua.   The cream in the white Russian brought out an exceptional creaminess in the smoke, making it noticeably sweeter.  This made for a delightful dessert treat.

The second third of the cigar brought on a more robust pepper and spice taste. Toward the end of the second third the spicy notes gave way to a black coffee taste with a more reserved hint of spice. At this stage the pairing brought out a surprising mocha taste in the cigar.

The final third tail end featured a return to the beginning notes featuring cocoa and cedar. The final draws were reminiscent of a chocolate covered coffee bean, ending in a chili cocoa finish, which was exceptional on the taste buds. If you are craving a good cigar instead of a dessert, then look no further than the La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor.

Illusione Epernay

For the first ever Gentleman's Cigar & Suds Club meeting, we fancied ourselves to an Illusione Epernay. A great cigar for the beginner to intermediate cigar connoisseur.
Right off the bat, the cigar was very smooth on the draw, with a very easy, creamy smoke that wasn't harsh on the palette. The creamy smoke, mixed with what we picked up as a slight spice, almost peppery flavor, combined very well.
By the half way mark, or the second third, the spice flavor heightened slightly, as well as a subtle hint of cocoa. The smoke was still very creamy, almost buttery, and still very easy to roll off the palate, to compliment a very effortless draw.

During the final third, the spice/pepper flavor turned up a notch, yet still made way for a heavier chocolate, almost coffee flavor to hit the tastebuds. A very surprising, yet well-welcomed flavor combination. The cigar was delicious, down to the last draw of the evening.
All in all, the Illusione Epernay is well worth the money. If you want to end your night well, on a good note, invest in this quality cigar.