I have to admit that I was very disappointed to discover that the premium Dominican cigars were not much cheaper there--a little bit, but not what I was expecting. I picked up a handful of premium cigars, smoked a few of them on the beach and brought the rest of them home with me.
I'll give you my amateur's review of each as I sample them.
First up is the A. Fuentes Gran Reserva
I like the cedar sleeve that it comes wrapped in, just a little touch of class.
Over the past year or so, I've moved away from the maduro wrapped cigars and opted for the Connecticut leaf or natural wrappers. However, this darkly wrapped cigar truly lives up to its reputation of a quality smoke!
I sat om my deck, watched the UFC 173 fights and enjoyed the Churchill size for nearly 1 1/2 hours. Although the long ash doesn't add to the cigar's flavor, it is indicative of the quality of the long leaf fillers and the craftsmanship of the roller.
Its bold, smooth taste is great for a long smoking session. I certainly enjoyed this smoke and would gladly receive another one as a gift. However, this beauty is far and above my normal budget for my already indulgent habit so I'll have to mark it as a great treat and accept that I'll probably not enjoy another one for quite some time.
For a short time, I was receiving regular sampler packs from my cigar supplier of choice--Thompson Cigar Co., but decided that it was just pushing the cost of my habit above what I was willing to spend on a regular basis.
If you are looking for a cigar for a special occasion, if you just want to treat yourself to a quality smoke, or if you want to make me extremely happy and buy me a really good cigar, A. Fuentes Gran Reserva will not disappoint you!
John
