CIGAR REVIEW - Aroma de Cuba, Mi Amore Well Done!

CIGAR REVIEW - Aroma de Cuba, Mi Amore Well Done!
Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

This is a clean clean shot by Ashton.
No surprises the box press version of this smoke is pure and very well manufactured.
Craft is important here as this cigar does not loose any of it taste all the way to the end.

It's a mild smoke with a lot of different flovors coming from it and after the sweet spot it get
spicier before a wild finish.

It's a great everyday cigar and stay under 10 bucks retail.


TOTAL = 88%
RECOMMENDED = Yes

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CIGAR REVIEW - Alec Bradley, Retreat...

CIGAR REVIEW - Alec Bradley, Retreat...
Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

An old classic from Bradley... This smoke is a fairly cheap one...
Let's say it's economic and it's also an older creation and is not part
of the current line.

Yet, we like it... It's a mild cigar with a taste of classic Dominican stuff
without any Dominican material in it... This is NO TEMPUS but
probably is what lead AB to construct Tempus and the AB style
that made the brand...

Good old days...

TOTAL = 86%
RECOMMENDED = To Try

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CIGAR REVIEW - Alec Bradley K147

CIGAR REVIEW - Alec Bradley K147
Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

I do not know what is up with Alec Bradley... It is up and down and this one is a down.
We are not too impressed with this smoke.

It is lost between their old SCR blend and somewhat a build up of Prensado.
Try it for yourself but we are not into it at CIA.


TOTAL = 84%
RECOMMENDED = Unsure
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CIGAR REVIEW - 601 Maduro

CIGAR REVIEW - 601 Maduro
Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

It's clean and works pretty well.

Again, 601 makes a cigar that stays neat puff after puff. The structure is solid and the body is very compact. It is a strong maduro but has very clean hearthy taste that will leave you with a solid wood taste and some oak flavors... I know that is a little over the top but how the hell do we describe this smoke besides the fact it is good and it's not expensive.

I guess that's what makes it great. It's pure value.

Keep on working 601!
Great smoke. No sweat...


TOTAL = 88%
RECOMMENDED = Yes

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CIGAR REVIEW - 601 Nuclear, Napalm, Bomba Atom

CIGAR REVIEW - 601 Nuclear, Napalm, Bomba Atom
Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

After trying all these... And really smoking a lot of them the team really agreed on this smoke.
It's a brilliant and spicy (very spicy) cigar. It's well manufastured and compact.
Has very little defects and no deconstruction while you smoke it.

The architecture stays together and the spice gets spicier puff after puff.

This batch in all sizes is now among our top10 smokes of all time.
We rarely attibute a 90% to any cigar but 601 joins the list.

Keep on working 601!
Great smoke. No sweat...


TOTAL = 90%
RECOMMENDED = Yes but know what you are playing with!
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CIGAR REVIEW - Murcielago Capa Negra Great Go To Cigar

CIGAR REVIEW - Murcielago Capa Negra Great Go To Cigar
April 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

This Murcielago is a decent smoke. Capa Negra makes a different flavor to your pallet and offers a deep smoke with strong draw from top to bottom... Another visionary creation from Eddie Ortega & Erik Espinosa, and the gifted hands of Don Pepin Garcia.

We are adding this one to our "Everyday Top Smoke" Category.
TOTAL = 85%
RECOMMENDED = Fair
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CIGAR REVIEW - Casa Fernandez Value & Quality Makes It a Top Smoke!

CIGAR REVIEW - Casa Fernandez Value & Quality Makes It a Top Smoke!
April 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

Casa Fernandez where do we start? It's a surprisingly excellent cigar. 

It is a Torpedo Block press smoke with a thick taste and provides a lot of flavor and quality for the price (Retails around $7 / $8).

This is a fairly unknown smoke from the public. I have been asking about these around and you can only really find it in and out of Florida.

Regardless this is a little dirty secret and we all agree there is skills behind this smoke. It's not cutting it into our top list but definitely look after this cigar and the brand.

Bring it Casa Fernandez!

TOTAL = 89%
RECOMMENDED = Great!
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CIGAR REVIEW - Alec Bradley "Black Market Test #2

CIGAR REVIEW - Alec Bradley "Black Market Test #2
April 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

CIGAR REVIEW - We have been worried and investigating about this smoke. This is Alec Bradley's Black market. We reviewed this cigar a month ago and I went back to re-explore this cigar.

I regrouped my partners and asked them to have it another try.

We came up with the same conclusions: The smoke is decent but lacks of flavors. It does not assimilates with the overal quality of Alec Bradley. Something is missing here and we can't find what it is.

Insiders told us some technical issues were spotted on the very first smokes that shipped out but it is hard for us to classify this cigar as a top smoke.

One thing is sure it is bolder than most ABs and has a different wrapper quality than most cigars from the Dania, FL based company. 

We love Alec Bradley but CIA passes on this one.
TOTAL = Status Quo
RECOMMENDED = Fair
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CIGAR REVIEW - Alec Bradley Prensado XXL Is BIG!!!

CIGAR REVIEW - Alec Bradley Prensado Magnum XXL Is BIG!!!
April 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

We are again positive about this smoke it's a winner.
AB came up with this monster size Prensado that we found at our local Florida Cigar Bar.
It is a Prensado but with a lot more to smoke and gets a gigantic kick when you hit midsmoke.

That's where the surprise lays... Absolutely recommended. 

TOTAL = 89%
RECOMMENDED = Great
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CIGAR REVIEW - CAO Maduro Block Press Does The Job

CIGAR REVIEW - CAO Maduro Block Press Does The Job
April 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

At CIA we are big fans of CAO Italia but our feelings changed after trying on Traviata which was a very shocking finding...

But here is this very smooth filtered smoke with a highly pleasurable wooden taste to make us feel slightly better about CAO latest blends. 

We are not as excited as some of other press partners that engaged in the usual grading (always 90 if you advertise with us) and results in unfortunate hype. 

After explaining to so many people that we don't really care and the fact that we do not make any money to say this or that... It became obvious that certain brands are severely overrated.

CAO is a an all time American favorite brand but we are watching and we hope many smokes with more interesting blends will come out. 

We wish all brands were on point but often not the case.

To summarize about this smoke it it solid and its wrapper is neatly perfected. This is a decent Maduro cigar with a very deep smoke and great draw. Well crafted but has a lack of picked up flavors in the blend that makes it fall off from our top list.  

TOTAL = 83%
RECOMMENDED = Fair
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CIGAR REVIEW - Black Pearl Maduro Works Every Time!

CIGAR REVIEW -  Black Pearl Maduro Works Every Time!
April 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

This smoke is always a great pleasure to burn up. It is always smooth and deep tasting with a perfectly crafted cigar and heavy draw. 
Besides the fact that we completely recommend this Dominican creation, we also believe price wise Black Pearl is a lot of value for your money.

TOTAL = 88% (Downgraded on 08.18.2012)
RECOMMENDED = Yes
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CIGAR REVIEW - Bolivar at Its Best!

CIGAR REVIEW - Bolivar at Its Best!
April 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency 

CIGAR REVIEW - Decent work here... It's a mild to medium body cigar... Some will say it's medium to full but we can't take the story that far. Yet, this Bolivar is OUT OF THIS WORLD and tastes great all the way to the end.

Please try this smoke and get back to us! This smoke is simply delicious and was a true pleasure to test.

TOTAL = 87% (regraded on 08.18.2012)
RECOMMENDED = Yes

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CIGAR REVIEW - Gurkha Assassin is a Mean Little Thing!

CIGAR REVIEW -   Gurkha Assassin is a Mean Little Thing!
March 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

CIGAR REVIEW - This is not a novelty again and again but this smoke is delicious and has a level of manufacturing that is near impeccable. From the paste used in the ring to the layering and craft around these delicious leaves this cigar is a medium to full body smoke that will make anybody have a great time.

Just sit back, relax and enjoy the flavor. Gurkha Assassin is truly a killer smoke and I absolutely recommend it. Not only for the presentation of the box that comes with these cigars but also because this is quality.

Gurkha is one of CIA's favorite brands and overall line. 

TOTAL = 88% (Downgraded on 08/19/2012)
RECOMMENDED = Yes

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CIGAR REVIEW - Gurkha Masterblender, a Blast From The Past

CIGAR REVIEW - Gurkha Masterblender, a Blast From The Past
February 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

CIGAR REVIEW - This is not a novelty either but I really truly enjoy all productions from K. Hansotia.  Gurkha's smokes are always well made, architecturally perfect vitolas and crafted with care coupled to a great packaging and a definitive tasteful package.

One of CIA's favorite brands and overall line. 

TOTAL = 89% (Grade updated at 08/16/2012)
RECOMMENDED = Yes

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CIGAR REVIEW - ROMEO Y JULIETA TUBO LIMITED EDITION IS AN ALTADIS SMOKE AND YOU CAN TELL

CIGAR REVIEW - ROMEO Y JULIETA TUBO LIMITED EDITION IS AN ALTADIS SMOKE AND YOU CAN TELL
February 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

CIGAR REVIEW - It has a name, a look, a feel but not the taste or what was sold as a top of the line cigar (when I ear that from a Cigar Club owner I put my walls up) with astonishing flavors and virtues.  Well I am bored as hell and I am not really into this type of hyped up cigars. 

I thank a dear friend for the gift but I am really not behind this cigar due to its overpriced nature.
It looks great, it looks fancy, etc. But no thank you.  


TOTAL = 81%
RECOMMENDED = Eventually

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CIGAR REVIEW - BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH ALEC BRADLEY SCR

CIGAR REVIEW - BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH ALEC BRADLEY SCR
February 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

CIGAR REVIEW - This is NOT a novelty but I finally got a chance to take a look at SCR.  It's a stronger smoke with more kick than most AB masterpieces. It's dry and goes straight to the bold flavor.  It's not one of Alex Bradley's most complex and flavored smokes but it's fair game.

TOTAL = 84% (Grade updated 08/12/2012)
RECOMMENDED = Yes

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CIGAR REVIEW - ROLANDO REYES "CUBA ALIADOS" IS AN ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE

CIGAR REVIEW - ROLANDO REYES "CUBA ALIADOS" IS AN ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE
March 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

Regardless of what everybody says when a cigar is well manufactured and has a master behind it you can feel, smell and see the difference.  This smoke is a complete architectural masterpiece from beginning to end.  Draw is progressive and develops into a gigantic ash monster.  Flavor wise this smoke is light, has wooden and fruit flavors yet remains subtle and discrete.  Very pleasant cigar and we had a great time all together with a nice glass of Blue Label. 


TOTAL = 88% (Grade updated 08/19/2012) (Down)
RECOMMENDED = Yes ( Top Smokes 2012 CIA )

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CIGAR REVIEW - ALEC BRADLEY BLACK MARKET AT A GLANCE

CIGAR REVIEW - ALEC BRADLEY BLACK MARKET AT A GLANCE
February 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

CIGAR REVIEW - Another AB smooth smoke with a great ash lengh and a lot of flavors mixed together...  This is no tempus but rather a more blunt smoke. 

It's not quite yet a tank if this was the ultimate goal of Alec Bradley, but it does the work. 


TOTAL = 84%
RECOMMENDED = Yes

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VIDEO - CAN YOU FOLLOW???

VIDEO - CAN YOU?
February 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency

I recorded this video in 2009 actually while transferring a few of my smokes from the walk in humidor.

Can you follow...? Yes?

CIGAR REVIEW - FAT 601 CAN CHOKE YOU UP!

CIGAR REVIEW - FAT 601 CAN CHOKE YOU UP!
February 2012 - Posted by The Cigar Intelligence Agency 

















CIGAR REVIEW - 601 is strong so strong that It was hard to smoke this...
If you are looking for maximum heavy duty then this is for you.

If you are looking for complexity with a lot of magic go away from this...
Now if you are looking for solid puffing dynamite you might need to try this...

You were warned.


TOTAL = Regraded 85% (on 08/18/2012) (+Up)
RECOMMENDED = YES, Maybe it all depends...

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