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 - 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 - 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 - 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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CIGAR REVIEW - VICTOR SINCLAIR 555 MADURO

CIGAR REVIEW - VICTOR SINCLAIR 555 MADURO

Finally found a minute to smoke a puro.

Smoking 5 Country Blend Maduro from Victor sinclair. Very clear smoke. Its smooth and very pleasant smoke. This is my 3rd one in this series and its growing on me. Great consistency. 85%

TOTAL = 82% (Updated Grade on 08/19/2012)

RECOMMENDED = YES!

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CIGAR REVIEW - VICTOR SINCLAIR REVOLUTION DOS CAPAS IS "JUST" FINE!

CIGAR REVIEW - VICTOR SINCLAIR REVOLUTION DOS CAPAS IS "JUST" FINE!

Compact cigar with strong wood flavor to it.
Clean smoke without big surprise.

This tastes very Dominican like.
Its mild to medium body with a very soft spice after puffing a little on it. Soft everyday smoke.
Economic as well.

TOTAL = 74% (Grade Updated 08/19/2012) (- Down)RECOMMENDED = NO

 

CIGAR REVIEW - FONSECA VINTAGE IS GOOD!

CIGAR REVIEW - FONSECA VINTAGE IS GOOD!


CIGAR REVIEW - I received this Fonseca Vintage in my latest trade with Cigar Luckes. It was an ash monster as you can see from the picture. I have to admit I didn't like the start.

Highly dominated by mineral flavor with a strong sugar aftertaste. The middle third however was pleasant, more robust, hints of leather, wood, and a smooth buttery draw. Nearly all the mineral and sugar were gone at the halfway point and it added pepper as a replacement.

The final third left me with a 'nothing special' mind set. I had to remind myself how much I enjoyed the middle third. I'll smoke another one with a strong IPA. I think a refreshing beer would help me through the beginning and end of the smoke.

TOTAL = 87%
RECOMMENDED = YES!

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CIGAR REVIEW - ILLUMINATI CRUSADE NOT FUNCTIONAL (STOP THE HOLLY WAR)!

CIGAR REVIEW - ILLUMINATI CRUSADE NOT FUNCTIONAL (STOP THE HOLLY WAR)!

CIGAR REVIEW - I received this Illuminati maduro cigar ( Jack from Illuminati just emailed us and told us no maduro. I went on to match the ring and it's a medium bodied Crusade smoke) as a sample. The rep or owner (who ever you are) told me how close he was with Rocky Patel and how these cigars where from the same lines...

Well they are not. The smoking was difficult and had to over-punch the smoke to get draw. The cigar was very strong upfront and never took an ascending route like most cigars. It was sour and no wood flavors to it.

This smokes are not impressive whatsoever to us and we would like to know your opinion. I will have to smoke again and rewrite to make sure but first try was NOT good. 

TOTAL = 71% (Regraded 08/16/2012)(+Up)
RECOMMENDED = NO!

TOPIC - ALEC BRADLEY TOP CIGARS REWARDED

TOPIC - ALEC BRADLEY

Regarding our reviews, our state of mind, our opinion and bluff in this industry.... 

YES, there is HYPE, there is lies, there is insiders publishing good reviews for others and there is ALSO --- HARD WORKING PEOPLE who really deserve a THANK YOU FOR GREAT SMOKES! There is also people like my guys and I who don't really care about pleasing this guy or that guy... 

This message is our way to tell certain people on Facebook to grow up.
Some are trying to sell us with strange ideas... Some told us that we are biased, that rating cigars is subjective, that you CAN NOT down rate a cigar ( YES I CAN ) ( AND I HAVE A HUGE LIST OF BAD SMOKES COMING ).

I have followed ALEC BRADLEY for a few years now. I have recommended and shared thoughts about their cigars for many years as well.

I have had talks with brand owners & direct competitors of AB who thought they were a joke. I always stood by my position. I always thought they produced great cigars and that they were really freaking tasty!

People often laughed at me. Some told me they are NOT real cigar makers. Others told me you can't judge a brand around 1 cigar.

So today I am very happy to see that NOT only my co-writers & I were right but that this great brand and team is getting a WIN on everybody else....

Congratulations!
And to all those people who read us or care about integrity, well I stand behind ALEC BRADLEY as long as their Cigars are innovative and taste great.

CIA.