Cigar Review - PIO Resurrection

Cigar - Resurrection
Manufacturer - PIO
Cut - Punch
Flame - Match
Acquired - Stogies in Orlando

Online Review:
PIO Cigar Company started in Little Havana Miami in 1996, with four Cuban rollers in our factory in Miami Florida; Little Havana is Nationally recognized for manufacturing some of the highest Premium Cigars, and one of the Top Cigar manufacturers outside of Cuba.  Due to the high influx of Cubans in Miami, they have brought with them the old techniques and qualities of Hand Rolled Cuban Cigars used in Habana, Cuba before the Revolution in 1959.

More than 60% of the brands in the market today whether well known or not, depend on no more than 10 factories that are currently in Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

PIO Cigar Company, has produced its own cigar for more than 19 years in Little Havana, Miami Florida, producing no more than 300 boxes a month for the national market.  It is a real boutique cigar.  Most brands use the term boutique when in fact they produce over 3000 boxes of cigars a month.  My commitment to all of my patrons at a national level is to maintain the exquisiteness and value of each and every cigar; and that can only be accomplished by PIO Cigar.



Initial Thoughts
I was a little excited to try this Box Press from PIO, the staff at Stogies recommended it as a decent "local" stick that is put together in Miami. The initial aroma was a mix of floral, leather and a hint of spice. I felt that this might be a good stick. The initial draw had a nice hint of pepper but the after taste reminded me of ass. If I was not reviewing this for my readers it would have ended up in the trash.

The First Third
I prayed to Nuestra Senora de las Neives in hopes that the blessed tobacco would actually start to show a different flavor than stale ass, but alias this did not happen. Once you can get past the awful taste and look at the other characteristics of the cigar it actually isn't that bad. The draw is nice and smooth, the ash is a dark grey, heck even the aroma smells good,  the cigar even has the potential to hold a long ash. Although due to the taste I kept knocking off the ash hoping that the taste would change.

 As I moved into the second half of the cigar my prayers were answered. The taste of ass appeared to gave way to a dry floral and leather taste, or my taste buds are all dead. I had to touch up the burn slightly as it started to burn unevenly. The draw is still good at this point. I was wrong... a few puffs past the half way mark the ass taste returned. I will attempt to take one for the team in hopes that somewhere along this stick that it actually starts to taste worthwhile..

I didn't survive much further on this smoke.. the taste was repulsive, disgusting which is a huge disappointment because I loved the smell that was being produced.

Because I am a strong believer that I should try more than a single stick of a brand I will be looking to get another one but I will attempt to get it from a different location just in case there is an issue with the humidor or selection at Stogies.

For right now though I would not wish this cigar on anyone.

Cigar Review - Don Bienve Limited Reserve Maduro

Cigar - Limited Reserve Maduro

Manufacture - Don Bienve
Wrapper - Cameroon
Binder Puerto Rico
Filler - Puerto Rico
Where Acquired - Old San Juan
Drink of the night - Crown and Coke

Initial Observation -
When I picked up the Don Bienve I had not heard anything about it, asking about options for good Puerto Rican cigars in Old San Juan this was one that they recommended. The initial aroma from the cigar was of leather and pepper.

First Smoke -
Holy Pepper Batman!! This thing has a bite of pure spice through out the cigar, it seemed to mellow near the end but with every draw there was a tasty peppery bite. This cigar just kept impressing me, it was able to maintain a nice Ash until some drunk in the bar "accidently" bumped me. I think he was suffering from ash envy.

The Second Half -
The pepper bite was still very pronounced through the rest of the cigar, not as potent as the first half. It seemed to mellow and blend with aromas of coco and leather. There was some very minor touch up but not enough to really be distracted about.

Near the final third of the cigar the draw started to get a little tough, but nothing a quick pin prick didn't solve.

Conclusion -
I regret not picking up more of these sticks, I can't wait to visit San Juan again and pick up a box.

Construction 9/10
Solid built, mostly a good draw.

Ash 8/10
Best ash I have gotten so far,

Cigar Review - Remember Cuba Cigars, Consecha 2008 Brazilian Maduro

Cigar - Consecha 2008 Brazilian Maduro
Manufacturer - Remember Cuba Cigars
Sound Track - Blues
Flame Source - Torch
Cut - V-Cut
Wrapper - Brazilian Maduro
Filler - Dominican
Binder - Nicaraguan
How Obtained - Purchased from RCC



Website Description -
If you’re a larger ring gauge fan, this is one cigar not to be missed. Warm notes of toasted sweet vanilla and dark cocoa beans are immediately apparent on the palate that enjoys an opulent and well-rounded smoke. The smoke is full and creamy reminiscent of the old school robust style of Havana’s best cigars.

Appearance -

This is a beautiful cigar, the wrapper is dark, some veins, solid construction. The aroma of leather, vanilla and a hint of chocolate can be picked up from smelling the stick.


First impression -

To be fair, this is not the first time I have enjoyed this cigar. It has turned into my everyday go to stick not only for price but overall flavor. This time it was no exception, a quick v-cut and a torch to light it I was already feeling my troubles drift away on the smoke as it bellowed out from the cigar. Filling the room with a robust aroma of robust flavors. There is a small lingering after taste of pepper which I feel enhances the over all enjoyment of this cigar.

Half way mark -

I was required to touch up the burn near the halfway mark, mainly because I had to step away and it was slowly going out. By the time I crossed the half way mark the flavors have blended and the cigar has just gotten better. I find this a nice mellow yet flavorful cigar that continues to impress me.

This is the one cigar that I share with all my friends, trade with other cigar aficionados and give to complete strangers because I find the quality incredible.  On more than one occasion I have had people compliment on the aroma drifting from the cigar, and those that have tried it I have never heard a complaint.

Construction - 9/10

I have had one cigar out of 100 from Remember Cuba give any issues with splitting on me. In this case the cigar stayed true. The burn was even throughout the smoke and there was never a time I had to correct the burn.

Taste - 10/10

This is the reason I keep coming back to this Cigar. The blend that RCC uses is phenomenal and easily makes this one of the best cigars I have had.

Ash - 8/10

I can easily get an inch or two of ash off this stick. I attribute that to the solid construction that is proven time and time again.

Recently Remember Cuba started packing these in cedar boxes, these boxes show the commitment,  pride and love that Mr. Celuzza puts in each one of his cigars.

Pros - Reasonable Price, Great Construction, Flavorful

Cons - I never buy enough,

Cigar Review - Stanza dei Sigari House Maduro Box Press

Cigar Review - Stanza dei Sigari House Maduro
Drink Pairing - Woodford Reserve and Pepsi
Sound Track - Blues
Flame Source - Match
Cut - Straight Cut
How Obtained - Purchase at Stanza dei Sigari

Appearance -
Dark wrapper with a few pronounced veins in the construction.
Hints of leather, spice and some chocolate.

First Impression -
This is the second time that I have tried this cigar, the first time was when I was at Stanza dei Sigari in Boston. The wrapper is a nice dark leather smelling maduro wrapper. This is a box pressed cigar, normally these are not my preferred smoke. There is a tight draw when I first light the Cigar, I am hoping that it eases up a little bit. The initial flavor profile of this cigar has sme spice, but is mild for a maduro. This cigar also leaves a slight bitter taste on the lips.

Not even to the half way mark and I am starting to see an uneven burn, I hope it will correct itself before I need to touch up the burn. about 1/3 of the way in I finally had to touch up the uneven burn. A few puffs later the cigar has gone out.

Half way mark -
The flavor still has not impressed me, this could be due to the fact that I have had to relight this stick twice as I got to the half way mark. The draw is still tight.

Construction - 5/10
The wrapper never split, but with uneven burn, relighting issues and a tight draw I have had much better than this cigar at a lower price point.

Ash - 1/10
The best I got was about an inch, and that was due to uneven burn. Would not stay burning long enough to even try for a decent ash.

Taste - 2/10
This is a mild maduro, there is not a lot of flavor in the cigar, some pepper notes, but the after taste is disgusting.

Number of times to relight - 6 and all after the first 1/3 of the cigar.

Conclusion -
I really hoped that letting this sit a week in my humidor would allow it to be a better cigar. I am having a hard time understanding why I actually thought this would get better and why did I buy a total of 3 of them. I am going to let my remaining one set in the humidor for a few more months and hope that it gets better.

For a $14 cigar I am not impressed with this, I have had plenty of cheaper cigars that have had better burn and draws.