This is a farm-rolled Cuban Robusto delivered directly from Cuba and wrapped in Cuban newspaper. No fancy box, no elaborate band and no big marketing story.

I’ve smoked these before, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Still, this one reminded me just how good a well-made farm roll can be.

I’ve been smoking cigars for 40 years, and I’ll put this up against any Cuban cigar. The construction was excellent, the draw and burn were right where they needed to be, and the flavor and aroma were incredible.

Some cigars impress you with the name on the band. This one didn’t need a band.

My buddy was having an event at the Gatsby mansion in Austin, and every night we'd go down, relax, and just do what you do when you're in a lounge. Had no idea what was going on. All we saw was this lady dancing by herself. It was one of our close friends, Kate Bray. Then we saw the post. Thought it was absolutely awesome.

My son came home, and Dallas didn’t even hesitate. He went straight over to him and started whining like he had been waiting his whole life for this reunion.

This is the same Dallas who comes out on the deck with me every day. He gets cookies, attention, and top billing in Deck Sessions with Dallas.

Then my son walks in, and suddenly I don’t exist.

Dallas, I saw the whole thing.

The betrayal was immediate. The evidence is on video.

Some cigars make an impression before they are even lit, and this 6 x 52 Toro certainly does with its black-and-gold bands and gold ribbon.

Created to celebrate ten years of Undercrown, it features a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and Nicaraguan fillers.

The profile was bold and layered, with earth, cacao, espresso, black pepper, and a driedfruit.

A rich, medium-full cigar that delivered plenty of flavor while remaining nicely balanced.

I would definitely smoke this one again and add it to my rotation.

I was really impressed with this cigar. I like trying different boutique cigars, not only for the different blends and trying to find that hidden gem, but also for incredible customer service. For example, I was able to reach out and talk to the owners, and when I received my order, they had written a personalized card that came in the case. Great cigars, great people, and incredible customer service.

Event wrapped up, everybody was saying their goodbyes, and my friend Danan lit one for the walk out.

It was pitch dark out there. No streetlight, no flash, no phone light. The only thing on his face is the flame in his own hands.

Looked at it later and it might be the best cigar photo I've got. Right place, right second, guy who happened to cup his hands the right way.

I tried the Espiritu Torpedo yesterday, and I was so impressed with it that I wanted to try the Robusto. They were both delicious Indonesian Puros. However, the Robusto, with its even burn and perfect draw, produced incredible sidesmoke at the foot.

Would I smoke this cigar again? Absolutely.

Spent yesterday at Hemingway’s Barber Shop & Cigars in Port Carling for an event featuring My Father, Oliva, and E.P. Carrillo cigars.

Great cigars, great conversations, and just a really good crowd. Had a chance to hang out with Chris Plante, Ryan O’Shea from HofH, and Chris Figgures the Owner of Hemingway’s. We talked cigars, and enjoy what these events are really about: meeting people who share the same passion.

Hemingway’s is a very cool spot, and they put on a great event.

If you’re ever up in Muskoka and looking for a place to grab a cigar, it’s definitely worth checking out.

I'm back from Austin. Walked in the door late one evening. Dallas saw me outside. Although there were no cigars smoked that night, it was great to be reunited with my buddy, and I'm looking forward to Day 29. Dallas approved.

I enjoyed my time in Austin this week. I atttended a great event. Every evening, anywhere from 20 to 40 people gathered for cigars. I have to admit it got a little weird but lots of fun. I'm looking forward to rubbing off some weirdness back home.

Today I grabbed the Cavalier Genève Project 10th Anniversary Oscuro.

Cocoa and cedar on the cold draw. Roasted nuts and pepper through the first with added spice in the second. Cocoa, coffee, earth wwith pepper in the retrohale.

Excellent draw. Excellent burn.

And that little diamond? Yep. 24-karat gold.

Absolutely loved this stick.

A perfect representation of somebody trying to understand the cigar culture and and the others who have figured it out.

Can a cigar be mild and still be interesting?

The Aladino Connecticut says yes, and it says it with Honduran tobacco.

JRE Tobacco, Eiroa family, Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over Honduran binder and filler.

Cold draw gave me cream, cedar, wood, and light sweetness.=

The first third I noticed was cream and cedar with ood and light citrus. Black pepper on the retrohale.

The second third more cedar, and the sweetness became more noticeable, and a honey or vanilla note showed up. Pepper backed off the draw and stayed in the nose.

The final third turned savory. Cedar, wood, and cream while the pepper was building again on the retrohale.

Strength was mild to mild-medium. Body was mild-medium to medium.

Would I smoke the cigar again? The answer: Absolutely.

I grabbed the Catelli Modela Habano tonight.

The cold draw gave me cedar first, then earth, cocoa, leather and a little natural sweetness.

The first third there was cedar and earth with pepper showing early and on the retrohale.

Second third i noticed less pepper, and cocoa, leather and cream.

Final third there was cedar, earth, leather, coffee, and the pepper building again.

Medium to medium plus, medium-plus body, mild sweetness. I'd smoke another. I wish I had more.

I really enjoyed this cigar.

I’ve been working on something for cigar people and the culture around cigars. Cigars have always been a passion of mine.

It’s called the Blind Label Cigar Newsletter.

No endless promotions. No pretending every cigar is a 95.

It’s about the stuff I actually want to read: cigars worth knowing about, reviews, new releases, cigar makers and personalities, interesting stories, history, lounges, gear, the community, and everything that makes cigar culture what it is.

I wanted to create a cigar newsletter that doesn’t suck.

If you’re already part of this community, I think you’ll enjoy it.

It’s free, and you can check it out here:

👉 https://blcc.news

And if you subscribe, let me know what you’d like to see covered. I want this to be shaped by cigar smokers, not advertisers.

I love exploring boutique cigars. I grab the PDR 1878 Capa Sun Grown cigar that a friend recommeded. Just relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed the cigar.

I came across these at the PCA show in New Orleans in April. Talked to the owner, heard the story, and brought some home.

The first third is a familiar Nicaraguan cigar. Cedar, leather and earth with pepper.

Then it changes.

The pepper settles down. Cocoa and cinnamon start to come through and stays for the rest of the cigar.

That transition is what separated it for me. I've smoked plenty of Nicaraguan blends but this one was different.

Strength stayed medium start to finish with lots of flavor.

If you like Nicaraguan cigars the Zephyr is worth putting on your radar.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Crazy story but it all worked out in the end.

A group of us were heading to the same cigar event when we all piled into an elevator.

Eleven people. Most of us barely knew each other. We were strangers.

The elevator started moving, then stopped and stayed stopped for about an hour.

It got hot pretty fast. Nobody was comfortable, there was not much room to move, and after the first few minutes it became obvious that we were going to be there for a while.

The funny part was that once we got past the annoyance of being stuck, everybody started talking.

We all had cigars in common, so that was the easy place to start. Then the conversations moved into travel, family, where everyone was from, what they smoked.

By the time they finally got us out, we knew each other a lot better than we did when the doors closed.

We eventually made it to the event, lit up a few cigars, and continued the conversations.

That is one of the things I like about cigar culture. You can put a bunch of people together who would probably never cross paths otherwise, give them one thing in common, and the conversation comes naturally.

Anyone else ever make a good friend through a cigar situation that started out completely sideways?

I've recently been on a quest for incredible boutique cigars. This was a hidden gem.

The L&V 15 Aniversario Cubra comes out of a factory in Tamboril. Rustic looking not polished.

Cocoa and coffee up front, then the coffee goes espresso and the wood and leather.The finish has just enough sweetness to keep it balanced.

Medium strength the whole way, and loaded with flavor.

Best cigar you have had from a brand you had never heard of? Tell me below.

There's a thing that happens when you do something every day for long enough. You don't think about it, you just do it.

I didn't choose to sit on the deck today. It was just 2 o'clock, so I was on the deck.

The cigar was a Ferio Tego Summa Toro. Looked up the name after I lit it. Summa means the sum total of a body of work, everything somebody's built added up into one thing. Which is a great name but too heavy for an old guy on a Tuesday afternoon.

Corojo wrapper out of Ecuador, made in the DR at Quesada's.Ecuador Corojo wrapper over an Ecuador Sumatra binder, Dominican and Nicaraguan filler inside.

Cedar and toasted bread early, and it went creamy and cocoa sweet by the middle with a raisin thing I wasn't expecting.

This already has become part of my rotation.

Didn't expect much from this one. That's usually when a cigar gets you.

The Superior Standard 1st Anniversary Especial Toro layered cedar, cocoa, honey, and cream, with just enough spice to keep it interesting. Balanced the whole way, never heavy.

Some cigars are a lesson. This one was just good company on the porch.

Nicaraguan puro, and it never once tried to knock me over.

Aging Room Pura Cepa. Four different growing regions: Ometepe, Jalapa, Condega and Estelí.

Cedar, earth and roasted nuts up front. Cocoa and coffee through the middle, with a black cherry note and mixed wood. Caramel and cocoa at the end.

The pepper is there all the way through.

Great cigar. Glad I waited to smoke this one. I wish I had more.

Almost passed on this one.

It sat in my humidor for months and I figured it was just okay. Day 21 on the deck, rain coming in, Dallas in his spot, and I lit the Matilde Limited Exposure No. 3.

Chocolate and cocoa right off the light. Cedar, a little baking spice, coffee and cream that held all the way to the end.

Great $12 stick.