Rocky Patel Burn 'Special Reserve' Robusto

Rocky Patel is the Johnnie Walker of cigar brands: Sure, there are some pedestrian blends, all fairly serviceable, but there are also some spectacular blends to be had. The Burn 'Special Reserve' would be the Green Label blend.

Rocky Patel Burn 'Special Reserve'

Rocky's 'Burn' is as much a command as it is a name. Like the treats of 'Alice in Wonderland', just the appearance of the cigar says 'Burn Me'. The chocolate-brown Ecuador Sumatra wrapper is toothy enough to take the remaining paint off that picnic table. I'd  guess it to be a PA or CT broadleaf rather than Sumatra. It's pretty, but there's a loose, loose draw through the Nicaraguan fillers, inspiring comparison to the working girls of Tijuana.

The party really starts when I follow the one-word instruction on the band. Tart, fruity leather and wood flavors with a spice that starts strong, ends strong, and is pretty present through the whole smoke. I also get occasional hay and coffee notes, but through all the subtle variations the spice really puts this cigar over the top. This is a solid medium-bodied cigar that doesn't quit.

Special Reserve is no lie; this is a special blend, but I'm not going to reserve any of these for very long. Smoke if you got 'em!

Tatuaje Reserva J21

I'm tripping out to the garage for a night of expensive blockbusters, with a Tatuaje Reserva J21 and a DVD of 'Transformers 3: dark of the Moon'. The former, an orgy of delicious Nicaraguan tobaccos and the latter, an orgy of spectacular CGI robots. I'm hopeful for lots of action on both fronts.

First kiss of the toothy wrapper, even before ignition, brings spice to my lips. Once flame commences, the explosions of peppery spice and bold, earthy wood light up my palate like a Tatuaje Miami on steroids. The spicy intro gives way to a bold melange of earthy wood, coffee, and bitter coca notes; signature Nicaraguan flavors. The spicy notes lurk in the background, and come closer to the fore near the nub.

 I think I'll just shut this horrific movie off so I can enjoy the exquisite nub in a semblance of peace. The blonde actress with the Angelina Jolie too-puffy lips is annoying, and I can't believe they scripted Nimoy's CGI robot to spew the line about the "needs of the many.."

For the occasional treat, Tatuaje Reserva is worth the extra couple bucks over the standard, brown-band Miami line. I'd buy another Reserva, but I don't know about any more dreadful Michael Bay films. Not unless he brings back Megan Fox.

La Sirena Prince Robusto

La Sirena is the winner of the Hugh Jass Cigar Band award for Most Ridiculously Large Cigar Band. Hands down. Gurkha comes in a distant second. That's not to say that there isn't a load of gorgeous and thought-provoking details in this beautiful 3" tall strap. But, it's entirely too large, especially on this 5.25" robusto.

I won't go into cowboy belt buckles and overcompensation issues..

La Sirena is a Nicaraguan gem, rolled by Pepin Garcia for Miami Cigar. The blend of Corojo and Criollo tobaccos bound with Habano and wrapped in Connecticut broadleaf is a recipe for delight.

La Sirena Prince Robusto

The wrapper, who's cap and foot can be glimpsed around the edges of the obscenely oversized cigar band, is toothy and gnarled with some serious veins. Despite any aesthetic challenge, the wrapper reeks of earth and spice. No faint whiff of this or that, just an unmistakeable warning of powerful, spicy delight ahead.

The wrapper is no lie, as soon as I get this lit; BANG.. peppery spice and heady wood notes. Welcome to Pepin-Pepperland. Watch out for your sinuses, gang, the retrohale is a stunner.

 After the first half-inch, the spice subsides to allow earthy wood and coffee notes to take over La Sirena's song. The spice re-enters as a harmony towards the end of this medium-bodied cigar.

Tasty cigar, beautiful, if not slightly overdone, band. By the way, once I take off the super-duper large band, there's a skinny, cheesey-looking band underneath. Talk about overcompensation. The cigar needs neither extreme to be deemed a great smoke. Nice work, Miami Cigar and Pepin.