92+ Rated Big-Name Showdown

CAO L'Anniversaire Cameroon

Well constructed little cigar but burns a bit hot and is a tad to spicy for me because of it.

Cohiba Red Dot

Not worth the price

CAO L'Anniversaire Cameroon

First one out of a box of the mini perfecto purchased 4 months ago. The draw started out type but opened up very quickly, with a ton of smoke billowing out. Profile notes included bold coffee, dry cocoa, and a little bit of wood. I'm pretty solid quick smoke.

La Aroma de Cuba

This Connecticut shade cigar offers a medium to medium full-bodied experience. It boasts excellent aromatic flavors of coca, black pepper spice, and earthy taste, all balanced by a creamy, nutty finish. Each flavor is well-executed and not overpowering. The smoke output is good, making it a must-have for any humidor.

Cohiba Red Dot

For the most part, this is a very consistent cigar. The flavor notes remain fairly linear, with no transitions. However, the profile brings out charred word and a creamy undertone, with a bright white pepper hit coming on the retro. The draw was open with a ton of smoke output.

La Aroma de Cuba

TL;DR - wood, leather, and distant roasted peanut. A worthy Maduro representation. Recommended 👍 Aged 1+ years, dry-boxed 5 hours ⏳️ Pre-light is very light apricot. Light-up is easy 👌 Goldilocks construction and draw. Initial impressions: light wood and leather with distant roasted peanut. Burn 🔥 is even and reliable. Medium flavors and medium nicotine. Is this a keeper in my regular rotation? I'm leaning into "probably" if only because it represents what a Connecticut Maduro cigar "should be". It is a very well made linear cigar that stays clear of typical, dark (burnt) coffee and near burnt flavors found so often in other Maduro blends.

La Aroma de Cuba

Cedar and leather. A smooth linear smoke. Exceedingly well built and burns great.

CAO L'Anniversaire Cameroon

Smooth with great smoke production. A very approachable cigar.

Cohiba Red Dot

The draw was tighter on this one than I remember previously, which required more effort to pull smoke. However, the burn stayed fairly even with this, only needing one correction. The flavor profile presented mostly charred wood and some creamy pepper.

La Aroma de Cuba

Nice medium cigar good flavor

H. Upmann 1844 Reserve

La Aroma de Cuba

Very elegant Cuban style cigar, Extremely Smooth and great experience.

La Aroma de Cuba

Sat in a humidor for 11 months, oh my what a Connecticut right here!

La Aroma de Cuba

Mineral barnyard and cedar. Great construction burn and draw. Just not the flavor profile I prefer. Still a quality smoke just prefer the aroma over this.

CAO L'Anniversaire Cameroon

Very smooth and creamy. Perfect draw and burn. I really enjoyed this cigar.

La Aroma de Cuba

TL;DR - Cedar with intermittent leather. Recommended 👍 Aged 9 mos ⏳️ Pre-light is cocoa, and dark-chocolate covered black cherry 🍒 Light apricot and black pepper taste 😋 Top marks for construction and draw. Light-up there's a brief apricot that didn't return. Core flavor is toasty wood 🪵 Whispers of leather. Second third, the wood develops into Cedar. Retrohale light wood and leather.

La Perla Habana Black Pearl Morado

Last of the Morado box. They've been an OK smoke. From a flavor perspective, some taste better than others from the same box. They're also inconsistent from a burn perspective. Sometimes fine, sometimes very wavy. In all, certainly not the worst I've had but I don't need any more of these.

CAO L'Anniversaire Cameroon

Definitely a nice cigar considering the price tag. Ideal for a short smoke

La Aroma de Cuba

Definitely on the medium-full side, with notes of pepper and wood. Started relatively soft but changed the profile in the 2nd 3rd. Nice smoke.

La Aroma de Cuba

“El Jefe” Bigg stick here. Decent pepper and earth on the front third which mellows out to let the earth shine. Not bad