Review of an Everyday Cigar
Thursday June 1, 2006
Finally, I was able to purchase a bundle of Mr. B Handmade cigars in the Lonsdale size with Maduro wrappers. At the low price of $12.95 per bundle of 20, Mr. B is the best value for the everyday cigar smoker that I have seen thus far. Other smokers must think so too, since these cigars have been out of stock for some time. The cigars are made in Nicaragua with mixed filler (both long and short filler tobacco), and the taste is comparable to cigars costing much more. If you are looking for a surprisingly affordable alternative to premium handmade cigars, but without the preservatives and other substances found in machine made cigars, check out my review of Mr. B's Handmade Cigars.
Comments
I usually keep 100 or more Mr. B. cigars in various vitolas in my humidor.
You’d be surprised what a difference a few months of aging will do for these excellent cigars.
Two more world class cheapies are La Finca, and Villar Y Villar Remedios.
I just got my bundles of Mr. B’s Lonsdale Maduro’s and I did not want to wait the month or two for the humidor aging that was recommended so I broke into them.
Now for my review.
The look is decent, a little veiny but not bad. It felt tight to the squeeze and after clipping
the end the dry draw was really on the tight side. I toasted the end properly and lit up.
It took the lighting well and as I blew on the foot a nice red glow covered the entire end. A good sign for a hopefully even burn. The draw was still tight and seemed like it would go out any minute but with a few good puffs it stayed lit. The aroma first caught me as woodsy and the taste was the same. After it got going I could certainly taste the coffee
flavor, sort of like a nice espresso with the hint of chocolate. The smoke was a blue-white
and the ash a typical grey. It did not have the great aroma that the premium cigars have but then again, it did not even cost 70 cents. I have had plenty of sticks that were 2, 3 and 4 times the price that were not as good so considering that it is not too bad. I still did not like the draw which was getting more difficult as I smoked it and ended up poking a small
pik all the way to the ash to get some air going through it. That helped a bit and as it
smoked down I started to taste a bit of spice but it was very subtle. The Lonsdale size is nice. Around the middle third it began to get a bit harsh but settled down as long as I did not try to draw too much on it. The burn was not to uneven and you had better have an ash tray handy because the ash does not hold on too long indicative of the short filler. The espresso flavor stayed with the entire stick and drinking coffee along with it enhanced
the flavor of both the cigar and the coffee. I stuck it one more time about half way down when
the draw got tight again which resulted in the production of a nice thick ball of smoke
and a mouthful of more cocoa flavors. The continued tight draw makes it burn slowly so it lasts much longer than you would expect, and, a better smoke that the price tag would tell.
All in all it probably is a decent ‘everyday stick’ for smoking while working in your garage,
cutting the lawn or having a cup of strong ‘joe’ (or a shot of strong whiskey). This is a working man’s cigar and a good staple for your humidor.
I am certain that this old stogie never got such a complex review. I think I should send it it
somewhere and give some cigar afcionado’s a really good laugh.
happy smoking,
Mitch
I bought these on your review and they are very good for the price, I can afford to smoke a few of these a day without hurting my bank account. I find the draw is super tight at first and sort of works its way to a nice loose draw about midway through.Very decent earthy taste and decent ash rentention. My main gripe is these tend of have some wrapper damage,they burn almost always uneven. All things considered they are a exelent value and I wouldnt mind paying a little more for a a box the bundle is nice but a box would be ideal. I have yet to try any of the other ones other than the Lonsdale size in maduro. I love nicraguan cigars. Regards -usacigarman and Keep on puffen
The troops seem to like them, too. Check out the May 22, 2007 acknowledgement:
http://cigars.about.com/od/cigarsfortroops/a/cigars4troops_2.htm