Hiram & Solomon Entered Apprentice is another great offering coming from the Placencia S.A. factory in Nicaragua.
The golden Connecticut Shade wrapper of Entered Apprentice encases a complex blend of vintage leaves. The result is a mild to medium bodied, smooth smoking masterpiece producing a creamy, silky smoke with sweet notes of white pepper and hints of cinnamon that intensify with a clean finish.
Andre’ Dias’ Tasting World grades this cigar totaling 91 points. Their tasting claims its mild to medium bodied and a flavorfully gentle smooth smoking experience.
Blind Man’s Puff gives it a score of 91 describing it a perfect cigar for any time of the day.
Cigars and Spirits Magazine rates Entered Apprentice at 93 simply stating it’s an excellent cigar.
It’s no surprise this cigar has been a favorite for almost a decade.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade [Talanga]
Binder: Connecticut Shade [Talanga]
Filler: Habano Ometepe, Pennsylvania, Paraguay
Factory: Placencia S.A.
See all the Hiram & Solomon cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Hiram & Solomon Traveling Man is another great edition coming from the Plasencia factory. This incredible blend uses an Indonesian Sumatra wrapper encasing a complex array of vintage leaves. It’s safe to say that this cigar is a hit.
Cigar & Spirits plainly states. “This medium-bodied cigar has a Sumatran wrapper and a rich aroma with hints of spice and coffee. The finish is soft and subtle with notes of cocoa leather and a creamy texture.” They give it a rating of 94.
But the best description and rating definitely goes to Stogie Press with an astonishing score of 97. Their words say it all. “Overall, the Traveling Man was one of those memorable cigars that will keep your palate intrigued with complex flavors and aromas from foot to nub.”
Just so you know, these cigars sell out quickly! Get some when we have them.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Sumatra Indonesia
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Arapiraca, Habano Jalapa, Habano Ometepe, Dominican
Factory: Plasencia S.A.
Blender: David Blanco
See all the Hiram & Solomon cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Fratello Arlequin is another extraordinary smoke from this great company coming to market in 2020.
With attention to detail, the Arlequin is box-pressed with a dark, oily wrapper that’s silky to the touch. This medium to full bodied blend is sporting a Mexican wrapper with an Ecuadorian binder and filler tobaccos from Peru and Nicaragua.
In 2021 Cigar Dojo rated it a respectable 90. Their description is…well….very descriptive. “The smoke is smooth in character, offering jungle-like flavors throughout, including vegetation-rich soil, ripe juiciness, and a unique Banana Runts sweetness. It’s an atypical experience that earns its place for those on the constant hunt for flavor challenges to the palate.”
In 2022, Cigar Aficionado bestowed it with a generous score of 91. Their words say it all. ” There is a rusty, reddish hue to the dark wrapper of this thick toro, which draws and burns evenly. First puffs of oak and leather are brightened by sweeter notes of chocolate, caramel and nougat. The finish hints of coffee bean.”
Whoever you believe, without doubt, Arlequin is a must try!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Ecuador Habano
Filler: Nicaragua & Peru
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Omar de Frias
See all the Fratello cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Fratello Oro is likely to be this company’s most popular cigar.
With attention to detail an Ecuadorian Wrapper combines with a Cameroon binder and a mix of filler tobaccos from Columbia/Dominican Republic/Nicaragua. The result is a super smooth smoking mild to medium bodied, very flavorful smoking experience. It’s safe to say the jury verdict is unanimous. To put it another way: Stogie Press @ 90 and Halfwheel @ 91. Add Cigar Dojo @ 91, Cigar Coop @ 92 and Leaf Enthusiast @ 95. Without a doubt Oro is a stone cold winner!
With this in mind, Oro is a great cigar for new comers. Its also a favorite of aficionados seeking a milder smoke with amazing taste and flavor. The interplay of different tobaccos provides great complexity to say the least.
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican
Factory: La Aurora Cigars S.A.
Blender: Omar de Frias
See all the Fratello cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
The EP Carrillo Original Rebel is a fat and beefy cigar with an old school pigtailed cap. This well made and complex blend produces a medium bodied smoke with flavor notes of dark chocolate, hardwoods and dried fruit. The Rebel’s overall balance and smoothness also earned high ratings as you would expect.
Wrapper: Connecticut Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza
And if you’re looking for more EP Carrillo products from Cigar Thief? Click HERE
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Oscuro
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza S.A.
Blender: E.P. Carrillo
El Rey Del Mundo Natural is one of the world famous blends dating back to Cuba in 1882.
This El Rey is draped with a beautiful Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper. The outer leaf encases a tried and true combination of a Honduran binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. The results have kept this brand in cigar lovers hands and humidors for decades.
Blind Man’s Puff rates this blend a respectable 90 with kind words. “I enjoyed the experience so much I would have immediately smoked another one upon setting this one down.” Cigar Aficionado gave the Flor De Llaneza a 91 flatly stating it is one of the world’s great cigars.
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Factory: HATSA
See all the El Rey Del Mundo cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
Diesel Esteli Puro is probably one of the strongest blends is in this hugely popular line.
With attention to detail, the wrapper comes from AJ Fernandez’s La Lilia farm, while the binder is from San José, and the fillers are from several plots including AJ’s San Lotano farm. The result is a medium plus to very full bodied smoke that is robust, powerful and flavorful to say the very least.
Stogie Review rates the Esteli Puro a respectable 90. They say it has that full body with the rough and tumble flavor profile that Diesel lovers first fell in love with, showcasing notes of leather, earth, cedar, spices, nuts, and chocolatey notes. Blind Man’s Puff scores it a 93. Their words are spot on. “The profile was balanced throughout the whole experience” Developing Palates state the cigar is a medium-full to full bodied experience that didn’t skimp on complexity to smoke that is a pleasure to smoke.
If you’re a fan of AJ Fernandez and the Diesel brand and consider yourself a lover of strong blended cigars, Esteli Puro has your name on it!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua Esteli Habano
Binder: Nicaragua Esteli Habano
Filler: Nicaragua Esteli Habano
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: AJ Fernandez
See all the Diesel Cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Diesel Whiskey Row Sherry Cask is another unique collaboration with AJ Fernandez, Diesel and the Rabbit Hole Bourbon distillery.
The blending process begins with acquiring barrels that contained Pedro Ximénez 30-Year-Old Sherry to cure the vintage Brazilian arapiraca leaf binder. The fillers are all Nicaraguan habano encased with a dark and oily Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. The results speak for themselves.
Cigar Dojo rates it at 90 and says it’s a unique, well balanced cigar with remarkable flavors and is a great expression of creative technique. Noted reviewer KATMAN rates it a 93. He describes it perfectly. “Complex? Very much so. Subtle and surprising at the same time.”
To say this is a pleasant diversion from your everyday smoke is an understatement!
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Barrel-Aged Brazilian Arapiraca
Filler: Nicaraguan Habano
Factory: Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua (Nicaragua)
See all the Diesel Cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
