Gregorio Cigars The Imperial review

The Imperial

by: Gregorio Cigars

Nice Ash Cigars and Lounge

Depew NY

After reviewing Tatuaje "W" The Whore in which I mentioned the in house roller at Nice Ash Cigars and lounge in Depew NY.  I thought to myself I try and focus my reviews around boutique, small batch, store and catalog cigars.  So it only makes sense that I should put my review out of the smallest batch I know of.  

The Gregorio Line, specifically the Imperial

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cubano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Honduran & Nicaraguan

​According to the website:


Flavor profile: The Imperial is medium bodied with great dark and earthy flavors. Full notes of dark chocolate, espresso, spice, caramel, dark fruit
sweetness, rich natural tobacco and nuts can be found throughout. This one is equally suited to be paired with coffee in the morning or as an after dinner smoke with a dram of whiskey.

 I had the pleasure of watching Greg roll my cigars right in front of me and then light one up immediately.  It was great!  The cigar was heavy firm and solid, it smelled fresh and delicious and the rolling was what you would expect from a true premium cigar.  A deliciously dark oily wrapper very few veins, a barely noticeable fresh seam and a perfectly placed triple cap. I couldn't believe some guy from buffalo, NY sitting at a desk just rolled this incredible premium cigar.
Absolutely outstanding! but how would be with some age?


Which brings me to my review of the Imperial,  aged 5 months.
It looks darker, maybe my imagination, it smells amazing I can't wait to light it.  It smells like a spicy candy bar.

It smells so good I almost don't want to light it.
I clip it without issue, toast and light.

It is absolutely everything it's description says it is and everything I got before but intensified. 

Did I really get this cigar from a guy in Buffalo? 

YES, Yes I did!

I lit it stupid so the burn was off, but quickly corrected itself.

The first third is all Earthy dark chocolate/cocoa spice with a great fruity nut finish. Wow! I'm impressed.

At the end of the 1st third The ash is still hanging on strong and the spice backs off a bit and the flavour of dark chocolate develops into a rich cocoa/espresso and takes over, with a light vanilla, fruit in the background. I get a pleasant nutty caramel finish, I cant help but retrohale with almost every draw. 

The final third the flavours and aroma remain the same, but the spice comes back and I find myself feeling like I'm smoking a a dark chocolate covered cherry hazelnut candy, that someone rolled in cinnamon. 

There is a great flavour of leather that comes in towards the end and the cigar finished nicely down to a nub. with a leathery, cocoa, cedar.  This was a great cigar.

The construction was incredible, the burn was perfect, no touchups, and the flavor and aroma were great.

I would have been impressed with this cigar if it were rolled in Nicaragua, wrapped with a pretty band and put in a beautiful cedar box with exciting graphics and a fancy name.  

The fact that it was hand rolled on a desk in a store in Buffalo, (Depew) NY and handed to me is simply amazing. 

Tatuaje "W" The Whore

"W" 

The Whore

Collaboration By Tatuaje, Pete Johnson and Rob Roth from Nice Ash Cigars in Depew, NY

Ultra Limited production of 2500.

(No Longer Available)

This is going to be a horrible review.  

Why?  

Because this cigar is fantastic and they are gone.  These were a very limited production and were sold out almost immediately.  If you are lucky enough or persistent enough you may be able to get your hands on one and I recommend you try.

The W came in a single vitola of 6 x 52 belicoso. 

 A Beautiful Sumatra Rosada wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and filler, and packaged in boxes of 10, but available in 5 packs or singles 

The first third starts out Kind of light but build in intensity quickly. I get a nice dose of spice like cinnamon, leather and earth, which makes for a nice solid flavorful smoke. The draw is perfect for this cigar, at least in my opinion and with my chosen cut. Burn is nice and even and I get a bit of either vanilla and cocoa or milk chocolate depending on your pallet. which seems to be developing nicely and kicking in a bit of sweetness that I was looking for, It fits in great with the Leathery, spicy cinnamon, earth.  For me I was getting a full spicy leather with more of the sweetness and vanilla cocoa as a great accent.

I had this smoke outside at a fair listening to blues and classic rock, I accidentally paired it perfectly with a birch beer and the aroma of funnel cakes in the air made it all that much more enjoyable.  It was breezy which didn't seem to affect the burn much, but it took a bit extra to keep it even.  

Into the second third the flavours remained the same but the spice intensified into a peppery sweet like you get with Ligero but not quite as powerful.  I start getting a richer cocoa mixed in and the vanilla and cinnamon seem to back off as just a hint, the leathery earth is still dominant but not overpowering.

3/3

In the final third the pepper and leather take over in full swing everything else pretty much backs off with the exception of a background of earthy cedar which finishes of this great cigar. 

At 12.00 each these gems are worth a one off and definitely worth a try if you can managed to snag one in a trade or buy one from a buddy. 

If this were a regular production I would think they could back off to about $8.00 or $9.00 to hit the sweet spot. Unfortunately there are no plans to duplicate this at this time or in the near future, however Nice Ash is not only working on a different blend, but the in-house Roller and blender, Gregorio, puts out an excellent line that if you ever get the chance I recommend, it's a store only cigar and not a collaboration.

Famous announces 75th Padrón Anniversary Cigar.

Easton, Pennsylvania based retailer Famous Smoke Shop is celebrating 75 years in business, and they now have a special exclusive cigar to commemorate the occasion. Today the retailer has announced that Padrón Cigars has made available a limited edition cigar that will be carried exclusively by Famous – the Famous 75th Padrón Anniversary Cigar. The cigar is now currently available from the retailer.

The Famous 75th Anniversary Cigar is based off the Padrón 1926 Serie line.  It is a 5 x 54 box-pressed robusto. As with most Padrón Cigars, the Famous 75th Anniversary will be available in a Nicaraguan Habano or Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper.  The cigars are available in ten count boxes and there is a total production of 3,000 boxes. Consistent with the 1926 Serie, a serial number will be on the cigar band.  There will also be a secondary band indicating the exclusive cigar to Famous.

Famous_Smoke_Shop_75th_Anniversary_by_Padrón_Cigar

The project for the Famous 75th Anniversary is described as a collaboration between Jorge Padrón and Famous Smoke Shop CEO Arthur Zaretsky – two second generation men in the cigar business with a combined 115 years experience. Zaretsky’s parents founded Famous Smoke Ship in 1939 in New York City before the store was moved to Pennsylvania.

“Both Jorge and I owe a lot to our parents and the values they taught us,” said Mr. Zaretsky in a press release. “So, in celebrating our 75 year legacy as Famous Smoke Shop, and in the spirit of family, we celebrate you – our customer – with this special cigar from Padrón.”

At a glance, here is a look at the Famous 75th Anniversary Cigar by Padrón.

Blend Profile

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano or Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Vitolas Available

Both the Natural and Maduro version of the Famous 75th Anniversary Cigar will be available in one size – a 5 x 54 box-pressed