While down at the Havana Smoke Out sponsored by the wonderful folks at The Midwest Cigar Summit, I was given a 3-pack sampler of the Cuba Aliados Fuerte Media Corona. Three days later they are all gone. This was one of the finest constructed smokes that I have fired up in awhile. This is my new favorite for the summer.

The Cuba Aliados Fuerte Media Corona measures a modest 5.5 x 44. It is tightly constructed with Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. It is finished with a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper. This slow burning blend has a light toast flavor with hints of cedar. Oh so good! It is extremely easy on the palate and a perfect smoke for 18-holes of golf or just hanging out at the pool. The Cuba Aliados lit easily and had a smooth draw. It held a two inch ash before falling. This corona size cigar lasted for well over an hour. As soon as it was out, I wanted to fire up another one. These beauties come in a box of 20 for just under $70. For less than four bucks a stick, it is a must have for any humidor. I was very impressed by this gem that I contacted the Reyes Family to bring some into CigarMonkey, Inc. I should have them shortly along with The Reyes Family Premier.

Wow! What a wonderful smoke and very worthy of a Golden Monkey Award. I can't wait to get them in!

MonkeyDan Rating: 93

Yesterday, I spent the day down in Havana, Illinois at the Havana Smoke Out sponsored by The Midwest Cigar Summit. I spent the day smoking with Big Luke and his father sharing cigar stories and trading each other smokes. One of the cigars he gave me was call the Reyes Family Premier. The Reyes Family is the maker of the Puro Indios line which recently changed it's name to Cuba Aliados. The Reyes Family is also producing a couple of lines that carry their own name. The Reyes Family Premier is one of those smokes, which was one my departing treasures after visiting the fine folks down in Havana.

The Reyes Family Premier toro is a gorilla size smoke that measures 6 x 52. I am happy to see that the Reyes Family is carrying on the tradition of big ring gauges from the Puros Indios line. The Reyes Family Premier is constructed with Nicaraguan fillers from the Condega and Jalapa Regions. The binder also hails from Nicaragua and is finished with a Maduro Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. This big boy lit easily and maintained an even burn. It is a medium -bodied smoke that has a sweet leathery taste with hints of tequila. The Reyes Family Premier is not infused, but call me crazy, I noted some tequila flavor towards the middle to nub (No, I was not partaking either. I was drinking water). The draw was effortless but did require a re-light as I approached the end. I smoked this big old stick until my fingers caught fire. It was a pretty damn good smoke. These smokes come in a box of 20 for around $8-9 a stick.

The Reyes Family Premier is a must try. I liked it so much I may bring some into CigarMonkey, Inc.

MonkeyDan Rating: 87

Today I was preparing for the big Havana Smoke Out sponsored by The Midwest Cigar Summit. The event starts tomorrow in Havana, Illinois at 1 p.m. until dusk. The event is free and will be held at the new Gas Line Lounge & Cafe's 4,000-square foot patio on Main Street. Food, drinks and cigars will be available for purchase and at 2 p.m. you can take a tour of the town with local historian Nancy Iona Glick. From 1850 to 1960 , Havana, Illinois was host city to over 80 cigar manufacturers. At one point, I am sure Mark Twain paid a visit to Havana to get his humidor filled; I plan on doing the same.

In preparation for the trip, I fired up an old reliable smoke called the Hoyo De Monterrey Maduro Rothschild. I have been enjoying these smokes since the late 1980's when they only cost two bucks a stick. Now, they run for about five bucks and are still worth every penny. They are constructed with Honduran, Nicaraguan and Cuban Seed Dominican fillers. They are then finished with a dark, oily Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. This is a full-bodied smoke that has hints of cedar and coffee. Consistent throughout the years, they always have an even burn and smooth draw. The Hoyo De Monterrey Maduro Rothschild measures a mere 4 x 50 and will hold a solid ash until you want to drop it. These little guys come in a box of 50 for about $150. They are as good now as they were twenty years ago.

Next time your at your local B&M, buy a box of Hoyo De Monterrey Rothschilds and fill your humidor with one reliable smoke.

MonkeyDan Rating: 87

The Windy City hit 95 degrees today, so I cut out of work early and headed to the pool. After a quick swim with the kids, I fired up a Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel. I have smoked the Double Ligero before, but I never heard of "The Chisel" until a couple of CigarMonkey fans asked me to get them some. I am glad they did because this smoke is a winner in many ways. I must say that the Dominicana Chisel was a bit too strong for the summer sun, but still a pretty damn good smoke.

This oddly-shaped figurado (more torpedo) is dark and silky. La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro is strong and balanced. Flavors include wood and coffee bean, along with a hint of honey. The finish is spicy and leathery. It is constructed with Dominican Ligero binder and fillers. It is finished with an Ecuadorian Sun Grown Maduro wrapper. It is then tapered at the foot giving it the look of a chisel. You can bite on this baby and it will not crack, split or break. It is well constructed holding an even burn and a long ash. This baby is not for the cigar newbie. It will kick your butt. I picked this cigar up at a local B&M for about $8 a stick. However, you can find them on line for about six bucks. Either way, the price is well worth it. I highly suggest not smoking these in the hot sun. It will only add to it's power. While sitting by pool side, I started getting a little light headed and dizzy. I had to put it down a couple of times to grab some water as well as maintain my equilibrium. Needless to say, I smoke this to the nub. These are a must for any humidor and I will shortly be bringing these into CigarMonkey, Inc. Again, a great choice for an autumn evening by fire side.

MonkeyDan Rating: 92

The van was packed, traveling humidor stocked, the kids were in their seats and the dog was at the kennel. We were all set to go to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to visit a friend and go camping with our families. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and were forced to cancel the trip at the last minute. However, I could not force myself to tell the kids. Instead, we headed to the Indiana Dunes where the weather was a little more pleasant. One of the cigars I packed for my friend was one of my all-time favorite smokes, the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature. After we climbed Mt. Baldy, I fired this baby up on the shore of West Beach as me and the family enjoyed the Gary Air Show. It was a wonderful weekend considering me and Mrs. Monkey did it on the fly. For having no plans, we were able to make the proverbial lemonade.

I have been smoking the Hemingway Signature for well over fifteen years. I was surprised to find out that I have yet to review it. It is a great smoke that I wish my friend could have experienced. This is a perfecto #3 size smoke measuring 6 x 47. It is constructed with the finest Dominican tobaccos which compose the binder and fillers. It is then finished in an African Cameroon wrapper. This gem is easy to lit and the stick keeps it's shape as the ash continues to grow. Needless to say, it held an even burn along with an impressive ash. It is a medium bodied smoke that has a peppery flavor with hints of nutmeg. It is extremely pleasant on the palate and is a must try. The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature is worthy of a Golden Monkey Award. A box of 25 runs for $150.

This is a perfect smoke for any novice looking for a high quality smoke that is easy to find without breaking the bank. Find one. Buy one. Fire it up! Enjoy.

MonkeyDan Rating: 93

Next week Gene Arganese will release two new additions to his growing line of smokes at the upcoming IPCPR Annual Convention in Las Vegas. They are called the ML3 and CL3 which stands for "Maduro Ligero to the 3rd power"and "Corojo Ligero to the 3rd power" respectively. In short, I enjoyed each one but for different reasons. The ML3 was a bit more mild and sweet versus the CL3 which was very spicy and packed a good punch. Preferring stronger smokes, I will be review the CL3 today and the ML3 next week. 

I had the privilege of smoking the pre-release Arganese CL3, which means these smokes are a little young and need about another month of aging.  In any case, I enjoyed them throughly. Gene Arganese obtained the specifications of the pre-1993 Montecristos and basically brought that stick back in the form of the CL3. He copied the soil specifications, fertilization and used the same Cuban seed and blend to create the CL3. The new CL3 is a 1st generation Cuban-seed Corojo wrapper, binder, and filler grown in the Dominican Republic. It is a full-bodied, full-flavored stick. It will be priced around $5 a stick. Currently, there is one on-line retailer taking pre-orders for $98 for a box of 20. I fired up the robusto which measures 5 x 50. Even though these smokes were a bit young, they held an even burn along with an effortless draw which lasted well over an hour. The flavor was a powerful combination of pepper and spice. I would not recommend these smokes to a novice. They kicked my butt each time I fired them up. When these smokes become available, they are a must try if you like a powerful, flavorful, well-constructed smoke.

MonkeyDan Rating: 89 (pre-release)

My awesome wife surprised me with Van Morrison tickets! I am a huge fan of his and own well over 15 of his albums. However, I have yet to see Van Morrison in concert. The tickets were very pricey but it was well worth it. Me and Mrs. Monkey have always wanted to see him and were willing to splurge. For the occasion, I pulled out a smoke that been wanting to fire up for some time, the Fuente Fuente Opus X No. 2. To make a long story short, I am glad I brought it because the concert was a huge disappointment. We saw him at the Rosemont Theater and the sound quality was absolutely horrible. It felt like I was listening to an AM radio station in Siberia. I actually walked out half way through the show. It was brutal, but the one thing that saved the night was my Opus X No. 2. I left the show and walked over to Gibson's Steakhouse to drink a Heineken and fire up my smoke. The Opus X No. 2 saved the night.

The Fuente Fuente Opus X No. 2 is a torpedo shape gem that measures 6.38 x 52. As you are aware, the Opus X is a Dominican Puro. It was one of the best cigars produced in the last twenty years. It gets high ratings; it's expensive; it's rare and it's worth it. The Opus X No. 2 is a full-bodied smoke that packs a punch. The combination of tobacco produces hints of wood and leather. It must be stated that it lit like a champ and maintained an even burn. I smoke this cigar to the nub giving it a GoldenMonkey Award. The Opus X No. 2 comes in a box of 29 for $900 or a single stick for $31. Good luck finding them because everyone is out.

The Fuente Fuente Opus X Series is one of my favorite smokes. Unfortunately, they are way to pricey and impossible to find. Some good alternatives that are a little more readily available are the Padron 1926, Ashton VSG, or the Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve.

MonkeyDan Rating: 94

Over the 4th of July weekend, my buddy Jimbo gave me an impressive looking smoke. It was an oldie but a goody with a little zing. It was a mammoth size smoke called a Punch Presidente Oscuro. It has been awhile since I fired up a Punch and it's been an incredibly long time since I smoke a Presidente size cigar. Further, I can't remember when I enjoyed an Oscuro wrapper. Needless to say, I was looking forward to the Punch Presidente Oscuro.

The Punch Presidente Oscuro measures a whopping 8.5 x 52. It is constructed with Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. It uses a US Connecticut Broadleaf as a binder and finished with an Oscuro wrapper. This combination of tobacco packs a punch that lasts for eight and half inches or two hours. It is not recommend for the novice smoker. It will kick you butt. With that said, it is a full-bodied smoke with plenty of flavor ranging from leather, pepper to a dark chocolate. It is well constructed by providing an even burn and easy draw. It was able to hold a two inch ash before falling on my lap. For such a large smoke, it fired up easily. In my experience, Presidente size smokes require some effort early on to get the baby lit. This was not the case with the Punch Presidente Oscuro, which made the experience that much more enjoyable. These smokes come in a box of 25 for $105. If you ever have two hours to kill, fire up a Punch Presidente Oscuro. You will not be disappointed.

MonkeyDan Rating: 88

The worse thing about throwing a big 4th of July Party, is the clean up. Yesterday, I spent most of the morning sweeping up the street and cleaning the yard from all the firework debris. Afterward, I had to clean the inside of the house, pool, deck...you get the picture. So after all the cleaning was complete, I laid by the poolside all afternoon smoking a Romeo y Julieta Aniversario #2.

The Romeo y Julieta Aniversario #2 is a belicoso that measures 6.125 x 52. It is constructed with Peruvian, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. It has a Connecticut broadleaf binder and is finished with a Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. This blend of tobacco produces a medium-bodied smoke that has hints of pepper and spice. It fired up easily and maintained an even burn. The draw was effortless and made the afternoon completely relaxing. Romeo y Julieta has always been one of my favorite cigar brands. I must make a note to enjoy these more often.  They are a bit pricey running for $170 for a box of 20, which is a bit too high for my liking. It is a well constructed smoke that has lacked consistency in over the years. Beware! However, it was the perfect size, strength and flavor to make a hot afternoon relaxing.

MonkeyDan Rating: 86

After being on the road for the last couple of weeks, I decided to take this week off in preparation for Independence Day. Yesterday, my family went to Six Flags Great America in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago. After fighting bumper to bumper traffic just to get into the parking lot, I quickly fired up an Arganese Connecticut Ambassador Churchill to gear up for all the roller coasters: Superman, Batman, Raging Bull, V2, and American Eagle to name just a few. As we arrived at the parking lot, I had some time enjoy this fine cigar because the kids needed to eat before we got into the park. Also, this was my last chance to fire up because it is a smoke-free entertainment facility. A day at Six Flags and firing up an Arganese Connecticut Ambassador is a great way to start off any vacation.

The Arganese Connecticut Ambassador Churchill is one of my favorite smokes this year. I find myself smoking a lot of these cigars lately. They are great for any golf outing, wedding, or when you have an hour of down time. This a light, creamy, well balanced smoke. It is constructed with Dominican fillers, an Indonesian binder and finished with a Connecticut Shade wrapper from Ecuador. This blend of tobacco produces a light-bodied smoke with hints of almond. As with all Arganese cigars, this is a well made smoke that produces an effortless draw and even burn. With each Arganese Connecticut Ambassador Churchill I smoke, I try to get an even longer ash than the last. I am close to getting a three inch ash on this baby. Give me sometime and I will get it. Who knows, maybe today. In any case, these smokes come in a box of 25 for $136.08. They are essential for any humidor. This smoke is guaranteed to lower your blood pressure, your golf handicap add improve your quality of life. Fire one up and try for yourself.

MonkeyDan Rating: 92