Snoop Dogg has a line of toys, his own reality show and malt liquor. But can he be the next Jonathan Drew or Rocky Patel?

Probably not, but Snoop’s launched his own line of cigars, called Executive Branch. Its first product will be the Executive Branch Cigarillos, which will go for 99 cents a pouch, with two cigars per pouch.

According to the press release, the cigarillos will feature “premium tobacco from the Dominican Republic,” but at the price point, it remains to be seen. Flavored cigars are also on deck later this year. “Throughout 2012, we plan on releasing new styles and flavors, in which I will be working with their team to make sure all products are up to Snoop Dogg standards,” says “tha Doggfather.”

We’ll see what these standards are; it looks like Executive Branch is the first tobacco product from its parent company, RSL Productions, makers of Snoop Dogg cigarette paper booklets.

If we can get our hands on a pouch, we may follow this up with a review at some point. (For kicks, mostly.) Until then, enjoy some of Snoop’s better work.

- Daniel

Related Posts

• Cigars Trumps Politics and More
• Chairman and CEO of Swisher dies at 79
• Show Us Your Camacho!
• Show Us Your Camacho Winner is…
• Camacho Releases the Diploma in Two New Sizes

Tasting Notes:

Well constructed, honestly I don’t think I’ve ever seen a poorly constructed cigar from Tatuaje. The cigar is firm but has a fantastic draw. I’m picking up some black pepper before lighting it, leaving my mouth tingling.

After lighting up the first third is dominated by the spice, with a nice heavy smoke that coats your mouth. The spice mellows a bit around the halfway mark, picking up some leather, wood, and black coffee. I’m a bit surprised that I can feel a faint nicotine buzz, rather pleasant, I don’t know the last time a cigar gave me one. The cigar finished up much like the second third, though definitely picking up some sweeter notes.

Overall:

Definitely a stronger, later in the day cigar. I suggest you take your time with it, and not have an empty stomach. I’ll be picking up two or three boxes soon. This is probably one of my top five cigars for 2011 and be one of  my go to evening smokes.

Sponsored By: The Party Source Welcome cigar enthusiasts and aficionados. We are delighted to provide you with immediate, any time access to the premier cigar humidor in the region.

Related Posts

• A Quiet Celebration
• Tatuaje Noelles Cigar Review
• Tatuaje Cigars Website Review
• Cabaiguan Guapos – Cigar Links Edition 17
• Cigar Review: Cabaiguan Guapos 46

Nothing like sitting back with a great drink and cigar to reward yourself for working hard and getting something you wanted. My private victory celebration is a bottle of Wild Scotsman Black Label a couple of choice cigars. I chose the Fausto by Tatuaje and a Casa Fernandez Arsenio. While I enjoyed celebrating with my family with a nice night out, sometimes I love nothing more than some time to myself with a well paired cigar and drink. I’ve yet to smoke the Arsenio, but the Fausto and Black Label compliment each other nicely. I’m not going into more detail, because this cigar is for enjoyment not critiquing tonight.

Sponsored By: Cigarmony.com Get 5% Off Your Order By Using The Promo Code “CJ2010″

Related Posts

• Help Me Pick My New Job Celebration Cigar and Beverage
• Cuban Cohiba Pyramid 2006 EL Review
• The Cigar Smoker’s Journey
• Cigar Review: Gurkha Black Dragon Imperial Presidente
• Nat Sherman 1400 Series Omerta Cigar Review

I’ve been a bit missing in action again and got a few reviews backed up. The past few weeks I’ve been spending all my free time working on getting my current house ready to sell and looking at new houses. We finally settled on the house we want and close in a couple of weeks.

Anyways I wanted to point out a really cool cigar room that Ryan put in his basement. Once I get settled in I’ll have to get started on a similar project in the new house.

I’d be interested if anyone else has done something similar or do something to control the smoke in their house. Until I can get this built I’ll be smoking on the deck or in the garage. :(

Sponsored By: Cigarmony.com Get 5% Off Your Order By Using The Promo Code “CJ2010″

Related Posts

• MI House Passes Smoking Ban
• Only Use a Proper Ashtray
• Even Nature Conspires Against Me…
• Happy Thanksgiving!
• Cigar Bar Exemption Hearing

Know it’s been a little while since I’ve done a #cigarchat event (you know, new job and all), but they’re back!

The next chat, sponsored by Chicago-based Tesa Cigars, will be on Monday, September 27 from 7-9pm CST, and the cigar we’ll be smoking is the Tesa Cabinet 312.

Once again, there will be a few sticks to go around. Follow me on Twitter at @DanielHonigman and keep an eye out for my announcement there. The first 10 people who DM me after that (A few from Chicago, 4-5 from elsewhere) will get a Cabinet 312 to enjoy during the event. (Of course, you’ll have to smoke it during the #cigarchat, and provide proof in the form of a photo or video that includes the proper hashtag.)

Hope you can make the chat!
_______________________

NOTE: This was originally published on DanielHonigman.com in its Cigar of the Week category.

Sponsored By: Cigarmony.com Get 5% Off Your Order By Using The Promo Code “CJ2010″

Related Posts

• Cigarchat #4 announcement, along with sponsor: Tesa Cigars
• Next #cigarchat, along with our sponsor announcement: Partagas
• CigarChat #6, Sponsored by CAO
• CigarChat #5 announcement, and our sponsor: Jameson Cigars
• New date for #cigarchat: August 13, 7pm CST

I couldn’t make it to the IPCPR Trade Show this year. So make sure to check out Stogie Guys and Stogie Review for the latest updates on the Trade Show.

Sponsored By: Cigarmony.com Get 5% Off Your Order By Using The Promo Code “CJ2010″

Related Posts

• Plans for the IPCPR Tradeshow
• Booth Babes of 2008 IPCPR Trade Show
• Photos from 2008 IPCPR Trade Show
• Server Move
• Even Nature Conspires Against Me…

My wife sent me this yesterday and is still pestering me for an answer.

There is a story about a knight who ends up married to a hideous old hag in honourable obediance to a vow. On the wedding night the hag turns into a beautiful young woman. The knight has a choice: she can be beautiful in the privacy of their bedroom or beautiful in the public hall. Wonder what most people would choose?

Sometimes it is better to just not answer those questions when either answer could get you in trouble. Or maybe I’m over thinking it.

Sponsored By: Cigarmony.com Get 5% Off Your Order By Using The Promo Code “CJ2010″

Related Posts

• Podcasts and Video Spots
• Cigar Gift Advice Q&A
• Questions for Jon Huber of CAO
• Tatuaje Cigars Website Review
• Interview with Eddie Ortega

I know this is a newer release from Pinar Del Rio, but I can’t find much information on this cigar except that it is Dominican and Nicaraguan Blend made in Dominican Republic. I picked up a Toro for under $4 as one of the cigars to try on my vacation. Finally getting a moment of peace after a rather hectic vacation I sat down to try this cigar.

The PDR 1878 Cubano Especial has a mild-medium, but much complexity. Unfortunately the first one I tried was later in the day and I couldn’t pick up many of the subtle flavors. Even smoking this cigar in the morning I’m not sure I picked up everything, some of the flavors were a bit elusive. The cigar gave off plenty of smoke that felt smooth and creamy in the mouth, complimenting well my morning cup of coffee. The main flavors come across as nuts and coffee with an overlay of something floral, being a farm boy I couldn’t help but think of alfalfa or clover hay.

Verdict: Make this one of the first cigars you smoke in the day or you might miss out on what it has to offer. I thought it paired well pretty well with my coffee with cream and sugar. I’ll be adding the reasonably priced Connecticut to my buy list. Pinar Del Rio Cigars available at The Party Source.

Sponsored By: Cigarmony.com Get 5% Off Your Order By Using The Promo Code “CJ2010″

Related Posts

• Hurricane Gustav Punishes Pinar del Rio
• Tabacos de la Cordillera Fundacion Ancestral Pinar del Rio 1941 Torpedo Cigar Review
• Back from vacation.
• Cigar Review: Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial
• Cigar Review Roundup June 22 2007

Do you have a specific vitola that you always buy? Then you might be missing out. So I challenge you this weekend to buy a cigar you enjoy in the size you usually buy it in and in one of the two extremes. If you prefer Churchills I want you to smoke a lancero or corona. If you like coronas try something on the larger end.

Take some notes and let us know the difference in how the cigar smokes and the flavor changes because of the difference in size. Please add your thoughts in the comments.

Update: Well I took my own challenge this evening with the Origen by J. Fuego. Since my palate is a bit shot tonight I found the lancero more enjoyable.

Sponsored By: Cigarmony.com Get 5% Off Your Order By Using The Promo Code “CJ2010″

Related Posts

• All March Prizes Going Out The Door
• Win $2500 in Camacho 10th Anniversary Commercial Contest
• An Apology
• Contest: I Want New Cigar Swag! – NOW CLOSED!
• Flash and Search Engine Optimization

General Cigars Announced the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos De Tabaqueros back in April on the Team La Gloria Site. Tonight this was a special cigar presented to us as a surprise at The Party Source’s weekly cigar tasting. Typically I scan through press releases and ignore most of what is said since you can’t smoke words. This press release did a great job though describing some of the work that went into this cigar.

Created by Team La Gloria Cubana to showcase the artistry of La Gloria Cubana “tabaqueros” (artisan cigar makers), Artesanos de Tabaqueros cigars are a stunning embodiment of the time-honored craft of cigar making. So exacting is the skill required to handcraft cigars of this complexity that Benji Menendez personally selected an elite group of just 18 master cigar makers, representing the cream of the crop from El Credito Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic.

Meticulously crafted to combine two different wrappers and two distinct tastes in one eye-catching cigar, Artesanos de Tabaqueros is a world-class smoke that opens to a rich and intriguing spice and ultimately reveals a depth of flavor that can only be achieved through a precise balance of unique and rare tobaccos. Hand selected from General Cigar’s extensive library of Dominican and Honduran tobaccos, the cigars are dressed in both a supple Connecticut Shade and hearty Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. The blend is made solely of proprietary tobaccos, each aged five years or more.

 

Also while poking around the Team La Gloria site I found this video which takes a look at this cigar being made. It is fairly short and to the point.

Now, on to my impression of the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros. When the local sales representative from General Cigars, David Crowe, handed me this cigar the first thing I did was push it up out of the cellophane enough to smell it. Immediately I could smell a very rich barnyard smell. I couldn’t wait to sit down and smoke this cigar. The presentation is beautiful. When you crack open a box you don’t want to smoke them, you want to put them on the mantle.

Almost all the cigars I’ve smoked in the past with two different wrappers would often have burn issues, but this cigar burned perfectly right through the transition. The Artesanos de Tabaqueros isn’t tightly filled cigar it has quite a bit of give to it, but the draw is right.

I was told there is ligero in the filler and it definitely stands out with that familiar bite you’d expect. The Connecticut Shade end start off with earthiness, hay and a little black coffee. There is a definite change once the Ecuadorian Sumatra Maduro takes over, with rich bittersweet dark chocolate coming through. The coffee is still hanging around along with nuttiness and touch of cinnamon. It finishes as well as it starts, rich and smooth right to the end.

Verdict: I admit I don’t pay much attention to what the big cigar manufacturers release year to year, because honestly most haven’t really impressed. This is completely different. This is a beautiful cigar that I’d love to share with someone, in fact I plan to take two on vacation to share with my father. In my local shop this cigar retails for $8.00 and for a difficult to make unique cigar it is a reasonable price. A definite must buy if you can find them.

Sponsored By: Cigarmony.com Get 5% Off Your Order By Using The Promo Code “CJ2010″

Related Posts

• Los Tabaqueros Documentary
• Labor Day Smokes
• What is everyone smoking? August 25 Edition
• Cigar Battle Quarterfinals have begun.
• Cigar Review: La Gloria Cubana Wavell Natural