IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB reviewing nearly two-dozen
hand-rolled premium Churchill size cigars, but
somebody’s got to do it. That somebody in this
case turned out to be a panel of seasoned cigar
veterans and gifted palates who have recently
taken to the leaf – reflective of our overall audience.
Each cigar was evaluated according to an
exhaustive list of criteria, including aesthetic
presentation, construction, wrapper, draw, how it
lit, aroma, flavor, ash and aftertaste. Thinking
ourselves the arbiters of good taste – that’s what
they pay us for around here, after all – we’ve issued
a pithy report (each Churchill can be outstanding,
superior, worthy, mediocre, or unpalatable).
But much like a Zagat review, this is merely a
guideline, a compilation of opinions; with premium
cigars (as with fine wines) everything is ultimately
a matter of personal taste. This is ours….
-the editors
Arturo Fuente Double Chateau Fuente Sun Grown
The aroma of this stick (and its taste during the dry draw) sounds like a pretty
good day on the farm: “sweet,” “honeyed,” and “hay.” Ditto the medium-bodied
flavor, summarized as “hay,” “flora,” and “woody.” The cigar itself was
tightly constructed, with “some veins – not too bad” and a “smooth” wrapper.
The draw itself was thought “slightly tight” by some, “smooth” by others,
while the stick was “a little difficult to light.” Aftertaste was nonexistent.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
$5.75/stick
$105.00/box of 20
CONCLUSION: WORTHY
Ashton Heritage Puro Sol Churchill
Once lit, this cigar “draws smooth as it looks,” producing both an aroma and flavors of wood (“a hint of cedar”)
and earth. A “nutty” dry draw transformed a “consistent…not particularly pungent” smoke (with a flavor of “light
spice, pepper, and sesame seed notes”), which finished with a light and “not overpowering” aftertaste. “I’d smoke
this one again,” said one reviewer, who thought the cigar would go nicely paired with a port.
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
$9.25/stick;
$231.25/box of 25
CONCLUSION: WORTHY
Bolivar Corona Gigante
The “berry” and “fruity” notes experienced during the dry draw turned out to
be a preview for this “perfectly wrapped” cigar’s heavy fruit aroma and fullbodied
“salty, fruity, berry” flavor. The cigar’s draw, once lit with only a little
difficulty, was extraordinarily tight for some, peerlessly easy for others. There
was “consistency in blend throughout the box,” with reviewers experiencing
the same taste and scent notes as the cigars burned towards their “effervescent”
(and relatively aftertaste-free) ends.
Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
$30/stick
$750/box of 25
CONCLUSION: OUTSTANDING
Camacho Corojo Churchill
“Very classy” in its presentation but “slightly uneven” in the construction, this
cigar presented radically different sensations to different reviewers, who alternatively
described the dry-draw taste as “hay” with “roots,” “green tea,” and
“almond-like.” The cigar itself lit and drew smoothly, with a flavor of “leather,
spice and earth,” and a poignant yet pleasant aftertaste. “A very original and
elegant cigar.”
Wrapper: Honduran Corojo
Binder: Honduran Corojo
Filler: Honduran Corojo
$5.90/stick
$147.50/box of 25
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR
CAO Cameroon
Lighting “easily,” this cigar had an “excellent” draw (“like a highway,” in the parlance of one) but with “unremarkable”
flavor and “not much aroma” — although the highwayman also thought the dry draw had an unmistakable
“woodsy” taste. Aesthetically, the stick had a “sleek, sexy, nice sheen” and “firm construction.” Despite the
extremely mild flavor (Cameroon wrapper), the aftertaste was found to be “slightly bitter.”
Wrapper: Cameron
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
$7.80/stick
$156/box of 20
CONCLUSION: WORTHY
Carlos Toraño Virtuoso
The sleek, dark and oily wrapper intimidated at least one reviewer, who lit it
(easily) expecting the sort of smoke that leaves your tobacco newbie seeing
stars. However, looks can sometimes be deceiving, as this Churchill offered
up a “nice perfume” of an aroma, and a “subtle and rich” flavor with “hints of
spices and nut” – albeit with a pungent aftertaste “like eating bark.” The burn
was slightly uneven.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan & Panamanian
$6.96/stick
$174/box of 25
CONCLUSION: WORTHY
Cuvée Blanc Churchill
“Very nice, but not super-memorable,” one reviewer summarized. Indeed, this
symmetrical and handsome stick, “spongy” to the feel with “slight veins,” had
a lot going for it: A virtually nonexistent taste during the dry draw turned into
a “salty,” “woody” flavor, with aromas of “berry, honey, and wood.” The stick
lit easily and burned coolly, and then exited stage left with a faint aftertaste
that was “light, toasty, with a touch of earth.”
Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Vis us Dominican
Filler: San Vicente Seco (Dominican)
Piloto Cuba no Seco (Dominican)
Olor Ligero (Domincan)
Peruvian Seco
$7.20/stick
$171/box of 24
CONCLUSION: WORTHY
Davidoff Aniversario No. 2
This “perfectly” constructed cigar had a wrapper with smooth texture and few
veins. With virtually no taste on dry draw, reviewers caught “the aroma of
hay,” which flowed into a medium-bodied “hay” and “sweet” flavor once the
cigar was actually lit. Everyone felt the stick had an extremely mild aftertaste.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian (CT shade seed)
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
$26.70/stick
$667.50/box of 20
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR
Dunhill Signed Range Churchill
One experienced reviewer found this the “surprise of the tasting,” not knowing
quite what to expect upon lighting up. The “spongy but firm” construction and
“smooth” wrapper boded well before the smoke; the dry draw had a distinct
“fruity” taste, while the flavor was “salty,” “acidic,” and “effervescent,” with
a “light but bitter aftertaste” reminiscent of “roasted nuts.” Overall the cigar
had a “smooth draw” and a “leathery, woody aroma.” Paired with drinks, the
Dunhill could go well with an Oregon pinot noir.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaraguan &
Dominican Republic
$14.50/stick
$362.50/box of 25
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Churchill Especial
“Classic” in its aesthetic presentation, with a smooth wrapper, this was definitely
a full-bodied cigar – one reviewer described the taste as “knockout,” while
another (a huge fan of strong smokes) summed it up with pithy “Oh yeah!” The
flavor itself was “hints of English leather” with “a bit of fruit,” although a cigar
neophyte classified the aroma as “locker room.” One on the panel thought the
draw was a bit tight, noting that it “made me feel light-headed.”
Wrapper: Ecuadorian sungrown
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
$8/stick
$160/box of 20
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR
(recommended for seasoned cigar smokers)
Fonseca Vintage Churchill
From the silky wrapper to the aroma of almonds, our reviewers found this stick “inviting.” That positive vibe
continued with a clean and even lighting. Dry draw had “a touch of cedar, but not much evident,” and although
the draw was slightly tight after lighting, the cigar seemed to open up after the first inch, unleashing flavors of
“toasted marshmallows, fruit and peaches.” The aftertaste was decidedly nutty, “light and lingering.” As one
reviewer concluded: “A perfect lunch smoke.”
Wrapper: Ecuadorian (CT seed shade)
Binder: Dominican Olor
Filler: Dominican Cuban Seed
$7.35/stick
$147/box of 20
CONCLUSION: OUTSTANDING
Graycliff Chateau Grand Cru Presidente
There was some inconsistency in the box: one reviewer found a “smooth”
wrapper and “solid” construction, while another found their wrapper “uneven
and bumpy.” Nonetheless, there was a pleasant dry draw (one reviewer
described the taste as reminiscent of “a farm” or “a field”) followed by a
medium-bodied flavor with hints of “brandy,” “cedar” and “fruit.” Aftertaste
was “a little bitter.”
Wrapper: Costa Rican
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Nicaraguan, Costa Rican,
Ecuadorian & Zimbabwean
$22/stick
$110/5-pack
$500/box of 25
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR
Gurkha Grand Age
If you’re the type for whom no meal is complete unless it’s doused in some
industrial-grade hot sauce – perhaps accompanied by some 150-proof alcohol
– then the Gurkha Grand Age may be the smoke for you. Its tight construction
led to a slow lighting and burn. The dry draw was described as “spicy, woody,”
while the “slightly arid” aroma was definitely “pumpernickel or toasted rye.”
Flavor was “harsh, with a real bite to it,” followed by a “thick, earthy aftertaste.”
Great packaging did not equate to a great cigar.
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan & Peruvian
$11/stick
$550/box of 50
CONCLUSION: MEDIOCRE
Hoyo de Monterrey Churchill
Our reviewers found that this cigar, from an aesthetic point of view, lacked a certain degree of elegance, with an
uneven construction and prominent veins. It turned out to be a dependable smoke, though, lighting evenly (and
drawing tight at the first few puffs), with a decidedly “heavy” flavor, an “earthy” aroma, and strong aftertaste.
Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
$19.55/stick
$488.75/box of 25
CONCLUSION: WORTHY
Montecristo White Churchill
This stick, light and smooth on the outside, packed tight with tobacco within,
produced a “woodsy” dry draw, a “sweet, somewhat spicy” aroma and a
“bland, sweet” taste with “a herbal note.” A medium- to full bodied smoke, the
cigar was found difficult to light, with a tight draw. Another found it fine on
all counts, summing up with: “I’d love this in summertime with a cold Corona
on the beach.”
Wrapper: Ecuadorian(Connecticut Seed Shade)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
$10/stick
$250/box of 25
CONCLUSION: WORTHY
Partagas 160 Cifuentes Especial
The Cameroon wrapper on this cigar had “sunspots” and “pronounced but not
excessively large veins, which adds to the allure of age.” The dry draw was
“spicy,” “slightly peppery,” but “subtle.” The stick lit easily and had a “sweet and
slightly peppery” aroma, combined with mild- to medium-bodied flavor notes of
“nutmeg, raw honey, and cinnamon” as well as “almond.” This is not a cigar to
be smoked quickly (otherwise it develops overly heated smoke). It had a noticeable
aftertaste. “All around a fulfilling and enjoyable smoke,” said one reviewer.
Wrapper: Cameroon (1977)
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Dominican & Mexican
$30.90/stick
$309/box of 10
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR
Rocky Patel 1992 Vintage Churchill
After a flavorless dry draw, this uniform-colored and well-constructed cigar
“lit right up” and had a “smooth” draw, but tongues were scoured by a taste
like “toasted or burnt earth” (according to one reviewer). Another gave high
marks to the “light and toasty” aroma, but found the aftertaste a bit heavy. The
cigar produced “solid ash” and had a “nicely consistent burn,” even though
one stick had to be re-lit multiple times.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra (aged 10 years)
Binder: Nicaraguan (aged 7 years)
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan (aged 7 years)
$7.75/stick
$155/box of 20
CONCLUSION: MIXED--TRY IT--YOU MAY LIKE IT, YOU MAY NOT
Romeo y Julieta Churchill
One of the more famous brand names in the business came out of the gate
strong; one reviewer opined that the “well rolled” cigar appropriately “looks
great.” Some experienced tastes of “berries” or “a field” during the dry draw,
along with a “floral” aroma. Flavor was medium-bodied. Some reviewers had
difficulty lighting their sticks, and experienced an uneven burn, while others
had no issue with either. Aftertaste was “mild and pleasurable.”
Wrapper: cuban
Binder: cuban
Filler: cuban
$17/stick
$425/box of 25
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR
Stradivarius de los Maestros
Long before the matches come out, the Stradivarius’s long wooden box makes
a huge impression – “impressive,” “great packaging.” Fortunately, the cigar inside
seemed just as carefully made – “beautifully rolled,” someone said, “with
a nice cup.” Dry draw before lighting was “buttery and smooth,” with tastes
of “hay and cedar,” while it lit “like a moth to flame.” One reviewer classified
the “velvety” taste as “pancakes,” and another thought it “grassy.” During the
smoke, the cigar produced flaky ash and a “light-bodied” aftertaste.
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade(aged 15 years)
Binder: Dominican Havana Seed(aged 2 years)
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan & Mexican
$34/stick
$340/box of 10
CONCLUSION: WORTHY
Troya Clasico LXIII (Churchill)
With a taste-free dry draw opening up into the “sweet aroma” of “wood, cinnamon and honey” and a full-bodied
flavor with “pepper and cinnamon notes,” this was one (“firm but spongy,” “smooth,” “well-constructed”) cigar
unanimously praised. Our reviewers disagreed on the aftertaste, with some finding it sweet and others sour, but it
was generally agreed that the stick lit and smoked easily. “This would be perfect if paired with a red-rare steak and a
big Bordeaux.”
Wrapper: nicaraguan
Binder: nicaraguan
Filler: nicaraguan
$9.50/stick
$190/box of 20
CONCLUSION: SUPERIOR
