Newly (and nearly) out-of-control with this Cigar situation.

04.09.09 - I've been slacking off on the reviews (which are already bloated)! I'm removing text from older reviews to keep this section from getting too topheavy.

2.6.09 - I'm not shitting you, Gatorade goes pretty well with a Gurkha. Electrolicious! Also, I've got way too many Gurkhas, they're all starting to taste the same. Solid, delicious, but a little too sweet and a bit shy in the spicy department. Still, not complaniing....

11.30.08 - Help! I'm on the tail end of a 2-week run of some pretty mediocre cigars and I need some recommendations to end the losing streak...

11.17.08 - Adding a "Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar" section for the numerous varieties of acceptable-but-not-mindblowing cigars that I've had lately. The more cigars I try, I'm finding I can lump a lot of them together into a sort of "middle of the road" category...cigars that I would definitely smoke if somebody handed one to me, but wouldn't necessarily seek out again.

10.28.08 - The more cigars I try, the broader my range of understanding/appreciation becomes. I was told I'd need to have some bad cigars in order to appreciate the good ones, and this seems to be true thus far. As such, some of the more recent cigars might be held to a higher standard than, say, the cigars I tried 2 months ago, and the more recent ratings may have suffered accordingly. Still, an "A-" was an A- when I tried it, and likewise a C+. I might rate each a little differently today, but these are the grades each was given when smoked.

10.15.08 - The humidor has been seasoned. I'd love to have a reassuring wave of confidence wash over me about the results, but I'm just not that positive that I did an effective job. We shall see!

Some "note to self" comments below (so I can remember what worked and didn't work via the cigar.com COTMC). All non-lunatic comments or suggestions appreciated.

A
Casa Fuente Pyramid: 6.14.09 - Received this cigar as a birthday present from a neighbor and it blew my mind. Medium, toasty, extremely well-balanced and delicious. Sadly, it looks like I'll have to go to Las Vegas if I want to get my hands on another one. Wait, actually there's nothing sad about that, haha...

Graycliff Chateau Gran Cru: 4.9.09 - I'm man enough to smoke a cigar with a pink/purple logo. Was obliterated at Mandalay Bay when I bought this cigar with poker winnings, but by all reports I went apeshit over this one. Probably everyone else who was at the craps table is not a fan of this particular cigar.

Diamond Crown Maximus: 12.13.08
Cigar Press Magazine: http://cigarpressmag.homestead.com/
Padron 1964 Anniversary: 11.22.08

A-
Graycliff Crystal: 5.27.09 - Upgrading from B+, the second try revealed a full, complex and delicious (but still brutal) cigar. The draw is unrivaled.
5.17.09 - Not fucking around! The "Pirate" size is a big, thuggish torpedo that bowled me over from the outset. I never really got my bearings with this smoke due to the heaviness but I'd try this one out again. The pre-light smell was amazing.

Viaje Oro: 4.26.09 - Loved it! Great nose, stayed tasty the whole way. For $8 per stick it's definitely the best value in the A/A- range...

Tatuaje Miami: 1.24.09
Gurkha Master's Select: 11.17.08
Casa Magna Robusto: 11.8.08
Gurkha Centurian

B+
Carlos Torano Exodus Gold 1959: 7.2.09 - I tried a Torano Exudus Silver yesterday and it was completely average so I figured the Gold would be crap as well. However, maybe it's a Nicaragua/Honduras thing, but I liked this cigar despite my predisposition to the contrary. Almost a junior version of a Padron Anniversario. Too much spaz in that parallel? Probably...still, it's sitting very well in the aftermath on this sunny July afternoon with no souring out. A nice toasty, firm-drawing surprise.

Oliva Serie O: 6.4.09 Update - Upgrading from B to B+. Nothing jumps out at me but I've got to say, I've got no beef with Oliva cigars. Super-solid, enjoyable Nicaraguan with a nice draw, decent nose, no burn issues and no souring out.

Graycliff 1666: 5.27.09 - Downgrading to B+, the second 'gar I had struck me as a bit more average...
5.8.09 - Delightful cigar. Basically a rock-solid Nicaraguan smoke with all kinds of strange and unfamiliar undertones. Rather exotic tasting and definitely the first time in ages I've smoked a 'gar down to the nub. If I had to come up with a complaint, it may have been a tad milder than ideal, but I'll definitely try this cigar again.

Arturo Fuente Opus X: 4.9.09 - Alright, everyone's gonna kick my ass for ranking this below a couple of Gurkhas, but please remember I didn't know shit in Oct/Nov, so hear me out: I had no problem with this cigar, it was great. However, after all of the hype and the $40 sticker price I just couldn't get that psyched when a nine dollar Casa Magna outperforms (in my humble, naive opinion) the Led Zeppelin IV of cigars.

Joya De Nicragua Antano: 1.11.09
Alec Bradley Maxx Traditional Churchill: 1.2.09
Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ: 12.4.08
Davidoff Perfecto: 11.2.08
5 Vegas Gold Torpedo: 11.2.08
Verdadero Organic: 10.31.08
Tatuaje Havana VI: 10.28.08
Gurkha Legend: 10.21.08

B
Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 7.4.09 - Alright, I'm definitely backing off my my strict "Fuck Rocky Patel" rule here. My good buddy Pete sent me 5 of these for my birthday and I really like these 'gars. Perhaps because of the Honduran-ness of this cigar I'm dealing with unfamiliar territory, but it struck me as strangely (and pleasantly) sweet, but still with a healthy amount of strength and richness. The box press is a big plus, I've got no beef with this cigar. Probably would go B+ if every other RP I'd tried wasn't such crap, haha.... 'Merica.

Oliva Master Blends Series 3: 6.14.09 - Great unique shape (oval, semi-box-press), decent cigar.

Graycliff G2: 5.9.09 - Perfectly decent mild-meduim churchill. Didn't get funky until the very end, the burn was great and it had enough punch to keep things interesting.

Padilla Habano Churchill:
La Aroma De Cuba:
G.A.R. by George A. Rico: 10.29.08
601 Habano (Red): 10.21.08
Gurkha Regent:

B-
Graycliff Espresso: 5.27.09 - Strong but not overpowering. Soured out midway through and didn't leave much of an impression on me.
CAO Italia - 5.2.09 Interesting! Spicy, strong, and unique.
Padilla Series 68 - 1.31.09
Ashton VSG: 1.10.09
La Aurora Preferido: 12.22.08
Drew Estate Tabac Especial Maduro: 12.15.08
Gurkha Doble Maduro: 1.20.09
Avo 787: 11.26.08
Bolivar: 11.22.08
CAO Brazilia - Anaconda: 10.28.08
Nub Habano: 10.21.08
Gurkha Titan:

Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar - "Old Man" smokes, the Budweiser equivalent. (And I like Budweiser, mind you, but I'm aware that there are superior beers...).

Carlos Torano 1916: 07.04.09
Carlos Torano Exodus Silver: 07.01.09
Graycliff Original: 5.27.09
Cohiba Red Dot: 1.28.09
Macanudo 1.26.09
Ashton 1.11.09
La Aroma De Cuba Edicion Especial 1.10.09
Sol Cubano Sumatra 12.11.08
Partagas 12.5.08
Arturo Fuente Short Story 11.26.08
Gurkha Signature '101' 11.22.08
Jameson Black Label: 11.17.08
La Gloria Cubana: 11.17.08
Alec Bradley Tempus: 11.12.08
Camacho Maduro: 11.8.08
Don Pepin Garcia Tabacos Baez: 11.8.08

C+
CAO Black: 5.27.09 - Not a fan.
Rocky Patel Fusion: 04.24.09 - Meh.
5 Vegas Limitada 2008: 11.30.08
MAXX by Alec Bradley: 11.8.08

C-
CAO MX2: 05.15.09 - Bleaugh!
Rocky Patel Sun Grown: 12.23.08
Padilla Obsidian: 12.6.08
Rocky Patel Decade: