BACKGROUND:  As I stated a few months in my review of The Edge Habano Toro (review #2); Rocky Patel began his career as an attorney in the entertainment industry. While working with the clients he  represented, he would relax with them as they smoked between takes on the set. During that time, he was approached to invest in a friend’s cigar company and quickly became fascinated with the vast array of tobaccos and processes of creating cigars. He eventually stopped working as an attorney and has become a leading manufacturer of premium cigars. 

Rocky Patel’s company is based in Naples, Florida where his upscale cigar bar ‘Burn’ is located. A ‘Burn’ lounge is scheduled to open in Pittsburgh, PA this year. Out of all the cities in the United States, why did Rocky choose Pittsburgh? His popularity here? Future development potential? Close proximity to Heinz Field? It’s safe to assume that this location was selected because of my close proximity to the area.  Premium cigars… professional football… and Ramona.  What more could a man ask for?

Wrapper: 12-year-old Honduran Broadleaf wrapper
The Vintage 1990 is a gorgeous looking cigar. The Honduran broadleaf is smooth, slightly oily, and has a soft, supple, dark
chocolate color which highlights the sexy outline of the veins.
Sometimes dark chocolate is the way to go. MMMmmm…
Binder: 7-year aged Nicaraguan
Filler: 7-year aged Dominican and Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium-bodied; though I describe the body as rich
MSRP: $9.30
Factory: El Paraiso, in Honduras
Vitolas: Petite Corona, Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, Sixty, Churchill, Perfecto, Robusto (glass tube), Churchill (glass tube), Toro (tubo)
Smoking Time: 1 hour

BURN/DRAW/ASH: The burn line is razor sharp. Very few touch-ups are needed and it produces thick, billowing clouds of creamy smoke. As I breathe the air in the room created by this sexy cigar, the exquisite mixture of tobacco notes touches my senses. A Beautiful Cigar Touches All Of My Senses…

The pack is firm, and the stick feels stiff and good in my hand. After cutting with a deep V-cut, I find that it has an effortless, easy draw. The foot toasts beautifully, and creates an immediate, enticing red glow, indicating that it is ready for me, beckoning me to fully ignite it. Ripe with anticipation, I slowly suck on it with the gloss from my moist lips. 

FLAVOR:
The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 greets me with a warm welcome, wearing nothing but 2 simple maroon rings around it’s dark chocolate, oily wrapper. From the onset I knew I was opening myself to a smooth, complex, sophisticated smoke. I lick my lips in anticipation of the firm shaft hovering near my open eager mouth. The blend is perfect for my palate; not overpowering, but perfectly balanced in complexity. The marriage of rich flavors-earthy, nutty, cocoa and coffee- linger beautifully in my mouth. The taste remains rich and smooth throughout. Remember, the most important quality that Ramona demands in a cigar; it must be smooooth…never harsh. The first-third proves to be a wonderful journey… exactly what I expect when enjoying a premium cigar.

As I move into the second-third the flavors come together to build into an even better taste composition, with layer after layer of flavor. I can almost anticipate the evolving flavor notes as I move deeper and deeper into the experience.
The retro-hale is gentle but full, and further allows me to taste the harmony of the Dominican and Nicaragua tobaccos that Rocky selected for this cigar. May I repeat myself by saying that if you are not retro-haling, you are not fully tasting any cigar.

PAIRING:
I have chosen to pair the Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 with ‘the girls’- my girls…
A truly mind blowing threesome.
For some, smoking cigars is a pleasant activity, and for some it is a lifestyle embodying sophistication, luxury and style. Whatever your level may be, let’s step it up a bit.  I read a fabulous article written by Jack Bettridge in the April issue of Cigar Aficionado Magazine, concerning how to properly fold a pocket square.
My question is this: Where are we placing those perfectly folded pocket squares? In the hood of a sweatshirt?

A lifestyle of sophistication AND the lifestyle of everyday life requires a sport coat/jacket in which to place the pocket square.
Men are constantly and instinctively hunting women. I don’t want to speak for all women, but since I am the writer of this piece then I shall say whatever I want; women like men who are well groomed and well dressed.  Is it so fucking hard to put on a suit? No tie required, a sport coat with jeans and a nice t-shirt will suffice. You don’t need to be rich to look nice. You can purchase a sport coat for the same price as a NFL hoodie.

How do you prefer your woman to dress? In giant sweats and a baggy t-shirt? Or in a tight short dress and heels? Then go buy a few fucking suits and sport coats. Take it up a notch and add a damn pocket square!! Try it, see how it makes you feel about yourself and see the response you get from the ladies…   

RAMONA’S FINAL THOUGHTS:
Smoking cigars unites individuals that would not typically cross paths. Economic, political, social, and racial barriers are dissolved in a cigar lounge. I recently attended an event in Miami attended by 60 people who were EXTREMELY diverse, but everyone socialized and smoked together. I would not normally have had the opportunity to converse with 60% of the group if we were not brought together by cigars. As members of this group let’s light up and luxuriate in the fact that we are united in this special, sensual form of recreation.

Smoking is a sitting sport, so sit down… escape for a moment… don’t rush it. Take an hour for yourself and enjoy the sensuous experience of smoking. Let it touch your senses, caress and relax you. Engage in conversation with a stranger, day dream, or let your fingers dance across the keys of your laptop like I do while smoking on my little balcony.

When you’re finished, the only remaining evidence of your experience will be the thick intoxicating smoke lingering in the air, the chunks of light grey ash in the ashtray, and the sweet fantasy lingering in your mind.
I recommend that you penetrate the pace of your day with a Rocky Patel Vintage 1990. It will be time well spent.

A Beautiful Cigar Touches All Of My Senses
MMMmmmmm….
…Love, Ramona

My reviews always feature an awesome photo of my chosen cigar. As you can see, these photos are taken by members of my Photography Department, in my
state-of-the-art studio, with wireless flash guns, backdrops, umbrella reflectors, tripods, and hundreds of feet of wires and cables. Actually, the photos are taken by me, using my cell, in my tiny apartment kitchen.

I usually choose the backgrounds in my photos to highlight the visual aesthetics of the band or wrapper leaf of a particular cigar, but this time I decided to take a different approach. I featured my phone and keyboard as an illustration of just how important these technological devices have become in our daily lives. When I walk into a restaurant or cigar shop it drives me crazy to see that no one is speaking to each other, because they’re all preoccupied with staring into their damn phones. Children can’t ride in a car or sit in a restaurant for more than six minutes without watching a movie or playing a game.
As does everyone, I use my phone as my center for communication, but I know when to put the motherfucker down!
Advice from Ramona: Don’t be a slave to your device-let your device be a slave to you.

Now, on to the cigar…
BACKGROUND:
 RoMa Craft Tobac is the outstanding result of a collaboration between Michael Rosales and Skip Martin. Their journey began by making cigars in one of their garages with borrowed equipment, but in 2013 they opened their own factory in Esteli Nicaragua called NicaSueno. Here they produced an ultra-boutique line of cigars called The Intemperance. The Intemperance series is as smooth, sultry and passionate as the decadent sensation of that first magical kiss from a woman that was once an object of fantasy.
RoMa Craft created the Intemperance line of cigars with a distinctive blend of tobacco, then created 2 different varieties by encasing them with different wrappers, providing each cigar with a unique taste.

You may select the Intemperance EC XVIII with the (EC)Ecuador Connecticut wrapper OR the Intemperance BA XXl with the (BA)Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper.
The Roman numerals refer to Constitutional Amendments; XVlll references the 18^th Amendment which established Prohibition, and XXl refers to the 21^st Amendment which repealed the 18^th amendment.

The name “Intemperance” derives from the Temperance Movement which resulted in 13 years of prohibition to the United States. Since smoking is now being demonized just as alcohol was, RoMa Craft is rallying against the anti-tobacco movement (of which we all feel the effects of today) in an effort to make people aware that we must each do our part to protect our cigar freedoms.
 
This review will be about the BA XXl Intemperance Ambition.
Wrapper: Brazil Arapiraca
The BA in the name of the cigar represents the Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper. This wrapper is grown in Brazil, in the municipality of Arapiraca. It has a striking, sexy, rustic toothy texture with tight seams and lots of veins. Ramona likes them veiny.

Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Nicaragua/Dominican
Strength: Medium, not overpowering
Body: Medium
MSRP: $7.50
Vitolas: Available in 5 sizes with a ‘sinful’ name designated for each size (the original sizes are named after some of the Seven Deadly Sins and the EC series is named from some of the Seven Cardinal Virtues):
The Intrigue (Petit)
The Avarice, (Short Robusto)
The Envy (Short Perfecto)
The Breach of the Peace (Gran Robusto)
The Ambition (Belicoso)

BURN/DRAW/ASH:
I have been smoking this cigar for nearly a year and the burn line is consistently even, requiring minimal touch-ups. Although The Ambition is my favorite vitola, I keep a supply of The Intrigue (the smallest size) in my humidor to enjoy on my little balcony when I am rushed for time.
The draw on this cigar is perfect. As when first feeling your partner, it provides a touch of resistance, but it quickly opens up and allows for perfect penetration.
The Intemperance produces a solid white ash. When the ash finally falls, a nice conical ember remains. The ash holds nice and firm, not for too long… just firm and long enough to do the job.

BODY/FLAVOR:
The body of The Intemperance is smooooooth. I DO NOT like cigars that are even slightly harsh.
Remember, A Beautiful Cigar Touches All Of My Senses, and anything harsh is not acceptable to my delicate palate. The flavor profile of The Intemperance is superb, embracing notes of pepper, cocoa, coffee and oak. The blend is exceptional and produces a wonderful combination of flavors in my mouth. Although this is a dark, oily smoke, the assemblage of the flavors is not overpowering.  I can enjoy this cigar in the morning with coffee on my little balcony, but it provides enough rich flavor that I can savor it at the end of a stressful day.
 
This cigar has a very small exposed foot that -in theory- affords the smoker the opportunity to taste the tobacco blend prior to adding the flavor of the wrapper… but by the time I toast the foot and draw on the stick, the exposed part is gone, so I have not been privy to this experience. Size matters, especially when it concerns an exposed foot. If they made the shaggy foot a bit longer, I would be able to taste the naked tobacco blend before igniting the wrapper. I must have been unavailable on the day that Michael Rosales and Skip Martin called to ask my opinion concerning the cigar’s construction. (ha-ha.)

WARNING: The following 3 paragraphs are educational; BE CAREFUL-YOU MAY LEARN SOMETHING….

Many people do not understand the difference between BODY, FLAVOR and STRENGTH. Fortunately, I am here to explain…
BODY refers to the description of the impact the cigar has on the palate: its texture, weight, richness… the overall feel in your mouth (NOT the suppleness of a woman’s freshly moisturized and perfumed thigh). Body is described as; light, light-medium, medium, medium-full, full. The greater the impact you feel in your mouth and nose (retro-haling), the greater the cigar’s body.

FLAVOR refers to the actual taste of the cigar; sweet, sour, salty or bitter. There is more to tasting a cigar than putting it in our mouth and sucking on it (trust me- I know). The adjectives used when describing a cigar can include peppery, nutty, creamy, etc… are created by these flavor categories. Retro-haling (exhaling the smoke through your nostrils) is critical to tasting the flavor of a cigar; if you are not retro-haling, you are not fully tasting your cigar.
Tasting a cigar encompasses ALL of your senses; taste the flavors on your palate, smell the complexity of the smoke in the air, touch the wrapper against your fingers and lips, hear the strike of the match, see the smoke as it leaves your mouth. A BEAUTIFUL CIGAR TOUCHES All OF MY SENSES. Now do you understand why I say this? I don’t just make this shit up! 

STRENGTH simply refers to the amount of nicotine and is described as; light, light-medium, medium, medium-full, or full.
The Intemperance BA is FULL-BODIED, its FLAVOR embraces notes of pepper, cocoa, coffee and oak, and its STRENGTH is medium.

RAMONA’S FINAL THOUGHTS:
The smoking time for the Ambition is approximately an hour. If you decide to smoke this cigar you will find it completely satisfying… not as satisfying as climbing into a warm bed already occupied by an eager lover, but still good.
This cigar is rich and – like me – it has an abundance of flavor packed into its small size.
The Intemperance BA XXI is my favorite cigar from RoMa Craft, but I recommend trying their other lines, CroMagnon and Aquitaine.
You may also want to try the Neanderthal, but be aware that it is Double Ligero and much stronger that the others.
(Strength = nicotine, remember? Ligero is a type of leaf which is high in nicotine content.)

Priced at only $7.50, the value of this cigar is incredible. RoMa Craft is producing excellent cigars at attractive prices. As is apparent from my daily posts on Facebook, I like cigars that produce thick, creamy smoke after each puff. When I exhale, I like to watch (a lot of people like to watch) as that creamy smoke passes over my lips and fills the room.
Take a break from the craziness of your everyday life.  Put your damn phone down, close your laptop, and allow yourself to sit back, relax, and chill out with the RoMa Craft Intemperance. You’ll be glad you did.

A Beautiful Cigar Touches All Of My Senses
MMMmmmmm….
…Love,Ramona

BACKGROUND:
The Camacho Cigar company was founded in 1961 by Simon Camacho, and was sold to the Davidoff Group in 2008.  Zino Davidoff was born into a family of tobacconists, then as an adult he took over his parent’s cigar store in Geneva Switzerland.  His store became a popular destination for wealthy, famous clients and the Davidoff name became synonymous with fine cigars. To keep his cigars at their peak of freshness for his clientele he devised a way to make a climate-controlled room. This ingenuity has transformed into the walk-in humidor that tobacconists utilize today. For the home, he invented a small humidified box called the humidor. Mr. Davidoff remained with the company until his death at the age of 84. The company is now independently owned by Oettinger Davidoff AG.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged, is the first in a new series by Camacho called the “Master Built Series”.  This is the first time that a Camacho cigar has not been produced in Honduras; it is manufactured

in Davidoff of Geneva’s state-of-the-art Dominican factory. This new cigar incorporates bourbon barrel-aged Corojo leaf into a mostly American tobacco blend.

A few interesting facts from Wikipedia; “In 2010, after working for many years on a partnership with the Bayer Food Management program, Camacho Cigars is the only tobacco company in history to be in compliance with international standards which ensures the responsible management of natural resources, bio-friendly pesticides, industrial safety, and bio security”. If you are ‘going green’ this may be vital information for you.
“Camacho Cigars signed a three-year deal with the Orange Bowl and the NCAA for the 2012-2014 Orange Bowl games and the 2013 BCS National Championship. The sponsorship was pulled after several public health organizations raised concern, saying tobacco promotions have no place in sports and shouldn’t be allowed under federal tobacco marketing restriction.”

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican, Pennsylvania Maduro, Honduran Corojo, bourbon barrel-aged  corojo
Body: Medium-Full
Sizes: Gordo, Robusto, Toro
Blender: Elado Diaz, Davidoff
MSRP: $10.00
FLAVOR: A Beautiful Cigar Touches All Of My Senses, and the sensuous flavor of this cigar brings me pleasure every time I slowly pull down the wrapper and toast its foot.
The Camacho American Barrel-Aged boasts a combination of mostly American broadleaf tobacco. Incorporated into the blend is a Honduran Corojo filler leaf that’s aged for 6 years. The Corojo tobacco is then aged for 5 additional months in charred Kentucky bourbon barrels to provide a truly lustful flavor. The key to this blend is the flavor instilled by the barrel aging. Barrel aging is a laborious process; thousands of pounds of Corojo tobacco is rotated, one leaf at a time, in barrels every few weeks.
The barrel aged Corojo leaf amplifies the complexity and depth of the blend, contributing oaky flavors, and sweet bourbon aromas, creating a truly unique taste. The fierceness of this blend is almost erotic; like allowing yourself to thrust into an earth-shattering orgasm with the hot server that you have been secretly gazing upon at your favorite local bar.
Present are notes of charred wood, a slight undertone of bourbon and some Corojo sweetness. Even though only the Corojo leaf was aged in a bourbon barrel, I was surprised that this note did not overwhelm the essence of the blend. The remarkable favor warrants playing with and touching it a bit more…

WRAPPER:
The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper displays a luscious chocolate color with a touch of oil on the surface. It is nice and smooth, thin visible veins, some tooth present, with thin seams that are nice and tight. This wrapper is similar to seeing a sexy woman across the room, and looking forward to getting to know her so that she will allow you to see if she is nice and tight.

RETRO-HALE:
The touch of bourbon sweetness in this cigar provides it with a beautiful retro-hale. Try it… you will like it… If you do not know how to retro-hale there are many U-Tube videos to teach you. As I have mentioned in previous reviews; if you are not retro-haling, then you are not truly tasting any cigar.

BURN/DRAW:
No need to write a paragraph here; the burn and draw of this cigar can be described in one word; perfection.

ASH: The ash is light charcoal gray in color and comes off the cigar in nice clean chunks.
PAIRING:
I have paired the Davidoff Camacho with shoes.
Not just any shoes, we all know what they are called;
‘Fuck-Me’ shoes. Like a good cigar, they are sexy and Touch All Of My Senses…

RAMONA’S FINAL THOUGHTS:
You have heard about the people who go into someone’s home and when using the bathroom peak inside the medicine cabinet? It’s true, nosy women do this; not Me-I don’t give a shit. Have you ever been a guest in someone’s house and peaked in their humidor? You can get to know someone by seeing what they have in their humidor…

Although this is definitely not a flavored cigar, I recommend this stick for someone who likes a touch of flavor in their smoke. This is not for the smoker that likes the blast of strong the earthy, peppery taste.

At $10.00 per stick it is an excellent value and is good enough to be a staple in my humidor. Want to see what’s in my personal humidor?
This Camacho produces copious amounts of rich, cool, creamy, thick smoke. After it lures you in, it fills the air with a delicious plume of euphoria.
This cigar has peaked my interest enough to try another one of the Camacho blends; the Triple Maduro is next on my list. Enormous accolades to Davidoff for this orgasmic blend.

A Beautiful Cigar Touches All Of My Senses
MMMmmmm…..
…Love, Ramona

BACKGROUND: The Espada is the result of an amazing collaboration between Montecristo and Nestor Plasencia. The Plasencia family is world-renowned for growing exceptional tobaccos; they own state of the art factories and create premium cigars for several well-known brands. For this particular collaboration, Montecristo’s team of top blenders (known as Grupo de Maestros) were given full access to Palencia’s entire repository of specially aged Nicaraguan tobaccos. The result was the Espada; Montecristo’s first Nicaraguan Puro.

The Espada is adorned with three bands which provides a handsome, distinctive look. The middle band displays 2 crossed swords, as Espada means “sword” in Spanish.

Wrapper: The Maestros have selected a gorgeous brown Habano wrapper (Vintage 2010) from Jalapa, Nicaragua.
I discussed Jalapa in great detail in my last review. Did you retain any of that information??? Do you need to go back and reread it??? If so, it’s located in the section about Cuban tobacco..
Binder: Habano Jalapa, Vintage 2009
Filler: Habano Jalapa, Viso Ometepe (Vintage 2008), and Habano Condega Ligero (Vintage 2008). These well-aged fillers create an exceptionally rich-tasting cigar.
Body: Medium-Full, though this reviewer rates it as Medium.
Sizes: Churchill, Robusto, Toro
Origin: Nicaragua
Blender: Grupo De Maestros with the Plasencia Family
MSRP: $12.00. Beautifully packaged in suede-covered 10-count boxes. The box is so handsome that, upon glancing at it in the humidor, it has you in its clutches already…..
Release Date: August 2014

FLAVOR: The Espada is overflowing with flavor. A mingling of wood, nut, and a touch of subtle underlying sweetness. Although my ex-husbands may disagree, I too have a touch of underlying sweetness.
This cigar’s flavor evolves as you smoke it. The flavors develop and change in complexity as you move through the second third and approach the final third. The combination of flavors makes it a bold, deeply satisfying smoke. Deeply satisfying is obviously preferred; a man doesn’t want to be partially satisfied, he wants to finish and be satisfied upon completion.  Pleasure from smoking a cigar can last more than an hour…. but another type of pleasure – between 2 people – can peak from 10 to 30 seconds, or (if you’re lucky) 30 seconds to 5 minutes. At that moment when your body hits the height of passion, you must completely surrender to euphoria; only then you have reached the deepest level of ecstasy, allowing you to achieve that 5-minute mark of lingering bliss.

BURN/DRAW: Although it is well-packed, the cigar feels extremely light in my hand. The draw is absolutely impeccable and provides plenty of flavorful smoke on my palate. It produces an uninterrupted stream of creamy, light-colored smoke. The ash is firm and dark gray and holds for about an inch before falling off.  It burns straight and flawlessly throughout the length of the shaft.

RELAX…..
There are a multitude of relaxation techniques and stress-management programs to reduce the symptoms of stress, lower blood pressure, slow your heart rate, and generally help you enjoy a better quality of life. My stress-management program is as follows: chillin’ out and smoking a cigar.
Getting enough sleep and exercising is good for your body too, but fuck that shit. No one I know gets enough sleep, and I would rather pay Takeru Kobayashi’s bill at the hot dog shop than exercise.
I don’t do yoga, Tai Chi, or meditation; I smoke cigars. Whether my anxiety is minimal or spiraling out of control (and lately it’s been spiraling), taking time to sit down and smoke a premium cigar completely calms me and clears my mind so I can continue with the rest of my crazy, fucked-up day.

Sexual desire is supposed to decrease during times of stress (if a lion is on the prowl, sexual excitement needs to diminish so you can focus on your survival), but I find sexual activity to be intensely therapeutic and relaxing. When I am feeling tense and my man comforts me…. kissing, touching, licking and stroking begin to take over, I become excited, I become wet, passion takes over, and afterwards I am more relaxed.

I normally smoke in the morning while having my coffee and in the evening while working on my blog; during these cold winter days when I cannot smoke on my little balcony I go to the smoke shop. I love my little neighborhood smoke shop, but it takes time to get dressed, drive there, talk to the guys…  My stress level is at its lowest when I can just wander out onto my little balcony in my pj’s (each sexy teddy has a matching silk robe). My stress level is significantly higher when I am forced to leave home to smoke.
My stress is out of control when I am unable to smoke AT ALL!! Occasionally, while traveling, I am not able to smoke for 3 or 4 days, and the results are not pretty. Not at all. While I was in Florida a few weeks ago, I was unable to smoke for FIVE DAYS. When I landed back home, I dashed to my car at the airport and immediately lit a cigar for the ride home. Fortunately, I had wooden matches stashed in my car as I knew my lighters would be frozen. The fact that it was a mere 6 degrees outside and snowing heavily was of no consequence. I put the window down and lit up. As I began to puff on the round tip, I could feel my body begin to relax. I was able to let go and surrender myself to the moment, so by the time I got home, my level of stress was much lower.

PAIRING: I have paired the Montecristo Espada with an elegant, slightly ostentatious purse. The luscious shade of green complements the delicious milk chocolate color of the wrapper.

RAMONA’S FINAL THOUGHTS: I experienced the Espada by Montecristo for the first time approximately one year ago, and since that time it has remained in my “Top 5.” Holding a spot in Ramona’s Top 5 is not an easy task…. for either cigars or men. They must both be deeply satisfying; something I know with certainty I will enjoy every time.  My Top 5 are my go-to cigars. When I saunter into a cigar shop ready to smoke, I want to grab something hard and veiny, something I know I’m going to love. My Top 5 cigars come alive in my hand, throbbing when touched to a hot flame.

A Beautiful Cigar Touches All Of My Senses. Similar to being with a lover that you have ravaged many times before as opposed to cautiously undressing with a new partner; with a new partner you must slowly explore their body bit by bit, inch by inch…. to learn how they taste and feel….. until you know exactly where to lick to send electricity surging through their body.
This cigar is exquisite, elegant, refined, and most importantly smooooth. Ramona always likes it smooth…

A Beautiful Cigar Touches All Of My Senses
MMMmmmm…..
…Love, Ramona

People often ask me how I select the cigar that I’m going to review. The selection process this time was not difficult, as several people recommended that I review this intense, mouthwatering, sexy new cigar. After sampling a few sizes, I want to share my moments of passion, fantasy and secret thoughts about Nick Melillo’s first solo release: El Güegüense, The Wise Man.

When you are sitting in your office wishing you were somewhere else, do your dirty lustful thoughts take your mind to another place? A place where you are touching the exposed foot of a cigar to a fiery wooden match? When the day is done and you finally leave the office to smoke, Is the cigar as good in real life as it was in your fantasy?

BACKGROUND: El Güegüense is the debut cigar of the Foundation Cigar Company, which is owned by Nick Melillo.  Nick’s career began as he worked in a cigar shop in Connecticut, the same shop where his grandfather purchased his pipe tobacco. A few years later, Nick was offered a position with Drew Estate; eager to seize this opportunity, Nick moved to Nicaragua and enjoyed a successful relationship with that company that lasted for over 10 years. As a result of his profitable time with Drew, Nick recently made the decision to start his own company, Foundation Cigar. In 2015 he released his first cigar under his own banner; El Güegüense (pronounced whe-WHEN-say), named after one of the oldest known Nicaraguan folk figures, the “Wise Man”.

Body: Medium/Full. It begins in the medium category but eventually moves into the full-bodied range.   I like full-bodied cigars, but I like my body to have a sultry, sexy physique.

Sizes: Churchill, Corona, Robusto, Toro, Torpedo.   The torpedo is my favorite vitola.
I don’t enjoy torpedoes if they’re box-pressed; I don’t like feeling a square shape in my hand and a pointed end on my lips…. This torpedo is properly cylindrical, and the firm shaft feels just right each time that I pull it toward my wet mouth.
Smoking time is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, how long does it take you to finish?

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99 wrapper from Finca
Puntalito in the Jalapa region of Nicaragua. (A finca is a farm.) The color is a rich shade of dark brown, a perfect contrast against my soft, pink skin. A subtle, oily sheen, just the right amount of tooth, thin veins and tight, visible seams (it’s always better when it’s tight…). The flavor provided by this wrapper is deliciously mouthwatering.

Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99, the same succulent leaf as the wrapper, but from a different farm, Finca San José in Jalapa.

Let’s talk for a moment about Cuban tobacco with regard to the wrapper and binder utilized in El Güegüense.   Be careful you may learn something…….

The Corojo wrapper was used exclusively on all Cuban cigars from 1930 to 1990. This is what gave Cubans their distinctive, full-bodied flavor. Cuban Corojo (from the original El Corojo farm) was the finest wrapper leaf in the world; it was thin, supple, and had exceptional flavor characteristics.

Unfortunately, true Cuban Corojo was highly susceptible to disease and blue mold, which unfortunately killed off the strain.
Eventually the original Cuban Corojo was replaced with plants grown from original Corojo seed. Growers engineered hardier strains by utilizing hybrid, cross-bred seeds that were more disease-resistant and higher-yielding, but with similar flavor characteristics.

The first of these new hybrids was Habana 2000, but it was unpopular due to fermentation problems and burn issues.  Other hybrid strains were cultivated which were more successful: Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99, both of which are used in the Wise Man.
In Nicaragua, near the Honduran border, not far from Esteli (a name you’ll see on many of today’s finest cigars), the village of Jalapa is the ideal place for growing these new hybrid tobaccos. The rich, jet-black volcanic soil and ideal climatic conditions are said to rival Cuba’s best growing regions. For many years, Nicaragua has successfully yielded top-quality leaf, providing us with true Puros (cigars made with all-Nicaraguan tobacco grown from Cuban seed), satisfying our cravings for traditional Cuban flavor.

Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 (Esteli and Corojo), ’99 Nicaragua (Jalapa) and a blend of Corojo and Criollo long-fillers from 2011 and 2012.

Factory: El Güegüense is made in the Tobaccos Valle de Jalapa (TABSA) factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.

Ring: The blue-and-gold band beautifully accentuates the beautiful chestnut wrapper and displays artwork from the traditional festival pageant entitled “The Wise Man.”  If you look closely at the band you can see the colorful costumes of the performers.

MSRP: $10.50

STRENGTH/BODY/FLAVOR: This Nicaraguan puro, aged in cedar, is an elegant, complex, well-balanced cigar. Though it contains powerful tobaccos, I would characterize it as delicate; it never overwhelms my palate, and the ever-evolving flavor remains strong and smooth.

Upon lighting, it starts off powerfully, with notes of pepper, coffee, and a hint of sweetness. Those of you who are familiar with my reviews know that I rate my cigars based on how smooth they are, and this cigar is smooooth.

 A BEAUTIFUL CIGAR TOUCHES ALL MY SENSES. Smoking something harsh does not compel me to have another one. Take it from Ramona: this blend is luscious. Don’t deny yourself another one….you can do it as many times as you want…

El Güegüense truly achieves a complex flavor. Some cigars are solid, consistent from beginning to end; some are more complex with a variety of flavors developing as you smoke them. This cigar evolves into an intricate combination of flavors, and it should be enjoyed deeply and slowly. Don’t rush it. Take your time and savor it. Over the years my palate has evolved to the point where I enjoy more complex blends, and this is now one of my favorites.

In the second-third it moves from medium to full-bodied, and the earthy notes remain strong to the end. El Güegüense leaves a nice lingering taste of pepper on my lips….and there aren’t many flavors I like to linger on my lips.

PAIRING: I paired El Güegüense with my pink pajamas, and matching blue bra and panties, as they coordinate beautifully with the satiny brown wrapper and the brightly colored band. I had to zip up the pink pj’s for the photo, but allow your thoughts to go where they may…

THE BURN: The cigar lights and burns perfectly, producing a good amount of gray, silky smoke that I can exhale sensually from my lips and into the room. Though minor touch-ups are required once or twice (no
thing unexpected), the burn line is mostly even and repairs itself when it starts to run. The light gray ash held on for nearly an inch; for an ash I like it long and firm, in other things, I like a bit more girth. The band removed easily without damaging the delicate wrapper. The firm shaft of the cigar is warm to the touch, doesn’t have any soft spots, and feels magnificent in my hand. While your cigar burns, relax and think about that thing you did last night…

RAMONA’S FINAL THOUGHTS: A beautiful cigar touches all of my senses, and El Güegüense achieves full sensuality.

El Güegüense offers something for each of my senses: I feel the tooth of the wrapper in my hand; I hear the gentle crackle of burning tobacco as I smoke on my little balcony; like an intoxicating perfume, I smell the aroma of the perfectly fermented Nicaraguan tobacco; I taste the notes of pepper on my wet lips; as I gaze at my body in the large mirror in my office, seeing the sophisticated beauty of my blue bra and panties.

Nick Melillo has been working all his life to get to this point in his career, and in my not-so-humble opinion, his goal has been masterfully achieved with the creation of this incredible cigar.

I recommend having a moment of passion with this cigar at any time, in any mood, with anyone that you enjoy smoking with.  Maybe smoke one by yourself, close your eyes, spread your legs, reach beneath the blankets, let your thoughts and hand wonder to secret places…

A BEAUTIFUL CIGAR TOUCHES ALL OF MY SENSES
MMMmmmmm….
…Love, Ramona

BACKGROUND: The Nica Puro Rosado was unveiled just a few months ago and is a new addition to the Nica Puro line from Alec Bradley.

Following the sale of his family’s hardware business, Alan Rubin used the profits to create a cigar company which he named after his two children. Initially, the company did not enjoy much success, but a few years later Mr. Rubin hired a cigar-savvy man named Ralph Montero and they started making a new line of cigars called “Occidental Reserve.”
Since that time the company has been thriving, and the “Prensado” was named the #1 cigar of the year by Cigar Aficionado Magazine in 2011. The company is based in Dania Beach, Florida and uses tobacco grown solely from Nicaragua, hence the name of this particular cigar: Nica Puro.

–Wrapper: Nicaraguan Rosado Colorado. This rich-tasting, light colored golden wrapper adds an abundance of complexity to the taste of this cigar. The flavorful Colorado wrapper is what distinguishes it from the existing Nica Puro line, and it gives this cigar a smoother smoke than its predecessors. Let’s remember the baseline Ramona uses to rate her cigars: how smooth they are. I like it smooth…… If I smoke a cigar that isn’t smooth, I will not smoke it again for very long time. (Though I’ll always give it a second chance.)

–Binder: Nicaraguan (Double Binders). Double-binding seems to be all the rage this year. This is probably the fifth or sixth cigar I’ve seen that mentions double-binding.
–Filler: Nicaraguan, grown in Jalapa, Esteli, and Condega.
–Strength/Body: Full. This cigar is described as Medium/Full, but I consider it Full. Like me, it is full-bodied and full of flavor…… Smooth, succulent, sweetly-scented, juicy…… and it tastes sooo good. Feel the excitement in your body as smoking it envelops all your senses.
–Vitola: The Nica Puro Rosado is manufactured in 6 sizes, and all of the sizes come in 20-count boxes. The torpedo is my favorite….. it’s just the right size and feels nice and firm as I clench it tightly in my hand.
–Price: $8.00
–Blender: Alan Rubin; owner of Alec Bradley

FLAVOR/ STRENGTH: The Nica Puro Rosado encompasses a medley of complex Nicaraguan flavors that mingle in my mouth with full-flavored taste. The initial puffs have an earthy, spicy flavor which remains consistent throughout the length of the cigar. The earthy notes are distinct and dominating (and sometimes I like it that way), remaining on my palate until I draw again. This cigar doesn’t leave any bitterness on my tongue; just some pleasant, tingling spice in the back of my mouth. Nice and smooth…
Like I said, it’s full-bodied; it starts off strong and it stays strong. This is a beautiful blend of Nicaraguan tobacco that will satisfy both novice and complex palates. Women are also beautiful and complex: no two are exactly alike…. some are novices, and some can get down and satisfy the most complex, erotic fantasies for their man. Those women who cannot may want to step up their game.

PRE-LIGHT AROMA: Before lighting the Nica Puro Rosado, the firm shaft and evenly-cut foot provide a generous aroma of earthiness and spice. The pre-light aroma provides an accurate indication of what is to come………

THE BURN: I have to say, I fell in love with the Nica Puro Rosado. I’ve been enjoying them all week, but I have to admit that I’ve had a problem keeping them going. Similar to a man finishing “prematurely,” this cigar stops smoldering long before I am done with it. The one I smoked yesterday had to be relit four times before I reached the wet, rounded nub. I know it was stored at the proper humidity level, and I know I was drawing on it hard enough – everyone should know how to suck something to get it nice and hard – but nevertheless I had to touch it up repeatedly.

RETRO-HALING: Don’t EVEN tell me that you’ve tasted a cigar if you’re not retro-haling. As we are all aware, I involve all my senses when I smoke….. and the combination of taste and smell is imperative in differentiating the variety of flavors on my palate. Retro-haling allows the smoke to travel through the back of the throat into the nasal cavity. It is not at all like exhaling cigarette smoke through your nose, as retro-haling bypasses the lungs. Channeling the smoke through the nasal cavity and expelling it through your nose greatly increases the number of aromatic molecules that are exposed to the olfactory nerve where your sense of smell is perceived. If you need assistance learning this technique, there are many fine instructional videos available on YouTube. So go watch one and fucking learn something.

PAIRING: The beautiful color of the Rosado Colorado wrapper exquisitely pairs with my pink lip gloss, which complements my pink tank top and coordinates beautifully with my moist pink…..

Remember: A Beautiful Cigar Touches All My Senses… and this cigar has touched my luscious wet lips every day for the last week. MMMmmm….

RAMONA’S FINAL THOUGHTS: This phenomenal cigar has enticed me to further explore the Alec Bradley brand, including the original Nica Puro and the Prensado.
At a price of $8.00 per stick it is an excellent value. I recommend this cigar to everyone except those who prefer a milder smoke. I will keep my single-flame torch nearby for touch ups. Burn issues aside, it really is an alluring cigar.

Can a cigar be sexy? Yes. Can smoking a cigar be an amorous/sensual experience?

Yes.

Many reviewers make statements like, “An enjoyable smoking experience” or, “A nice smoke from start to finish.” Fuck that noise. Limp statements like that do not even remotely illustrate how smoking affects me. Smoking is a sensual experience…… you must allow it to envelop your body and bring pleasure to all your senses. I like my cigars smooth, and the Nica Puro Rosado is smooth… abundant satisfaction, enough to satisfy the harshest reviewer; Ramona.

This cigar is smooth and encompasses all of my senses….
MMMmmmm……
Love…Ramona