Ave Maria Reconquista Review

Wrapper: Brazilian Habano Oscuro
Filler: A blend of Nicaraguan tobacco from various regions
Price: $20.00

This is cigar is the fourth installment for my anniversary series. And like the other three, there is a reason I chose this particular cigar. When I first started reviewing cigars, one of my favorites was the original Ave Maria line. That cigar was also the cigar the got my dad hooked on enjoying cigars with me. That cigar will always be special to me. Not only did it bring my dad and I closer, but it gave me a regular smoking buddy.

Thankfully I met someone who lives near and frequents the Cigar International Superstore, because without him, I most likely would not have had the ability to review this cigar. Since the original Ave Maria has been a personal favorite of mine for about a year, I could only imagine how this one would compare.

The packaging on this cigar is awesome. This cigar comes is a fancy coffin case. When you open the coffin, it lifts the head of the cigar up so you can grab it easily. The cigar has a very dark brown, oily wrapper. The wrapper is very smooth with just a couple smooth veins. This cigar is very solid all the way through. The torpedo cap is perfectly smooth and come to a nice point. The smell coming off of this cigar has sweet chocolate scent to it.

Zack the Stogie Man's Top 10 of 2011

Back in March of this year, I set upon a mission to find some of the best cigars. Throughout the year I have visited a wide variety of shops, as well as different online retailers. But without the help of family, friends, social media, and of course, my friends over at /r/cigars, none of this would have been possible.  Another special thank you goes out to all of the cigar companies that have been in contact with me and their sales representatives for all of the samples they have supplies me with. The people I have met over the past nine months have really helped this website become what it is today. With total page views creeping up on 30,000 views, I feel this website is going in the right direction, and I have all of you to thank for this wonderful feeling.

Now I will get into the part that everyone has been waiting for. This is a compilation, of what I feel, were the 10 best cigars that I reviewed in 2011.

Ave Maria Lionheart Review (Saturday Morning Smoke)

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Filler: Nicaraguan

Price: $6.00 - $7.00

This was my weekly Saturday Morning Smoke. My fiance and I were away on vacation down on Long Beach Island New Jersey, and I just have to say that is amazing to sit out on the deck in the morning with a cigar and the ocean breeze blowing at you.

This cigar has one of the most amazing bands I have ever seen on a cigar. The colors are very vibrant with a knight on it. The cigar itself was a nice box press with a dark brown wrapper. The cap was a little bit lighter of a shade of brown than the rest of the cigar. The smell of the cigar was unique with its combination of the earthy smell with honey notes. The only flaw in this cigar was a little crack up by the cap, that looks like it was probably a stress crack from the box press.