Here are some notes I have made regarding some of the sticks I have tried in an effort to find new favorites. I have been trying a lot of samplers to separate the good from the bad. Feel free to add your own comments and experiences with sticks you have tried. Generally speaking, I like a mild-to-medium smoke.

More to come as I try new brands and blends.

5 Vegas Gold – Pleasant but not eye-popping. Might be all right once in a while for something different.

826 – Good looking cigar that doesn’t smoke as well as it looks. Got hot very quickly. The one I had needed a strong draw to smoke and the smoke heated up almost from the beginning. Color me unimpressed.

Acid Cold Infusion Tea – Perhaps the most unique cigar I’ve tried. A vaguely sweet taste to the wrapper, flavor a little milder than I like (at times it seemed that there was no flavor at all). Intriguing enough that I plan to try some of Acid’s other blends

Black Pearl – Unremarkable smoke. Starts harsh, smoothes out a bit, not something I will likely buy again.

CAO Brazilia torpedo – I thought it would be better. Not a bad smoke but not a great one, either.

Carbon Copy – The (Cuban) Cohiba-esque wrapper caught my eye. Big mistake. Horrible flavor, harsh aroma. The only cigar I can remember throwing out before I got halfway through it. About the only thing it has in common with the Cuban brand it tries to mock is that it is brown.

Carlos Torano 1916 – Started out a little harsh but smoothed out quickly. Nice flavor and aroma.

Carlos Torano Casa Torano – One of the nicer smokes I have tried. Pleasant favor with no harsh undertones.

Carlos Torano Familia Cubana – A nice, smooth smoke. Becoming one of my favorite brands.

Carlos Torano Silver Edition Grand Churchill – a smooth, satisfying smoke. Lives up to the brand.

Cohiba (Cuban) corona – Hands down the finest cigar I have ever smoked. Pleasing, moderate flavor, even burn. Will the embargo ever end?

Cohiba (Dominican, “red dot”) – Decent but unmemorable smoke. Not even close to the Cuban brand whose name they ripped off.

Felipe Gregorio – a nice mild smoke, even flavor to the end.

Fonseca – A bit stronger than I like. Made me a bit light-headed, but not as much as the Padron.

Graycliff Grand Chateau Grand Cru – Aside from the Cuban Cohiba, the best cigar I have ever tasted. I smoked this one down to the very nub, which is rare for me. It never got harsh or hot. A cigar I would definitely buy in quantity – if I could afford it. A great cigar for special occasions. Worth the price.

Gurkha 1887 – An okay smoke. I wouldn’t refuse one if someone gave it to me, but I won’t go out of my way to find one.

Gurkha G3 – Another smoke that didn’t turn out as well as I hoped. Smooth, easy draw, generic taste. Doesn’t stand out from the crowd.

Gurkha Grand Envoy – A decent if relatively unremarkable cigar. Nothing to really set it apart.

Havana Sweets Honey – Not a bad smoke, but obviously a cheap one.

Havana Sweets Irish Cream – Decent for an inexpensive cigar.

Indian Tabac Maduro – Nice, satisfying smoke. Not quite as smooth as the Rocky Patel, but still a good cigar.

La Aurora Perfecto Emerald – A nice, smooth smoke. Top quality.

La Aurora Perfecto Sapphire – A unique smoke. Unlike most torpedoes, tapered at both ends. A little stronger than I like, but a high quality smoke,

La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve – A unique appearance, from the red plastic wrapper to a distinctive shape. The open end tapers, not like a torpedo but rather like the neck of a wine bottle – tapers in, then comes straight out. I was left wondering which end to light. I ended up trimming the wide end and lighting it, smoking it from the narrow end. A bit harsh for the first 2-3 draws then smoothed out. Not a bad smoke.

Macanudo Portofino – My favorite cigar before I got into trying other brands. I smoked it mainly because the gift shop at the hotel I always stayed at in Las Vegas sold them, and it was the only cigar they sold apart from the cheap bulk brands. Still a pleasant smoke, but there are better choices.

Macanudo Portofino Robust – As the name implies, a little stronger flavor than its white-tubed cousin. Had an odd aftertaste I didn't care for much.

Montecristo – Non-distinctive smoke with a bitter aftertaste. Not one of my favorites.

Oliva Serie V – Nice, satisfying smoke. Not too strong or too mild. A few more of these might make it into my humidor.

Padron – Too strong for my taste. If a cigar makes me light-headed like this one did, I’m not inclined to buy more of them.

Punch Grand Cru – Harsh, tasted like a much cheaper smoke. I've tasted store brands that were better than this.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 – One of the clear winners. A nice, smooth, even-burning smoke, pleasant all the way to the end.