Mane Street Cigar Blog

Cuvee is a new line from Dom Rey Cigars, makers of the popular Cusano 18. The Cuvee is intended for distribution only through select retail tobacconists, of which Mane Street Cigars is one. We carry four sizes of the Cuvee Blanc: Robusto, Toro Gordo, Churchill and the Salomon, a gorgeous big perfecto.

The Cuvee Blanc is produced in the Domincan Republic from Domincan, Peruvian and Ecuadorian filler, a Dominican binder and an Ecuadorian wrapper. The wrapper is a light gold, similar to a Connecticut shade. The Toro Gordo is a 6×50 parejo, firmly packed but with a perfect draw.

Don’t let looks fool you. The Cuvee Blanc may look like a Macanudo, but it is a solidly medium bodied cigar, very flavorful thanks to the three nation blend in the filler, with very creamy smoke and a nice taste of spice thanks to the Peruvian tobacco as well as the Ecuadorian wrapper. The Toro burns evenly and slowly, a sign of good construction, and has a bright and short finish, making it an ideal choice for your first cigar of the day. Not that it wouldn’t be a great choice for after dinner; it’s dense smoke and surpisingly complex flavor make it a fine evening selection as well.

We are one of five shops in New Jersey offering the Cuvee Blanc, and other additions to the line are forthcoming. Stop in and try one, you just might find a new favorite. Our informal reviews from customers have all been positive and some have made it their go-to cigar.

The 601 series of cigars is a new line, distributed by United Tobacco and blended by Pepin Garcia. There are four marques in the line: Black, Red, Blue and Green. Today’s cigars is one with the blue label, a box-pressed maduro belicoso.

The 601 maduro is a Nicaraguan puro with a Nicaraguan Habano Maduro wrapper. The current stock has wrappers a tad lighter than we’ve seen in the past, but this has no effect on the flavor. Speaking of which, the cigar is a medium to full bodied smoke, extremely smooth, with an earthy and very slightly peppery taste.

The box-press gives it an even and slow burn, which brings an enjoyable 60 minute smoking experience. The 601 Maduro is the most refined of the 601 Series that I’ve smoked - the only one I haven’t tried is the Green label.

Mention this review and we’ll give you one free when you buy three.

CAO is a manufacturer with an extremely broad product line. From the mild and creamy CAO Gold to the full-bodied and spicy Brazilia they make something for everyone.

Today’s cigar is the CAO Cameroon Churchill. A coffee colored Cameroon wrapper is paired with a binder and filler from Nicaragua to produce a slightly spicy and earthy medium-bodied smoke. As with all CAO cigars the contstruction is impeccable, and the Cameroon wrapper (notorious for its fragility) is unblemished. The draw is just a tad firm, but very smokable. The Churchill is nicely slow-burning, and stays lit while I set it down to work.

The CAO Cameroon Churchill is available in a range of sizes from a Rothschild to a big ol’ tubed Double Corona. There is even a petit cigarillo version for those looking for a short taste experience. They are all worth a try.

The Mane Street Cigars price for the Churchill is $8.25, but mention my review and we’ll give you a special discount.

This is a new addition to our shelves, but not a new cigar by any means. In fact, one of the first boxes of cigars I ever bought was the Rectangulares.

This is a pretty cigar. They come in a cabinet style box, packed in 5 rows of 6 rigidly square-pressed cigars. Each cigar is wrapped in the classic El Rey del Mundo tissue paper with the recogizable yellow band.

The cigars are made in the Villazon factory in Honduras, from Honduran filler and binder, and wrapped in a gorgeous Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf. Sized at 5.62 x 45, they represent 45 minutes or so of top quality cigar enjoyment.

The Rectangulares is a medium bodied smoke. Not as heavy as some Hondurans, they have what I find to be a signature Honduran citrusy quality, while the Ecuador Sumatra wrapper provides a slighly spicy contrast.

At the Mane Street Cigars price of $5.25 each, these are a great buy. Stop in and try one.