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Cigar Name : KnuckleSandwich57 Brand : Espinosa Vitola : Robusto Gordo 5 ¾ x 55 Origin : Ocotal,Nicaragua Wrapper : MexicanSan Andres Binder : Nicaragua Filler : Nicaragua Price : $16 Date Smoked : Mike - June 11th, 2025,  Marty - June 18th, 2025 Smoking Time : Mike - 90 minutes, Marty - 80 minutes Reviewers:  Michael George, Marty C 1. Taste  Mike Flavor Profile :  Cold Draw : Chocolate comes through with a little spice First Third : Starts off with some white pepper on the tip of the tongue then some chocolate and coffee notes. There are some very good bread notes.  The retrohale is very smooth, no pepper and no burning, get some earthiness. Second Third : As we enter the second third chocolate, coffee and bread notes maintain their levels. Pairing this with 818 Tequila Reposado is just perfect.   The tequila really compliments the cigar and allows the breadiness to just linger for a bit..  Final Third :There is no real change to this cigar, however on the retrohale say hello to the black pepper.  I wish I would have gotten a few more of these when they were available.  Complexity : This is a well balanced flavor profile. Flavor is not complex, but very enjoyable.   The bread notes and coffee are perfect. Strength : Medium to full body and medium strength  Aftertaste : A pleasant taste, not much to think about, just enjoy it. Notes : This would be a great cigar to have a new cigar smoker try.     Score : 32/40 Marty Flavor Profile :  First Third : Cigar starts with Whole Wheat Breadiness in the forefront, with a mustyness in the background. Easy retrohale with some mineral notes and little spice Second Third : Breadiness continues to dominate but is joined with some cashew nuttiness. There is a slight saltiness that keeps my mouth moist. Coffee notes begin to join the party Final Third : As we enter the final third coffee notes start to dominate. Moving towards espresso. With some toasted bread notes in the background. Complexity : Flavors are well melded with some nice transitions Strength : Medium  Aftertaste : A pleasant mild spice and salt remains for several moments after each puff Notes : Put the cigar down with ¾ inches remaining. Score : 33/40 2. Construction  Mike Quality : Wrapper is dark and smooth with great  construction. The wrapper held up with no issues Feel : Feel is firm roll with no soft spots Cut : Straight cut Score : 19/20 Marty Quality : Wrapper is high quality. Cigar is a soft box press Feel : Firm with a slight give to the touch typical of soft box press.  Cut : Straight cut was easy and maintained cap integrity Notes : The manufacturer calls this an oval press, but it looked like a typical soft box press to me Score : 20/20 3. Draw Mike Resistance : The draw was perfect Smoke Volume :  Decent amount of  smoke output  Consistency : Draw never changed throughout. Notes :  The draw was what I wanted and enjoyed. Score : 20/20 Marty Resistance : Draw is efforless maybe a little on the light side Smoke Volume : Moderate smoke output Consistency : Remained consistent throughout Notes :  Score : 19/20 4. Appearance  Mike Visual Appeal :  Wrapper is dark brown almost chocolate like, there was a vein down the one side, the box press had some nice rounded edges.   Band Design : (If applicable—style, placement, ease of removal?) There are two bands and a foot band.   I am never a fan of a foot band but it came off with no issues.   Erik Espinosa and Guy Fieri did a great job, love the design of the band you can rarely go wrong with gold, black and red.  The skull with the chef’s hat stands out and the bold 57 in gold is a nice touch.  It’s always a scary moment when you need to remove the band and both of them came off with no issues and no tearing of the wrapper.    Overall Presentation :  This cigar had a great feel in my hand and looked amazing throughout the smoke. . Notes : Please no more footbands  Score : 9/10 Marty Visual Appeal : Cigar is gorgeous  Band Design : Dual band with black background and gold and red highlights. 57 is prominently displayed on the second band. Also includes a gold fabric foot band. Overall Presentation : Well done and in line with the other knuckle sandwich offerings Notes : Bands were easy to remove. Score : 10/10 5. Burn  Mike Evenness : Burn started out straight and required no touchups.  The first third had a weird uneven burn but that evened out the rest of the way.   Ash : Ash is whitish and held up nicely.   Relights : None Burn Time :95 minutes Notes : The weird burn at the end may have been my fault in the initial light but overall the burn was fantastic.  Score : 8/10 Marty Evenness : Burn started straight but one side fell behind in the second third and needed a coupe of touchups Ash : Ash is whitish grey and held on in 1 inch chunks. Relights : a couple of minor touchups needed to keep it straight Burn Time : 80 minutes Notes : no Issues other than the minor touchups Score : 8/10 Overall Experience Mike Summary : Guy Fieri turned 57 on January 22 and this cigar was shipped to stores in early February. This was the third of his birthday cigars and it will be enjoyable to see if he continues until his 60th.  . Guy was involved with the blending of this cigar and it shows.   From the blend to the wrapper and size this has Guy’s chef’s hands all over the cigar.   This is the second time I smoked this cigar and both times it delivered.  The added rest or aging didn’t hurt this cigar and brought out some of the breadie notes.    Pairing Suggestions : Reposado, Coffee, maybe even a green tea.    Would You Smoke Again? : If I could find more I would pick up a box Total Score : 88/100 Final Thoughts : Knuckle Sandwich 57 is a solid smoke.   It doesn’t have a lot of strong flavor notes, but it's an easy and enjoyable cigar.  If you are looking for something to just enjoy and not have to put a lot of thought into this is a great cigar.   It’s too ba this was a limited release but if you can find a few I recommend you grab them.   Marty Summary : The cigar began with a dominant whole wheat breadiness, accompanied by musty and mineral notes with minimal spice in the first third. In the second third, the breadiness persists, joined by cashew nuttiness, slight saltiness, and emerging coffee flavors. By the final third, espresso-like coffee notes take over, with toasted bread in the background, offering well-melded flavors, medium strength, and a pleasant spicy-salty aftertaste. . Pairing Suggestions : I think something that added a slight sweetness would pair well with this such as an old fashioned, or Whiskey and cola and as always a rootbeer. Would You Smoke Again? : If I could get some more definitely. Total Score : 89/100 Final Thoughts : A great celebration of Guy Fieri’s 57 birthday. Combined Score: 88.5

Cigar Name : Preakness 150 Brand : Stolen Throne Vitola : Corona 6 x 46 Origin : Nicaragua Wrapper : Ecuadorian habano claro Binder : Nicaragua Filler : Nicaragua Price : $14 Date Smoked : June 22, 2025 Smoking Time : 49 minutes Reviewer:  Teddy Mavrakis Taste:  Flavor Profile: Cold Draw: Earthy and woody notes right off the bat, giving a preview of the core flavors to come. First Third: From the moment it’s lit, this cigar delivers a pleasant woody flavor characteristic of the Habano wrapper. There's also an earthy undertone complemented by light cedar hints. Second Third: The profile shifts slightly, developing into a spicier experience. Pepper emerges more prominently, adding some heat and excitement without overwhelming the palate. Final Third: Pepper remains dominant, and while there’s not a drastic change in flavor, the spice intensifies. Complexity is modest but consistent. No retrohale was performed (still learning!). 2. Construction Quality:  The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is smooth with a few visible veins, none of which affected performance.  Feel:  The Corona vitola feels comfortable in hand, though it may not appeal to those who prefer larger ring gauges.  Cut:  V-cut  Notes:   Score:  18/20 3. Draw Resistance:  Excellent—no tight spots or airflow issues.  Smoke Volume:  Moderate smoke output, not too thick but adequate.  Consistency:  The draw remained steady throughout the entire smoke. Ash held firm until the second third before dropping naturally.  Notes:   Score:  18/20 4. Appearance Visual Appeal:  The wrapper had a nice sheen and smooth texture, typical of quality Habano leaf.  Band Design:  Features a single band with a sleek black, grey, and gold design, boldly displaying “Preakness 150.”  Overall Presentation:  While the band is serviceable, the overall packaging could use an upgrade. A wooden box would better match the premium vibe of a limited edition release.  Notes:  Slightly underwhelming band and packaging design.  Score:  8/10 5. Burn Evenness:  Burned razor-sharp from start to finish—very impressive.  Ash:  Greyish in color and held strong until around the second third.  Relights:  None needed  Burn Time:  49 minutes  Notes:  Clean and well-behaved burn all the way through.  Score:  9/10 Overall Experience Summary:  The Stolen Throne Preakness 150 is a well-constructed, flavorful cigar that offers a balanced medium-bodied experience. While not overly complex, its consistent flavor profile and excellent burn performance make it enjoyable from start to finish. Limited to only 3,000 boxes of 10 cigars, this stick also carries a collectible appeal. Pairing Suggestions:  Pairs well with a rich cup of coffee or a smooth bourbon—perfect for a relaxed afternoon or a celebration.  Would You Smoke Again?:  Absolutely—this was my third time, and I’m still impressed.  Final Thoughts:  A satisfying cigar that delivers on taste and craftsmanship. Whether you're a cigar enthusiast or a horse racing fan celebrating the Preakness, this stick is worth a spot in your humidor. Total Score:   88/100

Cigar Name : Alma Del Cielo Brand : Plasencia Vitola : Amanecer 6 x 60 Shape: Hexagon  Origin : Nicaragua Wrapper : Condega, Nicaragua Binder : Nicaragua Filler : Nicaragua Price : $27.50 Date Smoked : June 16th, 2025 Smoking Time : 90 minutes Reviewer:  Michael George 1. Taste  Flavor Profile :  Cold Draw : Earthiness with some honey First Third : This is interesting. Took me a few minutes to get the notes as they are subtle.   Get some breadiness, the earth notes detected on the cold draw are there.   There is also a note of wet cedar.   On the retrohale there is  little black pepper.   Second Third : As we enter the second third there is a very buttery, creamy feel to this cigar.  Some slight black coffee is there as well.   Pairing this with YellowStone Select.   The bourbon rides very nicely with this cigar.   It doesn’t hurt it and it really doesn't bring out any notes, its just a fine companion along for the ride.  Final Third :There is no real change to this cigar, but it is very complex.   The more I smoke it the more it just messes with my palate.  On the retrohale the black pepper has receded.  Complexity : This is a complex smoke, but very enjoyable.    Strength : Medium body and medium strength  Aftertaste : A pleasant taste, creamy on the palate. Notes : I enjoyed the challenge of this cigar, it really allowed me to enjoy it and discover the development of flavor notes. Score : 34/40 2. Construction  Quality : Wrapper and smooth with great  construction. There was a small vein near the last third but it posed no issue.  The wrapper held up. Feel : Unique feel the hexagon shape.  Cut : Straight cut Score : 19/20 3. Draw Resistance : The draw was very nice Smoke Volume :  Not a lot of  smoke output  Consistency : Draw never changed throughout. Notes :  Just what I want out of a cigar. Score : 20/20 4. Appearance  Visual Appeal :  Wrapper has a milk chocolate appearance, there was a vein down the one side near the top of the cigar.  The hexagon press was fun and didn’t affect the cigar..   Band Design : There are three bands which include a foot band.   The foot band has the name of the cigar and it came off with no issues.  The blue and gold highlight Plasencia and the name of the band well.    Overall Presentation :  The hexagon had a unique feel in my hand, I really enjoyed it and feel like it added a level to this cigar.   Notes : Not sure there is a need for three bands.  Score : 9/10 5. Burn  Evenness : This cigar started straight and had no issues whatsoever throughout the smoke. Ash : Ash is whitish and held up nicely.  First drop of the ash was about 1 ¾”.    Relights : None Burn Time :100 minutes Notes : The ash was nice and held tight.      Score : 9/10 Overall Experience Summary : This cigar had a lot of hype before the release. One of the first cigars to use tobacco grown at 3500 feet above sea level. Nestor Andres Plasencia at PCA said “This is something very special” as he unveiled the “soul of the sky”.    So the Alma Del Cielo needs to live up to the name.     Pairing Suggestions : Bourbon, unsweetened tea, or coffee.    Would You Smoke Again? : Yes, spend the money and try this one.  Total Score :91 /100 Final Thoughts : This is a great smoking experience with a cigar that will challenge your palate.    The unique flavor notes and complexity makes it a cigar I hope everyone has a chance to experience.   Vitola can affect the experience so try the Amanecer.

Cigar Review: Alma del Fuego Concepción Cigar Name: Alma del Fuego Brand: Plasencia Cigars Vitola: Concepción (6 x 54) Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown (Jalapa) Binder: Nicaraguan Double Binder Filler: Nicaraguan, including Ometepe Price: $19 Date Smoked: May 18, 2025 Smoking Time: 90 minutes   1. Taste Flavor Profile: ● First Third: The Alma del Fuego opens with a gritty mineral note, evoking volcanic rock dust, paired with light white pepper. The minerality reminds me of a memorable winery visit I made near Mount Vesuvius in Italy, showcasing the unique terroir of volcanic regions like Ometepe. ● Second Third: The mineral and white pepper persist, now joined by dark coffee and salted dark chocolate in the background. The mineral note softens, allowing the chocolate and pepper to take the lead. ● Final Third: The profile shifts to a spicy beef jerky note, melded with dark coffee and roasted coffee beans. The mineral undertone evolves into amplified white pepper, creating a robust finish. The cigar’s flavors linger as I reluctantly nub it. Complexity: Intricate and layered, with distinct transitions across thirds. The volcanic terroir adds a unique dimension, making each puff engaging. Strength: Medium to full-bodied, building gradually. Aftertaste: Pleasant, with lingering coffee, pepper, and mineral notes. No harshness. Notes: The Ometepe tobacco shines, delivering a gritty, volcanic character that evolves beautifully. The transitions from mineral-driven to chocolatey and finally spicy keep the experience dynamic. Score: 34/40   2. Construction Quality: Flawless wrapper integrity with no cracks, tears, or soft spots. The triple cap held up perfectly after a straight cut. Feel: Firm with a nice sheen, the wrapper feels smooth and slightly oily. Cut: Clean and effortless, with no damage to the cap. Notes: The cigar feels substantial and well-rolled, reflecting Plasencia’s craftsmanship. Score: 20/20 3. Draw Resistance: Just right, offering the perfect amount of resistance. Smoke Volume: Moderate, producing a steady stream of thick, aromatic smoke. Consistency: Consistent from start to finish, with no changes in draw quality. Notes: The draw is a highlight, making every puff effortless and enjoyable. Score: 20/20 4. Appearance Visual Appeal: The medium-brown Nicaraguan Sun Grown wrapper has a light sheen, minimal veins, and a closed foot. The soft box press adds a solid, comfortable feel. Band Design: The lava-red double band with white lettering and a white foot band reading “Alma del Fuego” in red is understated yet striking. Easy to remove without damaging the wrapper. Overall Presentation: A handsome cigar that lives up to its “Soul of Fire” name, promising bold flavors from the moment you see it. Notes: The cigar’s aesthetic sets high expectations, and it delivers. The volcanic theme is subtle but effective. Score: 9/10 5. Burn Evenness: Nearly perfect, with a straight burn line requiring only one minor touch-up. Ash: Salt-and-pepper ash, firm, holding in ¾-inch chunks. Relights: One minor touch-up; otherwise, burned flawlessly. Burn Time: 90 minutes, a satisfying duration for the size. Notes: The burn is a testament to the cigar’s quality, staying even and cool throughout. Score: 9/10 Overall Experience Summary: The Alma del Fuego Concepción is a standout cigar with no significant flaws. Its volcanic Ometepe tobacco delivers a unique mineral-driven profile that evolves from gritty and peppery to chocolatey and spicy. The construction, draw, and burn are near-perfect, with only a single touch-up needed. The transitions across thirds keep the experience engaging, making it a memorable smoke. Pairing Suggestions: A bold bourbon, root beer, or dark roast coffee would complement the cigar’s coffee, chocolate, and spicy notes beautifully. Would You Smoke Again?: Yes, absolutely box-worthy. This cigar’s distinct character makes it a must-have for any humidor. Total Score: 92/100 Final Thoughts: Plasencia has crafted a gem with the Alma del Fuego Concepción. The volcanic Ometepe tobacco sets it apart, offering a flavor profile that’s both unique and refined. From its flawless construction to its dynamic taste, this cigar is a testament to the artistry of Nicaraguan tobacco. It’s a soulful smoke that lives up to its fiery name.