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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=909529" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0408dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I><B>Key to Reviews:</b></I></div> <div> <B>Construction:</b></div> <div> Rated 1-5 from Poor to Excellent.</div> <div> <B>Wrapper (quality):</b></div> <div> Rated 1-5 from Poor to Excellent.</div> <div> <B>Burn:</b></div> <div> Rated 1-5 from Very Uneven to Perfect.</div> <div> <B>Draw:</b></div> <div> 1=Plugged, 2=Tight, 3=Perfect, 4=Loose, 5=Underfilled</div> <div> <B>Flavor:</b></div> <div> Rated 1-5 from Tasteless to Rich and Complex.</div> <div> <B>Aroma:</b></div> <div> Rated 1-5 from Rank to Excellent.</div> <div> <B>Strength:</b></div> <div> 1=Weak, 2=Mild, 3=Medium, 4=Strong, 5=YOWZA!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Cigars Reviewed:</b></I></div> <div> <A HREF="id40_m.htm#aristoff_cameroon_belicoso_550__5x50_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="View Reviews"><U><B>Aristoff Cameroon Belicoso 550</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40_m.htm#c_a_o__l_anniversaire_maduro_robusto" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="View Reviews"><U><B>C.A.O. L'Anniversaire Maduro Robusto</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40_m.htm#mayorga_maduro_robusto__4_75x50_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="View Reviews"><U><B>Mayorga Maduro Robusto</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40_m.htm#padron_2000_natural__5x50_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="View Reviews"><U><B>Padron 2000 Natural</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40_m.htm#padron_3000_maduro__5_12x52_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="View Reviews"><U><B>Padron 3000 Maduro</b></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0418dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>ASC Baltimore</b></FONT><B>     </b><B>|</b><B>     </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ASC Baltimore"><U><B>home</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Submit Review"><U>Submit Review</U></A>   |   <B>View Reviews</b></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0418dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I> <A NAME="mayorga_maduro_robusto__4_75x50_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003366" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Mayorga Maduro Robusto (4.75x50)</b></I></FONT></div> <div> <B>Reviewed by: Rob Novak (ascbaltimore@home.com)</b></div> <div> Construction: 3    Wrapper: 3    Burn: 5    Draw: 3</div> <div> Flavor: 5    Aroma: 5    Strength: 3</div> <bR> <div> Comments: I am really beginning to love Nicaraguan cigars. Mayorgas demonstrate the rich, complex flavors and aromas that are becoming the trademark of Nicaraguan tobacco. Construction is mostly impeccable, with a nice sharp box press, clean seams, and substantial double-cap. Occassionally, however, there is a bum roll with a loose seam or odd cap. Wrapper quality varies from absolutely beautiful to slightly less than pretty on very rare occassions. Prelight aroma is excellent - sweet and earthy. Draw is perfect after they sit at constant humidor moisture levels for a week or so. Burn is very even and the light gray to white ash is firm, if a touch flaky. Aroma is excellent - rich and complex. The flavor is absolutely wonderful - sweet, rich, creamy, complex, mellow. It's like smoking a cup of mocha caffe, and I exaggerate not - you can taste coffee and chocolate notes prominently. Body is full, strength is medium. I would rank these with CAO's maduro L'Anniversaires, at less than half the price. A real find! I would recommend these highly to anyone.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="aristoff_cameroon_belicoso_550__5x50_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b></I><I><B>Aristoff Cameroon Belicoso 550 (5x50)</b></I></div> <div> <B>Reviewed by: Rob Novak (ascbaltimore@home.com)</b></div> <div> Construction: 5    Wrapper: 5    Burn: 5    Draw: 3</div> <div> Flavor: 4    Aroma: 4    Strength: 2</div> <bR> <div> Comments: If there is one word that would describe this cigar, it's "refined." From the finely-veined Cameroon wrapper on this well-constructed belicoso to the aroma and flavor, it is a very "classy" cigar. There is nothing harsh or ill-behaved about it. The wrapper has a mellow taste on the tongue and lips, the smoke is mellow and pleasant both in aroma and in flavor, the burn is straight and even, and the ash is tight without any flaking.</div> <bR> <div> The construction of these cigars is impeccable - firmly rolled with tight seams and a good pointed head. It didn't even think about unravelling in the slightest even when I had to open up the head a bit more than I intended. The wrapper is an attractive EMS Cameroon with fine veining and few blemishes. Prelight aroma is mild and slightly sweet. The taste of the wrapper on the tongue is mellow and pleasant. After lighting, the draw is a bit tight (which is why I ended up cutting more of the head). Smoke volume is adequate, but not exactly plentiful However, it is tasty. Both in aroma and flavor, it is creamy and slightly sweet with the quality of toasted nuts coming through a mild-bodied tobacco.</div> <bR> <div> The only real complaint I have is that once you get to the band, the heat of the draw causes things to tighten up a little more. I could only smoke to just beyond the band before it got nearly impossible to draw any further. Burn was extremely even, with a fairly solid ash that didn't flake or drop off unexpectedly. I would recommend that those who like a flavorful mild cigar once in a while pick up a few boxes of these before there aren't anymore.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="padron_2000_natural__5x50_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b></I><I><B>Padron 2000 Natural (5x50)</b></I></div> <div> <B>Reviewed by: Rob Novak (ascbaltimore@home.com)</b></div> <div> Construction: 3    Wrapper: 4    Burn: 4    Draw: 3</div> <div> Flavor: 4    Aroma: 4    Strength: 3</div> <bR> <div> Comments: This is my favorite so far in the Padron line. The Padron blend of filler provides such a complex and rich flavor that I believe a maduro wrapper doesn't lend much to the experience. Construction on these is generally good. The prelight aroma is rich and earthy, and the draw is perfect. After lighting, the aroma is rich and slightly floral. The flavor is not unlike rich, thick, dark coffee in nature. There's a sweet spiciness (anise?) in the finish. It's the smoking equivalent of a cup of good espresso with a touch of anisette or sambuca.  I always smoke these to the nub. They're a great way to relax for 40 minutes or so in the evening.</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="padron_3000_maduro__5_12x52_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003366" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Padron 3000 Maduro (5 1/2x52)</b></I></FONT></div> <div> <B>Reviewed by: Rob Novak (ascbaltimore@home.com)</b></div> <div> Construction: 3    Wrapper: 4    Burn: 4    Draw: 4</div> <div> Flavor: 4    Aroma: 4    Strength: 3</div> <bR> <div> Comments: I enjoy the Padron blend.  It is rich and complex, with an excellent flavor.  Being an occassional (2-3 a week at most) smoker, I appreciate that such flavor can be found in a cigar of medium strength.  Construction was average, a little bit of a loose wrapper seam and a rough cap, but no glaring problems.  Cutting the head resulted in a slight bit of unravelling because of the small cap, but I was able to keep the bit of wrapper moist enough to avert any disaster.  Pre-light aroma was good, and draw was very easy.  Upon lighting, the flavor and aroma were very good, and each easy draw produced a voluminous quantity of rich, coffee-ish smoke.  Burn was a tad uneven, and I had to force-correct it once.  This might have been due to the slightly loose seam at that spot.  Smoked it to the last inch or so and enjoyed every minute.  The maduro wrapper doesn't seem to lend much to this already complex cigar, and the 52 ring gauge makes for a looser draw than I prefer.  It also doesn't seem to have the floral note I'm used to with the natural wrapper Padrons.  Very good, but I'll stick with the 2000 naturals.</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="c_a_o__l_anniversaire_maduro_robusto"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003366" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>C.A.O. L'Anniversaire Maduro Robusto (5x50)</b></I></FONT></div> <div> <B>Reviewed by: Rob Novak (ascbaltimore@home.com)</b></div> <div> Construction: 4    Wrapper: 4    Burn: 5    Draw: 3</div> <div> Flavor: 4    Aroma: 5    Strength: 3</div> <bR> <div> Comments:  This is another favorite of mine - I can't say enough good things about this cigar.  It has a nice, box pressed shape with good construction.  The maduro wrapper is finely veined, slightly toothy, and rolled around a firm and uniform filler.  Prelight draw is perfect, and the aroma is rich and slightly sweet.  After lighting, the flavor is that of dark chocolate and cedar with a very slight peppery spiciness.  The maduro wrapper compliments this blend nicely.  This cigar smokes very evenly as long as you don't rush it, with a white ash of average consistency.  This is another cigar that I routinely smoke down to the finger-singeing stage. Great with a good, flavorful whisky.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>