Notorious Cigars Double Robusto in Review

BRAND: Notorious
BLEND: Double Robusto

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Habano
BINDER: Mexican San Andres
FILLER: Dominican, Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Double Robusto (5,5x54)
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic (MJ Frias)
INTENSITY: Medium
SPICE: 1.5/5

NOTES:
White Pepper | Cinnamon Sugar | Suede (Buttery)

A cautiously presented, tightly huddled profile. Although not delineated or complex, remains pleasing. Maybe even ingratiating. Smooth. The cinnamon sugar is reminiscent of cold cereal. There's also a definite sweet instant flavored coffee vibe. Scans like a breakfast followed by a brunch sugar crash.

White pepper tightens it up well, staves off cloying. Makes for a very plainly smokeable thing. So much so that it seems sorta to (quite-quickly) smoke itself. Big white clouds don't offer much aroma but are pleasant to watch pass overhead. Ash is dry, flaky. Seems a bit under-stuffed. But man, I could go for another.

TASTE: B+
DRAW: B+
BURN: B
BUILD: B

FINAL GRADE: B
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Drew Estate Cigars Blackened S84 Shade to Black in Review

BRAND: Drew Estate
BLEND: Blackened Shade to Black S84

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Shade
BINDER: American (CT) Broadleaf
FILLER: Nicaraguan, American (PA)

FORMAT: Toro (652)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
INTENSITY: Mild-medium
SPICE: 1.5/5

NOTES:
Salted Caramel | Dessert Spices | Cashew Butter

Cashew Butter is spread over a slice of brioche-like sweet bread. Dessert spices are steered by cardamom and ginger, braced by a finely-ground white pepper, and held together in a buttery manner. Salted caramel is the star, and as such, inhabits its own dressing room.

Well-balanced, pleasant, and enough oomph to keep interest. Creamy suede profile depths are calm, consistent. Avoids becoming tart citrusy. Burns well and offers copious, kind, sweet smoke off each end. Draw errs a tick toward spongy, and cap wears a tick. Pleasant, all told.

TASTE: A-
DRAW: B+
BURN: A-
BUILD: B+

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Drew Estate Cigars Blackened M81 in Review

BRAND: Drew Estate
BLEND: Blackened M81

WRAPPER: Mexican San Andres
BINDER: American (CT) Broadleaf
FILLER: Nicaraguan, American (PA)

FORMAT: Toro (652)
ORIGIN: Nicaraguan
INTENSITY: Medium/Medium-full
SPICE: 3.5/5

NOTES:
Dark Chocolate | Black Pepper | Scorched oak

The scorched oak's sorta damp. So is the draw, a tick. A meaty body doesn't quite hold up to taste and only thinly-just-so to strength. Back-end is a hatchback, not a sedan's trunk. Clean though, with only a scant hint of burnt hair which is at the longest fleeting.

Oily black coffee pours into second-half after a slight trickle first-half. French Press, tres nice. Lifts meatiness and also sinks into topsoil bottomneath; killer note. Rye sour mash. Burns on a wobble and needs a hefty re-touch at the half. Rolled quite well.

TASTE: B+
DRAW: B+
BURN: B+
BUILD: A-

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Kaplowitz Media. Cigars Star Guide for Winter 2026

Kaplowitz Media. Cigars
Star Guide for Winter 2026

Happy 2026!

TALLY of STAR RECIPIENTS
as of AUTUMN 2025

Aganorsa Leaf (1)
Arturo Fuente (2)
AJ Fernandez (2)
Casa Carrillo (2)
Diesel Cigars (1)
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (2)
Espinosa Cigar (1)
Foundation Cigars (2)
Illusione Cigars (2)
La Flor Dominicana (1)
La Gloria Cubana (1)
My Father (3)
Oliva (2)
Padron (1)
Perdomo (1)
Punch Cigars (1)
Rocky Patel (1)
Room101 Cigars (2)
Stolen Throne Cigars (1)
Tatuaje Cigars (3)

WINTER 2026 UPDATES

La Gloria Cubana +1
Padron +1
Powstanie +1

COMPLETE KAPLOWITZ MEDIA.
STAR GUIDE for WINTER 2026

Aganorsa Leaf (1)
Arturo Fuente (2)
AJ Fernandez (2)
Casa Carrillo (2)
Diesel Cigars (1)
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (2)
Espinosa Cigar (1)
Foundation Cigars (2)
Illusione Cigars (2)
La Flor Dominicana (1)
La Gloria Cubana (2)
My Father (3)
Oliva (2)
Padron (2)
Perdomo (1)
Powstanie (1)
Punch Cigars (1)
Rocky Patel (1)
Room101 Cigars (2)
Stolen Throne Cigars (1)
Tatuaje Cigars (3)

Don't forget to check out the Kaplowitz Media. Cigar of the Year for 2025 (Top 10) HERE.

Stay warm.

::: very :::