Top shelf Signature Select Black

[Soundwave13]

Nothin too fancy tonight, but I was compelled to let ya'll in on this one.

I had no idea what this cigar was when Paul over at Atlantic handed me one to try. Top Shelf Signature Select Black by Don Arcenio Ramos, 5-5/8 x 46r 'cuban corona', with a black & green label and J. Cronin written across it in gold.

I threw it in the humidor for a couple of weeks & tonight I decided to give it a try.

First off - as soon as I took it out of the wrapper I was blown away by the scent of this stick - barnyard & chocolate... Strong. Made me feel like I was going to sneeze. Clipped easily & had a flawless draw!

I lit it up and was immediately impressed with the smooth strength, chocolate, earth, leather and hints of anise.. Sound familiar..?

After smoking this entirely, I needed to confirm my suspicions online - yup. Don Arcenio Ramos is the blender of Illusione. I knew it while smoking it. It tasted very similar to the Cruzado, though a bit 'meatier'?

What a great stick! I need to get some more of these!!! :widemouth

Highly recommended!

 

[BrooksW]

Thanks for letting us know!



~brooks

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Definately thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

A little more background on the cigar....


This cigar is a house blend made solely for Top Shelf Cigar Company, located in Skippack, Pennsylvania. The blending of this cigar was done by Aresnio Ramos, a Cuban leaf expert and master blender. The blend was selected for its consistency and complexity by store owner Jim Cronin (his signature happens to be on the band)

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

There is a Select Black and Select Blue.....


Top Shelf® Signature Select Black:
Wrapper: Corojo '99 Jalapa Valley, Nicaragua (high-priming)
Binder: Criollo '98 Esteli, Nic
Filler: Criollo '98 Jalapa Valley with 1 Esteli Ligero (high-priming powerful) leaf

This cigar provides a medium-plus body with a complex blend and a distinctive taste found in no other cigar!


Top Shelf® Signature Select Blue:
Wrapper: Corojo '99 Jalapa Valley (mid-priming)
Binder: Corojo '99 Jalapa Valley
Filler: Criollo '98 Jalapa Valley

This cigar is medium bodied, very smooth with sweet cocoa and spicy hints.

 

[jwintosh]

thanks for the review!!

 

[blooz4u]

Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[tatjunkie]

There is a Select Black and Select Blue.....


Top Shelf® Signature Select Black:
Wrapper: Corojo '99 Jalapa Valley, Nicaragua (high-priming)
Binder: Criollo '98 Esteli, Nic
Filler: Criollo '98 Jalapa Valley with 1 Esteli Ligero (high-priming powerful) leaf

This cigar provides a medium-plus body with a complex blend and a distinctive taste found in no other cigar!


Top Shelf® Signature Select Blue:
Wrapper: Corojo '99 Jalapa Valley (mid-priming)
Binder: Corojo '99 Jalapa Valley
Filler: Criollo '98 Jalapa Valley

This cigar is medium bodied, very smooth with sweet cocoa and spicy hints.

Thanks for the info. The blue looks like it will be quite a boring smoke.

 

[Soundwave13]

They sell these through a number of locations and are economic - especially for the quality. All the information is on topshelfcigar.com (where Larry got the blend info).

I've never had the blue & didn't realise how close I am to these guys, but I will be getting some more! I was really impressed with this one! The label doesn't seem to match the flavor - does anybody know what I mean? It looks like a generic label..

 

[bmony]

I see you can order them online at this link: http://www.lacigar.com/

 

[bballbaby]

they are indeed good.

i got a hole of a lancero from Ocat last year and smoked it a couple months ago. very very good.

they used to have a green label too...it was blended by pepin.

so rest assured, these signature sticks come from high quality places.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

they are indeed good.

i got a hole of a lancero from Ocat last year and smoked it a couple months ago. very very good.

they used to have a green label too...it was blended by pepin.

so rest assured, these signature sticks come from high quality places.

Unless their website is out-of-date they still have the Pepin "Green Label" on the website.

 

[Shmear]

Cool, thanks a bunch for the info.

 

[hdroadglide]

if it's similar to the cruzado i believe i'd like it!

 

[Le Buzz]

hmm... is Don Arcenio Ramos the new Don Pepin Garcia??

illusione, cruzado, AB Tempus... now this. the guy's on a roll :yes:

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

hmm... is Don Arcenio Ramos the new Don Pepin Garcia??

illusione, cruzado, AB Tempus... now this. the guy's on a roll :yes:

Soon to be "Davidoff" Tempus!

 

[bballbaby]

we love your cigars!!!!!!!!

welcome to the board.

 

[bballbaby]

are those green label lanceros still available??

and are they a pepin blend?

 

[saxmanJJ]

The Green bands were made by Pepin and are no longer in production.

The Black banded Lancero (with the green leaf on the band) were made in a couple of small limited runs but are not a regular production cigar. These were made in a "Fundadore" size. These are made by Casa Fernandez (as are all the regular lines: Black, Blue and Red/Pure Corojo).

Thank you for the "love"! That puts a smile on my face.

 

[bballbaby]

any chance you got any of those green labels left lying around???