Aladino Vintage Select Toro by JRE Tobacco Co. | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

I hope you like reading as much as YouTube likes giving me community strikes. I got two strikes, so no videos for two weeks. Bummer! Until then, we doing it old school.

When you see "Vintage Select" on a cigar band, your brain immediately starts calculating how much rent money you're about to blow on some aged tobacco that's been sitting in a warehouse longer than your last relationship. But here's the plot twist that'll make you question everything: this Toro doesn't actually have the extended aging of its Rothschild sibling. It's like ordering the vintage wine and getting this year's batch with a fancy label. Not necessarily bad, just different than what the marketing implies.

🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Aladino Vintage Select

Master Blender: Julio Eiroa (definitely has better stories from the 90s than your uncle)

Size: Toro 6" x 50

Country of Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Honduran Habano

Binder: Honduran Authentic Corojo

Filler: Honduran Authentic Corojo

Price: $11.20 / $224 Box of 20

Aging: Current production (despite what the name suggests)

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Excellent construction with that dry wrapper feel that makes you wonder if it spent time in the same climate as my dating life. Good draw, decent smoke production, though there's a prominent vein running through it. The construction earns solid marks - no soft spots, even burn line, and the kind of reliable performance that makes you wish your streaming services were this consistent.

🎯 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: BREAD BASKET BASICS

dark bread, graham cracker, Slight pepper/retro, sweet leather

Opening with dark bread and graham cracker notes that hit like the free bread at Cheesecake Factory - you know it's not the main event, but damn if it isn't satisfying. Sweet leather and slight pepper add complexity while the retrohale delivers just enough tingle to remind you this isn't a gas station stick. The smoke texture runs a bit dry, which honestly tracks with how the wrapper felt.

SECOND THIRD: SPICE CABINET RAID

graham cracker, light chocolate, earth, cinnamon/retro

Graham cracker continues its dominant performance while light chocolate makes an appearance like that friend who shows up fashionably late but brings good wine. Earth tones ground the experience, and cinnamon on the retrohale adds warmth without going full Fireball shot. This section delivers the most balanced complexity, though it's still playing in the shallow end when it comes to texture.

FINAL THIRD: COMFORT ZONE CONCLUSION

brown bread, slight cream, earth, leather

Brown bread returns with a vengeance, joined by slight cream notes that smooth out any remaining rough edges. Earth and leather close out the show like reliable character actors who know their role and nail it every time. Nothing groundbreaking happens here, but nothing offensive either - it's the cigar equivalent of a reliable sedan that gets you where you need to go.

🏆 THE VERDICT:

Tier: B

Flavor: B

Construction: A-

Availability: B

Price: B

This is a well-made, approachable cigar that delivers exactly what it promises without any curveballs or existential crises. At $11.20, it's priced like someone who actually wants you to smoke their cigars rather than use them as investment vehicles. The Eiroa family knows their craft, and this shows their expertise even if it doesn't showcase extended aging magic.

💨 BOTTOM LINE

The Aladino Vintage Select Toro is the Honda Civic of premium cigars - reliable, well-built, won't break the bank, and gets the job done without drama. It's perfect for those moments when you want quality without pretension, or when you need something dependable for that buddy who thinks Swisher Sweets are "pretty good, actually." Sometimes the best compliment you can give a cigar is that it's exactly what it appears to be, no more, no less. In a world full of gimmicks and hype, honest tobacco work hits different.

TLDR: It's pretty good, but lacking in texture.

Cigar Bomb Unboxing: When iHeart Cigars Slides Into Your DMs

So there I was, minding my own business, when my inbox gets violated by what can only be described as corporate foreplay. "Hey AB, want some free cigars? Maybe mention us on air?" they whispered into my digital ear. Of course I said yes. I'm not made of stone, and I'm definitely not made of money.

Look, I can't be bought. But I can absolutely be temporarily rented for the price of some premium tobacco wrapped in aged leaves. That's just good business.

🚀 THE DELIVERY EXPERIENCE

Credit where it's due - these iHeart Cigars people (whose website shall remain as mysterious as the Bermuda Triangle thanks to YouTube's terms of service) shipped this faster than my ex moved on. Overnight delivery with a bright red box that screams "NOTICE ME" louder than a lifted truck with truck nuts.

Inside? Professional packaging that puts Amazon's bubble wrap negligence to shame. They even threw in a humidity pack at 62% - which is like getting a condom that's only mostly effective, but hey, it's something. Most companies ship at 69% like they're trying to make a joke, but these arrived ready for business.

🎯 THE LINEUP: FOUR STICKS OF THE TOBACCO APOCALYPSE

ARTURO FUENTE DON CARLOS PERSONAL RESERVE ROBUSTO

The Dependable Dad of Premium Cigars

This 5¼" x 50 bad boy from 2015 is like that friend who peaked in high school but somehow still has his life together. The Don Carlos line is pound-for-pound the best thing Fuente makes that doesn't require you to sell a kidney on the dark web.

Cameroon wrapper, Dominican everything else - because why fix what isn't broken? It's the Toyota Camry of premium cigars: reliable, respected, and your father-in-law will approve.

ARTURO FUENTE DON CARLOS EYE OF THE BULL

The Angry Inch

At 3½ inches, this little robusto was reportedly modeled after Carlito Fuente's pinky finger. His pinky finger. Either that's the most intimidating appendage in tobacco, or someone's compensating for something.

They're using "slightly more aged tobacco" on this one, which is cigar speak for "we left it in the warehouse an extra week." Expect those classic Don Carlos dark notes that make you feel sophisticated while questioning your life choices.

DAVIDOFF SIGNATURE SERIES 6000

The Trust Fund Baby

Here's where things get expensive and my wallet starts weeping. MSRP $25 and Davidoff doesn't let retailers put them on sale because apparently they think they're Swiss watches instead of burning plants.

Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Dominican everything else, medium strength. It's the cigar equivalent of wearing a Rolex to Applebee's - technically impressive but you're probably overcompensating.

Will it justify the price point? That's like asking if your college education was worth the debt. We'll find out together, and it'll probably hurt.

ARTURO FUENTE ANEJO RESERVA #48

The Dark Horse

Connecticut Broadleaf aged in cognac barrels for five years and they're only charging $16? Either this is the deal of the century or someone made a terrible mistake and I'm here for it.

Comes wrapped in a cedar sleeve because apparently even cigars need jackets now. Do you need to put a cedar sleeve on a broadleaf wrapper? Probably not. But do you need truck nuts on your F-150? Also probably not, yet here we are.

🏆 THE VERDICT: SOLID BOMB, QUESTIONABLE LIFE CHOICES

Final Rating: SURPRISINGLY GENEROUS ACROSS THE BOARD

iHeart Cigars came through with a lineup that ranges from "reliable daily driver" to "why is my credit card crying?" The packaging was professional, shipping was faster than my attention span, and they managed to send over roughly $100 worth of tobacco without asking for my firstborn.

Sure, I can't tell you their website (thanks, YouTube overlords), but you'll figure it out. You're smart people. You found this blog somehow.

💨 BOTTOM LINE

Free cigars are like unsolicited compliments - even when you're suspicious of the motives, you're still going to enjoy them. These four sticks represent a solid cross-section of what happens when Cuban exile families decide to make tobacco their personality, and honestly? I'm here for it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some "research" to conduct. One cigar at a time, for science.

Which one should I review first? Let me know in the comments, or don't. I'll probably smoke them in the order that my crippling indecision allows.

CAO Amazon Basin | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

CAO's Amazon Basin returns with its rare Bragança leaf that's harvested every three years from the Amazon rainforest. This limited release promises a unique smoking experience thanks to tobacco that grows slower than a government infrastructure project, but does the jungle mystique translate to actual flavor, or is it just premium marketing for people who think expensive hobbies make them interesting?

🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Amazon Basin 2024

Master Blender: Rick Rodriguez

Size: Toro 6.0 x 52

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic

Price: $14.49 ($257.22 for 18-count box)

Aging: Features rare Bragança tobacco harvested every three years from the Amazon rainforest

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Construction is excellent across the board. The wrapper is exceptionally oily with a premium feel that indicates quality tobacco handling. Draw resistance is perfect - providing just enough feedback without being restrictive. The foot lights evenly and burns consistently throughout. Smoke production is generous and the ash holds well past the inch mark.

🎯 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: The Rainforest Awakening

The opening delivers smooth cocoa notes with a creamy foundation. Dried fruit undertones add complexity without overwhelming the palate. Earth tones begin developing early, which makes sense given the unique terroir of this tobacco. The flavors are well-balanced and immediately distinguish this from standard medium-bodied offerings.

SECOND THIRD: Welcome to Dirt City

The earth notes take center stage here, becoming the dominant characteristic. Dried fruit flavors persist but play a supporting role. Cocoa reappears intermittently, providing sweet relief from the mineral-forward profile. This is where the Amazon Basin shows its unique personality - you're really tasting the jungle floor at this point.

FINAL THIRD: The Mineral Conclusion

Earth flavors evolve into full mineral territory with notes that taste like actual soil composition. A slight spice finally emerges on the retrohale, adding welcome complexity. The finish is long and carries those distinctive earthy characteristics that make this blend memorable. It's definitely an acquired taste that won't appeal to everyone.

🏆 THE VERDICT:

B- TIER

The Amazon Basin delivers exactly what it promises - a genuinely unique smoking experience that showcases rare tobacco. The construction is flawless and the flavor profile is unlike anything else on the market. Is it worth $14.49? That depends on how much you value exclusivity and whether you actually enjoy earthy, mineral-forward cigars.

💨 BOTTOM LINE

This is premium tobacco marketing done right - they found genuinely unique leaf, created logical scarcity, and delivered a product that backs up the story. The flavor profile is distinctive, and the construction quality justifies the premium price. It's perfect for experienced smokers who appreciate terroir-driven cigars and don't mind paying extra for agricultural storytelling. Just know what you're getting into - this tastes like expensive dirt in the best possible way. If you prefer traditional flavor profiles with chocolate and spice, look elsewhere. But if you want something that actually tastes different and can appreciate the romance of rare tobacco, the Amazon Basin delivers on its promises.

TLDR: Premium dirt flavors with excellent construction, worth the money if you appreciate unique terroir and don't mind earthy dominance over traditional complexity.