Richard at Blank Mind Blog has an interesting short review up of the Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Robusto. As usual, along with some excellent comments on the cigar itself, you’ll be treated to Richard’s trademarked observations on the world around him as he enjoys a smoke.

Along with the good, he points out a few flaws that he found with the cigar. Here’s a short taste of his writing:

The Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Robusto represents my standard robusto, 5″ in length with a 50 size ring gauge. It is box pressed, aged 4 years and has a Honduran Corojo seed natural wrapper. The wrapper is light medium brown with few veins, however, I can see where the wrapper leaf makes it final wrap. There is a light sheen of oil on the wrapper and it has a tobacco and cedar aroma.

[more…]

General Cigar Company disclosed that it has filed suit against seven defendants. They are seeking injunctions and damages for the marketing and distribution of counterfeit COHIBA cigars, trademark infringement, cybersquatting and deceptive trade practices.

Norman Sharp, president of the Cigar Association of America, stated, “Counterfeit cigars erode the prestige, profitability and reputation of the handmade, premium cigar industry. While there is no reliable data available on the volume of counterfeit cigars being sold in the U.S., recent crackdowns have indicated that the problem is much larger than even industry insiders had estimated. In fact, even if such sales account for a small percentage of the estimated $800 million which consumers spent on premium cigars last year, it is an alarmingly profitable business for counterfeiters.”

The court hearing is planned for June 1 at a United States District Court in Las Vegas.

Over at Mike Salsbury’s Blog, there’s a nice review of this higher-priced premium. I haven’t smoked one of the Graycliff Blue Label’s myself yet, but Mike certainly makes it sound tempting.

Especially since he mentions that he picked his up at a discount on CigarBid. I did a quick check over there and found some of these beauties selling for less than half the regular retail price.

Here’s a small excerpt of what Mike has to say. Head to his site for the full picture, and while you’re there, check out about a half dozen or so other cigar reviews he’s posted.

“The slightly oily Indonesian wrapper is very smooth and slightly darker than a typical Connecticut shade, more of a Colorado - having a touch of redness to it. The filler of the Graycliff Blue Label PGX Professionale is reported to be a mix of tobacco from Brazil, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. At 6.0″ x 50 ring gauge, they feel comfortably large in your hand.”

The review is from the end of August, but the cigars haven’t changed. In fact, with the reputation Graycliff has built I’d stake money that Mike’s review will still be valid a couple of years down the line.

*Sigh*

So many cigars…so little time.