Just landed a handfull of Cubao cigars which I believe are the #6 robusto size. Made by Pepin.
Nicaraguan binder and filler with a dark and oily oscuro wrapper from Ecuador.
Smoked one today and it was very rich and spicy. Full flavored with a nice underlying hint of clove? or some type of spice I couldn't put my finger on.
A new cigar I never heard of untill I want to the shop today.
I will let them rest a bit before giving a full review.
I went to get Tatueje's but all sold out. I ended up with a bunch of Pepin blends and some Padron's.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: littoines,

Littoines, the Cubao is made by the same company that Pepin makes the 601 for(EO/United). I have only had the Lancero and it was great. Tons of smoke and very slow burning. I can only imagine the smoke from a larger ring guage!

I picked up a few of these myself a week or two ago...a few lanceros and robustos...sitting in the humi for now...but definitely can't wait to try one- made by Pepin for EO, the guys that own 601.....also I picked up a beli/torpedo called Tobacos Baez, its made by Pepin but thats all I know...if anyone has any info on it I would love to know more

I had the Tobacco Baez torpedo and thought that it was great. The guy at my shop smoked both and thought that the torp was creamy and the toro was more spicy. I would agree with the torp being creamy but I have not tried the toro, yet...

Bill, (floridasmoke) sent me the Lancero in the PIF recently and I smoked it not knowing who made it or what it was, as I had not heard of the new brand. I LOVED IT, great spice flavor. I've never been one to name the flavors of a cigar like cherry, nutmeg, clove, etc, but I do know intense spice when I taste it and this cigar was loaded with it. When he told me Don Pepin made the blend, it all came together. Bill, you and I have very similar likes in cigars, I have smoked 3 of the ones you sent and all I can say is spice, spice and more SPICE. Thanks for a great PIF. Pepin is probably the most accomplished blender of his time and there's not many of his cigars I don't like the Cubao being one of my new likes.

Pepin also blended a $3 cigar for Ashton that goes by the name of Benchmade. It was very good. I smoked one yesterday after my B&M owner gave me one to try. It is a fantastic value. I think it'll overtake Oliva G as my cheap smoke.

The benchmade is a cuban sandwich made from left over tobacco from San Cristobal I think

i love the cubaos, a real hit from pepin. i was at my local shop today and they just got in the mi barrios, i cant wait to try it, ill see if i can write a review for it as well

I asked the Ashton rep at an event last night what scraps are used to make the Benchmade. He said that it is scraps from San Cristobal, Tatuaje Havana VI and Pepin Cuban Classic. I guess those are some decent scraps to smoke.

Terp, my B&M got the Mi Barrio. Only a churchill size has been released and it is going for $13.50. One guy was smoking one and he said it was 2+ hours and still going! I was told that they will release a new size every 6 months, or so.