T.L. Johnson Tempio Extreme Box Press Review

Cigar: T.L. Johnson Tempio
Size: Toro
Wrapper: Pennsylvania
Binder: Dominican/Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican/Nicaraguan
Price: $9.00 to $11.00
By: Ryan Bloomer








Well its safe to say I am a little late to the party when it comes to the Tempio by T.L. Johnson.  I have been slowly watching the Tempio blow up on social media with boasts about its flavor and extreme razor sharp box press.  I thought it's about time for me to get with the program and do a review.   The Tempio was made for Johnson by the work of Luis Sanchez of the La Tradicion Cubana Factory in the Dominican Republic. The La Tradicion Cubana Factory believes in the old traditional Cuban styles, which include aging the cigars in cedar trays for long periods of time. Unfortunately my local shops do not carry the T.L. Johnson line. With that being the case I had to reach out to Don Wiggins at the Underground Cigar Shop who carries the complete T.L. Johnson line.

Appearance/Pre-lit:

The Tempio has an amazing pre lit aroma of cedar and oak.  The cedar is very predominate due to the cigar aging process of Luis Sanchez.  The cap is a pig tail that is well constructed and creates the beginning identity to the Tempio.  The veins of the wrapper are very big which gives the wrapper a rigid looking appearance.  The appearance actually fools you with a soft leathery feel from head to foot.  I have never seen a box press so well defined with sharp edges.  If you look from the foot to the head of the cigar it is in a shape of a well defined rectangle.  The band is very classic which fits well with the tradition of the way the Tempio is produced.  The time has come to toast this cigar and get started.



First Third:

The first few draws I immediately picked up strong hints of cedar, oak, and a slight hint of roasted nuts.  The Tempio does not put out a strong amount of smoke and the ash is very dark.  The burn is very even and the construction of the cigar is very good.  The first third is coming to the end and I started to pick up a sweet taste on my palate that I have not been able to figure out exactly.



Middle Third:

The cigar continues to have a smooth draw with good construction.  The notes of cedar and oak are still very much in play on my palate along with a sweet citrus taste that appeared near the end of the first third.  The hint of citrus plays well with the notes of cedar and oak.  My ash finally fell apart as I made a slight touch up entering the final third of the cigar.



Final Third:

The final third has hit me with an array of notes to go along with the cedar and oak.  I have picked up a taste of sweet and salty that is almost like freshly popped kettle corn.  The draw is still a little loose which is causing the cigar to burn a little quicker than I would like.  The sharp edges of the box press are still holding up strong.  The final third of the Tempio is no doubt the dessert portion of this cigar.



Final Thoughts:

If you love a great earthy cigar with strong hints of cedar, oak, and a dessert ending of freshly popped kettle corn this cigar is definitely for you.  I have decided to give this a cigar a rating of 9.0 out of 10 on the 2 Cigar Guys and a Humidor Rating Scale. The appearance and presentation is just phenomenal and if you haven't tried it you are missing out on a unique experience when it comes to extreme box pressed cigars.

 

  

Room 101 Master Collection Two Review

Cigar: Room 101 Master Collection Two

Size: Mutante (Lancero) 38 x 7

Wrapper: Criollo
Binder and Filler: Honduran and Nicaraguan
Price: $10 per stick

By: Danny Smith

 I had the pleasure of meeting up with Matt Booth of Room 101 at a cigar show at Silo Cigars in Knoxville, TN, a couple of weeks ago and got the chance to chat with him for a few moments regarding his cigars.  I told him that I was going to be reviewing the new Master Collection Two and told him I’d let him pick the size for the review.  He told me that his choice would be the lancero.  This was music to my ears as a fan of the lancero vitola....so the lancero it is!  When asked about the cigar, Matt told me that this cigar is a more “elegant” blend than the previous Master Collection release and that the Master Collection cigars utilize the best tobaccos in his line.  His goal for his cigar line was to have a line that had a smoke for everyone and this cigar fills a void.  Thanks a bunch to Matt for taking a few moments to speak with me during the busy show.  Anyway, lets get on to the review!

Pre-light

 The cigar is medium brown in color with small veins in the wrapper, nothing major though.  The band is a simple all gold version of Master Collection One which shows the Sakura or cherry blossom.  The cigar is firm but has a little give between the fingers.  The look of the cigar echos Matt’s description “elegant”. 

 I cut the cigar with my trusty xikar cutter and the cut was very smooth.  The pre-light draw tasted of finely aged tobacco.  Looking forward to firing it up!

First Third

 From the start this cigar is smoking great.  The draw is perfect and the burn line is on point.  Plenty of smoke bellows out with each puff.  I’m getting hints of nuts and cream with just a faint spice in the background.  Nothing overwhelming, but the flavors are very satisfying and pairing well with my irish coffee.

Second Third

  Into the second third we go....the smoke production picks up slightly and the burn line continues to be excellent.  The spice note fades out and the creamy flavor continues to be in the forefront.  There is a slightly sweet flavor that remains on the lips after each puff....and that is something that I personally enjoy.  The ash at this point has gotten a bit flaky which has caused a bit of a problem with the wind outside today but hey...we can’t control mother nature!   As I get just past the half way point, the spice comes back in.  This isn’t a pepper blast but instead more of a sweet baking type of spice.  I’m digging it!

Final Third

            The cigar continues to burn well and the mild flavors continue with a little bit of sweetness and a hint of what seems to be cedar.  Smoke production continues to be very nice...lots of smoke!  The label came off easily with no damage to the wrapper. 

Final Thoughts

            This was a very enjoyable smoke that took me a little over an hour to get through.  I think Matt was right on when he told me that this was a more elegant blend.  The Master Collection Two was very nuanced with the flavors being not overpowering but strong enough to let you know they’re there.  This would be a great anytime of day smoke and also one that the inexperienced smoker could enjoy.  The construction was great as I didn’t have to touch up the smoke at all throughout.  I think Room 101 has a real winner here and with the price point being at $10 bucks a stick for a “top of the line” cigar...I think it should definitely be considered the next time you want to try a cigar company’s top stick without spending too much cash.  I’ll definitely be picking up a few more to stash away in the humidor! 

La Palina Goldie #2 Review

 

Cigar: La Palina Goldie Laguito No. 2

Wrapper: Ecuador Habano

Binder: Ecuador

Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican

Size: 6 x 38 Vitola Petit Lancero

By: Underground GoodFellas Member

MSRP: $14.00 Courtesy of the UnderGround Cigar Shop and Lounge

 

The La Palina Goldie Laguito No. 2 is a noticeably well-rolled cigar with a stunning light spice-brown wrapper.  The wrapper does have some light veins present nonetheless they are not too distracting nor do they take away from the appearance of the cigar.  The cigar is topped with a fan cap that adds a bit of character to it.  The Goldie is smooth to the touch with a hint of oil feel to it.  It is not overly tight on its roll, so it has a little give when squeezed.  It seems to be a perfect feel to my fingers.  The aroma is intoxicating.  At first inhale, I immediately sense a sweet fruity smell that reminds me of a combination of honey and banana.  I also sense a bit of wood, hay and cashew in it.  The cut was flawless and it left not a lot of flaking or cracking.  The pre-light draw is effortless.  Prior to the light, I can tell I am in for a fantastic smoke.

The Beginning:

The first third of the Goldie is a flavor blast.  Honey and cashew with a hint of banana are what is most dominant.  On the first two or three draws I start to sense a bit more of light coffee as the other flavors stand strong on my tongue.  The cigar is exceptionally creamy overall and the draw remains effortless.  I have to actually pace myself, as I can’t seem to get enough of it.  It is almost as I want to chew it.  As I move through the first third of this stick, the spice and coffee linger on my tongue.  Strength is a mild to medium cigar and slowly feels like it is gaining a bit stronger.  The burn is perfect.  The draw remains effortless. 

The Middle:

Approaching the second third of the cigar, and the honey and banana notes start to quickly recede a bit.  It still has the smooth pepper spice to it and remains creamy all the way through the mid-point.  The pepper on the draw kicks up a notch which continues all the way through the second third.  I continue to have to keep reminding myself to slow the pace.  With the draw so smooth, and the flavors of this cigar, it is hard to not want to blow right through it.  The burn remains even and it is producing a tightly packed ash.  The strength is slightly stronger into more of a medium bodied cigar, but the creamy taste of the Goldie makes it smooth and flawless. 

 

The End:



The final third of the Goldie No. 2 sees an increase in spice on the palette and a slight decrease in peppery tones.  The creaminess and sweetness remain throughout the stick.  The Goldie does increase slightly in strength to a medium-full bodied cigar toward the last inch.  The ash is still solid and full.  The wrapper and construction remain perfect throughout the entire session.  No peeling or cracking is noted.  The burn is impeccable all the way to the end.  I undoubtedly nubbed this smoke, as I didn’t want it to end. 

 

Final Thoughts:

This cigar is a flavor bomb.  Undeniably one of the best cigars I have had.  While the size of this stick is a bit small for the price tag, the enjoyment of it more than makes up for the pinch in your pocket book.  Once you have the pleasure of relishing one of these bad boys… you will be breaking out the credit card for a box of these beauties.  An overall nice full-bodied, complex cigar that will leave you smiling.  You will not be disappointed!

2 Cigar Guys And A Humidor would like to thank Underground Goodfellas for another great guest review. Don't forget to check out their charity auction on Sunday March 18th at 8:00 pm est on the Underground Group page on facebook.