This week I had meetings in New Jersey. Just before I boarded the plane, I realized I had no reading material. I ran to the Hudson News Stand at the airport and bought my first Cigar Aficionado magazine in years. I despise everything this magazine has to offer, but I was in a pinch and needed something to kill the time. The February issue listed the Best Cigars of 2009. The article focused on the shrinking economy and the need for low-priced cigars. As a coincidence, they named the Magna Casa Colorado robusto the Cigar of the Year, based on quality, construction, taste and price. I found this amazing considering that Cigar Aficionado has never been concerned with the price of anything at anytime. Further, this issue also rated punch cutters and recommended a $315 Davidoff cutter and reviewed a $25,900 watch. I find it ironic that they chose a five dollar cigar as the Cigar of Year. This hypocrisy, is one reason why I have boycotted the magazine and start CigarMonkey. I digress, my dislike for the magazine is for another day.

I recently received a Casa Magna Colorado belicoso as a gift from a CigarMonkey subscriber. So when I arrived home, I was excited to see if the Cigar Aficionado rating was justified. The Casa Magna Colorado is a creation of Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia. It is constructed with Cuban seed Nicaraguan fillers and binder grown in Esteli and Jalapa. The belicoso measures 6.25 x 54 and runs for $6 a stick. It looks impressive with a dark red, oily, Nicaraguan Colorado wrapper. It lit easily and maintained an even burn all the way to the nub. It was unable to hold  decent ash. I was unable to identify a taste. If someone put a gun to my head, I would say leather and cedar come to the forefront, but it was not flavorful. The draw was tight, thus creating a slow burn lasting just over two hours. My expectations were high prior to firing it up and unfortunately, the cigar did not live up to it's billing. It is not a full-bodied smoke. It is a medium-bodied experience that lacked flavor and the "wow" factor. Don't get me wrong, it is a good looking smoke, well-constructed and a fine burn. However, it is not a cigar of the year. Would I buy another one? Maybe. Would I recommend it? Yes, but don't pay over six bucks for it. Don't buy a box until you tried at least one.

Once again, Cigar Aficionado disappoints with it's rating and it's pick for Cigar of the Year. If your unable to find a Casa Magna Colorado, don't fret. There are other smokes that compare that are readily available. Namely, the Partagas Spanish Rosada Familia.

MonkeyDan Rating: 88