I love when retailers host cigar events where one brand is featured. It gives you a chance to try new smokes that you may have missed and better yet…get more detailed backround from a company representative. Today I had the pleasure of attending the San Lotano event at Ol’ Times Cigars (Casselberry FL).
I have to admit that I have been very reluctant to try this company’s famous stick…The Oval. It has received several high ratings by different cigar publications and blogs… but my main deterent is the specific thing that makes it stand out.. its large oval shape. I used to be very drawn to these types of large ring guage cigars, but have changed my preference more recently. I think a lot of smokers go through this phase and end up realizing that some of the much smaller sizes pack the same punch. I went into today looking forward to finally lighting an Oval. Ironically, I ended up smoking a different blend that promised to be stronger…the Pinolero. 
I didn’t find the Pinolero to be that strong. It had a very consistent taste for me and was very smooth. I have a tendency to smoke extremely full-bodied cigars. This definitely influences my judgment.. as The rep Jeff mentioned. I didn’t pick up on a lot of the spiciness that most of the nicaraguan-made smokes are known for. This was Ok, because the cigar smoked perfectly and was very well-made.
I am still very interested in trying the Oval, and am glad my father was generous enough to purchase a few to enjoy at a later time. You’ll have to check back soon to get the verdict on that one. Overall, The event was a success as always. Ol’ Times put on a great spread of food and drinks. The usual crowd was in attendance and there were plenty of great times and good conversation. 
In conclusion… Make sure you come out to the next cigar event in your area. You can check with your local cigar store for the dates or even go to the different company websites directly. AJ Fernandez Cigars (the owner of San Lotano) was very well represented tonight. I would highly reccomend attending one of their company specific events. Click here to see their upcoming events in your area.
