Good easy smooth smoking cigar.
It was a good smoke.
Bold, Smooth, and they don't break the bank!
Very good cigar. I'd definitely buy them again.
these coronas draw just fine, have loads of flavor and taste great in RJ Fernandez' fine blend.
Thank goodness for lucious Man 'O War little devils arriving in the mail the day before the Camp Fire drove me from my home. I was able to grab the package off my dresser (the bottom drawer hides the humidor) while evacuating, and can now luxuriate with these prized possessions. Life is good... even though everything else is gone.
Great strong cigar. I favor coronas and this is a good one. Cousin to the puro authentico, another favorite.
This cigar looks nice, it has a bold chocolate, coffee, cocoa, espresso taste with a slight bit of spice on the back side. The draw is superb. This cigars flavor is great and probably would have been even better if I could of gotten a decent burn on any of them. It was horrible. I spent too much time touching these up. Too bad when a great flavor is distracted by a bad burn. I'd buy them again if I knew it was just an off batch but your hard earned money will tell you not to do it.
Perfect construction on this stick. Started off with sweet and spice, then transitioned to earth, leather, and pepper lingering in the mouth. I think the transition was a little too stark for my taste and I missed the sweetness to balance the pepper. Probably wouldn't buy again but the burn was razor sharp and I enjoyed trying an experimental blend.
This is great cigar, medium in body. One of my favorites.
Full flavor, excellent construction, best service from CI!
For me, one of the best cigars I have smoked. Deep flavor with a peppery finish. Best part about this smoke is that it doesn't break the bank either. The minor negitive is because of the wrap you have to cut the end you light for air to pass.
I dig the flavor. But for me the wedge shape although looking really neat and I imagine it's a pain to roll is its downfall. The draw is to tight for me and I think maybe the shape is the reason for that. Not my favorite smoke from them but for the Price it's legit.
An excellent golf or anytime cigar for that matter.
Another winner from A.J. Fernandez.
Good cigar, nice burn, flavorful!
I'm saving these for when I have guests. I will keep some on hand!
I'm new to the cigar world so still trying to figure out what I like, hate and love. I picked this one randomly in a sampler. I liked the way this one looked so I lit it up. Very pleasing taste! Enjoyed very much will purchase again.
Nice dark and spicy. Yum. This is a cigar to have with a strong espresso or a nice scotch. But sip this one slowly... I found it to have a nicotine punch about half way through!
I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar.
Enjoy being a member and receiving my product in a timely fashion.
Full flavors in a smooth smoke!! Not for everyone but if you like Single Malt Scotch this is an excellent Companion.
I tried this cigar in a sample pack and I am hooked. Great flavor and burns really smooth. This is probably my favorite Man O' War. If you like a full bodied cigar, this is worth a try.
What starts as a slightly tight draw quickly opens into an evenly burning delicious masterpiece. Full bodied but exceptionally smooth with a slight spice on the finish. You will have a mouthful of flavor and a very enjoyable cigar. The tight roll burns slow and has an aroma that will have you wishing the experience would never end.
The initial draw on this cigar, is deceptively tight - on account of the wrapped end - don't be disappoined, because once this baby get's burning, it's dynamite! Easy draw, plenty of full flavor and smoke. Terrific cigar and value priced!
Nice construction! Great cedar aroma. Really smooth on the draw with a bit of pepper on the finish. Just a very, very enjoyable smoke.
Not enough time for a cigar?
That great Man 'o War taste in a stick that you can enjoy when you don't have an hour to an hour and a half to invest.
The packaging and shipping was fast and great.
This is my top choice, on par with the Armada.
All 4 Side Project creations are outstanding, but Skull Crusher is my favorite. I told my friend these are made by the mad scientists at AJ, cooking up the most seriously complex cigar you may ever smoke! Side Projects take their skills to new levels.
Unbelieveable! So much packed into this little beauty. From beginning to end this baby changes three times resulting in a cigar euphoria like none other. A J Fernandez gets it!
Very great stick if you enjoy allot of spice, i let this one set in my humidor between 67-69 for about a month before i lit it up. The first 5 puffs for me the hint of spice was very strong right off the batt. There was a hint of sweetness at about the first 3rd and started fading towards the end and beginning of the second. Overall it's a very great stick.
A decent smoke chocolate and spice. Well rounded flavors and excellent construction but not quite the powerhouse the name implies:an enjoyable fairly priced selection: it's big brother "Ruination " still runs the block.
Delicious, recommend to anyone who likes a good smoke. Sale price was well worth it.
Whatever "Man O'War" does with these sticks, it is unbelievable. I have purchased numerous boxes of these, and they are without a doubt my favorite. I don't burn them every day, these are set aside for special occasions.
awesome short cigars, if your looking for a deep flavorful smoke that last 45min to a hour, hour and a half if you baby it Look no farther, I think this smoke will be great for winter! Will decently order another box!
After smoking mostly Drew Estate cigars, I was not happy with the Little Devil. Was a very full cigar and had a strong taste that didn't agree with me.
I absolutely LOVE the Little Devil... the others, not so much.
Here's the deal. I love cigars with bite. Bite is when the cigar is strong. It's rare. Lots of cigars brag about being "strong" and "full-bodied" but most miss the mark, and there's no bite at all to the smoke. Litto Gomez brought the heat when the double ligero dropped back in the early 2000's, tons of bite, especially the chiselitos, but the following crops couldn't replicate the magic of those first offerings. Well, AJ has NAILED it with the Little Devil. A Bomb of a smoke with bite for days. If you are a full flavored, strong cigar lover as I am, you won't go wrong with this smoke. Wasn't a fan of the skull crusher and liked the other vitolas, but the Little Devil is the star of the bunch. Beautiful flavors to the nub, strong as hell, and tons of bite. Smoke one on an empty stomach and your head will be woozy by the end. Just how I like 'em! Thanks to AJ Fernandez (One of the only cigar makers out there offering blends with real bite) for putting together such smokes and thanks to CI for offering them! Kudos! Side tip - AJ's Mayimbe is another a$$ kicker, especially the smaller vitolas. Keep it up AJ!
*Skull Crushers* My awesome wife dropped a bundle of these sticks in my Christmas stocking just to say how good I was this year. I've tried and loved the line of MOW, as each stick compliments their own occasion. BUT, the SC's have superseded my Ruin favorite and I'll be stocking my humidor with more. Great job MOW!
The Phalanx is the best Maduro I have yet had the pleasure to smoke. Right of the bat, the most intense caramel sweetness on the nose I have ever gotten out of a stick. This reminds me exactly of an Oscuro I enjoy, but better! Sweet dark chocolate, fresh roasted sweet snappy Italian espresso beans, sweet cedar. Are you following me yet? Sweet, sweet, sweet smoky dark joy. The "medium" tag is meaningless and led me to mis-judge before lighting up. This has a fuller, more delicate and wider complex palate than all the stronger Maduros I have smoked! Without a doubt, this has become my top favorite cigar, and I really HOPE this one is here to stay. I would love more sizes and for this to become a mainstay.
Nice little smoke. When I'm back in school and working full time, don't get too much time for the toros and churchills so this is an excellent stick. Nice and spicy which I'm a big fan of.
Many of the reviews are subjective, in that they don't specify which of the four Side Project vitolas they are praising. Probably all four, considering the pedigree & the fact that you rarely see a bad review of any AJ Fernandez offering. I have only tried the 52-C Wedge, but want to say it is deliciously bold, flavorful, unique & on sale somewhere, yet still very pricey. I do adore the blend & can't wait to try all four, in due course. 52-C includes three of my favorite things, a chocolate brown, spicy Equadorian Habano wrapper, bold ligeros from Nicaragua & a precocious Mexican binder that takes this blend right over the top! Full bodied, caramel coated flavors, accented with a peppery spice mix that is proving to be addictive. The rare chisel shape is renamed the wedge & expertly hand rolled to give it a flawless appearance. Burn is spotless. What's not to like about 52-C? Well, it could be a lot bigger, in my opinion. Particularly at this price point. Say, a 6.5" X 58 gordo toro dagger chisel wedge! The seven to eight bone maduros are larger which should yield a much longer smoke than the 52-C's 30-40 minute burn time. A very good, very expensive indulgence, it receives a 91/100 & is highly recommended to fullheads & AJ lovers alike.
I am an unashamed enthusiast for all things AJ Fernandez. From his affordable maduro masterpiece Diesel, to the expensive habano-clad wonder Core. When he puts his name on something, you can be sure its darn good. Pinolero & San Lotano are the 90+ rated gems he has put his signature on that proves the hypothesis. I will never forget the 1st time I puffed on a Man-O-War. What a revelation! It immediately became my favorite vitola. It goes on & on, from Estd 1844 to Ave Maria. Everyone a delight, many are must haves & even a few are top 10 smokes. But I am partaking of my very 1st Side Project offering, the aptly named 52-C, as I write this review. The C is for chisel, which is the unique shape of this full bodied/full flavored 5" X 52 figurado. A mere 1/8" cut opens the chiseled end to allow clouds of creamy white smoke to billow forth from the Equadorian habano wrapped body crammed full of Nicaraguan ligero long fillers. Heavy doses of peppery goodness mingle with hearty spices & notes of leather, earth, oak, cinnamon & an underlying sweetness that belies the overall power of this stick. The strength is obvious from the git-go. It clings to the palate, resonates in the nose & can be felt deep in the gut, but in a way that is not overbearing. It just seems appropriate that a Bluto like 52-C should be this obtuse. It goes perfectly with a cup of my favorite expresso. Everything about it is top notch, from the unique flavor profile to its outstanding construction. It is expensive, however. 12 of these 40 minute treats will set you back a cool 80 clams, or $6.66 per unit. As much as I love it, I will have to wait for deals like the one from the MMAO section that netted me 6 different AJ Fernandez blends for only $3.00 each. At that price it earns a 93/100. I can't wait to try the other 3 Side Projects. Fullheads will probably agree. 52-C is a logical extension of the Man-O-War line of outstanding cigars.
Just finished a skull crusher, and am for the most part impressed. The draw was a little tight, but still managed copious amounts of smoke. The start was fairly mild, much more tame than I'd expected or hoped for, but grew stronger as it burned. Very mild spice, with a plethora of subtleties contesting & complementing throughout.
DJ from N.C. You are completely right. This is the best cigar I have ever had. Nubbing it as I write this. All I know is that it prompted me to speak about it on this review, which I hardly ever do. This cigar had it all. It's like the Puro Authentico in its perfect form.
I was introduced to the Skull Crusher at Cigarfest 2014 and it is hands down one of the best cigars I have ever smoked. It replaces Ruination as my favorite Man O' War cigars.
Smoking the Phalynx, nothing short of spectacular. Beautiful white ash that had to be hammered off, nutty, med-full and perfect construction. Oily to view and a beauty to behold, and I'll be holding more of these soon! CI offers these babies at a great price point, and they'll not disappoint. Compare to a 5 Vegas AAA, but with a bit more oomph. Easy draw, great pre and post light aroma. Man O' War does it again.
One of my all time favorite cigars. Best AJ has made in my opinion. Ranks with his Mayimbe.. Have just ordered 4 more boxes for my humidor.
Just had the Man O'War Phalanx, and it is all that and a bag of chips. Solid cigar (filler is tight), even burn, holds a great ash, maintains its flavor throughout the entire smoke. This cigar doesn't give you a hard burn in the back of the throat that some full strength cigars can do. Phalanx gives a great scent, easy draw with a tightly packed filler, and the taste stays true. A great purchase that I am putting on my favorites list.
Just had the Phalanx last night. Cool 50 degrees in November, went to the hottub and sparked it up. I was very impressed. I had tried the Skull Crusher a few months earlier and wasn't the biggest fan. Got both of them in a sampler back a few months back. I'm thinking the age in my humi helped. The Phalanx was excellent last night. Powerful, dark, creamy, white smoke the whole time. I'm a big pepper and cedar guy and this had the perfect amount. I've also been enjoying shorter smokes recently (robustos, etc.), but I nubbed this gordo to the bottom I liked it so much. Phenomenal first third, decent second third, and a delicious final third. This has me wanting to get another sampler and try the Skull Crusher again after aging it some. Definitely try the Phalanx!!
Just got the sampler and so far I've just had the Little Devil. It is quite the smoke! I am not so attenuated to describe all of the nuanced flavors but it definitely has some great flavors and really took on a taste all it's own in the second third. Draw & burn were near perfect and held its burn perfectly even after ashing. The Man O' War is my favorite cigar and so far the Side Projects continue the greatness.
Little Devil's top shelf. Will silence any full flavored aficionado..
Today I smoked a cigar that absolutely blew me away: the Man O War Side Project. This devil was bursting with spice, cocoa and mesquite! Yes mesquite. Midway thru I swear this baby had a distinct flavor of sweet mesquite. Absolutely the best cigar I have had in a long long time. In fact, I will have to say this should be a candidate for cigar of the year.
I just got through smoking the Skull Crusher. This has to be one of the best cigars I have ever had the pleasure of smoking. Full bodied, flavorful and the aroma was a bit of heaven (I smoked it outside because my wife doesn't like cigars). I will be ordering many of these but right now it's close to my birthday and although the wife doesn't like cigars she may get me some for that event. Smoke and enjoy, just don't wipe out the stash that CI has available.
52C (Wedge) Amazing cigar! Got it in a sampler and was very impressed. Easy and smooth to draw on and burned real evenly. A little spice and pepper tasting with hints of leather and earth. A cigar worth trying.
Little Devil is hands down the BEST cigar ever made.
I have had several of the newer Skull Crushers...they are very similar in flavor to the Phalanx. The main difference is there is a pronounced tannic flavor to the Skull Crushers I am not fond of. I have also found they are difficult to keep lit and have a draw that is a little tighter than I personally like.
I'm a big fan of the little devil's.. a great smoke all around from spice to cocoa and cream to floral notes.. just ordered another 40 after half way through my first 10 received on MMAO.. saved some money and cut down on the evidence maybe (no boxes) haha.. can't go wrong with this cigar, make sure you eat first though. The 52c however isn't as good in my experiece.. still need to try the Phalanx.
Having received the Man O' War 52c in the Summer Vacation Sampler, which I stongly suggest you purchase one of the best samplers CI has ever offered. The Man O' War and I already had a love relationship going on, and I really didn't think anything could be added to a cigar that was already great. Not to say that the other Man O' War cigars are less, but I want to say WOW, how in the heck could they add another great cigar to their list? This is a cigar that true tobacco lovers will go bonkers over, and be so busy enjoying the time spent smoking this cigar. I doubt you will take the time to figure out the many flavors as it evolves. Thank you CI for the best sampler you have put out in a long time, the Summer Vacation. The Man O' War Side Project 52c will find a place in my humidor.
these three side projects sounds great! AJ will have to build up his inventory so he can offer boxes of each.
These 52C chisels are fantastic. Draw is perfect, even with just pinching the chisel, no cut necessary. Burn is perfect. Strength- medium, Body full -complex with very rich flavors, coca, cedar, with a touch of sweetness on the finish, can't pinpoint it, maybe mint? Extremely smooth on the retrohale as well as in the mouth. I am enjoying it with Amrut Single Malt and Chet Baker on the cd player. Life couldn't be better. Try these 52c's you won't be disappointed!