This was a cigar that was in my top ten for 2009, I thought I would give it another chance to be on the list for 2010. I pawed around in my humidor before deciding on this one, I always hesitate when I am smoking a cigar for review that I know has been great in the past. My irrational fear is that once I subject it to the hairy eye of criticism that I will lose a memory of bygone excellence. This cigar presents well, with a medium brown wrapper that is applied without flaw. There are some minor veins, but the wrapper is beautiful and has an oily sheen that is appealing. An inspection reveals a couple of areas that are a bit tight, but I do not believe that they will be an issue once flame hits tobacco. The pre light aroma is heady, there are notes of leather and spice that carry hints of things to come. The pre light draw shows some pepper and nice spice at the back of the palate.
The cigar opens with an excellent profile of leather, tobacco and spice. At the back of the palate there are some nice earthy tones that have some sweetness in the mix. The draw is very smooth and produces excellent amounts of thick, savory smoke. The burn is a bit wonky at the start, but it evens out in the first half inch.
The first half of the cigar really opens up nicely. The core profile shows a very balanced and nuanced array of flavors including spice, tobacco and leather. At the back of the palate there are notes of cedar and earth that add depth and complexity to the smoke. The draw continues to be impressive and shows no signs of be flawed at any point. The burn is even and produces a nice heavy gray ash.
The final half of the smoke develops further, showing tobacco and heavy leather notes. At the back of the palate some notes of spice are showing through some earthy undertones that are very pleasing. In the final two inches there is an excellent blast of pepper that really leaves it's mark as the cigar closes. The burn and draw were excellent throughout.
The finish is smooth but powerful showing notes of pepper and leather.
Appearance- 93 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 92 a very nice profile that had depth and complexity
Construction- 90 some early burn issues lead to some deduction
Strength- 94 an excellent full bodied experience
Overall- 91.75 an excellent smoking experience
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Partagas Short (January 2009 Box Date)
This is a very short smoke and it presents in a stocky little vitola that looks leathery and oily. There is some prominent veining, but I do not believe that it will be an issue during the smoke. A quick exam leads to me to believe that cigar is well made, as I detect no areas of concern. The pre light aroma smacks of leather and spice. The pre light draw shows a nice tone of leather and cedar.
The cigar opens with a beautiful profile of leather and nice tobacco notes. At the back of the palate there is a sharp cedar undertones that compliments the front of the profile in a wonderful way. The draw is exceptional, I can't even detect the usual tightness in the draw that I expect from Habanos. The burn shows a nice shoulder, but I have seen better and I suspect some more age might be necessary.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of leather and fine tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate the cedar notes have picked up an underlying note of vanilla that adds some depth to the experience. The draw continues to perform extremely well and the burn is spot on showing no signs of deterioration.
The final half of the cigar is a disappointment. The profile begins to show heavy tannins and becomes bitey. At the back of the palate the cedar flavors have given way to some bitter notes and the experience becomes less enjoyable. The draw continues to perform well and the burn showed no signs of trouble throughout.
The finish was short and full of tannins. I will lay these down for another six to twelve months and try again.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 83 the back half killed the cigar, but if the front is what I have to look forward to then it will be a classic profile
Construction- 93 an excellent smoking experience from the standpoint of consistency
Strength- 85 average medium smoke
Overall- 87.5 with some age this will be a 90+ smoke
The cigar opens with a beautiful profile of leather and nice tobacco notes. At the back of the palate there is a sharp cedar undertones that compliments the front of the profile in a wonderful way. The draw is exceptional, I can't even detect the usual tightness in the draw that I expect from Habanos. The burn shows a nice shoulder, but I have seen better and I suspect some more age might be necessary.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of leather and fine tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate the cedar notes have picked up an underlying note of vanilla that adds some depth to the experience. The draw continues to perform extremely well and the burn is spot on showing no signs of deterioration.
The final half of the cigar is a disappointment. The profile begins to show heavy tannins and becomes bitey. At the back of the palate the cedar flavors have given way to some bitter notes and the experience becomes less enjoyable. The draw continues to perform well and the burn showed no signs of trouble throughout.
The finish was short and full of tannins. I will lay these down for another six to twelve months and try again.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 83 the back half killed the cigar, but if the front is what I have to look forward to then it will be a classic profile
Construction- 93 an excellent smoking experience from the standpoint of consistency
Strength- 85 average medium smoke
Overall- 87.5 with some age this will be a 90+ smoke
Friday, February 26, 2010
Camacho Corojo Maduro Figurado
This is an offering from Camacho that comes in a large figurado shape that is visually intimidating for someone who prefers robustos or coronas. The wrapper is toothy and has deep brown color that is uniform. An inspection reveals some soft areas that give me some pause about the possible burn problems that could result. The pre light aroma has a funky earth tone. The pre light draw shows notes of pepper and sharp tobacco.
The cigar opens with a profile of pepper and loamy earth notes that are bordering on sour. At the back of the palate there are some hints of wood and light tobacco flavors, but the flavors are thready and hindered by the sour notes from the front of the profile. The draw is acceptable and the burn is ok, but shows the signs of a canoe very early in the smoke.
The first third of the cigar continues to have some pepper and earth notes, but the sourness has begun to come through more clearly at this point. At the back of the palate the woody notes have given away to thin grassy characteristics that are not pleasing. The draw stays solid to this point, but the burn is continuing to deteriorate into a solid canoe that any banana boat devotee would be proud of.
The middle third of the smoke is flat, showing notes of tobacco and earth, but not much in the way of depth or complexity. At the back of the palate grassy notes mingle with sour overtones to create a bile inducing mixture of putrescence. The draw is still good, but I wish it weren't so I would have an excuse to dispose of this rocket. The burn continues to canoe and I would be frustrated, but the cigar is not worth the time to worry.
The final third continues to churn my lunch from earlier. There are notes of tobacco and earth, but the vile sour notes continue to show through. The back of the palate is not worth mentioning, except to say that unless you enjoy vomit inducing arrays of flavor, this is not the cigar for you. The draw is the only highlight of the cigar, but the burn is one of the worst I have encountered.
The finish is blessed because the cigar is done. My palate tainted I happily dispose of this experience without any regret.
Appearance- 88 aside from the draw this is the only redeeming quality of the smoke
Taste- 70 one of the worst I have ever had
Construction- 75 saved only because the draw was above average
Strength- 80 a below average medium/full
Overall- 76.25 a complete waste of time
The cigar opens with a profile of pepper and loamy earth notes that are bordering on sour. At the back of the palate there are some hints of wood and light tobacco flavors, but the flavors are thready and hindered by the sour notes from the front of the profile. The draw is acceptable and the burn is ok, but shows the signs of a canoe very early in the smoke.
The first third of the cigar continues to have some pepper and earth notes, but the sourness has begun to come through more clearly at this point. At the back of the palate the woody notes have given away to thin grassy characteristics that are not pleasing. The draw stays solid to this point, but the burn is continuing to deteriorate into a solid canoe that any banana boat devotee would be proud of.
The middle third of the smoke is flat, showing notes of tobacco and earth, but not much in the way of depth or complexity. At the back of the palate grassy notes mingle with sour overtones to create a bile inducing mixture of putrescence. The draw is still good, but I wish it weren't so I would have an excuse to dispose of this rocket. The burn continues to canoe and I would be frustrated, but the cigar is not worth the time to worry.
The final third continues to churn my lunch from earlier. There are notes of tobacco and earth, but the vile sour notes continue to show through. The back of the palate is not worth mentioning, except to say that unless you enjoy vomit inducing arrays of flavor, this is not the cigar for you. The draw is the only highlight of the cigar, but the burn is one of the worst I have encountered.
The finish is blessed because the cigar is done. My palate tainted I happily dispose of this experience without any regret.
Appearance- 88 aside from the draw this is the only redeeming quality of the smoke
Taste- 70 one of the worst I have ever had
Construction- 75 saved only because the draw was above average
Strength- 80 a below average medium/full
Overall- 76.25 a complete waste of time
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Robusto
This is an iconic cigar in the industry, a long time favorite of many and a cigar I have smoked over the years many times. It presents well with a rich brown wrapper that has little veining and appears to be expertly applied. An inspection of the construction reveals nary an issue and I believe that the cigar will perform well. The pre light aroma has notes of earth and tobacco. The pre light draw shows notes of tobacco and a light essence of nuts.
The cigar opens with a profile of tobacco and light pepper notes. At the back of the palate there are some notes of wood and roasted nuts. The draw is nearly flawless, performing easily and producing ample amounts of flavorful smoke. The burn is even and produces a solid gray ash that holds on several inches into the smoke.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of tobacco, but there are some nice notes of wood and roasted nuts coming through as well. At the back of the palate there are notes of earth accompanied by notes of pepper. The draw continues to perform well and the burn is still strong.
The second half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of tobacco and wood, the nutty sweetness is still showing through. At the back of the palate notes of earth and light pepper continue to progress. The smoke could use more depth and complexity, but the simplicity of what is present is compelling. The draw and burn stay consistent throughout.
The finish is long and smooth showing notes of roasted nuts and rich tobacco flavors.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 lacking in depth and complexity, but still above average
Construction- 93 very impressive performance
Strength- 88 a very nice medium
Overall- 89.75 an above average experience
The cigar opens with a profile of tobacco and light pepper notes. At the back of the palate there are some notes of wood and roasted nuts. The draw is nearly flawless, performing easily and producing ample amounts of flavorful smoke. The burn is even and produces a solid gray ash that holds on several inches into the smoke.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of tobacco, but there are some nice notes of wood and roasted nuts coming through as well. At the back of the palate there are notes of earth accompanied by notes of pepper. The draw continues to perform well and the burn is still strong.
The second half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of tobacco and wood, the nutty sweetness is still showing through. At the back of the palate notes of earth and light pepper continue to progress. The smoke could use more depth and complexity, but the simplicity of what is present is compelling. The draw and burn stay consistent throughout.
The finish is long and smooth showing notes of roasted nuts and rich tobacco flavors.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 lacking in depth and complexity, but still above average
Construction- 93 very impressive performance
Strength- 88 a very nice medium
Overall- 89.75 an above average experience
Cubao No.4
This is another offering from 601 and the expert hand of Pepin Garcia. In all honesty the Cubao smokes have always been somewhat underwhelming for me, but I got this as part of a Pepin sampler and decided to give it a go. The cigar presents in a straightforward, but unimpressive fashion, with a non-descript band and plain medium brown wrapper that shows some flaws and some prominent veins. A quick inspection shows that the cigar is well made and I don't detect any areas of concern. The pre light aroma is of rich tobacco and some muted notes of spice. The pre light draw shows a hint of pepper and rich tobacco flavor.
The cigar opens with notes of rich tobacco and some thin wisps of peppery bite. At the back of the palate there are some notes of dark wood, but there is a underlying sour bite that takes away from the experience. The draw is slightly tight, but is not causing any real issue other than sapping some of my enjoyment. The burn is steady and even producing a crisp ash.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of rich tobacco and undertones of dark wood. At the back of the palate there are still some notes of wood and some earth, but the sour bite continues to show through in the smoke souring the impression. The draw has opened slightly, but is still too tight for my liking. The burn has frayed and started to show some issues, but I am able to avoid a touch up for the time being.
The final half of the cigar continues to show a profile dominated by rich tobacco flavors and undertones of dark wood. I am disappointed by the lack of depth and complexity to this point. At the back of the palate there are still notes of earth, but some sourness still persists in the overall impression. The draw is acceptable, but still not where I like it to be. The burn continues to show issues, but I am able to avoid touching it up which is a plus.
The finish is a touch short and has notes of tobacco and earth.
Appearance- 85 a very ordinary looking smoke
Taste- 83 sour notes and lack of depth and complexity preclude a higher score
Construction- 84 slightly below average in draw and burn
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84.25 a below average smoking experience and my least favorite of the Pepin offerings
The cigar opens with notes of rich tobacco and some thin wisps of peppery bite. At the back of the palate there are some notes of dark wood, but there is a underlying sour bite that takes away from the experience. The draw is slightly tight, but is not causing any real issue other than sapping some of my enjoyment. The burn is steady and even producing a crisp ash.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of rich tobacco and undertones of dark wood. At the back of the palate there are still some notes of wood and some earth, but the sour bite continues to show through in the smoke souring the impression. The draw has opened slightly, but is still too tight for my liking. The burn has frayed and started to show some issues, but I am able to avoid a touch up for the time being.
The final half of the cigar continues to show a profile dominated by rich tobacco flavors and undertones of dark wood. I am disappointed by the lack of depth and complexity to this point. At the back of the palate there are still notes of earth, but some sourness still persists in the overall impression. The draw is acceptable, but still not where I like it to be. The burn continues to show issues, but I am able to avoid touching it up which is a plus.
The finish is a touch short and has notes of tobacco and earth.
Appearance- 85 a very ordinary looking smoke
Taste- 83 sour notes and lack of depth and complexity preclude a higher score
Construction- 84 slightly below average in draw and burn
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84.25 a below average smoking experience and my least favorite of the Pepin offerings
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Cabaiguan Imperiales
After a slight relapse back into illness, I am back at near 100% and ready to continue my cigar journey. This cigar presents beautifully with a blond wrapper that is expertly applied. There are few veins and no flaws that are readily discernible. A quick exam leads me to believe that the cigar is well made. The pre light aroma has floral notes and a sweet bready essence. The pre light draw shows some nice light spice and a toasty quality.
The cigar opens with a nice mild profile of spice, light bread and some cinnamon undertones. At the back of the palate there is an interesting note of light wood, but it is a bit bitey for me early in the cigar. The draw is nearly perfect, imparting excellent amounts of smoke that is drifting lazily away as I contemplate how much I missed cigars over the last three weeks. The burn is sharp and produces a nice gray ash that is solid.
The first third of the cigar opens up and picks up strength as it proceeds. The core profile is of light spice and still has some bready notes. At the back of the palate the bite of light wood continues to detract from the experience. The draw continues to perform well and the burn is sharp and consistent.
The middle third of the smoke shows a slight profile shift that is interesting. The core of light spice has been joined by some notes of light pepper and the strength quotient is going up. At the back of the palate there are still some harsh notes of charred wood, but they are mellowing as the cigar progresses. The draw and burn have stayed consistent.
The final third of the cigar lacks some depth and complexity, but shows a core profile of light wood, spice and some pepper. At the back of the palate there are some floral notes that do not resonate well with the rest of the profile. The draw and burn continue to be impressive.
The finish is long, but has some bite, showing notes of pepper and spice.
Appearance- 92 a very nice looking cigar
Taste- 87 some detractions for bite in the profile and lack of complexity and depth
Construction- 94 an excellent experience
Strength- 88 a nice medium/full experience that develops well
Overall- 90.25 a nice experience that could use more depth
The cigar opens with a nice mild profile of spice, light bread and some cinnamon undertones. At the back of the palate there is an interesting note of light wood, but it is a bit bitey for me early in the cigar. The draw is nearly perfect, imparting excellent amounts of smoke that is drifting lazily away as I contemplate how much I missed cigars over the last three weeks. The burn is sharp and produces a nice gray ash that is solid.
The first third of the cigar opens up and picks up strength as it proceeds. The core profile is of light spice and still has some bready notes. At the back of the palate the bite of light wood continues to detract from the experience. The draw continues to perform well and the burn is sharp and consistent.
The middle third of the smoke shows a slight profile shift that is interesting. The core of light spice has been joined by some notes of light pepper and the strength quotient is going up. At the back of the palate there are still some harsh notes of charred wood, but they are mellowing as the cigar progresses. The draw and burn have stayed consistent.
The final third of the cigar lacks some depth and complexity, but shows a core profile of light wood, spice and some pepper. At the back of the palate there are some floral notes that do not resonate well with the rest of the profile. The draw and burn continue to be impressive.
The finish is long, but has some bite, showing notes of pepper and spice.
Appearance- 92 a very nice looking cigar
Taste- 87 some detractions for bite in the profile and lack of complexity and depth
Construction- 94 an excellent experience
Strength- 88 a nice medium/full experience that develops well
Overall- 90.25 a nice experience that could use more depth
Friday, February 12, 2010
La Aurora Barrel Aged No.4
After a long hiatus due to a pretty severe illness I am back on the cigar wagon with a trail of smoke drifting behind me. I begin with this dark, rich offering from La Aurora. I smoked this and gave it a 90+ rating last year, I was curious to see how it would stand up against the last review. The cigar presents with a very dark oscuro wrapper, there are some prominent veins that cause me some measure of concern. An inspection shows a cigar that may be a bit too firm and I am worried about draw issues. The pre light aroma shows a strong tobacco character. The pre light draw shows rich tobacco notes and some nice earthy tones.
The cigar opens with a profile that has a strong tobacco core. There are some slightly floral notes intermingled amongst the strong waves of tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate there is an interesting blend of rich coffee flavor with some earthy undertones. The draw is a bit thin, but I am not finding too much issue with it. The burn is sharp and produces a bright white ash.
The first half of the smoke continues to show rich tobacco flavors, the floral notes have given way to a sweetness that is reminiscent of molasses. At the back of the palate coffee and earth continue to show through. The draw remains thin, but it is still not too much of an issue. The burn has become lopsided and is threatening to canoe.
The final half of the cigar maintains a core profile of rich tobacco, but I am also detecting some notes of cocoa, earth and molasses in the presentation. The depth of flavors is nice, but the profile could use more complexity. At the back of the palate strong coffee flavors dominate. The draw stays tight throughout the smoke, but does not hurt the performance that much. The burn continues to be lopsided, and I let the cigar go with an inch or so left to avoid a relight.
The finish is long and sharp showing notes of tobacco, coffee and earth.
Appearance- 87 some prominent veins hurt the score
Taste- 91 a nice profile that could use more complexity
Construction- 83 the burn and draw issues lead to this score
Strength- 88 a nice medium to full presentation
Overall- 87.25 a slightly above average experience
The cigar opens with a profile that has a strong tobacco core. There are some slightly floral notes intermingled amongst the strong waves of tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate there is an interesting blend of rich coffee flavor with some earthy undertones. The draw is a bit thin, but I am not finding too much issue with it. The burn is sharp and produces a bright white ash.
The first half of the smoke continues to show rich tobacco flavors, the floral notes have given way to a sweetness that is reminiscent of molasses. At the back of the palate coffee and earth continue to show through. The draw remains thin, but it is still not too much of an issue. The burn has become lopsided and is threatening to canoe.
The final half of the cigar maintains a core profile of rich tobacco, but I am also detecting some notes of cocoa, earth and molasses in the presentation. The depth of flavors is nice, but the profile could use more complexity. At the back of the palate strong coffee flavors dominate. The draw stays tight throughout the smoke, but does not hurt the performance that much. The burn continues to be lopsided, and I let the cigar go with an inch or so left to avoid a relight.
The finish is long and sharp showing notes of tobacco, coffee and earth.
Appearance- 87 some prominent veins hurt the score
Taste- 91 a nice profile that could use more complexity
Construction- 83 the burn and draw issues lead to this score
Strength- 88 a nice medium to full presentation
Overall- 87.25 a slightly above average experience
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