This is an ultra premium cigar from the folks at Tabacalera Garcia. This particular cigar came from an unopened box with 3-5 years of humidor aging. It looks majestic with it's dark coffee colored wrapper and bright white band. The cigar is firm and toothy, but an inspection shows that it is supple and screaming to be smoked. The pre light aroma is an enticing mix of dark fruit and rich tobacco. The pre light draw shows some sweet earth and rich tobacco flavor.
The cigar opens with blasts of black cherry mingling with rich tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate there are excellent flavors of dark wood and earthy tones that offset some of the fruity sweetness from the front of the palate. The draw is nice, but I would prefer it to be a touch looser. The burn is sharp and even, and produces a crisp white ash.
The first third of the cigar shows little development, but it is a nice continuation of the opening moments. There are some black cherry notes, but primarily rich tobacco flavors, in the core profile. At the back of the palate some more notes of dark wood are showing through, giving the cigar a very smoky flavor characteristic. The draw continues to be just a but tight, but it is not causing issues. The burn is very impressive, and continues in razor sharp fashion holding a ponderous ash for two inches.
The middle third of the cigar picks up strength wise, moving from a solid medium into a more full showing. The profile has transitioned into a straight forward show of rich tobacco notes, that lacks some complexity while maintaining nice depth. At the back of the palate the tobacco flavors permeate and overwhelm the notes of wood that were previously noted. The draw has not opened any further, but it is not distressing the experience. The burn catches a little, but it evens out with no interference from me.
The final third of the smoke continues to be straight forward and I find myself wanting more complexity. The straight forward tobacco presentation continues in both the core profile and at the back of the palate. All in all though the cigar is still enjoyable. The draw and burn remain the same throughout the experience.
The finish is long, but shows a bit of harshness. There are notes of rich tobacco present.
Appearance- 93 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 88 a nice profile, but more depth and complexity are needed
Construction- 91 some points off for draw, but other than that excellent
Strength- 90 I thought this was excellent, but could have used more power
Overall- 90.25 just nosing into the 90's makes this an excellent experience
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Blind Tasting
This is a first for my blog, a blind tasting. At a friend's house last evening I was presented with the following proposal, he would give me a cigar blind and I would smoke it. At some point in the near future he will reveal the cigar in the comment section of this write up. I was happy to partake in this experiment and found the experience to be enjoyable.
The cigar was given to me and I began my evaluation. It presents in a size somewhat akin to a corona, but aside from that I can't make any other determinations about what it is. The wrapper is tawny and appears to be well aged, I am thinking Cuban at this point, but I am not sure. The construction appears to be acceptable, but there is some tension in the roll that further leads me to believe that it is Cuban. The pre light aroma is sweet and leathery. The pre light draw also shows some very sweet impressions and a floral essence that is interesting.
The cigar opens with a profile that is sweet and almost dusty. The smoke coats the palate and leaves a dusty feeling on the tongue. The sweet flavor is difficult to isolate at this point, but I am leaning toward a combination of grassy and floral notes. There are some light notes of wood and some bursts of pepper that are also interesting. At the back of the palate and through the nose there some further sweet impressions that are floral in nature. The draw is a bit tight, further leading me down the path that will lead ninety miles south of Miami. The burn is strong and shows a nice shoulder as it progresses.
The first half of the cigar continues to show significant depth and complexity. The core profile transitions into a spicier sweetness that has impressions of clove and cinnamon. There are still some peppery bursts that are adding to the mix. At the back of the palate the impression is distinctly of light wood that also has a sweetness to it that compliments and takes the spicy edge off the front of the profile. The draw continues to be tight, but not disappointingly so. The burn continues to be above average.
The second half of the smoke shows further development. The core profile begins to show notes of leather and more pepper, the sweetness has faded into the background but is still showing some presence in a more subdued tone of toasted coconut. At the back of the palate there are some hints of sweet grass and light wood. The profile has been a whirlwind of impressions in a small package. The draw is still tight and the burn deteriorates in the last quarter of the smoke, but does not cause any real issue.
The finish is smooth and floral.
I believe that this cigar was a Cuban H.Uppman, but I am just stabbing in the dark.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke, but it was a bit ruddy
Taste- 93 a very interesting profile
Construction- 90 a nicely burning cigar with a bit of a tight draw
Strength- 92 a very pleasant medium
Overall- 91 a very nice smoke
The cigar was given to me and I began my evaluation. It presents in a size somewhat akin to a corona, but aside from that I can't make any other determinations about what it is. The wrapper is tawny and appears to be well aged, I am thinking Cuban at this point, but I am not sure. The construction appears to be acceptable, but there is some tension in the roll that further leads me to believe that it is Cuban. The pre light aroma is sweet and leathery. The pre light draw also shows some very sweet impressions and a floral essence that is interesting.
The cigar opens with a profile that is sweet and almost dusty. The smoke coats the palate and leaves a dusty feeling on the tongue. The sweet flavor is difficult to isolate at this point, but I am leaning toward a combination of grassy and floral notes. There are some light notes of wood and some bursts of pepper that are also interesting. At the back of the palate and through the nose there some further sweet impressions that are floral in nature. The draw is a bit tight, further leading me down the path that will lead ninety miles south of Miami. The burn is strong and shows a nice shoulder as it progresses.
The first half of the cigar continues to show significant depth and complexity. The core profile transitions into a spicier sweetness that has impressions of clove and cinnamon. There are still some peppery bursts that are adding to the mix. At the back of the palate the impression is distinctly of light wood that also has a sweetness to it that compliments and takes the spicy edge off the front of the profile. The draw continues to be tight, but not disappointingly so. The burn continues to be above average.
The second half of the smoke shows further development. The core profile begins to show notes of leather and more pepper, the sweetness has faded into the background but is still showing some presence in a more subdued tone of toasted coconut. At the back of the palate there are some hints of sweet grass and light wood. The profile has been a whirlwind of impressions in a small package. The draw is still tight and the burn deteriorates in the last quarter of the smoke, but does not cause any real issue.
The finish is smooth and floral.
I believe that this cigar was a Cuban H.Uppman, but I am just stabbing in the dark.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke, but it was a bit ruddy
Taste- 93 a very interesting profile
Construction- 90 a nicely burning cigar with a bit of a tight draw
Strength- 92 a very pleasant medium
Overall- 91 a very nice smoke
Macanudo 1968 Robusto
I have not been a frequent smoker of Macanudo for over 10 years. I have often found that the construction in the past decade has been very sub par. This particular cigar is supposed to be a departure from the usual mild profile of all Macanudo smokes, and is supposed to kick up the strength and flavor a couple of notches.
The cigar presents with a nice wrapper the hue of rich coffee, but it seems to be a bit dry. An inspection shows several areas in the cigar that feel as hard as stone and I am certain they will cause an issue at some point. The pre light aroma is sour, but there are some hints of tobacco. The pre light draw is extremely tight, but shows some thin notes of cedar and light spice.
The cigar begins with a core profile that is mostly sour, but shows some thready notes of sweet wood and light spice. There is very little complexity or depth and the sour notes are troubling. At the back of the palate the sour overtones overwhelm any impression that I may have had. The draw is horribly tight and there is heat in the smoke from the opening puffs. The burn is fine to this point and, sadly, is the highlight of the cigar.
The first half of the smoke lacks complexity, depth and most anything that would be appealing. There are some thin flavors of light spice, but sourness dominates the experience. At the back of the palate there are some ideas of light wood and maybe some light coffee, but there is some sourness here too. The draw continues to be nearly impossible and the heat in the smoke is making it worse. The burn is still acceptable to this point.
The second half of the smoke shows no real development. The front of the profile shows some hints of tobacco and light spice, but there is a lack of anything redeeming. At the back of the palate there are still some whispers of light wood and some coffee/cocoa sweetness, but the overall impression has turned from sour to bitter. The draw deteriorates as I approach the final hard spot in the cigar and I have to discard it with an inch of smoking space left.
The finish is short and bitter.
Appearance- 88 some dryness hurt the visual impression
Taste- 72 this was putrid, the sour and bitter notes kill any chance this cigar should have had
Construction- 73 nearly the worst it could possibly be due to the draw, I give it some points for a consistent burn
Strength- 76 a very blah medium
Overall- 75.75 a very poor cigar
The cigar presents with a nice wrapper the hue of rich coffee, but it seems to be a bit dry. An inspection shows several areas in the cigar that feel as hard as stone and I am certain they will cause an issue at some point. The pre light aroma is sour, but there are some hints of tobacco. The pre light draw is extremely tight, but shows some thin notes of cedar and light spice.
The cigar begins with a core profile that is mostly sour, but shows some thready notes of sweet wood and light spice. There is very little complexity or depth and the sour notes are troubling. At the back of the palate the sour overtones overwhelm any impression that I may have had. The draw is horribly tight and there is heat in the smoke from the opening puffs. The burn is fine to this point and, sadly, is the highlight of the cigar.
The first half of the smoke lacks complexity, depth and most anything that would be appealing. There are some thin flavors of light spice, but sourness dominates the experience. At the back of the palate there are some ideas of light wood and maybe some light coffee, but there is some sourness here too. The draw continues to be nearly impossible and the heat in the smoke is making it worse. The burn is still acceptable to this point.
The second half of the smoke shows no real development. The front of the profile shows some hints of tobacco and light spice, but there is a lack of anything redeeming. At the back of the palate there are still some whispers of light wood and some coffee/cocoa sweetness, but the overall impression has turned from sour to bitter. The draw deteriorates as I approach the final hard spot in the cigar and I have to discard it with an inch of smoking space left.
The finish is short and bitter.
Appearance- 88 some dryness hurt the visual impression
Taste- 72 this was putrid, the sour and bitter notes kill any chance this cigar should have had
Construction- 73 nearly the worst it could possibly be due to the draw, I give it some points for a consistent burn
Strength- 76 a very blah medium
Overall- 75.75 a very poor cigar
St.Luis Rey Serie G Maduro Rothchilde
This comes from a box that has about a year of humidor age on it. This particular blend used to be a regular part of my rotation, but it has slowly found it's way out over the past couple of years. The cigar presents with a very dark and oily wrapper that shows some veins. The cigar is firm and heavy and has some ruddy characteristics that give this smoke a rustic feel. The pre light aroma has hints of tobacco and dark fruit. The pre light draw has some intonations of pepper and tobacco.
The cigar opens with a profile of tobacco and rich earth. The smoke is straightforward, but shows enough depth to be enjoyable in the opening minutes. At the back of the palate there are prominent flavors of dark fruit and wood that throw some unexpected complexity into the mix. The draw is free and easy and booms out thick smoke. The burn is even and produces a firm white ash.
The first half of the smoke continues to surprise me, I have always liked these cigars but I had never detected this type of depth before, perhaps the aging is adding to the experience. The core profile shows notes of tobacco, earth and some white pepper. There is a level of complexity that is unexpected as well. At the back of the palate a straightforward presentation of dark wood has taken over. The draw continues to be easy and enjoyable. The burn shows some lopsidedness, but is not causing me any concern.
The final half of the cigar slows a little bit and becomes a more pedestrian presentation of flavors. The core profile shows overwhelming notes of earth, but not much else. At the back of the palate the flavor continues to be of dark wood, but there are some peppery notes as well. The draw and the burn continue to be acceptable throughout.
The finish is a bit short, but has flavors of tobacco and earth.
Appearance- 87 a bit rustic, but a nice looking smoke
Taste- 88 some late deterioration hurt a nice profile
Construction- 92 no issues other than a slight burn problem
Strength- 89 a nice full bodied smoke
Overall- 89.25 a very solid performer
The cigar opens with a profile of tobacco and rich earth. The smoke is straightforward, but shows enough depth to be enjoyable in the opening minutes. At the back of the palate there are prominent flavors of dark fruit and wood that throw some unexpected complexity into the mix. The draw is free and easy and booms out thick smoke. The burn is even and produces a firm white ash.
The first half of the smoke continues to surprise me, I have always liked these cigars but I had never detected this type of depth before, perhaps the aging is adding to the experience. The core profile shows notes of tobacco, earth and some white pepper. There is a level of complexity that is unexpected as well. At the back of the palate a straightforward presentation of dark wood has taken over. The draw continues to be easy and enjoyable. The burn shows some lopsidedness, but is not causing me any concern.
The final half of the cigar slows a little bit and becomes a more pedestrian presentation of flavors. The core profile shows overwhelming notes of earth, but not much else. At the back of the palate the flavor continues to be of dark wood, but there are some peppery notes as well. The draw and the burn continue to be acceptable throughout.
The finish is a bit short, but has flavors of tobacco and earth.
Appearance- 87 a bit rustic, but a nice looking smoke
Taste- 88 some late deterioration hurt a nice profile
Construction- 92 no issues other than a slight burn problem
Strength- 89 a nice full bodied smoke
Overall- 89.25 a very solid performer
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Legendario Bertha
A friend gave me this gargantuan cigar some months ago and I only got around to smoking it now. I find it very difficult to find a place in my rotation for a 54+ ring gauge cigar, I typically find them too time consuming for my routine. However I was watching a hockey game and has about two and a half hours so I decided to give it a go.
The cigar is a log and it presents in the finest tradition of log lore. It is dark, firm and knotty looking, like any piece of lumber one might find on the forest floor. I inspect carefully and find some flaws near the head, and I worry about burn issues as cigars with this particular attribute often unravel. The pre light aroma is loamy and has some notes of wet earth. The pre light draw shows notes of pepper and earth.
The cigar opens with a profile of wet earth and some pepper notes. At the back of the palate there are some notes that smack of mushroom and grass. Needless to say I am unimpressed with this particular opening salvo. The draw is passable, but I am worried that it is too loose and will cause heat later in the smoke. The burn is off, but I am not seeing any signs that it will be a huge issue.
The first third of the smoke shows no real signs of improvement. The profile still lacks depth and complexity and maintains notes of wet earth, some pepper and some thin flavors of wood. At the back of the palate the grassy notes overwhelm the senses and impart an unappealing dry quality to the smoke. The draw continues to pass, but only barely, as the looseness causes some early heat to enter the mix and causes me to back off. Backing off makes the burn more wonky, but I am persisting without a retouch to this point.
The middle third gives me hope for some redemption. The profile morphs slightly into something more pleasant with notes of pepper and dark wood, there are still some undertones of damp earth but they are not causing any displeasure. At the back of the palate the grassy notes have sweetened and the dryness has left the smoke for now. The draw continues to impart unnecessary heat into the smoke, but it is still tolerable. The burn has evened out and a nice ash is forming.
The final third of the cigar backslides. The profile once again shows some notes of wet earth, but there is a sourness that has crept into the presentation. At the back of the palate the grassy notes are prevalent and show some bitter qualities. The draw is still loose and the heat in the final third makes me discard the smoke earlier than I normally would. The burn is acceptable throughout.
The finish is bitter and shows notes of charred wood.
Appearance- 87 slightly above average
Taste- 80 a very sub par profile that lacked desirable flavors, complexity and depth
Construction- 83 the draw was below average
Strength- 85 a medium bodied smoke that was somewhat blase
Overall- 83 a very disappointing use of two and a half hours of time
The cigar is a log and it presents in the finest tradition of log lore. It is dark, firm and knotty looking, like any piece of lumber one might find on the forest floor. I inspect carefully and find some flaws near the head, and I worry about burn issues as cigars with this particular attribute often unravel. The pre light aroma is loamy and has some notes of wet earth. The pre light draw shows notes of pepper and earth.
The cigar opens with a profile of wet earth and some pepper notes. At the back of the palate there are some notes that smack of mushroom and grass. Needless to say I am unimpressed with this particular opening salvo. The draw is passable, but I am worried that it is too loose and will cause heat later in the smoke. The burn is off, but I am not seeing any signs that it will be a huge issue.
The first third of the smoke shows no real signs of improvement. The profile still lacks depth and complexity and maintains notes of wet earth, some pepper and some thin flavors of wood. At the back of the palate the grassy notes overwhelm the senses and impart an unappealing dry quality to the smoke. The draw continues to pass, but only barely, as the looseness causes some early heat to enter the mix and causes me to back off. Backing off makes the burn more wonky, but I am persisting without a retouch to this point.
The middle third gives me hope for some redemption. The profile morphs slightly into something more pleasant with notes of pepper and dark wood, there are still some undertones of damp earth but they are not causing any displeasure. At the back of the palate the grassy notes have sweetened and the dryness has left the smoke for now. The draw continues to impart unnecessary heat into the smoke, but it is still tolerable. The burn has evened out and a nice ash is forming.
The final third of the cigar backslides. The profile once again shows some notes of wet earth, but there is a sourness that has crept into the presentation. At the back of the palate the grassy notes are prevalent and show some bitter qualities. The draw is still loose and the heat in the final third makes me discard the smoke earlier than I normally would. The burn is acceptable throughout.
The finish is bitter and shows notes of charred wood.
Appearance- 87 slightly above average
Taste- 80 a very sub par profile that lacked desirable flavors, complexity and depth
Construction- 83 the draw was below average
Strength- 85 a medium bodied smoke that was somewhat blase
Overall- 83 a very disappointing use of two and a half hours of time
Monday, March 22, 2010
Joya de Nicaragua Antano Lancero
I have only ever smoked one of these, in this size, before and I looked at my old journals in order to determine that it was about two years ago. My review then showed an above average cigar, but it was not an experience that was particularly memorable.
The cigar presents well with a dark wrapper that has some nice tooth. The cigar itself has a ruddy appearance and seems to be more like an extended cheroot than what is supposed to be a classic lancero size. The pre light aroma is of very rich and strong tobacco and earth. The pre light aroma is of sharp, heavy tobacco.
The cigar opens with a profile of deep, rich earth accompanied by some solid, rich tobacco notes. The depth of the flavors is intriguing and I quickly realize that this cigar is in your face and personal. At the back of the palate there are some nice touches of dark wood and some very strong nicotine numbs the mouth. The draw is nearly perfect for a cigar of this size, this is impressive because I almost always expect an issue in lanceros. The burn is slightly lopsided, but to this point not causing any issues.
In the first third or so, the cigar continues to pick up steam. The nicotine tingle across the palate is bold. The core profile shows notes of earth, tobacco and dark wood. At the back of the palate there are some notes of dark wood and rich, overdone coffee. The draw is still exceptional and there are clouds of thick, white smoke surrounding me. The burn has continued to canoe, and I determine that there is a small void in the cigar and move on.
The middle third settles down, but is still punching me in the face, more jabs now than uppercuts. The profile continues to show sharp, clean tobacco notes with some hints of earth. The back of the palate still maintains a strong nicotine presence, but there are still hints of dark wood. The draw continues to impress, but the burn is screaming for a retouch as it canoes out of control while I hope for an even out.
The final third closes me out for the day. My palate is exhausted and I will smoke no more, which on a Saturday is weird for me. The final salvo is of significant earth and tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate there are still notes of dark wood, but the strength of the tobacco flavors permeates the entire mouth. The draw is still excellent, but the void never evens out and I have to retouch in the last third.
The finish is eye popping and full. There are notes of earth and tobacco and some strong charred coffee notes.
Appearance- 85 a very average looking smoke
Taste- 88 some nice depth, but more complexity is needed
Construction- 87 burn issues hurt this score
Strength- 86 a very full experience, but strong for the sake of strong without complimenting the profile is not desirable
Overall- 86.75 an above average experience, but the lack of complexity hurts the score
The cigar presents well with a dark wrapper that has some nice tooth. The cigar itself has a ruddy appearance and seems to be more like an extended cheroot than what is supposed to be a classic lancero size. The pre light aroma is of very rich and strong tobacco and earth. The pre light aroma is of sharp, heavy tobacco.
The cigar opens with a profile of deep, rich earth accompanied by some solid, rich tobacco notes. The depth of the flavors is intriguing and I quickly realize that this cigar is in your face and personal. At the back of the palate there are some nice touches of dark wood and some very strong nicotine numbs the mouth. The draw is nearly perfect for a cigar of this size, this is impressive because I almost always expect an issue in lanceros. The burn is slightly lopsided, but to this point not causing any issues.
In the first third or so, the cigar continues to pick up steam. The nicotine tingle across the palate is bold. The core profile shows notes of earth, tobacco and dark wood. At the back of the palate there are some notes of dark wood and rich, overdone coffee. The draw is still exceptional and there are clouds of thick, white smoke surrounding me. The burn has continued to canoe, and I determine that there is a small void in the cigar and move on.
The middle third settles down, but is still punching me in the face, more jabs now than uppercuts. The profile continues to show sharp, clean tobacco notes with some hints of earth. The back of the palate still maintains a strong nicotine presence, but there are still hints of dark wood. The draw continues to impress, but the burn is screaming for a retouch as it canoes out of control while I hope for an even out.
The final third closes me out for the day. My palate is exhausted and I will smoke no more, which on a Saturday is weird for me. The final salvo is of significant earth and tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate there are still notes of dark wood, but the strength of the tobacco flavors permeates the entire mouth. The draw is still excellent, but the void never evens out and I have to retouch in the last third.
The finish is eye popping and full. There are notes of earth and tobacco and some strong charred coffee notes.
Appearance- 85 a very average looking smoke
Taste- 88 some nice depth, but more complexity is needed
Construction- 87 burn issues hurt this score
Strength- 86 a very full experience, but strong for the sake of strong without complimenting the profile is not desirable
Overall- 86.75 an above average experience, but the lack of complexity hurts the score
Sunday, March 21, 2010
601 Blue Robusto
This is one of the Pepin made cigars that I do not smoke very often, and I had never rated one before. It presents with a dry, toothy, wrapper and has a mottled appearance that is not attractive. There are also some prominent veins that detract from the visual impression. An inspection leads me to believe that the cigar is loosely rolled and I am concerned about that attribute causing heat in the smoke. The pre light aroma has some hints of coffee, cocoa and earth. The pre light draw smacks of pepper and earth.
The cigar opens with a core profile of pepper, earth and some thin wisps of cocoa. There is some bitterness that is distracting, and it is threatening to overwhelm the rest of the profile. At the back of the palate there is some nice earthiness that is complimenting the front of the profile. The draw is exceedingly loose and there is heat in the smoke from the beginning. The burn is acceptable, but with a draw this loose I expect that it will deteriorate.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a profile of pepper and earth, but the underlying bitterness continues to hurt the cigar. At the back of the palate the pleasing earthiness is complimented by dark wood flavors that are interesting. The draw is continuing to produce too much heat and I am attempting to slow down. The burn has turned south, but is continuing to be acceptable.
The second half of the cigar slides into the depths of oblivion. The profile shows bitter, sour notes that are further marred by the heat of the smoke. At the back of the palate there is a scorched flavor of charred wood and my mouth aches for the cigar to end. The draw is so loose that little effort is needed to produce booming clouds of smoke. The burn stays acceptable throughout.
The finish is charred and bitter. I am sorry to say that this was a terrible cigar for me.
Appearance- 83 very unappealing
Taste- 82 not really worth noting what little was positive
Construction- 77 loose draw detracts from the experience
Strength- 85 an average full bodied experience
Overall- 81 below average and not worth the time that was involved
The cigar opens with a core profile of pepper, earth and some thin wisps of cocoa. There is some bitterness that is distracting, and it is threatening to overwhelm the rest of the profile. At the back of the palate there is some nice earthiness that is complimenting the front of the profile. The draw is exceedingly loose and there is heat in the smoke from the beginning. The burn is acceptable, but with a draw this loose I expect that it will deteriorate.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a profile of pepper and earth, but the underlying bitterness continues to hurt the cigar. At the back of the palate the pleasing earthiness is complimented by dark wood flavors that are interesting. The draw is continuing to produce too much heat and I am attempting to slow down. The burn has turned south, but is continuing to be acceptable.
The second half of the cigar slides into the depths of oblivion. The profile shows bitter, sour notes that are further marred by the heat of the smoke. At the back of the palate there is a scorched flavor of charred wood and my mouth aches for the cigar to end. The draw is so loose that little effort is needed to produce booming clouds of smoke. The burn stays acceptable throughout.
The finish is charred and bitter. I am sorry to say that this was a terrible cigar for me.
Appearance- 83 very unappealing
Taste- 82 not really worth noting what little was positive
Construction- 77 loose draw detracts from the experience
Strength- 85 an average full bodied experience
Overall- 81 below average and not worth the time that was involved
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Casa Magna Oscuro Robusto
This was a featured cigar at my local brick and mortar at a recent event. I had not tried this particular blend before and had not heard good reviews. I am not one to be influenced by the opinions of other however, so I settle in for the experience. The cigar presents with a bold, nearly black wrapper that has plenty of oils. An inspection reveals that the cigar may be too firm and I am concerned about what that may portend for the draw. The pre light aroma is of earth, but has some very sour tones. The pre light draw shows hints of pepper, but again has some sourness on the palate.
The cigar opens with overwhelming notes of earth that are bitter and sour. At the back of the palate there are some thin tobacco notes, but they are cloaked in a mixture of horrifying bitter flavors. The draw is tight and there is some labor to produce acceptable smoke. The burn is acceptable, but a little lopsided.
The first half of the cigar shows no signs of improvement. The core profile is still bitter and sour and I can't discern any real flavors in the mix. At the back of the palate the sour notes are pervasive and the experience is ugly, it is all I can do to carry on. The draw continues to be tight and the burn is still lopsided, but not deteriorating.
The second half of the smoke shows a core profile of earth and tobacco, but there are still sour notes that befoul the experience. At the back of the palate there are hints of dark wood, but the sour notes are still prevalent. The draw continues to be too tight and the burn is lopsided throughout.
The finish is putrid and has no redeeming value. In the future I will listen to my friends.
Appearance- 90 a nice looking cigar, it was all downhill after the first impression
Taste- 72 one of the worst I have ever smoked
Construction- 80 the draw was way too tight to be enjoyable
Strength- 75 supposedly full, but due to the profile difficult to rate
Overall- 78.25 a must miss
The cigar opens with overwhelming notes of earth that are bitter and sour. At the back of the palate there are some thin tobacco notes, but they are cloaked in a mixture of horrifying bitter flavors. The draw is tight and there is some labor to produce acceptable smoke. The burn is acceptable, but a little lopsided.
The first half of the cigar shows no signs of improvement. The core profile is still bitter and sour and I can't discern any real flavors in the mix. At the back of the palate the sour notes are pervasive and the experience is ugly, it is all I can do to carry on. The draw continues to be tight and the burn is still lopsided, but not deteriorating.
The second half of the smoke shows a core profile of earth and tobacco, but there are still sour notes that befoul the experience. At the back of the palate there are hints of dark wood, but the sour notes are still prevalent. The draw continues to be too tight and the burn is lopsided throughout.
The finish is putrid and has no redeeming value. In the future I will listen to my friends.
Appearance- 90 a nice looking cigar, it was all downhill after the first impression
Taste- 72 one of the worst I have ever smoked
Construction- 80 the draw was way too tight to be enjoyable
Strength- 75 supposedly full, but due to the profile difficult to rate
Overall- 78.25 a must miss
Friday, March 19, 2010
Trinidad Colonial (Box Date January 2009)
This is a young cigar that I reviewed with 9 months of age and thought it was excellent then. It now has 14 months and I wanted to check the progression of the smoke to this point. It presents with a tawny brown/blond wrapper and is finished with a curious pigtail cap. There are very few flaws in the wrapper and the construction appears to be acceptable as I detect no areas of concern. The pre light aroma is of cinnamon and spice. The pre light draw shows a note of honey that I find very interesting.
The cigar opens with an excellent profile of cinnamon and honey that has exceptional depth for a cigar of this age. At the back of the palate there are crisp tobacco notes and some light spice flavors that are adding to the depth. The draw is a bit tight to this point, but I expect that from smaller, thinner vitolas. The burn is a but lopsided, but I have no concerns that it will deteriorate into something frustrating.
The first half of the smoke is exceptional. The core profile shows wave after wave of cinnamon and honey flavors, there are some notes of nuts and light earth that are adding dimensions of flavor. At the back of the palate there are notes of tobacco and spice that are keeping the cigar nicely grounded. The draw is still a touch on the tight side, but it is not causing any issues, other than it is less smoke than I usually enjoy. The burn has evened out and the cigar is performing nicely.
The second half of the cigar is not quite as exceptional as the first half. The main profile still shows notes of cinnamon, but there are some tannins that are showing the youth of this particular cigar. At the back of the palate some light grassy notes are present, but there is still a light earthiness that is not offensive. The draw is still tight, but acceptable. The burn has stayed razor sharp in the back half of the cigar.
The finish was marred by tannins, but there were some nice cinnamon notes present.
Appearance- 93 a unique and beautiful cigar
Taste- 88 the back half killed the score, but the front half would have been in the mid 90's
Construction- 91 some minor draw and burn issues as noted
Strength- 92 a fine medium smoke
Overall- 90.5 with more age this will be exceptional
The cigar opens with an excellent profile of cinnamon and honey that has exceptional depth for a cigar of this age. At the back of the palate there are crisp tobacco notes and some light spice flavors that are adding to the depth. The draw is a bit tight to this point, but I expect that from smaller, thinner vitolas. The burn is a but lopsided, but I have no concerns that it will deteriorate into something frustrating.
The first half of the smoke is exceptional. The core profile shows wave after wave of cinnamon and honey flavors, there are some notes of nuts and light earth that are adding dimensions of flavor. At the back of the palate there are notes of tobacco and spice that are keeping the cigar nicely grounded. The draw is still a touch on the tight side, but it is not causing any issues, other than it is less smoke than I usually enjoy. The burn has evened out and the cigar is performing nicely.
The second half of the cigar is not quite as exceptional as the first half. The main profile still shows notes of cinnamon, but there are some tannins that are showing the youth of this particular cigar. At the back of the palate some light grassy notes are present, but there is still a light earthiness that is not offensive. The draw is still tight, but acceptable. The burn has stayed razor sharp in the back half of the cigar.
The finish was marred by tannins, but there were some nice cinnamon notes present.
Appearance- 93 a unique and beautiful cigar
Taste- 88 the back half killed the score, but the front half would have been in the mid 90's
Construction- 91 some minor draw and burn issues as noted
Strength- 92 a fine medium smoke
Overall- 90.5 with more age this will be exceptional
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Perdomo Habano Corojo Toro
This was the morning cigar for me on the second day of the trip and I lit it on the bus on the way to the tour of the box factory. It presented with a thick wrapper that had leathery qualities, but some prominent vein structures. I inspected the cigar carefully, but did not find any issues that would lead me to believe that there would be a problem. The pre light aroma was of spice, leather and earth. The pre light draw showed some signs of pepper and earth, with some tobacco and spice tones that were muted.
The cigar opened with profile of strong pepper and earth, the pepper notes nearly overwhelm the other aspects of the cigar very early on and I find that disturbing. At the back of the palate there is a slightly sour notes that is threatening to derail the experience early on. The draw is good, but not particularly remarkable and the burn is fine.
The first third of the cigar does not progress well. The profile is sour and the pepper notes are too strong at the front of the profile. Ordinarily I would not complain about strength of flavor, but this was not pleasing and too in my face. The complexity and depth just was not there. At the back of the palate the sour notes have given way to vegetal mushroom notes, that are verging on being grassy. The draw and burn are still acceptable to this point.
The middle third of the cigar has some redeeming qualities. The profile has calmed down. While still showing notes of pepper, there are some nice undertones of dark wood, earth and spice that are showing through. At the back of the palate there are still some vegetal notes, but hints of dark wood are promising. The draw and burn are still above average, yet unremarkable.
The final third of the cigar passes without much of note taking place. The profile maintains some nice notes of pepper and earth, but there is not enough depth or complexity to make it worthwhile. At the back of the palate some grassy notes are threatening to show through again and I start counting the minutes until this one is over. The burn and draw remain consistent, but underwhelming.
The finish is not terrible, but nothing to write mom about either. There were some hints of pepper, spice and dark wood but they were mere suggestions.
Appearance- 86 a slightly above average look
Taste- 78 really not a good showing, the profile was sour early and lacking in depth and complexity late
Construction- 87 not terrible, but not great either
Strength- 82 an overwhelming full early, and sputtering to medium late
Overall- 83 a below average smoke
The cigar opened with profile of strong pepper and earth, the pepper notes nearly overwhelm the other aspects of the cigar very early on and I find that disturbing. At the back of the palate there is a slightly sour notes that is threatening to derail the experience early on. The draw is good, but not particularly remarkable and the burn is fine.
The first third of the cigar does not progress well. The profile is sour and the pepper notes are too strong at the front of the profile. Ordinarily I would not complain about strength of flavor, but this was not pleasing and too in my face. The complexity and depth just was not there. At the back of the palate the sour notes have given way to vegetal mushroom notes, that are verging on being grassy. The draw and burn are still acceptable to this point.
The middle third of the cigar has some redeeming qualities. The profile has calmed down. While still showing notes of pepper, there are some nice undertones of dark wood, earth and spice that are showing through. At the back of the palate there are still some vegetal notes, but hints of dark wood are promising. The draw and burn are still above average, yet unremarkable.
The final third of the cigar passes without much of note taking place. The profile maintains some nice notes of pepper and earth, but there is not enough depth or complexity to make it worthwhile. At the back of the palate some grassy notes are threatening to show through again and I start counting the minutes until this one is over. The burn and draw remain consistent, but underwhelming.
The finish is not terrible, but nothing to write mom about either. There were some hints of pepper, spice and dark wood but they were mere suggestions.
Appearance- 86 a slightly above average look
Taste- 78 really not a good showing, the profile was sour early and lacking in depth and complexity late
Construction- 87 not terrible, but not great either
Strength- 82 an overwhelming full early, and sputtering to medium late
Overall- 83 a below average smoke
Friday, March 12, 2010
Perdomo Edicion de Silvio Trompeta
I was the recipient of this rare gift from Billy Perdomo on the second night of the trip. The cigar was a set up of sorts as he would not tell me what it was and left it up to me to determine the front mark. I chose to leave it until after dinner when I have always felt my palate is the most discriminating.
The cigar presents in an imposing figurado shape named Trompeta, or Trumpet, and it looks just like it's instrumental namesake. The cigar is heavy and firm, but I can't seem to find any areas that would cause me any concern before lighting. The wrapper is dark and beautiful, showing little veining and no flaws. The cigar has a rich appearance and the wrapper is smooth and oily. The pre light aroma is of rich tobacco, light spice and coffee. The pre light draw shows strong tobacco character.
The cigar opens with a profile that is profound and refined beyond almost any cigar I have ever smoked. There are notes of rich, refined tobacco that coat the palate with layers of flavor. There are also some hints of dark fruit, light spice and coffee flavors that are adding to the complexity of the early portion of this cigar. At the back of the palate there are some notes of sweet earth that compliment the core profile splendidly. The draw is a touch tight, but I attribute that to the vitola and not the cigar itself. The burn is slightly off early in the smoke, but I am not concerned about it.
The first third of the cigar continues to impress me with it's extensive profile. There are notes of strengthening coffee, the refined tobacco character is still prominent and there is still a pleasing note of light spice that has some more bite to it as the smoke progresses. At the back of the palate there are still some notes of sweet earth, but some notes of dark wood are present as well. The draw has opened perceptibly and the burn is evening out nicely.
The middle third really kicks up the power. The core profile is showing strong tobacco flavor with undertones of pepper and spice. At the back of the palate dark wood notes have taken over and the overall impression of the profile is excellent. The draw and burn have both settled nicely and are performing very well.
The final third of the smoke is not for the timid. There are very powerful notes of tobacco and pepper, but they are extremely refined and pleasant. At the back of the palate there are still notes of dark wood, but the sweet earthy notes are making their return at this point. The burn and draw are still performing well.
The finish is long and smooth leaving crisp impressions of tobacco, pepper and wood. For those interested I also nailed the guess and shocked Billy.
Appearance- 93 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 97 an excellent profile that is an instant classic
Construction- 92 some early issues hurt the score, but the back end performance was well above average
Strength- 94 an excellent full bodied experience
Overall- 94.25 a near classic cigar for me, without the early issues it would have been
The cigar presents in an imposing figurado shape named Trompeta, or Trumpet, and it looks just like it's instrumental namesake. The cigar is heavy and firm, but I can't seem to find any areas that would cause me any concern before lighting. The wrapper is dark and beautiful, showing little veining and no flaws. The cigar has a rich appearance and the wrapper is smooth and oily. The pre light aroma is of rich tobacco, light spice and coffee. The pre light draw shows strong tobacco character.
The cigar opens with a profile that is profound and refined beyond almost any cigar I have ever smoked. There are notes of rich, refined tobacco that coat the palate with layers of flavor. There are also some hints of dark fruit, light spice and coffee flavors that are adding to the complexity of the early portion of this cigar. At the back of the palate there are some notes of sweet earth that compliment the core profile splendidly. The draw is a touch tight, but I attribute that to the vitola and not the cigar itself. The burn is slightly off early in the smoke, but I am not concerned about it.
The first third of the cigar continues to impress me with it's extensive profile. There are notes of strengthening coffee, the refined tobacco character is still prominent and there is still a pleasing note of light spice that has some more bite to it as the smoke progresses. At the back of the palate there are still some notes of sweet earth, but some notes of dark wood are present as well. The draw has opened perceptibly and the burn is evening out nicely.
The middle third really kicks up the power. The core profile is showing strong tobacco flavor with undertones of pepper and spice. At the back of the palate dark wood notes have taken over and the overall impression of the profile is excellent. The draw and burn have both settled nicely and are performing very well.
The final third of the smoke is not for the timid. There are very powerful notes of tobacco and pepper, but they are extremely refined and pleasant. At the back of the palate there are still notes of dark wood, but the sweet earthy notes are making their return at this point. The burn and draw are still performing well.
The finish is long and smooth leaving crisp impressions of tobacco, pepper and wood. For those interested I also nailed the guess and shocked Billy.
Appearance- 93 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 97 an excellent profile that is an instant classic
Construction- 92 some early issues hurt the score, but the back end performance was well above average
Strength- 94 an excellent full bodied experience
Overall- 94.25 a near classic cigar for me, without the early issues it would have been
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Maduro Epicure
This was another cigar from the Perdomo tour. Upon my arrival in Nicaragua and after dealing with the rigors of clearing customs, I boarded a bus heading for Esteli. There were several cigars to choose from and I chose this one. We had been told that the ride would be about three hours, so I figured this cigar would take up half to two thirds of the time in transit.
The cigar presents well in a bulky vitola that seems well made and I can detect no issues or areas of concern. The wrapper is a dark coffee brown and it has some prominent veins and a ruddy appearance. The pre light aroma shows notes of dark fruit and earth. The pre light draw shows some light spice and notes of tobacco.
The cigar opens as I pass a menagerie of impoverished images surrounding Managua. It is striking to see a countryside so beautiful pockmarked by the visages of the destitute. The profile is showing notes of tobacco and light coffee notes, but they lack depth and there is a slightly acidic note to the initial notes. At the back of the palate there are some earthy flavors, but they border on vegetal in the opening moments. The draw is exceptional and produces booming clouds of smoke. The burn is a bit off, but I am not seeing any reason to be concerned.
The first third of the cigar continues to show a core profile of tobacco and some light coffee, the acidic note has gone away and the profile becomes more enjoyable. At the back of the palate there is still a vegetal overtone to underpinnings of earth. The draw is still free and easy and the burn, while still slightly off, is performing well in windy moving bus conditions.
The middle third of the cigar shows a profile on the way up, much as the bus has begun the ascent into the mountains that will lead us to Esteli. There are notes of coffee and rich tobacco flavors. There are still some undertones of tobacco that are clean tasting and fresh. At the back of the palate there are some peppery notes that begin to show through an otherwise earthy presentation. The draw has maintain it's superior qualities and the burn has evened slightly and shown strength in the less than standard smoking conditions.
The final third of the cigar begins as the beauty of Nicaragua starts to surround us, we have reached the areas where people, and the accompanying poverty, are not as prevalent. We are free to take in the mountainous vistas and the surrounding landscape of trees and other fauna. The cigar compliments my mood as I begin to relax, so does the profile. There are still some notes of coffee and tobacco, but they have mellowed considerably. At the back of the palate the pepper has tamed itself and a nice smooth earthy presentation prevails. The draw continues to be strong and the burn is no longer causing me any pause.
The finish is long, but a bit rough, showing notes of earth and tobacco.
Appearance- 87 not the best looking cigar, but not bad
Taste- 89 a nice profile, but the opening notes hurt the score
Construction- 91 an excellent cigar in terms of performance
Strength- 88 a nice medium/full that could have used more pop
Overall- 89.25 a very good cigar that could have been better with stronger opening notes
The cigar presents well in a bulky vitola that seems well made and I can detect no issues or areas of concern. The wrapper is a dark coffee brown and it has some prominent veins and a ruddy appearance. The pre light aroma shows notes of dark fruit and earth. The pre light draw shows some light spice and notes of tobacco.
The cigar opens as I pass a menagerie of impoverished images surrounding Managua. It is striking to see a countryside so beautiful pockmarked by the visages of the destitute. The profile is showing notes of tobacco and light coffee notes, but they lack depth and there is a slightly acidic note to the initial notes. At the back of the palate there are some earthy flavors, but they border on vegetal in the opening moments. The draw is exceptional and produces booming clouds of smoke. The burn is a bit off, but I am not seeing any reason to be concerned.
The first third of the cigar continues to show a core profile of tobacco and some light coffee, the acidic note has gone away and the profile becomes more enjoyable. At the back of the palate there is still a vegetal overtone to underpinnings of earth. The draw is still free and easy and the burn, while still slightly off, is performing well in windy moving bus conditions.
The middle third of the cigar shows a profile on the way up, much as the bus has begun the ascent into the mountains that will lead us to Esteli. There are notes of coffee and rich tobacco flavors. There are still some undertones of tobacco that are clean tasting and fresh. At the back of the palate there are some peppery notes that begin to show through an otherwise earthy presentation. The draw has maintain it's superior qualities and the burn has evened slightly and shown strength in the less than standard smoking conditions.
The final third of the cigar begins as the beauty of Nicaragua starts to surround us, we have reached the areas where people, and the accompanying poverty, are not as prevalent. We are free to take in the mountainous vistas and the surrounding landscape of trees and other fauna. The cigar compliments my mood as I begin to relax, so does the profile. There are still some notes of coffee and tobacco, but they have mellowed considerably. At the back of the palate the pepper has tamed itself and a nice smooth earthy presentation prevails. The draw continues to be strong and the burn is no longer causing me any pause.
The finish is long, but a bit rough, showing notes of earth and tobacco.
Appearance- 87 not the best looking cigar, but not bad
Taste- 89 a nice profile, but the opening notes hurt the score
Construction- 91 an excellent cigar in terms of performance
Strength- 88 a nice medium/full that could have used more pop
Overall- 89.25 a very good cigar that could have been better with stronger opening notes
Monday, March 8, 2010
Perdomo Habano Petit Corona Maduro
I am back from Nicaragua and a tour of the Perdomo factory and I thus begin the reviews of some of the cigars I smoked while on the tour. They are in no particular order, I am just working off of my notes from the trip. I smoked this new addition to the Habano line on the bus trip from Esteli back to Managua to catch my plane back to the states. I was slightly uncomfortable, the bus I was on was not the best in terms of leg room. However, I was relaxed and happy after three excellent days with 12 friends in the beautiful environs of Esteli.
The cigar is a dark, bold looking smoke, especially for a Petit Corona. The wrapper is heavy and toothy and shows little veining. A quick inspection shows that the cigar is firm, but not too firm. The pre light aroma shows some notes of nice earth and rich coffee. The pre light draw is full of rich tobacco and earth flavors.
The cigar begins with a core profile of earth and coffee, the flavor is deep and rich. I am shocked by the depth right off the bat with this cigar. At the back of the palate there are some nice notes of cocoa and light toasty coconut flavors. The complexity this early in the cigar is also somewhat shocking and unusual. The draw is excellent and the burn is razor sharp producing a crisp white ash.
The first half of the cigar progresses nicely with a core profile of earth and coffee flavors. At the back of the palate some cocoa and light earth notes are mingling nicely for some extra depth. The draw and the burn are both continuing to perform extremely well to this point.
The final half of this short cigar makes me wish it were a Churchill. The core profile shows notes of coffee, earth and light pepper. The back of the palate is coated with excellent notes of cocoa, light earth and dark woody flavors. The complexity and depth of this cigar are excellent and it is one of the finest examples of a PC that I have smoked in some time. The draw and burn were excellent throughout.
The finish was a bit sharp, but showed notes of earth and tobacco.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking little cigar
Taste- 94 just short of being a classic profile for me
Construction- 95 an excellent cigar that performed extremely well
Strength- 90 a nice medium full/offering that could have used more power
Overall- 93.25 one of the finest cigars of the year to this point
The cigar is a dark, bold looking smoke, especially for a Petit Corona. The wrapper is heavy and toothy and shows little veining. A quick inspection shows that the cigar is firm, but not too firm. The pre light aroma shows some notes of nice earth and rich coffee. The pre light draw is full of rich tobacco and earth flavors.
The cigar begins with a core profile of earth and coffee, the flavor is deep and rich. I am shocked by the depth right off the bat with this cigar. At the back of the palate there are some nice notes of cocoa and light toasty coconut flavors. The complexity this early in the cigar is also somewhat shocking and unusual. The draw is excellent and the burn is razor sharp producing a crisp white ash.
The first half of the cigar progresses nicely with a core profile of earth and coffee flavors. At the back of the palate some cocoa and light earth notes are mingling nicely for some extra depth. The draw and the burn are both continuing to perform extremely well to this point.
The final half of this short cigar makes me wish it were a Churchill. The core profile shows notes of coffee, earth and light pepper. The back of the palate is coated with excellent notes of cocoa, light earth and dark woody flavors. The complexity and depth of this cigar are excellent and it is one of the finest examples of a PC that I have smoked in some time. The draw and burn were excellent throughout.
The finish was a bit sharp, but showed notes of earth and tobacco.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking little cigar
Taste- 94 just short of being a classic profile for me
Construction- 95 an excellent cigar that performed extremely well
Strength- 90 a nice medium full/offering that could have used more power
Overall- 93.25 one of the finest cigars of the year to this point
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Punch-Cigar Rights of America Edition
I recently joined Cigar Rights of America and received several cigars in a sampler as my reward for joining the organization. I will say the cigars were a nice perk, but I would have joined anyway. The cigar appears to be a normal Punch in something like a toro size with an added CRA band at the foot. The wrapper is a medium brown that has a few flaws and some veining, but it also has some acceptable tooth to it. A quick inspection tells me that the cigar is well made, but perhaps a trifle firm. The pre light aroma is of tobacco and light earthy tones. The pre light draw shows notes of crisp tobacco and some light spice.
The cigar opens with a typical Punch profile of tobacco, earth and some light notes of spice. The profile is thin and lacks some depth, but the flavors are not terrible. At the back of the palate there is a heavy earthy note that has some nice undertones of roasted nuts. The draw is a little too tight for and there is some labor involved in getting an acceptable amount of smoke. The burn is slightly off, but it is not anything that is causing me concern at this point.
The first two thirds of the cigar hold the same profile. There are notes of tobacco, earth and some light spice. However, the cigar still lacks depth and complexity and instead is a straightforward presentation that I feel is lacking. At the back of the palate there continues to be a heavy note of earth, but the nutty flavors continue to show through providing some enjoyment. The draw is still too tight for me, but it is not causing any issues. The burn has leveled off and is performing nicely.
The final third of the cigar shows a profile shift. The core shows some nice notes of pepper and rich tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate there are some notes of earth and roasted nuts that are continuing to show through. The draw is still too tight and begins to impart some heat with about a quarter of the cigar left. The burn is uniform throughout.
The finish is a touch thin, but shows notes of pepper and tobacco.
Appearance- 85 an average looking cigar
Taste- 86 slightly above average profile that lacked depth and complexity
Construction- 83 the draw was too tight
Strength- 85 an unremarkable medium/full
Overall- 84.75 a slightly below average experience
The cigar opens with a typical Punch profile of tobacco, earth and some light notes of spice. The profile is thin and lacks some depth, but the flavors are not terrible. At the back of the palate there is a heavy earthy note that has some nice undertones of roasted nuts. The draw is a little too tight for and there is some labor involved in getting an acceptable amount of smoke. The burn is slightly off, but it is not anything that is causing me concern at this point.
The first two thirds of the cigar hold the same profile. There are notes of tobacco, earth and some light spice. However, the cigar still lacks depth and complexity and instead is a straightforward presentation that I feel is lacking. At the back of the palate there continues to be a heavy note of earth, but the nutty flavors continue to show through providing some enjoyment. The draw is still too tight for me, but it is not causing any issues. The burn has leveled off and is performing nicely.
The final third of the cigar shows a profile shift. The core shows some nice notes of pepper and rich tobacco flavors. At the back of the palate there are some notes of earth and roasted nuts that are continuing to show through. The draw is still too tight and begins to impart some heat with about a quarter of the cigar left. The burn is uniform throughout.
The finish is a touch thin, but shows notes of pepper and tobacco.
Appearance- 85 an average looking cigar
Taste- 86 slightly above average profile that lacked depth and complexity
Construction- 83 the draw was too tight
Strength- 85 an unremarkable medium/full
Overall- 84.75 a slightly below average experience
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