This is a brand new smoke from La Aurora and it is available at your favorite brick and mortar for free this week. When I heard about this I was very interested and went right in today to get one. The cigar is dark with a reddish hued wrapper that has some prominent veins. The smoke seems a bit tight to me, but I don't anticipate any issues. The pre light aroma has strong essences of pepper and spice. The pre light draw also shows some strong notes of pepper.
The cigar opens with a robust profile of pepper and clove notes. The depth of the flavors is interesting, but the complexity is not there. At the back of the palate there are some strange floral notes and light hints of wood. The draw is a little tight, but it is not causing me any undue stress. The burn is even and produces a nice white ash. I am reminded of the recently discontinued La Aurora Barrel Aged early in this cigar.
The first half of the cigar continues to show strong notes of clove, but there are some hints of cinnamon and pepper in the core profile as well. At the back of the palate some nicotine tingle appears and shows some hidden strength in the smoke. There are also notes of wood and there are still some floral essences that are interesting, but out of place in the profile. The draw remains tighter than I would like, but that is a personal preference. The burn is still even and performing well.
The final half of the cigar shows no further development and I am still looking for complexity that is not there. The core profile transitions into a presentation of wood and tobacco flavors, but loses some of the nice cinnamon and clove notes from earlier in the smoke. At the back of the palate a slight bitterness coalesces, but it still shows some floral notes. The burn and draw are consistent throughout.
The finish is long and sharp, with notes of cedar and spice.
Appearance- 87 veining hurts the score
Taste- 88 some more complexity and more flavor in the last half would have been helpful
Construction- 89 a nice performance despite the tighter draw
Strength- 87 a nice medium smoke
Overall- 88 a solid smoke that may have some interesting aging potential
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Joya De Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo Azarosa
This was recently gifted to me at a get together by a fellow Brother of the Leaf. I was excited about it as I had not smoked this newest presentation of the Antano line. The cigar is impressive looking with a nice dark wrapper that has a nice oily sheen and very few veins. I quickly examine the cigar and find no issues with the construction. The pre light aroma has strong tobacco notes. The pre light draw has some spice and earth showing through, but there is a metallic undertone that is not pleasant.
The cigar opens with some sharp notes of tobacco, pepper and spice. There is an unpleasant metallic flavor that lingers on the palate after first few draws and it detracts from the experience. At the back of the palate there are some hints of dark wood and a sweet note that is fleeting. The draw is solid and produces plenty of smoke. The burn is sharp and even to this point producing a nice white ash.
The first half of the cigar shows little nuance, depth or complexity. The profile is a straight ahead presentation of tobacco flavors that could use more refinement, and there is still a metallic bite to the smoke as it leaves the mouth. At the back of the palate there are still some hints of wood, but they are overwhelmed by the metallic undertones of the main profile. The draw and burn are staying solid.
The final half of the cigar is much the same as the first half. There is little complexity or depth and the metallic undertones become more prevalent. At the back of the palate there is also no development. The saving grace is that the construction stays consistent throughout the smoke.
The finish is short and metallic.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 80 a very sub par experience
Construction- 90 a nicely performing cigar
Strength- 86 trying to be full, but not complimenting the body of the cigar well
Overall- 86.25 saved entirely by construction, I would not recommend this cigar
The cigar opens with some sharp notes of tobacco, pepper and spice. There is an unpleasant metallic flavor that lingers on the palate after first few draws and it detracts from the experience. At the back of the palate there are some hints of dark wood and a sweet note that is fleeting. The draw is solid and produces plenty of smoke. The burn is sharp and even to this point producing a nice white ash.
The first half of the cigar shows little nuance, depth or complexity. The profile is a straight ahead presentation of tobacco flavors that could use more refinement, and there is still a metallic bite to the smoke as it leaves the mouth. At the back of the palate there are still some hints of wood, but they are overwhelmed by the metallic undertones of the main profile. The draw and burn are staying solid.
The final half of the cigar is much the same as the first half. There is little complexity or depth and the metallic undertones become more prevalent. At the back of the palate there is also no development. The saving grace is that the construction stays consistent throughout the smoke.
The finish is short and metallic.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 80 a very sub par experience
Construction- 90 a nicely performing cigar
Strength- 86 trying to be full, but not complimenting the body of the cigar well
Overall- 86.25 saved entirely by construction, I would not recommend this cigar
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Don Pepin Series JJ Maduro Selecto
I had not smoked one of these is quite some time, and this cigar is one that appeared in my Top 5 from 2008. I have always found these to be most flavorful and quite strong in profile. This particular one has over one year of humidor age on it and I am interested to see what the aging has done to the cigar and am anxious to see if there is any further refinement in the smoke. It presents well with no flaws and my examination leads me to believe that there will be no issues with the smoke. The pre light aroma has intense spice and coffee influences. The pre light draw is earth and shows a nice coffee character.
The cigar opens with a very deep and complex profile that shows notes of coffee, earth and very refined tobacco flavors. The strength is exactly as I remember it and immediately puts the palate on notice. At the back of the palate there are some very nice pepper notes that offset some of the sweetness presented by the coffee flavors in the front of the profile. The draw is nearly perfect for me, imparting copious amounts of smoke with very little effort on my part. The burn is sharp and produces a bright white ash that is sturdy and firm.
The first half of the smoke continues to develop and show some unexpected nuance. Like hearing a fine piece of music or viewing a piece of art there is some work involved in enjoying this smoke for all that it is showing. The profile is full of coffee and pepper flavors that coat the palate in a pleasing array of firework like intensity. At the back of the palate there are some excellent notes of earth and some sweet spice notes that come through as well. The draw continues to be very impressive and the burn is consistent and issue free.
The final half of the cigar transitions into a more in your face presentation of flavors and strength. The balance of this cigar is second to none as flavors transition very easily, but with subtlety. The profile continues to show some slight hints of coffee, but peppery tobacco flavors have taken over the core profile at this point. At the back of the palate there are still deep, rich flavors of earth and spice that are countering the core profile in a very satisfying way. The burn and draw stay consistent throughout.
The finish is long and full of peppery flavors that linger. This is a cigar that lets you know it is there.
Appearance- 92 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 94 a very balanced and intense flavor experience
Construction- 97 a nearly flawless performance that was very impressive
Strength- 93 a very complimentary performance when considered against the profile
Overall- 94.5 an excellent smoke, that is only enhanced with age
The cigar opens with a very deep and complex profile that shows notes of coffee, earth and very refined tobacco flavors. The strength is exactly as I remember it and immediately puts the palate on notice. At the back of the palate there are some very nice pepper notes that offset some of the sweetness presented by the coffee flavors in the front of the profile. The draw is nearly perfect for me, imparting copious amounts of smoke with very little effort on my part. The burn is sharp and produces a bright white ash that is sturdy and firm.
The first half of the smoke continues to develop and show some unexpected nuance. Like hearing a fine piece of music or viewing a piece of art there is some work involved in enjoying this smoke for all that it is showing. The profile is full of coffee and pepper flavors that coat the palate in a pleasing array of firework like intensity. At the back of the palate there are some excellent notes of earth and some sweet spice notes that come through as well. The draw continues to be very impressive and the burn is consistent and issue free.
The final half of the cigar transitions into a more in your face presentation of flavors and strength. The balance of this cigar is second to none as flavors transition very easily, but with subtlety. The profile continues to show some slight hints of coffee, but peppery tobacco flavors have taken over the core profile at this point. At the back of the palate there are still deep, rich flavors of earth and spice that are countering the core profile in a very satisfying way. The burn and draw stay consistent throughout.
The finish is long and full of peppery flavors that linger. This is a cigar that lets you know it is there.
Appearance- 92 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 94 a very balanced and intense flavor experience
Construction- 97 a nearly flawless performance that was very impressive
Strength- 93 a very complimentary performance when considered against the profile
Overall- 94.5 an excellent smoke, that is only enhanced with age
Friday, April 23, 2010
La Flor Dominicana Air Bender
This is a gigantic new release from the Gomez boys, and everyone that reads this blog knows that I predisposed to dislike cigars that are too big. I don't like the size, the heft, the flavor etc... with a big cigar. Having said that, I have smoked great big ring gauge cigars before and rated some of them very highly. This particular cigar, while large, is not as intimidating as some of the other La Flor vitolas and blends. I think it may have something to do with the less imposing color of this cigar. The wrapper is a nice deep brown that has some toothy qualities, as opposed to the nearly jet black oily wrappers on so many other La Flor smokes. The cigar feels light for it's size and I am worried that it may be under packed and loose in the draw. There are no other noticeable flaws on the cigar and I am ready to fire it up. The pre light aroma has a strong presence of cocoa and there is some light spice present. The pre light draw shows some hints of pepper and light spice.
The cigar is difficult to light, in my opinion a major detraction in a cigar. Once lit the profile shows very thin notes of spice, tobacco, grass and cocoa. There is little complexity or depth and the overall presentation is muddled. At the back of the palate there is an unfortunate bitterness that is showing through. The draw is actually much tighter than I anticipated and it produces enough smoke to be acceptable. The burn is sharp and the ash is of monumental size and holds until nearly the three inch mark of the smoke.
The first third of the cigar transitions very little. The profile continues to be schizophrenic and jumps from grass, tobacco and back to grass again at will. At the back of the palate the bitterness is taking away from the smoke as well. The draw is still acceptable and the burn maintains a very solid performance. Without above average construction this cigar would be a disaster.
The middle third begins to level out and the profile shows some nice flavors of spice and tobacco with some light wood essences lingering around. At the back of the palate there are some flavors of bread and light spice. The depth and complexity are still not there, but at least it has transitioned into something semi-pleasing. The draw is still fine and the burn continues to be issue free.
The final third of the cigar slided back into schizophrenia. The profile is all over the place, and mostly displeasing. There are charred notes of wood and grass and some prevailing bitterness interferes with the palate. At the back of the palate there is little but bitterness and I am feeling disappointed by the whole experience at this point. The burn and draw stayed consistent throughout.
The finish was sharp and grassy with charred notes of paper and wood.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking smoke that lacks some visual elegance
Taste- 81 an inferior palate that never developed well
Construction- 90 the only saving grace for this cigar
Strength- 85 a very unremarkable medium/full
Overall- 86 slightly above average, a score saved by above average construction
The cigar is difficult to light, in my opinion a major detraction in a cigar. Once lit the profile shows very thin notes of spice, tobacco, grass and cocoa. There is little complexity or depth and the overall presentation is muddled. At the back of the palate there is an unfortunate bitterness that is showing through. The draw is actually much tighter than I anticipated and it produces enough smoke to be acceptable. The burn is sharp and the ash is of monumental size and holds until nearly the three inch mark of the smoke.
The first third of the cigar transitions very little. The profile continues to be schizophrenic and jumps from grass, tobacco and back to grass again at will. At the back of the palate the bitterness is taking away from the smoke as well. The draw is still acceptable and the burn maintains a very solid performance. Without above average construction this cigar would be a disaster.
The middle third begins to level out and the profile shows some nice flavors of spice and tobacco with some light wood essences lingering around. At the back of the palate there are some flavors of bread and light spice. The depth and complexity are still not there, but at least it has transitioned into something semi-pleasing. The draw is still fine and the burn continues to be issue free.
The final third of the cigar slided back into schizophrenia. The profile is all over the place, and mostly displeasing. There are charred notes of wood and grass and some prevailing bitterness interferes with the palate. At the back of the palate there is little but bitterness and I am feeling disappointed by the whole experience at this point. The burn and draw stayed consistent throughout.
The finish was sharp and grassy with charred notes of paper and wood.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking smoke that lacks some visual elegance
Taste- 81 an inferior palate that never developed well
Construction- 90 the only saving grace for this cigar
Strength- 85 a very unremarkable medium/full
Overall- 86 slightly above average, a score saved by above average construction
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Rocky Patel Decade Toro
I had this sitting in my humidor for awhile and I decided to give it a go while I watched my beloved hockey team participate in the first game of their playoff series against some game opponents from Nashville, yes Nashville, a hockey mecca to be sure. As the game gets under way, so does the cigar. It is an interesting cigar to look at, but not necessarily in a good way. The wrapper is a bit rugged and is mottled in some spots. There are prominent veins from the foot to the head and I am concerned about the burn. The cigar feels loosely put together and that usually means heat and an overly loose draw. Needless to say after inspection I am not overly optimistic. The pre light aroma has some hints of dark fruit and some light coffee essence that is interesting. The pre light draw tells me little, there are some ideas of wood and some light spice, but there really is not much there.
The cigar opens with blasts of coffee flavors. Now before you get excited and say something like "I like coffee, thus I will like this cigar!", let me caution you that this is not a pleasant coffee flavor. It is more like a coffee flavor that a waitress wearing an apricot colored smock, a dirty apron that was once white and lacy, too much eye shadow and bright red lipstick might offer if you were sitting in an I-10 truck stop at 3 AM in Southern Alabama. You know the kind of coffee you need a knife and fork to drink. The kind of coffee that gets scraped off the bottom of the pot in the dark hours when drunks and loons wander the earth while the rest of us are in bed. I digress, let me just say it was a putrescent coffee flavor that had little redeeming value. At the back of the palate there were some small glimmers of hope as I detect some notes of dark wood, but the is an underlying bitterness that takes away from any positive developments. The draw is far too loose and I am sure it will cause heat problems later in the smoke. The burn is even thus far, but with a draw this loose I anticipate burn issues as well.
The first half of the smoke shows no real development and the only saving grace is that my team is ahead 1-0 at this point and at least I can find some enjoyment in that. The profile maintains the muddy coffee flavors that are charred and bitter. At the back of the palate bitterness still persists. It is at this point that I realize the Cubs are at the Hawks game and I get a sinking feeling in my stomach as the team that as has not won a championship since 1908 has come to root for the team that has not won a championship since 1961, a cosmic turn of events that puts all the tumblers in place for a simply wretched evening. The draw is still too loose, but at least the burn is holding it's own to this point.
The last half of the cigar was as bad as the last half of the game. I watch my team play like idiots and they lose badly in a game they should have easily won. Screw the Cubs and their mojo anyway, I blame them for the loss and for this terrible cigar, it is all their fault. They should tuck their loser tails back between their legs and head back to the north side for all eternity and never befoul any other sporting venue with their presence. Just as this cigar should never foul my humidor again. The profile stays bitter and develops very little in the final half and I can find no redeeming qualities at the end, other than it is done. The burn stayed nice however, but the draw was way too loose throughout.
The finish was bitter and disappointing.
Appearance- 83 a below average looking smoke
Taste- 72 about as bad as it can get
Construction- 85 an average score as the burn stayed sharp
Strength- 80 too medium and it did not compliment anything in the profile
Overall- 79.5 a weak effort from my cigar and my team on this evening
The cigar opens with blasts of coffee flavors. Now before you get excited and say something like "I like coffee, thus I will like this cigar!", let me caution you that this is not a pleasant coffee flavor. It is more like a coffee flavor that a waitress wearing an apricot colored smock, a dirty apron that was once white and lacy, too much eye shadow and bright red lipstick might offer if you were sitting in an I-10 truck stop at 3 AM in Southern Alabama. You know the kind of coffee you need a knife and fork to drink. The kind of coffee that gets scraped off the bottom of the pot in the dark hours when drunks and loons wander the earth while the rest of us are in bed. I digress, let me just say it was a putrescent coffee flavor that had little redeeming value. At the back of the palate there were some small glimmers of hope as I detect some notes of dark wood, but the is an underlying bitterness that takes away from any positive developments. The draw is far too loose and I am sure it will cause heat problems later in the smoke. The burn is even thus far, but with a draw this loose I anticipate burn issues as well.
The first half of the smoke shows no real development and the only saving grace is that my team is ahead 1-0 at this point and at least I can find some enjoyment in that. The profile maintains the muddy coffee flavors that are charred and bitter. At the back of the palate bitterness still persists. It is at this point that I realize the Cubs are at the Hawks game and I get a sinking feeling in my stomach as the team that as has not won a championship since 1908 has come to root for the team that has not won a championship since 1961, a cosmic turn of events that puts all the tumblers in place for a simply wretched evening. The draw is still too loose, but at least the burn is holding it's own to this point.
The last half of the cigar was as bad as the last half of the game. I watch my team play like idiots and they lose badly in a game they should have easily won. Screw the Cubs and their mojo anyway, I blame them for the loss and for this terrible cigar, it is all their fault. They should tuck their loser tails back between their legs and head back to the north side for all eternity and never befoul any other sporting venue with their presence. Just as this cigar should never foul my humidor again. The profile stays bitter and develops very little in the final half and I can find no redeeming qualities at the end, other than it is done. The burn stayed nice however, but the draw was way too loose throughout.
The finish was bitter and disappointing.
Appearance- 83 a below average looking smoke
Taste- 72 about as bad as it can get
Construction- 85 an average score as the burn stayed sharp
Strength- 80 too medium and it did not compliment anything in the profile
Overall- 79.5 a weak effort from my cigar and my team on this evening
Friday, April 16, 2010
Arturo Fuente Opus X Reserva D'Chateau
This was another gift from the finest Brother of the Leaf I know. I know him and his collection and I have no hesitation believing that this cigar has eight plus years of age. It is a beautiful cigar with a leathery looking wrapper that has ample oils and very few veins. The overall presentation of this cigar is one of the best you could ever hope to see, a cedar wrap, a stunning band and a fine looking cigar all add up to high expectations based on the visual presentations. An inspection shows not a single issue and I am getting excited about smoking an Opus with this kind of age. The pre light aroma is of leather, cedar and spice. The pre light draw shows leather and sharp spicy undertones that fire up the palate.
The cigar opens with a stunning profile that has notes of leather, very refined tobacco, cedar and spice. At the back of the palate there are some notes of orange peel and wood that add to the complexity of the smoke. The depth is incredible, and I can already tell that this is one of the finest Opus examples that I have ever smoked. The draw is slightly tight, but I am not having any issue other than it is not as loose as I usually prefer. The burn is sharp and produces a nice medium gray ash.
The first third of the cigar settles into a nice profile that shows complexity and depth that can only be a product of extensive aging. The core is full of leather and spice, with touches of crisp tobacco and sweet cedar notes. At the back of the palate there continues to be an essence of orange peel and nice solid woody flavors that mingle well for added complexity. The draw is opening up and I am impressed with the performance of this smoke. The burn is still sharp and the ash holds for two inches before I plop it into the tray.
The middle third of the cigar starts to show some profile shifts. The core shows leather flavors, but peppery notes start to come through. There are still some inferences of cedar and spice, but pepper is attacking the palate. At the back of the palate there are still notes of wood, but some tobacco flavors are now also showing through. The complexity continues to be impressive, but the depth is not what it was in the front of the smoke. The draw is more what I prefer at this point and the burn continues in fine fashion.
The final third of the cigar shows all of the traditional hallmarks of an Opus X. The profile becomes a powerhouse, showing a core profile of deep wood, leather and rich spicy flavors. At the back of the palate there is a satiny finish to the smoke as nicotine kicks the palate in the face, there are also some hints of wood noted here as well. The draw and burn stay relatively consistent to the end.
The finish is strong and long, there are flavors of pepper, wood and tobacco that show through.
Appearance- 98 a fine looking smoke
Taste- 97 a phenomenal profile that showed multiple shifts and complexity and depth abound
Construction- 93 some tightness in the draw early hurt the score
Strength- 94 a very full smoke that could use more power up front
Overall- 95.25 a classic smoke and a fine example of what aging can do for a cigar
The cigar opens with a stunning profile that has notes of leather, very refined tobacco, cedar and spice. At the back of the palate there are some notes of orange peel and wood that add to the complexity of the smoke. The depth is incredible, and I can already tell that this is one of the finest Opus examples that I have ever smoked. The draw is slightly tight, but I am not having any issue other than it is not as loose as I usually prefer. The burn is sharp and produces a nice medium gray ash.
The first third of the cigar settles into a nice profile that shows complexity and depth that can only be a product of extensive aging. The core is full of leather and spice, with touches of crisp tobacco and sweet cedar notes. At the back of the palate there continues to be an essence of orange peel and nice solid woody flavors that mingle well for added complexity. The draw is opening up and I am impressed with the performance of this smoke. The burn is still sharp and the ash holds for two inches before I plop it into the tray.
The middle third of the cigar starts to show some profile shifts. The core shows leather flavors, but peppery notes start to come through. There are still some inferences of cedar and spice, but pepper is attacking the palate. At the back of the palate there are still notes of wood, but some tobacco flavors are now also showing through. The complexity continues to be impressive, but the depth is not what it was in the front of the smoke. The draw is more what I prefer at this point and the burn continues in fine fashion.
The final third of the cigar shows all of the traditional hallmarks of an Opus X. The profile becomes a powerhouse, showing a core profile of deep wood, leather and rich spicy flavors. At the back of the palate there is a satiny finish to the smoke as nicotine kicks the palate in the face, there are also some hints of wood noted here as well. The draw and burn stay relatively consistent to the end.
The finish is strong and long, there are flavors of pepper, wood and tobacco that show through.
Appearance- 98 a fine looking smoke
Taste- 97 a phenomenal profile that showed multiple shifts and complexity and depth abound
Construction- 93 some tightness in the draw early hurt the score
Strength- 94 a very full smoke that could use more power up front
Overall- 95.25 a classic smoke and a fine example of what aging can do for a cigar
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Partagas Lonsdale (Box Date 1998)
As I was playing hooky from work recently, a friend of mine was also playing hooky on the same day, so we decided in the best tradition of the Brotherhood of the Leaf, that we would proclaim a day of smoking. My friend, being the solid Brother of the Leaf that he is, proffered this smoke as a palate cleanser for the cigar I reviewed just before this one. I gladly accepted and set to removing the foul remnants of the prior cigar.
This smoke is a near perfect visual. The wrapper is a chestnut hued brown and it shows plenty of age. There are few veins and the cigar is firm and bold looking, yet still elegant. I savor the pre light aroma of leather and spice. I also note that the pre light draw is showing deep, rich tobacco notes laced with spice and leather.
The cigar opens with a very intense profile of leather and crisp tobacco, the complexity is not what I would like at this point but the depth of the flavors is stunning. At the back of the palate and through the nose there are delicious flavors of toast and almost wheaty notes that make the cigar very interesting. The draw is tight, but not horribly so, I will gladly labor a bit to enjoy this cigar. The burn shows a nice shoulder, but is not especially sharp from the beginning.
The first half of the cigar continues to develop beautifully. There are notes of leather, spice and full tobacco flavors dancing on the palate. At the back of the palate there are still very satisfying toasty flavors and light spates of cinnamon that add to the complexity of the cigar. The draw continues to be somewhat tight, but I am still not having to labor in an untoward way. The burn is still lopsided, but the shoulder continues to show nicely.
The final half of the cigar shows an interesting shift. The core profile still shows heavy influences of leather, but cinnamon begins to show through at the front of the palate. At the back of the palate some toasty notes give way to spice and flavors of wood that transition this cigar into an unexpected place that I was not expecting to delve into. The draw is still too tight for me and the burn catches in the final two inches, however, neither of those developments are detracting in any major way.
The finish is long and lingers with a pleasing dusty quality on the palate. There are notes of leather and spice.
Appearance- 94 an excellent example of what a lonsdale should look like
Taste- 93 a fantastic taste experience that lacked early complexity, but fully recovered by the end
Construction- 90 is the best I can do after burn and draw issues
Strength- 93 a nice medium/full that compliments the profile well
Overall- 92.25 a very good smoke that could be classic with some complexity early
This smoke is a near perfect visual. The wrapper is a chestnut hued brown and it shows plenty of age. There are few veins and the cigar is firm and bold looking, yet still elegant. I savor the pre light aroma of leather and spice. I also note that the pre light draw is showing deep, rich tobacco notes laced with spice and leather.
The cigar opens with a very intense profile of leather and crisp tobacco, the complexity is not what I would like at this point but the depth of the flavors is stunning. At the back of the palate and through the nose there are delicious flavors of toast and almost wheaty notes that make the cigar very interesting. The draw is tight, but not horribly so, I will gladly labor a bit to enjoy this cigar. The burn shows a nice shoulder, but is not especially sharp from the beginning.
The first half of the cigar continues to develop beautifully. There are notes of leather, spice and full tobacco flavors dancing on the palate. At the back of the palate there are still very satisfying toasty flavors and light spates of cinnamon that add to the complexity of the cigar. The draw continues to be somewhat tight, but I am still not having to labor in an untoward way. The burn is still lopsided, but the shoulder continues to show nicely.
The final half of the cigar shows an interesting shift. The core profile still shows heavy influences of leather, but cinnamon begins to show through at the front of the palate. At the back of the palate some toasty notes give way to spice and flavors of wood that transition this cigar into an unexpected place that I was not expecting to delve into. The draw is still too tight for me and the burn catches in the final two inches, however, neither of those developments are detracting in any major way.
The finish is long and lingers with a pleasing dusty quality on the palate. There are notes of leather and spice.
Appearance- 94 an excellent example of what a lonsdale should look like
Taste- 93 a fantastic taste experience that lacked early complexity, but fully recovered by the end
Construction- 90 is the best I can do after burn and draw issues
Strength- 93 a nice medium/full that compliments the profile well
Overall- 92.25 a very good smoke that could be classic with some complexity early
Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro Churchill
Unfortunately I discovered a little over a year ago that these just are not as good as they used to be. It was to my great disappointment, as this cigar had been in my top 10 for 2007 and 2008. I believe that the tobacco changed and our boy Rocky thought he could slip one by us, the result at the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 was an inferior cigar. I bought an entire box and was disgusted by the cigar, my only option was to lay them down and hope that they would get better.
This cigar is from a box that was purchased in October of 2008. I have only smoked one, right at the end of 2008, and it was wretched. This second cigar from the box presents well with a nice toothy wrapper that is almost black in color. I inspect the cigar and find some nice signs of aging, which is an encouraging trait in a cigar that you are hoping will come along. There are no signs of construction issues and there are no flaws in the wrapper, making the visual experience all the better. The pre light aroma has notes of chocolate and pepper. The pre light draw is very earthy, but shows some light presence of chocolate as well.
The cigar opens with a nice profile of tobacco, earth and light pepper and cocoa undertones. The depth of the flavors is acceptable, but the complexity and balance is lacking a bit. At the back of the palate there are some nice flavors of wood and earth, but again the balance is lacking. The draw is far too loose, and I notice that the roll of the cigar continues to loosen as the smoke continues. The burn is crooked from the start and the ash is flaky and chalky in texture and appearance.
The first third of the cigar continues to show some nice flavors of tobacco, earth and light cocoa but the overall impression begins to sour by the end of the first segment. At the back of the palate there are still some nice notes of wood and some spice shows through, but the flavors do not add or compliment the smoke in any way. The draw continues to deteriorate and there is heat very early in the smoke. The burn continues to wander and the ash drops flotsam all over my newly cleaned white shirt.
The middle third of the cigar begins the abysmal spiral that I feared from the beginning. The profile shows notes of charred tobacco and wood and there are sour notes permeating the experience. At the back of the palate the deterioration is complete and acrid notes are booming forward at an alarming rate. The draw continues to loosen and I am not sure what is holding the cigar together. The burn is lopsided and flaky, continuing to coat me in ash as if I escaped some Polynesian eruption.
The final third of the cigar is not worth much mention as the deterioration was complete. The finish is also not worth discussing as I rush to find my next smoke so as to purge the horrid remembrances of this rocket. The sad thing is these have improved with age! The nice thing is I still have half a box, minus two, to look forward to, excuse me while I transfer these into my Moochidor...
Appearance- 90 a very attractive looking smoke, too bad looks aren't everything
Taste- 77 the only redeeming qualities were in the first third of the smoke
Construction- 72 the draw and burn were inferior
Strength- 85 difficult to accurately rate this, so I go with average
Overall- 78.75 this is not good...enough said
This cigar is from a box that was purchased in October of 2008. I have only smoked one, right at the end of 2008, and it was wretched. This second cigar from the box presents well with a nice toothy wrapper that is almost black in color. I inspect the cigar and find some nice signs of aging, which is an encouraging trait in a cigar that you are hoping will come along. There are no signs of construction issues and there are no flaws in the wrapper, making the visual experience all the better. The pre light aroma has notes of chocolate and pepper. The pre light draw is very earthy, but shows some light presence of chocolate as well.
The cigar opens with a nice profile of tobacco, earth and light pepper and cocoa undertones. The depth of the flavors is acceptable, but the complexity and balance is lacking a bit. At the back of the palate there are some nice flavors of wood and earth, but again the balance is lacking. The draw is far too loose, and I notice that the roll of the cigar continues to loosen as the smoke continues. The burn is crooked from the start and the ash is flaky and chalky in texture and appearance.
The first third of the cigar continues to show some nice flavors of tobacco, earth and light cocoa but the overall impression begins to sour by the end of the first segment. At the back of the palate there are still some nice notes of wood and some spice shows through, but the flavors do not add or compliment the smoke in any way. The draw continues to deteriorate and there is heat very early in the smoke. The burn continues to wander and the ash drops flotsam all over my newly cleaned white shirt.
The middle third of the cigar begins the abysmal spiral that I feared from the beginning. The profile shows notes of charred tobacco and wood and there are sour notes permeating the experience. At the back of the palate the deterioration is complete and acrid notes are booming forward at an alarming rate. The draw continues to loosen and I am not sure what is holding the cigar together. The burn is lopsided and flaky, continuing to coat me in ash as if I escaped some Polynesian eruption.
The final third of the cigar is not worth much mention as the deterioration was complete. The finish is also not worth discussing as I rush to find my next smoke so as to purge the horrid remembrances of this rocket. The sad thing is these have improved with age! The nice thing is I still have half a box, minus two, to look forward to, excuse me while I transfer these into my Moochidor...
Appearance- 90 a very attractive looking smoke, too bad looks aren't everything
Taste- 77 the only redeeming qualities were in the first third of the smoke
Construction- 72 the draw and burn were inferior
Strength- 85 difficult to accurately rate this, so I go with average
Overall- 78.75 this is not good...enough said
Friday, April 9, 2010
Padron 1926 Anniversary Maduro No.9
I had not smoked one of these cigars in years and I was recently given one to smoke while I was hosting a cookout at my house, it was quite a gift. The funny part is, this is another cigar that was given to me blind and I had no idea what I was in for as I began to smoke it. It presents well and showed signs of significant aging with a nice light layer of plume. There are some flaws in the wrapper, but I don't believe that there will be any issues. The pre light aroma is earthy with notes of coffee and pepper. The pre light draw shows some signs of power with a full blast of black pepper.
The cigar opens with a nice profile that is extremely refined. There are flavors of pepper, light earth and blasts of coffee in the core profile and I am struck by the complexity of this smoke early on. I am struggling with the identification at this point, but I have narrowed it down to three or four possibilities (none of which were a Padron). At the back of the palate there are some very full notes of pepper and coffee and the strength of this cigar early on is also shocking. The draw is a bit thin, but I am getting enough smoke to work with. The burn is sharp and produces a sturdy white ash.
The first half of the smoke continues to develop complexity and depth. The core profile is showing excellent qualities of rich, crisp tobacco flavors laced with coffee, dark wood and some notes of anise. The profound levels of flavor here are incredible and I am again taken aback by the developments of this cigar as it progresses. I am beginning to believe that it may be an Alec Bradley Prensado, but I am not convinced because the samples of the Prensado I have smoked have not been well refined or as complex and balanced. At the back of the palate there are still full blasts of pepper and coffee that are making this an excellent full bodied experience. The draw opens slightly, making the smoke more enjoyable. Some of the wrapper flaws have perturbed the burn a touch, but I persist without a re-light.
The second half of this cigar continues to impress. The core profile shows pepper and dark wood, losing some complexity but still showing depth. At the back of the palate there are still strong coffee flavors, again losing complexity but still showing nice depth and balance. The burn has evened out and the draw is still acceptable.
The finish is a screamer, leaving the palate stinging from pepper and dark wood flavors lingering on and on.
After I discarded all possibilities, I did identify this as a Padron but did not know the front mark.
Appearance- 89 not the most attractive cigar, but not terrible either
Taste- 94 this profile was profound, but lacked some complexity in the last half of the smoke
Construction- 90 the draw and burn issues hurt the score
Strength- 96 this was remarkable and complimented the profile and body of the smoke beautifully
Overall- 92.25 a fabulous experience
The cigar opens with a nice profile that is extremely refined. There are flavors of pepper, light earth and blasts of coffee in the core profile and I am struck by the complexity of this smoke early on. I am struggling with the identification at this point, but I have narrowed it down to three or four possibilities (none of which were a Padron). At the back of the palate there are some very full notes of pepper and coffee and the strength of this cigar early on is also shocking. The draw is a bit thin, but I am getting enough smoke to work with. The burn is sharp and produces a sturdy white ash.
The first half of the smoke continues to develop complexity and depth. The core profile is showing excellent qualities of rich, crisp tobacco flavors laced with coffee, dark wood and some notes of anise. The profound levels of flavor here are incredible and I am again taken aback by the developments of this cigar as it progresses. I am beginning to believe that it may be an Alec Bradley Prensado, but I am not convinced because the samples of the Prensado I have smoked have not been well refined or as complex and balanced. At the back of the palate there are still full blasts of pepper and coffee that are making this an excellent full bodied experience. The draw opens slightly, making the smoke more enjoyable. Some of the wrapper flaws have perturbed the burn a touch, but I persist without a re-light.
The second half of this cigar continues to impress. The core profile shows pepper and dark wood, losing some complexity but still showing depth. At the back of the palate there are still strong coffee flavors, again losing complexity but still showing nice depth and balance. The burn has evened out and the draw is still acceptable.
The finish is a screamer, leaving the palate stinging from pepper and dark wood flavors lingering on and on.
After I discarded all possibilities, I did identify this as a Padron but did not know the front mark.
Appearance- 89 not the most attractive cigar, but not terrible either
Taste- 94 this profile was profound, but lacked some complexity in the last half of the smoke
Construction- 90 the draw and burn issues hurt the score
Strength- 96 this was remarkable and complimented the profile and body of the smoke beautifully
Overall- 92.25 a fabulous experience
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Alec Bradley Tempus Cigar Rights of America Edition
This is another from the CRA sampler I received for joining the organization. It appears to be a standard Tempus toro that CRA slapped a CRA band on, but I am happy to give it a go anyway. The cigar presents well with a dark, rich wrapper that has plenty of tooth. There is one huge vein that I have some misgivings about before I get started. The rest of the cigar appears to be of acceptable construction. The pre light aroma has some notes of spice and orange zest. The pre light draw has some interesting vanilla qualities and some notes of dark wood.
The smoke opens with a core profile of very nice vanilla notes and some hints of dark wood. At the back of the palate there are some rich tobacco flavors, but the vanilla has permeated and diffuses some of the tobacco strength. The draw is nice, but could be a bit looser. The burn is off, almost like the cigar is too wet, which is not possible as it has been in my 65% environment for three months.
The first half of the smoke shows a complete drop off of the early vanilla notes. Instead the profile becomes a show of wood and tobacco flavors that have no real depth or complexity. At the back of the palate there are some ideas of dark wood, but they are charred and show some bitter qualities. I find myself vainly hoping for some return of earlier characteristics, but in the first half there are no signs of it. The draw is still a bit too tight for me and the burn is still off, but not causing any issues.
The second half of the smoke is unfortunately much like the first half. The flavors in the core are of tobacco and wood, but there is no discernible development to these flavors and they flatten out on the palate like a prisoner against a wall as the spotlight comes his way. At the back of the palate the charred notes persist and dominate the experience. I am very disappointed with this profile. The draw and burn remain much the same through the smoke, average.
The finish is short and has some bitter notes of charred wood.
Appearance- 87 the huge vein detracts from the overall impression
Taste- 81 a very sub par profile
Construction- 85 very average
Strength- 89 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84.75 a below average smoke
The smoke opens with a core profile of very nice vanilla notes and some hints of dark wood. At the back of the palate there are some rich tobacco flavors, but the vanilla has permeated and diffuses some of the tobacco strength. The draw is nice, but could be a bit looser. The burn is off, almost like the cigar is too wet, which is not possible as it has been in my 65% environment for three months.
The first half of the smoke shows a complete drop off of the early vanilla notes. Instead the profile becomes a show of wood and tobacco flavors that have no real depth or complexity. At the back of the palate there are some ideas of dark wood, but they are charred and show some bitter qualities. I find myself vainly hoping for some return of earlier characteristics, but in the first half there are no signs of it. The draw is still a bit too tight for me and the burn is still off, but not causing any issues.
The second half of the smoke is unfortunately much like the first half. The flavors in the core are of tobacco and wood, but there is no discernible development to these flavors and they flatten out on the palate like a prisoner against a wall as the spotlight comes his way. At the back of the palate the charred notes persist and dominate the experience. I am very disappointed with this profile. The draw and burn remain much the same through the smoke, average.
The finish is short and has some bitter notes of charred wood.
Appearance- 87 the huge vein detracts from the overall impression
Taste- 81 a very sub par profile
Construction- 85 very average
Strength- 89 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84.75 a below average smoke
Friday, April 2, 2010
601 Green Robusto
This is another Pepin creation, the prolific nature of his recent production is something to behold. I have smoked the Red and Blue lines for review earlier in the year, so it only makes sense to review this darker cousin of those two blends. This cigar presents with an Oscuro wrapper that is not as oily as I would expect, but it has plenty of tooth and very few veins. The body of the cigar is firm, but I detect no areas of concern. The pre light aroma smacks of spice and light tobacco essence. The pre light draw is spicy and has some sweet characteristics that could only be described as floral.
The cigar opens with a core profile of spice, clove and sweet floral notes. I am taken slightly aback by the depth and complexity of the opening moments. At the back of the palate there is a crisp tobacco flavor coupled with some undertones of more spice. The draw is nearly flawless, imparting the perfect amount of smoke with little to no effort. The burn is even and produces a crisp white ash that is a touch flaky.
The first half of the cigar shows some interesting development. The core profile transitions into a mostly sweet floral presentation with bursts of spice, grass and wood. I can't recall ever smoking a cigar with this particular balance of flavors. At the back of the palate the crisp tobacco presentation remains and creates an acceptable offset to the front of the profile which would be too sweet without some balance. The draw remains excellent and reminds me why Pepin is largely considered to be the master these days. The burn stays sharp and even, but is still a bit flaky.
The final half of the cigar slows down a bit, and that is disappointing. The core profile becomes a more straight forward presentation of tobacco and earth, and is somewhat pedestrian when considered against the first half of the cigar. At the back of the palate there are still lingering floral notes, but the other impressions have thinned and flattened out, which is unfortunate. The draw and burn stay solid through the end of the smoke.
The finish is a touch short, but shows notes of spice and tobacco.
Appearance- 91 the cigar appears to be a bit dry, but it is appealing to look at
Taste- 90 an excellent profile in the front half, but the second half is disappointing
Construction- 96 this is about as good as it gets in this category
Strength- 89 a nice medium, but more power is a must
Overall- 92 an excellent smoking experience all around, if the profile had not collapsed this score could have been higher
The cigar opens with a core profile of spice, clove and sweet floral notes. I am taken slightly aback by the depth and complexity of the opening moments. At the back of the palate there is a crisp tobacco flavor coupled with some undertones of more spice. The draw is nearly flawless, imparting the perfect amount of smoke with little to no effort. The burn is even and produces a crisp white ash that is a touch flaky.
The first half of the cigar shows some interesting development. The core profile transitions into a mostly sweet floral presentation with bursts of spice, grass and wood. I can't recall ever smoking a cigar with this particular balance of flavors. At the back of the palate the crisp tobacco presentation remains and creates an acceptable offset to the front of the profile which would be too sweet without some balance. The draw remains excellent and reminds me why Pepin is largely considered to be the master these days. The burn stays sharp and even, but is still a bit flaky.
The final half of the cigar slows down a bit, and that is disappointing. The core profile becomes a more straight forward presentation of tobacco and earth, and is somewhat pedestrian when considered against the first half of the cigar. At the back of the palate there are still lingering floral notes, but the other impressions have thinned and flattened out, which is unfortunate. The draw and burn stay solid through the end of the smoke.
The finish is a touch short, but shows notes of spice and tobacco.
Appearance- 91 the cigar appears to be a bit dry, but it is appealing to look at
Taste- 90 an excellent profile in the front half, but the second half is disappointing
Construction- 96 this is about as good as it gets in this category
Strength- 89 a nice medium, but more power is a must
Overall- 92 an excellent smoking experience all around, if the profile had not collapsed this score could have been higher
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Don Lino 1989 Maduro Churchill
This is a cigar that I sometimes smoke in the robusto size, but I was given this one at a recent event with some friends so I decided to smoke the larger size. The cigar presents with a dark brown wrapper that has plenty of tooth, but has a very ruddy exterior appearance. The cigar feels under packed and it lacks the heft of a usual Churchill sized smoke. The pre light aroma has notes of cocoa and light coffee. The pre light draw shows some thin cocoa notes and some nice tobacco and earth flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is distinctly earthy with hints of coffee in the mix. At the back of the palate there are some thin notes of cocoa, but there are some heavy notes of earth here as well. The draw is extremely loose and I am worried about heat in the main body of the cigar as it develops further. The burn is slightly wonky, but is not causing me any concern. (In the interest of full disclosure I am already predisposed to the thought that this burn will go south as I have smoked over a box of this cigar in different sizes and every last one has burned horribly)
The first third of the cigar shows little development. The core profile is still heavily earthy, but shows some hints of pepper and coffee that are fleeting at best. At the back of the palate the dense earth tones continue and I am reaching out for more, but not finding it in this cigar. The draw is still loose and some heat is creeping in already, I am forced to slow it down to not char the experience. The burn is still off, but not as badly as some that I have smoked in the past.
The middle third shows some interesting shifts. The main body of the profile picks up decidedly peppery notes that mingle with a weakening coffee essence. The back of the palate moves into a nice presentation of rich tobacco as the earthy density falls away. The draw is still loose, but I am managing the issue without ruining the smoke, however I will deduct because of relights that had to take place as I slowed down to manage the heat. The burn is even, but I lend that more to my relights than the cigar itself.
The final third shows no real development of anything resembling depth or complexity. The core profile shows notes of pepper, coffee and some wood. At the back of the palate there are still some tobacco notes, but there is a strange sweetness that has crept into the presentation. The draw was loose throughout, but the burn was at least average this time around.
The finish was smooth, but short, with notes of pepper and earth
Appearance- 82 the ruddy looks kill the visual experience
Taste- 85 I would rate this as very average
Construction- 80 the draw was a real issue for me, I like to enjoy a cigar at my pace not have my pace dictated by the cigar's construction
Strength- 85 a very average medium that could use more pop
Overall- 82.75 a very poor showing, construction issues and a weak profile doom this cigar
The cigar opens with a profile that is distinctly earthy with hints of coffee in the mix. At the back of the palate there are some thin notes of cocoa, but there are some heavy notes of earth here as well. The draw is extremely loose and I am worried about heat in the main body of the cigar as it develops further. The burn is slightly wonky, but is not causing me any concern. (In the interest of full disclosure I am already predisposed to the thought that this burn will go south as I have smoked over a box of this cigar in different sizes and every last one has burned horribly)
The first third of the cigar shows little development. The core profile is still heavily earthy, but shows some hints of pepper and coffee that are fleeting at best. At the back of the palate the dense earth tones continue and I am reaching out for more, but not finding it in this cigar. The draw is still loose and some heat is creeping in already, I am forced to slow it down to not char the experience. The burn is still off, but not as badly as some that I have smoked in the past.
The middle third shows some interesting shifts. The main body of the profile picks up decidedly peppery notes that mingle with a weakening coffee essence. The back of the palate moves into a nice presentation of rich tobacco as the earthy density falls away. The draw is still loose, but I am managing the issue without ruining the smoke, however I will deduct because of relights that had to take place as I slowed down to manage the heat. The burn is even, but I lend that more to my relights than the cigar itself.
The final third shows no real development of anything resembling depth or complexity. The core profile shows notes of pepper, coffee and some wood. At the back of the palate there are still some tobacco notes, but there is a strange sweetness that has crept into the presentation. The draw was loose throughout, but the burn was at least average this time around.
The finish was smooth, but short, with notes of pepper and earth
Appearance- 82 the ruddy looks kill the visual experience
Taste- 85 I would rate this as very average
Construction- 80 the draw was a real issue for me, I like to enjoy a cigar at my pace not have my pace dictated by the cigar's construction
Strength- 85 a very average medium that could use more pop
Overall- 82.75 a very poor showing, construction issues and a weak profile doom this cigar
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