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
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