This is a cigar I have not smoked since it's introduction to the market last year. It is in the high end premium category and I remember thinking that it was overpriced when I smoked it initially. This cigar presents with a very appealing wrapper that is very dark and full of flavorful looking oils. There is little veining and the construction seems a bit firm to me. There is a slight box press to the smoke and I have never been a fan of this presentation. The pre light aroma has some hints of coffee and a nice earthy presence. The pre light draw shows some pepper and nice spice.
The smoke opens with some intense peppery notes, there is also some dark chocolate and spicy character as well. At the back of the palate there is some earthy quality that is nice, but there are some bitter notes early in the smoke that make the experience more harsh than I would like. The draw is too tight, and I am worried about heat late in the smoke. The burn is slightly uneven, but I do not anticipate any issues.
The first half of the cigar progresses in an acceptable manner, but I am not blown away. The profile has evened out to solid presentations of pepper and spice, there are also some interesting bursts of mint in the smoke. The overall depth and complexity is not what I would like, but there are some nice flavors present. At the back of the palate the cigar continues to show rich, earthy notes and the bitterness has mulled as the cigar progresses. The draw remains too tight and there is some heat in the smoke, so I decide to slow it down even further (typically I smoke a robusto in about an hour, I smoked this for an hour and a half to keep the heat down). The burn is still lopsided, but it is not causing any issues.
The final half of the cigar develops well, but is still lacking in complexity and depth. The profile still shows some pepper, but the spice has taken over at this point and the earthy qualities have come to the forefront as well. At the back of the palate it is all rich earth, and it is almost too much at this point. The draw is still too tight and there is still undue heat in the smoke, it is a shame because it ruins the last two inches of the smoke.
The finish is long and shows rich earth and pepper.
Appearance- 91 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 a nice profile, but it lacked complexity and depth
Construction- 82 the draw was too tight and hurt the smoke
Strength- 85 a very average full bodied smoke that needs to compliment the profile more efficiently
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average and hurt by the construction issues
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Alec Bradley Family Blend No.1 (5.5x50)
Too small to be a toro and a bit too long to be a traditional robusto, this cigar presents as a bulky and densely packed smoking experience. There is a whimsical pigtail finish that adds some visual appeal to the pre light endeavor of examining the smoke. The wrapper is a nice medium brown shade and it shows little veining. An examination of the smoke leads me to believe that it is well made and that I will not encounter any issues. The pre light aroma is slightly sour, but has some notes of spice and earth. The pre light draw is thin, but shown some hints of coffee bean and nice tobacco character.
The cigar opens with a profile that smacks of slightly charred coffee, there are some interesting notes of dark wood present as well. The profile is straight forward and lacks depth, but it is not terrible at this point either, although the charred character of the coffee flavors threatens to cause some issues. At the back of the palate there is a very satisfying earthy quality to profile. The smoke is thick and heavy, but the draw is above average and produces ample smoke without effort. The burn is slow and progresses evenly for the first inch or so before becoming flaky.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a straight forward profile that is devoid of complexity or depth. The core profile continues to show some charred coffee flavors, but the coffee part of the equation is fleeting and the left over charred portion tastes ashy and leaves the palate coated in a filmy aftertaste. At the back of the palate there are still some nice earth tones, and there are some notes of dark wood that would be better serving the smoke as part of the core profile. The draw continues to impress and the burn is still even, although the flaking ash is annoying.
The final half of the cigar improves some. The core profile shows some nice balanced flavors of black pepper and dark wood, the charred notes have dissipated and that is a relief. At the back of the palate there are still some solid earthy notes showing through making the finish of this cigar stronger than the first half. I still find myself yearning for more complexity or depth in this cigar. The draw and burn were consistent throughout.
The finish was long and unfortunately fouled by the charred tastes from earlier in the smoke.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 84 early charred notes hurt the score, but the back half of the smoke pushes the profile to nearly being average
Construction- 92 I have no complaints here and I think this was excellent
Strength- 88 a nice medium bodied smoke
Overall- 88.25 a solid smoke, but the profile was disappointing
The cigar opens with a profile that smacks of slightly charred coffee, there are some interesting notes of dark wood present as well. The profile is straight forward and lacks depth, but it is not terrible at this point either, although the charred character of the coffee flavors threatens to cause some issues. At the back of the palate there is a very satisfying earthy quality to profile. The smoke is thick and heavy, but the draw is above average and produces ample smoke without effort. The burn is slow and progresses evenly for the first inch or so before becoming flaky.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a straight forward profile that is devoid of complexity or depth. The core profile continues to show some charred coffee flavors, but the coffee part of the equation is fleeting and the left over charred portion tastes ashy and leaves the palate coated in a filmy aftertaste. At the back of the palate there are still some nice earth tones, and there are some notes of dark wood that would be better serving the smoke as part of the core profile. The draw continues to impress and the burn is still even, although the flaking ash is annoying.
The final half of the cigar improves some. The core profile shows some nice balanced flavors of black pepper and dark wood, the charred notes have dissipated and that is a relief. At the back of the palate there are still some solid earthy notes showing through making the finish of this cigar stronger than the first half. I still find myself yearning for more complexity or depth in this cigar. The draw and burn were consistent throughout.
The finish was long and unfortunately fouled by the charred tastes from earlier in the smoke.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 84 early charred notes hurt the score, but the back half of the smoke pushes the profile to nearly being average
Construction- 92 I have no complaints here and I think this was excellent
Strength- 88 a nice medium bodied smoke
Overall- 88.25 a solid smoke, but the profile was disappointing
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
J Fuego Delirium Corona (5.5x46)
This is an interesting cigar from J Fuego that I have smoked before, but never subjected to the hairy eyeball of the blog. I love the size of this offering and I have long been partial to the corona as one of the finest vitolas on the market. This particular cigar is a bit long and a bit fat for corona, but it is still of acceptable size. The cigar presents with a very toothy wrapper that has some dryness to it, but no flaws and few veins. There are no indications that there are any construction issues, and I proceed to the good parts. The pre light aroma is enticing while showing notes of chocolate and light spice. The pre light draw shows some solid tones of nice tobacco and some sweet earthy flavors.
The cigar opens with some nice tones of chocolate and light spice, but there is a flat nearly metallic flavor that is coming through as well and it threatens to derail the smoke from the start. At the back of the palate there are some interesting notes of tobacco and earth, but they are too thin to provide a complete impression at this point in the smoke. The draw is smooth and imparts plenty of smoke with each puff. The burn is a bit off, but it is not indicative of anything going poorly at this point.
The first half of the cigar is somewhat pedestrian. The core profile is showing some nice points of flavor with chocolate and spice impressions, but they lack complexity and depth. At the back of the palate there are some hints of tobacco and earth, but there is a metallic flatness that has permeated the experience. The draw is continuing to show well, and the burn has evened out nicely.
The final half of the cigar continues to be disappointing. The main body continues to show some thin notes of chocolate and spice, but there was never any development there. At the back of the palate the metallic notes continue to irritate the profile. The construction, draw and burn were first rate throughout, but that will save the smoke.
The finish was short and bitter with metallic undertones.
Appearance- 88 an above average looking smoke
Taste- 79 a sub par experience in the final two thirds
Construction- 90 the only saving grace
Strength- 85 an unremarkable medium/full
Overall- 85.25 slightly above average, saved by construction
The cigar opens with some nice tones of chocolate and light spice, but there is a flat nearly metallic flavor that is coming through as well and it threatens to derail the smoke from the start. At the back of the palate there are some interesting notes of tobacco and earth, but they are too thin to provide a complete impression at this point in the smoke. The draw is smooth and imparts plenty of smoke with each puff. The burn is a bit off, but it is not indicative of anything going poorly at this point.
The first half of the cigar is somewhat pedestrian. The core profile is showing some nice points of flavor with chocolate and spice impressions, but they lack complexity and depth. At the back of the palate there are some hints of tobacco and earth, but there is a metallic flatness that has permeated the experience. The draw is continuing to show well, and the burn has evened out nicely.
The final half of the cigar continues to be disappointing. The main body continues to show some thin notes of chocolate and spice, but there was never any development there. At the back of the palate the metallic notes continue to irritate the profile. The construction, draw and burn were first rate throughout, but that will save the smoke.
The finish was short and bitter with metallic undertones.
Appearance- 88 an above average looking smoke
Taste- 79 a sub par experience in the final two thirds
Construction- 90 the only saving grace
Strength- 85 an unremarkable medium/full
Overall- 85.25 slightly above average, saved by construction
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Arturo Fuente Rosado Gran Reserva R52 (5x52)
This is a newer release from the Arturo Fuente cigar enterprise. I am thinking they are pretty rare because I conducted a five month search of Tampa and Sarasota B&M's before finding some. The cigar has all the hallmarks of Fuente quality. Nice band, beautifully appointed wrapper, nice solid construction, and very few areas of concern. The cigar presents with a nice reddish hued wrapper that has some prominent veining. The pre light aroma is floral and shows some mulled notes of spice. The pre light draw shows some sweet bread and light floral presentations.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a bit flat. There are some thin notes of spice and some light bready notes, but there is little complexity or depth early in the presentation. At the back of the palate there are some fleeting floral notes, but overall the presentation is papery. Early disappointment aside, the cigar performs very well. The draw is perfect and the burn is sharp and produces a thick white ash that holds for two inches before I drop it off.
The first half of the cigar shows some nice development and I am starting to feel better about the experience. The core profile has moved into a presentation of floral sweetness coupled with some excellent notes of clean tobacco. The flavors have appropriate depth, but the complexity is still lacking. At the back of the palate there are some erratic notes of roasted nuts and light earth, but they never settle into a straight presentation. The draw is still impressive and the burn maintains it's Fuente consistency.
The final half of the cigar settles into all the things that Fuente is known for. The core profile continues to tobacco and floral notes, but there is the development of some light spice and nutty flavors that add to the mix. Complexity is still an issue, but the depth of the flavor is nice. At the back of the palate there are some nice hints of light earth and some wheaty notes that are unique. The draw and burn are excellent right to the end.
The finish is a touch short, but shows some floral sweetness and clean tobacco flavors that sharpen.
Appearance- 91 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 88 a nice profile that would be benefited with some complexity
Construction- 97 an excellent, near perfect smoking experience
Strength- 87 a very unremarkable medium, but very serviceable
Overall- 91.25 a very nice smoke
The cigar opens with a profile that is a bit flat. There are some thin notes of spice and some light bready notes, but there is little complexity or depth early in the presentation. At the back of the palate there are some fleeting floral notes, but overall the presentation is papery. Early disappointment aside, the cigar performs very well. The draw is perfect and the burn is sharp and produces a thick white ash that holds for two inches before I drop it off.
The first half of the cigar shows some nice development and I am starting to feel better about the experience. The core profile has moved into a presentation of floral sweetness coupled with some excellent notes of clean tobacco. The flavors have appropriate depth, but the complexity is still lacking. At the back of the palate there are some erratic notes of roasted nuts and light earth, but they never settle into a straight presentation. The draw is still impressive and the burn maintains it's Fuente consistency.
The final half of the cigar settles into all the things that Fuente is known for. The core profile continues to tobacco and floral notes, but there is the development of some light spice and nutty flavors that add to the mix. Complexity is still an issue, but the depth of the flavor is nice. At the back of the palate there are some nice hints of light earth and some wheaty notes that are unique. The draw and burn are excellent right to the end.
The finish is a touch short, but shows some floral sweetness and clean tobacco flavors that sharpen.
Appearance- 91 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 88 a nice profile that would be benefited with some complexity
Construction- 97 an excellent, near perfect smoking experience
Strength- 87 a very unremarkable medium, but very serviceable
Overall- 91.25 a very nice smoke
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Illusione Nosotros Robusto
I wandered into my local B&M and was perusing the new releases and came across a much heralded cigar amongst my fellow BOTL's. This joint release from Illusione and Jonathan Drew is new and has been much revered amongst the cigar men that I hang around with. In all fairness, I approach with trepidation any cigar that has the taint of Drew Estates, I have just never liked their smokes. This smoke is very unassuming to look at, with a simple presentation in both band and cigar. The wrapper is a kind of flat visual experience that has the hue of uncured leather. There are some prominent veins, but I do not detect any construction issues that would give me concern. The pre light aroma is floral and sweet. The pre light draw is sharp with notes of cedar and an interesting floral bite that has some hints of pine.
The cigar opens with a profile that screams of cedar, there are some floral undertones that border on being bitter. At the back of the palate an interesting, tangy flavor comes forward and it has some citrus zest to it that threatens to mull the core profile. There is not much complexity or depth here, the flavors are a bit thin and bitter. The draw is nice, it has an appropriate firmness while still producing nice smoke. The burn is sharp, but the ash is flaky and dark.
The first half of the cigar develops little. The profile continues to be a presentation of cedary notes with bitter floral essences appearing in the background. At the back of the palate the early citrus impressions give way to a more vegetal tone with earthy textures. The draw tightens slightly and I begin looking for a plug in the smoke, but I do not find any. The burn continues to perform well, but the ash stays flaky.
The final half of the cigar shows some interesting transitions, but it all ends up being too little too late. The core profile shows some nutty flavors as the cedar tone fades into the distance. There is still some persistent bitterness. At the back of the palate some blasts of coffee come through and I wish they were more prominent in the overall mix. The draw is acceptable, but now a but tighter than I would like. The burn deteriorates in the final two inches, but I avoid a relight and fight my way through.
The finish has some bitterness, but shows nice notes of cedar and roasted nuts.
Appearance- 87 a very plain looking smoke
Taste- 86 an acceptable profile that needs more depth and complexity
Construction- 88 aside from small draw and burn issues this smoke performed well
Strength- 87 a very unremarkable medium
Overall- 87 a solid smoke that was slightly above average
The cigar opens with a profile that screams of cedar, there are some floral undertones that border on being bitter. At the back of the palate an interesting, tangy flavor comes forward and it has some citrus zest to it that threatens to mull the core profile. There is not much complexity or depth here, the flavors are a bit thin and bitter. The draw is nice, it has an appropriate firmness while still producing nice smoke. The burn is sharp, but the ash is flaky and dark.
The first half of the cigar develops little. The profile continues to be a presentation of cedary notes with bitter floral essences appearing in the background. At the back of the palate the early citrus impressions give way to a more vegetal tone with earthy textures. The draw tightens slightly and I begin looking for a plug in the smoke, but I do not find any. The burn continues to perform well, but the ash stays flaky.
The final half of the cigar shows some interesting transitions, but it all ends up being too little too late. The core profile shows some nutty flavors as the cedar tone fades into the distance. There is still some persistent bitterness. At the back of the palate some blasts of coffee come through and I wish they were more prominent in the overall mix. The draw is acceptable, but now a but tighter than I would like. The burn deteriorates in the final two inches, but I avoid a relight and fight my way through.
The finish has some bitterness, but shows nice notes of cedar and roasted nuts.
Appearance- 87 a very plain looking smoke
Taste- 86 an acceptable profile that needs more depth and complexity
Construction- 88 aside from small draw and burn issues this smoke performed well
Strength- 87 a very unremarkable medium
Overall- 87 a solid smoke that was slightly above average
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Corona Gorda
I have smoked and reviewed this cigar before, but after six months of humidor time I thought I would give it another pass, and I was not disappointed. The cigar has darkened perceptibly in the six months of hibernation and has taken on a reddish hue that I do not recall it having when I placed them gently in a tray some months back. There are prominent veins, but the cigar appears to be more robust and oily than on my last review. The construction appears to be acceptable and there are no areas of concern for me. The pre light aroma has nutty essences and compliments of dark wood and soft spice. The pre light draw tantalizes with some brushes of pepper, tobacco and dark fruit.
The cigar opens with an unexpected array of complexity. The profile shows notes of dark wood, tobacco, roasted nuts and dark fruit that take turns bouncing off various areas of the palate. The flavors are deep and resonant providing an early bonanza of taste experience. At the back of the palate there is a clean, earthy texture that emerges with some hints of spice and pepper. The draw is slightly above average, but I prefer it to be just a bit more open that what I am being shown here. The burn is sharp and the ash is a crisp, white cylinder.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress. I must digress for a moment about this size. The Corona Gorda is rapidly becoming my favorite vitola. Not quite a robusto, not quite a corona, it may be the perfect dimension for imparting depth of flavor and complexity without being too thin or overwhelming. Back to the smoke, the profile has settled into a very nice presentation of dark wood and lightly sweet essence of dark fruit. At the back of the palate there are waves of robust tobacco flavors and an underlying earthy tone that is quite pleasing against the rest of the profile. The draw continues to perform acceptably and the burn continues to be superior.
The final half of the cigar is a down the stretch thoroughbred. There are notes of tobacco, wood and roasted nut character set in a backdrop of spice that is very interesting and deep. At the back of the palate the earthy core starts to really show through and bursts of pepper keep it very engaging. The strength of the cigar is there, but it is not overwhelming. The draw maintains consistency and the burn stays strong all the way through.
The finish is a touch short, but shows some lingering pepper flavors.
Appearance- 86 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 94 a fabulous profile that is improving with humidor time
Construction- 91 the draw was a bit tight for me, but there were no major issues
Strength- 92 a very enjoyable full bodied smoke that compliments the profile in a virtuoso performance
Overall- 91.25 a very profound experience, and at a bundle price of about two bucks per smoke you should not miss this one
The cigar opens with an unexpected array of complexity. The profile shows notes of dark wood, tobacco, roasted nuts and dark fruit that take turns bouncing off various areas of the palate. The flavors are deep and resonant providing an early bonanza of taste experience. At the back of the palate there is a clean, earthy texture that emerges with some hints of spice and pepper. The draw is slightly above average, but I prefer it to be just a bit more open that what I am being shown here. The burn is sharp and the ash is a crisp, white cylinder.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress. I must digress for a moment about this size. The Corona Gorda is rapidly becoming my favorite vitola. Not quite a robusto, not quite a corona, it may be the perfect dimension for imparting depth of flavor and complexity without being too thin or overwhelming. Back to the smoke, the profile has settled into a very nice presentation of dark wood and lightly sweet essence of dark fruit. At the back of the palate there are waves of robust tobacco flavors and an underlying earthy tone that is quite pleasing against the rest of the profile. The draw continues to perform acceptably and the burn continues to be superior.
The final half of the cigar is a down the stretch thoroughbred. There are notes of tobacco, wood and roasted nut character set in a backdrop of spice that is very interesting and deep. At the back of the palate the earthy core starts to really show through and bursts of pepper keep it very engaging. The strength of the cigar is there, but it is not overwhelming. The draw maintains consistency and the burn stays strong all the way through.
The finish is a touch short, but shows some lingering pepper flavors.
Appearance- 86 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 94 a fabulous profile that is improving with humidor time
Construction- 91 the draw was a bit tight for me, but there were no major issues
Strength- 92 a very enjoyable full bodied smoke that compliments the profile in a virtuoso performance
Overall- 91.25 a very profound experience, and at a bundle price of about two bucks per smoke you should not miss this one
Cusano 10 Robusto
I am not a fan of Cusano offerings and I am certain that amongst my fellow brothers of the leaf there are also very few admirers of the brand. This particular cigar was the 10th Anniversary blend, and I had not smoked it before. The cigar itself has a plain looking wrapper and band, and it lacks the flash that I expect from an anniversary offering. The construction appears to be acceptable, but I have some concerns that it may draw loosely. The pre light aroma is grassy and herbal. The pre light draw has notes of dry grass and vegetation.
The cigar opens with overwhelming notes of dry grass and strange herbal notes. I always detect this profile in Cusano offerings and I find it to be very unappealing. At the back of the palate there are some light earthy notes, but there is some bitterness that is creeping in as well. The draw is loose and I am concerned about some heat developing later in the smoke. The burn is even, but the ash is flaky and dark.
The first half of the cigar continues to show grassy and herbal flavors, but there is no development of either flavor into something that would be enjoyable. The depth and complexity are just not there for me. At the back of the palate some notes of almond surface and in the background there are some earthy flavors, but they have undertones of vegetation and some bitterness. The draw remains loose, but there is not yet any heat permeating the experience. The burn stays solid, but the ash continues to be flaky and dark.
The final half of the smoke takes on some different characteristics, but they are not good. The profile becomes acrid and shows some metallic qualities, this deterioration makes a below average cigar poor. At the back of the palate there continues to be some earthy flavors, but they still are dry and vegetal. The draw imparts some heat in the last third, but it does not effect my evaluation. The burn was consistent throughout.
The finish was short and bitter with notes of dry grass and a metallic aftertaste.
Appearance- 87 slight above average looking
Taste- 73 a very poor profile
Construction- 85 average at best with a draw that was too loose
Strength- 85 a very unremarkable medium
Overall- 81.25 a very underwhelming smoke
The cigar opens with overwhelming notes of dry grass and strange herbal notes. I always detect this profile in Cusano offerings and I find it to be very unappealing. At the back of the palate there are some light earthy notes, but there is some bitterness that is creeping in as well. The draw is loose and I am concerned about some heat developing later in the smoke. The burn is even, but the ash is flaky and dark.
The first half of the cigar continues to show grassy and herbal flavors, but there is no development of either flavor into something that would be enjoyable. The depth and complexity are just not there for me. At the back of the palate some notes of almond surface and in the background there are some earthy flavors, but they have undertones of vegetation and some bitterness. The draw remains loose, but there is not yet any heat permeating the experience. The burn stays solid, but the ash continues to be flaky and dark.
The final half of the smoke takes on some different characteristics, but they are not good. The profile becomes acrid and shows some metallic qualities, this deterioration makes a below average cigar poor. At the back of the palate there continues to be some earthy flavors, but they still are dry and vegetal. The draw imparts some heat in the last third, but it does not effect my evaluation. The burn was consistent throughout.
The finish was short and bitter with notes of dry grass and a metallic aftertaste.
Appearance- 87 slight above average looking
Taste- 73 a very poor profile
Construction- 85 average at best with a draw that was too loose
Strength- 85 a very unremarkable medium
Overall- 81.25 a very underwhelming smoke
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Don Pepin Garcia My Father Robusto
This is a cigar that I have reviewed before and that has scored well with me in the past. I have had this particular smoke in my humidor for over a year and it has visibly changed in that time losing some of the rich brown color that it once had, and is fading in hue to a more medium brown presentation. The construction appears to be excellent as I detect no issues in the cigar when I inspect it. The pre light aroma is of a fragrant nutty quality and there are some hints of spice. The pre light draw shows some notes of light coffee and there are some interesting notes of wood present as well.
The cigar opens with a core profile of spice and light wood notes that lace across the palate in a way that is unexpected, there is almost a cat and mouse quality to the work that is required to isolate the notes of wood that are present. At the back of the palate there are some notes of pepper and light coffee that are out of place against the core profile. The depth is not what I would like and the complexity could be there, but the flavors are not mingling well. The draw is a little tight, but I am not laboring to this point. The burn is strong and produces a nice ash.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of spice, there are still some fleeting hints of light wood but they are more and more difficult to identify. At the back of the palate some spates of pepper still present, but there are more coffee notes than anything else. I am shocked by how this cigar has mellowed with some humidor aging and I wish I had not lain it down for so long. The draw is still passable, but tighter than I would like. The burn continues to perform well and is not showing any sign of slowing down.
The final half of the smoke progresses some, but not in any way that I would identify as being anything but average. There are some notes of spice and wood continuing in the foreground of the profile, but they are joined by a strange dark chocolate note that is unexpected and, thankfully, fleeting as I believe that flavor would have become cloying. At the back of the palate an earthy presentation has taken over and there are no other discernible flavors in the mix. The draw stays tight, and the burn continues to perform well.
The finish was nice and smooth and showed some lingering flavors of wood.
Appearance- 88 a nice smoke, but not as flashy after some aging
Taste- 88 some complexity and depth issues, but it was above average
Construction- 87 some tightness in the draw, but other than that no issues
Strength- 89 aging significantly mellows the smoke, but not to it's detriment
Overall- 87.75 an above average experience, but not as good as my last review
The cigar opens with a core profile of spice and light wood notes that lace across the palate in a way that is unexpected, there is almost a cat and mouse quality to the work that is required to isolate the notes of wood that are present. At the back of the palate there are some notes of pepper and light coffee that are out of place against the core profile. The depth is not what I would like and the complexity could be there, but the flavors are not mingling well. The draw is a little tight, but I am not laboring to this point. The burn is strong and produces a nice ash.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a core profile of spice, there are still some fleeting hints of light wood but they are more and more difficult to identify. At the back of the palate some spates of pepper still present, but there are more coffee notes than anything else. I am shocked by how this cigar has mellowed with some humidor aging and I wish I had not lain it down for so long. The draw is still passable, but tighter than I would like. The burn continues to perform well and is not showing any sign of slowing down.
The final half of the smoke progresses some, but not in any way that I would identify as being anything but average. There are some notes of spice and wood continuing in the foreground of the profile, but they are joined by a strange dark chocolate note that is unexpected and, thankfully, fleeting as I believe that flavor would have become cloying. At the back of the palate an earthy presentation has taken over and there are no other discernible flavors in the mix. The draw stays tight, and the burn continues to perform well.
The finish was nice and smooth and showed some lingering flavors of wood.
Appearance- 88 a nice smoke, but not as flashy after some aging
Taste- 88 some complexity and depth issues, but it was above average
Construction- 87 some tightness in the draw, but other than that no issues
Strength- 89 aging significantly mellows the smoke, but not to it's detriment
Overall- 87.75 an above average experience, but not as good as my last review
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)