This is an old classic and I figured it was a worth a re-visit after several years. This is a box pressed vitola and I can't recall if that was the case several years ago when I was smoking this on a regular basis. I am not a fan of box pressed smokes and I find that they often burn poorly. This particular cigar presents with a very oily wrapper that shows few veins. An examination leads me to believe that it will perform well. The pre light aroma is a touch sour but has some nice notes of spice and light chocolate. The pre light draw shows some dark fruit sweetness.
The cigar opens with a nice medium profile that contains notes of cocoa, light pepper and some nice earthy tones. At the back of the palate there are some shots of milk chocolate and some interesting flavors of black cherry and other dark fruit. The burn is excellent and produces a light gray ash that is a bit flaky. The draw is exceptional for me, requiring just the right amount of pull to produce ample smoke.
The first half of the smoke continues to show some development. The core profile consists of nice earthy flavors, with blasts of pepper and some wisps of cocoa. At the back of the palate there are distinct notes of dark wood and dark fruit. The balance is excellent, but the depth of flavor is somewhat lacking for me and it comes off as a bit thin. The burn has gone awry slightly, but I don't think it will cause any issues. The draw continues to be nearly perfect for me.
The final half of the smoke deteriorates slightly, but still is above average. The profile thins out, but shows some notes of earth and dark fruit. At the back of the palate there are some notes that become muddled, but dark wood is still prominent. The burn evens out and the draw remains superior.
The finish is middling, but shows lingering dark wood flavors. At less than $5 per smoke this is a must for any enthusiast, particularly those on a budget.
Appearance- 88 a nice smoke, but I detract for box pressing
Taste- 88 an above average profile, but there needs to be more depth and complexity
Construction- 92 some deductions for burn, but the draw was splendid
Strength- 89 a very satisfying medium
Overall- 89.5 a very good smoke and a candidate for best under $5
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