I will preface this review by reiterating something I will yell from the rooftops to any BOTL within earshot. I love Lanceros! I just don't understand why this size does not get more market attention. I know that big ring is the thing, but these delicate masterpieces deliver more flavor and depth than any big ring gauge could ever dream of. The reason? The wrapper my friends. In smaller ring cigars the wrapper is more prominent, and thus you get more wrapper flavor. In all cigars the wrapper is the premium leaf and I don't understand why you would pass the chance to savor the premium tobacco in a smoke by gumming it up with 50+ rings of filler and binder. The silver lining to my dark cloud of disappointment is that I can always find Lanceros because no one smokes them....so I guess you should pay no attention to what I have said above. I don't want a run on Lanceros that creates a void for me. These aren't the droids you are looking for....
Anyway, Jedi mind tricks aside, this cigar presents beautifully. The cigar is majestic and the wrapper is leathery and oily with very few veins. An inspection reveals nary an issue and I am becoming enticed by this smoke. The pre light aroma is of cinnamon and leather. The pre light draw shows some nutty sweetness.
The cigar opens with a profile that is surprisingly complex for so early in a smoke. There are some hints of cinnamon, leather and nuts in the front of the profile and I am immediately on notice. At the back of the palate there is a satisfying melange of light earth, wood and spice. The draw is excellent and my one complaint about small ring cigars is usually draw. The burn is also on the money at this point. I settle in for the rest of the experience and revel in the early complexity that was so unexpected.
The first half of the cigar continues to develop and shows layers of depth and complexity that continues to catch me off guard. The core profile shows excellent flavors of cinnamon, leather and has a sweet nutty complexity that ties it all together. At the back of the palate some of the tones have thinned, but there are still some nice layers of earth and wood. The draw continues to perform well and the burn is sharp with a solid ash.
The final half of the cigar shows some small losses in depth and complexity, but still rates well. The main profile weakens into a showing of leather and nuts, but the layers of depth just aren't here anymore. At the back of the palate there are still some nice notes of earth and wood, but again that prior layers of depth have disappeared, there is also the introduction of a white pepper here that seems disjointed from the rest of the experience. The draw and burn remain excellent throughout.
The finish has a nutty quality, but shows some interesting notes of pepper as well. I would recommend this to all enthusiasts. Get ready to pay the $10+ price though.
Appearance- 92 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 91 some deterioration in the back of the smoke hurt the overall impression
Construction- 97 a nearly flawless performance here
Strength- 93 a very excellent medium
Overall- 93.5 an excellent experience
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Casa Fernandez Robusto (4.5x52)
I have barely had time to smoke, much less write reviews of late, so I have been smoking the old standbys. Alas, yesterday arrived and gave me the opportunity to hit one of my favorite Tampa B & M's and smoke some stuff that is off the beaten path.
I chose this little smoke from Casa Fernandez to kick off the day. There has been alot of buzz amongst BOTL's about this company in recent months, so I decided it was time to give one a whirl.
The cigar presents in a small, fat package that has a wrapper that seems a bit mottled to me and maybe a touch dry. There is a whimsical pigtail finish to the cigar and I am always amused by this little flourish in a cigar, of course it is becoming more and more common and is thus proving what I have always thought....cigar makers are sheep and it is world of monkey see, monkey do. Not that I mind per se, but the gimmicky thing is getting a touch old. Pigtail caps, Dos Capas, Extra and Super Fuertes, big ring gauges etc...it is all getting a bit tired. I digress, this smoke, aside from the wrapper and pigtail cap looks interesting in a small package. The pre light aroma is dusty and has some hints of wood. The pre light draw shows some light spice and some hints of wheat.
The cigar opens with a very interesting profile that is toasty and wheaty. There are some thin hints of some light wood in the smoke here as well, but the toasty notes are the primary essence. At the back of the palate there is a light dusting of pepper and wood flavors that complement the front of the smoke in an interesting way. The draw is a little tighter than I usually like, but it is not causing me issues. The burn is excellent.
The first half of the cigar is one of the most toasty cigar experiences that I have ever encountered. There are also some notes of wheat and bready flavor. My only complaint here is that the smoke is too dry to this point and it is making my throat a bit raspy feeling. At the back of the palate there are still some nice hints of spice and wood, but there is a sour note that is creeping into the profile here and it causes me some concerns. The complexity and depth of this cigar are very average and I wish it was giving me more. The draw opens up slightly and the burn maintains quality.
The final half of the cigar is a disaster. The profile becomes wallowing and shows sour presentations of wood and tobacco. There are some tastes of dirt and vegetation in the final third as well. I don't know what happened, but at just past the halfway point this cigar started to circle the bowl. At the back of the palate there are still some fleeting glimpses of wood, but the sour presentations have taken over. The burn and draw perform well throughout.
The finish was wretched and left oily, sour notes for many minutes.
Appearance- 88 an above average cigar looks wise
Taste- 78 unfortunately the final half was putrid
Construction- 89 some points off for tightness early
Strength- 87 a nice medium
Overall- 84.75 below average
I chose this little smoke from Casa Fernandez to kick off the day. There has been alot of buzz amongst BOTL's about this company in recent months, so I decided it was time to give one a whirl.
The cigar presents in a small, fat package that has a wrapper that seems a bit mottled to me and maybe a touch dry. There is a whimsical pigtail finish to the cigar and I am always amused by this little flourish in a cigar, of course it is becoming more and more common and is thus proving what I have always thought....cigar makers are sheep and it is world of monkey see, monkey do. Not that I mind per se, but the gimmicky thing is getting a touch old. Pigtail caps, Dos Capas, Extra and Super Fuertes, big ring gauges etc...it is all getting a bit tired. I digress, this smoke, aside from the wrapper and pigtail cap looks interesting in a small package. The pre light aroma is dusty and has some hints of wood. The pre light draw shows some light spice and some hints of wheat.
The cigar opens with a very interesting profile that is toasty and wheaty. There are some thin hints of some light wood in the smoke here as well, but the toasty notes are the primary essence. At the back of the palate there is a light dusting of pepper and wood flavors that complement the front of the smoke in an interesting way. The draw is a little tighter than I usually like, but it is not causing me issues. The burn is excellent.
The first half of the cigar is one of the most toasty cigar experiences that I have ever encountered. There are also some notes of wheat and bready flavor. My only complaint here is that the smoke is too dry to this point and it is making my throat a bit raspy feeling. At the back of the palate there are still some nice hints of spice and wood, but there is a sour note that is creeping into the profile here and it causes me some concerns. The complexity and depth of this cigar are very average and I wish it was giving me more. The draw opens up slightly and the burn maintains quality.
The final half of the cigar is a disaster. The profile becomes wallowing and shows sour presentations of wood and tobacco. There are some tastes of dirt and vegetation in the final third as well. I don't know what happened, but at just past the halfway point this cigar started to circle the bowl. At the back of the palate there are still some fleeting glimpses of wood, but the sour presentations have taken over. The burn and draw perform well throughout.
The finish was wretched and left oily, sour notes for many minutes.
Appearance- 88 an above average cigar looks wise
Taste- 78 unfortunately the final half was putrid
Construction- 89 some points off for tightness early
Strength- 87 a nice medium
Overall- 84.75 below average
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Arturo Fuente 858 Sungrown (6x47)
First off I would like everyone to know just how rare the Sungrown version of this cigar is. Until I got my hands on this one I had not seen one in nearly a decade. I was like a giddy child in the toy store when a BOTL gave me this one. I wanted to save it for a special occasion, but said the hell with it. A special cigar makes any occasion special, so one night I busted it out and smoked it on my lanai with me, myself and I.
A little back story first. Every cigar smoker has an evolution of sorts during their smoking careers. I have been smoking for nearly twenty years now and I have had several. This sungrown blend from Arturo Fuente in all of its vitolas was one of my evolutions. It was about 12 years ago, in the horrid post boom period, when I decided I needed to step up the flavor and intensity of what I was smoking. Through the boom I was a Fuente and Padron loyalist, but when the boom ended and cigars became plentiful I really spread my wings. One of the areas that I took flight in was seeing what Fuente had to offer other than the standard boom available smokes. I found the Fuente Sungrown lines and a lifelong match was made. I have moved on to stronger blends, as anyone that reads my reviews knows, but I still come back to the Fuente Sungrowns every now and again for some whispers of nostalgia.
This rare cigar presents with the usual 858 ruddiness, these will never win a looks contests, but looks don't matter when you know what you are getting. There are some prominent veins and the wrapper has miles and miles of toothy texture. An inspection reveals one area that may have a void and I am nervous about it. The pre light aroma has the usual Sungrown earth and spice notes with maybe a bit of dark fruit. The pre light draw shows some leather and wood flavors that remind me of bygone days.
The cigar opens with the true Fuente Sungrown profile. Plenty of pepper and leather meet the palate right away, I savor every bit of this opening gambit and remember what it is to smoke these creations. At the back of the palate there are some beautiful notes of dark wood and rich tobacco that off set the front of the profile in a way that only Fuente can. The cigar is not particularly complex, nor the flavors particularly deep but it is exactly as I remember. The draw is a bit too loose for me, but Fuente are almost always too loose for me. The burn is right on the money and a nice white ash is forming.
The first half continues to walk me down memory lane and I wistfully remember a simpler cigar time when you could smoke just about anywhere you wanted to, I briefly lament the changes that political correctness run amok has wrought. The profile continues to show some pepper, but the more prominent flavors of leather and wood are showing through. At the back of the palate there continues to be a show of nice tobacco flavor. The draw and burn remain the same.
The final half of the cigar maintains the same hallmarks. Fuente cigars really are a model of consistency for me. I have always found that the profile changes are few and instead some thought and concentration has been put into making the cigar solid from start to finish without a lot of ballyhoo. The profile continues to show leather and wood notes with some brushes of pepper for good measure. The tobacco flavors at the back of the palate continue to show solidly. The burn and draw are also consistent throughout.
The finish is smooth and continues to tease the palate with wood and pepper flavors.
Appearance- 86 never a really good looking vitola
Taste- 90 a very solid performance
Construction- 90 again very solid, the draw was too loose for me though
Strength- 92 a very solid medium that complements the profile in an extraordinary way
Overall- 89.75 a very good experience
A little back story first. Every cigar smoker has an evolution of sorts during their smoking careers. I have been smoking for nearly twenty years now and I have had several. This sungrown blend from Arturo Fuente in all of its vitolas was one of my evolutions. It was about 12 years ago, in the horrid post boom period, when I decided I needed to step up the flavor and intensity of what I was smoking. Through the boom I was a Fuente and Padron loyalist, but when the boom ended and cigars became plentiful I really spread my wings. One of the areas that I took flight in was seeing what Fuente had to offer other than the standard boom available smokes. I found the Fuente Sungrown lines and a lifelong match was made. I have moved on to stronger blends, as anyone that reads my reviews knows, but I still come back to the Fuente Sungrowns every now and again for some whispers of nostalgia.
This rare cigar presents with the usual 858 ruddiness, these will never win a looks contests, but looks don't matter when you know what you are getting. There are some prominent veins and the wrapper has miles and miles of toothy texture. An inspection reveals one area that may have a void and I am nervous about it. The pre light aroma has the usual Sungrown earth and spice notes with maybe a bit of dark fruit. The pre light draw shows some leather and wood flavors that remind me of bygone days.
The cigar opens with the true Fuente Sungrown profile. Plenty of pepper and leather meet the palate right away, I savor every bit of this opening gambit and remember what it is to smoke these creations. At the back of the palate there are some beautiful notes of dark wood and rich tobacco that off set the front of the profile in a way that only Fuente can. The cigar is not particularly complex, nor the flavors particularly deep but it is exactly as I remember. The draw is a bit too loose for me, but Fuente are almost always too loose for me. The burn is right on the money and a nice white ash is forming.
The first half continues to walk me down memory lane and I wistfully remember a simpler cigar time when you could smoke just about anywhere you wanted to, I briefly lament the changes that political correctness run amok has wrought. The profile continues to show some pepper, but the more prominent flavors of leather and wood are showing through. At the back of the palate there continues to be a show of nice tobacco flavor. The draw and burn remain the same.
The final half of the cigar maintains the same hallmarks. Fuente cigars really are a model of consistency for me. I have always found that the profile changes are few and instead some thought and concentration has been put into making the cigar solid from start to finish without a lot of ballyhoo. The profile continues to show leather and wood notes with some brushes of pepper for good measure. The tobacco flavors at the back of the palate continue to show solidly. The burn and draw are also consistent throughout.
The finish is smooth and continues to tease the palate with wood and pepper flavors.
Appearance- 86 never a really good looking vitola
Taste- 90 a very solid performance
Construction- 90 again very solid, the draw was too loose for me though
Strength- 92 a very solid medium that complements the profile in an extraordinary way
Overall- 89.75 a very good experience
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Litto Gomez Diez Americano (5.75x46)
I had always wanted to smoke one of these, but I had never gotten around to it for some reason, life sometimes gets in the way or, more aptly, Pepin products get in the way. Recently I hosted a little BBQ/Poker night at my crib and as always the BOTL's come through. There is always some horsetrading going on and one of my Brothers gave me this little smoke. I, of course, rethought my lineup forthwith and gave this a smoke.
The cigar is in one of my favorite sizes, there is something about a Corona Gorda that just seems right, like holding your favorite golf club when it just seems like the right stick for the shot. This cigar had a beautiful medium brown wrapper with a slightly reddish hue and very little veining of any note. A quick roll through the fingertips reveals no issues and I eagerly continue my ritual. The pre light aroma is heady with some spice and leather tones that are interesting. The pre light draw is full of light wood flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is unexpected from an LFD offering. There are subtle notes of leather and wood over a base of light clove like spice. LFD's are usually a bully up front and sound the alarm bells of the palate, this cigar quietly lulls the palate into believing that this mild presentation will continue. My palate is of course a fool, as I later find out. At the back of the palate there is an enticingly mellow presentation of light tobacco and a sweetness that has a dusty texture. The draw is a bit tight for me, but it is not causing any smoking issues. The burn is sharp and produces a nice, solid medium gray ash.
The first half of the cigar continues to carry me through the opening rounds like the champion fighter that wants to get some work in. The profile maintains an excellent array of leather and some intensifying wood flavors. The underlay of spice has mellowed and presents well throughout the first half of the smoke. At the back of the palate the tobacco notes strengthen and become a more robust tobacco flavor. The draw continues to perform in an average fashion for me. The burn stays strong through the first half.
The second half of the cigar becomes a crescendo of bold flavors. Much like the aforementioned champion fighter, this smoke is coming on in the late rounds trying to impress the judges for some late scoring with a flurry of intensity. Like many opponents at this point in a fight I only have a punchers chance, or in this case a smokers chance. The core profile begins to hammer away at the palate with some intense notes of pepper and spice, there are still some undertones of wood here as well. At the back of the palate the tobacco flavors are nearly too intense and verge on being chary in character. The draw continues to be somewhat tight for me, but it performs acceptably. The burn was excellent throughout.
The finish was intense and showed leather, wood and pepper notes for many minutes after the last draw. This cigar is quite the experience!
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar that has an unassuming charm
Taste- 94 complexity and depth with balance aplenty
Construction- 87 some points off for the tight draw
Strength- 92 a very subtle beginning and an in your face ending
Overall- 90.75 an excellent smoke that was hurt by draw problems, but I would recommend it
The cigar is in one of my favorite sizes, there is something about a Corona Gorda that just seems right, like holding your favorite golf club when it just seems like the right stick for the shot. This cigar had a beautiful medium brown wrapper with a slightly reddish hue and very little veining of any note. A quick roll through the fingertips reveals no issues and I eagerly continue my ritual. The pre light aroma is heady with some spice and leather tones that are interesting. The pre light draw is full of light wood flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is unexpected from an LFD offering. There are subtle notes of leather and wood over a base of light clove like spice. LFD's are usually a bully up front and sound the alarm bells of the palate, this cigar quietly lulls the palate into believing that this mild presentation will continue. My palate is of course a fool, as I later find out. At the back of the palate there is an enticingly mellow presentation of light tobacco and a sweetness that has a dusty texture. The draw is a bit tight for me, but it is not causing any smoking issues. The burn is sharp and produces a nice, solid medium gray ash.
The first half of the cigar continues to carry me through the opening rounds like the champion fighter that wants to get some work in. The profile maintains an excellent array of leather and some intensifying wood flavors. The underlay of spice has mellowed and presents well throughout the first half of the smoke. At the back of the palate the tobacco notes strengthen and become a more robust tobacco flavor. The draw continues to perform in an average fashion for me. The burn stays strong through the first half.
The second half of the cigar becomes a crescendo of bold flavors. Much like the aforementioned champion fighter, this smoke is coming on in the late rounds trying to impress the judges for some late scoring with a flurry of intensity. Like many opponents at this point in a fight I only have a punchers chance, or in this case a smokers chance. The core profile begins to hammer away at the palate with some intense notes of pepper and spice, there are still some undertones of wood here as well. At the back of the palate the tobacco flavors are nearly too intense and verge on being chary in character. The draw continues to be somewhat tight for me, but it performs acceptably. The burn was excellent throughout.
The finish was intense and showed leather, wood and pepper notes for many minutes after the last draw. This cigar is quite the experience!
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar that has an unassuming charm
Taste- 94 complexity and depth with balance aplenty
Construction- 87 some points off for the tight draw
Strength- 92 a very subtle beginning and an in your face ending
Overall- 90.75 an excellent smoke that was hurt by draw problems, but I would recommend it
Saturday, October 2, 2010
La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Robusto (5x50)
Recently my local B&M had a release party for this blend from Ashton, unfortunately I had a prior engagement and could not attend. The very next day, after hearing from several people that they enjoyed the evening and the cigar, I decided to grab one and give it a whirl.
The cigar presents well with regal looking band work and nice, dark wrapper that appears to have plenty of oils. There are some prominent veins and I am concerned what that may mean later in the smoke. An inspection reveals no areas of concern and I am ready to move forth into uncharted cigar territory. The pre light aroma is interesting, a combination of dark fruit and something I would liken to the deep forest, earthy with maybe a hint of pine. The pre light draw was actually a little flat, but I find wisps of earth there.
The cigar opens with a core profile that is a little less than what I would expect from this front mark, typically the Pepin made La Aroma's let you know they are there with a little slap out of the gate. This cigar does not exhibit that slap, instead there are some nice hints of pepper, wood and earth in the opening moments. At the back of the palate there are some nice soft spices and some nutty flavors that are balanced and even. The draw is a dream, Pepin has done it again, his cigars almost always draw exactly the way I like. The burn is off from the start, but I am loathe to re-light at this point.
The first half of the cigar regresses from the opening moments for me. The core profile thins out to a more mundane presentation of pepper and earth and has left the woody notes behind. At the back of the palate there are some impressions of spice still present, but there is a slight bitterness here that is off putting. The draw continues to perform exceptionally well, but the burn is still wonky though not in need of touch up yet.
The final half of the cigar shows some progress, but is still not showing enough depth or complexity like in the opening salvo. The core profile shows some light cocoa and coffee character with the backdrop of pepper and earth still showing through. At the back of the palate there are some dark wood notes, but some bitterness persists here. The draw is still excellent and the burn never evens and causes some flaky ash conditions, but I do not have to re-light at any point.
The finish was a bit short for me and showed some earth and pepper. I think this cigar has definite potential and I will age some for future tastings.
Appearance- 88 nice band work, but prominent veins hurt the visual
Taste- 87 just not enough depth or complexity and the first half was flat
Construction- 88 points removed for a wonky burn
Strength- 86 a not particularly remarkable medium/full, I expected more
Overall- 87.25 above average, but not spectacular
The cigar presents well with regal looking band work and nice, dark wrapper that appears to have plenty of oils. There are some prominent veins and I am concerned what that may mean later in the smoke. An inspection reveals no areas of concern and I am ready to move forth into uncharted cigar territory. The pre light aroma is interesting, a combination of dark fruit and something I would liken to the deep forest, earthy with maybe a hint of pine. The pre light draw was actually a little flat, but I find wisps of earth there.
The cigar opens with a core profile that is a little less than what I would expect from this front mark, typically the Pepin made La Aroma's let you know they are there with a little slap out of the gate. This cigar does not exhibit that slap, instead there are some nice hints of pepper, wood and earth in the opening moments. At the back of the palate there are some nice soft spices and some nutty flavors that are balanced and even. The draw is a dream, Pepin has done it again, his cigars almost always draw exactly the way I like. The burn is off from the start, but I am loathe to re-light at this point.
The first half of the cigar regresses from the opening moments for me. The core profile thins out to a more mundane presentation of pepper and earth and has left the woody notes behind. At the back of the palate there are some impressions of spice still present, but there is a slight bitterness here that is off putting. The draw continues to perform exceptionally well, but the burn is still wonky though not in need of touch up yet.
The final half of the cigar shows some progress, but is still not showing enough depth or complexity like in the opening salvo. The core profile shows some light cocoa and coffee character with the backdrop of pepper and earth still showing through. At the back of the palate there are some dark wood notes, but some bitterness persists here. The draw is still excellent and the burn never evens and causes some flaky ash conditions, but I do not have to re-light at any point.
The finish was a bit short for me and showed some earth and pepper. I think this cigar has definite potential and I will age some for future tastings.
Appearance- 88 nice band work, but prominent veins hurt the visual
Taste- 87 just not enough depth or complexity and the first half was flat
Construction- 88 points removed for a wonky burn
Strength- 86 a not particularly remarkable medium/full, I expected more
Overall- 87.25 above average, but not spectacular
Friday, October 1, 2010
CAO La Traviata Radiante Maduro (6x52)
There was much anticipation amongst BOTL's about this cigar and I have been hearing about it for some time now. After smoking it I can tell you that the anticipation should not be excited expectancy like Christmas Morning, but more like nervous, gut churning anticipation prior to having a root canal at the dentist.
The cigar appears, benignly enough, with a rich looking maduro wrapper that has satisfying oils and some prominent veining (that has me a bit concerned about burn performance). There is some significant tooth to this cigar and the cigar pre lighting ritual is going well for me at this point. An inspection shows me that the cigar is neither too loose or too tight and I anticipate that I will not have any issues with the performance of the draw. The pre light aroma shows some dark chocolate notes and an essence of dark fruit that has some citrus zest. The pre light draw has some thready notes of pepper and earth, but I am immediately on notice because I taste a fuel like presence in the draw.
The cigar opens with exactly what I feared. The core profile shows acrid notes of burning fuel, similar to how kerosene smells when it burns and leaves that taste in your mouth from the oily smoke. I am very put off early on and I am struggling with the idea of putting this down (you should note that at this point two fellow BOTL's were also smoking this blend and one had already put it down and the other was leaning that way), because I almost never put a cigar down in the early moments. At the back of the palate there are some thin presentations of earth, but the fuel taste has fouled the entire early experience. The draw is fair, but is a bit tight for me, this could be a blessing as I can control the amount of putrescence that enters my mouth and thus infects my palate. The burn is controlled and even at this point.
The first half continues with horrible intentions in an uninterrupted fashion. The core profile continues to show notes of burning fuel and it is beginning to scorch my throat a bit, not an experience that any smoker looks for. At the back of the palate I am struggling to find fleeting hints of earth and wood, but again the fuel taste permeates the entire smoke. The draw continues to be fair and the burn is performing well, which is really the only redeeming quality of the smoke at this point.
The final half of the cigar does not improve either and the only reason I have not put it down, as my two friends already have, is because I am just an optimist hoping to find something positive in this experience. Alas, it is not to be. The core profile continues to be scorched and fuel like and there are no redeeming parts of the smoke at this point. The draw and burn remain the same. I release it with nearly a third of the cigar left.
The only saving grace is that I was at a nice dinner with great company or this cigar would have befouled my entire day. Don't waste your time and money, you would be better off in a sweat tent with 1000 citronella candles.
Appearance- 90 a great looking smoke
Taste- 70 my lowest score possible as I found almost no value in the smoke
Construction- 87 above average but not great
Strength- 70 very difficult to judge due to the burning fuel character of the profile
Overall- 79 a very poor cigar and I would rate this as a must miss
The cigar appears, benignly enough, with a rich looking maduro wrapper that has satisfying oils and some prominent veining (that has me a bit concerned about burn performance). There is some significant tooth to this cigar and the cigar pre lighting ritual is going well for me at this point. An inspection shows me that the cigar is neither too loose or too tight and I anticipate that I will not have any issues with the performance of the draw. The pre light aroma shows some dark chocolate notes and an essence of dark fruit that has some citrus zest. The pre light draw has some thready notes of pepper and earth, but I am immediately on notice because I taste a fuel like presence in the draw.
The cigar opens with exactly what I feared. The core profile shows acrid notes of burning fuel, similar to how kerosene smells when it burns and leaves that taste in your mouth from the oily smoke. I am very put off early on and I am struggling with the idea of putting this down (you should note that at this point two fellow BOTL's were also smoking this blend and one had already put it down and the other was leaning that way), because I almost never put a cigar down in the early moments. At the back of the palate there are some thin presentations of earth, but the fuel taste has fouled the entire early experience. The draw is fair, but is a bit tight for me, this could be a blessing as I can control the amount of putrescence that enters my mouth and thus infects my palate. The burn is controlled and even at this point.
The first half continues with horrible intentions in an uninterrupted fashion. The core profile continues to show notes of burning fuel and it is beginning to scorch my throat a bit, not an experience that any smoker looks for. At the back of the palate I am struggling to find fleeting hints of earth and wood, but again the fuel taste permeates the entire smoke. The draw continues to be fair and the burn is performing well, which is really the only redeeming quality of the smoke at this point.
The final half of the cigar does not improve either and the only reason I have not put it down, as my two friends already have, is because I am just an optimist hoping to find something positive in this experience. Alas, it is not to be. The core profile continues to be scorched and fuel like and there are no redeeming parts of the smoke at this point. The draw and burn remain the same. I release it with nearly a third of the cigar left.
The only saving grace is that I was at a nice dinner with great company or this cigar would have befouled my entire day. Don't waste your time and money, you would be better off in a sweat tent with 1000 citronella candles.
Appearance- 90 a great looking smoke
Taste- 70 my lowest score possible as I found almost no value in the smoke
Construction- 87 above average but not great
Strength- 70 very difficult to judge due to the burning fuel character of the profile
Overall- 79 a very poor cigar and I would rate this as a must miss
Carlos Torano Tribute Robusto (5x50)
This robusto seems small to me, but I measure and find it to be correct, however the 50 ring gauge might be a bit generous as I found it to be closer to a 48. Anyway, size parameters aside, the cigar appears to be well made and the construction passes the tests I perform. The wrapper is a deep, dark, black coffee colored beauty that is full of oils and has very few veins. The pre light aroma has heavy earth tones and some hints of strong coffee. The pre light draw shows some chocolate character.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all coffee; deep, rich, black coffee that might be a little over brewed. The strength of the smoke is a surprise as Torano offerings usually show more nuance up front. At the back of the palate there are some very hearty earth presentations and shafts of dark wood bolt through the experience here as well. The draw is above average, but still a bit loose for me and I worry about heat later in the smoke. The burn is on point and the ash is bright white.
The first half of the cigar shows very little development and the complexity and depth are lacking. What is here is a straightforward presentation of coffee and light chocolate notes that are interesting, but not particularly rewarding or deep. The strength mellows out, but I would still characterize this as medium/full. At the back of the palate there are still heavy earth notes, but the dark wood flavors have disappeared detracting from the balance of the smoke. The draw is still performing well, but is still to loose for me. The burn has continued to perform well and is spot on.
The final half of the cigar leaves me disappointed, not in the smoke, but in the fact that I thought it could have been so much more. The core profile shows more chocolate and the balance with the coffee notes is excellent, but the depth and complexity just aren't here. At the back of the palate I detect some fleeting notes of black pepper, but the main flavor continues to be an earthy presentation that is pleasing, but lacking in character. The draw and burn stay consistent throughout.
The finish is smooth and shows some fine notes of coffee and chocolate.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar with a wrapper that makes the mouth water
Taste- 88 lacking in depth and complexity, but what was there was good
Construction- 89 the draw was a bit loose for me, but it did not affect the smoke in a negative way
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full experience that I thought could use more power in the back end
Overall- 88.75 an above average experience and nothing to be ashamed of smoking
The cigar opens with a profile that is all coffee; deep, rich, black coffee that might be a little over brewed. The strength of the smoke is a surprise as Torano offerings usually show more nuance up front. At the back of the palate there are some very hearty earth presentations and shafts of dark wood bolt through the experience here as well. The draw is above average, but still a bit loose for me and I worry about heat later in the smoke. The burn is on point and the ash is bright white.
The first half of the cigar shows very little development and the complexity and depth are lacking. What is here is a straightforward presentation of coffee and light chocolate notes that are interesting, but not particularly rewarding or deep. The strength mellows out, but I would still characterize this as medium/full. At the back of the palate there are still heavy earth notes, but the dark wood flavors have disappeared detracting from the balance of the smoke. The draw is still performing well, but is still to loose for me. The burn has continued to perform well and is spot on.
The final half of the cigar leaves me disappointed, not in the smoke, but in the fact that I thought it could have been so much more. The core profile shows more chocolate and the balance with the coffee notes is excellent, but the depth and complexity just aren't here. At the back of the palate I detect some fleeting notes of black pepper, but the main flavor continues to be an earthy presentation that is pleasing, but lacking in character. The draw and burn stay consistent throughout.
The finish is smooth and shows some fine notes of coffee and chocolate.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar with a wrapper that makes the mouth water
Taste- 88 lacking in depth and complexity, but what was there was good
Construction- 89 the draw was a bit loose for me, but it did not affect the smoke in a negative way
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full experience that I thought could use more power in the back end
Overall- 88.75 an above average experience and nothing to be ashamed of smoking
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