Partagas Black Label Maximo (6x50)

I know what some of you are thinking when you read the name of the cigar being reviewed here. WTF! Has the Czar gone mad?  This cigar is neither new, nor is it a boutique.  I know you are all used to the reviews from me covering new cigars, mostly from boutique manufacturers, and the mostly unheard of or untried smokes of the present day.  Well folks, I have decided to take a little detour through some of my aging drawers for this one.

A little story.  Some years ago, about 8 years ago to be exact, I bought a box of these and smoked smoked some as the powerhouse in my then mundane lineup.  See, smokers back then just did not have the selection that we have today.  I smoked many La Gloria's, Hoyos, Punch etc... It was just very hard to populate a cigar lineup back then.  The Partagas Black became my powerhouse bomb for after a big meal, or with a strong drink or as a closer to my cigar day.  Somewhere along the line I just kind of grew out of these cigars and the few I had remaining got shuffled into the aging bins of humi's for years and years.  My brother was in town for the holidays and he was feeling frisky cigar wise and said to me I want something strong!  I pawed about the humidor for a bit and came away with two of these cigars which I remembered as being very powerful in their day.  I was skeptical about how they may have aged and whether or not they would still have any character or punch, but I decided to give them a whirl with my bro.

The cigar itself is less oily than I remember, it still has a nice sheen to it, but it is definitely looking less aggressive than it used to.  There are some prominent veins in the nearly black wrapper on this specimen, but I don't think they will be problematic.  An examination reveals some tightness in the bunch, but I recall this attribute from most General products of the day and they still always seemed to smoke without issue back then, something that can't be said of General now.  The pre light aroma is full of earth and licorice notes mixed with some nice cedar undertones.  The pre light draw is showing some nice hints of cocoa, but there is a tarry quality here that is not pleasing.

The cigar opens with depth and complexity that is completely unexpected and nearly overwhelming.  The profile shows a very nuanced, yet forceful array of flavors.  There are some excellent notes of chocolate, coffee, earth, dark wood and licorice dancing across the palate in the early stages of this smoke and I am wondering if all the aging has actually paid off in what will be a remarkable smoke.  If the early signs are any indication this could be an epic experience.  At the back of the palate there is a peppery tone that is providing a nice complement to the early flavors.  The draw is a little too tight for me, but I am not laboring in any overt way.  The burn is a touch off, but I don't think a touch up will be required.

The first half of the cigar really declines rapidly, I knew the opening moments were probably too good to be true.  The profile continues to show some coffee and dark wood notes, but the tarry flavors noted in the pre light are racing back into this picture like the drunken uncle at the family reunion that doesn't hear it is time for the family photo until last call and then the fully involved drunk run takes place across the yard with him ultimately knocking over grandma but saving his red plastic cup of beer. OK so maybe that is a little over the top but you get what I mean, this is a flavor that, like the uncle, no one wants to experience.  At the back of the palate the peppery flavors become more sharp and there is a metallic undertone creeping in here that will derail the experience if it continues.  The draw is opening up just at the time I wish it would close down completely.  The burn is evening out here and I am thinking there will be no further issues.

The final half of the cigar is really a disaster.  The profile just becomes a mess of tar like flavors with some wisps of charred wood in the front.  The back part of the profile degrades further into a sour earthy presentation that has some metallic character that is becoming more and more pronounced, blessedly the cigar is nearly done.  The draw is still OK and the burn stays strong throughout.

The finish was acrid, tar like and charred.

The opening moments showed so much promise, it is really too bad that this happened to these cigars which I remember really enjoying at one time.

Appearance- 88 bold and aggressive looking
Taste- 77 some really poor moments in the end take away all the positives from the beginning
Construction- 86 some early draw tightness and burn issues take away from this score
Strength- 80 still full and very strong, but not in a good way
Overall- 82.25 a very sub par experience, proving that nostalgic remembrances should remain safely locked away for ever

Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto (5.25x52)

There is something clandestine in the imagery of a cigar with a moniker that has the words "black market" attached to it.  I think about buying something forbidden, something difficult to find in this country, something of such value and taboo that people will guffaw in shock when it is presented.  Oddly, I found this cigar just sitting out in the open for all to see, and purchase, as if no one cared or knew that it was supposed to be verboten.  I stole some uneasy glances as I looked it over, no one seemed to be paying any attention.  I perused some other areas of the store to see if I had attracted any attention while perusing the forbidden area, no one was watching.  I watched with anticipation as a suited man entered the store, he had dark shades and a dark suit, he smelled like a fed.  Turns out he had just come from some work Christmas party.  Still tentative I made some other selections and hid the object of the investigation from view.  The cashier of course saw it and said loudly, " Ahh the Black Market!".  I shrunk back out of the light sure that my foray was over, no shackles, no awkward questions, just pay and leave.  This journey had only just begun and I was exhausted.

The cigar presents with a paper wrapper, further establishing an image of something not to be seen in daylight.  I decloak it and take it in.  The wrapper is nice, it has some prominent veins, but it has a nice dark brown sheen to it.  The construction seems a little too tight to me, but I can't find any areas that are too firm or that cause me any concern.  The pre light aroma is full of tea notes.  The pre light draw is thin and I am concerned about it being too tight, but it has a nice flavor of dark wood and perhaps some raisin.

The cigar opens with a profile that is all tea.  Not a sweet or aromatic tea, but a dark and nearly bitter tea flavor.  It is one dimensional and the flavor is not particularly deep, I am struggling to find something else here.  At the back of the palate there are some hints of dark wood and some tobacco flavors, but the overall impression is rather thin.  The draw is too tight at this point and there is some labor involved in getting a nice amount of smoke.  The burn is solid at this point and I don't see any reason why it won't stay this way.

The first half of the cigar shows some regression.  The profile is muddled, there are bitter tea flavors and some odd salty meat notes.  This is not a pleasing combination and the saltiness is very off putting for some reason, I have experienced briny cigars before and they have never rocked my world, but I never found them repugnant as I do here.  At the back of the palate there are still some wood notes, but they are becoming more sharp and cedar like as the cigar progresses further.  This would not necessarily be a bad thing if it complemented the front of the profile, but it does not.  The draw is opening up as I go along which is nice.  The burn is still solid at this point.

The final half of the cigar is not much better than the rest of it.  The main profile continues to show a bitter tea flavor, the salty flavors have moved on which is nice, but the profile is still lagging.  At the back of the palate some pepper notes are coming through which is a nice switch, but the wood notes are fading and that takes away some much needed depth.  The draw is fine by the end of the smoke and the burn stays solid throughout.

In the end the only thing that should be forbidden is smoking this cigar.  The finish was short and filled with bitter tea flavors.

Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 81 just very thin and one dimensional
Construction- 83 early draw issues take away some points here
Strength- 85 a very middling medium
Overall- 83.25 a sub par effort

Curivari Reserva Limitada Cafe 52 (6x52)

This is the final blend of the Curivari line that I will review for now, not because I am tired of them, but because I have reviewed all that are available right now.  Curivari is by far my runaway winner of boutique of the year.  Who knew that when I stumbled on these about four months ago I would be finding some of the best new cigars in recent years?  I certainly didn't know and it proves my long standing theory that a true cigar smoker should smoke everything, you might be missing some real gems.

This cigar is very similar to the other Curivari offerings.  The wrapper is beautiful and applied expertly, there are some veins, but they will not be an issue.  Sadly there is a little split a the foot, I am hoping it does not open up when flame is applied, these are the perils of cigar smoking sometimes.  My examination reveals one area of concern in the middle of the smoke, there is a slight hard spot here and I worried about burn issues when I get to this area.  As the name suggests the pre light aroma is full of coffee and chocolate notes.  The pre light draw is thin, but shows some nice tobacco and coffee essence.

The cigar opens with a profile that is all coffee and light cocoa notes, this is an excellent opening to a cigar and I can't recall ever experiencing this type of flavor so early in a cigar in such a profound way.  At the back of the palate there is a very satisfying base of wood and tobacco that builds a fine foundation for the cigar.  I would like some more balance in the flavors, the wood can overwhelm the subtleties of the coffee flavors in spots.  The draw is too loose for me at this point, and there is actually some effort involved in getting a mouthful of smoke.  Upon reflection I realize that this could be because of the split in the foot allowing too much air in the opening moments.  The burn is solid despite the split that I noted in the examination.

The first half of the cigar loses some zip.  The profile becomes somewhat lackluster as the flavors become more shallow and less complex.  There are some coffee flavors present, but there is not enough here to make any real impressions.  At the back of the palate the wood has taken on a definite cedar tone and the tobacco flavor from earlier has faded into the darkness.  The draw has become more acceptable at this point.  The burn has begun to deteriorate as I approach the hard spot I noted earlier and I fear that my concerns may have been well founded.

The final half of the cigar is plagued with burn issues, I don't retouch the cigar, but I certainly could have many times over.  I choose instead to allow it to even out on it's own, and it eventually does, but I lose about a third of the non-combusted wrapper in the process.  The profile has actually become a very nice array of chocolate and tea flavors, the balance of the tea with the chocolate is a nice change of pace.  The back of the palate has become a fully involved cedar explosion and it is on the borderline of becoming too sharp.  The burn is just a mess, but it does even out with about an inch left in the smoke.  The draw is fine through to the end.

The finish was full of cedar that became too sharp in the closing moments.  This was the most disappointing of the Curivari line for me.

Appearance- 88 a nice smoke to look at
Taste- 87 some middle inconsistencies hurt the score
Construction- 78 the burn disaster in the last half with the loose draw in the front half killed this cigar
Strength- 85 a nice medium, but I would have liked more punch
Overall- 83.75 very disappointing

Viaje Fifty Fifty Black Label No.2 (6x50)

My tour of the much hyped Viaje line of cigars continues with this offering.  To be perfectly frank, with the first couple of tries of this brand I have been decidedly confused about all the hullabaloo surrounding this frontmark.  The cigars have been abundantly average and I have had some noted construction issues with the ones that I have smoked thus far.  Always the cigar optimist (laughter not necessary), I trudge onward in search of the perfect cigar.

This one presents fairly well in a workman like fashion.  The wrapper is robust looking and shows some nice amounts of tooth.  The roll is finished with a pigtail cap, pigtails always seem to show some whimsical flair for me and I like the looks of them (on cigars, not necessarily women).  An examination of the smoke leads to me to believe that I will not experience the issues I have found in some of the smokes from this line.  The pre light aroma is spicy with some hints of bread and wheat.  The pre light draw is really plain, showing some cardboard qualities and it makes the mouth a bit dry.

The cigar opens with a profile that is all wheat with some odd cereal or oatmeal qualities that are unexpected and not necessarily pleasant or welcome.  At the back of the palate there is a floral sweetness that is paired with a wisp of cedar flavor that is coming off a touch charred.  The burn is excellent to this point.  The draw is a dream and I am relieved because of my prior experiences that have been trying to say the least.

The first half of the smoke really lacks depth, character and complexity.  The profile is papery and sour, there may be some wheaty type flavors in the background, but they are not readily evident.  The back of the palate still contains some floral flavors, but there is a metallic flavor here that is starting to taste like a mouthful of nickels.  This really isn't all that great at this point and I am disappointed.  The burn stays solid but I am seeing the formation of a small canoe and I am becoming concerned about what that will mean for the final half of the smoke.  The draw stays solid to this point.

The final half of the cigar begins to warm up a little bit.  The main profile begins to show some cinnamon flavors and some nice notes of wood, but it really lacks depth and that is what I am always looking for.  Don't just talk to me about flavor, I want to know how deep the flavor is and whether it has balance and some nuance, this is still falling short.  At the back of the palate there are still some metallic notes running through the experience, but they have faded and a more sharp cedar presentation is coming through.  The burn is coming apart, the canoe extends for nearly an inch at this point and I am waiting to see what will happen (it eventually reverts back to normal around the canoe and I have to tap a burned out canoe husk into the tray).  The draw stays solid to the end.

The finish was mediocre and showed some cedar flavor that was sharp.

All in all I continue to be unimpressed with these offerings.

Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 81 no depth or complexity with metallic elements
Construction- 85 the burn issue was distracting, but the draw was solid
Strength- 85 a solid medium that did not add or subtract from the experience
Overall- 84 a below average smoke that has me wondering what all the hype has been about

Avo Heritage Robusto (4.875x50)

Aside from some of the Avo LE's that have been around in prior years, I have never been a real fan of this line of smokes.  They have always just seemed too overpriced and too underdeveloped for me to think of any of them as more than average.  As is usually the case with cigar lines that I have no positive feelings for someone recommended this cigar to me and I reluctantly agreed to give it whirl, after all it only takes an hour or so to smoke a robusto, I had an hour and being a glutton for cigar punishment I settled in with low expectations.

The cigar itself is typical of most Avo's I have seen.  It is beautiful.  Well constructed, flawless wrapper, distinct color, nice firm structure and I wish all cigars were made this way.  I have always found the visuals of Avo to be nothing short of stunning.  Even the band work has a simple elegance.  The pre light aroma is all oak and spice.  The pre light draw is all oak as well.

The cigar opens with a profile that is obvious, you guessed it, wood!  With all the oaken essence in the inspection I would expect nothing more.  This is one of the woodiest profiles I have ever experienced, I am getting the suspicion that if other were around they would be calling for the helo drop of water because it would smell like a forest fire with all the burning wood essence I am getting.  The flavor is pleasing, but one dimensional, and I would like some more complexity and depth here.  At the back of the palate there is a touch of toasty tobacco flavor, but it is mostly of wood as well.  The draw is solid, delivering nice amounts of smoke with each draw.  I prefer it to be a but tighter, but that's just my subjective view.  The burn is solid also, exactly what I would expect from a cigar that is well made as this one does.

The first half of the cigar continues to show strong flavors of wood.  There are some fleeting toasty tobacco flavors and a touch of spice, but the wood is still center stage here.  At the back of the palate there are some light hints of earth and touches of cinnamon, but wood maintains it's leading role here as well.  There is some additional complexity and depth, but the balance is still way off, there is just too much wood in this smoke at this point for me.  The draw is opening some more and it becomes borderline for me as it gets looser.  The burn is still very solid, but the ash is flaky.

The final half of the smoke continues to show mostly wood flavors, they have become more robust and a bit spicy, but it is still wood.  The additional robustness of the woody flavors masks some other flavors that may be going on and I find that disappointing.  At the back of the palate there is some light tobacco flavor and some more light cinnamon, but the woody flavor continues here as well.  I am just wanting more from this smoke throughout.  The draw stays acceptable, but it is too loose for me by the end.  The burn was excellent throughout.

The finish was long and woody, almost hickory like.

This is one of the better Avo offerings I have smoked, and I could see doing it again if I wanted this particular flavor profile.

Appearance- 93 really enjoyable to look at
Taste- 85 very average for me and lacking in depth and complexity, but the wood flavor is a nice change of pace
Construction- 89 draw was too loose by the end, the burn was fine
Strength- 87 a nice medium, more strength may have helped the cause
Overall- 88 A solid score for cigar that did not offer much but one solid one dimensional flavor

Ernesto Perez Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011 Dark Rituals (6.5x56)

With the exception of the New Wave Connecticut, recent cigars from the E.P.C. family have largely been home runs.  I have really enjoyed their offerings from recent vintages, so much so, that two of the family cigars appear in the top 10 cigars I have ever reviewed on this blog.  When I heard about this particular smoke I was of course jacked up to give one a smoke.  It was some time before I came across some, but when I did I grabbed several at first opportunity.  A quick warning, these babies are pricey at $15 per smoke, but I was not deterred and took the limit at the shop I was in.

The cigar itself is too large for me, a 56 ring gauge is just out of bounds in my mind, way too big and usually not very complex, not to mention the frequent construction problems I have in large ring vitolas.  Setting my distaste for the size aside, I am ready to evaluate the cigar.  It is classically Carrillo.  The cigar is not flashy, but has an elegant charm.  The band work is simple, allowing the cigar to speak for itself.  The construction feels pretty solid, I can't detect any soft spots or plugs.  The wrapper is beautiful, nearly ebony in color and containing few veins, this is a wrapper that has the palate dripping with anticipation.  The pre light aroma is of dried cherry, coffee and earth.  The pre light draw is full of earth and wood tones with an underlay of pepper.

The opening of this cigar is an absolute opus.  The core profile is full of dark fruit, pepper, wood and coffee flavors and they are deep and full of character and balance.  Complexity of this nature is not often found in a cigar, much less this early in a smoke, because makers often shoot their wad late in a smoking experience, rather than in the first moments.  It is risky, particularly in a cigar this big, to show so much early because deterioration of the experience becomes a real problem.  At the back of the palate complementary flavors are wood and earth with some light clove like spice.  The mix is a captivating melange of flavors with the front of the palate and I am looking forward to more of the same and curious to see what will happen at the same time.  The draw is too loose, but big ring cigars are often too loose for me as I think the bunch is just stretched too thin.  The burn is a touch off, but it is negligible so far in the experience.

The first half of the cigar shows some really nice transitions into a more straightforward cigar experience.  Some might like an eclectic smoke with many transititons and flavors, I'm not one of those people.  What I do like is a smoke that knows what it is, does not try be something else and delivers solidly throughout.  The core profile here has become all pepper and wood,  I am finding some fleeting notes of coffee and some light wisps of nuts here as well.  At the back of the palate earth and spice have taken over as the real glue that holds the profile together.  The draw stays too loose, but I am realizing it won't really matter because the size precludes any real heat from rolling in.

The final half of the cigar picks up the strength game in spades.  There is a definitive shift to a core of pepper and spice that coats the palate in intense flavor.   As this ramps up there is not a loss of nuance or complexity, in fact it is quite the opposite as I feel additional strength is adding another layer of depth to the experience.  At the back of the palate a toasty wood note takes center stage with a nice earthy underlay.  The draw is the same to the finish, too loose for me.  The burn is solid to the end.

The finish was long and full of dry fruit, wood and pepper flavors.

The many well balanced dimensions of this cigar make for an exceptional smoking experience, I only wish it was blended in some thinner vitolas.

Appearance- 89 I just can't give huge cigars a great appearance score
Taste- 93 well balanced, with multiple dimensions make for a fabulous smoking experience
Construction- 91 aside from a draw that was too loose this was excellent
Strength- 97 one of the more nuanced and balanced full flavored cigars I have ever smoked, magnificent
Overall- 92.25 a very, very good smoking experience and I believe it is worth every penny

C and C Cigars Maduro Robusto (5x50)

I recently attended the one year anniversary of one of my favorite B&M's, and it was a splendid affair, nice people and a little food always makes for a great evening.  Then I realized that the cigars being offered were from C and C and my trepidation meter went into overdrive.  For those of you that don't know, these cigars are made by the guys of Cusano fame, my near seething dislike for Cusano cigars is well known to many.  So in this instance I was certain that my evening would be ruined if I smoked one of these cigars, so much so that I did not smoke one at the event and instead waited until I had some time to smoke what I was sure would be an inferior product.  I mean, I would rather have my pupils bored out with an old fashioned hand drill than have to smoke some of the Cusano offerings of yore.  How much better could this new offering be?  Well, let's take a look shall we?

The cigar is a nightmare to look at.  The band work is simplistic and cheap and the cigar looks like it was rolled during a torrential rain and allowed to dry much like a raisin, the wrapper is wrinkly and mottled.  An inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it may be well made though, as I can find no areas of concern in the bunch.  The pre light aroma is a trifle grassy, but there is a nice cocoa spray here as well.  The pre light draw is a touch thin, but it has some floral and grassy essence that is interesting.

The cigar opens with a profile that has me rocked to my core, I don't hate it, as a matter of fact I am quite enjoying it.  There are some very nice flavors of wood, tobacco and coffee in the opening notes and I am impressed with the depth and complexity in the opening moments of the cigar.  This is not a Cusano, this is a C and C, and I am being spanked for my skepticism.  At the back of the palate there is a grassy quality that has just enough floral earth to not be off putting.  The draw is a little bit too thin for me, I prefer an effort that allows some more smoke.  The burn is a bit wonky, but I don't think it will be a problem.

The first half of the cigar wanes some.  The profile becomes a more mundane presentation of wood with some light brushes of pepper, but the character of the smoke is lacking and I would like some further development.  At the back of the palate there are still some floral wisps, but the grassy flavors are taking over and reminding me more and more of an old Cusano, maybe I was right to begin with.  The draw is still thin, but getting better as the cigar progresses.  The burn has evened out nicely here.

The final half of the cigar oscillates between mediocre and good.  The main profile becomes more peppery, but still maintains some nice wood flavors and perhaps some hints of coffee, but it could definitely be more complex and balanced here.  At the back of the palate the grassy flavors give way to some more earthy character, but there is a bitter note here that has me bothered.  The draw finally hits it's stride in the final third.  The burn stays pretty solid to the end.

The finish is middling, but has some earthy tones that linger nicely.

This is not a Cusano and my early judgements were hasty, but this is by no means a home run either.  I would classify this as a solid knock around cigar with little potential for much beyond an average experience.

Appearance- 81 dreadful, if you bought based on looks you would keep looking
Taste- 87 slightly above average here, but more depth and balance were needed
Construction- 86 some draw issues in the early stages preclude a higher score
Strength- 85 a very average medium
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average which is exactly what this was

Viaje Skull and Bones 2011 Short Torpedo (4.5x54)

I continue my tour of the Viaje blends with the 2011 edition of the Skull and Bones collection.  It seems fitting that I put light to flame on this cigar while watching Tiger Woods play golf, a man whose career could be symbolized by a Skull and Bones in the last two years.  Of course as I smoke Tiger is in contention for his first win in nearly two years.

The name of these smokes is supposed to evoke an image of strength and a full bodied experience.  If I were to judge a book by it's cover I would say that it will be just that.  The wrapper is nearly black and glistens with heavy oils, it has few veins and looks somewhat intimidating despite a diminutive size.  As to the dimensions of this smoke, I am no fan of short fat smokes, but this one looks pretty interesting to me for some reason.  An examination reveals few flaws, of course an examination of Tiger a few years ago would yield no flaws either.  My point being you can't always believe what you see.  The pre light aroma is decidedly of dark fruit.  The pre light draw is full of nicotine with some pepper flavors.

The cigar opens much like Tiger's first decade on the tour, nearly flawless.  The profile is redolent with splendid flavors of pepper, wood and coffee.  There is a slight sweetness here as well that hints strongly of pomengranate and cherry.  At the back of the palate there is a deep and hearty tone of earth with a nicotine kick that puts the palate on notice.  The draw is excellent, providing ample smoke with very little effort.  The burn is solid and a sharp and crisp white ash is forming.

The first half of the cigar continues to perform very well, much like Tiger always did.  The profile settles into a more simple presentation of pepper and wood, the sweetness fades away here and removes some complexity but the balance remains.  At the back of the palate the earth notes have a complement of spice that is most pleasing and there are some sprays of a sturdy nutty flavor that is providing some nice character.  The draw stays strong, though I note some tightening towards the middle of the cigar.  The burn is still very solid.

The final half of the cigar closely parallels the last couple years of Tiger's career, in that there is some serious slippage in the performance.  The profile becomes more one dimensional as the pepper flavors begin to dominate the front part of the palate.  At the back of the palate the earthy flavors remain, but all else has fled the experience.  This one dimensional development really detracts from the experience in the closing moments.  The draw continues to tighten, but it does not become occluded, thus it is still smokeable.  The burn stays solid to the end of the smoke.

The finish is smooth, but still shows only pepper and earth.  In the end Tiger won in an impressive way by finishing birdie, birdie.  I'm not sure the cigar get anything better than a double bogey in the closing moments.

Appearance- 92 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 some nice moments early, declining dimensions of character late in the smoke led to deductions
Construction- 88 a nice performance, but the tightening draw in the las half hurt the score
Strength- 87 a full offering, but it could have used some more power
Overall- 88.25 a well above average experience, that could have been so much more

Viaje Platino Lancero (7.5x38)

After speaking with many other smokers about what is hot, and what is not, in the world of cigars I have heard about all sorts of brands.  Of these mentioned brands Viaje seems to be the most often loved.  Oddly, of the brands that have been mentioned it is also the most often maligned.  How is it that a cigar becomes so polarizing amongst so many smokers?  I have recently purchased just about every blend they make and I will be putting them to the rigid testing processes of the Czar and we will see how they stack up.  Further, I will be looking for answers about the enigmatic nature of the cigars and the feedback that I have been getting.

This cigar already scores points with me because it comes in a lancero vitola, one of my favorite sizes.  The cigar is touch rough looking and it really has no visual charm.  The band work is drab and the band at the foot is applied too tightly and I have to remove it carefully because it will not slide off.  Is there anything worse than nicking a wrapper because some nit wit put the foot band on too tight?  The cigar is way underpacked, I can feel it when I roll it through my fingers.  This is a bad sign because lanceros can be very temperamental if not made correctly.  I am nervous about this smoke from the get go.  The pre light aroma is full of spice and wood notes.  The pre light draw is decidedly robust and woody.

The cigar opens with a profile that is pleasing, but somewhat thin in presentation of flavors.  There are some nice notes of dark wood, light spice and some dark fruit, but they are all shallow and teasing rather than satisfying.  At the back of the palate there are some really nice flavors of cocoa and tobacco, this really saves the first part of the smoke.  The draw is far, far too loose, this is most likely the result of the loose construction that I noted in the pre light inspection.  The burn is all over the place and runners and voids are everywhere in the opening moments.

The first half of the smoke moves very quickly, the combustion rate is far too high for a cigar of this size, and I again fault the loose bunch of the cigar.  This leads to a hot burn as well, so I really slow it down to avoid the accumulating heat in the smoke.  The flavor is nice, and some more depth and complexity is seeping into the offering.  The profile shows some very nice wood and pepper notes that are robust and enticing.  At the back of the palate there are some excellent flavors of earth and tobacco that are showing through.  The issue continues to be the construction.  The draw is too loose and the burn is a mess however, I have not had to re light to this point.

The final half of the smoke continues to be hindered by poor construction.  The profile continues to show notes of wood and pepper and there is a light creamy aftertaste through the nose that is vanilla like.  At the back of the palate a crisp tobacco flavor takes center stage and delivers a solid, if not spectacular, base of flavor.  The draw continues to be inferior and the burn is a complete disaster by this point.

The finish was a touch harsh (I attribute this to the quick burn), but there were some wood and tobacco flavors.

Appearance- 87 not winning any looks contests
Taste- 88 the early issues hinder the smoke, but it was above average
Construction- 74 very, very poor and it led to a cigar that could have easily been unsmokable
Strength- 85 a solid medium
Overall- 82.75 killed by poor construction

San Lotano Habano Toro (6x54)

I picked this cigar up while nosing through the humi at my favorite New Orleans B&M, I knew nothing about it at the time except that it had been made by A.J. Fernandez.  A.J. Fernandez usually means that I will like the cigar, but I have had some that I did not care for.  The proprietor of the establishment couldn't tell me much about the cigar, but I liked the looks of it, so I decided to grab some.  Smoking a cigar that you know nothing about can be a real leap of faith, and I have many more of these leaps lead to disaster than I have had lead to nirvana.

The cigar itself is a bit too thick for me, it is well established that I much prefer the thinner ring gauge cigars, but sadly there just aren't that many new cigars that offer a thin ring vitola and if they do B&M's don't seem to carry them.  Note to B&M's; you are letting smokers like me down!  The wrapper is beautiful, smooth and supple with a light brown coloration like a lightly creamed coffee.  There are very few veins and it is very inviting visually.  The band work is simple, yet interesting.  An examination does not lead me to believe that there will be any issues with the smoke as it seems solidly constructed.  The pre light aroma is a heady mix of spice and fruit.  The pre light draw shows pepper and wood.

The cigar opens with a profile that shows scads of depth and complexity.  The main flavors are cinnamon, citrus and light tobacco.  The mix of these flavors is sublime in the opening moments of the smoke.  At the back of the palate there are savory and satisfying flavors of light wood and black pepper.  The mix and balance of this total profile is extremely rewarding early on.  The draw is a little bit tight, but I can perceptibly feel it loosen up as it goes on.  The burn is right on the money and the ash is very solid.

The first half of the cigar loses some of the opening depth, but is still a very solid presentation of flavor.  The core profile settles into a more relaxed presentation of cinnamon and light coffee, there are hints of light tobacco flavor here as well, but I would have liked more to add further depth.  At the back of the palate a more intense flavor of wood has come on strong, but it overpowers some of the nuance from earlier in the smoke.  The draw continues to improve as the smoke progresses.  The burn is still very solid.

The final half of the cigar really touches all the bases for me.  There is a significant increase in strength in the back portion of the cigar, something that I don't experience much any more, and it is very refreshing and exciting to have in this cigar.  The profile shows excellent flavors of cinnamon, leather, coffee and tobacco and the mix is deep and complex.  I really like when a cigar saves a surprise or two for the closing gambit, and in this case that leather flavor is a real kicker.  The back of the palate shows excellent and balanced flavors of wood and some light earth in the closing moments.  The draw is now firing on all cylinders and the experience is made more enjoyable because of it.  The burn is solid through to the end.

The finish is long and smooth and shows some wood and leather notes well into the night.

Appearance- 92 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 94 an excellent profile that loses out on being classic due to some slippage in the first half
Construction- 91 some points reduced due to early tightness in the draw
Strength- 93 this was magnificent, transitioning from medium to full as the smoke went on
Overall- 92.5 a fabulous smoking experience that I would commend to any full flavor enthusiast

My Uzi Weighs a Ton Robusto (5x60)

I have succumbed and decided to smoke this cigar, even though it stands for everything that I, as a cigar elitist, stand against.  It stands for a gimmicky approach to cigars, I loathe that trend in the industry.  It stands for a line of cigars made entirely in one gigantic ring gauge, I despise the big ring trend in the industry.  It stands for a crazy and long name rooted in silliness, I hate this trend in the industry (of course the main culprit is Drew Estates).

Having said all of the above I will soldier on and give this cigar it's just due, as I do with every cigar that I review.  After all, I have heard good things so it can't be all that bad right?....Right?....Right????

The cigar itself is a huge and log like stub of tobacco, I am thinking Fred Flintstone's thumb as I look it over.  The wrapper is rough and dry, showing some prominent veins, but it shows a rustic class that I find interesting.  The cap is sloppy and I expect more from a cigar in the 8-10 dollar range.  I roll the cigar through my fingers and I feel there are some gaps in the bunch, I am certain there will be combustion problems.  The pre light aroma is nothing but tobacco and heavy earth.  The pre light draw is of strong tobacco and nicotine that leaves the lips tingling slightly.

The cigar opens with a profile that is one dimensional at best.  The flavor is tobacco, tobacco and more tobacco.  No complexity, no depth and no developments in the opening moments.  I demand more from my cigars and I am just not getting it here.  At the back of the palate there is a light earthiness that could be pleasant, but there are some charred wood notes that are taking away from the experience.  The draw is extremely loose and I am even more concerned about future combustion prospects than I was before.  The burn is a bit off, but it is not requiring any attention at this point.

The first half of the cigar really does not develop much.  The core profile shows tobacco and earth flavors that are nice, but not particularly deep or complex.  The back of the palate is still being torched by scorched flavors of wood and maybe spice, but it is difficult to discern at this point because it is so charry.  It is really just too one dimensional at this point and I find myself wanting so much more, or maybe wanting so much less of what is being offered.  The draw is still too loose and there is heat coming into the smoke at this point.  The burn is way off and there is a canoe forming.  Out of principle I will not touch up a cigar unless it is going to go out, and this one may before it is all done.

The final half of the cigar picks up some steam, and just in the nick of time as I was considering early disposal.  The core profile picks up some flavors of coffee and still shows some tobacco and earth flavors, but the charred notes from the secondary profile are an affront to the core.  At the back of the palate there are still too many blasts of charred wood that are obscuring some of the nuance that I think could be present here.  The draw is now just far too loose and it is way too hot at this point, several purges allow me to smoke to the end, but it was some work.  The burn is a disaster and I do have to re-light with about a third of the cigar left to smoke.

The finish was harsh and charred wood was the main flavor.  For $8.50 and little ROI I would like to rename this cigar My Uzi Costs a Ton.

Appearance- 89 a nice rustic package
Taste- 82 just too many charred notes here to be any better
Construction- 80 very poor, bad draw and bad burn equal bad experience
Strength- 84 a mundane medium
Overall- 82.75 way below average, I may try another one to see if better construction helps

Carlos Torano Vault Toro (6x50)

When I think of a vault I think of one of two things.  First, an impregnable fortress or safe that armies of men crash upon with futility hoping to exploit non-existent weakness.  Second, a competition in female gymnastics in which huge amounts of speed explode into a dazzling array of aerial tricks before rapidly finding ground again.  Obviously a cigar is likely difficult to compare to either on of these perceptions, but they are what my oft wandering brain conjure at this point.  For the purposes of the cigar I believe the Torano's intention was simple.  They opened a vault containing some rare and tasty tobaccos and made a cigar out of it.  Not as imaginative and only effective if the tobacco is in fact tasty.

The cigar presents well.  The wrapper is enticing and contains a nice sheen with few veins.  An examination leads me to believe that the roll may be too loose, but we will see what happens as the smoke progresses.  The pre light aroma is of sweet fruit and light spice.  The pre light draw is floral and sweet with some hints of raisin.

The cigar opens with a profile that is very sweet.  The core profile has flavors of sweet berries and some light spice that I can't quite put my finger on.  The complexity is fair and the depth is acceptable, but I am not sated with the presentations of flavor and feel like there could be more.  At the back of the palate there is some more sweetness and some light wood character that is interesting, but not really adding to the experience at this juncture.  The draw is a touch loose and I can already tell that there will be some heat in the draw if I don't slow this smoke down.  The burn is wonky and the ash is a heavy gray.

The first half of the cigar does not really develop much.  The profile stays sweet and reminiscent of berries, there are also some darker and more bitter fruit flavors here but they are not hurting the experience at this point.  At the back of the palate there are some woody notes that hold on, but there are also some strange spice notes that seem a touch dry to me.  The flavor is almost like what pot pourri smells like when Grandma puts it in the bowl in her living room.  The draw is still loose, but I have slowed considerably to compensate accordingly.  The burn is more even, but the ash is flaky.

The final half of the cigar develops nicely, but it is just a touch too late for me.  The core profile loses the sweetness and takes on a more earthy and spicy presentation, but there is not much complexity or depth involved in this transition.  The flavors leave me feeling a little too flat for this stage in a cigar.  At the back of the palate a nice cedar tone has taken over and it provides some much needed oomph in the back end of the smoke.  The draw stays too lose all the way to the end.  The burn is still acceptable, but the ash continues to flake my shirt.

The finish was sweet and lingering earth and floral impressions hold on.

This is one of the better Torano offerings I have smoked, but that is not saying much as I don't usually smoke Torano anyway.

Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 86  I just can't give it any more, to flat and lacking in depth
Construction- 83 a loose draw cost me time and caused some re-lights as I slowed it down
Strength- 86 a complementary mild/medium
Overall- 85.25 slightly above average, slightly below an acceptable enjoyment quotient

Curivari Reserva Limitada 1000 Series Reserva 3000 (6x50)

Yet another Curivari review, what can I say?  I have really enjoyed smoking my way through these cigars over the last few months, and I still have a blend or two to go.  If you have a chance to get your hands on some of these blends, you really need to grab some, hell grab a box or two, you can't go wrong.  These are really just that good, at least the ones I have smoked up until now.

On to this cigar.  They have three Reserva Limitada blends; the Classica, the 1000 series and the Cafe.  This is the one that sports the bright white band against a reddish brown colorado wrapper.  The band is simple, but it is very appealing against the dark wrapper.  The wrapper itself looks like a warm cup of joe, it is just beautifully swathed over the cigar like a tobacco blanket.  An inspection reveals no areas of concern, with the exception of some fraying at the foot which is the result of the travel from New Orleans back to Tampa and down to Sarasota, I'll blame TSA for this.  The pre light aroma is of cinnamon.  The pre light draw is a touch tight, but smacks of in your face coffee flavors.

The cigar opens with a profile that is all coffee and brown sugar.  The flavors are so deep and complex that I am stunned into a silent reverie.  Seldom are flavors of this nature so intriguing, so deep, so complex, so damn good!  At the back of the palate there are alternating passes of dark wood and pepper and the mix with the front of the profile is exceptional.  The draw starts tightly, but opens up quickly and imparts ample smoke with little effort.  The burn is even and a nice grayish white ash is forming.

The first half of the cigar is the stuff of legend.  The profile is showing monumental profile shifts and so much balance that I have to catch my own balance because I am shocked.  The coffee flavors intensify and there is a mocha type richness to it that I have never experienced in a cigar.  There are flavors of dark berries here as well and the sweet flavors dance in and out amongst the other profile flavors.  There are small blasts of cinnamon touching the tip of the tongue and creating more depth that I have experienced in some time.  At the back of the palate the dark wood flavors continue to reign supreme and provide the foundation for the front of the profile to rest on.  The draw is nearly perfect for me, just the right amount of resistance is present here.  The burn is also very solid and the sturdy ash holds until nearly halfway.

The final half of the cigar, while still good, has lost some of it's luster.  The profile becomes a more straight forward presentation of pepper and coffee, but there are some charry notes that are threatening to become bitter and derail the back half of the experience.  At the back of the palate the woody flavors have given way to a more toast like presentation that weakens some of the complexity of the smoke in the final moments.  The draw stays nearly perfect throughout.  The burn showed some signs of of a canoe in the final third, but it never materializes into any issues.

The finish was a touch short and some bitter, burned coffee flavors lingered.

Appearance- 93 a very nice looking smoke, makes you want to eat it
Taste- 90 still well above average despite the plateau early in the smoke
Construction- 96 this was superb, nary an issue
Strength- 92 a very nice medium/full
Overall- 92.75 an exceptional smoke that was nearly classic

Padilla Artemis Toro (6x54)

Another new release from Padilla this cigar is made at the Raices factory in Honduras, if you don't know what that means I suggest you get on the ball and do some research I can't play wet nurse to everyone all the time...  I am of course kidding.  Raices has so many great cigars coming out of it that I can't even list all of them here, but the ones that come immediately to mind are Casa Fernandez, Illusione and Curivari.  The fact that Padilla is having them made here tells me to buckle up for an experience.

The cigar is quite the eye catcher.  The wrapper is a leathery looking specimen that has an almost orange/red colorado hue to it, there are few veins and the cigar just looks tasty.  The band work is nice, nothing to really write home about though.  A quick inspection leads me to believe that there may be a small plug up near the head, but the pre light draw is free of issues.  The only drawback here is that the smoke is box pressed and I am just not a fan of that.  The pre light draw is full of cinnamon and cedar flavors.  The pre light aroma is toasty and has some spice accents to it.

The cigar opens with a profile of wood and cinnamon that is not as deep as I would like it to be.  At the back of the palate there are strong cedar flavors, but there is also a touch of dry, bitterness here that I can't quite place.  The draw is nice, but a bit too tight for me at this point.  The burn is a bit off, but I think it will even out as it progresses.

The first half of the cigar progresses nicely.  The core profile shows nice cinnamon and coffee flavors and there is an undercurrent of light earth here that is pleasing and adding some nice depth to the experience.  At the back of the palate the bitterness has left and a nice cedar tone has taken over as the only offering in this part of the smoke.  It is a touch too one dimensional at this point and I could use more flavor in the back half of the palate.  The draw is continuing to tighten as the cigar approaches what is clearly a plug near the head.  The burn is starting to run towards the plug as well.

The final half of the cigar is marred by the plug and the subsequent burn issues it is causing, but it does not take away from some nice flavors.  The core profile maintains a nice coffee and cinnamon combination and the light earth notes intensify here making for a more complete profile experience.  At the back of the palate the flavor is all cedar and it becomes dry in the last third.  The draw opens once the plug has passed, but it is too little too late.  The burn also stabilizes after the plug, but it was a terror getting it there.

The finish was long and full of spice and cinnamon notes.

Appearance- 91 a very nice cigar to look at
Taste- 88 the profile was not bad, some more depth and complexity would have been beneficial
Construction- 82 just a poor showing here
Strength- 89 a nice medium/full
Overall- 86.75 could have been better with more depth and better construction

Padilla Miami 8&11 Robusto (Re-release) (5x50)

The original Miami 8&11 cigar is the stuff of legend.  I still have three boxes sitting in my humi gaining precious age as I decide where and when to ration them out to myself.  The mythical Don Pepin made the original cigar for the little known Ernesto Padilla, when they were both unknown and the rest history.  I do not hesitate to rank the original in my Top 10 cigars of all time and it currently resides in my Top 5 ever.

When I heard that Padilla was bringing this back, and that someone else was making it, I was incredulous.  Why put an impostor into the mix?  Particularly since it could not possibly match the original.  Or could it?  I ran into Ernesto Padilla some months ago and he and I have tweeted back and forth and he was making bold statements about this new version being as good or better than the original.  Can you imagine the hubris? The gall? The gumption? The feck?  I was appalled and upset, but like moths to the flame or lemmings to the cliff I knew I would buy some when they came out, and I most certainly did as soon as I put the hairy eyeball on some.

They present well, the band work is similar, but not mockingly so.  It is a respectful homage to the cigar of legend, plus a foot band has been added to distinguish it from it's prior evolution.  The wrapper is beautiful, plenty of tooth and few veins.  The construction seems a bit tight to me, but I find no plugs or hollows.  The pre light aroma smacks of cinnamon.  The pre light draw has light wood and sweet cinnamon influences.

The cigar opens with a profile that is all graham cracker and caramel.  These flavors are sweet, but not cloyingly so.  The depth is excellent and the profile is unexpected while seeming like an old friend.  At the back of the palate there are some fabulous notes of cedar and a crisp light tobacco flavor is also present.  The mix here is splendid early on and I am warming to this smoke very quickly.  The draw is too tight, but it not causing any combustion issues to this point.  The burn is solid and a nice ash is forming as the cigar progresses.

The first half of the cigar intensifies in flavor.  The caramel and graham cracker notes become more and more robust as the cigar moves along.  I find these two flavors to be excellent together and I can't recall a smoke that provided such blasts of caramel so fully.  At the back of the palate the sharp cedar notes continue, but instead of becoming dry and bitter (as is often the case when I detect cedar in a smoke) they are pleasantly refreshing as a counter balance to the sweet front of the profile.  I am looking for more complexity here, but I am liking what I am getting to this point.  The draw is still too tight for me, but it is still not causing any issues.  The burn is still excellent.

The final half of the cigar shows some really interesting development.  The core profile loses graham cracker and caramel notes and becomes a very solid presentation of cinnamon and light wood.  At the back of the palate the presentation becomes all pepper.  This is a very stark contrast to the beginning of the smoke, but instead of a schizophrenic result, the outcome is really excellent.  The draw continues to be too tight throughout for me, but it performs all the way to the finish in a consistent, if irritating fashion.  The burn was solid all the way to the end.

The finish was long and lingered with pepper and cedar notes for several minutes.

Appearance- 92 a very fun looking smoke and I like the homage to the original
Taste- 91 a very nice profile that could have used some more complexity
Construction- 88 some draw tightness causes a reduction
Strength- 94 a fabulous medium that complemented the profile well
Overall- 90.75 an excellent smoke, but it does not measure up to the status of the original

Puros Indios 2012 Toro (6x52)

Some ten years ago I came across an oddly banded cigar in a B&M outside Chicago, I say oddly banded because it was green and cigar makers largely avoided green bands, that cigar was a Puros Indios.  I bought several, more out of idol curiosity than anything else, and a several year love affair began.  I smoke Puros Indios for several years after that and I always enjoyed the flavorful smoke at an affordable price.  Then the dark days began, Puros Indios changed, my prized everyday favorite became a target of my loathing.  I was not the only one, something went horribly wrong for followers of this cigar and several years passed before I picked one up again.

Just the other day I walked into my favorite B&M in New Orleans and my good friend Armando, the owner, suggested the new Puros Indios.  After several minutes of questions and making him view some Rorschach Inkblots I determined that he was not insane, he even offered to give me my money back if I didn't like it, ok so maybe he was a touch off his rocker.  I didn't even know that Puros was doing anything new at all, and I am pretty strong follower of the industry.  To say I had low expectations would be a drastic understatement, I was prepping for the worst cigar of the year.

The cigar is crisply box pressed, strike one for me, I have never been a fan of this effect.  The wrapper is silky smooth and there are very few light veins dancing across the field of view.  I have often found box pressing vexing because it will make flaws in the bunch more pronounced in my opinion, but this does not appear to have any areas that seem out of sorts to me.  The pre light aroma is an intoxicating mix of coffee and light earth.  The pre light draw is full of earthy goodness.

The cigar opens with a profile that is unique and full of flavor and miles of depth.  There are notes of toasted marshmallow and coconut right off the bat.  This sweetness marries with an undertone of pepper and light earth that is a tantalizing combination of excellent flavors.  At the back of the palate there is a very complementary flavor of dark wood and some light spice that is providing a phenomenal base for the front part of the profile.  I am seldom, if ever, taken with a cigar in these early stages but this one has me yearning for more.  The draw is a touch on the tight side, but I expect that early on in a box pressed smoke.  The burn is a touch off as well, but I can see it will even out without issues.

The first half of the cigar loses some pizazz, but it is still a very high quality experience.  The sweetness has morphed into a more cocoa like presentation with a hint of coffee flavors in the mix.  There are also some fleeting notes of pepper in the front part of the palate, but they are teasing rather than substantial.  At the back of the palate, the solid backdrop of wood and spice continues.  The draw has opened up nicely here and is delivering the flavorful smoke without much effort.  The burn is now sharp and showing signs of staying strong.

The final half of the cigar is not what I would have expected.  The profile becomes less intense and the subtlety presented is actually a little disappointing.  The core flavors are pepper and coffee notes, but they are not showing the depth that earlier flavors were showing.  At the back of the palate, which I now believe has been the star of the show, the solid dark wood presentation continues to chug along and it provides a substantial amount of the entire experience.  The draw is still flowing smoothly and the burn holds solid until the end.

The finish is long and sweet with lingering coffee and cocoa impressions.

Appearance- 87 nice, but I don't care for box pressing
Taste- 93 an excellent profile that could have been classic with more oomph in the final half
Construction- 90 some early tightness in the draw hurt the experience
Strength- 94 a beautiful medium that complements the palate in an exceptional way
Overall- 91.25 this is a must smoke in my book, and I am excited that Puros Indios is back

Pedro Martin Corojo Toro (6x52)

This is the 300th post on this blog, it has been an incredible journey.  I could not have kept this going without the support of friends, family and readers that have given thousands of pointers, tips and comments on the work that is done here.  I truly value the feedback from all of you and I am grateful that you appreciate reading this as much as much as I enjoy writing it.  I'll make the promise to keep writing as long as all of you keep reading.

I reviewed the Gold Connecticut offering from this company a month or two ago and was pleasantly surprised with the cigar.  Much like my feeling about Connecticut, it is usually too mild, my feelings about Corojo are similar.  Corojo blends have a tendency to be bitter and touch heavy on flavors that I would consider to be of dirty earth.  There is just something about this leaf that has never hit me right.  Having said that, I approach with an open mind because the Martin's opened my eyes to a different Connecticut world with one cigar.

This cigar presents in a somewhat mundane fashion.  The wrapper has some prominent veining and a heavy leathery appearance that seems too dry to me.  The band work is again understated, yet elegant, I like what they do here.  Some companies spend a great deal of time making the band so intricate I think they lose sight of the cigar, that is not happening here.  A quick examination reveals no areas of concern and I believe that the cigar will perform well from a draw and combustion standpoint.  The pre light aroma is herbal with some hints of light earth.  The pre light draw shows some pepper and spice.

The cigar opens with a profile that is not particularly complex or deep.  There are some light earthy flavors in the front of the offering, but there are some light bitter notes here that detract from the opening moments.  At the back of the palate the profile is all cedar and some spice that is smacking of clove.  I am a bit disappointed about this cigar at this point as I look for more complexity and depth in my smokes.  The draw is a little too tight for me, but I don't believe that it will become problematic.  The burn is a touch lopsided, but no touch ups are required.

The first half of the cigar falls short for me.  The profile struggles for some identity.  There are still some nice earthy tones here, but there are some sour herbal notes as well that are not pleasing.  At the back of the palate there are still some very powerful cedar notes but they alone can't carry the cigar.  I am still looking for complexity that isn't coming to fruition.  The draw opens up nicely at this point providing a nice, easy smoking experience.  The burn has evened out and I am relieved that no touch ups will be required.

The final half of the cigar starts to warm up a little.  The main profile still have some nice earthy flavors, but there is a nice leathery quality that is coming through.  I am also detecting an underlay that I would qualify as being bready.  This is now showing some more complexity, but it is still not quite there and the flavors are still a bit too thin for me.  At the back of the palate the cedar flavors soldier on, but nothing else develops leaving me wanting.  The draw is still strong to this point and the burn was solid to the finish.

The finish of the cigar was middling, but shows some nice cedar flavors.

Appearance- 88 some dryness to the appearance detracts from the visual impact
Taste- 86 some nice moments in the last half, but I thought it was lacking
Construction- 89 nicely done, but some draw tightness early on hurt the score
Strength- 87 a nice medium
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average, I would suggest to a Corojo enthusiast that this might be the cigar for you

Tatuaje La Verite Vintage 2009 Robusto (5x50)

I am a recently lost disciple of Pete Johnson.  I used to go out of my way to get my hands on his smokes.  I would search high and low, no price was too high, I just couldn't get enough of them.  I still can't get enough of the Tat Reds and Browns, and I also love Cabaiguan, Triunfador and La Riqueza.  Recent releases just haven't been very good though, and I find that disturbing, so I have left the Pete Johnson fold, at least in terms of new releases.

This is not a new release, but it is a cigar that I had not smoked or reviewed before so it is new to me.  It presents well, the wrapper is silky and shows little veining.  The bandwork and overall presentation is sophisticated, but understated and classy.  The cigar appears to be constructed well, I can't find any issues when I inspect it.  The pre light draw is full of wheat, bread and cedar.  The pre light aroma is also wheaty and full of cedar notes.

The cigar opens with a splendid array of flavor that is both complex and deep.  There are some nice flavors here; bread, wheat, cedar, spice and citrus.  The interplay between all of these flavors is excellent early on and this cigar is really ramping up my expectations at this point.  I am being transferred back to the halcyon days of early Pete offerings, when every cigar was nearly a masterpiece.  At the back of the palate the smoke is heavy and lingers sweetly on the palate with a brush of vanilla flavors that has some white pepper kick to it.  The draw is a bit tight here, but I am thinking it will open up as the smoke progresses.  The burn is rock solid, nary a run or issue.

The first half of the cigar is excellent, though some of the early promise is gone.  The profile settles into a more simple array of wheat and cedar, but the depth is still nice.  At the back of the palate the vanilla flavor becomes muted and the pepper notes really take over to provide a kick to a profile that really needs it in the opening half.  This is a very pleasant experience up to this point, and I am thinking I may need to get some more of these.  The draw opens slightly, but it is still not where I want it to be.  The burn stays solid to this point.

The final half of this smoke really brings it home.  The profile morphs into a dizzying array of flavor and complexity that is seldom experienced in a cigar.  The core profile shows notes of vanilla, cedar and pepper.  This mixes together in levels of complexity that are mind blowing.  At the back of the palate there are some very fine notes of wheat and some light caramel flavor comes through here as well.  This combination of flavor is unique and, in my opinion, fantastic.  The draw opens even further and in the final third is exactly where I want it.  The burn stays solid throughout.

The finish luxuriates the palate with vanilla and cedar flavors well into the night.

Appearance- 91 elegant
Taste- 92 a very nice palate that lost some zip in the first half
Construction- 90 some early tightness in the draw hurts the score
Strength- 93 a very nice medium
Overall- 91.25 a very nice smoking experience

Casa Miranda Robusto (5x50)

I have been eyeing these for awhile, not in a I have to have you way, but in a wary what are you doing in my neighborhood way.  This cigar appeared in the new release section of my local B&M some time ago and I have been working my towards it, slowly, with reticence.  You see, this is a cigar that I place in my ultra premium category of $10+ per smoke.  All of you that frequently read my daily musings know that I place a high expectation quotient on cigars of this nature, as is rightfully so in my view.  If  a manufacturer want me, or anyone for that matter, to part with a ten spot or more then it better be worthy.  If it is not worthy I am likely to be even harder on the smoke.

This cigar presents in a pedestrian fashion with a wrapper that seems a bit wan to me.  Upon inspection the wrapper seems a bit too dry, and there are some prominent veins.  The bandwork is intricate, but not particularly eye catching.  I can't seem to find any issues with the construction visually or with tactile investigation.  The pre light aroma is decidedly floral with some odd spice notes.  The pre light draw is subdued, but has some flavors of light wood.

The cigar opens with a profile that does not justify any price tag.  There are bitter and sour notes everywhere in the opening moments and I am considering the chuck-a-roo at this point, but then I remember I am smoking a $10 bill, so I decide to give it just due.  At the back of the palate there is nothing particularly noteworthy either.  There are some flavors of light wood, but a sour vegetal note is taking away from the experience here.  The draw is too tight for my liking, but I am not going to worry about it because at this point I am not sure the cigar will make it.  The burn is passable, but a small runner looks like it's warming up for a marathon.

The first half of the smoke improves, it had nowhere to go but up.  The profile transitions into some middling flavors of cinnamon, mint and wood.  The profile is shallow and not well defined, and I find myself wanting some more depth and a further examination of the flavors.  At the back of the palate there are some more impressions of wood and the vegetal notes have dispersed and a light hay or grass flavor has come into the picture.  The draw is still too tight, and there is some heat coming up the bunch that has me worried.  The burn has evened out, sort of, there is no canoe but the small runner has continued to hold on.

The final half of the cigar fails to garner any redemptive words from me.  The profile continues to be middling with mint and wood flavors predominating, but some bitterness is creeping back in at this point.  At the back of the palate there are still some grassy flavors, but there is not much else going on here.  The draw stays tight throughout, but I manage to keep the heat from doing any damage.  The burn levels off by the end providing for an acceptable combustion performance overall.

The finish is bitter, but there are some hints of wood and grass.

At $10+ I expect way more than mediocre, and this cigar was barely that.

Appearance- 86 an OK looking smoke
Taste- 82 it just never developed and the opening minutes were putrid
Construction-- 80 the draw was too tight and the burn was wonky for two thirds of the effort
Strength- 85 a medium offering that did not complement the profile well
Overall- 82.5 well below average

Drew Estate Undercrown Gran Toro (6x52)

Every once in awhile a cigar comes along that transcends what you know about cigars.  It becomes legendary amongst the Brethren of the Leaf, seemingly overnight, as cigar cognoscenti scramble to find all they can before they run out.  It becomes the topic of every conversation in every corner of places where cigars are enjoyed as people whisper quietly while producing a four finger travel case asking all their friends if they have seen these before, there is a collective gasp from those assembled as the rare jewel is shown.  If you are one of the lucky friends of said whisperer you may be offered one, you tremble as you accept this fine gift and can hardly stand the anticipation before you light.  Ahhh sweet forbidden smoke, I may never get another chance to smoke something like this, you may think to yourself.  You all know this feeling I assume?

Well this is not that cigar.  Not even close.  However, if you have been listening to these conversations in corners, as I have, you would think this cigar is the second coming of attainable cigar nirvana.  I have rarely heard so much hype over one cigar (I credit the marketing genius of Johnathan Drew and Steve Saka), leading me to believe that this cigar must really be something special, maybe even classic or legendary.  I waited until they arrived at the local B&M and I selected one.  Funny, no one came running over to me to watch my glorious selection.  Likewise, no one whispered to me when I went back to my smoking corner with it.  No one looked on with rapt anticipation as I cut and light it.  I was sure that with all the hoopla about this cigar I would hear a chorus of angels at some point....crickets....

The cigar itself presents in a middling fashion.  The wrapper is dark, nearly black, tobacco does not look like this so I know it has been treated somehow.  There are some prominent veins along the way, but I don't think they will cause any issues.  An examination leads me to believe that the smoke is well made, I can't detect any areas of concern.  The pre light aroma is exactly what I expect, very similar to Liga Privada, with strong tobacco notes and some spice.  The pre light draw is actually non-descript, but there are some light tar like notes that are sour.

I steal some quick glances, still no one paying any attention, I thought I would have to dodge reporters from Cigar Press in order to smoke this.  The profile is nothing to talk about.  The flavors are middling and not particularly complex.  The core shows some nice tobacco flavor, but it is not very refined or deep.  There are some brushes of spice here as well, but they never meld well into the main body of tobacco flavor.  At the back of the palate there are still some niggling tar flavors that have a back drop of bitter wood.  The draw is fine at this point, and I am giving some high marks for performance to this point.  The burn is also sharp and a crisp white ash forms.

A friend sits down and asks what I am smoking, when I tell him, he exclaims that he hated it.  I look around for surreptitious listeners, I don't want to be associated with a cigar blasphemer, but no one seems to have heard his sacrilege.  The cigar has progressed, in that it is now nearing the midway point.  The profile continues to show nothing but tobacco flavor, there is no complexity or depth here at all, I am surprised that the buzz was so loud about a cigar this mundane.  At the back of the palate there are still some tar like qualities, but they are beginning to blessedly fade, there is a slight pepper note creeping in here, and it may redeem the experience somewhat if it intensifies accordingly.

The final half of the cigar is smoked without interruptions from curious onlookers, because there aren't any.  The profile remains staid and uninteresting.  The tobacco flavor, while solid, is not complex or deep, plus there are no complementary flavors to bind the experience together.  At the back of the palate there are some definitive peppery developments, but they come on too late to do much for the smoke.  The draw stays solid throughout the smoke, and the burn performs well all the way through.

The finish is actually sharp and contains hints of pepper and tar in the aftermath.

So much hype, so little delivery.  Good thing I learned long ago to never listen to cigar hype.

Appearance- 86 a slightly above average visual presentation
Taste- 83 slightly below average with no depth, complexity or flavor change
Construction- 90 performed very well in this area
Strength- 85 I think they went for full and missed, this is medium at best
Overall- 86.25 slightly above average, construction helped

Quesada Oktoberfest Bavarian (5.5x52)

So it is that time of year, the gimmicky cigars seemingly crawl from the woodwork as if from some creep show.  Pete Johnson will have one soon, his famous Halloween blend.  It seems only natural that some other makers follow suit with seasonally gimmicky silliness.  Oktoberfest is not usually a time of year that I would equate with cigars.  Bratwurst and beer sure, but cigars?  No.  Alas, Quesada saw the opening, and apparently thought it was a wide opening at that (one of the vitolas is a 65 ring gauge).

The cigar I chose was the smaller of the two available at my local B&M, my reticence, nay, hatred for big ring cigars being what it is I thought I would avoid the 65 ring Donkey phallus and settle for something a little less lip stretching.  Even the cigar that I have chosen seems larger than the 52 it claims to be and a quick measurement has it slightly above that.  This cigar is a dark log, the wrapper is full of prominent veins and has a streaky brown coloration that is not necessarily appealing, like a woman with too much eye makeup that is hysterical over the breakup with her boyfriend.  The cigar is heavy and seems too tight when rolled betwixt the fingers.  The pre light aroma is thin and not very inspiring, but has some hints of strong tobacco.  The pre light draw is likewise thin, but there are some fleeting notes of coffee.

The cigar opens with a profile that is not very balanced and very one dimensional.  The core smacks of minerals and has a texture that I would classify as grainy.  There is no complexity here and there are no fulfilling dimensions to the profile.  At the back of the palate there are more heavy mineral presentations and some light touches of coffee, but they are not helping the overall performance.  The draw is too tight and I can sense there might be some struggle with this cigar as it progresses.  The burn is off too, not in presentation, it burns sharply, but in combustion.  The burn almost has a wet feel to it, and the shoulder is nearly curling in on itself and is looking prune like around the edges of the burn.

The first half of this cigar has nary a positive development.  The core profile stays full of mineral flavors and there is an almost metallic quality at certain points.  At the back of the palate there are some sour tobacco flavors and not much else.  My palate is screaming at me for more flavors, saying give me anything at this point I won't complain.  The draw is still much too tight, and I am put off with the effort required to smoke this bad boy, emphasis on bad.  The burn is a disaster as well, I have to relight at the near half way point because it just won't stay lit.

The final half of the cigar had only one quality to write and expound upon, it was the final half.  The profile maintains a mineral like profile and it is wearing my palate out, it feels like I am sucking on a mouthful of nickels.  The back of the palate continues to show sour tobacco notes and my cigar brain is shutting down at this point.  The draw continues to be too tight.  The burn is a mess and I have to relight twice more during the process.  With about a fourth of the cigar remaining I lay it down in an ashy grave where it belongs.

The finish was full of minerals and metallic flavors.

Appearance- 85 veiny and huge
Taste- 73 very, very poor
Construction- 74 also very poor
Strength- 80 not sure what they were going for, but they missed the mark
Overall- 76.5 save the 8 dollars, hell light the eight dollars on fire and smoke it, flavors of burning paper and ink would be a welcome change

Curivari Gloria de Leon Prominente (6.75x54)

This is the third or fourth cigar that I have reviewed from this little Nicaraguan boutique and I have been mostly impressed with everything I have tried from them so far.  I believe that the most fun one can have as a cigar enthusiast is in finding blends that no one has ever heard of and being the first to try them.  That is the case here, and I have given some of these out to some selected friends to rave reviews as well, now we all just need these smokes to be available around here.  Thus far I have only found them in New Orleans and there does not appear to be a way to get them from the website.

This cigar is huge, much bigger than I usually prefer, I am keeping an open mind though because I have enjoyed the other offerings from this maker.  The cigar is ruddy in appearance and the band work is simple, if you buy based on looks you would pass this right over without a second thought.  The construction seems to be a bit loose in some areas, but I am going to smoke this slowly while watching the beloved Bears anyway, so I am not worried.  The pre light aroma is full of dark fruit notes, black cherry and raspberry come immediately to mind.  The pre light draw shows some fine tobacco character and some light brushes of cocoa.

The cigar opens with a profile of such depth and complexity that I am transfixed by the presentation, which is a good thing because the Bears are neither complex or deep at this particular juncture, when is Lovie Smith going to realize that the Cover 2 is no longer a legitimate defense in this league?  I digress, the core profile is showing excellent flavors of black cherry, light pepper and dark wood.  There is an undertone of cocoa here that is tantalizing and leaves the palate yearning for more of the richness it is providing.  At the back of the palate there are some serious presentations of rich tobacco and a hearty grain like flavor that I would equate to a seven grain bagel.  There is just so much complexity here I am in a struggle to figure out what it all means at this point.  The draw is too loose, again I am not worried because I have figured this cigar to go for more than two hours anyway.  The burn is sharp and is producing a nice white ash.

In the first half of the smoke I reach heights that are seldom experienced in a cigar smoker's journey.  The profile morphs into a robust concoction of strength and flavor that is rarely achieved.  The core shows flavors of black cherry, chocolate, raspberry, dark wood and light dustings of sugar.  At the back of the palate there are still some presentations of dark wood, but an excellent spray on cinnamon has shown up here and it is welcome.  I don't know if I have ever experienced a cigar that has this much recognizable flavor laced through it.  Too bad the Bears are not keeping up with the cigar, they are wavering horribly in the 3rd quarter and I am sure their goose is cooked, I don't even really care because this smoke is so good.  The draw is still too loose for me, but it is not causing me any issues.  The burn is still solid.

The final half of this cigar propels it into legendary status for me.  The profile shows a wonderful transition into a presentation of dark wood, pepper, black cherry and sugar that intensifies so rapidly it takes me by surprise.  At the back of the palate cinnamon notes are still showing through and there is a fabulous overtone of rich tobacco flavor that is binding the experience together with incredible subtlety.  The Bears suck it on this evening, but this cigar is taking the sting out of the loss.  The draw stays too loose for me throughout and that is the only negative about this cigar.  The burn is superior right down to the nubbed end.

The finish was long and satisfying with lingering sugar and pepper notes that tease the palate well after last pull.  I seldom smoke the same cigar right after finishing, but this is one I would have smoked right away, if only I had more.

Appearance- 86 not going to win any contests, but slightly above average
Taste- 98 a classic profile that just wowed me at every turn
Construction- 89 the loose draw was a factor for me, the cigar performed well in spite of it
Strength- 94 a wonderful medium/full presentation that complemented the profile superbly
Overall- 92.25 some issues with the draw and lackluster appearance hurt the score, but still an excellent smoke

Alec Bradley American Classic Robusto (5x50)

This is a price point entry in the cigar universe, retailing in the $4.50 range I would say this is a cigar that is aimed at value.  I am often skeptical, if not fearful, of cigars that are entrants into this category because I have smoked so many bombs in this area over the years.  There seems to be real push of late to appeal to the value oriented smoker, and I am little confused about where the market is heading in this area.  In my experience the value smoker smokes bundle or machine made cigars that retail for under $2 apiece, asking them to take a leap into the $4 area seems a bit too much for me.  Conversely, the ultra premium or premium smoker is used to paying $6 and up for smokes so coming down to $4 might be possible for an everyday smoke, but it has to be of very high quality to appeal to this type of smoker.  I have smoked very few cigars at less than $6 that meet the very high quality standard that premium smokers would be looking for.  My point is that there just seems to be some market schizophrenia right now in this area.

This cigar presents with some interesting band work, but nothing too flashy.  The wrapper is a touch dry for me, but it looks nice.  The cigar appears to be well made, I detect no areas of concern when rolling it through my fingers.  There are some veins in the wrapper, but I don't believe they will cause any problems at all.  The pre light aroma has a nice barnyard fragrance and some nice spice notes at the foot.  The pre light draw is thin and shows some sour, fuel like character that has me concerned.

The cigar opens with a profile that is neither complex, deep or enjoyable.  The core profile is sour and the fuel taste noted in the pre light draw is prominent.  This taste could most accurately be described as kerosene at this point, with perhaps some essence of naphtha that almost burns the palate with a strange menthol like remnant.  At the back of the palate some wood and tobacco notes are present, but the fuel like flavor has overwhelmed any redeeming efforts.  The draw is excellent, I wish it weren't at this point.  The burn is a touch off, but no touch ups are required to this point.

The first half of the cigar blessedly improves, though not much.  The menthol flavors have given way to something that is slightly minty, but there is a very nice undertone of oatmeal sneaking in here as well and I am hoping it will become fully involved.  The depth and complexity are still not here, but the departure from a fuel like taste is welcome.  At the back of the palate a nice, light wood presentation has taken over and gives the cigar a measure of cohesion.  The draw is still very nice, delivering plenty of smoke with minimal drawing effort.  The burn has evened out and is not causing any problems.

The final half of the cigar is still showing some nice improvements, but the cigar never reaches any status that would be noteworthy.  The profile continues to be minty with some shots of vanilla and oatmeal showing up here and there.  The level of depth and complexity never really come home for me, this cigar is just too thin in the delivery of flavor categories.  At the back of the palate there are still some nice wood presentations, but the fuel taste starts to creep back into the smoke in the final third.  The draw stays nice throughout the smoke, and after initial issues the burn stays strong as well.

The finish was middling and left some lingering fuel like character.

In my mind there are two very worthy cigars priced under five dollars, the Padilla Terraza Maduro and the Don Tomas Sungrown, smoke either one of those if you are looking for premium quality at a bargain price.

Appearance- 87 a slightly above average visual appeal
Taste- 83 some redemption in the middle, but fuel tastes in the start, end and finish kill the score
Construction- 91 the only real value in this smoke
Strength- 85 mild to low medium
Overall- 86.75 based on solid construction

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale Habanero (6x52)

The name of this cigar is quite a mouthful!  What the hell is going on with the cigar names lately anyway?  My Uzi Weighs a Ton, Humo Jaguar, La Gloria Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah...  Whatever happened to the simpler cigar times of Punch Punch, Cohiba Siglo, Montecristo No.2?  Seems to me the longer the name the more you are trying to hide in the cigar itself, as if having to read some multi-syllabic mouthful of cigar jargon will lull you into some sense of cigar euphoria and make you believe you are embarking on an epic cigar journey.  Whatever!  The cigar needs to speak for itself Mr. Cigar Maker Man, so don't give me all this hoo hah in the name and just give me a damn fine smoke!  Rant over for now.

This cigar is a continuation of the legendary brand put on the map by one of my cigar heroes, Ernesto Perez Carrillo.  General Cigars now holds the rights and they have been doing some things with it, namely the Artesanos line and the Serie N, none of which have blown me away.  You see the overall quality of General Cigars products just hasn't been up to snuff in the last couple of years and the cigars that have been produced much bile in my sensitive cigar stomach.  Ernesto must be quietly cursing the name that he made so famous because he will always be attached to it.

This cigar presents with a dry and dusty looking wrapper that has prominent veins and some greenish coloration in spots.  The construction appears to be acceptable and I can't detect any areas of concern.  The pre light aroma is of heavy cedar.  The pre light draw is bitter but shows some woody character.  I will add some visual props for some nice band work.

The cigar opens with a profile that is dry and bitter, it is trying to show some cedary qualities but they are not showing through well.  At the back of the palate there are some very dry floral notes and my palate is getting scorched out by these dry flavors.  The draw is way too loose and I worry about heat showing later in the cigar.  The burn is a touch off, but I am not touching up at this point.

The first half of the cigar shows no development.  The core profile stays bitter and dry with some wisps of cedar.  At the back of the palate there are some hints of wood and a floral sweetness, but they dryness is killing this whole experience, I feel like I need to hack up a furball.  The draw continues to be way too loose for me.  The burn has corrected itself without issue.

The final half of the smoke continues to be inferior and offensive.  The overwhelming dry character of this cigar has ruined any possibility of it being remotely enjoyable.  The core profile is still trying to show cedar notes, but they are bitter.  At the back of the palate there are still some floral implications, but they are not really anything but passable at this point.  The draw stays loose all the way to the end, but I manage to keep the heat out of the smoke without issue.  The burn collapses in the final third and a canoe forms, unfortunately this canoe sinks the experience.

The finish is bitter and has some fleeting hints of cedar.

Appearance- 82 just not nice to look at
Taste- 73 a really poor showing
Construction- 77 some really bad things going on here
Strength- 85 medium I guess, but it did nothing for the smoke
Overall- 77.75 very, very poor

Humo Jaguar Robusto (5x52)

A couple of months ago I started hearing about a Humo Jaguar and I was baffled by this development.  I was under the impression that the Humo Jaguar may have been some new species of cat discovered by the world renowned animal enthusiast Umberto Humo (of course no such person exists, but in my head he did for awhile).  I also considered the possibility that maybe Jaguar motors had come up with some new and sexy looking sports car.  Then I realized that I only move in cigar circles and that I don't really know any motor enthusiasts or people that go to exotic locales to see rare animals.  After doing the math I realized that Humo Jaguar must be a cigar.  After feeling silly for not realizing it in the first place, I began to realize that it was not my fault.  Who names a cigar Humo Jaguar anyway?  It is a ridonkulous name for a smoke.

Hyperbole and cigar nomenclature aside I decided I had to smoke of these bad boys because I had been hearing some raves.  I chose the robusto, because....well because the other sizes are just too damn big.  If I wanted to smoke a baseball bat I would travel to Louisville and get my fill.  The cigar presents well with a nice toothy wrapper and some light veining.  I have some concern about the cigar being too dry, but upon closer examination I can see all the appropriate hallmarks of proper care.  The pre light aroma is full of floral barnyard notes.  The pre light draw shows some hints of raisin, a characteristic I note in almost every Honduran cigar I smoke.

The cigar opens with a profile that is simply way too mild for me.  There are some nice flavors of raisin and a light ginger like spice, but they just don't deliver with much impact and reveal a lack of depth at this point.  At the back of the palate there are some very light tobacco notes and a light toasty character that is pleasant, but again not very deep.  The draw is a touch on the tight side, but I can feel it loosening as the first quarter inch proceeds.  The burn is solid and a nice, dirty, gray ash is the result.

The first half of the cigar remains mild, but it does show some nice profile development.  The core profile continues to show some raising and ginger notes, but there is a light leather flavor that is creeping in here and adding some interesting complexity to the overall presentation.  I would still like some more depth in the smoke and the flavors could definitely be more robust in areas.  At the back of the palate a more straightforward set of flavors are showing through.  There are some nice flavors of light wood and light tobacco here with a nice undertone of toasty, woody flavors.  The draw has opened nicely and performs very well through the first half.  The burn continues to be very solid.

The final half of the cigar is still mild and that will be my great complaint about this cigar, it just does not deliver enough for the experienced smoker and I would only be able to fit it in my rotation as the occasional morning smoke.  The profile continues to show raisins and some other mulled fruit tones are here as well.  There continues to be a nice shade of leather flavor here that provides some interesting interplay with the other flavors, but it never gains strength or congeals into a complex and deep presentation.  At the back of the palate the light wood and light tobacco flavors continue.  The draw is acceptable to the end and the burn continues to be strong throughout.

The finish was a touch thin, but showed some lingering spice and toasty wood and tobacco notes.  This cigar would be far, far better with more strength and depth of flavor.

Appearance- 87 a touch too dry in appearance
Taste- 87 a nice presentation, but I would have liked much more punch
Construction- 89 some early tightness in the draw
Strength- 85 a very, very pedestrian mild.
Overall- 87.25 an above average smoke, but there are mild cigars with more depth and complexity that I would rather smoke

Illusione Ultra (5.125x42)

Thursday was spend a bundle on car repair day, so after I was done straightening my back from bending over to hold my ankles I decided that it was time to have a smoke and relax while plotting the demise of everyone associated with the automobile industry.  Seriously, has there ever been a greater or more ingenious scam perpetrated on the American public (aside from the current resident of the White House, WTF....)?  The car was developed with planned obsolescence in mind, and boy do they make us pay for that plan.  Every time I turn around it is another $500 or $1000 going out to replace this or that.  What does this have to do with cigars you might ask?  Simple, the more I spend keeping myself mobile the less I spend keeping myself relaxed with a nice cigar!

This cigar is right in my car pool lane.  This is my favorite size for a smoke.  These sizes always deliver plenty of flavor and seldom show any smoking issues in any area.  I have always felt that the smaller rings are just the purest delivery of wrapper vs. filler/binder and the taste is often times legendary.  The cigar itself is very well made.  The wrapper is dark and has a nice sheen to it, there are some variations in the color that make it look like a swirling pool of chocolate, similar to a Snickers commercial.  It feels like it might be too firm, but I can't find any plugs or soft areas.  The pre light aroma is heavy with coffee notes.  The pre light draw is peppery, but has some nice cocoa undertones.

The cigar opens with some flavors that are not well refined and are lacking in depth.  The profile shows some scatterings of promise with some pepper, earth and cocoa notes, but they never gel into anything worth ohhhing about.  At the back of the palate there is some bitterness early on that has some aspirin like qualities to it.  The burn is right on the money early on.  The draw is tight, but solid to this point and I am not thinking about issues.

The first half of the cigar shows little development.  The profile continues with some flavors of earth, pepper and light cocoa, but there is no revelation of anything better or more refined.  Illusione has impressed me before with robust and flavorful little packages, like the MK, but this one is not on the same planet.  At the back of the palate there are still some bitter tones, and they are accompanied by a sharp wood flavor here.  The draw is still too tight, and there is some heat coming into the smoke at this point, I slowed it down here to protect the experience without letting it go charred or scorched.  The burn is exceptional and the ash holds on like a champ until the midway point.

The final half of the cigar is still a let down.  The profile never shows any development and stays very static.  The flavors are not unpleasant, they are just not well developed and can't provide a full experience.  The main body continues to show earth, pepper and cocoa.  At the back of the palate there are still some sharp wood notes and aspirin like bitter flavors that are creeping around.  The draw stays tight to the end, but I am able to manage it by slowing the smoke.  The burn was excellent.

The finish was middling with strong waves of pepper.  When combustion is the real highlight of the cigar I have a real problem...

Appearance- 89 a nice smoke
Taste- 83 below average due to bitterness at the back of the palate, but all in all pretty average
Construction- 82 draw tightness kills this smoke, over an hour to smoke it because I had to slow it down
Strength- 85 a very average medium
Overall- 84, I was hoping for more