I have long been a fan of the Cabaiguan offerings as a starter cigar for my lineup, which can be a little heavy with full bodied cigars at times. I have always found these to be excellent starters in terms of body and strength. To see them in a muduro manifestation has been a pleasant surprise, as I have wondered what some sweetness would do to the blend.
The cigar itself is something to behold. There are few veins in the wrapper and the cigar is elegant looking with a nice oily sheen. A quick inspection reveals nothing of note and I believe that the cigar will perform well. The pre light aroma is of dark chocolate. The pre light draw shows some excellent potential as I take note of chocolate, orange zest, pepper and earth.
The cigar opens with a profile of light chocolate and orange zest that has a unique underlay of pepper. This early profile is amongst the best that I can remember in recent months and I am settling in for what I am anticipating will be an excellent experience. At the back of the palate there robust presentations of earth and dark wood that serve to balance and complicate the profile at the same time. The level of depth and complexity so early in this smoke is astounding. The draw is a bit too tight for me as there is some labor involved in producing acceptable, but it loosens as the opening moments pass. The burn is excellent and is producing a ponderous white ash at it progresses.
The first half of the cigar is everything a cigar experience should be. The palate is under constant assault with blasts of flavor coming from every direction. There are dark chocolate notes with an orange peel tinge to them. There are some hints of coffee and pepper that keep me guessing as the smoke continues to tease the palate with thoughts of what might be in store. At the back of the palate there earthiness is sharp, but not in an offensive way and the dark wood notes add some crispness to the underbelly of the smoke that completes an experience in complexity that is seldom seen. The draw has opened beautifully and is imparting ample blasts of flavorful smoke with each draw. The burn continues it's ponderous course in a razor sharp fashion and the crisp white ash is a thing of beauty.
The second half of the smoke continues to rank amongst the best I have smoked in recent months. The profile tames itself here into a more straightforward presentation of dark chocolate and coffee flavors. The peppery notes have all but disappeared into thin wisps of smoke, but I am not disappointed, it is almost like they had served their purpose admirably and, like many heroes, faded quietly away leaving bystanders to ask who was that guy? At the back of the palate there are still some intense flavors of earth and dark wood that are completing this cigar opus. The burn and draw perform extremely well right down to the finger burning nub.
The finish is luxurious and lavishes the palate with coffee and chocolate flavors long after the smoke has cleared. This is a cigar experience that can't be missed!
Appearance- 92 a very attractive and regal smoke
Taste- 97 a classic profile with miles and miles of depth and complexity
Construction- 91 some early draw tightness precludes a higher mark
Strength- 94 a very impressive and complementary medium
Overall- 93.75 a near classic for me
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Masterpiece (9x52)
It is not everyday that I get to smoke a cigar that was as rare as this one. The cigar itself is not rare, in that, you can find these in pretty much any B&M that carries Fuente. What is rare is that this was from an original release box that was procured in 1991. This cigar is at least 20 years old, and from what I know about the Fuente's this may have had three years of age on it before it hit the box. A very close friend gave me this smoke as a gift and I had been trying to figure out when to smoke it. Da Bears/Packers game seemed like just the right time for this pursuit.
The cigar presents in an intimidating perfecto size that seems gigantic to me. The wrapper is showing some age, and feels a touch dry, but I am not anticipating any issues. The construction seems to be excellent as an inspection reveals nothing of note. The pre light aroma is light and floral. The pre light draw shows some slight tobacco essence, but not much else is there.
The cigar opens with a profile that is extremely mild. There are some flavors of cedar and tobacco here, but they are neither complex or particularly deep. At the back of the palate there are some dusty wood characteristics, but again the palate is left wanting for more in the experience. The burn is right on the money and that is a testament to expert construction, for a cigar of this shape and size to burn well is a marvel of cigar engineering. The draw is fluid and easy, imparting just the right amount of smoke with every draw.
The first third of the cigar shows little progression of any kind. The main body picks up some floral ideas, but continues to show steady presentations of cedar and tobacco. At the back of the palate there are still some dusty wood presentations, but a wheaty character has entered the picture here as well. The burn is still right on the money and the draw continues to be a dream.
The middle third of the cigar continues to be mired in mediocrity. The core profile takes on a more floral personality, but there really is nothing here that is leading to any complexity or depth. The back of the palate continues to be combination of wood and wheat. The burn and draw are continuing to be the stars of this particular show.
The final third of the cigar continues to be very blase. The core profile is floral, with some touches of tobacco and some fleeting cinnamon notes (that at one time would have been profound). At the back of the palate there are still just some wood and wheat notes that are nothing special. The burn and draw steal the show here, just magnificent through to the end.
The finish was short and wheaty. At least I can say that I am one of the few people that has smoked a 20 year old Fuente, but this definitely reaffirms that old adage....smoke if you got em...
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke, but it is showing it's age
Taste- 84 very mundane and lacking in complexity and depth
Construction- 96 for a cigar of this size to be this well constructed and stay that way for 20 years warrants this score
Strength- 85 a very non-descript mild
Overall- 88.75 based in large part on construction
The cigar presents in an intimidating perfecto size that seems gigantic to me. The wrapper is showing some age, and feels a touch dry, but I am not anticipating any issues. The construction seems to be excellent as an inspection reveals nothing of note. The pre light aroma is light and floral. The pre light draw shows some slight tobacco essence, but not much else is there.
The cigar opens with a profile that is extremely mild. There are some flavors of cedar and tobacco here, but they are neither complex or particularly deep. At the back of the palate there are some dusty wood characteristics, but again the palate is left wanting for more in the experience. The burn is right on the money and that is a testament to expert construction, for a cigar of this shape and size to burn well is a marvel of cigar engineering. The draw is fluid and easy, imparting just the right amount of smoke with every draw.
The first third of the cigar shows little progression of any kind. The main body picks up some floral ideas, but continues to show steady presentations of cedar and tobacco. At the back of the palate there are still some dusty wood presentations, but a wheaty character has entered the picture here as well. The burn is still right on the money and the draw continues to be a dream.
The middle third of the cigar continues to be mired in mediocrity. The core profile takes on a more floral personality, but there really is nothing here that is leading to any complexity or depth. The back of the palate continues to be combination of wood and wheat. The burn and draw are continuing to be the stars of this particular show.
The final third of the cigar continues to be very blase. The core profile is floral, with some touches of tobacco and some fleeting cinnamon notes (that at one time would have been profound). At the back of the palate there are still just some wood and wheat notes that are nothing special. The burn and draw steal the show here, just magnificent through to the end.
The finish was short and wheaty. At least I can say that I am one of the few people that has smoked a 20 year old Fuente, but this definitely reaffirms that old adage....smoke if you got em...
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke, but it is showing it's age
Taste- 84 very mundane and lacking in complexity and depth
Construction- 96 for a cigar of this size to be this well constructed and stay that way for 20 years warrants this score
Strength- 85 a very non-descript mild
Overall- 88.75 based in large part on construction
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Pride Ritual Toro (6x52)
This is a very boutique cigar that I have not seen in many stores. I was given one by the maker at my favorite B&M recently and I waited a few days to give it a smoke, as I heard mixed reviews from BOTL's that I hang around with.
The cigar presents well however, it is a bit bulky for me. The wrapper has some prominent veins and there are some flaws that concern me when I am considering the potential burn aspects of the smoke. An examination of the smoke reveals nothing of concern construction wise. The pre light aroma is spicy, but has some bitter aspects. The pre light draw shows some vegetal essence that is off putting.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither complex or deep. There are some hints of spice and some woody notes, but there are some sour undertones that are really fouling the experience early on. At the back of the palate there are some dry, vegetal flavors that are not helping the experience any. The draw is a bit tight for me early on and the burn is an abomination that is requiring an early touch up as one side of the smoke refuses to combust properly.
The first half of the cigar continues it's death spiral. The profile is dry, acrid and smacks of old ash. At the back of the palate the dry, vegetal notes continue to assault the palate. The draw continues to be too tight at this point in the smoke, and the burn requires constant touch ups.
The final half of the cigar is no better than the rest of it. The profile is not showing anything noteworthy and continues to be bitter and acrid. At the back of the palate there continue to be vegetal notes that are putrid. The draw has opened slightly, but the burn has been terrible throughout.
The finish was short and positive in that it indicates the cigar is over.
Appearance- 86 prominent veins ruin the presentation
Taste- 73 very poor without any redeeming quality
Construction- 74 poor burn and tight draw
Strength- 85 a very average mild to medium
Overall- 77.5 don't waste your money
The cigar presents well however, it is a bit bulky for me. The wrapper has some prominent veins and there are some flaws that concern me when I am considering the potential burn aspects of the smoke. An examination of the smoke reveals nothing of concern construction wise. The pre light aroma is spicy, but has some bitter aspects. The pre light draw shows some vegetal essence that is off putting.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither complex or deep. There are some hints of spice and some woody notes, but there are some sour undertones that are really fouling the experience early on. At the back of the palate there are some dry, vegetal flavors that are not helping the experience any. The draw is a bit tight for me early on and the burn is an abomination that is requiring an early touch up as one side of the smoke refuses to combust properly.
The first half of the cigar continues it's death spiral. The profile is dry, acrid and smacks of old ash. At the back of the palate the dry, vegetal notes continue to assault the palate. The draw continues to be too tight at this point in the smoke, and the burn requires constant touch ups.
The final half of the cigar is no better than the rest of it. The profile is not showing anything noteworthy and continues to be bitter and acrid. At the back of the palate there continue to be vegetal notes that are putrid. The draw has opened slightly, but the burn has been terrible throughout.
The finish was short and positive in that it indicates the cigar is over.
Appearance- 86 prominent veins ruin the presentation
Taste- 73 very poor without any redeeming quality
Construction- 74 poor burn and tight draw
Strength- 85 a very average mild to medium
Overall- 77.5 don't waste your money
Friday, January 21, 2011
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story (4x48)
In looking through my archives I found that I had never reviewed this iconic cigar, and I have been smoking it for years and years. At one time, during the end of the boom period, this cigar could command $17.00. In recent years it is less than $6.00 and I have always thought that it was worth every penny, even when the premium was in place. My fear of reviewing these classic cigars of bygone smoking days is always the same, what if I now think the cigar stinks, I will not only have lost an old standby but I will have ruined some great cigar memories. So with wistful emotions I begin the journey of this review.
The cigar itself presents very well, I have always admired this shape, and I know what skill and craftsmanship is on display in this intricate vitola. The wrapper is the usual Hemingway medium brown and has that dusty texture that just seems right on these cigars. I always think of an old library somewhere, probably having to do with being named after the legendary author, and I think of dusty books with information yet to be discovered. This cigar always make me long for a smoking jacket, slippers, fireplace, armchair and scotch. This vivid imagery has always accompanied this smoke for me, no matter the venue in which I smoke it. The cigar is well made, but I anticipate the usual early burn problems that I always encounter with this vitola. The pre light aroma is light, but has some nice hints of roasted nuts. The pre light draw is almost floral, but shows some nutty presentations as well.
The cigar opens as I expect. The draw is tight, this is due to the nipple at the foot and the narrow burn passageway in the early moments, but I believe that it will open up as it usually does. The burn is wonky, but I also have always experienced this correcting itself relatively quickly. The profile is replete with roasted nut flavors, but they are not particularly complex or deep. At the back of the palate there are some nice light wood flavors with some cedar sweetness.
The main body of this small smoke is all that I remember it to be. There are some excellent notes of roasted nuts, spice and light wood throughout the smoke. There are some complexity and depth issues, but the straightforward presentation is refreshing here. At the back of the palate there are some dry areas, but overall there are some nice touches of wood and some floral essences here as well. The draw opens up nicely in the middle sections and the burn evens out making for an easy smoking experience.
The finish is somewhat middling, but has some nice wood and floral notes that linger.
Appearance- 94 always fun to look at
Taste- 88 a solid profile that could use more depth and complexity
Construction- 88 some early issues as usual, but they evened out
Strength- 91 a very nice mild/medium
Overall- 89.5 an excellent cigar that has stood the test of time
The cigar itself presents very well, I have always admired this shape, and I know what skill and craftsmanship is on display in this intricate vitola. The wrapper is the usual Hemingway medium brown and has that dusty texture that just seems right on these cigars. I always think of an old library somewhere, probably having to do with being named after the legendary author, and I think of dusty books with information yet to be discovered. This cigar always make me long for a smoking jacket, slippers, fireplace, armchair and scotch. This vivid imagery has always accompanied this smoke for me, no matter the venue in which I smoke it. The cigar is well made, but I anticipate the usual early burn problems that I always encounter with this vitola. The pre light aroma is light, but has some nice hints of roasted nuts. The pre light draw is almost floral, but shows some nutty presentations as well.
The cigar opens as I expect. The draw is tight, this is due to the nipple at the foot and the narrow burn passageway in the early moments, but I believe that it will open up as it usually does. The burn is wonky, but I also have always experienced this correcting itself relatively quickly. The profile is replete with roasted nut flavors, but they are not particularly complex or deep. At the back of the palate there are some nice light wood flavors with some cedar sweetness.
The main body of this small smoke is all that I remember it to be. There are some excellent notes of roasted nuts, spice and light wood throughout the smoke. There are some complexity and depth issues, but the straightforward presentation is refreshing here. At the back of the palate there are some dry areas, but overall there are some nice touches of wood and some floral essences here as well. The draw opens up nicely in the middle sections and the burn evens out making for an easy smoking experience.
The finish is somewhat middling, but has some nice wood and floral notes that linger.
Appearance- 94 always fun to look at
Taste- 88 a solid profile that could use more depth and complexity
Construction- 88 some early issues as usual, but they evened out
Strength- 91 a very nice mild/medium
Overall- 89.5 an excellent cigar that has stood the test of time
Friday, January 14, 2011
A Turrent Triple Play Toro (6x54)
I will admit that I have hesitated to smoke this cigar because my previous encounters with this front mark have been poor to say the least. I have always found Turrent products to have all the appeal of a root canal with the exception that a root canal feels better in the mouth. Many of my BOTL's told me that this cigar would change my opinion of Turrent, so I decided that I could no longer dodge the experience.
The cigar itself is very attractive, it has an appealing wrapper that has all the hallmarks of a quality maduro; dark color, nice oils, few veins and a hearty texture. The construction feels a bit tight to me, but I will not know for sure until I can test the draw. The pre light aroma is light, but contains some nice coffee notes. The pre light draw is tight, but shows some nice light chocolate flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that has me reconsidering my position on Turrent smokes immediately. There are some fabulous flavors of coffee, chocolate and raisin in the opening moments and I am on notice that this cigar could be an early contender for cigar of the year. At the back of the palate there is a satisfying backbone of dark wood that complements the front of the profile in an interesting way. The draw is too tight and I am afraid that it will cause issues later in the smoke. The burn is nice and slow, somewhat attributed to the draw I would say, but sharp.
The first half of the cigar opens a window of disappointment for me. The core profile has transitioned into a more straightforward presentation of over brewed coffee. In addition there is a salty character to the smoke here that I find disturbing. At the back of the palate the dark wood backdrop has morphed into a more earthy presentation that has some loamy ideas floating about. The draw has opened some, but still is too tight for me. The burn continues to be acceptable.
The final half of the cigar continues to decline. The core profile becomes a presentation of bitter coffee and acrid, earthy undertones. At the back of the palate there continues to be an earthy loaminess to the smoke that is not appealing. The tight draw begins to impart heat into the smoke and I am forced to let it go before I normally would.
The finish was short and bitter. If only this cigar could have held the promise of the opening moments, then we would have had a real winner here.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 83 because of the opening moments, after that disaster
Construction- 77 a poor showing draw wise hurts this score
Strength- 87 a nice medium
Overall- 83 another sub par showing from a new cigar
The cigar itself is very attractive, it has an appealing wrapper that has all the hallmarks of a quality maduro; dark color, nice oils, few veins and a hearty texture. The construction feels a bit tight to me, but I will not know for sure until I can test the draw. The pre light aroma is light, but contains some nice coffee notes. The pre light draw is tight, but shows some nice light chocolate flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that has me reconsidering my position on Turrent smokes immediately. There are some fabulous flavors of coffee, chocolate and raisin in the opening moments and I am on notice that this cigar could be an early contender for cigar of the year. At the back of the palate there is a satisfying backbone of dark wood that complements the front of the profile in an interesting way. The draw is too tight and I am afraid that it will cause issues later in the smoke. The burn is nice and slow, somewhat attributed to the draw I would say, but sharp.
The first half of the cigar opens a window of disappointment for me. The core profile has transitioned into a more straightforward presentation of over brewed coffee. In addition there is a salty character to the smoke here that I find disturbing. At the back of the palate the dark wood backdrop has morphed into a more earthy presentation that has some loamy ideas floating about. The draw has opened some, but still is too tight for me. The burn continues to be acceptable.
The final half of the cigar continues to decline. The core profile becomes a presentation of bitter coffee and acrid, earthy undertones. At the back of the palate there continues to be an earthy loaminess to the smoke that is not appealing. The tight draw begins to impart heat into the smoke and I am forced to let it go before I normally would.
The finish was short and bitter. If only this cigar could have held the promise of the opening moments, then we would have had a real winner here.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 83 because of the opening moments, after that disaster
Construction- 77 a poor showing draw wise hurts this score
Strength- 87 a nice medium
Overall- 83 another sub par showing from a new cigar
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros Sueno (5.25x54)
This is the latest Hoyo offering from the people at General Cigar. As always I pull no punches, and I can tell you that in recent years General fare has been, well....very general. I can't recall any recent cigars from them that have knocked my socks off, I am hoping that this is the one that changes that dynamic.
The cigar presents with an intricate looking band and a beautiful cedar sheath, I have always liked this look it makes me feel like am unwrapping a present. In this case however the sheath will not just slide off, it almost as if the cigar has expanded inside of it's wooden home. After the fight to remove the cedar is over I am able to give the cigar a once over. It appears that it has expanded and I can see cracks in the wrapper that have me concerned about the smoking performance. There is also a very prominent flaw in the wrapper near the head. The cigar appears, and feels, too moist and it is overly spongy to the touch. The pre light aroma is indicative of too much moisture and it has a slight sour smell accompanied by cedar aromas from the sheath. The pre light draw shows some spice and cedar notes, but it seems to have too much resistance.
The smoke opens well, but it is not anything to trumpet from the rooftops. There are some nice flavors of cedar and tobacco, but they are not particularly deep or complex. The is a vegetal undertone here that I can only attribute to moisture in the smoke and it leads to a strange aftertaste between draws. At the back of the palate there are some fleeting ideas of clove and spice, but the overall thought here is charred. The draw is too tight, and I find this to be the case with many of General's more recent offerings. The burn is slow and lopsided, again I attribute this to the moisture in the smoke.
The first half of the smoke deteriorates further. The main profile becomes vegetal and acrid, there are almost no redeeming taste qualities in this part of the smoke. At the back of the palate some wood notes show through, but there are still some charred ideas here as well. The draw continues to be too tight and the burn has not evened out to this point.
The final half of the smoke looks like something the Roadrunner would give the Coyote. The cigar explodes and becomes somewhat akin to a broken New Year's noise maker whistle. Interestingly this is when the cigar becomes more palatable to me. The profile starts to show some cedar and spice essence that is nice. At the back of the palate there is a robust presentation of wood and tobacco that complements the front of the palate very nicely. The draw opens up, obviously, there could only be improvement once the cigar blew up. The burn becomes untenable and I forget about trying to even it out, so I just smoke a cigar that looks like a prankster put a load in.
The finish is dry, but has some cedar flavors
Appearance- 92 a very nice presentation
Taste- 83 really below average, but it could have been worse
Construction- 70 I don't know if it could get any worse that this
Strength- 85 I think a nice medium, but hard to judge
Overall- 80.5 a very poor cigar, but I have smoked other ones that I thought were average, if not slightly above
The cigar presents with an intricate looking band and a beautiful cedar sheath, I have always liked this look it makes me feel like am unwrapping a present. In this case however the sheath will not just slide off, it almost as if the cigar has expanded inside of it's wooden home. After the fight to remove the cedar is over I am able to give the cigar a once over. It appears that it has expanded and I can see cracks in the wrapper that have me concerned about the smoking performance. There is also a very prominent flaw in the wrapper near the head. The cigar appears, and feels, too moist and it is overly spongy to the touch. The pre light aroma is indicative of too much moisture and it has a slight sour smell accompanied by cedar aromas from the sheath. The pre light draw shows some spice and cedar notes, but it seems to have too much resistance.
The smoke opens well, but it is not anything to trumpet from the rooftops. There are some nice flavors of cedar and tobacco, but they are not particularly deep or complex. The is a vegetal undertone here that I can only attribute to moisture in the smoke and it leads to a strange aftertaste between draws. At the back of the palate there are some fleeting ideas of clove and spice, but the overall thought here is charred. The draw is too tight, and I find this to be the case with many of General's more recent offerings. The burn is slow and lopsided, again I attribute this to the moisture in the smoke.
The first half of the smoke deteriorates further. The main profile becomes vegetal and acrid, there are almost no redeeming taste qualities in this part of the smoke. At the back of the palate some wood notes show through, but there are still some charred ideas here as well. The draw continues to be too tight and the burn has not evened out to this point.
The final half of the smoke looks like something the Roadrunner would give the Coyote. The cigar explodes and becomes somewhat akin to a broken New Year's noise maker whistle. Interestingly this is when the cigar becomes more palatable to me. The profile starts to show some cedar and spice essence that is nice. At the back of the palate there is a robust presentation of wood and tobacco that complements the front of the palate very nicely. The draw opens up, obviously, there could only be improvement once the cigar blew up. The burn becomes untenable and I forget about trying to even it out, so I just smoke a cigar that looks like a prankster put a load in.
The finish is dry, but has some cedar flavors
Appearance- 92 a very nice presentation
Taste- 83 really below average, but it could have been worse
Construction- 70 I don't know if it could get any worse that this
Strength- 85 I think a nice medium, but hard to judge
Overall- 80.5 a very poor cigar, but I have smoked other ones that I thought were average, if not slightly above
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Art Deco Grand Robusto (5.5x54)
I have not written many reviews recently, my apologies, I have actually been busy with my day job. My night job as a cigar critic is far more fun, you can trust me on that.
Everyone that knows me knows that I am a huge fan of Don Pepin's cigar creations, I believe that he is the master, and I also believe that his smokes show his mastery. Along comes the Art Deco, I have been hearing that this was the best cigar at the IPCPR show this past year and I was waiting to get one and have a smoke.
The cigar presents well but is a bit more bulky than I usually prefer, this big ring revolution has to peter out at some time I hope. The wrapper is leathery and has some veins, but I am not concerned that they will cause any issues. The texture and firmness of the cigar seem to be just right and I can't find anything that would make me believe that it will smoke poorly. The pre light aroma is oddly floral. The pre light draw shows some strange spice and some sort of anti-septic lemon taste is left on the palate.
The cigar opens with a profile that is profoundly sweet and weird. I liken it to the smell from the old lady in front of you at the deli. You know the one with too much perfume but also the strange smell of moth balls and spearmint? This cigar tastes like that smell. At the back of the palate there are some signs of a light wood trying to poke through, but it is cloaked in the sickly taste of the front of the profile. The burn is right on the money, but the draw is too tight for me at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to founder about. The main profile maintains the odd perfumy taste, but there are also some hints of mint and light spice that could be pleasing if it weren't for the perfume. At the back of the palate there are some definite essences of cedar and some light earth, but the weirdness from the front of the profile continues to permeate the back end. The burn continues to be steady and the draw has opened slightly, but is still tight.
The final half of the cigar shows no development. The profile never develops and the perfume taste has nearly ruined the entire experience. This may be the first Pepin cigar that I have been totally disappointed in. What a shame.
The finish was middling and showed more perfume as time passed.
Appearance- 92 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 73 just not very good at all
Construction- 86 a tight draw early hurts this smoke
Strength- 85 a middle of the road medium
Overall- 82.5 a big, big disappointment
Everyone that knows me knows that I am a huge fan of Don Pepin's cigar creations, I believe that he is the master, and I also believe that his smokes show his mastery. Along comes the Art Deco, I have been hearing that this was the best cigar at the IPCPR show this past year and I was waiting to get one and have a smoke.
The cigar presents well but is a bit more bulky than I usually prefer, this big ring revolution has to peter out at some time I hope. The wrapper is leathery and has some veins, but I am not concerned that they will cause any issues. The texture and firmness of the cigar seem to be just right and I can't find anything that would make me believe that it will smoke poorly. The pre light aroma is oddly floral. The pre light draw shows some strange spice and some sort of anti-septic lemon taste is left on the palate.
The cigar opens with a profile that is profoundly sweet and weird. I liken it to the smell from the old lady in front of you at the deli. You know the one with too much perfume but also the strange smell of moth balls and spearmint? This cigar tastes like that smell. At the back of the palate there are some signs of a light wood trying to poke through, but it is cloaked in the sickly taste of the front of the profile. The burn is right on the money, but the draw is too tight for me at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to founder about. The main profile maintains the odd perfumy taste, but there are also some hints of mint and light spice that could be pleasing if it weren't for the perfume. At the back of the palate there are some definite essences of cedar and some light earth, but the weirdness from the front of the profile continues to permeate the back end. The burn continues to be steady and the draw has opened slightly, but is still tight.
The final half of the cigar shows no development. The profile never develops and the perfume taste has nearly ruined the entire experience. This may be the first Pepin cigar that I have been totally disappointed in. What a shame.
The finish was middling and showed more perfume as time passed.
Appearance- 92 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 73 just not very good at all
Construction- 86 a tight draw early hurts this smoke
Strength- 85 a middle of the road medium
Overall- 82.5 a big, big disappointment
Monday, January 3, 2011
Top 10 Cigars of 2010
I have been away for awhile, but I will never let you down when it comes to naming my top smokes for the year. There are some surprises this year, and when I looked back I realized how many great smokes I experienced this past year. Thanks to all of you for your comments and feedback. Keep reading and smoking my friends! Without further blather, here are the Czar's Top 10 for 2010
10.) Oliva Connecticut Toro- 92.75
10.) El Triunfador No.3- 92.75
9.) La Aroma de Cuba Serie EE Minuto- 93
9.) Trinidad Habana Reserve Short Churchill- 93
8.) Don Pepin Garcia Black Edition 1977 Corona- 93.25 (2nd straight year in Top 10)
8.) Perdomo Habano Maduro Petit Corona- 93.25
7.) La Aurora Preferidos Cameroon Lancero- 93.5
6.) Perdomo Edicion de Silvio Trompeta- 94.25
5.) Don Pepin Garcia JJ Maduro Selecto- 94.5
4.) Mi Barrio El Forro- 94.75
3.) Arturo Fuente Opus X Reserva D'Chateau- 95.25
2.) La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or (1997 Box Date)- 96
1.) Diamond Crown Maduro No.4- 96.75
10.) Oliva Connecticut Toro- 92.75
10.) El Triunfador No.3- 92.75
9.) La Aroma de Cuba Serie EE Minuto- 93
9.) Trinidad Habana Reserve Short Churchill- 93
8.) Don Pepin Garcia Black Edition 1977 Corona- 93.25 (2nd straight year in Top 10)
8.) Perdomo Habano Maduro Petit Corona- 93.25
7.) La Aurora Preferidos Cameroon Lancero- 93.5
6.) Perdomo Edicion de Silvio Trompeta- 94.25
5.) Don Pepin Garcia JJ Maduro Selecto- 94.5
4.) Mi Barrio El Forro- 94.75
3.) Arturo Fuente Opus X Reserva D'Chateau- 95.25
2.) La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or (1997 Box Date)- 96
1.) Diamond Crown Maduro No.4- 96.75
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