My singles journey marches on through the dark drawers of the oft forgotten nether regions of my cabinet and reveals this bulky smoke from the boys at Gran Habano. In all fairness I have never cared for Gran Habano offerings as I often find them to be pedestrian and lacking in depth and complexity. The cigar itself is simple looking, it has a small band at the foot and no other adornments. The wrapper is toothy and rough looking, but the cigar appears to be well made. The pre light aroma smacks of sharp cedar and spice. The pre light draw is a touch bitter, but has some elemental qualities that border on being metallic.
The cigar opens in much the way I expect from Gran Habano. The profile is not deep or flavorful in the early stages. There are some hints of dark wood and spice, but they are neither tasty or complex. At the back of the palate there is a torched coffee flavor that assaults the taste buds in a most foul way. The draw is fluid and even, but might become too loose at some point in the smoke. The burn is lopsided and produces a white ash that is a touch flaky.
The first half of the smoke improves slightly, but it is nothing worth clicking your heels over. The profile takes on a more coffee like character, but maintains some nice flavors of dark wood. At the back of the palate there are some spice flavors that are bordering on acidic, but staying in the acceptable lane for now. There is no particular balance or depth, but it is not terrible. The draw is becoming looser and some heat is coming into the smoke at the half way point. The burn levels out, but the ash is still flaky.
The final half of the smoke really does nothing to thrill me. The profile shows some wheaty notes that are quickly obscured by blasts of young tobacco and bitter vegetation flavors. At the back of the palate the bitterness is creeping back in and threatens to become acidic. The draw becomes too loose and the heat becomes a major problem. The burn stays acceptable from the halfway point on.
The finish is short and bitter and I am thankful that this experience has ended and wish I had left this smoke wherever I found it.
Appearance- 86 very simple and plain
Taste- 82 not a lot of redeeming qualities here
Construction- 81 late loose draw hurts the cigar and the score
Strength- 80 a lackluster medium/full
Overall- 82 a very under achieving effort
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Ashton Cabinet #6 (5.5x50)
The next treat from the singles drawers is this fine specimen. I used to smoke these on a fairly regular basis, but as my tastes matured and became more in tune to stronger selections I went away from this mild smoke. After smoking this I am thinking that I was a dunce for making that particular decision. The cigar is elegant and handsome due to being draped in a flawless, nearly blond wrapper. The band has a regal looking script that adds to the visual array. An inspection of the smoke reveals no areas of concern and I am nearly shaking in anticipation, but I continue my ritual, it is not that often that a cigar has this effect on me and I want to savor the moments. The pre light aroma has touches of light cinnamon and light tobacco. The pre light draw shows some nuanced balance with roasted nuts and light coffee flavors with hints of vanilla.
After the buildup the cigar opens somewhat disappointingly. The profile is tasty, but lacks in depth and balance in the early moments. There are some flavors of light wood, cinnamon and spice but they are all together disjointed and fleeting. At the back of the palate there is a brush of white pepper, but there is also some early bitterness that I usually associate with young cigars. The draw is dead solid perfect, there is just enough resistance to make the labor worthwhile without being a distraction and it allows for booming clouds of smoke. The burn is razor sharp and the ash is a crisp white.
The first half of the cigar is a lesson in duality. In the first inch or so the profile in alternately of wood and pepper. For the next half inch the draw becomes decidedly cinnamon like and the cigar really starts to deliver some excellent flavor. As the first half draws to a close I am smitten with the profile that is emerging. There are blasts of caramel and almond radiating across the taste buds and the flavors are bold, deep and complex at this point. All the while at the back of the palate a creamy vanilla flavor has held it all together with the grip of a wrestler, but the nuance of a master craftsman. The draw continues to be perfect for me and I am caught pondering how perfection can be so profound yet so fleeting in the cigar world. The burn is a monument to perfect construction as the ash holds out for nearly three inches.
The final half of the cigar is sadly not as earth shaking as the first, but it is still very solid. The profile transitions into a more mild presentation of light white pepper notes and light wood, some of the depth and complexity are gone, but the balance remains to provide a solid experience. At the back of the palate there are some nice flavors of light, crisp tobacco with fleeting hints of cinnamon.. The draw is still fabulous and I do not hesitate to rate this as one of the best constructed cigars I have smoked in a long time. The burn is solid all the way to the end.
The finish is a touch short with some bitter flavors, but there are some nice hints of wood and white pepper.
This is one of the finer cigars I have smoked in a long time and I can only hope my singles experiment continues along this path.
Appearance- 94 an excellent visual experience that calls out to the prospective smoker
Taste- 92 some points off for the opening moments and the finish, but overall a wonderful smoke
Construction- 100 a flawless performance here
Strength- 95 an excellent mild to low end of medium that compliments the profile in a classic way
Overall- 95.5 a classic cigar for me
After the buildup the cigar opens somewhat disappointingly. The profile is tasty, but lacks in depth and balance in the early moments. There are some flavors of light wood, cinnamon and spice but they are all together disjointed and fleeting. At the back of the palate there is a brush of white pepper, but there is also some early bitterness that I usually associate with young cigars. The draw is dead solid perfect, there is just enough resistance to make the labor worthwhile without being a distraction and it allows for booming clouds of smoke. The burn is razor sharp and the ash is a crisp white.
The first half of the cigar is a lesson in duality. In the first inch or so the profile in alternately of wood and pepper. For the next half inch the draw becomes decidedly cinnamon like and the cigar really starts to deliver some excellent flavor. As the first half draws to a close I am smitten with the profile that is emerging. There are blasts of caramel and almond radiating across the taste buds and the flavors are bold, deep and complex at this point. All the while at the back of the palate a creamy vanilla flavor has held it all together with the grip of a wrestler, but the nuance of a master craftsman. The draw continues to be perfect for me and I am caught pondering how perfection can be so profound yet so fleeting in the cigar world. The burn is a monument to perfect construction as the ash holds out for nearly three inches.
The final half of the cigar is sadly not as earth shaking as the first, but it is still very solid. The profile transitions into a more mild presentation of light white pepper notes and light wood, some of the depth and complexity are gone, but the balance remains to provide a solid experience. At the back of the palate there are some nice flavors of light, crisp tobacco with fleeting hints of cinnamon.. The draw is still fabulous and I do not hesitate to rate this as one of the best constructed cigars I have smoked in a long time. The burn is solid all the way to the end.
The finish is a touch short with some bitter flavors, but there are some nice hints of wood and white pepper.
This is one of the finer cigars I have smoked in a long time and I can only hope my singles experiment continues along this path.
Appearance- 94 an excellent visual experience that calls out to the prospective smoker
Taste- 92 some points off for the opening moments and the finish, but overall a wonderful smoke
Construction- 100 a flawless performance here
Strength- 95 an excellent mild to low end of medium that compliments the profile in a classic way
Overall- 95.5 a classic cigar for me
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Berger & Argenti Clasico Rothchild (5x50)
While digging through the singles drawers I came upon this little number, I have no idea where or when I picked it up, but it seemed interesting to me so I decided to continue my tour de singles. I know that many of my fellow BOTL's have talked about this cigar, but I had never really tuned in to hear what they were really saying, I just assumed it was another new entry into the so-so category. I could not have been more wrong about that.
The cigar is very plain looking, there is no flair or spectacle. The wrapper is a light brown, somewhat like a creamed coffee, and it has a nice sheen to it without being visually oily. The construction seems to be acceptable upon inspection, but the roll seems a bit to tight to me. The pre light aroma is light, but it smacks of cinnamon and wood. The pre light draw shows some nice flavors of spice and pumpkin.
This smoke opens with a fairly pedestrian profile offering. There are some notes of light wood and some fleeting cinnamon, but the lack of depth and complexity in the front of the profile are concerning to me at this point. At the back of the palate there is a warm wood flavor that seems a touch like pine to me. The draw is a little tight, but so far it is acceptable. The burn is sharp and a nice gray ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar really warms up the palate. The profile morphs into a fantastically deep and satisfying array of flavors showing cinnamon, pumpkin, spice, light wood and a hard candy sweetness. At the back of the palate there are some excellent notes of pine and some nutmeg essences that are really showing through. This is a profile unlike any I have every experienced and I am really looking forward to the finish. The draw has opened slightly, but there is some heat coming into the picture here. The burn is still solid.
The final half of the cigar loses some of it's lustre, but it continues to perform well, albeit not as impressively as the first half. The profile still shows some cinnamon flavors, but there are some tart presentations of ginger here as well. This is still very good, but more mundane than the first half led me to expect. At the back of the palate there are still some nice wood flavors, but there is some heat causing a charred character here as well. The draw is still opening, but not to the point where I like and the burn is solid throughout.
The finish was middling, but left me longin for what was displayed in the first half of the cigar.
Appearance- 85 a very average look and feel
Taste- 92 an excellent first half, but the rest could use some attention
Construction- 87 some draw tightness caused hear, but overall good
Strength- 89 a very satisfying medium
Overall- 89 Not bad for a boutique single
The cigar is very plain looking, there is no flair or spectacle. The wrapper is a light brown, somewhat like a creamed coffee, and it has a nice sheen to it without being visually oily. The construction seems to be acceptable upon inspection, but the roll seems a bit to tight to me. The pre light aroma is light, but it smacks of cinnamon and wood. The pre light draw shows some nice flavors of spice and pumpkin.
This smoke opens with a fairly pedestrian profile offering. There are some notes of light wood and some fleeting cinnamon, but the lack of depth and complexity in the front of the profile are concerning to me at this point. At the back of the palate there is a warm wood flavor that seems a touch like pine to me. The draw is a little tight, but so far it is acceptable. The burn is sharp and a nice gray ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar really warms up the palate. The profile morphs into a fantastically deep and satisfying array of flavors showing cinnamon, pumpkin, spice, light wood and a hard candy sweetness. At the back of the palate there are some excellent notes of pine and some nutmeg essences that are really showing through. This is a profile unlike any I have every experienced and I am really looking forward to the finish. The draw has opened slightly, but there is some heat coming into the picture here. The burn is still solid.
The final half of the cigar loses some of it's lustre, but it continues to perform well, albeit not as impressively as the first half. The profile still shows some cinnamon flavors, but there are some tart presentations of ginger here as well. This is still very good, but more mundane than the first half led me to expect. At the back of the palate there are still some nice wood flavors, but there is some heat causing a charred character here as well. The draw is still opening, but not to the point where I like and the burn is solid throughout.
The finish was middling, but left me longin for what was displayed in the first half of the cigar.
Appearance- 85 a very average look and feel
Taste- 92 an excellent first half, but the rest could use some attention
Construction- 87 some draw tightness caused hear, but overall good
Strength- 89 a very satisfying medium
Overall- 89 Not bad for a boutique single
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