Recently during a silent auction I was able to procure three of these cigars. The rarity of this cigar is nearly unmatched in the industry, they are not available for sale in any retail establishments and are basically available when they are donated to charity type auctions. To say that I was excited to win them would be an understatement, and at a price of about sixteen and some change, I would say well worth the flyer investment for a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The cigar itself is very plainly presented in a box of three with a My Father Special Selection band that sports an S and some of the same artwork of a standard My Father. The wrapper is very familiar to a My Father enthusiast such as myself and is applied flawlessly and shows little veining. The construction feels excellent to me and I can't find a single area of concern. The pre light aroma is leathery with a touch of spice. The pre light draw is a slap in the face as that familiar nicotine burn coats the lips and tongues with a fiery tingle that is bordering on being uncomfortable. I am worried about this being too strong for a first cigar of the day, but I plunge onward.
The smoke opens with a profile that is all nicotine fire and strong tobacco notes. I am immediately on notice and off balance because I was not expecting such power (even after the pre light draw showed me what could be coming), I was anticipating a more My Father like experience early on. At the back of the palate the throat is tingling from the early blasts of nicotine, but there are some very nice notes of dark wood and earth here as well. The draw is nearly perfect for me, providing just the desired amount of resistance to each pull. The burn is very solid and a nice ash develops slowly and cleanly.
The first half of the smoke settles in beautifully, gone are the in your face nicotine and tobacco notes and the cigar begins to show a level of complexity and depth that is seldom experienced in a cigar. The profile smacks of clove and cedar with sublime undertones of bread and salt. At the back of the palate the true champion of this smoke emerges as thundering cannon blasts of pepper and wood come through and provide a strong backdrop to the front of the profile. The draw remains nearly perfect and the burn holds the ash to nearly the half way point.
The final half, yet again, shifts into a more well rounded cigar experience. The core profile segues into a nice presentation of leather and earth with shots of pepper. At the back of the palate there is soft underlay of cinnamon and light coffee that is as pleasing as the day is long. The draw and burn maintain a near flawless disposition throughout.
The finish is a shame, in that the cigar is now done and I only have two others. If you can get your hands on some you absolutely must!
Appearance- 88 kind of plain, but solid
Taste- 94 an excellent smoke, the only drawback was some early harshness
Construction- 100 they don't perform any better that this one did
Strength- 91 a very nice full that was too overwhelming early
Overall- 94.5 a superb smoking experience
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Padilla La Terraza Capa Habano Serie 2010 (5x54)
Having just reviewed this cigar's maduro brethren, to the tune of a much deserved 90+ rating, I was excited to see what this smoke was all about.
It presents with a heavy looking Habano wrapper that has some spots that seem dry to me. There are some large veins running the course of this smoke, but I don't think they will be causing any issues. The construction seems a touch firm near the head and I am speculating that there may be some draw issues as this smoke progresses. The pre light aroma is decidedly leathery, but there is odd sour note that touches the nose every so slightly here. The pre light draw is tight so I lightly do some work to loosen the smoke by rolling it through my fingers. As an aside, this is not something I would recommend to anyone unless you absolutely know what you are doing, if you apply too much pressure you will crack and unravel the wrapper. There are no real significant flavors in the pre light draw, but there are some fleeting touches of wood and leather.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly sour in the early moments. I am not sure what this is about, but the taste is somewhat akin to the smell of a musty basement, not really where I want to be during the smoking experience. At the back of the palate there are some mushroom like flavors and some hints of dark wood, but nothing here is making me think that this will be a masterpiece of any kind. The draw is acceptable, but just barely so. The burn is solid and slow, there is a nice white ash forming that seems heavy.
The first half of the cigar show little improvement, with the exception of the exit of the basement tastes. The core profile is muddled and shallow, showing flavors of wood, earth and some leather, but there is nothing here that shows any character or depth. At the back of the palate there is an odd spice note that has a nutmeg tinge to it, but it is hard to isolate exactly what I am experiencing here. The draw is loosening more as the cigar heats up, but it is delivering the depth less flavors so it is no blessing. The burn is acceptable to this point and I will not have to retouch this cigar.
The final half of the cigar picks up some steam, but it would prove to be too little too late for this smoke. The core profile begins to sweeten, showing some sugarcane ideas, there is a satisfying leather tone to the smoke here as well. While these flavors are better, they are still neither complex or deep, which leads to a cigar that becomes less than palate compelling. At the back of the palate there are some nice shots of dark wood, but some horrible blasts of wet vegetation. The draw is fine now and the burn was consistent throughout.
All in all this was a disappointment. I would fully recommend the Maduro version of this cigar, but this one misses the mark by a wide margin.
Appearance- 87 not as nice to look at as the Maduro
Taste- 83 very subpar, a couple of points more due to the closing flavors, but still poor
Construction- 86 early draw tightness precludes a higher score
Strength- 85 a very mundane medium that did nothing to complement the experience
Overall- 85 an average score for a slightly below average smoke
It presents with a heavy looking Habano wrapper that has some spots that seem dry to me. There are some large veins running the course of this smoke, but I don't think they will be causing any issues. The construction seems a touch firm near the head and I am speculating that there may be some draw issues as this smoke progresses. The pre light aroma is decidedly leathery, but there is odd sour note that touches the nose every so slightly here. The pre light draw is tight so I lightly do some work to loosen the smoke by rolling it through my fingers. As an aside, this is not something I would recommend to anyone unless you absolutely know what you are doing, if you apply too much pressure you will crack and unravel the wrapper. There are no real significant flavors in the pre light draw, but there are some fleeting touches of wood and leather.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly sour in the early moments. I am not sure what this is about, but the taste is somewhat akin to the smell of a musty basement, not really where I want to be during the smoking experience. At the back of the palate there are some mushroom like flavors and some hints of dark wood, but nothing here is making me think that this will be a masterpiece of any kind. The draw is acceptable, but just barely so. The burn is solid and slow, there is a nice white ash forming that seems heavy.
The first half of the cigar show little improvement, with the exception of the exit of the basement tastes. The core profile is muddled and shallow, showing flavors of wood, earth and some leather, but there is nothing here that shows any character or depth. At the back of the palate there is an odd spice note that has a nutmeg tinge to it, but it is hard to isolate exactly what I am experiencing here. The draw is loosening more as the cigar heats up, but it is delivering the depth less flavors so it is no blessing. The burn is acceptable to this point and I will not have to retouch this cigar.
The final half of the cigar picks up some steam, but it would prove to be too little too late for this smoke. The core profile begins to sweeten, showing some sugarcane ideas, there is a satisfying leather tone to the smoke here as well. While these flavors are better, they are still neither complex or deep, which leads to a cigar that becomes less than palate compelling. At the back of the palate there are some nice shots of dark wood, but some horrible blasts of wet vegetation. The draw is fine now and the burn was consistent throughout.
All in all this was a disappointment. I would fully recommend the Maduro version of this cigar, but this one misses the mark by a wide margin.
Appearance- 87 not as nice to look at as the Maduro
Taste- 83 very subpar, a couple of points more due to the closing flavors, but still poor
Construction- 86 early draw tightness precludes a higher score
Strength- 85 a very mundane medium that did nothing to complement the experience
Overall- 85 an average score for a slightly below average smoke
Monday, May 23, 2011
Padilla La Terraza Capa Maduro Serie 2010 (5x54)
On a recent swing through a B&M in West Palm I came across these interesting little numbers hiding out on a shelf and trying hard not to be noticed. I coaxed some out of the box and was surprised to see a price point that made this a must try (Padilla has been a bit high on recent offerings and the quality has not been there). Despite recent disappointments in some Padilla smokes I decided to buy some of these in two different wrapper incarnations.
This cigar is really something to behold. The wrapper nearly drips with oily splendor and there are few veins and not a single blemish across the stunning exterior of this cigar. A quick roll through the mitts reveals a well constructed smoke that has some tightness near the head (my remedy for this is almost always a straight cut and some gentle chewing on the cigar to loosen the roll near the shoulder). After concluding my parenthetical ritual I continue on in my pre smoke evaluation process. The pre light aroma is an enticing mix of dark tea, clove and earth. The pre light draw shows some excellent dark wood essence and some tea notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that is complex, bold, balanced and nuanced. There are some instant dark tea flavors that are intoxicating. Some intense strings of black pepper boom forth here as well and are accompanied by deep and textured earthy flavors. At the back of the palate dark wood notes abound and create an almost herbal note when combined with the tea flavors. I am stunned by this unique profile and I am settling in for what is sure to be a fabulous experience. The draw is a touch tight, but it is not causing any distress in the experience. The burn is sharp and the ash is crisp and white.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. The profile is still showing some notes of tea, but there is a more forward presentation of spice and pepper after the opening inch. At the back of the palate dark wood continues to be the star, but there are some shifts to earthy presentations here as well and I like what it is showing me at this stage as it foreshadows earthy goodness to come. The draw has opened up nicely and the palate is coated with fabulous smoke on each draw. The burn remains exceptional to this point.
The final half of the smoke slows down some, but it is still impressive. The main profile becomes a touch one dimensional, showing mainly pepper notes, but the depth of the one flavor is solid. The back of the palate is showing some transition into a more earthy presentation, but it never quite gets all the way there, leaving me a bit sad about what could have been. The draw and burn stay excellent through to the very nubbed end.
The finish was long and smooth and showed notes of tea, wood, pepper and spice.
Appearance- 93 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 92 some lack of complexity late hurt the chances, but the cigar is still excellent
Construction- 91 some early reductions for tightness in the draw
Strength- 92 a very solid full
Overall- 91.75 a very good smoke that makes me think Padilla might get back on the map
This cigar is really something to behold. The wrapper nearly drips with oily splendor and there are few veins and not a single blemish across the stunning exterior of this cigar. A quick roll through the mitts reveals a well constructed smoke that has some tightness near the head (my remedy for this is almost always a straight cut and some gentle chewing on the cigar to loosen the roll near the shoulder). After concluding my parenthetical ritual I continue on in my pre smoke evaluation process. The pre light aroma is an enticing mix of dark tea, clove and earth. The pre light draw shows some excellent dark wood essence and some tea notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that is complex, bold, balanced and nuanced. There are some instant dark tea flavors that are intoxicating. Some intense strings of black pepper boom forth here as well and are accompanied by deep and textured earthy flavors. At the back of the palate dark wood notes abound and create an almost herbal note when combined with the tea flavors. I am stunned by this unique profile and I am settling in for what is sure to be a fabulous experience. The draw is a touch tight, but it is not causing any distress in the experience. The burn is sharp and the ash is crisp and white.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. The profile is still showing some notes of tea, but there is a more forward presentation of spice and pepper after the opening inch. At the back of the palate dark wood continues to be the star, but there are some shifts to earthy presentations here as well and I like what it is showing me at this stage as it foreshadows earthy goodness to come. The draw has opened up nicely and the palate is coated with fabulous smoke on each draw. The burn remains exceptional to this point.
The final half of the smoke slows down some, but it is still impressive. The main profile becomes a touch one dimensional, showing mainly pepper notes, but the depth of the one flavor is solid. The back of the palate is showing some transition into a more earthy presentation, but it never quite gets all the way there, leaving me a bit sad about what could have been. The draw and burn stay excellent through to the very nubbed end.
The finish was long and smooth and showed notes of tea, wood, pepper and spice.
Appearance- 93 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 92 some lack of complexity late hurt the chances, but the cigar is still excellent
Construction- 91 some early reductions for tightness in the draw
Strength- 92 a very solid full
Overall- 91.75 a very good smoke that makes me think Padilla might get back on the map
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Davidoff Maduro T (6x48)
So I bought two of these at the ultra super premium price of $25 per and let them simmer in the humi for a couple of weeks before I got around to smoking them. I will start this off by saying that I have seldom smoked any cigar that is worth $25, but I am always willing to part with some hard earned green to see if there is one out there that will be truly worth the asking price. Very few come immediately to mind. The Fuente Ashton ESG at $30, the Pepin Garcia LE from 2010 at $20 and some assorted Cubans that I have bought over the years.
The excitement about these cigars was the introduction of the maduro wrapper, Davidoff has always been known for mild premiums and these babies were supposed to have stepped it up a notch. I remove cello and begin the ritual. The wrapper is dark and bold looking with some veining, but nothing that is concerning to me at this point. The construction seems tight, but there is enough give so I think it will perform well from a burn and draw perspective. The pre light aroma is pungent and bordering on foul with a sour milk like odor on the nose. The pre light draw is horrific as acidic notes sear the lips and tongue and burn the throat.
The cigar opens with a profile that can only be described as something akin to licking a 9 volt battery several times. The twang in the profile can't be isolated, but 9 volt is as close as I can come. At the back of the palate there are some thoughts of wood and maduro sweetness, but I am grimacing whilst trying to find redeeming character. The draw is fluid enough and the burn is a touch lopsided in the early moments.
The first half of the cigar shows little improvement. The profile eases somewhat, but the flavors are not complex or deep. There are some hints of spice and sugar cane, but they are cloaked by the continuing acidic notes that assail the front of the palate. At the back of the palate there are still some fleeting wood and sweet notes, but the front of the palate is getting raked over the coals so discerning anything this deep in the smoke is nearly futile. The draw stays acceptable, but the burn is going to require some touch ups.
The final half of the smoke is barely smokable. The profile is a horrific blend of acid and burning detritus, and I am considering chucking the whole shooting match at this point. At the back of the palate there are still some wood notes, but the experience is now a lost cause. The draw is still fine, but the burn requires several touch ups down the stretch.
Sadly, both cigars I smoked showed the same attributes. Save your shekels and buy something smokable, like a Garcia y Vega....I kid of course
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke, but nothing too special
Taste- 70 one of the worst I have ever...yes, ever smoked!
Construction- 83 some burn issues, but the draw was acceptable
Strength- 85 not sure so I will cause it average
Overall- 79.75 very, very poor and I am flummoxed as to why I thought it would be something other than bad
The excitement about these cigars was the introduction of the maduro wrapper, Davidoff has always been known for mild premiums and these babies were supposed to have stepped it up a notch. I remove cello and begin the ritual. The wrapper is dark and bold looking with some veining, but nothing that is concerning to me at this point. The construction seems tight, but there is enough give so I think it will perform well from a burn and draw perspective. The pre light aroma is pungent and bordering on foul with a sour milk like odor on the nose. The pre light draw is horrific as acidic notes sear the lips and tongue and burn the throat.
The cigar opens with a profile that can only be described as something akin to licking a 9 volt battery several times. The twang in the profile can't be isolated, but 9 volt is as close as I can come. At the back of the palate there are some thoughts of wood and maduro sweetness, but I am grimacing whilst trying to find redeeming character. The draw is fluid enough and the burn is a touch lopsided in the early moments.
The first half of the cigar shows little improvement. The profile eases somewhat, but the flavors are not complex or deep. There are some hints of spice and sugar cane, but they are cloaked by the continuing acidic notes that assail the front of the palate. At the back of the palate there are still some fleeting wood and sweet notes, but the front of the palate is getting raked over the coals so discerning anything this deep in the smoke is nearly futile. The draw stays acceptable, but the burn is going to require some touch ups.
The final half of the smoke is barely smokable. The profile is a horrific blend of acid and burning detritus, and I am considering chucking the whole shooting match at this point. At the back of the palate there are still some wood notes, but the experience is now a lost cause. The draw is still fine, but the burn requires several touch ups down the stretch.
Sadly, both cigars I smoked showed the same attributes. Save your shekels and buy something smokable, like a Garcia y Vega....I kid of course
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke, but nothing too special
Taste- 70 one of the worst I have ever...yes, ever smoked!
Construction- 83 some burn issues, but the draw was acceptable
Strength- 85 not sure so I will cause it average
Overall- 79.75 very, very poor and I am flummoxed as to why I thought it would be something other than bad
Friday, May 6, 2011
Warlock Belicoso (6x54)
It is no secret amongst my friends and readers that I don't care for this vitola, the beli is just something I have never been able to grasp in terms of appeal. Having said that, my cigar of the year from 2009 was a torpedo, so when they smoke well I am willing to overlook my displeasure about the size.
This particular cigar is made by Altadis and I have always had a hit or miss relationship with their offerings. It appears to be a bit dry in the wrapper, but there is some nice tooth to it. An examination of the smoke yields some mushy spots near the middle and I am concerned about the possibility of a void in that area. The pre light aroma is oddly floral with some strange orange mint essences as well. The pre light draw is fairly non-descript with the exception of some very light wood.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly sweet, not in a nice way either. It is reminiscent of the smell of fresh tar being lain on a hot summer day. There are definitely some acrid notes in the front of the palate and I am put off right away. At the back of the palate there are some bitter hints and a dry, almost talc like, remnant on the palate. The draw is fairly decent here, maybe a touch to loose, but still ok. The burn is lopsided, but I am not retouching just yet.
The first half of the smoke shows little improvement. The main profile is still too sickly sweet, but there are some ideas of wood trying to make their presence known here. At the back of the palate bitter notes have given way to a pedestrian showing of grass and vegetation. With so little character, depth or complexity I am forced to wonder the umteenth time why producers make this stuff. The draw is still acceptable, but I am starting to sense that there might be some heat coming in soon. The burn levels off some, but is still running a bit down a vein.
The final half of the cigar caps off what could only be described as a middling experience at best and absolutely horrid at worst. The main profile becomes full blown salvos of bitter wood notes and burning sugar flavors. At the back of the palate a sublime mix of wretched flavors mix to end this experience about and inch before I normally would, I can only take some much rotting vegetation and burning grass. The draw remained average and the burn slightly below average until I chucked this burning heap.
The finish was god awful and sent me scrambling for the mouthwash and tongue scraper, flavors of rotting vegetation, bitter wood, tar and grass need to be gotten rid of toot sweet in my mind.
Appearance- 83 a somewhat dry and homely looking smoke
Taste- 77 a very poor showing
Construction- 83 slightly below average due to burn issues
Strength- 85 medium I guess, but difficult to discern
Overall- 81.25 don't waste your time, money or palate equity
This particular cigar is made by Altadis and I have always had a hit or miss relationship with their offerings. It appears to be a bit dry in the wrapper, but there is some nice tooth to it. An examination of the smoke yields some mushy spots near the middle and I am concerned about the possibility of a void in that area. The pre light aroma is oddly floral with some strange orange mint essences as well. The pre light draw is fairly non-descript with the exception of some very light wood.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly sweet, not in a nice way either. It is reminiscent of the smell of fresh tar being lain on a hot summer day. There are definitely some acrid notes in the front of the palate and I am put off right away. At the back of the palate there are some bitter hints and a dry, almost talc like, remnant on the palate. The draw is fairly decent here, maybe a touch to loose, but still ok. The burn is lopsided, but I am not retouching just yet.
The first half of the smoke shows little improvement. The main profile is still too sickly sweet, but there are some ideas of wood trying to make their presence known here. At the back of the palate bitter notes have given way to a pedestrian showing of grass and vegetation. With so little character, depth or complexity I am forced to wonder the umteenth time why producers make this stuff. The draw is still acceptable, but I am starting to sense that there might be some heat coming in soon. The burn levels off some, but is still running a bit down a vein.
The final half of the cigar caps off what could only be described as a middling experience at best and absolutely horrid at worst. The main profile becomes full blown salvos of bitter wood notes and burning sugar flavors. At the back of the palate a sublime mix of wretched flavors mix to end this experience about and inch before I normally would, I can only take some much rotting vegetation and burning grass. The draw remained average and the burn slightly below average until I chucked this burning heap.
The finish was god awful and sent me scrambling for the mouthwash and tongue scraper, flavors of rotting vegetation, bitter wood, tar and grass need to be gotten rid of toot sweet in my mind.
Appearance- 83 a somewhat dry and homely looking smoke
Taste- 77 a very poor showing
Construction- 83 slightly below average due to burn issues
Strength- 85 medium I guess, but difficult to discern
Overall- 81.25 don't waste your time, money or palate equity
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