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
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