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
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
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
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
Monday, November 14, 2011
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
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
Friday, November 11, 2011
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
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
Sunday, November 6, 2011
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
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
Saturday, November 5, 2011
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
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
Thursday, November 3, 2011
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
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
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