Usually I scoff at such blatant gimmickry, but in this case my initial negative reaction was turned into something more like curiosity followed by intense interest. It is not often that I am intrigued by a cigar offering anymore, the industry has just become so big ring and full flavored focused in the last few years that I can hardly stand it anymore. Along comes Pete Johnson, one of the masters of gimmicks, with this selection. For those of you that don't know what this is, it is a coffin with four cigars in it, one is the original Tatuaje Black Lancero and the other three are Lancero Culebras. Culebras are so rare and fun to have that I nearly knocked people over on my up to the front of my local B&M and to get one of the coffins. It is no secret in this blog that my departure from Pete had almost been complete when he pulled me back in with L'Atelier and with that greatness fresh in my mind I was mouth watering over this selection from the word go. In fact, the proprietor (always quite the joker), made some comment about inventing a cigar bib for me to stop the slobber from hitting my dress shirt. Very funny, very funny, but probably apt. Needless to say the week I had these laying in my humidor was killing me.
The Culebra is a mangled mess of a cigar to look at and I love every minute of it. Like looking at a masterpiece painting or sculpture I feel like there is depth and a palpable sense of anticipation at every turn and curve of the cigar. I am always concerned about the smoking performance of these cigars, you wonder, how could they be any good with all that mess there? Oddly enough I have had very few perform badly. This one looks like a thing of beauty and I can't detect any areas that will cause me concern at all. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of pepper and dark wood. The pre light draw shows some coffee tones with dark wood highlights.
The cigar opens with a profile that has miles and miles of depth and character. There are some brilliant meanderings of black pepper that smack the palate early on, only to be softened by some wonderful wood tones that have cedar, oak and hickory notes all wrapped into one. I am positively abuzz about this experience from the beginning and it is not letting me down. At the back of the palate and through the nose there are some very nice hints of coffee flavors and very nice crisp tobacco note on the finish that is harmonic when considered against the rest of the smoke. The draw is an absolute dream, perfect resistance and perfect delivery of smoke lead me into a considered pose as I contemplate the holidays and other such goings on because I know this cigar will not cause me an issue at all. The burn is also splendid and there is nary an issue.
The first half of the smoke really ramps up the flavor and robustness as it progresses. The core profile is really hammering away with black and red pepper notes that leave the palate alive and looking for more. The undertone of exceptional wood flavors still holds on in the background as almost a barrier to the pepper flavors becoming too much to bear. The back of the palate settles into a nice presentation of crisp and hearty tobacco flavors that further lend to the dampening of pepper notes that could become too much for the palate to work with if unchecked. The draw continues to be a wonderful experience and the burn moves right along with even ash and neither a run or split.
The final half of the cigar moves it into serious cigar of the year contention. The core profile takes on some more pepper flavors, but a hint of gingersnap comes into the profile and the molasses quality adds a satisfying counterpoint to the entire experience. It has been a long time since I was this impressed with a profile in a cigar and my transition back into the Pete Johnson fold is almost complete. The back of the palate and the nose still show effective tobacco flavors and some of the wood from the front of the smoke has found its way here as well. The draw and burn perform without a single issue all the way to the end.
The finish was woody and had some molasses bite and sweetness to it that lingered on.
Appearance- 100 I would not give a work of art like this a lesser score
Taste- 96 one of the finer profiles I have experienced in awhile
Construction- 100 the performance was so good for such an intricate vitola I have no choice
Strength- 97 a very nice full flavored experience
Overall- 98.25 an instant classic and definitely cigar of the year quality
Friday, December 28, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Debonaire Robusto (5x50)
The name Debonaire evokes high society imagery replete with aristocrats and wealthy well dressed industrialists, at least in my mind it does. Expectations of a cigar bearing this name were naturally high for me, particularly with the Debonaire price of thirteen bones for a robusto. I mean thirteen dollars for a robusto? Who do these guys think we are anyway, Carnegie and Rockefeller? I also want to know what is Debonaire about a guy riding a horse drawn liquor cart? Why do I ask you may ask? Well I ponder this question because the depiction on the band is just that, a dude driving a horse drawn liquor cart. When I think of Debonaire this is perhaps the last image I can up with, except for maybe someone drinking out of a finger bowl...
The cigar itself is a nice looking smoke. The wrapper has a nice sheen to it, but it does not appear to have been processed in any way. There are some veins, but they don't seem like they will be a hindrance to the performance of the smoke. The bunch seems too loose to me, but the rest of the construction looks like it is acceptable. I am always nervous about loose bunches. The loose bunch can create a loose draw, poor combustion and heat all of which are the death knell in the cigar world. The pre light aroma has huge blasts of dark fruit and wood. The light draw shows some pepper and little nicotine tingle on the lips and tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that has some very interesting flavors and it takes me some time to determine whether or not I like it or hate it. I end up on the like it side of things, but just because something is unique does not necessarily mean that it is good. The core profile here shows some rich dark fruit flavors and the texture of the smoke is thick and showing some very nice smoked meat and wood flavors as well. The back of the palate and the nose are showing nice coffee notes and some earthy tones as well. This is really a nice start to a cigar, but is not classic by any means. The draw is very loose, but this early on it is difficult to tell what will happen as the cigar progresses. The burn is a touch off and the ash is very flaky, but I don't see any real issues here for now.
The first half of the cigar loses some of the balance that was shown in the opening moments. The core profile continues to show some dark fruit flavors, but there is some citrus zest like Orange peel coming in here now as well. There are still some wood notes, but they are bordering on being bitter at this point. The back of the palate starts to show more loamy notes of earth as well and the coffee tones are sliding away as the cigar progresses. What is left is a profile that has some appeal in the front, but very little at the back of the palate or through the nose. The draw is still too loose at this point and some heat is starting to show up in the smoke, I start to slow it down a bit to keep it out of the flume. The burn has evened out and is performing nicely.
The final half of the cigar really continues a downward spiral. The core profile shows some pepper now, but the fruit notes are gone and there is some bitterness like a crushed aspirin coming through at this point. The disintegration of this cigar has been astonishing in it's completeness. The back of the palate still has some loamy earth qualities, but there is some dank sense of moisture here now as well, kind of like an old basement. The heat in the draw has been limited by my ability to slow the smoke down, but the draw is still too loose. The burn performed well through to the end.
The finish was musty and loamy.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 82 some nice things happening early, but the cigar really circled the drain late
Construction- 81 the best I can give a cigar with such a loose draw
Strength- 85 a nice medium/full offering
Overall- 83.25 for thirteen bucks you should expect more...
The cigar itself is a nice looking smoke. The wrapper has a nice sheen to it, but it does not appear to have been processed in any way. There are some veins, but they don't seem like they will be a hindrance to the performance of the smoke. The bunch seems too loose to me, but the rest of the construction looks like it is acceptable. I am always nervous about loose bunches. The loose bunch can create a loose draw, poor combustion and heat all of which are the death knell in the cigar world. The pre light aroma has huge blasts of dark fruit and wood. The light draw shows some pepper and little nicotine tingle on the lips and tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that has some very interesting flavors and it takes me some time to determine whether or not I like it or hate it. I end up on the like it side of things, but just because something is unique does not necessarily mean that it is good. The core profile here shows some rich dark fruit flavors and the texture of the smoke is thick and showing some very nice smoked meat and wood flavors as well. The back of the palate and the nose are showing nice coffee notes and some earthy tones as well. This is really a nice start to a cigar, but is not classic by any means. The draw is very loose, but this early on it is difficult to tell what will happen as the cigar progresses. The burn is a touch off and the ash is very flaky, but I don't see any real issues here for now.
The first half of the cigar loses some of the balance that was shown in the opening moments. The core profile continues to show some dark fruit flavors, but there is some citrus zest like Orange peel coming in here now as well. There are still some wood notes, but they are bordering on being bitter at this point. The back of the palate starts to show more loamy notes of earth as well and the coffee tones are sliding away as the cigar progresses. What is left is a profile that has some appeal in the front, but very little at the back of the palate or through the nose. The draw is still too loose at this point and some heat is starting to show up in the smoke, I start to slow it down a bit to keep it out of the flume. The burn has evened out and is performing nicely.
The final half of the cigar really continues a downward spiral. The core profile shows some pepper now, but the fruit notes are gone and there is some bitterness like a crushed aspirin coming through at this point. The disintegration of this cigar has been astonishing in it's completeness. The back of the palate still has some loamy earth qualities, but there is some dank sense of moisture here now as well, kind of like an old basement. The heat in the draw has been limited by my ability to slow the smoke down, but the draw is still too loose. The burn performed well through to the end.
The finish was musty and loamy.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 82 some nice things happening early, but the cigar really circled the drain late
Construction- 81 the best I can give a cigar with such a loose draw
Strength- 85 a nice medium/full offering
Overall- 83.25 for thirteen bucks you should expect more...
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Zengotita White Label Robusto (5x50)
I know what you are all thinking, WTF is a Zengotita! I am with you I knew nothing about this cigar when they were given to me by a proprietor at a local B&M. I of course accepted them, he respects my opinion and I his, it just seemed like the right thing to do. I asked him about them and he just shrugged his shoulders which indicated he knew about as much as I did at the time. Never fear though, I went to the Googleplex and let my fingers do the finding. You will not believe the sheer treasure trove of information that I found these. They are made somewhere in Tampa, and that is all I could find. Are you as shocked as I am about this incredible knowledge? They don't even have a website, all though they do have a domain reserved. The long and the short of it is, I can't tell you a damn thing about this cigar, other than it is a cigar that is made in Tampa....allegedly... I have no idea what the wrapper is, though it looks like a Habano. I don't know what's in the blend. Hell, I don't even know what country the tobaccos come from. In short this is really a blind tasting.
The cigar itself is wonderful to behold. It appears to very well made, I can't find a single issue with it as I inspect it. The wrapper is positively glistening, I am quite sure if it were any shinier I would be able to see my reflection in it. There are very few veins, and those that are there add character to the cigar for a nice visual impression. Even the band is stately and elegant. I just wish I knew more about the cigar. The pre light aroma is something odd, with some strange pot pourri odor and sharp wood notes. The pre light draw shows some pepper and a fragrant perfume character that is off putting.
The cigar opens with a profile that is pleasant, but not overwhelmingly complex or deep. The core flavors show some soft wood notes and slight clove like spices, there is also a sweetness here that I would equate to fig. The back of the palate and the nose show some medium tobacco notes with some dry hints of wheat flour. The overall impression at this point is so so, and the dry notes in the back of the palate and nose are taking away from the experience. The burn is solid and sharp. The draw is fluid, but a touch too tight for me.
The first half of the cigar is trying to hold on to whatever positives there were in the opening moments, but it is struggling to do so. The core profile is still showing some wood and light spice, but there are some bitter ideas coming through here now and they are not helping the cause. The back of the palate is showing some pepper, but there are some tones of scorched wood and vegetation here as well and the experience is deteriorating rapidly. The burn is still nice and a fine ash forms. The draw is actually tightening as the smoke progresses and I am becoming concerned about heat later in the smoke.
The final half of the cigar is a real descent into cigar hell. The core profile becomes overwhelmingly bitter and sour, a combination of what crushed aspirin tastes like and what a mildewed towel smells like. It goes without saying, this is not something one would be looking for in a cigar. The back of the palate is similarly bile churning. The flavors here are of wet wood smoldering and wet vegetation. The burn is still performing well, and in the end this is really the only redeeming quality in the smoke. The draw is still too tight and heat enters the smoke in the final third which forced me to slow the smoke down and only served to prolong the agony.
The finish was bitter and short.
Appearance- 89 I liked the way this looked
Taste- 78 some points for the early effort, a loss of points for the rest of the smoke
Construction- 80 some marks for burn, but draw is more important to me
Strength- 85 a medium/full that really didn't matter in the end
Overall- 81.75 run from this if you see one
The cigar itself is wonderful to behold. It appears to very well made, I can't find a single issue with it as I inspect it. The wrapper is positively glistening, I am quite sure if it were any shinier I would be able to see my reflection in it. There are very few veins, and those that are there add character to the cigar for a nice visual impression. Even the band is stately and elegant. I just wish I knew more about the cigar. The pre light aroma is something odd, with some strange pot pourri odor and sharp wood notes. The pre light draw shows some pepper and a fragrant perfume character that is off putting.
The cigar opens with a profile that is pleasant, but not overwhelmingly complex or deep. The core flavors show some soft wood notes and slight clove like spices, there is also a sweetness here that I would equate to fig. The back of the palate and the nose show some medium tobacco notes with some dry hints of wheat flour. The overall impression at this point is so so, and the dry notes in the back of the palate and nose are taking away from the experience. The burn is solid and sharp. The draw is fluid, but a touch too tight for me.
The first half of the cigar is trying to hold on to whatever positives there were in the opening moments, but it is struggling to do so. The core profile is still showing some wood and light spice, but there are some bitter ideas coming through here now and they are not helping the cause. The back of the palate is showing some pepper, but there are some tones of scorched wood and vegetation here as well and the experience is deteriorating rapidly. The burn is still nice and a fine ash forms. The draw is actually tightening as the smoke progresses and I am becoming concerned about heat later in the smoke.
The final half of the cigar is a real descent into cigar hell. The core profile becomes overwhelmingly bitter and sour, a combination of what crushed aspirin tastes like and what a mildewed towel smells like. It goes without saying, this is not something one would be looking for in a cigar. The back of the palate is similarly bile churning. The flavors here are of wet wood smoldering and wet vegetation. The burn is still performing well, and in the end this is really the only redeeming quality in the smoke. The draw is still too tight and heat enters the smoke in the final third which forced me to slow the smoke down and only served to prolong the agony.
The finish was bitter and short.
Appearance- 89 I liked the way this looked
Taste- 78 some points for the early effort, a loss of points for the rest of the smoke
Construction- 80 some marks for burn, but draw is more important to me
Strength- 85 a medium/full that really didn't matter in the end
Overall- 81.75 run from this if you see one
Friday, December 7, 2012
Ernesto Perez Carrillo Inch #60 (5.875x60)
I'm going to start this all off by saying that I hate big ring gauge cigars. I think they are the death knell for everything that I love in the cigar industry. Delicacy, craftsmanship, subtle blends and cigars with more wrapper tastes than filler and binder all go by the wayside in the big ring is king movement. I realize that makers only respond to consumer demands, but somewhere along the way makers need to say enough already! We have pushed the size envelope as far as we are willing to push it and we will go no further! I am, of course, dreaming and I realize this will never happen, but a guy can hope can't he? My dream is a cigar utopia of sorts, every one smokes, there are no draconian smoking laws and nothing more than a 50 ring gauge is offered. I would smoke coronas all day and sit idly by whilst I watched every one else smoke cheerfully while walking in the park, or having a drink in a bar, or while eating dinner. I must really be insane...
This cigar is new from the Carrillo family and if there is anyone, that in a snapshot of time, could change my opinion about big ring gauge cigars it would be the Carrillo's, I just love their stuff. This cigar is of course huge, but it does not seem as huge as some other 60's I have seen and I'm not sure why that is. The wrapper is a fine looking, leathery textured beauty that has a nice sheen and very few veins. The band work is large, but it is interesting in that is bears the markings of a ruler on it, obviously playing up to the inch moniker. The construction seems to be well done, but it is always difficult to find issues in a cigar of this thickness. The pre light aroma has some nice coffee, spice and earth tones. The pre light draw shows nice pepper and earth flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is full and contains tons of flavor and power. The core profile is all pepper and dark wood with some coffee undertones. This will slap you around a little bit in the early stages and I like that in a cigar sometimes. Don't be afraid to show us who's boss, and this cigar does not show a hint of shyness. It's not giving you an inch, it's giving you the whole foot...(easy pervs, we are talking about cigars here). The back of the palate has a wonderful earthy quality and shows some light chocolate features as well. The through the nose experience also has a high quality earth tone as well. The burn is sharp and moving along nicely. The draw is actually a touch too loose for me, but so far there is no heat coming through so I am not too worried yet.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. The core profile becomes something more nuanced in terms of flavors, but the power still remains. The main flavors here are now pepper and anise and I detect some slight hints of raisin here as well. This is an exceptional profile thus far and I am really enjoying it. The back of the palate continues to chug right along delivering earth and chocolate notes that are very solid. The draw is still too loose and there is some heat coming up the flume, but I am still not worried because it will be manageable with the proper smoking technique. The burn is still on the money and a nice solid ash forms.
The final half of the cigar really brings it home for me. The core profile picks up some very nice dried fruit flavors and still shows some raisins, dark wood, anise and slight hints of mint. At the back of the palate very nice earthy flavors are providing a very solid platform for the entire smoke and there are still some nice chocolate flavors here as well. The draw stays too loose and I have to manage the cigar very carefully so I don't get charred flavors, some points will be lost here. The burn is very solid all the way through.
The finish was long and had noted of earth, wood and dried fruit
Appearance- 89 the highest I will go for a large cigar these days
Taste- 94 a wonderful flavor experience
Construction- 87 some looseness in the draw hurts this score
Strength- 97 an excellent cigar in this category, it slaps you around but does not break your nose
Overall- 91.25 a very, very good cigar and another winner from the Carrillo's
This cigar is new from the Carrillo family and if there is anyone, that in a snapshot of time, could change my opinion about big ring gauge cigars it would be the Carrillo's, I just love their stuff. This cigar is of course huge, but it does not seem as huge as some other 60's I have seen and I'm not sure why that is. The wrapper is a fine looking, leathery textured beauty that has a nice sheen and very few veins. The band work is large, but it is interesting in that is bears the markings of a ruler on it, obviously playing up to the inch moniker. The construction seems to be well done, but it is always difficult to find issues in a cigar of this thickness. The pre light aroma has some nice coffee, spice and earth tones. The pre light draw shows nice pepper and earth flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is full and contains tons of flavor and power. The core profile is all pepper and dark wood with some coffee undertones. This will slap you around a little bit in the early stages and I like that in a cigar sometimes. Don't be afraid to show us who's boss, and this cigar does not show a hint of shyness. It's not giving you an inch, it's giving you the whole foot...(easy pervs, we are talking about cigars here). The back of the palate has a wonderful earthy quality and shows some light chocolate features as well. The through the nose experience also has a high quality earth tone as well. The burn is sharp and moving along nicely. The draw is actually a touch too loose for me, but so far there is no heat coming through so I am not too worried yet.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. The core profile becomes something more nuanced in terms of flavors, but the power still remains. The main flavors here are now pepper and anise and I detect some slight hints of raisin here as well. This is an exceptional profile thus far and I am really enjoying it. The back of the palate continues to chug right along delivering earth and chocolate notes that are very solid. The draw is still too loose and there is some heat coming up the flume, but I am still not worried because it will be manageable with the proper smoking technique. The burn is still on the money and a nice solid ash forms.
The final half of the cigar really brings it home for me. The core profile picks up some very nice dried fruit flavors and still shows some raisins, dark wood, anise and slight hints of mint. At the back of the palate very nice earthy flavors are providing a very solid platform for the entire smoke and there are still some nice chocolate flavors here as well. The draw stays too loose and I have to manage the cigar very carefully so I don't get charred flavors, some points will be lost here. The burn is very solid all the way through.
The finish was long and had noted of earth, wood and dried fruit
Appearance- 89 the highest I will go for a large cigar these days
Taste- 94 a wonderful flavor experience
Construction- 87 some looseness in the draw hurts this score
Strength- 97 an excellent cigar in this category, it slaps you around but does not break your nose
Overall- 91.25 a very, very good cigar and another winner from the Carrillo's
Friday, November 30, 2012
D'Crossier Golden Blend Double Corona (7.5x49)
Every once in awhile I put myself in the capable hands of a brick and mortar owner and allow them to select a cigar for me. I have a couple of haunts where they just don't steer me wrong and always have a recommendation that I end up enjoying. This cigar was part of one of those scenarios. I was pawing around a Tampa B&M and found myself a couple of smokes short of the special discount amount. It was no time for panic so I calmed my heart rate and breathing and sought out my friend. He, of course, had several selections in mind and I quickly and graciously accepted his offers and bought everything he directed me to. He had never given me bum advice before so I, of course, believed that this time would be no different.
The cigar is beautiful to look at, it has a wonderfully golden brown wrapper that has very few veins and is draped seductively over the bunch. The band work is elegant, but it is simple without complex artwork or other adornments. An inspection shows a well made cigar and I can't find a single issue with the smoke as I give it the eyeball. The pre light aroma is of wood and spice. The pre light draw is slightly bitter, but has some cedar notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that is straight forward, but not complex or deep. The core flavors show some light cedar, light cinnamon and some wispy impressions of bitter grass. My over arching thought in the opening moments is that this will be a mild cigar without much flavor, a Montecristo or RYJ if you will. The nose and back of the palate don't do anything to change my ideas as there are muted notes of light wood, dry paper and some floral strangeness. The draw is very nice, not too tight or loose and it delivers nice amounts of smoke with very little effort. The burn is a touch slow, but it is developing and showing a nice ash.
The first half of the cigar really is not very good. The core profile takes on a bitter tone here which over takes some cedar and cinnamon flavors that might have been acceptable. The back of the palate takes on a dry and dusty tone with some odd floral notes lingering in the background. Overall the profile is just not very good to this point. The draw continues to perform very well. The burn is still moving along nicely.
The final half of the cigar transforms into a nice surprise. The core profile shows some very nice cinnamon and coffee notes with some creamy notes as well. The back of the palate shows a nice sweetness, something akin to rock candy, but also has a nice note of cedar. It is all a little bit too late to save the smoke, but it makes for a nice ending impression. The burn and draw are solid to the end.
The finish was smooth and lingered with some nice sweet candy notes.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 85 nice late, but poor in the first half
Construction- 92 performed very nicely, burn was touch slow
Strength- 87 a nice mild, nothing more
Overall- 88.25 a solid smoke with a poor first half profile
The cigar is beautiful to look at, it has a wonderfully golden brown wrapper that has very few veins and is draped seductively over the bunch. The band work is elegant, but it is simple without complex artwork or other adornments. An inspection shows a well made cigar and I can't find a single issue with the smoke as I give it the eyeball. The pre light aroma is of wood and spice. The pre light draw is slightly bitter, but has some cedar notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that is straight forward, but not complex or deep. The core flavors show some light cedar, light cinnamon and some wispy impressions of bitter grass. My over arching thought in the opening moments is that this will be a mild cigar without much flavor, a Montecristo or RYJ if you will. The nose and back of the palate don't do anything to change my ideas as there are muted notes of light wood, dry paper and some floral strangeness. The draw is very nice, not too tight or loose and it delivers nice amounts of smoke with very little effort. The burn is a touch slow, but it is developing and showing a nice ash.
The first half of the cigar really is not very good. The core profile takes on a bitter tone here which over takes some cedar and cinnamon flavors that might have been acceptable. The back of the palate takes on a dry and dusty tone with some odd floral notes lingering in the background. Overall the profile is just not very good to this point. The draw continues to perform very well. The burn is still moving along nicely.
The final half of the cigar transforms into a nice surprise. The core profile shows some very nice cinnamon and coffee notes with some creamy notes as well. The back of the palate shows a nice sweetness, something akin to rock candy, but also has a nice note of cedar. It is all a little bit too late to save the smoke, but it makes for a nice ending impression. The burn and draw are solid to the end.
The finish was smooth and lingered with some nice sweet candy notes.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 85 nice late, but poor in the first half
Construction- 92 performed very nicely, burn was touch slow
Strength- 87 a nice mild, nothing more
Overall- 88.25 a solid smoke with a poor first half profile
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Surrogates Crystal Baller (5.75x56)
I continue my reviews of the new Pete Johnson stuff with this cigar. I recently gave the L'Atelier some rave reviews and I thought that Pete was back with that particular blend, the best I've smoked from him since El Triunfador. This cigar is again from the surrogates collection and I am caught laughing a bit, again, at the silly name that has been given to this smoke. I have no idea what it means, and to be frank as I write this full of Turkey and other fixins, I really don't have the mental energy to spend on trying to figure it out. What I can tell you is that this surrogates line has four different blends, I have already reviewed the Tramp Stamp, and I will be smoking and reviewing all of them in the near future.
The cigar presents well, all though it is slightly box pressed and it is well known among my readers and friends that I don't like box pressing as a general rule. There are some prominent veins in this very light brown wrapper and it does not look it's price, it comes off as a touch cheap looking. The band work is very simple and the overall visual impact is somewhat mundane. A quick inspection shows me that there are some loose areas in the bunch and I am worried about combustion at this point. The pre light aroma has some cinnamon notes with some light tobacco essence. The pre light draw is thin, but shows some light wisps of young wood and some floral impressions.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither deep or particularly complex. The core flavors are some thin wood flavors that have a slight bitterness that I would associate with wet wood. There are also some floral moments in the opening salvo that alternately sweet and slightly grassy. At the back of the palate and through the nose there are some very light hints of pepper and some strange sweet impressions that are reminiscent of mild white chocolate with a hint of bitters. The profile is not what I would classify as poor, but it is not complex or faceted in terms of depth so it leaves me feeling a little bit bereft. The draw is very loose and I am already noticing heat in the draw, so I decide to manage this cigar early on by slowing my progress to avoid scorching the flume. The burn is solid, but rapid at this point, and a loose white ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar actually develops nicely. The core profile beings to show some caramel notes with a touch of cinnamon, there are still some nice wood flavors coming through here as well. These added dimensions are showing some nice balance and complexity that front part of the smoke lacked. The back of the palate continues to show mostly pepper flavors, but there are some nice light chocolate flavors that are hanging on here as well and there is also a presentation of vanilla here as well. The draw is still too loose and the heat is still present, but my management of the combustion is keeping the cigar in line to this point. The burn is slowing nicely, but the ash is still loose and flaky.
The final half of the cigar deteriorates rapidly and I attribute it to poor construction. The core profile begins to show the negative affects of heat, there is some scorching coming through and it is directly correlated to the loose draw and rapid burn I'm afraid. The flavors show some wood and light spice, but the scorching is setting them into the area of being too acrid to be enjoyable. The back of the palate and the nose are still showing some pepper notes, but they too are being muddled by the scorched flavors coming from the poor combustion. The draw is still too loose and the burn can't be slowed any further without stopping the smoke all together. Construction really hurt this cigar.
The finish was short and acrid with burned wood flavors.
Appearance- 86 simple and lacking visual provocation
Taste- 83 some nice notes in the first half, but it was all killed in the last half
Construction- 72 just very poor
Strength- 85 I think a nice medium, but the construction hurts this score as well
Overall- 80.25 very sub par
The cigar presents well, all though it is slightly box pressed and it is well known among my readers and friends that I don't like box pressing as a general rule. There are some prominent veins in this very light brown wrapper and it does not look it's price, it comes off as a touch cheap looking. The band work is very simple and the overall visual impact is somewhat mundane. A quick inspection shows me that there are some loose areas in the bunch and I am worried about combustion at this point. The pre light aroma has some cinnamon notes with some light tobacco essence. The pre light draw is thin, but shows some light wisps of young wood and some floral impressions.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither deep or particularly complex. The core flavors are some thin wood flavors that have a slight bitterness that I would associate with wet wood. There are also some floral moments in the opening salvo that alternately sweet and slightly grassy. At the back of the palate and through the nose there are some very light hints of pepper and some strange sweet impressions that are reminiscent of mild white chocolate with a hint of bitters. The profile is not what I would classify as poor, but it is not complex or faceted in terms of depth so it leaves me feeling a little bit bereft. The draw is very loose and I am already noticing heat in the draw, so I decide to manage this cigar early on by slowing my progress to avoid scorching the flume. The burn is solid, but rapid at this point, and a loose white ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar actually develops nicely. The core profile beings to show some caramel notes with a touch of cinnamon, there are still some nice wood flavors coming through here as well. These added dimensions are showing some nice balance and complexity that front part of the smoke lacked. The back of the palate continues to show mostly pepper flavors, but there are some nice light chocolate flavors that are hanging on here as well and there is also a presentation of vanilla here as well. The draw is still too loose and the heat is still present, but my management of the combustion is keeping the cigar in line to this point. The burn is slowing nicely, but the ash is still loose and flaky.
The final half of the cigar deteriorates rapidly and I attribute it to poor construction. The core profile begins to show the negative affects of heat, there is some scorching coming through and it is directly correlated to the loose draw and rapid burn I'm afraid. The flavors show some wood and light spice, but the scorching is setting them into the area of being too acrid to be enjoyable. The back of the palate and the nose are still showing some pepper notes, but they too are being muddled by the scorched flavors coming from the poor combustion. The draw is still too loose and the burn can't be slowed any further without stopping the smoke all together. Construction really hurt this cigar.
The finish was short and acrid with burned wood flavors.
Appearance- 86 simple and lacking visual provocation
Taste- 83 some nice notes in the first half, but it was all killed in the last half
Construction- 72 just very poor
Strength- 85 I think a nice medium, but the construction hurts this score as well
Overall- 80.25 very sub par
Monday, November 19, 2012
L'Atelier Lat54 (5.675x54)
A recent review that I wrote caused quite a stir amongst some and criticisms came my way rapidly and with intensity. A couple of quick words are necessary, not to deflect criticism I can handle that, but to solidify what this blog is all about.
I started this endeavor over two years ago to give readers a blog that did something that other blogs don't do, tell the truth about cigars that we smoke. I have read countless blogs out there and if you have read all the ones that I have you will quickly reach the conclusion that every cigar made is worthy of heaping praise and that each is a candidate for cigar of the year. This approach does not hold water for me because after having smoked for twenty four years I know that there two simple truths in the cigar world. A cigar is better than no cigar at all is the first. The second, and most important, there are cigars that are bad and we as consumers get exposed to them all the time. Why should we be ashamed to say when a cigar is poor? The short answer is we shouldn't.
I acknowledge that each cigar experience is subjective, you may like something I hate and vice versa, but I believe we have a duty to have an honest conversation about likes and dislikes in an open forum and I will not apologize for using this blog as an outlet to do just that. To suggest that I have an axe to grind, or some sort of agenda is just absurd. My only goal is to speak the truth about every cigar that I smoke and let consumers know that there is someone out here that does not like, or likes, something. It is only fair when you ask a consumer to part with hard earned bones, as I do for every cigar I smoke, that they get a real view from real smokers about what is going on out there. They can then smoke and decide for themselves, it is one of the joys of cigar smoking after all.
Enough about what this blog is, let's get down to this cigar. L'Atelier is a new Pete Johnson production and I recently reviewed the Tramp Stamp by this same company. Pepin Garcia makes these cigars for Pete, but I believe Pete and his new cohorts in L'Atelier did the blending. It is no secret that I have hated most of Pete's blends over the last two years so in my mind this cigar is like another shot at redemption. The fall from grace in my mind has been shocking. From huge winners like Tatuaje Red and Brown, La Riqueza and El Triunfador to dogs like Avion and Casita Criollo the slide has been noticeable in my world.
This cigar presents nicely. The wrapper is a wonderful light brown shade and it is draped on the cigar like a satiny blanket of tobacco goodness. There are very few veins here and the construction appears to be excellent. I'm not crazy about the pigtail cap, I feel like this has been played out over the last few years, but it is not really bothering me. The band work is simple and elegant, and actually gives the cigar a very high end feel without being flashy. The pre light aroma is full of vanilla sweetness with some floral notes of honey in the mix. The pre light draw is a touch dusty, but shows wonderful notes of honey and light cream.
The cigar opens subtly, but with a profile that has miles of flavor and depth. The core flavors are showing delicate sweet notes of honey and vanilla, but there is a fantastic light wood flavor holding the early notes all together. At the back of the palate and through the nose there is some clover essence that bolsters the honey ideas from the front of the smoke and there is dry grass note that is not sharp, but light and sweet. I usually reject grassy flavors out of hand, but this one does not bother me for some reason and almost lends a note of realism to the profile. The draw is a real dream, no tension and plenty of smoke without any effort. The burn is very solid and a nice ash is developing.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. Some of the subtlety is gone as the flavors really kick up. The core profile morphs into a more robust presentation of wood, honey and some white pepper that balances out the sweetness that I was experiencing early on. These developments are welcome because I feel the sweetness could have become overt and might have subtracted from the experience overall. The back of the palate is still showing some dry grass, but the sweetness of it is still there and it is almost becoming wheaty as the cigar moves on which leaves a bready aftertaste while smoking. The draw continues to be superior, delivering smoke without effort but not creating any heat. The burn is still solid as well.
The final half of the cigar really picks up steam and becomes a more full offering. The profile sharpens with some nice blasts of pepper and cedar, but there is still some honey flavor here that becomes more profound against the pepper flavors. The back of the palate shows some nice development as well, the wheat flavors are really coming on strong and there is some more pepper showing up here as well. This profile really is a lesson in what a cigar is supposed to be, early subtlety followed by increasing strength throughout culminating in a profile that is fulfilling and pleasing. The draw is still phenomenal and the burn was solid right until the end.
The finish was glorious, showing nice honey and wheat flavors for many moments.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 92 wonderful profile here that just kept on giving
Construction- 100 an absolute dream
Strength- 92 an excellent medium trending to full
Overall- 94.5 nearly classic and a redemption for Pete Johnson in my mind
I started this endeavor over two years ago to give readers a blog that did something that other blogs don't do, tell the truth about cigars that we smoke. I have read countless blogs out there and if you have read all the ones that I have you will quickly reach the conclusion that every cigar made is worthy of heaping praise and that each is a candidate for cigar of the year. This approach does not hold water for me because after having smoked for twenty four years I know that there two simple truths in the cigar world. A cigar is better than no cigar at all is the first. The second, and most important, there are cigars that are bad and we as consumers get exposed to them all the time. Why should we be ashamed to say when a cigar is poor? The short answer is we shouldn't.
I acknowledge that each cigar experience is subjective, you may like something I hate and vice versa, but I believe we have a duty to have an honest conversation about likes and dislikes in an open forum and I will not apologize for using this blog as an outlet to do just that. To suggest that I have an axe to grind, or some sort of agenda is just absurd. My only goal is to speak the truth about every cigar that I smoke and let consumers know that there is someone out here that does not like, or likes, something. It is only fair when you ask a consumer to part with hard earned bones, as I do for every cigar I smoke, that they get a real view from real smokers about what is going on out there. They can then smoke and decide for themselves, it is one of the joys of cigar smoking after all.
Enough about what this blog is, let's get down to this cigar. L'Atelier is a new Pete Johnson production and I recently reviewed the Tramp Stamp by this same company. Pepin Garcia makes these cigars for Pete, but I believe Pete and his new cohorts in L'Atelier did the blending. It is no secret that I have hated most of Pete's blends over the last two years so in my mind this cigar is like another shot at redemption. The fall from grace in my mind has been shocking. From huge winners like Tatuaje Red and Brown, La Riqueza and El Triunfador to dogs like Avion and Casita Criollo the slide has been noticeable in my world.
This cigar presents nicely. The wrapper is a wonderful light brown shade and it is draped on the cigar like a satiny blanket of tobacco goodness. There are very few veins here and the construction appears to be excellent. I'm not crazy about the pigtail cap, I feel like this has been played out over the last few years, but it is not really bothering me. The band work is simple and elegant, and actually gives the cigar a very high end feel without being flashy. The pre light aroma is full of vanilla sweetness with some floral notes of honey in the mix. The pre light draw is a touch dusty, but shows wonderful notes of honey and light cream.
The cigar opens subtly, but with a profile that has miles of flavor and depth. The core flavors are showing delicate sweet notes of honey and vanilla, but there is a fantastic light wood flavor holding the early notes all together. At the back of the palate and through the nose there is some clover essence that bolsters the honey ideas from the front of the smoke and there is dry grass note that is not sharp, but light and sweet. I usually reject grassy flavors out of hand, but this one does not bother me for some reason and almost lends a note of realism to the profile. The draw is a real dream, no tension and plenty of smoke without any effort. The burn is very solid and a nice ash is developing.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. Some of the subtlety is gone as the flavors really kick up. The core profile morphs into a more robust presentation of wood, honey and some white pepper that balances out the sweetness that I was experiencing early on. These developments are welcome because I feel the sweetness could have become overt and might have subtracted from the experience overall. The back of the palate is still showing some dry grass, but the sweetness of it is still there and it is almost becoming wheaty as the cigar moves on which leaves a bready aftertaste while smoking. The draw continues to be superior, delivering smoke without effort but not creating any heat. The burn is still solid as well.
The final half of the cigar really picks up steam and becomes a more full offering. The profile sharpens with some nice blasts of pepper and cedar, but there is still some honey flavor here that becomes more profound against the pepper flavors. The back of the palate shows some nice development as well, the wheat flavors are really coming on strong and there is some more pepper showing up here as well. This profile really is a lesson in what a cigar is supposed to be, early subtlety followed by increasing strength throughout culminating in a profile that is fulfilling and pleasing. The draw is still phenomenal and the burn was solid right until the end.
The finish was glorious, showing nice honey and wheat flavors for many moments.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 92 wonderful profile here that just kept on giving
Construction- 100 an absolute dream
Strength- 92 an excellent medium trending to full
Overall- 94.5 nearly classic and a redemption for Pete Johnson in my mind
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Nat Sherman Timeless Collection Hermoso (5.5.54)
Nat Sherman cigars have been around for years, I have seen them since I started smoking way back in 1988/89. In the twenty four years I have been smoking I can't recall ever having smoked one. As I recollect I can't recall that I have ever seen one smoked by anyone that I know. As I plunge further into the depths of my twisted and dark closet of a mind I can't think of a single time anyone has ever told me that they have smoked one. In further pursuit of knowledge long past, I remember that I can't remember a single person ever saying anything about a Nat Sherman cigar to me, other than that they had seen them too. Sure I have friends that have been to the iconic lounge and store in NYC, hell I've been there myself on a couple of occasions, but even those people did not relay any stories to me about a Nat Sherman cigar. I thought about this as I prepared to smoke this cigar and I wondered if this lack of anything was positive or negative, I mean it could go either way right?
This cigar is quite a log, short and stumpy with a darker brown wrapper that looks like bark with all the bumps and rills that a tree would have to offer. The band work is somewhat mundane, and I am surprised by this, because my memories of Nat Sherman offerings in publications I have perused always had colorful band work, nearly pastel in some cases. That aside, the cigar itself seems to be well made, but it is hard to tell through the significant bulk of this stump. The pre light draw shows some very thin spice flavors and a shockingly horrific and vile essence of rotting vegetation and other organic material, I nearly take a moment for a quick spew. Gathering my wits I take in the pre light aroma and quickly wish I had not, it is also shocking and has hints of putrid water and some ammonia.
To say that my mouth was not watering at this point would be an understatement. The cigar opens with a profile that is heavily vegetal and metallic, this is really terrible. I seldom think of chucking a cigar so soon, but it is crossing my mind. Could it be that I have never heard anything about these cigars because they all this bad? I hope to hell not, they have been business for a long time. The back of the palate is bile churning mix of wet earth and paper. This profile is an absolute train wreck early on and I can't help but think it has nowhere to go but up. The draw is actually a little too tight for me and I am thankful, or else I may have already blown chunks. The burn is solid, but it seems slow to me, maybe this is where the timeless moniker comes from. I sincerely hope not, because I may be dead from exposure to whatever in this rocket by the time it burns down.
The first half of the smoke improves, in that I don't think it will kill me anymore, but that's really all I can say. It dawns on me, without checking the lineage, that this cigar must have some heavy Honduran seed tobacco in it, I often have violent reactions to cigars with too much Honduran influence. The profile has become a more bland presentation of paper and vegetation, with maybe some simple wood impressions. The back of the palate becomes less damp tasting but still smacks of earth and paper. The draw is still, blessedly, tight for me. The burn trucks on, albeit slowly, nicely.
The final half of the smoke does nothing for me either. The core profile is still bland with some creamy vanilla notes very late in the smoke. There is nothing redeeming about this cigar, except that it is almost over. The back of the palate still shows very simple wood, paper and wet earth impressions. The draw stays too firm all the way until the end. The burn was solid, but slow, throughout.
This is the worst cigar I have smoked in some time. I think I see now why nobody has ever said anything to me about this line of smokes. Either they knew I would laugh at them for their lack of cigar knowledge, or they thought I would punish them for their cigar insolence. Actually I would do neither of those things not knowing what a cigar was about. Now that I do, I would just discourage them from smoking this at all and give them something better, like a White Owl.
Appearance- 86 an ok looking smoke
Taste- 71 one of the absolute worst I have smoked in 24 years of smoking
Construction- 75 the draw was too tight and the burn was too slow, other than that it was gold
Strength- 80 a sloppy medium I guess, but there was nothing here to help anything in the smoke
Overall- 76.25 an abomination
This cigar is quite a log, short and stumpy with a darker brown wrapper that looks like bark with all the bumps and rills that a tree would have to offer. The band work is somewhat mundane, and I am surprised by this, because my memories of Nat Sherman offerings in publications I have perused always had colorful band work, nearly pastel in some cases. That aside, the cigar itself seems to be well made, but it is hard to tell through the significant bulk of this stump. The pre light draw shows some very thin spice flavors and a shockingly horrific and vile essence of rotting vegetation and other organic material, I nearly take a moment for a quick spew. Gathering my wits I take in the pre light aroma and quickly wish I had not, it is also shocking and has hints of putrid water and some ammonia.
To say that my mouth was not watering at this point would be an understatement. The cigar opens with a profile that is heavily vegetal and metallic, this is really terrible. I seldom think of chucking a cigar so soon, but it is crossing my mind. Could it be that I have never heard anything about these cigars because they all this bad? I hope to hell not, they have been business for a long time. The back of the palate is bile churning mix of wet earth and paper. This profile is an absolute train wreck early on and I can't help but think it has nowhere to go but up. The draw is actually a little too tight for me and I am thankful, or else I may have already blown chunks. The burn is solid, but it seems slow to me, maybe this is where the timeless moniker comes from. I sincerely hope not, because I may be dead from exposure to whatever in this rocket by the time it burns down.
The first half of the smoke improves, in that I don't think it will kill me anymore, but that's really all I can say. It dawns on me, without checking the lineage, that this cigar must have some heavy Honduran seed tobacco in it, I often have violent reactions to cigars with too much Honduran influence. The profile has become a more bland presentation of paper and vegetation, with maybe some simple wood impressions. The back of the palate becomes less damp tasting but still smacks of earth and paper. The draw is still, blessedly, tight for me. The burn trucks on, albeit slowly, nicely.
The final half of the smoke does nothing for me either. The core profile is still bland with some creamy vanilla notes very late in the smoke. There is nothing redeeming about this cigar, except that it is almost over. The back of the palate still shows very simple wood, paper and wet earth impressions. The draw stays too firm all the way until the end. The burn was solid, but slow, throughout.
This is the worst cigar I have smoked in some time. I think I see now why nobody has ever said anything to me about this line of smokes. Either they knew I would laugh at them for their lack of cigar knowledge, or they thought I would punish them for their cigar insolence. Actually I would do neither of those things not knowing what a cigar was about. Now that I do, I would just discourage them from smoking this at all and give them something better, like a White Owl.
Appearance- 86 an ok looking smoke
Taste- 71 one of the absolute worst I have smoked in 24 years of smoking
Construction- 75 the draw was too tight and the burn was too slow, other than that it was gold
Strength- 80 a sloppy medium I guess, but there was nothing here to help anything in the smoke
Overall- 76.25 an abomination
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Rolando Reyes Limited Edition Grand Reserva Toro (6x53)
Every once in a while I come across something that I just can't find out much about. This cigar fits that bill, however, I am not easily deterred and I was able to find out some things about this smoke. They were blended 10 years ago, according to some Internet information and they were blended by Rolando Reyes himself. As an aside, Rolando Reyes died last year, it was the loss of a legend in the cigar world and all cigar smokers should research his contributions to the industry whenever they can. I found these cigars recently in a Tampa B&M and I grabbed a couple. It should be well known by now that I am always looking for something that I just can't find anywhere, the only problem I have is there really isn't anything I can't find anymore, or that I haven't heard of. This cigar is one of those rare exceptions.
The cigar presents well. It is large and bold looking with a fine looking wrapper that has some prominent veins, but also has a nice oily sheen. The band work is traditional for the Reyes family of smokes as it has the standard Puros Indios green color to it. There is also a fine portrait of the bygone legend himself on the band, almost as a nod to the smoker that he/she is about to embark on something special. The construction appears to be top notch, I can't find a single issue anywhere. The pre light aroma is of dried apricot. The pre light draw shows some nice light wood and dried fruit flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is surprisingly subtle, balanced and full of flavor. The core profile shows nice apricot and wood notes and there is a creamy vanilla essence here that is very interesting. The subtlety does not mean that the cigar does not have depth, the flavors run very deep in this cigar and the complexity of all these subtle flavors is quite something. At the back of the palate there is a very nice platform of light wood upon which the unique flavors can rest and show their full color. This opening is so out of the ordinary that I am sitting in reverence of all that it implies about what I know about my own palate, namely that I like bolder flavors as the norm, but in this case I am taken away by flavors that would never be described as bold. The draw is exceptional and the burn is very solid from the start.
The first half of the cigar actually declines slightly for me as it moves on. The core profile becomes too sweet for me. The dried fruit and vanilla flavors continue, but a sweet grassy note comes on here as well and I find it to be all just a little too sweet for me. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some nice light wood flavors, but I would like something more bold here. Apparently what I know about my own palate is holding true in this area of the smoke. The draw continues to perform very well. The burn is very strong at this point.
The final half of the cigar picks up steam again.. The core profile morphs into a very nice array of dried fruit, but there are some bolder citrus flavor here that was not present in the early stages of the cigar. There is also some very nice light pepper coming into the mix here and it provides just enough punch to to make the cigar intriguing again. The back of the palate has transitioned into a more robust presentation of cedar flavors and there are some nice brushes of cinnamon here as well. The draw continues to be excellent right on until the end. The burn was very solid all the way as well.
The finish was a little bit sweet, but showed some nice citrus flavors with some cedar undertones.
Appearance- 90 a very nice looking cigar, extra points for the visage of a legend
Taste- 89 a very nice experience that lost some points in the first half of the cigar, at times the profile was just too sweet
Construction- 97 a very well made and fantastically performing cigar, the only points I removed were for some heat in the last third
Strength- 93 a fabulous mild/medium
Overall- 92.5 a wonderful experience and a cigar that should be smoked
The cigar presents well. It is large and bold looking with a fine looking wrapper that has some prominent veins, but also has a nice oily sheen. The band work is traditional for the Reyes family of smokes as it has the standard Puros Indios green color to it. There is also a fine portrait of the bygone legend himself on the band, almost as a nod to the smoker that he/she is about to embark on something special. The construction appears to be top notch, I can't find a single issue anywhere. The pre light aroma is of dried apricot. The pre light draw shows some nice light wood and dried fruit flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is surprisingly subtle, balanced and full of flavor. The core profile shows nice apricot and wood notes and there is a creamy vanilla essence here that is very interesting. The subtlety does not mean that the cigar does not have depth, the flavors run very deep in this cigar and the complexity of all these subtle flavors is quite something. At the back of the palate there is a very nice platform of light wood upon which the unique flavors can rest and show their full color. This opening is so out of the ordinary that I am sitting in reverence of all that it implies about what I know about my own palate, namely that I like bolder flavors as the norm, but in this case I am taken away by flavors that would never be described as bold. The draw is exceptional and the burn is very solid from the start.
The first half of the cigar actually declines slightly for me as it moves on. The core profile becomes too sweet for me. The dried fruit and vanilla flavors continue, but a sweet grassy note comes on here as well and I find it to be all just a little too sweet for me. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some nice light wood flavors, but I would like something more bold here. Apparently what I know about my own palate is holding true in this area of the smoke. The draw continues to perform very well. The burn is very strong at this point.
The final half of the cigar picks up steam again.. The core profile morphs into a very nice array of dried fruit, but there are some bolder citrus flavor here that was not present in the early stages of the cigar. There is also some very nice light pepper coming into the mix here and it provides just enough punch to to make the cigar intriguing again. The back of the palate has transitioned into a more robust presentation of cedar flavors and there are some nice brushes of cinnamon here as well. The draw continues to be excellent right on until the end. The burn was very solid all the way as well.
The finish was a little bit sweet, but showed some nice citrus flavors with some cedar undertones.
Appearance- 90 a very nice looking cigar, extra points for the visage of a legend
Taste- 89 a very nice experience that lost some points in the first half of the cigar, at times the profile was just too sweet
Construction- 97 a very well made and fantastically performing cigar, the only points I removed were for some heat in the last third
Strength- 93 a fabulous mild/medium
Overall- 92.5 a wonderful experience and a cigar that should be smoked
Friday, November 9, 2012
Surrogates Tramp Stamp (5.25x48)
When you think about a Tramp Stamp all kinds of images flash through your mind. I think of a kinda trashy woman in some low rise jeans with the ubiquitous butterfly tattoo peeking out from above the lowered waist band. Remember ladies, low hanging jeans reveal low hanging fruit. I certainly don't think of a cigar, but now I guess I have to, because L'Atelier and Pete Johnson have struck with what is possibly the worst name for a cigar in recent memory. I mean Tramp Stamp? Come on! Why not White Trash? Crack Ho? The list could go on and on. The name Tramp Stamp certainly does not evoke pleasant thoughts about the smoking experience that is about to ensue. Nevertheless I truck on and try to forget the name.
The cigar presents nicely, with the exception of the band with the little butterfly on it (WTF!) as if it weren't bad enough you named it this way you have to brand it with a Tramp Stamp of it's own? The cigar itself is beautifully done. The wrapper is a rich, dark brown color with few veins and some nice tooth. The construction seems flawless to me, I can't find a single issue anywhere while I inspect it. The pre light aroma has some nice cocoa and rich coffee tones. The pre light draw is a touch thin, but shows some earthy notes with a nice roasted nut quality in the background.
The cigar opens with a profile that lacks power, but does show some nice flavors. The core profile contains some wonderful coffee and hard candy sweetness as the main components, but there is also an excellent earthy tone here that binds the experience together nicely. The back of the palate shows some nice brushes of pepper and wood, but these flavors are little bit too thin for me at this point as I prefer my cigar to have a little more power in this area. The draw is fantastic, very easy to manage and plenty of smoke. The burn is also very solid to this point.
The first half of the cigar develops into something that I did not expect. The core profile becomes a very nice array of flavors that include some nice lightly creamed coffee flavors with some excellent shots of white pepper that keep the palate guessing. There are also some nice hard candy notes that continue on throughout the first half granting some nice balance to the overall experience. The earthy flavors have moved to the back of the palate, and this is really where they belong as this attribute provides a nice platform for most profiles to rest upon. There is also a nice nutty quality through the nose that can't be without mention. The draw is still performing very well at this point and I am impressed with the performance so far. The burn is also very solid.
The final half of the cigar was a huge letdown for me, I thought we were really building into something when it all came crashing down around me. The core profile loses all of it's sweet components in the last half as more stringent mineral notes take over and the pepper becomes almost confrontational in this area of the smoke. I don't mind some in your face moments in a cigar, but this just doesn't work for me at all. The back of the palate still shows some earthy notes, but they are getting lost in some strong notes of charred tobacco that are not pleasant at all. The draw is still dead on for me, and the burn is solid all the way through.
The finish was short and charred.
Appearance- 88 a nice cigar to look at, if you ignore the band
Taste- 85 very average, good in the front part of the smoke and awful in the final part
Construction- 93 wonderfully done, cigars don't perform like this everyday
Strength- 80 medium early on, but as the maker goes for strength in the last half the strength jumps the rails and kills the profile
Overall- 87.25, saved by construction, not really a cigar I would smoke again
The cigar presents nicely, with the exception of the band with the little butterfly on it (WTF!) as if it weren't bad enough you named it this way you have to brand it with a Tramp Stamp of it's own? The cigar itself is beautifully done. The wrapper is a rich, dark brown color with few veins and some nice tooth. The construction seems flawless to me, I can't find a single issue anywhere while I inspect it. The pre light aroma has some nice cocoa and rich coffee tones. The pre light draw is a touch thin, but shows some earthy notes with a nice roasted nut quality in the background.
The cigar opens with a profile that lacks power, but does show some nice flavors. The core profile contains some wonderful coffee and hard candy sweetness as the main components, but there is also an excellent earthy tone here that binds the experience together nicely. The back of the palate shows some nice brushes of pepper and wood, but these flavors are little bit too thin for me at this point as I prefer my cigar to have a little more power in this area. The draw is fantastic, very easy to manage and plenty of smoke. The burn is also very solid to this point.
The first half of the cigar develops into something that I did not expect. The core profile becomes a very nice array of flavors that include some nice lightly creamed coffee flavors with some excellent shots of white pepper that keep the palate guessing. There are also some nice hard candy notes that continue on throughout the first half granting some nice balance to the overall experience. The earthy flavors have moved to the back of the palate, and this is really where they belong as this attribute provides a nice platform for most profiles to rest upon. There is also a nice nutty quality through the nose that can't be without mention. The draw is still performing very well at this point and I am impressed with the performance so far. The burn is also very solid.
The final half of the cigar was a huge letdown for me, I thought we were really building into something when it all came crashing down around me. The core profile loses all of it's sweet components in the last half as more stringent mineral notes take over and the pepper becomes almost confrontational in this area of the smoke. I don't mind some in your face moments in a cigar, but this just doesn't work for me at all. The back of the palate still shows some earthy notes, but they are getting lost in some strong notes of charred tobacco that are not pleasant at all. The draw is still dead on for me, and the burn is solid all the way through.
The finish was short and charred.
Appearance- 88 a nice cigar to look at, if you ignore the band
Taste- 85 very average, good in the front part of the smoke and awful in the final part
Construction- 93 wonderfully done, cigars don't perform like this everyday
Strength- 80 medium early on, but as the maker goes for strength in the last half the strength jumps the rails and kills the profile
Overall- 87.25, saved by construction, not really a cigar I would smoke again
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Viaje 5th Anniversary Perfecto (6.5x52)
Ohhh said everyone when I selected this smoke at a local B&M recently. I raised an eyebrow as if to say, "what's the BFD?" (if you don't know what BFD means you are probably too young to read this blog, or too old to understand curse word shorthand and it's time for your nap). Everyone saw my skepticism and then the conga line of accolades for this Viaje creation began. "Best anniversary cigar I've ever had!" extolled one nearby dog rocket connoisseur. "Fantastic, I wish I could buy them all the time!" shouted a frequent partaker of bundled seconds. You get the idea, the accolades were strong, but the palates of those shouting out may be somewhat in question. I may come off sounding like some snobby elitist here, and I really don't give a Punch Champion what I sound like at this point. When I am spending thirteen dollars on a cigar I want to make my own judgments. Alejandro Robaina could rise up from his grave and sing the praises and I would tell him to shut his yam hole and let me smoke in peace. (I will leave it up to you to judge the validity of this story, but if you know me you know it's probably all true with little embellishment)...
The cigar itself is nice looking, but it is really nothing to write home about. It is an awkward perfecto with strange dimensions and an oddly lopsided look to it. The wrapper is a nice light brown and could be a Connecticut if it were a few shades lighter. The band work is all white, and I struggle to make out what it says on it, if you didn't know you would mistake it for a 5 Vegas on sight alone (not a great attribute if you ask me, but if you ask some of those that were shouting at me the 5 Vegas might be a cigar of the year). The pre light aroma smacks of cedar and balsa wood with some hints of grass and summer clover. The pre light draw is dry and full of muted mint notes with some strange spice and sweetness.
The cigar opens with a profile that is one dimensional and dry. The smoke is so dry that I am scrambling to put the glands in order so they can produce some saliva, it is a real struggle. I am wondering if part of the blend is one of those do not eat desiccants that they put in clothes, after all they say do not eat not do not smoke. Dryness aside, the profile smacks of grass and cedar, there are some papery textures involved here as well and I believe that the papery essences create dryness. At the back of the palate there are some dry hints of leaves and some minty strangeness that don't help the overall impressions at all. The burn is on the money, which is nice when considering this oddly shaped perfecto, they usually don't burn well. The draw is ok, but it is a little bit tight for me.
The first half of the cigar has me continuing the line of questions about the people that were shouting from the rooftops earlier, but I am not letting my face betray my impending loathing (for the cigar, not the people). The core profile still has some cedar and balsa notes that could be pleasant, but they are offset by blasts of dry grass and paper that leave the palate screaming for moisture. The back of the palate continues to show some dry mint flavors. Thankfully the leafy flavors have left at this point and a dusty sweetness has settled in. The burn continues to perform well. The draw is still just too tight for me.
The final half of the smoke improves, but it won't be enough to save the smoke. The core profile contains some nice flavors of wood and spice, and the dryness starts to dissipate (my saliva glands and throat have never been so grateful). The back of the palate shows nice mint and a dusty sweetness that is pleasing in the closing moments. The draw was too tight throughout for me. The burn was solid all the way to the end.
The finish was short and had some dry notes of wood.
All in all a poor effort. Not even close to being worth the price.
Appearance-87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 82 some nice flavors late, but nothing great anywhere
Construction- 83 draw tightness hurt the score
Strength- 88 a nice medium
Overall- 84.25 below average
The cigar itself is nice looking, but it is really nothing to write home about. It is an awkward perfecto with strange dimensions and an oddly lopsided look to it. The wrapper is a nice light brown and could be a Connecticut if it were a few shades lighter. The band work is all white, and I struggle to make out what it says on it, if you didn't know you would mistake it for a 5 Vegas on sight alone (not a great attribute if you ask me, but if you ask some of those that were shouting at me the 5 Vegas might be a cigar of the year). The pre light aroma smacks of cedar and balsa wood with some hints of grass and summer clover. The pre light draw is dry and full of muted mint notes with some strange spice and sweetness.
The cigar opens with a profile that is one dimensional and dry. The smoke is so dry that I am scrambling to put the glands in order so they can produce some saliva, it is a real struggle. I am wondering if part of the blend is one of those do not eat desiccants that they put in clothes, after all they say do not eat not do not smoke. Dryness aside, the profile smacks of grass and cedar, there are some papery textures involved here as well and I believe that the papery essences create dryness. At the back of the palate there are some dry hints of leaves and some minty strangeness that don't help the overall impressions at all. The burn is on the money, which is nice when considering this oddly shaped perfecto, they usually don't burn well. The draw is ok, but it is a little bit tight for me.
The first half of the cigar has me continuing the line of questions about the people that were shouting from the rooftops earlier, but I am not letting my face betray my impending loathing (for the cigar, not the people). The core profile still has some cedar and balsa notes that could be pleasant, but they are offset by blasts of dry grass and paper that leave the palate screaming for moisture. The back of the palate continues to show some dry mint flavors. Thankfully the leafy flavors have left at this point and a dusty sweetness has settled in. The burn continues to perform well. The draw is still just too tight for me.
The final half of the smoke improves, but it won't be enough to save the smoke. The core profile contains some nice flavors of wood and spice, and the dryness starts to dissipate (my saliva glands and throat have never been so grateful). The back of the palate shows nice mint and a dusty sweetness that is pleasing in the closing moments. The draw was too tight throughout for me. The burn was solid all the way to the end.
The finish was short and had some dry notes of wood.
All in all a poor effort. Not even close to being worth the price.
Appearance-87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 82 some nice flavors late, but nothing great anywhere
Construction- 83 draw tightness hurt the score
Strength- 88 a nice medium
Overall- 84.25 below average
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Tatuaje 2011 Halloween Edition-Wolfman (7.5x52)
Yesterday was Halloween and when I was a single guy Halloween meant scoping out the costumes of questionable repute amongst 19-45 year old females, the eye candy was my trick or treat. I am now a married man, with a stepson, so my Halloween pursuits have changed a bit in recent years. There is now trick or treating with a five year old and my wife (I never knew how exhausting this could be), and in general a lot of walking and dealing with other screaming children that seem to come from some underground haven of noise makers in our neighborhood, where did all these freaking kids come from!!! In order to cope part of my new Halloween ritual is to smoke a cigar whilst the demon children run hither and yon whacked out on sugar and adrenaline. This year I chose the 2011 Halloween offering from Tatuaje. Every year Pete Johnson brings some fun into the Halloween time of the year with his Monster release, and while I bought some in 2011 I never got around to smoking any of them.
This cigar presents very simply. The band is simple, and I would argue dull and too closely colored to the wrapper to even draw your eye there. The foot is unfinished giving the cigar a shaggy look and feel, appropriate when calling a cigar the Wolfman. The bunch is not dense and feels a little too spongy for me so I am worried about the loose draw possibilities that this attribute can summon. There is box press on this smoke, and as everyone knows, I am no fan of the box press. The second strike is that this cigar is a torpedo, again I am not a huge fan. The pre light aroma was of tobacco and muted cinnamon. The pre light draw was earthy and showed some wood flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither deep or complex, but there are some nice flavors present. The core flavors consist of nice black pepper notes with some light tastes of wood, but there aside from this there is not a whole lot here. I am yearning for some depth or complexity with these flavors or a complementary essence, but there just isn't one. The back of the palate and the nose show some nice earthy notes, but again they are not particularly deep or interesting to me. The draw is very loose early and it has me concerned about heat later in the smoke. The burn is tough in the first half inch or so, but once the unfinished foot is gone it evens out nicely.
The first half of the cigar shows no real development, which I find disappointing. The core profile continues to show pepper and wood flavors, but they just lay there like a corpse without any real punch. The back of the palate continues to show some earthy tones and maybe some burnt coffee flavors, but there is no real action here either. This total lack of anything resembling progress has me really disappointed by this point in the smoke. The draw has settled down into something less loose, but is still too loose for my liking. When confronted with a choice I will always take the firmer draw over the looser one. The burn is solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar really just continues to plod along mundanely. The core flavors are still slogging along unenthusiastically showing pepper and wood, blaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. The back of the palate continues to show earthy flavors with some burnt coffee offerings, blaaaaaaaaahhhhh. There is never an iota of development in this cigar at any point, unless you count developing an ash as a development. The draw is fine until the end, but is still just too loose for me. The burn develops a run in the final third and I had to correct it before it continued on like fleeing villagers in the face of extreme horror.
The finish may have been the best part of the cigar as a nice pepper flavor lingered on.
Appearance- 85 pretty average
Taste- 82 just nothing worth noting here
Construction- 84 too many issues to give any higher a mark
Strength- 85 a medium offering
Overall- 83.75 just too full of nothing exciting
This cigar presents very simply. The band is simple, and I would argue dull and too closely colored to the wrapper to even draw your eye there. The foot is unfinished giving the cigar a shaggy look and feel, appropriate when calling a cigar the Wolfman. The bunch is not dense and feels a little too spongy for me so I am worried about the loose draw possibilities that this attribute can summon. There is box press on this smoke, and as everyone knows, I am no fan of the box press. The second strike is that this cigar is a torpedo, again I am not a huge fan. The pre light aroma was of tobacco and muted cinnamon. The pre light draw was earthy and showed some wood flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither deep or complex, but there are some nice flavors present. The core flavors consist of nice black pepper notes with some light tastes of wood, but there aside from this there is not a whole lot here. I am yearning for some depth or complexity with these flavors or a complementary essence, but there just isn't one. The back of the palate and the nose show some nice earthy notes, but again they are not particularly deep or interesting to me. The draw is very loose early and it has me concerned about heat later in the smoke. The burn is tough in the first half inch or so, but once the unfinished foot is gone it evens out nicely.
The first half of the cigar shows no real development, which I find disappointing. The core profile continues to show pepper and wood flavors, but they just lay there like a corpse without any real punch. The back of the palate continues to show some earthy tones and maybe some burnt coffee flavors, but there is no real action here either. This total lack of anything resembling progress has me really disappointed by this point in the smoke. The draw has settled down into something less loose, but is still too loose for my liking. When confronted with a choice I will always take the firmer draw over the looser one. The burn is solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar really just continues to plod along mundanely. The core flavors are still slogging along unenthusiastically showing pepper and wood, blaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. The back of the palate continues to show earthy flavors with some burnt coffee offerings, blaaaaaaaaahhhhh. There is never an iota of development in this cigar at any point, unless you count developing an ash as a development. The draw is fine until the end, but is still just too loose for me. The burn develops a run in the final third and I had to correct it before it continued on like fleeing villagers in the face of extreme horror.
The finish may have been the best part of the cigar as a nice pepper flavor lingered on.
Appearance- 85 pretty average
Taste- 82 just nothing worth noting here
Construction- 84 too many issues to give any higher a mark
Strength- 85 a medium offering
Overall- 83.75 just too full of nothing exciting
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sungrown Epicure (5x56)
Sometimes I just sit and ponder my 23, almost 24 years, of cigar smoking and I think back to all of the brands and blends that I have seen come and go. During the boom there were just scads of cigars out there, most of them crap, and anyone could buy and smoke just about anything (if you were willing to smoke rolled dung that is). There are very few companies that have survived the test of time and for the Perdomo family to be celebrating their twentieth year in the business is just very, very impressive. I remember their humble beginnings and I remember some of the great blends of theirs that have, sadly, come and gone. I wistfully long for the days of the La Tradicion Cabinet Golf Edition, what a splendid cigar. I yearn for the La Tradicion Cabinet Exclusivo, one of my favorites from about eight or ten years ago. I still salivate over the rare and expensive Edicion de Silvios. It is fair to say that I have had a long relationship with Perdomo cigars, and while I have had some disappointments, for the most part the relationship has treated me very well.
This anniversary blend was met by me with some anticipation. I had heard hype about this cigar, I love sungrown wrappers, I typically enjoy Perdomo cigars, in short there were a lot of up checks here for me. About the only down check I can find at this point is the damn ring gauge, 56 is a real gagger for me and I don't care for cigars of this size usually just based on principle, in this instance though I will clear my mind and get to smoking.
The cigar presents nicely, if simply, without the standard anniversary adornments that so many other companies lavish upon their smokes. I like Perdomo's MO here, keep the cost down by eschewing all of the fancy crap and just give the consumer a cigar to smoke, for this I give extra points (by the way, this cigar was $8, a real steal for an anniversary cigar these days). An inspection yields my usual concerns about thick ring cigars, it just feels too loose to me and when a cigar is loose I am always worried about combustion issues and heat. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of dusty earth tones and there are some sensational hints of dark fruit and caramel here as well. The pre light draw shows some wispy coffee flavors and leaves a slight hint of anise on the tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that has miles and miles of depth and complexity. I will not hesitate to say at this point that I think the cigar is going to be something really special, and I am starting to believe that the Perdomo's may be quickly becoming the masters of the sungrown application. The core profile has a wonderful array of coffee, caramel and toasted marshmallow flavors that really come rushing home right away. The nuance here amongst flavors that are bold is really striking and the melange of tastes can really not be overlooked. The back of the palate and through the nose show some very solid flavors of light wood and rich earthy textures that complement the sweet elements of the core profile wonderfully. It is rare that I experience so much in the opening moments of a cigar, and this is a stunning performance. The draw is a little bit too loose for me, but large ring cigars almost always are in my world. The burn is very nice and a solid ash is forming without issue.
The first half of the cigar is, simply put, magnificent. The core profile settles into a wonderful game of point counterpoint between flavors that are well developed and full of depth and complexity. There are notes of coffee that are wonderfully balanced with a caramel tone that leads to a vanilla flavor that is complemented in a fine way by continued notes of toasted marshmallow. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but I think you could order this array of flavors as a drink from some barrista somewhere. The back of the palate has also shown some transitioning elements. There are still some light wood and earth notes, but a nice raisin flavor has come in here as well and it provides a smooth and evening tone to the effort. The draw is still too loose, but I am not picking up any heat yet so I am ok. The burn is still very solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar really delivers the goods and has me thinking classic cigar. The main body of the profile begins to move into something a touch more robust, yet still full of nuance and depth. The core flavors are of white pepper, coffee and raisins and this eclectic mix actually touches off a real palate extravaganza as flavors that should not mix well just do. The back of the palate continues to offer some light earth tones, but the real star now is a rich and intensifying dark wood flavor that carries the main profile along beautifully. The draw is too loose to the end and it does cause some heat in the last third. The burn was also great until the last third when a run developed, but it evened out without too much effort from me.
The finish is a rich array of coffee, pepper and wood flavors that linger thickly on the palate, like a warm blanket, for several minutes.
Appearance- 91 simple and elegant, this company lets the cigar speak for itself
Taste- 98 just an absolute winner here, so much depth and nuance
Construction- 88 my only low score for the smoke, the draw was too loose and there was a burn issue late
Strength- 97 an absolutely wonderful medium smoke
Overall- 93.25 short of classic because of the construction score, but still way above average and a downright excellent smoke
This anniversary blend was met by me with some anticipation. I had heard hype about this cigar, I love sungrown wrappers, I typically enjoy Perdomo cigars, in short there were a lot of up checks here for me. About the only down check I can find at this point is the damn ring gauge, 56 is a real gagger for me and I don't care for cigars of this size usually just based on principle, in this instance though I will clear my mind and get to smoking.
The cigar presents nicely, if simply, without the standard anniversary adornments that so many other companies lavish upon their smokes. I like Perdomo's MO here, keep the cost down by eschewing all of the fancy crap and just give the consumer a cigar to smoke, for this I give extra points (by the way, this cigar was $8, a real steal for an anniversary cigar these days). An inspection yields my usual concerns about thick ring cigars, it just feels too loose to me and when a cigar is loose I am always worried about combustion issues and heat. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of dusty earth tones and there are some sensational hints of dark fruit and caramel here as well. The pre light draw shows some wispy coffee flavors and leaves a slight hint of anise on the tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that has miles and miles of depth and complexity. I will not hesitate to say at this point that I think the cigar is going to be something really special, and I am starting to believe that the Perdomo's may be quickly becoming the masters of the sungrown application. The core profile has a wonderful array of coffee, caramel and toasted marshmallow flavors that really come rushing home right away. The nuance here amongst flavors that are bold is really striking and the melange of tastes can really not be overlooked. The back of the palate and through the nose show some very solid flavors of light wood and rich earthy textures that complement the sweet elements of the core profile wonderfully. It is rare that I experience so much in the opening moments of a cigar, and this is a stunning performance. The draw is a little bit too loose for me, but large ring cigars almost always are in my world. The burn is very nice and a solid ash is forming without issue.
The first half of the cigar is, simply put, magnificent. The core profile settles into a wonderful game of point counterpoint between flavors that are well developed and full of depth and complexity. There are notes of coffee that are wonderfully balanced with a caramel tone that leads to a vanilla flavor that is complemented in a fine way by continued notes of toasted marshmallow. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but I think you could order this array of flavors as a drink from some barrista somewhere. The back of the palate has also shown some transitioning elements. There are still some light wood and earth notes, but a nice raisin flavor has come in here as well and it provides a smooth and evening tone to the effort. The draw is still too loose, but I am not picking up any heat yet so I am ok. The burn is still very solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar really delivers the goods and has me thinking classic cigar. The main body of the profile begins to move into something a touch more robust, yet still full of nuance and depth. The core flavors are of white pepper, coffee and raisins and this eclectic mix actually touches off a real palate extravaganza as flavors that should not mix well just do. The back of the palate continues to offer some light earth tones, but the real star now is a rich and intensifying dark wood flavor that carries the main profile along beautifully. The draw is too loose to the end and it does cause some heat in the last third. The burn was also great until the last third when a run developed, but it evened out without too much effort from me.
The finish is a rich array of coffee, pepper and wood flavors that linger thickly on the palate, like a warm blanket, for several minutes.
Appearance- 91 simple and elegant, this company lets the cigar speak for itself
Taste- 98 just an absolute winner here, so much depth and nuance
Construction- 88 my only low score for the smoke, the draw was too loose and there was a burn issue late
Strength- 97 an absolutely wonderful medium smoke
Overall- 93.25 short of classic because of the construction score, but still way above average and a downright excellent smoke
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Reinado Core Blend Churchill (7.625x48)
It has been some time since my last blog, I'm not quite sure how you have all lived without my blustering pontification for so long. I'm sure with a well planned regimen of brown liquor and prescription pills you are all doing splendidly after my hiatus. You see, I had to have oral surgery and after recent experiences I can tell you that nothing interferes with smoking like having your mouth violently stretched out and chopped open for slicing and dicing. This forced cigar vacation was some of the worst time in my adult life and I am glad it is now over and the smoky cloud of cheer can come back into my life.
This cigar is something of a mystery to me. I am friends on FB with the manufacturer, but I had never smoked one. I have seen reviews and heard stories, but I have never smoked one. I have never smoked one because, up until a few months ago, I had never seen one. That all changed in my favorite New Orleans B&M some months ago when I came across this big guy. There really is something about smoking a churchill that gets me fired up. Maybe it's because I like the majestic look. Maybe it's because I know I am in for two plus hours of opening up a big box of squat and sitting on my large and lazy canister doing a fat lot of nothing. Whatever it is, I like churchills! My problem is finding the time to smoke one. The opportunity finally came along the other night when I cleared my schedule for da Bears game and settled in. No optimist, I was prepared for the Bears to get smoked while I smoked, but alas that was not to be! The Bears performed in spectacular fashion. The cigar? Well you know what's coming right?
The cigar presents well, but simply. The band work is blocky and not well thought out, but the simple presentation is not off putting either. I get the impression from the visuals that this could be a knock around smoke. The wrapper is rustic looking, with some veining and some dryness to the touch. The band is work a day. The application of the wrapper and the overall visual impression is lumpy. These are not attributes that kill a cigar, hell Padron's are tasty and ugly, but it always gives me pause because it may indicate that the manufacturer does not pay attention to detail, and that can be very problematic. The pre light aroma is a nice array of cocoa and dark fruit. The pre light draw shows some light pepper, earth and cocoa flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is by no means work a day. The core flavors range from cocoa to earth with pepper and dark fruit, and the level of complexity is very nice for so early in a cigar. There is some lacking cohesion amongst the flavors that cost some complexity, but the overall impression is very nice. The back of the palate and through the nose show some fantastic dark roast coffee flavors and some nice wood notes as well. The draw is a shade too tight for me, but I am able to work through it without too much issue, it's just not as fluid as I would like. The burn is solid to this point and a nice ash is forming early.
The first half of the cigar was really a very strong experience. The core profile becomes more cohesive and I can see the vision of the blend now. The flavors are cocoa and pepper with some creamy textures of fruit in the back drop. This particular profile is one that I have not experienced in a cigar before and the fruit flavors are helping mute the pepper, which might have been overwhelming without temperance. The back of the palate continues to show nice earth flavors, but the wood notes have become more muted as the smoke moves on. I am thinking now that this is a very accomplished medium cigar. The draw is still just a bit too tight, but I am working with it. The burn is off in a couple of spots, but the issues seem to work out without any intervention from yours truly.
The final half of the cigar had the chance to really push the envelope and range this cigar into the high excellent or classic ranges, but it come up wanting in some areas towards the end. The core profile weakened (while it should have been strengthening) significantly. The main flavors of pepper and cocoa are still there but they fade and become more of an afterthought to some really clean tobacco flavors in the final third. While clean tobacco flavors are not bad, I prefer them to be complementary of other flavors and this flavor tries to stand on it's own here. The back of the palate and the nose still show some nice earth and wood flavors, but there are just some light bitter notes coming in during the last third that detract from the smoke. The draw stayed too tight until the end, but it was not a huge issue, just an annoyance. The burn was solid after some issues in the middle.
The finish was a little too short and showed some over brewed coffee flavors and some overwrought earth that seemed wet.
All in all I would smoke this again, I might just take a pass on the last third.
Appearance- 87 not pretty, but ok
Taste- 86 some real issues in the last half make this slightly above average
Construction- 86 also slightly above average after taking points for draw and some small burn issues away
Strength- 88 a nice medium in my book
Overall- 86.5 slightly above average, but it could have been great if the last half did not fail so miserably
This cigar is something of a mystery to me. I am friends on FB with the manufacturer, but I had never smoked one. I have seen reviews and heard stories, but I have never smoked one. I have never smoked one because, up until a few months ago, I had never seen one. That all changed in my favorite New Orleans B&M some months ago when I came across this big guy. There really is something about smoking a churchill that gets me fired up. Maybe it's because I like the majestic look. Maybe it's because I know I am in for two plus hours of opening up a big box of squat and sitting on my large and lazy canister doing a fat lot of nothing. Whatever it is, I like churchills! My problem is finding the time to smoke one. The opportunity finally came along the other night when I cleared my schedule for da Bears game and settled in. No optimist, I was prepared for the Bears to get smoked while I smoked, but alas that was not to be! The Bears performed in spectacular fashion. The cigar? Well you know what's coming right?
The cigar presents well, but simply. The band work is blocky and not well thought out, but the simple presentation is not off putting either. I get the impression from the visuals that this could be a knock around smoke. The wrapper is rustic looking, with some veining and some dryness to the touch. The band is work a day. The application of the wrapper and the overall visual impression is lumpy. These are not attributes that kill a cigar, hell Padron's are tasty and ugly, but it always gives me pause because it may indicate that the manufacturer does not pay attention to detail, and that can be very problematic. The pre light aroma is a nice array of cocoa and dark fruit. The pre light draw shows some light pepper, earth and cocoa flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is by no means work a day. The core flavors range from cocoa to earth with pepper and dark fruit, and the level of complexity is very nice for so early in a cigar. There is some lacking cohesion amongst the flavors that cost some complexity, but the overall impression is very nice. The back of the palate and through the nose show some fantastic dark roast coffee flavors and some nice wood notes as well. The draw is a shade too tight for me, but I am able to work through it without too much issue, it's just not as fluid as I would like. The burn is solid to this point and a nice ash is forming early.
The first half of the cigar was really a very strong experience. The core profile becomes more cohesive and I can see the vision of the blend now. The flavors are cocoa and pepper with some creamy textures of fruit in the back drop. This particular profile is one that I have not experienced in a cigar before and the fruit flavors are helping mute the pepper, which might have been overwhelming without temperance. The back of the palate continues to show nice earth flavors, but the wood notes have become more muted as the smoke moves on. I am thinking now that this is a very accomplished medium cigar. The draw is still just a bit too tight, but I am working with it. The burn is off in a couple of spots, but the issues seem to work out without any intervention from yours truly.
The final half of the cigar had the chance to really push the envelope and range this cigar into the high excellent or classic ranges, but it come up wanting in some areas towards the end. The core profile weakened (while it should have been strengthening) significantly. The main flavors of pepper and cocoa are still there but they fade and become more of an afterthought to some really clean tobacco flavors in the final third. While clean tobacco flavors are not bad, I prefer them to be complementary of other flavors and this flavor tries to stand on it's own here. The back of the palate and the nose still show some nice earth and wood flavors, but there are just some light bitter notes coming in during the last third that detract from the smoke. The draw stayed too tight until the end, but it was not a huge issue, just an annoyance. The burn was solid after some issues in the middle.
The finish was a little too short and showed some over brewed coffee flavors and some overwrought earth that seemed wet.
All in all I would smoke this again, I might just take a pass on the last third.
Appearance- 87 not pretty, but ok
Taste- 86 some real issues in the last half make this slightly above average
Construction- 86 also slightly above average after taking points for draw and some small burn issues away
Strength- 88 a nice medium in my book
Overall- 86.5 slightly above average, but it could have been great if the last half did not fail so miserably
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Room 101 Daruma Churchill (7x48)
It is not a secret that I have not ever been a fan of Camacho, and in turn Room 101, blends. I have always found them to be heavy on pomp and circumstance and light in the area of cigar enjoyment delivery. This is problematic for me as I like to enjoy myself when smoking a cigar, if a producer can't meet some minimum standard of enjoyment, like me not wanting to yak all over myself, then I move on to things that don't make me want to throw up in my mouth. It seems like simple logic to me, if you don't enjoy certain brands and blends then you should not smoke them.
Along comes the Daruma, and along comes a vexing problem, should I smoke this thing or not? I have made a commitment to you, my friends and readers, to smoke everything that is new on the market so I make the decision that I will in fact smoke this cigar and put the hairy eyeball on it. This should leave everyone shaking in their boots, particularly those that are fans of Room 101.
The cigar presents well, the band is intricate in design but a simple and elegant color scheme make it interesting to look at and I like that. The cigar itself is majestic looking and the wrapper is wrapped nicely around the vitola like a tasty cloak of dark chocolate. There are very few veins here and the visual impression is quite favorable overall. An inspection does not reveal any issues in the cigar that I can discern and I feel like it will perform well. The pre light aroma has some spice and essences of dried fruit, kind of a mixture of apricot and black cherry. The pre light draw has some tannins, but has some light pepper and light wood flavors along with some sweet dried fruit character.
The cigar opens with a profile that I would classify as heavily aromatic, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it lends to some areas that can become to sweet or too overpowering like an old woman's perfume. Aside from the powerful, and sweet, floral notes there are some hints of spice and wood here, but they are being obscured by the powerful aromatics that the cigar is presenting here. The back of the palate has some pepper flavors (by the way I don't think I have ever mentioned this before, when I reference the back of the palate I am including the experience through the nose as well), but there is an odd aftertaste here as well and I can't help but wonder if the aromatic front of the experience is causing this. The draw is a little too tight for me and there is some labor involved in gathering a satisfying mouth feel, but it is not terrible and I will be able to smoke through it. The burn is nice and slow and a nice crisp ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar settles down some, but there really is no complexity or depth in the experience at this point. The core flavors are still slightly floral and aromatic, but it has become a more subdued factor. There are some wood notes here with some musings of spice, but they are really not carrying any water for the profile at this point in the smoke. It really is all disjointed and erratic at this point. The back of the palate continues to have a sharp aftertaste, but I am still not able to put my finger on it at this point. There are some pepper notes here, but again they really do nothing to prop up the experience. The draw is still too tight for me, but I am working through it without causing heat so that is a plus. The burn is still exceptional.
The final half of the cigar is where the rubber starts to meet the road. The profile becomes a more robust presentation of combined flavors that could have really been something if they had been around throughout the cigar. There are some nice notes of dried fruit and some very nice cinnamon like spice notes serve as a nice complement, it kind of reminds me of a winter cider in the last third. This complexity and balance are very nice, but serve as too little too late for me. The back of the palate presents some nice pepper flavor with a counter balance of aromatic wood, but again this too long to become cohesive to balance out the poor first half of the cigar. The draw stays too tight until the end, but I do manage to avoid undue heat. The burn was solid to the end.
The finish leaves lingering floral notes that turn sharp and stale as the moments pass.
Appearance- 90 a nice looking smoke with simple presentation
Taste- 83 a really poor front half was made somewhat better in the last half
Construction- 82 a tight draw lowers the score in my book
Strength- 86 a nice medium/full, but it could have been slightly fuller for me
Overall- 84.25 slightly below average
Along comes the Daruma, and along comes a vexing problem, should I smoke this thing or not? I have made a commitment to you, my friends and readers, to smoke everything that is new on the market so I make the decision that I will in fact smoke this cigar and put the hairy eyeball on it. This should leave everyone shaking in their boots, particularly those that are fans of Room 101.
The cigar presents well, the band is intricate in design but a simple and elegant color scheme make it interesting to look at and I like that. The cigar itself is majestic looking and the wrapper is wrapped nicely around the vitola like a tasty cloak of dark chocolate. There are very few veins here and the visual impression is quite favorable overall. An inspection does not reveal any issues in the cigar that I can discern and I feel like it will perform well. The pre light aroma has some spice and essences of dried fruit, kind of a mixture of apricot and black cherry. The pre light draw has some tannins, but has some light pepper and light wood flavors along with some sweet dried fruit character.
The cigar opens with a profile that I would classify as heavily aromatic, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it lends to some areas that can become to sweet or too overpowering like an old woman's perfume. Aside from the powerful, and sweet, floral notes there are some hints of spice and wood here, but they are being obscured by the powerful aromatics that the cigar is presenting here. The back of the palate has some pepper flavors (by the way I don't think I have ever mentioned this before, when I reference the back of the palate I am including the experience through the nose as well), but there is an odd aftertaste here as well and I can't help but wonder if the aromatic front of the experience is causing this. The draw is a little too tight for me and there is some labor involved in gathering a satisfying mouth feel, but it is not terrible and I will be able to smoke through it. The burn is nice and slow and a nice crisp ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar settles down some, but there really is no complexity or depth in the experience at this point. The core flavors are still slightly floral and aromatic, but it has become a more subdued factor. There are some wood notes here with some musings of spice, but they are really not carrying any water for the profile at this point in the smoke. It really is all disjointed and erratic at this point. The back of the palate continues to have a sharp aftertaste, but I am still not able to put my finger on it at this point. There are some pepper notes here, but again they really do nothing to prop up the experience. The draw is still too tight for me, but I am working through it without causing heat so that is a plus. The burn is still exceptional.
The final half of the cigar is where the rubber starts to meet the road. The profile becomes a more robust presentation of combined flavors that could have really been something if they had been around throughout the cigar. There are some nice notes of dried fruit and some very nice cinnamon like spice notes serve as a nice complement, it kind of reminds me of a winter cider in the last third. This complexity and balance are very nice, but serve as too little too late for me. The back of the palate presents some nice pepper flavor with a counter balance of aromatic wood, but again this too long to become cohesive to balance out the poor first half of the cigar. The draw stays too tight until the end, but I do manage to avoid undue heat. The burn was solid to the end.
The finish leaves lingering floral notes that turn sharp and stale as the moments pass.
Appearance- 90 a nice looking smoke with simple presentation
Taste- 83 a really poor front half was made somewhat better in the last half
Construction- 82 a tight draw lowers the score in my book
Strength- 86 a nice medium/full, but it could have been slightly fuller for me
Overall- 84.25 slightly below average
Friday, September 14, 2012
Giacomo Corona (5.5x44)
I live in the greater Sarasota area, sometimes referred to as the lesser Tampa area or Sorrysota, I don't agree with any of these assessments as Sarasota is like living in a vacation destination year round and I love it. I do sometimes go all "big city" and head into Tampa for certain business duties, and you can rest assured that I while I am in Tampa I always find my into a B&M somewhere to see what is hot cigarwise in the former cigar capital of North America. Recently I stopped into one of the off the beaten path B&M's that I like to wander into every so often, I was not disappointed by making this trip as this particular store quickly became a trove of things I can't usually find and stuff I had never heard of. This cigar fits into the never heard of it category.
It presents simply, with a straightforward red and black band with some other small adornments. Sometimes I like a simple visual presentation, but this shock red band causes a somewhat garish visual appearance that would usually be equated, in my mind, with a gas station cigar. The wrapper is somewhat dry to the touch, but I don't think that the cigar is dry as it is showing the correct spongy response from a light pinch. There are some prominent veins in the wrapper leaf and one is positively gigantic and I am wondering if it will make the burn wonky. The pre light draw shows some light wood and tart spice presentations. The pre light aroma has some notes of anise and a dusty undertone.
The cigar opens with a profile that shows little complexity or depth. The core flavors are of sharp cedar and there are tart spice notes here as well, I am struggling to define a slight sweetness in the tart spice presentation but I can't do it. The back of the palate is dry, but there are some light wood notes here. This profile could use miles and miles more depth and the flavors are not the most complementary in the world. The draw is very nice, I am encountering just the right amount of resistance here. The burn is a little off, but it is not something that causes me any concerns yet.
The first half of the cigar shows little development. The core profile continues to languish in the mundane arena as flavors of cedar and spice continue with an odd sweetness that now reminds me of Grandma's Rhubarb pie, this is not necessarily a good thing as I always despised Rhubarb pie. This sweet and tart combination is just not very good when considering it inside a cigar smoking experience. The back of the palate is still dry to me, but there are still some hints of wood coming through, though there are some bitter flavors coming along now as well. The draw is still spot on. The burn is now moving along nicely.
The final half of the cigar shows some development, but it is really not enough for me. The core profile still shows some cedar notes and there are now some hints of creamy vanilla and lightly creamed coffee flavors coming on as well. These are welcome shifts, but they come on way too late in the experience to be of much help. The back of the palate continues to show dry wood flavors and there is nothing else to help this area in the profile. The draw stays exceptional through to the end, but the burn derails in the final third as the wrapper splits badly.
The finish was middling and showed cedar and sweet and tart spice notes
Appearance- 84 a sub par visual impression
Taste- 85 very average, there was nothing terrible yet there was nothing great
Construction- 88 draw was nice but the burn was off at the end
Strength- 85 a very average medium
Overall- 85.75 just not very good
It presents simply, with a straightforward red and black band with some other small adornments. Sometimes I like a simple visual presentation, but this shock red band causes a somewhat garish visual appearance that would usually be equated, in my mind, with a gas station cigar. The wrapper is somewhat dry to the touch, but I don't think that the cigar is dry as it is showing the correct spongy response from a light pinch. There are some prominent veins in the wrapper leaf and one is positively gigantic and I am wondering if it will make the burn wonky. The pre light draw shows some light wood and tart spice presentations. The pre light aroma has some notes of anise and a dusty undertone.
The cigar opens with a profile that shows little complexity or depth. The core flavors are of sharp cedar and there are tart spice notes here as well, I am struggling to define a slight sweetness in the tart spice presentation but I can't do it. The back of the palate is dry, but there are some light wood notes here. This profile could use miles and miles more depth and the flavors are not the most complementary in the world. The draw is very nice, I am encountering just the right amount of resistance here. The burn is a little off, but it is not something that causes me any concerns yet.
The first half of the cigar shows little development. The core profile continues to languish in the mundane arena as flavors of cedar and spice continue with an odd sweetness that now reminds me of Grandma's Rhubarb pie, this is not necessarily a good thing as I always despised Rhubarb pie. This sweet and tart combination is just not very good when considering it inside a cigar smoking experience. The back of the palate is still dry to me, but there are still some hints of wood coming through, though there are some bitter flavors coming along now as well. The draw is still spot on. The burn is now moving along nicely.
The final half of the cigar shows some development, but it is really not enough for me. The core profile still shows some cedar notes and there are now some hints of creamy vanilla and lightly creamed coffee flavors coming on as well. These are welcome shifts, but they come on way too late in the experience to be of much help. The back of the palate continues to show dry wood flavors and there is nothing else to help this area in the profile. The draw stays exceptional through to the end, but the burn derails in the final third as the wrapper splits badly.
The finish was middling and showed cedar and sweet and tart spice notes
Appearance- 84 a sub par visual impression
Taste- 85 very average, there was nothing terrible yet there was nothing great
Construction- 88 draw was nice but the burn was off at the end
Strength- 85 a very average medium
Overall- 85.75 just not very good
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Wynwood Honduras (5.5x46)
This cigar has really flummoxed me for several days now. I first smoked one a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely hated it, and I was ready to write one of my scathing blogs saying so. Then a funny thing happened on my way to the I hate this cigar blog factory in my head, someone gave me a moment of pause when they said they had also hated the first one they smoked, but now thought that the cigar was great. I pumped the brakes a little bit and started thinking that maybe I smoked one that was just too fresh off the truck after a long transport. It is well known that cigars sometimes need to rest before they can be smoked, particularly after a long sojourn. So I did something I almost never do, I decided to give the cigar another chance. You may be agog, but it's true, I do have a heart sometimes. In smoking another one I thought that it was pretty damn good, so I decided that I would smoke a few more before making a judgement (a similar process to my experience with CAO's Osa last year). Well, I'm ready to write my review now so brace yourself.
The cigar presents well, if simply, and that is always a nice start for me. Don't overwhelm my senses with superfluous adornments and glitz, just give me a cigar and I am a happy guy. The wrapper is applied flawlessly and there are few veins present, it is smooth and nearly blond in color and I am thinking mild at this point based on visuals. The construction seems to be very solid, and I can't find any areas that have me concerned at this point. The pre light draw is full of cinnamon and light herbal flavors. The pre light aroma has some floral spots, but also has some nice light tobacco essence as well.
This cigar opens with a profile that isn't profound, but it is very solid. The core flavors seem a bit dusty to me and the smoke leaves some residue on the palate, but there are nice ideas of cinnamon, vanilla, tobacco and sage here. The back of the palate has all the making of a fine backdrop showing some nice light wood flavors and some further brushes of light tobacco flavors. The draw is a little tight, but I am not struggling, it just is not as fluid as I usually like. The burn is spot on and is progressing as if there will be nary an issue.
The first half of the cigar is much the same as the open. The flavors continue to show well, but some more depth would be necessary to elevate this cigar past above average. The core profile still holds cinnamon and crisp tobacco flavors, but some of the other flavors have become too fleeting to mention at this stage. The back of the palate continues to be woody, but it has also developed the slightest note of white pepper as well and that gives the cigar some extra smoking value. The draw has opened up somewhat, but it is still too tight for me and I don't believe that will change. Sometimes a cigar is just rolled more tightly than others, it happens. The burn is still right on the money and I don't think there will be any issues here.
The final half of the cigar continues to march on. The core profile becomes a more opaque mix of flavors as cinnamon, tobacco and some light creamy notes of vanilla compete for center stage. This gives the cigar a devil may care personality as no flavor steps forward and there is no real glue holding the experience together. The back of the palate continues to be a solid presentation of wood and light tobacco flavors, but it fails to deliver any real binding factor to the front of the experience. The draw stays the same throughout and the burn was excellent until the end.
The finish was a touch short and some bitter wood flavors hurt the final impression.
Appearance- 87 a nice simple looking smoke
Taste- 86 some nice flavor, but nothing new here
Construction- 88 some tight draw issues take points
Strength- 87 a nice mild/medium that would make a great starter in the AM hours
Overall- 87, slightly above average
The cigar presents well, if simply, and that is always a nice start for me. Don't overwhelm my senses with superfluous adornments and glitz, just give me a cigar and I am a happy guy. The wrapper is applied flawlessly and there are few veins present, it is smooth and nearly blond in color and I am thinking mild at this point based on visuals. The construction seems to be very solid, and I can't find any areas that have me concerned at this point. The pre light draw is full of cinnamon and light herbal flavors. The pre light aroma has some floral spots, but also has some nice light tobacco essence as well.
This cigar opens with a profile that isn't profound, but it is very solid. The core flavors seem a bit dusty to me and the smoke leaves some residue on the palate, but there are nice ideas of cinnamon, vanilla, tobacco and sage here. The back of the palate has all the making of a fine backdrop showing some nice light wood flavors and some further brushes of light tobacco flavors. The draw is a little tight, but I am not struggling, it just is not as fluid as I usually like. The burn is spot on and is progressing as if there will be nary an issue.
The first half of the cigar is much the same as the open. The flavors continue to show well, but some more depth would be necessary to elevate this cigar past above average. The core profile still holds cinnamon and crisp tobacco flavors, but some of the other flavors have become too fleeting to mention at this stage. The back of the palate continues to be woody, but it has also developed the slightest note of white pepper as well and that gives the cigar some extra smoking value. The draw has opened up somewhat, but it is still too tight for me and I don't believe that will change. Sometimes a cigar is just rolled more tightly than others, it happens. The burn is still right on the money and I don't think there will be any issues here.
The final half of the cigar continues to march on. The core profile becomes a more opaque mix of flavors as cinnamon, tobacco and some light creamy notes of vanilla compete for center stage. This gives the cigar a devil may care personality as no flavor steps forward and there is no real glue holding the experience together. The back of the palate continues to be a solid presentation of wood and light tobacco flavors, but it fails to deliver any real binding factor to the front of the experience. The draw stays the same throughout and the burn was excellent until the end.
The finish was a touch short and some bitter wood flavors hurt the final impression.
Appearance- 87 a nice simple looking smoke
Taste- 86 some nice flavor, but nothing new here
Construction- 88 some tight draw issues take points
Strength- 87 a nice mild/medium that would make a great starter in the AM hours
Overall- 87, slightly above average
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Viaje Roman Candle (9x50)
I was wandering through a Tampa B&M recently and I came across something that looked like a box of road flares. I cautiously checked out the surroundings. Cedar walls, glass entry door, boxes of cigars and the hum of a humidifier all suggest that I am actually in a humidor and not in some hardware store or a place for various auto equipment. So, I wonder, what is with these damn flares? Imagine my surprise when I pick one up and realize that it's no flare at all, but a cigar instead! It dawns on me that this must be the Viaje Roman Candle and after quickly checking the box provenance I realize that it is one and the same. Needless to say, this now has my attention. I quickly select one and head for the register. I was not sure when I would fine time to smoke a nice inch cigar, but I was sure that someday I would.
That day came recently during the RNC, I knew that at some point I would be listening to some speeches that would drone on and on and I would need a long smoke to get through it with my mental faculties still in tact. I was not wrong and I decided to head for the Roman Candle one of the nights. After removing the red flare paper I am confronted with a cigar that is certainly every bit of nice inches long, but I am concerned about the ring gauge being a touch smaller than the fifty that is advertised. I slap in on my iPhone app, yes there is an app for this, and measure the ring gauge. It comes in at closer to a 48 or 49 so in my mind it comes up short of what is advertised, but it does not bother me because I prefer a thinner ring anyway. The cigar is otherwise unadorned and I find that to be refreshing, sometimes a cigar should just be a cigar, in this case I guess the maker thought the Roman Candle theme was enough. The cigar appears to be well made and I can't find any issues in it that have me concerned. The pre light aroma smacks of dried peach and apricot. The pre light draw has some pepper and spice notes.
This cigar opens with a profile that is nice. The core flavors are some nice spice and crisp, rich tobacco flavors. Not very complex and not very deep, but the flavors are nice. What does get my attention is the power here. This cigar is strong, coming from me that is a huge strength factor as I smoke strong cigars all the time. This one however, has strength that I have not encountered in some time and I find it is making me a touch dizzy early in the smoke. The back of the palate is woody and has some earthy tones that are nice, but not overwhelming or particularly deep. The draw is exceptional for a cigar of this size. The burn is off right from the beginning, but I don't see any reason to touch up this early in the smoke.
The first half of the cigar has some profile shifts and I am enjoying the experience. The profile has spice and dried fruit notes and there are some tobacco flavors that bind it all together nicely. The strength is still buzzing me a little bit and I am still shocked by this, it just shows that no matter how experienced a smoker is each cigar can have a different effect on anyone. The back of the palate continues to be coated in earthy flavors that become richer as the cigar carries on, there are some nice balances of wood here as well. The draw is still very good. The burn has deteriorated and I am forced to purge and relight three times in the first half of the smoke. This is not a good sign as I absolutely despise a cigar that won't stay lit.
The final half of the cigar becomes somewhat muddled as the flavors lose definition and character, but the cigar is still enjoyable, just not a connoisseur's dream. The core profile has some mint, spice, fruit and tobacco flavors, but they are not joined in any significant way at all. The strength is still humming along and I am still in awe of the power of this smoke. The back of the palate still holds some wood and earth flavors but the richness has disappeared here and that is disappointing. The draw is still right on the money, but the burn has issues and three more relights are required in the last half.
The finish was strong, with heavy spice and earth flavors.
Appearance- 88 a nice appearance, but a bit too gimmicky
Taste- 87 some nice flavors here, the muddling of ideas in the last half hurt the score
Construction- 82 the constant burn issues really took away from the cigar
Strength- 86 ultra powerful, but that power did nothing for the overall presentation of the cigar
Overall- 85.25 a very average experience in the end
That day came recently during the RNC, I knew that at some point I would be listening to some speeches that would drone on and on and I would need a long smoke to get through it with my mental faculties still in tact. I was not wrong and I decided to head for the Roman Candle one of the nights. After removing the red flare paper I am confronted with a cigar that is certainly every bit of nice inches long, but I am concerned about the ring gauge being a touch smaller than the fifty that is advertised. I slap in on my iPhone app, yes there is an app for this, and measure the ring gauge. It comes in at closer to a 48 or 49 so in my mind it comes up short of what is advertised, but it does not bother me because I prefer a thinner ring anyway. The cigar is otherwise unadorned and I find that to be refreshing, sometimes a cigar should just be a cigar, in this case I guess the maker thought the Roman Candle theme was enough. The cigar appears to be well made and I can't find any issues in it that have me concerned. The pre light aroma smacks of dried peach and apricot. The pre light draw has some pepper and spice notes.
This cigar opens with a profile that is nice. The core flavors are some nice spice and crisp, rich tobacco flavors. Not very complex and not very deep, but the flavors are nice. What does get my attention is the power here. This cigar is strong, coming from me that is a huge strength factor as I smoke strong cigars all the time. This one however, has strength that I have not encountered in some time and I find it is making me a touch dizzy early in the smoke. The back of the palate is woody and has some earthy tones that are nice, but not overwhelming or particularly deep. The draw is exceptional for a cigar of this size. The burn is off right from the beginning, but I don't see any reason to touch up this early in the smoke.
The first half of the cigar has some profile shifts and I am enjoying the experience. The profile has spice and dried fruit notes and there are some tobacco flavors that bind it all together nicely. The strength is still buzzing me a little bit and I am still shocked by this, it just shows that no matter how experienced a smoker is each cigar can have a different effect on anyone. The back of the palate continues to be coated in earthy flavors that become richer as the cigar carries on, there are some nice balances of wood here as well. The draw is still very good. The burn has deteriorated and I am forced to purge and relight three times in the first half of the smoke. This is not a good sign as I absolutely despise a cigar that won't stay lit.
The final half of the cigar becomes somewhat muddled as the flavors lose definition and character, but the cigar is still enjoyable, just not a connoisseur's dream. The core profile has some mint, spice, fruit and tobacco flavors, but they are not joined in any significant way at all. The strength is still humming along and I am still in awe of the power of this smoke. The back of the palate still holds some wood and earth flavors but the richness has disappeared here and that is disappointing. The draw is still right on the money, but the burn has issues and three more relights are required in the last half.
The finish was strong, with heavy spice and earth flavors.
Appearance- 88 a nice appearance, but a bit too gimmicky
Taste- 87 some nice flavors here, the muddling of ideas in the last half hurt the score
Construction- 82 the constant burn issues really took away from the cigar
Strength- 86 ultra powerful, but that power did nothing for the overall presentation of the cigar
Overall- 85.25 a very average experience in the end
Sunday, August 26, 2012
La Palina El Diario KB (5x52)
These cigars have been around for awhile, some of the blends in this makers stable fetch over $20 per smoke, an absolutely absurd amount of money for just about any smoke as I can only think of three cigars off the top of my head that have ever been worth that type of scratch. This particular blend fetches between eight and ten bucks a piece at reputable retailers around my area so I put that in the standard premium category. I have heard people rave about La Palina in general for some time now so I grabbed some when I was in a B&M recently. I am always cautious when I hear ravings about cigars that fetch super premium prices because I don't know if they really liked it, or if they had the subliminal suggestion of greatness placed in their heads after spending big cash on a smoke. Don't laugh, this is a legitimate phenomenon in the industry.
This cigar presents well. The wrapper is nicely applied and it has very few veins, it has a nice medium brown coloration and it looks like heavily creamed coffee. The band work is intricate, but it does nothing to identify the smoke, it's just a picture and some fancy gold inlay so unless you know what you are looking for you might not know this is a La Palina. The construction seems ok, but there is some firmness that has me a bit concerned about combustion. The pre light draw is metallic and weird, it leaves an aluminum like feel on my tongue and lips. The pre light aroma is woody, but not anything eye popping.
The cigar opens with a profile that is absolute garbage. I am usually not so harsh, but in this case it is what it is. There is nothing redeeming here amongst the metallic flavors and sour notes of crushed aspirin. It so stunningly bad that I am checking to see if I mistakenly got a Dutch Masters and I am on some hidden camera show. I don't see anyone out of place and no one is coming out with cameras and mics so I am forced to conclude that this cigar is just that bad. At the back of the palate there are some hints of bile, oh wait that is just my physiological reaction to the putrescence. I'm not sure what the flavor is, but it is absolute detritus with several layers of crap and maybe some rotting wood. I would rather light magnesium on fire put it over a bowl of melting pennies and eat it with a spoon. The draw is way too tight, I labor to get any smoke in the opening moments, but it does open up some and I find myself wishing it would close back up. The burn is slow, but it is even.
The first half of the cigar, well....sucked. The profile continues to be a vomitous revelation of awful flavors that are among the worst I have ever experienced. I think there might be some spice and pepper, but it tastes like maybe they were placed over the hood of a rusty old Buick before they were put into the cigar. The back of the palate continues to offend with some strange rotting wood flavors and loamy and wet dirt essences that are not helping the issue. The draw has opened up to something less painstaking, but it is still too tight for me and maybe that is a blessing in disguise as I am sure I might lose my dinner (which might be an improvement in aftertaste). The burn is the only redeeming part of this smoke at this point.
The final half of the smoke is a blessed relief. Oh the flavors don't get any better, but it reminds me that I am near the blessed end when I can clean my palate with a chlorine tablet from my pool and wash it down with some Muriatic acid. The core profile still tastes metallic and bad. The back of the palate continues to churn my innards and there are no redeeming qualities here whatsoever. The draw is too tight through to the end, but the burn was nice all the way through.
The finish was a wretched affair with blooms of acidic metal and rotting wood flavors that linger, or malinger, well after the smoke was done.
In the end I feel violated, this cigar was awful. One of my friends pointed out that I may have caught a bad one, and I will leave open that possibility, but I would be worried about what a good one was like.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 70 the lowest possible, it was just that bad
Construction- 76 the draw was awful
Strength- 70 I have no way of knowing what they were going for
Overall- 75 don't waste your time or money
This cigar presents well. The wrapper is nicely applied and it has very few veins, it has a nice medium brown coloration and it looks like heavily creamed coffee. The band work is intricate, but it does nothing to identify the smoke, it's just a picture and some fancy gold inlay so unless you know what you are looking for you might not know this is a La Palina. The construction seems ok, but there is some firmness that has me a bit concerned about combustion. The pre light draw is metallic and weird, it leaves an aluminum like feel on my tongue and lips. The pre light aroma is woody, but not anything eye popping.
The cigar opens with a profile that is absolute garbage. I am usually not so harsh, but in this case it is what it is. There is nothing redeeming here amongst the metallic flavors and sour notes of crushed aspirin. It so stunningly bad that I am checking to see if I mistakenly got a Dutch Masters and I am on some hidden camera show. I don't see anyone out of place and no one is coming out with cameras and mics so I am forced to conclude that this cigar is just that bad. At the back of the palate there are some hints of bile, oh wait that is just my physiological reaction to the putrescence. I'm not sure what the flavor is, but it is absolute detritus with several layers of crap and maybe some rotting wood. I would rather light magnesium on fire put it over a bowl of melting pennies and eat it with a spoon. The draw is way too tight, I labor to get any smoke in the opening moments, but it does open up some and I find myself wishing it would close back up. The burn is slow, but it is even.
The first half of the cigar, well....sucked. The profile continues to be a vomitous revelation of awful flavors that are among the worst I have ever experienced. I think there might be some spice and pepper, but it tastes like maybe they were placed over the hood of a rusty old Buick before they were put into the cigar. The back of the palate continues to offend with some strange rotting wood flavors and loamy and wet dirt essences that are not helping the issue. The draw has opened up to something less painstaking, but it is still too tight for me and maybe that is a blessing in disguise as I am sure I might lose my dinner (which might be an improvement in aftertaste). The burn is the only redeeming part of this smoke at this point.
The final half of the smoke is a blessed relief. Oh the flavors don't get any better, but it reminds me that I am near the blessed end when I can clean my palate with a chlorine tablet from my pool and wash it down with some Muriatic acid. The core profile still tastes metallic and bad. The back of the palate continues to churn my innards and there are no redeeming qualities here whatsoever. The draw is too tight through to the end, but the burn was nice all the way through.
The finish was a wretched affair with blooms of acidic metal and rotting wood flavors that linger, or malinger, well after the smoke was done.
In the end I feel violated, this cigar was awful. One of my friends pointed out that I may have caught a bad one, and I will leave open that possibility, but I would be worried about what a good one was like.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 70 the lowest possible, it was just that bad
Construction- 76 the draw was awful
Strength- 70 I have no way of knowing what they were going for
Overall- 75 don't waste your time or money
Friday, August 24, 2012
Cult Classic Robusto (5x50)
One of my deepest and darkest secrets is about to come out. I am, and have been for lo these many years, a member of a cult. We are a quiet group, meeting on Tuesday and Thursday mornings most weeks, and we keep pretty much to ourselves. Our rituals are many. Our naysayers few, as we have a way of dealing swiftly and with finality when someone disparages our chosen methods of brotherhood. We use the tools of our trade, known as the Implements of the Brotherhood, with a deft touch and dexterity that is seldom seen in the likes of those that are not initiated. Our sacrificial rituals are heavy on smoke and fire and we deftly remove parts of the sacrificial beings with our various cutting instruments in ways that are numerous and each has it's purpose. We converse in low tones and cast conspiratorial glances at those not part of our inner circle. We have distrust for those that are not part of our exclusive lifestyle, and distaste for those that seek to destroy what we stand for. We are the Brothers of the Leaf and we are proud, strong and numerous.
This cigar presents well and as you would suspect the band is adorned by the word Cult in what appears to be a somewhat bloody script. The wrapper is a nice medium brown and it has very few veins. As I inspect the construction I am struck by how well this seems to be made, I am wondering how this cigar (been around since 2000) has escaped my notice. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of cinnamon and cereal with heavy grains. The pre light draw shows nice flavors of spice and a wheaty tone that has some vanilla sweetness to it.
The cigar opens with a profile that has miles of depth and loads of character. The core profile has some very intense notes of cinnamon and white pepper, there are some very nice vanilla undertones here as well. The back of the palate is being nicely coated with some crisp tobacco flavors and a nice wheat flavor that binds the experience together. The draw is absolute perfection for me, just the right amount of resistance and the perfect amount of smoke. The burn is right on the money in the early moments.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. There are some very nice sweet floral and vanilla notes that are developing here. There are also some great flavors of cinnamon and light brushes of wood here that lend to the complexity and depth of this smoke. The back of the palate is a wondrous combination of crisp tobacco flavors and light efforts of white pepper. The draw continues to perform flawlessly. The burn is still sharp and the ash hold until nearly the halfway point of the smoke.
The final half of the cigar slams home what I have been thinking all along, this is a very good smoke. The core profile is a tantalizing melange of light citrus notes with some vanilla, cinnamon and wood. This is a really a unique profile and it plays very well for me. At the back of the palate there are some great shots of white pepper that become more intense as the cigar progresses and there are still very nice flavors of crisp tobacco holding the experience together. The draw is exceptional. The burn is also nearly perfect right until the end.
The finish was full of cinnamon and tobacco flavors.
I am now a member of two cults, and one of them is people that love this cigar.
Appearance- 92 a very nice cigar to look at
Taste- 94, nearly classic for me just lacking slightly from that high standard
Construction- 97 an exceptional performance here
Strength- 91 a nice medium, some more punch earlier in the smoke would have been nice
Overall- 94.25 an exceptional experience
This cigar presents well and as you would suspect the band is adorned by the word Cult in what appears to be a somewhat bloody script. The wrapper is a nice medium brown and it has very few veins. As I inspect the construction I am struck by how well this seems to be made, I am wondering how this cigar (been around since 2000) has escaped my notice. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of cinnamon and cereal with heavy grains. The pre light draw shows nice flavors of spice and a wheaty tone that has some vanilla sweetness to it.
The cigar opens with a profile that has miles of depth and loads of character. The core profile has some very intense notes of cinnamon and white pepper, there are some very nice vanilla undertones here as well. The back of the palate is being nicely coated with some crisp tobacco flavors and a nice wheat flavor that binds the experience together. The draw is absolute perfection for me, just the right amount of resistance and the perfect amount of smoke. The burn is right on the money in the early moments.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. There are some very nice sweet floral and vanilla notes that are developing here. There are also some great flavors of cinnamon and light brushes of wood here that lend to the complexity and depth of this smoke. The back of the palate is a wondrous combination of crisp tobacco flavors and light efforts of white pepper. The draw continues to perform flawlessly. The burn is still sharp and the ash hold until nearly the halfway point of the smoke.
The final half of the cigar slams home what I have been thinking all along, this is a very good smoke. The core profile is a tantalizing melange of light citrus notes with some vanilla, cinnamon and wood. This is a really a unique profile and it plays very well for me. At the back of the palate there are some great shots of white pepper that become more intense as the cigar progresses and there are still very nice flavors of crisp tobacco holding the experience together. The draw is exceptional. The burn is also nearly perfect right until the end.
The finish was full of cinnamon and tobacco flavors.
I am now a member of two cults, and one of them is people that love this cigar.
Appearance- 92 a very nice cigar to look at
Taste- 94, nearly classic for me just lacking slightly from that high standard
Construction- 97 an exceptional performance here
Strength- 91 a nice medium, some more punch earlier in the smoke would have been nice
Overall- 94.25 an exceptional experience
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Blanco Liga Exclusiva de Familia Toro (6x54)
I know nothing about this cigar and the website of the manufacturer is no wealth of information either. I believe that I have smoked some other blends from this same maker before and I don't recall smoking anything that worth writing home about, of course as you know, that never stops me from writing a blog entry. I really just bought this cigar on a total whim, a lark if you will, when I walked into a Tampa B&M. I am always looking for things that I have never heard of, or seen, and this cigar fit the bill so I laid down my shekels and bought this bad boy.
The cigar presents well, it is big and solid looking with a nice dark and rich textured wrapper. The band work has some garish colors in it and visually is not very appealing, but unless I'm drunk or tired I seldom smoke the band. The construction seems a touch tight to me and I'm concerned about the combustion based on this evidence. The pre light aroma was a strange floral essence, but there were some fuel like aromas here as well, almost like kerosene and I wonder if the wrapper was treated with something. The pre light draw shows some pepper flavors, but leaves an oily texture on the tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that I would classify as middling. The core flavors are pepper, anise and some damp earth notes which detract from the other two flavors that would be nice if standing together. This effort does not show any complexity or depth and the flavors just lay there doing nothing, like a lazy dog or boring girlfriend. At the back of the palate there are some wood flavors but they are overwhelmed with a fuel taste that smacks of kerosene. The draw is tight, but even with effort I am not producing much smoke and that usually means there is a void somewhere in the bunch, this is not a good sign. The burn is a touch off and if there is a void somewhere I expect this will become a looming issue as the cigar moves on.
The first half of the cigar actually shows some profile improvements. The core flavors show some nice coffee, earth and pepper flavors. There are still some nice tones of anise in the mix here as well, but the flavors never combine harmoniously and all attempt to stand on their own. This is no opus or concerto, it is individual violinists reading different sheets of music and it leaves the palate wanting more. The back of the palate still has some remnants of the fuel flavors from earlier in the smoke, but nice wood flavors are the core here. The draw has opened up into a loose and crazy drawing experience, and I am now sure that I am going through a void. If I needed anymore evidence the burn has gone completely off and touch ups are required often in the middle third. The void is gigantic, about the circumference of my pinky finger, and I am not sure how I missed it when inspecting the bunch. Heat is pouring into my mouth with each draw and a I am relighting and purging like a champion in this segment of the smoke, whilst trying to keep the cigar cool.
The final half of the cigar is better than I expected after the issue with the void. With about a third left the void corrects out and I am able to get some performance in the draw and burn area as they both start to perform acceptably. The profile is not interesting or complex, but the flavors are there and identifiable. There are some notes of pepper, coffee and earth, but as before they are not melding well together. The back of the palate continues to show wood flavors, but some bitterness is showing through in the last moments.
The finish was short and full of charred wood flavors.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 83 not very good, but not terrible
Construction- 74 not a great performance, the huge void really takes away from the experience
Strength- 85 a very middling medium/low end of full
Overall- 81, just not a good cigar at all
The cigar presents well, it is big and solid looking with a nice dark and rich textured wrapper. The band work has some garish colors in it and visually is not very appealing, but unless I'm drunk or tired I seldom smoke the band. The construction seems a touch tight to me and I'm concerned about the combustion based on this evidence. The pre light aroma was a strange floral essence, but there were some fuel like aromas here as well, almost like kerosene and I wonder if the wrapper was treated with something. The pre light draw shows some pepper flavors, but leaves an oily texture on the tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that I would classify as middling. The core flavors are pepper, anise and some damp earth notes which detract from the other two flavors that would be nice if standing together. This effort does not show any complexity or depth and the flavors just lay there doing nothing, like a lazy dog or boring girlfriend. At the back of the palate there are some wood flavors but they are overwhelmed with a fuel taste that smacks of kerosene. The draw is tight, but even with effort I am not producing much smoke and that usually means there is a void somewhere in the bunch, this is not a good sign. The burn is a touch off and if there is a void somewhere I expect this will become a looming issue as the cigar moves on.
The first half of the cigar actually shows some profile improvements. The core flavors show some nice coffee, earth and pepper flavors. There are still some nice tones of anise in the mix here as well, but the flavors never combine harmoniously and all attempt to stand on their own. This is no opus or concerto, it is individual violinists reading different sheets of music and it leaves the palate wanting more. The back of the palate still has some remnants of the fuel flavors from earlier in the smoke, but nice wood flavors are the core here. The draw has opened up into a loose and crazy drawing experience, and I am now sure that I am going through a void. If I needed anymore evidence the burn has gone completely off and touch ups are required often in the middle third. The void is gigantic, about the circumference of my pinky finger, and I am not sure how I missed it when inspecting the bunch. Heat is pouring into my mouth with each draw and a I am relighting and purging like a champion in this segment of the smoke, whilst trying to keep the cigar cool.
The final half of the cigar is better than I expected after the issue with the void. With about a third left the void corrects out and I am able to get some performance in the draw and burn area as they both start to perform acceptably. The profile is not interesting or complex, but the flavors are there and identifiable. There are some notes of pepper, coffee and earth, but as before they are not melding well together. The back of the palate continues to show wood flavors, but some bitterness is showing through in the last moments.
The finish was short and full of charred wood flavors.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 83 not very good, but not terrible
Construction- 74 not a great performance, the huge void really takes away from the experience
Strength- 85 a very middling medium/low end of full
Overall- 81, just not a good cigar at all
Monday, August 13, 2012
Asylum 13 Robusto (5x50)
Growing up as a budding political scientist I knew that there were two types of asylum. One, the place where loons get locked up to drool on themselves and hatch delusional notions of conspiracy, grandeur or otherwise. The other of the political nature, when people from other countries flee from harsh and oppressive regimes around the world to come to this country. Of course if you are a cigar smoker seeking asylum in this country you will be met with a harsh and oppressive regime of a different sort. To slap this moniker on a cigar is an interesting choice. As I am wont to do I must ponder the implications of the strange nomenclature of this cigar before I proceed with other, more pertinent, details.
Is this name a cry out for some sort of political revolution amongst cigar smokers? I mean we have been ostracized in recent years and now rank with lepers and the other terminally diseased in our society, just go somewhere and try to light up and see what types of looks you get. It's almost as if I forgot to dress myself or something, the looks of disgust are so prevalent and palpable. Even in the great outdoors I have been accosted by people for enjoying my fine cigar in the peace and serenity that only Mother Nature can provide. Maybe it is time that we seek asylum as smokers and try to find the one place in the world that allows us to smoke, unencumbered and unfettered in a manner of our choosing. I have long held the belief that my state, Florida, could secede from the greater union and become our own country. We will kick out the non cigar smokers and only those with real smoking bona-fides would be allowed to stay or be granted entry. This is my kind of country! I think we could make it happen! Oh damn, here come the dudes with the strappy jacket! Maybe I'll be going to some sort of asylum after all...
This cigar presents well. The wrapper is dark and rich, there are some prominent veins, but they seem to add to the overall appeal of the smoke. An examination of the construction leads me to believe that is fairly well made, but there is some looseness in the bunch that has me worried about draw and combustion. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of dark fruit and pepper notes and it really slams the nostrils with a notice of what is to come. The pre light draw is a delightful black cherry flavor that I hope shows up in the smoke. The final piece of this puzzle is that this cigar retails for five bucks here in Florida.
The cigar opens with a profile that shocks me very quickly. There is some real power here and the core profile smacks of coffee and cherry and orange zest. I was not expecting something like this so early on in the smoke and I can only hope that it will continue. At the back of the palate there is a nice presentation of earth and some light pepper that binds the experience together in a satisfying way. There is a level of complexity and depth here that is very solid for being so early in a smoke. The draw is a touch too loose for me, I prefer something with a bit more resistance, but it is not causing any issues. The burn is solid at this point and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar falls off from the opening moments. The core profile has some tar like qualities at this point and there are some charred notes coming off of a coffee flavor that is losing it's punch. The back of the palate continues to deliver some nice earthy flavors, but the pepper flavor has left and there is thin after taste coming into the picture that has some tannins in it. I am disappointed that the cigar has taken this turn, but I am holding out for some improvement in the last half. The draw is still too loose for me, but it is still not causing any real issues. The burn is starting to go off a touch, but I am hoping it corrects before I have to touch it up.
The final half of the cigar begins poorly but rounds into a fine final third. The first part of the last half stays much like the first half, there are still some tar like notes and some charred flavors as well, but then all of the sudden the cigar opens up into something so much more. The core profile hits a switch and shows some nice cocoa and coffee flavors that are accompanied by some hazelnut tones that are simply magnificent. The back of the palate is a robust presentation of anise and pepper and this binds it all together in a complex and pleasing manner. Too bad this occurred so late in the smoke. The draw stays loose through to the end. The burn does run, but eventually evens itself out after I gently knock some dead wrapper into the tray to force a correction.
The finish was long, but it was a touch sharp with some tar notes overlapping with coffee and earth.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 saved in the last few moments, if the entire cigar was like the opening and the last third this would be a higher score
Construction- 83 the draw was too loose and the burn was wonky
Strength- 87 a nice medium that would be full for many smokers I think
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average in the end
Is this name a cry out for some sort of political revolution amongst cigar smokers? I mean we have been ostracized in recent years and now rank with lepers and the other terminally diseased in our society, just go somewhere and try to light up and see what types of looks you get. It's almost as if I forgot to dress myself or something, the looks of disgust are so prevalent and palpable. Even in the great outdoors I have been accosted by people for enjoying my fine cigar in the peace and serenity that only Mother Nature can provide. Maybe it is time that we seek asylum as smokers and try to find the one place in the world that allows us to smoke, unencumbered and unfettered in a manner of our choosing. I have long held the belief that my state, Florida, could secede from the greater union and become our own country. We will kick out the non cigar smokers and only those with real smoking bona-fides would be allowed to stay or be granted entry. This is my kind of country! I think we could make it happen! Oh damn, here come the dudes with the strappy jacket! Maybe I'll be going to some sort of asylum after all...
This cigar presents well. The wrapper is dark and rich, there are some prominent veins, but they seem to add to the overall appeal of the smoke. An examination of the construction leads me to believe that is fairly well made, but there is some looseness in the bunch that has me worried about draw and combustion. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of dark fruit and pepper notes and it really slams the nostrils with a notice of what is to come. The pre light draw is a delightful black cherry flavor that I hope shows up in the smoke. The final piece of this puzzle is that this cigar retails for five bucks here in Florida.
The cigar opens with a profile that shocks me very quickly. There is some real power here and the core profile smacks of coffee and cherry and orange zest. I was not expecting something like this so early on in the smoke and I can only hope that it will continue. At the back of the palate there is a nice presentation of earth and some light pepper that binds the experience together in a satisfying way. There is a level of complexity and depth here that is very solid for being so early in a smoke. The draw is a touch too loose for me, I prefer something with a bit more resistance, but it is not causing any issues. The burn is solid at this point and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar falls off from the opening moments. The core profile has some tar like qualities at this point and there are some charred notes coming off of a coffee flavor that is losing it's punch. The back of the palate continues to deliver some nice earthy flavors, but the pepper flavor has left and there is thin after taste coming into the picture that has some tannins in it. I am disappointed that the cigar has taken this turn, but I am holding out for some improvement in the last half. The draw is still too loose for me, but it is still not causing any real issues. The burn is starting to go off a touch, but I am hoping it corrects before I have to touch it up.
The final half of the cigar begins poorly but rounds into a fine final third. The first part of the last half stays much like the first half, there are still some tar like notes and some charred flavors as well, but then all of the sudden the cigar opens up into something so much more. The core profile hits a switch and shows some nice cocoa and coffee flavors that are accompanied by some hazelnut tones that are simply magnificent. The back of the palate is a robust presentation of anise and pepper and this binds it all together in a complex and pleasing manner. Too bad this occurred so late in the smoke. The draw stays loose through to the end. The burn does run, but eventually evens itself out after I gently knock some dead wrapper into the tray to force a correction.
The finish was long, but it was a touch sharp with some tar notes overlapping with coffee and earth.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 saved in the last few moments, if the entire cigar was like the opening and the last third this would be a higher score
Construction- 83 the draw was too loose and the burn was wonky
Strength- 87 a nice medium that would be full for many smokers I think
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average in the end
Saturday, August 11, 2012
La Duena Robusto (5X50)
Another cigar from IPCPR and this is the one I was probably most excited about. Made in the My Father factory, as it is known I like that provenance, this cigar is named La Duena which translates into female owner in English for Janny Garcia the female boss of My Father. This cigar is actually blended by Pete Johnson and my interest was piqued because he has said this was supposed to be like La Riqueza, one of my favorite Tatuaje blends, with more strength. I was also somewhat concerned because I have not liked Dude A's (see previous review of Pete Johnson blends for discussion of Dude A and Dude B) blends in the past. See, Pete had many winners when Don Pepin was doing all the blending, but when Pete went out on his own he lost some of the secret sauce in my opinion. Anyway, all these particulars aside I was still anticipating this cigar.
The cigar itself presents very simply. The band work is red with a white silhouette of a woman's head on it, it kind of reminds me of an antique broach that an old woman would wear on a bad sweater. The wrapper is toothy and seems a bit too dry to me, but it has few veins and very nice dark coloration. An inspection leads me to believe that the construction is superb, a hallmark of this particular factory as I seldom have issues with any cigar from there. The pre light aroma is strong and smacks of rich coffee. The pre light draw has some dark wood essences and tons of earthy flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a little bit short for me. The core flavors are of over brewed coffee and some very loamy earth notes are present here as well. The overall impression is a profile that is unfinished and not very balanced or complex. At the back of the palate there are some serious notes of heavy minerals and I have never been a huge fan of this particular attribute in a cigar. The draw is a little bit too loose for me, but I will persevere as always. The burn is razor sharp and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar shows no real improvement. The core profile is still too overwrought with over brewed coffee flavors and there is no real nuance to the profile as the earthy flavors that should be giving the smoke balance are not doing the job for me. The back of the palate continues to be assaulted with mineral flavors and I feel as though I am sucking on a handful of nickels. The draw is ever looser as the cigar progresses and I slow the progress to keep the heat out of the smoke. The burn is still very sharp.
The final half of the cigar continues my hand in hand walk with disappointment. The core profile never develops into anything meaningful as the flavors linger on and on in an unimpressive way like a dinner guest that won't leave. Over brewed coffee and loamy earth notes just can't stand alone throughout a cigar and some balancing efforts are sorely needed. The back of the palate continues to show blasts of mineral weirdness and the whole experience is really not good.
The finish was short and full of mineral after taste.
This is not what I was hoping for. Can I get another Don Pepin blend please!!
Appearance- 86 very simple, but above average
Taste- 77 it just was not good
Construction- 82 the draw was too loose for me
Strength- 83 aiming for full but it was the high side of medium at best and the mineral flavors made divining any strength characteristics difficult
Overall- 81.25 this is not something I would revisit
The cigar itself presents very simply. The band work is red with a white silhouette of a woman's head on it, it kind of reminds me of an antique broach that an old woman would wear on a bad sweater. The wrapper is toothy and seems a bit too dry to me, but it has few veins and very nice dark coloration. An inspection leads me to believe that the construction is superb, a hallmark of this particular factory as I seldom have issues with any cigar from there. The pre light aroma is strong and smacks of rich coffee. The pre light draw has some dark wood essences and tons of earthy flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a little bit short for me. The core flavors are of over brewed coffee and some very loamy earth notes are present here as well. The overall impression is a profile that is unfinished and not very balanced or complex. At the back of the palate there are some serious notes of heavy minerals and I have never been a huge fan of this particular attribute in a cigar. The draw is a little bit too loose for me, but I will persevere as always. The burn is razor sharp and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar shows no real improvement. The core profile is still too overwrought with over brewed coffee flavors and there is no real nuance to the profile as the earthy flavors that should be giving the smoke balance are not doing the job for me. The back of the palate continues to be assaulted with mineral flavors and I feel as though I am sucking on a handful of nickels. The draw is ever looser as the cigar progresses and I slow the progress to keep the heat out of the smoke. The burn is still very sharp.
The final half of the cigar continues my hand in hand walk with disappointment. The core profile never develops into anything meaningful as the flavors linger on and on in an unimpressive way like a dinner guest that won't leave. Over brewed coffee and loamy earth notes just can't stand alone throughout a cigar and some balancing efforts are sorely needed. The back of the palate continues to show blasts of mineral weirdness and the whole experience is really not good.
The finish was short and full of mineral after taste.
This is not what I was hoping for. Can I get another Don Pepin blend please!!
Appearance- 86 very simple, but above average
Taste- 77 it just was not good
Construction- 82 the draw was too loose for me
Strength- 83 aiming for full but it was the high side of medium at best and the mineral flavors made divining any strength characteristics difficult
Overall- 81.25 this is not something I would revisit
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