It has been some time since I have reviewed a Habano on this blog, I made the decision in 2011 to smoke all of my Cubans for enjoyments purposes only, recent demands for some reviews from this region have inspired me to get back to it.
This particular cigar was offered by a good friend of mine in celebration of my coming nuptials, after I had asked him to be a groomsmen at the event. I have never smoked this cigar before, but I have always been fascinated by the uniqueness of the Upmann flavor profile. The cigar is absolutely stunning visually, it has a deep brown wrapper that is unmarred by veins or flaws. An inspection shows me some firmness that has me concerned in a few areas, but this is a hallmark of Cuban cigars in my experience and they always smoke fine. The pre light aroma is leathery and rich. The pre light draw is tight, but there are wonderful impressions of wood and leather.
The cigar opens with an excellent core profile that contains nice arrays of leather and wood. Upmann's are usually floral to me, but this one does not have that impression at all. Instead it is a well balanced, if lacking in complexity, blend of flavors. At the back of the palate there are some very nice tobacco flavors and an earthiness that can only come from a habano. The draw is way too tight at this point and I can only hope that it will open up some as the cigar progresses. The burn is slow, I'm pretty sure this has to do with the draw difficulties, but it is not running or showing a canoe.
The first half of the cigar really settles into a presentation of a core profile that is full of pleasant leather flavors mixed with some darker wood impressions that continue a nuanced balance of flavor. I would like some more complexity at this point, but the cigar is really well done for something that is really two dimensional at this point. At the back of the palate there are still some nice impressions of tobacco and earth that are still providing a nice backdrop for the core profile to rest upon. The draw has opened, but it is still a little too tight for me at this point.
The final half of the cigar is really amongst the finest I have smoked in years. The profile shifts into a deeply complex and rich experience that shows flavors of graham cracker, light cinnamon, leather and some brushes of roasted nuts. This level of complexity and depth is not often seen in cigars from anywhere other than Havana. The back of the palate is full of earth and tobacco flavors that are still the glue that bind the cigar together. The draw is ok, but still not what I would like at this point. The burn stayed solid, but slow throughout the smoke. I did lose the last inch or so because the draw completely shut down.
The finish was a bit short, but there were some lingering notes of wood and leather that were pleasant.
Appearance- 93 a wonderful visual specimen
Taste- 92 really very good, but limited depth and complexity in the first half limit the score
Construction- 83 big deductions for draw issues
Strength- 91 a nice medium
Overall- 89 severely reduced due to construction
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
EloGio Serie LSV Corona Extra (6x42)
I am always intrigued by cigars that I have never, ever heard of. This is just one such cigar. I was wandering in my favorite New Orleans B&M last month when I was approached by the owner, a good friend of mine, he had a big smile on his face and I know what that means, new cigars! He introduced me to 4 or 5 of the cigars on my Top 10 from 2011 and he has a hot hand in predicting what I will like. He led me over to these cigars that I had never heard of and laid on me that they were made by a relative of Alejandro Robaina, I can confirm that someone named Carlos Pereda Robaina is behind these smokes and that he is the grandson of the legend. I reluctantly bought some, I will get to why I was reluctant later. I smoked one right there and was impressed, but I was not in the frame of mind to consider that one for a review, so I bought some more.
The cigar presents very cheaply. The band work looks like something from a gas station brand and the tobacco, while supple, seems to be lower grade to me upon inspection. It just seems dry and inferior, not the stuff of Pepin, Padron or Fuente to be sure, or at least that is what I thought. An examination of the construction reveals a well made smoke with nary an issue or area of concern. The pre light aroma is bready and has light brushes of cinnamon. The pre light draw is lightly woody.
This cigar opens with a luxurious array of flavor and balance. The core profile is showing notes of white pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, spice and wheat. At the back of the palate there are some beautiful notes of light wood mingling with some great light tobacco flavors that are binding the whole experience together. The draw is absolute perfection in my world, there is some slight resistance, but the delivery of smoke and flavor is second to none. The burn is sharp and the ash is solid.
The first half of the smoke is eye opening, astonishing, flabbergasting or just damn great if you will. The profile has settled into a fantastic presentation of wheat and toasted marshmallow that is ever so subtly touched by occasional wisps of white pepper and cinnamon. At the back of the palate the light wood notes are balsa like and add a interesting sweetness to the profile, there are also still some beautiful light tobacco notes and some light touches of spice here. The draw continues to be excellent and I am super impressed with this performance, it's almost like this cigar was tailored to my draw specifications. The burn is a touch off here, but I don't think it will be an issue.
The final half of the cigar continues to impress me. I find myself at a loss for the appropriate metaphor at this point (I know you are all stunned), as the cigar exceeding my wildest expectations. The core profile has become a nuanced mix of cinnamon, roasted nuts, wheat and white pepper. It is so good I can hardly divine all that is going on here. The back of the palate has taken on a more cedary tone at this point, but it is ever so lightly touched by some tobacco and spice notes that remove any harshness from the cedary flavors. The draw and burn are solid throughout.
The finish is silky and long, leaving cinnamon and roasted nut flavors on the palate for several breathtaking moments. This is a cigar of legend! You never know what you might find.
Appearance- 85 I will give it an average score, all though it does appear to be cheap
Taste- 99 this was a nearly perfect experience, if I could change one thing I would have more core flavors for longer
Construction- 92 some burn issues in the middle, but the draw was superior
Strength- 94 a fantastic mild/low end medium that is so complementary to the palate
Overall- 93.5 an absolute must smoke!
The cigar presents very cheaply. The band work looks like something from a gas station brand and the tobacco, while supple, seems to be lower grade to me upon inspection. It just seems dry and inferior, not the stuff of Pepin, Padron or Fuente to be sure, or at least that is what I thought. An examination of the construction reveals a well made smoke with nary an issue or area of concern. The pre light aroma is bready and has light brushes of cinnamon. The pre light draw is lightly woody.
This cigar opens with a luxurious array of flavor and balance. The core profile is showing notes of white pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, spice and wheat. At the back of the palate there are some beautiful notes of light wood mingling with some great light tobacco flavors that are binding the whole experience together. The draw is absolute perfection in my world, there is some slight resistance, but the delivery of smoke and flavor is second to none. The burn is sharp and the ash is solid.
The first half of the smoke is eye opening, astonishing, flabbergasting or just damn great if you will. The profile has settled into a fantastic presentation of wheat and toasted marshmallow that is ever so subtly touched by occasional wisps of white pepper and cinnamon. At the back of the palate the light wood notes are balsa like and add a interesting sweetness to the profile, there are also still some beautiful light tobacco notes and some light touches of spice here. The draw continues to be excellent and I am super impressed with this performance, it's almost like this cigar was tailored to my draw specifications. The burn is a touch off here, but I don't think it will be an issue.
The final half of the cigar continues to impress me. I find myself at a loss for the appropriate metaphor at this point (I know you are all stunned), as the cigar exceeding my wildest expectations. The core profile has become a nuanced mix of cinnamon, roasted nuts, wheat and white pepper. It is so good I can hardly divine all that is going on here. The back of the palate has taken on a more cedary tone at this point, but it is ever so lightly touched by some tobacco and spice notes that remove any harshness from the cedary flavors. The draw and burn are solid throughout.
The finish is silky and long, leaving cinnamon and roasted nut flavors on the palate for several breathtaking moments. This is a cigar of legend! You never know what you might find.
Appearance- 85 I will give it an average score, all though it does appear to be cheap
Taste- 99 this was a nearly perfect experience, if I could change one thing I would have more core flavors for longer
Construction- 92 some burn issues in the middle, but the draw was superior
Strength- 94 a fantastic mild/low end medium that is so complementary to the palate
Overall- 93.5 an absolute must smoke!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Casa Fernandez Miami Toro (6.5x52)
My hockey team has been sucking it lately, I mean nine losses in a row, really? Really? REALLY? WTF? They were playing last night when I settled in with this smoke and prepared for a good cigar and a poor game. In analyzing the possibilities for the evening I took stock of certain factors. I have always liked Casa Fernandez cigars, even the ones I didn't like were not terrible, so the most likely outcome for the cigar was that it would be good, but at worst average. The Blackhawks have been playing like a bad juniors team, poor defense, horrendous goaltending and oh, by the way, they were playing the first place team in the Eastern Conference. It was looking like a hockey house of horrors and the only salvation potential was in this cigar.
The cigar presents well with a reddish hued wrapper that had some nice tooth and very few veins. I detected one area of concern in the final third of the bunch and I was worried that it could derail the experience (my first bit of foretelling for the evening). The cigar was oddly shaped, not purposely, in that it had a slight curve in it giving it a parabolic appearance. It would have been impossible for this to happen anywhere but the factory as there was no damage to the wrapper, binder or bunch indicating that is was just rolled crooked. The pre light aroma was of cedar. The pre light draw was peppery with some floral flavors.
The game opens with a Blackhawks goal at 65 seconds, on a penalty shot of all things! I am stoked, this could be just what the doctor ordered for the Hawks and I am getting involved and excited at this point. The cigar opens with a profile that is peppery, while there are also some slight mineral qualities, the main impression is pepper at this point. The back of the palate is all cedar, it is so strong that it nearly overpowers other aspects of the smoke. The draw is too tight for me and there is a little bit of effort required to get the right amount of smoke. The burn is slow, probably a function of a slightly obstructed draw.
The first period is all Hawks! Four goals in the first five minutes and they are off to the races. It was total domination in the first period for my boys. Likewise the cigar has really hit the right chords in the first third. The profile is a nice mix of pepper, earth and wood and there is plenty of depth and complexity showing through here. At the back of the palate the cedar notes continue, but they are not as sharp as earlier in the smoke. The draw has loosened considerably and the smoke is drawing very freely now. The burn stays right on the money.
The second period shows some regression for the Hawks, they allow a goal and play a weak defensive style that could have been exploited for much, much more. The cigar on the other hand has really hit it's stride. The profile is showing a very complex and deep mix of flavors including; coffee, cocoa, pepper, cinnamon and some nice earthy flavors. At the back of the palate the cedary core is holding on, but there are also some bready notes coming through here as well. This is really a fantastic experience at this point. The draw is very solid and the burn continues to be excellent.
The third period is solid for the Hawks and they perform well en route to a 4-2 victory. The cigar however really hits the skids in the last third. As I approach the area that I was concerned about from the beginning the draw becomes nearly non existant. The burn has gone off the rails and it requires some touch ups for me to keep the cigar going. The profound profile from just moments ago has circled the bowl and it becomes bitter and nasty as the heat from the poor draw and the plug ruins the rest of the smoke. This really hurts me because I was enjoying the evening to this point. I will eventually smoke another one and hope for better results.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 86 some excellent flavors until the final third when the experience goes haywire
Construction- 78 the final third was a disaster and there was tightness in the draw in the opening moments
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84 what a shame, this was shaping up to be something special
The cigar presents well with a reddish hued wrapper that had some nice tooth and very few veins. I detected one area of concern in the final third of the bunch and I was worried that it could derail the experience (my first bit of foretelling for the evening). The cigar was oddly shaped, not purposely, in that it had a slight curve in it giving it a parabolic appearance. It would have been impossible for this to happen anywhere but the factory as there was no damage to the wrapper, binder or bunch indicating that is was just rolled crooked. The pre light aroma was of cedar. The pre light draw was peppery with some floral flavors.
The game opens with a Blackhawks goal at 65 seconds, on a penalty shot of all things! I am stoked, this could be just what the doctor ordered for the Hawks and I am getting involved and excited at this point. The cigar opens with a profile that is peppery, while there are also some slight mineral qualities, the main impression is pepper at this point. The back of the palate is all cedar, it is so strong that it nearly overpowers other aspects of the smoke. The draw is too tight for me and there is a little bit of effort required to get the right amount of smoke. The burn is slow, probably a function of a slightly obstructed draw.
The first period is all Hawks! Four goals in the first five minutes and they are off to the races. It was total domination in the first period for my boys. Likewise the cigar has really hit the right chords in the first third. The profile is a nice mix of pepper, earth and wood and there is plenty of depth and complexity showing through here. At the back of the palate the cedar notes continue, but they are not as sharp as earlier in the smoke. The draw has loosened considerably and the smoke is drawing very freely now. The burn stays right on the money.
The second period shows some regression for the Hawks, they allow a goal and play a weak defensive style that could have been exploited for much, much more. The cigar on the other hand has really hit it's stride. The profile is showing a very complex and deep mix of flavors including; coffee, cocoa, pepper, cinnamon and some nice earthy flavors. At the back of the palate the cedary core is holding on, but there are also some bready notes coming through here as well. This is really a fantastic experience at this point. The draw is very solid and the burn continues to be excellent.
The third period is solid for the Hawks and they perform well en route to a 4-2 victory. The cigar however really hits the skids in the last third. As I approach the area that I was concerned about from the beginning the draw becomes nearly non existant. The burn has gone off the rails and it requires some touch ups for me to keep the cigar going. The profound profile from just moments ago has circled the bowl and it becomes bitter and nasty as the heat from the poor draw and the plug ruins the rest of the smoke. This really hurts me because I was enjoying the evening to this point. I will eventually smoke another one and hope for better results.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 86 some excellent flavors until the final third when the experience goes haywire
Construction- 78 the final third was a disaster and there was tightness in the draw in the opening moments
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full
Overall- 84 what a shame, this was shaping up to be something special
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Casa Magna Domus Magnus Primus (6.5x55)
I can't think of a single cigar of recent memory that I enjoyed less than the Casa Magna Oscuro, it was just plain terrible. In fact, it was so shockingly terrible that I nearly ran away from the cigar in this review like tiny Japanese people run from Godzilla in the movies. I can see it now, I am minding my own business while perusing some humidor when all of the sudden someone runs in screaming and pointing and I look up, and to my ultimate horror some crappy cigar is descending upon us to wreak havoc and destruction to all that we hold dear. OK, so maybe that is a bit dramatic, but you see my point right? One bad cigar can turn you off to an entire brand of cigars in a soul scarring horror show, and you would be dragged back kicking and screaming to smoke that cigar again. That is how I feel about this one before I even start.
The cigar itself is interesting to look at, but it has some characteristics that I find to be a turn off. First, it is box pressed, I hate this feature in a cigar. Unless you are the Padron's you should not be box pressing anything, period! The band work is trying to be intricate, but I think it comes off looking cheap and too busy. It does have a pigtail cap, which I usually find visually whimsical and appealing, but in this case it is a rigid, short stub that just does not seem right to me. The wrapper is veiny, but not unduly so, and I don't think it will be a real problem. The pre light aroma is spicy, but there is an odd fuel smell there too. The pre light draw is tangy, almost like it was treated with something.
The cigar opens with a profile that is long on short, sharp flavors and lacks complexity and depth. The profile is tart, with some odd spice flavors that I would associate with sour nutmeg. It is really not appealing at all in this stage of the smoke and I am thinking I should have made like the Japanese and run for my life. The back of the palate has some sharp cedar flavors, but there is a fuel like undertone here as well and it is reminiscent of how kerosene smells when burned. The draw is nice, I wish it weren't. The burn is solid and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar shows some minor improvements. The profile becomes a more acceptable presentation of wood, cinnamon and spice, but it still lacks depth in the flavor profile and some of the flavors still seem sharp to me. At the back of the palate sharp cedar flavors continue to dominate, but the fuel taste has disappeared and I wonder what impurities were in the front part of the smoke. The draw is still strong to this point and I am enjoying the construction aspects of this cigar. The burn is also solid to this point and the ash is solid.
The final half of the cigar makes me realize that my fears of Godzilla were misplaced, this really just turned out to be a false alarm. The profile becomes a very complex mix of flavors, it is too little too late, but it is still a welcome finish to a cigar that started out marching to a death knell. The profile picks up some very nice coffee notes to complement an ever intensifying array of cinnamon and spice, there is also a vanilla like sweetness here that is very interesting when worked into the other flavors. At the back of the palate the flavor is still all cedar, but is has become less sharp and allows a nice tobacco flavor to show through in the end. The burn and draw stay solid right to the end of the smoke.
The finish was middling, but it did show some cinnamon and cedar flavors.
Appearance- 82 just too many odd attributes here
Taste- 86 big deductions for first half issues, but it came on strong in the second half
Construction- 93 a very well made smoke that performed very well
Strength- 87 I will call this an uninspired medium
Overall- 87.75 all in all, not bad, and nowhere near as bad as I thought
The cigar itself is interesting to look at, but it has some characteristics that I find to be a turn off. First, it is box pressed, I hate this feature in a cigar. Unless you are the Padron's you should not be box pressing anything, period! The band work is trying to be intricate, but I think it comes off looking cheap and too busy. It does have a pigtail cap, which I usually find visually whimsical and appealing, but in this case it is a rigid, short stub that just does not seem right to me. The wrapper is veiny, but not unduly so, and I don't think it will be a real problem. The pre light aroma is spicy, but there is an odd fuel smell there too. The pre light draw is tangy, almost like it was treated with something.
The cigar opens with a profile that is long on short, sharp flavors and lacks complexity and depth. The profile is tart, with some odd spice flavors that I would associate with sour nutmeg. It is really not appealing at all in this stage of the smoke and I am thinking I should have made like the Japanese and run for my life. The back of the palate has some sharp cedar flavors, but there is a fuel like undertone here as well and it is reminiscent of how kerosene smells when burned. The draw is nice, I wish it weren't. The burn is solid and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar shows some minor improvements. The profile becomes a more acceptable presentation of wood, cinnamon and spice, but it still lacks depth in the flavor profile and some of the flavors still seem sharp to me. At the back of the palate sharp cedar flavors continue to dominate, but the fuel taste has disappeared and I wonder what impurities were in the front part of the smoke. The draw is still strong to this point and I am enjoying the construction aspects of this cigar. The burn is also solid to this point and the ash is solid.
The final half of the cigar makes me realize that my fears of Godzilla were misplaced, this really just turned out to be a false alarm. The profile becomes a very complex mix of flavors, it is too little too late, but it is still a welcome finish to a cigar that started out marching to a death knell. The profile picks up some very nice coffee notes to complement an ever intensifying array of cinnamon and spice, there is also a vanilla like sweetness here that is very interesting when worked into the other flavors. At the back of the palate the flavor is still all cedar, but is has become less sharp and allows a nice tobacco flavor to show through in the end. The burn and draw stay solid right to the end of the smoke.
The finish was middling, but it did show some cinnamon and cedar flavors.
Appearance- 82 just too many odd attributes here
Taste- 86 big deductions for first half issues, but it came on strong in the second half
Construction- 93 a very well made smoke that performed very well
Strength- 87 I will call this an uninspired medium
Overall- 87.75 all in all, not bad, and nowhere near as bad as I thought
Friday, February 3, 2012
Litto Gomez Small Batch #4 (7x52)
Small batch cigars seem to be right up there with big ring as the current most popular fad in the industry. While neither are as prominent as they were just a year ago, there are still some out there coming to light every so often. This cigar is no exception. This hit the shelves in my area about a month ago and I was one of the first to run out and grab one, then I had a real problem, when to smoke this monster. It is a huge cigar, not Grave Digger big, but big for me as it is seldom that I will ever smoke something of this size. I usually enjoy the LFD and Litto blends though so I believe that I could be in for real treat here.
The cigar is draped in a beautiful wrapper that is full of oils, my only concern is that is seems thin to me and it is also full of veins. There is some small cracking at the head, but it appears to be superficial and when exhaling gently I can't feel any air escaping from anywhere along the sides. An examination reveals a firmly and fully packed smoke that has no areas of concern for me. The pre light draw is fluid and reveals hints of pepper, earth and minerals. The pre light aroma is powerful and has notes of coffee and spice.
The cigar opens with a profile that is bold and in my face. The core flavors are minerals and earth, but there is also some nice pepper flavor coming through in spots as well. At the back of the palate the profile is all earth and dark wood. This is not the most complex or flavorful blend I have ever experienced, but it is also not the worst either. All in all I would say that is a solid beginning for a smoke that I hope will develop. The draw is solid, if a little tight, and I can't see any issues coming in this area. The burn is slow and a very bright white ash is forming as is so often the case with cigars that have a mineral flavor to me.
The first third of the smoke maintains the opening flavors past where I would like to see them. I was hoping for more development in the profile by this point in the cigar. The flavors stay consistent, but boring, showing minerals and earth with more fleeting moments of pepper than in the earlier stage of the experience. At the back of the palate the flavors of earth and dark wood continue to dominate. The burn and draw are as previously noted.
The middle third of this cigar become something really interesting to me. The profile continues to show a solid core of mineral and earth flavors, but there are now some very nice notes of dark coffee and some dried dark fruit flavors as well. These added flavors add layers of complexity and depth that were not present earlier in the smoke and they are a welcome addition. At the back of the palate earth and wood flavors mingle with a prune like flavor that is unexpected, but not unpleasant. The draw has opened up at this point and is performing beautifully. The burn is the real star of the show at this point and I don't drop off the first ash until almost midway through the smoke.
The final third of the smoke is solid, but nothing more. The complexity and depth of the middle third fade a little here and the profile picks up a sour note that is not well received. The core remains full of mineral and earth flavors, but the sour notes coming in are not helping. There are some real bursts of pepper coming through in the final moments and that is a nice touch. The back of the palate continues to chug along delivering earth and wood flavors in full force. The burn and draw remain the same to the end of the smoke.
The finish is a real bomb of flavor, hammering the palate with pepper and earth notes for many minutes.
Appearance- 87 rustic, but interesting
Taste- 88 a nice profile, but really lacking everywhere but in the middle of the smoke
Construction- 91 a nice performance, but points off for draw tightness early
Strength- 88 a full forced, full strength experience
Overall- 88.75 a nice, above average offering
The cigar is draped in a beautiful wrapper that is full of oils, my only concern is that is seems thin to me and it is also full of veins. There is some small cracking at the head, but it appears to be superficial and when exhaling gently I can't feel any air escaping from anywhere along the sides. An examination reveals a firmly and fully packed smoke that has no areas of concern for me. The pre light draw is fluid and reveals hints of pepper, earth and minerals. The pre light aroma is powerful and has notes of coffee and spice.
The cigar opens with a profile that is bold and in my face. The core flavors are minerals and earth, but there is also some nice pepper flavor coming through in spots as well. At the back of the palate the profile is all earth and dark wood. This is not the most complex or flavorful blend I have ever experienced, but it is also not the worst either. All in all I would say that is a solid beginning for a smoke that I hope will develop. The draw is solid, if a little tight, and I can't see any issues coming in this area. The burn is slow and a very bright white ash is forming as is so often the case with cigars that have a mineral flavor to me.
The first third of the smoke maintains the opening flavors past where I would like to see them. I was hoping for more development in the profile by this point in the cigar. The flavors stay consistent, but boring, showing minerals and earth with more fleeting moments of pepper than in the earlier stage of the experience. At the back of the palate the flavors of earth and dark wood continue to dominate. The burn and draw are as previously noted.
The middle third of this cigar become something really interesting to me. The profile continues to show a solid core of mineral and earth flavors, but there are now some very nice notes of dark coffee and some dried dark fruit flavors as well. These added flavors add layers of complexity and depth that were not present earlier in the smoke and they are a welcome addition. At the back of the palate earth and wood flavors mingle with a prune like flavor that is unexpected, but not unpleasant. The draw has opened up at this point and is performing beautifully. The burn is the real star of the show at this point and I don't drop off the first ash until almost midway through the smoke.
The final third of the smoke is solid, but nothing more. The complexity and depth of the middle third fade a little here and the profile picks up a sour note that is not well received. The core remains full of mineral and earth flavors, but the sour notes coming in are not helping. There are some real bursts of pepper coming through in the final moments and that is a nice touch. The back of the palate continues to chug along delivering earth and wood flavors in full force. The burn and draw remain the same to the end of the smoke.
The finish is a real bomb of flavor, hammering the palate with pepper and earth notes for many minutes.
Appearance- 87 rustic, but interesting
Taste- 88 a nice profile, but really lacking everywhere but in the middle of the smoke
Construction- 91 a nice performance, but points off for draw tightness early
Strength- 88 a full forced, full strength experience
Overall- 88.75 a nice, above average offering
Thursday, February 2, 2012
San Lotano Oval Petit Robusto (4.5X54)
The San Lotano Habano, a brother of the cigar being reviewed here, was in my Top 10 Cigar list from 2011 which is no small feat in my not so humble opinion. I have had several of these Ovals laying about for awhile now and I'm not sure why I was waiting to smoke this, particularly since I enjoyed the Habano so much. I have spoken to some that have smoked this cigar and I have heard only rave reviews, this ordinarily gives me pause, but in this case I was actually excited about it. I believe some of my excitement stems from my opinion of AJ Fernandez and the smokes they produce, many of which I have rated very highly right here on this blog. Further anticipation comes from the fact that one of my friends that hates just about every cigar he smokes loved this one, that is so rare that I can only be rapt with glee at the prospect of smoking this cigar.
The cigar presents very well. It is firm, but not too bulky, even though 54 ring is a bit too big for me normally, this one does not seem to be as large as indicated. The wrapper is absolute eye candy; nearly vein free, full of oils, a deep and rich brown coloration like milk chocolate it really gets the synapses in the brain firing on all cylinders about the experience that might be forthcoming. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of spice, cedar and white pepper. The pre light draw is full of satisfying tobacco flavor.
The cigar opens with a profile that has miles and miles of depth and complexity. The core flavors are pepper, spice, tobacco, earth and chocolate. The flavors are so deep and nuanced that it is difficult to discern all of them, but they are not muddled, instead they are so intricately layered that each flavor has it's own kingdom inside the profile. I have seldom experienced this kind of nuance in a smoke so early on. At the back of the palate there are some excellent earth and tobacco notes that are binding the whole experience together in a soldiering fashion, they know their role and they perform it flawlessly. The draw is a little tight for me, but I am hoping it opens up as the smoke progresses. The burn is dead even and a firm ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar loses some of the nuance, but what is left continues to be very impressive. The core profile becomes a more focused presentation of tobacco and chocolate notes with some sprays of pepper to keep things interesting. This thinning of the profile is somewhat disappointing after the beginning salvo, but it continues to be very solid. At the back of the palate the flavors of earth and tobacco continue to march on providing a solid backdrop for the entire flavor experience. The draw is still a touch tight, but I am managing well enough. The burn stays solid.
The final half of the cigar really let me down. It was not bad, far from it, but I was expecting an epic ending after the phenomenal beginning and solid middle. Maybe part of the charm was that this did not happen, as it does so often in other cigars. I feel like the decision was made to just let the cigar speak for itself and not do anything to punch up the ending, looking back I think this could be an excellent choice. The core profile begins to show cedar notes and some beautiful pepper flavors return here, they are subtle, but add so much to the experience. At the back of the palate there are booming flavors of earth and some nice, rich tobacco flavors as well. The consistency of these final moments are what smokers will remember and that is key. The draw is fine, but still tight for me. The burn was solid to the end.
The finish was earthy and satisfying for several moments after completion.
Appearance- 94 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 91 very, very solid some follow through of early flavors would have been nice
Construction- 90 excellent, points removed for draw tightness
Strength- 92 a wonderfully full bodied, medium strength cigar
Overall- 91.25 an absolute must smoke
The cigar presents very well. It is firm, but not too bulky, even though 54 ring is a bit too big for me normally, this one does not seem to be as large as indicated. The wrapper is absolute eye candy; nearly vein free, full of oils, a deep and rich brown coloration like milk chocolate it really gets the synapses in the brain firing on all cylinders about the experience that might be forthcoming. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of spice, cedar and white pepper. The pre light draw is full of satisfying tobacco flavor.
The cigar opens with a profile that has miles and miles of depth and complexity. The core flavors are pepper, spice, tobacco, earth and chocolate. The flavors are so deep and nuanced that it is difficult to discern all of them, but they are not muddled, instead they are so intricately layered that each flavor has it's own kingdom inside the profile. I have seldom experienced this kind of nuance in a smoke so early on. At the back of the palate there are some excellent earth and tobacco notes that are binding the whole experience together in a soldiering fashion, they know their role and they perform it flawlessly. The draw is a little tight for me, but I am hoping it opens up as the smoke progresses. The burn is dead even and a firm ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar loses some of the nuance, but what is left continues to be very impressive. The core profile becomes a more focused presentation of tobacco and chocolate notes with some sprays of pepper to keep things interesting. This thinning of the profile is somewhat disappointing after the beginning salvo, but it continues to be very solid. At the back of the palate the flavors of earth and tobacco continue to march on providing a solid backdrop for the entire flavor experience. The draw is still a touch tight, but I am managing well enough. The burn stays solid.
The final half of the cigar really let me down. It was not bad, far from it, but I was expecting an epic ending after the phenomenal beginning and solid middle. Maybe part of the charm was that this did not happen, as it does so often in other cigars. I feel like the decision was made to just let the cigar speak for itself and not do anything to punch up the ending, looking back I think this could be an excellent choice. The core profile begins to show cedar notes and some beautiful pepper flavors return here, they are subtle, but add so much to the experience. At the back of the palate there are booming flavors of earth and some nice, rich tobacco flavors as well. The consistency of these final moments are what smokers will remember and that is key. The draw is fine, but still tight for me. The burn was solid to the end.
The finish was earthy and satisfying for several moments after completion.
Appearance- 94 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 91 very, very solid some follow through of early flavors would have been nice
Construction- 90 excellent, points removed for draw tightness
Strength- 92 a wonderfully full bodied, medium strength cigar
Overall- 91.25 an absolute must smoke
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