Some very good friends of mine have been raving about this cigar for a few weeks now and I managed to get one slapped into my ever open and greedy hands. I waited for some time to smoke it, it is small after all and I needed the appropriate window of time for a short smoke.
Recently, my Fiance decided that she would like to take up golf. Just like that, on a whim, she decided to take up the game that I love to hate. I, of course, needed to warm up to this idea. The golf course is my sanctuary, plus I can only imagine what my country club bill will look like once she starts playing there on the regular. After some convincing I relented and we went and bought some clubs, shoes, balls, tees and a glove. Thinking I was done there, she decided that she needed "cute outfits", I did not know that "cute outfits" were a pre-req for golf, but in her world they are so we got some of those too. Several hundred dollars later, this woman that has never swung a club in her life was all set to go. There was only one catch, I had to set up her bag for her. After all she knows nothing about golf, is what I was informed. So off to my humidor I went, in search of something short to smoke while I arranged her golf future one implement at a time. This cigar was staring back at me and I decided what better time? Golf bag setup couldn't take too long, could it?
This cigar is quite short and the 48 ring seems wrong to me, but my trusty ring gauge app says 48 on the nose, so I guess my eyes are off as it seemed much thinner to me. The wrapper is dark, very dark, and I am reminded of a La Gloria Series R. There are some veins and the cigar has an unpolished look to it, much like a Padron. The band work is garish to me, but it does not subtract from the impression. The cigar seems well constructed, as I can't find any areas of concern. The pre light aroma is earthy and full of minerals. The pre light draw is also full of mineral flavors with some peppery qualities.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly one dimensional. The core is of pepper, pepper and more pepper. I don't mind a peppery cigar, but I like some nuance to balance it out and it just isn't here at this point. At the back of the palate there is a huge blast of tobacco flavor that has some harshness to it, but nothing else is going on. I am disappointed at the lack of complexity and depth and it would not be last time that I was reminded of the La Gloria previously mentioned. The draw is too tight for me, but I am managing to get it done thus far. The burn is solid and a nice white ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar maintains a heavily one dimensional approach. The core profile becomes a more full presentation, but there is a transition into a mineral like profile that still reveals no complexity or depth. The back of the palate is still churning out tobacco flavors and while the harshness has gone away, there is no nuance or balance. This is more and more like the Series R's that I have smoked for years. The draw opens slightly, but it is still too tight. The burn is solid.
The final half of the cigar transitions into a more involved profile presentation, and not a moment too soon. The core profile continues to have some mineral influences to it, but an overwrought coffee flavor has come into play here as well. There are several different coffee impressions that I have described in other reviews, this one is none of them. This is a scorched coffee flavor and it is not the most pleasant experience as it makes the mineral flavors more pronounced. At the back of the palate some dark wood notes come into play, but the underlying tobacco flavors are becoming harsh again. The draw was too tight throughout, though it did open as the smoke progressed. The burn was fine to the end.
The finish was short and metallic with mineral flavors that turn acidic.
All in all I did not enjoy this very much, perhaps a different size would be better.
Appearance- 86 sort of motley looking
Taste- 82 just not great, no depth, complexity or balance here
Construction- 84 draw tightness hurt the mark
Strength- 85 full to be sure, but not complementary to the smoke
Overall- 83.75 below average, but I'm happy my friends enjoy it
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
San Lotano Maduro Lancero (7x38)
I will start with an interesting observation about this smoke. It does not appear on the AJ Fernandez website. As part of my smoke and review rituals I always check the manufacturer site for information or interesting tid bits, in this case there just weren't any. I'm not sure why this is and I did not waste much energy trying to figure it out, but I did find it to be strange. This cigar has a lot going for it in my mind. It is a lancero, my favorite size, and a size that you just can't find in the marketplace very often. It is a San Lotano, I have recently become a real devotee of these offerings as they have been a pleasant addition to my lineup of new and exciting smokes which is often lacking additions. Finally, it is a maduro, I have always been a fan of this wrapper.
The cigar is pleasant to look at, I always like the diminutive majesty of this size, most guys don't like this vitola, I think they believe that it is feminine. I have told fellow BOTL's for years that true flavor from a wrapper can only be experienced fully in thinner vitolas alas, my assertions have long fallen upon deaf ears. The band work is interesting to look at and there is a second back that identifies the wrapper. An inspection reveals that the cigar is soft in the middle third and I am worried about what that will do to the performance of the smoke. The pre light aroma is woody and has a nice tobacco nose. The pre light draw shows some notes of pepper and cola.
The cigar opens with a profile that is too thin for me, it really has no depth or complexity. The core is showing some pepper and dark wood flavors, but they lack nuance and balance in the opening moments. At the back of the palate there is a nice earthy tone, that would be very nice if complemented by the front of the profile. The cigar draws like an absolute dream, this is the perfect draw for me, I can only wish that it were delivering the dream profile. The burn is slightly wonky, but it evens out well before the first third passes.
The first half of the cigar continues to wallow in mediocrity. The profile is still showing some pepper flavors and some dark wood, but there is no development or added subtlety at this point. At the back of the palate some nice earthy flavors continue and there is some light coffee here too, I feel like if it were more robust it might be a missing link for this cigar. The draw continues to perform very well and the burn has evened out without issue. I have also come into the soft middle section that I noted earlier and there have been no issues to this point.
The final half of this cigar starts to deliver what I would have liked from the beginning. The core profile becomes a more robust presentation of pepper, cocoa, dark fruit and wood. I am also experiencing the taste of cola as I noted in the pre light draw, this is very interesting to me as I have never experienced this flavor in a cigar before. The back of the palate is sweeter, almost floral, but continues to show earthy tones that are binding the experience together at this point. The draw has stayed as previously noted, but the burn has stated to jump around a bit again but requires no attention.
The finish was earthy, but a touch short.
Appearance- 88 a little rustic looking as the wrapper was lumpy, but a nice smoke
Taste- 87 some nice late flavor saved the score
Construction- 93 a superior effort here, without the slight burn issues I would have gone higher
Strength- 88 a solid medium that complemented the cigar nicely
Overall- 89.25 based mostly on very solid construction
The cigar is pleasant to look at, I always like the diminutive majesty of this size, most guys don't like this vitola, I think they believe that it is feminine. I have told fellow BOTL's for years that true flavor from a wrapper can only be experienced fully in thinner vitolas alas, my assertions have long fallen upon deaf ears. The band work is interesting to look at and there is a second back that identifies the wrapper. An inspection reveals that the cigar is soft in the middle third and I am worried about what that will do to the performance of the smoke. The pre light aroma is woody and has a nice tobacco nose. The pre light draw shows some notes of pepper and cola.
The cigar opens with a profile that is too thin for me, it really has no depth or complexity. The core is showing some pepper and dark wood flavors, but they lack nuance and balance in the opening moments. At the back of the palate there is a nice earthy tone, that would be very nice if complemented by the front of the profile. The cigar draws like an absolute dream, this is the perfect draw for me, I can only wish that it were delivering the dream profile. The burn is slightly wonky, but it evens out well before the first third passes.
The first half of the cigar continues to wallow in mediocrity. The profile is still showing some pepper flavors and some dark wood, but there is no development or added subtlety at this point. At the back of the palate some nice earthy flavors continue and there is some light coffee here too, I feel like if it were more robust it might be a missing link for this cigar. The draw continues to perform very well and the burn has evened out without issue. I have also come into the soft middle section that I noted earlier and there have been no issues to this point.
The final half of this cigar starts to deliver what I would have liked from the beginning. The core profile becomes a more robust presentation of pepper, cocoa, dark fruit and wood. I am also experiencing the taste of cola as I noted in the pre light draw, this is very interesting to me as I have never experienced this flavor in a cigar before. The back of the palate is sweeter, almost floral, but continues to show earthy tones that are binding the experience together at this point. The draw has stayed as previously noted, but the burn has stated to jump around a bit again but requires no attention.
The finish was earthy, but a touch short.
Appearance- 88 a little rustic looking as the wrapper was lumpy, but a nice smoke
Taste- 87 some nice late flavor saved the score
Construction- 93 a superior effort here, without the slight burn issues I would have gone higher
Strength- 88 a solid medium that complemented the cigar nicely
Overall- 89.25 based mostly on very solid construction
Sunday, March 18, 2012
El Tiante Habano Oscuro Robusto (5x50)
This cigar is made by My Father for the legendary baseball player Luis Tiant. A year or so ago, maybe longer, I reviewed the first blend made for this man. At the time it was blended by someone else and the cigar, while good, was not great. In addition to be a famous and skilled athlete, Mr. Tiant obviously has some smarts as well, having My Father and the Pepin's make your cigars is indicative of great cigar intelligence. I mean, how could you go wrong with these guys making your stuff? I have been hearing about these for some time, but I had not seen them anywhere. Earlier this month some friends of mine went to the factory in Nicaragua, I had booked the trip as well, but due to work I had to back out. One of my good friends brought this back for me to sample, I was very pleased to see one.
The cigar presents well with a nice dark wrapper, this is a natural oscuro presentation which is refreshing most oscuros are so dark that they could not possibly be a natural shade and I always suspect some sort of treatment to the wrapper to achieve the color, this is not so here. The wrapper is oily and has very few veins, it also has the color of a nice, rich dark chocolate. The band work is elegant and not too flashy in providing an appealing commercial approach. The pre light aroma is of chocolate and pepper. The pre light draw shows some nice earthy flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that I find to be somewhat pedestrian and lacking in depth and character. The core flavors are of earth and pepper, but they are not deep or compelling at this point. This is odd from a My Father creation and I am wondering what is going on here. At the back of the palate there is a light grassy note and bitter tone that has some burning foliage hints to it. The draw is nearly perfect, which is a shame because I feel like good construction is wasted by poor flavor. The burn is also very solid and I am not seeing any room for concern at this point.
The first half of the cigar show some welcome developments. The profile begins to transform into a more robust and complex array of flavors that are waking the palate up nicely. The core profile begins to show layers of dark chocolate and some sweet nutty flavors that are compelling and showing some nice depth. There are also some nice shots of black pepper coming through here and that makes me happy as it adds a layer of complexity to the experience. The draw is still right on the money, though it has loosened to a point that is bordering on being too loose. The burn is dead solid perfect well past the half way point.
The final half of the cigar really does not add much to the experience. The core profile levels off and does not present any new flavors to the mix. The core stays full of chocolate notes but the nutty flavors have gone away at this point subtracting from the depth of the profile. The pepper notes have likewise faded to a more wispy presentation that lacks oomph. The back of the palate is very earthy and has some light sweetness to it as well. The draw does get too loose in the final third and I slow it down to avoid heat, but then have to flirt with a re-light, which I manage to deftly avoid. The burn stays solid to the end.
The finish was peppery and a touch short for me taking on a bitter character as it lingered.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 a nice profile, but way more was needed to make this a better experience
Construction- 89 a nice presentation here, but the draw got too loose late
Strength- 87 a very nice medium full
Overall- 87.75 a slightly above average experience
The cigar presents well with a nice dark wrapper, this is a natural oscuro presentation which is refreshing most oscuros are so dark that they could not possibly be a natural shade and I always suspect some sort of treatment to the wrapper to achieve the color, this is not so here. The wrapper is oily and has very few veins, it also has the color of a nice, rich dark chocolate. The band work is elegant and not too flashy in providing an appealing commercial approach. The pre light aroma is of chocolate and pepper. The pre light draw shows some nice earthy flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that I find to be somewhat pedestrian and lacking in depth and character. The core flavors are of earth and pepper, but they are not deep or compelling at this point. This is odd from a My Father creation and I am wondering what is going on here. At the back of the palate there is a light grassy note and bitter tone that has some burning foliage hints to it. The draw is nearly perfect, which is a shame because I feel like good construction is wasted by poor flavor. The burn is also very solid and I am not seeing any room for concern at this point.
The first half of the cigar show some welcome developments. The profile begins to transform into a more robust and complex array of flavors that are waking the palate up nicely. The core profile begins to show layers of dark chocolate and some sweet nutty flavors that are compelling and showing some nice depth. There are also some nice shots of black pepper coming through here and that makes me happy as it adds a layer of complexity to the experience. The draw is still right on the money, though it has loosened to a point that is bordering on being too loose. The burn is dead solid perfect well past the half way point.
The final half of the cigar really does not add much to the experience. The core profile levels off and does not present any new flavors to the mix. The core stays full of chocolate notes but the nutty flavors have gone away at this point subtracting from the depth of the profile. The pepper notes have likewise faded to a more wispy presentation that lacks oomph. The back of the palate is very earthy and has some light sweetness to it as well. The draw does get too loose in the final third and I slow it down to avoid heat, but then have to flirt with a re-light, which I manage to deftly avoid. The burn stays solid to the end.
The finish was peppery and a touch short for me taking on a bitter character as it lingered.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 a nice profile, but way more was needed to make this a better experience
Construction- 89 a nice presentation here, but the draw got too loose late
Strength- 87 a very nice medium full
Overall- 87.75 a slightly above average experience
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Pedro Martin Royal Toro (6x52)
In 2011 the Pedro Martin Gold burst onto the scene in my cigar world and found it's place at #6 in my Top 10 cigars of the year. This is no small feat, as my Top 10 lists are heavily considered and each cigar is scrutinized thoroughly before being given top status. I ran into Maria Martin some weeks ago at an event in West Palm and she told to keep an eye out for the new Platinum Series, which is what this Royal is from. Maria also relayed a story to me about her father's long ties to Don Pepin and the mentor relationship her father had with a young Pepin many years ago. I won't go into all the details, but it was an excellent trip down memory lane for her and a fun story for me. If you ever meet her you should get her to regale you with the tale.
This cigar is fairly plain visually as the wrapper is nice looking, but somewhat dull. The band work is non-descript, but I learned long ago not to judge a book by it's cover. The wrapper has few veins and is very nicely applied and the construction of the remainder of the cigar is excellent as I detect no areas of concern. The pre light aroma is of light bread and wheat with a touch of cinnamon. The pre light draw is deliciously floral and has some ideas of cinnamon as well.
The cigar opens with a profile that is subtle, yet solidly flavorful. The core notes are of graham cracker and light wood, there are also wisps of cinnamon that are slipping some unexpected depth into the early moments of the smoke. At the back of the palate there are some very light notes of wood and some hints of a floral note that adds something to the base of this flavor experience. I always think of the back of the palate as the foundation upon which the other flavors rest, and in this case the foundation is strong. The draw is a little too tight for me, but it is acceptable. The burn is solid and a dirty gray ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar really does not improve, which is disappointing because I like development, but at the same time it does not deteriorate either which is great because the opening notes were excellent, so I am not upset if they want to hang out for awhile. The core profile is still of graham cracker and light wood. The back of the palate continues to show light wood and floral essence. The draw stays acceptable and the burn is still solid.
The final half of the cigar really transforms for me. The core profile shows robust cinnamon and spice flavors with some nice white pepper undertones that really bring the flavors home with a nice shot of something unexpected. At the back of the palate light wood notes have moved into a crisp presentation of tobacco flavors that are excellent when considered against the shifts in the core profile. The draw stays the same throughout the experience, and the burn was solid to the end.
The finish was long and carried notes of cinnamon, tobacco and light pepper.
This is another winner from the Martin Family.
Appearance- 86 a nice looking smoke, but nothing spectacular
Taste- 93 this is really something taste wise, subtle and refreshing in a market that is dominated with power and one dimensional offerings
Construction- 88 the draw was a touch too tight for me, but it was not bad
Strength- 91 a very nice medium
Overall- 89.75 a very solid smoking experience
This cigar is fairly plain visually as the wrapper is nice looking, but somewhat dull. The band work is non-descript, but I learned long ago not to judge a book by it's cover. The wrapper has few veins and is very nicely applied and the construction of the remainder of the cigar is excellent as I detect no areas of concern. The pre light aroma is of light bread and wheat with a touch of cinnamon. The pre light draw is deliciously floral and has some ideas of cinnamon as well.
The cigar opens with a profile that is subtle, yet solidly flavorful. The core notes are of graham cracker and light wood, there are also wisps of cinnamon that are slipping some unexpected depth into the early moments of the smoke. At the back of the palate there are some very light notes of wood and some hints of a floral note that adds something to the base of this flavor experience. I always think of the back of the palate as the foundation upon which the other flavors rest, and in this case the foundation is strong. The draw is a little too tight for me, but it is acceptable. The burn is solid and a dirty gray ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar really does not improve, which is disappointing because I like development, but at the same time it does not deteriorate either which is great because the opening notes were excellent, so I am not upset if they want to hang out for awhile. The core profile is still of graham cracker and light wood. The back of the palate continues to show light wood and floral essence. The draw stays acceptable and the burn is still solid.
The final half of the cigar really transforms for me. The core profile shows robust cinnamon and spice flavors with some nice white pepper undertones that really bring the flavors home with a nice shot of something unexpected. At the back of the palate light wood notes have moved into a crisp presentation of tobacco flavors that are excellent when considered against the shifts in the core profile. The draw stays the same throughout the experience, and the burn was solid to the end.
The finish was long and carried notes of cinnamon, tobacco and light pepper.
This is another winner from the Martin Family.
Appearance- 86 a nice looking smoke, but nothing spectacular
Taste- 93 this is really something taste wise, subtle and refreshing in a market that is dominated with power and one dimensional offerings
Construction- 88 the draw was a touch too tight for me, but it was not bad
Strength- 91 a very nice medium
Overall- 89.75 a very solid smoking experience
Monday, March 12, 2012
Viaje Fifty Fifty Red Label No.3 (7x47)
I have been on a detour from my trip through the Viaje world recently. Frankly, I just have not enjoyed many of the blends thus far and there have been other, more interesting smokes to conquer in the meantime. There really is a ton of buzz amongst industry bloggers about this manufacturer and the overall impression from most of them would have us believe that these cigars are all classics. I don't get it, but I guess even the Edsel and the Corvair became classics at one point or another despite their poor performance.
This particular cigar has been hanging around in my humi for several months as I looked for a time to get to it. It is capped with a pigtail that gives the cigar a somewhat whimsical visual impression. The wrapper is nice looking, with few veins and no visible flaws. An inspection reveals a nice bunch and roll and I can't find any areas that cause me any concern at all. The pre light aroma is full of rich spices. The pre light draw shows some serious red pepper influences.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all hickory and red pepper, it is charming and enticing array of flavor as the wood provides a robust background for some serious pepper flavors early on. It is not as complex or deep as I would like, but it is showing some serious promise for development, after all it is very early in this smoke. At the back of the palate there are some very fine spice flavors that are showing through and some different pepper flavors that complement the front of the palate. The draw is exceptional, it is just the way I like it, fluid with a full provision of smoke with every draw. The burn is solid, but the ash is flaky.
The first half of the cigar continues to develop flavors. The core profile stays woody, mainly hickory, but there are some solid oak and cedar notes here as well. Red pepper continues to dance across the palate, but it is tantalizing, rather than overpowering and I find this subtle mix of flavor to be quite good. At the back of the palate there are still some spice notes, but a sweet oatmeal essence is also present and it takes some of the sting out of the peppery front of the experience. The draw is still fabulous. The burn has gone off just a bit due to a void in the very center of the bunch, but it is not terrible at this point.
The final half of the cigar performs solidly as well. The core profile become a full presentation of woods. Hickory, Oak and Pine are all present at one time or another and they are pleasing, but not as complex as I would like this late in an experience. The back of the palate continues to show spice notes, but not much else. The draw is one of the best I have experienced in awhile. The burn stays wonky to the end, and some retouch is necessary in the last third.
The finish was solid and showed some nice pepper and spice flavors.
In the end I am slightly disappointed that there was not more to this cigar in terms of profile, but was there was more than satisfactory, there just could have been so much more. This is by far my favorite Viaje blend to this point.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 89 a very solid performance that just came up a bit short
Construction- 89 also solid, but some burn issues take away points
Strength- 88 a very nice medium that transitions to full late in the smoke
Overall- 88.75 just short of being exceptional
This particular cigar has been hanging around in my humi for several months as I looked for a time to get to it. It is capped with a pigtail that gives the cigar a somewhat whimsical visual impression. The wrapper is nice looking, with few veins and no visible flaws. An inspection reveals a nice bunch and roll and I can't find any areas that cause me any concern at all. The pre light aroma is full of rich spices. The pre light draw shows some serious red pepper influences.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all hickory and red pepper, it is charming and enticing array of flavor as the wood provides a robust background for some serious pepper flavors early on. It is not as complex or deep as I would like, but it is showing some serious promise for development, after all it is very early in this smoke. At the back of the palate there are some very fine spice flavors that are showing through and some different pepper flavors that complement the front of the palate. The draw is exceptional, it is just the way I like it, fluid with a full provision of smoke with every draw. The burn is solid, but the ash is flaky.
The first half of the cigar continues to develop flavors. The core profile stays woody, mainly hickory, but there are some solid oak and cedar notes here as well. Red pepper continues to dance across the palate, but it is tantalizing, rather than overpowering and I find this subtle mix of flavor to be quite good. At the back of the palate there are still some spice notes, but a sweet oatmeal essence is also present and it takes some of the sting out of the peppery front of the experience. The draw is still fabulous. The burn has gone off just a bit due to a void in the very center of the bunch, but it is not terrible at this point.
The final half of the cigar performs solidly as well. The core profile become a full presentation of woods. Hickory, Oak and Pine are all present at one time or another and they are pleasing, but not as complex as I would like this late in an experience. The back of the palate continues to show spice notes, but not much else. The draw is one of the best I have experienced in awhile. The burn stays wonky to the end, and some retouch is necessary in the last third.
The finish was solid and showed some nice pepper and spice flavors.
In the end I am slightly disappointed that there was not more to this cigar in terms of profile, but was there was more than satisfactory, there just could have been so much more. This is by far my favorite Viaje blend to this point.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 89 a very solid performance that just came up a bit short
Construction- 89 also solid, but some burn issues take away points
Strength- 88 a very nice medium that transitions to full late in the smoke
Overall- 88.75 just short of being exceptional
Friday, March 9, 2012
Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Toro (6.5x52)
It is well known by now that I don't smoke Rocky Patel offerings as part of my daily routine, hell I don't even smoke them as part of my yearly routine. This particular brand just plain lost me several years ago and I don't return to the fold easily. However, as part of my ongoing commitment to smoke all new cigars that come on to the market I must offer this one up to the cigar gods as well and I couldn't dodge it any longer. Recently, Rocky himself was a guest on my radio show so I decided I should do a Rocky review as a way to be relevant to the show and it's guests. Not the best reason, but it's the one I'm going with.
This cigar was part of the cigars gathered at the 2012 Great Smoke in West Palm, as an aside if you have not gone to this event you really should, it is the premiere smoking event in Florida every year. This cigar was sitting in my humi for few weeks and I'm not going to lie, I thought about foisting it off on some unsuspecting newbie as part of a moochidor purge, but then I realized that wasn't being fair to the newbie, the cigar or my readers so I manned up and smoked this mother myself. Someday there will be songs written about my courage my friends!
The cigar actually presents well. The wrapper is applied and has very few veins. There is something about a nicely applied Cameroon wrapper that gets the taste buds humming and ready for some smoke. I detect a few tight spots, but the test draws show no ill effects, so I decide to soldier on. My only complaint about this cigar, and all of Rocky's cigars really, is the cheapness of the bands. Can I get something that does not look like it is sold on the shelves of a truckstop on I-10? The pre light draw showed some nice nutty richness. The pre light aroma was decidedly woody.
The cigar opens with a profile that I would describe as all Cameroon. There are some pleasing sweet nut flavors and a brush of spice as the wrapper really speaks for itself. Sadly it is the only part of the cigar doing any talking as there are no complementary flavors and this leads to a lack of depth and complexity. I love Cameroon, but it can't ever stand on it's own in my mind, and without some creative blending (a la Fuente Don Carlos) it just does not do enough for me. At the back of the palate there are some nice light pepper hints and some light wood presentations, but they are not deep enough to impact the experience.
The first half of the cigar lumbers on, there is no nuance or complexity here, just straight Cameroon impressions. The core profile is still just full of sweet nutty flavors, and the sweetness is actually ramping up at this point. I am struggling to find more here, but there just isn't anything. The back of the palate continues to show some light pepper and wood flavors that are not bold enough to much more than annoy me because I am looking, straining, reaching and praying for more. The burn is fine to this point and the draw has performed well thus far.
In the final half trouble is a brewing. The core profile becomes way too sweet for me and it takes on a dry grassy tone that overwhelms the subtlety of the nutty flavors that had been prominent. The back of the palate becomes more tart, almost sour really, as a bitter and wheaty flavor takes over the presentation. A small split has also begun to develop near the shoulder and it is starting to syphon of draw ability, I absolutely hate when this happens, and in this instance I can see it is being caused by a stem in the bunch. The last couple of inches of the cigar become nearly impossible to manage as the split rips open.
The finish was tart, but there were some nice nutty flavors to hang on to.
Appearance- 87 aside from the band work it is a nice looking smoke
Taste- 85 very average for me, more complexity and depth were needed
Construction- 80 not bad until the end, that issue blew it for me
Strength- 88 a nice medium
Overall- 84.25 just below par all around
This cigar was part of the cigars gathered at the 2012 Great Smoke in West Palm, as an aside if you have not gone to this event you really should, it is the premiere smoking event in Florida every year. This cigar was sitting in my humi for few weeks and I'm not going to lie, I thought about foisting it off on some unsuspecting newbie as part of a moochidor purge, but then I realized that wasn't being fair to the newbie, the cigar or my readers so I manned up and smoked this mother myself. Someday there will be songs written about my courage my friends!
The cigar actually presents well. The wrapper is applied and has very few veins. There is something about a nicely applied Cameroon wrapper that gets the taste buds humming and ready for some smoke. I detect a few tight spots, but the test draws show no ill effects, so I decide to soldier on. My only complaint about this cigar, and all of Rocky's cigars really, is the cheapness of the bands. Can I get something that does not look like it is sold on the shelves of a truckstop on I-10? The pre light draw showed some nice nutty richness. The pre light aroma was decidedly woody.
The cigar opens with a profile that I would describe as all Cameroon. There are some pleasing sweet nut flavors and a brush of spice as the wrapper really speaks for itself. Sadly it is the only part of the cigar doing any talking as there are no complementary flavors and this leads to a lack of depth and complexity. I love Cameroon, but it can't ever stand on it's own in my mind, and without some creative blending (a la Fuente Don Carlos) it just does not do enough for me. At the back of the palate there are some nice light pepper hints and some light wood presentations, but they are not deep enough to impact the experience.
The first half of the cigar lumbers on, there is no nuance or complexity here, just straight Cameroon impressions. The core profile is still just full of sweet nutty flavors, and the sweetness is actually ramping up at this point. I am struggling to find more here, but there just isn't anything. The back of the palate continues to show some light pepper and wood flavors that are not bold enough to much more than annoy me because I am looking, straining, reaching and praying for more. The burn is fine to this point and the draw has performed well thus far.
In the final half trouble is a brewing. The core profile becomes way too sweet for me and it takes on a dry grassy tone that overwhelms the subtlety of the nutty flavors that had been prominent. The back of the palate becomes more tart, almost sour really, as a bitter and wheaty flavor takes over the presentation. A small split has also begun to develop near the shoulder and it is starting to syphon of draw ability, I absolutely hate when this happens, and in this instance I can see it is being caused by a stem in the bunch. The last couple of inches of the cigar become nearly impossible to manage as the split rips open.
The finish was tart, but there were some nice nutty flavors to hang on to.
Appearance- 87 aside from the band work it is a nice looking smoke
Taste- 85 very average for me, more complexity and depth were needed
Construction- 80 not bad until the end, that issue blew it for me
Strength- 88 a nice medium
Overall- 84.25 just below par all around
Friday, March 2, 2012
Aging Room M356 Rondo (5x50)
As I perused the Top 25 Cigars of the Year from Cigar Aficionado I noticed all the usual suspects. The Padron's, the Fuente's, the Pepin's, the Altadis, the Oliva's and of course the Cubans were all represented in equal parts in your face arrogance and look who spent the most on advertising with us splendor. I have little respect for that list each year, but it is a fun read and a boondoggle for the B&M industry as they rush to put together the Top 25 sales shelf for We the Sheeple to peruse in homage to Marvin Shankme and his publishing empire. This year, however, there was a surprise waiting for me on the list. The above listed cigar being reviewed here made the list which led me to ponder what had happened. I had never heard of this cigar, it has never advertised in the pages of the self proclaimed good life bible. So what was it doing on the Top 25 list? My palate was in a quandary, do I try it? Or do I chalk it up to some sort of Aficionado usualness that could not possibly be any good? Alas, my devotion to my readers has won out and I am reviewing it.
The cigar presents with very simple bona fides. The wrapper is nice looking, with some nice sheen, but it is not the best I have ever lain eyes upon. The band work is simple and almost cheap looking. The construction seems well done, and I can't see or feel any areas that are of concern. The pre light aroma is lightly spicy and has some floral undertones. The pre light draw is peppery, but a touch thin.
The cigar opens with a profile that has sweet floral tones and some nice light cinnamon flavors. The sweetness is too much and it becomes cloying fairly early on. At the back of the palate there are some shots of white pepper and cedar, but there is some sharpness here that runs afoul of the sweetness in the front of the experience. The draw is acceptable, but it is a little tight for me, which may be a silent blessing with all the sweetness that is coming through here. The burn is solid right from the start.
The first half of the cigar continues to be sickeningly sweet. I'm not sure where this is coming from, and I struggle to identify the core flavor here. I think it is slightly fruity and mostly floral, but it is just too sweet to pick out any nuance. At the back of the palate the sharp cedar notes continue and the pepper becomes less of a factor. This combination continues to be off putting when put against the sweet front of the palate. The draw continues to be acceptable and the burn is still solid.
The final half of the cigar finally loses the overpowering sweetness and moves into a more balanced array of cinnamon, wheat and light pepper flavors. The depth is not what I would like, but at least I don't feel like I'm sucking on a sugar cube anymore. The back of the palate has been mulled as well and the sharp flavors have nearly vanished into the air. The profile here shows some nice cedar and pepper still, but they have smoothed out considerably. The draw and burn maintain acceptability throughout.
The finish shows lingering sweetness, but has some pepper essence as well.
I still question the methodology of the Top 25 from Shankme, and this cigar did nothing but confirm my long running skepticism.
Appearance- 86 very average looking, nice wrapper though
Taste- 84 just not very good until the last half, even then it was not enough
Construction- 88 above average, but nothing noteworthy
Strength- 85 medium I guess, but for some (me), it would be mild
Overall- 85.75 very middling in my opinion, I wouldn't do it again
The cigar presents with very simple bona fides. The wrapper is nice looking, with some nice sheen, but it is not the best I have ever lain eyes upon. The band work is simple and almost cheap looking. The construction seems well done, and I can't see or feel any areas that are of concern. The pre light aroma is lightly spicy and has some floral undertones. The pre light draw is peppery, but a touch thin.
The cigar opens with a profile that has sweet floral tones and some nice light cinnamon flavors. The sweetness is too much and it becomes cloying fairly early on. At the back of the palate there are some shots of white pepper and cedar, but there is some sharpness here that runs afoul of the sweetness in the front of the experience. The draw is acceptable, but it is a little tight for me, which may be a silent blessing with all the sweetness that is coming through here. The burn is solid right from the start.
The first half of the cigar continues to be sickeningly sweet. I'm not sure where this is coming from, and I struggle to identify the core flavor here. I think it is slightly fruity and mostly floral, but it is just too sweet to pick out any nuance. At the back of the palate the sharp cedar notes continue and the pepper becomes less of a factor. This combination continues to be off putting when put against the sweet front of the palate. The draw continues to be acceptable and the burn is still solid.
The final half of the cigar finally loses the overpowering sweetness and moves into a more balanced array of cinnamon, wheat and light pepper flavors. The depth is not what I would like, but at least I don't feel like I'm sucking on a sugar cube anymore. The back of the palate has been mulled as well and the sharp flavors have nearly vanished into the air. The profile here shows some nice cedar and pepper still, but they have smoothed out considerably. The draw and burn maintain acceptability throughout.
The finish shows lingering sweetness, but has some pepper essence as well.
I still question the methodology of the Top 25 from Shankme, and this cigar did nothing but confirm my long running skepticism.
Appearance- 86 very average looking, nice wrapper though
Taste- 84 just not very good until the last half, even then it was not enough
Construction- 88 above average, but nothing noteworthy
Strength- 85 medium I guess, but for some (me), it would be mild
Overall- 85.75 very middling in my opinion, I wouldn't do it again
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