Swag is normally short for Stuff We All Get, or in some cases is used to describe someone with incredible personal flair. In this case it has been chosen for a cigar, I can only think they meant it as the second definition I outlined above, as if this cigar has some swanky flair to it. Heck, maybe the makers believe that it is so good that everyone will go out to get some, thus living up to the Stuff We All Get moniker. Your guess is as good as mine.
The cigar presents in some pretty serious coverings that make me wonder what the maker is trying to hide. When a maker covers an entire cigar in anything other than cedar I am always very, very wary because as a consumer I can't look at the cigar before I buy it. In my view this is a tactical error on the part of the manufacturer as it removes part of the visual and tactile experience in selecting a cigar. The cigar itself, once I free it from the cumbersome outer wrappings, seems dry to me and it has a very odd reddish hue. I love the size, these smaller cigars are some of my favorites right now. It seems to be made well, as I don't detect any areas of concern. The pre light aroma is sharp and full of cedar notes. The pre light draw is tight and has some light tobacco flavor and full blasts of cedar.
The cigar opens with a profile that I can only describe as bloody awful. The core flavors are horrid, showing grass and sharp, bitter wood flavors that assail the palate with constant salvos of crappy flavor. I would sooner suck a lemon or drink paint thinner than experience this ever again. Making the experience even more unbearable is the back of the profile. There are some real bile churning events going on here as I am assaulted with more grass and tastes of bitter vegetation. The draw is way too tight for me, but maybe that is a blessing in disguise as it keeps me fully experiencing this cigar holocaust. The burn is right on the money and I can only hope that some accelerant has been put in the wrapper so this horror show moves faster. At this point I am thinking a better name for this cigar would have been Snew, for Stuff Nobody Ever Wants.
The first half of the cigar continues on towards a personal Armageddon for me. The flavor profile becomes so awful that I seriously contemplate chucking this cigar and heading for something more tasty, like a spoonful of alum or maybe a couple of shots of brake fluid. I'm not sure that I want to continue describing this sorry excuse but in the interest of my readers I will trudge on. The core profile is still of sour and bitter wood and sharp grassy flavors. The back of the palate is not better as an ashy and charred presentation of vegetation takes over as the main flavor. The draw is still too tight, but the burn is still right on the money. Still in consideration of new names mode I am now leaning towards Stan, for Stuff That Advances Nausea.
The final half of the cigar got worse. That's right, WORSE! How could this be possible you may wonder? I don't have an answer, I still have not figured it out. The profile becomes nothing but bitter and sour flavors, I can't even decipher what was supposed to be there as the bitter and sour notes just plain overwhelmed my palate. The draw is still way too tight for me, but the burn does stay solid to the end.
The finish was, well, it was a blessed event of absolution for me, the smoker, as I was able to absolve myself of the horrific experience and begin looking forward to better things, like getting bamboo shoots shoved under my fingernails.
My final name for this cigar would be nothing clever or cute, it would simply be Sorry You Wasted Your Money.
Appearance- 78 once I got past the silly paper the cigar really didn't look that good
Taste- 70 the lowest possible score for the lowest I've ever been in my cigar smoking life
Construction- 75 some points for a nice burn, but the draw was terrible
Strength- 75 medium I guess, but there was nothing complementary happening here at all
Overall- 73.75 just plain terrible
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Room 101 La Serie C Robusto (5x50)
It is no secret that I am not a fan of Camacho, or the prior Room 101 cigars. I'm not even sure these cigars are still made by Camacho, I really didn't care enough to check if I'm being frank. I had not smoked a Room 101 in god only knows how long, and I'm not sure what made me decide to smoke this one, other than it was in fact a cigar and it was in fact sitting in my humidor, I usually don't need to many more reasons than that.
The cigar itself is not visually entertaining. The wrapper is very pale in color, almost yellow and unhealthy looking really (if a cigar had a liver and it was failing it would be this color). There are some prominent veins here, but I don't detect any reasons why that would cause a problem. I will give a nod to some pretty cool bandwork though, so props for that. An inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it might be a little too tight in the bunch, but that will be seen when flame hits leaf. The pre light aroma is light and dusty with some nice bready notes. The pre light draw is too tight, but shows some light pepper and soft tobacco flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is interesting, but not particularly complex or deep. The core profile shows some notes of light wood, bread and sweet floral tones but they are not particularly well developed at this point. At the back of the palate there are some cedar impressions, but there is a soft bitterness that I only hope stays soft or disappears all together as the smoke progresses. The draw is way too tight for me, and there is some struggle to get the right amount of smoke out of the experience in the opening moments. The burn is solid, but also slow due to the draw issues I'm sure.
The first half of the cigar is really a neurotic ride through some wild flavors at the front and back of the palate. The core profile is of light citrus fruit and bread however, there are also bitter and charred tobacco flavors here as well and it is throwing the cigar completely off balance. At the back of the palate a light white pepper presentation has taken over, but there are weird cedar notes here as well and they are sharp and off putting when considered against the rest of the smoke. The draw is still far too tight for the proper enjoyment quotient, but the burn is holding on despite a weak drawing performance.
The final half of the cigar does not further the cause for me in any way. The core profile has some charred tobacco and coffee notes and they are overwhelming anything else that might be there for the tasting. The back of the palate has become sharp and overtly peppery and I can't get hold of anything redeeming in the final third of the smoke. The draw was still too tight. The burn performed acceptably.
The finish was middling, but it did have a nice coffee tone to it.
Appearance- 86 I'll give the credit to the band here
Taste- 83 just really not all that good, I was disappointed
Construction- 78 the draw was very, very poor
Strength- 85 medium, but it did not complement the profile very well
Overall- 85.5 very, very ho hum
The cigar itself is not visually entertaining. The wrapper is very pale in color, almost yellow and unhealthy looking really (if a cigar had a liver and it was failing it would be this color). There are some prominent veins here, but I don't detect any reasons why that would cause a problem. I will give a nod to some pretty cool bandwork though, so props for that. An inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it might be a little too tight in the bunch, but that will be seen when flame hits leaf. The pre light aroma is light and dusty with some nice bready notes. The pre light draw is too tight, but shows some light pepper and soft tobacco flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is interesting, but not particularly complex or deep. The core profile shows some notes of light wood, bread and sweet floral tones but they are not particularly well developed at this point. At the back of the palate there are some cedar impressions, but there is a soft bitterness that I only hope stays soft or disappears all together as the smoke progresses. The draw is way too tight for me, and there is some struggle to get the right amount of smoke out of the experience in the opening moments. The burn is solid, but also slow due to the draw issues I'm sure.
The first half of the cigar is really a neurotic ride through some wild flavors at the front and back of the palate. The core profile is of light citrus fruit and bread however, there are also bitter and charred tobacco flavors here as well and it is throwing the cigar completely off balance. At the back of the palate a light white pepper presentation has taken over, but there are weird cedar notes here as well and they are sharp and off putting when considered against the rest of the smoke. The draw is still far too tight for the proper enjoyment quotient, but the burn is holding on despite a weak drawing performance.
The final half of the cigar does not further the cause for me in any way. The core profile has some charred tobacco and coffee notes and they are overwhelming anything else that might be there for the tasting. The back of the palate has become sharp and overtly peppery and I can't get hold of anything redeeming in the final third of the smoke. The draw was still too tight. The burn performed acceptably.
The finish was middling, but it did have a nice coffee tone to it.
Appearance- 86 I'll give the credit to the band here
Taste- 83 just really not all that good, I was disappointed
Construction- 78 the draw was very, very poor
Strength- 85 medium, but it did not complement the profile very well
Overall- 85.5 very, very ho hum
Thursday, April 19, 2012
El Primer Mundo Liga Miami Toro (6x52)
Another cigar that you have probably never heard of, I know I hadn't when I stumbled across it at one of my favorite B&M's some months ago. It carries a hefty price at above ten bucks, but the proprietor heavily recommended it, so I grabbed one on a flyer and set it aside for a bit as I reviewed some other, more well known, cigars in recent months. I am always excited when I find cigars that I have never heard of. It is like finding a secret treasure, of course the value of said treasure could be nothing if the cigar turns out to be garbage. There is nothing like perusing the shelves of a chock full B&M humi and finding treats that you have never seen or heard of. I don't understand these guys that just smoke the same thing over and over and over again, there is no excitement in that. Expand your horizons! Try something new and different! Show some cigar courage, or balls, or cojones you choose the euphemism, just do it!
This cigar will never win an appearance contest. The wrapper is drab and light brown. There are no real oils or other appealing visuals to the wrapper, it is just there. The band work is monotone and boring as well. This is not starting out well but, as I have told you many times before, we musn't judge a cigar by it's appearance alone (sadly though, many great cigars lose out because of visual issues and many people miss great cigars based on their own restrictive visual criteria). An examination of the cigar leads me to believe that it will perform well. It is appropriately spongy and there are no voids or tight areas in the bunch. The pre light aroma is full of tobacco notes. The pre light draw is showing some roasted nut and cinnamon flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is full of subtle and nuanced flavors. It may actually be too delicate for my palate to pick up all of the things happening here, but I like what I am getting in the opening moments. The core profile is full of graham cracker, cinnamon and light vanilla flavors that are appealing, but not particularly deep or satisfying. The back of the palate is showing a richer profile of crisp tobacco flavors with some nice cedar essence. The draw is excellent for me, there is just the right amount of resistance and ample smoke. The burn is solid and a nice ash forms quickly and seems very solid.
The first half of the cigar continues to show subtle balance and nuance, but I am still wishing for more depth. The core profile is lacing the palate with flavors of lemongrass, cinnamon and vanilla. I must admit that this is my first experience with a lemongrass presentation and it is appealing to me, though very subtle. At the back of the palate rich cedar flavors are booming across the experience and I find these flavors to be an interesting underlay for the main profile. The draw continues to perform very well. The burn is still solid and moving along as it should.
The final half of the cigar warms up a bit in the strength category, becoming a more convincing medium. The core profile becomes a more robust presentation of cinnamon and crisp tobacco flavors and while some of the nuance is gone, solid flavor that is full of depth remains which is an acceptable performance at this point in the cigar. The back of the palate becomes more peppery, but the cedar core remains and provides a nice undertone for the remaining experience.
The finish was long and smooth, showing notes of cinnamon long after the cigar goes cold.
Appearance- 85 very average looking
Taste- 89 I needed more depth and complexity early, but the cigar was still very, very good
Construction- 91 a very nice performance here
Strength- 88 a very nice mild that transitions to medium
Overall- 88.75 a very nice smoke, but for the price I expect 90+
This cigar will never win an appearance contest. The wrapper is drab and light brown. There are no real oils or other appealing visuals to the wrapper, it is just there. The band work is monotone and boring as well. This is not starting out well but, as I have told you many times before, we musn't judge a cigar by it's appearance alone (sadly though, many great cigars lose out because of visual issues and many people miss great cigars based on their own restrictive visual criteria). An examination of the cigar leads me to believe that it will perform well. It is appropriately spongy and there are no voids or tight areas in the bunch. The pre light aroma is full of tobacco notes. The pre light draw is showing some roasted nut and cinnamon flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is full of subtle and nuanced flavors. It may actually be too delicate for my palate to pick up all of the things happening here, but I like what I am getting in the opening moments. The core profile is full of graham cracker, cinnamon and light vanilla flavors that are appealing, but not particularly deep or satisfying. The back of the palate is showing a richer profile of crisp tobacco flavors with some nice cedar essence. The draw is excellent for me, there is just the right amount of resistance and ample smoke. The burn is solid and a nice ash forms quickly and seems very solid.
The first half of the cigar continues to show subtle balance and nuance, but I am still wishing for more depth. The core profile is lacing the palate with flavors of lemongrass, cinnamon and vanilla. I must admit that this is my first experience with a lemongrass presentation and it is appealing to me, though very subtle. At the back of the palate rich cedar flavors are booming across the experience and I find these flavors to be an interesting underlay for the main profile. The draw continues to perform very well. The burn is still solid and moving along as it should.
The final half of the cigar warms up a bit in the strength category, becoming a more convincing medium. The core profile becomes a more robust presentation of cinnamon and crisp tobacco flavors and while some of the nuance is gone, solid flavor that is full of depth remains which is an acceptable performance at this point in the cigar. The back of the palate becomes more peppery, but the cedar core remains and provides a nice undertone for the remaining experience.
The finish was long and smooth, showing notes of cinnamon long after the cigar goes cold.
Appearance- 85 very average looking
Taste- 89 I needed more depth and complexity early, but the cigar was still very, very good
Construction- 91 a very nice performance here
Strength- 88 a very nice mild that transitions to medium
Overall- 88.75 a very nice smoke, but for the price I expect 90+
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Pride Bandolero Butch Cassidy (6x50)
It is well known that I don't care for cigars with a gimmick or a hook. Crafty names, dual wrappers, odd ball sizes and circus side show tricks have no place in my cigar world. I am a traditionalist, plain and simple, stick to what has made cigars great over the centuries and let the tobacco speak for itself.
Now comes the Pride Bandolero, supposedly hearkening back to the old west, when men were men and the women were afraid....or something like that. This one bears the name Butch Cassidy, as if that is supposed to evoke some wistful remembrance of a time when there was no indoor plumbing. What was so great about this time anyway? People were shot for no reason, there was little law and order, and the cigars were made by Marsh Wheeling and called stogies. These are not times I would want to relive and I don't want my cigar to take me to that awful place. Call me a stick in the mud, but I like the trappings of modern living, though with my skill as a card player I probably could have made a nice living (I'm a pretty good shot with a revolver as well...).
Name aside, let's take a look at the cigar. It presents in a very rustic way. The cigar is bumpy and not pleasant to look at. The wrapper is full of veins and does not have a uniform color, alternating between a Colorado red hue and a mottled dark brown that seems to suffer from water damage as the spots look like it has sat in wet conditions, not a pleasant visual. The construction also has me concerned as I can feel some voids in the filler and bunch that could be an issue. The pre light aroma is sharp and has some spice to it. The pre light draw is also sharp with wet wood flavors.
The cigar opens with a horrid profile that drys the throat and tongue. The core flavor is some sort of spice, but it is full of bitter flavors that are acidic. This is completely one dimensional and that dimension is horrific. At the back of the palate there are notes of wet wood, and wet vegetation that further disrupt the experience. I am in the process of considering the old heave ho at this point. The draw is too tight for me, but since the profile is so bile inducing I guess it is a blessing in disguise. The burn is also inferior as a runner is forming and I can tell it will require a touch up before long.
The first half of the cigar shows little in the way of improvement, in fact it slips further into the depths of cigar detritus as it progresses. The core profile becomes metallic, like sucking on pennies, and continues to show notes of wet vegetation. The back of the palate becomes a sharp presentation of cedar and nasty spice notes that are acidic. The only redemption here is a sweet flavor that mulls the bitterness just a bit, but it is fleeting and I can't identify what it is amongst all the horrible flavors. The draw is still too tight, I'm still counting this as a blessing. The burn has been retouched twice here and I can see that another one will be coming soon as this log just won't burn.
The final half of the smoke is everything that a cigar smoker has night sweats over. The core profile is nothing but wet wood and vegetation that burns the palate and drys the throat. At the back of the palate sharp cedar notes continue and the acidic notes continue to sear the mouth with every pull. The draw is still too tight and the burn is an absolute disaster throughout.
The finish was foul and bitter and sent me running for the Wint-O-Green to cleanse the experience from my mouth, too bad I can't do the same for my brain.
Appearance- 81 an ugly cigar, no other way to put it
Taste- 70 the lowest score I can give, there is nothing here worth an upgrade
Construction- 73 it was smokable, barely
Strength- 80 I think they were going for full, but it did not matter
Overall- 74.5 an easy front runner for the worst cigar of the year, perhaps of the decade, perhaps of my life
Now comes the Pride Bandolero, supposedly hearkening back to the old west, when men were men and the women were afraid....or something like that. This one bears the name Butch Cassidy, as if that is supposed to evoke some wistful remembrance of a time when there was no indoor plumbing. What was so great about this time anyway? People were shot for no reason, there was little law and order, and the cigars were made by Marsh Wheeling and called stogies. These are not times I would want to relive and I don't want my cigar to take me to that awful place. Call me a stick in the mud, but I like the trappings of modern living, though with my skill as a card player I probably could have made a nice living (I'm a pretty good shot with a revolver as well...).
Name aside, let's take a look at the cigar. It presents in a very rustic way. The cigar is bumpy and not pleasant to look at. The wrapper is full of veins and does not have a uniform color, alternating between a Colorado red hue and a mottled dark brown that seems to suffer from water damage as the spots look like it has sat in wet conditions, not a pleasant visual. The construction also has me concerned as I can feel some voids in the filler and bunch that could be an issue. The pre light aroma is sharp and has some spice to it. The pre light draw is also sharp with wet wood flavors.
The cigar opens with a horrid profile that drys the throat and tongue. The core flavor is some sort of spice, but it is full of bitter flavors that are acidic. This is completely one dimensional and that dimension is horrific. At the back of the palate there are notes of wet wood, and wet vegetation that further disrupt the experience. I am in the process of considering the old heave ho at this point. The draw is too tight for me, but since the profile is so bile inducing I guess it is a blessing in disguise. The burn is also inferior as a runner is forming and I can tell it will require a touch up before long.
The first half of the cigar shows little in the way of improvement, in fact it slips further into the depths of cigar detritus as it progresses. The core profile becomes metallic, like sucking on pennies, and continues to show notes of wet vegetation. The back of the palate becomes a sharp presentation of cedar and nasty spice notes that are acidic. The only redemption here is a sweet flavor that mulls the bitterness just a bit, but it is fleeting and I can't identify what it is amongst all the horrible flavors. The draw is still too tight, I'm still counting this as a blessing. The burn has been retouched twice here and I can see that another one will be coming soon as this log just won't burn.
The final half of the smoke is everything that a cigar smoker has night sweats over. The core profile is nothing but wet wood and vegetation that burns the palate and drys the throat. At the back of the palate sharp cedar notes continue and the acidic notes continue to sear the mouth with every pull. The draw is still too tight and the burn is an absolute disaster throughout.
The finish was foul and bitter and sent me running for the Wint-O-Green to cleanse the experience from my mouth, too bad I can't do the same for my brain.
Appearance- 81 an ugly cigar, no other way to put it
Taste- 70 the lowest score I can give, there is nothing here worth an upgrade
Construction- 73 it was smokable, barely
Strength- 80 I think they were going for full, but it did not matter
Overall- 74.5 an easy front runner for the worst cigar of the year, perhaps of the decade, perhaps of my life
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Partagas Lusitania (7.625x49) (Box Date 2001)
I have a special reserve of smokes that comes out on holidays, birthdays, special sporting events etc... Sunday was Easter, and after a morning round of golf and a day spent by the pool with the family I made a large dinner of ribeye, grilled vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. It is during the after dinner hours during a special day that I most enjoy a nice quiet cigar out on my lanai, the added bonus was a White Sox game on ESPN during my alone time. As I scoped out the special reserve section of my humidor it struck me that I would need a long smoke, a smoke that could get me through the better part of a long baseball game. This Lusi was just sitting there, quietly biding it's time, being unobtrusive. My initial shock wore off, I didn't think I had any old ones left, I do have many newer ones, and I grabbed it and basically ran for the lanai with nary a word to the rest of my family.
I have always thought that this cigar is chivalrous in appearance and it always makes me feel like a dignified aristocrat when I hold one and ponder what it is offering as the lazy smoke drifts above my head. The cigar just screams majesty as I look it over. The wrapper is beautiful, without a single flaw. Even the veining makes the cigar seem wizened, like a Great Grandfather that has aged well. I envision an old Cuban Grandfather teaching his grandson about the leaf, the bunch, the rolling and the history of the glorified tradition. I inspect the roll and the bunch and I can't find a single problem, very rare for a Habano in recent times. The pre light aroma is of leather, cinnamon and light tobacco. The pre light draw shows a tantalizingly delicate array of subtle flavors including; cinnamon, leather, tobacco and some floral sweetness.
This cigar opens with a profile that ranks amongst the best that I have ever experienced. There are booming notes of leather and wood, a Partagas hallmark in my opinion, these flavors are the early stars of the show. There are also cinnamon and tobacco flavors that subtly dance across the palate thereby completing a four flavor opus that is shockingly profound. At the back of the palate the flavors are all wood, some hickory and oak and light tastes of cedar that provide a most solid backdrop for the core profile. The draw is a dream, again so rare in recent Habano times, I just get so many that are tight or plugged. The burn has a slight run in the first moments, but I am hopeful it will even out.
The first third of the cigar continues to wow my palate. The core profile becomes a more intense presentation of leather and tobacco, but some cinnamon notes hold here to provide a nice sweetness that has some spice. The back of the palate continues to show lots of woody flavors, but there is a vanilla essence here too, it is almost so slight that if I had not been so in tune to the experience I might have missed it. The draw continues to perform like a dream. The burn is still slightly off and I knock some discolored wrapper into the tray gently hoping to even the smoke out.
The middle third of the cigar shows me things that I can't recall from past Lusi's that I have smoked. The core profile morphs into a powerful, and full bodied, presentation of flavor. The core notes become peppery and the cinnamon has transitioned into a more spicy presentation that adds some kick to the presentation. At the back of the palate there are still crisp wood notes, but a rich tobacco flavor has entered the frame and it is most welcome as a base for the spice and pepper to sit on. I don't if the woody flavors could have held up to the power being shown here. The draw is still exceptional as I near the last third. The burn has evened out and I am sure the issues are behind me.
The final third of the cigar makes another wondrous transition. The core profile maintains some peppery flavors, but they are muted by cinnamon and vanilla tones that combine to create a unique profile experience. At the back of the palate there are still rich tobacco flavors, but they woody notes have returned and a symphonic presentation of both flavors is a welcome final note to the experience. The draw maintains it's steadfast perfection to the end. The burn has one more issue, but I don't relight so near the end.
The finish was lingering and nostalgic leaving sweet memories of cinnamon, spice, vanilla and tobacco long after the smoke clears.
Appearance- 97 one of my favorite looking cigars ever
Taste- 100 a perfect balance of excellent flavors throughout that I do not hesitate to rank as tied with the St.Luis Rey Serie A as the best I've ever had
Construction- 94 some burn issues hinder this score, but still exceptional
Strength- 96 an excellent medium/full that wonderfully complements the profile in all the right ways
Overall- 96.75 an absolute classic cigar
I have always thought that this cigar is chivalrous in appearance and it always makes me feel like a dignified aristocrat when I hold one and ponder what it is offering as the lazy smoke drifts above my head. The cigar just screams majesty as I look it over. The wrapper is beautiful, without a single flaw. Even the veining makes the cigar seem wizened, like a Great Grandfather that has aged well. I envision an old Cuban Grandfather teaching his grandson about the leaf, the bunch, the rolling and the history of the glorified tradition. I inspect the roll and the bunch and I can't find a single problem, very rare for a Habano in recent times. The pre light aroma is of leather, cinnamon and light tobacco. The pre light draw shows a tantalizingly delicate array of subtle flavors including; cinnamon, leather, tobacco and some floral sweetness.
This cigar opens with a profile that ranks amongst the best that I have ever experienced. There are booming notes of leather and wood, a Partagas hallmark in my opinion, these flavors are the early stars of the show. There are also cinnamon and tobacco flavors that subtly dance across the palate thereby completing a four flavor opus that is shockingly profound. At the back of the palate the flavors are all wood, some hickory and oak and light tastes of cedar that provide a most solid backdrop for the core profile. The draw is a dream, again so rare in recent Habano times, I just get so many that are tight or plugged. The burn has a slight run in the first moments, but I am hopeful it will even out.
The first third of the cigar continues to wow my palate. The core profile becomes a more intense presentation of leather and tobacco, but some cinnamon notes hold here to provide a nice sweetness that has some spice. The back of the palate continues to show lots of woody flavors, but there is a vanilla essence here too, it is almost so slight that if I had not been so in tune to the experience I might have missed it. The draw continues to perform like a dream. The burn is still slightly off and I knock some discolored wrapper into the tray gently hoping to even the smoke out.
The middle third of the cigar shows me things that I can't recall from past Lusi's that I have smoked. The core profile morphs into a powerful, and full bodied, presentation of flavor. The core notes become peppery and the cinnamon has transitioned into a more spicy presentation that adds some kick to the presentation. At the back of the palate there are still crisp wood notes, but a rich tobacco flavor has entered the frame and it is most welcome as a base for the spice and pepper to sit on. I don't if the woody flavors could have held up to the power being shown here. The draw is still exceptional as I near the last third. The burn has evened out and I am sure the issues are behind me.
The final third of the cigar makes another wondrous transition. The core profile maintains some peppery flavors, but they are muted by cinnamon and vanilla tones that combine to create a unique profile experience. At the back of the palate there are still rich tobacco flavors, but they woody notes have returned and a symphonic presentation of both flavors is a welcome final note to the experience. The draw maintains it's steadfast perfection to the end. The burn has one more issue, but I don't relight so near the end.
The finish was lingering and nostalgic leaving sweet memories of cinnamon, spice, vanilla and tobacco long after the smoke clears.
Appearance- 97 one of my favorite looking cigars ever
Taste- 100 a perfect balance of excellent flavors throughout that I do not hesitate to rank as tied with the St.Luis Rey Serie A as the best I've ever had
Construction- 94 some burn issues hinder this score, but still exceptional
Strength- 96 an excellent medium/full that wonderfully complements the profile in all the right ways
Overall- 96.75 an absolute classic cigar
Sunday, April 8, 2012
La Sirena Divine (5.5x52)
There are times when I buy cigars and plant them in my humidor that I completely forget about them. This is one of those times. I bought this cigar some time ago at a Tampa B&M as part of a twenty singles for 20% off deal. As I perused the offerings that day I found some real gems that I had not seen before, this cigar was in amongst those. To be honest I don't even remember selecting it, I must have needed a few more to round out my twenty. I then plopped it into my humidor and there it remained, a cigar after thought in my humidor universe. Every once in a awhile I paw through all my random cigars looking for something I have not reviewed, yesterday was one of those times, and the La Sirena was my chosen victim.
The cigar is difficult to view due to the insanely large band that has been draped across the entire freaking cigar. I have never seen a band of this size, and the artwork is dizzying in both color and graphics. It actually covers about two thirds of the smoke, if not more, that is too much real estate to cover with a band and it makes smokers like me suspicious. Once I finish the incredibly long undertaking of removing that huge band I can get down to business. The cigar is decent looking, but there are some flaws. I'm not sure if they are from wrapper glue, under exposure due to being covered with so much paper or some other issue, but it detracts from the visual impact of the smoke. The other thing I notice right away is the seams of the wrapper leaf, they are very prominent almost as if the cigar has not been rolled correctly. An inspection of the bunch and main body of the smoke do not show any areas of concern. The pre light aroma is of cocoa, currant and raisin. The pre light draw shows a spicy and earthy presentation.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither complex or particularly complex. The core profile has some odd spice notes and some light pepper flavors, but there is a mineral flavor here as well and it is a touch harsh. At the back of the palate there are some wet wood notes and touch of loamy earth, but the levels of flavor are not very good and the wet wood notes impart bitterness. The draw is way too tight for me at this point and I can only hope that it will open up with some time. The burn is a little bit off, but I have no issues that require attention yet.
The first half of the cigar really shows no improvement. The core profile is still showing spice and pepper notes, but the metallic mineral flavor is still present and causing a distraction. The back of the palate is showing some wood flavors that have transitioned into a more dry presentation, but there is still bitterness here. The earthy notes have transitioned into a more vegetal presentation that is not pleasing. The draw maintains a tight disposition. The burn has gone south and I have to touch up twice before the midway point.
The final half of the cigar is really very poor. The mineral flavors take over the core profile and leave little other impressions for evaluation. The back of the palate really becomes a straight presentation of vegetal notes the seem to be gritty to me. The draw continues to perform poorly right to the end. The burn does even out, but it is too little too late after three re-lights.
The finish is short and full of metallic mineral flavors.
Appearance- 84 the band is too busy and the cigar itself has visual flaws
Taste- 79 a very poor performance
Construction- 74 a very poorly constructed cigar
Strength- 82 they say full, I say Balderdash!
Overall- 78.75 very poor
The cigar is difficult to view due to the insanely large band that has been draped across the entire freaking cigar. I have never seen a band of this size, and the artwork is dizzying in both color and graphics. It actually covers about two thirds of the smoke, if not more, that is too much real estate to cover with a band and it makes smokers like me suspicious. Once I finish the incredibly long undertaking of removing that huge band I can get down to business. The cigar is decent looking, but there are some flaws. I'm not sure if they are from wrapper glue, under exposure due to being covered with so much paper or some other issue, but it detracts from the visual impact of the smoke. The other thing I notice right away is the seams of the wrapper leaf, they are very prominent almost as if the cigar has not been rolled correctly. An inspection of the bunch and main body of the smoke do not show any areas of concern. The pre light aroma is of cocoa, currant and raisin. The pre light draw shows a spicy and earthy presentation.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither complex or particularly complex. The core profile has some odd spice notes and some light pepper flavors, but there is a mineral flavor here as well and it is a touch harsh. At the back of the palate there are some wet wood notes and touch of loamy earth, but the levels of flavor are not very good and the wet wood notes impart bitterness. The draw is way too tight for me at this point and I can only hope that it will open up with some time. The burn is a little bit off, but I have no issues that require attention yet.
The first half of the cigar really shows no improvement. The core profile is still showing spice and pepper notes, but the metallic mineral flavor is still present and causing a distraction. The back of the palate is showing some wood flavors that have transitioned into a more dry presentation, but there is still bitterness here. The earthy notes have transitioned into a more vegetal presentation that is not pleasing. The draw maintains a tight disposition. The burn has gone south and I have to touch up twice before the midway point.
The final half of the cigar is really very poor. The mineral flavors take over the core profile and leave little other impressions for evaluation. The back of the palate really becomes a straight presentation of vegetal notes the seem to be gritty to me. The draw continues to perform poorly right to the end. The burn does even out, but it is too little too late after three re-lights.
The finish is short and full of metallic mineral flavors.
Appearance- 84 the band is too busy and the cigar itself has visual flaws
Taste- 79 a very poor performance
Construction- 74 a very poorly constructed cigar
Strength- 82 they say full, I say Balderdash!
Overall- 78.75 very poor
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Viaje Holiday Blend 2011 Petit Robusto (4.25x54)
It seems that there is no end to the Viaje lineup, every time I think that I have reached the promised land I find another blend that I have not tried. Why does this matter you may ask? Well, I have two reasons. First, I have made a commitment to you my friends, I will smoke every new cigar I can get my hands on and bring you my usual hard hitting reviews that I believe are some of the most honest in the blogosphere. After all, I am beholden to no one in the industry and I spend my own duckets on these smokes so I feel free to say what I experience. Second, I personally like to smoke as many new cigars as I can, I find it an entertaining way to expand my cigar horizons after twenty three years of smoking. With Viaje going the way they seem to be I will never be out of new smokes to sample.
This cigar is a short, thick log. The wrapper has a beautiful red/brown coloration that reminds me of a Colorado. It has a great sheen to it and looks good enough to eat. The band work is kind of simple, but I like the lack of pretension, almost as if the manufacturer would like the cigar to speak for itself without fancy adornments. The foot is unfinished which makes for some interesting visuals. The wrapper is well applied and has very few veins. The construction seems very nicely done to me, I can't find any voids or firm spots that would cause me concern. The pre light draw is fluid and smooth while imparting nice favors of coffee and cocoa. The pre light aroma also shows coffee and some nice spice.
The cigar opens with a profile that lacks some complexity and depth, but the core flavors are of coffee and light cocoa. I would like some more flavor to bind the early experience together a bit, but it is still nice for now. At the back of the palate there is a nice tobacco flavor and a light white pepper that provides a nice backdrop for a subtle opening experience. The draw is dead solid perfect, it is very seldom that I find a cigar that draws this way. The burn is pure and razor sharp producing a firm ash that doesn't fall off until about halfway through the smoke.
The first half of the cigar maintains a core profile of coffee flavors with some wisps of cocoa, but the depth of these flavors picks up a bit, which is a nice development. At the back of the palate a nice cedar flavor comes in and it complements the crisp tobacco flavor and intensifying notes of pepper in a nice little flavor package. As far as development of flavors goes I am very happy with the progression here. The draw continues to be a dream as it imparts perfect amounts of smoke with ease. The burn is still very solid and the construction of this cigar is a real highlight.
The final half of the smoke really does not progress much further. The core profile maintains coffee and cocoa flavors, but there is a bitter note that sneaks in during the last third that has a wet wood aftertaste to it. The back of the palate continues to show some cedar notes that become sharp which is a distraction in the last third. There also continues to be some nice pepper and tobacco notes in the last half. The draw and burn stay very solid right through to the end and construction is by far the most impressive attribute of this cigar.
The finish was a touch short and showed sharp cedar and wet wood flavors.
As far as the Viaje line goes this is not my favorite effort.
Appearance- 91 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 87 some nice moments in the first half, but the open and final half were sub par
Construction- 97 a real winner in this category
Strength- 88 a nice medium, Viaje claims it is full, I find that it misses that mark
Overall- 91.25 when a cigar performs this well construction wise it is always a winner, it could have been classic with a more developed profile
This cigar is a short, thick log. The wrapper has a beautiful red/brown coloration that reminds me of a Colorado. It has a great sheen to it and looks good enough to eat. The band work is kind of simple, but I like the lack of pretension, almost as if the manufacturer would like the cigar to speak for itself without fancy adornments. The foot is unfinished which makes for some interesting visuals. The wrapper is well applied and has very few veins. The construction seems very nicely done to me, I can't find any voids or firm spots that would cause me concern. The pre light draw is fluid and smooth while imparting nice favors of coffee and cocoa. The pre light aroma also shows coffee and some nice spice.
The cigar opens with a profile that lacks some complexity and depth, but the core flavors are of coffee and light cocoa. I would like some more flavor to bind the early experience together a bit, but it is still nice for now. At the back of the palate there is a nice tobacco flavor and a light white pepper that provides a nice backdrop for a subtle opening experience. The draw is dead solid perfect, it is very seldom that I find a cigar that draws this way. The burn is pure and razor sharp producing a firm ash that doesn't fall off until about halfway through the smoke.
The first half of the cigar maintains a core profile of coffee flavors with some wisps of cocoa, but the depth of these flavors picks up a bit, which is a nice development. At the back of the palate a nice cedar flavor comes in and it complements the crisp tobacco flavor and intensifying notes of pepper in a nice little flavor package. As far as development of flavors goes I am very happy with the progression here. The draw continues to be a dream as it imparts perfect amounts of smoke with ease. The burn is still very solid and the construction of this cigar is a real highlight.
The final half of the smoke really does not progress much further. The core profile maintains coffee and cocoa flavors, but there is a bitter note that sneaks in during the last third that has a wet wood aftertaste to it. The back of the palate continues to show some cedar notes that become sharp which is a distraction in the last third. There also continues to be some nice pepper and tobacco notes in the last half. The draw and burn stay very solid right through to the end and construction is by far the most impressive attribute of this cigar.
The finish was a touch short and showed sharp cedar and wet wood flavors.
As far as the Viaje line goes this is not my favorite effort.
Appearance- 91 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 87 some nice moments in the first half, but the open and final half were sub par
Construction- 97 a real winner in this category
Strength- 88 a nice medium, Viaje claims it is full, I find that it misses that mark
Overall- 91.25 when a cigar performs this well construction wise it is always a winner, it could have been classic with a more developed profile
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Elo Gio Serie Habano Corona Extra (6x42)
In February I reviewed the LSV version of this smoke and I raved about the complexity and depth from such a small and unknown boutique cigar. I have since had many readers of this blog, and listeners of my radio show, comment about how much they too have enjoyed the LSV version of the cigar. Exactly like the LSV, this cigar was found in my favorite B&M in New Orleans. I must caution you, there is almost no difference between the two cigars visually, the only way to tell the difference is that the Habano has more red in the band. I would like to see the manufacturer distinguish the cigars in some way, but I am just being nit picky I guess.
The cigar presents with simple band work and a very plain box presentation as well. If it had not been for the proprietor telling me about these I would have passed them over as cheap and not worth smoking. The cigar itself is very simple, with the exception of the triple seam cap that screams master craftsman, so simple that it is difficult to talk about any unique qualities. The wrapper is flawlessly applied and I can't find any reason to think that it may be a problem. The construction seems to be excellent as there are no areas of concern for me. The pre light aroma is dusty, but sweet and mildly spicy with a touch of nutmeg. The pre light draw is fluid and sweet with a touch of honey and some nice tobacco and nutmeg flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile so subtle, so nuanced, that it is almost too difficult to discern what is happening. The core profile is a fabulous array of toast, cinnamon, nutmeg and floral sweetness that combine to impart miles of flavor while maintaining scads of complexity in a mild blend. This is a feat that is seldom seen in the cigar world and I take several minutes to contemplate the meaning of this cigar that breaks the mold in such a subtle, yet middle finger raised way. The cigar is almost saying, F YOU size and strength whores, I am here to prove that nuance and balance can be just as good, if not better, than anything else out there. The draw is a touch tight, but it is acceptable for now. The burn is right on the money in the opening moments.
The first half of the cigar becomes something that I have never, ever, experienced. The core profile is an array of fantastic flavors as it presents cinnamon, bread, sweet nuts and some light tobacco flavors that are sublime. At the back of the palate there is a tartness that borders on showing notes of anise, but is mostly of cedar and spice. The draw is still too tight for my taste, but it is meeting basic cigar standards in my world. The burn is still very solid and I am not having any issues in this area.
The final half of the cigar becomes a more robust presentation of flavors that excites me as I contemplate the meaning of the cigar. The core profile becomes a more medium bodied presentation of cinnamon, light wood, floral essence and nutmeg. At the back of the palate there are some bold presentations of cedar, but the secondary flavors have moved away. The draw is still a touch too tight for me, but it is serviceable. The burn is solid to the finish.
The finish was somewhat short, but there are very positive notes of sweet nuts and cinnamon that are very satisfying.
Appearance- 88 a nice cigar to look at, but a similar band to it's kin could cause confusion.
Taste- 92 a very subtle and nuanced presentation of many complementary flavors
Construction- 87 some draw tightness hurt the score here
Strength- 86 a nice medium, but some more oomph would be welcome
Overall- 88.75 a very nice experience
The cigar presents with simple band work and a very plain box presentation as well. If it had not been for the proprietor telling me about these I would have passed them over as cheap and not worth smoking. The cigar itself is very simple, with the exception of the triple seam cap that screams master craftsman, so simple that it is difficult to talk about any unique qualities. The wrapper is flawlessly applied and I can't find any reason to think that it may be a problem. The construction seems to be excellent as there are no areas of concern for me. The pre light aroma is dusty, but sweet and mildly spicy with a touch of nutmeg. The pre light draw is fluid and sweet with a touch of honey and some nice tobacco and nutmeg flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile so subtle, so nuanced, that it is almost too difficult to discern what is happening. The core profile is a fabulous array of toast, cinnamon, nutmeg and floral sweetness that combine to impart miles of flavor while maintaining scads of complexity in a mild blend. This is a feat that is seldom seen in the cigar world and I take several minutes to contemplate the meaning of this cigar that breaks the mold in such a subtle, yet middle finger raised way. The cigar is almost saying, F YOU size and strength whores, I am here to prove that nuance and balance can be just as good, if not better, than anything else out there. The draw is a touch tight, but it is acceptable for now. The burn is right on the money in the opening moments.
The first half of the cigar becomes something that I have never, ever, experienced. The core profile is an array of fantastic flavors as it presents cinnamon, bread, sweet nuts and some light tobacco flavors that are sublime. At the back of the palate there is a tartness that borders on showing notes of anise, but is mostly of cedar and spice. The draw is still too tight for my taste, but it is meeting basic cigar standards in my world. The burn is still very solid and I am not having any issues in this area.
The final half of the cigar becomes a more robust presentation of flavors that excites me as I contemplate the meaning of the cigar. The core profile becomes a more medium bodied presentation of cinnamon, light wood, floral essence and nutmeg. At the back of the palate there are some bold presentations of cedar, but the secondary flavors have moved away. The draw is still a touch too tight for me, but it is serviceable. The burn is solid to the finish.
The finish was somewhat short, but there are very positive notes of sweet nuts and cinnamon that are very satisfying.
Appearance- 88 a nice cigar to look at, but a similar band to it's kin could cause confusion.
Taste- 92 a very subtle and nuanced presentation of many complementary flavors
Construction- 87 some draw tightness hurt the score here
Strength- 86 a nice medium, but some more oomph would be welcome
Overall- 88.75 a very nice experience
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Don Lino Africa Kifaro (6.25x52)
Every once in awhile I get a friend that wonders why I don't smoke what they smoke. I usually try to gracefully demure by saying something non-committal and finding my way into less controversial subjects like politics or religion. You see, I don't like smoking and reviewing things that I know my friends love. There are several reasons for this.
1.) I am a self professed cigar snob and I can be a real d-bag when I want to be, I don't mind offending strangers with my acute, and often times razor like reviews, but I have to draw the line at my friends smokes. I want them to enjoy their cigars without the spectre of my opinion hanging over it.
2.) There is pressure in smoking something you know your friends like. I feel the pressure of the friendship pushing me inexorably down as I question their taste, cigar acumen and sometimes why the f they are my friends. I kid, of course, but you get the idea I think. Telling a friend, that in my opinion, his cigar of choice blows goats is a tough thing to do. I'd much rather he, or she, just go on smoking them in blissful ignorance.....errr happiness.
3.) Most cigars suck, and I am likely going to have to say so. I smoke so many cigars that I have come to realize that most of them aren't worth much in my book. OK, so I exaggerate a bit, there are many good smokes out there. However, the bundles you got for nineteen bucks from the Cigar Crap Monthly are not vintage anything, except for a vintage rip off and it makes me believe that my friend might be a vintage stooge. Again, I kid!
The cigar here is one of the cigars that I have described above. I have a friend that loves these, in fact he loves many cigars that I don't. I had told him time and time again that I did not want to smoke and review this, but he is my great friend so I broke down and agreed to smoke and review it. I have smoked these before and I was never a fan, but I am always willing to try. The cigar presents with a mid brown wrapper that is nicely applied to this torpedo vitola. There are few veins, and the color and texture make for a rich looking experience. I detect several soft and firm spots alternating in the body of the bunch and I am worried about performance from the flag drop. The pre light aroma is all tobacco and some light wood. The pre light draw is slightly of pepper, but there are some thin earthy flavors here as well.
The cigar opens with a profile that is one dimensional and mundane. The main flavor is a straight presentation of light tobacco flavors and there is nothing complementary going on here at all. The back of the palate has some weak earthy intonations but, here too, the one dimensional presentation is lackluster at best. The draw is nice, but I can feel a real lack of resistance and I worry about performance later in the smoke. The burn is wonky and will most likely need touching up early on.
The first half of the cigar warms up a bit, but that is much like saying forty degrees is warmer than 30 degrees, it is still damn cold. The core profile has some nice tobacco flavor, but it is still too thin to be a major factor. Some light pepper and wood flavors start to show through here as well, but they are not anything to start a world tour over. The back of the palate shows some earthiness, but there is a tart cedar element here as well and I feel as though it dries the palate. The draw is reflecting the bunch, which is no surprise, when soft the draw is loose and when firm the draw is tight. This is very poorly constructed and I am upset with the performance from the get go. The burn is still off and I begin touching up accordingly.
The final half of the cigar is amongst the most poorly constructed I have ever smoked. The issues in the bunch are cause way too many problems to make this worth much. Constant burn problems are really irritating in the final third and the smoke becomes to scorched to do much of anything with. The profile was still not very subtle or complex and showing one or two lacking flavors does not a winning cigar make.
The finish was acrid and foul.
I love the cigar brother that gave this to me, and I am thrilled he enjoys it, but it really was not for me.
Appearance- 88 this is first, and last, good impression
Taste- 82 some flavor, but no complexity, depth or balance hurt the score
Construction- 73 2/3's of the cigar was smokeable, the rest was a horrific experience
Strength- 83 they are going for full, but I'm not sure they got there
Overall- 79.25 I won't do this again
1.) I am a self professed cigar snob and I can be a real d-bag when I want to be, I don't mind offending strangers with my acute, and often times razor like reviews, but I have to draw the line at my friends smokes. I want them to enjoy their cigars without the spectre of my opinion hanging over it.
2.) There is pressure in smoking something you know your friends like. I feel the pressure of the friendship pushing me inexorably down as I question their taste, cigar acumen and sometimes why the f they are my friends. I kid, of course, but you get the idea I think. Telling a friend, that in my opinion, his cigar of choice blows goats is a tough thing to do. I'd much rather he, or she, just go on smoking them in blissful ignorance.....errr happiness.
3.) Most cigars suck, and I am likely going to have to say so. I smoke so many cigars that I have come to realize that most of them aren't worth much in my book. OK, so I exaggerate a bit, there are many good smokes out there. However, the bundles you got for nineteen bucks from the Cigar Crap Monthly are not vintage anything, except for a vintage rip off and it makes me believe that my friend might be a vintage stooge. Again, I kid!
The cigar here is one of the cigars that I have described above. I have a friend that loves these, in fact he loves many cigars that I don't. I had told him time and time again that I did not want to smoke and review this, but he is my great friend so I broke down and agreed to smoke and review it. I have smoked these before and I was never a fan, but I am always willing to try. The cigar presents with a mid brown wrapper that is nicely applied to this torpedo vitola. There are few veins, and the color and texture make for a rich looking experience. I detect several soft and firm spots alternating in the body of the bunch and I am worried about performance from the flag drop. The pre light aroma is all tobacco and some light wood. The pre light draw is slightly of pepper, but there are some thin earthy flavors here as well.
The cigar opens with a profile that is one dimensional and mundane. The main flavor is a straight presentation of light tobacco flavors and there is nothing complementary going on here at all. The back of the palate has some weak earthy intonations but, here too, the one dimensional presentation is lackluster at best. The draw is nice, but I can feel a real lack of resistance and I worry about performance later in the smoke. The burn is wonky and will most likely need touching up early on.
The first half of the cigar warms up a bit, but that is much like saying forty degrees is warmer than 30 degrees, it is still damn cold. The core profile has some nice tobacco flavor, but it is still too thin to be a major factor. Some light pepper and wood flavors start to show through here as well, but they are not anything to start a world tour over. The back of the palate shows some earthiness, but there is a tart cedar element here as well and I feel as though it dries the palate. The draw is reflecting the bunch, which is no surprise, when soft the draw is loose and when firm the draw is tight. This is very poorly constructed and I am upset with the performance from the get go. The burn is still off and I begin touching up accordingly.
The final half of the cigar is amongst the most poorly constructed I have ever smoked. The issues in the bunch are cause way too many problems to make this worth much. Constant burn problems are really irritating in the final third and the smoke becomes to scorched to do much of anything with. The profile was still not very subtle or complex and showing one or two lacking flavors does not a winning cigar make.
The finish was acrid and foul.
I love the cigar brother that gave this to me, and I am thrilled he enjoys it, but it really was not for me.
Appearance- 88 this is first, and last, good impression
Taste- 82 some flavor, but no complexity, depth or balance hurt the score
Construction- 73 2/3's of the cigar was smokeable, the rest was a horrific experience
Strength- 83 they are going for full, but I'm not sure they got there
Overall- 79.25 I won't do this again
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