These cigars have been around for awhile, some of the blends in this makers stable fetch over $20 per smoke, an absolutely absurd amount of money for just about any smoke as I can only think of three cigars off the top of my head that have ever been worth that type of scratch. This particular blend fetches between eight and ten bucks a piece at reputable retailers around my area so I put that in the standard premium category. I have heard people rave about La Palina in general for some time now so I grabbed some when I was in a B&M recently. I am always cautious when I hear ravings about cigars that fetch super premium prices because I don't know if they really liked it, or if they had the subliminal suggestion of greatness placed in their heads after spending big cash on a smoke. Don't laugh, this is a legitimate phenomenon in the industry.
This cigar presents well. The wrapper is nicely applied and it has very few veins, it has a nice medium brown coloration and it looks like heavily creamed coffee. The band work is intricate, but it does nothing to identify the smoke, it's just a picture and some fancy gold inlay so unless you know what you are looking for you might not know this is a La Palina. The construction seems ok, but there is some firmness that has me a bit concerned about combustion. The pre light draw is metallic and weird, it leaves an aluminum like feel on my tongue and lips. The pre light aroma is woody, but not anything eye popping.
The cigar opens with a profile that is absolute garbage. I am usually not so harsh, but in this case it is what it is. There is nothing redeeming here amongst the metallic flavors and sour notes of crushed aspirin. It so stunningly bad that I am checking to see if I mistakenly got a Dutch Masters and I am on some hidden camera show. I don't see anyone out of place and no one is coming out with cameras and mics so I am forced to conclude that this cigar is just that bad. At the back of the palate there are some hints of bile, oh wait that is just my physiological reaction to the putrescence. I'm not sure what the flavor is, but it is absolute detritus with several layers of crap and maybe some rotting wood. I would rather light magnesium on fire put it over a bowl of melting pennies and eat it with a spoon. The draw is way too tight, I labor to get any smoke in the opening moments, but it does open up some and I find myself wishing it would close back up. The burn is slow, but it is even.
The first half of the cigar, well....sucked. The profile continues to be a vomitous revelation of awful flavors that are among the worst I have ever experienced. I think there might be some spice and pepper, but it tastes like maybe they were placed over the hood of a rusty old Buick before they were put into the cigar. The back of the palate continues to offend with some strange rotting wood flavors and loamy and wet dirt essences that are not helping the issue. The draw has opened up to something less painstaking, but it is still too tight for me and maybe that is a blessing in disguise as I am sure I might lose my dinner (which might be an improvement in aftertaste). The burn is the only redeeming part of this smoke at this point.
The final half of the smoke is a blessed relief. Oh the flavors don't get any better, but it reminds me that I am near the blessed end when I can clean my palate with a chlorine tablet from my pool and wash it down with some Muriatic acid. The core profile still tastes metallic and bad. The back of the palate continues to churn my innards and there are no redeeming qualities here whatsoever. The draw is too tight through to the end, but the burn was nice all the way through.
The finish was a wretched affair with blooms of acidic metal and rotting wood flavors that linger, or malinger, well after the smoke was done.
In the end I feel violated, this cigar was awful. One of my friends pointed out that I may have caught a bad one, and I will leave open that possibility, but I would be worried about what a good one was like.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 70 the lowest possible, it was just that bad
Construction- 76 the draw was awful
Strength- 70 I have no way of knowing what they were going for
Overall- 75 don't waste your time or money
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Cult Classic Robusto (5x50)
One of my deepest and darkest secrets is about to come out. I am, and have been for lo these many years, a member of a cult. We are a quiet group, meeting on Tuesday and Thursday mornings most weeks, and we keep pretty much to ourselves. Our rituals are many. Our naysayers few, as we have a way of dealing swiftly and with finality when someone disparages our chosen methods of brotherhood. We use the tools of our trade, known as the Implements of the Brotherhood, with a deft touch and dexterity that is seldom seen in the likes of those that are not initiated. Our sacrificial rituals are heavy on smoke and fire and we deftly remove parts of the sacrificial beings with our various cutting instruments in ways that are numerous and each has it's purpose. We converse in low tones and cast conspiratorial glances at those not part of our inner circle. We have distrust for those that are not part of our exclusive lifestyle, and distaste for those that seek to destroy what we stand for. We are the Brothers of the Leaf and we are proud, strong and numerous.
This cigar presents well and as you would suspect the band is adorned by the word Cult in what appears to be a somewhat bloody script. The wrapper is a nice medium brown and it has very few veins. As I inspect the construction I am struck by how well this seems to be made, I am wondering how this cigar (been around since 2000) has escaped my notice. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of cinnamon and cereal with heavy grains. The pre light draw shows nice flavors of spice and a wheaty tone that has some vanilla sweetness to it.
The cigar opens with a profile that has miles of depth and loads of character. The core profile has some very intense notes of cinnamon and white pepper, there are some very nice vanilla undertones here as well. The back of the palate is being nicely coated with some crisp tobacco flavors and a nice wheat flavor that binds the experience together. The draw is absolute perfection for me, just the right amount of resistance and the perfect amount of smoke. The burn is right on the money in the early moments.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. There are some very nice sweet floral and vanilla notes that are developing here. There are also some great flavors of cinnamon and light brushes of wood here that lend to the complexity and depth of this smoke. The back of the palate is a wondrous combination of crisp tobacco flavors and light efforts of white pepper. The draw continues to perform flawlessly. The burn is still sharp and the ash hold until nearly the halfway point of the smoke.
The final half of the cigar slams home what I have been thinking all along, this is a very good smoke. The core profile is a tantalizing melange of light citrus notes with some vanilla, cinnamon and wood. This is a really a unique profile and it plays very well for me. At the back of the palate there are some great shots of white pepper that become more intense as the cigar progresses and there are still very nice flavors of crisp tobacco holding the experience together. The draw is exceptional. The burn is also nearly perfect right until the end.
The finish was full of cinnamon and tobacco flavors.
I am now a member of two cults, and one of them is people that love this cigar.
Appearance- 92 a very nice cigar to look at
Taste- 94, nearly classic for me just lacking slightly from that high standard
Construction- 97 an exceptional performance here
Strength- 91 a nice medium, some more punch earlier in the smoke would have been nice
Overall- 94.25 an exceptional experience
This cigar presents well and as you would suspect the band is adorned by the word Cult in what appears to be a somewhat bloody script. The wrapper is a nice medium brown and it has very few veins. As I inspect the construction I am struck by how well this seems to be made, I am wondering how this cigar (been around since 2000) has escaped my notice. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of cinnamon and cereal with heavy grains. The pre light draw shows nice flavors of spice and a wheaty tone that has some vanilla sweetness to it.
The cigar opens with a profile that has miles of depth and loads of character. The core profile has some very intense notes of cinnamon and white pepper, there are some very nice vanilla undertones here as well. The back of the palate is being nicely coated with some crisp tobacco flavors and a nice wheat flavor that binds the experience together. The draw is absolute perfection for me, just the right amount of resistance and the perfect amount of smoke. The burn is right on the money in the early moments.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. There are some very nice sweet floral and vanilla notes that are developing here. There are also some great flavors of cinnamon and light brushes of wood here that lend to the complexity and depth of this smoke. The back of the palate is a wondrous combination of crisp tobacco flavors and light efforts of white pepper. The draw continues to perform flawlessly. The burn is still sharp and the ash hold until nearly the halfway point of the smoke.
The final half of the cigar slams home what I have been thinking all along, this is a very good smoke. The core profile is a tantalizing melange of light citrus notes with some vanilla, cinnamon and wood. This is a really a unique profile and it plays very well for me. At the back of the palate there are some great shots of white pepper that become more intense as the cigar progresses and there are still very nice flavors of crisp tobacco holding the experience together. The draw is exceptional. The burn is also nearly perfect right until the end.
The finish was full of cinnamon and tobacco flavors.
I am now a member of two cults, and one of them is people that love this cigar.
Appearance- 92 a very nice cigar to look at
Taste- 94, nearly classic for me just lacking slightly from that high standard
Construction- 97 an exceptional performance here
Strength- 91 a nice medium, some more punch earlier in the smoke would have been nice
Overall- 94.25 an exceptional experience
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Blanco Liga Exclusiva de Familia Toro (6x54)
I know nothing about this cigar and the website of the manufacturer is no wealth of information either. I believe that I have smoked some other blends from this same maker before and I don't recall smoking anything that worth writing home about, of course as you know, that never stops me from writing a blog entry. I really just bought this cigar on a total whim, a lark if you will, when I walked into a Tampa B&M. I am always looking for things that I have never heard of, or seen, and this cigar fit the bill so I laid down my shekels and bought this bad boy.
The cigar presents well, it is big and solid looking with a nice dark and rich textured wrapper. The band work has some garish colors in it and visually is not very appealing, but unless I'm drunk or tired I seldom smoke the band. The construction seems a touch tight to me and I'm concerned about the combustion based on this evidence. The pre light aroma was a strange floral essence, but there were some fuel like aromas here as well, almost like kerosene and I wonder if the wrapper was treated with something. The pre light draw shows some pepper flavors, but leaves an oily texture on the tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that I would classify as middling. The core flavors are pepper, anise and some damp earth notes which detract from the other two flavors that would be nice if standing together. This effort does not show any complexity or depth and the flavors just lay there doing nothing, like a lazy dog or boring girlfriend. At the back of the palate there are some wood flavors but they are overwhelmed with a fuel taste that smacks of kerosene. The draw is tight, but even with effort I am not producing much smoke and that usually means there is a void somewhere in the bunch, this is not a good sign. The burn is a touch off and if there is a void somewhere I expect this will become a looming issue as the cigar moves on.
The first half of the cigar actually shows some profile improvements. The core flavors show some nice coffee, earth and pepper flavors. There are still some nice tones of anise in the mix here as well, but the flavors never combine harmoniously and all attempt to stand on their own. This is no opus or concerto, it is individual violinists reading different sheets of music and it leaves the palate wanting more. The back of the palate still has some remnants of the fuel flavors from earlier in the smoke, but nice wood flavors are the core here. The draw has opened up into a loose and crazy drawing experience, and I am now sure that I am going through a void. If I needed anymore evidence the burn has gone completely off and touch ups are required often in the middle third. The void is gigantic, about the circumference of my pinky finger, and I am not sure how I missed it when inspecting the bunch. Heat is pouring into my mouth with each draw and a I am relighting and purging like a champion in this segment of the smoke, whilst trying to keep the cigar cool.
The final half of the cigar is better than I expected after the issue with the void. With about a third left the void corrects out and I am able to get some performance in the draw and burn area as they both start to perform acceptably. The profile is not interesting or complex, but the flavors are there and identifiable. There are some notes of pepper, coffee and earth, but as before they are not melding well together. The back of the palate continues to show wood flavors, but some bitterness is showing through in the last moments.
The finish was short and full of charred wood flavors.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 83 not very good, but not terrible
Construction- 74 not a great performance, the huge void really takes away from the experience
Strength- 85 a very middling medium/low end of full
Overall- 81, just not a good cigar at all
The cigar presents well, it is big and solid looking with a nice dark and rich textured wrapper. The band work has some garish colors in it and visually is not very appealing, but unless I'm drunk or tired I seldom smoke the band. The construction seems a touch tight to me and I'm concerned about the combustion based on this evidence. The pre light aroma was a strange floral essence, but there were some fuel like aromas here as well, almost like kerosene and I wonder if the wrapper was treated with something. The pre light draw shows some pepper flavors, but leaves an oily texture on the tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that I would classify as middling. The core flavors are pepper, anise and some damp earth notes which detract from the other two flavors that would be nice if standing together. This effort does not show any complexity or depth and the flavors just lay there doing nothing, like a lazy dog or boring girlfriend. At the back of the palate there are some wood flavors but they are overwhelmed with a fuel taste that smacks of kerosene. The draw is tight, but even with effort I am not producing much smoke and that usually means there is a void somewhere in the bunch, this is not a good sign. The burn is a touch off and if there is a void somewhere I expect this will become a looming issue as the cigar moves on.
The first half of the cigar actually shows some profile improvements. The core flavors show some nice coffee, earth and pepper flavors. There are still some nice tones of anise in the mix here as well, but the flavors never combine harmoniously and all attempt to stand on their own. This is no opus or concerto, it is individual violinists reading different sheets of music and it leaves the palate wanting more. The back of the palate still has some remnants of the fuel flavors from earlier in the smoke, but nice wood flavors are the core here. The draw has opened up into a loose and crazy drawing experience, and I am now sure that I am going through a void. If I needed anymore evidence the burn has gone completely off and touch ups are required often in the middle third. The void is gigantic, about the circumference of my pinky finger, and I am not sure how I missed it when inspecting the bunch. Heat is pouring into my mouth with each draw and a I am relighting and purging like a champion in this segment of the smoke, whilst trying to keep the cigar cool.
The final half of the cigar is better than I expected after the issue with the void. With about a third left the void corrects out and I am able to get some performance in the draw and burn area as they both start to perform acceptably. The profile is not interesting or complex, but the flavors are there and identifiable. There are some notes of pepper, coffee and earth, but as before they are not melding well together. The back of the palate continues to show wood flavors, but some bitterness is showing through in the last moments.
The finish was short and full of charred wood flavors.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 83 not very good, but not terrible
Construction- 74 not a great performance, the huge void really takes away from the experience
Strength- 85 a very middling medium/low end of full
Overall- 81, just not a good cigar at all
Monday, August 13, 2012
Asylum 13 Robusto (5x50)
Growing up as a budding political scientist I knew that there were two types of asylum. One, the place where loons get locked up to drool on themselves and hatch delusional notions of conspiracy, grandeur or otherwise. The other of the political nature, when people from other countries flee from harsh and oppressive regimes around the world to come to this country. Of course if you are a cigar smoker seeking asylum in this country you will be met with a harsh and oppressive regime of a different sort. To slap this moniker on a cigar is an interesting choice. As I am wont to do I must ponder the implications of the strange nomenclature of this cigar before I proceed with other, more pertinent, details.
Is this name a cry out for some sort of political revolution amongst cigar smokers? I mean we have been ostracized in recent years and now rank with lepers and the other terminally diseased in our society, just go somewhere and try to light up and see what types of looks you get. It's almost as if I forgot to dress myself or something, the looks of disgust are so prevalent and palpable. Even in the great outdoors I have been accosted by people for enjoying my fine cigar in the peace and serenity that only Mother Nature can provide. Maybe it is time that we seek asylum as smokers and try to find the one place in the world that allows us to smoke, unencumbered and unfettered in a manner of our choosing. I have long held the belief that my state, Florida, could secede from the greater union and become our own country. We will kick out the non cigar smokers and only those with real smoking bona-fides would be allowed to stay or be granted entry. This is my kind of country! I think we could make it happen! Oh damn, here come the dudes with the strappy jacket! Maybe I'll be going to some sort of asylum after all...
This cigar presents well. The wrapper is dark and rich, there are some prominent veins, but they seem to add to the overall appeal of the smoke. An examination of the construction leads me to believe that is fairly well made, but there is some looseness in the bunch that has me worried about draw and combustion. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of dark fruit and pepper notes and it really slams the nostrils with a notice of what is to come. The pre light draw is a delightful black cherry flavor that I hope shows up in the smoke. The final piece of this puzzle is that this cigar retails for five bucks here in Florida.
The cigar opens with a profile that shocks me very quickly. There is some real power here and the core profile smacks of coffee and cherry and orange zest. I was not expecting something like this so early on in the smoke and I can only hope that it will continue. At the back of the palate there is a nice presentation of earth and some light pepper that binds the experience together in a satisfying way. There is a level of complexity and depth here that is very solid for being so early in a smoke. The draw is a touch too loose for me, I prefer something with a bit more resistance, but it is not causing any issues. The burn is solid at this point and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar falls off from the opening moments. The core profile has some tar like qualities at this point and there are some charred notes coming off of a coffee flavor that is losing it's punch. The back of the palate continues to deliver some nice earthy flavors, but the pepper flavor has left and there is thin after taste coming into the picture that has some tannins in it. I am disappointed that the cigar has taken this turn, but I am holding out for some improvement in the last half. The draw is still too loose for me, but it is still not causing any real issues. The burn is starting to go off a touch, but I am hoping it corrects before I have to touch it up.
The final half of the cigar begins poorly but rounds into a fine final third. The first part of the last half stays much like the first half, there are still some tar like notes and some charred flavors as well, but then all of the sudden the cigar opens up into something so much more. The core profile hits a switch and shows some nice cocoa and coffee flavors that are accompanied by some hazelnut tones that are simply magnificent. The back of the palate is a robust presentation of anise and pepper and this binds it all together in a complex and pleasing manner. Too bad this occurred so late in the smoke. The draw stays loose through to the end. The burn does run, but eventually evens itself out after I gently knock some dead wrapper into the tray to force a correction.
The finish was long, but it was a touch sharp with some tar notes overlapping with coffee and earth.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 saved in the last few moments, if the entire cigar was like the opening and the last third this would be a higher score
Construction- 83 the draw was too loose and the burn was wonky
Strength- 87 a nice medium that would be full for many smokers I think
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average in the end
Is this name a cry out for some sort of political revolution amongst cigar smokers? I mean we have been ostracized in recent years and now rank with lepers and the other terminally diseased in our society, just go somewhere and try to light up and see what types of looks you get. It's almost as if I forgot to dress myself or something, the looks of disgust are so prevalent and palpable. Even in the great outdoors I have been accosted by people for enjoying my fine cigar in the peace and serenity that only Mother Nature can provide. Maybe it is time that we seek asylum as smokers and try to find the one place in the world that allows us to smoke, unencumbered and unfettered in a manner of our choosing. I have long held the belief that my state, Florida, could secede from the greater union and become our own country. We will kick out the non cigar smokers and only those with real smoking bona-fides would be allowed to stay or be granted entry. This is my kind of country! I think we could make it happen! Oh damn, here come the dudes with the strappy jacket! Maybe I'll be going to some sort of asylum after all...
This cigar presents well. The wrapper is dark and rich, there are some prominent veins, but they seem to add to the overall appeal of the smoke. An examination of the construction leads me to believe that is fairly well made, but there is some looseness in the bunch that has me worried about draw and combustion. The pre light aroma is a heady mix of dark fruit and pepper notes and it really slams the nostrils with a notice of what is to come. The pre light draw is a delightful black cherry flavor that I hope shows up in the smoke. The final piece of this puzzle is that this cigar retails for five bucks here in Florida.
The cigar opens with a profile that shocks me very quickly. There is some real power here and the core profile smacks of coffee and cherry and orange zest. I was not expecting something like this so early on in the smoke and I can only hope that it will continue. At the back of the palate there is a nice presentation of earth and some light pepper that binds the experience together in a satisfying way. There is a level of complexity and depth here that is very solid for being so early in a smoke. The draw is a touch too loose for me, I prefer something with a bit more resistance, but it is not causing any issues. The burn is solid at this point and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar falls off from the opening moments. The core profile has some tar like qualities at this point and there are some charred notes coming off of a coffee flavor that is losing it's punch. The back of the palate continues to deliver some nice earthy flavors, but the pepper flavor has left and there is thin after taste coming into the picture that has some tannins in it. I am disappointed that the cigar has taken this turn, but I am holding out for some improvement in the last half. The draw is still too loose for me, but it is still not causing any real issues. The burn is starting to go off a touch, but I am hoping it corrects before I have to touch it up.
The final half of the cigar begins poorly but rounds into a fine final third. The first part of the last half stays much like the first half, there are still some tar like notes and some charred flavors as well, but then all of the sudden the cigar opens up into something so much more. The core profile hits a switch and shows some nice cocoa and coffee flavors that are accompanied by some hazelnut tones that are simply magnificent. The back of the palate is a robust presentation of anise and pepper and this binds it all together in a complex and pleasing manner. Too bad this occurred so late in the smoke. The draw stays loose through to the end. The burn does run, but eventually evens itself out after I gently knock some dead wrapper into the tray to force a correction.
The finish was long, but it was a touch sharp with some tar notes overlapping with coffee and earth.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 saved in the last few moments, if the entire cigar was like the opening and the last third this would be a higher score
Construction- 83 the draw was too loose and the burn was wonky
Strength- 87 a nice medium that would be full for many smokers I think
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average in the end
Saturday, August 11, 2012
La Duena Robusto (5X50)
Another cigar from IPCPR and this is the one I was probably most excited about. Made in the My Father factory, as it is known I like that provenance, this cigar is named La Duena which translates into female owner in English for Janny Garcia the female boss of My Father. This cigar is actually blended by Pete Johnson and my interest was piqued because he has said this was supposed to be like La Riqueza, one of my favorite Tatuaje blends, with more strength. I was also somewhat concerned because I have not liked Dude A's (see previous review of Pete Johnson blends for discussion of Dude A and Dude B) blends in the past. See, Pete had many winners when Don Pepin was doing all the blending, but when Pete went out on his own he lost some of the secret sauce in my opinion. Anyway, all these particulars aside I was still anticipating this cigar.
The cigar itself presents very simply. The band work is red with a white silhouette of a woman's head on it, it kind of reminds me of an antique broach that an old woman would wear on a bad sweater. The wrapper is toothy and seems a bit too dry to me, but it has few veins and very nice dark coloration. An inspection leads me to believe that the construction is superb, a hallmark of this particular factory as I seldom have issues with any cigar from there. The pre light aroma is strong and smacks of rich coffee. The pre light draw has some dark wood essences and tons of earthy flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a little bit short for me. The core flavors are of over brewed coffee and some very loamy earth notes are present here as well. The overall impression is a profile that is unfinished and not very balanced or complex. At the back of the palate there are some serious notes of heavy minerals and I have never been a huge fan of this particular attribute in a cigar. The draw is a little bit too loose for me, but I will persevere as always. The burn is razor sharp and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar shows no real improvement. The core profile is still too overwrought with over brewed coffee flavors and there is no real nuance to the profile as the earthy flavors that should be giving the smoke balance are not doing the job for me. The back of the palate continues to be assaulted with mineral flavors and I feel as though I am sucking on a handful of nickels. The draw is ever looser as the cigar progresses and I slow the progress to keep the heat out of the smoke. The burn is still very sharp.
The final half of the cigar continues my hand in hand walk with disappointment. The core profile never develops into anything meaningful as the flavors linger on and on in an unimpressive way like a dinner guest that won't leave. Over brewed coffee and loamy earth notes just can't stand alone throughout a cigar and some balancing efforts are sorely needed. The back of the palate continues to show blasts of mineral weirdness and the whole experience is really not good.
The finish was short and full of mineral after taste.
This is not what I was hoping for. Can I get another Don Pepin blend please!!
Appearance- 86 very simple, but above average
Taste- 77 it just was not good
Construction- 82 the draw was too loose for me
Strength- 83 aiming for full but it was the high side of medium at best and the mineral flavors made divining any strength characteristics difficult
Overall- 81.25 this is not something I would revisit
The cigar itself presents very simply. The band work is red with a white silhouette of a woman's head on it, it kind of reminds me of an antique broach that an old woman would wear on a bad sweater. The wrapper is toothy and seems a bit too dry to me, but it has few veins and very nice dark coloration. An inspection leads me to believe that the construction is superb, a hallmark of this particular factory as I seldom have issues with any cigar from there. The pre light aroma is strong and smacks of rich coffee. The pre light draw has some dark wood essences and tons of earthy flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a little bit short for me. The core flavors are of over brewed coffee and some very loamy earth notes are present here as well. The overall impression is a profile that is unfinished and not very balanced or complex. At the back of the palate there are some serious notes of heavy minerals and I have never been a huge fan of this particular attribute in a cigar. The draw is a little bit too loose for me, but I will persevere as always. The burn is razor sharp and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar shows no real improvement. The core profile is still too overwrought with over brewed coffee flavors and there is no real nuance to the profile as the earthy flavors that should be giving the smoke balance are not doing the job for me. The back of the palate continues to be assaulted with mineral flavors and I feel as though I am sucking on a handful of nickels. The draw is ever looser as the cigar progresses and I slow the progress to keep the heat out of the smoke. The burn is still very sharp.
The final half of the cigar continues my hand in hand walk with disappointment. The core profile never develops into anything meaningful as the flavors linger on and on in an unimpressive way like a dinner guest that won't leave. Over brewed coffee and loamy earth notes just can't stand alone throughout a cigar and some balancing efforts are sorely needed. The back of the palate continues to show blasts of mineral weirdness and the whole experience is really not good.
The finish was short and full of mineral after taste.
This is not what I was hoping for. Can I get another Don Pepin blend please!!
Appearance- 86 very simple, but above average
Taste- 77 it just was not good
Construction- 82 the draw was too loose for me
Strength- 83 aiming for full but it was the high side of medium at best and the mineral flavors made divining any strength characteristics difficult
Overall- 81.25 this is not something I would revisit
Monday, August 6, 2012
CAO Concert Solo (5.5x50)
IPCPR's annual trade show has come and gone, you know what that means? This blog is about to get very busy, I love this time of year because all the new stuff is out and I make it a point to smoke and review as much of it as I can get my hands on. I just love the smell of new cigars in August!
I have been long told by people in the industry that the face of CAO was changing. I was skeptical, CAO just does not do it for me anymore, their offerings just don't have what I'm looking for in a cigar. In fact, I have always thought they were just plain and kind of boring. Well my opinion started to change last year when Osa came to market, I smoked several of them and found some consistency problems, but the ones that I smoked that performed well were very good. Bearing this in mind I was excited to have a chance at this new offering which debuted just this past weekend at the show.
The cigar presents very nicely, CAO eschewed their normal fancy colors and adornments and went with a simple band in two tones and I found that refreshing. The visual flair here was that, when unbanded, the band turns into a little guitar, paying homage to the cigar's Tennessee roots, very clever indeed. The wrapper is a nice dark brown, and it is applied very well. There are few veins and the oils of the wrapper appear to be natural and not artificially enhanced in any way. The construction has me concerned as I detect some very tight spots in the bunch near the foot and this leads me to have some concerns about draw issues that could arise. The pre light aroma has some delightful dark wood and earth tones. The pre light draw shows some hints of coffee and wood.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither complex or deep, but the flavor is bold and delivering very nice flavors of coffee, nuts and wood. At the back of the palate there is a very satisfying and rich earthy flavor that props up the front of the profile beautifully. This is not your standard CAO cigar, and it really has my interest from the get go. Is it complex? No. Is it deep? No. However, it does deliver nice flavors from the start and sometimes that is all a cigar needs, a simple profile that is easily identifiable can be very tasty and refreshing. The draw is a little tight, but better tight than loose I always say (yes I'm still talking about cigars, dirty perverts). The burn is a touch off, but I'm thinking it will even out on it's own.
The first half of the cigar really continues to impress me. I'm as shocked as all of you, the Czar likes a CAO! The core profile continues to show excellent flavors of dark wood and a very clean and pleasant tobacco flavor has come into the picture here as well. I reiterate, this cigar is not complex or deep, but it continues to deliver flavors that are robust and tantalizing just the same. The back of the palate continues to show rich, earthy flavors and there is a very solid flavor of coffee coming through in this portion of the experience. The draw continues to be a touch too tight, but it is not causing me any issues. The burn evens out and goes off again on an alternating basis, but touch ups are not required yet.
The final half of the cigar does not show much more development and that is my only disappointment in the cigar, in order to really climb in points some complexity and depth would have to be showing through, but the cigar stays very solid. The core profile is still very satisfying, showing nice flavors of wood and tobacco. The back of the palate continues to deliver nice earth and coffee flavors right to the end. The draw stays tight and becomes more difficult in the closing moments as I approach the tight spots I mentioned earlier, but it is not unsmokeable. The burn goes off in the final third requiring a minor touch up to regulate heat and the possibility of a run.
The finish was long and held nice flavors of dark wood and tobacco for several minutes.
If this is a sign of what's to come from CAO I can say I'm excited to see where the CAO train takes me in the next couple of years.
Appearance- 91 simple and clean, very refreshing form a frontmark known for visually jarring packaging and branding
Taste- 88 a nice profile that could have done with some extra development
Construction- 87 some draw and burn problems reduce the score
Strength- 91 very complementary medium
Overall- 88.75 a very good cigar
I have been long told by people in the industry that the face of CAO was changing. I was skeptical, CAO just does not do it for me anymore, their offerings just don't have what I'm looking for in a cigar. In fact, I have always thought they were just plain and kind of boring. Well my opinion started to change last year when Osa came to market, I smoked several of them and found some consistency problems, but the ones that I smoked that performed well were very good. Bearing this in mind I was excited to have a chance at this new offering which debuted just this past weekend at the show.
The cigar presents very nicely, CAO eschewed their normal fancy colors and adornments and went with a simple band in two tones and I found that refreshing. The visual flair here was that, when unbanded, the band turns into a little guitar, paying homage to the cigar's Tennessee roots, very clever indeed. The wrapper is a nice dark brown, and it is applied very well. There are few veins and the oils of the wrapper appear to be natural and not artificially enhanced in any way. The construction has me concerned as I detect some very tight spots in the bunch near the foot and this leads me to have some concerns about draw issues that could arise. The pre light aroma has some delightful dark wood and earth tones. The pre light draw shows some hints of coffee and wood.
The cigar opens with a profile that is neither complex or deep, but the flavor is bold and delivering very nice flavors of coffee, nuts and wood. At the back of the palate there is a very satisfying and rich earthy flavor that props up the front of the profile beautifully. This is not your standard CAO cigar, and it really has my interest from the get go. Is it complex? No. Is it deep? No. However, it does deliver nice flavors from the start and sometimes that is all a cigar needs, a simple profile that is easily identifiable can be very tasty and refreshing. The draw is a little tight, but better tight than loose I always say (yes I'm still talking about cigars, dirty perverts). The burn is a touch off, but I'm thinking it will even out on it's own.
The first half of the cigar really continues to impress me. I'm as shocked as all of you, the Czar likes a CAO! The core profile continues to show excellent flavors of dark wood and a very clean and pleasant tobacco flavor has come into the picture here as well. I reiterate, this cigar is not complex or deep, but it continues to deliver flavors that are robust and tantalizing just the same. The back of the palate continues to show rich, earthy flavors and there is a very solid flavor of coffee coming through in this portion of the experience. The draw continues to be a touch too tight, but it is not causing me any issues. The burn evens out and goes off again on an alternating basis, but touch ups are not required yet.
The final half of the cigar does not show much more development and that is my only disappointment in the cigar, in order to really climb in points some complexity and depth would have to be showing through, but the cigar stays very solid. The core profile is still very satisfying, showing nice flavors of wood and tobacco. The back of the palate continues to deliver nice earth and coffee flavors right to the end. The draw stays tight and becomes more difficult in the closing moments as I approach the tight spots I mentioned earlier, but it is not unsmokeable. The burn goes off in the final third requiring a minor touch up to regulate heat and the possibility of a run.
The finish was long and held nice flavors of dark wood and tobacco for several minutes.
If this is a sign of what's to come from CAO I can say I'm excited to see where the CAO train takes me in the next couple of years.
Appearance- 91 simple and clean, very refreshing form a frontmark known for visually jarring packaging and branding
Taste- 88 a nice profile that could have done with some extra development
Construction- 87 some draw and burn problems reduce the score
Strength- 91 very complementary medium
Overall- 88.75 a very good cigar
Alec Bradley Empire State (6x54)
Alec Bradley cigars have always been hit or miss for me. I have loved the Prensado and Tempus, been indifferent about the Black Market and Maxx, and really did not like the American Classic. This cigar was released back in 2010 for the New York market only. In Florida, where I live, it was a cigar Unicorn if you will, a myth. Imagine my surprise when I finally found some in a little old Sarasota brick and mortar. I stole some quick glances out the front door to make sure I did not somehow end up on Long Island, I saw palm trees so I figured I was still in Florida. I considered asking the woman behind the counter, but they already believe I am pretty strange so I just checked the GPS on my Iphone. It confirmed that I was still in the Sunshine State, relieved I made the selection and made my way home. As most of you know, I have a cigar radio show every Saturday (shameless plug coming! On WTMY 1280 AM in Sarasota and surrounding areas, or you can stream us live at WTMY.com), so I decided to put this cigar down and share it with my esteemed co-host as a featured cigar on the show. This past weekend we did get a chance to sit down and give it a smoke, what follow is only my impression of the cigar, my co-host does not write a blog so you will just have to ask him what he thought.
The cigar is nice looking. The wrapper is bold, it has a deep and rich brown coloration that evokes a vision of a roasted chestnut. There are very few veins and the wrapper appears to contain some very nice oils. The construction appears to be bulky, I don't care for big ring smokes, but it is well put together and I can't find any areas that concern me right off the bat. The pre light aroma is surprisingly light, there are some hints of light wood and some light earth, but the aroma is not nearly as robust as the visual would indicate. The pre light draw is odd, showing some sharp wood flavors that border on bitter.
The cigar opens with a profile that I can only describe as a wrongful assault on my palate. The flavor is all wet wood, my co-host describes it as the type of wet wood that is at the bottom of the wood pile after a long winter of snow and rain and spring melt, and I can't find a way to disagree with him here, anyone that has ever lived up north knows this wet wood type because we have seen it for winters on end. Perhaps this attribute helped in the New York area, winters are bad there and maybe they like this kind of wood. I found it to be bitter and foul. The back of the palate is being cascaded with putrid flavors as well, it's almost as if the cigar is over humidified, but I conducted a survey when I pulled them out of the humi and they most certainly were not. There is a horrific aftertaste forming as well, it almost makes the throat sore. On balance this is one of the worst starts to a cigar I have had in a long time. Sadly, this cigar draws like a dream for me, just perfect amounts of resistance and delivery of smoke. The burn is also very solid at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to show serious deficiencies. The core profile is still smacking of wet wood and the bitterness is almost overwhelming. I am actually pretty stunned, previous Alec Bradley cigars that I did not enjoy were at least ok, this one is horrendous to this point. The back of the palate is not gaining any positive marks either as the bitterness coming from the main profile cloaks whatever might be there. I will point out that at the halfway point I am starting to sense that some good changes are afoot, but I also nearly chucked this beast before I got there which shows just how bad the first half was. The draw is still very good and the burn is still moving right along.
The final half of the cigar finally starts to show some cigar like qualities. The profile balances out and starts to show some nice wood flavors and there is some muted spice that has a cinnamon like tone to it This development is nice and saves the cigar from getting the old el chucko, but it will not be enough to redeem the cigar overall. At the back of the palate there is a nice earthy tone, but it is not deep enough to be particularly noteworthy. The draw is still very nice, and the burn stays solid right through to the end.
The finish was a bit short and I still had some serious aftertaste problems upon completion, my mouth was left dry and the flavor was bitter.
Appearance- 89 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 78 I just can't go any higher here
Construction- 93 a very nicely done cigar performance wise
Strength- 85 a very mundane medium
Overall- 86, saved by a very impressive performance from a burn and draw perspective
The cigar is nice looking. The wrapper is bold, it has a deep and rich brown coloration that evokes a vision of a roasted chestnut. There are very few veins and the wrapper appears to contain some very nice oils. The construction appears to be bulky, I don't care for big ring smokes, but it is well put together and I can't find any areas that concern me right off the bat. The pre light aroma is surprisingly light, there are some hints of light wood and some light earth, but the aroma is not nearly as robust as the visual would indicate. The pre light draw is odd, showing some sharp wood flavors that border on bitter.
The cigar opens with a profile that I can only describe as a wrongful assault on my palate. The flavor is all wet wood, my co-host describes it as the type of wet wood that is at the bottom of the wood pile after a long winter of snow and rain and spring melt, and I can't find a way to disagree with him here, anyone that has ever lived up north knows this wet wood type because we have seen it for winters on end. Perhaps this attribute helped in the New York area, winters are bad there and maybe they like this kind of wood. I found it to be bitter and foul. The back of the palate is being cascaded with putrid flavors as well, it's almost as if the cigar is over humidified, but I conducted a survey when I pulled them out of the humi and they most certainly were not. There is a horrific aftertaste forming as well, it almost makes the throat sore. On balance this is one of the worst starts to a cigar I have had in a long time. Sadly, this cigar draws like a dream for me, just perfect amounts of resistance and delivery of smoke. The burn is also very solid at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to show serious deficiencies. The core profile is still smacking of wet wood and the bitterness is almost overwhelming. I am actually pretty stunned, previous Alec Bradley cigars that I did not enjoy were at least ok, this one is horrendous to this point. The back of the palate is not gaining any positive marks either as the bitterness coming from the main profile cloaks whatever might be there. I will point out that at the halfway point I am starting to sense that some good changes are afoot, but I also nearly chucked this beast before I got there which shows just how bad the first half was. The draw is still very good and the burn is still moving right along.
The final half of the cigar finally starts to show some cigar like qualities. The profile balances out and starts to show some nice wood flavors and there is some muted spice that has a cinnamon like tone to it This development is nice and saves the cigar from getting the old el chucko, but it will not be enough to redeem the cigar overall. At the back of the palate there is a nice earthy tone, but it is not deep enough to be particularly noteworthy. The draw is still very nice, and the burn stays solid right through to the end.
The finish was a bit short and I still had some serious aftertaste problems upon completion, my mouth was left dry and the flavor was bitter.
Appearance- 89 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 78 I just can't go any higher here
Construction- 93 a very nicely done cigar performance wise
Strength- 85 a very mundane medium
Overall- 86, saved by a very impressive performance from a burn and draw perspective
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