Don Lino 1989 Maduro Churchill

This is a cigar that I sometimes smoke in the robusto size, but I was given this one at a recent event with some friends so I decided to smoke the larger size. The cigar presents with a dark brown wrapper that has plenty of tooth, but has a very ruddy exterior appearance. The cigar feels under packed and it lacks the heft of a usual Churchill sized smoke. The pre light aroma has notes of cocoa and light coffee. The pre light draw shows some thin cocoa notes and some nice tobacco and earth flavors.

The cigar opens with a profile that is distinctly earthy with hints of coffee in the mix. At the back of the palate there are some thin notes of cocoa, but there are some heavy notes of earth here as well. The draw is extremely loose and I am worried about heat in the main body of the cigar as it develops further. The burn is slightly wonky, but is not causing me any concern. (In the interest of full disclosure I am already predisposed to the thought that this burn will go south as I have smoked over a box of this cigar in different sizes and every last one has burned horribly)

The first third of the cigar shows little development. The core profile is still heavily earthy, but shows some hints of pepper and coffee that are fleeting at best. At the back of the palate the dense earth tones continue and I am reaching out for more, but not finding it in this cigar. The draw is still loose and some heat is creeping in already, I am forced to slow it down to not char the experience. The burn is still off, but not as badly as some that I have smoked in the past.

The middle third shows some interesting shifts. The main body of the profile picks up decidedly peppery notes that mingle with a weakening coffee essence. The back of the palate moves into a nice presentation of rich tobacco as the earthy density falls away. The draw is still loose, but I am managing the issue without ruining the smoke, however I will deduct because of relights that had to take place as I slowed down to manage the heat. The burn is even, but I lend that more to my relights than the cigar itself.

The final third shows no real development of anything resembling depth or complexity. The core profile shows notes of pepper, coffee and some wood. At the back of the palate there are still some tobacco notes, but there is a strange sweetness that has crept into the presentation. The draw was loose throughout, but the burn was at least average this time around.

The finish was smooth, but short, with notes of pepper and earth

Appearance- 82 the ruddy looks kill the visual experience
Taste- 85 I would rate this as very average
Construction- 80 the draw was a real issue for me, I like to enjoy a cigar at my pace not have my pace dictated by the cigar's construction
Strength- 85 a very average medium that could use more pop
Overall- 82.75 a very poor showing, construction issues and a weak profile doom this cigar

Don Lino 1989 Maduro Robusto

This is a small cigar for a robusto in terms of ring gauge, but it presents very well. It is wrapped in a rich, nearly black capa that is shiny with oils. There are some veins, but they not significantly detract from the overall impression. A roll through the fingers reveals a firm cigar and I am concerned about the possibility of a tight draw. The pre light aroma is of rich, dark coffee and cocoa. The pre light draw shows extensive earthy tones and some light coffee and cocoa notes.

The cigar begins with a nice profile of cocoa and rich earthy tones. I am struck by the heft of the smoke, it covers the palate with each draw, and leaves a dusty feeling in the mouth. At the back of the palate there are notes of coffee and more cocoa flavors that show a nice depth. The draw is tight, but not substandard at this point. The burn is lopsided, but is not causing me any issues.

The first half of the cigar continues to show flavors of cocoa and earth. The smoke continues to be very heavy in the mouth, and I have not decided if that attribute adds or subtracts from the overall impression. At the back of the palate there are some notes of pepper and deeper notes of earth than in the front of the profile. The draw opens up slightly and provides for a more full flavor experience. The burn has begun a runner and I am hoping it will not require a touch up.

The second half of the smoke continues to show a nice profile. There are notes of coffee, cocoa and earth that bathe the palate with heavy smoke. At the back of the palate the pepper shows some development that adds to the depth. The draw is acceptable at this point, but the burn has run for nearly an inch and a half. I reluctantly touch it up and get some charred notes for a half inch or so. I have said before and I say again, a touch up is the worst possible turn of events when I am smoking a cigar.

The finish is nice with notes of coffee and earth, but the run returns near the end detracting from the closing stanza.

Appearance- 90 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 93 an excellent profile showing character, complexity and depth
Construction- 80 the major runner severely hurt the score
Strength- 88 a nice medium smoke
Overall- 87.25 a nicely presented smoke, but flaws hurt the overall impression

Don Lino 1989 Maduro Robusto

This cigar is an appealing sight with a dark chocolate hued wrapper that is glistening with oils. The wrapper has few veins and feels thick and hearty, there are no apparent flaws. A quick examination reveals a firm, seemingly well constructed smoke. The pre light aroma has a chocolatey presence and notes of light earth. The pre light draw is sweet and has a mild spice undertone.

The cigar begins with a strong chocolate character and a light undertone of earth and tobacco. A moderate shoulder is evident and I detect the presence of oil around the area of the burn. The smoke is sweet and full and is developing nicely.

At the one third point of the cigar the profile has not developed any further, but maintains chocolatey notes with hints of earth and light spice. I encounter the beginnings of a burn flaw but attempt to smoke through it, to no avail. The cigar canoes for nearly an inch and a half and I am forced to retouch with a lighter, a process that I have always believed reduces the character of the flavor profile and frequently introduces charred notes. This is no exception, and I experience charry notes for the next half inch.

At the half way point the charred notes have diminished and the cigar returns to a profile of chocolate and earth. The burn has still not recovered and another canoe begins to develop as I approach the final third of the cigar.

I am loathe to retouch this cigar again and I make the decision to evaluate the final third while fighting the burn issue. The profile is still of chocolate and earth with a light nicotine tingle at the back of the palate.

The finish is pleasant and is also of chocolate and earth. The burn issue never corrected itself and I finish the cigar with a canoe that is the size of one third of the cigar.

Appearance- 91 a very attractive cigar
Taste- 88 this cigar had nice flavor, but lacked complexity
Construction- 73 very poor as evidenced by two severe burn issues
Strength- 86 a medium smoke without any real strength characteristics
Overall- 84.5 obviously hurt by the construction