If you had asked most people six years ago who the one person they would most like to be in the cigar industry you probably would have gotten several answers, but one of the names that would have come up most often would have been Ernesto Padilla.
Padilla was the it brand in the boutque world back then with classics like the 8&11 and the Signature 32 (Of which I still have boxes hoarded in my humidor, and no I won't tell you where I live), it of course helped that his smokes were being made by one of the other guys whose name would have been on the list mentioned above, Jose Pepin Garcia. Something happened on the way to the fair though and Padilla fell off the map. Pepin stopped making cigars for Padilla (I will let you research why on your own), Padilla started to farm out production to companies with inferior tobacco, rolling and quality and the lilly stopped blooming. Then the day of horror for all boutique enthusiasts arrived, Padilla Cigars started appearing in CI, this is the death knell for cigar makers in my world because it means you have become another bulk brand that people buy on the cheap because they are made on the cheap. I was depressed and Padilla continued to slop around the industry looking for a home like a stray dog.
I heard awhile back that he hitched his wagon to Oliva, this caught my attention because they are reputable company with a long history of making quality smokes. I then kind of forgot about it because I am so involved in finding and smoking boutique offerings. Fast forward to IPCPR and I find an old friend of mine that used to work for General repping in the Oliva booth, he and I caught up for a bit and he slapped this bad boy on me. Now in full disclosure, this guy knows how I write reviews and I have killed some of his cigars before so when he gives me a cigar he already knows that I might write it's obituary and he is ok with that.
I waited awhile to smoke this because, well, it is a Connecticut and despite being told that it had some power and wouldn't be what I expected I had to find the right time to give it a whirl. The cigar is beautiful to look at. The wrapper is a wonderful blond/brown and smacks of everything that anyone should love about Connecticut wrapper. Few veins, silky smoothness and that wondeful dusty wood and light spice smell that is the epitome of the Connecticut wrapper in my mind. The cigar is very well constructed and I can't find a single issue in it at all. The pre light draw is smooth and fluid and shows some nice cinnamon tones. The pre light aroma smacks of dusty earth and wood and has some spice notes as well.
The cigar opens with a profile that is wonderfully complex. The core flavors have light wood and cinnamon notes, but there is a molasses sweetness coming in here that complements the main flavors wonderfully. I am being transported to my family cabin in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan where kitchen always smells of wood and molasses, I love cigars that take me on nostalig trips through my younger days. At the back of the palate and through the nose there are some very nice light earth tones and a light brush of white pepper that tickle the palate subtly. The draw is nearly perfect, maybe just a little too loose for me. The burn is solid and a nice, crisp ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar really ramps up. The core profile begins to show a more pronounced wood flavor, that is still light but more flavorful. There are some crisp cedar notes here off set by a more subdued balsa wood that provides a nice back drop for the main wood flavors. The cinnamon notes have really taken off here as well and the robust character of these flavors is something to note. My only complaint is that I have lost that molasses note that was so splendid early on. The back of the palate is still earthy but threatens to turn grassy, this makes me wary because I don't care for grassy, but I plow on searching for more meaning. The pepper notes are really kicking up as I approach the halfway point and I am anxious to see where this goes. The draw is still just a touch too loose, but I am not getting any heat so I am good with it. The burn is rock solid.
The final half of the cigar is unlike any Connecticut experience I have ever had. The core profile becomes all cedar with light brushes of something like caramel, but with a toasty quality. I have never experienced this in a cigar before and I want it again and again. The back of the palate becomes a fantastic show of pepper flavors that are so astounding in a Connecticut smoke that I can't put my head around it all right away. The draw stays acceptable to the end. The burn was a star throughout the smoke.
The finish was smooth and full of pepper and toasty caramel notes.
This is the cigar that could put Padilla back on the map, I was very impressed.
Appearance- 92 a wonderful cigar to look at, even the band was elegant
Taste- 94 there is just so much going on here, a wonderful smoke
Construction- 92 some reductions for the loose draw
Strength- 97 starts medium and ramps to just on the low side of full, all complementing each stage of the smoke beautifully
Overall- 93.5 an absolute must smoke in my mind...
Showing posts with label Connecticut. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Connecticut. Show all posts
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Friday, May 4, 2012
San Lotano Connecticut Toro (6x54)
I have reviewed the other San Lotano blends and I held the Connecticut back for a couple of reasons. First, I did not hear great things about this cigar, which was very surprising considering how much positive buzz there was about the Oval and the Habano blends. When I hear bad things I sometimes hesitate and hold a review until some of the negatives have died out and I can take a fair look at the cigar. The second reason, and really the more important one, is that Connecticut blends are usually not my favorites. If you look back over the history of this blog, Connecticut cigars have really not done well in my tastings (with the exception of Oliva and Pedro Martin).
This cigar presents nicely. The wrapper is silky smooth and has some light dusty characteristics in the texture that make me think of velvet. There are very few veins here, and I am liking what I am seeing so far. An inspection of the cigar reveals no areas of concern, as the bunch and roll seem to be very well done to me. The pre light aroma is bready and it has a nice sweet hint of cedar. The pre light draw has some light white pepper tones, but does not show much else.
The cigar opens with a profile that has more depth and complexity than I expected. The core profile has some wonderful hints of bread, cinnamon, vanilla and cedar. The overall impressions of this mix of flavors is very favorable and I am very happy with the profile dynamics that are being shown so early. At the back of the palate there is only one flavor, white pepper, and I don't feel like it has enough glue to hold this profile together for long but for right now it is ok. The draw is a little too tight for me early on, but it is not causing any performance issues at this point. The burn is solid at this point and a sturdy ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar shows some flavor retreating and I find myself disappointed by this development. The core profile is really showing some hard cedar flavors at this point and there is a strange sweet spice that takes some reflection to place, but I finally decide it is like a hard cider. At the back of the palate some pepper flavors continue, but there is a papery finish to the smoke here and it takes away from the experience. The draw is loosening some, but I still feel like it is too tight for my tastes, there is just the slightest bit of labor involved. The burn is right on the money and I don't anticipate any issues.
The final half of the cigar continues to slide downward in my view. The profile becomes more cedary still and that flavor becomes sharp and somewhat bitter. The cider essence has gone away at this point and that makes the sharp cedar flavors all the more in your face at this point. The back of the palate is still showing some light wisps of pepper, but the papery flavors are still present at this point. The draw is still too tight to the end of the smoke, but the burn was solid throughout.
The finish was papery, but had a strong cedar flavor as well.
Appearance- 91 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 86 some very nice early flavors, but the last half took away some valuable points
Construction- 87 the draw was too tight, but the burn was exceptional
Strength- 88 a very nice mild/medium that could have used more pop
Overall- 87.5 slightly above average, could have been excellent with less flavor loss late in the smoke
This cigar presents nicely. The wrapper is silky smooth and has some light dusty characteristics in the texture that make me think of velvet. There are very few veins here, and I am liking what I am seeing so far. An inspection of the cigar reveals no areas of concern, as the bunch and roll seem to be very well done to me. The pre light aroma is bready and it has a nice sweet hint of cedar. The pre light draw has some light white pepper tones, but does not show much else.
The cigar opens with a profile that has more depth and complexity than I expected. The core profile has some wonderful hints of bread, cinnamon, vanilla and cedar. The overall impressions of this mix of flavors is very favorable and I am very happy with the profile dynamics that are being shown so early. At the back of the palate there is only one flavor, white pepper, and I don't feel like it has enough glue to hold this profile together for long but for right now it is ok. The draw is a little too tight for me early on, but it is not causing any performance issues at this point. The burn is solid at this point and a sturdy ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar shows some flavor retreating and I find myself disappointed by this development. The core profile is really showing some hard cedar flavors at this point and there is a strange sweet spice that takes some reflection to place, but I finally decide it is like a hard cider. At the back of the palate some pepper flavors continue, but there is a papery finish to the smoke here and it takes away from the experience. The draw is loosening some, but I still feel like it is too tight for my tastes, there is just the slightest bit of labor involved. The burn is right on the money and I don't anticipate any issues.
The final half of the cigar continues to slide downward in my view. The profile becomes more cedary still and that flavor becomes sharp and somewhat bitter. The cider essence has gone away at this point and that makes the sharp cedar flavors all the more in your face at this point. The back of the palate is still showing some light wisps of pepper, but the papery flavors are still present at this point. The draw is still too tight to the end of the smoke, but the burn was solid throughout.
The finish was papery, but had a strong cedar flavor as well.
Appearance- 91 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 86 some very nice early flavors, but the last half took away some valuable points
Construction- 87 the draw was too tight, but the burn was exceptional
Strength- 88 a very nice mild/medium that could have used more pop
Overall- 87.5 slightly above average, could have been excellent with less flavor loss late in the smoke
Sunday, January 15, 2012
C and C Cigars Connecticut Robusto (5x50)
This morning was crisp, I am from Chicago originally and even I thought this morning was chilly, it was the kind of morning that makes you want to stay in bed and not get out until the sun comes up and the mercury gets past fifty. Alas, I had golf to play and, much like cigars, nothing gets in the way of my golf. I cracked open the humidor this morning on my way out the door and I selected this bad boy. My methodology for this selection? Simple, low expectations. Let's face it, I know this is no Ashton VSG or Opus X, hell it's not even a General or Altadis, but it is a cigar I can smoke on the course and not worry about wind ruining it or getting some dew on it and there is something to be said for that. I'm not sure what can be said, but something can be said.
The cigar is motley looking, there is some greenish tint to the wrapper that makes me think this is young and might be bitter (as per my experience with cigars exhibiting this attribute). The cap is sloppy and the wrapper has some wrinkles to it further confirming my choice that this cigar will be perfect for a golf round on a day when the weather will not be stellar. The construction, aside from the application of the wrapper, seems ok to me and I can't find any areas of concern. The pre light aroma is floral and wheaty. The pre light draw is sharp, but has some spice notes to it.
Somewhere around the fourth hole I was feeling pretty good, starting birdie-par-birdie, and I decided to light this sucker. The core profile immediately shows very nice signs of spice and cinnamon, but there is a sharpness here that is drying the palate as I smoke on. At the back of the palate there are some very crisp tobacco notes but there is an odd bitterness that is taking away from the experience. The draw is fine and delivers nice smoke without much effort. The burn is right on the money and I am impressed with the performance in the elements.
I promptly double bogeyed the fourth hole and considered blaming the cigar, but I marked it down as an aberration in my otherwise stellar game and I moved on. The first half of the cigar leads me to double bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey and a 41 for the front, not terrible but I consider that the cigar still may be at fault as it has not really warmed up. The profile gets sharp and shows some bitter qualities that are tough to navigate. I would say it is floral, but it also very dry and I don't like cigars that dry my throat as I smoke. At the back of the palate there are some sharp notes of cedar and more dryness. There really is no complexity or depth to this smoke, and the flavors are just too sharp. The construction continues to impress me as the draw and burn fire on all cylinders through the elements.
The final half of the cigar leads me to double bogey, double bogey, double bogey, par and eagle right as I am finishing it, almost like a reward for getting to the end of it. The profile stayed sharp, floral and dry through to the end and leaves me searching for water. At the back of the palate the sharp cedar flavors continue and some wisps of spice come into play slightly. The draw and burn continued to be strong all the way to the end of the smoke.
The finish was bogey, par, bogey, par for a 42 and an 83 for the day, I can only wonder what it would have been like with a different cigar, of course I kid. The finish on the cigar was short and had some very dry floral notes.
Appearance- 82 not very appealing at all
Taste- 80 it just never caught fire, so to speak, the flavors were sharp and dry throughout
Construction- 93 very high marks for fine performance in less than optimum conditions
Strength- 83 a mild smoke that did not complement that profile well
Overall- 85.25 saved by construction and nudging into slightly above average territory
The cigar is motley looking, there is some greenish tint to the wrapper that makes me think this is young and might be bitter (as per my experience with cigars exhibiting this attribute). The cap is sloppy and the wrapper has some wrinkles to it further confirming my choice that this cigar will be perfect for a golf round on a day when the weather will not be stellar. The construction, aside from the application of the wrapper, seems ok to me and I can't find any areas of concern. The pre light aroma is floral and wheaty. The pre light draw is sharp, but has some spice notes to it.
Somewhere around the fourth hole I was feeling pretty good, starting birdie-par-birdie, and I decided to light this sucker. The core profile immediately shows very nice signs of spice and cinnamon, but there is a sharpness here that is drying the palate as I smoke on. At the back of the palate there are some very crisp tobacco notes but there is an odd bitterness that is taking away from the experience. The draw is fine and delivers nice smoke without much effort. The burn is right on the money and I am impressed with the performance in the elements.
I promptly double bogeyed the fourth hole and considered blaming the cigar, but I marked it down as an aberration in my otherwise stellar game and I moved on. The first half of the cigar leads me to double bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey and a 41 for the front, not terrible but I consider that the cigar still may be at fault as it has not really warmed up. The profile gets sharp and shows some bitter qualities that are tough to navigate. I would say it is floral, but it also very dry and I don't like cigars that dry my throat as I smoke. At the back of the palate there are some sharp notes of cedar and more dryness. There really is no complexity or depth to this smoke, and the flavors are just too sharp. The construction continues to impress me as the draw and burn fire on all cylinders through the elements.
The final half of the cigar leads me to double bogey, double bogey, double bogey, par and eagle right as I am finishing it, almost like a reward for getting to the end of it. The profile stayed sharp, floral and dry through to the end and leaves me searching for water. At the back of the palate the sharp cedar flavors continue and some wisps of spice come into play slightly. The draw and burn continued to be strong all the way to the end of the smoke.
The finish was bogey, par, bogey, par for a 42 and an 83 for the day, I can only wonder what it would have been like with a different cigar, of course I kid. The finish on the cigar was short and had some very dry floral notes.
Appearance- 82 not very appealing at all
Taste- 80 it just never caught fire, so to speak, the flavors were sharp and dry throughout
Construction- 93 very high marks for fine performance in less than optimum conditions
Strength- 83 a mild smoke that did not complement that profile well
Overall- 85.25 saved by construction and nudging into slightly above average territory
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Ernesto Perez Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Gran Via (7x49)
This is the latest offering from EPC in his new endeavor. I have loved some of the prior smokes, like the Inaugural 2009 and the Short Run so I was anxious to smoke one of these and see what old Ernesto could do with some Connecticut leaf.
The cigar presents well with a nice wrapper, but it seems a bit dry to me and it has some veins that I am concerned about. I feel some areas of tension in the roll and I am concerned about some potential burn issues as the cigar progresses. The texture is somewhat dusty and I am left a bit confused about what to expect, cigars with these attributes typically perform very poorly in all areas. The pre light aroma is light, with floral hints and some notes of dry wheat and oatmeal. The pre light draw is grassy and shows some light nutmeg essence.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly dry and a touch bitter. There are some interesting flavors here, most notably some sharp lemon and other assorted citrus flavors. There are also some dry wood and light spice notes in the mix here, but they are not helping with complexity or depth. At the back of the palate there is a cardboard that is very poor and threatening to define the experience in a very negative way. The burn is off from the start and a big, lopsided, ash is hanging on for life very early in the process. The draw is fine to this point.
The first half of the cigar shows some transition, but it is really nothing to alert the Cigar Hall of Fame about. The profile shows some hints of wheat and grass, but there is nothing particularly interesting here. The dryness of the smoke continues and I am very disappointed that this persists to this point, in my opinion dryness kills an experience. At the back of the palate there are still some papery and cardboard like notes that are not doing anything for me. The burn continues to run amok and I have touched up several times in the first half. The draw continues to perform well to this point.
The final half of the cigar shows some marked improvement, but it will be too little too late. The profile begins to soften in terms of dryness, and some nice flavors of brown sugar and vanilla impress themselves on the palate in fleeting shows of sweetness. The main core continues to be wheat and grass but the other elements are now complementing this area nicely. At the back of the palate the smoke has transitioned into a nice light wood tone that is more interesting. The burn was a mess right until the end. The draw stayed acceptable throughout.
Alas, this cigar showed far too little to late. I am very disappointed in this effort.
Appearance- 87 a moderately attractive smoke
Taste- 83 some nice notes in the end, but sub par for the first two thirds or better
Construction- 73 constant burn issues and retouches galore
Strength- 85 a very middle of the road mild/medium
Overall- 80.75 just not very good
The cigar presents well with a nice wrapper, but it seems a bit dry to me and it has some veins that I am concerned about. I feel some areas of tension in the roll and I am concerned about some potential burn issues as the cigar progresses. The texture is somewhat dusty and I am left a bit confused about what to expect, cigars with these attributes typically perform very poorly in all areas. The pre light aroma is light, with floral hints and some notes of dry wheat and oatmeal. The pre light draw is grassy and shows some light nutmeg essence.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly dry and a touch bitter. There are some interesting flavors here, most notably some sharp lemon and other assorted citrus flavors. There are also some dry wood and light spice notes in the mix here, but they are not helping with complexity or depth. At the back of the palate there is a cardboard that is very poor and threatening to define the experience in a very negative way. The burn is off from the start and a big, lopsided, ash is hanging on for life very early in the process. The draw is fine to this point.
The first half of the cigar shows some transition, but it is really nothing to alert the Cigar Hall of Fame about. The profile shows some hints of wheat and grass, but there is nothing particularly interesting here. The dryness of the smoke continues and I am very disappointed that this persists to this point, in my opinion dryness kills an experience. At the back of the palate there are still some papery and cardboard like notes that are not doing anything for me. The burn continues to run amok and I have touched up several times in the first half. The draw continues to perform well to this point.
The final half of the cigar shows some marked improvement, but it will be too little too late. The profile begins to soften in terms of dryness, and some nice flavors of brown sugar and vanilla impress themselves on the palate in fleeting shows of sweetness. The main core continues to be wheat and grass but the other elements are now complementing this area nicely. At the back of the palate the smoke has transitioned into a nice light wood tone that is more interesting. The burn was a mess right until the end. The draw stayed acceptable throughout.
Alas, this cigar showed far too little to late. I am very disappointed in this effort.
Appearance- 87 a moderately attractive smoke
Taste- 83 some nice notes in the end, but sub par for the first two thirds or better
Construction- 73 constant burn issues and retouches galore
Strength- 85 a very middle of the road mild/medium
Overall- 80.75 just not very good
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Esteban Carreras Connecticut Robusto (5x50)
This is a cigar that I had overlooked for some time as I smoked other, more interesting, new releases over the past several months. It is a cigar line that is not well known, but I have smoked some of their offers previously and have found them to be acceptable.
This particular cigar presents with dull looking wrapper and white band that does not stand out well. The wrapper has some veins, but I am not overly concerned. It also has a very cardboard feeling quality to it and seems dry to me. A quick inspection tells me that the cigar may be too tight and I am concerned about the draw. The pre light aroma is dusty, but has some sweet character to it. The pre light draw is thin and has some papery flavors.
The cigar opens with a very mild and thin profile that contains some sweet notes of graham cracker, but has a papery and grassy note as well. There is little depth or complexity here, and the balance is off at this point. At the back of the palate there are some whispers of spice, but more papery notes cloak the other flavors that might be present. The draw is tight, as I suspected, but it is manageable to this point. The burn is even, but the ash is a bit flaky.
The first half of the cigar progresses, but slowly. There are some nice characteristics in the front of the profile with graham cracker, cream and some vanilla notes and the balance and complexity are starting to more where I expect them to be. However, the depth of the flavors is an issue for me as they enter the mouth with pep, but leave in a somewhat flat and bitter presentation. At the back of the palate there is still a papery quality to smoke and it leaves me feeling flat about this smoke. The draw is improving, but is still tight. The burn is still nice to this point.
The final half of the cigar really comes apart. The profile transitions into a bitter, chalky presentation of leaves and vegetation. At the back of the palate there are some hints of light pepper, but the papery notes intensify and leave the palate dry. The draw and burn remain as noted in the earlier stages of the smoke.
The finish is middling, showing notes of vegetation, and some bitter light wood flavors.
Appearance- 85 a very modest, average looking smoke
Taste- 81 unfortunately not very good
Construction- 86 just slightly above average in the burn dept., but below in the draw dept.
Strength- 85 a very average mild that does nothing to complement the presentation
Overall- 84, below average
This particular cigar presents with dull looking wrapper and white band that does not stand out well. The wrapper has some veins, but I am not overly concerned. It also has a very cardboard feeling quality to it and seems dry to me. A quick inspection tells me that the cigar may be too tight and I am concerned about the draw. The pre light aroma is dusty, but has some sweet character to it. The pre light draw is thin and has some papery flavors.
The cigar opens with a very mild and thin profile that contains some sweet notes of graham cracker, but has a papery and grassy note as well. There is little depth or complexity here, and the balance is off at this point. At the back of the palate there are some whispers of spice, but more papery notes cloak the other flavors that might be present. The draw is tight, as I suspected, but it is manageable to this point. The burn is even, but the ash is a bit flaky.
The first half of the cigar progresses, but slowly. There are some nice characteristics in the front of the profile with graham cracker, cream and some vanilla notes and the balance and complexity are starting to more where I expect them to be. However, the depth of the flavors is an issue for me as they enter the mouth with pep, but leave in a somewhat flat and bitter presentation. At the back of the palate there is still a papery quality to smoke and it leaves me feeling flat about this smoke. The draw is improving, but is still tight. The burn is still nice to this point.
The final half of the cigar really comes apart. The profile transitions into a bitter, chalky presentation of leaves and vegetation. At the back of the palate there are some hints of light pepper, but the papery notes intensify and leave the palate dry. The draw and burn remain as noted in the earlier stages of the smoke.
The finish is middling, showing notes of vegetation, and some bitter light wood flavors.
Appearance- 85 a very modest, average looking smoke
Taste- 81 unfortunately not very good
Construction- 86 just slightly above average in the burn dept., but below in the draw dept.
Strength- 85 a very average mild that does nothing to complement the presentation
Overall- 84, below average
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Perdomo Patriarch Connecticut Corona Extra (5 5/8x 46)
I love this size for a cigar, when done correctly I believe that it is one of the few sizes that can deliver flavor and performance in a most profound way. Unfortunately this cigar does not fit the bill. It presents well with a blond Connecticut wrapper that has few veins and is applied deftly. There is a dusty quality to the wrapper giving the finger tips a satiny sensation as they slide along the exterior. An examination leads me to believe that the cigar is acceptably constructed, except that there is a small crack in the wrapper near the band. The pre light aroma is of light wood and wet grass. The pre light draw is thin, but shows some spice and a dry quality.
The cigar opens with a profile that has some bitterness, somewhat akin to crushed aspirin. The main profile has notes of light wood and some sweetness, but the bitterness overwhelms any other perceptions. At the back of the palate there are some grassy tones, but there is some tannic bitterness here as well that is taking away from the experience. The draw and burn are both acceptable, however the draw is bit thinner than I usually care for.
The first half of the cigar continues to show no development. The bitterness continues to permeate all aspects of the smoke, but there are some hints of light wood, grass and a sweet floral essence trying to make their way through the mess. The draw is still too tight for me, but it is performing well enough to pass. The burn has remained even to this point.
The final half is just as disappointing as the first. There is still a bitterness that is persistent and it is ruining the profile in general. There are still fleeting notes of light wood and some floral essences, but they are muddled and lost in the shuffle. The draw and burn continue to perform well.
The finish is short and bitter and leaves an aftertaste of scorched grass.
Appearance- 89 a well presented smoke
Taste- 72 constant bitterness precludes a higher score
Construction- 83 the crack near the band caused issues in the end
Strength- 85 a very average mild-medium
Overall- 80.75 very disappointing
The cigar opens with a profile that has some bitterness, somewhat akin to crushed aspirin. The main profile has notes of light wood and some sweetness, but the bitterness overwhelms any other perceptions. At the back of the palate there are some grassy tones, but there is some tannic bitterness here as well that is taking away from the experience. The draw and burn are both acceptable, however the draw is bit thinner than I usually care for.
The first half of the cigar continues to show no development. The bitterness continues to permeate all aspects of the smoke, but there are some hints of light wood, grass and a sweet floral essence trying to make their way through the mess. The draw is still too tight for me, but it is performing well enough to pass. The burn has remained even to this point.
The final half is just as disappointing as the first. There is still a bitterness that is persistent and it is ruining the profile in general. There are still fleeting notes of light wood and some floral essences, but they are muddled and lost in the shuffle. The draw and burn continue to perform well.
The finish is short and bitter and leaves an aftertaste of scorched grass.
Appearance- 89 a well presented smoke
Taste- 72 constant bitterness precludes a higher score
Construction- 83 the crack near the band caused issues in the end
Strength- 85 a very average mild-medium
Overall- 80.75 very disappointing
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Camacho Connecticut Monarca (5x50)
I have heard rave reviews about this cigar from fellow Brothers of the Leaf so I decided to pick one up and give it a go. I should have smoked something else, but such is life. The cigar presents well with a dusty textured blond wrapper that has some veining, but nothing of concern. An inspection shows that the cigar does not have any voids or areas of concern. The pre light aroma is of cedar and light spice. The pre light draw shows some thin notes of spice, cedar and some bitterness that I can't isolate as a particular flavor.
The cigar opens with a somewhat interesting profile for a Connecticut wrapper, showing some serious notes of spice and cinnamon. However, there is a dry grassy quality to the smoke that is off putting. The draw is fluid and produces ample amounts of smoke. The burn is initially off, but evens out relatively quickly.
The first half of the cigar shows no real development. There are some thin notes of spice and light wood, but there is an overwhelming note of dry grass and burning foliage that derails the experience from early on. At the back of the palate there is a bitterness that is borders on putrid, and a weird sweetness that has a perfume like quality to it. The draw and burn are still performing acceptably to this point.
The final half of the cigar is more of the same. The profile is not satisfactory, showing notes of spice, grass and burning foliage. At the back of the palate the bitterness continues throughout the experience. The burn and draw are the only strong points of this cigar, that lacked depth, complexity and quality.
The finish is short and acrid with notes of grass.
Appearance- 88 not a bad looking smoke
Taste- 72 a very poor profile
Construction- 92 a nice performance here, the only redeeming quality
Strength- 83 a very sub par mild-medium that did not compliment the profile
Overall- 83.25 a below average experience that I would not recommend
The cigar opens with a somewhat interesting profile for a Connecticut wrapper, showing some serious notes of spice and cinnamon. However, there is a dry grassy quality to the smoke that is off putting. The draw is fluid and produces ample amounts of smoke. The burn is initially off, but evens out relatively quickly.
The first half of the cigar shows no real development. There are some thin notes of spice and light wood, but there is an overwhelming note of dry grass and burning foliage that derails the experience from early on. At the back of the palate there is a bitterness that is borders on putrid, and a weird sweetness that has a perfume like quality to it. The draw and burn are still performing acceptably to this point.
The final half of the cigar is more of the same. The profile is not satisfactory, showing notes of spice, grass and burning foliage. At the back of the palate the bitterness continues throughout the experience. The burn and draw are the only strong points of this cigar, that lacked depth, complexity and quality.
The finish is short and acrid with notes of grass.
Appearance- 88 not a bad looking smoke
Taste- 72 a very poor profile
Construction- 92 a nice performance here, the only redeeming quality
Strength- 83 a very sub par mild-medium that did not compliment the profile
Overall- 83.25 a below average experience that I would not recommend
Friday, January 1, 2010
Oliva Connecticut Toro
This cigar presents with a nearly flawless blond wrapper that has nearly invisible vein structure. The wrapper is flawlessly applied and the construction seems supple and well directed. The pre light aroma is of sweet bread and molasses. The pre light draw shows hints of pepper and a woody sweetness.
The cigar opens with a surprising burst of pepper. At the back of the palate there is a wonderful sweetness that cancels some of the early pepper flavors. The draw is smooth and produces booming clouds of smoke. The burn is slow and even, creating a solid medium gray ash.
The first third of the cigar continues to show notes of pepper and a woody sweetness. At the back of the palate there are notes of bread and molasses that create an excellent smoking experience. The draw continues to be above average and the burn is sharp and impressive.
The middle third shows some mellowing of the peppery notes and an increase in woody sweetness. At the back of the palate there is still a bready note that is very pleasing. The draw continues to produce ample smoke and the burn causes no issues.
The final third of the cigar shows a return of significant pepper notes. There also some notes of sweet wood, bread and molasses. I am surprised by the strength and character of this cigar as Connecticut wrapped smokes usually show a more mild strength profile. The draw continues to be excellent and the burn has not given a moment of pause,
The finish is long and smooth and shows notes of wood, bread and some lingering peppery spice.
Appearance- 93 a beautiful cigar
Taste- 92 a surprisingly complex and deep profile
Construction- 95 an excellent performance
Strength- 89 a fabulous medium that could have shown more power for more enjoyment
Overall- 92.75 a very interesting, and excellent,medium bodied smoking experience
The cigar opens with a surprising burst of pepper. At the back of the palate there is a wonderful sweetness that cancels some of the early pepper flavors. The draw is smooth and produces booming clouds of smoke. The burn is slow and even, creating a solid medium gray ash.
The first third of the cigar continues to show notes of pepper and a woody sweetness. At the back of the palate there are notes of bread and molasses that create an excellent smoking experience. The draw continues to be above average and the burn is sharp and impressive.
The middle third shows some mellowing of the peppery notes and an increase in woody sweetness. At the back of the palate there is still a bready note that is very pleasing. The draw continues to produce ample smoke and the burn causes no issues.
The final third of the cigar shows a return of significant pepper notes. There also some notes of sweet wood, bread and molasses. I am surprised by the strength and character of this cigar as Connecticut wrapped smokes usually show a more mild strength profile. The draw continues to be excellent and the burn has not given a moment of pause,
The finish is long and smooth and shows notes of wood, bread and some lingering peppery spice.
Appearance- 93 a beautiful cigar
Taste- 92 a surprisingly complex and deep profile
Construction- 95 an excellent performance
Strength- 89 a fabulous medium that could have shown more power for more enjoyment
Overall- 92.75 a very interesting, and excellent,medium bodied smoking experience
Monday, December 7, 2009
Perdomo Habano Connecticut Robusto
This is a beast of a robusto with a tawny blond wrapper that is oily and nearly vein free. There are no flaws in the appearance of this cigar and a quick inspection shows that there should not be any construction issues. The pre light aroma is of light spice and a floral sweetness. The pre light draw also has notes of floral sweetness and a peppery note at the back of the palate.
The cigar opens with a blast of peppery notes and a floral sweetness at the back of the palate. I am surprised by the power of this cigar, as a Connecticut wrapper is usually more mild. The draw is excellent and the burn is sharp.
The first third of the cigar continues to show notes of pepper and a floral sweetness. At the back of the palate the smoke is heavy and has some notes of light wood that seems a bit dusty. The draw and burn continue to perform well.
The second third of the cigar settles down and shows notes of light spice, light wood and some nutty flavors. At the back of the palate there are still some floral notes, but the finish still feels dusty on the palate. The draw continues to perform well, but the burn dies out and a retouch is necessary.
The final third of the smoke shows notes of spice, wood and nuts. At the back of the palate the floral sweetness has started to turn grassy and it hurts the profile. I find myself wanting more depth and complexity from this smoke. The draw is still excellent, but the burn has died again and it is beginning to be irritating.
The finish is sharp with notes of pepper and grass.
Appearance- 91 an excellent looking cigar
Taste- 84 I expected more here, grassy notes in the final third hurt the score
Construction- 85 the burn issues detract from the score here
Strength- 87 a nice full smoke that was surprising
Overall- 86.75 not bad, but saved by appearance
The cigar opens with a blast of peppery notes and a floral sweetness at the back of the palate. I am surprised by the power of this cigar, as a Connecticut wrapper is usually more mild. The draw is excellent and the burn is sharp.
The first third of the cigar continues to show notes of pepper and a floral sweetness. At the back of the palate the smoke is heavy and has some notes of light wood that seems a bit dusty. The draw and burn continue to perform well.
The second third of the cigar settles down and shows notes of light spice, light wood and some nutty flavors. At the back of the palate there are still some floral notes, but the finish still feels dusty on the palate. The draw continues to perform well, but the burn dies out and a retouch is necessary.
The final third of the smoke shows notes of spice, wood and nuts. At the back of the palate the floral sweetness has started to turn grassy and it hurts the profile. I find myself wanting more depth and complexity from this smoke. The draw is still excellent, but the burn has died again and it is beginning to be irritating.
The finish is sharp with notes of pepper and grass.
Appearance- 91 an excellent looking cigar
Taste- 84 I expected more here, grassy notes in the final third hurt the score
Construction- 85 the burn issues detract from the score here
Strength- 87 a nice full smoke that was surprising
Overall- 86.75 not bad, but saved by appearance
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