I have been hearing about these cigars for some time now. Made by the guys at Crowned Heads (they brought you the Four Kicks a year or so ago), it has had some mixed buzz among the guys and girls in my cigar circles. I have heard some say how much they have enjoyed the smoke and on the other side I have heard many say they did not enjoy it as much as the Four Kicks. This usually does not bode well for a cigar in general. A love it or hate it phenomenon is never what a manufacturer is looking for, and if it is what they find then there are often market repercussions in certain areas. Having said all of this, I always cancel what I have heard about cigars out of my brain when I am going to write a review of something. Besides, as a self aggrandizing cigar elitist I seldom look down my nose long enough at the cigar peasantry to worry about what they think. I kid of course, I am more like a cigar socialist in that I think everyone should smoke cigars...Just not mine.
This cigar is not very appealing to the eye. The wrapper has some mottled spots on it and it seems too dry to me, but the main body has some spongy give to it so I don't think the cigar itself is dried out. The band work is simple and not very eye catching, not that it really matters because I seldom smoke the band anyway. The pre light draw shows some light tobacco and wood flavors with a sweet and dusty texture. The pre light aroma is also dusty and sweet but has some nice hints of spice and light floral tones.
The cigar opens with a profile that is odd to me. The core flavors are of light tobacco and little bits of white pepper, but there is a very strange spice here that I can't put my finger on, but it is reminiscent of potpourri. The strange spice note leaves the palate dry and puckered and this is not something I look for in any cigar. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some light earth tones with some hits of wheaty bread. The draw is a real dream at this point. I was initially thinking it was too loose, but my criticism fades away as fluid draws lead to copious amounts of smoke. The burn is also solid at this point, and I don't think I will have any performance issues with this smoke.
The first half of the cigar shows some small improvements, but it is still short of being complex or balanced. The core flavors now show some notes of cinnamon and light tobacco, but there are still some weird potpourri notes here that are derailing the experience. The back of the palate continues to show bready notes with some light earth tones, there are some hints of pepper arriving here as I approach the last half of the smoke. The draw is still excellent and I could only wish it was delivering a more robust profile with some complexity, but it is a real pleasure from a construction point of view. The burn is still performing very well at this point.
The final half of the cigar finally develops some quality features, I fear they may be too late. The core profile develops into a nice array of cinnamon, tobacco and a touch of brown sugar sweetness that creates an interesting, if mild, experience. The back of the palate has become more flavorful, yet still mild, as flavors of earth and pepper coat the palate nicely. The draw and burn are top notch all the way to the end.
The finish was middling, but did have some nice tobacco flavors that lingered for awhile.
I would have liked more depth, strength and complexity in this smoke. Additionally, the potpourri strangeness early on was a real detractor.
Appearance- 85 very average
Taste- 85 also very average, though it was saved from a lower score by late performance
Construction- 93 the real savior of the experience
Strength- 87 a very medium turning mild late
Overall- 88 slightly above average due to superior construction
Showing posts with label Corona Gorda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corona Gorda. Show all posts
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Friday, July 6, 2012
Four Kicks Corona Gorda (5.675x46)
These cigars have really been all the rage amongst my cigar friends and I am usually not a big fan of hype in the cigar world for several reasons. One, seldom does the cigar hold up to the hype. Second, I like to make my own judgments about a cigar before I hear all kinds of other things about them. Third, hyped cigars become exceedingly difficult to find in local B&M's and I hate that.
This cigar has a strange name, and I am always amused by cigars with strange names as I am able to speculate as to the reasoning behind the name. In this case the cigar company is Crowned Heads so I'm thinking someone there may have been kicked many times in the head, like four perhaps? I am only speculating and I think if that were the case you would call your company Helmeted Heads. Anyway, I digress badly.
The cigar presents with a simple band that has some very mundane graphics to it, it is nice looking but really does not do much for or against the presentation impressions. The wrapper is mottled and rough looking, but it appears to be applied well which makes me happy because up until this point the cigar was looking cheap. The construction seems to be acceptable and I can't detect any issues upon inspection. The pre light aroma shows some cedar and roasted nut essence. The pre light draw has some wheaty flavors and some light spice notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that is surprisingly deep. The core flavors show some light brushes of maple, cedar and oaky flavors that provide a nice combination for a very woody flavor up front. These flavors are offset nicely by a touch of vanilla sweetness that provides a nice counterpoint to the main body of wood flavors. At the back of the palate there is a dusty flavor of tobacco that has some sharpness to it. The draw is very solid at this point, with maybe just a tad too much resistance for me, but I am not laboring to produce smoke. The burn is very sharp and I can't see any issues at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to show some nice depth, but lacks some complexity that would round out the cigar nicely. The core profile is still full of wood flavors that become lighter and sweeter as time goes on. There are still some flights of vanilla here, but they are fleeting and I would like some more. There is also some roasted nut essence sneaking into the presentation here and it adds a nice dimension, but does not lend to complexity as the cigar is more eclectic than stable at this point. The back of the palate still has a dusty texture, but nice tobacco flavor exists here and I am reminded of the Tobacos Baez from the Pepin line. The draw continues to perform well. The burn is still solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar shows little development and this is where the cigar loses luster for me. The core profile continues to show wood flavors with some vanilla and spice, but there is no complexity to the smoke and it becomes predictable, but still good. The back of the palate is still feeling dusty to me, but the tobacco flavors continue on and provide a nice background throughout the smoke. The draw stays solid to the end, and the burn is solid all the way through.
The finish was a little bit short, but showed some wood and spice flavors.
Appearance- 85 a very average looking smoke
Taste- 87 a nice profile, but more complexity was needed
Construction- 91 nice performance, but the draw was tight early
Strength- 86 a nice medium
Overall- 87.75 above average, but nothing spectacular
This cigar has a strange name, and I am always amused by cigars with strange names as I am able to speculate as to the reasoning behind the name. In this case the cigar company is Crowned Heads so I'm thinking someone there may have been kicked many times in the head, like four perhaps? I am only speculating and I think if that were the case you would call your company Helmeted Heads. Anyway, I digress badly.
The cigar presents with a simple band that has some very mundane graphics to it, it is nice looking but really does not do much for or against the presentation impressions. The wrapper is mottled and rough looking, but it appears to be applied well which makes me happy because up until this point the cigar was looking cheap. The construction seems to be acceptable and I can't detect any issues upon inspection. The pre light aroma shows some cedar and roasted nut essence. The pre light draw has some wheaty flavors and some light spice notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that is surprisingly deep. The core flavors show some light brushes of maple, cedar and oaky flavors that provide a nice combination for a very woody flavor up front. These flavors are offset nicely by a touch of vanilla sweetness that provides a nice counterpoint to the main body of wood flavors. At the back of the palate there is a dusty flavor of tobacco that has some sharpness to it. The draw is very solid at this point, with maybe just a tad too much resistance for me, but I am not laboring to produce smoke. The burn is very sharp and I can't see any issues at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to show some nice depth, but lacks some complexity that would round out the cigar nicely. The core profile is still full of wood flavors that become lighter and sweeter as time goes on. There are still some flights of vanilla here, but they are fleeting and I would like some more. There is also some roasted nut essence sneaking into the presentation here and it adds a nice dimension, but does not lend to complexity as the cigar is more eclectic than stable at this point. The back of the palate still has a dusty texture, but nice tobacco flavor exists here and I am reminded of the Tobacos Baez from the Pepin line. The draw continues to perform well. The burn is still solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar shows little development and this is where the cigar loses luster for me. The core profile continues to show wood flavors with some vanilla and spice, but there is no complexity to the smoke and it becomes predictable, but still good. The back of the palate is still feeling dusty to me, but the tobacco flavors continue on and provide a nice background throughout the smoke. The draw stays solid to the end, and the burn is solid all the way through.
The finish was a little bit short, but showed some wood and spice flavors.
Appearance- 85 a very average looking smoke
Taste- 87 a nice profile, but more complexity was needed
Construction- 91 nice performance, but the draw was tight early
Strength- 86 a nice medium
Overall- 87.75 above average, but nothing spectacular
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Corona Gorda
I have smoked and reviewed this cigar before, but after six months of humidor time I thought I would give it another pass, and I was not disappointed. The cigar has darkened perceptibly in the six months of hibernation and has taken on a reddish hue that I do not recall it having when I placed them gently in a tray some months back. There are prominent veins, but the cigar appears to be more robust and oily than on my last review. The construction appears to be acceptable and there are no areas of concern for me. The pre light aroma has nutty essences and compliments of dark wood and soft spice. The pre light draw tantalizes with some brushes of pepper, tobacco and dark fruit.
The cigar opens with an unexpected array of complexity. The profile shows notes of dark wood, tobacco, roasted nuts and dark fruit that take turns bouncing off various areas of the palate. The flavors are deep and resonant providing an early bonanza of taste experience. At the back of the palate there is a clean, earthy texture that emerges with some hints of spice and pepper. The draw is slightly above average, but I prefer it to be just a bit more open that what I am being shown here. The burn is sharp and the ash is a crisp, white cylinder.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress. I must digress for a moment about this size. The Corona Gorda is rapidly becoming my favorite vitola. Not quite a robusto, not quite a corona, it may be the perfect dimension for imparting depth of flavor and complexity without being too thin or overwhelming. Back to the smoke, the profile has settled into a very nice presentation of dark wood and lightly sweet essence of dark fruit. At the back of the palate there are waves of robust tobacco flavors and an underlying earthy tone that is quite pleasing against the rest of the profile. The draw continues to perform acceptably and the burn continues to be superior.
The final half of the cigar is a down the stretch thoroughbred. There are notes of tobacco, wood and roasted nut character set in a backdrop of spice that is very interesting and deep. At the back of the palate the earthy core starts to really show through and bursts of pepper keep it very engaging. The strength of the cigar is there, but it is not overwhelming. The draw maintains consistency and the burn stays strong all the way through.
The finish is a touch short, but shows some lingering pepper flavors.
Appearance- 86 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 94 a fabulous profile that is improving with humidor time
Construction- 91 the draw was a bit tight for me, but there were no major issues
Strength- 92 a very enjoyable full bodied smoke that compliments the profile in a virtuoso performance
Overall- 91.25 a very profound experience, and at a bundle price of about two bucks per smoke you should not miss this one
The cigar opens with an unexpected array of complexity. The profile shows notes of dark wood, tobacco, roasted nuts and dark fruit that take turns bouncing off various areas of the palate. The flavors are deep and resonant providing an early bonanza of taste experience. At the back of the palate there is a clean, earthy texture that emerges with some hints of spice and pepper. The draw is slightly above average, but I prefer it to be just a bit more open that what I am being shown here. The burn is sharp and the ash is a crisp, white cylinder.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress. I must digress for a moment about this size. The Corona Gorda is rapidly becoming my favorite vitola. Not quite a robusto, not quite a corona, it may be the perfect dimension for imparting depth of flavor and complexity without being too thin or overwhelming. Back to the smoke, the profile has settled into a very nice presentation of dark wood and lightly sweet essence of dark fruit. At the back of the palate there are waves of robust tobacco flavors and an underlying earthy tone that is quite pleasing against the rest of the profile. The draw continues to perform acceptably and the burn continues to be superior.
The final half of the cigar is a down the stretch thoroughbred. There are notes of tobacco, wood and roasted nut character set in a backdrop of spice that is very interesting and deep. At the back of the palate the earthy core starts to really show through and bursts of pepper keep it very engaging. The strength of the cigar is there, but it is not overwhelming. The draw maintains consistency and the burn stays strong all the way through.
The finish is a touch short, but shows some lingering pepper flavors.
Appearance- 86 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 94 a fabulous profile that is improving with humidor time
Construction- 91 the draw was a bit tight for me, but there were no major issues
Strength- 92 a very enjoyable full bodied smoke that compliments the profile in a virtuoso performance
Overall- 91.25 a very profound experience, and at a bundle price of about two bucks per smoke you should not miss this one
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte Corona Gorda
This is a cigar that I had not smoked before. It presents with a dark, toothy wrapper that has prominent veins. The overall appearance is ruddy, the cigar is lopsided and has a sloppy cap. The construction appears to be a bit firm in spots, but I do not think there will be an issue. The pre light aroma has strong notes of anise and spice. The pre light draw shows a character of dark wood and spice.
The cigar opens with rich notes of dark wood and some light spice. The draw is excellent, producing thick smoke. The burn is a bit lopsided, but the ash is sturdy and has a light gray hue. There are some notes of coffee at the back of the palate as well.
At the halfway point the profile picks up some steam. There are notes of dark wood, anise, spice and coffee. The draw is still performing admirably and the burn has evened out a bit.
The final half of the cigar continues to show notes of wood, spice and coffee. The are some hints of toasted nuts at the back of the palate. The draw and burn have stayed consistent.
The finish is a bit short and a bitter note surfaces, but there are notes of wood and spice.
Appearance- 80 if you were judging this based on looks you would pass
Taste- 90 a surprisingly complex and deep profile
Construction- 88 a well made smoke
Strength- 87 a nice full smoke that could have been more complimentary to the profile
Overall- 86.25 hurt by appearance, but don't judge a book by it's cover...this is worth smoking
The cigar opens with rich notes of dark wood and some light spice. The draw is excellent, producing thick smoke. The burn is a bit lopsided, but the ash is sturdy and has a light gray hue. There are some notes of coffee at the back of the palate as well.
At the halfway point the profile picks up some steam. There are notes of dark wood, anise, spice and coffee. The draw is still performing admirably and the burn has evened out a bit.
The final half of the cigar continues to show notes of wood, spice and coffee. The are some hints of toasted nuts at the back of the palate. The draw and burn have stayed consistent.
The finish is a bit short and a bitter note surfaces, but there are notes of wood and spice.
Appearance- 80 if you were judging this based on looks you would pass
Taste- 90 a surprisingly complex and deep profile
Construction- 88 a well made smoke
Strength- 87 a nice full smoke that could have been more complimentary to the profile
Overall- 86.25 hurt by appearance, but don't judge a book by it's cover...this is worth smoking
Monday, October 26, 2009
Casa Fuente Corona Gorda
This is the elusive cigar available only in Las Vegas, I have only smoke one before and it was while I was there. This is the first, and probably last that I will smoke outside of Vegas. The cigar presents with a nice, silky smooth medium brown wrapper. The construction of the cigar appears to be excellent and I detect no serious issues. The pre light aroma is of cinnamon and light spice. The pre light draw shows notes of cinnamon and strong tobacco flavors.
The cigar begins with full tobacco notes with hints of spice. This is very reminiscent of Opus X cigars that I have smoked. The draw is near perfect and the burn is sharp. This core of flavor is very deep, but lacks some complexity at this point in the cigar.
At the two inch mark the profile has developed into very strong notes of tobacco and spice, there is a hint of leather in the mix as well. The draw and burn have stayed superb.
At the halfway mark the cigar is still showing strong tobacco and spice notes, the leather notes are thready and that is disappointing. Burn and draw have stayed consistent to this point. The development of the palate has been deep, but it still lacks some complexity.
The final half of the cigar continues to show nice strong tobacco notes and some diminishing leather undertones, but the complexity is still lacking. The draw and burn have stayed excellent throughout the smoke.
The finish is a touch thin, there are notes of tobacco and spice, but a grassy and metallic note hurt the final impression.
Appearance- 89 a very attractive cigar, with fascinating band work
Taste- 88 the profile was nice and deep, but lacked complexity and was hurt by the finish
Construction- 96 an extremely well made cigar with nary a single issue
Strength- 91 an excellent full smoke that complimented the profile well
Overall- 91 largely due to the construction score
The cigar begins with full tobacco notes with hints of spice. This is very reminiscent of Opus X cigars that I have smoked. The draw is near perfect and the burn is sharp. This core of flavor is very deep, but lacks some complexity at this point in the cigar.
At the two inch mark the profile has developed into very strong notes of tobacco and spice, there is a hint of leather in the mix as well. The draw and burn have stayed superb.
At the halfway mark the cigar is still showing strong tobacco and spice notes, the leather notes are thready and that is disappointing. Burn and draw have stayed consistent to this point. The development of the palate has been deep, but it still lacks some complexity.
The final half of the cigar continues to show nice strong tobacco notes and some diminishing leather undertones, but the complexity is still lacking. The draw and burn have stayed excellent throughout the smoke.
The finish is a touch thin, there are notes of tobacco and spice, but a grassy and metallic note hurt the final impression.
Appearance- 89 a very attractive cigar, with fascinating band work
Taste- 88 the profile was nice and deep, but lacked complexity and was hurt by the finish
Construction- 96 an extremely well made cigar with nary a single issue
Strength- 91 an excellent full smoke that complimented the profile well
Overall- 91 largely due to the construction score
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