My feelings about Cusano cigars are well known amongst the group that I smoke with. In short, I have never thought much of their offerings, often thinking that if I wanted to smoke something that tasted like burning grass I would head out to my yard and roll up some lawn waste and puff away. Don't get me wrong, there is something to be said for a grassy profile. Cuban Cohibas are world famous and they taste much the same to me, I just don't care for it.
This particular cigar (by the way I am aware that it is Diadema, however on the coffin this cigar came in the spelling is as above) came to me from a great friend that has always sung the praises of the Killer Cameroon cigars. Sadly, for him, the line is long defunct and finding any at all is a rare treat for him. On his birthday a couple of years ago he was gifted several by some friends of ours and ever the generous brother of the leaf he shared the bounty. I didn't get around to smoking it until now, several years later, and I can only hope it lives up to the hype.
There is something very interesting about cigars packed in coffins, they just seem to be of a finer quality than others and it is like opening a little gift given to you by yourself. The cigar itself is very nice looking, none the worse for wear after all these years it just lays there waiting to be explored (aww crap now it sounds like I am writing a cheesy love novel, you know like the ones with the bare chested pirate holding the wench?). The band work is clumsy and odd looking, making the cigar look cheap, causing a weird juxtaposition between the high end coffin and cheap band. The wrapper is everything you would expect from a Cameroon presentation. Medium brown? Yep. Few veins? Yep. Nice and oily? Yep. The pre light aroma is full of roasted nut notes and has some cinnamon spice to it as well. The pre light draw is showing some dry vegetation and wood flavors. A quick inspection tells me the cigar is well made and will not be an issue.
The cigar opens with a profile that is profoundly Cameroon in orientation. The core flavors is all nuts and spice and that is exactly what I was expecting right off the bat. These flavors are not particularly deep or complex, but they are a nice presentation of what I think a Cameroon should be. The back of the palate and the retrohale show some dry and dusty notes of wood, but they are not bitter so it is not offensive at this point. The draw is a little tight in the early going, but I expect this from a diadema shape as the tapering causes some tightness as a general rule. The burn is slow and plodding, but there is no heat so I am not really worried about this either.
The first half of the smoke does not develop much at all, I find this to be disappointing. The core profile maintains a stance that is more nutty than spicy and I would really like to see some complexity or depth here, but there just isn't any. The back of the palate continues to be dry and the wood flavors are becoming slightly grassy, color me shocked! Can I get a Cusano that does not have a grassy element? Sheesh! The draw has opened up nicely at this point and is really becoming the star of the show. The burn stays solid to this point as well.
The final half of the cigar shows some signs of improvement. Like a terminal patient at death's door there is the last moment of lucidity before the death knell sounds, this cigar starts to make me believe that it might recover nicely right before it crashes into a horrific death. The core profile shows some nice roasted nut and cinnamon flavors that have an undertone of citrus that is very unexpected and pleasant. The back of the palate is still showing dry wood notes that are still pleasant and without bitterness.
It is with about one third of the cigar left that the wheels fall off. The core profile becomes a bitter mass of dry grass notes that can't be smoked around or through. It is so foul that I consider laying it down, but my eternally optimistic side encourages me to hang on and seek redeeming value. I should never listen to the optimist! Unfortunately, the draw and burn are top notch to the end.
The finish was bitter and grassy.
Overall, pretty good, right until the end.
Appearance- 88 some points lost for clumsy band work
Taste- 82 can't be any higher because of the awful finish
Construction- 92 a very well constructed cigar
Strength- 85 a middling medium
Overall- 86.75 saved by construction
Showing posts with label Cusano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cusano. Show all posts
Monday, July 8, 2013
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Cusano 10 Robusto
I am not a fan of Cusano offerings and I am certain that amongst my fellow brothers of the leaf there are also very few admirers of the brand. This particular cigar was the 10th Anniversary blend, and I had not smoked it before. The cigar itself has a plain looking wrapper and band, and it lacks the flash that I expect from an anniversary offering. The construction appears to be acceptable, but I have some concerns that it may draw loosely. The pre light aroma is grassy and herbal. The pre light draw has notes of dry grass and vegetation.
The cigar opens with overwhelming notes of dry grass and strange herbal notes. I always detect this profile in Cusano offerings and I find it to be very unappealing. At the back of the palate there are some light earthy notes, but there is some bitterness that is creeping in as well. The draw is loose and I am concerned about some heat developing later in the smoke. The burn is even, but the ash is flaky and dark.
The first half of the cigar continues to show grassy and herbal flavors, but there is no development of either flavor into something that would be enjoyable. The depth and complexity are just not there for me. At the back of the palate some notes of almond surface and in the background there are some earthy flavors, but they have undertones of vegetation and some bitterness. The draw remains loose, but there is not yet any heat permeating the experience. The burn stays solid, but the ash continues to be flaky and dark.
The final half of the smoke takes on some different characteristics, but they are not good. The profile becomes acrid and shows some metallic qualities, this deterioration makes a below average cigar poor. At the back of the palate there continues to be some earthy flavors, but they still are dry and vegetal. The draw imparts some heat in the last third, but it does not effect my evaluation. The burn was consistent throughout.
The finish was short and bitter with notes of dry grass and a metallic aftertaste.
Appearance- 87 slight above average looking
Taste- 73 a very poor profile
Construction- 85 average at best with a draw that was too loose
Strength- 85 a very unremarkable medium
Overall- 81.25 a very underwhelming smoke
The cigar opens with overwhelming notes of dry grass and strange herbal notes. I always detect this profile in Cusano offerings and I find it to be very unappealing. At the back of the palate there are some light earthy notes, but there is some bitterness that is creeping in as well. The draw is loose and I am concerned about some heat developing later in the smoke. The burn is even, but the ash is flaky and dark.
The first half of the cigar continues to show grassy and herbal flavors, but there is no development of either flavor into something that would be enjoyable. The depth and complexity are just not there for me. At the back of the palate some notes of almond surface and in the background there are some earthy flavors, but they have undertones of vegetation and some bitterness. The draw remains loose, but there is not yet any heat permeating the experience. The burn stays solid, but the ash continues to be flaky and dark.
The final half of the smoke takes on some different characteristics, but they are not good. The profile becomes acrid and shows some metallic qualities, this deterioration makes a below average cigar poor. At the back of the palate there continues to be some earthy flavors, but they still are dry and vegetal. The draw imparts some heat in the last third, but it does not effect my evaluation. The burn was consistent throughout.
The finish was short and bitter with notes of dry grass and a metallic aftertaste.
Appearance- 87 slight above average looking
Taste- 73 a very poor profile
Construction- 85 average at best with a draw that was too loose
Strength- 85 a very unremarkable medium
Overall- 81.25 a very underwhelming smoke
Monday, November 16, 2009
Cusano Cuvee Blanc Salomon
This is a gigantic cigar. Branch like in it's presentation, the cigar is dry and shows some cracking in what appears to be a thin wrapper. There are prominent veins, some of them actually remind me of a surgically sutured wound. The cigar is firm and appears to be tight. The pre light aroma is grassy and has an essence of hay in autumn. The pre light draw is thin and smacks of grass and dry chaff.
The cigar begins with notes of grass and vegetation, there is a slight sweetness at the back of the palate. The draw is acceptable, but does not produce a satisfying amount of smoke in the opening minutes. The burn is firm and a dirty gray ash is forming, all though it is a bit flaky. The first several inches of the cigar progress in the same manner.
At just before the halfway point the profile has notes of grass, dry cereal, cardboard and paper. There is still an odd sweetness at the back of the palate, but it is not lending any enjoyability to the smoke. The draw is opening up slightly and the burn has stayed consistent.
The final half of the cigar shows a profile of grass with papery notes that dominate the back of the palate. At the halfway point I was sensing that some good flavors might be forthcoming, I could not have been any more wrong about that supposition. The burn and draw have stay acceptable throughout the smoke.
The finish is thin with notes of grass, dry vegetation and paper.
Appearance- 80 not an attractive looking cigar at all, this size should be presented more spectacularly
Taste- 74 the profile lacks complexity, depth and anything resembling a flavor that anyone would want in a cigar
Construction- 86 the lack of smoke was a disappointment
Strength- 75 an unremarkable mild cigar that shows no compliment to the profile
Overall- 78.75 a really poor cigar that has few redeeming characteristics, I rejoiced when it was over
The cigar begins with notes of grass and vegetation, there is a slight sweetness at the back of the palate. The draw is acceptable, but does not produce a satisfying amount of smoke in the opening minutes. The burn is firm and a dirty gray ash is forming, all though it is a bit flaky. The first several inches of the cigar progress in the same manner.
At just before the halfway point the profile has notes of grass, dry cereal, cardboard and paper. There is still an odd sweetness at the back of the palate, but it is not lending any enjoyability to the smoke. The draw is opening up slightly and the burn has stayed consistent.
The final half of the cigar shows a profile of grass with papery notes that dominate the back of the palate. At the halfway point I was sensing that some good flavors might be forthcoming, I could not have been any more wrong about that supposition. The burn and draw have stay acceptable throughout the smoke.
The finish is thin with notes of grass, dry vegetation and paper.
Appearance- 80 not an attractive looking cigar at all, this size should be presented more spectacularly
Taste- 74 the profile lacks complexity, depth and anything resembling a flavor that anyone would want in a cigar
Construction- 86 the lack of smoke was a disappointment
Strength- 75 an unremarkable mild cigar that shows no compliment to the profile
Overall- 78.75 a really poor cigar that has few redeeming characteristics, I rejoiced when it was over
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