The lancero is, sadly, a nearly lost art in the cigar world. Once a year, or so, I wax rhapsodic about the pristine virtue of this oft maligned cigar vitola. Luckily for all of you this is that time for the year. What is not to like about the majestic elegance of the lancero size? It is delicate, long, thin and seemingly dainty (which is why I believe most men eschew this particular smoke). It is the truest form, in my mind, of getting the perfect combination of wrapper and blend rolled into a magnificent cigar experience. Many experts say the robusto or corona are the best for the wrapper to blend ratio, I am no expert, but I say hooey to that. For my money the lancero is where it's at Jack, and don't come at me with your homophobic crap about it being too feminine to smoke. If you aren't comfortable smoking something because it looks too delicate, I would say you aren't confident enough in your manhood and that you should un wad your panties, take your bath robe off and man the f up. No one gives a crap what you look like when you are smoking, and if they do they are probably women, in which case you should offer them a lancero and be a sexy f'in couple in the know about the best kept secret in the vitola arsenal. In other words put down your sixty ring donkey wang and smoke something legit.
Ok enough about the size, I could go on and on about the size craving cigar whores out there, but I won't. This cigar presents well, it has a perfect lancero size and shape to it. The pigtail cap finish seems right to me, I don't like this finish on other cigars, but on the lancero it speaks of authenticity. The wrapper is beautiful on this cigar, a rich and dark brown with very little veining sets the palate to watering before flame hits leaf. An inspection reveals no areas of concern and I feel as though this smoke is very well made. The band work is understated, but elegant, and communicates a fine product. The pre light aroma has hints of cocoa and light tobacco. The pre light draw shows light pepper, coffee, cocoa and earth flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is full of rich flavors. I pick up cream, cocoa, wood, earth and pepper in the opening moments. This is exactly what I look for in a smoke, set the expectations early and do it well. None of the flavors are overwrought and they leave the palate looking for more and more as the smoke progresses. The back of the palate and through the nose show some light cocoa flavors and a rich tobacco note that sets a nice pedestal for the other flavors to balance on. The draw is an absolute dream, lancero's are often tight and make for a challenging beginning to the smoke, this cigar blows that possibility right out of the water. The burn is solid and razor sharp right from the get go.
The first third of the cigar is just wonderful. The core profile develops into a fantastic melange of wood, cocoa and coffee. There are some subtleties here that must be noted, including a roasted nut sensation that comes and goes, and some hints of cinnamon that are interesting to me. The back of the palate becomes a stronger presentation of rich tobacco flavors and there are hints of spice and cinnamon here as well. The draw stays right on the money without issues. The burn is also steady and note worthy.
The second third plugs right along and delivers in a big way. The core profile continues to ramp up with more wood, coffee and cocoa flavors, but hints of caramel were coming through here as well. It really is becoming something quite exceptional. The back of the palate becomes a rising tide of tobacco and cinnamon flavors with short bursts of pepper on a regular basis. This cigar has everything I would look for in my top cigars of the year and I appreciate your patience.
The final third f the smoke was also a wonderful experience. The core profile mellows into a more subdued presentation of all the core flavors, it is wonderful to experience first hand. Very seldom do I see a cigar with this kind of balance and assessment of possible tasting outcomes. The back of the palate continues to chug along, showing tobacco and earth flavors that are holding the experience together nicely. The draw and burn are excellent right to the end.
I seldom find cigars with this kind of balance and flavor, it is a must smoke in my mind.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 94 nearly classic for me, just a very well put together profile and presentation of flavor
Construction- 94 also nearly classic
Strength- 93 a very nuanced and balanced medium/full
Overall- 93.25 a must smoke
Showing posts with label Esteban Carreras. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Esteban Carreras. Show all posts
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Esteban Carreras Chupacabra Toro (6x50)
The Chupacabra is a myth, a legend if you will that comes from South American folklore. The story goes that if kids don't eat their dinner, or misbehave in other ways, they will be eaten by the Chupacabra in their sleep. I like this form of child rearing, put the fear of the devil in em I say!
Anyway there is another story behind this particular cigar. Some time ago a friend of mine asked me to be part of a radio show. He had a penchant for running his mouth a little bit and I was supposed to bring a serious tone to the show. Little did anyone know, except for me, my mouth is just as large and likes to run more than most. He and I had a successful run with the show and we had fun each week taking on the cigar industry, the good and bad, with guns blazing. Alas, the time ended when he accepted a job with Esteban Carreras cigars. You should see him now! He's so corporate, with a nameplate and new haircut and glasses and a briefcase that doesn't even have a nudie mag or bottle of booze in it! I'm proud of him and he is living his dream one day at a time, we should all be so lucky. Yesterday, in the ultimate act of courage (or blind stupidity) he gave me the new cigar from the line and asked me to smoke it. This is a bold and brazen move given my history with this blog, he knows that if I think it is crap I will say so, this was a risk that only the most confident (or idiotic) of cigar people would make. Think he is ready for the review?
The cigar presents nicely, all though it has some gimmickry with an unfinished foot and a pigtail cap. I usually don't care for this kind of thing and the unfinished foot really concerns me because I have had issues lighting them in the past. However, in this case it seems appropriate for a cigar with a name as rakish as Chupacabra it should be unfinished and rough, after all it will eat you if you misbehave. The wrapper is absolute gold, so leathery and oily, it is also well applied and has few veins with a hue of well tanned cowhide. Visually it is everything you could want in a smoke, even the band is understated but elegant. The pre light aroma is floral and full of light wood notes. The pre light draw has hints of balsa wood and oatmeal.
The cigar opens with a profile that has really nice flavors, the depth is not really there as some of the flavors are a touch thin, but the overall impression is very nice. The core profile has notes of balsa wood, light oatmeal and wheat flavors and some crisp tobacco notes. The back of the palate and through the nose show nice light pepper and spice. This is medium, which is unexpected considering the name seems so evil. The draw is a little tight initially, but I chalk that up to the closed foot. The burn is right on the money and performing well.
The first half of the cigar settles into a very nice medium presentation. The core profile continues to show some balsa wood notes but there are some elements of oatmeal here as well. My only complaint is a finish that is a touch papery at this point, but it is not distracting or detrimental yet. The back of the palate continues to show some nice spice and pepper flavors but I would like a bit more punch here from either of them, it is just a little bit flat. The draw has opened up nicely and delivers a nice amount of smoke with little effort. The burn continues to impress holding a razor edge and moving nicely.
The final half of the cigar continues a nice medium pace. The core profile starts to show some more depth as the flavors transition into a more robust show of light coffee, darker wood and some spice. This is what I look for in a cigar, a nice performance in the back half always makes me so happy. The back of the palate picks up the pepper quotient nicely and results in a nice underlay to the core profile. The draw remains very solid all the way to the end and the burn performs well throughout.
The finish was smooth and full of light wood notes, there was a touch of paper here as well but it was negligible.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar with some fun circuses
Taste- 89 a very solid profile that could have used more punch in some areas
Construction- 90 some early tightness in the draw, but it performed very well
Strength- 93 a very nice medium
Overall- 90.25 if every cigar I smoke this year is this good I will be a happy Czar
Anyway there is another story behind this particular cigar. Some time ago a friend of mine asked me to be part of a radio show. He had a penchant for running his mouth a little bit and I was supposed to bring a serious tone to the show. Little did anyone know, except for me, my mouth is just as large and likes to run more than most. He and I had a successful run with the show and we had fun each week taking on the cigar industry, the good and bad, with guns blazing. Alas, the time ended when he accepted a job with Esteban Carreras cigars. You should see him now! He's so corporate, with a nameplate and new haircut and glasses and a briefcase that doesn't even have a nudie mag or bottle of booze in it! I'm proud of him and he is living his dream one day at a time, we should all be so lucky. Yesterday, in the ultimate act of courage (or blind stupidity) he gave me the new cigar from the line and asked me to smoke it. This is a bold and brazen move given my history with this blog, he knows that if I think it is crap I will say so, this was a risk that only the most confident (or idiotic) of cigar people would make. Think he is ready for the review?
The cigar presents nicely, all though it has some gimmickry with an unfinished foot and a pigtail cap. I usually don't care for this kind of thing and the unfinished foot really concerns me because I have had issues lighting them in the past. However, in this case it seems appropriate for a cigar with a name as rakish as Chupacabra it should be unfinished and rough, after all it will eat you if you misbehave. The wrapper is absolute gold, so leathery and oily, it is also well applied and has few veins with a hue of well tanned cowhide. Visually it is everything you could want in a smoke, even the band is understated but elegant. The pre light aroma is floral and full of light wood notes. The pre light draw has hints of balsa wood and oatmeal.
The cigar opens with a profile that has really nice flavors, the depth is not really there as some of the flavors are a touch thin, but the overall impression is very nice. The core profile has notes of balsa wood, light oatmeal and wheat flavors and some crisp tobacco notes. The back of the palate and through the nose show nice light pepper and spice. This is medium, which is unexpected considering the name seems so evil. The draw is a little tight initially, but I chalk that up to the closed foot. The burn is right on the money and performing well.
The first half of the cigar settles into a very nice medium presentation. The core profile continues to show some balsa wood notes but there are some elements of oatmeal here as well. My only complaint is a finish that is a touch papery at this point, but it is not distracting or detrimental yet. The back of the palate continues to show some nice spice and pepper flavors but I would like a bit more punch here from either of them, it is just a little bit flat. The draw has opened up nicely and delivers a nice amount of smoke with little effort. The burn continues to impress holding a razor edge and moving nicely.
The final half of the cigar continues a nice medium pace. The core profile starts to show some more depth as the flavors transition into a more robust show of light coffee, darker wood and some spice. This is what I look for in a cigar, a nice performance in the back half always makes me so happy. The back of the palate picks up the pepper quotient nicely and results in a nice underlay to the core profile. The draw remains very solid all the way to the end and the burn performs well throughout.
The finish was smooth and full of light wood notes, there was a touch of paper here as well but it was negligible.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar with some fun circuses
Taste- 89 a very solid profile that could have used more punch in some areas
Construction- 90 some early tightness in the draw, but it performed very well
Strength- 93 a very nice medium
Overall- 90.25 if every cigar I smoke this year is this good I will be a happy Czar
Monday, June 25, 2012
Esteban Carreras 10 Anos Maduro Robusto (5x50)
It has been two weeks since I last chimed in with a review, I've just been being kept down by the man. You gotta put together some sheckles in this life and lately I've had my earnin shoes on. Don't get me wrong, I have been smoking, I just haven't had time to smoke much new stuff recently as I like to devote real time to that pursuit. For this review I have chosen a cigar that has been around for a while, but one that I never really paid any attention to. I have reviewed some Esteban Carreras offerings before and they have all come out very average for me, but I had been told by many people that this blend was the flagship. My radio co-host also seems to really did this cigar, and I like to see if he has any taste at all.
The cigar is box pressed, this is a down check in my view. I have never understood this attribute and I'm pretty sure it serves no purpose. Things that serve no purpose have very little use in my mind, in fact I think box pressing can sometimes be detrimental to the smoke as it compacts any flaws in the construction of the smoke. The wrapper is nice looking, with some nice tooth and a rugged look, there are some prominent veins, but I don't pay them any mind. An inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it is well made and I can't find any areas of concern. The pre light draw is a little bit tight, but it shows nice earth and rich tobacco flavors. The pre light aroma is spicy and seems dusty to me.
The cigar opens with a profile that is very heavy in the earth department and the first moments are almost muddy on the palate. There is some nice spice here though and I can see that there might be room for this to be really interesting. The back of the palate shows some middling coffee flavor that could use a little boost and some cedar flavors that are bordering on being sharp. The draw is a touch too tight, but I am getting enough smoke to not have any real concerns. The burn is solid and a nice white ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar really disappoints me. I would love some balance and depth, but the main profile is still earthy with some spice. The flavors are not bad, but they show no development and certainly lack nuance and depth. At the back of the palate cedar flavors remain and they have softened some, which is a blessing in disguise. There are still some hints of coffee here, but the flavor is not giving me much more that a light tap on the palate at this point. I want much, much more out of a cigar at this point. The draw is opening up nicely at this point. The burn continues to be very solid.
The final half of the cigar improves, but it is not dramatic. The core profile shows some very nice spice and cinnamon flavors while the earthy tone softens and provides a platform for the other flavors to rest upon. The back of the palate becomes a nice mix of coffee flavors coupled with a spicy cedar tone that is very interesting. The draw becomes very fluid in the end and the resulting heat is a little bit troublesome. The burn is solid all the way through to the end.
The finish was average with earth and tobacco flavors that linger.
Appearance- 86 box pressing kills my visual
Taste- 87 a very average presentation
Construction- 86 some tightness early, then looseness late hurts the score
Strength- 85 an average medium
Overall- 86.25 slightly above average
The cigar is box pressed, this is a down check in my view. I have never understood this attribute and I'm pretty sure it serves no purpose. Things that serve no purpose have very little use in my mind, in fact I think box pressing can sometimes be detrimental to the smoke as it compacts any flaws in the construction of the smoke. The wrapper is nice looking, with some nice tooth and a rugged look, there are some prominent veins, but I don't pay them any mind. An inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it is well made and I can't find any areas of concern. The pre light draw is a little bit tight, but it shows nice earth and rich tobacco flavors. The pre light aroma is spicy and seems dusty to me.
The cigar opens with a profile that is very heavy in the earth department and the first moments are almost muddy on the palate. There is some nice spice here though and I can see that there might be room for this to be really interesting. The back of the palate shows some middling coffee flavor that could use a little boost and some cedar flavors that are bordering on being sharp. The draw is a touch too tight, but I am getting enough smoke to not have any real concerns. The burn is solid and a nice white ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar really disappoints me. I would love some balance and depth, but the main profile is still earthy with some spice. The flavors are not bad, but they show no development and certainly lack nuance and depth. At the back of the palate cedar flavors remain and they have softened some, which is a blessing in disguise. There are still some hints of coffee here, but the flavor is not giving me much more that a light tap on the palate at this point. I want much, much more out of a cigar at this point. The draw is opening up nicely at this point. The burn continues to be very solid.
The final half of the cigar improves, but it is not dramatic. The core profile shows some very nice spice and cinnamon flavors while the earthy tone softens and provides a platform for the other flavors to rest upon. The back of the palate becomes a nice mix of coffee flavors coupled with a spicy cedar tone that is very interesting. The draw becomes very fluid in the end and the resulting heat is a little bit troublesome. The burn is solid all the way through to the end.
The finish was average with earth and tobacco flavors that linger.
Appearance- 86 box pressing kills my visual
Taste- 87 a very average presentation
Construction- 86 some tightness early, then looseness late hurts the score
Strength- 85 an average medium
Overall- 86.25 slightly above average
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Esteban Carreras 211 Torpedo (6.75x52)
As Esteban Carreras is the new manufacturer sponsor of the show I co-host, I thought it only fitting that I take a crack at smoking and reviewing their latest blend. It is well known that I am no fan of torpedoes, so this cigar already has some strikes against it. I have enjoyed almost all of the blends from this manufacturer before, with the exception of the Connecticut offering, so I am thinking this one might be worthy of some praise as well. Alas, one can never tell until flame hits leaf.
The cigar is nice looking, aside from the vitola, it is a very light brown and it is not festooned with crazy band work or other gadgetry that makes me want to toss my lunch. Instead this cigar gets credit for being simple and elegant in appearance as it only has a small band around the foot of the smoke. It is presented, box and small band, in white. I have always heard that white is a danger color in the cigar industry, but I think it is regal looking, besides who can argue with the success of Davidoff or Illusione? Both of those cigars are presented with white bands and they do well. Sometimes this industry makes me giggle. The wrapper looks nice, but the cap is sloppy and there is one very large vein in the middle third that is giving me the hairy eyeball as I give it the same. The pre light aroma is bready with some vanilla tones. The pre light draw shows cedar flavors that border on being sharp.
The cigar opens with a profile that is unexpected but not necessarily profound. The flavor core has some nice notes of sweet vanilla and some floral tones, but the presentation seems thin to me at this point and I am straining to find something deeper. The back of the palate contains a dry cedar tone that is leeching moisture from my mouth and threatening to derail the experience. There is also a dusty texture to the smoke that leaves a filmy coat of cedar remnant on the tongue. This is not the most pleasant open to a cigar that I have ever head, but neither is it the most unpleasant which is all I can say in the way of an endorsement at this point. The draw is a bit tight, as I find most vitolas of this nature to be, but it is not causing me any huge concerns. The burn is solid in the opening third.
The first half of the cigar does show some development. The core profile becomes a more deep and concentrated presentation of vanilla, bread and some floral tones and they have a nice balance, all though I would like some spice to take down some of the sweet impressions here. The back of the palate continues to show a strong cedar presence, but there is a nice crisp tobacco note here that is taking some of the sharpness out the cedar notes. The draw continues to be slightly laborious, but I am trudging onward like a good cigar soldier. The burn is still sharp and there are no areas on concern it that arena.
The final half of the smoke is flat. I really look for development in the home stretch and this cigar just does not deliver the goods for some reason. The profile is locked in stasis. The core maintains vanilla, bread and light floral tastes and I still find myself yearning for some spice to punch up the interest and take out some sweetness, but it never arrives and I end up with a smoke that is too sweet for me. The back of the palate again sharpens into a strong cedar presentation, but at least this time it's not as dry as on the first pass. The draw does open up in the final third, which is nice, but I would have liked it to happen much sooner. The burn is acceptable right to the end.
The finish smacks of cedar and leaves the palate a little bit too dry for my tastes.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 86 just too short in the complexity and depth department, but there were some nice flavors here
Construction- 84 the draw was too tight for me
Strength- 88 a very nice medium
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average, but not my favorite blend from this manufacturer
The cigar is nice looking, aside from the vitola, it is a very light brown and it is not festooned with crazy band work or other gadgetry that makes me want to toss my lunch. Instead this cigar gets credit for being simple and elegant in appearance as it only has a small band around the foot of the smoke. It is presented, box and small band, in white. I have always heard that white is a danger color in the cigar industry, but I think it is regal looking, besides who can argue with the success of Davidoff or Illusione? Both of those cigars are presented with white bands and they do well. Sometimes this industry makes me giggle. The wrapper looks nice, but the cap is sloppy and there is one very large vein in the middle third that is giving me the hairy eyeball as I give it the same. The pre light aroma is bready with some vanilla tones. The pre light draw shows cedar flavors that border on being sharp.
The cigar opens with a profile that is unexpected but not necessarily profound. The flavor core has some nice notes of sweet vanilla and some floral tones, but the presentation seems thin to me at this point and I am straining to find something deeper. The back of the palate contains a dry cedar tone that is leeching moisture from my mouth and threatening to derail the experience. There is also a dusty texture to the smoke that leaves a filmy coat of cedar remnant on the tongue. This is not the most pleasant open to a cigar that I have ever head, but neither is it the most unpleasant which is all I can say in the way of an endorsement at this point. The draw is a bit tight, as I find most vitolas of this nature to be, but it is not causing me any huge concerns. The burn is solid in the opening third.
The first half of the cigar does show some development. The core profile becomes a more deep and concentrated presentation of vanilla, bread and some floral tones and they have a nice balance, all though I would like some spice to take down some of the sweet impressions here. The back of the palate continues to show a strong cedar presence, but there is a nice crisp tobacco note here that is taking some of the sharpness out the cedar notes. The draw continues to be slightly laborious, but I am trudging onward like a good cigar soldier. The burn is still sharp and there are no areas on concern it that arena.
The final half of the smoke is flat. I really look for development in the home stretch and this cigar just does not deliver the goods for some reason. The profile is locked in stasis. The core maintains vanilla, bread and light floral tastes and I still find myself yearning for some spice to punch up the interest and take out some sweetness, but it never arrives and I end up with a smoke that is too sweet for me. The back of the palate again sharpens into a strong cedar presentation, but at least this time it's not as dry as on the first pass. The draw does open up in the final third, which is nice, but I would have liked it to happen much sooner. The burn is acceptable right to the end.
The finish smacks of cedar and leaves the palate a little bit too dry for my tastes.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 86 just too short in the complexity and depth department, but there were some nice flavors here
Construction- 84 the draw was too tight for me
Strength- 88 a very nice medium
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average, but not my favorite blend from this manufacturer
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
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Esteban Carreras Habano Robusto
This is a boutique cigar that has been kicking around for awhile. I have smoked these before, but never subjected them to the rigors of a review. The cigar presents well, in a thick robusto vitola, with a dark brown wrapper that shows plenty of tooth. The construction seems acceptable, but there are some soft spots that I am concerned with. I also note a serious wrapper flaw in the final third of the cigar that could be troublesome. The pre light aroma is of earth and light coffee. The pre light draw shows some pepper and earth with a touch of spice.
The cigar opens with an interesting profile of earth, coffee and pepper. The flavors are a bit shallow, but they are still identifiable. At the back of the palate there are some loamy flavors that are muddling the profile. The draw and burn are performing acceptably.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a profile that is too thin and lacking in complexity. There are some flavors of earth and light coffee, but the overall impression is lacking. At the back of the palate the loamy notes continue to muddle the overall profile. The draw is still acceptable, but the burn is threatening to canoe.
The final half of the cigar unravels in a bad way. The flaw in the wrapper has caused an untoward burn flaw. I am confronted with a cigar that looks as if it has exploded and the profile becomes charred in my efforts to smoke through the issue. There are notes of pepper and earth, but they are marred by charred overtones. The draw continues to be acceptable, but the burn issues kill the remainder of the smoke.
The finish is charred and the final inch was unsmokeable.
Appearance- 83 a very average looking smoke with noticeable flaws
Taste- 84 a below average experience
Construction- 74 too many issues to score any higher
Strength- 80 a below average medium
Overall- 79.75 a forgettable cigar
The cigar opens with an interesting profile of earth, coffee and pepper. The flavors are a bit shallow, but they are still identifiable. At the back of the palate there are some loamy flavors that are muddling the profile. The draw and burn are performing acceptably.
The first half of the cigar continues to show a profile that is too thin and lacking in complexity. There are some flavors of earth and light coffee, but the overall impression is lacking. At the back of the palate the loamy notes continue to muddle the overall profile. The draw is still acceptable, but the burn is threatening to canoe.
The final half of the cigar unravels in a bad way. The flaw in the wrapper has caused an untoward burn flaw. I am confronted with a cigar that looks as if it has exploded and the profile becomes charred in my efforts to smoke through the issue. There are notes of pepper and earth, but they are marred by charred overtones. The draw continues to be acceptable, but the burn issues kill the remainder of the smoke.
The finish is charred and the final inch was unsmokeable.
Appearance- 83 a very average looking smoke with noticeable flaws
Taste- 84 a below average experience
Construction- 74 too many issues to score any higher
Strength- 80 a below average medium
Overall- 79.75 a forgettable cigar
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