I have heard much ballyhoo about this smoke over the last month or so and I had to find the right time to part with $15 and the two hours I knew I would need to smoke it properly. I am not a fan of the regular Jaime blend so I was skeptical about this LE version. Often times LE only equates to $5-$10 more on the price tag than any real cigar equity. I have smoked many, many disappointing LE versions over time, so when my friends start murmuring about one I always feel like I need to be the judge for myself.
The cigar is very nice to look at with an oily wrapper that has very few veins and a very nice double band presentation. The cigar seems too firm to me, but I can't find any plugs or other issues. The pre light aroma is of cocoa and spice. The pre light draw shows some nice flavors of pepper and chocolate.
This cigar opens with a profile that is power, power, power. The core flavors show deep notes of red pepper and light cocoa, this is an interesting flavor interplay but I think it could be more complex. At the back of the palate there are more red pepper notes, but they are accompanied by a nice full tobacco flavor that is a touch overwrought for my tastes. The draw is tight, but not so much that it causes any smoking issues. The burn is excellent and produces a crisp, white ash.
The first half of the cigar mellows out nicely. The profile transitions into a more complex presentation of chocolate and spice with a toasty undertone that ties it all together. At the back of the palate the full tobacco flavor is firmly in control, but now is more subdued and showing as a very nice complement to the core profile. The draw remains too tight for my liking, but it is not causing any issues. The burn continues to be superior.
The final half of this cigar maintains nice complexity, but I am starting to believe that the cigar is too one dimensional in that it shows the same variations of flavor over and over again. The core profile continues to show chocolate and spice flavors, but there is no development and the flavors stagnate. At the back of the palate the tobacco flavors continue on, but I am found wanting more here. This is by no means a terrible experience, but I expected more from this. The draw stays firm throughout, and the burn is excellent.
The finish is middling and shows pepper and tobacco flavors.
Appearance- 93 a very nice cigar
Taste- 87 just not what I expected here, but the flavors were acceptable
Construction- 89 the draw was too tight, but the burn was excellent
Strength- 88 a nice full presentation
Overall- 88.75 an above average smoke, but for $15 I needed way more here
Showing posts with label Reserva Especial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reserva Especial. Show all posts
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Friday, September 3, 2010
Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Toro (6x54)
I can't recall anticipating a cigar, in recent years, as much as I anticipated this one. Recently I picked up a handful and smoked several, this review is of the last one I smoked, but I will point out that all five of them performed similarly and tasted the same.
The cigar itself is a bit thicker than I like, but the other vitolas at the B & M I went to did not strike my fancy either. It has a heavy, dark brown wrapper that has some prominent veins. An inspection of the smoke reveals some areas that I believe are too soft, but I will have to see what develops in the smoking process. The pre light aroma is an intoxicating blend of cedar and spice. The pre light draw shows some mineral heaviness that I hope is not a harbinger of things to come.
The cigar opens with a very in your face profile and I am a bit shocked by the initial strength of this cigar. There is no nuance or balance to a presentation that begins this way and I am getting clubbed in the head by rich tobacco, black pepper and mineral flavors. I can only hope that this cigar will settle down at some point. At the back of the palate there is some sweetness, almost like sugarcane, and it is helping to diffuse some of the up front power of the smoke. The draw is touch loose for me, but I am not upset by it at this point. The burn is excellent and a ponderous white ash is forming.
The first third of the cigar does indeed settle down. The main profile continues to show mostly tobacco and mineral notes, but the earlier sweetness has crept into the front of the smoke and is adding some nice roundness to the overall profile. At the back of the palate there is another presentation of a heavier mineral note and it threatens to turn the cigar into a real downer. The draw remains a touch loose and towards the end of the first half some heat comes into the smoke and forces me to slow my progress in order for the hear to dissipate. The burn is excellent and the ash holds for nearly three inches.
The final two thirds show little development. The core profile continues to be of tobacco, there are some small notes of coffee bean and dark wood, but they do not add anything significant to the experience. At the back of the palate the heavy mineral note is taking it's toll and turns metallic in the final third. This attribute really hurts the cigar in my opinion. The burn and draw stay as noted in the first third.
The finish is short and sharp showing mineral and metallic flavors.
Appearance- 88 an above average cigar that could use more attention to detail
Taste- 81 a sub par performance that lacks complexity and depth
Construction- 89 points off for loose draw, but performance was still above average
Strength- 80 a very odd full that taxes the palate
Overall- 84.75 another disappointment for me
The cigar itself is a bit thicker than I like, but the other vitolas at the B & M I went to did not strike my fancy either. It has a heavy, dark brown wrapper that has some prominent veins. An inspection of the smoke reveals some areas that I believe are too soft, but I will have to see what develops in the smoking process. The pre light aroma is an intoxicating blend of cedar and spice. The pre light draw shows some mineral heaviness that I hope is not a harbinger of things to come.
The cigar opens with a very in your face profile and I am a bit shocked by the initial strength of this cigar. There is no nuance or balance to a presentation that begins this way and I am getting clubbed in the head by rich tobacco, black pepper and mineral flavors. I can only hope that this cigar will settle down at some point. At the back of the palate there is some sweetness, almost like sugarcane, and it is helping to diffuse some of the up front power of the smoke. The draw is touch loose for me, but I am not upset by it at this point. The burn is excellent and a ponderous white ash is forming.
The first third of the cigar does indeed settle down. The main profile continues to show mostly tobacco and mineral notes, but the earlier sweetness has crept into the front of the smoke and is adding some nice roundness to the overall profile. At the back of the palate there is another presentation of a heavier mineral note and it threatens to turn the cigar into a real downer. The draw remains a touch loose and towards the end of the first half some heat comes into the smoke and forces me to slow my progress in order for the hear to dissipate. The burn is excellent and the ash holds for nearly three inches.
The final two thirds show little development. The core profile continues to be of tobacco, there are some small notes of coffee bean and dark wood, but they do not add anything significant to the experience. At the back of the palate the heavy mineral note is taking it's toll and turns metallic in the final third. This attribute really hurts the cigar in my opinion. The burn and draw stay as noted in the first third.
The finish is short and sharp showing mineral and metallic flavors.
Appearance- 88 an above average cigar that could use more attention to detail
Taste- 81 a sub par performance that lacks complexity and depth
Construction- 89 points off for loose draw, but performance was still above average
Strength- 80 a very odd full that taxes the palate
Overall- 84.75 another disappointment for me
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Toro y Leon Reserva Especial Torpedo
This is a motley looking cigar, that has a lopsided roll and a rough looking exterior. The cigar seems to be a bit dry, but I can find no other flaws and the roll seems well done and without soft or firm spots. The pre light aroma is full of cedary tones, with a undertone of light spice. The pre light draw hints of light spice as well.
The cigar opens well with fully developed notes of cedar and a hint of light spice at the back of the palate. The burn is solid and the draw is smooth and easy. After about a half an inch the cigar begins to show some grassy notes that detract from the experience.
Just before the half way point the profile is overwhelmed with notes of grass, there is still a cedary core but it is getting lost in the grassy overtones. The burn has stayed solid and the draw is still acceptable.
The final half of the cigar shows some fine notes of cedar, light spice and vanilla. There are still some thin grassy notes at the back of the palate, but they have faded in the late stages. The draw and burn stay strong throughout.
The finish is short and thready. There are notes of grass, vegetation, cedar and spice.
Appearance- 77 this really is an ugly cigar
Taste- 83 the grassy notes hurt the score, but there were some nice notes present
Construction- 88 the cigar performs well, but the lopsided build hurt the score
Strength- 80 an unremarkable medium presentation that needs more power
Overall- 82 this could have been much better, but still has some redeeming qualities
The cigar opens well with fully developed notes of cedar and a hint of light spice at the back of the palate. The burn is solid and the draw is smooth and easy. After about a half an inch the cigar begins to show some grassy notes that detract from the experience.
Just before the half way point the profile is overwhelmed with notes of grass, there is still a cedary core but it is getting lost in the grassy overtones. The burn has stayed solid and the draw is still acceptable.
The final half of the cigar shows some fine notes of cedar, light spice and vanilla. There are still some thin grassy notes at the back of the palate, but they have faded in the late stages. The draw and burn stay strong throughout.
The finish is short and thready. There are notes of grass, vegetation, cedar and spice.
Appearance- 77 this really is an ugly cigar
Taste- 83 the grassy notes hurt the score, but there were some nice notes present
Construction- 88 the cigar performs well, but the lopsided build hurt the score
Strength- 80 an unremarkable medium presentation that needs more power
Overall- 82 this could have been much better, but still has some redeeming qualities
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)