In February I reviewed the LSV version of this smoke and I raved about the complexity and depth from such a small and unknown boutique cigar. I have since had many readers of this blog, and listeners of my radio show, comment about how much they too have enjoyed the LSV version of the cigar. Exactly like the LSV, this cigar was found in my favorite B&M in New Orleans. I must caution you, there is almost no difference between the two cigars visually, the only way to tell the difference is that the Habano has more red in the band. I would like to see the manufacturer distinguish the cigars in some way, but I am just being nit picky I guess.
The cigar presents with simple band work and a very plain box presentation as well. If it had not been for the proprietor telling me about these I would have passed them over as cheap and not worth smoking. The cigar itself is very simple, with the exception of the triple seam cap that screams master craftsman, so simple that it is difficult to talk about any unique qualities. The wrapper is flawlessly applied and I can't find any reason to think that it may be a problem. The construction seems to be excellent as there are no areas of concern for me. The pre light aroma is dusty, but sweet and mildly spicy with a touch of nutmeg. The pre light draw is fluid and sweet with a touch of honey and some nice tobacco and nutmeg flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile so subtle, so nuanced, that it is almost too difficult to discern what is happening. The core profile is a fabulous array of toast, cinnamon, nutmeg and floral sweetness that combine to impart miles of flavor while maintaining scads of complexity in a mild blend. This is a feat that is seldom seen in the cigar world and I take several minutes to contemplate the meaning of this cigar that breaks the mold in such a subtle, yet middle finger raised way. The cigar is almost saying, F YOU size and strength whores, I am here to prove that nuance and balance can be just as good, if not better, than anything else out there. The draw is a touch tight, but it is acceptable for now. The burn is right on the money in the opening moments.
The first half of the cigar becomes something that I have never, ever, experienced. The core profile is an array of fantastic flavors as it presents cinnamon, bread, sweet nuts and some light tobacco flavors that are sublime. At the back of the palate there is a tartness that borders on showing notes of anise, but is mostly of cedar and spice. The draw is still too tight for my taste, but it is meeting basic cigar standards in my world. The burn is still very solid and I am not having any issues in this area.
The final half of the cigar becomes a more robust presentation of flavors that excites me as I contemplate the meaning of the cigar. The core profile becomes a more medium bodied presentation of cinnamon, light wood, floral essence and nutmeg. At the back of the palate there are some bold presentations of cedar, but the secondary flavors have moved away. The draw is still a touch too tight for me, but it is serviceable. The burn is solid to the finish.
The finish was somewhat short, but there are very positive notes of sweet nuts and cinnamon that are very satisfying.
Appearance- 88 a nice cigar to look at, but a similar band to it's kin could cause confusion.
Taste- 92 a very subtle and nuanced presentation of many complementary flavors
Construction- 87 some draw tightness hurt the score here
Strength- 86 a nice medium, but some more oomph would be welcome
Overall- 88.75 a very nice experience
Showing posts with label corona extra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corona extra. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
EloGio Serie LSV Corona Extra (6x42)
I am always intrigued by cigars that I have never, ever heard of. This is just one such cigar. I was wandering in my favorite New Orleans B&M last month when I was approached by the owner, a good friend of mine, he had a big smile on his face and I know what that means, new cigars! He introduced me to 4 or 5 of the cigars on my Top 10 from 2011 and he has a hot hand in predicting what I will like. He led me over to these cigars that I had never heard of and laid on me that they were made by a relative of Alejandro Robaina, I can confirm that someone named Carlos Pereda Robaina is behind these smokes and that he is the grandson of the legend. I reluctantly bought some, I will get to why I was reluctant later. I smoked one right there and was impressed, but I was not in the frame of mind to consider that one for a review, so I bought some more.
The cigar presents very cheaply. The band work looks like something from a gas station brand and the tobacco, while supple, seems to be lower grade to me upon inspection. It just seems dry and inferior, not the stuff of Pepin, Padron or Fuente to be sure, or at least that is what I thought. An examination of the construction reveals a well made smoke with nary an issue or area of concern. The pre light aroma is bready and has light brushes of cinnamon. The pre light draw is lightly woody.
This cigar opens with a luxurious array of flavor and balance. The core profile is showing notes of white pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, spice and wheat. At the back of the palate there are some beautiful notes of light wood mingling with some great light tobacco flavors that are binding the whole experience together. The draw is absolute perfection in my world, there is some slight resistance, but the delivery of smoke and flavor is second to none. The burn is sharp and the ash is solid.
The first half of the smoke is eye opening, astonishing, flabbergasting or just damn great if you will. The profile has settled into a fantastic presentation of wheat and toasted marshmallow that is ever so subtly touched by occasional wisps of white pepper and cinnamon. At the back of the palate the light wood notes are balsa like and add a interesting sweetness to the profile, there are also still some beautiful light tobacco notes and some light touches of spice here. The draw continues to be excellent and I am super impressed with this performance, it's almost like this cigar was tailored to my draw specifications. The burn is a touch off here, but I don't think it will be an issue.
The final half of the cigar continues to impress me. I find myself at a loss for the appropriate metaphor at this point (I know you are all stunned), as the cigar exceeding my wildest expectations. The core profile has become a nuanced mix of cinnamon, roasted nuts, wheat and white pepper. It is so good I can hardly divine all that is going on here. The back of the palate has taken on a more cedary tone at this point, but it is ever so lightly touched by some tobacco and spice notes that remove any harshness from the cedary flavors. The draw and burn are solid throughout.
The finish is silky and long, leaving cinnamon and roasted nut flavors on the palate for several breathtaking moments. This is a cigar of legend! You never know what you might find.
Appearance- 85 I will give it an average score, all though it does appear to be cheap
Taste- 99 this was a nearly perfect experience, if I could change one thing I would have more core flavors for longer
Construction- 92 some burn issues in the middle, but the draw was superior
Strength- 94 a fantastic mild/low end medium that is so complementary to the palate
Overall- 93.5 an absolute must smoke!
The cigar presents very cheaply. The band work looks like something from a gas station brand and the tobacco, while supple, seems to be lower grade to me upon inspection. It just seems dry and inferior, not the stuff of Pepin, Padron or Fuente to be sure, or at least that is what I thought. An examination of the construction reveals a well made smoke with nary an issue or area of concern. The pre light aroma is bready and has light brushes of cinnamon. The pre light draw is lightly woody.
This cigar opens with a luxurious array of flavor and balance. The core profile is showing notes of white pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, spice and wheat. At the back of the palate there are some beautiful notes of light wood mingling with some great light tobacco flavors that are binding the whole experience together. The draw is absolute perfection in my world, there is some slight resistance, but the delivery of smoke and flavor is second to none. The burn is sharp and the ash is solid.
The first half of the smoke is eye opening, astonishing, flabbergasting or just damn great if you will. The profile has settled into a fantastic presentation of wheat and toasted marshmallow that is ever so subtly touched by occasional wisps of white pepper and cinnamon. At the back of the palate the light wood notes are balsa like and add a interesting sweetness to the profile, there are also still some beautiful light tobacco notes and some light touches of spice here. The draw continues to be excellent and I am super impressed with this performance, it's almost like this cigar was tailored to my draw specifications. The burn is a touch off here, but I don't think it will be an issue.
The final half of the cigar continues to impress me. I find myself at a loss for the appropriate metaphor at this point (I know you are all stunned), as the cigar exceeding my wildest expectations. The core profile has become a nuanced mix of cinnamon, roasted nuts, wheat and white pepper. It is so good I can hardly divine all that is going on here. The back of the palate has taken on a more cedary tone at this point, but it is ever so lightly touched by some tobacco and spice notes that remove any harshness from the cedary flavors. The draw and burn are solid throughout.
The finish is silky and long, leaving cinnamon and roasted nut flavors on the palate for several breathtaking moments. This is a cigar of legend! You never know what you might find.
Appearance- 85 I will give it an average score, all though it does appear to be cheap
Taste- 99 this was a nearly perfect experience, if I could change one thing I would have more core flavors for longer
Construction- 92 some burn issues in the middle, but the draw was superior
Strength- 94 a fantastic mild/low end medium that is so complementary to the palate
Overall- 93.5 an absolute must smoke!
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
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Bolivar Corona Extra (Box Date June 2006)
This is another cigar that I reviewed last year, it narrowly missed making my top ten of the year and certainly would have been in my top 25. The cigar presents with a tawny, medium brown wrapper that shows some prominent veining. The cigar is firm and seems like it may be a bit tight. The pre light aroma has notes of leather, light pepper and tobacco. The pre light draw shows notes of earth and leather.
The cigar opens with a core profile of tobacco, earth and leather and is everything that I expect from a Bolivar cigar. The level of complexity and depth is excellent right from the start and I detect no early signs that this cigar is anything but at it's peak. At the back of the palate there are intense notes of wood and leather. The draw is a bit tight, but it is not unduly so. The burn is a bit lopsided, but it performs to expectation.
The first half of the cigar performs extremely well. The core profile develops further depth and shows rich character. There are notes of leather, earth and toasty tobacco mingling in a tantalizing dance across the palate. At the back of the palate the intensity begins to increase. There are some unexpected notes of pepper, mixed with wood and leather. The draw is still too tight for me, but it is acceptable. The burn is slightly off, but I am managing to this point.
The final half of the cigar refutes the opinions of many Dominican enthusiasts that often tell me that the Dominican cigars are just as good, or better, than any Cuban cigar out there. To this I say....BALDERDASH! Smoke a well aged Cuban, at it's peak, and you will discover things that you could not believe possible in a cigar. The profile in the back half of this cigar is breathtaking. The core shows powerful notes of pepper and leather. At the back of the palate there are stunning notes of wood, earth and tobacco that overwhelm the senses. The draw and burn continue to be slightly sub par, but I persist to the end without any major issue.
The finish is long and smooth showing notes of pepper, earth, leather and tobacco.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking cigar, prominent veins hurt the appearance
Taste- 97 one of the best profiles in my recent memory
Construction- 87 some draw and burn issues preclude a higher mark
Strength- 92 a surprising full, that could use power in the front of the smoke
Overall- 91.5 this cigar loses points because of construction, but the profile is amongst the best I have smoked
The cigar opens with a core profile of tobacco, earth and leather and is everything that I expect from a Bolivar cigar. The level of complexity and depth is excellent right from the start and I detect no early signs that this cigar is anything but at it's peak. At the back of the palate there are intense notes of wood and leather. The draw is a bit tight, but it is not unduly so. The burn is a bit lopsided, but it performs to expectation.
The first half of the cigar performs extremely well. The core profile develops further depth and shows rich character. There are notes of leather, earth and toasty tobacco mingling in a tantalizing dance across the palate. At the back of the palate the intensity begins to increase. There are some unexpected notes of pepper, mixed with wood and leather. The draw is still too tight for me, but it is acceptable. The burn is slightly off, but I am managing to this point.
The final half of the cigar refutes the opinions of many Dominican enthusiasts that often tell me that the Dominican cigars are just as good, or better, than any Cuban cigar out there. To this I say....BALDERDASH! Smoke a well aged Cuban, at it's peak, and you will discover things that you could not believe possible in a cigar. The profile in the back half of this cigar is breathtaking. The core shows powerful notes of pepper and leather. At the back of the palate there are stunning notes of wood, earth and tobacco that overwhelm the senses. The draw and burn continue to be slightly sub par, but I persist to the end without any major issue.
The finish is long and smooth showing notes of pepper, earth, leather and tobacco.
Appearance- 89 a nice looking cigar, prominent veins hurt the appearance
Taste- 97 one of the best profiles in my recent memory
Construction- 87 some draw and burn issues preclude a higher mark
Strength- 92 a surprising full, that could use power in the front of the smoke
Overall- 91.5 this cigar loses points because of construction, but the profile is amongst the best I have smoked
Friday, September 4, 2009
Bolivar Corona Extra (Box Date June 2006)
This is a fantastic vitola to behold. The cigar has a tawny color, but is slightly ruddy in appearance and has prominent veining. The pre light aroma is of cedar and has some leathery notes. The pre light draw is heavy with leather and earth. The cigar feels a bit firm, but the draw appears to be acceptable.
The cigar opens with some unexpected power, and the nicotine is tingling the palate. There is a fantastic core of leather flavors mingled with light earth and nutmeg notes. The burn is on the money and the ash is a dirty gray.
The cigar continues to develop extremely well and I detect notes of leather, earth, nutmeg, roasted nuts and graham cracker. By the half way point I am struggling to piece together the complexity that this relatively small cigar is showing. There is a minor run causing a lopsided ash and it detracts slightly from the experience.
The final half of the cigar mellows and I am still perplexed, but blown away by the complexity. There are notes of mellow wood, leather and earth coupled with a light pepper flavor that is touching the back of the palate. The burn has evened and the cigar performs well.
The finish is long and smooth. There are lingering notes of leather and mellow wood. The palate is coated with lingering thick flavors from the smoke.
Appearance- 91 prominent veining hurts the score
Taste- 99 nearly flawless profile with complexity and depth that is seldom, if ever, experienced
Construction- 87 the run hurts this score
Strength- 94 an excellent full bodied experience that compliments the cigar perfectly
Overall- 92.75 hurt by construction, but a transcendent taste experience
The cigar opens with some unexpected power, and the nicotine is tingling the palate. There is a fantastic core of leather flavors mingled with light earth and nutmeg notes. The burn is on the money and the ash is a dirty gray.
The cigar continues to develop extremely well and I detect notes of leather, earth, nutmeg, roasted nuts and graham cracker. By the half way point I am struggling to piece together the complexity that this relatively small cigar is showing. There is a minor run causing a lopsided ash and it detracts slightly from the experience.
The final half of the cigar mellows and I am still perplexed, but blown away by the complexity. There are notes of mellow wood, leather and earth coupled with a light pepper flavor that is touching the back of the palate. The burn has evened and the cigar performs well.
The finish is long and smooth. There are lingering notes of leather and mellow wood. The palate is coated with lingering thick flavors from the smoke.
Appearance- 91 prominent veining hurts the score
Taste- 99 nearly flawless profile with complexity and depth that is seldom, if ever, experienced
Construction- 87 the run hurts this score
Strength- 94 an excellent full bodied experience that compliments the cigar perfectly
Overall- 92.75 hurt by construction, but a transcendent taste experience
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Cabaiguan Corona Extra
This is a beautiful looking cigar in one of my favorite sizes. The wrapper is light and blonde with a slight dusting of plume, apparently I have had this around for awhile. The appearance is marred by a ruddy exterior with prominent veining, but there are no other flaws in the wrapper. The pre light aroma is floral and woody. The pre light draw is a bit tight, but hints of cedar and light tobacco notes fill the intake.
The cigar begins with a sweet and lightly earthy note, there is a little tingle from the nicotine at the back of the palate. The first couple of inches develop nicely and maintain a sweet earthy flavor. The smoke is a bit thin and the draw stays a touch tight, but it is showing signs of opening up a little bit.
At the half way point the cigar has developed into a flavorful blend of cream, vanilla and light tobacco character. The burn has stayed even and the cigar has not shown any flaws. The draw has opened up considerably and the smoke is flowing at a nice clip.
With about a third of the cigar remaining I encounter a runner in the burn, but it evens out without canoeing. The flavor profile has flattened out, I note some light tobacco character and some mild pepper at the back of the palate.
The finish is long and has notes of cedar and wood, there is also a satisfying peppery note on the end. The cigar burned a little hot in the last quarter, but it did not detract from the overall experience.
Appearance- 86 the ruddy exterior and veining hurt the score
Taste- 91 a nice complex cigar with a melange of flavors
Construction- 89 one burn issue hurt this score
Strength- 94 a fine example of a medium/full cigar
Overall- 90 an excellent smoke
The cigar begins with a sweet and lightly earthy note, there is a little tingle from the nicotine at the back of the palate. The first couple of inches develop nicely and maintain a sweet earthy flavor. The smoke is a bit thin and the draw stays a touch tight, but it is showing signs of opening up a little bit.
At the half way point the cigar has developed into a flavorful blend of cream, vanilla and light tobacco character. The burn has stayed even and the cigar has not shown any flaws. The draw has opened up considerably and the smoke is flowing at a nice clip.
With about a third of the cigar remaining I encounter a runner in the burn, but it evens out without canoeing. The flavor profile has flattened out, I note some light tobacco character and some mild pepper at the back of the palate.
The finish is long and has notes of cedar and wood, there is also a satisfying peppery note on the end. The cigar burned a little hot in the last quarter, but it did not detract from the overall experience.
Appearance- 86 the ruddy exterior and veining hurt the score
Taste- 91 a nice complex cigar with a melange of flavors
Construction- 89 one burn issue hurt this score
Strength- 94 a fine example of a medium/full cigar
Overall- 90 an excellent smoke
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