This is another new release from Pete Johnson and I had been looking forward to smoking it, upon completion of the cigar I have some different ideas about what I could have done with the time spent anticipating and smoking this cigar. For example, I am long overdue for a trip to the dentist. I have some lecture invites to listen to Health Insurance Actuaries discuss life expectancy tables and I could have gone (apparently that lecture has no date or time, it just keeps going). I have a garage that needs cleaning and office that needs painting, I could have done either one of those. Alas, I wasted time and mind resources dreaming of the day I would smoke this offering with grand expectations of the next great Tatuaje. It was not to be.
The cigar presents in an odd figurado presentation that reminds me of a Fuente Hemingway on roids. This cigar is bulky and heavy feeling to me, the wrapper is dull and unexciting. The construction appears to be well done, but I am not wide eyed at the presentation here. The pre light draw is of heavy tobacco. The pre light aroma is earthy and full of barnyard odors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is of all tobacco, good old fashioned straight forward tobacco. No complexity, no depth and no character presents at all here and I find myself wondering what Pete was thinking. I have been so spoiled by Tat's over the years that I am visibly shaken at this point because I am flummoxed. At the back of the palate there are some serious flavors of dry grass and bitter balsa wood. This cigar has no finesse at this point and my palate is being clubbed by ill defined flavors that are slogging about the mouth. The draw is a shade tight, but cigars with this particular shape often draw poorly until past the tapered foot. The burn is off as well, but I am not overly concerned here.
The first half of the smoke is all straight tobacco with some earthy and mineral flavors that are not very solid. The back of the palate is dry and full of burning grass and hay notes. If it is possible, it is actually getting worse as the cigar develops. The draw is open now, but I wish it weren't. The burn has evened out and I anticipate no issues.
The final half of the cigar becomes so dry and lacking in character that I am sure I am smoking a Cheap Bastard and that someone got the drop on me and switched my cigar. I determine it could not be so and that the cigar is actually that bad. The core profile becomes of charred coffee and loamy earth, there are still some tobacco notes here, but they can't save it. At the back of the palate the dryness continues as grassy flavors coat the palate is a smoke that has a dusty texture. My mouth is starting to feel like I slept with it open all night while one foot away from a box fan. The draw is fine and the burn continues to be acceptable.
The finish is not great and I am so disappointed with this cigar that I can hardly believe my notes that indicate this was a terrible smoking experience throughout, my first such experience while sampling a Pete Johnson smoke.
Appearance- 86 nice vitola, that is all
Taste- 76 some nice tones, but overall not good
Construction- 88 pretty good for a complex vitola
Strength- 85 medium and not remarkable
Overall- 83.25 very sub par, I expect way more
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Para Ti Original Canonazos (6x48)
So this is a Pete Johnson collaboration with some dude I have never heard of. This always makes me nervous because these types of things have led to so many god awful cigars in the past. Dude A says to Dude B (whom happens to be in the cigar industry) that he loves cigars and would like to make one of his own. Dude B (being a good friend says it is tough to do, but I can help), thus the process begins. Intentions are good, but Dude A doesn't have the stomach for the job or the patience to develop a palate and Dude B is a busy guy and can't oversee everything, and it's not his cigar anyway so he just guides Dude A for a bit then goes away. Dude A then launches some dog rocket for everyone to drop 9 bucks on and Dude B makes his residuals for a bit and everyone is happy when CI buys the rest of the cigars that don't sell (about 99.9% of those made by Dude A) for about .000001 cents per smoke and a bag of tobacco that had been in an aging room since about a week ago....
I don't think that is what happened here, but the story proves a point. Don't get in the cigar business if you have money and no brains, passion and no palate and glory but no guts.
This particular cigar presents with very simple band work and box presentation, this is not indicative of anything but I like to point out when a cigar looks cheap and costs over 6 or 7 bucks, as this one does. That indicates to me that they spent the money on making a quality smoke not fancy packaging right? Right?
So I begin my examination and find that the wrapper here is not very appealing, it is somewhat mottled and not very oily and is somewhat sandpapery to the touch, I would call this tooth except it is too dry. The construction is shoddy and I detect several soft spots in the bunch that I think could cause a problem. The pre light aroma is vegetal and smacks of heavy minerals. The pre light draw is grassy and dry. To say that my mouth was watering at this point would be a severe understatement.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all black pepper and dry grass, it is not appealing and it has little character or depth. At the back of the palate Dude A is killing me with some sort of musty, mildew like flavor that is tripping my gag reflex and I am considering a quick spew into my date's wine glass. The draw is a little tight to start, but I don't think it will cause any problems since I am likely to launch this beast if it continues to insult my palate in this way. The burn is nice and even, and that is the only good thing I can say about the opening moments of this smoke.
The first half of the cigar settles down a bit and so does my urge to vomit. The profile begins to show some cinnamon like spice, but there is a heavy dose of mineral here that is bordering on being metallic and I am concerned about the development of the cigar over the next half. At the back of the palate the grassy notes have found their home and I am wishing they had gone next door. The draw is acceptable at this point and the burn is performing well.
The final half of the cigar does nothing to really change my mind about Dude A's capabilities. The profile continues to be of strong mineral flavors with all too fleeting notes of spice. At the back of the palate the grass still burns on and my throat is drying from all of this crazy dry smoke. The draw maintains acceptability, but I am having to supply some effort in the final third and this causes heat in the smoke. The burn stays strong throughout.
The finish leaves me in need of a tongue scraper, I feel like I just sucked on pennies for an hour.
Appearance- 81 an ugly, cheap looking smoke
Taste- 74 nothing here was really worth noting
Construction- 85 I will be merciful and call it average
Strength- 81 medium I guess, but hard to judge when the profile is so off
Overall- 80, just not good, but Pete gets a pass because he has hit so many home runs for me over the years
I don't think that is what happened here, but the story proves a point. Don't get in the cigar business if you have money and no brains, passion and no palate and glory but no guts.
This particular cigar presents with very simple band work and box presentation, this is not indicative of anything but I like to point out when a cigar looks cheap and costs over 6 or 7 bucks, as this one does. That indicates to me that they spent the money on making a quality smoke not fancy packaging right? Right?
So I begin my examination and find that the wrapper here is not very appealing, it is somewhat mottled and not very oily and is somewhat sandpapery to the touch, I would call this tooth except it is too dry. The construction is shoddy and I detect several soft spots in the bunch that I think could cause a problem. The pre light aroma is vegetal and smacks of heavy minerals. The pre light draw is grassy and dry. To say that my mouth was watering at this point would be a severe understatement.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all black pepper and dry grass, it is not appealing and it has little character or depth. At the back of the palate Dude A is killing me with some sort of musty, mildew like flavor that is tripping my gag reflex and I am considering a quick spew into my date's wine glass. The draw is a little tight to start, but I don't think it will cause any problems since I am likely to launch this beast if it continues to insult my palate in this way. The burn is nice and even, and that is the only good thing I can say about the opening moments of this smoke.
The first half of the cigar settles down a bit and so does my urge to vomit. The profile begins to show some cinnamon like spice, but there is a heavy dose of mineral here that is bordering on being metallic and I am concerned about the development of the cigar over the next half. At the back of the palate the grassy notes have found their home and I am wishing they had gone next door. The draw is acceptable at this point and the burn is performing well.
The final half of the cigar does nothing to really change my mind about Dude A's capabilities. The profile continues to be of strong mineral flavors with all too fleeting notes of spice. At the back of the palate the grass still burns on and my throat is drying from all of this crazy dry smoke. The draw maintains acceptability, but I am having to supply some effort in the final third and this causes heat in the smoke. The burn stays strong throughout.
The finish leaves me in need of a tongue scraper, I feel like I just sucked on pennies for an hour.
Appearance- 81 an ugly, cheap looking smoke
Taste- 74 nothing here was really worth noting
Construction- 85 I will be merciful and call it average
Strength- 81 medium I guess, but hard to judge when the profile is so off
Overall- 80, just not good, but Pete gets a pass because he has hit so many home runs for me over the years
Monday, August 29, 2011
Curivari El Gran Rey Emperadores (5x50)
Gasp!! Two reviews in as many nights from the Czar? What is going on here you might ask? Nothing I say! I have just started to get around to some cigars that I have had that were in need of evaluation. Everything takes time my friends, and now is the time to review another off the beaten path smoke.
This cigar continues my tour of the Curivari frontmark and I can only hope that it will be as impressive as it's cousin from the evening last. It presents with more tricky band work, from a distance you will think Cuban Hoyo de Monterrey, again be not fooled. While the band is similar this is no Cuban, besides you silly sots, where would you find a Cuban in a B&M anyway? The cigar presents well, with a wrapper that is couple of shades lighter than being a standard maduro. There are some visible veins, but I don't think any of them have achieved a level of prominence that would cause concern. The construction bothers me a bit as I find some areas that seem too loose to me, but I make the decision early to smoke this slowly so I won't have any issues. The pre light aroma is of clover and spice. The pre light draw shows some dark wood flavors and maybe a touch of honey.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly flat for me, there are some nice flavors of wood and spice, but they are lacking in depth and character. Wispy flavors tend to upset me when they happen during the introductory period of the cigar, they remind of the woman that you take all night to gather courage to talk to and she politely lets you know she is not interested. At the back of the palate there are some interesting earthy intepretations, but again the depth and character are not what I would like. The draw is too loose for me and I have to slow the smoke down to keep the appropriate combustion rate. The burn is a touch off, but it is not anything to be overly concerned with at this point.
The first half of the cigar begins to warm up nicely. The core profile shows some excellent dark wood, cream and honey presentations that are more deep than earlier in the smoke, but still a bit shallow for me. At the back of the palate the earthy tones are accompanied by some spice and clover flavors, but again are not particualrly deep. The draw has come around as I pass some of the loose areas of the bunch and the combustion is now proper. The burn is everning out nicely as the cigar proceeds.
The final half of the cigar is coming on strong, this is starting to be what I look for in a smoke. The core profile takes on a core of toasted marshmallow and cream that leaves me yearning for more, the depth here is progressing, but I would like these flavors to be more robust at this point in a smoke. At the back of the palate there are still some nice earthy flavors, but some dark chocolate notes start to creep in here as well. I just wish this had happened earlier in the smoke with some further depth. The burn is now fine and the draw continues to perform well after the initial looseness.
The finish was a touch weak, but showed some nice earth and wood flavors. This was not as good as last night's smoke, but it was a nice smoke.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke, but some veins hurt the visual
Taste- 87 some depth and character issues here, but all in all above average
Construction- 85 average is all I can do here, the draw was too loose early and it caused early issues
Strength- 86 medium for me, but a nice smoke strength wise
Overall- 86.25 slightly above average, but $1 more than last night's 91...You do the math
This cigar continues my tour of the Curivari frontmark and I can only hope that it will be as impressive as it's cousin from the evening last. It presents with more tricky band work, from a distance you will think Cuban Hoyo de Monterrey, again be not fooled. While the band is similar this is no Cuban, besides you silly sots, where would you find a Cuban in a B&M anyway? The cigar presents well, with a wrapper that is couple of shades lighter than being a standard maduro. There are some visible veins, but I don't think any of them have achieved a level of prominence that would cause concern. The construction bothers me a bit as I find some areas that seem too loose to me, but I make the decision early to smoke this slowly so I won't have any issues. The pre light aroma is of clover and spice. The pre light draw shows some dark wood flavors and maybe a touch of honey.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly flat for me, there are some nice flavors of wood and spice, but they are lacking in depth and character. Wispy flavors tend to upset me when they happen during the introductory period of the cigar, they remind of the woman that you take all night to gather courage to talk to and she politely lets you know she is not interested. At the back of the palate there are some interesting earthy intepretations, but again the depth and character are not what I would like. The draw is too loose for me and I have to slow the smoke down to keep the appropriate combustion rate. The burn is a touch off, but it is not anything to be overly concerned with at this point.
The first half of the cigar begins to warm up nicely. The core profile shows some excellent dark wood, cream and honey presentations that are more deep than earlier in the smoke, but still a bit shallow for me. At the back of the palate the earthy tones are accompanied by some spice and clover flavors, but again are not particualrly deep. The draw has come around as I pass some of the loose areas of the bunch and the combustion is now proper. The burn is everning out nicely as the cigar proceeds.
The final half of the cigar is coming on strong, this is starting to be what I look for in a smoke. The core profile takes on a core of toasted marshmallow and cream that leaves me yearning for more, the depth here is progressing, but I would like these flavors to be more robust at this point in a smoke. At the back of the palate there are still some nice earthy flavors, but some dark chocolate notes start to creep in here as well. I just wish this had happened earlier in the smoke with some further depth. The burn is now fine and the draw continues to perform well after the initial looseness.
The finish was a touch weak, but showed some nice earth and wood flavors. This was not as good as last night's smoke, but it was a nice smoke.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke, but some veins hurt the visual
Taste- 87 some depth and character issues here, but all in all above average
Construction- 85 average is all I can do here, the draw was too loose early and it caused early issues
Strength- 86 medium for me, but a nice smoke strength wise
Overall- 86.25 slightly above average, but $1 more than last night's 91...You do the math
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Curivari Selccion Privada Robusto (5x50)
I have been on a review hiatus for awhile and it has vexed me, but sometimes the working to pay the bills thing gets in the way. When this happens I smoke old standbys that I know I have reviewed before because it's not like I'm a gonna stop smoking.
This particular cigar was discovered in a sweet little B&M in New Orleans and I had never, ever heard of it. The proprietor there clued me in and it was the beginning of a nice friendship between he and I. As for the relationship with the cigar, well the review follows.
The cigar presents well with a nice medium brown wrapper that has little veining and nice oils. From a distance the back will make you think RyJ or Partagas, but do not be fooled this is neither of those. The construction is flawless and I detect nary a tight or loose spot in the body of the cigar. The pre light aroma is of light spice, wood and vanilla. The pre light draw shows flavors of vanilla and wood.
The cigar opens with an unexpectedly smooth, but full, presentation of white pepper and wood flavors. There is depth aplenty here and the flavors are bold and really delivering. At the back of the palate there is a sharp spice and some nice flavors of anise. The draw is cubanesque, in that it is slightly tight, but it delivers ample smoke without too much effort. The burn is a bit akimbo but I don't have any concerns about it as the cigar will progress.
The first half of the smoke continues to show very nice flavor. There are still some excellent strains of white pepper, but a creamy vanilla note has entered the smoke here as well providing a fantastic counterpoint to the pepper flavors. At the back of the palate a very nice wood flavor dominates the profile, but there are still some very nice hints of spice playing with the pepper and vanilla from the front of the smoke. The draw loosens some, but is still a touch too tight without causing issues. The burn has evened out nicely and the cigar is booming along without any concern on my part.
The final half of the cigar continues to be strong. The main profile shows vanilla and spice notes that are complemented by an undertone of wood. At the back of the palate there are still some excellent notes of spice that have mulled some, but they are replaced by a finish of anise that checks the palate the nicely. The draw continues to be a touch tight, but it is performing well. The burn is excellent at this point.
The finish is smooth and long showing some nice anise notes well after the end is deposited into my ashtray. All in all this is an excellent find and I bought the rest of what he had in the store, and I purchased several of the other blends Curivari offers.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 92 some very nice depth and the flavors were all complementary of one another
Construction- 89 some tightness in the draw and early burn issues lead to the deduction
Strength- 93 a very nice medium that lends to smoking early in a lineup without killing the palate
Overall- 91 a very solid smoking experience
This particular cigar was discovered in a sweet little B&M in New Orleans and I had never, ever heard of it. The proprietor there clued me in and it was the beginning of a nice friendship between he and I. As for the relationship with the cigar, well the review follows.
The cigar presents well with a nice medium brown wrapper that has little veining and nice oils. From a distance the back will make you think RyJ or Partagas, but do not be fooled this is neither of those. The construction is flawless and I detect nary a tight or loose spot in the body of the cigar. The pre light aroma is of light spice, wood and vanilla. The pre light draw shows flavors of vanilla and wood.
The cigar opens with an unexpectedly smooth, but full, presentation of white pepper and wood flavors. There is depth aplenty here and the flavors are bold and really delivering. At the back of the palate there is a sharp spice and some nice flavors of anise. The draw is cubanesque, in that it is slightly tight, but it delivers ample smoke without too much effort. The burn is a bit akimbo but I don't have any concerns about it as the cigar will progress.
The first half of the smoke continues to show very nice flavor. There are still some excellent strains of white pepper, but a creamy vanilla note has entered the smoke here as well providing a fantastic counterpoint to the pepper flavors. At the back of the palate a very nice wood flavor dominates the profile, but there are still some very nice hints of spice playing with the pepper and vanilla from the front of the smoke. The draw loosens some, but is still a touch too tight without causing issues. The burn has evened out nicely and the cigar is booming along without any concern on my part.
The final half of the cigar continues to be strong. The main profile shows vanilla and spice notes that are complemented by an undertone of wood. At the back of the palate there are still some excellent notes of spice that have mulled some, but they are replaced by a finish of anise that checks the palate the nicely. The draw continues to be a touch tight, but it is performing well. The burn is excellent at this point.
The finish is smooth and long showing some nice anise notes well after the end is deposited into my ashtray. All in all this is an excellent find and I bought the rest of what he had in the store, and I purchased several of the other blends Curivari offers.
Appearance- 91 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 92 some very nice depth and the flavors were all complementary of one another
Construction- 89 some tightness in the draw and early burn issues lead to the deduction
Strength- 93 a very nice medium that lends to smoking early in a lineup without killing the palate
Overall- 91 a very solid smoking experience
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Perdomo Exhibicion Sungrown Robusto (5x50)
Cigars from the IPCPR are starting to show themselves and I recently ran into Billy Perdomo and he handed me some of these new cigars in maduro and sungrown wraps. Billy knows what I like and he had a knowing smile on his face as he slipped me these bad boys and he slyly said, "Let me know what you think".
The cigar is beautifully done, but in a simplistic old-fashioned way. The band work is rustic and workaday and the cigar is well constructed. The wrapper is toothy, but shows some nice oils and very little veining. The cap is well done and the overall impression of the cigar is something I like, not too flashy and just sexy enough to get my attention. The pre light aroma smacks of wood and sweet fruit. The pre light draw is a little peppery but not overwhelmingly so.
The cigar opens with a satisfying profile of toasted marshmallow and light spice. I am stunned by the depth of these flavors so early in the smoke as Perdomo often takes some time to warm up in it's other blends. At the back of the palate there are some excellent notes of dark wood and roasted nuts that complement the front of the experience seamlessly. The draw has some tension and I would like it to be a touch looser, but I don't think it will cause any performance issues. The burn is sharp and nice white ash is forming and holding well.
The first half of the cigar continues to progress with depth and complexity. The toasted marshmallow notes continue to show through, but there has been a transition into more dark wood notes in the front of the palate that adds some nice depth. At the back of the palate a nice earthy presentation takes center stage and continues to complement the cigar beautifully. The draw opens slightly and becomes near perfect for me. The burn continues to be excellent and the ash holds for 2.5 inches before I lightly knock it off.
The final half of the smoke thins a bit, but there are still some nice core flavors. The main body shows some nice dark wood and fruit notes, but the depth is not what it was earlier in the smoke. The back of the palate continues along earthy lines but there is some loamy mustiness that creeps into the effort here as well, not a death knell by any means, but you have to be accepting of this change. The draw continues to be nearly perfect at this point and the burn continues to show well.
The finish is long and satisfying showing dark wood and earth long after I set it down. All in all another Perdomo winner in my book and as an added bonus I am hearing the price point will be economical.
Appearance- 91 a nice, simple, old-fashioned approach
Taste- 90 a very nice cigar that would have been better if the flavor had not waned in the back half
Construction- 91 some early tightness in the draw, but overall well above average
Strength- 92 a very nice medium
Overall- 90.75 a very nice smoking experience
The cigar is beautifully done, but in a simplistic old-fashioned way. The band work is rustic and workaday and the cigar is well constructed. The wrapper is toothy, but shows some nice oils and very little veining. The cap is well done and the overall impression of the cigar is something I like, not too flashy and just sexy enough to get my attention. The pre light aroma smacks of wood and sweet fruit. The pre light draw is a little peppery but not overwhelmingly so.
The cigar opens with a satisfying profile of toasted marshmallow and light spice. I am stunned by the depth of these flavors so early in the smoke as Perdomo often takes some time to warm up in it's other blends. At the back of the palate there are some excellent notes of dark wood and roasted nuts that complement the front of the experience seamlessly. The draw has some tension and I would like it to be a touch looser, but I don't think it will cause any performance issues. The burn is sharp and nice white ash is forming and holding well.
The first half of the cigar continues to progress with depth and complexity. The toasted marshmallow notes continue to show through, but there has been a transition into more dark wood notes in the front of the palate that adds some nice depth. At the back of the palate a nice earthy presentation takes center stage and continues to complement the cigar beautifully. The draw opens slightly and becomes near perfect for me. The burn continues to be excellent and the ash holds for 2.5 inches before I lightly knock it off.
The final half of the smoke thins a bit, but there are still some nice core flavors. The main body shows some nice dark wood and fruit notes, but the depth is not what it was earlier in the smoke. The back of the palate continues along earthy lines but there is some loamy mustiness that creeps into the effort here as well, not a death knell by any means, but you have to be accepting of this change. The draw continues to be nearly perfect at this point and the burn continues to show well.
The finish is long and satisfying showing dark wood and earth long after I set it down. All in all another Perdomo winner in my book and as an added bonus I am hearing the price point will be economical.
Appearance- 91 a nice, simple, old-fashioned approach
Taste- 90 a very nice cigar that would have been better if the flavor had not waned in the back half
Construction- 91 some early tightness in the draw, but overall well above average
Strength- 92 a very nice medium
Overall- 90.75 a very nice smoking experience
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Ernesto Perez Carrillo Maduro
I can't find anything out about this cigar, but I will tell you what I know, it will be released at IPCPR next week. I came into possession of one when a close friend of mine gifted it to me after he obtained one from the Carrillo Rep at an event. This is so hush hush that I could not find size or blend information when I ran it through the Googleplex.
The cigar presents with the standard EPC Black, Red and Gold band. The wrapper is toothy and very dark with very little veining. The cigar is large with a 50+ ring gauge to be sure, an inspection realizes no issues anywhere and I am thinking this could be something special in spite of the large ring gauge. The pre light aroma smacks of coffee and dark fruit. The pre light draw shows some cocoa and dark fruit as well.
The cigar opens with a profile that is astounding. There are notes of dark fruit, raisin, chocolate and hazelnut present and they blend together in an excellent array of flavor. At the back of the palate there is an earthiness that I have never experience outside of a Padron product and it shocks me because in my mind Padron has always had the corner on this area of flavor. The draw is fluid and easy whilst delivering serious amounts of smoke. The burn is solid and a nice, crisp white ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar continues to be impressive, all though there has been some mellowing in the flavor area. The profile maintains a beautiful array of dark fruit and chocolate and I could swear I am tasting raspberry in the smoke at this point. At the back of the palate satisfying earthy tones continue coat the palate. The draw continues to be nearly perfect and I am becoming more surprised by this as it progresses, I am used to big cigars causing issues in the draw. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar ramps back up and shows miles and miles of complexity and depth. The profile moves into a more provocative presentation of cocoa, black pepper and coffee. At the back of the palate the earthy tones have been joined by some dark cherry flavors that are phenomenal. The draw and burn stay solid throughout the smoke.
The finish was long and smooth and full of earthy flavors that smack the palate for several minutes.
This was a fantastic cigar, I can only hope that the release will be as spectacular.
Appearance- 91 a very nice looking cigar
Taste- 98 one of the finest profiles I have ever experienced
Construction- 100 not a single issue in the smoke, and I was outside on a hot day
Strength- 93 a wonderful medium/full that I thought could stand some more punch
Overall- 96.75 an instant classic, I only wish I had more at this time. I anxiously await the release.
The cigar presents with the standard EPC Black, Red and Gold band. The wrapper is toothy and very dark with very little veining. The cigar is large with a 50+ ring gauge to be sure, an inspection realizes no issues anywhere and I am thinking this could be something special in spite of the large ring gauge. The pre light aroma smacks of coffee and dark fruit. The pre light draw shows some cocoa and dark fruit as well.
The cigar opens with a profile that is astounding. There are notes of dark fruit, raisin, chocolate and hazelnut present and they blend together in an excellent array of flavor. At the back of the palate there is an earthiness that I have never experience outside of a Padron product and it shocks me because in my mind Padron has always had the corner on this area of flavor. The draw is fluid and easy whilst delivering serious amounts of smoke. The burn is solid and a nice, crisp white ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar continues to be impressive, all though there has been some mellowing in the flavor area. The profile maintains a beautiful array of dark fruit and chocolate and I could swear I am tasting raspberry in the smoke at this point. At the back of the palate satisfying earthy tones continue coat the palate. The draw continues to be nearly perfect and I am becoming more surprised by this as it progresses, I am used to big cigars causing issues in the draw. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar ramps back up and shows miles and miles of complexity and depth. The profile moves into a more provocative presentation of cocoa, black pepper and coffee. At the back of the palate the earthy tones have been joined by some dark cherry flavors that are phenomenal. The draw and burn stay solid throughout the smoke.
The finish was long and smooth and full of earthy flavors that smack the palate for several minutes.
This was a fantastic cigar, I can only hope that the release will be as spectacular.
Appearance- 91 a very nice looking cigar
Taste- 98 one of the finest profiles I have ever experienced
Construction- 100 not a single issue in the smoke, and I was outside on a hot day
Strength- 93 a wonderful medium/full that I thought could stand some more punch
Overall- 96.75 an instant classic, I only wish I had more at this time. I anxiously await the release.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Rocky Patel Renaissance Sumatra Toro (6X52)
It is no secret that I have a black heart towards Rocky offerings, when they ruined the original Olde World Reserve with some crappy re blend I left the fold and have never been back. Then along comes a friend with a respected palate and some solid reviewing chops and recommends this smoke. To top it all off she gave me one and asked me to smoke it. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I accepted it and sat in my humi for a long time just never getting around to smoking it. Well it is now ash and my thoughts follow.
The cigar presents well with a nice solid wrapper visual that is unmarred by veins or flaws. The band is somewhat bland, but who smokes the band anyway (as a side note I have seen some drunks, they will remain nameless, smoke the band as well, but that is a story for another time)? Construction seems to be ok and I can't detect any areas of immediate concern. The pre light aroma has all the pungent attributes of a hot barnyard. The pre light draw is woody, but shows some hints of pepper and spice.
The cigar opens with a profile that is middling to me. There are some nice dark wood flavors and a hint of raisins, but overall there is not real complexity or depth here. The back of the palate is showing some rich tobacco notes, but I find myself wanting more from the get go. The burn is wonky from the start, but I am resisting an immediate touch up. The draw is nice and fluid and delivers plenty of smoke.
The first half of the cigar is a study in duality. There are moments when this cigar wows me, these are when there are deep and rich flavors of wood, earth, raisin and spice. Then there are moments that are flat and lacking, these are when there are papery flavors with some bitter soap like tastes. Thankfully the wow moments are more numerous, but I am sad when pondering what this cigar could be with wow factor type consistency. The burn levels out some, but is still lopsided. The draw continues to be excellent.
The final half of the cigar settles down nicely. The profile morphs into a nice presentation of wood, cocoa and spice flavors that are pleasing. My only complaint would be that I would like some more power, but that is me being nit picky I guess. At the back of the palate there is a satisfying earthiness that is melding the whole experience together. There is one touch up required as the burn canoes in the last third so there will be some deductions for that, but the draw stays solid throughout.
The finish was long and earthy. All in all this was a nice smoke. Would it make me reconsider my Rocky position? Probably not, but I might smoke one of these on rare occasion.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke, but nothing over the top
Taste- 88 a nice experience toward the end, some deductions for issues in the first half\
Construction- 86 all burn related
Strength- 87 I would have liked more than the medium presented here
Overall- 87 a solid smoke that could have rated much higher with some consistency
The cigar presents well with a nice solid wrapper visual that is unmarred by veins or flaws. The band is somewhat bland, but who smokes the band anyway (as a side note I have seen some drunks, they will remain nameless, smoke the band as well, but that is a story for another time)? Construction seems to be ok and I can't detect any areas of immediate concern. The pre light aroma has all the pungent attributes of a hot barnyard. The pre light draw is woody, but shows some hints of pepper and spice.
The cigar opens with a profile that is middling to me. There are some nice dark wood flavors and a hint of raisins, but overall there is not real complexity or depth here. The back of the palate is showing some rich tobacco notes, but I find myself wanting more from the get go. The burn is wonky from the start, but I am resisting an immediate touch up. The draw is nice and fluid and delivers plenty of smoke.
The first half of the cigar is a study in duality. There are moments when this cigar wows me, these are when there are deep and rich flavors of wood, earth, raisin and spice. Then there are moments that are flat and lacking, these are when there are papery flavors with some bitter soap like tastes. Thankfully the wow moments are more numerous, but I am sad when pondering what this cigar could be with wow factor type consistency. The burn levels out some, but is still lopsided. The draw continues to be excellent.
The final half of the cigar settles down nicely. The profile morphs into a nice presentation of wood, cocoa and spice flavors that are pleasing. My only complaint would be that I would like some more power, but that is me being nit picky I guess. At the back of the palate there is a satisfying earthiness that is melding the whole experience together. There is one touch up required as the burn canoes in the last third so there will be some deductions for that, but the draw stays solid throughout.
The finish was long and earthy. All in all this was a nice smoke. Would it make me reconsider my Rocky position? Probably not, but I might smoke one of these on rare occasion.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke, but nothing over the top
Taste- 88 a nice experience toward the end, some deductions for issues in the first half\
Construction- 86 all burn related
Strength- 87 I would have liked more than the medium presented here
Overall- 87 a solid smoke that could have rated much higher with some consistency
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