I very seldom smoke and review anything that is given to me by anyone remotely associated with a manufacturer and my reasons for that are not limited. It begins with the fact that I view my blog as the Consumer Reports of the cigar world, I pull no punches and say what I think about a cigar based on my own experience as a consumer in the world of cigars. I don't apologize for my candid reviews of each and every cigar, even though I have been asked to apologize or even retract reviews. It is with this always in mind that I generally refuse to review cigars from manufacturers, even if they are friends of mine, because if I hate it and say so or vice versa, I don't want to lose friends or be accused of being biased.
This cigar came to my attention when I was contacted by a man associated in their manufacture, I didn't ask in what way, not did I research it. We began a dialog about how he could get his cigar to infiltrate the market in a more robust way, after some back and forth he asked me if I would smoke and review some of them. I was hesitant, but I got the distinct impression that he was looking for a good, solid, unbiased opinion of the cigar and that he would not take umbrage if I had to bag the cigar upon inspection and consumption. Finally, I like boutique blends and their story and this cigar was a boutique and had a great story (I will link the website later in this review so you can read the story), so I told him I was in. He didn't disappoint, I got a sampler of the cigars and I set about smoking them over the last month. Instead of reviewing each one individually I will review them as a whole as each size contained the same flavor structure (though in differing ratios) and performance consistency.
The cigars are all beautifully constructed. The fine craftsmanship is obvious as the wrapper is applied well and the bunch is perfect, there is nary an issue when inspecting these cigars and that speaks to a quality boutique experience. The wrapper has a wonderful reddish brown hue and reminds me of some Colorado presentations I have seen before, just a fabulous look for a cigar, it feels so rich and sumptuous when the wrapper is oily and red tinged. The band work is a fine piece of art and I have no complaints about the presentation of the cigar at all. The pre light aroma is spicy melange of clove and cinnamon. The pre light draw shows the slightest hint of raisins and dark fruit.
The cigar opens with a core profile that is so subtly done yet so complex that I am stunned in the early moments. The core profile is showing a wonderful array of slight orange zest, raisin and cinnamon flavors that are mixing together in a way that I had not considered or thought of in a blend before. My only complaint here is that there is a dark and smoky wood note that threatens to overwhelm the delicate flavors above, and at times does come on too strong to keep the deliciously subtle flavors at the forefront. At the back of the palate and through the nose there is a sweet earth flavor that combines with a black cherry or raspberry note that is exceptional. The draw is a little bit too tight in some of the sizes for me, but overall it performs well in all of the smokes I sampled. The burn is sharp and slow on all of the cigars and performed in excellent fashion.
The first half of each cigar develops well. The core profile fades into a more straight presentation of raisin and dark wood, but the flavor is robust and full while not being as complex as earlier. The back of the palate continues to show some nice earth flavors, but they become slightly loamy as the cigar moves on and lose sweetness. The dark fruit flavor from earlier has transitioned into a more spice oriented experience and I would call it almost herbal. The draw and burn continue to perform well at this point in every cigar.
The final half of the cigars continue to impress me. The core profile moves into a more complex array of pepper, cinnamon and raisin flavors that I find interesting right to the very end of each smoke. The back of the palate and the retro hale continue to show earthy notes, but there are some impressions of molasses and sweet grass here as well. This cigar really is a taste experience, one needs to be fully in tune with the palate when smoking these cigars. The draw and burn perform well all the way through in each smoke.
The finish was long and smooth (with the exception of the corona which has tannins and became hot) showing nice flavors of raisin and earth.
All in all this cigar is a must try for any boutique enthusiast, there is not a single reason not to smoke it, unless of course you are some sort of Dan Brown following conspiracy theorist, in which case I would recommend the tin foil smoking jacket... Website for the smoke is here http://www.thewidowssoncigar.com/
Appearance- 93 a fine looking smoke in all areas
Taste- 91 a very fine experience that could do with some refinement in some areas
Construction- 92 very well made
Strength- 91 a very nice medium/full smoke
Overall- 91.75 which puts it very high on my list of smokes for this year
Monday, June 24, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Camacho Mike Ditka Throwback Toro
When you think of Da Bears you naturally think of Da Coach. I have been a lifelong Bears fan and I cut my football teeth watching Ditka led Bears teams smack people in the mouth, as he used to say so often. I've met Da Coach many times and he is a gracious man so I can think of no person more deserving of a cigar tribute than he is. The man is a football legend. Game changing Tight End, helping make the position more vertical instead of just another Fullback split wide. Game changing coach, making defense the centerpiece of so many winning teams. The phrase defense wins championships was probably around before he was, but he really made it a reality when Da Bears won the Super Bowl in 86. He was almost a game changing politician as well, he was tapped to run for US Senate in 04 and he declined even though polls showed him winning in a landslide against his opponent. How is that game changing you might ask? His opponent would have been Barack Obama. I can say it would have been a much different world if that certain race had gone to Ditka... All of this is to say I was excited to smoke a cigar made in tribute to someone I grew up watching, love him or hate him he is a legend.
The cigar is very limited, only 5000 boxes of 10, or at least that is what the interwebs say. I am somewhat anxious about this because it is made by Camacho and I really dislike so many of their offerings, I assess and hope for the best. The cigar looks excellent, presented in it's own coffin and resplendent in a dark and chocolaty wrapper, while there are some prominent veins I don't find any other issues with the smoke as I give it the once over. The pre light aroma smacks of pepper and earth. The pre light draw has some signs of wood and spice, but there is a slight bitterness that is somewhat off putting.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all pepper, and pepper is the only dimension. This one dimensional approach immediately has me wary of what is to come. Cigars that show all strength up front seldom develop into anything other that what they show early and it leads to flat and mundane cigar experiences. The back of the palate is all pepper as well and I sigh and resign myself to what I feel will be a very pedestrian experience not befitting of Da Coach.and his many facets. The draw is fine, maybe a little tight for me, but I am not upset by it. The burn is also solid to this point.
The first half of the cigar retains its one dimensional aspect. The flavor is pepper and that is it, sadly there is some strange bitterness that comes in here and there as well, but I can't put my finger on what it might be. This one dimensional strength craze was supposed to be over, why do manufacturers keep doing this? It is beyond my comprehension. The back of the palate and through the nose is almost all pepper as well, there are some very subtle and fleeting hints of wood, but they are really nothing to mention. The draw is still a bit tight for me, but it is not causing any issues. The burn is still solid.
The final half of the cigar finally shows some development, but it is a regression and not a progression. The core profile is bitter and ranging into the foul spectrum. The main flavor is still pepper, but there are some sharp tobacco notes that show a bitter aftertaste. The back of the palate shows some earthy notes but they are more loamy than pleasant and I am almost completely turned off at this point. The draw and burn remain much the same throughout.
The finish was short and harsh with scorched wood and sharp pepper flavors that leave the palate tired and putrefied.
I am disappointed by this smoke and the fact that is has Da Coach's name attached to it. He deserves so much better...
Appearance- 92 really nice touch with the coffin and the cigar is wonderful to look at
Taste- 77 really very poor
Construction- 87 not bad, tight draw leads to some reduction
Strength- 82 all power and nothing else leads to one dimensional smokes
Overall- 83.75 very poor
The cigar is very limited, only 5000 boxes of 10, or at least that is what the interwebs say. I am somewhat anxious about this because it is made by Camacho and I really dislike so many of their offerings, I assess and hope for the best. The cigar looks excellent, presented in it's own coffin and resplendent in a dark and chocolaty wrapper, while there are some prominent veins I don't find any other issues with the smoke as I give it the once over. The pre light aroma smacks of pepper and earth. The pre light draw has some signs of wood and spice, but there is a slight bitterness that is somewhat off putting.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all pepper, and pepper is the only dimension. This one dimensional approach immediately has me wary of what is to come. Cigars that show all strength up front seldom develop into anything other that what they show early and it leads to flat and mundane cigar experiences. The back of the palate is all pepper as well and I sigh and resign myself to what I feel will be a very pedestrian experience not befitting of Da Coach.and his many facets. The draw is fine, maybe a little tight for me, but I am not upset by it. The burn is also solid to this point.
The first half of the cigar retains its one dimensional aspect. The flavor is pepper and that is it, sadly there is some strange bitterness that comes in here and there as well, but I can't put my finger on what it might be. This one dimensional strength craze was supposed to be over, why do manufacturers keep doing this? It is beyond my comprehension. The back of the palate and through the nose is almost all pepper as well, there are some very subtle and fleeting hints of wood, but they are really nothing to mention. The draw is still a bit tight for me, but it is not causing any issues. The burn is still solid.
The final half of the cigar finally shows some development, but it is a regression and not a progression. The core profile is bitter and ranging into the foul spectrum. The main flavor is still pepper, but there are some sharp tobacco notes that show a bitter aftertaste. The back of the palate shows some earthy notes but they are more loamy than pleasant and I am almost completely turned off at this point. The draw and burn remain much the same throughout.
The finish was short and harsh with scorched wood and sharp pepper flavors that leave the palate tired and putrefied.
I am disappointed by this smoke and the fact that is has Da Coach's name attached to it. He deserves so much better...
Appearance- 92 really nice touch with the coffin and the cigar is wonderful to look at
Taste- 77 really very poor
Construction- 87 not bad, tight draw leads to some reduction
Strength- 82 all power and nothing else leads to one dimensional smokes
Overall- 83.75 very poor
Friday, May 24, 2013
Viaje Zombie 2013 Edition
I once was searching the Internet for something and found a link to a PHD dissertation about what to do in the event of a Zombie Apocalypse. It was at that very moment that I realized I had probably reached the end of the Internet, I didn't read the thing when I had the chance and now I regret it. The Zombie Apocalypse is now upon us and I don't know what to do about it. There are legions of slow walking, bug eyed and drooling fools descending upon the four stores in the country that have these cigars. Indeed, I saw some of them in my favorite B and M in New Orleans, it was a scary sight to behold and forced me to ask the question, what is it about this release every year that turns people into mindless drones? I decided I would have to smoke one for myself and find out. Hopefully I won't end up wandering aimlessly through dark corners of the city looking for human flesh to feed on, or whatever Zombies do.
The cigar itself has a somewhat rough appearance, much as I think an actual Zombie would, the wrapper is dark and mottled and the cigar itself has some lumps and bumps. A quick inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it is well made and I can't find any issues in the bunch. The pre light aroma has a very earthy tone to it. The pre light draw smacks of dark wood and earth.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a touch thin for me, but still shows some nice flavors. The core profile shows some hints of earth and wood, but it is not fully developing in a way that shows any real depth to the flavor. At the back of the palate there are some developing hints of pepper and some slight raisin notes, but again they are not developed enough to provide any depth. The draw is very fluid and delivers plenty of smoke with every puff, this is exactly how I like a cigar to perform. The burn is a touch off from the start, but I don't think I need to do any touch ups as it looks like these issues will even out on their own.
The first half of the cigar is really not much to write home about. The core profile continues to be too thin. The main flavors are earth and dark wood, but they carry no depth and my palate struggles to find depth or nuance in the profile. The back of the palate and through the nose show some development as pepper, raisin and anise mingle to provide something that is at least close to a flavor experience. I am disappointed at this point in the cigar, and I am starting wonder what all the hype is. The burn has evened out nicely and the draw is still performing very well.
The final half of the cigar really does nothing for me either, this experience is mundane at best. The core profile continues to wallow in mediocrity as thin flavors of earth and wood continue to plod along in a uninteresting Zombie shuffle like you would see in a movie. The back of the palate is still pleasing, but it is not enough to carry the cigar at this point. The profile here continues to show nice pepper and anise flavors, but they just don't elevate the experience enough. The burn continues to be solid after some early issues and the draw stays excellent throughout.
The finish was short and had some ashy qualities that were not pleasant.
As with many Viaje's I have smoked I just don't see what all the hype is about. The name though is appropriate as they seem to turn otherwise intelligent people into brainless dolts with a genius marketing campaign.
Appearance- 88 a very plain looking smoke
Taste- 86 too thin in too many places
Construction- 90 early burn issues complicate the smoke, but the draw was a dream
Strength- 87 a reedy and thin full
Overall- 87.75 an average cigar at best
The cigar itself has a somewhat rough appearance, much as I think an actual Zombie would, the wrapper is dark and mottled and the cigar itself has some lumps and bumps. A quick inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it is well made and I can't find any issues in the bunch. The pre light aroma has a very earthy tone to it. The pre light draw smacks of dark wood and earth.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a touch thin for me, but still shows some nice flavors. The core profile shows some hints of earth and wood, but it is not fully developing in a way that shows any real depth to the flavor. At the back of the palate there are some developing hints of pepper and some slight raisin notes, but again they are not developed enough to provide any depth. The draw is very fluid and delivers plenty of smoke with every puff, this is exactly how I like a cigar to perform. The burn is a touch off from the start, but I don't think I need to do any touch ups as it looks like these issues will even out on their own.
The first half of the cigar is really not much to write home about. The core profile continues to be too thin. The main flavors are earth and dark wood, but they carry no depth and my palate struggles to find depth or nuance in the profile. The back of the palate and through the nose show some development as pepper, raisin and anise mingle to provide something that is at least close to a flavor experience. I am disappointed at this point in the cigar, and I am starting wonder what all the hype is. The burn has evened out nicely and the draw is still performing very well.
The final half of the cigar really does nothing for me either, this experience is mundane at best. The core profile continues to wallow in mediocrity as thin flavors of earth and wood continue to plod along in a uninteresting Zombie shuffle like you would see in a movie. The back of the palate is still pleasing, but it is not enough to carry the cigar at this point. The profile here continues to show nice pepper and anise flavors, but they just don't elevate the experience enough. The burn continues to be solid after some early issues and the draw stays excellent throughout.
The finish was short and had some ashy qualities that were not pleasant.
As with many Viaje's I have smoked I just don't see what all the hype is about. The name though is appropriate as they seem to turn otherwise intelligent people into brainless dolts with a genius marketing campaign.
Appearance- 88 a very plain looking smoke
Taste- 86 too thin in too many places
Construction- 90 early burn issues complicate the smoke, but the draw was a dream
Strength- 87 a reedy and thin full
Overall- 87.75 an average cigar at best
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Reinado Grand Empire Reserve Elegidos (5x55)
Sometimes cigars give me something to think about in addition to the relaxation already inherent in the process. This is one such smoke...
I have smoked this cigar several times now, something I don't usually do, and I am somewhat flummoxed by my findings. Usually I can make a determination within a cigar or two whether or not I hate something, or love it (anyone that reads this knows it is usually hate), but this cigar is a mystery wrapped in the shady cloak of enigma. I just can't figure the damn thing out! Finally I just had to sit down and put thoughts to blog and get it out there...
The cigar always presents well. The band has a regal design concept and appearance, there is something to be said about a band that is not cheap looking. The wrapper is luxurious in appearance, the hue of nice milk chocolate, the wrapper just seems to drape this cigar in a cloak of dark richness. I am somewhat off put by the box press, but hey that's just me, some people like it. I just have never been able to figure out what the point of it is. There are very few veins here and the construction in every one of the cigars seems to be right on, without any voids or plugs. The pre light aroma is earthy and has some tobacco richness to it. The pre light draw shows some slight pepper tones and some strange spice that borders on being sour.
Every cigar I have smoked opens with the same profile. The core profile has distinct pepper notes, but they are shallow and not very well formed at this point, there is also an odd spice here, similar to the pre light experience but with some sour notes and a metallic aftertaste that is not very pleasing at all. The back of the palate and through the nose shows a nice earthy tone that at least lends some depth to the experience in the early going. The draw on all of the cigars I smoked was acceptable, but not exceptional. It was actually a little bit too loose for on the first several so I adjusted my cut depth and it was still loose, perhaps a punch would be better in hindsight. The burn was also acceptable on all of the smokes to this point.
It is in the first half that I have some variance in the experiences. In two of the five cigars sampled, including the first which I avoided reviewing because I sensed some redeeming value in the smoke, this opening half was a good awful, bile churning festival of bad flavors. Bitter notes and musty flavors overtook these two cigars early on and ruined them throughout the experience. In the other three though something different emerged. The core profile was a much more delightful mix of dark fruit, chocolate and tobacco flavors. The back of the palate showed nice earth and dark wood flavors as well. In all experiences the draw was still too loose at this point for me, however the burn was still doing nicely.
The final half of the cigar in the two outliers is not worth talking about, it was all just so bad. However, in the three that I enjoyed the core profile became a more complex array of solid flavors as the cigar progressed. There were some wonderful chocolate flavors and very nice crisp tobacco, there was also some nice pepper flavor that came through as well. All in all the cigar became a complex and balanced presentation. The draw was still too loose on all of the cigars that I smoked. The burn was ok throughout.
The finish in the three that were enjoyable was long and had some hints of pepper and earth.
I don't usually give cigars second chances when I smoke a bad one right off the bat, particularly one that was as bad as this, but I sensed there might be something worthwhile and I was not disappointed.
Appearance- 92 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 for the ones I enjoyed, the other ones were 70
Construction- 86 the draw was too loose for me
Strength- 87 a nice medium to full smoke
Overall- 87.5 which is not bad considering I absolutely hated two of the five
I have smoked this cigar several times now, something I don't usually do, and I am somewhat flummoxed by my findings. Usually I can make a determination within a cigar or two whether or not I hate something, or love it (anyone that reads this knows it is usually hate), but this cigar is a mystery wrapped in the shady cloak of enigma. I just can't figure the damn thing out! Finally I just had to sit down and put thoughts to blog and get it out there...
The cigar always presents well. The band has a regal design concept and appearance, there is something to be said about a band that is not cheap looking. The wrapper is luxurious in appearance, the hue of nice milk chocolate, the wrapper just seems to drape this cigar in a cloak of dark richness. I am somewhat off put by the box press, but hey that's just me, some people like it. I just have never been able to figure out what the point of it is. There are very few veins here and the construction in every one of the cigars seems to be right on, without any voids or plugs. The pre light aroma is earthy and has some tobacco richness to it. The pre light draw shows some slight pepper tones and some strange spice that borders on being sour.
Every cigar I have smoked opens with the same profile. The core profile has distinct pepper notes, but they are shallow and not very well formed at this point, there is also an odd spice here, similar to the pre light experience but with some sour notes and a metallic aftertaste that is not very pleasing at all. The back of the palate and through the nose shows a nice earthy tone that at least lends some depth to the experience in the early going. The draw on all of the cigars I smoked was acceptable, but not exceptional. It was actually a little bit too loose for on the first several so I adjusted my cut depth and it was still loose, perhaps a punch would be better in hindsight. The burn was also acceptable on all of the smokes to this point.
It is in the first half that I have some variance in the experiences. In two of the five cigars sampled, including the first which I avoided reviewing because I sensed some redeeming value in the smoke, this opening half was a good awful, bile churning festival of bad flavors. Bitter notes and musty flavors overtook these two cigars early on and ruined them throughout the experience. In the other three though something different emerged. The core profile was a much more delightful mix of dark fruit, chocolate and tobacco flavors. The back of the palate showed nice earth and dark wood flavors as well. In all experiences the draw was still too loose at this point for me, however the burn was still doing nicely.
The final half of the cigar in the two outliers is not worth talking about, it was all just so bad. However, in the three that I enjoyed the core profile became a more complex array of solid flavors as the cigar progressed. There were some wonderful chocolate flavors and very nice crisp tobacco, there was also some nice pepper flavor that came through as well. All in all the cigar became a complex and balanced presentation. The draw was still too loose on all of the cigars that I smoked. The burn was ok throughout.
The finish in the three that were enjoyable was long and had some hints of pepper and earth.
I don't usually give cigars second chances when I smoke a bad one right off the bat, particularly one that was as bad as this, but I sensed there might be something worthwhile and I was not disappointed.
Appearance- 92 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 for the ones I enjoyed, the other ones were 70
Construction- 86 the draw was too loose for me
Strength- 87 a nice medium to full smoke
Overall- 87.5 which is not bad considering I absolutely hated two of the five
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge Corojo (3.5x52)
There is something so right about the fact that as I smoke this cigar I am watching a coward hide in a boat in a Boston suburb waiting to hopefully meet his maker. You see when I am not pontificating and waxing rhapsodic about cigars I do have a real job. I work in the security industry and some of what we do is in the field of Counter Terrorism, and nothing gets my time and attention faster than some bastards making a run at our great country. In all my years in this business I can tell you that I have observed that there is nothing more immutable than the American spirit and no matter how many times these yellow liver factions (foreign or domestic) take a crack at what is quintessentially American they should stand by for hell fire and brimstone as the patriotic spirit of this country rises up and crushes evil. So as I watch Boston's finest use their restraint and surround this lesser man I smoke a Super Shot, and hope that at the end of all of this there will be a super shot for the terrorist at some point...
The cigar itself is a little spark plug of a thing. It is short and stout, just like a shotgun shell, and screams power with it's dark and oily wrapper. I can't find any issues with this smoke, and I love that it is unbanded as if to say,"You know what I am!". The pre light aroma is sharp but smacks of earth and anise. The pre light draw has some tobacco essence and shows some earth and coffee notes.
I usually review cigars in sections, but I won't do that here because the cigar is so small, I will just present it as it smoked for me. The cigar opens with a profile that is all earth and coffee, this is not a complex arrangement of flavors, but I find it very pleasurable anyway. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some peppery notes, but there is also a heavy note of anise. Anise is a flavor I usually don't care for in a cigar, but in this case it is not causing me a bother.
As the cigar progresses the profile really does not develop much. The core maintains earth and coffee notes all the way through without gaining any complexity or depth. The back of the palate transitions slightly and becomes a more mellowed out mix of dark wood and pepper, I find this change to be very satisfying for me and the cigar starts to gain some momentum.
The draw for this particular cigar was little tight for me, but it did not cause any real issues, it just was not what I prefer. The burn was solid all the way through to the end and performed very well.
All in all this was a fine cigar. More importantly they caught the chicken shit in the boat and I hope they put a car battery to his testes and find out all he knows.
(As a disclaimer I do understand law and order and the value of the Constitution in our country and I know he will have his day in court, I am really ok with that. What I am not ok with is people taking innocent lives for whatever bat shit crazy cause or belief structure they adhere to, it makes me sick)
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 88 not complex or deep, but the flavors were good
Construction- 89 some draw tightness took away some of the enjoyment for me
Strength- 87 a nice full
Overall- 88.75 I would smoke this again and may make it part of my lineup on a more permanent basis for when I need a short smoke and I am not long on time
The cigar itself is a little spark plug of a thing. It is short and stout, just like a shotgun shell, and screams power with it's dark and oily wrapper. I can't find any issues with this smoke, and I love that it is unbanded as if to say,"You know what I am!". The pre light aroma is sharp but smacks of earth and anise. The pre light draw has some tobacco essence and shows some earth and coffee notes.
I usually review cigars in sections, but I won't do that here because the cigar is so small, I will just present it as it smoked for me. The cigar opens with a profile that is all earth and coffee, this is not a complex arrangement of flavors, but I find it very pleasurable anyway. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some peppery notes, but there is also a heavy note of anise. Anise is a flavor I usually don't care for in a cigar, but in this case it is not causing me a bother.
As the cigar progresses the profile really does not develop much. The core maintains earth and coffee notes all the way through without gaining any complexity or depth. The back of the palate transitions slightly and becomes a more mellowed out mix of dark wood and pepper, I find this change to be very satisfying for me and the cigar starts to gain some momentum.
The draw for this particular cigar was little tight for me, but it did not cause any real issues, it just was not what I prefer. The burn was solid all the way through to the end and performed very well.
All in all this was a fine cigar. More importantly they caught the chicken shit in the boat and I hope they put a car battery to his testes and find out all he knows.
(As a disclaimer I do understand law and order and the value of the Constitution in our country and I know he will have his day in court, I am really ok with that. What I am not ok with is people taking innocent lives for whatever bat shit crazy cause or belief structure they adhere to, it makes me sick)
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 88 not complex or deep, but the flavors were good
Construction- 89 some draw tightness took away some of the enjoyment for me
Strength- 87 a nice full
Overall- 88.75 I would smoke this again and may make it part of my lineup on a more permanent basis for when I need a short smoke and I am not long on time
Sunday, April 21, 2013
L'Atelier Selection Speciale (5.625x46)
Some time ago I reviewed the larger ring version of this blend, and despite my misgivings about larger ring cigars, gave it a very high score. It's level of complexity and depth was astounding and I announced the return of Pete Johnson with this cigar. My excitement about the blend in a thinner ring gauge can't be appropriately conveyed with mere words, but I will say it was palpable and intense. A very special thanks to the Brother of the Leaf that gave it to me.
I will start off by saying that I usually don't look into the particulars of many cigars, I don't care about origins of tobacco and blend percentages and all that scientific hoopla, I really just care if the cigar tastes good. In this case though, the cigar seemed so much darker than the standard blend that I just had to go to the source and find out what was going on. There was a long liturgy about hybrid this and country of origin that, not very interesting to me at all, what did interest me was that this is exactly the same cigar all around except the wrapper is a higher priming and thus darker in color. Now that I had solved that problem I was ready to get down to the real business, smoking.
The cigar presents with the same band work and other trappings that I usually note. The wrapper, while darker, is still well applied and looks silky smooth and wonderful. I can't find any areas of concern in the construction and the cigar just seems to be so ready to smoke. The pre light aroma is of heavy black tea. The pre light draw has some nice pepper and tobacco notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that is unique and very enticing. The core profile shows blasts of black tea and earthy notes that are so deep and complex it is hard to put my head around what I am being shown here. Aside from these delicious early notes there is just a hint of cocoa coming through that adds some light sweetness to the opening moments that really ties the experience together nicely. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some wonderful hints of roasted nuts and crisp tobacco flavors that further enhance the complexity of the early experience. The draw is absolute perfection for me, plenty of smoke with very little work, if only everything were this easy. The burn is solid and sharp from the get go.
The first half of the cigar mellows out some, in that there is less going on. The core profile really settles into a nice presentation of tea flavors and some hints of earth, this core experience is really something to behold. The back of the palate really binds the experience together as it becomes a heady presentation of bold tobacco flavors and picks up the strength quotient with some nicotine tingle at the back of the tongue. Just as the first half concludes there is a peppery flavor showing through the nose that really picks up the pace of this cigar. The draw is a dream to this point, just an absolute masterpiece. The burn is also very solid still, not a run or canoe and nary an issue.
The final half of the cigar is among the best that I have smoked in years. The core profile is a delightful mix of tea, cocoa and light wood flavors that just have miles and miles of depth. This kind of balance and complexity is not often found and when I do find it I cherish it with the appropriate amount of reverence and awe. The back of the palate is likewise extraordinary. There are real strong notes of pepper here and the tobacco flavors that are coming through are bold and refined to a crispness that I can't define here. The draw and burn are remarkable to the end.
The finish was excellent, with lingering pepper and tea notes.
This is a cigar of the year candidate for sure.
Appearance- 94 a wonderful looking smoke with elegance and grace
Taste- 97 they just don't come much better than this. Complexity and depth all over the place
Construction- 100 they do not come any better in this area, not a single issue at all
Strength- 96 a wonderful strength at all times
Overall- 97.25 I don't hesitate to rate this as one of the best cigars I have ever smoked
I will start off by saying that I usually don't look into the particulars of many cigars, I don't care about origins of tobacco and blend percentages and all that scientific hoopla, I really just care if the cigar tastes good. In this case though, the cigar seemed so much darker than the standard blend that I just had to go to the source and find out what was going on. There was a long liturgy about hybrid this and country of origin that, not very interesting to me at all, what did interest me was that this is exactly the same cigar all around except the wrapper is a higher priming and thus darker in color. Now that I had solved that problem I was ready to get down to the real business, smoking.
The cigar presents with the same band work and other trappings that I usually note. The wrapper, while darker, is still well applied and looks silky smooth and wonderful. I can't find any areas of concern in the construction and the cigar just seems to be so ready to smoke. The pre light aroma is of heavy black tea. The pre light draw has some nice pepper and tobacco notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that is unique and very enticing. The core profile shows blasts of black tea and earthy notes that are so deep and complex it is hard to put my head around what I am being shown here. Aside from these delicious early notes there is just a hint of cocoa coming through that adds some light sweetness to the opening moments that really ties the experience together nicely. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some wonderful hints of roasted nuts and crisp tobacco flavors that further enhance the complexity of the early experience. The draw is absolute perfection for me, plenty of smoke with very little work, if only everything were this easy. The burn is solid and sharp from the get go.
The first half of the cigar mellows out some, in that there is less going on. The core profile really settles into a nice presentation of tea flavors and some hints of earth, this core experience is really something to behold. The back of the palate really binds the experience together as it becomes a heady presentation of bold tobacco flavors and picks up the strength quotient with some nicotine tingle at the back of the tongue. Just as the first half concludes there is a peppery flavor showing through the nose that really picks up the pace of this cigar. The draw is a dream to this point, just an absolute masterpiece. The burn is also very solid still, not a run or canoe and nary an issue.
The final half of the cigar is among the best that I have smoked in years. The core profile is a delightful mix of tea, cocoa and light wood flavors that just have miles and miles of depth. This kind of balance and complexity is not often found and when I do find it I cherish it with the appropriate amount of reverence and awe. The back of the palate is likewise extraordinary. There are real strong notes of pepper here and the tobacco flavors that are coming through are bold and refined to a crispness that I can't define here. The draw and burn are remarkable to the end.
The finish was excellent, with lingering pepper and tea notes.
This is a cigar of the year candidate for sure.
Appearance- 94 a wonderful looking smoke with elegance and grace
Taste- 97 they just don't come much better than this. Complexity and depth all over the place
Construction- 100 they do not come any better in this area, not a single issue at all
Strength- 96 a wonderful strength at all times
Overall- 97.25 I don't hesitate to rate this as one of the best cigars I have ever smoked
Friday, April 5, 2013
Surrogates Skull Breaker (5.25x52)
So it has been a long, long while since I have written a review here. Contrary to popular opinion I do have a life complete with work, wife, kid and plenty of golf. Well, not as much golf as I would like, but some golf nonetheless. I have still been smoking plenty of cigars, but when you have a blog that is dedicated to reviewing new things in the industry and you make a decision to only smoke old standbys for awhile it just leads to no blogging for a bit. You all have my apologies, which is about as worthless as a Strawberry White Owl.
I have reviewed some of the other Surrogate blends before and I have not really found one that suits me yet. This particular cigar sounds so intimidating, Skull Breaker... I knew a guy once that we called Skull Breaker, I played hockey for many years and he was a teammate. Thank god he was on my side because he was a freaking animal, he even bit off part of some one's ear after a game once. So this particular cigar with this particular name has me heading for ear muffs just in case I need some protection. All kidding aside I was excited to try this smoke because it is touted as a strong bomb that is full of flavor.
The cigar presents well, I will even forgive that it is a torpedo shape which I don't like. The wrapper is a silky smooth thing and it has very few veins. The construction seems very nice to me and I can't detect any areas of concern. Even the band work looks sufficiently menacing. The pre light draw shows some nice hints of anise and coffee. The pre light aroma is spicy and rich.
The cigar opens with a profile that is surprisingly docile for something that had so much hype about being the end all be all in strength. The core profile shows some nice flavors of spice and anise, plus some very fine tobacco flavors, but I would definitely classify it as medium at the outset. At the back of the palate there are some nice earthy presentations that have a slightly bitter tone through the nose. The draw is slightly firm, but it delivers in an acceptable manner, though I am concerned about heat later in the smoke. The burn is right on the money at this point in the smoke.
The first half of the cigar remains a rather tame lamb. I am really shocked by this because I had even spoken to others that thought this cigar was just strength all the way through, I am just not finding it to be the case at all. The core profile still has some nice spice notes, but the anise flavors have given way to a more floral essence and some coffee tones. The back of the palate still shows some earthy tones but the bitterness has ramped up some and threatens to derail the experience. The draw has opened up now and the delivery of the smoke is free and easy. The burn has performed very nicely to this point.
The final half of the smoke picks up the steam a little bit, but it is still just inching into full strength territory for me. The core profile is still spicy, but the coffee flavors are stronger now to the point that they seem almost overwrought to me at this point which leads to a subtle sharpness that I don't care for. The back of the palate is still earthy, but the bitter flavor has really taken over here and begins to border on being flavored like crushed aspirin. The draw is still nice and the burn performs well to the end.
The finish was short and slightly bitter and had hints of earth.
Overall I was not impressed with this offering either. Cigars like this are perhaps why I sometimes go back to smoking the old standbys, these new cigars are a real crap shoot.
Appearance- 91 an attractive smoke
Taste- 83 not impressed with the bitter flavors throughout the smoke and the rest of the flavors were weak
Construction- 87 the draw was tight early
Strength- 85 medium more than full
Overall- 86 very middling
I have reviewed some of the other Surrogate blends before and I have not really found one that suits me yet. This particular cigar sounds so intimidating, Skull Breaker... I knew a guy once that we called Skull Breaker, I played hockey for many years and he was a teammate. Thank god he was on my side because he was a freaking animal, he even bit off part of some one's ear after a game once. So this particular cigar with this particular name has me heading for ear muffs just in case I need some protection. All kidding aside I was excited to try this smoke because it is touted as a strong bomb that is full of flavor.
The cigar presents well, I will even forgive that it is a torpedo shape which I don't like. The wrapper is a silky smooth thing and it has very few veins. The construction seems very nice to me and I can't detect any areas of concern. Even the band work looks sufficiently menacing. The pre light draw shows some nice hints of anise and coffee. The pre light aroma is spicy and rich.
The cigar opens with a profile that is surprisingly docile for something that had so much hype about being the end all be all in strength. The core profile shows some nice flavors of spice and anise, plus some very fine tobacco flavors, but I would definitely classify it as medium at the outset. At the back of the palate there are some nice earthy presentations that have a slightly bitter tone through the nose. The draw is slightly firm, but it delivers in an acceptable manner, though I am concerned about heat later in the smoke. The burn is right on the money at this point in the smoke.
The first half of the cigar remains a rather tame lamb. I am really shocked by this because I had even spoken to others that thought this cigar was just strength all the way through, I am just not finding it to be the case at all. The core profile still has some nice spice notes, but the anise flavors have given way to a more floral essence and some coffee tones. The back of the palate still shows some earthy tones but the bitterness has ramped up some and threatens to derail the experience. The draw has opened up now and the delivery of the smoke is free and easy. The burn has performed very nicely to this point.
The final half of the smoke picks up the steam a little bit, but it is still just inching into full strength territory for me. The core profile is still spicy, but the coffee flavors are stronger now to the point that they seem almost overwrought to me at this point which leads to a subtle sharpness that I don't care for. The back of the palate is still earthy, but the bitter flavor has really taken over here and begins to border on being flavored like crushed aspirin. The draw is still nice and the burn performs well to the end.
The finish was short and slightly bitter and had hints of earth.
Overall I was not impressed with this offering either. Cigars like this are perhaps why I sometimes go back to smoking the old standbys, these new cigars are a real crap shoot.
Appearance- 91 an attractive smoke
Taste- 83 not impressed with the bitter flavors throughout the smoke and the rest of the flavors were weak
Construction- 87 the draw was tight early
Strength- 85 medium more than full
Overall- 86 very middling
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