First, a little story. I have known Benji for some time now. We have met at several events, dinners, shows, expos and even once had a long conversation in an airport. Benji was a guest on my radio show a number of times and we always appreciated his willingness to come on and talk about cigars and the lifestyle, he is one of the most affable people you could ever meet, plus he always complimented me on my fluent Spanish (I am far from fluent and I think he knew that, but he appreciated that I could converse with him in his own language). Sixty two years in the industry is an incredible achievement and I can't say enough about what guys like this mean to the industry. I can only hope the cigar is an actual homage.
The smoke presents well. I always like a cigar wrapped in white tissue, I am not sure what it is about that particular presentation, but I like it. The band work is elaborate and full of glitz and glam. We all know I am not a fan of all the hoi polloi, but hell this is an homage right? The wrapper is on the dark side of a medium shade of brown and it has some veining, but I can't see any reason it will be an issue. There are some nice oils here as well and I am anticipating a nice experience. The bunch looks good and feels appropriately spongy without being wet. The pre light aroma has some hints of spice and grass. The pre light draw shows some peppery notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that could be best described as underwhelming, I am upset by this, the career of one of the greats should be celebrated with an opus of flavor, a crescendo of emotion, fanfare, trumpets and...well you get the idea. This is like a wet newspaper landing with a dull thud in the driveway on a holiday, you know full of hype but then ten thousand circulars come out and the only news is about some Hollywood starlet with a needle in her arm. The profile is overtly peppery and there is nothing to balance out this in your face presentation of power. Without secondary flavors the palate becomes overwhelmed with pepper and starts to scream for something else. At the back of the palate and through the nose the profile is papery and thin, I need something more robust or sweet to balance out all the pepper in the front of the smoke. The burn is very solid from the start, but I detect a run starting about a half inch into the smoke. The draw is smooth.
The first half of the smoke remains horrifically one dimensional, like many of the college girlfriends I had, they deliver one thing and one thing only (usually vomit in my bathroom, before telling you they will go no further). I keep wanting this cigar to go further, but it won't, and for the record vomit in the bathroom may not be out of the question. The core profile is still booming out pepper flavors, and some other bitter putrescence that I can't put my finger on at this moment. The back of the palate and the nose, good lord the poor nose, are being subjected to notes of burning cardboard and grass. The cigar has now ruptured from the earlier run and the whole thing is about to get chucked, much like my old college girlfriends. The draw is still smooth, but I wish it would plug, or explode in my face, or grow teeth and eat my head.
The final half of the cigar was really just a formality in pursuing futility. The profile never changes, and actually becomes worse, yes worse! There are some flavors here that I can't quite place, but a mouthful of nickels drizzled with Boric Acid might be closest. The back of the palate is equally horrid and I am not sure I have anymore adjectives to hammer away at this smoke. The burn never recovers and the draw unfortunately was great to the end.
The finish was glorious, because I was done. The flavors were terrible.
All in all I can't believe that this is an homage to a legend.
Appearance- 91 the best part about this, if you have some take them out and look at them then smoke something else
Taste- 70 nothing worth commenting on
Construction- 83 the draw saved this...barely
Strength- 85 medium I think
Overall- 80.25
Monday, February 3, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
H. Upmann Legacy (6x60)
Every so often when you are a man of idle whim, like I so rarely am these days, you can find yourself sitting in a cigar lounge contemplating the greater issues of the day; like if Seinfeld was the greatest show ever, or where you should get lunch tomorrow and in walks a rep from one of the companies and he starts spreading around smokes. Most of the reps in my area know about my blog and I always remind them that if they give me a smoke and tell me to review it, that it might not go well for them. They always nod and appreciate my candor and tell me to do it anyway. Sometimes I wonder about them...
This cigar was given to me to try and review despite my long hatred for anything sixty ring, my long hatred for most things Altadis and in general my hatred for most everything. I am curmudgeonly at best, a lifestyle I don't recommend, but one that I excel at. I warned the rep that if I didn't like it that it could be crucified because I have been feeling particularly saucy these days. He just smiled and gave me one anyway. I pocketed it politely, made small talk for a bit and when he left fired up something non Altadis. I was saving this smoke for a time that seemed right to smoke a sixty ring, and I found that moment on the golf course.
The cigar presents like most sixty ringers do, it is a huge log. The construction seems to be ok, but when the bunch is so large it becomes difficult to detect any issues that may be hiding beneath. I notice right away that the wrapper is thin, gossamer thin to be exact, and this never adds up to a positive cigar experience in my mind. Thin wrappers don't smoke well, they crack, they run, they explode and they unravel. Other than that Mrs. Lincoln how was the play? The pre light aroma has some thin hints of cinnamon and an odd smell of cardboard. The pre light draw is way too loose and there are some hints of light coffee and dusty grass.
The cigar opens with a charred and bubbling wrapper, one of the first signs that the wrapper is too damn thin. I hate when normal lighting leads to charring because someone had to cheap out on wrapper leaf, can a BOTL get an MF'in extra couple of turns on the rolling table? The core profile is not too bad, but there is little complexity or depth. There are some flavors of light wood and light pepper, but they never develop into anything resembling a full profile and I am more than miffed. At the back of the palate there are some grassy notes and a touch of light coffee. The burn is ok, but still charring the thin wrapper beyond the border of the ash. The draw is too loose, and this is one of the prime reasons I hate big ring cigars, draws are supposed to have some slight resistance.
The first half of the smoke wallows in the putrid puddles of the shallow end of the cigar gene pool. The core profile never develops and thin flavors of pepper and light wood are charred and bittered by the poor wrapper presentation. I am not even sure why I have not chucked this log yet, other than I am playing a decent round and I am trying not to pay attention to the horrible cigar experience. The back of the palate is faring no better as fetid vegetation flavors take over. There is little value in this cigar at all. The burn is better, but still not great. The draw is still booming right along like pulling through a giant drink straw in a fishbowl margarita.
The final half of the cigar completely comes off the rails. The wrapper just blows up and begins to unravel, sadly I called this earlier in the smoke. The core profile is charred and ashy. At the back of the palate some real gut turning notes of acid and vegetation are showing their might. The burn is a disaster and the draw is almost as bad.
The finish was long and ugly, several fifths of scotch might not have been able to wipe this clean.
Appearance- 85 the best part of the smoke
Taste- 72 it can't get much worse
Construction- 70 it can't get worse
Strength- 85 not sure, medium I guess
Overall- 75.75 an early candidate for worst cigar of the year
This cigar was given to me to try and review despite my long hatred for anything sixty ring, my long hatred for most things Altadis and in general my hatred for most everything. I am curmudgeonly at best, a lifestyle I don't recommend, but one that I excel at. I warned the rep that if I didn't like it that it could be crucified because I have been feeling particularly saucy these days. He just smiled and gave me one anyway. I pocketed it politely, made small talk for a bit and when he left fired up something non Altadis. I was saving this smoke for a time that seemed right to smoke a sixty ring, and I found that moment on the golf course.
The cigar presents like most sixty ringers do, it is a huge log. The construction seems to be ok, but when the bunch is so large it becomes difficult to detect any issues that may be hiding beneath. I notice right away that the wrapper is thin, gossamer thin to be exact, and this never adds up to a positive cigar experience in my mind. Thin wrappers don't smoke well, they crack, they run, they explode and they unravel. Other than that Mrs. Lincoln how was the play? The pre light aroma has some thin hints of cinnamon and an odd smell of cardboard. The pre light draw is way too loose and there are some hints of light coffee and dusty grass.
The cigar opens with a charred and bubbling wrapper, one of the first signs that the wrapper is too damn thin. I hate when normal lighting leads to charring because someone had to cheap out on wrapper leaf, can a BOTL get an MF'in extra couple of turns on the rolling table? The core profile is not too bad, but there is little complexity or depth. There are some flavors of light wood and light pepper, but they never develop into anything resembling a full profile and I am more than miffed. At the back of the palate there are some grassy notes and a touch of light coffee. The burn is ok, but still charring the thin wrapper beyond the border of the ash. The draw is too loose, and this is one of the prime reasons I hate big ring cigars, draws are supposed to have some slight resistance.
The first half of the smoke wallows in the putrid puddles of the shallow end of the cigar gene pool. The core profile never develops and thin flavors of pepper and light wood are charred and bittered by the poor wrapper presentation. I am not even sure why I have not chucked this log yet, other than I am playing a decent round and I am trying not to pay attention to the horrible cigar experience. The back of the palate is faring no better as fetid vegetation flavors take over. There is little value in this cigar at all. The burn is better, but still not great. The draw is still booming right along like pulling through a giant drink straw in a fishbowl margarita.
The final half of the cigar completely comes off the rails. The wrapper just blows up and begins to unravel, sadly I called this earlier in the smoke. The core profile is charred and ashy. At the back of the palate some real gut turning notes of acid and vegetation are showing their might. The burn is a disaster and the draw is almost as bad.
The finish was long and ugly, several fifths of scotch might not have been able to wipe this clean.
Appearance- 85 the best part of the smoke
Taste- 72 it can't get much worse
Construction- 70 it can't get worse
Strength- 85 not sure, medium I guess
Overall- 75.75 an early candidate for worst cigar of the year
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Viaje Honey and Hand Grenades The Rapier (6.5x44)
I have been on a real paw through the depths of the humidor run lately. If there is some off the beaten path, seldom heard of, potential dog rocket hiding in my cedar trays I want to find it and smoke and give it the hairy eyeball. I do this, of course, with you the readers in mind. You may send gifts, no ticking packages though please. It is somewhat appropriate that this cigar bears the name Rapier. I have often been accused of having a somewhat rapier wit, additionally this blog has been criticized and lauded equally for being rapier sharp in assessing a cigar. Finally, some may just want to run me clean through with a rapier and soothe their tired and bleeding eyes from reading my piles of dreck over the years. If you are in any one of those categories I would think that you would appreciate the irony in the name of this particular cigar.
This cigar presents with some adornments that I find to be, well....quite something, and maybe not in a good way. The red tin foil that covers the cigar is visually jarring and it feels like I am hefting some Christmas ornament as I lift it from it's humidor cocoon. The band has a honey bee and a grenade on it, as near as I can tell, and I find the imagery cute, but not particularly valuable or noteworthy. Once I unwrap the thing I can get down to the business of inspecting the cigar. The size is fantastic, I love the length and ring. The taper at the foot is very Fuente Hemingwayesque, I like this feature. The wrapper is nicely applied and has a dark chocolate appearance to it. I notice some tooth in the leaf and some nice oils. The pre light draw has some licorice and wood flavors. The pre light aroma is earthy with a hint of sweet clover.
The cigar opens with a profile that is not great and fairly one dimensional. The core flavor is sweet, trying for something like honey or clover, but coming off as something artificial like saccharine, with a touch of bitterness to it. The back of the palate and the retrohale show some infusions of licorice and earth, but the saccharine flavor is still persistent in this part of the smoke. This heavy, and oft bitter, sweetness that permeates the profile is really not great and threatens to become something quite nasty. The draw in the early stages is too tight, but I attribute that to the taper at the end of the foot and believe this to be a common trait amongst cigars rolled this way. The burn is a touch wonky as well, and I again lend this to the construction of the vitola.
The first half of the cigar really does not develop, on the good side though it does not deteriorate either. The core profile maintains the bitter taste of artificial sweetener, it's really not good. I strain to find something else in the profile, but I just can't do it. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some wispy hints of licorice and earth, but it never breaks through the barrier of bitter artificial sweetness that the front of the profile creates. The draw loosens some, but it is still too tight for my liking at this stage. The burn levels out nicely as the smoke progresses.
The final half, and especially the final third, finally show some redeeming qualities. The core profile finally sheds the bitter and artificial parts and segues into something more robust and flavorful. I am picking up some pine nut, clover and dark fruit along with some white pepper bursts that are interesting. I could only wish the whole cigar was this good. Alas, it was not. The back of the palate and the nose show some hearty earthiness and some wonderful dark wood notes. The draw is still just too tight for me, but there is not any heat in the smoke. The burn is solid to the finish.
The finish was a bit tart, some artificial sweetener snuck back in here, but also had some nice lingering traces of fruit and clover.
All in all not the best smoke, and I would probably shy away from it in the future.
Appearance- 83 garish and overdone with all the wrapping and bells and whistles
Taste- 85 saved late to become average
Construction- 87 tight draw throughout
Strength- 86 a nice medium
Overall- 85.5 mundane at best
This cigar presents with some adornments that I find to be, well....quite something, and maybe not in a good way. The red tin foil that covers the cigar is visually jarring and it feels like I am hefting some Christmas ornament as I lift it from it's humidor cocoon. The band has a honey bee and a grenade on it, as near as I can tell, and I find the imagery cute, but not particularly valuable or noteworthy. Once I unwrap the thing I can get down to the business of inspecting the cigar. The size is fantastic, I love the length and ring. The taper at the foot is very Fuente Hemingwayesque, I like this feature. The wrapper is nicely applied and has a dark chocolate appearance to it. I notice some tooth in the leaf and some nice oils. The pre light draw has some licorice and wood flavors. The pre light aroma is earthy with a hint of sweet clover.
The cigar opens with a profile that is not great and fairly one dimensional. The core flavor is sweet, trying for something like honey or clover, but coming off as something artificial like saccharine, with a touch of bitterness to it. The back of the palate and the retrohale show some infusions of licorice and earth, but the saccharine flavor is still persistent in this part of the smoke. This heavy, and oft bitter, sweetness that permeates the profile is really not great and threatens to become something quite nasty. The draw in the early stages is too tight, but I attribute that to the taper at the end of the foot and believe this to be a common trait amongst cigars rolled this way. The burn is a touch wonky as well, and I again lend this to the construction of the vitola.
The first half of the cigar really does not develop, on the good side though it does not deteriorate either. The core profile maintains the bitter taste of artificial sweetener, it's really not good. I strain to find something else in the profile, but I just can't do it. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some wispy hints of licorice and earth, but it never breaks through the barrier of bitter artificial sweetness that the front of the profile creates. The draw loosens some, but it is still too tight for my liking at this stage. The burn levels out nicely as the smoke progresses.
The final half, and especially the final third, finally show some redeeming qualities. The core profile finally sheds the bitter and artificial parts and segues into something more robust and flavorful. I am picking up some pine nut, clover and dark fruit along with some white pepper bursts that are interesting. I could only wish the whole cigar was this good. Alas, it was not. The back of the palate and the nose show some hearty earthiness and some wonderful dark wood notes. The draw is still just too tight for me, but there is not any heat in the smoke. The burn is solid to the finish.
The finish was a bit tart, some artificial sweetener snuck back in here, but also had some nice lingering traces of fruit and clover.
All in all not the best smoke, and I would probably shy away from it in the future.
Appearance- 83 garish and overdone with all the wrapping and bells and whistles
Taste- 85 saved late to become average
Construction- 87 tight draw throughout
Strength- 86 a nice medium
Overall- 85.5 mundane at best
Sunday, January 19, 2014
G.A.R. Opium Black Gran Robusto (6x52)
Every so often I run into a B&M that I am not interested in for any other reason than a spacious humidor full of treats that I may or may not have ever seen before. There is one such place in Tampa, the sheer size of the selection of cigars in the store is mind boggling. It seemingly has everything and you have to be willing to make a floor to ceiling pursuit for the elusive singles that every humidor needs. I call these my change of pace cigars, see I buy boxes of cigars all the time. These boxes are my mainstays, my go to's, my favorites and my everyday smokers. However, sometimes I get tired of my usual and I feel like I must breakout and try something foreign. I often know nothing about these types of cigars, other than I found it somewhere and I had never smoked it, in some cases I have never heard of it. This cigar checks all those boxes for me and I consider these cigars as always being risky, I mean it could really suck.
The cigar presents well. The band work is a touch gaudy, what with foil like presentations and fancy script, I am thinking of it like a Hollywood starlet at this point and I am wondering what the glam is hiding. The wrapper is nicely applied and seems to have some nice oils. The bunch is seemingly a bit loose, but I can't find any other issues. The pre light aroma smacks of spice and rich tobacco. The pre light draw shows a light sweetness and a muddled coffee note that has some earthy tones.
The cigar opens with a very nice core profile that has some depth and complexity that sets a solid tone for the smoke. The flavors have some nice cinnamon and tobacco notes, additionally there is some creamed coffee coming through here as well. The back of the palate and the retrohale show some robust dark wood flavors and nice earthy tone that is very solid. The draw is very solid right from the start and it delivers nice amounts of smoke with little effort. The burn is also right on the money from the get go.
The first half of the cigar progresses nicely. The core profile continues with a nice touch of cinnamon and a nice cereal notes comes in as well and lends some sweetness to the experience. The back of the palate still shows dark wood and earth, but some pepper and tobacco flavors here round out the profile nicely. The draw is now a bit loose and I am worried about heat as the smoke moves on. The burn is still solid and shows no signs of any issue.
The final half of the cigar becomes something nightmare are made of. The profile derails as the core profile transitions from cinnamon and cereal to something bitter and sour, like rusty bolts in vinegar. I am not quite sure what happened but it becomes really nasty in the final half of the smoke. The flavors I do pick out are vegetal and loamy and the cigar seems to just give up. The wrapper splits and blows up horribly and I am left wondering what the hell happened to this cigar that I was enjoying. The draw is now gone, it is way too loose and the heat is nearly unbearable. The burn is also gone, as the cigar splits keeping it lit is nearly impossible.
The finish was me chucking this rocket with nearly a third left, it is unfortunate as the cigar started so well.
As I said these cigars are often a risk, and this one did not pay off.
Appearance- 87 a bit gaudy, but ok
Taste- 80 some points for the early performance, but no points for the later presentation
Construction- 70 when a cigar goes this wrong no higher score can be given
Strength- 85 a medium/full that may have been ok if I could have evaluated it over the entire cigar
Overall- 78.75 not all risks are good ones
The cigar presents well. The band work is a touch gaudy, what with foil like presentations and fancy script, I am thinking of it like a Hollywood starlet at this point and I am wondering what the glam is hiding. The wrapper is nicely applied and seems to have some nice oils. The bunch is seemingly a bit loose, but I can't find any other issues. The pre light aroma smacks of spice and rich tobacco. The pre light draw shows a light sweetness and a muddled coffee note that has some earthy tones.
The cigar opens with a very nice core profile that has some depth and complexity that sets a solid tone for the smoke. The flavors have some nice cinnamon and tobacco notes, additionally there is some creamed coffee coming through here as well. The back of the palate and the retrohale show some robust dark wood flavors and nice earthy tone that is very solid. The draw is very solid right from the start and it delivers nice amounts of smoke with little effort. The burn is also right on the money from the get go.
The first half of the cigar progresses nicely. The core profile continues with a nice touch of cinnamon and a nice cereal notes comes in as well and lends some sweetness to the experience. The back of the palate still shows dark wood and earth, but some pepper and tobacco flavors here round out the profile nicely. The draw is now a bit loose and I am worried about heat as the smoke moves on. The burn is still solid and shows no signs of any issue.
The final half of the cigar becomes something nightmare are made of. The profile derails as the core profile transitions from cinnamon and cereal to something bitter and sour, like rusty bolts in vinegar. I am not quite sure what happened but it becomes really nasty in the final half of the smoke. The flavors I do pick out are vegetal and loamy and the cigar seems to just give up. The wrapper splits and blows up horribly and I am left wondering what the hell happened to this cigar that I was enjoying. The draw is now gone, it is way too loose and the heat is nearly unbearable. The burn is also gone, as the cigar splits keeping it lit is nearly impossible.
The finish was me chucking this rocket with nearly a third left, it is unfortunate as the cigar started so well.
As I said these cigars are often a risk, and this one did not pay off.
Appearance- 87 a bit gaudy, but ok
Taste- 80 some points for the early performance, but no points for the later presentation
Construction- 70 when a cigar goes this wrong no higher score can be given
Strength- 85 a medium/full that may have been ok if I could have evaluated it over the entire cigar
Overall- 78.75 not all risks are good ones
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Viaje Friends and Family Le Joueur (5x52)
This cigar with the somewhat odd appellation, I mean when I hear friends and family I think of a sale at Macy's, has had much hype over the last several months in my world. Almost everyone that has tried this has been anxious to tell me it is the strongest cigar they have ever smoked. I am used to this over the top hyperbole in the cigar world it is just par for the course. Every strength whore out there finds the next strongest cigar and shouts from the rooftops about how it's the strongest ever! I have heard it with no fewer than one billion cigars...Ok some hyperbole on my part there, but you get the gist I think.
The cigar presents very well. The wrapper is crisp looking and well applied. The white double band is clean looking and not overwrought with horrible art work. There are very few veins and the wrapper has a rich, dark chocolate color. In looking at the bunch I can see quite a bit of what I believe is ligero in there (Viaje does not disclose their blends) and I am thinking maybe some of what I have been hearing could be true. Then I worry because the recent ligero trend has been to be long on palate tingling strength and short of depth and complexity in the profile. I cast aside those shadowy thoughts and continue my assessment. The pre light aroma smacks of pepper and dark chocolate. The pre light draw shows some ligero tickling the palate and a very interesting not of anise and wood.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a real palate blaster. The blend immediately kicks the palate in the face, the tingle at the back of the throat is reminding me of the onset of a sore throat. Something interesting is happening though, there is actually some complexity and depth showing through here. The core profile has miles and miles of flavor as it shows some nice notes of dark chocolate, dark wood and red pepper. None of these flavors exhibit any subtlety at all, they are right up in your business, nose to nose with you from the get go. The back of the palate and through the nose show some more very satisfying wood notes and there is still a hint of anise coming through here that adds something nice to the mix. The burn is very solid right away. The draw is firm, but smooth and it delivers plenty of smoke from the first pull.
The first half of this cigar is certainly strong, as advertised. Is it the strongest cigar I have ever smoked? No, I will always reserve that distinction for the first Pepin JJ Maduro I smoked many years ago when my palate was not used to full bodied and full strength smokes (I was green during that experience). This cigar though is up there in strength for me, and out of the cigars I have smoked in the last year it ranks amongst the strongest. The core profile is still very complex though, and I am so pleased that it is not losing this feature as so many other strength bombs do. The are still some hints of dark chocolate and there is a tone of black cherry showing through here now as well, this is all combined with the continuing show of dark wood that binds it all together. The back of the palate is holding a very smoky wood characteristic that I find interesting and it makes me feel kind of rural, like I should be camping or something. The draw is still nice and firm and it performs well. The burn is still on the money and I don't see any issues down the line.
The final half of this cigar is a real ass kicker. The strength really ramps up and the nicotine tingle swathes the palate all the way to the back of the throat. The beauty of this cigar though is that it is not losing the profile at all, in fact the profile gets better the stronger the cigar gets. The core notes here a still dark chocolate, but they are turning more like cocoa as the process continues to the end. Additionally the pepper notes here are profound. I am getting some red pepper at the back of the palate, but a softer white pepper note in the front part of the tongue and mouth. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some nice dark wood flavors and there is a touch of mineral here that I am not finding hateful (which is unusual for me, I am usually lost at mineral flavor). The draw is solid right through to the end. The burn shows nary an issue throughout.
The finish is long and holds pepper and wood notes for some satisfying long moments after the conclusion of the smoke.
All in all this is the best Viaje blend that I have smoked.
Appearance- 94 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 92 I was very impressed with a complex and balanced approach
Construction- 94 the only thing stopping perfection was a firm draw
Strength- 93 a very nice full bodied/full strength offering
Overall- 93.25 just wonderful
The cigar presents very well. The wrapper is crisp looking and well applied. The white double band is clean looking and not overwrought with horrible art work. There are very few veins and the wrapper has a rich, dark chocolate color. In looking at the bunch I can see quite a bit of what I believe is ligero in there (Viaje does not disclose their blends) and I am thinking maybe some of what I have been hearing could be true. Then I worry because the recent ligero trend has been to be long on palate tingling strength and short of depth and complexity in the profile. I cast aside those shadowy thoughts and continue my assessment. The pre light aroma smacks of pepper and dark chocolate. The pre light draw shows some ligero tickling the palate and a very interesting not of anise and wood.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a real palate blaster. The blend immediately kicks the palate in the face, the tingle at the back of the throat is reminding me of the onset of a sore throat. Something interesting is happening though, there is actually some complexity and depth showing through here. The core profile has miles and miles of flavor as it shows some nice notes of dark chocolate, dark wood and red pepper. None of these flavors exhibit any subtlety at all, they are right up in your business, nose to nose with you from the get go. The back of the palate and through the nose show some more very satisfying wood notes and there is still a hint of anise coming through here that adds something nice to the mix. The burn is very solid right away. The draw is firm, but smooth and it delivers plenty of smoke from the first pull.
The first half of this cigar is certainly strong, as advertised. Is it the strongest cigar I have ever smoked? No, I will always reserve that distinction for the first Pepin JJ Maduro I smoked many years ago when my palate was not used to full bodied and full strength smokes (I was green during that experience). This cigar though is up there in strength for me, and out of the cigars I have smoked in the last year it ranks amongst the strongest. The core profile is still very complex though, and I am so pleased that it is not losing this feature as so many other strength bombs do. The are still some hints of dark chocolate and there is a tone of black cherry showing through here now as well, this is all combined with the continuing show of dark wood that binds it all together. The back of the palate is holding a very smoky wood characteristic that I find interesting and it makes me feel kind of rural, like I should be camping or something. The draw is still nice and firm and it performs well. The burn is still on the money and I don't see any issues down the line.
The final half of this cigar is a real ass kicker. The strength really ramps up and the nicotine tingle swathes the palate all the way to the back of the throat. The beauty of this cigar though is that it is not losing the profile at all, in fact the profile gets better the stronger the cigar gets. The core notes here a still dark chocolate, but they are turning more like cocoa as the process continues to the end. Additionally the pepper notes here are profound. I am getting some red pepper at the back of the palate, but a softer white pepper note in the front part of the tongue and mouth. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some nice dark wood flavors and there is a touch of mineral here that I am not finding hateful (which is unusual for me, I am usually lost at mineral flavor). The draw is solid right through to the end. The burn shows nary an issue throughout.
The finish is long and holds pepper and wood notes for some satisfying long moments after the conclusion of the smoke.
All in all this is the best Viaje blend that I have smoked.
Appearance- 94 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 92 I was very impressed with a complex and balanced approach
Construction- 94 the only thing stopping perfection was a firm draw
Strength- 93 a very nice full bodied/full strength offering
Overall- 93.25 just wonderful
Friday, January 10, 2014
Arturo Fuente Destino al Siglo De Familia (6.5x46)
This much anticipated cigar was nearly completely derailed a year or so ago when a fire wiped out some precious tobacco stock that was earmarked for this blend. It was sad news for all Fuente enthusiasts as I am sure we were all waiting for this special anniversary smoke. I for one was looking forward to it for several years, ever since I heard about it really. The buzz created by these legendary brands is really very remarkable, and even someone that does not follow the hype (like me) get caught up in the hullabaloo. I was so thrilled when I heard they were going to make it anyway, I couldn't remember a cigar I had looked forward to more in recent memory.
The cigar presents very nicely. The wrapper is a muted brown affair that has some veining, but nothing of concern. It seems a little bit dry to me in texture, but upon inspection it seems supple and well applied. The band word is remarkable, quite the piece of art, it almost makes you feel better about the really high price tag...almost. The pre light aroma has some light brushes of spice, but is full of cedar notes. The pre light draw is smooth and fluid and shows some booming cedar notes and a touch of bitter grass.
The smoke opens with a profile that is decidedly cedary, it almost overwhelms the palate and hinges on being bitter. There are some light brushes of spice and tobacco here as well, but the cedar notes really carry the bag in the opening moments. Through the nose and on the back of the palate there are some notes of a lighter wood, but again cedar notes dominate the profile in unpleasant way. The draw is a little tight early, but I can feel it opening up as the cigar progresses. The burn is solid right from the get go there are no hints of any issues that might be forthcoming.
The first half of the cigar does progress some, though not for the better. The dominant cedar notes are still present, but they are muted by a sharp spice note that borders on being acidic. There are some hints here of cinnamon and some lighter wood notes, but they are too subtle to be anything more than a fleeting glimpse of what might be. The back of the palate holds some nice tobacco notes and the cedar is a more acceptable tone without the bitterness from earlier in the cigar, but it is not enough to salvage the cigar to this point and my disappointment is mounting. The draw is acceptable, though still a touch too tight for me. The burn is phenomenal and razor sharp.
The final half of the cigar completes the disappointing ride for me. The core profile never develops into anything profound, or even above average, at any point. The core continues to show cedar and spice notes that alternately bitter and acidic, a real letdown in my book. The back of the palate provides some rays of light, but they are fleeting as the wood and tobacco notes are not enough to hold it all together. The draw is a touch too tight throughout, while the burn performs to the highest standard all the way to the end.
The finish was heavy with cedar notes and slightly bitter, making for a short closing experience.
At a twenty plus dollar price tag I expect much more, hell at an eight dollar price tag I expect more. I only wonder what could have been with the tobacco that burned to the gods instead of the enthusiasts.
Appearance- 92 a wonderful looking smoke
Taste- 78 unfortunately it was just really poor
Construction- 87 draw was too tight for me, but the burn did well
Strength- 85 an uninspired medium
Overall- 84.5 below average and way too expensive
The cigar presents very nicely. The wrapper is a muted brown affair that has some veining, but nothing of concern. It seems a little bit dry to me in texture, but upon inspection it seems supple and well applied. The band word is remarkable, quite the piece of art, it almost makes you feel better about the really high price tag...almost. The pre light aroma has some light brushes of spice, but is full of cedar notes. The pre light draw is smooth and fluid and shows some booming cedar notes and a touch of bitter grass.
The smoke opens with a profile that is decidedly cedary, it almost overwhelms the palate and hinges on being bitter. There are some light brushes of spice and tobacco here as well, but the cedar notes really carry the bag in the opening moments. Through the nose and on the back of the palate there are some notes of a lighter wood, but again cedar notes dominate the profile in unpleasant way. The draw is a little tight early, but I can feel it opening up as the cigar progresses. The burn is solid right from the get go there are no hints of any issues that might be forthcoming.
The first half of the cigar does progress some, though not for the better. The dominant cedar notes are still present, but they are muted by a sharp spice note that borders on being acidic. There are some hints here of cinnamon and some lighter wood notes, but they are too subtle to be anything more than a fleeting glimpse of what might be. The back of the palate holds some nice tobacco notes and the cedar is a more acceptable tone without the bitterness from earlier in the cigar, but it is not enough to salvage the cigar to this point and my disappointment is mounting. The draw is acceptable, though still a touch too tight for me. The burn is phenomenal and razor sharp.
The final half of the cigar completes the disappointing ride for me. The core profile never develops into anything profound, or even above average, at any point. The core continues to show cedar and spice notes that alternately bitter and acidic, a real letdown in my book. The back of the palate provides some rays of light, but they are fleeting as the wood and tobacco notes are not enough to hold it all together. The draw is a touch too tight throughout, while the burn performs to the highest standard all the way to the end.
The finish was heavy with cedar notes and slightly bitter, making for a short closing experience.
At a twenty plus dollar price tag I expect much more, hell at an eight dollar price tag I expect more. I only wonder what could have been with the tobacco that burned to the gods instead of the enthusiasts.
Appearance- 92 a wonderful looking smoke
Taste- 78 unfortunately it was just really poor
Construction- 87 draw was too tight for me, but the burn did well
Strength- 85 an uninspired medium
Overall- 84.5 below average and way too expensive
Friday, January 3, 2014
Top 10 Cigars for 2013
In 2013 I just didn't get to review as many cigars as I usually do, life just got in the way for most of the year and I was pushed and pulled in many different directions in this crazy journey that I call my life.
You will note that for the first time in the history of this blog my Top 10 will feature cigars with scores less than 90, this is simply because I only compile the list from cigars I wrote reviews on so the list was short to begin with.
My promise to you is to make 2014 a better year for this blog and for my readers.
Without further lip flapping I give you my Top 10 from 2013
10. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge Corojo - 88.75
9. Davidoff Nicaragua Toro - 89.25
8. Black Label Trading Company Benediction - 89.5
7. Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Bon Chasseur - 89.75
7. Alec Bradley Mundial Perfecto - 89.75
6. Esteban Carreras Chupacabra Toro - 90.25
5. Anoranzas Toro - 90.75
4. Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve (Sin Nombre) 2012 - 91.75
4. The Widow's Son - 91.75
3. Curivari Seleccion Privada Fabulosos Maduro - 93.5
2. Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Edicion de Anniversario 2007 - 96.25
1. L' Atelier Selection Speciale - 97.25
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