It is no secret that I am a huge fan of the cigars presented by this manufacturer. One needn't look any further than my Top 10 list from last year which featured two offerings from this company. EPC has really hit the ground running with his new endeavor and the quality of the cigars since the EPC Inaugural in 2009 has been very, very good. Couple this with the fact that he has included his children in the business and it becomes a real feel good story of success. I know what you are all thinking! When did the Czar become so sappy? Well, I do have a heart folks, I know it's hard to believe. I have been to the Emerald City and the Wizard reluctantly gave me one, as long as I promised not to use it too often.
This cigar comes forth with a ton of fanfare amongst the cognoscenti that I associate with, but I have a healthy amount of skepticism based on my dislike of the New Wave Connecticut. This cigar is cut from the New Wave cloth and that makes me a little nervous. Alas, I make the promise to smoke all new cigars and write contrite errr...concise reviews...
The cigar presents a little roughly. It has a rustic appearance to it as there are some prominent lumps and bumps beneath a wrapper that looks a little sloppy to me. The wrapper has some nice tooth to it, but it seems a little bit dry to me as I feel my around it. The construction seems to be very good, I can't detect any areas that may be any cause for concern and that is right in line with EPC offerings from the past. The pre light aroma is bready and has some citrus zest to it. The pre light draw is peppery, but also has some nice sweet bread and wheat notes.
The cigar opens with a profile that is intense for a Connecticut offering. There is a robust blast of white pepper up front that has unexpected power from the start. There are some nice wheat flavors here, but the pepper is the star of the show in the early moments. The flavors have nice depth, but some extra complexity would be nice. At the back of the palate there are some light wood notes showing through, but there is a dry spice note that is sapping moisture from the palate, an unwelcome development. The draw is exceptional, free and easy is the order of the day and plenty of smoke is produced with little effort. The burn is very solid and a nice ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar is a laundry list of flavors that border on being erratic, making an identity for this cigar difficult to pin down. The core profile still shows white pepper notes: but light wood, sugar cane, cinnamon and some clove notes are showing through here as well. This eclectic mix of flavors gives the cigar a schizophrenic disposition and instead of complexity lends to muddled flavors that don't really deliver. The back of the palate is a more subdued presentation of crisp tobacco and some light caramel flavors that are interesting. The draw continues to be excellent. The burn is sharp and no issues are showing at all.
The final half of the cigar settles in beautifully. The core profile finds an identity as bread and wheat combine with a nice pepper tone to provide a robust and complex flavor experience. This array of flavors gives the cigar a late presence as something that could be very special if not for the haphazard first half of the smoke. The back of the palate continues to be a solid backdrop of crisp tobacco flavors with some nice caramel sweetness to provide balance. The draw stays solid right through to the end. The burn is more than acceptable all the way through.
The finish was crisp and showed nice tobacco and bread flavors.
This was not one of my favorite offerings, but the cigar was saved in the last half.
Appearance- 86 not much to look at, but there were no huge deficiencies
Taste- 87 some nice flavors late, but the erratic early half takes away points
Construction- 94 the real hero here, the cigar performs beautifully
Strength- 88 a surprising medium/full that complements the profile wonderfully
Overall- 89.25 well above average particularly in terms of construction
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Esteban Carreras 10 Anos Maduro Robusto (5x50)
It has been two weeks since I last chimed in with a review, I've just been being kept down by the man. You gotta put together some sheckles in this life and lately I've had my earnin shoes on. Don't get me wrong, I have been smoking, I just haven't had time to smoke much new stuff recently as I like to devote real time to that pursuit. For this review I have chosen a cigar that has been around for a while, but one that I never really paid any attention to. I have reviewed some Esteban Carreras offerings before and they have all come out very average for me, but I had been told by many people that this blend was the flagship. My radio co-host also seems to really did this cigar, and I like to see if he has any taste at all.
The cigar is box pressed, this is a down check in my view. I have never understood this attribute and I'm pretty sure it serves no purpose. Things that serve no purpose have very little use in my mind, in fact I think box pressing can sometimes be detrimental to the smoke as it compacts any flaws in the construction of the smoke. The wrapper is nice looking, with some nice tooth and a rugged look, there are some prominent veins, but I don't pay them any mind. An inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it is well made and I can't find any areas of concern. The pre light draw is a little bit tight, but it shows nice earth and rich tobacco flavors. The pre light aroma is spicy and seems dusty to me.
The cigar opens with a profile that is very heavy in the earth department and the first moments are almost muddy on the palate. There is some nice spice here though and I can see that there might be room for this to be really interesting. The back of the palate shows some middling coffee flavor that could use a little boost and some cedar flavors that are bordering on being sharp. The draw is a touch too tight, but I am getting enough smoke to not have any real concerns. The burn is solid and a nice white ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar really disappoints me. I would love some balance and depth, but the main profile is still earthy with some spice. The flavors are not bad, but they show no development and certainly lack nuance and depth. At the back of the palate cedar flavors remain and they have softened some, which is a blessing in disguise. There are still some hints of coffee here, but the flavor is not giving me much more that a light tap on the palate at this point. I want much, much more out of a cigar at this point. The draw is opening up nicely at this point. The burn continues to be very solid.
The final half of the cigar improves, but it is not dramatic. The core profile shows some very nice spice and cinnamon flavors while the earthy tone softens and provides a platform for the other flavors to rest upon. The back of the palate becomes a nice mix of coffee flavors coupled with a spicy cedar tone that is very interesting. The draw becomes very fluid in the end and the resulting heat is a little bit troublesome. The burn is solid all the way through to the end.
The finish was average with earth and tobacco flavors that linger.
Appearance- 86 box pressing kills my visual
Taste- 87 a very average presentation
Construction- 86 some tightness early, then looseness late hurts the score
Strength- 85 an average medium
Overall- 86.25 slightly above average
The cigar is box pressed, this is a down check in my view. I have never understood this attribute and I'm pretty sure it serves no purpose. Things that serve no purpose have very little use in my mind, in fact I think box pressing can sometimes be detrimental to the smoke as it compacts any flaws in the construction of the smoke. The wrapper is nice looking, with some nice tooth and a rugged look, there are some prominent veins, but I don't pay them any mind. An inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it is well made and I can't find any areas of concern. The pre light draw is a little bit tight, but it shows nice earth and rich tobacco flavors. The pre light aroma is spicy and seems dusty to me.
The cigar opens with a profile that is very heavy in the earth department and the first moments are almost muddy on the palate. There is some nice spice here though and I can see that there might be room for this to be really interesting. The back of the palate shows some middling coffee flavor that could use a little boost and some cedar flavors that are bordering on being sharp. The draw is a touch too tight, but I am getting enough smoke to not have any real concerns. The burn is solid and a nice white ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar really disappoints me. I would love some balance and depth, but the main profile is still earthy with some spice. The flavors are not bad, but they show no development and certainly lack nuance and depth. At the back of the palate cedar flavors remain and they have softened some, which is a blessing in disguise. There are still some hints of coffee here, but the flavor is not giving me much more that a light tap on the palate at this point. I want much, much more out of a cigar at this point. The draw is opening up nicely at this point. The burn continues to be very solid.
The final half of the cigar improves, but it is not dramatic. The core profile shows some very nice spice and cinnamon flavors while the earthy tone softens and provides a platform for the other flavors to rest upon. The back of the palate becomes a nice mix of coffee flavors coupled with a spicy cedar tone that is very interesting. The draw becomes very fluid in the end and the resulting heat is a little bit troublesome. The burn is solid all the way through to the end.
The finish was average with earth and tobacco flavors that linger.
Appearance- 86 box pressing kills my visual
Taste- 87 a very average presentation
Construction- 86 some tightness early, then looseness late hurts the score
Strength- 85 an average medium
Overall- 86.25 slightly above average
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Robusto (5x54)
It has been some time since I last reviewed, my humble apologies to my friends and readers, I know you can't live without these nuggets of cigar wisdom. I won't bore you with the details of the last few weeks in my life, but you can all rest easy, as I smoked plenty of cigars during this time. A preponderance of these recent cigars were smoked on my trip to the DR to tour the La Aurora factory (15 in one day at one point). Enough details though, I may blog my experience at one point or another depending on time.
The cigar in question here is new from the folks at Altadis. As most of my loyal readers know Altadis does little that I like, however in this instance, they are billing this new Romeo as a departure from the norm in terms of strength and flavor. I like strength and flavor so this is my kind of marketing language. The first thing I notice is how modern the boxes and bands are, this is a serious degree of removal from the old fashioned and often staid presentations of the old blends, the message is that this is not your grandfather's Romeo. The cigar itself is very bulky feeling and a 54 ring is about as far out on the ring gauge scale as I like to go. The construction appears to be nice and the wrapper has a nice dark brown color that usual Romeo's don't have. The pre light aroma is full of cedar notes and there are some instances of spice in the nose as well. The pre light draw is fluid and shows crisp and somewhat dry notes of cedar.
The cigar opens with a profile that is severely one dimensional for me. The core profile is cedar, cedar and more cedar. The good news is that the flavor is not sharp, as is so often the case when cedar is the only profile flavor. There is just not enough depth or complexity here to make me think much more about this Altadis product in comparison to others, I am just feeling like it will be average at the very best. The back of the palate shows some light pepper flavors, but there is a disjointed carbon note here as well that just does not work. The draw is very fluid and plenty of smoke is delivered with little effort. The burn is solid and a nice thick ash is forming.
The first half of the smoke continues to wallow in a shallow pool of it's own mediocrity. The profile shows no real development as the core flavor remains full of cedar impressions. At one point I do catch some cream notes and some fleeting spice, but they are not enough to take away the one dimensional approach. The back of the palate has gathered a profile that has some nice spice, but there is not real depth here either. The draw continues to be very fine. The burn is still solid, though there is a runner beginning to show so I am concerned about the last half of the smoke.
The final half of the cigar finally begins to show some development, but it is far too late to help all that much. The core transitions into a sweeter coffee presentation. While there is still some cedar here, the overall profile is benefited by the addition of a complementary flavor. The back of the palate is really full of wondrous, tasty additions. The profile here shows a nice earthy flavor and some great caramel notes when taken through the nose. The draw continues to be excellent. The burn does run some, but I do not have to do anything with it so late in a cigar.
The finish was middling with some tart and overwrought cedar flavors.
Appearance- 88 a nice modern look
Taste- 83 below average, not enough depth in the first two thirds of the smoke
Construction- 90 the burn issue takes some points away
Strength- 86 a nice medium, I expected more based on the adds
Overall- 86.75 slightly above average based on nice construction
The cigar in question here is new from the folks at Altadis. As most of my loyal readers know Altadis does little that I like, however in this instance, they are billing this new Romeo as a departure from the norm in terms of strength and flavor. I like strength and flavor so this is my kind of marketing language. The first thing I notice is how modern the boxes and bands are, this is a serious degree of removal from the old fashioned and often staid presentations of the old blends, the message is that this is not your grandfather's Romeo. The cigar itself is very bulky feeling and a 54 ring is about as far out on the ring gauge scale as I like to go. The construction appears to be nice and the wrapper has a nice dark brown color that usual Romeo's don't have. The pre light aroma is full of cedar notes and there are some instances of spice in the nose as well. The pre light draw is fluid and shows crisp and somewhat dry notes of cedar.
The cigar opens with a profile that is severely one dimensional for me. The core profile is cedar, cedar and more cedar. The good news is that the flavor is not sharp, as is so often the case when cedar is the only profile flavor. There is just not enough depth or complexity here to make me think much more about this Altadis product in comparison to others, I am just feeling like it will be average at the very best. The back of the palate shows some light pepper flavors, but there is a disjointed carbon note here as well that just does not work. The draw is very fluid and plenty of smoke is delivered with little effort. The burn is solid and a nice thick ash is forming.
The first half of the smoke continues to wallow in a shallow pool of it's own mediocrity. The profile shows no real development as the core flavor remains full of cedar impressions. At one point I do catch some cream notes and some fleeting spice, but they are not enough to take away the one dimensional approach. The back of the palate has gathered a profile that has some nice spice, but there is not real depth here either. The draw continues to be very fine. The burn is still solid, though there is a runner beginning to show so I am concerned about the last half of the smoke.
The final half of the cigar finally begins to show some development, but it is far too late to help all that much. The core transitions into a sweeter coffee presentation. While there is still some cedar here, the overall profile is benefited by the addition of a complementary flavor. The back of the palate is really full of wondrous, tasty additions. The profile here shows a nice earthy flavor and some great caramel notes when taken through the nose. The draw continues to be excellent. The burn does run some, but I do not have to do anything with it so late in a cigar.
The finish was middling with some tart and overwrought cedar flavors.
Appearance- 88 a nice modern look
Taste- 83 below average, not enough depth in the first two thirds of the smoke
Construction- 90 the burn issue takes some points away
Strength- 86 a nice medium, I expected more based on the adds
Overall- 86.75 slightly above average based on nice construction
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
My Father Limited Edition 2010 (6.625x52)
When these cigars first came onto the market a couple of years ago I lined up to get them, you see they only made 24000 cigars for this release and I just had to have some. I bought three boxes without ever having tried them, a rarity for me as far as box purchases go because I never buy something I have not tried. I have since smoked only four of these rare beauties and it seems that every time I fire one up something better and new is going on.
Every cigar is placed in it's own coffin and wrapped in cello beneath a cedar overlay, the presentation lets you know that something special is about to take place. The box itself is numbered and the lacquer and visual presentation is stunning, again an indication that someone has taken a great deal of pride and care in these cigars. Each cigar is hand made by Don Pepin and his son Jaime, it is not often you can hold something made by a master. Like a Rembrandt in art or a Stradivarius violin, this cigar to me represents the pinnacle of the cigar world. I have smoked some bad Pepin's before, but they are so few and far between that I really consider him the master of the art form currently. The cigar itself is wonderful to look at. The quality is readily apparent, there are no flaws in the wrapper and the construction is supple and forgiving in all the right places. The cap is expertly applied and I can't find a single issue in the smoke at all to this point. The pre light aroma is full of texture, showing cedar, spice and dark fruit notes. The pre light draw has huge blasts of cocoa and pepper and evinces wistful memories of other Pepin blends like Cabaiguan and the Pepin Blue.
The cigar opens with a profile that is rich and lush and full of palate treats. The core profile is a sublime mix of white pepper, floral sweetness, some sharper cedar notes and some fine blasts of cocoa and coffee. Depth of this sort is not achieved in a cigar often so I am taking in every aspect of the performance. At the back of the palate there are some excellent earthy tones that are mixed with a bready finish that is hard to place and adds some sweetness to the mix. The draw is absolutely perfect, the mouth feel is incredible and the draw has just enough resistance but provides cloud after cloud of ample smoke. The burn is right on the money to this point as well.
The first half of the cigar loses some depth, but the complexity remains as the flavors that linger on continue to develop into a more full bodied experience. The core profile is now a presentation of cedar that has dulled nicely and shows an undertone of vanilla cream, this is coupled with a wonderful coffee note that tickles the back of the palate and makes it yearn for more. While simple, this combination of flavors is so subtle, yet deep, that the palate and brain need to sync up some in order for the flavors to register. The back of the palate shows some light floral sweetness and slight earthy tone is here as well. The sweetness could be tempered some by a show of pepper or spice, but I am not finding it distracting to this point. The draw continues to perform in an exceptional fashion, the effort is so little that I forget I am smoking for awhile as I quietly draw on the cigar. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar shows a level of refinement I have not experienced in some time. The core profile becomes more subtle still as it moves into more vanilla cream than cedar. While the coffee notes are still present I am I little put off by how sweet the cigar gets in the last half. I would like some pepper or spice to ramp up the flavor a little bit. The back of the palate is also sweet, and it is becoming cloyingly so. The earthy flavors have given way to a more plain note of wood, but there is a clover like flavor and sweetness coming through here. Again I am finding the cigar to be too sweet in the final stretch. The draw and burn are flawless.
The finish was long and smooth showing cedar and cocoa flavors as the predominant factors.
Appearance- 100 you won't see a cigar more beautiful
Taste- 92 some very sweet notes late in the cigar hurt the score
Construction- 100 I don't give this out very often, but this cigar performed exceptionally
Strength- 93 a nice medium/full
Overall- 96.25 a classic cigar
Every cigar is placed in it's own coffin and wrapped in cello beneath a cedar overlay, the presentation lets you know that something special is about to take place. The box itself is numbered and the lacquer and visual presentation is stunning, again an indication that someone has taken a great deal of pride and care in these cigars. Each cigar is hand made by Don Pepin and his son Jaime, it is not often you can hold something made by a master. Like a Rembrandt in art or a Stradivarius violin, this cigar to me represents the pinnacle of the cigar world. I have smoked some bad Pepin's before, but they are so few and far between that I really consider him the master of the art form currently. The cigar itself is wonderful to look at. The quality is readily apparent, there are no flaws in the wrapper and the construction is supple and forgiving in all the right places. The cap is expertly applied and I can't find a single issue in the smoke at all to this point. The pre light aroma is full of texture, showing cedar, spice and dark fruit notes. The pre light draw has huge blasts of cocoa and pepper and evinces wistful memories of other Pepin blends like Cabaiguan and the Pepin Blue.
The cigar opens with a profile that is rich and lush and full of palate treats. The core profile is a sublime mix of white pepper, floral sweetness, some sharper cedar notes and some fine blasts of cocoa and coffee. Depth of this sort is not achieved in a cigar often so I am taking in every aspect of the performance. At the back of the palate there are some excellent earthy tones that are mixed with a bready finish that is hard to place and adds some sweetness to the mix. The draw is absolutely perfect, the mouth feel is incredible and the draw has just enough resistance but provides cloud after cloud of ample smoke. The burn is right on the money to this point as well.
The first half of the cigar loses some depth, but the complexity remains as the flavors that linger on continue to develop into a more full bodied experience. The core profile is now a presentation of cedar that has dulled nicely and shows an undertone of vanilla cream, this is coupled with a wonderful coffee note that tickles the back of the palate and makes it yearn for more. While simple, this combination of flavors is so subtle, yet deep, that the palate and brain need to sync up some in order for the flavors to register. The back of the palate shows some light floral sweetness and slight earthy tone is here as well. The sweetness could be tempered some by a show of pepper or spice, but I am not finding it distracting to this point. The draw continues to perform in an exceptional fashion, the effort is so little that I forget I am smoking for awhile as I quietly draw on the cigar. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar shows a level of refinement I have not experienced in some time. The core profile becomes more subtle still as it moves into more vanilla cream than cedar. While the coffee notes are still present I am I little put off by how sweet the cigar gets in the last half. I would like some pepper or spice to ramp up the flavor a little bit. The back of the palate is also sweet, and it is becoming cloyingly so. The earthy flavors have given way to a more plain note of wood, but there is a clover like flavor and sweetness coming through here. Again I am finding the cigar to be too sweet in the final stretch. The draw and burn are flawless.
The finish was long and smooth showing cedar and cocoa flavors as the predominant factors.
Appearance- 100 you won't see a cigar more beautiful
Taste- 92 some very sweet notes late in the cigar hurt the score
Construction- 100 I don't give this out very often, but this cigar performed exceptionally
Strength- 93 a nice medium/full
Overall- 96.25 a classic cigar
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Pura Sangre Churchill (7x52)
I am back in the pocket with a review of something new to the market. This cigar has some back story about being some famous maker's personal blend and blah, blah, blah, blah... I never put any stock or faith into these garbage stories about a cigar's lineage for two reasons. One, I'm not that dumb, these companies have marketing people and if you think I am gifted in the arts of metaphorical embellishment you should meet some of those folks. Two, I could give a crap about a cigar's particular bona fides, I want to smoke it and see for myself what it is all about I don't really care where it came from. These companies can fill a brochure with rhetoric about cigar greatness and you know what? Most of these verbally oversold cigars send me running for the vomit bag. Enough said about the current marketing of cigars.
This cigar was given to me in sample form in an individual cardboard coffin, the cigar wrapped en cello. After I fight it out of the packaging, it was a bit tight in the cardboard coffin, I am ready to get started. The cigar itself is bold looking. The wrapper is hearty and dark, it has some prominent veins, but after closely inspecting them I believe they are just on the surface and shouldn't cause too many problems. The construction seems too tight to me and I am hoping it does not cause any issues with the performance. The pre light aroma is odd, it seems almost wet to me, like wet earth with some spice. The pre light draw is tight but shows some earthy flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all earth; dark, loamy and wet earth. This is not a flavor that you want in a cigar at anytime in my experience and I am not pleased with this opening salvo. The flavor that is present seems heavy to me and it coats the palate in a smoke remnant that seems almost humid or swampy. At the back of the palate there are some mineral flavors that are showing up and maybe a touch of anise. No matter how I cut this opening it is just not good. The draw is tight and I am getting smoke, but it is not the usual level that I expect or have become accustomed to. The burn is solid to this point, which is the only quality worth anything at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to wallow in the deep end of the pool of disgust. The core profile is still heavy and wet smacking of loamy earth. There might be some woody notes trying to creep in here, but they are smacked down repeatedly with the blanket of wet earth that holds down the whole experience. The back of the palate is still showing a metallic mineral flavor and there are still some anise and other spice notes here, but they can't stand up and really do anything for this cigar. The draw is still too tight, but I am getting more than I was earlier. The burn is still the highlight of the smoke at this point.
The final half of the cigar is actually not awful, but it is still bad. The core profile has become more woody, but there are still some hints of the wet earth that are coming through here. I catch maybe just a bit of coffee here and there, but I wanted so much more. The back of the palate still shows mineral flavors, but there are more spice notes coming through now and the anise flavor is definitely on the verge of being a star but never gets home. The draw stays too tight for me throughout. The burn performs well to the end.
The finish was short and harsh with scorched earthy flavors.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking cigar, the positives ended there
Taste- 77 just too many inferior flavors here
Construction- 81 the tight draw throughout the cigar hurt this score
Strength- 80 not sure if this is medium or full, but there is nothing complementary to the profile in the strength
Overall- 80.75 a very inferior cigar in my summation
This cigar was given to me in sample form in an individual cardboard coffin, the cigar wrapped en cello. After I fight it out of the packaging, it was a bit tight in the cardboard coffin, I am ready to get started. The cigar itself is bold looking. The wrapper is hearty and dark, it has some prominent veins, but after closely inspecting them I believe they are just on the surface and shouldn't cause too many problems. The construction seems too tight to me and I am hoping it does not cause any issues with the performance. The pre light aroma is odd, it seems almost wet to me, like wet earth with some spice. The pre light draw is tight but shows some earthy flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all earth; dark, loamy and wet earth. This is not a flavor that you want in a cigar at anytime in my experience and I am not pleased with this opening salvo. The flavor that is present seems heavy to me and it coats the palate in a smoke remnant that seems almost humid or swampy. At the back of the palate there are some mineral flavors that are showing up and maybe a touch of anise. No matter how I cut this opening it is just not good. The draw is tight and I am getting smoke, but it is not the usual level that I expect or have become accustomed to. The burn is solid to this point, which is the only quality worth anything at this point.
The first half of the cigar continues to wallow in the deep end of the pool of disgust. The core profile is still heavy and wet smacking of loamy earth. There might be some woody notes trying to creep in here, but they are smacked down repeatedly with the blanket of wet earth that holds down the whole experience. The back of the palate is still showing a metallic mineral flavor and there are still some anise and other spice notes here, but they can't stand up and really do anything for this cigar. The draw is still too tight, but I am getting more than I was earlier. The burn is still the highlight of the smoke at this point.
The final half of the cigar is actually not awful, but it is still bad. The core profile has become more woody, but there are still some hints of the wet earth that are coming through here. I catch maybe just a bit of coffee here and there, but I wanted so much more. The back of the palate still shows mineral flavors, but there are more spice notes coming through now and the anise flavor is definitely on the verge of being a star but never gets home. The draw stays too tight for me throughout. The burn performs well to the end.
The finish was short and harsh with scorched earthy flavors.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking cigar, the positives ended there
Taste- 77 just too many inferior flavors here
Construction- 81 the tight draw throughout the cigar hurt this score
Strength- 80 not sure if this is medium or full, but there is nothing complementary to the profile in the strength
Overall- 80.75 a very inferior cigar in my summation
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Esteban Carreras 211 Torpedo (6.75x52)
As Esteban Carreras is the new manufacturer sponsor of the show I co-host, I thought it only fitting that I take a crack at smoking and reviewing their latest blend. It is well known that I am no fan of torpedoes, so this cigar already has some strikes against it. I have enjoyed almost all of the blends from this manufacturer before, with the exception of the Connecticut offering, so I am thinking this one might be worthy of some praise as well. Alas, one can never tell until flame hits leaf.
The cigar is nice looking, aside from the vitola, it is a very light brown and it is not festooned with crazy band work or other gadgetry that makes me want to toss my lunch. Instead this cigar gets credit for being simple and elegant in appearance as it only has a small band around the foot of the smoke. It is presented, box and small band, in white. I have always heard that white is a danger color in the cigar industry, but I think it is regal looking, besides who can argue with the success of Davidoff or Illusione? Both of those cigars are presented with white bands and they do well. Sometimes this industry makes me giggle. The wrapper looks nice, but the cap is sloppy and there is one very large vein in the middle third that is giving me the hairy eyeball as I give it the same. The pre light aroma is bready with some vanilla tones. The pre light draw shows cedar flavors that border on being sharp.
The cigar opens with a profile that is unexpected but not necessarily profound. The flavor core has some nice notes of sweet vanilla and some floral tones, but the presentation seems thin to me at this point and I am straining to find something deeper. The back of the palate contains a dry cedar tone that is leeching moisture from my mouth and threatening to derail the experience. There is also a dusty texture to the smoke that leaves a filmy coat of cedar remnant on the tongue. This is not the most pleasant open to a cigar that I have ever head, but neither is it the most unpleasant which is all I can say in the way of an endorsement at this point. The draw is a bit tight, as I find most vitolas of this nature to be, but it is not causing me any huge concerns. The burn is solid in the opening third.
The first half of the cigar does show some development. The core profile becomes a more deep and concentrated presentation of vanilla, bread and some floral tones and they have a nice balance, all though I would like some spice to take down some of the sweet impressions here. The back of the palate continues to show a strong cedar presence, but there is a nice crisp tobacco note here that is taking some of the sharpness out the cedar notes. The draw continues to be slightly laborious, but I am trudging onward like a good cigar soldier. The burn is still sharp and there are no areas on concern it that arena.
The final half of the smoke is flat. I really look for development in the home stretch and this cigar just does not deliver the goods for some reason. The profile is locked in stasis. The core maintains vanilla, bread and light floral tastes and I still find myself yearning for some spice to punch up the interest and take out some sweetness, but it never arrives and I end up with a smoke that is too sweet for me. The back of the palate again sharpens into a strong cedar presentation, but at least this time it's not as dry as on the first pass. The draw does open up in the final third, which is nice, but I would have liked it to happen much sooner. The burn is acceptable right to the end.
The finish smacks of cedar and leaves the palate a little bit too dry for my tastes.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 86 just too short in the complexity and depth department, but there were some nice flavors here
Construction- 84 the draw was too tight for me
Strength- 88 a very nice medium
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average, but not my favorite blend from this manufacturer
The cigar is nice looking, aside from the vitola, it is a very light brown and it is not festooned with crazy band work or other gadgetry that makes me want to toss my lunch. Instead this cigar gets credit for being simple and elegant in appearance as it only has a small band around the foot of the smoke. It is presented, box and small band, in white. I have always heard that white is a danger color in the cigar industry, but I think it is regal looking, besides who can argue with the success of Davidoff or Illusione? Both of those cigars are presented with white bands and they do well. Sometimes this industry makes me giggle. The wrapper looks nice, but the cap is sloppy and there is one very large vein in the middle third that is giving me the hairy eyeball as I give it the same. The pre light aroma is bready with some vanilla tones. The pre light draw shows cedar flavors that border on being sharp.
The cigar opens with a profile that is unexpected but not necessarily profound. The flavor core has some nice notes of sweet vanilla and some floral tones, but the presentation seems thin to me at this point and I am straining to find something deeper. The back of the palate contains a dry cedar tone that is leeching moisture from my mouth and threatening to derail the experience. There is also a dusty texture to the smoke that leaves a filmy coat of cedar remnant on the tongue. This is not the most pleasant open to a cigar that I have ever head, but neither is it the most unpleasant which is all I can say in the way of an endorsement at this point. The draw is a bit tight, as I find most vitolas of this nature to be, but it is not causing me any huge concerns. The burn is solid in the opening third.
The first half of the cigar does show some development. The core profile becomes a more deep and concentrated presentation of vanilla, bread and some floral tones and they have a nice balance, all though I would like some spice to take down some of the sweet impressions here. The back of the palate continues to show a strong cedar presence, but there is a nice crisp tobacco note here that is taking some of the sharpness out the cedar notes. The draw continues to be slightly laborious, but I am trudging onward like a good cigar soldier. The burn is still sharp and there are no areas on concern it that arena.
The final half of the smoke is flat. I really look for development in the home stretch and this cigar just does not deliver the goods for some reason. The profile is locked in stasis. The core maintains vanilla, bread and light floral tastes and I still find myself yearning for some spice to punch up the interest and take out some sweetness, but it never arrives and I end up with a smoke that is too sweet for me. The back of the palate again sharpens into a strong cedar presentation, but at least this time it's not as dry as on the first pass. The draw does open up in the final third, which is nice, but I would have liked it to happen much sooner. The burn is acceptable right to the end.
The finish smacks of cedar and leaves the palate a little bit too dry for my tastes.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 86 just too short in the complexity and depth department, but there were some nice flavors here
Construction- 84 the draw was too tight for me
Strength- 88 a very nice medium
Overall- 85.75 slightly above average, but not my favorite blend from this manufacturer
Monday, May 21, 2012
Oliva Master Blends 3 Robusto (5x50)
Travelling for work has kept me from entertaining all of you with hard hitting reviews recently, I am just being kept down by the man it seems. Some of you may be surprised to see that I have chosen this particular cigar to review. I usually keep my reviews to new items and boutique trends, but if any of you listen to the radio show I co-host every Saturday (shameless plug coming), on 1280 AM in the Sarasota area or on wtmy.com, you know that my partner and I often talk about something called a cigar evolution. I have long held that most cigar smokers go through periods of refinement in their palate and often find themselves enjoying cigars they thought they never would, or enjoying a cigar that they had tried before but discarded as not for them. This process is what I call the cigar evolution and in nearly 24 years of cigar smoking I have had several personal evolutions of my own. I hold up the cigar being reviewed here as evidence of said evolution. I have smoked these before and I was not able to get my head around the super premium price for what I considered an average cigar. In recent years my palate has begun to appreciate more subtle flavors and less strength as I search for cigar nuance so I figured giving this cigar another try might be interesting.
The cigar presents very well, I have always thought these were some very attractive smokes. The wrapper just bathes the senses in a warm glow of finely tuned tobacco that looks dark and rich. There are some prominent veins here, but I don't feel as though they will be an issue. An inspection of the smoke does not show me any areas of concern and the construction looks and feels sturdy without being too tight. The band work is nice to look at as well, so I will give it a nod in the visual department. The pre light aroma is full of rich tobacco and coffee essence. The pre light draw has some subtle cocoa flavors and some light mint that I find very interesting.
The cigar opens with an opus of flavors that I do not recall experiencing in my prior Master Blends endeavors. The profile is awash with bold textures and flavors of tobacco, coffee, cocoa, dark wood and mint. I am stunned by this early profile extravaganza and I am wondering how I could have missed this when I smoked it before. At the back of the palate there is an earthiness that is heavy but not overwhelming, and while it lacks complexity, it can stand alone as the flavor in the backdrop and serves as a wonderful platform for the early flavors. The draw is a little tight for me, but I am drawing a decent amount of smoke so I am not overly concerned. The burn is solid and a crisp gray/white ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar continues to be a paragon of my cigar evolution virtues. It is subtle, balanced, complex and flavorful and I am realizing that I could not have enjoyed this smoke two or three years ago because I was a dolt, an ignoramus if you will, about the intricacies of the cigar world. The core profile is booming right along while showing coffee and cocoa as the main actors in this cigar aria, but there is a fantastic rip of dark wood that keeps laying in some rustic qualities to a cigar that wants to show off so much refinement. At the back of the palate the earthy flavors remain, but there are some fantastic runs of pepper here as well that is knocking up the spice quotient into the full bodied range. The draw is still a bit too tight for me, but I am moving along with eager longing for the last half. The burn is still very solid and there is not a single issue.
The final half of the cigar actually sags a bit for me, but after the open and the first half it really had nowhere to go but down or it may have gotten a 99 or 100 from me. As it is, it is still a fabulous smoke that I enjoy right to the end. The core profile becomes a less subtle array of flavors as some strength is brought into the mix. There is a slight flavor of tannin here that could be mineral in nature, but there are still some excellent coffee flavors coming through. At the back of the palate there are still some nice earth tones and the dark wood is showing through here with some pepper remnant that I would have like more of. The draw stays just a hair tight to the end for me, but it will not lead to a huge downgrade from me. The burn is solid to the end.
The finish was full of pepper and dark wood for many minutes. This is a prime example of cigar evolution at its finest in my book.
Appearance- 93 a very nice looking cigar
Taste- 95 an excellent array of flavors, particularly in the first half
Construction- 92 some tightness in the draw leads to slight reductions
Strength- 97 a fabulous medium/full that complements the flavor profile in a profound way
Overall- 94 a near classic experience and a wonderful cigar
The cigar presents very well, I have always thought these were some very attractive smokes. The wrapper just bathes the senses in a warm glow of finely tuned tobacco that looks dark and rich. There are some prominent veins here, but I don't feel as though they will be an issue. An inspection of the smoke does not show me any areas of concern and the construction looks and feels sturdy without being too tight. The band work is nice to look at as well, so I will give it a nod in the visual department. The pre light aroma is full of rich tobacco and coffee essence. The pre light draw has some subtle cocoa flavors and some light mint that I find very interesting.
The cigar opens with an opus of flavors that I do not recall experiencing in my prior Master Blends endeavors. The profile is awash with bold textures and flavors of tobacco, coffee, cocoa, dark wood and mint. I am stunned by this early profile extravaganza and I am wondering how I could have missed this when I smoked it before. At the back of the palate there is an earthiness that is heavy but not overwhelming, and while it lacks complexity, it can stand alone as the flavor in the backdrop and serves as a wonderful platform for the early flavors. The draw is a little tight for me, but I am drawing a decent amount of smoke so I am not overly concerned. The burn is solid and a crisp gray/white ash is forming nicely.
The first half of the cigar continues to be a paragon of my cigar evolution virtues. It is subtle, balanced, complex and flavorful and I am realizing that I could not have enjoyed this smoke two or three years ago because I was a dolt, an ignoramus if you will, about the intricacies of the cigar world. The core profile is booming right along while showing coffee and cocoa as the main actors in this cigar aria, but there is a fantastic rip of dark wood that keeps laying in some rustic qualities to a cigar that wants to show off so much refinement. At the back of the palate the earthy flavors remain, but there are some fantastic runs of pepper here as well that is knocking up the spice quotient into the full bodied range. The draw is still a bit too tight for me, but I am moving along with eager longing for the last half. The burn is still very solid and there is not a single issue.
The final half of the cigar actually sags a bit for me, but after the open and the first half it really had nowhere to go but down or it may have gotten a 99 or 100 from me. As it is, it is still a fabulous smoke that I enjoy right to the end. The core profile becomes a less subtle array of flavors as some strength is brought into the mix. There is a slight flavor of tannin here that could be mineral in nature, but there are still some excellent coffee flavors coming through. At the back of the palate there are still some nice earth tones and the dark wood is showing through here with some pepper remnant that I would have like more of. The draw stays just a hair tight to the end for me, but it will not lead to a huge downgrade from me. The burn is solid to the end.
The finish was full of pepper and dark wood for many minutes. This is a prime example of cigar evolution at its finest in my book.
Appearance- 93 a very nice looking cigar
Taste- 95 an excellent array of flavors, particularly in the first half
Construction- 92 some tightness in the draw leads to slight reductions
Strength- 97 a fabulous medium/full that complements the flavor profile in a profound way
Overall- 94 a near classic experience and a wonderful cigar
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