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
Friday, May 24, 2013
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
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve (Sin Nombre) 2012 (5.75x48)
Some weeks ago some very good friends of mine suffered through something that I had to survive several years back, an event so life altering that no matter what age you are it shocks you breathless and leaves you in stunned reverie for several days. They lost their mother, much like I lost mine to cancer about five years ago. Granted the circumstances were different, their mother 92 years young and mine 54, but the sense of loss is the same no matter what age you and no matter what age she is. See, you only get one Mother, most of us probably take it for granted as the speed of life takes us in myriad directions. What you realize after she is gone is that in many ways no matter what direction I traveled my mother was my compass. Always listening, never judging. Providing advice, wanted or unwanted. Always proud, never ashamed, even when she had reason to be. There were days when I was not the greatest son, and I'm sure my friends would admit to the same, but there she was, like a shining lodestone in a deep dark place allowing me to find my way back. Even after they are gone that shine still guides us, I miss her dearly and I'm sure they miss theirs as well.
As I sat at the funeral service for their mother I realized something else. I never met their mother, but I felt like I knew all I needed to know about her because I know her sons. You see, sometimes lineage is just as important as anything else and my two friends are two of the greatest guys you could know. They are men's men. They are kind and caring. They are wise and funny. You can't help but speculate that they inherited a large measure of that from their mother and the upbringing that she provided. Knowing the two men is to know their mother and their very stout and resolute way of life speaks volumes about her. It is my pleasure to know them and call them friends.
What does this have to do with cigars? Probably everything if you really think about it from the standpoint of lineage, particularly when considering this cigar. The Fuente's have a proud tradition of cigar making that spans decades and their lineage is second to none. To know their cigars is to know them. Always consistent, pleasurable and understated. I have met many of the Fuente's and I can tell you they all fit this bill, there is no flamboyance, no putting on of airs, just a resolute and steadfast dedication to making great cigars.
This cigar presents very well in the traditional Fuente way, elegance and class without being flashy or in your face. The band work is standard Fuente fare and I have always loved this simple homage to their well made cigars. The wrapper is from their sungrown stock and it is nearly flawless and expertly applied. The construction seems to be excellent as I can't find any voids or tight spots in it at all. The pre light aroma is full of spice and tobacco notes. The pre light draw shows some light brushes of pepper and earth.
The cigar opens with profile that is slow developing, but flavorful. The core profile shows light pepper flavors and there are some very nice earth tones in the mix here as well. While not particularly full of depth or complexity it is still enjoyable in the early moments as it warms up the palate. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some warm notes of soft wood and some brushes of spice that I equate with anise. The draw is excellent here, just the right amount of resistance and the smoke that comes forth is satisfying and full with each draw. The burn is a touch wonky early, but as with most cigars of prime lineage, it evens out easily and neatly.
The first half of the cigar develops into a more complex array of flavors and I am excited about the developments here. The core profile still has some light pepper flavors, but there is a distinct hazelnut flavor that comes through with flying colors and becomes the star of the show. The back of the palate shows a more robust oaky flavor now and there are still some brushes of spice that are more like clove at this point. All in all this has developed into a wonderful flavor experience. The draw loosens a touch too much for me as the cigar burns, but it is still acceptable. The burn is very solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar actually slides back a bit. The core profile loses the hazelnut essence and picks up a more leathery tone that is ok, but not as nice as the hazelnut was. There are still some brushes of pepper here as well. The back of the palate continues to show some wood notes and there are some earthy tones coming in as well at this point. The spice remains but becomes slightly sour without the hazelnut to mingle with it. The draw continued to be too loose for me, but it did not cause any issues. The burn was excellent to the end.
The finish was long and smooth and showed leather and earth notes that lingered pleasantly.
Appearance- 91 always elegant and classic
Taste- 91 some points off for the back half of the smoke, but still very good
Construction- 90 some loss for draw deterioration, but still very nice
Strength- 97 a wonderful medium that complemented the profile wonderfully
Overall- 91.75 a very good smoke that deserves consideration from any smoker worth his/her salt
As I sat at the funeral service for their mother I realized something else. I never met their mother, but I felt like I knew all I needed to know about her because I know her sons. You see, sometimes lineage is just as important as anything else and my two friends are two of the greatest guys you could know. They are men's men. They are kind and caring. They are wise and funny. You can't help but speculate that they inherited a large measure of that from their mother and the upbringing that she provided. Knowing the two men is to know their mother and their very stout and resolute way of life speaks volumes about her. It is my pleasure to know them and call them friends.
What does this have to do with cigars? Probably everything if you really think about it from the standpoint of lineage, particularly when considering this cigar. The Fuente's have a proud tradition of cigar making that spans decades and their lineage is second to none. To know their cigars is to know them. Always consistent, pleasurable and understated. I have met many of the Fuente's and I can tell you they all fit this bill, there is no flamboyance, no putting on of airs, just a resolute and steadfast dedication to making great cigars.
This cigar presents very well in the traditional Fuente way, elegance and class without being flashy or in your face. The band work is standard Fuente fare and I have always loved this simple homage to their well made cigars. The wrapper is from their sungrown stock and it is nearly flawless and expertly applied. The construction seems to be excellent as I can't find any voids or tight spots in it at all. The pre light aroma is full of spice and tobacco notes. The pre light draw shows some light brushes of pepper and earth.
The cigar opens with profile that is slow developing, but flavorful. The core profile shows light pepper flavors and there are some very nice earth tones in the mix here as well. While not particularly full of depth or complexity it is still enjoyable in the early moments as it warms up the palate. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some warm notes of soft wood and some brushes of spice that I equate with anise. The draw is excellent here, just the right amount of resistance and the smoke that comes forth is satisfying and full with each draw. The burn is a touch wonky early, but as with most cigars of prime lineage, it evens out easily and neatly.
The first half of the cigar develops into a more complex array of flavors and I am excited about the developments here. The core profile still has some light pepper flavors, but there is a distinct hazelnut flavor that comes through with flying colors and becomes the star of the show. The back of the palate shows a more robust oaky flavor now and there are still some brushes of spice that are more like clove at this point. All in all this has developed into a wonderful flavor experience. The draw loosens a touch too much for me as the cigar burns, but it is still acceptable. The burn is very solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar actually slides back a bit. The core profile loses the hazelnut essence and picks up a more leathery tone that is ok, but not as nice as the hazelnut was. There are still some brushes of pepper here as well. The back of the palate continues to show some wood notes and there are some earthy tones coming in as well at this point. The spice remains but becomes slightly sour without the hazelnut to mingle with it. The draw continued to be too loose for me, but it did not cause any issues. The burn was excellent to the end.
The finish was long and smooth and showed leather and earth notes that lingered pleasantly.
Appearance- 91 always elegant and classic
Taste- 91 some points off for the back half of the smoke, but still very good
Construction- 90 some loss for draw deterioration, but still very nice
Strength- 97 a wonderful medium that complemented the profile wonderfully
Overall- 91.75 a very good smoke that deserves consideration from any smoker worth his/her salt
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Headley Grange Corona Gorda (5.625x46)
I have been hearing about these cigars for some time now. Made by the guys at Crowned Heads (they brought you the Four Kicks a year or so ago), it has had some mixed buzz among the guys and girls in my cigar circles. I have heard some say how much they have enjoyed the smoke and on the other side I have heard many say they did not enjoy it as much as the Four Kicks. This usually does not bode well for a cigar in general. A love it or hate it phenomenon is never what a manufacturer is looking for, and if it is what they find then there are often market repercussions in certain areas. Having said all of this, I always cancel what I have heard about cigars out of my brain when I am going to write a review of something. Besides, as a self aggrandizing cigar elitist I seldom look down my nose long enough at the cigar peasantry to worry about what they think. I kid of course, I am more like a cigar socialist in that I think everyone should smoke cigars...Just not mine.
This cigar is not very appealing to the eye. The wrapper has some mottled spots on it and it seems too dry to me, but the main body has some spongy give to it so I don't think the cigar itself is dried out. The band work is simple and not very eye catching, not that it really matters because I seldom smoke the band anyway. The pre light draw shows some light tobacco and wood flavors with a sweet and dusty texture. The pre light aroma is also dusty and sweet but has some nice hints of spice and light floral tones.
The cigar opens with a profile that is odd to me. The core flavors are of light tobacco and little bits of white pepper, but there is a very strange spice here that I can't put my finger on, but it is reminiscent of potpourri. The strange spice note leaves the palate dry and puckered and this is not something I look for in any cigar. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some light earth tones with some hits of wheaty bread. The draw is a real dream at this point. I was initially thinking it was too loose, but my criticism fades away as fluid draws lead to copious amounts of smoke. The burn is also solid at this point, and I don't think I will have any performance issues with this smoke.
The first half of the cigar shows some small improvements, but it is still short of being complex or balanced. The core flavors now show some notes of cinnamon and light tobacco, but there are still some weird potpourri notes here that are derailing the experience. The back of the palate continues to show bready notes with some light earth tones, there are some hints of pepper arriving here as I approach the last half of the smoke. The draw is still excellent and I could only wish it was delivering a more robust profile with some complexity, but it is a real pleasure from a construction point of view. The burn is still performing very well at this point.
The final half of the cigar finally develops some quality features, I fear they may be too late. The core profile develops into a nice array of cinnamon, tobacco and a touch of brown sugar sweetness that creates an interesting, if mild, experience. The back of the palate has become more flavorful, yet still mild, as flavors of earth and pepper coat the palate nicely. The draw and burn are top notch all the way to the end.
The finish was middling, but did have some nice tobacco flavors that lingered for awhile.
I would have liked more depth, strength and complexity in this smoke. Additionally, the potpourri strangeness early on was a real detractor.
Appearance- 85 very average
Taste- 85 also very average, though it was saved from a lower score by late performance
Construction- 93 the real savior of the experience
Strength- 87 a very medium turning mild late
Overall- 88 slightly above average due to superior construction
This cigar is not very appealing to the eye. The wrapper has some mottled spots on it and it seems too dry to me, but the main body has some spongy give to it so I don't think the cigar itself is dried out. The band work is simple and not very eye catching, not that it really matters because I seldom smoke the band anyway. The pre light draw shows some light tobacco and wood flavors with a sweet and dusty texture. The pre light aroma is also dusty and sweet but has some nice hints of spice and light floral tones.
The cigar opens with a profile that is odd to me. The core flavors are of light tobacco and little bits of white pepper, but there is a very strange spice here that I can't put my finger on, but it is reminiscent of potpourri. The strange spice note leaves the palate dry and puckered and this is not something I look for in any cigar. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some light earth tones with some hits of wheaty bread. The draw is a real dream at this point. I was initially thinking it was too loose, but my criticism fades away as fluid draws lead to copious amounts of smoke. The burn is also solid at this point, and I don't think I will have any performance issues with this smoke.
The first half of the cigar shows some small improvements, but it is still short of being complex or balanced. The core flavors now show some notes of cinnamon and light tobacco, but there are still some weird potpourri notes here that are derailing the experience. The back of the palate continues to show bready notes with some light earth tones, there are some hints of pepper arriving here as I approach the last half of the smoke. The draw is still excellent and I could only wish it was delivering a more robust profile with some complexity, but it is a real pleasure from a construction point of view. The burn is still performing very well at this point.
The final half of the cigar finally develops some quality features, I fear they may be too late. The core profile develops into a nice array of cinnamon, tobacco and a touch of brown sugar sweetness that creates an interesting, if mild, experience. The back of the palate has become more flavorful, yet still mild, as flavors of earth and pepper coat the palate nicely. The draw and burn are top notch all the way to the end.
The finish was middling, but did have some nice tobacco flavors that lingered for awhile.
I would have liked more depth, strength and complexity in this smoke. Additionally, the potpourri strangeness early on was a real detractor.
Appearance- 85 very average
Taste- 85 also very average, though it was saved from a lower score by late performance
Construction- 93 the real savior of the experience
Strength- 87 a very medium turning mild late
Overall- 88 slightly above average due to superior construction
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