While I was at IPCPR in July this cigar was one of the most talked about smokes of the show. However, every time I went by the booth there were none to be found. I wasn't even sure that they existed to be honest, since I did not see a single one anywhere during the time I was in Vegas. Wild speculation ensued as to the whereabouts of this particular cigar; conspiracy theories were hatched, foil hats were worn, hearings were held...Of course all of this took place while I was alone in my suite, but it happened, I swear it did...
It was with great interest that I read an e-mail last week from my local B&M that these elusive cigars had finally landed, as if maybe they had been on some journey to outer space (Google this tidbit, you might be entertained). I didn't rush right in to get one, I do work for a living after all, but I did put it on my to smoke list with as asterisk for immediate attention. The minute I got the chance I headed on over there and sat down to see what all the talk was about in July.
The cigar presents well with intricate and entertaining band work. The perfecto is nicely constructed with a very tapered foot, somewhat akin to the Fuente Hemingway series. The wrapper leaf is a wonderful medium brown and it is applied expertly, even the seams are hard to discern. Alec Bradley has really come a long way in a short period of time. My examination does not reveal any areas of concern and the only real issue I can see off the bat is the tapered foot, which often makes the draw tight and lends to early heat in a smoke. The pre light draw is fluid and smooth and smacks of wheat and pepper. The pre light aroma shows a nice mix of earth and wood with a light spice.
The smoke opens with a profile that is somewhat unexpected for me. The core flavors are showing tons of wood and earth notes that are developed, but could use a complementary feature to make it more complex and balanced early on. The back of the palate and through the nose show some nice spice and slight touches of pepper that are interesting, However, I am again left feeling like something more needs to be present here. The draw is very strong and my concerns about the tapered foot are soon allayed. The burn is also on the money early on.
The first half of the smoke develops very nicely. The core profile has a solid woody base that allows for flavors of earth and cinnamon and light pepper to dance across the top of the palate, my only complaint is that there additional flavors are wispy and leave the palate wanting more in a desperate way. The back of the palate really kicks up the spice quotient and I am picking out some clove like flavors with some tones of ginger that has a sharp quality to it, there is also a more satisfying burst of pepper here that adds to the experience nicely. The draw has really opened up and is delivering perfect amounts of smoke with each easy draw. The burn gets a little wonky, but evens out without any effort from me.
The final half of the cigar is also very strong. The core profile really settles into a nice array of earth and wood, again some complementary flavors would be favorable here, but I am nit picky about this kind of stuff. At the back of the palate the cigar really starts to deliver peppery blasts that are full and prevalent, there are still some nice spice notes here and there, but I would like more of it to be present. The draw and burn are solid to the end.
The finish is long and full of pepper notes that linger.
A nice cigar but, watch the price tag as these sneak into the Super Premium range in the larger sizes.
Appearance- 94 a very nice looking smoke that has elegance
Taste- 88 all in all not bad, but it could have been so much more
Construction- 91 some burn issues in the middle, but nicely made
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full
Overall- 89.75 a nice above average smoke and another solid offering from Alec Bradley
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Ortega Wild Bunch Big Bad John (6.875x60)
Along comes another new review and with it another review of the Ortega Wild Bunch offerings. This time I tackle the ponderous and downright huge Big Bad John. It is not a secret that I hate, yes that's right, HATE cigars in this ring gauge. However, as always, in the interest of the cigar consumer yours truly soldiers on and smokes all things no matter how gimmicky, how large, how strangely shaped, how double or triple wrapped, how bad or how good. It is a calling and I am up to the challenge, even when I am sent looking for the nearest discreet place to toss my lunch...
Now I am not saying this cigar was bad, but the word is in the name so I will let you draw your own conclusions when you smoke it. It presents in gigantic log fashion like most cigars of this ring gauge, it is huge and packed with tobacco. The wrapper looks wonderful, it has very few veins and I can't find a single defect anywhere on it. An examination of the smoke reveals some areas where there are voids in the bunch and I have often found this to be common in huge ring gauge cigars. The pre light draw is a bit tight, but shows some slight hints of wood and pepper. The pre light aroma is dusty, and has some loamy mushroom qualities.
The cigar opens with a profile that is actually better than I anticipated. The core flavors have some very nice light spice qualities and some crisp tobacco notes. There is also a brush of dark tea and some nice pepper notes that round out some complexity and depth that I wasn't expecting. The back of the palate has some sharp cedar notes, but overall it is not overwhelming my palate at this point. The draw is tight right at the open but loosens slightly as the burn opens the cigar up. The burn is solid and I don't have any concerns in this area.
The cigar chugs along nicely through the first third or so, and I am enjoying the experience (shocking since it is a large ring cigar). In the second third the cigar really flies off the rails for no apparent reason. The core profile becomes sour and shows some really foul and bitter notes of vegetation and loamy earth. There are some ideas of pepper here, but there is nothing redeeming coming through at all. The back of the palate and the retrohale show sharp cedar notes that have become far too sharp and border on bitter. The draw has improved at this point, I only wish it hadn't. The mouthfuls of sour vileness have me begging for a plug or some other reason to launch this rocket. The burn is still solid, but I see the beginnings of a run and wonder what this development will lead to.
The final part of the cigar actually returns to something enjoyable and I am happy I didn't chuck it. The core profile moves into a nice presentation of pepper and spice, with a wheaty finish that interesting. The back of the palate begins to show some sweet floral concepts and there is a brush of cedar along with some nice vanilla tones that interest me. I have seldom smoked cigars with this type of split personality, and I can never recall a cigar that was so terrible in the middle while flanked by solid flavors. The draw really becomes acceptable late. However, the burn is a complete mess by the end and I let it go a little before I normally would just to end on a high note.
The finish was middling, but showed some nice pepper notes with complements of wood.
Appearance- 88 not bad for a big cigar
Taste- 82 I can't do any more for it because of the horrific middle third
Construction- 83 again I would like to do more, but the tight draw early and the burn issues late killed the score here
Strength- 85 a middle of the road medium
Overall- 83.75 below average and not something I would consider again
Now I am not saying this cigar was bad, but the word is in the name so I will let you draw your own conclusions when you smoke it. It presents in gigantic log fashion like most cigars of this ring gauge, it is huge and packed with tobacco. The wrapper looks wonderful, it has very few veins and I can't find a single defect anywhere on it. An examination of the smoke reveals some areas where there are voids in the bunch and I have often found this to be common in huge ring gauge cigars. The pre light draw is a bit tight, but shows some slight hints of wood and pepper. The pre light aroma is dusty, and has some loamy mushroom qualities.
The cigar opens with a profile that is actually better than I anticipated. The core flavors have some very nice light spice qualities and some crisp tobacco notes. There is also a brush of dark tea and some nice pepper notes that round out some complexity and depth that I wasn't expecting. The back of the palate has some sharp cedar notes, but overall it is not overwhelming my palate at this point. The draw is tight right at the open but loosens slightly as the burn opens the cigar up. The burn is solid and I don't have any concerns in this area.
The cigar chugs along nicely through the first third or so, and I am enjoying the experience (shocking since it is a large ring cigar). In the second third the cigar really flies off the rails for no apparent reason. The core profile becomes sour and shows some really foul and bitter notes of vegetation and loamy earth. There are some ideas of pepper here, but there is nothing redeeming coming through at all. The back of the palate and the retrohale show sharp cedar notes that have become far too sharp and border on bitter. The draw has improved at this point, I only wish it hadn't. The mouthfuls of sour vileness have me begging for a plug or some other reason to launch this rocket. The burn is still solid, but I see the beginnings of a run and wonder what this development will lead to.
The final part of the cigar actually returns to something enjoyable and I am happy I didn't chuck it. The core profile moves into a nice presentation of pepper and spice, with a wheaty finish that interesting. The back of the palate begins to show some sweet floral concepts and there is a brush of cedar along with some nice vanilla tones that interest me. I have seldom smoked cigars with this type of split personality, and I can never recall a cigar that was so terrible in the middle while flanked by solid flavors. The draw really becomes acceptable late. However, the burn is a complete mess by the end and I let it go a little before I normally would just to end on a high note.
The finish was middling, but showed some nice pepper notes with complements of wood.
Appearance- 88 not bad for a big cigar
Taste- 82 I can't do any more for it because of the horrific middle third
Construction- 83 again I would like to do more, but the tight draw early and the burn issues late killed the score here
Strength- 85 a middle of the road medium
Overall- 83.75 below average and not something I would consider again
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Ortega Wild Bunch Iron Mike (4.875x54)
What is this? A review from the Czar? I couldn't be, hasn't he been incognito for some time now? The answer to all of three of these probing and valuable questions is yes. To be frank I just have not had the time, or the colorful adjectives, to write these past couple of months. Never fear though! The Czar is back for the next little bit and I have reviews aplenty that I have just been waiting to drop on you fools.
For those of you not in the know, Ortega is one half of the now defunct Espinosa and Ortega, the guys that brought you 601, Cubao and some others. This Wild Bunch line is part of the small batch fad sweeping the cigar nation in recent months and every so often he has released a new Wild Bunch blend, most of which have some crazy name attached; Tony the Boss, Big bad John, Iron Mike etc... They kind of remind me of my days in Chicago and the gangster operations that had great names. Tony "The Nose", Jimmy "Bananas", Freddy "The Eye", Herman "The Gimp", you know good solid gangster names. Naming a line of cigars in this tradition, intentional or not, is fun and clever.
The cigar itself is interesting, the band work is futuristic, kind of Iron Man movie looking artwork that is cool and something you wouldn't expect in the cigar world. The cigar has some prominent veins, but I can't find any areas that may be of concern at all. The wrapper is dark and rich looking, this is a natural oscuro though, no extra oils or dies were added here to make something look like something it is not and I always applaud this kind of thing in the industry. The pre light aroma is heavy and contains some strong earthy tones. The pre light draw has some spice that is a little sour, but also shows a nice earthy flavor that could really be something once flame hits leaf.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a touch flat for me. There are some earthy tones in the open that are interesting, but they never really develop into anything. There are also some spice notes in the opening moments, but they have some sour undertones that are not appealing. The back of the palate has some dark wood flavors, but there are some mineral notes here that border on being metallic and they are putting me off the experience at this point. The draw is very smooth early, but as it opens up I worry that it may become too loose at some point and bring heat into the cigar. The burn is sharp, but the ash is a touch flaky early on.
The first half of the cigar really does not improve much. The core profile does not develop and stays flat and one dimensional. The earthy notes are hanging on, but they never show any depth or complexity. The sour spice notes continue to kick up as the cigar develops and I am reminded of very unpleasant experiences, like eating alum. The back of the palate and through the nose still show some dark wood flavors, but the metallic hints are still here and there is a drying quality to the smoke that is a turn off. The draw has settled in nicely and I am no longer worried about it becoming too loose. The burn stays solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar finally develops into something worth mentioning. The core profile begins to show some nice pepper flavors and the earthy notes really develop into a nice backdrop for the pepper to rest against. There is now some complexity and depth showing through and the balance of the flavors is very nice. The back of the palate is still showing nice dark wood flavors, but there are also some brushes of coffee showing here as well. All in all a nice finish. The draw and burn perform well to the end.
The finish was a touch short and had some metallic notes amongst wood and earth tones.
Appearance- 89 nice to look at
Taste- 83 some points came on late, but it was too little
Construction- 88 acceptable, but the draw was too loose for me
Strength- 86 billed as full, but really more medium for me
Overall- 86.25 slightly above average, but nothing to get excited about
Friday, September 27, 2013
Black Label Trading Company Benediction
On a recent trip to my favorite New Orleans B&M, the proprietor (a very good friend of mine), struck again with something I had not heard of or seen. He excels in this area and it is the reason his shop is always a must when I am in the Quarter, hell even if you're not in the Quarter you need to go see Armando at Crescent City...tell him I sent you, after he gets done laughing he will throw you out. On second thought, don't tell him I sent you, just tell him that the Red Wings suck, he will know right away it was me that sent you. He is a class act, and his shop is fantastic for the boutique enthusiast, and if you aren't a boutique enthusiast what the hell are you waiting for! Get to his shop pronto and become one! Many of my top rated smokes the last three years were found at this shop. Ok, ok enough about Armando, he will get a big head.
This particular smoke was lain into my paws by Armando himself and he said what he always said when he get excited;"this cigar is unbelievable bro!!" I take note when Armando sings the praises, he does not steer me wrong. He put two of these in my hands, one each of a different blend, and told me to smoke them ASAP. Well it is ASAP and I am smoking one up right now. You know what that means, more hard hitting subjective cigar journalism from the Czar...
This cigar presents very well. The wrapper is luxurious and smooth and well applied, it literally seems to drip with chocolaty goodness and there are no veins to mention. The band work is bit too Room 101 and Paul Stulac for me, I mean find a new trend guys! The skulls and script is played, but it is crisp and clean and well presented, it just does not meet my tastes right now in terms of art work. A quick exam leads me to believe that the cigar is well made as I find no voids or areas that are too tight. The pre light aroma has dark wood and spice notes, with maybe a hint of dark fruit lingering around. The pre light draw has a coffee note that has some grassy tones to it. Grassy tones make me nervous.
The cigar opens with a profile that is rich and full of depth. There is not much in the way of complexity or balance here, but the core flavors are doing nicely early on. The profile smacks of coffee bean, dark tea and some light grass notes. The grass notes are disturbing me a touch, as they can tend to get dry and foul an experience, but they are not heavy here and I think they will fade if the core flavors pick up as the smoke develops. The back of the palate is full of dark wood notes and there is some cocoa in the retrohale and at the back of the palate. The draw on this cigar is a dream early on, I love a draw that shows some resistance but allows plenty of smoke to coat the palate, this cigar provides just that. The burn is razor sharp right from the start.
The first half of the smoke develops very nicely as it develops nice complexity to match the depth and richness of the opening moments. The grassy notes are slowly moving on, which is a great thing, and the core profile is developing very nicely. The main flavors are now coffee, some dark chocolate and a cinnamon like spice that is very interesting and adding a layer of depth that is much needed. There is also some hint of orange zest coming through here and the palate is tantalized to continue on. The back of the palate and the nose show some strengthening of the dark wood flavors and there is some toothy earth coming in here as well, to top it off there is a mingling of white pepper that gives the cigar some zip and keeps it from becoming too rich. The draw remains solid and continues to impress me. The burn is still right on the money to this point.
The final half of the cigar, sadly, is not as good as the rest of it as the profile comes unhinged a little bit. The core flavors are shoved to the back of the pack as a serious dose of pepper comes rushing forward to join the party. This is not always a bad thing, but here it obscures the rest of the profile and that is a shame. There are still some notes of coffee and chocolate, but they are overwhelmed by the not so subtle pepper bully. The nuance of the back of the palate is similarly lost as the pepper overwhelms everything except for the return of some grassy notes that are dry and bothersome. The draw and burn are solid to the end.
The finish is full of pepper and dry grass notes, which leaves me pondering all that could have been in this cigar that started so strong.
Appearance- 89 very nice looking, aside from some unoriginal art work
Taste- 87 a very strong start derailed by a poor finish
Construction- 93 absolutely superb
Strength- 88 medium trending full
Overall- 89.5 still a very good score, but it could have been so much more
This particular smoke was lain into my paws by Armando himself and he said what he always said when he get excited;"this cigar is unbelievable bro!!" I take note when Armando sings the praises, he does not steer me wrong. He put two of these in my hands, one each of a different blend, and told me to smoke them ASAP. Well it is ASAP and I am smoking one up right now. You know what that means, more hard hitting subjective cigar journalism from the Czar...
This cigar presents very well. The wrapper is luxurious and smooth and well applied, it literally seems to drip with chocolaty goodness and there are no veins to mention. The band work is bit too Room 101 and Paul Stulac for me, I mean find a new trend guys! The skulls and script is played, but it is crisp and clean and well presented, it just does not meet my tastes right now in terms of art work. A quick exam leads me to believe that the cigar is well made as I find no voids or areas that are too tight. The pre light aroma has dark wood and spice notes, with maybe a hint of dark fruit lingering around. The pre light draw has a coffee note that has some grassy tones to it. Grassy tones make me nervous.
The cigar opens with a profile that is rich and full of depth. There is not much in the way of complexity or balance here, but the core flavors are doing nicely early on. The profile smacks of coffee bean, dark tea and some light grass notes. The grass notes are disturbing me a touch, as they can tend to get dry and foul an experience, but they are not heavy here and I think they will fade if the core flavors pick up as the smoke develops. The back of the palate is full of dark wood notes and there is some cocoa in the retrohale and at the back of the palate. The draw on this cigar is a dream early on, I love a draw that shows some resistance but allows plenty of smoke to coat the palate, this cigar provides just that. The burn is razor sharp right from the start.
The first half of the smoke develops very nicely as it develops nice complexity to match the depth and richness of the opening moments. The grassy notes are slowly moving on, which is a great thing, and the core profile is developing very nicely. The main flavors are now coffee, some dark chocolate and a cinnamon like spice that is very interesting and adding a layer of depth that is much needed. There is also some hint of orange zest coming through here and the palate is tantalized to continue on. The back of the palate and the nose show some strengthening of the dark wood flavors and there is some toothy earth coming in here as well, to top it off there is a mingling of white pepper that gives the cigar some zip and keeps it from becoming too rich. The draw remains solid and continues to impress me. The burn is still right on the money to this point.
The final half of the cigar, sadly, is not as good as the rest of it as the profile comes unhinged a little bit. The core flavors are shoved to the back of the pack as a serious dose of pepper comes rushing forward to join the party. This is not always a bad thing, but here it obscures the rest of the profile and that is a shame. There are still some notes of coffee and chocolate, but they are overwhelmed by the not so subtle pepper bully. The nuance of the back of the palate is similarly lost as the pepper overwhelms everything except for the return of some grassy notes that are dry and bothersome. The draw and burn are solid to the end.
The finish is full of pepper and dry grass notes, which leaves me pondering all that could have been in this cigar that started so strong.
Appearance- 89 very nice looking, aside from some unoriginal art work
Taste- 87 a very strong start derailed by a poor finish
Construction- 93 absolutely superb
Strength- 88 medium trending full
Overall- 89.5 still a very good score, but it could have been so much more
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Sam Leccia White 552 (5x52)
As I have said in previous reviews fanfare and hype about cigars is often misplaced, and when listened to by the average Joe, can cause mediocre cigars to become the stuff of legend. I have experienced this many, many times in my days as a cigar smoker, 25 years and counting by the way (and I am only 38). Some hot person in the industry has all the cache and attention and everything he makes is going to be gold right? Wrong! As with any industry, when someone tries to trade on their image, and glory gone by, the consumer can take the shaft as inferior products are used, things are rushed to market and the overall experience and the artistry of the pursuit are lost in the good ole dollar bill shuffle. The cigar industry falls prey to this wanton disregard for heritage and the integrity of the product just like any other.
Along comes Sam Leccia, if you haven't met him you should, he is a really nice guy. Sam has been hot in the industry for some time now and he has moved around a bit, but he landed on his feet and started another new and fresh cigar venture. I have smoked several of these new offerings over the past couple of months and I am finally getting around to reviewing it here.
This smoke presents with a wrapper that is somewhat mottled in appearance and has a dry texture. The wrapper is not dry, quite the contrary if you know what you are looking for, but the texture has tooth and seems dry. The band work is a little shoddy, but it has a nice design and the eye catching white band is pleasant. As I examine the cigar I can feel some loose spots in the bunch that have me concerned, but I don't believe that they will kill the cigar if I take my time. The pre light aroma smacks of wood and spice. The pre light draw shows some sharp wood and a sweeter spice note that I can't place at the moment.
The cigar opens with a profile that has tons of toasted wood notes, this smoky taste is not often found in many cigars that I smoke and I find it interesting. There are also some less prominent ideas of spice and maybe some nutty qualities as well, but the toasted wood flavors dominate early on. At the back of the palate there is a robust presentation of wheaty flavors that are interesting, but not particularly complementary to the front of the profile, something more weighty would be better here in my opinion. The draw is very loose, but so far I don't notice any undue heat or have any concerns that I will. The burn is very solid right from the get go.
The first half of the cigar settles into a fairly straight forward presentation of dark woods that have a smoked quality to them. This one dimensional presentation is not what I usually look for in a cigar, but similar to the earthy presentation of a Padron I find myself being drawn into this profile aspect. I think this will be a cigar I smoke when I want this particular flavor in my lineup, there is something to be said for a smoke that fills a niche. The back of the palate and through the nose still show some wheaty flavors but there is also a sweetness here that has a hint of cinnamon to it. While not complex or full of depth, the flavor is satisfying. The draw is still too loose and there is some heat creeping in, I slowed down the rate of combustion with a purge and some slower smoking going forward. The burn is still very solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar shows no development at all, the profile stays much the same as it has throughout. This really is a cigar for a specific spot in a lineup, and only when you want this very smoky presentation. The draw was too loose all the way to the end, but the burn was excellent all the way through.
This cigar is really a very interesting display of a niche cigar. This profile, while not what I usually look for, was pleasant and could find a place in my lineup on a semi regular basis.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke, somewhat rustic
Taste- 87 a good profile that fits a particular taste
Construction- 87 the draw was too loose, but the burn was excellent
Strength- 88 a nice medium smoke
Overall- 87.25 above average
Along comes Sam Leccia, if you haven't met him you should, he is a really nice guy. Sam has been hot in the industry for some time now and he has moved around a bit, but he landed on his feet and started another new and fresh cigar venture. I have smoked several of these new offerings over the past couple of months and I am finally getting around to reviewing it here.
This smoke presents with a wrapper that is somewhat mottled in appearance and has a dry texture. The wrapper is not dry, quite the contrary if you know what you are looking for, but the texture has tooth and seems dry. The band work is a little shoddy, but it has a nice design and the eye catching white band is pleasant. As I examine the cigar I can feel some loose spots in the bunch that have me concerned, but I don't believe that they will kill the cigar if I take my time. The pre light aroma smacks of wood and spice. The pre light draw shows some sharp wood and a sweeter spice note that I can't place at the moment.
The cigar opens with a profile that has tons of toasted wood notes, this smoky taste is not often found in many cigars that I smoke and I find it interesting. There are also some less prominent ideas of spice and maybe some nutty qualities as well, but the toasted wood flavors dominate early on. At the back of the palate there is a robust presentation of wheaty flavors that are interesting, but not particularly complementary to the front of the profile, something more weighty would be better here in my opinion. The draw is very loose, but so far I don't notice any undue heat or have any concerns that I will. The burn is very solid right from the get go.
The first half of the cigar settles into a fairly straight forward presentation of dark woods that have a smoked quality to them. This one dimensional presentation is not what I usually look for in a cigar, but similar to the earthy presentation of a Padron I find myself being drawn into this profile aspect. I think this will be a cigar I smoke when I want this particular flavor in my lineup, there is something to be said for a smoke that fills a niche. The back of the palate and through the nose still show some wheaty flavors but there is also a sweetness here that has a hint of cinnamon to it. While not complex or full of depth, the flavor is satisfying. The draw is still too loose and there is some heat creeping in, I slowed down the rate of combustion with a purge and some slower smoking going forward. The burn is still very solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar shows no development at all, the profile stays much the same as it has throughout. This really is a cigar for a specific spot in a lineup, and only when you want this very smoky presentation. The draw was too loose all the way to the end, but the burn was excellent all the way through.
This cigar is really a very interesting display of a niche cigar. This profile, while not what I usually look for, was pleasant and could find a place in my lineup on a semi regular basis.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke, somewhat rustic
Taste- 87 a good profile that fits a particular taste
Construction- 87 the draw was too loose, but the burn was excellent
Strength- 88 a nice medium smoke
Overall- 87.25 above average
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Bon Chasseur (5.375x52)
I can't believe that is has been ten years since Tatuaje first hit the scene. My how far we have come in the boutique revolution since those early days when not a single smoker knew what a boutique was. For crap's sake, boutiques didn't even know they were boutiques back then. They were just small batch cigars that were hoping to catch on somewhere, anywhere they could find someone to give them a shot. I remember sitting in shops back then, with plenty of Altadis, General and thank God Fuente and Padron to choose from. Ohhh sure there were some other yawn worthy, and puke worthy, remnants of the boom still slopping around. I mean who could forget Don Rafael and Barlovento right? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller...Bueller...Bueller... Anyway the list of those thankfully forgotten chicken bones could go on for days and days. Luckily Pepin and Pete Johnson came along and set the stage for the boutique explosion, hell I was so desperate for new smokes at the time I actually bought a couple of boxes of Barlovento. My day of grace came when I found Tatuaje Browns in an Ybor shop and the rest, as they say, is history...succulent smoky history. My affair with Pete's brands has been hot and cold, but there are still many days you can find me with an old Tat Brown or Tat Red hanging from my lips, they are still just that good.
This cigar had a ton of buzz at IPCPR, almost as much as Camacho's new branding (you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig by the way) or Pepin's 10th Anniversary cigar (box coming for me, don't ask for any), so much buzz that getting hold of one was exceedingly difficult. I even had to call in some chits, and I like my chits! One of my contacts finally got one and I secreted it away and waited until a rare smoke Friday (follow these on my twitter page @srqcigarczar #raresmokefriday) to smoke it. Well that Friday finally arrived and I was ripe with excitement.
The cigar presents well with some very simple band work, in sticking with the Tatuaje tradition, and a pigtail cap and unfinished foot. It is rustic looking in that the wrapper has a ruddy appearance to it, but the application of the wrapper is excellent and I can't find any issues in the bunch or roll. The pre light aroma smacks of pepper and heavy spice. The pre light draw also shows heavy pepper notes. I am settling in for a real powerful bomb of a smoke here.
The cigar opens with a completely unexpected profile. The core notes are all roasted nuts, clove like spice and a very interesting sweetness that has some coffee flavor but is more like hazelnut. This palate diversity does not necessarily work harmoniously because it so busy and scuttled, but there are some hints of greatness here. The back of the palate and through the nose show a very woody base that has large quantities of dry balsa and some hints of sweet earth. This is not a profile that I am used to from Pete's products and the change is hard to grasp. The draw is very nice, all though it is a touch loose for me. The burn was wonky at first, I assign this to the unfinished foot, but it evens out quickly.
The first half of the cigar continues to struggle to find a personality. I was ready for a spicy bomb in the pre light sequence, but it is not what I am getting at all. The core profile is still profoundly nutty and still heavily hazelnutesque, however there are moments of genius when some coffee flavors play wonderfully with these core notes. There is still some spice here, transitioning into a more cinnamon and anise presentation, but these flavors are fleeting at best. The back of the palate has transitioned into a more robust medium flavored wood presentation and there are still some nice hints of sweet earth coming in here as well. The draw remains a touch too loose for me, but it is not causing any issues. The burn is performing well.
The final half of this cigar really sets my world on fire. The core profile becomes a delightful array of hazelnut, cinnamon and maple flavors that smack of a french toast finish. I know what you're thinking, French Toast? This guy has lost it! All I can say is smoke it and see, maybe you'll find the same thing. I hope you do, because it is finds like these in individual cigars that make the pursuit all worth it. At the back of the palate there is a peppery note that gives the cigar some kick right when you need it most, this is coupled with some robust earthy tones that round out the experience in a very nice way. The draw stays the same throughout and the burn performs admirably right to the end.
The finish smacked of maple flavors and light pepper long after the smoke and wistful thoughts about the origins of the boutique phenomenon dissipate.
All in all this smoke was not what I expected at all, and in the first half was at time disappointing. However, it finished strong and I will smoke it again.
Appearance- 92 simple and rustic
Taste- 90 I am going to just eek this into the 90's because of the last half
Construction- 89 some loose draw and early burn issues hurt the score
Strength- 88 medium early, more robust late
Overall- 89.75 a very nice smoke
This cigar had a ton of buzz at IPCPR, almost as much as Camacho's new branding (you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig by the way) or Pepin's 10th Anniversary cigar (box coming for me, don't ask for any), so much buzz that getting hold of one was exceedingly difficult. I even had to call in some chits, and I like my chits! One of my contacts finally got one and I secreted it away and waited until a rare smoke Friday (follow these on my twitter page @srqcigarczar #raresmokefriday) to smoke it. Well that Friday finally arrived and I was ripe with excitement.
The cigar presents well with some very simple band work, in sticking with the Tatuaje tradition, and a pigtail cap and unfinished foot. It is rustic looking in that the wrapper has a ruddy appearance to it, but the application of the wrapper is excellent and I can't find any issues in the bunch or roll. The pre light aroma smacks of pepper and heavy spice. The pre light draw also shows heavy pepper notes. I am settling in for a real powerful bomb of a smoke here.
The cigar opens with a completely unexpected profile. The core notes are all roasted nuts, clove like spice and a very interesting sweetness that has some coffee flavor but is more like hazelnut. This palate diversity does not necessarily work harmoniously because it so busy and scuttled, but there are some hints of greatness here. The back of the palate and through the nose show a very woody base that has large quantities of dry balsa and some hints of sweet earth. This is not a profile that I am used to from Pete's products and the change is hard to grasp. The draw is very nice, all though it is a touch loose for me. The burn was wonky at first, I assign this to the unfinished foot, but it evens out quickly.
The first half of the cigar continues to struggle to find a personality. I was ready for a spicy bomb in the pre light sequence, but it is not what I am getting at all. The core profile is still profoundly nutty and still heavily hazelnutesque, however there are moments of genius when some coffee flavors play wonderfully with these core notes. There is still some spice here, transitioning into a more cinnamon and anise presentation, but these flavors are fleeting at best. The back of the palate has transitioned into a more robust medium flavored wood presentation and there are still some nice hints of sweet earth coming in here as well. The draw remains a touch too loose for me, but it is not causing any issues. The burn is performing well.
The final half of this cigar really sets my world on fire. The core profile becomes a delightful array of hazelnut, cinnamon and maple flavors that smack of a french toast finish. I know what you're thinking, French Toast? This guy has lost it! All I can say is smoke it and see, maybe you'll find the same thing. I hope you do, because it is finds like these in individual cigars that make the pursuit all worth it. At the back of the palate there is a peppery note that gives the cigar some kick right when you need it most, this is coupled with some robust earthy tones that round out the experience in a very nice way. The draw stays the same throughout and the burn performs admirably right to the end.
The finish smacked of maple flavors and light pepper long after the smoke and wistful thoughts about the origins of the boutique phenomenon dissipate.
All in all this smoke was not what I expected at all, and in the first half was at time disappointing. However, it finished strong and I will smoke it again.
Appearance- 92 simple and rustic
Taste- 90 I am going to just eek this into the 90's because of the last half
Construction- 89 some loose draw and early burn issues hurt the score
Strength- 88 medium early, more robust late
Overall- 89.75 a very nice smoke
Monday, August 5, 2013
Davidoff Nicaragua Toro (5.5x54)
One of the cigars that made a big splash at IPCPR was this new release from Davidoff. The name Davidoff does nothing for me at all, I usually think boring and mild blends with a ridiculously high price tag that screams look at me I like no flavor and I am a douchebag! I kid of course, you know I am an advocate of smoking whatever you want to smoke (unless it is crack, or meth or dope of any kind because then you really are a douchebag), but the Davidoff name has become synonymous with mild profiles and high price tags. I can't recall the last time I went out of my to smoke a Davidoff and usually will only smoke one if it is offered to me by someone else. It just really isn't my thing.
What caught my attention about this cigar was the word Nicaragua. The implication of a quality cigar manufacturer like Davidoff expanding their boundaries into Nicaraguan tobacco was just too huge to ignore. Here is what you should know. Davidoff has big bucks, they pay attention to making high quality cigars (they have to at super premium prices you only get super premium smokers that are picky) and they only grow and buy the best tobaccos in the world to wear their name. This is a combination that makes for a very interesting proposition, a Nicaraguan version of the timeless and revered Davidoff brand. They now had my interest!
The cigar itself is impeccable looking. They have given the band work and cigar a more full bodied look. Darker wrapper, darker band work and all the visuals add up to this not being the typical rich man's Davidoff in the white, with all the white, surrounded by white. The wrapper is beautiful and has very few veins and a silky appearance that looks like lightly creamed coffee. The bunch and roll look very nice, as I expected, Kelner and his boys have an eye for quality and I can't find an issue. The pre light draw smacks of earth and pepper. The pre light aroma has dark wood and lighter spice notes that linger slightly.
The cigar opens with a profile that is everything I would expect from a Davidoff product, even the Nicaraguan tobacco can't change what they do. The core profile is mild/medium, but it does have some very nice flavors. There are hints of earth and pepper, but most of the core at this point is a warm and light wood note that does not offer much depth or complexity. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some worthy ideas of spice and pepper, but they are too muted at this point to be anything beyond barely noticeable. The draw is a real dream to this point, performing perfectly. The burn is ok, but the wrapper loses some cohesion early on and I have to take some off as it unspools. Upon removal of the unruly piece of wrapper the cigar evens back out fairly quickly.
The first half of the cigar actually picks up some steam. The core profile takes on a decidedly robust wood flavor and has some interesting anise and spice flavors that lend some sweetness to off set the smoky wood portion. While not particularly complex or deep, these flavors are nice and play favorably with one another. The back of the palate begins to show some earthy tones, but I am looking for something more here as it is fairly mundane. The draw is still spot on. The burn is a little sloppy in some spots, but it is working itself out.
The final half of the cigar becomes truly Nicaraguan. The core profile becomes a solid array of pepper and wood, with some notes of spice. There is depth here and the profile becomes more complex. The back of the palate and the nose show some fantastic earth flavors and there is some nice spice here as well. All in all this is rounding into quite something in the last third of the smoke. The draw stays solid all the way through the smoke. The burn evened out nicely in the last half.
The finish was a touch short, but had some earth and spice notes that were satisfying.
This is by far the best Davidoff I have smoked.
Appearance- 93 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 89 very strong in the last third, but the first half left something to be desired
Construction- 88 nice draw throughout, but the burn was wonky in the front half
Strength- 89 a nice mild early and a nice medium late, for Davidoff devotees this would be full
Overall- 89.25 a very nice score, for a good smoke
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