I flew across country and picked this up at Bidwell Cigar in Chico, CA – just kidding! I got this cigar in a trade with tzaddi (Richard). Richard provided me with a selection of great cigars, a few I had never heard of like this one. It is a “house brand” at Bidwell; their top of the line house gar. I figured most you haven’t heard of it either so this would be a good smoke to review.
Unfortunately I didn’t start taking pictures until after I started smoking but at least I remembered to start taking them! I enjoyed this with a bottle of water while watching today’s Red Sox game on my DVR.
The description from Bidwell Cigar:
This cigar is made of 100% Sun Grown Spanish Honduran Leaf, which is perfectly balanced from start to finish. This Honduran Puro is Medium to Full Bodied with a complimentary balance of leather, cocoa and coffee. This blend took several years to perfect and is made of some of the most expensive aged tobaccos available. It has solid construction and will grow a long gorgeous milky ash. If you like to smoke cigars all the way down, remove the band and finish with a strong follow-through, then this is it! Marcus Daniel...when money is no object! (SM)
Construction and Cut – The cigar was well constructed (I believe it was the tycoon 6”x54) and cut nicely with just a skim cut across the cap. The draw was perfect.
Smoking Experience – The flavor was smooth with leather and vanilla and a touch of vanilla. Exhaling through the nose was pleasurable, no harshness. A touch of spice after exhaling with notes of licorice lingering on the palate for quite a while afterwards. Lots of smoke with each puff to “play with”.
The burn was dead even until halfway it started to get a little ragged and quickly evened out. Because of the larger ring gauge it smoked nice and cool, no harshness or bitterness noted. About halfway through notes of cocoa and coffee entered into the picture to provide some variety to the experience.
Note – I question whether I should read other reviews or descriptions prior to smoking a cigar because it plants preconceptions in my mind about what I am about to experience.
The flavors of cocoa and coffee begin taking over as I near the band. I remove the band and cut the wrapper – klutz! It continued this flavor profile to the end with no harshness or bitterness noted - a great finish to a great smoke. Thanks for sharing this Richard!
Overall Experience – This is a great cigar! Medium bodied, great flavor, smooth smoke, great burn and draw. If you get a chance to try one do it. If you live near Bidwell and haven’t tried one I would recommend picking one up to try on your next visit. Of course you can buy them online also. One disclaimer – I’m not sure how much age this cigar had on it.
Overall score – 9 out of 10 on the gnukfu scale.
Here are some pictures
GO RED SOX!!
Unfortunately I didn’t start taking pictures until after I started smoking but at least I remembered to start taking them! I enjoyed this with a bottle of water while watching today’s Red Sox game on my DVR.
The description from Bidwell Cigar:
This cigar is made of 100% Sun Grown Spanish Honduran Leaf, which is perfectly balanced from start to finish. This Honduran Puro is Medium to Full Bodied with a complimentary balance of leather, cocoa and coffee. This blend took several years to perfect and is made of some of the most expensive aged tobaccos available. It has solid construction and will grow a long gorgeous milky ash. If you like to smoke cigars all the way down, remove the band and finish with a strong follow-through, then this is it! Marcus Daniel...when money is no object! (SM)
Construction and Cut – The cigar was well constructed (I believe it was the tycoon 6”x54) and cut nicely with just a skim cut across the cap. The draw was perfect.
Smoking Experience – The flavor was smooth with leather and vanilla and a touch of vanilla. Exhaling through the nose was pleasurable, no harshness. A touch of spice after exhaling with notes of licorice lingering on the palate for quite a while afterwards. Lots of smoke with each puff to “play with”.
The burn was dead even until halfway it started to get a little ragged and quickly evened out. Because of the larger ring gauge it smoked nice and cool, no harshness or bitterness noted. About halfway through notes of cocoa and coffee entered into the picture to provide some variety to the experience.
Note – I question whether I should read other reviews or descriptions prior to smoking a cigar because it plants preconceptions in my mind about what I am about to experience.
The flavors of cocoa and coffee begin taking over as I near the band. I remove the band and cut the wrapper – klutz! It continued this flavor profile to the end with no harshness or bitterness noted - a great finish to a great smoke. Thanks for sharing this Richard!
Overall Experience – This is a great cigar! Medium bodied, great flavor, smooth smoke, great burn and draw. If you get a chance to try one do it. If you live near Bidwell and haven’t tried one I would recommend picking one up to try on your next visit. Of course you can buy them online also. One disclaimer – I’m not sure how much age this cigar had on it.
Overall score – 9 out of 10 on the gnukfu scale.
Here are some pictures
GO RED SOX!!
