It's my first cigar review so don't be too hard on me. I'm also curious what other
brother's impressions have been of this one. Here goes...
This is a handsome cigar that, from leaf to band, does everything right when it comes to appearance. As you know it is pinstriped with two full wrappers,and Connecticut shade and broad leaf. The cigar is solidly packed and draws like a dream. I have heard from many that this cigar benefits from a little age so I have hidden it away in the humidor for 3 months prior to smoking.
The pre-light draw was easy and gave hints of sweet earthiness. It lit very readily and started delivering ample smoke with a medium earthy spiciness. The first third settled into a fairly mellow spice with earth and oak flavors.
Moving in to the second third the flavor profile remained quite similar to the first, and I began to barely detect either a coffee bean or chocolate note but as I got into this third, the flavor really began to taste rather flat and it never rose enough for me to tell. The earth and spice also began to become muted with little rising to replace their absence.
At this point I have switched from drinking water to a mai tai a la Trader Vic (recipe follows). I was worried it might overwhelm the relatively lackluster flavor I'm getting in the second third, but if anything its helping to bring a little out of it that I otherwise would not be tasting. I credit the quality of the drink and not the cigar for that.
Moving into the final third of this cigar, the flavor has become even flatter; if that's even possible, and a slight harshness has begun to develop. I am a slow smoker by nature, average at most a puff a minute, so I don't think I'm to blame for that development.
To sum up, this cigar is a lot like the pretty girl with no personality. Great to look at and she may be fun to play with for a little while, but she's not very fun to live with. CAO described this as a robust flavorful smoke, and I feel it fails to deliver either, at best it is medium bodied (but still delivers a good nicotine buzz). For the price I was expecting more in the flavor department. I could maybe see myself smoking this again as a patriotic holiday smoke, but I would certainly rather celebrate with something a little more exciting.
brother's impressions have been of this one. Here goes...
This is a handsome cigar that, from leaf to band, does everything right when it comes to appearance. As you know it is pinstriped with two full wrappers,and Connecticut shade and broad leaf. The cigar is solidly packed and draws like a dream. I have heard from many that this cigar benefits from a little age so I have hidden it away in the humidor for 3 months prior to smoking.
The pre-light draw was easy and gave hints of sweet earthiness. It lit very readily and started delivering ample smoke with a medium earthy spiciness. The first third settled into a fairly mellow spice with earth and oak flavors.
Moving in to the second third the flavor profile remained quite similar to the first, and I began to barely detect either a coffee bean or chocolate note but as I got into this third, the flavor really began to taste rather flat and it never rose enough for me to tell. The earth and spice also began to become muted with little rising to replace their absence.
At this point I have switched from drinking water to a mai tai a la Trader Vic (recipe follows). I was worried it might overwhelm the relatively lackluster flavor I'm getting in the second third, but if anything its helping to bring a little out of it that I otherwise would not be tasting. I credit the quality of the drink and not the cigar for that.
Moving into the final third of this cigar, the flavor has become even flatter; if that's even possible, and a slight harshness has begun to develop. I am a slow smoker by nature, average at most a puff a minute, so I don't think I'm to blame for that development.
To sum up, this cigar is a lot like the pretty girl with no personality. Great to look at and she may be fun to play with for a little while, but she's not very fun to live with. CAO described this as a robust flavorful smoke, and I feel it fails to deliver either, at best it is medium bodied (but still delivers a good nicotine buzz). For the price I was expecting more in the flavor department. I could maybe see myself smoking this again as a patriotic holiday smoke, but I would certainly rather celebrate with something a little more exciting.
At the beginning of your review, I thought you were getting ready to smoke a "piece of heaven", but sounds like this cigar just kept your feet grounded. Try another one again maybe in a month and see if it may change your opinion. I haven't smoked this line yet, but have smoked the Brazilia and Cameroon which I've enjoyed. Thanks for the review Quincy...:ss