It's been four straight days of partying and I have been fortunate to share a few smokes with some friends and family. On Saturday, we throuh our Second Annual New Year's Eve EVE party:tpd: and I put out one of my humidors out for anyone that wanted to have a smoke. I was fortunate that we have been having mild weather and so many guys were able to go out on the deck (also had a heater out there) to shoot the sh!t and enjoy a stick. Knowing my fancy for cigars, one of the guests gifted me a five-pack Rocky Patel Cuban Blend. This was suppose in his humi for 2 weeks at 70%. On New Year's Day I decided to give it a go.
Setting: Outdoors and in the garage. Temps in the upper 50s. Light up was at around 1:30PM. This was right after some major rainstorm so the weather was a bit damp.
Appearance: Toro size. Dark brown color; almost maduro in appearance. Body was firm; with one or two slighly soft spots. Nothing to really take away for the stick.
Cut: Used my Xikar Xi3; Nice cut.
1/3rd: Recently, after making the cut, I put the cigar in my mouth a take a draw, to see if I can detect anything. I have realized that most smokes I enhoy I am able to get hints of the flavors to come by doing so. I toasted the foot and the cigar produced a heavy tobacco smell which reminded me of some ISOMS I have been around. Upon lighting up a strong earthy, tobacco taste hit me. By my third draw I started to say that this was a nice cigar. Very enjoyable. I am not as experienced with ISOMs but something about the taste kept me saying it similar in profile to an ISOM. The flavor seemed to build during this 3rd and after each draw a nice amount of spiciness hit the tongue. The spiciness seemed to be just the right amount, enough that it was noticeable but not enough to detract from the experience. Smoke was white and plentiful; good amount. Draw was perfect. Burn was a bit uneven but the cigar kept correcting itself. Some consideration should be given to weather conditions. Ash stayed on for this third.
2/3rd: More of the same earthy, tobacco (and something else) flavor. It seemed to smooth out in this third and then beging to mellow. Once and a while I got a hint of a very heavy coffee bean flavor that would mix in with the earthy flavor (weird). Spice was more noticeable but to me stilled seemed like just the right amount. I thought it was more noticeable because of the flavor mellowing at this point. Burn was getting a bit more uneven. I touched up a bit to help out but it seemed to burn uneven again after a bit (weather conditions?). Ash fell off at this point. Smoke produced was still good. Started filling relaxed and just slightly light-headed during this 3rd.
3/3rd: More of the same as above. Flavor seemed to mellow out a bit more. I detected some harshness, just a bit, but that is not uncommon towards the end. Burn needed some special attention at this point.
Smoke: Good amount of white smoke produced. Heavy tobacco aroma to it.
Ash: Nice white/gray ash. Stayed on for the first third and the dropped off.
Final Impressions: I really enjoyed this cigar. As I mentioned earlier the flavor it produced reminded me of some ISOMS. The flavor is not one that I can describe easily. The only this that I could make out was the spice (again seemed like a perfect amount) and a hint of a heavy accute coffee-bean once and a while. As I smoked this cigar I thought it was a very nice change of pace and would consider having some on hand for this very reason. What I also liked about this cigar was the nice buzz it provided, not kick-@$$ like some smokes, but again just enough for you to notice but not enough from stopping you from doing something. By the way, after this smoke I took a nice short afternoon nap.:s I think this would make a very nice evening smoke.
I hope you guys found this review helpful.
Stay strong and happy smokes!
A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!
Setting: Outdoors and in the garage. Temps in the upper 50s. Light up was at around 1:30PM. This was right after some major rainstorm so the weather was a bit damp.
Appearance: Toro size. Dark brown color; almost maduro in appearance. Body was firm; with one or two slighly soft spots. Nothing to really take away for the stick.
Cut: Used my Xikar Xi3; Nice cut.
1/3rd: Recently, after making the cut, I put the cigar in my mouth a take a draw, to see if I can detect anything. I have realized that most smokes I enhoy I am able to get hints of the flavors to come by doing so. I toasted the foot and the cigar produced a heavy tobacco smell which reminded me of some ISOMS I have been around. Upon lighting up a strong earthy, tobacco taste hit me. By my third draw I started to say that this was a nice cigar. Very enjoyable. I am not as experienced with ISOMs but something about the taste kept me saying it similar in profile to an ISOM. The flavor seemed to build during this 3rd and after each draw a nice amount of spiciness hit the tongue. The spiciness seemed to be just the right amount, enough that it was noticeable but not enough to detract from the experience. Smoke was white and plentiful; good amount. Draw was perfect. Burn was a bit uneven but the cigar kept correcting itself. Some consideration should be given to weather conditions. Ash stayed on for this third.
2/3rd: More of the same earthy, tobacco (and something else) flavor. It seemed to smooth out in this third and then beging to mellow. Once and a while I got a hint of a very heavy coffee bean flavor that would mix in with the earthy flavor (weird). Spice was more noticeable but to me stilled seemed like just the right amount. I thought it was more noticeable because of the flavor mellowing at this point. Burn was getting a bit more uneven. I touched up a bit to help out but it seemed to burn uneven again after a bit (weather conditions?). Ash fell off at this point. Smoke produced was still good. Started filling relaxed and just slightly light-headed during this 3rd.
3/3rd: More of the same as above. Flavor seemed to mellow out a bit more. I detected some harshness, just a bit, but that is not uncommon towards the end. Burn needed some special attention at this point.
Smoke: Good amount of white smoke produced. Heavy tobacco aroma to it.
Ash: Nice white/gray ash. Stayed on for the first third and the dropped off.
Final Impressions: I really enjoyed this cigar. As I mentioned earlier the flavor it produced reminded me of some ISOMS. The flavor is not one that I can describe easily. The only this that I could make out was the spice (again seemed like a perfect amount) and a hint of a heavy accute coffee-bean once and a while. As I smoked this cigar I thought it was a very nice change of pace and would consider having some on hand for this very reason. What I also liked about this cigar was the nice buzz it provided, not kick-@$$ like some smokes, but again just enough for you to notice but not enough from stopping you from doing something. By the way, after this smoke I took a nice short afternoon nap.:s I think this would make a very nice evening smoke.
I hope you guys found this review helpful.
Stay strong and happy smokes!
A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!