Artie 82 – This box/square pressed corona has a light tan wrapper and a pre-lit aroma of stong tobacco. It has an easy draw and lights with no effort. As I smoke I taste a very “tobacco” flavor, almost like cigarette tobacco. And before I looked down I had smoked a whole inch. This stick burns very fast. About mid way I’m still trying to see what flavors I can pick up, but mostly taste trident tobacco that is harsh with an unpleasant finish. As I removed this cigar’s very large bands, chunks of the wrapper came off with it. This almost never happens. I quess there was misplaced glue under the band. This doesn’t bode well for the factory worker who applied the bands. At the half way point, I’m done smoking this rather unpleasant cigar and have put it down. All I’ve gotten for my money is a bad taste in my mouth.
Will 92 – Lovely presentation with slight cuban press and 2 bands. Beautiful colorado wrapper. Dry nose is lots of red pepper, dry draw is loose, and full of pepper and toffee. Once lit I am getting toffee, raisins and orange peel, nice. Lots of smoke. Flavors progress to leather and wood along with cafe au lait, pretty complex early on. There is a slight breeze but nothing radical and an inch in my cigar starts to canoe, arrrggg. I do my best to touch it up but it is burning very hot and continues to tunnel. I let it sit for 5 minutes until it goes out. I then cut the affected area away, blow through the head and re-light. No go, too much tar and nic has built up and the smoke is acrid and bitter. Had to let it go, very disappointed. Can’t wait to try the short churchill I ordered. It sucks that I must review this based on my lousy experience, hope y’all had better experience.
Paul 87 – Medium dark caramel color, minimal veins, very solidly packed, dark fruit and rich tobacco aroma. First 1/3: Medium amount of smoke and excellent draw; some sweetness and bready flavors, hay, dark fruit and malt; medium pepper on the retrohale; it started strong but flavors fade quickly; a little bitterness in the after taste; mild + strength. Second 1/3: dark fruit returns, strength now medium; very short finish. Last 1/3: flavors from the first 1/3 return and it finishes well. The first few minutes were very promising, but it faded quickly and did not come back until the last 1/3.
Jim 97 – Very neat and clean box pressed construction. Firm to the squeeze. Very strong barnyard at the foot. I took a cold draw and to me I think this will be a more full strength cigar. Lets see if I am right. First initial draws and my mouth is filled with strong black pepper and rich smoke. That fullness I predicted is coming true at least at this point. The draw is easy and just billows with smoke. About 3/4 inch in and the pepper has balanced out well. in fact, I really enjoy the after taste in my mouth. There is a very slight sweet tangy yet savory finish to this cigar. I really dig the complexity of the flavors! Burn is even and ash is neat and firm. Nearing halfway and the cigar has transitioned again. Now picking up notes of leather. the peppery spice is still there but has blended in very well with the flavors. WOW! I smoked this down to the nub! This was a great smoking experience and a testament of what good cigars should be! Excellent cigar!!!
