Paul 83 – Very light chocolate brown wrapper, minimal veins, very soft throughout, faint tobacco aroma, good looking cap, good draw, very light tobacco on the cold draw. First 1/3: Lots of thin smoke, some pepper, malt, light toasted tobacco, uneven burn, medium gray ash, bread notes, mild strength, light body and a short finish, some pepper burn on the retrohale, ash drops at 1”. Second 1/3: Burn corrected, no changes, a generic mild smoke. Last 1/3: Some harshness, mild plus strength, light body and a medium finish. Nothing glaringly bad, but little to hold your interest.
Rob 91 – This is a non-oily light brown corona cigar. There are tight, invisible seams with no prominent veins within the wrapper, which is topped off with a triple cap. The body of the cigar is soft and the draw slightly loose, but acceptable. Sparking up yields a generous amount of charred tobacco smoke; I hope the flavor changes quickly…… The draw has firmed up nicely now that the cigar has heated up. Bitterness has faded away, and I am getting black pepper throughout my palate with a fairly long finish. About an inch in and the pepper has all but faded away and I’m left with a mild creamy smoke. At the one-third point, the ash has gone from charcoal to bright white. Half way through, it is still creamy but now a touch of white pepper and anise. Draw continues to tighten slightly which is very good. The finish is still long. With an inch left the flavor profile has stayed constant. A very good burn throughout the smoke.
Jim 93 – There is a light shade wrapper that is on this well rolled triple capped robusto cigar. First initial draws bring immediate flavors of toasted bread and smoked hickory. The draw is good and the smoke is ample. Just by appearance, I thought this would be a mellow light bodied cigar but I am getting some nice medium body. Burn is only slightly uneven but is maintaining very well. Midway through, all I am thinking is how much I am really enjoying this cigar. Flavors have picked up some toasted marshmallow with a very slight licorice finish. WOW… down to the last third of this cigar and I am actually picking up another transition. I am getting some unsweetened chocolate flavors you would usually find in a maduro wrapper. I am fascinated because I normally look at these light shade wrapped cigars as totally mild and light bodied. This cigar has some nice complexity, great flavor transitions and a medium well balanced body. Furthermore, I usually find the lighter cigars tend to get sour towards the end. Not this one at all! I enjoyed this cigar thoroughly right down to the nub!
Artie 85 – This is a Conn. shade robusto with a nice golden-brown wrapper. It’s a soft cigar and the feel of the wrapper is nice and supple. The triple seam cap cuts easily and the stick doesn’t collapse under the pressure of the guillotine. I’m smoking this in the morning, anticipating the traditionally mild strength (oxymoron?) of a cigar with a Conn wrapper .This cigar looks well made and lights easily. For the first inch the burn is solid, and this cigar puts out lots of creamy smoke, with a nice nutty finish. I am, however, picking up some ammonia on the retrohale, I’ll avoid doing that again. As I approach the halfway point, I’m starting to lose interest. This cigar is okay, but doesn’t have much personality. I “Artied” it rather than smoke the second half. It wasn’t bad, but just wasn’t worth smoking.
Will 86 – 5 x 50 “Robbo” with a light tan wrapper, very smooth leaf with tight seams although I can see what appears to be a long stem causing a rift zone. Nice triple cap, well packed and no soft spots. The cold nose is sweet hay with a faint citrus. After a deep v cut the cold draw is salty hay and the draw is wide open. Initial taste is a very sweet cafe ole, very smooth and extremely mild with a creamy finish. As the cigar burns it produces a dirty gray ash that falls off in 1/2 inch increments. About 10 minutes in the cigar takes on a tangy flavor that I can’t pinpoint but the finish is a roasted chestnut. This stick is not in my wheelhouse flavor wise but other than the flakey ash it burns and smokes well. No wow here.
