Artie 86 – This tan robusto is very soft and light in the hand; it seems a bit under-filled. Cutting the triple cap with a guillotine cutter caused the wrapper to crack just below the cap. This is a spongy cigar that couldn’t stand up to the force of the cutter. The pre-lit aroma is pleasant and the cold draw foreshadows mild spice on the lips. The cigar lights easily and the first puffs reveals a spicy, woody character. However, as the ash lengthens, so does a very uneven burn pattern. I had to touch up soon after lighting. Burn issues resolved about a third of the way in. Halfway, the cigar picks up a strong hickory smoked flavor that lingers on the palate. This is a pleasant cigar, but it lacks richness and has little umami. This stick has a smoothness but isn’t creamy. As I smoke I can feel the nicotine taking hold. This is a strong cigar. Mid way I detect a minty quality that is nice. This cigar has a pleasant finish. Towards the nub, the cigar gets a coffee-like flavor with a hint of nuts. Because this stick is loosely packed, it tends to go out easily. I found myself relighting often. Ultimately, this was a pleasant cigar, but it lacked depth for my taste. I have no interest in smoking another.
Will 86 – A well made cigar, nothing fancy about the appearance or band. Densely packed with no soft spots. Good triple cap with rustic looking colorado wrapper. On the dry nose I get leather and spice, dry draw is a bit tight with faint hints of red pepper and lemon zest. Upon ignition I get a nice burst of coffee and salty leather. As I hit the 1/2 inch mark the cigar develops a charred woodiness but the salty leather still stands out. I’m having burn issues that do not self correct, have touched up the burn 3 times in ten minutes and the dirty gray ash does not hold on well falling off in 1/4 inch intervals. As the cigar hits the half way mark, salty leather continues to be the prevailing flavor, very little spice. Not complex but still a tasty smoke. The burn has settled in and is now razor sharp, wonder if there was a stem in the first half?? Ash is now holding on well. All in all a good cigar, will smoke the next one in a few weeks and see how it does after resting a bit longer. Lost a few points because of the early burn issues.
Paul 82 – Toothy medium brown wrapper, deep rich tobacco aroma, solidly packed, perfect resistance on the cold draw with some cocoa. First 1/3: leather and oak, spice tingle in the mouth, spice and floral notes on the retrohale, but all the flavors are light and the finish is short; mild + strength; medium amount of thin smoke. Second 1/3: Flavors all but disappear; medium minus strength; light body. Last 1/3: Little change; where did the flavor go? some light tobacco flavor near the end. After the first 1/3 it had nothing to give. Very disappointing.
Jim 89 – Looks like firm construction. Leaf veins are very distinct. I have a small split in the wrapper but could have been caused by handling. Nice earthy and slight barnyard smell. After lighting, initial draws are very pleasant. I’m catch a light cinnamon spice hitting the back of the throat and slight sweetness like gingerbread. As taste of cedar and leather coats my tongue. About an inch in and the spice has changed. I’m picking up more cocoa and coffee flavors with a hint of licorice. Still very pleasant, medium in strength and overall a very savory profile. Burn is wavy and going uneven. Ash is very firm showing me that this has good construction but I knocked it off after about 2 inches hoping the burn will even out. it worked! it stayed wavy but evened out. The last half of the cigar had more of a smoked flavor added to the taste
Rob 88 – Pre-light aroma was slight ‘barnyard’ with a hay finish. Easy light up; however, the stick kept going out, as if it was too dry. Wrapper was not oily, with a reasonable amount of veins, and was a bit lumpy (not a bad thing). The flavor was fairly consistent throughout, yielding a tobacco and hay essence. Forgot to mention, the stick had a very nice triple cap applied.
