Artie 95 – This small, pudgy robusto is tightly packed and has a firm, heavy feel to it. With a flawless cappuccino colored wrapper, it’s a very inviting cigar. A cold draw shows little spice, but with a nice tea-like flavor. There is no pre-lit aroma other than a slight tang. This cigar lights easily with a torch, and the first few puffs have a caramel sweetness with a touch of cashew goodness. The burn for the first inch is perfect with a tight cylindrical ash that doesn’t want to fall off. So far, this cigar seems rolled by experienced hands. As it progresses, the flavors pick up as does the spice. Mid way I can detect walnuts along with heavy cream. The smoke is thick and coats the palate in the most pleasant way. At first I thought this cigar was going to be mild, but the intensity picks up quickly after in the second half. Throughout the length of this stick, the ash stays conical, and to the nub, stays lit with a perfectly even burn. At the nub this cigar stays smooth and creamy, with no harshness or bitterness. This is a very fine cigar that leaves the room with a heavenly aroma.
Will 83 – Was really looking forward to smoking this one. Sigh, oh well. Cold nose was mild pepper with a bit of barnyard, dry draw was doughy. Average looking cigar with a double cap. Upon ignition the cigar is very harsh with a plethora of different flavors, leather and wood dominated by a chocolate orange flavor. The harshness dissipates about 2 minutes in and I get a nutmeg element on top of the chocolate citrus. Lots of smoke, good burn but loses points for flaky ash. The flavor profile stays consistent throughout but does not really progress. Medium body and strength. No wow factor, solidly average cigar.
Paul 94 – Medium brown with minimal veins, no soft spots, and a so triple cap. Cold draw cocoa and baking spice. First 1/3: Hay and some spice on the tongue; stone fruit on the retrohale; thick smoke coats the mouth; medium strength, flaky ash; spice fades. Second 1/3: more spice on the retrohale with flavors fading at times. Last 1/3:smoke production and nicotine pick up; malt and stone fruit flavors come in and out; some saltiness and citrus; starts getting hot at the end. Good rich flavors except for a time in the second 1/3. A good solid cigar.
Jim 88 – Very neatly rolled and clearly triple capped cigar. I can distinctly smell a strong barnyard aroma. Cigar feels very firm with very little give to the squeeze. First initial draws are smooth. There’s definitely an earthy and slightly floral flavor with just the very slightest and barely noticeable tinge of spice. As the cigar heats up, the spice is now developing and becoming more predominate with white pepper and a slight nuisance of nutmeg. The floral notes are still present and becoming somewhat dominate. The burn is wavy yet still pretty even and the ash is firm. Medium in strength. About an inch plus into the cigar and I’m starting to pick up some nutty flavors. Burn is going uneven. There is some interesting complexity to this cigar but you really have to pay close attention (as I do for these reviews) as the shifts are very slight. After the halfway point the cigar didn’t change much and stayed consistent. This was in range of very good cigar.
Rob 93 – Found the whole experience with this cigar positive. The initial light was perfect, and the burn was razor sharp the entire length of the stick. No relights or corrections required. The stick emitted plumes of smoke, which had a very mild but nice tobacco aroma. The initial light yielded a bit of a sharpness on my tongue, but within 1/8 inch it was long gone. The smoke tasted of tobacco and hay; nicely mild and somewhat creamy. I think the stick is a middle of the road as far as strength, and would be perfect anytime during the day, with perhaps the exception of an after dinner smoke when something a bit stronger may be needed to cut through the dinner meal.
