Interesting name , interesting cigar?

It seems there are more and more cigars on the market. With boutique brands flourishing , and cigar giants knocking out countless products, how does a company capture new consumers?
One way perhaps is calling a cigar by a unique handle. I imagine the marketing team brainstorming names for a product about to be released. The names are flying out while someone is recording the session. " How about calling the smoke,  Easy wind?  " Maybe we should call it Knock on wood?
Another member of the team shouts out, " Give me Liberty or give me a smoke." You get the idea.
Without further adieu I present you : Blinds Man's Bluff, by Caldwell, a cigar with a unique moniker.

Cigar Review

Brand/ Name of Cigar: Caldwell Cigars/ Blind Man's Bluff
Country of Origin: Honduras
Size: 5 X 50
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Honduran Criollo 
Filler: San Vincente Viso ( Dominican Republic) Criollo Ligero ( Honduran Ligero )
Shape: Robusto
Price: Purchased as part of a Caldwell Sampler at Cigarscity.com. $41.67 sale price
Smoked: Los Angeles, Ca. 5/15/2016


Appearance/Construction:

With the whimsical cigar band the smoke feels very smooth, with a slight oily sheen.  Medium brown in color with several small veins in the body of the cigar. No hard or soft spots with a generally good construction approach. No obvious flaws or defects.

Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:

Right away got a good hit of pepper, with also a hint of vanilla and coffee. It has a sweetness which I did not expect. a good combination of  spice and sweetness. Smooth , no harsh pops or spikes or any sort. Smooth with a medium profile.

Smoking Characteristics:

Mostly had an even burn through the first two thirds but it went out of control in the last third. . No hot spots continued with a nice mix of the spice and sweetness.  The spice became less noticeable later in the smoke as it was replaced with a molasses and maple profile.

Conclusion/ Overall Impression:

Except for the end of the smoke which had the burn issue, this was a good overall product. Medium in scope, smooth with enough of a spice kick to make the cigar interesting. It was a good 45 minute venture into a pleasant afternoon sojourn.



The numbers and rating :

Appearance/ Construction:  4 out of 5 appearance,  3 out of 5 construction
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:  4 out of 5 
Smoking Characteristics: 3 out of 5
Conclusion/ Overall Impression: 3.8 out of 5

Final Thoughts: Caldwell cigars seem to be a small boutique that makes a good product.  This is my second Caldwell brand that I have tried and both have been winners. I will be trying the other cigars in the sampler in the near future.
Often times small establishments may have issues with quality control in their products. This has been my judgment but so far Caldwell appears to have a good handle of their process.  It is a cigar you should try and I believe will like. Support the boutique blends as often they are at the liberty to make a cigar different than the larger companies do. Less corporate makes for quicker decisions.

Keep smoking.

Looks aren't everything

Cigar Review

Some cigars look impressive. This was my  thought when I purchased the Casa Magna Magnus II Limited. I was scanning the humidor at the Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge in West Los Angeles looking for a new cigar to review.  I have tried several Casa Magna smokes before but it has been several years since my last taste.

Brand/ Name of Cigar: Casa Magna/ D. Magnus II Limitada
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua Jalapa Sungrown
Binder: Nicaragua 
Shape: Topedo
Price: $12.95 , Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge, 4/1/16

Where and when smoked: Los Angeles, Ca.  5/1/16

Appearance / Construction:

As I stated earlier I thought very highly of the look of the cigar. Dark chocolate wrapper with a band that creates a real eye grabber. Solid  , no soft spots, with an oily feel to the touch. Small veins with no discernible flaws. Overall it was a very bold looking cigar.

Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:

The initial flavor  had a combo of chocolate, coffee and a hint of maple. I was not expecting this as I was looking for spice and pepper. Yet, it was a strong taste and pretty bold but not overpowering,
The aroma was pleasant , nutty and sweet.














Smoking Characteristics:

The burn was uneven with a dark ash and cool burn. Flavor stayed on course with the same profile I started out with . More spice and pepper flowed through but I liked the overall mix of the blend. No relights but needed to make a correction to even out the smoke.

Conclusion/Overall Impression:

This was a tale of two different cigars. The construction looked very solid but had issues as the photos indicate. The flavor profile was good but also had bouts of bitter and harsh notes.  It was a respectable smoke but hoped for more.
















Final Thoughts:

At $12.95 it needed to be the "bomb." Too many issues to rate it as a must have cigar.  Here are the numbers.

Appearance/Construction: 4 out of 5
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma: 3 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 3 out of 5
Overall : 3 out of 5

Keep smoking

A top flight cigar dealer

Where and how we purchase our cigars are an important aspect of the cigar experience. There are many choices available for consumers
The local B and M's are very service oriented.  In order to get repeat customers they make it a point to know what we like. They also may offer a full line of accessories such as cutters, lighters and humidors.
The large catalogue companies thrive on hundreds of lines of cigars and usually a lower price point.
I have been very fortunate to deal with both local stores and the big boys of the cigar world.  Recently I have developed a relationship with a cigar on line service that offers a unique hybrid of service, choice,  and very good prices.
Cigarscity.com is a newer cigar catalogue company which is doing a great job of providing a nice mix of well known and boutique style of cigars.  I submitted several questions to Anthony Welsch of CigarsCity.com to get their viewpoints of their aspect of the cigar business. 

When did you start you on line service?

We got our start about three years ago - we started building the CigarsCity.com site out, getting our humidor space operational and then ultimately started to buy inventory. Especially early on it was important to find products we could compete with the bigger retailers on when it came to price.

Who is your competition? What makes you different from your competition ?

I think this is an interesting question because there tends to be a lot of brick and mortar versus online talk among cigar lovers and I don’t see the world that way. I think there is room for both the B&M’s and online shops like us. We’re going to do all we can to give you a great experience and make it as personalized as the tobacconist down the street but we know there’s always going to be value in camaraderie and often, that comes from the local B&M.

What challenges do you think are the biggest to overcome in the cigar industry? 

There’s the obvious threats and challenges of increased regulation but ultimately, I think it goes deeper than that. I don’t know when exactly it happened but somehow cigars became taboo and almost “dirty” in the eyes of many in the American public. Most cigar fans I know are perfect gentlemen so I don’t know where it came from but one of our biggest challenges is convincing the American public that premium cigars are not the same as cigarettes.

How do you pick what cigars and accessories you sell?

Sometimes it feels like we’d be better off closing our eyes and throwing darts than our current method. There are generally two ways to get us to carry you. The first is to have an amazing product that delivers consistent value. If a new blend comes to the market and it’s unique or strikes us as fantastic - there’s a good chance we’ll be interested in carrying it. 

Now, that’s not foolproof because palates are different. So, if a brand can show us that they’ve already grown a following and they’re reputable from a sourcing and quality standpoint - they’d have our ear and could ultimately earn a place in our humidor.

What trends do you foresee in the near future ?

I think this comes back to the threat of FDA regulation. If we can avoid unfair regulation, I think you’ll see the boutique world of cigars continue to grow. It should present some great opportunities for cigar smokers to try new blends and hopefully get the most of their cigars. If regulation comes into play - things could get very sterile for a while. I don’t think any of us will quit smoking cigars, it just won’t be as interesting since new products will be severely limited.

What do you smoke as an every day smoke and special occasion?

One of my “go-to” cigars is the Crowned Heads Four Kicks  I also really enjoy the Joya Antano 1970 series. I’m not nuts about overbearing cigars and the balance both of those cigars brings is excellent. I am really impressed with Caldwell’s Blind Man’s Bluff as well. 

As for special occasions - I generally look for something I haven’t had before if I’m in the $20-$30 range; so I don’t really have a “go-to”. Arturo Fuente's Opus X series as a whole is a pretty safe bet for special occasions. Of some of the newer releases - Sobremesa is in that $12-$15 range and a little steep to be an everyday smoke but the cigar itself is absolutely wonderful and incredibly smooth.

Why do you like cigars and what type of people smoke cigars?

One of the reasons I love cigars is because they are so contrary to everything else in today’s world. I’m just as bad as everyone else - my television is on, I have my computer screen in front of me and I’m constantly on my phone; Everything is rushed. With cigars - you’re forced to slow down.

I don’t know that it’s fair to say there’s one type of person who smokes cigars so I’m hesitant to put a description to them. We’re lucky in that we’ve earned the business of all types of men and women - from stock market investors to guys who work blue collar jobs like doing landscaping in the summers. I can say that I envision cigars as a pastime for gentlemen and today, I think that rings true - I’ve never sat down with a group of guys to have a cigar and felt like I wasn’t among a group of gentlemen.

What advise would you give to a novice smoker and an experienced smoker?

To a novice smoker - I’d advise them to tune out their friends, reviewers and everyone else and just pay attention to identifying what they like in a cigar. I wouldn’t say the Urban Fishing Pole is guilty of this but if you look at some of the casual cigar forums, some cigar fans tie masculinity to cigar strength and I think that’s a mistake. It can cause people just getting into cigars to dive too deep, they don’t have a good experience and then they lose interest.

For experienced smokers, I’d encourage them to never get stuck in a rut or fall into an old stand-by. It’s one thing to have a go-to cigar that you know you’ll enjoy - it’s another to completely stop trying new things. There are a lot of great new cigars that are introduced every year - a lot of times they come from guys that are fairly unknown. Don’t be afraid to give them a shot - 9 times out of 10, you’ll be happy you did. 

Are there too many brands and choices in today's market?

Sometimes I think so as we’re creating product pages and paying to have photos taken of cigars for our site, haha! I’m not sure that you’ll ever convince a customer that he or she has too many options. Options mean power for cigar smokers. They can get a cigar that offers exactly what they want and competition generally will make prices very competitive. In some ways, it can be overwhelming but ultimately, I think most of us would rather have the option of many cigars than be saddled with a handful to pick from.

This is an interesting question as it relates to us as an online cigar shop. We’re lucky to have earned customers in rural areas and we can give them options they might not have close to home. Some have a local cigar shops that are more of a convenience store / gas station than tobacconist. I know that the online world has seen a lot of criticism from the brick and mortar world but there’s no denying that a chunk of cigar smoking public has benefitted from the world of online cigars.

Is the opening of Cuba going to impact your business and how will you cope with this? Do you see this as a plus or an negative issue?

If and when Cuba opens, it absolutely will impact our business and I think all cigar smokers in the United States. I think in the long-run, it’s going to be a big plus as it will drive a ton of interest toward cigars on the whole. My fear is that many of these “cigar-curious” Americans will only be interested in Cubans and won’t take the time to learn about some of the great Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan brands out there. My hope is that even a temporary increase in the popularity of cigars will make cigar smoking more accepted by the general public and alleviate some of the political pressure we face today.

Keep smoking 

An up and coming super star ?

Steve Saka has roots in the cigar world from his days at Drew Estate. He helped develop Drew Estate into a brand with a great presence and outstanding cigar line.
Recently his foray into opening his own brand has created a positive buzz with the Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust company.
I was given a sample of the Sobremesa Torpedo Tiempo to taste and review. The folks at Cigarscity.com. provided me with the stick gratis. As always how and where I received the cigar does not influence my subjective thoughts about the blend. I urge all interested in this smoke to try it themselves and judge for yourself. 

Brand/ Name of Cigar:Dunbarton Tobacco/ Sobremesa

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 6.0 x 54
Wrapper: Ecuador Sungrown
Binder: Mexican
Filler; Nicaragua
Shape: Torpedo
Price: $12.25 single from Cigarscity.com
Where and when smoked: Los Angeles, Ca. 4/17/2016

Appearance/ Construction:

A very striking even hue wrapper with a classy band that creates a very impressive look. Several small veins which do not mar the appearance. No soft spots, solid feel, looks well made.

Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:



Started with a pleasant mix of vanilla, nuts and a aroma of sweet birch. Reminded me of a soda I drank as a Boy Scout called White Birch made by Tom's Candy Company. Why I remember this is beyond me. Smooth, flavorful with a medium body. No spice or pepper in the mix. Hit the right notes in the first third.

Smoking Characteristics :

The ash was light grey, very steady with an even burn. This re enforced the strong construction of the cigar.  No relights or any problems with tunneling etc. The second third continued with the profile of nuts and sweetness. Slight coffee came across at this juncture but not a big presence.


Conclusion/ Overall Impression:

I liked this cigar, was well crafted which are all good selling points. There were no "oh wow" moments meaning there is potential to get better.  Would keep a couple of in my humidor and let them age.

 

The numbers look this way:

Appearance/ Construction: 4 out of 5
Flavor/Taste and Aroma: 3.5 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 3.8 out of 5
Conclusion/ Overall Impression : 3.8 out of 5.

Final Thoughts: Would like to try other other shapes and sizes of this line. Steve Saka knows how to make cigars. As a first blend he was a potential winner for the boutique market. I know he will develop a full line of fine cigars in time.

Keep smoking.

It's always something

I missed this cigar event held at my cigar lounge , The Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge in West Los Angeles

The featured cigar was the Montecristo Espada, a blend from the capable hands of Nestor Placencia in tandem with Altadis, a cigar giant.  
I received a free sample from the owner of the Wolf, the affable David Weiss. As always who and how I received the sample does not influence my judgment when I review a cigar. Cigar reviews are subjective so consider my viewpoint and make your own conclusion. 


Brand/ Name of Cigar:

Montecristo/ Espada
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 5 x 54
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
Filler : Nicaragua
Shape: Ricasso
Price: Received the cigar gratis, check the Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge for current price
Where and when smoked: Los Angeles, Ca. 4/10/16

Appearance/ Construction:

The marketing boys must have had first dibs when this cigar was constructed.  3 bands surrounded the stick which effectively hid what the cigar looked like. I slightly damaged the wrapper when I removed the bands to smoke. Despite this the overall appearance had a light brown wrapper with small veins in the body. Construction was solid, well packed, no soft spots or major flaws. Not much of an oily feel .






                Flavor/ Taste and Aroma 
             
This is a smooth operator in the first third. My first hit was a blend of vanilla and grass which was why it was so smooth.  It was enjoyable enough but was hoping for more of a kick. The flavor though was consistent which is a plus.










Smoking Characteristics:

Had a bit of a burn issue in the second third as the photo shows. The draw was good with a pleasing ash of dark grey. The aroma was not a factor, neither overpowering or really evident. The final third was getting a charred taste creating a bitter flavor profile.






Conclusion/ Overall Impression:

Overall this was a disappointing smoke. The bitter taste stayed with me even after I finished the cigar. This is not what you hope for in a product especially as highly touted as the Espada.  I guess even the greats such as Nestor Placencia have an off day.
Here is the breakdown:

Appearance/ Construction: 3 out out 5
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma: 2.5 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 2 out of 5
Conclusion/ Overall Impression: 2.5 out of 5

Final Thoughts:  

Did not make my cut so this is a no go in my humidor. The price point is up there too which might also give you second thoughts if this is a factor.

                                                               
                                                                Keep smoking

What a long strange trip it's been

As we all know the best thing about cigars is meeting people from just about everywhere.  Through the years I have developed great friendships which have lasted. I can go to any part of the country, find a local B and M, sit down, light up and talk to total strangers.
One of my friends was awarded an opportunity to move to the Miami area for a new job. After ten years in LA , he realized this was in his best interest.
We congratulated him, said our good byes with cigars and know down the road he will find another group of cigar friends.  This just means we now have another place to visit when the chance comes.  Cigars were the catalyst that accomplished this. Perhaps if we all smoked cigars, the world would learn what true friendship is all about.

                                                      Stay well and keep smoking 

The Blast is back, or maybe never left

For many years my friend Brian's go to cigar was Camacho. He would sit there, not say much but just smoke away. He was a big fan of strong powerful smokes. His attitude was if you don't feel the intensity of a cigar, why bother to smoke at all.

Move forward and Camacho went through several changes in owners, production and blends. They pushed a new marketing scheme, bold new labeling and to me got very confusing. The approach got too diverse to know what you were smoking. Perhaps they were looking for a new demographic of smoker, a younger hipper crew. I am sure they had a plan and if it was successful more power to them. For me, I stopped smoking this brand.

So recently I was sent a sample from the crew at Cigars.City.com to review the Camacho American Barrel- Aged Toro.  As always who and how I received the cigar does not impact my thoughts when I write a review. I look at all aspects of the cigar , keep an open mind and give an honest appraisal of my thoughts. 

Brand/ Name of Cigar:

Camacho/ American Barrel Aged

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Size:  6.0 x 5.0

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler: American, Honduras

Shape: Toro

Price: $7.89 single ( sale price ) Box of 20, $191.34 from Cigarscity.com.

Where and when smoked: Los Angeles , Ca. 3/27/16

Appearance / Construction:

Very brown with a red hue to the cigar which makes it a good looking specimen. Small minor veins in the wrapper not an issue. Firm to the touch and oily. The labels are an added attraction with very detailed information about the cigar. I liked this approach. This is a fine looking smoke.

Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:

The first third was a start of distinct mix of wood, orange and spice.  I was waiting for a flavor bomb of Bourbon but maybe I missed it, but did not get this yet. This is a  rich smoke of a troika of hardy flavors.  The Bourbon undoubtedly will show up later. Smooth to the palate, and the aroma was soothing.

Smoking Characteristics:

There was a slight burn issue at this point but it was a minor blip. Good looking grey ash, now getting more of a Bourbon kick. This was not overpowering but a steady flavor blast.  Continued with the combo of wood, orange and now cedar.  This is a strong but sweet tasting cigar. It stayed lit throughout the life of the smoke. 

Conclusion/ Overall impression:

This is a winning blend of taste, flavor and construction. Camacho has a product they can be proud  of. It was enjoyable and a worthy of any humidor.

The numbers look this way.

Appearance/ Construction: 4 out of 5

Flavor/ Taste and Aroma: 4.2 out of 5

Smoking Characteristics: 4 out of 5

Conclusion/ Overall Impression: 4.2 out of 5

Final Thoughts: 

A great cigar for the seasoned cigar smoker. Full bodied but not harsh.  For those who might think it is too full bodied, perhaps aging would mellow the blend a bit. I would suggest try it , wait a month and try it again. Make the comparison and let me know if you notice any difference.

Keep smoking.

Use at your own risk

Take a close look at this cigar and tell me what you think it looks like? Now here is another picture
and notice the similarity with a 50 caliber bullet.

Separated at birth.

The Diesel Unlimted Maduro perfecto has an uncanny resemblance to the powerful 50 cal. bullet.
Check out my review and see what I think of the cigar shaped cartridge.  I received the smoke from Cigarscity.com gratis for my thoughts on this bomb. 
As always getting a cigar gratis  does not  influence my review.

Cigar specs:

Brand/Name of Cigar: Diesel Unlimited/Maduro Perfecto
Size: 5.0 x 5.8
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Maduro
Binder: San Andres
Filler: Honduras/Nicaragua
Shape: Perfecto
Price: $4.19 each, box of 20 $78.07
Purchased: Free from Cigarscity.com
Where and When Smoked: Los Angeles, Ca. 3/20/16

Appear/Construction:

Very dark brown, if any darker it would be black. Rustic in appearance with a uneven cap. The cap is sloppy. Firm to the touch, plenty of oil glistening in the wrapper. It's maduro all the way.


Flavor/Taste and Aroma:

Started with a spice hit somewhat harsh. Very prominent chocolate and orange peel notes. Powerful first third. True to it's roots, this is a maduro taste profile.


Smoking Characteristics:

The burn was even in the first third but uneven in the second third. A dark grey ash and the cigar became more chocolate in taste. Needed two relights.

Conclusion/Overall Impression:


My numbers add up this way:

Appearance/ Construction: 3 out of 5
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma;  2.5 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 2. 5 out of 5
Overall  Impression: 2.8 out of 5

Final Thoughts:

Great price point but that does not equate to a good value smoke. This is a pass, sorry AJ.

Keep smoking

A powerful cigar that is worth talking about

I was sitting in my cigar lounge about to review the  La Aurora 107 Toro when I got  engaged in a conversation about cigar reviews. The question arose by a fellow cigar member who is a  relative newcomer to the world of cigars.  He claimed that most of the reviews he has read have been "bullshit." His point is all the descriptions of the smokes he has partaken in are not very accurate.
Language such as pepper, oak, blackberry really do tell an accurate story of what the cigar is really like.  The descriptors are so vague they are not doing justice to the cigar experience. What is the difference between white pepper and black pepper?
The owner of the lounge was also involved in this discussion and commented that reviews should take into account how the cigar is indulged. Is it in a quiet lounge or with a group of friends? Is the cigar smoked with a beverage , and how the cigar was stored?
My answer was the descriptors are subjective but it gives you a base to judge it on. As for all other factors there are valid and perhaps the review should mention the surroundings of the experience. 
Each reviewer makes their own judgments about  the cigar and that is exactly what they are, judgements.
If you need to get more information about a particular smoke, read several reviews and then after reading them, decide it the cigar is something you might want to try. Cigars.city.com was the website and company that sent me the cigar. They sell the product but this did not influence my thoughts on the cigar. I received the cigar gratis from them.

Brand/Name of Cigar: Aurora 107 
Cigar shape: Toro
Length and Gauge: 5.5 x 5.4
Strength: Medium- full
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Filler: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Price: $ 7.13 a cigar , box of 21, $139. 87
Where and when smoked: Lone Wolf Cigar Lounge, Los Angeles, 3/13/17




Appearance / Construction:

Dark chocolate brown wrapper with an oily feel, Had a very clean look with no obvious faults or imperfections. The band was also pleasing to the eye with a strong presentation.


Flavor/ Taste and Aroma: Initial blast of strong pepper. Looking for other flavors such as chocolate or nuts but if they were there, the pepper was the predominant taste. It was a powerful start, gave the cigar a strong identity. Smooth though out so the taste while strong was not overpowering or unpleasant. Very rich blend.

Smoking Characteristics : Uneven burn as the picture shows. Not a game changer because of this but hopefully won't impact the enjoyment of the smoke. Burned steady and slow, with a grey ash.


As the cigar smoked down, the ash evened itself out a bit. Stayed full bodied, smooth to the palate with good, peppery flavor. If you like a strong smoke, you will like this blend. There are no subtle notes of other flavors. You are smoking a no nonsense cigar. The draw did correct itself a bit with one relight. I believe the uneven burn was a minor blip and not a real factor in the cigar.

Conclusion/Overall impression: The Aurora 107 Toro made a statement for a rich, smooth full bodied blend.  The audience for this type of cigar is a seasoned smoker who likes to sit down for an hour or so, and be challenged in a positive way. If there are other tastes to the smoke, I would welcome your thoughts where and when you found them

Here are the numbers: 
Appearance/ Construction; 3.5 out of 5
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma; 4 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 4 out 5
                                                                Conclusion/ Overall Impression: 3.8 out of 5

Final thoughts:  Fell slightly flat for a smoke which is a must have for your humidor. Might be part of my cigar mix every so often. Good price point so it that is a big factor in your cigar mind, you would consider this.  Worth trying and of course make your own judgement.


Keep smoking

Royalty has arrived.

Several weeks ago, I was speaking to a employee of the cigar lounge I am a member of and he spoke of Caldwell cigars. He was trying to get the lounge to carry this line. I was not familiar with Caldwell cigars but he said it was worth finding and suggested I smoke them.
Fast forward and I was asked to review one of their smokes from the folks at Cigarscity.com. The cigar gods work in wonderful ways.
As always, my opinion is not influenced by how and where I get the cigar. This cigar was given to me gratis by Cigarscity.com. Here are my thoughts.


Brand/ Name of Cigar; Caldwell Cigars/ The King is Dead Premier

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Size: 5 X 50, Robusto

Wrapper: Dominican Republic Negrito
Filler: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Price : $ 8.38 single, $187.89 box of 24
Purchase and Date Purchased;  Cigarscity.com, given to me to review, no cost involved.

Appearance/ Construction: Catchy looking cigar band, firm to the touch, no soft spots or obvious blemishes. Dark brown in appearance, small veins in the wrapper. Pig tail which is well placed and looks good.  Appearance is impressive, a great deal of thought and care went into this smoke.
A good calling card for this cigar.                     

Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:
Initial taste gives me a hit of chocolate and fruit, (apple, pear). Rich tasting , no heat and not overbearing. It is smooth to the max. If this blend continues in this manner, hope the cigar will last for 7 hours. Keep the mojo going. Smells earthy, as if a gardener delicately pulled it from the ground.



Throw in some mint and this compliments the other flavors already in the mix.

Smoking Characteristics:
Even burn, no harsh or hot surges. Ash was light grey with one re light which was probably my fault. I am grooving on this smoke, or better put by the music group, the Rascals,

" Groovin" on a Sunday afternoon.

Conclusion/ Overall Impression:
This is one of the best smokes I have had this year. It does exactly what you expect in a very good smoke. Flavorful, enjoyable to smoke and no battles to keep it going. It lasted about 1 hour and would have liked another 1/2 hour to make it even more of a fine time. I would like to think a larger ring size would produce the extra time I would have liked. I have one more to try which I will do at a later date. Perhaps I will do a short follow  up to let the folks know how number 2 performs.

Here is the final tab:

Appearance/ Construction: 4.2 our of 5.
Flavor/ Taste and Aroma:4.5 out of 5
Smoking Characteristics: 4 out of 5
Conclusion/ Overall Impression: 4. 3 out of 5

You definitely need to bring this blend to your roost. It was a top flight cigar.

Keep smoking