America's #1 Online Cigar Auction
first, best, biggest!

Last post 20 years ago by BeatDragon. 11 replies replies.
Astral TVS
ikonoklast7 Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 07-13-2003
Posts: 683
Today I fired up an Astral Talanga Valley Selection toro (courtesy of jazzman) at the park.

I was curious to try it, but I wasn't expecting much out of it. I haven't heard many positive comments on things coming from the Don Tomas/Astral factory in Honduras. I personally had to suffer through a Helix. And mrtelcom's recent review of the W & D (their line of seconds) wasn't favorable either.

But this little pup surprized me.

It had a beautiful sun-grown wrapper from the Talanga Valley of Honduras (as the name implies), which was a beautiful reddish-dark brown hue, and the aroma was nice. It had an almost sweet, pleasant flavor, about a medium as for as body, and good construction. Kind of a woody taste to it.

Godfather raves about the Vega Talanga (another cigar with a wrapper from that same region), so I'll have to try that one too. I know they also have a Don Tomas in a TVS, so I need to try it too.

It did get a little bitter at the very end, but otherwise a good cigar at a reasonable price.
lvsmitty Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 08-21-2002
Posts: 78
Yes, the Astral, and the Vega Talanga are both great smokes, especially for the price, like you said. CI offers a Talanga Valley Mayhem Sampler for $40. You get 18 different cigars. Great deal. Better yet, they are occasionally on CBid, and the last time I bid on one, I got it for $23. That was sweet.
G
eleltea Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 03-03-2002
Posts: 4,562
Astral TVS good. I got a box sleeping unopened. Should be really good in a year.
xibbumbero Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
I've tried to like these. I PU a 5pack of the torps over a year ago and OTT they tasted lousy and a year later I still got the same taste,kind of a musty metalic one. Maybe my taste buds were off the times I tried em or maybe not. X
jjohnson28 Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 09-12-2000
Posts: 7,914
I think the TV's are great smokes X but I get that same metallic taste from domestic Sancho Panzas and everybody raves about those too.Go Figure?
xibbumbero Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
JJ,I like the SP's. Yeah go figger,LOL. X
redsquid Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 12-15-2002
Posts: 1,286
I just picked up a couple of buyonegetonefree twin packs. The TVS torpedoes, and the Don Tomas Dominican Selection (strange name, as there is hardly any Dominican in it). They looked quite similar, and being the same manufacturer, I figured they would smoke similarly. If anything, I was a little suspicious of the DT. As it turned out, the DT was a very nice surprise. Velvety, yet substantial, with nice woody tones, and an impeccable burn. The TVS, ended up a little underwhelming. I almost thought I was smoking a Genuine Counterfeit Cuban. The feel, the burn, and very close in flavor (though a little less tangy, and a little more woody). Not to knock it, mind you. I like the TVS as well as the GCC, it just didn't come across nearly as impressive as everything I had heard. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't feel compelled to buy it again. I am considering a box of the DTs though. The Vega Talangas are quite different. It has been to long to describe it fully though. I might have to dig one out and fire it up.
redsquid Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 12-15-2002
Posts: 1,286
Quite fond of the Sancho Panzas, no metalic taste for me.
raven01 Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 07-14-2003
Posts: 215
atvs are very good smokes for the price.They are not premium quality for sure. but for cutting the grass or driving around when you just want to smoke a cigar and not savor its fine
Tobasco Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2003
Posts: 2,809


I disagree raven. I think the TVS is an excellent quality smoke that is consistantly good. I have all the different sizes and theyre all good.

Mag
THL Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 10-22-2002
Posts: 3,044
I think the TVS is a butt kicker. Good construction, plenty of flavorful smoke.
BeatDragon Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 02-28-2003
Posts: 4,754
Great smoke, THL got me hooked on these. Wouldn't consider them a "yard smoke" at all. I find them quite smooth and flavorfull. I did however, give one to a friend of mine that, for the most part, smokes mild to mediums and he thought it had a metallic taste as well.
Users browsing this topic
Guest