Here's my first review, gents.
Cigar #1 looks to be a 6x52 shade-grown. It has a triple cap and aroma is lightly sweet. Not infused-crap sweet. But like a gentle waft of baking bread-smell sweet, with very faint tobacco notes. Well-constructed, firm without being over packed.
I decided on a punch-cut, which gave the perfect amount of draw. Toasting and lighting go off without a hitch. First inch has sweet, light tobacco overtones, with some bitter acrid undertones. After the first inch, the bitterness resolves and the flavor deepens through the first and second thirds. Aroma reminds me of what I imagine bread baking at a barbeque would smell like. Thick, copious smoke. Grey ash holding on nicely. Retrohale is a nice, spicy compliment to the thick, meaty-sweet flavor. Razor sharp burn line.
Honey flavor blossoms at the 2-inch mark. Flavor deepens beyond baking bread to something else. Something more meaty. Like a crusty honey-glaze on a cut of poultry. The ash held on firmly until nearly the 3-inch mark. Spiciness builds significantly into the third third. Nicotine (or possibly lack of sleep) hits. It is pleasant, but don’t ask me to do my taxes or brain surgery. Third third ramps up in spice until it seems like it’s from a different cigar. Very interesting. I put it down with an inch left to go. Temp has dropped outside and my fingers are going numb. Great cigar.
My guess is that it is DE UC Shade...
As usual, I love how the lack of a band increases my mindfulness as I smoke. Thanks, Chazbo! I look forward to reviewing the other two!
