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first, best, biggest!

Huh, 0% accuracy. Go me.

Everyone in this forum is now dumber for having read it. I am awarded no points, and may God have mercy on my soul.

On the bright side a) found the envelope, and b) didn't compare the LFD to a Gurkha on a site full of LFD fans

Ok, the heavy package was full of smokes and beer.

Some white oak Jai alai by cigar City brewing. I recall having a green Jai alai that I enjoyed so looking forward to this. Complete with city city brewing sticker and coasters.

The unbanded smokes, torpedo, toro and Churchill

A Herrera esteli miami

A tuxes and tails nh of this (Robbie from a Tampa charity event, cigars always provided by fuente or Newman)

And a blendland rq 444 - it looks like a Hemingway short story. I had something similar to this, but don't recall the blend. If it's the same one thou, super excited about it.

Thanks Tampa

Review: Mystery Cigar #2

6" x 48...Total time was 1hr and 12 minutes. This cigar had a dark brown veiny wrapper, with a dull dry sheen, around some dark brown and lighter brown fillers. I shouldn't have washed my hands with an aromatic soap, which interfered with my ability to notice any pre-light aromas, other than tobacco and barnyard. There was a noticeable give along the length of the cigar, when pinched, except for the solid last inch at the head of the cigar.

After toasting the foot, the first puff had a dry cocoa taste, which quickly gave way to an earthy peppery burnt wood and toasted bread combination of flavors. There was a hint of sweetness. The cigar had an easy to medium draw, resulting in a good amount of smoke that was easy to retrohale. The smoke left a dry tobacco taste in my mouth and in my sinuses. At 1/2 inch, the burn got a little crooked, but a couple of puffs blown through the cigar corrected it, without the flame, and the burn remained straight. The flavor in the first part was a mild sweet pleasant taste of burnt wood, like the smell of sharpening a pencil, with dark toasted bread. The pepper disappeared. The solid ash was light gray.

The flavor of the smoke remained consistent in the next third. It was a pleasant slightly sweet toasted bread and burnt wood. There was a hint of bell pepper for a few puffs, but it left after a puff or two. The sweet burnt wood got stronger and the toasty bread faded a bit. The burnt sugary sweetness remained also. My impression about halfway through was that the cigar was pleasant, mild, and slightly sweet. A bitterness in my mouth caused me to salivate some.

In the final third, the flavor of burnt wood and toast was pretty consistent, but the sweet wood over-matched the toasty bread at this stage. The cigar was very consistent throughout, with few changes. There were some vegetal notes in the last 1 1/2 inch, which combined well with the sweet burnt wood. The cigar got hot and harsh in the last inch, and I put it out with about 3/4 inch left.

This was a good solid, consistent cigar, possibly a mid-tier smoke. I'm going to hedge a bit, until I review the Mystery Cigar #3, but my initial impression is this was a mid-tier cigar. Not sure if I've had this one before, but it seemed familiar, reminding me of an Illusione.

Thanks for another good enjoyable cigar, gummy!

Had to give you one gimmie...

Review: Mystery cigar #3

5 1/2 x 52...total time was 1 hr and 40 minutes. The cigar had a fan-tail cap (kind of a giveaway for someone who's smoked many of them) with a dark brown wrapper that had darker brown, almost black splotches. The wrapper leaf was rough, thick and dull looking, with some minor veins. There was a slightly sweet, barnyard and fruity aroma. Pre-light flavor was dried fruit and cocoa. The cigar was very solid with almost no give along the entire length, when pinched. I paired the smoke with iced water.

The first few puffs had a sweet chocolatey cookie taste with strong tobacco. There was a pepperiness on the finish when retrohaled. Moderate to easy draw produced a high volume of smoke and the cigar gave off a lot of smoke at rest. The volume of smoke made it difficult to do a full retrohale, so I expelled some smoke through the mouth before sending it up through the sinuses.The flavor was robust, full of meaty, sweet, woody notes.There was a lot going on in the first third as secondary flavors came and went. The burn was nearly straight, and the solid ash was a light gray color. The smoke made my nose run, even though the pepperiness was gone. The initial third finished with more sweetness, strong tobacco and a complex blend of flavors. The ash stayed solid until I tapped it off at about 1 1/2 inch.

This was a great cigar so far. The flavors changed some from the beginning: much sweeter and milder tasting. There was a sweet minty tobacco taste with a moist feeling in the mouth. It is still producing a lot of smoke, so much so that I still can't do a full retrohale comfortably. In this portion of the cigar, the dominant tastes were sweet, fruity and meaty with a strong tobacco backdrop. Some saltiness joined the show near the end of the middle third, which added a savory quality. The smoke was milder, mellower and sweeter than how it began.

In the final third, I'm still thinking this is a great cigar. The blend of flavors is like a well executed broth of multiple flavors that are hard to distinguish. Have to get some more of these. It needed a minor correction at 1 1/2 inch left. The strength kicked in. With an inch left this was a full flavored full strength cigar. I put it out with a half inch nub left, and enjoyed every minute. My guess is that this was a Liga Privada UF 13. I've smoked through 2-3 boxes, but it's been a couple of years since I smoked the last one. It had less pepper than I remember, but the full complexity of smoke and several transitions are the same.

This was the high end.

I've had to re-evaluate the guesses I made about #1 and #2. Number 1 now is considered the middle tier, a very good Cuban, which I found familiar, but can't identify. Since I guessed it was a high end, it is an excellent mid-tier cigar. So cigar number 2 is now my sub $5 cigar, and at that price, it is a very good cigar, one that seems familiar, like an Illusione, but I can't pinpoint what it was.

Thank you gummy, for sending an excellent selection of cigars. I thoroughly enjoyed each of them.

Excited about doing the reviews and I will try to get them done close to each other so I can compare…………..I was successful in the first part but it has taken me forever to type this up. Well here goes

#1 Cigar

A fine looking robusto – tight roll, I like them tight. Viens visible but not prominent. Triple cap. Mottled dark wrap……not your typical maduro. Small bumps. Not quite San Andrean but maybe sungrown.

I am driving down the road – fondling my newly acquired cigar. Nipped the tip and got some sweet tobacco flavor pre-light but with evidence of a little age on it. Enjoyed it for about 20 minutes in the car since I don’t smoke in the car.

I am supposed to meet someone at a hazardous waste remediation site but they don’t show up. I decide I’ll go ahead and hang out and light the cigar. Perfect light. 1st draw – I get a nice bold flavor – not peppery. Easy but not loose draw. Very nice finish on the draw.

I drop the cigar in the dirt. Crap! Contaminated dirt is sticking to the wet cap of my cigar. I guess I will need to brush it off – can’t waste a good cigar. Getting a mineral flavor. Oh wait – still some dirt on there, never mind.

One inch in this burn is still perfect. Ash is interesting white with black concentric rings. Picking up some pepper and other spices. Nutmeg? Nicauraguan? This is looking like the High end or mid range so far. Definitely not the yard gar.

Slight meaty flavor…….i have tasted something similar in a liga privada before. ½ way through and no nic buzz but I am expecting some. Whole spice cabinet but very muted and not overpowering…….parsley ranging up to oregano and habanero – not the hot aspect of habanero – the flavor part, for those of you who can appreciate hab flavor.

So I am tired of baking in the sun on this derelict industrial site. I decide to drive somewhere for lunch. Veterans Park has some nice benches under trees looking over water just around the corner. Lunch break but with NO FOOD. So I drive down the road with the cigar hanging out my window – getting blasted with 45 mph breeze. Not smoking while driving but enjoying a long lingering finish in the back off my throat.

Arrived. This cigar takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Need a relight though. Cigar mellows out some, then kicks in with pepper then smoothes out. Enjoying a slight buzz. Interestingly I usually don’t like it when I feel the nic kick but this is just enough not too much.

Still admiring the white ash with thin stacked layers of darker ash. This is like the layers of an ancient buried city. I’m digging for gold!

Some personal observations: This may not be something I seek or enjoy on a regular basis but it is certainly within my wheelhouse.

In a way price influences me in that the higher the price the higher the expectations. Now relative to price I summarize as such:

If this is the high end I say it is good
If it is the mid range I say it is great
If it is the yard gar I say WOW

Despite the buzz, I am taking it to the nub. A last hurrah of flavor. Never got squishy. All this on an empty stomach. I am pretty impressed. Time to eat.

#3 cigar

Robusto Dark bumpy with prominent viens – but nice looking.....looks like the surface of Mars. Mountains and ridges. Hard as a rock. Did I mention before I like a tightly rolled cigar? This looks like a San Andreas wrapper.

Got the perfect setting for this. Just finished some great BBQ brisket from Sweet Daddy Georgia Boy. Still picking the meat from my teeth in preparation. 74 degrees, partly cloudy with a slight breeze. Drinking a Sasquatch (in a pink tutu) double IPA.

So I decide to use my newly re-found punch again. This booger is so hard I can hardly get the punch in. While I like a tight roll, I also like a good draw at the same time. This one aims to please.

I want to do this old school so I light with a piece of Spanish cedar and a match.

Prelight draw is nice but I don’t pick up any prelight flavor. Once I light I pick up a nice flavor that I can’t identify. This cigar smokes by itself as a chimney even when you are not drawing on it. I like that.

Nice but not overwhelming in your face flavor. Truly a rocklike feel but still a great draw. Did I say that already?

Slight woody taste – burning very slow. Still in the first inch. Needs a relight. Twice. I feel I need to draw on this more to keep it lit. Nice compact white ash until I bump it and it falls off.

Going along to the 1st ½ the burn is nice and the cigar is enjoyable. A little bit of pepper (no I haven’t had any more jalapenos). A solid smoke but no real change ups or development.

I start eating some homemade guac and chips and switch to a sweet Bourbon Stout. Cigar seems to improve in flavor with this pairing.

This cigar stays rock solid to the end. A finely rolled cigar. Burn stays consistent. I only wished it gave a little more variety though nothing at all to complain about. This one is one I would like to try again.

Ranking? #1 had more flavor and had a less rustic wrapper and I stick with my original opinion that it is probably the high end. #3 is an improvement over #2 so I pronounce it the mid range. All 3 cigars were enjoyed and I would try all of them again. I am a little curious if my jalapeno fiasco unfairly tainted my opinion of #2.

#1 High end
#2 Low end
#3 Mid range

I’m curious what they all were…………and when I have time I will give some thoughts on all the other great gifts included in this package!

Nice reviewin both a youse

Awesome reviews, I enjoyed reading each one of them and liked how you added in what you were doing throughout the length of smoking the cigars. I had a feeling the reviews would turn out something like what you have wrote.

#1 was an Illusione Rothchildes which I got on clearance for under $3 per. I was about to post info about it on here when I bought them and double checked they were in stock still and I must have got the last clearance cab because the price shot back up to normal retail. This was the yard gar, but I know most on here would never consider these yad gars.

#2 was a Caldwell Murcias Especial which I packaged as the midrange. I found them to be similar to your review, so I don't think that the jalapenos effected your review that much. I get an earthy tobacco and that is pretty much it. I thought this would be a good chance at seeing if it was just me or others felt the same about this cigar.

#3 is a La Aurora 100 Anos maduro, the high end. I haven't ashed one in awhile now so I am hoping I haven't waited too long on them after reading your review.

Thanks for the awesome reviews, it is always fun to read and compare cigar reviews from other people (especially when they are blind reviews)!

nice job with your reviews, tamapatom...Mr. Jalapeno fingers, lol...

I thoroughly enjoy taking part and reading everyone’s reviews. Unfortunately, life and work have gotten in the way. Maybe next year, maybe, don’t know.

nice review, gummy....I'll wait until you've done the other two before I reveal their identities...glad the bug didn't affect your palate...

Updated OP.

Hopefully I got it caught up correctly after a week away.

Keep em coming

Now for #2.
Pre-light - Big old, deep brown, very veiny toro. Another box press. However this one wasn't so tightly rolled. No significant taste on the prelight. (very cigar like)
First 1/3 - Not a lot of complex flavors but a very enjoyable cigar. It was easy to light and very easy to maintain. The loose wrap made for an easy draw and lots of smoke.
Second 1/3 - No big changes...an enjoyable, easy smoke.
Third 1/3 - The cigar was very consistent until the end. The draw was easy, smoke was plentiful, and the taste was one note but a pretty good note at that.

I liked the cigar. Not sure what this one is but I would say that even though very enjoyable, it came across as a good low end cigar.

I might have to see about getting some of these if they are in the low range. Might be a good daily type of cigar.

Thumbs up Lance.

We're waiting

David I am waiting myself. Yes I did send you the Press Box challenge.

Alrighty here are the results.

#1 Fallen Angel Torpedo (Low...can’t say yardgar)
#2 AVO Synchro (Mid)
#3 AF Don Carlos Reserva Torpedo (High end)

Pretty close on my guesses.

Got one of these from Shaun in a trade - maybe last year. I enjoyed it greatly.

Was the Avo Synchro the Nicauragua version? Though upwards of 9 or more retail, I like to pick these up when I can get them for sub 5 which you can do on line if you shop around.

#3 is AF Eye of the Shark.

Mystery cigar #1 from delta [third and final review]

Beautifully constructed Churchill that screams mid to high end. Shiny and chocolatey brown wrapper with a fine oil. Triple cap and firm. Chocolate covered raisins on foot and a tobacco and faint pepper on the pre light.

1/3 - this opens as the fullest of the 3 cigars imo. Slight pepper, tobacco, and cedar. Seems Nicaraguan. Finish is medium, flavor is full. There is a really nice semi tart, semi sweet fruit note I'll call green grape. The smoke output is adequate but I would like a little more. Ash is white and burn is good. Retro gives some pepper and almost a little buttery Danish. This is a good cigar and I'm fairly certain I've had it. It is clearly the most complex out of the three I was sent. Time for a sip of this Guinness to see how the cigar changes if at all. Im sure i could hallucinate quite a few more flavors. Finish is not long and tastes of sweet tobacco, faint cayenne and pleasant white pepper. Guinness is good. I think I'll zone out until the second third and just enjoy this lovely cigar.

2/3 - ash started wonky but held on until I decided to tap it off. Smoke output slowly fell off so I touched up the light. Burn is near perfect. The fruity sweetness really seems to be ramping up and is intertwined with a sweet barbecue taste. The finish has lengthened and just when I think the pepper has faded I get a touch. Very nice. I could see how some could distinguish an espresso note here. The mouth feel is slightly chewier.

3/3 - touching up the light was a good call. The performance is really nice. The overall flavor is consistent with subtleties that we come to expect out of cigars in the boutique market. I've had more complex sticks but this is really well done. Just the right amount of changes to be interesting without being overwhelming. I'd label this medium to full and expect it to be full by the end.

The first cigar I reviewed was my least favorite and I feel strongly that it has the lowest MSRP. That is not to say it was bad. Im back and forth as to which of the next two was the high end and which the middle. The cuban may be a monte double edmundo. Today's offering was pepin-esque, but most of the good Nicaraguan cigars seem to gravitate towards that end. A great sampler from my brother on the left coast. I've enjoyed and appreciated everything you've ever sent me. Thank you so much! Okay delta, make me look stupid...

Dan, they are on the way.

i really dont smoke many illusione cigars and i was pretty confident it was from the isom. even the ash looked cuban! it was just so mellow and seemed to start off so grassy. maybe, as you say, it was the age. or maybe youre just being nice.

oh well, 2 out of 3 aint bad.

thanks for the great selection
that was a lot of fun

Glad hey made. Enjoy them. The Tat 50th is wonderful.

Starting with Stingers number 1. A short corona shape, double cap, closed foot, medium-brown cigar with a very nice looking wrapper. Dry aroma is very muted cedar/humidor. Cold draw is heavy on the cedar, sweet.

First light as expected from a closed foot was very strong with more cedar. After a couple puffs it dies down. Predominantly cedar with a sweet mild vanilla finish. I like it. It's a familiar flavor profile but I can't place it.

Kid came out to the garage to have me air up his bike tires so I got distracted and it went out.

Relit and got back in. Inch of ash knocked off.

Less cedar and spice up front but still on the retrohale. Sweet vanilla finish remains. It's not a very Smokey cigar. Burn is slightly uneven but that's likely my fault.

Halfway, it's still one dimensional. Cedar/vanilla. Seems right in the middle of strength and flavor. A nice short smoke.

Wrapped up at 35 minutes. About an inch and a quarter left but don't feel the need to nub it, tasting some tar buildup. It's decent, nothing terribly special. I've had these before but can't place it.

Calling number 1 the yard gar. Nice short smoke, relit without drama, and carried the same flavor throughout.