danmdevries wrote:Only my second or third cigar in 2018. I'll write the post as I smoke.
Jamie's number one cigar which is not a Gurkha. Light colored robusto, slightly spongy, ok by me, I prefer a more open draw.
Smells like dry tobacco. barn/hay/crap Wrapper's nothing special to look at, and the weight vs size in the hand is really skewing my impression to yard gar before I've even cut the cap off.
Cut the cap, cold draw is dried tobacco - sweet and raisin
First light brings me back to my first few premium cigars. When you haven't smoked a while, there's certain flavors that come out that are just lost when you smoke more often.
First inch is already going wrong. Had a good toast and even light, but only half of the cigar wants to burn. One side is 1/2: down, the other is well over an inch canoe burn. Tried to correct but it's already souring. I'm gonna cut off the foot a half inch past lowest burn line, see if I can't get more smoking time from it.
Flavor is inoffensive, but not much there. Harsh on retrohale but not a peppery bite, more like a horseradish burn - no discernable flavor, just burn. Lingering flavor in the mouth is burnt wood. Overall that's really the only flavor coming through is burning leaves/twigs.
I cut it off and re lit.
On the restart it's still struggling to burn straight. I can feel a good bit of heat about 2" from the head. Definitely some tunnel burn happening. It's pretty foul at this point and I"m going to toss it. He says it's not a Gurkha, but it smoked like one. Only about 15-20 minutes smoking time.
Without hesitation I'm calling this yard gar. I think if I got one without the burn isssues it might work as a yard gar, it's a pretty straightforward flavor. Inoffensive but unimpressive. Think this may be an Alec Bradley or a Kristoff product, it mirrors my experience with them - could be good, but construction is seriously lacking.
Cigar #1 is Yard Gar.
Cigar #1 is a 2014 H Upmann Royal Robusto. High end. I feel awful as this was in my large travel humidor because of the nick on the wrapper I didn't want it to get damaged further. I enjoyed the others I traded wallet candela's for with a BOTH here. I thought they were very good not excellent, but never had construction issues. I suspect not being turned led to uneven humidity. I owe you a not huge vitola high end.
Cigar numberr 2 from Jamie is a dark chocolatey colored salomon. Per routine, I'll live post my impressions.
Feels and smells fantastic. Smells lightly of barnyard, the roll is exceptionally tight - concerned with draw once I get it going. I've had issues with most of the semi-closed tapered foot cigars I've had in the past. They never seem to light straight. I'm going to give this one a standard light and see how it does. Pretty sure it's the high end just off look and feel.
Cut the torpedo cap off on an angle. Cold draw is a huge load of black pepper. Made my eyes water and triggered a sneeze. Some raisiny sweetness in there as well.
First light is a huge blast of black pepper, with some cedar wood in the background. It's already burning very unevenly, got past the nipple tip and one side's running away while the other is stagnant. Attempting touchup, it's now close to an inch difference.
Touchup was successful,it's now at the widest part of the bulb and fairly even. The foot puts off a lot of smoke, but the draw is not a huge smoke volume. It's strong. Already feeling it. Putting my feet up and swinging the recliner back.
It's a lot sweeter now. Sweet cedar wood, some nutty bits but big pepper on retrohale. Mouth feels coated in oils. I'm digging it. Money's on this being Dominican by the flavor profiles, and I'd bet it's an LFD. Fuente's IMO are less spicy and more savory while LFD is the opposite.
Working its way back up the taper it's picked up a lot of sweetness. Buttery vanilla pecan like nutty flavors linger. Still has the big pepper and cedar but it's much more balanced now. Had to do another touchup but the cigar took it well.
This is a phenomenal smoke. It's the high end.
About halfway. The sweeter savory bits are more prominent but retrohale still makes my eyes water with the pepper. Cedar and pepper big up front on retrohale but when it settles it's just very rich savory pecans and butter/vanilla. Feels like my mouth has a layer of lard everything's coated.
Retouched again, and recut the head to a straight cut. Again the cigar took the touchup in stride and is burning evenly without change in flavors.
I can't say enough about this rich savory flavor. It's like I had a stick of butter in my mouth, everything's oiled up. Without a doubt this is the high end. Cedar wood, black pepper, pecans, butter, vanilla. High end Dominican flavor profile. This would pair really well with a strong dry drink dry red wine, or neat bourbon. I only brought a Dr Pepper with me to the garage.
Gonna cut the review now, got about 2.5" left but I'm gonna pull up something to watch on my laptop and just enjoy the remainder without worrying about continuing the review.
Thank you ZRX for this fantastic smoke. I'm pegging it high end, LFD or at least from DR. If this is from anywhere else I'll eat my shorts. It's also got a fair bit of age under it.
Cigar #2 is an old Padilla 1968 Oscuro limitada 2009. Yard gar. You won't find any info on these, they were a CI only deal and were very short lived. Don't mistake these for the regular Padilla 1968 maduro. These were sold in mazos of 10 for $49.99 I believe and didn't sell until some reviews were posted then they were GONE. Todd or Jules I believe wrote a great review or I never would have bought any. They lightly plumed quickly, that was my last one. Glad you enjoyed it, I believe it was Honduran/Nicaraguan BTW and I have no clue on the wrapper. I gave SvenR and Trish a ration of 💩 over the wrapper being called Oscuro as it's pretty light brown.
Jamie's number 3 is a chocolatey brown Churchill and is also not a Gurkha, and came with its original cello wrap which is brown and crispy. I almost never smoke Churchills. Sometimes when camping and sitting in the hammock, or by the fire, I will smoke a Churchill. Never finish em. I can't recall the last churchill cigar I've brought to the garage.
Per routine, will live post the smoke, typing it up on my phone as I smoke just writing whatever I'm thinking about the cigar. Already several beers in today so I'll probably be a bit more wordy.
Rich barn aroma to the wrapper, some dusty hay spice tickled the sinuses. Nicely rolled, very very firm. Hopefully it will be open enough to smoke.
Clipped the Nicely done triple cap. Cold draw is sweet, smooth no sneezy. Pretty tight, but should work.
First light is pretty loaded. Spice, cedar, leaves with a background sweetness. Not much smoke, but flavor is rich. Pepper in the sinuses is mild on retrohale but does increase lingering sweetness.
I'm noticing the strength already. Weird, I can usually get through anything without noticing it till the end. Took a bit of sugar on with a half and half bourbon and maple syrup shot. Guts settling. Put my feet up in the recliner. Racecar rear bumper in the way of a full recline.
Chocolate notes on the finish, loads of cedar spice. Draw is tight, almost no smoke coming from this cigar. But it's burning evenly and no hot spots I can feel. Usually low smoke is tunneling, but it's burning correctly. Just not very Smokey. Foot smokes more than the draw, kinda reminds me of a Liga Privada in that sense. Full flavor on every draw though.
Much more cedar spice coming through. Has a retrohale burn, but not so peppery more like sneezing from cedar sawdust.
I'm enjoying this a lot. Came in 100% that is was the middle smoke given the prior two. But it's hitting a lot of marks I look for. Still pegging it in the middle because the #2 was a shape reserved for top shelf. But flavor and performance to the halfway mark so far has been compatible with high end. Age I'm sure has helped, I do prefer strong cigars to have a few years of rest, or mid-mid.
Strangely enough the flavors mellowed out rather than ramped up. I'm about an hour fifteen in and finding myself forcing the draw with consecutive puffs. Slight sour flavors come when I rush it. But it recovers nicely. Definitely a well made cigar. I re-read my #2 review to compare, I'm gonna stick with keeping this in the mids.
Flavor may have flattened out but strength has not. This thing's kicking my ass. Been on the verge of green most of the smoke. Hit me an inch or so in. The syrup n bourbon shot helped but it's worn off. Pretty sure I'll puke on this one. This makes a Cain F lance look like a party short. Usually don't feel the strength when I been drinking but this is STRONG.
Finally got to the well aged flavors. The creamy sweet nutty flavor I love so much. Unfortunately I can't go much longer. There is a hint of ammonia in the retrohale, and I'm picking up more heavy tar notes. Pretty much my experience with churchills is you can't smoke the whole thing. It's just on the verge of souring, as am I.
Gonna call it. I can't finish. 1:48 smoking time.
Gonna peg it mid, Nicaraguan, well aged.
Cigar #3: San Cristobal. Mid gar. You nailed this one......I like them, but just like you not huge cigars as I never have time. I figured that since the last time I bought one of these they fit into the parameters....this one BTW had some of the browner cello I have, it was gifted to me in 2010-2012. Good reviews Dan, sorry again for the dud.
