ypetryna wrote:
package from stinger includes local beer and beer coozie that is hanging out in the fridge, hot sauce that looks intense and some solid looking smokes (will update later)
the unbanded roster include a lancero, a torpedo and smoke #3
Torpedo 6" x 50/52 rg darker wrapper, but unsure if a maduro
prelight - firm roll, oily, solid construction has an excellent feel in the hand. liga 9 is what it is reminding me of based off appearance and initial aroma. angled cut with guillotine cutter. no beverage while walking the pupper. this is going to be oily as many pre light puffs are staring to have the oil come off the wrapper.
1st 3rd - this thing is very earthy and the smoke is almost chewy. its got a lot of body to it. it is surprisingly not very intense or in your face thou. the ash lasted a little until i knocked it off the cigar reaching cross body. fail. i try a retrohale and it is heavy black pepper. close enough to almost entice a sneeze. small burn issues, but i would blame it on the windy walk condition. there are faint tastes espresso and maybe bitter dark chocolate.
2nd - there is a side of cigar that is slowing down, which turnund out to be from a vien a split. the cigar is trying to correct its self, and for the most part it is. needed one touch up. this was the also the time i notice a very bitter taste that stopped me mid puff. total flavor change, if only for a puff. the earthiness is still my most noticeable taste with pepper on the retrohale.
final
not much change in flavor profile. the pepper is the still the most noticeable flavor on the retrohale. the strength is now ramping up to the high range of me enjoyment. i slow down the smoking in case that is the reason, but there is little effect on it. it continues to increase, and once my lips and mouth begin to tingle, i abandon the smoke with a little over an inch left.
overall
this was a solid smoke. to me it seemed one dimensional, with the same taste remaining. strength wise it seemed a medium to maybe med. full that could have ramped up full at the end when i put it down. the construction was solid, and needed little baby sitting. reminded me of an undercrown/rp edge/AB (more of a 2nd i bought on cbid that didnt disclose the blend but i think a tempus)
i will reserve judgement to which category i thought it was until after i smoke the other two.
thanks stinnger, did not disappoint, but i should wait for better weather on the next 2
Smoke # 3
toro plus at 6.5" x 52/54. dark wrapper firm roll, V- cut paired with a Mexican coke and then a pepsi.
Prelight is a earthy tobacco taste, with a easy open draw. very wholesome cigar
1st 3rd - first tastes are heavy earthy tobacco. reminds me of the woods during deer season. burn starts well, hits a hard spot a water inch in, and i end up cutting off the tip instead of charring the wrapper so early in. relight helps to fix this and the smokes continues to roll. the strength is easily a medium, and its putting off a lot of smoke, which i like. Earthiness and tobacco are the main prevalent flavors. i give the retrohale a try and boy did bite off more then i could chew. super pepper bomb. reminds me when i tried a retohale for the first time with an LFD. yes i am dumb. boy did that hurt and burn
2nd- requires a touch up around the half way point. not sure what im doing wrong, but i one wrapper side just didnt want to light. i am really liking the pairing with the coke, the sweetness of the coke seems to be taming the cigar that is pumping up in strength. i try half retrohales, and the pepper is there. the earthiness is there. the tobacco is there, and leather makes a cameo every now and then, but it is really a minor taste between the earth and tobacco
final - continues to ramp up in strengthen and boy is getting to me. for the first time, the smoke is starting to warm up (started when Rory tee'd up on 4th, and he is putting on the 16th now). this is the earth and tobacco show all day. easily now one of the fullest cigars i have had, and the tingles are starting to get in. drank all the coke, and the pepsi doesnt have the same sweetness to tame the smoke. Reed 2 putts for the masters ship and thats all i can take at this point. nubbed under an inch. boy was this an ass kicker.
overall
i liked the amount of smoke this produced it was almost like a fog machine. it was much stronger then when i generally go for, and it was definitely on the fuller side that left me down for the count. definitely need to work up for this. thanks stinger.
Lancero to follow shortly when spring comes back to Chicago
smoke #2, the lancero.
review of 3rd cigar smoked
Lancero
prelight
pigtail cap, darker wrapper but not a full maduro. firm construction, small veins, good prelight draw. earthy taste, but not not getting much else. faint hay/grass. paired with an avery Liliko'i Kepolo. looks really like a JH 12 honest men.
1st 3rd
earthy taste. developes as a cool smoke. very little pepper on the retrohale. putting out a fair amount of smoke, and does not get harsh with multiple puffs. ash holds strong easily into the 2nd third. unsure if i am getting any sweetness, could be the beer. not tasty much subtle flavors.
2nd 3rd
Earthyness and tobacco continue to dominate. ash surprisingly holds to the halfway mark. switched to water and now get the occasional sweet note, but still no pepper, which is what i was actually expecting. continues to smoke cool and put out lots of smoke.
final 3rd
not much flavor change, and i must say it is something i am enjoy. its just a solid good smoke. went out once from probable neglect. unsure if its the cigar or my lack of taste. this was earthy and tobacco dominated. enjouyed. left at the inch and half mark. smoked for an hour and 40 min
overall
i enjoyed it. i didntick up on any subtle hints or other tastes apart from a dominant earthiness and tobacco. sweetness made an appearance, along with either dark chocolate/esspresso in the form of minor sweetness. didnt get much pepper, which surprised me, so leads me to think i was a bit congested so i may not yet be fully back. i have had a number of 12 honest men, but none without scotch or whiskey or my full wits about me, but boy is it spot on with the construction.
thanks for the smokes Stinger.
last time you played hard and fast with the price points and left me really wrong, and i think you did so again.
i know the lancero cannot be the yard gar due to the construction costs alone, but im confused with the lack of complex taste i wasnt able to get.
the torp #1 - high end complex and oily - really reminds me of a liga 9
the lance #2 - the mid range- solid smoke but i think you played with the rules once again and snuck it in one me.
the other one #3 - the yard gar range - this on is throwing me for a loop since i know a lance cant be a yard gar. this was a smoke i want to revisit at the end of the summer after some 50 sticks under my belt, but was a little too much for me at this time of the year. but man were the good things about it good.
