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

Last post 5 years ago by KingoftheCove. 19 replies replies.
AB Sanctum Toro
KingoftheCove Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
Several years back Opel was working at a shpo, and had developed a mild AB habit.
He sent me a sampler, and asked for my opinion on them....4 or 5 cigars.
They were OK, not great, not bad......typical AB cigars....except one....the Sanctum Toro.
I thought it was pretty dang good......good enough to make me go and buy a tenski at the other place.

I waited a month or two, smoked one..........it was OK.....not as good as the one I got from Opel.
I gave a few to my BIL as golf gars.........he liked em........he likes anything.....goat palate.
I waited another year, smoked another one......it was OK........not anything I'd buy again.

Tonight, I smoked one.......now they are almost 3 years in my humi.
Very good cigar. Mild Corojo flavor, with nuts, mild bakers spice, some cream, and another flavor I couldn't quite put a finger on until I read the CA review.....almond paste.........no chit.
Complexity, tons of smoke, perfect burn and draw.
Is it really an Aalec Bradley? Yes it is, and I'll have to quit bashing them for a while, because this was one fine smoke.
Glad I have 5 more, and will,likely spring for another tenski if the price is right, and the next few I smoke turn out as good as this one did.
opelmanta1900 Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
See, I do something right every now and then... Glad we traded during my AB days and not my gurka days...
Pudding Mittens Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
.
I have a great amount of experience smoking cigars that have aged for many years. You'd be surprised at the magnitude of improvements that often occur. Not every time, but quite often. A cigar that was "meh" can turn into "wow" with enough years on it. It sure does make the hobby interesting!

By the way, my one cigar pal calls these the AB "Scrotum", and he calls the AB "Coyol" the AB "Steaming Coil" (implying: coil of poop). He's even more funny when he's drunk!
.
Ewok126 Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
KingoftheCove wrote:
Several years back Opel was working at a shpo, and had developed a mild AB habit.
He sent me a sampler, and asked for my opinion on them....4 or 5 cigars.
They were OK, not great, not bad......typical AB cigars....except one....the Sanctum Toro.
I thought it was pretty dang good......good enough to make me go and buy a tenski at the other place.

I waited a month or two, smoked one..........it was OK.....not as good as the one I got from Opel.
I gave a few to my BIL as golf gars.........he liked em........he likes anything.....goat palate.
I waited another year, smoked another one......it was OK........not anything I'd buy again.

Tonight, I smoked one.......now they are almost 3 years in my humi.
Very good cigar. Mild Corojo flavor, with nuts, mild bakers spice, some cream, and another flavor I couldn't quite put a finger on until I read the CA review.....almond paste.........no chit.
Complexity, tons of smoke, perfect burn and draw.
Is it really an Aalec Bradley? Yes it is, and I'll have to quit bashing them for a while, because this was one fine smoke.
Glad I have 5 more, and will,likely spring for another tenski if the price is right, and the next few I smoke turn out as good as this one did.



I got to ask. Are you absolutely sure that you was just not eating random things in the pantry while giving a head job and holding a cigar? Brick wall jester jester jester
KingoftheCove Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
Ewok126 wrote:
I got to ask. Are you absolutely sure that you was just not eating random things in the pantry while giving a head job and holding a cigar? Brick wall jester jester jester

Heh heh...
Many years ago I used to think all those flavor descriptions were BS.........and many probably are just that.
But there was a botl from another group who told me it would take years for me to develop my palate enough to discern the various nuances of cigars. At that time, I could only get leather, bitter chocolate, coffee and wood notes.
He was right, in that I'm now able to identify many additional flavors..........it just took me a while.
Some people can do it sooner than others, while some poor bastids will have a goat palate for life.
Ewok126 Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
KingoftheCove wrote:
Heh heh...
Many years ago I used to think all those flavor descriptions were BS.........and many probably are just that.
But there was a botl from another group who told me it would take years for me to develop my palate enough to discern the various nuances of cigars. At that time, I could only get leather, bitter chocolate, coffee and wood notes.
He was right, in that I'm now able to identify many additional flavors..........it just took me a while.
Some people can do it sooner than others, while some poor bastids will have a goat palate for life.



You are very correct brother, For my self when I started all I could taste was tobacco with the occasional "barn yard" meaning hay not chit lol. Now I can pick up on the spices, chocolate etc. Especially if I am paring it with something good. It seems to enhance those flavors enough to where I can taste them very well.

I just like giving hell is all lol. whip
tamapatom Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
So back to the original post...............Did the sanctum get really better with age or did your palette develop to a point where you pick up the nuances that you missed years ago? To test the theory you have to repeat the buying of new ones and smoke em without all that age and see if you have a different opinion from what your first impression was.
delta1 Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,753
^ astute...

I remember liking the AB Tempus maduro years ago, but many seemed to be rolled improperly...too many tunneled or canoed, so I stopped buying them...

met Bradley, the son of Alec at the Las Vegas CA Cigar Fest a few weeks ago...very humble and likeable guy...younger than I imagined he would be...
opelmanta1900 Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
tamapatom wrote:
So back to the original post...............Did the sanctum get really better with age or did your palette develop to a point where you pick up the nuances that you missed years ago? To test the theory you have to repeat the buying of new ones and smoke em without all that age and see if you have a different opinion from what your first impression was.

The first sanctum he smoked was from a B&M... had a little time on it already... Subsequent cigars were likely purchased online... I've had some of those, and they're very green tasting without several months in them...
KingoftheCove Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
tamapatom wrote:
So back to the original post...............Did the sanctum get really better with age or did your palette develop to a point where you pick up the nuances that you missed years ago? To test the theory you have to repeat the buying of new ones and smoke em without all that age and see if you have a different opinion from what your first impression was.

My palate has been pretty good since probably 2014 or so, well before this situation.
Also, your suggestion, although good, has a wrinkle in that the new Sanctums you're talking about me buying ( heh heh..) will not be the same as the ones I bought.

They may not improve with a long nap.
They may be great ROTT.
They might, like the ones I bought, improve a lot in a few years.

It's a cigar...............they're constantly changing.

By the way.
I still have only smoked one with the extended rest.
Who knows, the remaining 5 might suq!
Ha!
I'll report back once I smoke a second one.
opelmanta1900 Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
Not talking No way man... They're gonna be awesome...
KingoftheCove Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
opelmanta1900 wrote:
Not talking No way man... They're gonna be awesome...

YOU!!

just jinxed me fo sho.............and you know it!
I'll get back on the AB bash wagon most likely...

ram27bat
opelmanta1900 Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
Honestly, I've smoked some pretty horrific sanctums... The most consistent AB quality is their inconsistency...
KingoftheCove Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
opelmanta1900 wrote:
Honestly, I've smoked some pretty horrific sanctums... The most consistent AB quality is their inconsistency...

Ah........thanks man........that's great news........looking forward to the next one.

d'oh!
KingoftheCove Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
Eh, forgot to report that yesterday I did smoke another one.
It was pretty good, last third lost its luster a bit.
Not nearly as good as the one I smoked a few days ago unfortunately.
I'll be happy if the other 4 are as good as this one, and even if only one more is great, that will be s fantastic way to end my association with AB cigars.

So, no, I won't be buying another tenski. I musta just got lucky with that one cigar, and who knows, maybe another one outa the 4 I got left.
KingoftheCove Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
So yeah.........Opel jinxed me...
opelmanta1900 Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
Sorry... For what it's worth, my next move is to try and find a box of RC 184's with tax return money... I think I owe you at least one...
Abrignac Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 02-24-2012
Posts: 17,216
AB’s have had some decent blends as far as taste. But, it’s been a long time since they employed highly skilled craftsmen. One can assume at least 3/5 cigars will torpedo or be plugged.
KingoftheCove Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
Abrignac wrote:
AB’s have had some decent blends as far as taste. But, it’s been a long time since they employed highly skilled craftsmen. One can assume at least 3/5 cigars will torpedo or be plugged.

Heh heh.......it did take them s good year or three to get that Tempus maduro wrapper to actually burn.
Back in the day, if you could get a Tempus maduro to actually burn properly, I thought it was a decent cigar.

But that dang wrapper! Fire proof too often.
Users browsing this topic
Guest