Jakethesnake86
2 years ago
Reminded me of my nemesis Macho man Randy savage
I’m the snake
Cheno
2 years ago
Cigar #2 started off peppery, about 1/2 way though it got a little buttery with hints of coffee/chocolate. Ash held up really well. Really solid smoke. I'm not great at describing these like some of you are. My buest guess is this is the premium. I will open the envelope soon and post the results.
PapaWhiskey
2 years ago
After further thought today I think I may have judged Mystery Cigar A too harsh. The wrapper was perfect looking and it was a nice roll. I think maybe it was because it was a fat box pressed cigar. I kind of like 50rg and under, maybe 52, and anything but box pressed. I don't know why as box pressed are very convenient in not rolling away but I'm just not a fan. Cigar B is a dark 5 inch by about 48rg belicoso beauty, I think B is going to be a good one.
Cheno
2 years ago
So my guess were
1: Mid
2: Premium
3: Yard

The envelope reveal

1: Blackbird Rook Colorado
2: Southern Draw Lady Killer
3: Henry Clay Stalk Cut

All were NHs. After reading reviews of the cigars I only noticed a few of the flavors in the cigars but I would say overall it was fun trying to figure them out without knowing what to expect. I usually read reviews and tasting notes so I expect those flavors. This is a fun way of doing it. I usually do blind tastings with bourbon when a few friends are over. The wive pours us a few different bottles and we see which we like the best with out knowing which is which. Surprisingly it's not usually the top shelf that wins this way.
Telecaster52
2 years ago

Tele - That was some good reviewing and placement on the cigars. You seemed to enjoy the RyJ less than the LPH, but ranked (tier wise) the RyJ higher. Interesting. Did you make assumptions as to the placement of each cigar based on physical characteristics before you started?

Tiver wrote:



I've found that a lot of the time I like the cheap stuff better.
I made my guess based on taste and build. Not how much I liked. I think I liked the yard gar the best.
One of my all time favorites is the illusione Rothschilds Maduro. I can get them for about $3.75.
danmdevries
2 years ago
Cigar #3 from DrgInc. Identical mottled Medium-dark wrapper toro as #1 and #2. Cold draw and pack is as tight as #1. Cold draw raisins.

First light draw is extremely tight. Sucking a golf ball through a garden hose. Nice toasted spice notes, no bite on retro. Unique spice blend too not the typical cedar and cinnamon. This got a lot more going on but I can't describe it. There's cinnamon, but like a red hots candy sweet cinnamon note. Once I got a half inch in, the pack softened enough to gently massage it to just a tight draw. Spice but no pepper, no burn. I suspect this too has a lot of age on it.

As with the other two, a touchup was required. After the first ash drop I finally can put my finger on the familiar sweet note I couldn't name. The coconut filling in those candy bars with the almond and the chocolate. Almond joy I think? There's a little tingle on retro now, but slight. Still a very subdued and pleasant dessert cigar. One thing I noticed by appearance is the wrapper seams on #3 are impossible to find without rotating the cigar to see the inclined plane. The other 2 were easier to spot.

Like #2, I think the distinct notes of this blend have aged out and it's just a nice experience. Texture is surprisingly thin for the rich sweet flavors and the finish short. Getting into more earthy mineral notes now, leaving desert behind. It's very slow burning. Texture is still fairly thin and dry. Opened a Dr Pepper cream soda to help.

Earthy tones and rich minerals are all that's there as I pass through halfway. Hints of ligero sharpness tickle the sides of my tongue. Peppers are coming up on retro, overall strength has been creeping up and now we're at 11. I opened the garage door to exchange for fresh air and stepped out into the cold for a minute, there's residual sweet nuts stuck in my nose from retro. I love when I get that.

I'm struggling to find anything in here to help me place it. I'm not too experienced with Dominican cigars but the earthy mineral rich notes got me leaning that way but I'm not sure. None of this is familiar to me, and since DR is not well represented in my humidor or smoking history, that's as specific as I can guess.

Total smoke time about an hour and a half. Could've gone 2 but even though it's good, I've got other things to do tonight and it's getting late.

#3 premium, Dominican.


Tl:dr - started off really tight draw but nice dessert flavors like an almond joy candy bar. Opened up with some massage once the cigar warmed up. Flavors progressed deeper and deeper into earth and minerals. Nothing familiar leads me to guess Dominican as specific as I can mostly because it's a region I'm not too familiar with
.
danmdevries
2 years ago
DrgInc

#1 yard gar My Father
#2 midrange Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial
#3 premium Dominican

Final answers.

The identical appearance is very confusing. Especially with the much different experiences between the 3. I thought maybe it was shenanigans and you sent a 1 year, 5 year, 10 year of the same cigar. The wrapper seams on #3 are what put it in the top spot. I enjoyed #2 the most. #1 the least.

Bring on the reveal.
LeeBot
2 years ago
Cheno nailed it. Good job.
jeebling
2 years ago

Mystery Cigar A from DeadEyeDick

Big ole box pressed, chocolate brown double capped cigar. 5.5 inches long. Hard to tell the ring gauge but maybe 54ish very smooth wrapper seems well made. Smelling before light kind of barn smell, good barn smell. cold draw, not sure but not bad. light, straight cut tastes like a cigar. Not knocking my socks off but descent. I'm having trouble identifying flavors but kind of a cbid special, maybe Oliva. Burn got a little funky an inch or so in but straightened itself out. Tasting better. Switching from coffee to water to try to identify flavors. Burn a little wavy but no touchups. Halfway I'm getting sweet smooth cashew with a little pepper on the retrohale. Burning perfectly straight and good smoke output. Solid ash all the way through, no voids. Final third still going strong. Nutty pepper. Closed my eyes and thought maybe hint of apple. More water. Eyes closed I thought fig and banana still kind of nutty. I feel like I'm talking out of my ass now. Smooth to the end. Overall, a good cigar. I'd smoke another but not sure I would buy a box. Maybe yard gar but we'll see after the other two. The next two look delicious.

PapaWhiskey wrote:



Sounds pretty tasty for a yard ‘gar. Nice work on this review PW!

🌫
jeebling
2 years ago

Man, let me tell you about this wild trip with a cigar, straight outta the barnyard, ya know? The scent, it's like a gentle breeze of sweetness, not too heavy, man. And the appearance? Barely a vein in sight, like it's blending right into the cosmos.

Then, bam! It's like a rocket blasting off into the cosmic unknown.

In the first phase, it's like the journey settles after a bit, ya dig? There's this puff of sweetness, but it's like it's hiding behind a veil, man. And then, this creeping harshness comes in, real dry vibes. But the burn and draw, they're like groovy waves, smooth and steady. Smoke production is totally excellent, man. Smoke … it’s like it’s like this ethereal mist that comes out of nowhere, hangs a bit, then disappears back to The Nowhere. I’m diggin’ it. Overall flavor? It's like a trip through the woods.

Moving into the second part, it's like things start to mellow out, but nothing's really standing out, ya know? It's like a generic journey, hard to pick out specific flavors. I can taste The Brown. It’s like rain on the gray ocean of time. But then, with a little help by me blowing gently through my little buddy, but not purging, some leather vibes start to come through. Still, it's like nuts and dry wood, man.

In the final stretch, it's like the journey gets a little bland, ya feel me? Nothing to really harsh my mellow, but nothing really catches my wavelength. There's some body, but not a lot of flavor wanting to ride with me. But then, whoa, spice starts picking back up, along with a hint of leather and even a touch of strange pencil lead at one point. Cool. And just when you think it's all over, a little dried fruit vibe creeps in. It's dry, man, but just when I was about to call it quits, it perked up a little, like it’s telling me “Dude, I’m with you. I love you, man.”

Overall, it's not a bad trip, ya know? Real solid construction, but nothing that'll blow your mind, just a good ol' yardgar, man.

Let me tune you into this cosmic revelation, my brother. My vibes are telling me this cigar is like a blend of the universe, ya know? It's like a Graycliff G2 maduro that's been chillin' in a humidor next to an Alec Bradley, maybe some Diesel, and definitely on top of a La Aurora, ya dig? And get this, Huzza, he's vibin' with some aftershave, but not the splashy alcohol stuff, more like the lotion-y type, like Nautica or somethin', ya feel me? And he's been groovin' with a workout earlier, but hasn't hit the shower yet.

Final answer. It's like the universe conspired to bring this cigar into existence, a cosmic blend of vibes and flavors. Peace and love, fellow travelers.

LeeBot wrote:




KATMAN and Dennis Hopper herfing 😆

Excellent. Lee. Very fun and engaging!
jeebling
2 years ago

Reminded me of my nemesis Macho man Randy savage

Jakethesnake86 wrote:



😂😂😂

🐴 Jake whuppin on Randy
jeebling
2 years ago

So my guess were
1: Mid
2: Premium
3: Yard

The envelope reveal

1: Blackbird Rook Colorado
2: Southern Draw Lady Killer
3: Henry Clay Stalk Cut

All were NHs. After reading reviews of the cigars I only noticed a few of the flavors in the cigars but I would say overall it was fun trying to figure them out without knowing what to expect. I usually read reviews and tasting notes so I expect those flavors. This is a fun way of doing it. I usually do blind tastings with bourbon when a few friends are over. The wive pours us a few different bottles and we see which we like the best with out knowing which is which. Surprisingly it's not usually the top shelf that wins this way.

Cheno wrote:



Wow, Cheno did an excellent job. Cheno and Tele smoked it (pun fully intended). Good work fellas!

=d>
jeebling
2 years ago

DrgInc

#1 yard gar My Father
#2 midrange Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial
#3 premium Dominican

Final answers.

The identical appearance is very confusing. Especially with the much different experiences between the 3. I thought maybe it was shenanigans and you sent a 1 year, 5 year, 10 year of the same cigar. The wrapper seams on #3 are what put it in the top spot. I enjoyed #2 the most. #1 the least.

Bring on the reveal.

danmdevries wrote:



That’s how you put your nutz up. Bold and confident, no wishy washy BS
drglnc
2 years ago

DrgInc

#1 yard gar My Father
#2 midrange Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial
#3 premium Dominican

Final answers.

The identical appearance is very confusing. Especially with the much different experiences between the 3. I thought maybe it was shenanigans and you sent a 1 year, 5 year, 10 year of the same cigar. The wrapper seams on #3 are what put it in the top spot. I enjoyed #2 the most. #1 the least.

Bring on the reveal.

danmdevries wrote:




OK, You asked for it! LOL, this is the fun part... ALL three were Ghurkas!!!!


OK, not really... but i did consider doing something like that and decided it wasn't fair. I figured the 3 that look almost identical was hard enough.

Here is the list



#1 This one had me do a double check because originally i had picked a My Father for this spot but changed it to ----- Liga Privada H99 with an online retail value of Approx. $17.50 but i got them for about $9.50 making it the Mid tier for this batch.


#2 With about 2 years of rest in my Humi so good job picking up on that age - this is the more premium Cohiba Macassar that runs about $25-$30 each online if you can find it as a single but usually sells in a 10 count box. i got a few of these in box split with a buddy so cost was bout $20 per

#3 for the best part, the Cigar rated as the Premium Dominican is in fact!!!! a mix of barrel aged Piloto Cubano and Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos that are encased inside a Brazilian Arapiraca binder and then finished with dark, oily Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper - The Buffalo Trace Yardgar...retail online for about $6 and i got the box on CBID for... $71 making them $3.55 cents and punching WAAAAAYYY above the price point. personally this is one of my top 3 "cheap" cigars.

I hope you had as much fun with this as i did Sir and Thank you for organizing this, it has been a blast!!!







drglnc
2 years ago
Back from NYC and ready for round 3!

MC 3 - Box Pressed Toro, Maduro looking wrapper but the color is a bit off. Soft buttery wrapper with no tooth at all, tight seams i believe its a double cap but its hard to tell and could be a single.

slight leathery smell and a hint of barnyard on the foot with a bit of cocoa.

my first impression was CAO Brazilia but that is probably just a visual Triger as the wrapper is lighter then the CAO usually is.

Perfect Cutter had no issues, very easy/light draw right away

First impressions after light, A little astringent, nothing jumps out. just tobacco and Meh

First third, not a perfect burn but nothing that needs a touch up. Ash comes out in 1/2 inch chunks - still astringent with some barnyard, Creamy nuttiness - revising to say i don't think this is actually a Maduro after all. its something else that has a similar color to the wrapper.

Second Third, More of the same, less astringent, little more sweet cream and maybe a bit of shortbread cookie - Barnyard is all gone. still burning great and no touch ups needed construction is great.


Final Third disclaimer - the other reviews and this one until now have all been done with just water to drink but i NEEDED coffee after a late night so that may mess with me a bit. that being said - the sweet lessened and the creamy cookie remains with a hint of woodiness (not cedar though) and the barnyard is back, a little zing on the retro but not noticed otherwise.


It is a pleasant smoke with not ton of complex flavors or transitions but not bad, Total smoke time was 70 minutes. i could have gone another 10 or 15 but just wasn't feeling it - its not my usual preference for sure and i am certain it is not a Dominican Cigar, and it is NOT the CAO Brazillia as originally mentioned. no idea what it actually is though...


My thoughts on the 3 and the reveal as Cheno included an envelope which has the deets.


#2 is the premium - no doubt... Sticking to my thoughts that it is a Dominican, and it is a Fuente or Padron based on visual and flavor profile.

#1 and Number #3 could go either way for me,

#1 i thought was in line with an Undergrown shade as the mid tier but they don't make a closed foot and the size is off. i think this is a boutique brand that is probably new to me as i have no real guess and it could be the yardgar but i will stick to Mid

#3 is the Yardgar that punches up - Not a Dominican, but - that about all i got here. i would smoke it again if gifted but would not seek it out.



Now the reveal with a little help from the net

#1 Rojas Street Taco Carnitas feature a flawless Ecuador grown Connecticut wrapper over Nicaragua binder and fillers.The result is a smooth cigar with notes of cedar, buttered toast and a subtle white pepper. It's a mild-medium cigar. i have had 1 Roja before and remember liking it - i actually have 2 sitting in my Humi from a recent tag on here and now really looking forward to trying them as well.

#2 Arturo Fuente Opus X Destino - made at Tabacalera Fuente with notes of sweetness, vanilla and spice. This all-Dominican puro sports a delicious dark chocolatey maduro wrapper that has been specially fermented and aged.

#3 Cheno will need to help a bit as i dont know if this is the Maduro, San Andreas or the Corojo from the label but my belief is the SA based on my tasting notes- made from top quality Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobaccos which is then draped by an oily San Andreas wrapper. It is a rich, medium to full-bodied cigar with flavors reminiscent of graham cracker, nuts, earth, and creaminess.


price point of the cigars on 1-3 could go either way so need cheno to specify which he feels is the yard gar here. I would put 3 as the Yardgar in my opinion and based on my preferences. 1 could fit that based on the size/cost but it was the better cigar to me.

Thanks Cheno! this was a blast!



LeeBot
2 years ago
This was all interesting. I have a couple of the Buffalo Trace and am going to have to revisit. I think I've only smoked one.
jeebling
2 years ago
drgInc, you nailed that Fuente like Babe Ruth! Very good job, you have a sensitive palette. Did #3 have a brand identification? Well done, sir!
EDIT: I mean the name of third cigar sent to Dan. Was it Buffalo Trace? I’m not familiar w/that one.
Tiver
2 years ago
Excellent write ups drginc.

I don't understand the Cohiba price variations. I see them go for what you've quoted and I've seen them go for cheap. Maybe vitola or a fancy box is the difference. The double corona is $19ea on freefall by the box this week and the toro are $4ea in a ten bundle (both prices at the bottom of the fall). How does one actually "tier value" with that kind of disparity? I remember last year there was a complainer who popped into the forum to gripe that he was buying macassar for a few weeks cheaply and then out of nowhere someone started jacking up the auctions and buying out entire lots for weeks at much higher prices.

Interesting on the Buffalo Trace. I know I have a few buried. I'll pay some attention when I smoke 'em.




These reviews can be revealing as to differences in palates and preferences. Danm is a great one to watch as he does mini reviews often in the smokin' azzhats thread. Useful even when palates aren't in line with each other.


Good stuff guys!!

Jakethesnake86
2 years ago
Interesting danm I also wasn’t super impressed with the h99 I guessed it was a run of the mill Roma craft
I’m the snake
Jakethesnake86
2 years ago
I mean I enjoyed it but found it pretty run of the mill
I’m the snake
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