jeebling
a year ago
SOB Mystery Trade 12 MAY 2025
Holy Smokes. I’ve been absolutely clobbered. I got SOB’s package safe and sound in the mail today. The package is fine but I’ve been damaged!

THE LOOT:
- Pint of Peach Jalapeno Jam
- Big package of Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans (I’m weak kneed for these)
- A pound of multi flavored Gummi Bears
- -Large bag of Nutty Crunch candy
These are specialty products and not truck stop variety snacks.

THE TOBACCO:
- Three Mystery Sticks
- Asylum Nyctophilia, 5 x 50, January 2018
- Diesel Whiskey Row Rabbit Hole Sherry Cask, July 2019
- Illusion Original Documents, 5 5/8 x 46, December 2020
- Room 101 Chief Cool Arrow, long since OOP
- Todo los Dias, Half Church 4.75 x 48, August 2022
- Viaje Ghost Pepper Figurado, November 2019

Most of these are never-hads and they are all older than anything I’ve got resting that I’ve bought myself. In keeping with his FOG reputation, SOB has opened a can of whoop ass and emptied it on me. Thank you, Dan. You have outdone yourself once again. I look forward to trying all of these treats and I’ll start smoking the mystery sticks in about 10 days or so.

Thank you!
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danmdevries
a year ago
Those Chief Culeros were fantastic.
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Tiver
a year ago
Nice going Huzza.

Nailed it !
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Sunoverbeach
a year ago
Happy they made it and hope you enjoy. Yes, I've done quite a bit of accidental aging

Nice guesses Doc
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drglnc
a year ago
Took down number 3 today 6.5inch 50 RG, thin wrapper with slight crack at foot. think proment veins, prob also maduro,wasnt at the computer but took notes on my phone when i thought about it.

Great burn whole way, started with some dark coca and cedar, some peper and spice, no nic hits on this one, getting a hint of the cao brazilla (i know this isnt one but similer profile) but, that doesnt have the pepper this has. Brazillan wrapper maybe? nicaraguan or dominican filler for sure.
second third has some hints of smoked meat but not intense like a firecured. just suttle. more chocolate and some vanilla.
last third about the same, the smoked meat went away so more cocoa, pepper, spice and some toasted vailla like a biscotti. retro was sweet as well, pepper was mild on the retro.

i feel like i have had this before but maybe just because of the early comparison to the Brazillia.

very pleasent cigar. i stand firm that number 2 was the premium and this was a bit better taste wise for me than number 1 so i am saying this is the mid.

Final rankins for the 3...

1 was the yard gar but very nice. would happily smoke it again if that is under $10. Prob an AJ cigar - Nicaraguan, Habano Wrapper
2 is the premium hands down for me and would happily may $25 for another. Not an AJ, Fuente. not a DE... boutique maybe? Not Nigaraguan, dont think its dominican but maybe.
3 was the Mid, Dominican filler with a barazilan wrapper. $15 feels right for it but its a value for sure if i am wrong and its the yard stick.


And the verdict is????.... Jgraz included an Answers envelope so here goes.


1 was the Mano'war Little Devil Yard - i have def had this before and... its an AJ Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown wrapper!!!

2 was the El Septimo Empress of Shipa Premium - well, i was right that it is Not an AJ, Fuente. or DE.. never had anything in the el septimo line that i can remember as they are usually pricey. might have to pick up a few of these as my local shop carries them. they are getting bigger so not sure if they qualify as boutique but i will take the win. filler is Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Nicaragua according to the googles so not suprised i couldnt nail that down more.

3 was the LFD LaNox Mid - def had it before and spot on for the wrapper and filler combo. may need to throw some of these in the humi for when i am in the mood for a CAO but wanna mix it up!

Thanks for the test Jgraz! was a ton of fun to test myself and force myself to take notes and not jsut smoke it while working like i usually do.



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JGRAZ
a year ago
Nice job Charles.
Nailed all three, and happy to say all can be had lower then your mentioned price points so buy away.
That little devil has been a favorite of mine since I started smoking. Sometimes hard to come by though. That's the only one you should get here though.
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jeebling
a year ago
drgInc, knocked it out of the park. I’m not surprised. Great job!
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Sunoverbeach
a year ago
The wayward package has arrived safely. Should be able to dig into it later tomorrow
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Tiver
a year ago
First of 3 from drginc


labeled #2

5-7/8 parejo 54-56 rg
milk chocolate colored wrapper with slight to moderate veins
well packed and firm from head to foot
smells of mild barnyard

chose a punch cut
cold draw has a subtle smooth flavor I can't place

starts dry and woody with mild unsweetened cocoa
retro has mild white pepper that quickly dissipates
very polite and approachable

burn line began slightly adrift, but corrected itself about an inch in
holds a tight ash through the first 1/3 and a little more
retro has gained a little chili pepper. nice

CCR "Suzie Q" plays in the background as the nicotine and 16 ounces of Mexican lager make a debut into my bloodstream

approaching 1/2 way I pick up faint dark fruit
with the previous flavors intensifying somewhat
mouth feel is moderate (medium)

As the second 1/3 closes tobacco flavor takes over while the other flavors remain in the background

Taj Mahal's rendition of "Statesboro Blues" followed by "Queen Bee" and "Fishin' Blues" have me mellow as enter the last third. Not picking up any transitions at this point, but it's a nice ride.

As the finish nears, the cigar has retained the tobacco flavor's dominance and gained a little sweetness combined with a lingering sizzle (good) on the retro.

Little Feat "Dixie Chicken" followed by "Fat Man in the Bathtub" has carried me through the finish.

Preliminary assessment that this is yard or mid, but a pleasant smoke either way. Sticking my neck out that this was wrapped in Ecuador CT sungrown with a proper amount of age

While it breaks the rules of a purist review, I did consume a local Mexican Style lager that I must say was an outstanding pair to this cigar. 😳

The music really clicked with the session as well. 🍺
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jeebling
a year ago
Excellent write up, Greg. Sounds like a tasty cigar and definitely good tunes.
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Sunoverbeach
a year ago
So, as mentioned, Tiver mystery package arrived, and it's totally bogus

3 mystery cigars with custom labels
Bogus X Edicion Limitada
Bogus XX Edicion Limitada
Bogus XXX Edicion Limitada

Looking forward to trying and seeing just how bogus they are.

Some ridealongs were also found
601 Green Label
Rojas Texas Toast NH
Ashton Maduro
Warped Isla de Cocodrilo NH

And
A bottle of Sal's Sassy Sauce - according to the label, basically good on everything
Three Heads Too Kind DIPA
Three Heads Rochesterfarian Scotch Ale

Many thanks, Greg. Will be trying out the goodies very soon, and looking forward to the bogus mystery in the near future
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Tiver
a year ago
2nd smoke from drginc

Labeled #1

measured like a soft box press 48,52 at the foot. Not real sure maybe it's just a 50rg

Pretty wrapper, kind of a mottled brown rosado
head to foot smell of sweet barnyard
cold draw smooth and mild sweetness

Punched it. Should have gone with with a "v". It's become my preferred since last summer, but it's hiding in my truck somewhere.

This sucker had a fairly tight draw that kept me busy for the first inch trying to get up some smoke production. It didn't seem overly tight, but it was a distracting chore. While that was happening, the burn line was off a bit as well. Got a poker and pulled out a smallish vein about 1/2" into the head. This cleared up the draw considerably.

So the first third was kind of a bust. It started with a little black pepper bite and a decent dose of pepper on the retro as well.

Moving into the 2nd third things weren't changing much. I felt like I had to work too hard to get the smoke production up. It didn't allow me to wash the smoke around in my mouth in a relaxing way. Finding flavors and attributes was difficult.

About halfway in I caught a break and thought it was coming along with a better draw and I caught some sweet and savory character. Retro remained a comfortable does of black pepper.

Hitting near the end of the 2nd third the cherry was running a bit too deep and wrapper wasn't keeping up as well as running a bit wonky. I backed of a little and it all but went out. Clipped off a quarter inch and tried a gentle relight. This cigar was not going to have any of it. Turned astringent. Maybe I should have tried the relight without clipping, but I felt it was going to be a flaming mess. Tried to let it recover for another few minutes, but had to toss it around the last third mark.

So construction didn't seem to hold a good burn and that was a big distraction. I'd had it in a single cigar sleeve (leather, cedar lined) for the better part of a week. It didn't come off as too wet or too dry. It just burned poorly.

I will hope this falls in the yard 'gar slot.
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Tiver
a year ago
3rd smoke from drginc

Labeled #3

Pyramid maduro 6-3/4x50

head to foot sweet barnyard (seems like that's most all i ever smell)
straight cut
cold draw has a light sweetness

Upon light up dry baking cocoa and black pepper
retro has a pleasant pepper sear that lingers a bit
draw is terrific and the burn is true and straight

about an inch in the dryness fades to a creaminess and the cocoa gathers some sweetness and balances well with the black pepper
retro still blasts the sinuses in a positive manner

dropped the first ash about 1-1/4. The burn remains straight. The draw is spot on and the smoke production is stellar.

Through the middle of the cigar I'm trying to find some complexity, but the flavors haven't changed, only intensified a bit with a a little burnt sugar sweetness

Flavor medium+. Mouth feel about a medium. Strength is medium+

Aside from intensifying and a smoothing and sweetening at the 1/3 mark, I didn't get much to discuss flavor wise.

This was a cigar I would enjoy with a bourbon. I believe it to be the high quality cigar out of the three.

So I say they smoked as:

#1 yard due to construction issues
#2 mid had some character and was well behaved
#3 premium great burn and construction. Flavor not complex, but smooth and rich for the majority of the cigar
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drglnc
a year ago

3rd smoke from drginc

Labeled #3

Pyramid maduro 6-3/4x50

head to foot sweet barnyard (seems like that's most all i ever smell)
straight cut
cold draw has a light sweetness

Upon light up dry baking cocoa and black pepper
retro has a pleasant pepper sear that lingers a bit
draw is terrific and the burn is true and straight

about an inch in the dryness fades to a creaminess and the cocoa gathers some sweetness and balances well with the black pepper
retro still blasts the sinuses in a positive manner

dropped the first ash about 1-1/4. The burn remains straight. The draw is spot on and the smoke production is stellar.

Through the middle of the cigar I'm trying to find some complexity, but the flavors haven't changed, only intensified a bit with a a little burnt sugar sweetness

Flavor medium+. Mouth feel about a medium. Strength is medium+

Aside from intensifying and a smoothing and sweetening at the 1/3 mark, I didn't get much to discuss flavor wise.

This was a cigar I would enjoy with a bourbon. I believe it to be the high quality cigar out of the three.

So I say they smoked as:

#1 yard due to construction issues
#2 mid had some character and was well behaved
#3 premium great burn and construction. Flavor not complex, but smooth and rich for the majority of the cigar

Tiver wrote:




i left the answers in an enevelope so hopefully you found that because i did not keep a copy. i know what three i sent but cant remember the order i put them in. the order i thought does not match what you guessed but based on your discriptions i think the order i thought is wrong...

The premeium was the pyriamd/Torpedo AJ Fernandez 20th Anniversary limited run it appears to only be avaiable online as a toro but in some stores it is a torpedo as the one i sent was from my local Davidus shop.

The Mid was the Plasencia 151 Cosecha

the yard was the Buffalo trace... ive never had the burn issues you had so sorry about that , this is a go to yard gar for me as it tends to puch above its class based on my eperince.

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Tiver
a year ago

i left the answers in an enevelope so hopefully you found that because i did not keep a copy. i know what three i sent but cant remember the order i put them in. the order i thought does not match what you guessed but based on your discriptions i think the order i thought is wrong...

The premeium was the pyriamd/Torpedo AJ Fernandez 20th Anniversary limited run it appears to only be avaiable online as a toro but in some stores it is a torpedo as the one i sent was from my local Davidus shop.

The Mid was the Plasencia 151 Cosecha

the yard was the Buffalo trace... ive never had the burn issues you had so sorry about that , this is a go to yard gar for me as it tends to puch above its class based on my eperince.

drglnc wrote:




Ha! I looked in the box and there was an envelope I had missed kind of contoured to the bottom 😰


Well then, I didn't do too badly. I got the order correct. I called the AJ a pyramid because there seems to be varied info as to the differences between pyramid, belicoso and even torpedo. AJ calls it a belicoso, so that's what it is. They are both shown on halfwheel.

I have a few Buffalo Trace in the humi for a couple years. Smoked one when I first got a fiver or ten (don't recall). The one you sent was prolly just a dud. Nothing you could do about it. I seem to recall they were certainly smokable. I'll look forward to the next to see how it performs. Seems last year someone pegged it as a premium

I also have a box of the Plasencia 151 coronas from 1/24, but haven't smoked one yet. Glad I'll know a little of what to expect. Picked them up for a great price a while back.

The AJ definitely came through as the premium. That's a nice smoke to have around. Seems like a good one to relax with a cocktail and a chill mood.

Thanks for the line up. It was a good experience for me.

BTW, I am only halfway through the Bergers. trying to pace myself 😄
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drglnc
a year ago

Ha! I looked in the box and there was an envelope I had missed kind of contoured to the bottom 😰


Well then, I didn't do too badly. I got the order correct. I called the AJ a pyramid because there seems to be varied info as to the differences between pyramid, belicoso and even torpedo. AJ calls it a belicoso, so that's what it is. They are both shown on halfwheel.

I have a few Buffalo Trace in the humi for a couple years. Smoked one when I first got a fiver or ten (don't recall). The one you sent was prolly just a dud. Nothing you could do about it. I seem to recall they were certainly smokable. I'll look forward to the next to see how it performs. Seems last year someone pegged it as a premium

I also have a box of the Plasencia 151 coronas from 1/24, but haven't smoked one yet. Glad I'll know a little of what to expect. Picked them up for a great price a while back.

The AJ definitely came through as the premium. That's a nice smoke to have around. Seems like a good one to relax with a cocktail and a chill mood.

Thanks for the line up. It was a good experience for me.

BTW, I am only halfway through the Bergers. trying to pace myself 😄

Tiver wrote:




HAHA, when i was a kid my mom would buy a pack of the Bergers, my sister and i would each get one and she would hide the rest in her room for herself. its a Baltimore area staple and now every time i go visit her (she lives in FL now) i have to take a a couple packs. Glad you like them. i got myself one of the AJ cigars as well but havent tried it yet. glad it was woth the asking price.
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jeebling
a year ago

Ha! I looked in the box and there was an envelope I had missed kind of contoured to the bottom 😰


Well then, I didn't do too badly. I got the order correct. I called the AJ a pyramid because there seems to be varied info as to the differences between pyramid, belicoso and even torpedo. AJ calls it a belicoso, so that's what it is. They are both shown on halfwheel.

I have a few Buffalo Trace in the humi for a couple years. Smoked one when I first got a fiver or ten (don't recall). The one you sent was prolly just a dud. Nothing you could do about it. I seem to recall they were certainly smokable. I'll look forward to the next to see how it performs. Seems last year someone pegged it as a premium

I also have a box of the Plasencia 151 coronas from 1/24, but haven't smoked one yet. Glad I'll know a little of what to expect. Picked them up for a great price a while back.

The AJ definitely came through as the premium. That's a nice smoke to have around. Seems like a good one to relax with a cocktail and a chill mood.

Thanks for the line up. It was a good experience for me.

BTW, I am only halfway through the Bergers. trying to pace myself 😄

Tiver wrote:



If you got the order correct then you nailed it, right? Great job 😎
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jeebling
a year ago
SOB Mystery No. 1, 10 June 2025
Start 7:15, Blow Out 8:24
Toro, I think. An odd taper at the foot and also slightly underfilled. It could be a perfecto type of figurado. Supple wrapper, well distributed veins. One small crack at second transition. I’m not getting anything on the nose. Cold draw has a hint of clove and I tried it 3x just to be certain lol. Generous draw.
First draw is sweet with baking spices and a warm but tame retro. The cap end is getting a little squishy. A lot of cinnamon and clove type flavors in deep background. I wonder if this is a Cameroon. It doesn’t strike me as a Fuente but that doesn’t rule out anything…except for Fuente I guess. Picking up more of a peppery sensation. First ash dropped at about 1 1/4”.
Burn line suddenly is crazy at first transition and requires correction. The small crack is starting to blow out and the seam is getting loose in this vicinity. The draw is hanging in there. Another inch and it blew out. Made it up to second transition though.
This cigar started out good enough with flavors. The cinnamon persists the whole way and the wrapper is a bit fragile. For these reasons I think it is a Cameroon. The construction is subpar.
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jeebling
a year ago
SOB Mystery No. 3, 9 June 2025
Light: 4:10, Nub: 5:28
Lancero, pigtail cap, closed foot, appearance looks Maduro but very little aroma on the nose. Cold draw somewhat sweet and nice light tobacco. Construction appears excellent with uniform firmness and beautiful dark wrapper, virtually invisible seams.
Upon kickoff I’m getting a lot of smoke, medium profile at most, no pepper burn whatsoever. Mixture of grilled meat and Bit O’Honey candy so I’m automatically thinking Viaje but my limited experience with Viaje always involves some peppery burn. I’m getting a touch of grill blackened pineapple and toasted bread crust.
I’m resisting the urge to research this vitola to narrow down the options. Ash drop at first inch. The flavor profile is dancing around fruit and bread and dried, crunchy honeycomb. The mouth tobacco has very little flavor or sweetness. Going out on a limb and calling it Habano Oscuro.
I’ve been driving it pretty hard but when I try to pace myself the cherry seems to grow cold. Into second third now and starting to get a tiny bit of tar on my lips when I draw. Trying to slow the pace.
Going into final third, sweet fruit and bread flavors have disappeared. Getting something like raw cabbage now. Not as disgusting as it sounds. The bitter profile is starting to bite but now but no coffee or cocoa flavor. Every third draw or so I get nice fruit and the other two are bitter.
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jeebling
a year ago
SOB Mystery Cigar No. 2, 11 June 2025
Start 7:43, End 9:16
Nice looking Toro, about 6 x 48, evenly filled with invisible seams and generous draw. Nothing remarkable on nose. Kickoff is a nice type of sour that reminds me of Sumatra. Touch of grilling spices. A few draws in and a nice woody - cedar note joins in. Smooth retro, mouth tobacco has a balance of sweet / saline. This is medium body. Salted nuts enter the flavors.
At 1” I’m thinking this could be an Upmann, RyJ or one of that Altadis crew.
Heading into secondary transition most of the breakout flavors are gone. Now there is a balance of sour and sweet with a touch of salinity. Not complex but a nice, enjoyable balance.
The middle third is growing more sour and an ashy taste is creeping in.
Final transition. Flavor is sour and ashy. Burn line got wonky a couple times but self corrected.
Halfway into final third the ashy sour taste is overwhelming. Dropping it.
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