midmofan
11 years ago
mmmmm. good Blendlab bidding this week. Getting a whole batch mailed today that, WITH shipping, comes out to $2.15/stick. Got a nice mix of some of my rebuys that I have liked above plus some new things to try and review. Hopefully this will hold me for a while until (hope-a-hope-a-hope) some auction prices on other cigars go down after the summer...

This new batch includes the mysterious MY-6552 which i have NEVER seen on the mothership listings, even as "out of stock."
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chazbo
11 years ago
I smoked a VE-6744 by Drew Estates today. Tasted like a Lonsdale Kuba-Kuba.
If your into this kind of cigar to was a different vilota to try. Plenty of thick smoke.
Chazbo
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SmokeMonkey
11 years ago
So I've now had 3 XD-752s and had 3 different smoking experiences. The common theme was that all 3 were dominated by a "smoked meat" flavor. The first I had was quite good, but I didn't make it to the final third.

The second was a decent beach smoke, but not as good as the first.

The last one was last night after dinner. Admittedly, my taste buds were less tham ideal after a few vodkas and a couple of glasses of wine, but the meat taste was ridiculouslyy strong.

I have 2 more, but will probably wait a few months for trying it again. Maybe the smoked meat flavor goes better with salt water?

I will say that the construction on all has been excellent and they all stand up to relights well.
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fenderbendertex
11 years ago

QX-6542

6.5x42 Lancero. Only had one of these so far and it had problems. Was very squishy for first 1/3 or so but right at the band it was as hard as a rock, even bulging out a bit. As a result the draw was very very hard. Rolling and pinching the hard spot didn't help much at all. As a result had to puff pretty hard to keep it going and it never felt like ti was really "lit" well. The hard puffing also made it burn hot at times and that hurt the flavor. Incredibly uneven canoe burn right from the start that touch ups were not correcting. Wrapper came a bit unraveled several times just in front of the burn.

The burn/ash then got REALLY weird as there was a very hard bit of ash that would not come off. I wish I had taken pics because never seen this before it was almost like it was a very hard thin twig right in the center of the cigar. I mean you could bang this thing pretty hard on something or push hard against the ashtray even at an angle and it would not come off!

Eventually once the cigar burned past the halfway point things got better. The draw loosened up, you didn't have to constantly puff it and, after several significant touch-ups, it finally burned a bit more evenly and the super hard ash "twigish" thing crumbled away. At that point the QX did start tasting like mentioned in the blurb but it was sure not worth the wait.

Have another one of these and going to let it sit in the humi for a while before trying it again but as it is, would not rebuy.

midmofan wrote:


Boy, I wish I would have checked this thread -
Just tried one. Was excited at first by the yellow cello, but that should have been a clue. No VSU or draw whatsoever -Rolled it, poked it, anything you can think of to get some smoke out of it. No luck; gave up after an inch.
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fenderbendertex
11 years ago
Now, that tale having been told, will try another one. If it doesn't burn, so what? The whole point of the Blendlab thing is the fun of not knowing. You get to post your opinions about it and maybe influence the manufacturer (in this case, maybe just not to roll a lancero so tight). I'm not going to cry about a cigar that cost me $1.60 shipped. It was fun to try and see.

And to the guy bashing everyone on this thread - my money, my rathole...
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midmofan
11 years ago
I'm baaack!

after finally getting my big blendlab order reissued after the post office screw up, I have several new ones to try out.

First up (after 3l48 hour rest) is the mysterious MY-6552. This stick has never appeared on the Mothership as far as I can tell but has been on Cbid several times.

first impression is a nice looking and pre-light smelling cigar but a bit squishy. VERY easy draw as not tightly packed at all. Too easy really at times.

the first inch was very spicy. After that it mellowed out quite a bit. Smooth medium tobacco flavor. A bit of cedar and nuttiness. At its best reminded me of an Oliva O. The draw was so easy however it was easy to let it get too hot and when that happened it was a bit harsh. Halfway through got an uneven burn and needed a touch up.

Last third was more interesting. A bit of spice back and became mildly savory and "chewy" a hint of salt.

not a bad smoke for the price but not the best blendlab I've had.
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fenderbendertex
11 years ago
Have you tried the RQ-444 yet? Baby figurado - not bad.
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midmofan
11 years ago

Have you tried the RQ-444 yet? Baby figurado - not bad.

fenderbendertex wrote:




Have not had any of those (...yet...), post a review here, let us know what they are like!
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midmofan
11 years ago
QC-652 6X52 "Toro"

As a mild cigar (NOT "mild-medium" as advertised IMO), this one is outside of my usual preferences, but it was very enjoyable. Pre-light very pronounced barnyard aroma. Well constructed, heavy feeling.

Throughout had a a great draw and burn. Long firm light grey ash that never was in danger of falling off on its own.

For the 1/2 the taste was very consistent and very much like the blurb on the mothership with the exception of the "pepper" reference. Never any pepper in this one. Very creamy, a bit toasty and nutty.

At the halfway point it started reminding my of a heavily creamed cafe-au-lait - the kind where there is a lot more cream than coffee. Very pleasant. Near the end of the smoke, it suddenly developed a salty/savory taste and it did become a big stronger. This new taste was actually a very good flavor on its own. but just somehow didn't "seem right" given its early flavor profile - incongruous would be the word.

In all, one of the best "mild" smokes I have had in a long time, however, these are listed at $7.50 apiece at the Mothership and I wouldn't pay that much for them. For what I got them on Cbid, however, I could see stocking up on these for a morning smoke with my coffee or for guests who prefer a mild cigar.
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midmofan
11 years ago
PH-650 6 x 50

this one has dissapeared from the mothership and none on Cbid right now but when had to send my order back couple weeks ago they were in stock.

Nice Mediumish cigar. Lots of smoke. Woody and nutty with noticeable but not overpowering spice that changed and varied some through the smoke. Sometimes a bit more pepper sometimes just a touch of salt. Spicier on the retrohale. Pleasant aftertaste. Was great paired with a nice dry red wine.
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SmokeMonkey
11 years ago
Just lit up a WH-660. Will report back on any tunneling or burn issues. So far, so good.
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SmokeMonkey
11 years ago
WH-660 - nice aroma and looked well constructed. A bit of pepper up front, but it settles into a mild-medium pretty quickly with more of a straight tobacco flavor. No transitions after the pepper disappeared. Had some wrapper issues at the head but nothing that causes me to have to toss the cigar. Decent enough, but unlike to pick up another.
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midmofan
11 years ago
ZH-6552 6.5 x 52

Interesting Cigar from the start. Not only is it a torpedo, it is a box-pressed torpedo, something which I don't see too often. Indeed, its the first box pressed blendlab I have had.

Right of the bat, wondering about the construction. There was a bit of unraveling at the head/tip but it was right at the end so was about to be cut off anyway. More concerning was the fact that there was a "band-aid" made out of tobacco pasted on the stick halfway between the band and the foot. I did peel up the edge of this patch just enough to see that there was a pretty big gap in the wrapper that the patch was covering up.

Had this been a full-price name brand kind of purchase, I probably would have sent it back, but I am reviewing them how they are and, heck, it was only $2 anyway.

Flavor was much milder than I was expecting, but it was very nice. Roasted nuts, wood, earthy, all that was there (no "coffee" as the blurbs suggest). About hallway in it developed a very very mild salty taste that made it, what I always call, "savory." After that just a mild bit of spice - maybe white pepper - but not a lot. Lots of creamy smoke. In all nice flavor with obvious quality control issues on the construction.

I was wondering what would happen when the burn got to the tobacco "patch" but it burned right past it with no issues. It did start to get uneven in the last third but no problem after one touch up.

I have a couple more I will try after letting them rest for a while.
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rrumba
11 years ago


Well it appears i have some of these to try out now. thank you much midmofan....... BOMB BUSA
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midmofan
10 years ago
Update on ZH-6552

Have had three of these now and all three have had serious construction issues. The last one was only "box pressed" on one side making it flat on the one side and round everywhere else.

All three tasted very nice. Defiantly good tobacco in these but different construction issues each time.

This makes me suspect that this blenlab is not an experimental cigar but a REAL second from some manufacturer. I have always thought that the majority of the "seconds" you see for sale are like the clothes made on-purpose for the outlet mall. Not true mistakes but made cheaper from the start.

With this stick I think it really is a reject from some established brand. I notice Olivia has a cigar this same size and shape so I wonder if it might be from them.
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midmofan
10 years ago
Yh-542 5x42

Always stock up on smaller sticks for when it gets colder and I wish I had gotten more of these.

Nice spicy start. Some Pepper a bit of salt over a solid mediu-full nicarragua tobacco flavor.Perfect draw and solid white ash. Lots of smoke for its size. I always have liked the spiciier Ecuador habano wrapper on top of A Nicaraguan filler and this one fits that profile perfectly. Spice did slowly fade away and then the blurb about earth and nuts is correct but not the "slightly sweet on finish" - didn't see any of that.

With the small size it's not going to evolve a lot but, on the other hand, it was nice and consistant. No bad spots or weak bits. Good 40 min smoke beforenhit the "hub"

If you like a shorter smoke that is more medium than super strong but with a bit of spice this is one to try (or not if "DO" from Jefferson City is bidding...)
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zerohourhero
10 years ago

Yh-542 5x4

Always stock up on smaller sticks for when it gets colder and I wish I had gotten more of these.

Nice spicy start. Some Pepper a bit of salt over a solid mediu-full nicarragua tobacco flavor.Perfect draw and solid white ash. Lots of smoke for its size. I always have liked the spiciier Ecuador habano wrapper on top of A Nicaraguan filler and this one fits that profile perfectly. Spice did slowly fade away and then the blurb about earth and nuts is correct but not the "slightly sweet on finish" - didn't see any of that.

With the small size it's not going to evolve a lot but, on the other hand, it was nice and consistant. No bad spots or weak bits. Good 40 min smoke beforenhit the "hub"

If you like a shorter smoke that is more medium than super strong but with a bit of spice this is one to try (or not if "DO" from Jefferson City is bidding...)

midmofan wrote:



Looks like Im hitting up the mothership's retail this weekend... sounds like my kind of short smoke.
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midmofan
10 years ago
RY-444 4x44

Ok, have to make a confession with this one. I picked up a couple to add to a bigger order a few months ago but have purposefully not reviewed it until I could score a big batch at a low price since I didn't want to drive any bidders to this one until I stashed some. They are $4 per on the mothership.

This little pocket-rocket is amazing. Full flavor. Spice, cocoa, little nuttiness and more. Chewy and savory.Great draw and burn nice firm ash. One of the best very small cigars have ever had. I put this right up there close to the Papa Fritas and the little Tat Habano veroku petite. Its just about that good and lots cheaper.

So there it is. I have my stash, go get yours.
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fenderbendertex
10 years ago

Have not had any of those (...yet...), post a review here, let us know what they are like!

midmofan wrote:


Good morning!
The RQ-444's are like the RY-444's you posted; just with a criollo wrapper. Very cedary, nutty, and naturally sweet, with hints of spices (such as anise or nutmeg). Great with morning coffee. Like you said - a pocket rocket. Perfect size when you don't want a bigger cigar also. Awesome small cigar.
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midmofan
10 years ago

Good morning!
The RQ-444's are like the RY-444's you posted; just with a criollo wrapper. Very cedary, nutty, and naturally sweet, with hints of spices (such as anise or nutmeg). Great with morning coffee. Like you said - a pocket rocket. Perfect size when you don't want a bigger cigar also. Awesome small cigar.

fenderbendertex wrote:



Yup. I got a batch of these as well and they were going to be my next review but you describe it perfectly. Obviously from the same maker and constructed just as well.For my tastes I prefe the RY ones but these are great as well and perfect for a morning coffee smoke when you don't have all morning.
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