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.

KingoftheCove 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? 😣 [jester] [jester] [jester]

Ewok126 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.

KingoftheCove 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.

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.

tamapatom wrote:

[-( No way man... They're gonna be awesome...

opelmanta1900 wrote:

Honestly, I've smoked some pretty horrific sanctums... The most consistent AB quality is their inconsistency...

opelmanta1900 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.

Abrignac wrote: