I normally shy away from the CI house blends, and I always lean towards meatier, full-flavored sticks, but after smoking a Black Crown Robusto from a friend, I was pleased enough to throw in a lowball bid on a box of coronas here. Let me just say, for under $2 a stick, I will smoke the hell out of these puppies!

The scene: 5.5"x44 Black Crown Corona, screen tent in my backyard with my laptop and a box fan blowing on me, with a gnarly thunderstorm raging overhead. Cigar had rested a couple weeks at 65% RH/~75F...warm, I know, but it's Nola...what's a man to do? Beverage pairing was some iced coffee, black.

Pre-light: Beautiful wrap and construction...I am impressed on both fronts. No spongy spots, little to no veining on the wrapper. Smells like a nice, woody, nutty, medium tobacco (sorry, not great at pegging the finer flavors). I don't cut my cigars before toasting and lighting them, but my guess is that a pre-light draw would be mild, without a lot of spice or pepper in the mix.

The burn: Razor sharp burn, nice, full-bodied smoke, and a nice, consistent mild-medium flavor profile throughout. The draw was about perfect for my preferences, and held steady down to the nub, and the ash held like a champ, a nice white/grey that left nice little striations from each little session of puffing.

Flavor: A nice, mild/medium tobacco, lacking in any real stand-out characteristics, but packing in a medium-bodied, well rounded flavor overall. Definitely makes for a very pleasant smoke coupled with a cup of coffee or a beer. Again, I am not great with pegging specifics, but I would say it started out nutty, rather oak-ey, and almost a cocoa note to it, then increased in intensity over the course of the smoke, folding in some peppery notes later in the burn.

To summarize, these aren't half bad...I would even go so far as to say I am impressed. I definitely like a heavier hitting stogie, but I will be enjoying the remainder of this box, for sure, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend others give them a taste, especially if they enjoy cigars that sit solidly in the medium-bodied tier.

Alright, boys...let the mocking me for liking a CI blend commence! 😉

Yep, good cigar. I'll smoke them and the Rob, but only when I can get them cheap. The other sizes I don't care for.

Well, it ain't a swisher, so your getting there. You just have father to go than most.

[quote=sd72]Well, it ain't a swisher, so your getting there. You just have father to go than most. [/quote]

Uh oh...I better tack an edit onto my review: "It's no grape swisher, but it could work in a pinch."

Yup,

the last one I smoked was enjoyable.

I like em as well. DMV did a good review on this as well a long time ago

I rarely bother reviewing anything...reviews are so subjective, and they're just written off by the vast majority of readers, especially when they're thrown down by some noob like me. I was just pleasantly surprised enough by these little sticks that it warranted a shout out. I am sure that just the fact that they are part of the CI arsenal deters some folks from considering them, but I don't think it should. These could stand on their own just fine.

[quote=lannyflaherty] especially when they're thrown down by some noob like me.[/quote]

Somehow, I just don't think you are a noob. More and more, your turn of phrase reminds me of Magwitch.

[quote=triodes]Somehow, I just don't think you are a noob. More and more, your turn of phrase reminds me of Magwitch.[/quote]

Maaaan, I'll slap a magbitch.

Nice review! I am not sold on the Robs, but I would give the coronas a try. However, at $2 each, I can't really complain.

Ben!

Gae!

Ashed one yesterday. Gotta say it was a good cigar, and for $2 even better compared to some of the (rap I've smoked at that price point.

And yeah, if you're out of Grape White Owls, these would definitely do. Strawberry tho?

hahahahaha

And I think GAE is low.

Am not. Thinning out my stash actually. No space