Cigar Geeks Geek Critique
90
Cigar Geeks Rating
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Welcome to a Geek Critique of a cigar generously provided to us by David at https://www.egars.com/" target="_blank">egars.com. The Camacho Liberty Series, now 18 years strong, is launched annually ahead of the July 4th holiday to celebrate and honor the birth and history of the United States. The Liberty Series blends have been comprised of tobaccos from a variety of different origins, as well as vintages. The 2020 Liberty Series blend utilizes four different primings, all which come from a single farm and single vintage, and aged four years. This distinct blend truly showcases the versatility and multitude of flavors that can be achieved when utilizing this incredible varietal. Special thanks goes out to David at https://www.egars.com/" target="_blank">egars.com for providing the cigars and to Wescat (Kevin) for coordinating this!
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This cigar was enjoyed with Water
Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible
Superb presentation, from the glossy finish on the coffin , the boldness of the band, boxed pressed shape. Fantastic. The cigar is a large 6x60, but the box press helps "shrink" the gauge a little.
The wrapper has very minimal veins and is a nice brown leather look. The cap looks like it was a left over piece of random tobacco picked up off the floor. It doesn't look like the rest of the wrapper at all...but I'm cutting it off so whatever.
The cigar is firm and smells like chocolate.
Lighting and Burn: 13 Points of 15 Possible
Slight runner down one side right after lighting up, the old wet finger trick stops it before it's too far down.
Smoke volume could be a bit heavier but it's enough to taste and retro hale.
The ash holds not quite an inch before falling off, salt and pepper color but more salt than pepper.
Burn got a little wavy at one point, almost like the wrapper was pinch and the burn took longer to get through that point.
Burn rate was average, at times the cigar seemed like it was begging to be smoked a little faster, points of it seemed to burn cooler requiring more attention to keep it going.
Total smoke time was 1:50
Construction: 27 Points of 30 Possible
Cut with a V cut, the draw is nice and fluid. The wrapper is very nice, the cap I touched on already, looks like it doesn't belong.
Overall the construction of the cigar is very good. Minor wavy burn, ugly cap and an occasional loose ash dropping unexpectedly. The cigar is almost effortless to smoke and to me that's the sign of good construction.
Flavor and Aroma: 41 Points of 45 Possible
1st Third - Off the bat it's a nice mix of leather, cocoa and a touch of pepper that reminds me of a whiskey I recently had, George Dickel I think. The bite isn't overwhelming at all but sits nicely with the other flavors. There's a kind of woody/cream sweetness on some draws. The retro hale is smooth. Nice mouth feel and flavors.
2nd Third continues with much of the same mix of flavors but the pepper steps up a notch. Still not overwhelming but it does push the woody sweetness to the back. Occasionally there's a metallic note but it sits on a candy/spice kind of like anise, it's odd and tasty at the same time.
Final Third brings it all together. The woody sweetness alternates with a pepper zing. Notes of leather and that interesting metallic anise note. Every couple puffs seem to change to another mix of flavors that I experienced in the first 2/3.
Summary
Thank you David at egars.com and to Kevin(wescat)for sponsoring this critique again this year.
I thoroughly enjoyed smoking this cigar. It provided a nice mix of flavors that seems to change back and forth often enough to keep it interesting.
Thankful for the box press otherwise this cigar would be much too big for my liking.
I've smoked 6-7 years of the Liberty series and this one seems to be the best of them fresh. Typically they seem better to me with some months resting. I'll probably revisit this one sooner rather than later.
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