Cigar Geeks - Highclere Castle Cigar Co. Victorian Churchill

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Highclere Castle Cigar Co. Victorian Churchill
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Kevin Lamm (klamm143)

93
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique. This one has been generously sponsored by our member Adwinistrator (Ryan). The cigar provided for this round is the http://www.cigargeeks.com/cigardb/default.asp?action=showcig&cigar_id=192310">Highclere Castle Cigar Co. Victorian Churchill by Foundation Cigar Company. This was an interesting critique in that it was done blind. No members had any idea wat they were smoking until after everyone had submitted their reviews. So there were no preconceived biases. The cigar is hand-rolled in Esteli, Nicaragua, using the finest upper priming Habano Ecuador wrapper, and both Criollo and Corojo from the volcanic soils of Esteli, Jalapa and the island of Ometepe. Thanks very much Ryan for sponsoring this!

Highclere Castle Cigar Co. Victorian Churchill

Brand:: Highclere Castle Cigar Co.
Name:: Victorian Churchill
Length:: 7
Ring Gauge:: 48
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Nicaragua
Binder:: Brazil
Wrapper:: Ecuador
Habano
Color:: Colorado Maduro
Strength:: Medium-Full
Shape:: Churchill
Average Member Purchase Price:: $10.22
Average Member Rating:: (1 Review(s))
Notes:: https://halfwheel.com/collections/highclere-castle-victorian/

This cigar was enjoyed with Hudson River Sully(s)-Goose Shots w/ splash of H2O

Pre-Light: 8 Points of 10 Possible

This stick was received and stored in my Humi at 69R/H and 70 degree temp for about 3 weeks - laid out 3 days prior to smoking to relax and enjoy it's last days on earth. It was medium brown in color with a semi-oily outer wrapper. It showed no small veins but did have 3 rather large veins that did not effect the smoking process. It had a very aromatic pre-light smell that was woody and nutty even thought it arrived "naked" with no external wrapper.

Lighting and Burn: 14 Points of 15 Possible

I choose a v-cut on this critique stick. This stick was easy to light and maintained a constant burn throughout. No relights were necessary and only one minor touch up was needed to even the burn. The stick gave off ample grey smoke that touched on a cedar / leather smell. The ash held on for 1-1/2 to 2 inches before being "rolled off" - the ash may have held on even longer but I hate wiping ashes off my shirt. The burn time ran from 0100 Hours until 0233 hours for a total burn time of one hour and thirty three minutes before being put down to flame out on it's own.

Construction: 28 Points of 30 Possible

This stick was well constructed and well packed with no adverse conditions - no uneven spots noted. The cap was perfectly applied and the overall feel was firm. I mentioned the v cut used - and this cut was sharp and smooth with no frazzles and no danglers.

Flavor and Aroma: 43 Points of 45 Possible

This stick was consistent throughout the smoke. For me the 1st, 2nd and final 3rd remained pretty much the same with changes being only slightly noticeable. My taste profile for this stick was in the category of nutty / woodsy / cedar and leather with hint of mild peppers in the 1st section followed by only a slight change to a sweet note, possibly honey in the mid section and the last third having the pepper creep back in with a touch of spice to give it a pleasant (not to strong) tingling experience on the finish. The entire burn seemed to be about the same as far as "temp" was concerned. It had no hot spots nor did it have a hot burn at the finish. The smoke given off during the burn was consistent with a woodsy tobacco smell.

Summary

I enjoyed this stick and would consider purchasing in the future (once the label is revealed). Thanks to Ryan for allowing me to participate and to Bruce for keeping us all on track. This is/was my first blind review and I liked the idea of critiquing "the unknown". The hype showed it only to be a med to full Churchill. I agree with the assessment of it being in med to full category with it being more medium than full. Based on my notes and previous critiques over the past several years, this stick reminds me of the Ashton VSG Sorcerer or the Caldwell Last Czar. The thing I found interesting reference complexity - this stick (for me anyway) always seemed to have that woodsy cedar leather taste on the draw with the sweet notes or peppery notes taking over on the exhale. Until next time - HAPPY SMOKING TO ALL and BLESSED HOLIDAYS AHEAD!!!