Cigar Geeks - Highclere Castle Cigar Co. Victorian Churchill

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Highclere Castle Cigar Co. Victorian Churchill
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Nick Rivera (nickthafish)

89
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 Water

Pre-Light: 8 Points of 10 Possible

Slightly oily and reminds me of high quality leather. Nice firm feeling cigar with prominent veins. V-cut perfectly with no cracking or issues of any kind. Getting cocoa from the wrapper and cedar from the foot.

Lighting and Burn: 14 Points of 15 Possible

Toasted and lit well with a single flame torch, medium smoke output when puffing but almost none when sitting but stays lit the entire smoke with no relights or touch ups. Nice white/gray ash that is slightly flaky but holds on fine to an inch before knocking it off easily. Very slow and consistant burner.

Construction: 27 Points of 30 Possible

Medium brown, silky wrapper with well done double cap. Visible smooth but visibe seams and lightly toothy. Nice cold draw that remains consistant through the entire smoke. Firm feeling cigar but light weight for the look.

Flavor and Aroma: 40 Points of 45 Possible

Starts off with a burst of sweet wood and some pepper on the retro. Getting sort of a gingerbread flavor that lasts through the first third. Sweet woody coming through and the retro has more of a cinnamon/wasabi burn. 2nd third is ginger snaps and cocoa, with more sweet woodiness and the retro has become a mild burn and cedar. Pleasant burnt chocolate aftertaste on the tounge. After a slight drop off in flavors, the final third brings some sweet jalapeno pepper and no burn on the reteo at all until the end where I get a menthol flavor in the smoke and on the retro.

Summary

Good cigar that performed well throughout. Very slow burner and minimal smoke while resting, which I appreciate. Well made and tasty cigar with enough transitions to keep your attention and sweetness at varying levels. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the seasoned and novice smoker as long as they have the time to smoke and enjoy it. Not harsh and no bad flavors or ashiness and the nicotine level is very tolerable if not on the light side.