Cigar Geeks - Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series Connoisseur

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series Connoisseur
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Stephen (appollo)

85
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member Adwinistrator (Ryan). This was done as a blind review so there were no pre-concieved notions about what anyone was smoking. The cigar provided for this round is the http://www.cigargeeks.com/cigardb/default.asp?action=showcig&cigar_id=10173">Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series Connoisseur. The Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series was first introduced in 1990. Its flavorful richness soon garnered attention throughout the world of cigar smokers. This maker is known for nearly obsessive aging of the leaves, often up to seven years before they reach hands of expert torcedors. The cigars are then box aged for several more years before being shipped. Each box comes with a box date. These are flawlessly constructed cigars – a truly memorable smoke.

Paul Garmirian Gourmet Series Connoisseur

Brand:: Paul Garmirian
Name:: Gourmet Series Connoisseur
Length:: 6
Ring Gauge:: 50
Country of Origin:: Dominican Republic
Filler:: Dominican Republic
Binder:: Dominican Republic
Indonesia
Wrapper:: Connecticut Shade
Ecuador
Color:: Rosado
Strength:: Medium
Shape:: Toro
Average Member Rating:: (1 Review(s))

This cigar was enjoyed with water

Pre-Light: 8 Points of 10 Possible

Nice medium brown wrapper with a slight oily feel. There are a couple major veins that can be seen. The pack is nice and firm with no soft spots. It appears to have a double cap. When I smell it, I get a nice sweet tobacco with a little vegetable.

Lighting and Burn: 13 Points of 15 Possible

The cigar cuts nice with no issues and fires up nicely. The smoke volume right from the start is great and needs no coaxing. The ash is a light gray with black strips in it and holds on for an inch or better at a time. The burn on this is just about perfect, except where the crack in the wrapper was where it needed a relight to correct the waiver. It is a well constructed stick.

Construction: 23 Points of 30 Possible

Here lies the only problem I found with this stick: There was a pretty good crack in the wrapper about half way down the stick and when I lit it up another one developed in the first third. It didn't interfere with the performance but it was disturbing. The draw was spot on. The wrapper is a nice medium brown with a slightly oily wrapper there are a couple major veins but caused no issues.

Flavor and Aroma: 41 Points of 45 Possible

1st Third - It fires up nicely and the burn is spot on. This is a mild strength stick at best with a short finish. I will say it is smooth and a little Cubanesque in my opinion. The flavors are mild with hardly any spice or pepper on the retro. The spice does develop at the end a little more. The flavors at this time are cinnamon, graham wafer with a little vegetable thrown in.

2nd Third - The second third starts out the same as the first burn good, smoke and draw still great. I am now getting some nice spice on the retro. There is now a more pronounced flavor of cinnamon, cedar and graham wafers. This is still a mild strength stick and I am enjoying it I still can't get the Cubanesque flavors out of my mind.

Final Third - After an hour of smoking I get to the final third. Its been enjoyable. I like the build up in the flavors so they are more pronounced. The spice is still the same on the retro and the main flavors are still the same. I might get a touch a vegetable flavor. Total smoke time was around 1hr and 30min and I did enjoy the stick.

Summary

I would like to thank Ryan for including me in this review. The stick lasted around 1hr.and 30min. It never got above a mild in strength but flavor wise it was very nice. Again it reminded me of some Cubans I have smoked with just a little bit more in the spice. The smoke and draw stayed true to form for the whole smoke. When I find out what it is I might consider getting more as it was enjoyable without the big nicotine kick. I have no idea what this might be but I would smoke it again. If it wasn't for the construction issue this would have scored an easy 90 for me.