Cigar Geeks - Cuban Rounds (by Ventura Cigar) Churchill Maduro

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Cuban Rounds (by Ventura Cigar) Churchill Maduro
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Deener27

82
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member bstessl (Brian). 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 Cuban Rounds (by Ventura Cigar) Churchill Maduro.

The Hype: From beginning to end, Cuban Rounds are a luxurious smoking experience, with blends that highlight the quality of the leaves and layers of flavor that evolves through a slow burn. They aren't meant to be saved for special celebrations, however. Cuban Rounds are the cigars to smoke after dinner, among friends, at work functions, and every summer evening. They're approachable for beginners, complex for enthusiasts, and are sized for anytime enjoyment. Whether you have a little time or a lot of time, there's a Cuban Rounds cigar for you.

Cuban Rounds (by Ventura Cigar) Churchill Maduro

Brand:: Cuban Rounds (by Ventura Cigar)
Name:: Churchill Maduro
Length:: 7
Ring Gauge:: 48
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Nicaragua
Binder:: Nicaragua
Wrapper:: Nicaragua
Color:: Maduro
Strength:: Medium-Full
Shape:: Churchill

Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible

Pre-light, the cigar seemed to be nicely constructed, with a no veins in the wrapper with the exception of one that ran the length of the cigar. The wrapper had a nice satiny and slightly oily sheen to it. The cap was well constructed and cut pretty cleanly but did develop a small split in it. The pinch test revealed that the cigar was fairly solid but had a bit of sponginess to it. The cigar was very earthy and an almost compost aroma with some pepper and a bit of spice.

Lighting and Burn: 5 Points of 15 Possible

The cigar was very easy to light and was ready to smoke quickly. Unfortunately, there were some significant burn issues almost right off the bat. It started to canoe severely, much so that it required constant attention and touch ups to continue smoking the cigar. The smoke volume was very ample and delivered tons of flavors. The ash was very flaky and was a dark gray color.

Construction: 25 Points of 30 Possible

The pre-light draw was ample and indicated that there would be no problems throughout the smoke. Consistency being key and performing just like the pre-light draw, the draw during the burn was nice, and provided a large amount smoke, even though there were major issues with the burn profile. The wrapper was well constructed, with just one large vein in it and a smooth, oily texture to it. Also, the wrapper was wound extremely consistent and had a speckled dark color all the way around the cigar.

Flavor and Aroma: 43 Points of 45 Possible

The strength of the cigar was a solid medium. The flavors were very nice and peppery while slightly muted. The cigar was rather monotone for my taste, as it really didn't evolve into much else, with the exception of the favors becoming more intense over time. Over the whole cigar, I was able to get black pepper spice with some light citrusy sweetness along with lots of cedar and honey. The cigar actually had a very nice balance where there was no one flavor that was too dominant and was very pleasant. Since it was so well balanced, it actually cancelled out the frustrations with the burn profile, which was a huge plus. Despite the challenges, I would certainly smoke another one of these cigars again.

Summary

A big thank you to Brian (bstessl) for selecting me for this review. Despite the issues with the burn and the babysitting that had to be done, I really enjoyed smoking this cigar. The well-balanced flavor profile was refreshing, where I normally enjoy full and spicy cigars, this was a nice change and I would highly recommend it to anyone as it fits the bill for anyone. I will be looking forward to figuring out what the cigar is and getting some more of them.