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.
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This cigar was enjoyed with Coffee
Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible
Cigar is a Churchill format, 7x47(or 48, didn't have my gauge handy to measure it). Dark chocolate wrapper was a well applied, firm roll, with a 2-3 medium veins. Pre-light aroma of the wrapper was faint cedar, and the foot pre-light draw was sweet tobacco and cedar. Straight cut with a guillotine, pre-light draw was slightly under medium - perfect for the format's extended smoke time. Pre-light taste was cedar, with a slight raisin sweetness in the background.
Lighting and Burn: 14 Points of 15 Possible
I used a triple torch butane lighter to toast and light the foot. The cigar took to toast and light easily without issues. The burn, while wobbly throughout the cigar, self corrected for the most part. Three retouches were necessary over the whole cigar. Normally I would deduct several points for this, but we are entering summer here down on the US Gulf Coast, and temp and humidity are both running in the 80's. These conditions are challenging to smoke in at times and increase the touchups considerably, even on the best constructed sticks - so 3 retouches, I felt, was a reasonable if not admirable performance of the roller's skill. I have no doubt that in more ideal conditions this cigar's relight count would have been 0-1. The ash pretty consistently fell around 1-1/4", no flakes and mottled rings ranging from dark grey to almost white. The ash was medium density, but help shape well.
Construction: 28 Points of 30 Possible
The cigar had a slight rustic look to it, with its veins and slightly bumpy surface texture, but a quick feel up and down the body revealed a remarkably consistent job of bunching and rolling. No voids or hard spots were found, and as mentioned before, the draw was easy and even. The cigar performed well all the way down to the end, with nothing standing out as a flaw or issue.
Flavor and Aroma: 42 Points of 45 Possible
(First Third)
On light, the cigar smoldered nicely, giving off a cedar and sweet tobacco aroma. Initial flavors were bittersweet dark chocolate and leather in the foreground, cedar in the background. Retro-hale had a quick burst of red pepper in the sinuses that quickly calmed down and faded away by the end of the first half inch. Dark chocolate faded, cedar and leather fought for the limelight, as a distinct chicory coffee flavor began to appear and eventually take center stage. Retrohale continued to feature cedar and leather, with no reappearance of any kind of pepper. Nicotine began to became very present halfway through the first third at a solid medium plus. The body was a solid medium full throughout. As the first third was transitioning to the second third, dark toast (not quite burnt) notes appeared briefly in the background, and the nicotine began to kick up into the solid medium-strong territory.
(Second Third)
As the cigar transitioned into the second third, coffee notes began to fade to the background. Leather and cedar remained in the foreground competing for top billing. Light red pepper began to appear on the sides of my tongue. Plummy / prune sweet notes in the background as the leather notes darkened and took on earthy notes as just past the halfway mark. Smoke production ticking up a notch. Nicotine evened out and was now medium-strong, sustaining a nice warm glow. Red pepper transitioned at the end to more red hot spice and was felt across the tongue and the roof of my mouth as the second third closed out.
(Last Third)
Dark chocolate notes and earthy notes dominated the flavor in the last third, with cedar and leather in the background. As the last third progressed the flavors transitioned to more earth, and dark caporal tobacco notes in the background, with occasional mint / menthol notes as I reached the end. As I got down to the nub, the heat caused the roll to become a bit soft, and I slowed the pace way down. Normally I would have let the cigar burn out long before this, but the flavors continued to come and I couldn't let myself put it down, it was still pretty good even at this point. Smoked it down to about a 3/4" nub. Total smoke time was just past an hour and a half.
Summary
Many thanks to @bstessl (Brian) for giving me the opportunity to participate in this months blind Geek review!
I was quite excited to see a true Churchill format for this month's review. I am partial to sub 50 ring gauge formats, and in that class, true Churchills are becoming harder to find, as manufacturers in their eagerness to please the larger format fans, opt to make their "Churchill" a 7x50 or even 7x52. For me, the Churchill represents a true challenge for the blender. The ring gauge requires the blender and roller to be more precise in the amount of leaf rolled into the cigar. Too much and the cigar will plug up by the halfway mark. Too little and it burns quick and hot and becomes limp and soft. The length also tests the blender's skills. At 7 inches, the potential for dynamic development is greatest, but pack too many bold flavors up front, and by the last third you are fighting against heavy acrid and tarry flavors.
While I have no clue on which cigar this one was, I felt like it showcased some classic Nicaraguan flavors and I enjoyed smoking it immensely. From the construction to the blending and overall experience, everything seemed to tick the boxes for an interesting and well made cigar. I would definitely smoke this again, and am very interested to find out what this was in the end. For anyone trying this cigar in the future, my advice is take your time and go slowly, your patience will be rewarded.
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