This cigar was enjoyed with Coffee - Black
Pre-Light: 19 Points of 10 Possible
A lovely cigar, slightly spongy, but not too soft. A toothy wrapper. Nice even cap. I used a punch on this cigar, and it went beautifully. Made a nice little puckerhole. The initial aroma was sweet, with hints of leather. Overall a good presentation.
Lighting and Burn: 12 Points of 15 Possible
The light started even and remained even through the middle. There, it started to get a bit uneven, but a little touch-up flame did the trick. It still stayed a bit crooked until the finish, but nothing severe after the touch-up. The ash did not cone well at all, and was not very dense. Generally it was a very flaky salt and pepper. It did not require any relights. The burn rate was very quick for this large cigar. I smoked it in just over an hour. The smoke was voluminous and thick on the palate.
Construction: 24 Points of 30 Possible
The draw was very easy, but not quite airy. The tendency of the ash to cone in unusual shapes, as well as the loose-leaf appearance of it indicated a less than consistent roll. Coupled with the tendency to burn a bit uneven near the middle, the construction was suspect. Still, it was not BAD, just not what I would expect from a premium cigar.
Flavor and Aroma: 25 Points of 45 Possible
The cap of this cigar was sweetened. According to the literature I received with the cigars, this is considered a trademark throwback to the pre-Castro era cigar. That being the goal, it was achieved in spades. I had a hard time getting past the sweetness of the sugar on my palate to actually taste the cigar itself. What I did garner from the first held of the cigar was a very dry, wheaty, taste with a slightly herbal finish. The sugar on the tongue subsided, finally, about midway. The cigar seemed to change in its feel about this time as well. It darkened a bit, with slight hints of coffee and nuts presenting on my palate. These transitional flavours intensified through the rest of the cigar, moving to a stronger coffee finish near the band. Throughout the cigar, I had a lingering sweet feel on my palate. I am not sure if it was from the sugar or the smoke itself.
Summary
It was very hard for me to get past the sugar coated head. The sugar seemed to linger way too much and distracted me from the cigar itself. I understand the wish to throwback to the pre-Castro era, but this particular throwback didn't work for me at all. I was disappointed in the loose construction of the cigar, and the very quick burn. However, once I reached the middle, the flavours were quite nice. I am not sure if this delayed gratification in flavour is due to the construct, of due to the long lingering sugar on my palate.
I would really like to try this cigar sans the sugar dipped head. I am convinced it interfered with my enjoyment of this cigar.
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