Vital Stats:
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Bragança and Nicaraguan
Factory: CAO
Blender: Rick Rodriguez
Number of reviewers: 5—–Gregg (McGreggor57) Jason H. (Jokey Smurf) Sandeep (Djangos) Ron (shuckins) Derek (StogieNinja)
Price: $9.25
Age: 2 Months
Release Date: August 2014
Contributed by: General Cigar
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 93
“A bit lumpy but with a nice mottled chocolate wrapper. Very inviting.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
Aroma: 91
“I have to admit that I have never experienced such complexity in the dry puff. The aroma before the cut was of coffee and espresso but the dry puff was cloyingly sweet with a lot of vanilla and licorice. The whole thing tasted almost like bourbon bread pudding! Great start!” –Sandeep (Djangos)
First Third
Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“A little coffee and leather with no real spice on the retrohale. Some oak creeps in adding another layer of richness, and a bit of baking spice near the end of this third provides a sweet finish.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“The initial puffs of this cigar were quite mild and had a very floral undertone. The smoke is quite smooth with just a slight white pepper note and is very floral through the nose as well. This is an interesting start for sure.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Second Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The spicy and sweeter flavors are much less intense in the middle third. The pepper is also fading into the background. The predominant flavor now is leather and a strong nuttiness. Not as complex as the initial third, but complex nonetheless. The burn has straightened itself out and the draw is great. Also, the ash is holding for about an inch and half before falling off. The smoke is still copious and creamy.” –Sandeep (Djangos)
“The tobacco has picked up a woodsy taste, but the coffee and leather flavors keep it from becoming harsh, although the chocolate has faded. As I smoke past the halfway point, the flavors have blended well together, giving me a pleasant smoking cigar.” –Ron (shuckins)
Final Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Everything came together nicely the closer to the end it got. The coffee and leather flavors came close to becoming creamy, but the combination of the chocolate fading and the allspice turning more peppery kept it from happening. The tobacco kept its woodsy taste and provided a nice little kick to the cigar at the very end.” –Ron (shuckins)
“This is without a doubt my favorite third. The espresso also picks up as does some cocoa in the background. As the cigar warms further, the lemon tea flavor gets stronger, but it tastes a little more like a hot toddy and less like Arizona Lemon Iced Tea. It’s still not my favorite, but it’s much better.” –Derek (StogieNinja)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 92
“The draw was firm at first, but opened up after the first inch with plenty of smoke the entire time.” –Ron (shuckins)
Burn: 91
“Burn line wavered a bit, but never needed a touch up. Burned fairly well throughout, though it requires slightly more frequent draws throughout the second third.” –Derek (StogieNinja)
Construction: 93
“A great rolling job. Very solid, tightly packed and an almost seamless wrapper.” –Ron (shuckins)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Overall Experience: 90
“I really enjoyed the first third and was hoping the coffee would develop a little more, or at least remain in the mix. While it left during the end of the second third, the transition gave me a chance to smoke a cigar with another profile. Both were very good.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“This was a good, but not great cigar. Maybe some more rest at a slightly lower RH would benefit the draw and burn. I enjoyed the flavors, and found the floral notes interesting. As it is, I would not be on the lookout for more of these…just a bit too much work for me when there are so many superior cigars on the market.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“Overall, this cigar was a great experience with amazing complexity in the initial third and great flavors in the rest. I would definitely smoke another one of these.” –Sandeep (Djangos)
“I enjoyed this cigar and would smoke another one, as well as recommend it to a friend.” –Ron (shuckins)
“The cigars biggest weakness is that it’s too weak. It’s medium in body, but would be much better if it had more oomph to it. If I choose a dark maduro toro, it’s because I want come thing bold. Add the lemon tea flavor and it kicks it right out of my wheelhouse. That being said, it’s not a bad cigar. Personal preferences aside, it’s actually quite good.” –Derek (StogieNinja)
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Smoking Time (in minutes): 69
| Reviewer | Appea-rance | Aroma | 1/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | Draw | Burn | Constr. | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregg | 90 | 90 | 92 | 90 | 90 | 95 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Jason H. | 93 | 90 | 90 | 88 | 90 | 85 | 88 | 88 | 88 |
| Sandeep | 95 | 97 | 95 | 92 | 92 | 97 | 90 | 95 | 95 |
| Ron | 95 | 95 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 95 | 95 | 90 |
| Derek | 88 | 90 | 88 | 88 | 92 | 90 | 92 | 93 | 90 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
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