Blind Cigar Review: Flor de Gonzalez | Spectral Atom

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Corona
Length: 5.5″
Ring Gauge: 44
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua and Peru
Factory: AgroIndustrial Nicaraguense de Tabacos S.A.
Blender: Undisclosed
Number of reviewers: 5—–Ron (shuckins) Gregg (McGreggor57) Jack (Jack_H) Wes (SosaCub4Life) Sandeep (Djangos)
Price: $8.50
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: August 2014
Contributed by: Flor de Gonzalez

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 91

“Great looking cigar with a dark chocolate wrapper. Seems slightly larger than a corona. The surface is quite bumpy and quite a few veins are visible but not prominent to the touch. No major blemishes are apparent. Two well applied caps are discernible.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

Aroma: 90

“Rich leather and dry cedar aromas, with a subtle, but spicy tobacco in the background.” –Ron (shuckins)

First Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“A good dose of pepper on light up with a vegetal flavor underneath. Bakers chocolate on the finish makes me curious what will transpire once the spice dies down. This cigar is starting with a little kick to it. As the heat of the spice fades, the flavor of the black pepper remains.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

“This stick started with a good bang for me. Lots of good peppery spice, yet it still has that bit of sweet creaminess in the mouth. So far it’s been excellent. The spice on the retrohale might be too much for some people but it’s right up my alley.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

Second Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The wood lost most of its campfire taste along with a good bit of the heat also. This let a coffee and leather mix move forward to shake things up and smooth out the rough edges, which really pleased my palate.” –Ron (shuckins)

“It has opened up a little bit and the harsh flavors have faded to the background. I get notes of malt, coffee and chocolate. The burn is great and the draw is solid.” –Jack (Jack_H)

Final Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Some of the spice has kicked back in and now the cigar is almost a perfect balance of spicy, sweet and creamy. Very good cigar. Still burning great with lots of smoke.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

“The final third is an extension of the initial and the middle thirds with the same almond nuttiness with the pepper and leather cutting the sweetness. There is also some bolder tobacco flavors that are becoming more prominent as the third is progressing. Towards the last inch, the pepper picks up and this adds another level of complexity to the underlying flavors. The pepper increases in intensity to the very last draw. No issued with the burn to the very end. The draw that was slightly tight in the middle third becomes better towards the end. Overall, a very pleasant and enjoyable experience.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 88

“It started and ended well but was a little firm in the middle.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

Burn: 92

“Straight as an arrow through and through. The burn was very consistent, the best aspect of the cigar.” –Jack (Jack_H)

Construction: 91

“Construction has been very good. Well made stick that held a good ash and continually produced lots of good smoke. No issues at all.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Overall Experience: 90

“A little too woodsy tasting for me, although I did enjoy the coffee and leather mix along with the ever present entertaining kick.” –Ron (shuckins)

“The cigar began with some fuller flavors and a bit strong of middle. The sharpness of the pepper got my attention. The middle mellowed nicely with grasses and a nice finish of chocolate. The final third, however, was a letdown. No one flavor dominated, nor did any of them really stand out. I’m not sure I would purchase this cigar, but would smoke another if offered.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

“I think if I smoked this 2 months from now it would get a much higher mark. The cigar I smoked had all the intangibles, but the ammonia flavor loomed over it like a storm cloud and it could never really make up for it.” –Jack (Jack_H)

“This cigar has been very good. Great mix of spice that did calm down some and then almost that perfect mix of spice, sweetness and creaminess that is so enjoyable.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

“Overall, this cigar was a very enjoyable experience. The cigar was quite complex with a lot of nuttiness that was cut with pepper as well as leather and tobacco. In the background were more woodsy flavors that added to the complexity as well. This is a cigar that I will smoke again and probably will get better with age as well.” –Sandeep (Djangos)
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Smoking Time (in minutes): 61

Edit

Reviewer	Appearance	Aroma	1/3	2/3	3/3	Draw	Burn	Constr.	Overall
Ron	88	90	85	88	88	88	90	90	88
Gregg	90	90	90	90	85	88	90	90	88
Jack	88	90	83	85	88	90	92	90	85
Wes	95	90	97	95	95	97	92	95	95
Sandeep	92	90	92	92	95	88	95	92	92

 

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
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Blind Cigar Review: Flor de Gonzalez | Spectral Atom