Blind Cigar Review: Cordoba & Morales | Clave Cubana Etiqueta Blanca Toro

We received such great feedback from readers and the participants of our inaugural series of collaboration reviews that it was a no brainer that we would continue with another round. In this second round of collaboration reviews, you will see some of the participants from the first round returning, as well as some new participants. For new readers who are unfamiliar with our previous collaboration reviews, we have invited cigar reviewers from other cigar review sites, podcasts, blogs, etc. to join the Blind Man’s Puff staff in doing blind reviews using our format. This collaboration review is with Seth from Seth’s Humidor, Will from Cigar-Coop, Rob from Cigar Federation and Craig from Half Ashed.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Jalapa
Filler: Esteli Ligero, Ometepe Viso and Jalapa Seco
Factory: American Caribbean Tobacco S.A.
Blender: Azarias Mustafa
Number of reviewers: 5—–Seth (Seth’s Humidor) Will (Cigar-Coop) Rob (Cigar Federation) Craig (Half Ashed) Jiunn (jliu)
Price: $10.50
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: August 2014
Contributed by: Cordoba & Morales

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 87

“The cigar has a flatter box-press. It is almost an oval-like press. The color of the wrapper is a coffee bean color with a light coating of oil. There is almost a sandy feel to the wrapper.” –Will (Cigar-Coop)

Aroma: 87

“The cigar has an aroma that is of hay and old wood that is very dry. There are some sweet tobacco notes present as well, but they are quite subtle.” –Seth (Seth’s Humidor)

First Third

Flavor: 87
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The cigar begins by showing a core group of flavors that are working off of one another. I am getting some tobacco spice, and it has some soft pepper notes with that. There are some richer earth qualities as well, and it has a sweetness present with that. Faint notes of coffee and cocoa are present, and it has some woody qualities on the finish.” –Seth (Seth’s Humidor)

“Nice chocolate and molasses notes right off the bat. The draw is pretty loose, but it’s not impacting the overall flavor. With the chocolate and molasses, there is some black pepper on the tongue and on the retrohale. Nice balance of sweet and spice so far. Some mild coffee notes show up about an inch in and adds a nice earthy component. The flavors are nice, but they seem to thin out at the 1.5 inch mark and stay thin throughout the first third.” –Rob (Cigar Federation)

Second Third

Flavor: 86
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The flavors tend to build in intensity throughout the second third but lose some of the subtlety found earlier on. I enjoy what is present, as the less desirable notes seem to have faded back slightly, but I think the cigar is slightly less balanced. Some pepper creeps in and takes the taste slightly to the “harder” side of the scale.” –Craig (Half Ashed)

“Second third mirrors the latter half of the first third. Still giving me mainly earthy flavors of cedar and leather followed by semi sweet cream and roasted nuts. Although the spice is still at the same level, the back of my throat still has a slight nagging discomfort from the pepper. The body is still at a medium light and nicotine at a solid medium.” –Jiunn (jliu)

Final Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“There is more in the way of earth and spice here. The coffee and chocolate notes are still present. There is a slight increase in strength and body here.” –Will (Cigar-Coop)

“Last third has me scratching my head. It’s as if the cigar all of a sudden woke up. Now getting medium bodied and nicotine with flavors of sweet cream, coffee beans, caramel, cedar, slight notes of ripe stone fruits and just enough white pepper. Wish the first two thirds was like this.” –Jiunn (jliu)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 90

“The draw was a little loose, but the smoke and flavors were allowed to flow freely.” –Rob (Cigar Federation)

Burn: 89

“Very good burn. Never a re-light and fairly sharp and even burn.” –Jiunn (jliu)

Construction: 90

“Cumulatively the cigar performed well. It could be improved but was well within acceptability.” –Craig (Half Ashed)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Overall Experience: 88

“I was not impressed by the cigar. The flavors were muddy and they rarely went anywhere. The second third was abysmal, and the final third did not recover what the first third had. Overall, I did not like the cigar and think it was disappointing in a lot of ways.” –Seth (Seth’s Humidor)

“This was an excellent cigar. It delivered some excellent flavor, had a decent amount of complexity and was well-constructed. This is a cigar I can see having in my regular rotation.” –Will (Cigar-Coop)

“Overall, this was a good cigar. The construction was solid with a good burn and draw. The flavor was pretty consistent, but didn’t really blow me away. I wanted a bit more sweetness and more complexity. The black pepper spice was the main component and I always want more depth of flavor. This cigar was good, but I doubt I would seek it out again.” –Rob (Cigar Federation)

“There are Padron-esque flavors and some shades of both Fernandez’s in the industry (Casa & AJ). I lean heavily towards Nicaraguan core flavors, blended with a slightly heavy hand for my tastes. I found enjoyment here but also found frustration at times. I’d smoke it again but would want to have a better all around experience before I bought it in bulk.” –Craig (Half Ashed)

“Overall, a good cigar. If it wouldn’t have been the excellent last third, the cigar would have just been fair. Would I buy more? Probably not. I don’t think this will age very well given such medium thin flavors of the first and second third.” –Jiunn (jliu)
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Smoking Time (in minutes): 98

Edit

Reviewer	Appearance	Aroma	1/3	2/3	3/3	Draw	Burn	Constr.	Overall
Seth	83	87	87	85	85	88	85	88	83
Will	90	87	95	95	92	90	90	92	92
Rob	87	87	87	87	88	90	95	90	88
Craig	85	83	87	87	85	97	85	90	90
Jiunn	90	85	85	85	92	92	90	90	88

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
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Blind Cigar Review: Cordoba & Morales | Clave Cubana Etiqueta Blanca Toro