Vital Stats:
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5.5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos
Blender: K. Hansotia
Number of reviewers: 4 —– Gregg (McGreggor57) Nicholas (volpow61) Brian (B-daddy) Robert (NavyPiper)
Price: $5.00
Age: 5 months rest
Release Date: 2011
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff
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.
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 89
“Cigar is mostly uniform in color but has a few color blemishes, is mostly straight, but has a few lumps and bumps.” –Robert (NavyPiper)
Aroma: 90
“Aroma is that of a nice woody and natural tobacco scent.” –Nicholas (volpow61)
Construction: 87
“The construction of this cigar I consider ‘fair’. It is a little lumpy and bumpy, as it appears there are stems/twigs/heavy veins under the wrapper. Cap is rough and not smooth. There are a few color blemishes on the wrapper, and it is very light in weight.” –Robert (NavyPiper)
First Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“Roasted coffee beans with a cedar finish right off the bat. A bit of pepper on the retrohale. An easy draw is letting a lot of flavors come through. The spice shows up every few puffs leaving behind a mellow mocha-coffee mix with a sweet cedar lingering on the palate.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“Definitely some pepper on the front end of this bad boy. Right on the draw and holding on through a pretty long finish. Some rich tobacco and leather flavors too. It’s a pretty bold flavor profile in this third. At about the one inch mark some creaminess enters complementing the spice. Nice complexity. At the end of this third, the spiciness backs off and folds into the creaminess. I get the first hint of some strength with a little nicotine buzz.” –Brian (B-daddy)
Second Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“The rise and fall of the pepper continues revealing different subtle flavor combinations. The coffee has lightened with a touch of vanilla or tapioca. More cedar and some dried pine nuts. There is an occasional bit of sweetness left on the palate.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“In the second third, the spice continues to fade and is replaced by cedar and leather. The edges soften and the body becomes more subdued. The finish shortens and takes on an herbal quality. A little baking spice comes out in the retrohale.” –Brian (B-daddy)
Final Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“Coffee, leather, nuts and woodsy flavors are coming out. The brightness of the cedar is still present and the pepper continues its game of hide and seek.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“The spiciness on the draw returns in the final third but it’s not pepper; more of a cinnamon heat. I’m also getting just a touch of tar (-ish) bitterness on my lips every 5 or 6 draws. Not enough to be troublesome but enough to let me know it’s there. That cinnamon spice is also present in the retrohale; just a hint of ammonia there now too. I taste a little bit of walnut as I’m getting to the nub. Stays nice and cool.” –Brian (B-daddy)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 90
“Very nice. A little resistance but nice and open.” –Brian (B-daddy)
Burn: 92
“Even outdoors in a pretty good breeze, it burned very well throughout. A little wavy but always self correcting within 1/4 of an inch.” —Brian (B-daddy)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Overall Experience: 88
“The pepper coming and going like it did made for an interesting smoke, especially since the flavors seemed to change each time the spice settled down. Outside of that, there wasn’t much special about this stick. While the flavors worked well together, I didn’t get a sense that any of them had a chance to shine.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)
“Overall a decent cigar. A nice experience with good flavors the whole way through. Depending on price I might smoke this cigar again.” –Nicholas (volpow61)
“I liked this cigar. I’d smoke it again and would recommend it. Performance was very strong and the flavor profile and complexity was very nice. I thought it was going to be a bit stronger based on the first third but stayed at about the medium point throughout. Very enjoyable.” –Brian (B-daddy)
“This was a very disappointing cigar to review. Honestly, if it wasn’t for a review, it would’ve been gone in the first 5 minutes. Nope, don’t plan on having anymore.” –Robert (NavyPiper)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 64
Total Score: 89 (Good)
| Reviewer | Appea- rance |
Aroma | Constr. | 1/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | Draw | Burn | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregg | 88 | 91 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 90 | 93 | 89 | 89 |
| Nicholas | 90 | 91 | 95 | 89 | 88 | 84 | 85 | 95 | 85 |
| Brian | 89 | 88 | 88 | 93 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 92 | 91 |
| Robert | 87 | 87 | 87 | 79 | 80 | 82 | 80 | 79 | 79 |
| Overall | 89 | 90 | 87 | 90 | 90 | 88 | 90 | 92 | 88 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here