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: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Factory: Undisclosed
Blender: Undisclosed
Number of reviewers: 4 —– Stefan (Stefan) Eric (smalls29) Ryan (Youngryan216) Robert (NavyPiper)
Price: $8.00
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: Unknown
Contributed by: Que Vida
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 90
“This stick feels light in the hand and has a thin, milk chocolate colored wrapper. There is no red tint to the wrapper like many Nicaraguan cigars.” –Ryan (Youngryan216)
Aroma: 88
“Sweaty leather and hints of smoke (perhaps akin to charred Bell peppers?) make up the wrapper’s aroma; the foot exhibits notes of well cured yet still fresh tobacco that’s relatively high in nicotine; cold draw is marked by flavors of cardboard, mushrooms, and wet wood.” –Stefan (Stefan)
First Third
Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“The first third is dominated by notes of mushrooms and aged wood backed by a hint of cream, and with relatively strong white pepper spice left over on the tongue. Medium-full-bodied and of medium+ strength.” –Stefan (Stefan)
“First third started off with a very nice set of flavors including baking spices (not super strong, just enough to let you know they were there), tobacco, & coffee with cream. All blended well together with no single flavor being dominant. Ash was tight and lasted just beyond the end of the third before dropping. Burn had moments where it’d start to go a little crooked but always evened itself out.” –Robert (NavyPiper)
Second Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“With the beginning of the second third the flavor profile shifts to one marked by notes of dark tobacco, mild cocoa, and soft hickory smokiness. Soon after, the hickory smokiness morphs into a softer mesquite smokiness which also becomes dominant while strength drops to a medium. Close to the midpoint there is an addition of mild anise flavors, and I also noticed an ammonia-like note when I accidentally inhaled the smoke, though fortunately (and strangely) there is no ammonia flavor on either the palate or retrohale. The anise flavor becomes more focused as the smoke progresses, leaving a lingering spice on the aftertaste. The smoke turns drier and leaner toward the end of this third.” –Stefan (Stefan)
“Over time the flavors mellowed into a mix of cinnamon and other similar spices. I began to pick up a hint of peppers but only briefly. It still maintained a flavor of black tea. As I approached the end of the second third the after taste became bitter and unpleasant with a burnt toast flavor. It was slowly losing its appeal.” –Eric (smalls29)
Final Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium
“I am now being bombarded with a burnt toast flavor. It is leaving a bitter after taste with some peppery hints, but not much. I am no longer tasting anythin but burnt wood and burnt toast. Unappealing to me.” –Eric (smalls29)
“The final third of the cigar failed to transition in flavor or deepen its existing flavors. Rather, the flavors became a bit stagnant and brought on an unpleasant, burnt popcorn taste. The first two thirds of the cigars were far better than the end.” –Ryan (Youngryan216)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 96
“The draw on this stogie was flat out awesome, ’nuff said.” –Robert (NavyPiper)
Burn: 93
“It had a very nice burn from beginning to end. There was some uneven burning of the wrapper but only for a short time.” –Eric (smalls29)
Construction: 91
“The double cap application was a bit sloppy on this lumpy toro. However, it held together and burned very well — in spite of a slightly imperfect appearance.” –Ryan (Youngryan216)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Overall Experience: 90
“The first third was great, after which the smoke went gradually downhill for me. I’d be interested in trying this stogie again in a shorter vitola size.” –Stefan (Stefan)
“This cigar started out nice with a nice mix of flavors. However it soon became bitter and a bit overbearing. After the first third I was bombarded with a black tea flavor which was nice the soon gave way to burnt wood and burnt toast flavors. Not a flavor I would choose but it might be complimented by a strong glass of unsweetened ice tea or house coffee.” –Eric (smalls29)
“This was an interesting mild smoke. The body never got past medium, and the blend never really reached any crescendo. Instead, the core flavors tapered off in the final third.I also felt that this smoke burned fast for its size, and the blend lacked an oily or juicy element. All of the negatives for this stick were minor, and in my opinion, this would definitely make a good morning coffee smoke. Fans of mild yet flavorful smokes will dig this.” –Ryan (Youngryan216)
‘I thought it was a very good stogie. From appearance through all 3 thirds, it was very enjoyable. Other than the flavors, I think my favorite part was the draw. It was awesome- not too loose & not too tight, I couldn’t ask for anything more from it!” –Robert (NavyPiper)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 70
|
Reviewer
|
Appearance
|
Aroma
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
Draw
|
Burn
|
Constr.
|
Overall
Experience |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stefan | Stefan) | 90 | 92 | 95 | 90 | 87 | 95 | 92 | 92 | 90 |
| Eric | smalls29) | 92 | 90 | 90 | 88 | 87 | 95 | 92 | 90 | 88 |
| Ryan | Youngryan216) | 90 | 88 | 95 | 95 | 87 | 100 | 97 | 92 | 90 |
| Robert | NavyPiper) | 90 | 88 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 97 | 88 | 90 | 90 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.