2005 Graycliff Espresso Pirate Torp 6 X 52

Wrapper: Costa Rica
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua, Ecuador, Honduras, Phillipines

Storage: 65RH at 66 – 72 F.

Construction: Beautiful fine-toothed satin walnut brown wrapper with minor veining. Solidly rolled with no soft spots. Clipped clean.

Prelight: Deep, rich, cedary tobacco taste and aroma with a medium-firm draw.

Burn: Lit evenly, straight burn with no touch-ups, solid off-white/lt. gray ash.

Drink: Starbucks Frappucino

Smoking Notes: Initial impression is a very smooth and toasty smoke with a hint of coffee and chocolate. The smoke is thick smooth. The aroma is very cedary. Quickly develops deep, dark notes of cocoa, espresso, and earth around a cedar core. The finish is marked by light spice and the interesting salty-sour tang present in all Graycliff blends. I assume this tang is from the sauternes-based bethune. By ¼ this cigar has hit its stride with all flavors intensifying. There are notes of cardamom, a hint of clove, and other sweet spices on the finish. By half way, the core flavors have shifted to dark, rich tobacco, cedar, with dark chocolate and espresso notes. The salty-sour Bethune tang has also intensified. From this point on, the cigar becomes a very deep, dark, heavy-bodied smoke. The predominant flavors shift back and forth from rich, cedary tobacco to deep espresso and earth to dark bitter chocolate, but always with the distinctive Bethune tang on the finish. Never became bitter or tarry as I smoked it to the nub. An excellent 2hour smoke.

Overall Impression: The Graycliff Espresso is definitely a full-bodied smoke with dark heavy flavors. With its liberal dose of Ecuadoran ligero and a dash of Phllipino Simaba they are a potent smoke that is not for the faint of heart. A superb cigar that’s one of the best on the planet. I rate these a big beautiful A+.

Graycliff's are expensive - the Espresso runs about 15 a pop. While that is quite pricey, the quality is there and Graycliffs have developed a strong following. I smoke about 5 of these a year and never regret the price I paid. If you're looking to treat yourself to an incredible and unique cigar that's up there with vintage habanos at 4 times the price, try an Espresso.