The Chosen One?

[Don Fernando]

Cool, congratualtions. If they ever need a volunteer from Europe, give them my addy

[smokin5]

The package from Smoke Magazine arrived today - Yippee!!
It's a blind review of 7 different cigars, ranging from Conneticut wrappers to the darkest Oscuro I think I've seen. Mostly Robustos & Toros, one Panatela. And one of the Toros has got to be at least a 60 ring!

As a bonus, they included 3 of each, for a total of 21 smokes. I figure I'll taste-test 2 of each for the reviews, then keep the 3rd ones for after their secret identities are revealed.

I've only got 3 weeks to complete all the reviews & send them in, but that shouldn't be a problem, as I usually puff 2-3 a day, anyway. And that way I can let them rest from their journey for a few days & start up on Saturday.

I'd post a picture, but I'm afraid you know-it-alls would ID them & ruin the surprise. Maybe I'll post pics as I go thru them with my notes.
The reviews will (hopefully) be part of the Summer 2008 issue.

[smokin5]

I finished all my reviews & posted them to Smoke Mag. Today the editor let me know what I smoked. Here are my takes on each:

[SIZE=3]No. 18 - Toro, 6-1/4” x 60(?) ring [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Aesthetics – This is one big azz stogie. Nicely-rolled medium-dark brown wrapper, very toothy, covered with little oil postules. A beautiful stick, but too large for my preferences.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 8.8[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Construction – Densely packed, with little give when pressed. Unfortunately, the poor draw reflected the hard-pack & big ring gauge. It took 2-3 puffs each time to get a mouthful of smoke. On 2 samples, smoked 10 days apart, the binder at the head split about 20 minutes into smoking, making the draw even worse (and no, I wasn’t chomping it). Burn was also off, requiring numerous touch-ups on one side throughout. This was an ongoing problem with both samples.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 5.8[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Flavor & Strength – This is where the cigar shone. A very pleasant mix of sweet coffee and nuts with a floral, almost perfume-like taste, leaving a sweet creamy coating on the tongue. Like smoking a café cubano. A light spice & ginger flavor enters the fray and grows as you continue, but never overpowers. The strength was mild to medium, rarely feeling stronger. It reminded me of a milder sweeter Partagas Classic (DR), or some Perdomos I’ve had.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 9.5[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]General Comments – It’s a shame that this great-tasting cigar had such draw & burn problems, as these difficulties stole the enjoyment of it. I think this would probably smoke much better in a smaller gauge. Wonderfully pleasant flavors marred by construction flaws.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Cigar Revealed: Punch Gran Puro Sesenta from General[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](Surprising, as much milder than the other PGP's I've had, & not box-pressed)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]********************[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]No. 19 - Toro, 6” x 52 ring[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Aesthetics – Medium brown almost reddish wrapper, leathery with an oily sheen. Prelight smell is very mild, indicating little, and prelight taste is just tobacco. The 2 samples I had varied widely in density, however, with one being tightly packed and the other very loose with soft spots galore. Lost points for inconsistency.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 7.0[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Construction – Despite the inconsistent packing, both burned well and allowed a good draw. One burned a little off on one side at a point, but corrected itself soon enough without touch-up. The ash was a nice light gray and flaky.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 8.0[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Flavor & Strength – Initial flavors of strong coffee & molasses, then wood & anise with a sharp but flat cardboard-like finish. It teased with a promising forward taste but quickly faded to finish slightly sour with each puff. By halfway through this cigar, there was little flavor other than bitter anise that quickly faded to leave an acrid aftertaste. Similarly, the strength began as a fuller side of medium and faded as it progressed.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 5.0[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]General Comments – [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Like a Saint Luis Rey with Alzheimer’s – it started off OK but quickly forgot where it was going, wandered off, and soiled itself. I would not smoke this again. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]While it looked nice and construction was good (inconsistent packing notwithstanding), the flavor was awful soon in & just got worse. I had to grab a different cigar both times just to get rid of the sour taste.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Cigar Revealed: Don Tomas Clasico Toro from General [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](Very surprising, as I really like the Clasico Allegro Tubos)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]No. 20 - Toro, 6” x 50 ring[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Aesthetics – [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]A box-pressed beauty with silky light-to-medium brown wrapper. Prelight smells of hay & barnyard.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 9.4[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Construction – Densely packed with little give when squeezed. The draw was a bit tight, making we work a little bit. Burn was pretty good for a box-pressed cigar, requiring only a few touch-ups to correct.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 8.5[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Flavor/Strength – A very smooth, milder side of medium strength smoke. Initial tastes of slightly spicy toffee, almost like butterscotch in flavor and feel. It settles into sweet buttered toast & ginger with a light creamy finish, later adding some nutty graham cracker in the mix that grows slightly in strength but never above medium.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 9.5[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]General Comments – This is a pleasant cigar for a newcomer or experienced smoker. Fairly mild, but a good interplay of various flavors keeps it interesting. Overall I really enjoyed it, smoking it down to less than an inch.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Cigar Revealed: Sancho Panza Glorioso from General[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](A very pleasant & well-priced surprise - $50/box of 20)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]No. 21 – Toro, 6-1/4” x 52 ring[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Aesthetics – Light brown/blonde wrapper that was very thin & showed several prominent veins. Prelight smells of tobacco & slight sweetness. They were inconsistently rolled, with 2 appearing very well-rolled & one showing numerous glue patches on the wrapper.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 7.9[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Construction – Densely packed, it barely budged when lightly squeezed. The draw was effortless, delivering lots of smoke. The thin wrapper was too fragile, developing cracks & peeling on all samples at some point, some earlier, some later, but all before halfway through. The burn stayed consistently even for the most part, despite the wrapper problems. Ash was a nice white & light gray.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 8.0[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Flavor/Strength – Milder side of medium in strength, the predominant flavors were toasted nuts, creamy sweetness & light spice that left a creamy honey lingering on the tongue. Some peppery sharpness occasionally entered & receded as it progressed, but it remained fairly consistent in its flavors.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 8.8[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]General Comments – Taste and strength-wise, this was a nice breakfast smoke, or one for a newcomer. It reminded me of Ted’s Made By Hand I once had, or a milder Padilla Hybrid in flavor, pairing well with coffee. The wrapper problems definitely took away from the enjoyment, however.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Cigar Revealed: [SIZE=2]18 Double Connecticut from Gordo Dom Rey [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][SIZE=2](Never heard of this one)[/SIZE] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]No. 22 - Robusto, 5-1/8 x 50 ring[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Aesthetics – Box-pressed with pigtail cap. The wrapper is medium-to-dark brown, leathery like a baseball glove, & glistening with oils. Loosely filled, it is fairly springy when pressed. Prelight smells of raisins & manure.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 9.2[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Construction - The draw is a dream, giving lots of smoke with each easy pull. The burn was uneven at times & required several touch-ups and relights on each sample, which I find typical with box-pressed cigars. The salt and pepper ash stayed firmly in place.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 8.6[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Flavor/Strength – Initial earthy leather & pepper gives way to deep rich flavors of coffee, sweet cocoa & gingery spice. A touch of citrus occasionally appears, as does charcoal, but they meld with the other flavors nicely, and it never becomes harsh or bitter. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Mostly medium in strength, it appears fuller toward the end.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 9.5[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]General Comments – My favorite of the 7 samples, I smoked these to the nub. Reminded me of a Padron Anniversary 1964 Maduro in its taste. I really enjoyed the flavors, despite the annoying burn issues.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Cigar Revealed: [SIZE=2]Cabinet Selection Maduro from Cuban Crafters [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][SIZE=2](At $80/box of 25, these are most impressive)[/SIZE][/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]No. 23 – Robusto, 4” x 50 ring[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Aesthetics – Medium brown, slightly reddish in color. Well-packed and rolled, with a good little give when lightly squeezed. One sample had numerous bumps from stem pieces, though. Prelight smells of…well, nothing, really.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 8.5[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Construction – 2 of the 3 had a good medium draw, though one was a bit tight & required massaging to loosen up. The burn was quite good and remained fairly even, with only minor correction needed. Light gray ash that holds well in place.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 8.8[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Flavor/Strength – Fuller side of medium in strength, venturing into full strength at times. Initial forward flavors of strong espresso, wood & slightly creamy molasses with a strong nicotine sharpness to it, but a very short flat finish leaving only a sour anise aftertaste. Soon in, the flavors faded, reduced to only a slight forward flavor of coffee with a predominant taste of nicotine sharpness and a flat finish which provided only a hint of creaminess on the tongue after the bitterness left. It never improved from there.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]By the halfway point, there is little flavor except acrid charcoal.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 5.0[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]General Comments – Despite the good construction, burn & draw, this cigar was bad news. Like an old girlfriend, it started with promise & soon turned flat, ending in bitterness. Stay away.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Cigar Revealed: [SIZE=2]Vegas Cubanos Robusto from El Rey de Los Habanos (Pepin Garcia) [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][SIZE=2](Proving don't always go with a name - Even greats can have off days)[/SIZE][/SIZE]

[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]No. 24 – Robusto, 5” x 50 ring.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Aesthetics – Gorgeous oily black wrapper, but a rustic “lumpy” look, with numerous hard & soft spots throughout. Prelight smell is faint, but slightly grassy & pasta-like.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 6.0[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Construction – The draw is surprisingly good, given the way it’s filled. The burn remains fairly even, as well.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 8.8[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Flavor/Strength – Medium in strength. Initial flavors are classic Maduro – dark chocolate & almost raisiny in sweetness, with a light spice. About an inch in, however, it falls flat; the flavors come & quickly fade, leaving a slightly sour grassy aftertaste, and never recovers. Very one-dimensional and boring.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Score: 5.8 [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]General Comments – Generic bundle smoke at best.[/SIZE]

Cigar Revealed: Primeros Maduro from Los Blancos Cigar Company
(Yeah, whatever...)

Overall, a most enlightening experience. A couple of surprises, & a few smokes which I think I'll have to get some more.

[gnukfu]

Nice! Thanks for sharing the reviews and reveals. I have one of the Punches and a Cuban Crafter in my cooler, one gifted and the other from a box pass. Gonna have to light them up and compare to your reviews!

[thebiglebowski]

wow... great reviews there, plenty of detail. talk about PHAT (RG) cigars, man...

[Deuce Da Masta]

congrats, sounds like an awesome opportunity.

[shilala]

Well done, I enjoyed reading your reviews.
It sounds like it was really a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing!!!