1 Vacation, 12 brand new smokes!

[92hatchattack]

Ok, so as some of you know im relatively new to smokeing, about 5-6 weeks now and have tried around 15 diffrent sticks prior to my vacation. I had ordered a sampler and smoked most of the cheaper sticks, leaving the best of the sampler and others i had saved for this trip. I decided to let the camachos and DPGs i just ordered rest a few weekks before smoking... so i just thought id make a little post to let ya guys know how i liked some of these smokes, and maybe recieve some comments and suggestions as well.

In cronological order... lol

Day 1, PM hours
Oliva G Maduro: I have been wanting to smoke this one for a while. Draw was perfect and the burn was razor sharp. I found the burn time to be pretty fast for some reason. The flavor was just ok, it didnt seem to have that thick rich maduro taste i was looking for. There was just nothing in there that at any point really grabbed my attention.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1990: Like the Oliva I finished an hour before, this was just another "OK" smoke for me. It was smooth but nothing in it did the trick for me. Burn was also poor and needed correction frequently. At this point im starting to think that maybe i dont like cigars as much as i thought? Is there something wrong with me? I read people raving about these smokes sometimes.....

Day 2
Rocky Patel Signature Series: Hello beach! Yes sir this one got fired up on the beach. Burn was a little troublesome but i have to figure the wind into this as it was really blowing out there. Tad harsh on the light up but then mellowed out nicely. It was nice and smooth but it was really bland. Wind blowing away any lingering smell of the smoke also didnt help tasting the stick for the first time. If i was to roll out of bed and the first thing i wanted to do was smoke a stick before breakfast, this could be an ok choice.

CAO Mx2: Smoked this one the night of day2. This one really disapointed me. Left a real tingly/numb feeling in my mouth and tasted harsh. At some points it tasted like it had the change to mellow into a nice smoke but it just never happened. Burn was also poor(wind maybe?). Maybe this one needs more age, or perhaps it just sucked? At this point 2 days into the vacation im really bumbed in terms of cigar smoking.

Day 3
Rocky Patel Sun Grown: I am now convinced that the beach is not a good place for taste testing a cigar. The wind simply carries the aromas away far too fast. From what i got from this gicar it had some nice spice in there and was a little fiesty. As i sat there i could imagine enjoying smoking this cigar while being more active.... a nice game or horse shoes or durring some mid day fishing or something. Lucky for me i have another one of these in my box that i can retaste.

CAO Italia: YES! Vacation just got a whole lot better! Smoked this on the night of day 3 and this was a great smoke. Def. full bodied with maybe tastes of coffee and a nice tobaco flavor. Also a little spice in there at times which was nice ( i cant tell the diffrence between spice and pepper at this point). This one i will smoke again no doubt! Things are starting to look better!

Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Corojo: Oh yeah! Smoked this about an hour after the Italia. This to me is a perfect medium boddied end of the night cigar. Not strong enough to follow a large meal but probaly too much in the morning before breakfast. Spice on the fire up quickly gave way to smooth sweet smoke. Nice subtle chocolate tastes on the first 2 thirds gave way to slightly spicy, woodsy flavors in the last 3rd. Burn and ash were among the best ive seen so far. This one is a true winner and will earn a permanent spot in my box.

Day 4
NUB Cameroon: I have yet to smoke a Nub i havent liked. Smoked this one mid day at the pool. Burn and ash were great as they seem to always be with the Nub's. Seemed to be an earthy/grassy mild-medium to medium smoke. This was good and will earn a second try, but i think i prefer the Nub Habano and Maduro over this one.

Oliva Serie V: WOW, this was a SERIOUS smoke for me. Smoked on the night of day 4. It was bold and complex and it almost did me in. Its a good thing i had a full stomach when i fired this one up. The wrapper tingles of spice like nothing ive had before. On light up i got a huge spice/pepper bomb! Lots of billowing smoke! After the first 1/2 it mellowed into strong tobacco with dark coffee tones. 2nd third revealed some hints on grassy tones with the coffee still slightly present underneath. Final 3rd got plesantly spciy again. This smoke seemed to change from one flavor to the next very quickly and often. Reminded me of the Padilla Habano in this sence, but much fuller and darker. This one is a real winner imo!

Day 5
Rocky Patel Connecticut: Allthough i have been mostly favoring medium-full to full boddied smokes, this is the mild cigar i have been looking for! Great sonctruction, amazing ash and razor sharp burn. Smoke was smooth, creamy, and sweet. At this point this is going to be my go to mild cigar. I have one left in the box and will have to pick up a 5 pack when i run across a good deal.

Rocky Patel Edge Light: Nice smoke. Kinda reminded me of the RP conn. i smoked right before it with a little more spice and a little less sweetness. Only thing was a couldnt help thinking to myself that this smoke just didnt know what it wanted to be.. like it was stuck between two diffrent profiles or something. I'd give this one another try in the future but im not itching to run to the store for another one.

Rocky Patel DECADE: I saved this to smoke as the last stick of vacation. Smoked at night. I feel like theres alot to be said about this stick, but after smoking it the first time i just cant put my finger on it. Presentation with the dark wrapper and two cream color bands was just stunning. Probaly the nicest looking smoke i have seen to date. After lighting the burn was a bit wavy but self corrected. First thing that hit me off the bat is that it was a bit deciving. The dark wrapper had me ready for a dark bold smoke, but what i got was mild-medium. The smoke was the smoothest ive ever tasted with some nice sweetness. Unfortunatly the draw was too tight, which i believe caused my to pull turn hard and eventualy lead to this stick burning too hot. In the end it was very interesting and enjoyable despite the tight draw. Still one of my favorites from the trip but i need to smoke this one a few more times to really determine whats its all about.


So thats it folks. Really turnd out to be a great trip with some newly found favorite smokes! Comparisons and comments are more than welcome and apreciated!

Take care!

---Joe

[Egis]

Hey, Nice reviews on 12 cigars, Oliva Series V are my favorite cigars!!!

[bdw1984]

nicely done joe... oliva v is def. a winner in my book and just about everyone else's too and i really like the decade- sounds like u got a bad one i would def try another... what sizes were the cigars? that can make a big difference... also i would reccommend more time in between smokes... in my experience smoking one after another has a major affect on how i view both cigars... glad u enjoyed ur trip and sounds like ur well on ur way down the slope
ben

[Rubix^3]

Great run down man. Thanks for sharing your vacation in terms of cigar blow-by-blow.
Cigars are like, to quote "the Dude"; "strikes & gutters".
I also second your opinion about the beach, or any windy place for that matter. Seems you can't hold on to the smoke long enough to really savor. (Never stops me from trying again though, hehehe).
Glad you found some wonderful moments in there though. The Oliva V and the RP Sungrown are real attention grabbers in the flavor dept. imo. Welcome back!

[Tarks]

Good reviews Joe. Thanks. What Italia did you smoke?

[92hatchattack]

I dont know why i cant edit my original post.. but sizes are as follows..

All were robustos except:

Oliva V: 6"x56 torpedo ( it was really magnificent looking! )
Oliva g maduro: Churchhill i think
CAO Italia: 5"x56 Ciao
Nub Cameroon: 4"x60

By the way, take my reviews with a grain of salt... my palate in not well developed at all.

[rajuabju]

Very nice reviews... My next purchase will be the RP Decade's, all these positive reviews have me very excited!!

[MrMayorga]

Sounds like you had a good time and were able to expand your horizons. Both are good things! Nice mini reviews also. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[madurolover]

If you like the "V" torpedo then you must try the lancero. To me it is the star of the line-up, in fact it is the only one I like in the line. The other sizes i find to be quite subpar but the lancero is outstanding in every way.

[92hatchattack]

^^^ Interesting. There are so many diffrent cigars out there to try thats it just crazy to think about trying them all, let alone trying them all in diffrent sizes.... the selection really is increadable.


If anyone has had completely diferent experiences with some of the smokes i have had and think i need to revisit i will surely consider your input, as well as anyone that may have suggestions of other cigars i should try based on my likings.

This is a seriously terrible hoby/obsession. It seems that at all times now i have at least 15-20 cigars at anytime in my box that i have not tried, and i am constantly asking for recomendations for more.... oh, and the wife is starting to get annoyed..... oh well LOL

[Uruss]

hey there! glad to see you liked some of them, especially the Oliva V, that's an excellent stick! and I agree the Nub Maduro is great aswell. there's a few on here I havent yet tried and have been meaning to, the Olde World Reserve and the Decade, so thanks for convincing me to try them out sooner!
I had my first CAO Italia earlier (box-pressed) which was a great smoke also, I'll be picking up a few more soon. I'd also say give the RP 1990 another shot.
Thanks for the reviews!

[Uruss]

sorry for another post. but I forgot to add you should try out a Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short story or Signature. aswell as a 601 Blue.

[Cigar Man Andy]

When I travel, I like to try house brands from other areas. I am going to Jersey next week and look for some new sticks.

[tx_tuff]

Very cool thread. If you liked the Oliva V and OWR Corojo you should try some more Nicaraguan cigars, seems they will fit your profile. Pepin makes a lot of Nicaraguan cigars with Cojoro, also Illsione and Padilla 1932 amd Miami.

Good luck!

[92hatchattack]

Thanks guys. I got a pepin sampler about a week ago now and i think i will let them rest till the end of the summer. Cant wait to give them a try!