CFB PSD4 by Altbier

[G-Man]

Okay, I bit. I have a couple of the 5ers on the way. I can't wait until they get here. Because of SeanGar, I even added a bundle of the Habanos Puros Rosada's. $15 for a bundle of 20, I figure I can pitch em if I don't like them or send them to Sean.

Thanks for the heads up.

[SeanGAR]

Physical apperance
CFB - nice looking wrapper, small veins, slightly darker than the real PSD4, not quite as nicely rolled but still quite nice.

Prelight draw

CFB - Overtly Nicaraguan. The real PSD4 didn't have much prelight flavor, slight sweet tobacco with a tiny tiny bit of barny character.

I am smoking them side by side on the back porch after work. This is a live interview, I'll come in from outside from time to time to post impressions.

Startup

CFB - straightforward wood, reminded me of the last short story that I had in the mono-dimensional wood character I find. Burn is perfect, ash is gray, but lighter than PSD4. The PSD4 is more complex, some wood, some creamy flavors. I'd say the CFB is a bit loose draw and the PSD4 a bit tight.

First third

A bit of grassy Dominican character coming out of the CFB, burning better than the PSD4, better ash firmness. PSD4 is kinda muted, this wasn't the best batch of them I've had, complex flavors, no strong Cuban twang and not the blockbuster some of these are. Sidestream smoke is floral and quite nice in the CFB, the PSD4 is similar actually but is more complex & pleasant.

Second third

PSD4 is getting heavier and spicier, CFB is still reminding me of a Dominican-Nicaraguan mix, the wood has lightened up, a little bit more complexity but the PSD4 is much richer and complex. The CFB puts out gobs of smoke, really a fun cigar to try and blow smoke rings with.

Last third

The PSD4 is bring home the bacon, rich and satisfying, the CFB is returning to mainly wood. I haven't had to touch my lighter for either of them, both are burning like champs.

Final Impressions

The CFB reminded me of a Nicaraguan spiked Dominican, 2/3 Dominican and 1/3 Nicaraguan if I am rash enough to hazard a guess on the blend, possibly something else (Honduran) but I doubt it. If there is more Nicaraguan than this I would guess that the tobacco is very well aged.

An excellent smoke nonetheless even though a three dollar cigar doesn't fit bundle category pricing for me. The price is less than half a PSD4. If you like woody smokes the CFB PSF4 clone is a winner but in final analysis doesn't have a heck of a lot of similarity to the PSD4 I am smoking beside it. Like I said earlier though, I've had other PSD4s that were barn burners, this one is not like that. Will I buy a bundle of the CFB PSD4s? Maybe, I'll smoke another alongside a Puros Habanos rosada and make my decision at that time.

Very nice cigar George even if I don't find it fits the PSD4 profile very well. Thanks for letting us know about this line.

[G-Man]

Wow Sean, that was a great review/comparison.

Thanks for taking the time to share with everyone.

[SeanGAR]

Smoked the CFB RASS tonight and a Habanos Puros Rosada torp this morning. I like the RASS better than the PSD4, and the construction was superb, but for the money the Rosadas get my vote.

[floydp]

Nice compare Sean, gonna grab some at Mikeys saturday. A nice heads up George..

[partagaspete]

You got me going...bought a cabinet of Party shorts two nights ago. Now I am ordering a bundle of these. DAMN Slippery slope. I am glad my wife is understanding.

T

[Franksmith]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

I think the concept of "beer futures" deserves scrutiny......

Now THAT is funny!!

[uncle mikey]

[QUOTE=SeanGAR]Physical apperance
CFB - nice looking wrapper, small veins, slightly darker than the real PSD4, not quite as nicely rolled but still quite nice.

Nice review SeanGar. I don't know if you saw the email I sent to my site mailing list but in it I am telling folks that I don't have too much info on these. However, I have reorderd from the supplier five time since the special started on May 9th and each time I do get a bit more info. Only the HDM line has any Dominican tobacco. The PSD is almost completely Nicaraguan as I am told. The tobaccos are well aged before rolling and the cigar are somewhere between 60-90 days old. One discrepency I am finding in this line when comparing to my ISOM's is the color. For example, the Monti 4's are darker and the Trinidad is also. Some of the other lines are right on and for taste and flavor profile there are several other threads out there that find the PSD-4 to be a dead ringer. Taste is objective and I think your review was perfect for what you were finding. Thanks for taking the time to give this line a go and this great review. mb

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by uncle mikey

Taste is objective and I think your review was perfect for what you were finding. Thanks for taking the time to give this line a go and this great review. mb

I'm interested in trying the others in these lines, I liked the RASS much better than the PSD4, although I only had one of each.

If it is all Nicaraguan tobacco then I'd guess they are really well aged. The only other Nic that had be buffaloed was 5-7 years old and it lost some of the Nic edge and became more like a Dominican according to my taste.

The RASS I found a lot more complex and enjoyable than the PSD4. In either case, the burns were just great, the construction on this line is really excellent.

Any idea on what wrapper they are using?

[uncle mikey]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

I'm interested in trying the others in these lines, I liked the RASS much better than the PSD4, although I only had one of each.

If it is all Nicaraguan tobacco then I'd guess they are really well aged. The only other Nic that had be buffaloed was 5-7 years old and it lost some of the Nic edge and became more like a Dominican according to my taste.

The RASS I found a lot more complex and enjoyable than the PSD4. In either case, the burns were just great, the construction on this line is really excellent.

Any idea on what wrapper they are using?

Sean, I am only guessing but I do believe some of them are Criollo. What the others are is a guess. Yes this batch was aged a bit longer then the product coming into the country now. In fact they are rested only 30-60 days. The supplier has had the line for about five months and I have sold more in two weeks then he has in five months. He just orderd more to cover what I am doing.

As for complex when you give these another try you might want to give the Monti Edmundo a go. I am likeing this cigar and the Trinidad Fundadore is a good one if you like 7.5x40 cigars. I just orderd the Trinidad Robusto Extra and am hoping they are like the skinny cousine. I have never smoked an ISOM Robusto Extra but from what I can see so far so what. They are just good cigars no matter what they are called. mb

[txmatt]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

Smoked the CFB RASS tonight and a Habanos Puros Rosada torp this morning. I like the RASS better than the PSD4, and the construction was superb, but for the money the Rosadas get my vote.

Quit talking those up damnit; there isn't a limitless supply of these old blend cigars you know?!?!

I have had almost 2 bundles aging in a cab for several months now that I am trying not to touch for a year; which means I need to have Aaron order me some more when I get back to work in 10 days.

[cohiba204]

Been lurking around here and haven't seen any comments on these. I have tried the #4, Punch Punch, Siglo VI, Edmundo and Esplindido's. Although they are not exact copies of their Cuban cousins I have found them to be great smokes full of flavor. They are very young and I believe they will only get better with a little time. What's everyone else think about them?

[SeanGAR]

I liked the RASS a lot, but I need to smoke more of them. I've been busy smoking the Habanos Puros, which I really enjoy and have been keeping me from doing more damage to the CFB line.

I bought a box of Alec Bradley Trilogy authentic corojo when I was at Mike's last weekend ... another great smoke for around 2 bucks by the box (I like the cameroon as well but like the extra punch the corojos have). Smoked one the other day when staining my deck ... what a great deck staining cigar LOL.

[CurlyGQ2]

Guys,

I couldn't resist either. I just ordered a couple singles of each PSD4, RASS, and M2 - first time from Uncle Mikey.

And SeanGAR, I threw in a box of the Habanos Puros Rosados (old blend) too. I'll light one up for you.

I can't wait to try these out. I can't ever remember being this excited over a cigar in this price range. You guys rock!

[altbier]

It is like crack! I swear! I smoked the rest of my bundle last week in Florida, shared all of another bundle, and come Friday I realized I was out. Made my 15 hour car drive longer because I was longing for one.