CFB PSD4 by Altbier

[RPB67]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thats a real good review. Thanks for taking the time out to post such a good detailed review.

[uncle mikey]

Originally Posted by RPB67

Thats a real good review. Thanks for taking the time out to post such a good detailed review.

Currently smoking a Sancho Panza Belicoso. There is an effect Nicaraguan tobacco has on me personally. Puros give me hiccups. This Sancho is giving me hiccups so I am guessing the predominance of Nicaraguan tobacco. Same medium body prifile as I remember with the ISOM Sancho Beli but I can't remember the taste or flavor because I don't smoke that line for the most part unless it is gifted. The cigar overall is bruning like a champ and the taste is very appealing. I would use this with a strong fish dinner or pasta. mb

[Mr. White]

no strong Cuban twang

The closest I've come to this in domestics is the Opus X. That Twang that you speak of Seangar is what I have been looking to find recently. There's a certain spice that the cigars Ninja Vanish has gifted me that I'm guessing is this twang you speak of.

The Cohiba I had (Thanks Ninja Vanish. ) Had that Spice, and one of the smaller Cigars, I believe it was a Partagas (Thanks again Ninja Vanish ) also had it. And the Opus is the only domestic that I could say even comes CLOSE to it.

The problem that I've found is that all the domestics that try to imitate that twang (besides the over-priced Opus) end up overdoing it and the flavor turns to burnt paper rather than that Cuban Twang of spice.

I'm trying REALLY hard to find reasonable priced smokes that will give me what I want, but I think I'm fighting a losing battle here. Which makes my pocketbook very sad. hehe.

[GOAT LOCKER]

Well, after reading here, and seeing a feeding frenzy on another forum, I decided to order a few and see what the fuss is all about! So, today I found a package in my mailbox from Uncle Mikey. It has some RASS, PSD4, Cohiba Piramide and Party Piramide. They look nice, and do have a "poo" smell, but it's not that same poo smell we all love . I'll let them sit a while and give em a shot soon.

[uncle mikey]

Originally Posted by GOAT LOCKER

Well, after reading here, and seeing a feeding frenzy on another forum, I decided to order a few and see what the fuss is all about! So, today I found a package in my mailbox from Uncle Mikey. It has some RASS, PSD4, Cohiba Piramide and Party Piramide. They look nice, and do have a "poo" smell, but it's not that same poo smell we all love . I'll let them sit a while and give em a shot soon.

Goat Locker, a better idea might be to smoke one each ott while they are wet and fresh and then a better comparison could be made after the balance rests in correct humidification. As for the poo smell....we use bat poo instead of goat poo. LOL I do find it interesting that most of these lines do have the barnyard type of aroma. mb

[partagaspete]

Originally Posted by uncle mikey

Goat Locker, a better idea might be to smoke one each ott while they are wet and fresh and then a better comparison could be made after the balance rests in correct humidification. As for the poo smell....we use bat poo instead of goat poo. LOL I do find it interesting that most of these lines do have the barnyard type of aroma. mb

MMmmmmmnnn Guano MMMMnnnnn!

[uncle mikey]

Originally Posted by partagaspete

MMmmmmmnnn Guano MMMMnnnnn!

Yessssss, there's something special about the smell of Guano in the Morning. mb

[Foz]

I've tried the PSD4 and the RASS, both good cigars. Haven't tried a real PSD4 yet but I smoked the RASS back to back with a real one. Not quite the same but a good smoke none-the-less.

[knuckles]

Hey Altbier...

Which cigar did you hand me while at LJ's? I believe you gave Ron1YY the CFB PSD4, but I can't remember (maybe it was the Port wine) which one I got. It's been sitting in the humi since I received it, and with all the talk in this thread i'm thinking I need to get that out and try it!

[altbier]

It was either the PSD4 or MC2. I think yours is a MC2. Enjoy!

[knuckles]

Originally Posted by altbier

It was either the PSD4 or MC2. I think yours is a MC2. Enjoy!

Right - it is an MC2. I'll be enjoying it soon! Thanks again.

[Eichen]

Everybody loves this thread!

Smoking the second of my PSD4 samples right now. I can't say what the island version is like but this is a d@mn fine smoke that I'd be happy to have on hand anytime.

To me anyway it does seem to have a "twang" in the same sense that I get a "twangy" kind of pleasant citrus-like (sort of) sourness from a Camacho sometimes. This is especially noticable in the finish (kind of reminds me a bit of the kind of aftertaste I get from a Belgian sour brown ale). I taste more earth than wood but hey, taste is subjective... Great aroma (I'd say the aroma really is one of the best aspects of this cigar). Great smoking experience. The smoke has a nice creamy, velvety texture. Good stuff.

Even if it doesn't perform exactly like a Havana, it still is an excellent cigar in its own right and worth the relatively high price for a bundled cigar IMO.

This stick's a nubber.

Save some for me!

-E

[knuckles]

Originally Posted by altbier

It was either the PSD4 or MC2. I think yours is a MC2. Enjoy!

Well, I just finished the CFB MC2 that the gracious Altbier supplied me with a couple of weeks ago, and I'm in agreement with most posts here… a very pleasant smoke! My humi is currently budging a bit at the moment, but when room opens up I'll have to order some of those PSD4's (and possibly others) to try.

[altbier]

Damn, these beer futures are getting expensive!

[galaga]

Smoked the sticks that I got from Funnymantrip, who was kind enough to trade cigars with me so I could get the CFB PDS4 and CFB Monte2. Smoked the PDS4 about two weeks ago and must day that Sean's review nailed it. It was an enjoyable smoke but not something I would chase after. The Monte 2 however was smoked last night and was really nice, of course the extra weeks of resting and the Guinness around the firepit with friends could have influanced me but WTH. Memorable traits of the CFB MC2. Occasionally, in the humidor, it has that chocolately smell in the wrapper. Not always, and I don't really understand why. Nice construction, pre lite draw was of aged tobacco. The wrapper has a soft feel to it! Lit easily, smoked well until the last third when it went out as I was talking. Thought I would have trouble getting it re-lit but came back like a champ. Lots of smoke and a very slow burn. Flavor was of tobacco with sweet cedar overtone, nothing too heavy. It was missing that chocolate taste that I found in the only MC2 I've smoked so that complexity wasn't there but it was nice. About the middle it got some complexity to it that lasted for a few minutes but then kept dissapearing more that it stayed around. If the complexity would have stayed I would be raving about this cigar. As it is I would say this one is a winner, on par with the Edge maduro by R Patel, but with a mellower, sweet cedar flavor profile. Thanks to all who helped get those cigars into my greedy little hands, esp. FMT for trading a couple with me. Its nice to find a bargain!