601 Oscuro Cigars (green Label) Review

[malinois1]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Hi Folks, This is my first review ever so I am sure it won’t be the greatest. I don’t claim to be a super taster by any means, in fact, I may be just lousy. I liked the format that RevSmoke used for his review and I decided to borrow it. Yesterday I was at the B&M and I saw some 601’s which I have been wanting to try, so I picked up 1 red, 1 blue, and 2 greens. I got 2 greens because I figured I would like them better since I tend to like darker wrappers. Anyway, enough of the small talk, and let's get on to the review. I just wished I would have critiqued the red label more closely for comparison but, I was so excited I think I premature ejaculated. Below is an explanation of the rating system I was using.[/FONT]
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0.0 - 2.0 = poor/inferior quality
2.1 - 2.9 = fair
3.0 - 3.5 = good
3.5 - 4.5 = excellent
4.6 - 5.0 = superior

1) Aesthetics: The 601 came wrapped in cellophane. The shape was the La Punta which is a perfecto type shape. It had a medium dark wrapper with an beautiful oily appearance with nice veins and absolutely wonderful to look at. Cigar measures a very generous 5.5 x 52.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Score for aesthetics: 4.9

2) Pre-light Construction: I rolled the cigar between my fingers and it fas firm from head to foot with a good weight to it. It was perfectly rolled with no flaws. The pre-light dram seemed like it may be just a tad tighter than I may like. I guess we will see though as the proof is in the smoke. The cigar has a nice earthy smell similar to that of a barnyard IMO, which is quite similar to that of an Indian Tobac Maduro. [/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']
Score for Pre-light construction: 4.9

3) Post-light Construction/How it smoked: Even the this smoke seemed tight for the pre-light the dram was perfect once lit giving a wonderfully full mouth of smoke. I did have to touch up the cigar twice but it was very minor and not distracting from the smoke. It smoke very cool down to the end and had a nice gray ash. It only ashed twice, once about halfway through, and again towards the end. The ash was tight and not flaky.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Score for post-light construction: 4.7

4) Flavor and strength: The 601 is a full bodied cigar in both flavor and strength. Upon first light you are greeted with lots of white pepper spice with maybe a hint of sweetness in the background. After a ¼ of an inch or so the spice settles down 2 or 3 notches and a cedar taste comes to the front with hints of coffee and an earthy taste in the background. By the end of the first third the spice is still there but only subtlety in the background. The cedar and a hint of sweetness are in the forefront. I can’t describe the sweetness though, but it is something I taste in most Pepin’s.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']In the 2nd 3rd The spice has nearly vanished leaving the cedar taste in the front and a woodsy flavor to the back and still a slight hint of sweetness. In the later part of the 2/3 the sweetness builds. The sweetness is almost like an anise liquor flavor. The type that was homemade like I used to sample from my grandfather when I was younger and he was still alive. I really enjoy this taste.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']In the last 3rd I start getting a black coffee taste (bitter sweet) with hints of cedar. As it gets closer to the end a strong earthy taste starts to take over. With this taste seems to come a big nicotine rush and I figured I had better put it out before it whoops my butt. It was maybe ¾ of an inch by that time though so no real loss, but I didn’t nub it for the reason above. Overall a full flavor but I prefer the flavors in the 601 red. It was good but not quite right for my taste. The strength was very powerful about the same nicotine as the red.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Score for flavor and strength: 4.3

5) Aftertaste/Finish: The aftertaste is quite pleasant, sometimes black coffee, sometime sweet anise, and most of the time cedary. It is pretty heavy on the palate. [/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Score for aftertaste: 4.2

6) Aroma: The aroma is outstanding. It changed throughout the smoke. It was peppery at first then woodsy, sometimes sweet or towards the end earthy.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'] Score for aroma: 4.5

7) General Comments: This is an excellent smoke that would be more suited as an evening smoke after a nice diner. Although I did enjoy the smoke very much I think that I like the red label quite a bit better in the flavor department. Of course though YMMV as everyone has different taste, likes and dislikes.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']
Overall score for the cigar: 4.5

Recommendation: I would recommend this cigar to someone who enjoys very full cigars and dark full taste.[/FONT]
[SIZE=3]I hope everyone enjoyed my first review! Maybe it might help boost my ring gauge![/SIZE]

[BagfullofPings]

Nice review!

[Silound]

Great review!

I see you're a fellow leafer from Lafayette. Stop by the Cigar Merchant one afternoon and let's chat it up and smoke a few! I work Monday or Wednesday after 3.

[jkorp]

Great review, I love this cigar.

[malinois1]

Originally Posted by Silound

Great review!

I see you're a fellow leafer from Lafayette. Stop by the Cigar Merchant one afternoon and let's chat it up and smoke a few! I work Monday or Wednesday after 3.

Thanks everyone for the nice compliments.

Silound, As a matter of fact I picked up the 601's from The Cigar Merchant Yesterday. Sounds like a plan to meet there one of these days! I would really enjoy that. You work at the Merchant? If so I may have seen you there before.

[Silound]

Don't think so, I'm fresh meat

Originally Posted by malinois1

Thanks everyone for the nice compliments.

Silound, As a matter of fact I picked up the 601's from The Cigar Merchant Yesterday. Sounds like a plan to meet there one of these days! I would really enjoy that. You work at the Merchant? If so I may have seen you there before.

[malinois1]

Originally Posted by Silound

Don't think so, I'm fresh meat

I will have to show up one of these Wednesdays then. I will drop you a PM though to be sure you will be there!

[beamish]

love those smokes....

[Isombitch]

Great review on a great cigar!

I like the La Punta and the Corona the best.

[tym2relax]

Nice review. This is a great cigar. You may want to try the Blue label as well. Oh, so good....

[tedrodgerscpa]

Smoking one right now.

Still a bit wet from the truck (cbid fiver purchase), but all in all a very good full bodied cigar.

I think it would smoke even better at a lower RH (say 60~62%)

[malinois1]

Mine was pretty fresh too. I may give it another shot later today.

[malinois1]

Almost finished smoking this one again at lower humidity. The taste went up a notch or two. Great cigar and I definately recommend it. Although I think I still rather the red by a slight margin. I will be smoking so more of these though!

[Gamecock]

Originally Posted by tedrodgerscpa

I think it would smoke even better at a lower RH (say 60~62%)

Prof. Ted:

In my experience, I have found that most Pepins do smoke well at lower RH levels...maybe its his Cuban influence?

Gamecock

[tedrodgerscpa]

Originally Posted by Gamecock

Prof. Ted:

In my experience, I have found that most Pepins do smoke well at lower RH levels...maybe its his Cuban influence?

Gamecock

Agreed! I really should have given this one another day or two to come down, but patience is NOT my strong suit!