Arganese FDW Maduro Torpedo review

[gjcab09]

"The first draw of these cigars are the wrapper. Each wrapper is tucked in. The FDW is a unique experience to smoke! Available in the old Cuban style pigtails or torpedo"

I got that right off the Arganese website, I was given two of these at an Arganese event at the local B&M a couple of weeks ago, and I've been waiting for the proper timing to try one, I guess tonight's the night.

First impressions: These are large cigars, I didn't measure and haven't researched the exact sizing, but they're 6-plus inches and they remind me of the Nub 358 that I smoked the other daywhen it comes to girth. The wrapper is dark and oily with some small veins visible near the foot end. That doesn't bother me. I like being reminded that these things are made out of actual leaves.

Light-up and first draw: Toasted up the foot, being a little unsure of what the 1st draw would be like, covered by the wrapper as its moniker implies...got everything nicely glowing and pressed this beauty to my lips in anticipation of something....well..something. What I got was a 1st draw almost indiscernible from sucking air through a straw...where's the flavor??? Try again...nothing, and again...still nothing...look at the cigar...yup, it's lit, wispy, white, smoke curling off the foot floating gently into the evening sky. Puff...puff...puff...exhale...yup, that same thin smoke is wafting from my mouth, but where's the flippin' taste?? I start to regret my decision and wonder what I'm going to be smoking an hour and a half from now to try and salvage the evening.





Finally after about 3/4" into the smoke, I started picking up some very mild coffee notes, not esspresso, mind you, but something very mild and smooth. I also started picking up anicotine buzz about then, but am unsure if it was the cigar, or just my furious puffing that brought it on. I lost the ash when I decided to clip the end a bit more to improve the slightly hard draw.

2nd 3rd: The darn thing went out, shortly after the flavor began to develop a little more. This is not uncommon for Arganese in my neck of the woods and I'm still not sure how to completely correct it, perhaps more "counter time" is in order for this brand.




Relight: The flavor is still on the very mild side, light coffee, no cream. I feel like I've gotta puff away on this thing like a steam engine just to keep it from tunneling itself out of sight. I'm an Arganese fan, but this one's turning into quite a disappointment for me. , It doesn't taste bad, it just doesn't taste.




3rd 3rd: A hint of spiciness is beginning to kick in, and the coffee taste has matured into a more medium-bodied essence coupled with a nice woodiness, still none of the creaminess that I’ve come to expect from my fav’s, the ML3. It least this won’t be a total write-off. The smoke has improved also. I wouldn’t say that it’s “billowing”, but at least it’s passable, and the burn issues seem to have corrected themselves finally. The nic buzz is still hanging in there, but it’s not overpowering, and I’m nice and relaxed with about an inch and a half to go.



Final Thoughts: With a flavor profile this mild, I need some creaminess to keep me interested in the smoke, and while it did beef up on flavor and spiciness towards the end, it’s not something that I’ll purchase.
Sorry about the quality of the pics…camera phone.
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