Review: Camacho Conneticut...Fuzzy pics

[Herf N Turf]

Brand: Camacho
Band: Conneticut
Vitola:11/18 (6X48-54-4
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Conneticut
Binder: Honduras
Fillers: Ecuador, Dominican Republic
Appearance: Excellent
Construction: Excellent
Draw: Light
Body: Medium-FULL
Strength: Medium
Flavor:
Burn: Excellent
Price paid: $6.00 B&M Single
Paired with: The Famous Grouse/Bacardi 8





I generally don't smoke anything that hasn't had a little rest in my own personal humis, but since this is relatively new, has been hyped to me as smoking well by a couple of trusted BOTLs and wanting to be the first to go to press here at PUFF, I decided to ignore all my rules and torch one.

Initial Impressions and Prelight:

This is a really attractive cigar. The white band compliments a very light-colored conneticut wrapper, which is extraordinarily silky-smooth. Only one prominent vein appears and it is nearly perfectly straight on the longitudinal axis. The vitola itself is also eye-appealing, with its characteristic bulging midsection.



The prelight nose is of almonds, somewhat sweet tobacco and a hint of hay. Very pleasing, promising a much milder smoke than most Camacho blends. Interestingly, one can easily distinguish both ecuadoran and dominican aromas.

Prelight draw actually surprised me. It's as nice a draw as I've ever had. Very easy, with just the right amount of tension.

First third:

What I said in the beginning about this thing being mild? WOW... NOT! It hits hard in the first half inch, with pepper, spice and everything nice. Hey, it's a Camacho!

At almost exactly the one inch mark, the ash (light gray with heavy black striations) plopped off and something really wonderful began. The cigar really came into its own. It began giving up flavors of almonds, wood and freshly mown hay.

Camacho calls this mild and for Camacho, it certainly is. Camacho is in the business of building freight trains, so think of this as a narrow-guage steam engine. Definitely not mild when compared to others. I'd call it a solid medium, in terms of strength... first half inch notwithstanding.

Second Third:

I cannot say enough good about the draw on this cigar. I tend to appreciate a wide range of draw tensions, but if I could have the draw of this cigar on everyone I ever smoked, I'd be a very happy puffer. It was simply perfect.



Flavor wise, at this point, there was something missing. All of the above elements were still in place, but rather like a Pepin stick, they simply weren't maturing. It was lacking complexity. It wasn't quite Dominican and not quite Ecuadoran and the two bacc'ies weren't melding into a gesalt. They were just sort of laying there. At this point, I decided to switch to a Bacardi 8. Oftimes, a sweeter spirity will open up a cigar that's just not quite "happening". Stay tuned.

It should also be stated that this is NOT your dad's Conneticut wrapper. It tastes nothing like typical Conneticut wrappers. Honestly, it screams Davidoff!

I was right! The rum definitely opened up the flavor. Almonds, turned into almondine. Cream, turned into sweet cream and woody flavors opened tremendously in character. Rootbeer, or sweet tea might work well with this cigar.

The body remained characteristically Camacho-full. Lots of big smoke, which lays heavy and definite on the palate. You know you're smoking a serious cigar.

Final Third:

Citrus essence began to step forward. More lemony than orange. More juice and pulp than peel. There was more long awaited complexity developing. It had finally grabbed, and was able to hold, my attention.



End Game:

This was a really nice cigar to smoke. The draw and burn qualities could not be denied and often overcame other issues. I really think a smaller vitola would outpace this one. I think the blend would be better appreciated from a more pronounced wrapper presence.

I liked the fact that the flavors changed, albeit not a lot. It wasn't a Pepin, "one trick pony", but it was also not an Opus xXx, Ashton VSG, or LGC Serie R.

Overall:

Good smoke for the price paid.

I recommend trying one, as I think this could be something great for some palates.

[Herf N Turf]

Sheesh! I bust my ballocks to write a good review for the fish, on a brand new release and I can't even buy a response? Is the entire ocean sleeping? Or, is it because the word, "Pepin", isn't in the title?

[SkinsFanLarry]

Don, great review and fantastic pic's my brother!

I personally like the Camacho Connecticut, just the right amount of umph, but without the usual Camacho "bite".

Again, top-notch review my brother!

[SmokeRings]

I was recently at a Camacho event and had the pleasure to smoke one of these bad boys, it was a smaller vitola and as you said, the flavors did meld much better. IMO this is a fantastic connecticut wrapped smoke, normally when I see a connecticut wrapper I think mild-medium at best, this is not the case with this stick. definitely alot of flavor.

thanks for the review brother, very well done!

[smokin nightly]

Don...Thanks for the great review...what is the dimensions of this cigar? does it get bigger in the middle or something? thanks again...

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by smokin nightly

...what is the dimensions of this cigar? does it get bigger in the middle or something?

Yep. 6 x 48/54/48

As I always do, I bought two of these. Im going to let the other sit a bit and see if I cant get the flavors married better.

[commonsenseman]

Great review, this is one of the few Camachos I haven't tried yet, looking forward to it now though!

[Raybird]

Great review - this has become one of my regular smokes (enjoying one now in fact)!

[slyder]

great review! I havent tried a single Camacho yet. Might have to try this one first if the others are that big of power houses.

[thrasher64]

Another Camacho virgin here.. But I keep hearing good things about the name

[Jack Straw]

Sounds good! I love the camachos.

[andrew s]

Went by the local B&M today and picked one up due to your review. I'm going to smoke it soon.

Thanks for the review.