First Review: Helix 550

[steelheaderdu]

Guys,

Please bear with me, this is my first review. I walked into a cigar shop today to inquire about a humidor, and I always feel like a douche walking out with nothing, so I decided to take my chances on one of these Helixs. Heard a little bit about them...

Anyway heres the short review:

Appearance: very nice, maduro wrapper. Well constructed nice cap

Draw: very nice, not too light, not too firm. Wish they were all like this.

Creamy smoke, more than medium bodied in my opinion. I hate trying to describe the taste, but maybe some hints of chocolate in the first 1/3?? Not nearly as harsh as I expected, very smooth despite the heavy body. Also a very nice aroma. The burn was even throughout, moreso than 3/4s of the cigars I usually smoke.

Finsih was peppery, very nice. Almost nubbed it, but the wife was hinting that dinner get on the grill. Too many things going on at once, and unfortunately, the cigar suffered.

Definitely a good buy from some online retailers at less than $50/box. I think I'll be picking some of these up once I get my cabinet humidor. That reminds me, anyone know where I can get a decent one under $300?

Hopefully the review is alright. I haven't smoked enough cigars to truly discern the different intricate tastes between them all. However, when I smoke them one after another, I can definitely pick up on the differences quickly...

John

[volfan]

Nice review for your first one. This got reviewed earlier today as well.

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9999



Scottie

[steelheaderdu]

guess I should have looked a little bit closer to all the threads.. Also looks like maybe I'm not adept enough to discern the strength of the smoke yet. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of the other review.

[volfan]

When I first really started liking cigars, I thought that Ashton Classic was a very good and flavorful cigar....fast forward a few months and I am smoking JdN Antano, LFD Double Ligero, Camacho, and RP Edge and the Ashton is like smoking air to me. With that being said, I still smoke a Helix Maduro (sometimes the Tubular and sometimes the X550) every Monday morning at 3am on my drive to the airport to fly out. There are some times that I need a milder cigar and 3am with no breakfast fits the bill for me. It has nothing to do with being adept, taste and strength are subjective in that what you like and what has good strength for you is what you should smoke. Someone on this board has a signature that says "smoke what you like and like what you smoke" and I believe that is what we all should do. If all of our tastes were the same, we would all be trying to buy the same cigars. I feel like you did a good review and as your tastes change, you may think that the Helix weakens up and you may not and frankly it should not matter as long as you like it. If you have any questions feel free to let me know and keep doing reviews as I liked yours.

Scottie

[steelheaderdu]

Thanks for the encouragement, Scottie. I'll definitely be posting more reviews. Just let me know if I'm wayyyy off base with something. I wont be embarrassed.

John

[SHOE]

The Helix is a good "mild" smoke. Definitely a good "starter" maduro. My B&M keeps them in stock because the regulars fall back to them quite frequently. My tastes changed, too, and I went to cigars with more kick but I like one occassionally. I like them enough to have bought a box of tubos a month or so ago ($40.00). Other than a lack of complexity, I have no complaints about Helix.

[volfan]

You will only be off base if you take people's different tastes as something other than what it is.....personal taste. When I first started posting reviews a few weeks back, I noticed that other people put down how they feel and sometimes people agree and sometimes they do not. That is one of the great things about this habit/hobby is learning what we like and do not like and not letting other people's reviews skew our tastes. Keep trucking and if you get way off base, other people will jump in.

btw the tubos/tubulars have a better taste than the X550s IMHO so try them if you get a chance. They are thinner which gives the wrapper more play on the palate and like SHOE said " other than being one-dimensional" they are a fine smoke and a definitel bargain.

Scottie

[luckybandit]

Have also tried and enjoy the helix line of cigars. They are very well constructed, very easy to light. very nice draw, great burn and ash. Have a nice simple flavor. I enjoy mostly the 542 helix. Can not beat the price and i think they will age nicely in my humi. At the price they are going for it is a good all around stick, won't rock the budget and especially for moochers too. Most of the auction sites are constantly running some deal or another.

luckybandit

[KASR]

Sounds like a good all-time smoke! Thanks for the review.

KASR

[palm55]

Excellent review! And (IMHO) it's GOOD to have reviews of the same cigar from several BOTLs!

I've found the Helix to be a nice mild-medium that really hits the spot on a warm day... I'd say it's comparable to a Macanudo, but leaves you with enough change to order a beer!

[TechMetalMan]

Thanks for the review! I've always passed Helix because they seem to target a younger audience with their bands and such (this is ironic because I'm 18!) and to me that makes it seem like it isn't a "real" cigar.

But based on the reviews recently they sound like they are a good smoke, and I notice that they are quite cheap, so maybe I will grab a few of these in the future.

Edit- Also that is a fine review for your first! Keep 'em comin'!

[Full Bodied Bruce]

Nice review ,thank you.

[jxpfeer]

nice review. I haven't had any of the helix maduros but now i think i'm going to try one!

[c2000]

Good first review..I've smoked so many of them,,I can't look them in the face anymore..The natural is too mild for me and the maduro has kind of a funky taste to it..Like I said I just think I got sick of them...

Jerry in Minnesota.

[steelheaderdu]

I also tasted that different taste but couldn't put my finger on it. Wasn't bad, just a little different. I'm sure being able to differentiate the flavors will come with time..