Mark on Mark challenge!

[Mark]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

LET IT BE KNOWN THAT MARK (WOLFGANG) AND MARK (MARK) HAVE TRADED FIVE UN-BANDED CIGARS FOR BLIND REVIEW.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/iamkram/1151.jpg

If you think this is bad, you should see the thread titles that were passed up! (Ask Dooge) :r

-Mark

[Dooge]

yes, ask me

[Emjaysmash]

yes, ask me
Ahem...

What thread titles were passed up?

[MedicCook]

Ahem...

What thread titles were passed up?

:tpd:

[troutbreath]

This should be fun. That picture is hilarious!

[G G]

woot woot. Jr. Mint likes it when I type it out instead of using the graphic one.

[Mark]

False start: reviews start tomorrow (my end at least).

:D

[Don Fernando]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/iamkram/1151.jpg


Mark on Mark challenge, why post a picture of Bao?

[Scottw]

2 Marks 1 cup?

[Starscream]

Mark on Mark challenge, why post a picture of Bao?

:r

[Wolfgang]

Ill smoke my first one tomorrow. Just got home from a long trip to see family. Nice thread title. Let it be known that I am the big spoon! :hn

[Mark]

Cigar 1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/iamkram/DSCF8113.jpg

Cigar 1 is a 6x54 torpedo with what seems to be a Connecticut shade wrapper on it. Pre-light draw is easy and full of light, sweet tobacco.

First Impressions: The cigar started exceedingly spicy on my lips, with quite a bite to the smoke. It was a tiny bit sweet, but very dry and dusty. There was also a bit of hay/grassy flavor.

One Quarter: The cigar is still rather dusty, but that is starting to fade a bit. There are light coffee notes along with the hay. Not too much has changed, although it has mellowed out and the spice in the smoke and on the cap is gone. I was able to stand it up on its ash for a bit too!

One Half: The cigar continues to mellow even more, and all flavors subside except for a plastic-y overtone to the smoke with a bit of old coffee grounds. Burn is razor sharp!

Three Quarters: The plastic is still there, along with some cedar undertones and what I can only describe as artificial fruit flavor popping in and out every few minutes.

Final Thoughts: This cigar was much too mild for me, and the plastic flavor is almost unbearable.

Construction: 8/10
Flavor: 8/20
Ash/Burn: 5/5
Overall: 6/10

Prediction: This is a 5 Vegas Gold




How'd I do? :D

[Wolfgang]

Close but no cigar!

you smoked a Zino Platinum Crown Rocket. :ss

[Mark]

Close but no cigar!

you smoked a Zino Platinum Crown Rocket. :ss

Well, it was SOME sort of rocket, thats for sure!

:r

But, WOW. Really? Thats...amazing! When I first puffed it I thought to myself "This is DEFINITELY dominican!" Seriously - I even wrote it on my sheet. But as I was more and more convinced it was a 5 Vegas Gold, I abandoned that. Trust your first intuition, I guess.

This was fun! Lets do it again :D (four more times...)

-Mark

[Wolfgang]

Smoked my first of the 5. Its taken me a long time ot get to it but trust me im back on track.

Cigar 1 is a 6x54 Beli with what seems to be a Maduro wrapper on it. Pre-light draw is normal and full of tobacco.

First Impressions: Very dark yet not dyed. NICE! Nothing worse than brown lipstick after a dyed cigar.

One Quarter: Very spicy off the bat. Im thinking it was an Oliva V maddy at this point.

One Half: The spice goes away and is replaced with a sort of coacoa coffee flavor that is very slight. Picked up hints through my nose. No linger think its a Oliva V Maddy.

Three Quarters: The Spice kicks back in the final third. What others often call spice In this last 3rd I call it turning and usually try to purge the stick back into its 2/3 flavor. That only works for a few short minutes.

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this cigar when i usually dont like dark wrappers. Smoked it down to the final inch and went to bed happily numb.

Construction: 9/10
Flavor: 17/20
Ash/Burn: 4/5
Overall: 8.5/10 Id buy this again if for the right price. :tu


What did I smoke Mark. :ss

P.S. More pictures next go around

[Mark]

Well done! Glad you enjoyed it!

It was....



dun dun dun

a Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006

-Mark

[Wolfgang]

See i would have never guessed that! YA/y unbiasness!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wolfgang]

Have you smoked the second mystery stick yet?

[Mark]

Not yet - looks like tomorrow (hopefully)!

[Wolfgang]

:wo!

[SmokeyJoe]

Go, marky mark! :D

[smokin5]

Well done! Glad you enjoyed it!

It was....



dun dun dun

a Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006

-Mark

a.k.a Padilla Obsidian. Only comes in the Belicoso vitola.
Damm good smoke for the money.:tu

[Wolfgang]

I think i haveone more in the humi. time to dig out some old stock.

[Mark]

Cigar #2 is a 6x50 torpedo with a gorgeous dark brown wrapper, meticulously applied. Looks like a sungrown wrapper, but theres no way really to tell.

Pre-light scent is very sweet and fruity. Draw is average and tastes of dry tobacco. Let's get goin!

First impressions: Bit of pepper, cedar, bit spicy. Evokes the beginning of a DPG Cuban Classic. Not a huge amount of smoke, but enough. Definitely tastes Nicaraguan, but not necessarily a puro. Probably though.

First third: First things first - there is frustratingly little smoke. I have to take two puffs to get a good mouthful of smoke, and even then its only average. The humi is at 63%, so it should be smoking fine. Better than this, at least. The flavor hasn't changed much since the first few puffs. Spice has dropped off. Solid medium body smoke (when I get a good bit of smoke in my mouth, at least). Bright white ash.

Just re-clipped, MUCH better. Billowing white smoke.

Half: Straight tobacco, white pepper, light soft cheese (yes, cheese). Still mellowing.

Two Thirds: I was expecting the stick to pick up a bit, but no dice. Still mellowing out. Not a lot of flavors popping in and out. The stick so far is very one-dimensional.

Last Bit: Starting to pick up a bit, but not enough to keep my attention. I let this one die with dignity with about an inch left. Not worth nubbin.

Overall, this stick had good flavor, but not a lot of it and not complex enough to keep me interested throughout. If the price point was good I would maybe buy a fiver of these and see how they do with a bit of age, but its definitely not going to be in the regular rotation for me.

Construction: 10/10
Flavor: 12/20
Ash/Burn: 4/5
Overall: 7/10

Prediction: DPG Blue


Whats the word, Mark? :ss

[DBall]

[subscribed] :D

[Starscream]

[subscribed] :D

:tpd::D

[HK3-]

Great thread! :tu I really enjoy following these! :)

[Wolfgang]

Cigar #2 is a 6x50 torpedo with a gorgeous dark brown wrapper, meticulously applied. Looks like a sungrown wrapper, but theres no way really to tell.

Pre-light scent is very sweet and fruity. Draw is average and tastes of dry tobacco. Let's get goin!

First impressions: Bit of pepper, cedar, bit spicy. Evokes the beginning of a DPG Cuban Classic. Not a huge amount of smoke, but enough. Definitely tastes Nicaraguan, but not necessarily a puro. Probably though.

First third: First things first - there is frustratingly little smoke. I have to take two puffs to get a good mouthful of smoke, and even then its only average. The humi is at 63%, so it should be smoking fine. Better than this, at least. The flavor hasn't changed much since the first few puffs. Spice has dropped off. Solid medium body smoke (when I get a good bit of smoke in my mouth, at least). Bright white ash.

Just re-clipped, MUCH better. Billowing white smoke.

Half: Straight tobacco, white pepper, light soft cheese (yes, cheese). Still mellowing.

Two Thirds: I was expecting the stick to pick up a bit, but no dice. Still mellowing out. Not a lot of flavors popping in and out. The stick so far is very one-dimensional.

Last Bit: Starting to pick up a bit, but not enough to keep my attention. I let this one die with dignity with about an inch left. Not worth nubbin.

Overall, this stick had good flavor, but not a lot of it and not complex enough to keep me interested throughout. If the price point was good I would maybe buy a fiver of these and see how they do with a bit of age, but its definitely not going to be in the regular rotation for me.

Construction: 10/10
Flavor: 12/20
Ash/Burn: 4/5
Overall: 7/10

Prediction: DPG Blue


Whats the word, Mark? :ssThe Description was right on but the guess was far off.

You smoked an Oliva V Maduro


Mine will probably have to wait till tomorrow. Maybe tonight, we'll see :tu

[kenstogie]

I love blind trade reviews.

[Mark]

The Description was right on but the guess was far off.

You smoked an Oliva V Maduro


Mine will probably have to wait till tomorrow. Maybe tonight, we'll see :tu

Wow! I've got one of these resting that I bought maybe a year ago. Looks like its staying on the bottom of the pile for a couple more years :)

I'm really surprised. I've had a number of V's and come to expect so much more flavor!

Lovin' this! Next smoke may be tonight, maybe tomorrow.

[Mark]

Cigar #3

Cigar 3 is a medium brown toro (6.5-7x50-52) with a decently applied wrapper and cap. There is one large vein and a couple of bubbles in the seam, and the cap is a bit funky, but still looks good. Just from the looks of it, my off the bat guess on country of origin is Cuba.

Pre-Light: Sweet scent. Easy draw and mild tobacco with a bit of citrus.

First Impresssions: I'm gonna say its almost definitely cuban tobacco. Medium body. One overriding flavor, but I can't quite pin it down. I'll work on it and get back to you around the one third mark :tu

One-Third: That flavor is still there, I still haven't nailed it down. I'm thinking something meaty. I am watching Californication, which is an awesome show - thought you might like to know that. Anyway back to flavors. The stick evokes a PSD #4 from what I remember of it. Takes a few puffs to get a good amount of smoke. There is a bit of leather, a bit of cuban twang, burnt toast. Check back in a few.

Half: Couple of wrapper issues, but nothing beyond repair. There is a kindof pretzel flavor mixing in with the aforementioned others. Definitely nuanced and complex. So far so good!

Two-Thirds: Dark cocoa popping in over the burnt toast and leather. There is a tiny little bit of...anisette?

Final Thoughts: This cigar was phenomenal. Tons of flavor, but never overpowering. I would definitely buy a box of these. I can't imagine they get worse with age, either :ss Although I would say this already has a bit of age on it...

Construction: 7/10
Flavor: 18/20
Ash/Burn: 4/5
Overall: 9/10

Prediction: Partagas Lusitania


How did I do?

-Mark

[Wolfgang]

From your description i thought it was cuban too. I was pretty convinced it was a Partagas 898 from 98' BUT it was actually a

ROCKY PATEL OSG

[Mark]

No freakin way!

[sodomanaz]

No freakin way!

:r

[Wolfgang]

Yes FREAKIN' Way! lol.