Ratters
01-30-2009, 07:44 PM
Cigar: Cuba Libre Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: Pyramid 6.5x52
Price: $28/box of 25 at www.ecigardepot.com/cuba_libre.htm
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0006-7.jpg
Setting: Sun room, 5pm, about 60 degrees out, paired with a Diet Sunkist.
Pre-light: The cigar has a fairly light brown wrapper with a light oily sheen. There are a couple large veins on one side and fairly smooth on the other. The cigar is firmly packed and and after a cranial screw top cut (to see if it was possible with a torp) the draw was a tad stiff with a mild sweet tobacco flavor.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0008-5.jpg
First third: The cigar lit up easily and the draw wasn't too bad, but there wasn't much smoke coming through. What did had a sweet earthiness to it, with just a touch of bitterness. After half an inch or so I cut the tip and the draw freed up some more as did smoke production. The finish is somewhat dry and bitter, but not as horrible as that sounds. Body is mild to medium.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0010-5.jpg
Second third: As I get into the second third a leathery/nutty taste is coming out. Not a lot of it, but it's there. Cigar is still in the mild to medium range. There is a tad bit of spice felt all over the mouth, and it's not entirely pleasant. Overall though, so far so good. Not as unpleasant as I was expecting. So far construction and burn seem excellent.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0011-6.jpg
Final third: Wish I had more to say about this cigar, but I really don't. The flavors are continuing, the dryness is still there, but overall it's definitely smokeable. Body remains mild/medium, smoke production medium, bitterness has subsided, burn remains fine. Total smoke time 1.5 hours.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0014-9.jpg
Final thoughts: I must confess, I stole this out of a box that was being donated to the troops, though in my defense it was replaced with a finer stick. Plus bobarian make me do it. This is the cigar I thought the "FREE CUBA" was going to be. Mild, boring, well made, typical yard gar. I feel no urge to smoke one of these again, but if you just like puffin on something cheap while working the yard or the links, you could do worse for around a buck a stick. The burn and construction were excellent, the flavor didn't make my dry heave like the Free Cuba, and they're darned cheap. The troops should enjoy these as well.
Liked it: Meh, not really, but not horrible
Buy again: Didn't buy this one, but no.
Reccommend: For someone who just wants a cheap smoke chimney, it's not half bad.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: Pyramid 6.5x52
Price: $28/box of 25 at www.ecigardepot.com/cuba_libre.htm
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0006-7.jpg
Setting: Sun room, 5pm, about 60 degrees out, paired with a Diet Sunkist.
Pre-light: The cigar has a fairly light brown wrapper with a light oily sheen. There are a couple large veins on one side and fairly smooth on the other. The cigar is firmly packed and and after a cranial screw top cut (to see if it was possible with a torp) the draw was a tad stiff with a mild sweet tobacco flavor.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0008-5.jpg
First third: The cigar lit up easily and the draw wasn't too bad, but there wasn't much smoke coming through. What did had a sweet earthiness to it, with just a touch of bitterness. After half an inch or so I cut the tip and the draw freed up some more as did smoke production. The finish is somewhat dry and bitter, but not as horrible as that sounds. Body is mild to medium.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0010-5.jpg
Second third: As I get into the second third a leathery/nutty taste is coming out. Not a lot of it, but it's there. Cigar is still in the mild to medium range. There is a tad bit of spice felt all over the mouth, and it's not entirely pleasant. Overall though, so far so good. Not as unpleasant as I was expecting. So far construction and burn seem excellent.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0011-6.jpg
Final third: Wish I had more to say about this cigar, but I really don't. The flavors are continuing, the dryness is still there, but overall it's definitely smokeable. Body remains mild/medium, smoke production medium, bitterness has subsided, burn remains fine. Total smoke time 1.5 hours.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd150/Rattersar15/Cigars/IMG_0014-9.jpg
Final thoughts: I must confess, I stole this out of a box that was being donated to the troops, though in my defense it was replaced with a finer stick. Plus bobarian make me do it. This is the cigar I thought the "FREE CUBA" was going to be. Mild, boring, well made, typical yard gar. I feel no urge to smoke one of these again, but if you just like puffin on something cheap while working the yard or the links, you could do worse for around a buck a stick. The burn and construction were excellent, the flavor didn't make my dry heave like the Free Cuba, and they're darned cheap. The troops should enjoy these as well.
Liked it: Meh, not really, but not horrible
Buy again: Didn't buy this one, but no.
Reccommend: For someone who just wants a cheap smoke chimney, it's not half bad.