Lastly I dig into baggie "D". I'm keeping the last two until after the big reveal.
Disclaimer from the other cigar reviews - I preface by saying I smoke CCs 90% of the time. Smoked tons of NCs for the past 6 or 7 years, but within the past year or more, CCs have the flavor profile I enjoy most, plus I am afforded more skinny to smaller RG smokes that fit my time allotments. A lot of NCs are heavier and spicier than I enjoy as relaxation smokes.
I'll post one review. I found both sittings to be very similar. I will post both sets of scores and will post a final score. Pictures include for the first review. I was not able to get to my camera for the second.
Cigar D - Drink - First, Smithwick's and Second, Iced Tea. Punched cut.
Review Format
0.0 - 2.0 = poor/inferior quality
2.1 - 2.9 = fair
3.0 - 3.5 = good
3.5 - 4.5 = excellent
4.6 - 5.0 = superior
1) Aesthetics: the look of the cigar - oily, coarse, smooth, dry, light, dark, pretty, ugly, etc...
Great roll. They had light veins and both had a handsome triple cap. A little dark, smooth, and pretty. Good-looking smokes.
Score for aesthetics:
4.3
2) Pre-light Construction: Roll cigar between fingers - soft spots? loose? tight? dense? lightweight? Well rolled? how does it smell?
Nice tobaccoy smell. Dense and firm. Well rolled.
Score for Pre-light construction:
4.2
3) Post-light Construction/How it smoked: Does it draw well, does smoke pull through on its own, do soft spots appear after lighting, burnes evenly? smokes hot or cool? What is ash like? color of ash? flaky or solid?
Both smokes had the toughest draws of any of the baggies once punched. The construction was tight and dense and rolling the end did loosen them up a little. Took several initial puffs of warm smoke to open them up. They burned very well and even. Only a couple touchups for both.
Score for post-light construction:
3.6
4a) Flavor and strength – 1st 1/3: What does it taste like? Full-bodied, med. or mild? Does it taste earthy, spicy, fruity, vegetal, sweet, rich, harsh, direct, floral, robust, woody, green (haylike), acidic, salty? Is it pleasant or unpleasant? Does it build in flavor and/or complexity as you smoke it? Is it bland, flavorful, complex? Did it get bitter?
A little bitter on the initial light. No pepper or spice in either. Sweet, maduro-like flavors. Medium-mild body. Roasted flavors - 4.3
4b) Flavor and strength – 2nd 1/3:
Same as the first third, but creamier. Toast-like flavors. I was able to nasal the sticks with no problem. Kind of one-dimensional. Still mild to medium. - 4.3
4c) Flavor and strength – Last 1/3:
Still creamy. Nice cocoa maduro flavors. Not a lot of changes in the stick. A nice conversation smoke. I liked it.- 4.4
Score for flavor and strength:
4.3
5) Aftertaste/Finish: aftertaste is the sensation &/or flavor on you palate after each puff, not the taste left after you finish the cigar. Is it heavy - light? Spicy, cedary, fruity, bitter, hot, grassy? Mild - strong? Pleasant or not? Harsh?
Medium body, not heavy at all. A little bitter initially but it went away quickly. Not harsh and very maduro-pleasant.
Score for aftertaste:
4.3
6) Aroma: What does it smell like? Good - bad? light or heavy? pervasive - mild? floral, perfumed, grassy, harsh, woodsy, overpowering, unpleasant, magnificent?
Nothing inconspicuous. Pleasant cigar smell. Nice.
Score for aroma:
4.2
7) General Comments: Are samples consistent? Did you particlarily enjoy of with a certain food or beverage? Did they appeal more at certain time of day? Did it remind you of something? Would you buy them? Sum it up as you would to a friends ("That cigar was awesome!") and give it an overall score.
A nice "friends" cigar, great for smoking while chatting it up. It had a lot of the same characteristics as the others. Creamy towards the end. Maduro cocoa flavors. This was a little milder, I thought. I would recommend. Hopefully other purchases wouldn't be such a tight initial draw. Would I buy, maybe for a good deal.
Overall score for the cigar.
24.9/30 (or 83/100 for those that like the base 10 scale)
8) Recommendation: Would you recommend the cigar? Pick one of the following and explain:
Not Recommended; Possibly Recommended; Recommended; Highly Recommended
I would recommend.
