DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4

[DBall]

I'm spoiled because I got a box of 07 RyJ Coronas that were INCREDIBLE... I thought all fresh RyJ's would be like that. Pretty sad when I smoked these.

Oh well, there's only about 1 or 2 left in that box... it won't last 10 years...

[DBall]

jonumberone Cigar #9
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It’s frigid out with freezing rain, I couldn’t think of a better time to light #9



Initial Thoughts
Stick 9 has a nice light brown color to it. I don’t have my ring gauge guide so best guess is 5.5 X 46.
The wrapper has a little tooth to it and some well defined veins.
I squeeze and find a hard spot right at the foot.
Pre- light draw is perfect and the flavor is very grassy.



First Third
Right from the word go I get a very distinct and defined flavor, however I can’t put my finger on what it is yet.
An attempt at my nose produces some burn and doesn’t do much to help me describe what I taste.
I am finding it to be woodsy; I am also getting a tart like flavor that brings apple to mind.



Second Third
As I smoke more some cocoa notes are starting to come through. The woodsy flavor has mellowed but the tartness persists.
I am noticing that the ash isn’t holding well. It keeps falling off every ¼ inch or so.
The cocoa is gone and it is replaced by some cedar.



Final Third
At the start of the last part I go to my nose and feel a lot of burn.
Immediately after, I start to get some cinnamon.
The odd tartness is still present. Is this the Cuban twang I’ve heard about?
The wood and cedar flavors are meshing nicely and the cinnamon adds a nice touch of spice.



Final thoughts
I think I will call this one “apple pie covered in chocolate, baked on a cedar plank in the woods”.
For me this smoke had an odd combination of flavors that somehow worked well. The stick seemed to be all over the place, yet right where it belonged.
Burn and draw were flawless, and I had 4 relights all in the final third, that kind of soured the experience.
I wanted to nub it, but keeping it lit was becoming a hassle.

Final score 8/10
Smoke time 1hr 46min

[DBall]

CRIMPS Cigar #9
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Prelight
Looks to be a 6” x ~50rg stick. The initial smell is a very light hay. I cut the cap and the pull is a little tight, but definitely workable. The wrapper has some raised veins with a relatively smooth wrapper, just a little tooth. The construction looks tight.



First 3rd
I taste a dark chocolate, which fades quickly after I expel the smoke. There is a little spice at the tip of the tongue, but this fades quickly as well. The aftertaste remains very earthy. The flavors spike, but this all seems like it fades quickly. Lots of smoke, initial smoke is slightly yellowed, but transitions quickly to a blueish smoke. The wrapper starts to split again. Nothing serious.



Second 3rd
It seems like this cigar has calmed some. I still have some dark chocolate and earth, but the flavors don't fade as fast. I take two long pulls to stoke the stick back to life. I get a lot of creamy oil on my tongue (that's what she said). There is very little sweetness to this cigar. Instead, I taste a lot of tanginess. I don't mind this.



Last 3rd
I am drinking iced tea, with some lemon, to clear my palate some. My next few puffs I notice an increase in wood flavor and my brow reports some chili powder spice. The aftertaste still has some dark chocolate. Again, no sweetness exists that I can pick up. The burn is still consistent and the draw is still tight and hasn't loosened any since I started the cigar.



Overall thoughts
This cigar produced a lot of oil. I could taste the oils long after I finished the cigar, including the chili powder. Unique. I have smoked a number of “spicy” cigars. To me, this was completely different. I didn't taste black pepper at all.

The cigar was medium bodied and medium-full flavored. Total smoke time was 1 hour and 10 minutes. I would smoke this cigar again, but this wasn't my favorite.

Rating: 7/10

[DBall]

What they smoked:



2000 Rafael Gonzalez Corona Extra

jonumberone score: 8

CRIMPS score: 7

I lit one of these up a week or 2 ago and got the great taste of light, freshly milled black pepper... not the painful peppery-ness of an NC, but a wonderful and light primary flavor. Lots of floral and sweet as the cigar went on to the final half. I passed it around and the sentiment was mirrored... without me even saying anything (as I didn't want to ruin it with the power of suggestion). Makes me wish I didn't give so many of these away and that I had many, many more left.

[DBall]

...only 1 cigar left in this the fourth, and final, Newb Blind Taste Test!

[DennisP]

Originally Posted by DBall

...only 1 cigar left in this the fourth, and final, Newb Blind Taste Test!

Booooo

[CRIMPS]

Originally Posted by DBall

...only 1 cigar left in this the fourth, and final, Newb Blind Taste Test!

Sad

I love reading these things. Participating has been a blast.

[DBall]

Fact is, one guy didn't finish the first one because he got banned for screwing people over and someone bailed out midway through this one here. That's kinda daunting. I'm pondering one more, but leaning on the 'not gonna happen' side of the fence at this point.

Maybe I'll pick it back up at some later date... hahaha... perhaps this is just a needed break.

[DBall]

jonumberone Cigar #10
*******************

Last day before I leave on Vacation, time to wrap this up and polish off #10



Initial Thoughts
Again I am without my ring gauge guide, but my best guess is 6X40.
The size reminds me of a #2 pencil. The stick has a smooth wrapper with few Veins.
Quick squeeze from head to foot and I don’t find anything out of the ordinary.
The stick has a mild aroma. I cut the cap and find the pre light draw to be perfect.
The flavors before I light remind me of unsweetened tea .



First Third
Right off the bat I am finding this smoke to be very mild. The prominent flavor is tea.
I go to my nose and get a lot more burn than I was expecting.
The stick has a lingering aftertaste that is pinching the sides of my tongue.



Second Third
The flavor has gotten very nutty. The pinch in the side of my tongue has spread to the roof of my mouth and the back of my throat.
This stick is getting stronger as I go.
A bit further down and I get a woodsy taste.
I try my nose and through the burn I get graham cracker.



Final third
The stick is really gaining momentum with every puff. In this last third it has made a move towards bitter.
I try a purge and it helps for a puff or two.
I’m letting it rest between puffs but it does little to improve the taste.
The only discernable flavor at this point is cedar. Almost to the nub and my mouth is burning just as much as my nose.



Final thoughts
I have to say this was the most surprising of the sticks that Dan sent.
I really thought when I started that the smoke was going to leave me wanting more.
Instead it gradually increased to an ass whoopin’.
I am a little bummed about the final third not delivering in the flavor department, but I imagine this will be remedied with some time.
I also was surprised by how much I liked the size. This is a small cigar compared to what I usually smoke.
Since I started this my preference in size has been shrinking.
Burn was perfect with no relights.

Final score 7.5/10
Smoke time 1hr 10 min

[DBall]

CRIMPS Cigar #10
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This stick looks to be about 6x38 lancero or petite corona. The cigar has just a little bit of a bend to it (possibly due to shipping?). While the kid in me wants to bend the cigar back to straight, I fight the urge as to not destroy the cigar altogether. The bend is obviously not hurting anything and adds some character I think.

Pre-light

Putting my nose to the wrapper, I get a very faint smell of hay, but not much else. The wrapper has some tooth and raised veins. The construction seems to be solid. I cut the cap with ease. I take a draw, again getting just a little hay and not much else. The draw is a little tight, but manageable.



First Third

I put the flame to the foot. My initial taste is very grassy. A few puffs later and the cigar seems to wake up. I get some spice and a shot of chocolate. Very dry. After a few more puffs it seems the spice turns into more of a cinnamon, something i am not used to, but am enjoying. The cigar produces adequate smoke, but I expect maybe a little more smoke with how fast the cigar seems to be smoking.



Second Third

Unfortunately, the cinnamon is already fading and has been exchanged with an earthiness. The chocolate is no longer noticeable either. For my palate, this is rather common, though. The cinnamon has transitioned back into a dull spice. I take a full puff and wait for a solid minute or so to focus on the aftertaste. Mostly, i just get earth and spice, but this fades and there is very little to report. The cigar is smoking straight and the ash seems to hold for over an inch, which I am impressed with due to the ring gauge of the cigar.



Last Third

Not much has changed. I still taste earth and spice. I miss the cinnamon, I was really digging that. The earthiness seems to be a little overwhelming and almost sour. This just isn’t doing it for me. I think if this had been any other cigar, I would have probably let her go and either light something else up or call it a night. However, as one of the last of DBall’s Legion of Newb Blind Taste Testers, it is my duty to see this cigar burn to the end. I finish the cigar after smoking for about 50 minutes or so.



Final Thoughts

I honestly expected more from this smoke, based off the initial half inch. In my VERY inexperienced opinion this cigar just didn’t seem ready yet. It seemed like there was some age on this stick, if I was judging from the dryness and lack of any oil on the tongue. So, I don’t know if this is something that a little more age would remedy. The strength was mild to maybe medium and the flavor was medium.

Of the four reviews I will have posted, I think I am curious to see an experienced smoker’s point of view.

Final Rating: 5/10

[DBall]

What they smoked:



1997 La Gloria Cubana MdO #4

jonumberone score: 7.5

CRIMPS score: 5

Wow... I couldn't be more surprised... I thought this would be a much bigger hit. This is a 13+ year old habano... what's more, it's an LGC... hahaha. These 97's have always treated me well.

That said, everybody differs is what they like in a cigar... without a band, there's no expectations. That's why I love these BTTs.

I'm heading out on a cruise in about 3 hours and will be back the 26th... I'll think about doing another one while I'm gone.

Thanks for playing (and watching)!