DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #4

[DBall]

Originally Posted by akumushi

It would work best if you had CCs and NCs, and put in at least one of both in there that might easily be confused for the other, that way you'd keep the vet guessing

Originally Posted by landhoney

More off-topic banter, but anyone remeber the Fredster/Moki Blind review back in the CS days? I had just joined, or right after, wow what a thread, very heated but interesting on many levels.

Saw that before... it was a bad thing. The Fredster-Moki thing from CS days was a disaster


I mean, it was fun to read and all, but so many panties got bunched up.

No, if I do the vet/newb thing, it'll likely be all CCs (just basic/common vitolas) and not even for them to guess the cigar, just to share their thoughts on flavors in comparison to a newer member.

[landhoney]

BTW, love these threads Dan, thanks for all the fun.

Originally Posted by DBall

Saw that before... it was a bad thing. The Fredster-Moki thing from CS days was a disaster
I mean, it was fun to read and all, but so many panties got bunched up.
No, if I do the vet/newb thing, it'll likely be all CCs (just basic/common vitolas) and not even for them to guess the cigar, just to share their thoughts on flavors in comparison to a newer member.

Reading the thread again over on pvff right now (I hate to login in there, and don't post, but old threads like this I have to much nostalgia for to not look back at occasionally).

I think there's little chance a similar blind review here would devolve like it did there.

Lastly, I am smoking a Taboada tonight Got a hankerin' reading the thread again.

[DBall]

jonumberone Cigar #5
******************

Awesome day for a smoke! #5 is first on today’s death by fire list



Initial Thoughts
The stick appears under 5 inches and is a much smaller ring gauge than I’m accustomed to smoking.
The wrapper is a rich brown and I think the darkest yet. I squeeze and find a hard spot about an inch before the cap.
I cut the cap without issue and find the draw to be perfect. I didn’t dry box this one.
Pre-light flavors are creamy and full of cocoa.



First Third
The first few puffs are far fuller and stronger than I have come to expect from the sticks Dan sent. I get a blast of chocolaty goodness and a lot of thick rich smoke.
Not even an inch in and this stick has me at half mast. I’m also wondering if this is a NC.
I get a lot of burn when I go to my nose, something I thought I was past.
At about the inch mark I get some bite, not peppery but a twang is the best I can do to describe it. As I smoke more the twang resembles licorice.



Second Third
The chocolate has continued and the twang has increased with every puff. This stick is a powerhouse and I can feel the tip of my tongue going numb.
A purge does little to derail this freight train and an attempt at my nose has me in tears.
A little sweetness creeps in and this stick is starting to remind me of a 601 Blue.
It is starting to get a bit bitter on me, and the roof of my mouth has gone numb as well.



Final Third
I purge again and the last part starts off a bit nutty with coffee undertones. The bitterness has subsided a bit but it is still there.
Going to my nose is not an option any longer, it’s quite unbearable.
The flavor switches from chocolate to coffee and, the flavor keeps getting stronger and stronger.



Final Thoughts
Smoking this stick was like being set up on a blind date with a dominatrix.
The night starts out, and you think you got a chance of getting lucky, but in the end you wind up abused, whipped, and wearing a diaper.
Going to my nose literally had tears running down my cheeks, and the tip of my tongue is still numb.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say this has to be a NC. No CC I have smoked has ever been this strong.
If it is a CC, it has totally changed my conception of them. Of the CC’s I have smoked, I always equated them to elevator music, this smoke was heavy metal.
I found it aggressive, and was very punchy in how the flavor was delivered; every puff was like a haymaker.

Final Score 8 / 10
Smoke time 1hr 13min

[DBall]

Samsquanch Cigar #5
******************

What a day and what a cigar! #5 was a great little smoke that I'll surely pick up some more of.

5" x 35rg this guy was small but packed a punch. A few veins and an overall nice looking cigar.



On the prelight I got some spice but also a nice honey flavor.



Smoked great right off the bat, the draw was a little tight but nothing that impeded pulling lots of nice white smoke. Grabbing some hints of cinnamon and cloves now.



The burn got off a little and I had to touch up a couple times, nothing that bothered me though. The ash held on nicely as well. The dense smoke is very creamy with vanilla notes as I worked my down to the final third.



As I mentioned earlier, this will be on my purchase list in the near future. Great little guy when in the mood for a quick smoke.

Overall 8/10 smoke rings.

(If anyone was wondering, the pictures were taken with the Hipstamatic camera app for the iPhone. I highly recommend you pick up this app, it's awesome!)

[DBall]

What they smoked:



2008 Partagas Princess

jonumberone score: 8

Samsquanch score: 8

Solid reviews for this little guy. That's the thing with guys that start this journey out as predominantly NC smokers... they typically like the stronger, fresher habanos than the aged ones (at first).

These are, alas, discontinued...

That said, if you like these, you'll probably dig party shorts. Those are, for the time, still for sale (until HSA gets rid of every cigar that is 58rg and below, those bastards...)