J.L. Salazar Reserva Especial Torpedo

[kaelaria]

This 6.25×54 box pressed stick offered a medium chocolate, satin wrapper with a very firm feel. Draw was on the loose side but produced copious amounts of smoke all the way down with a very good burn, no issues. Flavors were medium bodied overall, with a very smooth blend of flavors including creamy leather, wood, touches of caramel and cherry, and a slight pepper wash on the finish. Total smoke time to the nub was 1 1/2 hours.

[lenguamor]

I smoked one of these (a toro) at Cuban Crafters last night.

The first thing I noted was a rather spongy feel to the stick, and the lack of good construction was evident in an erratic burn which required several re-lights.

The flavor was okay; some good complexity in the first third made me hopeful; a medium peppery bite around the middle. Not interesting enough to finish on a night when I was still recovering from a bout of the flu.

Not a bad cigar at around the $2 price point; the problem is, it's a $5+ cigar. I wouldn't venture there again.