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Unlit Impressions

By now, many of you know that I really enjoy a box-pressed blend. Especially when it is not too tight and promises a good draw. Being that every cigar Dapper rolls is draw tested I have little to worry about, but for the sake of tradition, I still give the mildly toothy, medium-roast brown beauty of a wrapper a bit of a squinch. Springy. Awww yeah...

My review cigar has a bit of an off-centered pressing, so it is almost trapezoidal-looking. But no bother. The robusto looks and feels ideal despite its wonky lean to one side, and it smells of cedar and licorice along the wrapper. A healthy bit of winter dry-boxing has made my review stick notably milder smelling though, so if you want some richer aromatics keep that stick in its cellophane and skip the dry-boxing process if possible.

Deep red and black licorice soak the foot with a sweet and medicinal mixture that melds effortlessly into a mild minty freshness. A touch of gingerbread here and there and some dry cedar and soil sift their way through, resulting in a traditional Ricola cough drop smell that is truly tantalizing.

Cold draws are nothing like the foot though, with a mellow mix of dark soil, saltine crackers, milk cocoa, buttercream, and coffee kicking the taste buds into hyperactive mode. Surprisingly, there is very little spiciness or pepper to be tasted, and the aftertaste is refreshingly full. Oh, and let's not skip that band, which in true Dapper fashion lives up to the company's name and reputation.

Initial Smoke

Are there any black coffee drinkers in the crowd today? Great. Now that I've got your attention, let me stress that while this blend does produce a dark roast taste at first, it is not alone, as touches of milky, doughy mascarpone and a shaving or two of cedar show themselves. This last part can be rather intense upon retrohale and packs some spicy heat that lingers on the tip of the tongue and toward the back of the throat after each exhale. 

1st Half   

Allow a few minutes of med-strength smoking to pass, and out comes a very different type of spice sensation. It's an exotic Szechuan pepper pop, and together with a dribble of cedar tree sap and some funky terroir-caked secondary notes completely snares the senses. This spicy sensation and flavor does not last long though, and as it fades along comes mellower notes of bittersweet cocoa and a dried tannin touch that isn't oak or barrel, but neither is it leaf and tea either. 

Already 100% full in flavor, but lagging behind in strength and body by a good bit, things get a dash dark and devilishly good just prior to the center of the second third. Milky Mexican horchata, complete with a shot of rum and an extra stick of cinnamon stumble pint-first into the drunken fiesta, leaving behind a finish that grows gradually more milky and longer with each puff. 

2nd Half 

Hello darkness, my old friend. Fancy a mellow, nutty, and slightly salty sip from this flagon of mystery booze we have been so graciously gifted from the great god Dionysus? It may help mellow things out a bit up front, but my goodness is that rich, resinous finish going to get the best of the tongue no matter what we do. For it remains fully reinforced by sun-grown leaf strength and a sense of purpose, and appears to enjoy a nip of the good stuff as well. 

But sunny tobacco resins and boozy horchata aren't the only ones vying for attention this time. Mixing milky, mellow coconut cream and cashews with full-flavored Nicaraguan force, and then dumping it over a bowl of cinnamon cereal (sans sugar) is what makes the final third of this cigar so stunning. Every. Damn. Time.

Smoother than a Lexus cutting doughnuts in a parking lot flooded with lube, retrohales sift their way outward without a bit of burn, leaving only the aromatics and flavors of cereal grains, French toast, and a touch of cocoa behind. Dark, drunken bliss achieved. Without the hangover or any of the calories too mind you.

Parting Puffs

Now, here is where the big shift into reverse occurs, and I cannot hate on what Dapper is doing here whatsoever. The cigar returns to a mixture of red and black licorice, the dried tannin taste of charred hardwood, and that familiar herbal flavor of the world's favorite Swiss cough drop. Together, they contrast and complement all that has been consumed and form an unlikely alliance for the senses to savor once last time. Further down near the nub (you will likely want to smoke this one all the way down) and a final tasting of dark hot chocolate and bitter coffee grounds helps you determine that it is indeed time to call it quits. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Even with an oblong pressing my review cigar burned splendiferously from start to finish. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever had one of these sticks go wonky on me at any point. Further proof that box-pressing and draw testing really does make a difference, and that an off-kilter pressing does not always constitute a bad burn.

Final Thoughts 

In closing, I must confess that I have never once been anywhere close to being inebriated whilst smoking this cigar. And there are three reasons why a drunken pairing has yet to occur.

The first reason is very simple, and it is a testament to the power that a premium cigar blend holds over all of us. I just haven't felt the need for a pour of booze or a bottle of beer when I spark this blend. It delivers everything I need and does not leave me wanting. Coffee, chai tea, or even a glass of water allow plenty of space for the flavors and aromatics within the El Borracho Natural to shine on their own.

Secondly is the fact that I fear that due to my intoxicated state, I might miss out on some secondary cigar flavor profiles or a previously undetected aromatic or aftertaste. Call me a purist, but I really don't want to foil the senses by getting "half-cut" halfway into the second third and take the smoke in my hand for granted.

And then finally there is the fact that my cigar studio remains a seven-minute drive from where I reside here in Japan, and drinking and driving is always a dicey gambit. This is especially true when said cigar studio is nestled atop a mountain and there are no guardrails the whole way down. Guess I'll just have to wait to do a drunken redux review of old El Borracho once the house is complete next door and I can stumble home after my stogie review...