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Initial Smoke

Heavy on the cedar and nearly as well-stocked in the leather and mineral department, the first five minutes of this stick jump right into the action. Dried dark fruits that feature the tart and sweet taste of craisins come next, along with a good bit of brown sugar and some cola spices. Body is medium, spicy bites remain muzzled, and the open draw forms more than enough smoke.

1st Half

Decisively dark chocolate-strong, and lightened by tannin-rich hardwood tastes, the opening to the first third is ripe with flavor. As spiced cola notes slowly creep into the mixture once more, a pinch of smoked paprika plays a subtle, slightly spicier role down below. It isn't an overly intense third, and one that favors steady ground-level development over lofty ascents.

Slightly savory and gradually growing darker, the second third takes the chocolate note deeper into bittersweet territory, and then adds a spicy smoked peppercorn pop toward the finish. Meanwhile, over on retrohales, mellower mocha and leather touches from earlier have gone a bit floral, with a clean potpourri note that is almost incense-like, touching the nose alone. There is also a touch more sweetness being detected upon the nose, so retrohale away and thank me later.

2nd Half

Slowly making its way to medium-body, and still churning out more smoke than Cheech Marin on vacation in Jamaica, the shift over to the second half of this oily stick is where things gradually grow more intense. This continuation of the tasting notes above allows the cigar to build in body, and not just flavor or strength, turning it into a launch pad for the following, far fuller flavors.

Although there isn't much of a move in the latter part of the second third, the opening of the final third is crowned by an oily, leather-like ligero top note. Vigorous, yet completely under control, the strength of the habano binder adds a lot to the last major section of the cigar, and blends perfectly with the following flavors. Medium-roast espresso beans, even darker chocolate, and that lingering roasted taste of smoked paprika on the finish all make a grand last stand. Upstairs, retrohales pick up on a fair deal of everything, with the gradual burn of spicy tobacco keeping exhales more on the mouth than the nose. The cigar is definitely full-flavored and nearly full-bodied too, with strength resting at medium-full.

Parting Puffs

Dark dry fruits, with prunes and dates at the front, make the start to parting puffs taste increasingly pleasurable. Oilier yet, and now loaded with the scent of smoked sakura cherry chips, the last few puffs of the cigar end with a fragrant, toasty finish that is not bitter, but quite spicy. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

  Hit or miss would be the way to describe my experiences with the burn on this blend. Some sticks seem to be fine and combust cleanly. Others require multiple corrections with the torch and are prone to having too open of a draw. I get the feeling that it is the latter of these that was the culprit behind the canoeing in my review stick, which required corrections in both the first and final third. Box-pressed cigars are traditionally under-filled at the factory in order to be pressed into their required form, and all it takes is a touch too little leaf down one side for the burn line to take off running.

But while the overly open draw did cause some concern (and unwanted heat at times), it more than made up for it with smoke quality and quantity. The fuller, oilier body of the blend makes it an ideal smoke ring cigar, and I found myself playing about with the creamy stuff when the camera was not rolling. 

Final Thoughts

  Reservations over the combustion of this blend aside, I must say that this cigar scores well in all other categories. It has a great build-up in body as it burns, transitions from one section to the next are generally smooth and gradual, and the overall magnitude of the cigar flavor profile is equal parts pronounced and pleasant. Basically, a really nice, smaller vitola for after-dinner puffing that grows from medium to nearly full on you.

Complexity-wise, I feel that this smoke does struggle at times to keep up with San Andrés maduro cloaked competitors like La Historia from Ernesto-Perez Carrillo, Valentino Siesto's Premium Series Maduro, and the mighty El Pulpo from Artesano del Tobacco. But where it remains reserved in character at times, it more than makes up for it with cleanliness and balance, and I admire how spiciness remains a slow-burning sort of secondary experience.

Aesthetics also scored very high with this one, and I admire the quality control when it comes to screening wrapper leaves, as each stick in the box rarely shows any sign of blemish or mottling. Hmmm... Just like that, I have the hankering for another one of these little guys. I'll catch ya'll in the next review...

Overall Balance & Repeatability