GTO Cigars Trankilo Maduro Corona 9/25/16

Appearance 

The wrapper is a dark chocolate color with a few prominent veins. The seams are tight and nearly invisible. The cigar has a nice oily sheen and has a bit of tooth. The secondary band with its light blue and gold colors, provides a nice additional contrast to the dark wrapper. 

Aroma 

Earthy and sweet with a hint of spice on the wrapper. A little cedar at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, hay, spice and molasses. 

1st

Wow! Very smoky stick. Initial draws bring earthy cedar notes with a hint of the spice to come. Even between draws the stick continues to smolder. Strength is already at medium+. The draw and burn are perfect. The ash is light gray and tight. The hay and molasses notes are there but a bit muted. A nice coffee flavor has emerged. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, hay, molasses, coffee and a mild cinnamon spice. The ash looked a little suspect but held til I removed.

2nd

Flavor profile stays the same as in the 1st/3rd. Midway thru the 2nd I'm noticing a very tranquil euphoric state, which could be where the name comes from. The profile is very well balanced. 

Final/3rd

Burn & draw are still spot on. Ash still tight. The profile remains consistent as does the euphoric state  right to the nub. 

Overall the GTO Trankilo Maduro Corona provides a euphoric smoking experience. A very well balanced blend with perfect burn & draw. While not overly complex the relaxing euphoric smoking experience makes up for it. 

Wait 4 It! Wait 4 It! BOOM™!! The GTO Trankilo Maduro Corona gets the Chairmans BUY Signal™!! 

A Big thank you to my brother Oscar @GTOCigars for the gifts for review. 

I highly recommend you get some of these to try for yourself! You will find it's just what the Doctor ordered.

La Hoja Edición Maduro Robusto 9/17/16

Appearance 

The dark chocolate brown wrapper has a few prominent veins. The seams are tight except for 1 minor imperfection right below the band. It has a 2 seam cap. The wrapper has a nice oily sheen. It has a soft box press. 

Aroma

Candy sweet, fruity,earthy and woody(like white cedar) on the wrapper. Cinnamon spice, fruit, wood and earth at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earthy, a little molasses, cedar and a hint of spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, earthiness and that hint of spice. There is a little bit of a fruity note as well. The spice is a full cinnamon right now. Draw is good. Burn has a little wave. The ash is light gray and tight and a bit stacked with a flake here and there. The finish is long with the candied molasses lingering til the end. The strength is medium. Smoke production is in the medium range. The cedar becomes a smoky cedar note late in the 1st. The spice fades a bit then comes back.

2nd

The burn has fully self corrected to start the 2nd/3rd. So far this 3rd is more woody than earthy as opposed tho the 1st/3rd which was more earthy than woody. Nice change up. Burn is a bit wavy again. The spice continues to vacillate between mild cinnamon and warm cinnamon. All the flavors are well balanced with the fruit and molasses still in the mix with the earth, wood and spice. An almond note joins the profile. Burn is self correcting. Espresso notes join the profile. Strength has moved to medium+. 

Final/3rd

The ash has held firm til removal at each 3rd. Strength moves to the low end of med/full. Burn fully self corrects by midway in the final/3rd. Flavor profile remains consistent though the final/3rd. 

Overall the La Hoja Edición Maduro provides a  very enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful, balanced and complex profile with a nice long finish. Definitely a cigar to keep in the humidor. 

A big thank you to Brad Berko @scottsdalecigar for the sample for review.

LH Premium Cigars Colorado Robusto 9/10/16

Appearance 

A nice medium brown Ecuadoran Habano wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. The cap is nicely done and of the 2 seam variety. It has a nice oily sheen. Seems to be well packed with tobacco with no real soft spots. The band is very nicely done.

Aroma 

Strong barnyard, cedar, tea with honey and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Foot is closed so no additional aroma.

Prelight Draw 

Fruity sweetness, cedar, honey, tea, a dash of licorice and cinnamon spice on the lips and tongue.

1st

Initial draws bring out notes of tea, cedar and honey. There is a hint of spice developing. The draw is effortless. The burn has a slight wave. The ash is a medium gray and slightly flaky. At 1" in the strength is at the edge of medium+. Ash gets less flaky late in this 3rd. Finish is long with a very sweet flavor. A toasty note enters the profile. 

2nd

The spice has not progressed past a mild cinnamon. Smoke production is in the medium range. The strength moves to med/full midway in the 2nd/3rd. The spice has become a full cinnamon. Burn is still slightly wavy. 

Final/3rd

The flavor profile remains consistent through the final/3rd. 

Overall the LH Premium Colorado Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. Flavorful and balanced with a nice cinnamon kicker.

A big thank you to Nicholas Syris @LHCigars and Ron Arellano @SmokinFly_Ron for the samples for review.

A good cigar worthy of your time to try it out. I'll be keeping a few of them in my humi. 

MBombay Vintage Reserve Lancero 1973 9/5/16

Appearance 

The light brown wrapper is mostly smooth with a couple thin veins. The seams are tight. It has about a 1/2" of exposed binder & filler at the foot( not to b confused with a shaggy foot). The wrapper has a nice oily sheen. 

Aroma 

Cedar, hint of floral on the wrapper. A little cedar aroma at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, dried banana, a hint of spice, a bit of floral.

1st

The initial draws(remember there's no wrapper) brings notes of cedar and coffee. When the wrapper starts to burn the spice comes into play. Draw and burn are perfect. The ash is light gray and tight. Strength is medium. Floral notes enter the profile. 

2nd

Cedar, milder coffee, cinnamon spice and floral are all present and balanced. The cinnamon spice becomes a warm cinnamon spice which I enjoy. Ash drops about the 1 1/2" point each time. 

Final/3rd

The same profile of cedar, mild coffee, floral and warm cinnamon spice are still present and well balanced. Nice smoke production throughput. Strength is still medium. The coffee becomes more prominent midway in this 3rd. 

Overall the Kesara A provides an enjoyable smoking experience. It has a nice flavor profile that is well balanced from start to finish with a perfect draw & burn and medium strength. 

Thanks to Mel Shah @mbombaycigars for the samples for review.

If u can't find them at your local B&M they are available online at SeriousCigars.com  they carry the full line of MBombay cigars.

GoGetchasome™!!

MBombay GaaJa Toro 9/3/16

Appearance 

The wrapper which appears silky smooth with no prominent veins. The seams are tight. The Gaaja has a D shape with hard box press on the back and soft box press on the front. There's a nice oil sheen on the Ecuadoran wrapper. 

Aroma

Heavy woody aroma with some dried fruit on the wrapper. Floral, fruit, raisin, cedar and spice at the foot.

 

Prelight Draw 

Very fruity with a heavy raisin presence. There is a big floral presence as well as hazelnut, cedar and a yet to be defined spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, leather and spice. The spice is sort of nutmeg.  The burn is near perfect and the draw is effortless. The ash is light gray and tight. Some of the hazelnut is slowly making its presence known. The strength is in the medium+ range. It has very good smoke production. The fruit and floral notes are present albeit very well balanced. I nudged the ash off but it would have held into the 2nd/3rd.

2nd

Brief graham cracker notes start the 2nd/3rd. The Gaaja has a nice long finish with notes of cedar, soft leather(grade 100, leather is graded in 10ths with 100 being the softest), floral, fruit, hazelnut and nutmeg spice. Espresso notes surface midway through the 2nd. 

Final/3rd

The flavor continues to be very well balanced. The spice becomes more like a warm cinnamon, especially at the end of the final/3rd. 

Overall the Gaaja provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very well balanced, flavorful and complex cigar with great burn and draw. A must try for everyone! 

A big thank you to Mel Shah @mbombaycigars for the samples for review. 

Wait 4 It! Wait 4 It! BOOM™! The Gaaja gets the Chairmans BUY Signal™!!

GoGetchasome™!!

*Note* The backdrop for the Gaaja is the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. I thought it was fitting.