Free World Toro by AJF 12/10/16

 

Appearance 

A light brown wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tight and nearly invisible. The cigar has a couple of softer spots but is well packed with tobacco. It has a light oil sheen. 

The bands are well done as is typical of AJ's work.

Aroma

Cedar, tobacco, earth and spice on the wrapper. Fruity cedar and a hint of spice at the foot. 

Prelight Draw 

Earthy, cedar, very fruity, spicy.

1st

The initial draws bring a mild earth flavor with some cedar and fruit. The profile has a very earthy and woody base with the fruit bringing a nice balance. The spice is beginning to develop and is like a nutmeg. The ash is light gray and mostly tight with a bit of stacking.  The burn has a bit of wave and the draw is perfect. The first chunk of ash dropped at about an inch in. Late in the 1st/3rd there is a honeylike sweetness joining the profile while the spice tapers back a bit. Strength is a solid medium. The spice comes back albeit a bit sharper. 

2nd

I removed the ash to start the 2nd/3rd and I could tell it was just in time. The profile is a bit more woody than earthy at this point with the spice tapering way back down again. The burn got off a bit but has recovered nicely on its own. The ash while mostly tight is slightly flaky. Spice is coming back again. Strength moves to medium+. I removed the ash at around an inch as it was looking suspect. Smoke production is in the medium range. The finish is long with mild earth, cedar, fruit, honey and nutmeg spice notes all fairly well balanced. The wrapper developed a crack just below the primary band about 3/4" long. Smoke production is at the upper end of medium. 

Final/3rd

Spice jumps up in strength with some paprika notes. About midway the spice tapers back. The flavor profile flattens out and remains consistent through the end of the final/3rd. 

 

Overall

The Free World Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. The first half of the cigar is complex and flavorful with the second half being consistent with no complexity. 

The Free World is one of the many blends that were brought to market in late 2016 for Trademark purposes to beat the FDA deadline.