CAO Fuma Em Corda Robusto 7/29/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. There is a bit of mottling as well making the tightly wrapped seams visible. It has a good amount of tooth and a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. 

The band is tightly wrapped tobacco so leave it on and smoke through it.

Aroma 

Earthy, cedar and sweetness with a hint of spice tickling the nasal passages. Fresh dried fruit, cedar and a hint of spice.

Prelight Draw 

Very sweet like skittles and licorice, earthy, cedar and warm cinnamon spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of fruit and candy with warm cinnamon alongside. The draw is perfect. The burn has a small wave. The ash is light gray, stacked and a bit of flake. The flavor profile is nicely balanced. Ash dropped at about an inch and a quarter. 

2nd

The profile remains consistent with the exception of the "skittles" like candy flavor has tapered off a bit leaving the dried fruit sweetness in balance with the earth and cedar. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, dried fruit and warm cinnamon. Strength is still medium. Smoke production is at the low end of medium. 

Final/3rd

Some espresso notes join the profile. The spice becomes more like a crushed red pepper. Smoke production moves to the high end of medium. Burn is off about 5* due to the Ligero cone being just off center. Strength finishes at medium+ right to the nub.

Overall

The CAO Fuma Em Corda Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. Definitely a cigar to try while they last. 

 

 

2012 by Oscar Rebirth Edition Maduro box pressed Toro

 

Appearance 

The wrapper is a beautiful dark chocolate color with a satiny smooth texture. Almost no veins are visible on this cigar, the couple that are visible are on the back. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to notice. The cigar is well packed with filler with no soft spots. It is soft box pressed.

The band is interesting with Mayan designs.

Aroma 

Earthy on the wrapper. Nothing at the foot except a very faint hint of spice.

Prelight Draw 

Earthy, cocoa, succulent pear and a hint of spice.

1st

Initial draws are very earthy with cocoa alongside. The draw is perfect and the burn is nearly spot on at the 1/2" mark. The ash is light gray and mostly tight and a little flaky. The spice is beginning to develop in the form of a mild cinnamon. The ash held strong till removal.

2nd

Smoke production is at the low end of high. Burn is spot on after implementing a little physics. The strength which started at medium has now moved to medium+. The finish is long with notes of earth, cocoa, pear sweetness and warm cinnamon spice. The burn has a small issue again. 

Final/3rd

Some dark roast coffee notes join the profile midway in the final/3rd. Burn is mildly erratic. Flavors remain consistent through to the nub.

Overall 

The 2012 by Oscar  Rebirth Edition Maduro box pressed Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. Another nice cigar by Oscar Valladares @OscarVTobacco 

Definitely a cigar to try. 

 

 

Plasencia Alma Fuerte box pressed Toro 7/22/17

 

Appearance 

Beautiful chocolate colored wrapper with minimal veins. The seams are tight. The wrapper feels more oily than it looks. It's well packed with  filler with no soft spots. The bands are very attractive with great color contrast.

Aroma 

Comes without cello so all the aroma has escaped from the wrapper. Earthy, cedar and sweetness at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earth, spice, black currents, black licorice and cedar.

1st

The initial draws bring big earthy notes with some cedar mixed in. The spice is beginning to develop as I can feel it on my lips and tongue. At 3/4" in some dark espresso notes join the profile with a pinch of black pepper alongside. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked with a bit of flake. Burn is spot on so far. Draw is perfect. Strength started at medium but is up a notch to medium+. Ash held strong till removal. Felt like it would have held well into the 2nd/3rd.

2nd

Black pepper spice is more like a dash now. Smoke production is at the low end of high. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, espresso, black currents and a dash of black pepper spice. The burn is off a bit due to a small tunnel just under the binder. Warm cinnamon notes join the spice profile tempering the black pepper which was not too prominent but it's always better when cinnamon notes are involved. Smoke production moves to high. 

Final/3rd

Strength moves to med/full. The profile is very well balanced. The burn never fully corrected due to a couple small tunnels but didn't affect the smoking experience. The strength was at full by midway in the final/3rd right to the nub.

Overall

The Plasencia Alma Fuerte box pressed Toro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very well balanced and complex flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. 

A Big thank you to my brother Joe @joe_boca for the sample for review. 

 

 

Archetype Initiation Corona 7/3/17

 

Appearance 

A light brown colored wrapper with a mostly smooth finish and not many veins. The seams are tight and there is a light oil sheen. 

Aroma 

Barnyardy yet sweet and light cedar on the wrapper. Woody, cocoa powder at the foot. 

Prelight Draw 

Dried fruit, cedar

1st

Initial draws are bland with notes of dry tobacco. At almost an inch in notes of cinnamon spice join the profile. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. 

2nd

The draw is good. Burn is slightly wavy. Smoke production is at medium. Strength started mild but has moved to medium. The spice becomes mor like nutmeg. About the 1/2way point of the cigar the flavors which were pretty bland have now become more vibrant. The spice change was the beginning. The bland dried fruit becomes luscious pear, apple and banana.

Final/3rd

The finish which was short and lacking flavor in the first half is now long with notes of cedar, luscious pear, apple and banana and nutmeg spice.

Overall

The Archetype Initiation Corona provides an interesting smoking experience. The flavor started bland but finished nicely after the midway point. Burn was mildly erratic and Draw was good. Will review another to see if it was a one off. 

 

 

R P Martinique TAA 2017 50th Anniversary Toro 7/16/17

 

Appearance 

A beautiful medium brown slightly mottled wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight. There is a light oil sheen. The filler is well packed with no apparent soft spots. 

Very attractive bands with nice contrasting colors.

Aroma 

Earth and cedar on the wrapper. Earth and molasses at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Molasses, earth, spice

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar and mild earth. The draw is perfect. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Midway in the 1st  the sweet molasses notes begin to develop. A bit of white pepper spice joins the profile late in the 1st. The burn has been off a little from the start. 

2nd

Smoke production is in the medium range. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, sweet molasses and white pepper. Some dark roast coffee notes join the profile late in the 2nd/3rd. 

Final/3rd

The profile remains consistent into the final/3rd and all the way to the nub.

Overall

The R P Martinique TAA 2017 50th Anniversary Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A consistent flavor profile with a perfect draw and a mildly erratic burn.

 

 

Las Calaveras 2017 LC46 7/15/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight and difficult to find. There is a matte finish but it feels oily(that's a good thing). It also has a bit of tooth. The filler bunch appears well packed with no soft spots. 

The band is beautiful with nice contrasting colors.

Aroma 

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

Prelight Draw 

Earthy cedar, dried fruit and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring bold notes of earth, cedar and black pepper spice. The draw is perfect and the burn is off by 15* due to a small tunnel just under the binder on one side. Burn is already self correcting with a little help from simple physics. The black pepper fades a bit coming into balance with the earth and wood. The ash is light gray and stacked. Smoke production is at high. The dried fruit notes from the Prelight are beginning to surface. The ash has been tightening up. The ash held firm till removal.

2nd

The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, dried fruit, creamy cashew, a pinch of cinnamon and some black pepper spice. The Ligero cone is just off center contributing to the erratic burn. Some nice espresso notes join the profile. The cinnamon spice ramps to a full note. 

Final/3rd

The aforementioned flavors continue into the final/3rd. Cinnamon tapers down midway in the final/3rd. The profile remains consistent through to the nub. 

Overall

The Las Calaveras 2017 LC46 provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and complex flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. 

I found it to be almost identical to the 2014 version which is probably the most favored of the Las Calaveras blends. 

A big thank you to Kevin at Stag/Scottsdale for the sample for review.

 

 

Umbagog Corona Gorda 7/9/17

 

Appearance 

The wrapper has quite a bit of mottling and a couple prominent veins. It's very rustic looking with a bit of tooth. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a light oil sheen. The cigar is well packed with filler with no soft spots. 

Aroma 

Earthy, cedar on the wrapper. Earthy, cedar at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earth, cocoa powder, floral, cedar and spice. 

1st

Initial draws bring notes of earth and cocoa powder to form a rich sweetness. Spice is beginning to develop in the form of black pepper. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Draw and burn are spot on. There is a cinnamon note entering the profile. 

2nd

Strength is at medium+. The finish is long with notes of earth, cocoa powder, cedar, mild cinnamon and black pepper spice. Smoke production is at the low end of high. The black pepper is dominant late in the 2nd/3rd. Strength moves to med/full. 

Final/3rd 

Flavor profile remains consistent through to the nub. 

Overall

The Umbagog by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust aka Steve Saka provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile albeit a heavy black pepper influence with a great draw and burn. 

 

 

Cornelius & Anthony Cornelius Robusto 7/8/17

 

Appearance 

A light brown Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper with a silky appearance and a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a light oil sheen. The filler is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma 

Hay, sweetness, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Sweetness, light floral, hay and cedar at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Hay, cedar, fruit with a candy finish, light floral and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of dry hay, cedar and some nutmeg spice. Smoke production is in the high end of medium range. Draw is effortless. Burn has just a slight wave. Ash is medium gray and stacked but mostly tight. There is a combination of black & white pepper joining the profile at about an inch in. 

Ash held til removal.

2nd

Strength started mild/med but has moved up to a solid medium. The finish is long with notes of hay, cedar, light roast coffee, sugary sweetness, white & black pepper and a light nutmeg spice. All flavors are well balanced. Burn is a bit wavy but not bad. Removed the ash early to check the working end and found the tunnel responsible for the erratic burn, but it's not affecting overall performance. 

Final/3rd

Moving into the final/3rd the strength is at med+. The flavor profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall

The Cornelius & Anthony Cornelius Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced flavor profile with an effortless draw and mildly erratic burn. Definitely a cigar u want to try. 

GoGetchasome™!!

 

 

La Palina Bronze Label TAA/17 4 Star Toro 7/4/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins on the surface but mostly smooth. The seams are tight. There is a beautiful oil sheen and a little bit of tooth. 

Aroma 

Barnyard, cedar on the wrapper. Kind of a fruity essence at the foot. 

Prelight Draw 

Fruity molasses, cedar and earth with a faint hint of spice. 

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth, cedar, a molasses sweetness on the finish and a mild cinnamon spice. Strength starts out at mild/med. The ash is a medium gray and stacked. The draw is perfect. The burn is a bit wavy. Smoke production is at the low end of medium. 

2nd

Upon removal of the ash I notice the tunnel responsible for the wavy burn. I also notice a pinch of black pepper joining the profile. The tunnel appears to be ending as the burn is self correcting. The black pepper becomes more like a dash late in the 2nd. 

Final/3rd

Burn got wavy again early in the 2nd/3rd but has fully self corrected. Strength & body have settled in at medium. The black pepper is playing a more prominent role just outside of balance midway in the final/3rd.

Overall

The La Palina Bronze Label TAA provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A consistent flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. Definitely a cigar to seek out and try. Available only at TAA shops. If u live in a remote area check online at SeriousCigars.com 

 

 

Nomad Signature Series Robusto 7/2/17

 

Appearance 

The medium brown colored wrapper has a couple thin veins and tightly wrapped seams. It has a very light oil sheen. It is well packed with filler with no soft spots. 

Aroma 

Earthy, cocoa powder on the wrapper. Cedar, molasses and a faint hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, molasses, red fruits

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earthy cedar with a pinch of cinnamon spice. The draw is spot on. The burn has barely a wave. Strength starts out medium. Some sugary almonds join the profile. The ash is light gray and stacked, holding firm til removal.

2nd

Smoke production moves to the low end of high. The finish is long with notes of cedar, faint molasses, sugary almonds, earth and cinnamon spice. 

Final/3rd

Flavors continue well balanced through to the nub. 

Overall

The Nomad Signature Series Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced flavor profile with a spot on draw and mildly erratic burn. 

A big thank you to my brother JD @HN_JAD for the samples for review.

GoGetchasome™!!

 

 

Galano Selecto Toro 7/1/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a bit of mottling and few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a very light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no soft spots. 

Aroma 

Cedar (I received this cigar with no cello so most of the aroma's have been lost)

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, dried fruit, hint of spice.

1st

Initial draws bring notes of cedar and a very faint sweetness as well as a very faint spice. The ash is light gray and mostly tight and a little stacked. Burn is off by 30*. Its beginning to self correct with the help of simple physics. The draw is a bit snug. The spice is a mix of mild cinnamon and white pepper with a pinch of black pepper in the back of the palate.

2nd

The ash heldy strong till removal to start the 2nd/3rd. Some nutty notes join the profile and the black pepper is more of a dash now. The smoke production is at the low end of medium. Strength is medium. Burn develops a wide U shape. Upon inspection of the working end I notice a 3/16" diameter tunnel causing the hotter, faster burn. The ash gets a bit flaky. The draw opens up. 

Final/3rd

Burn is off about 45* entering the final/3rd due to more small tunnels. The black pepper becomes dominant throughout the final/3rd.

Overall

The Galano Selecto Toro provides a nice smoking experience. A consistent flavor profile albeit a bit heavy on the black pepper notes in the final/3rd for my palate. 

 

 

AVO Syncro South America Ritmo Robusto 6/25/17

 

Appearance 

A silky smooth chocolate colored wrapper with almost no veins on the surface. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has a nice oily sheen. 

Aroma

Earthy and cedar on the wrapper. Cedar and earth at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Fruity, spicy, earthy, cedar.

1st

The initial draws bring very rich earthy notes. Followed quickly by woody(red cedar) notes, alongside some fruity(plum & red delicious apple) notes. The developing spice starts as an allspice( think Caribbean Jerk) with a pinch of black pepper. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked with a little flake. The draw is a tick on the snug side of perfect. The ash looks a bit suspect but holds til removal.

2nd

The strength is medium so far. Burn is near perfect, with just a slight wave. The black pepper moves from a pinch to a dash. A well balanced profile. Draw has opened up nicely and the burn is spot on. Smoke production is at medium. 

Final/3rd

Strength moves to medium+. 

The finish is long with notes of rich earth, cedar, fruit and allspice with a dash of black pepper. Some almond notes join the profile late in the final/3rd.

Overall

The AVO Syncro South America Ritmo Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very well balanced and flavorful profile with a great draw and mildly wavy burn.