La Barba Red Corona 11/25/17

 Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight. There is a nice oily sheen on the wrapper. Filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Barnyard, dry hay, toast and mild cinnamon spice on the wrapper. Barnyard and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Dried fruit, cedar and cinnamon spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar with a pinch of citrus. The ash is medium gray and stacked with a little flake. Burn is a bit wavy and the draw is a tic or 2 on the snug side. With the help of simple physics the burn line has self corrected. The ash seems to be tightening up. Cinnamon spice notes are beginning to join in the profile.

2nd
The dried fruit and citrus notes come together nicely to cleanse the palate. Some crushed red pepper notes join the profile. Draw opens up. Strength is at medium+. Smoke production is at the medium range. A dark roast coffee note joins the profile. The finish is long with notes of cedar, dried fruit, citrus, dark roast coffee and a cinnamon/red pepper spice combo. Burn goes off 10* due to a small tunnel on the side.

Final/3rd
Burn begins to self correct and is quickly at a small wave. The coffee notes become more prominent with a dash of black pepper. The black pepper takes over the profile, fortunately it’s at the nub.

Overall
The La Barba Red Corona provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful and very complex profile, changing up the flavors right up to the nub. The draw was good once it opened up and the burn was mildly erratic.