Emilio LJZ Robusto 12/26/17

 Appearance
A milk chocolate colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a nice oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Cedar, sweetness and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Cedar and sweetness with spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Cedar, black licorice, dried fruit and spice.

1st
Initial draws bring notes of an earthy cedar(Ecuadoran Habano) with a mild cinnamon/white pepper spice combo in the background. The ash is light gray and mostly tight. The draw is a tick on the snug side. The burn is nearly perfect. There is a leathery texture to the smoke. Late in the 1st/3rd notes of burnt toast join the profile.

2nd
Some black pepper notes join the white pepper spice. Cinnamon is gone. The draw has opened up. Dark roast coffee notes join the profile. The finish is long with notes of earthy cedar, dried fruit, burnt toast, dark roast coffee and a black and white pepper spice combo. Strength is at medium. The dried fruit sweetness has faded some. Smoke production is at the low end of high. The sweetness returns right before the end of the 2nd/3rd.

Final/3rd
The profile is well balanced from the first draws. There is a bit of cocoa on the finish now. The black pepper gets a bit more prominent late in the final/3rd.

Overall
The Emilio LJZ Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful, well balanced profile with a great draw and burn.

La Conquista #5 Robusto Corojo 12/24/17

Appearance
A light brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. It has a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.
The band is very attractive.

Aroma
Cedar and spice on the wrapper. Cedar, hay and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Black Licorice, dates, cedar, hay and spice.

1st
Initial draws bring notes of cedar and a hint of spice. There is some sweetness to the profile as well. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. The draw is a bit snug. The burn is just about perfect. Strength is in the mild range. The ash held firm til removal.

2nd
Spice ramps up in strength and body. Smoke production is in the low end of medium range. Draw opens up. Strength is mild/med.

Final/3rd
Profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The La Conquista #5 Robusto Corojo provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile with a snug draw a pretty good burn.

Carolina Blue Cigars Gran Robusto Maduro 12/23/17

Carolina Blue Cigars Gran Robusto Maduro 12/23/17
Appearance
A dark chocolate colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. There is a small amount of mottling and a bit of tooth. The wrapper has a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Cedar, sweetness and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Same at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Cedar, sugary sweetness and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of bitter espresso and cedar with a mild cinnamon spice. The draw is good the burn has a slight wave. At about 3/4” in the bitterness fades leaving espresso, cedar and spice with a leathery texture. The ash is a very light gray and tight. Smoke production is in the high range. Ash held firm til removal.

2nd
Burn line is off a bit due to the Ligero cone being off center. Flavor profile remains consistent into the 2nd/3rd. Midway in the 2nd the spice becomes a warm cinnamon and a nutty note joins the profile. Burn line is self correcting. Strength is at medium+.

Final/3rd
The espresso which had mellowed some comes back strong. The spice picks up as well.

Overall
The Carolina Blue Cigars Gran Robusto Maduro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A consistent flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. Definitely worth a try.

Diesel Grind Toro 12/17/17

 Appearance
The wrapper looks very chocolatey and has a few prominent veins. There is a bit of mottling making the well rolled and tightly wrapped seams visible. The oil sheen is more of a matte finish but u can definitely feel its presence.
The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Chocolate, earth and wood on the wrapper. Same at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Chocolatey, earthy, cedar, molasses

1st
The initial draws bring heavy notes of cedar with a tiny bit of spice on the edges of the tongue. The ash is a medium gray and stacked. The draw and burn are spot on. Smoke production is at high. Earthy notes join the profile and balance the cedar nicely. The chocolate notes are slowly rising to the surface but still faint. Strength is at medium+ late in this 3rd. The finish is quite tasty with notes of earth, cedar, chocolate and mild pepper spice. The ash is tightening up.

2nd
Flavor continues into the 2nd/3rd. Draw and burn are still perfect. A little bit of the molasses brings more sweetness on the finish. Strength moves to med/full. The spice ramps up in the form of crushed red pepper. Interestingly the smoke production drops to the medium range. While espresso notes join the profile.

Final/3rd
The profile continues the same into the final/3rd. No changes right to the nub.

Overall
The Diesel Grind Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful profile with a perfect burn and draw. This Diesel was produced to be a brick and mortar only cigar.

S.T.K Black Dahlia Robusto by Gran Habano 12/16/17

 Appearance
A light brown colored wrapper with very little in the way of veins on the surface. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a very light oil sheen. Filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Barnyard, hay, sweetness on the wrapper. Barnyard, hay and a faint hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Licorice, cream and a mild spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of hay and coffee bean. Cream notes join the profile and blend nicely with the coffee notes. The draw is good and the burn is spot on. The ash is light gray and fairly tight but has a few flakes falling. Ash was looking a bit suspect but held on until removal.

2nd
Strength is mild/med. Cedar notes join the profile. The finish is long with notes of coffee, cream, cedar and mild cinnamon spice. The burn got a little wavy but then self corrected soon after.

Final/3rd
Profile continues into final/3rd. Burn & draw are still spot on. Almond notes join the profile. Flavors remain consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Black Dahlia provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile with a great burn and draw.
For those who are wondering what the S.T.K. stands for its Stay True Kid a slogan that George Rico Gran Habano brand owner uses on several of his boutique brands.

La Aurora ADN Dominicana Toro 12/10/17

 Appearance
The wrapper has a few prominent veins. The seams are tight and well rolled. There is a thick oily sheen and quite a bit of tooth.
The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. The band is very attractive.

Aroma
Barnyard, cedar and cocoa powder on the wrapper. Barnyard, cedar, chocolate, candy sweetness and a faint hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Licorice, cedar, chocolate and warm cinnamon spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar, hay, espresso and mild cinnamon spice with a pinch of black pepper spice on the end of the finish. After a number of draws the burn line is at 45*. The ash is light gray and very flaky on one side and tight on the other. The draw is perfect. With the help of simple physics the burn is self correcting. There is a roasted peanut note joining the profile. The black pepper tapers back to more like a white pepper/cinnamon combo. Strength is at medium.

2nd
The burn is back to 45*. Upon inspection of the working end I notice a couple tiny tunnels right under the binder and the Ligero cone is off center causing the faster burn on the back side of the cigar. The burn line begins to self correct. Smoke production is in the high end of medium range. The finish is long with notes of cedar, espresso, hay, roasted nuts, tea, a pinch of floral and a white pepper/cinnamon spice. Burn line gets jagged due to more tiny tunnels.

Final/3rd
Burn line has fully self corrected. The flavor profile, burn and draw remain consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The La Aurora ADN Dominicana Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A very flavorful and balanced profile with a perfect draw and erratic burn.

Charter Oak Maduro Toro by Foundation Cigar 12/9/17

Appearance
The dark chocolate colored wrapper leaf is a bit rough which is not uncommon for Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro. There are a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped but visible due to some mottling. There is a very light oil sheen.
The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. The cigar has a closed foot.

Aroma
Chocolatey, earthy on the wrapper. Foot is closed.

Prelight Draw
Rich chocolate, earth, caramel, espresso and a mild spice.

1st
Initial draws bring notes of earth and dark chocolate. Espresso notes begin to inch their way into the profile. The draw & burn have been perfect from the start. Caramel sweetness joins the profile. The spice begins to develop late in the 1st/3rd as a paprika with a pinch of black pepper.

2nd
The ash is light gray and stacked. Strength is in the medium range. The spice continues to develop with the black pepper becoming more prominent. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range. The texture of the smoke becomes more creamy. Walnut notes join the profile. Black pepper has tapered back into balance with the paprika.

Final/3rd
The finish is long with notes of chocolate, earth, espresso,caramel, walnut, paprika and black pepper spice with a nice creamy texture. The flavor profile is very well balanced. Strength finishes at medium+. Great rich flavor right to the nub.

Overall
The Charter Oak Maduro Toro by Foundation Cigar provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect burn & draw. With a perfect price point of $5.50 everyone should enjoy this cigar.
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K by Karen Berger Habano Robusto 12/3/17

 Appearance
A milk chocolate colored wrapper with mostly small veins. The seams are tight and well done. Soft box press. The wrapper has a matte finish.
The bands are very attractive with great color contrast.

Aroma
Musty earth and a mild spice on the wrapper.
Floral at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Fruit, licorice, earth and spice.

1st
Initial draws bring notes of floral with tea alongside. Spice notes begin to develop. A little past 1/2” there is a very sweet coffee note joining the profile. There is an enveloping sweetness to the profile. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked with a little flake. The draw is perfect while the burn is off by 22* due to a tunnel, but is beginning to self correct with the help of simple physics.

2nd
The smoke production is at the low end of high range. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, coffee, creamy sweetness and warm cinnamon spice. Strength is still at medium. Red fruity notes join the profile. Midway in the 2nd/3rd there is a cayenne pepper note joining the cinnamon spice.

Final/3rd
Burn has fully self corrected. The profile is very well balanced and flavorful with great complexity right to the nub.

Overall
The K Habano Robusto by Karen Berger provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very flavorful, complex and well balanced profile with a perfect draw throughout and mildly erratic burn(mid 1st to end of 2nd/3rd).
I’m definitely getting more of these to keep in the humidor.
GoGetchasome™!!

Tennessee Waltz Robusto Extra by The Crowned Heads 12/2/17

 Appearance
A chocolatey colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The seams are perfect. The wrapper has a nice oily look and feel. There is a little bit of tooth as well.

Aroma
Barnyard on the wrapper. Barnyard, earth and cedar at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Tangy citrus, chocolate, earthy, spice

1st
The initial draws bring notes of citrus, earth and black pepper spice. At 1/2” in the burn line has a slight wave. The ash is medium gray and tight. The draw is a tic on the snug side. The chocolate notes are helping to balance the black pepper spice. Ash held firm til removal.

2nd
Black pepper spice ramps up, dominating the flavor profile. Strength is at medium+. Smoke production is in the medium range. The finish is long with dominating notes of heavy black pepper and underlying notes of citrus, earth and chocolate. Draw has opened up nicely. The burn is off 22 1/2* due to the Ligero cone being off center.

Final/3rd
With the help of simple physics the burn self corrects. The black pepper tapers back but still dominating the profile. Profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The Tennessee Waltz Robusto Extra provides a somewhat enjoyable smoking experience. A consistent profile dominated by black pepper with a nice draw(after it opened up) and an erratic burn. Too much black pepper for my preference