Pistoff Kristoff Robusto 1/20/18

 Appearance
Dark chocolate colored wrapper with a few prominent veins.
There is a vertical tear in the wrapper above the band.
The seams are tight and there is a nice light oil sheen.
The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.
It has a twisted cap.

Aroma
Earthy, faint cocoa powder and a hint of spice on the wrapper. The semi closed foot yields more of the same.

Prelight Draw
Sugary sweetness and spicy on the lips and tongue.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of creamy peanuts. About a half inch in a mild spice joins the nutty flavor. The burn is nearly perfect and the draw is spot on. The ash is light gray, almost white and tight. The smoke production is in the medium range. The spice changes to a more bold spice.

2nd
The finish is long with notes of earth, warm peanuts, sugary sweetness and a bold warm spice like paprika. Strength is at medium. Smoke production picks up to high. The smoke is pouring off the working end between draws. Late in the 2nd/3rd the strength moves to med/full.

Final/3rd
The bold and consistent flavor profile continues into the final/3rd.

Overall
The Pistoff Kristoff Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile with a great draw and burn. Well done Glen @GlenCase

Carolina Blue Cigars Habano Toro 1/14/18

 Appearance
A light brown colored wrapper with a few prominent thin veins. The seams are nearly invisible and tightly wrapped. It has a very light oil sheen.
The filler bunch is well packed with a couple soft spots.

Aroma
Barnyardy, cedar, red pepper spice on the wrapper.
Hay, cedar, sweetness and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Cedar, hay, caramel and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar with a caramel sweetness in the background. The spice notes are of the red pepper variety. The draw is perfect. Burn is slightly wavy. The ash is light gray and stacked. The burn is self correcting thanks to some simple physics. Ash held solid til removal.

2nd
The smoke production is at the low end of high range. The strength is medium+. The finish is long with notes of cedar, hay, caramel and crushed red pepper spice. Strength moves to med/full midway in the 2nd/3rd. Unsalted peanut notes join the profile. The sweetness becomes more like honey.

Final/3rd
The well balanced profile remains consistent into the final/3rd and right through to the nub.

Overall
The Carolina Blue Cigars Habano Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful and balanced profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. Definitely a cigar you should try. Available at carolinabluecigars.com

Esteban Carreras Mr Brownstone Robusto 1/13/18

 Appearance
A Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tight. The cap is perfectly applied. The wrapper feels oily but has a matte finish. The filler bunch appears well packed but there are a few soft spots. A little less packaging and pectin glue would be a plus as it was difficult to remove.

Aroma
Earthy tobacco on the wrapper. Nothing at the foot. This cigar is a classic example of what happens when you don’t package cigars in cello.

Prelight Draw
Earthy, cedar, espresso, a little dried red fruit sweetness and a tiny bit of mild spice on the lips.

1st
Initial draws bring notes of earth and espresso with some cedar in the background. The mild cinnamon spice comes through right away on the finish. Draw is perfect from the initial pulls. Burn has a small wave. The ash is almost white and mostly tight. At the 1” point the fruity notes join the profile. The ash becomes stacked and a little flaky. The fruity notes balance the espresso nicely. Smoke production is at the high range with smoke pouring off the cigar between draws.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find the Ligero cone is off center and a tunnel on the faster burning side. Strength is still in the medium range. The burn is self correcting with the help of simple physics. Some creamy notes join the profile. The fruity notes become more like citrus.

Final/3rd
Burn has fully self corrected. The flavor profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The Esteban Carreras provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.

LFD La Volcada 1/7/18

 Appearance
A dark chocolatey colored wrapper with very few veins on the surface. The seams are mostly tight. It has a nice oily sheen and a small amount of tooth. A nicely finished pigtail coil on the cap. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
The unfortunate thing about cigars packaged without cello is that u lose a vital part of the experience because without the cello the aroma evaporates. No aroma on the wrapper. A tiny bit of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earth and sweetness.

1st
Initial draws bring notes of earth and spice. The draw is a tick on the snug side of perfect. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. The spice is like crushed red pepper(a fav of mine). Burn is wavy. A molasses type sweetness joins the profile. The smoke production is in the high range. An inch in the draw loosens up. The spice begins to taper off. Creamy cashew notes join the profile. Strength is medium+.

2nd
Upon removal of the ash I inspect the working end and find a few tiny tunnels causing an erratic burn. The profile is very chewy. The finish is long with notes of earth, molasses, cashews and allspice. Strength moves to full.

Final/3rd
The crushed red pepper spice returns to the forefront of the profile. Flavor remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The LFD La Volcada provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful profile with a perfect draw and erratic burn.

Wayfarer Corona Gorda by Serino Cigar 1/6/17

 Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The tightly wrapped seams are only visible due to some dark mottling. There is a bit of tooth as well as a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Cedar and spice on the wrapper. Graham cracker, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Cedar, dried fruit, leather.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar and spice with a leathery texture. The draw is just right. The burn line is slightly wavy. The spice started to lean towards black pepper but has settled in as a white pepper. Smoke production is in the medium range. Some nice almond notes join the profile.

2nd
Draw is still perfect and the burn is still wavy. The finish is long with notes of cedar, almonds and white pepper spice with a leathery texture. Ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked.

Final/3rd
Strength has been a solid medium from the start. Some dried fruit notes from the Prelight Draw join the profile. Flavor remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Wayfarer Corona Gorda provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice albeit consistent flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.

Four Kicks Sublime Toro 1/1/18

 Appearance
A veiny, toothy, slightly mottled wrapper leaf. The seams are tight and it has a light oil sheen. The filler is well packed but has a couple soft spots.

Aroma
Cedar on the wrapper. Cedar, sweetness at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Cedar, sweetness like dates and spice.

1st
Initial draws bring notes of cedar and a hint of sweetness followed closely by a mouthful of black pepper spice. At about 5/8” in the heavy black pepper backs off to be in balance with the profile. The draw is spot on. The burn has a wave on one side. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Smoke production is at the high range. Strength is medium.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find 3 tiny tunnels causing the errant burn which is now self correcting. The finish is long with notes of cedar, a faint sweetness, roasted nuts and a manageable black pepper spice. Late in the 2nd/3rd the spice ramps back up.

Final/3rd
Burn & draw are spot on. Flavor continues consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The Four Kicks Sublime Toro provides a somewhat enjoyable smoking experience. A consistent flavor profile with a great draw and erratic burn. Too much black pepper for my taste.

LaPalina Mr Sam Robusto 12/31/17

 Appearance
A somewhat veiny but otherwise silky and beautiful Ecuadoran Habano wrapper with what appears to be no seams. Their there just very hard to find. It has a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Cedar, floral and barnyard on the wrapper. Cedar and cocoa at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Dried red fruit, floral, cedar, cocoa and warm cinnamon.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of leathery cedar, followed by a very mild allspice. Draw is perfect. Burn is off by 7*. The ash is medium gray and stacked. Strength is medium+. Coffee notes join the profile. The ash holds firm til removal.

2nd
The finish is long with notes of cedar, coffee and a cinnamon spice with a pinch of black pepper. After removing the ash and inspecting the working end I notice that the ligero cone is off center causing the uneven burn. The smoke production is at the medium range. The dried fruit notes join the profile midway in the 2nd.

Final/3rd
Flavor profile rolls into and remains consistent throughout the final/3rd. Strength finishes at med/full.

Overall
The LaPalina Mr Sam Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice consistent flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.