Byron Reserva 5 Años 19th Grand Poemas Toro Extra 5/25/19

Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with a few prominent thin veins. It has a bit of tooth and a beautiful oily sheen. The seams are very well wrapped and only visible due to some mottling. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Barnyard, cedar, faint dried fruit and just a hint of spice on the wrapper. Dried red fruit, raisin and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Lush red fruit, raisin, cedar, sugar and cinnamon spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar and a pinch of cinnamon spice. The draw starts out a tick snug. Some espresso notes join in right away. The ash is a very light gray and fairly tight with a little bit of flake. The burn is a bit uneven at an inch in. Sugary sweet notes become evident. The burn has been self correcting with the help of some simple physics. The ash holds firm until removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end, I find the ligero cone is off center and there are 2 tiny tunnels. One just under the binder and the other just off center opposite the cone. The smoke production is at the medium range. Strength is medium+. At the midway point of the cigar the draw opens up nicely. Raisin notes join the profile as well as some toast notes. The finish is long with notes of cedar, espresso, lush red fruit, raisin and cinnamon toast spice. The burn has fully self corrected. A pinch of black pepper spice joins the profile and then fades.

Final/3rd
The complex, well balanced and flavorful profile continues into the final/3rd. The draw is now effortless and the burn is spot on. Smoke production is at the high range. The spice becomes more like a warm cinnamon spice. The complex, well balanced and flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall
The Byron Reserva 5 Años 19th Grand Poemas Toro Extra provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a snug draw and erratic burn through the first 2/3’s and an effortless draw and perfect burn in the final/3rd.
At $33 this may not be a cigar that a lot of people can afford to smoke on a regular basis but it’s definitely worth having in the humi for a very special occasion.