Hoyo La Amistad Dark Sumatra Espresso Robusto by AJ for General Cigar 8/3/19

 Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple of 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.

Aroma
Earth, cedar, espresso and spice on the wrapper. Earth, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earth, red fruit, cedar, espresso and warm cayenne spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of earth and black pepper spice. Immediately the spice goes to a cayenne pepper and the black pepper fades. A dark espresso note joins in early in the 1st/3rd. The draw is spot on and the burn has a slight wave. The ash is dark salt&pepper gray and stacked. The black pepper spice returns. Smoke production is at the high range. The ash holds firm until removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find two 1/8” diameter tunnels, one closer to the binder than the other which are causing the erratic burn. Cedar notes join the profile bringing more balance. The black pepper fades again briefly replaced by the cayenne pepper notes. With the help of simple physics the burn begins to self correct. Strength is med/full. The finish is long with notes of earth, espresso, cedar and spice which vacillates between cayenne and black pepper. The tunnels end and the burn fully self corrects. The black pepper fades again with the cayenne pepper becoming more prominent.

Final/3rd
Moving into the final third the strength becomes more full. The black pepper returns while the cayenne pepper fades. The flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall
The Hoyo La Amistad Dark Sumatra Espresso(Short Robusto) provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.
Well done AJ!
Living in Arizona there can be a time lag on getting new releases but Thanks to my brother Steve @bigbucky24 who sent me a full of new releases, that’s not the case this time.