H Upmann 175th Anniversary Churchill 11/16/19

 

Appearance

A dark chocolate colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earth, dried fruit, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Earth, chocolate, lush red fruit, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earth, lush red fruit, cedar, licorice and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar with earthy notes in the background and a tiny bit of spice as well. The draw is effortless. Burn is near perfect. The ash is medium gray and stacked. The burn just started getting all wavy. Subtle red and black cherry notes join the profile. There is a chocolatey note under the cherry notes. Strength is medium. Smoke production is at the medium range. Burn has almost fully self corrected. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd

The flavorful profile moves into the 2nd/3rd. No changes in the 2nd/3rd. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, red fruit with emphasis on cherry notes, chocolate and a cinnamon spice. Well balanced profile. Strength moves to med/full.

Final/3rd

Other than some salty notes there are no changes well into the final/3rd. The burn gets a bit wonky in the 2nd half of the final/3rd. The profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall

The H Upmann 175th Anniversary Churchill provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with an effortless draw and mildly erratic burn.

What started out as a complex smoke in the 1st/3rd became a consistent albeit lackluster smoke from the 2nd/3rd thru to the final draws. A bit disappointed as I was expecting more as I got into the 1st/3rd.

 

 

San Lotano Requiem Maduro Robusto 11/10/19

 

Appearance

A dark chocolate colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins on an otherwise silky wrapper leaf. The seams are not visible. There is a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earth, cedar, chocolate and spice on the wrapper. Earth, chocolate, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Chocolate, earth, cedar and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, earth and dark chocolate with a hint of spice. The draw is a bit snug, I’m feeling it in my cheeks. The burn is almost perfect. The ash is medium gray and fairly tight. Halfway into the 1st/3rd the draw opens up. The smoke production is at the medium range. Strength is medium+. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd

Toast notes join the well balanced and flavorful profile. Strength and body are at med/full. Smoke production is at the low end of high range. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, chocolate, toast, almond and warm cinnamon spice.

Final/3rd

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

Overall

The San Lotano Requiem Maduro Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and burn.

GoGetchasome™️!!

 

 

Undercrown Maduro ShadyXX BP Short Torpedo 11/9/19

 

Appearance

A very oily dark chocolate colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and the cap is applied very well. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Dark chocolate, earth and spice on the wrapper. Cedar, dark chocolate, earth and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earth, molasses, dark chocolate, black licorice, cedar and warm cinnamon spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, earth and cinnamon spice. The draw is a bit snug as Torpedo’s tend to be. Dark chocolate and espresso notes join the profile to bring another level of richness. The ash is light gray, almost white and tight. The burn is almost perfect. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range. Strength starts at medium+. The ash got a little flaky but held firm and straight until removal.

2nd

A pinch of black pepper joins the spice portion of the profile. The burn vacillates between razor sharp and wavy as the cigar continues to burn. Strength moves to med/full. The black pepper spice increases in intensity.

Final/3rd

The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, dark chocolate, espresso and a cinnamon/black pepper spice combo. Strength moves to full. The flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall

The Undercrown Maduro ShadyXX BP Short Torpedo provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a good draw and mildly erratic burn.

GoGetchasome™️!!

 

 

 

 

Joya De Nicaragua Cinco Decadas Fundador BP 11/3/19

 

Appearance

A beautiful dark chocolate colored wrapper with a satiny smooth surface on the face of the cigar. There are a couple of prominent veins on the sides and back of the cigar but not on the front. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. The cigar has an oil sheen but in a matte finish. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earth, cedar and spice on the wrapper. Molasses, coffee bean, earth and spice at the foot.

Very well designed band with nice color contrast.

Prelight Draw

Raisin, black licorice, molasses, cedar and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, earth and a hint of spice. The draw is good. The burn is wavy but is already self correcting. The ash is light gray and tight. Smoke production is at the low range. Just past the halfway point of the 1st/3
rd some sweet fruity notes join the profile. The draw becomes effortless and the burn razor sharp. The ash holds firm and straight until removal.

2nd

The spice has been ticking up in intensity since late in the 1st/3rd then it tapers back. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, molasses, sweet fruit and cinnamon spice. Smoke production is at the medium range.

Final/3rd

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

Overall

The Cinco Decadas Fundador BP provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with an effortless draw and mildly erratic burn.

You definitely want to try one of these while you can. Not sure how long they will be available.

GoGetchasome™️!!

 

 

CAO Flathead Camshaft V19 Robusto box pressed 11/2/19

 

Appearance

A dark chocolate colored wrapper with a satiny smooth finish and only a couple of small veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has an oily sheen with a little tooth as well. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earth, leather, molasses and spice on the wrapper. Molasses, earth and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earth, molasses, leather, cedar and cinnamon spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth and molasses. Notes of cinnamon spice join the profile right away. The flavorful profile is wrapped in a leathery texture. The burn is developing a deep V on one side. The draw is a tick on the snug side. The ash is medium gray and stacked with a bit of flake. The ash held firm but looked suspect at removal.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end I found several small tunnels and the ligero cone was off center causing the erratic burn. The burn has begun self correcting with the help of simple physics. The draw opened up about the midway point of the cigar. Before the end of the 2nd/3rd the burn fully self corrected. The finish is long with notes of earth, molasses, espresso and cinnamon spice.

Final/3rd

The final/3rd opens with an effortless draw and mildly erratic burn. The flavorful profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall

The CAO Flathead Camshaft V19 Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a snug draw till halfway and a mildly erratic burn.