Warped El Oso Papa Panatela 6/27/20

Appearance

A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. The wrapper has a light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earth, chocolate, sweet tobacco and spice on the wrapper. Earth, chocolate, sweetness and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Brown sugar, chocolate, licorice, citrus and spice

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, earth, a faint citrus and a mild cinnamon spice. The draw is a bit snug. Chocolate notes join the profile right away. The burn is off by about 15 degrees. Within just a few draws after implementing simple physics the burn has begun to self correct. The ash is salt&pepper gray and tightly stacked. The strength is medium and smoke production is medium as well. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end I find 3 tiny tunnels responsible for the erratic burn. Almond notes join the profile. At the midway point of the cigar the burn has fully self corrected and the draw opened up. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, citrus, chocolate, almond and warm cinnamon spice.

Final/3rd

The well balanced and flavorful profile continues into the final/3rd. The strength moves to medium+. The profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall

The Warped El Oso Panatela provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a nice draw after it opened up and a mildly erratic burn.

Another fine Warped cigar which like the La Colmena and some of their early blends is made at the El Titan De Bronze factory in Little Havana, Miami.

GoGetchasome™️!!

Altar Q Yax-Pac 16 Toro by Oscar 6/21/20

Appearance

A silky light brown colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins and a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Faint cedar on the wrapper. Cedar and mild white pepper spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Orange peel, cedar, hay and white pepper spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, hay and faint orange peel with a hint of white pepper spice. The draw is a bit snug and the burn a bit wavy. The ash is light gray, fairly tight but flaky at the same time. Strength starts at mild/medium. Smoke production is at the low end of medium range. The white pepper spice has become more prominent. The draw has opened up.

2nd

The 2nd/3rd starts with a good draw and a slightly wavy burn. The flavor profile has remained consistent from the start. The finish is long with notes cedar, hay, orange peel and white pepper spice.

Final/3rd

Profile continues into the final/3rd. Burn is fully self corrected. Profile continues right to the nub.

Overall

The Altar Q Toro by Oscar provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced flavor profile with a good draw and mildly erratic burn.

2012 Barber Pole by Oscar Valladares Box Pressed Toro 6/20/20

Appearance

A candela and San Andres Maduro wrapped barber pole cigar with tightly wrapped seams and a few prominent veins. It has a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earth, cedar, clove and spice on the wrapper. Cedar, light brown sugar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Cedar, earth, black licorice, spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, earth and spice. Noticing notes of chocolate mixed with green grass. The draw is a bit snug. The burn has a slight wave. The spice is very mild at this point. The ash is light gray and stacked. Their is a bit of a meaty note joining the profile. The spice is of the cinnamon variety with a pinch of black pepper. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd

The well balanced profile moves into the 2nd/3rd. Strength is medium. There is still a v in the burn on one of the sides which is caused by a tunnel near the binder leaf. The draw has opened up nicely. The blend gives a very dry mouth feel. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range. A few draws into the 2nd/3rd the burn fully self corrects as the tunnel ends. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, chocolate, meat and cinnamon/black pepper spice.

Final/3rd

There is a citrus note joining the profile. The blend is now causing more salivation. The well balanced and flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall

The 2012 Barberpole by Oscar Valladares box pressed Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a great draw(after it opened up) and a mildly erratic burn.

Definitely a cigar to try.

H.Upmann 1844 Hispaniola by Jose Mendez Robusto 6/14/20

Appearance

A medium brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins, tightly wrapped seams and a very light oil sheen.

The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Plum, earth, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Lush red fruit, cedar, cocoa and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earth, cedar, dried fruit, cocoa and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth, cedar, a faint metallic note and a mild spice. The draw is a tick snug. The burn has a slight wave. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Strength is medium and the smoke production is at the medium range. The draw opens up. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd

Sweet cocoa notes help to balance the Olor tobacco notes which were beginning to dominate the profile. Due to a couple of tiny tunnels just under the binder leaf on one side, the burn is off by 10 degrees. With the help of simple physics the burn fully self corrects. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, dried fruit, sweet cocoa and nutmeg spice.

Final/3rd

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

Overall

The H. Upmann 1844 Hispaniola by Jose Mendez Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a good draw and mildly erratic burn until the midway point, then razor sharp for the rest of the cigar.

Gurkha 30th Anniversary Treinta Toro 6/13/20

Appearance

A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins, tightly wrapped seams and a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Dried red fruit, cedar on the wrapper. Dried red fruit, molasses, cedar and a very faint spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Dried fruit, cedar, earth, molasses, cashews and spice(white & black pepper).

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, faint dried fruit, earth and mild spice. Draw is snug. Burn is a bit erratic right away. Smoke production is at the low range. The ash is light gray and stacked. Strength is medium. Some blooming and flaking happening with the ash. The ash is flaking all over and looking somewhat suspect so I remove it at 1.25”. The draw opens up and smoke production is at the medium range. The black pepper spice becomes a bit more prominent than the white pepper.

2nd

The burn has almost fully self corrected. Cashew notes join the profile. A couple of tiny tunnels under the binder on one side keep the burn a bit erratic. At the midway point of the cigar a citrus note joins the profile. The finish is long with notes of cedar, faint dried fruit, earth, cashew, citrus and a white/black pepper spice combo.

Final/3rd

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

Overall

The Gurkha 30th Anniversary Treinta Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a good draw after the 1st/3rd and an erratic burn.

UR Back2Back Connecticut Robusto 6/7/20

Appearance

A light brown colored wrapper with a few thin veins and tightly wrapped seams. It has an oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Cedar, dried fruit and spice on the wrapper. Cedar, dried fruit and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Cedar, dried fruit, licorice and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, hay and a pinch of spice. The draw is snug. The ash is light gray and tight. Strength is mild/med. smoke production is at the medium range. Just past the 1” point the draw opens up and the spice increases with it. The burn was mildly erratic but with the help of simple physics it has fully self corrected. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd

The spice reminds me of white pepper. The strength moves to medium. The finish is long with notes of cedar, hay, dried fruit and white pepper spice. The flavor profile remains consistent from the initial draws.

Final/3rd

The consistent flavor profile moves into the final/3rd. The profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall

The UR Back2Back Connecticut Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced flavor profile with a perfect draw and burn after the 1st/3rd.

CH Juarez OBS Robusto 6/6/20

Appearance

A dark chocolatey colored wrapper with a couple of thin veins and tightly wrapped seams. It has a very light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

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

Prelight Draw

Chocolate, cedar, earth and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth, cedar, chocolate and a mild spice. The draw is a tick snug. The burn is spot on so far. The ash is light gray and stacked. The spice is of the black pepper variety. Smoke production is at the medium range. Strength is medium. There is a little bit of warm cinnamon mixed in with the black pepper spice. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd

The blend is well balanced but the black pepper spice seems to be increasing in intensity. The finish is long with notes of chocolate, earth, cedar and a cinnamon/black pepper spice combo.

Final/3rd

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

Overall

The CH Juarez OBS Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a snug draw and good burn.

Warfighter 7.62mm Field Sumatra Robusto 5/31/20

Appearance

A light brown colored wrapper with a few thin veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has a very light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Barnyard, floral and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Floral, cedar and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Light red fruit, floral and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar in a floral garden with a pinch of mild spice. The draw is a tick snug. The burn is slightly wavy. The ash is light gray and tightly stacked. Strength is mild/med and smoke production is at the low end of medium range. The ash dropped at 1”.

2nd

Just into the 2nd/3rd the spice kicks up a notch as does the body & strength. The draw has opened up. The floral notes have faded and notes of cedar and dried fruit are dominant. The spice reminds me of cayenne pepper. Strength is inching up to medium+. The burn has fully self corrected at the midway point of the 2nd/3rd. The finish is long with notes of cedar, dried fruit and cayenne pepper spice.

Final/3rd

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

Overall

The Warfighter 7.62mm Field Sumatra Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a great draw and mildly erratic burn.