Bellas Artes by AJ Fernandez short Churchill 10/23/16

Appearance 

The light brown wrapper has a couple prominent albeit thin veins and a smooth texture. The seams are tightly wrapped. The wrapper has a matte type finish as far as the oil is concerned. The band is a beautiful work of Art.

Aroma 

Earth, hay and a faint citrus aroma on the wrapper and the same at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earth, cedar, citrus sweetness, bread, mixed nuts and spice.

1st

Initial draws reveal bready notes alongside some mixed nuts. The draw is snug. The burn line has a bit of a wave. The ash is light gray, stacked and a bit flaky. The spice begins developing right away as well. It seems to start out as a white pepper with a faint hint of black. Some citrus notes join the profile late in the 1st/3rd. The strength is at the top end of medium. There is also a honey like sweetness.

2nd

The finish is long with notes of earth, fresh bread, citrus, mixed nuts, honey and a mix of white & black pepper spice. Smoke production is in the medium range. The flavors are well balanced. The texture of the smoke is creamy. The draw begins to loosen up at the midway point of the cigar. Strength moves to medium+. Right before the end of the 2nd/3rd the spice becomes more of a crushed red pepper. 

Final/3rd

The final/3rd starts with a transition of the bready notes becoming more like a buttery cracker note. Strength moves to med/full. Late in the final/3rd the spice moves to the low end of a jalapeño pepper. 

Overall the Bellas Artes provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex and very balanced full flavor profile. Another winner for AJ Fernandez. 

GoGetchasome™!!

AVO Syncro II Fogata Robusto 10/22/16

Appearance 

The wrapper is slightly darker than milk chocolate with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. The band colors provide a nice contrast to the wrapper color. There is a nice light oil sheen on the wrapper. 

Aroma 

Earthy, woody aroma with some floral on the wrapper. Earth, oak, cedar, sweetness and a faint hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earth, cedar, leather, wheat, honey and the beginnings of a nice cinnamon spice.

1st

The initial draws reveal that classic rich earthy Nicaraguan tobacco flavor. The draw is perfect. The burn is a bit wavy. The strength is at medium+ already. The ash is medium gray and has chunky flakes falling off in the first 3/4". Bread and leather notes join the flavor profile. There is an interesting flavor of char & sweetness kind of like marshmallows at the campfire. 

2nd

The cinnamon spice is becoming more prominent than in the 1st/3rd but still in balance. The ash gets a bit tighter with minor flakes. High smoke production. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, oak, bread, leather and cinnamon spice. Burn has fully self corrected. Due to the flaky and suspect looking ash I have been removing halfway in each 3rd. 

Final/3rd

Burn line went off by 22* to start the final/3rd but quickly self corrected. Flavor profile remains consistent through the final/3rd. The strength finishes at the low end of med/full.

Overall the AVO Syncro II Fogata Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw.  Definitely a cigar to try as it might be a regular in your rotation.

GoGetchasome™!!

El Centurion H•2K•CT Corona box-pressed 10/20/16

 

Appearance 

The bands are quite attractive but they hide a lot of the wrapper. What I can see of it the wrapper is almost silky and there is very little vein visible. The seams are tightly wrapped. The cigar is firm from head to foot. A very nice soft box pressed stick. The hybrid wrapper is dark for a Connecticut. 

Aroma 

Earthy barnyard, dried fruit and a hint of spice on the wrapper. The same at the foot. 

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, dried fruit, almonds, honey sweetness and a hint of spice.

1st

The initial draws elicit notes of cedar, almond and a hint of spice. Interestingly the burn line is parallel to the wrapper seam. Allowing physics to do its thing the burn begins self correcting. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. The spice reminds of white pepper at this point. 

2nd

It appears that some black pepper has joined the profile. The honey sweetness from the Prelight has joined the profile tempering the black pepper nicely. The finish is long with notes of cedar, dried fruit, honey, almonds and a warm cinnamon like spice. Draw has been perfect from the start. Strength started at medium and is now medium+. Burn has fully self corrected. Ash holds firm till removal at each 3rd. The black pepper reemerges. 

Final/3rd

Profile remains consistent thru the final/3rd. Strength moves to med/full. 

Overall the El Centurion H•2K•CT provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced flavorful profile with a perfect draw. 

Thanks to my brother Tony Toland @CigarGent_CV66 for the cigar for review.

Las Calaveras 2016 10/16/16

 

Appearance 

A nice dark wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The seams are nice and tight. The wrapper has a nice oily sheen and is a bit toothy. 

Aroma 

As with most cigars that don't have cello, there is not much of any aroma on the wrapper or at the foot.

Prelight Draw

A light black licorice, earth, cocoa and spice.

1st

The initial draws reveal notes of earth and black pepper spice. The black pepper is ok at this point as it's not overpowering the rest of the blend. The draw is a bit snug. The burn line is nearly razor sharp. The ash is medium to dark gray and mostly tight. At an inch in several changes occur. The draw improves noticeably, the strength of the cigar goes from medium to medium+ and espresso joins the flavor profile. Near the end of the 1st/3rd the spice tapers off considerably. 

2nd

A cleaner more citrus like flavor emerges. Smoke production is med/high. The burn is off 20* but we'll see what happens. The finish is long with notes of earth, cocoa, espresso, black pepper and citrus. Smoke production increases midway through the 2nd/3rd. Burn has fully self corrected(physics 101). Flavors are very well balanced. Cashew notes join the profile. Strength becomes med/full. 

Final/3rd

Warm cinnamon joins the profile. The flavor profile remains consistent throughout the final/3rd. 

Overall the Las Calaveras 2016 provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A very well balanced and complex flavor profile. A definite must try that finishes at the low end of med/full in strength.

GoGetchasome™!!

Kafie Cigars San Andres Petite Corona 10/15/16

 

Appearance 

A chocolatey brown wrapper with a bit of mottling and 1 prominent vein. The seams are tight. The cigar has a soft box press and a very light oil sheen.

Aroma

Earth, cocoa and wood on the wrapper. The same aromas at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earthy, woody and cocoa with a hint of spice.

1st

Initial draws bring notes of earth, woody notes like walnut, a presence of cocoa and a hint of spice warming the tongue and palate. The burn and draw are spot on. The ash is salt&pepper gray and tight. A coffee note joins the profile.

2nd

The smoke production is very good. There is a creamy texture to the smoke with a nice warm cinnamon spice. Strength is hovering around the medium level. The profile is perfectly balanced. The finish is long with notes of earth, walnut, cocoa, coffee and a warm cinnamon spice and a creamy texture. 

Final/3rd

Strength moves to medium+. The flavor profile remains consistent through the final/3rd right to the nub. 

Overall the Kafie Petite Corona provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very well balanced and flavorful profile with perfect burn and draw. A great cigar to have in your humidor for when u only have a half hour or so to smoke. I'm looking forward to trying other sizes. 

Well done Gaby!

GoGetchasome™!!

Camacho Powerband Robusto 10/9/16

Appearance

Nice chocolate colored Ecuadoran Habano wrapper has a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight and difficult to find. The cigar has a light oil sheen.

Aroma

Earthy and sweet with a slight hint of spice on the wrapper. Not as aromatic at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Black licorice, coffee, spice.

1st

Initial draws yield a bold cedary, leathery flavor with a white pepper and paprika spice kick. Strength is medium+. Draw is a bit snug. Burn has a little wave to it. Ash is medium gray and stacked with a few flakes. Draw opened up and burn has fully self corrected by the end of 1st/3rd.

2nd

The coffee notes from the prelight join the profile. The smoke is rather smooth for the strength level which is now at the med/full range. Smoke production is medium to the low end of high. The burn is fairly straight with small waves. The white pepper is still present but mostly a paprika spice. 

Final/3rd

The ash holds til removal at each 3rd albeit a bit suspect late in each 3rd. Flavor profile remains consistent through the end of the final/3rd. Midway in the final/3rd the strength goes to full. 

Overall the Camacho Powerband Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nicely balanced flavor profile with a good spice kick. Definitely a stick to keep in the humi if you like a tasty and bold cigar. 

Fonseca Nicaragua Robusto 10/8/16

Appearance 

The wrapper is a dark chocolatey looking and toothy leaf from Nicaragua. The seams are tight. The new band is an interesting departure from the old bands but then this is a new venture of sorts, as this is the 1st cigar bearing the Fonseca name to be made in Nicaragua. It's made at @PlasenciaCigars factory. There is a slight oil sheen. It is a puro.

Aroma 

Very earthy and chocolatey on the wrapper. Earthy, plum sweetness and a faint hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earthy, cocoa powder, molasses, bread and a hint of spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of moist earth with a mild cinnamon spice. It's a very dry smoke. Burn is off by about 30*. The draw is perfect. The beauty of physics is at work as the burn is self correcting. The ash is salt&pepper gray and fairly tight. Late in this 3rd the plum sweetness joins the profile and the smoke becomes less dry. 

2nd

Burn has almost fully corrected by the start of the 2nd/3rd. It has very good smoke production. The bready notes join the profile midway in 2nd. There is also a cashew note developing. Strength has been mild to medium and now is leaning to medium+. A light black pepper joins the cinnamon spice. 

Final/3rd

The flavor profile is nicely balanced. The finish is long and balanced with notes of earth, cocoa, plum, bread, cashew and cinnamon spice with a hint of black pepper. 

Overall the Fonseca Nicaragua Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful and balanced profile. At around $6 it's a good stick to keep in the humi.