GTO Pain Killer Short Culonas Maduro 1/22/17

 

Appearance 

The chocolatey brown wrapper is a bit mottled and has a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight but the cap is a little rough. There is a nice oily sheen. It's also a bit toothy. 

Aroma 

Barnyardy, cedar, spice and molasses sweetness on the wrapper. Barnyard, cedar, molasses and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earthy, dark chocolate, dried fruit, molasses and spice.

1st

The dried fruit comes right to the forefront in the initial draws. Also some earthy notes and mild spice. The draw is spot on. Not always the case with a Culonas. The spice is a warm cinnamon. The flavor profile is very prominent. The burn is a bit wavy. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. The medicinal properties of the molasses is an additional feature that is often overlooked, but seems to play a prominent role in the Pain Killer. There is even a syrupy texture to the smoke on each draw. Strength is medium.

2nd

The burn which got a bit wonky has begun to self correct. I'm picking up a nice espresso note midway in the 2nd/3rd. The ash tightens up midway also. The dark chocolate goes from a minor role to a more balanced part of the profile. Strength moves to med/full.

Final/3rd

The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, molasses, dark chocolate,espresso and warm cinnamon spice. The burn has fully self corrected. Strength and body are med/full.

Overall

The GTO Pain Killer Short Culonas provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and very flavorful profile. Definitely a cigar to experience.

Thanks to Oscar @GTOcigars for the samples for review. 

GoGetchasome™!!

 

 

Cuban Border Robusto Gordo (5x60) by Casa Lovo 1/21/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. Well rolled with nice tight seams. It appears to be well packed with filler and there are no apparent soft spots. There is a nice oily sheen on the wrapper. 

Aroma 

Light earth, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Cedar and tobacco at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Wood, tobacco and spice.

1st

The Initial draws reveal a doughy texture with notes of cedar and a spice in the early stages. At 1/2" in the burn has a slight wave and the draw is spot on. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. I'm noticing some dried fruit notes on the finish. Strength and body are in the medium range. A wide u shape has developed in the burn. It looks like it is beginning to self correct. 

2nd

Smoke production is at the low end of high. There is sugary sweet flavor on the palate just into the 2nd/3rd. Burn continues to self correct. I'm finding the flavors are a bit plain on the draws but they really blossom in the finish which is fine by me. The finish is very flavorful with notes of cedar, tobacco, a fruity sweetness like strawberry with some candy like sweetness and a mild cinnamon spice. The spice develops to a warm cinnamon on the draw. 

Final/3rd

The burn has almost fully self corrected. Flavors are well balanced. Ash has tightened up. Strength moves to medium+. Some leathery notes join the profile. 

Overall

The Casa Lovo Cuban Border provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful profile with medium complexity. 

Thank you to Martin Delgado @MartincdWfg for the samples for review.

 

 

Hypnotic Sumatra Torpedo by GTO Cigars 1/14/17

 

Appearance 

A dark chocolatey looking wrapper with minimal veins on the surface. The seams are tightly wrapped and nearly impossible to find. It is slightly toothy and has a nice oily sheen.

It is well packed with tobacco with no soft spots.

Aroma 

Barnyardy, earthy, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Earthy, cedar, fruit, molasses and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Candy, mint,spice

1st

The initial draws bring notes of candy sweetness and some earth, cedar and mild cinnamon spice. The smoke production is at high. The smoke is billowing off the wrapper in between draws. The draw is on the snug side of perfect and the burn is almost perfect, has a small wave. The ash is medium gray and tight. 

2nd

Strength has been mild up to now when it moves to medium. Draw has opened up and is very smooth. There is also a nice bready note joining the profile. Espresso notes join the mix. The cinnamon becomes warm midway in the 2nd/3rd. Spice tapers back a bit at the end of 2nd. 

Final/3rd

Spice ramps back up to start the final/3rd. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, bread, espresso and warm cinnamon spice. A nice almond note joins the mix. 

Overall

The Hypnotic Sumatra Torpedo provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A complex and flavorful profile albeit a bit sweeter than I'm used to. 

Oscar blended this as an alternative to infused cigars and I would say he achieved his goal. I would recommend everyone give it a try.

 

 

ATABEY Robusto 1/8/17

 

Appearance 

The light brown colored wrapper has a few prominent veins. The seams are tight. It has a nice oily sheen. 

Aroma 

Sweet,hay and a hint of spice on the wrapper. About the same at the foot. 

Prelight Draw 

Hay, honey, cedar and a hint of spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar with a slight hint of spice. The honey sweetness is present after a few more draws. The draw & burn are spot on. The ash is light gray and mostly tight. Body & strength are medium. The spice is developing, at this point late in the 1st it's like a nutmeg. 

2nd

Burn line develops a small wave. Strength moves to medium+. There are light coffee notes joining the profile. The ash has become more stacked. The finish is long with notes of cedar, hay, honey, coffee and nutmeg spice. Strength is continuing to climb, is at the low end of med/full. The spice retreats a bit and the honey sweetness becomes more prominent but still within the boundaries of balance. Burn is a bit erratic but begins to self correct immediately. Smoke production is medium. 

Final/3rd

The coffee notes along with the nutmeg take the lead in the profile. There is also some warm cinnamon mixed in. Burn line is back to a slight wave. Strength is at med/full. Burn has fully self corrected. The flavors remain well balanced right to the nub.

Overall

The ATABEY Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with great complexity. Definitely a cigar to try albeit a bit pricey. They are available at @AmbassadorCigar and @CigarzonAve if your B&M doesn't have them. 

 

 

Mederos Habano Toro by Cubanacan 1/7/17

 

Appearance 

The wrapper is milk chocolate in color with a few prominent veins. It is slightly mottled which makes some of the seams visible but tight. The cigar is well packed with filler with no soft spots. It has a light oil sheen. 

The bands are very attractive. Overall this cigar looks very enticing.

Aroma 

Barnyardy and a faint leather with a hint of spice on the wrapper. Light barnyard, dried fruit and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, citrus and other dried fruit, leather and a mild spice.

1st

The initial draws bring woody notes with lots of dried fruit and a nice soft leathery texture. There is a nice mild spice developing. Burn is off by 45* about an inch in but self correcting as we speak. Draw is a bit snug. The ash is light gray and tight on 1 half and salt&pepper gray and stacked on the other. Strength is in the medium range. 

2nd

Ash held til removal at start of 2nd/3rd. The finish is long with notes of dried fruit, cedar, a pinch of white pepper and a lingering citrus note. Smoke production is at the low end of medium. Burn has just a slight wave now at 1/2" into 2nd.  A paprika note has joined the profile. Draw has opened up nicely. The profile is very well balanced so far. Smoke production is at medium now. Coffee notes are entering the profile just past the halfway point of the cigar. Burn has fully self corrected. Strength has moved to medium+. The ash was still strong when I removed.

Final/3rd

Cashew notes join the profile to start the final/3rd. Smoke production is at the low end of high now. The flavor profile remains well balanced right to the nub.

Overall

The Mederos Habano Toro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex and very flavorful well balanced profile. 

Definitely a cigar you should try.

 

 

LFD Andalusian Bull 12/18/16

 

Appearance 

A large cigar tapering smaller from foot to head. There are a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and well hidden. There is a nice oily sheen over the entire cigar. Appears to be well packed with filler with no soft spots. 

Aroma 

Fresh tobacco on the wrapper. Cedar, tobacco, nutmeg at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, nutmeg spice, dried red fruit

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar and a hint of spice but is a bit snug. At about 3/4" in the burn line is still a bit wavy. The ash is salt&pepper gray and tight so far. At 1 1/2" in the spice begins to develop. A mild cinnamon comes to mind. The overall flavor is quite muted at this point. Nearing the end of the 1st/3rd the burn continues to self correct albeit slowly. The ash is becoming a bit flaky as well. The burn has fully self corrected. 

2nd

Smoke production has been at the low end of medium so far. To this point the finish has been short with light cedar and mild cinnamon notes. Just before the halfway point of the cigar the draw begins to open up. Just after halfway the spice dramatically changes from a mild cinnamon to a warm cinnamon/nutmeg combo. Just as quickly the warm cinnamon fades leaving the nutmeg. Late in the 2nd/3rd pimenton notes join the profile. 

Final/3rd

The draw has finally opened up to where I like it. Smoke production moves to the medium range. The finish has become long with the pimenton spice(Spanish paprika) lingering the longest. 

Overall

The LFD Andalusian Bull provides a rather boring smoking experience. It's flavor profile was one dimensional til the middle of the final/3rd. The draw being snug til the final 3rd did not help matters.

 

 

C.L.E. AZABACHE TAA Maduro Robusto 12/17/16

 

Appearance 

The Maduro wrapper is slightly mottled with a couple thin veins on the surface. The seams are visible due to the mottling but are tightly wrapped. There is very little oil visible on the wrapper. 

The silver & black band is simple yet attractive. 

Aroma 

There's not a lot of aroma on the wrapper because it is not sleeved in cello. There are some light earth & wood notes on the wrapper with similar aromas at the foot. 

Prelight Draw 

Earth, marshmallow, light cedar, espresso and a hint of spice. 

1st

The initial draws bring lots of earthy notes. After about a 1/2" there is a spice beginning to develop. There is also a sweet & fluffy note like a marshmallow. The burn has been near perfect. The draw is perfect. The ash is a medium gray and mostly tight with a little stacking. Strength is at medium. The spice is like a mild cinnamon and in the background. 

2nd

Notes of dark chocolate join the profile to begin the 2nd/3rd. The cinnamon becomes a bit more pronounced. The espresso from the prelight joins the profile. The finish is medium in length. The burn & draw have been perfect since midway in the 1st/3rd.

Final/3rd

The final/3rd starts with notes of cashews joining the profile. Smoke production is at medium and has a very appealing aroma. The ash holds firm til removal at each 3rd. It would hold longer I'm sure but as u know I don't play that game. The flavors remain consistent to the nub. The burn & draw remained perfect.

Overall

The CLE Azabache Maduro TAA Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. The flavor profile is mildly complex and very well balanced. A very tasty cigar which u should try. As with all TAA cigars, production is limited so find a TAA store and grab some while you can. 

Another great cigar by Christian Eiroa @CLECigars .

Thank you to my brother Fritz Giambetta for the gift for review