Las Calaveras 2017 LC46 7/15/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight and difficult to find. There is a matte finish but it feels oily(that's a good thing). It also has a bit of tooth. The filler bunch appears well packed with no soft spots. 

The band is beautiful with nice contrasting colors.

Aroma 

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

Prelight Draw 

Earthy cedar, dried fruit and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring bold notes of earth, cedar and black pepper spice. The draw is perfect and the burn is off by 15* due to a small tunnel just under the binder on one side. Burn is already self correcting with a little help from simple physics. The black pepper fades a bit coming into balance with the earth and wood. The ash is light gray and stacked. Smoke production is at high. The dried fruit notes from the Prelight are beginning to surface. The ash has been tightening up. The ash held firm till removal.

2nd

The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, dried fruit, creamy cashew, a pinch of cinnamon and some black pepper spice. The Ligero cone is just off center contributing to the erratic burn. Some nice espresso notes join the profile. The cinnamon spice ramps to a full note. 

Final/3rd

The aforementioned flavors continue into the final/3rd. Cinnamon tapers down midway in the final/3rd. The profile remains consistent through to the nub. 

Overall

The Las Calaveras 2017 LC46 provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and complex flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. 

I found it to be almost identical to the 2014 version which is probably the most favored of the Las Calaveras blends. 

A big thank you to Kevin at Stag/Scottsdale for the sample for review.

 

 

Umbagog Corona Gorda 7/9/17

 

Appearance 

The wrapper has quite a bit of mottling and a couple prominent veins. It's very rustic looking with a bit of tooth. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a light oil sheen. The cigar is well packed with filler with no soft spots. 

Aroma 

Earthy, cedar on the wrapper. Earthy, cedar at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Earth, cocoa powder, floral, cedar and spice. 

1st

Initial draws bring notes of earth and cocoa powder to form a rich sweetness. Spice is beginning to develop in the form of black pepper. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Draw and burn are spot on. There is a cinnamon note entering the profile. 

2nd

Strength is at medium+. The finish is long with notes of earth, cocoa powder, cedar, mild cinnamon and black pepper spice. Smoke production is at the low end of high. The black pepper is dominant late in the 2nd/3rd. Strength moves to med/full. 

Final/3rd 

Flavor profile remains consistent through to the nub. 

Overall

The Umbagog by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust aka Steve Saka provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile albeit a heavy black pepper influence with a great draw and burn. 

 

 

Cornelius & Anthony Cornelius Robusto 7/8/17

 

Appearance 

A light brown Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper with a silky appearance and a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a light oil sheen. The filler is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma 

Hay, sweetness, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Sweetness, light floral, hay and cedar at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Hay, cedar, fruit with a candy finish, light floral and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of dry hay, cedar and some nutmeg spice. Smoke production is in the high end of medium range. Draw is effortless. Burn has just a slight wave. Ash is medium gray and stacked but mostly tight. There is a combination of black & white pepper joining the profile at about an inch in. 

Ash held til removal.

2nd

Strength started mild/med but has moved up to a solid medium. The finish is long with notes of hay, cedar, light roast coffee, sugary sweetness, white & black pepper and a light nutmeg spice. All flavors are well balanced. Burn is a bit wavy but not bad. Removed the ash early to check the working end and found the tunnel responsible for the erratic burn, but it's not affecting overall performance. 

Final/3rd

Moving into the final/3rd the strength is at med+. The flavor profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall

The Cornelius & Anthony Cornelius Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced flavor profile with an effortless draw and mildly erratic burn. Definitely a cigar u want to try. 

GoGetchasome™!!

 

 

La Palina Bronze Label TAA/17 4 Star Toro 7/4/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins on the surface but mostly smooth. The seams are tight. There is a beautiful oil sheen and a little bit of tooth. 

Aroma 

Barnyard, cedar on the wrapper. Kind of a fruity essence at the foot. 

Prelight Draw 

Fruity molasses, cedar and earth with a faint hint of spice. 

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth, cedar, a molasses sweetness on the finish and a mild cinnamon spice. Strength starts out at mild/med. The ash is a medium gray and stacked. The draw is perfect. The burn is a bit wavy. Smoke production is at the low end of medium. 

2nd

Upon removal of the ash I notice the tunnel responsible for the wavy burn. I also notice a pinch of black pepper joining the profile. The tunnel appears to be ending as the burn is self correcting. The black pepper becomes more like a dash late in the 2nd. 

Final/3rd

Burn got wavy again early in the 2nd/3rd but has fully self corrected. Strength & body have settled in at medium. The black pepper is playing a more prominent role just outside of balance midway in the final/3rd.

Overall

The La Palina Bronze Label TAA provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A consistent flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. Definitely a cigar to seek out and try. Available only at TAA shops. If u live in a remote area check online at SeriousCigars.com 

 

 

Nomad Signature Series Robusto 7/2/17

 

Appearance 

The medium brown colored wrapper has a couple thin veins and tightly wrapped seams. It has a very light oil sheen. It is well packed with filler with no soft spots. 

Aroma 

Earthy, cocoa powder on the wrapper. Cedar, molasses and a faint hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, molasses, red fruits

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earthy cedar with a pinch of cinnamon spice. The draw is spot on. The burn has barely a wave. Strength starts out medium. Some sugary almonds join the profile. The ash is light gray and stacked, holding firm til removal.

2nd

Smoke production moves to the low end of high. The finish is long with notes of cedar, faint molasses, sugary almonds, earth and cinnamon spice. 

Final/3rd

Flavors continue well balanced through to the nub. 

Overall

The Nomad Signature Series Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced flavor profile with a spot on draw and mildly erratic burn. 

A big thank you to my brother JD @HN_JAD for the samples for review.

GoGetchasome™!!

 

 

Galano Selecto Toro 7/1/17

 

Appearance 

A medium brown colored wrapper with a bit of mottling and few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a very light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no soft spots. 

Aroma 

Cedar (I received this cigar with no cello so most of the aroma's have been lost)

Prelight Draw 

Cedar, dried fruit, hint of spice.

1st

Initial draws bring notes of cedar and a very faint sweetness as well as a very faint spice. The ash is light gray and mostly tight and a little stacked. Burn is off by 30*. Its beginning to self correct with the help of simple physics. The draw is a bit snug. The spice is a mix of mild cinnamon and white pepper with a pinch of black pepper in the back of the palate.

2nd

The ash heldy strong till removal to start the 2nd/3rd. Some nutty notes join the profile and the black pepper is more of a dash now. The smoke production is at the low end of medium. Strength is medium. Burn develops a wide U shape. Upon inspection of the working end I notice a 3/16" diameter tunnel causing the hotter, faster burn. The ash gets a bit flaky. The draw opens up. 

Final/3rd

Burn is off about 45* entering the final/3rd due to more small tunnels. The black pepper becomes dominant throughout the final/3rd.

Overall

The Galano Selecto Toro provides a nice smoking experience. A consistent flavor profile albeit a bit heavy on the black pepper notes in the final/3rd for my palate. 

 

 

AVO Syncro South America Ritmo Robusto 6/25/17

 

Appearance 

A silky smooth chocolate colored wrapper with almost no veins on the surface. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has a nice oily sheen. 

Aroma

Earthy and cedar on the wrapper. Cedar and earth at the foot.

Prelight Draw 

Fruity, spicy, earthy, cedar.

1st

The initial draws bring very rich earthy notes. Followed quickly by woody(red cedar) notes, alongside some fruity(plum & red delicious apple) notes. The developing spice starts as an allspice( think Caribbean Jerk) with a pinch of black pepper. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked with a little flake. The draw is a tick on the snug side of perfect. The ash looks a bit suspect but holds til removal.

2nd

The strength is medium so far. Burn is near perfect, with just a slight wave. The black pepper moves from a pinch to a dash. A well balanced profile. Draw has opened up nicely and the burn is spot on. Smoke production is at medium. 

Final/3rd

Strength moves to medium+. 

The finish is long with notes of rich earth, cedar, fruit and allspice with a dash of black pepper. Some almond notes join the profile late in the final/3rd.

Overall

The AVO Syncro South America Ritmo Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A very well balanced and flavorful profile with a great draw and mildly wavy burn.