Rocky Patel Edge A-10 Barber Pole Toro 4/28/18

Appearance
A beautifully rolled barber pole with a couple prominent veins and very tight seams. There is a slight imperfection in the Maduro wrapper at the head. It has a slight oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, cedar, sweetness and spice on the wrapper. Earth, cedar, wheat and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
A peppery spice on the lips with green tea, cedar and black pepper.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar, leather and black pepper spice. Draw is a bit snug. Burn has a very slight wave. Tea notes join the profile right away. Ash dropped at 3/4”. The draw opens up at an inch in. Near the end of the 1st/3rd a large u shaped wave develops.

2nd
After removing the ash and inspecting the working end I find a large(3/16”) tunnel just off center which is causing the erratic burn. With the help of some simple physics the burn quickly self corrects. Smoke production is at the medium range. Strength is medium+. The black pepper tapers back to be in balance. The green tea notes change to black tea. The burn gets erratic again due to another large tunnel near the binder. The finish is long with notes of cedar black tea, leather and black pepper spice. Strength moves to med/full. Some red pepper notes join the black in the spice category.

Final/3rd
The final/3rd starts with the burn still self correcting. The profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The Rocky Patel The Edge A-10 Barber Pole Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice profile with a good draw and erratic burn.
Thank you to brother Rick Strawn @ParadigmPres for the cigar for review.

Saint Luis Rey Natural Broadleaf Rothchilde 4/22/18

 Appearance
A dark chocolate colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and visible due to the mottling. It has a very light oil sheen that you can feel more than you can see, a common trait of Conn. Broadleaf Maduro wrapper leaf. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.
The bands are very attractive with nice color contrast.

Aroma
Earth, dark chocolate, cedar, dried red fruit and spice on the wrapper. Dried red fruit, spice, earth and cedar at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earth, dried red fruit(plum,pomegranate), cedar and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar and earth with a pinch of cinnamon and black pepper spice. The draw is a bit snug. Burn is spot on. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. The smoke production is at the medium range. Ash held firm til removal.

2nd
Draw opens up nicely. The spice is a bit dominant. The bands removed very easily with no damage. The spice mellows a bit and notes of dried red fruit join the profile. Crushed red pepper notes join the spice part of the profile. Ash holds firm till removal at each 3rd.

Final/3rd
The well balanced profile continues into the final/3rd. Coffee notes join the profile. Roasted almonds notes join the profile. Strength has been consistent at medium+. One of the only complaints is that the finish is relatively short.

Overall
The Saint Luis Rey Natural Broadleaf Rothchilde provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A perfect burn and effortless draw(2nd & final/3rds) with great balance and nice complexity. At around $4 per Gar it’s a nice affordable smoke for all.

Romeo San Andrés Robusto 4/21/18

 Appearance
A dark chocolate colored wrapper with several thin veins. The seams are tightly wrapped but visible due to some mottling. There is a slight oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, chocolate and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Earth, cedar, cocoa and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earthy, cocoa powder, raisin and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of earth and a blast of heavy black pepper. There are underlying notes of cocoa and mocha on the long finish. The draw is a bit snug and the burn has a slight wave. The ash is light gray and a bit flaky. Ash dropped at 3/4”. The strength is at medium+. Smoke production is at the medium range.

2nd
The black pepper mellows nicely to balance with the earth, cocoa and mocha. The draw opens up nicely. The ash gets tighter and almost white. There is a pinch of red pepper spice notes joining the profile. Burn is off 30* due to the Ligero cone being off center. A bit of simple physics self corrects the burn.

Final/3rd
The black pepper tapers back again to be in balance.
The profile stays consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The Romeo San Andrés Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice profile albeit a bit heavy on the black pepper notes. Well balanced at times with a good draw once it opened up and a mildly erratic burn.
This cigar is a collaboration by Altadis, Raphael Nodal(Aging Room) and AJ Fernandez, made at AJ’s factory in Esteli.

CuriVari Achilles Heroicos Robusto 4/15/18

 Appearance
A milk chocolate colored wrapper with almost no veins on the surface. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. There is no oil sheen while there is a little bit of tooth. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. The same at the foot. The cigar comes with no cello.

Prelight Draw
Fruity, cedar, caramel and a hint of spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of caramel sweetness alongside a nice warm cinnamon spice. Cedar and earthy notes round out the initial profile flavors. Interestingly the cigar which was firm at Prelight is now spongy at a half inch in. The draw is effortless while the burn is off about 7%. The ash is light gray and tight. Smoke production is at the medium range. Burn has almost fully self corrected. Ash held firm til removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a double tunnel 1/8” diameter each which was causing the erratic burn. The ash gets a bit flaky. A pinch of black pepper joins the profile. The black pepper fades as quickly as it came in. The burn remains erratic through the end of the 2nd/3rd. Strength is at medium+.

Final/3rd
The caramel sweetness comes to the forefront of the profile. Burn fully self corrects. A dash of black pepper rejoins the profile. The cigar has a nice long finish with notes of caramel, cedar, earth, cinnamon and black pepper spice, all well balanced.

Overall
The CuriVari Achilles Heroicos Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.

Joya De Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva Toro 4/14/18

 Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with a few thin veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. No visible oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, chocolate on the wrapper. Faint earth and chocolate notes due to foot of cello being cut off (a bad idea)

Prelight Draw
Earth, chocolate, dried red fruit, raisin

1st
Initial draws bring notes of earth and red fruit(plum, pomegranate) with a tiny bit of red pepper spice. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Notes of cedar and sugar arrive at the same time to enhance the profile. The draw is a tick on the snug side. Strength starts out medium. Smoke production is at the low end of medium. Burn is razor sharp. Ash held firm til removal.

2nd
Strength moves to medium+. Smoke production is at medium. Draw has opened up nicely. The sweet notes taper off a bit.

Final/3rd
Draw & burn still spot on starting the final/3rd. Strength moves to med/full. Flavor profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Joya De Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A balanced and mildly flavorful profile with a nice draw and great burn.

IL Ridotto Biribi Robusto by Moya Ruiz 4/8/18

 Appearance
A light brown colored wrapper with a couple prominent veins. The seams are tight. Cap is well applied. There is no oil on the wrapper and it is very toothy as well. The filler is well packed with a couple of soft spots near the head.

Aroma
Cedar, barnyard and sweetness with a hint of spice on the wrapper. Cedar, hay and sweetness at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Cedar, sweetness, dry hay and a pinch of spice.

1st
Initial draws bring notes of cedar and a mild sweetness that reminds me of black licorice. Right away I notice the smoke production is in the high range. The draw is spot on while the burn is slightly wavy. The spice starts out as white pepper. The ash is light gray and fairly tight. The ash held firm and straight till removal.

2nd
The strength is medium+. There are some creamy cashew notes joining the profile. The finish is long with notes of cedar, black licorice, creamy cashews and white pepper spice. The burn is still erratic due to some small tunnels which appear to be ending. The cedar is taking on a bit of a charred flavor. The burn line is self correcting.

Final/3rd
The final/3rd is dominated by charred cedar notes with the creamy cashew notes in the background. The sweetness of the licorice returns late in the final/3rd. The profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The IL Ridotto Biribi Robusto provides a somewhat enjoyable smoking experience. A great draw and erratic burn.

CuriVari Centauro Robusto 4/7/18

 Appearance
It has a medium brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
No aroma on the wrapper or foot(no cello).

Prelight Draw
Sugary sweet, cedar, citrus and a hint of spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of sugary sweetness alongside thick cedar notes. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Draw is perfect. Burn has a slight wave but is self correcting.

2nd
Flavor profile continues into the 2nd/3rd. Strength is at medium. A bit of cinnamon spice joins the profile. Ash holds firm til removal at each 3rd.

Final/3rd
The profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The CuriVari Centauro Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice consistent and balanced profile with a perfect draw and great burn.