Padron #89 TAA Natural 5/18/19

 Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has a nice oily sheen and quite a bit of tooth. The filler bunch is well packed with one soft spot, we’ll see if anything comes of it.

Aroma
Earth, dried red fruit, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Dried red fruit, cedar, earth, brown sugar and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Dried red fruit, earth, brown sugar, cedar and cinnamon spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar with a leathery texture. The spice is evident right away on the finish. The draw is spot on as is the burn. About 3/4” in dried red fruit notes become more noticeable as well as some cashew notes. The ash is a medium gray and fairly tight. The burn gets slightly wavy but not bad. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd
The dried red fruit notes have faded with the nutty notes which are almond and cashew lead the profile. The smooth texture of the smoke is typical of Padron cigars. There is a small tunnel but it’s just off center and is not affecting the burn line which is near perfect. Strength moves to medium+. The profile continues to be very well balanced. Some light roast coffee notes join the profile. The area that had the soft spot has a couple of tiny tunnels near the binder and is causing a shallow v in the otherwise perfect burn. About 1/2” later the burn fully self corrects.

Final/3rd
The finish is long with notes of cedar, almond, earth, coffee, faint dried red fruit and warm cinnamon spice. All of the tunnels are now gone.

Overall
The Padron #89 TAA Natural provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.
Worth the money as we expect with the Padron name on the band.

P.G. Gourmet Series Symphony 20 Robusto 5/12/19

 Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. It has a nice light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Floral, cedar, leather and spice on the wrapper. Chocolate, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Cedar, floral, spice and a very faint mint.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar, floral and a pinch of spice. The draw is perfect. The burn has a very small wave. The ash is light gray and stacked. The spice continues to develop. Espresso notes join the profile. The spice reminds me of white pepper. The ash held firm until removal.

2nd
Smoke production is at the medium range. Strength is also medium. A tangy citrus note joins the profile helping to balance the strong espresso notes.

Final/3rd
The Dominican twang becomes prominent in the profile. The citrus notes are gone leaving the cedar, floral, espresso, Dominican twang and white pepper spice on the long finish. Flavor remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The P.G. Gourmet series Symphony 20 provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A nice flavor profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.

Asylum 13 Oblongata Maduro Robusto Box Pressed 5/11/19

 Appearance
A dark chocolate colored wrapper with a few thin veins on an otherwise satiny smooth wrapper leaf. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has a nice oily sheen. The cigar is nicely box pressed. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, cedar, cocoa powder and a mild spice on the wrapper. Cedar, earth and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earth, cedar, spice, black licorice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of earth and cedar with a pinch of mint. The draw is a bit snug. The ash is light gray and stacked. The burn is slightly erratic. The draw is opening up at 1” in. Spice notes are beginning to develop. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I notice that the cone is off center and there are three tiny tunnels in the quicker burning areas.
Strength is in the medium range, as is the smoke production. The spice becomes more prominent going from mild cinnamon to warm paprika, then to cayenne pepper. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, cocoa powder and cayenne pepper spice. The burn has fully self corrected.

Final/3rd
The flavorful profile moves unchanged into the final/3rd. The profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Asylum 13 Oblongata Maduro Robusto Box Pressed provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a great draw and mildly erratic burn.

Asylum 13 Medulla Maduro Robusto 5/5/19

 Appearance
The wrapper is dark brown in color with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped but easy to spot. The cigar has a bit of tooth and a light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Cedar, paper, hint of earth and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Cedar and a distant spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Cocoa, cedar, earth and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring very earthy notes. Smoke production is at the high range from the first draw. The draw is spot on. About a quarter inch in the spice begins to develop. Chocolate notes join the profile. The burn is developing a wave. The spice starts out as a warm cinnamon. The ash is light gray and stacked. A dark espresso not joins the earth, chocolate and cinnamon spice. The ash held firm until removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a tunnel on the faster burning side. Strength is medium to this point. Profile remains consistent. At the tail end of the 2nd/3rd the spice begins to move to the back of the palate.

Final/3rd
Burn has almost fully self corrected. The spice has changed to black pepper, manageable so far. Midway in this third the burn fully self corrects. The profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Asylum 13 Medulla Maduro Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and erratic burn.

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Alec Bradley Magic Toast Robusto 5/4/19

 Appearance
A very inviting dark chocolate colored wrapper with a few prominent veins and some tooth. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. There is a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, dark chocolate, floral and a very mild spice on the wrapper. Cedar, earth and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Dried red fruit, earth, cedar, red licorice and a mild spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar and earth with a zing of white pepper spice. The draw is a bit snug. The burn is a bit wavy. About 3/4”in the spice backs off. Notes of dry toast join the profile. The ash is salt&pepper medium gray and stacked. The draw is opening up halfway into the opening third. The burn is developing a wide U shape on one side. The ash holds firm while looking suspect till removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a couple of tunnels on the faster burning side. Dried red fruit notes join the profile. A pinch of black pepper spice becomes noticeable as well. The strength is still medium. Smoke production is at the low end of medium range. The tunnels end and the burn is self correcting by the midway point of the cigar. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, dark chocolate, buttery toast, dried red fruit and a white/ black pepper spice combo. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range now. The profile is well balanced and flavorful and causes a good amount of saliva production.

 Final/3rd
The well balanced and flavorful profile continues into the final/3rd. Another tunnel appears keeping the burn from fully self correcting. The profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Alec Bradley Magic Toast Robusto provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a good draw and erratic burn.
One of the best Alec Bradley blends as it was well balanced and did not have the typical heavy black pepper notes they are known for. GoGetchasome™️!!

Avo Improvisation LE19 Box Press 4/28/19

Appearance
A dark brown Ecuadoran wrapper with a couple of veins on the surface. Satin smooth. As I look at the wrapper more closely outside on the patio I notice there is a bit of mottling. The seams are tightly wrapped and u have to really look to find them. There is a nice oil sheen on the wrapper. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Tobacco, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Dried fruit, cedar, dates and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Dates, dried fruit, cedar, black pepper spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of black pepper spice and cedar. The draw is effortless. The burn has a slight wave. Smoke production is at the medium range. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked with a bit of flake. The burn is getting more wavy. The cedar moves to the forefront while the black pepper tapers back a bit and is joined by some cayenne pepper. Strength is medium. The ash held firm till removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a few tiny tunnels in the wavy areas. Smoke production is at the low end of high range. The finish is long with notes of cedar, dried fruit and spice. The spice is now more like allspice. There is also a light roast coffee note joining the profile. A dry toast note also joins the profile. Strength is medium+. The cayenne pepper note which had faded out is back .

Final/3rd
The flavor profile remains the same as I enter the final/3rd. The burn has finally self corrected. The coffee notes become prominent. A tasty smoke right to the nub.

Overall
The Avo Improvisation LE19 Box Press provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with an effortless draw and mildly erratic burn.
Definitely a cigar worth trying.

La Aurora 115 Anniversary Limited Edition Belicoso 4/27/19

Appearance
A milk chocolate colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. The wrapper has a nice oily sheen. The bands are attractive with nice color contrast. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

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

Prelight Draw
Cedar, dried fruit, spice

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar and a mild spice. Almond notes are also present. The draw is a bit snug and the burn has a slight wave. The ash is salt&pepper gray and tightly stacked. Smoke production is at the low range. Late in the 1st/3rd the draw begins to open up, while at the same time the spice ramps up to a paprika. The ash held firm and straight until removal. It has a perfect cone dead center of the bunch.

2nd
Right away I notice medium roast coffee notes joining the profile. Strength so far is medium. There is also a pinch of black pepper in the spice department. The finish is long with notes of cedar, almond, coffee, dried fruit and a paprika/black pepper spice combo with all flavors being well balanced. The smoke production is at the medium range now. Ash held firm and straight until removal again.

Final/3rd
The cone is still perfect and dead center. With the exception of the snug draw in the 1st/3rd the construction of this cigar is spot on. Strength moves to medium+. The well balanced flavor profile continues right to the nub.

Overall
The La Aurora 115 Anniversary Limited Edition Belicoso provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a good draw and mildly wavy burn. Definitely a cigar u will want to try.