Avo Unexpected Tradition Toro 9/7/19

 Appearance
A dark brown colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. The wrapper has a beautiful oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Barnyard, light brown sugar, tobacco, cedar and spice on the wrapper. Dried fruit, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Dried fruit, raisin, espresso and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of sour grass. After a few more draws, dried fruit notes join the profile but the sour taste is still there. The draw is snug. The burn is off about 7*. Cedar notes join the profile and balance out the sour notes. The ash is dark gray, stacked and beginning to bloom. The profile has taken on an orange citrusy note making for a balanced sweet/sour flavor. The ash, while looking suspect, held on til removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a small tunnel on the faster burning side. The draw opens up nicely. Smoke production is at the medium range. The ash is getting tighter as the cigar burns. The burn line is even now but with 2 waves, one on each side due to the 2 tunnels. The secondary band removes with no damage. Strength started medium in the 1st/3rd and is now medium+. The primary band did not remove as cleanly as the secondary band. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range. The draw is almost effortless now. The finish is long with notes of citrus, cedar, dried fruit and spice.

Final/3rd
The flavorful profile continues into the final/3rd with the strength at med/full. A flavorful profile right to the nub!

Overall
The Avo Unexpected Tradition Toro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a nice draw after the 1st/3rd and an erratic burn.

Bellas Artes Maduro Robusto CH 9/2/19

 Appearance
A dark and oily Brazilian Mata Fino wrapper with a couple of prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.
The bands are typical AJ, beautiful artwork.

Aroma
Earth, dried red fruit and spice on the wrapper. Molasses, chocolate, coffee, earth and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Molasses, earth, chocolate, espresso and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of earth and molasses with a faint spice in the background. The draw is a tick snug. The burn has a small wave. The ash is dark gray and stacked, with a bit of flake. Just past midway in the 1st/3rd the draw opens up. A mild espresso note appears. The spice is cinnamon. Smoke production is at the low end of medium range. Strength is medium+. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd
Chocolate notes join the profile. The burn has fully self corrected. About a 1/2” into the 2nd/3rd the earthy notes become more prominent with an added pinch of black pepper. The profile is very rich. The black pepper fades. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range. The finish is long with notes of earth, molasses, espresso, chocolate and cinnamon spice. Cashew notes join the profile late in the 2nd/3rd.

Final/3rd
The profile is very creamy to start the final/3rd. The spice becomes more like a crushed red pepper spice. Strength is at med/full. The flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall
The Bellas Artes Maduro Robusto CH provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.

My Father La Promesa Petite 9/1/19

 Appearance
An attractive dark brown wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and the cap is well done. It has a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, cedar, hay on the wrapper. Faint dried fruit, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Lush fruit, cedar, chocolate and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar, light dried fruit and a pinch of spice. There is also a leathery texture to the smoke. The draw is a tick snug. The burn is slightly wavy. The ash is medium gray, stacked and beginning to bloom. At about 5/8” in the black pepper spice jumps in with both feet and is dominating the profile. Smoke production is at the low range. Strength is at medium. Oddly enough the heavy black pepper spice doesn’t dominate the finish which is a good thing. The blooming stopped about 1/2” in. After some very gentle massaging the draw opens up. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a small tunnel on the faster burning side and the cone is just off center. Smoke production is at the medium range. After a little help from simple physics the burn has almost fully self corrected. At the midway point of the cigar notes of crushed red pepper spice help to balance the black pepper spice. Strength moves to med/full. The finish is long with notes of cedar, dried fruit and a red/black pepper spice combo all wrapped in a leathery texture.

Final/3rd
The flavor profile rolls into the final/3rd. The burn has fully self corrected. The profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The My Father La Promesa Petite provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A flavorful profile with a near perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.

EP Carillo Encore Majestic Robusto 8/31/19

 Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with very thin veins. The silky smooth wrapper’s seams are tightly wrapped. There is a very light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, sugar cane, cedar, tobacco and spice on the wrapper. Fruit, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Red licorice, sugar, cedar, earth and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of fruit and cedar with spice in the background. As the spice develops it becomes a thick black pepper spice. Cane sugar notes join the profile helping to balance the black pepper spice. The draw is perfect. The burn is near perfect. The ash is light gray and stacked. Salted peanut notes join the profile. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd
Smoke production is at the medium range. Strength is medium. A few draws in the sweetness fades a bit leaving peanuts, cedar and mild spice as the main flavors. Burn is a little wavy. The spice is more like Paprika now. The finish is long with notes of cedar, peanuts, fruit, sugar and Paprika spice.

Final/3rd
After removal of the ash I notice 2 tunnels which are causing the uneven burn. The flavorful profile rolls into the final/3rd. Strength moves to med/full. Black pepper spice notes rejoin the profile and become prominent. The profile continues right to the nub.

Overall
The EP Carillo Encore Majestic provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A complex and well balanced profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.

Casa Cuevas Edicion Limitada Habano Flaco 8/25/19

 Appearance
A medium brown colored wrapper with a slightly red hue and a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. There is a very oily sheen on the wrapper. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Cedar, light floral, tobacco and spice on the wrapper. Cedar and tobacco at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Cedar, dried fruit, faint floral and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of dried fruit and cedar. The spice becomes noticeable at about the 1/2” mark and is of the black pepper variety. The ash is medium gray and stacked. The draw is effortless and the burn has a small wave. The ash is holding but looking very suspect so I removed it rather than wearing it.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a small tunnel causing the uneven burn. Strength is medium. The smoke production is at the medium range. The ash is blooming(think of a flower) a bit. Early in the 2nd/3rd after ashing again I notice the tunnel has ended and the burn is self correcting. At the halfway point I am picking up some peanutty notes, when combined with the spice it tastes like roasted peanuts. When removing the secondary band I notice the color being removed, a sign that too much gomma(glue) was used. The finish is long with notes of cedar, dried fruit, floral, roasted peanuts and black pepper spice. A tasty flavor profile. Some espresso notes join the profile.

Final/3rd
The primary band had a perfect amount of gomma as there was no damage at removal. The black pepper spice notes begin to dominate the profile. An inch later the black pepper spice tapers back into balance. The flavor profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Casa Cuevas Edicion Limitada Habano Flaco provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.

Casa by Caldwell CdM Exclusive Toro 8/24/19

 Appearance
A dark brown colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins and a bit of tooth. The seams are tightly wrapped. The wrapper has a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma
Earth, dark chocolate and light floral on the wrapper. Lush red fruit, cedar and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Earth, cedar, faint red fruit, black pepper spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of fruit and cedar. The draw is tight with very little smoke production(I’m sure this will change). What looked like a fairly even burn has become wavy. The ash is salt&pepper gray and fairly tight. About an inch and 3/4 in the black pepper spice begins to build. The draw begins to open up and smoke production increases. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd
The draw has opened up nicely and smoke production is at the medium range. The burn has fully self corrected. The black pepper spice has become more prominent. Some savory notes join the profile bringing the black pepper into balance. Dark chocolate and espresso notes join the profile. Strength and body are at medium.

Final/3rd
The fruit and chocolate notes have disappeared leaving earth, espresso, charred wood and mild black pepper spice.

Overall
The Casa by Caldwell CdM Exclusive provides a somewhat enjoyable smoking experience. An ok flavor profile with a tight draw and erratic burn in the 1st/3rd and good draw and perfect burn in the rest of the cigar.

Laranja Reserva Escuro Toro BP 8/18/19

 Appearance
A dark chocolate colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a light oil sheen on the wrapper. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. Nicely box pressed.

Aroma
Earth, dark chocolate, cedar and spice on the wrapper. Dark chocolate, molasses and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Dark chocolate, dried fruit, licorice, cedar and spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of earth, dark chocolate, cedar, faint dried fruit and black pepper spice. The draw is perfect. The burn is wavy. The ash is light gray and stacked. Smoke production is at the high range. The burn has fully self corrected. Strength is medium+. The burn is getting wavy again. The ash held firm and straight until removal.

2nd
Upon inspection of the working end I find a 1/4” diameter tunnel which is causing the erratic burn line. The blend is very well balanced. Espresso notes join the profile and the black pepper spice moves up a tick in boldness. The finish is long with notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, earth, espresso, cedar and black pepper spice.

Final/3rd
The well balanced and flavorful profile rolls into the final/3rd. The flavor gets very meaty. Strength finishes at med/full. The flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall
The Laranja Reserva Escuro Toro BP provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn.
An interesting note is that this cigar is not made at the Espinoza LaZona factory. It’s made at the AJ Fernandez San Lotano factory in Ocotál, Nicaragua.