I decided to smoke the 5 Vegas Torp I took from the Beat the Heat pass.
I got a Cigar International catalog last month with these on the cover. I've been wanting to try one and DDD started one in his pass. I've smoked LGC's and a few other bands for a long time. Since coming here to CP, I've ventured into other bands and it has opened mi ojos to a whole new smoking experience. I love my LGCs, but variety is the spice of life (this age old addage applies to many things except if you are married
)
This light caramel colored torpedo had my name on it since it left Triple D's humi (so did that SHERPA Mystic......jphmojo you rat bastard!) I put that thing in the humi hoping to save it for a while, but, Saturday night my wife was at the movies and all of the kids were on overnight fulroughs at various friends.
I started the experience by zipping over to the local meat counter and getting a fat Rib Eye. Upon returning to Gawn Trail, I sparked the old WEBER (instead of the stand by gas grill) with some mesquite Kingsford. It was about 7 PM and the evening was pleasant with a gentle breeze. I took the 5 Vegas outside with me (in my pocket - I like to stalk my prey before putting it down - hunter's code) and decided I would just spend the whole evening outside. I tossed up a simple salad, poured a can of corn into a old Marie Calender's pie tin, wrapped up a big assed potato in foil, threw Dave Matthews in the CD player, and inhabited the patio. On went the potato. The steak, showered in salt, pepper, and garlic salt, sat next to the grill awating its fate.
I clipped the head of the 5 Vegas. I'm not keen on picking up particular tastes of cigars yet, but this dude was fresh, and aromatic. Before lighting I cracked a Corona and took a long pull. I lit the stick and the first draw was a little tight. I carefully rolled that dude between my fingers and massaged the hard spot. I was rewarded with a decent draw and a good amount of smoke. Turned the potato over (note......I pre boil the potato to make them soft......the grill is to finish it up......a time thing). The first inch of the 5 Vegas was good, not really memorable, but good. Firm ash, with a whitish gray tint.
I throw the steak on the grill along with the tin full of corn and put the lid on, with the vent wide open. Two inches into the cigar it turned for the better, some fuller flavor, and a pleasant exhale taste. I flipped the steak, stirred the corn, turned the potato, and cracked another beer. I set the cigar down to answer the phone. 5 minutes on the phone........and I return to the smoke.
Relighting was a cinch. I blew out the bitter taste before resuming. Halfway down, the steak and it's compadries are ready to eat. A quick splash of melted butter to put that obligatory charred grill lines and it was time to eat. Another beer opened, and the meal on the plate the cigar was getting better (note..It might have been the state of mind, but the smoke got better and better as I smoked it down.
The steak was above average, the corn and potato were tasty, and the salad make for good digestion. The beers and the cigar just make the evening great. Needless to say, the cigar was great. Again, I'm not to familiar with what woody, or earthy tastes like, but this 5 Vegas was good. As far as $5 smokes go, this would be in my top 10. I stopped drinking beers after #4. I finished the cigar as the California skyline turned its polluted brownish orange, and the sun went out to sea. I nubbed the 5 Vegas so that ther would be no doubt I got my fill.
Overall I (being an amateur reviewer) give it an 8. It was good and the price is right (<$5). It added value to the steak and beers so that says something for it. 5 Vegas will definitely be on my Birthday list.
M. Gipson
I got a Cigar International catalog last month with these on the cover. I've been wanting to try one and DDD started one in his pass. I've smoked LGC's and a few other bands for a long time. Since coming here to CP, I've ventured into other bands and it has opened mi ojos to a whole new smoking experience. I love my LGCs, but variety is the spice of life (this age old addage applies to many things except if you are married
)This light caramel colored torpedo had my name on it since it left Triple D's humi (so did that SHERPA Mystic......jphmojo you rat bastard!) I put that thing in the humi hoping to save it for a while, but, Saturday night my wife was at the movies and all of the kids were on overnight fulroughs at various friends.
I started the experience by zipping over to the local meat counter and getting a fat Rib Eye. Upon returning to Gawn Trail, I sparked the old WEBER (instead of the stand by gas grill) with some mesquite Kingsford. It was about 7 PM and the evening was pleasant with a gentle breeze. I took the 5 Vegas outside with me (in my pocket - I like to stalk my prey before putting it down - hunter's code) and decided I would just spend the whole evening outside. I tossed up a simple salad, poured a can of corn into a old Marie Calender's pie tin, wrapped up a big assed potato in foil, threw Dave Matthews in the CD player, and inhabited the patio. On went the potato. The steak, showered in salt, pepper, and garlic salt, sat next to the grill awating its fate.
I clipped the head of the 5 Vegas. I'm not keen on picking up particular tastes of cigars yet, but this dude was fresh, and aromatic. Before lighting I cracked a Corona and took a long pull. I lit the stick and the first draw was a little tight. I carefully rolled that dude between my fingers and massaged the hard spot. I was rewarded with a decent draw and a good amount of smoke. Turned the potato over (note......I pre boil the potato to make them soft......the grill is to finish it up......a time thing). The first inch of the 5 Vegas was good, not really memorable, but good. Firm ash, with a whitish gray tint.
I throw the steak on the grill along with the tin full of corn and put the lid on, with the vent wide open. Two inches into the cigar it turned for the better, some fuller flavor, and a pleasant exhale taste. I flipped the steak, stirred the corn, turned the potato, and cracked another beer. I set the cigar down to answer the phone. 5 minutes on the phone........and I return to the smoke.
Relighting was a cinch. I blew out the bitter taste before resuming. Halfway down, the steak and it's compadries are ready to eat. A quick splash of melted butter to put that obligatory charred grill lines and it was time to eat. Another beer opened, and the meal on the plate the cigar was getting better (note..It might have been the state of mind, but the smoke got better and better as I smoked it down.
The steak was above average, the corn and potato were tasty, and the salad make for good digestion. The beers and the cigar just make the evening great. Needless to say, the cigar was great. Again, I'm not to familiar with what woody, or earthy tastes like, but this 5 Vegas was good. As far as $5 smokes go, this would be in my top 10. I stopped drinking beers after #4. I finished the cigar as the California skyline turned its polluted brownish orange, and the sun went out to sea. I nubbed the 5 Vegas so that ther would be no doubt I got my fill.
Overall I (being an amateur reviewer) give it an 8. It was good and the price is right (<$5). It added value to the steak and beers so that says something for it. 5 Vegas will definitely be on my Birthday list.
M. Gipson
