The setting: Friday night around 7PM after a delicious dinner of steak on the grill. Power had been out since about 2:30 in the morning (still isn't back at my house, actually). The wood stove was cranking, and it was pretty peaceful in my small Massachusetts town. I had returned from college only 2 days before, and had yet to kick back and reflect on an eventful semester. I decided that there was no better way to do so than with a fine cigar. I donned my winter coat, and grabbed my supplies, ready to brave the cold.
The Cigar: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos #4.
The Cut: Standard Guillotine.
The Light: Xikar EX (fantastic lighter, btw)
The beverage: Samuel Adams Winter Lager (One of my favorite beers. Complimented this particular stick VERY well).
The experience:
I removed the cellophane from this beautiful stick, and what it revealed was a flawless wrapper. With a gentle squeeze, the cigar demonstrated the springiness often present in a well rolled, well (but not over) humidified cigar. Managed a clean cut, but the prelight draw was very tight. I decided to cut it again, which helped a little but not enough. One last clip of the cap yielded an ideal draw. The taste of the unlit tobacco was of pure pepper, and actually made me sneeze a couple times. The foot toasted easily, and filled the air surrounding me with a distinctive burnt coffee scent. Unable to wait any longer, I put this stick to flame. Immediately, I was rewarded with plumes of blueish, peppery smoke with earthy undertones. I took a swig of my beer, and was amazed at how well these two complimented each other. In my experience, many cigars that start with such gusto take an inch or so to calm down. Not this guy. My next few puffs yielded white smoke, with earthy, cocoay body. The pepper did not completely disappear either, but it assumed a much more pleasurable, fitting role in the undertone and aftertaste of the smoke. About an inch into the stick, the earthy taste was replaced by a warm cedar smoke, and the cocoa was complimented by a hint of the burnt coffee I smelled during the toasting of the foot. I was really enjoying this, and the nicotine was starting to go to my head a little bit. A couple more swigs of beer (which added a spicy, cinnamon like component to my palate) and I before I knew it, I was half way through this smoke. I couldn't keep the thing out of my mouth. It was just fantastic. The final 2 inches were characterized by a transient creamy texture, that ran intermittent with the aforementioned spice of the cedar and pepper. The finish was long and smooth, and left me with a bit of a nicotine buzz.
After nubbing it, I quickly retreated back into the house to heat up by the fire. It isn't often that I have a cigar that I feel MUST be reviewed. I suppose it isn't often that I have the pleasure of enjoying Fuentes either, though
. Hope you guys enjoyed, and I would highly recommend this cigar to anyone who likes Medium-Full bodied, complex and flavorful cigars. I would also recommend that anyone who is going to try one, pair it with a Winter Lager :love: Great holiday combination.
Hope you enjoyed reading this almost as much as I enjoyed smoking the cigar. :thumbs:
The Cigar: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos #4.
The Cut: Standard Guillotine.
The Light: Xikar EX (fantastic lighter, btw)
The beverage: Samuel Adams Winter Lager (One of my favorite beers. Complimented this particular stick VERY well).
The experience:
I removed the cellophane from this beautiful stick, and what it revealed was a flawless wrapper. With a gentle squeeze, the cigar demonstrated the springiness often present in a well rolled, well (but not over) humidified cigar. Managed a clean cut, but the prelight draw was very tight. I decided to cut it again, which helped a little but not enough. One last clip of the cap yielded an ideal draw. The taste of the unlit tobacco was of pure pepper, and actually made me sneeze a couple times. The foot toasted easily, and filled the air surrounding me with a distinctive burnt coffee scent. Unable to wait any longer, I put this stick to flame. Immediately, I was rewarded with plumes of blueish, peppery smoke with earthy undertones. I took a swig of my beer, and was amazed at how well these two complimented each other. In my experience, many cigars that start with such gusto take an inch or so to calm down. Not this guy. My next few puffs yielded white smoke, with earthy, cocoay body. The pepper did not completely disappear either, but it assumed a much more pleasurable, fitting role in the undertone and aftertaste of the smoke. About an inch into the stick, the earthy taste was replaced by a warm cedar smoke, and the cocoa was complimented by a hint of the burnt coffee I smelled during the toasting of the foot. I was really enjoying this, and the nicotine was starting to go to my head a little bit. A couple more swigs of beer (which added a spicy, cinnamon like component to my palate) and I before I knew it, I was half way through this smoke. I couldn't keep the thing out of my mouth. It was just fantastic. The final 2 inches were characterized by a transient creamy texture, that ran intermittent with the aforementioned spice of the cedar and pepper. The finish was long and smooth, and left me with a bit of a nicotine buzz.
After nubbing it, I quickly retreated back into the house to heat up by the fire. It isn't often that I have a cigar that I feel MUST be reviewed. I suppose it isn't often that I have the pleasure of enjoying Fuentes either, though
. Hope you guys enjoyed, and I would highly recommend this cigar to anyone who likes Medium-Full bodied, complex and flavorful cigars. I would also recommend that anyone who is going to try one, pair it with a Winter Lager :love: Great holiday combination.Hope you enjoyed reading this almost as much as I enjoyed smoking the cigar. :thumbs:
