cigardawg
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2005
- Messages
- 1,557
Smoked four cigars at the Baltimore mini-herf last Saturday. Here is a quick rundown of the experience.
Walking over to Fader's, I lit up a Saint Luis Rey Regios (JUN 03) . This cigar had a nice light brown wrapper and was nicely square pressed. It had a very distinctive triple-flagged cap. The wrapper showed no appreciable veins or seams. The pre-light nose was mild, slightly vegetal with cedar and earth. The pre-light draw was tight.
The cigar lit easily, despite the wind, but the draw stayed on the tight side. It was acceptable, however, as each draw produced ample medium-bodied smoke. It burned cool and even right down to the nub, even in the wind. The ash was light gray and firm. Very good construction.
The flavor upon lighting was sharp, but this quickly settled into a nice creaminess with citrus undertones on the finish. Coffee and wood became more pronounced at the midway point. There were also stronger hints of citrus and vegetal flavors. It all settled nicely back into creamy coffee. Very good flavor.
The SLR Regios was fresh out of the box and off the truck (or plane). I believe these are going to just keep getting better. I give this cigar an A-.
The second cigar of the day was actually smoked at Fader's as we sat and relaxed. It was an Ashton VSG Belicoso No. 1 . This cigar had a dark chocolate wrapper that had a couple of splits and cracks. Frankly, it was coming a bit unraveled. There were no noticable veins or seams. The pre-light nose was of mild coffee. The pre-light draw was open and easy. Just a note, this was the second VSG of this size that has been split and broken. They were from different sources and were stored differently...hhmmmmmm.
The cigar lit easily and the draw stayed open. It produced huge amounts of smoke with each puff, creating literal clouds around my head. Despite the damage, the cigar burned dead even, requiring no touch-ups. It stayed cool throughout the smoking experience. The ash was very white and firm. Excellent construction.
Initial flavors were strong, black coffee with hints of leather. Some wood was added to the coffee along with some mild charred wood flavors. It became toasty at the midway point and finished with toasty/wood/coffee flavor combination. Excellent tasting cigar.
Despite the damage, the cigar smoked well and tasted fabulous. I place these among the best. I rate this cigar an A.
After lunch at the Ropewalk Tavern, I lit up a Diamond Crown Maximus Double Corona. This was a massive cigar with a dark wrapper that showed no veins or seams. A flawless appearance. The pre-light nose was mild, but had coffee and earthy aromas. The pre-light draw was firm.
The cigar lit easily, but the draw stayed just a bit firm. Despite the firm draw, the cigar produced plenty of medium-to-full bodied smoke. This big cigar burned sharp as a razor all the way down, never requiring any touch ups or attention. It stayed cool all the way down. The DCM has a white ash that was just a bit flakey.
The flavor profile was similar to the smaller DCMs, just more drawn out. There were primary flavors of coffee, but a definite cocoa taste, giving the cigar a bit of sweetness. It developed a stronger profile at the midway mark and some earth was added to the coffee. Some wood hints were also noted. On the back end, the cigar got much stronger and added some charred wood flavors.
This cigar just about did me in. It was a very long and ended up being a very strong smoke. However, the flavors and construction were top notch. I give this cigar an A-.
After some chocolate ice cream, we made our way to the Explorer's Lounge. I broke out the final cigar of the day...an Opus X Perfeccion No. 4. This cigar had a reddish, almost rosado wrapper. There were no seams apparent, but there were a couple of minor veins. The pre-light nose was of cedar mixed with earth...very clean. The pre-light draw was open and easy.
This petite corona lit easily and the draw stayed open. In fact, the draw was just about perfect and this small cigar produced volumes of thick, full-bodied smoke. The ash was very light gray, though a little flakey. The cigar burned even and stayed cool throughout the smoking experience. Smoked it down to the nub.
Big, big flavor right off the bat...it immediately hit me with coffee and wood flavors with a spicey undertone. The coffee moved to the background as the wood developed. There were hints fo roasted nuts and a taste similar to the smell of cured leather. It finished with more wood and spice. One of the best Opus X that I have smoked.
Wow, what a way to end the day. It was almost perfect...I give it an A+.
Walking over to Fader's, I lit up a Saint Luis Rey Regios (JUN 03) . This cigar had a nice light brown wrapper and was nicely square pressed. It had a very distinctive triple-flagged cap. The wrapper showed no appreciable veins or seams. The pre-light nose was mild, slightly vegetal with cedar and earth. The pre-light draw was tight.
The cigar lit easily, despite the wind, but the draw stayed on the tight side. It was acceptable, however, as each draw produced ample medium-bodied smoke. It burned cool and even right down to the nub, even in the wind. The ash was light gray and firm. Very good construction.
The flavor upon lighting was sharp, but this quickly settled into a nice creaminess with citrus undertones on the finish. Coffee and wood became more pronounced at the midway point. There were also stronger hints of citrus and vegetal flavors. It all settled nicely back into creamy coffee. Very good flavor.
The SLR Regios was fresh out of the box and off the truck (or plane). I believe these are going to just keep getting better. I give this cigar an A-.
The second cigar of the day was actually smoked at Fader's as we sat and relaxed. It was an Ashton VSG Belicoso No. 1 . This cigar had a dark chocolate wrapper that had a couple of splits and cracks. Frankly, it was coming a bit unraveled. There were no noticable veins or seams. The pre-light nose was of mild coffee. The pre-light draw was open and easy. Just a note, this was the second VSG of this size that has been split and broken. They were from different sources and were stored differently...hhmmmmmm.
The cigar lit easily and the draw stayed open. It produced huge amounts of smoke with each puff, creating literal clouds around my head. Despite the damage, the cigar burned dead even, requiring no touch-ups. It stayed cool throughout the smoking experience. The ash was very white and firm. Excellent construction.
Initial flavors were strong, black coffee with hints of leather. Some wood was added to the coffee along with some mild charred wood flavors. It became toasty at the midway point and finished with toasty/wood/coffee flavor combination. Excellent tasting cigar.
Despite the damage, the cigar smoked well and tasted fabulous. I place these among the best. I rate this cigar an A.
After lunch at the Ropewalk Tavern, I lit up a Diamond Crown Maximus Double Corona. This was a massive cigar with a dark wrapper that showed no veins or seams. A flawless appearance. The pre-light nose was mild, but had coffee and earthy aromas. The pre-light draw was firm.
The cigar lit easily, but the draw stayed just a bit firm. Despite the firm draw, the cigar produced plenty of medium-to-full bodied smoke. This big cigar burned sharp as a razor all the way down, never requiring any touch ups or attention. It stayed cool all the way down. The DCM has a white ash that was just a bit flakey.
The flavor profile was similar to the smaller DCMs, just more drawn out. There were primary flavors of coffee, but a definite cocoa taste, giving the cigar a bit of sweetness. It developed a stronger profile at the midway mark and some earth was added to the coffee. Some wood hints were also noted. On the back end, the cigar got much stronger and added some charred wood flavors.
This cigar just about did me in. It was a very long and ended up being a very strong smoke. However, the flavors and construction were top notch. I give this cigar an A-.
After some chocolate ice cream, we made our way to the Explorer's Lounge. I broke out the final cigar of the day...an Opus X Perfeccion No. 4. This cigar had a reddish, almost rosado wrapper. There were no seams apparent, but there were a couple of minor veins. The pre-light nose was of cedar mixed with earth...very clean. The pre-light draw was open and easy.
This petite corona lit easily and the draw stayed open. In fact, the draw was just about perfect and this small cigar produced volumes of thick, full-bodied smoke. The ash was very light gray, though a little flakey. The cigar burned even and stayed cool throughout the smoking experience. Smoked it down to the nub.
Big, big flavor right off the bat...it immediately hit me with coffee and wood flavors with a spicey undertone. The coffee moved to the background as the wood developed. There were hints fo roasted nuts and a taste similar to the smell of cured leather. It finished with more wood and spice. One of the best Opus X that I have smoked.
Wow, what a way to end the day. It was almost perfect...I give it an A+.
