Blind Cigar Review Thread #2

[MichaelD]

Well done! And an even better guess. I figured you had it before so you had a chance. I'd give you a near bullseye.

 

[bluue13]

Well done! And an even better guess. I figured you had it before so you had a chance. I'd give you a near bullseye.

Thanks man! I do love me some Davidoff. Great pick!

 

[jbfurdog]

Great review.

 

[Corneighdo]

Well let’s unpack what Wyatt sent over and examine this blind cigar. The other sticks sent all look amazing, but I am always looking at those to see if there are any clues. The banded cigars were mainly Cuban, so I may be bias already in my mindset… or maybe Wyatt was trying to throw me off.

I believe the stick is a Lancero or Lonsdale. It sure does feel aristocratic in the hand. A bit smaller than a Siglo V or a RYJ Cazadores, and a bit longer than a Monte 1. At 6.75” and about a 40 RG, the cigar is firm, but not stiff, has a triple cap, and the construction is impeccable construction. Trying to stand the cigar on it’s foot does not work- the stick tips right over. The wrapper has minimal texture, a couple of small veins, and is light brown, like a café con leche.



The wrapper and foot are pretty strong in smell- leather and hay. Not super oily, but at this point, my thoughts for country are leaning toward Cuba. Slicing with a standard guillotine, I try to take off as little as possible, trying not to open this thin cigar too much. A dry draw produces cedar immediately to compliment the natural aromas I’m already detecting. There are absolutely no draw issues- after a toast and light. this baby is puffing with the perfect amount of ease.



In the first third of the cigar, I am quite surprised. Flavors, and especially strength, are subdued. The subtle taste and characteristics here at the beginning are a big difference from the pungent aromas I was getting pre-light. To begin, it simply tastes like really easy to smoke tobacco, with a bit of cedar. Layers of leather come in, but cigar is starting of simple and concisely. The burn is flawless and smoke is plentiful.



The strength is barely picking up in the second third, but not nearly on the level that I would expect from most cigars; maybe it is the vital as I don’t usually smoke anything thinner than a 42. It is a pleasurable smoke, but not the deep flavored complexity that I typically seek out.

As we turn the corner into the final third, I am just trying to enjoy this stick and stop thinking. The thoughts about what or where it could be from are just puzzling at this point. I’ve never had a smoke like this before, and there is no way I could come close to guessing. I continue to just puff away, jotting down the few notes that I pick up. Some light/white pepper towards then end come in and offer a bit more flavor. The only clues that do help so far are the triple cap and pre light aroma which were pointing me towards Cuban. Overall, the experience was great, but this cigar was simply too light and left a lot to be desired.



I could not even think of a guess, so I just opened the envelope and this is what I was smoking:

Herrera Esteli Lancero

It's from a line and brand that I know and love, but a stick I have never seen/ tried. Perhaps a bit past it’s prime, or not quite there yet, perhaps just not my style (Aged Nicaraguan?). Thank you Wyatt for another fun Blind Review experience! I’ll be doing it again real soon.

 

[golfgar]

Well done, thanks for the review.

 

[vortex]

Bravo, corneighdo. Excellent review.

 

[Brickhouse]

Well let’s unpack what Wyatt sent over and examine this blind cigar. The other sticks sent all look amazing, but I am always looking at those to see if there are any clues. The banded cigars were mainly Cuban, so I may be bias already in my mindset… or maybe Wyatt was trying to throw me off.....SNIP....

Yep, I certainly had every intention of misleading you. I think that cigar has a very Cuban look to it, in many aspects, and I thought I could deceive you a bit. Evil I know, but still fun, haha! But I certainly can't blame you for leaning that way. I would have made the same assessment.

It's from a line and brand that I know and love, but a stick I have never seen/ tried. Perhaps a bit past it’s prime, or not quite there yet, perhaps just not my style (Aged Nicaraguan?). Thank you Wyatt for another fun Blind Review experience! I’ll be doing it again real soon.

Quite honestly, I think they are just fine. I thought it would be a fun blind cigar, but knew it wasn't an amazing smoke. That's why I was sure to pack up some good hitchhikers.

It's a decent smoke, smooth, but mild in my opinion. Both in strength and flavor......they are simply "fine". At any rate, I hope you enjoyed the fun.

 

[Brickhouse]

Ok @vortex and @bluue13, I finally got it done this weekend. Big thanks again to @bluue13 for the great package of smokes and the fun blind cigar. These are always a lot of fun and this one was no different. Here's the review:

Prelight: Dark wrapper, overly boxed pressed, almost squashed. It was interesting. Great smell and well constructed.



Light: Lit up easily, great draw, and tons of smoke....I love tons of smoke....I guess we all do though. But it was a good initial light up. Not much flavor to pick up on right away, but it was a smooth smoke.



1st Third: Still a lot of smoke, which is a big hit. The flavor is a bit over the top. I feel like it's trying to hard to pack a ton of flavor into it. It's not as smooth as it started. I think it's going to be a strong cigar, which doesn't sit well with me. I prefer smooth and flavorful. But it's a nice evening out, the burn is good, I've got a good drink, and I'm enjoying trying to figure this one out.





2nd Third: The taste is full, the strength is full, but neither need to be. I feel like this cigar is trying to hard. So it already has me thinking Jonathan Drew. It's just his style. I wish it would mellow out. Still good burn and smoke, but the flavor is off. It's trying to be something it's not, and it's obvious.



Final Third: It's burning hot which is causing some harshness. This cigar is stronger than I care for, especially when the taste isn't my style. It tastes like something young that hasn't been given the time to blend...so instead they use overly flavored tobacco leaves that are also too strong. It's just not performing well.





Final: All the efforts this cigar put forward but came up short had me convinced it was a Jonathan Drew, Drew Estate. I actually commented on it to my girlfriend the second I lighted it up. Toss in the color, shape, and strength and I had a confident guess in Herrera Esteli Norteno.....and....yep. It was.




My girlfriends daughter was excited to open it up and see if I was right, so I let her do it.



Thanks again @bluue13 for the great fun and experience. My favorite thing about the blind reviews is the mystery. I may not have loved the cigar, but that's not what it's about, and I certainly enjoyed the experience. Fun.

 

[MichaelD]

Excellent review. I completely agree that the process is just as fun if not more so than the actual cigar.

 

[bluue13]

Awesome review! Sorry it wasn't to your liking, but glad the experience was a good one!

 

[bluue13]

Also want to add I had a chuckle when I saw that you sent out a Herrera stick as well!

 

[vortex]

Nice review and I concur. I love the additional witness, too. Although being the honor system is part of the charm, you did find a charming girl to "do the honors".

 

[CMontoya79]

Let's get this party started.


Aroma cold-barnyard sweet tobacco. Chocolate brown touch of Colorado wrapper. Closed foot. Nice triple cap.

Cold draw sweet and salty tobacco. Cubanesque.

Firm draw


1st third
Opens with sweet and salty tobacco. Aroma of sweet milk chocolate/graham crackers.
Hint of floral smoke joins the party.

Sweet and salty continue with cedar making an appearance along with slight floral. Wood becomes stronger. Finish is salt and wood. Interesting. Floral, wood and cedar dance back and forth. Mild to medium strength and flavor.


2nd third
Fresh. Clean tobacco. Faint floral and slight spice. Aroma of cedar. Fresh tobacco continues, saltiness still there. Very smooth smoke. Creamy. Flavor at this point reminds me of buttered toast.
Faint cedar and floral peek there heads from time to time.


Last 3rd
Flavors remain pretty consistent. Not much else to pick out. Remains mild to medium in strength and flavor. Ends with mostly cedar, slight saltiness, and that sweet milk chocolate note. Finished smooth, slight spice.

My guess?
Cuban custom rolled. Though it tastes like Nicaraguan tobacco. I've had custom rolls, this reminds me of them but different.

Reveal:

Reynaldo Gonzales
LCDH Conde Villanueva Havana
Robusto



Thanks Ian for letting me play.

This affirms that I enjoy Cuban custom rolls and fresh rolls.

 

[Succubus]

Really nice review, but I have to be honest that I think it's crazy you were able to guess that it was a Cuban custom roll.

 

[Brickhouse]

Great review and a great/fun blind stick. On first picture I was guessing a Johnny-O.

 

[CMontoya79]

Really nice review, but I have to be honest that I think it's crazy you were able to guess that it was a Cuban custom roll.

I've had a few. Plus, not many regular production cigars CC, or NC have a closed foot. Custom rolls have either that well aged or fresh flavor. Very distinct.

I'm wondering if the reason custom roll CC's are so different from regular production Habanos SA recipes is perhaps the lack of or minimal use of ligero tobaccos?

 

[Succubus]

I've had a few. Plus, not many regular production cigars CC, or NC have a closed foot. Custom rolls have either that well aged or fresh flavor. Very distinct.

I'm wondering if the reason custom roll CC's are so different from regular production Habanos SA recipes is perhaps the lack of or minimal use of ligero tobaccos?

Well very good job on your guess!

 

[MichaelD]

Well very good job on your guess!

To be honest I would have guessed the same thing even before getting the cigar. Knowing who the provider is and in this case the fact that he just came back from the land of CCs with a suitcase brimming with custom rolls would made it a reasonable bet. Would I be cheating? Perhaps, but no reason not to use all possible tools to narrow down the options.

 

[Succubus]

To be honest I would have guessed the same thing even before getting the cigar. Knowing who the provider is and in this case the fact that he just came back from the land of CCs with a suitcase brimming with custom rolls would made it a reasonable bet. Would I be cheating? Perhaps, but no reason not to use all possible tools to narrow down the options.

That makes perfect sense, and especially since there's a picture of it all around somewhere lol

 

[Tall Paul]

Great review and a great/fun blind stick. On first picture I was guessing a Johnny-O.

I immediately thought the same. That shaggy foot stuck out to me.