Mystery cigar from
@Thoughts
Dry boxed for 1 week
Looks to be 50 gauge Robusto sized cigar
Firm to the touch
Beautiful triple cap
Slight tight draw, just how I like it.
Initial aroma... slight non-Cuban (like this was placed next to or in the vicinity of a NC cigar)
Slight sweet hay, and premium tobacco
Initial dry draw, distinctive non Cuban taste, but not bad...
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First lit draws:
A bit sharp of the taste buds, starts to settle in after 2 to 3 puffs
Initial thought, non Cuban, sharp twang, but with a nice candied aftertaste.
First third, very mild flavors, dry hay, just a bit of cardboard associated with non Cubans, (if this is Cuban, I will be embarrassed)
Wondering at this point, did he give me the box code to throw me off?
IF it was Cuban, there are so many robustos... PSD4, JL2, BRC, Epi 2, RASS... The closest (if you swore this was Cuban), would be a very fresh Partagas D4.
But, I am still in the 1st third, so let’s give it a bit more time.
Middle of 1st third, I get a bit of a change.The sharpness is subsiding, although it’s still up front, the dry hay is more pronounced
End of the 1st third... still thinking non Cuban, but not throw away bad at this point. The aftertaste of sour apples is starting to creep in (or is it my mind)
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Let’s keep going...
I clean my pallet with some Pellegrino and fresh lime juice.
So far, into the 2nd third, the burn is good, ample amounts of smoke.
As far as taste, there is not a lot there... I try to take several big puffs in a row, retroing a large amount, I’m getting slight hay, a bit of spice on the nose, and if I had pulled this out of my humidor, I would chunk it at this point... not because it is horrible, which it is not, but because the flavors are muted, to the point where I have to really concentrate on what I am tasting, and with my limited amount of time to smoke, I would just pull out an old faithful, 70’s to 80’s Cuban.... but, I am committed to play this out, and hope that the second half is better.
Halfway point, just a bit of apricots (Malik acid?), dry hay, and slight earthy (dirty) flavor.
Middle of 2nd third, I get a change... more flavors, not all bad.having to take big puffs to discern anything, but there is a bit of leather, dry hay, some grass, and my tongue is coated with a tart (fruit?) flavor.
At this point, if you had a gun to my head and told me this was Cuban, I would be leaning towards (a bad or sick) JL2
I decide to cut and purge.
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Much easier draw, and tons of smoke...I have to take it easy, not to get it hot.
Halfway through the 2nd third, and it’s just about the same, but a bit more hay and some (stewed?) fruit on the retro. Still getting the sour taste on the tongue...
Into the final third... Flavors are still muted, but getting more of a fruity taste, flavors are better, getting some initial cotton candy, which was very nice, but disappeared quickly. Burn is excellent, no touchups required
Halfway through the final 3rd, still muted, getting some bitterness, which also makes me think the box code was bogus
I decided to nub it, for the team, and I’m glad I did. The sharpness all but disappears, and the flavors of stewed fruit is more pronounced... more like a JL2 or RASS maybe (if it really is Cuban) still getting the sour taste of the tongue...
Then, just as soon as I was starting to enjoy it, the bitterness is back.
I struggle to finish the nub, although the flavors are again muted at this point, the coating on the tongue is a bit more pleasant... and even though there is not a lot of flavors, I get a bit of a nicotine rush and decide to call it a day...
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My guess, before I open the envelope, is a non Cuban, however the stewed fruit would make me lean towards a JL2 or a RASS, if it turns out to be cuban...
And the answer is JL2!!
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After reading your note Brad, I realized that I convinced myself that you were pulling one over on me, and that this was non-Cuban... IF I had known going before I smoked it, it was a JL2, I would have certainly enjoyed it much more...
This is a great example of the power of preconceived notions
Thanks again for giving me this opportunity.