stogie fan
Well-Known Member
As previously stated I would try to post a review of this stick so, here goes. I haven't smoked one of these in about 6 months.
I have had this box in proper storage for 26 plus months. This particular cigar however I have dry boxed for several days so, it was a bit dry. My bad.
This 'over drying' IMO negatively affected the smoking experience from previous examples.
Maker: Gran Habano
Blend: Zulu Zulu Habano by George Rico
Vitola: Lancero
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Construction is visually flawless with a triple cap, a mini pig tail, and a wrapper with minimal veins. Wrapper color looks a lot like a San Augustin (Nicaragua).
Pre-light draw is a huge amount of clove & secondarily barnyard. This cigar, as the others I have smoked from the same box, have flawless construction & near perfect burn; never a touch-up required.
1st 3rd: flavors transition extremely quick on this cigar, not only from draw to draw but within individual draws.
Starts out with a mild/medium tobacco, quickly goes into a clove/blueberry, draw is perfect, and 10 minutes in I'm getting a good amount of cedar & white pepper.
About 15 minutes in I'm getting good floral notes with some sweet molasses. About 20 minutes in I'm getting some brief notes of cream & hazelnut; very nice but brief.
From around 20 to 25 minute in everything just drops off the map; it's like WTF did the flavors go?
2nd 3rd: things start slowing down a bit flavor wise but now the roller coaster goes into flavors of leather & barnyard, a discernible clove, cedar, and then a REAL curve ball flavor pops up; 'burned BBQ grill.' Yep, that's what I was tasting; not fun. Notes follow into a strong cedar, cocoa, floral, and a mince meat spice, like grandma's ole mince meat pies.
last 3rd: things are starting to change, again, I'm getting burnt clove, some burnt citrus, more barnyard, clove, cashew, strong clove, very sweet floral, and about 75 minutes in a very distinct creme' brule'e. Before I'm done with this beast it throws more clove, cedar, a bit of all spice, cream, and cashew on to my palette.
I'm not a huge fan of this blend but I will have to say, every time I had had the pleasure to smoke one of these it has always been a roller coaster of flavor profile. The body is never over medium, and the strength is typically mild, to medium, until about the 90 minute mark; then things get a bit bolder. This is a blend this is great to keep in your rotation that will keep you from being jaded with the typical shade grown, maduro, sun grown blah blah blah. Gnome sane?
Pictured below at pre-cut with the KID from Miami art work band, pre-light, 25, 50, 75, 85, and 95 minutes. Tossed at 97 minutes ...............
I have had this box in proper storage for 26 plus months. This particular cigar however I have dry boxed for several days so, it was a bit dry. My bad.
This 'over drying' IMO negatively affected the smoking experience from previous examples.
Maker: Gran Habano
Blend: Zulu Zulu Habano by George Rico
Vitola: Lancero
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Construction is visually flawless with a triple cap, a mini pig tail, and a wrapper with minimal veins. Wrapper color looks a lot like a San Augustin (Nicaragua).
Pre-light draw is a huge amount of clove & secondarily barnyard. This cigar, as the others I have smoked from the same box, have flawless construction & near perfect burn; never a touch-up required.
1st 3rd: flavors transition extremely quick on this cigar, not only from draw to draw but within individual draws.
Starts out with a mild/medium tobacco, quickly goes into a clove/blueberry, draw is perfect, and 10 minutes in I'm getting a good amount of cedar & white pepper.
About 15 minutes in I'm getting good floral notes with some sweet molasses. About 20 minutes in I'm getting some brief notes of cream & hazelnut; very nice but brief.
From around 20 to 25 minute in everything just drops off the map; it's like WTF did the flavors go?
2nd 3rd: things start slowing down a bit flavor wise but now the roller coaster goes into flavors of leather & barnyard, a discernible clove, cedar, and then a REAL curve ball flavor pops up; 'burned BBQ grill.' Yep, that's what I was tasting; not fun. Notes follow into a strong cedar, cocoa, floral, and a mince meat spice, like grandma's ole mince meat pies.
last 3rd: things are starting to change, again, I'm getting burnt clove, some burnt citrus, more barnyard, clove, cashew, strong clove, very sweet floral, and about 75 minutes in a very distinct creme' brule'e. Before I'm done with this beast it throws more clove, cedar, a bit of all spice, cream, and cashew on to my palette.
I'm not a huge fan of this blend but I will have to say, every time I had had the pleasure to smoke one of these it has always been a roller coaster of flavor profile. The body is never over medium, and the strength is typically mild, to medium, until about the 90 minute mark; then things get a bit bolder. This is a blend this is great to keep in your rotation that will keep you from being jaded with the typical shade grown, maduro, sun grown blah blah blah. Gnome sane?
Pictured below at pre-cut with the KID from Miami art work band, pre-light, 25, 50, 75, 85, and 95 minutes. Tossed at 97 minutes ...............
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