PJ the Comic
Official Illusione Whore
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,168
So here goes my first ever cigar review. I normally would not even do one as I don't think my palette as a noob can even convey the taste that would benefit the BOTL's here. However since no one has had one of these yet or can even get their hands on them so far I thought I would give it a whirl.
It was 114 on my gauge today and at toast time it was down to a balmy 104. It is quite humid here today with a passing thunder storm early in the day that netted 12 drops on the back porch. 41% humidity on the hygrometer I took out of the humi and brought out onto the porch.
This stick had good construction with the triple cap, and had a spongy feel with medium weight in the hand. I cut the cap with the Xikar Xi cutter and the pre-light draw was of grass or hay with nice tobacco flavor, and a little hint of fruit. Nice it was, with an easy draw. The wrapper was veiny and bumpy with a couple of blemishes. I torched it with a wooden match. The first draw was bland with no spice to speak of, and after a couple puffs tons of smoke. The burn started uneven and continued that way. 1/2" in I picked up a good woody flavor. Light grey flaky ash with no tooth. The wife joined me and smoked a Tatiana Cherry and my son was enjoying an AF 858 maduro I think, because the wrapper was darker than the last 858 I had. The first inch or so showed no change of flavors. At the end of the first 3rd I caught a hint of the pre-draw fruit flavor.
2cd third more of the fruit is coming through grape/wine like. The flavors linger a little longer on the palette now. Good tobacco coming on after the nosing. Very mild so far the burn is starting to even out. The ash held for 2.5" then fell on me. I still haven't been able to hold a nice long ash and get it to end up in the Stinky. Always seems to end up on my shirt or pants as was the case tonight. I am starting to get some wood coming on and leather with the fruit darkening as well. Feeling a little bit of a nic buzz, nothing strong but it is there. Halfway I get a little spice and the tongue is tingling a bit. Flavors are consistent with wood, leather, fruit and tobacco playing nicely. I paired this stick with a Miller Lite after a little start. Seemed a good match with the mild smoke.
Last 3rd is getting hot so had to slow down on the draws. Still lots of smoke with an easy draw. Getting a little spice at the end but nothing reminiscent of the other Monte's I have smoked. This one seems way too mild to be a Montecristo. At about 1.5" I purged the stick just because. I never could figure out hat a purge was I used to just blow through the stick until Desertrat showed me the proper way and what a difference that makes. Just seems to clean up the flavors. The hummingbirds are buzzing around now, the dogs have come out to help, and the sound of a siren nearby makes sure you know we live in the big city.
Good clean taste even at the last 1" or so with mute fruit, wood, a little toasted nuts came through at the last. It went out at 3/4" remaining and I let it down at 1.5 hours smoke time.
Overall I would say a nice mild stick with lots of smoke but nothing to write home about. I don't know what aging would do to this except make it even more mild.
Sorry about the crappy pics I will work on the macro setting for the next time as recommended by the botl's.
PJ
My link
It was 114 on my gauge today and at toast time it was down to a balmy 104. It is quite humid here today with a passing thunder storm early in the day that netted 12 drops on the back porch. 41% humidity on the hygrometer I took out of the humi and brought out onto the porch.
This stick had good construction with the triple cap, and had a spongy feel with medium weight in the hand. I cut the cap with the Xikar Xi cutter and the pre-light draw was of grass or hay with nice tobacco flavor, and a little hint of fruit. Nice it was, with an easy draw. The wrapper was veiny and bumpy with a couple of blemishes. I torched it with a wooden match. The first draw was bland with no spice to speak of, and after a couple puffs tons of smoke. The burn started uneven and continued that way. 1/2" in I picked up a good woody flavor. Light grey flaky ash with no tooth. The wife joined me and smoked a Tatiana Cherry and my son was enjoying an AF 858 maduro I think, because the wrapper was darker than the last 858 I had. The first inch or so showed no change of flavors. At the end of the first 3rd I caught a hint of the pre-draw fruit flavor.
2cd third more of the fruit is coming through grape/wine like. The flavors linger a little longer on the palette now. Good tobacco coming on after the nosing. Very mild so far the burn is starting to even out. The ash held for 2.5" then fell on me. I still haven't been able to hold a nice long ash and get it to end up in the Stinky. Always seems to end up on my shirt or pants as was the case tonight. I am starting to get some wood coming on and leather with the fruit darkening as well. Feeling a little bit of a nic buzz, nothing strong but it is there. Halfway I get a little spice and the tongue is tingling a bit. Flavors are consistent with wood, leather, fruit and tobacco playing nicely. I paired this stick with a Miller Lite after a little start. Seemed a good match with the mild smoke.
Last 3rd is getting hot so had to slow down on the draws. Still lots of smoke with an easy draw. Getting a little spice at the end but nothing reminiscent of the other Monte's I have smoked. This one seems way too mild to be a Montecristo. At about 1.5" I purged the stick just because. I never could figure out hat a purge was I used to just blow through the stick until Desertrat showed me the proper way and what a difference that makes. Just seems to clean up the flavors. The hummingbirds are buzzing around now, the dogs have come out to help, and the sound of a siren nearby makes sure you know we live in the big city.
Good clean taste even at the last 1" or so with mute fruit, wood, a little toasted nuts came through at the last. It went out at 3/4" remaining and I let it down at 1.5 hours smoke time.
Overall I would say a nice mild stick with lots of smoke but nothing to write home about. I don't know what aging would do to this except make it even more mild.
Sorry about the crappy pics I will work on the macro setting for the next time as recommended by the botl's.
PJ
My link