dixieland_conjunction
If it isn't dixieland, it isn't REAL jazz
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2003
- Messages
- 1,223
I picked up, or more correctly had delivered, quite a few c’gars today. This is my first large-scaled purchase of what I consider to be “nice” cigars. As you can read in my profile, I have just recently been able to afford any of substantial value or quantity. After I shipped 5 of the lot’s best (not that I ordered any cheapies this go-round) to Joe.M. for my first newbie 5 blind, I tried to figure out what I was going to sample.
Well, a single in a 5-pack I got for my girlfriend was damaged in transit. Fortunately, it was the only damaged in the whole ~60-stick shipment, but this didn’t affect my obligation to “put it out of its misery.”
Once that was over and I got back from the PO, finally decided on a La Perla Habana Black Pearl Gran Robusto for my pre-scheduled evening session.
Total smoking time: 1hour 10minutes
My reaction:
Appearance & Construction: This had one of the biggest veins I’ve ever seen on a non-seconds stick. I was amazed that this one ever made it past inspectors. However its construction was unaffected. It felt like a Lincoln Log with absolutely not hint of looseness. One characteristic that I’ve not encountered in all my maduro rendezvous was what seemed like a layer of soot on the wrapper. It was pleasantly oily, but black “dirt” came off in addition to the oils. I had to take off my shirt and tie for fear of ruining my sartorial artistry
.
Flavor: I’d heard a lot about its being too strong for people’s tastes. I don’t consider myself to be an experienced full-bodied cigar smoker, but I’m beginning to reconsider my classifications. Even on my empty stomach, it didn’t really intimidate me until I stood up rather abruptly upon finishing. A few lopsided, slow-motion strides and I was back to normal.
I don’t usually use food- or shrubbery-like adjectives to describe flavors, but this definitely had a presence of almonds; very smooth. The aftertastes were quite pleasant.
For the period of the last 15 to the last 5 minutes, it became very spicy. This is the characteristic I seek in cigars: when it gets hot and starts to be peppery, but you don’t want to let the ride end without enjoying it to the last.
Unfortunately, the last 5 minutes were a partial disappointment for such a consistently flavorful sitting. It turned sour on me, but, after being a 70-minute 5.25” x 52 (that’s a looong time for me to take; I’m a heavy puffer), I can’t really complain.
Smoking Characteristics: Along with my shipment came my new Colibri, so get this one lit properly was much less a task that to which I’m accustomed. It was a super consistent, even burn; nice and slow, despite my early efforts to take it in one draw. It did draw a little tight, but considering it was solid enough to have jacked up a car, this was not a deduction. It burned cooler than I prefer, but I’m sure most people don’t like infernos in their mouth as much as I do.
Overall: I’m not fond of the soot issue, but this is one of the very best I’ve ever had. I’ll give it a 90. Based on my past experiences, I should give it a 95-96, but I have to remember all that I have in store with the rest of my shipment. I don’t want to end up with what is essentially a 130 scale because I rated the first few great smokes too highly, only to be bettered and bettered again.
Take these early ratings with a grain of salt…I’m still new to the “nice” cigar arena.
Thanks again for the wonderful site; cheers,
Dixie
Well, a single in a 5-pack I got for my girlfriend was damaged in transit. Fortunately, it was the only damaged in the whole ~60-stick shipment, but this didn’t affect my obligation to “put it out of its misery.”
Once that was over and I got back from the PO, finally decided on a La Perla Habana Black Pearl Gran Robusto for my pre-scheduled evening session.
Total smoking time: 1hour 10minutes
My reaction:
Appearance & Construction: This had one of the biggest veins I’ve ever seen on a non-seconds stick. I was amazed that this one ever made it past inspectors. However its construction was unaffected. It felt like a Lincoln Log with absolutely not hint of looseness. One characteristic that I’ve not encountered in all my maduro rendezvous was what seemed like a layer of soot on the wrapper. It was pleasantly oily, but black “dirt” came off in addition to the oils. I had to take off my shirt and tie for fear of ruining my sartorial artistry
. Flavor: I’d heard a lot about its being too strong for people’s tastes. I don’t consider myself to be an experienced full-bodied cigar smoker, but I’m beginning to reconsider my classifications. Even on my empty stomach, it didn’t really intimidate me until I stood up rather abruptly upon finishing. A few lopsided, slow-motion strides and I was back to normal.
I don’t usually use food- or shrubbery-like adjectives to describe flavors, but this definitely had a presence of almonds; very smooth. The aftertastes were quite pleasant.
For the period of the last 15 to the last 5 minutes, it became very spicy. This is the characteristic I seek in cigars: when it gets hot and starts to be peppery, but you don’t want to let the ride end without enjoying it to the last.
Unfortunately, the last 5 minutes were a partial disappointment for such a consistently flavorful sitting. It turned sour on me, but, after being a 70-minute 5.25” x 52 (that’s a looong time for me to take; I’m a heavy puffer), I can’t really complain.
Smoking Characteristics: Along with my shipment came my new Colibri, so get this one lit properly was much less a task that to which I’m accustomed. It was a super consistent, even burn; nice and slow, despite my early efforts to take it in one draw. It did draw a little tight, but considering it was solid enough to have jacked up a car, this was not a deduction. It burned cooler than I prefer, but I’m sure most people don’t like infernos in their mouth as much as I do.
Overall: I’m not fond of the soot issue, but this is one of the very best I’ve ever had. I’ll give it a 90. Based on my past experiences, I should give it a 95-96, but I have to remember all that I have in store with the rest of my shipment. I don’t want to end up with what is essentially a 130 scale because I rated the first few great smokes too highly, only to be bettered and bettered again.
Take these early ratings with a grain of salt…I’m still new to the “nice” cigar arena.
Thanks again for the wonderful site; cheers,
Dixie
