The sun is shining. I post up out in front of my appartment. A freshly brewed french press full of a delicious medium roast Highlander Grogg with a splash of french vannila creamer by Nut Pods. I'm listening to an NBA Podcast and I'm excited to enjoy this stick.
Smell test is full of wood, hay, and pepper. I cut the cap and the cold draw brings hay, cream, and black pepper. I toast the foot, pull a nice few puffs, and were off. Clean burn lines to start but the smoke itself is thin. But very flavorful. That wood taste is forward, followed by hay, a light cream, bakers spice, and a touch of citrus. The citrus I did not expect to have here so I get an idea. I grab a small cup and put just a splash of OJ (not from concentrate). Enough to clense my pallate a few times. After a few more puffs the wood is fading and bakers spice is pushing its way to the front but it's running into that cream at the finish. The coffee and a hit of OJ between are combining effortlessly. Its highlighting the citrus and the bakers spice in a tasty harmony of flavors. I lose the ash about halfway through the first third, but so far I'm enjoying this smoke. I decide to shift to listening to music. I fire up Led Zepplin. Whole Lotta Love is pounding in my ears as my mouth is full of a creamy smoke. The smoke has begun to thicken now. Bakers spice and cream, with the slightest hint of pepper. I love the creaminess of this cigar and I have to say fat is my favorite macronutrient / food group, especially with ciagrs. Nuts, cheese, yogurt (it worked one time trust me). Having none of those I opt for buttered toast with just a small hit of cinnamon and sugar. It forms a choir with the baker spices of this cigar and they sing a beautiful tune on my palate. Its a cool spring day here in Ohio, but very comfortable out here on the porch. I move from Zepplin to Father John Misty. Mind you I have only listened to one song by this artist but I've been meaning to dive into more of his discography. I que up his newest album, "Mahashmashana." It transports me to a whole new level with it's etheral sounds and the smoke swirling up and away with each note. He's Jazz mixed with Acid. That would be the most laymans way to explain his vibe.
I'm into the second third and the aroma begins to shift from hay to wood. Suddenly wood is back in the taste as well. But it fades quick, I wonder if it will come back. The burn line appears to have gone rogue but as a trade off the smoke has become as thick as it has been this whole time. With that I'm hit with a pepper blast, and the biggest one yet. Red and black pepper. I'm here for it. I was wondering when pepper was going to find a way to the front and here we are maybe halfway into the second third, warming up with that pepper. I have switched to iced coffee now, and theres enough cream left in my cup that it maintains that soft brown color. I'm able to let this stick rest with no issues. I'm in no rush as Father John Misty has me floating higher than the trail of smoke off this Conneticut Shade. Taking a few longer breaks in between puffs and it manages to stay lit just perfectly. This stick has not been overly hot at any point. Very smooth smoke that is now bursting with hay and finishing with pepper. I finally decide to touch up the burn line and it evens out nicely. After this pepper quickly swaps places with bakers spice, and not long after the pepper bows out. Bakers spice, cream, and wouldn't you know a bread like note, and to my surprise a touch of syrup. The second third is finishing with some new flavors here and I'm delighted.
Final third is off and bread is on the menu. Lots of bread and lots of cream here finishing with bakers spice. I have zero complaints about this cigar. Father John continues to crush it. Very glad I chose to dive into his music today. It's so atmospheric and the vibe I'm getting is reminding me of my early 20s and the time I spent in the rave scene. Particularly music festivals, and to be specific Electric Forest in Michigan. I'm hit with the same goosebumps right now that I use to feel on an 8th of shrooms and a handful of joints on a hot summer night in Michigan. As dance music and lights swirl around me. Washed over in a chaotic blend of sights and sounds, carrying me into pure bliss. I have progressed to pouring just a few sips of black coffee over what's left of my ice and I'm shocked as a puff of this stick brings me a hit of cocoa. Cocoa finally shows itself in this stick and blended with a sip of that black coffee my mouth is flush with a taste of a mocha latte and I'm just fine with that. I'm holding one of the longest tails of ash that I have seen today but I decide to knock most of it off. I'm over an hour into this thing and the creamy finish of the smoke is gone. A lot of black pepper is present and it's become hot. I purge to cool off and when I hit again I'm blasted with hay, cocoa, wood, pepper, bread, and syrup, all in a big puff. But the heat is too high at this point and the album is finished. It's time to do chores. What a great session.
I really enjoyed this cigar and will definitely smoke these again. I'm a new BOTL, and I find myself gravitating toward Conneticut Shades. Not that I can't handle something more full and heavy but my palaete really appreciates the flavors I get from the CT, and the pairing with coffee is flawless. All in all I'd rate this stick 4 out of 5. It was a great smoke but the burn line and the need for a touch up detract just enough for me here to knock it to 4. Cheers.
Smell test is full of wood, hay, and pepper. I cut the cap and the cold draw brings hay, cream, and black pepper. I toast the foot, pull a nice few puffs, and were off. Clean burn lines to start but the smoke itself is thin. But very flavorful. That wood taste is forward, followed by hay, a light cream, bakers spice, and a touch of citrus. The citrus I did not expect to have here so I get an idea. I grab a small cup and put just a splash of OJ (not from concentrate). Enough to clense my pallate a few times. After a few more puffs the wood is fading and bakers spice is pushing its way to the front but it's running into that cream at the finish. The coffee and a hit of OJ between are combining effortlessly. Its highlighting the citrus and the bakers spice in a tasty harmony of flavors. I lose the ash about halfway through the first third, but so far I'm enjoying this smoke. I decide to shift to listening to music. I fire up Led Zepplin. Whole Lotta Love is pounding in my ears as my mouth is full of a creamy smoke. The smoke has begun to thicken now. Bakers spice and cream, with the slightest hint of pepper. I love the creaminess of this cigar and I have to say fat is my favorite macronutrient / food group, especially with ciagrs. Nuts, cheese, yogurt (it worked one time trust me). Having none of those I opt for buttered toast with just a small hit of cinnamon and sugar. It forms a choir with the baker spices of this cigar and they sing a beautiful tune on my palate. Its a cool spring day here in Ohio, but very comfortable out here on the porch. I move from Zepplin to Father John Misty. Mind you I have only listened to one song by this artist but I've been meaning to dive into more of his discography. I que up his newest album, "Mahashmashana." It transports me to a whole new level with it's etheral sounds and the smoke swirling up and away with each note. He's Jazz mixed with Acid. That would be the most laymans way to explain his vibe.
I'm into the second third and the aroma begins to shift from hay to wood. Suddenly wood is back in the taste as well. But it fades quick, I wonder if it will come back. The burn line appears to have gone rogue but as a trade off the smoke has become as thick as it has been this whole time. With that I'm hit with a pepper blast, and the biggest one yet. Red and black pepper. I'm here for it. I was wondering when pepper was going to find a way to the front and here we are maybe halfway into the second third, warming up with that pepper. I have switched to iced coffee now, and theres enough cream left in my cup that it maintains that soft brown color. I'm able to let this stick rest with no issues. I'm in no rush as Father John Misty has me floating higher than the trail of smoke off this Conneticut Shade. Taking a few longer breaks in between puffs and it manages to stay lit just perfectly. This stick has not been overly hot at any point. Very smooth smoke that is now bursting with hay and finishing with pepper. I finally decide to touch up the burn line and it evens out nicely. After this pepper quickly swaps places with bakers spice, and not long after the pepper bows out. Bakers spice, cream, and wouldn't you know a bread like note, and to my surprise a touch of syrup. The second third is finishing with some new flavors here and I'm delighted.
Final third is off and bread is on the menu. Lots of bread and lots of cream here finishing with bakers spice. I have zero complaints about this cigar. Father John continues to crush it. Very glad I chose to dive into his music today. It's so atmospheric and the vibe I'm getting is reminding me of my early 20s and the time I spent in the rave scene. Particularly music festivals, and to be specific Electric Forest in Michigan. I'm hit with the same goosebumps right now that I use to feel on an 8th of shrooms and a handful of joints on a hot summer night in Michigan. As dance music and lights swirl around me. Washed over in a chaotic blend of sights and sounds, carrying me into pure bliss. I have progressed to pouring just a few sips of black coffee over what's left of my ice and I'm shocked as a puff of this stick brings me a hit of cocoa. Cocoa finally shows itself in this stick and blended with a sip of that black coffee my mouth is flush with a taste of a mocha latte and I'm just fine with that. I'm holding one of the longest tails of ash that I have seen today but I decide to knock most of it off. I'm over an hour into this thing and the creamy finish of the smoke is gone. A lot of black pepper is present and it's become hot. I purge to cool off and when I hit again I'm blasted with hay, cocoa, wood, pepper, bread, and syrup, all in a big puff. But the heat is too high at this point and the album is finished. It's time to do chores. What a great session.
I really enjoyed this cigar and will definitely smoke these again. I'm a new BOTL, and I find myself gravitating toward Conneticut Shades. Not that I can't handle something more full and heavy but my palaete really appreciates the flavors I get from the CT, and the pairing with coffee is flawless. All in all I'd rate this stick 4 out of 5. It was a great smoke but the burn line and the need for a touch up detract just enough for me here to knock it to 4. Cheers.
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