One year Anniversary/ 1000 Post Contest

[Wurm]

Marc,

I saw what you posted in Smoky's 1400 contest thread but didn't want to break his contest rules (no more than one post) to answer you...

I've planned to enter your contest from day one, its a great idea and very generous of you!

However due to the awful weather here I've been putting it off ( a good review needs pictures IMO)

But weather be damned, I'll take my butt to the bar tomorrow with a fine cigar and my crappy camera and make sure you have a worthy review tomorrow evening.

Shawn

 

[Mark Twain]

Marc,

I saw what you posted in Smoky's 1400 contest thread but didn't want to break his contest rules (no more than one post) to answer you...

I've planned to enter your contest from day one, its a great idea and very generous of you!

However due to the awful weather here I've been putting it off ( a good review needs pictures IMO)

But weather be damned, I'll take my butt to the bar tomorrow with a fine cigar and my crappy camera and make sure you have a worthy review tomorrow evening.

Shawn

No rush Shawn, you still got ten days to knock one out. I'm just wondering why I've only seen three thus far and I think Brad was wondering why the response was low on his contest as well?

 

[mr.mac]

Marc,

I saw what you posted in Smoky's 1400 contest thread but didn't want to break his contest rules (no more than one post) to answer you...

I've planned to enter your contest from day one, its a great idea and very generous of you!

However due to the awful weather here I've been putting it off ( a good review needs pictures IMO)

But weather be damned, I'll take my butt to the bar tomorrow with a fine cigar and my crappy camera and make sure you have a worthy review tomorrow evening.

Shawn

No rush Shawn, you still got ten days to knock one out. I'm just wondering why I've only seen three thus far and I think Brad was wondering why the response was low on his contest as well?

Can say that I plan on giving it a go... but gotta wait until the 30th to hit my 30 days mark. Hope it's okay for newbs to join in on the fun.?

I got a good one planned... :whistling:

mac

 

[tsmckenney]

Vegas Robaina Hermoso No. 4, 2006
127 x 48
Pairing: Fat Tire Amber Ale

photo 1

The wrapper is a veiny milk chocolate brown. From the wrapper, this cigar smells like walking into a greenhouse of flowers. Laugh if you will, but that is in fact what it smells like. The filler smells like damp, sweet tobacco. Yep, tobacco, imagine that. Lighting up.

photo2

The First Third: The first few pulls are unsurprisingly bitter, and gratifyingly robust. The last Habana I smoked was a RJ Churchill of 06 and while it was incredibly flavorful, it was also very mild. This cigar is, like every ISOM in my coolidor, very young. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fortunate to own any at all. Through the nose I can pick up a hint of the C-tang, but otherwise the thick smoke has streams of earth intertwined in a state of bitterness. No woods here, no spice, and nothing sweet. The construction is solid. The draw is perfect.

The Second Third: The ash is holding firmly, so much so that I believe this cigar would make for one fantastic ash stand. Alas, that contest has already been won. The bitterness has retreated some, leaving me with a now bland flavor of earth. Through the nose I extract some creamy notes of tang. For the time being, that is the way to go with this cigar.

photo3

The Final Third: Nearing the band, the smoke is taking on characteristics of dried apple, where anything tart or sweet has been near completely lost. It is, unfortunately, still somewhat bitter. My only wonder here is how much of that can be attributed to the Amber Ale I’m pairing this with. The burn line was even throughout, but did require two relights.

Without the bitterness, this cigar would have been pretty damn good. I enjoyed the earthy flavors, the dried apple finish, and its robust body. It’s also worth noting that I did not encounter an increase in bitterness towards the finish.

Off to nub heavon.

photo4

Finally, what made this cigar a pleasure to review was the fact that it was gifted on my birthday by CPer Davela. Davela is quiet on the boards, but one hell of a fine BOTL. He’s also a self-proclaimed old fart skateboarder. It’s not uncommon for him to show up at our herfs with his shins, knees and elbows patched up in bloody bandages. Cheers to Dave and to MT for the contest.

 

[sonuvabum]

Prizes have been finalized.

Now where are the reviews? ???

OK. I finally decided on the stick. Tonight's the night and I'll do the write up this week. I've been looking forward to this since you announced it.

Thanks again Marc!!

Gary

 

[indyrob]

Tatuaje Gran Conoju


This paticular vitola was also the first Tatuaje I ever smoked. I figured it would be a good cigar to revisit and see how the cigar has been able to keep it's profile even though the 2 cigars were rolled 2 years apart.


This is a big cigar, it's a little cumbersome and doesn't have a good "hang" on the mouth until you have smoked about half of it, but it's a kick ass cigar.

The cigar has a very nice apperance, a little bumpy and some veins but still a good looking cigar. It's not as oily or "sticky" as the ones I got from Brad 2 years ago but still has the same smell to it. The Gran Conoju has an uncut wrapper at the foot which makes it easier to light a cigar with a 60 RG.

Lighting was mellow and I was able to enjoy the oak and cocoa taste, something that I am growing very fond of, but it's not as predominate as it was 2 years ago. In fact, I would say that the oaken taste actually is stronger now than it was 2 years ago.

Halfway through the cigar some of the subtle cocoa taste has gone away and has been replaced by more of a nutmeg taste. I'm guessing that this is what I called a "bittersweet chocolate" taste 2 years ago. I'm very pleased that this cigar has, so far, kept inline with it's brother from 2 years ago. If anyhting else, my ability to pick up subtle notes has expanded a little.

This Gran Conju finished a little short of it's earlier brother, this Gran Conoju finished more on the oaken side instead of sweet. I like this finish more than I think I did the first one from 2005.

With all that said, I think that the Gran Conoju has been fairly consistant. I am leaning towards a slight change in either the blend or the wrapper over the past 2 years, but still very reminiscent of the one from 2 years ago.

 

[indyrob]

Marc,

I saw what you posted in Smoky's 1400 contest thread but didn't want to break his contest rules (no more than one post) to answer you...

I've planned to enter your contest from day one, its a great idea and very generous of you!

However due to the awful weather here I've been putting it off ( a good review needs pictures IMO)

But weather be damned, I'll take my butt to the bar tomorrow with a fine cigar and my crappy camera and make sure you have a worthy review tomorrow evening.

Shawn

What? There were rules? I never read rules....

Thanks for the contest!

 

[MX]

I think this is my best review so far. It is still lacking in the taste department, but I hope that as I keep smoking I will be able to find more subtle flavors. Thanks for the contest.

Tatuaje Noellas – Thanks again J.

Length 5 .125
Ring 42
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo 99
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
MSRP $7.50

Pre Light - First off I was scared. From everything that I have heard about these cigars, I was sure that it was going to be a full blown experience that was going to reduce me to a smoldering pile of rubble. It has a beautiful medium dark brown wrapper with a few veins, and a spot in the center of the stick where a triangle shaped section was coming unwrapped. I am willing to write this off as a fluke and caused in transit to me here in Iraq. The Tat smelled super, and I took more than one huge whiff. The cut went fine; pre-light draw was super and tasted of leather and tobacco. I toasted the foot, took my first pull and then this little beauty toasted me.

First Third – The volume of smoke was outstanding, slow drags produced clouds of thick tasty smoke. I am not good with finding flavors but I was greeted with some nice full on spice that faded and left the leather taste lingering on my lips and tongue. The ash held for about an inch, it would have made it longer but it was windy.

Second Third – I know I am in trouble, I know this feeling, and it is LOVE. So far the burn is super, and only had one small touch up, but again that was because of the wind. Smoke is still pouring out, it makes my eyes water, or is it tears of joy? It burns past the bad wrap with just a little trouble, but corrects itself. It is still spicy and “flowery” ???, with the leather after taste becoming a bit more pronounced.

Finish – I have decided if I am going to take this to the nub, I am going to have to slow down. The Nic Kick is starting to get to me. As I close in to the finish it also starts to burn a bit hot. The spice has dropped off some, and a raw tobacco flavor comes in to compliment the leather after taste. I take it all the way to the nub, and have a burnt finger to show for it.

Pairing – I paired this smoke with some good company and great conversation about my wild misspent youth with some coworkers. This has been a super smoke and a great experience for me. As a novice I can say that this is not for the Faint of Heart, but non-the-less a must try.

Final Thought – My Soul for a Box

* tried something new withthe photos, I hope it works......

 

[mr.mac]

Fantstic review! and loved the pics on a slide show! I'm hooked on the Tat Havana red label line.

mac

 

[vortex]

Damn! I still don't have a digital camera but I like to review cigars.

What the hell. It'll be fun anyhow! :thumbs:

I've never smoked a couple cigars I have in my humi. The mystery will be intriguing.

 

[Wurm]

Marc,

I saw what you posted in Smoky's 1400 contest thread but didn't want to break his contest rules (no more than one post) to answer you...

I've planned to enter your contest from day one, its a great idea and very generous of you!

However due to the awful weather here I've been putting it off ( a good review needs pictures IMO)

But weather be damned, I'll take my butt to the bar tomorrow with a fine cigar and my crappy camera and make sure you have a worthy review tomorrow evening.

Shawn

No rush Shawn, you still got ten days to knock one out. I'm just wondering why I've only seen three thus far and I think Brad was wondering why the response was low on his contest as well?

Glad you said that... since EVERY SINGLE PICTURE I TOOK on sunday turned out like this...

Looks like I'm going to have to try again later this week.

 

[Mark Twain]

Marc,

I saw what you posted in Smoky's 1400 contest thread but didn't want to break his contest rules (no more than one post) to answer you...

I've planned to enter your contest from day one, its a great idea and very generous of you!

However due to the awful weather here I've been putting it off ( a good review needs pictures IMO)

But weather be damned, I'll take my butt to the bar tomorrow with a fine cigar and my crappy camera and make sure you have a worthy review tomorrow evening.

Shawn

No rush Shawn, you still got ten days to knock one out. I'm just wondering why I've only seen three thus far and I think Brad was wondering why the response was low on his contest as well?

Glad you said that... since EVERY SINGLE PICTURE I TOOK on sunday turned out like this...

Looks like I'm going to have to try again later this week.

Don't feel like you're alone in having trouble getting pictures to turn out nicely on a digital camera. I still struggle with it. I had to chuck 2/3rds of the photos I took with the Padron review I posted.

 

[Wurm]

Don't feel like you're alone in having trouble getting pictures to turn out nicely on a digital camera. I still struggle with it. I had to chuck 2/3rds of the photos I took with the Padron review I posted.

What I find annoying is that its so hit and miss with my Kodak, sometimes it dazzles me with great pictures but most of the time I get crap.

I know its mostly operator head space, but come on. I think I'm going to give my little one the Kodak and get a better camera for myself.

 

[sonuvabum]

Don't feel like you're alone in having trouble getting pictures to turn out nicely on a digital camera. I still struggle with it. I had to chuck 2/3rds of the photos I took with the Padron review I posted.

I hear ya'. Mine's about done. I took over 30 pics.....kept 6.

Gary

 

[tone-ny]

Congrats :thumbs:

 

[LilBastage]

What I find annoying is that its so hit and miss with my Kodak, sometimes it dazzles me with great pictures but most of the time I get crap.

I know its mostly operator head space, but come on. I think I'm going to give my little one the Kodak and get a better camera for myself.

I think it's the camera. My Kodak stinks! I'm going back to Canon when the time comes, and it's coming VERY soon...

 

[Boogs34]

Marc - thank you for the generous contest...

Partagas 160 Robusto (5 x 50)
Wrapper - Cameroon from 1977; Filler - DR / Mexico, Binder - Mexico
Tuesday evening 07/24/07

After reading about this contest, I wondered what cigar I would choose. I wanted it to be something unique, yet well known, and hopefully delicious. Since, I wasn't really in the mood for a 'classic' cigar or a Fuente, I chose my one and only Partagas 160. I inspected the un-celloed cigar carefully. Its 30 year old Cameroon wrapper definitely seemed fragile, so I decided to punch it. It has a Hershey's milk chocolate color and a creamy prelight smell. I selected a nice summer beer, Corona with lime, to pair with the cigar and the perfect summer night on my back porch.

I ineffectively lit the stogie due to the low butane levels, and it initially burned uneven. However, the cigar quickly corrected my mistake and evened itself. The initial flavors of earthiness and cocoa filled my mouth with just the right amount of smoke thanks to its perfect draw. As I smoked it, I thought about other General Cigar Company cigars - other Partagas and Punch that I have had. This 160 definitely reminded me of those but clearly with better tobacco. There was no harshness at all and it was very smooth. I noticed that the regular Partagas lines can at times offer a metallic taste but the 160 thankfully had no hints of this whatsoever.

The cigar's ash was a standard gray and fell off right around the 20 minute mark. Over this time the flavors gradually morphed into a buttery and vanilla type flavors. The cigar continued to burn and draw perfectly, only enhancing the overall experience. After every cigar exhale and beer sip, I couldn't help but to acknowledge how much I love Summer. Every season has its thing but Summer's cookouts, swimming pools, and low-cut skirts make it my favorite season overriding my unyielding passion for football.

Towards the end of the cigar, it begins to show its age and delicacy. The wrapper begins to crack despite my care to remove the band. The flavors however, really come together for a robust finish. Each puff seems different with the addition of a nice herbal tea type flavor to the smoother butter and earthy flavors. I continue to smoke it until my fingers start to burn and lay it to rest with under an inch to go. It was the best hour of the entire day.

Overall, this cigar is extremely good, and it may warrant the $20 price tag at B&Ms for an occasional smoke (currently on CP going for $14 per stick for a fiver). It has a complexity of flavors that can be unique to Fuente, PAM, Pepin, and Cuban smokers because this cigar has a flavor profile that is more reminiscent of the "typical" General brands. I feel I picked the perfect time to smoke it and I had a great experience with it, but does not rank up with the best of the best. I am left wondering if a well aged box of $3.50 Punch Magnums can't provide a similar experience...

 

[insight]

Marc thank you for your repeated generosity. You are an asset to this board and community and I am glad to call you my friend. Now... I got one for you I did special tonight. Cross-posted from a review thread:

Bolivar Gold Medal (2006)

I was given this cigar by a brother on this board recently and have been VERY eager to try it out. Tonight seemed like the perfect night for it, as I wanted to smoke something special in memory of a good friend who passed at a very young age over the weekend.

Obviously the first thing you notice when looking at a Boli GM is the brilliant gold foil covering a good portion of the cigar. It was a little tough to make myself remove the foil and bands because the cigar looks like such a work of art intact. Underneath was a beautifully constructed slightly veiny cigar with virtually no tooth. I used my palio to take the cap off with ease and it was off to the races.

The beginning of this cigar was fantastic. Even the first few puffs were notable, with a slightly spicy nuttiness and a sweet Cuban tobacco aftertaste. The combination of the flavors was certainly something new to me and very pleasant.

What a found particularly interesting about the first third of this cigar was that that unique Cuban flavor was very very smooth. I was honestly expecting it to be a bit more rough around the edges given it is relatively young and in my experience with young bolivars is that, although I still love them fresh, they are not characteristically smooth. I also very rarely am even moderately impressed with the first third of cigars so this was a step away from the status quo for me.

The sweet aftertaste persisted throughout the first third, taking on a light cocoa flavor more reminiscent of a mole sauce than hot chocolate (if you were to try and place what I mean by cocoa). The ash was striated and very flaky, first falling after about an inch. After the first ash the cigar increased in complexity a bit, with the introduction of some earthy tones. I tried nosing some of the smoke and found it to be fairly harsh, so far the only real indicator of the cigar's age.

The second third of the cigar followed the same general flavor profile as the earlier portion, but with the introduction of some new flavors. The sweetness was now accompanied by hints of black pepper, which was actually a very pleasant contrast. The nuttiness became distant and a woodsy flavor was dominant. The woodsy flavor reminded me a bit of cedar and was very fresh in the sense that it was pungent and acute. Each draw was flavorful and potent, with complexity and subtleties coming in the aftertaste.

Entering into the final third, the familiar bolivar profile becomes a bit more prominent. The sweetness still lingers, as does the light cedar flavor, forming what was for me a very unique combination. The cigar started to heat up a bit as I got closer to the finish but nothing too extreme. I also finally began to really notice the strength, as my lips began to tingle a little bit after each puff. By the end of the cigar the sweetness was gone and raw bolivar strength was the word. I took this thing right down to the nub but none of the pictures came out clearly so this is as far as you get to see

My conclusions on this cigar are.... wow! The combination of flavors and the smoothness found in this cigar were truly a unique experience for me. It seems now the price is right on these sticks and they are DEFINITELY worth it! I give this cigar five purple horseshoes. Now I need to track down one of the Wolters and see how they smoke as well Life is rough when you are a boli whore

 

[sonuvabum]

When Marc first announced this contest, I knew it was something I wanted to do. The rules were simple….write a cigar review. The entries would be judged with emphasis on substance and creativity. How easy is that? So I immediately began to over-think every element of it, especially the decision of which cigar to choose for the write up.

I wanted it to be something off the beaten path but somewhat recognizable. Something with a good story behind it, but not too mainstream. I also didn’t want to know too much about the cigar starting out. Conflicting objectives to be sure, but I wanted to be as free of bias as possible. There would be plenty of time to research the smoke after I had finished it and made my notes.

So the other day, I went rummaging around in the cooler looking for that, Pulitzer prize worthy cigar that would fit the bill and I came out with the Black Pearl by La Perla Habana. This particular stick was a gift and has been hanging out in the coolidor for about three months. Specifically, it is the Rojo Toro and measures 6 X 50. I parked it in the desktop humi for a few days before the review. I’ve noticed lately that I seem to enjoy my smokes from this humidor more and I believe it is because of the lower humidity level in there. I’m still working on this theory but it will definitely take more research, if you know what I mean.

Next, I wanted the overall experience to be enjoyable. A nice drink, a little company perhaps, but nothing too distracting. I chose the late afternoon patio, or the Happy Hour Pavilion as my wife calls it. It was a bit warm outside but not unbearable, after all, this is Texas in the summertime. I chose a limited edition amber bock from the Shiner brewery as my drink of choice.

Denise, my wife has always enjoyed the deep rich aroma of a fine cigar. She has been my second hand smoking companion for a long time but has only recently begun smoking her own along with me. She has good taste too, her favorite so far is the AVO #2 Connecticut. Not wanting to be left out tonight, she had an Oliva Special G along with a nice glass of Shiraz. Anyway, here we are, ready for a nice pleasant evening of relaxation, just me and the lady, our smokes and our drinks.

I’ve done a couple of brief cigar reviews before but nothing too in-depth. Working from memory, it always seems that I would forget to mention something important when it came time to write. This time however, I planned to make notes as I went along. Nothing would get overlooked this time. So now, with my note pad and camera close by, I was ready.

Beautiful Label

One of the things that attracted me to the Pearl in the first place was the rich brown wrapper. Not knowing much else about the cigar, the other thing that caught my eye was the label. It is indeed a work of art which I later found out was resurrected from the original La Perla Habana company dating back almost a hundred years.

Black Pearl Rojo by La Perla Habana
Size: Toro 6 x 50
Wrapper: Habano Criollo grown in Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Moderately Priced: $5.00 - $8.50

The cigar felt good in the hand with a well made cap and the color was a nice medium brown. It was a little veiny but not bad and had a nice aroma with just a hint of spiciness. I gave it a standard straight cut. The test draw proved to be just to my liking, a little firm but did not require a lot of effort. A little toast, a light, and were off. Plenty of nice blue smoke but not much flavor to start. First few minutes yielded very little. I’m not worried though, I’ve got time.

Well Contructed

Meanwhile, Denise has fired up her cigar and my oldest daughter has shown up from work. She’s brought her dinner plate out and joined us on the patio for a little visit. Jessica is 21 now and she too has enjoyed being around my cigar smoking for a long time. She finishes her dinner and remarks about how nice it is out and decides she’ll join us for a smoke as well. Since she is very new to the hobby, her smokes of choice are the small Tatiana flavored cigars, but Hey!, we all had to start somewhere, right?

My Pearl is starting to pick up a little but I’m experiencing some burn issues. Nothing major, in fact, it straightens itself out without a touchup. It does however drop an ash in my lap. That kind of sucked. It’s still rather mild for my liking but it is showing some promise. My experience tells me I’m liking the way it’s shaping up. Denise however is not so pleased with her Oliva. We agreed both sticks probably just needed a little more time.

So this is kind of cool to me. I’m sitting on my back patio smoking cigars with not one, but two ladies from my house. It’s begun to cool off a little bit. If it weren’t for the pesky mosquitoes, it would be a perfect evening to be outside. As many of you know, we’ve gotten a bit of rain in Texas lately, especially for June and July. Quite a bit actually, and as badly as we’ve needed it, one of the major downsides is dealing with all the mosquitoes. It has a tendency to make the outdoors pretty miserable.

I’m getting into the middle of my smoke now and it is maintaining it’s very smooth texture quite well. I can feel the richness building, but the flavor is still rather hit or miss. I’m still experiencing some burn problems but they are nothing more than a minor annoyance. Denise on the other hand is not so happy with her smoke but Jessica is doing OK. Believe it or not, the faint sweet smell from her little smoke is rather pleasant.

About Half Way There

The next thing you know, my 18 year old, Sam, shows up and is going to join us too. He grabs a Sancho Panza and sits down to share a smoke with the rest of us. Even though he is still quite the novice cigar smoker, he does tend to like them a little more medium to full bodied. I think he is still trying to find his stride (but then, aren’t we all?). He lights up and there we all are, sitting together, not discussing anything major, just enjoying each other’s company and relaxing. It was neat but a little strange all at the same time.

Now for the home stretch; I’m on the backside now and I have begun to really enjoy this smoke. My Pearl has developed a little bit of a creamy texture now which is one of the characteristics of the darker wrappers I enjoy most. It has gotten a little more full bodied but the flavors are still trying to get there. Denise has completely given up on her Oliva. She likened it to that old movie Fargo. Years ago, we watched Fargo, an Oscar winning film, and we sat through the whole movie waiting for something to happen. Suddenly the credits started rolling and we looked at each other and said “Huh?”. Well she said her cigar was like Fargo. She kept waiting for something to happen and it never did. So she went inside. Jess too, she finished her smoke and was gone. Sam is liking his cigar pretty much and so there it was, just me and him, father and son left sitting in the darkness, enjoying a smoke together. Pretty cool.

Home Stretch

Understand that Sam has always been my quite child. He and I have had nice conversations over the years but he has never been overly talkative. That night however, over a cigar, we had one hell of a great chat. As earlier, we didn’t discuss anything of great substance, but we had a very nice time just talking about whatever came to mind.

The last inch or so of this cigar was what I had been looking for all night and was definitely worth the wait. As with most cigars, the pleasure is in the journey. The richness, the body, and the creaminess, were all there at the end. The flavor did come around in the end too. A very enjoyable cigar. There was one thing for sure though, I knew I wasn’t ready for it to end. Witness the nubber. My lips finally cried “Uncle”.

The Nubber

So, to recap, the Black Pearl is a very nice looking, well made cigar. For the money, I’d say you get a good bang for the buck. I’d classify this as a medium bodied cigar. The burn issues weren’t a big deal at all, but I do wish the flavor structure had developed a little sooner. I spent a little over 2 hours working on it. Normally it would have gone a bit quicker, but with the conversation and all, it just took some extra time. One thing I noticed was that even after finishing the cigar, the after taste left in my mouth seemed more enjoyable to me than did the first 30 minutes of the smoke. I’m not sure I have ever experienced this. Normally I don’t care for the aftertaste, but this was pleasant.

I think that as hard as I tried to not have any predefined notions about this cigar, I was expecting more than it delivered, but that was my fault. It was a nice cigar and I will definitely be having another sometime. Even though I began the evening with the intent of writing a cigar review, the quality time with my family is what turned out to be the real star of the night. Definitely cool!

 

[Wurm]

Cross posted for Marc's contest! Thanks again bro and congrats!


Double D and I went 50/50 on a CI special a year or so a go that included two Mazos of Gurkha Legends and a 12 pack of Nepalese Warriors. I reviewed the Legends a while back and to honor Marc's contest I decided to revisit the GNW today.

Size: 6.0 x 52
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Cuban Seed Ligero, Dominican Piloto
MSRP: $6.99 each
Stated Strength: Medium

Sunshine in Germany? NO WAY! :0 Well I might as well take advantage of it and drink a cold beer too!

Nice box pressed shape, silky smooth reddish-brown wrapper and... hardly any smell at all, uh-oh.

My smoking companion was not impressed.

At least the beer tastes as good as it looks!

And away we go! I lit the GNW and it was as I feared, hardly any taste at all. A few hints of spice from the Cameroon wrapper but that was it. And it stayed that way for over the first two inches.

The burn was uneven due to the thick wrapper and the ash was an ugly dark and light grey swirl, it was also very loose and flaky and fell off at the slightest provocation.

And she stayed unimpressed, and this speaks volumes about this cigar, as I've mentioned in prior reviews, normally my cat is all over me whenever I light up a good cigar. With the GNW she looked up, yawned and went back to sleep.

I also decided I had enough. When a cigar gets bitter I'll try to work on it by either purging or letting it sit and calm down a bit. But when a cigar gets boring, there is no hope for it and it goes into the big ashtray in the sky.

Thanks for the contest Marc, it was fun!

Shawn

P.S. A few others of my 6er were better than the one I reviewed, but not by much. I will not be buying them again.

out of :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

*edit* to add the cigar info that I needed to google to find...