(Long lead story about this stick's history, skip to the bold scores if you just want MVHO on the cigar)
In early May when a cigar craving was hitting me, (it had probably been 4 months since my last) I reached up onto the shelf where I kept my Tupperdor to pull it down. Unexpectedly the small cardboard box under it came down onto my head. Cursing, I picked up the box and found inside 6 cigars in a cigar store Ziplock bag. I had stashed them up there in a hurry and forgotten to move them into the Tupperdor; I think they had been there at least 6 months. Inside the bag was the Onyx cigar which I am reviewing, along with Astral rothschild, smallish Don Thomas maddy robusto, LGC Serie R robusto, La Aroma de Cuba cetro and monarchs. I was upset about likely ruining them, but threw them into the Tupperdor anyway and smoke a literally forgettable cigar that day.
In early June I was moving my cigars into the coolidor when I noticed that 4 of the 6 forgotten cigars were looking Oily. I dismissed it as overhumidification, but for the past 3 weeks the cigars have been tempting me to try them.
Today I busted out the Onyx Reserve Robusto. I am here telling you this cigar was saved! (either that or anything tastes better than the cheap ass cigars I smoke most of the time
) Here's the review:
Scores
Appearance - 95
Construction - 92
Burn - 65
Draw - 95
Flavor - 85
Value - 75
Overall - 90
Back when I bought this the shape of this beautiful black figurado is what drew me to it amidst the sea of choices in the tobaccoist's humidor. In my years of smoking I have bought many marginal cigars overpaying for them simply because they were rolled in a unique shape. I bought my first Ashton VSG this week and of course picked the Enchantment even though other sizes were around $3 cheaper.
Needless to say this unique figurado gets big points in appearance for its great shape - almost a perfecto but with a more gradual taper on the head side. The nice dark maddie wrapper had a bit of subtle tooth and veins visable only with close inspection.
The cigar had multiple wraps at the head, I didn't check when I dissected the stump whether it was a double or triple. It didn't unravel a bit when I snipped it nor did it come loose under my usual drool treatment. I haven't smoke many cigars put togethere this well. Another sign of the good construction was the great draw. The draw was nice and easy without being too easy like a straw.
The flavor of this cigar was great. I noticed coffee, chocolate, a bit of cedar. The body and flavor were very mild/light at the foot and built as the diameter of the cigar built to its 60 ring bulge. Here is where the flavor was the best and body was just a bit shy of medium. If you don't like an abundance of peppery flavor you will like this cigar; it doesn't blast your mouth with tingles unless you smoke it fast/hot and then you will get some along with the expected bitterness. As the cigar begins to taper again the flavor gradually decreases. The cigar tends to burn a bit hotter on the downside, and I had to smoke it more slowly to keep it cool. Besides being wonderfully flavorful the smoke was thick, heavy, and creamy.
The burn of this cigar was its only weakness. The wrapper required touchups before and just after the hump, and it canoed a bit at the hump. The ash was nice white and firm, dropping the first time at the 60 ring area and not dropping again until I smashed it out. I suspect figurados are much harder to get a consistant burn out of, but that doesn't exempt them from scrutiny.
These cigars sell for around 5 bucks a stick it appears, so its not a bargain cigar but at the same time it seemed worth the price to me.
I can easily recommend buying this cigar to others. If you enjoy super strong cigars that carry the "eat before smoking" warning; I suspect this would still enjoy this cigar before you've had your breakfast. I enjoy cigars of all strengths as long as they have potent flavor and this beauty served it up.
Matt
In early May when a cigar craving was hitting me, (it had probably been 4 months since my last) I reached up onto the shelf where I kept my Tupperdor to pull it down. Unexpectedly the small cardboard box under it came down onto my head. Cursing, I picked up the box and found inside 6 cigars in a cigar store Ziplock bag. I had stashed them up there in a hurry and forgotten to move them into the Tupperdor; I think they had been there at least 6 months. Inside the bag was the Onyx cigar which I am reviewing, along with Astral rothschild, smallish Don Thomas maddy robusto, LGC Serie R robusto, La Aroma de Cuba cetro and monarchs. I was upset about likely ruining them, but threw them into the Tupperdor anyway and smoke a literally forgettable cigar that day.
In early June I was moving my cigars into the coolidor when I noticed that 4 of the 6 forgotten cigars were looking Oily. I dismissed it as overhumidification, but for the past 3 weeks the cigars have been tempting me to try them.
Today I busted out the Onyx Reserve Robusto. I am here telling you this cigar was saved! (either that or anything tastes better than the cheap ass cigars I smoke most of the time
) Here's the review:Scores
Appearance - 95
Construction - 92
Burn - 65
Draw - 95
Flavor - 85
Value - 75
Overall - 90
Back when I bought this the shape of this beautiful black figurado is what drew me to it amidst the sea of choices in the tobaccoist's humidor. In my years of smoking I have bought many marginal cigars overpaying for them simply because they were rolled in a unique shape. I bought my first Ashton VSG this week and of course picked the Enchantment even though other sizes were around $3 cheaper.
Needless to say this unique figurado gets big points in appearance for its great shape - almost a perfecto but with a more gradual taper on the head side. The nice dark maddie wrapper had a bit of subtle tooth and veins visable only with close inspection.
The cigar had multiple wraps at the head, I didn't check when I dissected the stump whether it was a double or triple. It didn't unravel a bit when I snipped it nor did it come loose under my usual drool treatment. I haven't smoke many cigars put togethere this well. Another sign of the good construction was the great draw. The draw was nice and easy without being too easy like a straw.
The flavor of this cigar was great. I noticed coffee, chocolate, a bit of cedar. The body and flavor were very mild/light at the foot and built as the diameter of the cigar built to its 60 ring bulge. Here is where the flavor was the best and body was just a bit shy of medium. If you don't like an abundance of peppery flavor you will like this cigar; it doesn't blast your mouth with tingles unless you smoke it fast/hot and then you will get some along with the expected bitterness. As the cigar begins to taper again the flavor gradually decreases. The cigar tends to burn a bit hotter on the downside, and I had to smoke it more slowly to keep it cool. Besides being wonderfully flavorful the smoke was thick, heavy, and creamy.
The burn of this cigar was its only weakness. The wrapper required touchups before and just after the hump, and it canoed a bit at the hump. The ash was nice white and firm, dropping the first time at the 60 ring area and not dropping again until I smashed it out. I suspect figurados are much harder to get a consistant burn out of, but that doesn't exempt them from scrutiny.
These cigars sell for around 5 bucks a stick it appears, so its not a bargain cigar but at the same time it seemed worth the price to me.
I can easily recommend buying this cigar to others. If you enjoy super strong cigars that carry the "eat before smoking" warning; I suspect this would still enjoy this cigar before you've had your breakfast.
I enjoy cigars of all strengths as long as they have potent flavor and this beauty served it up.Matt