TheVitaleMob
Full Trucker Effect
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2005
- Messages
- 687
Alright. So Blinded By Science gave me this cigar at the PacNW herf on the condition that I do a review when I smoked it. So I got the guts up to take this baby on.
---Prelight---
Man, the detail on the OX bands always astounds me. Now, I have ADD, so sometimes I get lost just looking at the band for 5 minutes or so. So I take the ribbon off of the foot and take my first whiff of the unlit stick. I notice an interesting fullness to the aroma. I would liken it to smelling the fragrance of a winter beer as opposed to a "rest of the year" beer. You know that it's going to be good, but more potent than what you have been drinking as of late.
The construction was perfect of course, firm, no hard or soft spots. Just right on. I clipped the end with my sturdy $10 double guillotine and take a few draws. Flawless, of course. There was a spiciness so subtle that it eluded me the first draw. Even now, there is definitely spicy on my tongue and lips. I know that I'm in for one hell of a time.
---Start It Up---
I admittedly demolished the first 1/4 inch because my lighter gave out and I had to go rush for some matches. After that, the xXx settled into a very powerful and complex flavor. The first that comes to mind is that tasty smoke flavor that you get when you smoke meat, and also a LOAD of black pepper.
Whoops, I just tried a bit too hard to get some smoke through my nose. 'Scuse me a minute.
Alright, were back and at the 1 inch mark, and there is some real development here. Some strong, dark nuttiness has made it's way into this power-packed little bundle. At 1.5, it's just pure peppery-nutty goodness goin on. Just awesome.
2 inches in, a very nice coffee flavor has entered the mix. We ain't talkin' espresso here. We're talking some deep, rich, dark, acidic drip coffee. I didn't think this could get any better. Absolutely freaking perfect!
The ash fell all over my lap at about 2.5, and the flavor profile changed drastically. The pepper and coffee mellowed out considerably, and were replaced by a light vanilla flavor. A truly astounding complexity. Bravo Fuente!
The aroma through the nose here gives that strong black coffee flavor again, but only in the nose, not in the mouth. And at 3 inches in, the black pepper comes roaring back to life. Whoa!
As I finish this cigar, I know that these guys are masters. This isn't simply a cigar. It is a masterpiece, a work of art. This cigar had a beginning, a middle, and an end. Just like a piece of great music.
The xXx is a powerful little beast. In my opinion, this is definitely a winter cigar. It would be best paired with a winter beer; possibly a Pyramid Snow Cap or (Swissy would agree) an Alaska Smoked Porter. And it would be the perfect accompaniment to a finger of Chieftans.
In one word, Stupendous!!!!!
---Prelight---
Man, the detail on the OX bands always astounds me. Now, I have ADD, so sometimes I get lost just looking at the band for 5 minutes or so. So I take the ribbon off of the foot and take my first whiff of the unlit stick. I notice an interesting fullness to the aroma. I would liken it to smelling the fragrance of a winter beer as opposed to a "rest of the year" beer. You know that it's going to be good, but more potent than what you have been drinking as of late.
The construction was perfect of course, firm, no hard or soft spots. Just right on. I clipped the end with my sturdy $10 double guillotine and take a few draws. Flawless, of course. There was a spiciness so subtle that it eluded me the first draw. Even now, there is definitely spicy on my tongue and lips. I know that I'm in for one hell of a time.
---Start It Up---
I admittedly demolished the first 1/4 inch because my lighter gave out and I had to go rush for some matches. After that, the xXx settled into a very powerful and complex flavor. The first that comes to mind is that tasty smoke flavor that you get when you smoke meat, and also a LOAD of black pepper.
Whoops, I just tried a bit too hard to get some smoke through my nose. 'Scuse me a minute.
Alright, were back and at the 1 inch mark, and there is some real development here. Some strong, dark nuttiness has made it's way into this power-packed little bundle. At 1.5, it's just pure peppery-nutty goodness goin on. Just awesome.
2 inches in, a very nice coffee flavor has entered the mix. We ain't talkin' espresso here. We're talking some deep, rich, dark, acidic drip coffee. I didn't think this could get any better. Absolutely freaking perfect!
The ash fell all over my lap at about 2.5, and the flavor profile changed drastically. The pepper and coffee mellowed out considerably, and were replaced by a light vanilla flavor. A truly astounding complexity. Bravo Fuente!
The aroma through the nose here gives that strong black coffee flavor again, but only in the nose, not in the mouth. And at 3 inches in, the black pepper comes roaring back to life. Whoa!
As I finish this cigar, I know that these guys are masters. This isn't simply a cigar. It is a masterpiece, a work of art. This cigar had a beginning, a middle, and an end. Just like a piece of great music.
The xXx is a powerful little beast. In my opinion, this is definitely a winter cigar. It would be best paired with a winter beer; possibly a Pyramid Snow Cap or (Swissy would agree) an Alaska Smoked Porter. And it would be the perfect accompaniment to a finger of Chieftans.
In one word, Stupendous!!!!!
