• Hi Guest - Come check out all of the new CP Merch Shop! Now you can support CigarPass buy purchasing hats, apparel, and more...
    Click here to visit! here...

Rojas cigar specialist vol 1

kann said:
Well, shit. Went through all that putting the Specialist box and a 10 box of Tejanos lanceros in the cart, they actually take MasterCard... but they don't ship DPO. *EDIT*. Lake Worth Cigars

Soooooo... who wants to help a brother out? :D
Click to expand...
You can ship it to me also, you may pay Tax sending it to Aaron
 
Esteli Viso
C9C35B50-9335-4C70-B40B-F2F523DD0748.jpeg

Foot has an oaky, sweet aroma

dry draw same as foot

Once lit I get sweet-baking spice maybe molasses

then I get hit with white pepper that’s even more pronounced on the retro. So far seems that viso definitely had more power than secco and more flavor as well As the cigar progresses I am getting a bit of smoky wood - hickory notes. Also this priming even though still with a bit of dry notes not as much as the secco priming.

interesting question to ponder: why use secco at all in this case ?
and just an observation this is all only criollo 98 seed variety now imagine all the seed varieties out there and different regions / primings. No wonder there are so many blends out there. 👍
 
My goal here is to smoke one of each priming from each region as well as the mystery cigar

those who want the experience I am happy to send the same to anyone. I can do this 2 times. As the set has that available. Rojas even says in his video this can be done with 2 friends. So if anyone is interested don’t be shy
 
Condega Viso

ACA268AC-CAC1-4B0F-813A-ECB16D5B3ADD.jpeg

foot has a barnyard / cedar aroma

More of the same on the dry draw

Once lit I am getting cedar and interesting combination of something like a cinnamon/cayenne flavors but much milder than the Esteli version of the same priming. Also white pepper on the retro. Some sweet molasses notes in here also

this once again a more balanced tobacco. My guess something from Condega was used in Rojas Blue Bonnet blend
 
Today Esteli and Condega ligero

A81061AC-36B8-44E3-9A94-524048401F81.jpeg
231D366A-5F9F-4226-B094-E8565821953B.jpeg

the wrappers are not pretty to put it mildly. That’s why we never see a ligero wrapper I guess

Esteli has a spice aroma on the foot and hickory like dry draw

When lit I get hit with lots of spice: red pepper As it progresses more spice some smoky/hickory like flavors and this Is definitely the lead priming that delivers the strength of the cigar. As I am smoking this down some sweet spice is being mixed into the flavors This reminds me of the LFD chisel. I think I found a new therapy for stuffed sinuses. Just retro a cigar with lots of ligero 😉

now the Condega.

sweet hay on the foot and more of the same on the dry draw.
Once lit initially cinnamon and baking spice Later some graham cracker with white pepper turning to green pepper on the retro Less strength than the Esteli but no sacrifice on the flavor
 
Getting closer to the finish line. Today

Jalapa Viso

7B40E4BA-29A2-4848-B6B3-80414394C2BC.jpegfoot - oaky , earthy aroma
Dry draw - leather and earth

upon lighting: very dry, woodsy almost acrid taste. So far this is the worst tasting of the bunch. Imagine you left a tea bag I. The cup for way too long and that’s the harshness / acrid taste I am getting Retro is harsh black pepper.
I will try to smoke this at least half way to see what happens

not much improvement really. Tossed this at the half way mark. Can’t really imagine why this particular lead would be used in the blend.

curious to see what others who bought this set would experience
 
Now Jalapa Seco
B2F0A292-0CE5-4BEF-B333-C77CC18B34FF.jpegFoot : dry woodsy
Dry draw : barnyard

Once lit: almonds, molasses with white pepper on the retro. Became more woodsy - oaky as it progressed
Different priming and a huge difference in enjoyment factor
 
Jalapa ligero. Last of the corona sized pure primings

90DA985B-CE47-482E-8251-00F7E91E60B8.jpeg
Aroma on foot - barnyard and some spice

Dry draw - more of the same

Once lit - oak, grassy earthy a bit dry and harsh
Retro - spicy but unpleasant.

past the halfway point the harshness subsided a bit.


My thoughts: Jalapa was the worst of the 3. Too harsh less flavorful. Even this Ligero is lacking in the actual flavor and even strength per se
Esteli was the most in your face flavor and strength. Which is not bad if you want to add that extra oomph Condega was the most pleasant of the regions as it was the most balanced tobacco.

next up will be the little wrapper cigarillo, binder only cigar ( not really looking forward to that looks ugly). And the mystery cigar blend
 
This is great stuff, Dan. I love reading your thoughts/reviews on these. I'm looking forward to breaking into mine once the weather warms up a bit. Did you consult your flavor wheel at all, or just wing it?
 
CgarDan said:
I tried to use the Rojas flavor wheel as much as possible. This is definitely a fun process. I wish Rojas would put out another video explaining how he uses these different nuances of the tobacco to create a blend
Click to expand...

@CBoukal had a really interesting tasting experience last week with different blend and leaves.
 
kann said:
This is great stuff, Dan. I love reading your thoughts/reviews on these. I'm looking forward to breaking into mine once the weather warms up a bit. Did you consult your flavor wheel at all, or just wing it?
Click to expand...


Same. Mine is resting quietly in a large ziploc surrounded by friendly Boveda packs, until I can get up to my cabin for a long weekend, where I can smoke nonstop and no one is there to complain. The snow is melting up in the Catskills now, so, soon. Enjoying these comments in the meantime (and wondering how in the world anyone can figure out all those kinds of flavors from tasting smoke...).
 
CgarDan said:
I tried to use the Rojas flavor wheel as much as possible. This is definitely a fun process. I wish Rojas would put out another video explaining how he uses these different nuances of the tobacco to create a blend
Click to expand...
@kann What happens on the Vherf, stays on the vherf....

Kidding aside, Dan I did get to experience something really neat this last week at my local B&M. The rep from Aganorsa Leaf was there and he brought small 1 leaf rolls with him. They were very very loose and rustic. Basically you would light it and smoke it for a few puffs.. Then you would light the second one and take a few puffs. Then switch back so you could experience the different flavors. Then you would put both in your mouth and puff on them at the same time.. He explained this is how blenders create their cigars. Both of them that I had were Corojo, but they were different years I believe. It was a really cool experience that I didn't bother to take any pictures of video's of. I am very sad about that actually.

I did a quick search online and found this link below that has the same type of sticks from the event. Once I have a chance to review the below link further maybe that would be a cool vherf night??
robustojoe.com

Blend your own cigar! - Robustojoe

For many cigar aficionados, the dream of having our own cigar blend is just that, a dream. But now, this dream has become a reality. Cigar.com has teamed up with George Rico (Gran Habano cigars), to offer the G.A.R Deli Custom Blending Kit ($249.95). Each kit contains samples of wrapper...
robustojoe.com robustojoe.com
 
Today we have the bunch with the binder only

00C6A98F-9E6C-414F-B4E5-356B38234CD9.jpeg

aroma on the foot: very light cedar

pre light draw: light cedar and flowery nuances

Once lit. Starts off with light grass, cereal grains and walnuts light white pepper on retro.
So far reminds me of the Condega primings and if I had to compare this to his regular production cigars it comes closest to the Blue Bonnet

in the second 3rd now. Now much evolution in terms of flavor. Perhaps a bit of pepper in present in the profile now Still feel it’s a Condega but perhaps they added a ligero leaf into it

last 3rd more of the same.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top