CgarDan
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2006
- Messages
- 6,272
Can you blame the cigar for delivering exactly what it promised ? Read on and decide for yourself.
A little of background first: My first time at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. I came here to hang out with a bunch of friends and check out some new brands. To my disappointment many manufacturers that are new to me and the market ( I have been smoking cigars for over 20 years now ) do not want to sell singles or even put together samplers of customer choice. Well not the best strategy to try to sell a full box if I don’t know if I will even like the cigar. Talk about buyer beware rule. … Anyway one of the vendors was kind enough to say yes to my request and sold a sampler of the cigars I was interested in. Add to that he fact that the owner was very kind to explain how all the cigars are unique and what sets them apart from the other brands. Now I am stocked to smoke these. Back home I let them rest for 10 days and I am ready to light one up
That vendor was Sagrado cigars and the cigar I am lighting up is Carismatico maduro toro
Notes on the manufacturer website:
Medium body. Notes of cracked white pepper, espresso, cocoa and cedar.
A little more research reveals
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Criollo
Filler: Dominican
I have been on Mexican San Andreas kick as of late so I am very excited
Upon inspection I see a wrapper with fine granularity, oily with small veins - typical on the Mexican San Andreas. The weight feels just right and the light squeeze shows just the right bounce back. So far so good.
Aroma is that of cedar and earth
Prelight draw is good and. Get flavors of a lighter cigar
Torch the end and get very light gray / white ash.
As I thought the flavors are on the lighter side, with cedar and slightly peppery. Will this be too light for me - I hope not. So far I am not really getting any flavors associated with the San Andreas, but the journey just started. I bit of pepper on the retro hale. Let’s keep going.
First third was very similar and I am getting disappointed: where is the strength ? Where is that espresso and coco profile. What about the Dan Andreas flavors. I have to do a review
Did I forget to mention the construction- superb. Ash is holding on like a champ with the same light gray / white color
On to the second third: retro is getting more flavor. Definitely more peppery with some other baking spices mixed in. Strength is picking up a bit. As well keep smoking the promised cocoa is starting to creep in and lingering on top of the cedar. Let’s keep going. Wait am I getting the espresso - maybe. Let me take a nice long puff or two. Yes that’s it !! Dark roast espresso that mellows to a cocoa infused cedar. Now I really have to write that review. But where are the San Andreas flavors I like so much?
Final third: the cigar is in full bloom. San Andreas just showed up. That spice with sweet finish hurrah. !!! Here is that medium + profile that I love. All the flavors intermingling perfectly. Expresso with spice followed by cocoa covered cedar with a slightly sweet and savory finish.
Why did I have to smoke till the last few inches to really enjoy this so much. Do I wish that this cigar started of like this and provided a consistent experience throughout ? Or is this the complexity we crave a the cigar evolves and keeps us smoking, looking for what comes next ?
Can I blame the cigar for delivering what it promised or praise the blender for the amazing job ?
You decide !!!!
A little of background first: My first time at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. I came here to hang out with a bunch of friends and check out some new brands. To my disappointment many manufacturers that are new to me and the market ( I have been smoking cigars for over 20 years now ) do not want to sell singles or even put together samplers of customer choice. Well not the best strategy to try to sell a full box if I don’t know if I will even like the cigar. Talk about buyer beware rule. … Anyway one of the vendors was kind enough to say yes to my request and sold a sampler of the cigars I was interested in. Add to that he fact that the owner was very kind to explain how all the cigars are unique and what sets them apart from the other brands. Now I am stocked to smoke these. Back home I let them rest for 10 days and I am ready to light one up
That vendor was Sagrado cigars and the cigar I am lighting up is Carismatico maduro toro
Notes on the manufacturer website:
Medium body. Notes of cracked white pepper, espresso, cocoa and cedar.
A little more research reveals
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Criollo
Filler: Dominican
I have been on Mexican San Andreas kick as of late so I am very excited
Upon inspection I see a wrapper with fine granularity, oily with small veins - typical on the Mexican San Andreas. The weight feels just right and the light squeeze shows just the right bounce back. So far so good.
Aroma is that of cedar and earth
Prelight draw is good and. Get flavors of a lighter cigar
Torch the end and get very light gray / white ash.
As I thought the flavors are on the lighter side, with cedar and slightly peppery. Will this be too light for me - I hope not. So far I am not really getting any flavors associated with the San Andreas, but the journey just started. I bit of pepper on the retro hale. Let’s keep going.
First third was very similar and I am getting disappointed: where is the strength ? Where is that espresso and coco profile. What about the Dan Andreas flavors. I have to do a review
Did I forget to mention the construction- superb. Ash is holding on like a champ with the same light gray / white color
On to the second third: retro is getting more flavor. Definitely more peppery with some other baking spices mixed in. Strength is picking up a bit. As well keep smoking the promised cocoa is starting to creep in and lingering on top of the cedar. Let’s keep going. Wait am I getting the espresso - maybe. Let me take a nice long puff or two. Yes that’s it !! Dark roast espresso that mellows to a cocoa infused cedar. Now I really have to write that review. But where are the San Andreas flavors I like so much?
Final third: the cigar is in full bloom. San Andreas just showed up. That spice with sweet finish hurrah. !!! Here is that medium + profile that I love. All the flavors intermingling perfectly. Expresso with spice followed by cocoa covered cedar with a slightly sweet and savory finish.
Why did I have to smoke till the last few inches to really enjoy this so much. Do I wish that this cigar started of like this and provided a consistent experience throughout ? Or is this the complexity we crave a the cigar evolves and keeps us smoking, looking for what comes next ?
Can I blame the cigar for delivering what it promised or praise the blender for the amazing job ?
You decide !!!!
