The Evil Dr. Moki's Group Blind Taste Test #2

[insight]

First into the microwave, then into the freezer, then coated with anti-freeze.

 

[enerjay]

Moki, Sticks are in and look very good. I will let them sit a few days from there travels.

Thanks again this should be a lot of fun.

 

[Napa_Smokes]

Got the cigars last night. I haven't had a chance to check them. I will post later once I have.
Thanks again. I will be smoking the first one tonight.

Josh

 

[Rod]

Sticks arrived! At initial glance everything looks to be in good shape.

Have you 'sanitized' them yet? Who knows where they have been! :0

Hopefully nowhere near the Roomba, or his toothbrush...

Looking good Moki - can't wait to see the results.

 

[bfisher88]

Cigars got in last night as we discussed Andrew. May be lighting up Cigar #1 tonight but we will see.

 

[moki]

Cigars got in last night as we discussed Andrew. May be lighting up Cigar #1 tonight but we will see.

So I screwed up on cigar #7 for Ben... and like a retard, I left the band on. So he won't be smoking that cigar (and no, he won't be telling you what it is)

I think I left the band on that cigar because I had issues taking the band off of it without destroying the wrapper... I ended up throwing out 4-5 of those cigars unfortunately, and probably just spaced it. Sorry Ben.

 

[bfisher88]

Cigars got in last night as we discussed Andrew. May be lighting up Cigar #1 tonight but we will see.

So I screwed up on cigar #7 for Ben... and like a retard, I left the band on. So he won't be smoking that cigar (and no, he won't be telling you what it is)

I think I left the band on that cigar because I had issues taking the band off of it without destroying the wrapper... I ended up throwing out 4-5 of those cigars unfortunately, and probably just spaced it. Sorry Ben.

I am currently accepting bribes as to the identity of Cigar #7. Please PM me for info. :laugh:

No worries Andrew. And YES I will be smoking it.

 

[ELittle]

TELLLLLLL MEEEEEE WHAT IT ISSSSSSS!

 

[moki]

 

[tomthirtysix]

That's the weirdest looking beedog I have EVER seen!

 

[Nimrod]

Did moki remove the cello? ???

Shame on him if he did. :laugh:

 

[jfields]

Got the package last night. Looked as if a 400lb postal worker sat on it. :laugh:

Opened it up for inspection fearing the worst. Suprisingly, only #3 was damaged beyond being smokeable with a three inch gash through the wrapper/binder up near the head.

 

[Kingantz]

Got the package last night. Looked as if a 400lb postal worker sat on it. :laugh:

Opened it up for inspection fearing the worst. Suprisingly, only #3 was damaged beyond being smokeable with a three inch gash through the wrapper/binder up near the head.

Ah man, that sucks John! Freakin' USPS.

 

[sinnyc]

Sticks arrived! At initial glance everything looks to be in good shape.

Have you 'sanitized' them yet? Who knows where they have been! :0

Hopefully nowhere near the Roomba, or his toothbrush...

Looking good Moki - can't wait to see the results.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Thanks, Rod, I just choked on a La Riqueza No. 5 and tears are still streaming down my cheeks from the pain.

 

[bfisher88]

What a hell of a day. Just got done doing a little snowmobiling with the family for a few hours. Sun is out with not a cloud in the sky. Sitting on the deck with shorts on looking up at all the ski resorts. Doesn't get any better than this. Just lit up cigar number 1 and it couldn't be a better setting. I'll try and get a pic later.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc...795504_4205.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc...795503_2935.jpg

 

[moki]

What a hell of a day. Just got done doing a little snowmobiling with the family for a few hours. Sun is out with not a cloud in the sky. Sitting on the deck with shorts on looking up at all the ski resorts. Doesn't get any better than this. Just lit up cigar number 1 and it couldn't be a better setting. I'll try and get a pic later.

niiiiiiiiiice!

BTW guys, I'm updating the first post in this thread with a tally of who has smoked what cigar as well as payments that are outstanding, etc.

 

[MadMonk]

.......This blind taste test is meant to be fun and educational, both for participants, and for onlookers. I leave you with the following links, which are chock-full of advice that you may choose to take to heart or ignore at your leisure:

Cigar Tasting 101 -- some notes on how to taste cigars, as well as a "tasting wheel" that may assist you in verbalizing taste profiles

What affects the taste of a cigar? -- my unabashedly biased opinions on what can affect the taste of a cigar... with copious links to external information sources

That's it... let's get it on!

I'm following this thread pretty closely. Moki's links above are fascinating, and enlightening. Highly recommended. :thumbs:

 

[moki]

We're off to a good start... we have 5 days to go until the first review is due (this coming Friday), and we have 5/10 reviews submitted already! And away we go...

 

[moki]

Cigar #1 review

ELittle said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 6/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 4/10 - Last 1/3rd: 3/10 - Overall: 4.3/10

Price: $7.00

Review: The overall look of the cigar was nice. There was no big veins or any flaws and a nice oily wrapper. The prelight draw was a little loose but it was still great. When I went to moisten the cap before I cut it I picked up on some spice in the wrapper and a slight chocolate odor before I lit it. So far it seems like a good cigar.

The cigar starts off with a lot of spice in the first third. The strength is medium and I'm picking up on a mild creaminess. There is also a lot of spice when I nose the smoke. The cigar needed to be touched up a few times during the first third also.

The second third of this cigar started to go a little flat for me. For the beginning of the second third the spice was diminishing and the flavor just seemed to be losing strength. Towards the end of the second third the flavor seemed to kind of pick back up again but it was still leaving something to be desired.

The final third was the worst. The flavor that I thought was returning turned out to be nothing. It got even more flat and one dimensional. A slight acrid taste developed toward the end of the smoke as well as a slight cocoa flavor.

Overall, I thought this cigar was a good yardgar. I wouldn't buy one, and I would probably pitch this thing in the ashtray half way if I had bought it myself.

.....

insight said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 4/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 4/10 - Last 1/3rd: 3/10 - Overall: 3.7/10

Price: $4.00

Review: first third: Very rough, slight hints of cocoa but overpowered by raw smoke. Lots of spice and not much distinct flavor. Really hits me as heavy ligero flavor but it could also be that I haven't smoked for a few weeks and am more sensitive

2nd third: Spice almost instantly mellowed out and the cigar has a flat leathery taste, that is all as it progresses, really one dimensional

final third "Tastes like a cigar" I honestly couldn't get anything special out of it and my palate is fresh enough that I would expect more. I just generally found it to be boring

.....

Kingantz said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 6/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 6/10 - Last 1/3rd: 7/10 - Overall: 6.3/10

Price: $11.00

Review: At first inspection of the No. 1 cigar, I find the medium brown wrapper a bit coarse with prominent veins running the length and noticeable oils. It’s quite firm when squeezed and has a good weight in the hand. I punch the cap and find only a slight resistance in the pre-draw with a hint of raisin flavor.

Beginning 1/3 - I torch the foot, take a few puffs to get it going, and smoke billows from the embers. First draw, the smoke is medium bodied with a good amount of pepper spice on the back of the throat. Tastes of roasted nuts, leather, sweet raisin, and cocoa come through. Tons of bluish white smoke is pouring from the fire on this cigar. I mean tons. The finish is quite short, clean, and has a decent taste immediately after exhaling. However, it’s just not there after a moment. The burn is slightly to one side and the ash is very loose and flaky, however no real issues to deal with. There is still just enough resistance in the draw to smoke well.

Middle 1/3 - The pepper spice continues in the medium bodied smoke. Toasted nuts and cocoa are on the forefront in flavor and quite good. The finish continues to be short with the burn still wanting to go to one side, however does correct itself well. The ash is a whitish gray and flaky, bits falling off with the slightest of movement. When I ash the cigar about every half inch or so, it crumbles to pieces in the ashtray.

Final 1/3 - There is a change happening in this cigar between the middle 1/3 and heading into the final 1/3. I find the roasted nut and cocoa flavors continue, however there’s a mixture of dark, ripe berry and charred wood in the aftertaste. It’s actually very good. I find the ash changes, becoming stronger and holding better. The color of the ash also changes from a light to darker gray. Interesting. The smoke seems to strengthen to a medium-full body with the spiciness continuing to the end.

Summary: This was a very good cigar, however it didn’t really blow my socks off. Flavors of roasted nuts, cocoa, and good peppery spice, then towards the end shifting to a darker, more flavorful smoke. It had a decent enough burn throughout with a good draw, however the only thing I found missing was a really good finish. Off to a good start!

.....

bfisher88 said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 9/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 7/10 - Last 1/3rd: 5/10 - Overall: 7/10

Price: $7.00

Review: First 1/3rd: 1-10, 10 being the best... I would rate the first 1/3rd a 9. I enjoyed it immensely. Great creamy leathery flavors, a little more sweetness than I am used to so it kind of threw me off a bit. I do know I have never smoked this cigar before though.

Middle 1/3rd: 1-10, 10 being the best... The middle started losing some of the initial flavors I enjoyed. I'd say it would be about a 7.

Final 1/3rd: 1-10, 10 being the best... The final third of the cigar turned very harsh. It lost all it's sweet creamy flavors and was really off and harsh. I would rate the last third a 5

Summary: Although I was initally impressed with the cigar, it got progressively worse the more I smoked it. The creamy leathery tastes seemed to fade away and got more bitter and flavors more harsh and unbalanced as it went on. I don't think I would ever search these out again based how the cigar ended. The burn and construction were a little off as well. Half of the cigar had a hard time staying lit after the first third, and it seemed to be rolled poorly in the middle and got very flaky and loose.

.....

enerjay said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 9/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 9/10 - Last 1/3rd: 8/10 - Overall: 8.7/10

Price: $11.00

Review: First 1/3rd: 9, Fist puff of this cigar came with a lot of pepper. Once It wormed and made it into the 1/4 inch make, leather,cedar and a nutty flavor was very strong with this one.

Middle 1/3rd: 9, Still drawing great,burn is perfect. Leather,cedar and nutty flavor very strong.

Final 1/3rd: 8,Burn issue's were present at this point, still very strong flavor. Leather and cedar. Nutty flavor was subtel at best.

Summary: Moki, put a very FULL BODY cigar in for the number one slot this time. The first three or four puffs reminded me of a Don Pepin cigar. Once she wormed and settled down, the full flavor and profile of this cigar started to emerge.

Leather, Cedar and nutty flavor were present for the most part. Toward the last 1/3 of this cigar the nutty flavor fell of leaving just the leather and cedar.

This one started like a Don Pepin and ended like an OPUS. I am glad I eat dinner before lighting it up for sure. Over all a very good cigar, I would not hand this cigar to just anyone. This is a full body cigar, with full flavor to match.

.....

Napa_Smokes said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 5/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 7/10 - Last 1/3rd: 3/10 - Overall: 5/10

Price: none given

Review: Just got home from work. Here is a crappy review of the first cigar do to smoking it while getting sick lol.

Pre-Light: Smelled of moki's taint, good solid construction, no soft spots on the cigar at all, Slightly veiny. Once cut easy draw, with a slight spice from the wrapper.

1/3 Started off a little harsh, huge spice and burnt coffee flavors. Lots of smoke.. 5/10

2/3 The spice has started to mellow out and coffee flavor has become more dormant and subdued and a nutty flavor has developed. 7/10

3/3 Spice has started to come back, cigar tasting a little acrid and stale. 3/10

.....

jfields said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 5/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 6/10 - Last 1/3rd: 6/10 - Overall: 5.7/10

Price: $5.00

Review: Nice looking cigar with a somewhat oily wrapper/nice sheen. Musty smell that reminded me of some other cigars, but without the band I couldn't put my finger on it.

First third was spicy with black pepper and a raw stong tobacco burn on the back of the throat. The second third smoothed out a little on the black pepper, and I was able to pick up on some caramel and wood notes that replaced the raw power. Long finish on the taste buds. The final third was pretty much the same as the second, with the last inch becoming bitter, so I chucked it at this point.

I'll be brave and take a wild guess that it was a Nicaraugan cigar. I was thinking a Tat Regios even though the wrapper had a sheen I don't generally see on them. Let's see how far off I am.

.....

grateful1 said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 3/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 4/10 - Last 1/3rd: 0/10 - Overall: 2.3/10

Price: $5.00

Review: The cigar felt tightly wrapped...but drew wonderfully. Iniital taste was harsh...yet a hint of choclate came thru. The smoke was harsh, but more so on the exhale. The aftertaste really killed me...my tongue hurts! -couldn't finish

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BlindedByScience said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 6/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 7/10 - Last 1/3rd: 6/10 - Overall: 6.3/10

Price: $9.00

Review: Pre-light wrapper aroma is very spicy. Cut clean with the Palio. Draw is nice and open, as I prefer. Tastes somehow familiar, though I can’t quite put my finger on it. Lit with an almost overwhelming amount of spice. By the 1/3 point, the spice had subsided a lot and a somewhat woody, salty, nutty taste prevailed. Maybe some faint floral tastes at the back end of the middle of the smoke. The back 1/3 was starting to turn a little bitter, maybe some nuts and wood in the taste but it was definitely heading downhill. Construction was good, burn was nice and the draw left nothing to be desired. A good if not great cigar, IMHO. Quite a punch; this one really hit me, for some reason.

.....

Seanholio said:

Rating: First 1/3rd: 6/10 - Middle 1/3rd: 6/10 - Last 1/3rd: 5/10 - Overall: 5.6/10

Price: $6.00

Review: First Third 6/10: The cigar was good. Tasty smoke with a good tobacco flavor and hints of grass. There is something familiar about it that is escaping me

Second Third: 6/10: The grass taste persists, with cream moving in. Purged halfway through, and it needed it. Flavor opened up more, at this point, but is still not complex.

Final third: 5/10: Woody notes now join the cream, and the grass fades. Still a decent smoke, but not as good as the first two-thirds of the cigar.

Summary: This is a decent cigar, but I don't think I'd buy boxes of it.

.....

Lowest rating: grateful1 2.3/10
Highest rating: enerjay 8.7/10
Average rating: 5.5/10

6 - pretty good cigar, I'd smoke it if it was given to me, but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it
5 - okay cigar, enjoyable enough, but nothing special

Lowest price: insight $4.00
Highest price: Kingantz/enerjay $11.00
Average price: $7.22

.....

Cigar #1 is actually a...

La Flor Dominicana Coronado Corona Especial (2008) - price*: $6.60

Commentary: I picked this cigar because I thought it might be interesting; it's a cigar that probably is a bit too young (as evidenced by a few people noting a rough finish), but I think of the Coronado line as a LFD line for people whom the regular LFD lines are too strong/harsh.

It's also worth noting that this line of cigars was the Cigar Aficionado #2 cigar of 2006. I consider this an "experimental" cigar, in that the taste is something slightly confusing to many people.

So a few trends that astute observers will note in this review, that will likely continue throughout the blind reviews are: 1) People tend give cigars they like a higher price point than cigars they don't like and 2) There are a fairly wide range of opinions/tastes noted for this cigar. Did they all smoke the same cigar? Yes they did...

Nice job, reviewers! If you want to take a shot at guessing what the cigar is, feel free to do so in your future reviews.

.....

* Denotes the price I paid for this cigar, not necessarily the MSRP

 

[jlada]

Of course Greg whiffs your first cigar yet nails my first two .

I enjoy this cigar and probably agree most with Seanholio. Good job, fellas.