handyman dave
Newbie - Still old but not dead yet!
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2007
- Messages
- 661
This Vegas Robaina Clasico, 6 1/2 x 42, was a gift from a friend. (Thanks Local669!)
This box pressed lovely felt very firm, so firm, in fact, that I feared the draw might be tight. It showed lovely accordioned bunching at the foot and a nicely executed triple cap.
It had a couple small veins, but smelled sweet and rich.
Nice clean cut with a Palio and I found the draw was about perfect, not too tight and not too loose. Pre-light flavor was sweet tobacco with a hint of cocoa.
After toasting and lighting I was treated to voluminous, rich smoke, sweet and toasty.
At 1" hints of cocoa were present with a very slight pepper emerging as well as a slight sweet hay note. I was surprised at how smooth it was for the amount of flavor.
The mottled grey ash fell at 1 3/4". The burn was good throughout and did not require any touch-up.
At half way, (35 min.), the taste remained rich and smooth. The cocoa was gone but there were hints of sweet grass and the creaminess was developing more.
Three quarters done, (50 min.), the flavor was strengthening but it was still rich and creamy with toasty rich tobacco flavor. The sweet grass was leaving with a woody character emerging.
At 1" remaining, (70 min.), I was feeling pepper inside my lips but not tasting it on my tongue. The smoke was still smooth and creamy, but the nub was getting hot as I had to puff on it to keep it going. It obviously wanted to go out, so I let it.
This was a very enjoyable smoke, amazingly smooth for such rich flavor. The flavors did change and develop but it was not the most complex stick I have ever tasted.
Still, at $8.75 delivered, it made for a very pleasant and relaxing 70 minutes of real smoking pleasure. I will consider a box for myself at some point.
This box pressed lovely felt very firm, so firm, in fact, that I feared the draw might be tight. It showed lovely accordioned bunching at the foot and a nicely executed triple cap.
It had a couple small veins, but smelled sweet and rich.
Nice clean cut with a Palio and I found the draw was about perfect, not too tight and not too loose. Pre-light flavor was sweet tobacco with a hint of cocoa.
After toasting and lighting I was treated to voluminous, rich smoke, sweet and toasty.
At 1" hints of cocoa were present with a very slight pepper emerging as well as a slight sweet hay note. I was surprised at how smooth it was for the amount of flavor.
The mottled grey ash fell at 1 3/4". The burn was good throughout and did not require any touch-up.
At half way, (35 min.), the taste remained rich and smooth. The cocoa was gone but there were hints of sweet grass and the creaminess was developing more.
Three quarters done, (50 min.), the flavor was strengthening but it was still rich and creamy with toasty rich tobacco flavor. The sweet grass was leaving with a woody character emerging.
At 1" remaining, (70 min.), I was feeling pepper inside my lips but not tasting it on my tongue. The smoke was still smooth and creamy, but the nub was getting hot as I had to puff on it to keep it going. It obviously wanted to go out, so I let it.
This was a very enjoyable smoke, amazingly smooth for such rich flavor. The flavors did change and develop but it was not the most complex stick I have ever tasted.
Still, at $8.75 delivered, it made for a very pleasant and relaxing 70 minutes of real smoking pleasure. I will consider a box for myself at some point.
