Partagas Culebras

This time i decided to smoke Partagas Culebra since I haven´t smoke one in months. Also I was interested to see peoples faces in restaurant while smoking this ugly stick.

Appearance: Well, what can I say. Just look at the picture.

Cold aroma: There´s some horse stall and a hint of pepper.

Taste: From the first puffs I get some dry pepper. It is also very easy to notice in this point that the cigar is not mild. After smoking few centimeters the flavor profil seems to turn to earthy direction. Time to time the pepperiness gets extremely strong and hot. At the end there is a hint of burned black powder and paper. No doubt, 100% Partagas.

Draw: Very good. Maybe a bit too loose at the end.

Burning: Nice and straight.

Ash: Light grey and solid.

Culebra is not the most complex smoke out there. Still it has a very pleasant flavor and it is a must have curiosity in humidor.

***

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chiselito

Again I didn´t have so much time so I picked up this little beauty. Mostly I was curious to know how the chisel head would work.

Appearance: Of course the most important detail in this cigar is the shape of the head. Like the name Chiselito tells it looks almost like a small chisel. The wrapper has some veins in it. Somehow Chiselito looks like a very sophisticated smoke.

Cold aroma: There is powerful aroma of urea.

Taste: At first I taste some pepper and sweetness that turns pretty soon to floral direction. Next there is some cappuccino and hint of herbs. At the second half the spicy side gets stronger developing flavors like dusty peppery and leather. After this the aroma of the cigar gets even more intensive having exotic spicy flavors (thyme?). And just before the end there´s taste of ristretto and black pepper.

Draw: Very good. The shape of the head concentrates the smoke nicely.

Burning: Pretty straight burning line.

Ash: Flaky ash, not so firm.

Magnificent strong little smoke! Definitely one of the best this sized cigars I´ve ever smoked. Lots of complexity (and nicotine). I highly recommend to try it. It almost deserves four stars still I give it three and a half.

***½

Carlos Toraño Signature Collection Robusto

I have been smoking maduros lately so I chose this robusto from my humidor´s single tray. If I remember correct I´ve smoked this once before. No hard feelings from that.

Appearance: The cigar has a bit veiny maduro wrapper.

Cold aroma: There is sweet aroma of horse stall and cedar.

Taste: The cigar starts with peppery and woody flavor following a fruity character. After smoking some time flavor profile gets some high acid coffee in it. When the half way is reached the coffee flavor mixes with quite strong aroma of saffron. Then there is just impure flavors and harshness to the end of the cigar. What a change!

Draw: Good

Burning: Pretty rough.

Ash: High quality ash with light grey color.

At first I thought this is pretty nice smoke. After smokeing some thime I noticed the flavor is not developing very well and that theres not much of complexity. When I finished the cigar I felt this robusto is not a balanced smoke. Well after all it didn´t cost very much.

**½

CAO Brazilia Gol!

CAO Brazilia Gol! is part of my regular rotation. It is a cigar that never lets you down. Maybe not the most complex cigar out there but it definitely has extremely pleasant flavor. And you just have to love the contrast colorful band makes with the maduro wrapper.

Appearance: Gol! has dark brown maduro wrapper and hard body.

Cold aroma: Very intensive and sweet aroma of manure.

Taste: Gol! is usually a slow starter but it gets better and better while smoking. The first puffs offers some vanilla and cappuccino. After smoking a while aroma turns cedary following a hint of leather. Before half way the cigar gets some peppery notes. When the second half is reached Gol! offers roasted coffee beans and resin. Just before the end the cigar gets notes of bitter dark chocolate. This cigar starts as a sweet smoke but at the end it is quite dry.

Draw: Excellent draw with small resistance.

Burning: Relatively wavy through the cigar.

Ash: Light grey and very firm.

A good hour smoke. If you haven´t tried it yet give it a shot. Then again I belive this is a cigar most of aficionados have smoked.

****

Padron Delicias Maduro

I bought this box last spring from Tallinn. Since I´ve smoked only few cigars from it because I normaly prefer bigger smokes. Today I didn´t have so much time so this was the cigar I chose.

Appearance: Maduro (matt).

Cold aroma: Strong cedary aroma with a hint of cocoa.

Taste: Right from the start there is dark, roasted aroma with some coffee. After smoking some time I get some nutty flavor. At the time I reach the half way the coffee character gets stronger and turns to espresso. Next comes some Lapsang Souchong tea and just before the end there is taste of bitter chocolate. Very balanced smoke.

Draw: Very good. Not too loose or tight.

Burning: The first half was pretty rough but then it settled.

Ash: Almost white and very firm.

This was very satisfying smoke being so small cigar. I belive the rating could be higher if the cigar had lasted longer. All in all this Padron have pretty much complexity. Excellent value for the money!

***½

Bolivar Colosales Regional Edition (Germany)

I have had this cigar in my humidor almost a year now. It´s a regional edition Bolivar made specially for German markets. The cigar cost approximately 14 euros. I accidentally cut the cigar before the picture was taken so it´s a bit shorter than it use to be.

Appearance: The wrapper has some veins in it. It has reddish colour and few dark spots.

Cold aroma: Cedar and a hint of urea.

Taste: The first thought is "this is not a mild cigar". From first puffs I got some stone dust and pepper. This is the basic flavor that follows through the cigar. After smoking some time there is a hint of diesel fuel. Then the aroma turns woody (cedar) following a twist of cane sugar. After twenty minutes there comes a strong flavor of black pepper. When the half way is reached spicy flavor gets some notes of saffron. And just before the end the cigar gets a beautiful rich aroma of burned pine.

Draw: Excellent. Offers lots of smoke not beeing too loose.

Burning: The burning line is bit wavy but very nice for cuban cigar.

Ash: Light grey and very firm.

Bolivar Colosales is a stunning cigar! I would say it is one of the best habanos I´ve ever smoked. I definitely recommend to try it!

****½

Welcome!

This is the day I start my new cigar review blog. My aspiration is to add regulary new reviews to the site. Being a lazy person catching up this routine won´t be very easy.

I´ve smoked cigars "more seriously" nearly five years now and this is the first time feeling I´m in a position to give recommendations. You definitely need that certain number of smoked cigars before you can start rating them. Of course you can never be too experienced. Every day is another day to learn new things of the fascinating world of great cigars.

When rating a cigar the most important thing to me is the balance and harmony of the flavor. Next comes complexity and finally the construction of the cigar including burning, draw and the texture of ash. Naturally the key to high scores is pleasant flavor. I decided to use five star -rating scale because I think 100 points -scale is way too accurate. There could be a great difference between same cigars from one box, not to mention same cigars from different boxes. That´s why I think this is the best way to rate cigars.

Well, thats all folks. Hope to get back with the first review next time!