This is my second experience with this stick. Got of 10 them for about $58 from a mass retailer much maligned on this site.
Specs
Qty:
Size:
Cigar Shape:
Filler:
Wrapper:
Country:
Sug. Retail Price:
Cigar Rating:
Tried the first one Monday. Stick was very firm - no give. Cap was very brittle. Lit it up and soon saw that the thin wrapper was blowing up about a third of the way into. It was so distracting that I could remember nothing of the flavor other than it wasn't offensive. As I like to describe nondescript scotches, it was polite.
Aggravated, I put it aside and smoked a Consuegra 18 and at least I knew a cigar was present on my porch. Inspected a couple AF left in the bundle and the second one I looked at had a two inch crack in the foot. Called the vendor and made arrangements to return them and ordered some Rocky Patel Churchill maduros.
This afternoon, (Wednesday) I decided to give the AF a second chance and picked the one I had unwrapped that was in somewhat better condition than the other. Means I'm paying the vendor over $10 to smoke it. Would be charged nothing if I left it alone and returned the bundle with only one smoked. Now they'll pro-rate the refund. But I'm curious and I wanna smoke. Besides, I sometimes find that things sometimes go better on a second or third date. This cigar has a decent reputation and I didn't want to diss it based on one experience.
The second stick was also very firm - hardly any give. Cap was brittle like the first. Before light fragrance had hint of citris and fresh tobacco. Used a torch and the light was even. At the time of these notes, haven't finished the first third yet. What I have noted thus far is a smooth smoke but underwhelming in flavor.Beginning to think I like dirty smokes with character better than some of the more refined cigars. I'm trying to find some specif flavors to report but best I can do is say that it reminds me of a Dunhill cigarette at this stage. Lots of dull smoke.
I'm bored and am putting the stick down. I'll update this if I finish the cigar.
9:45 I'm back. Finished the smoke while chatting with a young friend about his job hunting strategy. Happy to report that flavor picked up a bit in the second third. Got a little salt, slightly musty, full smooth finish. Wrapper on this one didn't blowup. Maybe because I took pains to smoke it more slowy, pausing a half minute or so between drags. Know the recommendation is one minute but I'm not that patient. Second third intensified the basic flavor but was still far from complex. Simple but pleasant. Smoked to the nub. Nub was the best part of the cigar.
Aftertaste is still lingering; quite agreeable actually. Maybe that is one of the benefits of milder smokes. I'm still returning the balance. It was an inoffensive, pleasant smoke but just didn't ring my bell. I'll try lots of others before ordering an AF again - but would not be unhappy if one showed up in a trade.
Specs
Qty:
Factory Box of 20
Size:
6 3/4 x 50
Cigar Shape:
Double Corona
Binder:Dominican Republic
Filler:
Dominican Republic
Wrapper:
Ecuador Sun Grown
Country:
Dominican Republic
Sug. Retail Price:
111.25
Cigar Rating:
88
My rating:
80
80
Beverage accompanying this cigar:: Bit of lemon juice in tap water sweetened with Splenda. Weak lemonade. I find that it refreshes the palate without interfering with the cigar.
Tried the first one Monday. Stick was very firm - no give. Cap was very brittle. Lit it up and soon saw that the thin wrapper was blowing up about a third of the way into. It was so distracting that I could remember nothing of the flavor other than it wasn't offensive. As I like to describe nondescript scotches, it was polite.
Aggravated, I put it aside and smoked a Consuegra 18 and at least I knew a cigar was present on my porch. Inspected a couple AF left in the bundle and the second one I looked at had a two inch crack in the foot. Called the vendor and made arrangements to return them and ordered some Rocky Patel Churchill maduros.
This afternoon, (Wednesday) I decided to give the AF a second chance and picked the one I had unwrapped that was in somewhat better condition than the other. Means I'm paying the vendor over $10 to smoke it. Would be charged nothing if I left it alone and returned the bundle with only one smoked. Now they'll pro-rate the refund. But I'm curious and I wanna smoke. Besides, I sometimes find that things sometimes go better on a second or third date. This cigar has a decent reputation and I didn't want to diss it based on one experience.
The second stick was also very firm - hardly any give. Cap was brittle like the first. Before light fragrance had hint of citris and fresh tobacco. Used a torch and the light was even. At the time of these notes, haven't finished the first third yet. What I have noted thus far is a smooth smoke but underwhelming in flavor.Beginning to think I like dirty smokes with character better than some of the more refined cigars. I'm trying to find some specif flavors to report but best I can do is say that it reminds me of a Dunhill cigarette at this stage. Lots of dull smoke.
I'm bored and am putting the stick down. I'll update this if I finish the cigar.
9:45 I'm back. Finished the smoke while chatting with a young friend about his job hunting strategy. Happy to report that flavor picked up a bit in the second third. Got a little salt, slightly musty, full smooth finish. Wrapper on this one didn't blowup. Maybe because I took pains to smoke it more slowy, pausing a half minute or so between drags. Know the recommendation is one minute but I'm not that patient. Second third intensified the basic flavor but was still far from complex. Simple but pleasant. Smoked to the nub. Nub was the best part of the cigar.
Aftertaste is still lingering; quite agreeable actually. Maybe that is one of the benefits of milder smokes. I'm still returning the balance. It was an inoffensive, pleasant smoke but just didn't ring my bell. I'll try lots of others before ordering an AF again - but would not be unhappy if one showed up in a trade.