First let me say that I think the JTL print ads are the dumbest things I've seen in a 'coon's age. (How old DO they get, anyway?)
Second, I picked up a few of these (robustos) last year, and after smoking one, the others went into bomb and pass boxes. They weren't bad, they just didn't do it for me. I found them to be fairly harsh and one-dimensional.
Well, today, I took the cello off this baby that I'd gotten from someone and fired it up, more on a whim than because I was looking forward to it. Guess I wanted to see if my first impressions would be confirmed.
Big surprise!! Now, this stick had some age on it, as there were little touches of bloom all over it. I think this is proof that many a stick will improve with time. Lit well, burned smooth and straight. Rich, complex, 'creamy' flavor for the entire smoke. I don't normally favor sticks over 6" long, but I wouldn't have minded if this baby had been another inch longer. I nubbed it.
So, if you have the storage to let these sit for awhile, my opinion would be to get some of these and put them down for a year or so.
A solid 90.
Second, I picked up a few of these (robustos) last year, and after smoking one, the others went into bomb and pass boxes. They weren't bad, they just didn't do it for me. I found them to be fairly harsh and one-dimensional.
Well, today, I took the cello off this baby that I'd gotten from someone and fired it up, more on a whim than because I was looking forward to it. Guess I wanted to see if my first impressions would be confirmed.
Big surprise!! Now, this stick had some age on it, as there were little touches of bloom all over it. I think this is proof that many a stick will improve with time. Lit well, burned smooth and straight. Rich, complex, 'creamy' flavor for the entire smoke. I don't normally favor sticks over 6" long, but I wouldn't have minded if this baby had been another inch longer. I nubbed it.
So, if you have the storage to let these sit for awhile, my opinion would be to get some of these and put them down for a year or so.
A solid 90.