After a down-home dinner of steak and potatoes, I lit up an Old Powder Keg Robusto. This is a smoke I got from Coventrycat86 via a trade, which came from his local shop.
This is a neat looking shop, check out their About Us page. Very interesting, and they're the only folks that actually roll their own up there. If I ever get up to Connecticut, I'll have to find the Cat, head over to this shop and grab a bunch of home-grown singles, and do some herfing...
Here's a pic for ya:
Note the zippo (w/Bettie Page upon it - :love: ) in the background. Figured since it came from the Cat, I'd light up his way....
This stick is the normal robusto shape, at 5 x 50, and appeared well-made upon inspection. The wrapper was very dark and veiny, and this was easily the tightest stick I've ever held... the entire thing felt like a plugged area on a cigar - and I was worried it was either much over-rolled or poorly stored on my part.
With some effort, I cut the end off with my scissors, and gave it a puff or two pre-light... and confirmed that this was a very tight stick...
After lighting up, the first inch took quite a while on this tight little number... but it had no problems staying lit - just took more effort than I'm used to. After the 1st inch, the draw loosened up a bit (still firm, but very acceptable).
Flavor on this one is simple to describe: Tasted of tobacco, with undertones of tabacco, and subtle notes of tobacco... a slight hint of something else in the background:
You guessed it. Tobacco.
However, it was all very nice tobacco and I enjoyed it. The only other flavors going on were coming from the wrapper (very sweet to my tastes) and the smell of the smoke (slightly of cinnamon). Strong cigar - and I mostly agree with the marketing information on the Web site, "Not a breakfast cigar by any means...not for the novice...try a box if you dare!"
A little nuttiness came out as I went, and the draw loosened up nicely with lots of smoke pouring out after I got through the first inch. Overall - I give this one a solid "B" - but I'd say people who like medium strength cigars would give it a lower grade. This was not the strongest cigar I've had, but is almost as strong as many Bolivars and Vegas Robanias I've had (which I love). Too one-dimensional to get an "A" - but I thought this was very strong for a $5 smoke.
Cheers,
- Oak
This is a neat looking shop, check out their About Us page. Very interesting, and they're the only folks that actually roll their own up there. If I ever get up to Connecticut, I'll have to find the Cat, head over to this shop and grab a bunch of home-grown singles, and do some herfing...
Here's a pic for ya:
Note the zippo (w/Bettie Page upon it - :love: ) in the background. Figured since it came from the Cat, I'd light up his way....
This stick is the normal robusto shape, at 5 x 50, and appeared well-made upon inspection. The wrapper was very dark and veiny, and this was easily the tightest stick I've ever held... the entire thing felt like a plugged area on a cigar - and I was worried it was either much over-rolled or poorly stored on my part.
With some effort, I cut the end off with my scissors, and gave it a puff or two pre-light... and confirmed that this was a very tight stick...
After lighting up, the first inch took quite a while on this tight little number... but it had no problems staying lit - just took more effort than I'm used to. After the 1st inch, the draw loosened up a bit (still firm, but very acceptable).
Flavor on this one is simple to describe: Tasted of tobacco, with undertones of tabacco, and subtle notes of tobacco... a slight hint of something else in the background:
You guessed it. Tobacco.
However, it was all very nice tobacco and I enjoyed it. The only other flavors going on were coming from the wrapper (very sweet to my tastes) and the smell of the smoke (slightly of cinnamon). Strong cigar - and I mostly agree with the marketing information on the Web site, "Not a breakfast cigar by any means...not for the novice...try a box if you dare!"
A little nuttiness came out as I went, and the draw loosened up nicely with lots of smoke pouring out after I got through the first inch. Overall - I give this one a solid "B" - but I'd say people who like medium strength cigars would give it a lower grade. This was not the strongest cigar I've had, but is almost as strong as many Bolivars and Vegas Robanias I've had (which I love). Too one-dimensional to get an "A" - but I thought this was very strong for a $5 smoke.
Cheers,
- Oak
